Non-related contact lens coinfection with Acanthamoeba and Fusarium

Rationale: Microbial keratitis caused by coinfection with more than one species of pathogens is a severe condition with an unfavorable prognosis. Patient concerns: An immunocompetent Nepali woman complained of pain in the left eye, redness, watering and decreased vision for 5 months. Interventions: The patient was discarded and accurately diagnosed with coinfection with Fusarium sp. and Acanthamoeba sp. The habit of washing the eyes with tap water from a domestic storage tank was the most likely source of infection since it was found to be contaminated with cysts of Acanthamoeba sp. The woman received eye drops of fluconazole and natamycin(5%), cefazoline(50 mg/m L), atropine, and tablets of itraconazole(100 mg), which were later switched to eye drops of clotrimazole(1%), natamycin(5%) and voriconazole(1%), and tablets of itraconazole. A full thickness penetrating keratoplasty was performed followed by treatment with eye drops of voriconazole(1%), natamet(5%), ofloxacin, atropine and carboxymethylcellulose for one week.Outcomes: After treatment, the condition of the patient significantly improved and was discharged one week after keratoplasty. Lessons: This is the first report of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Nepal and the first report of coinfection with Fusarium in this country and highlights the importance of early diagnosis of microbial keratitis both in single microorganism infections and coinfections, even in no contact lens wearers.

Phenotypic Characterization of the Response to Infection with <i>Trichinella spiralis</i>in Genetically Defined Mouse Lines of the CBi-IGE Stock

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), which is a cosmopolitan nematode that infects humans among other species, presents a complex host-parasite relationship that hinders the development of tools to eradicate the parasitosis. The aim of this research was to analyze the host response during a primary infection with T. spiralis in five genetically different mouse lines of the CBi-IGE stock. Adult males from the CBi+, CBi&minus;, CBi, CBi/L and CBi/C lines were infected with 1, 2 or 4 L1 larvae per g of body weight. In the chronic stage, the number of parasites per g of tissue (relative larval load, rLL) showed a significant host genotype-dose interaction, since it did not increase in the same way in the five genotypes. At the lowest dose, both CBii&minus;and CBi/L mice were resistant while CBi+, CBi/C, and CBi were susceptible. At the highest dose, only CBi/L remained resistant, and CBi+ was the most susceptible. The reproductive capacity index of adult worms (RCI = rLL/infective dose) evinced only a genotype effect, allowing rating each line as resistant or susceptible regardless of dose. Animals receiving 2 L1 larvae were also sacrificed in the intestinal phase (6 and 13 days p-i) to determine the number of adult parasites (nAP) recovered in a small intestine segment, and female fecundity (Ff). No differences in nAP were observed among genotypes on day 6 p-i. nAP decreased between days 6 and 13 p-i, this reduction being different among genotypes and significant only in CBi/L and CBi/C. Ff decreased in CBi/L and CBi/C on day 13 p-i. At the time of infection, serum cytokine baseline values showed a Th1 orientation for genotype CBi/L (high IFN-γ and IL-2) and a Th2 for CBi+ (high IL-4 and IL-10).The variability in the response observed in this murine model suggests its potential usefulness to gain insight into the mechanisms that regulate host-parasite relationship.

Leishmaniasis in the Argentine Republic: Temporal and geographical distribution from 2013 to 2017

Objective: To assess the temporal and geographical distribution of confirmed cases of cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the Argentine Republic from 2013 to 2017. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out using data collected from the Integrated Surveillance Bulletin database of the National System of Health Surveillance. Confirmed cases of cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis up to the 52 nd epidemiological week of each year was included. Results: In the 5 years period, 1 295 confirmed leishmaniasis cases were reported in the Argentine Republic. One thousand twenty-eight(1 028) cases corresponded to cutaneous leishmaniasis(87.10%), being the most common type of leishmaniasis. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis was in the second place in the country with 115 cases reported, mostly in the Northwest and Northeast regions. A total of 52 individuals with visceral leishmaniasis were identified and Misiones Province was the most affected. Conclusions: It is important to analyze the temporal and geographical distribution of leishmaniasis in order to provide an adequate management and surveillance.