Suelen Paesi

High prevalence of human papillomavirus type 58 in patients with cervical pre-malignant lesions in southern Brazil

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide. Several human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, sexual behavior, and socioeconomic profile represent major risk factors for the development of this carcinoma. Cervical invasive cancer is preceded by cellular abnormalities that can be identified by cytological or histological exams. In order to determine the prevalence and genotypes of HPV in women with abnormal cytology or histopathology, cervical cell samples from 256 patients were evaluated for the presence of HPV/DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by virus genotyping by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). A total of 113 samples (51.2%) were HPV/DNA positive. Viral genotyping showed that the most prevalent genotypes were HPV 16 (34.7%) and 58 (13.8%), followed by HPV 33 (9.72%), 11 (8.33%), 18 (5.55%), 53 (5.55%), and 6 (4.2%). Four samples (5.55%) exhibited multiple infections due to the great similarity of socioeconomic characteristics and sexual behavior of HPV positive women, it was not possible to establish a risk profile for female HPV infection. J. Med. Virol. 81:1270–1275, 2009.

Matched case-control study evaluating the frequency of the main agents associated with neonatal diarrhea in piglets

A case-control study was carried out in litters of 1 to 7-day-old piglets to identify the main infectious agents involved with neonatal diarrhea in pigs. Fecal samples (n=276) from piglets were collected on pig farms in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from May to September 2007. Litters with diarrhea were considered cases (n=129) and normal litters (n=147) controls. The samples were examined by latex agglutination test, PAGE, conventional isolating techniques, ELISA, PCR, and microscopic methods in order to detect rotavirus, bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens type A and C, and Clostridium difficile), and parasites (Coccidian and Cryptosporidium spp.). Outbreaks of diarrhea were not observed during sampling. At least one agent was detected in fecal samples on 25 out of 28 farms (89.3%) and in 16 farms (57.1%) more than one agent was found. The main agents diagnosed were Coccidia (42.86%) and rotavirus (39.29%). The main agents identified in litters with diarrhea were Clostridium difficile (10.6%), Clostridium perfringens type A (8.8%) and rotavirus (7.5%); in control litters, Clostridium difficile (16.6%) and Coccidian (8.5%). Beta hemolytic Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens type C were not detected. When compared with controls, no agent was significantly associated with diarrhea in case litters. These findings stress the need for caution in the interpretation of laboratorial diagnosis of mild diarrhea in neonatal pigs, as the sole detection of an agent does not necessarily indicate that it is the cause of the problem.

Assessment of diversity of adenovirus DNA polymerase gene in recreational waters facilitated by ultracentrifugal concentration

Adenoviruses (AdV) are related to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in animals and human beings. Their wide genetic diversity in water bodies and their resistance to environmental conditions allow the use of AdV as a reliable marker for detection of fecal contamination. In this work, the diversity of AdV along Belo Stream - in the city of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - was evaluated. Samples were compared in both concentrated and unconcentrated forms. The identification of different AdV species was performed by amplifying a partial sequence of the DNA polymerase gene. AdV was detected in 24 out of 55 concentrated samples (43.6%) and the following species were identified: human adenovirus (HAdV) species C (4/55; 7.2%), D (6/55; 10.9%), E (2/55; 3.6%), and F (9/55; 16.3%). AdV related to other mammalian hosts, such as bovine adenovirus (1/55, 1.8%) and murine adenovirus (2/55, 3.6%), have also been identified; 23.6% (13/55) of the unconcentrated samples were positive, and identified as HAdV species C (6/55, 10.9%), D (1/55, 1.8%), and F (6/55, 10.9%). Results obtained evidenced the presence and the great diversity of AdV, mainly of human origin, circulating in Belo Stream. As expected, the concentration step performed helped to detect AdV in more samples.

Human papillomavirus among women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance in southern Brazil

To determine the prevalence of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in a population in southern Brazil.

Microbial risk assessment in recreational freshwaters from southern Brazil

In this study, total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli, enterovirus (EV), rotavirus (RV), and human mastadenovirus species C and F (HAdV-C and HAdV-F) were evaluated in water samples from Belo Stream. For HAdV-C and F, the infectivity was assessed by integrated cell culture quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (ICC-qPCR). Samples were collected monthly (May/2015 to April/2016) at four sites. Viral analyses were performed for both ultracentrifuge-concentrated and unconcentrated samples. For site P4 (used for recreational purposes), QMRA was applied to estimate health risks associated with exposure to E. coli and HAdV-C and F. TC and E. coli were present throughout the collection period. EV and RV were not detected. HAdV-C were present in 8.51% (1.89E + 06 to 2.28E + 07 GC (Genomic Copies)/L) and 21.27% (2.36E + 05 to 1.29E + 07 GC/L) for unconcentrated and concentrated samples, respectively. For HAdV-F were 12.76% (2.77E + 07 to 3.31E + 08 GC/L) and 48.93% (1.10E + 05 to 4.50E + 08 GC/L) for unconcentrated and concentrated samples, respectively. For unconcentrated samples, infectivity for HAdV-C was detected in 37.20% (1st ICC-qPCR) and 25.58% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For HAdV-F, infectivity was detected in 6.97% (1st ICC-qPCR) and 6.97% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For concentrated samples, HAdV-C infectious was observed in 17.02% (1st ICC-qPCR) and in 8.51% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For HAdV-F, were present in 8.51% for both 1st and 2nd ICC-qPCR. Statistical analyzes showed significant difference between the collection sites when analyzed the molecular data of HAdV-F, data of TC and E. coli. Correlation tests showed direct correlation between HAdV-F with E. coli and TC. E. coli concentrations translated to the lowest estimates of infection risks (8.58E-05 to 2.17E-03). HAdV-F concentrations were associated with the highest infection risks at 9.99E-01 and for group C, 1.29E-01 to 9.99E-01. These results show that commonly used bacterial indicators for water quality may not infer health risks associated with viruses in recreational freshwaters.

Incidence of acute diarrheal disease in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in a 10-year historical series

Objetivos : Avaliar a incidencia de doenca diarreica aguda registrada em Caxias do Sul, em um periodo de 10 anos, investigando suas correlacoes com a vacinacao contra rotavirus, com a precipitacao pluviometrica e com o numero de internacoes hospitalares. Metodos : Foi realizado um estudo descritivo dos registros de doenca diarreica aguda, disponibilizados pelo setor de Vigilância Epidemiologica da Secretaria Municipal de Saude de Caxias do Sul. Resultados : Entre 2004 e 2013 foram registrados 61.246 casos de doenca diarreica aguda, sendo que os maiores numeros ocorreram em bairros de baixa renda. Durante o periodo de avaliacao foram identificados cinco surtos epidemicos de doenca diarreica aguda, em meses de verao e inverno. Nao foram encontradas relacoes entre doenca diarreica aguda e precipitacao pluviometrica. O numero de internacoes hospitalares por doenca diarreica aguda em criancas de zero a quatro anos decresceu a partir de 2006, coincidindo com o inicio do programa de vacinacao contra rotavirus na rede publica, enquanto que os obitos de todas as idades sofreram flutuacoes durante o periodo estudado. Conclusoes : A avaliacao da incidencia de doenca diarreica aguda, por longo periodo, mostra que houve flutuacoes ao longo do tempo no numero de registros e de obitos em Caxias do Sul. Este estudo revelou tambem uma reducao no numero de internacoes devidas a doenca diarreica aguda no periodo que sucedeu a introducao do programa de vacinacao contra rotavirus na rede publica de saude.

Detection of rotavirus and norovirus in the elderly population of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from 2010 to 2012

Aims: Rotavirus (RV) and norovirus (NoV) are the most common cause of diarrhea in children aged less than five years throughout the world. However, RV and NoV have frequently been overlooked as pathogens in elderly individuals. This study examined the frequency of RV and NoV among elderly patients with complaints of diarrhea in the city of Caxias do Sul, southern Brazil. Methods: Between 2010 and 2012, stool samples from patients aged 60 years or older with acute gastroenteritis treated at a private healthcare center were analyzed, seeking to identify RV and NoV. RV detection was performed by latex agglutination (LA) methods and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). One third of the samples were further tested for NoV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: A total of 145 stool samples from patients aged 60 to 105 years were analyzed. RV was detected in 6/145 (4.14%) and 5/125 (4.00%) of the samples by LA and PAGE, respectively. NoV was detected in 6/51 (11.76%). Mixed infection (RV and NoV) was detected in a single sample: 1/51 (1.96%). Conclusions: This study adds further evidence that viral agents are involved in the etiology of gastroenteritis in the elderly, contributing significantly to the understanding of RV and NoV infections in the mature population.

Human papillomavirus and infections of the lower genital tract in women with abnormal cervical cytological examination [Abstract in English]

OBJETIVOS: Estudar as associacoes da positividade para o DNA de papilomavirus humano (HPV) no trato genital inferior feminino com as vaginites por Gardnerella vaginalis , Candida sp. e Trichomonas vaginalis e com a presenca de possiveis fatores de risco para infeccao por HPV. METODOS: O estudo foi realizado com 208 pacientes com exame colpocitologico anormal atendidas no Servico de Ginecologia do Ambulatorio Central da Universidade de Caxias do Sul analisando a presenca do DNA de HPV atraves de reacao em cadeia da polimerase e associando os resultados aos diagnosticos de infeccao vaginal obtidos nos prontuarios das pacientes. RESULTADOS: Foi detectado DNA de HPV em 60,1% de todos os casos analisados, sendo que 93% apresentaram infeccoes simples e 6,9% apresentaram infeccoes multiplas. Dezessete tipos virais foram identificados, sendo HPV16 o mais frequente (38,8%). Pelo menos uma das vaginites investigadas foi observada em 57,2% dos pacientes. Gardnerella vaginalis foi encontrada em 45,7%, Candida sp. em 20,2%, e Trichomonas vaginalis em 3,8% das pacientes examinadas. Nao foi observada nenhuma associacao estatistica entre a presenca do DNA de HPV e outras infeccoes do trato genital inferior ou fatores sociodemograficos de risco. CONCLUSOES: Nao houve associacao da infeccao pelo HPV com outras infeccoes do trato genital feminino nem com caracteristicas sociodemograficas. Multiplas infeccoes com ate cinco tipos de HPV foram observadas em uma pequena parcela das mulheres. E dificil definir claramente um grupo de risco para a infeccao por HPV. Todas as mulheres com exame colpocitologico anormal sao possiveis portadoras do HPV e de outras infeccoes do trato genital inferior.