High prevalence of Cryptococcal antigenemia using a finger-prick lateral flow assay in individuals with advanced HIV disease in Santarém Municipality, Brazilian Amazon Basin.

There is scarce information about HIV-related cryptococcosis in the Brazilian Amazon basin where laboratory infrastructure is limited. The serum cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay (LFA) has simplified diagnosis of cryptococcosis and is recommended for screening in advanced HIV disease. We evaluated the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia using finger-prick CrAg LFA in the Brazilian Amazon basin. We enrolled a prospective cohort of outpatients and hospitalized individuals with advanced HIV disease at two centers in Santarém Municipality, Northern Brazil. All individuals were > 18 years old with advanced HIV disease, regardless of antiretroviral therapy (ART) status and with no prior or current history of confirmed cryptococcal meningitis. We tested CrAg LFA on finger-prick whole blood using an exact volume transfer pipette. From August 2018 to October 2019, 104 individuals were enrolled (outpatients 62 [60%] and hospitalized 42 [40%]). Median age was 38 years (interquartile range [IQR] 30-46), and 84 (81%) were male. Sixty-five (63%) individuals were ART-naïve. Prevalence of finger-prick CrAg LFA-positive was 10.6%; 95% CI, 5.4 to 18.1%. Prevalence of finger-prick CrAg LFA-positive among individuals without neurological symptoms was 6.0%; 95% CI, 1.7-14.6%. The number needed to test to detect one CrAg-positive individual was 9.4 persons (95% CI, 5.5-18.5). Prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia using finger-prick whole blood CrAg LFA was high. Point-of-care approach was important for the diagnosis and screening of cryptococcosis in resource-limited settings. Screening and preemptive therapy strategy should be urgently implemented in individuals with advanced HIV disease in the Brazilian Amazon basin.

This prospective cohort study was carried-out in the Brazilian Amazon basin. We used a cryptococcal rapid test in patients with AIDS. We included 104 participants, and 11 (10.6%) of them had positive results showing a high prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia.

Suspected vertical transmission of Chagas disease caused by DTU TcIV in an infection probably transmitted orally, during anoutbreak in the Brazilian Amazon.

This study describes difficulties in the monitoring of a child born during an oral outbreak of Chagas disease, in which there are several indications that the transmission occurred through the congenital route: 1. the mother was in the third trimester of pregnancy when she was infected; 2. She presented high parasitemia at the time of delivery; 3. In both, the mother and her daughter, T. cruzi was classified as DTU TcIV. The parasites were not found in the blood at birth and the infection was detected only three months later in an asymptomatic infant. As the mother and her child live in a highly endemic area, vector transmission could not be excluded during this period.

Unusual case of lagochilascariasis with breast involvement: the first case report in pregnancy.

Lagochilascariasis is a neglected neotropical helminthiasis, responsible for human infections through the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat from wild animals infected by larvae encysted in their tissues. It is characterized by a chronic evolution with periods of remission and recurrences, affecting mainly the head and neck regions. It can progress to death by invasion of the central nervous system. It is caused by the Lagochilascaris minor nematode, first described in 1909 and mainly found in the Brazilian Amazon ecosystem, notably in Para State. In May 2010, a 15-year-old female, born in the city of Aveiro, Para State, was hospitalized in the city of Santarem, Para State, presenting with cervical and spinal abscesses and osteolytic lesions at T3-T5 level. During hospitalization, white larvae identified as L. minor were observed in a cervical subcutaneous fistula. After the surgical drainage of abscesses, albendazole 400 mg/day was started, with improvement of symptoms. The patient abandoned the follow-up and in January 2016, during the 20th week of pregnancy, she was readmitted to the Santarem Municipal Hospital with new cervical abscesses in the infra-mammary region, with numerous larvae exiting by subcutaneous left breast fistulas. The antiparasitic treatment was restarted due to possible reactivation of the infection in the spine and dissemination to the central nervous system. Ten weeks after hospital discharge, the patient had resolution of the fistulas and decreased abscesses, without gestational complications. This is the first case report of lagochilascariasis during pregnancy, as well as of involvement of mammary glands.

A case of envenomation caused by Oxybelis fulgidus (Serpentes, Colubridae) in Brazilian Amazon.

A case of a bite inflicted by Oxybelis fulgidus in the wilds of Amazon is reported. The patient was a 67-year-old man who presented with dizziness, tachycardia and local pain, with erythema and bleeding in his left arm. The venom of Oxybelis fulgidus, a neotropical rear-fanged snake, contains one of the four three-finger toxins already isolated from colubrid snakes, called fulgimotoxin. He was treated with oral analgesics and returned to the ambulatory in 48 hours, with good evolution. We report tirst authenticated case of adult Oxybelis fulgidus with signs of mild local envenoming without evidence of systemic envenoming.

HIV infection in the west region of Pará: clinical and socioeconomic characterization / Infecção pelo HIV na região oeste do Pará: caracterização clínica e socioeconômica

Aims: knowledge of the patient's profile, for the evaluation and suggested behaviors, promotes a favorable outcome. Thus, the objective of the study is to analyze the socioeconomic, clinical, and immunological characteristics of patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus in the western region of the state of Pará.Methods: were analyzed 1966 medical records of patients whose first visit to a reference center, in the municipality of Santarém-PA, was between 1998 and 2018. Socioeconomic, clinical, and immunological information was collected from patient medical records. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adopting p <0.05. Results: there was a predominance of males (62.5%), aged 20-39 years (69.1%), elementary school (58.6%), single (57.3%), and employed (66.4%). Immunosuppression was present in 22% of patients and a viral load was detectable in 66%. Tuberculosis (37%) and toxoplasmosis (23%) predominated as opportunistic infections, and syphilis (62.6%) and human papillomavirus (HPV; 14%) as other infections. Conclusions: it is concluded that both opportunistic infections and other infections were present in 25-22% of the patients and that the presence of opportunistic infections favors the installation of another infection, or vice versa. Toxoplasmosis, HPV, and syphilis are positively associated with men, and toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis with age >35 years. Immunosuppression was shown to be positively associated with men and age >35 years, as well as favoring the onset of tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, and detectable viral load.

Objetivo: o conhecimento sobre o perfil do paciente para a avaliação e as propostas de condutas colabora com um desfecho favorável. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é analisar as características socioeconômicas, clínicas e imunológicas de pacientes infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana na região Oeste do Estado do Pará. Métodos: foram analisados 1.966 prontuários de pacientes que tiveram seu primeiro atendimento em um centro de referência, no município de Santarém (Pará), no período de 1998 a 2018. Levantaram-se informações socioeconômicas, clínicas e imunológicas nos referidos prontuários. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva e inferencial, adotando-se p<0.05. Resultados: observou-se predominância do sexo masculino (62,5%), faixa etária de 20-39 anos (69,1%), ensino fundamental (58,6%), solteiros (57,3%) e com vínculo empregatício (66,4%). A imunossupressão estava presente em 22% dos pacientes e a carga viral detectável em 66%. A tuberculose (9,1%) e a toxoplasmose (5,6%) predominaram como infecções oportunistas, e a sífilis (14,1%) e o papiloma vírus humano (HPV; 3,2%) como outras infecções. Conclusão: conclui-se que tanto as infecções oportunistas como as outras infecções estavam presentes em 25 (22%) dos pacientes e que a presença da infecção oportunista favorece a instalação da outra infecção, ou vice-versa. A toxoplasmose, HPV e a sífilis se associaram positivamente aos homens, bem como, a toxoplasmose e a tuberculose com as idades >35 anos. A imunossupressão demonstrou estar associada positivamente aos homens e idades >35 anos, bem como, favorece a instalação da tuberculose, da toxoplasmose e da carga viral detectável.

Tetanus after envenomations caused by freshwater stingrays.

Injuries caused by freshwater stingray are common in several regions of South America, although they are underreported. The riverside inhabitants are the main victims in the Amazonian and Midwest regions of South America. The fishermen are injured mainly in the new focus of colonization of the rivers by freshwater stingrays. With the increasing population in these regions, where freshwater stingrays are found, there has been a significant increase in injuries within the general population. The highest increase occurred among tourists from other regions, where these animals are not known, when visiting these areas. The envenomations from the stingray causes prolonged and intense pain, both local and regionally. Generally these are associated with other local inflammatory manifestations, such as swelling and erythema. The injury often progresses to necrosis and it is considered potentially tetanogenic. A secondary infection is also a frequent local complication and most frequently is caused by Aeromonas species, usually Aeromonas hydrophila. Herein we report the first 2 cases of tetanus after freshwater stingray injuries: a 51-year-old men who had tetanus and recovered without sequel and the second a 67-year-old men who had severe tetanus and a deep, necrotizing soft-tissue infection with sepsis, septic shock and evolution to death.

A case of envenomation caused by Oxybelis fulgidus (Serpentes, Colubridae) in Brazilian Amazon

Abstract A case of a bite inflicted by Oxybelis fulgidus in the wilds of Amazon is reported. The patient was a 67-year-old man who presented with dizziness, tachycardia and local pain, with erythema and bleeding in his left arm. The venom of Oxybelis fulgidus, a neotropical rear-fanged snake, contains one of the four three-finger toxins already isolated from colubrid snakes, called fulgimotoxin. He was treated with oral analgesics and returned to the ambulatory in 48 hours, with good evolution. We report tirst authenticated case of adult Oxybelis fulgidus with signs of mild local envenoming without evidence of systemic envenoming.

NÍVEL DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA E SÍNDROME LIPODISTRÓFICA EM PACIENTES COM HIV/AIDS / LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LIPODYSTROPHY SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WITH HIV/AIDS / NIVEL DE ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y SÍNDROME DE LIPODISTROFIA EN PACIENTES CON VIH/SIDA

Introdução: A atividade física pode ser uma aliada para minimizar o surgimento da lipodistrofia e seus efeitos deletérios. Objetivo: Analisar a relação do nível de atividade física (NAF) e a síndrome lipodistrófica com a composição corporal e a qualidade de vida (QV) de portadores do HIV/Aids. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 120 pacientes com HIV/Aids (38,55 ± 11,47 anos). Foram avaliados quanto ao índice de massa corporal, composição corporal, taxa metabólica basal, índice cintura-quadril, QV, presença, tipo e local de lipodistrofia, força de preensão manual e NAF. Resultados: Constatou-se que 70% eram sedentários; além disso, a massa magra foi 9,5% maior nos pacientes ativos, bem como a força muscular de preensão com a mão direita (11%) e esquerda (12%) e a taxa metabólica basal (6,9%). Quanto à associação da QV ao NAF, foi notada correlação fraca apenas para a preocupação com o sigilo (r = 0,2160; p = 0,0210), bem como, os pacientes ativos demonstraram melhor resultado que os sedentários (p < 0,05). Dos pacientes que apresentaram lipodistrofia, 66% eram sedentários; o tipo predominante foi a lipodistrofia mista (46%) e as regiões mais comuns foram a face e abdome. Ressalta-se que nos pacientes sem a síndrome a taxa metabólica basal foi maior (p = 0,0175) e o tempo de infecção (p = 0,0020) e de TARV (p = 0,0002) foram menores. Conclusão: Conclui-se, conforme metodologia adotada, que o sedentarismo predominou, o NAF apresentou associação positiva somente com a preocupação com o sigilo e os sedentários apresentaram dois domínios abaixo do escore de 50 (preocupação financeira e com o sigilo), com relação a um domínio dos pacientes ativos. A lipodistrofia esteve presente em 37% da amostra, sendo o tipo mais presente a lipodistrofia mista, e os locais de maior ocorrência foram a face e o abdome. Para esse grupo o NAF não se apresentou positivo para a composição corporal e a presença da lipodistrofia não influenciou na QV.

Introduction: Physical activity can be an ally to minimize the appearance of lipodystrophy and its deleterious effects. Objective: To analyze the relationship between physical activity level (PAL) and lipodystrophy syndrome with body composition and quality of life (QOL) of patients with HIV/Aids. Methods: The study included 120 patients with HIV/Aids (38.55±11.47 years). They were evaluated for body mass index, body composition, basal metabolic rate, waist-hip ratio, QOL, presence, type, and location of lipodystrophy, hand grip strength, and PAL. Results: It was found that 70% were sedentary; in addition, lean body mass was 9.5% higher in active patients, as well as muscle strength of right hand grip (11%) and left hand grip (12%) and basal metabolic rate (6.9%). Regarding the association between QOL and PAL, a weak correlation was noted only in relation to confidentiality (r=0.2160, p=0.0210), and active patients showed better results than sedentary ones (p<0.05). Of the patients with lipodystrophy, 66% were sedentary; the predominant type was mixed lipodystrophy (46%) and the most common regions were face and abdomen. It is noteworthy that in patients without the syndrome, the basal metabolic rate was higher (p=0.0175) and the time of infection (p=0.0020) and HAART (p=0.0002) were lower. Conclusion: We conclude, according to the methodology, that sedentary life was predominant, PAL showed positive association only with the concern with confidentiality and the sedentary patients showed two domains below the score of 50 (financial concern and confidentiality), in relation to one domain of active patients. Lipodystrophy was present in 37% of the sample, being the most prevalent type the mixed lipodystrophy, and the main sites of occurrence were face and abdomen. For this group PAL was not positive for body composition and the presence of lipodystrophy did not influence QOL.

Introducción: La actividad física puede ser un aliado para minimizar la aparición de lipodistrofia y sus efectos nocivos. Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre el nivel de actividad física (NAF) y el síndrome de lipodistrofia con la composición corporal y la calidad de vida (CV) de las personas con VIH/Sida. Métodos: Se incluyó 120 pacientes com VIH/SIDA (38,55 ± 11,47 años). Ellos fueron evaluados en relación al índice de masa corporal, la composición corporal, metabolismo basal, el índice cintura-cadera, CV, presencia, tipo y ubicación de lipodistrofia, fuerza de prensión manual y NAF. Resultados: Se encontró que el 70% eran sedentarios; además, la masa magra fue 9,5% mayor en los pacientes activos, así como la fuerza muscular de prensión manual derecha (11%) y prensión manual izquierda (12%) y la tasa metabólica basal (6,9%). En cuanto a la asociación de la calidad de vida y NAF, se observó correlación débil solamente con la preocupación con la confidencialidad (r = 0,2160; p = 0,0210), así como los pacientes activos han demostrado mejores resultados que los sedentarios (p < 0,05). De los pacientes con lipodistrofia, 66% eran sedentarios, el tipo predominante fue lipodistrofia mixta (46%) y las regiones más afectadas fueron la cara y el abdomen. Es de destacar que en pacientes sin síndrome, la tasa metabólica basal fue mayor (p = 0,0175) y el tiempo de infección (p=0,0020) y TARV (p = 0,0002) fueron inferiores. Conclusión: Se concluye que, de acuerdo con la metodología adoptada, el sedentarismo es predominante, el NAF presentó una asociación positiva sólo con la preocupación por la confidencialidad y los pacientes sedentarios tenían dos dominios por debajo de la puntuación de 50 (preocupación financiera y confidencialidad), con respecto a un dominio de los pacientes activos. La lipodistrofia estuvo presente en 37% de la muestra, siendo el tipo más presente la lipodistrofia mixta y los sitios de mayor incidencia la cara y el abdomen. Para este grupo la NAF no se ha presentado positiva para la composición corporal y la presencia de lipodistrofia no influyó en la calidad de vida.