scholarly journals Bovine ephemeral fever epidemics in Kingdom Saudi Arabia: clinical, epidemiological and molecular investigation

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 854-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A Zaghawa ◽  
Fadhel Housawi ◽  
Abdulmohsen Al-Naeem ◽  
Ahmed Elsify ◽  
Yamen Mohammed Hegazy

Introduction: Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an arthropod borne Rhabdovirus affects cattle and water buffalo causes acute febrile disease. Methodology: The clinical picture and epidemiological pattern of BEF were described among cattle in epidemics of 2007, 2009 and 2011 in four geographical regions of Kingdom Saudi Arabia (Eastern, Jizan, Qasim, and Riyadh). Serum samples were tested using VNT. Virus isolation and molecular characterization were carried out for the first time in KSA. Results: The main clinical symptoms were fever, stiffness, lameness, salivation and subcutaneous emphysema. The prevalence and the mortality rate of BEF have decreased from 70% and 4.6% in 2007 to 30% and 0.6% in 2011, respectively in the 4 studied areas. There was no region association with higher prevalence of BEF. The intracluster correlation (ICC) was estimated for the first time in KSA as 0.0034. BEFV had been isolated from 11 out of 20 samples (55%) and isolation was confirmed by VNT. The molecular detection of BEFV by RT-PCR and real- time RT-qPCR were found more sensitive for diagnosis of the disease than virus isolation; 80% and 90% for the former tests and 55% for the latter. Three isolates were sequenced, they showed 84.7% - 100% identities in between and shared 90.4%-96.5% sequence identity with a previously published sequence from Australia (KF679404). The generated sequences belonged to 3rd cluster of BEFV glycoprotein. Conclusions: BEF occurrence has cyclic nature and the efficacy of vaccines prepared from local strains has to be evaluated and considered in diseases control.

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH Cybinski ◽  
MJ Muller

Blood samples were collected regularly from two sentinel herds of cattle in northern and southern Queensland between 1979 and 1985. From 2660 samples, virus isolation attempts using baby hamster kidney (BHK21) and Aedes albopictus (AA) tissue cultures and suckling mice produced 308 viruses of which 243 (79%) were in the Palyam subgroup of orbiviruses. Mosquitoes and biting midges were collected at the southern sentinel herd site in January-February 1984 and processed for virus isolation in BHK2l and AA tissue cultures and by intrathoracic inoculation of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Totals of 14 338 midges of four species in 156 pools, and 9030 mosquitoes of 27 species in 232 pools, were processed and yielded 59 isolations. Of the 35 viruses isolated from Culicoides brevitarsis, 17 were members of the Palyam subgroup. Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) virus was isolated once from Anopheles bancroftii, once from C. brevitarsis and 17 times from cattle. Akabane virus was isolated for the first time from C. wadai, as well as a further 10 times from C. brevitarsis and 20 times from cattle. Other viruses isolated from cattle included bluetongue serotype 1, and serotypes 5, 6 and 7 of epizootic hemorrhagic disease of deer (EHD). A new BEF group virus, tentatively called Oak Vale, was isolated nine times from Culex edwardsi mosquitoes. Of the orbiviruses, those in the Palyam subgroup were isolated almost exclusively in BHK2l tissue cultures but those in the bluetongue and EHD subgroups were isolated almost exclusively in AA cell cultures or after passage through Ae. aegypti. Of 22 rhabdovirus isolations from blood and insects (BEF, Kimberley and Tibrogargan), 16 were made only in AA cell cultures or after passage through Ae. aegypti.


Reproduction ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 142 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Mislanova ◽  
O Martsenyuk ◽  
B Huppertz ◽  
M Obolenskaya

The etiology and degree of clinical symptoms of preeclampsia depend on genotypic and phenotypic maternal and trophoblast factors, and elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are one of the pathogenetic factors of preeclampsia. To assess the impact of the folate-related metabolism, we characterized the indices of this metabolism in 40 samples from uncomplicated term placentas and 28 samples from preeclamptic pregnancies by quantifying the total content of folate, methionine (Met), Hcy and related cysteine, and glutathione (GSH) in compliance with the 677 C/T genotype of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). The prevalence ofMTHFRgenotypes was not significantly different between the two groups. The polymorphism ofMTHFRwas not unambiguously connected with the content of total placental Met, Hcy and related cysteine, and GSH either in uncomplicated or in complicated pregnancies. By contrast, the combination of the heterozygousMTHFRgenotype with folate deficiency in the samples from preeclamptic pregnancies was characterized by a statistically significant decrease in the Met content, a trend toward increased Hcy levels and a tight association between metabolically directly and indirectly related compounds, e.g. positive relation between Hcy versus cysteine and folate versus GSH and negative relation between folate versus Hcy and both Hcy and cysteine versus GSH. We demonstrated the expression of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) in human placenta at term by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, for the first time, and confirmed its catalytic activity and the accumulation of cysteine and CBS in placental explants cultivated in the presence of elevated Hcy concentrations. We suggest that disturbance in placental folate-related metabolism may be one of the pathogenetic factors in preeclampsia.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Haroun ◽  
Nawal M. Abdulla ◽  
Mohammed Habeb ◽  
Elmoubasher A. Farag

Abstract A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in Qatar. Three hundred sixty-eight blood, swabs, and organ tissue samples collected between 2009 and 2016 were screened for PPR viral antibodies, antigens and nucleic acids using ELISA-Ab, ELISA-Ag and rRT-PCR, respectively. Fifteen PPR positive samples were subjected to virus isolation using Vero cell lines. 52% (n=192) of the samples were shown positive for PPR reporting first time infection of 52% (n=71) animal species including sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, addax, Oryx, blackbuck, deer, springbuck and waterbuck. Eight PPR virus (PPRV) field isolates demonstrated classical PPRV cytopathic effect (CPE) and shown positive for the virus antigens proving finally virus isolation. Sheep had the highest infection rate (55%) followed by wild ruminants (54%) and goats (47%). History wise, PPR might exist in Qatar before 2009. A systematic investigation is recommended to identify the risk factors associated with exposure of the susceptible animals to PPR infection, to test the susceptibility of the different species to PPR infection, and to describe the molecular entity and the replicative potentiality of the circulating field strains.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif A. El-Kafrawy ◽  
Ahmed M. Hassan ◽  
Mai M. El-Daly ◽  
Mohammed Al-Hajri ◽  
Elmoubashar Farag ◽  
...  

Abstract Camels gained attention since the discovery of MERS-CoV as intermediary hosts for potentially epidemic zoonotic viruses. DcHEV is a novel zoonotic pathogen associated with camel contact. This study aimed to genetically characterize DcHEV in domestic and imported camels in Saudi Arabia. DcHEV was detected by RT-PCR in serum samples, PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. DcHEV was detected in 1.77% of samples with higher positivity in domestic DCs. All positive imported dromedaries were from Sudan with age declining prevalence. Domestic DcHEV sequences clustered with sequences from Kenya, Somalia, and UAE while imported sequences clustered with one DcHEV isolate from UAE and both sequences clustered away from isolates reported from Pakistan. Full-genome sequences showed 24 amino acid difference with reference sequences. Our results confirm the detection of DcHEV in domestic and imported DCs. Further investigations are needed in human and camel populations to identify DcHEV potential zoonosis threat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
Tatjana Vilibić-Čavlek ◽  
Ljubo Barbić ◽  
Vladimir Savić ◽  
Maja Bogdanić ◽  
Ljiljana Antolašić ◽  
...  

The most important use of serology in the COVID-19 diagnostics is for determination of the extent of disease in the population. However, immunoassays could represent an additional diagnostic method, especially in patients with exposure history and clinical symptoms compatible with COVID-19 who failed to be confirmed by RT-PCR. We analyzed the preliminary results of six serology tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Three point-of-care lateral flow chromatographic immunoassays (POC): ACRO, AMP and ENCODE and three enzyme immunoassays (ELISA): DiaPro, Vircell and Euroimmun were used. A total of 15 serum samples from COVID-19 patients and 15 serum samples from asymptomatic persons were tested. Time of sampling for COVID-19 patients was 4 – 10 days (N=4), 11 – 19 days (N=6) and 20 – 34 days (N=5) after disease onset. Initially reactive results were confirmed using a virus neutralization test (VNT). In COVID-19 patients (N=15), IgM/IgA positive detection rates were 9/60.0% (ACRO), 11/73.3% (AMP, ENCODE, Euroimmun), 12/80.0% (DiaPro) and 13/86.6% (Vircell). Overall IgG detection rates were 10//66.6% (AMP, Euroimmun) and 11/73.3% (other tests). According to the sampling time, positive detection rates were as follows: a) days 4 – 10: 1/25.0% and 2/50.0% (IgM/IgA and IgG); b) days 11 –19: 4/66.6%-6/100% (IgM/IgA), 4/66.6% and 5/83.3% (IgG); c) days 20 – 34: 4/80.0% and 5/100% (IgM/IgA), 5/100% (IgG). One asymptomatic participant tested IgM/IgA positive using ACRO, DiaPro and Vircell was confirmed seropositive using a VNT. In a group of asymptomatic persons detected seronegative using a VNT (N=14), IgM/IgA negative detection rates were 12/85.7% (ACRO), 13/92.8% (DiaPro, Vircell) and 14/100% (AMP, ENCODE, Euroimmun). IgG negative detection rates were 13/92.8% (ACRO) and 14/100% (other tests). ELISA tests showed a higher overall IgM/IgA sensitivity compared to POC tests in patients with COVID-19, while the IgG sensitivity was similar in both POC and ELISA.


2021 ◽  
pp. 39-52
Author(s):  
Waldemar Rastawicki ◽  
Klaudia Płaza ◽  
Adam Pietrusiński

Introduction: ELISA-Immunoassays can complement the molecular diagnostic methods, and can be one of the important tools of sero-surveillance and vaccine evaluation. The aim of the presented study was to develop in-house ELISA and evaluate 11 commercial ELISA tests for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in serum samples collected from COVID patients. Methods: In total, 237 serum samples obtained from 165 people with COVID-19 with RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 virus infection were used for the study. The specificity of the developed in-house ELISA kit was tested using 170 serum samples obtained from patients with various bacterial and viral infections. The study used an in-house ELISA and 11 commercial ELISA kits developed by various manufacturers. Results: The presented study showed high sensitivity (81.0%) and specificity (97.2%) of the developed in-house kit in relation to the RT-PCR method. The sensitivity of the inhouse test significantly increased (98.1%) when only convalescents - persons at least 3 weeks after COVID-19 were examined. Commercial ELISA kits most frequently detected IgG antibodies (from 44.9% to 89.4%), especially in samples obtained later in the disease, and the least frequent detection of IgM antibodies (from 4.2% to 42.4%). Conclusions: All the presented ELISA kits may be used in serodiagnosis of COVID-19 however the detection of antibodies in individual tests differed quite significantly and was dependent on the period of the disease, on the class of immunoglobulins and the type of antigen used. The sensitivity of serological tests in the IgG class is clearly higher when examining samples obtained at least 2-3 weeks from the onset of clinical symptoms. Searching for IgA antibodies may be useful mainly in the early phase of the disease while IgM antibodies does not provide significant additional information. In the case of asymptomatic or mild infection, the level of antibodies is low which may be the cause problems with the correct interpretation of epidemiological surveys


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Materniak-Kornas ◽  
Tadeusz Frymus ◽  
Martin Löchelt ◽  
Jacek Kuźmak

Abstract Introduction Feline foamy virus (FFVfca) is widespread and its prevalence in naturally infected domestic cats ranges between 30% and 80% worldwide. The infection is persistent, with a sustained antibody response in FFVfca-positive cats; however to date, no defined disease or clinical symptoms have been proved to be associated with it. The goal of the presented study was to determine the prevalence of FFVfca infection in domestic cats in Poland. Material and Methods A total of 223 serum samples collected from domestic cats were tested with a glutathione S-transferase capture ELISA test to detect antibodies specific to capsid (Gag), accessory (Bet) and envelope (Env) FFVfca antigens. A Western blot test was used to confirm the ELISA results. Results The cut-off value for the Gag antigen was established by calculation and evaluation with the immunoblotting assay. The cut-off values for Bet and Env were calculated from the reactivity of Gag-negative samples. The sera of 99 cats (44%) showed reactivity to Gag, those of 80 did so (35.9 %) to Bet, while only 56 samples (25%) were reactive to Env. Only 51 (22.9%) sera were positive for all antigens. The main diagnostic antigen was selected to be Gag. A statistically significant association was found between FFVfca status and the age of the cat. Conclusions This study proved the high seroprevalence of FFVfca in domestic cats in Poland for the first time and confirmed that adult cats are at higher FFVfca infection risk than preadult cats. Its results correspond to those reported from other countries.


2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 987-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sittana El Mubarak ◽  
Marco W. G. Van De Bildt ◽  
Omer A. Mustafa ◽  
Helma W. Vos ◽  
Maowia M. Mukhtar ◽  
...  

Measles continues to be a major childhood disease in terms of global morbidity and mortality. In the main areas of its endemicity the only available means of diagnosis are based on clinical criteria: the presence of a maculopapular rash and fever accompanied by cough, coryza, and/or conjunctivitis. We have studied 38 clinically diagnosed cases of measles in Khartoum, Sudan, by means of serology, reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) on throat swabs and virus isolation from lymphocytes. On the basis of serology, 28 patients were diagnosed as having an acute measles virus (MV) infection, while in 10 cases the clinical symptoms proved to have other causes. It was shown that in cases with low serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, an additional measurement of IgG or virus-neutralizing antibodies was necessary to discriminate between patients with an acute MV infection sampled during an early stage of the disease and patients who had experienced an MV infection in the more distant past. The serological laboratory diagnosis was validated by an MV-specific RT-PCR: for all confirmed measles cases tested a fragment of the correct size which hybridized with a third MV-specific primer could be amplified, while all serologically negative cases were also RT-PCR negative. MV could be isolated from 17 out of 23 of the serologically confirmed cases, demonstrating that virus isolation is less reliable as a diagnostic tool than serology or RT-PCR. This study stresses the urgent need for a rapid diagnostic field test for measles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1042-1048
Author(s):  
Moushumi Ghosh Roy ◽  
Kutub Uddin ◽  
Din Islam ◽  
Anjuvan Singh ◽  
Mohammad Monirul Islam

Purposes: Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, is a global public health burden affecting millions of people each year and over 40% of world populations are at risk of dengue. Therefore, prompt and accurate dengue diagnosis is inevitable for disease surveillance and for aiding disease management. In this study we report dengue virus (DENV) seroprevalence in Chittagong, Bangladesh along with clinical manifestation of dengue infections. Methods: All samples included in this study were selected based on dengue NS1-based diagnosis, clinical sign and symptoms were judged by expert clinical physicians and infecting DENV serotyping was done by RT-PCR. The blood cells (Platelet, Haematocrit, WBC etc) were analyzed using Haematology cell counter. Results: First, among the 112 DENV infected serum samples tested by RT-PCR, 42 were DENV positive where 76% samples had single DENV serotype infection and 24% were concurrently infected with two or more DENV serotypes, indicating that all four DENVs were present in a single dengue session in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Then, DENV4 was the most prevailed serotype, followed by DENV2, DENV1 and DENV3 in single DENV serotype infections. However, in almost 90% cases of concurrent multiple DENV infections DENV1 serotype was present. A detail analysis of clinical data clearly indicated that DENV1 and DENV2 resulted very similar patterns of clinical symptoms which were quite different from those caused by DENV3 and DENV4. For example, ache and pain were absent in DENV3 infection and diarrhea was absent in DENV4 infections. Furthermore, DENV3, both in single and concurrent multiple DENV infections, might increase dengue disease severity as observed highly reduced platelet counts along with increased WBC in patients infected with DENV3 serotype. Conclusion: All four DENV serotypes, both as single and concurrent multiple DENV infections, were present in single dengue session in Bangladesh. Despite having very similar sequences and structures all four DENVs might produce different disease spectra, ranging from classical dengue fever to dengue hemorrhagic fever. Concurrent multiple DENV infections could contribute increased dengue disease severity in dengue outbreaks in Bangladesh. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1042-1048, 2022 (January)


Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was isolated for the first time in Sweden in 1958 (from ticks and from 1 tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] patient).1 In 2003, Haglund and colleagues reported the isolation and antigenic and genetic characterization of 14 TBEV strains from Swedish patients (samples collected 1991–1994).2 The first serum sample, from which TBEV was isolated, was obtained 2–10 days after onset of disease and found to be negative for anti-TBEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas TBEV-specific IgM (and TBEV-specific immunoglobulin G/cerebrospinal fluid [IgG/CSF] activity) was demonstrated in later serum samples taken during the second phase of the disease.


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