Psychometric properties of the health literacy instrument in Brazil (HLS-EU-BR47).

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is a key component of health promotion and sustainability and contributes to well-being. Despite its global relevance, HL is an under-researched topic in South America but is now debuting its exploration in Brazil. To leverage its benefits for South America, the mere translation of validated tools into Portuguese is insufficient. Rather, it is necessary to examine their validity. This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-BR47) using the Item Response Theory (IRT) in a population-based sample of adults in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional online study was conducted across Brazil and included 1028 participants aged 18 years and above (80% women). Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, factor analysis, graded responses model, Item Characteristic Curve, HL levels based on this, HL standard calculation, IRT, and regular score correlation were computed. RESULTS: The instrument exhibit high reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.95). Factor analysis yielded one factor. IRT was appropriate for data analysis because it allowed quality evaluation of items and constructed a scale to quantify HL. The 47 items and latent features of respondents in the same unit of measurement are positioned in the construction of the HLS-EU-BR47 instrument. The percentages of individuals at each HL level, calculated using IRT, were found to be comparable to those obtained through the standard computation, e.g., 3.2% of people reported very low HL versus 10.8% inadequate HL, 56.2% reported low HL versus 39.5% problematic HL, 31.1% had moderate HL versus 30.1% sufficient HL, and 9.5% had high HL versus 19.7% with excellent HL. The mean HL scores were comparable between women and men (33.9 vs. 33.7, P = 0.36). CONCLUSION: This study provides new evidence of the validity of a widely used HL instrument for the population of South America (in this case, Brazil). This tool can be utilized by citizens, health professionals, and regional/national policymakers to inform the development of initiatives to assess and improve the HL of individuals, groups, and communities. Further studies are needed to confirm and extend the findings and to explore the influence of local cultures and practices in the vast Brazilian territory on HL.

Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) spread-prevention actions on urban water consumption.

This article aims to assess the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) spread-prevention actions on water consumption, based on a case study in Joinville, Southern Brazil. Residential water consumption data, obtained through telemetry in two periods (before and after a governmental action imposing quarantine and social isolation), were analyzed. Complementarily, the analyses were also applied to the commercial, industrial and public consumption categories. For the analysis, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests were applied and Prais-Winsten regression models were adjusted. The results of the Wilcoxon test show that there are significant differences between the analyzed periods, indicating a water consumption drop in the commercial, industrial and public categories, and an increase in the residential category. The regression model results confirm the effect of the restrictive actions in reducing consumption in non-residential categories. The results also indicate an increase in water consumption, which was steeper in apartment buildings than in houses, whether isolated or grouped in condominiums. A weak association was found between the variation in water consumption and the spatial distribution of buildings. Understanding water consumption related aspects is important to gather essential information to ensure the urban water supply system is resilient in a pandemic situation.

Ivermectin Inhibits the Replication of Usutu Virus In Vitro.

Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquito-borne arbovirus within the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Similar to the closely related West Nile virus (WNV), USUV infections are capable of causing mass mortality in wild and captive birds, especially blackbirds. In the last few years, a massive spread of USUV was present in the avian population of Germany and other European countries. To date, no specific antiviral therapies are available. Nine different approved drugs were tested for their antiviral effects on the replication of USUV in vitro in a screening assay. Ivermectin was identified as a potent inhibitor of USUV replication in three cell types from different species, such as simian Vero CCL-81, human A549 and avian TME R. A 2- to 7-log10 reduction of the viral titer in the supernatant was detected at a non-cytotoxic concentration of 5 µM ivermectin dependent on the applied cell line. IC50 values of ivermectin against USUV lineage Africa 3 was found to be 0.55 µM in Vero CCL-81, 1.94 µM in A549 and 1.38 µM in TME-R cells. The antiviral efficacy was comparable between the USUV lineages Africa 2, Africa 3 and Europe 3. These findings show that ivermectin may be a candidate for further experimental and clinical studies addressing the treatment of USUV disease, especially in captive birds.

Prevalence of self-reported dental pain and associated factors among eight- to ten-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of self-reported dental pain and its association with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral/psychosocial indicators among 8- to 10-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1,589 eight- to ten-year-old children randomly selected from public schools of Florianopolis, Brazil. Self-reports of dental pain were collected through a single question as follows: "In the last month, how many times have you had pain in your teeth?" Caries experience was determined by the DMFT/dmft index and its clinical consequences by the PUFA/pufa index. Dental trauma, dental fluorosis and molar-incisor hypomineralization were assessed through the Andreasen, Dean and European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry classifications, respectively. Clinical signs of dental erosion were also observed. Sociodemographic indicators were obtained through a questionnaire answered by the children's caregivers. Information about behavioral/psychosocial indicators was collected through questions from the Brazilian version of the Child Perception Questionnaire 8-10 years (CPQ8-10). Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression models were performed. RESULTS: 819 children (51.5%) reported episodes of dental pain in the last month prior to the study, whereas 55.6% (n = 509) were girls. The presence of dental pain was significantly associated with sex, trouble sleeping, difficulty eating, school absenteeism, difficulty with paying attention in class, difficulty doing homework, staying away from recreational activities, caries experience, PUFA/pufa index and ulceration (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of self-reported dental pain in 8- to 10- year-old Brazilian schoolchildren was high and was associated with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral/psychosocial indicators.

Infection of the enteric nervous system by Borna disease virus (BDV) upregulates expression of Calbindin D-28k.

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic agent infecting distinct neuronal subpopulations in the central nervous system of various mammalian species possibly including humans. Horses, a major natural host for BDV, show gastrointestinal dysfunctions besides characteristic neurological symptoms. Therefore, we hypothesized that enteric neurons may be targets of BDV replication. The presence of BDV-specific antigen in subpopulations of the ENS was investigated. Four-week-old Lewis rats were infected intracerebrally and sacrificed 4-14 weeks post infection (p.i.). BDV-immunoreactive neurons were found in submucous and myenteric neurons of the proximal colon. Fourteen weeks p.i., the proportion of BDV-positive neurons was 44+/-17 and 24+/-7% in the submucous and myenteric plexus, respectively. The majority of BDV-positive myenteric neurons showed immunoreactivity for choline acetyltransferase. Expression of Calbindin D-28k (CALB) was found in 96% of submucous and 67% of myenteric BDV-immunoreactive neurons. Additionally, the number of CALB-immunoreactive neurons was significantly higher in the myenteric plexus of infected rats compared to controls. These data indicate that BDV infects specific subpopulations of enteric neurons. Therefore, the ENS might serve as a site for BDV replication and as an immunoprivileged reservoir for BDV. In addition, upregulation of CALB in neurons of the myenteric plexus is probably induced during BDV-infection.

Detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA and anti-Coxiella burnetii IgG antibodies in precolostral blood samples of stillborn calves in an endemically infected Holstein dairy herd.

Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), an intracellular zoonotic bacterium causing Q fever, occurs widely in cattle herds. After invasion of the pregnant uterus and initial localization in the placenta, active C. burnetii infections may spread to the fetus hematogenously or by the amniotic-oral route and thus may cause abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth, and weak offspring (APSW) complex. In a case-control study, we investigated precolostral blood samples of 56 stillborn calves and 30 live births from a dairy herd endemically infected with C. burnetii "C-cluster" strains and an increased stillbirth rate in primiparous cows. Within the group of the stillborn calves, four precolostral blood samples (7.1%) were tested positive for C. burnetii DNA by PCR and one serum sample (1.8%) positive for anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies by a commercial ELISA test, respectively. Neither C. burnetii DNA nor anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies were detected in the samples of calves being born alive. In conclusion, we demonstrated that coxiellaemia and precolostral seroconversion occurred sporadically in stillborn calves from this endemically infected herd. Due to the low detection rates, C. burnetii could not be confirmed to be the cause of the increased stillbirth rate.

The Occurrence of a Commercial Npro and Erns Double Mutant BVDV-1 Live-Vaccine Strain in Newborn Calves.

The major source for the spread of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are in-utero infected, immunotolerant, persistently infected (PI) animals since they shed enormous amounts of viruses throughout their lives. During the sequence-based virus typing of diagnostic ear notch samples performed in the context of the obligatory German BVDV eradication program, the commercial Npro and Erns double mutant BVDV-1 live-vaccine strain KE-9 was detected in seven newborn calves; their mothers were immunized in the first trimester of gestation. Six calves either succumbed or were culled immediately, but the one remaining animal was closely monitored for six months. The viral RNA was detected in the skin sample taken in its first and fifth week of life, but the virus could not be isolated. Further skin biopsies that were taken at monthly intervals as well as every serum and urine sample, nasal, oral, and rectal swabs taken weekly tested BVDV negative. However, neutralizing titers against BVDV-1 remained at a consistently high level. To further control for virus shedding, a BVDV antibody and antigen negative calf was co-housed which remained negative throughout the study. The missing viremia, a lack of excretion of infectious virus and negative follow-up skin samples combined with consistently high antibody titers speak against the induction of the classical persistent infection by vaccination with recombinant KE-9 during gestation. We, therefore, suggest that the epidemiological impact of the RNA/antigen positivity for an extended period in the skin is very low. The detection of live-vaccine viruses in skin biopsies mainly represents a diagnostic issue in countries that implemented ear notch-based control programs; and KE9-specific RT-PCRs or sequence analysis can be used to identify these animals and avoid culling measures.

A Novel Squirrel Respirovirus with Putative Zoonotic Potential.

In a globalized world, the threat of emerging pathogens plays an increasing role, especially if their zoonotic potential is unknown. In this study, a novel respirovirus, family Paramyxoviridae, was isolated from a Sri Lankan Giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura), which originated in Sri Lanka and deceased with severe pneumonia in a German zoo. The full-genome characterization of this novel virus, tentatively named Giant squirrel respirovirus (GSqRV), revealed similarities to murine (71%), as well as human respiroviruses (68%) with unique features, for example, a different genome length and a putative additional accessory protein. Congruently, phylogenetic analyses showed a solitary position of GSqRV between known murine and human respiroviruses, implicating a putative zoonotic potential. A tailored real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for specific detection of GSqRV confirmed a very high viral load in the lung, and, to a lesser extent, in the brain of the deceased animal. A pilot study on indigenous and exotic squirrels did not reveal additional cases in Germany. Therefore, further research is essential to assess the geographic distribution, host range, and zoonotic potential of this novel viral pathogen.

Investigation of musculoskeletal symptoms in a manufacturing company in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent and represent the most common health problem among the working population in industrially-developing countries, with considerable costs and impact on quality of life. Despite the high incidence of disability insurance claims among Brazilian manufacturing-sector workers, only a few studies assessed musculoskeletal disorders prevalence. OBJECTIVE: To provide information on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among manufacturing-sector workers and to explore the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and sociodemographic and occupational characteristics in a medium metallurgical company located in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Data was collected through the use of a specifically-designed questionnaire and the items used to collect musculoskeletal disorders data were based on the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used and multivariate logistic regression analysis (p<0.02) was performed to explore the associations between musculoskeletal disorders and potential risk factors. RESULTS: The upper limb was the most frequently affected body region among manufacturing-sector workers: shoulder (24.8%), elbow and/or forearm (15.5%), wrist and/or hand (19.0%). Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that company experience (p=0.02), presence of sleep disorders (p=0.00), self-reported general health state (p=0.00) and perform work pause (p=0.00) were significant risk factors for development of musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic and work-related aspects are influential risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. These results add comprehension about musculoskeletal disorders prevalence and suggest a need for greater emphasis on prevention strategies.

IMPACT OF DENTAL TRAUMA AND ESTHETIC IMPAIRMENT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. / O IMPACTO DO TRAUMATISMO DENTAL E DO COMPROMETIMENTO ESTÉTICO NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE PRÉ-ESCOLARES.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of dental trauma and impaired esthetics on the quality of life (QoL) of preschool children and their relatives. METHODS: Study conducted with 192 children aged 2 to 5 years in 11 preschools in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, South of Brazil. Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire on quality of life (Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scales - B-ECOHIS), a socioeconomic survey, and then answered specific questions related to dental trauma. The subjects were examined by three accordant examiners (Kappa>0.7). Dental trauma was evaluated on the basis of indexes adopted by the World Health Organization, and esthetic impairment was then classified. Data were descriptively analyzed and put to bivariate analysis by chi-square and Fisher tests, with significance level at 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental trauma was 62.5% with 15.6% of esthetic impairment. Almost 12% of parents reported impact on the quality of life of their children. Dental trauma was not significantly associated with gender, age or QoL. Crown color change by trauma was associated with esthetic impairment. Also esthetic impairment had a negative impact on QoL (p<0.05) and was associated with oral limitations (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Esthetic impairment had a negative impact on children's quality of life, while dental trauma was not associated to it.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto do trauma dental (TD) e do comprometimento estético na qualidade de vida (QV) de pré-escolares e familiares. MÉTODOS: Este estudo foi realizado com crianças de 2 a 5 anos em 11 pré-escolas de Florianópolis (SC), Brasil. Os pais/responsáveis preencheram a versão brasileira do questionário sobre QV Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scales (B-ECOHIS), um questionário socioeconômico e perguntas específicas sobre TD. As crianças foram examinadas por três examinadores calibrados (kappa>0,7). O TD foi avaliado de acordo com os índices adotados pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), e o comprometimento estético também foi classificado. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente e submetidos à análise bivariada por qui-quadrado e teste de Fisher, sendo significante p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Dos pré-escolares examinados, 62,5% foram diagnosticados com trauma e 15,6% com comprometimento estético, e somente 12% dos pais relatou que seus filhos apresentam impacto na QV. O TD não se associou a sexo, idade ou QV. A alteração de cor da coroa por TD relacionou-se ao comprometimento estético, e apenas este causou impacto negativo na QV (p<0,05) e se associou ao domínio limitações orais (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: O comprometimento estético causou impacto negativo na QV das crianças, e o trauma dental não se associou com a QV das crianças nem de suas famílias.

Crown discoloration promoted by materials used in regenerative endodontic procedures and effect of dental bleaching: spectrophotometric analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess tooth crown's color after intracanal treatment with triple antibiotic paste (TAP) or calcium hydroxide (CH); cervical sealing with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA); and bleaching with carbamide peroxide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After pulp removal and color spectrophotometer measurement, 50 bovine incisors were divided into 4 experimental groups and one control (untreated). Experiments were performed in phases (Ph). Ph1: TAP (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, minocycline), TAPM (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, amoxicillin), DAP (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole), or CH treatment groups. After 1 and 3 days (d); 1, 2, 3 weeks (w); and 1, 2, 3 and 4 months (m), color was measured and medications were removed. Ph2: GIC or MTA cervical sealing, each using half of the specimens from each group. Color was assessed after 1d, 3d; 1w, 2w, 3w; 1m and 2m. Ph3: Two bleaching sessions, each followed by color measurement. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and post-hoc Holm-Sidak method. RESULTS: Ph1: Specimens of TAP group presented higher color alteration (ΔE) mean than those of TAPM group. No significant difference was found among TAP or TAPM and CH, DAP or Control groups. Ph2: cervical sealing materials showed no influence on color alteration. Ph3: Different ΔE means (from different groups), prior to bleaching, became equivalent after one bleaching session. CONCLUSIONS: TAP induces higher color alteration than TAPM; color alteration increases over time; cervical sealing material has no influence on color alteration; and, dental bleaching was able to recover, at least partially, the tooth crown's color.

Crown discoloration promoted by materials used in regenerative endodontic procedures and effect of dental bleaching: spectrophotometric analysis

Abstract Regenerative endodontic procedure (REP) has been proposed as a new approach to treat immature permanent teeth. However, materials used in REP for root canal disinfection or cervical sealing may induce tooth discoloration. Objectives To assess tooth crown’s color after intracanal treatment with triple antibiotic paste (TAP) or calcium hydroxide (CH); cervical sealing with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA); and bleaching with carbamide peroxide. Material and Methods After pulp removal and color spectrophotometer measurement, 50 bovine incisors were divided into 4 experimental groups and one control (untreated). Experiments were performed in phases (Ph). Ph1: TAP (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, minocycline), TAPM (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, amoxicillin), DAP (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole), or CH treatment groups. After 1 and 3 days (d); 1, 2, 3 weeks (w); and 1, 2, 3 and 4 months (m), color was measured and medications were removed. Ph2: GIC or MTA cervical sealing, each using half of the specimens from each group. Color was assessed after 1d, 3d; 1w, 2w, 3w; 1m and 2m. Ph3: Two bleaching sessions, each followed by color measurement. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and post-hoc Holm-Sidak method. Results Ph1: Specimens of TAP group presented higher color alteration (ΔE) mean than those of TAPM group. No significant difference was found among TAP or TAPM and CH, DAP or Control groups. Ph2: cervical sealing materials showed no influence on color alteration. Ph3: Different ΔE means (from different groups), prior to bleaching, became equivalent after one bleaching session. Conclusions TAP induces higher color alteration than TAPM; color alteration increases over time; cervical sealing material has no influence on color alteration; and, dental bleaching was able to recover, at least partially, the tooth crown’s color.

Avaliação radiográfica e em microscopica eletrônica de varredura de remanescentes de obturação após a re-instrumentação endodôntica / Radiographic and scanning electron microscopic assessment of root canal filling remnants after endodontic re-instrumentation

Objetivo: Falhas no tratamento endodôntico podem ocorrer por várias razões. O retratamento endodôntico é uma alternativa interessante para tratar esse problema clínico. No entanto, não é possível remover completamente o material obturador do canal radicular por qualquer das técnicas atuais de retratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de resíduos de material obturador após a re-instrumentação endodôntica. Material e Métodos: Sessenta dentes anteriores humanos foram preparados pela técnica escalonada com Flexofiles, limas K e brocas GatesGlidden (GG). Entre o uso de cada instrumento ou broca, os canais radiculares foram irrigados com hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl). A lama dentinária foi removida por irrigação com ácido etilenodiaminotetraacético e NaOCl. Após secagem com pontas de papel, os canais radiculares foram divididos aleatoriamente em 5 grupos (n = 12), de acordo com o material obturador: cones Resilon/cimento Real Seal ou cones de guta-percha e cimento Endofill, Sealapex, AH Plus ou MTA Fillapex. Após uma semana, o material obturador foi removido usando Eucaliptol e K-files. Os canais radiculares foram re-instrumentados com limas K e brocas GG de tamanhos maiores do que as anteriormente usadas. A presença de remanescente de material obturador no canal radicular foi analisada por radiografia e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste de Regressão Logística Binária (P < 0,05). Resultados: As análises radiográfica e por MEV mostraram que o material do grupo MTA Fillapex foi melhor removido do que o dos grupos Endofill, Sealapex, AH Plus e Real Seal. Conclusão: Após a re-instrumentação, o grupo MTA Fillapex apresentou menos remanescentes nos canais radiculares que os grupos Endofill, Sealapex, AH Plus e Real Seal. O material residual foi encontrado mais frequentemente no terço apical. (AU)

Objective: Failures in endodontic treatment may occur by several reasons. Endodontic retreatment is an interesting alternative to manage this clinical problem. However, it is not possible to completely remove the root canal filling by any current retreatment technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of residual root canal filling materials after endodontic reinstrumentation. Material and Methods: Sixty extracted anterior human teeth were prepared by step-back technique with Flexofiles, K-files and Gates-Glidden (GG) burs. Between the use of each file or bur, root canals were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Smear layer was removed by irrigation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and NaOCl. After drying with paper points the root canals were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 12), according to filling material: Resilon cones/Real Seal sealer or gutta-percha cones and Endofill, Sealapex, AH Plus or MTA Fillapex sealers. After one week, root canal fillings were removed using Eucaliptol and K-files. Root canals were reinstrumented with K-files and GG burs sized larger than the first ones. The removal of root canal filling material was analyzed by radiography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using Binary Logistic Regression test (P < 0.05). Results: Radiographic and SEM analysis showed that material from the MTA Fillapex group was better removed than that from Endofill, Sealapex, AH Plus and Real Seal groups. Conclusion: After re-instrumentation, MTA Fillapex group showed less remnants into the root canals than Endofill, Sealapex, AH Plus and Real Seal groups. Residual material was most often found in the apical third(AU)

O impacto do traumatismo dental e do comprometimento estético na qualidade de vida de pré-escolares / Impact of dental trauma and esthetic impairment on the quality of life of preschool children

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto do trauma dental (TD) e do comprometimento estético na qualidade de vida (QV) de pré-escolares e familiares. Métodos: Este estudo foi realizado com crianças de 2 a 5 anos em 11 pré-escolas de Florianópolis (SC), Brasil. Os pais/responsáveis preencheram a versão brasileira do questionário sobre QV Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scales (B-ECOHIS), um questionário socioeconômico e perguntas específicas sobre TD. As crianças foram examinadas por três examinadores calibrados (kappa>0,7). O TD foi avaliado de acordo com os índices adotados pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), e o comprometimento estético também foi classificado. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente e submetidos à análise bivariada por qui-quadrado e teste de Fisher, sendo significante p<0,05. Resultados: Dos pré-escolares examinados, 62,5% foram diagnosticados com trauma e 15,6% com comprometimento estético, e somente 12% dos pais relatou que seus filhos apresentam impacto na QV. O TD não se associou a sexo, idade ou QV. A alteração de cor da coroa por TD relacionou-se ao comprometimento estético, e apenas este causou impacto negativo na QV (p<0,05) e se associou ao domínio limitações orais (p<0,05). Conclusões: O comprometimento estético causou impacto negativo na QV das crianças, e o trauma dental não se associou com a QV das crianças nem de suas famílias.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of dental trauma and impaired esthetics on the quality of life (QoL) of preschool children and their relatives. Methods: Study conducted with 192 children aged 2 to 5 years in 11 preschools in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, South of Brazil. Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire on quality of life (Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scales - B-ECOHIS), a socioeconomic survey, and then answered specific questions related to dental trauma. The subjects were examined by three accordant examiners (Kappa>0.7). Dental trauma was evaluated on the basis of indexes adopted by the World Health Organization, and esthetic impairment was then classified. Data were descriptively analyzed and put to bivariate analysis by chi-square and Fisher tests, with significance level at 5%. Results: The prevalence of dental trauma was 62.5% with 15.6% of esthetic impairment. Almost 12% of parents reported impact on the quality of life of their children. Dental trauma was not significantly associated with gender, age or QoL. Crown color change by trauma was associated with esthetic impairment. Also esthetic impairment had a negative impact on QoL (p<0.05) and was associated with oral limitations (p<0.05). Conclusions: Esthetic impairment had a negative impact on children's quality of life, while dental trauma was not associated to it.

Persistence of Borna disease virus in naturally infected sheep.

To get an insight into Borna disease virus (BDV) epidemiology, an isolated flock of approximately 25 sheep within the region of Southeast Germany to which the disease is endemic was investigated over a 3-year observation period. BDV-specific antibodies and RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected in 12.5 (year 1), 11.5 (year 2), and 19.4% (year 3) and 1.6 (year 1), 0 (year 2), and 14.9% (year 3) of the animals, respectively. BDV persisted in asymptomatic sheep for up to 2 years. Significantly higher numbers of antibody-positive animals were detected seasonally in spring and early summer, the times when usually most of the clinical cases of Borna disease occur. In spring of the third year, numbers of antibody-positive and viral-RNA-positive animals increased significantly despite their having no obvious clinical symptoms. The removal of all antibody- and RNA-positive animals from the flock did not reduce the prevalence of BDV infections in the following year. During a 3-month observation period of three antibody-positive animals, viral RNA was repeatedly detected by reverse transcription-PCR in nasal secretions, saliva, and conjunctival fluids. Sequence analysis revealed clustered nucleotide exchanges among sheep BDV p24 genomes, which differed at five positions from the clustered nucleotide exchanges seen in horse BDV p24 genomes.