Detecção de arboviroses em gestantes na região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo / Detection of arboviroses in pregnant women in the northwest region of the state of São Paulo

As infecções ocasionadas pelos vírus da Dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV) e Chikungunya (CHIKV) em gestantes são de grande preocupação pelos possíveis danos causados pelos mesmos às mães e fetos. O ZIKV está relacionado à microcefalia e outras anomalias cerebrais graves em neonatos e a infecção por CHIKV em gestantes no período intraparto pode levar à transmissão vertical, com possibilidade de agravamento no quadro do neonato. E, apesar de ainda não haver relatos de ocorrência de malformações congênitas associadas à infecção por DENV em gestantes, as mesmas são consideradas um grupo de risco, pois apresentam maiores chances de evolução para formas graves ou óbito e aumento no risco de partos prematuros decorrente da infecção materna perinatal. Neste estudo, foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva dos resultados envolvendo os vírus DENV, ZIKV e CHIKV para determinar a taxa de positividade destas arboviroses em gestantes no município de São José do Rio Preto-SP, nos anos de 2018 e 2019. Para isso, foram coletados resultados de PCR em tempo real (RT-PCR) para DENV, ZIKV e CHIKV de amostras de soro e urina obtidas de 557 gestantes com histórico de febre, bem como 93 amostras de recém-nascidos (RN). Na análise dos resultados foi verificado que o sorotipo-2 de Dengue (DENV-2) foi detectado em 106/557 correspondendo a 19% das amostras, o sorotipo-1 (DENV-1) foi detectado em apenas uma amostra e o ZIKV foi detectado em duas amostras. CHIKV não foi detectado. Não foi detectado arbovírus nas amostras de RN testadas pela técnica de RT-PCR. Quanto à idade, 40% das gestantes pertenciam à faixa etária de 25 a 32 anos, seguidas pelas faixas de 33 a 40 anos e 17 a 24 anos com percentuais de 31 e 29%, respectivamente. No período, uma gestante que estava na 13ª semana de gestação foi a óbito por DENV-2. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam a importância do diagnóstico precoce das arboviroses neste grupo, viabilizando a assistência adequada às gestantes. Nesse sentido, o monitoramento da circulação simultânea de arboviroses responsáveis por causarem complicações em gestantes e infecções congênitas deve continuar em áreas endêmicas como a de São José do Rio Preto, visando um diagnóstico materno precoce e manejo adequado de gestantes testadas positivas verificando a presença de sinais de alerta e de dengue grave.

Infections caused by Dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses in pregnant women represent great concern because of the possible damage that can be caused by these viruses to both mothers and fetuses. ZIKV is related to microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in neonates, while CHIKV infection in pregnant women in the intrapartum period can lead to vertical transmission, with the possibility of worsening in the neonate. And although there are no reports of congenital malformations associated with DENV infection in pregnant women, they are also considered of risk group, since they have greater probability to progress to severe forms or even death. In addition, there is an increased risk of premature childbirth. In this study, a retrospective result analysis involving DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV viruses was carried out to determine the positivity rate of those arboviruses in pregnant women in the city of São José do Rio Preto-SP, in the years 2018 and 2019. For this purpose, real-time PCR results (RT-PCR) were collected for DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV from serum and urine samples obtained from 557 pregnant women with a history of fever, as well as samples from 93 newborns (NB). Dengue serotype-2 (DENV-2) was detected in 106/557, which corresponds to 19% of the samples; dengue serotype-1 (DENV-1) was detected in only one sample, and the ZIKV was detected in two samples. CHIKV was not detected. Arboviruses were not detected in the NB samples tested by the RT-PCR technique. In relation to age groups, 40% of pregnant women were between 25 to 32 years old, followed by the groups of 33 to 40 years old, and 17 to 24 years old, with 31% and 29%, respectively. In the period, a pregnant woman who was in the 13th week of pregnancy died due to DENV-2. The results obtained emphasize the importance of the early diagnosis of arboviruses in this group, thus enabling adequate assistance to pregnant women. In this sense, the monitoring of arboviruses circulation responsible for causing complications and congenital infections in pregnant women should continue in endemic areas such as São José do Rio Preto, aiming at an early maternal diagnosis and adequate management of the patients who tested positive, checking for the presence of any alert signs and severe dengue.

COVID-19 laboratory diagnosis: comparative analysis of different RNA extraction methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection by two amplification protocols

The gold standard for the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 is the reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay, which searches for SARS­CoV-2 target genes in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NP/OP) samples, and its performance depends on the quantity and quality of the RNA input. This study compared the performance and cost-effectiveness of three different kits/reagents for RNA extraction used in COVID-19 diagnosis in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A total of 300 NP/OP samples belonging to suspected cases of COVID-19 stored in a biorepository were randomly selected, and RNA was extracted using (i) automated extraction (Loccus, Extracta Kit FAST), (ii) manual extraction (BioGene Kit, Bioclin, Quibasa), and (iii) quick extraction methods (Lucigen, Quick DNA Extract Kit). Next, the samples were tested using RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 with the Allplex 2019-nCoV modified assay and the Charité-Berlin protocol. All assays/kits were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. For the Allplex kit, the sensitivity in detecting SARS-CoV-2 with previously extracted RNA by different procedures was 100.0% for Loccus, 100.0% for BioGene and 91.9% for Quick. Using the Charité-Berlin protocol, the sensitivities were 81.4% for Loccus, 81.2% for BioGene and 60.7% for Quick. The least sensitive target gene and the gene most affected by RNA extraction procedures was the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene (Charité-Berlin protocol). No false-positive SARS-CoV-2 results were detected using RNA obtained from any of the different protocols. In conclusion, Loccus and BioGene RNA extractions were efficient for RT-qPCR assays, and although the BioGene procedure is less expensive, Loccus is the best choice because it allows the rapid handling of hundreds or thousands of samples, a desirable feature during pandemics. Although less sensitive, the Quick extraction is useful during outbreaks coupled with the Allplex amplification kit for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (κ = 0.925).

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in a healthcare professional in inner Sao Paulo during the first wave of COVID-19 in Brazil

Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic remains a threat to public health. We report 2 cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection in the same healthcare professional in Brazil. Genomic analysis identified that primoinfection was caused by the endemic lineage B.1.1.33 while reinfection by the lineage B.1.1.44, a lineage with an additional V1176F mutation in S protein.