Dengue infection in pregnancy and transplacental transfer of anti-dengue antibodies in Northeast, Brazil.

Background: Dengue affects nearly 400 million people annually worldwide and considered one of the most serious health threats in tropical and subtropical countries.

Objective: To analyze the occurrence of dengue infection among the parturient who have formed the baseline of an ongoing birth cohort study in the city of Recife, Northeast of Brazil.

Study Design: From March 2011 to May 2012, we recruited 417 parturients with low-risk pregnancies at maternity ward who agreed to a follow-up of their babies.

Leptospirosis as the most frequent infectious disease impairing productivity in small ruminants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Despite the importance of small ruminants breeding in developing countries, milk/meat productivity remains unsatisfactory. Infectious diseases, such as leptospirosis, brucellosis, and small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs), contribute to this scenario. The objective of the present study was to determine the role of each of these diseases in the productivity of small ruminants breeding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.