Papillomavirus infections in the oral and genital mucosa of asymptomatic women

Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found in several regions of the body, including the oral cavity. Recently, this virus has been associated with oropharyngeal cancer, but little is known about HPV transmission to the oral cavity. We carried out a study to investigate concurrent oral and cervical infections in 76 asymptomatic women attending a healthcare program. Demographic and behavior data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Oral and cervical mucosa scrapings were collected and stored for DNA extraction. HPV DNA amplification was performed by polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) using both primers My09/My11 and FAP59/64, followed by HPV typing with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) and sequencing. The data collected revealed no risk factors for HPV infection in these 76 women. HPV prevalence of 9.2 and 5.3% was found in cervical and oral mucosa, respectively. Concurrent infections by discordant types were detected in one case only. Sequencing procedures allowed us to detect a new putative HPV 17 subtype from the Betapapillomavirus genus. Our results support the view that cervical and oral HPV infections are independent events. The observed low prevalence of both oral and cervical HPV infections could be associated with attendance in a healthcare program.

Genetic diversity of Ehrlichia canis strains from naturally infected dogs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Diversidade genética de cepas de Ehrlichia canis encontradas em cães naturalmente infectados no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

The aim of this study was to characterize Ehrlichia canis strains from naturally infected dogs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In addition, all the clinical and hematological findings observed in these dogs were reported. PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene was used for diagnostic purposes, and the TRP19 and TRP36 genes were sequenced to evaluate the genetic diversity. Fifteen samples were positive for E. canis. The polymerase chain reaction for the TRP19 gene resulted in 11 amplicons (11/15), which were cloned into the pGEM-T easy vector for sequencing. The complete sequence of TRP19 gene was compared to those in the GenBank, revealing high identicalness. Phylogenetic analysis on the TRP36 gene sequences demonstrated two distinct strains from two dogs, named 56C and 70C. The 56C strain was grouped with the strain Cuiaba 16, which is a hybrid strain formed by Brazilian and US genogroups; and the 70C strain was grouped with other strains of the US genogroup, thus suggesting that there are at least two genogroups of E. canis in Rio de Janeiro (US and Brazilian). Those animals, in which the 70C and 56C strains were isolated, showed distinct clinical and hematological manifestations of 1the disease. The appearance of different genotypes may express new phenotypes, thus resulting in different forms of presentation of the disease and making its diagnosis more complex.

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar as cepas de Ehrlichia canis em cães naturalmente infectados no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Além disso, os achados clínicos e hematológicos observados nos cães foram relatados. O gene 16S rRNA foi utilizado como alvo da PCR para fins diagnósticos, e os genes TRP19 e TRP36 para avaliar a diversidade genética. Quinze amostras foram positivas para E. canis. PCR para o gene TRP19 produziu 11 amplicons (11/15) que foram clonados no pGEM-T easy vector para sequenciamento. A comparação das sequências completas do gene TRP19 com outras sequências depositadas no GenBank revelou uma alta identidade. Duas amostras (56C e 70C) após o ensaio da PCR, tendo como alvo o gene TRP36, geraram sequências, e a análise filogenética mostrou que a cepa 56C foi agrupada com a cepa Cuiabá 16, que é uma cepa híbrida, formada pelo genogrupo Brasileiro e o genogrupo US; e a cepa 70C agrupou com as outras cepas do genogrupo US, sugerindo a existência de pelo menos dois genogrupos de E. canis no Rio de Janeiro (US e Brasileiro). Esses animais apresentaram manifestações clínicas e hematológicas distintas, e diferentes genótipos podem expressar novos fenótipos, resultando em diferentes formas de apresentação da doença e fazendo com que o diagnóstico seja mais complexo.

Emergence and characterisation of vanB vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Here we describe the detection and characterisation of three isolates of vancomycin-resistant VanB-type Enterococcus faecalis. Sequence analysis suggested that these isolates harboured the vanB1 gene. The isolates were susceptible to the majority of antimicrobial agents tested, with the exception of chloramphenicol, erythromycin and vancomycin, and showed distinct profiles of high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. Analysis of the clonal relatedness of the vanB E. faecalis isolates showed similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of enterococcal strains carrying vanB genes in Brazil.

Lactococcus garvieae: isolamento ecaracterização fenotípica / Lactococcus garvieae: isolation and phenotypic characterization

Os microrganismos do genero Lactococcus apresentam caracteristicas fenotipicas semelhantes as do genero Enterococcus podendo ser erroneamente identificados como tal no laboratorio clinico. Durante um estudo epidemiologico visando a deteccao de enterococos resistentes a vancomicina, foram avaliadas 155 amostras, inicialmente suspeitas de pertencerem ao genero Enterococcus, isoladas da microbiota intestinal e de diversos materiais clinicos oriundos de pacientes atendidos em Instituicoes de Saude do Municipio de Niteroi, no periodo entre janeiro de 2005 e janeiro de 2006. Duas amostras, que apresentaram caracteristicas fisiologicas naototalmente compativeis com o genero Enterococcus, foram identificadas como Lactococcus garvieae atraves da utilizacao de testes adicionaiscomo a analise do perfil proteico total atraves de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida contendo dodecil sulfato de sodio. Esta metodologia pode ser uma alternativa para identificar corretamente L. garvieae visto que e uma tecnica relativamente simples e demenor custo, quando comparada aos testes baseados na analise do DNA.

The members of the genus Lactococcus have phenotypic characteristics that resemble those of the genus Enterococcus and therefore can be erroneously identified in the clinical laboratory. During an epidemiological study aiming the detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci, were evaluated 155 isolates, initially suspected of belonging to the genus Enterococcus, recovery from the intestinal microflora and different clinical materials obtained from patients at Health Institutions of Niteroi city, in the period between January 2005 and January 2006. Two isolates, which showed physiological characteristics not fully compatible with the genusEnterococcus, 2006. Two isolates, which showed physiological characteristics not fully compatible with the genus Enterococcus, were identified as Lactococcus garvieae by using additional physiological tests and analysis of total protein profiles by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. This is an alternative methodology to correctly identify L. garvieae provided it is relatively easy to perform and of lower cost when compared to DNA based tests.