In this study, we assessed the genetic diversity of Ascaris lumbricoides / Ascaris suum circulating in humans and pigs, exploring potential zoonotic cycles in endemic areas in Brazil. We carried out ...cross-sectional surveys in four municipalities: Santa Isabel do Rio Negro (SIRN-AM) (n = 328); Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (NSN-PI) and Teresina (TER-PI) (n = 605 and n = 297, respectively); and Cachoeiras de Macacu (CAM-RJ) (n = 543). We also studied 61 fecal samples/adult worms obtained from pigs (n = 53 in NSN-PI and n = 8 in TER-PI). A ~450 bp fragment of the Ascaris cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and ~400 bp of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) were amplified and sequenced. Maximum-likelihood (ML) tree and Median-joining (MJ) haplotype network analyses were performed. We also performed scanning electron micrographs of adult specimens. Positivity rates were 93/328 (28.4%) in SIRN-AM, 6/297 (2.0%) in TER-PI, 0/605 (0%) in NSN-PI, and 6/543 (1.1%) in CAM-RJ. In NSN-PI it reached 11/53 (20.7%) in pigs. The MJ network based on cox1 locus (383 bp) revealed three main clusters, one centered around haplotypes H01/H28/H32 and the other around H07/H11. The cox1 haplotypes had a heterogeneous distribution, showing no pattern by geographic region, and high haplotype diversity. The ML trees based on cox1 and nad1 loci showed a similar topology with each other, and with the haplotype networks. Three distinct clusters were observed. Sequences of cox1 and nad1 from humans and animals were distributed throughout the tree and it was not possible to differentiate specimens of human and swine origin. Ascaris populations obtained from humans and swine in different Brazilian regions are not discriminable through the genetic markers used, which indicates the potential for zoonotic transmission and the need for better control of these infections in swine herds, mainly when created in a peridomestic environment.
The aim of this work was to explore the potential risk of vector-borne Chagas disease in urban districts in northeastern Brazil, by analyzing the spatiotemporal distributions and natural infection ...rates with Trypanosoma cruzi of triatomine species captured in recent years. The main motivation of this work was an acute human case of Chagas disease reported in 2008 in the municipality of Sobral.
We analyzed data from community-based entomological surveillance carried out from 2010 to 2014. Triatomine natural T. cruzi infection was assessed by examination of insect feces by optical microscopy. Sites of triatomine capture were georeferenced through Google Earth and analyzed with ArcGIS. A total of 191 triatomines were collected, consisting of 82.2% Triatoma pseudomaculata, 7.9% Rhodnius nasutus, 5.8% T. brasiliensis, 3.7% Panstrongylus lutzi, and 0.5% P. megistus, with an overall natural infection index of 17.8%. Most infestations were reported in the districts of Dom José (36.2%), Padre Palhano (24.7%), and Alto do Cristo (10.6%). The overwhelming majority of insects (185/96.9%) were captured inside houses, and most insects tended to be collected in intermittent peaks. Moreover, captured triatomines tended to constitute colonies. The acute case reported in 2008 was found to be situated within a T. pseudomaculata hotspot.
The triatomine collection events carried out by dwellers were aggregated in time and space into distinct foci, suggesting that insects are intermittently and artificially introduced into the city, possibly via accidental migration from their natural reservoirs. The relatively high T. cruzi infection rate indicates considerable circulation of the parasite in these areas, increasing the risk of vector-borne Chagas disease infection. These data suggest a need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and integrate appropriate control actions targeting triatomines, T. cruzi reservoirs, and human populations. Our data also identify Chagas disease transmission as a hazard in urban areas of Sobral.
Leptospirosis presents a complex and dynamic epidemiology. Bovine leptospirosis has been described as a major infectious disease impairing reproductive efficiency. Although infections by Leptospira ...interrogans, L. santarosai and L. borgpetersenii are frequently reported in cattle, the presence of L. noguchii in these animals should not be neglected. In this study, we describe serological (MAT) and molecular characterization (rrs and secY gene sequencing, multilocus sequence typing MLST and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis PFGE) of eight L. noguchii strains obtained from slaughtered cows. Intraspecific genetic diversity was evaluated, and haplotype networks were constructed based on hosts and geographical localizations. Strains were characterized as belonging to serogroups Australis, Autumnalis and Panama, and molecular characterization showed a high heterogeneity of these strains. Ten different STs were found (including nine new STs and 39 novel alleles) as well as nine different pulsotypes. Two clonal complexes were found. Phylogenetic trees based on secY locus and concatenated MLST loci showed two main clusters, with sequences from the present study included in the first. In general, there was no relationship between the geographical origin and the secY phylogenetic clusters, as well as between secY phylogenetic clusters and serogroups. Molecular diversity indexes confirmed a high variability (H > 0.8). This high intraspecific variation observed may be related to differences in virulence, pathogenicity and antigenicity or even adaptability of the strains. In addition, haplotype networks clearly demonstrated the circulation of genotypes between humans and animals, confirming the zoonotic potential. The present study provides relevant data for the study of leptospirosis in the One Health context, where human, animal and environmental health is closely connected.
Leptospirosis is a common worldwide bacterial zoonosis and has been studied in One Health approaches. Small mammals are described as the most important maintenance reservoirs of several pathogens in ...nature, including leptospires. The aim of this study was to identify infection by leptospires among small mammals on the Atlantic forest biome and evaluate their potential as carriers of these spirochetes. A total of 153 small mammals belonging to orders Rodentia and Didelphimorphia (distributed on 17 genera and 22 species) were captured. Blood and kidney samples were collected from animals and a conventional PCR targeted on lipL32 gene was conducted on renal tissues. Species identification was performed in eight samples by sequencing of rrs gene. A total of 28% of the animals presented lipL32 PCR‐positive, and four pathogenic Leptospira species (L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. santarosai and L. noguchii) were identified. This study highlights the role of small mammals as carriers of leptospires on the Atlantic Forest representing a potential source of pathogenic Leptospira spp infection for both humans and domestic animals.
Current control policies for intestinal parasitosis focuses on soil-transmitted helminths, being ineffective against Giardia intestinalis, a highly prevalent protozoon that impacts children's ...nutritional status in developing countries. The objective of this study was to explore spatial and molecular epidemiology of Giardia intestinalis in children of Amerindian descent in the Brazilian Amazon.
A cross sectional survey was performed in the Brazilian Amazon with 433 children aged 1 to 14 years. Fecal samples were processed through parasitological techniques and molecular characterization. Prevalence of G. intestinalis infection was 16.9% (73/433), reaching 22.2% (35/158) among children aged 2-5 years, and a wide distribution throughout the city with some hot spots. Positivity-rate was similar among children living in distinct socioeconomic strata (48/280 17.1% and 19/116 16.4% below and above the poverty line, respectively). Sequencing of the β-giardin gene revealed 52.2% (n = 12) of assemblage A and 47.8% (n = 11) of assemblage B with high haplotype diversity for the latter. The isolates clustered into two well-supported G. intestinalis clades. A total of 38 haplotypes were obtained, with the following subassemblages distribution: 5.3% (n = 2) AII, 26.3% (n = 10) AIII, 7.9% (n = 3) BIII, and 60.5% (n = 23) new B genotypes not previously described.
Giardia intestinalis infection presents a high prevalence rate among Amerindian descended children living in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro/Amazon. The wide distribution observed in a small city suggests the presence of multiple sources of infection, which could be related to environmental contamination with feces, possibly of human and animal origin, highlighting the need of improving sanitation, safe water supply and access to diagnosis and adequate treatment of infections.
Sandflies are known vectors of leishmaniasis. In the Old World, sandflies are also vectors of viruses while little is known about the capacity of New World insects to transmit viruses to humans. ...Here, we relate the identification of RNA sequences with homology to rhabdovirus nucleocapsids (NcPs) genes, initially in the
LL5 cell lineage, named NcP1.1 and NcP2. The Rhabdoviridae family never retrotranscribes its RNA genome to DNA. The sequences here described were identified in cDNA and DNA from LL-5 cells and in adult insects indicating that they are transcribed endogenous viral elements (EVEs). The presence of NcP1.1 and NcP2 in the
genome was confirmed in silico. In addition to showing the genomic location of NcP1.1 and NcP2, we identified another rhabdoviral insertion named NcP1.2. Analysis of small RNA molecules derived from these sequences showed that NcP1.1 and NcP1.2 present a profile consistent with elements targeted by primary piRNAs, while NcP2 was restricted to the degradation profile. The presence of NcP1.1 and NcP2 was investigated in sandfly populations from South America and the Old World. These EVEs are shared by different sandfly populations in South America while none of the Old World species studied presented the insertions.
Brazil introduced the monovalent rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix®) in 2006. This study aimed to assess the epidemiology and genotype distribution of species-A rotavirus (RVA) in Brazil, comparing the pre- ...and post-vaccination periods.
Laboratory-based RVA surveillance included 866 municipalities in 22 Brazilian states, over a 21-year period. A total of 16,185 children with diarrheal diseases (DD) aged up to 12 years between 1996 and 2005 (pre-vaccination period, n = 7030) and from 2006 to 2017 (post-vaccination period, n = 9155) were enrolled. RVA was detected using ELISA immune assay and/or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and genotyped using nested PCR and/or nucleotide sequencing. RVA-positivity and genotypes detection rates were compared in distinct periods and age groups and Rotarix vaccination status.
RVA-positivity in pre- and post-vaccination periods was, respectively: 4-11 months bracket, 33.3% (668/2006) and 16.3% (415/2547) (p < 0.001); 12-24 months, 28.2% (607/2154) and 22.2% (680/3068) (p < 0.001); 25-48 months, 17.4% (215/1235) and 29.4% (505/1720) (p < 0.001). Genotypes distribution in the pre- and post-vaccination periods was, respectively: G1P 8/G1PNot Typed, 417/855 (48.8%) and 118/1835 (6.4%) (p < 0.001); G2P 4/G2PNT, 47/855 (5.5%) and 838/1835 (45.7%) (p < 0.001); G3P 8/G3PNT, 55/855 (6.4%) and 253/1835 (13.8%) (p < 0.001); G9P 8/G9PNT, 238/855 (27.8%) and 152/1835 (8.3%) (p < 0.001); G12P 8/G129PNT, 0/871 (0%) and 249/1835(13.6%) (p < 0.001). Concerning infants aged 4-11 months, RVA frequency in fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals was 11.9% (125/1052) and 24.5% (58/237) (p < 0.001), respectively. In children aged 12-24 months, RVA detection rate was 18.1% (253/1395) and 29.6% (77/260) (p < 0.001), for the vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals, respectively (p < 0.001).
RVA infection was significantly less frequent in children aged ≤2 years with DD after implementing vaccination, mainly among vaccinated children. It was also observed a decrease of P 8 circulation and emergence of G2P4 in 2005, and afterwards in the post-vaccine era, with spreading of G12P8 in 2014-2015 and of G3P8 in 2017. Continuous RVA surveillance must be carried out in this scenario.
Some helminth species belonging to the order Strongylida are parasites of the digestive tract of vertebrates, including man and domestic animals. In humans, infections with Oesophagostomum spp. and ...Trichostrongylus spp. may be misdiagnosed as hookworm disease on parasitological stool examination, mainly in regions where these infections are coendemic, since eggs released in hosts’ feces are morphologically similar. This study presents the morphologic characterization of Strongylida larvae recovered from humans and pigs living in close proximity, exploring putative zoonotic cycles. One hundred three humans and 27 pigs were included in low-resource rural communities in the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. Strongylida eggs were present in 12 (11.7%) humans and 23 (85.2%) pigs through conventional parasitological examination. Strongylida-positive fecal samples were submitted to coprocultures using the Harada–Mori technique. All 22 larvae obtained from human feces were classified as hookworms (Ancylostomatidae). From a total of 37 larvae obtained from swine, 23 (62.3%) were classified as Oesophagostomum, 6 (16.2%) were Hyostrongylus, and 4 (10.8%) were Trichostrongylus. Four larvae (10.8%) obtained from pigs were classified as Strongyloides. The morphological study of filariform larvae obtained in coprocultures is a useful and inexpensive tool in the screening of intestinal helminthiasis in a One Health approach.
Viability of human adenovirus from hospital fomites Ganime, Ana Carolina; Carvalho-Costa, Filipe A.; Santos, Marisa ...
Journal of medical virology,
December 2014, Letnik:
86, Številka:
12
Journal Article
Background This study assessed the interactions between income, nutritional status and intestinal parasitism in children in Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional study (n = 421 children aged 1 to 14 ...years living in the states of Piauí (rural communities in the city of Teresina) and Rio de Janeiro (rural and periurban communities in the city of Cachoeiras de Macacu) was performed in order to obtain income and anthropometric data, as well as fecal samples for parasitological analyses through the Ritchie technique. Results Children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides had significantly lower means of height-for-age z scores (- 1.36 + or - 0.75 vs. - 0.11 + or - 1.02; p < 0.001), weight-for-age z scores (- 1.23 + or - 0.74 vs. 0.09 + or - 1.15; p = 0.001), and weight-for-height z scores (- 0.68 + or - 0.44 vs. 0.23 + or - 1.25; p = 0.006) when compared with uninfected children. Infection with hookworm was also associated with lower means of height-for-age z scores (- 1.08 + or - 1.17 vs. - 0.12 + or - 1.02; p = 0.015) and weight-for-age z scores (- 1.03 + or - 1.13 vs. 0.08 + or - 1.15; p = 0.012). Children infected with Entamoeba coli presented significantly lower means of height-for-age z scores (- 0.54 + or - 1.02 vs. - 0.09 + or - 1.02; p = 0.005) and weight-for-age z scores (- 0.44 + or - 1.15 vs. 0.12 + or - 1.15; p = 0.002). The multivariate multiple linear regression analysis showed that height-for-age z scores are independently influenced by monthly per capita family income (beta = 0.145; p = 0.003), female gender (beta = 0.117; p = 0.015), and infections with A. lumbricoides (beta = - 0.141; p = 0.006) and Entamoeba coli (beta = - 0.100; p = 0.043). Weight-for-age z scores are influenced by monthly per capita family income (beta = 0.175; p < 0.001), female gender (beta = 0.123; p = 0.010), and infections with A. lumbricoides (beta = - 0.127; p = 0.012), and Entamoeba coli (beta = - 0.101; p = 0.039). Monthly per capita family income (beta = 0.102; p = 0.039) and female gender (beta = 0.134; p = 0.007) positively influences mid upper arm circumpherence. Conclusions Intestinal parasitism and low family income negatively influence the physical development of children in low-income communities in different Brazilian regions. Keywords: Intestinal parasitism, Nutrition, Children
PDF
