Acute Viral Disease Research Articles

Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Infectious Bursal Disease in Local Chicken on Backyard Production System in Selected Districts of Ilubabor Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Introduction Gumboro is an acute, highly contagious, and immunosuppressive viral disease of young chickens less than 17-weeks. However, in local chicken flocks of Ilubabor, there is no known sero-status of the disease. Methods To address this information gap, a cross-sectional study was conducted in local backyard chicken flocks of three districts of Ilubabor Zone where chick mortality and morbidity were a big problem. The objectives of the study were to estimate the seroprevalence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and to assess its risk factors. Result Out of 418 serum samples tested, 180 were positive and the overall chicken level seroprevalence of the IBDV antibody in the study area was found to be 43.10% (95% CI: 38.40-47.85) and flock-level seroprevalence was 45.63% (73/160) (95%CI: 37.91-53.34) with almost all test positive flock chickens were seropositive. Multivariable analysis at chicken level showed that the odds of IBDV seroprevalence was significantly high in Metu and Bilo Nopa districts, in purchased, in female and adult chickens. Also, it was high at flock level in chickens mixed with exotic breeds, in flocks having greater than 5 chickens. Conclusion This study shows that IBDV is circulating in the chicken population of Ilubabor at a high prevalence level. Therefore, further studies on serotypes and strains of IBDV identification should be carried out to design suitable control and prevention measures.

Comparing the Immunogenicity and Protective Effects of Three MERS-CoV Inactivation Methods in Mice.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a fatal acute viral respiratory disease caused by MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. To date, no vaccine has been approved for MERS-CoV despite continuing outbreaks. Inactivated vaccines are a viable option when developed using the appropriate inactivation methods and adjuvants. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective effects of MERS-CoV vaccine candidates inactivated by three different chemical agents. MERS-CoV was effectively inactivated by formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and binary ethylene imine and induced humoral and cellular immunity in mice. Although inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the lungs four days after the challenge, the immunized hDPP4-transgenic mouse group showed 100% protection against a challenge with MERS-CoV (100 LD50). In particular, the immune response was highly stimulated by MERS-CoV inactivated with formaldehyde, and all mice survived a challenge with the minimum dose. In the adjuvant comparison test, the group immunized with inactivated MERS-CoV and AddaVax had a higher immune response than the group immunized with aluminum potassium sulfate (alum). In conclusion, our study indicates that the three methods of MERS-CoV inactivation are highly immunogenic and protective in mice and show strong potential as vaccine candidates when used with an appropriate adjuvant.

RETROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE COVID-19 INCIDENCE AND VACCINATION OF THE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE NAMS OF UKRAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

Introduction. In the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an obvious need to achieve the appropriate level of collective immunity of personnel in medical institutions to ensure the possibility of full functioning and providing medical assistance to patients. Aim: to analyze information about the incidence of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of the staff of the Research Institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Material and methods. Depersonalized information on COVID-19 disease and vaccination and levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among the staff of the Research Institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine as of November 22, 2021, statistical methods. Results. In the Research Institutions of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, the appropriate level of collective immunity was formed among the staff due to vaccinated persons and convalescents. At the pre-morbid stage, the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies of the IgG class were low in most of the examinees, after the disease they increased, however, in 8.5% - 10.3% of workers recovery after the disease was not accompanied by an increase in the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which may carry the risk of recurrent disease. Almost a third of the examined had protective levels (>4.0) of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies even before the start of vaccination, having neither a documented fact nor an anamnestic data on the disease of COVID-19, which may indicate the transferred asymptomatic forms of the infection or the course of it have been under the guise of a banal acute respiratory viral disease. Adverse reactions to vaccination were mostly mild, in the form of fever, pain in the area of vaccine injection, muscle pain, rarely - dizziness, ranging from 10.2% to 33.15% depending on the type of vaccine. Conclusion. Given the continuation of the pandemic and conflicting data on the duration of immunity after vaccination or the transferred disease, it is advisable to continue monitoring the incidence of COVID 19 and assessing the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in order to maintain collective immunity in each Research Institution of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. Key words: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, morbidity, vaccination

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever- An Extensive Awareness Survey

Aedes mosquitoes transmit the acute viral disease dengue, which is brought on by the Flaviviridae RNA virus family. Asymptomatic fever with terrifying consequences, including hemorrhagic fever and shock, may be the presenting symptoms. The most typical symptoms include a high temperature with a sudden start, muscular and joint discomfort, myalgia, a rash on the skin, hemorrhagic episodes, and circulatory shock. Even though oral symptoms are rarely the main presenting symptom of dengue infection, this can happen in some situations. An early and precise diagnosis is essential to reduce mortality. Dengue infection has emerged as a public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries, despite the fact that dengue virus infections are typically self-limiting. This article offers a comprehensive review of dengue virus infections, including information on distinct clinical symptoms, differential diagnosis, diagnosis, prevention, and therapy. The survey conducted from 1st AUGUST to 15th SEPTEMBER.

Bis(Benzofuran-1,3-N,N-heterocycle)s as Symmetric and Synthetic Drug Leads against Yellow Fever Virus.

The yellow fever virus (YFV) is an emerging RNA virus and has caused large outbreaks in Africa and Central and South America. The virus is often transmitted through infected mosquitoes and spreads from area to area because of international travel. Being an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, yellow fever can be prevented by an effective, safe, and reliable vaccine, but not be eliminated. Currently, there is no antiviral drug available for its cure. Thus, two series of novel bis(benzofuran–1,3-imidazolidin-4-one)s and bis(benzofuran–1,3-benzimidazole)s were designed and synthesized for the development of anti-YFV lead candidates. Among 23 new bis-conjugated compounds, 4 of them inhibited YFV strain 17D (Stamaril) on Huh-7 cells in the cytopathic effect reduction assays. These conjugates exhibited the most compelling efficacy and selectivity with an EC50 of <3.54 μM and SI of >15.3. The results are valuable for the development of novel antiviral drug leads against emerging diseases.

Leukotriene metabolism and proiflammatory cytokines in Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an emerging acute viral infection disease, yet its pathophysiology remains largely uncharacterized. Lipid mediators are molecules that play numerous roles in the physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions in certain viral diseases. No previous study evaluated the status of cysteinyl leukotrienes (CYSLT) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and their relationship with proinflammatory cytokines in CCHF. A total of 90 subjects including 60 CCHF patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled the study. Serum CYSLT, 5-LO, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and ferritin levels were determined in the study population. Lower median 5-LO level was determined in patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.0004). Higher ferritin (p < 0.001) and IL-6 (p < 0.001) levels in patients than healthy controls. No statistically significant difference was observed between patients and controls in terms of CYSLT levels. No statistically significant differences were observed between mild, moderate, and severe groups in terms of both 5-LO and CYSLT levels. IL-6 and ferritin levels were higher in severe group compared mild and moderate groups. In conclusion, changes in 5-LO enzyme and increased inflammation are related with the disease molecular mechanism. Higher inflammatory status contributes to the impaired hemostatic balance in CCHF. Thus, treatment strategies to reduce inflammation may help to prevent bleeding and DIC in patients. IL-6 and ferritin can be used to as an additional biomarker in the estmation of the prognosis and diagnosis of the patients.

Sequential Deletions of Interferon Inhibitors MGF110-9L and MGF505-7R Result in Sterile Immunity against the Eurasia Strain of Africa Swine Fever.

ABSTRACTAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) causes significant morbidity and mortality in pigs worldwide. The lack of vaccines or therapeutic options warrants urgent further investigation. To this aim, we developed a rationally designed live attenuated ASFV-Δ110-9L/505-7R mutant based on the highly pathogenic Genotype II ASFV CN/GS/2018 backbone by deleting 2 well-characterized interferon inhibitors MGF110-9L and MGF505-7R. The mutant was slightly attenuated in vitro compared to parental ASFV but highly tolerant to genetic modifications even after 30 successive passages in vitro. Groups of 5 pigs were intramuscularly inoculated with increasing doses of the mutant, ranging from 103 to 106 hemadsorption units (HAD50). Thirty-five days later, all groups were challenged with 102 HAD50 of virulent parental ASFV. All the animals were clinically normal and devoid of clinical signs consistent with ASFV at the period of inoculation. In the virulent challenge, 2 animals from 103 HAD50-inoculated group and 1 animal from 104 HAD50-inoculated group were unprotected with severe postmortem and histological lesions. The rest of animals survived and manifested with relatively normal clinical appearance accompanied by tangible histological improvements in the extent of tissue damage. Meanwhile, antibody response, as represented by p30-specific antibody titers was positively correlated to protective efficacy, potentializing its usage as an indicator of protection. Moreover, compared to 1 dose, 2 doses provided additional protection, proving that 2 doses were better than 1 dose. The sufficiency in effectiveness supports the claim that our attenuated mutant may be a viable vaccine option with which to fight ASF.IMPORTANCE African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a causative agent of acute viral hemorrhagic disease of domestic swine which is associated with significant economic losses in the pig industry. The lack of vaccines or treatment options requires urgent further investigation. ASFV MGF110-9L and MGF505-7R, 2 well-characterized interferon inhibitors, were associated with viral virulence, host range, and immune modulation. In this study, a recombinant two-gene deletion ASFV mutant with deletion of MGF110-9L and MGF505-7R was constructed. The result showed that the mutant was safe, and also highly resistant to genetic modification even after 30 successive passages. High doses of our mutant (105 and 106 HAD50) provided sterile immunity and complete protection in a virulent challenge. Two doses were superior to 1 dose and provided additional protection. This study develops a new ASFV-specific live attenuated vaccine and may be a viable vaccine option against ASF.

Review on middle east respiratory syndrome corona virus in camel: Its public health importance and economic impact

Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV) is a novel lineage C beta corona virus derived from bats which can cause acute viral respiratory disease in humans and in camels. According to a WHO report, MERS cases have been reported from 27 countries and there have been 2,428 confirmed cases, resulting in 838 deaths. MERS-CoV is transmitted to humans through close contact with dromedaries and it causes asymptomatic or mild-to-severe illness in the human population. MERS-CoV uses dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) protein in Pipistrelluspipistrellus bats for cell entry. Dromedary camels are a host reservoir species for the MERS-CoV. It is suspected that nasal mucous, sputum, saliva, milk or uncooked meat of infected camels are the main sources of transmission. Several factors such as being male and comorbid pre-existing illnesses are associated with severe disease and high mortality rates in patients with MERS. Studies in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Morocco reported that the prevalence of MERS-CoV sero-positivity ranges between 85.1- 99.4%, 73.2-89.9% and 48.3-100%, respectively. The clinical presentation of infected patients often indicate the presence of hemoptysis, sore throat, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The average incubation period of MERS-CoV is 6-7 days. No vaccine or treatment is currently available for MERS-CoV. Supportive therapy necessitates respiration and circulatory support, preservation of renal and hepatic function, and prevention of secondary infections. This seminar paper is therefore, intended to highlight the public health and economic importance of the MERS-CoV.

Rabies-Monoclonal Antibody - A Perspective

Rabies is an acute viral zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) of all warm-blooded animals, including mammals. Research studies and experience from across the world have demonstrated that appropriate administration of a combination of (a) local wound treatment, (b) anti-rabies vaccination and (c) passive immunization have proved to be quite effective in preventing the occurrence of rabies. As far as passive immunization is concerned, polyclonal plasma-derived rabies immunoglobulins (RIG) pose a number of limitations with scarce supply, high cost, etc. amongst many others. On the contrary Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies (R-mAb) are much cheaper, permit longer-term storage, etc. and hence could offer a more standardized, accessible, affordable and equally efficacious and safer alternative to RIG. Accordingly, this article has tried to throw light on the transition from RIG to monoclonal antibody-based Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) which has been recommended by the WHO strongly. The advantages, limitations and future scope of R-mAb have been discussed at length to give a comprehensive idea about this novel invention in the field of medicine.

Establishment of Vero cell lines persistently harboring a yellow fever virus 17D subgenomic replicon

Yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, is the etiological agent for an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, yellow fever. Although effective live attenuated vaccines based on the strain YFV 17D are currently available, no specific antiviral drug is available, and the disease remains a major public health concern. Hence, the discovery and development of antiviral drugs should lead to great benefits in controlling the disease. To provide a screening platform for antiviral agents targeting YFV RNA translation/replication, we have established and characterized two Vero cell lines that persistently harbor a subgenomic replicon derived from YFV 17D-204 (referred to as replicon cells). The replicon carries YFV nucleotides (1 − 176 and 2382−10,862) and a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Zeocin resistance fusion gene as a selection marker and indicator of persistent replication. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that both replicon cells and YFV 17D-infected cells showed similar distribution patterns of viral NS4B protein and replication intermediate, double-stranded RNA. Sequencing analysis of persistent replicons from the two replicon cell lines suggested that their nucleotide sequences did not vary greatly following multiple passages. We examined the effect of five agents, the antiviral cytokines interferon-β and -γ, the nucleoside analog ribavirin, the squalene synthase inhibitor zaragozic acid A, and the antibiotic rifapentine, a recently reported entry and replication inhibitor against YFV, on the persistent replication in the two replicon cell lines. These agents were selected because they inhibited both production of YFV 17D and transient replication of a luciferase-expressing replicon in Vero cells, without greatly affecting cell viability. We found that each of the agents decreased GFP fluorescence in the replicon cells, albeit to varying degrees. The agents other than rifapentine also showed a decrease in viral RNA levels in the replicon cells comparable to that seen for GFP fluorescence. These results indicate that persistent replication is susceptible to each of these five agents, although their mechanisms of action may differ. Taken together, these results provide evidence that translation/replication of the replicon in the replicon cells mimics that of the viral genome upon YFV 17D infection, indicating that the replicon cell lines can serve as a useful tool for high-throughput antiviral drug screening.

Epidemiological investigation of lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Bangladeshi cattle during 2019-2020.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute infectious viral disease of cattle with a wide distribution that emerged in Bangladesh in 2019, causing huge economic losses. This study was undertaken to investigate the epidemiological features of LSD emergence in nine districts of Bangladesh between December 2019 and December 2020. A total of 8215 cattle from 603 herds were investigated and LSD was diagnosed based on the characteristic clinical findings. A standard questionnaire was administered to collect herd-level data including location, herd size, number of LSD-infected cattle, number died due to LSD, farm type, season, house type, vector presence, sanitation and fly repellent use. Similarly, data on clinical signs, sex, age, animal class and breed of the LSD-infected cattle were also recorded. The herd-level attack risk (%) and mortality risk (%) were calculated based on the number of infected and dead cattle, respectively, as a proportion of total cattle. The herd-level risk factors for LSD were identified using a multivariable Poisson regression model. The most common clinical signs were skin nodules (100%), fever (97.9%) and depression with anorexia and weight loss (97.9%). Crossbred (84.9%) and female (72.2%) cattle were mostly affected by LSD. The overall LSD attack risk, mortality risk and case fatality were 26.5%, 0.26% and 0.97%, respectively. The LSD attack risk was significantly higher in small herds (risk ratio: [RR] 1.39; 95% CI: 1.27; 1.53) than large herds. In addition, significantly higher LSD attack risk was observed in semi-intensive management systems (RR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.01; 1.64) than intensive management systems. Moreover, it was also significantly higher in hut (RR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.12; 2.92), temporary (RR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.21; 2.17) and tin-shed houses (RR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.11; 1.51) than in semi-building houses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed epidemiological study of LSD emergence in South Asia. Female crossbred cattle in small herds under semi-intensive management should be prioritized for LSD surveillance and vaccination to prevent further outbreaks and control the impact of the disease in Bangladesh.

Oral or intranasal immunization with recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum displaying head domain of Swine Influenza A virus hemagglutinin protects mice from H1N1 virus

BackgroundSwine influenza A virus (swIAV) is a major concern for the swine industry owing to its highly contagious nature and acute viral disease. Currently, most commercial swIAV vaccines are traditional inactivated virus vaccines. The Lactobacillus plantarum-based vaccine platform is a promising approach for mucosal vaccine development. Oral and intranasal immunisations have the potential to induce a mucosal immune response, which confers protective immunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic potential and adhesion ability of three L. plantarum strains. Furthermore, a recombinant L. plantarum strain expressing the head domain of swIAV antigen HA1 was constructed and evaluated for its ability to prevent swIAV infection.ResultsThe three L. plantarum strains isolated from healthy pig faecal samples maintained the highest survival rate when incubated at pH 3 and at bile salt concentration of 0.3%. They also showed high adherence to intestinal cells. All three L. plantarum strains were monitored in live mice, and no major differences in transit time were observed. Recombinant L. plantarum expressed swIAV HA1 protein (pSIP401-HA1-ZN-3) and conferred effective mucosal, cellular and systemic immune responses in the intestine as well as in the upper respiratory airways of mice. In conclusion, the oral and intranasal administration of L. plantarum strain pSIP401-HA1-ZN-3 in mice induced mucosal immunity and most importantly, provided protection against lethal influenza virus challenge.ConclusionIn summary, these findings suggest that the engineered L. plantarum strain pSIP401-HA1-ZN-3 can be considered as an alternative approach for developing a novel vaccine during an swine influenza A pandemic.

PROSPECTS OF LASSA FEVER CANDIDATE VACCINES.

Background:Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus (LASV). It is endemic in West Africa and infects about 300,000 people each year, leading to approximately 5000 deaths annually. The development of the LASV vaccine has been listed as a priority by the World Health Organization since 2018. Considering the accelerated development and availability of vaccines against COVID-19, we set out to assess the prospects of LASV vaccines and the progress made so far.Materials and Methods:We reviewed the progress made on twenty-six vaccine candidates listed by Salami et al. (2019) and searched for new vaccine candidates through Google Scholar, PubMed, and DOAJ from June to July 2021. We searched the articles published in English using keywords that included “vaccine” AND “Lassa fever” OR “Lassa virus” in the title/abstract.Results:Thirty-four candidate vaccines were identified – 26 already listed in the review by Salami et al. and an additional 8, which were developed over the last seven years. 30 vaccines are still in the pre-clinical stage while 4 of them are currently undergoing clinical trials. The most promising candidates in 2019 were vesicular stomatitis virus-vectored vaccine and live-attenuated MV/LASV vaccine; both had progressed to clinical trials.Conclusions:Despite the focus on COVID-19 vaccines since 2020, LASV vaccine is under development and continues to make impressive progress, hence more emphasis should be put into exploring further clinical studies related to the most promising types of vaccines identified.

PROSPECTS OF LASSA FEVER CANDIDATE VACCINES

Background: Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus (LASV). It is endemic in West Africa and infects about 300,000 people each year, leading to approximately 5000 deaths annually. The development of the LASV vaccine has been listed as a priority by the World Health Organization since 2018. Considering the accelerated development and availability of vaccines against COVID-19, we set out to assess the prospects of LASV vaccines and the progress made so far. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the progress made on twenty-six vaccine candidates listed by Salami et al. (2019) and searched for new vaccine candidates through Google Scholar, PubMed, and DOAJ from June to July 2021. We searched the articles published in English using keywords that included “vaccine” AND “Lassa fever” OR “Lassa virus” in the title/abstract. Results: Thirty-four candidate vaccines were identified – 26 already listed in the review by Salami et al. and an additional 8, which were developed over the last seven years. 30 vaccines are still in the pre-clinical stage while 4 of them are currently undergoing clinical trials. The most promising candidates in 2019 were vesicular stomatitis virus-vectored vaccine and live-attenuated MV/LASV vaccine; both had progressed to clinical trials. Conclusions: Despite the focus on COVID-19 vaccines since 2020, LASV vaccine is under development and continues to make impressive progress, hence more emphasis should be put into exploring further clinical studies related to the most promising types of vaccines identified.

A Game-Theoretic Model of Voluntary Yellow Fever Vaccination to Prevent Urban Outbreaks

Yellow fever is a vector-borne acute viral hemorrhagic disease. It is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America but demonstrated the potential for international spread during the 2016 outbreak in Luanda, Angola. Yellow fever can be prevented by vaccination, vector control, and avoiding mosquito bites. To account for human behavior in disease dynamics, we add a game-theoretic component to a recent compartmental model of yellow fever transmission. The self-interested individuals evaluate the risks of contracting yellow fever and choose to vaccinate or avoid the bites to minimize the overall costs. We find the Nash equilibria, the optimal levels of vaccination and bite protections if the individuals can decide on the use of only one of the prevention methods as well as when they can decide on the use of both of them. In the later case, we show that vaccination is the preferred method of protection from the individual standpoint and, in the Nash equilibrium, individuals use vaccination only. Our model predicts the vaccination coverage in Angola to be around 65%, which is in reasonable agreement with the empirical value of 68%. We also study whether voluntary prevention can lead to the elimination of the disease in endemic areas. We show that voluntary vaccination alone is not enough to mitigate the risks of outbreaks, suggesting that a mandatory vaccination policy is necessary.

A Study of Adverse Effects Following Administration of Anti-Rabies Vaccination - A Hospital Based Study

Rabies is an acute viral zoonotic disease that affects all warm-blooded animals including mammals and occurs in more than 150 countries and territories. Although rabies is a 100% fatal disease, it can be prevented by the use of potent anti-rabies vaccines (ARV). The present study was a hospital based descriptive longitudinal study conducted during February 2019 to July 2020 amongst the animal bite patients attending the Anti -Rabies clinic (ARC) of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC &amp; SJH), New Delhi, to study the adverse events (vaccine reactions) if any following administration of the ARV. The age of the study participants ranged from 2 to 65 years and the mean age was (29.3±15.2) years. No severe or serious adverse events were reported. Of the minor reactions, the most commonly reported symptom was pain at the injection site (34; 9.4%) followed by occurrence of tingling sensation (29; 8.1%), headache (22; 6.1%) and itching at the injection site (19; 5.3%). These findings corroborate with those found in previous studies in the literature. It was concluded that although there are possible local or mild or systemic adverse reactions to rabies vaccination, but once initiated, rabies prophylaxis should not be interrupted or discontinued.

Alteration of Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations in Iranian Children with COVID-19.

COVID-19 is an acute viral disease that has so far infected more than 200 million and killed more than four million worldwide. It affects the immune system and other organs. Here, we investigated the level of free plasma amino acids in COVID-19 patients and compared them with non-COVID-19 subjects. We also compared amino acids levels in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with non-ICU patients and expired and recovered patients. Twenty-six COVID-19 patients and 32 non-COVID-19 subjects were included in the study. The mean of glutamic acid, serine, glycine, threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, lysine, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, and ornithine was significantly higher in cases than controls. In addition, the mean of glutamine was significantly lower in patients than controls (443.89 ± 254.31 vs. 651.73 ± 107.38, PV < 0.001). Low level of glutamine and isoleucine was seen in the majority of ICU and expired patients, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed low level of isoleucine as a predictor variable in mortality (P = 0.02, EXP (B) = 16.5, and CI 95% = (1.48, −183.07)). There was a positive and significant relationship between some amino acids levels, serum liver enzymes, and sodium concentrations. There was also a significant but negative correlation between histidine levels, ESR, and ferritin. Phenylalanine had a highly positive relationship with serum procalcitonin in patients (R2 = 0.534, PV = 0.015). Our studies have shown the alteration of plasma amino acids concentration in COVID-19 patients. These changes are more evident in critically ill and at-risk patients.

Role of Th17 Cytokines in the Liver's Immune Response during Fatal Yellow Fever: Triggering Cell Damage Mechanisms.

Yellow fever (YF) is an infectious and acute viral haemorrhagic disease that triggers a cascade of host immune responses. We investigated the Th17 cytokine profile in the liver tissue of patients with fatal YF. Liver tissue samples were collected from 26 deceased patients, including 21 YF-positive and 5 flavivirus-negative patients, with preserved hepatic parenchyma architecture, who died of other causes. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed on the liver samples to evaluate the Th17 profiles (ROR-γ, STAT3, IL-6, TGF-β, IL-17A, and IL-23). Substantial differences were found in the expression levels of these markers between the patients with fatal YF and controls. A predominant expression of Th17 cytokine markers was observed in the midzonal region of the YF cases, the most affected area in the liver acinus, compared with the controls. Histopathological changes in the hepatic parenchyma revealed cellular damage characterised mainly by the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates, Councilman bodies (apoptotic cells), micro/macrovesicular steatosis, and lytic and coagulative necrosis. Hence, Th17 cytokines play a pivotal role in the immunopathogenesis of YF and contribute markedly to triggering cell damage in patients with fatal disease outcomes.

Dengue Fever Cured by Homeopathy– Two Case Series

Dengue is a mosquito-borne acute viral disease caused by Flavivirus (RNA virus) and transmitted through the vector Aedes aegypti. Clinical features range from mild fever to complications such as hemorrhagic manifestations and shock. This article gives details about the management of two dengue cases with decreasing platelet cured with homeopathy medicines. The patients were given homeopathic medicine based on individualized acute totality. After homeopathic treatment, there was a significant improvement which is documented.

Review of Diagnostic and Vaccination Approaches of Infectious Bursal Disease of Poultry

Infectious bursal disease, also known as Gumboro disease, is a highly contagious and acute viral disease of poultry characterised by the destruction of lymphoid cells. Diagnosis of infectious bursal disease involves consideration of the flocks’ history, clinical signs, and lesions. The objectives of this paper are to highlight various commonly used diagnostic methods for infectious bursal disease and to review advances made in diagnostic methods and vaccination strategies for infectious bursal disease, with special emphasis on the strengths and weaknesses of each of those techniques. Isolation of infectious bursal disease virus followed by its serological assay and histopathological examination of the bursa is regarded as the gold standard method of infectious bursal disease diagnosis. Serological tests such as agar gel, immune diffusion, enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay, and viral neutralisation tests are commonly used laboratory assays in diagnosing infectious bursal disease viruses. Recently, the most accurate and relatively fast diagnostic method, the molecular technique, is widely used. The molecular diagnostic technique is the simplest and most sensitive of the diagnostic techniques reviewed. The virus causes immunosuppression, so the infected chicken recovers from the acute disease but becomes more susceptible to infections by other pathogens. Therefore, prevention is important and vaccination has become the principal control measure of infectious bursal disease virus infection in chickens. Conventional attenuated live and killed vaccines are the most commonly used vaccines. With the advancement of knowledge and technology, new generation or genetically-engineered vaccines like deoxyribonucleic acid and subunit vaccines have been used. Various vaccination strategies, such as in ovo, at hatch, and post hatch vaccination, are used. Hatchery vaccination is becoming a common practice. Based on this review paper, more affordable and effective infectious bursal disease vaccines that are affordable and readily available must be identified with further cost-benefit analysis.