scholarly journals Human Anthrax in Dolj County, Romania—A Series of Three Cases

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 644
Author(s):  
Florentina Dumitrescu ◽  
Eugen Florin Georgescu ◽  
Lucian Giubelan ◽  
Vlad Pădureanu ◽  
Andreea Cristina Stoian ◽  
...  

Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, primarily a disease of herbivorous animals, which can be accidentally transmitted to humans. Three cases of cutaneous human anthrax were recorded in August 2020 in Dolj county, Romania. These cases included livestock farmers (husband and wife, as well as a man from their entourage). The women presented malignant edema, which required surgery for compartment syndrome; and the men presented the common form of cutaneous anthrax. According to the laboratory investigation, two cases complied with the criteria in the case definition. All cases were successfully treated with antibiotics and the women received reconstructive plastic surgery of the skin defects, restoring normal hand function. The contact with sick animals was ruled out by the health authorities concluding that it was the contamination of pre-existing skin lesions with B. anthracis spores from the soil, the anthracogenic area.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Celeste Fatone

: Viruses can induce autoimmune diseases, in addition to genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Particularly, coronaviruses are mentioned among the viruses implicated in autoimmunity. Today, the world's greatest threat derives from the pandemic of a new human coronavirus, called “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2), the responsible agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China in December 2019 and, to date, has spread to at least 187 countries. This review focuses on autoimmune manifestations described during COVID-19, including pro-thrombothic state associated to antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), acute interstitial pneumonia, macrophage activation syndrome, lymphocytopenia, systemic vasculitis, and autoimmune skin lesions. This offers the opportunity to highlight the pathogenetic mechanisms common to COVID19 and several autoimmune diseases, in order to identify new therapeutic targets. In a supposed preliminary pathogenetic model, SARS-CoV-2 plays a direct role in triggering widespread microthrombosis and microvascular inflammation, because it is able to induce transient aPL, endothelial damage and complement activation at the same time. Hence, endothelium might represent the common pathway in which autoimmunity and infection converge. In addition, autoimmune phenomena in COVID-19 can be explained by regulatory T cells impairment and cytokines cascade.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Ntono ◽  
Daniel Eurien ◽  
Lilian Bulage ◽  
Daniel Kadobera ◽  
Julie Harris ◽  
...  

Abstract Background On 18 January 2018 a 40 year old man presented with skin lesions at Rhino Camp Health Centre. A skin lesion swab was collected on 20 January 2018 and was confirmed by PCR at Uganda Virus Research Institute on 21 January 2018. Subsequently, about 9 persons were reported to have fallen ill after reporting contact with livestock that died suddenly. On 9 February 2018, Arua District notified Uganda Ministry of Health of a confirmed anthrax outbreak among humans in Rhino Camp sub-county. We investigated to determine the scope and mode of transmission and exposures associated with identified anthrax to guide control and prevention measures. Methods We defined a suspected cutaneous anthrax case as onset of skin lesions (e.g., papule, vesicle, or eschar) in a person residing in Rhino Camp sub-county, Arua District from 25 December 2017 to 31 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with PCR-positivity for Bacillus anthracis from a clinical sample. We identified cases by reviewing medical records at Rhino Camp Health Centre. We also conducted additional case searches in the affected community with support from Community Health Workers. In a retrospective cohort study, we interviewed all members of households in which at least one person had contact with the carcasses of or meat from animals suspected to have died of anthrax. We collected and tested hides of implicated animals using an anthrax rapid diagnostic test. Results We identified 14 case-patients (1 confirmed, 13 suspected); none died. Only males were affected (affected proportion: 12/10,000). Mean age of case-persons was 33 years (SD: 22). The outbreak lasted for 5 months, from January 2018–May 2018, peaking in February. Skinning (risk ratio = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1–6.7), dissecting (RR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.2–7.6), and carrying dead animals (RR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1–6.7) were associated with increased risk of illness, as were carrying dissected parts of animals (RR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.3–6.5) and preparing and cooking the meat (RR = 2.3, 95% CI 0.9–5.9). We found evidence of animal remains on pastureland. Conclusion Multiple exposures to the hides and meat of animals that died suddenly were associated with this cutaneous anthrax outbreak in Arua District. We recommended public education about safe disposal of carcasses of livestock that die suddenly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (03) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amjed Abu-Ghname ◽  
Aurelia Trisliana Perdanasari ◽  
Matthew J. Davis ◽  
Edward M. Reece

AbstractPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autogenously harvested liquid platelet concentrate extracted from a patient's peripheral blood that contains higher than baseline concentrations of growth factors and cytokines. This innovative new technology has demonstrated great promise in the field of plastic surgery, and its use has been evaluated in several clinical settings including wound healing, hair restoration, and skin rejuvenation. The goal of this article is to explain the biology behind PRP and to review the basic principles involved in its preparation. This will be followed by a discussion of some clinical applications of PRP in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.


2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Ho Gong ◽  
Ge Bai ◽  
Dominique Vervoort ◽  
Adam E.M. Eltorai ◽  
Aviram M. Giladi ◽  
...  

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