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Objective: Establishing the presence of zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodosin soil samples in recreational areas in Suba (one of the largest localities of Bogotá, Colombia) between July 2005 and June 2006., Methodology: The presence of several gastrointestinal parasites' eggs, larvae and oocysts were determined by initial soil sedimentation and later flotation with Sheather solution; some of them were responsible for important zoonotic diseases affecting the human population., Results: Parasites were identified in 376 samples: Ancylostoma larvae (10.7%), Ancylostoma eggs (0.6%), Toxocara eggs (5.8%), Strongyloides eggs (3.3%), Dipylidium eggs (0.06%) and Sarcocystis oocysts (0.06%). Other parasites identified were Toxascaris eggs (0.9%), Spirocerca eggs (0.25%) and Isospora oocysts (0.25%). Some larvae and eggs present in 522 samples could not be classified and there was no evidence of parasites in 702 samples (45%). 94.2%, (n=49) of the recreational area was thus polluted., Conclusions: The high percentage of recreational areas so polluted indicated that these places would constitute a risk factor for the transmission of parasitic diseases to animals and human beings. Due to this sanitary problem's relevance in public health programmes, government policy must be determined involving communities so that people are educated to improve their sanitary practices in recreational places regarding caring for their pets.

Background: bovine linguatulosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the pentastomid Linguatula serrata Frölich‚ 1789 (Ichthyostraca: Porocephalida). Nymphal stages of L. serrata have been reported in the heart‚ lungs‚ liver‚ and lymph nodes of bovines (intermediate hosts). Cattle are infected by ingesting the eggs released into the environment by canines (definitive hosts). Objective: to describe a case of linguatulosis in a heifer in the Eastern Plains of Colombia. Anamnesis: a 10-month-old heifer‚ white Brahman breed‚ from San Juan de Arama‚ Meta -Colombia was reported with abdominal dilation and pain. The heifer showed progressive loss of body condition and died. Necropsy findings: poor body condition‚ moderately enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Tissue samples of the peritoneum‚ mesenteric lymph nodes‚ and liver were collected‚ fixed in 10 % buffered formalin‚ and sent for histopathological analysis. Histopathology: the morphological diagnosis was a granulomatous peritonitis of parasitic origin. The granulomas showed a central region of caseous necrosis with immature stages of intralesional parasites. There was also severe lymphocytic and histiocytic perivascular infiltrate and foci of fat necrosis. The liver showed moderate centrilobular necrosis and fatty changes and multiple mineralized areas and multifocal granulomatous lymphadenitis with caseous necrosis and severe central mineralization with immature stages of intralesional parasites. The definitive diagnosis was peritonitis and lymphadenitis‚ parasitic. The parasitic forms have a thick cuticle with thin‚ uniform spicules. Parasitology: oval-shaped morphological parasitic structures with spines on the cuticle‚ and acidophilic glands compatible with immature stages of L. serrata were identified. Conclusion: linguatulosis caused by L. serrata is reported for the first time as a cause of mortality in bovine in the Eastern Plains of Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rickettsioses are vector-borne zoonotic diseases whose etiological agents are bacteria of the genera Rickettsia and Orientia. In Colombia, literature published on rickettsioses during the 20th century is limited and disperse; to date, there are no detailed publications that compile the affected regions or the involved Rickettsia species in each outbreak. Since early works of Luis Patiño-Camargo, the study of rickettsioses gained major importance with the subsequent description of significant outbreaks in some departments of the country. During the 1940s, many articles were published reporting outbreaks probably caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia typhi , and Rickettsia prowazekii , as well as studies on their diagnosis, vaccination, and prophylaxis. One of the most notorious works was published by Patiño-Camargo where he named the R. rickettsii rickettsiosis as "Tobia fever". However, in the subsequent decades, these entities entered a prolonged period of neglected research and surveillance, and just gained importance until the 21st century, when new fatal cases began to be reported in the country; thus, many questions remained unanswered during this overlooked period. The present work reviewed online databases, repositories, and libraries to compile literature related to rickettsioses in Colombia published during the 20th century. Gathered data show that typhus group rickettsioses (including infections by R. typhi and R. prowazekii) were broadly distributed in departments from the Andean and Caribbean regions, and that spotted fever group rickettsioses cases (including infections by R. rickettsii) were registered in other locations different from Tobia (Cundinamarca), like Atlántico, Bolivar, and Santander departments. These findings contribute to the knowledge of these diseases, their historical distribution, public health burden, and set new horizons for rickettsioses research in different Colombian locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first report of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in an equid species. Feces from 195 horses from 4 locations in Colombia were examined for E. bieneusi by polymerase chain reaction. Of these, 21 horses (10.8%) were found positive for E. bieneusi. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in horses ,1 yr of age was significantly higher (23.7%) than in horses .1 yr of age (2.5%). No significant differences in prevalence were observed between male (13.7%) and female horses (9%). Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of the SSUrRNA locus identified 3 genotypes. Two genotypes appear to be unique to horses and were named Horse 1 and Horse 2. A third genotype, identified as genotype D, was detected in 4 horses. This genotype, previously reported to infect humans, beaver, cattle, dogs, falcons, foxes, macaques, muskrats, pigs, and raccoons, is the most ubiquitous of the E. bieneusi zoonotic genotypes. Our findings indicate that E. bieneusi from horses can be a potential source of infection for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are affected by a wide range of protozoan and metazoan-derived parasitic diseases. Among parasites of free-ranging capybaras are soil-, water-, food- and gastropod-borne parasitosis, today considered as opportunistic infections in semiaquatic ecosystems. The overlapping of the capybara's natural ecological habitats with human and domestic animal activities has unfortunately increased in recent decades, thereby enhancing possible cross- or spillover events of zoonotic parasites. Due to this, three synanthropic wild capybara populations in the Orinoco Basin were studied for the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasite infections. A total of forty-six fecal samples were collected from free-ranging capybaras in close proximity to livestock farms. Macroscopical analyses, standard copromicroscopical techniques, coproELISA, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis revealed thirteen parasite taxa. In detail, the study indicates stages of five protozoans, four nematodes, one cestode, and three trematodes. Two zoonotic parasites were identified (i.e., Plagorchis muris, and Neobalantidium coli). The trematode P. muris represents the first report within South America. In addition, this report expands the geographical distribution range of echinocoelosis (Echinocoleus hydrochoeri). Overall, parasitological findings include two new host records (i.e., P. muris, and Entamoeba). The present findings collectively constitute baseline data for future monitoring of wildlife-derived anthropozoonotic parasites and call for future research on the health and the ecological impact of this largest semiaquatic rodent closely linked to humans, domestic and wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To carry out a systematic review of the literature on the zoonotic potential of Neospora caninum taking into account its biological relationship with Toxoplasma gondii. Materials and methods. A systematic review was carried out, using two databases for the collection of information (Science direct and Scielo), a search engine (Google Scholar) and the National University of Colombia Repository, all documents were organized through the bibliographic manager Mendeley for proper review. Key words like Neosporosis, Neospora caninum, "Toxoplasmosis", "Toxoplasma gondii", "Neospora humans", "Neospora human infection", "Neospora zoonotic" were used. A total of 8 articles were selected that look for the infection in humans. Results. Eight documents concerning the subject of Neospora in humans were used, whereas these reports show evidence of seropositivity in human samples of anti-N. caninum no studies were found that look for the isolation of the parasite in human tissues (by molecular or in vitro culture). Conclusions. According to the results of these studies, it is not ruled out that the existence of cross-reactions with T. gondii and therefore it should not be ruled out that Neosporosis can behave as a zoonosis. In this regard, more research is required to demonstrate exposure, associated clinical signs, or pathologies related to this infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]