Impact of vaccine platform and BCG vaccination on antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination.

Multiple factors, including vaccine platform and prior vaccinations, influence vaccine responses. We compared antibody responses to CoronaVac (Sinovac) and ChAdOx1-S (AstraZeneca-Oxford) vaccination in 874 healthcare workers in Brazil. As participants were randomised to BCG vaccination or placebo in the preceding 0-6 months as part of the BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers (BRACE) trial, we also investigated the influence of recent BCG vaccination on antibody responses to these COVID-19 vaccines. Twenty-eight days after the second dose of each vaccine, ChAdOx1-S induced a stronger anti-spike IgG response than CoronaVac vaccination. Recent BCG vaccination did not impact IgG antibody responses to ChAdOx1-S or CoronaVac.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infection among Japanese immigrants and their descendants living in Southeast Brazil: A call for preventive and control responses.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has worldwide distribution and is considered endemic in southwestern Japan. HTLV-1 infection has been associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) besides other diseases. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors and molecular characterization of HTLV-1, among the world's largest population of Japanese immigrants and their descendants outside of Japan, in São Paulo, Southeast Brazil, as well as to analyze the phylogenetic relationship among isolates of HTLV-1. From July to December 2017, 2,139 individuals from five Japanese associations were interviewed and submitted to blood collection. All serum samples were first tested for the presence of anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies by ELISA and then peripheral blood from individuals with positive serological results were analyzed for the presence of HTLV-1 5'LTR proviral DNA. Partial sequencing of the 5'LTR region of HTLV-1 proviral DNA was performed by Sanger. The prevalence of HTLV-1 infection was 5.1% (CI 95%: 4.2-6.0). In the multiple logistic regression model, HTLV-1 infection was associated with age ≥ 45 years, female sex, being first and second-generation Japanese immigrants, and having sexual partners with history of blood transfusion. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all HTLV-1 were classified as Cosmopolitan (1a) subtype. Of them, 47.8% were classified as Transcontinental (A) subgroup and 52.2% as belonging to the Japanese (B) subgroup. Although most HTLV-1-infected patients were asymptomatic (97.3%), blurred vision was associated with HTLV-1 infection. The high prevalence of HTLV-1 infection found in this studied population and especially the intra- and interfamily HTLV-1 transmission presents an urgent call for preventive and control responses of this infection in Brazil.

Epidemiological and molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus infection in manicurists in Central Brazil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the serological and molecular prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 514 manicurists/pedicurists and identify the risk factors related with this infection. Samples were tested for HBV serological markers, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-HBc-positive samples were tested to investigate occult hepatitis B by PCR. HBsAg-positive samples were genotyped and the viral loads of HBV-DNA positive samples were quantified. The overall HBV prevalence was 5.6% (29/514) and of HBsAg was 0.4% (2/514). One case of occult hepatitis B was found. The genotypes A1 and F2 were identified in two HBsAg-positive samples. Low level of education, not being born in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul and working in the central region of the city were associated with the HBV infection. No single manicurist/pedicurist was infected by HCV or HIV. These findings suggest that despite the exposure to blood contact, this occupation was not associated to an increased risk of acquiring HBV, HCV, and HIV infections.

HTLV-1 intrafamilial transmission among Japanese immigrants in Brazil.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The aim of this study was to investigate the intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1 among Japanese immigrants and their descendants living in a non-endemic area of central Brazil. Six families were investigated. Thirty-seven relatives of the six index cases were tested by ELISA for the presence of anti-HTLV antibodies, and the positive cases were confirmed by Western blot. HTLV-1 isolates were genotyped by partial nucleotide sequencing (5' LTR) of the proviral DNA. All individuals, including index cases and relatives, were asymptomatic. In five families, at least one relative was infected with HTLV-1. In all, eight (22%) relatives (one mother, four wives, one brother, and two brothers-in-law) were infected. However, none of the 22 individuals under 55 years of age was infected. In each family, the HTLV-1 sequences from the relatives were identical or almost identical to that of the index case, except in one case. Pedigrees of the families, together with socio-demographic data of the HTLV-1 infected individuals, strongly suggested the occurrence of both vertical and sexual transmission, with breastfeeding as an important risk factor. Whether and why the virus transmission is less effective among younger generations deserves to be further investigated.

High prevalence of HTLV-1 infection among Japanese immigrants in non-endemic area of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has worldwide distribution and is considered endemic in many world regions, including southwestern Japan and Brazil. Japanese immigrants and their descendants have a high risk of acquiring this infection due to intense population exchange between Brazil and Japan. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HTLV, analyze the main risk factors associated with this infection, identify the main circulating types and subtypes of HTLV in Japanese immigrants and descendants living in Campo Grande-MS (Middle-West Brazil), as well as analyze the phylogenetic relationship among isolates of HTLV. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 219 individuals were interviewed and submitted to blood collection. All collected blood samples were submitted for detection of anti-HTLV-1/2 using the immunoassay ELISA and confirmed by immunoblot method. The proviral DNA of the 14 samples HTLV- 1 positive were genotyped by nucleotide sequencing. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HTLV-1 was 6.8% (IC 95%: 3,5-10,2). Descriptive analysis of behavioral risk factors showed statistical association between HTLV-1 and age greater than or equal to 45 years. The proviral DNA of HTLV-1 was detected in all HTLV-1 positive samples. Of these, 14 were sequenced and classified as Cosmopolitan subtype, and 50% (7/14) belonged to subgroup A (transcontinental) and 50% (7/14) to the subgroup B (Japanese). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of HTLV-1 found evidence of the importance of early diagnosis and counseling of individuals infected with HTLV-1 for the control and prevention of the spread of this infection among Japanese immigrants and their descendants in Central Brazil.