Northeastern Colombia Research Articles

S168 Associated Factors With Malignancy in Pancreatic Neoplasms in a Population From Northeastern Colombia

S168 Associated Factors With Malignancy in Pancreatic Neoplasms in a Population From Northeastern Colombia

Core self-evaluation:an empirical study in the in the Colombian context

core self-evaluation (CSE) refers to the essential judgments individuals make regarding their self-performance. This study aims to empi-rically examine the correlation between employee’s CSE and key organizational variables, encompassing happiness, motivation, job satisfaction,work commitment, and person-job fit. Through a cross-sectional self-administered instrument, the research delves into the perspectives of 241employees within four retail industry companies in northeastern Colombia. Employing a partial least squares-structural equation model, theanalysis explores the relationships among these variables. The results identify a lack of full reciprocity in the examined associations. When treating CSE as the dependent variable, the study validates only the hypotheses proposing job satisfaction and motivation as independent variables.Nevertheless, a significant association emerges between CSE, and all examined organizational variables when applying a supplemental analysiswith inverted hypotheses. These findings emphasize the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to enhance organizational outcomes for employees in a business setting. Furthermore, they suggest that, beyond conventional knowledge, CSR could function as a significant catalyst for various organizational behaviors, thereby advocating for its exploration and application in similar studies.

Variables Associated With In-Hospital Lethality in COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study From Colombia.

The emergence of COVID-19 represents the most significant health crisis in recent history. Incidence and mortality rates depend on several factors. Many studies have focused on investigating which characteristics could be strongly related to higher mortality and lethality. This study aims to analyze the variables associated with in-hospital mortality among patients admitted in a reference northeastern region of a Colombian institution. An ambidirectional cohort, single-center studywas carried out in a reference hospital in northeastern Colombia. All patients admitted to the Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander (FOSCAL) between March 2020 and September 2021, with COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive test, were included. A total of 3,028 patients were included, of whom 2,034 (67.8%) survived and 994 (32.8%) died during their hospital stay; 48.8% (1,479) of the patients were female.The most common comorbidities were hypertension (1,236 patients, 40.8%), obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30; 656 patients, 21.6%), and diabetes (618 patients, 20.4%).The average age of the surviving patients was 52.2 years, while for the deceased patients, it was 70.3 years. The variables that showed significant association with in-hospital mortality were as follows: male sex ≥ 45 years, dyspnea, oxygen saturation (SatO2) < 85%, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of >1. Male sex, age ≥ 45 years, dyspnea, SatO2 < 85%, hypertension, CKD, and a CCI score of >1 were associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19-infected patients.

Growth of peaches at three altitudes in the Santander mountains of Northeastern Colombia

A study was conducted in the high tropics in the province of Pamplona, Colombia, with the objective of evaluating the growth of peach, Jarillo variety, under three different altitudes (1670, 1870, and 2170 masl). A total of eight trees were sampled per altitude for the purposes of this study. Ten fruits were taken from the middle third, and their mass was measured as follows: fresh and dry from the fruit and fruit pulp, pulp-seed ratio, and the roundness index during the three stages of development after defoliation. A multivariate analysis of variance and a nested longitudinal mixed model were employed to analyze the total fresh mass from three altitudes. The simple effects of altitude and the phenological stages and their interaction were found to be significant when the nested structure of the random effects, fruits nested in trees, and trees in altitudes were incorporated. The effects of time and altitude demonstrated a significant interaction for all variables. In all cases, 1670 masl was the altitude which had the highest fresh mass and the pulp-seed relationship, which it allowed a higher percentage of pulp from harvested fruits for agro-industrial processes. The pattern of relationship between fruit-associated variables as a function of days after defoliation was explained using a second-order polynomial regression model.

In-depth analysis of the medical supply for indigenous people in North-Eastern Colombia: a dominance of infectious diseases and only insufficient therapeutic options

BackgroundColombian indigenous Wiwas are exposed to a variety of partly complex medical conditions with a predominance of infectious diseases. The study provided here aims at verifying of falsifying previous suspicions on therapeutic shortcomings and neglect of disease categories.Material and methodsLocal diagnoses within various subpopulations of indigenous Wiwas obtained by a study physician and local health brigades and health points between 2017 and 2018 were coded following the ICD 10 classification from 2019. Proportions of diagnoses per ICD-10 sub-chapter were evaluated to find diseases and to rank the occurrence of diagnoses in the population of indigenous people. Thereafter, the available medication provided by the indigenous health care provider Dusakawi for the treatment of the indigenous patients was analyzed in regard of its sufficiency to cover the recorded diseases.ResultsThe majority of the diseases found in the communities cannot at all (32%) or only partially (56%) be treated according to available guidelines. Only few (12%), predominantly infectious diseases, were covered completely by the provided medication. Notably, there are some ICD chapters with diseases that do only rarely appear at all in the gained datasets, e.g., complications during birth, mental disorders or cancer.ConclusionsAn expansion and revision of the medical supply for the indigenous population of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is needed. An emergency kit for medical brigades and health points should be provided and in place. Awareness for neglected diseases needs to be created.

First record of ectoparasites (Phthiraptera and Acari) from the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) in Colombia.

Several species of ectoparasites, including chewing lice and mites are closely associated with their hosts. The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is globally listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and its population has been steadily declining in recent decades suggesting a potential extinction of associated entomofauna. The purpose of this study was to record the species of ectoparasites infesting three individuals of Andean condor found dead in the 'Páramo del Almorzadero' Santander Department, Northeastern Colombia. One juvenile (male) and two adults (male and female) Andean condors received for necropsy were carefully examined for ectoparasite infestation. Specimens were collected and preserved in ethanol (70%) for taxonomic studies. Morphologic identification and morphometric records were made under light microscopy. Some specimens were also prepared for scanning electron microscopy and others were subjected to DNA extraction to amplify and obtain sequences of the cytochrome-C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for phylogenetic analyses. Lice were collected from the juvenile condor and the adult female and identified as Falcolipeurus assesor (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) in the juvenile condor (8 females, 19 males and 8 nymphs) and the adult (1 female); Colpocephalum trichosum (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) in the juvenile (19 females, 24 males and 1 nymph) and the adult (2 females, 2 males and 3 nymphs); and Cuculiphilus zonatus (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) in the juvenile (40 females, 43 males and 15 nymphs) and the adult (1 male and 2 nymphs). Moreover, one mite collected from the juvenile condor was identified as Ancyralges cathartinus (Acari: Astigmata) (1 female). Morphometric data was obtained for the adult stages of F. assesor (6 females and 13 males), C. trichosum (9 females and 9 males) and C. zonatus (10 females and 10 males). We obtained the first DNA sequences of COI for F. assessor, and C. trichosum, where phylogenetic tree analysis showed that F. assessor is more closely related to Falcolipeurus marginalis, and C. trichosum to Colpocephalum kelloggi. This represents the first record of parasites in Andean condor from Colombia and contributes to the knowledge of chewing lice and mites associated with an endemic and endangered bird species. Further studies on Andean condor ectoparasites should be focused on documenting host-parasite interactions and potential health impacts in these wild birds.

Time-Dependent Risk for Recurrence in Survivors of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events.

The prevalence of the population with a history of an occlusive cardiovascular event has been increasing in recent years, which means that a large number of patients will have a higher risk of presenting a fatal recurrence. The aim is to determine variables associated with time-to-recurrent cardiovascular events and analyze how changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels during follow-up may be associated with this time-to-event. This is a prospective observational cohort study of 727 adults with a history of at least one occlusive cardiovascular eventrecruited at a referral hospital in northeastern Colombia. Data from a follow-up period of a maximum of 33 months (median 26 months) (one death) were used to define how clinical and sociodemographic variables impact the recurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Analyses were performed based on proportional hazardmodels and time-dependent hazard models. Upon enrollment, 215 (30%) of the participants reported experiencing their most recent cardiovascular event within the preceding year. After two years, the recurrence rate was 12.38% (90/727). The risk of recurrence before two years was 3.9% (95% CI 2.7-5.6). In the multiple models, the presence of severe depression gives a Hazard Ratio of 8.25 (95% CI 2.98-22.86) and LDL ≥120 md/dl Hazard Ratio of 2.12 (95% CI 1.2 -3.9). It was found that LDL >120 mg/dl maintained over time increases the chances of recurrence by 1.7% (Hazard Ratio: 1.017, 95% CI 0.008-0.025). The present study allows us to identify a profile of patients who should be treated promptly in an interdisciplinary manner to avoid recurrences of coronary events.

Epidemiological assessment of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia bovis infections in Colombian creole cattle breeds: A molecular survey in northeastern Colombia

Anaplasmosis and babesiosis are globally distributed arthropod-borne diseases known for causing substantial economic losses due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aims to assess the frequency and epidemiological features associated with the infection of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia bovis in three Creole cattle breeds (Chino Santandereano (Chino), Casanareño (CAS), and Sanmartinero (SM)) in northeastern Colombia. Between June 2019 and March 2020, a total of 252 Creole cattle were sampled, with Chino, CAS, and SM accounting for 42.8%, 29.5%, and 29.5% of the samples, respectively. Blood samples were subjected to molecular analysis to detect the DNA of A. marginale, B. bigemina, and B. bovis, using species-specific primers. Additionally, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total serum proteins, and body condition were evaluated. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of B. bigemina, A. marginale, and B. bovis in 83.7% (211/252; 95% CI = 79.1%–88.3%), 59.9% (151/252; 95% CI = 53.8%–66.1%), and 40.9% (103/252; 95% CI = 34.7%–46.9%) of the samples, respectively, with 69% (174/252; 95% CI = 57.8%–80.3%) exhibiting coinfections. Notably, in infected animals, no significant alterations in PCV, total serum proteins, or body condition were observed. Multivariate analyses indicated a statistically significant association between the frequency of A. marginale infection and the breed and season, with a higher frequency in SM during the rainy season (P < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first molecular survey that evaluates multiple arthropod-borne pathogens in Colombian Creole breeds. The results revel a high frequency of B. bigemina and A. marginale infections, coupled with a notable frequency of coinfections, all without significant alteration in the PCV, total serum proteins and body conditions. Our findings enhance the understanding of the epidemiological aspects of arthropod-borne pathogens in Colombian Creole breed and contribute to the improvement of sanitary programs for these animals.

Solar energy: a source for water disinfection in Colombia

Colombia, due to its geographical position, receives a high solar radiation throughout the year. This implies that the country has great potential for solar energy production, but can also use this resource to enhance the living conditions of its inhabitants by using solar radiation to improve the quality of drinking water. Mainly in rural areas, the country has serious problems with drinking water for its inhabitants. This generates high morbidity and mortality, especially in children under five. The main purpose of this preliminary work was to investigate if weather conditions in northeastern Colombia permit to use the sun's energy to disinfect water from water sources which are normally heavily contaminated. The results are encouraging and may lead to establish programs for appropriate use of this technology in areas where the construction of treatment plants very difficult.

Variability, cycles, and trends of mean air temperature north of Colombia

Climate variability is of global interest due to its socioeconomic and environmental effects on the world’s population. In Colombia, temperature changes affect food security, especially for the most vulnerable people in the Caribbean region. We analyzed monthly air temperature in northeastern Colombia (Cesar, La Guajira, and Magdalena departments). We reconstructed time series with missing data using nonlinear principal component analysis. Subsequently, temporal variability, associations with events of climatic variability, and temporal trends were evaluated. Periodicity analyses indicate the dominance of annual variability, although statistically significant associations with periods between 3 and 7 years show the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The Spearman correlation coefficient with N = 360 and 95% significance shows a better association with the Multivariate ENSO Index (rsp mean = 0.38) and the Southern Oscillation Index (rsp mean = –0.32). The multi-year monthly analysis shows positive trends, with maximum values between March (1.04 ºC month–1), and June (1.07 ºC month–1) in the valley of the Cesar department, and a minimum in March, at the northernmost La Guajira (0.2 ºC month–1).

Co-opted energy transitions: Coal, wind, and the corporate politics of decarbonization in Colombia

Latin America has long been a key site of resource extraction, acting as a sacrifice zone for the Global North's fossil fuel needs. Now, the region is pushing for an "energy transition" by opening its own electric grid to renewable sources. Using a case study from La Guajira, in Northeastern Colombia, we argue that energy corporations are appropriating and deploying the concept of energy transitions to fashion themselves as climate conscious, post-extractive, and environmentally caring actors. Based on ethnographic evidence from coal mining and wind energy companies, we argue that the corporate co-optation of the energy transition agenda plays out in public narratives and representations, environmental projects, and community relations. Drawing on insights from the political ecology of energy transitions and low-carbon infrastructures, we contend that corporate transition agendas are more than smoke and mirrors; they are tangible and consequential processes that perpetuate environmental conflicts, sustain forms of "green" accumulation, and foreclose the possibility of a just transition. In unraveling the competing yet entangled agendas of coal and wind companies, this article renders visible the continuities between fossil fuels and renewable energy in Latin America and beyond.

Culm anatomy of the genus Otatea (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae, Guaduinae) as a contribution to Mexican species identification

Otatea is a Neotropical woody bamboo genus with thirteen described species. It is distributed from Mexico to Central America and northeastern Colombia. In Mexico, the archaeological evidence suggests that the culms of Otatea have been used for centuries by some ethnic groups. It is important to explore morphological and anatomical characters for species identification in woody bamboos as consequence of its monocarpic nature. Most studies on culm anatomy are centered on commercially used species describing their physical and mechanical properties. The aim of this work was to find culm anatomical characters with taxonomic value. To perform this, we collected internode samples from adult plants at mid culm of 15 specimens that represent 10 described species and two putative new species of Otatea. Our results include descriptions of culm anatomy at a cross section accompanied with images that detail all the structures measured and described. Additionally, we elaborate a key based on anatomical characters. This contribution is the first to explore culm anatomy of the genus Otatea in search for characters with taxonomic value, providing useful evidence for species identification, including samples from archaeological sites.

General Hospitalization and Intensive Care Unit-Related Factors of COVID-19 Patients in Northeastern Colombia: Baseline Characteristics of a Cohort Study.

Objective This study aims to describe demographic and clinical characteristics and the factors associated with the risk of COVID-19 general hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) care of patients who consulted in a third-level hospital in Santander, Colombia. Methods We used baseline data from an ambidirectional cohort study. We included all patients with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for COVID-19 who came to the emergency room (ER) for respiratory symptoms related to COVID-19. Information regarding patients' baseline characteristics and symptoms was collected through telephone interviews and review of medical records. Vital signs were extracted from medical records as well. Results We enrolled 3,030 patients, predominantly men, with a median age of 60(interquartile range (IQR): 44-73). Symptoms of the acute phase varied between men and women. Men presented with more respiratory symptoms, and women had general symptoms. Hypertension, obesity, and diabetes were common risk factors for hospital admission. Antibiotic consumption may also play a role in hospital admission. Conclusions Male sex, older age,hypertension, obesity, prior thrombotic events, and self-medicated antibiotics were associated with general hospitalization. Hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cancer were associated with ICU admission. The Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) is a powerful tool for evaluate the impact of pre-existing health conditions on COVID-19 hospital admission. We highlight the importance of these findings as possible predictors in our region.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the infection by Babesia, Theileria and Trypanosoma species in horses from northeastern Colombia

Piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis are debilitating diseases of great economic impact on the equine industry of Latin America. Considering the lack of studies in the northeastern part of Colombia, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical and genetic features associated with infection of the Babesia, Theileria, and Trypanosoma species in horses from this geographical area. Two hundred and eighty horses from the Arauca, Meta, and Santander departments were molecularly analyzed for infection with Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Trypanosoma evansi, and Trypanosoma vivax. Furthermore, clinical, epidemiological and entomological analyses were performed on the data sets. Molecular analysis showed 25.7% and 3.9% prevalence for T. equi and T. evansi, respectively, without positive animals for B. caballi and T. vivax. There were no differences in the prevalence of T. equi between departments, whereas T. evansi was detected exclusively in Santander. A total of 633 ticks were collected from 72 horses across the three departments, with 84.7% corresponding to Dermacentor nitens, 10.9% to Amblyomma cajennense (sensu lato) (s.l). and 4.4% to Rhipicephalus microplus. For T. equi, genetic analyses showed that Colombian isolates belong to genotype C of species, along with sequences of Brazil and Mexico. Epidemiological analysis revealed a significant association between tick infestation and lack of vector control with molecular infection of T. equi, whereas clinical analysis revealed a significant reduction in packed cell volume, red blood cells, and mean corpuscular volume in positive animals to this pathogen. Furthermore, molecular infection by T. evansi was associated with epidemiological characteristics in the Santander department. In conclusion, our analysis revealed a moderate infection rate by T. equi of genotype C in horses from northeastern Colombia, which affects their clinical conditions. Control of ticks and treatment of symptomatic animals should be considered to reduce the economic impact associated with these infections in the equine industry.

Restructuring palm oil value chain governance in Colombia through long‐term labour control

AbstractIn this paper, I argue that the cumulative effects of coercive and indirect labour discipline enable firms to reorganize production. Through a historical analysis of the palm oil industry in northeastern Colombia, I identify changing forms of value chain governance in relation to transformations in labour control regimes. The combined effects of multiple labour control strategies have weakened labour power and workers' overall possibilities to shape value chain governance. In this case, labour coercion directly diminished workers' associational power and enabled labour flexibilization in the industry, limiting workers' structural power. A dialogue between the Global Value Chains framework and Critical Agrarian Studies, with a focus on labour regimes, highlights that labour flexibilization can build on past instances of coercive control to transform the structure of a value chain. This research illustrates that coercion is not necessarily “extra‐economic” but is often intrinsic to the organization of the global economy.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATION FOR BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS IN NORTE DE SANTANDER’S MINING SECTOR

Currently, Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) are considered great allies in chalking up business strategies, and it has been known that thanks to it, different productive and service sectors have been benefiting in different ways such as increased productivity, improvements in the quality of work of employees, and streamlining of processes, among others. This study aims to describe the current situation of the use of ICTs by the mining sector in Norte de Santander (Northeastern Colombia) and the impact on competitiveness. The developed methodology derives from the positivist paradigm, implementing a quantitative approach. This study was based on an analysis carried out by the mining companies of Norte de Santander on the use of ICTs, and the information was collected through the application of surveys. From the results obtained by applying the data from the surveys to the running of companies, it could be inferred that companies in the mining sector of Norte de Santander have shortcomings in terms of including ICTs in business strategies and in the use of these tools for employee training. On the other hand, the use of basic technologies and the competitiveness in the supply and demand of products and services are at a medium level. In conclusion, mining companies fail to take advantage of the potential that ICTs offer in the business world, which today is a necessity for competitiveness in a global context marred with crises like the ones caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords : Information and Communication Technology, Competitiveness, Mining Sector DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.1.56

Study on Croton sp. genetic diversity in the Department of Norte de Santander using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA)

Genetic variability studies on species with a pharmacological potential are essential for conserving genetic resources. A genetic characterization of a species can guide efforts to collect and conserve germplasm for future breeding programs. The Croton genus belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, which has approximately 1,300 species, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has a wide range of ethnobotanical and medicinal uses. The aim of this research was to study genetic variability by analyzing sequences of the internal transcribed space region (ITS1 5'-TCCGTAGGGAACCTGCGGC-3' and ITS4 5'-TCCTCCGCTTATGC-3') of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of a Croton population from forested areas in the Department of Norte de Santander in the municipalities of Chinacota, Pamplona and El Zulia. The results indicated considerable genetic variability in the Croton population, with a nucleotide similarity ranging from 54 to 99% and phylogenetical grouping according to the place of origin. The information gained from the ITS region can be a useful parameter for diversity evaluations and phylogenetic studies since there are no similar studies on Croton in this department in northeastern Colombia.

Risk Factors Associated with Prematurity Other than Infectious Causes: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study in the Colombian Northeast

Introduction: Prematurity causes great morbidity and mortality in childhood, which is why the identification and prevention of risk factors is essential. Objective: To identify the association of non-infectious risk factors with prematurity in two reference centers in northeastern Colombia. Patients and Methods: Multicenter prospective cohort study carried out between January 2019 and March 2020. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling was carried out in pregnant women with a single pregnancy, greater than 20 weeks who were then followed up monthly until the moment of birth. Preterm birth was considered as an outcome variable, after the normality analysis, based on Shapiro-Wilk Test; Chi2 or Fisher tests were performed for qualitative variables, and t-test or Wilcoxon test for quantitative variables, p &lt;0.05 was considered significant and OR was calculated by regression logistics. Results: 559 pregnant women were studied, with 63 preterm births. An association was found between prematurity and gestational obesity (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.52-4.81), hypertensive disorder associated with pregnancy (OR 3.88; 95% CI 2.18-6.90), premature rupture of membranes (OR 3.86 95% CI 1.60-9.29) and previous preterm labor in the current pregnancy (OR 17.39 95% CI 9.57-31.51). Conclusions: Prematurity is significantly associated with gestational obesity, pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorder, premature rupture of membranes, and previous preterm labor in current pregnancy. Further studies would be needed to support these findings.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Leptospira spp. in small ruminants of semi-arid zone in northeastern Colombia.

Leptospirosis in small ruminants is an economically important disease that causes important losses by pathologies of the reproductive tract. The present study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira spp. in small ruminants under traditional husbandry systems. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a sample of 1039 animals which included 793 sheep and 245 goats from 49 farms of 10 municipalities of northeastern areas of Colombia. The MAT test using a panel of 13 laboratory serovars was performed to diagnose the Leptospira spp. antibodies in the serum samples of animals. A structured questionnaire was filled in each farm to obtain information on putative risk factors, and its association with Leptospira spp. infection was detected by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The general seroprevalence showed a rate of 13.9%, the 79.6% of farms showed at least one positive animal, the 14.2% and 0.4% of positive animals showed titers ≥ 1:100 and 1:200, respectively. The seroprevalence in sheep and goats showed a rate of 13.1% and 16.2%, respectively. The most common serovars in positive animals were Autumnalis (3.6%), Tarassovi (3.4%), Bratislava (2.9%), Mini (2.9%), Bataviae (1.4%), Canicola (0.3%), and Grippotyphosa (0.3%). The univariate and multivariate analysis showed as risk factors the absence of housing system (OR = 3.412 CI: 1.347-8.152), the absence of quarantine measures to new animals (OR = 1.371 CI: 0.943-1.978), and the protective factor identified was the use of Toggenburg breed (OR = 0.571 CI: 0.249-1.074). This exploratory study showed the Leptospira spp. positive small ruminants located in the northeastern areas of Colombia with titer associated with chronic and subclinical infection.

Direct and Indirect Proof of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Indigenous Wiwa Communities in North-Eastern Colombia-A Cross-Sectional Assessment Providing Preliminary Surveillance Data.

To provide initial data on local SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology and spread in indigenous communities in north-eastern Colombia, respiratory swabs and serum samples from volunteers of indigenous communities were examined in March and April 2021. Samples from non-indigenous Colombians from the same villages were included as well. While previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was assessed by analysing serum samples for IgG and IgM with a rapid antibody point-of-care-test (POCT), screening for active infections was carried out with an antigen POCT test and real-time PCR from nasal swabs. In 380 indigenous and 72 non-indigenous volunteers, 61 (13.5%) active infections and an additional 113 (25%) previous infections were identified using diagnostic serology and molecular assays. Previous infections were more frequent in non-indigenous volunteers, and relevant associations of clinical features with active or previous SARS-CoV-2 infections were not observed. Symptoms reported were mild to moderate. SARS-CoV-2 was frequent in the assessed Colombian indigenous communities, as 38.5% of the study participants showed signs of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which confirms the need to include these indigenous communities in screening and vaccination programs.