Important Route Of Transmission Research Articles

Occurrence and potential diffusion of pine wilt disease mediated by insect vectors in China under climate change.

Pine wilt disease (PWD), a major international quarantined forest pest, causes serious ecological and economic damage to Pinus species in Asia and Europe. In China, PWD has spread northeasterly and northwesterly beyond its original northern limits. Consequently, an evaluation of the insect vector-mediated occurrence and potential diffusion of PWD is needed to identify important transmission routes and control the spread of disease. An optimized MaxEnt model was used to assess the current and future geographical distribution of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and its insect vectors in China. The predicted suitable area for B. xylophilus colonization is currently 212.32 × 104 km2 and mainly concentrated in Central, East, Southwest and South China, although is anticipated to include the northwestern regions of China in the future. As for the insect vectors, Monochamus alternatus and M. saltuarius are expected to spread toward the northwest and southwest, respectively. The maximum predicted dispersion area of PWD mediated by M. alternatus, M. saltuarius and both species was 91.85 × 104, 218.76 × 104 and 29.99 × 104 km2, respectively, with potential diffusion areas being anticipated to increase in the future. Both the suitable probabilities and areas of B. xylophilus and its insect vectors were found to vary substantially along the latitudinal gradient, with the latitudinal range of these species being predicted to expand in the future. This is the first study to investigate the potential diffusion areas of PWD mediated by insect vectors in China, and our finding will provide a vital theoretical reference and empirical basis for developing more effective management strategies for the control of PWD in China. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Drosophila melanogaster as a model arthropod carrier for the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes the disease amphibian chytridiomycosis, which has contributed to population declines in many species of amphibians throughout the world. Previous observational studies have shown that nematodes, waterfowl, lizards, other dipterans, and crayfish have properties which may allow them to harbor and spread Bd; therefore, we sought to determine the carrier capabilities of invertebrates to a further extent in a laboratory setting. We use the insect Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to quantify the potential relationship between insects and Bd. Our findings show that D. melanogaster can test positive for Bd for up to five days post-exposure and can transmit Bd to conspecifics without suffering mortality. Insects of various types interact with the amphibian habitat and amphibians themselves, making this a potentially important route of transmission between amphibians and of dispersal across the environment.

Assessment of Microbial Contamination and Metabolite Exposure in Cosmetic Products Used in Women's Beauty Salons.

An important route of microbial transmission is the shared use of these products in beauty salons. We aimed to investigate level of contamination with microorganisms and their metabolites in shared-use cosmetics in several women's beauty salons. Bacterial and fungal strains from 320 opened/used cosmetic samples were identified according to the Iranian standards for microbial quality of cosmetic products in Golestan Province (North of Iran) during Jul-Sep 2021. In order to assess production of toxins and protease by the predominant bacterial and fungal isolates, multiplex-polymerase chain reaction and the Lowry protein assay were performed, respectively. Microbial contamination was detected in 180 samples (56.5%), and the highest and lowest rates of microbial contamination were related to skin products (63.88%) and eye beauty products (20%), respectively. The highest level of S. aureus contamination (> 4,000 colony-forming units/g) was found in toner and face wash samples, and the highest level of C. albicans contamination was seen in lipstick samples (>20,000 colony-forming units/g). Only one (2%) S. aureus isolate produced staphylococcal enterotoxin B, while 3 out of 12 (25%) C. albicans isolates were able to produce protease. The shared-used health and beauty products, face products, in the study area are heavily contaminated. Therefore, it is essential to store used cosmetics in dry and cool places, establish strict inspection regulations for cosmetic products before and after entering the market, and increase awareness of beauty salon workers regarding the appropriate use, sanitary control, and maintenance of health and beauty products.

Evaluation of combined disinfection methods of infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) in seawater using Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

The global spread of infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) poses a serious threat to the shrimp aquaculture industry and urgent actions are needed to control its transmission and prevalence. Aquaculture water serves as an important route of IMN transmission, and disinfection of aquaculture water is crucial to ensure the health and stable production of shrimp. In this study, we introduced the purified IMNV into seawater and then subjected the seawater to different disinfection treatments (PMS, PMS + PVP-I and ClO2 + PVP-I) before culturing shrimp. By performing RT-qPCR tests on both the seawater and Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) samples, we evaluated the effectiveness of the different disinfection methods in eradicating IMNV from the seawater. The results showed that peroxymonosulfate (PMS) could effectively reduce the viral load of IMNV in seawater samples. The combined disinfection approach (10 ppm) of PMS disinfection (combined with povidone‑iodine) followed by a standing time of at least 2 days, or 10 ppm chlorine dioxide disinfection (combined with povidone‑iodine) followed by a standing time of at least 4 days, were found to be successful in the efficient disinfection of IMNV. This research provides a method to effectively remove IMNV from marine aquaculture water, thereby contributing to reducing the risk of IMN disease transmission and providing a sound basis for the sustainable and healthy development of the shrimp aquaculture industry.

Hospital Acquired Infection Revisited: Route of Transmission

Aims: to revisited hospital route of infection transmission in patients under medical care with its related problems and re-focus on some important MDR nosocomial infection agents route of transmission to vulnerable patients. Discussion: Accidental infections acquired in hospitals or hospital acquired infection (HAI) is a global major health condition, and become a major obstacle in the present day era of hospitalization. Increased risk of morbidity with mortality, lengthened hospitalization, massive prescription of antibiotics, and socio-economically become a definite financial burden. Disinfection and sterilization in hospitals is of increasing concern. Besides that, the abuse of antibiotics has led to the prompt wide spread of multidrug-resistant drugs (MDR) microorganisms which is characterized by the ability to quickly adapt to an environment that previously does not support its growth commonly and able to initiate serious life-threatening HAI. The need to understand route of transmission and its associated obstacles will help combating MDR microorganisms. Conclusion: The Global emergence of MDR microorganisms with its difficult route of infections has created a major obstacle to combat the bacterial pathogens, and need serious attention from all stakeholders, throughout the world.

Genotype F of Echovirus 25 with multiple recombination pattern have been persistently and extensively circulating in Chinese mainland

Echovirus 25 (E25), a member of the Enterovirus B (EV-B) species, can cause aseptic meningitis (AM), viral meningitis (VM), and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). However, systematic studies on the molecular epidemiology of E25, especially those concerning its evolution and recombination, are lacking. In this study, 18 strains of E25, isolated from seven provinces of China between 2009 and 2018, were collected based on the Chinese hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) surveillance network, and 95 sequences downloaded from GenBank were also screened. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of 113 full-length VP1 sequences worldwide, globally occurring E25 strains were classified into 9 genotypes (A–I), and genotype F was the dominant genotype in the Chinese mainland. The average nucleotide substitution rate of E25 was 6.08 × 10–3 substitutions/site/year, and six important transmission routes were identified worldwide. Seventeen recombination patterns were determined, of which genotype F can be divided into 9 recombination patterns. A positive selector site was found in the capsid protein region of genotype F. Recombination analysis and pressure selection analysis for genotype F showed multiple recombination patterns and evolution characteristics, which may be responsible for it being the dominant genotype in the Chinese mainland. This study provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent prevention and control of E25.

A two-year monitoring of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia spp. cysts in freshwater and seawater: A complementary strategy for measuring sanitary patterns of recreational tropical coastal areas from Brazil

Primary contact recreation is an important transmission route of gastroenteric protozoa such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. However, data on the environmental epidemiology of both protozoa in Brazilian coastal areas still need to be available. The main goal of this study was to perform environmental monitoring and quantify the concentration of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts on the main beaches of the state of Paraná, Brazil, as a complementary tool for measuring the sanitary quality of bathing waters for two years. A total of 144 water samples were harvested monthly for two years from Guaratuba, Caiobá and Matinhos beaches (72 samples of seawater and 72 of freshwater) to search for pathogenic protozoa. Protozoa were concentrated by the membrane filtration technique and visualized by direct immunofluorescence assay (IFA). All positive samples by IFA were submitted for DNA extraction for PCR analysis. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) were enumerated by conventional microbiological techniques. Both protozoa were detected on all beaches during the two-year monitoring period. At least one protozoa were detected in 58.3% (n = 14) months of sampling, totaling 24 positive samples. Guaratuba was the most contaminated beach followed by Caiobá and Matinhos. Giardia spp. was detected in 15, Cryptosporidium spp. in seven and both parasites in two samples. Giardia DNA was confirmed on two beaches, and Cryptosporidium was detected for the first time through molecular assays in a coastal area of Brazil. An essential impact of FIB was observed in the first year and a reduction in contamination rates in the second year of monitoring. This is the first study conducted in the country in different environments that composes coastal areas to monitor together parasitological and microbiological quality for extended periods. The monitoring of coastal waters can guide environmental agencies aiming to improve the sanitary quality of beaches and safeguard public health.

Epidemiololgical and etiological analysis of two clusters of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease, caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which is primarily transmitted via tick bites. Clusters of SFTS caused by human-to-human transmission have been reported both at home and abroad, mainly focused on the transmission or exposure modes. However, the correlation between SFTS clusters and viral genotypes has not been investigated. This study mainly reported two clusters of SFTS in Xinyang City, Henan Province, from 2022 to 2023, discussed the possible route of person-to-person transmission of SFTSV infection and analyzed the association between SFTS clusters and virus genotypes. We found that two groups of SFTSV in two clusters were clustered separately into different genotypes through viral sequence analysis of 4 confirmed patients. We also performed phylogenetic analysis, after including SFTSV sequences obtained from SFTS clusters deposited in the GenBank. Three SFTSV genotypes have been reported among cases of human-to-human transmission, suggesting that the occurrence of SFTS clusters may not be related to SFTSV genotypes. This study provided genetic evidence for revealing the chain of human-to-human transmission of SFTS clusters, indicating that contact with patients' blood is an important transmission route of SFTSV. The findings laid the foundation for preventing and controlling human-to-human transmission of SFTS.

Experimental pathogenesis of aquatic bird bornavirus 1 in Pekin ducks

Aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1) is a neurotropic virus that causes persistent infection in the nervous system of wild waterfowl. This study evaluated whether Pekin ducks, the most common waterfowl raised worldwide, are susceptible to ABBV-1 infection and associated disease. Groups of Pekin ducks were inoculated with ABBV-1 through the intracranial (IC; n, 32), intramuscular (IM; n, 30), and choanal (CH; n, 30) routes. Controls (CO; n, 29) received carrier only. At 1, 12, and 21 weeks postinfection (wpi), 7–14 birds were euthanized to assess virus distribution and lesions. Infection rates in the IC and IM groups were over 70%, while only 4 ducks in the CH group became infected. Neurological signs were observed in 8 ducks only, while over 25% of IC and IM birds had encephalitis and/or myelitis. Seroconversion was highest in the IC and IM groups, and mucosal ABBV-1 RNA shedding was most frequent in the IC group (53%). None of the fertile eggs laid during the experiment tested positive for ABBV-1 RNA. This study shows that Pekin ducks are permissive to ABBV-1 infection and partly susceptible to associated disease. While mucosal shedding may be an important route of transmission, congenital infection appears unlikely.

Particle-size stratification of airborne antibiotic resistant genes, mobile genetic elements, and bacterial pathogens within layer and broiler farms in Beijing, China.

The particle-size distribution of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) elements is crucial in evaluating their environmental behavior and health risks, and exposure to the fecal microbiome via particle mass (PM) is an important route of transmission of AMR from livestock to humans. However, few studies have explored the association between air and fecal AMR in farm environments from the perspective of particle-size stratification. We collected feces and PMs of different sizes from layer and broiler farms, quantified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and human pathogenic bacteria (HPB) using Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and analyzed the bacterial communities based on 16S rRNA sequencing. The particle-size distributions of 16S rRNA and AMR elements were similar and generally increased with larger particle sizes in chicken farms. In broiler farms, we observed a bimodal distribution with two peaks at 5.8-9.0 μm and 3.3-4.7 μm. The dominant airborne bacterial phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The dominant phyla in the feces were the same as those in the air, but the order of relative abundance varied. The particle-size distributions of specific bacterial genera differed between the animal-farm types. Overall, the degree of association between feces and different particulates increased with increasing particle size. The microbial communities in the coarse particles were similar to those in fecal samples. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Campylobacter spp., and sul 2 (sulfonamide ARGs) tended to attach to small particles. We highlight the particle size-specific relationship between fecal and air microbes involving ARGs, MGEs, and HPB and provide valuable information for comprehensively assessing the transmission of fecal microorganisms through the airpath and its environmental and occupational health risks.

Current practice and recommendations for management of hepatitis B virus in people living with HIV in Asia.

The prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection is higher in Asia than in Europe and North America and varies significantly between different regions within Asia. Important routes of transmission of both these infections include high-risk unprotected sexual contact, intravenous drug use, and transmission of maternal infection perinatally or in early childhood. While life expectancy among people living with HIV has been extended with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), HBV-induced liver injury and complications have emerged as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV. This article describes the prevalence of co-infection, current clinical practice, and recommendations for the management of people living with HIV-HBV co-infection in Asia. Screening for HBV should occur at the time of HIV diagnosis; however, HBV screening rates in people living with HIV in Asia vary widely by region. Similarly, people with HBV should be screened for HIV before initiation of HBV antiviral therapy. People with HIV-HBV co-infection should be assessed for liver damage and risk factors for liver disease and be monitored regularly for liver complications and HBV DNA. Medical treatment with ART is lifelong and includes tenofovir and lamivudine or emtricitabine, unless intolerant or contraindicated, as these are active against both HIV and HBV. HBV vaccination programmes are effective in reducing co-infection rates. Mother-to-child transmission can be prevented through measures such as vaccination, antenatal screening, and treatment of pregnant women who are infected.

Factors Influencing HIV Infection in Children Born to HIV-Infected Mothers in Turkey

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a challenge for children. About 15 to 45% of the HIV positive pregnant women can transmit the virus to their children during pregnancy, delivery and/or breastfeeding. The risk of transmission can be decreased my several measures. To identify factors associated with HIV infection in children born to HIV-infected mothers. A multi-center retrospective cohort study. A ten-year retrospective cohort study in five dedicated HIV centers was conducted. The 325 women in our cohort were between the ages of 18 and 45. During the study period, 44 (13.5%) of these women gave birth and 51 babies were born. Of the 51 infants, 7 (13.7%) were HIV/AIDS positive. Among the factors studied, breastfeeding, having a HIV-positive sibling and being on antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy and detectable HIV-RNA during delivery were found statistically significant. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being on antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy is the most important predictor of mother-to-child transmission. Mother-to-child transmission appears to be an important route of HIV transmission in Turkey. Lack of antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy appears to be a key factor in transmission.

Identification of specific antigens between Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum and application of potential diagnostic antigen TgGRA54.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that is very common in livestock. Meat products from livestock infected with T. gondii are one of the important transmission routes of toxoplasmosis. Rapid and reliable diagnosis is a prerequisite for the prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. Neospora caninum and T. gondii are similar in morphology and life history, and there are a large number of cross antigens between them, making clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis more difficult. In this study, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) was used to screen for T. gondii-specific antigens, and the specific antigen was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The specific antigen was then used to establish an indirect ELISA diagnostic method. A total of 241 specific antigens of T. gondii and 662 cross antigens between T. gondii and N. caninum were screened by IP-MS. Through bioinformatics analysis and homology comparison, seven proteins were selected for gene cloning and prokaryotic expression, and the most suitable antigen, TgGRA54, was selected to establish an indirect ELISA for T. gondii. Compared with the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), the positive coincidence rate of the ELISA based on rTgGRA54 was 100% (72/72) and the negative coincidence rate was 80.95% (17/21). The indirect ELISA method based on TgGRA54 recombinant protein was established to detect T. gondii antibodies in bovine sera, and the recombinant protein reacted well with T. gondii positive sera from sheep, mouse, and swine, indicating that the recombinant protein is a good diagnostic antigen for T. gondii.

Biofilm on the pipeline wall is an important transmission route of resistome in drinking water distribution system

Due to the intensive use of antibiotics, the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) has become one of the hotspots of antibiotic resistance. However, little is known about the role of biofilm in the aspect of spreading resistance in DWDS. In present study, four lab-scale biological annular reactors (BAR) were constructed to investigate the transmission of ARGs exposed to a certain amount of antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) synergistic disinfectants. It was emphasized that pipe wall biofilm was an important way for ARGs to propagate in the pipeline, and the results were quantified by constructing an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) network map. The network analysis results showed the biofilm contribution to waterborne bacteria was finally estimated to be 51.45% and 34.27% in polyethylen (PE) pipe and ductile iron (DI) pipe, respectively. The proportion of vertical gene transfer (VGT) in biofilm was higher than that in water, and the occurrence of this situation had little relationship with the selection of pipe type. Overall, this study revealed how biofilm promoted the transmission of resistome in bulk water, which can provide insights into assessing biofilm-associated risks and optimizing pipe material selection for biofilm control in DWDS.

Low antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from two large Austrian alpine karstic spring catchments

The increasing occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria poses a threat to global public health. Clinically relevant resistances also spread through the environment. Aquatic ecosystems in particular represent important dispersal pathways. In the past, pristine water resources have not been a study focus, although ingestion of resistant bacteria through water consumption constitutes a potentially important transmission route. This study assessed antibiotic resistances in Escherichia coli populations in two large well-protected and well-managed Austrian karstic spring catchments representing essential groundwater resources for water supply. E. coli were detected seasonally only during the summer period. By screening a representative number of 551 E. coli isolates from 13 sites in two catchments, it could be shown that the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in this study area is low. 3.4 % of the isolates showed resistances to one or two antibiotic classes, 0.5 % were resistant to three antibiotic classes. No resistances to critical and last-line antibiotics were detected. By integrating fecal pollution assessment and microbial source tracking, we could infer that ruminants were the main hosts for antibiotic resistant bacteria in the studied catchment areas. A comparison with other studies on antibiotic resistances in karstic or mountainous springs highlighted the low contamination status of the model catchments studied here, most likely due to the high protection and careful management while other, less pristine catchments showed much higher antibiotic resistances. We demonstrate that studying easily accessible karstic springs allows a holistic view on large catchments concerning the extent and origin of fecal pollution as well as antibiotic resistance. This representative monitoring approach is also in line with the proposed update of the EU Groundwater Directive (GWD).

Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel by synergistic effects of tap water-based neutral electrolyzed water and lactic acid.

Contaminated food contact surface is one of the most important transmission routes for foodborne pathogens. Stainless steel is one such food-contact surface that is widely used in food-processing environments. The present study aimed to evaluate the synergistic antimicrobial efficacy of a combination of tap water-based neutral electrolyzed water (TNEW) and lactic acid (LA) against the foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel. The results revealed that simultaneous treatment with TNEW (ACC of 4.60 mg/L) and 0.1% LA (TNEW-LA) for 5min resulted in 4.99-, 4.34-, and >5.4- log CFU/cm2 reductions in E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes on stainless steel, respectively. Of these, 4.00-, 3.57-, and >4.76-log CFU/cm2 reductions in E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes, respectively were exclusively attributed to the synergistic action of the combined treatments after factoring out the reductions due to individual treatments. Furthermore, five mechanistic investigations revealed that the key mechanisms underlying the synergistic antibacterial effect of TNEW-LA were reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell membrane damage resulting from membrane lipid oxidation, DNA damage, and inactivation of intracellular enzymes. Overall, our findings suggest that the TNEW-LA combination treatment could be effectively used in the sanitization of food processing environments, especially the food contact surfaces, to control major pathogens and enhance food safety.

Colonization and transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in schools: a citizen science project.

Aggregation of children in schools has been established to be a key driver of transmission of infectious diseases. Mathematical models of transmission used to predict the impact of control measures, such as vaccination and testing, commonly depend on self-reported contact data. However, the link between self-reported social contacts and pathogen transmission has not been well described. To address this, we used Staphylococcus aureus as a model organism to track transmission within two secondary schools in England and test for associations between self-reported social contacts, test positivity and the bacterial strain collected from the same students. Students filled out a social contact survey and their S. aureus colonization status was ascertained through self-administered swabs from which isolates were sequenced. Isolates from the local community were also sequenced to assess the representativeness of school isolates. A low frequency of genome-linked transmission precluded a formal analysis of links between genomic and social networks, suggesting that S. aureus transmission within schools is too rare to make it a viable tool for this purpose. Whilst we found no evidence that schools are an important route of transmission, increased colonization rates found within schools imply that school-age children may be an important source of community transmission.

Measurement in the study of human exposure to animal feces: A systematic review and audit.

Human exposure to animal feces is increasingly recognized as an important transmission route of enteric pathogens. Yet, there are no consistent or standardized approaches to measurement of this exposure, limiting assessment of the human health effects and scope of the issue. To inform and improve approaches to the measurement of human exposure to animal feces, we audited existing measurement in low- and middle-income countries. We systematically searched peer-reviewed and gray literature databases for studies with quantitative measures of human exposure to animal feces and we classified measures in two ways. First, using a novel conceptual model, we categorized measures into three 'Exposure Components' identified a priori (i.e., Animal, Environmental, Human Behavioral); one additional Component (Evidence of Exposure) inductively emerged. Second, using the exposure science conceptual framework, we determined where measures fell along the source-to-outcome continuum. We identified 1,428 measures across 184 included studies. Although studies overwhelmingly included more than one single-item measure, the majority only captured one Exposure Component. For example, many studies used several single-item measures to capture the same attribute for different animals, all of which were classified as the same Component. Most measures captured information about the source (e.g. animal presence) and contaminant (e.g. animal-sourced pathogens), which are most distal from exposure on the source-to-outcome continuum. We found that measurement of human exposure to animal feces is diverse and largely distal from exposure. To facilitate better assessment of the human health effects of exposure and scope of the issue, rigorous and consistent measures are needed. We recommend a list of key factors from the Animal, Environmental, and Human Behavioral Exposure Components to measure. We also propose using the exposure science conceptual framework to identify proximal measurement approaches.

Airborne virus shedding of the alpha, delta, omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza virus in hospitalized patients.

Airborne transmission is an important transmission route for the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological data indicate that certain SARS-CoV-2 variants, like the omicron variant, are associated with higher transmissibility. We compared virus detection in air samples between hospitalized patients infected with different SARS-CoV-2 variants or influenza virus. The study was performed during three separate time periods in which subsequently the alpha, delta, and omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants were predominant. In total, 79 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 22 patients with influenza A virus infection were included. Collected air samples were positive in 55% of patients infected with the omicron variant in comparison to 15% of those infected with the delta variant (p < 0.01). In multivariable analysis, the SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.1/BA.2 variant (as compared to the delta variant) and the viral load in nasopharynx were both independently associated with air sample positivity, but the alpha variant and COVID-19 vaccination were not. The proportion of positive air samples patients infected with the influenza A virus was 18%. In conclusion, the higher air sample positivity rate of the omicron variant compared to previous SARS-CoV-2 variants may partially explain the higher transmission rates seen in epidemiological trends.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ACUTE CASES OF CHAGAS DISEASE REPORTED FROM 2010 TO 2020 IN THE STATE OF AMAZONAS

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of acute cases of Chagas disease notified in the State of Amazonas between the period from 2010 to 2020. Data were obtained from the portal of the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação- SINAN, considering the number of cases per municipality of notification. 140 cases of Acute Chagas Disease were notified, distributed in 23 of the 62 municipalities of the State of Amazonas, 82 (59%) were male individuals, with a greater predominance in the age group of 20-39 years old, having 45 (32.1%) cases. As for the race/color variable, the highest number was among brown people with 101 (72.1%) notifications. The oral route prevailed as the main form of disease transmission with 93 (66.4%) records. Infection by the oral route of T. cruzi is the most important route of transmission of CD in the State of Amazonas, the occurrence of transmission is associated in most cases with the consumption of foods such as açaí juice and has been reported frequently over the years between municipalities.