The impact of the global distribution of bats on mortality in COVID-19 patients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in November 2019 in China and quickly spread throughout the world causing a disease named COVID-19. An analysis of the epidemiological data on morbidity and mortality caused by SARS-CoV-2 shows that, in some countries, namely Belgium, UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, an increased case fatality rate (CFR) was noticed compared to the rest of the world. The CFR, calculated as the number of deaths from the total number of the cases, ranges in these countries from 10.22% to 15.8% according to the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM). At the same time, in the countries of Central and Northern Europe, this parameter varies between 3.78% and 4.94%. This significant heterogeneity in CFR between countries has not been given a convincing explanation yet. It was found that the precursor of SARS-CoV-2 is a virus circulating in bats in China. The mutations that occurred in this virus altered its receptor specificity, thereby enabling viral infection in humans. Bats are highly resistant to viral infections due to their robust interferon system and a reduced level of inflammatory reactions. Viruses replicate in these animals up to high titers without any substantial harm to their health. As a result, bats represent a large reservoir of viruses with the potential to infect other animals, including humans. The infection of people with bat (or human) betacoronaviruses can lead to the formation of memory B-cells that provide an accelerated antibody response to cross-reactive epitopes upon subsequent infection. The early emergence of neutralizing antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 patients correlates with the severity of the disease and the likelihood of a fatal outcome. The antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection/disease known for various viruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, may be a possible cause of this phenomenon. In this article, we suggest a close connection between the distribution areas of bats carrying SARS-CoV-1-like viruses and the CFR from COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Impact of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol on COVID-19 case-fatality rate reduction in Algeria. (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20886 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed Youssef Kada

Keyword(s):

Case Fatality Rate ◽

Doubling Time ◽

Case Fatality ◽

World Health ◽

Fatality Rate ◽

Therapeutic Protocol ◽

First Case ◽

The World ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

BACKGROUND Covid-19 is an emerging infectious disease like viral zoonosis caused by new coronavirus SARS CoV 2. On December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in Hubei province (China) reported cases of pneumonia, the origin of which is a new coronavirus. Rapidly extendable around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares it pandemic on March 11, 2020. This pandemic reaches Algeria on February 25, 2020, date on which the Algerian minister of health, announced the first case of Covid-19, a foreign citizen. From March 1, a cluster is formed in Blida and becomes the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic in Algeria, its total quarantine is established on March 24, 2020, it will be smoothly alleviated on April 24. A therapeutic protocol based on hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was put in place on March 23, for complicated cases, it was extended to all the cases confirmed on April 06. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol in Algeria, in particular after its extension to all patients diagnosed COVID-19 positive on RT-PCR test. We were able to illustrate this fact graphically, but not to prove it statistically because the design of our study, indeed in the 7 days which followed generalization of therapeutic protocol, case fatality rate decrease and doubling time increase, thus confirming the impact of wide and early prescription of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol. METHODS We have analyzed the data collected from press releases and follow-ups published daily by the Ministry of Health, we have studied the possible correlations of these data with certain events or decisions having a possible impact on their development, such as confinement at home and its reduction, the prescription of hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination for serious patients and its extension to all positive COVID subjects. Results are presented in graphics, the data collection was closed on 31/05/2020. RESULTS Covid-19 pandemic spreads from February 25, 2020, when a foreign citizen is tested positive, on March 1 a cluster is formed in the city of Blida where sixteen members of the same family are infected during a wedding party. Wilaya of Blida becomes the epicentre of coronavirus epidemic in Algeria and lockdown measures taken, while the number of national cases diagnosed begins to increases In any event, the association of early containment measures combined with a generalized initial treatment for all positive cases, whatever their degree of severity, will have contributed to a reduction in the fatality rate of COVID 19 and a slowing down of its doubling time. CONCLUSIONS In Algeria, the rapid combination of rigorous containment measure at home and early generalized treatment with hydroxychloroquin have demonstrated their effectiveness in terms of morbidity and mortality, the classic measures of social distancing and hygiene will make it possible to perpetuate these results by reducing viral transmission, the only unknown, the reopening procedure which can only be started after being surrounded by precautions aimed at ensuring the understanding of the population. CLINICALTRIAL Algeria, Covid-19, pandemic, hydroxychloroquin, azithromycin, case fatality rate

Download Full-text

Evidence of antigenic imprinting in sequential Sarbecovirus immunization

10.1101/2020.10.14.339465 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Huibin Lv ◽

Ray T. Y. So ◽

Meng Yuan ◽

Hejun Liu ◽

Chang-Chun D. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Vaccination Strategy ◽

Vaccine Effectiveness ◽

Major Focus ◽

The World ◽

The One ◽

The Impact

SUMMARYAntigenic imprinting, which describes the bias of antibody response due to previous immune history, can influence vaccine effectiveness and has been reported in different viruses. Give that COVID-19 vaccine development is currently a major focus of the world, there is a lack of understanding of how background immunity influence antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. This study provides evidence for antigenic imprinting in Sarbecovirus, which is the subgenus that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to. Specifically, we sequentially immunized mice with two antigenically distinct Sarbecovirus strains, namely SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We found that the neutralizing antibodies triggered by the sequentially immunization are dominantly against the one that is used for priming. Given that the impact of the background immunity on COVID-19 is still unclear, our results will provide important insights into the pathogenesis of this disease as well as COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

Download Full-text

Analytical Review of COVID-19 Outbreak in India During the Global Pandemic

Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology ◽

10.22207/jpam.14.spl1.27 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. 903-910

Author(s):

Parth Goel ◽

Dweepna Garg ◽

Amit Ganatra

Keyword(s):

Early Stage ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Vital Role ◽

Data Repository ◽

Contagious Diseases ◽

First Case ◽

The World ◽

Analytical Review ◽

And Gender

COVID-19 is one of the very contagious diseases from the family Coronaviridae and spreading at a faster rate in the community. In December 2019, the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China. An epidemic outbreak of COVID-19 was seen in India from March 2020. Epidemiological data of COVID-19 cases of the world and India have been analyzed in our study. We have utilized publicly available two databases from data repository by Johns Hopkins CSSE and covid19india.org. COVID-19 cases and case fatality rate (CFR) of the world have been summarized and compared with India from January 22, 2020 to April 15, 2020. Indian cases were analyzed among states of India and also compared with age and gender by performing statistical approaches such as central tendency, standard deviation and interquartile range. By April 15, 2020, Indian has reported 12,322 confirmed cases, 1,498 recovered cases and 405 death cases of COVID-19. In spite of India being a diverse country with the second-highest population, the deadly side of COVID-19 was comparatively far less as compared to the other countries. India has taken preemptive measures at an early stage to prevent transmission of COVID-19 outbreak and it is reviewed from our study by comparing India with other countries. Our study also summarizes that age also plays a vital role in the intervention of COVID-19 cases.

Download Full-text

The severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in mainland China dissected

Infectious Disease Reports ◽

10.4081/idr.2011.1794 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 2 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wuchun Cao ◽

Sake J. De Vlas ◽

Jan H. Richardus

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Mainland China ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Control Measures ◽

Political Commitment ◽

Younger Age ◽

Surrounding Areas ◽

The Impact

This paper provides a review of a recently published series of studies that give a detailed and comprehensive documentation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in mainland China, which severely struck the country in the spring of 2003. The epidemic spanned a large geographical extent but clustered in two areas: first in Guangdong Province, and about 3 months later in Beijing with its surrounding areas. Reanalysis of all available epidemiological data resulted in a total of 5327 probable cases of SARS, of whom 343 died. The resulting case fatality ratio (CFR) of 6.4% was less than half of that in other SARS-affected countries or areas, and this difference could only partly be explained by younger age of patients and higher number of community acquired infections. Analysis of the impact of interventions demonstrated that strong political commitment and a centrally coordinated response was the most important factor to control SARS in mainland China, whereas the most stringent control measures were all initiated when the epidemic was already dying down. The long-term economic consequence of the epidemic was limited, much consumption was merely postponed, but for Beijing irrecoverable losses to the tourist sector were considerable. An important finding from a cohort study was that many former SARS patients currently suffer from avascular osteonecrosis, as a consequence of the treatment with corticosteroids during their infection. The SARS epidemic provided valuable information and lessons relevant in controlling outbreaks of newly emerging infectious diseases, and has led to fundamental reforms of the Chinese health system. In particular, a comprehensive nation-wide internet-based disease reporting system was established.

Download Full-text

Correlation between adult tobacco smoking prevalence and mortality of Coronavirus Disease-19 across the world

10.1101/2020.12.01.20241596 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nadya Magfira ◽

Helda

Keyword(s):

Adult Male ◽

Tobacco Smoking ◽

Smoking Prevalence ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Correlation Study ◽

Middle Income ◽

Percentage Point Increase ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackground and aimCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic spreading worldwide. Limited studies showed that smokers were at higher risk of having severe complications and higher mortality. This study aims to analyze the possible correlation between adult tobacco smoking prevalence and COVID-19 mortality all over the world.MethodsThis is a correlation study, we conducted a linear regression to analyse the correlation between smoking prevalence data in adults and COVID-19 Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) in countries with 1000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on May 3, 2020.ResultsSeventy-five country included with median CFR 3.66%. There are no relationships between adult male or female smoking prevalence with COVID-19 mortality in all over the countries. The multivariate analysis showed p-values of 0.823 and 0.910 for male and female smoking prevalence respectively. However, in lower-middle-income countries (LMIC), there is a positive correlation between the prevalence of adult male smoking with the lethality of COVID-19. Each percentage point increase in adult male smoking prevalence caused a CFR of COVID-19 increase by 0.08% (95% CI 0.00%-0.15%, p=0.041).ConclusionsA correlation was found between the prevalence of adult male smoking and the CFR of COVID-19 in lower middle-income countries. Based on these findings, strengthening tobacco control policies is needed to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic especially in LMIC. Further researches are still needed.

Download Full-text

Fatal outcomes of imported dengue fever in adult travelers from non-endemic areas are associated with primary infections

Journal of Travel Medicine ◽

10.1093/jtm/taab020 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ralph Huits ◽

Eli Schwartz

Keyword(s):

Health Care Providers ◽

Case Reports ◽

Secondary Infection ◽

Fatal Outcome ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Severe Dengue ◽

Care Providers ◽

Denv Serotypes ◽

Secondary Infections ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The case-fatality rate of dengue in travelers is low. Secondary dengue virus (DENV) infections are considered a risk factor for fatal outcome in endemic populations; however, the impact of secondary infections on mortality in travelers has not been studied systematically. We performed a descriptive analysis of case reports of dengue fatalities in travelers. Methods We searched Medline for clinical case reports, using the free terms and MeSH headings: ‘Dengue’ OR ‘Severe Dengue’ AND ‘Travel-Related Illness’ OR ‘travel’ AND ‘Mortality’ OR ‘Fatal Outcome’. We analyzed case reports of fatal dengue in returning travelers published from 1995 to 2020, with the objective to detail risk factors for dengue mortality in this population. We verified the authors’ classifications of primary or secondary dengue infections; infections were considered as primary by absence of anti-DENV immunoglobulin (Ig)G or by IgM-to-IgG ratios greater than or equal to 1.8 in the first 7 days post symptom onset. Results We identified nine detailed reports of dengue with fatal outcome among travelers from non-endemic countries. Eight fatalities were female. The median age was 32 years (range 21–63). Out of nine fatal cases, seven travelers had a primary DENV infection, one had a secondary infection and, in one, these data were not reported. The infecting DENV serotypes were DENV-1 (n = 2), DENV-2 (n = 2) and DENV-3 (n = 3); DENV-1 or 2 (n = 1) and in one case, the serotype could not be determined. Conclusions Dengue-related deaths in travelers are rare. Most dengue cases in travelers are primary infections. Contrary to prevailing conceptions, we found that fatal outcomes of dengue in travelers from non-endemic countries were reported mainly with primary DENV infections. We alert health care providers that primary DENV infections are not always harmless and that in adult travelers from non-endemic countries, primary infections may contribute more to dengue-related mortality than secondary infections.

Download Full-text

MRI demonstrates glutamine antagonist-mediated reversal of cerebral malaria pathology in mice

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1812909115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 115 (51) ◽

pp. E12024-E12033 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Brittany A. Riggle ◽

Sanhita Sinharay ◽

William Schreiber-Stainthorp ◽

Jeeva P. Munasinghe ◽

Dragan Maric ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Malaria ◽

Fatal Outcome ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Adjunctive Treatment ◽

Brain Pathology ◽

Brain Swelling ◽

Disease Markers ◽

The Impact ◽

Antimalarial Chemotherapy

The deadliest complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection is cerebral malaria (CM), with a case fatality rate of 15 to 25% in African children despite effective antimalarial chemotherapy. No adjunctive treatments are yet available for this devastating disease. We previously reported that the glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) rescued mice from experimental CM (ECM) when administered late in the infection, a time by which mice had already suffered blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, brain swelling, and hemorrhaging. Herein, we used longitudinal MR imaging to visualize brain pathology in ECM and the impact of a new DON prodrug, JHU-083, on disease progression in mice. We demonstrate in vivo the reversal of disease markers in symptomatic, infected mice following treatment, including the resolution of edema and BBB disruption, findings usually associated with a fatal outcome in children and adults with CM. Our results support the premise that JHU-083 is a potential adjunctive treatment that could rescue children and adults from fatal CM.

Download Full-text

Analytical review of the global coronavirus infection pandemic in Ukraine

Health of Society ◽

10.22141/2306-2436.10.1.2021.238579 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 14-25

Author(s):

O.G. Shekera

Keyword(s):

Fatal Outcome ◽

Rapid Test ◽

The United States ◽

Severe Form ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection ◽

The World ◽

Analytical Review ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

The Impact

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The outbreak was first recorded in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak a health emergency of international significance, and on March 11, 2020 – a pandemic. In Ukraine, Covid-19 coronavirus infection (a new type of pneumonia) was first diagnosed on March 3, 2020, in Chernivtsi. On March 13, the first fatal outcome of Covid-19 was recorded. The purpose of the study was to analyze information sources for the last year. Materials and methods. The research used methods of semantic evaluation of scientific documents, as well as methods of structural and logical analysis. Results. The COVID-19, formerly a coronavirus infection 2019 nCoV is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (2019 nCoV) and is a dangerous disease that can occur in the form of acute respiratory viral infection of mild and severe form. Studies suggest that the virus is the result of recombination of bat coronavirus with another, as yet unknown, coronavirus. At the same time, scientists from the United States concluded that SARS-CoV-2 has a genetic trace that is not observed in natural coronavirus. They said that it is founded evidence of artificial origin of the coronavirus. In 2021, the WHO changed the labeling of coronavirus strains, including four strains of concern and known to the public as options first discovered in Britain (Kent) (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), Brazil (P.1) and India (B.1.617.2). From now on, the WHO recommends, labeling them using the letters of the Greek alphabet, ie - Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, respectively. The most common symptoms of the Covid-19 coronavirus infection are fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, severe fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, loss or disturbance of taste and/or odor (characteristic symptom). Less common symptoms are diarrhea, conjunctivitis, skin rash, or discoloration of the fingers and toes. Symptoms that may occur with a severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or chest pressure, impaired speech or motility. To diagnose COVID-19 coronavirus infection is possible only having carried out necessary testing methods, namely: PCR, determination of coronavirus RNA SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19); IgG antibodies, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19); IgM antibodies, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19); IgA antibodies, coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2); Rapid test, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, antigen, etc. There are two ways to acquire immunity: get sick or get vaccinated. There are more than 80 human vaccine studies in the world, although some are in the early stages of clinical trials. At the same time, companies whose vaccines are already in use around the world have begun to study updated versions of drugs that should be effective against new strains of the COVID-19 virus. Conclusions. Now, it is necessary to radically change the approach to combating the COVID-19 epidemic in 2021-2022. Priority should be given to early detection and containment of COVID-19 coronavirus infection outbreaks (testing, contact tracking, isolation) and a vigorous immunization campaign against COVID-19. Investigate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the loss of human capital: lost services (forgone care), excessive mortality, additional burden of morbidity, in particular for chronic diseases. Direct resources to renew programs to increase the availability of health services. The increase in system load through the COVID-19 vaccination program should be considered.

Download Full-text

The impact of COVID-19 in diabetic kidney disease and chronic kidney disease: A population-based study

10.1101/2020.09.12.20193235 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Juan Alonso Leon-Abarca ◽

Roha Saeed Memon ◽

Bahar Rehan ◽

Maimoona Iftikhar ◽

Antara Chatterjee

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Diabetic Nephropathy ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Fatal Outcome ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Population Based ◽

Continuous Variable ◽

Binomial Regression ◽

Robust Poisson Regression ◽

The Impact

Background: The spectrum of pre-existing renal disease is known as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes. However, little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on patients with diabetic nephropathy in comparison to patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: We used the Mexican Open Registry of COVID-19 patients 11 to analyze anonymized records of those who had symptoms related to COVID-19 to analyze the rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, development of COVID-19 pneumonia, admission, intubation, Intensive Care Unit admission and mortality. Robust Poisson regression was used to relate sex and age to each of the six outcomes and find adjusted prevalences and adjusted prevalence ratios. Also, binomial regression models were performed for those outcomes that had significant results to generate probability plots to perform a fine analysis of the results obtained along age as a continuous variable. Results: The adjusted prevalence analysis revealed that that there was a a 87.9% excess probability of developing COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with diabetic nephropathy, a 5% excess probability of being admitted, a 101.7% excess probability of intubation and a 20.8% excess probability of a fatal outcome due to COVID-19 pneumonia in comparison to CKD patients (p<0.01). Conclusions: Patients with diabetic nephropathy had nearly a twofold rate of COVID-19 pneumonia, a higher probability of admission, a twofold probability of intubation and a higher chance of death once admitted compared to patients with chronic kidney disease alone. Also, both diseases had higher COVID-19 pneumonia rates, intubation rates and case-fatality rates compared to the overall population. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Chronic Kidney Disease, diabetic nephropathy

Download Full-text

Connecting BCG Vaccination and COVID-19: Additional Data

10.1101/2020.04.07.20053272 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Devi Dayal ◽

Saniya Gupta

Keyword(s):

Disease Burden ◽

Additional Data ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Vaccination Policy ◽

Bcg Vaccination ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact ◽

High Disease Burden

AbstractThe reasons for a wide variation in severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the affected countries of the world are not known. Two recent studies have suggested a link between the BCG vaccination policy and the morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. In the present study we compared the impact of COVID-19 in terms of case fatality rates (CFR) between countries with high disease burden and those with BCG revaccination policies presuming that revaccination practices would have provided added protection to the population against severe COVID-19. We found a significant difference in the CFR between the two groups of countries. Our data further supports the view that universal BCG vaccination has a protective effect on the course of COVID-19 probably preventing progression to severe disease and death. Clinical trials of BCG vaccine are urgently needed to establish its beneficial role in COVID-19 as suggested by the epidemiological data, especially in countries without a universal BCG vaccination policy.

Download Full-text