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Three species of chigger mites are recorded in our collections from four species of cricetid rodents on Chiloé Island (southern Chile, Los Lagos Region), an area endemic to scrub typhus (Orientiasp.). Two species are described as new—Herpetacarus (Abonnencia) eloisaesp. nov. and Quadraseta chiloensissp. nov. One species, Paratrombicula goffiStekolnikov and González-Acuña 2012, is for the first time recorded on a mammal host (one species of cricetid rodent), and its distribution is extended to the Los Lagos Region of Chile. The genus ProschoengastiaVercammen-Grandjean, 1967is synonymized with the subgenus Herpetacarus (Abonnencia)Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960, and four new combinations are established: Herpetacarus (Abonnencia) herniosa(Brennan and Jones, 1961), comb. nov., Herpetacarus (Abonnencia) insolita(Brennan and Jones, 1961), comb. nov., Herpetacarus (Abonnencia) macrochaeta(Brennan and Jones, 1961), comb. nov., and Herpetacarus (Abonnencia) antarctica(Stekolnikov and Gonzalez-Acuña, 2015), comb. nov.

The presented study analyzed the presence and geographical distribution of the tropical and temperate lineages of Rhipicephalus sanguineussensu lato in Chile. R. sanguineuss.l. ticks were collected from dogs at 14 sites in northern and central Chile for morphological and genetic analysis based on the 16S rDNA gene. Phylogenetic studies proved the existence of both, the tropical and the temperate lineages. The former was represented by a single haplotype and occurred in the far north; the latter included four haplotypes and was observed from the Tarapacá Region southwards. In four sites at latitudes from 20°S to 22°S, both lineages were found to coexist. Our study discovered for the first time the existence of the tropical lineage in Chile and demonstrated that distributions of the tropical and temperate lineages overlap, forming a transitional zone of approximately 200 km in northern coastal Chile.

ABSTRACTThe diagnosis of schistosomiasis in individuals from countries where the disease is not endemic is challenging, and few data are available on the accuracy of serological diagnosis in those patients. We evaluated the performance of eight serological assays, including four commercial kits, in the diagnosis of imported schistosomiasis in individuals from areas where the disease is not endemic, including six enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using three different antigens, an indirect hemagglutination assay, and an indirect immunofluorescent-antibody test. To analyze the assays, we used a total of 141 serum samples, with 121 derived from patients with various parasitic infections (among which were 37 cases of schistosomiasis) and 20 taken from healthy volunteers. The sensitivity values for detection of schistosomiasis cases ranged from 41% to 78% and were higher for Schistosoma mansonithan for S. haematobiuminfections. Specificity values ranged from 76% to 100%; false-positive results were most frequent for samples from patients with cestode infections. By combining two or more tests, sensitivity improved markedly and specificity decreased only moderately. Serological tests are useful instruments for diagnosing imported schistosomiasis in countries where the disease is not endemic, but due to limitations in test sensitivities, we recommend the use of two or more assays in parallel.

The authors investigated a previously unaddressed problem within curricula of the United States (U.S.) aviation institutions of higher education. Graduates of these institutions were not being prepared to work within safety departments of the U.S. air carriers involved with one or more of the five current, voluntary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs. To ascertain the need for a solution, a subjective instrument was developed and personally administered to 13 participants within the industry. The qualitative results were interpreted, and, in combination with the knowledge gained from the immersion of a professor within a research organization, resulted in the curricular placement of some of the aforementioned content on one campus of one U.S. aviation university during the spring semester of 2005.

The allozyme variability of 38 genetic loci coding for blood proteins was compared in up to 95 Black Grouse originating from Bavaria, the Netherlands and two sites in Sweden, bred to restock the Central European lowland populations. Polymorphisms are described forAda*,Pgd*, andPgm-1*, yielding an overall fraction of polymorphic loci of P=0.079, and an observed heterozygosity of Ho=0.015 (He=0.018). The genotype distributions at theAda* locus differed significantly between regional stocks, but unbiased standard distances measured D=0.0060 at most. Considering the inferred importance of genetic drift for Black Grouse microevolution, these slight genetic distances do not provide a basis for judging the validity of a suggested subspecies from the Netherlands. The weight differences of the eggs laid by grouse from different regional stocks reached statistical significance. A heterosis effect is inferred from the heavier eggs produced by F1crosses between parents originating from disparate geographic origins.

ABSTRACTWe evaluated the Rida Quick rotavirus/adenovirus Combi rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) under field conditions with Ghanaian children with acute diarrhea. Compared to PCR results, sensitivities and specificities were 75% and 95% for rotavirus and 22% and 84% for adenovirus. In resource-poor settings, ICTs may help to overcome difficulties in the diagnosis of rotavirus infection.

In recent years, the spectrum and epidemiology of human rickettsioses has become an emerging topic in Chile. This survey aimed to assess the seroprevalence of spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR), typhus group rickettsiae (TGR), and scrub typhus group orientiae (STGO) in northern, central, and southern Chile. We performed a cross-sectional study of healthy adults in rural and urban settings of five regions. Participants were chosen by double stratified random sampling in urban and by convenience in rural locations (n = 1302). Serum specimens were analyzed for group-specific IgG antibodies against SFGR, TGR, and STGO by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Overall seroprevalences to SFGR, TGR, and STGO were 5.3 %, 1.2 %, and 0.4 %, respectively. Prevalences showed geographical differences. Statistical analyses revealed an association of older age with seropositivity to SFGR and to TGR and of rural setting and male gender with seropositivity to SFGR. The study indicates that SFGR, TGR, and STGO are endemic in Chile. The very low STGO seroprevalence might indicate an insufficient sensitivity of serological tests using Asian O. tsutsugamushistrains as ELISA antigens for the detection of antibodies against Chilean Orientiaspecies.

Abstract. Microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon are emerging protozoal agents that mainly infect immunocompromised patients with AIDS. At present, disseminated infections with members of the genus Encephalitozoon can only be successfully treated with albendazole. As chitin is a basic component of the microsporidian spore, we evaluated, in vitro, the susceptibility of a human-derived strain of Encephalitozoon cuniculi to polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z, which are known competitive inhibitors of chitin synthetase enzymes. Using an in vitro assay, polyoxin D at 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml significantly reduced the number of parasitic foci on days 6, 9, and 15 post-infection. However, nikkomycin Z revealed a marked but lower reduction in the number of parasitic foci than polyoxin D. A significant reduction of parasitic foci was achieved for nikkomycin Z at 10 and 100 µg/ml up to day 9 post-infection. Polyoxin D was approximately tenfold more effective in our in vitro assay than nikkomycin Z.

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