Andreza Pinheiro Malheiros

HEV infection in swine from Eastern Brazilian Amazon: Evidence of co-infection by different subtypes

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a fecal-orally transmitted member of the genus Hepevirus that causes acute hepatitis in humans and is widely distributed throughout the world. Pigs have been reported as the main source of genotypes 3 and 4 infection to humans in non-endemic areas. To investigate HEV infection in pigs from different regions of Pará state (Eastern Brazilian Amazon), we performed serological and molecular analyses of serum, fecal and liver samples from 151 adult pigs slaughtered between April and October 2010 in slaughterhouses in the metropolitan region of Belém, Pará. Among the animals tested, 8.6% (13/151) were positive for anti-HEV IgG but not for anti-HEV IgM. HEV RNA was detected in 4.8% (22/453) of the samples analyzed and 9.9% (15/151) of the animals had at least one positive sample. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all sequences belonged to genotype 3 that were related to human isolates from other non-endemic regions, suggesting that the isolates had zoonotic potential. Subtypes 3c and 3f were simultaneously detected in some pigs, suggesting co-infection by more than one strain and/or the presence of a recombinant virus. These results constitute the first molecular and serologic evidence of swine HEV circulation in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.

Mitochondrial and nuclear sequence polymorphisms reveal geographic structuring in Amazonian populations of Echinococcus vogeli (Cestoda: Taeniidae).

To date, nothing is known about the genetic diversity of the Echinococcus neotropical species, Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus oligarthrus. Here we used mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence polymorphisms to uncover the genetic structure, transmission and history of E. vogeli in the Brazilian Amazon, based on a sample of 38 isolates obtained from human and wild animal hosts. We confirm that the parasite is partially synanthropic and show that its populations are diverse. Furthermore, significant geographical structuring is found, with western and eastern populations being genetically divergent.

Anatomo-clinical and molecular description of liver neotropical echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus oligarthrus in human host

Since humans rarely play the role as Echinococcus oligarthrus host, there is lack of knowledge about the complex infectious process. Only three cases have been reported to occur in humans in the neotropics until now. We present the anatomo-clinical and molecular findings describing a new case of infection by E. oligarthrus in a man. The muscular or subcutaneous tissues tropism described for this species in the previously reported cases was not present, but a liver tropism was observed. Additionally, the larval stage rostellar hooks morphometry differed from E. oligarthrus in the other human cases.

First report of equine Pegivirus in South America, Brazil.

The human Pegivirus (HPgV, also known as GBV-C virus or hepatitis G virus) is a lymphotropic RNA-virus phylogenetically related to the Hepatitis C virus, which infects approximately 5% of the worlds human population. Recently, two novel, presumably hepatotropic, pegiviruses, designated as equine Pegivirus (EPgV) and Theilers Disease Associated Virus (TDAV), were discovered in horses with clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic disease. To verify the occurrence of pegiviruses infection in horses from Pará State, northern Brazil, serum samples from 114 horses located in four cities (Acará, Belém, Dom Eliseu and Ananindeua) were submitted for the molecular analysis of EPgV by nested RT-PCR. The results of nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of EPgV NS3 and NS5B genomic regions confirmed one positive sample among 114 tested samples (1/114; 0.8%). No evidence of TDAV infection was found, but despite the low prevalence and unknown clinical significance among the studied population, these results represent the first molecular detection of EPgV in horses in South America.

Neotropical echinococcosis: Second report of Echinococcus vogeli natural infection in its main definitive host, the bush dog (Speothos venaticus)

The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) acts as the natural definitive host in the life cycle of Echinococcus vogeli, the causative agent of polycystic hydatid disease, a zoonotic neglected disease in the South America. We report a case of natural infection by Echinococcus vogeli in a bush dog from the Brazilian Amazon, confirmed by the morphological and morphometric examination of adult parasites and their hooks obtained from the small intestine of the canid. Additionally, mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis corroborated these findings. This is the second report of natural infection by E. vogeli in a bush dog.

Infecção oculta pelo vírus da hepatite B em comunidade amazônica submetida a intenso fluxo migratório, estado do Pará, Brasil

INTRODUCTION: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of HBV DNA in liver, which may or not be detected in the serum with HBsAg–, and its possible clinical implications. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the OBI occurrence in the population of the municipality of Juruti, Pará State, Brazil, from February 2007 to November 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples of 3,991 individuals were evaluated by immunoenzymatic techniques. The ones anti-HBc total+ isolated were selected, and from these the HBV DNA was investigated to identify OBI presence. RESULTS: In relation to HBV, the study showed 0.5% of carriers, 8.3% with a previous infection profile, 1.1% with a previous or current infection profile, and 33.6% with a vaccine response, characterizing that municipality as low endemicity for this virus. HBV DNA was detected in 66.7% of the HBsAg+ samples, with viral load between < 55 IU/mL and > 38,000 IU/mL; 69.2% of these samples were A1 subgenotype, 15.4% F2, and 15.4% F4. Of the total, 1.1% were samples from individuals anti-HBc total+ isolated whose molecular biology tests showed that 9.3% had HBV DNA, with viral load between < 15 IU/mL and 48 IU/mL. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated the presence of OBI carriers in 0.1% of the Juruti population. The low prevalence of OBI found is probably related to the low endemicity of HBV in this population.

Soroprevalência da infecção pelos vírus das hepatites A, B, C, D e E em município da região oeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil

In a survey on the prevalence of infection with hepatitis in the Municipality of Juruti, West region of Para State, Brazil, conducted between February 2007 and April 2008, it was demonstrated the necessity to increase the seroprevalence studies based on communities. In order to meet this need, the study was expanded to define the prevalence of infections with virus of hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), D (HDV) and E (HEV), from February 2007 to November 2010, involving serum samples from individuals living in the center of the city and rural areas Cafe Torrado, Jauari, Nova Galileia, Vila Muirapinima and Lago Jara, from the Municipality of Juruti, with estimated population of 52,755 inhabitants in 2014. These samples were submitted to analysis of serological markers of hepatitis A, B, C, D and E by enzyme immunoassay. In positive samples for HBV and HCV, researches were conducted for the detection of HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA. Among the 4,003 samples examined, the prevalence of total anti-HAV was 86.2%; 0.6% of HBsAg+; 8.3% anti-HBc+/anti-HBs+; 1.7% anti-HBc+ isolated; 33.4% anti-HBs+ isolated and HBV DNA+ in 62.5% of HBsAg+; 0.1% anti-HCV+. Among these, two cases have been confirmed as HCV by RT-PCR; among HBsAg+ cases there were not detected any carriers of HDV. The analysis of 463 samples collected in three rural communities in the city showed a prevalence of anti-HEV+ 1.9%. It was featured in laboratory-based, high prevalence of HAV infection and low prevalence of HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV in the examined population.