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F J Merino

Publications and source records attributed to F J Merino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Detection of antibodies to tick salivary antigens among patients from a region of Spain.

With a view to determine which tick species bite humans most frequently in the province of Soria (Spain) and to know whether these species act as vectors of Rickettsia conorii and/or Borrelia burgdorferi, we analysed the presence of antibodies against salivary proteins of several tick species and of antibodies against R. conorii and B. burgdorferi sensu lato in 102 samples of serum. The sera were collected from 63 patients who were treated for tick bites at the health services of the Soria Health Area. Thirty-nine percent of the patients displayed antibodies against Dermacentor marginatus; 21% against Ixodes ricinus, and 6% against Rhipicephalus sanguineus. IgM antibodies against R. conorii were found in 15 patients, but none of the patients included in the study displayed IgG/IgM Abs against B. burgdorferi sensu lato. In 30% of the patients bitten by I. ricinus and in 24% bitten by D. marginatus, antibodies against R. conorii were found. None of the patients who had been bitten by R. sanguineus expressed antibodies against this pathogen. The results obtained here suggest that D. marginatus and I. ricinus are the main vectors of the spotted fever group rickettsiae in our environment and that the role of R. sanguineus in the transmission of these rickettsiae is debatable.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent host: case report and review of the literature.

We report a 46-year-old male who developed cellulitis of his third right finger after being injured with a metallic object. Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans was isolated from both the skin and the metallic object. Systemic cryptococcosis and immunosuppression was excluded by appropriate tests. Complete healing was achieved after 10 months of itraconazole 100 mg/12 h and surgical excision of the remaining lesion. Our literature review shows another 16 cases of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in nonimmunocompromised hosts. The clinical, mycological and therapeutic characteristics of these patients are reviewed.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2001

Facial orf.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiological characteristics of dogs with Lyme borreliosis in the province of Soria (Spain).

From the point of view of the human disease, dogs are the most important animal reservoir of Lyme borreliosis; therefore, they are used as 'sentinel animals'. In order to know the epidemiological characteristics of dogs with antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, 146 canine sera samples collected during 1993-94 have been studied. The antibody detection was made by an indirect immunofluorescence method and confirmed by a haemagglutination test. Seventeen dogs (11.6%) were seropositive, of which seven were hunting dogs, three were shepherd dogs, five were domestic pets, one was a watchdog and one was a stray dog. Seven dogs had longhair phenotype, 2 medium length type, 4 hard-hair and the other 4 were short-haired. Twelve seropositive dogs were males and five were females. All seropositive dogs were more than 1 year old. The dogs with greater seroprevalence were those that harboured ticks more often than the rest. Spring and summer were the seasons when more ticks were observed. The seroprevalence found in dogs was similar to that previously obtained in humans in this area. This finding gave evidence to an intimate association between human and canine seroprevalence.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Cutaneous myiasis by Sarcophaga sp].

BACKGROUND: Myasis are due to the invasion of tissue or cavities of animal organism by dipterous larvae. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two cases of semi-specific myasis caused by Sarcophaga larvae are described. RESULTS: Case 1: A 77-year-old woman with Kaposi sarcoma in the left leg developed cutaneous radionecrosis secondary to radiotherapy. In June, 1998 five fly larvae were observed moving freeing within the wound. These were removed with forceps and local dressing of the wound was performed with povidone-iodine. Case 2: A 87-year-old man with moderate dementia, progressive immobilization syndrome prostasic neoplasm and gastric ulcer reported. In the posterior part of the right outer ear the presence of three fly larvae were observed with some dermic orifices made. The larvae were removed with forceps and local dressing was carried out with povidone-iodine. In the laboratory an adult form was obtained from one of the larva. CONCLUSIONS: Myasis in infrequent in Spain and appears particularly in people with some predisposing factor. Treatment consists in the elimination of the larvae in the infected tissue and disinfection of the wound.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Hantavirus infection in Spain: seroepidemiologic study in the province of Soria].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present was to study the seroprevalence of Hantavirus infection in the province of Soria, Spain. METHODS: Total specific antibodies against Hantavirus (Hantaan and Puumala virus) were studied by indirect immunofluorescence in 537 sera (251 males and 286 females) of a population from the province of Soria, distributed proportionally to the number of inhabitants from the health care areas. The age range of the population was from 1 to 95 years, the group mode ranging between 25 to 30 years and with a mean age of 36.4 years. The sera with antibody titers equal to or higher than 1/32 were considered as positive. RESULTS: Significant titers of antibodies against Hantaan or Puumala virus were detected in 2.2% of the total of sera studied (12 positive sera); 1.75% in women (5/286) and 2.8% in men (7/251). Of these 12 positive sera, 8 reacted against both virus (1.5%-8/537), 3 exclusively to Puumala and 1 only to Hantaan. Seroprevalence against Puumala was 2% (11/537) and 1.7% against Hantaan (9/537). The age of the subjects with positive sera ranged from 3 to 73 years with a mean of 33.8 years with higher prevalence in the group from 30 to 40 years of age (4.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the existence of infection by Hantavirus in Spain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[The value of the parathyrin-related protein (PTH-RP) in the diagnosis of cancer-associated hypercalcemia].

BACKGROUND: The parathyrine related protein (PTH-RP) is very similar, both in structure and in function, to the PTH and is considered as a mediator in humoral hypercalcemia in cancer. The aim of this study was to know the clinical value of PTH-RP measurement. METHODS: Serum PTH-RP concentrations were studied in 22 healthy subjects, 13 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 9 patients with solid neoplasms and normocalcemia, 26 patients with solid neoplasms and hypercalcemia and 4 patients with hematologic neoplasms and hypercalcemia. The PTH-RP was quantified by a competitive radioimmunoassay technique using a specific antibody of the PTH-RP 1-40 fragment. Intact parathyrine (i-PTH) was quantified by an IRMA method using 2 polyclonal antibodies (INCSTAR). RESULTS: Fifteen (68%) of the healthy controls presented undetectable serum PTH-RP concentrations. The serum PTH-RP concentration was normal in all those patients with hyperparathyroidism. Elevated serum PTH-RP values were not found in patients with solid neoplasms and normocalcemia or in those with hematologic neoplasms and hypercalcemia. High values of PTH-RP were observed in 8 out of 9 (88%) of the patients with solid neoplasms and hypercalcemia with bone metastasis and in 7 out of 11 (63%) of the patients with bone involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Serum parathyrine-related protein was found to be high in a large proportion of patients with solid neoplasms and hypercalcemia. Serum PTH-RP determination is useful in the clinical investigation of patients with hypercalcemia. Even in patients with bone metastasis, hypercalcemia may have a humoral background.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Lyme disease in the province of Soria: clinico-epidemiologic study].

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of the Borrelia burgdorferi infection in the Soria Province, and the detection of the human disease cases. METHODS: By an indirect immunofluorescence technique, we had studied total antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA) against B. burgdorferi (B 31 strain) in the sera of 298 people (150 men y 148 women) of the Soria Province. The results were considered positive when the titers were same or upper to 1/256. All positive sera were tested for specific IgM antibodies by same method; IgM results were considered positive when the titers were upper to 1/16. RESULTS: 13.1% of the people had positive results (39 sera): 14 for women (9.5%) and 25 for men (16.7%). We detected 14 sera with positive IgM. We demonstrated titers same or upper to 1/256 in all age group, with a major prevalence in the age group between 41 and 50 years (22.6%). In all areas of the Province we detected positive results and in many of this areas the positivity was upper to 30% of the studied sera. 12 persons with positive IgM or high titers of total antibodies presented signs or symptoms of disease in relation with B. burgdorferi infection; 6 persons had alterations of the liver function do not explicable by other etiology. CONCLUSIONS: The B. burgdorferi infection present a high prevalence in this Province and a wide geographic distribution, with high endemic areas. We demonstrated patients with symptomatology compatible with Lyme borreliosis, and we wish to emphasize the frequency of alterations of the liver function in this group of people.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of 4 media for the isolation of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies].

BACKGROUND: Different culture mediums were used for the isolation of Helicobacter pylori. In this study three mediums commonly used for the culture of this microorganism were evaluated: chocolate agar, Martin-Lewis medium and CP of Dent medium as well as a new selective medium Pylori agar. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over a period of 7 months gastric biopsies were collected in 112 patients with clinical manifestations of chronic atrophic gastritis. H. pylori was isolated in some of these mediums on 73 occasions (65.1%). On 72 of the 73 occasions the microorganism grew in the Pylori agar medium (98.6%) being the medium achieving the greatest number of isolations, followed by the CP of Dent medium with 67 isolations (91.7%), 65 isolations with the Martin-Lewis medium (89.0%) and 57 isolations with chocolate agar (78.0%). The chocolate agar medium was that which most frequently presented contaminant flora (35 times: 61.4%) and the CP of Dent medium achieved the most rapid and widespread growth. The colonies were largest and therefore easier to recognize in the CP of Dent and Pylori agar mediums. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend the association of the CP of Dent and Pylori agar mediums in the isolation of Helicobacter pylori since these two mediums provide the greatest number of isolations with the greatest growth and ease for colony recognition.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia conorii infection in the province of Soria].

BACKGROUND: Determine the antibodies prevalence against Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia conorii in Soria (Spain). METHODS: By an indirect immunofluorescence test we examined sera samples for antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA) against C. burnetii (phase II, formolized antigen) and R. conorii (moroccan strain). The test has been applied to 298 sera (150 men and 148 women) from Soria (Spain). The age of the study population ranged between 2 and 91 years. The results were considered positive when the titres were greater than or equal to 1/80 for C. burnetii and 1/40 for R. conorii. RESULTS: Antibodies against C. burnetii were present in 20.8% of the examined sera, 8.8% for women (13/148) and 32.7% for men (49/150). We demonstrated titers of antibodies upper to 1/40 in all age groups, and a greater number of positive results in the persons older than 40 years old (p = 0.0001). In all areas we detected positive results and in many of these areas, the positivity was high (38%). We demonstrated positive results against R. conorii in 5% of the people (4.7% for women and 5.3% for men). More than 90% of the positive cases was present in the eastern part of Soria, and in an small area, the positivity was 20%. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm a high prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii in the Soria people, and the existence of R. conorii infection in this area of Spain with a particular distribution. We believe that it is very important to establish an epidemiological surveillance for the detection of clinic cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of two commercial enzyme immunoassays for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Sera from 65 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms and proven Helicobacter pylori infection, and from 42 negative controls were tested with two commercial EIAs (GAP test, BioRad; and ECP test, Biometra) and two non-commercial EIAs, one performed with whole sonicated cells and the other with acid extract of Helicobacter pylori as antigen. The GAP assay showed a sensitivity of 83.1% and a specificity of 47.6%. The ECP assay showed a sensitivity of 87.7% and a specificity of 61.9%. For both non-commercial EIAs these figures were 87.7% and 88.1%, respectively. Independent of the interpretive criteria established by the manufacturers, receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted for better evaluation of the four methods. Both commercial tests showed a lower probability of yielding a correct diagnosis than the non-commercial tests (p less than 0.05). Although commercial EIAs are convenient for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, the accuracy of the two commercial tests evaluated in this study was lower compared to that of the two non-commercial EIAs.

Adult↗