SUMMARY Toxoplasmosis is the fourth most common cause of hospitalization and the second cause of death due to food-borne infections. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence, disease awareness and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis among rural communities in Northern Iran. Data were obtained from serological testing and from participant's questionnaires and were analyzed using a logistic regression. Of the 630 participants, 465 (73.8%), and 12 (1.9%) had IgG and both IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis, T. gondii seropositivity was associated with the following factors: age, occupation, consumption of undercooked meat, and of unwashed raw vegetables or fruits (p < 0.001). Our study showed a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in the general population of Northern Iran. A health program is needed to increase the public awareness of toxoplasmosis, and its associated risk factors.

Introduction. The vaccine BCG (bacillus Calmette and Guerin) prevents severe forms of tuberculosis. Adverse effects are rare and such as local abscesses, lymphadenopathy, skeletal muscle injury and disseminated disease; they usually occur months later and persist for several weeks. Adverse effects are related to technical implementation, doses, age and state of immunosuppression. Methods. A retrospective study assessed the frequency of clinical manifestations secondary to BCG, in children attended over 5 years and 8 months in a government clinic in the city of Zacatecas, Mexico. Demographic, clinical, perinatal, and anthropometric characteristics were determined. Results. Twenty-two cases were identified with an adverse event frequency of 1.47 x 10-3 (IC95%: 0.8, 2.1 x 10-3), 12 male/ 10 female children. The most frequent event was lymphadenopathy (10 cases), followed by persistent pustules (5), persistent nodule (4) and ulcer (2 cases). Immunosuppression was identified in 4 cases. Conclusions. The prevalence of adverse effects is low. There was no association with sex, height or weight at birth, neither with maternal background. The most frequent event was lymphadenopathy (IC95%: 22.4). Hyperkeratosis was the most important post-treatment sequela. BCG is a vaccine with few adverse events; they are clinically well resolved with no important sequelae.

Introducción. La vacuna BCG (bacilo de Calmette y Guérin) previene formas graves de tuberculosis, los efectos adversos son poco frecuentes: abscesos locales, linfadenopatías, lesiones músculo-esqueléticas y enfermedad diseminada; manifestándose meses posteriores y persistiendo varias semanas, asociados con la técnica de aplicación, dosis, edad del niño y estados de inmuno-supresión. Métodos. Mediante un estudio retrospectivo, se evaluó la frecuencia de manifestaciones clínicas secundarias a BCG en niños atendidos durante el período de 8 años y 5 meses en una clínica pública de la ciudad de Zacatecas, México. Además, se determinaron las características demográficas, clínicas, perinatales y antropométricas. Resultados. Se identificaron 22 casos, con una frecuencia de eventos adversos de 1.47 x 10-3 (intervalo de confianza de 95% [IC95%): 0.8, 2.1 x 0-3); 12 fueron del sexo masculino. La manifestación más común fue linfadenopatía (10 casos), seguido por pústula persistente (5), nódulo persistente (4) y úlcera (2 casos), en 4 casos se identificaron factores de inmunosupresión. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de reacciones secundarias es baja, no hubo asociación con sexo, peso y talla al nacimiento, ni con antecedentes maternos. La mayor frecuencia fue de linfadenopatías (IC95%: 22.4, 68.5%). La secuela postratamiento más importante fue la hiperqueratosis. Se observaron bajos eventos adversos, y cuando éstos se presentaron fueron bien resueltos, médica y quirúrgicamente, sin secuelas de importancia.

Procuramos determinar a frequência de marcadores sorológicos de infecções em pacientes psiquiátricos da cidade de Durango, México e determinar se existem características epidemiológicas dos pacientes que podem ser associados a estas infecções. Cento e cinco pacientes internados neste hospital psiquiátrico de Durango foram examinados para HBsAg, anticorpos anti-HCV, anticorpos anti-HIV, anticorpos anti-Brucella, reaginas plasmáticos imediatas e anticorpos anti-Cysticercus por testes comerciais. Os anticorpos anti-Cysticercus foram confirmadoss por Western Blot e o HbsAg por testes de neutralização. Dados epidemiológicos de cada participante foram também obtidos. Soroprevalências encontradas de HbsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, anti-Brucella, reagina plasmática imediata e anticorpos anti-Cysticercus foram respectivamente 0,0%, 4,8%, 0,9%, 0,0%, 1,9% e 0,9%. No conjunto, 9 (8,6%) de pacientes internados mostraram soropositividade para marcador infeccioso. Concluímos que nossos pacientes psiquiátricos internados têm evidência sorológica de infecções. HCV é um patógeno importante entre os pacientes psiquiátricos internados. Estratégias de saúde pública para prevenção e controle de infecções em pacientes psiquiátricos do México devem ser consideradas.

We sought to determine the frequency of serological markers of selected infections in a population of psychiatric patients in Durango City, Mexico, and to determine whether there are any epidemiological characteristics of the subjects associated with the infections. One hundred and five inpatients of a public psychiatric hospital of Durango were examined for HBsAg, anti-HCV antibodies, anti-HIV antibodies, anti-Brucella antibodies, rapid plasma reagin and anti-Cysticercus antibodies by commercially available assays. Anti-Cysticercus antibodies were confirmed by Western blot and HBsAg by neutralization assay. Epidemiological data from each participant were also obtained. Seroprevalences of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, anti-Brucella, rapid plasma reagin and anti-Cysticercus antibodies found were 0.0%, 4.8%, 0.9%, 0.0%, 1.9%, and 0.9%, respectively. Overall, 9 (8.6%) inpatients showed seropositivity to any infection marker. We concluded that our psychiatric inpatients have serological evidence of a number of infections. HCV is an important pathogen among our psychiatric inpatients. Health care strategies for prevention and control of infections in Mexican psychiatric patients should be considered.

Objective: A case-control study was carried out to determine risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico. Methods: The following factors were analyzed: Socioeconomic, sociodemographic, hygiene, eating habits, and family history of neurocysticercosis in 85 cases and 170 controls. Cases were patients with cranial computed tomography images compatible with neurocysticercosis. The densitometric analysis (Hounsfield units) allowed us to distinguish normal tissue from physiological and pathological calcifications, and other types of lesions. Controls were admitted for neurocysticercosis but findings were not compatible with initial diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS® and Epi-info 2002®. Results: The most common clinical manifestation in patients was epileptic seizures OR=4.2 (IC 95% 2.40-9.67). With regards to risk factors, consumption of street food OR=2.33 (IC 95% 1.25-4.38), and family history of neurocysticercosis OR= 2.37 (IC 95% 1.11-5.04) were found to be associated with neurocysticercosis. In the north central region of Mexico where this study was performed, the disease was more frequent among urban populations.

Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados con neurocisticercosis en un hospital público de México. Material y métodos: Se analizaron factores socioeconómicos, demográficos, patrones higiénicos, dietéticos y antecedentes familiares asociados en 85 casos y 170 controles. La muestra se tomó de pacientes que acudieron al estudio de tomografía de cráneo. Los casos presentaron calcificaciones en cráneo compatibles con neurocisticercosis y de acuerdo con la densitometría (Unidades Hounsfield) se definió el tejido normal, las calcificaciones fisiológicas, patológicas así como otras lesiones. Los controles compartían la misma demanda de atención, sin presentar el evento en estudio. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron los paquetes computacionales SPSS v 1 1® y Epi-Info 2002®. Resultados: Las principales manifestaciones clínicas fueron las crisis convulsivas RM 4.2 (IC95% 2.40-9.67); se consideraron factores de riesgo: ingerir alimentos en vía pública RM 2.33 (IC95% 1.25-4.38) y tener antecedentes familiares de neurocisticercosis RM2.37 (IC95% 1.11-5.04), predominó en la población urbana, en la región centro norte de la República Mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among registered prostitutes of Durango City and to establish whether there is a correlation between epidemiological factors and infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two-hundred-and-forty-seven registered prostitutes of Durango city were studied. Endocervical samples and epidemiological data were obtained. C. trachomatis antigen was detected with the Chlamydiazyme test (Abbott Laboratories, USA.) RESULTS: Forty-one (16.6%) out of 247 prostitutes were positive to C. trachomatis. Thirty-seven out of the 41 positive women had had sexual activity on several States of Mexico (95.1%), as compared to only 109 out of 206 negative women (53.0%) (p<.0001). Prostitutes positive to C. trachomatis (39/41, 95.1%) were more likely to belong to low socioeconomic level than negatives (171/206, 83%) (p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 16.6%. C. trachomatis infection was associated with sexual activity in multiple States of Mexico, and had a tendency to be associated with low socioeconomic level.

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de infección por Chlamydia trachomatis en prostitutas registradas de la ciudad de Durango, Durango y establecer si existe alguna correlación entre los datos epidemiológicos y la infección. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Fueron estudiadas 247 prostitutas y se obtuvieron muestras endocervicales y datos epidemiológicos. La prueba Chlamydiazyme (Abbott Laboratories, EUA) fue usada para detectar el antígeno de C. trachomatis. RESULTADOS: Fueron positivas para C. trachomatis 41 prostitutas (16.6%), y 37 de ellas habían tenido actividad sexual en diferentes estados de la República mexicana, en comparación con las 206 mujeres negativas, entre las que sólo 109 habían tenido relaciones sexuales fuera de Durango (p<0.0001). El nivel socioeconómico bajo fue más frecuentemente observado en prostitutas C. trachomatis positivas (39/41, 95.1%) que en las negativas (171/206, 83%) (p=0.05). CONCLUSIONES: Encontramos una prevalencia de infección por C. trachomatis de 16.6%, la cual se asoció a una actividad sexual de las prostitutas en diversas entidades federativas, y se pudo observar que el padecimiento tiende a presentarse más frecuentemente en mujeres de un nivel socioeconómico bajo.