Efficacy of Brucella abortus S19 and RB51 vaccine strains: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to recalculate the efficacy of Brucella abortus S19 and RB51 vaccine strains and discuss the main variables associated with controlled trials to evaluate bovine brucellosis vaccine efficacy (VE). The most commonly used vaccine strain was S19, at a dose of 1010 colony forming units (CFU), followed by RB51 at 1010 CFU. The most commonly used challenge strain was B. abortus 2308, at a dose of 107 CFU, by the intraconjunctival route. Regarding the meta-analysis, trials were grouped according to the vaccine strain and dose to recalculate protection against abortion (four groups) or infection (five groups) using pooled risk ratio (RR) and VE. Regarding protection against abortion (n = 15 trials), the S19 vaccine at 109 CFU exhibited the highest protection rate (RR = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) : 0.12-0.52; VE = 75.09%, 95% CI: 48.08-88.05), followed by RB51 at 1010 CFU (RR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.61; VE = 69.25%, 95% CI: 39.48-84.38). Regarding protection against infection (n = 23 trials), only two subgroups exhibited significant protection: S19 at 109 CFU (RR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.14-0.55; VE = 72.03%, 95% CI: 57.70- 81.50) and RB51 at 1010 CFU (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22-0.84; VE = 57.05%, 95% CI: 30.90-73.30). In conclusion, our results suggest that a dose of 109 CFU for S19 and 1010 CFU for RB51 are the most suitable for the prevention of abortion and infection caused by B. abortus.

Biochemical markers and anthropometric profile of children enrolled in public daycare centers.

OBJECTIVE: The nutritional status resultant from dietary habits along with socioeconomic conditions and the school environment are directly related to the individual's health condition not only in their childhood but also throughout adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of socioeconomic factors on the anthropometric profile and to analyze a probable association between this profile and biochemical markers in children attending public daycare centers. METHODS: It is a transversal study developed in a probability sample of clusters of children from 6 months to 5 years old. Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were gathered at the CMEIs, questionnaires on the nutritional status were applied and blood was collected at the Family Health Units (USFs). RESULTS: Female children are three times more likely to be underweight; in families with five members, it is 1/3 more likely that children of higher-educated parents are overweight. Among the results of the biochemical tests, hypervitaminosis A was a relevant aspect, positively correlating with copper (p=0.005) and zinc (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Therefore, since the influence of the family is an important predictor of overweight and its future outcomes related to nutritional deficiencies and inadequate dietary intake, educational interventions are vital as a way to pave the path to prevention.

Accidental exposure to Brucella abortus vaccines and occupational brucellosis among veterinarians in Minas Gerais state, Brazil.

Brucellosis is an important occupational disease, mainly among veterinarians, because of their frequent contact with sick animals, contaminated secretions and live attenuated anti-Brucella vaccines. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of accidental exposure to S19 and RB51 vaccine strains and occupational brucellosis among veterinarians registered to administer vaccinations in Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with accidental exposure to anti-Brucella abortus vaccines. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Three hundred and twenty-nine veterinarians were included in the analyses using stratified random sampling. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictors of accidental exposure to S19 and RB51 strains. Nearly one third of the veterinarians registered to administer bovine brucellosis vaccination in Minas Gerais, 32.83% (108/329) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.78-38.19%), reported having been accidentally exposed to S19 or RB51 vaccine strains. The exposure factors associated with this outcome included a score of personnel protective equipment (PPE) use during work (odds ratio [OR], 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89-0.98) and a score of knowledge about brucellosis symptoms, classified as poor (base category), intermediate (OR, 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07-0.87) or good (OR, 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.62). In addition, 4.56% (15/329) (95% CI: 2.57-7.41%) of veterinarians reported that they had brucellosis, of which 46.67% (7/15) considered that the disease was due to accidental exposure to anti-B. abortus live attenuated vaccine. The prevalence of accidental exposure to B. abortus vaccine strains among veterinarians from Minas Gerais enrolled in the control of bovine brucellosis was high. The reduced knowledge about human brucellosis symptoms and lack of appropriate PPE use were risk factors from unintentional contact with S19 and RB51 vaccine strains.

Endocrine cells producing peptide hormones in the intestine of Nile tilapia: distribution and effects of feeding and fasting on the cell density.

Endocrine cells (ECs) act as a luminal surveillance system responding to either the presence or absence of food in the gut through the secretion of peptide hormones. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of feeding and fasting on the EC peptide-specific distribution along the intestine of Nile tilapia. We assessed the density of ECs producing gastrin (GAS), cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in nine segments of the intestine using immunohistochemistry. Our results show that ECs immunoreactive to CCK-8, GAS, NPY, and CGRP can be found along all the intestinal segments sampled, from the midgut to hindgut, although differences in their distribution along the gut were observed. Regarding nutrient status, we found that the anterior segments of the midgut seem to be the main site responding to luminal changes in Nile tilapia. The NPY+ and CGRP+ EC densities increased in the fasted group, while the amount of CCK-8+ ECs were higher in the fed group. No effects of fasting or feeding were found in the GAS+ EC densities. Changes in ECs density were found only at the anterior segments of the intestine which may be due to the correlation between vagus nerve anatomy, EC location, and peptide turnover. Lastly, ECs may need to be considered an active cell subpopulation that may adapt and respond to different nutrient status as stimuli. Due to the complexity of the enteroendocrine system and its importance in fish nutrition, much remains to be elucidated and it deserves closer attention.