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PubMed1995

Molecular epidemiology of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Israel in 1994 and in other Middle-Eastern countries in the years 1992-1994.

The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and direct sequencing were employed in the diagnosis and typing of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in samples taken during the 1994 disease outbreak in Israel. Using PCR, virus isolation and serological methods it was shown that the 1994 disease outbreak in Israel and other Middle-Eastern countries was caused by O1 type virus. Direct PCR sequencing of VP1 genes and homology analysis of the virus isolates revealed that there were two distinct outbreaks in Israel. The first originated in Jordan, moved to the West Bank territory and then to the Lower Galilee. The second outbreak, caused by another virus, was responsible for disease outbreaks in South Lebanon, Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. When viral sequences of isolates from the 1993 outbreaks in Egypt and Lebanon were included in the analysis, they showed a high degree of VP1 sequence homology between themselves, suggesting a common origin.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Two novel genetic groups (VIIb and VIII) responsible for recent Newcastle disease outbreaks in Southern Africa, one (VIIb) of which reached Southern Europe.

34 strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated during epizootics in the Republic of South Africa and in Mozambique between 1990 and 1995, and in Bulgaria and Turkey in 1995-1997 were identified by restriction enzyme and partial sequence analysis of the fusion (F) protein gene. The majority of isolates in southern Africa and those from Bulgaria and Turkey were placed into a novel group which has been termed VIIb. Group VIIb is part of a larger genetic cluster (VII) that also includes NDV strains from the Far East and some western European countries (VIIa). The genetic distance of 7-8, 5% between genotype VIIa and VIIb viruses excludes the existence of a direct epidemiological link between recent southern African epizootics and outbreaks in either western Europe in the 1990's or those of the Far East. Another hitherto unrecorded genotype (VIII) was also found in South Africa with descendants of putative ancestral members isolated in the 1960's. The genetic distance of recent group VIII strains from the major epizootic genotype (VIIb) is over 11%, therefore outbreaks caused by them were epidemiologically unrelated. Genotype VIII viruses must have been maintained in South Africa by endemic infections during the past decades while group VIIb appears to be introduced more recently.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Nosocomial Transmission of SARS.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome is a newly emerged infectious disease with moderately high transmissibility. Nosocomial outbreaks were responsible for the propagation of the epidemic worldwide. Health care workers (HCW) are at particular high risk because of their close contact with patients, involvement in medical procedures, and handling of excreta/fomites. Good hospital organization and appropriate infection control strategies are essential to prevent/interrupt disease transmission from patients to HCWs (and vice versa) and among inpatients and HCWs themselves. Education and training should target broadly to all HCWs.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The protective effect of bed nets impregnated with pyrethroid insecticide and vaccination against Japanese encephalitis.

A population-based case-control study to evaluate the protective effect of bed nets impregnated with pyrethroid insecticide and of vaccination against Japanese encephalitis was carried out in Gusi county, Henan province, China from June to September 1991; 50 cases and 100 matched controls were studied. Bed nets impregnated with pyrethroid insecticide greatly decreased the risk of infection among children under 10 years old, and vaccine efficacy was 78% (95% CI 16%-94%). We suggest that impregnated bed nets could be used as a quick response during outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis.

Bedding and Linens↗

PubMed1991

Viral transmission and fibreoptic endoscopy.

Fibreoptic endoscopes have been responsible for outbreaks of infection with bacteria although viral transmission has been reported only once. The emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has prompted a review of infection control practices in endoscopy units because of the theoretical possibility that HIV might be transmitted at endoscopy. Recent studies have shown that bronchoscopes and gastroscopes used on AIDS patients become contaminated with HIV genetic material although cleaning equipment in detergent removes all traces of the virus. Thorough precleaning has been shown to eliminate even high titres of HIV from endoscopes and 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde has been found to inactivate the virus rapidly even if the virus is dried in serum to a surface. These findings support the British Society of Gastroenterology recommendations for the cleaning and disinfection of endoscopic equipment and demonstrate that a uniform policy of infection control is practicable in endoscopy units.

DNA, Viral↗

PubMed2026

Genomic insights into preantibiotic osteomyelitis pathogens and their link to current resistant hospital strains.

OBJECTIVES: Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection that was frequently fatal before the introduction of antibiotics and remains a significant healthcare burden today. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause, alongside other hospital-acquired pathogens. Despite their clinical importance, the evolutionary history of these bacteria remains poorly understood. We investigated historical osteomyelitis specimens to identify causative pathogens and characterise their genomes, virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). METHODS: Seven osteomyelitis-affected bones from adults dating to 19th-20th century Germany were analysed using ancient DNA (aDNA) approaches. After sequencing and screening, candidate pathogens were prioritised based on authentic aDNA damage patterns, established association with osteomyelitis and exclusion as environmental contaminants. Identified species were characterised by phylogenetics, multilocus sequence typing and virulence/AMR profiling. RESULTS: In four patients, we detected authentic aDNA from Acinetobacter baumannii, S. aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Detected taxa in the remaining three patients did not fulfil the criteria for further analysis. Two patients carried A. baumannii genomes clustering closely with modern avian and freshwater isolates. Both harboured virulence genes, alongside intrinsic efflux pumps and β-lactamases. One patient carried an S. aureus strain belonging to the globally disseminated clonal complex 30, responsible for outbreaks since the 1950s. Molecular dating indicated that this strain diverged from the wider lineage around 1800, placing it among the earliest members of this group. It encoded multiple virulence genes, but no methicillin resistance genes. The fourth patient carried an S. pyogenes strain related to modern epidemic lineages from North America, encoding conserved virulence factors, but no AMR genes. CONCLUSIONS: These specimens provide a window into the evolution of osteomyelitis pathogens. Although modern developments such as widespread antibiotic use have intensified the global resistance crisis, our findings indicate that the genetic foundations for pathogenicity and resistance were already present more than 100 years ago.

Ancient DNA↗

PubMed2004

The effect of probiotic treatment with Clostridium butyricum on enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in mice.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 has been considered as an agent responsible for outbreak of hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic uremic syndrome. We examined the effect of the probiotic agent Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI strain 588 on EHEC O157:H7 infections in vitro and in vivo using gnotobiotic mice. The growth of EHEC O157:H7 and the production of Shiga-like toxins in broth cultures were inhibited by co-incubation with C. butyricum. The antibacterial effects of butyric and lactic acid were demonstrated in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the inhibitory effect of butyric acid on the viability of EHEC was demonstrated not only at low pH, but also at neutral pH adjusted to 7.0. Flowcytometric analysis showed that pre-incubation of Caco-2 cells with C. butyricum and E. coli K12 inhibited the adhesion of EHEC O157:H7. However, the effect of C. butyricum on adhesion of EHEC to Caco-2 cells was more inhibitory than that of E. coli K12. Gnotobiotic mice mono-associated with EHEC O157:H7 died within 4-7 days after the infection. On the other hand, all gnotobiotic mice prophylactically pre-treated with C. butyricum survived exposure to EHEC O157:H7 and of the gnotobiotic mice therapeutically post-treated with C. butyricum, 50% survived. Both counts of EHEC O157:H7 and the amounts of shiga-like toxins (Stx1 and Stx2) in fecal contents of gnotobiotic mice di-associated with EHEC O157:H7 and C. butyricum were less than those of gnotobiotic mice mono-associated with EHEC O157:H7. These results indicated that the probiotic bacterium C. butyricum MIYAIRI strain 588 has preventive and therapeutic effects on EHEC O157:H7 infection in gnotobiotic mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Identification of a new geographically widespread multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii clone from European hospitals.

The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic diversity of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains that had previously been allocated to three major groups based on automated ribotyping. Forty-seven isolates from European hospitals and one isolate from a South African hospital, geographically representative of the three ribogroups (ribogroups 1, 2 and 3 with 10, 23 and 15 isolates, respectively), were analysed using the highly discriminatory fingerprinting methods AFLP and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Based on AFLP data, the isolates clustered into three main groups, each corresponding to one ribogroup. Inclusion of reference strains of the previously described clones I and II, responsible for outbreaks in northwestern European hospitals, showed that ribogroups 1 and 2 correspond to clones I and II, respectively, whereas ribogroup 3 apparently represents a new clone. This clone III was found in France, The Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Clones I and II were not limited to northwestern European countries, as they were also recovered from Spain, South Africa, Poland and Italy (clone I) and from Spain, Portugal, South Africa, France, Greece and Turkey (clone II). Combined AFLP and PFGE data showed intraclonal diversity and led to the distinction of 23 different genotypes. Three genotypes, two of them belonging to clone II and one to clone III, were found in different hospitals and may correspond to subsets of isolates with a more recent clonal relationship, which emphasizes the epidemic potential of these organisms.

Acinetobacter Infections↗

PubMed2005

Formalin-inactivated bovine RSV vaccine influences antibody levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and disease outcome in experimentally infected calves.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe respiratory disease in calves and human infants. In response to outbreaks, formalin inactivated (FI)-RSV vaccines were developed and found to exacerbate disease following a live RSV infection. We have reproduced vaccination induced disease enhancement in calves and screened various antibody isotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from two studies: one with disease enhancement and another where moderate protection resulted from FI-bovine RSV (BRSV) vaccination. Semi-protected vaccinated calves produced BRSV-specific BALF IgG1, but not IgA and IgG2 prior to infection; whereas, calves with enhanced disease failed to develop BRSV-specific IgG1 in BALF. Ultimately, the formulation and delivery of RSV vaccines influences protective antibody levels in respiratory secretions.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Comparison of trichinelloscopy with a digestion method for the detection of Trichinella larvae in muscle tissue from naturally infected pigs with low level infections.

The identification of Trichinella infection in pigs in Croatia has traditionally been done by inspection of individual carcasses. In response to outbreaks of human trichinellosis in the last decade, the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry instituted compulsory trichinelloscopic examination of tissue from both commercially and privately slaughtered swine. The purpose of this study was to compare trichinelloscopy and artificial digestion for use in samples containing low numbers of larvae. Each assay was used to test 1,769 field positive samples, 290 of which contained 6 or less larvae per gram of muscle tissue. The sensitivity and specificity of trichinelloscopy with 6 or less l pg was 43.4 and 88%, respectively. kappa-Value as a measure of agreement between trichinelloscopy and artificial digestion was 0.27%. It is noteworthy that a considerable number of the 103 (52%) negative animals on trichinelloscopy contained>or=6l pg which is enough to cause clinical trichinellosis. These findings support other studies that indicate trichinelloscopy is not a method of choice and that it is necessary to implement more sensitive procedures such as artificial digestion.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Serratia marcescens and the urologist.

Serratia marcescens, long considered a non-pathogen, is now found to be responsible for outbreaks of nosocomial infections. An outbreak of Serratia infection at 2 institutions is reported, in which 253 cultures of Serratia were grown and 115 patients were involved. The 3 most important conditions that preceded isolation of Serratia were the use of indwelling urethral catheters, antibiotic therapy and operation. All infections were acquired in the hospital. An epidemiological survey showed that the organism is present in the environment, even in the absence of active infection.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Waterborne non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Waterborne non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) is responsible for outbreaks of hepatitis with a predilection for young adults. The disease is usually mild, except in pregnant women, who have a high case-fatality rate from fulminant hepatic failure. Diagnosis is largely based on the epidemiological findings of faecal contamination of drinking water and serological exclusion of hepatitis A and B virus infection. Histological features of liver biopsy specimens are characteristic and virus-like particles in the stool are aggregated by antibody present in acute and convalescent phase sera of the test subject. NANB is widespread in India and several countries of South-East Asia; it is increasingly recognised in Africa and may occur in Latin America. Control measures include provision of clean water supplies, safe disposal of human excreta, and sound personal and food hygiene practices. Passive immunisation with immunoglobulin derived from healthy donors resident in the countries affected by the disease may protect vulnerable groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Comparative analysis of viral pathogens and potential indicators in shellfish.

Shellfish can be responsible of outbreaks of infectious diseases and current health measures do not guarantee the absence of viral pathogens in this product. Here we examine the presence of pathogenic viruses and potential indicators in shellfish in a comparative analysis.Sixty shellfish samples collected in three areas with different levels of faecal contamination were analysed for Escherichia coli, total coliforms, Clostridium perfringens, somatic coliphages, F-specific phages of RNA (F-RNA), bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis RYC2056, human adenovirus, enterovirus and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Viruses were eluted in a glycine buffer at pH 10. The overall percentage of viral pathogens detected was 47% for human adenoviruses, 19% for enteroviruses and 24% for HAV. Since all the samples positive for enterovirus and HAV were also positives for human adenovirus, the latter may be considered useful as a molecular index of viral contamination in shellfish. No significant differences in the bioaccumulation of bacteria and bacteriophages for oysters or mussels were observed. It was found that the probability of detection of any of the pathogenic virus decreases as the temperature of shellfish growing waters increases. However, the probability of detecting viruses increases when phages of B. fragilis are found. Although more data are needed in order to fulfil the need of viral indicators for controlling the presence of human viruses in shellfish, the obtained results indicate that phages infecting B. fragilis RYC2056 could be a suitable group of bacteriophages to be used as an indicator of the presence of viruses in shellfish.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed2001

Experimental reproduction of winter dysentery in lactating cows using BCV -- comparison with BCV infection in milk-fed calves.

Infection models were developed for adult cows and for young calves using the same strain of bovine coronavirus (BCV), which for the first time allows experimental reproduction of winter dysentery (WD) in seronegative lactating cows. The cattle were infected through direct contact with an experimentally inoculated calf. All experimental cattle shed faecal BCV with development of diarrhoea, being profusely watery with small amounts of blood in the most severely affected animals, including both cows and calves. The cows, in contrast to the calves, showed depressed general condition and appetite leading to a marked decrease in milk yield. Further age-associated differences were a shorter incubation period in the two youngest calves, but with milder fever and milder decrease in white blood cell counts. These findings shed light on the apparent epidemiological differences between WD and calf BCV diarrhoea suggesting that, (1) the same strains of BCV cause natural outbreaks of calf diarrhoea and WD, (2) seronegative cows are more severely affected by the infection than seronegative conventionally reared calves, and (3) unaffected general condition in diarrhoeic calves may lead to underestimation of the occurrence of calf diarrhoea in WD outbreaks. In response to infection, all cattle produced early interferon type 1 in serum and, except for one calf, in nasal secretions. A finding not previously reported is the detection of interferon type 1 responses in bovine milk. All cattle developed high IgM antibody responses and long-lasting IgA antibody responses both systemically and locally. The serum IgM antibody responses came earlier in most of the calves than in the cows. Prolonged IgM antibody responses were detected in serum and milk, while those in nasal secretions were much shorter. BCV-specific IgA was present in nasal secretions from all cattle throughout the 6 months follow-up. The IgA antibody response in serum was detected up to 17 months post-infection and the duration showed an age-related variation indicating a more prominent IgA memory in the adult cattle and in the older calves than in the younger ones. BCV-specific IgG was detected in all cattle during the experimental period of up to 22 months. In conclusion, WD was reproduced in seronegative lactating cows. The cows showed a more severe general diseases than seronegative calves infected concurrently. Very long-lasting IgA antibody responses were detected both systemically and locally.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

Epidemiological differences among pneumococcal serotypes.

The bacterial species Streptococcus pneumoniae consists of 90 immunologically distinct serotypes, of which some possess distinct epidemiological properties. Certain serotypes are much more likely to be associated with nasopharyngeal colonisation than to cause invasive disease. Compared with transient or infrequent colonisers, serotypes carried at high rates by young children may rapidly elicit age-associated natural immunity to invasive disease. Other serotypes seem to be of disproportionate importance as causes of disease in very young infants, in older children, in immunocompromised individuals, or in elderly people. Some serotypes seem to be associated with particular disease syndromes, such as complicated pneumonias in children, or with higher rates of hospitalisation in children or mortality in adults, or are consistently responsible for outbreaks in certain populations. Since pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are directed at specific serotypes, national immunisation advisory committees may wish to consider these serotype-specific properties when considering which vaccine formulation to introduce into a national programme.

Humans↗

PubMed1980

An outbreak of streptococcal infection in a chicken factory.

A large outbreak of streptococcal skin infection occurred late in the summer of 1978 in a factory which undertakes the slaughter, preparation and packing of chickens. In all, 103 episodes of infection occurred in 82 workers from a total factory establishment of 347. The highest incidence of infection was in the packing department where there was an attack rate of 44%. The routes of introduction of infection into and spread within the factory remain mostly unknown. Following the identification of cases and carriers and the institution of appropriate treatment and control measures the outbreak quickly declined. The responsible organism in the outbreak was Streptococcus pyogenes T-type 3/13/B3264, provisional M-type 'R78/55'. This is the first poultry factory outbreak in England to be reported.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Emergence of a Bundibugyo virus variant in the 2026 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

In May 2026, an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV, species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with cases originating from DRC and locally transmitted cases reported in Uganda. Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreaks were previously recorded in 2007-2008 in Bundibugyo District, Uganda, and in 2012 in Isiro, DRC. Here, we generated 22 genomes from samples obtained from individuals with BVD in DRC and Uganda. These genomes form a well-supported phylogenetic cluster separate from BDBV variants associated with the 2007 and 2012 outbreaks, together with evidence for sustained human transmission. This is consistent with the emergence of a new zoonotic spillover event rather than resurgence from previously reported variants. Besides ongoing efforts in strengthening surveillance systems, community engagement, establishing Ebola treatment centers, and developing targeted medical countermeasures; our report advocates to specifically increase decentralized laboratory diagnostics capacity, with pan-Orthoebolavirus assays, including genomic sequencing capacity, for limiting further outbreak expansion, timely detection and control of future outbreaks.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Release of allergen-bearing cytoplasm from hydrated pollen: a mechanism common to a variety of grass (Poaceae) species revealed by electron microscopy.

BACKGROUND: The release of submicronic particles from grass pollen after rainfall was suggested to be responsible for outbreaks of grass pollen asthma. Recently, we provided evidence for the release of respirable allergen-bearing particles from hydrated ryegrass (Lolium perenne ) pollen as a possible explanation for this phenomenon. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether water-induced release of respirable allergen-bearing particles could be a mechanism common to several members of the sweet grass family Poaceae (Gramineae). METHODS: Pollens from 6 different Poaceae species were hydrated in water and examined by means of scanning electron microscopy for release of cytoplasmic materials. Rabbit antisera raised against purified recombinant group 1 and 5 allergens were used for immunogold labeling of expelled materials by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy. In addition, group 1 and 5 allergens were immunogold-localized on ultrathin sections. RESULTS: Fresh Poaceae pollens expelled cytoplasmic materials containing group 1 and 5 allergens on hydration in water. Expulsion of submicronic particles strongly decreased after 1 month of storage. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest expulsion of cytoplasm after hydration as a mechanism common to pollens of important allergenic grasses. The water-induced release of respirable allergen-bearing particles from grass pollens might explain asthma attacks observed after rainfall during the grass pollen season.

Allergens↗