O presente artigo é uma atualização sobre a ocorrência e diagnóstico das riquetsioses existentes no Brasil e Portugal, com o objetivo de incentivar e incrementar a vigilância epidemiológica dessas doenças nos dois países. Realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico e foram apresentados dados não publicados de laboratórios e serviços de epidemiologia. Os resultados descreveram a ocorrência das riquetsioses no Brasil e Portugal, inclusive aquelas recém-descritas, advindas de riquétsias de potencial patogênico ainda incerto. Os métodos diagnósticos atualmente empregados foram discutidos. Como em outros países, as riquetsioses parecem assumir crescente importância em saúde pública. Relegadas a um plano secundário por muitas décadas, o interesse por essas infecções tem aumentado nos dois países, mas ainda carece de investigação para esclarecer seu real significado em saúde pública.

The present study is an update review on the occurrence and diagnosis of rickettsial diseases in Brazil and Portugal, aiming at promoting their epidemiological surveillance in both countries. A literature review was carried out and unpublished data of laboratories and surveillance systems were presented. The results described the occurrence of rickettsial diseases and infections in Brazil and Portugal, including other new and still poorly understood rickettsial infections. Current diagnostic methods were discussed. As in many other countries, rickettsial diseases and infections seem to be an emerging public health problem. Treated as a minor problem for many decades, the interest in these infections has increased in both countries but further studies are needed to establish their role as a public health problem.

O presente artigo é uma atualização sobre a ocorrência e diagnóstico das riquetsioses existentes no Brasil e Portugal, com o objetivo de incentivar e incrementar a vigilância epidemiológica dessas doenças nos dois países. Realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico e foram apresentados dados não publicados de laboratórios e serviços de epidemiologia. Os resultados descreveram a ocorrência das riquetsioses no Brasil e Portugal, inclusive aquelas recém-descritas, advindas de riquétsias de potencial patogênico ainda incerto. Os métodos diagnósticos atualmente empregados foram discutidos. Como em outros países, as riquetsioses parecem assumir crescente importância em saúde pública. Relegadas a um plano secundário por muitas décadas, o interesse por essas infecções tem aumentado nos dois países, mas ainda carece de investigação para esclarecer seu real significado em saúde pública.

The present study is an update review on the occurrence and diagnosis of rickettsial diseases in Brazil and Portugal, aiming at promoting their epidemiological surveillance in both countries. A literature review was carried out and unpublished data of laboratories and surveillance systems were presented. The results described the occurrence of rickettsial diseases and infections in Brazil and Portugal, including other new and still poorly understood rickettsial infections. Current diagnostic methods were discussed. As in many other countries, rickettsial diseases and infections seem to be an emerging public health problem. Treated as a minor problem for many decades, the interest in these infections has increased in both countries but further studies are needed to establish their role as a public health problem.

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) cases have been increasing in the state of São Paulo but no genomic information about local rickettsia isolated from humans has been well documented. We recovered spotted-fever group rickettsiae from a sample of patient blood cultured in Vero cells using the shell vial technique. Rickettsial DNA fragments (gltA, ompA, and, ompB genes) were detected, and analysis of the ompB gene base sequences showed identity with the Rickettsia rickettsii ompB sequence available in the GenBank.

A vacina inativada contra gripe, trivalente, preparada no Instituto Butantan, contendo 200 unidades hemaglutinantes de cada uma das cepas de virus Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1) e B/England/847/73, foi administrada em 110 voluntários humanos adultos, sendo que 62 receberam uma dose de vacina e 48 duas doses, com intervalo de 21 dias. A resposta de anticorpos específicos para influenza foi analisada comparativamente pelos testes de Inibição da Hemaglutinação (IH) e Hemólise Radial Simples (HRS). Ocorreu aumento significativo do teor de anticorpos nos indivíduos vacinados, correspondente a um aumento de 4 vezes ou mais nos títulos obtidos pelo teste IH e a um aumento de 3,0 mm ou maior no diâmetro das zonas de hemólise pelo teste HRS. Os métodos demonstraram correlação satisfatória entre si.

The inactivated vaccine anti-influenza virus, prepared at the Butantan Institute, containing 200 U.H. from each one these virus strains, Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1), B/England/847/73, was administered to 110 human volunteers in one and two doses to 62 and 48 persons respectively, with an interval of 21 days between these doses. The response to specific antibodies to influenza was analysed comparatively by the methods of Haemagglutination-Inhibition (HI) and Single-Radial-Haemolysis (SRH). These methods demonstrated a correlation between themselves, with a percentual correspondence in the negative HI titres, < 1:20 and diameter of haemolysis < 3.0mm. Correlation between the haemolysis zone of 3.5-5.0 mm diameter with HI titres of 1:40-1:80 was observed and titres of 1:160-1:320 by HI test were equal to haemolysis zones of 5.5 mm in diameter by SRH test. Very high HI titres > 1:640, corresponded to hemolysis zones > 7.5 mm in diameter. Soroconversion rate occurred those vaccinated, which corresponded to an increase of 4 times or more in the antibody titres obtained from the HI test and an increase of 3.0 mm or more in the haemolysis zone diameter.

A vacina inativada contra gripe, trivalente, preparada no Instituto Butantan, contendo 200 unidades hemaglutinantes de cada uma das cepas de virus Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1) e B/England/847/73, foi administrada em 110 voluntários humanos adultos, sendo que 62 receberam uma dose de vacina e 48 duas doses, com intervalo de 21 dias. A resposta de anticorpos específicos para influenza foi analisada comparativamente pelos testes de Inibição da Hemaglutinação (IH) e Hemólise Radial Simples (HRS). Ocorreu aumento significativo do teor de anticorpos nos indivíduos vacinados, correspondente a um aumento de 4 vezes ou mais nos títulos obtidos pelo teste IH e a um aumento de 3,0 mm ou maior no diâmetro das zonas de hemólise pelo teste HRS. Os métodos demonstraram correlação satisfatória entre si.

The inactivated vaccine anti-influenza virus, prepared at the Butantan Institute, containing 200 U.H. from each one these virus strains, Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1), B/England/847/73, was administered to 110 human volunteers in one and two doses to 62 and 48 persons respectively, with an interval of 21 days between these doses. The response to specific antibodies to influenza was analysed comparatively by the methods of Haemagglutination-Inhibition (HI) and Single-Radial-Haemolysis (SRH). These methods demonstrated a correlation between themselves, with a percentual correspondence in the negative HI titres, < 1:20 and diameter of haemolysis < 3.0mm. Correlation between the haemolysis zone of 3.5-5.0 mm diameter with HI titres of 1:40-1:80 was observed and titres of 1:160-1:320 by HI test were equal to haemolysis zones of 5.5 mm in diameter by SRH test. Very high HI titres > 1:640, corresponded to hemolysis zones > 7.5 mm in diameter. Soroconversion rate occurred those vaccinated, which corresponded to an increase of 4 times or more in the antibody titres obtained from the HI test and an increase of 3.0 mm or more in the haemolysis zone diameter.