scholarly journals Viral metagenomics reveals the presence of novel Zika virus variants in Aedes mosquitoes from Barbados

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Thannesberger ◽  
N. Rascovan ◽  
A. Eisenmann ◽  
I. Klymiuk ◽  
C. Zittra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Viral Metagenomics ◽  
World Health ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Vector Surveillance ◽  
Illumina Hiseq ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Screening Study ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic of 2015/2016 spread throughout numerous countries. It emerged in mainland Latin America and spread to neighboring islands, including the Caribbean island of Barbados. Recent studies have indicated that the virus must have already been circulating in local mosquito populations in Brazil for almost 2 years before it was identified by the World Health Organization in 2015. Metagenomic detection assays have the potential to detect emerging pathogens without prior knowledge of their genomic nucleic acid sequence. Yet their applicability as vector surveillance tools has been widely limited by the complexity of DNA populations from field-collected mosquito preparations. The aim of this study was to investigate local vector biology and characterize metagenomic arbovirus diversity in Aedes mosquitoes during the ongoing 2015/2016 ZIKV epidemic. Methods We performed a short-term vector screening study on the island of Barbados during the ongoing 2015/2016 ZIKV epidemic, where we sampled local Aedes mosquitoes. We reanalyzed mosquito viral microbiome data derived from standard Illumina MiSeq sequencing to detect arbovirus sequences. Additionally, we employed deep sequencing techniques (Illumina HiSeq) and designed a novel bait capture enrichment assay to increase sequencing efficiency for arbovirus sequences from complex DNA samples. Results We found that Aedes aegypti seemed to be the most likely vector of ZIKV, although it prevailed at a low density during the observed time period. The number of detected viruses increased with sequencing depth. Arbovirus sequence enrichment of metagenomic DNA preparations allowed the detection of arbovirus sequences of two different ZIKV genotypes, including a novel one. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the S3116W mutation in the NS5 gene region of ZIKV polyprotein. Conclusions The metagenomic arbovirus detection approach presented here may serve as a useful tool for the identification of epidemic-causing arboviruses with the additional benefit of enabling the collection of phylogenetic information on the source. Apart from detecting more than 88 viruses using this approach, we also found evidence of novel ZIKV variants circulating in the local mosquito population during the observed time period. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Nation-wide vector surveillance did not indicate transmission of the “American lineage pandemic ZIKA virus” in India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
NARENDRAN PRADEEP KUMAR ◽  
P Jambulingam ◽  
D. Panneer ◽  
S Muthukumaravel ◽  
S. Abidha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Vector Surveillance ◽  
Aedes Mosquitoes ◽  
Measure Methods ◽  
Asian Lineage ◽  
Risk Zones ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Standard Operating Protocol

Abstract Background In wake of the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) during 2016, on the outbreak of ZIKA pandemic, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) carried out countrywide vector surveillance for ZIKA and DENGUE viruses (ZIKV & DENV) in India, as a preparedness measure. Methods The study incorporated high-risk zones distributed to 49 Districts in 14 states/ Union Territories (UT) of India during 2016-2019. Seven ICMR Institutions undertook the study, following a uniform Standard Operating Protocol. Aedes specimens sampled on weekly intervals were processed by multiplex Reverse transcriptase PCR for ZIKV/DENV and Real time RT-PCR of ZIKV, among few samples distributed to all the Districts. Results Altogether, 79492 specimens of Aedes mosquitoes in 6492 pools were processed for both ZIKV and DENV infections. Among these, three and 63 pools respectively were found positive for ZIKV and DENV. ZIKV infections were recorded from Aedes aegypti sampled during 2018 sporadic ZIKA outbreak in Jaipur, Rajasthan, which belonged to the Asian lineage, already circulating in the Country. Both Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus were found infected with DENV and were distributed to ten states/ UTs. Both male and female specimens of Ae. albopictus recorded DENV infections indicating trans-ovarial transmission of DENV in the species. Conclusion This national vector surveillance study evinced no active transmission of the “American lineage - pandemic ZIKA virus” in India during 2016-2019, although Asian lineage of the virus already circulating in the Country was detected from Ae. aegypti from Jaipur, Rajasthan.

scholarly journals Zika Virus

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy Wilson ◽  
Eve Lackritz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Epidemic Period ◽  
Guidance Documents ◽  
Global Coordination ◽  
Health Organization

The epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its associated complications was first identified in Brazil in 2015, and spread rapidly throughout the Americas and beyond. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared ZIKV infection and associated congenital and neurologic complications a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in February 2016.  WHO rapidly responded to the outbreak of this emerging pathogen with global coordination of partners, and development of a comprehensive array of resources to guide clinical diagnosis, management, and public health response.   Information on ZIKV transmission and disease continued to accumulate after the PHEIC officially ended in November 2016. Consequently, WHO guidance documents produced during the 2015-2016 outbreak were in need of review and update to accurately reflect this growing body of evidence. Furthermore, the rapid accumulation of documents during the emergency response warranted review, collation, and organization of the WHO website for improved accessibility.   As part of my internship, all ZIKV guidance documents were reviewed and catalogued. Guidance documents and reports were systematically disseminated to WHO technical leads and tracked to ensure information was updated. The WHO ZIKV website was reorganized to broadly capture all relevant WHO technical resources through a single, organized portal. These activities were a critical component to transform the WHO Zika program from an emergency response to a long-term program, and to ensure dissemination of accurate and up-to-date information to the global health community.   This work underscores the critical importance of sustained attention to ZIKV and other emerging pathogens in the inter-epidemic period, when there is the continued need to track transmission, build national capacity for preparedness and response, and advance development of diagnostics and vaccines. Sustained vigilance and investment in these areas is needed to help minimize future outbreaks and improve care for affected patients, families, and communities.

scholarly journals Thoracic Surgery during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): The Experience of a Level 1 Trauma Center

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Smelt ◽  
Gowthanan Santhirakumaran ◽  
Paul Vaughan ◽  
Ian Hunt ◽  
Carol Tan
Keyword(s):  
Thoracic Surgery ◽  
Trauma Center ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Trauma Service ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Level 1 Trauma Center

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus primarily affecting the respiratory system, was initially diagnosed in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Identified as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization, the virus rapidly became a global pandemic. The effects on health care worldwide were unprecedented as countries adapted services to treat masses of critically ill patients.The aim of this study is to analyze the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on thoracic surgery at a major trauma center during peak prevalence. Methods Prospective unit data were collected for all patients who underwent thoracic surgery during March 2020 until May 2020 inclusive. Retrospective data were collected from an earlier comparable time period as a comparison. Results In the aforementioned time frame, 117 thoracic surgical operations were performed under the care of four thoracic surgeons. Six operations were performed on three patients who were being treated for SARS-CoV-2. One operation was performed on a patient who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2. There were no deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 in any patient undergoing thoracic surgery. Conclusion This study demonstrates that during the first surge of SARS-CoV-2, it was possible to adapt a thoracic oncology and trauma service without increase in mortality due to COVID-19. This was only possible due to a significant reduction in trauma referrals, cessation of benign and elective work, and the more stringent reprioritization of cancer surgery. This information is vital to learn from our experience and prepare for the predicted second surge and any similar future pandemics we might face.

Zika Virus Awareness and Prevention Practices Among University Students in Miami: Fall 2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 967-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Darrow ◽  
Chintan Bhatt ◽  
Cassandra Rene ◽  
Lakisha Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
School Officials ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
First Case ◽  
Blackboard Learn ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
High Level

In January 2016, the first case of mosquito-borne Zika infection in the mainland United States was confirmed in Miami, Florida. The first locally acquired case was reported 6 months later. Local public health and school officials began warning students of the outbreak on their return to the classroom in August 2016. In November–December 2016, we conducted a survey of students attending a large public university in Miami to determine how well informed they were about Zika. A multistage sampling design was used to contact teaching assistants and ask them for help in recruiting their students. Eligible students had to be 18 years of age or older and enrolled in at least one three-credit course during fall semester. A 25-item questionnaire based on the World Health Organization Zika Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Resource Pack was developed, pretested, and approved by the university’s institutional review board before it was made available to eligible students through Blackboard Learn or a survey link. About half (50.4%) of the 139 respondents had heard about Zika prior to 2016. Only one student was unaware of Zika before our survey. Most (47.1%) first learned about Zika through television, 18.8% from family or friends, and 15.2% from the Internet, social media, or university e-mail. Two thirds (66.2%) believed Zika could be prevented, 15.1% thought it might be prevented, and 85.7% had taken some precautions. A high level of awareness of the risk of Zika infection was apparent. Most students reported taking steps to avoid exposure to the Zika virus.

scholarly journals Advances in Diagnostic Methods for Zika Virus Infection

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Herrada ◽  
Md. Alamgir Kabir ◽  
Rommel Altamirano ◽  
Waseem Asghar
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Genome Structure ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Localized Surface Plasmon ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Health Organization

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is one of the most infamous mosquito-borne flavivirus on recent memory due to its potential association with high mortality rates in fetuses, microcephaly and neurological impairments in neonates, and autoimmune disorders. The severity of the disease, as well as its fast spread over several continents, has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare ZIKV a global health concern. In consequence, over the past couple of years, there has been a significant effort for the development of ZIKV diagnostic methods, vaccine development, and prevention strategies. This review focuses on the most recent aspects of ZIKV research which includes the outbreaks, genome structure, multiplication and propagation of the virus, and more importantly, the development of serological and molecular detection tools such as Zika IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Zika MAC-ELISA), plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), reverse transcription-loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensors, nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). Additionally, we discuss the limitations of currently available diagnostic methods, the potential of newly developed sensing technologies, and also provide insight into future areas of research.

scholarly journals 119. Prospective Validation of a 3-Gene Signature for Tuberculosis Diagnosis, Predicting Progression and Evaluating Treatment Response

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S5-S5
Author(s):  
Hayley Warsinske ◽  
Aditya Rao ◽  
Flora Martinez Figueira Moreira ◽  
Paulo Cesar Pereira Dos Santos ◽  
Andrew Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Response ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Case Control ◽  
World Health ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Screening Study ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Triage Test

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the need for a nonsputum-based triage test for tuberculosis (TB) that can be used to identify those who need further testing to identify active disease. We investigated whether our previously described 3-gene TB score could identify individuals with active tuberculosis (ATB) prior to seeking care (“active case detection”) and how the 3-gene TB score correlated with the timing of disease onset, disease severity, and response to treatment. Methods This study consisted of a prospective nested case–control trial, Brazil Active Screening Study (BASS; 2016), and re-analysis of data from 2 prospective cohort studies, the Adolescent Cohort Study (ACS; 2005–2007), and the Catalysis Treatment Response Cohort (CTRC; 2010–2013). The BASS case–control subcohort contained 81 adults (ages 20–72 years, 33 ATB, 48 controls). The ACS contained 153 adolescents (ages 12–18 years, 46 ATB, 107 LTBI). The CTRC-contained 138 adults (ages 17–67 years, 100 ATB, 17 other lung disease patients, 21 healthy controls). Results The 3-gene TB score diagnosed ATB patients with high accuracy: BASS cohort AUC = 0.87 (95% CI = 0.82–0.91, Figure 1A), ACS cohort AUC = 0.86 (95% CI = 0.76–0.97, Figure 1B), and CTRC AUC = 0.93 (95% CI = 0.88–0.97). In the ACS, the 3-gene TB score predicted progression from LTBI to ATB 6 months prior to positive sputum test (AUC = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.79–0.92, Figure 1B). In the CTRC, the 3-gene TB score correlated with glycolytic activity ratio of PET-CT at baseline (correlation = 0.54, P = 3.98 × 10−8, Figure 1C) and at the end of treatment (correlation = −0.408, P = 3.72 × 10−5). In the CTRC, the 3-gene TB score at baseline predicted the likelihood of prolonged sputum positivity following treatment initiation and treatment response at 6 months (P = 3.6 × 10−5). Collectively, across all cohorts, the 3-gene TB score identified ATB patients with 90% sensitivity and 70% specificity, and had 99% negative predictive value (NPV) at 5% prevalence. Conclusion Across 3 independent prospective cohorts, the 3-gene TB score closely approaches the WHO target product profile benchmarks for non-sputum–based triage test at high NPV. These performance characteristics make it a potential test for ruling out ATB and for monitoring disease status. Disclosures T. E. Sweeney, Inflammatix, Inc.: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. P. Khatri, Inflammatix Inc.: Board Member, Equity

Congenital Gliosarcoma: Detailed Clinicopathologic Documentation of a Rare Neoplasm

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 398-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ori Hocwald ◽  
Deborah McFadden ◽  
Horacio Osiovich ◽  
Christopher Dunham
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Increased Intracranial Pressure ◽  
High Grade Astrocytoma ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Antenatal Detection ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Congenital Brain Tumors

Congenital brain tumors are rare. Clinically, they often result in macrocrania, hydrocephalus, and focal neurologic deficits. Fetal onset may result in dystocia and stillbirth. Antenatal detection is becoming more common as the result of neuroimaging, and modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging can assist in narrowing the pathologic differential diagnoses. Teratomas and astrocytomas appear to be the most common congenital neoplasms. Amongst the latter, all grades and many subtypes are represented in the congenital time period, including the diffusely infiltrative forms of astrocytoma. Gliosarcoma is currently considered a variant of glioblastoma (i.e., astrocytoma, World Health Organization grade IV) that exhibits genetically similar yet phenotypically separate histologic regions of high-grade astrocytoma and sarcoma. Only rare instances of congenital gliosarcoma have been reported. We detail the case of a 1-day-old term male who presented with macrocrania, hydrocephalus, and signs of increased intracranial pressure. Pathology revealed evidence of a classic gliosarcoma.

scholarly journals Quarantine for Zika Virus? Where is the Science?

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi L. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
World Health ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Spread Of Infection

AbstractIn January 2016, the World Health Organization warned that Zika virus is “spreading explosively” in the Americas and that up to 4 million infections could be present worldwide within a year. Soon thereafter, some politicians and authors publicly advocated for quarantine of travelers returning from regions where mosquitoes carrying Zika virus are prevalent. The public health tool of quarantine can be used to prevent the spread of infection by restricting the movement of persons who have been exposed to a deadly disease that can be transmitted from person to person before symptom onset. With 80% of Zika virus infections being asymptomatic, no rapid test being available to detect the virus, and primary transmission being via the bites of certain mosquitoes, application of quarantine in this setting is not scientifically sound or practically feasible. Rather, public health interventions should focus on preventing bites from infected mosquitoes, counseling pregnant women on the risks of fetal microcephaly and other birth defects, and identifying patients with signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. As was seen in the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014, non-evidence-based factors can influence policy decisions. Public health experts must ensure that policy makers are informed that quarantine is not a scientifically sound approach for the control of Zika virus. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;0:1–3)

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