IgG reactivity profile to Paracoccidioides spp. antigens in people with asymptomatic Paracoccidioidomycosis

Introduction. Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. As the disease is known to affect mostly men over 40 years old who previously worked handling soil, some cities of agricultural economy in endemic regions may have more cases of paracoccidioidal infection. Gap statement. The true frequency of PCM cannot be established in Brazil because it is not a disease of mandatory reporting. The detection of paracoccidioidal infection may assist in the planning of health services, in order to provide early detection of the disease and to prevent its worsening or even progression to death. In addition, little is described about sera reactivity with antigens from different species of Paracoccidiodes, especially P. lutzii. Aim. Current research was conducted in an inland municipality of southern Brazil, in order to assess infection rate within this endemic region of PCM disease. Methodology. ELISA was employed to evaluate 359 sera from random volunteers from Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil, to detect IgG against cell-free antigens (CFA) from P. restrepiensis B339, P. americana LDR3 and P. lutzii LDR2. Confirmatory ELISA employed gp43 from B339. Reduction of cross-reactions was sought by treatment with sodium metaperiodate (SMP-CFA, SMP-gp43). Immunoblot was performed with 37 selected sera among those reactive in ELISA. Epidemiological profile was assessed by questionnaire. Results. ELISA reactivity was: CFA/SMP-CFA in general 37.3/17.8 %, B339 25.3/14.5 %, LDR3 24.5/1.4 %, LDR2 8.3/5.8 %; gp43/SMP-gp43 7.2/4.7 %. There were sera reactive with multiple CFAs. In immunoblot, five sera showed the same reaction profile with P. lutzii’s antigens as PCM disease sera. Rural residence and soil-related professions were risk factors for paracoccidioidal infection. Conclusion. The low prevalence is in accordance with previous reports of lower PCM disease endemicity in Guarapuava than in other areas of Paraná. Although P. brasiliensis seems to be the prevalent strain of the region, 21 sera from people who only lived in Guarapuava reacted with P. lutzii LDR2. CFA-ELISA with whole antigens seems a good option for serological screening in epidemiological surveys.

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Low prevalence of combined linezolid- and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from hospital admission screening in an endemic region in Germany

Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

10.1016/j.jgar.2020.05.003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

pp. 646-650

Author(s):

Alexandra Heininger ◽

Stefan Zimmermann ◽

Carolin Bootsveld ◽

Sébastien Boutin ◽

Dennis Nurjadi

Keyword(s):

Hospital Admission ◽

Enterococcus Faecium ◽

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Admission Screening ◽

Vancomycin Resistant ◽

Low Prevalence

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Molecular Characterization in Two Families Bearing Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD) IN Rosario, Argentina.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.5093.5093 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 5093-5093

Author(s):

Irma del Luján ◽

Susana Mabel SMP Pérez ◽

Sabrina SB Botta ◽

Virginia VR Rescia ◽

Mauro MD Davoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Kinetic Method ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Therapeutic Drugs ◽

Molecular Variants ◽

Male Patients ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Abstract Abstract 5093 Introduction: G6PD deficiency is a frequent worldwide enzymopathy, with sex-linked inheritance, the gene that codifies the enzyme localizes at the X chromosome. Males are hemizygous (Hem) for disease, while women are heterozygous (Het), i.e. carriers, and very rarely homozygous, or double heterozygous and consequently, develop disease. There are over 120 deficient molecular variants observed in Afro-Americans and in the malaria endemic region of the Mediterranean Basin. In previous studies in Argentina we have reported a low prevalence, 0,2-0,3 %, although the predominant molecular variants are unknown. Most of deficiencies are clinically detected when the patient is submitted to oxidative stress produced by infections, therapeutic drugs, or Vicia fava ingestion, develops an acute hemolytic anemia (AHA) of variable severity. Materials and Methods: Two male patients and their families were studied. 1) A1: 45y aged male, with AHA after bean ingestion, as well as the following relatives: mother (M1); sister (S1); three nephews (N1, N2, N3) and a niece (N4) without positive AHA history. 2) A2: 55y aged male, with two AHA episodes in childhood and adolescence, one of them associated with an infection, and the mother (M2). The evaluation clinical and hematological of the patients were normal Laboratory assays: Hemogram, Hemoglobin (Hb) (Coulter AcT10); Reticulocytes (Ret); Brewer test (B.T.); Heinz bodies (HB); Cytochemical method modified (Gurbuz, N; et al): NV: 86,8 % positive cells (CYT); Enzymatic activity (EA) Kinetic Method (Beutler-OMS): NV: 8.0±1.6 G6PD/gHb IU and Polymerase Chain Reaction with Enzyme Restriction (PCR-ER) for characterization of different variants: G6PDMed(563G□T), G6PD A376(A□G), G6PD A376(A□G) 202(G□A); G6PD A 376(A□G) 680 (G□T) y G6PD A 376(A□G) 968 (T□C). Results: Conclusions: The EA confirmed the deficit of probands and nephews N1 and N3 without previous AHA history. The heterozygous character of females was not defined by this method but PCR-ER and CYT mod. supported the obliged carriers heterozygosis and the potential ones, demonstrating that CYT is more sensitive for carrier detection than other screening techniques or EA. The deficient phenotype was correlated with the detected variants, since the Mediterranean G6PD: G6PD Med(563G□T) (Type II, OMS) and G6PD A376(A□G) 202(G□A) (Type III, OMS) are associated with AHA induced by infections or Vicia Fava ingestion. The finding in Argentina of these two variants, that are frequent in the Mediterranean region, it is in accordance with the fact that our population has mainly Italian, Spanish (family 1) and Jewish (family 2) ancestors. The detection of deficient without hemolysis, as well as carriers is of the utmost importance in genetic counseling. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Epidemiological profile of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic region in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.4322/rbpv.01803006 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (03) ◽

pp. 34-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. C. F. S. de Bustamante ◽

M. J. S. Pereira ◽

A. de O. Schubach ◽

A. H. da Fonseca

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

The State ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Epidemiological Profile

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Epidemiological profile of cases of congenital syphilis in Belém City, Pará State, from 2009 to 2018

Jornal Brasileiro de Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis ◽

10.5327/dst-2177-8264-20203227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

Author(s):

Aline do Socorro Lima Kzam ◽

Fernando Maia Coutinho ◽

Márcio César Ribeiro Marvão ◽

Yuri Fadi Geha ◽

Talles Levi Pereira Nogueira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Incidence Rate ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Congenital Syphilis ◽

Treponema Pallidum ◽

Notification System ◽

Maternal Characteristics ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Appropriate Treatment ◽

Epidemiological Profile ◽

Low Prevalence

Introduction: Congenital Syphilis (CS) is a systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium spirochete Treponema pallidum, of vertical transmission, trans placentally, resulting from the non-treatment or inadequate treatment of infected mothers, thus determining alarming numbers in the national territory, as in Belém City (Pará State). Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile and incidence rate of CS in Belém, Pará. Methods: Quantitative, ecological, and descriptive study, conducted based on data available on DATASUS/TABNET from 2009 to 2018. Results: A total of 1,109 cases of CS were reported in Belém City. The mean incidence rate in this period was 5.4/1000 live births. As for newborns, 1,031 (92.97%) were diagnosed in the first week of life, 499 (45.00%) were male, 742 (66.91%) were pardo, and 860 (77.55%) classified as CS. Regarding maternal characteristics, the age group was inadequately filled in 100% of notifications, 476 (42.92%) had their level of education ignored at the time of filling out the forms, 768 (69.25%) underwent prenatal care, 490 (44.19%) were diagnosed with congenital syphilis at the time of delivery/curettage, and 636 (53.35%) reported no partner treatment. Conclusion: The profile studied showed an incidence rate above the parameters established for control, reflecting the increase in social inequalities, the lack of information about the disease, failure to register health organs, especially on the maternal age analyzed, low prevalence in the appropriate treatment of pregnant women’s partners, resonating the need for improvements in the notification system.

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Molecular diversity of Bulinus species in Madziwa area, Shamva district in Zimbabwe: implications for urogenital schistosomiasis transmission

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-020-3881-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza ◽

Xiao-Nong Zhou ◽

Cremance Tshuma ◽

Eniola Abe ◽

Justen Manasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Schistosoma Haematobium ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Urogenital Schistosomiasis ◽

Water Contact ◽

Additional Information ◽

Bulinus Globosus ◽

Species Groups ◽

One Year ◽

Low Prevalence

Abstract Background Bulinus species are freshwater snails that transmit the parasitic trematode Schistosoma haematobium. Despite their importance, the diversity of these intermediate host snails and their evolutionary history is still unclear in Zimbabwe. Bulinus globosus and B. truncatus collected from a urogenital schistosomiasis endemic region in the Madziwa area of Zimbabwe were characterized using molecular methods. Methods Malacological survey sites were mapped and snails were collected from water contact sites in four communities in the Madziwa area, Shamva district for a period of one year, at three-month intervals. Schistosoma haematobium infections in snails were determined by cercarial shedding and the partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) was used to investigate the phylogeny and genetic variability of the Bulinus spp. collected. Results Among the 1570 Bulinus spp. snails collected, 30 (1.9%) B. globosus were shedding morphologically identified schistosomes. None of the B. truncatus snails were shedding. The mitochondrial cox1 data from 166 and 16 samples for B. globosus and B. truncatus, respectively, showed genetically diverse populations within the two species. Twelve cox1 haplotypes were found from the 166 B. globosus samples and three from the 16 B. truncatus samples with phylogenetic analysis showing that the haplotypes fall into well-supported clusters within their species groups. Both B. truncatus and B. globosus clustered into two distinct lineages. Overall, significant negative values for both Tajima’s D statistic and the Fu’s Fs statistic were observed for B. globosus and B. truncatus. Conclusions The study provided new insights into the levels of genetic diversity within B. globosus and additional information on B. truncatus collected from a small geographical area in Zimbabwe. Low prevalence levels of infection observed in the snails may reflect the low transmission level of urogenital schistosomiasis in the area. Our results contribute towards the understanding of the distribution and population genetic structure of Bulinus spp. supporting the mapping of the transmission or risk of transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis, particularly in Zimbabwe.

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New epidemiological profile of schistosomiasis from an area of low prevalence in Brazil

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/0037-8682-0335-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

Author(s):

Israel Gomes de Amorim Santos ◽

Letícia Pereira Bezerra ◽

Tatyane Martins Cirilo ◽

Laryssa Oliveira Silva ◽

João Paulo Vieira Machado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epidemiological Profile ◽

Low Prevalence

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Knowledge of Toxoplasmosis among Doctors and Nurses Who Provide Prenatal Care in an Endemic Region

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2011/750484 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laura Berriel da Silva ◽

Raquel de Vasconcelos Carvalhaes de Oliveira ◽

Marizete Pereira da Silva ◽

Wendy Fernandes Bueno ◽

Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Prenatal Care ◽

Transmitted Disease ◽

Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽

Severe Infection ◽

Clinical Aspects ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Serological Screening ◽

Obstetric Nurses ◽

Doctors And Nurses

Congenital toxoplasmosis is a potentially severe infection and its prevention is most often based on serological screening in pregnant women. Many cases could be prevented by simple precautions during pregnancy. Aiming to assess the knowledge about toxoplasmosis among professionals working in antenatal care in a high prevalent region, a questionnaire was administered to 118 obstetric nurses and physicians attending at primary care units and hospitals. The questionnaire was self-completed and included questions on diagnosis, clinical issues, and prevention. Only 44% of total answers were corrected. Lower scores were observed among those with over 10 years of graduation, working in primary care units, and nurses. Errors were mainly observed in questions of prevention and diagnosis. As congenital toxoplasmosis is a mother-to-child (MTC) transmitted disease, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious and irreversible fetal damage. Thus, doctors and nurses who provide prenatal care must be appropriately trained on prophylactic, diagnostic, and clinical aspects of toxoplasmosis. The authors suggest that measures should be taken for continuing education regarding toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

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Estimating the Prevalence of Schizophrenia Among New Zealand Māori: A Capture–Recapture Approach

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/00048670802415376 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 42 (11) ◽

pp. 941-949 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Tai R. Kake ◽

Richard Arnold ◽

Pete Ellis

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Health Data ◽

Diagnostic Reliability ◽

Population Prevalence ◽

Epidemiological Surveys ◽

Capture Recapture ◽

Cost Effective Alternative ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Simple Count

Objective: The aim of the present study was to estimate the 12 month prevalence of schizophrenia in the Māori population of New Zealand. Method: Mental health data from two national sources were obtained for the period 2000–2003. A simple count of unique individuals with schizophrenia was used to estimate contact prevalence and a four-list capture–recapture procedure to estimate population prevalence. Results: Contact prevalence was significantly lower than the estimated population prevalence for both groups. The estimated 12 month prevalence of schizophrenia for Māori (0.97%) was significantly higher than for non-Māori (0.32%), even after adjustment for age, case under-ascertainment, and socioeconomic deprivation. Conclusions: The prevalence of schizophrenia among Māori appears to be elevated, although limitations in diagnostic reliability and recording of ethnicity must be considered. This adds further evidence of worldwide variation in the prevalence of schizophrenia. Capture–recapture provides a reliable cost-effective alternative to epidemiological surveys for estimating the prevalence of low-prevalence disorders such as schizophrenia.

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Twelve-month prevalence, severity, and unmet need for treatment of mental disorders in metropolitan China

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291705006367 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 257-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 196

Author(s):

YU-CUN SHEN ◽

MING-YUAN ZHANG ◽

YUE-QIN HUANG ◽

YAN-LING HE ◽

ZHAO-RUI LIU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

General Pattern ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽

World Health ◽

Need For Treatment ◽

Epidemiological Surveys ◽

Prevalence Estimates ◽

The World ◽

Low Prevalence

Background. Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in China have repeatedly found much lower prevalence estimates than in most other parts of the world.Method. Face-to-face household interviews of 5201 subjects (2633 in Beijing and 2568 in Shanghai respectively) were conducted from November 2001 to February 2002 using a multistage household probability sampling method. A Chinese version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used for assessment.Results. Twelve-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorder in metropolitan China is estimated to be 7·0%, with major depressive disorder (2·0%), specific phobia (1·9%), and intermittent explosive disorder (1·7%) the most common disorders. Of these, 13·9% are classified as serious, 32·6% moderate, and 53·5% mild. Only 3·4% of respondents with any disorder sought treatment within the previous 12 months.Conclusions. Although the general pattern of disorders, risk factors, and unmet need for treatment are similar to those in other countries, a low prevalence of mental disorders is found in metropolitan China. Resolving methodological problems that cause downward bias in estimates, such as stigma-related under-reporting and diagnostic incongruity with a somatopsychic mode of symptom presentation may lead to more accurate and probably higher prevalence estimates in future epidemiological studies. As a low prevalence still translates into an enormous number of people in China, measures are urgently needed to address the huge unmet need for treatment of mental disorders.

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