Determining the Prevalence of Avian Chlamydiosis in Wild Amazona Species From Brazil Using Molecular Testing and Clinical Signs.

Avian chlamydiosis is a disease that occurs in birds, especially parrots, and is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Wild Animal Screening Centers in Brazil receive, maintain, treat, and place (preferably to nature) wild animals recovered from illegal trafficking. We performed molecular testing for avian chlamydiosis in parrots from the genus Amazona that were presented to these centers. Cloacal swab samples were collected from 59 parrots (Amazona species) and transported in aqueous or culture medium. The samples were subsequently submitted for DNA extraction by the boiling method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using CPF/CPR primers, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, and poor body condition were the clinical signs associated with a differential disease diagnosis of avian chlamydiosis. Transport medium did not have an effect on the test results. The prevalence of C psittaci in the samples was 37% (22/59, 95% confidence interval: 25-49). There was a significant (P = 0.009) association between the PCR test results and clinical signs. Follow-up testing was conducted on a subgroup of 14 individuals that initially tested negative on PCR; 50% (7/14) of these birds were found to be positive within 24 days of the first test. The results of this study confirm the feasibility of using the CPF/CFP primer-based PCR to detect C psittaci in Amazona species, describe a less costly method of transporting biological material for DNA extraction, and evaluate the temporal aspect for obtaining positive results through molecular testing for C psittaci in Amazona species.

Viability of sex identification of the blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) based on iris color sexual dichromatism.

Reintroducing apprehended wild animal in a natural environment is a complex process that involves many steps, including rehabilitating individuals and ensuring viable populations for reproduction; as such, the proportion between males and females to be reintroduced need to be considered carefully. The need of specialized techniques to identify sex on species that do not present discernible sexual dimorphisms can be a hardship to a successful reintroduction. Amazona aestiva, one of the most apprehended species on Brazil, is an example of such case, as sexing techniques employed for it often involves molecular or surgical procedures. Some authors, however, describe potential sexual dimorphisms that could be discernible to the human eye, one of those being an iris color dichromatism between males and females that could present a more conventional way to discern sex on this species. We analyzed the viability of sex identification by direct observation of iris sexual dichromatism, comparing suggestions by professionals familiarized with the species to molecular sexing by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and measuring color similarity between individuals using digital colorimetry. We found no significant correspondence between sex indication based on direct observation and molecular sexing results, and no relationship between iris color and sex by colorimetric analysis.

Dynamics of Transmission of Urban Arbovirus Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya in Southwestern Region of Bahia, Brazil.

Arboviral diseases are disseminated all over the world. In Brazil, they remain neglected, alerting public authorities to possible outbreaks. Over here, we report the epidemiological indicators of Dengue from 2010 to 2015, Zika between 2015 and 2016, and Chikungunya from 2014 to 2016, within 19 municipalities of Southwestern Region of Bahia, Brazil. The data were collected from Brazilian national public information systems (SISFAD, SINAN, and IBGE) and by Endemic Control Agents. The analysis consisted of a description of vector characteristics, Home Infestation Index and characterization of human reported cases. The years 2011 and 2013 were recorded as having the highest frequencies of positive properties for the presence of the arboviruse vectors. Most municipalities presented high annual values of Home Infestation Index indicating an alert situation (62.28%). In the evaluated period, there were (i) 9,196 cases of Dengue, (ii) 636 cases of Zika and (iii) 224 cases of Chikungunya reported. This is the first report of the epidemiological characteristics of these arboviruses in the 19 municipalities of Bahia. It is believed that the data collected may contribute to public health policies aimed at controlling future epidemics of these arboviruses.

Hipertensão arterial e fatores associados em uma comunidade quilombola da Bahia, Brasil / Hypertension and associated factors in a community quilombola of Bahia, Brazil

Resumo Objetivo Determinar a prevalência da hipertensão arterial (HA) e investigar fatores associados em uma comunidade quilombola da Bahia, Brasil. Métodos A HA foi determinada por autorreferimento de diagnóstico feito por um médico ou enfermeiro. Por meio de questionário, foram coletados dados demográficos, socioeconômicos, hábitos de vida e alimentares e presença de comorbidades. Foram realizadas medidas antropométricas e dosagens bioquímicas para determinação de sobrepeso/obesidade, diabetes e dislipidemias. Empregaram-se análise univariada para determinar associação entre HA e variáveis de interesse, e análise múltipla por regressão de Poisson para estimativa das razões de prevalência. Resultados A população estudada foi de 213 indivíduos maiores de 18 anos. A prevalência de HA foi de 38,5%. Após análise ajustada, permaneceram associados à HA: sexo feminino, idade, menor escolaridade, maior renda per capita, uso de medicamentos nos últimos 15 dias, obesidade e diabetes mellitus. Conclusões Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade de ações intersetoriais voltadas para a melhoria das condições de vida e saúde dessa comunidade. A adequação da infraestrutura e do funcionamento do serviço de saúde local, bem como a realização de campanhas de promoção da saúde, pode contribuir para a prevenção, diagnóstico precoce e tratamento da hipertensão e outros agravos.

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of hypertension and investigate associated factors in a Quilombola community of Bahia (Brazil). Methods Hypertension was based on diagnosis made by a physician or a nurse and self-reported by participants; demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, food habits, and comorbidities data were collected through a previously validated questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements for overweight/obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia were performed. Univariate and multivariable analysis using Poisson regression were conducted to estimate the association between hypertension and the variables of interest to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratios. Results The study population comprised 213 individuals older than 18 years. The hypertension prevalence was 38.5%. In the adjusted analysis hypertension was associated with female sex, age, lower education, higher per capita income, use of drugs in the last 15 days, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions The results highlight the need for intersectorial actions to improve the community living conditions and health. The adequacy of local health service infrastructure and operation as well as health promotion campaigns can contribute to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and other diseases.

Correlation between infection rate of triatominies and Chagas Disease in Southwest of Bahia, Brazil: a warning sign?

Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi, has a wide distribution in South America, and its main method of control is the elimination of triatomines. It is presented here the geographic distribution and the rate of natural infection by T. cruzi of triatomines collected and evaluated from 2008 to 2013 in southwest of Bahia. Triatomines were captured in the intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary areas of five cities located in the southwest of Bahia state, identified, and analyzed for the presence of trypanosomatids in their feces. During the study period the number of patients suspected for acute Chagas disease was recovered from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). 8966 triatomines were captured and identified as belonging to eight species. Twenty-six presented themselves infected, being Triatoma sordida the most abundant and with the highest percentage of infection by T. cruzi. Tremedal was the city with the highest number of cases of acute Chagas' disease reported to SINAN. All cities showed triatomines infected with T. cruzi, so there is considerable risk of vectorial transmission of Chagas disease in the southwestern Bahia state, evidencing the need for vector transmission control programs and preventive surveillance measures.

Avaliação das condições habitacionais e de saúde da comunidade quilombola Boqueirão, Bahia, Brasil / Evaluation of housing and health conditions of Boqueirão afro descendant community, state of Bahia, Brazil

A comunidade quilombola Boqueirão situada no município de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil é formada por cerca de 500 indivíduos, e possui um único açude, com livre acesso de animais, utilizado para lavagem de roupa e coleta de água para utilização doméstica. O abastecimento de água é precário, assim como não há saneamento básico, visto que não existe água encanada e esgotamento sanitário, o que resulta no despejo de dejetos no açude e solos, comprometendo a qualidade da água consumida. Esses fatores associados ao acesso restrito da população aos serviços de saúde tornam esses indivíduos vulneráveis a doenças como infecções parasitárias. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar o levantamento das condições de habitação e saúde dos moradores do quilombo Boqueirão. A amostra foi composta por 467 indivíduos, que responderam a um questionário baseado em suas condições de moradia e saúde. Destes, 404 foram submetidos ao exame parasitológico de fezes para o diagnóstico de infecções parasitárias. A população é formada predominantemente por jovens ou adultos, lavradores, e a maioria das casas não possui água encanada e sanitário. A maioria da população utiliza exclusivamente o Sistema Único de Saúde, sendo a hipertensão arterial a doença pré-existente mais relatada. Em relação às parasitoses intestinais, as protozooses foram mais prevalentes que as helmintíases. A precariedade das moradias, do abastecimento de água e das condições de saneamento básico reflete o perfil sócioeconômico da população e a deficiência nas políticas públicas voltadas para a comunidade, justificando os dados encontrados referentes à prevalência de doenças crônicas e parasitárias.

The Boqueirão is an afro descendant community located in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil formed by about 500 individuals. This community has an only dam, where animals have free access, used frequently for washing clothes and water collection for domestic use. The water supply is precarious, as well as the basic sanitation, since it does not exist canalized water and sanitary exhaustion. It results in the ousting of dejections in the dam and ground, compromising the quality of the consumed water. These factors associated to limited access of the population health services become these individuals vulnerable to parasitic infections. The aim of this work is register the habitation and health conditions of the Boqueirão community. The sample was composed by 467 individuals that answered a questionnaire about their housing and health conditions. Of these, 404 had been submitted to fecal exam for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases. The population is formed predominantly by young or adult, agricultural worker, and most of houses have not canalized water and bathroom. Most of population uses only the public system of health and the high blood pressure was the most reported preexisting disease. In relation to the intestinal parasitisms, the protozoan infections were more prevalent than helminthic infections. The precarious conditions of habitation, water supply and basic sanitation reflect the social and economic population profiles and the inefficiency of health public politics for the community that explains the data found regarding the prevalence of chronic and parasitic diseases.

Comparative analysis of genomic sequences suggests that Trypanosoma cruzi CL Brener contains two sets of non-intercalated repeats of satellite DNA that correspond to T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II types.

Approximately 10% of the Trypanosoma cruzi genome is formed by a satellite DNA, composed by 195-bp repeats organized in 30+/-10 kb clusters in some, but not all chromosomes. Here, the satellite DNA of six representative T. cruzi strains was sequenced and used for phylogenetic inference. The results show that CL Brener contains satellite repeats from T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II strains, although type II sequences are more abundant. The presence of types I and II sequences extends previous propositions that genetic exchange between the two major T. cruzi lineages have occurred in CL Brener, although our data accommodate alternative scenarios of hybridization within T. cruzi II, as proposed by others. Altogether, present data suggest a complex origin for CL Brener. Sequence analysis of satellites isolated from chromosomal bands indicates that satellite DNA sequences are not chromosome specific. Neighbor analysis of in tandem satellite DNAs containing up to five repeats shows that each cluster contains only one type of sequence. Consequently, clusters with intercalated types I and II repeats were not found. We propose that the CL Brener genome contains large pieces of satellite DNA originated mainly from chromosomes of T. cruzi II with introgression of T. cruzi I lineage.

Filogenias moleculares e análise de polimorfismo de Trypanosoma cruzi sugerem hibridização introgressiva nos subgrupos rDNA 1/2 e zimodema 3 / Phylogenies and polymorphism of Trypanosa cruzi: new inferences about rDNA 1/2 zimodeme 3 groups

O Trypanosoma cruzi possui diversidade genética suficiente para ser considerado um complexo de pelo menos duas espécies diferentes. Esses dois grupos principais nomeados T. cruzi I e T. cruzi II foram definidos por filogenia e não somente por estudos de tipagem. Subgrupos adicionais de isolados foram descritos, como 1/2 (rDNA 1/2) e Z3 (zimodema 3), cujo posicionamento dentro do complexo T. cruzi I e II é ainda controverso. Neste estudo, foram clonados e seqüenciados cinco genes que codificam EF-1a (fator de elongação 1-alfa); actina; DHFR-TS (diidrofolato redutase-timidilato sintase); TR (tripanotiona redutase); e rRNA 18S de 25 isolados de T. cruzi. As seqüências foram usadas para inferir filogenias e polimorfismo. Nosso estudo filogenético mostrou que os grupos T cruzi I e T. cruzi II são monofiléticos, diferente dos subgrupos 1/2 e Z3, que agrupam com isolados de T. cruzi I e T. cruzi li, como observado também em CL Brener. Estes resultados sugerem que estes isolados são híbridos das linhagens parentais T cruzi I e T. cruzi li. A localização dos haplótipos dos grupos híbridos na maioria das filogenias e a sua identidade com seqüências de T cruzi I e T. cruzi II sugerem que estes grupos resultaram da introgressão genética de T cruzi II em T cruzi I. Nosso estudo também mostrou um polimorfismo maior nos subgrupos "1/2", "Z3" e no isolado CL Brener. A natureza híbrida, o polimorfismo elevado e a ampla distribuição geográfica dos subgrupos "1/2" e "Z3" sugerem que os híbridos, gerados por introgressão genética esporádica, podem ter uma vantagem seletiva no complexo da espécie T. cruzi