Retrospective Investigation in Horses with Encephalitis Reveals Unnoticed Circulation of West Nile Virus in Brazil.

During these past years, several studies have provided serological evidence regarding the circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) in Brazil. Despite some reports, much is still unknown regarding the genomic diversity and transmission dynamics of this virus in the country. Recently, genomic monitoring activities in horses revealed the circulation of WNV in several Brazilian regions. These findings on the paucity of genomic data reinforce the need for prompt investigation of WNV infection in horses, which may precede human cases of encephalitis in Brazil. Thus, in this study, we retrospectively screened 54 suspicious WNV samples collected between 2017 and 2020 from the spinal cord and brain of horses with encephalitis and generated three new WNV genomes from the Ceará and Bahia states, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. The Bayesian reconstruction revealed that at least two independent introduction events occurred in Brazil. The first introduction event appears to be likely related to the North American outbreak, and was estimated to have occurred in March 2013.The second introduction event appears to have occurred in September 2017 and appears to be likely related to the South American outbreak. Together, our results reinforce the importance of increasing the priority of WNV genomic monitoring in equines with encephalitis in order to track the dispersion of this emerging pathogen through the country.

Dynamics and Determinants of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Testing on Symptomatic Individuals Attending Healthcare Centers during 2020 in Bahia, Brazil.

RT-PCR testing data provides opportunities to explore regional and individual determinants of test positivity and surveillance infrastructure. Using Generalized Additive Models, we explored 222,515 tests of a random sample of individuals with COVID-19 compatible symptoms in the Brazilian state of Bahia during 2020. We found that age and male gender were the most significant determinants of test positivity. There was evidence of an unequal impact among socio-demographic strata, with higher positivity among those living in areas with low education levels during the first epidemic wave, followed by those living in areas with higher education levels in the second wave. Our estimated probability of testing positive after symptom onset corroborates previous reports that the probability decreases with time, more than halving by about two weeks and converging to zero by three weeks. Test positivity rates generally followed state-level reported cases, and while a single laboratory performed ~90% of tests covering ~99% of the state's area, test turn-around time generally remained below four days. This testing effort is a testimony to the Bahian surveillance capacity during public health emergencies, as previously witnessed during the recent Zika and Yellow Fever outbreaks.

Triazol-phenyl Antipyretic Derivatives Inhibit mPGES-1 mRNA Levels in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells.

BACKGROUND: Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) catalyzes the terminal step of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, which plays an important role in the regulation of febrile response. In our previous work, ligand-based pharmacophore models, built with mPGES-1 inhibitors, were employed to identify a novel series of compounds that reduce the febrile response in rats. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the mechanism of action of the most active compound (1). METHODS: For in vivo assays, rats were pretreated with the antipyretic compounds 1-8, 30 min before LPS injection. For in vitro assays, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were incubated with the antipyretic compounds 1-8 for 1 hour before LPS stimulus. After 16 h, quantitative real-time PCR was carried out. Additionally, the PGE2 concentration in the hypothalamus was quantified by ELISA and the inhibitory effect of N-cyclopentyl-N'-[3-(3-cyclopropyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol- 5-yl)phenyl]ethanediamide (1) over human COX-2 enzymatic activity was determined with a COX Colorimetric Inhibitor Screening Assay Kit. RESULTS: Compound 1 and CAY10526 showed comparable efficacy to reduce the febrile response when injected i.v. (compound 1: 63.10%, CAY10526: 70.20%). Moreover, compound 1 significantly reduced the mPGES-1 mRNA levels, in RAW264.7 cells, under inflammatory conditions. A chemically-similar compound (8-) also significantly reduced the mRNA levels of the gene target. On the other hand, compounds 6 and 7, which are also somewhat similar to compound 1, did not significantly impact mPGES-1 mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS: PGE2 concentration reduction in the hypothalamus, due to compound 1 central injection, is related to decreased mPGES-1 mRNA levels but not to COX-2 inhibition (IC50> 50 µM). Therefore, compound 1 is a promising lead for innovative antipyretic drug development.

Cobertura vacinal da Pentavalente e da Estratégia de Saúde da Família / Cobertura de vacunación de la Pentavalente y del Programa Estrategia de Salud de la Familia / Pentavalent Vaccine and Family Health Strategy Coverage

Objetivo: avaliar a cobertura vacinal da Pentavalente em menores de um ano nas regiões e capitais brasileiras e a cobertura da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Método: estudo de série histórica de dados secundários provenientes de sistemas de gestão nacional de vacinas e da ESF, no período de 2014 a 2018, analisados por estatística descritiva. Resultados: as regiões brasileiras mantêm a cobertura vacinal da Pentavalente abaixo de 95%, desde 2017. A abrangência da ESF não impactou significativamente no alcance da meta vacinal preconizada. Conclusão: as baixas coberturas vacinais aumentam o risco de reintrodução de doenças controladas. O acesso aos serviços de saúde precisa ser facilitado e a vacinação priorizada no planejamento das ações da equipe da ESF. A enfermagem tem condições de criar ações locais para reverter este cenário, com o apoio dos gestores para intensificar campanhas e combater as causas que têm prejudicado o alcance das metas.

Objective: to evaluate Pentavalent vaccination coverage in children under one year old in the Brazilian regions and capitals and the coverage of the Family Health Strategy (FHS). Method: a study of a historical series with secondary data from national vaccine management systems and the FHS, from 2014 to 2018, analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: the Brazilian regions have maintained Pentavalent vaccination coverage below 95% since 2017. The scope of the FHS did not significantly impact on the achievement of the recommended vaccination target. Conclusion: low vaccination coverage increases the risk for the reintroduction of controlled diseases. Access to the health services needs to be facilitated and vaccination prioritized when planning the actions of the FHS team. Nursing is able to create local actions to reverse this scenario, with the support of the managers to intensify campaigns and combat the causes that have hindered the achievement of the goals.

Objetivo: evaluar la cobertura de vacunación de la Pentavalente en menores de un año en las regiones y capitales de Brasil y la cobertura de la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia (ESF). Método: estudio de serie histórica de datos secundarios provenientes de sistemas de administración nacional de vacunas y de la ESF, en el período de 2014 a 2018, analizados por medio de estadística descriptiva. Resultados: las regiones de Brasil mantienen un nivel de cobertura de vacunación de la Pentavalente por debajo del 95% desde el año 2017. La cobertura de la ESF no tuvo un efecto significativo para alcanzar la meta de vacunación recomendada. Conclusión: los bajos índices de cobertura de vacunación aumentan el riesgo de reintroducción de enfermedades controladas. Debe facilitarse el acceso a los servicios de salud y se debe priorizar la vacunación en la planificación de las acciones del equipo del programa ESF. El área de Enfermería tiene las condiciones necesarias para diseñar acciones locales a fin de revertir esta situación, con el apoyo de los administradores para intensificar campañas y combatir las causas que han perjudicado el alcance de las metas.