Importation and early local transmission of COVID-19 in Brazil, 2020

We conducted the genome sequencing and analysis of the first confirmed COVID-19 infections in Brazil. Rapid sequencing coupled with phylogenetic analyses in the context of travel history corroborate multiple independent importations from Italy and local spread during the initial stage of COVID-19 transmission in Brazil. (AU)

A fatal case of Brazilian spotted fever in a non-endemic area in Brazil: the importance of having health professionals who understand the disease and its areas of transmission

Abstract Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. Because of its high case-fatality rate and apparent increase in areas of transmission, it is considered to be the rickettsial illness of primary public health interest. Cases of this disease have historically occurred in Southeastern Brazil. This article reports the first fatal case of BSF in Southern Brazil. This case high lights the importance of BSF to be considered as a differential diagnosis for acute hemorrhagic fever in areas where cases of BSF may not be expected.

Antibodies for Rickettsia spp. in patients with negative serology for dengue virus, leptospirosis, and meningococcal disease in municipalities of São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION Brazilian spotted fever is an infectious disease with a high mortality rate if not treated early. Differential diagnosis is difficult, as the first clinical signs are non-specific and can be confused with other diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate evidence of infection with Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri in negative sera samples, collected in 2014, from patients with suspected leptospirosis, dengue fever, and meningococcal disease in Atibaia and Bragança Paulista municipalities of the State of São Paulo. METHODS The samples stored at the Institute Adolfo Lutz in Campinas were tested using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with IgG and IgM against R. rickettsii and R. parkeri. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was performed for the sera samples of patients who died (n = 3), those with initial suspicion of meningococcal disease (n = 6), and those with positive IFA results. RESULTS Of 258 samples from Bragança Paulista, 4 (1.6%) were positive, with IgG titers of 1:64 and 1:128 against R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. Of 155 samples from Atibaia, 2 (1.3%) were positive, with IgG titers of 1:64 and 1:128 against R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. No sample showed positive PCR results. CONCLUSIONS This serological investigation suggests there is evidence of exposure to Rickettsia spp. in residents of areas that have environmental conditions favorable to the spread of bacteria, in which Brazilian spotted fever incidence was not previously confirmed.

Aplicações da PCR em tempo real no diagnóstico laboratorial da Febre Maculosa Brasileira / Applications of real-time PCR in laboratory diagnosis of Brazilian Spotted Fever

A Febre Maculosa Brasileira (FMB), causada pela Rickettsia rickettsii, é a principal doença transmitida por carrapato com impacto em saúde pública no Brasil. Os primeiros sintomas são inespecíficos, porém a doença pode evoluir rapidamente para quadro de Síndrome Febril Hemorrágica Aguda (SFHA) com a ocorrência de óbito em poucos dias. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as aplicações da PCR em tempo real na rotina laboratorial para o diagnóstico etiológico da FMB, em amostras biológicas encaminhadas ao Laboratório de Riquétsias do Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Foram testados 2 protocolos de PCR em tempo real: um para detecção do gênero Rickettsia spp (gltA-TaqMan®) com detecção por sonda TaqMan® e outro para riquétsias do Grupo Febre Maculosa (OmpA-SYBR) com detecção por SYBRGreen. O protocolo de PCR em tempo real para RNAseP foi utilizado como controle interno endógeno. A amostragem foi constituída de sangue, soro, coágulo e biópsia de pele de lesão de casos fatais e não fatais com suspeita clínica de FMB. Os resultados mostraram que o protocolo OmpA-SYBR sofre interferência da matriz biológica e os melhores resultados com relação à sensibilidade foram obtidos quando utilizado em amostras de soro. Os protocolos de PCR em tempo real gltA-TaqMan® e OmpA-SYBR apresentaram concordância de resultados acima de 90%. O protocolo gltA-TaqMan® mostrou-se mais sensível do que o protocolo OmpA-SYBR, porém com menor especificidade, particularmente para amostras com CT>36. O melhor desempenho da PCR em tempo real para FMB, foi obtido quando a FMPCR, composta do três protocolos: gltA-TaqMan®, OmpA-SYBR e RNAseP humana, foi utilizada em amostras de soro para detecção do agente etiológico da FMB nos casos fatais. A PCR em tempo real para FMB apresentou baixa sensibilidade para detectar casos não fatais, confirmados pela sorologia para FMB, com positividade de 21%. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que a FMPCR apresenta sensibilidade e especificidade que permitem utilizá-la...

Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF) is the main tick borne disease with impact on public health in Brazil. Early symptoms are nonspecific, but the disease may progress rapidly to Febrile Acute Hemorrhagic Syndrome (SFHA) with occurrence of death within a few days. The purpose of this study was to investigate the applications of real-time PCR in the routine laboratory for the etiologic diagnosis of BSF, in the biological samples sent to the laboratory. Two real-time PCR protocols were tested: one for detecting the genus Rickettsia spp (gltA-TaqMan®) with detection by TaqMan ® probe and another for specific detection of Spotted Fever Group species (OmpA-SYBR) by SYBR Green detection. The qPCR protocol for RNaseP was used as endogenous internal control. Samples used were blood, serum, blood clot and biopsy from skin lesion of fatal and nonfatal clinically suspected of BSF. The results showed that ompA-SYBR protocol suffers interference from the biological matrix and the best performance was obtained with serum samples. Protocols OmpA-SYBR and gltA-TaqMan® showed results concordance up to 90%. The protocol gltA-TaqMan® was more sensitive than OmpA-SYBR protocol, but less specificity, particularly for samples with TC> 36. The best performance for BSF qPCR assay was obtained when combining three qPCR protocols (OmpA-SYBR, gltA-TaqMan® and RnaseP), named FMPCR, were used in serum samples to detection BSF in fatal cases. FMPCR showed low sensitivity for detecting non-fatal cases positive by IFA, the positivity was 21%. The results of this study indicate that FMPCR has sensitivity and specificity to be used as a diagnostic tool for elucidation of fatal BSF...

Implantação e otimização da PCR em tempo real para o diagnóstico da influenza A (H1N1) pandêmica no Instituto Adolfo Lutz e perspectivas para 2010 / Implementation and optimization of real time PCR for diagnosis of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at Instituto Adolfo Lutz and perspectives for 2010

Os autores apresentam sua experiência no diagnóstico laboratorial de InfluenzaA (H1N1) em 37.240 amostras clínicas obtidas de pacientes com suspeita de gripe, encaminhadas ao Instituto Adolfo Lutz para análise. Eles apresentam os algoritmos de testes moleculares empregados, comparam a eficiência dos mesmos quanto à sensibilidade, especificidade e custo e, finalmente sugerem um novo algoritmo para ser usado em caso de nova epidemia de Influenza A (H1N1) em 2010.

The authors present their experience with the molecular diagnosis of Influenza A (H1N1) with 37.240 clinicalsamples obtained from individuals suspected of flu, sent to Instituto Adolfo Lutz for analysis. They show the used algorithms, compare their efficiency in terms of sensitivity, specificity and cost, and suggest a new algorithm to be employed in case of an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in 2010.

Endocardite por Coxiella burnetii (febre Q): doença rara ou pouco diagnosticada? Relato de caso / Endocarditis due to Coxiella burnetii (Q fever): a rare or little diagnosed disease? Case report

A febre Q é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial causada por Coxiella burnetii, sendo raros os registros da doença no Brasil. Estudos soroepidemiológicos mostraram uma freqüência relativamente elevada de anticorpos contra Coxiella burnetii em populações com exposição ocupacional. Em humanos, pode se manifestar clinicamente como doença aguda ou crônica, sendo que a endocardite é a forma crônica mais freqüente da febre Q e de maior morbi-mortalidade. Relatamos um caso grave de endocardite por Coxiella burnetii adquirida no Brasil com desfecho fatal, apesar de antibioticoterapia adequada e tratamento cirúrgico valvar.

Q fever is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution that is caused by Coxiella burnetii. However, reports of this disease in Brazil are rare. Seroepidemiological studies have shown relatively high frequencies of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii in populations with occupational exposure. In humans, it can be manifested clinically as acute or chronic disease. Endocarditis is the most frequent chronic form of Q fever and the form with the greatest morbidity and mortality. We report a severe case of endocarditis due to Coxiella burnetii acquired in Brazil that had a fatal outcome, despite specific antibiotic therapy and valve surgery treatment.