ABSTRACT
Viral hepatitis is an important public health problem in Brazil and around the world. To evaluate vaccination coverage against hepatitis B in adolescents and to identify the associated factors and reasons for non-adherence. A cross-sectional population-based study with sampling by clusters and in two stages, carried out from records of 702 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years old, non-institutionalized, living in an urban area of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2008/2009. The data were obtained from the Health Survey in the city of Campinas (ISACamp). The prevalence of vaccination (3 doses) was 72.2%. An independent and negative association with the vaccine was observed for the adolescents who were not born in the municipality. The orientation of a health care provider was positively and significantly associated with vaccination. The main reasons for non-adherence were the lack of orientation and not considering the vaccine necessary. Socioeconomic factors, health behaviors and conditions did not restrict the access to vaccination, but the coverage was below the target established by the Ministry of Health in Brazil. Health education programs, addressing the importance of vaccination to prevent the disease; strategies to actively reach out adolescents that did not complete the schedule; as well as orientation from the health care professional about the benefits of the vaccine to the adolescents, parents and guardians can extend the vaccination coverage.
As hepatites virais constituem importante problema de saúde pública no Brasil e em todo o mundo. Avaliar a cobertura vacinal contra hepatite B em adolescentes e identificar os fatores associados e motivos da não adesão. Estudo transversal de base populacional com amostra por conglomerados e em 2 estágios realizado a partir de 702 registros de adolescentes com idade entre 11 e 19 anos, não institucionalizados, residentes em área urbana no município de Campinas, São Paulo, em 2008/2009. Os dados foram obtidos do Inquérito de Saúde no município de Campinas (ISACamp). A prevalência de vacinação (3 doses) foi de 72,2%. Associação independente e negativa com a vacina foi observada para os adolescentes não naturais do município. A orientação de profissional de saúde esteve positiva e fortemente associada à vacinação. Os principais motivos para a não adesão foram a falta de orientação e não considerar a vacina necessária. Condições socioeconômicas, comportamentos e condições de saúde não restringiram o acesso à vacinação, mas a cobertura esteve abaixo da meta estabelecida pelo Ministério da Saúde. Programas de educação em saúde, abordando a importância da vacinação na prevenção da doença, estratégias para busca ativa aos adolescentes que não completaram o esquema, bem como a orientação do profissional de saúde sobre os benefícios da vacina aos adolescentes, pais e responsáveis podem ampliar as coberturas vacinais.
Subject(s)
Humans , Autophagy/drug effects , Chloroquine/pharmacology , Oncogenes , ras Proteins/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Phagosomes/drug effects , Phagosomes/metabolism , /metabolismABSTRACT
Eared doves (Zenaida auriculata), which are common in urban, rural and wild areas in many regions of Brazil, are frequently prey for domestic cats. Therefore Toxoplasma gondii isolates obtained from doves may reflect greater environmental diversity than those from other hosts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate T. gondii seroprevalence, isolate and genotype strains from Z. auriculata. Serum and tissue samples were collected from 206 doves for use in the modified agglutination test (MAT) and mouse bioassay. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in the doves was 22.3% (46/206), with titers ranging from 16 to 4096, and T. gondii strains were isolated from 12 of these doves. Five genotypes were detected by means of PCR-RFLP, including ToxoDB genotypes #1, #6, #17 and #65, and one genotype that had not previously been described (ToxoDB#182). This was the first report on isolation of T. gondii from Z. auriculata. This study confirmed the genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates and the existence of clonal type II (ToxoDB genotype #1) in Brazil.
Pombos silvestres (Zenaida auriculata), comuns em áreas urbanas, rurais e selvagens em muitas regiões do Brasil, são frequentemente predados por gatos domésticos. Sendo assim, os isolados de T. gondii obtidos de pombos podem refletir uma maior diversidade ambiental do que os outros hospedeiros. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a soroprevalência, isolar e genotipar T. gondii de Z. auriculata. Amostras de soro e tecido foram coletadas de 206 pombos para o teste de aglutinação modificado (MAT) e o bioensaio em camundongos. A prevalência de anticorpos contra T. gondii em pombos foi 22,3% (46/206), com títulos variando de 16 a 4096, e T. gondii foi isolado de 12 pombos. Cinco genótipos foram detectados por PCR-RFLP, incluindo os genótipos ToxoDB #1, #6, #17, #65 e um genótipo não descrito anteriormente (ToxoDB#182). Esse é o primeiro relato de isolamento de T. gondii de Z. auriculata. Este estudo também confirmou a diversidade dos isolados de T. gondii e a presença de tipo clonal II (ToxoDB #1) no Brasil.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Iron/metabolism , Macrophages/drug effects , Macrophages/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/pharmacology , Phagosomes/drug effects , Phagosomes/metabolism , Antigen-Antibody Complex/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Ferric Compounds/metabolism , Ferritins/metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II , Nitric Oxide Synthase/deficiency , Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Transferrin/immunology , Transferrin/metabolismABSTRACT
Autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8) is an essential component of autophagy formation and encystment of cyst-forming parasites, and some protozoa, such as, Acanthamoeba, Entamoeba, and Dictyostelium, have been reported to possess a type of Atg8. In this study, an isoform of Atg8 was identified and characterized in Acanthamoeba castellanii (AcAtg8b). AcAtg8b protein was found to encode 132 amino acids and to be longer than AcAtg8 protein, which encoded 117 amino acids. Real-time PCR analysis showed high expression levels of AcAtg8b and AcAtg8 during encystation. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that AcAtg8b is involved in the formation of the autophagosomal membrane. Chemically synthesized siRNA against AcAtg8b reduced the encystation efficiency of Acanthamoeba, confirming that AcAtg8b, like AcAtg8, is an essential component of cyst formation in Acanthamoeba. Our findings suggest that Acanthamoeba has doubled the number of Atg8 gene copies to ensure the successful encystation for survival when 1 copy is lost. These 2 types of Atg8 identified in Acanthamoeba provide important information regarding autophagy formation, encystation mechanism, and survival of primitive, cyst-forming protozoan parasites.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acanthamoeba castellanii/cytology , Amebiasis/parasitology , Amino Acid Sequence , Autophagy , Cell Membrane/metabolism , DNA, Protozoan/chemistry , Gene Dosage , Gene Silencing , Genes, Reporter , Molecular Sequence Data , Phagosomes/metabolism , Protein Isoforms , Protozoan Proteins/genetics , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Protozoan/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/chemical synthesis , Recombinant Fusion Proteins , Sequence AlignmentABSTRACT
Diurnal changes of lysosomes including ultrastructural changes of phagosomes and acid phosphatase reactions in phagosomes, as well as diurnal biochemical changes in cathepsin D activity, were studied in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the rabbit. The rabbit was maintained on a natural light-dark cycle over seven days in fall and was sacrificed at various times during the day and night. The number of lysosomes or phagosomes in the RPE was the highest at 1.5 hours after exposure to sunlight (8:00 AM), and thereafter decreased with time. Three types of phagosomes were observed and acid phosphatase reactions were different in each type of phagosome; the fresh phagosomes were negative or positive, lamellar bodies positive, and dense bodies partially positive. The biochemical activity of cathepsin D was the highest at 8:00 AM, and this was consistent with the time of peak in phagocytic activity in the RPE. This report shows that phagocytic activity in the RPE occurred in the early stage after exposure to sunlight, and that fresh phagosomes were sequentially degraded to lamellar or dense bodies. Cathepsin D activity also increased, and this was consistent with the phagocytic activity in the RPE.