ABSTRACT Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GBS colonization in pregnant women in a public health service. Methods A study of 496 pregnant women at 35-37 gestational weeks was conducted from September 2011 to March 2014 in 21 municipalities of the 18th Health Region of Paraná State. Vaginal and anorectal samples of each woman were plated on sheep blood agar, and in HPTH and Todd-Hewitt enrichment broths. Results Of the 496 pregnant women, 141 (28.4%) were positive for GBS based on the combination of the three culture media with vaginal and anorectal samples. The prevalence was 23.7% for vaginal samples and 21.9% for anorectal ones. Among the variables analyzed in this study, only urinary infection was a significant factor (0.026) associated with GBS colonization in women. Conclusions Based on these results, health units should performs universal screening of pregnant women and hospitals should provide adequate prophylaxis, when indicated.

Realizou-se inquérito sorológico e epidemiológico para cisticercose em indivíduos de cinco municípios da região Norte do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. De 2.180 indivíduos investigados através da reação de imunofluorescência indireta, 69 (3,2%) apresentaram títulos significativos de anticorpos anti-Cysticercus cellulosae. Os percentuais de indivíduos com títulos significativos encontrados em Sarandi (6,6%) e Marialva (4,7%) não diferem estatisticamente (Z=1.319, P=0,0936), mas diferem dos percentuais encontrados em Mandaguaçu, Paiçandu e Maringá (P<0,01). Destes indivíduos, 47,9% estavam na faixa etária de 21 a 49 anos e 79,4% eram do sexo feminino. Foi comum o relato de queixas como "dores de cabeça" (70,6%), "tonturas" (57,4%) e "convulsões" (7,4%), além de história de teníase (22,1%) e hábitos de ingestão de carne crua bovina (41,2%) ou suína (27,9%) e carne com "canjiquinha" (25,0%).

An epidemiological and serological study was carried out on a sample of 2,180 individuals, in five counties in the north of Paraná State - Brazil, using the indirect immunofluorescence test to detect anti-Cysticercus cellulosae antibodies. These individuals, 69 (3.2%) showed significant titers of antibodies. No single significant difference between the proportion of reactivity in Sarandi (6.6%) and in Marialva (4.7%) was observed (Z=1,319, P=0,0936), but it was significantly higher than that observed in Mandaguaçu, Paiçandu and Maringá (P<0.01). Of these individuals, 47.9% were within 21-49 years old and 79.4% were of female sex. "Headache" (70.6%), "faintness" (57.4%), and "convulsions" (7.4%) were among the most frequent by reported, moreover, cases of Taenia infections (22.1%) and the custom of eating uncooked beef (41.2%) or pork (27.9%) and meat containing cysticerci (25.0%) were also related.

Realizou-se inquérito sorológico e epidemiológico para cisticercose em indivíduos de cinco municípios da região Norte do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. De 2.180 indivíduos investigados através da reação de imunofluorescência indireta, 69 (3,2%) apresentaram títulos significativos de anticorpos anti-Cysticercus cellulosae. Os percentuais de indivíduos com títulos significativos encontrados em Sarandi (6,6%) e Marialva (4,7%) não diferem estatisticamente (Z=1.319, P=0,0936), mas diferem dos percentuais encontrados em Mandaguaçu, Paiçandu e Maringá (P<0,01). Destes indivíduos, 47,9% estavam na faixa etária de 21 a 49 anos e 79,4% eram do sexo feminino. Foi comum o relato de queixas como "dores de cabeça" (70,6%), "tonturas" (57,4%) e "convulsões" (7,4%), além de história de teníase (22,1%) e hábitos de ingestão de carne crua bovina (41,2%) ou suína (27,9%) e carne com "canjiquinha" (25,0%).

An epidemiological and serological study was carried out on a sample of 2,180 individuals, in five counties in the north of Paraná State - Brazil, using the indirect immunofluorescence test to detect anti-Cysticercus cellulosae antibodies. These individuals, 69 (3.2%) showed significant titers of antibodies. No single significant difference between the proportion of reactivity in Sarandi (6.6%) and in Marialva (4.7%) was observed (Z=1,319, P=0,0936), but it was significantly higher than that observed in Mandaguaçu, Paiçandu and Maringá (P<0.01). Of these individuals, 47.9% were within 21-49 years old and 79.4% were of female sex. "Headache" (70.6%), "faintness" (57.4%), and "convulsions" (7.4%) were among the most frequent by reported, moreover, cases of Taenia infections (22.1%) and the custom of eating uncooked beef (41.2%) or pork (27.9%) and meat containing cysticerci (25.0%) were also related.