The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of infections due to RSV and other viruses in children. In addition we have analyzed demographic data and clinical characteristics of the RSV-positive patients comparing with patients infected by other respiratory viruses. We also described the seasonality of the RSV occurrence in a hospital in São Paulo. Children below 5 years old admitted in Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital between February 2005 and September 2006 due to acute respiratory infections (ARI) were included. A nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained with sterile No. 5 French feeding catheters as soon as possible (usually within 24 h). Specimens were kept refrigerated at 4ºC and transported to Adolfo Lutz Institute, where the indirect immunofluorescent assay was performed. Virus identified by these assay included RSV, Adenovirus, Influenza A and B virus and Parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3. Clinical data from each group was compared. Four hundred and fifty five cases were included in the study, with 30% positive for some type of virus. Viruses that were identified included Respiratory Syncytial Virus (73.03%), Influenza (8.42%), Parainfluenza (8.42%) and Adenovirus (3.37%). We divided the subjects in 3 groups: Group 1 RSV-Positive, Group 2 Other Positive Viruses and Group 3 Negative for Respiratory Virus. Mean age (months) was of 7.5 for RSV-positive children, 7.6 for other viruses, and 8 for negative for respiratory virus. The RSV-Positive Group was significantly younger than the Group Negative for Respiratory Virus (p<0.05). Signs of UAI were more present in the Positive RSV Group (p<0.05). General mortality was of 2.41%. There was a higher incidence of RSV between the months of March and August in the two years of the study. Our study indicates RSV as the most prevalent viral agent in children admitted due to (ARI), especially in infants below 3 months old. We have also found that infections due to RSV can occur in months others than the classic seasonal period.

Em pacientes com esquistossomose, são encontrados anticorpos contra grande número de antígenos parasitários, e aqueles contra formas evolutivas jovens do parasita demonstraram que eram eficientes marcadores imunológicos para o diagnóstico da esquistossomose. Padrões de queda de anticorpos IgM e IgG contra cercária e esquistossômulo foram aqui estudados, comparativamente aos dos anticorpos contra verme e ovo, em pacientes esquistossomóticos após quimioterapia, abordando aspectos soroepidemiológicos. Dados obtidos no estudo de 359 amostras de soros, pertencentes a pacientes infectados por Schistosoma mansoni, indivíduos não infectados e pacientes acompanhados pós-tratamento por um período de 12 a 15 meses, forneceram base para postular padrão geral da cinética de queda de anticorpos. Antes do tratamento, o padrão de anticorpos é representado por curva unimodal, que se modifica para curva bimodal após tratamento, e finaliza com curva unimodal semelhante à do grupo de indivíduos não infectados. Diferentes tipos de anticorpos foram classificados em quatro categorias, conforme características apresentadas na queda, e o anticorpo IgM anti-esquistossômulo foi considerado como pertencente à categoria de anticorpos com queda moderada, enquanto que os demais anticorpos contra formas evolutivas jovens do parasita, à categoria daqueles com queda lenta. A metodologia aqui empregada permite identificar anticorpos potencialmente mais adequados a serem detectados em programas para controle da esquistossomose ou de outras parasitoses no campo

Antibodies to a number of parasite antigens are found in schistosomiasis patients, and antibodies to early developmental stages were demonstrated to be efficient immunologic markers for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. In the present study, decay patterns of IgM and IgG antibodies against cercariae and schistosomula were investigated, in comparison to antibodies against worms and eggs in schistosomiasis patients after chemotherapy, for an investigation of seroepidemiologic aspects. Data obtained in the study of 359 serum samples from patients with Schistosoma mansoni infection, noninfected individuals, and patients followed-up for a period of 12 to 15 months after treatment provided the basis to postulate a general pattern for the kinetics of antibody decay. Before treatment, the antibody pattern was represented by a unimodal curve, which shifted to a bimodal curve after treatment, and ended with a unimodal curve similar to that for the noninfected group. Different types of antibodies were classified into four categories according to their decay features, and anti-schistosomulum IgM was classified into the moderate-decay caterogy, whereas other antibodies to early parasite stages were classified into the slow-decay category. The present methodology permits the identification of the most suitable antibodies to be detected in field control programs for schistosomiasis or other parasitoses

Um método de reação antígeno-anticorpo denominado IMUNOENSAIO EM CAMADA DELGADA (ICD) foi padronizado e avaliado para o imunodiagnóstico da toxoplasmose aguda, através da detecção de anticorpos IgM, anti-Toxoplasma gondii (ICD-IgM). Um total de 300 amostras de soros, tendo ou não o perfil sorológico da toxoplasmose aguda, foi estudado pelo ICD-IgM e os resultados analisados quanto aos aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos em relação aos testes convencionais de imunofluorecência indireta para a detecção de IgM, (IFI-IgM) e de hemaglutinação pré e após tratamento com 2-mercaptoetanol (HA-2ME). Foram calculados os coeficientes de correlação entre os resultados fornecidos pelo ICD-IgM e as técnicas convencionais, de acordo com as concentrações do antígeno, assim como, foi verificada a influência dessas concentrações antigênicas nos índices relativos de sensibilidade e de especificidade. O estudo estatístico mostrou reprodutibilidades significativas dos resultados inter e intra testes, assim como no reaproveitamento do antígeno por 10 vezes. Os resultados de ICD-IgM mostraram que as concentrações antigênicas ideais foram de 70 a 100µg/ml, para o ensaio em questão, para se obter máximas sensibilidade e especificidade. Portanto, ICD-IgM, por fornecer resultados tão sensíveis e específicos quanto aqueles dos testes convencionais referidos, poderá ser empregado para fins diagnósticos.

A solid phase method, thin-layer immunoassay (IgM-TIA) was standardized and evaluated for the immunodiagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis, through the detection of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. A total of 300 serum samples from serologically defined acute toxoplasmosis and, from non-related infections, was investigated by IgM-TIA. Statistical analysis were carried out in comparison with conventional tests, the immunofluorescence test for the detection of IgM antibodies (IgM-IFI) and hemagglutination test which uses 2-mercaptoetanol serum treatment (2ME-HA). Also the correlation coefficients were calculated for various Toxoplasma gondii antigen concentrations, as well as, the influence of the antigenic concentration on the relative indices of sensitivity and specificity were verified. The intra and inter test reproducibilities were demonstrated statistically, as well as, the reutilization of T. gondii antigen was proven to be possible for at least 10 times. The data indicated that antigenic concentrations, from 70 to 100 Çmg/ml, were able to provide maximum sensitivity and specificity. IgM-TIA displayed similar diagnostic efficiency to those two conventional tests here utilized, and may be employed to make diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis, mainly if laboratory animals are avaiable.