Padronização de procedimentos higienicossanitários de restaurantes de culinária japonesa / Standardization of hygienic-sanitary procedures in Japanese cuisine restaurants

O presente estudo objetivou elaborar procedimentos higienicossanitários padronizados voltados especificamente para restaurantes de culinária japonesa. Para tal, foi conduzido um estudo de caso, realizado entre maio e junho de 2019, em um restaurante típico da culinária japonesa em Joinville – SC. O instrumento de coleta foi uma lista de verificação em boas práticas baseada na legislação sanitária brasileira vigente, especialmente a resolução RDC nº 216/2004 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, contendo 31 itens quanto à matéria-prima e preparação dos alimentos; armazenamento e exposição ao consumo do alimento; higiene dos utensílios e ambiente; higiene do manipulador. Dos 31 itens avaliados, verificou-se 25,8% de inconformidades no local estudado, sendo estes, em sua maioria, relacionados ao preparado do arroz temperado (gohan). Porém, a maioria dos itens estava de acordo com as recomendações ou não se aplicavam ao local. Com base nas informações obtidas com o estudo de caso, foram analisados os pontos críticos que deveriam ser destacados e então, elaborou-se um quadro com os procedimentos que devem ser padronizados, especificamente para restaurantes de cozinha japonesa, quanto aos mesmos critérios avaliados: matéria-prima e preparação dos alimentos; exposição ao consumo do alimento; higiene dos utensílios e ambiente; higiene do manipulador, a fim de garantir a qualidade higienicossanitária dos alimentos preparados. O material desenvolvido poderá ser afixado nas cozinhas para guiar os manipuladores e ser utilizado em treinamentos periódicos. Assim, o quadro de procedimentos higienicossanitários padronizados em restaurantes japoneses pode ser uma ferramenta útil para auxiliar na garantia da segurança dos alimentos, por meio das boas práticas na manipulação de alimentos.

The present study aimed to developed standardized hygienic-sanitary procedures specifically for Japanese cuisine restaurants. Thus, a case study was conducted, conducted between May and June 2019, in a traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant in Joinville – SC. The data collection instrument was a checklist on good practices based on current Brazilian sanitary legislation, especially Resolution RDC No. 216/2004 of the National Health Surveillance Agency, containing 31 items regarding raw material and food preparation; food storage and consumption exposure; hygiene of utensils and environment; handler hygiene. Of the 31 items analyzed, 25.8% of non-conformities were found in the study, most of them related to the preparation of seasoned rice (gohan). However, most items were in accordance with the recommendations or did not apply to the restaurant. Based on the information obtained from the case study, the critical points that should be highlighted were analyzed and a table was prepared with the procedures that should be standardized, specifically for Japanese cuisine restaurants, regarding the same criteria analyzed: raw materials and food preparation; exposure to food consumption; hygiene of utensils and environment; hygiene of the handler in order to guarantee the hygienic-sanitary quality of the prepared foods. The developed material can be posted in the kitchens to guide the handlers and be used in periodic training. Thus, standardized hygienic-sanitary procedures in Japanese restaurants can be a useful tool to help ensure food safety through good food handling practices.

Padronização de procedimentos higienicossanitários de restaurantes de culinária japonesa / Standardization of hygienic-sanitary procedures in japanese cuisine restaurants

O presente estudo objetivou elaborar procedimentos higienicossanitários padronizados voltados especificamente para restaurantes de culinária japonesa. Para tal, foi conduzido um estudo de caso, realizado entre maio e junho de 2019, em um restaurante típico da culinária japonesa em Joinville ­ SC. O instrumento de coleta foi uma lista de verificação em boas práticas baseada na legislação sanitária brasileira vigente, especialmente a resolução RDC nº 216/2004 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, contendo 31 itens quanto à matéria-prima e preparação dos alimentos; armazenamento e exposição ao consumo do alimento; higiene dos utensílios e ambiente; higiene do manipulador. Dos 31 itens avaliados, verificou-se 25,8% de inconformidades no local estudado, sendo estes, em sua maioria, relacionados ao preparado do arroz temperado (gohan). Porém, a maioria dos itens estava de acordo com as recomendações ou não se aplicavam ao local. Com base nas informações obtidas com o estudo de caso, foram analisados os pontos críticos que deveriam ser destacados e então, elaborou-se um quadro com os procedimentos que devem ser padronizados, especificamente para restaurantes de cozinha japonesa, quanto aos mesmos critérios avaliados: matéria-prima e preparação dos alimentos; exposição ao consumo do alimento; higiene dos utensílios e ambiente; higiene do manipulador, a fim de garantir a qualidade higienicossanitária dos alimentos preparados. O material desenvolvido poderá ser afixado nas cozinhas para guiar os manipuladores e ser utilizado em treinamentos periódicos. Assim, o quadro de procedimentos higienicossanitários padronizados em restaurantes japoneses pode ser uma ferramenta útil para auxiliar na garantia da segurança dos alimentos, por meio das boas práticas na manipulação de alimentos

The present study aimed to developed standardized hygienic-sanitary procedures specifically for Japanese cuisine restaurants. Thus, a case study was conducted, conducted between May and June 2019, in a traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant in Joinville ­ SC. The data collection instrument was a checklist on good practices based on current Brazilian sanitary legislation, especially Resolution RDC No. 216/2004 of the National Health Surveillance Agency, containing 31 items regarding raw material and food preparation; food storage and consumption exposure; hygiene of utensils and environment; handler hygiene. Of the 31 items analyzed, 25.8% of non-conformities were found in the study, most of them related to the preparation of seasoned rice (gohan). However, most items were in accordance with the recommendations or did not apply to the restaurant. Based on the information obtained from the case study, the critical points that should be highlighted were analyzed and a table was prepared with the procedures that should be standardized, specifically for Japanese cuisine restaurants, regarding the same criteria analyzed: raw materials and food preparation; exposure to food consumption; hygiene of utensils and environment; hygiene of the handler in order to guarantee the hygienic-sanitary quality of the prepared foods. The developed material can be posted in the kitchens to guide the handlers and be used in periodic training. Thus, standardized hygienic-sanitary procedures in Japanese restaurants can be a useful tool to help ensure food safety through good food handling practices

A Retrospective Survey of Rodent-borne Viruses in Rural Populations of Brazilian Amazon.

INTRODUCTION: The Amazon tropical rainforest has the most dense and diverse ecosystem worldwide. A few studies have addressed rodent-borne diseases as potential hazards to humans in this region. METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting mammarenavirus and orthohantavirus antibodies in 206 samples collected from rural settlers of the Brazilian Western Amazonian region. RESULTS: Six (2.91%) individuals in the age group of 16 to 36 years were found to possess antibodies against mammarenavirus. CONCLUSION: Evidence of previous exposure to mammarenavirus in the rural population points to its silent circulation in this region.

A Retrospective Survey of Rodent-borne Viruses in Rural Populations of Brazilian Amazon

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The Amazon tropical rainforest has the most dense and diverse ecosystem worldwide. A few studies have addressed rodent-borne diseases as potential hazards to humans in this region. METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting mammarenavirus and orthohantavirus antibodies in 206 samples collected from rural settlers of the Brazilian Western Amazonian region. RESULTS: Six (2.91%) individuals in the age group of 16 to 36 years were found to possess antibodies against mammarenavirus. CONCLUSION: Evidence of previous exposure to mammarenavirus in the rural population points to its silent circulation in this region.

Identification and validation of specific B-cell epitopes of hantaviruses associated to hemorrhagic fever and renal syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Orthohantavirus infection is a neglected global health problem affecting approximately 200,000 people/year, spread by rodent hosts and associated to fatal human diseases, such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and orthohantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). Circulation of HFRS-associated orthohantaviruses, such as Seoul, Gou, Amur, Dobrava and Hantaan, are supposed to be restricted to Eurasian countries even though their hosts can be a worldwide distribution. Few confirmed HFRS orthohantavirus infections in humans have been reported in American countries, but due to lower medical awareness of the symptoms of this zoonosis, it could be associated to viral underreporting or to misdiagnosis with several tropical hemorrhagic diseases. Serological evidence of orthohantavirus infections, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the presence of immunoglobulin M and G against recombinant nucleoprotein protein, remains as an essential assay for viral surveillance. In this study, we aimed to identify in silico immunogenic B-cell linear epitopes present on orthohantavirus nucleoprotein that are exclusive to HFRS-related species. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In silico analysis were performed using Seoul orthohantavirus nucleoprotein (SHNP) sequence as a model. Linear B-cell-epitopes on SHNP and its immunogenicity were predicted by BepiPred-2.0 and Vaxijen algorithms, respectively. The conservancy of predicted epitopes was compared with the most clinically relevant HFRS or HCPS-associated orthohantavirus, aiming to identify specific sequences from HFRS-orthohantavirus. Peptide validation was carried out by ELISA using Balb/c mice sera immunized with purified recombinant rSHNP. Peptides cross-reactivity against HCPS orthohantavirus were evaluated using immunized sera from mice injected with recombinant Juquitiba orthohantavirus nucleoprotein (rJHNP). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: In silico analysis revealed nine potential immunogenic linear B-cell epitopes from SHNP; among them, SHNP(G72-D110) and SHNP(P251-D264) showed a high degree of sequence conservation among HFRS-related orthohantavirus and were experimentally validated against rSHNP-IMS and negatively validated against rJHNP-IMS. Taken together, we identified and validated two potential antigenic B-cell epitopes on SHNP, which were conserved among HFRS-associated orthohantavirus and could be applied to the development of novel immunodiagnostic tools for orthohantavirus surveillance.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in children: case report and case series from an endemic area of Brazil.

Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is an important emergent zoonosis associated with wild rodents in Brazil, where this viral infection in children is generally rare. We present HCPS in a child from the Pantanal Biome and a review of all reported pediatric cases in Mato Grosso State, an endemic area for HCPS in Brazil. The investigation used the Information System for Notifiable Diseases database (SINAN). A 12-year-old boy was hospitalized with fever and respiratory failure and hantavirus IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA in serum samples. During the period of 1999 to 2016, 32 HCPS pediatric cases confirmed by serology were reported to SINAN with a mortality rate of 34.4%. The possibility of hantavirus infection in children with acute febrile illness associated with respiratory failure should be considered mainly in recognized endemic areas as Mato Grosso State, contradicting a hypothesis that children are more protected from lung involvement.

Seroprevalence of rodent-borne viruses in Afro-descendent communities in Brazil.

During the Brazilian slavery period, many African migrants were brought to the American continent. Historically, some of these migrants escaped from the Brazilian gold mines and farms to which they had been brought and settled in remote valleys and this was the main mode of resistance to the slavery system. These runaway-slave descendant communities are called quilombos, a group with distinct ethnic identity, specific behavioral habits, including geographic isolation and conservative practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of rodent-borne viruses in two Afro-descendent communities from Mato Grosso do Sul State, Midwestern Brazil. A total of 319 individuals from rural and urban quilombola communities were enrolled. Twelve (3.76%) had anti-rodent-borne virus IgG antibodies. Seven (2.19%) were anti-mammarenavirus reactive and nine (2.82%) had anti-orthohantavirus antibodies. The literature includes limited data on the health status of quilombola communities, but all the studies emphasize the disparity of attention of local healthcare personnel to these communities compared to the general population. The findings of this study highlight the vulnerability and the precarious health conditions of quilombola groups, especially those living in rural areas and thus, point to the need of preventive measures to improve access to healthcare for this ethnic group.

Malaria and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in Gold Mining in the Amazon Region, Brazil.

People living in mining regions are exposed to numerous biological agents by several specific types of transmission mechanisms. This study is designed to describe fatal hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) cases confirmed by serology and molecular analysis, where a seroprevalence survey was conducted in the gold mining regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in the official Amazon region, Brazil. Two fatal cases of HPS were confirmed in a mining area in the Legal Amazon, where malaria is one of the most important public health problems. A molecular analysis detected the presence of the genome of the Castelo dos Sonhos virus. Out of the 112 blood samples analyzed, five were positive for Plasmodium infection (four P. falciparum and one P. vivax), and four were seropositive for hantavirus, showing a seroprevalence of 3.57%. One of the four miners who was seroreactive for hantavirus concomitantly had P. falciparum infection, which was confirmed by thick blood smear. This manuscript highlights the importance of considering hantavirus pulmonary syndrome as a diagnostic possibility in febrile infection associated with pulmonary manifestations in mining areas where malaria cases are often identified.

Rodent-borne viruses survey in rural settlers from Central Brazil.

Anthropogenic environmental changes arising from settlement and agriculture include deforestation and replacement of natural vegetation by crops providing opportunities for pathogen spillover from animals to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of rodent-borne virus infections in seven rural settlements from Midwestern Brazil. Of the 466 individuals tested 12 (2.57%) were reactive for orthohantavirus and 3 (0.64%) for mammarenavirus. These rural settlers lived under unfavorable infrastructure, socioeconomic disadvantages, and unsanitary conditions, representing a risk for rodent-borne infections. Development of public policies towards the improvement of health, sanitation and awareness of rodent-borne diseases in improvised camps and settlements is imperative, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by these diseases.

Coxiella and Bartonella spp. in bats (Chiroptera) captured in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome.

BACKGROUND: The role of bats as reservoirs of zoonotic agents, especially pathogenic bacteria such as Bartonella and Coxiella, has been discussed around the world. Recent studies have identified bats as potential hosts of species from the proteobacteria phylum. In Brazil, however, the role of bats in the natural cycle of these agents is poorly investigated and generally neglected. In order to analyze the participation of bats in the epidemiology of diseases caused by Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological study in three biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. RESULTS: Tissues of 119 bats captured in preserved areas in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2015 were submitted to molecular analysis using specific primers. Bartonella spp. was detected in 22 spleen samples (18.5%, 95% CI: 11.9-26.6), whose phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of at least two independent clusters, suggesting that these may be new unique genotypes of Bartonella species. In addition, four samples (3.4%, 95% CI: 0.9-8.3) were positive for the htpAB gene of C. burnetii [spleen (2), liver (1) and heart (1)]. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma and Ehrlichia were not identified. This is the first study reporting C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. infections in bats from the Atlantic Forest biome. CONCLUSIONS: These findings shed light on potential host range for these bacteria, which are characterized as important zoonotic pathogens.

Seroprevalence of Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Hantavirus among people who inject drugs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a retrospective assessment of a biobank.

The increasing use of illicit drugs imposes a public health challenge worldwide. People who inject drugs (PWID) are more susceptible to health complications due to immunosuppression associated with drug use and non-hygienic self-administration of substances, contaminants, and liquids. PWID are subjected to increased risk of acquiring and transmitting different pathogens (frequently functioning as sentinel cases for (re)emerging pathogens), including those transmitted by arthropods and vertebrate reservoirs in unhealthy environments. A clear association between injection drug use and HIV, HBV, and HCV infections has been described; however, other infectious viral and bacterial agents have been seldomly assessed. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Hantavirus among 300 randomly selected PWIDs from Rio de Janeiro, as part of a multi-city cross-sectional study carried out in the 1990s. Point seroprevalences and respective 95% CIs are as follows: 9.3% for C. burnetii (95% CI: 6.0%-13.0%), 1.0% for Bartonella spp. (95% CI: 0.0%-3.0%), and 4.0% for Hantavirus (95% CI: 2.0%-7.0%). In addition to the blood-borne pathogens, the results of this study increase our knowledge on other transmissible infectious agents in PWID. The high seroprevalence of C. burnetii and Hantavirus found among PWID is intriguing and suggests the need to carry out prospective studies, including molecular analyses, to confirm these findings and allow a better understanding of the putative relevance of these zoonotic infectious agents among PWID.

Preferences for menu labelling formats of young adults in Brazil and in the United Kingdom / Preferências de adultos jovens por diferentes formatos de informações nutricionais em restaurantes no Brasil e Reino Unido

ABSTRACT Objective This pilot study was aimed at exploring preferences of young adults in two different contexts on restaurant menu labelling formats. Methods Five focus groups were conducted with 36 participants, two focus groups with 11 participants in Brazil and three focus groups with 25 in the United Kingdom. Themes originating from the content analysis of the transcriptions were organised around four possible menu labelling formats: 1) numerical information on calories; 2) numerical information on calories and nutrients; 3) traffic light system plus Guideline Daily Amounts; 4) food information with ingredients list plus highlighted symbols. Results In both countries, participants preferred the ingredients list plus symbols format, considered more comprehensive and useful to make an informed food choice. Organic food and vegetarian symbols were the ones considered most important to appear on restaurant menu labels with ingredients list. However, most participants in Brazil and in the United Kingdom rejected the information restricted to calories and calories plus nutrients formats, saying that these would not influence their own choices. Conclusion This is the first multicultural qualitative study exploring preferences of people living in different countries with different eating habits, but where menu labelling is voluntary. Results evidenced similarities in participants' likes and dislikes for menu labelling formats in these two different contexts. Discussions showed participants in both countries prefer qualitative information than numerical information, suggesting that ingredients list and symbols provide information that people want to see on the menu.

RESUMO Objetivo Este estudo piloto teve como objetivo explorar as preferências de adultos jovens em dois diferentes contextos, quanto a formatos de informações nutricionais em restaurantes. Métodos Cinco grupos focais foram conduzidos com 36 participantes, dois grupos focais com 11 participantes no Brasil e três grupos com 25 no Reino Unido. Os temas originados da análise de conteúdo das transcrições foram organizados em quatro possíveis formatos de informação nutricional em restaurante: 1) informação numérica de calorias; 2) informação numérica de calorias e nutrientes; 3) sistema de semáforo nutricional acrescido de valor diário de referência; 4) informação alimentar contendo lista de ingredientes e símbolos de destaque. Resultados Em ambos os países, os participantes preferiram o formato com lista de ingredientes e símbolos, considerando-o mais compreensível e útil para realizar escolhas alimentares informadas. Os símbolos de alimento orgânico e vegetariano foram considerados mais importantes para serem disponibilizados junto à lista de ingredientes nos restaurantes. Entretanto, a maioria dos participantes no Brasil e no Reino Unido rejeitou o formato contendo apenas a informação de calorias e de calorias mais nutrientes, afirmando que estes formatos poderiam não influenciar suas escolhas alimentares. Conclusão Esse é o primeiro estudo qualitativo multicultural a explorar as preferências de pessoas vivendo em diferentes países, com diferentes hábitos alimentares, mas onde a informação nutricional em restaurantes é voluntária. Os resultados evidenciaram similaridades nas preferências e rejeições quanto aos diferentes formatos de informação nutricional em restaurante, nesses dois diferentes contextos. O estudo mostrou que os participantes em ambos os países preferiram a informação qualitativa em detrimento à informação numérica, sugerindo que o formato contendo lista de ingredientes e símbolos fornece a informação que as pessoas querem ver nos cardápios em restaurantes.

Sodium content on processed foods for snacks.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the Na content reported on the labels of processed foods sold in Brazil that are usually consumed as snacks by children and adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study that assessed Na content and serving size reporting on processed food labels. SETTING: A supermarket that is part of a large chain in Brazil. SUBJECTS: All foods available for sale at the study's location and reported in the literature as snacks present in the diets of Brazilian children and adolescents. RESULTS: Of the 2945 processed foods, 87 % complied with the reference serving sizes, although variability in reporting was observed in most of the food subgroups. In addition, 21 % of the processed foods had high Na levels (>600 mg/100 g) and 35 % had medium Na levels (>120 and ≤600 mg/100 g). The meats, oils, fats and seeds groups as well as the prepared dishes had higher percentages of foods classified as high Na (81 %, 58 % and 53 %, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the processed foods had high or medium Na content. We emphasize the importance of revising Brazilian nutrition labelling legislation to standardize reference serving sizes to avoid variation. Besides, we point out the potential for reducing Na levels in most processed foods, as evidenced by the variability in Na content within subgroups. Finally, we have identified the need to develop a method to classify Na levels in processed foods with specific parameters for children and adolescents.

Detection of the first incidence of Akodon paranaensis naturally infected with the Jabora virus strain (Hantavirus) in Brazil

We characterised hantaviruses circulating in different Akodon rodent species collected in midwestern Santa Catarina (SC), southern Brazil, where the Jabora hantavirus (JABV) strain was first identified in Akodon montensis. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses based on a partial S segment indicated that, in SC, Akodon paranaensis and A. montensis carried the same type of hantavirus. Additionally, we conducted the first genomic characterisation of the complete S segment from the Brazilian JABV strain. This is the first report of A. paranaensis infected with the JABV.

Detection of the first incidence of Akodon paranaensis naturally infected with the Jabora virus strain (Hantavirus) in Brazil.

We characterised hantaviruses circulating in different Akodon rodent species collected in midwestern Santa Catarina (SC), southern Brazil, where the Jabora hantavirus (JABV) strain was first identified in Akodon montensis. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses based on a partial S segment indicated that, in SC, Akodon paranaensis and A. montensis carried the same type of hantavirus. Additionally, we conducted the first genomic characterisation of the complete S segment from the Brazilian JABV strain. This is the first report of A. paranaensis infected with the JABV.