Neurobrucellosis in stranded dolphins, Costa Rica

Ten striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, stranded along the Costa Rican Pacific coast, had meningoencephalitis and antibodies against Brucella spp. Brucella ceti was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of 6 dolphins and 1 fetus. S. coeruleoalba constitutes a highly susceptible host and a potential reservoir for B. ceti transmission.     

Role of bacterial and genetic factors in gastric cancer in Costa Rica

AIM： To evaluate several risk factors for gastric cancer （GC） in Costa Rican regions with contrasting GC incidence rate （GCIR）. METHODS： According to GCIR, 191 Helicobacter pylori （H pylori）-positive patients were classified into groups A （high GCIR, n = 101） and B （low GCIR, n = 90）. Human DNA obtained from biopsy specimens was used in the determination of polymorphisms of the genes coding for interleukin （IL）-1β and IL-10 by PCRRFLP, and IL-1RN by PCR. H pylori DNA extractions obtained from clinical isolates of 83 patients were used for PCR-based genotyping of H pylori cagA, vacA and babA2. Human DNA from gastric biopsies of 52 GC patients was utilized for comparative purposes. RESULTS： Cytokine polymorphisms showed no association with GCIR variability. However, gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and strains with different vacA genotypes in the same stomach （mixed strain infection） were more frequently found in group A than in group B, and cagA and vacA s1b were significantly associated with high GCIR （P = 0.026 and 0.041, respectively）. IL- 1β＋3954_T/C （OR 2.1, 1.0-4.3）, IL-1RN^＊2/L （OR 3.5, 1.7-7.3） and IL-10-592_C/A （OR 3.2, 1.5-6.8） were individually associated with GC, and a combination of these cytokine polymorphisms with Hpylori vacA slb and ml further increased the risk （OR 7.2, 1.4-36.4）. CONCLUSION： Although a proinflammatory cytokine genetic profile showed an increased risk for developing GC, the characteristics of Hpylori infection, in particular the status of cagA and vacA genotype distribution seemed to play a major role in GCIR variability in Costa Rica.     

Mortality due to snakebite envenomation in Costa Rica (1993-2006)

The mortality due to snakebite envenomation in Costa Rica for the period 1993-2006 was investigated by a retrospective analysis. There were 48 fatalities due to snakebites during this period. Mortality rates ranged from 0.02 per 100,000 population in 2006 to 0.19 per 100,000 population in 1993. Case fatality rates in the period 1993-2000 ranged between 0.18% (2000) and 1.15% (1993). The highest numbers of fatal cases occurred in the provinces of Puntarenas and Limón, in low-land humid regions where the species Bothrops asper ('terciopelo') is distributed and agricultural activities predominate. The most affected age groups were those of 20-29, 40-49 and 50-59 years, and fatal cases predominated in males over females by a ratio of 5:1.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxyascaris</Emphasis> (Nematoda,Cosmocercidae) in the Costa Rica brook frog, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Duellmanohyla uranochroa</Emphasis> (Anura,Hylidae)

Oxyascaris mcdiarmidi sp. nov. (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) from the small intestine of Duellmanohyla uranochroa from Costa Rica is described. Oxyascaris mcdiarmidi sp. nov. represents the 4th species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from congeners by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae of the male, spicule length and vulvar position.