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BACKGROUND: The role of bats as reservoirs of zoonotic agents, especially pathogenic bacteria such as Bartonella and Coxiella, has been discussed around the world. Recent studies have identified bats as potential hosts of species from the proteobacteria phylum. In Brazil, however, the role of bats in the natural cycle of these agents is poorly investigated and generally neglected. In order to analyze the participation of bats in the epidemiology of diseases caused by Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological study in three biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. RESULTS: Tissues of 119 bats captured in preserved areas in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2015 were submitted to molecular analysis using specific primers. Bartonella spp. was detected in 22 spleen samples (18.5%, 95% CI: 11.9-26.6), whose phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of at least two independent clusters, suggesting that these may be new unique genotypes of Bartonella species. In addition, four samples (3.4%, 95% CI: 0.9-8.3) were positive for the htpAB gene of C. burnetii [spleen (2), liver (1) and heart (1)]. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma and Ehrlichia were not identified. This is the first study reporting C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. infections in bats from the Atlantic Forest biome. CONCLUSIONS: These findings shed light on potential host range for these bacteria, which are characterized as important zoonotic pathogens.
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Bartonella/isolamento & purificação , Quirópteros/microbiologia , Coxiella/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Bartonella/genética , Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Coxiella/genética , DNA Bacteriano , Feminino , Florestas , Bactérias Gram-Negativas , Masculino , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Baço/microbiologia , Zoonoses/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Anthropogenic environmental changes arising from settlement and agriculture include deforestation and replacement of natural vegetation by crops providing opportunities for pathogen spillover from animals to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of rodent-borne virus infections in seven rural settlements from Midwestern Brazil. Of the 466 individuals tested 12 (2.57%) were reactive for orthohantavirus and 3 (0.64%) for mammarenavirus. These rural settlers lived under unfavorable infrastructure, socioeconomic disadvantages, and unsanitary conditions, representing a risk for rodent-borne infections. Development of public policies towards the improvement of health, sanitation and awareness of rodent-borne diseases in improvised camps and settlements is imperative, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by these diseases.
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Infecções por Arenaviridae/epidemiologia , Vetores de Doenças/classificação , Infecções por Hantavirus/epidemiologia , Roedores/virologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Infecções por Arenaviridae/diagnóstico , Infecções por Arenaviridae/transmissão , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Infecções por Hantavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Hantavirus/transmissão , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Roedores/classificação , População Rural , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This review aims to provide current information about Q fever, elucidating the etiological, epidemiological, pathogenic, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic aspects of the disease for the medical community. We discuss the main forms of presentation of the agent, its ability to persist in the body, the infinite possibilities of susceptible hosts, the main known forms of transmission, its importance in populations at occupational risk, and the role of arthropods in the natural history of the disease. Focusing on Brazil, we present the cases already described and studies developed since its first report, and how there is still much to unravel. We are aware of the possibilities of the persistence of the agent and the development of severe clinical pictures and the specific treatments currently instituted. We also wish to raise awareness about the future, the new genotypes that are emerging, the need to study the effects of vaccines, and the impact of Q fever on the population. Q fever is a poorly understood disease in Latin America, and recent studies, especially in Brazil, have revealed the importance of developing new studies.
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Febre Q , Animais , Humanos , Febre Q/diagnóstico , Febre Q/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Zoonoses/epidemiologia , GenótipoRESUMO
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247560.].
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Feline Bartonella can be transmitted to humans through cat scratches or bites, and between cats, by the flea Ctenocephalides felis. The study was carried out in order to investigate the occurrence of Bartonella DNA in cats living in shelters and their ectoparasites and the relationship between the infection status of cats and ectoparasites they host. Bartonella DNA was detected in 47.8% of the cat blood samples, 18.3% of C. felis fleas, 13.3% of flea egg pools and 12.5% of lice pools. B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae DNA were detected in cat fleas, while B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae and B. koehlerae were found in blood samples from bacteremic cats. Cats infested by positive ectoparasites showed approximately twice the odds of being infected. Our results indicate that shelter cats have high prevalence of Bartonella species that are known to be human pathogens. This highlights the importance of controlling infestations by ectoparasites to avoid cat and human infection.
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Infecções por Bartonella , Bartonella , Doenças do Gato , Ctenocephalides , Infestações por Pulgas , Animais , Bartonella/genética , Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Infecções por Bartonella/veterinária , Brasil/epidemiologia , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Gatos , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Infestações por Pulgas/epidemiologia , Infestações por Pulgas/veterinária , PrevalênciaRESUMO
Brazilian spotted fever, a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We report a fulminant case of this zoonosis in a healthy 46-year-old military man in the urban region of Rio de Janeiro city, in October, 2021. Ticks and capybaras (Amblyomma sculptum, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, respectively) were identified in the military fields, pointing to the participation of this large synanthropic rodent, recognized as an efficient amplifier host of Rickettsia rickettsii in Brazil. As the military population is considered a risk group for spotted fever, it is necessary to alert health professionals to the importance of the early detection of the disease and its adequate management, mainly in populations that are particularly at risk of exposure to ticks, in order to avoid fatal outcomes.
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Militares , Febre Maculosa das Montanhas Rochosas , Carrapatos , Animais , Humanos , Febre Maculosa das Montanhas Rochosas/diagnóstico , Febre Maculosa das Montanhas Rochosas/epidemiologia , Febre Maculosa das Montanhas Rochosas/microbiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Rickettsia rickettsii , Roedores , Carrapatos/microbiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Due to immunological susceptibility, close contact with the environment and way of life, indigenous communities are in a highly vulnerable condition to be affected by zoonoses, such as bartonellosis. METHODS: Seventy three paired serum samples were collected from indigenous people from a region of the Brazilian Legal Amazon, in cohorts carried out in 2014 and 2015, with the performance of serological tests by indirect immunofluorescence to detect anti-Bartonella IgG antibodies. The interviews and laboratory results were double entered in the EpiInfo 7 software, and the data processing was performed in the MiniTab 17 software. RESULTS: 5.47% of the indigenous people were seroreagent. The female gender was predominant (65.75%), aged between 20 and 39 years old (39.73%) with complete elementary school (42.47%). As for housing, wooden residences predominated (50.68%). Rodents were seen by 46.58% of the interviewees, and 55.88% of them reported that the animal was close to or inside the house. It was identified that each indigenous family, in its majority, had four to six cats, for the function of hunters of rodents. CONCLUSION: The high concentration of domestic cats, the close contact of indigenous people with wild rodents and the lack of care and poor hygiene of both are aspects that imply the possibility of infection by Bartonella sp. Health surveillance through seroepidemiological studies is essential to find evidence of the circulation of bartonellosis in these populations.
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Infecções por Bartonella , Bartonella , Doenças do Gato , Animais , Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Infecções por Bartonella/veterinária , Brasil/epidemiologia , Gatos , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , ZoonosesRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to describe a COVID-19 cluster and the strategies used to contain the virus, in a municipality in the interior region of Mato Grosso state, Brazil. METHODS: this is a descriptive study of documental records of an epidemiological investigation conducted in April 2020. RESULTS: introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in the municipality was identified through a cluster comprised of five people, 4 were symptomatic and 1 was asymptomatic, after the virus was imported by index cases C01 and C02; in addition to household transmission (C03, C04), a physiotherapist (C05) was infected through contact with C02; with the exception of C04, all had an influenza-like symptoms and C02 required hospitalization; as for laboratory tests, all were seroreactive and C01 was RT-PCR positive. CONCLUSION: dissemination of COVID-19 was contained by effective home isolation, an important instrument that should be adopted early by unaffected municipalities to contain virus dissemination, as well as by serological testing that detected infection in asymptomatic patients.
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Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Isolamento de Pacientes , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , COVID-19 , Teste para COVID-19 , Criança , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The Amazon tropical rainforest has the most dense and diverse ecosystem worldwide. A few studies have addressed rodent-borne diseases as potential hazards to humans in this region. METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting mammarenavirus and orthohantavirus antibodies in 206 samples collected from rural settlers of the Brazilian Western Amazonian region. RESULTS: Six (2.91%) individuals in the age group of 16 to 36 years were found to possess antibodies against mammarenavirus. CONCLUSION: Evidence of previous exposure to mammarenavirus in the rural population points to its silent circulation in this region.
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Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Infecções por Arenaviridae/epidemiologia , Arenaviridae/imunologia , Reservatórios de Doenças/veterinária , Hepatite Viral Humana/epidemiologia , Orthohepadnavirus/imunologia , Roedores/virologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Arenaviridae/classificação , Infecções por Arenaviridae/diagnóstico , Infecções por Arenaviridae/transmissão , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Hepatite Viral Humana/diagnóstico , Hepatite Viral Humana/transmissão , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Orthohepadnavirus/classificação , Estudos Retrospectivos , Roedores/classificação , População Rural , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Cats are considered main reservoir of Bartonella henselae, which is transmitted to other cats especially through Ctenocephalides felis fleas, and to humans through scratching and biting. Serra da Tiririca State Park (PESET) is an Atlantic Forest area that shelters a wide variety of endemic fauna. Recently, the park has been suffering due to irregular housing construction and domestic animal population that interacts with humans and wildlife. Given that surveillance policies for animals are part of the global Strategic Framework for One Health, the aim of this study was to detect Bartonella spp. DNA in cats and dogs, evaluating laboratory changes and associated factors. Blood samples of 124 dogs and 89 cats were collected for hematology and serum chemistry analysis. DNA was extracted and tested by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting a fragment of the citrate synthase (gltA) gene of Bartonella spp. with specific primers. Positive samples were sequenced to identify species. Bartonella henselae and B. clarridgeiae were detected in 24.7% of cats, being, for our knowledge, the first report of B. clarridgeiae in cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. None of the samples obtained from dogs tested positive in the PCR assays. No statistical significance was observed in physical and laboratory exams. We suggest that cats that inhabit PESET can be considered sources of Bartonella sp. for other cats and humans. We highlight that infected cats did not present clinical or laboratory alterations. We alert for the need of care measures, avoiding scratch and bite, particularly in immunocompromised people.
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Infecções por Bartonella/veterinária , Bartonella henselae , Doenças do Gato/sangue , DNA Bacteriano/sangue , Doenças do Cão/sangue , Animais , Infecções por Bartonella/sangue , Bartonella henselae/genética , Brasil , Gatos , Reservatórios de Doenças/microbiologia , Cães , Feminino , Masculino , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Floresta ÚmidaRESUMO
Toxoplasma gondii is the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, a widespread zoonosis that affects several homeothermic animals, including humans. This disease causes serious health problems, such that 10% of infected individuals develop clinical manifestations. Some studies on indigenous human populations have indicated variations in seroprevalence from 10.6% to 80.4% in such populations in different regions of Brazil and in other countries like Venezuela and Malaysia. To date, there have been no studies regarding the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in Haliti-Paresí Indians living in Campo Novo do Parecis, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Our objective here was to determine the frequency of occurrence of antibodies against this protozoon in nine Haliti-Paresí villages by correlating seroprevalence with locations and variables. Serodiagnoses were made using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis and Other Protozoan Diseases of IOC/Fiocruz. It was considered that samples tested positive for T. gondii infection if IgG/IgM antibodies against this protozoon were detected through serodiagnosis using either IFAT or ELISA. Among the 293 samples analyzed, 66.9% presented anti-T. gondii IgG and 3.4% presented anti-T. gondii IgM. It was observed that there were no statistically significant differences in frequency of antibody occurrence among infected individuals, based on sex, schooling or occupation/activities. However, there were statistical differences based on age and villages. The prevalence observed in this study is in agreement with values found in other studies on indigenous populations in Latin America. Like among other such populations, the Haliti-Paresí villages are located close to forests and the individuals have domestic cats as pets, are involved in hunting and farming and consume water directly from water accumulation sources. These factors might cause exposure to T. gondii tissue cysts and oocysts.
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People living in mining regions are exposed to numerous biological agents by several specific types of transmission mechanisms. This study is designed to describe fatal hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) cases confirmed by serology and molecular analysis, where a seroprevalence survey was conducted in the gold mining regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in the official Amazon region, Brazil. Two fatal cases of HPS were confirmed in a mining area in the Legal Amazon, where malaria is one of the most important public health problems. A molecular analysis detected the presence of the genome of the Castelo dos Sonhos virus. Out of the 112 blood samples analyzed, five were positive for Plasmodium infection (four P. falciparum and one P. vivax), and four were seropositive for hantavirus, showing a seroprevalence of 3.57%. One of the four miners who was seroreactive for hantavirus concomitantly had P. falciparum infection, which was confirmed by thick blood smear. This manuscript highlights the importance of considering hantavirus pulmonary syndrome as a diagnostic possibility in febrile infection associated with pulmonary manifestations in mining areas where malaria cases are often identified.
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Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/epidemiologia , Malária/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Ouro , Orthohantavírus/genética , Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/sangue , Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/microbiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Malária/sangue , Malária/microbiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mineração , Filogenia , Plasmodium/imunologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is an important emergent zoonosis associated with wild rodents in Brazil, where this viral infection in children is generally rare. We present HCPS in a child from the Pantanal Biome and a review of all reported pediatric cases in Mato Grosso State, an endemic area for HCPS in Brazil. The investigation used the Information System for Notifiable Diseases database (SINAN). A 12-year-old boy was hospitalized with fever and respiratory failure and hantavirus IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA in serum samples. During the period of 1999 to 2016, 32 HCPS pediatric cases confirmed by serology were reported to SINAN with a mortality rate of 34.4%. The possibility of hantavirus infection in children with acute febrile illness associated with respiratory failure should be considered mainly in recognized endemic areas as Mato Grosso State, contradicting a hypothesis that children are more protected from lung involvement.
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Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Doenças Endêmicas , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/diagnóstico , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
During the Brazilian slavery period, many African migrants were brought to the American continent. Historically, some of these migrants escaped from the Brazilian gold mines and farms to which they had been brought and settled in remote valleys and this was the main mode of resistance to the slavery system. These runaway-slave descendant communities are called quilombos, a group with distinct ethnic identity, specific behavioral habits, including geographic isolation and conservative practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of rodent-borne viruses in two Afro-descendent communities from Mato Grosso do Sul State, Midwestern Brazil. A total of 319 individuals from rural and urban quilombola communities were enrolled. Twelve (3.76%) had anti-rodent-borne virus IgG antibodies. Seven (2.19%) were anti-mammarenavirus reactive and nine (2.82%) had anti-orthohantavirus antibodies. The literature includes limited data on the health status of quilombola communities, but all the studies emphasize the disparity of attention of local healthcare personnel to these communities compared to the general population. The findings of this study highlight the vulnerability and the precarious health conditions of quilombola groups, especially those living in rural areas and thus, point to the need of preventive measures to improve access to healthcare for this ethnic group.
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Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Infecções por Arenaviridae/epidemiologia , Arenaviridae/imunologia , Infecções por Hantavirus/epidemiologia , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Orthohantavírus/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Infecções por Arenaviridae/diagnóstico , População Negra , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Infecções por Hantavirus/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Roedores/virologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Orthohantavirus infection is a neglected global health problem affecting approximately 200,000 people/year, spread by rodent hosts and associated to fatal human diseases, such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and orthohantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). Circulation of HFRS-associated orthohantaviruses, such as Seoul, Gou, Amur, Dobrava and Hantaan, are supposed to be restricted to Eurasian countries even though their hosts can be a worldwide distribution. Few confirmed HFRS orthohantavirus infections in humans have been reported in American countries, but due to lower medical awareness of the symptoms of this zoonosis, it could be associated to viral underreporting or to misdiagnosis with several tropical hemorrhagic diseases. Serological evidence of orthohantavirus infections, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the presence of immunoglobulin M and G against recombinant nucleoprotein protein, remains as an essential assay for viral surveillance. In this study, we aimed to identify in silico immunogenic B-cell linear epitopes present on orthohantavirus nucleoprotein that are exclusive to HFRS-related species. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In silico analysis were performed using Seoul orthohantavirus nucleoprotein (SHNP) sequence as a model. Linear B-cell-epitopes on SHNP and its immunogenicity were predicted by BepiPred-2.0 and Vaxijen algorithms, respectively. The conservancy of predicted epitopes was compared with the most clinically relevant HFRS or HCPS-associated orthohantavirus, aiming to identify specific sequences from HFRS-orthohantavirus. Peptide validation was carried out by ELISA using Balb/c mice sera immunized with purified recombinant rSHNP. Peptides cross-reactivity against HCPS orthohantavirus were evaluated using immunized sera from mice injected with recombinant Juquitiba orthohantavirus nucleoprotein (rJHNP). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: In silico analysis revealed nine potential immunogenic linear B-cell epitopes from SHNP; among them, SHNP(G72-D110) and SHNP(P251-D264) showed a high degree of sequence conservation among HFRS-related orthohantavirus and were experimentally validated against rSHNP-IMS and negatively validated against rJHNP-IMS. Taken together, we identified and validated two potential antigenic B-cell epitopes on SHNP, which were conserved among HFRS-associated orthohantavirus and could be applied to the development of novel immunodiagnostic tools for orthohantavirus surveillance.
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Mapeamento de Epitopos , Epitopos de Linfócito B/imunologia , Vírus Seoul/imunologia , Animais , Antígenos Virais/administração & dosagem , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Biologia Computacional , Epitopos de Linfócito B/genética , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Vírus Seoul/genéticaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a systemic infectious disease requiring a multidisciplinary team for treatment. This study presents the epidemiological and clinical data of 73 cases of IE in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: This observational prospective cohort study of endocarditis patients during an eight-year study period described 73 episodes of IE in 70 patients (three had IE twice). Community-associated (CAIE) and healthcare-acquired infective endocarditis (HAIE) were diagnosed according to the modified Duke criteria. The collected data included demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics, including results of blood cultures, echocardiographic findings, surgical interventions, and outcome. RESULTS: Analysis of data from the eight-year study period and 73 cases (70 patients) of IE showed a mean age of 46 years (SD=2.5 years; 1-84 years) and that 65.7% were male patients. The prevalence of CAIE and HAIE was 32.9% and 67.1%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus (30.1%), Enterococcus spp. (19.1%), and Streptococcus spp. (15.0%) were the prevalent microorganisms. The relevant signals and symptoms were fever (97.2%; mean 38.6 + 0.05°C) and heart murmur (87.6%). Vegetations were observed in the mitral (41.1%) and aortic (27.4%) valves. The mortality rate of the cases was 47.9%. CONCLUSIONS: In multivariate analysis, chronic renal failure (relative risk [RR]= 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-2.55), septic shock (RR= 2.19; 95% CI 1.499-3.22), and age over 60 years (RR= 2.28; 95% CI 1.44-3.59) were indirectly associated with in-hospital mortality. The best prognosis was related to the performance of cardiovascular surgery (hazard ratio [HR]= 0.51; 95% CI 0.26-0.99).
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Endocardite Bacteriana/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Endocardite Bacteriana/diagnóstico , Endocardite Bacteriana/microbiologia , Feminino , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Infecções Estafilocócicas , Staphylococcus aureus/isolamento & purificação , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The increasing use of illicit drugs imposes a public health challenge worldwide. People who inject drugs (PWID) are more susceptible to health complications due to immunosuppression associated with drug use and non-hygienic self-administration of substances, contaminants, and liquids. PWID are subjected to increased risk of acquiring and transmitting different pathogens (frequently functioning as sentinel cases for (re)emerging pathogens), including those transmitted by arthropods and vertebrate reservoirs in unhealthy environments. A clear association between injection drug use and HIV, HBV, and HCV infections has been described; however, other infectious viral and bacterial agents have been seldomly assessed. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Hantavirus among 300 randomly selected PWIDs from Rio de Janeiro, as part of a multi-city cross-sectional study carried out in the 1990s. Point seroprevalences and respective 95% CIs are as follows: 9.3% for C. burnetii (95% CI: 6.0%-13.0%), 1.0% for Bartonella spp. (95% CI: 0.0%-3.0%), and 4.0% for Hantavirus (95% CI: 2.0%-7.0%). In addition to the blood-borne pathogens, the results of this study increase our knowledge on other transmissible infectious agents in PWID. The high seroprevalence of C. burnetii and Hantavirus found among PWID is intriguing and suggests the need to carry out prospective studies, including molecular analyses, to confirm these findings and allow a better understanding of the putative relevance of these zoonotic infectious agents among PWID.
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Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Infecções por Hantavirus/epidemiologia , Febre Q/epidemiologia , Abuso de Substâncias por Via Intravenosa/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Bartonella/isolamento & purificação , Bancos de Sangue , Brasil/epidemiologia , Coxiella burnetii/isolamento & purificação , Feminino , Técnica Indireta de Fluorescência para Anticorpo , Orthohantavírus/isolamento & purificação , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Abuso de Substâncias por Via Intravenosa/microbiologia , Abuso de Substâncias por Via Intravenosa/virologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
ABSTRACT This review aims to provide current information about Q fever, elucidating the etiological, epidemiological, pathogenic, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic aspects of the disease for the medical community. We discuss the main forms of presentation of the agent, its ability to persist in the body, the infinite possibilities of susceptible hosts, the main known forms of transmission, its importance in populations at occupational risk, and the role of arthropods in the natural history of the disease. Focusing on Brazil, we present the cases already described and studies developed since its first report, and how there is still much to unravel. We are aware of the possibilities of the persistence of the agent and the development of severe clinical pictures and the specific treatments currently instituted. We also wish to raise awareness about the future, the new genotypes that are emerging, the need to study the effects of vaccines, and the impact of Q fever on the population. Q fever is a poorly understood disease in Latin America, and recent studies, especially in Brazil, have revealed the importance of developing new studies.
RESUMO
This study verified the occurrence of Bartonella spp. in dogs, cats, wild mammals and their ectoparasites in Petrolina and Lagoa Grande Counties, Pernambuco, located in a semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. Anti-Bartonella spp. antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in 24.8% of dogs (27/109) and in 15% of cats (6/40). Bartonella sp. DNA was identified by PCR performed on DNA extracted from blood and ectoparasites using primers targeting Bartonella sp. gltA and ribC genes in 100% (9/9) of Pulex irritans from Cerdocyon thous, 57.4% (35/61) of P. irritans from dogs, 2.3% (1/43) of Ctenocephalides felis felis from dogs, 53.3% (24/45) of C. felis felis from cats, and 10% (1/10) of Polyplax spp. from Thrichomys apereoides. DNA sequencing identified Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae in C. felis felis from cats, Bartonella rochalimae in P. irritans from dog and C. thous, and Bartonella vinsoni berkhofii in P. irritans from dog.
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Infecções por Bartonella/veterinária , Bartonella/isolamento & purificação , Infestações por Pulgas/veterinária , Infestações por Piolhos/veterinária , Infestações por Carrapato/veterinária , Animais , Animais Selvagens/microbiologia , Animais Selvagens/parasitologia , Bartonella/genética , Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Brasil , Canidae/microbiologia , Canidae/parasitologia , Gatos , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Cães , Técnica Indireta de Fluorescência para Anticorpo , Marsupiais/microbiologia , Marsupiais/parasitologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Roedores/microbiologia , Roedores/parasitologiaRESUMO
Abstract Feline Bartonella can be transmitted to humans through cat scratches or bites, and between cats, by the flea Ctenocephalides felis. The study was carried out in order to investigate the occurrence of Bartonella DNA in cats living in shelters and their ectoparasites and the relationship between the infection status of cats and ectoparasites they host. Bartonella DNA was detected in 47.8% of the cat blood samples, 18.3% of C. felis fleas, 13.3% of flea egg pools and 12.5% of lice pools. B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae DNA were detected in cat fleas, while B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae and B. koehlerae were found in blood samples from bacteremic cats. Cats infested by positive ectoparasites showed approximately twice the odds of being infected. Our results indicate that shelter cats have high prevalence of Bartonella species that are known to be human pathogens. This highlights the importance of controlling infestations by ectoparasites to avoid cat and human infection.
Resumo Algumas espécies de Bartonella têm os felinos como principais hospedeiros reservatórios. Tais patógenos são transmitidos ao homem por intermédio da arranhadura ou mordedura de gatos e entre os gatos, por meio da pulga Ctenocephalides felis. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a ocorrência de DNA de Bartonella spp. em gatos de abrigos e seus ectoparasitas e a relação entre o estado de infecção dos gatos e dos ectoparasitas albergados por estes. Material genético bacteriano foi detectado em 47,8% das amostras de sangue de gatos, 18,3% das pulgas C. felis, 13,3% dos "pools" de ovos de pulgas e 12,5% dos "pools" de piolhos. DNA de B. henselae e B. clarridgeiae foi detectado em pulgas, e B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae e B. koehlerae, em amostras de sangue de gatos. Gatos infestados por ectoparasitas que carreavam DNA de Bartonella spp. demonstraram aproximadamente o dobro de chance de estarem infectados. Esses resultados indicam que os gatos de abrigos têm alta prevalência de infecção por espécies de Bartonella, capazes de causar doenças no homem. E também destacam a importância do controle e prevenção da infestação por ectoparasitas, no intuito de prevenir a infecção em gatos e humanos.