Contribution of wastewater-based epidemiology to SARS-CoV-2 screening in Brazil and the United States.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a valuable tool for investigating the existence, prevalence, and spread of pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, in a given population. WBE, proposed as part of the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance strategy for monitoring virus circulation, may complement clinical data and contribute to reducing the spread of the disease through early detection. In developing countries such as Brazil, where clinical data are scarce, information obtained from wastewater monitoring can be crucial for designing public health interventions. In the United States, the country with the largest number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases worldwide, WBE programs have begun to be carried out to investigate correlations with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinical data and support health agencies in decision-making to prevent the spread of the disease. This systematic review aimed to assess the contribution of WBE to SARS-CoV-2 screening in Brazil and the United States and compare studies conducted in a developed and developing country. Studies in Brazil and the United States showed WBE to be an important epidemiological surveillance strategy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. WBE approaches are useful for early detection of COVID-19 outbreaks, estimation of clinical cases, and assessment of the effectiveness of vaccination program.

Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples: A systematic review.

AIMS: This paper aims to review the main sludge concentration methods used for SARS-CoV-2 detection in sewage sludge samples, discussing the main methods and sample volume related to increased viral load. In addition, we aim to evaluate the countries associated with increased positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples. METHODS: This systematic methodology was registered in PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases in January-March 2022. Quantitative studies with conclusive results were included in this review. Concentration methods (polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG + NaCl, gravity thickening, skimmed milk flocculation, ultrafiltration, filtration using charged filters, primary sedimentation, and anaerobic digestion), as well as detection methods (RTqPCR and reverse transcription droplet digital PCR assay) were evaluated in this review. The SPSS v23 software program was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: PEG (with or without NaCl addition) and gravity thickening were the most used sludge concentration methods to detect SARS-CoV-2. The main method associated with increased viral load (>2,02 × 10^4 copies/mL) was PEG + NaCl (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). The average positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples was 61 %, and a correlation was found between the sludge volume and the viral load (ro 0.559, p = 0.03, Spearman correlation). CONCLUSION: The sludge volume may influence the SARS-CoV-2 load since the virus can adhere to solid particles in these samples. Other factors may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 load, including the methods used; especially PEG + NaCl may result in a high viral load detected in sludge, and may provide a suitable pH for SARS-CoV-2 recovery.

Altered erythropoiesis in newborns with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Fetal hypoxia has been implicated in fetal growth restriction in congenital heart disease (CHD) and leads to stress erythropoiesis in utero. The objective is to assess erythropoiesis and its association with growth in newborns with CHD. METHODS: Fetuses with prenatally diagnosed CHD from 2013 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Pregnancies with multiple gestation, genetic abnormalities, major extra-cardiac anomalies, and placental abruption were excluded. Complete blood count tests at birth were compared to published normative values. Spearman correlation assessed associations of red blood cell (RBC) indices with birth anthropometrics and prenatal Doppler measures. RESULTS: A total of 160 newborns were included. Median gestational age was 38.3 (37.3, 39.0) weeks. Infants ≥37 weeks gestation had lower hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit, and elevated nucleated RBC (nRBC), mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin compared to reference. No differences in RBC indices were observed in infants <34 and 34-37 weeks gestation. There was no difference in Hgb and nRBC between CHD subgroups. Neither Hgb nor nRBC were associated with birth anthropometrics or Doppler patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Term infants with CHD demonstrated multiple alterations in erythrocyte indices suggesting ineffective stress erythropoiesis in late gestation resulting in lower Hgb at birth. Altered erythropoiesis was not correlated to growth or Doppler patterns. IMPACT: Newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) born at term gestation demonstrated altered erythropoiesis. Term newborns with CHD have decreased hemoglobin levels despite having red blood cell indices consistent with stress erythropoiesis, suggesting an incomplete compensatory response to in utero physiologic disturbances associated with CHD. The etiology is unknown; however, it may be influenced by multiple risk factors during pregnancy in the maternal-fetal dyad. Alterations in red blood cell indices were not associated with outcomes of fetal growth.

Foramen Ovale Restriction in a Late Gestation Fetus Resembling Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

A pregnant woman presented at term with a fetus with foramen ovale restriction. We illustrate the contrast between fetal and postnatal echocardiography of this rare entity. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Surveillance of Enteric Viruses and Thermotolerant Coliforms in Surface Water and Bivalves from a Mangrove Estuary in Southeastern Brazil.

This study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological quality of a mangrove estuary in the Vitória Bay region, Espírito Santo, Brazil. We analyzed the presence and concentration of enteric viruses and thermotolerant coliforms in water, mussels (Mytella charruana and Mytella guyanensis), and oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae), collected over a 13-month period. Human adenovirus, rotavirus A (RVA), and norovirus genogroup II were analyzed by quantitative PCR. The highest viral load was found in RVA-positive samples with a concentration of 3.0 × 104 genome copies (GC) L-1 in water samples and 1.3 × 105 GC g-1 in bivalves. RVA was the most prevalent virus in all matrices. Thermotolerant coliforms were quantified as colony-forming units (CFU) by the membrane filtration method. The concentration of these bacteria in water was in accordance with the Brazilian standard for recreational waters (< 250 CFU 100 mL-1) during most of the monitoring period (12 out of 13 months). However, thermotolerant coliform concentrations of 3.0, 3.1, and 2.6 log CFU 100 g-1 were detected in M. charruana, M. guyanensis, and C. rhizophorae, respectively. The presence of human-specific viruses in water and bivalves reflects the strong anthropogenic impact on the mangrove and serves as an early warning of waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks resulting from the consumption of shellfish and the practice of water recreational activities in the region.

High prevalence of enteric viruses associated with acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients in a low-income area in Vitória, Southeastern Brazil.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a significant cause of child mortality worldwide. In Brazil, despite the reduction in infant mortality achieved in recent years, many children still die because of undiagnosed AGE. The prevalence, viral load, and circulating genotypes of rotavirus A (RVA), human adenovirus (HAdV), and norovirus GII (NoV GII) were investigated in children with AGE during 12 months in Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil. Enteric viruses were detected in stool samples, quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, sequenced, and compared phylogenetically. The overall prevalence was 93.3% (125/134). Cases of single infection (41.8%) and mixed infection (51.5%) were observed; in 21.6% of cases, all the three viruses were detected. RVA had the highest number of copies in all infections. Phylogenetic analysis revealed predominantly the presence of RVA genotype G3, followed by G2 and G9. HAdV clustered within subgroup C, but some samples harbored subgroups A, D, or F. All sequenced NoV-positive samples clustered within the prevalent genotype GII.4. The high prevalence of RVA, HAdV, and NoV in diarrheal feces clarifies the etiology of AGE in this population, and the presence of RVA in vaccinated children reinforces the importance of monitoring programs to identify the causes of gastroenteritis and contribute to the reliability of diagnosis.

Test-retest variability for quantitative two-dimensional and Doppler measurements in the fetus.

OBJECTIVES: Echocardiography is used to quantitatively characterize cardiovascular function in fetuses with cardiac abnormalities and inform decisions for fetal or perinatal interventions. It is clinically important to understand the reproducibility of these measures, particularly between testers. While studies have reported intra-observer variability and inter-observer variability, little is known about test-retest variability for these measures. We hypothesized that even in a high volume echocardiography laboratory, quantitative measurements will demonstrate higher test-retest variability compared with inter-observer variability and intra-observer variability of the same measurements. METHODS: Prospective study of uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies to evaluate fetal measures of cardiovascular function obtained by echocardiography. One sonographer obtained predefined variables, and then, a second sonographer obtained the same variables 15 minutes after the first sonographer. Separate data acquisitions were obtained by the two sonographers to evaluate test-retest variability. Intra-observer variability and inter-observer variability were also evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty fetuses between 17- and 36-week gestation were enrolled. Time-based variables had the best intra-observer agreement and inter-observer agreement (1.2%-7.4%), while 2D (7.5%-10%), M-mode (4.9%-10.1%), and velocity-time integral (VTI; 2.6%-13.8%) measurements had poorer agreement. For all variables, test-retest agreement was worse (3%-32.1%), particularly for measurement of myocardial performance index (MPI; 19.7%-21.1%), cardiac output estimation (27.2%-27.9%), and VTI-based indices (14.7%-32.1%). CONCLUSIONS: In a laboratory highly experienced in quantitative fetal echocardiography, intra-observer agreement and inter-observer agreement are good for most quantitative parameters. However, test-retest agreement is fair or poor for several variables, notably the MPI, cardiac output estimation, and VTI-based indices. Understanding how these measures vary between separate acquisitions is important for clinical interpretation and decision making.

Harvesting Microalgal Biomass grown in Anaerobic Sewage Treatment Effluent by the Coagulation-Flocculation Method: Effect of pH

ABSTRACT Harvesting is a critical step in microalgal biomass production process for many reasons. Among the existing techniques available for harvesting and dewatering microalgal biomass, recovery from aqueous medium by coagulation-flocculation has been the most economically viable process, althoughit is highly dependent on pH. This study aims to assess alternative coagulants compared to the standard coagulant aluminum sulfate for microalgal biomass recovery from anaerobic effluent of domestic sewage treatment. The effluent quality was also analyzed after biomass recovery. Coagulants represented by modified tannin, cationic starch and aluminum sulfate recovered more than 90% of algae biomass, at concentrations greater than 80 mg/L, in the pH range 7-10. Cationic starch promoted higher microalgal biomass recovery with a wider pH range. Powdered seeds of Moringa oleifera and Hibiscus esculentus(okra) gum promoted biomass removal of 50%, only in the acidic range of pH. After sedimentation of the microalgal biomass, the effluents showed a removal of >80% for phosphorus and nitrogen values and >50% for BOD and COD when using aluminum sulfate, cationic starch and modified tannin as coagulants. Natural organic coagulants in a wide pH range can replace aluminum sulfate, a reference coagulant in microalgal biomass recovery, without decreasing microalgal biomass harvesting efficiency and the quality of the final effluent.

Isolamento e seleção de fungos produtores de lipases com base na atividade lipásica e no potencial hidrolítico sobre óleo comestível de soja e escuma de caixa de gordura / Isolation and selection of lipase-producing fungi based on lipase activity and hydrolytic potential on soybean oil and grease trap scum

RESUMO: O uso de biomassa fúngica como biocatalisadora lipásica representa uma atraente abordagem para o tratamento de águas residuais oleosas e produção de biodiesel, a partir de óleos e graxas residuais, devido à sua maior estabilidade, possibilidade de reuso e baixo custo. Neste trabalho foram obtidos cem isolados de fungos, a partir de escumas de caixa de gordura e esgoto, solo e tecidos necrosados de plantas e insetos, que foram avaliados quanto ao crescimento e à atividade lipásica, no meio de cultura básico, para atividade lipásica extracelular, e meio mineral mínimo + óleo de soja + rodamina, para atividade lipásica intracelular, com resposta positiva e diferenciada de 66 deles, inclusos como pertencentes aos gêneros Aspergillus , Beauveria , Botrytis , Cladosporium , Colletotrichum , Fusarium , Geotrichum , Penicillium , Rhizomucor e Verticillium . Na sequência, o potencial hidrolítico dos isolados Penicillium sp. F002 e Rhizomucor sp. F018 foi avaliado sobre óleo de soja comestível e escuma de caixa de gordura, em fermentação em estado sólido, através da quantificação das variáveis: produção de CO2, remoção do teor de óleos e graxas e crescimento da biomassa. Os resultados confirmaram a elevada atividade lipásica extracelular de Penicillium sp. F002 e a elevada atividade lipásica intracelular de Rhizomucor sp. F018. Portanto, o isolado Rhizomucor sp. F018 mostrou potencial para utilização em pesquisas futuras, na forma de células integrais lipásicas, para o tratamento de águas residuais oleosas e como biocatalisador na produção de biodiesel a partir de resíduos oleosos.

ABSTRACT: The use of fungal biomass as a lipase biocatalyst represents an attractive approach for the treatment of oil wastewater and production of biodiesel from oil and residual grease, due to its greater stability, possibility of reuse, and lower cost. In this work, a hundred filamentous fungi were isolated from grease trap and sewage scums, soil, and necrotized plants and insects tissues. The isolates were assessed for growth and lipase activity in the culture basic medium, for extracellular lipase activity, and mineral medium minimum + soybean oil + rhodamine, for intracellular lipase activity, with positive and differential response of 66 of them, including those belonging to the genera Aspergillus , Beauveria , Botrytis , Cladosporium , Colletotrichum , Fusarium , Geotrichum , Penicillium , Rhizomucor , and Verticillium . Following, previously selected Penicillium sp F002 and Rhizomucor sp. F018 isolates were evaluated in solid-state fermentation, for the hydrolytic potential on edible soybean oil and grease trap scum, quantified by: CO2 production, removal of the content of oils and greases, and biomass growth. Results confirmed the high extracellular lipase-activity of Penicillium sp. F002 and the high intracellular lipase activity of Rhizomucor sp. F018. Therefore, the isolated Rhizomucor sp. ECG18 showed potential for use in future research, in the form of whole-cell lipases, for oily wastewater treatment, and as a biocatalyst in the production of biodiesel from oil residues.

Assessment of water and seafood microbiology quality in a mangrove region in Vitória, Brazil.

Mangroves are vital part of the local economy for some communities in the region of Vitória, Brazil. Oysters, mussels, and crabs, which are naturally abundant in the mangroves, are harvested and largely consumed in restaurants and by the population. In recent years, unusually high rates of annual gastroenteritis cases have been reported in the region suggesting an association between the consumption of contaminated shellfish and the development of gastrointestinal diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate water samples and mussels collected in the mangrove region using bacterial indicator Escherichia coli and enteric viruses (adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus). Our results showed that the region of study is impacted by a continuous discharge of domestic sewage. Although E. coli was detected at low densities in water samples, mussels were shown to be 400 times more contaminated throughout the period of the study. Adenovirus and rotavirus genomes were detected by nested-polymerase chain reaction respectively in 76 and 88% of water samples and 100% of mussel samples. Norovirus was found in 4.8% of water samples and was not detected in the mussels. The screening of bivalves for the presence of health-significant enteric viruses can help in the prevention of outbreaks among shellfish consumers and contribute to improvement of the estuarine environment.