Molecular characterisation of the emerging measles virus from Roraima state, Brazil, 2018

Measles is a human infectious disease of global concern that is caused by the measles virus. In this study, we report the complete genome sequencing of one measles virus isolate, genotype D8, that was obtained directly from a urine sample in Boa Vista city, the capital of Roraima state in Brazil. Phylogenetic reconstruction grouped the genome described in this study with that of samples from Australia, South Korea, and Italy. To our knowledge, this is the first complete genome sequence of a wild-type measles virus reported from Latin America. Therefore, the present data strengthen the current knowledge on the molecular epidemiology of measles worldwide

Reemergence of Dengue Virus Serotype 3, Brazil, 2023

We characterized 3 autochthonous dengue virus serotype 3 cases and 1 imported case from 2 states in the North and South Regions of Brazil, 15 years after Brazil's last outbreak involving this serotype. We also identified a new Asian lineage recently introduced into the Americas, raising concerns about future outbreaks

Reemergence of Dengue Virus serotype 3, Brazil, 2023

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. San Juan, PR, USA.Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública de Roraima. Boa Vista, RR, Brazil.Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública de Roraima. Boa Vista, RR, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Fundação de Vigilância em Saúde Dra. Rosemary Costa Pinto. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná. Curitiba, PR, Brazil.Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná. Curitiba, PR, Brazil.Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná. Curitiba, PR, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Recife, PE, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Recife, PE, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Curitiba, PR, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Alegre, ES, Brazil.Florida Department of Health. Tampa, FL, USA.Florida Department of Health. Tampa, FL, USA.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. San Juan, PR, USA.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.We characterized 3 autochthonous dengue virus serotype 3 cases and 1 imported case from 2 states in the North and South Regions of Brazil, 15 years after Brazil’s last outbreak involving this serotype. We also identified a new Asian lineage recently introduced into the Americas, raising concerns about future outbreaks

Genomic, epidemiological and digital surveillance of Chikungunya virus in the Brazilian Amazon.

BackgroundSince its first detection in the Caribbean in late 2013, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has affected 51 countries in the Americas. The CHIKV epidemic in the Americas was caused by the CHIKV-Asian genotype. In August 2014, local transmission of the CHIKV-Asian genotype was detected in the Brazilian Amazon region. However, a distinct lineage, the CHIKV-East-Central-South-America (ECSA)-genotype, was detected nearly simultaneously in Feira de Santana, Bahia state, northeast Brazil. The genomic diversity and the dynamics of CHIKV in the Brazilian Amazon region remains poorly understood despite its importance to better understand the epidemiological spread and public health impact of CHIKV in the country.Methodology/principal findingsWe report a large CHIKV outbreak (5,928 notified cases between August 2014 and August 2018) in Boa vista municipality, capital city of Roraima's state, located in the Brazilian Amazon region. We generated 20 novel CHIKV-ECSA genomes from the Brazilian Amazon region using MinION portable genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that despite an early introduction of the Asian genotype in 2015 in Roraima, the large CHIKV outbreak in 2017 in Boa Vista was caused by an ECSA-lineage most likely introduced from northeastern Brazil. Epidemiological analyses suggest a basic reproductive number of R0 of 1.66, which translates in an estimated 39 (95% CI: 36 to 45) % of Roraima's population infected with CHIKV-ECSA. Finally, we find a strong association between Google search activity and the local laboratory-confirmed CHIKV cases in Roraima.Conclusions/significanceThis study highlights the potential of combining traditional surveillance with portable genome sequencing technologies and digital epidemiology to inform public health surveillance in the Amazon region. Our data reveal a large CHIKV-ECSA outbreak in Boa Vista, limited potential for future CHIKV outbreaks, and indicate a replacement of the Asian genotype by the ECSA genotype in the Amazon region

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved