Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Bovine Brucellosis

Background: Brucellosis is one of the major zoonotic problems that exist worldwide. Brucellosis is clinically characterized by metritis, mastitis, repeat breeding, abortion in the last trimester of pregnancy, retention of placenta and reduced milk production in the female whereas epididymitis, orchitis and sterility in male. In humans can be highly variable, ranging from nonspecific, flu-like symptoms to undulant fever, arthritis, orchitis and epididymitis. Methods: A total of 567 bovine serum samples was taken from four districts of Brij region of UP. All the samples were processed to detection of prevalence of brucellosis by RBPT, STAT ELISA and confirmation of genes bcsp31, 16SrRNA, omp2 and IS711 by PCR. Result: The prevalence of brucellosis was found to be 07.93% (31/391), 08.69% (34/391) and 10.74% (42/391) shows positive by RBPT, STAT and I- ELISA respectively. In buffalo Out of 176 tested serum sample the seroprevalence was found to be 09.66% (17/176), 10.79% (19/176) and 12.5% (22/176) positive by RBPT, STAT and I- ELISA respectively. Out of 567 samples 18 were positive for Brucella genus specific gene. The higher prevalence of the disease in this region increases the risk of zoonotic transmission and it implies a serious threat to the human population as well as the huge impact on economy due to loss of productivity as well as loss of livestock population.

POSSIBILITIES OF IMMUNOPOTENTIOMETRY IN DIAGNOSTICS CATTLE LEUKEMIA

The article describes the results of studies to determine the difference in the electrochemical potentials of the indicator electrode in blood serum samples from healthy and infected with BLV animals before and after the formation of the CEC "in vitro". In the blood serum of healthy cows, potentiometric parameters change after the addition of the BLV antigen by no more than 0.05 units, and in blood serum samples from cows infected with the virus, under the same conditions, by 0.15 or more units. Measurement of the potential of the indicator electrode in the studied blood serum sample before and after the formation of immune complexes can serve as the basis for diagnostic studies in cattle leukemia and other infectious diseases.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Surveillance in breeding Herds and Nurseries Using Tongue Tips from Dead Animals

The detection capacity of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) in tongues from dead animals in breeding herds (stillborns and piglets dying during the lactating period) and nursery farms (naturally dead animals) for PRRSV surveillance was evaluated. The samples were selected if pairs of serum and tongues were available from 2018 to 2020. Serum (pools of five) and exudate from tongues (one bag) were analyzed by PRRSV RT-PCR. The agreement between the serum sample procedure versus tongues exudate was assessed using a concordance test (Kappa statistic) at batch level. A total of 32 submissions, corresponding to 14 farms, had PRRSV diagnostic information for serum and tongues exudate. The overall agreement of batch classification as positive or negative, based on RT-PCR PRRSV results, between serum and tongue exudate of the 32 pairs was 76.9%. Cohen’s Kappa was 0.55. The main discrepancy came from the presence of positive samples in tongues exudate and not in serum, suggesting that tongue exudate to monitor PRRSV seems to be more sensitive than serum. These results suggest that this sample procedure could be also used for PRRSV surveillance and monitoring.

Detection of IgM, IgG and IgA against pertussis in pregnant women in I - II - III trimesters

Purpose: to investigate the level anti-pertussis IgM, IgG, IgA in pregnant women in the I — II — III trimesters. Materials and methods. A total of 288 pregnant women aged. 17 — 43 years (in the I — II — III trimesters) were examined. A serums samples tested for IgM, IgG, IgA against pertussis by ELISA of RIDASCREEN (Germany). Results. Anti-pertussis IgG concentration below the low limit of detection occurred in 75,7% of pregnant women. The majority of seropositive among pregnant women was in the age group 26 — 35 years (82,9%). The proportion of seronegative among pregnant women increased. with increasing pregnancy periods, as well as depending on age. In III trimester IgG were detected in 18,2% of pregnant women. The most seronegative among pregnant women were in the III trimester and at the age of over 36 years old. The detection of IgM, IgG and IgA made it possible to detect the active infection process in 11 (3,9%) pregnant women by elevated level of IgA. High IgA level only in combination with IgM was in serum sample from 1 pregnant woman, high IgA level in combination with IgG at negative values of IgM was in serum samples from 8 pregnant woman. Only IgA in serum sample from 2 pregnant women (I and III trimesters of pregnancy) were detected. This is probably due to the presence of whooping cough or mucosal contamination with B.pertussis (persisting IgA). Conclusion. The serological studies have shown the need to develop algorithms for protecting newborns — from, the moment pregnant women are registered, to the onset of childbirth. These algorithms will provide information about on the presence of whooping cough and will help prevent infection of the newborn.

Effect of Fasting and Postprandial Blood Samples in Results of Thyroid Function Tests Among Euthyroid People and Patients with Thyroid Problems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction/Objective Thyroid disorders are considered to have a significant global health impact, affecting around 200 million people, and about 5% of all populations are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Thyroid problems are mainly diagnosed by the laboratory’s thyroid function tests (TSH, FT4, and FT3), and currently, there is no special guideline for a preferred sample to test the thyroid functions. Aim To investigate whether using a fasting serum sample or postprandial serum sample could affect the results of the thyroid function tests in both euthyroid people and patients with thyroid problems. Methods/Case Report • A systematic search was done on PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and manual searches with cross-referencing. • PECOS framework was used for developing the research question. • PRISMA guidelines used for the methodology. • Two meta-analyses for TSH and FT4 were done based on the participant’s thyroid status, and one meta-analysis done for the FT3 for all. • Statistical analyses were done using Revman5 software. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) • Ten full-text studies and three abstracts were included for the systematic review, and for meta-analysis, nine full-text studies and two abstracts. • Based on the Cochrane rule of thumbs of the effect size interpretations, the meta-analyses result showed a statistically significant moderate effect for TSH mean differences; Mean of fasting blood sample > mean of the postprandial sample. • TSH effect for euthyroid people based on results of 9 studies from 641 participants (MD, 0.58; Fixed, 95% CI: [0.44 to 0.73], p. <.00001). • TSH results for all based on results of 11 studies from 921 participants (SMD, 0.46; Random, 95% CI: [0.31 to 0.61], p. <.00001). • No statistically significant effect for FT4 and FT3 mean differences results. • Publication bias is suggested for TSH and FT3 results due to the asymmetrical appearance, but not for FT4. Conclusion • In conclusion, the use of fasting blood samples would have a significantly higher TSH result value compared to the postprandial blood samples. Hence, it may help introduce a new guideline to standardize the blood sampling status for the TSH test screening and diagnosis. Alternatively, different reference ranges depending on the sampling status might be suggested, which might help promote the patients’ quality of life and reduce healthcare costs.

Neutralization of Dengue Virus Serotypes by Sera from Dengue-Infected Individuals Is Preferentially Directed to Heterologous Serotypes and Not against the Autologous Serotype Present in Acute Infection

Sequential infections of humans by the four different dengue serotypes (DENV-1–4) lead to neutralizing antibodies with group, cross, and type specificity. Virus neutralization of serotypes showed monotypic but mostly multitypic neutralization profiles due to multiple virus exposures. We have studied neutralization to heterologous, reference DENV serotypes using paired sera collected between days 6 and 37 after onset of fever. The DENV-primed neutralization profile of the first serum sample, which was monitored by a foci reduction neutralization test (FRNT), was boosted but the neutralization profile stayed unchanged in the second serum sample. In 45 of 47 paired serum samples, the predominant neutralization was directed against DENV serotypes distinct from the infecting serotype. Homologous neutralization studies using sera and viruses from the same area, 33 secondary sera from DENV-1 infected Cambodian patients and eight virus isolates from Cambodia, showed that the FRNT assay accurately predicted the lack of a predominant antibody response against the infecting DENV-1 serotype in contrast to FRNT results using the WHO set of DENV viruses. This report provides evidence that DENV-primed multitypic neutralizing antibody profiles were mainly boosted and stayed unchanged after secondary infection and that DENV neutralization was predominantly directed to heterologous DENV but not against the infecting homologous serotype.

Impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies in a longitudinal cohort of healthcare workers

Waning serum antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 have sparked discussions about long-term immunity and need for vaccine boosters. We examined SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies in a longitudinal cohort, comparing antibody decay in individuals who received an mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. We completed a longitudinal cohort of healthcare workers (HWs) between June 2020 and September 2021. HWs were included if they had a serum sample collected after SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or a serum sample collected ≥ 14 days after second dose of an mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Linear regression models adjusting for vaccine type, age, and sex were used to compare post-vaccination antibody levels between 1) HWs with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and 2) HWs with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection ≤ 90 days and > 90 days prior to first vaccine. Serum was collected from 98 HWs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and before vaccine, and 1960 HWs ≥ 14 days following second vaccine dose. Serum spike antibody levels were higher after vaccination than after natural infection. Compared to SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals, those with prior infection maintained higher post-vaccination mean spike IgG values at 1, 3, and 6 months, after adjusting for age, sex, and vaccine type. Individuals with PCR-confirmed infection > 90 days before vaccination had higher post-vaccination antibody levels than individuals infected ≤ 90 days before vaccination. Individuals with three exposures to spike protein maintain the highest antibody levels particularly when first and second exposures were greater than 90 days apart. A booster dose provides a third exposure and may similarly induce a more durable antibody response.

Immunological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy from diagnosis to delivery: A multicentre prospective study

Background Background Population-based data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and assessment of passive immunity to the neonate, is lacking. We profiled the maternal and fetal response using a combination of viral RNA from naso-pharyngeal swabs and serological assessment of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Methods This multicentre prospective observational study was conducted between March 24th and August 31st 2020. Two independent cohorts were established, a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cohort and a cohort of asymptomatic pregnant women attending two of the largest maternity hospitals in Europe. Symptomatic women were invited to provide a serum sample to assess antibody responses. Asymptomatic pregnant women provided a nasopharyngeal swab and serum sample. RT-PCR for viral RNA was performed using the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 6800 platform (Roche). Umbilical cord bloods were obtained at delivery. Maternal and fetal serological response was measured using both the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay (Roche), Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and the IgM Architect assay. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants. Results Ten of twenty three symptomatic women had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected on nasopharyngeal swabs. Five (5/23, 21.7%) demonstrated serological evidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and seven (30.4%, 7/23) were positive for IgM antibodies. In the asymptomatic cohort, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RNA was 0.16% (1/608). IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 1·67% (10/598, 95% CI 0·8%-3·1%) and IgM in 3·51% (21/598, 95% CI 2·3–5·5%). Nine women had repeat testing post the baseline test. Four (4/9, 44%) remained IgM positive and one remained IgG positive. 3 IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detectable in cord bloods from babies born to five seropositive women who delivered during the study. The mean gestation at serological test was 34 weeks. The mean time between maternal serologic positivity and detection in umbilical cord samples was 28 days. Conclusion Using two independent serological assays, we present a comprehensive illustration of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy, and show a low prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV2. Transplacental migration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was identified in cord blood of women who demonstrated antenatal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, raising the possibility of passive immunity.