Prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus infection in Brazil, 2005 through 2009: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Hepatitis C chronic liver disease is a major cause of liver transplant in developed countries. This article reports the first nationwide population-based survey conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies and associated risk factors in the urban population of Brazil. Methods The cross sectional study was conducted in all Brazilian macro-regions from 2005 to 2009, as a stratified multistage cluster sample of 19,503 inhabitants aged between 10 and 69 years, representing individuals living in all 26 State capitals and the Federal District. Hepatitis C antibodies were detected by a third-generation enzyme immunoassay. Seropositive individuals were retested by Polymerase Chain Reaction and genotyped. Adjusted prevalence was estimated by macro-regions. Potential risk factors associated with HCV infection were assessed by calculating the crude and adjusted odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p values. Population attributable risk was estimated for multiple factors using a case–control approach. Results The overall weighted prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies was 1.38% (95% CI: 1.12%–1.64%). Prevalence of infection increased in older groups but was similar for both sexes. The multivariate model showed the following to be predictors of HCV infection: age, injected drug use (OR = 6.65), sniffed drug use (OR = 2.59), hospitalization (OR = 1.90), groups socially deprived by the lack of sewage disposal (OR = 2.53), and injection with glass syringe (OR = 1.52, with a borderline p value). The genotypes 1 (subtypes 1a, 1b), 2b and 3a were identified. The estimated population attributable risk for the ensemble of risk factors was 40%. Approximately 1.3 million individuals would be expected to be anti-HCV-positive in the country. Conclusions The large estimated absolute numbers of infected individuals reveals the burden of the disease in the near future, giving rise to costs for the health care system and society at large. The known risk factors explain less than 50% of the infected cases, limiting the prevention strategies. Our findings regarding risk behaviors associated with HCV infection showed that there is still room for improving strategies for reducing transmission among drug users and nosocomial infection, as well as a need for specific prevention and control strategies targeting individuals living in poverty.

A new species of Callicebus Thomas, 1903 (Primates, Pitheciidae) from the states of Mato Grosso and Pará, Brazil

A new species of titi monkey, genus Callicebus Thomas, 1903, is described based on four individuals, one from a small tributary of the left bank of Rio Teles Pires, northern state of Mato Grosso, and three others from Largo do Souza, Rio Iriri, Pará, Brazil. The new species belongs to the Callicebus moloch species group, and the main diagnostic characteristics of the new species are the whitish forehead, sideburns and beard coloration, which are contiguous, forming a frame around the blackish face; overall body pelage coloration is pale grayish-brown agouti; hands, feet and tip of the tail whitish; belly and inner sides of fore and hind limbs uniformly orange. The pattern of pelage coloration and qualitative and quantitative skull morphology are described and compared to the other species of the Callicebus moloch group. Species of the Callicebus moloch group show great similarity in skull morphology and morphometrics, making the external morphological characters, specially the chromatic fields, the most reliable diagnostic trait to identify the species.

Crenicichla chicha, a new species of pike cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the rio Papagaio, upper rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Crenicichla chicha, new species, occurs in clear, fast-running waters with rocky substrates in the rio Papagaio and tributaries. It is distinguished from all other Crenicichla species by the combination of two character states: infraorbitals 3 and 4 co-ossified (vs. separated) and 66-75 scales in the row immediately above to that containing the lower lateral line (E1 row scales). Crenicichla chicha shares a smooth preopercular margin, co-ossification of infraorbitals 3 and 4, and some color features with C. hemera from the adjacent rio Aripuanã drainage, rio Madeira basin. It differs from Crenicichla hemera in more E1 scales (66-75 vs. 58-65) and presence of a conspicuous black narrow stripe running from infraorbital 3 obliquely caudoventrad toward the preopercular margin vs. a rounded and faint suborbital marking present on infraorbitals 3-4. Examination of the type series and additional material from the rio Aripuanã confirms that Crenicichla guentheri Ploeg, 1991 is a junior subjective synonym of C. hemera Kullander, 1990.

Concepción, guerra y frontera paraguaya con el Mato Grosso, y la política económica de Carlos A. López. Entre la diplomacia y la guerra

El artículo se propone analizar la política que Carlos A.López instrumentó en particular en la frontera de Concepción con el Mato Grosso para explicar que la desamortización de todos los bienes del fisco, la consecuente enajenación de estos recursos al capital internacional y las leyes sobre la inviolabilidad de la propiedad privada y sobre venta de tierras, produjo la concentración en manos de unos pocos, situación que se consolidó después de la Guerra del Paraguay. El espacio, la demografía, la producción, el sistema de tenencia de tierras son abordados para develar el funcionamiento de la Comandancia de Concepción entre la diplomacia y la guerra como frontera estratégica con el Imperio del Brasil.

Concepción, guerra y frontera paraguaya con el Mato Grosso, y la política económica de Carlos A. López. Entre la diplomacia y la guerra

El artículo se propone analizar la política que Carlos A.López instrumentó en particular en la frontera de Concepción con el Mato Grosso para explicar que la desamortización de todos los bienes del fisco, la consecuente enajenación de estos recursos al capital internacional y las leyes sobre la inviolabilidad de la propiedad privada y sobre venta de tierras, produjo la concentración en manos de unos pocos, situación que se consolidó después de la Guerra del Paraguay. El espacio, la demografía, la producción, el sistema de tenencia de tierras son abordados para develar el funcionamiento de la Comandancia de Concepción entre la diplomacia y la guerra como frontera estratégica con el Imperio del Brasil.

Concepción, guerra y frontera paraguaya con el Mato Grosso, y la política económica de Carlos A. López. Entre la diplomacia y la guerra

El artículo se propone analizar la política que Carlos A.López instrumentó en particular en la frontera de Concepción con el Mato Grosso para explicar que la desamortización de todos los bienes del fisco, la consecuente enajenación de estos recursos al capital internacional y las leyes sobre la inviolabilidad de la propiedad privada y sobre venta de tierras, produjo la concentración en manos de unos pocos, situación que se consolidó después de la Guerra del Paraguay. El espacio, la demografía, la producción, el sistema de tenencia de tierras son abordados para develar el funcionamiento de la Comandancia de Concepción entre la diplomacia y la guerra como frontera estratégica con el Imperio del Brasil.