Wastewater-based epidemiology as a useful tool to track SARS-CoV-2 and support public health policies at municipal level in Brazil.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been applied as a complementary approach for spatial tracking of coronavirus disease 2019 cases (COVID-19) as well as early warning of the occurrence of infected populations. The present study presents the result of the monitoring of sanitary sewerage in the municipality of Niterói, a metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and its use as a complementary indicator in the surveillance of COVID-19 cases, thus assisting actions of public health from local authorities. Twelve composite raw sewage samples were weekly collected from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and alternately from 17 sewer pipes (SP) from surrounding neighbourhoods and slums throughout 20 weeks (April 15th to August 25th, 2020). Two hundred twenty-three samples were concentrated using the ultracentrifugation-based method and SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected and quantified by RT-qPCR using primers and probe targeting the N2 genome. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 84.3% (188/223) of samples with a positive rate ranging from 42% (5/12) in the first week of monitoring to 100% during the peak of epidemic with viral concentration ranging from 3.1 to 7.1 log10 genome copies /100 mL throughout the studied period. Positive rates were higher in WWTPs when compared to SP, being useful tool for monitoring trends in the evolution of the COVID-19 curve, while SP data were more effective when health public interventions were needed. Whole-genome sequencing using Illumina MiSeq System confirmed the lineage of three genomes as B.1.1.33 (clade G) containing the nucleotide substitutions observed in strains that circulate in the Rio de Janeiro during the period of this study. In addition, geoprocessing tool was used to build heat maps based on SARS-CoV-2 data from sewage samples, which were weekly updated and available online to the general population as an indicator of the ongoing epidemic situation in Niterói city, raising public awareness.

Effectiveness of Wolbachia-infected mosquito deployments in reducing the incidence of dengue and other Aedes-borne diseases in Niterói, Brazil: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of the bacterium Wolbachia (wMel strain) into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes reduces their capacity to transmit dengue and other arboviruses. Evidence of a reduction in dengue case incidence following field releases of wMel-infected Ae. aegypti has been reported previously from a cluster randomised controlled trial in Indonesia, and quasi-experimental studies in Indonesia and northern Australia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Following pilot releases in 2015-2016 and a period of intensive community engagement, deployments of adult wMel-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were conducted in Niterói, Brazil during 2017-2019. Deployments were phased across four release zones, with a total area of 83 km2 and a residential population of approximately 373,000. A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of wMel deployments in reducing dengue, chikungunya and Zika incidence. An untreated control zone was pre-defined, which was comparable to the intervention area in historical dengue trends. The wMel intervention effect was estimated by controlled interrupted time series analysis of monthly dengue, chikungunya and Zika case notifications to the public health surveillance system before, during and after releases, from release zones and the control zone. Three years after commencement of releases, wMel introgression into local Ae. aegypti populations was heterogeneous throughout Niterói, reaching a high prevalence (>80%) in the earliest release zone, and more moderate levels (prevalence 40-70%) elsewhere. Despite this spatial heterogeneity in entomological outcomes, the wMel intervention was associated with a 69% reduction in dengue incidence (95% confidence interval 54%, 79%), a 56% reduction in chikungunya incidence (95%CI 16%, 77%) and a 37% reduction in Zika incidence (95%CI 1%, 60%), in the aggregate release area compared with the pre-defined control area. This significant intervention effect on dengue was replicated across all four release zones, and in three of four zones for chikungunya, though not in individual release zones for Zika. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrate that wMel Wolbachia can be successfully introgressed into Ae. aegypti populations in a large and complex urban setting, and that a significant public health benefit from reduced incidence of Aedes-borne disease accrues even where the prevalence of wMel in local mosquito populations is moderate and spatially heterogeneous. These findings are consistent with the results of randomised and non-randomised field trials in Indonesia and northern Australia, and are supportive of the Wolbachia biocontrol method as a multivalent intervention against dengue, chikungunya and Zika.

The impact of large-scale deployment of Wolbachia mosquitoes on dengue and other Aedes-borne diseases in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói, Brazil: study protocol for a controlled interrupted time series analysis using routine disease surveillance data.

Background: Rio de Janeiro and Niterói are neighbouring cities in southeastern Brazil which experience large dengue epidemics every 2 to 5 years, with >100,000 cases notified in epidemic years. Costs of vector control and direct and indirect costs due to the Aedes-borne diseases dengue, chikungunya and Zika were estimated to total $650 million USD in 2016, but traditional vector control strategies have not been effective in preventing mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. The Wolbachia method is a novel and self-sustaining approach for the biological control of Aedes-borne diseases, in which the transmission potential of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is reduced by stably transfecting them with the Wolbachia bacterium ( wMel strain). This paper describes a study protocol for evaluating the effect of large-scale non-randomised releases of Wolbachia--infected mosquitoes on the incidence of dengue, Zika and chikungunya in the two cities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro. This follows a lead-in period since 2014 involving intensive community engagement, regulatory and public approval, entomological surveys, and small-scale pilot releases. Method: The Wolbachia releases during 2017-2019 covered a combined area of 170 km 2 with a resident population of 1.2 million, across Niterói and Rio de Janeiro. Untreated areas with comparable historical dengue profiles and demographic characteristics have been identified a priori as comparative control areas in each city. The proposed pragmatic epidemiological approach combines a controlled interrupted time series analysis of routinely notified suspected and laboratory-confirmed dengue and chikungunya cases, together with monitoring of Aedes-borne disease activity utilising outbreak signals routinely used in public health disease surveillance. Discussion: If the current project is successful, this model for control of mosquito-borne disease through Wolbachia releases can be expanded nationally and regionally.

Investigation of congenital syphilis cases: tool for surveillance, permanent education and management / Investigação dos casos de sífilis congênita: ferramenta para vigilância, educação permanente e gestão

Introduction: Even though syphilis is an easily detectable and treatable disease, it is still considered a major public health problem, which may lead to Congenital Syphilis (CS). Objective: To analyze the final conclusion and the situations of vulnerability of cases of CS reported in Niterói in 2018 and 2019. Methods: A review of the reported cases of CS, except for abortions, diagnosed in 2018 and 2019, was carried out through SINAN forms and research questionnaires. Results: Of the 46 cases of CS in 2018 and the 107 cases in 2019, 8 (17.4%) and 4 (4%) did not undergo prenatal care, respectively; 2 (4.4%) and 4 (4%) were not screened for CS in the prenatal period; 3 (6.5%) and 13 (12%) were screened, but not treated; 11 (23.9%) and 17 (16%) did not receive an adequate treatment; 1 0 (21.7%) and 23 (21%) were reactive in the screening process, received adequate treatment, but were reinfected; 9 (19.6%) and 32 (30%) were reactive in the screening process, received adequate treatment, but had confirmed CS due to other criteria; 3 (6.5%) and 12 (11%) were nonreactive in prenatal care, but reactive in childbirth; and 0 (0%) and 2 (2%) were reactive, considered a serological scar, untreated, but confirmed by other criteria. The "low-income family" vulnerability aspect appears 21 times in 2018 and 50 times in 2019; "alcohol user", 11 times in 2018; "frequent change of address", 18 times in 2019. Conclusion: The social context of pregnant women living in Niterói in 2018 and 2019 may have determined the outcome of congenital syphilis.

Introdução: A sífilis, embora seja um agravo de fácil detecção e tratamento, ainda é considerada um grave problema de saúde pública, podendo acarretar a sífilis congênita. Objetivo: Analisar a conclusão final e as situações de vulnerabilidade dos casos de sífilis congênita residentes em Niterói (RJ) notificados em 2018 e 2019. Métodos: Foi realizada revisão dos casos de sífilis congênita residentes notificados, exceto abortos, com diagnóstico em 2018 e 2019, por meio das fichas do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação e dos questionários de investigação. Resultados: Dos 46 casos de sífilis congênita em 2018 e 107 em 2019, temos respectivamente que 8 (17,4%) e 4 (4%) não fizeram pré-natal; 2 (4,4%) e 4 (4%) não fizeram triagem para sífilis congênita no pré-natal; 3 (6,5%) e 13 (12%) fizeram triagem, porém não trataram; outros 11 (23,9%) e 17 (16%) não fizeram o tratamento adequado; 10 (21,7%) e 23 (21%) foram reagentes na triagem, tratamento adequado, porém reinfectaram; 9 (19,6%) e 32 (30%) foram reagentes na triagem, tratamento adequado, porém confirmaram sífilis congênita por outros critérios; 3 (6,5%) e 12 (11%) foram não reagentes no pré-natal, porém reagentes no parto; 0 (0%) e 2 (2%) foram reagentes, considerados cicatriz sorológica, não tratados, porém confirmaram por outros critérios. A vulnerabilidade família de baixa renda apareceu 21 vezes em 2018 e 50 vezes em 2019, usuária de álcool (11) em 2018, mudança frequente de domicílio (18) em 2019. Conclusão: O contexto social das gestantes residentes em Niterói em 2018 e 2019 pode ter determinado o desfecho de sífilis congênita.

Violência contra mulheres em Niterói, Rio de Janeiro: informações do Sistema de Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes (2010-2014) / Violence against women in Niterói/RJ: data from the Violence and Accident Surveillance System (2010 to 2014)

Resumo Introdução Violência contra mulheres constitui uma violação dos direitos humanos e um problema de saúde pública. Objetivo Analisar as notificações de violência contra mulheres (10 anos de idade ou mais), residentes em Niterói/RJ (2010-2014). Método Estudo descritivo de série de casos. As fontes de dados foram o Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e o Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS). Foram descritas as distribuições das características de violência e calculadas as taxas de incidência. Resultados Foram notificados 307 episódios de violência com incidência de 26,2/100 mil, decrescente com a idade. O percentual de incompletitude variou de 0 a 65%. Violência física (186) predominou, seguida de violências psicológica (121) e sexual (96) e de negligência (64). As adolescentes foram as principais vítimas de violência sexual (56,3%). Cônjuges, ex-cônjuges, namorados(as), ex-namorados(as) foram autores em 42,6% das agressões físicas, indicando ocorrência de violência entre parceiros íntimos. Mães foram responsáveis por 50,7% das negligências, refletindo a ausência de compartilhamento e a sobrecarga feminina com relação à criação dos filhos. Conclusão As notificações de violência interpessoal/autoprovocada possibilitam intervir caso a caso, e a análise sistemática das informações poderá respaldar a elaboração de políticas e estratégias de prevenção e enfrentamento da violência contra mulheres.

Abstract Background Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a public health problem. Objective To analyze surveillance reports of violence against women (aged 10 years or more), living in Niterói, RJ, from 2010 to 2014. Method Descriptive study based on case series was carried out. Case reports and population estimates were provided, respectively, by the National Surveillance Information System (SINAN) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health (DATASUS). Incidence rates and proportions were calculated according to violence related characteristics. Results There were 307 reported cases of violence with incidence rate 26.2 per 100 thousand in the period studied decreased with age. Data incompleteness ranged from zero to 65%. Physical violence (n=186) was the most frequent type, followed by psychological (n=121), sexual (n=96) and negligence (n=64). Adolescents were the main victim of sexual violence (56.3%). Husband, ex-husband, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend were perpetrators in 42.6% of physical assaults, denoting the occurrence of violence between intimate partners. Mother was considered as the perpetrator in 50.7% of negligence cases, reflecting lack of sharing and female burden related to raising children alone. Conclusion Interpersonal/self-induced violence surveillance allow individual interventions and provide data for policy development towards prevention of violence against women.