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The main objective of this research was to evaluate the agronomic potential of the vermicompost produced from domestic sewage sludge and mixtures of domestic sewage sludge and soil, following the criteria of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), aiming at a sustainable use for domestic sewage sludge, transforming an undesirable residue into a valuable commercial product. The results obtained for the so produced vermicomposts, in comparison to the specifications, warranties and contaminating limits requirements of the resolution No. 375, were satisfactory for at least one of the domestic sewage sludge and soil mixtures, proving the potential of this residue for application in agriculture as fertilizer or soil conditioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group A rotavirus, obtained from children of Goiânia, Brazil, during 1987-1994, were analyzed for subgroup and G serotype by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies. The index of serotyping obtained was 61.4% with the following proportions: G1--19.7%, G2--28.0%, G3--9.8%, G4--1.5%, and G5--2.3%. It was observed that G1 occurred from 1987 to 1989 and from 1993 to 1994, and G2 from 1990 to 1993. About 94% of the samples (85/90) could be subgrouped with the following results: 55.5% for SG II, 7.8% SG I, and 31.1% for SG non-I-non-II. Unusual relationship patterns were also detected among serotypes, subgroups, and profiles of electropherotypes in 57.0% of the samples: 20 of them were G2/SG II/"long" profile. The results suggest that variation in temporal and regional characteristics should be considered in the development of rotavirus vaccine.

This study had the purpose to identify the positive and negative aspects of pre natal care at the public health system of the city of Ribeirão Preto-SP, considering users and health professionals' opinions. Authors used a qualitative approach and found some improvements regarding pre-natal care such as: the proximity of the Health Unit, the improvement of physical and human resources structures and the opening of places for the obstetrics unit. Despite these positive aspects, authors were unable to find a hospital reference at the different levels of the Unified Health System. Results also showed a lack of articulation among prenatal, birth and puerperium periods.

In order to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV), 1459 serum samples from pregnant/parturient women were collected at two public hospitals in Goiânia, GO. These samples were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for HBsAg and anti-HBs. 109 (7.5%) serum samples were positive. Eight (0.5%) sera were positive for HBsAg and 101 (7.0%) for anti-HBs. Viral positivity for both HBsAg and anti-HBs were observed in women which age ranged from 15 to 30 years. Four newborns from HBsAg positive mothers were submitted to the treatment with HBV vaccine (Engerix B) and with hyperimmune gammaglobulin (HBIG, Abbott Laboratories, Brazil). Cord blood from one of the newborns was positive for HBsAg. A positive association was found between hepatitis B and sexually transmitted infections and blood transfusion. These results emphasize the need for prenatal screening for HBV in pregnant women and treatment of the newborns from AgHBs-positive mothers.

In order to detect rotavirus and adenovirus 557 feces samples from hospitalized children (0-5 years of age) were analysed from June 1987 to July 1990 in Goiânia city. Two hundred and ninety one samples were from children with diarrhoea and 266 were from children without diarrhoea. Amongst this later group, 64 samples were from children from the nursery. Two hundred and sixty one out of 557 samples were analysed by immunoelectron microscopy (IEM), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and enzymatic immunoassay for rotavirus and adenovirus (EIARA) whereas the rest (296 samples) were analysed by SDS-PAGE and EIARA. Positivity of rotavirus and adenovirus was 17.2% and 2.1% respectively. Concerning rotavirus and adenovirus there was 29.2% and 2.4% positivity within the group with diarrhoea and 4.1% and 1.5% positivity amongst children without diarrhoea (p < 0.05). Rotavirus were more prevalent amongst children which age ranged from 1 to 11 months of age. No newborn child from the nursery was positive for rotavirus. Adenovirus were detected amongst children from 1 to 3 years of age. Rotavirus circulation peak occurred between May and August (p < 0.05) and no positive case was detected from December to February. Two hundred out of 291 diarrheic samples were also studied concerning bacteria and pathogenic parasites and equal percentages (17.0%) were found for both rotavirus and pathogenic bacteria. Eighty nine samples of rotavirus were detected by SDS-PAGE and 86 of these (96.6%) belonged to the subgroup II with 13 different electrophoretic patterns. Predominance of a given electrophoretic profile was observed in each year of the study.

Three hundred and eighty-five children without a diagnosis of diarrhoeal illness had faecal specimens collected in order to detect rotavirus infection. The survey was conducted in Goiânia city--central Brazil and the children aged 0-11 years old were recruited (268 in day care centers and 117 from a local outpatient clinic--Hospital Lucio Rebelo). Detection of rotavirus was done by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE-SDS), and 89 specimens were also analyzed by commercial enzyme immunoassays for rotavirus and adenovirus (EIARA). Rotaviruses and adenoviruses were only detected among the children attending the outpatient clinic. Prevalence rates of rotavirus and adenovirus excretion were of 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively. Both viruses were found among children from 1 to 2 years old.

Two cross-sectional surveys on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were carried out among 1,033 volunteer first-time blood donors in five blood banks (3 private, 2 public) and among 201 prisoners in the Penitentiary Center of Industrial Activity, in Goiania, Central Brazil, between June 1988 and February 1989. Those surveys were part of a major study designed to estimate seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBsAg markers by ELISA test, and to study risk factors associated with seropositivity. The presence of any serum marker was considered as previous exposure to HBV. A standard questionnaire was applied to both populations to evaluate previous blood transfusion, number of sexual partners, homo/bisexual activity, history of sexually transmitted diseases, drug abusers, use of parenteral medicine, acupuncture, tattooing and VDRL seropositivity. Seroprevalence varied from 12.8% to 26.4% in blood donors and prisoners, respectively, (p less than 0.05) and increased with age (X2 trend=14.0 p less than 0.05%). Prisoners had higher percentages of all risk factors investigated than blood donors, with the exception of number of sexual partners. Among all risk factors studied, age, imprisonment and tattooing were statistically associated with seropositivity, even after multivariate analysis controlling for age and reclusion. The paper discusses the methodologic issues related to this epidemiologic investigation.