scholarly journals Total virome characterizations of game animals in China reveals a spectrum of emerging viral pathogens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan-Ting He ◽  
Xin Hou ◽  
Jin Zhao ◽  
Jiumeng Sun ◽  
Haijian He ◽  
...  

Game animals are wildlife species often traded and consumed as exotic food, and are potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a meta-transcriptomic analysis of 1725 game animals, representing 16 species and five mammalian orders, sampled across China. From this we identified 71 mammalian viruses, with 45 described for the first time. Eighteen viruses were considered as potentially high risk to humans and domestic animals. Civets (Paguma larvata) carried the highest number of potentially high risk viruses. We identified the transmission of Bat coronavirus HKU8 from a bat to a civet, as well as cross-species jumps of coronaviruses from bats to hedgehogs and from birds to porcupines. We similarly identified avian Influenza A virus H9N2 in civets and Asian badgers, with the latter displaying respiratory symptoms, as well as cases of likely human-to-wildlife virus transmission. These data highlight the importance of game animals as potential drivers of disease emergence.

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Su ◽  
W. Qi ◽  
J. Chen ◽  
W. Zhu ◽  
Z. Huang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akouélé P. Kuassi-Kpede ◽  
Essolakina Dolou ◽  
Théodora M. Zohoncon ◽  
Ina Marie Angèle Traore ◽  
Gnatoulma Katawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The causative agent of cervical cancer referred to as Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains a real public health problem. Many countries in West Africa, such as Togo have no data on the high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection and genotypes distribution. In order to fill the knowledge gap in the field in Togo, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix and HR-HPV genotypes among Togolese women. Methods Samples were collected from 240 women by introducing a swab in the cervix. Then, the screening of precancerous cervical lesions using the visual inspection with acetic acid and lugol (VIA / VIL) was conducted. The HR-HPV genotypes were characterised by real-time multiplex PCR. Results Out of 240 women recruited, 128 (53.3%) were infected by HR-HPV. The most common genotypes were HPV 56 (22.7%), followed by HPV 51 (20.3%), HPV 31 (19.5%), HPV 52 (18.8%) and HPV 35 (17.2%). The least common genotypes were HPV 33 (2.3%) and HPV 16 (2.3%). Among the women, 1.3% (3/240) were positive to VIA/VIL. Conclusion This study allowed HR-HPV genotypes to be characterised for the first time in Lomé, Togo. This will help in mapping the HR-HPV genotypes in West Africa.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes S Montgomery ◽  
Michael B Lustik ◽  
Susan A Reichert-Scrivner ◽  
Ronald L Woodbury ◽  
Milissa U Jones ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction Acute respiratory diseases account for a substantial number of outpatient visits and hospitalizations among U.S. military personnel, significantly affecting mission readiness and military operations. We conducted a retrospective analysis of respiratory viral pathogen (RVP) samples collected from U.S. military personnel stationed in Hawaii and tested at Tripler Army Medical Center from January 2014 to May 2019 in order to describe the etiology, distribution, and seasonality of RVP exposure in a military population. Materials and Methods Samples were analyzed by viral culture or multiplex PCR. Distribution of respiratory viruses over time was analyzed as well as subject demographic and encounter data. Presenting signs and symptoms were evaluated with each RVP. Results A total of 2,576 military personnel were tested, of which 726 (28.2%) were positive for one or more RVP. Among positive tests, the three most common viral pathogens detected were influenza A (43.0%), rhinovirus (24.5%), and parainfluenza (7.6%). Symptoms were generally mild and most frequently included cough, fever, and body aches. Conclusion Our study evaluated respiratory virus prevalence, seasonality, and association with clinical symptoms for military personnel in an urban tropical setting in Oahu, HI, over a 5-year period. We show that viral prevalence and seasonality in Hawaii are distinct from those of the CONUS. Results contribute to the broader understanding of seasonality, clinical manifestation, and demographics of RVP among active duty military personnel stationed in Hawaii.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S312-S312
Author(s):  
Seth D Judson ◽  
Vincent J Munster

Abstract Background During the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many questions arose regarding risks for hospital-acquired or nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Aerosol generating medical procedures (AGMPs), techniques that can generate infectious, virus-laden aerosols, could potentially amplify transmission among healthcare workers (HCWs). Thus, it was widely recommended that HCWs use airborne precautions when performing AGMPs. However, in clinical settings it is often unclear what procedures constitute AGMPs and how the risk varies by procedure or pathogen. We set out to further define AGMPs and assess the risk for nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other high-risk viruses via AGMPs. Methods We identified potential AGMPs and emerging viruses that were high-risk for nosocomial transmission through reviewing experimental and clinical data. Potential AGMPs were those associated with previous virus transmission or mechanically capable of transmission. High-risk viruses were defined as those that cause severe disease in humans for which limited therapies or interventions exist, are infectious via aerosols in humans or non-human primates (NHPs), found in the respiratory tract of infected humans or NHPs, and had previous evidence of nosocomial transmission. Results We identified multiple potential AGMPs, which could be divided into those that generate aerosols or induce a patient to form aerosols, as well as eight families of high-risk viruses. All of the viruses were emerging zoonotic RNA viruses. In the family Coronaviridae, we identified potential evidence for SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission via AGMPs. SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 were also found to be similarly stable when aerosolized. Conclusion Multiple emerging zoonotic viruses pose a high risk for nosocomial transmission through a variety of AGMPs. Given the similar stability of SARS-CoV-2 with SARS-CoV-1 when aerosolized and prior nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-1 via AGMPs, we suspect that certain AGMPs pose an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Additional experimental studies and on-site clinical sampling during AGMPs are necessary to further risk stratify AGMPs. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Author(s):  
Johannes Korth ◽  
Benjamin Wilde ◽  
Sebastian Dolff ◽  
Jasmin Frisch ◽  
Michael Jahn ◽  
...  

SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide challenge for the medical sector. Healthcare workers (HCW) are a cohort vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to frequent and close contact with COVID-19 patients. However, they are also well trained and equipped with protective gear. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody status was assessed at three different time points in 450 HCW of the University Hospital Essen in Germany. HCW were stratified according to contact frequencies with COVID-19 patients in (I) a high-risk group with daily contacts with known COVID-19 patients (n = 338), (II) an intermediate-risk group with daily contacts with non-COVID-19 patients (n = 78), and (III) a low-risk group without patient contacts (n = 34). The overall seroprevalence increased from 2.2% in March–May to 4.0% in June–July to 5.1% in October–December. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG detection rate was not significantly different between the high-risk group (1.8%; 3.8%; 5.5%), the intermediate-risk group (5.1%; 6.3%; 6.1%), and the low-risk group (0%, 0%, 0%). The overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence remained low in HCW in western Germany one year after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Germany, and hygiene standards seemed to be effective in preventing patient-to-staff virus transmission.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175346662095105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Yates ◽  
Steven A. Newman ◽  
Lauren J. Oshry ◽  
Robert H. Glassman ◽  
Ashton M. Leone ◽  
...  

Infection with novel SARS-CoV-2 carries significant morbidity and mortality in patients with pulmonary compromise, such as lung cancer, autoimmune disease, and pneumonia. For early stages of mild to moderate disease, care is entirely supportive. Antiviral drugs such as remdesivir may be of some benefit but are reserved for severe cases given limited availability and potential toxicity. Repurposing of safer, established medications that may have antiviral activity is a possible approach for treatment of earlier-stage disease. Tetracycline and its derivatives (e.g. doxycycline and minocycline) are nontraditional antibiotics with a well-established safety profile, potential efficacy against viral pathogens such as dengue fever and chikungunya, and may regulate pathways important in initial infection, replication, and systemic response to SARS-CoV-2. We present a series of four high-risk, symptomatic, COVID-19+ patients, with known pulmonary disease, treated with doxycycline with subsequent rapid clinical improvement. No safety issues were noted with use of doxycycline. Doxycycline is an attractive candidate as a repurposed drug in the treatment of COVID-19 infection, with an established safety profile, strong preclinical rationale, and compelling initial clinical experience described here. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.


2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu-Jun Lee ◽  
Jun-Gu Choi ◽  
Hyun-Mi Kang ◽  
Kwang-Il Kim ◽  
Choi-Kyu Park ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTOutbreaks of avian influenza A virus infection, particularly the H5N1 strains that have affected birds and some humans for the past 15 years, have highlighted the need for increased surveillance and disease control. Such measures require diagnostic tests to detect and characterize the different subtypes of influenza virus. In the current study, a simple method for producing reference avian influenza virus antisera to be used in diagnostic tests was developed. Antisera of nine avian influenza A virus neuraminidases (NA) used for NA subtyping were produced using a recombinant baculovirus. The recombinant NA (rNA) proteins were expressed in Sf9 insect cells and inoculated intramuscularly into specific-pathogen-free chickens with the ISA70 adjuvant. The NA inhibition antibody titers of the rNA antiserum were in the ranges of 5 to 8 and 6 to 9 log2units after the primary and boost immunizations, respectively. The antisera were subtype specific, showing low cross-reactivity against every other NA subtype using the conventional thiobarbituric acid NA inhibition assay. These results suggest that this simple method for producing reference NA antisera without purification may be useful for the diagnosis and surveillance of influenza virus.


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