Viral Causes of Acute Febrile Jaundice in Selected Provinces of Zambia

Author(s):  
Boniface Kabungo ◽  
AaroAyato Takada ◽  
Masahiro Kajihara ◽  
Akina Mori ◽  
Katendi Changula ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Following the yellow fever (YF) risk assessment conducted in 2013, Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO successfully implemented YF case based surveillance among the YF suspects in the high risk areas of Zambia. To date, none of the patients has been confirmed as a case of YF and the epidemiology of flavi-viruses has not been comprehensively investigated in Zambia. As YF may be hardly distinguished clinically from other febrile diseases, because early in the clinical course YF may appear similar to other diseases but YF will diverge clinically as the disease course progresses. This study was designed to investigate the viral causes of febrile jaundice among YF suspects in selected provinces of Zambia. Method We conducted a retrospective study on 93 archived serum samples previously collected from patients meeting a case definition of YF suspect from January 2014 to July 2015 presented in selected health facilities. Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, West Nile, pan Flavivirus, and Hepatitis A viruses were tested by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT_PCR) and Hepatitis B virus using PCR, while Hepatitis C and Hepatitis E viruses were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). Samples were also tested for YF and dengue fever (DF) antibodies using in-house immunoglobulin M enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Ig M ELISA) and immunoglobulin M rapid test respectively. STATA version 12 was used for data analysis. Results Fourteen percent (13/93) of the serum samples were identified as YF IgM positive. None of the samples tested positive for DF IgM ELISA. All 93 serum samples tested negative for the flaviviruses by RT-PCR. However, 8.6% (8/93) showed acute Hepatitis A and 2/20 (10%) of pooled sera tested positive for HBV. The median age of patients with Hepatitis A was 9.5 years old and for those without evidence of HAV infection was 19 years old. Approximately 85 (91.4%) of patients had acute diseases of unknown origin. Conclusion The study revealed that YF IgM was prevalent among study participants. However, the causes of fever and jaundice in Zambia may include viral hepatitis and needs to be considered if flaviviral diseases are suspected.

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Buckweitz ◽  
Steve Kleiboeker ◽  
Katia Marioni ◽  
Jose Ramos-Vara ◽  
Audrey Rottinghaus ◽  
...  

Necropsy of an older dog submitted for evaluation of renal and central nervous system disease revealed histologic lesions compatible with West Nile viral encephalitis and myocarditis, as seen in other species. Using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction detection of envelope sequences, viral RNA was detected in most organs, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that at least 1,000 times more RNA was present in kidney than in brain, heart, spleen, or lung. Immunohistochemical evaluation of the kidney revealed intense staining of West Nile viral antigens in renal tubular epithelium and casts located within multifocal granulomatous interstitial inflammation. A canine immunoglobulin M (IgM)–capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed, and patient serum was strongly positive for viral antibody. Retrospective and ongoing evaluation of sera from dogs with neurological disease and of those submitted for heartworm testing detected 4 dogs that were subclinically infected but without additional sickness. Judged by this experience, the kidney of West Nile virus–infected dogs may be an important target organ, one that might be suitable for antemortem biopsy. The presence of virus-specific IgM was demonstrated in the serum of this dog, and finding 4 positives among 169 additional canine sera received since late July 2002 suggests that seroconversion appears to be relatively uncommon in dogs during the outbreak in Missouri.


Intervirology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Salman Khan ◽  
Syed Asad Ali Shah ◽  
Syed Muhammad Jamal

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an infectious and highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed domestic and wild animals, causing heavy economic losses to the livestock industry. Rapid and reliable diagnosis of the disease is essential for the implementation of effective control measures. This study compared sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (S-ELISA) and conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the diagnosis of FMD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 60 epithelial samples from suspected cases of FMD were tested using both S-ELISA and RT-PCR assays. The level of agreement between the assays was assessed by calculating the Kappa value. <b><i>Results:</i></b> S-ELISA detected 38 (63%) samples positive for FMD virus (FMDV). Being predominant, serotype O was detected in 22 (57.9%) of the total samples tested positive, whereas 9 (23.7%) and 7 (18.4%) samples were found positive for serotypes A and Asia-1, respectively. RT-PCR detected viral genome in 51 (85%) of the samples using pan-FMDV primers set, 1F/1R. Thirty-six samples were found positive and 7 negative by both the tests. The level of agreement between the tests was assessed by calculating the Kappa value, which was found to be fair (Kappa value = 0.303 and 95% CI = 0.089; 0.517) and significant (<i>p</i> = 0.009). However, 2 samples, which were found positive on S-ELISA tested negative on RT-PCR. This may be attributed to the presence of nucleotide mismatch(es) in the primer-binding sites that may have resulted in failure of amplification of the viral genome. The serotype-specific RT-PCR assays not only confirmed serotyping results of S-ELISA but were also able to establish serotype in 9 S-ELISA-negative but pan-FMDV RT-PCR-positive samples. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The RT-PCR assay contributes significantly to establishing a quick, sensitive, and definitive diagnosis of FMD in resource-constrained countries. Samples giving negative results in S-ELISA should be tested in RT-PCR for the disease detection and virus typing.


Hepatology ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Yotsuyanagi ◽  
K Koike ◽  
K Yasuda ◽  
K Moriya ◽  
Y Shintani ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID H. KINGSLEY ◽  
GARY P. RICHARDS

We investigated the ability of hepatitis A virus (HAV) to persist for up to 6 weeks in Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Viral RNA was detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction 6 weeks after 16 h of exposure to 90,000 PFU (180 PFU/ml of seawater) of HAV. Assaying for infectious virus in oysters that received a daily feeding of phytoplankton recovered 3,800, 650, and 500 PFU of HAV 1, 2, and 3 weeks after contamination with 90,000 PFU of HAV, respectively. However, no infectious HAV was isolated from oysters 4, 5, or 6 weeks after contamination. These results support the position that shellfish depuration is insufficient for the complete removal of infectious viruses. Extended relay times (in excess of 4 weeks) may be required to produce virologically safe shellfish.


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazar M Abdalla

Objective: This study aimed to identify cases of leishmaniasis in the Nuba Mountain area, which is situated in a unique geographical site located in the centre of Sudanese leishmania belt. Wide range of investigations are available for detection of leishmania cases, but still the most reliable and easy test used as screening and epidemiological tool in field studies needs to be evaluated. The most commonly used conventional diagnostic methods direct microscopy and culture have some drawbacks in diagnosing subclinical cases of leishmaniasis. Materials and methods: In this study, comparative properties of various immune-diagnostic tools with Polymerase Chain Reaction used in sub-clinical leishmaniasis isolates were explored. The immune-diagnostic tools involved in this study include- Leishmanin Skin Test (LST), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Direct Agglutination Test (DAT). The study was conducted in the Green Valley village (Rashad Province, South Kordofan State) with a population of 332. Most of the villagers presented with sub-clinical form of leishmaniasis with minor symptoms and signs without the features found in clinical form of visceral leishmaniasis such as fever, diarrhoea, epistaxis, enlarged lymph nodes, spleen and liver. In this study we collected demographic, clinical and epidemiological data using special questionnaire. Leishmanin skin test (LST), ELISA, DAT and PCR for parasite DNA detection were used. Result: The final positive cases detected by PCR were 32 out of 332 belong to L. donovani species. The final positive cases detected by LST were 51.2% of the total population under study, while 11 out of the 37 tested samples were positive by ELISA. All of the 332 villagers showed negative readings by DAT with exception of three individuals who were positive with very high titers. Conclusion: DNA etxtraction and amplification with primers can be a good screening tool in subclinical leishmaniasis isolates. Keyword: Sub-clinical; Leishmaniasis; Leishmanin Skin Test; ELISA; DAT; PCR. DOI: 10.3329/jom.v12i1.5422J Medicine 2011; 12 : 34-39


Blood ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
DB Duggan ◽  
GD Ehrlich ◽  
FP Davey ◽  
S Kwok ◽  
J Sninsky ◽  
...  

Abstract A patient with a localized HTLV-I-associated lymphoproliferative disease that was misdiagnosed as Hodgkin's disease is presented. The patient's serum was negative for HTLV-I antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and radioimmunoprecipitation. Tumor tissue DNA was negative for HTLV-I by Southern blotting but was positive for distinct HTLV-I sequences when subjected to DNA amplification using the polymerase chain reaction. We conclude that the clinical and pathologic diagnosis of HTLV-I-related lymphoma can be difficult and can be confused with Hodgkin's disease. Extremely sensitive molecular biological techniques may be required to establish a diagnosis of HTLV-I-induced lymphoma.


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