Vigilancia de virus sincicial respiratorio e influenza en niños escolarizados asistidos en un hospital pediátrico durante 2 meses del segundo semestre de 2021 / Respiratory syncytial virus and influenza surveillance in schoolchildren seen at a children's hospital over 2 months of the second semester of 2021

Introducción. Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, disminuyeron las notificaciones de infecciones respiratorias. El objetivo fue estimar la prevalencia de virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR) e influenza en niños escolarizados asistidos en un hospital pediátrico durante el retorno a la presencialidad. Métodos. Estudio transversal de casos sospechosos de COVID-19, de 3-18 años, con prueba negativa para SARSCoV-2, entre agosto y octubre de 2021. Se estratificó por nivel educativo. Se utilizó PCR para detectar VSR e influenza. Resultados. Se incluyeron 619 niños: 234 del nivel inicial, 224 del primario y 161 del secundario; 25,5 % (158) fueron positivos para VSR (36,3 % del nivel inicial versus 21 % del primario y 16 % del secundario); en adolescentes se asoció la infección al contacto escolar con caso sintomático (OR 2,5; IC95%: 1-6,80; p = 0,04). No se aisló virus influenza. Conclusión. VSR se aisló en un cuarto de la población estudiada, con mayor frecuencia en el nivel inicial; en adolescentes, se asoció con contacto escolar sintomático. No se detectaron casos de influenza

Introduction. Reporting of respiratory infections reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza in schoolchildren seen at a children's hospital during the return to school. Methods. Cross-sectional study of patients aged 3­18 years suspected of COVID-19 with a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 between August and October 2021. Participants were stratified by level of education. PCR was used to detect RSV and influenza. Results. A total of 619 children were included: 234 in preschool, 224 in primary and 161 in secondary school; 25.5% (158) tested positive for RS (36.3% in the pre-school level versus 21% in primary and 16% in secondary school). Infection among adolescents was associated with school contact with symptomatic cases (OR 2.5; 95%CI 1­6.80; p = 0.04). No case of influenza was detected. Conclusion. RSV was isolated in one fourth of the study population, with a higher frequency in pre-school; among adolescents, it was associated with school contact with symptomatic cases. No case of influenza was detected.

Respiratory syncytial virus and influenza surveillance in schoolchildren seen at a children's hospital over 2 months of the second semester of 2021. / Vigilancia de virus sincicial respiratorio e influenza en niños escolarizados asistidos en un hospital pediátrico durante 2 meses del segundo semestre de 2021.

INTRODUCTION: Reporting of respiratory infections reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) and influenza in schoolchildren seen at a children's hospital during the return to school. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients aged 3-18 years suspected of COVID-19 with a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 between August and October 2021. Participants were stratified by level of education. PCR was used to detect RSV and influenza. RESULTS: A total of 619 children were included: 234 in pre-school, 224 in primary and 161 in secondary school; 25.5% (158) tested positive for RSV (36.3% in the pre-school level versus 21% in primary and 16% in secondary school). Infection among adolescents was associated with school contact with symptomatic cases (OR 2.5; 95%CI 1-6.80; p = 0.04). No case of influenza was detected. CONCLUSIONS: RSV was isolated in one fourth of the study population, with a higher frequency in pre-school; among adolescents, it was associated with school contact with symptomatic cases. No case of influenza was detected.

Introducción. Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, disminuyeron las notificaciones de infecciones respiratorias. El objetivo fue estimar la prevalencia de virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR) e influenza en niños escolarizados asistidos en un hospital pediátrico durante el retorno a la presencialidad. Métodos. Estudio transversal de casos sospechosos de COVID-19, de 3-18 años, con prueba negativa para SARS-CoV-2, entre agosto y octubre de 2021. Se estratificó por nivel educativo. Se utilizó PCR para detectar VSR e influenza. Resultados. Se incluyeron 619 niños: 234 del nivel inicial, 224 del primario y 161 del secundario; 25,5 % (158) fueron positivos para VSR (36,3 % del nivel inicial versus 21 % del primario y 16 % del secundario); en adolescentes se asoció la infección al contacto escolar con caso sintomático (OR 2,5; IC95%: 1-6,80; p = 0,04). No se aisló virus influenza. Conclusión. VSR se aisló en un cuarto de la población estudiada, con mayor frecuencia en el nivel inicial; en adolescentes, se asoció con contacto escolar sintomático. No se detectaron casos de influenza.

Small mammals, ticks and rickettsiae in natural and human-modified landscapes: Diversity and occurrence of Brazilian spotted fever in Brazil.

We studied communities of small mammals and their ticks in endemic (E) and non-endemic (NE) areas for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), aiming to infer if diversity parameters of parasites and hosts could be related to occurrence and prevalence of rickettsial infection, especially Rickettsia rickettsii. We compared E and NE areas in human-modified landscapes (HMLs) and natural areas (BIO) with no report of BSF cases. Composition and equitability were important components of diversity explaining differences among areas. The marsupial Didelphis albiventris was dominant in HMLs, but not in natural areas, and this opossum was the main host for the tick Amblyomma sculptum, principal vector of R. rickettsii, especially in E areas. Communities of ticks were dominated by A. sculptum, followed by Amblyomma dubitatum in E areas. In NE areas, this dominance was inverted, with more A. dubitatum than A. sculptum infesting small mammals, but the numbers of ticks were much lower than in E areas. Composition and abundance of ticks in natural areas were very dissimilar from HMLs, with the lowest tick burdens. Didelphis albiventris in E areas presented higher seroprevalence and endpoint titres against R. rickettsii than in other areas. At least three Rickettsia species, non-pathogenic to humans, were detected in natural areas (Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia amblyommatis and 'Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae'), and only one non-pathogenic species in HMLs (R. bellii). Our results suggest that higher diversity of ticks, hosts and rickettsiae could be relevant factors in buffering the effect in BSF occurrence. Particularly for D. albiventris, its importance has to be quantified in further studies considering the epidemiological scenario of BSF.

Habitat selection in natural and human-modified landscapes by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), an important host for Amblyomma sculptum ticks.

Human activities are changing landscape structure and function globally, affecting wildlife space use, and ultimately increasing human-wildlife conflicts and zoonotic disease spread. Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are linked to conflicts in human-modified landscapes (e.g. crop damage, vehicle collision), as well as the spread and amplification of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), the most human-lethal tick-borne disease in the world. Even though it is essential to understand the link between capybaras, ticks and BSF, many knowledge gaps still exist regarding the effects of human disturbance in capybara space use. Here, we analyzed diurnal and nocturnal habitat selection strategies of capybaras across natural and human-modified landscapes using resource selection functions (RSF). Selection for forested habitats was higher across human-modified landscapes, mainly during day- periods, when compared to natural landscapes. Across natural landscapes, capybaras avoided forests during both day- and night periods. Water was consistently selected across both landscapes, during day- and nighttime. Distance to water was also the most important variable in predicting capybara habitat selection across natural landscapes. Capybaras showed slightly higher preferences for areas near grasses/shrubs across natural landscapes, and distance to grasses/shrubs was the most important variable in predicting capybara habitat selection across human-modified landscapes. Our results demonstrate human-driven variation in habitat selection strategies by capybaras. This behavioral adjustment across human-modified landscapes may be related to increases in A. sculptum density, ultimately affecting BSF.

Epidemiology of capybara-associated Brazilian spotted fever.

BACKGROUND: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, has been associated with the transmission by the tick Amblyomma sculptum, and one of its main hosts, the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). METHODS: During 2015-2019, we captured capybaras and ticks in seven highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state (three endemic and four nonendemic for BSF) and in two natural areas of the Pantanal biome, all with established populations of capybaras. RESULTS: The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by much higher tick burdens on both capybaras and in the environment, when compared to the BSF-nonendemic areas. Only two tick species (A. sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum) were found in the anthropic areas; however, with a great predominance of A. sculptum (≈90% of all ticks) in the endemic areas, in contrast to a slight predominance of A. dubitatum (≈60%) in the nonendemic areas. Tick species richness was higher in the natural areas, where six species were found, albeit with a predominance of A. sculptum (≈95% of all ticks) and environmental tick burdens much lower than in the anthropic areas. The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by overgrowth populations of A. sculptum that were sustained chiefly by capybaras, and decreased populations of A. dubitatum. In contrast, the BSF-nonendemic areas with landscape similar to the endemic areas differed by having lower tick burdens and a slight predominance of A. dubitatum over A.sculptum, both sustained chiefly by capybaras. While multiple medium- to large-sized mammals have been incriminated as important hosts for A. sculptum in the natural areas, the capybara was the only important host for this tick in the anthropic areas. CONCLUSIONS: The uneven distribution of R. rickettsii infection among A. sculptum populations in highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state could be related to the tick population size and its proportion to sympatric A. dubitatum populations.

Características del cáncer de mama masculino en una población uruguaya / Characteristics of male breast cancer in a Uruguayan population / Características do câncer de mama masculino em uma população uruguaia

El cáncer de mama (CM) en el hombre (CMM) es una entidad poco frecuente. Si bien tiene algunas semejanzas con el CM femenino, es una patología con un perfil propio. El objetivo del estudio consiste en conocer las características del CMM y su manejo en nuestro medio. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo que incluyó pacientes diagnosticados de CMM en tres centros del Uruguay en un período de 15 años. Resultados: se incluyeron 12 pacientes; la mediana de edad fue 68 años; un tercio de ellos tenían antecedentes familiares (AF). Características clínico patológicas: todos los tumores fueron carcinomas ductales con grado histológico (GH) 2-3, » se hallaban en estadio (E) I, la mitad (6) en EII, 6 tuvieron metástasis axilares, 2/3 fueron receptores de estrógeno (RE) / receptores de progesterona (RP) +. Se definieron 3 subtipos biológicos: I) HER2- RE/RP+: 2/3 de los pacientes; II) HER2+: 1/6; y III) triple negativo: 1/6. Todos los pacientes con enfermedad localizada fueron sometidos a mastectomía y la mayoría recibió tratamiento con quimioterapia (QT). La totalidad de quienes presentaron enfermedad localizada RE/RP+ recibieron hormonoterapia adyuvante con buena adherencia y tolerancia. Dos de los once pacientes tratados con criterio radical recayeron en la evolución; el resto permanece en controles o tratamiento sin evidencia de recaída. Conclusión: presentamos una serie de pacientes con CMM, con un perfil similar al reportado en la literatura. La edad de presentación fue superior a la del CM femenino, y la mayoría fueron RE/RP +, HER 2-; sin embargo, en esta serie los pacientes se presentaron en estadio localizado y con tumores de alto grado en una proporción mayor a lo descrito en la literatura.

Breast cancer (BC) in men (MBC) is an uncommon clinical entity. Even though it shares some similarities with female BC, it has a distinctive profile. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of MBC and learn how it is managed in our setting. Materials and methods: retrospective study including patients diagnosed with MBC in three centers in Uruguay for a period of 15 years. Results: 12 patients were enrolled; the median age was 68 years; a third of whom had a family history (FH). Clinical and pathological characteristics: all of the tumors were ductal carcinomas of histological grade (HG) 2-3, 1/4 were stage (S) I, half (6) were SII, 6 had axillary metastases, 2/3 were estrogen receptor (ER) / progesterone receptor (PR) +. Three biological subtypes were defined: I) HER2- ER/PR+: 2/3 of patients; II) HER2+: 1/6; and III) triple-negative: 1/6. All patients with localized cancer underwent a mastectomy and most were treated with chemotherapy (CHT). All of those who presented with localized, ER/PR+ cancer received adjuvant hormone therapy, with good adherence and tolerance. Two of the eleven patients treated with radical surgery recurred during evolution; the rest remain in follow-up or treatment without evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: we presented a series of patients with MBC, with a profile similar to the one reported in the literature. Age at presentation was higher than that of female BC, and most were ER/PR +, HER 2-. However, patients in this series presented with breast cancer in the localized stage and high-grade tumors in a higher proportion than is described in the literature.

O câncer de mama (CM) em homens (CMM) é uma entidade clínica incomum. Embora tenha algumas semelhanças com o CM feminino, é uma patologia com o seu próprio perfil. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer as características do CMM e seu manejo no nosso meio. Materiais e métodos: estudo retrospectivo com pacientes com diagnóstico de CMM em três centros do Uruguai em um período de 15 anos. Resultados: foram incluídos 12 pacientes; a mediana da idade foi 68 anos; um terço deles tinha antecedentes familiares (AF). Características clínico-patológicas: todos os tumores foram carcinomas ductais de grau histológico (GH) 2-3, 1/4 estavam no estágio (E) I, a metade (6) no EII, 6 apresentaram metástases axilares, 2/3 foram receptores de estrogênio (RE) / receptores de progesterona (RP) +. Foram definidos 3 subtipos biológicos: I) HER2- RE/RP+: 2/3 dos pacientes; II) HER2+: 1/6; e III) triplo-negativo: 1/6. Todos os pacientes com doença localizada foram submetidos a mastectomia e a maioria receberam tratamento com quimioterapia (QT). A totalidade dos que apresentaram doença localizada RE/RP+ recebeu hormonioterapia adjuvante com boa adesão e tolerância. Dois dos onze pacientes tratados com critério radical recaíram na evolução; o resto permanece sob monitoramento ou tratamento sem evidência de recaída. Conclusão: apresentamos uma série de pacientes com CMM, com um perfil semelhante ao descrito na literatura. A idade de apresentação foi maior do que para o CM feminino, e a maioria foram RE/RP +, HER 2-; entretanto, os pacientes desta série apresentaram-se com estágio localizado e tumores de alto grau em uma proporção maior do que a descrita na literatura.