Chagas disease is one of the most important tropical infections in the world and mainly affects poor people. The causative agent is the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which circulates among insect vectors and mammals throughout the Americas. A large body of research on Chagas disease has shown the complexity of this zoonosis, and controlling it remains a challenge for public health systems. Although knowledge of Chagas disease has advanced greatly, there are still many gaps, and it is necessary to continue generating basic and applied research to create more effective control strategies. The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information on the components of Chagas disease and highlight current trends in research. We hope that this review will be a starting point for beginners and facilitate the search for more specific information.

Background/Objectives: Palatability significantly influences food consumption, often leading to overeating and obesity by activating the brain’s reward systems. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a central role in this process, modulating reward mechanisms primarily via dopamine through D2-like receptors (D2R, D3R, D4R). While the involvement of D2 receptors in feeding is well-documented, the role of D4 receptors (D4Rs) is less clear. Methods: Male Wistar rats received intra-NAc shell microinjections of the D4R agonist PD-168077 and the antagonist L-745870. This study also examined the modulation between D4R and glutamatergic transmission by administration of NMDA, NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5, AMPA, and AMPA receptor antagonist CNQX. Results: PD-168077 increased sweet solution intake by 46%, an effect that was reversed by L-745870. Pre-treatment with NMDA prevented the stimulatory effect of PD-168077, whereas the NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 had no such effect. Additionally, AMPA administration reduced sweet solution intake by 63%, counteracting the effect of PD-168077, while the AMPA receptor antagonist CNQX, on its own, increased intake by 40%. Conclusions: These findings suggest that D4Rs promote hedonic feeding by modulating glutamatergic transmission in the NAc shell, highlighting the complexity of D4R involvement in food intake regulation. This study underscores the potential of targeting D4Rs for therapeutic interventions in eating disorders and obesity, though further research is essential to clarify the precise mechanisms through which D4R modulates AMPA and NMDA receptor activity in feeding behavior.

Ecoepidemiology is an emerging field that attempts to explain how biotic, environmental, and even social factors influence the dynamics of infectious diseases. Particularly in vector-borne diseases, the study under this approach offers us an overview of the pathogens, vectors, and hosts that coexist in a given region and their ecological determinants. As a result of this, risk predictions can be established in a changing environment and how it may impact human populations. This paper is aimed at evaluating some ecoepidemiological characteristics of Chagas disease in a natural reserve in southeastern Mexico that borders human settlements. We carry out a cross-sectional study in 2022 where we search insects manually and with light traps. We set traps for small mammals and bats and conducted interviews with the inhabitants living around the study site. We identified the presence of Triatoma dimidiata and T. huehuetenanguensis species with a percentage of TcI T. cruzi infection of 68.4 (95 CI: 66.9-69.9). Temperature and humidity were not determining factors for the probability of insect capture. Of the 108 wild mammals (Chiroptera, Rodentia, and Didelphimorphia), none was infected with T. cruzi. Knowledge about Chagas disease in nearby inhabitants is poor, and some characteristics were found on the periphery of dwellings that could offer a refuge for insect vectors. With this information, surveillance strategies can be generated in the study area that reduce the risk of transmission of T. cruzi parasite to humans, and it is expected to motivate the use of this field in future research.

Infection by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis (Enterobiasis) is the most common helminth parasitosis in humans. It is closely related to poverty, and a higher prevalence is observed in children, in those who can cause important complications. Due to this, we evaluated the prevalence of Enterobiasis in children from a marginalized community in southeastern Mexico. Additionally, we analyzed possible cases of ectopic infection in girls and the presence of coinfections with other pathogens. Of 904 children, we found a prevalence of 21%, being higher in girls than in boys. Additionally, we determined the presence of E. vermicularis in the vagina of 11 girls who had mild lesions and coinfections with bacteria. Our findings highlight the importance of developing prevention and surveillance programs in areas of extreme poverty.

Desde el enfoque de las Representaciones Sociales nos planteamos conocer con qué contenidos se asocia el concepto de deshonestidad en el contexto de la cultura mexicana, por parte de jóvenes universitarios de dos ciudades mexicanas: Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua y Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. Los resultados indican que los jóvenes perciben a la deshonestidad presente en su contexto y que atañe a ellos mismos, el entorno familiar y la red de amistades. Asimismo, la deshonestidad se asocia básicamente con evitarse problemas dentro del entorno social y no ser estigmatizados en el grupo o grupos de pertenencia. Al compararse los resultados entre los dos contextos, se encontraron pocas diferencias significativas; ello evidencia el arraigo y extensión de las representaciones sociales estudiadas. Se discuten las implicaciones de los resultados para una futura investigación.