Frequência de CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS, CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE E TREPONEMA PALLIDUM em portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana 1 (HIV-1), no estado do Pará Frequency of CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS, CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE and TREPONEMA PALLIDUM among virus carr

Introdução: A Chlamydia trachomatis e o Treponema pallidum compartilham com o HIV-1 a via sexual como forma de transmissão. Devido ao comprometimento imunológico dos portadores de HIV, a Chlamydia. pneumoniae pode apresentar um papel potencial em infecções respiratórias. Objetivo: Este trabalho objetivou a descrição da soroprevalência destes três agentes em portadores de HIV-1 do Estado do Pará, Brasil. Metodologia: Foram coletadas 430 amostras de portadores de HIV na Unidade de Referência (URE-DIPE) em Belém Pará, que foram submetidas a um ELISA para detecção de anticorpo IgG e IgM anti-Chlamydia e, dentre os positivos, uma amostragem aleatória foi escolhida e submetida à microimunofluorescência para detecção de anticorpos para as espécies. Resultados: Anticorpos anti-T. pallidum foram detectados por RPR e ELISA. A prevalência geral de anticorpos anti-Chlamydia foi 64,2% (51,6% para IgG e 4% para IgM). Houve 100% de prevalência de C. trachomatis (tanto para IgG como IgM), e para C. pneumoniae 73,5% de  IgG e 70,5% de IgM. A prevalência geral de anticorpos contra o T. pallidum foi de 34,9%, sendo que 7,3% apresentaram resultado laboratorial indicativo de sífilis. As variáveis que apresentaram associação com a infecção por Chlamydia e T. pallidum foram: o sexo masculino, mais de um parceiro por semana, sexo anal, homossexualismo/bissexualismo e o uso de droga não-endovenosa. Conclusão: Faz-se necessário tanto a conscientização como o Monitoramento da população, para impedir a transmissão destes agentes e para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos indivíduos portadores de HIV

Chlamydia trachomatis serotype A infections in the Amazon region of Brazil: prevalence, entry and dissemination

INTRODUCTION: Chlamydia infection is associated with debilitating human diseases including trachoma, pneumonia, coronary heart disease and urogenital diseases. Serotypes of C. trachomatis show a fair correlation with the group of diseases they cause, and their distribution follows a well-described geographic pattern. Serotype A, a trachoma-associated strain, is known for its limited dissemination in the Middle East and Northern Africa. However, knowledge on the spread of bacteria from the genus Chlamydia as well as the distribution of serotypes in Brazil is quite limited. METHODS: Blood samples of 1,710 individuals from ten human population groups in the Amazon region of Brazil were examined for antibodies to Chlamydia using indirect immunofluorescence and microimmunofluorescence assays. RESULTS: The prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia ranged from 23.9% (Wayana-Apalai) to 90.7% (Awa-Guaja) with a mean prevalence of 50.2%. Seroreactivity was detected to C. pneumoniae and to all serotypes of C. trachomatis tested; furthermore, we report clear evidence of the as-yet-undescribed occurrence of serotype A of C. trachomatis. CONCLUSIONS: Specific seroreactivity not only accounts for the large extent of dissemination of C. trachomatis in the Amazon region of Brazil but also shows an expanded area of occurrence of serotype A outside the epidemiological settings previously described. Furthermore, these data suggest possible routes of Chlamydia introduction into the Amazon region from the massive human migration that occurred during the 1,700s

FREQUÊNCIA DE CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS, CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE E TREPONEMA PALLIDUM EM PORTADORES DO VÍRUS DA IMUNODEFICIÊNCIA HUMANA 1 (HIV-1), NO ESTADO DO PARÁ

Objective: The present study intended the description of the serum prevalence of those three agents among 430 HIV-1 infected persons residing in the State of Para, Brazil, attended at the State Reference Unit (URE-DIPE). Methods: Using an enzyme immuno assay plasma samples were tested for the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to Chlamydia and those, which elicited positive results, were randomly selected for serotyping through a microimmunofluorescence assay. Results: Antibodies to T. pallidum were detected using a flocculation reaction (RPR) and an enzyme immunoassay. The general prevalence to Chlamydia was 64.2% (51.6% IgG reactivity and 4% to IgM). Serotyping showed 100% reactivity to C. trachomatis (for both IgG and IgM), a high prevalence to C. pneumoniae (73.5% IgG and 70.5% to IgM). Prevalence of antibodies to T. pallidum was 34.9% and those 7.3% showed laboratory evidence of syphilis. Infection with both pathogens were associated to several characteristics, which included higher prevalence among males, high number of sexual partners, anal sexual relations, homosexual/bisexual habits and use of non injecting drugs. Conclusions: It is necessary not only the individual attention for prevention, but also the continuous monitoring to block transmission and the improvement of the well-being of HIV-1 infected person

Prevalence, incidence and residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HBV infection before and after the implementation of HBV-NAT in northern Brazil.

BACKGROUND:Nucleic acid testing (NAT) for virus detection during blood screening has helped to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections worldwide. In northern Brazil, NAT was implemented in 2012 for HIV and HCV and more recently, in January 2015, the screening for HBV was included and currently used concomitant with serological tests (HBsAg and anti-HBc). This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and the incidence of HBV infection among voluntary blood donors at ten regional blood centers of HEMOPA Foundation in Pará state and to compare the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HBV infection before and after the Brazilian HBV-NAT implementation. METHODS:The prevalence (restricted to first time donors- FT) and seroconversion rate (restricted to repeat donors- RP) of HBV were calculated based on rates of confirmed positive samples. Residual risk was based on the incidence and window period (WP) model described by Schreiber and coauthors. Logistic and Poisson regression were used in the statistical analysis by SPSS v20.0. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:HBV prevalence in the periods before and after the implementation of HBV-NAT were 247 and 251 per 100,000 donations, respectively. Seroconversion rates were 114 and 122 per 100,000 donations in the two periods, respectively. The residual risk (RR) for HBV decreased significantly in the posterior period to the HBV-NAT implementation, when compared to RR before implementation, with a reduction of 1:144,92 to 1:294,11 donations (p <0,001). CONCLUSIONS:The RR to HBV decreased after the implementation of HBV-NAT, increasing significantly the transfusional security in the North region of Brazil at HEMOPA Foundation

Mannose-binding lectin 2 (Mbl2) gene polymorphisms are related to protein plasma levels, but not to heart disease and infection by Chlamydia

The presence of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in exon 1 of the mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene was evaluated in a sample of 159 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (71 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery and 300 control subjects) to investigate a possible association between polymorphisms and heart disease with Chlamydia infection. The identification of the alleles B and D was performed using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and of the allele C was accomplished through PCR assays followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme. The comparative analysis of allelic and genotypic frequencies between the three groups did not reveal any significant difference, even when related to previous Chlamydia infection. Variations in the MBL plasma levels were influenced by the presence of polymorphisms, being significantly higher in the group of cardiac patients, but without representing a risk for the disease. The results showed that despite MBL2 gene polymorphisms being associated with the protein plasma levels, the polymorphisms were not enough to predict the development of heart disease, regardless of infection with both species of Chlamydia