scholarly journals Differential Laboratory Diagnosis of Acute Fever in Guinea: Preparedness for the Threat of Hemorrhagic Fevers

Author(s):  
Vladimir G. Dedkov ◽  
N’Faly Magassouba ◽  
Olga A. Stukolova ◽  
Victoria A. Savina ◽  
Jakob Camara ◽  
...  

Acute febrile illnesses occur frequently in Guinea. Acute fever itself is not a unique, hallmark indication (pathognomonic sign) of any one illness or disease. In the infectious disease context, fever’s underlying cause can be a wide range of viral or bacterial pathogens, including the Ebola virus. In this study, molecular and serological methods were used to analyze samples from patients hospitalized with acute febrile illness in various regions of Guinea. This analysis was undertaken with the goal of accomplishing differential diagnosis (determination of causative pathogen) in such cases. As a result, a number of pathogens, both viral and bacterial, were identified in Guinea as causative agents behind acute febrile illness. In approximately 60% of the studied samples, however, a definitive determination could not be made.

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Liu ◽  
Caroline Ochieng ◽  
Steve Wiersma ◽  
Ute Ströher ◽  
Jonathan S. Towner ◽  
...  

Acute febrile illness (AFI) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet an etiologic agent is often not identified. Convalescent-phase serology is impractical, blood culture is slow, and many pathogens are fastidious or impossible to cultivate. We developed a real-time PCR-based TaqMan array card (TAC) that can test six to eight samples within 2.5 h from sample to results and can simultaneously detect 26 AFI-associated organisms, including 15 viruses (chikungunya, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] virus, dengue, Ebola virus, Bundibugyo virus, Sudan virus, hantaviruses [Hantaan and Seoul], hepatitis E, Marburg, Nipah virus, o'nyong-nyong virus, Rift Valley fever virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus), 8 bacteria (Bartonellaspp.,Brucellaspp.,Coxiella burnetii,Leptospiraspp.,Rickettsiaspp.,Salmonella entericaandSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi, andYersinia pestis), and 3 protozoa (Leishmaniaspp.,Plasmodiumspp., andTrypanosoma brucei). Two extrinsic controls (phocine herpesvirus 1 and bacteriophage MS2) were included to ensure extraction and amplification efficiency. Analytical validation was performed on spiked specimens for linearity, intra-assay precision, interassay precision, limit of detection, and specificity. The performance of the card on clinical specimens was evaluated with 1,050 blood samples by comparison to the individual real-time PCR assays, and the TAC exhibited an overall 88% (278/315; 95% confidence interval [CI], 84% to 92%) sensitivity and a 99% (5,261/5,326, 98% to 99%) specificity. This TaqMan array card can be used in field settings as a rapid screen for outbreak investigation or for the surveillance of pathogens, including Ebola virus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1629-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Raabe ◽  
Jeffrey Koehler

ABSTRACTLassa virus remains an important cause of illness in West Africa and among the travelers returning from this region with an acute febrile illness. The symptoms of Lassa fever can be nonspecific and mimic those of other endemic infections, especially early in illness, making a clinical diagnosis difficult; therefore, laboratory testing is needed to confirm the diagnosis. An early identification of Lassa fever is crucial for maximizing the benefit of available antiviral therapy, as treatment efficacy rapidly decreases following the clinical onset of the disease. This minireview provides an overview of the currently available diagnostic tests for Lassa fever and their strengths and weaknesses.


Author(s):  
P. Chumak ◽  
S. Vigera ◽  
О. Strygun ◽  
О. Goncharenko ◽  
О. Anol

Goal. Conduct screening of modern data on the state of plant protection and its own studies of phytophagus pests of wood plants in the conditions of the metropolis of Ukraine. Methods. Analytical methods and faunistic screening of data literary sources are used on the issue of phytophagus pests of Ukraine. Results. The substantiation of the concept of preventive creation of sustainable urbotocenoses for the use of a wide range of ethnic and introduced species of plants with increased resistance to biotic and abiotic factors has been carried out. The theoretical basis of plant protection should be a preventive system based on the use of environmental protection methods with the restriction of the use of pesticides. Planning for preventive ecologically directed protection of plants from pests should begin with obtaining information about the crop and its varieties (hygrothermal regime of crop cultivation, plant resistance to harmful phytophagous species of this crop, determination of the effect of attractive or antifeeding properties of the crop on entomophages that can be used). The next stage is data on the species composition of phytophages, pests — vectors of causative agents of viral diseases of a given culture and pests that are capable of forming hemipopulations (features of the dynamics of their number, the succession series of their dominance in the process of plant growth and development). Selection of entomophages and determination of their ability to reproduce on an alternative type of food. Based on the preliminary information received, a decision is made to create a multicomponent entomocenosis in plantations before the start of plant development. In order to obtain current information, the phytosanitary state of woody plants is regularly monitored (every 20—30 days) and the dynamics of the number of components of the created useful entomocenosis, as well as a decision is made to replace or supplement its joints. Conclusions. In developing the concept of the formation and functioning of sustainable umbilical phytocoenoses with increased resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of damage to little ethnic and introduced species of plants with harmful organisms. Creation of sustainable urbotocenoses with increased resistance to biotic and abiotic factors has an important environmental and economic significance. The theoretical basis of protection of urbothocoenoses should be based on natural plant protection systems based on the use of environmental methods with the restriction of the use of pesticides.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (09) ◽  
pp. 1176-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diaa Salman Elyan ◽  
Lais Moustafa ◽  
Bashir Noormal ◽  
Jolanta S Jacobs ◽  
Mustafa Abdel Aziz ◽  
...  

Introduction: Current published reports on the causative agents of acute febrile illness (AFI) in Afghanistan are scarce, and the burden of disease due to flaviviruses is unknown. Methodology: A hospital-based surveillance study for AFI was established in 2008 through 2010 to determine the seroepidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and dengue viruses (DENV) using commercial ELISA kits. Due to major logistical challenges, only acute sera were collected. Results: Serological analysis for IgG were as follows: WNV 30.4% (277/913); TBEV 23.4% (214/913); DENV 19.7% (180/913). Single positive IgG reactions for WNV, TBEV and DENV were noted in 11% (100/913), 7.2% (66/913), and 5% (47/913), respectively. Reactivity for all three screened flaviviruses was detected in 44.5% (406/913) of sera. IgM positivity was uncommon, with only 0.5% (5/913), 2.2% (20/913) and 2.6% (8/312) of samples positive for WNV, TBEV, and DENV, respectively. Serological findings were confirmed in random positive samples by neutralization assay. Conclusions: These serological results suggest circulation of WNV, TBEV, and DENV within Afghanistan, with evidence of current or prior infection noted in a significant proportion of patients seeking care for AFI. Obtaining additional information on the prevalence of these and other causes of AFI is paramount for improving the distribution of available limited syndromic treatment and improving the existing health protection policy in Afghanistan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumihiro Kodama ◽  
Hiroki Yamaguchi ◽  
Eunsil Park ◽  
Kango Tatemoto ◽  
Mariko Sashika ◽  
...  

AbstractThe increasing burden of tick-borne orthonairovirus infections, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, is becoming a global concern for public health. In the present study, we identify a novel orthonairovirus, designated Yezo virus (YEZV), from two patients showing acute febrile illness with thrombocytopenia and leukopenia after tick bite in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2019 and 2020, respectively. YEZV is phylogenetically grouped with Sulina virus detected in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Romania. YEZV infection has been confirmed in seven patients from 2014–2020, four of whom were co-infected with Borrelia spp. Antibodies to YEZV are found in wild deer and raccoons, and YEZV RNAs have been detected in ticks from Hokkaido. In this work, we demonstrate that YEZV is highly likely to be the causative pathogen of febrile illness, representing the first report of an endemic infection associated with an orthonairovirus potentially transmitted by ticks in Japan.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Haryo Suganda ◽  
Raja Muhammad Amin

This study is motivated the identification of policies issued by the regional Governmentof Rokan Hulu in the form of Regulatory region number 1 by 2015 on the determination of thevillage and Indigenous Village. Political dynamics based on various interests against themanufacture of, and decision-making in the process of formation of the corresponding localregulations determination of Indigenous Villages in the Rokan Hulu is impacted to a verysignificantamount of changes from the initial draft of the number i.e. 21 (twenty one) the villagebecame Customary 89 (eighty-nine) the Indigenous Villages who have passed. Type of thisresearch is a qualitative descriptive data analysis techniques. The research aims to describe theState of the real situation in a systematic and accurate fact analysis unit or related research, aswell as observations of the field based on the data (information). Method of data collectionwas done with interviews, documentation, and observations through fieldwork (field research).The results of the research on the process of discussion of the draft local regulations andmutual agreement about Designation of Indigenous Villages in the Rokan Hulu is, showed thatthe political dynamics that occur due to the presence of various political interests, rejectionorally by Villagers who were judged to have met the requirements of Draft Regulations to beformulated and the area for the set to be Indigenous Villages, and also there is a desire fromsome villages in the yet to Draft local regulations in order to set the Indigenous village , there isa wide range of interests of these aspects influenced the agreement to assign the entire localVillage which is in the Rokan Hulu become Indigenous village, and the village of Transmigrationinto administrative Villages where the initiator of the changes in the number of IndigenousVillages in the Rokan Hulu it is the desire of the local Government of its own.


Author(s):  
Hernâni Marques ◽  
Pedro Cruz-Vicente ◽  
Tiago Rosado ◽  
Mário Barroso ◽  
Luís A. Passarinha ◽  
...  

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) and smoking have been described as the most prevalent factors in the development of certain diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, more than 8 million people die every year due to exposure to tobacco, around 7 million due to direct ETS and the remaining due to exposure to second-hand smoke. Both active and second-hand exposure can be measured and controlled using specific biomarkers of tobacco and its derivatives, allowing the development of more efficient public health policies. Exposure to these compounds can be measured using different methods (involving for instance liquid- or gas-chromatographic procedures) in a wide range of biological specimens to estimate the type and degree of tobacco exposure. In recent years, a lot of research has been carried out using different extraction methods and different analytical equipment; this way, liquid–liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction or even miniaturized procedures have been used, followed by chromatographic analysis coupled mainly to mass spectrometric detection. Through this type of methodologies, second-hand smokers can be distinguished from active smokers, and this is also valid for e-cigarettes and vapers, among others, using their specific biomarkers. This review will focus on recent developments in the determination of tobacco smoke biomarkers, including nicotine and other tobacco alkaloids, specific nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc. The methods for their detection will be discussed in detail, as well as the potential use of threshold values to distinguish between types of exposure.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e045826
Author(s):  
Arjun Chandna ◽  
Endashaw M Aderie ◽  
Riris Ahmad ◽  
Eggi Arguni ◽  
Elizabeth A Ashley ◽  
...  

IntroductionIn rural and difficult-to-access settings, early and accurate recognition of febrile children at risk of progressing to serious illness could contribute to improved patient outcomes and better resource allocation. This study aims to develop a prognostic clinical prediction tool to assist community healthcare providers identify febrile children who might benefit from referral or admission for facility-based medical care.Methods and analysisThis prospective observational study will recruit at least 4900 paediatric inpatients and outpatients under the age of 5 years presenting with an acute febrile illness to seven hospitals in six countries across Asia. A venous blood sample and nasopharyngeal swab is collected from each participant and detailed clinical data recorded at presentation, and each day for the first 48 hours of admission for inpatients. Multianalyte assays are performed at reference laboratories to measure a panel of host biomarkers, as well as targeted aetiological investigations for common bacterial and viral pathogens. Clinical outcome is ascertained on day 2 and day 28.Presenting syndromes, clinical outcomes and aetiology of acute febrile illness will be described and compared across sites. Following the latest guidance in prediction model building, a prognostic clinical prediction model, combining simple clinical features and measurements of host biomarkers, will be derived and geographically externally validated. The performance of the model will be evaluated in specific presenting clinical syndromes and fever aetiologies.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received approval from all relevant international, national and institutional ethics committees. Written informed consent is provided by the caretaker of all participants. Results will be shared with local and national stakeholders, and disseminated via peer-reviewed open-access journals and scientific meetings.Trial registration numberNCT04285021.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Mayra K. S. Monteiro ◽  
Djalma R. Da Silva ◽  
Marco A. Quiroz ◽  
Vítor J. P. Vilar ◽  
Carlos A. Martínez-Huitle ◽  
...  

This study aims to investigate the applicability of a hybrid electrochemical sensor composed of cork and graphite (Gr) for detecting caffeine in aqueous solutions. Raw cork (RAC) and regranulated cork (RGC, obtained by thermal treatment of RAC with steam at 380 °C) were tested as modifiers. The results clearly showed that the cork-graphite sensors, GrRAC and GrRGC, exhibited a linear response over a wide range of caffeine concentration (5–1000 µM), with R2 of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD), estimated at 2.9 and 6.1 µM for GrRAC and GrRGC, suggest greater sensitivity and reproducibility than the unmodified conventional graphite sensor. The low-cost cork-graphite sensors were successfully applied in the determination of caffeine in soft drinks and pharmaceutical formulations, presenting well-defined current signals when analyzing real samples. When comparing electrochemical determinations and high performance liquid chromatography measurements, no significant differences were observed (mean accuracy 3.0%), highlighting the potential use of these sensors to determine caffeine in different samples.


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