Establishment and application of an indirect ELISA for Getah virus E2 antibody detection.

Getah virus (GETV) is a mosquito-transmitted disease that affects animals, causing fever, aseptic meningitis, and abortion. Its prevalence in China poses risks to both animal health and public well-being. Currently, there is a scarcity of seroepidemiological data on GETV due to the absence of commercial antibody detection kits for pigs. The aim of this study is to develop a rapid, accurate, and sensitive ELISA, providing a reliable tool for GETV seroepidemiology and laying the foundation for future commercial assay development. In this study, we removed specific hydrophobic domains and intracellular structures from E2 proteins and constructed the recombinant plasmid pCold-TF-E2. The recombinant protein was expressed using a prokaryotic expression system, and efficient purification of the rE2 protein was achieved using a nickel affinity column. The purified rE2 protein is suitable for the development of an indirect ELISA (rE2 ELISA). Following the optimization of reaction conditions for the rE2-ELISA, the cut-off value was 0.356. Additionally, the rE2-ELISA method showed a positive rate of 37.1% for IgG antibodies against GETV when testing 986 pig clinical serum samples collected from pigs in Sichuan between May 2022 and September 2022. The rE2-ELISA method displayed a 95.1% overall agreement with VNT, boasting a sensitivity of 98.2% and a specificity of 92.6%. These results indicate that IgG ELISA based on rE2 protein is an efficient and economical method for the detection of GETV antibodies in pigs, facilitating the diagnosis and prevention of GETV.

Seroprevalence of Specific SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies during Omicron BA.5 Wave, Portugal, April-June 2022.

After the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 Omicron lineage in Portugal, we developed a seroepidemiologic survey based on a sample of 3,825 residents. Results indicated that from April 27 through June 8, 2022, the estimated seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid or spike IgG was 95.8%, which indicates a high level of protection.

Serological Searching for Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Pig Liver Transudate from Bulgaria: An Alternative Method for Seroepidemiological Survey.

Background: The aim of this research was to perform a seroepidemiological survey of hepatitis E virus (HEV) by an alternative method-serological establishment of the virus from pig liver transudate. This is the first such research in Bulgaria. Moreover, no studies have been conducted on HEV in pig liver in our country. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 liver samples from healthy pigs were collected from slaughterhouses in three parts of the country (Sofia, Lovech, and Stara Zagora districts). An equal number of samples (n = 30) were obtained from each district. Results: The overall HEV seropositivity was 67.7% of all 90 tested pig liver transudate samples; in Sofia district 20.0%, in Lovech district 90.0%, and in Stara Zagora district 93.3%. Conclusion: These data are similar to our previous serological studies for HEV in serum samples from industrial pigs, wild boars, and East Balkan swine. In this regard, testing the liver transudate could be a fine alternative method for seroepidemiological survey on HEV in swine.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Portugal following the third epidemic wave: results of the second National Serological Survey (ISN2COVID-19).

BACKGROUND: Integrated approaches to surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are important for public health actions. The 2nd National Serological Survey (ISN2COVID-19) aimed to characterize the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine-induced response in the Portuguese population following the third epidemic wave and the launch of the vaccination campaign. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using data on 8463 Portuguese 1-79 years of age, collected in February and March, 2021. SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG (anti-nucleoprotein and anti-spike) antibodies were determined in serum samples using Abbott Architect chemiluminescent microparticle assays. Post-infection and vaccine-induced seroprevalence with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated in the overall sample and stratified by population characteristics. RESULTS: The estimated seroprevalence was 15.5% (95%CI:14.6-16.5%), of which 13.5% (95%CI: 12.6-14.4%) was attributable to natural infection and 2.0% (95%CI:1.7-2.4%) to vaccination. The lowest seroprevelence was observed in persons aged 70-79 years (8.9% 95%CI:6.8-11.6), while seroprevalence in children (14.3%; 95%CI:11.5-17.6%) and adolescents (12.9%; 95%CI:10.5-15.7%) was similar to that of persons aged between 20 and 69 years. Of seropositive individuals, 22.6% (95%CI:19.7-25.9%) did not report any symptoms in 6 months prior to interview. Of persons with completed vaccination (2-doses), 98.6% (95%CI: 93.0-99.7%) had specific IgG (anti-S) antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: After the third epidemic wave, the post-infection SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 1.7 times higher than the cumulative incidence based on PCR-testing, but was higher (2.7 times) in children may be due to the high proportion of asymptomatic and mild infections.

COVID-19 seroepidemiological survey among healthcare workers in the City of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) serology testing evaluates the prevalence of COVID-19 cases. Methods: A seroepidemiological survey of COVID-19 among healthcare workers was performed (June 2020 to November 2020) in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Overall, 10,172 and 2,129 workers participated in the first and second phases, respectively. Results: First phase: 12.7% tested positive for COVID-19 (73.5% females and 35.2% aged 30-39 years), and 29.6% were nursing technicians. Second phase: 12.1% tested positive for COVID-19 (65.5% females and 33.3% aged 40-49 years), and 24.8% were nursing assistants. Conclusions: In 2020, healthcare workers in Ribeirão Preto had COVID-19 in a similar way.

[Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infections in patients with diabetes mellitus in Hangzhou City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infections among patients with diabetes mellitus in Hangzhou City. METHODS: A total of 337 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, 624 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 384 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus living in Hangzhou City during the period from March 2017 through May 2020 were recruited as the study subjects, while age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers and pregnant women without gestational diabetes mellitus served as controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect serum IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii in patients with diabetes mellitus and controls, and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody was compared between diabetes mellitus patients and controls. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody (18.10% vs. 4.45%, χ2 = 31.38, P < 0.01) and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (14.54% vs. 2.97%, χ2 = 28.28, P < 0.01) were both significantly higher in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus than in healthy controls, while no significant difference was seen in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between patients and controls (3.56% vs. 1.48%, χ2 = 2.96, P > 0.05). The seroprevalence rates of serum anti-T. gondii (23.56% vs. 6.57%, χ2 = 70.37, P < 0.01) and anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (21.15% vs. 5.45%, χ2 = 66.73, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus than in healthy controls, while no significant difference was seen in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between patients and controls (2.40% vs. 1.12%, χ2 = 2.96, P > 0.05). In addition, the overall seroprevalence of serum anti-T. gondii antibody (26.30% vs. 19.53%, χ2 = 4.98, P < 0.05) and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (23.70% vs. 17.71%, χ2 = 4.20, P < 0.05) were both significantly higher in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus than in pregnant women without gestational diabetes mellitus, while no significant difference was seen in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (2.60% vs. 1.82%, χ2 = 0.54, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with diabetes mellitus present a higher seroprevalence rate of anti-T. gondii antibody than controls in Hangzhou City. Screening of T. gondii infections and health education pertaining to toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge should be reinforced in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of a New Biosensors-Based Rapid Diagnostic Test for the Point-Of-Care Diagnosis of Previous and Recent Dengue Infections in Malaysia.

Dengue is a major threat to public health globally. While point-of-care diagnosis of acute/recent dengue is available to reduce its mortality, a lack of rapid and accurate testing for the detection of previous dengue remains a hurdle in expanding dengue seroepidemiological surveys to inform its prevention, especially vaccination, to reduce dengue morbidity. This study evaluated ViroTrack Dengue Serostate, a biosensors-based semi-quantitative anti-dengue IgG (immunoglobulin G) immuno-magnetic agglutination assay for the diagnosis of previous and recent dengue in a single test. Blood samples were obtained from 484 healthy participants recruited randomly from two communities in Petaling district, Selangor, Malaysia. The reference tests were Panbio Dengue IgG indirect and capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, in-house hemagglutination inhibition assay, and focus reduction neutralization test. Dengue Serostate had a sensitivity and specificity of 91.1% (95%CI 87.8-93.8) and 91.1% (95%CI 83.8-95.8) for the diagnosis of previous dengue, and 90.2% (95%CI 76.9-97.3) and 93.2% (95%CI 90.5-95.4) for the diagnosis of recent dengue, respectively. Its positive predictive value of 97.5% (95%CI 95.3-98.8) would prevent most dengue-naïve individuals from being vaccinated. ViroTrack Dengue Serostate's good point-of-care diagnostic accuracy can ease the conduct of dengue serosurveys to inform dengue vaccination strategy and facilitate pre-vaccination screening to ensure safety.

Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infections in patients with diabetes mellitus in Hangzhou City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infections among patients with diabetes mellitus in Hangzhou City. Methods A total of 337 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, 624 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 384 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus living in Hangzhou City during the period from March 2017 through May 2020 were recruited as the study subjects, while age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers and pregnant women without gestational diabetes mellitus served as controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect serum IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii in patients with diabetes mellitus and controls, and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody was compared between diabetes mellitus patients and controls. Results The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody (18.10% vs. 4.45%, χ2 = 31.38, P < 0.01) and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (14.54% vs. 2.97%, χ2 = 28.28, P < 0.01) were both significantly higher in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus than in healthy controls, while no significant difference was seen in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between patients and controls (3.56% vs. 1.48%, χ2 = 2.96, P > 0.05). The seroprevalence rates of serum anti-T. gondii (23.56% vs. 6.57%, χ2 = 70.37, P < 0.01) and anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (21.15% vs. 5.45%, χ2 = 66.73, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus than in healthy controls, while no significant difference was seen in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between patients and controls (2.40% vs. 1.12%, χ2 = 2.96, P > 0.05). In addition, the overall seroprevalence of serum anti-T. gondii antibody (26.30% vs. 19.53%, χ2 = 4.98, P < 0.05) and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (23.70% vs. 17.71%, χ2 = 4.20, P < 0.05) were both significantly higher in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus than in pregnant women without gestational diabetes mellitus, while no significant difference was seen in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (2.60% vs. 1.82%, χ2 = 0.54, P > 0.05). Conclusions The patients with diabetes mellitus present a higher seroprevalence rate of anti-T. gondii antibody than controls in Hangzhou City. Screening of T. gondii infections and health education pertaining to toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge should be reinforced in patients with diabetes mellitus.

[Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors, so as to provide the evidence for the control of T. gondii infections in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. METHODS: A total of 327 patients with gynecological malignant tumors were recruited, and 200 women with normal healthy examinations were served as controls. The serum anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by using ELISA, and the seroprevalence was compared between the patients and controls, and among various types of cancers. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 26.91% (88/327) in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors, which was significantly higher than that (5.00%) in the healthy volunteers (χ2 = 39.36, P<0.01) . The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in the cancer patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (26.30% vs. 5.00%; χ2 = 37.79, P<0.01), while the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody in the cancer patients was not significantly different from that in the controls (0.92% vs. 0; corrected χ2 = 0.58, P > 0.01) . The positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody were 27.68%, 25.47% and 25.69% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer patients respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the controls (χ2 = 32.35, 27.32 and 28.00; all P values<0.01); however, there was no significant difference among the various types of cancer patients in the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (χ2 = 0.17, P > 0.05) . In addition, the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody were 1.79%, 0 and 0.92% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer patients respectively, which was not significantly different from those in the controls (all P values > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection is high in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. It is suggested that the prevention and control of T. gondii infection should be strengthened in these patients.

Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors, so as to provide the evidence for the control of T. gondii infections in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. Methods A total of 327 patients with gynecological malignant tumors were recruited, and 200 women with normal healthy examinations were served as controls. The serum anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by using ELISA, and the seroprevalence was compared between the patients and controls, and among various types of cancers. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 26.91% (88/327) in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors, which was significantly higher than that (5.00%) in the healthy volunteers (χ2 = 39.36, P<0.01) . The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in the cancer patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (26.30% vs. 5.00%; χ2 = 37.79, P<0.01), while the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody in the cancer patients was not significantly different from that in the controls (0.92% vs. 0; corrected χ2 = 0.58, P > 0.01) . The positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody were 27.68%, 25.47% and 25.69% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer patients respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the controls (χ2 = 32.35, 27.32 and 28.00; all P values<0.01); however, there was no significant difference among the various types of cancer patients in the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (χ2 = 0.17, P > 0.05) . In addition, the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody were 1.79%, 0 and 0.92% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer patients respectively, which was not significantly different from those in the controls (all P values > 0.05). Conclusions The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection is high in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. It is suggested that the prevention and control of T. gondii infection should be strengthened in these patients.

The prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed hepatitis C virus infection in Navarra, Spain, 2014-2016. / Estimación de la prevalencia de infección diagnosticada y no diagnosticada por el virus de la hepatitis C en Navarra, 2014-2016.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Navarra, Spain, as well as to distinguish between diagnosed and undiagnosed infections. METHODS: A study was conducted on patients scheduled for surgery unrelated to HCV infection. They were all tested for HCV antibodies, under a routine scheme, from January 2014 to September 2016. Patients with a positive result by enzyme immunoassay were confirmed using immunoblot and/or HCV-RNA. Previous laboratory results were also taken into account. The prevalence was adjusted to the sex and age structure of the Navarra population. RESULTS: The study included a total of 7,378 patients with a median age 46 years, of whom 50% women. HCV antibodies were detected in 69 patients, which is a prevalence in the population of 0.83% (95% confidence interval: 0.64-1.05), and was higher in men (1.11%) than in women (0.56%; P=.0102). Among the HCV positive patients, 67 (97%) had had another previous positive result. Population prevalence of previous positive HCV was 0.80%, and was 0.03% for a new diagnosis. Of the HCV positive patients, 78% had detectable HCV-RNA. It was estimated that 0.65% of the population had had detectable HCV-RNA, and 0.51% continued to have it when recruited into the study. CONCLUSION: Previous estimates of prevalence of HCV infection should be revised downwards. Only a small proportion of HCV positive patients remain undiagnosed, and only a small part have active infection.

[Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection among employees in a pork food processing enterprise].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the situation of seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among employees in a pork food processing enterprise in Dongtai City. METHODS: Totally 200 employees from a pork food processing enterprise in Dongtai City were selected as the research objects. The venous blood of the selected population was extracted and the IgG antibody against T. gondii in serum was detected by ELISA, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 200 employees, 36 cases were positive in IgG antibody detection, the positive rate was 18.0%. The positive rate of IgG antibody among workers with different length of service was significantly different (χ2 = 9.813, P < 0.05). With the increase of working age, the positive rate of IgG antibody gradually increased. The positive rate of IgG antibody to T. gondii was significantly higher in the population who had frequent contact with animals. CONCLUSIONS: The positive rate of IgG antibody against T. gondii in employees in pork food processing enterprises is high. Therefore, the detection of antibodies against T. gondii and health education should be strengthened in this population.

Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection among employees in a pork food processing enterprise / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the situation of seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among employees in a pork food processing enterprise in Dongtai City. Methods Totally 200 employees from a pork food processing enterprise in Dongtai City were selected as the research objects. The venous blood of the selected population was extracted and the IgG antibody against T. gondii in serum was detected by ELISA, and the results were analyzed. Results Among the 200 employees, 36 cases were positive in IgG antibody detection, the positive rate was 18.0%. The positive rate of IgG antibody among workers with different length of service was significantly different (χ2 = 9.813, P < 0.05). With the increase of working age, the positive rate of IgG antibody gradually increased. The positive rate of IgG antibody to T. gondii was significantly higher in the population who had frequent contact with animals. Conclusions The positive rate of IgG antibody against T. gondii in employees in pork food processing enterprises is high. Therefore, the detection of antibodies against T. gondii and health education should be strengthened in this population.

Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors, so as to provide the evidence for the control of T. gondii infections in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. Methods A total of 327 patients with gynecological malignant tumors were recruited, and 200 women with normal healthy examinations were served as controls. The serum anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by using ELISA, and the seroprevalence was compared between the patients and controls, and among various types of cancers. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 26.91% (88/327) in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors, which was significantly higher than that (5.00%) in the healthy volunteers (χ2 = 39.36, P<0.01) . The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in the cancer patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (26.30% vs. 5.00%; χ2 = 37.79, P<0.01), while the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody in the cancer patients was not significantly different from that in the controls (0.92% vs. 0; corrected χ2 = 0.58, P > 0.01) . The positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody were 27.68%, 25.47% and 25.69% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer patients respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the controls (χ2 = 32.35, 27.32 and 28.00; all P values<0.01); however, there was no significant difference among the various types of cancer patients in the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (χ2 = 0.17, P > 0.05) . In addition, the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody were 1.79%, 0 and 0.92% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer patients respectively, which was not significantly different from those in the controls (all P values > 0.05). Conclusions The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection is high in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. It is suggested that the prevention and control of T. gondii infection should be strengthened in these patients.

Seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection among employees in a pork food processing enterprise / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the situation of seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among employees in a pork food processing enterprise in Dongtai City. Methods Totally 200 employees from a pork food processing enterprise in Dongtai City were selected as the research objects. The venous blood of the selected population was extracted and the IgG antibody against T. gondii in serum was detected by ELISA, and the results were analyzed. Results Among the 200 employees, 36 cases were positive in IgG antibody detection, the positive rate was 18.0%. The positive rate of IgG antibody among workers with different length of service was significantly different (χ2 = 9.813, P < 0.05). With the increase of working age, the positive rate of IgG antibody gradually increased. The positive rate of IgG antibody to T. gondii was significantly higher in the population who had frequent contact with animals. Conclusions The positive rate of IgG antibody against T. gondii in employees in pork food processing enterprises is high. Therefore, the detection of antibodies against T. gondii and health education should be strengthened in this population.

Serological Survey for Canine Parvovirus Type 2a (CPV-2a) in the Stray Dogs in South Korea

Canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) is one of the major diarrhea-causing agents, inducing acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in puppies. In this study, we conducted a seroepidemiological survey of CPV-2a in stray dogs in South Korea. In total, 405 canine sera, collected between 2006 and 2007, were screened for the presence of antibodies against CPV-2a using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The positive rate in stray dogs tested for CPV-2a was 93.8%. The regional CPV-2a prevalence was 100% (8/8) in Jeju, 95.1% (232/244) in Gyeonggi, 94.7% (36/38) in Jeonra, 92.9% (13/14) in Gangwon, 92.7% (38/41) in Chungcheong, and 88.3% (53/60) in Gyeungsang province. No significant difference in the seropositive rate was found between male (93.6%) and female (94.0%) dogs. Analysis of the distribution of HI titer against CPV-2a according to the age of the stray dogs showed a linear increase in seroprevalence with age, although the association with age was not statistically significant. The incidence of stray dogs showing an HI antibody titer above 1:5120 was estimated to be 26.2%. Thus, the presence of high HI antibody against CPV-2a may indicate circulation of CPV-2a in stray dogs.

Epidemiological study on leishmaniasis in an area of environmental tourism and ecotourism, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, 2006-2007 / Estudo epidemiológico das leishmanioses em área de turismo ambiental e ecoturismo, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, 2006-2007

The aims of this study were to carry out a serological survey of canine leishmaniasis and identify the phlebotomine fauna in the urban area of Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul. The serological survey was conducted on a sample of 303 dogs, by means of the indirect immunofluorescence test. Phlebotomines were captured using automated light traps. The serological survey found that 30 percent of the dogs were seropositive, both from the center and from all districts of the town. A total of 2,772 specimens of phlebotomines were caught and the species most found was Lutzomyia longipalpis (90.4 percent), which corroborated its role as the vector of for canine visceral leishmaniasis in the region. Phlebotomines of the species Bichromomyia flaviscutellata (the main vector for Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis) and Nyssomyia whitmani (the vector for Leishmania (Viannia) brasiliensis) were also caught. The findings indicate the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance, with attention towards diminishing the vector breeding sites and the transmission of these diseases in that region.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo proceder ao levantamento sorológico para leishmanioses em cães e identificar a fauna flebotomínea da zona urbana de Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul. O inquérito sorológico foi realizado em amostras de 303 cães com a utilização da reação de imunofluorescência indireta. As capturas de flebotomíneos realizaram-se com armadilhas automáticas luminosas. O inquérito sorológico identificou 30 por cento cães reagentes procedentes do centro e de todos os bairros da cidade. Foram capturados 2,772 exemplares de flebotomineos, sendo a espécie mais freqüente foi Lutzomyia longipalpis (90.4 por cento), o que corrobora o seu papel de vetora de leishmaniose visceral canina na região. Foram capturados, também, flebotomíneos da espécie Bichromomyia flaviscutellata, principal vetora da Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, e Nyssomyia whitmani, vetora da Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Os achados indicam a necessidade de uma contínua vigilância epidemiológica, atentando para a diminuição dos criadouros dos vetores e da transmissão desses agravos naquela região.

Seroepidemiological Survey of Hantaan Virus Infection in Sera of Patients at the Kangnam St. Mary Hospital in Korea from 1998 to 2002

Sera of patients visited at the Kangnam St. Mary Hospital in Seoul were collected randomly at the Department of Clinicopathology from January, 1998 to December, 2002. Specimens were collected two twice a month, in a 15-day interval, and 100 specimens were collected at a time. Specimens test in duplicate, and/or displaying antinuclear antibody reaction were excluded from the seroepidemiological analyses. Detection of antibodies to Hantaan virus, an etiologic agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), was done by indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) technique. Out of 11,361 sera tested, 445 cases (3.9%) showed specific antibody to Hantaan virus. Sexual difference was not noted. Annual incidence of HFRS cases showed a 3 year-periodicity. In the monthly incidence analysis, two peaks of incidence were appeared in the male cases, the first peak in March and the second in August. Female cases showed a single peak in October. The age distribution showed that 64.9% of the sero-positive cases were from 40 to 69 years of age. Peak age-group was in the 6th decade. Each decade of age-group showed diverse patterns of annual and monthly incidences. These results suggest the incidence of HFRS shows a periodicity and a unique pattern in each age group.

Dengue infection in Paracambi, State of Rio de Janeiro, 1990-1995

Um inquérito soroepidemiológico foi realizado em uma amostra de escolares, em 1994, no município de Paracambi, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Positividade do teste de Inibição da Hemaglutinação foi detectada em 39,2% (145/370) dos escolares pesquisados. A freqüência de positividade foi de 53,8% (78/145) para o sexo feminino e de 46,2% (67/145) para o sexo masculino. A distribuição por faixa etária mostrou uma positividade crescente com o aumento da idade. Cepas do vírus dengue tipo 1 e vírus dengue tipo 2 foram isoladas anteriormente (1990), mostrando a co-circulação de ambos os sorotipos na área. Os índices de infestação predial pelo Aedes aegypti e pelo Aedes albopictus foram determinados.

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out during 1994 in the municipality of Paracambi, state of Rio de Janeiro. Haemagglutination inhibition test positivity was detected in 145 out of 370 (39.2%) schoolchildren. The frequency of positive test by sex was 53.8% (78/145) female and 46.2% (67/145) male. Distribution by age showed the increasing of antibody positivity in older children. Strains of dengue virus type 1 and dengue virus type 2 were isolated before (1990) showing the co-circulation of both serotypes in that area. The house index infestation of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti has been determined.