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Please cite this paper as: Rajão et al. (2013). Serological evidence of swine influenza in Brazil. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(2), 109-112. The aim of this work was to detect serum antibodies specific to influenza viruses in swine in Brazil. Serum samples of 355 pigs from 17 herds in Minas Gerais state were tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) for antibodies against H1N1 swine (SIV) and human influenza viruses, and H3N2 SIV. HI revealed that 158 animals (44·5%) and 11 herds (64·7%) were positive for H1N1 SIV, 36 animals (10·1%) and four herds (23·5%) were positive for H3N2 SIV, and 136 animals (38·3%) and 10 herds (58·8%) were positive for H1N1 human. This study indicates that swine influenza is disseminated throughout Minas Gerais state, Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To evaluate the association among serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ( Aa) serotypes a, b and c, Porphyromonas gingivalis ( Pg), Tannerella forsythia ( Tf) and clinical parameters in Aggressive Periodontitis ( AP) subjects. Associations between periodontal pathogens and clinical and immunological parameters were also evaluated. Methods Thirty-eight subjects diagnosed with generalized AP ( GAP) and localized AP ( LAP) were included. Ten healthy controls were also evaluated. Clinical parameters were assessed and percentages of subgingival levels of Aa, Pg and Tf (beyond bacterial load) , were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum IgG antibody levels against Aa, Pg and Tf were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Percentages of Aa, Pg and Tf were significantly higher in AP than in controls. The response to Aa serotype c was higher in LAP subjects than in controls. There were no differences in microbial composition or antibodies responses between GAP and LAP, except for IgG response to Tf. Pg levels were correlated with probing depth ( PD), BoP and CAL in GAP but not in LAP subjects. Tf levels correlated with PD and CAL in GAP subjects. In GAP, the infection levels of Aa and Pg correlated with the corresponding IgG levels to Aa serotype c and Pg. Conclusion Given the evidences that IgG response in AP patients correlated with bacterial infection level in GAP, but not in LAP, and that LAP patients lack a response to Tf, despite harbouring this species, our data suggest a difference in host immune defence between these two forms of aggressive periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydophila psittaci 364 serum samples were collected from veterinarians, biologists, animal scientists, veterinary students, animal keepers and others employees in 20 zoos, and from veterinary practitioners in 10 Brazilian states. Subjects ranged from 15 to 64 years of age, with 268 (74%) males and 96 (26%) females. Chlamydial antibodies were determined by the complement fixation test (CFT) and specific anti- C. psittaci IgG antibodies were determined by the microimmunoflurescence (MIF) test. Complement fixation test showed 23.9% (87/364) and MIF test showed 4.7% (17/364) positive serum samples. Titres ranged from 16 to 256 in both assays, demonstrating evidence of recent or current infection. Although chlamydial antibodies were detected in workers of seventeen zoos, MIF test only detected specific C. psittaci antibodies in seven of them. Previous psittacosis infection was suspected in eight workers of two zoos, five of whom reported having pneumonia, while employed at the zoos. However, diagnosis was not established in any of these cases in the past. Results indicated the occurrence of infection and previous contact of Brazilian zoo workers with C. psittaci, as well as the zoonotic potential of psittacosis in this risk population. Other studies are necessary to evaluate the risk factors of infection in this population. This seroepidemiological survey confirmed the need to adopt preventive measures to control avian chlamydiosis and protect the health of zoo workers in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (HAV) is decreasing in several Latin American countries. Brazil is a very large and heterogeneous country, showing striking regional differences. With regard to sanitary facilities, 81.7% of the districts in the south-eastern region have sewage systems, compared with only 5.8% in the northern region. Results of sero-epidemiological studies and reported hepatitis A outbreaks indicate a change in the epidemiological pattern of hepatitis A in the country. Individuals, especially those under the age of 10, are mostly unprotected from HAV infection, regardless of their socioeconomic status. During 2000–2005, approximately 14 000–21 000 cases of hepatitis A were reported annually in Brazil, a rate of 7.5–11 cases per 100 000 population. Nationwide, hepatitis A mortality rates declined progressively from 1980 to 2002. As fatal cases constitute a small, but predictable, portion of all acute hepatitis A cases, which are in turn part of the total number of HAV infections, these data suggest that there has been a decline in HAV circulation in all Brazilian regions over the last two decades. Taken together these facts point out that the epidemiological pattern of hepatitis A is changing in Brazil. Besides improvements in sanitary conditions in the poorest Brazilian regions, the introduction of hepatitis A vaccination of young children could be a strategy for controlling HAV infection in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which is concerned with celiac disease in older Brazilians.