Management of COVID-19 in Different Countries

Covid-19 is a category B type infection, but it has created a serious threat across the globe because the pandemic spread more quickly than any other in history. Before the spring festival, the epidemic in China just begun. Different measures, including mobilization of health care workers, building new hospitals and imposing the lockdown, were undertaken to minimize the spread. In South Korea, the measures were implemented under strong and coordinated government leadership. The developing countries, including India and Iran, have taken the steps like travel limitations, specified hospitals, testing laboratories, quarantine facilities, awareness campaigns and lockdown, which aided a great deal in taking the flooding tide of diseases back to a controllable level. Also, educational institutions, industrial establishments and hospitality services for other patients were suspended for the sake of critically ill Covid-19 patients.

Review of the New Zealand Theileria orientalis Ikeda Type Epidemic and Epidemiological Research since 2012

This article sets out to document and summarise the New Zealand epidemic and the epidemiological research conducted on the epizootic of bovine anaemia associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda-type infection, which began in New Zealand in August 2012. As New Zealand has no other pathogenic tick-borne cattle haemoparasites, the effects of the T. orientalis Ikeda-type infection observed in affected herds and individual animals were not confounded by other concurrent haemoparasite infections, as was possibly the case in other countries. This has resulted in an unbiased perspective of a new disease. In addition, as both New Zealand’s beef and dairy cattle systems are seasonally based, this has led to a different epidemiological presentation than that reported by almost all other affected countries. Having verified the establishment of a new disease and identified the associated pathogen, the remaining key requirements of an epidemiological investigation, for a disease affecting production animals, are to describe how the disease spreads, describe the likely impacts of that disease at the individual and herd level and explore methods of disease control or mitigation.

Immune response and phagocytosis of children with streptococcal tonsillitis and infected with the herpes virus type 6.

The aim of the work is to study the indicators of cellular and humoral immune response and FAN of patients with tonsillitis in children infected with HHV-6 type. Materials and methods of research. In 72 children aged 3–15 years (mean age 8.42±1.44 years), patients with streptococcal tonsillitis of moderate severity, the levels of the main subpopulations of blood lymphocytes were determined using monoclonal antibodies by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, phagocytic activity of neutrophils (FAN) using the nitrosine tetrazolium reduction test (HCT test) and serum IgA, IgM, IgG levels by radial immunodiffusion. The studies were carried out in the acute period and in the period of convalescence. Mathematical and statistical processing of the data obtained was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2003 and Statistica 6.0 programs. The significance of differences between the mean values was determined using the Student's test (t). Results. Different mechanisms of formation of pathological process at streptococcal tonsillitis at children depending on the concomitant HHV-6 type infection are revealed. In patients with mixed infection in the acute period of tonsillitis determine the signs of deficiency of the cellular immune system with the maximum deviation of CD-lymphocytes (t=3.13 vs. t=2.16 in mono-infection), the tension in the humoral link of the immune response Ig deviation (t=1.63 against t=0.91 in mono-infection) on the background of phagocytosis violation in terms of FAN deviation (t=3.22 against t=2.01 in mono-infection). By the period of convalescence, the restoration of the imbalance of specific and non-specific protection factors does not occur. Increased IgG content in the acute period is one of the features of streptococcal tonsillitis in children on the background of HHV-6t infection. Conclusions. Concomitant VGL-6 type infection in children with streptococcal tonsillitis affects the mechanisms of formation of the inflammatory process and the reactivity of patients, forming the preconditions for adverse outcomes of the disease. The obtained results can be the basis for early detection of herpes virus infection in patients with tonsillitis, will help to optimize the management of patients in different periods of the disease.

Development of a model-inference system for estimating epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

To support COVID-19 pandemic planning, we develop a model-inference system to estimate epidemiological properties of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using case and mortality data while accounting for under-ascertainment, disease seasonality, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and mass-vaccination. Applying this system to study three variants of concern, we estimate that B.1.1.7 has a 46.6% (95% CI: 32.3–54.6%) transmissibility increase but nominal immune escape from protection induced by prior wild-type infection; B.1.351 has a 32.4% (95% CI: 14.6–48.0%) transmissibility increase and 61.3% (95% CI: 42.6–85.8%) immune escape; and P.1 has a 43.3% (95% CI: 30.3–65.3%) transmissibility increase and 52.5% (95% CI: 0–75.8%) immune escape. Model simulations indicate that B.1.351 and P.1 could outcompete B.1.1.7 and lead to increased infections. Our findings highlight the importance of preventing the spread of variants of concern, via continued preventive measures, prompt mass-vaccination, continued vaccine efficacy monitoring, and possible updating of vaccine formulations to ensure high efficacy.

Clinical Course and Outcome of Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant Infection Compared to Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Wild-Type Infection Admitted to the ICU

The alpha variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with higher transmissibility and possibly higher mortality compared with wild-type SARS-CoV-2. However, few data are available on the clinical course of infections with the alpha variant compared with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed patients admitted to our ICU due to SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant infection and compared characteristics and course to patients with SARS-CoV-2 wild-type infection. The median age of patients with Alpha variant infections was 57 years compared to 62 years in the wild-type group. ICU survival was 41/80 (51%) in the Alpha variant group and 35/80 (44%) in the wild-type group (p = 0.429). Results of a matched-pair analysis based on age and sex illustrated that 45/58 patients (77.6%) in the Alpha variant group and 38/58 (65.5%) patients in the wild-type group required mechanical ventilation (p = 0.217). ICU survival was documented for 28/58 patients (48.3%) in the Alpha variant group and 27/58 patients (46.6%) in the wild-type group (p = 1). Thus, ICU mortality among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections remains high. Although the Alpha variant group included younger patients requiring mechanical ventilation, no significant differences between patients with the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant and the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type, respectively, were detected with respect to clinical course and ICU mortality. For future VOCs, we believe it would be important to obtain valid and rapid data on the clinical course of critically ill patients who test positive for COVID-19 in order to perform appropriate epidemiological planning of intensive care capacity.

Neutralization of VOCs including Delta one year post COVID-19 or vaccine

Background: SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, are raising concern about the efficiency of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) induced by wild-type infection or vaccines based on the wild-type spike. Methods: We determined IgG and NAb against SARS-CoV-2 variants one year following mild wild-type infection (n=104) and two-dose regimens with BNT162b2 (BNT/BNT) (n=67), ChAdOx1 (ChAd/ChAd) (n=82), or heterologous ChAdOx1 followed by BNT162b2 (ChAd/BNT) (n=116). Findings: Wild type spike IgG and NAb remained detectable in 80% (83/104) of unvaccinated participants one year post mild infection. The neutralizing capacity was similar against wild type (reference), Alpha (0.95 (0.92-0.98) and Delta 1.03 (0.95-1.11) but significantly reduced against Beta (0.54 (0.48-0.60)) and Gamma 0.51 (0.44-0.61). Similarly, BNT/BNT and ChAd/ChAd elicited sustained capacity against Alpha and Delta (1.01 (0.78-1.31) and 1.03 (0.95-1.11)) and (0.96 (0.84-1.09) and 0.82 (0.61-1.10) respectively), with reduced capacity against Beta (0.67 (0.50-0.88) and 0.53 (0.40-0.71)) and Gamma (0.12 (0.06-0.27) and 0.54 (0.37-0.80)). A similar trend was found following ChAd/BNT (0.74 (0.66-0.83) and 0.70 (0.50-0.97) against Alpha and Delta and 0.29 (0.20-0.42) and 0.13 (0.08-0.20) against Beta and Gamma). Interpretation: Persistent neutralization of the wide-spread Alpha and Delta variants one year after wild-type infection may aid vaccine policy makers in low-resource settings when prioritizing vaccine supply. The reduced capacity of neutralizing Beta and Gamma strains, but not the Alpha and Delta strains following both infection and three different vaccine regimens argues for caution against Beta and Gamma-exclusive mutations in the efforts to optimize next generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Funding: A full list of funding bodies that contributed to this study can be found in the Acknowledgements section

The Characteristics of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women with Vaginitis and the Correlation with Vaginitis

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer in women and vaginitis may affect HPV infection. In order to determine the characteristics as well as the relationship between HPV Infection and vaginitis, we retrospectively collected and analyzed the data from our hospital.Methods: We retrospectively collected the data of 1330 women who underwent twenty-three HPV DNA quantitative measurement and vaginal microecology examination at the same visit from May 2019 to April 2020 in our hospital.Results: The vaginal discharge infection rate was 37.67% in all cases. The total HPV infection rate in women with vaginitis was 39.60% and HPV58, 52, and 16 had the higher prevalence among 23 HPV types, with infection rates of 10.34%, 6.32% and 6.11% respectively. Single-type infection (77.26%) was more common than multiple-type infection (32%).There appeared the same trend in HPV positive cases and vaginitis, reaching the peak in women aged 31–40 years. Among four types of vaginitis, the HPV infection rates were 45.83%, 40.54%, 37.04% and 30.43% in patients with trichomonas vaginitis(TV) , vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC), intermediate bacterial vaginitis(IBV)and bacterial vaginitis(BV),respectively. Only26.17% women were infected with HPV in patients with normal vaginal micrabiota. Significant differences were found in HPV infection rate between normal vaginal micrabiota group and different vaginitis (P<0.05). There was a correlation between HPV infection and vaginitis(χ2=31.966,P<0.05；r=0.114, P<0.05).Furthermore, patients with BV showed a higher correlation with HPV infection when compared with other groups (r=0.537, P<0.05).Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated that HPV58, 52, and 16 are the most common infection subtypes. Our data provide valuable information for HPV-based screening and prevention strategies for women in vaginitis. The single HPV infection was still very common. There was a correlation between HPV infection and vaginitis and patients with BV showed a higher correlation with HPV infection.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Patients Attending Zella Central Laboratory, Zella City, Libya

Intestinal parasites have become one of the most important health problems for public health experts and decision-makers in many countries. In Zella city, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was not studied before, therefore, the current study was conducted to identify the intestinal parasites in Zella city. The data in this study was collected from the records of the central laboratory in Zella city over the period of time, from the beginning of 2015, till the end of 2019. A 839 samples were examined, and 728 samples were infected with parasites, which represent 87%. The results of the study revealed the presence of four types of intestinal parasites with different proportions as follows: Entamoeba histolytica by 65%, Ascaris lumbricoides by 24%, and Entamoeba coli by 10%, and Giardia lamblia by 0.7%. The results of the study also indicate that the infection rate of males and females were very close, 86% and 87%, respectively. The results of the current study also indicate that the single type infection pattern was the most common compared to the mixed parasite infection, 95%, and 5%, respectively. The study also shows that the percentage of intestinal parasites infection was higher during the autumn and spring seasons. Despite the increase in cultural and social awareness and the improvement of the living conditions of many families, the rate of intestinal parasites infection is still high, which requires more investigations.

Regulation and characterization of mutants of fixABCX in Rhizobium leguminosarum.

Symbiosis between Rhizobium leguminosarum and Pisum sativum requires tight control of redox balance in order to maintain respiration under the microaerobic conditions required for nitrogenase, whilst still producing the eight electrons and sixteen molecules of ATP needed for nitrogen fixation. FixABCX, electron transfer flavoproteins essential for nitrogen fixation, are encoded on the Sym plasmid (pRL10), immediately upstream of nifA, which encodes the general transcriptional regulator of nitrogen fixation. There is a symbiotically-regulated NifA-dependent promoter upstream of fixA (PnifA1), as well as an additional basal constitutive promoter driving background expression of nifA (PnifA2). These were confirmed by 5’-end mapping of transcription start sites using differential (d) RNA-seq. Complementation of polar fixAB and fixX mutants (Fix- strains) confirmed expression of nifA from PnifA1 in symbiosis. Electron microscopy combined with single-cell Raman microspectroscopy characterization of fixAB mutants revealed previously unknown heterogeneity in bacteroid morphology within a single nodule. Two morphotypes of mutant fixAB bacteroids were observed. One was larger than wild-type bacteroids and contained high levels of polyhydroxy-3-butyrate, a complex energy/reductant storage product. A second bacteroid phenotype was morphologically and compositionally different and resembled wild-type infection thread cells. From these two characteristic fixAB mutant bacteroid morphotypes, inferences can be drawn on the metabolism of wild-type nitrogen-fixing bacteroids.