Cultural practices, apart from affecting soil nutrient availability, have an important impact on the nematode population. In the present study, soil nematodes in vegetables and fruits from the horticultural belt extending from Sierra de los Padres to Batan city were analyzed. Free-living nematodes presented an overall frequency of 20.78% on vegetable samples. Four trophic groups were identified: bacteriophages 89.81%, fungivorous 5.55%, omnivores 3.7% and carnivores 0.92%; eight families and 12 genera of nematodes were also identified. The bacteriophage group was the richest with nine genera. The studied farms used to incorporate organic nitrogen through chicken feces and/or inorganic nitrogen through urea. The total abundance of nematodes during the sampling period was higher in spring. The Panagrolaimidae and Rhabditidae families were present in the four seasons. The first family presented elevated frequencies in spring while both of them were highly frequent in winter. This study highlights the potential of vegetables as vehicles for obtaining edaphic nematodes, which are useful as cultivated soils ecological indicators. The present case showed that the bacteriophage group presented the largest frequency and diversity in cultured soils of the Gral. Pueyrredon horticultural belt.

Se ha demostrado que las prácticas de cultivo, además de alterar la disponibilidad de nutrientes del suelo, tienen una importante acción sobre la población de nematodos. En el presente estudio se analizó la fauna de nematodos de suelo en verduras y frutas provenientes del cinturón fruti-hortícola que se extiende desde la zona de Sierra de los Padres hasta la ciudad de Batán, en el partido de General Pueyrredon, provincia de Buenos Aires. El 20,78% de las muestras vegetales presentó nematodos de vida libre. Se identificaron cuatro grupos tróficos: bacteriófagos 89,81%, fungívoros 5,55%, omnívoros 3,7% y carnívoros 0,92%; ocho familias y 12 géneros de nematodos, observándose una mayor riqueza en el grupo de bacteriófagos con nueve géneros. En las quintas muestreadas se solía incorporar a los sistemas de producción nitrógeno como abono orgánico a través de heces de gallina y/o abono inorgánico a través de urea. La abundancia total de nematodos en el período de muestreo fue mayor en primavera. Las familias Panagrolaimidae y Rhabditidae estuvieron presentes en las cuatro estaciones, siendo Panagrolaimidae la más frecuente en primavera en tanto que en invierno ambas familias mostraron elevadas frecuencias. Los resultados de este trabajo nos permiten considerar a las verduras como un vehículo interesante para la obtención de nematodos edáficos, los cuales sirven como indicadores ecológicos de los suelos cultivados. En el presente caso se evidenció a los nematodos bacteriófagos como los más frecuentes y diversos en los sistemas de producción fruti-hortícola del partido de Gral. Pueyrredon.

Os cães são hospedeiros definitivos de vários helmintos e protozoários zoonóticos. As áreas rurais do distrito de Lobos, no nordeste da província de Buenos Aires, Argentina, destinam-se principalmente à atividade pecuária aumentando desta forma o número de cães em fazendas, bem como o risco humano de infecções parasitárias. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram avaliar as infecções endoparasitas em cães de fazendas do distrito de Lobos e analisar a sua importância zoonótica, bem como as práticas de risco e hábitos da população rural. Quarenta e duas amostras de fezes de cães obtidos em 21 fazendas foram analisadas pelos métodos coproparasitológicos e testes de coproantígenos, resultando numa prevalência de parasitas de 69,05% e 80,95% das propriedades parasitados. Os parasitas mais frequentes foram Trichuris vulpis e Eucoleus aerophila(26,19%), Echinococcus granulosus(19,05%), Uncinaria stenocephala e coccídeos (14,29%). A análise dos arquivos epidemiológicos mostraram vários hábitos da população rural como fatores de risco associados com a presença de amostras fecais parasitadas e a presença de E. granulosus em propriedades rurais. É evidente que as pessoas das fazendas estudadas foram expostas a vários helmintos que podem causar doenças graves como equinococose cística, que constitui importante problema de saúde pública e econômico a nível mundial.

Dogs are definite hosts for several zoonotic helminthes and protozoan. Rural areas from the Lobos District in the northeast of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, are mainly used for livestock activity, increasing in this way the number of dogs on farms as well as the human risk of parasitic infections. The aims of this research were to evaluate the endoparasitic infections in dogs from farms in the Lobos District and analyze their zoonotic importance as well as several risk practices and habits of the rural population. Forty-two dog fecal samples obtained in 21 farms were analyzed through coproparasitological methods and coproantigen tests, which resulted in an overall parasite prevalence of 69.05% and 80.95% of the parasitized farms. The most frequent parasites were Trichuris vulpis and Eucoleus aerophila (26.19%), Echinococcus granulosus (19.05%), Uncinaria stenocephala and coccids (14.29%). The analysis of epidemiological files showed several habits of the rural population considered as risk factors associated with the presence of fecal samples parasitized and the presence of E. granulosus on the farms. It is clear that people involved with the farms studied were exposed to several helminthes that could cause serious diseases like cystic echinococcosis, which can become an important public health issue and affect the economy worldwide.

A hidatidose é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial produzida principalmente pela meta-cestódeo Echinococcus granulosus. Na Argentina, a distribuição alcança níveis endêmicos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi contribuir ao conhecimento da hidatidose no sudeste da província de Buenos Aires, estudar sua evolução no Hospital Geral Interzonal para Doenças Infecciosas Agudas, entre 1992 e 2002 e discutir sua importância. Os registros clínicos dos pacientes operados e/ou diagnosticados foram revisados quanto a esta doença. Cento e vinte casos foram analisados. Entre os pacientes, 56,7% eram mulheres. A idade média foi de 42,2+16,8 anos. Um grupo de 68,3% eram residentes urbanos. Em 75% dos casos, foi utilizada a ultrassonografia. Observou-se mais freqüentemente a localização hepática. Um grupo de 89,2% foi submetido a tratamento cirúrgico. Utilizou-se albendazole em 19 pacientes. A duração média da hospitalização foi de 16 dias. Concluímos que esta zoonose é uma doença que gera custos altos na atenção médica e, por isso, mais estudos epidemiológicos devem ser feitos e as autoridades públicas de saúde devem implementar estratégias de controle e prevenção na região.

Hydatidosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution produced mainly by the metacestode Echinococcus granulosus. In Argentina, its distribution reaches endemic levels. The aims of this investigation were to contribute to the knowledge of hydatidosis in the southeast of Buenos Aires province, study its evolution at the Interzonal General Hospital for Acute Diseases between 1992 and 2002 and discuss its importance. Clinical records of operated and/or diagnosed patients were reviewed with regard to this disease. One hundred and twenty cases were analyzed. Among the patients, 56.7% were women. The average age was 42.2+16.8 years. 68.3% lived in urban areas. In 75% of the cases, ultrasonography was used. Hepatic location was most frequently seen. 89.2% received surgical treatment. Albendazole was used for 19 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 16 days. We conclude that this zoonosis is a disease that generates high costs in medical care and for this reason more epidemiological studies should be carried out and public health authorities should implement control and prevention strategies in the region.

To assess the health risk associated with Echinococcus granulosus, a retrospective survey of hydatid infection was conducted between 1992 and 1995 by examining records of patients with hydatidosis from two hospitals of Mar del Plata City, General Pueyrredón District, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.Eighty five patients (34 males and 51 females) with confirm hydatidosis were registered. The average age was 48.2 years. Employee was the occupation that present the greatest percentage of cases (16.5%). Ultrasonography (US) was the most frequently used diagnostic method (28.2%). Infection in the liver occurred most commonly (58.8% of the 85 cases). Of the 85 patients, 74 (87.1%) received surgery; 12 received medical treatment with albendazole.The results obtained in this work from two hospitals show a problematic situation with respect to hydatid disease in Mar del Plata City. To have a good view of infection prevalence in Mar del Plata City, more retrospective survey data on human hydatidosis must be don