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Biomedical subjects

J Convit

Publications and source records attributed to J Convit.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of "chemical isolation" in 1,168 leprosy patients' homes.

"Chemical isolation" (treatment of open cases as a measure of control for transmission between contacts) is evaluated by a retrospective study of 7,232 household contacts of 1,168 leprosy patient homes. Contacts comparable in age and type of exposure were arranged in subgroups according to whether they were born before (Group A) or born after (Group B) beginning treatment of the index cases had begun. Additionally, the whole group of contacts, both of open (LL & BB) and closed (TT & I) cases were evaluated. Among comparable contacts of LL and BB cases, the infection rate in the contacts before initiation of treatment is higher than in that of contacts after initiation of treatment. The protection afforded by the treatment to the exposed group (Group B) is on the order of 66%. The morbidity occurring in the group born after the initiation of index case treatment apparently results from partial persistence of infectiousness of the case under treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular approaches applied to the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Venezuela.

Leishmaniasis is on the increase in Venezuela (ca 30,000 new cases per year) due to deterioration in health management, increased risk groups among inmunosuppressed individuals and increased human penetration into the ecological habitats of sandfly vectors. An STD2-funded project (1989-1992) focused on the Andean state of Táchira, which showed the highest annual index of new cases (ca 200-250). The project aimed at contributing to vector/parasite identification through a combination of molecular and well established field techniques: Newly developed molecular methods distinguished among Lu. spinicrassa, Lu. youngi and Lu. townsendi. These three species of the Verrucarum group are sympatric in the Northeast of the state and could be successfully identified by CHA, DNA probes and RAPD. A Le. braziliensis specific KDNA probe used with squash blots indicated that Lu. spinicrassa is the main vector and that Le. braziliensis is the main parasite species in Táchira state, Venezuela. PCR and the Le. brasiliensis specific DNA probe, schizodemes, isoenzymes and polyclonal antibodies agreed as taxonomic criteria for classification of Leishmania isolated from parasitologically confirmed cases in Tachira. Considerable degree of antigen heterogeneity in Venezuelan Le. braziliensis complex and Le. mexicana complex isolates from Tachira suggests multiple candidate antigens for improving the specificity of immunological diagnosis. The methods developed and tested in Táchira state should be valuable in order to help solving other outstanding epidemiological problems such as following of the epidemiological impact of intervention and vector control measures in highly endemic areas. Future work (STD3 funded, 1993-1996) aims to apply these molecular techniques to a vector control pilot study in Lara state, an area showing the highest incidence of new cases in the country.

Animals↗