Antimicrobial-resistant enterobacteria in surface waters with fecal contamination from urban and rural communities

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Inadequate wastewater treatment and fecal contamination have a strong environmental impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the profile of AMR enterobacteria and fecal contamination from four surface waters: Jiquiriça-Brejões River and Cabrito, Tororó, and Abaeté Lagoons. METHODS: We analyzed AMR β-lactamase genes using the polymerase chain reaction method and fecal contamination using Coliscan®. RESULTS: We found high levels of fecal contamination, β-lactamase producers, and AMR genes (blaOXA-48, blaSPM, and blaVIM) in all waterbodies. CONCLUSIONS: Poor sanitation evidenced by fecal contamination and human activities around these surface waters contributed to the distribution and increase in AMR enterobacteria.

Prevalence of infection of biomphalaria glabrata by schistosoma mansoni and the risk of urban schistosomiasis mansoni in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Biomphalaria glabrata is considered to be responsible for the incidence of schistosomiasis in Brazil. Therefore, surveillance of areas where schistosomiasis is prevalent is fundamental for public health planning. This study was aimed to evaluate B. glabrata populations in water bodies of the city of Salvador, determine their distribution, estimate the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infections, characterize shed cercariae, and identify transmission foci. METHODS: Malacological surveys were carried out in 17 water collections from Salvador. Snail species were identified based on shell and mantle characteristics. Snails were evaluated for S. mansoni infection by exposure to light and via real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using S. mansoni-18S rRNA subunit specific primers. RESULTS: 1,403 B. glabrata were collected. Classical cercarial shedding indicated that 5 snails (0.4%) were positive for S. mansoni. A higher prevalence of infections was found in Horta de Saramandaia (5.5%) and Lagoa do IAT (1.9%). Non-Schistosoma larvae, such as Xiphidiocercaria, Strigeidae, Spirorchiidae and Clinostomidae, were observed in 3.2% of the snails. S. mansoni DNA was detected in 6.2% snails via qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: B. glabrata is widely distributed in Salvador, as indicated by 7 water collections associated with a risk of schistosomiasis transmission. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify B. glabrata eliminating cercariae of Clinostomidae, Strigeidae, and Spirorchiidae in Salvador. We propose that qPCR may be employed in combination with classical cercarial shedding. Estimating S. mansoni prevalence in snails by only considering the results of light exposure method classical into account may underestimate the problem.

Avaliação do polimorfismo genético de TLR9 em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico / Evaluation of genetic polymorphism of TLR9 in systemic lupus erythematosus

Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico (LES) é uma doença autoimune sistêmica na qual a principal alteração está relacionada à ativação policlonal de linfócitos B com a produção de uma ampla variedade de autoanticorpos dirigidos contra componentes nucleares, citoplasmáticos, de superfície celular e moléculas solúveis do plasma. Fatores genéticos têm sido implicados na patogênese dessa patologia. TolI-like receptor 9 (TLR9) é um importante componente do sistema imune inato que reconhece sequências não metiladas CpG de DNA...

Pesquisa de anticorpos antinucleossoma em lúpus eritematoso sistêmico / Detection of antinucleosome antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJETIVOS: determinar a freqüência dos anticorpos antinucleossoma (AN) em lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) e avaliar a associação desses anticorpos com a atividade de doença. MÉTODOS: estudo de corte transversal em que foram estudados pacientes com diagnóstico de LES baseado nos critérios do Colégio Americano de Reumatologia. Utilizou-se o SLEDAI como instrumento de avaliação de atividade de doença. A pesquisa de anticorpos AN foi realizada pela técnica de ELISA (INOVA Diagnostics Inc). Pacientes com diagnóstico de miosite e esclerose sistêmica (ES) foram também estudados para avaliação da performance do teste. RESULTADOS: foram estudados 82 pacientes com LES, sendo 81 do sexo feminino, com idade média de 35 ± 11,7 anos. Anticorpos AN foram detectados em 48 pacientes com LES (58,5 por cento), em três pacientes com miosite (21,4 por cento) e em dois pacientes com ES (14,2 por cento), o que determinou sensibilidade e especificidade de 58,5 por cento e 82,14 por cento, respectivamente. Considerando-se um ponto de corte em 40 U, os anticorpos AN foram detectados em 44 pacientes com LES (53,65 por cento), em dois pacientes com miosite (13,33 por cento) e em um paciente com ES (6,66 por cento), o que determinou sensibilidade e especificidade de 53,65 por cento e 90 por cento, respectivamente. Não se observou correlação dos títulos dos anticorpos AN e a atividade de doença (SLEDAI), embora tenha sido observada correlação entre anti-DNA e escore de SLEDAI nessa mesma população (r = 0,42; p < 0,005). CONCLUSÕES: No presente estudo, observaram-se moderada sensibilidade e alta especificidade dos anticorpos AN para o diagnóstico de LES. No entanto, não se verificou associação desses anticorpos com os parâmetros de atividade da doença, sugerindo que a pesquisa de tais anticorpos seria de valor limitado na prática reumatológica.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the frequency of antinucleosome (AN) antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their association with disease activity. METHODS: cross-sectional study to evaluate patients with diagnosis of SLE based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria. SLEDAI score was used as a disease activity index. AN antibodies were tested by ELISA (INOVA Diagnostics Inc). Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and myositis patients were also studied to determine the diagnostic performance of the ELISA system. RESULTS: a total of 82 SLE patients, 81 female, mean age 35 ± 11.7 years were included in the study. AN antibodies were positive in 48 SLE samples (58.5 percent), three with myositis (21.4 percent) and two with SSc (14.2 percent), determining a sensitivity and specificity of AN antibodies for the diagnosis of SLE of 58.5 percent and 82.14 percent, respectively. Utilizing a cut off of 40 U, test was positive in 45 SLE samples (53.65 percent), two with myositis (13.33 percent) and one with SSc (6.66 percent), determining a sensitivity and specificity of AN antibodies for the diagnosis of SLE of 53.65 percent and 90 percent, respectively. There were no correlation between AN antibodies and SLEDAI scores. On the other hand, it was observed a positive correlation between anti-DNA antibodies and disease activity (r = 0.42; p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: in the present study it was demonstrated a high specificity and moderate sensitivity of AN antibodies for the diagnosis of SLE. However, the lack of association with disease activity suggests that it has limited value in rheumatologic practice.