Head-to-Head Comparison of Poxvirus NYVAC and ALVAC Vectors Expressing Identical HIV-1 Clade C Immunogens in Prime-Boost Combination with Env Protein in Nonhuman Primates.

UNLABELLED: We compared the HIV-1-specific cellular and humoral immune responses elicited in rhesus macaques immunized with two poxvirus vectors (NYVAC and ALVAC) expressing the same HIV-1 antigens from clade C, Env gp140 as a trimeric cell-released protein and a Gag-Pol-Nef polyprotein as Gag-induced virus-like particles (VLPs) (referred to as NYVAC-C and ALVAC-C). The immunization protocol consisted of two doses of the corresponding poxvirus vector plus two doses of a combination of the poxvirus vector and a purified HIV-1 gp120 protein from clade C. This immunogenicity profile was also compared to that elicited by vaccine regimens consisting of two doses of the ALVAC vector expressing HIV-1 antigens from clades B/E (ALVAC-vCP1521) plus two doses of a combination of ALVAC-vCP1521 and HIV-1 gp120 protein from clades B/E (similar to the RV144 trial regimen) or clade C. The results showed that immunization of macaques with NYVAC-C stimulated at different times more potent HIV-1-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses and induced a trend toward higher-magnitude HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T-cell immune responses than did ALVAC-C. Furthermore, NYVAC-C induced a trend toward higher levels of binding IgG antibodies against clade C HIV-1 gp140, gp120, or murine leukemia virus (MuLV) gp70-scaffolded V1/V2 and toward best cross-clade-binding IgG responses against HIV-1 gp140 from clades A, B, and group M consensus, than did ALVAC-C. Of the linear binding IgG responses, most were directed against the V3 loop in all immunization groups. Additionally, NYVAC-C and ALVAC-C also induced similar levels of HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses. Interestingly, binding IgA antibody levels against HIV-1 gp120 or MuLV gp70-scaffolded V1/V2 were absent or very low in all immunization groups. Overall, these results provide a comprehensive survey of the immunogenicity of NYVAC versus ALVAC expressing HIV-1 antigens in nonhuman primates and indicate that NYVAC may represent an alternative candidate to ALVAC in the development of a future HIV-1 vaccine. IMPORTANCE: The finding of a safe and effective HIV/AIDS vaccine immunogen is one of the main research priorities. Here, we generated two poxvirus-based HIV vaccine candidates (NYVAC and ALVAC vectors) expressing the same clade C HIV-1 antigens in separate vectors, and we analyzed in nonhuman primates their immunogenicity profiles. The results showed that immunization with NYVAC-C induced a trend toward higher HIV-1-specific cellular and humoral immune responses than did ALVAC-C, indicating that this new NYVAC vector could be a novel optimized HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate for human clinical trials.

Evaluation of a new serological test for the detection of anti-Coxiella and anti-Rickettsia antibodies.

Coxiella burnetii and members of the genus Rickettsia are obligate intracellular bacteria. Since cultivation of these organisms requires dedicated techniques, their diagnosis usually relies on serological or molecular biology methods. Immunofluorescence is considered the gold standard to detect antibody-reactivity towards these organisms. Here, we assessed the performance of a new automated epifluorescence immunoassay (InoDiag) to detect IgM and IgG against C. burnetii, Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia conorii. Samples were tested with the InoDiag assay. A total of 213 sera were tested, of which 63 samples from Q fever, 20 from spotted fever rickettsiosis, 6 from murine typhus and 124 controls. InoDiag results were compared to micro-immunofluorescence. For acute Q fever, the sensitivity of phase 2 IgG was only of 30% with a cutoff of 1 arbitrary unit (AU). In patients with acute Q fever with positive IF IgM, sensitivity reached 83% with the same cutoff. Sensitivity for chronic Q fever was 100% whereas sensitivity for past Q fever was 65%. Sensitivity for spotted Mediterranean fever and murine typhus were 91% and 100%, respectively. Both assays exhibited a good specificity in control groups, ranging from 79% in sera from patients with unrelated diseases or EBV positivity to 100% in sera from healthy patients. In conclusion, the InoDiag assay exhibits an excellent performance for the diagnosis of chronic Q fever but a very low IgG sensitivity for acute Q fever likely due to low reactivity of phase 2 antigens present on the glass slide. This defect is partially compensated by the detection of IgM. Because it exhibits a good negative predictive value, the InoDiag assay is valuable to rule out a chronic Q fever. For the diagnosis of rickettsial diseases, the sensitivity of the InoDiag method is similar to conventional immunofluorescence.

Acute Hepatitis E Virus infection with coincident reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus infection in an immunosuppressed patient with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most recently discovered of the hepatotropic viruses, and is considered an emerging pathogen in developed countries with the possibility of fulminant hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. Especially in the latter elevated transaminases should be taken as a clue to consider HEV infection, as it can be treated by discontinuation of immunosuppression and/or ribavirin therapy. To our best knowledge, this is a unique case of autochthonous HEV infection with coincident reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in an immunosuppressed patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old Swiss woman with RA developed hepatitis initially diagnosed as methotrexate-induced liver injury, but later diagnosed as autochthonous HEV infection accompanied by reactivation of her latent EBV infection. She showed confounding serological results pointing to three hepatotropic viruses (HEV, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and EBV) that could be resolved by detection of HEV and EBV viraemia. The patient recovered by temporary discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In immunosuppressed patients with RA and signs of liver injury, HEV infection should be considered, as infection can be treated by discontinuation of immunosuppression. Although anti-HEV-IgM antibody assays can be used as first line virological tools, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for detection of HEV RNA are recommended--as in our case--if confounding serological results from other hepatotropic viruses are obtained. After discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy, our patient recovered from both HEV infection and reactivation of latent EBV infection without sequelae.

Antibody levels against GLURP R2, MSP1 block 2 hybrid and AS202.11 and the risk of malaria in children living in hyperendemic (Burkina Faso) and hypo-endemic (Ghana) areas.

Differences in parasite transmission intensity influence the process of acquisition of host immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria and ultimately, the rate of malaria related morbidity and mortality. Potential vaccines being designed to complement current intervention efforts therefore need to be evaluated against different malaria endemicity backgrounds. The associations between antibody responses to the chimeric merozoite surface protein 1 block 2 hybrid (MSP1 hybrid), glutamate-rich protein region 2 (GLURP R2) and the peptide AS202.11, and the risk of malaria were assessed in children living in malaria hyperendemic (Burkina Faso, n = 354) and hypo-endemic (Ghana, n = 209) areas. Using the same reagent lots and standardized protocols for both study sites, immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG and IgG sub-class levels to each antigen were measured by ELISA in plasma from the children (aged 6-72 months). Associations between antibody levels and risk of malaria were assessed using Cox regression models adjusting for covariates. There was a significant association between GLURP R2 IgG3 and reduced risk of malaria after adjusting age of children in both the Burkinabe (hazard ratio 0.82; 95 % CI 0.74-0.91, p < 0.0001) and the Ghanaian (HR 0.48; 95 % CI 0.25-0.91, p = 0.02) cohorts. MSP1 hybrid IgM was associated (HR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.73-0.98, p = 0.02) with reduced risk of malaria in Burkina Faso cohort while IgG against AS202.11 in the Ghanaian children was associated with increased risk of malaria (HR 1.29; 95 % CI 1.01-1.65, p = 0.04). These findings support further development of GLURP R2 and MSP1 block 2 hybrid, perhaps as a fusion vaccine antigen targeting malaria blood stage that can be deployed in areas of varying transmission intensity.

Syndromes lymphoprolifératifs CD19/CD5 positifs: expression différentielle de CD200

Contexte. Le diagnostic différentiel des syndromes lymphoprolifératifs est souvent difficile et nécessite l'intégration de données immunophénotypiques, morphologiques, génétiques et cytogénétiques. La leucémie lymphoïde chronique (LLC) et le lymphome du manteau (LM) sont tous deux des lymphoproliférations CD19 et CD5 positives qu'il est nécessaire de distinguer car le pronostic et le traitement diffèrent. Les analyses génétiques jouent un rôle majeur notamment par la présence de la translocation t(11 ;14) (q13 ;q32) et le réarrangement IgH/CCND1 permettant d'identifier la plupart des lymphomes du manteau. Malgré cela, certains cas atypiques restent difficilement classifiables. CD200 (OX-2), une glycoprotéine transmembranaire jouant un rôle dans l'immunité anti- tumorale pourrait être un marqueur immunophénotypique permettant de distinguer la LLC dans laquelle elle serait surexprimée, du lymphome du manteau dans lequel elle semble déficiente. D'autres syndromes lymphoprolifératifs (SLP) pourraient également bénéficier de ce marqueur. Objectifs. Le but de ce travail est de déterminer si l'analyse de l'expression du CD200 permet de distinguer le lymphome du manteau de la LLC mais également sa corrélation avec d'autres SLP. Méthodes. Analyse de données immunophénotypiques par cytométrie de flux à partir d'une base de données de 68 patients comprenant 44 LLC, 4 lymphomes du manteau, 10 lymphomes folliculaires, 7 lymphomes de la zone marginale, 2 lymphomes lymphoplasmocytaires et une leucémie à tricholeucocytes sur une période allant de novembre 2012 à septembre 2013. L'étude de rapports morphologiques en pathologie, génétique et cytogénétique ainsi qu'une recherche de littérature principalement dans Medline (Pubmed) complète ce travail. Résultats. Ce travail démontre que la coexpression des marqueurs CD19 et CD5 (généralement observée dans la LLC, d'un peu plus faible intensité dans le lymphome du manteau et de très faible intensité dans d'autres lymphomes) n'est pas suffisante pour les distinguer les uns des autres. La coexpression CD200/CD19 forte dans la LLC la distingue du lymphome du manteau avec l'exception de certains cas atypiques de lymphome du manteau. Le ratio CD19/CD200 / CD19/CD5 distingue tous les LLC des lymphomes du manteau mais pas dans tous les cas d'autres SLP, d'autres marqueurs de surface permettant la distinction (CD19/CD10 dans le cas des lymphomes folliculaires et CD19/IgM de surface exprimée avec une forte intensité pour les lymphomes lymphoplasmocytaires). Enfin, la coexpression CD19/CD23 ne permet pas de distinguer tous les cas de LLC de ceux du lymphome du manteau en raison de cas atypiques de LLC. Conclusion. Les observations décrites dans ce travail indiquent que l'addition du marqueur CD200 au panel classique des syndromes lymphoprolifératifs comprenant les marqueurs CD19, CD20, CD23, CD43, CD10, CD5, CD103, CD38 et l'IgM de surface, est utile au diagnostic des lymphomes/leucémies de faible degré de malignité. Toutefois cette analyse doit tenir compte également des divers ratios décrits dans ce travail pour en distinguer avec plus d'efficacité les différents sous-types et permettre d'apporter, avec les résultats de la morphologie, de la cytogénétique, des analyses moléculaires, du séquençage et du profil d'expression génique, les éléments essentiels à une approche diagnostique intégrative. Les résultats sont à considérer avec prudence vu le faible échantillon de patients (n=68).

Isotype distribution of anticardiolipin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus prospective analysis of a series of 100 patients

A prospective study of IgG and IgM isotypes of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in a series of 100 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was carried out. To determine the normal range of both isotype titres a group of 100 normal control serum samples was studied and a log-normal distribution of IgG and IgM isotypes was found. The IgG anticardiolipin antibody serum was regarded as positive if a binding index greater than 2.85 (SD 3.77) was detected and a binding index greater than 4.07 (3.90) was defined as positive for IgM anticardiolipin antibody. Twenty four patients were positive for IgG aCL, 20 for IgM aCL, and 36 for IgG or IgM aCL, or both. IgG aCL were found to have a significant association with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, and IgM aCL with haemolytic anaemia and neutropenia. Specificity and predictive value for these clinical manifestations increased at moderate and high anticardiolipin antibody titres. In addition, a significant association was found between aCL and the presence of lupus anticoagulant. Identification of these differences in the anticardiolipin antibody isotype associations may improve the clinical usefulness of these tests, and this study confirms the good specificity and predictive value of the anticardiolipin antibody titre for these clinical manifestations.

Genetic regulatory networks in avian B cells

Biology is turning into an information science. The science of systems biology seeks to understand the genetic networks that govern organism development and functions. In this study the chicken was used as a model organism in the study of B cell regulatory factors. These studies open new avenues for plasma cell research by connecting the down regulation of the B cell gene expression program directly to the initiation of plasma cell differentiation. The unique advantages of the DT40 avian B cell model system, specifically its high homologous recombination rate, were utilized to study gene regulation in Pax5 knock out cell lines and to gain new insights into the B cell to plasma cell transitions that underlie the secretion of antibodies as part of the adaptive immune response. The Pax5 transcription factor is central to the commitment, development and maintenance of the B cell phenotype. Mice lacking the Pax5 gene have an arrest in development at the pro-B lymphocyte stage while DT40 cells have been derived from cells at a more mature stage of development. The DT40 Pax5-/- cells exhibited gene expression similarities with primary chicken plasma cells. The expression of the plasma cell transcription factors Blimp-1 and XBP-1 were significantly upregulated while the expression of the germinal centre factor BCL6 was diminished in Pax5-/- cells, and this alteration was normalized by Pax5 re-introduction. The Pax5-deficient cells further manifested substantially elevated secretion of IgM into the supernatant, another characteristic of plasma cells. These results for the first time indicated that the downregulation of the Pax5 gene in B cells promotes plasma cell differentiation. Cross-species meta-analysis of chicken and mouse Pax5 gene knockout studies uncovers genes and pathways whose regulatory relationship to Pax5 has remained unchanged for over 300 million years. Restriction of the hematopoietic stem cell fate to produce T, B and NK cell lineages is dependent on the Ikaros and its molecular partners, the closely related Helios and Aiolos. Ikaros family members are zinc finger proteins which act as transcriptional repressors while helping to activate lymphoid genes. Helios in mice is expressed from the hematopoietic stem cell level onwards, although later in development its expression seems to predominate in the T cell lineage. This study establishes the emergence and sequence of the chicken Ikaros family members. Helios expression in the bursa of Fabricius, germinal centres and B cell lines suggested a role for Helios in the avian B-cell lineage, too. Phylogenetic studies of the Ikaros family connect the expansion of the Ikaros family, and thus possibly the emergence of the adaptive immune system, with the second round of genome duplications originally proposed by Ohno. Paralogs that have arisen as a result of genome-wide duplications are sometimes termed ohnologs – Ikaros family proteins appear to fit that definition. This study highlighted the opportunities afforded by the genome sequencing efforts and somatic cell reverse genetics approaches using the DT40 cell line. The DT40 cell line and the avian model system promise to remain a fruitful model for mechanistic insight in the post-genomic era as well.

A Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of a Prefabricated Appliance and a Stabilization Appliance in the Treatment of Myofascial pain and Headache

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of a prefabricated occlusal appliance (R) on patients with myofascial pain and headache by comparing it with the treatment of the stabilization appliance (S). Another aim was to evaluate the effect of appliance treatment on stress-related salivary parameters like cortisol and IgA, as well as on flow rate values in these patients. Sixty-five patients diagnosed with myofascial temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain, of whom 94% suffered concomitantly from headache, at two centres for Stomatognathic Physiology, one in Sweden and one in Finland, were included in this randomized controlled trial using Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD), with history questionnaires and clinical examinations performed at baseline and at 6- and 10-weeks, and 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Patients were randomly assigned either to the R or the S group. Treatment outcome was measured according to IMMPACT (Initiative on Methods, Measurements, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials), i.e. four chronic pain outcome domains: pain intensity, overall improvement, physical and emotional functioning. Changes in frequency and intensity of headache were recorded. Thirty-nine patients participated in the saliva study. Salivary analyses were performed at 6 and 10 weeks. The results revealed no differences between groups at baseline. At all follow-ups, all four outcome measures, as well as frequency and intensity of headache, showed statistically significant within-group improvement compared to baseline, without significant differences between groups. No treatment-induced changes in saliva parameters could be registered. In conclusion, the effectiveness of the prefabricated appliance seemed to be similar to that of the stabilization appliance in alleviating myofascial pain, and frequency and intensity of headache, in the short as well as the long term. However, no changes in salivary parameters were observed during treatment.

Anticorpos anticardiolipinas em úlceras de perna

OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipinas IgG e IgM em pacientes com úlcera de perna e se os seus portadores podem ser identificados clinicamente. MÉTODOS: Estudaram-se 151 pacientes com úlcera de perna (81 venosas, 50 diabéticas e 20 arteriais) e 150 controles. Pesquisou-se, nos dois grupos, a presença de anticorpos anticardiolipina IgG e IgM pelo método de ELISA. No grupo úlcera foram coletados dados demográficos dos pacientes, de tamanho e número de úlceras e gravidade da dor medido por escala visual analógica. Os dados obtidos foram agrupados em tabelas de frequência e contingência. Adotou-se significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipina de 7.2% (n=12) no grupo com úlceras e de 1.3% (n=2) no controle (p=0.01). Comparando-se a prevalência dos anticorpos anticardiolipina nos diferentes tipos de úlcera verificou-se aumento nas de origem venosa (p=0.02) e diabéticas (p=0.01), mas não nas arteriais (p=0.31) em relação à população controle. As úlceras de perna anticardiolipinas positivas não diferiram daquelas sem anticardiolipinas quanto a tamanho da ferida (p=0.6); gravidade da dor (p=0.67), número médio de úlceras (p=0.38), tempo de duração de doença (p= 0.59), gênero do paciente (p=0.98) e história de trombose prévia (p=0.69). CONCLUSÃO: Existe aumento de prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipinas nos portadores de úlceras de perna venosas e diabéticas, mas não nas arteriais. As características clínicas das úlceras anticardiolipinas positivas não auxiliam na identificação desses pacientes.

Contagem de plaquetas e caracterização clínica de úlceras de perna anticardiolipinas positivas

OBJETIVO: Estudar a prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipinas em pacientes com úlceras venosas, diabéticas e arteriais e verificar se a contagem de plaquetas, antecedentes obstétricos e de trombose venosa profunda e achados de livedo reticularis ao exame físico servem como marcadores para os casos positivos. MÉTODOS: Estudaram-se 151 pacientes com úlcera de perna (81 com úlceras venosas, 50 com úlceras diabéticas e 20 com úlceras arteriais) e 150 controles. Pesquisou-se, nos dois grupos, a presença de anticorpos anticardiolipina IgG e IgM e contagem de plaquetas. No grupo úlcera foram coletados dados de antecedentes de trombose venosa profunda e de abortamentos e os pacientes foram examinados para presença de livedo reticularis. Os dados obtidos foram agrupados em tabelas de frequência e contingência utilizando-se dos testes de Fisher e qui-quadrado para variáveis nominais e de Mann-Whitney e Kruskall-Wallis para as numéricas. Adotou-se significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipina de 7.2% (n=12) no grupo com úlceras e de 1.3% (n=2) no controle (p=0.01). As úlceras de perna anticardiolipinas positivas não diferiram daquelas sem anticardiolipinas quanto ao gênero do paciente (p=0.98) e história de trombose prévia (p=0.69), abortamentos anteriores (p=0.67) e contagens de plaquetas (p=0.67). Só dois pacientes tinham livedo reticularis não permitindo inferências estatísticas a respeito deste dado. CONCLUSÃO: Existe aumento de prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipinas nos portadores de úlceras de perna em relação à população geral. As características clínicas das úlceras anticardiolipinas positivas e a contagem de plaquetas não auxiliam na identificação desses pacientes.

Avaliação do estado imune de mulheres em idade reprodutiva em relação ao vírus da rubéola

Objetivo: avaliar o estado imune de mulheres em idade reprodutiva, em relação ao vírus da rubéola. Métodos: foram analisadas alíquotas de soros de 2.243 mulheres na faixa etária dos 15 aos 45 anos (média de 26 anos), residentes na área urbana de Natal, RN, para avaliação do estado imune em relação ao vírus da rubéola. Do total das mulheres examinadas, 1.170 (52,1%) eram gestantes e 1.073 (47,9%) não-gestantes. Foi pesquisada a presença de anticorpos das classes IgM e IgG no soro de todas as pacientes, empregando-se a técnica de ELISA em fase sólida, revelada mediante fluorescência (ELFA). Resultados: do total das pacientes analisadas, 1.632 se apresentaram imunes e 611 se mostraram suscetíveis ao vírus da rubéola. Os índices médios de imunidade e de suscetibilidade observados nos 4 anos estudados foram 73,0 e 27,0% respectivamente. No grupo das mulheres consideradas suscetíveis, 14,5% não apresentaram qualquer sinal da presença de anticorpos contra o vírus da rubéola, 7,7% apresentaram anticorpos da classe IgM isoladamente e em 4,8% delas foi detectada a presença simultânea de anticorpos IgM e IgG. Conclusão: os achados revelaram que uma parcela significativa da população feminina de Natal, em idade reprodutiva, ainda se encontra suscetível ao vírus da rubéola, revelando a existência real de risco de infecção congênita por esse patógeno. Recomenda-se a vacinação seletiva dessas mulheres contra a rubéola, como forma segura de prevenir as manifestações relacionadas à síndrome de rubéola congênita.

Anticorpos Anticardiolipina entre Gestantes com Óbito Fetal

Objetivo: avaliar a prevalência de anticorpos anticardiolipina entre gestantes com óbito fetal intra-uterino. Pacientes e Métodos: foi um estudo de corte transversal que avaliou 109 gestantes hospitalizadas com o diagnóstico de morte fetal intra-uterina e idade gestacional de 20 semanas ou mais, durante o período de maio de 1998 a setembro de 1999, da Maternidade da Universidade Estadual de Campinas e do Hospital Maternidade Leonor Mendes de Barros, em São Paulo. Estas mulheres foram submetidas a exames laboratoriais de rotina para a identificação da causa do óbito, incluindo a determinação sérica do anticorpo anticardiolipina, por meio dos níveis de IgG e IgM. Os resultados de IgG são expressos em unidades GPL e os de IgM em unidades MPL, sendo considerados positivos, nos dois casos, os valores acima de 10 unidades. Os procedimentos estatísticos utilizados foram o cálculo de médias, desvio padrão e comparação dos grupos por testes t de Student, Fisher e chi². Resultados: a prevalência de positividade para o anticorpo anticardiolipina foi de 18,3%. As mulheres eram predominantemente jovens, com média de idade em torno de 27 anos. As principais causas identificadas de morte foram: hipertensão (26,1%), hemorragia durante o terceiro trimestre de gestação (9,9%) e malformação fetal (8,1%). Em cerca de um terço dos casos, a causa da morte fetal não foi identificada. Considerando os 20 casos com positividade para anticorpo anticardiolipina, a proporção de causas não identificadas caiu para 29%. Conclusões: é importante determinar a presença de anticorpos anticardiolipina em mulheres com perdas fetais com o propósito de elucidar outras causas de morte fetal, especialmente a síndrome antifosfolípide e demais situações correlatas. Para estes casos é necessário o aconselhamento e o tratamento destas mulheres em gravidezes futuras.

Avaliação longitudinal da infecção por parvovírus B19 entre grávidas em Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a taxa de soroprevalência contra o parvovírus B19 (PB19) entre grávidas e a taxa de soroconversão dessa infecção durante a gravidez. MÉTODOS: estudo prospectivo realizado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Na primeira fase do estudo foram avaliadas 245 grávidas com idade gestacional menor que 16 semanas, para aferição da soroprevalência da infecção PB19, utilizando o método ELISA. De acordo com os resultados sorológicos, classificou-se a infecção pelo PB19 em aguda (IgM positivo e IgG negativo ou positivo) ou remota (IgM negativo e IgG positivo). Na segunda fase do estudo, 73 grávidas soronegativas foram novamente testadas durante a internação para o parto (IgM e IgG), objetivando aferir a taxa de soroconversão durante a gravidez. RESULTADOS: a prevalência da infecção PB19 até a 16ª semana de gravidez foi de 62,9% (IC 95%: 56,8-68,9), divididas em infecção aguda (8,1%) e remota (54,8%). Das 73 grávidas soronegativas que submeteram-se a novo teste no momento do parto, sete (9,6%) apresentaram soroconversão durante a gravidez (IC 95%: 2,8-16,3), sendo duas com infecção aguda (2,7%) e cinco com infecção remota (6,9%). A prevalência final da infecção por PB19 durante a gravidez foi de 72,5%. CONCLUSÕES: considerando que apenas a infecção aguda pelo PB19 está associada a risco de transmissão vertical, a soroprevalência relativamente alta desta infecção entre grávidas estaria protegendo os fetos contra esta forma de disseminação do vírus. Apesar da elevada taxa de soroconversão para PB19 durante a gravidez, não foi observado nenhum caso de infecção sintomática entre os recém-nascidos.

Prevalência de hepatite B em parturientes e perfil sorológico perinatal

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a prevalência do antígeno de superfície do vírus B da hepatite (HBsAg) em parturientes internadas no Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), Recife-PE, e o perfil sorológico das positivas. MÉTODOS: este é estudo de secção de corte transversal prospectivo no qual foram utilizados os sistemas VIDAS e VIDAS HBs, respectivamente, para detecção e confirmação do HBsAg. As participantes foram selecionadas de forma aleatória. Nas pacientes HBsAg+, os outros marcadores sorológicos foram testados com o sistema automatizado AxSYM. Os recém-nascidos de mães HBsAg+ foram vacinados ao nascer com a vacina Engerix B. RESULTADOS: de um total de 1584, encontramos 9 (0,6%) gestantes HBsAg positivas. Nenhuma delas apresentava anti-HBc IgM, sendo assim casos prevalentes. Em 1/9 (11,1%) das gestantes havia presença do HBeAg isolado e em 4/9 (44,4%), deste antígeno e seu anticorpo correspondente, revelando os diferentes graus de risco de transmissão vertical da infecção. Com a exceção de dois recém-nascidos de um parto gemelar (um de baixo peso), todos apresentaram soroconversão para o anti-HBs com três doses da vacina. Os gemelares prematuros só mostraram soroconversão após a quarta dose da vacina. CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência da hepatite B em parturientes no IMIP é relativamente baixa e todas as pacientes detectadas então tinham a forma crônica da infecção.