Spatial clustering, social vulnerability and risk of leprosy in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the global decline in the detection of leprosy cases, its incidence has remained unchanged in certain settings and requires the determination of the factors linked to its persistence. We examined the spatial and space-time distribution of leprosy and the influence of social vulnerability on the occurrence of the disease in an endemic area of Northeast Brazil. METHODS: We performed an ecological study of all leprosy cases reported by Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil from 2001 to 2015, to examine the association of the Social Vulnerability Index and the prevalence and persistence of leprosy among the State's municipalities. Socio-economic and leprosy surveillance information was collected from the Brazilian information systems, and a Bayesian empirical local model was used to identify fluctuations of the indicators. Spatial and space-time clusters were identified using scan spatial statistic tests and to measure the municipalities' relative risk of leprosy. RESULTS: Leprosy clusters and burden of disease had a strong statistical association with the municipalities' Social Vulnerability Index. Municipalities with a high social vulnerability had higher leprosy incidence, multibacillary leprosy and newly diagnosed cases with grade 2 disability than areas with low social vulnerability. CONCLUSION: Social vulnerability is strongly associated with leprosy transmission and maintenance of disease incidence. Leprosy control programmes should be targeted to the populations with high social vulnerability.

Typing of human and bovine Staphylococcus aureus by RAPD-PCR and ribotyping-PCR.

AIMS: To investigate genetic diversity among Staphylococcus aureus and to delineate the geographical distribution of the strains found. METHODS AND RESULTS: RAPD-PCR and ribotyping-PCR were employed for the characterization of Staph. aureus isolates from bovine and nosocomial origin. Among the strains, five to nine groups were distinguished by RAPD-PCR, depending on which primer was used, while ribotyping-PCR distinguished seven ribotypes. CONCLUSIONS, AND SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results demonstrate the genetic heterogeneity of the strains studied, and the large dissemination of some clones throughout different regions and hosts, findings that may allow the monitoring of Staph. aureus infections.

[Isolation of pathogenic bacteria in pasteurized type C milk sold in Recife City, Pernambuco, Brazil]. / Pesquisa de bactérias patogênicas em leite pasteurizado tipo C comercializado na cidade do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.

In order to improve information about the microbiological quality of the milk commercially available in the city of Recife, 250 samples of pasteurized type-C milk and 50 samples of raw milk were analyzed for Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes and verify the possible occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes. These bacteria can develop in refrigeration temperatures and are responsible for food-born diseases. Neither Y. enterocolitica nor L. monocytogenes were found in the samples analyzed. However, the presence of Y. intermedia and Y. frederiksenii was detected, these environmental species behave as opportunist pathogens. Through the methodology used for Listeria isolation, one isolate of Salmonella Montevideo was obtained from a sample of pasteurized milk and another isolated from one sample of raw milk. Besides these, several other bacteria species were found. It is likely that the large microbiota present in the samples and the procedures employed to destroy it could have hindered the isolation of Y. enterocolitica and L. monocytogenes.

Pesquisa de bactérias patogênicas em leite pasteurizado tipo C comercializado na cidade do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil / Isolation of pathogenic bacteria in pasteurized type C milk sold in Recife City, Pernambuco, Brazil

In order to improve information about the microbiological quality of the milk commercially available in the city of Recife, 250 samples of pasteurized type-C milk and 50 samples of raw milk were analyzed for Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes and verify the possible occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes. These bacteria can develop in refrigeration temperatures and are responsible for food-born diseases. Neither Y. enterocolitica nor L. monocytogenes were found in the samples analyzed. However, the presence of Y. intermedia and Y. frederiksenii was detected, these environmental species behave as opportunist pathogens. Through the methodology used for Listeria isolation, one isolate of Salmonella Montevideo was obtained from a sample of pasteurized milk and another isolated from one sample of raw milk. Besides these, several other bacteria species were found. It is likely that the large microbiota present in the samples and the procedures employed to destroy it could have hindered the isolation of Y. enterocolitica and L. monocytogenes.

Visando complementar as informações sobre a qualidade microbiológica do leite comercializado na cidade do Recife, foram analisadas 250 amostras de leite pasteurizado tipo C e 50 amostras de leite cru para a pesquisa de Yersinia enterocolitica e Listeria monocytogenes, bactérias patogênicas capazes de se desenvolverem em temperatura de refrigeração. Y. enterocolitica não foi encontrada em nenhuma das amostras analisadas, entretanto foi detectada a presença de Y. intermedia e Y. frederiksenii, espécies ambientais que se comportam como patógenos oportunistas. L. monocytogenes também não foi encontrada, mas, através da metodologia empregada para seu isolamento foi obtido um isolamento de Salmonella Montevideo em uma amostra de leite pasteurizado e outro em leite cru. Além dessas, várias outras bactérias foram encontradas, supondo-se que a ampla microbiota crescida nos meios empregados pode ter interferido no isolamento da Y. enterocolitica e L. monocytogenes.

Ausência de Yersinia enterocolitica em alimentos, e reservatórios animais, em áreas do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil / The absence of Yersinia enterocolitica in foods and animal reservoirs in areas of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Através das análises efetuadas, em 96 amostras de hortaliças cruas, coletadas em 5 restaurantes da cidade do Recife, que servem almoço no peso, não foram encontradas Yersinia enterocolitica nem outras enterobactérias patogênicas. As análises realizadas a partir dos "swabs" orais e retais, obtidos em 15 suínos aparentemente sadios do município de Bonito, no Estado de Pernambuco, também não evidenciaram a presença de Y. enterocolitica. Foram obtidas amostras para análises em 22 roedores e um espécimen de marsupial, entre os quais também não foram encontrados nem Y. enterocolitica nem outros enteropatógenos.

A search for the presence of enteropathogenic bacteria in fresh vegetables obtained in 5 restaurants from the city of Recife, revealed neither Yersinia enterocolitica nor other pathogenic bacteria in 96 samples analyzed. Furthermore, Y. enterocolitica was not found in the oral and rectal swabs taken from 15 apparently healthy pigs at an abattoir in the municipality of Bonito in the Pernambuco State. Another search in which twenty one rodents from four species and one marsupial specimen were examined did not detect the presence of Yersinia and other enteropathogenic bacteria.

[The absence of Yersinia enterocolitica in foods and animal reservoirs in areas of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil]. / Ausência de Yersinia enterocolitica em alimentos, e reservatórios animais, em áreas do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil.

A search for the presence of enteropathogenic bacteria in fresh vegetables obtained in 5 restaurants from the city of Recife, revealed neither Yersinia enterocolitica nor other pathogenic bacteria in 96 samples analyzed. Furthermore, Y. enterocolitica was not found in the oral and rectal swabs taken from 15 apparently healthy pigs at an abattoir in the municipality of Bonito in the Pernambuco State. Another search in which twenty one rodents from four species and one marsupial specimen were examined did not detect the presence of Yersinia and other enteropathogenic bacteria.