Genetic identification of rickettsial isolates from fatal cases of Brazilian spotted fever and comparison with Rickettsia rickettsii isolates from the American continents.

Fifteen bacterial isolates from spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Brazil were genetically identified as Rickettsia rickettsii. In a phylogenetic analysis with other R. rickettsii isolates from GenBank, the Central/South American isolates showed low polymorphism and formed a clade distinct from two North American clades, with the North American clades having greater in-branch polymorphism.

Molecular characterization of mediterranean spotted fever rickettsia isolated from a European traveler in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Rickettsial spotted fever is common in southeastern Brazil. Differential diagnosis of pathogens can be performed with proper laboratory methods. A traveler arriving from Portugal developed a fatal febrile hemorrhagic syndrome diagnosed as spotted fever rickettsiosis. We isolated the agent, which was identified as Rickettsia conorii conorii by sequencing rickettsial genes.

Features of Brazilian spotted fever in two different endemic areas in Brazil.

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is the most important rickettsiosis and the only reportable tick-borne disease in Brazil. In Brazil, the hard tick Amblyomma cajennense is the most important BSF vector; however, in São Paulo State, A. aureolatum was also recognized as a vector species in remaining Atlantic forest areas near the metropolitan area of São Paulo city. We analyzed clinical and epidemiological features of BSF cases from two distinct areas where A. cajennense (Area 1) and A. aureolatum (Area 2) are the incriminated vectors. The clinical features demonstrate the same severity pattern of BSF in both endemic areas. Differences in seasonality, patient characteristics (median age and gender), and epidemiological risk factors (animals host contact and vegetation characteristics) were observed and possibly could be attributed to the characteristics of each vector and their typical biological cycle (hosts and environment).

Brazilian spotted fever: a case series from an endemic area in southeastern Brazil: epidemiological aspects.

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is the most important tick-borne disease in Brazil and is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and transmitted by the Ixodid tick Amblyomma cajennense, its main vector. We present epidemiologic aspects of a case series of patients admitted to the Hospital das Clínicas da UNICAMP from 1985 to 2003 with a confirmed diagnosis of BSF either by a fourfold rise in indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) titers of IgG antibodies reactive with R. rickettsii or isolation of R. rickettsii from blood or skin specimens. Seasonal variation of case occurrence seems to be associated with the life cycle of the tick. The recent reemergence of cases seems to be associated with the growing numbers of the capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) and their expansion into urban areas.

Brazilian spotted fever: a case series from an endemic area in southeastern Brazil: clinical aspects.

This case series study is based on a retrospective review of medical records and case notification files of patients admitted to The Hospital das Clínicas da UNICAMP from 1985 to 2003 with a confirmed diagnosis of BSF either by fourfold rise in indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) titers of IgG antibodies reactive with R. rickettsii or isolation of R. rickettsii from blood or skin specimens. A median lethality of 41.9 % was observed between 1985 and 2004. The case-fatality ratio of 30 % in our study, lower than the overall São Paulo state ratio, could be explained by a higher index of suspicion and a larger experience in our hospital, a regional referral center for BSF. The presence of the classical triad of fever, rash, and headache as described in RMSF was observed in fever than half (35.2%) of our patients.

Chagas disease in an area of recent occupation in Cochabamba, Bolivia

A descriptive, entomological and seroepidemiological study on Chagas disease was conducted in a place of recent occupation on the outskirts of Cochabamba, Bolivia: Avaroa/Primer de Mayo (population: 3.000), where the socio-economic level is low no control measures have been made available. Methods - The immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used for IgG and IgM anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in filter paper bloodspot eluates from 128 subject age, gender, birthplace, occupation, duration of residence and building materials used in their houses were recorded. Vectors were captured both in domestic and peridomestic environments. Results - Seropositive, 12,5 per cent (16/128): females, 15.1 per cent (11/73); males, 9.1 per cent (5/55). Average time of residence: 6.1 years for the whole population sample and 7.4 years for the seropositive subjects. Most houses had abobe walls (76.7 per cent, n = 30), galvanized iron rooves (86.7 per cent) and earthen floors (53.4 per cent) 80 per cent of the walls had crevices. One hundred forty seven specimens of Triatoma infestans were captured, of which 104 (70.7 per cent) were domestic, and 1 peridomestic Triatoma sordida. Precipitin host identification: birds, 67.5 per cent; humans, 27.8 per cent; rodents, 11.9 per cent; dogs, 8.7 per cent; cats, 1.6 per cent. House infestation and density indices were 53.3 and 493.0 respectively. We found 21 (14.3 per cent) specimens of T. infestans infected with trypanosomes, 18 (85.7 per cent) of which domestic environments. Discussion - The elements for the vector transmission of Chagas disease are present in Avaroa/Primer de Mayo and the ancient custom of keeping guinea pigs indoors adds to the risk of human infection. In neighboring Cochabamba, due to sub-standard quality control, contaminated blood transfusions are not infrequent, which further aggravates the spread of Chagas disease. Prompt action to check the transmission of this infection, involving additionally the congenital and transfusional modes of acquisition, is required.

Detecçäo de Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus, na zona urbana do município de Catanduva-SP, após controle de epidemia de dengue / Aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus detection at the urban zone of municipality of Catanduva-SP, after dengue epidemic control

After the realization of control research that had in view the transmission of dengue virus, we started to monitor two kinds of entomological vigilance, Breteau Index and ovitrap. We intended to evaluate the necessary time elapsed before Aedes sp mosquitoes were again detected at the urban area of Catanduva s town (SP). The ovitraps showed positiveness for the Aedes aegypti two months after the control research, while the Breteau Index became positive only at the fourth month after the end of the referred research.

Avaliaçäo da imunogenicidade das cepas A(H1N1), A(H3N2) e B do virus influenza, componentes da vacina trivalente contra gripe produzida pelo Instituto Butantan / Evaluation of immunogenicity of the influenza virus A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B strains in a trivalent influenza vaccine

A resposta imune mediada por anticorpos específicos contra as cepas A/SP/1/77 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1) e B/Engl./847/73 do virus influenza foi analisada pelas técnicas de inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo (IH) e hemólise radial simples (HRS). Para tanto, utilizou-se soros de indivíduos antes e após a inoculaçäo de duas doses de vacina trivalente inativada contra a gripe, produzida pelo Instituto Butantan, composta das referidas cepas virais. Aumentos significativos de anticorpos ocorreram nos soros dos indivíduos vacinados e através da análise estatistica do x2 (corrigido) e do Coeficiente de Associaçäo de Yule (C.Yule), demonstrou-se a diferença das respostas de anticorpos entre, antes e depois da vacinaçäo dos indivíduos. Para a cepa A/SP/1/77 (H3N2) verificou-se a significância de P << 0,001 e P < 0,01 e C. Yule = 0,83 e 0,70; para a cepa A/SP/1/78 (H1N1) a significância foi de P << 0,01 e P < 0,02 e C. Yule = 0,74 e 0,90 e para a cepa B/Engl./847/73 a significância foi de P < 0,10 e P < 0,01 e C. Yule = 0,52 e 1,0. Foi observada ainda, maior sensibilidade no teste de HRS para detecçäo de anticorpos contra o virus influenza, principalmente com a cepa do tipo B

Vacina inativada contra gripe trivalente: estudo comparativo da resposta imunitária pelos métodos de inibiçäo de hemaglutinaçäo e da hemólise radial simples / Inactivated vaccine against trivalent influenza: comparative study of immune response by hemaglutination inhibition and simple radial hemolysis methods

A vacina inativada contra gripe, trivalente, preparada no Instituto Butantan, contendo 200 unidades hemaglutinantes de cada uma das cepas de virus Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1) e B/England/847/73, foi administrada em 110 voluntários humanos adultos, sendo que 62 receberam uma dose de vacina e 48 duas doses, com intervalo de 21 dias. A resposta de anticorpos específicos para influenza foi analisada comparativamente pelos testes de Inibiçäo da Hemaglutinaçäo (1H) e Hemólise Radial Simples (HRS). Ocorreu aumento significativo do teor de anticorpos nos indivíduos vacinados, correspondente a um aumento de 4 vezes ou mais nos títulos obtidos pelo teste IH e a um aumento de 3,0 mm ou maior no diâmetro das zonas de hemólise pelo teste HRS. Os métodos demonstraram correlaçäo satisfatória entre si