Testagem do 1 - beta - D - Ribofuranosil, 1.2.4 - triazole - 3 - carboxamide em pacientes com hepatite

Realizou-se estudo do tipo duplo anonimato em 18 pacientes com hepatite aguda benigna. O gruoo experimental foi testado com uma prov��vel droga de a����o antiviral: 1-BETA-D-RIBOFURANOSIL, 1,2,4-TRIAZOLE-3- CARBOXAMIDE. O grupo controle ingeriu um placebo de lactose. Teve-se especial cuidado na sele����o de pacientes, incluindo apenas pacientes que preenchessem crit��rios bem estabelecidos. Os pacientes foram seguidos semanalmente, avaliando-os cl��nica e laboratorialmente. Os resultados n��o evidenciaram diferen��as significativas entre os dois grupos, sugerindo-se estudos com casu��stica mais numerosa e em regime de interna����o hospitalar.

Compara����o da capacidade ovipositora de Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818), Biomphalaria tenagophila (D'Orbigni, 1835) e Biomphalaria straminea (Dunker, 1848), mantidas em laborat��rio

O autor comparou a capacidade ovipositora de 3 esp��cies de Planorbidae, Biomphalaria glabrata, B. tenagophila e B. straminea, durante um per��odo de 30 dias, compreendidos entre os meses de Mar��o e Abril de 1978. Registrou-se diariamente o n��mero de ovos e desovas, referentes a 20 exemplares de cada esp��cie em quest��o. A an��lise estat��stica dos dados obtidos revelou que os exemplares de B. glabrata apresentaram maior capacidade ovipositora que as outras duas esp��cies em quest��o. A menor capacidade ovipositora foi atribu��da �� esp��cie B. tenagophila.

Preval��ncia dos marcadores sorol��gicos dos v��rus da hepatite B e D em crian��as das tribos Caiabietxucarram��e do parque ind��gena do Xingu, Brasil central

O Parque Ind��gena do Xingu (PIX) est�� localizado no estado do Mato Grosso, na regi��o de transi����o de cenado ao sul e da floresta Amaz��nica ao norte. Dados de literatura mostram que a popula����o adulta apresenta elevada preval��ncia de marcadores do v��rus da hepatite B (HBV). O presente estudo visa determinar a preval��ncia dos marcadores do HBV e do HDV na popula����o ind��gena do PIX de zero a 14 anos, e investigar a forma de transmiss��o do HBV na regi��o. Entre as 17 tribos existentes no PIX escolheu-se os Caiabi e os Txucairam��e que diferem em seus h��bitos de vida e habitam a regi��o Norte do parque com caracter��sticas de clima, vegeta����o e fauna semelhantes ��s da regi��o Amaz��nica. Avaliaram-se 222 crian��as (116 Txucarram��e e 106 Caiabi) e 33 mulheres em idade f��rtil. A pesquisa de marcadores sorol��gicos para HBV e HDV foi feita por t��cnica imunoenzim��tica. A preval��ncia global dos marcadores sorol��gicos nas crian��as foi: HBsAg 4,5%; anti-HBs 39,6%; anti- HBc 44,1%; presen��a de algum marcador do HBV 47,3% e anti-HDV 0,0%, enquanto que nas mulheres em idade f��rtil foi: HBsAg 12%, todas anti-HBe positivas. A infec����o pelo HBV ocoireu mais precocemente entre os Txucarram��e, quando se considerou algum marcador do HBV (p < 0,001). No PIX, ��rea de alta endemicidadepara infec����o pelo HBV, a transmiss��o do v��rus ocorre provavelmente de maneira horizontal e n��o vertical como seria de se esperar, caracter��sticas culturais, condi����es de habita����o e presen��a de insetos hemat��fagos s��o importantes determinantes na sua transmiss��o. Apesar de n��o ter sido detectado nenhum caso com hepatite Delta, o PIX �� uma ��rea prop��cia para a sua dissemina����o.

Infec����o pelos v��rus das hepatites B e D entre grupos ind��genas da Amaz��nia Brasileira: aspectos epidemiol��gicos

Entre popula����es aut��ctones da Am��rica, estudos relatam altos ��ndices de infec����o e doen��a pelos v��rus das hepatites B e D. Esta �� uma revis��o do que j�� foi descrito entre ind��genas da Amaz��nia brasileira. Em alguns grupos a preval��ncia do AgHBs �� muito baixa, enquanto que outros da mesma regi��o, apresentam padr��o de elevada endemicidade, presente inclusive entre menores de 10 anos. O VHD s�� foi encontrado entre etnias no estado do Amazonas. �� descrito a import��ncia da transmiss��o horizontal familiar, e do contato sexual entre adultos jovens. Fatores socioculturais, gen��ticos, ecol��gicos, e a forma����o hist��rica desses povos, s��o apontados como determinantes deste padr��o. Entretanto, a origem do VHB e VHD na Amaz��nia �� ainda obscura. Popula����es ind��genas com sua mem��ria gen��tica s��o, na verdade, o experimento ao vivo, o que demanda investiga����o abrangente, avaliando a influ��ncia dos aspectos hist��ricos, ecol��gicos, m��dicos e antropol��gicos envolvidos, utilizando inclusive t��cnicas modernas de biologia molecular.

Low prevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis D virus and hepatitis C virus among patients with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the Brazilian Amazon basin

Comorbidities in human immunodeficiency virus infection are of great interest due to their association with unfavorable outcomes and failure of antiretroviral therapy. This study evaluated the prevalence of coinfection by human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis in an endemic area for hepatitis B in the Western Amazon basin. Serological markers for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis D virus were tested in a consecutive sample of all patients referred for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The variables sex, age, origin and exposure category were obtained from medical records and from the sexually transmitted diseases and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome surveillance database. Among 704 subjects, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B carriage was 6.4% and past infection 40.2%. The presence of hepatitis B was associated with birth in hyperendemic areas of the Amazon basin, male sex and illegal drug use. The overall prevalence of hepatitis C was 5% and was associated with illegal drug use. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C among human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in the Western Amazon basin was lower than seen elsewhere and is probably associated with the local epidemiology of these viruses and the degree of overlap of their shared risk factors. An opportunity presents itself to evaluate the prevention of hepatitis C through harm reduction policies and hepatitis B through vaccination programs among human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for canine visceral leishmaniasis in the endemic area of Dias D'��vila, State of Bahia, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important zoonosis in relation to public health systems. Dogs are the main domestic reservoir. This study aimed to investigate occurrences of canine VL in Dias D'��vila, State of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: The prevalence was evaluated by means of clinical and laboratory tests on a population of 312 domestic dogs from 23 localities in this municipality, using indirect immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic assays. RESULTS: Among the animals examined, 3.2% and 6.7% showed signs of VL, confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic assays, respectively, with a distribution of 29.9% (24 dogs) in the rural zone and 4.9% (288 dogs) in the urban zone (p = 0.001). The clinical evaluation on seropositive dogs showed both asymptomatic animals (2.4%) and symptomatic animals (47.6%), along with other abnormalities (e.g. normocytic and normochromic anemia, with leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia). Observations relating to phenotypic characteristics (e.g. sex, age, breed and hair) did not present statistical significance, although high seropositivity among male, short-haired and mixed-breed dogs was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that VL was a predominantly rural zoonosis and that close contact between poultry and domestic dogs significantly increased the risk of canine infection in this region.

Quantification of HIV-1 viral RNA in the blood in needles used for venous puncture in HIV-infected individuals

INTRODUCTION: Occupational HIV infection among healthcare workers is an important issue in exposures involving blood and body fluids. There are few data in the literature regarding the potential and the duration of infectivity of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) in contaminated material under adverse conditions. METHODS: We quantified HIV-1 viral RNA in 25��8mm calibre hollow-bore needles, after punctures, in 25 HIV-1-infected patients selected during the sample collection. All of the patients selected were between the ages of 18 and 55. Five samples were collected from 16 patients: one sample for the immediate quantification of HIV-1 RNA in the plasma and blood samples from the interior of 4 needles to be analyzed at 0h, 6h, 24h, and 72h after collection. In nine patients, another test was carried out in the blood from one additional needle, in which HIV-1 RNA was assessed 168h after blood collection. The method used to assess HIV-1 RNA was nucleic acid sequence-based amplification. RESULTS: Up to 7 days after collection, HIV-1 RNA was detected in all of the needles. The viral RNA remained stable up to 168h, and there were no statistically significant differences among the needle samples. CONCLUSIONS: Although the infectivity of the viral material in the needles is unknown, the data indicate the need to re-evaluate the practices in cases of occupational accidents in which the source is not identified.

Hepatitis D virus infection in the Western Brazilian Amazon - far from a vanishing disease

INTRODUCTION: A decline in hepatitis D virus (HDV) occurrence was described in Europe and Asia. We estimated HDV prevalence in the Brazilian Amazon following hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey of HDV measured by total antibodies to HDV (anti-HD T). RESULTS: HDV prevalence was 41.9% whiting HBsAg carries and was associated with age (PR = 1.96; 95% CI 1.12-3.42; p = 0.01), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (PR = 4.38; 95% CI 3.12-6.13; p < 0.001), and clinical hepatitis (PR =1.44; 95% CI 1.03-2.00; p = 0.03). Risk factors were related to HDV biology, clinical or demographic aspects such as underlying HBV infection, clinical hepatitis and age. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that HDV infection continues to be an important health issue in the Brazilian Amazon and that the implementation of the HBV vaccination in rural L��brea had little or no impact on the spread of HDV. This shows that HDV has not yet disappeared from HBV hyperendemic areas and reminding that it is far from being a vanishing disease in the Amazon basin.

Indeterminate RIBA results were associated with the absence of hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) in blood donors

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is diagnosed by the presence of antibodies and is supplemented by confirmatory testing methods, such as recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) and HCV-RNA detection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of RIBA testing to diagnose HCV infection in blood donors positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Methods: A total of 102 subjects positive for anti-HCV determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the Hematology and Hemotherapy Foundation of Bahia (HEMOBA) were later assessed with new samples using the Abbott Architect anti-HCV test (Abbott Diagnostics, Wiesbaden, Germany), the RIBA III test (Chiron RIBA HCV 3.0 SIA, Chiron Corp., Emeryville, CA, USA), the polymerase chain reaction (PCR; COBAS&#174; AMPLICOR HCV Roche Diagnostics Corp., Indianapolis, IN, USA) and line probe assay (LiPA - Siemens, Tarrytown, NY, USA) genotyping for HCV diagnosis. Results: Of these new samples, 38.2% (39/102) were positive, 57.8% (59/102) were negative and 3.9% (4/102) were indeterminate for anti-HCV; HCV-RNA was detected in 22.5% (23/102) of the samples. RIBA results were positive in 58.1% (25/43), negative in 9.3% (4/43) and indeterminate in 32.6% (14/43) of the samples. The prevailing genotypes were 1 (78.3%, 18/23), 3 (17.4%, 4/23) and 2 (4.3%, 1/23). All 14 samples with indeterminate RIBA results had undetectable viral loads (detection limit &#8804;50 IU/mL). Of these samples, 71.4% (10/14) were reevaluated six months later. Eighty percent (8/10) of these samples remained indeterminate by RIBA, and 20% (2/10) were negative. Conclusions: In this study, individuals with indeterminate RIBA results had no detectable HCV-RNA.

Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and its association with oral lesions in HIV-infected Brazilian adults

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: This study assessed the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and its association with oral candidiasis and clinical parameters of periodontitis (CPP) in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Periodontal examinations for the 113 HIV-infected patients were recorded using the Community Periodontal Index. A cytological smear from the lateral borders of the tongue was performed to evaluate candidiasis. RESULTS: The frequency of hypovitaminosis D was 23.9%. In multivariate analysis, only the duration of exposure to HIV was associated with CPP [OR 4.72 (95% CI: 0.97-23.00)]. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 23.9% and was not related with oral candidiasis or CPP.