Biosafety tests were conducted on albino mice (NMRI strain) to evaluate pathogenic effects of a native isolate LF14 of B. bassiana, highly virulent to Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma maculata (Triatominae), vectors of Chagas disease in Venezuela. A total of 1x109 conidias/ml of the fungus was administered to the animals by nasal drops. Body weight control and clinical and behavioural evaluations were done daily. Likewise, clearance of fungus was estimated by direct examination and culturing of intranasal samples, and infectivity by performing mycological and histopathological test after necropsies at 3, 7 and 14 days post-inoculation. Animals no showed discernible pathological changes or death and all had active-normal behaviour. Body weight increased in both treated and control mice groups, with statistically difference between sexes (p<0.0000). Anatomopathological changes were not de...

The short communication shows the results of a clinical trial to evaluate the topical application of precipitated sulphur in petrolatum (10%) in the treatment of chronic feet skin lesions of knemidocoptic mange in two roosters in Coro city, Falcon state, Venezuela. The diagnosis was made by clinical and laboratory examination of scrapings of cutaneous lesions processed with KOH 10% and microscopically observed. The topical treatment was performed every 3 days for 1 month. The evaluation of the treatment was done by observing the evolution of the lesions and scraping of the knemidocoptic lesions and the assessment of the side-effects was done by clinical observation. Both birds recovered from the injuries without side effects. The mixture of precipitated sulfur in petrolatum appears as a simple and inexpensive alternative for the topical treatment of knemidocoptic mange in Gallus gallus d...

Rhodnius prolixus is the main vector of Chagas disease in Venezuela. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous and 50% soy bean oil-based formulations (1x107 conidia/ml) of 13 native Beauveria bassiana (Fungi: Ascomycota) isolates on fourth instar nymphs of Rhodnius prolixus. The conidial suspension were used under laboratory conditions (26 ºC; RH >90%). The treatment was by immersion and mortality and conidiation were evaluated daily for 24 days. The results showed that the fungal soy-bean oil formulations tested were more effective than the aqueous suspension, as attained significantly higher mortality and efficacy percentages and decreased LT50 in the 13 isolates (p88%). LF14 and LF13 isolates showed a higher percentage of accumulated mortality, efficacy and a lowest LT50 in aqueous formulations as well as in oil-based ones. These B. bassiana isolates appears to be...

Intestinal parasites in passerine birds can potentially have zoonotic importance. A study was conducted to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in feces of Carib Grackle, Quiscalus lugubris, populations (Aves, Passeriformes: Icteridae), in the city of Coro, Falcon State, Venezuela. Parasitological examination of the samples (n=156) was conducted by applying the direct smear, Willis-Molloy (NaCl) and Faust (zinc sulphate) flotation methods, spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique and Kinyoun staining. One or up to three intestinal protozoa, helminths and acanthocephalan taxa were detected in 109 (69.9%) fecal samples. Isospora spp (59.0%), Criptosporidium spp (37.8%) and the spiny-headed worm Mediorhynchus spp (6.4%) were the most frequent enteric parasites. All of the detected parasites are new records for Q. lugubris in Venezuela.

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is a columbiform bird species well-adapted to anthropic environments. However, it can serve as a carrier of pathogenic microorganisms of zoonotic interest. Between August 2017 and August 2018 feces of feral populations of domestic pigeons were collected to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in three sites of the city of Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela: University Hospital "Alfredo Van Grieken", a bus terminal and the National Experimental University "Francisco de Miranda". The samples (n=516) were analyzed by five coprological methods: direct test, Willis-Molloy flotation (ClNa), Faust flotation (zinc sulphate), spontaneous sedimentation in tube and Kinyoun staining. The parasitological analysis revealed the presence of 12 parasitic taxa in 54.3% (280/516) of faecal samples, of which several are considered of medical-zoonotic impo...

Mr. Editor We have read with special attention and interest the article by Condemayta et al (2018), where they present the results of an epidemiological study on the prevalence of infection by the intestinal parasite "Balantidium coli" and the risk factors associated with its transmission. in humans and pigs in two populations of the Acora District, province and Department of Puno, Peru. In general, we agree with the content of the article. However, we wish to comment on the taxonomic and systematic status of "Balantidium coli", and the corresponding nomenclature of the enteroparasitic disease it causes, which we consider require updating in light of the new evidence and findings presented in the scientific literature of the area, especially those of the molecular type. In this sense, it should first be indicated that the genus Balantidium belongs to the Phylum Ciliophora (Class Litostom...

Se realizaron pruebas de bioseguridad para evaluar los posibles efectos patogénicos del aislamiento autóctono LF14 de Beauveria bassiana en ratones albinos NMRI; el cual posee una elevada virulencia hacia Rhodnius prolixus y Triatoma maculata (Triatominae), vectores de enfermedad de Chagas en Venezuela. Se administró 1x109 conidias/ml del hongo mediante gotas nasales. Se realizaron observaciones clínicas y de comportamiento, así como de peso corporal en forma diaria y por 14 días. Asimismo, se estimó el aclaramiento fúngico mediante examen directo y cultivo de muestras intranasales, y de infectividad con la toma de muestras de tejidos de varios órganos, incluyendo un estudio histopatológico a los 3, 7 y 14 días después de la inoculación. No ocurrieron muertes ni alteraciones clínico-patológicas discernibles, siendo el tipo de comportamiento activo-normal en el 100% de los ...

Se presentan los resultados de un ensayo clínico para evaluar la aplicación tópica del azufre precipitado en petrolato (10%) en el tratamiento de lesiones cutáneas podales crónicas de sarna knemidocóptica en dos gallos (Gallus gallus domesticus) en la ciudad de Coro, estado Falcón, Venezuela. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante examen clínico y de laboratorio, tomándose muestras de las lesiones dérmicas por raspado, procesadas con KOH (10%) y observadas al microscopio. El tratamiento topical fue realizado cada 3 días durante 1 mes. La evaluación del tratamiento se hizo mediante observación de la evolución y raspado de las lesiones. La valoración de los efectos adversos se hizo mediante observación clínica. Los dos gallos se recuperaron de las lesiones sin observarse efectos secundarios. La mezcla de azufre precipitado en petrolato aparece como una alternativa simple y d...

El triatomino Rhodnius prolixus es el principal vector de la enfermedad de Chagas en Venezuela. En el presente estudio se evaluó el efecto de formulaciones de conidias con base acuosa y aceitosa (soya 50%) de 13 aislamientos nativos del hongo entomopatógeno Beauveria bassiana (Fungi: Ascomycota) en ninfas estadio IV del triatomino Rhodnius prolixus. Se utilizó una concentración de 1x107 conidias/ml bajo condiciones de laboratorio (26 °C, HR >90%). Las suspensiones se aplicaron por inmersión. La mortalidad y la conidiación se evaluaron diariamente durante 24 días. Los resultados mostraron que las suspensiones de conidias aceitosas fueron significativamente más eficientes que las acuosas al incrementar la mortalidad y eficacia y disminuir el TL50 de los aislamientos (p88%). Los aislamientos LF14 y LF13 mostraron los mayores porcentajes de mortalidad acumulada, eficacia y menore...

Intestinal parasites in passerine birds can potentially have zoonotic importance. A study was conducted to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in feces of Carib Grackle, Quiscalus lugubris, populations (Aves, Passeriformes: Icteridae), in the city of Coro, Falcon State, Venezuela. Parasitological examination of the samples (n=156) was conducted by applying the direct smear, Willis-Molloy (NaCl) and Faust (zinc sulphate) flotation methods, spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique and Kinyoun staining. One or up to three intestinal protozoa, helminths and acanthocephalan taxa were detected in 109 (69.9%) fecal samples. Isospora spp (59.0%), Criptosporidium spp (37.8%) and the spiny-headed worm Mediorhynchus spp (6.4%) were the most frequent enteric parasites. All of the detected parasites are new records for Q. lugubris in Venezuela.

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is a columbiform bird species well-adapted to anthropic environments. However, it can serve as a carrier of pathogenic microorganisms of zoonotic interest. Between August 2017 and August 2018 feces of feral populations of domestic pigeons were collected to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in three sites of the city of Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela: University Hospital "Alfredo Van Grieken", a bus terminal and the National Experimental University "Francisco de Miranda". The samples (n=516) were analyzed by five coprological methods: direct test, Willis-Molloy flotation (ClNa), Faust flotation (zinc sulphate), spontaneous sedimentation in tube and Kinyoun staining. The parasitological analysis revealed the presence of 12 parasitic taxa in 54.3% (280/516) of faecal samples, of which several are considered of medical-zoonotic impo...

Mr. Editor We have read with special attention and interest the article by Condemayta et al (2018), where they present the results of an epidemiological study on the prevalence of infection by the intestinal parasite "Balantidium coli" and the risk factors associated with its transmission. in humans and pigs in two populations of the Acora District, province and Department of Puno, Peru. In general, we agree with the content of the article. However, we wish to comment on the taxonomic and systematic status of "Balantidium coli", and the corresponding nomenclature of the enteroparasitic disease it causes, which we consider require updating in light of the new evidence and findings presented in the scientific literature of the area, especially those of the molecular type. In this sense, it should first be indicated that the genus Balantidium belongs to the Phylum Ciliophora (Class Litostom...

Mr. Editor We have read with special attention and interest the article by Condemayta et al (2018), where they present the results of an epidemiological study on the prevalence of infection by the intestinal parasite "Balantidium coli" and the risk factors associated with its transmission. in humans and pigs in two populations of the Acora District, province and Department of Puno, Peru. In general, we agree with the content of the article. However, we wish to comment on the taxonomic and systematic status of "Balantidium coli", and the corresponding nomenclature of the enteroparasitic disease it causes, which we consider require updating in light of the new evidence and findings presented in the scientific literature of the area, especially those of the molecular type. In this sense, it should first be indicated that the genus Balantidium belongs to the Phylum Ciliophora (Class Litostom...

Mr. Editor We have read with special attention and interest the article by Condemayta et al (2018), where they present the results of an epidemiological study on the prevalence of infection by the intestinal parasite "Balantidium coli" and the risk factors associated with its transmission. in humans and pigs in two populations of the Acora District, province and Department of Puno, Peru. In general, we agree with the content of the article. However, we wish to comment on the taxonomic and systematic status of "Balantidium coli", and the corresponding nomenclature of the enteroparasitic disease it causes, which we consider require updating in light of the new evidence and findings presented in the scientific literature of the area, especially those of the molecular type. In this sense, it should first be indicated that the genus Balantidium belongs to the Phylum Ciliophora (Class Litostom...

Mr. Editor We have read with great interest and interest the research work of Quispe-Juli et al (1) carried out in the Ciudad de Dios population, located in the District of Yura, Arequipa, Peru. In this paper, we present the results of a co-parasitological study to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis spp., Etiological agent of blastocystosis or Zierdt-Garavelli disease, and other enteroparasites in 83 school children.