| 1. |
- Bucardo, Filemon, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic susceptibility to symptomatic norovirus infection in Nicaragua. : norovirus susceptibility in Nicaragua
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of medical virology. - : Wiley. - 1096-9071 .- 0146-6615. ; 81:4, s. 728-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Host genetic resistance to Norovirus (NoV) has been observed in challenge and outbreak studies in populations from Europe, Asia, and USA. In this study, we have investigated if histo-blood group antigens can predict susceptibility to diarrhea caused by NoV in Nicaragua, Central America, and if this can be reflected in antibody-prevalence and titer to NoV among individuals with different histo-blood group antigen phenotypes. Investigation of 28 individuals infected with NoV and 131 population controls revealed 6% of non-secretors in the population and nil non-secretors among patients infected with NoV, suggesting that non-secretors may be protected against NoV disease in Nicaragua. Surprisingly, 25% of the population was Lewis negative (Le(a-b-)). NoV infections with genogroup I (GI) and GII occurred irrespective of Lewis genotype, but none of the Lewis a positive (Le(a + b-)) were infected. The globally dominating GII.4 virus infected individuals of all blood groups except AB (n = 5), while the GI viruses (n = 4) infected only blood type O individuals. Furthermore, O blood types were susceptible to infections with GI.4, GII.4, GII.7, GII.17, and GII.18-Nica viruses, suggesting that secretors with blood type O are susceptible (OR = 1.52) and non-secretors resistant. The overall antibody-prevalence to NoV GII.3 VLP was 62% with the highest prevalence among blood type B carriers (70%) followed by A (68%) and O (62%). All four investigated individuals carrying blood type AB were antibody-negative. Among secretors, 63% were antibody-positive compared to 33% among non-secretors (P = 0.151). This study extends previous knowledge about the histo-blood group antigens role in NoV disease in a population with different genetic background than North American and European.
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| 2. |
- Wedel, Johan, 1962
(författare)
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Healing and spirit possession in the Caribbean
- 2009
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Ingår i: Stockholm Review of Latin American Studies. - 1654-0204. ; :4, s. 49-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article takes a comparative look at spiritual healing and its implications among followers of Afro-Cuban Santería and among the Miskitu people of Nicaragua. It shows how illness and suffering is located in a sacred domain allowing transformations on social, psychological, and physiological levels. Healing is achieved by creating a sacred reality by means of powerful symbols and spirit possession. In this process, spiritual beings are representations of people’s conditions. At the same time, spirits also represent a model for healing.
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| 3. |
- Dahlblom, Kjerstin, 1950-
(författare)
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Estrella : a gifted narrative
- 2009
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Ingår i: Childhoods Today. - : University of Sheffield. - 1753-0849. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper analyses a short written account by a young Nicaraguan girl who narrates an experience she had while taking care of her small niece. She describes a turning point in her life, and narrative analysis was applied to interpret the meaning of her story. The importance and implications of becoming a mother are the key elements in her narrative. Her contribution was part of a larger study on sibling caretaking conducted in León, Nicaragua, in which multiple tools were used for exploration and analysis.
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| 4. |
- Segnestam, Lisa, 1971-
(författare)
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Division of Capitals - What Role Does It Play for Gender-Differentiated
- 2009
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Ingår i: Community Development. Journal of the Community Development Society. - Philadelphia : Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. - 1557-5330. ; 40:2, s. 154-176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article explores the gender differentiation of vulnerability to the drought situation within a rural community in the dry zone of Nicaragua. Case study work demonstrates that women and men use different strategies to cope with drought in the short term, and to adapt to the recurring El Niño induced events in the longer term. These strategies combined constitute the livelihoods of the rural poor in the dry zone of Nicaragua—livelihoods that change at times of drought to reduce its impacts. The article uses the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) to look at what resources women and men in the case study area have lost and to analyze what capitals are most central for the coping and adaptation capacity. A gender perspective is applied to see what difference in access to capitals between men and women exist and what that means in terms of gender-differentiated vulnerability to drought.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Dahlblom, Kjerstin, et al.
(författare)
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Home alone : children as caretakers in León, Nicaragua
- 2009
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Ingår i: Children and society. - : Wiley. - 0951-0605 .- 1099-0860. ; 23:1, s. 43-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article seeks to explore and understand the life situations of sibling caretakers in poor areas in León, Nicaragua. The every day lives for caretakers were studied through observations and interviews with children, informants and parents. The children themselves were satisfied and proud to be trusted as caretakers and felt useful in contributing to their families' livelihood. However, in a life course perspective the caretaking role implies a narrowing of life options. Early on they seem to acquire essential life skills but as they grow older many are at risk of falling behind due to their marginalised situation and lack of basic education.
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| 7. |
- Corriols, Marianela, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of acute pesticide poisonings in Nicaragua : a public health concern
- 2009
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 66:3, s. 205-210
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To estimate the cumulative incidence rate of acute pesticide poisoning in the year 2000 among Nicaraguan subjects over 15 years of age. METHODS: Data on pesticide exposure and health effects were assessed in a nationally representative survey. Based on self-reported cases, we estimated the 1-year incidence rate and the number of expected cases of acute pesticide poisonings in Nicaragua. RESULTS: Among the 3169 survey respondents, we identified 72 persons who self-reported one episode of acute pesticide poisoning in 2000. Of these, 65 cases (90%) were related to occupational exposure, five (7%) to domestic exposure and two (3%) to intentional exposure. The cumulative incidence rate/100 individuals of pesticide poisonings in Nicaragua in 2000 was 2.3 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.8). This corresponds to 66 113 cases (95% CI 51 017 to 81 210). The highest rate was found among males in rural areas, particularly among farmers and agricultural workers. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates an extremely high risk of acute pesticide poisoning in Nicaragua. Considering this, comprehensive measures should be implemented to reduce adverse health effects.
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| 8. |
- Leiva, Byron
(författare)
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Amoebiasis : diagnosis and prevalence in León Nicaragua
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- About ten yearly cases of liver abscess are presented in University Hospital, León, Nicaragua. Based on serology most of them have been shown to be amoebiasis cases. This raised the question of Entameoba histolytica prevalence in the population. Based on microscopy of stool specimens and serology, about 20% prevalence was found. With the new realization that pathogenic E. histolytica is morphologically indistinguishable from some common apathogenic species such as E. dispar (cysts detected by microscopy are reported as E. histolytica/ E. dispar), the aim was to determine the true prevalence of E. histolytica using various tests designed to differentiate between pathogenic and apathogenic species. In 480 apparently healthy individuals, the prevalence of E. histolytica/ E. dispar was 12% (58/480) as determined by microscopy. Out of these 58 stool samples an E. histolytica specific PCR was positive in 5%; thus the prevalence E. histolytica was 0.6%. In a group of 134 diarrhea patients, the most common finding was E. histolytica/ E. dispar (24%) at the health center laboratory level. In the Microbiology Department E. histolytica/E. dispar was found only in 4.5%. With the Triage Parasite test, only one case of E. histolytica/ E. dispar was found. By PCR, E. dispar was recognized in 10 (7.5%) and E. histolytica in two cases (1.5%). Over diagnosis was also confirmed in a quality control study where León health centers were examining 10 different stool samples. We found that the health center technicians continue to mix up E. histolytica/ E. dispar with other amoebas. The consequences of the apparent widespread over diagnosis of E. histolytica were studied retrospectively in 100 records of patients with intestinal symptoms. We found that all patients received treatment with metronidazole or related drugs. In 41% these treatments were not based on any laboratory findings at all. In 32 % E. histolytica/E. dispar were found. Other parasites (Entamoeba coli, Giardia intestinalis, Endolimax nana, Enterobius. vermicularis, Iodamoeba bütschlii) were seen in 27%. To explain the high seroprevalence of anti-E.histolytica antibodies in sero-epidemiological surveys we considered two possibilities: cross reactivity due to the common intestinal apathogenic E. dispar and antibodies to ubiquitous freeliving environmental amoebas. A study was undertaken to identify environmental amoebas and to determine cross-reactivity using antibodies from amoebiasis patients. Amoebas isolated from environmental water samples were characterized by morphological and immunohistochemical methods. In fresh water Acanthamoeba spp. were found in 21 %. Fifty three percent of tested wells in the geothermal area contained thermotolerant amoeboflagellates. Naegleria spp. was identified in 24 out of 39 (62 %) of isolated amoeboflagellates. Absorption studies did not support the idea that environmental free- living amoebas induce antibodies cross-reacting with E. histolytica. Antigenic cross reactivity between E. dispar and E. histolytica remains a possible explanation for the high seroprevalence in the population. This is supported by the observation that IF antibody titers in sera from healthy individuals are similar with both antigens. Also the ratio of antibody reactivity was similar when measured by a densitometric method. In contrast, sera from patients with invasive amoebiasis reacted preferentially with E. histolytica. We conclude that amoebiasis is not a major problem in the community. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of diarrhea patients thought to suffer from amoebiasis are serious problems. Thus there is an urgent need for education and quality assessment.
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| 9. |
- Bucardo, Filemon, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic susceptibility to symptomatic norovirus infection in Nicaragua
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Medical Virology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0146-6615 .- 1096-9071. ; 81:4, s. 728-735
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Host genetic resistance to Norovirus (NoV) has been observed in challenge and outbreak studies in populations from Europe, Asia, and USA. In this study, we have investigated if histo-blood group antigens can predict susceptibility to diarrhea caused by NoV in Nicaragua, Central America, and if this can be reflected in antibody-prevalence and titer to NoV among individuals with different histo-blood group antigen phenotypes. Investigation of 28 individuals infected with NoV and 131 population controls revealed 6% of non-secretors in the population and nil non-secretors among patients infected with NoV, suggesting that non-secretors may be protected against NoV disease in Nicaragua. Surprisingly, 25% of the population was Lewis negative (Le(a-b-)). NoV infections with genogroup I (GI) and GII occurred irrespective of Lewis genotype, but none of the Lewis a positive (Le(a + b-)) were infected. The globally dominating GII.4 virus infected individuals of all blood groups except AB (n = 5), while the GI viruses (n = 4) infected only blood type O individuals. Furthermore, O blood types were susceptible to infections with GI.4, GII.4, GII.7, GII.17, and GII.18-Nica viruses, suggesting that secretors with blood type O are susceptible (OR = 1.52) and non-secretors resistant. The overall antibody-prevalence to NoV GII.3 VLP was 62% with the highest prevalence among blood type B carriers (70%) followed by A (68%) and O (62%). All four investigated individuals carrying blood type AB were antibody-negative. Among secretors, 63% were antibody-positive compared to 33% among non-secretors (P = 0.151). This study extends previous knowledge about the histo-blood group antigens role in NoV disease in a population with different genetic background than North American and European.
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| 10. |
- Wedel, Johan, 1962
(författare)
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Bridging the Gap between Western and Indigenous Medicine in Eastern Nicaragua
- 2009
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Ingår i: Anthropological Notebooks. ; 15:1, s. 49-64
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Nicaragua there are attempts, at various levels, to bridge the gap between Western and indigenous medicine and to create more equal forms of therapeutic cooperation. This article, based on anthropological fieldwork, focuses on this process in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region a province dominated by the Miskitu people. It examines illness beliefs among the Miskitu, and how therapeutic cooperation is understood and acted upon by medical personnel, health authorities and Miskitu healers. The study focuses on ailments locally considered to be caused by spirits and sorcery and problems that fall outside the scope of biomedical knowledge. Of special interest is the mass-possession phenomena grisi siknis where Miskitu healing methods have been the preferred alternative, even from the perspective of the biomedical health authorities. The paper shows that Miskitu healing knowledge is only used to compensate for biomedicine’s failure and not as a real alternative, despite the intentions in the new Nicaraguan National Health Plan. This article calls for more equal forms of therapeutic cooperation through ontological engagement by ongoing negotiation and mediation between local and biomedical ways of perceiving the world.
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