Infected Group Research Articles

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 during the first trimester did not adversely impact perinatal and obstetric outcomes subsequent to in vitro fertilization with frozen embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

To investigate the impact of first-trimester COVID-19 infection on the perinatal and obstetric outcomes following in vitro fertilization-frozen embryo transfer. This retrospective study was conducted at a university-affiliated IVF center. The infection group included women who contracted SARS-CoV-2 during the first trimester following frozen embryo transfer in China's initial pandemic wave that occurred from 7 December 2022 to 7 January 2023. The control group consisted of pregnant women from the pre-pandemic period, considering the widespread incidence of the disease among the Chinese population during such a large outbreak. The primary outcome was perinatal and obstetric parameters. A total of 346 pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 during the first trimester were included in the analysis, while the control group comprised 705 uninfected women (pre-COVID-19 controls). Perinatal outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birthweight, birthweight Z scores, macrosomia, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, and congenital malformations, showed no significant differences between the infected and control groups in both the unadjusted and confounder-adjusted logistic regression models. Additionally, there were no significant differences between the groups concerning obstetric complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, placenta previa, preterm premature rupture of the membrane, and mode of delivery. The current study demonstrated that contracting COVID-19 during the first trimester did not adversely impact future obstetric and perinatal outcomes following in vitro fertilization-frozen embryo transfer. This data holds practical significance and offers essential insights for reproductive specialists and obstetricians advising expectant mothers.

Can nCD64 and mCD169 biomarkers improve the diagnosis of viral and bacterial respiratory syndromes in the emergency department? A prospective cohort pilot study.

Differentiating infectious from non-infectious respiratory syndromes is critical in emergency settings. This study aimed to assess whether nCD64 and mCD169 exhibit specific distributions in patients with respiratory infections (viral, bacterial, or co-infections) and to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy compared to non-infectious conditions. A prospective cohort study enrolled 443 consecutive emergency department patients with respiratory syndromes, categorized into four groups: no infection group (NOIG), bacterial infection group (BIG), viral infection group (VIG), and co-infection group (COING). Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate nCD64 and mCD169's association with diagnostic groups and estimate their predictive accuracy. 290 patients were included in VIG, 53 in BIG, 46 in COING, and 54 in NOIG. nCD64 was associated with bacterial infections and co-infections (p = 2.73 × 10- 16 and p = 8.83 × 10- 11, respectively), but not viral infections. mCD169 was associated with viral infections and co-infections (p = < 2 × 10- 16 and p = 2.45 × 10- 13, respectively), but not bacterial infections. The sensitivity and specificity of nCD64 for detecting bacterial infections were 0.75 and 0.84 (AUC = 0.83), respectively, while for mCD169 they were 0.87 and 0.91 (AUC = 0.92), respectively, for diagnosing viral infections. A diagnostic algorithm incorporating fever, nasopharyngeal swabs for the main respiratory virus, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and mCD169 reached an accuracy of 0.79 (95% CI 0.72-0.85) in distinguishing among the different groups. nCD64 and MCD169 seem valuable for distinguishing between bacterial and viral respiratory infections. Integrating these biomarkers into diagnostic algorithms could enhance diagnostic accuracy aiding patient management in emergency settings.

Haematobiochemical alterations and lesion characterization induced by haemonchosis in slaughtered sheep at Gondar ELFORA abattoir, Ethiopia

Haemonchosis is a major gastrointestinal parasitic infection in sheep caused by H. contortus. An abattoir-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2024 to assess the haematobiochemical alterations and lesion characterization induced by haemonchosis in slaughtered sheep at Gondar ELFORA abattoir. The study involved 60 male local breed sheep, divided into 30 infected and 30 non-infected controls. The selection process involved postmortem examination of the abomasum tissues, incision, palpation, and visual inspection. Blood samples were taken for haematology and serum biochemical profiles, and a three cm tissue sample with typical H. contortus lesions was also taken. The study found significant reductions in hemoglobin, hematocrit, corpuscular volume, hemoglobin, and red blood cell counts in the infected group compared to the non-infected group. However, white blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils were significantly higher in the infected group. Biochemical parameters showed significant reductions in total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin-to-globulin ratio in the infected group. Erythrocyte indices indicated microcytic normochromic anemia. Gross examination revealed hemorrhages, dark brown abomasal contents, blood streaks, and a nodular lesion. Microscopic analysis revealed tissue-dwelling worms, submucosal hemorrhage, mucosal gland hyperplasia, thickened muscularis, and hyperplastic abomasal glands. The alterations in haematobiochemical parameters support the findings from gross and microscopic lesions. Thus, integrating haematobiochemical analysis with gross and microscopic lesion characterization improves the diagnosis of haemonchosis. Due to hypoproteinemia observed, it is advisable to supplement helminth-infected animals with protein-rich feeds, such as legumes.

Experimental infection of wild boars (Sus scrofa) with Rickettsia rickettsii and evaluation of the transmission potential to Amblyomma sculptum ticks

BackgroundBrazilian spotted fever is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, whose main vector in Brazil is the tick Amblyomma sculptum. Amplifying hosts are essential for the perpetuation of this bacterium in the tick population as they can be sources of infection during bacteremic periods. Recent studies demonstrated the ability of suids (Sus scrofa) to sustain populations of A. sculptum, one of the main tick species found parasitizing wild boars in the midwestern and southeastern regions of Brazil. In this study, wild boars were experimentally infected with R. rickettsii by tick infestation and were evaluated for their ability to transmit the infection to A. sculptum ticks, under laboratory conditions.MethodsFour wild boars were infected with R. rickettsii through infestation with R. rickettsii-infected A. sculptum adults (infected group); a fifth wild boar was infested with uninfected A. sculptum adults (control group). Simultaneously, the animals were infested with uninfected larvae and nymphs of A. sculptum. The wild boars were monitored for 28 days by clinical examination and hematological tests, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) of blood for the detection of Rickettsia and inoculation of blood in guinea pigs. IgG antibody titers were followed until the end of the experiment. Unfed nymphs and adults, molted from engorged larvae and nymphs that fed on wild boars, were used to infest susceptible guinea pigs and rabbits; some of these unfed ticks were tested by qPCR for rickettsial detection.ResultsThe wild boars showed no clinical or hematological alterations, and bacteremia was not detected by qPCR or inoculation of wild boar blood into guinea pigs. Furthermore, wild boars showed a moderate humoral response, with anti-R. rickettsii endpoint titers up to 256 or 512. Rickettsial DNA was not detected in molted ticks after acquisition feeding on wild boars. Moreover, no disease or seroconversion was observed in guinea pigs and rabbits that were infested with ticks originated from wild boar acquisition feeding.ConclusionsWild boars seroconverted to Rickettsia spp. after being infested with R. rickettsii-infected A. sculptum; however, they did not develop bacteremia and did not act as competent amplifying hosts of R. rickettsii for A. sculptum ticks.Graphical

Expression of soluble factor-related apoptosis ligand in peripheral blood and microRNA-147b in monocytes in children with sepsis and their association with prognosis

To investigate the expression of soluble factor-related apoptosis ligand (sFasL) in peripheral blood and microRNA-147b (miR-147b) in monocytes in children with sepsis and their value in assessing prognosis. A prospective study was conducted on 124 children with sepsis (sepsis group), 60 children with common infections (infection group), and 60 healthy children undergoing physical examinations (healthy control group). The independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with sepsis were analyzed, and the value of serum sFasL and monocyte miR-147b in predicting poor prognosis in children with sepsis was assessed. The serum level of sFasL and the relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes were highest in the sepsis group, followed by the infection group and the healthy control group (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the serum level of sFasL and the relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes were closely associated with the poor prognosis of children with sepsis (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the combination of serum sFasL level and relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes had a larger area under the curve compared to each indicator alone in predicting the prognosis of children with sepsis (P<0.05). There are significant increases in the level of sFasL in peripheral blood and the relative expression of miR-147b in monocytes in children with sepsis. The combined use of these two indicators has relatively high clinical value in assessing the prognosis of children with sepsis.

Histopathological Effect of Aqua Fix Supplementation on the Skeletal Muscle and Liver of Labeo rohita (Hamilton,1822) during Immunomodulation and Aeromoniasis

The impact of oral feeding diet (supplement) Aqua Fix was studied on the histopathological changes in skeletal muscles and liver of L.rohita during immunomodulation and aeromoniasis. Three groups (D,E,F) of six months old fish were employed; groups D and E were treated with Aqua Fix for 4 days, on day 5 fish of group E and F were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila @ 10-6CFU/fish(fish of group F were fed with normal diet for 4 days).Controls (group G) were untreated and uninfected. Histological examination of the skeletal muscle and liver tissues were carried out on selected days of experimentation (day 1 and day 4 of experiment). The stained sections were observed under microscope and histological changes were noted. Immunostimulated fish (group D) showed normal arrangement of muscle fibers and muscle bundles compared to other groups (E and F) of fish. Both the muscle fibers and muscle bundles were healthy as in controls (Group G). In infected group (untreated with Aqua Fix, group F), fragmentation of muscle fibers was noticed along with sarcoplasmic debris. Dermal lesions and moderate edema is noticed in necrotic muscle fibers. Liver in immunostimulated fish showed large, polygonal hepatocytes with distinct, round nuclei. Hepatic central vein and sinusoids were clearly visible. By day 1 of infection, liver exhibited necrosis of hepatocytes, pycnosis of hepatocyte nuclei, granulation and vacuolisation (group F). Dilation of hepatic vein and sinusoids were observed. Necrotic foci and haemorrhages were evident in the capillaries of liver and occurred more severely in group F compared to group E (treated with Aqua Fix and infected). The fish (group E) which received immunostimulant and infection showed moderate effect on liver suggesting that Aqua Fix supplementation ameliorate the ill effects of A. hydrophila, showing the positive influence of herbal immunostiomulant i.e, Aqua Fix in fresh water fish.

Proteomic Analysis of Differentially Expressed Proteins in A549 Cells Infected with H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are highly contagious pathogens that cause zoonotic disease with limited availability of antiviral therapies, presenting ongoing challenges to both public health and the livestock industry. Unveiling host proteins that are crucial to the IAV life cycle can help clarify mechanisms of viral replication and identify potential targets for developing alternative host-directed therapies. Using a four-dimensional (4D), label-free methodology coupled with bioinformatics analysis, we analyzed the expression patterns of cellular proteins that changed following H9N2 virus infection. Compared to the control group, the H9N2 infected group displayed 732 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 298 proteins showing upregulation and 434 proteins showing downregulation. Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis showed that DEPs were catalog in 11 biological processes, three cellular components, and eight molecular functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that DEPs were involved in processes including cytokine signaling pathways induced by virus infection and protein digestion and absorption. Proteins including TP53, DDX58, and STAT3 were among the top hub proteins in the protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis, suggesting that these signaling cascades could be essential for the propagation of IAVs. Furthermore, the host protein SNAPIN was chosen to ascertain the accuracy of expression changes identified through a proteomic analysis. The results indicated that SNAPIN was downregulated following infection with IAVs both in vitro and in vivo, which is consistent with the proteomics results, suggesting that SNAPIN may serve as a key regulatory factor in the viral life cycle of IAVs. Our research delineates an extensive interaction map of IAV infection within the A549 cells, facilitating the discovery of pivotal proteins that contribute to the virus’s propagation, potentially offering target candidates to screen for antiviral therapeutics.

Management of Recurrent Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections in Adult Patients

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and microbiological features of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) infections through a 13-year retrospective study. VPS bacterial agents and their antibiotic susceptibility were also investigated through the occurrence of single VPS (SVPS) and recurrent VPS (RVPS) infections. Methods: This study included 110 patients with SVPS infections and 55 patients with RVPS infections. Results: In patients who developed multiple infections, Gram-negative organisms were found to be the most predominant (60%, 54/90). The resistance rates were 85.2% for third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs), 83.3% for piperacillin–tazobactam, and 10.4% for carbapenem. Of the patients in the SVPS infection group, 49% were treated with combinations with carbapenem; of the patients in the RVPS infection group, 84.4% were treated in the same way. Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis as the etiology of hydrocephalus; short duration of antibiotics used for treatment; high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and blood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels; and prolonged use of prophylactic antibiotics were found to be related to an increased rate of recurrent infection occurrence. A two-stage shunt change approach decreased the risk of recurrent infections. Conclusions: Based on the findings of our study, it is essential to closely monitor patients with independent risk factors for RVPS infection development, due to the high rates of resistant Gram-negative bacterial growth and the initiation of empirical antimicrobial treatment with glycopeptide plus carbapenem. Certain treatment options, such as 3GCs plus glycopeptide, should be revised based on clinical progress and microbiological culture results.

The Rational Regional Schedule of Preventive Vaccinations

Relevance. The National vaccination schedule (NVS) of the Russian Federation includes 12 infections against 17–18 indicated in the Vaccination Schedules of most EU countries, and requires improvement in terms of expanding the number of infections and contingents subject to immunization, which is reflected in the «Strategy for the development of vaccine prevention of infectious diseases for the period up to 2035» and the roadmap for its implementation. Since the process of entry of new infections and new vaccines into NVS is quite «difficult» and economically costly (development of domestic vaccines, modernization of domestic enterprises, localization of production of foreign vaccines at Russian enterprises, formation of commitment of medical workers and public confidence in new immunobiological medicines), part of the tasks is to ensure public accessibility to vaccine prevention of infections not indicated in the The NVS can be successfully solved within the framework of regional vaccination schedules (RVS).Aims. To propose and interpret the concept of rational regional vaccination schedules, and also to outline the principles of its formation and assessment of the immediate and long-term prospects for the development of regional foundations of vaccination prevention.Results and discussion. RVS is an expanded version of NVS by including additional vaccine-controlled infections, taking into account the epidemic situation and the presence of high-risk groups of infection in the region. In modern conditions, RVS have been developed and are effectively used in a number of subjects of the Russian Federation, such as Moscow, Perm Krai, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen Regions, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, etc. The implementation of vaccine prophylaxis in the regions using this tool provides conditions for equal access of children and adults to modern highly effective vaccines, increases public awareness of the benefits and risks of vaccination and the level of population immunity, contributes to improving mechanisms for providing citizens with immunobiological drugs and the formation of epidemic well-being in the region based on a risk-based approach.Conclusions. In accordance with this paradigm, the authors introduce and interpret the concept of an «Rational regional vaccination schedules», define the basic principles of its formation and assess the short- and long-term prospects for the development of the regional foundations of vaccination.

Safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin versus empagliflozin as add-on therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus management

Objectives: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are drugs used as the oral hypoglycaemic that have a significant effect in lowering blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), weight and blood pressure in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SGLT-2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, are used in addition to diet and exercise to help persons with T2DM improve their glucose control. The drugs are combined with other antidiabetic medications or used as monotherapy. Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the drug dapagliflozin against empagliflozin in individuals with T2DM as an add-on treatment. The study is carried out in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Coimbatore using a prospective observational research design. T2DM patients with a HbA1c level of &gt;7% are included in the study. Patient information was collected by patient interviews and from the patient file. Participants in the study are categorised into two groups: one group consists of patients taking oral dapagliflozin in doses of 5 mg or 10 mg alongside other oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), while the other group comprises patients taking oral empagliflozin in doses of 10 mg or 20 mg alongside other OHAs. The endpoints were to assess the safety and effectiveness of each SGLT-2 inhibitor by monitoring changes in the diabetic profile, body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Results: The study included 100 patients, with 56 males and 44 females. Most participants were aged 51–60 years. In both treatment groups, A and B, significant reductions in body weight Group A: 3.14 kg and Group B: 2.29 kg and BMI Group A: 0.65 kg/m2 and Group B: 0.84 kg/m2 were observed after 6 months of treatment follow-up. Both groups experienced decreases in HbA1c levels from baseline to 6 months of treatment. The mean differences in HbA1c were 0.36% in Group A and 0.55% in Group B; empagliflozin led to a more significant reduction in HbA1c (0.19%) compared to dapagliflozin. Significant reductions were noted in fasting blood sugar (FBS) and postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) levels in both groups. Both dapagliflozin and empagliflozin were associated with reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) after 6 months of therapy. Dapagliflozin showed a greater reduction in SBP of 10.26 mmHg compared to 4.2 mmHg with empagliflozin. In addition, dapagliflozin increases diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 2.25 mmHg, while empagliflozin reduces DBP by 3.61 mmHg. While both groups experienced reductions in SBP, only the group using empagliflozin showed a significant reduction in DBP. The Framingham risk score showed significant reductions in mean differences observed in both groups after 6 months of treatment, with a mean difference of 1.08% in Group A and 2.17% in Group B. However, the score is not statistically different between the groups. Both drugs exhibited equal effects on the prevention of cardiovascular risk. Both drugs exhibited a similar safety profile, with mild-to-moderate adverse events reported, including urinary tract infections (Group A: 18% and Group B: 12%) and hypoglycaemia (Group A: 24% and Group B: 20%) during the study period. Conclusion: SGLT-2 inhibitors dapagliflozin and empagliflozin have favourable efficacy and safety in the management of T2DM; both drugs show equal effects on HbA1c, FBS, PPBS, body weight and BMI. Empagliflozin led to a more significant reduction in HbA1c compared to dapagliflozin. In both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients, dapagliflozin exhibited greater systolic blood pressure reduction compared to empagliflozin, whereas empagliflozin exhibited greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure compared to dapagliflozin; in contrast, dapagliflozin has shown to increase DBP. Further investigation is required to explore the blood pressure effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in a large population. In addition, these drugs decreased cardiovascular risk. Both medications exhibited fewer instances of hypoglycaemic episodes and urinary tract infections.

Microbial analyses of infectious keloids on the anterior chest-a case-control study.

Some studies have confirmed that pathogens can cause infection through bacterial cultures on the surface of infectious keloids. However, further exploration of the comparison between infectious and non-infectious keloids and the bacterial flora of infectious foci is lacking. To investigate the differential flora of purulent secretions on the surface of infectious keloids compared to non-infectious keloids and to determine the microbial composition within the infectious foci. This case-control study involved 17 patients and obtained swab specimens from the surface of keloids in two groups, and from the infectious foci in the infectious group. Bacterial composition was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. There were no statistical differences in the general condition of patients between the two groups. The presence of the phylum Actinobacteriota, and the orders Propionibacteriales and Corynebacteriales, as well as the genus Taibaiella, was greater on the surface of keloids in the infectious group. The most prevalent genera in infective sites were Staphylococcus, Peptoniphilus, and Cutibacterium. Microbial-associated gene pathways indicated a correlation with inflammation and tumor-like growth in keloids. There is a connection between infectious keloids and microorganisms, providing insights for predicting and treating keloid infections.

A combined proteomic and metabolomic analysis of the early aborted embryonic tissues with maternal COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 still spreads worldwide, and repeated infections are hard to avoid. Maternal infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our study used a multi-omics profiling method to explore the proteome and metabolome alteration in early embryonic development after COVID-19 infection. A total of 30 chorionic tissues after artificial abortion (15 infection and 15 no-infection samples) were collected, and the UHPLC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS were applied in the present study. As a result, 311 significantly differentially expressed proteins were identified. The function annotations revealed that the thermogenesis pathway is the most significantly enriched signaling pathway; PRKAG2, IGF1R, and RPS6KB2 were identified as the hub proteins. There were 359 metabolites significantly altered after infection. The functional annotations revealed that amino acid metabolism was significantly affected, especially beta-alanine metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and histidine metabolism pathways. The metabolites in ovarian steroidogenesis showed a down-regulating trend in the infection group. Finally, we combined the results of proteins and metabolomics analysis. The biosynthesis of the cofactors pathway was identified as significantly enriched in both proteomics and metabolomics datasets. Our findings provide a network of protein regulation and metabolite perturbation during early embryonic development with COVID-19 infection. Our findings can provide valuable insights for further exploration of the complex mechanism of COVID-19-associated pregnancy complications and outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: COVID-19 has developed into the most prominent and deadliest pandemic respiratory disease in the world, and repeated infections are complicated to avoid. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, such as preterm birth and stillbirth. However, previous studies mainly focused on its effect on pregnant women, such as the clinical characteristics and gestation outcomes. There is no relevant report about the effects of virus infection on embryos in early pregnancy. The effects of COVID-19 infection changes of the proteins and metabolites during early embryonic development are undefined. Our findings provide an association between protein regulation, metabolite perturbation, and COVID-19 infection, which can provide valuable insights for further exploration of the complex mechanism COVID-19 COVID-19-associated pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Is COVID-19 infection during pregnancy a risk for congenital hearing loss?

Infections during pregnancy can increase the risk of congenital hearing loss. This population-based study investigated the effect of birthing parent COVID-19 infection during pregnancy on risk of congenital hearing loss in infants. Records of infants born in 2022 were reviewed via a retrospective clinical audit of a universal state-wide newborn hearing screening program in Victoria, Australia. The number and timing of COVID-19 infections during pregnancy were collected via self-report at the time of the hearing screen. Infant records (n=75,330) were divided into birthing parent infection group (n=25,547, 33.9%), and non-infection group (n=49,783, 66.1%). Group differences in screen and diagnostic audiology results were estimated by general linear regression models with a binomial distribution. Birthing parent and infant characteristics were similar across groups. Comparable proportions of infants obtained a refer result on their newborn hearing screen, requiring referral to diagnostic audiology (infection group: 1.4%, 95%CI 1.2-1.5 versus non-infection group: 1.3%, 95%CI 1.2-1.4). The proportion of infants diagnosed with any type and degree of hearing loss was also similar (infection group: 0.6%, 95%CI 0.5-0.7 versus non-infection group: 0.6%, 95%CI 0.6-0.7). This epidemiological study is the largest to date and demonstrates that infants whose birthing parent reported COVID-19 infection during pregnancy were not at increased risk of obtaining a refer result on their newborn hearing screen, nor at increased risk of congenital hearing loss. Specific protocols or guidelines to manage the newborn hearing screening pathway of infants born to a parent with COVID-19 during pregnancy are not supported by this study's findings.

Human neuroinvasive Toscana virus infections in Italy from 2016 to 2023: Increased incidence in 2022 and 2023.

BackgroundToscana virus (TOSV) is transmitted to humans through bites of infected sand flies. Neuroinvasive TOSV infections are leading causes of meningitis/encephalitis in southern Europe and notifiable in Italy since 2016. In 2022-23, Italy experienced extreme climate anomalies and a concomitant increase in mosquito and tick-borne disease transmission.AimTo identify the spatiotemporal distribution and risk groups of neuroinvasive TOSV infections in Italy in 2022-23 vs 2016-21.MethodsWe retrospectively described all autochthonous, laboratory-confirmed neuroinvasive TOSV cases notified to the national surveillance system in 2016-23 using frequencies, proportions, incidences and incidence risk ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs, stratified by year, sex, age, region/autonomous province (AP) of infection/exposure and infection/exposure municipality by urbanisation level.ResultsIn 2022-23, 276 cases were notified (average annual incidence: 2.34/1,000,000 population) vs 331 cases in 2016-21 (0.92/1,000,000), with increased incidence extending into September. In 2022-23, infections were acquired in 12/21 regions/APs, predominantly in Emilia Romagna (57.6%; 159/276) as in 2016-21, including four regions/APs with no local infections in 2016-21. Similar to 2016-21, during 2022-23 residence in rural municipalities (vs urban), male sex, working age (19-67 years) and age > 67 years (vs ≤ 18 years) were identified as risk factors with IRRs of 2.89 (95% CI: 2.01-4.17), 2.17 (95% CI: 1.66-2.84), 5.31 (95% CI: 2.81-10.0) and 5.06 (95% CI: 2.59-9.86), respectively.ConclusionItaly experienced a nearly 2.6-fold increase in neuroinvasive TOSV incidence in 2022-23 vs 2016-21. Raising public awareness on risk factors and personal protection measures may enhance prevention efforts.

Ameliorating Effects of Antibiotic Alternatives on the Performance and Pathological Parameters of Salmonella Typhimurium Infected Broiler Chickens.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thyme oil (TO), chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs), and TO-loaded-CS-NPs on controlling Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection in broiler chickens when compared to ciprofloxacin (Cip) antibiotic treatment. The CS-NPs and TO-loaded-CS-NPs were initially characterized using a transmission electron microscope. Two hundred and forty broiler chicks were divided into six equal groups. Group 1 was given TO (1ml/ 4L of the drinking water). However, group 2 and group 3 were given CS-NPs and TO-loaded-CS-NPs in a 2 ml/chick dose by oral gavage. Group 4 was given a Cip (0.5 g/mL of drinking water). Treatments started on the 20th day of age and continued for 5 successive days. Each chicken in groups 1-5 was orally infected with 1ml of 1 × 109 CFU/ml S. Typhimurium 14 days old. Chickens in group 6 were kept as blank control negative without treatment or infection. All groups were kept for 4 weeks post-infection to record clinical observations, performance parameters, the shedding rate of S. Typhimurium, and the histopathological parameters of different organs. Results showed that the infected untreated group had the lowest performance (BWT: 2164.60 ±31.90), with the highest bacterial count (BC) (8.56±0.14) and lesion scores. The best results were obtained in response to TO-loaded-CS-NPs (BWT: 2422.70 ±51.15 and BC: 6.62±0.32) and Cip (BWT: 2431.50 ±40.01 and BC: 5.32±0.16). Therefore, it is recommended to use TO-loaded-CS-NPs as an alternative antibacterial agent in controlling S. Typhimurium infection without taking the risk of developing resistant bacterial strains as with antibiotics.

A morphological survey of avian Haemosporida in Colombian wild birds

Introduction: Infection by protozoan haemoparasites causing malaria in birds is chronic and can lead to physical, reproductive, and behavioral alterations, resulting in a decline in the populations of affected wild birds. Objective: To identify parasitic agents causing avian malaria in a wild bird population in Jardin (Antioquia, Colombia) through blood smears and to explore bird-level factors associated with positivity. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Blood samples were obtained from wild birds captured with mist nets. Each bird was characterized according to its genus, species, sex, and age group. Three blood smears per bird were prepared and examined for parasitic structures from Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium genera. Descriptive statistics and the association between study variables and the dichotomous outcome of blood smear analysis (positive or negative) using Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 46 wild birds from 20 different species of the orders Passeriformes and quasi-Passeriformes were captured at six different locations in the study municipality (between 1,665 and 2,053 m.a.s.l.) in July 2022. Structures compatible with Haemosporida causing avian malaria were found, with a general infection frequency of 34.8% (16/46). Among the birds, 32.6% (15/46) were positive for Plasmodium spp., 6.5% (3/46) for Haemoproteus spp., and 4.3% (2/46) for Leucocytozoon spp. In addition, 6.5% (3/46) of the birds were coinfected with 2 or 3 of the agents of interest. An association was found between Plasmodium spp. infection and age group when the bird was defined as an adult (p=0.050). Conclusion: This study contributes to the knowledge of haemoparasites in wild birds in Colombia, reporting the presence of avian malaria in the study area. Further research is required on the molecular identification of protozoan haemoparasites, pathogenicity, the health status of these birds, and the attributable impact on their populations.

In vivo Study of Nano Chitosan Beads-Based ELISA versus Traditional Sandwich ELISA for the Early Diagnosis of Trichinosis

Human trichinosis is a serious foodborne parasitic zoonosis. Diagnosing human trichinosis is usually difficult due to the nonspecific clinical picture and the limited effectiveness of serological tests in acute infections. While ELISA can detect circulating Trichinella antigens, aiding in early diagnosis, its sensitivity may be low. The application of nanoparticles can improve the sensitivity of ELISA and allow a specific early diagnosis of the disease. This work compares the nano chitosan beads-based ELISA (NCSB-ELISA) and traditional sandwich ELISA for the detection of circulating Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) crude extract-antigen (CEA) in serum samples of experimentally infected mice.Fifty-seven mice included in this study were classified into 3 groups: T. spiralis infected group (Group I) (36 mice), which was equally subdivided into six subgroups according to the time of sacrifice (6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16) day post-infection (dpi), cross-reactivity group (Group II) (9 mice) and negative control group (Group III) (12 mice). T. spiralis AW-CEA prepared from the adult worms were used to produce anti- T. spiralis IgG-polyclonal antibodies in rabbits; these antibodies were utilized to detect AW-CEA in serum samples by traditional sandwich ELISA and NCSB-ELISA. Using NCSB-ELISA, T. spiralis AW-CEA was detected in sera collected at 8 dpi, with a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 100%. Meanwhile, traditional sandwich ELISA could not detect the antigen at the same time interval. Both ELISA techniques were able to detect the antigen in samples collected at 10, 12, 14 and 16 dpi with a sensitivity of 16.67%, 50%, 67.67% and 83.67%, respectively, for traditional sandwich-ELISA and a specificity of 100% at 10, 12 and 14 dpi while at 16 dpi specificity was decreased to 90.91%. In contrast, the sensitivity of NCSB-sandwich ELISA on the same days was 66.67%, 83.34%, 100% and 100%, respectively, with a specificity of 100% at all days. False positive detection of T. spiralis AW-CEA in the serum of mice in GII was recorded on day 16 pi by only traditional sandwich ELISA.This study concluded that NCSB-ELISA is a promising and sensitive technique for the early and specific diagnosis of acute trichinosis in an animal model.

Development of a rapid antigen-based lateral flow assay for tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses.

Tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses (SFRs) continue to cause severe illness and death in otherwise-healthy individuals due to lack of a timely and reliable diagnostic laboratory test. We recently identified a diagnostic biomarker for SFRs, the putative N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase RC0497. Here, we developed a prototype laboratory test that targets RC0497 for diagnosis of SFRs. The concentrations of RC0497 in sera of Rickettsia rickettsii-infected guinea pigs and R. conorii-infected mice were determined by stable isotope dilution-parallel reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SID-PRM-MS), ranging from 0.1 to 1.1 ng/ml. Using europium chelate nanoparticle reporters, we developed a lateral flow assay (LFA) and evaluated the test with a panel of serum samples of mock and experimentally infected animals. Interestingly, 21 of 22 (95.5%) serum samples from R. rickettsii-infected guinea pigs and R. conorii-infected mice yielded positive results with a ratio of test line / control line greater than the cutoff value determined for non-infected animals. All uninfected samples were in agreement with the intended results, suggesting that the initially assessed specificity of the test is 100%, among these samples. Mice infected with a lethal dose of R. conorii and treated with doxycycline on day 3 post-infection (p.i.), upon RC0497 detection by LFA, displayed significantly decreased rickettsial loads, comparable to the sublethal infection group on day 5 p.i.. A panel of human serum samples spiked with various concentrations of recombinant RC0497 were analyzed by LFA, suggesting that the limit of detection of the LFA was 0.64 ng/mL. These findings suggest that the timely detection of RC0497 by a europium LFA offers guidance for treatment, leading to a significant improvement in infection outcomes. This work, for the first time, shows significant promise for a rapid and easy-to-use platform offering a timely diagnostic assay for severe SFRs.

Efficacy of myrrh extract against Eimeria labbeana-like experimental infection in Columba livia domestica: in vivo study

BackgroundThe Protozoan pathogen Eimeria is a significant issue in poultry production. Scientists are concerned with finding alternative strategies due to the spread of resistance against the commonly employed coccidiostats. This study examined how well myrrh extract (MyE) protected domesticated pigeons from an experimental Eimeria labbeana-like infection.MethodsFemale pigeons were divided into six groups (5 pigeons/group): Group1: control pigeon group, Group2: Non-infected and treated pigeon group with MyE (500 mg/kg). Group3: Infected and non-treated pigeon group, Group4: Infected and treated pigeon group with MyE (250 mg/kg), Group5: Infected and treated pigeon group with MyE (500 mg/kg), Group6: Infected and treated pigeon group with amprolium (1 g/L of H2O). Oral infection with 3 × 104 sporulated E. labbeana-like oocysts was used to inoculate groups (3–6). Three days after infection, groups (4–6) received daily treatment with MyE and amprolium for five days. Oocyst output was assessed on day 8 post-infection. After sacrificing the pigeons, the small intestine and blood were collected from each pigeon and processed for histological, biochemical, and oxidative damage examinations.ResultsThis study looked into the overall phenolic and flavonoid contents and MyE’s antioxidant activity. According to the data, the best dose of MyE was 500 mg/kg, which significantly decreased the output of oocysts produced (2.090 × 105 ± 1.04 × 104 oocysts/g.feces). This result has been linked to a -2.51% decrease in the pigeon’s body weight gain. The morphometric characteristics of freshly unsporulated and sporulated oocysts were obtained, and pigeons treated with MyE significantly decreased size. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in both the number and size of the developmental stages of E. labbeana-like (i.e. meronts, gamonts, and developing oocysts) in the intestinal tissue among the MyE-treated group. MyE facilitates the disruption of intestinal homeostasis caused by E. labbeana-like infection, specifically concerning carbohydrates and proteins. Concurrent with the state of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the antioxidant activity of MyE reduced the blood plasma levels of trace elements (Fe, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Ni).ConclusionOur findings suggest that MyE could be a useful antioxidant source and a replacement for coccidiostats in preventing and treating avian coccidiosis.

Effect of gout milk and bromelain on liver and hematological parameters in male rats

Peptic ulcers occur owing to peptic acid damage to the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the erosion of the mucosal layer, with lesions exceeding 3-5 mm in depth. Aim of the study: The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of fortified goat milk on the blood, liver and hormone profile in rats by estimating them in blood plasma. To know the effect of goat milk fortified with bromelain on the stomach and intestines affected by ulcers by comparing it with the treatment of omeprazole. The research was conducted from September 2023 to January 2024. A sample of 30 sexually mature male animals was used, randomly distributed into six groups of similar weights, and each group included five rats obtained from the animal house of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Tikrit University. Division of rats occure as A1 healthy control group (untreated and provided only with water and food throughout the experiment period). A2 The infected control group (infected with a gastrointestinal ulcer after being given an oral dose of acetic acid). A3 given an oral dose of goat's milk. A4 given an oral dose of goat's milk fortified with bromelain enzyme. A5 given an oral dose of bromelain enzyme .A6 Group oral administration of omeprazole. The present study showed decrease RBC , Hb, and PCV in T2 group as compared with control(T1), while increased in T3,T4,T5, but no difference between T1 and T6. As for platelets increase in T1, while no differences between T1,T3,T4,T5,and T6. Both GPT and GOT increase in T2 as compared with T1 , while no differences in T3,T4,T5,T6 as compared with T1. Furthermore decrease T3,T4,T5,T6 as compared with T2. As for GPT decrease in T3,T4,T5,T6 as compared with T1 and T2. This study concluded the protective effect of goat milk on rats infected with peptic ulcer and synergical combination of both bromelain and gout milk were more effective than alone. This study also concluded increase PCV,Hb,RBC, and decrease GOT,and GPT in peptic ulcer.