Cryptic circulation of chikungunya virus in São Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, 2015-2019.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has spread across Brazil with varying incidence rates depending on the affected areas. Due to cocirculation of arboviruses and overlapping disease symptoms, CHIKV infection may be underdiagnosed. To understand the lack of CHIKV epidemics in São José do Rio Preto (SJdRP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil, we evaluated viral circulation by investigating anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion in a prospective study of asymptomatic individuals and detecting anti-CHIKV IgM in individuals suspected of dengue infection, as well as CHIKV presence in Aedes mosquitoes. The opportunity to assess two different groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) exposed at the same geographic region aimed to broaden the possibility of identifying the viral circulation, which had been previously considered absent. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Based on a prospective population study model and demographic characteristics (sex and age), we analyzed the anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion rate in 341 subjects by ELISA over four years. The seroprevalence increased from 0.35% in the first year to 2.3% after 3 years of follow-up. Additionally, we investigated 497 samples from a blood panel collected from dengue-suspected individuals during the 2019 dengue outbreak in SJdRP. In total, 4.4% were positive for anti-CHIKV IgM, and 8.6% were positive for IgG. To exclude alphavirus cross-reactivity, we evaluated the presence of anti-Mayaro virus (MAYV) IgG by ELISA, and the positivity rate was 0.3% in the population study and 0.8% in the blood panel samples. In CHIKV and MAYV plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), the positivity rate for CHIKV-neutralizing antibodies in these ELISA-positive samples was 46.7%, while no MAYV-neutralizing antibodies were detected. Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed CHIKV genotype ECSA in São José do Rio Preto, SP. Finally, mosquitoes collected to complement human surveillance revealed CHIKV positivity of 2.76% of A. aegypti and 9.09% of A. albopictus (although it was far less abundant than A. aegypti) by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our data suggest cryptic CHIKV circulation in SJdRP detected by continual active surveillance. These low levels, but increasing, of viral circulation highlight the possibility of CHIKV outbreaks, as there is a large naïve population. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological situation might aid in outbreaks prevention.

Cultural Adaptation of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire and Validation of Its Use in the Portuguese Language for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain.

Objectives to translate and adapt the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) to Portuguese and to assess its psychometric properties based on internal consistency, test-retest, factor analysis and divergent and convergent construct validities. Methods The study involved 218 participants and was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. All participants gave written informed consent and their anonymity was ensured. The instrument was translated and culturally adapted for use in the Portuguese language. The internal consistency and factorial analysis were assessed by patients and physicians. Convergent and divergent validities were also assessed specifically for the patient group, as well as test-retest reliability. The Portuguese versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used for the analysis of the convergent validity. In addition, we applied a questionnaire of clinical and demographic data for the analysis of the divergent validity. Results The adapted version of the PSQ showed good Cronbach's α and test-retest values, and the results of the convergent construct validity between the PSQ and the PHQ-9 (r = 0.34; p = 0.02) and the STAI (r = 0.47; p = 0.001) were negative, significant and moderate correlations. Divergent validity showed significant correlations only with race and education. The Brazilian Portuguese version of the PSQ proved to be a valid and reliable instrument, with psychometric properties suitable for the assessment of satisfaction among patients with chronic pelvic pain and their physicians in Brazil. The questionnaire may allow the homogenization of reports on this topic in the international literature.

Cultural Adaptation of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire and Validation of Its Use in the Portuguese Language for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain / Transculturação e validação do questionário de satisfação do paciente para a língua portuguesa para mulheres com dor pélvica crônica

Abstract Objectives to translate and adapt the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) to Portuguese and to assess its psychometric properties based on internal consistency, test-retest, factor analysis and divergent and convergent construct validities. Methods The study involved 218 participants and was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. All participants gave written informed consent and their anonymity was ensured. The instrument was translated and culturally adapted for use in the Portuguese language. The internal consistency and factorial analysis were assessed by patients and physicians. Convergent and divergent validities were also assessed specifically for the patient group, as well as test-retest reliability. The Portuguese versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used for the analysis of the convergent validity. In addition, we applied a questionnaire of clinical and demographic data for the analysis of the divergent validity. Results The adapted version of the PSQ showed good Cronbach’s α and test-retest values, and the results of the convergent construct validity between the PSQ and the PHQ-9 (r = 0.34; p = 0.02) and the STAI (r = 0.47; p = 0.001) were negative, significant and moderate correlations. Divergent validity showed significant correlations only with race and education. The Brazilian Portuguese versionof the PSQ proved to be a valid and reliable instrument, with psychometric properties suitable for the assessment of satisfaction among patients with chronic pelvic pain and their physicians in Brazil. The questionnairemay allow the homogenization of reports on this topic in the international literature.

Resumo Objetivo traduzir e adaptar o Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) para o Português e avaliar suas propriedades psicométricas com base na consistência interna, teste-reteste, análise fatorial e validades de construto divergente e convergente. Métodos O estudo incluiu 218 participantes e foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa local. Todos os participantes assinaram o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido, e o anonimato dos participantes foi assegurado. O instrumento foi traduzido e adaptado culturalmente para uso em Português. A consistência interna e análise fatorial foram avaliadas por pacientes e médicos. As validades convergente e divergente também foram avaliadas especificamente para o grupo de pacientes, bem como a confiabilidade teste-reteste. O Questionário de Saúde do Paciente (PHQ-9) e o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (STAI) foram utilizados para a análise da validade convergente. Além disso, foi aplicado um questionário de dados clínicos e demográficos para análise da validade divergente. Resultados A versão adaptada do PSQ apresentou bons valores alfa de Cronbach e teste-reteste, e a validade de construto convergente entre o PSQ e o PHQ-9 (r = 0 ,34; p = 0,02) e o STAI (r = 0,47; p = 0,001) foram negativas, significativas e com correlação moderada. A validade divergente mostrou correlações significativas com raça e educação. Conclusão: a versão brasileira do PSQ provou ser um instrumento válido e confiável, com propriedades psicométricas adequadas para a avaliação da satisfação entre os pacientes com dor pélvica crônica e seus médicos no Brasil. O questionário pode permitir a homogeneização dos relatórios sobre este tema na literatura internacional.