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SUMMARYA total of 316 samples of nasopharyngeal aspirate from infants up to two years of age with acute respiratory-tract illnesses were processed for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using three different techniques: viral isolation, direct immunofluorescence, and PCR. Of the samples, 36 (11.4%) were positive for RSV, considering the three techniques. PCR was the most sensitive technique, providing positive findings in 35/316 (11.1%) of the samples, followed by direct immunofluorescence (25/316, 7.9%) and viral isolation (20/315, 6.3%) (p < 0.001). A sample was positive by immunofluorescence and negative by PCR, and 11 (31.4%) were positive only by RT-PCR. We conclude that RT-PCR is more sensitive than IF and viral isolation to detect RSV in nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens in newborn and infants.

To evaluate the prevalence of varicella-zoster virus infection in young adults from different Brazilian urban regions, 975 serum samples from blood donors aged 20 to 29 years, from tropical climate cities (Salvador and Fortaleza) and from temperate climate cities (S o Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre) were tested by an in-house ELISA for detection of anti-varicella-zoster virus IgG antibodies. The overall prevalence was 94.2%. The lowest rate was observed in Fortaleza (88.7%) and the highest in Curitiba (99.5%). Seroprevalence in tropical regions of Brazil (89.4%) was significantly higher than in temperate regions (97.3%), a similar pattern to that observed in other tropical countries.

, pelo apoio e orientação na trajetória de minha carreira científica. À Dra. Maria Aparecida Basile, pelo seu entusiasmo à ciência da educação e incentivo aos pós-graduandos no preparo para a carreira científica. À Lucy Villas Bôas, por sua competência, profissionalismo e amizade, que muito tem contribuído para o meu crescimento profissional e acima de tudo pessoal, pela disposição eterna de ajudar os iniciantes na carreira científica. À Profa. Dra. Regina Cardoso e a todo grupo Chiado pela colaboração para a realização deste trabalho. À Rosimeire Moraes Ribeiro e Roseli Antoni Santo, secretárias da pósgraduação, que além de prestativas sempre demonstraram apoio e carinho. A todos os meus amigos do Laboratório de Virologia do IMT da USP pelo tempo agradável de convívio e aprendizado: Alessandra,

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