Reflections of COVID-19 cases on the wastewater loading of SARS-CoV-2 RNA: A case of three major cities of Gujarat, India

The scientific community has widely supported wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 due to the early and prolonged excretion of coronavirus in the faecal matter. In the present study, eighteen influent wastewater samples from different wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations (5 samples from Vadodara city, 4 from Gandhinagar, and nine from Ahmedabad city) were collected and analyzed for the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Gujarat province, India. The results showed the highest SARS-CoV-2 genome concentration in Vadodara (3078 copies/ L), followed by Ahmedabad (2968 copies/ L) and Gandhinagar (354 copies/ L). The comparison of genome concentration corresponded to the number of confirmed and active cases in all three cities. The study confirms the potential of the Surveillance of Wastewater for Early Epidemic Prediction (SWEEP) that can be used at a large scale around the globe for better dealing with the pandemic situation.

Case Report: Prolonged Excretion of Platinum in Human Breast Milk After Cisplatin Therapy

IntroductionCisplatin is used to treat cancers that affect women of childbearing age and those that may breastfeed. Prior literature regarding the duration of cisplatin excretion in human milk is sparse and suggests complete clearance days after initial administration.MethodWe present the case of a postpartum woman who received three doses of weekly cisplatin for cervical cancer. Platinum levels were measured in expressed milk for several months after cisplatin administration.ResultsLevels of the parent element platinum were detected 159 days (over 22 weeks) followingadministration. These results demonstrate persistence of detectable platinum levels for a muchlonger period than previously reported.ConclusionThis case report is the first to follow platinum levels in expressed milk after multiplepostpartum cisplatin doses. Our results demonstrate a biphasic elimination with detectionspanning several months after cessation of treatment. Women should be advised to abstainfrom breastfeeding until long after completion of cisplatin therapy.

Prolonged excretion of type-2 poliovirus from a primary immune deficient patient during the transition to a type-2 poliovirus-free world, Israel, 2016

Wild poliovirus type-2 has been eradicated, use of live type-2 vaccine has been terminated globally, and all type-2 polioviruses are under strict laboratory containment protocols. Re-emergence may arise from prolonged asymptomatic excretion of poliovirus by hospitalised primary immune deficient (PID) patients, as described here, through repeated exposure of close contacts to high titres of infected material. At this transition time, PID patients should be screened and hospital containment protocols updated in parallel with laboratory containment.

Isolation of poliovirus shedding following vaccination in children with antibody deficiency disorders

Introduction: Prolonged excretion of oral poliovirus may occur in primary antibody deficiency states. Those patients who persistently excrete the virus may pose the risk of aiding viral propagation in the environment. This study therefore aimed to identify the potential for prolonged poliovirus shedding by patients diagnosed with congenital antibody deficiency disorders. Methodology: A cohort of children later diagnosed with antibody deficiency disorders was included in the study. Patient history was taken for each participant, with emphasis on vaccination data. Laboratory investigations included immunoglobulin profiles and stool sample collection at one month intervals from each patient, with follow-up for six months. The virus isolates were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and molecular reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Results: On the initial sample screens, one patient revealed excretion one for Sabin-like strain 1 (SL1) and one patient revealed excretion for Sabin like strain 2 (SL2). Only one patient continued to shed the virus (SL1) on three successive samples and on follow-up. There was no correlation between the level of immunoglobulins and duration of virus shedding. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the low occurrence of prolonged vaccine polioviruses shedding in a group of children exposed to a live vaccine.