Insects associated with tropical foliage produced in the coffee growing region of Colombia

We conducted a survey of insects and pest management practices on 34 farms growing ornamental tropical foliage plants in the central coffee region of Colombia over two years. Tropical foliage provided habitat for a diverse range of insects. In total, phytophagous or detritivorous insects from six orders, 40 families and 62 genera were collected. The most common were Hemiptera (29 genera from 16 families), followed by Coleoptera (17 genera from 4 families), Diptera (5 genera from 5 families), Lepidoptera (5 genera from 4 families), Hymenoptera (3 genera from 2 families) and Orthoptera (2 genera from 2 families). The most common phytophagous species were leaf cutting ants (Atta and Acromyrmex spp.), leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), stinkbugs (Pentatomidae), squash bugs (Coreidae), tree hoppers (Membracidae) and plant hoppers (Fulgoridae). Beneficial insects identified from tropical foliage included predators and parasitoids amongst 5 orders, 12 families and 22 genera. The most abundant were predators among the Coccinellidae, Chrysopidae, Reduviidae, Lycidae and Formicidae but only low numbers of parasitoids (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae and Tachinidae) were collected. A pest management questionnaire given to growers revealed a preponderance of reliance on broad spectrum insecticides with a smaller number of growers (approximately one third) also using some biological control methods. Our survey contributes basic information regarding diversity of Neotropical insects associated with ornamental foliage plants.

Distribuição espacial da co-infecção M. tuberculosis/HIV no Estado de São Paulo, 1991-2001

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão espacial de incidência de tuberculose na epidemia de Aids, a fim de verificar a influência do espaço físico na causalidade. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos os casos de Aids notificados ao Ministério da Saúde, entre 1991 e 2001, provenientes do Estado de São Paulo. Os casos foram estratificados em municípios de residência, em regiões de saúde, em categorias de transmissão de Aids, em sexos e em anos do diagnóstico. Um modelo geoestatístico gaussiano foi usado para construir um mapa temático de risco, utilizando a incidência de tuberculose em casos de Aids como variável de resposta. RESULTADOS: A análise exploratória mostrou dois padrões de incidência de Aids: um, para a capital do Estado, e outro, com risco crescente, para os outros municípios. As regiões mais populosas estão sob maiores riscos de transmissão de tuberculose, mostrando um padrão concordante com o padrão de ocupação do território, do leste para o oeste. As regiões de saúde com os maiores coeficientes de incidência de Aids (por 10 mil habitantes) foram Santos (53,5), São José do Rio Preto (43,1), Ribeirão Preto (42,4) e São Paulo (40,3). As regiões de saúde com maiores incidências de tuberculose em casos de Aids foram Santos (44,9%), Franco da Rocha (39,9%), Osasco (39,6%) e São Paulo (38,9%). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados permitem concluir que as coordenadas geográficas estão associadas ao risco da tuberculose, mas não de Aids.

Análise geoestatística de casos de hanseníase no Estado de São Paulo, 1991-2002

OBJETIVO: Analisar o padrão espacial da ocorrência dos casos de hanseníase para identificar áreas com probabilidade de riscos de transmissão da doença. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico, tendo como unidade de análise os municípios do Estado de São Paulo georreferenciados em seus centróides. A fonte de dados utilizada foi o banco informatizado dos casos de hanseníase notificados do Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica do Estado de São Paulo, no período de 1991 a 2002. Utilizou-se de técnicas de geoestatística para a detecção das áreas de probabilidade de risco para hanseníase e quantificação da dependência espacial dos casos. RESULTADOS: Detectou-se o alcance de dependência espacial de 0,55 graus de coordenadas georreferenciadas, correspondendo aproximadamente a 60 km. As principais áreas de probabilidade de risco encontradas foram as regiões nordeste, norte e noroeste do Estado. CONCLUSÕES: A verificação de áreas com probabilidades de riscos de casos de hanseníase, utilizando-se a análise da dependência espacial, pode ser ferramenta útil para avaliar a situação de saúde e planejar alocação de recursos.

Magnitude e tendência da epidemia de Aids em municípios brasileiros de 2002-2006

OBJETIVO: Analisar o perfil epidemiológico da Aids nos municípios brasileiros entre 2002 e 2006, associando tendência e magnitude com indicadores socio- demográficos e características da epidemia local. MÉTODOS: Foi conduzido um estudo ecológico que categorizou os municípios segundo a magnitude e tendência da epidemia para, posteriormente, analisá-los de acordo com os indicadores sociais, formas de transmissão do HIV e ano de registro do primeiro caso. Os dados são provenientes do Sistema Nacional de Vigilância Epidemiológica, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística e Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento no Brasil. Utilizou-se regressão linear para estimar a tendência e estatísticas de qui-quadrado e Anova para o estudo dos indicadores. RESULTADOS: Um total de 4.190 municípios (75,3%) apresentou casos entre 2002 e 2006. Desses, 3.403 (81,2%) possuíam ocorrência de "pequena magnitude" (média = 4,7 casos), 367 (8,8%) "média magnitude" (média = 30,3 casos) e 420 (10,0%) "grande magnitude" (média = 378,7 casos). Os de "pequena magnitude" associaram-se à menor incidência, início da epidemia após 1991, existência de uma ou duas categorias de transmissão, especialmente heterossexual, com ocorrências de casos em um ou dois anos do período e menor índice de desenvolvimento humano (IDH). Os de "grande magnitude" associaram-se às cidades de maior porte e IDH, apresentaram todas as categorias de transmissão, início da epidemia entre 1980/1991 e tendência de redução/estabilização, especialmente por diminuição da transmissão entre usuários de drogas injetáveis. O crescimento da epidemia concentrou-se em cidades de "pequena magnitude", mas sem significância, a ponto de alterar a participação proporcional (8,7%) desses municípios no conjunto de casos no País. CONCLUSÕES: A epidemia de Aids permanece concentrada nos centros urbanos e a interiorização é caracterizada pela ocorrência irregular e de pequena magnitude. Municípios com baixo IDH e com transmissão exclusivamente por relações heterossexuais apresentaram baixa capacidade de crescimento e a redução da epidemia está associada especialmente à diminuição da transmissão entre usuários de drogas injetáveis.

The AIDS epidemic in the Amazon region: a spatial case-control study in Rondonia, Brazil

OBJECTIVE To analyze spatial changes in the risk of AIDS and the relationship between AIDS incidence and socioeconomic variables in the state of Rondonia, Amazon region. METHODS A spatial, population case-control study in Rondonia, Brazil, based on 1,780 cases reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance System and controls based on demographic data from 1987 to 2006. The cases were grouped into five consecutive four-year periods. A generalized additive model was adjusted to the data; the dependent variable was the status of the individuals (case or control), and the independent variables were a bi-dimensional spline of the geographic coordinates and some municipality-level socioeconomic variables. The observed values of the Moran’s I test were compared to a reference distribution of values generated under conditions of spatial randomness. RESULTS AIDS risk shows a marked spatial and temporal pattern. The disease incidence is related to socioeconomic variables at the municipal level in Rondônia, such as urbanization and human capital. The highest incidence rates of AIDS are in municipalities along the BR-364 highway and calculations of the Moran’s I test show positive spatial correlation associated with proximity of the municipality to the highway in the third and fourth periods (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Incidence of the disease is higher in municipalities of greater economic wealth and urbanization, and in those municipalities bisected by Rondônia’s main roads. The rapid development associated with the opening up of once remote regions may be accompanied by an increase in these risks to health.

Seroprevalencia de rubeola en Colombia: un análisis por cohorte de nacimiento

OBJETIVO : Estimar la seroprevalencia de rubéola y factores asociados. METODOS : Estudio de seroprevalencia poblacional con una muestra aleatoria de 2.124 individuos de seis a 64 años, representativa por edad, sexo y área en Medellín, Colombia, 2009. Se analizó la asociación de variables biológicas y socioeconómicas con la seroprotección para rubéola, según la cohorte del año de nacimiento antes (1954 a 1990) y después (1991 a 2003) del inicio de la vacunación universal. Se determinaron los títulos de IgG con pruebas de alta sensibilidad (AxSYM ® Rubella IgG – Laboratorio Abbott) y especificidad (VIDAS RUB IgG II ® – Laboratorio BioMerieux). Se estimaron proporciones y promedios ponderados derivados de un muestreo complejo incluyendo un factor de corrección por las diferencias en la participación por sexo. Se analizó la asociación de la protección por grupos de variables biológicas y sociales con un modelo de regresión logística, según la cohorte de nacimiento. RESULTADOS : Los títulos promedio de IgG fueron más altos en los nacidos antes del inicio de la vacunación (media 110 UI/ml; IC95% 100,5;120,2) que en los nacidos después (media 64 UI/ml; IC95% 54,4;72,8), p = 0,000. La proporción de protección fue creciente de 88,9% en los nacidos en 1990-1994, de 89,2% en 1995-1999 y de 92,1% en 2000 a 2003, posiblemente relacionado con la administración del refuerzo desde 1998. En los nacidos antes del inicio de la vacunación, la seroprotección estuvo asociada con el antecedente de contacto con casos (RD 2,6; IC95% 1,1;5,9), el estado de salud (RD 2,5; IC95% 1,05;6,0), el nivel de escolaridad (RD 0,2; IC95% 0,08;0,8) y los años de residencia del hogar en el barrio (RD 0,96; IC95% 0,98;1,0), luego de ajustar por todas las variables. En los nacidos después se asoció con el tiempo de sueño efectivo (RD 1,4; IC95%1,09;1,8) y el estado de salud (RD 5,5; IC95%1,2;23,8). CONCLUSIONES : La vacunación masiva generó un cambio en el perfil de seroprevalencia, siendo mayores los títulos en quienes nacieron antes del inicio de la vacunación. Se recomienda monitorear el sostenimiento del nivel de protección a largo plazo y concertar acciones para el mejoramiento de las condiciones socioeconómicas potencialmente asociadas.

Spatial analysis of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil (2006-2012)

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, and to identify spatial and space-time clusters for the risk of occurrence of these events. METHODS This is a descriptive, ecological study that considered the hospitalizations records of the Hospital Information System of residents of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Only the cases with recorded addresses were considered for the spatial analyses, and they were also geocoded. We resorted to Kernel density estimation to identify the densest areas, local empirical Bayes rate as the method for smoothing the incidence rates of hospital admissions, and scan statistic for identifying clusters of risk. Softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2, and SaTScanTM were used in the analysis. RESULTS We identified 169 hospitalizations due to tuberculosis. Most were of men (n = 134; 79.2%), averagely aged 48 years (SD = 16.2). The predominant clinical form was the pulmonary one, which was confirmed through a microscopic examination of expectorated sputum (n = 66; 39.0%). We geocoded 159 cases (94.0%). We observed a non-random spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis concentrated in the northern and western regions of the municipality. Through the scan statistic, three spatial clusters for risk of hospitalizations due to tuberculosis were identified, one of them in the northern region of the municipality (relative risk [RR] = 3.4; 95%CI 2.7–4,4); the second in the central region, where there is a prison unit (RR = 28.6; 95%CI 22.4–36.6); and the last one in the southern region, and area of protection for hospitalizations (RR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.2–0.3). We did not identify any space-time clusters. CONCLUSIONS The investigation showed priority areas for the control and surveillance of tuberculosis, as well as the profile of the affected population, which shows important aspects to be considered in terms of management and organization of health care services targeting effectiveness in primary health care.

Drug susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum in the western Amazon region, state of Acre, Brazil

Field studies in the western Amazon region (state of Acre, Brazil) indicate that the 4-aminoquinolines, as well as the combined regimen with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, can no longer be recomended for the treatment and prophylaxis of P. falciparum infections in this region. Quinine remains an effective drug when used correctly. However, compliance problems arise due to the often occurring side-effects during a ten day regimen. Prospects of overcoming these constraints by combining a short course of quinine with other drugs are limited, because of the lack of suitable partner compounds. For this reason quinine/clindamycin appears to be a more practical therapy of P. falciparum malaria. In vitro data from this study suggest that mefloquine is another effective alternative for the treatment of falciparum malaria in this Amazon region.

Clinical and laboratory findings of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Colombia, 2001

A descriptive study was carried out in 104 patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria, from the region of Turbo (Antioquia, Colombia). Clinical features and levels of hemoglobin, glycemia, serum bilirubin, alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), creatinine and complete blood cell profile were established. 65% of the studied individuals were men and their mean age was 23. Of all individuals 59% had lived in the region for > 1 year and 91% were resident in the rural area. 42% were farmers and 35% had a history of malaria. The mean parasitaemia was 5865 parasites/mm³. The evolution of the disease was short (average of 4.0 days). Fever, headache and chills were observed simultaneously in 91% of the cases while the most frequent signs were palmar pallor (46%), jaundice (15%), hepatomegaly (17%), and spleen enlargement (12%). Anemia was found in 39% of the women and in 51% of the men, 8% of individuals had thrombocytopaenia and 41% had hypoglycemia.

Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of enterococcal isolates from Southern region of Brazil

In the present study, a total of 455 enterococcal isolates, recovered from patients living in the city of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the period from July 1996 to June 1997, were identified to the species level by conventional biochemical and microbiological tests, and assayed for their susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents. The genetic diversity of antimicrobial resistant strains was evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI restricted chromosomal DNA. The most frequent species was Enterococcus faecalis (92.8%). Other species identified were: E. faecium (2.9%), E. gallinarum (1.5%), E. avium (1.1%), E. hirae (0.7%), E. casseliflavus (0.4%), E. durans (0.4%) and E. raffinosus (0.2%). The overall prevalence of isolates with high-level resistance (HLR) to aminoglycosides was 37.8%. HLR to gentamicin was found in 24.8%. No strains with acquired resistance to vancomycin were found. PFGE analysis showed the predominance of clonal group A, comprising strains isolated from different clinical specimens obtained from patients in three hospitals. These results suggest intra and inter-hospital dissemination of one predominant clonal group of E. faecalis isolates with HLR to gentamicin in the hospitals included in this study.

Anti-Taenia solium metacestode IgG antibodies in serum samples from inhabitants of a central-western region of Brazil

A total of 354 serum samples from inhabitants who frequent the Clinical Laboratory in Catalão, Goiás, in the central-western region of Brazil, were collected from June to August, 2002. The samples were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in order to detect anti-Taenia solium metacestode IgG antibodies. Reactive and inconclusive samples were tested by Western blotting (WB). Considering WB as a confirmation, the frequency of antibodies in the serum samples of the above population was 11.3% (CI 5.09 - 17.51). The immunodominant bands most frequently recognized in WB were 64-68 kDa (97.5%) and 47-52 kDa (80%). The percentage of seropositivity to cysticercosis was significantly higher for individuals residing in areas without sewage systems (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the results indicate a probable endemic situation of cysticercosis in this population. These results reinforce the urgent need for control and prevention measures to be taken by the local public health services.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among blood donors from mid-west region of Brazil

In order to investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in mid-west region of Brazil, 250 anti-HCV positive blood donors were studied. Among them, the anti-HCV serological status was confirmed in 205 (82%). HCV RNA was detected in 165 samples, which were genotyped. HCV types 1, 2 and 3 were found in 67.9%, 3% and 29.1% of the donors, respectively. In Goiás state, subtype 1a (50%) was the most prevalent, followed by subtypes 3a (30.9%) and 1b (16.7%). In Mato Grosso state, subtype 1a was also predominant (41%), followed by subtypes 1b (29.5%) and 3a (25%). In Mato Grosso do Sul state, subtypes 1a and 1b were detected equally (36.8%), followed by 3a (21.1%). Subtype 2b was rare (2.4%, 4.5% and 5.3%, respectively). In Distrito Federal, subtype 3a (39%) was more frequent than 1a (31.7%) and the remaining (29.3%) belonged to subtype 1b.

Distribution of virulence markers in clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains isolated in Brazil from 1991 to 2000

One hundred seventy nine Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains from clinical and different environmental sources isolated in Brazil from 1991 to 2000 were serogrouped and screened for the presence of four different virulence factors. The Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to evaluate the genetic relatedness among strains. Fifty-four different serogroups were identified and V. cholerae O26 was the most common (7.8%). PCR analysis for three genes (ctxA, zot, ace) located of the CTX genetic element and one gene (tcpA) located on the VPI pathogenicity island showed that 27 strains harbored one or more of these genes. Eight (4.5%) strains possessed the complete set of CTX element genes and all but one of these belonged to the O26 serogroup suggesting that V. cholerae O26 has the potential to be an epidemic strain. The RAPD profiles revealed a wide variability among strains and no genetic correlation was observed.

Frequency of soil contamination by Toxocara canis eggs in the south region of São Paulo municipality (SP, Brazil) in a 18 month period

Soil contamination by embryonic eggs of Toxocara canis is the main source of human infection by this ascarid larvae resulting, sometimes, in the occurrence of visceral larva migrans syndrome. The objective of the present research is to determine the frequency of T. canis eggs in soil samples monthly collected in nine public places, located at the South Region of São Paulo municipality in a 18-month period, from February 2004 to July 2005. The soil samples collected were treated with a 30% antiformine solution and with a sodium dichromate solution (d = 1.40) and microscopic slides were prepared and examined under light microscopy for searching T. canis eggs. Two peaks of higher frequency had been found, one in February - May 2004 and the other in April - July 2005.

On an acute case of Chagas disease in a region under vector control in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

No vector transmitted cases of Chagas disease had been notified in the state of São Paulo since the 1970s. However, in March, 2006, the death of a six-year-old boy from the municipality of Itaporanga was notified to the Center for Epidemiological Survey of the São Paulo State Health Secretariat: an autochthonous case of acute Chagas disease. The postmortem histopathological examination performed in the Hospital das Clínicas of the Botucatu School of Medicine confirmed the diagnosis. Reference to hospital records, consultation with the health professionals involved in the case and interviews with members of the patient's family supplied the basis for this study. We investigated parasite route of transmission, probable local reservoirs and vectors. No further human cases of acute Chagas disease were diagnosed. No locally captured vectors or reservoirs were found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Alternative transmission hypotheses - such as the possible ingestion of foods contaminated with vector excreta - are discussed, as well as the need to keep previously endemic regions and infested houses under close surveillance. Clinicians should give due attention to such signs as uni- or bilateral palpebral edema, cardiac failure, myocarditis, pericarditis, anasarca and atypical signs of nephrotic syndrome or nephritis and consider the diagnostic hypothesis of Chagas disease.