The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a group of chronic parasitic and related infections that promote poverty because of their impact on child development, pregnancy, and worker productivity. The estimated 20 million Mexicans who live below the poverty line suffer disproportionately from a high prevalence of neglected tropical diseases such as amebiasis, Chagas disease, dengue, leishmaniasis, soil-transmitted helminth infections, trachoma, and vivax malaria. However, because the NTDs occur predominantly among the poor, new industrial and financial models are required to establish innovative technologies to address these conditions in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. In response, the Slim Initiative for Antipoverty Vaccine Development was established to foster a public/private partnership between key academic, government, and industrial institutions in the U.S. and Mexico. Initial emphasis will be placed on developing new vaccines for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, two of the highest burden NTDs in Mexico and Mesoamerica.

El término tecnología adecuada se refiere a la tecnología sanitaria que se crea, produce, ofrece y monitorea en un contexto general donde se toman en cuenta los sistemas, las personas y la comunidad. Esta tecnología abarca el diseño, desarrollo y adopción de productos sanitarios, entre ellos nuevos medicamentos, vacunas y métodos diagnósticos, y de medios computadorizados aplicables a la genómica funcional, vigilancia epidemiológica, evaluación de la carga de morbilidad, adjudicación de recursos sanitarios, creación de modelos matemáticos y análisis de efectividad en función del costo. En conjunto, estos medios son especialmente promisorios para el control y la eliminación de diversas enfermedades tropicales que han recibido escasa atención. Actualmente, buena parte de la investigación y el desarrollo en torno a tecnologías adecuadas está a cargo de alianzas formadas recientemente entre los sectores público y privado. No obstante, es preciso incrementar la investigación y el entrenamiento en este campo en las escuelas de salud pública de América del Norte en vista de los efectos sanitarios y económicos que se calcula que tendrá la tecnología adecuada en países en desarrollo.

A cross-sectional study in Itagua, Paraguay tested 192 people for the presence, intensity and species of hookworm infection. Fifty-nine percent of these individuals were found to be infected. Intensity of infection was determined on 92% of infected individuals by quantitative egg counts. The high intensity hookworm infections, which cause the greatest morbidity, were clustered between the ages of five and 14 years. No differences were seen between genders. The species of hookworm was determined for parasites reared from 72% of infected individuals. Both Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale were identified, although the former species predominated. We conclude that hookworm infection continues to be a public health problem in Paraguay, particularly among children and adolescents who suffer from high intensity infections. A. duodenale continues to persist in the Western Hemisphere and has not been completely displaced by N. americanus.