Ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) on new world wild primates in Brazil

Brazil concentrates the largest number of primate species in the world. In the present study, an extensive literature review of ticks on New World wild monkeys has been carried out, demonstrating that between the years 1912 to 2018, 182 larvae, 137 nymphs and 31 adult ticks (10 males and 21 females) were collected on 78 primates (from 12 different species) in 28 distinct localities in the Brazilian territory. Additionally, examination of allotments of 11 tick collections of Brazil revealed that from 1919 to 2019, 93 larvae, 91 nymphs and 175 adult ticks (62 males and 113 females) were collected from 100 monkeys (among 20 different species) from 43 localities in distinct Brazilian biomes. Overall, 19 tick species were identified on wild primates in the country: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) sensu stricto, Amblyomma coelebs Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma geayi Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma incisum Neumann, 1906, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844), Amblyomma naponense (Packard, 1869), Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca & Aragão, 1952, Amblyomma romarioi Martins, Luz & Labruna, 2019, Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946, Ixodes fuscipes Koch, 1844, Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) sensu lato,and Ornithodoros rostratus Aragão, 1911. The presence of A. incisum, A. naponense, A. nodosum, A. rotundatum and I. fuscipes on monkeys is recorded for the first time. Thisresearch is therefore a significant contribution to the knowledge of tick speciesassociated with non-human primates in the Neotropical region.

Six Cases of Zika/Dengue Coinfection in a Brazilian Cohort, 2015-2019.

Brazil is one of the countries which has been most affected by dengue epidemics. This scenario became more challenging with the emergence of Zika virus after 2014. The cocirculation of dengue and Zika viruses makes their diagnosis and treatment a challenge for health professionals, especially due to their similar clinical outcomes. From 2015 to 2019, we followed a cohort of 2017 participants in Goiania, Goias, Central Brazil. Febrile cases were monitored weekly, and after identification of fever, the physician performed a home visit for clinical evaluation and collection of blood/urine for diagnosis of acute dengue/Zika infection in suspected cases. Dengue acute infection was investigated by NS1 antigen and real time RT-PCR and seroconversion of anti-dengue IgM. ZIKV infection was confirmed by real time RT-PCR. Six cases of Zika/dengue coinfection among participants were reported. The clinical outcomes were suggestive for both DENV and ZIKV infection. No coinfected patient had neurological clinical manifestation, warning signs or need for hospitalization. A continuous specific laboratory confirmation for both dengue and Zika viruses should be enforced as part of the surveillance systems even in the presence of very suggestive cases of dengue fever, minimizing the risk of a late detection of ZIKV circulation.

Determining the Effectiveness of Decontamination with Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide.

Introduction: Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide (iHP) is a new technology used for the decontamination of surfaces or laboratory areas. It utilizes a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mixed with air and ionized through a cold plasma arc. This technology generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a means of decontamination. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diffusion effect of iHP and its decontamination capabilities using biological and enzyme indicators. Methods: A gas-tight fumigation room with a volume of 880 ft3 was used for the decontamination trials. During the decontamination process, empty animal cages were placed inside to create fumigant distribution restrictions. Spore and enzyme indicators were placed in eleven locations throughout the decontamination room. Generation of iHP was done with the use of TOMI's SteraMist Environmental System and the SteraMist Solution, with 7.8% H2O2 at a dose of 0.5 ml per ft3. Results: For the decontamination of 1hr, 2hrs, 6hrs, and 12hrs, the biological indicators of B. atrophaeus in Stainless Steel (SS) Disk in Tyvek envelope have an inactivation rate of 94%, 97%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. For G. stearothermophilus in SS disk and Tyvek envelope, it has 82%, 68%, 100%, and 100%, respectively and, for G. stearothermophilus in SS strips it has an effective rate of 88%, 67%, 91%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: iHP inactivates spores, and the residual tAK activity indicates a gas-like fumigant diffusion due to the uniformity of the inactivation without the use of oscillating fans as the contact time is extended.

Dengue in pregnant women: characterization of cases in Brazil, 2007-2015. / Dengue em gestantes: caracterização dos casos no Brasil, 2007-2015.

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the probable cases of dengue in pregnant women reported in Brazil, from 2007 to 2015. METHODS: descriptive study of sociodemographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics, with data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan). RESULTS: the annual incidence of dengue in pregnant women ranged from 3.3 (2009) to 816.6 (2010) cases per 100 thousand live births; of the 43,772 probable cases of dengue in pregnant women, 81.6% were investigated, 34.1% were confirmed by laboratory tests, and 1.7% were severe cases; hospitalization and fatality rates were of 5.4% and 1.6‰, respectively; the risk of death due to dengue was higher in pregnant women than in the population of non-pregnant women at reproductive age (ratio=3.95; 95%CI=3.07;5.08), and higher in the third trimester of pregnancy (ratio=8.55; 95%CI=6.08;12.02). CONCLUSION: the results show the burden of dengue in pregnant women and their vulnerability to worsening of the disease and death.

Dengue em gestantes: caracterização dos casos no Brasil, 2007-2015 / Dengue en embarazadas: caracterización de casos en Brasil, 2007-2015 / Dengue in pregnant women: characterization of cases in Brazil, 2007-2015

OBJETIVO: caracterizar os casos prováveis de dengue em gestantes notificados no Brasil, de 2007 a 2015. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo das características sociodemográficas, epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais, com dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan). RESULTADOS: a incidência anual de dengue em gestantes variou de 3,3 (2009) a 816,6 (2010) casos por 100 mil nascidos vivos; dos 43.772 casos prováveis de dengue em gestantes, 81,6% foram investigados, 34,1% confirmados laboratorialmente e 1,7% graves; as taxas de hospitalização e letalidade foram de 5,4% e 1,6‰, respectivamente; o risco de óbito por dengue foi maior na população de gestantes do que na população de mulheres em idade fértil não gestantes (razão=3,95; intervalo de confiança de 95% ou IC95%=3,07;5,08), superior no terceiro trimestre da gestação (razão=8,55; IC95%=6,08;12,02). CONCLUSÃO: os resultados evidenciam a carga da dengue entre gestantes, sua vulnerabilidade ao agravamento e óbito pela doença.

OBJETIVO: caracterizar los casos probables de dengue en las mujeres embarazadas reportados en Brasil entre 2007 y 2015. MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo de los datos de las enfermedades de declaración obligatoria del Sistema de Información (Sinan). RESULTADOS: la incidencia anual de dengue osciló entre 3,3 (2009) a 816,6 (2010) casos por cada 100 mil nacidos vivos; de los 43.772 casos probables de dengue, el 81,6% fueron investigados, 34,1% confirmados en laboratorio y 1,7% grave; las tasas de hospitalización y letalidad fueron 5,4% y 1,6%, respectivamente; el riesgo de muerte por dengue fue mayor en embarazadas que en mujeres en edad fértil no embarazadas (ratio=3,95 [IC95%=3,07;5,08]), y mayor en el tercer trimestre (ratio=8,55; [IC95%=6.08;12.02]). CONCLUSIÓN: los resultados muestran la carga de dengue en embarazadas y la vulnerabilidad de éstas al agravamiento y muerte por esta enfermedad.

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the probable cases of dengue in pregnant women reported in Brazil, from 2007 to 2015. METHODS: descriptive study of sociodemographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics, with data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan). RESULTS: the annual incidence of dengue in pregnant women ranged from 3.3 (2009) to 816.6 (2010) cases per 100 thousand live births; of the 43,772 probable cases of dengue in pregnant women, 81.6% were investigated, 34.1% were confirmed by laboratory tests, and 1.7% were severe cases; hospitalization and fatality rates were of 5.4% and 1.6‰, respectively; the risk of death due to dengue was higher in pregnant women than in the population of non-pregnant women at reproductive age (ratio=3.95; 95%CI=3.07;5.08), and higher in the third trimester of pregnancy (ratio=8.55; 95%CI=6.08;12.02). CONCLUSION: the results show the burden of dengue in pregnant women and their vulnerability to worsening of the disease and death.

Symptomatic dengue infection during pregnancy and livebirth outcomes in Brazil, 2007-13: a retrospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a major public health challenge in Brazil. We assessed the relationship between symptomatic dengue infection during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in the country between 2007 and 2013. METHODS: We did a retrospective observational cohort study using information reported in the Brazilian national reportable disease information system (SINAN) and the livebirth information system (SINASC) databases. We probabilistically linked confirmed dengue-positive and dengue-negative pregnancies with live childbirths using Fine-Grained Record Integration and Linkage (FRIL) software. We also included an external reference population of randomly selected newborn babies. Pregnancy was adopted as the unit of analysis. We assessed the relationship between symptomatic dengue infection during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for relevant covariates. FINDINGS: 3898 dengue-positive pregnant women, 3165 dengue-negative women, and 3898 newborn babies from the reference population were included in the analysis. Preterm birth occurred in 322 (8·4%) of 3821 cases in the dengue-positive group versus 324 (10·4%) of 3101 in the dengue-negative group (unadjusted analysis: relative risk [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·70-0·93; adjusted analysis: odds ratio [OR] 1·26, 95% CI 1·06-1·49, p=0·006) and 349 (9·1%) of 3818 in the reference population (RR 0·92, 0·80-1·07; OR 0·98, 0·83-1·16, p=0·84). The prevalence of low birthweight (<2500 g) was similar for dengue-positive women and dengue-negative women (8·3% [322 of 3897] vs 9·8% [310 of 3163]; OR 1·17, 95% CI 0·99-1·39, p=0·07), and in the reference population (8·3% vs 9·0% [350 of 3895]; OR 1·00, 0·85-1·17, p=0·97). The prevalence of malformations did not differ significantly for the dengue-positive group (27 [0·7%] of 3789) versus the dengue-negative group (27 [0·9%] of 3059, p=0·51) or versus the reference population (32 [0·9%] of 3738, p=0·56). INTERPRETATION: In the adjusted analysis, the risk of preterm birth seems to be increased in women with symptomatic dengue infection during pregnancy. However, symptomatic dengue infection during pregnancy does not appear to be associated with congenital malformations or low birthweight. FUNDING: Sanofi Pasteur.

Development of data for the identification and characterization of proteins found in Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma lecticularia and Panstrongylus herreri.

The data presented here were obtained from the saliva of three triatominae, Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma lecticularia and Panstrongylus herreri from Montandon et al. study, doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.02.009 [3]. These data were obtained from spectra generated by the mass spectrometry of proteins observed through the analysis of 2-D electrophoretic profiles. The data were analyzed according to the UniProt code, protein name, protein group, isoelectric point and molecular weight, electrophoretic profile, molecular mass referring to UniProt, volume percentage referring to the spot of the electrophoretic profile, number of peptides and percent coverage found by mass spectrometry related to the particular proteins. In addition, there characterizations made the most significant protein per spot, and also characterizations made for biological processes and molecular functions for all identified proteins.

Efeito da ingestão da polpa de manga (Mangifera indica L. ) sobre os parâmetros bioquímicos séricos e integridade hepática em ratos / Effect of mango (Mangifera indica L. ) pulp ingestion on serum biochemical parameters and liver integrity in rats

O: Antioxidantes presentes em frutas e hortaliças contribuem para a redução de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. A manga (Mangifera indica L.) destaca-se por ser fonte de ácido ascórbico, carotenóides e compostos fenólicos que apresentam grande potencial antioxidante. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, em ratos Wistar, o efeito da ingestão, por 25 dias, de dietas com 3% e 10% de polpa de manga Ubá liofilizada nos parâmetros bioquímicos séricos, nos marcadores de injúria hepática (aminotransferases e malondialdeído) e na morfologia do fígado. Os parâmetros bioquímicos foram analisados a partir de kits colorimétricos, o teor de malondialdeído obtido por meio do teste de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico e a morfologia hepática analisada a partir de cortes do tecido incluídos em parafina e corados com eosina-hematoxilina. Os resultados demonstraram que a ingestão de dieta com 3 e 10% de polpa de manga não interferiu sobre os parâmetros bioquímicos séricos. A análise do marcador de peroxidação lipídica demonstrou que os animais que receberam a dieta com 10% de polpa de manga apresentaram concentração de malondialdeído maior que os que receberam a dieta controle e polpa de manga 3%. De acordo com a histologia hepática não houve diferença entre os grupos. Portanto, os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que a suplementação da dieta com 10% de polpa de manga Ubá liofilizada pode interferir sobre o fígado, uma vez que, além de aumentar a peroxidação lipídica mostrou uma tendência em elevar as enzimas relacionadas à integridade hepática em ratos Wistar saudáveis demonstrando possível efeito pró-oxidativo.

Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables contribute to the reduction of chronic diseases. The mango (Mangifera indica L.) stands out for being a source of ascorbic acid, carotenoids and phenolic compounds that have great potential antioxidant in the body. This study aimed to evaluate in healthy Wistar rats, the intake for 25 days, of diets with 3% and 10% lyophilized pulp of mango Ubá in serum biochemical parameters, in markers of liver injury (aminotransferases and malondialdehyde) and in morphology of the liver. The serum biochemical parameters were obtained by colorimetric kits. Malondialdehyde analysis was performed using the test of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Liver morphology was analyzed from sections of tissue embedded in paraffin, stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The results showed that the ingestion of diet containing 3 and 10% of mango pulp did not affect the biochemical parameters. The analysis of lipid peroxidation marker demonstrated that the animals that received the diet with 10% of mango pulp showed concentration of malondialdehyde higher than those who received the control diet and mango pulp 3%. According to liver histology there was no significant difference between the different groups. Therefore, the results obtained in this study indicate that supplementation of the diet with 10% mango pulp lyophilized Uba can interfere with the liver, since, besides increasing lipid peroxidation showed a tendency to elevate liver enzymes related to integrity in healthy Wistar rats showing possible pro-oxidative effect.

[Effects of transdermic estrogen therapy, isolated or in association with micronized progesterone, on clotting factors in overweight or normal postmenopausal women]. / Efeitos da terapia estrogênica transdérmica isolada ou associada à progesterona micronizada nos fatores de coagulação em mulheres menopausadas com e sem sobrepeso.

To evaluate HRT action over hemostasis we treated 45 postmenopausal women, divided in: Group 1 (N= 22, hysterectomized) and Group 2 (N= 23, with uterus), at the average age of 51.6 years and average BMI of 27.1 kg/m(2), with no significant difference in the base-line, with 17beta-oestradiol, 50 mcg/day, transdermic and continuous (group 1) associated to micronized progesterone 200 mg 12 days per month (group 2). The average of 2 samples of TAP, PTT, fibrinogen and platelet number was measured monthly during 3 months. For the total sample, there was a PTT shortening along treatment, from the second evaluation on (p= 0.006). Fibrinogen in Group 2 was significantly higher than in Group 1, from the second evaluation on (p= 0.0005). Patients with BMI > 25 presented a greater TAP shortening (p= 0.040) and a smaller fibrinogen drop (p= 0.033) than patients with BMI < 25. Prothrombotic effects predominated, especially in overweight women and in those who used progesterone.

Efeitos da terapia estrogênica transdérmica isolada ou associada à progesterona micronizada nos fatores de coagulação em mulheres menopausadas com e sem sobrepeso / Effects of transdermic estrogen therapy, isolated or in association with micronized progesterone, on clotting factors in overweight or normal postmenopausal women

Analisamos efeitos da reposição hormonal sobre coagulação em 45 mulheres menopausadas, divididas em Grupo 1 (N= 22, histerectomizadas) e Grupo 2 (N= 23, menopausa espontânea), com idade média de 51,6 anos e IMC médio de 27,1 kg/m², sem diferenças significativas no basal. No grupo 1 usamos 17-beta estradiol, 50 mcg/dia, transdérmico contínuo. No grupo 2 foi associada progesterona micronizada 200 mg/dia cíclica por 12 dias. Avaliou-se mensalmente por 3 meses a média de 2 amostras de TAP, PTT, fibrinogênio e plaquetas. No grupo total houve encurtamento do PTT a partir da 2ª avaliação (p= 0,006). Fibrinogênio no grupo 2 sofreu menor queda no grupo 1 a partir da 2ª avaliação (p= 0,0005). As pacientes com IMC > 25 apresentaram maior encurtamento do TAP (p= 0,040) e menor queda do fibrinogênio (p= 0,033) do que as de IMC < 25. Efeitos pró-trombóticos predominaram, especialmente nas mulheres com sobrepeso e que usaram progesterona.