Toxoplasma gondii est un parasite intracellulaire obligatoire potentiellement capable d’infecter tous les animaux homéothermes. L’Amérique du Sud, et plus particulièrement le Brésil occupe une place particulière dans l’épidémiologie de ce parasite cosmopolite en raison d’une part de formes cliniques sévères observées chez l’Homme et d’autre part d’une diversité génétique du parasite, sans équivalent jusqu’à présent sur d’autres continents. L’Etat de Rio de Janeiro présente des environnements très contrastés allant d’une ville capitale comportant différents degrés d’urbanisation à des zones isolées de haute altitude, habitat d’une faune très riche.Nous avons cherché à étudier l’influence de facteurs anthropiques et physiques sur l’épidémiologie du parasite dans différents environnements de l’Etat de Rio de Janeiro. Pour cela, nous avons d’une part étudié la séroprévalence chez les chats dans deux environnements avec différents degrés d’urbanisation de la ville de Rio, d’autre part mené des études d’épidémiologie moléculaire à l’aide de prélèvements sur des animaux de la ville de Rio, d’un parc national situé dans les zones de hautes altitudes et des zones rurales avoisinantes.L’étude de séroprévalence chez les chats dans la ville de Rio a permis de montrer l’intérêt de l’utilisation des prélèvements sur papier-filtre pour la réalisation de la technique de Modified-Agglutination-Test (MAT). Elle a révélé une différence significative de prévalence entre les chats errants du quartier résidentiel privé (4/107- 3,74%) et ceux du refuge municipal (32/265-12,08%). La densité des animaux et d’autres facteurs écologiques peuvent expliquer cette différence.La détection d’ADN toxoplasmique a été positive chez 8/16 chats de la ville de Rio, 14/18 animaux domestiques et 23/33 animaux sauvages de la zone d’amortissement du parc, 31/38 petits rongeurs ou marsupiaux piégés dans les zones de haute altitude. La détection a été positive sur les tissus de 3 félidés sauvages de la zone d’amortissement et sur les fèces d’un Puma yagouaroundi retrouvées dans le parc témoignant du rôle de ces félidés sauvages dans la contamination du sol aussi bien en zone préservée que dans les zones rurales proches du parc.Le génotypage par 15 marqueurs microsatellites a été possible pour 6 échantillons (dont une souche viable). Il a révélé une grande diversité génétique, mais aussi la présence aussi bien dans le parc qu’au centre-ville de Rio de souches appartenant aux lignées brésiliennes majeures BRII et BRIII. / Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite, potentially infecting all warm-blooded animals. In South America, and especially in Brazil, this cosmopolitan parasite presents some peculiarities due to an exceptional genetic diversity and the existence of severe clinical forms in Human, probably linked to the genetic background of some strains. In Brazil, the state of Rio de Janeiro presents highly contrasted environments from the city of Rio de Janeiro with different degrees of urbanizaton to isolated “sky islands”, hosting a rich and endemic fauna.We looked for physical and anthropic factors that may have an impact on the epidemiology of T. gondii in different environments of the state of Rio de Janeiro. We performed a seroprevalence study in cat populations living in 2 districts of Rio de Janeiro city with different degrees of urbanization, and molecular epidemiology studies on tissues of animals collected in Rio city, in a National Park characterized by “sky islands” and in intermediate and rural areas surrounding this park..The seroprevalence study on cats in Rio de Janeiro city allowed to show the value of blood sampling on filter-paper for performing the Modified-Agglutination-Test (MAT) for antibody detection in cats. There was a significant difference between seroprevalence observed in stray-cats from a residential district area with a relatively well-preserved natural environment (4/107- 3.74%) and in cats from a downtown public shelter (32/265-12.08%). Cat population density and other ecological factors may be involved in these differences.T. gondii DNA was detected in tissues of 8/16 cats from Rio city, 14/18 domestic and 23/33 wild animals in the area surrounding the park, and 31/38 small rodents or marsupials captured inside the National Park. DNA detection was positive in 3 tissues from wild felids found in the intermediate area surrounding the park and in feces from a Puma yagouaroundi found inside the park. This showed the role of wild felids in soil contamination in both environments.Genetic characterization using 15 microsatellite markers was successful for 6 samples, including one live strain (full genotyping for 5, and incomplete genotyping for one sample). This small sampling of strains was characterized by a large genetic diversity and revealed the presence of the main brazilian lineages, BRII and BRIII in isolated sky islands as well as in the city center of Rio de Janeiro.

Par le passé les virus influenza A ont montré leur capacité d’émergence dans la population humaine. En 2009, l’apparition d’un nouveau variant réassortant a provoqué une pandémie. Ces travaux avaient pour objectifs d’étudier la propagation de la pandémie en France et Bolivie. Premièrement en Franve avec l’étude sérologique d’une population hospitalière et la surveillance hebdomadaire mise en place grâce au programme SéroGrippeHebdo. La séroprévalence prépandémique était de plus de 20% (au1/80) chez les plus de 60ans et de moins de 10% dans les autres groupes. Il a été possible de calculer un taux d’attaque d’environ 12% au sein de la population française métropolitaine. Mais aussi d’observer la perte d’anticorps rapide après le pic d’infection. Les taux de séroconversions les plus importants étaient chez les 0-24 ans (23.4%). La deuxième partie de ce travail s’est déroulée à Santa Cruz de la Sierra, en Bolivie. Le programme CoPanFlu international en association avec le CENETROP a permis l’étude de la sérologie sur une cohorte de foyers en 2010. Par ailleurs, nous avons caractérisé les pathogènes respiratoires de 2010 à 2012 à Santa Cruz. La grippe représente entre 40 et 58% des cas chaque années, suivie des rhinovirus, des coronavirus et des VRS. L’épidémiologie moléculaire des virus influenza a mis au jour un cluster de circulation sud américain pour les virus H1N1(2009).Les sérologies pré-pandémiques montrent une séroprévalence de 23% pour les ≥60ans. Après la pandémie la distribution par tranche d’âge est différente entre les villes de haute altitude et les autres.Enfin une estimation de la séroconversion montre que les jeunes adultes entre 20-39 sont les plus touchés. / Influenza viruses A have shown their ability to emerge in the human population and in 2009, the appearance of a new variant has caused a pandemia. The objective of this work was to study the pandemia’s spread in France and in Bolivia.In France, first, with the serological study of a hospital population and the weekly supervision established with SeroGrippeHebdo. The prepandemic seroprevalence was more than 20%(au1/80) for the >sixty years, and less than 10% in the others groups. It was possible to reckon an attack rate for about 12% in the metropolitan French population, and to observe a quick loss of antibody after the infection rate. Most important seroconversion rates concerned the 0-24 years(23.4%).The second part of this work took place in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in Bolivia, developing country in the tropical zone of South America. The international CoPanFlu in partnership with the CENETROP, has enabled to study serology among a cohort of families in 2010. Moreover, we have characterized etiologies of respiratory pathogenesis from 2010 to 2012, in Santa Cruz. Flu represented about 40 to 58% of the cases each year, followed by rhinoviruses, coronaviruses and SRV. The molecular epidemiology of influenza viruses has shown a South American circulation cluster for the H1N1 viruses(2009). The prepandemic serologies in Santa Cruz show a seroprevalence of 23% for the ≥60. After the pandemia, the distribution by age is different for the towns at high altitude and others. Finally, an estimation of the sero-conversion showed that young adults between 20 and 39 were more affected in Bolivia.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo otimizar ensaios sorológicos para serem utilizados na pesquisa de anticorpos dirigidos ao Herpesvírus humano tipo 8 (HHV-8) e com eles explorar grupos de risco para adquirir, transmitir e desenvolver doença relacionada à esta infecção, como o sarcoma de Kaposi (SK). Tomando como base a literatura disponível, as condições do laboratório e a experiência profissional acumulada na Seção de Imunologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz de São Paulo, foram selecionados e utilizados os ensaios de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e Western blot (WB) para a pesquisa de anticorpos dirigidos a antígenos (Ag) de fase latente (LANA) e lítica da infecção por HHV-8. Para a padronização dos testes sorológicos foram utilizadas amostras de soro de 44 pacientes com SK e 21 controles sadios do Laboratório, e para o cálculo de prevalência de infecção HHV-8 em diferentes populações de São Paulo, soros de 3 grupos de indivíduos: - 477 pacientes infectados pelo HIV/AIDS sem SK; - 683 pacientes institucionalizados com deficiência mental e/ou física; - 736 profissionais da área da saúde, sadios. Foram empregados na preparação das lâminas de IFI e nas tiras de WB respectivamente, as células BCBL-1 latentemente infectadas pelo HHV-8 ou estimuladas com forbol éster e o antígeno viral bruto obtido de sobrenadante de lisado das mesmas células. Os resultados obtidos na padronização da IFI-LANA mostraram baixa especificidade do ensaio devendo ser acompanhado pelo teste confirmatório de WB-LANA. Por outro lado, a IFI-Lítico se mostrou altamente sensível e específica, prescindindo do teste confirmatório de WB-Lítico. Este último, devido à complexidade de componentes antigênicos aliado aos diferentes perfis de reatividade de anticorpos encontrados em soros controle positivo e negativo, não se mostrou útil para ser empregado no presente trabalho. Levando em consideração os resultados obtidos na IFI-LANA confirmados pelo WB-LANA e na IFI-Lítico, foi possível determinar a prevalência de infecção HHV-8 no grupo de pacientes infectados pelo HIV/AIDS sem SK que foi de 19,3%, sendo detectados 4,8% de soros positivos para Ag LANA e 17% para Ag Lítico. Neste grupo de pacientes, houve associação estatisticamente significante entre sorologia HHV-8 positiva, sexo masculino e prática homossexual. Baixas prevalências de anticorpos foram detectadas nos pacientes institucionalizados com deficiência mental e/ou física (1,6%) e nos profissionais da área da saúde (1,1%). Anticorpos dirigidos a Ag LANA foram encontrados em 0,6% e 0,95% dos casos, e para Ag Líticos em 1,0% e 0,3% dos casos, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos mostram que São Paulo não é região endêmica desta infecção viral e que pacientes institucionalizados e profissionais da área da saúde não são grupos de alto risco para adquirir e transmitir o HHV-8; nenhum caso de SK foi relatado neste grupo de indivíduos na ocasião da coleta das amostras de soro. Quanto ao grupo de pacientes infectados pelo HIV/AIDS sem SK, embora 19,3% deles tenham resultado sorologia HHV-8 positiva sendo a maioria para Ag de fase lítica de replicação viral, apenas 2% desenvolveram SK em estudo longitudinal de 5 anos. A explicação encontrada para o baixo número de casos de SK nesta população de indivíduos foi a introdução em 1994, de terapia anti-retroviral em São Paulo, que mudou o curso da infecção HIV e das doenças à ela associadas. Enfim, foi possível implantar ensaios sorológicos de pesquisa de anticorpos específicos, que juntos, apresentam alta sensibilidade e especificidade e que podem ser empregados em levantamentos epidemiológicos e no diagnóstico de infecção HHV-8. / The objective of the present study was to optimize serologic assays to be employed in the search for antibodies against human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) and use them to survey groups at risk to acquire, transmit and develop disease related to this infection, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). On the basis of the available literature and of the Laboratory conditions and professional experience accumulated in the Immunology Section of the Adolfo Lutz Institute of São Paulo, we selected and used indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blot (WB) for the search of antibodies against antigens (Ag) of the latent (LANA) and lytic phase of HHV-8 infection. Serum samples from 44 patients with KS and from 21 healthy controls from the laboratory were used for the standardization of the serologic tests, and sera from the following 3 groups of individuals were used to calculate the prevalence of HHV-8 infection in different São Paulo populations:- 477 patients infected with HIV/AIDS without KS; - 683 institutionalized patients with mental and/or physical deficiency; - 736 healthy professionals from the health area. For the preparation of IFA slides and WB strips, we respectively used BCBL-1 cells latently infected with HHV-8 or stimulated with phorbol ester and the crude antigen obtained from the supernatant of a lysate of the same cells. The results obtained in the standardization of the IFA-LANA showed low specificity of the assay, which needed to be accompanied by the confirmatory WB-LANA test. In contrast, the IFA-Lytic proved to be highly sensitive and specific, requiring no confirmatory WB-Lytic test. The latter, due to the complexity of the antigenic components joined to the different reactive profiles of the antibodies detected in positive and negative control sera, was not found to be useful for the present study. Considering the results obtained by IFA-LANA confirmed by WB-LANA and those obtained by IFA-Lytic, it was possible to determine the prevalence of HHV-8 infection in the group of HIV-AIDS patients without KS, which was 19.3%, with the detection of 4.8% sera positive for LANA Ag and 17% positive for Lytic Ag. In this group of patients there was a statistically significant association between HHV-8-positive serology, male sex and homosexual practice. Low antibody prevalences were detected in institutionalized patients with mental and/or physical deficiency (1.6%) and in health professionals (1.1%). Antibodies against LANA Ag were detected in 0.6% and 0.95% of cases, and antibodies against Lytic Ag in 1.0% and 0.3% of cases, respectively. The results obtained show that São Paulo is not an endemic region for this viral infection and that institutionalized patients and health professionals are not groups at high risk to acquire and transmit HHV-8; no case of KS was reported by these groups on the occasion of the collection of serum samples. With respect to the patients infected with HIV/AIDS without KS, although 19.3% of them showed HHV-8-positive serology, in most cases for Ag of the lytic phase of viral replication, only 2% developed KS in a 5 year longitudinal study. The small number of KS cases detected in this population is explained by the introduction in 1994 of antiretroviral therapy in São Paulo, which changed the course of HIV infection and of the diseases associated with it. In conclusion, it was possible to set up serologic assays for the detection of specific antibodies which, considered jointly, presented high sensitivity and specificity and which could be used in epidemiologic surveys and in the diagnosis of HHV-8 infection.

Feline morbilliviruses (FeMV) are fairly newly discovered paramyxoviruses found in cats. The first description indicated an association with widely distributed chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the host species. In various studies, a global prevalence and a further genotype, designated FeMV-2, and the involvement of other organ systems in infected individuals were shown. Using an immunofluorescence assay, we detected an overall seroprevalence of FeMV in almost half of the cats investigated (n = 380), with a significantly increased proportion in younger animals. In comparison to European Shorthair cats, the rate of seropositivity is higher in pedigree cats. Regardless of the breed, FeMV infection was associated with increased blood creatinine concentrations, suggesting an association with CKD. Further analysis indicated that this association was the strongest in animals having high IFA titers against FeMV-2. In addition, a significant association between FeMV-positive status and the prevalence of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD, or idiopathic cystitis) was detected. This association was dominated by cats having antibodies against FeMV-1 only. To further evaluate the positive correlation between FeMV seroprevalence and CKD as well as FLUTD, consideration of additional clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters is warranted, and controlled infection studies with both FeMV genotypes are necessary. Clinicians should, however, be aware of a possible link between renal and lower urinary tract disease and FeMV infections.

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, is a zoonotic pathogen of worldwide significance. The genus Orthohepevirus A of the family Hepeviridae includes all mammalian strains of HEV and consists of 8 recognized genotypes. Genotypes 1 and 2 HEVs only infect humans and genotypes 3 and 4 infect humans and several other animal species including pigs and rabbits. An ever-expanding host range of genetically-diversified strains of HEV now include bat, fish, rat, ferret, moose, wild boar, mongoose, deer, and camel. Additionally, the ruminant species goats, sheep, and cattle have been implicated as potential reservoirs as well. My dissertation research investigates a novel animal model for HEV, examines the immune dynamics during acute infection, and evaluates the possibility of additional animal reservoirs of HEV. The first project established an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain knock-out JH (-/-) gnotobiotic piglet model that mimics the course of acute HEV infection observed in humans and evaluated the pathogenesis of HEV infection in this novel animal model. The dynamics of acute HEV infection in gnotobiotic pigs were systematically determined with a genotype 3 human strain of HEV. We also investigated the potential role of immunoglobulin heavy-chain JH in HEV pathogenesis and immune dynamics during the acute stage of virus infection. This novel gnotobiotic pig model will aid in future studies into HEV pathogenicity, an aspect which has thus far been difficult to reproduce in the available animal model systems. The objective of the second project for my PhD dissertation was to determine if cattle in the United States are infected with a bovine strain of HEV. We demonstrated serological evidence of an HEV-related agent in cattle populations with a high level of IgG anti-HEV prevalence. We demonstrated that calves from a seropositive cattle herd seroconverted to IgG binding HEV during a prospective study. We also showed that the IgG anti-HEV present in cattle has an ability to neutralize genotype 3 human HEV in vitro. However, our exhaustive attempts to detect HEVrelated sequence from cattle in the United States failed, suggesting that one should be cautious in interpreting the IgG anti-HEV serological results in bovine and other species. Collectively, the work from my PhD dissertation delineated important mechanisms in HEV pathogenesis and established a novel animal model for future HEV research. / Ph. D. / Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, is a zoonotic pathogen of worldwide significance. According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 20 million HEV infections annually, which result in 3.3 million cases of acute hepatitis E and >44,000 HEV-related deaths. Hepatitis E is a self-limiting acute disease in general, but carries the ability to cause high mortality in pregnant women and chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised individuals. The underlying mechanisms of HEV host tropism and progression of disease to chronicity are unknown. My dissertation work investigates a novel animal model for HEV, evaluates the possibility of additional animal reservoirs of HEV, and examines the immune dynamics during acute infection. The first project established an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain knock-out JH (-/-) gnotobiotic piglet model that mimics the course of acute HEV infection observed in humans. The dynamics of acute HEV infection were determined in both the knock-out and wild-type piglets with a genotype 3 strain of human HEV. We also investigated the potential role of immunoglobulin heavy-chain JH in HEV pathogenesis and virus infection. In the second project, we determined if cattle in the United States are infected with a bovine strain of HEV. We showed serological evidence of an HEV-related agent in cattle as well as calves born in a seropositive herd. Despite the detection of specific antibodies recognizing HEV in cattle, definitive evidence of virus infection could not be demonstrated. Our exhaustive attempts to detect HEV-related sequence from cattle in the United States failed, suggesting that one should be cautious in interpreting the IgG anti-HEV serological results in bovine and other species. Collectively, the work from my PhD dissertation research delineated important mechanisms in HEV pathogenesis and established a novel animal model for future HEV research.

Lawsonia intracellularis and the disease it causes in horses, equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), is an emerging pathogen of increasing importance to the horse industry from both an economic and welfare standpoint. Long recognized as an economically important disease of swine, the hallmark of EPE is a protein-losing enteropathy, where affected horses suffer weight loss and some ultimately succumb to the disease despite aggressive treatment. There are currently no known EPE preventative measures and the epidemiology of the disease remains poorly defined. While EPE is a sporadic disease affecting less than 25% of exposed horses, some farms experience clinical cases year after year. Further, weanlings are uniquely susceptible to this disease, although no conclusive reason for this predisposition has been identified. The overall hypothesis is that the host immune response plays a significant role in the susceptibility of weanlings to L. intracellularis infection and the occurrence of clinical equine proliferative enteropathy. To test this hypothesis, four individual hypotheses were proposed: (H1) previous farm history of EPE does not have an effect on weanling seroprevalence, (H2) passively-acquired antibodies do not have an effect on susceptibility to L. intracellularis and the occurrence of EPE, (H3) the serological status of mares can be used to determine the role they play in the epidemiology of EPE on endemic farms, and (H4) L. intracellularis-specific IFN-g expression is not associated with increased resistance to EPE.

Background Indigenous peoples with traditional lifestyles worldwide are considered particularly vulnerable to climate change effects. Large climate change impacts on the spread of infectious vector-borne diseases are expected as a health outcome. The most rapid climate changes are occurring in the Arctic regions, and as a part of this region northernmost Sweden might experience early effects. In this thesis, climate change effects on the lives of Sami reindeer herders are described and 30 years of weather changes are quantified. Epidemiology of the climate sensitive human infection tularemia is assessed, baseline serologic prevalence of tularemia is investigated and the disease burden is quantified across inhabitants in the region. Methods Perceptions and experiences of climate change effects among the indigenous Sami reindeer herders of northern Sweden were investigated through qualitative analyses of fourteen interviews. The results were then combined with instrumental weather data from ten meteorological stations in a mixed-methods design to further illustrate climate change effects in this region. In two following studies, tularemia ecology and epidemiology were investigated. A total of 4,792 reported cases of tularemia between 1984 and 2012 were analysed and correlated to ecological regions and presence of inland water using geographical mapping. The status of tularemia in the Swedish Arctic region was further investigated through risk factor analyses of a 2012 regional outbreak and a cross-sectional serological survey to estimate the burden of disease including unreported cases. Results The reindeer herders described how the winters of northern Sweden have changed since the 1970s – warmer winters with shorter snow season and cold periods, and earlier spring. The adverse effects on the reindeer herders through the obstruction of their work, the stress induced and the threat to their lifestyle was demonstrated, forcing the reindeer herders towards the limit of resilience. Weather data supported the observations of winter changes; some stations displayed a more than two full months shorter snow cover season and winter temperatures increased significantly, most pronounced in the lowest temperatures. During the same time period a near tenfold increase in national incidence of tularemia was observed in Sweden (from 0.26 to 2.47/100,000 p<0.001) with a clear overrepresentation of cases in the north versus the south (4.52 vs. 0.56/100,000 p<0.001). The incidence was positively correlated with the presence of inland water (p<0.001) and higher than expected in the alpine and boreal ecologic regions (p<0.001). In the outbreak investigation a dose-response relationship to water was identified; distance from residence to water – less than 100 m, mOR 2.86 (95% CI 1.79–4.57) and 100 to 500 m, mOR 1.63 (95% CI 1.08–2.46). The prevalence of tularemia antibodies in the two northernmost counties was 2.9% corresponding to a 16 times higher number of cases than reported indicating that the reported numbers represent only a minute fraction of the true tularemia. Conclusions The extensive winter changes pose a threat to reindeer herding in this region. Tularemia is increasing in Sweden, it has a strong correlation to water and northern ecoregions, and unreported tularemia cases are quite common.

O Herpesvírus 8 humano (HHV-8) é endêmico em populações africanas e indígenas da região Amazônica. A infecção nestas populações acontece durante a infância e, na África, envolve o contato íntimo no ambiente intrafamiliar. Diversos estudos confirmam a distribuição geográfica dos diferentes subtipos de HHV-8, sendo que o subtipo E é típico das populações indígenas. Objetivos: 1. Caracterizar o(s) subtipo(s) de HHV-8 que circula(m) em população indígena da Amazônia brasileira baseado na análise da região ORF K1 do vírus; 2. Construir a árvore filogenética dos subtipos virais encontrados; 3. Comparar filogeneticamente os subtipos encontrados com os subtipos prevalentes em outras populações indígenas do Brasil e de outros países da América do Sul; 4. Calcular a taxa de substituição para a região VR1 do HHV-8 para as amostras estudadas; 5. Estimar a data de entrada do vírus na população do estudo; 6. Investigar a dinâmica de transmissão do vírus no ambiente intrafamiliar; 7. Averiguar se há correlação entre os alelos de HLA classe I (A e B) e II (DQB1 e DRB1) e suscetibilidade à infecção por HHV-8. Casuística e métodos: Estudo de soroprevalência da infecção por HHV-8 em amostra de população indígena da Amazônia brasileira utilizando IFI para detecção de antígenos da fase latente (LANA) e lítica (Lítico) do vírus. Análise filogenética da amostras encontradas utilizando-se o DNA/HHV-8 extraído de amostras de saliva, submetidas à reação de nested PCR para amplificar as regiões hipervariáveis VR1 e VR2. Cálculo da taxa de substituição do HHV-8, utilizando-se os métodos de distância e técnica bayesiana. Estimar a data do ancestral comum mais recente para as amostras em estudo, utilizando-se o programa BEAST. Tipagem de HLA de indivíduos positivos e negativos para a infecção por HHV-8, utilizando-se a técnica de PCR-SSO. Resultados: A soroprevalência geral da infecção por HHV-8 na população em estudo foi de 75,3% (399/530). Observou-se que a soropositividade dos filhos está correlecionada com a soropositividade materna. O único subtipo viral encontrado foi o subtipo E. A taxa de substituição de nucleotídeos do HHV-8 utilizando a região VR1 foi da ordem de 6x10-4 substituições por sítio por ano (s/s/a). Ao analisar todas as seqüências estudadas o ancestral comum mais recente está em torno de 138 anos. Não houve correlação entre a susceptibilidade à infecção por HHV-8 e alelos de HLA classe I ou II. Conclusões: A população estudada é endêmica para a infecção por HHV-8. A infecção ocorre principalmente na infância, por via horizontal não-sexual, e a transmissão se dá provavelmente pela saliva. Assim como em outras populações endêmicas da África, a soropositvidade dos filhos está correlacionada com a soropositividade das mães. Confirmando achados anteriores, o único subtipo do HHV-8 circulante na população estudada, foi o subtipo E. Nossos dados sugerem que a região do gene VR1 do HHV-8 evolui com uma taxa de 6x10-4 substituições por sítio por ano (s/s/a), e que o ancestral comum mais recente do vírus, a partir das amostras analisadas está em torno de 138 anos. Os dados sugerem, também, que não há correlação entre a susceptibilidade à infecção por HHV-8 e os alelos de HLA classe I ou II. / The human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is endemic in Africa and Amerindian populations from Amazon region. The infection in those populations occurs during childhood and, in Africa, involves a close contact in intrafamilial environment. Several studies confirm the geographical distribution of different subtypes of HHV-8, and the subtype E is typical of the Amerindian population. Objectives: 1. To characterize the HHV-8 subtypes circulating in Amerindian population from Brazilian Amazon, based on the analysis of ORF K1 region of the virus. 2. To construct a phylogenetic tree of viral subtypes found among Amerindians 3. To compare by phylogenetic methods the subtypes found in Mapuera Amerindians with the subtypes prevalent in others Amerindians populations of Brazil and South America 4. To determine the substitution rate of VR1 region of HHV-8 for the sequences obtained in the present study 5. To estimate the date of entry of the viruses in the Mapuera population 6. To investigate the dynamic of transmission of the virus in the intrafamilial environment 7. To investigate if there is a correlation between susceptibility to HHV-8-infection and HLA class I (A and B) and II (DQB1 and DRB1) alleles. Patients and methods: The seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection in a sample of the indigenous population of the Brazilian Amazon was carried out using IFA to detect antibodies to latent (LANA) and lytic phase antigens of HHV-8. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences was performed by using the DNA extracted from samples of saliva, using a nested PCR to amplify the hypervariable regions VR1/ VR2 of HHV-8. Estimation of the substitution rate of HHV-8 nucleotides was performed by using the method of distance and the Bayesian technique. Estimates of the time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for all samples studied were done by using the BEAST program. HLA typing of positive and negative subjects for HHV-8 infection was performed by using the PCR-SSO technique. Results: The overall HHV-8 seroprevalence was 75.3% (399/530). There was a positive correlation between soropositivity of children and maternal seropositivity. The only viral subtype found was subtype E. The substitution rate of HHV-8 using the VR1 region was estimated around 6x10-4 substitutions per site per year (s / s / y). By using this rate of substitution, the TMRCA of the Mapuera viruses sequences was estimated to be around 138 years. There was no correlation between susceptibility to HHV-8-infection and HLA class I or II alleles. Conclusions: The population studied is endemic for HHV-8 infection. The infection occurs mainly in childhood, by horizontal, nonsexual transmission, probably by saliva. As in endemic populations of Africa, the soropositvity of children is positively correlated with the seropositivity of the mothers. In agreement with previous reports, the subtype E was the only HHV-8 subtype found in Mapuera Amerindians. Our data suggest that the VR1 gene region of HHV-8 evolves with a rate of 6x10-4 substitutions per site per year (s / s / y), which results in a time of the most recent common ancestor for Mapuera HHV-8 sequences of 138 years. There was no correlation between susceptibility to HHV-8-infection and HLA class I or II alleles.

O Herpesvírus 8 humano (HHV-8) é endêmico em populações africanas e indígenas da região Amazônica. A infecção nestas populações acontece durante a infância e, na África, envolve o contato íntimo no ambiente intrafamiliar. Diversos estudos confirmam a distribuição geográfica dos diferentes subtipos de HHV-8, sendo que o subtipo E é típico das populações indígenas. Objetivos: 1. Caracterizar o(s) subtipo(s) de HHV-8 que circula(m) em população indígena da Amazônia brasileira baseado na análise da região ORF K1 do vírus; 2. Construir a árvore filogenética dos subtipos virais encontrados; 3. Comparar filogeneticamente os subtipos encontrados com os subtipos prevalentes em outras populações indígenas do Brasil e de outros países da América do Sul; 4. Calcular a taxa de substituição para a região VR1 do HHV-8 para as amostras estudadas; 5. Estimar a data de entrada do vírus na população do estudo; 6. Investigar a dinâmica de transmissão do vírus no ambiente intrafamiliar; 7. Averiguar se há correlação entre os alelos de HLA classe I (A e B) e II (DQB1 e DRB1) e suscetibilidade à infecção por HHV-8. Casuística e métodos: Estudo de soroprevalência da infecção por HHV-8 em amostra de população indígena da Amazônia brasileira utilizando IFI para detecção de antígenos da fase latente (LANA) e lítica (Lítico) do vírus. Análise filogenética da amostras encontradas utilizando-se o DNA/HHV-8 extraído de amostras de saliva, submetidas à reação de nested PCR para amplificar as regiões hipervariáveis VR1 e VR2. Cálculo da taxa de substituição do HHV-8, utilizando-se os métodos de distância e técnica bayesiana. Estimar a data do ancestral comum mais recente para as amostras em estudo, utilizando-se o programa BEAST. Tipagem de HLA de indivíduos positivos e negativos para a infecção por HHV-8, utilizando-se a técnica de PCR-SSO. Resultados: A soroprevalência geral da infecção por HHV-8 na população em estudo foi de 75,3% (399/530). Observou-se que a soropositividade dos filhos está correlecionada com a soropositividade materna. O único subtipo viral encontrado foi o subtipo E. A taxa de substituição de nucleotídeos do HHV-8 utilizando a região VR1 foi da ordem de 6x10-4 substituições por sítio por ano (s/s/a). Ao analisar todas as seqüências estudadas o ancestral comum mais recente está em torno de 138 anos. Não houve correlação entre a susceptibilidade à infecção por HHV-8 e alelos de HLA classe I ou II. Conclusões: A população estudada é endêmica para a infecção por HHV-8. A infecção ocorre principalmente na infância, por via horizontal não-sexual, e a transmissão se dá provavelmente pela saliva. Assim como em outras populações endêmicas da África, a soropositvidade dos filhos está correlacionada com a soropositividade das mães. Confirmando achados anteriores, o único subtipo do HHV-8 circulante na população estudada, foi o subtipo E. Nossos dados sugerem que a região do gene VR1 do HHV-8 evolui com uma taxa de 6x10-4 substituições por sítio por ano (s/s/a), e que o ancestral comum mais recente do vírus, a partir das amostras analisadas está em torno de 138 anos. Os dados sugerem, também, que não há correlação entre a susceptibilidade à infecção por HHV-8 e os alelos de HLA classe I ou II. / The human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is endemic in Africa and Amerindian populations from Amazon region. The infection in those populations occurs during childhood and, in Africa, involves a close contact in intrafamilial environment. Several studies confirm the geographical distribution of different subtypes of HHV-8, and the subtype E is typical of the Amerindian population. Objectives: 1. To characterize the HHV-8 subtypes circulating in Amerindian population from Brazilian Amazon, based on the analysis of ORF K1 region of the virus. 2. To construct a phylogenetic tree of viral subtypes found among Amerindians 3. To compare by phylogenetic methods the subtypes found in Mapuera Amerindians with the subtypes prevalent in others Amerindians populations of Brazil and South America 4. To determine the substitution rate of VR1 region of HHV-8 for the sequences obtained in the present study 5. To estimate the date of entry of the viruses in the Mapuera population 6. To investigate the dynamic of transmission of the virus in the intrafamilial environment 7. To investigate if there is a correlation between susceptibility to HHV-8-infection and HLA class I (A and B) and II (DQB1 and DRB1) alleles. Patients and methods: The seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection in a sample of the indigenous population of the Brazilian Amazon was carried out using IFA to detect antibodies to latent (LANA) and lytic phase antigens of HHV-8. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences was performed by using the DNA extracted from samples of saliva, using a nested PCR to amplify the hypervariable regions VR1/ VR2 of HHV-8. Estimation of the substitution rate of HHV-8 nucleotides was performed by using the method of distance and the Bayesian technique. Estimates of the time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for all samples studied were done by using the BEAST program. HLA typing of positive and negative subjects for HHV-8 infection was performed by using the PCR-SSO technique. Results: The overall HHV-8 seroprevalence was 75.3% (399/530). There was a positive correlation between soropositivity of children and maternal seropositivity. The only viral subtype found was subtype E. The substitution rate of HHV-8 using the VR1 region was estimated around 6x10-4 substitutions per site per year (s / s / y). By using this rate of substitution, the TMRCA of the Mapuera viruses sequences was estimated to be around 138 years. There was no correlation between susceptibility to HHV-8-infection and HLA class I or II alleles. Conclusions: The population studied is endemic for HHV-8 infection. The infection occurs mainly in childhood, by horizontal, nonsexual transmission, probably by saliva. As in endemic populations of Africa, the soropositvity of children is positively correlated with the seropositivity of the mothers. In agreement with previous reports, the subtype E was the only HHV-8 subtype found in Mapuera Amerindians. Our data suggest that the VR1 gene region of HHV-8 evolves with a rate of 6x10-4 substitutions per site per year (s / s / y), which results in a time of the most recent common ancestor for Mapuera HHV-8 sequences of 138 years. There was no correlation between susceptibility to HHV-8-infection and HLA class I or II alleles.

Dans cette étude, la bile d’un porc canadien naturellement infecté par une souche du virus de l’hépatite E (VHE) a été utilisée afin d’inoculer deux groupes de porcelets. Dans l’étude précoce (E), 4 porcelets âgés de 4 semaines et exempts de pathogènes spécifiques (SPF), ont été suivis jusqu’à 14 jours post-inoculation (pi). Dans l’étude tardive (L), 9 porcelets ont été suivis à chaque semaine jusqu’à l’abattage, soit 120 jours pi. À la nécropsie, la présence du VHE a été évaluée dans différents organes à 7, 14 et 120 jours pi. Des porcelets témoins (E=2 et L=3) ont été inoculés par de la bile exempte de VHE. Le virus a persisté chez certains animaux jusqu’à 84 à 105 jours pi dans le sérum malgré la présence d’anticorps IgG anti-VHE dans le sang, suggérant une virémie prolongée. L’excrétion virale dans les fèces s’est étalée également sur une période de 105 jours pi chez certains animaux. De plus, la détection de l’ARN viral dans les organes évalués s’est révélée presque nulle à l’âge d’abattage à l’exception de quelques vésicules biliaires, alors qu’on retrouvait l’ARN viral dans plusieurs organes à 7 et 14 jours pi. Pour évaluer la distribution du VHE chez les porcs commerciaux du Québec, un échantillonnage de porcs de trois abattoirs a été réalisé. Environ 100 échantillons de sang, fèces, foies et bile provenant des mêmes animaux en processus d’abattage ont été prélevés dans chacun des abattoirs, sur des porcs destinés à la consommation humaine. La détection de l’ARN viral et des anticorps du VHE a été réalisée à l’aide d’une RT-PCR nichée et d’un test ELISA adapté pour déceler les anticorps porcins anti-VHE. Chez les porcs d’abattoir, 12,9 % des échantillons de bile contenaient de l’ARN viral du VHE, alors que la détection virale était moindre dans les autres organes. Une séroprévalence en IgG de 26,0 % a été obtenue pour les sérums porcins analysés. Une analyse phylogénétique des différentes souches isolées pendant l’étude a démontré qu’elles sont du génotype 3. Ces données indiquent une exposition potentielle des travailleurs de l’industrie porcine au VHE porcin, notamment par les fèces, le sang et les organes et également pour les consommateurs par le biais des foies. / In this study, a strain of porcine hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolated from the bile of a naturally-infected Canadian pig was used to inoculate two groups of piglets. In the early-phase experiment (E), 4 one month-old piglets, specific pathogen free (SPF), were monitored for 14 days. In the late-phase experiment (L) 9 piglets were monitored up to slaughter (120 days post-inoculation (pi)). Controls piglets (E=2 and L=3) were inoculated with free HEV bile. The presence of HEV was monitored routinely in their blood and feces. At necropsy, viral occurence was evaluated in organs at 7, 14 and 120 days pi. Interestingly, HEV was found to persist in the serum of some animals up to 84-105 days pi, despite the presence of IgG HEV antibodies in their blood. Fecal shedding was detected until 105 days pi for a portion of pigs. In organs, HEV RNA was detected in low amount of gallbladders at killing time, while it was detected in a large number of organs at 7 and 14 days pi. To assess the distribution of HEV in commercial finishing pig in Quebec, a sampling was realised in pigs from three slaughterhouses from Quebec. Approximately a hundred samples of feces, blood, bile and liver were collected in each slaughterhouse, on pigs intended for human consumption. A sample of each type was collected on each of the chosen pigs. Detection of HEV RNA was carried out using a nested RT-PCR on each sample and a human ELISA test was adapted for the detection of swine antibodies against HEV in swine serum samples. For pigs at slaughter, 12,9 % of the bile samples were positive to HEV RNA and a seroprevalence of IgG of 26,0 % was detected in swine. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all strains of the study were in the genotype 3. All results demonstrate that porcine industry workers are potentially exposed to swine HEV by feces, blood and organs.