PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Portús

Publications and source records attributed to M Portús.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Identification of blood meals of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Spain by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay biotin/avidin method.

Blood meals from Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, collected in four different places in Spain, were identified to determine host-selection patterns. Blood meals were tested using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) biotin-avidin method. Results indicate that this species is an opportunist that feeds on those animals to which it has easiest access. However, some preferences were indicated, because the insect never fed on chickens and frequently fed on sheep at sites where both sheep and goats were present. At some sites, the number of sand flies feeding on dogs was higher than expected, based on the proportion of dogs to man. Nevertheless, differences in host behavior, dispersal of engorged sand flies, and their exo- or endophilic habits make it difficult to assign specific host preferences.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Detection and characterization by immunoblot analysis of potentially diagnostic Leishmania infantum polypeptides in human visceral leishmaniasis.

Humoral immune responses were studied in 53 sera from 18 patients with visceral leishmaniasis by immunoblot analysis. Sera from visceral leishmaniasis patients recognized antigens with molecular weights ranging from < 14 kDa to more than 100 kDa. Bands ranging between 49 and < 14 kDa were the most specific. The 40, 33 and 17 kDa antigens were recognized by 90%, 79% and 79% of the patients sera, respectively. Sera from one patient with Chagas' disease identified 8 of 11 antigens of the specific region. Treatment with periodate eliminated the cross-reaction in three of these antigens (40, 29, 26 kDa). The study of serial sera collected from the different patients showed a decrease in intensity or dissappearance in some of the diagnostic bands, particularly the 17 kDa band. The band of 17 kDa seems to be useful to study the clinical evolution, for post-treatment control and also for epidemiologic purposes. (It has been identified in 7% of control sera from endemic areas.) Immunoblot could be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, being more sensitive and specific than other serologic tests.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Gynandromorphism in a population of Sergentomyia minuta (Rondani, 1843) in the northeast of Spain.

A study carried out, from July 1990 until April 1991, in a small village situated in the northeast of Spain (Pradell de la Teixeta) has allowed the discovery of three sandflies species: Phlebotomus ariasi, P. perniciosus and Sergentomyia minuta. P. ariasi was present from the initial data of capture to the end of October, disappearing the two others at the first half of November. The population of S. minuta furnished gynandromorphic individuals (1.6%) being the female-like specimens most commonly found (37/45, 82.2%). The different degrees of development of the genital region are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

A serological survey of toxocariasis in patients and healthy donors in Barcelona (Spain).

The ELISA test, using excretory-secretory antigen from larvae II of Toxocara canis, was applied on 1018 sera (793 from adults and 225 from pediatrics) distributed in: A) patients with an hypereosinophilia where the ethiological agent was undetermined (99); B) patients with ocular complaints compatible with an ocular toxocariasis (116); C) patients with hidatidosis (97); D) patient with other non-toxocaral helminthiasis (34); E) patients with other clinical features (468) and F) healthy donors (204). Over 3,6% of sera showed elevated levels of antibodies reacting with T. canis antigen. The prevalence of seropositivity was statistically higher in patients with eosinophilia (14,1%) (a less than 0,001) and ocular complaints (6%) (0,025 greater than alpha greater than 0,01) than in the control group (1%). In the overall seropositivity from pediatrics did not differ from that of the adults.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Contribution to the knowledge of intestinal protozoa infestation in the hospital population of Barcelona (author's transl)].

This report concerns the analysis of 650 fecal samples submitted for parasitic investigation to the Microbiology Service of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau of Barcelona. The samples were analyzed by the technique of fixation and direct observation of Sapero and Lawless (MIFD), and with the biphasic concentration method of Blagg et al (MIFC). Intestinal protozoa were detected in 183 samples (28.2%), with a total of 232 protozoosis uncovered. The specific analysis gave the following results: Giardia lamblia, 10.9%; Dientamoeba fragilis, 7.8%; Entamoeba coli, 4.6%; Endolimax nana, 4.5%; Entamoeba hartmanni, 4.0%; Iodamoeba buetschlii, 2.9%; Entamoeba histolytica, 0.7%; Chilomastix mesnili, 0.2%; Trichomonas hominis, 0.2%. The results obtained by the two methods have been compared, observing the highest number of positive results with MIFD technique. Especial mention is made of the higher incidence of Dientamoeba fragilis in samples positive for Oxyuris further studies being needed to establish the basis for the relationship between both species of parasites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of haemostatic disorders in experimentally induced leishmaniasis in Beagle dogs.

Haemostatic alterations in dogs experimentally infected with Leishmania infantum were studied before and after therapy with meglumine antimonate. Haemostatic function tests including platelet count, collagen-induced platelet aggregation, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, plasma fibrinogen determination, and serum fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products concentration were performed. In the course of infection and before treatment, moderate thrombocytopenia (P<0.00001), decreased collagen induced platelet aggregation (P=0.0003), prolonged thrombin time (P=0.0117) and increased fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products were observed. Statistically significant differences of plasma fibrinogen concentration, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were not encountered. Haemostatic parameters returned to normal values after therapy. The results indicate that Leishmania infection may impair haemostasis suggesting induction of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and that treating dogs in an early stage of infection may potentially avoid the possibility of developing an uncompensated DIC.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isoenzymatic identification of Leishmania isolates from repeated clinical human leishmaniasis episodes in Catalonia (Spain).

Forty human strains of Leishmania infantum isolated in 1985-99 from 17 patients with repeated cutaneous, mucosal or visceral leishmaniasis episodes in Catalonia (Spain) were examined by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Six zymodemes were revealed: MON-1, MON-24, MON-28, MON-29, MON-33 and MON-34. In 2 patients 2 different zymodemes were identified in consecutive episodes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Factors affecting the qualitative and quantitative composition of the acari fauna of house dust. III. Seasons].

The seasonal variations in the number of mites present in the house dust of six homes in Barcelona were studied. The samples were taken at monthly intervals between September 1972 and January 1974. Tables I and II show the total number of mites and the number of Pyroglyphidae present in each of the samples. Table III shows the monthly average of the atmospheric temperature and relative humidity (R.H.). Graphing the average of mites present in the monthly samples and comparing them to the graph of the atmospheric R.H. an almost perfect correlation of the atmospheric R.H. with the number of mites was observed (Graph 1). The statistical analysis of the results shows the existence of a highly significant correlation (alpha less than 0.001) between the average of the atmospheric R.H. of a given month and the decimal logarithm of the number of mites present in the house dust the following month (Tables IV and V; Graphs 4 and 5). The following results can be pointed out: a) The quality of mites in the house dust of Barcelona changes considerably during the year. b) The quantity is greatest during spring and autumn. c) The annual variation differs from year to year. In conclusion, it is shown that the seasonal variations in the quantity of mites present in the house dust of Barcelona are proportional to the variations in atmospheric R.H.

Acari↗