A5021025202- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Retinal and Optic Conditions
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Complement system in diseases
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
Universidad del Norte
2012-2024
Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases
2022
Hospital de Sant Pau
2022
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
2022
John Radcliffe Hospital
2022
Secretaría de Salud de Bogotá
2006
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2000-2005
University of London
2005
Genetic variation among Aedes aegypti populations can greatly influence their vector competence for human pathogens such as the dengue virus (DENV). While intra-species transcriptome differences remain relatively unstudied when compared to coding sequence polymorphisms, they also affect numerous aspects of mosquito biology. Comparative molecular profiling strain transcriptomes therefore provide valuable insight into regulation competence. We established a panel A. strains with varying levels...
In 2015, the Zika arbovirus (ZIKV) began circulating in Americas, rapidly expanding its global geographic range explosive outbreaks. Unusual among mosquito-borne diseases, ZIKV has been shown to also be sexually transmitted, although sustained autochthonous transmission due sexual alone not observed, indicating reproduction number (R0) for is less than 1. Critical assessment of outbreak risk, estimation potential attack rates, and control measures, are estimates basic number, R0.We estimated...
The drivers and patterns of zoonotic virus emergence in the human population are poorly understood. mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major arbovirus vector native to Africa that invaded most world's tropical belt over past four centuries, after evolution "domestic" form specialized biting humans breeding water storage containers. Here, we show specialization subsequent spread A. out were accompanied by an increase its intrinsic ability acquire transmit emerging pathogen Zika virus. Thus, recent...
Aedes aegypti (L.) density indices obtained in a dengue fever (DF) endemic area were compared. One hundred and twenty premises, an urban of Colombia where type-1 type-2 virus cocirculated, randomly selected sampled for 7 months. The geometric mean monthly numbers (density index, DI) Ae. eggs (ODI), 4th instar larvae (LDI), pupae (PDI), adults (ADI) calculated based on the use ovitraps, nets, manual aspirators, respectively. A negative temporal correlation was observed between LDI ODI (r =...
ABSTRACT We compared dengue virus (DV) isolation rates and tested whether acute primary (P) acute/probable secondary (S/PS) DV infections could be correctly classified serologically when the patients' first serum (S1) samples were obtained 1 to 3 days after onset of symptoms (AOS). envelope/membrane protein-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) capture IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titrations (1/log 10 1.7 log 6.6 dilutions) performed on 100 paired S1 S2 from suspected infections....
Surveys were conducted in three neighbourhoods of Barranquilla, the main seaport Colombia, to identify, using counts pupae water containers during wet and dry seasons, most productive Aedes aegypti breeding sites. Overall, 3433 premises investigated season 3563 dry, representing, respectively, 82.3% 84.6% total numbers study areas. Despite a reasonably reliable supply piped water, there still some large storage for domestic (cement ground tanks plastic, metal cement drums) area. Although...
Samples were collected from 128 symptomatic humans, 83 dogs, 49 mice, and 20 rats ( Rattus rattus : 16; norvegicus 4) in neighborhoods where human leptospirosis have been reported within the principal sea-port city of Colombia. Seroprevalences assessed against 19 pathogenic, 1 intermediate saprophytic Leptospira serogroups. Pathogenic confirmed using conventional -specific polymerase chain-reaction pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis was used for serovar identification. 20.4%, 12.5%,...
Introduction: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans that may result in severe hemorrhagic, hepatic/renal and pulmonary disease. There are 20 known Leptospira species hundreds of serovars, some which belong different species. It essential identify pathogenic serovars their potential reservoirs prepare adequate control strategies.Objective: To characterize the isolated rodents, dogs, pigs water samplesin Colombia.Materials methods:...
Few studies have investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 infections increase the incidence of dengue haemorrhagic fever/shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) and/or severe (SD) in virus (DENV)-infected patients. This study was performed on a site with high incidences classical dengue, but relatively few DHF/DSS or SD cases as defined by WHO 1997 2009 criteria, respectively. Clinical, haematological/biochemical, and viral diagnostic data were collected from febrile patients before, during, after COVID-19 epidemic...
ResumenLa leptospirosis, la enfermedad bacteriana zoonótica y emergente más importante en el mundo, es causada por las especies patógenas de Leptospira spp.Han sido descritas veinte spp.; se ha determinado secuencia del ADN genómico algunas cepas patógenas; función mayoría los genes involucrados su patogénesis permanece desconocida.La leptospirosis humana presenta un rango síntomas que van desde una fiebre indiferenciada hasta ictericia, hemorragia, fallas renales pulmonares severas.La...
Zika Preparedness Latin American Network (ZikaPLAN) is a research consortium funded by the European Commission to address gaps in combating and establish sustainable network with capacity building Americas. Here we present report on ZikaPLAN`s mid-term achievements since its initiation October 2016 June 2019, illustrating objectives of 15 work packages ranging from virology, diagnostics, entomology vector control, modelling clinical cohort studies pregnant women neonates, as well...
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) have recently emerged as globally important infections. This study aimed to explore the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in occurrence of CHIKV ZIKV outbreaks throughout major international seaport city Barranquilla, Colombia 2014 2016 potential for clustering. Incidence data were fitted using multiple Bayesian Poisson models based on explanatory variables risk factors identified from other studies options random effects. A best fit model was used...
The ability of a simple sweeping method, coupled to calibration factors, accurately estimate the total numbers Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) pupae in water-storage containers (20-6412-liter capacities at different water levels) throughout their main dengue virus transmission temperature range was evaluated. Using this one set three factors were derived that could Ae. principal breeding sites, large containers, found world. No significant differences obtained using method altitudes...
Recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) in South and Central America have highlighted significant neurologic side effects. Concurrence with the inflammatory neuropathy Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is observed 1:4,000 ZIKV cases. Whether symptoms infection are immune mediated unclear. We used rodent human live cellular models to screen for anti-peripheral nerve reactive IgG IgM autoantibodies sera patients without GBS.In this study, 52 ZIKV-GBS were compared 134 ZIKV-infected GBS 91 non-ZIKV...
Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne Alphavirus that causes recurrent outbreaks in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In first 2-7 days infection, most individuals experience high fever, skin rash joint pain swelling. However, about 30-60% infected individuals, primarily middle-age females, develop debilitating chronic arthritis-like symptoms such as pain, muscle aches edema. Despite ongoing treatment vaccine development efforts, immune responses to CHIKV humans...
A method has been developed for estimating the sample sizes needed to identify categories that comprise a large proportion of compositional data-set. The is be used in design surveys mosquito pupae, identifying key container types from which majority adult dengue vectors emerge. Although finite-population correction was devised mean negative binomial distribution, other complications parametric approaches make them unlikely yield methods simple enough practically applicable. Shannon–Wiener...
Human myiasis is the parasitism of human tissues by fly larvae. Diagnoses are based on clinical pattern tissue damage and presence insect stages. Herein, a case described in seven-year-old female child. She presented with fever associated abscessed scalp lesions containing exposed Severe pediculosis was also observed. The patient hospitalized treated clindamycin, gentamicin (for bacterial secondary infections) ivermectin (treatment for lice) after which showed improvement discharged four...
SUMMARY Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne re-emerging viral infection that can cause chronic chikungunya arthritic disease (CHIKVD), which characterized by incapacitating arthralgia and inflammation last for months to years following infection. Despite CHIKV outbreaks occurring worldwide several vaccines currently in development, immune responses humans remains largely understudied, targets of T cell response are unknown. In this study, we tested peripheral blood mononuclear...
The ability of a simple sweeping method, coupled to calibration factors, accurately estimate the total numbers Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) pupae in water-storage containers (20–6,412-liter capacities at different water levels) throughout their main dengue virus transmission temperature range was evaluated. Using this one set three factors were derived that could Ae. principal breeding sites, large containers, found world. No significant differences obtained using method altitudes...
To confirm that a single water-surface sweep-net collection coupled with three calibration factors (2.6, 3.0 and 3.5 for 1/3, 2/3 3/3 water levels, respectively) (WSCF) could accurately estimate very low to high Aedes aegypti pupae numbers in containers more rapidly than the exhaustive 5-sweep total count (ESTC) method recommended by WHO.Both methods were compared semi-field trials using (n = 25) moderate 50-100) 250-l drum at their mean-time determinations 200 220- 1024-l these levels....
To assess whether the 'economic boom' in tropical seaport city of Barranquilla improved tapped water supplies to socio-economically poor neighbourhoods resulting in: (1) their reduced use for domestic water-storage large (> 1,000-litre) custom-made cement tanks which are principal Aedes aegypti breeding sites and (2) pupae/person index (PPI) values below established 0.5–1.5 PPI arbovirus transmission-threshold value, compared matched the: (a) pre-economic boom (2004) period (b)...