Detection and characterization of human rotavirus in hospitalized patients in the cities of Ponta Grossa, Londrina and Assai - PR, Brazil

Acute diarrheal disease is still one of the major public health problems worldwide. Rotaviruses (RV) are the most important viral etiologic agents and children under five years of age are the target population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of RV infection in hospitalized patients due to acute diarrhea in the cities of Ponta Grossa, Londrina and Assai - Paraná. METHODS: Latex agglutination (LA); immunochromatography (ICG); polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and negative staining electron microscopy (ME) tests were used to detect the virus. For the genotyping, RT-PCR and RT-PCR-ELISA were used, respectively, for NSP4 and VP4/VP7. RESULT: Out of 124 samples there were 69 positive stool samples for RV, for at least one of the used tests, 67 of them being RV group A (RV-A). Overall, most of the RV positive stool samples came from children under thirteen years of age. However, 12 positive cases occurred in patients aged 13 years or above, including an 81-year old patient. CONCLUSION: The data showed similar electropherotypes and genotypes G, P and NSP4 of the inland wild circulating strains of RV.

Strains of lentinula edodes suppress growth of phytopathogenic fungi and inhibit Alagoas serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus

Four Lentinula edodes strains (Le10, 46, K2, Assai) were assessed for their antagonistic effect on four filamentous fungus species of agricultural importance (Helminthosporium euphorbiae, Helminthosporium sp, Fusarium solani and Phomopsis sojae) and on Alagoas serotype of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSA). The L. edodes strains studied had variable effects on the filamentous fungi and on VSA. The K2 and Le10 strains were antagonistic on the fungi assessed and the 46 and K2 strains were efficient on the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus. The results widened the list of beneficial effects of L. edodes on the control and prevention of animal pathogenic virus and filamentous fungi.

Comparaçäo dos testes de aglutinaçäo do látex, microscopia eletrônica e eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida do RNA viral na detecçäo de rotavírus em fezes diarréicas de crianças / Comparative study of the latex agglutination test, electron microscopy and polyacrylamide gel eletrophorresis for the detection of human rotavirus

171 amostras fecais de crianças hospitalizadas com diarréia aguda foram testadas quanto a presença de rotavírus através de microscopia eletrônica (ME), eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (EGPA) (com e sem extraçäo do RNA viral) e agolutinaçäo do látex (AL) (Slidex Rota - Kit 2). Para a prova do látex foi feita uma reduçäo das quantidades dos reagentes. Houve concordância dos resultados de 91,8%. A extraçäo do RNA viral possibilitou a detecçäo de mais amostras positivas pela eletroforese. A sensibilidade da ME e EGPA foi de 62,5%. A prova do látex foi mais sensível que as demais (75%) e a reduçäo das quantidades dos reagentes parece näo ter afetado a performance do teste