The devastating effect of health system overload was observed after cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) peaked in April 2020 in Belém, a capital metropolis in the Brazilian Amazon. Our results showed a high seroprevalence (39.24%) of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among the population of the capital of the state of Pará after the first wave of the pandemic. Old age, mixed race, a high school education level, low income and contact with infected individuals are risk factors and may be driving seropositivity and exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in this population. This study is one of the first to provide important information to understand the socioeconomic inequalities, behavioral characteristics and viral transmission dynamics associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the capital of the state of Pará, northern Brazil.

IntroductionTo identify the prevalence of infection in the urban area of the capital city of Belém, Brazil, the Laboratory of Virology of the Federal University of Pará implemented, as a public service, serological screening for human T-lymphotropic viruses 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) infection and, if necessary, counseling service and referral to specialized medical care. The project is funded by the National Council of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health of Brazil and the Pan American Health Organization.MethodsFrom January 2020 to June 2021, 1,572 individuals of both sexes were approached to answer a questionnaire and were tested using an enzyme immunoassay (Murex HTLV-I+II, DiaSorin, Dartford, UK). Seropositive samples were confirmed as HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection by line immunoassay (INNO-LIA® HTLV I/II Score, Fujirebio, Japan) and/or by real-time polymerase chain reaction. G and Fisher's exact tests were applied to identify the association between epidemiological characteristics and HTLV-1/2 infection.ResultsOf the 1,572 screened individuals, 63.74% were females between the ages of 30 and 59 years (49.04%). Infection was confirmed in six individuals (0.38%), among whom three (0.19%) were infected with HTLV-1 and three with HTLV-2 (0.19%). Blood transfusion before 1993 was the main risk factor associated with the route of exposure to the virus (p = 0.0442). The infected individuals were referred to a counseling session with a nursing professional, and two patients who manifested signs and symptoms suggestive of myelopathy associated with HTLV were referred to a neurologist.ConclusionThe implementation of the screening service revealed the occurrence of moderate endemicity of HTLV-1/2 in Belém, reinforcing the importance of continuing the service as a means of establishing an early diagnosis and providing counseling as a measure to prevent and control viral transmission in the general population.

Human T-lymphotropic viruses 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) infection has been described in several Amazonian populations; however, there is still a lack of data on the prevalence of the virus in riparian populations living in rural areas of the state of Pará. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection in four riverine communities and one rural area in the state of Pará and to describe the possible risk factors for infection. A total of 907 individuals responded to an epidemiological survey and gave blood samples collected for anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies by immunoenzymatic assay (EIA). The serum-reactive samples were subjected to confirmation by an in-line assay (Inno-Lia) and by proviral DNA screening using real-time PCR (qPCR). The total prevalence was 0.8% (7/907) for HTLV-1/2 (CI: 0.2−1.3%), with 0.66% HTLV-1 and 0.11% HTLV-2. The prevalence by sex was 0.7% in women (4/565) and 0.9% in men (3/342). Among seropositive patients, 83.3% (5/7) reported being sexually active, and 57.1% (4/7) reported not having the habit of using condoms during their sexual relations. Intrafamily infection was also observed. The results reinforce the need for public policies to prevent and block the spread of HTLV, especially in riparian communities that are subject to difficulties in accessing the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde/SUS) because infected individuals need clinical monitoring for surveillance and early diagnosis of symptoms associated with HTLV-1.

Introdução Em março de 2020, foi declarado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde, o início da pandemia de SARS- CoV-2, chamando a atenção da saúde pública mundial. O primeiro caso de COVID-19 no Brasil foi confirmado em 26 fevereiro de 2020 e teve sua primeira confirmação na região paraense em 18 de março de 2020. Ainda não há uma descrição precisa sobre a prevalência dessa infecção em populações ribeirinhas no estado do Pará. Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência do SARS-CoV-2 em uma população ribeirinha residente no município de Maracanã no estado do Pará. Métodos: Em maio de 2021, foram entrevistados 117 indivíduos ribeirinhos residentes do município de Maracanã, por meio de um questionário epidemiológico contendo perguntas socioeconômicas e sobre sintomatologias relacionadas ao novo coronavírus. Após o preenchimento do questionário foram coletadas amostras de sangue total (5 mL) para realização do ensaio imunoenzimático do tipo ELISA para pesquisa de anticorpos IgG anti- SARS-CoV-2. Resultados Dentre os 117 entrevistados observou-se uma média de idade de 37 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (59,0%), de cor parda (68,3%), com ensino fundamental incompleto (58,1%), solteiros (51,2%), com renda familiar inferior a um salário mínimo (67,5%). Em relação a detecção de anticorpos IgG anti- SARS-CoV-2, 42,3% dos indivíduos foram considerados reagentes. Dentre estes 46% relataram ter sentido febre em algum momento durante a pandemia, 50% dor de cabeça, 36% dor de garganta, 26% dor abdominal, 18% náusea, 56% perda do olfato, 56% perda do paladar, 16% falta de ar, 36% coriza, 34% tosse, 44% dor no corpo, 24% diarreia e 16% tiveram vômito. Conclusão Os resultados obtidos demonstraram uma alta prevalência de SARS-CoV-2 no município de maracanã, apresentando como sintomas mais frequentes febre, dor de cabeça, perda de olfato e paladar, que podem estar diretamente relacionados a infecção pelo vírus.

In Brazil, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic spread rapidly in a heterogeneous way, mainly due to the different socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics of different regional populations and different evaluation periods. We performed a cross-sectional study including 1,337 individuals (first wave = 736/second wave = 601) after the first two waves of COVID-19 in the city of Beleḿ, the capital of the state of Para. The detection of IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test followed by statistical analysis using the RStudio program. Our results showed an increase in the seroprevalence (first wave= 39.1%/second wave= 50.1%) of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG antibodies in the population of Beleḿ from the first to the second pandemic wave. Advanced age, primary or secondary education level, lack of social isolation, and a low frequency of protective mask use were considered risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave compared to the second wave. This study is one of the firsts to provide important information about the dynamics of virus circulation and the groups vulnerable to exposure in the two major periods. Our data emphasize the socioeconomic characteristics of the affected population and that nonpharmacological prevention measures are crucial for combating the pandemic.