scholarly journals Low SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and No Active Infections among Dogs and Cats in Animal Shelters with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Human Cases among Employees

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 898
Author(s):  
Caitlin M. Cossaboom ◽  
Alexandra M. Medley ◽  
Jessica R. Spengler ◽  
Esther A. Kukielka ◽  
Grace W. Goryoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Early Implementation ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Low Probability

Human-to-animal and animal-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been documented; however, investigations into SARS-CoV-2 transmission in congregate animal settings are lacking. We investigated four animal shelters in the United States that had identified animals with exposure to shelter employees with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Of the 96 cats and dogs with specimens collected, only one dog had detectable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies; no animal specimens had detectable viral RNA. These data indicate a low probability of human-to-animal transmission events in cats and dogs in shelter settings with early implementation of infection prevention interventions.

scholarly journals Implications for Europe of high prevalence of HIV drug resistance in the United States

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Pillay
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Successful Treatment ◽  
Virological Failure ◽  
The United States ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Viral Rebound ◽  
Drug Compliance ◽  
High Prevalence

Over 16 drugs are now available for use against HIV, broadly comprising three classes of agent. Their use, in combination, has had a dramatic impact in reducing disease progression. Successful treatment is increasingly defined as the maintenance of plasma viral RNA load at undetectable levels. Reasons for ‘virological failure’ (viral rebound) on treatment are many, but perhaps the single most important factor is suboptimal drug compliance.

scholarly journals A Multi-Site Feasibility Assessment of Implementing a Best-Practices Meet-And-Greet Intervention in Animal Shelters in the United States

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Alexandra Protopopova ◽  
Kelsea M. Brown ◽  
Nathaniel J. Hall
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Experimental Phase ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Educational Session ◽  
Feasibility Assessment ◽  
Potential Adopter ◽  
Lecture Demonstration ◽  
New Research

Animal shelters must incorporate empirically validated programs to increase life-saving measures; however, altering existing protocols is often a challenge. The current study assessed the feasibility of nine animal shelters within the United States to replicate a validated procedure for introducing an adoptable dog with a potential adopter (i.e., “meet-and-greet”) following an educational session. Each of the shelters were first entered into the “baseline” condition, where introduction between adoptable dogs and potential adopters were as usual. After a varying number of months, each shelter entered into the “experimental” phase, where staff and volunteers were taught best practices for a meet-and-greet using lecture, demonstration, and role-play. Data on the likelihood of adoption following a meet-and-greet were collected with automated equipment installed in meet-and-greet areas. Data on feasibility and treatment integrity were collected with questionnaires administered to volunteers and staff followed by a focus group. We found that a single educational session was insufficient to alter the meet-and-greet protocol; challenges included not remembering the procedure, opposing opinions of volunteers and staff, lack of resources, and a procedural drift effect in which the protocol was significantly altered across time. In turn, no animal shelters increased their dog adoptions in the “experimental” phase. New research is needed to develop effective educational programs to encourage animal shelters to incorporate empirical findings into their protocols.

scholarly journals Repeat cesarean section in a COVID-19 positive mother in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2094553
Author(s):  
Krupa Daniel ◽  
Kiran Goli ◽  
Anita Sargent
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Positive Mother ◽  
Repeat Cesarean Section

In our report, we present a case of repeat cesarean section in a 29-year-old Ecuadorian mother who contracted COVID-19 and traveled to the United States during her last trimester of pregnancy. We assembled a multidisciplinary team to safely deliver the mother by cesarean section. She received supportive care for her COVID-19 infection. Infection prevention procedures were based on early available data, and the baby was delivered without complications.

COVID-19 aids US-China economic ties in the short term

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Early Implementation ◽  
Institutional Architecture ◽  
Economic Ties

Significance Pragmatism will be to the forefront in the early implementation of the Phase One trade agreement between the two countries that came into effect in mid-February. At the same time, the hard line is more prominent in the Trump administration’s efforts to curtail China’s telecoms giants, Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation. Impacts The mistrust between the United States and China during the pandemic will discourage cooperation in other spheres. China’s drive to reshape the institutional architecture of global governance and to be self-sufficient in technology will continue. Despite disliking multilateralism, Trump will engage with multilateral bodies to curb China’s efforts to reshape global governance. Any US-EU trade agreement could seek to limit China exploiting additional fraying of US-EU relations caused by the pandemic.

scholarly journals Genomic epidemiologic assessment implicates prolonged silent carriage, virulence factors and transmission between staff and patients in a NICU outbreak of MRSA.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
sharline madera ◽  
Nicole McNeil ◽  
Paula Hayakawa Serpa ◽  
Jack Kamm ◽  
Christy Pak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Outbreak Strain ◽  
Early Implementation ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) that carries significant morbidity and mortality. Improving our understanding of MRSA transmission dynamics, especially among high risk patients, is an infection prevention priority. Methods: We investigated a cluster of clinical MRSA cases in the NICU using a combination of epidemiologic review and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of isolates from clinical and surveillance cultures obtained from patients and healthcare personnel (HCP). Results: Phylogenetic analysis identified two genetically distinct phylogenetic clades and revealed multiple silent transmission events between HCP and infants. The predominant outbreak strain harbored multiple virulence factors. Epidemiologic investigation and genomic analysis identified a HCP colonized with the dominant MRSA outbreak strain who cared for the majority of NICU patients who were infected or colonized with the same strain, including one NICU patient with severe infection seven months before the described outbreak. These results guided implementation of infection prevention interventions that prevented further transmission events. Conclusion: Silent transmission of MRSA between HCP and NICU patients likely contributed to a NICU outbreak involving a virulent MRSA strain. WGS enabled data-driven decision making to inform implementation of infection control policies that mitigated the outbreak. Prospective WGS coupled with epidemiologic analysis can be used to detect transmission events and prompt early implementation of control strategies.

scholarly journals U.S. Cattle Producer Adoption of Secure Beef Supply Plan Enhanced Biosecurity Practices and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Preparedness

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Pudenz ◽  
James L. Mitchell ◽  
Lee L. Schulz ◽  
Glynn T. Tonsor
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mouth Disease ◽  
Cattle Industry ◽  
Foot And Mouth ◽  
Industry Response ◽  
Low Probability ◽  
Cattle Producer ◽  
Biosecurity Practices

The prospect of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in U.S. livestock populations has motivated the development of the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan, which includes a comprehensive list of enhanced biosecurity practices that aim to prevent FMD transmission and facilitate continuity of business during an outbreak. While FMD poses a serious threat to livestock production in the United States, little is known about producers' uptake of the enhanced biosecurity practices included in the SBS Plan. In this study, we benchmark adoption and feasibility-of-adoption perceptions for U.S. cattle producers. Our results show adoption of the 13 enhanced biosecurity practices is generally low. Especially concerning is the low adoption of the three strongly-recommended pre-outbreak practices—having a biosecurity manager, having a written operation-specific enhanced biosecurity plan, and having a line of separation. Adoption of the pre-outbreak practices is likely low because the benefits of adopting the practices depend on a low probability, uncertain event. That said, producers who have adopted the pre-outbreak practices are more likely to have higher feasibility ratings for the remaining enhanced biosecurity practices, suggesting that adoption of the strongly recommended practices is associated with adoption of all enhanced biosecurity during an FMD outbreak. Complementarity is examined and shows that adoption of the pre-outbreak practices coincides with adoption of the outbreak-specific practices. Taken together, our results suggest that adoption of the strongly recommended pre-outbreak practices could help facilitate a quicker and more effective U.S. cattle industry response to an FMD outbreak in the United States.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus, viral RNA in nasopharyngeal swabs, and serostatus of symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie R. Mollan ◽  
Joseph J. Eron ◽  
Taylor J. Krajewski ◽  
Wendy Painter ◽  
Elizabeth R. Duke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Virus Isolation ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
The United States ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Treatment And Prevention

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus isolation in the upper airway of COVID-19 patients is associated with higher levels of viral RNA. However, comprehensive evaluation of the relationships between host and disease factors and infectious, replication competent virus is needed. Methods: Symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients were enrolled from the United States. Clinical symptoms were recorded via patient diary. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected to quantitate SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and for infectious virus isolation in Vero E6-cells. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured in serum using a validated ELISA assay. Findings: Among 204 participants within one week of reported symptom onset (median=5, IQR 4-5 days), median age was 40 (min-max: 18-82 years), median nasopharyngeal viral RNA was 6.5 (IQR 4.7-7.6 log10 copies/mL), and 26% had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline. Infectious virus was recovered in 7% of participants with antibodies compared to 58% of participants without antibodies (probability ratio (PR)=0.12, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.36; p=0.00016). Infectious virus isolation was also associated with higher levels of viral RNA (mean RNA difference +2.6 log10, 95% CI: 2.2, 3.0; p<0.0001) and fewer days since symptom onset (PR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.88 per day; p<0.0001). Interpretation: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is strongly associated with clearance of infectious virus isolation. Seropositivity and viral RNA are likely more reliable markers of infectious virus suppression than subjective measure of COVID-19 symptoms. Virus-targeted treatment and prevention strategies should be administered as early as possible and ideally before seroconversion. Funding: Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP and NIH ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04405570

scholarly journals Dissemination and co-circulation of SARS-CoV2 subclades exhibiting enhanced transmission associated with increased mortality in Western Europe and the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Hu ◽  
Lee W Riley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Enhanced Transmission ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Clinical Consequences ◽  
Global Initiative

Mechanisms underlying the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like clinical manifestations leading to deaths in patients who develop COVID-19 remain uncharacterized. While multiple factors could influence these clinical outcomes, we explored if differences in transmissibility and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV2 variants could contribute to these terminal clinical consequences of COVID-19. We analyzed 34,412 SARS-CoV2 sequences deposited in the Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) SARS-CoV2 sequence database to determine if regional differences in circulating strain variants correlated with increased mortality in Europe, the United States, and California. We found two subclades descending from the Wuhan HU-1 strain that rapidly became dominant in Western Europe and the United States. These variants contained nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations in the Orf1ab segment encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (C14408T), the spike protein gene (A23403G), and Orf1a (G25563T), which resulted in non-conservative amino acid substitutions P323L, D614G, and Q57H, respectively. In Western Europe, the A23403G-C14408T subclade dominated, while in the US, the A23403G-C14408T-G25563T mutant became the dominant strain in New York and parts of California. The high cumulative frequencies of both subclades showed inconsistent but significant association with high cumulative CFRs in some of the regions. When the frequencies of the subclades were analyzed by their 7-day moving averages across each epidemic, we found co-circulation of both subclades to temporally correlate with peak mortality periods. We postulate that in areas with high numbers of these co-circulating subclades, a person may get serially infected. The second infection may trigger a hyperinflammatory response similar to the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) response, which could explain the ARDS-like manifestations observed in people with co-morbidity, who may not mount sufficient levels of neutralizing antibodies against the first infection. Further studies are necessary but the implication of such a mechanism will need to be considered for all current COVID-19 vaccine designs.

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