Number Of Gastroenteritis Cases Research Articles

Evaluation of different genomic regions of rotavirus B and rotavirus C for development of real-time RT‒PCR assays

BackgroundThe causative agents of diarrhea, rotavirus B (RVB) and rotavirus C (RVC) are common in adults and patients of all age groups, respectively. Due to the Rotavirus A (RVA) vaccination program, a significant decrease in the number of gastroenteritis cases has been observed globally. The replacement of RVA infections with RVB, RVC, or other related serogroups is suspected due to the possibility of reducing natural selective constraints due to RVA infections. The data available on RVB and RVC incidence are scant due to the lack of cheap and rapid commercial diagnostic assays and the focus on RVA infections. The present study aimed to develop real-time RT‒PCR assays using the data from all genomic RNA segments of human RVB and RVC strains available in the Gene Bank.ResultsAmong the 11 gene segments, NSP3 and NSP5 of RVB and the VP6 gene of RVC were found to be suitable for real-time RT‒PCR (qRT‒PCR) assays. Fecal specimens collected from diarrheal patients were tested simultaneously for the presence of RVB (n = 192) and RVC (n = 188) using the respective conventional RT‒PCR and newly developed qRT‒PCR assays. All RVB- and RVC-positive specimens were reactive in their respective qRT‒PCR assays and had Ct values ranging between 23.69 and 41.97 and 11.49 and 36.05, respectively. All known positive and negative specimens for other viral agents were nonreactive, and comparative analysis showed 100% concordance with conventional RT‒PCR assays.ConclusionsThe suitability of the NSP5 gene of RVB and the VP6 gene of RVC was verified via qRT‒PCR assays, which showed 100% sensitivity and specificity. The rapid qRT‒PCR assays developed will be useful diagnostic tools, especially during diarrheal outbreaks for testing non-RVA rotaviral agents and reducing the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

How Did SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Affect the Cats’ Health in Hatay Province? A retrospective study

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected not only the physical and emotional health of human beings but also cats. Restrictions put into effect during the pandemic resulted in changes in the daily routine of pet cats and the number of new pet owners. The current study aimed to evaluate the diseases induced by stress in cats, such as gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and urinary tract diseases. To this end, the study evaluated the pre-pandemic (n: 52) (March 2019-Feb 2020) and pandemic (n: 95) (March 2020-March 2021) diagnosis data of cats (n: 147) with gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and urinary system diseases admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Veterinary Health, Practice and Research Center between March 2019 and March 2021. There was no statistically significant difference between the sexes of the cats admitted to the clinic in both periods. There was a significant change in cat breeds during the pandemic, except for the mixed-breed and Ankara breeds. The age (mean ± SEM) of the cats admitted to the clinic was 30.14 ± 4.24 months before the pandemic and 30.45 ± 3.43 during the pandemic. Distributions of gastrointestinal diseases in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were determined as 35.7% and 64.3%, respectively. During the pandemic, the number of gastritis cases was lower than that in the pre-pandemic period, and the number of gastroenteritis cases was higher than that in the pre-pandemic period. Except for gastrointestinal diseases (P <.05), a statistical difference between the periods was not found. The changes, especially influencing the daily routine of cats and causing stress, seem to have had significant effects on the gastrointestinal health of domestic cats.

Weekly variations in norovirus genogroup II genotypes in Japanese oysters

Increased levels of norovirus contamination in oysters were reportedly associated with a gastroenteritis epidemic occurring upstream of an oyster farming area. In this study, we monitored the norovirus concentration in oysters weekly between November 2014 and March 2015 and investigated the statistical relationship between norovirus genogroup II (GII) concentrations in oyster and sewage samples and the number of gastroenteritis cases in the area using cross-correlation analysis. A peak correlation coefficient (R = 0.76) at a time lag of +1 week was observed between the number of gastroenteritis cases and norovirus GII concentrations in oysters, indicating that oyster contamination is correlated with the number of gastroenteritis cases with a 1-week delay. Moreover, weekly variations in norovirus GII genotypes in oysters were evaluated using pyrosequencing. Only GII.3 was detected in November and December 2014, whereas GII.17 and GII.4 were present from January to March 2015. GII.17 Kawasaki 2014 strains were detected more frequently than GII.4 Sydney 2012 strains in oyster samples, as previously observed in stool and sewage samples collected during the same study period in Miyagi, Japan. Our observations indicate that there is a time lag between the circulation of norovirus genotypes in the human population and the detection of those genotypes in oysters.

Human adenovirus spread, rainfalls, and the occurrence of gastroenteritis cases in a Brazilian basin.

Climate variables may interfere with the environmental persistence and spread of pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of human adenovirus (HAdV) and total and thermotolerant coliforms in treated and untreated water and report gastroenteritis cases in seven cities located in the hydrographic basin of the Sinos River (HBSR), Southern Brazil. The data on water quality from samples collected at catchment areas of HBSR from March to December 2011 were compared with precipitation records, virus detection rates and viral loads, and information on enteric diseases among residents of the region. There was a marked increase in precipitation intensity in April, July, and August and a decrease in May and November. The number of HAdV genome copies (gc) in untreated water ranged from 2.1×10(8) gc/L in June to 7.8×10(1) gc/L in December, and in treated water, from 6.3×10(4) gc/L in September to 4.1×10(1) gc/L in November. The most probable number (MPN) of total coliforms ranged from 5×10(1) MPN/100 mL in December to 2.4×10(5) MPN/100 mL in July, and thermotolerant coliforms ranged from 1×10(1) MPN/100 mL in August to 6.9×10(4) MPN/100 mL in July. A total of 79 hospital admissions due to gastroenteritis were registered in the cities studied. The results for coliforms in untreated water demonstrate deficits in sanitation and wastewater treatment. These findings also indicate a possible relationship between the occurrence of rainfalls after dry periods and an increase in the number of gastroenteritis cases and in HAdV load quantified in surface water collected for conventional potabilization.

Genetic analysis of the capsid region of norovirus GII.4 variants isolated in South Korea.

Norovirus is one of the major causes of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. The aim of this study was to analyze the amino acid variation of open reading frame 2 of GII.4 variants in South Korea during the period from November 2006 to December 2012. Sixty-nine complete nucleotide sequences of open reading frame 2 were obtained from 113 GII.4 strains. The GII.4 2006b variants were detected predominantly between 2006 and 2009; however, new GII.4 variants, which were termed the 2010 variant and the 2012 variant, emerged in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The number of GII.4 2006b variants steadily decreased until 2012, whereas the number of gastroenteritis cases caused by the new variants increased between 2010 and 2012. The amino acid sequence in the ORF2 region obtained in this study was compared with other GII.4 variants isolated in various countries. Amino acid variations were observed primarily at epitope sites and the surrounding regions. Amino acids 294, 359, 393, and 413 of the P2 subdomain were the most variable sites among the GII.4 variants. The information in this study can be useful in basic research to predict the emergence and determine the genetic functions of new GII.4 variants.