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J V Saz

Publications and source records attributed to J V Saz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Epidemiological study of Rickettsia typhi infection in two provinces of the north of Spain: analysis of sera from the general population and sheep.

Data relating to Rickettsia typhi infection in Spain are scarce. A serological survey of 383 serum samples (184 males, 199 females) from the general population and 120 sera from sheep were studied by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The human serum samples were collected from the general population of Palencia and Burgos provinces, and sheep serum samples were collected from Palencia province. Of the 383 human serum samples studied, 29 were positive for antibodies against R. typhi (7.5%) No statistical differences were found according to age, sex, origin (rural vs. urban) or geographic distribution, but a significant difference was observed related to occupation. In addition, 69 serums were found positives for R. typhi in sheep samples (57.5%). Our results indicated the circulation of R. typhi infectious for humans and sheep in Palencia and Burgos provinces. This study indicates that sheep may be infected with R. typhi, and that animals can, therefore be used as indicators of the presence of this organism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

A sero-epidemiological study of Rickettsia typhi infection in dogs from Soria province, central Spain.

Data relating to Rickettsia typhi infection in Spain are scarce. The seroprevalence of canine infection with this species has now been investigated, in dogs from the central province of Soria. The results of indirect immunofluorescence assays indicated that nine (12.3%) of the 73 dogs checked were carrying antibodies against R. typhi. The gender, age and breed of the dog, and whether it was used for hunting, shepherding, guarding or simply as a pet, apparently had no significant affect on the probability of it being seropositive. Being infested with fleas or having a history of such infestation was, however, significantly associated with seropositivity. The present results confirm that dogs may be infected with R. typhi and indicate their potential usefulness as sentinels in epidemiological studies of the pathogen. The results of wide-scale, serological studies of dogs may allow the geographical distribution of R. typhi to be mapped relatively simply.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Rickettsia typhi infection in wild rodents from central Spain.

When sera from 218 rodents captured in two provinces of central Spain were tested, by indirect immunofluorescence, for antibodies to Rickettsia typhi, 46 (21.1%) were found to be positive, at titres between 1:20 and 1:320. The seropositives included rodents of each of the five species collected: Mus musculus, Mus spretus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus. Rickettsia typhi infection appears to be common and widespread among the rodents of central Spain.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Serological study of hantavirus in man in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain.

Data relating to hantavirus infection in Spain are scarce and limited to rural areas. The aim of this work was to study the seroprevalence of hantavirus infection in the Autonomous Community of Madrid (ACM), a region containing both rural and urban populations in different ecological settings. Sera from 3852 individuals (1849 male, 2003 female) were screened by indirect inmunofluorescence, with Vero E6 cells infected with Puumala, Hantaan and Seoul viruses as antigens. Screen-positive results were confirmed by Western blot with recombinant Seoul virus nucleocapsid protein as antigen. Antibodies against hantavirus were detected in 12 sera (0.31%). No statistical differences were found according to sex and age. The highest prevalence was found in the southeastern area, significantly higher than the central and north-western areas. The most frequent serological pattern was reactivity against all three viruses used (33.3% of all positive sera). Therefore, this study confirms the presence of hantavirus infection in the ACM, including for the first time an urban area of Spain, but with the highest prevalence in a rural area. Serological evidence suggests that there is more than one circulating serotype.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia typhi in an area of the center of Spain.

It was the aim of the present work to evaluate Rickettsia typhi antibody prevalence in 'Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid' (CAM), an area in the centre of Spain. A total of 640 serum samples from the general population were tested by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Specific R. typhi antibodies were found in 44 (6.8%) of the samples. The present survey results demonstrate the occurrence of R. typhi human infections in this area.

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↗
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↗
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↗
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

[IgG against A60 antigen and the tuberculin test in healthy individuals and tubercular patients].

BACKGROUND: Study of the relation between the antibodies against the A60 antigen and the tuberculin test. METHODS: An indirect ELISA for detecting serum antibodies (IgG) against the antigen A60 and tuberculin test, has been applied to 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and 52 healthy persons without tuberculous history. RESULTS: For the all people (healthy and patients) both techniques have had almost identical results in 76.4%. In the healthy people the ELISA A60 and tuberculin test positive results were: 20.7% and 26.9%, respectively. For the patients group this results were: 85% and 80%. These results were statistically significant (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In the healthy people the antibodies response against A60 antigen has a direct relationship with the results of the tuberculin test. The combined use of ELISA A60 and the tuberculin test improve their separate results.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Serological diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis using ELISA and the A60 antigen].

BACKGROUND: Study of the utility of a serologic technic in the clinic diagnostic of the pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting serum antibodies (IgG) against the antigen A60 has been applied to 170 tuberculosis patients (151 adults and 19 children) and 35 healthy children not protected with BCG. RESULTS: The ELISA results obtained with tuberculosis patients were: 84.8% positive IgG in adults and 21.1% in children. The percentage of serologically positive cases in healthy children against the antigen A60 was 11.5%. All the results were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This test can be successfully applied as a support technique in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults, it will be necessary to know the endemic situation in each community analysed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Effect of chemotherapy on the antibody response to A60 antigen].

BACKGROUND: Study of the serologic response in two groups of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: with and without treatment. METHODS: Antibodies (type IgG) against the A60 antigen were studied in 103 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: 46 without specific treatment and 57 after the application of the chemotherapy. RESULTS: 81.6% of the patients showed antibodies against the A60 antigen and 60.2% were strongly positive; 32.6% and 41.3% of the patients without treatment were negative and strongly positive respectively. In the patients with treatment this results were 7% and 75.4%. The differences found between both groups were statistically significant (p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the application of the specific treatment modify in a high percentage the response of antibody against A60 antigen and which reduced the false negatives response, this fact could condition the clinic utility of the test.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

[Antibodies against mycobacterial antigens in patients with non-tuberculous pathology].

Antibodies (type IgG) against the A 60 antigen (Mycobacterium bovis, BCG) and an antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were studied by ELISA in 79 patients with not tuberculous disease: 16 lung carcinoma, 16 hepatic cirrhosis and 47 patients with pulmonary disease. 59.5% and 50.6% of the patients showed antibodies against antigen A 60 and M. tuberculosis antigen respectively; more 25% were strongly positive against antigen A 60; in the patients with lung carcinoma this results were 62.5%. It is concluded than when this methods are use in the serologic diagnostic of tuberculosis the number of cirrhotic and not tuberculous pulmonary disease patients with antibodies against this antigens, obliges a careful study of the individual characteristics of each patient, and it is very important previously to discard a lung neoplastic pathology.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of brucellosis.

The performance of an ELISA for detection of total antibodies to Brucella spp. was compared with that of the Rose Bengal, standard agglutination and Coombs test in the diagnosis of brucellosis. Sera tested were from 208 patients from whom Brucella melitensis had been isolated, 177 patients with significant results in at least two conventional tests, and 107 patients with fever from whom no Brucella spp. had been isolated and in whom all conventional tests were negative. ELISA was the most sensitive test (97%), showing greater specificity (96%) and good predictive positive and negative values (98% and 94% respectively). ELISA was the only positive test in 6% of patients in whom brucellosis had been confirmed by culture.

Agglutination Tests↗