Analysis of exotic squirrel trade and detection of human infections with variegated squirrel bornavirus 1, Germany, 2005 to 2018

Following the discovery in 2015 of the variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) in fatal encephalitis cases among exotic squirrel breeders and a zoo animal caretaker in Germany, a case definition was developed. It was employed during trace-back animal trade investigations and sero-epidemiological studies among breeders and zoo animal caretakers of holdings with VSBV-1 infected squirrels. During the investigation, two possible human cases who had died of encephalitis were identified retrospectively among the squirrel breeders. Moreover, one probable human case was detected among the breeders who had a positive memory T-cell response to VSBV-1 antigen and antibodies against VSBV-1. The low rate of seropositivity found among living persons in risk groups that handle exotic squirrels privately or at zoos may reflect rareness of exposure to VSBV-1 during animal contact, a high lethality of infection or a combination of these factors. As a precaution against human exposure, testing of exotic squirrels for VSBV-1 infection and/or avoiding direct contact with exotic squirrels in zoos and private holdings is strongly advised.

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Comparative analysis of the potential and actual risk of noise-induced hearing loss in employees of “noise” industries

Hygiene and Sanitation ◽

10.47470/0016-9900-2021-100-9-947-952 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 100 (9) ◽

pp. 947-952

Author(s):

Elena A. Preobrazhenskaia ◽

Anna V. Sukhova ◽

Elena N. Kriuchkova

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Potential Risk ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Calculated Data ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽

Actual Risk ◽

Real Risk ◽

Processing Plants

Introduction. The high incidence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) makes it possible to attribute the problem of prevention and prediction of the risk of NIHL to the number of socially significant ones. The aim of the study is to conduct a comparative assessment of the potential risk of hearing loss caused by noise according to GOST R ISO 1999-2017, and the actual risk of NIHL in workers of “noise” industries according to epidemiological research. Materials and methods. The calculation of the potential risk of hearing loss according to GOST R ISO 1999-2017 included assessing age, noise and total hearing loss at noise exposure with 85, 90, 95 and 100 dBA. The actual risk of NIHL was evaluated on survey data of 600 miners and 600 workers of processing plants. Results. The calculation of the probable risk according to GOST R ISO 1999-2017 and the assessment of the actual risk according to epidemiological studies showed that the risk of NIHL depends on both noise exposure and age. As the levels of noise affecting an employee increase, the risk of an NIHL becomes more determined by the effect of noise. At noise levels 85, 90 and 95 dBA, the probable risk calculated under GOST R ISO 1999-2017 coincides with the actual risk established according to epidemiological studies. At the same time, for miners exposed to high-intensity noise 100 dBА, the real risk was not as high as could be assumed from the calculated data. Conclusion. The results obtained allow stating that the GOST ISO 1999-2017 standard with a high degree of potential risk allows predicting the group risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure, to quantify the degree of risk and can be used for the formation of risk groups for NIHL and the development of programs for the preservation of hearing.

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Independent infections of porcine deltacoronavirus among Haitian children

Nature ◽

10.1038/s41586-021-04111-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

John A. Lednicky ◽

Massimiliano S. Tagliamonte ◽

Sarah K. White ◽

Maha A. Elbadry ◽

Md. Mahbubul Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Febrile Illness ◽

Cell Receptor ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Mutational Signature ◽

Host Cell Receptor ◽

The Family ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Animal Contact ◽

Human Infections ◽

Animal Reservoirs

AbstractCoronaviruses have caused three major epidemics since 2003, including the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In each case, the emergence of coronavirus in our species has been associated with zoonotic transmissions from animal reservoirs1,2, underscoring how prone such pathogens are to spill over and adapt to new species. Among the four recognized genera of the family Coronaviridae, human infections reported so far have been limited to alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses3–5. Here we identify porcine deltacoronavirus strains in plasma samples of three Haitian children with acute undifferentiated febrile illness. Genomic and evolutionary analyses reveal that human infections were the result of at least two independent zoonoses of distinct viral lineages that acquired the same mutational signature in the genes encoding Nsp15 and the spike glycoprotein. In particular, structural analysis predicts that one of the changes in the spike S1 subunit, which contains the receptor-binding domain, may affect the flexibility of the protein and its binding to the host cell receptor. Our findings highlight the potential for evolutionary change and adaptation leading to human infections by coronaviruses outside of the previously recognized human-associated coronavirus groups, particularly in settings where there may be close human–animal contact.

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CKD of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka: A Multilevel Clinical Case Definition for Surveillance and Epidemiological Studies

Kidney International Reports ◽

10.1016/j.ekir.2019.03.020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 781-785 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Eranga S. Wijewickrama ◽

Nalika Gunawardena ◽

Saroj Jayasinghe ◽

Chula Herath

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Clinical Case ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Case Definition ◽

Unknown Etiology ◽

Clinical Case Definition

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O2C.1 Worker compensation: are epidemiological studies fit for purpose?

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.41 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A15.3-A16

Author(s):

Lesley Rushton

Keyword(s):

Occupational Exposure ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Vital Role ◽

Case Definition ◽

Effective Control ◽

Compensation Scheme ◽

Worker Compensation ◽

Work Related ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Exposure Metrics

IntroductionEvery year, large numbers of workers have an injury at work or develop a work-related disease. A range of worker compensation systems exist across countries for which epidemiological studies potentially provide critical evidence. This paper discusses the adequacy of current epidemiological research for this purpose.MethodsCompensation schemes need to identify the occupational circumstances, or dose, that increase (e.g. double) the risks of the disease, and to define these so they can be administered effectively by decision-makers who lack epidemiological experience. Large studies or meta-analyses with effective control for confounders, adequate exposure assessment, and clear case definition are (ideally) required.ResultsAlthough epidemiological studies may show consistent evidence of an increased health risk from an occupational exposure, definitions of exposure are often unsuitable for converting into an appropriate exposure schedule for a compensation scheme. Direct measurements of occupational exposure are usually scarce and not available for individual workers; both claimants, perhaps, assessors would find these measurements difficult to access and use. Exposures defined by industry or job title, particularly with a qualifying time-period, although perceived by epidemiologists as rather simplistic, are more straightforward to use, e.g. ‘osteoarthritis in miners who have worked 10 or more years underground’. If quantitative exposure measurements are unavailable, epidemiologists often define qualitative metrics such as ‘high’, ‘medium’, or ‘low’ or develop more complex semi-qualitative exposure metrics such as ‘exposed or not’ at a given level of certainty or probability; intensity of exposure based on expert judgement of proximity to the substance and effectiveness of control procedures. Application of these in a compensation scheme may be problematical.DiscussionEpidemiology plays a vital role in ensuring workers are compensated for work-related ill-health. Epidemiological study design, exposure metrics and primary and subsidiary analyses should be tailored to directly support compensation schemes.

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Phylodynamic Analysis and Implication of HCV Genotype 4 Variability on Antiviral Drug Response and T-Cell Recognition

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12121363 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 1363

Author(s):

Giuseppina Maria Elena Colomba ◽

Noemi Urone ◽

Vito di Marco ◽

Donatella Ferraro

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Genetic Variability ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Cd8 T Cell ◽

Antiviral Drugs ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cell Recognition ◽

Genotype 4 ◽

Hcv Genotype ◽

T Cell Recognition

Therapies for HCV care could change the prevalence and the geographic distribution of genotypes due to differences in Sustained Virologic Response (SVR). In this scenario, uncommon genotypes/subtypes, such as genotype 4, could spread from high-risk groups, replacing genotypes eradicated by antiviral drugs. Genotype eradication is also strongly influenced by the CD8+ T cell response. In this study, the genetic variability in HCV genotype 4 strains obtained from a cohort of 67 patients naïve to DAA therapy was evaluated. We found that the presence of resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) was able to affect drug responses. Next, using a prediction tool, viral mutations were identified by their ability, or lack thereof, to reduce the binding affinity with HLA, which affects T cell recognition. The Bayesian coalescent analysis suggested two different circulation clusters, one in risk groups (IDUs and MSM) and the other due to migration flows, dated to 1940 and 1915, respectively. Most of the RAS overlapped with HLA and a lack of binding mutations was observed in 96% of strains. This study describes the introduction of HCV genotype 4 in a region of the Mediterranean basin and evaluates how HCV genotype 4’s genetic variability could affect the response of antiviral drugs and CD8+ T cell recognition.

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Protocol for Specific Isolation of Virulent Strains of Vibrio vulnificus Serovar E (Biotype 2) from Environmental Samples

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.70.12.7024-7032.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 70 (12) ◽

pp. 7024-7032 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Eva Sanjuán ◽

Carmen Amaro

Keyword(s):

Environmental Samples ◽

Vibrio Vulnificus ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Field Studies ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Alkaline Peptone Water ◽

Virulent Strains ◽

Peptone Water ◽

Human Sera ◽

Human Infections

ABSTRACT The eel pathogen Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 comprises at least three serovars, with serovar E being the only one involved in both epizootics of eel vibriosis and sporadic cases of human infections. The virulent strains of this serovar (VSE) have only been recovered from clinical (mainly eel tissue) sources. The main objective of this work was to design and validate a new protocol for VSE-specific isolation from environmental samples. The key element of the new protocol is the broth used for the first step (saline eel serum broth [SEB]), which contains eel serum as a nutritive and selective component. This approach takes advantage of the ability of VSE cells to grow in eel serum and thus to separate themselves from the pool of competitors. The growth yield in SEB after 8 h of incubation was 1,000 times higher for VSE strains than for their putative competitors (including biotype 1 strains of the species). The selective and differential agar Vibrio vulnificus medium (VVM) was selected from five selective media for the second step because it gave the highest plating efficiency not only for the VSE group but also for other V. vulnificus groups, including biotype 3. The entire protocol was validated by field studies, with alkaline peptone water plus VVM as a control. V. vulnificus was isolated by both protocols, but serovar E was only recovered by the new method described here. All selected serovar E isolates were identified as VSE since they were virulent for both eels and iron-overloaded mice and resisted the bactericidal action of eel and iron-overloaded human sera. In conclusion, this new protocol is a suitable method for the isolation of VSE strains from environmental samples and is recommended for epidemiological studies of the pathogenic serovar E.

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Prevalence of hepatitis C infection among the general population and high-risk groups in the EU/EEA: A systematic review update

10.21203/rs.2.9311/v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ru HAN ◽

Junwen ZHOU ◽

Clément François N ◽

Mondher Toumi

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C ◽

High Risk ◽

General Population ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Resource Utilisation ◽

European Economic Area ◽

The European Union ◽

Hepatitis C Infection ◽

Healthcare Resource Utilisation

Abstract Background: Although significant improvement in efficacy measured by a sustained virological response, the high acquisition costs of direct-acting antivirals limit the access for patients and influence the costs of healthcare resource utilisation in hepatitis C. It is important to have the latest estimates of prevalence, especially in high-risk groups, for cost of illness, cost-effectiveness and budget impact studies. Methods: Original studies on the estimates of the prevalence among general and high-risk populations in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) were retrieved from Medline and Embase for the period from 2015 to 2018. All included studies were evaluated for risk of selection bias and summarised together in a narrative form. Results from previous reviews and updated searches were compared per country among different populations, respectively. Results: Among the 3871 studies identified, 46 studies were included: 20 studies were used for the estimate of the general population; 3 for men who have sex with men (MSM); 6 for prisoners; and 17 for people who inject drugs (PWID). Compared with the results reported in previous systematic reviews, the updated estimates were lower than previously in most available countries. Anti-HCV general population prevalence estimates ranged from 0.54% to 1.50% by country. The highest prevalence of anti-HCV was found among PWID (range of 7.90% - 82.00%), followed by prisoners (7.00% - 41.00%), HIV-positive MSM (1.80% - 7.10%), HIV-negative MSM (0.20% - 1.80%), pregnant women (0.10% - 1.32%) and first-time blood donors (0.03% - 0.09%). Conclusions: Our study highlights the heterogeneity in anti-HCV prevalence across different population groups in EU/EEA. The prevalence also varies widely between European countries. There are many countries that are not represented in our results, highlighting the need for the development of robust epidemiological studies.

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Pyronaridine and artesunate are potential antiviral drugs against COVID-19 and influenza

10.1101/2020.07.28.225102 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joon-Yong Bae ◽

Gee Eun Lee ◽

Heedo Park ◽

Juyoung Cho ◽

Yung-Eui Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza A ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Winter Season ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Human Case ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Chemical Components ◽

Drug Candidates ◽

Lung Epithelial ◽

Human Infections

AbstractSince the first human case was reported in Wuhan Province, China in December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has caused millions of human infections in more than 200 countries worldwide with an approximately 4.01% case-fatality rate (as of 27 July, 2020; based on a WHO situation report), and COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed our global community. Even though a few candidate drugs, such as remdesivir (a broad antiviral prodrug) and hydroxychloroquine, have been investigated in human clinical trials, their therapeutic efficacy needs to be clarified further to be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Here we show that pyronaridine and artesunate, which are the chemical components of anti-malarial drug Pyramax®, exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. In human lung epithelial (Calu-3) cells, pyronaridine and artesunate were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 while hydroxychloroquine did not show any effect at concentrations of less than 100 μM. In viral growth kinetics, both pyronaridine and artesunate inhibited the growth of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza A virus in Calu-3 cells. Taken together, we suggest that artesunate and pyronaridine might be effective drug candidates for use in human patients with COVID-19 and/or influenza, which may co-circulate during this coming winter season.

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Epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis

10.1093/med/9780198737582.003.0003 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Elaine Husni ◽

Madonna Michael

Keyword(s):

Psoriatic Arthritis ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Case Definition ◽

Small Sample ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Wide Range ◽

And Gender ◽

High Level

The epidemiological studies of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is quite challenging as our understanding of the disease is evolving. A wide range of incidence and prevalence is reported among different countries suggesting genetic and environmental factors influencing the epidemiology of PsA. Other contributing factors accounting for the wide range and variation of PsA epidemiology include age and gender variations, ethnicity, lack of precise case definition, and small sample size. A high level of suspicion in patients with pre-existing psoriasis, and collaborative efforts shared between primary care physicians (PCP), dermatologist, and rheumatologist, will enhance early detection and management of PsA, subsequently improving overall patient outcomes, and quality of life.

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