COVID-19 no Estado de Sergipe: a evolução epidemiológica e o enfrentamento de uma pandemia / COVID-19 in the State of Sergipe: Epidemiological evolution and coping with a pandemic

Trata-se de um estudo descritivo realizado com a base estadual de registro dos casos e óbitos por Covid-19, dos resultados de sequenciamento genômico do SARS-CoV-2, além da avaliação das coberturas vacinais contra Covid-19. Foram calculadas as taxas de incidência, mortalidade e letalidade acumulada no período, distribuindo-se espacialmente no território sergipano. Para a descrição das principais ações de enfrentamento foi realizado busca de notícias e documentos oficiais. Foram registrados 327.458 casos de Covid-19, tendo 6.348 evoluído para óbito, no período entre março de 2020 e maio de 2022. Foram observadas três grandes ondas, tendo as primeiras, letalidade mais alta (2,27% e 2,32%, respectivamente) do que a terceira (0,57%) corroborando a detecção de circulação das variantes de preocupação no território. A taxa de incidência e letalidade chegaram a 14.002,1 e 271,5 por 100 mil habitantes, respectivamente, verificando distribuição heterogênea no território. A cobertura vacinal com esquema básico completo foi de 83,8% para a população de 5 anos e mais. Os dados demonstram a magnitude da Covid-19 no estado, além de permitir o entendimento histórico da sua evolução epidemiológica.

A Potential SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Interest (VOI) Harboring Mutation E484K in the Spike Protein Was Identified within Lineage B 1 1 33 Circulating in Brazil

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in Brazil was dominated by two lineages designated as B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33. The two SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring mutations at the receptor-binding domain of the Spike (S) protein, designated as lineages P.1 and P.2, evolved from lineage B.1.1.28 and are rapidly spreading in Brazil. Lineage P.1 is considered a Variant of Concern (VOC) because of the presence of multiple mutations in the S protein (including K417T, E484K, N501Y), while lineage P.2 only harbors mutation S:E484K and is considered a Variant of Interest (VOI). On the other hand, epidemiologically relevant B.1.1.33 deriving lineages have not been described so far. Here we report the identification of a new SARS-CoV-2 VOI within lineage B.1.1.33 that also harbors mutation S:E484K and was detected in Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021. This VOI displayed four non-synonymous lineage-defining mutations (NSP3:A1711V, NSP6:F36L, S:E484K, and NS7b:E33A) and was designated as lineage N.9. The VOI N.9 probably emerged in August 2020 and has spread across different Brazilian states from the Southeast, South, North, and Northeast regions.

Métodos de alimentação e evolução do peso de recém-nascidos com microcefalia congênita por Zika Vírus / Feeding methods and weight evolution in newborns with congenital microcephaly due for Zika Virus

RESUMO Objetivo investigar a forma de oferta de dieta, conforme os diversos métodos de alimentação, e descrever o ganho de peso em recém-nascidos com microcefalia relacionada ao Zika Vírus, comparando-os com recém-nascidos sem microcefalia. Método estudo de coorte retrospectivo com caso controle aninhado. Informações sobre idade gestacional, peso e métodos de alimentação (seio materno, sonda nasogástrica/orogástrica, mamadeira e copo) foram coletadas em prontuários de 43 recém-nascidos com microcefalia por Zika Vírus, equiparados conforme idade gestacional com 43 recém-nascidos sem acometimentos (grupo controle), em uma maternidade de referência no Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados desde o nascimento até a alta hospitalar. As medidas de desfecho foram pesos (ao nascer e na alta), velocidade de ganho de peso, tempo de internação e métodos de alimentação. Resultados O grupo com microcefalia apresentou menores pesos ao nascer (D=-1,67; p<0,001), inclusive com maior probabilidade de serem baixo peso (Phi=0,687; p<0,001), e no momento da alta (D=-0,87; p=0,006), do que o controle. O grupo com microcefalia também apresentou maior velocidade de ganho de peso (D=0,77; p=0,006), embora com métodos alimentares semelhantes ao grupo controle, incluindo a aceitação do seio materno, de forma exclusiva (34,9%) ou complementada (58,1%). Conclusão recém-nascidos com microcefalia relacionada ao Zika Vírus utilizaram métodos alimentares semelhantes, incluindo seio materno, aos do grupo sem acometimento. Quanto ao peso, apresentaram valores menores ao nascimento e na alta, apesar de terem um crescimento precoce pós-natal mais rápido que aqueles sem microcefalia.

ABSTRACT Purpose Investigate the form of diet offer, according to the different feeding methods, and describe the weight gain in newborns with microcephaly related to Zika Virus, comparing them with newborns without microcephaly. Methods Retrospective cohort with nested case-control study. Information on gestational age, weight and feeding methods (maternal breast, nasogastric/orogastric tube, bottle and cup) were collected from medical records of 43 newborns with microcephaly due to Zika Virus, matched according to gestational age with 43 newborns without involvement (control group), in a reference maternity hospital in northeastern Brazil. Data were collected from birth to hospital discharge. Outcome measures were weights (at birth and at discharge), weight gain speed, length of hospital stay and feeding methods. Results The microcephaly group had lower weights at birth (D=-1.67; p<0.001), even more likely to be underweight (Phi=0.687; p<0.001), and at discharge (D=-0.87; p=0.006), than the control group. The microcephaly group also showed a higher rate of weight gain (D=0.77; p=0.006), although with eating methods similar to the control group, including acceptance of the mother's breast, exclusively (34.9%) or complemented (58.1%). Conclusion Newborns with Zika Virus-related microcephaly used similar feeding methods, including maternal breast, to those in the non-affected group. As for weight, they showed lower values at birth and at discharge, despite having a faster postnatal early growth than those without microcephaly.

Family COVID-19 cluster analysis of an infant without respiratory symptoms.

Diagnosing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with only non-respiratory symptoms has been challenging. We reported the diagnosis of a child who tested positive for COVID-19 with abdominal pain/diarrhea and tracked his family cluster. One member of the family tested positive for COVID-19 on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay and three other family members had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Family COVID-19 cluster analysis of an infant without respiratory symptoms

Abstract Diagnosing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with only non-respiratory symptoms has been challenging. We reported the diagnosis of a child who tested positive for COVID-19 with abdominal pain/diarrhea and tracked his family cluster. One member of the family tested positive for COVID-19 on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay and three other family members had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Association Between Zika Virus Microcephaly in Newborns With the rs3775291 Variant in Toll-Like Receptor 3 and rs1799964 Variant at Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene.

Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) is a cluster of malformation, and the mechanisms that lead it are still unclear. Using hypothesis-driven candidate genes and their function in viral infections, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in a sample population from Sergipe State, Brazil. This study shows that rs3775291 SNP at Toll-like receptor 3, which triggers type I interferon antiviral responses in mothers infected by Zika virus during pregnancy, is associated with CZS occurrence (odds ratio [OR], 2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.158-4.148). Moreover, rs1799964 SNP at tumor necrosis factor-α gene in CZS babies is associated with severe microcephaly (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.13-6.21).

Systems analysis of subjects acutely infected with the Chikungunya virus.

The largest ever recorded epidemic of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) broke out in 2004 and affected four continents. Acute symptomatic infections are typically associated with the onset of fever and often debilitating polyarthralgia/polyarthritis. In this study, a systems biology approach was adopted to analyze the blood transcriptomes of adults acutely infected with the CHIKV. Gene signatures that were associated with viral RNA levels and the onset of symptoms were identified. Among these genes, the putative role of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor (eIF) family genes and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC3A) in the CHIKV replication process were displayed. We further compared these signatures with signatures induced by the Dengue virus infection and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, we demonstrated that the CHIKV in vitro infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages induced IL-1 beta production in a mechanism that is significantly dependent on the inflammasome NLRP3 activation. The observations provided valuable insights into virus-host interactions during the acute phase and can be instrumental in the investigation of new and effective therapeutic interventions.

Systems analysis of subjects acutely infected with the Chikungunya virus

The largest ever recorded epidemic of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) broke out in 2004 and affected four continents. Acute symptomatic infections are typically associated with the onset of fever and often debilitating polyarthralgia/polyarthritis. In this study, a systems biology approach was adopted to analyze the blood transcriptomes of adults acutely infected with the CHIKV. Gene signatures that were associated with viral RNA levels and the onset of symptoms were identified. Among these genes, the putative role of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor (eIF) family genes and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC3A) in the CHIKV replication process were displayed. We further compared these signatures with signatures induced by the Dengue virus infection and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, we demonstrated that the CHIKV in vitro infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages induced IL-1 beta production in a mechanism that is significantly dependent on the inflammasome NLRP3 activation. The observations provided valuable insights into virus-host interactions during the acute phase and can be instrumental in the investigation of new and effective therapeutic interventions.

Systems analysis of subjects acutely infected with the Chikungunya virus

The largest ever recorded epidemic of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) broke out in 2004 and affected four continents. Acute symptomatic infections are typically associated with the onset of fever and often debilitating polyarthralgia/polyarthritis. In this study, a systems biology approach was adopted to analyze the blood transcriptomes of adults acutely infected with the CHIKV. Gene signatures that were associated with viral RNA levels and the onset of symptoms were identified. Among these genes, the putative role of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor (eIF) family genes and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC3A) in the CHIKV replication process were displayed. We further compared these signatures with signatures induced by the Dengue virus infection and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, we demonstrated that the CHIKV in vitro infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages induced IL-1 beta production in a mechanism that is significantly dependent on the inflammasome NLRP3 activation. The observations provided valuable insights into virus-host interactions during the acute phase and can be instrumental in the investigation of new and effective therapeutic interventions.

Outbreak of chikungunya virus in a vulnerable population of Sergipe, Brazil-A molecular and serological survey.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging arbovirus that is causing outbreaks in several countries of the Americas. The virus was introduced in Brazil in 2014, and since then, several Brazilian states have notified autochthonous cases. OBJECTIVES: Provide additional evidence on a CHIKV outbreak and an outline of the laboratory and clinical profile of symptomatic patients in Sergipe, Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: In February 2016, we collected 142 serum samples from symptomatic patients for arboviruses in Sergipe, Brazil. All samples were submitted to qRT-PCR for the emerging arboviruses circulating in Brazil - ZIKV, CHIKV, and DENV - and later submitted to the immunoenzymatic assay. RNA positive samples were randomly selected and sequenced for characterization of the genotype involved in the outbreak. RESULTS: Our study had 75.35% (107/142) positivity for CHIKV infection, with all age groups and genera being equally infected. The virus was identified in 11 of the 13 cities studied in that state, including the ECSA genotype. Importantly, fever was the only statistically significant symptoms for CHIKV infection (p<0.05), while asthenia was significantly associated with symptomatic patients that were CHIKV-negative (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the importance of fever as a clinical marker and contribute to molecular and serological surveillance data, which may help in the understanding of CHIKV circulation, emergence and clinical description.

Outbreak of chikungunya virus in a vulnerable population of Sergipe, Brazil—a molecular and serological survey

Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging arbovirus that is causing outbreaks in several countries of the Americas. The virus was introduced in Brazil in 2014, and since then, several Brazilian states have notified autochthonous cases. Objectives Provide additional evidence on a CHIKV outbreak and an outline of the laboratory and clinical profile of symptomatic patients in Sergipe, Brazil. Study design In February 2016, we collected 142 serum samples from symptomatic patients for arboviruses in Sergipe, Brazil. All samples were submitted to qRT-PCR for the emerging arboviruses circulating in Brazil – ZIKV, CHIKV, and DENV – and later submitted to the immunoenzymatic assay. RNA positive samples were randomly selected and sequenced for characterization of the genotype involved in the outbreak. Results Our study had 75.35% (107/142) positivity for CHIKV infection, with all age groups and genera being equally infected. The virus was identified in 11 of the 13 cities studied in that state, including the ECSA genotype. Importantly, fever was the only statistically significant symptoms for CHIKV infection (p < 0.05), while asthenia was significantly associated with symptomatic patients that were CHIKV-negative (p < 0.05). Conclusions Our findings support the importance of fever as a clinical marker and contribute to molecular and serological surveillance data, which may help in the understanding of CHIKV circulation, emergence and clinical description.