[Leish-l] load or burden?

[Carlos Costa]

Thanks to all for the contributions regarding the issue parasite burden or
load.
Most suggestions are for the use load for quantity of parasites instead of
burden, although most conceded the terms are interchangeable.
I used burden in the paper, following the malaria trend. Let's see how the
reviewers will respond.
Cheers,
Carlos.
PS. John, I was unable to find what Killick-Kendrick used. Jeff did not get
my whatsapp message and we are still to get his very important opinion.

2017-03-09 7:27 GMT-03:00 Carlos Costa <chncosta at gmail.com>:

> Dear colleagues,
>
> I am finishing a paper and got stuck with the use of the terms load or
> burden to define the amount of Leishmania infantum in a vertebrate host.
>
> I used the term burden. A professional translating company started to use
> load instead but finally led both terms in the text.
>
> Looking at the Websters dictionary, I could not find differences between
> them (in the sense we used in the paper).
>
> However, when looking at PubMed the terms were used differently, depending
> on the type of organism. The statistics were:
> HIV burden: 6,230; HIV load: 23,266
> HCV burden: 1,040; HCV load: 4,904
> Plasmodium burden: 978; Plasmodium load: 465
> Leishmania burden: 691; Leishmania load: 651
>
> Is the question is irrelevant and are both terms interchageable or one is
> better for viruses while the other is better for parasites? Do the PubMed
> votes matter or is democracy a fools' realm?
>
> Is it less elegant to use both in a text or should just one be used in
> each paper/situation?
>
> Provoking specially the English speaking colleagues (but not only them)!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carlos.
>
> --
> Carlos H. N. Costa, MD, DSc.
> Chefe/Head
> Departamento de Medicina Comunitária
> Centro de Ciências da Saúde
> Coordenador/Coordinator
> Laboratório de Leishmanioses - LabLeish
> Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Natan Portella
> Universidade Federal do Piauí
> Rua Artur de Vasconcelos 151-Sul
> 64001-450 Teresina-PI
> Brazil
> Telephones: +55 86 3222-4377 <+55%2086%203222-4377> (W),
> +55 86 3221-3062 <+55%2086%203221-3062> (W),
> +55 86 3237-1075 <+55%2086%203237-1075> (R).
>
>
> Aviso: As informações contidas nesta mensagem são CONFIDENCIAIS,
> protegidas pelo sigilo legal, por direitos autorais e destinadas
> exclusivamente à pessoa ou organização para a qual a mensagem foi destinada.
> Warning: This message is meant only for the intended recipient of the
> transmission.  It is forbidden any unauthorized use, alteration,
> reproduction and distribution. If you are not the correct recipient, please
> notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete this message from your
> system.
>



-- 
Carlos H. N. Costa, MD, DSc.
Chefe/Head
Departamento de Medicina Comunitária
Centro de Ciências da Saúde
Coordenador/Coordinator
Laboratório de Leishmanioses - LabLeish
Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Natan Portella
Universidade Federal do Piauí
Rua Artur de Vasconcelos 151-Sul
64001-450 Teresina-PI
Brazil
Telephones: +55 86 3222-4377 (W),
+55 86 3221-3062 (W),
+55 86 3237-1075 (R).


Aviso: As informações contidas nesta mensagem são CONFIDENCIAIS, protegidas
pelo sigilo legal, por direitos autorais e destinadas exclusivamente à
pessoa ou organização para a qual a mensagem foi destinada.
Warning: This message is meant only for the intended recipient of the
transmission.  It is forbidden any unauthorized use, alteration,
reproduction and distribution. If you are not the correct recipient, please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete this message from your
system.