Seroprevalence and spatial distribution dynamics of Yersinia pestis antibodies in dogs and cats from plague foci in the State of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, the plague is established in several foci located mainly in the northeastern part of the country, where it alternates between active and quiescent periods. These foci in the State of Ceará have high epidemiological importance. In addition to other plague detection activities, plague areas can be monitored through serological surveys of dogs and cats (domestic carnivores), which, following feeding on plague-infected rodents, can develop mild to severe forms of the disease and produce long-lasting antibodies. This study aimed to characterize the circulation dynamics and spatial distribution of Yersinia pestis antibodies in dogs and cats in plague foci areas of Ceará. METHODS: An ecological study was conducted to analyze the temporal series and spatial distribution of secondary data obtained from domestic carnivore serum surveillance in Ceará’s plague areas from 1990 to 2014. RESULTS: Joinpoint analysis revealed that the overall trend was a reduction in antibody-positive animals. The mean proportion of antibody-positivity during the whole study period was 1.5% (3,023/203,311) for dogs, and 0.7% (426/61,135) for cats, with more than 4% antibody-positivity in dogs in 1997 and 2002. Antibody titers ranging from 1/16 to 1/64 were frequent. Despite fluctuations and a significant reduction, in recent years, there were antibody-positive animals annually throughout the study period, and the localities containing antibody-positive animals increased in number. CONCLUSION: Yersinia pestis is actively circulating in the study areas, posing a danger to the human population

Seroprevalence and spatial distribution dynamics of Yersinia pestis antibodies in dogs and cats from plague foci in the State of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

<div><p>Abstract INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, the plague is established in several foci located mainly in the northeastern part of the country, where it alternates between active and quiescent periods. These foci in the State of Ceará have high epidemiological importance. In addition to other plague detection activities, plague areas can be monitored through serological surveys of dogs and cats (domestic carnivores), which, following feeding on plague-infected rodents, can develop mild to severe forms of the disease and produce long-lasting antibodies. This study aimed to characterize the circulation dynamics and spatial distribution of Yersinia pestis antibodies in dogs and cats in plague foci areas of Ceará. METHODS: An ecological study was conducted to analyze the temporal series and spatial distribution of secondary data obtained from domestic carnivore serum surveillance in Ceará’s plague areas from 1990 to 2014. RESULTS: Joinpoint analysis revealed that the overall trend was a reduction in antibody-positive animals. The mean proportion of antibody-positivity during the whole study period was 1.5% (3,023/203,311) for dogs, and 0.7% (426/61,135) for cats, with more than 4% antibody-positivity in dogs in 1997 and 2002. Antibody titers ranging from 1/16 to 1/64 were frequent. Despite fluctuations and a significant reduction, in recent years, there were antibody-positive animals annually throughout the study period, and the localities containing antibody-positive animals increased in number. CONCLUSION: Yersinia pestis is actively circulating in the study areas, posing a danger to the human population.</p></div

CASO DE RAIVA HUMANA APÓS MORDEDURA POR SAGUI (CALLITHRIX JACCHUS) EM PACIENTE COM COVID-19: EVOLUÇÃO CLÍNICA, CUIDADOS INTENSIVOS E CONTEXTO EPIDEMIOLÓGICO

Introdução/objetivo: A raiva humana(RH) é uma zoonose transmitida ao homem pela inoculação do vírus rábico contido na saliva e secreções do animal infectado, através de mordedura ou arranhadura. Dentre os principais reservatórios da raiva no Brasil, encontram-se os saguis de tufo branco (Callithrix jacchus), pequenos primatas diurnos que se alimentam de frutos e insetos. Esse trabalho objetiva descrever um caso de RH em paciente do Ceará, com SARS-CoV-2, após mordedura por sagui. O presente trabalho foi aprovado pelo comitê de ética em pesquisa do Hospital São José de Doenças Infecciosas (HSJ) (Protocolo N° 6.075.627). Resultados: Homem, 36 anos, natural de Cariús-CE, procurou atendimento em maio/2023 em UBS com história de trauma por arma branca, queixando-se de parestesia e dor em membro superior direito. Naquele momento, não relatou agressão por animal. Após 2 meses, deu entrada na emergência com quadro de agitação psicomotora, desorientação, espasmos musculares e diaforese. Após inquérito epidemiológico, familiares informaram que o paciente sofreu mordedura por sagui no punho direito em fevereiro/2023. O paciente não recebeu profilaxia antirrábica. Após 48h, evoluiu com rebaixamento do sensório, necessitando de ventilação mecânica e suporte intensivo. Iniciado vitamina C EV 1g/dia e Amantadina 100mg VO de 12/12h, além de sedação com midazolam e ketamina conforme protocolo de Milwaukee. Punção lombar revelou líquor límpido, glicorraquia 46 mg/dL, proteinorraquia 181 mg/dL, celularidade de 68 cel/mm³. RT-PCR para Covid-19 em amostra respiratória resultou positivo. No 6° dia, paciente evoluiu com disautonomia e bradicardia refratária às medidas clínicas evoluindo a óbito. A investigação para RH evidenciou: imunofluorescência direta(IFD) do LCR e RT-PCR de amostras de saliva foram negativas. A biópsia de nuca e de tecido encefálico coletado post-mortem foram positivas para a raiva na IFD. Conclusão: A maioria dos casos de RH tem ocorrido após agressão de animais selvagens e de interesse econômico. Um caso de RH no Ceará não era registrado há 7 anos. O último caso de RH por mordedura de sagui ocorreu em 2012. Inquéritos epidemiológicos evidenciaram novas linhagens do RABV circulando nestes animais. O período de incubação apresentado foi de 60 dias e a sintomatologia ocorreu durante a coinfecção com COVID-19. Provavelmente não houve relação entre as doenças. A conscientização da população e a profilaxia antirrábica ainda são fundamentais

Rabies virus variants from bats closely related to variants found in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a neglected source of human rabies infection in Brazil

Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis caused by rabies virus (RABV). RABV infects the central nervous system and triggers acute encephalomyelitis in both humans and animals. Endemic in the Brazilian Northeast region, RABV emergence in distinct wildlife species has been identified as a source of human rabies infection and as such, constitutes a public health concern. Here, we performed post-mortem RABV analyses of 144 encephalic tissues from bats sampled from January to July 2022, belonging to 15 different species. We identified phylogenetically distinct RABV from Phyllostomidae and Molossidae bats circulating in Northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic clustering revealed the close evolutionary relationship between RABV viruses circulating in bats and variants hosted in white-tufted marmosets, commonly captured to be kept as pets and linked to human rabies cases and deaths in Brazil. Our findings underline the urgent need to implement a phylogenetic-scale epidemiological surveillance platform to track multiple RABV variants which may pose a threat to both humans and animals. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)2019/01255‐92021/03684‐42022/09684‐92022/08748‐

Notes for genera – Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10--15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of `Ainsworth Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi' in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the ``Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi'' published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. De Not. (Art. 59)