The Silent Threat: Unraveling the Impact of Rabies in Herbivores in Brazil.

Rabies, a zoonotic viral disease, poses a significant threat due to its adaptability to diverse environments. Herbivore rabies, predominantly affecting cattle, horses, and goats in Brazil, remains a concern, results in substantial losses in the livestock industry, and poses risks to public health. Rabies virus transmission, primarily through hematophagous bats in Latin America, underscores the need for effective strategies, and vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling herbivorous rabies, with systematic vaccination beingly the primary method. Efforts to control rabies in herbivores include vaccination campaigns, public awareness programs, and the enhancement of surveillance systems. Despite these initiatives, rabies persists and imposes an economic burden and a significant health risk. Economic impacts include losses in the livestock industry, trade restrictions on livestock products, and financial burdens on governments and farmers owing to control measures. Despite the considerable costs of campaigns, surveillance, and control, investing in rabies vaccination and control not only safeguards livestock, but also preserves public health, reduces human cases, and strengthens the sustainability of the livestock industry. Mitigating the impact of herbivorous rabies in Brazil requires integrated approaches and continuous investments in vaccination, surveillance, and control measures to protect public health and ensure the sustainability of the livestock industry, thus contributing to food and economic security.

Factors associated with adherence to the principles of responsible companion animal guardianship in a municipality in southeastern Brazil.

Responsible companion animal guardianship (RCAG) covers aspects that are relevant to both animal and human health. Understanding the factors associated with adherence to RCAG principles can guide accountability, animal welfare and disease control. The present observational study describes the level of adherence to RCAG by guardians living in a medium-sized Brazilian municipality and identifies the factors associated with inadequate guardianship. Questionnaires were administered to randomly selected guardians of 704 dogs. The binary outcome of the study, namely more and less adequate compliers to RCAG principles, was analyzed using a score list comprising eight variables relating to the care provided to the dogs, namely provision of veterinary services, vaccination against rabies, deworming, no access to the streets without supervision, walking with guardian, dog freedom at home, registration (microchipping) and satisfactory food supply. Factors possibly associated with less adequate adherence to RCAG by the guardian, such as socioeconomic and cultural features of the guardians, characteristics of the dogs and attributes of the guardian-animal interactions, were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. The RCAG actions least adopted by guardians were animal registration, provision of veterinary care, walking with the dog and preventing access of the dogs to the streets without supervision. Individuals who cared for a single dog, a mixed breed dog or had previously lost a dog were less likely to show adequate adherence to RCAG. Conversely, guardians who owned cars, acquired dogs as puppies, lived in households with a maximum of four residents, cared for a sterilized dog or thought that caring for a dog was easier than (or as) expected, had a higher chance of showing adequate adherence to RCAG. The results verify that the socioeconomic and behavioral characteristic of guardians must be taken into consideration for understanding the adherence to RCAG. In addition, it is important to facilitate access to veterinary services and to raise awareness about the significance of a safe and healthy environment for companion animals.

Assessment of Gastroenteric Viruses in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks in the Tourist Cities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2022.

This study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of gastroenteric viruses in mussels and oysters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One hundred and thirty-four marketed bivalve samples were obtained between January and December 2022. The viral analysis was performed according to ISO/TS 15216, and the screening revealed the detection of norovirus GII/GI (40.3%), sapovirus (SaV; 12.7%), human mastadenovirus (7.5%), and rotavirus A (RVA; 5.9%). In total, 44.8% (60) of shellfish samples tested positive for one or more viruses, 46.7% (28/60) of the positive samples tested positive for a single viral agent, 26.7% (16) tested positive for two viral agents, 8.3% (5) for three viral agents, and 13.3% (8) for four viral agents. Additionally, three mussel samples were contaminated with the five investigated viruses (5%, 3/60). Norovirus GII showed the highest mean viral load (3.4 × 105 GC/g), followed by SaV (1.4 × 104 GC/g), RVA (1.1 × 104 GC/g), human mastadenovirus (3.9 × 103 GC/g), and norovirus GI (6.7 × 102 GC/g). Molecular characterization revealed that the recovered norovirus strains belonged to genotypes GII.2, GII.6, GII.9, GII.17, and GII.27; SaV belonged to genotypes GI.1 and GIV.1; RVA to genotypes G6, G8, P[8]-III, and human mastadenovirus to types F40 and F41. The GII.27 norovirus characterized in this study is the only strain of this genotype reported in Brazil. This study highlights the dissemination and diversity of gastroenteric viruses present in commercialized bivalves in a touristic area, indicating the potential risk to human health and the contribution of bivalves in the propagation of emerging pathogens.

Modeling of Human Rabies Cases in Brazil in Different Future Global Warming Scenarios.

Bat species have been observed to have the potential to expand their distribution in response to climate change, thereby influencing shifts in the spatial distribution and population dynamics of human rabies cases. In this study, we applied an ensemble niche modeling approach to project climatic suitability under different future global warming scenarios for human rabies cases in Brazil, and assessed the impact on the probability of emergence of new cases. We obtained notification records of human rabies cases in all Brazilian cities from January 2001 to August 2023, as reported by the State and Municipal Health Departments. The current and future climate data were sourced from a digital repository on the WorldClim website. The future bioclimatic variables provided were downscaled climate projections from CMIP6 (a global model ensemble) and extracted from the regionalized climate model HadGEM3-GC31-LL for three future socioeconomic scenarios over four periods (2021-2100). Seven statistical algorithms (MAXENT, MARS, RF, FDA, CTA, GAM, and GLM) were selected for modeling human rabies. Temperature seasonality was the bioclimatic variable with the highest relative contribution to both current and future consensus models. Future scenario modeling for human rabies indicated a trend of changes in the areas of occurrence, maintaining the current pace of global warming, population growth, socioeconomic instability, and the loss of natural areas. In Brazil, there are areas with a higher likelihood of climatic factors contributing to the emergence of cases. When assessing future scenarios, a change in the local climatic suitability is observed that may lead to a reduction or increase in cases, depending on the region.

Trends of Infective Endocarditis at Two Teaching Hospitals: A 12-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the incidence and mortality of infective endocarditis (IE) have increased in recent decades. Studies on the risk factors for mortality in endocarditis in Latin America are scarce. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 240 patients diagnosed with IE according to the modified Duke criteria who were admitted to two university hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from January 2009 to June 2021. Poisson regression analysis was performed for trend tests. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of predictors of in-hospital mortality. FINDINGS: The median age was 55 years (IQR: 39-66 years), 57% were male, and 41% had a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score > 3. Healthcare-associated infective endocarditis (54%), left-sided native valve IE (77.5%), and staphylococcal IE (26%) predominated. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 45.8%, and mortality was significantly higher in the following patients: aged ≥ 60 years (53%), CCI score ≥ 3 (60%), healthcare-associated infective endocarditis (HAIE) (53%), left-sided IE (51%), and enterococcal IE (67%). Poisson regression analysis showed no trend in in-hospital mortality per year. The adjusted multivariate model determined that age ≥ 60 years was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (HR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.1; p = 0.008). INTERPRETATION: In this 12-year retrospective cohort, there was no evidence of an improvement in survival in patients with IE. Since older age is a risk factor for mortality, consensus is needed for the management of IE in this group of patients.

Emergence of melioidosis in Brazil: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Melioidosis is a serious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei which affects humans and animals. It results in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, mainly in the respiratory tract, progressing to septic shock and death. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we present a series of seven patients (median age: 41 years) with confirmed melioidosis, treated at a public hospital in Piauí State, Brazil between 2019 and 2021. The most common clinical presentations were fever, cough, pneumonia, and abdominal pain. The mean duration of antibacterial therapy with 1 g of meropenem was 28.6 ± 1.1 days. Six patients recovered and one died. The mean hospitalization time was 51.0 ± 39.2 days. CONCLUSIONS: Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease in Brazil. Health professionals in endemic areas need to be aware of the clinical presentation and appropriate clinical management of the disease because early diagnosis and early initiation of antibiotic therapy can be life-saving.

Modeling the Climatic Suitability of COVID-19 Cases in Brazil.

Studies have shown that climate may affect the distribution of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its incidence and fatality rates. Here, we applied an ensemble niche modeling approach to project the climatic suitability of COVID-19 cases in Brazil. We estimated the cumulative incidence, mortality rate, and fatality rate of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021. Seven statistical algorithms (MAXENT, MARS, RF, FDA, CTA, GAM, and GLM) were selected to model the climate suitability for COVID-19 cases from diverse climate data, including temperature, precipitation, and humidity. The annual temperature range and precipitation seasonality showed a relatively high contribution to the models, partially explaining the distribution of COVID-19 cases in Brazil based on the climatic suitability of the territory. We observed a high probability of climatic suitability for high incidence in the North and South regions and a high probability of mortality and fatality rates in the Midwest and Southeast regions. Despite the social, viral, and human aspects regulating COVID-19 cases and death distribution, we suggest that climate may play an important role as a co-factor in the spread of cases. In Brazil, there are regions with a high probability that climatic suitability will contribute to the high incidence and fatality rates of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

The Influence of Community Feeders and Commercial Food Outlets on the Spatial Distribution of Free-Roaming Dogs-A Photographic Capture and Recapture Study.

Understanding the distribution of dogs in the environment is relevant for establishing human and animal health actions. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of community feeders and commercial food outlets on the spatial distribution of free-roaming dogs in an urban area of a municipality in Southeast Brazil. The dogs were identified via photographic capture and recapture performed over five sampling efforts. The spatial densities of dogs were determined using the Kernel method. Spatial correlations between the distribution of free-roaming dogs and the locations of community feeders and commercial food outlets were analyzed using the K function. During the study, 1207 captures/recaptures were performed encompassing 554 dogs, the majority (62.6%) of which were males. Agglomerations of male and female dogs were observed in the areas where food was present. Positive spatial autocorrelations were detected between the distribution of dogs and food sources. The median distances between dogs and community feeders or commercial food outlets were 1.2 and 1.4 km, respectively, and the difference between these two was statistically significant. The presence of community feeders and food outlets demonstrates the influence of human activity, on the spatial distribution of free-roaming dogs. These results will be useful for developing strategies aimed at the improvement of animal welfare and the prevention of zoonoses.

Before Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C Virus: Evaluation of Core Protein R70Q and L/C91M Substitutions in Chronically Infected Brazilian Patients Unresponsive to IFN and/or RBV.

Although chronic hepatitis C has been effectively treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the use of conventional therapy with peg-interferon (Peg-IFN) or (predominantly) ribavirin (RBV), remains widespread. R70Q/H and L/C91M amino acid substitutions in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein may modulate responses to IFN and/or RBV, and are associated with cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), insulin resistance, and liver steatosis. We evaluated the R70Q/H and L/C91M substitutions, clinical and epidemiological profiles, and risk factors of Brazilian patients chronically infected with HCV subgenotypes 1a and 1b (HCV-GT1a and HCV-GT1b) unresponsive to IFN and/or RBV therapy. Sequencing and pyrosequencing analyses and sociodemographic and clinical predictive variables were used to assess the relationship between R70Q/H and L/C91M substitutions. Leukocyte counts, ALT levels, and ALT/AST ratios were significantly reduced in treated individuals, but more of these patients had advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. L91M was more prevalent (19.7%), occurring only in HCV-GT1b, followed by R70Q/P (11.5%) and R70P (1.4%). R70Q/P exhibited higher mean AST, ALT, and GGT values, whereas L91M showed higher mean GGT values. Pyrosequencing of the L91M position revealed mutant subpopulations in 43.75% of samples.

Trend of morbidity and mortality indicators due to acute diarrheal disease in children under five years old in the State of Piauí (2000-2019) / Tendência de indicadores de morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas agudas em menores de cinco anos no estado do Piauí (2000-2019)

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the trend of morbidity and mortality indicators due to acute diarrheal diseases in children under five years old in Piauí. Methods: ecological study with data from the Information Technology Department at the Public Health System. The indicators of hospitalization rate and coefficient of mortality from the disease between 2000 and 2019 were calculated. A descriptive analysis of the indicators was carried out in the studied period and by the macro-regions in the State. For trend analysis, the simple linear regression model with log-transformation was used. Trends were classified as increasing, decreasing and stable, with a significance level of 5%. Results: the average on hospitalization rate was higher in the semi-arid macro-region (36.6/1000 children under five years old) and lower in Teresina (14.9/1000 children under five years old). The mean mortality coefficients were higher in the coastal macro-region (0.98/1000 live births) and lower in Teresina (0.47/1000 live births). The indicators showed a downward trend in all analyzed locations (p<0.05). A turning point was noted from 2009, with a significant reduction in hospitalization rates in the savanna and semi-arid macro-regions. Conclusion: indicators of morbidity and mortality due to acute diarrheal diseases in children under five years old showed a downward trend in Piauí between 2000 and 2019, with differences in trends between the evaluated macro-regions.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar a tendência de indicadores de morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas agudas em menores de cinco anos no Piauí. Métodos: estudo ecológico com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde. Calculou-se os indicadores taxa de internação e coeficiente de mortalidade pela doença entre 2000 e 2019. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos indicadores no período estudado e pelas macrorregiões do estado. Para análise da tendência, foi utilizado o modelo de regressão linear simples com log-transformação. As tendências foram classificadas como crescentes, decrescentes e estáveis, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: a média das taxas de internação foi maior na macrorregião semiárido (36,6/1000 menores de cinco anos) e menor em Teresina (14,9/1000 menores de cinco anos). A média dos coeficientes de mortalidade foi maior na macrorregião litoral (0,98/1000 nascidos vivos) e menor em Teresina (0,47/1000 nascidos vivos). Os indicadores mostraram tendência de redução em todos os locais analisados (p<0,05). Notou-se um ponto de inflexão a partir de 2009, com redução significativa das taxas de internação nas macrorregiões cerrados e semiárido. Conclusão: os indicadores de morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas agudas em menores de cinco anos mostraram tendência de redução no Piauí entre 2000 e 2019, com diferenças das tendências entre as macrorregiões avaliadas.

Serological Evidence of Exposure to Saint Louis Encephalitis and West Nile Viruses in Horses of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Infections with arboviruses are reported worldwide. Saint Louis encephalitis (SLEV) and West Nile (WNV) viruses are closely related flaviviruses affecting humans and animals. SLEV has been sporadically detected in humans, and corresponding antibodies have been frequently detected in horses throughout Brazil. WNV was first reported in western Brazil over a decade ago, has been associated with neurological disorders in humans and equines and its prevalence is increasing nationwide. Herein, we investigated by molecular and serological methods the presence of SLEV and WNV in equines from Rio de Janeiro. A total of 435 serum samples were collected from healthy horses and tested for specific neutralizing antibodies by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90). Additionally, samples (serum, cerebrospinal fluid, central nervous system tissue) from 72 horses, including horses with neurological disorders resulting in a fatal outcome or horses which had contact with them, were tested by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for both viruses. Adopting the criterion of four-fold antibody titer difference, 165 horses (38%) presented neutralizing antibodies for flaviviruses, 89 (20.4%) for SLEV and five (1.1%) for WNV. No evidence of SLEV and WNV infection was detected by RT-qPCR and, thus, such infection could not be confirmed in the additional samples. Our findings indicate horses of Rio de Janeiro were exposed to SLEV and WNV, contributing to the current knowledge on the distribution of these viruses in Brazil.

Effectiveness of Household Disinfection Techniques to Remove SARS-CoV-2 from Cloth Masks.

To assess the efficacy of washing cloth masks, we simulated SARS-CoV-2 contamination in tricoline fabric and tested decontaminants to reduce viral particles. Viral suspensions using two variants (B.1.1.28 and P.1) were inoculated in these fabrics, and the inactivation kinetics were evaluated after washing with various household disinfection products (Soap powder, Lysoform®, Hypochlorite sodium and 70% Alcohol), rinse numbers, and exposure times. Afterward, the fabrics were washed in sterile water, and viral RNA was extracted and amplified using RT-qPCR. Finally, viral replication in cell cultures was examined. Our findings show that all biocidal treatments successfully disinfected the tissue tested. Some products showed less reduction in viral loads, such as soap powder (1.60 × 104, 1.04 × 103), soap powder and Lysoform® (1.60 × 104, 1.04 × 103), and alcohol 70% (1.02 × 103, 5.91 × 101), respectively. However, when sodium hypochlorite was used, this reduction was significantly increased (viral inactivation in 100% of the washes). After the first wash, the reduction in the number of viral particles was greater for the P.1 variant than for the B.1.1.28 variant (W = 51,759, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the role of sodium hypochlorite in cloth mask disinfection may also have implications for future health emergencies as well as recommendation by WHO.

The association between non-permanence of dogs in households and non-compliance with the principles of responsible animal guardianship: A survey in a medium-sized city in Brazil.

The permanence of a dog in a household is relevant in terms of public health and animal welfare because it implies that the animal is receiving better care and is unlikely to be abandoned. We have performed a survey in a medium-sized city in southeastern Brazil in order to identify predictors associated with the non-permanence of dogs in households as determined one year after the first visit. During the first of two visits to randomly selected domiciles, guardians were asked to complete a structured questionnaire regarding the traits and history of each dog in the household, features of the domicile, characteristics of the guardian and adherence to the principles of responsible companion animal guardianship (RCAG). A second visit to each domicile was performed one year later in order to establish in loco whether the dog still resided in the domicile and, where appropriate, to apply a further questionnaire concerning the fate of the missing animal. The total sample population comprised 513 dogs, of which 98 (19.1%) were verified as no longer resident in the domicile on the occasion of the second visit. Of the absent dogs, 59 had died as a result of fights with stray animals, traffic accidents, diseases or old age, 13 had been sent to alternative addresses, 8 had been donated to third parties and 7 had escaped from the domicile. The fates of the remaining 11 animals were not divulged by the guardians. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the risk of non-permanence was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among male dogs, those that were infested with ticks, had free access to the streets or resided in domiciles near a wooded area, but was significantly lower among wormed and neutered dogs. The adoption of RCAG principles is associated with the permanence of dogs in households and, consequently, in reduction of the stray population, animal well-being and prevention of zoonoses. On this basis, it is important to raise awareness about the concepts of RCAG and to strengthen accountability of guardians that do not take proper care of their animals.

Identification of Hypericin as a Candidate Repurposed Therapeutic Agent for COVID-19 and Its Potential Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy and public health. Its etiologic agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly transmissible, pathogenic and has a rapid global spread. Currently, the increase in the number of new confirmed cases has been slowed down due to the increase of vaccination in some regions of the world. Still, the rise of new variants has influenced the detection of additional waves of rising cases that some countries have experienced. Since the virus replication cycle is composed of many distinct stages, some viral proteins related to them, as the main-protease (Mpro) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), constitute individual potential antiviral targets. In this study, we challenged the mentioned enzymes against compounds pre-approved by health regulatory agencies in a virtual screening and later in Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Bolzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) analysis. Our results showed that, among the identified potential drugs with anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties, Hypericin, an important component of the Hypericum perforatum that presents antiviral and antitumoral properties, binds with high affinity to viral Mpro and RdRp. Furthermore, we evaluated the activity of Hypericin anti-SARS-CoV-2 replication in an in vitro model of Vero-E6 infected cells. Therefore, we show that Hypericin inhibited viral replication in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the compound, in cultured cells, was evaluated, but no significant activity was found. Thus, the results observed in this study indicate that Hypericin is an excellent candidate for repurposing for the treatment of COVID-19, with possible inhibition of two important phases of virus maturation.

Enduring Challenges despite Progress in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in Angola.

Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection globally, with an incidence of 1.5 million and 0.8 million yearly deaths, which drives synergistic efforts towards its elimination. To assess the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HBV infection, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1012 pregnant women in Angola to investigate HBV serological and molecular profiles. The prevalence of HBV was 8.7% (n = 88), with hepatitis B core IgM antibody (anti-HBc IgM) positivity identified in 12.8%, hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg) positivity in 30%, and HBV DNA ≥ 200,000 IU/mL in 28.2%. Family tracking studied 44 children, of which 11 (25%) received at least two doses of the hepatitis B vaccine. HBV was detected in 10/44 (22.7%) children, with vaccination reported in one infected child. Further testing identified anti-HBc IgM positivity in 3/10 (30%), HBeAg positivity in 55%, and both seromarkers in 20%. The results revealed the importance of antenatal HBV screening, antiviral prophylaxis for mothers with high viral loads or HBeAg positivity, and timely first-dose hepatitis B vaccines in newborns. Anti-HBc IgM positivity among pregnant women and children highlights prophylactic measures worth considering, including antenatal hepatitis B vaccination and catch-up vaccination to young children.

Transfusion Transmissible Infections in Blood Donors in the Province of Bié, Angola, during a 15-Year Follow-Up, Imply the Need for Pathogen Reduction Technologies.

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs), caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunode-ficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis, have a high global impact, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated the trend of these infections over time in blood donors in Angola. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among blood donors in Angola from 2005 to 2020. Additionally, frozen samples obtained from blood donors in 2007 were investigated to identify chronic HCV carriers and possible occult HBV infection (OBI). The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis was 8.5, 3, 2.1, and 4.4%, respectively, among 57,979 blood donors. HBV was predominant among male donors, while the remaining TTIs were predominant among women. Donors >50 years had a significantly high prevalence for all TTIs. Chronic HCV infection was ab-sent in 500 samples tested and OBI was present in 3%. Our results show the continued high prev-alence of TTIs among blood donors in Angola. Most infections showed a significantly low preva-lence in years with campaigns seeking voluntary blood donors, thus, reinforcing the importance of this type of donor to ensure safe blood. Africa, with a high prevalence of diverse pathogens, should consider cost-effective pathogen reduction technologies, once they are commercially accessible, to increase the availability of safe blood.

Effects of the Optional Protocols to theConvention on the Rights of the Child on the causes of child death: a statistical study on a global scale / Efeitos dos Protocolos Opcionais da Convenção sobre os Direitos da Criança nas causas de morte infantil: um estudo estatístico em escala global / Efectos de los Protocolos Facultativos de la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño sobre las causas de la muerte infantil: un estudio estadístico a escala mundial

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure(OPCP)make commitments and guarantees in relation to child health. The aim of the study is to verify the effects of these commitments on the causes of child death.To analyze these effects, we apply the one-way analysis of variance. For each group, we calculated the averages of child deaths in their respective countries for the years 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. The p-value resulting indicated whether there was a difference between the means of child deaths in those years that were compared. We also observed the time series for each cause of death over the years 2000 to 2017. The CRC has an expressive adhesion. OPCP has a smaller number of acceptors in all regions compared to CRC. The acceptance of OPCP did not significantly alter the results of the number of deaths in the accepting countries in any of the 13 causes of child death observed. In the non-accepting group, significant differences were found concerning five causes of child death: HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, measles, meningitis/encephalitis, and acutelower respiratory infections (p-values 0.01, 0.01, 0.003, 0.002, and 0.003, respectively). Our results suggest that the group of countries that have accepted the OPCP are more committed to issues of child deaths causes studied. In all of them the annual death numbers were considerably lower in this group.

A Convenção sobre os Direitos da Criança e o Protocolo Facultativo à Convenção sobre os Direitos da Criança Relativo a um Procedimento de Comunicações (PFPC) estabelecem compromissos e garantias em relação à saúde infantil. O objetivo do estudo é verificar os efeitos desses compromissos nas causas de morte infantil. Para analisar esses efeitos, aplicamos a análise de variância unilateral. Para cada grupo, calculamos as médias de óbitos infantis em seus respectivos países para os anos de 2002, 2007, 2012 e 2017. O p-valor resultante indicou se havia diferença entre as médias de óbitos infantis nos anos comparados. Observamos também as séries temporais para cada causa de morte ao longo dos anos de 2000 a 2017. O CRC tem adesão expressiva. O OPCP possui menos adeptos em todas as regiões em comparação ao CRC. A aceitação da OPCP não alterou significativamente os resultados do número de óbitos nos países adeptos em nenhuma das 13 causas de morte infantil observadas. No grupo de não aceitação, foram encontradas diferenças significativas em relação a cinco causas de morte infantil: HIV/AIDS, doenças diarreicas, sarampo, meningite/encefalite e infecções respiratórias agudas inferiores (valores de p 0,01, 0,01, 0,003, 0,002 e 0,003, respectivamente). Nossos resultados sugerem que o grupo de países que aceitaram o OPCP está mais comprometido com as questões das causas de morte infantil estudadas. Em todos eles, os números anuais de mortalidade eram consideravelmente mais baixos nesse grupo.

La Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño y el Protocolo facultativo de la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño Relativo a un Procedimiento de Comunicaciones (PFPC)establecen compromisos y garantías en relación con la salud infantil. El objetivo del estudio es verificar los efectos de estos compromisos sobre las causas de muerte infantil. Para analizar estos efectos, aplicamos el análisis de varianza unidireccional. Para cada grupo, calculamos los promedios de muertes infantiles en sus respectivos paísespara los años 2002, 2007, 2012 y 2017. El valor p resultante indicó si había una diferencia entre los promedios de muertes infantiles en los años comparados. También observamos la serie de tiempo para cada causa de muerte durante los años 2000 a 2017. El CRC tiene una adherencia significativa. OPCP tiene menos aceptadores en todas las regiones en comparación con CRC. La aceptación del OPCP no cambió significativamente los resultados del número de muertes en los países receptores en ninguna de las 13 causasobservadas de muerte infantil. En el grupo de no aceptación, se encontraron diferencias significativas en relación concinco causas de muerte infantil: VIH/SIDA, enfermedades diarreicas, sarampión, meningitis/encefalitis e infecciones respiratorias bajas agudas (valores de p 0.01, 0.01, 0.003, 0.002 y 0,003, respectivamente). Nuestros resultados sugieren que el grupo de países que ha aceptado el OPCP está más comprometido con los temas de causas de muerte infantil estudiados. En todos ellos, las cifras de mortalidad anual fueron considerablemente menores en este grupo.

Saúde da mulher: papel dos pactos internacionais na evolução da proteção aos direitos humanos / Women's health: the role of international pacts in the evolution of human rights protection / Salud de la mujer: papel de los pactos internacionales para la evolución de la protección de los derechos humanos

Objetivo: Avaliar se a adesão aos pactos internacionais relativos aos direitos humanos das mulheres influenciou o estado de saúde delas, especialmente no que diz respeito ao assessoramento sobre o planejamento da família. Métodos: Estudo ecológico, analítico e quantitativo realizado no segundo semestre de 2019 a partir de oito indicadores da estratégia global para a saúde da mulher da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), estimados entre 1993 a 2018. As mensurações envolveram 190 países que aderiram à Convenção sobre a Eliminação de Todas as Formas de Discriminação contra a Mulher (CEDAW) e 115 países que aderiram ao Protocolo Facultativo à Convenção sobre a Eliminação de Todas as Formas de Discriminação contra a Mulher (OP-CEDAW). Realizou-se análise descritiva da evolução dos indicadores da OMS e das adesões aos tratados nesse período. Posteriormente, organizaram-se os dados nas categorias de países conforme a renda (alta, média alta, média baixa e baixa) para fins de comparação. Calculou-se a significância estatística da diferença entre as médias dos indicadores de saúde das mulheres nos cinco anos antes do país ratificar o tratado, na data da ratificação e nos cinco anos seguintes. Resultados: O planejamento familiar foi estatisticamente significativo para ambos os pactos, CEDAW (p-valor=0,05) e OP-CEDAW (p-valor=0,007). A anemia em mulheres grávidas e a cobertura de cuidados pré-natais foram significativos em relação ao OP-CEDAW (p-valor=0,03 e 0,01,respectivamente). Conclusão: A maioria dos indicadores de saúde das mulheres analisados parece não ter sofrido a influência da adesão aos pactos, com exceção do planejamento familiar, o único indicador impactado positivamente pelos dois tratados.

Objective: To assess whether adherence to international pacts related to women's human rights has influenced their health status, especially with regard to advice on family planning. Methods: A quantitative ecological and analytical study was conducted in the second half of 2019 based on 8 World Health Organization (WHO) global strategy indicators for women's health estimated between 1993 and 2018. Measurements involved the 190 countries that adhered to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the 115 countries that adhered to the Optional Protocol to Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (OP-CEDAW). Descriptive analysis of the evolution of WHO indicators and adherence to treaties in that period was carried out. Then, the data were organized into the categories of countries according to their income (high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low) for comparison purposes. We calculated the statistical significance of the difference between the mean values for women's health indicators in the five years before the country ratified the treaty, on the date of ratification, and five years later. Results: Family planning was statistically significant for both pacts, CEDAW (p-value=0.05) and OP-CEDAW (p-value=0.007). Anemia in pregnant women and coverage of antenatal care were also significant in relation to OP-CEDAW (p-value=0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Most of the women's health indicators analyzed do not appear to have been influenced by adherence to the pacts, except for family planning, the only indicator positively impacted by the two treaties.

Objetivo: Evaluar si la adhesión a los pactos internacionales sobre los derechos humanos de las mujeres ha influenciado su estado de salud, especialmente sobre el asesoramiento del planeamiento familiar. Métodos: Estudio ecológico, analítico y cuantitativo realizado en el segundo semestre de 2019 a partir de ocho indicadores de la estrategia global para la salud de la mujer de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) estimados entre 1993 y 2018. Las mensuraciones incluyeron 190 países que adhirieron a la Convención sobre la Eliminación de Todas las Formas de Discriminación contra la Mujer (CEDAW) y 115 países que adhirieron al Protocolo Facultativo a la Convención sobre la Eliminación de Todas las Formas de Discriminación contra la Mujer (OP-CEDAW). Se realizó el análisis descriptivo de la evolución de los indicadores de la OMS y de las adhesiones a los tratados en ese período. A posteriori, se ha organizado los datos en categorías de países según la renta (alta, media alta, media baja y baja) para fines de comparación. Se calculó la significancia estadística de la diferencia entre las medias de los indicadores de salud de las mujeres en los cinco años antes del país ratificar el tratado, en la fecha de la ratificación y en los cinco años siguientes. Resultados: El planeamiento familiar ha sido estadísticamente significativo para ambos los pactos, el CEDAW (p-valor=0,05) y el OP-CEDAW (p-valor=0,007). La anemia en mujeres embarazadas y la cobertura de los cuidados prenatales han sido significativos respecto el OP-CEDAW (p-valor=0,03 y 0,01, respectivamente). Conclusión: La mayoría de los indicadores de salud de las mujeres analizados parece no haber sufrido la influencia de la adhesión a los pactos a excepción del planeamiento familiar que ha sido el único indicador impactado positivamente por los dos tratados.

Human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HSV-2) among female sex workers from Brazil: cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling.

OBJECTIVE: Female sex workers (FSWs) are vulnerable to human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HSV-2) infection due to their high numbers of sexual partners. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk behaviours associated with HSV-2. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. A total of 376 FSWs were recruited by respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methodology and answered an epidemiological questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to test for HSV-2 antibodies using commercial ELISA and for HSV-2 DNA using real-time PCR. RESULTS: The seropositivity was 47.3% (178/376) for HSV-2 IgG and 10.1% (38/376) for HSV-2 IgM. HSV-2 viraemia was detected in two infected FSWs with primary infections. In bivariate and multivariate analyses, the OR for HSV-2 IgG increased with age (OR=2.53-7.90, OR=2.66-6.37) and the number of sexual partners (OR=2.30-3.25). On the other hand, daily alcohol consumption (OR=0.10) and the use of condoms during the last intercourse (OR=0.47) were protective factors against HSV-2 acquisition. CONCLUSION: Despite the impact of FSWs in public health policies with the dissemination of sexually transmitted infections, there have been few studies performed regarding the prevalence of HSV-2 in Brazil, making it difficult to implement any control or preventative measures. The results produced here using an RDS methodology demonstrated a high prevalence, risk behaviours and primary infection among the FSWs. These results reinforce the need to implement control and preventative measures for HSV-2 infection in this population.

Uso de agrotóxicos e mortalidade por câncer em regiões de monoculturas / Use of pesticides and cancer mortality in monoculture regions

RESUMO O uso de agrotóxicos na agricultura brasileira é um problema de saúde pública, dadas as contaminações no ambiente, em alimentos e as intoxicações resultantes do uso dessas substâncias. O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a distribuição espacial das áreas plantadas de lavouras e as taxas de mortalidade de alguns tipos de câncer: mama, colo do útero e próstata. Escolheram-se quatro estados brasileiros que possuem grande produção de commodities agrícolas a serem estudadas. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico de análise espacial conduzido com dados e informações do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM) do Ministério da Saúde, por meio do qual elaboraram-se taxas de mortalidade para os referidos tipos de câncer, cujos óbitos tenham ocorrido entre 1996 e 2016. Há indícios de que existe correspondência entre as áreas de maior estimativa de uso de agrotóxicos Disruptores Endócrinos e o aumento das taxas de mortalidade pelos diferentes tipos de câncer.

ABSTRACT The use of agrochemicals in Brazilian agriculture is a public health problem, given the contamination of the environment, food and the poisoning resulting from the use of these substances. The objective of this article is to investigate the spatial distribution of planted crops area and mortality rates of some types of cancer: breast, cervix and prostate. Four Brazilian states were chosen that have large production of agricultural commodities to be studied. This is an ecological study of spatial analysis conducted with data and information from the Mortality Information System (SIM) of the Ministry of Health, and mortality rates were calculated for those types of cancer whose deaths occurred between 1996 and 2016. There are indications that there is a correspondence between the areas of higher estimation of the use of agrochemical Endocrine Disruptors and the increase of mortality rates by different types of cancer.