[Foodborne disease outbreaks around the urban Chilean areas from 2005 to 2010].

Background: Foodborne disease outbreaks are one of the main health problems all over the world, which have an extensive impact on human health.

Objective: [corrected] To analyze the foodborne disease outbreaks occurred in Chilean urban area from 2005 to 2010.

Methods: We made a descriptive epidemiologic study.

[Evaluation of an IgG avidity commercial test: contribution to diagnosis of primary infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii].

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis (T) is a major chronic parasitic infection in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. It is important to discriminate between acute phase (AT) and chronic phase (CT). Diagnosis is serological in immunocompetent patients (concentration of IgG and IgM).

[Part VI. Antiparasitic treatment for Chagas disease].

As expert consensus has been arisen about universal antiparasitic treatment for all patients infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, most important drugs licensed for Chagas disease treatment are reviewed: nifurtimox and benznidazol, their mechanisms of action, doses, treatment schedules, adverse effects and contraindications. Two other drugs used for Chagas disease treatment, for which a Chilean experience may be exhibited, are allopurinol and itraconazole. Indications for treatment of Chagas disease in immunocompetent patients and immunocompromised hosts are detailed.

[Part V. Laboratory diagnosis of Chagas disease].

In this fifth part of Guidelines for Chagas disease, diagnostic techniques for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in humans are reviewed, the interpretation of laboratory results and an algorithm for laboratory diagnosis in immunocompetent hosts are presented. Chagas disease may be diagnosed by three kinds of techniques: direct, which allow detect the presence of the parasite in different kind of samples; indirect, based on the search of immune specific response against T. cruzi antigens and molecular, which detect parasite genetic material.

[Seroepidemiological evidence of human exposure to Anaplasma sp in Santiago, Chile].

Objectives And Methods: To find more evidence of human exposure to Anaplasma sp in Chile, we studied 108 contacts of dogs with canine ehrlichiosis (CE) (risk group) and 61 persons without tick or CE cases contact (control group). A survey including risk factors and history of diseases compatible with ehrlichiosis/ anaplasmosis was applied to the risk group. Serum IgG anti-Anaplasma sp antibodies were determined in both groups.

[Guidelines for chagas disease: Part IV. Chagas disease in immune compromised patients].

A summary of different kind of immune suppressed hosts and the importance of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in this group of patients is presented. Then, most relevant aspects of immune compromised host-parasite interaction are analyzed such as the moment of acquiring the infection, immune compromise level, mechanisms of acquisition the infection and geographic region. Clinical features of primary infection and reactivation of infection in chronic Chagasic patients are described making special emphasis in solid organ transplant and BMT.

[Guidelines for Chagas disease: Part III. Chagas disease in donors to blood banks].

In this chapter it is emphasized the importance to guarantee safety and high quality blood transfusions. Besides, the following topics are analyzed: the importance of Trypanosoma cruzi infection acquired by blood transfusions, the obligatory screening implemented in Chilean blood banks and serological diagnostic techniques used that for, the seroprevalence observed, the importance to confirm results and methods recommended in this purpose and, to notify the donor once the infection is confirmed. In addition a facsímil of a letter used to notify the positive donor is included as guidelines to make advice after, attaching a pro-forma of clinical-epidemiological registration to refer the donor to medical evaluation and treatment.

[Quality of life of elderly subjects living in basic social dwellings].

Background: In Chile, the government is providing basic dwellings to poor elderly subjects that do not have a place to live. These dwellings may be located in buildings or in codominiums.

Aim: To assess the quality of life perception of elderly subjects whose dwellings are located in buildings or in condominiums.