Route Of Transmission To Humans Research Articles

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of toxoplasmosis in patients with vision problems

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease; it can cause decreased vision or even blindness. The route of transmission in humans may vary according to the habits of the region; probably the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat is the main source of infection. To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in an eye clinic, the frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) and risk habits for acquiring the infection. Adult patients consulting in the Retina Department of the Teaching Hospital of the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay between August and September, 2014 were included. Prior informed consent, socio-demographic and epidemiological data related to T. gondii infection were obtained. In addition a blood sample for the determination of anti T. gondii IgG antibodies by the ELISA method was taken and ophthalmologic evaluation for the diagnosis of OT was made. A total of 80 patients with mean ± SD age of 53 ± 20 years were studied, with slight predominance of women (55%). The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 84% (67/80) and OT was detected in 8.9% of the 67 seropositive persons. The habit of not washing vegetables with sodium hypochlorite and eat meat from wild animals was related to higher risk of infection in this population. It is important to conduct research at the population level to establish the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in our country. Information on prophylactic measures to prevent infection by T. gondii should be given to the population.

Pathogenesis of Hendra and Nipah virus infection in humans

Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) are emerging zoonotic viruses that cause severe and often lethal respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans. Henipaviruses can infect a wide range of species and human-to-human transmission has been observed for NiV. While the exact route of transmission in humans is not known, experimental infection in different animal species suggests that infection can be efficiently initiated after respiratory challenge. The limited data on histopathological changes in fatal human cases of HeV and NiV suggest that endothelial cells are an important target during the terminal stage of infection; however, it is unknown where these viruses initially establish infection and how the virus disseminates from the respiratory tract to the central nervous system and other organs. Here we review the current concepts in henipavirus pathogenesis in humans.

Lagochilascaris minor Leiper, 1909 (Nematoda: Ascarididae) in Mexico: three clinical cases from the Peninsula of Yucatan

Human lagochilascariasis (HL) is a parasite produced by Lagochilascaris minor Leiper 1909 that also can be found in cats and dogs. HL is considered an emerging zoonosis in the Americas, spreading from Mexico to Argentina, and the Caribbean Islands. The present paper describes three HL cases from the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico, recorded in the last decade. It describes the characteristics of the lesions and discusses the route of transmission in humans and particularly in the observed patients.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE AND INFECTION BY CAMPYLOBACTER SPP. IN DOGS OF CORDOBA (SPAIN)

Several species of Campylobacter genus are the most frequent agents isolated from human patients with food-borne toxi-infections. Feeding of chicken meat contaminated with C. jejuni and C. coli is the main route of human transmission. Nevertheless, the transmission by direct contact with pets (mainly dogs) that can be enteric hosts for several species like C. jejuni, C. coli or C. upsaliensis is widely accepted

Chronic infection with hepatitis G virus in relation to hepatocellular carcinoma among non-Asians in Los Angeles County, California.

The recently identified hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a hepatotropic RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. The virus causes chronic viremia, and exposure to blood products is a recognized route of transmission in humans. To the authors' knowledge there is scant information regarding the hepatocarcinogenic potential of HGV. The current study examined the association between HGV infection and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A population-based, case-control study involving 144 non-Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were ages 18-74 years at diagnosis and 252 community controls of similar age, gender, and race was conducted in Los Angeles, California. Study subjects were assessed for serologic markers of infections with the hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen, and antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen), hepatitis C virus (HCV) (anti-HCV and HCV RNA), and HGV (HGV RNA). Twelve of the 144 hepatocellular carcinoma patients (8.3%) and 5 of the 252 control subjects (2.0%) were positive for serum HGV RNA. The presence of HGV RNA in the serum was associated with a statistically significant 5.4-fold risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (95% confidence limit, 1.8, 16.6). The excess risk for hepatocellular carcinoma among HGV-infected individuals was independent of the effects of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections. Chronic infection with HGV may play a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. If the observed statistical association is a causal one, then infection with HGV may account for approximately 8% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases occurring in non-Asians in Los Angeles, California.