Publications by authors named "Jaime A Cardona-Ospina"

Dengue virus (DENV) is a significant public health concern in Colombia, with increased transmission of DENV type 1 (DENV-1) in the departments of Risaralda and Valle del Cauca in the Central-West region of the country following a large outbreak in 2019. However, little is known about the source, genetic diversity, and evolution of circulating viruses. We obtained serum samples from individuals with acute DENV infection and analysed DENV-1 genetic diversity, phylodynamics, and phylogeography.

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Antibodies from primary dengue (DENV1-4) or Zika (ZIKV) virus infections can influence subsequent heterotypic infections, but their protective characteristics are not well defined. We analyzed pre-infection plasma samples from children in our Nicaraguan cohort study who later developed either dengue fever (DF; n = 31) or dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS; n = 33) upon secondary heterotypic DENV infection. Various antibody properties, notably antibody-dependent complement deposition, correlated with protection against DHF/DSS.

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The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) and the related Zika flavivirus (ZIKV) are major public health concerns worldwide. Primary immunity against ZIKV increases the risk of a subsequent severe DENV2 infection, presenting a significant challenge for developing safe and effective ZIKV vaccines. However, the mechanisms driving this phenomenon remain unclear.

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Background: Dengue is hyperendemic in Colombia. It imposes a substantial economic burden on patients, caregivers, society, and the national health system. We intend to identify and synthesize the evidence regarding the economic burden of dengue in Colombia.

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Dengue is the most important viral vector-borne disease in the tropics, with Colombia being one of the most affected countries. In this context, it is essential to identify and synthesize the existing evidence on the epidemiology of dengue in Colombia. A systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42021257985) was conducted by searching for epidemiological data in populations with suspected or confirmed dengue in Colombia from 2012 to 2020.

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Primary infection with one of four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) may generate antibodies that protect or enhance subsequent secondary heterotypic infections. However, the characteristics of heterotypic cross-reactive antibodies associated with protection from symptomatic infection and severe disease are not well-defined. We selected plasma samples collected before a secondary DENV heterotypic infection that was classified either as dengue fever (DF, n = 31) or dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS, n = 33) from our longstanding pediatric cohort in Nicaragua.

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Dengue viruses (DENV1-4) are the most prevalent arboviruses in humans and a major public health concern. Understanding immune mechanisms that modulate DENV infection outcome is critical for vaccine development. Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) are an essential component of the protective immune response, yet their measurement often relies on a single cellular substrate and partially mature virions, which does not capture the full breadth of neutralizing activity and may lead to biased estimations of nAb potency.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Zika virus has caused autochthonous transmission in 87 countries since 2015, posing risks like Guillain-Barré syndrome and complications in pregnancy, underscoring an urgent need for effective vaccines and enhanced understanding of immunity against ZIKV.
  • Researchers developed a new diagnostic test called blockade-of-binding (BOB) ELISA, using specific monoclonal antibodies to differentiate ZIKV from other flaviviruses, and found it performed better than traditional tests in validating ZIKV infections and assessing vaccine responses.
  • The BOB assays demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting antibodies from recent and past ZIKV infections, indicating potential for broader applications in monitoring ZIKV immunity and evaluating vaccine efficacy.
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  • Intestinal parasites remain a significant public health issue in many low- and middle-income countries, prompting ongoing deworming programs that rely on anthelmintics.
  • A study analyzed 381 Colombian patients who received these medications, finding that over two-thirds of patients had no documented diagnosis or clinical symptoms indicating the need for treatment.
  • Albendazole was the most commonly prescribed drug, and a correlation was discovered between the use of anthelmintics without proper indication and the prescription of nutritional supplements or vitamins.
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The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) are the most prevalent arboviruses in humans and a major public health concern worldwide. Understanding immune mechanisms that modulate DENV infection outcome is critical for epidemic preparedness and development of a safe and effective vaccine. Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) are an essential component of the protective response, yet their measurement often relies on a single cellular substrate and partially mature virions, which do not capture the full breadth of neutralizing activity and may lead to biased estimations of nAb potency.

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Infections due to Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Dirofilaria, Mycoplasma, Babesia and Hepatozoon continue to be highly prevalent in dogs, especially in tropical and subtropical areas, where vectors of many of them are present. However, many clinical aspects of dogs have not been characterized in detail, including assessing the haematological alterations associated with them, particularly in Colombia and Latin America. A group of 100 dogs with Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Dirofilaria, Mycoplasma, Babesia and Hepatozoon infections/exposure were assessed by blood smear serology (SNAP4DX) and PCR in Pereira, Colombia.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Monkeypox, a viral infection originally found in central and western Africa, has resurfaced internationally, with many confirmed cases reported globally in 2022, raising alarms among public health officials who see similarities to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • - The rapid spread of monkeypox cases highlights concerns about airborne transmission and the need for early detection and intervention to control outbreaks.
  • - To mitigate the potential global implications of monkeypox, health authorities must utilize lessons from past outbreaks, focusing on accurate diagnosis, active surveillance, and effective containment strategies.
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Standard molecular detection of many pathogens, in particular RNA viruses, requires appropriate handling in the field for preserving the quality of the sample until processing. This could be challenging in remote tropical areas. Dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) are RNA viruses, prominent among the causes of fever in the tropics.

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Objectives: Aedes-borne viruses (ABV) affect humans on every inhabited continent and frequently cause epidemics. Recent epidemics of chikungunya and Zika viruses (ZIKV) highlight that preparedness for future epidemics requires assessment of susceptibility, particularly among high-risk groups. We sought to determine immunity against the three major circulating ABV among pregnant women in an ABV-endemic area of Colombia.

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Background: Tick-borne diseases (TBD) and dirofilariosis are currently not under surveillance in most Latin American countries. In addition, there is a significant lack of studies describing the current situation in most endemic areas, including Colombia. Therefore, seroprevalence studies are crucial for understanding the epidemiology of these vector-borne diseases.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect IgG antibodies against the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity for surveillance purposes.
  • The ELISA showed strong performance in testing, with results indicating that 6.5% of healthcare workers and all confirmed mild COVID-19 cases had detectable antibodies.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of using this simple assay for large-scale testing and suggests that more complex testing methods may provide better insights into individual immunity, especially in vaccinated populations.
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Introduction: In utero Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure has been related to a group of congenital structural abnormalities called the congenital Zika syndrome, which also has been related to neurodevelopment alterations even in normocephalic children. Physical growth has been less explored, and delayed growth and malnutrition have been reported.

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the growth and neurodevelopment features of normocephalic infants born from a cohort of mothers with RT-PCR confirmed ZIKV during pregnancy in Risaralda, Colombia.

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