570 research outputs found
Comparison of three LAMP protocols for the simultaneous detection of DNA from species that produce cystic echinococcosis
No full textCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by species of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex. Different types of canids may act as definitive hosts by eating raw viscera infected with fertile hydatid cysts. The intermediate host (mainly ungulates) and humans acquire the infection through the fecal oral route (i.e. egg ingestion). Globally, more than 1 million people are affected by CE, causing a loss of 1-3 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and a financial burden of US$ 3 billion annually. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) protocols promise to be a useful tool to detect DNA, providing a low cost and thermocycle-free methodology. Given that surveillance for CE can be performed in feces from canids or other environmental matrixes contaminated with eggs, the characteristics of a LAMP protocol would favor implementation in endemic areas with basic resources. Herein, we compared three LAMP protocols for the simultaneous detection of E. granulosus s.l. species that cause CE. This comparation was carried with DNA obtained from different stages of E. granulosus s.l. Two of these are newly developed protocols that showed good analytical sensitivity and specificity. In both cases, the use of malachite green dye to directly visualize the test result was possible. From these two new LAMP protocols, one had better values for the detection of DNA from different types of E. granulosus s.l. DNA samples. Therefore, through this study, we provide a low-cost new tool for DNA detection of E. granulosus s.l. in poorly equipped laboratories from endemic areas.Fil: Avila, Héctor Gabriel. Gobierno de la Provincia de San Juan. Ministerio de Salud Publica. Direccion de Epidemiologia. Laboratorio Provincial de Zoonosis.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Direct instruction and Workshop educational approaches are equally effective in increasing dengue knowledge in 10 years old children
No full textEducation about dengue disease is fundamental to fostering the behavioral changes needed for its prevention. However, the most effective methods for delivering this knowledge in schools remain unclear, as few studies have compared different interventions to assess their efficacy. In this study, we compared the most used educational interventions (direct instruction and workshop format) in terms of their effectiveness in increasing the dengue knowledge of 10-year-old children from low-socioeconomic-status endemic areas. In a cluster randomized controlled trial, 390 children were assigned to one of three groups (short workshop, long workshop, and direct instruction). Knowledge of dengue was assessed with a questionnaire before, immediately after the intervention, and one month later. We controlled for teacher effect, concepts taught, duration of intervention, and baseline knowledge. The results of a GLMM indicated that the three interventions were equally effective in improving dengue knowledge, both immediately after the intervention (children learned 3 dengue concepts) and one month later (children retained 2 dengue concepts). However, each intervention is more effective in teaching some concepts in particular. Our results contribute to improving interventions to enhance dengue knowledge in children.Fil: Hermida, Maria Julia. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham. Instituto de Educacion.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Goizueta, Carolina. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Giovannetti, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Canosa, Catalina. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Ferloni, Carolina. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentin
Prevalence of intestinal parasites and related risk factors in rural localities from Pampa del Indio, Chaco, Argentina
No full textIntestinal parasites are a significant cause of morbidity in endemic areas in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Infections with intestinal parasites have been reported in multiple locations throughout Argentina, but infection prevalence is still unknown in many areas. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in rural areas surrounding Pampa del Indio, Chaco, Argentina, and to identify risk factors for human infections. In the current study, a survey of three rural neighborhoods surrounding the town of Pampa del Indio was conducted in July 2018. A total of 24 households were surveyed. A questionnaire to assess socio-economic and household variables was administered and fecal samples were collected. Of the 62 stool samples analyzed, an intestinal parasite prevalence of 46.8% (29 cases) was found. The most common parasite identified was Endolimax nana (22.6%), followed by Giardia intestinalis (17.7%), and Entamoeba coli (16.1%). Most of the intestinal parasites found were protozoa, but three cases of helminths (4.8%) were also identified. Participants were polyparasitized at a rate of 19.4%. This study did not identify any statistically significant risk factors for infection but revealed a high overall rate of parasitism in the selected communities.Fil: Richards, Lindsay Renee. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Delgado, Cintia. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Goy, Marcia. Hospital Dante Tardelli; ArgentinaFil: Liang, Song. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentin
Handwashing promotion in 10-year-old children: intervention studies in Northern Argentina
No full textAunque el lavado de manos evita enfermedades infecciosas graves a bajo costo, sólo una de cada cinco personas se lava las manos después de ir al baño. Este estudio presenta una intervención diseñada interdisciplinariamente, corta y económica para promover el conocimiento sobre el lavado de manos en niños de 10 años y dos estudios piloto para evaluar su impacto. En el piloto 2016 (Puerto Iguazú, Argentina), se compararon las respuestas a una encuesta sobre lavado de niños que participaron y no participaron de la intervención. La intervención consistió en actividades lúdicas sobre el lavado de manos. En el piloto 2017 (cuatro localidades del norte argentino), se compararon las respuestas de niños previas y posteriores a la intervención.Los resultados de ambos estudios piloto indicaron que esta intervención tiene potencial para promover el conocimiento sobre los pasos que deben seguirse para un correcto lavado de manos.Although handwashing prevents serious infectious diseases at low cost, only one in five people wash their hands after using the bathroom. This study presents an interdisciplinary, short-term and low-cost intervention aimed at promoting knowledge about handwashing in 10-year-old children and two pilot studies to assess its impact. In the 2016 pilot study, conducted in Puerto Iguazú city, the responses to a survey about handwashing of children who participated and did not participate in the intervention were compared. The intervention consisted in playful activities in which children were instructed in different aspects of handwashing. In the 2017 pilot, carried out in four locations in northern Argentina, the responses of children before and after the intervention were compared. The results of both pilot studies indicated that this intervention has the potential to promote knowledge about the steps needed to achieve proper hand washing.Fil: Hermida, Maria Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham. Instituto de Educacion.; Argentina. Universidad Torcuato Di Tella; ArgentinaFil: Ramírez, Verónica Adriana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Goizueta, Carolina. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Re-thinking the Role of Indigenous Peoples in International Law: New Developments in International Environmental Law and Development Cooperation
No full textIndigenous Peoples have classically been defined in terms of their situation of vulnerability and discrimination traceable back to colonialism. The first international legal instruments addressing indigenous peoples are based on such an understanding, and emphasize special protection for indigenous peoples in order to preserve their cultural identity. This article describes this approach a human rights-based one, even though, at the national level, the label "indigenous" is sometimes also interpreted as a synonym of political power. Meanwhile, international environmental law has introduced what this author calls a "functional approach" recognizing the participatory role of indigenous communities in supporting environmental conservation and use of biodiversity. From a functional perspective, it is a logical consequence to include other local communities, albeit not "indigenous" in the classical sense. Thirdly, in the sector of development cooperation, international financial institutions (IFIs) have designed policies with the aim of assuring indigenous peoples the opportunity to be consulted when IFI-funded projects could entail a negative impact on indigenous communities. At first glance, it could be said that those policies were inspired by a human rights-based approach. However, from a holistic perspective, the role of indigenous peoples becomes a more functional one. This paper contributes a critical analysis of the role of indigenous peoples from these two approaches: the human rights-based approach and the functional approach. The author argues that a definition of indigenous peoples based on a human-rights approach should be understood as encompassing also other groups living in similarly vulnerable situations. Even though a functional approach to indigenous peoples responds better to the principle of equality, this approach should be more respectful to the cultural and social values of indigenous or local communities, from whom a particular behavior is expected in order to achieve certain goals
Risk Stratification to Guide Prevention and Control Strategies for Arboviruses Transmitted by Aedes aegypti
No full textStrategies for the prevention of arboviral diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti have traditionally focused on vector control. This remains the same to this day, despite a lack of documented evidence on its efficacy due to a lack of coverage and sustainability. The continuous growth of urban areas and generally unplanned urbanization, which favor the presence of Ae. aegypti, demand resources, both material and human, as well as logistics to effectively lower the population’s risk of infection. These considerations have motivated the development of tools to identify areas with a recurrent concentration of arboviral cases during an outbreak to be able to prioritize preventive actions and optimize available resources. This study explores the existence of spatial patterns of dengue incidence in the locality of Tartagal, in northeastern Argentina, during the outbreaks that occurred between 2010 and 2020. Approximately half (50.8%) of the cases recorded during this period were concentrated in 35.9% of the urban area. Additionally, an important overlap was found between hotspot areas of dengue and chikungunya (Kendall’s W = 0.92; p-value < 0.001) during the 2016 outbreak. Moreover, 65.9% of the cases recorded in 2022 were geolocalized within the hotspot areas detected between 2010 and 2020. These results can be used to generate a risk map to implement timely preventive control strategies that prioritize these areas to reduce their vulnerability while optimizing the available resources and increasing the scope of action.Fil: Espinosa, Manuel Osvaldo. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Andreo, Verónica Carolina. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Paredes, Gladys. Provincia de Salta. Ministerio de Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: Leaplaza, Carlos. Provincia de Salta. Ministerio de Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: Heredia, Viviana. Provincia de Salta. Ministerio de Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Abril, Marcelo. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentin
Celano and the Rule of Law: A Matter of Graduality
No full textThis paper analyzes the contribution of Bruno Celano to the reflection on the rule of law, highlighting his Enlightenment interpretation and the emphasis the author places on a model of rules aimed at limiting the arbitrariness of power. Starting from Celano\u27s analysis, this study addresses the issue of violations of the rule of law, differentiating between violations of the moral ideal and legal norms, and between simple and complex violations. Through an investigation into the graduality and complexity that characterize the rule of law, a category of violations will be developed that reflects the organic nature of the rule of law and the interconnection between its individual components. The work concludes with an examination of the implications of these violations, both in terms of immediate impact and systemic effects, emphasizing the importance of a deep understanding of the rule of law to address challenges to its integrity.Il presente lavoro analizza il contributo offerto da Bruno Celano alla riflessione sullo Stato di diritto, mettendo in luce la sua interpretazione illuminista e l\u27enfasi che l’autore pone su un modello di regole volte a limitare l’arbitrarietà del potere. Muovendo dall\u27analisi di Celano, questo studio tratta la questione della violazione dello Stato di diritto, differenziando tra la violazione dell’ideale morale e delle norme giuridiche, e tra violazioni semplici e complesse. Attraverso un\u27indagine sulla gradualità e la complessità che caratterizzano lo Stato di diritto, verrà sviluppata una categoria di violazioni capace di riflettere l’organicità dello Stato di diritto e l’interconnessione tra i suoi singoli componenti. Il lavoro si conclude con il vaglio delle implicazioni di queste violazioni, sia sotto il profilo dell’impatto immediato, sia degli effetti sistemici, sottolineando l\u27importanza di una comprensione approfondita dello Stato di diritto per affrontare le sfide alla sua integrità
Intestinal parasitic infections in a community from Pampa del Indio, Chaco (Argentina) and their association with socioeconomic and environmental factors
No full textNeglected tropical diseases are a group of 20 disabling diseases, which, in particular, are the most common chronic infections in the most vulnerable people. This study aimed to characterize the infection by intestinal parasites (IPs) in dwellings from a peri-urban neighborhood in Pampa del Indio, Chaco (Argentina), and its association with socioeconomic and environmental variables. Single stool samples were collected from all individuals older than 1 year through household visits and processed using coprological sedimentation and flotation techniques. Standardized questionnaires were used at the household level to collect socio-economic information. Environmental variables were obtained from the Planetscope image, Landsat 8 images and remote sensors, while land-use layers were obtained through the use of a maximum likelihood algorithm. Stool samples were provided by 314 individuals. The prevalence of IPs found was 30.6% (n = 96), with a predominance of Giardia lamblia (12.7%, n = 40) and Hymenolepis nana (7.6%, n = 24). The only soil-transmitted helminth found was Strongyloides stercoralis with a 2.5% prevalence (n = 8). Individuals of adult age (> 18 years) were 0.65 times less likely to present parasitic infections with respect to children and adolescents. The only environmental variable that was closely associated with the presence of IPs, was the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), a measure of humidity; being higher around houses with positive individuals. Most of the IPs found in this study were of water-borne transmission and those transmitted directly from person-to-person, therefore fecal contamination is present. We believe that the low prevalence of STH in this area, which requires a passage through the soil, is related to the environmental characteristics, which are unsuitable for the development/permanence of the infective stages of these parasites. The geospatial data and tools used herein proved to be useful for the study of the relationship between the different factors that influence the presence of IPs in a community, from an eco-health approach.Fil: Scavuzzo, Carlos Matias. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Delgado, Cintia. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Goy, Marcia. Hospital Dr. Dante Tardelli; ArgentinaFil: Crudo, Favio. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Porcasi, Ximena. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentin
Spatial patterns of intestinal parasite infections among children and adolescents in some indigenous communities in Argentina
No full textArgentina has a heterogeneous prevalence of infections by intestinal parasites (IPs), with the north in the endemic area, especially for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). We analyzed the spatial patterns of these infections in the city of Tartagal, Salta province, by an observational, correlational, and cross-sectional study in children and adolescents aged 1 to 15 years from native communities. One fecal sample per individual was collected to detect IPs using various diagnostic techniques: Telemann sedimentation, Baermann culture, and Kato-Katz. Moran’s global and local indices were applied together with SaTScan to assess the spatial distribution, with a focus on cluster detection. The extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine-learning model was used to predict the presence of IPs and their transmission pathways. Based on the analysis of 572 fecal samples, a prevalence of 78.3% was found. The most frequent parasite was Giardia lamblia (30.9%). High- and low-risk clusters were observed for most species, distributed in an east-west direction and polarized in two large foci, one near the city of Tartagal and the other in the km 6 community. Spatial XGBoost models were obtained based on distances with a minimum median accuracy of 0.69. Different spatial patterns reflecting the mechanisms of transmission were noted. The distribution of the majority of the parasites studied was aligned in a westerly direction close to the city, but the STH presence was higher in the km 6 community, toward the east. The purely spatial analysis provides a different and complementary overview for the detection of vulnerable hotspots and strategic intervention. Machine-learning models based on spatial variables explain a large percentage of the variability of the IPs.Fil: Scavuzzo, Carlos Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Campero, Micaela Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Maidana, Rosana Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Oberto, María Georgina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Porcasi Gomez, Ximena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; Argentin
Environmental Toxocara spp. presence in crowded squares and public parks from San Juan Province, Argentina: A call for a “One Health” approach
No full textIntroduction: Canine soil-transmitted helminth (cSTH) parasites need specific environmental conditions to complete their life cycle. Toxocara canis and T. cati are the most important zoonotic cSTH, since they are the causal agents of human toxocariasis. Canine STHs are dispersed in feces from infected domestic and wildlife canines. In this study, the presence of STH in canine feces was evaluated in 34 crowded public parks and squares from San Juan Province (Argentina). Methods: Fecal samples were collected during different seasons in 2021–2022 and analyzed by standard coprological methods, including Sheather and Willis flotation and Telemann sedimentation. InfoStat 2020, OpenEpi V. 3.01 and R and RStudio® were used for statistical analysis and QGIS 3.16.10 for mapping. Results: From a total of 1,121 samples collected, 100 (8.9%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite (IP) and three cSTH species were detected: Toxocara spp., Toxascaris leonina and Trichuris vulpis. The most prevalent cSTH species was T. vulpis (64/1121; 0.057%), while the least prevalent was Toxocara spp. (19/1121; 0.017%). The detection of Toxocara spp. eggs was significantly different depending on the season. The geo-spatial variation of each cSTH per season is described. Discussion: This is the first study in San Juan Province to identify environmental contamination of cSTHs in public areas. The specific localization of areas with the presence of cSTH eggs could provide information to guide strategies to reduce the cSTH infection burden in dogs and promote serological screening of the human population for Toxocara spp. Given the zoonotic nature of Toxocara spp. We hope this information will help to reinforce activities of control programs, focusing on the “One Health” approach.Fil: Avila, Héctor Gabriel. Gobierno de la Provincia de San Juan. Ministerio de Salud Publica. Direccion de Epidemiologia. Laboratorio Provincial de Zoonosis.; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo - Sede San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sandon, Leonardo. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentina. Gobierno de la Provincia de San Juan. Ministerio de Salud Publica. Direccion de Epidemiologia. Laboratorio Provincial de Zoonosis.; ArgentinaFil: Anes, Paola Emilce. Gobierno de la Provincia de San Juan. Ministerio de Salud Publica. Direccion de Epidemiologia. Laboratorio Provincial de Zoonosis.; ArgentinaFil: Meli, Sergio Andrés. No especifíca;Fil: Giboin, Gustavo Adolfo. No especifíca;Fil: Pérez, Verónica Mirtha. Gobierno de la Provincia de San Juan. Ministerio de Salud Publica. Direccion de Epidemiologia. Laboratorio Provincial de Zoonosis.; ArgentinaFil: Periago, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Sano; Argentin
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