Publications by authors named "Heidy C Martinez-Diaz"

is a bacterial genus that includes several pathogenic species related to leptospirosis. In Colombia, leptospirosis is a mandatorily reported disease, widely distributed across the country. In the Villeta municipality, leptospirosis has been identified as an important cause of febrile illness; however, to date, no studies have been performed to identify the circulating species.

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Background: Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is one of the leading causes of illness in tropical regions. Although malaria is the most important cause, other pathogens such as Dengue (DENV), and recently, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have gained importance. In Colombia, few studies aimed to identify the etiology of AUFI.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted in Cauca Department, Colombia, analyzing serum samples from 486 individuals for Orientia seroreactivity.
  • The results indicated that 13.8% of the samples tested positive for reactive IgG using indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay and ELISA techniques.
  • Out of the reactive samples, 30% (or 20 out of 67) were further confirmed as positive through Western blot, displaying specific reactive bands related to Orientia antigens (56-kD or 47-kD).
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Several arboviruses have emerged or reemerged into the New World during the past several decades, causing outbreaks of significant proportion. In particular, the outbreaks of Dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus, and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have been explosive and unpredictable, and have led to significant adverse health effects. These viruses are considered the leading cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses in Colombia.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new pathogenic bacterium, Ehrlichia minasensis, has been identified as infecting cattle in Colombia.
  • Borrelia theileri has also been linked to bovine borreliosis in the same region.
  • Both bacteria were detected through PCR testing and are being considered potential causes of febrile syndrome in cattle.
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The formulation of effective control strategies for any pest species generally involves the study of habitat use and preference and niche width in anthropogenically transformed natural landscapes. We evaluated whether the use, habitat preference, and niche range of the Amblyomma mixtum tick changed between stages, habitats, and seasonality (dry-wet seasons 2019) on a farm in Yopal (Casanare, Colombia). The presence and relative abundance of free-living larvae, nymphs, and adults was quantified in four different habitats according to the type of vegetation cover (Riparian Forest, Cocoa Crop, King Grass Crop, and Star Grass Paddock).

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Amblyomma patinoi ticks infected with Rickettsia rickettsii are present in Colombia, but its vector competence is unknown. Hence, we evaluated the vector competence of A. patinoi with R.

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Ehrlichia canis infections have been reported in humans in Venezuela and Costa Rica. In this study, 506 healthy residents and 114 dogs from four municipalities (Cauca, Colombia) were surveyed and blood samples collected. Antibodies to E.

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Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a microorganism that colonizes nostrils and different parts of the body, which is considered a risk factor to acquire invasive infections, especially in cardiovascular surgery patients. Objective: To determine the frequency of nasal colonization by MRSA and to establish the clinical characteristics in patients scheduled for cardiovascular surgery. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive study conducted between February and December, 2015.

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Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) are flea-transmitted pathogens. They are important causes of acute febrile illness throughout the world. We, therefore, sought to identify the rickettsial species present in the fleas of dogs and cats in the department of Cauca, Colombia.

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