Educação em saúde sobre febre maculosa: uma revisão integrativa da literatura / Educación para la salud en fiebre maculosa: una revisión integradora de la literature / Education in health about spotted fever: an integrative literature review

Objective:to identify the knowledge produced about the actions/interventions of education in health related to Spotted Fever. Method:integrative literature review, carried out in the following databases: US National Library of Medicine/Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences and the Nursing Database. The inclusion criteria was original scientific articles and/or theoretical scientific articles, in English, Spanish and Portuguese and without time restriction. The search was conducted in January 2022. Results:five studies from Brazil, United States of Americaand Mexico were included. Changes in epidemiological indicators were observed in the two intervention studies. Conclusion: this study showed that health education for Spotted Fever is still a little explored field, highlighting the importance of educational actions for the prevention of the disease.

Objetivo:identificar as evidências científicas sobre educação em saúde emFebre Maculosa. Método:revisão integrativa da literatura realizada nas bases de dados: US National Library of Medicine/Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde e na Base de Dados em Enfermagem. Os critérios de inclusão foram artigos científicos originais e/ou artigos científicos teóricos, em inglês, espanhol e português e sem restrição de tempo. A análise dos resultados, ocorreu em janeiro de 2022. Resultados:foram incluídos cinco estudos provenientes do Brasil, Estados Unidos e México. Mudanças nos indicadores epidemiológicos foram observados nos dois estudos de intervenção. Conclusão:aeducação em saúde para Febre Maculosa ainda é um campo pouco explorado, evidenciando a importância das ações educativas para a prevenção da doença.

Objetivo: identificar la evidencia científica sobre educación para la salud en Fiebre Manchada. Método: revisión integrativa de la literatura, realizada en: Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina de EE. UU./Sistema de análisis y recuperación de literatura médica en línea, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Biblioteca Científica Electrónica en Línea, Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud y Base de Datos de Enfermería. Los criterios de inclusión fueron artículos científicos originales Y teóricos, en inglés, español y portugués. La búsquedase realizó en enero de 2022. Resultados: incluyeron cinco estudios, de Brasil, United States of America y México. Se observaron cambios en los indicadores epidemiológicos en dos estudios de intervención. Conclusión: la educación para la salud para la Fiebre Manchada es todavía un campo poco explorado, destacando la importancia de las acciones educativas para la prevención de la enfermedad.

Sérgio Ferreira beyond Pharmacology: His Role as a Science Communicator.

Historically, toxins from animal venoms have contributed significantly to the discovery of new drugs, as illustrated by captopril, the first drug developed from an animal toxin approved for human use [...].

Construção e validação de quiz para avaliação de conhecimento cognitivo sobre febre maculosa / Construcción y validación de un cuestionario para evaluar los conocimientos cognitivos sobre la fiebre maculosa / Creation and validation of a quiz to assess cognitive knowledge about spotted fever

RESUMO Objetivo: construir e validar um Quiz de avaliação cognitiva sobre Febre Maculosa, voltado para avaliar o conhecimento de estudantes que moram e/ou frequentam cidades de risco para a doença. Métodos: estudo metodológico desenvolvido em três etapas: construção do Quiz; validação de aparência e conteúdo com nove juízes, com análise realizada através do cálculo de Índice de Validade de Conteúdo, com valor de corte 0,80; e validação semântica, seguindo a metodologia DISABKIDS® com 12 alunos de cursos técnicos profissionalizantes, com avaliação dos dados realizada por estatística descritiva, tendo sido utilizado o programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: o processo de validação foi subdividido em duas etapas: validação de aparência e conteúdo por profissionais das áreas de biologia e educação e validação semântica por alunos de cursos profissionalizantes. O Quiz foi elaborado e aplicado e os resultados mostraram um índice de validade de conteúdo superior a 0,80 para todas as variáveis analisadas. Na validação semântica, o Quiz foi considerado como de fácil compreensão e não houve dificuldade para o preenchimento. Conclusão: o Quiz construído foi validado quanto à aparência, ao conteúdo e à semântica, tendo alcançado concordância satisfatória, o que garante ser um instrumento adequado para o processo de avaliação sobre a temática investigada. Com isso, espera-se contribuir para a difusão de conhecimento acerca da identificação dos fatores de risco e da prevenção da saúde relacionados à Febre Maculosa.

RESUMEN Objetivo: construir y validar un Cuestionario de evaluación cognitiva sobre la Fiebre Maculosa, destinado a evaluar los conocimientos de los estudiantes que viven y/o asisten a ciudades con riesgo para la enfermedad. Métodos: estudio metodológico desarrollado en tres etapas: construcción del Cuestionario; validación de apariencia y contenido con nueve jueces con análisis realizado mediante el cálculo del Índice de Validez de Contenido, con un valor de corte de 0.80 y validación semántica, siguiendo la metodología DISABKIDS® con 12 estudiantes de carreras técnicas profesionales, con evaluación de datos realizada mediante estadística descriptiva, donde se utilizó el programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: el proceso de validación se subdividió en dos etapas: validación de apariencia y contenido por profesionales de las áreas de biología y educación, y validación semántica por estudiantes de carreras profesionales. El Cuestionario fue diseñado y aplicado. Los resultados mostraron un índice de validez de contenido superior a 0,8 para todas las variables analizadas. En la validación semántica, el Cuestionario se consideró fácil de entender y no hubo dificultades para completarlo. Conclusión: el Cuestionario construido fue validado en cuanto a apariencia, contenido y semántica, habiendo logrado concordancia satisfactoria, lo que garantiza que es un instrumento adecuado para el proceso de evaluación sobre el tema investigado. Con esto, se espera contribuir a la difusión del conocimiento sobre la identificación de factores de riesgo y prevención de la salud relacionados con la Fiebre Maculosa.

ABSTRACT Objective: to create and validate a cognitive assessment Quiz about Spotted Fever, targeted at evaluating what students living in and/or traveling to risk cities know about the disease. Methods: a methodological study developed in three stages: creation of the Quiz; face and content validation with nine judges, with analysis performed by calculating the Content Validity Index, with a cutoff value of 0.80; and semantic validation, following the DISABKIDS® methodology with 12 students from professional technical courses, with data evaluation performed by means of descriptive statistics, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program. Results: the validation process was subdivided into two stages: face and content validation by professionals in the Biology and Education areas, and semantic validation by students attending professional courses. The Quiz was prepared and applied and the results showed a Content Validity Index above 0.80 for all the variables analyzed. In the semantic validation, the Quiz was considered as easy to understand and there were no difficulties filling it in. Conclusion: the Quiz created was validated in terms of face, content and semantics, having achieved satisfactory agreement, which guarantees that it is an adequate instrument for the evaluation process on the theme investigated. With this, the expectation is to contribute to disseminating knowledge about the identification of risk and health prevention factors related to Spotted fever.

Construção e validação de Quiz para avaliação de conhecimento cognitivo sobre febre maculosa / Creation and validation of a quiz to assess cognitive knowledge about spotted fever / Construcción y validación de un cuestionario para evaluar los conocimientos cognitivos sobre la fiebre maculosa

Objetivo: construir e validar um Quiz de avaliação cognitiva sobre Febre Maculosa, voltado para avaliar o conhecimento de estudantes que moram e/ou frequentam cidades de risco para a doença. Métodos: estudo metodológico desenvolvido em três etapas: construção do Quiz; validação de aparência e conteúdo com nove juízes, com análise realizada através do cálculo de Índice de Validade de Conteúdo, com valor de corte 0,80; e validação semântica, seguindo a metodologia DISABKIDS® com 12 alunos de cursos técnicos profissionalizantes, com avaliação dos dados realizada por estatística descritiva, tendo sido utilizado o programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: o processo de validação foi subdividido em duas etapas: validação de aparência e conteúdo por profissionais das áreas de biologia e educação e validação semântica por alunos de cursos profissionalizantes. O Quiz foi elaborado e aplicado e os resultados mostraram um índice de validade de conteúdo superior a 0,80 para todas as variáveis analisadas. Na validação semântica, o Quiz foi considerado como de fácil compreensão e não houve dificuldade para o preenchimento. Conclusão: o Quiz construído foi validado quanto à aparência, ao conteúdo e à semântica, tendo alcançado concordância satisfatória, o que garante ser um instrumento adequado para o processo de avaliação sobre a temática investigada. Com isso, espera-se contribuir para a difusão de conhecimento acerca da identificação dos fatores de risco e da prevenção da saúde relacionados à Febre Maculosa.(AU)

Objective: to create and validate a cognitive assessment Quiz about Spotted Fever, targeted at evaluating what students living in and/or traveling to risk cities know about the disease. Methods: a methodological study developed in three stages: creation of the Quiz; face and content validation with nine judges, with analysis performed by calculating the Content Validity Index, with a cutoff value of 0.80; and semantic validation, following the DISABKIDS®methodology with 12 students from professional technical courses, with data evaluation performed by means of descriptive statistics, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program. Results: the validation process was subdivided into two stages: face and content validation by professionals in the Biology and Education areas, and semantic validation by students attending professional courses. The Quiz was prepared and applied and the results showed a Content Validity Index above 0.80 for all the variables analyzed. In the semantic validation, the Quiz was considered as easy to understand and there were no difficulties filling it in. Conclusion: the Quiz created was validated in terms of face, content and semantics, having achieved satisfactory agreement, which guarantees that it is an adequate instrument for the evaluation process on the theme investigated. With this, the expectation is to contribute to disseminating knowledge about the identification of risk and health prevention factors related to Spotted fever.(AU)

Objetivo: construir y validar un Cuestionario de evaluación cognitiva sobre la Fiebre Maculo-sa, destinado a evaluar los conocimientos de los estudiantes que viven y/o asisten a ciudades con riesgo para la enfermedad. Métodos: estudio metodológico desarrollado en tres etapas: construcción del Cuestionario; validación de apariencia y contenido con nueve jueces con aná-lisis realizado mediante el cálculo del Índice de Validez de Contenido, con un valor de corte de 0.80 y validación semántica, siguiendo la metodología DISABKIDS® con 12 estudiantes de carreras técnicas profesionales, con evaluación de datos realizada mediante estadística des-criptiva, donde se utilizó el programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: el proceso de validación se subdividió en dos etapas: validación de apariencia y contenido por profesionales de las áreas de biología y educación, y validación semántica por estudiantes de carreras profesionales. El Cuestionario fue diseñado y aplicado. Los resultados mostraron un índice de validez de contenido superior a 0,8 para todas las variables analizadas...(AU)

Integral Use of Immunopeptidomics and Immunoinformatics for the Characterization of Antigen Presentation and Rational Identification of BoLA-DR-Presented Peptides and Epitopes.

MHC peptide binding and presentation is the most selective event defining the landscape of T cell epitopes. Consequently, understanding the diversity of MHC alleles in a given population and the parameters that define the set of ligands that can be bound and presented by each of these alleles (the immunopeptidome) has an enormous impact on our capacity to predict and manipulate the potential of protein Ags to elicit functional T cell responses. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of MHC-eluted ligand data has proven to be a powerful technique for identifying such peptidomes, and methods integrating such data for prediction of Ag presentation have reached a high level of accuracy for both MHC class I and class II. In this study, we demonstrate how these techniques and prediction methods can be readily extended to the bovine leukocyte Ag class II DR locus (BoLA-DR). BoLA-DR binding motifs were characterized by eluted ligand data derived from bovine cell lines expressing a range of DRB3 alleles prevalent in Holstein-Friesian populations. The model generated (NetBoLAIIpan, available as a Web server at www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/NetBoLAIIpan) was shown to have unprecedented predictive power to identify known BoLA-DR-restricted CD4 epitopes. In summary, the results demonstrate the power of an integrated approach combining advanced mass spectrometry peptidomics with immunoinformatics for characterization of the BoLA-DR Ag presentation system and provide a prediction tool that can be used to assist in rational evaluation and selection of bovine CD4 T cell epitopes.

Unexpected findings of hepatitis B and delta infection in northeastern Brazil: A public health alert.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Research has shown that hepatitis B (HBV) and Delta virus (HDV) are a worldwide public health problem. This study aims to estimate the prevalence rates of HBV and HDV infection in five municipalities of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total sample between 3856 and 4000 individuals. Questionnaires were used to register sociodemographic characteristics and factors associated with transmission. Patients were tested for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibodies against hepatitis Delta virus (anti-HDV). Factors associated with HBV were detected by means of multivariate Poisson regression. RESULTS: Overall, 3983 subjects were included. Ninety-two of the participants were HBsAg-positive (2.30%, 95% CI 1.80-2.80), and anti-HBc was detected in 1535 (38.50%, 95% CI 37-40). The factors associated with the presence of anti-HBc were: (1) Municipality (P<0.001); Age (P<0.001); School education (P<0.001); Illicit drug use (P=0.001); non-HBV vaccine (P=0.041). Among the HBsAg carriers, eight were anti-HDV-positive (8.69%, 95% CI 2.90-14.40). The most frequent HBV genotype was D4. The only HDV genotype was HDV-8. CONCLUSION: HBV exhibited intermediate endemicity in the studied region. Traditional factors were associated with exposure to the virus. The presence of the HDV was confirmed. The most frequent HBV and HDV genotypes were unlike the ones currently described in Brazil.

Development and validation of an interactive educational technology on spotted fever.

OBJECTIVE: to develop and validate an interactive educational technology on spotted fever, to offer an innovative teaching method. METHOD: a methodological study that covered the following stages: analysis and diagnosis; instructional planning, didactic design, review, and validation and production of technology. RESULTS: the analysis and diagnosis were obtained from experiences in education and health activities for spotted fever. In the instructional planning, it was defined that the technology would be presented in the form of an Interactive Laboratory, with learning stations. The production of the Laboratory was carried out by a multidisciplinary team made up of a carpenter, an electrician, and a plastic artist, among others. The review and validation process was subdivided into two stages: appearance and content validation by professionals in the fields of biology, and education and semantic validation by students of the Nursing and Pedagogy courses. The results of the appearance and content validation showed a content validity index over 0.8 for the vast majority of the variables. In the semantic validation, the Laboratory was evaluated positively by the students. CONCLUSION: the trajectory followed for the construction of the Interactive Laboratory on spotted fever gave academic and scientific support to the product, offering an innovative educational resource with pedagogical potential that values significant learning.

Development and validation of an interactive educational technology on spotted fever / Desenvolvimento e validação de tecnologia educacional interativa sobre febre maculosa / Desarrollo y validación de una tecnología educativa interactiva sobre fiebre maculosa

Objective: to develop and validate an interactive educational technology on spotted fever, to offer an innovative teaching method. Method: a methodological study that covered the following stages: analysis and diagnosis; instructional planning, didactic design, review, and validation and production of technology. Results: the analysis and diagnosis were obtained from experiences in education and health activities for spotted fever. In the instructional planning, it was defined that the technology would be presented in the form of an Interactive Laboratory, with learning stations. The production of the Laboratory was carried out by a multidisciplinary team made up of a carpenter, an electrician, and a plastic artist, among others. The review and validation process was subdivided into two stages: appearance and content validation by professionals in the fields of biology, and education and semantic validation by students of the Nursing and Pedagogy courses. The results of the appearance and content validation showed a content validity index over 0.8 for the vast majority of the variables. In the semantic validation, the Laboratory was evaluated positively by the students. Conclusion: the trajectory followed for the construction of the Interactive Laboratory on spotted fever gave academic and scientific support to the product, offering an innovative educational resource with pedagogical potential that values significant learning.

Objetivo: desenvolver e validar uma tecnologia educacional interativa sobre febre maculosa, para oferecer um método inovador de ensino. Método: estudo metodológico desenvolvido nas seguintes etapas: análise e diagnóstico; planejamento instrucional, desenho didático, revisão e validação e produção da tecnologia. Resultados: a análise e diagnóstico foram obtidos a partir de experiências em atividades de educação e saúde para febre maculosa. No planejamento instrucional, definiu-se que a tecnologia seria apresentada em forma de Laboratório Interativo, com estações de aprendizagem. A produção do Laboratório foi realizada por uma equipe multidisciplinar constituída por marceneiro, eletricista, artista plástico, dentre outros. O processo de revisão e validação foi subdividido em duas etapas: validação de aparência e conteúdo por profissionais das áreas de biologia e educação e validação semântica por alunos do curso de enfermagem e pedagogia. Os resultados da validação de aparência e conteúdo mostraram um índice de validade de conteúdo superior a 0,8 para a grande maioria das variáveis. Na validação semântica, o Laboratório foi avaliado de forma positiva pelos alunos. Conclusão: a trajetória percorrida para a construção do Laboratório Interativo sobre febre maculosa conferiu sustentação acadêmica e científica ao produto construído, oferecendo um recurso educativo inovador com potencial pedagógico que valoriza a aprendizagem significativa.

Objetivo: desarrollar y validar una tecnología educativa interactiva sobre fiebre maculosa, para ofrecer un método innovador de enseñanza. Método: estudio metodológico que recorrió las siguientes etapas: análisis y diagnóstico; planificación instructiva, diseño didáctico, revisión y validación y producción de la tecnología. Resultados: el análisis y el diagnóstico se obtuvieron a partir de experiencias en actividades de educación y salud para fiebre maculosa. En la planificación instructiva, se definió que la tecnología se presentaría en forma de Laboratorio Interactivo, con estaciones de aprendizaje. La producción del Laboratorio fue realizada por un equipo multidisciplinario constituido por un carpintero, un electricista y un artista plástico, entre otros. El proceso de revisión y validación se subdividió en dos etapas: validación de aspecto y contenido por profesionales de las áreas de biología y educación, y validación semántica por alumnos de las carreras de Enfermería y Pedagogía. Los resultados de la validación de aspecto y contenido mostraron un índice de validez de contenido superior a 0,8 para la gran mayoría de las variables. En la validación semántica, el Laboratorio fue evaluado de manera positiva por los alumnos Conclusión: la trayectoria recorrida para la construcción del Laboratorio Interactivo sobre fiebre maculosa dio sustentación académica y científica al producto construido, ofreciendo un recurso educativo innovador con potencial pedagógico que valora el aprendizaje significativo.

Playful educational intervention with schoolchildren on intestinal parasitosis / Intervención educativa lúdica sobre parasitosis intestinales con escolares / Intervenção educativa lúdica sobre parasitoses intestinais com escolares

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the playful educational interventions in the knowledge of schoolchildren about intestinal parasitosis. Method: This is a quasi-experimental, non-randomized study, based on pre- and post-intervention, conducted in a public elementary school in a peripheric neighborhood in the city of Ribeirão Preto (SP). The study population consisted of 101 students enrolled in the 5th and 6th grade. For comparison, we used the generalized version of the McNemar chi-squared test. Results: Of the 101 schoolchildren who participated in the study, 48 (47.5%) were female and 53 (52.5%) were male, aged from 9 to 14 years. Students' knowledge on intestinal parasitic infections has increased significantly after the playful educational intervention. Conclusion: Playful educational interventions are an excellent didactical resource in the teaching-learning process of schoolchildren.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar las intervenciones educativas lúdicas en el conocimiento de escolares sobre enteroparasitosis. Método: Se trata de estudio casi-experimental, no aleatorizado, basado en la pre y pos-intervención, que ha sido ocurrido en escuela pública de enseñanza primaria de un barrio de la periferia en la ciudad de Ribeirão Preto (SP). La población del estudio ha sido conformada por 101 alumnos que cursaban el 5º y el 6º año. Para realizar la comparación ha sido utilizada la versión generalizada de la prueba chi-cuadrada de McNemar. Resultados: De los 101 escolares que han participado del estudio, 48 (el 47,5%) eran del sexo femenino y 53 (el 52,5%) del sexo masculino, con edad entre 9 a 14 años. El conocimiento de los alumnos sobre enteroparasitosis después de la intervención educativa lúdica se ha incrementado significativamente. Conclusión: Las intervenciones educativas lúdicas son un excelente recurso didáctico en el contexto del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje de escolares.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as intervenções educativas lúdicas no conhecimento de escolares sobre enteroparasitoses. Método: Trata-se de estudo quase-experimental, não randomizado, baseado na pré e pós-intervenção, ocorrido em escola pública de ensino fundamental de um bairro da periferia na cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP). A população do estudo foi composta por 101 alunos que cursavam o 5º e o 6º ano. Para efetuar a comparação foi utilizada a versão generalizada do teste qui-quadrado de McNemar. Resultados: Dos 101 escolares que participaram do estudo, 48 (47,5%) eram do sexo feminino e 53 (52,5%) do sexo masculino, com idade entre 9 a 14 anos. O conhecimento dos alunos sobre enteroparasitoses após a intervenção educativa lúdica aumentou significativamente. Conclusão: As intervenções educativas lúdicas são um excelente recurso didático no contexto do processo ensino-aprendizagem de escolares.

Playful educational intervention with schoolchildren on intestinal parasitosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the playful educational interventions in the knowledge of schoolchildren about intestinal parasitosis. METHOD: This is a quasi-experimental, non-randomized study, based on pre- and post-intervention, conducted in a public elementary school in a peripheric neighborhood in the city of Ribeirão Preto (SP). The study population consisted of 101 students enrolled in the 5th and 6th grade. For comparison, we used the generalized version of the McNemar chi-squared test. RESULTS: Of the 101 schoolchildren who participated in the study, 48 (47.5%) were female and 53 (52.5%) were male, aged from 9 to 14 years. Students' knowledge on intestinal parasitic infections has increased significantly after the playful educational intervention. CONCLUSION: Playful educational interventions are an excellent didactical resource in the teaching-learning process of schoolchildren.

Intervenção educacional sobre enteroparasitoses: um estudo quase experimental / Educational intervention on enteroparasitosis: a quasi-experimental study / Intervención educativa sobre enteroparasitosis: un estudio cuasi-experimental

Resumo Introdução As enteroparasitoses vêm ocasionando sérios problemas de saúde pública no mundo, sobretudo nos países em desenvolvimento. Mesmo com a população em geral relatando que tem conhecimento sobre as parasitoses intestinais, estudos apontam que não sabem identificar as verminoses. Objetivo Elaborar, implementar e avaliar um programa educativo sobre parasitoses intestinais em uma escola pública de Ribeirão Preto - SP. Materiais e Métodos Estudo quase experimental, não randomizado realizado com 56 alunos do 1º a 4º ano do ensino fundamental. Para avaliar o conhecimento dos alunos antes e após intervenção educativa, foi aplicado um questionário semiestruturado (Pré e Pós - teste). Resultados Houve mudanças nas respostas dos alunos em relação hábitos de higiene, especialmente nas questões sobre como os vermes se alimentam (p=0,008); o que não fazer para não se contaminar com vermes (p=0,05); qual o formato dos vermes quando é ingerido (p=0,001); quais órgãos os vermes atravessam (p=0,001). Assim, ficou evidente que este tipo de atividade educativa foi eficiente para auxiliar na aprendizagem de alunos do ensino fundamental. Discussão Após a atividade educativa sem notou um crescimento nos acertos para a maioria das questões, contudo ainda houve dificuldades de compreensão sobre os sintomas, o ciclo e quais organismos são vermes. Conclusões Espera-se que este trabalho incentive profissionais da saúde e da educação a incluir práticas educativas sobre saúde no contexto escolar.

Abstract Introduction Enteroparasitosis has been causing serious problems of public health globally, especially in developing countries. Even with the general population reportedly having knowledge about intestinal parasites, studies indicate that they do not know how to identify the verminoses. Objective To elaborate, implement, and evaluate an educational program on intestinal parasites in a public school in Ribeirão Preto - SP. Materials and Methods Quase-experimental, non-randomized study conducted with 56 students from the first to the fourth grades of elementary education. In order to evaluate the students' knowledge before and after the educational intervention, a semi-structured questionnaire was applied (pre- and post-test). Results Changes were evidenced in the students' responses to hygiene habits, especially in questions about how worms feed (p = 0.008); or what not to do to avoid contamination with worms (p = 0.05); what is the form of the worms when ingested (p = 0.001); which organs the worms enter (p = 0.001). Thus, it was evident that this type of educational activity was efficient to help in the learning by elementary school students. Discussion After the educational activity, growth was noted in the correct answers for most of the questions, however, difficulties persisted in understanding about the symptoms, the cycle, and which organisms are worms. Conclusions It is hoped that this work will encourage health and education professionals to include health educational practices in the school context.

Resumen Introducción Las enteroparasitosis ocasionan serios problemas de salud pública en el mundo, sobre todo en los países en desarrollo. Incluso con la población en general relatando que tienen conocimiento sobre las parasitosis intestinales, estudios apuntan que no saben identificar las helmintiasis. Objetivo Elaborar, implementar y evaluar un programa educativo sobre parasitosis intestinales en una escuela pública de Ribeirão Preto - SP. Materiales y Métodos Estudio cuasi-experimental, no aleatorizado realizado con 56 alumnos de 1º al 4º año de enseñanza primaria. Para evaluar el conocimiento de los alumnos antes y después de la intervención educativa, se aplicó un cuestionario semiestructurado (Pre y Post - prueba). Resultados Hubo cambios en las respuestas de los alumnos en relación a hábitos de higiene, especialmente en las preguntas sobre cómo los helmintos se alimentan (p = 0,008); que no hacer para no contaminarse con helmintos (p = 0.05); cual es la forma de los helmintos cuando son ingeridos (p = 0.001); cuales órganos los helmintos atraviesan (p = 0.001). Así, quedó evidente que este tipo de actividad educativa fue eficiente para auxiliar en el aprendizaje de alumnos de la enseñanza primaria. Discusión Después de la actividad educativa se notó un crecimiento en los aciertos para la mayoría de las preguntas, sin embargo todavía hubo dificultades de comprensión sobre los síntomas, el ciclo y cuáles organismos son helmintos. Conclusiones Se espera que este trabajo incentive a profesionales de la salud y la educación a incluir prácticas educativas sobre salud en el contexto escolar.

Interaction between saliva's adenosine and tick parasitism: effects on feeding and reproduction.

BACKGROUND: It has recently been demonstrated that saliva from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks contains adenosine (ADO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), two non-protein molecules that have significant immunomodulatory properties. These molecules can inhibit cytokine production by dendritic cells (DCs), while also reducing the expression of CD40 in these cells. However, more studies are needed for a better understanding of their participation in the feeding of ticks in vivo. This work, therefore, evaluated the importance of ADO during tick infestations. Mice were infested with adult ticks (3 couples/mouse), and their skin was collected at the tick-infested site (3rd and 7th day), and mRNA for receptors of ADO was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Tick infestation increased by four and two times the expression of the A2b and A3v1 receptors on day 3, respectively, while expression of other ADO receptors was unaltered. In addition, we treated mice (n = 10/group) daily with 8-(p-Sulfophenyl)theophylline, 8-pSPT, 20 mg/kg, i.p.), a non-selective antagonist of ADO receptors, and evaluated the performance of ticks during infestations. Female ticks fed on 8-pSPT-treated mice presented a reduction in their engorgement, weight and hatching rates of egg masses, and survival times of larvae compared to the same parameters presented by ticks in the control group. To investigate if these 8-pSPT-treated mice presented altered immune responses, we performed three tick infestations and collected their lymph node cells to determine the percentages and activation state of DCs and cytokine production by lymphocytes by flow cytometry (Cytometric Bead Array technique, CBA). Our data showed that 8-pSPT-treated mice presented an increase in the percentage of DCs as well as of their stimulatory and co-stimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80 and MHCII). Regarding production of T cell cytokines, we observed a significant increase in the levels of IL-2 and a significant decrease in IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and IFN-γ cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ADO produced by ticks helps them feed and reproduce and that this effect may be due to modulation of host DCs and T cells.

High prevalence of enteroparasites in children from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE:: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and possible associated factors. METHOD:: Cross-sectional epidemiological study of 962 children (3-12-years) from an area within the scope of a basic health unit in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected by home interviews and three-sample stool analysis and evaluated with the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (p<0.05). RESULTS:: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was significantly high (57.5%). Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent (50.8%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (17.8%), Entamoeba histolytica, Hymenolepis nana, Entamoeba coli and Enterobius vermiculares (5.6-7.3%) and other parasites of lower prevalence, such as Schistosoma japonicum (1%) and Schistosoma mansoni (0.5%). No statistically significant associations were detected between prevalence and the risk factors analyzed. CONCLUSION:: Since the area presents good conditions of environmental sanitation, health education programs should be implemented that emphasize hygiene procedures for the hands and for food and water to be consumed by the population.

High prevalence of enteroparasites in children from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil / Alta prevalencia de enteroparasitosis en niños de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and possible associated factors. Method: Cross-sectional epidemiological study of 962 children (3-12-years) from an area within the scope of a basic health unit in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected by home interviews and three-sample stool analysis and evaluated with the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (p<0.05). Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was significantly high (57.5%). Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent (50.8%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (17.8%), Entamoeba histolytica, Hymenolepis nana, Entamoeba coli and Enterobius vermiculares (5.6-7.3%) and other parasites of lower prevalence, such as Schistosoma japonicum (1%) and Schistosoma mansoni (0.5%). No statistically significant associations were detected between prevalence and the risk factors analyzed. Conclusion: Since the area presents good conditions of environmental sanitation, health education programs should be implemented that emphasize hygiene procedures for the hands and for food and water to be consumed by the population.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de parasitas intestinais e possíveis fatores associados. Método: Estudo epidemiológico de corte transversal, população de 962 crianças (3-12 anos) residentes em uma área de abrangência de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde na cidade de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas domiciliares e exame de fezes (três amostras). A análise de dados aplicou testes Qui-quadrado e Fisher (p< 0,05). Resultados: A prevalência de parasitas foi significativamente elevada (57,5%). Giardia lamblia foi a mais prevalente (50,8%), seguida por Ascaris lumbricoides (17,8%), Entamoeba histolytica, Hymenolepis nana, Entamoeba coli e Enterobius vermiculares (5,6 -7,3%) e outros parasitas, como o Schistosoma japonicum (1%) e Schistosoma mansoni (0,5%). Não houve associações estatisticamente significativas entre a prevalência e os fatores de risco analisados. Conclusão: Como a área apresenta boas condições de saneamento, programas de educação em saúde devem ser implementados, enfatizando o consumo de água filtrada.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia y posibles asociaciones de enteroparasitosis con posibles factores asociados. Método: Estudio epidemiológico, corte transversal, muestra de 962 niños (3-12 años) en un área de cobertura de una Unidad de Salud de la Familia en Ribeirão Preto-São Paulo, Brasil. Los datos fueron recogidos mediante la aplicación de entrevistas y exámenes de heces con tres muestras/niño, que fueron analizados utilizando Chi-cuadrado y Fisher (0,05%). Resultados: La prevalencia de enteroparasitosis fue alta (57,5%). Giardia lamblia fue el parásito más frecuente (50,8%), seguido por Ascaris lumbricoides (17,8%), Entamoeba histolytica, H. nana, E. coli y Enterobius vermicularis (5,6-7,3%) y otros parásitos con frecuencias más bajas. No se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre prevalencia y factores de riesgo analizados. Conclusión: Aunque el área del estudio tenga buenas condiciones socioeconómicas y demográficas, existe la necesidad de implementar acciones con enfoque en la promoción de la salud de esta población.

Immune recognition of salivary proteins from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus differs according to the genotype of the bovine host.

BACKGROUND: Males of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus produce salivary immunoglobulin-binding proteins and allotypic variations in IgG are associated with tick loads in bovines. These findings indicate that antibody responses may be essential to control tick infestations. Infestation loads with cattle ticks are heritable: some breeds carry high loads of reproductively successful ticks, in others, few ticks feed and they reproduce inefficiently. Different patterns of humoral immunity against tick salivary proteins may explain these phenotypes. METHODS: We describe the profiles of humoral responses against tick salivary proteins elicited during repeated artificial infestations of bovines of a tick-resistant (Nelore) and a tick-susceptible (Holstein) breed. We measured serum levels of total IgG1, IgG2 and IgE immunoglobulins and of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies specific for tick salivary proteins. With liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry we identified tick salivary proteins that were differentially recognized by serum antibodies from tick-resistant and tick-susceptible bovines in immunoblots of tick salivary proteins separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. RESULTS: Baseline levels of total IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly higher in tick-susceptible Holsteins compared with resistant Nelores. Significant increases in levels of total IgG1, but not of IgG2 accompanied successive infestations in both breeds. Resistant Nelores presented with significantly higher levels of salivary-specific antibodies before and at the first challenge with tick larvae; however, by the third challenge, tick-susceptible Holsteins presented with significantly higher levels of IgG1 and IgG2 tick salivary protein-specific antibodies. Importantly, sera from tick-resistant Nelores reacted with 39 tick salivary proteins in immunoblots of salivary proteins separated in two dimensions by electrophoresis versus only 21 spots reacting with sera from tick-susceptible Holsteins. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of tick saliva-specific antibodies were not directly correlated with infestation phenotypes. However, in spite of receiving apparently lower amounts of tick saliva, tick-resistant bovines recognized more tick salivary proteins. These reactive salivary proteins are putatively involved in several functions of parasitism and blood-feeding. Our results indicate that neutralization by host antibodies of tick salivary proteins involved in parasitism is essential to control tick infestations.

Immune and biochemical responses in skin differ between bovine hosts genetically susceptible and resistant to the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus.

BACKGROUND: Ticks attach to and penetrate their hosts' skin and inactivate multiple components of host responses in order to acquire a blood meal. Infestation loads with the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, are heritable: some breeds carry high loads of reproductively successful ticks, whereas in others, few ticks feed and reproduce efficiently. METHODS: In order to elucidate the mechanisms that result in the different outcomes of infestations with cattle ticks, we examined global gene expression and inflammation induced by tick bites in skins from one resistant and one susceptible breed of cattle that underwent primary infestations with larvae and nymphs of R. microplus. We also examined the expression profiles of genes encoding secreted tick proteins that mediate parasitism in larvae and nymphs feeding on these breeds. RESULTS: Functional analyses of differentially expressed genes in the skin suggest that allergic contact-like dermatitis develops with ensuing production of IL-6, CXCL-8 and CCL-2 and is sustained by HMGB1, ISG15 and PKR, leading to expression of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines that recruit granulocytes and T lymphocytes. Importantly, this response is delayed in susceptible hosts. Histopathological analyses of infested skins showed inflammatory reactions surrounding tick cement cones that enable attachment in both breeds, but in genetically tick-resistant bovines they destabilized the cone. The transcription data provided insights into tick-mediated activation of basophils, which have previously been shown to be a key to host resistance in model systems. Skin from tick-susceptible bovines expressed more transcripts encoding enzymes that detoxify tissues. Interestingly, these enzymes also produce volatile odoriferous compounds and, accordingly, skin rubbings from tick-susceptible bovines attracted significantly more tick larvae than rubbings from resistant hosts. Moreover, transcripts encoding secreted modulatory molecules by the tick were significantly more abundant in larval and in nymphal salivary glands from ticks feeding on susceptible bovines. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with tick-susceptible hosts, genes encoding enzymes producing volatile compounds exhibit significantly lower expression in resistant hosts, which may render them less attractive to larvae; resistant hosts expose ticks to an earlier inflammatory response, which in ticks is associated with significantly lower expression of genes encoding salivary proteins that suppress host immunity, inflammation and coagulation.

A revision of two distinct species of Rhipicephalus: R. microplus and R. australis / Uma revisão sobre duas espécies distintas de Rhipicephalus: R. microplus e R. Australis

ABSTRACT: Rhipicephalus ( Boophilus) species are monoxenous ticks with seasonal distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. For many years, Rhipicephalus micropluswas considered as a single species; however, further analysis split these ticks into two distinct species. Because R. microplusand R. australisshare similar attributes, it is hard to discriminate these two species and explain the changes in the classification of these parasites over the past decades. The reappearance of R. australisis an outcome of new research, which has afforded to better characterize these probably cryptic species. Evidence based on morphological features, the lack of conspecificity, microsatellite markers, mitochondrial 12S and 16S ribosomal DNA, and mitochondrial genome supports the re-classification of R. microplusas different species. Therefore, populations of R. microplusfrom Australia, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Borneo, New Guinea, Tahiti and parts of Southeast Asia were recently reinstated as R. australis. Moreover, a better knowledge on the speciation between these two species could pave the way to important advances in tick control strategies.

RESUMO: As espécies pertencentes ao gênero Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) são carrapatos monoxenos de distribuição sazonal em regiões tropicais e subtropicais. Por muito anos, duas espécies de carrapatos foram consideradas como Rhipicephalus microplus.Contudo, estudos recentes reclassificaram esse carrapato em duas espécies: R. micropluse R. australis. Em razão de diversas semelhanças entre R. micropluse R. australis,distinguir essas duas espécies torna-se uma tarefa árdua, o que explica as mudanças de classificação dessas espécies nas últimas décadas. O reaparecimento da espécie R. australissurge com novas pesquisas, resultado de uma melhor caracterização dessas prováveis espécies crípticas. Evidências baseadas em análises das características morfológicas, na ausência de co-especificidade, em marcadores de microssatélites, no DNA ribossomal mitocondrial 12S e 16S, assim como no genoma mitocondrial, suportam a re-classificação de R. micropluscomo duas espécies distintas. Nesse sentido, populações de R. microplusda Austrália, Camboja, Nova Caledônia, Bornéo, Filipinas, Nova Guiné, Indonésia e Taiti foram recentemente renomeadas como R. australis. Além disso, um melhor entendimento sobre a especiação e localização dessas duas espécies pode trazer avanços importantes para melhorar as estratégias de controle desses carrapatos.

The sialotranscriptome of Amblyomma triste, Amblyomma parvum and Amblyomma cajennense ticks, uncovered by 454-based RNA-seq.

BACKGROUND: Tick salivary constituents antagonize inflammatory, immune and hemostatic host responses, favoring tick blood feeding and the establishment of tick-borne pathogens in hosts during hematophagy. Amblyomma triste, A. cajennense and A. parvum ticks are very important in veterinary and human health because they are vectors of the etiological agents for several diseases. Insights into the tick salivary components involved in blood feeding are essential to understanding vector-pathogen-host interactions, and transcriptional profiling of salivary glands is a powerful tool to do so. Here, we functionally annotated the sialotranscriptomes of these three Amblyomma species, which allowed comparisons between these and other hematophagous arthropod species. METHODS: mRNA from the salivary glands of A. triste, A. cajennense and A. parvum ticks fed on different host species were pyrosequenced on a 454-Roche platform to generate four A. triste (nymphs fed on guinea pigs and females fed on dogs) libraries, one A. cajennense (females fed on rabbits) library and one was A. parvum (females fed on dogs) library. Bioinformatic analyses used in-house programs with a customized pipeline employing standard assembly and alignment algorithms, protein databases and protein servers. RESULTS: Each library yielded an average of 100,000 reads, which were assembled to obtain contigs of coding sequences (CDSs). The sialotranscriptome analyses of A. triste, A. cajennense and A. parvum ticks produced 11,240, 4,604 and 3,796 CDSs, respectively. These CDSs were classified into over 100 distinct protein families with a wide range of putative functions involved in physiological and blood feeding processes and were catalogued in annotated, hyperlinked spreadsheets. We highlighted the putative transcripts encoding saliva components with critical roles during parasitism, such as anticoagulants, immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory molecules. The salivary content underwent changes in the abundance and repertoire of many transcripts, which depended on the tick and host species. CONCLUSIONS: The annotated sialotranscriptomes described herein richly expand the biological knowledge of these three Amblyomma species. These comprehensive databases will be useful for the characterization of salivary proteins and can be applied to control ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Characterisation of divergent flavivirus NS3 and NS5 protein sequences detected in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from Brazil.

Transcripts similar to those that encode the nonstructural (NS) proteins NS3 and NS5 from flaviviruses were found in a salivary gland (SG) complementary DNA (cDNA) library from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Tick extracts were cultured with cells to enable the isolation of viruses capable of replicating in cultured invertebrate and vertebrate cells. Deep sequencing of the viral RNA isolated from culture supernatants provided the complete coding sequences for the NS3 and NS5 proteins and their molecular characterisation confirmed similarity with the NS3 and NS5 sequences from other flaviviruses. Despite this similarity, phylogenetic analyses revealed that this potentially novel virus may be a highly divergent member of the genus Flavivirus. Interestingly, we detected the divergent NS3 and NS5 sequences in ticks collected from several dairy farms widely distributed throughout three regions of Brazil. This is the first report of flavivirus-like transcripts in R. microplus ticks. This novel virus is a potential arbovirus because it replicated in arthropod and mammalian cells; furthermore, it was detected in a cDNA library from tick SGs and therefore may be present in tick saliva. It is important to determine whether and by what means this potential virus is transmissible and to monitor the virus as a potential emerging tick-borne zoonotic pathogen.

Characterisation of divergent flavivirus NS3 and NS5 protein sequences detected in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from Brazil

Transcripts similar to those that encode the nonstructural (NS) proteins NS3 and NS5 from flaviviruses were found in a salivary gland (SG) complementary DNA (cDNA) library from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Tick extracts were cultured with cells to enable the isolation of viruses capable of replicating in cultured invertebrate and vertebrate cells. Deep sequencing of the viral RNA isolated from culture supernatants provided the complete coding sequences for the NS3 and NS5 proteins and their molecular characterisation confirmed similarity with the NS3 and NS5 sequences from other flaviviruses. Despite this similarity, phylogenetic analyses revealed that this potentially novel virus may be a highly divergent member of the genus Flavivirus. Interestingly, we detected the divergent NS3 and NS5 sequences in ticks collected from several dairy farms widely distributed throughout three regions of Brazil. This is the first report of flavivirus-like transcripts in R. microplus ticks. This novel virus is a potential arbovirus because it replicated in arthropod and mammalian cells; furthermore, it was detected in a cDNA library from tick SGs and therefore may be present in tick saliva. It is important to determine whether and by what means this potential virus is transmissible and to monitor the virus as a potential emerging tick-borne zoonotic pathogen.