RESUMO Vinculada às precárias práticas sanitárias, a resistência bacteriana, originalmente associada ao ambiente hospitalar, passou a ser observada também no meio ambiente. Tendo em vista a relação da qualidade da água com a saúde de uma população, sua condição passou a ser avaliada por meio da detecção de microrganismos, sendo a Escherichia coli (E. coli) usada como bioindicador para a contaminação fecal. O Rio Carioca é o primeiro rio urbano tombado no Brasil, possui valor histórico, cultural, paisagístico e simbólico, contudo ainda é local de lançamento de efluentes em diferentes pontos, sendo potencial reservatório para a manutenção e disseminação de genes de resistência. Nessa perspectiva, objetivou-se estabelecer o perfil de susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos de E. coli isoladas em amostras de águas do Rio Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, levando em consideração a presença de águas residuais de origem doméstica e hospitalar nesse curso d’água. Foram obtidas amostras de água superficial de cinco pontos do rio. Os parâmetros cor aparente, turbidez, condutividade elétrica, temperatura e pH foram analisados. Realizou-se a detecção da presença/ausência de bactérias do grupo dos coliformes nas amostras, com posteriores cultivo, isolamento e identificação de E. coli. Os isolados foram submetidos ao teste de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos. Isolados resistentes a quatro diferentes antimicrobianos foram encontrados no ponto mais degradado. Assim sendo, este estudo pode contribuir para a compreensão dos mecanismos pelos quais as pessoas podem ser expostas e colonizadas, fortalecendo estratégias de saúde, sanitárias e ambientais.

ABSTRACT Linked to unsafe health practices and originally associated with the hospital environment, bacterial resistance has also started to be observed in nature. Given the relationship between water quality and the health of a population, its condition started to be assessed by detecting microorganisms, and Escherichia coli was used as a bioindicator. The Carioca River is the first urban river listed in Brazil. It has historical, cultural, landscape, and symbolic value. However, it is still a place for effluent discharge at different spots and is a potential reservoir for the maintenance and dissemination of resistance genes. From this perspective, the objective was to establish the profile of susceptibility to E. coli antimicrobials isolated in water samples from the Carioca River, Rio de Janeiro, considering the domestic and hospital wastewater in this watercourse. Surface water samples were collected from five River points. Apparent color, turbidity, electrical conductivity, temperature, and pH were the parameters analyzed. Presence/absence of coliform bacteria were detected in the samples, with subsequent cultivation, isolation, and identification of E. coli. The isolates were submitted to the Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test. Isolates resistant to four different antimicrobials were found at the most degraded point. Thus, this study can help to understand the mechanisms by which the population is exposed and colonized, strengthening health, sanitary, and environmental strategies.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis is an important health concern in Brazil. Currently, information on the epidemiology of the disease in the rural areas of the country is lacking. METHODS: Serological and molecular techniques were used to characterize a clinical isolate of Leptospira. RESULTS: The strain CLEP 00060, isolated from a 59-year-old man in a rural area of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, was identified as belonging to L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the local epidemiological knowledge of leptospirosis, prevention of the disease by vaccines, and improvements in its diagnosis.

ABSTRACT Laboratory diagnosis of human leptospirosis usually relies on indirect methods exploring specific immune response. Isolation and identification of the involved strains are cumbersome, but can provide biological resources for pathogenic studies and relevant information for guiding prevention and control measures. The aim of the research we are hereby reporting was the characterization of Leptospira isolates obtained from humans and the environment in Uruguay. Blood cultures were performed from early samples of 302 Uruguayan patients, mainly rural workers, and from 36 water samples taken from their living or working environments. Eight human isolates and seven environmental isolates were obtained and analyzed by end point Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Multilocus Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) and other molecular methods. Human isolates corresponded to several serogroups and serovars of Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kirschneri species, probably reflecting the infection with similar involved Leptospira species and serovars of an extended animal reservoir in rural settings of the country, mostly dedicated to meat and dairy production. Culture-positive patients were older than usually affected workers, and presented signs and symptoms of severe illness. A high organic and circulating bacterial burden may explain an easier positive result from these workers’ samples. Environmental isolates were mainly identified as Leptospira biflexa strains, with a single L. meyeri isolate of uncertain significance.