Typical epidemiology of respiratory virus infections in a Brazilian slum

Host population size, density, immune status, age structure, and contact rates are critical elements of virus epidemiology. Slum populations stand out from other settings and may present differences in the epidemiology of acute viral infections. We collected nasopharyngeal specimens from 282 children aged ≤5 years with acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) during 2005 to 2006 in one of the largest Brazilian slums. We conducted real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for 16 respiratory viruses, nested RT-PCR-based typing of rhinoviruses (HRVs), and collected clinical symptoms. Viruses were common causes of respiratory disease; with ≥1 virus being detected in 65.2% of patients. We detected 15 different viruses during 1 year with a predominance of HRV (33.0%) and human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV, 12.1%) infections, and a high rate of viral coinfections (28.3%). We observed seasonality of hRSV, HRV and human coronavirus infections, more severe symptoms in hRSV and influenza virus (FLU) infections and prolonged circulation of seven HRV clusters likely representing distinct serotypes according to genomic sequence distances. Potentially unusual findings included the absence of human metapneumovirus detections and lack of typical FLU seasonal patterns, which may be linked to the population size and density of the slum. Nonetheless, most epidemiological patterns were similar to other studies globally, suggesting surprising similarities of virus-associated ARI across highly diverse settings and a complex impact of population characteristics on respiratory virus epidemiology

Molecular characterization of human coronavirus - HCoV, circulating in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

As infecções respiratórias agudas (IRA) são as doenças infecciosas mais frequentes em seres humanos e os vírus respiratórios são os agentes de maior ocorrência na etiologia das mesmas. Os coronavírus humanos (HCoVs) são reconhecidos como causa comum de infecções do trato respiratório superior e, menos comumente, do trato respiratório inferior. Dados da ocorrência do HCoV na população brasileira são escassos. O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de HCoV em crianças acometidas por IRA atendidas no Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo-SP, entre o período de 1995 a 2008. Amostras em cDNA foram utilizadas em ensaio de PCR em Tempo Real para detecção dos 4 tipos de coronavírus. Amostras positivas foram utilizadas em ensaio de PCR convencional e posteriormente tipificadas por sequenciamento. Amostras negativas pelo método de PCR convencional foram tipificadas através de PCR em Tempo Real e Nested PCR específico para cada tipo de HCoV. Quatrocentos e dez amostras foram positivas pelo ensaio de PCR Real Time, sendo o coronavírus detectado em 8.94% das amostras. Duzentos e noventa e oito amostras foram tipificadas, sendo o tipo OC43 o de maior ocorrência, seguido pelos tipos NL63; HKU1 e 229E.Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the most common infectious diseases in humans and respiratory viruses are the most frequent agents in the etiology of the same. The human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are recognized as a common cause of upper respiratory tract infections and, less commonly, lower respiratory tract. Data from the occurrence of HCoV in the Brazilian population are scarce, despite the high incidence of respiratory infections during the winter. This study aims to evaluate the occurrence of HCoV in children affected by acute respiratory infections treated at University Hospital of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo-SP, between the periods 1995 to 2008. Samples of cDNA were screened by Real Time PCR for detection of the four types of coronavirus. Positive samples were used in standard PCR assay and subsequently typed by sequencing. Samples positive by Real Time but negative by standard PCR assay were typed by specific Nested PCR and Real-Time for each type of HCoV. Four hundred and ten samples were positive by Real Time PCR assay, and the occurrence of coronaviruses in our samples of 8.94%. Two hundred and ninety eight were typed, the type OC43 being the most frequent, followed by the recently discovered types, NL63 ; HKU1 and HCoV-229E

Typical epidemiology of respiratory virus infections in a Brazilian slum

Host population size, density, immune status, age structure, and contact rates are critical elements of virus epidemiology. Slum populations stand out from other settings and may present differences in the epidemiology of acute viral infections. We collected nasopharyngeal specimens from 282 children aged ≤5 years with acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) during 2005 to 2006 in one of the largest Brazilian slums. We conducted real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for 16 respiratory viruses, nested RT-PCR-based typing of rhinoviruses (HRVs), and collected clinical symptoms. Viruses were common causes of respiratory disease; with ≥1 virus being detected in 65.2% of patients. We detected 15 different viruses during 1 year with a predominance of HRV (33.0%) and human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV, 12.1%) infections, and a high rate of viral coinfections (28.3%). We observed seasonality of hRSV, HRV and human coronavirus infections, more severe symptoms in hRSV and influenza virus (FLU) infections and prolonged circulation of seven HRV clusters likely representing distinct serotypes according to genomic sequence distances. Potentially unusual findings included the absence of human metapneumovirus detections and lack of typical FLU seasonal patterns, which may be linked to the population size and density of the slum. Nonetheless, most epidemiological patterns were similar to other studies globally, suggesting surprising similarities of virus-associated ARI across highly diverse settings and a complex impact of population characteristics on respiratory virus epidemiology

Genetic diversity of bats coronaviruses in the Atlantic Forest hotspot biome, Brazil

Bats are notorious reservoirs of genetically-diverse and high-profile pathogens, and are playing crucial roles in the emergence and re-emergence of viruses, both in human and in animals. In this report, we identified and characterized previously unknown and diverse genetic clusters of bat coronaviruses in the Atlantic Forest Biome, Brazil. These results highlight the virus richness of bats and their possible roles in the public health

Genetic diversity of bats coronaviruses in the Atlantic Forest hotspot biome, Brazil

Bats are notorious reservoirs of genetically-diverse and high-profile pathogens, and are playing crucial roles in the emergence and re-emergence of viruses, both in human and in animals. In this report, we identified and characterized previously unknown and diverse genetic clusters of bat coronaviruses in the Atlantic Forest Biome, Brazil. These results highlight the virus richness of bats and their possible roles in the public health

Bovine papillomavirus type 2 in reproductive tract and gametes of slaughtered bovine females

Papillomaviruses are described selectively infecting epithelial tissues and are associated with many forms of cancer in different species. Considering the widespread dissemination of papillomatosis in livestock, interest is being centred on possible forms of viral transmission and respective mechanisms. In the present study, we report the detection of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) DNA sequences in female reproductive tract tissues, fluids and oocytes from slaughtered bovines not afflicted by cutaneous papillomatosis. BPV-2 DNA sequences were found in ovarian and uterine tissues as well as in oocytes, cumulus cells and uterine flushings. The presence of papillomavirus sequences in reproductive organ tissues and fluids shows that viral infection in organisms can be verified in others tissues, not only in epithelial ones. The present findings alert to the possibility of BPV transmission in embryo transfer programs and assisted fertilization procedures