Retrospective seroepidemiological analysis of patients with suspicion of paracoccidioidomycosis in São Paulo State, Brazil

Kamikawa CM (1, 2), Kohara VS (1), Passos AN (1, 2), Vicentini AP (1, 2)

(1) Laboratory of Mycosis Immunodiagnosis, Center of Immunology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Postgraduate Program in Sciences, Disease Control Coordination, State Secretariat of Health of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Abstract: The geographic distribution of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in the Brazilian state of São Paulo was evaluated in a retrospective study using secondary data from serological analyses, carried out by double immunodiffusion assay of patients with PCM suspicion, from January 1999 to May 2010. Sixty percent of 10,176 patients, from 239 cities, were serologically reactive to P. brasiliensis. The cities that showed the most serological reactivity among patients were São João da Boa Vista (85%), Piracicaba (75%), Sorocaba (73%), Campinas (72%) and São Paulo (62%). São Paulo state has an area of 248,209.4 km²; the climate is tropical and sub-tropical with annual temperatures between 18 and 24°C, high rainfall (900 to 1800 mm/year), rainy summers and mild winters. It also features large areas composed of acidic soils, and is one of the greatest contributors to Brazilian agricultural production and, separately, the largest producer of orange juice and, the ninth greatest producer of soy and sugar cane and the fourth largest coffee producer. We suggest that the climatic characteristics associated with soil type and development of primary activities can contribute to the endemic potential of PCM in São Paulo state.

Key words: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, paracoccidioidomycosis, immunological tests, seroepidemiological studies.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledged the grant of a fellowship by the Professional Enhancement Program of the State Secretariat of Health of São Paulo to C. M. Kamikawa (2009-2011). We also thank Marisa Ailin Hong for her help in revising the manuscript.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATU S

Received: January 9, 2012.

Accepted: March 29, 2012.

Abstract published online: April 5, 2012.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2012.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Financial Source Adolfo Lutz Institute (project CTC-CEPIALIAL# 107/07) and the Disease Control Coordination of the State Secretariat of Health of São Paulo provided the financial grants. ETHICS COMMITEE APPROVAL The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Adolfo Lutz Institute (protocol number 107/97).

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Adriana Pardini Vicentini, Laboratório de Imunodiagnóstico das Micoses, Centro de Imunologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351, 11º andar, sala 1104, São Paulo, SP, 01246-902, Brasil. Phone: +55 11 3068 2900. Fax: +55 11 3068 2898. Email: apardini@ial.sp.gov.br.