ABSTRACT Background: The World Health Organization recommends a market-ready, urine-based point-of-care diagnostic test for circulating cathodic antigens (CCA) to determine the prevalence of S. mansoni. This study evaluated the performance of the URINE CCA (SCHISTO) ECO TESTE® (POC-ECO), which is currently available in Brazil. Methods: Residents from eight sites with different prevalence estimates provided one urine sample for POC-ECO and one stool sample for Kato-Katz (KK) and Helmintex® (HTX) testing as an egg-detecting reference for infection status. Results: None of the study sites had significantly higher POC-ECO accuracy than KK. Conclusions: POC-ECO is not currently recommended in Brazilian schistosomiasis elimination programs.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Inadequate wastewater treatment and fecal contamination have a strong environmental impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the profile of AMR enterobacteria and fecal contamination from four surface waters: Jiquiriça-Brejões River and Cabrito, Tororó, and Abaeté Lagoons. METHODS: We analyzed AMR β-lactamase genes using the polymerase chain reaction method and fecal contamination using Coliscan®. RESULTS: We found high levels of fecal contamination, β-lactamase producers, and AMR genes (blaOXA-48, blaSPM, and blaVIM) in all waterbodies. CONCLUSIONS: Poor sanitation evidenced by fecal contamination and human activities around these surface waters contributed to the distribution and increase in AMR enterobacteria.

Resumen Introducción. Giardia duodenalis es un protozoo intestinal de gran prevalencia en los niños de los países en desarrollo. En estudios moleculares se ha evidenciado la gran diversidad genética de G. duodenalis y se han identificado los conjuntos A y B, principalmente en humanos. A pesar de su importancia, el conocimiento de la epidemiología molecular de la giardiasis humana aún es limitado en Brasil. Objetivo. Caracterizar los aislamientos moleculares de G. duodenalis de muestras tomadas a niños de Salvador, Bahía, Brasil. Materiales y métodos. Las muestras fecales positivas para G. duodenalis se obtuvieron de 71 niños de dos guarderías y de 39 usuarios de un laboratorio de análisis clínicos. Las muestras se analizaron mediante PCR-RFLP de los genes gdh y beta-giardin, y secuenciación de beta-giardin. Resultados. De las 110 muestras de G. duodenalis, en 80 (72,7 %) se amplificaron uno o ambos genes. De estos, 62 (77,5 %) se identificaron como pertenecientes al conjunto A y 18 (22,5 %) al B. El subconjunto AII se identificó en el 58,8 % (n=47) de los aislamientos, seguido del AI en el 18,8% (n=15), el BIV en el 11,2% (n=9) y el BIII en el 5,0% (n=4). El subconjunto AII fue el más frecuente en los niños de ambas guarderías, en tanto que el AI solo se encontró en el grupo atendido en el laboratorio clínico. El subconjunto AII predominó en los niños menores de dos años. Conclusiones. La mayor frecuencia del subconjunto AII sugiere que la transmisión antroponótica es más común en Salvador, pero también existen vías de transmisión zoonóticas, y que pueden ocurrir cambios en la sensibilidad frente a diferentes patrones moleculares de Giardia durante el crecimiento infantil.

Abstract Introduction. Giardia duodenalis is an intestinal protozoan with a high prevalence in children of developing countries. Molecular studies revealed a great genetic diversity of G. duodenalis, with assemblages A and B found mainly in humans. Despite its importance, the information on the molecular epidemiology of human giardiasis is still limited in Brazil. Objective. To characterize G. duodenalis molecular isolates in children from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Materials and methods. Giardia duodenalis positive fecal samples were obtained from 71 children from two day care centers and 39 users of a clinical analysis laboratory. Samples were analyzed by PCR-RFLP of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and beta-giardin genes and by the sequencing of beta-giardin. Results. Of the 110 G. duodenalis samples, 80 (72.7%) amplified one or both target genes. Of these, 62 (77.5 %) were identified as assemblage A and 18 (22.5%) as assemblage B. The subassemblage AII was identified in 58.8% (n=47) of isolates followed by the sub-assemblage AI (18.8%, n=15), BIV (11.2%, n=9), and BIII (5.0%, n=4). The AII sub-assemblage was the most frequent in children of both day care centers whereas AI was found only in the group attended at the clinical laboratory. Sub-assemblage AII predominated in children under two years. Conclusions. The higher frequency of AII sub-assemblage suggests that anthroponotic transmission is more common in Salvador, but that zoonotic transmission pathways are also present and a change in susceptibility to different molecular patterns of Giardia may occur during child growth.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Biomphalaria glabrata is considered to be responsible for the incidence of schistosomiasis in Brazil. Therefore, surveillance of areas where schistosomiasis is prevalent is fundamental for public health planning. This study was aimed to evaluate B. glabrata populations in water bodies of the city of Salvador, determine their distribution, estimate the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infections, characterize shed cercariae, and identify transmission foci. METHODS: Malacological surveys were carried out in 17 water collections from Salvador. Snail species were identified based on shell and mantle characteristics. Snails were evaluated for S. mansoni infection by exposure to light and via real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using S. mansoni-18S rRNA subunit specific primers. RESULTS: 1,403 B. glabrata were collected. Classical cercarial shedding indicated that 5 snails (0.4%) were positive for S. mansoni. A higher prevalence of infections was found in Horta de Saramandaia (5.5%) and Lagoa do IAT (1.9%). Non-Schistosoma larvae, such as Xiphidiocercaria, Strigeidae, Spirorchiidae and Clinostomidae, were observed in 3.2% of the snails. S. mansoni DNA was detected in 6.2% snails via qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: B. glabrata is widely distributed in Salvador, as indicated by 7 water collections associated with a risk of schistosomiasis transmission. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify B. glabrata eliminating cercariae of Clinostomidae, Strigeidae, and Spirorchiidae in Salvador. We propose that qPCR may be employed in combination with classical cercarial shedding. Estimating S. mansoni prevalence in snails by only considering the results of light exposure method classical into account may underestimate the problem.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease (CD) affects 5.7-7.0 million individuals worldwide, and its prevalence reached 25.1% in the state of Bahia, Brazil. There is an association between the prevalence of CD, the socioeconomic status of the population, and the risk of re-emergence due to non-vectorial transmission, such as blood transfusion. This study determined the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection among blood donors in the state of Bahia, located in northeastern Brazil, and their epidemiological profile during a 10-year period. METHODS: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a database review. Data were collected from patients with non-negative results for T. cruzi infection during a 10-year period. RESULTS: A total of 3,084 (0.62%) samples were non-negative for T. cruzi infection in an initial serological screening, and 810 (0.16%) samples were non-negative in the second screening. The correlation between infection and age (30 years or older) and between infection and lower educational level (12 years or less) in the first and second screening was statistically significant. The seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection was higher in men in the first screening. In addition, 99.52% of the municipalities of Bahia had at least one case of CD. Livramento de Nossa Senhora and Salvador presented the highest disease prevalence and recurrence, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in these populations was lower than that found in other studies in Brazil but was comparatively higher in densely-populated areas. The demographic characteristics of our population agreed with previous studies.

Resumo: Devido à persistência da dengue e de outras arboviroses no Brasil, o poder público tem intensificado as ações de combate ao mosquito vetor Aedes aegypti. Os agentes de combate às endemias (ACE) e agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS), dentre outras atribuições, tornaram-se interlocutores e disseminadores de conhecimento na comunidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os saberes e práticas sobre controle da dengue por diferentes sujeitos sociais: moradores e agentes. Foram realizadas entrevistas com moradores, ACE de campo e de mobilização e ACS em dois bairros de Salvador, Bahia, por meio da metodologia de grupo focal. Os moradores demonstraram incerteza sobre a forma de contágio e o perigo da dengue. Os ACE de campo apresentam-se em conflito, pela necessidade de informar à comunidade sobre aspectos que não dominam e demonstram um descontentamento pessoal no trabalho com um sentimento de desvalorização pela falta de qualificação. Os ACE de mobilização culpam a população e enfatizam a importância de si próprios como solução para o controle da dengue. Os ACS não apropriaram sua experiência de campo em seu discurso e se sentem desobrigados com respeito ao controle vetorial. Todos os grupos entrevistados concordam que a culpa da dengue recai sobre o poder público, e a solução para o problema está na educação. Percebe-se uma grande necessidade de intervenções educativas regulares, pautadas no diálogo e na sensibilização para lidar com a realidade cotidiana dos moradores, trazendo os indivíduos (moradores e agentes) como sujeitos do processo de construção de conhecimento. Pois, na metodologia atual, a disseminação de informação e conhecimento não é suficiente para promover melhorias na comunidade para o controle da dengue.

Abstract: Due to the persistence of dengue and other arbovirus infections in Brazil, the government has stepped up measures to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector. The responsibilities of community endemic disease workers (CEDW) and community health workers (CHW) include acting as intermediaries and disseminating knowledge in the community. The aim of this study was to analyze knowledge and practices in dengue control by different social subjects: residents and CEDW/CHW. Interviews were held with residents, field and mobilization CEDW, and CHW in two neighborhoods in Salvador, Bahia State, using focus groups. Residents expressed uncertainty on the form of transmission and hazards of dengue. Field CEDW voiced conflicting feelings due to the need to inform the community on issues over which they lack any control, while expressing personal dissatisfaction with their work and a feeling of underappreciation due to their lack of training. Mobilization CEDW blamed the population and emphasized their own importance as the solution to dengue control. CHW failed to reflect their field experience in their discourse and felt they had no responsibility over vector control. All the groups agreed that government is to blame for dengue and that the solution lies in education. There is an evident need for regular educational interventions, based on dialogue and awareness-raising to deal with residents’ daily reality, drawing individuals (residents and CHW) into the knowledge-building process. Under the prevailing methodology, the dissemination of information and knowledge is insufficient to promote community improvements for dengue control.

Resumen: Debido a la persistencia del dengue y de otras arbovirosis en Brasil, el poder público ha intensificado las acciones de combate al mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Los ACE (agentes de combate a endemias) y los ACS (agentes comunitarios de salud), entre otras atribuciones, se convirtieron en interlocutores y promotores de conocimiento sobre enfermedades en sus comunidades. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los conocimientos y prácticas sobre el control del dengue por parte de los diferentes sujetos sociales implicados: residentes y agentes. Se realizaron entrevistas a residentes, ACE de campo y de movilización, así como ACS, en dos barrios de Salvador, Bahía, mediante una metodología de grupo focal. Los residentes mostraron inseguridad sobre la forma de contagio, así como el peligro que supone el dengue. Los ACE de campo se encontraron en conflicto, por su necesidad de informar a la comunidad sobre aspectos que no dominan, además de demostrar un descontento personal en el trabajo, unido a un sentimiento de desvalorización, por su falta de cualificación. Los ACE de movilización culpan a la población y enfatizan la importancia de ellos mismos como solución para el control del dengue. Los ACS no se apropiaron de su experiencia de campo en su discurso y no se sienten obligados al control vectorial. Todos los grupos entrevistados concuerdan en que la culpa del dengue recae sobre el poder público, y la solución para el problema está en la educación. Se percibe una gran necesidad de intervenciones educativas regulares, pautadas en el diálogo y en la sensibilización para lidiar con la realidad cotidiana de los residentes, considerando a los individuos (residentes y agentes) como sujetos del proceso de construcción del conocimiento. Así pues, en la metodología actual, la divulgación de información y conocimiento no es suficiente para promover mejoras en las comunidades, con el fin de controlar el dengue.

Resumo: Devido à persistência da dengue e de outras arboviroses no Brasil, o poder público tem intensificado as ações de combate ao mosquito vetor Aedes aegypti. Os agentes de combate às endemias (ACE) e agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS), dentre outras atribuições, tornaram-se interlocutores e disseminadores de conhecimento na comunidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os saberes e práticas sobre controle da dengue por diferentes sujeitos sociais: moradores e agentes. Foram realizadas entrevistas com moradores, ACE de campo e de mobilização e ACS em dois bairros de Salvador, Bahia, por meio da metodologia de grupo focal. Os moradores demonstraram incerteza sobre a forma de contágio e o perigo da dengue. Os ACE de campo apresentam-se em conflito, pela necessidade de informar à comunidade sobre aspectos que não dominam e demonstram um descontentamento pessoal no trabalho com um sentimento de desvalorização pela falta de qualificação. Os ACE de mobilização culpam a população e enfatizam a importância de si próprios como solução para o controle da dengue. Os ACS não apropriaram sua experiência de campo em seu discurso e se sentem desobrigados com respeito ao controle vetorial. Todos os grupos entrevistados concordam que a culpa da dengue recai sobre o poder público, e a solução para o problema está na educação. Percebe-se uma grande necessidade de intervenções educativas regulares, pautadas no diálogo e na sensibilização para lidar com a realidade cotidiana dos moradores, trazendo os indivíduos (moradores e agentes) como sujeitos do processo de construção de conhecimento. Pois, na metodologia atual, a disseminação de informação e conhecimento não é suficiente para promover melhorias na comunidade para o controle da dengue.

Abstract: Due to the persistence of dengue and other arbovirus infections in Brazil, the government has stepped up measures to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector. The responsibilities of community endemic disease workers (CEDW) and community health workers (CHW) include acting as intermediaries and disseminating knowledge in the community. The aim of this study was to analyze knowledge and practices in dengue control by different social subjects: residents and CEDW/CHW. Interviews were held with residents, field and mobilization CEDW, and CHW in two neighborhoods in Salvador, Bahia State, using focus groups. Residents expressed uncertainty on the form of transmission and hazards of dengue. Field CEDW voiced conflicting feelings due to the need to inform the community on issues over which they lack any control, while expressing personal dissatisfaction with their work and a feeling of underappreciation due to their lack of training. Mobilization CEDW blamed the population and emphasized their own importance as the solution to dengue control. CHW failed to reflect their field experience in their discourse and felt they had no responsibility over vector control. All the groups agreed that government is to blame for dengue and that the solution lies in education. There is an evident need for regular educational interventions, based on dialogue and awareness-raising to deal with residents’ daily reality, drawing individuals (residents and CHW) into the knowledge-building process. Under the prevailing methodology, the dissemination of information and knowledge is insufficient to promote community improvements for dengue control.

Resumen: Debido a la persistencia del dengue y de otras arbovirosis en Brasil, el poder público ha intensificado las acciones de combate al mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Los ACE (agentes de combate a endemias) y los ACS (agentes comunitarios de salud), entre otras atribuciones, se convirtieron en interlocutores y promotores de conocimiento sobre enfermedades en sus comunidades. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los conocimientos y prácticas sobre el control del dengue por parte de los diferentes sujetos sociales implicados: residentes y agentes. Se realizaron entrevistas a residentes, ACE de campo y de movilización, así como ACS, en dos barrios de Salvador, Bahía, mediante una metodología de grupo focal. Los residentes mostraron inseguridad sobre la forma de contagio, así como el peligro que supone el dengue. Los ACE de campo se encontraron en conflicto, por su necesidad de informar a la comunidad sobre aspectos que no dominan, además de demostrar un descontento personal en el trabajo, unido a un sentimiento de desvalorización, por su falta de cualificación. Los ACE de movilización culpan a la población y enfatizan la importancia de ellos mismos como solución para el control del dengue. Los ACS no se apropiaron de su experiencia de campo en su discurso y no se sienten obligados al control vectorial. Todos los grupos entrevistados concuerdan en que la culpa del dengue recae sobre el poder público, y la solución para el problema está en la educación. Se percibe una gran necesidad de intervenciones educativas regulares, pautadas en el diálogo y en la sensibilización para lidiar con la realidad cotidiana de los residentes, considerando a los individuos (residentes y agentes) como sujetos del proceso de construcción del conocimiento. Así pues, en la metodología actual, la divulgación de información y conocimiento no es suficiente para promover mejoras en las comunidades, con el fin de controlar el dengue.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar parâmetros sorológicos e virológicos em hemofílicos no Estado da Bahia. O anti-VHC foi investigado por ELISA em uma coorte de 268 hemofílicos A/B sob acompanhamento em uma unidade de referência do Estado da Bahia. A viremia do VHC e genótipos foram determinados em um subgrupo de 66 hemofílicos soropositivos para o anti-VHC. A soroprevalência do anti-VHC entre os hemofílicos foi de 42,2% (IC 95% 36,5-48,1) e foi associada significativamente (p<0,05) a idade >10 anos, presença de anticorpos antifator VIII/IX e outros marcadores sorológicos de infecção. Nenhum dos hemofílicos com idade inferior a 5 anos foram anti-VHC positivos. A viremia foi detectada em 77,3% (51/66), sendo o genótipo 1 do VHC (74%) o mais prevalente, seguido pelos genótipos 3 (22%) e 2 (4%). Nossos resultados indicam que a prevalência do VHC é ainda alta entre os hemofílicos, muito embora a transmissão não tenha sido observada entre os menores de 5 anos.

The objective of the present study was to analyze HCV serological and virological parameters from hemophiliacs in the State of Bahia. Anti-HCV was investigated by ELISA in a cohort of 268 hemophiliacs A/B who were followed-up in a reference unit for hemotherapy in the State of Bahia. HCV viremia and genotypes were also determined from a subset of 66 anti-HCV seropositive hemophiliacs. Seroprevalence among hemophiliacs was 42.2% (95% CI 36.5-48.1) and was significantly higher (p<0.05) according to age >10 years, presence of factor VIII/IX inhibitory antibodies and other infection markers. None of the hemophiliacs less than 5 years of age were anti-HCV seropositive. Viremia was detectable in 77.3% (51/66). HCV genotype 1 (74%) was the most prevalent followed by genotype 3 (22%) and genotype 2 (4%). Our results indicate that HCV prevalence is still high among hemophiliacs, although HCV transmission was not observed in young hemophiliacs.