title: Epidemiological survey of histoplasmine and paracoccidioidine skin reactivity in an agricultural area in Bolívar state, Venezuela.
abstract: Paracoccidiodomycosis and histoplasmosis are endemic diseases in the south of Venezuela, representing a public health problem. Prevalence of Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis and Histoplasma capsulatum infections were estimated in Monte Ralo, a rural community area of Bolivar state using paracoccidiodine and histoplasmine skin tests. Paracoccidiodine was intradermically injected to 173 persons and readings were made at 24 and 48 h afterwards to 167 persons (97.85%). Reaction was positive in 8.5% (n = 14) at 24 h post-injection and 13.2% (n = 20) at 48 h. Farmers showed the higher percentage of positivity at 24 and 48 h. One hundred-seventy five persons were intradermically injected with histoplasmine but 167 and 157 of them attended for reading of the dermal reaction at 24 and 48 h post-injection respectively. Tests were positive in 25.7% (n = 43) at 24 h and 42.7% (n = 67) at 48 h. Further studies are needed in surrounding places to delimit the endemic area of these mycosis in the Bolivar state. However, epidemiological vigilance of PCM and H should be considered by local health authorities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología y Microbiología, Escuela de Medicina 'Dr. Francisco Battistini Casalta', Complejo Hospitalario Universitario 'Ruiz y Páez', Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo Bolivar, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. jcerme@cantv.net
authors.forename: Julman Rosiris
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cermeño
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Julmery Jesús
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cermeño
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: July Josefina
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cermeño
authors.forename: Yida
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Orellán
authors.forename: Ytalia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Ismery
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.forename: Yesenia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.forename: Frannelly
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alcalá
authors.forename: Teófilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003046:Coccidioidin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006659:Histoplasmin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003046:Coccidioidin; D006659:Histoplasmin