Fatal case of co-infection with dengue virus and during a dengue epidemic in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Introduction: Dengue and meningococcal disease are caused by two different agents: a flavivirus and a Gram-negative bacterium, respectively. The first symptoms of both diseases can be indistinct and a rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial, considering that both diseases are associated with high morbidity and mortality, representing a major public-health problem in Brazil.

Case Presentation: We report a fatal case of co-infection of dengue virus (DENV) and in a 54-year-old patient.

First Report of the East-Central South African Genotype of Chikungunya Virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus that causes an acute febrile syndrome with a severe and debilitating arthralgia. In Brazil, the Asian and East-Central South African (ECSA) genotypes are circulating in the north and northeast of the country, respectively. In 2015, the first autochthonous cases in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were reported but until now the circulating strains have not been characterized.

Increased sensitivity of NS1 ELISA by heat dissociation in acute dengue 4 cases.

Background: Dengue is an acute febrile illness considered the major arboviral disease in terms of morbidity, mortality, economic impact and dissemination worldwide. Brazil accounts for the highest notification rate, with circulation of all four dengue serotypes. The NS1 antigen is a dengue highly conserved specific soluble glycoprotein essential for viral replication and viability that can be detected 0 to 18 days from the onset of fever (peak first 3 days).

Novel Viruses Isolated from Mosquitoes in Pantanal, Brazil.

Genomic sequences are described from five novel viruses and divergent strains of Brejeira and Guaico Culex viruses from mosquitoes collected in Pantanal, Brazil, in 2010.

Congenital Zika Virus Infection: Beyond Neonatal Microcephaly.

Importance: Recent studies have reported an increase in the number of fetuses and neonates with microcephaly whose mothers were infected with the Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy. To our knowledge, most reports to date have focused on select aspects of the maternal or fetal infection and fetal effects.

Objective: To describe the prenatal evolution and perinatal outcomes of 11 neonates who had developmental abnormalities and neurological damage associated with ZIKV infection in Brazil.

Phylogenetic analyses of chikungunya virus among travelers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2014-2015.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that emerged in Brazil by late 2014. In the country, two CHIKV foci characterized by the East/Central/South Africa and Asian genotypes, were established in North and Northeast regions. We characterized, by phylogenetic analyses of full and partial genomes, CHIKV from Rio de Janeiro state (2014-2015).

Dengue epidemics in two distinct periods reveal distinct epidemiological, laboratorial and clinical aspects in a same scenario: analysis of the 2010 and 2013 epidemics in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Background: Dengue is a major problem in Brazil. Epidemiological and clinical aspects were characterized in patients from two epidemics which occurred in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Methods: Dengue cases were classified according to the 2009 WHO criteria, tested by serological and molecular biology tests and analysed for nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigenemia.

DENGUE DURING PREGNANCY: ASSOCIATION WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND PREMATURITY.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dengue virus infection during pregnancy and its correlation with low birth weight, prematurity, and asphyxia. A non-concurrent cohort study reveals the association of dengue during pregnancy with prematurity and low birth weight, when birth occurred during the maternal-fetal viremia period (p = 0.016 and p < 0.

Accuracy of clinical criteria and an immunochromatographic strip test for dengue diagnosis in a DENV-4 epidemic.

Background: Early diagnosis of dengue infection is important for decision-making and timely implementation of therapeutic measures. Although rapid NS1 assays have been used for dengue diagnosis since 2008, their performance in DENV-4 cases has not yet been fully assessed.

Methods: We evaluated the accuracy of NS1 Bioeasy™ immunochromatographic strip test and of three clinical criteria for dengue diagnosis.

Dengue infection as a potential trigger of an imported Plasmodium ovale malaria relapse or a long incubation period in a non-endemic malaria region.

Objectives: To report that dengue fever (DF) could have triggered Plasmodium ovale wallikeri malaria.

Methods: A retrospective case report of P. ovale malaria and DF in a single patient in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who had lived in Angola, is presented.

Parvovirus B19 1A complete genome from a fatal case in Brazil.

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) infects individuals worldwide and is associated with an ample range of pathologies and clinical manifestations. B19V is classified into three distinct genotypes, all identified in Brazil. Here, we report a complete sequence of a B19V genotype 1A that was obtained by high-throughput metagenomic sequencing.

Dengue in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 2010-2012.

Objective: To present results of virological surveillance and epidemiological aspects of dengue in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Methods: A total of 1581 cases, reported from 2010 to 2012 at various health centres in the state, were analysed by viral isolation and/or RT-PCR for viral detection and typing. To identify whether different genotypes were circulating in the state during this period, sequencing of the complete E gene for DENV (1485 bp in length) was performed directly from patient serum samples.

Insights of the genetic diversity of DENV-1 detected in Brazil in 25 years: Analysis of the envelope domain III allows lineages characterization.

Dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) was first isolated in Brazil in 1986 in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and during 25years, this serotype emerged and re-emerged causing explosive epidemics in the country. Here, we aimed to present the phylogeny and molecular characterization based on the envelope gene (E) of DENV-1 (n=48) isolated during epidemics occurred from 1986 to 2011. Six full coding region genomes of DENV-1 were fully sequenced and possible genomic recombination events were analyzed.

Neutralising antibodies for Mayaro virus in Pantanal, Brazil.

The Pantanal hosts diverse wildlife species and therefore is a hotspot for arbovirus studies in South America. A serosurvey for Mayaro virus (MAYV), eastern (EEEV), western (WEEV) and Venezuelan (VEEV) equine encephalitis viruses was conducted with 237 sheep, 87 free-ranging caimans and 748 equids, including 37 collected from a ranch where a neurologic disorder outbreak had been recently reported. Sera were tested for specific viral antibodies using plaque-reduction neutralisation test.

Impact of the emergence and re-emergence of different dengue viruses' serotypes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2010 to 2012.

Background: Rio de Janeiro (RJ) has been of major importance for the epidemiology of dengue viruses (DENVs) in Brazil. After the DENV 1-4 introductions in 1986, 1990, 2000 and 2011, respectively, the state has suffered explosive epidemics. We aimed to describe laboratorial, epidemiological and clinical aspects due to the emergence and re-emergence of distinct DENV in a 2-year period.

Subdoses of 17DD yellow fever vaccine elicit equivalent virological/immunological kinetics timeline.

Background: The live attenuated 17DD Yellow Fever vaccine is one of the most successful prophylactic interventions for controlling disease expansion ever designed and utilized in larger scale. However, increase on worldwide vaccine demands and manufacturing restrictions urge for more detailed dose sparing studies. The establishment of complementary biomarkers in addition to PRNT and Viremia could support a secure decision-making regarding the use of 17DD YF vaccine subdoses.

A simple heat dissociation method increases significantly the ELISA detection sensitivity of the nonstructural-1 glycoprotein in patients infected with DENV type-4.

The secreted form of the dengue virus (DENV) nonstructural-1 (NS1) glycoprotein has been shown to be useful for the diagnosis of DENV infections in patients' serum samples. In a number of studies, the sensitivity of the commercially available DENV NS1 glycoprotein detection assays was higher against some DENV serotypes (DENV-1>DENV-3>DENV-2=DENV-4) than others and were also lower using patients' serum samples with secondary versus primary DENV infections. In this study, 471 DENV-4 positive acute phase patients' serum samples were selected from a large panel collected in Brazil from March 2011 to October 2012 by RT-PCR and/or virus isolation followed by serotype determination.

Serological evidence of widespread circulation of West Nile virus and other flaviviruses in equines of the Pantanal, Brazil.

A recent study reported neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) in horses from four ranches of southern Pantanal. To extend that study, a serosurvey for WNV and 11 Brazilian flaviviruses was conducted with 760 equines, 238 sheep and 61 caimans from 17 local cattle ranches. Among the tested equines, 32 were collected from a ranch where a neurologic disorder outbreak had been recently reported.

Apoptotic mediators in patients with severe and non-severe dengue from Brazil.

Despite being the most significant arboviral disease worldwide, dengue has no antiviral treatment or reliable severity predictors. It has been shown that apoptotic cells from blood and tissues may be involved in the complex pathogenesis of dengue. However, very little is known about the interplay between proapoptotic and antiapoptotic mediators in this disease.

Perinatal transmission of dengue: a report of 7 cases.

Perinatal transmission of dengue virus was confirmed by the evidence of virus in fetal tissue, newborn serum, and placenta of pregnant women. Abortion, several different clinical findings, and placental inflammatory findings were documented. No association was seen between severity of maternal dengue and disease of the newborn.