Scorpion sting epidemiology in Montes municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela: geographic distribution

Scorpion stings were surveyed in the Montes Municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela, aiming to extend the information on these poisonous accidents by characterizing their geographic distribution. From 1980 to 1990, 184 cases of scorpion stings were recorded with an incidence rate of 38.6 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The locality of San Fernando presented the highest incidence (68.3(0)/000) of poisonous accidents. The highest percentages of severe cases were recorded in the towns of Arenas (27%), San Lorenzo (21%), and Cocollar (19%), which are located at the foot of the Turimiquire Mountains. This region is a dispersion area of scorpions of the Tityus genus. Our results show that this region of the State of Sucre is endemic for scorpion stings which are an important public health problem.

Molecular characterization of Salmonella strains in individuals with acute diarrhea syndrome in the State of Sucre, Venezuela

INTRODUCTION:In Venezuela, acute diarrheic syndrome (ADS) is a primary cause of morbi-mortality, often involving the Salmonella genus. Salmonella infections are associated with acute gastroenteritis, one of the most common alimentary intoxications, and caused by the consumption of contaminated water and food, especially meat. METHODS: Conventional and molecular methods were used to detect Salmonella strains from 330 fecal samples from individuals of different ages and both sexes with ADS. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the molecular characterization of Salmonella, using invA, sefA, and fliC genes for the identification of this genus and the serotypes Enteritidis and Typhimurium, respectively. RESULTS: The highest frequency of individuals with ADS was found in children 0-2 years old (39.4%), and the overall frequency of positive coprocultures was 76.9%. A total of 14 (4.2%) strains were biochemically and immunologically identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, of which 7 were classified as belonging to the Enteritidis serotype, 4 to the Typhimurium serotype, and 3 to other serotypes. The S. enterica strains were distributed more frequently in the age groups 3-4 and 9-10 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular characterization method used proved to be highly specific for the typing of S. enterica strains using DNA extracted from both the isolated colonies and selective enrichment broths directly inoculated with fecal samples, thus representing a complementary tool for the detection and identification of ADS-causing bacteria.

Spatial and temporal distribution of anopheline larvae in two malarious areas in Sucre State, Venezuela

The spatial and temporal distribution of anopheline larvae was studied in two coastal malarious areas of Sucre, State, Venezuela. Seven habitat types were sampled in the village of Guayana and eight species of Anopheles were collected. Anopheles aquasalis was the predominant species collected and was most abundant in the brackish marsh habitat (71 larvae per 100 samples). It was most abundant during the rainy season. At the second location, Santa F e, six habitat types were sampled and four anopheline species were collected. Habitats where An. aquasalis was most abundant were temporary freshwater ponds (34 larvae per 100 samples) and mangroves (10.5 larvae per 100 samples). At this location it was also most abundant in the rainy season. During the dry season it was collected in small numbers in river pools (1.3 larvae per 100 samples) along with large numbers of An. pseudopunctipennis (479 larvae per 100 samples). Larval control could be an important component of the malaria control program because major habitats could be defined and presence and abundance of larvae was limited to specific times of year.

Adult abundance, biting behavior and parity of Anopheles aquasalis, Curry 1932 in two malarious areas of Sucre State, Venezuela

The principal vector of malaria in eastern Venezuela, Anopheles aquasalis, is exophagic and exophilic. Control using indoor insecticide house sprays has failed to lower the number of malaria cases. Therefore, studies were initiated in two villages of the eastern coastal state of Sucre to better understand this vector's biology and develop a more integrated control program. An. aquasalis was found to have a crepuscular biting behavior with a major peak at dusk and a minor peak at dawn. Mosquitos were collected more outdoors than indoors. Forty-seven percent of the biting took place before people went to bed (22:30 hr) and 69% of the mosquitos biting during this time period bite outdoors. Outdoor biting could be the reason why indoor spraying alone did not lower malaria cases. Seasonal abundance was greater in the rainy season compared to the dry season. Seasonal parous rates were high (78.3%-100%) and similar indoors and outdoors and between dry and wet season in Santa F e. In Guayana, the seasonal parity was lower (34.6%-42.2%) than Santa F e with indoor parity slightly higher than outdoors. Malaria cases were higher in Santa F e, but adult mosquito density was much lower than in Guayana. This difference could have been due to higher parity in Santa F e compared to Guayana. The greater distance to the nearest breeding site and presence of alternative hosts in Guayana can not be discounted as factors which contributed to the difference in malaria transmission between locations. We concluded that knowledge on seasonal occurrence, biting activity, resting behavior and breeding site location can be used to design a new control strategy for this vector.

Multiplex-PCR for detection of natural Leishmania infection in Lutzomyia spp. captured in an endemic region for cutaneous leishmaniasis in state of Sucre, Venezuela

We studied the natural infection of Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) sp. with Leishmania in endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Paria peninsula, state of Sucre, Venezuela. Sand flies were collected between March 2001 and June 2003, using Shannon light-traps and human bait. Of the 1291 insects captured, only two species of phlebotomines were identified: L. ovallesi (82.75%) and L. gomezi (17.42%). A sample of the collected sand flies (51 pools of 2-12 individuals) were analyzed by using a multiplex-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of New Word Leishmaniaand Viannia subgenera. The results showed a total of 8 pools (15.68%) infected; of these, 7 were L. ovallesi naturally infected with L. braziliensis (2 pools) and L. mexicana (5 pools) and 1 pool of L. gomezi infected by L. braziliensis.

[Illustrations de L'Art de raffiner le sucre] / Ludovic Simonneau, grav. ; Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, aut. du texte

Comprend : [pl.I en reg. p.78 : moulin à sucre de canne employé en Amérique.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.II en reg. p.78 : cellier où l'on stocke les barils de sucre brut. Raffinage du sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.III en reg. p.78 : la halle aux chaudières. Raffinage du sucre. Planche gravée d'après un dessin de M. Desfriches.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.IV en reg. p.78 : la halle aux chaudières. Raffinage du sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.V en reg. p.78 : comment sont montée les chaudières pour le raffinage du sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.VI en reg. p.78 : diverses formes pour monter les pains de sucre. Raffinage du sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.VII en reg. p.78 : comment travailler au traitement et au raffinage du sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.VIII en reg. p.78 : un grenier dit aux pièces. Raffinage et stockage du sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.IX en reg. p.78 : préparation des pins de sucre avant de le mettre à l'étuve. Manière de les mettre en papier et en corde. La mise en tonne. Le travail des écumes.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218] ; [pl.X en reg. p.78 : détail d'une étuve à sucre.] [Cote : V 3992/Microfilm R 122 218]

Microbis per combatre els excessos de sucre

La microbiota intestinal dels diabètics és diferent. L'absència i l'excés d'alguns bacteris podrien estar darrere de la malaltia, indica un estudi a 'Nature'

Notice sur un arbre à sucre , découvert en Espagne en 1807, dans les montagnes de Navin, province d'Orensée ; par D. R. Armesto. Traduit de l'espagnol

Mécénat texte imprimé : Cet ouvrage a été numérisé grâce à Axelle Gagnard