Objective: To determine the prevalence of human fasciolosis in an endemic area by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using cystatin as a capture agent for the detection of specific antibodies to Fasciola hepatica cysteine proteinases. Material and methods: An ELISA plate was sensitized with cystatin, incubated with excretory-secretory products of adult flukes, and followed by standard ELISA procedures. Clinical applicability of the cystatin capture ELISA for the immunodiagnosis of fasciolosis was tested with 200 serum samples of children and adults from an endemic area in Chupaca province, Junin department. Results: Serum samples from the endemic area tested by cystatin capture ELISA showed 27/ 200 (13,5%) of positive cases. Conclusions: Fasciolosis remains a major health problem at Chupaca province, Junin department.

Background: Paragonimiasis is a lung disease caused by Paragonimus trematodes genus. Human infection laboratory diagnosis is usually done by detection of parasite eggs in sputum or feces; however, findings may be negative and alternative diagnostic methods are required. Objectives: To compare three serologic tests for detection of Paragonimus mexicanus somatic antigen (PmAS) antibodies in serum samples of cats infected experimentally. Design: Experimental study. Setting: Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Daniel A. Carrión” bioterium, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biologic material: Domestic cats 4-6 years old and P. mexicanus (PmAS) crude somatic antigen. Interventions: Blood samples were collected from twelve domestic cats infected with P. mexicanus. Serum samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), double diffusio...

Introduction. Carrion’s disease, caused by the bacterium Bartonella bacilliformis, is a reemerging disease in Perú, which is conventionally diagnosed by blood smear and culture, which are not very sensitive methods, requiring alternative diagnostic methods. Objectives. To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) using a sonicated antigen obtained from a Bartonella sp. strain, to detect antibodies against the bacteria compared to the culture as reference standard. Methods. The test antigen was obtained by sonication of an isolate of Bartonella sp., grown in a biphasic medium with and without sheep blood. The reactivity of the sonic antigen was evaluated by the CIEP using 123 sera from people, of which 60 were from patients with a clinical and bacteriological diagnosis of Carrión’s disease, 54 from pe...

Objective: To measure the protective barriers use frequency by undergraduate Medical Technology School students during their elective period at both the University and the hospital. Design: Survey study. Setting: Daniel A. Carrion Tropical Medicine Institute, San Marcos Major National University. Participants: Technology Professional Academic School students. Interventions: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire covering sex, age, and protective barriers was distributed to 68 fourth- and fifthyear medical technician students at the University of San Marcos, School of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine. Main outcome measures: Gown, gloves, pipete pumps and mask use. Results: Sixty-five students (95,5%) returned the questionnaire. The use of gowns, gloves, pipette pumps, and masks was 98,5%, 49,2%, 33,8% and 9,2% at the University, and 78,9%, 78,9%, 52,6% and 26,3% in the hospit...

Se describe las características microbiológicas y anatomopatológicas de una serie de pacientes con bronquiectasias sangrantes que fueron negativos a tuberculosis, HIV y neoplasias, en estudios preliminares. Se desarrolló una evaluación microbiológica y anatomopatológica en búsqueda de hongos, tuberculosis, gérmenes comunes y neoplasia pulmonar, sobre 24 piezas operatorias de pacientes con hemoptisis por bronquiectasias sangrantes con antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar o de contacto con personas que padecían esa enfermedad. El hongo Aspergillus es el principal y único agente infeccioso presente en los pacientes con bronquiectasia sangrante en este estudio.

Objetivos: Caracterizar las moléculas de respuesta humoral anti Paragonimus mexicanus/P. peruvianus para diferenciar la infección en fase aguda y fase crónica, mediante la evaluación de la dinámica de la respuesta inmune. Diseño: Observacional, longitudinal. Institución: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Daniel A. Carrión, Facultad de Medicina, UNMSM Material biológico: Animales de experimentación. Principales medidas de resultados: Determinación de IgG e IgM anti Paragonimus. Resultados: Existió diferencia significativa de medias de la DO entre los grupos crónico y no infectados para los anticuerpos IgG anti ES de Paragonimus. Los anticuerpos IgM anti Paragonimus tuvieron una ligera elevación entre los días 7 a 20 post inoculación (pi), y una tendencia hacia la disminución entre los días 40 y 60 pi. Conclusiones: La dinámica de producción de anticuerpos IgG e IgM anti P...

Objetivos: Detectar el genoma proviral de HTLV-1 mediante el desarrollo de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Diseño: Descriptivo. Institución: D.A. Microbiología Médica, Facultad de Medicina, UNMSM. Participantes: Personas con y sin sospecha de HTLV-I. Principales medidas de resultados: detección de HTLV-1 mediante PCR. Resultados: El 71,4% de los pacientes con sospecha clínica de HTLV-I fue reactivo por métodos Inmunológico. Elisa HTLV I-II Biokit detectó 5 casos reactivos (X=2,359 ± DE: 0,7309); los dos casos con sospecha clínica de HTLV- I fueron no reactivos (DO: 0,007 y 0,04); los tres casos con antecedente clínico de estrongiloidiosis fueron no reactivos al Elisa (DO: 0,029, 0,001 y 0,00). El promedio de los sueros no reactivos con antecedente clínico de HTLV-1 y estrongiloidiosis fue 0,0154 ±0,018. En el grupo de voluntarios sanos, el promedio de las DO fue...