RESUMO
Since the first documented autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus in the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in 2013, the infection has been reported within the Caribbean region as well as North, Central and South America. The risk of autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus becoming established in Spain may be elevated due to the large numbers of travellers returning to Spain from countries affected by the 2013 epidemic in the Caribbean and South America, as well as the existence of the Aedes albopictus vector in certain parts of Spain. We retrospectively analysed the laboratory diagnostic database of the National Centre for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII) from 2008 to 2014. During the study period, 264 confirmed cases, of 1,371 suspected cases, were diagnosed at the CNM-ISCIII. In 2014 alone, there were 234 confirmed cases. The highest number of confirmed cases were reported from the Dominican Republic (n = 136), Venezuela (n = 30) and Haiti (n = 11). Six cases were viraemic in areas of Spain where the vector is present. This report highlights the need for integrated active case and vector surveillance in Spain and other parts of Europe where chikungunya virus may be introduced by returning travellers.
Assuntos
Febre de Chikungunya/diagnóstico , Vírus Chikungunya/isolamento & purificação , Febre/etiologia , Viagem , Aedes/virologia , Animais , Febre de Chikungunya/epidemiologia , Febre de Chikungunya/virologia , Vírus Chikungunya/genética , Surtos de Doenças , República Dominicana , Feminino , Haiti , Humanos , Insetos Vetores/virologia , Masculino , RNA Viral , Estudos Retrospectivos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Vigilância de Evento Sentinela , Espanha/epidemiologia , VenezuelaRESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most important systemic mycosis in South America. In Europe the disease is very rare and only found in returning travelers. Here we report on a 56-year-old Spanish missionary with respiratory symptoms but no other affected systems. Diagnosis was made based on serology and PCR for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
Assuntos
Paracoccidioidomicose/diagnóstico , Missões Religiosas , Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Missionários , Paracoccidioidomicose/tratamento farmacológico , Espanha , VenezuelaRESUMO
Initially described in travelers, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis were soon linked to imported food products. An outbreak of cyclosporiasis in Spanish travelers is described. After identification of Cyclospora cayetanensis in stool analyses, a specific questionnaire was completed. Pyrosis was described in 57% of cases (4/7). Peptic symptoms can be a useful clue to indicate the diagnosis of cyclosporiasis in patients with travelers' diarrhea.
Assuntos
Ciclosporíase/epidemiologia , Diarreia/etiologia , Surtos de Doenças , Contaminação de Alimentos , Parasitologia de Alimentos , Viagem , Adulto , Animais , Cuba/epidemiologia , Cyclospora/isolamento & purificação , Ciclosporíase/tratamento farmacológico , Ciclosporíase/transmissão , Diarreia/parasitologia , Feminino , Azia/tratamento farmacológico , Azia/etiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Espanha , Combinação Trimetoprima e Sulfametoxazol/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cyclosporiasis is a disease due to Cyclospora cayetanensis, an emerging coccidian parasite first described in 1979. It is an orally transmitted disease that is more frequent in tropical and subtropical areas. Cyclospora cayetanensis has been mainly described as a cause of travelers' diarrhea. This pathogen has given rise to a number of epidemic outbreaks attributable to ingestion of imported foods, particularly from tropical areas. METHODS: Descriptive study of clinical and epidemiological data of a small epidemic outbreak of C cayetanensis-induced gastroenteritis. RESULTS: Seven confirmed cases of C cayetanensis among Spanish nationals who had traveled to Antigua Guatemala are described. The incubation period was 6 days. Diarrhea, asthenia, anorexia, borborygmi, flatulence, and abdominal distension were present in all cases. Fever and heart burn in 85.7%. Weight loss in 71.4%. Abdominal pain, rectal tenesmus, and nausea in 42.8%. Vomiting and eructation in 14.2%. Heart burn was a frequent symptom, a finding not often previously described. The infection was probably acquired from raspberry juice. All cases improved with trimethoprim/sulphametoxazol. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporiasis is a cause of travelers' diarrhea. Parasitology laboratories must be advised of clinical suspicion of cyclosporiasis so that they can conduct a suitable targeted study; otherwise, false negative results may arise.
Assuntos
Ciclosporíase/epidemiologia , Surtos de Doenças , Gastroenterite/epidemiologia , Viagem , Adulto , Animais , Cyclospora/isolamento & purificação , Ciclosporíase/etiologia , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Gastroenterite/etiologia , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
The potential value of PCRs in the species-specific diagnosis of have been investigated, using samples of T. saginata and T. solium from different geographical areas. The PCRs examining inter-species differences were based on the sequence of the HDP2 DNA fragment, specific for T. saginata/T. solium, and the sequence of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 1 and spacer 2 (ITS-1 and ITS-2). This PCR analysis of DNA isolates confirmed morphologic diagnosis and allowed the speciation of samples too small or fragmented for morphologic identification, with clear and consistent inter-species differences between T. saginata (twenty-two) and T. solium (three) geographical isolates. Possible intra-species genomic variability, within these species, was similarly studied through analysis of PCR amplification products (PCR-RFLP) and only encountered one exceptional T. saginata isolate from Kenya, which yielded a unique PCR-RFLP pattern, different from T. saginata DNA of Mexican (one sample) and Spanish (seven samples) origin.