Complete genome sequence of a clinical Bordetella pertussis isolate from Brazil

There has been a resurgence in the number of pertussis cases in Brazil and around the world. Here, the genome of a clinical Bordetella pertussis strain (Bz181) that was recently isolated in Brazil is reported. Analysis of the virulence-associated genes defining the pre- and post-vaccination lineages revealed the presence of the prn2-ptxS1A-fim3B-ptxP3 allelic profile in Bz181, which is characteristic of the current pandemic lineage. A putative metallo-β-lactamase gene presenting all of the conserved zinc-binding motifs that characterise the catalytic site was identified, in addition to a multidrug efflux pump of the RND family that could confer resistance to erythromycin, which is the antibiotic of choice for treating pertussis disease.

Rabia en Chile: 1989-2005 / Rabies in Chile: 1989-2005

A retrospective epidemiological study about epidemiology of rabies in Chile between years 1989 and 2005 was done. A data base of 39793 national registries of rabies samples was analyzed by means of statistical packages. Out of 39793 analyzed cases, 719 bats, 7 dogs, 7 cats, 1 bovine and 1 human were positive to rabies throughout the 17 years of this study. The statistical analysis established a significant increase in the proportions of positivity in bats, with predominance of variant 4 between the reservoirs. Given the complexity of the wild cycle of the rabies in Chile, it is necessary to maintain a program control of rabies, directed to educate people for a responsible possession of domestic animals, due to the risk of rabies transmission from bat to the susceptible species.

Se realizó este estudio para actualizar el conocimiento epidemiológico de la rabia en Chile, entre los años 1989 y 2005. Se trabajó con una base de datos de 39.793 registros históricos nacionales de muestras para el diagnóstico de rabia que mantiene el Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, analizando los datos mediante paquetes estadísticos. De los 39.793 casos analizados se detectaron positivos a rabia en murciélagos (n: 719), perros (n: 7), gatos (n: 7), bovino (n: 1) y humano (n:l) a lo largo de los 17 años de estudio; estos representan el total de casos confirmados en Chile durante ese período. El análisis estadístico determinó un aumento lento pero significativo de positividad a rabia en murciélagos con un predominio de la variante 4 entre los reservónos circulantes. Dada la complejidad del ciclo silvestre de la rabia en Chile, es necesario mantener un programa de control de rabia dirigido a la educación de la población en pro de la tenencia responsable de los animales domésticos; existe riesgo de transmisión de la rabia desde murciélago a las especies susceptibles.