RESUMO
Since 2004, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has carried out rotavirus surveillance in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here we report the characterization of human rotavirus with the novel G-P combination of G4P[14], detected through PAHO surveillance in Barbados. Full genome sequencing of strain RVA/Human-wt/BRB/CDC1133/2012/G4P[14] revealed that its genotype is G4-P[14]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1. The possession of a Genogroup 1 (Wa-like) backbone distinguishes this strain from other P[14] rotavirus strains. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that this strain was likely generated by genetic reassortment between human, porcine and possibly other animal rotavirus strains and identified 7 lineages within the P[14] genotype. The results of this study reinforce the potential role of interspecies transmission in generating human rotavirus diversity through reassortment. Continued surveillance is important to determine if rotavirus vaccines will protect against strains that express the P[14] rotavirus genotype.
Assuntos
Genoma Viral , Genótipo , Vírus Reordenados , Infecções por Rotavirus/epidemiologia , Infecções por Rotavirus/virologia , Rotavirus/classificação , Rotavirus/genética , Barbados/epidemiologia , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , Proteínas Virais/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Limited specimen collection and testing for influenza occurred in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries prior to the 2009/2010 influenza pandemic. Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) member countries rapidly mobilized to collect specimens during the pandemic and a vast majority of confirmed cases during the pandemic period were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. OBJECTIVES: To describe the aetiology and distribution of acute respiratory illness (ARI) among laboratory confirmed cases during the first year after the 2009/2010 influenza pandemic in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. RESULTS: In total, 774 specimens were tested and 394 (52.7%) cases had positive laboratory confirmation. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (28.4%) and influenza A(H3N2) (23.1%) were most frequently detected. RSV activity peaked in July 2011 while influenza A(H3N2) peaked in October 2010. Influenza was responsible for illness in greater numbers in persons 15-64 years while RSV was seen in primarily in children<5 years and adults>65 years. Other agents confirmed include rhinovirus (12.9%), influenza B (10.9%) and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (9.4%). CONCLUSIONS: RSV and influenza A(H3N2) were the most common viruses identified during the first year after the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic. Influenza was detected every month with peak activity corresponding to that typically seen in North America (October to March). In order to determine the seasonality of influenza and RSV, laboratory data from subsequent years and increased specimen submission is needed.
Assuntos
Infecções Respiratórias/epidemiologia , Infecções Respiratórias/virologia , Viroses/epidemiologia , Viroses/virologia , Vírus/classificação , Vírus/isolamento & purificação , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estações do Ano , Adulto JovemRESUMO
In 1988, the Ministers of Health in the Caribbean Community resolved to eliminate cases of indigenous measles. Specific performance indicators were developed to regularly monitor the program. In 1998, selected countries in the Caribbean elected to accelerate rubella control. As a first step, surveillance for both measles and rubella was integrated, using the measles eradication system as a template. Between 1995 and 2000, 98%-99% of the surveillance sites reported weekly. During that time, the number of suspected measles and rubella cases that were disqualified by laboratory testing remained relatively constant at 94%-99%; however, the indicator for suspected cases investigated within 48 h improved from 89% in 1996 to 95% in 2000. This integrated surveillance system has thus proven to be as effective and efficient as the measles surveillance system alone. Limited changes were made to the initial measles system, and the transition was relatively smooth. The integrated system has been crucial to the control of rubella and for the maintenance of measles elimination in the Caribbean.
Assuntos
Sarampo/prevenção & controle , Vigilância da População/métodos , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/prevenção & controle , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Sarampo/diagnóstico , Sarampo/epidemiologia , Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/diagnóstico , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/epidemiologiaRESUMO
An outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in the Dominican Republic (13 confirmed cases) and Haiti (8 confirmed cases, including 2 fatal cases) during 2000-2001. All but one of the patients were either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children, and cases occurred in communities with very low (7 to 40%) rates of coverage with oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). The outbreak was associated with the circulation of a derivative of the type 1 OPV strain, probably originating from a single OPV dose given in 1998-1999. The vaccine-derived poliovirus associated with the outbreak had biological properties indistinguishable from those of wild poliovirus.
Assuntos
Surtos de Doenças , Poliomielite/epidemiologia , Poliomielite/virologia , Vacina Antipólio Oral/efeitos adversos , Poliovirus/genética , Poliovirus/patogenicidade , Regiões 5' não Traduzidas , Adolescente , Animais , Capsídeo/genética , Proteínas do Capsídeo , Criança , Pré-Escolar , República Dominicana/epidemiologia , Feminino , Genes Virais , Haiti/epidemiologia , Humanos , Programas de Imunização , Lactente , Masculino , Camundongos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Mutação Puntual , Poliomielite/prevenção & controle , Poliomielite/transmissão , Poliovirus/classificação , Poliovirus/isolamento & purificação , Vigilância da População , Recombinação Genética , Vacinação , VirulênciaRESUMO
The techniques of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subsequent PCR were employed in the analysis of serum samples from a range of patients from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) member countries. Results were compared with those from viral isolation and immuno-fluorescence. In the second part of the study, ten serum samples were stored for one week under four sets of conditions: -20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and thawed (20 degrees C) and frozen (-20 degrees C) daily. After one week of each treatment the samples were analysed by RT-PCR and PCR. 90.4 percent of results from PCR agreed with results from viral isolation (VI) and fluorescent antibody (FA) detection. All PCR positive samples originated from sera collected within five days of the date of onset of fever. Frozen, refrigerated and repeat freeze-thawed samples gave consistent positive results by RT-PCR. The results indicate the sensitivity and reliability of this rapid technique and its applicability in the Caribbean. It provides a preliminary assessment of its advantages and limitations under certain conditions of serum collection and storage (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa/métodos , Dengue/diagnóstico , Dengue/tratamento farmacológico , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Região do Caribe/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The techniques of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subsequent PCR were employed in the analysis of serum samples from a range of patients from CAREC member countries (CMCs). Results were compared with those from viral isolation and immunofluorescence. In the second part of the study, ten serum samples were stored for one week under four sets of conditions: 20 degree C, 4 degree C, 25 degree C, and thawed (20 degree C) and frozen (-20 degree C) daily. After one week of each treatment the samples were analysed by RT-PCR and PCR. The results from PCR correlated 100 percent with results from viral isolation (VI) and fluorescent antibody (FA) detection. Where the date of onset of fever was reported, all PCR positive samples originated from sera collected within five days of this date. Frozen, refrigerated and repeated freeze thawed samples gave consistent positive results by RT-PCR. After storage at 25 degree C, however, half the dengue-positive samples were negative by RT-PCR. The results indicate the sensitivity and reliability of this rapid technique, its applicability in the Caribbean, and an idea of its limitations under certain conditions of serum collection and storage.(AU)
Assuntos
Dengue/diagnóstico , Reação em Cadeia da PolimeraseRESUMO
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has its objective the elimination of indigenous measles from the English-speaking Caribbean and Suriname by 1995. CAREC id the reference laboratory for this programme which is funded by the EPI Department, PAHO washington. One of the key components of Surveillance activities will be laboratory confirmation of suspected measles cases (i.e. those that fit the case definition laid out in the Measles Field Guide (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Vacina contra Sarampo , Sarampo/diagnóstico , Sarampo/epidemiologia , Sarampo/virologia , Vírus do Sarampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Região do CaribeRESUMO
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is being increasingly recognized as an important public health problem worldwide. The prevalence and rate of perinatal transmission of chlamydia was examined in 200 women attending antenatal clinic at the Mt. Hope Women's Hospital using tissue culture (TC), ELISA and fluorescent antibody (FA) methods. 27 (13.6 percent) women were found to be chlamydia positive by TC. 13 of the babies born to these mothers were also found to be positive, giving a vertical transmission rate of 48 percent. Compared to TC, the ELISA test was 96 percent sensitive and 100 percent specific while FA was 67 percent sensitive and 99 percent specific. Chlamydial infection was significantly associated (p<0.001) with being of Afro-Trinidadian descent, age <25 years, being unmarried and having two or more sexual partners in the past five years. The association with ethnicity could be explained on the basis of numbers of sexual partners and marital status. Chlamydia is often asymptomatic and no association was found with a history of previous STD, vaginitis or lower abdominal pain. It is recommended that women attending antenatal, family planning and STD clinics be screened for chlamydia infection and treated, together with their sexual partners, as an effective way of prevention. Enhanced chlamydia surveillance and strengthened laboratory capabilities are also recommended. (AU)