Cohort-profile: Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a low-resource community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PURPOSE: To better understand the household transmission of SARS-COV-2 in a low-resource community in Rio de Janeiro during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). PARTICIPANTS: This is an open prospective cohort study of children ≤12 years old and their household contacts. During home visits over 24 months, we collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, behavioural data, clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, vaccination status, SARS-CoV-2 (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) RT-PCR and anti-S antibody tests. Among adults, the majority of participants were women (62%). FINDINGS TO DATE: We enrolled 845 families from May 2020 to May 2022. The median number of residents per household was four. The median household density, defined as the number of persons per room, was 0.95. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 occurrence was higher in households with a high number of persons per room. Children were not the principal source of SARS-CoV-2 infections in their households during the first wave of the pandemic. FUTURE PLANS: Future studies will investigate cellular and humoral immune responses to locally circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, which is relevant for the design of vaccines, antivirals and monoclonal antibodies. We will also engage in outreach to encourage vaccination as a means of limiting the transmission of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and other emerging pathogens

Diagnostic performance of anti-Zika virus IgM, IgAM and IgG ELISAs during co-circulation of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses in Brazil and Venezuela

BACKGROUND: Serological diagnosis of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is challenging because of the antibody cross-reactivity among flaviviruses. At the same time, the role of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) is limited by the low proportion of symptomatic infections and the low average viral load. Here, we compared the diagnostic performance of commercially available IgM, IgAM, and IgG ELISAs in sequential samples during the ZIKV and chikungunya (CHIKV) epidemics and co-circulation of dengue virus (DENV) in Brazil and Venezuela. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Acute (day of illness 1-5) and follow-up (day of illness ≥ 6) blood samples were collected from nine hundred and seven symptomatic patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study of symptomatic patients recruited between June 2012 and August 2016. Acute samples were tested by RT-PCR for ZIKV, DENV, and CHIKV. Acute and follow-up samples were tested for IgM, IgAM, and IgG antibodies to ZIKV using commercially available ELISAs. Among follow-up samples with a RT-PCR confirmed ZIKV infection, anti-ZIKV IgAM sensitivity was 93.5% (43/48), while IgM and IgG exhibited sensitivities of 30.3% (10/35) and 72% (18/25), respectively. An additional 24% (26/109) of ZIKV infections were detected via IgAM seroconversion in ZIKV/DENV/CHIKV RT-PCR negative patients. The specificity of anti-ZIKV IgM was estimated at 93% and that of IgAM at 85%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings exemplify the challenges of the assessment of test performance for ZIKV serological tests in the real-world setting, during co-circulation of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV. However, we can also demonstrate that the IgAM immunoassay exhibits superior sensitivity to detect ZIKV RT-PCR confirmed infections compared to IgG and IgM immunoassays. The IgAM assay also proves to be promising for detection of anti-ZIKV seroconversions in sequential samples, both in ZIKV PCR-positive as well as PCR-negative patients, making this a candidate assay for serological monitoring of pregnant women in future ZIKV outbreaks

Fatal Brazilian spotted fever in a healthy military man during field training in Rio de Janeiro city, southeastern Brazil

Brazilian spotted fever, a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We report a fulminant case of this zoonosis in a healthy 46-year-old military man in the urban region of Rio de Janeiro city, in October, 2021. Ticks and capybaras (Amblyomma sculptum, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, respectively) were identified in the military fields, pointing to the participation of this large synanthropic rodent, recognized as an efficient amplifier host of Rickettsia rickettsii in Brazil. As the military population is considered a risk group for spotted fever, it is necessary to alert health professionals to the importance of the early detection of the disease and its adequate management, mainly in populations that are particularly at risk of exposure to ticks, in order to avoid fatal outcomes

Long COVID-19 syndrome associated with Omicron XBB.1.5 infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: There is interest in lingering non-specific symptoms after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, referred to as Long coronavirus disease 2019 (Long COVID-19). It remains unknown whether the risk of Long COVID-19 is associated with pre-existing comorbidities or initial COVID-19 severity, including infections due to new Omicron lineages which predominated in 2023. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this case report was to characterize the clinical features of acute XBB.1.5 infection followed by Long COVID-19. METHODS: We followed a 73-year old female resident of Rio de Janeiro with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 during acute infection and subsequent months. The SARS-CoV-2 lineage was determined by genome sequencing. FINDINGS: The participant denied comorbidities and had completed a two-dose vaccination schedule followed by two booster doses eight months prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Primary infection by viral lineage XBB.1.5. was clinically mild, but the participant subsequently reported persistent fatigue. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates that Long COVID-19 may develop even after mild disease due to SARS-CoV-2 in fully vaccinated and boosted individuals without comorbidities. Continued monitoring of new SARS-CoV-2 lineages and associated clinical outcomes is warranted. Measures to prevent infection should continue to be implemented including development of new vaccines and antivirals effective against novel variants

Chikungunya: uma arbovirose em estabelecimento e expansão no Brasil

Submitted by sandra infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-04-12T14:12:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 nildimar_honorio_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 59515 bytes, checksum: f1a2f43a3dd5a1e4ea7939ccc81c33c9 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by sandra infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-04-12T14:20:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 nildimar_honorio_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 59515 bytes, checksum: f1a2f43a3dd5a1e4ea7939ccc81c33c9 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-12T14:20:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 nildimar_honorio_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 59515 bytes, checksum: f1a2f43a3dd5a1e4ea7939ccc81c33c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Núcleo Operacional Sentinela de Mosquitos Vetores. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Núcleo Operacional Sentinela de Mosquitos Vetores. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

Adherence to prenatal care by HIV-positive women who failed to receive prophylaxis for mother-to-child transmission: social and behavioral factors and healthcare access issues

Guilherme Amaral Calvet. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Documento produzido em parceria ou por autor vinculado à Fiocruz, mas não consta à informação no documento.Submitted by Santos Bárbara ([email protected]) on 2015-02-05T12:23:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Adesão ao pré-natal de mulheres HIV+ que não fizeram profilaxia da transmissão vertical um estudo sócio-comportamenta.pdf: 100032 bytes, checksum: 8d4f9d495ff7807269a75b2d12e3d27a (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Santos Bárbara ([email protected]) on 2015-02-05T12:24:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Adesão ao pré-natal de mulheres HIV+ que não fizeram profilaxia da transmissão vertical um estudo sócio-comportamenta.pdf: 100032 bytes, checksum: 8d4f9d495ff7807269a75b2d12e3d27a (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Santos Bárbara ([email protected]) on 2015-02-05T12:48:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Adesão ao pré-natal de mulheres HIV+ que não fizeram profilaxia da transmissão vertical um estudo sócio-comportamenta.pdf: 100032 bytes, checksum: 8d4f9d495ff7807269a75b2d12e3d27a (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-05T12:48:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Adesão ao pré-natal de mulheres HIV+ que não fizeram profilaxia da transmissão vertical um estudo sócio-comportamenta.pdf: 100032 bytes, checksum: 8d4f9d495ff7807269a75b2d12e3d27a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010Hospital dos Servidores do Estado. Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Hospital dos Servidores do Estado. Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Hospital dos Servidores do Estado. Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Hospital dos Servidores do Estado. Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Objetivamos compreender os fatores sócio-comporta-mentais e do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que, na visão de mulheres identificadas como HIV+ por teste rápido no parto, dificultaram ou impediram a adesão ao pré-natal. Foram incluídas 40 mulheres, das quais apenas oito tinham tido seis consultas ou mais. Foi utilizada a abordagem qualitativa, com entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os dados foram analisados seguindo os preceitos da análise temática. Os resultados foram agrupados em dois blocos: os que dificultaram a adesão ao pré-natal: não aceitação da gestação, falta de apoio familiar, conhecimento prévio da soropositividade, contexto social adverso, experiências negativas de atendimento e práticas e concepções de descrédito em relação ao pré-natal, e os que favoreceram a adesão: apoio familiar, discurso de valorização do cuida-do com a saúde, desejo de laqueadura tubária, acolhimento pela equipe de saúde e experiências positivas de assistência. Uma compreensão melhor do contexto sociocultural deveria permitir a construção de estratégias capazes de resgatar essas mulheres para um sistema de saúde mais acolhedor.This study aimed to elucidate the social and behavioral factors and public health system characteristics that influenced pregnant women’s adherence to prenatal care. Forty women diagnosed as HIV-positive by rapid test at delivery were included. Socioeconomic data were collected and a semi-structured interview was conducted. Eight women had > 6 prenatal visits and 12 had no visits. Interviews were submitted to qualitative content analysis. The themes fit into two blocks: those seen as hindering adherence, like unwanted pregnancy, lack of family support, prior knowledge of serological status, adverse social context, negative experiences with prenatal care, and disbelief towards prenatal care, and those facilitating adherence, like family support, valuing healthcare, wanting a tubal ligation, receptiveness by the healthcare team, and positive previous experience with prenatal care. Improving our understanding of the socio-cultural context should help promote strategies to reach such women and include them in better quality care

Adesão ao pré-natal de mulheres HIV+ que não fizeram profilaxia da transmissão vertical: um estudo sócio-comportamental e de acesso ao sistema de saúde Adherence to prenatal care by HIV-positive women who failed to receive prophylaxis for mother-to-child transmission: social and behavioral factors and healthcare access issues

Objetivamos compreender os fatores sócio-comportamentais e do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que, na visão de mulheres identificadas como HIV+ por teste rápido no parto, dificultaram ou impediram a adesão ao pré-natal. Foram incluídas 40 mulheres, das quais apenas oito tinham tido seis consultas ou mais. Foi utilizada a abordagem qualitativa, com entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os dados foram analisados seguindo os preceitos da análise temática. Os resultados foram agrupados em dois blocos: os que dificultaram a adesão ao pré-natal: não aceitação da gestação, falta de apoio familiar, conhecimento prévio da soropositividade, contexto social adverso, experiências negativas de atendimento e práticas e concepções de descrédito em relação ao pré-natal, e os que favoreceram a adesão: apoio familiar, discurso de valorização do cuidado com a saúde, desejo de laqueadura tubária, acolhimento pela equipe de saúde e experiências positivas de assistência. Uma compreensão melhor do contexto sociocultural deveria permitir a construção de estratégias capazes de resgatar essas mulheres para um sistema de saúde mais acolhedor.This study aimed to elucidate the social and behavioral factors and public health system characteristics that influenced pregnant women's adherence to prenatal care. Forty women diagnosed as HIV-positive by rapid test at delivery were included. Socioeconomic data were collected and a semi-structured interview was conducted. Eight women had > 6 prenatal visits and 12 had no visits. Interviews were submitted to qualitative content analysis. The themes fit into two blocks: those seen as hindering adherence, like unwanted pregnancy, lack of family support, prior knowledge of serological status, adverse social context, negative experiences with prenatal care, and disbelief towards prenatal care, and those facilitating adherence, like family support, valuing healthcare, wanting a tubal ligation, receptiveness by the healthcare team, and positive previous experience with prenatal care. Improving our understanding of the socio-cultural context should help promote strategies to reach such women and include them in better quality care

Oral manifestations of COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Early studies have highlighted the possible development of dysgeusia and anosmia in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and these manifestations should be considered a potential indication of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). As potential contributors to these symptoms, dentists should perform careful oral and oropharyngeal examinations and document suspicious oral lesions in patients with COVID-19, especially in those who complain of loss of taste and smell. The study’s objective was to assess the prevalence of oral manifestations among ambulatory unvaccinated symptomatic patients with suspected COVID-19 during the acute phase of the disease. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated oral manifestations in adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with suspected and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare data between the groups (rRT-PCR-positive and rRT-PCR-negative patients). Results One hundred thirty-six participants were included. Most were female (n = 79; 58.1%), with a mean age of 39.53 (± 14.17) years. Of these, 54 (39.7%) had a positive rRT-PCR test, and 82 (60.3%) had negative rRT-PCR results. Oral manifestations were observed in 40 participants (74.1%) in the rRT-PCR-positive group and 67 participants (81.7%) in the rRT-PCR-negative group. The most common oral manifestations were xerostomia (n = 85; 62.5%) and dysgeusia/ageusia (n = 57; 41.9%). Different rates of gingivitis (n = 12; 22.2% vs. n = 5; 6.1%; p = 0.005) and halitosis (n = 7; 13.0% vs. n = 1; 1.2%; p = 0.007) were observed between the rRT-PCR-positive and -negative groups, respectively. Mouth ulcers, glossitis, tongue coating, and petechiae were reported in both groups without significant differences. Conclusions A high prevalence of oral manifestations was observed in symptomatic patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Clinical Relevance This study highlights the importance of routine oral examinations by dentists as part of the multidisciplinary care of COVID-19 patients