The clinical and microbiological characteristics of super-infected hydatid cysts are described. In our cohort, 7.3% of 503 patients had a super-infected cyst. Four patients developed severe sepsis, and two of them died. Escherichia coli, viridans group streptococci, and Enterococcus species in liver cysts and Aspergillus fumigatus in lung cysts were the microorganisms most frequent involved.

The filarial parasite Loa loa, the causative agent of loiasis, is endemic in Central and Western Africa infecting 3–13 million people. L. loa has been associated with fatal encephalopathic reactions in high Loa-infected individuals receiving ivermectin during mass drug administration programs for the control of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. In endemic areas, the only diagnostic method routinely used is the microscopic examination of mid-day blood samples by thick blood film. Improved methods for detection of L. loa are needed in endemic regions with limited resources, where delayed diagnosis results in high mortality. We have investigated the use of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to facilitate rapid, inexpensive, molecular diagnosis of loiasis. Primers for LAMP were designed from a species-specific repetitive DNA sequence from L. loa retrieved from GenBank. Genomic DNA of a L. loa adult worm was used to optimize the LAMP conditions using a thermocycler or a conventional heating block. Amplification of DNA in the LAMP mixture was visually inspected for turbidity as well as addition of fluorescent dye. LAMP specificity was evaluated using DNA from other parasites; sensitivity was evaluated using DNA from L. loa 10-fold serially diluted. Simulated human blood samples spiked with DNA from L. loa were also tested for sensitivity. Upon addition of fluorescent dye, all positive reactions turned green while the negative controls remained orange under ambient light. After electrophoresis on agarose gels, a ladder of multiple bands of different sizes could be observed in positive samples. The detection limit of the assay was found to be as little as 0.5 ag of L. loa genomic DNA when using a heating block. We have designed, for the first time, a highly sensitive LAMP assay for the detection of L. loa which is potentially adaptable for field diagnosis and disease surveillance in loiasis-endemic areas.

Introduction: Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is an infrequently diagnosed disease because it is little known and is usually well tolerated. Methods: We carried out a systematic review with PubMed as a search engine for the MedLine database, and we analysed the clinical, epidemiological and analytical parameters of this disease. Results: In total, reports of 27 case have been found, together with a series of 116 patients, which were later augmented up to 194 patients. In the results, we have observed a predominance of male patients, and Costa Rica, Brazil and the United States as the main countries of origin. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain on the right iliac fossa, with leukocytosis and eosinophilia. Discussion: There are some serological diagnostic methods, although lack of standardization leads to most of the diagnoses being reached via pathology. Surgery is the usual treatment approach. Although there are medical options, this is a controversial subject because of the low number of cases published in the literature, which implies an absence of solid studies.

The individualization of EFV dosage guided by genotyping 516G>T CYP2B6 and therapeutic drug monitoring could increase the efficiency of EFV use in antiretroviral treatment.