Introduccion: Streptoccocus del Grupo A (SGA) posee en la pared celular diversidad de antigenos i... more Introduccion: Streptoccocus del Grupo A (SGA) posee en la pared celular diversidad de antigenos importantes como factores virulentos. La proteina M se considera el antigeno mayor de virulencia de SGA. Se han clasificadomas de 90 serotipos de SGA basados en las diferencias antigenicas de la proteina M, varios asociados a fiebre reumatica y a infecciones invasivas. Otros antigenos importantes en la clasificacion epidemiologica de SGA son el Factor de Opacidad y la Proteina T. Objetivo:tipificar cepas de SGA aisladas de cultivos faringeos de ninos con amigdalitis.
Biomédica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud, 2002
The screening programs for the Chagas disease agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, were examined in Colombia... more The screening programs for the Chagas disease agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, were examined in Colombian blood banks and, as a consequence, several procedural improvements in the blood bank network were recommended. Screening strategies and techniques were examined, as well as the action taken when seropositive donors were discovered. From a total of 180 blood banks in 33 departments, 103 banks in 20 departments answered the survey. The 103 banks collected 291, 105 units of blood, corresponding to 66.6% of all units collected in the country in 1997. Of these blood units, 99.6% were screened for Chagas trypanosomes; 3,321 (1.2%) of 287,048 were found positive for anti-T. cruzi. The data were grouped by department; geographical differences for seroprevalence rates varied markedly between 0% and 12.6%. The most commonly used serological technique was ELISA, but only 33.2% of the positive samples for anti-T. cruzi underwent further confirmatory testing, mainly through indirect immunofluoresce...
Africa is severely affected by a resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) at epidemic pr... more Africa is severely affected by a resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) at epidemic proportions. We report the results of the first 5 years of a HAT control programme in northern Angola run by the non-governmental organization (NGO) ANGOTRIP. In the period between 1996 and 2001, 13 426 patients were screened for HAT. The mortality rate of patients in stage II who were treated with melarsoprol fell from 7.5% to 2.9%, possibly as a result of training and the standardization of treatment protocols. A total of 191,578 people in three provinces of Angola were screened for HAT. Vector control activities were initiated using Lancien traps. Our experiences reflect the connection between war and the increasing incidence of disease, but also demonstrate that HAT control is possible by dedicated NGOs in close cooperation with national institutions even under extremely difficult circumstances.
To determine the efficacy and acceptability of deltamethrin-impregnated bednets in controlling Ch... more To determine the efficacy and acceptability of deltamethrin-impregnated bednets in controlling Chagas disease in South America. In three endemic departments of Colombia, a qualitative study on people's knowledge about Chagas disease, vectors, preventive measures and their willingness for collaboration in control operations was undertaken. Additionally, in an entomological study with 100 laboratory-bred Chagas vectors (Rhodnius prolixus), vectors were released for 5 nights (20 each night) in an experimental room, with the human bait protected for one night by an unimpregnated and for four nights by a deltamethrin-impregnated bednet (13 mg/m2). Vectors were stained with fluorescent powder for observation, collected after 10 h exposure in the experimental room and observed for a further 72 h. The study population did not know anything about Chagas disease, but believed the vector to transmit cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therefore willingness to take part in control operations was high. The experimental hut study showed a vector mortality rate of 95% in a room with impregnated nets and of 10% in a room with unimpregnated nets. This study opens a new perspective for Chagas disease control in integrated vector borne disease prevention programmes.
Introduccion: Streptoccocus del Grupo A (SGA) posee en la pared celular diversidad de antigenos i... more Introduccion: Streptoccocus del Grupo A (SGA) posee en la pared celular diversidad de antigenos importantes como factores virulentos. La proteina M se considera el antigeno mayor de virulencia de SGA. Se han clasificadomas de 90 serotipos de SGA basados en las diferencias antigenicas de la proteina M, varios asociados a fiebre reumatica y a infecciones invasivas. Otros antigenos importantes en la clasificacion epidemiologica de SGA son el Factor de Opacidad y la Proteina T. Objetivo:tipificar cepas de SGA aisladas de cultivos faringeos de ninos con amigdalitis.
Biomédica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud, 2002
The screening programs for the Chagas disease agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, were examined in Colombia... more The screening programs for the Chagas disease agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, were examined in Colombian blood banks and, as a consequence, several procedural improvements in the blood bank network were recommended. Screening strategies and techniques were examined, as well as the action taken when seropositive donors were discovered. From a total of 180 blood banks in 33 departments, 103 banks in 20 departments answered the survey. The 103 banks collected 291, 105 units of blood, corresponding to 66.6% of all units collected in the country in 1997. Of these blood units, 99.6% were screened for Chagas trypanosomes; 3,321 (1.2%) of 287,048 were found positive for anti-T. cruzi. The data were grouped by department; geographical differences for seroprevalence rates varied markedly between 0% and 12.6%. The most commonly used serological technique was ELISA, but only 33.2% of the positive samples for anti-T. cruzi underwent further confirmatory testing, mainly through indirect immunofluoresce...
Africa is severely affected by a resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) at epidemic pr... more Africa is severely affected by a resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) at epidemic proportions. We report the results of the first 5 years of a HAT control programme in northern Angola run by the non-governmental organization (NGO) ANGOTRIP. In the period between 1996 and 2001, 13 426 patients were screened for HAT. The mortality rate of patients in stage II who were treated with melarsoprol fell from 7.5% to 2.9%, possibly as a result of training and the standardization of treatment protocols. A total of 191,578 people in three provinces of Angola were screened for HAT. Vector control activities were initiated using Lancien traps. Our experiences reflect the connection between war and the increasing incidence of disease, but also demonstrate that HAT control is possible by dedicated NGOs in close cooperation with national institutions even under extremely difficult circumstances.
To determine the efficacy and acceptability of deltamethrin-impregnated bednets in controlling Ch... more To determine the efficacy and acceptability of deltamethrin-impregnated bednets in controlling Chagas disease in South America. In three endemic departments of Colombia, a qualitative study on people's knowledge about Chagas disease, vectors, preventive measures and their willingness for collaboration in control operations was undertaken. Additionally, in an entomological study with 100 laboratory-bred Chagas vectors (Rhodnius prolixus), vectors were released for 5 nights (20 each night) in an experimental room, with the human bait protected for one night by an unimpregnated and for four nights by a deltamethrin-impregnated bednet (13 mg/m2). Vectors were stained with fluorescent powder for observation, collected after 10 h exposure in the experimental room and observed for a further 72 h. The study population did not know anything about Chagas disease, but believed the vector to transmit cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therefore willingness to take part in control operations was high. The experimental hut study showed a vector mortality rate of 95% in a room with impregnated nets and of 10% in a room with unimpregnated nets. This study opens a new perspective for Chagas disease control in integrated vector borne disease prevention programmes.
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