The emergence and spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) presented a challenge to the diagnosis of ZIKV infections in areas with transmission of dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses. To facilitate ...detection of ZIKV infections, and differentiate these infections from DENV and CHIKV, we developed the Trioplex real-time RT-PCR assay (Trioplex assay). Here, we describe the optimization of multiplex and singleplex formats of the assay for a variety of chemistries and instruments to facilitate global standardization and implementation. We evaluated the analytical performance of all Trioplex modalities for detection of these three pathogens in serum and whole blood, and for ZIKV in urine. The limit of detection for the three viruses and in different RNA-extraction modalities is near 10
genome copy equivalents per milliliter (GCE/mL). Simultaneous testing of more than one specimen type from each patient provides a 6.4% additional diagnostic sensitivity. Overall, the high sensitivity of the Trioplex assay demonstrates the utility of this assay ascertaining Zika cases.
During 2019-2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health investigated potential animal reservoirs of Leptospira spp., the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. In this cross-sectional study, we ...investigated Leptospira spp. exposure and carriage in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus), an invasive animal species. This study was conducted across the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which are St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and bacterial culture to evaluate serum and kidney specimens and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of these laboratory methods. Mongooses (n = 274) were live-trapped at 31 field sites in ten regions across USVI and humanely euthanized for Leptospira spp. testing. Bacterial isolates were sequenced and evaluated for species and phylogenetic analysis using the ppk gene. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 34% (87/256) of mongooses. Reactions were observed with the following serogroups: Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Mini, Cynopteri, Australis, Hebdomadis, Autumnalis, Mankarso, Pomona, and Ballum. Of the kidney specimens examined, 5.8% (16/270) were FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) were culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) were positive by rt-PCR. Of the Leptospira spp. isolated from mongooses, 25 were L. borgpetersenii, one was L. interrogans, and one was L. kirschneri. Positive predictive values of FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful isolation of Leptospira by culture were 88% and 65%, respectively. The isolation and identification of Leptospira spp. in mongooses highlights the potential role of mongooses as a wildlife reservoir of leptospirosis; mongooses could be a source of Leptospira spp. infections for other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.
The exotic arboviruses chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) recently caused large outbreaks and continue to circulate in Puerto Rico, prompting entomological investigations at 9 locations with ...confirmed CHIKV- or ZIKV-infected human cases. Adult mosquitoes were collected using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention autocidal gravid ovitraps over a 14-day period at each site. Mean female
captured per trap-week ranged from 13.47 per trap-week to 1.27 per trap-week. Arbovirus-positive pools were detected at 7 of the 9 sampling sites. We investigated vertical transmission by collecting
eggs in a single location where ZIKV was found in adult mosquitoes. We discuss the relationship between vector density and infection rates and its implications for determining mosquito density thresholds of novel invasive arboviruses such as CHIKV and ZIKV.
During 2019-2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health investigated potential animal reservoirs of Leptospira spp., the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. In this cross-sectional study, we ...investigated Leptospira spp. exposure and carriage in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus), an invasive animal species. This study was conducted across the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which are St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and bacterial culture to evaluate serum and kidney specimens and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of these laboratory methods. Mongooses (n = 274) were live-trapped at 31 field sites in ten regions across USVI and humanely euthanized for Leptospira spp. testing. Bacterial isolates were sequenced and evaluated for species and phylogenetic analysis using the ppk gene. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 34% (87/256) of mongooses. Reactions were observed with the following serogroups: Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Mini, Cynopteri, Australis, Hebdomadis, Autumnalis, Mankarso, Pomona, and Ballum. Of the kidney specimens examined, 5.8% (16/270) were FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) were culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) were positive by rt-PCR. Of the Leptospira spp. isolated from mongooses, 25 were L. borgpetersenii, one was L. interrogans, and one was L. kirschneri. Positive predictive values of FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful isolation of Leptospira by culture were 88% and 65%, respectively. The isolation and identification of Leptospira spp. in mongooses highlights the potential role of mongooses as a wildlife reservoir of leptospirosis; mongooses could be a source of Leptospira spp. infections for other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.
During 2019–2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health investigated potential animal reservoirs of Leptospira spp., the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. In this cross-sectional study, we ...investigated Leptospira spp. exposure and carriage in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus), an invasive animal species. This study was conducted across the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which are St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and bacterial culture to evaluate serum and kidney specimens and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of these laboratory methods. Mongooses (n = 274) were live-trapped at 31 field sites in ten regions across USVI and humanely euthanized for Leptospira spp. testing. Bacterial isolates were sequenced and evaluated for species and phylogenetic analysis using the ppk gene. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 34% (87/256) of mongooses. Reactions were observed with the following serogroups: Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Mini, Cynopteri, Australis, Hebdomadis, Autumnalis, Mankarso, Pomona, and Ballum. Of the kidney specimens examined, 5.8% (16/270) were FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) were culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) were positive by rt-PCR. Of the Leptospira spp. isolated from mongooses, 25 were L. borgpetersenii, one was L. interrogans, and one was L. kirschneri. Positive predictive values of FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful isolation of Leptospira by culture were 88% and 65%, respectively. The isolation and identification of Leptospira spp. in mongooses highlights the potential role of mongooses as a wildlife reservoir of leptospirosis; mongooses could be a source of Leptospira spp. infections for other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Author summary Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. To better understand local reservoirs and risk factors to humans and animals, during 2019–2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health (VIDOH) investigated Leptospira spp. in association with the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus) across the three main islands of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) (St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John). Mongoose blood and kidney samples were evaluated by laboratory testing: microscopic agglutination test, fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and culture. Of 256 mongooses, 34% were exposed to Leptospira spp. To assess active infection in mongooses, kidney samples were examined resulting 5.8% (16/270) FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) rt-PCR-positive. Validity was compared between test types showing higher positive predictive value for FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful culture, the reference standard for diagnosis. Through the detection and isolation of Leptospira spp. in mongooses across the USVI, we identified mongooses as potential disease vectors to the local population and added to the limited data for the Caribbean region. Furthermore, a validity assessment of reference testing provides data to potentially inform future leptospirosis diagnostics.
Introducción: El diagnóstico de laboratorio de la enfermedad por arañazo de gato (EAG) se basa en la determinación de anticuerpos específicos anti-Bartonella henselae por distintas técnicas. El CDC ...de E.U.A. recomienda como estándar de oro la IgG mediante inmunofluorescencia (IF). Objetivo: Determinar la exactitud y utilidad diagnóstica de la IgM anti-B. henselae por IF para EAG. Material y Método: En suero de 108 pacientes a quienes se realizó IgG anti-B. henselae por sospecha de EAG, se determinó la presencia de IgM específica, en forma separada y ciega por dos profesionales de laboratorio ampliamente entrenados. Se calculó sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E), valores predictores positivo (VPP) y negativo (VPN) y likelihood ratio (LR) para una IgM positiva (LR+) y negativa (LR-). Resultados: En 37 pacientes con IgG anti-B. henselae positiva, la IgM fue positiva en 16 y negativa en 11; en 71 pacientes con IgG negativa, la IgM fue negativa en 69 y positiva en 2. Por consiguiente, la IgM presentó S 43%, E 97%, VPP 88%, VPN 77%, LR(+) 15 y LR(-) 0,58. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que una IgM positiva apoya el diagnóstico de EAG, pero una negativa no permite descartarlo. Por tanto, la IgG debe seguir considerándose como el estándar de oro para el diagnóstico de infecciones por B. henselae.
Introducción: se estima que cada año 700.000 personas cometen suicidio, es decir, un suicidio cada 40 segundos. Esta es la tercera causa de muerte en los jóvenes entre 20 y 24 años, y representa la ...tasa más alta de muerte en la región de las Américas en el grupo poblacional entre los 45 y 59 años. Objetivo: orientar hacia la prevención del suicidio a la población en general de la Universidad de los Llanos en Villavicencio, Meta. Materiales y métodos: intervenciones colectivas con base en el contenido temático del curso virtual Prevención de la autolesión y el suicidio: empoderamiento de los profesionales de atención primaria de salud, del Campus Virtual de Salud Pública de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Resultados: participaron 74 personas, a las que se les aplicó una encuesta pre y pos intervenciones, en la que se encontró que el 62 % reconoció los factores de riesgo frente al suicidio, el 55 % los síntomas frecuentes, el 61 % las señales de alerta y el 76,2 % aprendió estrategias de prevención. Conclusiones: el predominio de participación de adolescentes interesados en la prevención del suicidio supone la necesidad de más estudios de esta índole en espacios académicos o universitarios.
Introduction: It is estimated that every year 700,000 people commit suicide, that is, one suicide every 40 seconds, making it the third leading cause among those between 20 and 24 years of age, with ...the highest rate of death in the region of the Americas among those aged 45. and 59 years. Objective: To guide the general population of the Universidad de los Llanos in Villavicencio - Meta towards suicide prevention. Materials and methods: Collective interventions based on the thematic content of the Virtual Course - Prevention of self-harm and suicide: empowerment of primary health care professionals of the Virtual Campus of Public Health of the Pan American Health Organization. Results: 74 people participated, to whom a pre and post crisis survey was applied, in which it was found: 62% recognized the risk factors for suicide, 55% the frequent symptoms, 61% the warning signs and 76, 2% learned suicide prevention strategies. Conclusions: The predominance of adolescent participation interested in suicide prevention implies the need for more studies of this nature in academic or university spaces.
Introducción: se estima que cada año 700.000 personas cometen suicidio, es decir, un suicidio cada 40 segundos. Esta es la tercera causa de muerte en los jóvenes entre 20 y 24 años, y representa la tasa más alta de muerte en la región de las Américas en el grupo poblacional entre los 45 y 59 años. Objetivo: orientar hacia la prevención del suicidio a la población en general de la Universidad de los Llanos en Villavicencio, Meta. Materiales y métodos: intervenciones colectivas con base en el contenido temático del curso virtual Prevención de la autolesión y el suicidio: empoderamiento de los profesionales de atención primaria de salud, del Campus Virtual de Salud Pública de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Resultados: participaron 74 personas, a las que se les aplicó una encuesta pre y pos intervenciones, en la que se encontró que el 62 % reconoció los factores de riesgo frente al suicidio, el 55 % los síntomas frecuentes, el 61 % las señales de alerta y el 76,2 % aprendió estrategias de prevención. Conclusiones: el predominio de participación de adolescentes interesados en la prevención del suicidio supone la necesidad de más estudios de esta índole en espacios académicos o universitarios.
Durante el siglo XX, los desarrollismos latinoamericanos incorporaron un sentido de integración social basado en una oferta estatal de certidumbre. La legitimidad social y política del Estado estaba ...en gran medida amparada en un conjunto de políticas de producción de seguridad jurídica, de bienestar y de certezas en cuanto a la proyección de la vida, tanto en el ámbito laboral, ambiental como también territorial. Esta respuesta política a las incertidumbres estructurales e inherentes de la modernidad y de los modernismos, marcó el sentido y espíritu de una parte significativa de las políticas, programas y grandes pactos sociales impulsados por los Estados. Al final de la página descargar convocatoria Polis 47
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