Genomic surveillance activities unveil the introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.525 variant of interest in Brazil: Case report.

The appearance of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 has recently challenged public health authorities with respect to tracking transmission and mitigating the impact in the evolving pandemic across countries. B.1.525 is considered a variant under investigation since it carries specific genetic signatures present in P.1, B.1.1.7, and B.1.351. Here we report genomic evidence of the first likely imported case of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.525 variant, isolated in a traveler returning from Nigeria.

Shifting patterns of dengue three years after Zika virus emergence in Brazil.

In 2015, the Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in Brazil, leading to widespread outbreaks in Latin America. Following this, many countries in these regions reported a significant drop in the circulation of dengue virus (DENV), which resurged in 2018-2019. We examine age-specific incidence data to investigate changes in DENV epidemiology before and after the emergence of ZIKV. We observe that incidence of DENV was concentrated in younger individuals during resurgence compared to 2013-2015. This trend was more pronounced in Brazilian states that had experienced larger ZIKV outbreaks. Using a mathematical model, we show that ZIKV-induced cross-protection alone, often invoked to explain DENV decline across Latin America, cannot explain the observed age-shift without also assuming some form of disease enhancement. Our results suggest that a sudden accumulation of population-level immunity to ZIKV could suppress DENV and reduce the mean age of DENV incidence via both protective and disease-enhancing interactions.

Detection of encephalitis-causing viruses reveals predominance of chikungunya virus in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: Encephalitis is a severe neurological syndrome for which herpesvirus and enteroviruses are the most common etiological agents. Arboviruses, a wildly diverse group of pathogens, are also critical epidemiological agents associated with encephalitis. In Brazil, little is known about the causative agents of encephalitis. METHODS: We conducted a hospital surveillance for encephalitis between 2020 and 2022. Molecular (RT-PCR and qPCR) and serological (virus-specific IgM and viral antigens) techniques were performed in cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples obtained from study participants. RESULTS: In the 43 participants evaluated, the etiologic agent or the presence of IgM was detected in 16 (37.2%). Nine (20.9%) cases were positive for chikungunya virus (CHIKV), three (7.0%) for dengue virus, two (4.7%) for human adenovirus, one (2.3%) for varicella-zoster virus, and one (2.3%) for enterovirus. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the CHIKV identified belongs to the East/Central/South African lineage. CONCLUSION: Herein, CHIKV is a common pathogen identified in encephalitis cases. Our results reinforce previous evidence that chikungunya represents a significant cause of encephalitis during CHIKV outbreaks and epidemics and add to existing information on the epidemiology of encephalitis in Brazil.

Perinatal characteristics and longer-term outcomes in Brazilian children with confirmed or suspected congenital Zika infection: ZIKAction Paediatric Registry.

Background: Despite growing scientific knowledge of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, questions remain regarding ZIKV infection in pregnancy and congenital ZIKV syndrome (CZS). Methods: The ZIKAction Paediatric Registry is an international registry of children with documented ZIKV exposure in utero and/or with confirmed or suspected CZS. Its aim is to characterize these children (i.e., clinical, radiological, neurodevelopmental features) and describe outcomes, longer-term sequelae and management through retrospective case note review. This analysis described the maternal and perinatal characteristics of children in the Registry's Bahia arm, assessed their neuroimaging, ophthalmic, hearing and electroencephalography abnormalities by microcephaly classification and reported on hospitalisations. Children born in 2015-2018 and enrolled 2020-2021 in three public health facilities in Salvador were included. Results: Of 129 (57% female) children, 15 (11·6%) had laboratory-confirmed congenital ZIKV infection and 114 (88·4%) suspected CZS. At delivery, 15 (11·6%) were normocephalic, 30 (23·3%) moderately microcephalic, and 84 (65·1%) severely microcephalic. Median birth head circumference z-score was -3·51 [IQR, -4·69,-2·73]. During follow-up, all children had abnormal neuroimaging, 80·3% (94/117) abnormal electroencephalogram, 62·2% (77/120) ophthalmic abnormalities, and 27·4% (34/124) hearing impairment. Microcephaly classification was significantly associated with gestational age, and ophthalmological and electroencephalography abnormalities. Of 125 children with hospitalisation data, 52 (41·6%) had been hospitalised by most recent follow-up, at median age of 15·8 [4·0, 34·4] months; infections were the leading cause. Conclusion: Congenital ZIKV infection is an emerging disease with a varied and incompletely understood spectrum. Continued long-term follow-up is essential to understand longer-term prognosis and to inform future health and educational needs.

Phylogenetic Reconstructions Reveal the Circulation of a Novel Dengue Virus-1V Clade and the Persistence of a Dengue Virus-2 III Genotype in Northeast Brazil.

Dengue fever is among the most significant public health concerns in Brazil. To date, the highest number of Dengue notifications in the Americas has been reported in Brazil, with cases accounting for a total number of 3,418,796 reported cases as of mid-December 2022. Furthermore, the northeastern region of Brazil registered the second-highest incidence of Dengue fever in 2022. Due to the alarming epidemiological scenario, in this study, we used a combination of portable whole-genome sequencing, phylodynamic, and epidemiological analyses to reveal a novel DENV-1 genotype V clade and the persistence of DENV-2 genotype III in the region. We further report the presence of non-synonymous mutations associated with non-structural domains, especially the NS2A (non-structural protein 2A), as well as describe synonymous mutations in envelope and membrane proteins, distributed differently between clades. However, the absence of clinical data at the time of collection and notification, as well as the impossibility of monitoring patients in order to observe worsening or death, restricts our possibility of correlating mutational findings with possible clinical prognoses. Together, these results reinforce the crucial role of genomic surveillance to follow the evolution of circulating DENV strains and understand their spread across the region through inter-regional importation events, likely mediated by human mobility, and also the possible impacts on public health and outbreak management.

Field and classroom initiatives for portable sequence-based monitoring of dengue virus in Brazil.

Brazil experienced a large dengue virus (DENV) epidemic in 2019, highlighting a continuous struggle with effective control and public health preparedness. Using Oxford Nanopore sequencing, we led field and classroom initiatives for the monitoring of DENV in Brazil, generating 227 novel genome sequences of DENV1-2 from 85 municipalities (2015-2019). This equated to an over 50% increase in the number of DENV genomes from Brazil available in public databases. Using both phylogenetic and epidemiological models we retrospectively reconstructed the recent transmission history of DENV1-2. Phylogenetic analysis revealed complex patterns of transmission, with both lineage co-circulation and replacement. We identified two lineages within the DENV2 BR-4 clade, for which we estimated the effective reproduction number and pattern of seasonality. Overall, the surveillance outputs and training initiative described here serve as a proof-of-concept for the utility of real-time portable sequencing for research and local capacity building in the genomic surveillance of emerging viruses.

Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Serum Alteration of Plasmalogens in Patients Infected With ZIKA Virus.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) in the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. Since the large outbreaks in French Polynesia in 2013-2014 and in Brazil in 2015, ZIKV has been considered a new public health threat. Similar to other related flavivirus, ZIKV is associated with mild and self-limiting symptoms such as rash, pruritus, prostration, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, conjunctivitis, lower back pain and, when present, a short-term low grade fever. In addition, ZIKV has been implicated in neurological complications such as neonatal microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Herein, serum lipidomic analysis was used to identify possible alterations in lipid metabolism triggered by ZIKV infection. Patients who presented virus-like symptoms such as fever, arthralgia, headache, exanthema, myalgia and pruritus were selected as the control group. Our study reveals increased levels of several phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipid species in the serum of ZIKV patients, the majority of them plasmenyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (pPE) (or plasmalogens) linked to polyunsaturated fatty acids. Constituting up to 20% of total phospholipids in humans, plasmalogens linked to polyunsaturated fatty acids are particularly enriched in neural membranes of the brain. The biosynthesis of plasmalogens requires functional peroxisomes, which are important sites for viral replication, including ZIKV. Thus, increased levels of plasmalogens in serum of ZIKV infected subjects suggest a link between ZIKV life cycle and peroxisomes. Our data provide important insights into specific host cellular lipids that are likely associated with ZIKV replication and may serve as platform for antiviral strategy against ZIKV.

Measuring Mosquito-borne Viral Suitability in Myanmar and Implications for Local Zika Virus Transmission.

INTRODUCTION: In South East Asia, mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) have long been a cause of high disease burden and significant economic costs. While in some SEA countries the epidemiology of MBVs is spatio-temporally well characterised and understood, in others such as Myanmar our understanding is largely incomplete. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we use a simple mathematical approach to estimate a climate-driven suitability index aiming to better characterise the intrinsic, spatio-temporal potential of MBVs in Myanmar. RESULTS: Results show that the timing and amplitude of the natural oscillations of our suitability index are highly informative for the temporal patterns of DENV case counts at the country level, and a mosquito-abundance measure at a city level. When projected at fine spatial scales, the suitability index suggests that the time period of highest MBV transmission potential is between June and October independently of geographical location. Higher potential is nonetheless found along the middle axis of the country and in particular in the southern corridor of international borders with Thailand. DISCUSSION: This research complements and expands our current understanding of MBV transmission potential in Myanmar, by identifying key spatial heterogeneities and temporal windows of importance for surveillance and control. We discuss our findings in the context of Zika virus given its recent worldwide emergence, public health impact, and current lack of information on its epidemiology and transmission potential in Myanmar. The proposed suitability index here demonstrated is applicable to other regions of the world for which surveillance data is missing, either due to lack of resources or absence of an MBV of interest.

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya Virus in a Rural Community in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is currently expanding. In 2015, 38,332 cases of Chikungunya were reported to the Brazilian epidemiological surveillance system. Eighteen months after notification of the first case in the city of Feira de Santana, we conducted the first serosurvey to define the magnitude of transmission in a rural community in Brazil. METHODOLOGY/MAIN FINDINGS: The serosurvey was conducted in a random sample of 450 residences in the Chapada district, located 100 kilometers from Feira de Santana. We administered questionnaires and tested 120 sera from Chapada district residents for CHIKV IgM- and IgG-specific antibodies. An individual with CHIKV infection was defined as any person with CHIKV IgM or IgG antibodies detected in the serum. One Hundred cases of Chikungunya were reported after prolonged rainfall, which reinforced the relationship between the rainfall index and CHIKV transmission. Eighteen months after the start of the outbreak, we identified a seroprevalence of 20% (95% CI, 15.4-35%). CHIKV IgG- and IgM-specific antibodies were detected in 22/120 (18.3%) and 6/120 (5.0%) individuals, respectively. Among seropositive patients, 13/24 (54.2%) reported fever and joint pain over the previous two years (p<0.01). The rate of symptomatic CHIKV infection was 40.7%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We identified a moderate seroprevalence of Chikungunya in the Chapada district, and in half of the confirmed CHIKV infections, patients reported arthralgia and fever over the previous two years.

Distribuição espacial de dengue, chikungunya e Zika e os determinantes socioeconômicos em um município da Bahia / Spatial distribution of dengue, chikungunya and Zika and the socioeconomic determinants in a municipality of Bahia

Introdução: desde 1996, o município de Feira de Santana, na Bahia, apresenta sucessivas epidemias de dengue, sendo as mais importantes, do ponto de vista de incidência da doença, as relatadas em 2002 e 2009, com elevados números de casos registrados, hospitalizações e óbitos. Em 2015, houve destaque no registro de casos das três arboviroses, sendo que além da dengue, observase a introdução da chikungunya em 2014 e da Zika em 2015. O índice alto de infestação do Aedes aegypti nas áreas urbana e rural do município pode ter contribuído para a dispersão do vírus. Objetivo: analisar a distribuição espacial da incidência das três arboviroses nas áreas urbana (bairros) e rural (distritos) do município do estudo e avaliar a relação entre os casos das arboviroses e os determinantes socioeconômicos. Metodologia: estudo descritivo realizado em Feira de Santana, no período de 2009 a 2017. Os dados foram distribuídos com auxílio do QGIS por bairros e distritos, apresentados em mapas temáticos. Utilizou-se o programa estatístico Stata versão 14 para análise de dados. Resultados: o estudo mostrou que os bairros localizados na periferia do município e os distritos apresentaram as maiores incidências e as piores condições socioeconômicas, além da co-circulação das três arboviroses na mesma área geográfica e no mesmo período. Conclusão: faz-se necessário ter uma rede de diagnóstico e de vigilância epidemiológica e entomológica consolidada a fim de melhorar o controle destas arboviroses e aprimorar a assistência à saúde.

Introduction: Since 1996, the municipality of Feira de Santana, in Bahia, has presented successive dengue epidemics, the most important, from the point of view of the incidence of the disease, those reported in 2002 and 2009, with high numbers of registered cases, hospitalizations and deaths. In 2015, there was a highlight in the case report of the three arboviruses, and in addition to dengue, there was the introduction of chikungunya in 2014 and Zika in 2015. The high rate of Aedes aegypti infestation in urban and rural areas of the municipality can have contributed to the spread of the virus. Objective: to analyze the spatial distribution of the incidence of the three arboviruses in the urban (neighborhoods) and rural (districts) areas of the municipality of the study and to evaluate the relationship between the cases of arboviruses and the socioeconomic determinants. Methods: a descriptive study carried out in Feira de Santana, from 2009 to 2017. The data were distributed with the aid of QGIS by neighborhoods and districts, presented in thematic maps. The statistical program Stata version 14 was used for data analysis. Results: The study showed that the neighborhoods located on the outskirts of the municipality and the districts had the highest incidences and the worst socioeconomic conditions, in addition to the co-circulation of the three arboviruses in the same geographical area and in the same period. Conclusion: it is necessary to have a consolidated epidemiological and entomological diagnostic and surveillance network in order to improve the control of these arboviruses and improve health care.

Epidemiological and ecological determinants of Zika virus transmission in an urban setting.

The Zika virus has emerged as a global public health concern. Its rapid geographic expansion is attributed to the success of Aedes mosquito vectors, but local epidemiological drivers are still poorly understood. Feira de Santana played a pivotal role in the Chikungunya epidemic in Brazil and was one of the first urban centres to report Zika infections. Using a climate-driven transmission model and notified Zika case data, we show that a low observation rate and high vectorial capacity translated into a significant attack rate during the 2015 outbreak, with a subsequent decline in 2016 and fade-out in 2017 due to herd-immunity. We find a potential Zika-related, low risk for microcephaly per pregnancy, but with significant public health impact given high attack rates. The balance between the loss of herd-immunity and viral re-importation will dictate future transmission potential of Zika in this urban setting.

Epidemiology of Chikungunya Virus in Bahia, Brazil, 2014-2015.

Chikungunya is an emerging arbovirus that is characterized into four lineages. One of these, the Asian genotype, has spread rapidly in the Americas after its introduction in the Saint Martin island in October 2013. Unexpectedly, a new lineage, the East-Central-South African genotype, was introduced from Angola in the end of May 2014 in Feira de Santana (FSA), the second largest city in Bahia state, Brazil, where over 5,500 cases have now been reported. Number weekly cases of clinically confirmed CHIKV in FSA were analysed alongside with urban district of residence of CHIKV cases reported between June 2014 and October collected from the municipality's surveillance network. The number of cases per week from June 2014 until September 2015 reveals two distinct transmission waves. The first wave ignited in June and transmission ceased by December 2014. However, a second transmission wave started in January and peaked in May 2015, 8 months after the first wave peak, and this time in phase with Dengue virus and Zika virus transmission, which ceased when minimum temperature dropped to approximately 15°C. We find that shorter travelling times from the district where the outbreak first emerged to other urban districts of FSA were strongly associated with incidence in each district in 2014 (R(2)).

Zika virus in the Americas: Early epidemiological and genetic findings.

Brazil has experienced an unprecedented epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV), with ~30,000 cases reported to date. ZIKV was first detected in Brazil in May 2015, and cases of microcephaly potentially associated with ZIKV infection were identified in November 2015. We performed next-generation sequencing to generate seven Brazilian ZIKV genomes sampled from four self-limited cases, one blood donor, one fatal adult case, and one newborn with microcephaly and congenital malformations. Results of phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses show a single introduction of ZIKV into the Americas, which we estimated to have occurred between May and December 2013, more than 12 months before the detection of ZIKV in Brazil. The estimated date of origin coincides with an increase in air passengers to Brazil from ZIKV-endemic areas, as well as with reported outbreaks in the Pacific Islands. ZIKV genomes from Brazil are phylogenetically interspersed with those from other South American and Caribbean countries. Mapping mutations onto existing structural models revealed the context of viral amino acid changes present in the outbreak lineage; however, no shared amino acid changes were found among the three currently available virus genomes from microcephaly cases. Municipality-level incidence data indicate that reports of suspected microcephaly in Brazil best correlate with ZIKV incidence around week 17 of pregnancy, although this correlation does not demonstrate causation. Our genetic description and analysis of ZIKV isolates in Brazil provide a baseline for future studies of the evolution and molecular epidemiology of this emerging virus in the Americas.

Prevalência e caracterização de enteroparasitos em análises de fezes em um distrito da Bahia, Brasil / Prevalence and characterization of endoparasites in fecal analyzes in a neighborhood of the State of Bahia, Brazil / Prevalencia y caracterización de enteroparásitos en muestra de heces de un distrito de Bahía, Brasil

As enteroparasitoses acometem grande número de pessoas, e sua frequência está associada a condições socioeconômicas e de saneamento básico, representando um problema de saúde pública. Apesar da transição epidemiológica mundial, muitos países, como o Brasil, ainda mantêm nas doenças parasitárias importante causa de morbimortalidade. Este artigo tem como objetivo descrever a prevalência de enteroparasitos em exames parasitológicos de fezes em uma unidade laboratorial de um distrito de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil. Foram incluídos 2.304 pacientes que realizaram exames parasitológicos de fezes, entre março de 2011 e junho de 2013, e excluídos os sem dados. As variáveis foram obtidas da base de dados do laboratório local e os dados foram analisados utilizando o software SPSS, versão 17.0. Os pacientes estudados foram com frequência mulheres (59,0%) e com idade inferior a 40 anos (66,2%). Parasitos intestinais foram encontrados em 1.112 pacientes (48,3%). Protozoários representaram 93,3%, e helmintos, 10,3%. O monoparasitismo foi predominante (72,2%). Os parasitos mais frequentes foram Giardia lamblia (8,7%), seguido de Entamoeba histolytica (6,6%), Ancylostomideo SP (4,6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (2,0%), Hymenolepis SP (1,7%) e Schistosoma mansoni (1,6%). A prevalência de enteroparasitos foi elevada, com predominância de protozoários e monoparasitoses, e o perfil da população estudada caracterizou-se por maior frequência de mulheres e adultos jovens.

The endoparasites affect large number of people; their frequency is associated with socioeconomic conditions and basic sanitation, representing a public health problem. Despite the worldwide epidemiological transition, many countries, such as Brazil, still have a major cause of morbidity and mortality in parasitic diseases. To describe the prevalence of endoparasites in parasitological exams of feces in a laboratorial unit in a district of Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil. The study included 2,304 patients that underwent parasitological stool testes between March 2011 and June 2013, absent from missing data. The variables were obtained from the local laboratory database. The data were analyzed using software SPSS v. 17.0. The patients studied were more frequently women (59.0%) and younger than 40 years (66.2%). Intestinal parasites were found in 1,112 patients (48.3%). Protozoa represent 93.3% and helminthes 10.3%. The monoparasitism was prevailing (72.2%). The more frequent parasites were Giardia lamblia (8.7%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (6.6%), Ancylostomideo SP (4.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (2.0%), Hymenolepis SP (1.7%) and Schistosoma mansoni (1.6%). The prevalence of endoparasites increased; protozoa and monoparasites predominated; and the studied population's profile was characterized by a higher frequency of women and young adults.

Los enteroparásitos acometen a un gran número de personas, y esta frecuencia está asociada a condiciones socioeconómicas y de saneamiento básico que indican un problema de salud pública. Pese a la transición epidemiológica mundial, muchos países como Brasil todavía mantienen un relevante reflejo de morbimortalidad a causa de enfermedades por parásitos. Este artículo tuvo como objetivo describir la prevalencia de enteroparásitos en muestras parasitológicas de heces en una unidad laboratorial de un distrito de Feira de Santana, Bahía, Brasil. Se incluyeron a 2.304 pacientes que realizaron muestras parasitológicas de heces entre marzo de 2011 a junio de 2013, y se excluyeron a los participantes con datos ausentes. Las variables obtenidas fueron basadas en datos del laboratorio local, y para el análisis de datos se utilizó el programa SPSS, versión 17.0. Hubo un predominio de la población femenina (59,0%) y con edad inferior a 40 años (66,2%). Se encontró parásitos intestinales en 1.112 pacientes (48,3%). Los protozoarios representaron el 93,3%; y los helmintos, 10,3%. Hubo mayor predominancia de un solo parásito (72,2%). Los parásitos más frecuentes fueron: Giardia lamblia (8,7%), seguido de Entamoeba histolytica (6,6%), Ancylostomideo SP (4,6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (2,0%), Hymenolepis SP (1,7%) y Schistosoma mansoni (1,6%). La prevalencia de enteroparásitos fue elevada, predominaron protozoarios y un solo parásito; y el perfil de la población estudiada se ha caracterizado por una mayor frecuencia en mujeres y adultos jóvenes.

Itinerário terapêutico das famílias de crianças com microcefalia / Itinerario terapéutico de familias de niños con microcefalia / Therapeutic itinerary of families of children with microcephaly

Objetivo analisar o itinerário terapêutico de famílias de crianças com microcefalia no interior da Bahia. Método estudo qualitativo, descritivo-exploratório, realizado no Centro de Apoio aos Pais de Crianças acometidas pela Síndrome Congênita associada ao Zika Vírus no interior da Bahia. Participaram nove familiares de crianças cadastradas nesse serviço. Os dados foram coletados de julho a novembro de 2017, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, e analisados por meio da Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados emergiram três categorias: Itinerário para o Diagnóstico, Itinerário Terapêutico para acompanhamento da criança com Microcefalia e Suporte Social para o cuidado da criança com microcefalia. Conclusão o itinerário terapêutico de famílias de crianças com microcefalia no interior da Bahia destacou o sistema profissional e incluiu a dificuldade para o diagnóstico, a rede social e a espiritualidade, que apareceram como importantes suportes a esses familiares para o cuidado cotidiano, e valorização das crenças e cuidado cotidiano das famílias, que permitiram maior vínculo com a equipe de saúde.

Objetivo analizar el itinerario terapéutico de familias de niños con microcefalia en una ciudad de la región campesina del estado de Bahia. Método estudio cualitativo y descriptivo-exploratorio, hecho en el Centro para el Apoyo a los Padres de Niños con la Síndrome Congénita asociada al Virus Zika en una ciudad en la región campesina de Bahia. Se colectó a los datos desde julio hacia noviembre 2017, con entrevistas semiestructuradas analizadas por medio del Análisis de Contenido de Bardin. Resultados tres categorías emergieron: El Itinerario hacia un Diagnóstico, El Itinerario Terapéutico en el Seguimiento del tratamiento al niño con Microcefalia, y el Apoyo Social para el cuidado con el niño con microcefalia. Conclusión el itinerario terapéutico de niños con microcefalia en una ciudad de la región campesina de Bahia destacó el sistema profesional, incluyendo las dificultades en encontrar un diagnóstico. La red social y la espiritualidad también se mostraron herramientas de apoyo importantes para que esos familiares pudieran ofrecer cuidado diario, y para valorizar sus creencias y cuidar diariamente de sus familias, permitiendo que tengan una conexión mayor con el equipo de salud.

Objective analyzing the therapeutic itinerary of families of children with microcephaly in the countryside of the state of Bahia. Method qualitative and descriptive-exploratory study, carried out in the Center for the Support of the Parents of Children affected by the Congenital Syndrome associated to the Zika Virus in the countryside of Bahia. Nine relatives of children registered in the service participated. Data were collected from July to November 2017, through semistructured interviews, and analyzed through Bardin's Content Analysis. Results three categories emerged: The Itinerary towards a Diagnostic, The Therapeutic Itinerary for the follow-up of the Child with Microcephaly, and the Social Support for the care of the child with microcephaly. Conclusion the therapeutic itinerary of children with microcephaly in the countryside of Bahia highlighted the professional system, including the difficulties in finding a diagnostic, in addition to the social network and spirituality, which were shown to be important support tools for these relatives to provide daily care, and for the valuing of beliefs and of the daily care of families, which allowed for a greater link with the health team.

Vivências de mães que tiveram filhos com microcefalia / Experiencias de madres que tuvieron hijos con microcefalia / Experiences of mothers who had children with microcephaly

Objetivo compreender as vivências de mães que tiveram filhos com microcefalia. Método estudo qualitativo realizado com oito mulheres, maiores de 18 anos. Foi aplicada a técnica da entrevista semiestruturada em abril de 2017. Para a análise dos dados, utilizou-se a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Resultados emergiram três categorias analíticas: a vivência do diagnóstico da microcefalia: ótica de mães; encontros e (des)encontros dos pais e da família no cuidado à criança com microcefalia; aprendizado com os desafios da microcefalia. As falas revelaram a força de vontade e a determinação das mães no enfrentamento das dificuldades, apesar da vivência marcada por expressões de sofrimento e dor. Conclusão a situação vivenciada por mães que tiveram filhos com microcefalia gera incertezas em relação ao futuro do filho, altera a dinâmica familiar, a relação do casal, o rendimento financeiro e determina a opção de abandonar o trabalho profissional para cuidar do filho.

Objetivo comprender las experiencias de las madres que tuvieron hijos con microcefalia. Método estudio cualitativo realizado con ocho mujeres, mayores de 18 años. Se aplicó la técnica de entrevista semiestructurada en abril de 2017. Para analizar los datos, se utilizó la técnica de análisis de contenido. Resultados emergieron tres categorías analíticas: la experiencia del diagnóstico de microcefalia: punto de vista de las madres; encuentros y (des)encuentros de los padres y de la familia en el cuidado del niño con microcefalia; aprendizaje con los desafíos de la microcefalia. Los relatos revelaron la fuerza de voluntad y la determinación de las madres al enfrentar las dificultades, a pesar de la experiencia marcada por expresiones de sufrimiento y dolor. Conclusión La situación vivida por las madres que tuvieron hijos con microcefalia genera incertidumbres relacionadas al futuro del hijo, altera la dinámica familiar, la relación de la pareja, el rendimiento financiero y determina la opción de abandonar el trabajo profesional para cuidar al hijo.

Objective understand the experiences of mothers who had children with microcephaly. Method this is a qualitative study carried out with eight women aged 18 years and older. The semi-structured interview technique was applied in April 2017. For the analysis of the data, the technique of content analysis was used. Results three analytical categories emerged: the experience of the diagnosis of microcephaly: mothers' optics; encounters and disagreements of the parents and the family in the care of the child with microcephaly; learning with the challenges of microcephaly. The speeches revealed the willpower and determination of the mothers in facing the difficulties, despite the experience marked by expressions of suffering and pain. Conclusion the situation experienced by mothers who had children with microcephaly generates uncertainties regarding the future of the child, changes the family dynamics, the relationship of the couple, and the income, and defines the option to abandon the professional work to take care of the child.

Movimento social de bairro: potencialidades e limites da participação em conselhos locais de saúde num município de interior no nordeste brasileiro / Social movement of neighborhood: potentialities and limits of participation in local health councils in a municipality of interior in the brazilian northeast

Objetivo: Compreender potencialidades e limites da experiência de ser conselheiro local de saúde, segundo a realidade de um município de interior, no nordeste brasileiro, e de acordo com as próprias representações desses cidadãos quanto à participação popular e controle social. Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo, exploratório, com técnica de observação sistemática e entrevista semiestruturada realizado com 14 conselheiros, em Feira de Santana/BA. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo temático-categorial. Resultados: Dos participantes da pesquisa, nove eram homens e cinco eram mulheres. A ocupação predominante foi a de agentes comunitários de saúde. O desenvolvimento da autonomia em manifestações sociais de interesse às políticas públicas, a construções de relações interpessoais de convivência coletiva, o sentimento de representar uma comunidade de pessoas e liderar a manifestação de interesses sociais locais foram as principais potencialidades identificadas. Os limites experienciados residem na pouca assiduidade dos conselheiros às reuniões, pouco apoio da comunidade onde o conselho está implantado, ações de cooptação política que tentam inviabilizar as atividades deliberativas do conselho, autoritarismo e pouca transparência da gestão municipal, além da precária estrutura física, que dificulta o desenvolvimento das atividades do conselho. Considerações finais: O desenvolvimento de atividades de educação permanente pode ser considerado como uma estratégia para a superação dos limites evidenciados pelo estudo. Tais atividades podem produzir afetividade nas pessoas em prol da maior participação no Conselho Local de Saúde, como induzir os gestores a refletirem sobre a responsabilidade com a transparência dos atos administrativos e com a construção de políticas participativas. Cabe ainda explorar outros mecanismos de participação social que podem ser agenciados, principalmente aqueles implicados em ações externas à estrutura estatal, como os Fóruns Populares de Saúde, que não configuram instâncias previstas em lei. (AU)

Understand the potentialities and experience limits to be a local counselors of health, in the reality from city of countryside, in Brazilian northeast, according to the representations of these people about popular participation and social control. Methodology: Qualitative study, exploratory, with observation technical systemic and semi structure interview realized with 14 counselors, in Feira de Santana/BA. The dates were submitted for analysis of content thematic- categorial. Results: The Research participants, nine were men and five were women. The predominant occupation was of community agents of health. The development of autonomy in the social manifestations of interest public policy, the construction of interpersonal relationship of collective coexistence, the feeling of represent a community of people and lead the manifestation of social interest local were the main potentialities identified. The limits experienced living in the low attendance of counselors on the meeting, low support of community where the council is it, actions of political cooptation that try to impede the deliberative activities of the council, authoritarianism and low transparency of municipal management, beyond of precarious physical structure that hinders the development of council activities. Final considerations: The development of education activities can be considerate ass a strategy for overcoming of limits evidenced on study. Such actions can produce affectivity on people to better participation on local council of health, like to induce managers to reflect on responsibility for the transparency of administrative acts and with the construction of participatory politics. Still exploring other mechanisms of social participation that can be agitated, mainly those implicated in extern actions on state structure, like the popular health forum, and that not configure instances in law.(AU)

Ser Conselheiro Local de Saúde em Feira de Santana, Bahia / Being Local Health Councillor in Feira De Santana, Bahia / Ser Consejero de Salud Local En Feira De Santana, Bahia

O controle social local visa ampliar a descentralização das ações que buscam a redução das iniquidades o poder de acompanhar, avaliar e indicar prioridades para as práticas de saúde, bem como para outras intersetoriais. A pesquisa teve como objetivo compreender a participação dos conselheiros locais de saúde de Feira de Santana no exercício do controle social no Sistema Único de Saúde. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório com abordagem qualitativa, realizado com conselheiros locais de saúde, titulares, de todos os bairros que possuíam Conselhos Locais de Saúde implantados até 2012. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada, a observação sistemática e a análise documental. A análise de conteúdo temática foi a técnica de análise de dados que mais se adequou ao estudo. Os resultados indicaram que a participação dos conselheiros sustentava-se em discussões e deliberações acerca da atenção primária em saúde, do transporte, da educação e da segurança pública. Eles enalteciam a realização do trabalho coletivo, com responsabilidade mútua entre a comunidade e seus representantes dentro dos Conselhos Locais, convivendo com o sentimento de doação e de voluntariedade. Ressalta-se que a expansão dos conselhos representa um fortalecimento da descentralização do controle social, com vistas a facilitar a análise das especificidades locais e reunir condições favoráveis à mudança dos processos decisórios.

The local social control aims at increasing the decentralization of actions towards the reduction of social inequities, capillarizing the power to monitor, evaluate and indicate priorities for health practices, as well as for other intersectoral ones. The objective of the research was to understand the participation of the local health councillors of Feira de Santana on the exercise of social control in the Unified Health System. This is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach, carried out with local health councillors, from all of the neighborhoods that had Local Health Councils implemented until 2012. For the data collection, semi-structured interview, systematic observation and documentary analysis were used. The analysis of thematic content was the most appropriate data analysis technique for the study. The results indicated that the participation of the councillors was based on discussions and deliberations about primary health care, transportation, education and public safety. They extolled the realization of collective work, with mutual responsibility between the community and its representatives within the Local Councils, living with the feeling of giving and willingness. It should be emphasized that the expansion of the councils represents a strengthening of the decentralization of social control, in order to facilitate the analysis of the local specificities and to gather favorable conditions for the change of decision-making processes.

El control social local tiene como objetivo aumentar la descentralización de las acciones encaminadas a reducir las desigualdades sociales, capilarizando la facultad de supervisar, evaluar e indicar las prioridades para las prácticas de salud, así como para otras intersectoriales. La investigación tuvo como objetivo comprender la participación de los consejeros locales de salud de Feira de Santana en el ejercicio del control social en el Sistema Nacional de Salud. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo exploratorio, realizado con los consejeros locales de salud, los titulares de todos los barrios que tenían Consejos Locales de Salud hasta 2012. Para la recogida de datos, fueron utilizados una entrevista semiestructurada, la observación sistemática y el análisis de documentos. El análisis de contenido fue la técnica de análisis de datos más adecuada al estudio. Los resultados indicaron que la participación de los consejeros consiste en discusiones y deliberaciones sobre la atención primaria de salud, el transporte, la educación y la seguridad pública. Ensalzaron la realización de un trabajo colectivo, con la responsabilidad mutua entre la comunidad y sus representantes en los consejos locales, que viven con la sensación de donación y voluntariedad. Destacase que la expansión de las juntas es un fortalecimiento de la descentralización del control social, con el fin de facilitar el análisis de las condiciones locales y de proporcionar condiciones favorables para cambiar los procesos decisorios.

Os processos de capacitação em vigilância epidemiológica: um estudo de caso / The processes of training in epidemiological surveillance: a case study

Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo de caso, que tem como objetivo analisar os processos de capacitação em Vigilância Epidemiológica (VE) em um SUS municipal. O referencial teórico está embasado nos fundamentos conceituais da Educação enquanto ação transformadora, com ênfase nas concepções da Educação Permanente em Saúde (EPS). Os dados primários foram coletados através de entrevista semi-estruturada com gestores, trabalhadores da vigilância epidemiológica, das Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) e das Unidades de Saúde da Família (USF). Os dados secundários foram obtidos através da análise de documentos. Para análise dos dados foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo temática, de Bardin (1979). A pesquisa demonstrou que os processos de capacitação em VE são predominantemente caracterizados como pontuais, técnicos, emergenciais, impositivos e centrados nas doenças, evidenciando a hegemonia do modelo biomédico. Quanto ao planejamento e avaliação, foram considerados pouco participativos. A (des) integração do trabalho e pouca articulação intra e intersetorial, com processos de capacitação descontextualizados da realidade dos serviços, foram evidenciados. Entretanto, de forma incipiente, foram apontadas experiências inovadoras, com processos de capacitação mais participativos e com o uso de metodologias vinculadas ao contexto do trabalho das equipes de saúde. Para os sujeitos da pesquisa, os processos de capacitação em VE são importantes e necessários; porém, da forma como vêm sendo desenvolvidos, mostram-se pouco eficazes para promoverem mudanças significativas nas práticas dos trabalhadores e nas organizações. Desta forma, conclui-se que os processos de capacitação em VE podem se constituir em estratégias de gestão, de mudanças de práticas e do modelo de atenção, desde que estes se aproximem das concepções da Educação Permanente em Saúde, onde o espaço de trabalho se constitua em um espaço de ensino ­ aprendizagem para gestores, trabalhadores e população em busca de mudanças para a saúde.(AU)