Hanseníase em menores de 15 anos de idade e cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família, Belém, estado do Pará/ Leprosy in children under 15 years of age and coverage of the Family Health Strategy, Belém, Pará state

Objetivo: Analisar a distribuição da hanseníase em menores de 15 anos, no município de Belém, estado do Pará, no período de 2005 a 2014 e correlacionar com a cobertura da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) do município. Metodologia: Pesquisa quantitativa com desenho de estudo descritivo, transversal, realizado no município de Belém, estado do Pará. A população estudada foi constituída pelos casos de hanseníase em menores de 15 anos de idade, residentes no município de Belém, investigados e notificados pela Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, no Sistema de Informação e de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Resultados: A maior ocorrência foi no sexo masculino (54,57%) e na cor parda (67,47%). A faixa etária mais acometida foi a de 10 a 14 anos. Houve predomínio das formas tuberculoide e dimorfa. A taxa de detecção apresentou tendência de queda, porém, apesar dessa queda, a detecção encontrada ainda é considerada muito alta pelos parâmetros utilizados pelo Ministério da Saúde. Foram três o número de bairros classificados como hiperendêmicos, sendo um deles com cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) entre 25,18% a 45,91%. Conclusão: A situação identificada proporciona visibilidade das áreas geográficas de maior vulnerabilidade, quer por apresentarem elevadas taxas de detecção, quer por não apresentarem cobertura de ESF adequada, direcionando o planejamento de forma mais assertiva, com implementação de estratégias direcionadas à população com maior risco para o adoecimento

Polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene are associated with the plasma levels of MBL and the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in severe COVID-19

IntroductionMannose-binding lectin (MBL) promotes opsonization, favoring phagocytosis and activation of the complement system in response to different microorganisms, and may influence the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines. This study investigated the association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with the plasma levels of MBL and inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19.MethodsBlood samples from 385 individuals (208 with acute COVID-19 and 117 post-COVID-19) were subjected to real-time PCR genotyping. Plasma measurements of MBL and cytokines were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively.ResultsThe frequencies of the polymorphic MBL2 genotype (OO) and allele (O) were higher in patients with severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). The polymorphic genotypes (AO and OO) were associated with lower MBL levels (p< 0.05). IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in patients with low MBL and severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). No association of polymorphisms, MBL levels, or cytokine levels with long COVID was observed.DiscussionThe results suggest that, besides MBL2 polymorphisms promoting a reduction in MBL levels and therefore in its function, they may also contribute to the development of a more intense inflammatory process responsible for the severity of COVID-19

JC polyomavirus infection in candidates for kidney transplantation living in the Brazilian Amazon Region

This study evaluated the relative occurrences of BK virus (BKV) and JC virus (JCV) infections in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Urine samples were analysed from CKD patients and from 99 patients without CKD as a control. A total of 100 urine samples were analysed from the experimental (CKD patients) group and 99 from the control group. Following DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 173 bp region of the gene encoding the T antigen of the BKV and JCV. JCV and BKV infections were differentiated based on the enzymatic digestion of the amplified products using BamHI endonuclease. The results indicated that none of the patients in either group was infected with the BKV, whereas 11.1% (11/99) of the control group subjects and 4% (4/100) of the kidney patients were infected with the JCV. High levels of urea in the excreted urine, low urinary cellularity, reduced bladder washout and a delay in analysing the samples may have contributed to the low prevalence of infection. The results indicate that there is a need to increase the sensitivity of assays used to detect viruses in patients with CDK, especially given that polyomavirus infections, especially BKV, can lead to a loss of kidney function following transplantation

Detection of human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2) in oyster samples in northern Brazil

National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico and Tecnológico - CNPQ) and the Institutional Support Program for Qualified Production (Programa de Apoio a Produção Qualificada - PAPQ/2019) of the Universidade Federal do Pará.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Background: Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) is persistent in the environment due to its excretion in urine and feces; it is detected in samples of wastewater, surface water and drinking water. A lack of basic sanitation and sewage collection results in the presence of this virus in food, especially in oysters, since they are bioaccumulators and are consumed in their natural form, thus posing a risk to human health. Methods: This study investigated the frequency of HPyV2 in samples of oysters marketed in northeastern Pará State, Brazil, and optimized a real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol for the detection of an endogenous oyster control. A total of 217 oysters in 22 pools from five municipalities in the state of Pará were analyzed. Samples underwent dissection and total maceration of oyster tissue using a viral concentration technique, followed by DNA extraction with phenol-chloroform and amplification of the VP1 region for molecular detection via qPCR. Results: HPyV2 was detected in 18.2% (4/22) of the pooled samples, with frequencies of 25, 20, 20 and 16% in the municipalities of Salinópolis, Augusto Corrêa, São Caetano de Odivelas and Curuçá, respectively. Notably, the sample pool from the municipality of Bragança did not have detectable HPyV2 and this was the only sampled location with a water treatment station. In this study, Crassostrea genus-specific primers (AFL52 ribosomal RNA gene) of oyster were developed for use as an endogenous control in the qPCR analysis, which will be useful for future studies. Conclusions: The detection of HPyV2 in oyster samples commercialized in the state of Pará shows the circulation of this virus in the studied municipalities. Thus, it is necessary to implement measures for improving sewage collection and basic sanitation to avoid contamination of water and food with HPyV

TNFA-308G>A and IL10-1082A>G polymorphisms seem to be predictive biomarkers of chronic HCV infection

This study was funded by the National Council for Scientifc and Technological Development (CNPQ #480128/2013-8) and by the Federal University of Pará (PROPESP/PAPQ/2020)Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, Pará, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Virologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. João de Barros Barreto Hospital. Belém, Pará, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Health Sciences. School of Medicine. Belém, Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, Pará, Brazil.Background: Genetic changes may induce dysregulated cytokine production and afect the progression of the chronic disease caused by the hepacivirus C (HCV) because the balance of pro- and anti-infammatory cytokines determines the outcome of infection. This study evaluated the TNFA -308G>A and IL10 -1082A>G polymorphisms in the susceptibility and progress of chronic hepatitis C. Method: The study included 101 samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C and 300 samples from healthy donors. Polymorphisms were typed by real-time PCR and were analyzed for associations with histopathological parameters (according to METAVIR classifcation) and HCV viral load. Results: The polymorphic genotype for the TNFA -308G>A variant was not present in the group of patients with chronic hepatitis C and its absence could be associated with protection against HCV infection (p=0.0477). Patients with the polymorphic genotype of the IL10 -1082A>G polymorphism had higher HCV viral load than wild-type patients (p=0.0428). Neither polymorphism was associated with diferent levels of necroinfammatory activity or fbrosis scores. Conclusion: Our results suggest the polymorphic genotype at TNFA -308G>A as protective against chronic HCV infection, and the polymorphic genotype at the IL10 -1082A>G variant associated with higher HCV viral load. Further studies must be performed in order to confrm these associations

JC virus/human immunodeficiency virus 1 co-infection in the Brazilian Amazonian region

JC virus (JCV) is a member of the Polyomaviridae family and is associated with a severe disease known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, PML, which is progressively increasing in incidence as an opportunistic infection among AIDS patients. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of JCV among HIV-1 carriers including their types and molecular subtypes and the possible association with disease.Urine samples from 66 HIV-1 infected subjects were investigated for the presence of the virus by amplifying VP1 (215 bp) and IG (610 bp) regions using the polymerase chain reaction. JCV was detected in 32% of the samples. The results confirmed the occurrence of type B (subtype Af2); in addition, another polyomavirus, BKV, was also detected in 1.5% of samples of the HIV-1 infected subjects. Apparently, there was no significant difference between mono- (HIV-1 only) and co-infected (HIV-1 / JCV) subjects regarding their TCD4 + / TCD8 + lymphocyte counts or HIV-1 viral plasma load. Self admitted seizures, hearing and visual loses were not significantly different between the two groups.CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoUNESCO - Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a CulturaUFPA - Universidade Federal do Par

The Genetic Profile and Serum Level of IL-8 Are Associated with Chronic Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection

The present study evaluated the IL8-251 A/T polymorphism in samples from 74 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV), 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV), and 300 healthy donors (CG). The correlations of this polymorphism with plasma IL-8 and disease stage were calculated. Polymorphisms were identified by real-time PCR. IL-8 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The IL8-251 A/T genotype was not associated with susceptibility to infection by HBV or HCV. The wild-type allele (A) was associated with higher levels of inflammation (p = 0.0464) and fibrosis scores (p = 0.0016) in the HBV group, representing an increased risk for increased inflammatory activity (OR = 1.84; p = 0.0464) and for high fibrosis scores (OR = 2.63; p = 0.0016). Viral load was higher in HBV patients with polymorphic genotypes (TA and TT) at the IL8-251 A/T polymorphism than in those with the wild-type genotype (p = 0.0272 and p = 0.0464, respectively). Plasma IL-8 was higher among patients infected with HBV or HCV than in the control group (p = 0.0445 and p = 0.0001, respectively). The polymorphic genotype was associated with lower IL-8 than the wild-type genotype in the HBV group (p = 0.0239) and the HCV group (p = 0.0372). The wild-type genotype for IL8-251 A/T and high IL-8 were associated with a worse prognosis for infections; therefore, they may contribute to viral persistence and the development of more severe forms of chronic viral liver diseases

The IL6-174G/C polymorphism associated with high levels of IL-6 contributes to HCV infection, but Is not related to HBV infection, in the Amazon Region of Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPQ (grants #480128/2013-8, #312979/2018-5, #301869/2017-0) and by the Federal University of Para (PROPESP/PAPQ/2021).Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, BrazilFederal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Virologia. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilFederal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, BrazilFederal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, BrazilFederal University of Pará. João de Barros Barreto University Hospital. Pathology Service. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Health Sciences. School of Medicine. Belém, PA, BrazilFederal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, BrazilFederal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, BrazilFederal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, BrazilThe dysregulation of cytokine production can lead to an inefficient immune response, promoting viral persistence that induces the progression of chronic viral hepatitis. The study investigated the association of the IL6-174G/C polymorphism with changes in cytokine levels and its influence on the persistence and progression of chronic hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV), 100 patients with hepatitis C (HCV), and a control group of 300 individuals. The genotyping of the IL6-174G/C polymorphism was performed by real-time PCR, and cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCV patients with the wild-type genotype (GG) had a higher viral load (p = 0.0230). The plasma levels of IL-6 were higher among patients infected with HBV and HCV than among the control group (p < 0.0001). Patients with HCV were associated with increased inflammatory activity (A2-A3; p < 0.0001). In hepatitis C, carriers of the GG genotype had higher levels of IL-6 (p = 0.0286), which were associated with A2-A3 inflammatory activity (p = 0.0097). Patients with A2-A3 inflammatory activity and GG genotype had higher levels of IL-6 than those with the GC/CC genotype (p = 0.0127). In conclusion, the wild-type genotype for the IL6-174G/C polymorphism was associated with high levels of IL-6 and HCV viral load and inflammatory activity, suggesting that this genotype may be a contributing factor to virus-induced chronic infection

Genetical-demographic data from two amazonian populations composed of descendants of african slaves: Pacoval and Curiau

The Amazon region of Brazil includes communities founded by escaped slaves, some of which still remain relatively isolated. We studied two such Afro-Brazilian communities (Pacoval and Curiau), in the rural area of Alenquer, Pará, and in the metropolitan region of Macapá, Amapá, respectively. Among 12 blood loci, alleles considered as markers of African ancestry, such as HBB*S, HBB*C, TF*D1, HP*2M, ABO*B, RH*D-, and CA2*2 were found at frequencies that are expected for populations with a predominantly African origin. Estimates of interethnic admixture indicated that the degree of the African component in Curiau (74%) is higher than that of Pacoval (44%); an Amerindian contribution was not detected in Curiau. Estimated values of African ancestry fit well with the degree of isolation and mobility of the communities. Pacoval exhibited a high proportion of immigrants among the parents and grandparents of the individuals studied, whereas persons living in Curiau exhibited a low level of mobility, despite its location in the metropolitan area of Macapá city, suggesting a relatively strong barrier against the interethnic admixture in this population. In addition, analysis of genetic data in a sub-sample consisting of individuals whose parents and grandparents were born in the study site, and that probably represents the populations two generations ago, indicated that gene flow from non-black people is not a recent event in both populations