Synanthropic rodents as virus reservoirs and transmitters

Abstract This review focuses on reports of hepatitis E virus, hantavirus, rotavirus, coronavirus, and arenavirus in synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, and Mus musculus) within urban environments. Despite their potential impact on human health, relatively few studies have addressed the monitoring of these viruses in rodents. Comprehensive control and preventive activities should include actions such as the elimination or reduction of rat and mouse populations, sanitary education, reduction of shelters for the animals, and restriction of the access of rodents to residences, water, and food supplies.

Group A rotavirus gastroenteritis: post-vaccine era, genotypes and zoonotic transmission / Gastroenterite por rotavírus do grupo A: era pós-vacinal, genótipos e transmissão zoonótica

ABSTRACT This article provides a review of immunity, diagnosis, and clinical aspects of rotavirus disease. It also informs about the changes in epidemiology of diarrheal disease and genetic diversity of circulating group A rotavirus strains following the introduction of vaccines. Group A rotavirus is the major pathogen causing gastroenteritis in animals. Its segmented RNA genome can lead to the emergence of new or unusual strains in human populations via interspecies transmission and/or reassortment events.

RESUMO Este artigo fornece uma revisão sobre imunidade, diagnóstico e aspectos clínicos da doença causada por rotavírus. Também aponta as principais mudanças no perfil epidemiológico da doença diarreica e na diversidade genética das cepas circulantes de rotavírus do grupo A, após a introdução vacinal. O rotavírus do grupo A é o principal patógeno associado à gastroenterite em animais. Seu genoma RNA segmentado pode levar ao surgimento de cepas novas ou incomuns na população humana, por meio de transmissão entre espécies e eventos de rearranjo.

Group A rotavirus and norovirus display sharply distinct seasonal profiles in Belém, northern Brazil

Several viruses have been associated with acute gastroenteritis (AGE), and group A rotavirus (RVA) and nor-ovirus (NoV) are the most prevalent. This study aimed to assess their prevalence among children hospitalised for diarrhoea during a three-year surveillance study. From May 2008-April 2011, overall positivity rates of 21.6% (628/2904) and 35.4% (171/483) were observed for RVA and NoV, respectively. The seasonality observed indicated distinct patterns when both viruses were compared. This finding may explain why hospitalisation for AGE remains constant throughout the year. Continuous AGE monitoring is needed to better assess the patterns of infection.

Epidemia de rotavirus en una unidad de neonatología / Rotavirus outbreak among patients of a neonatal care unit

Se describe un brote de infecciones por rotavirus en una unidad de neonatología. El intento inicial para controlar el brote solo mediante aislamiento no fue efectivo, pero esto se logró después de evacuar los pacientes de la unidad a una sala especial y el alta con vigilancia ambulatoria de los casos. El brote tuvo carácter epidémico con mayor incidencia de casos alrededor del día doce y disminución hasta desaparecer los casos al dia diecisiete. Los casos comprenden 11 de 41 pacientes hospitalizados durante el periodo de] brote, tres de los cuales fueron sintomáticos. Ellos aparecieron en forma aleatoria en todo la unidad a pesar de estrictas medidas de aislamiento y aseo controlado de personal. No pudo precisarse el origen del caso índice. Se encontró una tasa de ataque de 24,3 por ciento. Los recién nacidos que fueron dados de alta, controlados en sus domicilios, no presentaron ningún episodio diarreico en la semana siguiente al alta

Concomitant rotavirus serotypes 1 and 4 infections in a diarrhoeic from Belem, Brazil

Infeccoes simultaneas por sorotipos 1 e 4 de rotavirus foram observadas em uma crianca de 15 meses de idade, do sexo feminino, internada com diarreia aguda contraida na comunidade que perdurou por 7 dias, evoluindo com desidratacao moderada. As evidencias dessas infeccoes foram inferidas baseadas em testes tais como: a) ensaio imunoenzimatico (ELISA), evidenciando-se reacao positiva para os sorotipos 1 e 4; e b) migracoes extras de segmentos de ARN visualizados a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (EGPA). Esses resultados sugerem que as condicoes precarias de higiene e saneamento em que vivia essa crianca propiciam a infeccao macica por esses agentes virais. Alem disso, a co-circulacao de diferentes sorotipos no mesmo ambiente sustenta a necessidade de utilizar-se, no futuro, uma vacina polivalente, que proteja as criancas contra os quatro sorotipos G, epidemiologicamente importantes

Epidemiology and transmission of rotavirus infections and diarrhoea in St. Lucia, West Indies

To determine the epidemiology and risk factors of rotavirus in St. Lucia, 229 children in three valleys with varying levels of sanitation were studied for 2 years. A four-fold rise in complement fixation antibody to rotavirus antigen was used in paired samples as evidence of recent infection. Results showed that forty-eight per cent of infants experienced at least one infection during a two-year period, and 17%of children were reinfected. Infections occured within the first months of life and peaked between 6 and 23 months of age. The peak infection coincided with the dry season in each age group. Children breast-feeding had fewer infections. Although crowding within the home was significantly associated with repeated infection, the incidence of infection was not affected by the degree of sanitation. Other studies in the region, using recently developed techniques, concur with these findings which advance our understanding of the epidemiological importance of rotavirus in St. Lucia. Although these studies provide insights into the risk factors for rotavirus infections, other studies are required to determine whether investments should be focused on improved sanitation or immunization or both

Rotavírus em recém-nascidos com menos de 24 horas de vida / Rotavirus in newborns with less than 24 hours of life

Durante 22 meses foram analisadas 687 amostras dentre fezes e mecônios de RN no berçário (grupo A - 236 amostras) e no ambulatório (grupo B - 451 amostras) do Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro, da Universidade Federal Fluminense, para rotavírus, por ELISA, gel de poliacrilamida e microscopia eletrônica e bactérias. Verificou-se que os RN assintomáticos foram os únicos positivos (2,11% das amostras). Quando se confrontou freqüência de diarréia de mäes e bebês com o tipo de parto, näo houve correlaçäo entre os fenômenos. Houve predomínio de K. pneumoniae nos sintomáticos hospitalizados