Endemic Viral Infections Research Articles

Failure of Polio Eradication in Pakistan.

Pakistan is one of the three countries where poliomyelitis is still considered as an endemic viral infection', Inevery round of National Immunization day (NIDs) over30 million children are immunized for polio by ExpandedProgram on Immunization with the support of multiplemultinational donors and private sector. ii In every campaign over 6000 permanent centers and more than onemillion outreach and mobile vaccination sessions provides immunization services with the support of morethan 10,000 vaccinators and approximately 6000 ladyhealth visitors (LHVs)iii. Despite the utilization of hugeamount of resources Pakistan fail to eradicate the polioresulted international communities imposed a travel banon Pakistan in 2013.iv Literature review suggested multiple reason for failure in eradication of polio, some arediscussed below.

Application of network analysis parameters in risk-based surveillance – Examples based on cattle trade data and bovine infections in Sweden

Financial resources may limit the number of samples that can be collected and analysed in disease surveillance programmes. When the aim of surveillance is disease detection and identification of case herds, a risk-based approach can increase the sensitivity of the surveillance system. In this paper, the association between two network analysis measures, i.e. ‘in-degree’ and ‘ingoing infection chain’, and signs of infection is investigated. It is shown that based on regression analysis of combined data from a recent cross-sectional study for endemic viral infections and network analysis of animal movements, a positive serological result for bovine coronavirus (BCV) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is significantly associated with the purchase of animals. For BCV, this association was significant also when accounting for herd size and regional cattle density, but not for BRSV. Examples are given for different approaches to include cattle movement data in risk-based surveillance by selecting herds based on network analysis measures. Results show that compared to completely random sampling these approaches increase the number of detected positives, both for BCV and BRSV in our study population. It is concluded that network measures for the relevant time period based on updated databases of animal movements can provide a simple and straight forward tool for risk-based sampling.

皮疹を伴わない播種性淋菌感染症の 1 例

Few case reports have been published on disseminated gonococcal infection in Japan. We report such a non-HIV case without typical skin rash. A 49-year-old Japanese man living in Thailand on business was seen for fever and multiple arthralgia after returning to Japan. Given the travel history, differential diagnoses included endemic viral infection such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), dengue fever, and chikungunya. Diagnosis was based on right-knee arthrocentesis, and synovial fluid culture followed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The isolated strain was sensitive to penicillin. The man was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and oral levofloxacin. Disseminated gonococcal infection should thus be considered when examining those with classical polyarthralgia symptoms even without a typical skin rash.

Stable coexistence in marine algal host-virus systems

All microalgal host-virus systems isolated to date are lytic: the viruses lyse the infected hosts within hours after infection. Moreover, current models of phytoplankton host-virus interactions predict rapid extinction of both host and virus. Nevertheless, marine phytoplankton and their respec- tive viruses do coexist in marine ecosystems. To investigate this apparent paradox we performed a series of experiments which show that phytoplankton populations always recover after virus-induced lysis and that endemic viral infections may promote survival of the host population. We hypothesize that phenotypic plasticity of algal susceptibility to viral infection makes such coexistence of host and virus possible.

Continuous infusion cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy for cancer of unknown primary site (CUPS) in Taiwan, a region with a high prevalence of endemic viral infections.

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin/etoposide continuous infusion chemotherapy for cancer of unknown primary site in Taiwan, a region with a high prevalence of endemic viral infections. Between April 1994 and February 1996, 20 patients with a diagnosis of CUPS were treated, including 15 males and five females, of average age 63.3 years (range 41-83 years). Continuous intravenous infusion of etoposide 80 mg/m2 and cisplatin 25 mg/m2 was given for 3 days every 3 weeks. Pretreatment tumor marker and viral serology studies were performed for baseline evaluation. Nearly two-thirds of the patients had poorly differentiated carcinoma. The average number of metastatic sites was 2.65 (range 1-4), with liver and lymph node involvement predominating. The overall response rate was 25% (95% CI 17.7-32.3%); 30.7% for poorly differentiated cancers and 25% for well differentiated cancers. Median survival was 4 months (range 1-12 months), 4.8 months for patients attaining partial response. Toxicity was moderate, grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in 55% and grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia in 40%; other toxicities were mild. CA125 and CA199 were elevated in more than 50% of patients. Viral serology studies were not significantly different from those of the indigenous population. Etoposide and cisplatin combination chemotherapy has modest activity in patients with extensive CUPS and, at the schedule and dosage given, it is associated with moderate toxicity.

Incidence of virus infection in old vineyards of local grapevine varieties from Majorca: implications for clonal selection strategies

Three autochthonous grapevine varieties of Majorca (Spain) were analyzed for the presence of viruses listed by the international certification programs. Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) screenings were performed in 193 vines from 46 vineyards included in a clonal selection. Virus-free vines were only 6.4%, 9.6% and 11.5%, in Manto Negro, Callet and Moll, respectively. Infections by grapevine leafroll associated viruses (GLRaVs) were ascertained in 71%, 78% and 60% of Manto Negro, Callet and Moll vines, respectively. Each variety was also highly infected by Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) and Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV). The percentage of plants displaying multiple infections was 58.4% in Manto Negro, 63.8% in Callet and 42.6% in Moll. Thus, it was very difficult to find virus-free clones with suitable agronomic characteristics to be considered as a reference for the grape market. In order to obtain certified propagation material under such conditions of endemic viral infection, sanitation should be the main focus in clonal selection processes. However, the time and financial requirements for proper sanitation process bring to consideration the need to use, at least temporarily, standard multiplication material while certified clones are achieved.