Chagas disease is endemic to the Americas and is transmitted by blood-feeding kissing bugs. We evaluated the insecticidal potential of a fungus (Beauveria bassiana strain Pr-11) against Triatoma infestans, an important vector in South America. This fungal species was isolated from a locust (Schistocerca piceifrons) that inhabits the Central Andes region of Peru. Ten days post inoculation, this strain induced high insect mortality (97%) at low fungal concentrations (2 × 107 conidia/ml) at 70% relative humidity. The Pr-11 strain outperformed reference strain CCBLE-216 B. bassiana, provided by the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture. Our results are consistent with previous reports on the virulence of this fungal strain against other insect pests. This is the first study to evaluate an orthopteran-isolated B. bassiana to control Chagas disease vectors. We conclude that strain Beauveria bassiana Pr-11 is effective against Triatoma infestans, resulting in a promising tool to control Chagas disease in Peru and may be used in integrated vector control programs.

Dengue disease statistics is mainly based on consulting patients with febrile illness, but misdiagnosed and asymptomatic cases are important to measure dengue epidemiology in endemic areas. The main objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies or NS1 antigen and viral RNA in a group of healthy volunteers from an isolated village in Colombian Chocó rain forest. It found 51.7% of virologically PCR confirmed asymptomatic cases, despite low IgM seroprevalence. It was confirmed that all four serotypes are in the circulation and in 17.2% of individuals it detected natural coinfections of two or three different serotypes simultaneously. This is the first report in Colombia evaluating viremia in asymptomatic volunteers. These findings pose a big concern about the transmission of dengue virus by asymptomatic individuals because they can spread the virus without take appropriate control measures.

BACKGROUND: Down's syndrome (DS) is a genetic anomaly, which undergoes increased morbidity and mortality when associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of CHD and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in DS. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients with DS living in Mexico City were evaluated by physical exam, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. RESULTS: CHD was found in 40%. In 80% (n = 102) PH was present [systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) of 47 +/- 19 mm Hg and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) of 32 +/- 11 mm Hg]. Patients with CHD and PH were classified as having 1) no shunt (n = 18) with SPAP of 37 +/- 9 mm Hg and MPAP of 25 +/- 6 mm Hg and 2) with shunt (n = 26) with PASP of 57 +/- 29 mm Hg and MPAP of 38 +/- 19 mm Hg (p < or = 0.001). In those without CHD or with CHD without shunt (n = 76), SPAP was 37 +/- 19 mm Hg and the MPAP 25 +/- 6 mm Hg. The prevalence of PH in DS was 5.9% at one year and 15% at 10 years. The odds ratio of PH in DS with CHD was 7.3 vs. 3 without CHD. CONCLUSION: DS has a high prevalence of CHD and PH. PH prevalence increases when it is associated with CHD. The pathophysiology of PH in DS without CHD should be studied in the near future. Echocardiography is an indispensible tool for evaluation of DS.
Down Syndrome* ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Mexico ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Pulmonary Artery