Out of 1,588 faecal samples of children taken from three locations of the Central West Region of Brazil, 57 were positive for astroviruses (HAstVs) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). They were genotyped by nested RT-PCR and/or genomic sequencing. HAstV-1 (42.8%), HAstV-2 (23.2%), HAstV-3 (3.6%), HAstV-4 (14.3%) and HAstVs -5, -6, -7 and -8 (1.8% each) were detected. In Goiânia and Campo Grande, HAstV-1 was the most frequently detected genotype while in Brasília (DF) it was HAstV-2. Shifts in the circulation of astrovirus genotypes were observed in DF and Campo Grande. All samples collected by rectal swabs were viral negative. The astrovirus genotypes were detected in all age groups and there was no correlation between genotype and age group.

Nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4), encoded by group A rotavirus genome segment 10, is a multifunctional protein and the first recognized virus-encoded enterotoxin. The NSP4 gene has been sequenced, and five distinct genetic groups have been described: genotypes A-E. NSP4 genotypes A, B, and C have been detected in humans. In this study, the NSP4-encoding gene of human rotavirus strains of different G and P genotypes collected from children between 1987 and 2003 in three cities of West Central region of Brazil was characterized. NSP4 gene of 153 rotavirus-positive fecal samples was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced. For phylogenetic analysis, NSP4 nucleotide sequences of these samples were compared to nucleotide sequences of reference strains available in GenBank. Two distinct NSP4 genotypes could be identified: 141 (92.2%) sequences clustered with NSP4 genotype B, and 12 sequences (7.8%) clustered with NSP4 genotype A. These results reinforce that further investigations are needed to assess the validity of NSP4 as a suitable target for epidemiologic surveillance of rotavirus infections and vaccine development.

This study presents data regarding the circulation of astrovirus in Goiânia-GO and Brasília-DF. These viruses were detected in fecal samples from hospitalized children up to five years old with and without acute gastroenteritis. A total of 1244 fecal samples were collected in two periods, 1994 to 1996 (Brasília) and 1998 to 2002 (Goiânia and Brasília), and were analyzed for viral RNA using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Positivity rates of 4.3 and 0.5% for astrovirus were observed in children with acute gastroenteritis and those without gastroenteritis, respectively. Among children with gastroenteritis no statistically significant difference was seen with regards to viral positivity rates in relation to gender and age. However, a higher incidence rate was observed for children from Brasília aged 36 months or more. Overall, astroviruses occurred predominantly from September to March in the two cities, suggesting a seasonal pattern for these viruses which coincides with the highest relative air humidity period. The results of this study highlight the importance of astrovirus as an etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in children of the Central West region of Brazil.

The objective of this study was to describe the circulation of caliciviruses in the West Central region of Brazil and its correlation with children's gender and age, as well as with the year and months of the sample collection. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the human calicivirus genome in 1006 fecal samples that were collected in Goiânia (n = 696) and Brasília (n = 310). Viral RNA was detected in 8.6% of the samples. No significant difference in viral prevalence was found regarding gender, age or year of the sample. However, it was observed that in Goiânia, there is a higher incidence of caliciviruses from September to March. The analysis employing three primer pairs demonstrated that the Ni/E3 or JV12/13 primer pairs, which detect norovirus (NoV), detected 41 positive samples while the 289/290 primer pair, which detects NoV or sapovirus, detected the remaining 46 samples. Calicivirus circulates in the West Central region of Brazil and for better detection of this virus it is important to use more than one primer pair. Also, we conclude that the seasonality presented by this virus is related to higher humidity in the period.

Resumo Foi levantado o peso de nascimento de 4.166 crianças nascidas em Manaus, no ano de 1976, em 2 maternidades que atendem a populações de níveis socioeconômicos diferentes. Na maternidade I (classe pobre), foram levantados 2.552 nascimentos e encontrou-se uma freqüência de baixo peso de nascimento (<2,500g) de 11,7% enquanto que, na maternidade II (classe média/alta) apurou-se 1.614 nascimentos, com uma freqüência de baixo peso de 8,1%. A diferença foi significativa (p<0,001). Quando analisada a freqüência de peso abaixo de 2.000g. nas duas maternidades, verificou-se que é 4 vezes maior na maternidade I em relação à maternidade II. São discutidas também comparações desses dados com outros disponíveis na literatura, suas implicações sobre as taxas de mortalidade infantil e o posterior desenvolvimento saudável da criança e as possíveis causas e sugestões para sua melhoria

Summary The Amazon Basin has bean called a zone of endemic hunger, however few representative scientific studies of human nutritional status have been carried out. Birth weight is influenced amongts other things by nutritional status. As data on the frequency of low birth weights in the Amazon was not available, 4168 birth records for the year 1976 were studied in two maternity clinics of Manaus. One clinic with 2552 births, attended principally the poor of the city, whilst the second attended 1614 births of a higher socio-economic level. The study represent some 25% of the estimated total number of births in the city for 1976. The frequency of low birth weight in the poor maternity clinic (11.7%) was higher than in the richer one (8.1%) (P<0,001). Attention is brought to the fact that most probably half of the poorest people in the city had their children at home. In comparison with other parts of the world these frequencies are intermediate between the north east of Brazil and developed countries, being only half of the frequencies found in Asia. The possible local factors responsible for these results are discussend and recommendations made that could improve the situation.

Resumo Por meio de métodos parasitológicos, baseados na centrífugo-flutuação em sulfato de zinco, os AA estudaram a prevalência das enteroparasitoses em 49 crianças de um orfanato da cidade de Manaus e, paralelamente, a contaminação fecal de seu solo nas principais áreas de recreação. Os resultados mostraram que 100% das crianças examinadas apresentaram uma ou mais espécies de parasitas e que 90% das amostras do solo estavam contaminadas tanto por cistos de protozoários como por ovos de helmintos parasitas.

Summary Helminths During the months of September through November a parasitological investigation was made from fecal samples of 49 children and 20 soil samples of an orphanage in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. The specimens were concentrated by Faust's method, and the authors prepared the following index of intestinal parasites in these individuals. These results were obtained. : Trichocephalus trlchiurus 89,0%, Ascaris lumbricoides 73,5%; Ancylostomidae 71,4%; Strongyloides stercoralis 12,2% and Enterobius vermiculares 8,2%. The highest incidence of protozoan parasites was of Entamoeba coli 38,8%, Giardia lamblia 34,7%, Iodamoeba butschlii 8,2% and Entamoeba histolytica 6,1%. 90% of the soil samples were contaminated.

Resumo Foram realizadas culturas de fezes de aproximadamente 10% dos lactentes de uma população urbana de Manaus-Amazonas. No momento da coleta 32,50% das crianças se encontravam com diarréia e 69,44% apresentavam história anterior da enfermidade. Das crianças diarréicas foram isolados uma cepa de Shigella sonnei e 5 diferentes sorogrupos de Escherichia coli enteropatogênica. Das crianças sem diarréia isolaram-se 3 amostras de Salmonella sp e 5 diferentes sorogrupos de E. coli enteropatogênica. As cepas de Shigella sonnei e E. coli enteropatogênicas apresentaram resistência múltipla quando submetidas ao teste de susceptibilidade à antimicrobianos.

Summary Bacteriological studies were carried out on approximately 10% of the infants of a poor urban population in Manaus - Amazonas. One third of the infants had diarrhoea at the time of faeces collection. One strain of Shigella sonnei and five different serogroups of enteropathogenic E. coli were isolated from the faeces of the infants with diarrhoea. Three strains of Salmonella sp. and five different serogroups of pathogenic E. coli were isolated in the faeces of infants without diarrhoea. The strains of Shigella sonnei and pathogenic E. coli showed multiple resistance to antimicrobial drugs.