In vitro culture of L3 larvae of nematodes obtained from the African giant snail Lissachatina fulica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in Santa Fe de Antioquia.

Introduction: Over 170 municipalities in Colombia have been invaded by Lissachatina fulica, an African snail that can carry larvae of nematodes of interest in human and veterinary health. Nematodes enter the host snail as larvae L1 and then change to L2 and L3, the infectious form for vertebrates.

Objective: To standardize culture in vitro of L3 carried by L.

[Standardization of a multiplex real-time PCR test for the identification of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, A. costaricensis and A. vasorum].

Introduction: Angiostrongyliasis is a disease caused by Angiostrongylus nematodes that is present worldwide. The infections with the highest impact on human and animal health are caused by A. cantonensis, A.

Evaluation of modified Dennis parasitological technique for diagnosis of bovine fascioliasis.

Introduction: Bovine fascioliasis causes important economic losses, estimated at COP$ 12,483 billion per year; its prevalence is 25% in dairy cattle. Parasitological techniques are required for it diagnosis. The Dennis technique, modified in 2002, is the one used in Colombia, but its sensitivity, specificity and validity are not known.

[Lymnaea cousini , intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica in the Colombian high tropical Andes, and its new haplotypes confirmed with the mitochondrial marker cytochrome oxidase I].

Introduction: Fasciolosis is the disease transmitted by vectors with the highest latitudinal, longitudinal, and altitudinal distribution due to the colonizing capacity of the parasite Fasciola hepatica and its intermediate hosts, Lymnaeidae mollusks. These snails are under research due to their epidemiological importance, but their taxonomic identification is difficult given their interspecific phenotypical similarity. For this reason, there is uncertainty regarding Lymnaea cousini -a host of F.

Climate-based risk models for Fasciola hepatica in Colombia.

A predictive Fasciola hepatica model, based on the growing degree day-water budget (GDD-WB) concept and the known biological requirements of the parasite, was developed within a geographical information system (GIS) in Colombia. Climate-based forecast index (CFI) values were calculated and represented in a national-scale, climate grid (18 x 18 km) using ArcGIS 9.3.

[Paragonimus sp. in crabs and awareness of the educational community to aquatic ecosystems in La Miel and La Clara, Caldas, Antioquia].

Introduction: Previous research has demonstrated the presence of Paragonimus spp. in crabs of three municipalities located in the Medellín river basin. To design a plan for the control and prevention of paragonimosis, parasite presence must be demonstrated in the upper area of the river, and an awareness campaign of its risks must involve the participation of the educational community in focusing attention on the local aquatic resources.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Neotropic Lymnaeidae (Gastropoda: Lymnaeoidea), vectors of fasciolosis.

Lymnaeidae play a crucial role in the transmission of fasciolosis, a disease of medical and veterinary importance. In the Neotropic, a region where fasciolosis is emergent, eight Lymnaeidae species are currently considered valid. However, our knowledge of the diversity of this taxon is hindered by the fact that lymnaeids exhibit extremely homogeneous anatomical traits.

[Distribution of Paragonimus (Digenea: Troglotrematidae) in Antioquia Province, Colombia, based on metacercariae counts in freshwater crabs].

Introduction: Paragonimosis or lung fluke disease courses with signs similar to those seen in tuberculosis. The causative agent is a parasite of the genus Paragonimus (Digenea: Troglotrematidae). People become infected by ingesting raw or partially cooked crabs containing metacercariae.

[Paragonimosis in the peri-urban zone of Medellín, Antioquia].

Introduction: Human paragonimosis in Colombia was assumed to be restricted to the sylvatic areas. However, in 2005, crabs infected with Paragonimus were found in Fuente Clara, an urban sector in Medellín.

Objective: A study was designed to understand the ecoepidemiology of paragonimosis.

Synonymy between Lymnaea bogotensis Pilsbry, 1935 and Lymnaea cousini Jousseaume, 1887 (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae).

The lymneid snail Lymnaea bogotensis Pilsbry 1935 is synonymized with L. cousini Jousseaume 1887, based on morphological comparisons of the reproductive systems. The shell, renal tube, and reproductive system are described and illustrated from specimens collected in the type locality and the municipality of Paipa, Colombia.

Modelling entomological-climatic interactions of Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission in two Colombian endemic-regions: contributions to a National Malaria Early Warning System.

Background: Malaria has recently re-emerged as a public health burden in Colombia. Although the problem seems to be climate-driven, there remain significant gaps of knowledge in the understanding of the complexity of malaria transmission, which have motivated attempts to develop a comprehensive model.

Methods: The mathematical tool was applied to represent Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission in two endemic-areas.

Effect of the exposure to Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Digenea) on life history traits of Lymnaea cousini and Lymnaea columella (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae).

The snails Lymnaea columella and Lymnaea cousini have both been reported as intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica in Colombia. The effect of the exposure to the parasite on survival, fecundity and size of these snails was evaluated by means of experimental infections and the life history traits of control and exposed groups were compared. Infection rates were 82.

Morphological description and life cycle of Paragonimus sp. (Trematoda: Troglotrematidae): causal agent of human paragonimiasis in Colombia.

The first morphological description is made of all stages of the life cycle of a Paragonimus species infecting humans in Colombia. Larval stages were obtained both in vitro and from field collections. Adult Paragonimus spp.

Morphological and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment lenght polymorphism characterization of Biomphalaria kuhniana and Biomphalaria amazonica from Colombia.

In Colombia, five Biomphalaria planorbid species are known: B. kuhniana, B. straminea, B.

Paragonimiasis: a view from Columbia.

Paragonimiasis is a zoonosis caused by adult trematodes of the Paragonimus genus. The infection in humans is a result of a complex transmission cycle that includes two obligate intermediate hosts, a snail and a crustacean or a crayfish, and a definitive mammalian host. It has been shown that 9 of the more than 40 species of Paragonimus described affect humans in over 39 countries in Asia, Africa and America.