Knowledge and risk perception of vulnerable women on Zika virus infection at primary health care level in Brazil.

Vulnerable low-income groups were most affected by Zika virus (ZIKV)-related neurologic syndrome during the 2014-2016 outbreak in Brazil. Major ZIKV infection response took place in Primary Health Care (PHC), including prevention strategies and risk communication. We aimed to detect knowledge and beliefs, as well as knowledge gaps among vulnerable women at the PHC level. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two low-income urban community settings: a small municipality with few ZIKV infection cases and a large municipality hard-hit by the epidemic. An open-ended data collection instrument centred on ZIKV infection knowledge, sources of information, possible causes, symptoms, risk perception, consequences for pregnant women and PHC point-of-care communication was developed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and content coded for thematic analysis. Most of the seventy-nine respondents had some knowledge of the disease, acknowledging the vector as the source of infection and associating microcephaly with the disease, but distanced themselves from possible ZIKV infection and related risk. PHC services in both communities did not adequately communicate risk for women and children. In an uncertain future scenario as to disease re-emergence, awareness may be diminished and acquired knowledge lost, configuring a public health challenge that must be overcome.

Colocalization of heparin and histamine in the intracellular granules of test cells from the invertebrate Styela plicata (Chordata-Tunicata).

In most ascidian species the oocytes are surrounded by two types of accessory cells called follicle cells and test cells. Test cells are located on the periphery of oocytes and remain in the perivitelline space during egg development until hatching. Heparin and histamine were previously described in the test cells of the ascidian Styela plicata. In the present study, electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the ultrastructure of the S. plicata test cells and to localize heparin and histamine in these cells. Test cells contain several intracellular granules with unique ultrastructural features. They are formed by elongated filaments composed of serial globules with an electron-lucent circle, containing a central electron-dense spot. Immunocytochemistry showed that heparin and histamine colocalize at the border of granule filaments in the test cell. Compound 48/80, a potent secretagogue of heparin-containing mast cells, also induced degranulation of test cells. According to these results, we suggest that test cells represent ancient effector cells of the innate immunity in primitive chordates.