Respiratory syncytial virus epidemic periods in an equatorial city of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Characterization of the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) season at the local level has important implications for appropriate decisions on the time period for administration of specific prophylaxis. OBJECTIVES: (1) To describe five consecutive epidemic periods of HRSV in an equatorial city of Brazil and (2) to show preliminary data on genomic diversity of circulating HRSV. PATIENTS/METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates of 2885 children attending the emergency room and wards of a public hospital were collected and screened by indirect immunofluorescence for HRSV infections during five consecutive years (from January 2004 to December 2008). In addition, the genetic and antigenic variability of the HRSV strains isolated was evaluated by partial nucleotide sequencing of the protein G gene. RESULTS: HRSV was detected in 15·8% of the analyzed samples. HRSV seasons occurred in a restricted period of each year. The onset of each HRSV season was variable (February to May), but the end always occurred in July. From the 456 HRSV infections found, 86 cases with bronchiolitis were genotyped. Both HRSV subgroups (A and B) cocirculated during the five epidemic periods. The 58 HRSV-A strains grouped into two clades, GA2 and GA5. In respect of the HRSV-B strains, the 28 samples grouped into two clades: GB3 and BA. CONCLUSIONS: HRSV accounts for a substantial proportion of ARI in the study population. As in temperate countries, HRSV infections in this equatorial area of Brazil also cause seasonal yearly epidemics, and this has implications for prophylaxis strategies. The city of Fortaleza follows the same worldwide trend of circulation of genotypes of HRSV.

Glucose and lactose as cryoprotectants for fungal strains immobilised in sodium alginate: an emphasis on the conservation of the zygomycetes Rhizopus and Mucor.

This research aimed at investigating the cryoprotectant action of glucose and lactose on strains of Malassezia spp. and zygomycetes immobilised in sodium alginate. Twelve strains of Malassezia spp. (nine M. furfur, two M. globosa and one M. sympodialis) and 12 zygomycetes (five Rhizopus oryzae and seven Mucor hiemales) were immobilised in sodium alginate, within plastic beads, maintained in appropriate media containing glucose and lactose at concentrations of 9% and 23% and preserved at temperatures of -20 and -80 °C. Strain viability was evaluated from 15 to 270 days of storage, through the observation of macro-micromorphologic characteristics. The Malassezia spp. strains were only viable until 90 days of storage, whereas for zygomycetes, viable strains were observed until after 270 days of storage at -80 °C, in the media containing 23% glucose or lactose. The use of 23% glucose or lactose at -80 °C in a sodium alginate cell immobilisation system is efficient for cryopreserving zygomycetes. This research creates perspectives for the use of glucose and lactose in sodium alginate cell immobilisation systems for the preservation of fungi with low viability.

Evaluation of the genetic diversity of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum isolates from north-eastern Brazil.

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of histoplasmosis cases in Ceará, a state in north-east Brazil. The lack of epidemiological data on the genotypes circulating in the north-east region shows the importance of more detailed studies on the molecular epidemiology of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum in this region. Different molecular techniques have been used to better characterize the genetic profile of H. capsulatum var. capsulatum strains. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic diversity of H. capsulatum var. capsulatum isolates in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará, through the sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1-5.8S-ITS2 region, and establish the molecular profile of these isolates, along with strains from south-east Brazil, by RAPD analysis, featuring the different clusters in those regions. The isolates were grouped into two clusters. Cluster 1 included strains from the south-east and north-east regions with separation of isolates into three distinct subgroups (subgroups 1a, 1b and 1c). Cluster 2 included only samples from north-east Brazil. Sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region allowed the detection of two major clades, which showed geographical correlation between them and their subgroups. Therefore, it can be concluded that the H. capsulatum var. capsulatum isolates from Ceará have a high degree of genetic polymorphism. The molecular data also confirm that populations of this fungus are composed of different genotypes in Brazil and worldwide.

Clinical-epidemiological features of 13 cases of melioidosis in Brazil.

The aim of this work was to catalog the clinical and ecoepidemiological characteristics of melioidosis in Brazil. The clinical-epidemiological features of melioidosis in Ceará are similar to those in other regions where the disease is endemic. These findings support the inclusion of this Brazilian state as part of the zone of endemicity for melioidosis.