scholarly journals Enterovirus D68 epidemic, UK, 2018, was caused by subclades B3 and D1, predominantly in children and adults respectively, with both subclades exhibiting extensive genetic diversity

Author(s):  
Hannah C Howson-Wells ◽  
Theocharis Tsoleridis ◽  
Izzah Zainuddin ◽  
Alexander W Tarr ◽  
William L Irving ◽  
...  

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has been recently identified in biennial epidemics coinciding with diagnoses of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis/myelitis (AFP/AFM). We investigated the prevalence, genetic relatedness and associated clinical features of EV-D68 in 194 known EV positive samples from late 2018, UK. EV-D68 was detected in 83 (58%) of the 143 EV positive samples. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed an extensive genetic diversity, split between subclades B3 (n=50) and D1 (n=33), suggesting epidemiologically unrelated infections. B3 predominated in children and younger adults, and D1 in older adults and the elderly (p=0.0009). Clinical presentation indicated causation or exacerbation of respiratory distress in 91.4% of EV-D68-positive individuals, principally: cough (75.3%), shortness of breath (56.8%), coryza (48.1%), wheeze (46.9%), supplemental oxygen required (46.9%) and fever (38.9%). Clinical features were not distinguished by subclade. Two cases of AFM were observed, one with EV-D68 detectable in the cerebrospinal fluid, otherwise neurological symptoms were rarely reported (n=4).

1997 ◽  
Vol 26 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. P44-P44
Author(s):  
D.M. Beaumont ◽  
M. Mian

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 882
Author(s):  
Susanne Baertl ◽  
Corinna Pietsch ◽  
Melanie Maier ◽  
Mario Hönemann ◽  
Sandra Bergs ◽  
...  

Enteroviruses are associated with various diseases accompanied by rare but severe complications. In recent years, outbreaks of enterovirus D68 and enterovirus A71 associated with severe respiratory infections and neurological complications have been reported worldwide. Since information on molecular epidemiology in respiratory samples is still limited, the genetic diversity of enteroviruses was retrospectively analysed over a 4-year period (2013–2016) in respiratory samples from paediatric patients. Partial viral major capsid protein gene (VP1) sequences were determined for genotyping. Enteroviruses were detected in 255 (6.1%) of 4187 specimens. Phylogenetic analyses of 233 (91.4%) strains revealed 25 different genotypes distributed to Enterovirus A (39.1%), Enterovirus B (34.3%), and Enterovirus D (26.6%). The most frequently detected genotypes were enterovirus D68 (26.6%), coxsackievirus A6 (15.9%), and enterovirus A71 (7.3%). Enterovirus D68 detections were associated with lower respiratory tract infections and increased oxygen demand. Meningitis/encephalitis and other neurological symptoms were related to enterovirus A71, while coxsackievirus A6 was associated with upper respiratory diseases. Prematurity turned out as a potential risk factor for increased oxygen demand during enterovirus infections. The detailed analysis of epidemiological and clinical data contributes to the non-polio enterovirus surveillance in Europe and showed high and rapidly changing genetic diversity of circulating enteroviruses, including different enterovirus D68 variants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S383-S384
Author(s):  
Fatma Hammami ◽  
Makram Koubaa ◽  
Amal Chakroun ◽  
Fatma Smaoui ◽  
Khaoula Rekik ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Malignant otitis externa is a fatal infection of the external ear and temporal bone. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common causative organism, while fungi are a rare cause of malignant otitis externa. We aimed to compare the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary features between bacterial and fungal malignant otitis externa. Methods We conducted a retrospective study including all patients hospitalized for malignant otitis externa in the infectious diseases department between 2000 and 2018. Results Overall, we encountered 82 cases of malignant otitis externa, among which there were 54 cases (65.9%) of bacterial malignant otitis externa (BMO) and 28 cases (34.1%) of fungal malignant otitis externa (FMO). The males were predominant among BMO cases (57.4% vs 50%; p=0.5). Patients with FMO were significantly older (70±9 years vs 61±10 years; p< 0.001) and had medical history of diabetes mellitus more frequently (96.4% vs 77.8%; p=0.03). The use of topical corticosteroids was significantly more reported among FMO cases (28.6% vs 5.6%; p=0.006). Otalgia (96.4% vs 81.5%), otorrhea (75% vs 66.7%) and cephalalgia (46.4% vs 42.6%) were the revealing symptoms among FMO and BMO, respectively, with no significant difference. Tenderness to palpation of the mastoid bone (64.3% vs 38.9%; p=0.02) and stenosis of the external auditory canal (92.9% vs 72.2%; p=0.02) were significantly more frequent among FMO cases. Complications were significantly more frequent among FMO cases (42.9% vs 9.3%; p< 0.001). Treatment duration was significantly longer among FMO cases (70[40-90] days vs 45[34-75] days; p=0.03). Conclusion Our study showed that FMO affected more frequently the elderly and diabetic patients, when compared with BMO. Regardless of the causative agent, the clinical presentation was similar. However, the outcome was poor among FMO cases with the occurrence of complications, requiring a longer duration of treatment. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Wang ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Qiao He ◽  
Mingqi Wang ◽  
Mei Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in serious concerns in China and abroad. To investigate clinical features of confirmed and suspected patients with COVID-19 in west China, and to examine differences between severe versus non-severe patients. Methods Patients admitted for COVID-19 between January 21 and February 11 from fifteen hospitals in Sichuan Province, China were included. Experienced clinicians trained with methods abstracted data from medical records using pre-defined, pilot-tested forms. Clinical characteristics between severe and non-severe patients were compared. Results Of the 169 patients included, 147 were laboratory-confirmed, 22 were suspected. For confirmed cases, the most common symptoms from onset to admission were cough (70·7%), fever (70·5%) and sputum (33·3%), and the most common chest CT patterns were patchy or stripes shadowing (78·0%); throughout the course of disease, 19·0% had no fever, and 12·4% had no radiologic abnormality; twelve (8·2%) received mechanical ventilation, four (2·7%) were transferred to ICU, and no death occurred. Compared to non-severe cases, severe ones were more likely to have underlying comorbidities (62·5% vs 26·2%, P = 0·001), to present with cough (92·0% vs 66·4%, P = 0·02), sputum (60·0% vs 27·9%, P = 0·004) and shortness of breath (40·0% vs 8·2%, P <  0·0001), and to have more frequent lymphopenia (79·2% vs 43·7%, P = 0·003) and eosinopenia (84·2% vs 57·0%, P = 0·046). Conclusions The symptoms of patients in west China were relatively mild, and an appreciable proportion of infected cases had no fever, warranting special attention.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 694
Author(s):  
Faith M. Walker ◽  
Rachel Durben ◽  
Stephen M. Shuster ◽  
Richard L. Lindroth ◽  
Thomas G. Whitham

Although genetic diversity within stands of trees is known to have community-level consequences, whether such effects are present at an even finer genetic scale is unknown. We examined the hypothesis that genetic variability (heterozygosity) within an individual plant would affect its dependent community, which adds a new dimension to the importance of genetic diversity. Our study contrasted foliar arthropod community diversity and microsatellite marker-derived measures of genetic diversity of cottonwood (Populus fremontii) trees that had been felled by beavers (Castor canadensis) and were resprouting, relative to adjacent standing, unfelled trees. Three patterns emerged: 1. Productivity (specific leaf area), phytochemical defenses (salicortin), and arthropod community richness, abundance, and diversity were positively correlated with the heterozygosity of individual felled trees, but not with that of unfelled trees; 2. These relationships were not explained by population substructure, genetic relatedness of the trees, or hybridization; 3. The underlying mechanism appears to be that beaver herbivory stimulates increased productivity (i.e., 2× increase from the most homozygous to the most heterozygous tree) that is the greatest in more heterozygous trees. Salicortin defenses in twigs were also expressed at higher concentrations in more heterozygous trees (i.e., 3× increase from the most homozygous to the most heterozygous tree), which suggests that this compound may dissuade further herbivory by beavers, as has been found for other mammalian herbivores. We suggest that high stress to trees as a consequence of felling reveals a heterozygosity–productivity linkage, which in turn is attractive to arthropods. Although experiments are required to demonstrate causality, these results link the genetic diversity of individual trees to community diversity, supporting the hypothesis that interactions among foundation species (beavers and trees) have community-level effects, and underscores the importance of genetic diversity for biodiversity, conservation, and restoration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 926.1-926
Author(s):  
M. Mrabet ◽  
S. Boussaid ◽  
S. Jemmali ◽  
H. Sahli ◽  
H. Ajlani ◽  
...  

Background:Tuberculosis is still endemic all over the world. The incidence of tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS) is steadily increasing. Clinical features and outcomes of this affection are various and depending on various parameters, including age.Objectives:Our objective was to explore the differences in presentation and the results of further investigations and the prognosis of TS between young and elderly subjects.Methods:We conduct a retrospective and descriptive study in a single rheumatology department. Data were collected from files of patients hospitalized in the past 20 years (2000-2020) who have been diagnosed with TS. We carried out a comparative study concerning the clinical biological, imaging features and outcomes between young subjects and subjects aged over 65 years.Results:Fifty-two cases of TS were collected (37F/15M). The mean age of the population was 55.21 years ± 17.79 [19-91]. Thirty-three patients (69.2%) were classified as young versus 16 elderly patients (30.8%), with female predominance in both groups (69.4% and 75% respectively, p = 0.57). Young subjects was more frequently vaccinated (88.9%) by Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) (p < 0.001). A delayed diagnosis was noted in both groups (p = 0.24). Lumbar spine involvement was the most common (57.7%). In the two age ranges, the onset of the disease was progressive (p = 0.22), characterized by segmental spine stiffness (p = 0.57) and lumbar pain with general signs (p = 0.27), such as: impaired general condition, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Biological inflammatory syndrome and normochrome normocytic anemia were encountered in both cases (p = 0.08 and p = 0.2, respectively). Standard X-rays and Computed tomography were more performed in young subjects (94.4% and 69.4%, respectively; p < 0.001), unlike magnetic resonance imaging which was more common in elderly subjects but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.22). Disc pinch, erosion of vertebral plateaus and vertebral collapse were the major signs (82.7%, 65.4% and 67.3%, respectively). Clinical, biological and imaging arguments contributed to positive diagnosis in both groups (p = 0.24). Common medical treatment was anti-tuberculosis: Isoniazid (H), Rifampicin (R), Pyrazinamide (Z), Ethambutol (E) and physical treatment such as immobilization witch was more common in the eldery (56.3%, p = 0.16). The evolution of the disease was characterized by a clear improvement of young subjects during the second week of treatment (p < 0.001). A more frequent clinical improvement in older subjects was during the fourth week but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.13). The occurrence of immediate complications was more frequent in the elderly (p = 0.23) with a predominance for drug complications (56.3%) such as: hepatic cytolysis (12.5%), hyperuricemia (18.8%) and major intolerance to anti-tuberculosis (18.8%).Conclusion:TS is a frequent condition that needs to be treated rapidly. the clinical presentation of TS in the elderly is less noisy which leads to more frequent complications and mortality.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-268
Author(s):  
Martino Pepe ◽  
Charbel Maroun-Eid ◽  
Rodolfo Romero ◽  
Ramón Arroyo-Espliguero ◽  
Inmaculada Fernàndez-Rozas ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davoud Adham ◽  
Shahram Habibzadeh ◽  
Hassan Ghobadi ◽  
Shabnam Asghari Jajin ◽  
Abbas Abbasi-Ghahramanloo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease highly contagious, is prevalent in all age and sex groups infecting the respiratory system. The present study seeks to investigate the epidemiology and effective factors in mortality of patients with COVID-19 in Ardabil province, northwestern Iran. Methods In a retrospective study, the hospitalized patients with laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 between February to August 2020 were enrolled. The data registration portal was designated according to Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education guidelines. In this portal, demographic information, clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging data were registered for patients in all hospitals in the same format. The Hosmer-Lemeshow strategy was used for variable selection in a multiple model. Results Of the patients involved 2812(50.3%) were male and 150 (2.7%) had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Pre-existing comorbidity was reported in 1310 (23.4%) patients. Of all patients, 477(8.5%) died due to COVID-19. the result of the multiple logistic regression model indicated that after adjusting for other factors, higher age (OR = 3.11), fever or chills (OR = 1.61), shortness of breath (OR = 1.82), fatigue (OR = 0.71), headache (OR = 0.64), runny nose (OR = 1.54), Skeletal muscle pain (OR = 1.53), hospitalization (OR = 5.66), and hospitalization in ICU (OR = 5.12) were associated with death. Conclusions Hospitalization had the strongest effect on mortality followed by hospitalization in ICU, and higher age. This study showed that having some extra-pulmonary symptoms in contrast with pulmonary symptoms can predict as good prognostic factors.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey Kornitzer ◽  
Jacklyn Johnson ◽  
Max Yang ◽  
Keith W. Pecor ◽  
Nicholas Cohen ◽  
...  

Setting off a global pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been marked by a heterogeneous clinical presentation that runs the gamut from asymptomatic to severe and fatal. Although less lethal in children than adults, COVID-19 has nonetheless afflicted the pediatric population. This systematic review used clinical information from published literature to assess the spectrum of COVID-19 presentation in children, with special emphasis on characteristics associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). An electronic literature search for English and Chinese language articles in COVIDSeer, MEDLINE, and PubMed from 1 January 2020 through 1 March 2021 returned 579 records, of which 54 were included for full evaluation. Out of the total 4811 patients, 543 (11.29%) exhibited MIS-C. The most common symptoms across all children were fever and sore throat. Children presenting with MIS-C were less likely to exhibit sore throat and respiratory symptoms (i.e., cough, shortness of breath) compared to children without MIS-C. Inflammatory (e.g., rash, fever, and weakness) and gastrointestinal (e.g., nausea/vomiting and diarrhea) symptoms were present to a greater extent in children with both COVID-19 and MIS-C, suggesting that children testing positive for COVID-19 and exhibiting such symptoms should be evaluated for MIS-C.


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