Serological Results Research Articles

Virological, serological and clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: development and validation of the HEPA-B simulation model

ObjectivesDetailed simulation models are needed to assess strategies for prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the world’s leading cause of liver disease. We sought to develop and...

Chinese classical decoction Wuwei Xiaodu Drink alleviates gout arthritis by suppressing NLRP3-Mediated inflammation.

Background: Wuwei Xiaodu Drink (WWXDD), a classical decoction of traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used for the treatment of gout in China for many years. This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of WWXDD in treating gout flares and elucidate its underlying therapeutic mechanism. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of WWXDD with low-dose colchicine in gout arthritis. The primary outcome was the clinical response rate on the 7th day, and joint syndrome score and serological tests were secondary outcome measures and were compared in the two groups on the 1st and 7th day. Then we used a network pharmacology approach to investigate the possible mechanism of WWXDD in treating gout, and the effects of WWXDD on the MSU-induced rat model were observed. Results: In the clinical trial, a total of 78 participants completed the study, and the results demonstrated comparable clinical complete response rates, joint symptom scores, and serological test outcomes between the two groups on the 7th day. Network pharmacology analysis identified 51 core genes that target gout and WWXDD interactions. Notably, strong significant correlations were observed with inflammation cytokine genes and metabolism-related genes. Furthermore, it was found that WWXDD reduced gene expression levels of inflammation cytokines including IL-1β, TNF, and IL-18 in an MSU-induced rat model while increasing IL-10 expression. Additionally, WWXDD decreased insulin gene expression in this model. Moreover, WWXDD exhibited a reduction in both gene and protein expressions associated with the NLRP3-mediated inflammatory pathway in inflamed joints of rats. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggested the anti-inflammatory effects of WWXDD in the treatment of gouty arthritis, partially through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR2100047807.

Dose-Dependent Prophylactic Efficacy of Filarial Antigens Glutathione-S-Transferase and Abundant Larval Transcript-2 against Brugia malayi Challenge in Mastomys.

To identify the most effective dose of filarial rBmALT-2 and rWbGST alone or in combination against B. malayi infection in vitro and in vivo. Mastomys (n = 5-7/group) received intramuscular (i.m.) injection with three different doses (25, 50, and 100 μg) of rBmALT-2 or rWbGST, either alone or in combination with alum as the adjuvant. Protective immunity was studied by in vivo and in vitro cytotoxicity assay. To evaluate the cellular immune response, splenocyte proliferation and cytokine profile were assessed. Serological results revealed a substantial (p < 0.005) induction of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 responses in vaccinated Mastomys. Mastomys immunized with 50 μg rBmALT-2 + alum induced 79-81% killing against the L3 larvae challenge in vivo and in vitro ADCC assay (p < 0.005); whereas rWbGST + alum alone or in combination with rBmALT-2 + alum induced 63-68% killing (p < 0.005) in vivo and in vitro. Antigen-specific cytokine profiles of Mastomys vaccinated with either BmALT-2, WbGST or a combination showed elevated IL-10, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels, signifying both Th1 and Th2 immune response. These findings suggest that immunization of Mastomys with a 50 μg/dose of rBmALT-2 + alum four times at a 4-week interval demonstrated considerable protection against B. malayi infection.

A retrospective study of animal leptospirosis in Kazakhstan.

The purpose of the paper was to monitor the disease incidence in farm and wild animals in some areas of Kazakhstan, which are most susceptible to leptospirosis, and the typification of isolated pathogens, carried out under the scientific and technical program "Studying the epizootological characteristics of the country territory on particularly dangerous diseases and developing veterinary and sanitary measures to improve their effectiveness" in 2021-2023. The material included the reports of veterinary laboratories on leptospirosis in recent years, as well as laboratory tests on samples carried out at the "SANA" research and development enterprise. During this period, 6,701 serum samples from farm animals and 86,651 serum samples from rodents were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serological results showed antibody titers in the blood of 6.32% of cattle, 5.4% of sheep, 4.2% of horses, and 1.8% of pigs. The highest number of positive samples were found in Turkestan (12.3%), Almaty (11.7%), and Kyzylorda (11.4%) regions. Infection in rodents was lower and ranged from 0.34% to 0.07% during these years. The population of leptospira-causing diseases of animals on the territory of the country is represented by 8 serogroups. Studies in 2022 on the detection of pathogenic leptospires by polymerase chain reaction in 350 samples of blood serum from animals and 350 samples of biomaterial from rodents from different regions of Kazakhstan were negative. Studies conducted as part of this work will help reduce the incidence of disease among the population and animals in Kazakhstan.

Bartonella spp. infection in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A pilot study.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a neurological disorder at the transition between normal cognitive decline and dementia. Despite the potential role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of MCI, infectious triggers remain mostly unknown. Infection with Bartonella spp., a zoonotic bacterium, has recently been associated with diffuse neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Given the preferential endothelial localization of Bartonella spp. and the role of vascular changes in neurocognitive decline, we hypothesized that there is an association between Bartonella spp. infection and pathologically accelerated decline in cognitive function in aging. To test this hypothesis, we collected serological and molecular markers of past and present Bartonella spp. infection in a sample of older people with and without MCI. Samples were processed in a blinded way to exclude laboratory biases. Contrary to our hypothesis, people with MCI were not more likely than people without MCI to have an active Bartonella spp. infection as measured by droplet digital PCR (p = 0.735) and quantitative PCR (p = 1). In addition, there was no significant difference in positive serological results between cases and controls (p = 0.461). Overall, higher-than-expected active Bartonella spp. infection (37% by ddPCR) and seroreactivity (71% by indirect fluorescent antibody assay) were found in people without MCI. Conclusions require caution, as our study was limited by the small number of cases with MCI. Overall, our results identified a higher than previously recognized rate of exposure and infection with Bartonella spp. in this older study population but does not support a specific role for such infection in MCI.

Ophtalmologic, Serologic and Therapeutic Aspects of Ocular Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmose Oculaire: Aspects Ophtalmologiques, Sérologiques et Thérapeutiques

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is the most frequent cause of inflammation of the posterior segment of the eye due to infectious causes. It can occur in congenital toxoplasmosis, in the immunocom promised and, more rarely, in the immuno competent. It is a critical disease, as it can lead to blindness. The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical, serological, and therapeutic features of TO. Methods: A bicentric retrospective study was conducted at the Parasitology-Mycology laboratories of two Tunisian Hospitals(2017-2021), involving toxoplasma serologies performed on 175 patients in the context of exploration for uveitis and on six babies with congenital toxoplasmosis. As screening technique, we used was electrochemilum inescence (Cobas® e411) and Enzyme Linked Filtration Assay (mini-Vidas®). If IgM and/or IgG were positive, and depending on ophthalmo logical signs, we added a comparative Western Blot (WB) of serum and aqueous humor. Results Serological results were: – no immunity in 71 patients, rejecting OT – long-standing immunity in 103 patients, 15 of whom underwent comparative WB tests, four of which were positive- recent primary infection in one case with a positive WB. Thus, five cases of OT were confirmed(Three panuveitis and two anterior uveitis). Their respective ages were 14, 25, 33, 43 and 50 years old.Ophthalmological follow-up of five babies during the first year of life (one lost at six months) revealed chorioretinitis in one baby only. Conclusion Ocular involvement may represent a late revelation of unrecognized congenital toxoplasmosis. Its occurrence in immuno competent is not exceptional, but remains underestimated, as aqueous humor puncture is not systematically performed due to its invasive nature.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dairy cattle from São Paulo State, Brazil.

Neospora caninum is a major cause of reproductive loss in cattle worldwide as it leads to abortion and animal repositioning. Although Toxoplasma gondii does not cause a reproductive problem in cattle, consuming raw or uncooked beef poses the risk of transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies in dairy cattle in the West and Northwest regions of São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 653 serum samples from dairy cows were analyzed using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Epidemiological data from the farms were associated with the serological results of the animals by logistic regression based on the presence of antibodies. The frequencies of the antibodies against N. caninum and T. gondii were 41.6% (272/653) and 11.5% (75/653), respectively. A statistically significant association was observed between: the serum anti-N. caninum antibodies and breed, history of food supplementation for calves, introduction of outside animals that later presented reproductive problems, and history of reproductive problems by the trimester of gestation. The present study highlights the importance of neosporosis in dairy cattle in the study regions and that the inclusion of this parasite in the investigation of animals with reproductive disorders is important.

Simultaneous detection and genomic characterization of Zika virus Protein M, E and NS1 using optimized primers from Asian and African Lineage

PurposeDespite positive serological outcome, molecular confirmations have encountered little/no success either due to protocol accuracy, primer targets, or choice of sample amongst others. This study aims at providing an optimized protocol for the molecular detection of Zika virus amongst serologically positive respondent using samples from 2 selected hospitals in North Central Nigeria. Materials and methodsAbout five (5) ml of blood samples was collected from a total of 400 participants for serological analysis, the IgM-positive samples were processed for molecular analysis using target primers from Asian and African lineage while a structured questionnaire was used to evaluate risk factors. ResultsPrevalence of 19% (38) and 45% (90) IgM and IgG positivity was recorded amongst respondent in Federal Medical Center (FMC), Keffi (R2=1) while 36% (72) and 42% (84) was recorded in General Hospital (GH), Minna (R2=1). The respective risk factors such as proximity of respondent to stagnant water or drainage channel, frequency of mosquito bite, prevention strategy, implementation of the prevention strategies for mosquito, and consumption of bushmeat were significant at set standard of P<0.05. Molecular quantification revealed cut-off values (Ct) from 21.73 to 25.75 for all the 3 targeted protein while sequence analysis showed relatedness to deposited sequences in GenBank. ConclusionsThe abundance of the viral proteins as well as the genetic relatedness is indicative of presence of multiple strains of the virus or conservation of region across different geolocations. In lieu of the outcome, primers from multiple lineages is thereby recommended to forestall/overcome the challenge of cross-reactivity/false-negativity with Zika virus detection.

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Individuals Engaged in Animal Husbandry in Erzurum Region

Objective: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in our country and the world. This study investigated the seroprevalence of brucellosis in individuals who were engaged in animal husbandry in Erzurum region, were over 18 years of age, or did not have any clinical complaints of brucellosis. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted on 271 volunteers engaged in livestock farming in 20 districts of Erzurum province between 2020 and 2021. Brucella antibodies were investigated in blood samples using ELISA IgG, ELISA IgM, Rose Bengal, and Standard tube agglutination tests. A questionnaire was administered to the participants to investigate the risk factors of brucellosis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.6 ± 15.7.2 years (min:18, max:90), and there were 137 male (50.6%) and 134 female (49.4%) particpants. Seropositivity was detected with ELISA IgG in 40 of 271 participants (14.8%). Seropositivity was detected in the ELISA IgM test in 2 of these 40 participants (0.7%). Seropositivity was found in 46 participants (17%) in the Rose Bengal and 29 individuals in the STA test. According to the serology results, ELISA IgG positivity was higher in male participants compared to female participants (ratio=1.6). Among pet owners, ELISA IgG seropositivity was found higher than the participants who did not have pets (ratio=1.9). In the evaluation based on educational status, the rate of seropositivity was slightly higher in the participants who were illiterate and had a poor level of education. Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the prevalence rate obtained by ELISA IgG was consistent with previous studies conducted in the region. No significant relationship was observed between the serology results of the participants and their gender and educational status. On the other hand, the positivity of ELISA IgG results was higher among the participants who had pets, and there was a significant relationship at the margin.

Virus-specific humoral immune response in Bulgarian COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity.

Our study aimed to analyze virus-specific humoral immune responses in COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity. A total of 109 serum samples from 87 patients, symptomatic for COVID-19 were studied using anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays detecting different classes of immunoglobulins. Clinical samples were divided into 2 groups - collected up to and more than 2 weeks post-onset of symptoms (PoS). In the first group, the highest percentage of positive samples was found for IgA class virus-specific antibodies (78.1%), followed by IgM (71.9%/59.4%) and IgG (56.3%/53.1%). In the second group, samples positive for virus-specific IgA class antibodies were also the most (97.7%) along with those positive for IgG. A total of 72 IgA and/or IgM and/or IgG positive samples were further tested for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) - 89.1% and 100% of samples obtained up to and after 2 weeks PoS, respectively were positive. Serological test results were also analyzed depending on the severity of the disease - SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in mild forms of COVID-19 were fewer than in moderate and severe forms but this difference was not statistically significant. SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies and a high virus neutralization capacity of these antibodies appear early PoS; Immunoglobulins of IgA class are of most significant diagnostic value for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection; Timing of testing is the most important factor for positivity rate.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Induced by E-Cigarette or Vaping Product Use Associated Lung Injury

In 2019, a respiratory infection outbreak in individuals with a history of vaping was discovered, This condition was eventually termed e-cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) after it was linked to lung damage during imaging and histopathologic examination. The exact mechanism behind the lung injury seen in EVALI is unknown. Several studies show that EVALI has been associated with the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Nowadays, many people use Vapes/e-cigarettes, it is critical for clinicians to understand the hazards of using e-cigarettes, which can induce EVALI to ARDS. We used a number of research resources, including ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Wiley, to search, select, and choose papers about the use of electronic cigarettes or vaping devices associated to lung injury trigger Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome. The literature search yielded 330 articles, of which 21 met the selection criteria based on the title and abstract. EVALI is still a clinical diagnosis that should be considered as an exclusion because the symptoms, physical examination, serologic, radiologic, and bronchoscopy results are not specific to the illness alone. ARDS and its sequelae may be more likely to occur in patients with EVALI who also have several chronic illnesses. For individuals who use excessively and consistently over weeks or months, there is strong correlative evidence suggesting a higher risk of VAPI and potential consequences from ARDS in the absence of prompt and aggressive therapy.

Estimation of foot-and-mouth disease virus sero-prevalence rates using novel computational approach for the susceptible bovine population in India during the period 2008–2021

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. In India, a vaccination-based official FMD control programme was started, which got expanded progressively to cover entire country in 2019. The serological tests are used to determine non-structural protein based sero-prevalence rates for properly implementing and assessing the control programme. Since 2008, reporting of the FMD sero-surveillance was limited to the serum sample-based serological test results without going for population-level estimation due to lack of proper statistical methodology. Thus, we present a computational approach for estimating the sero-prevalence rates at the state and national levels. Based on the reported approach, a web-application (https://nifmd-bbf.icar.gov.in/FMDSeroSurv) and an R software package (https://github.com/sam-dfmd/FMDSeroSurv) have been developed. The presented computational techniques are applied to the FMD sero-surveillance data during 2008–2021 to get the status of virus circulation in India under a strict vaccination policy. Furthermore, through various structural equation models, we attempt to establish a link between India’s estimated sero-prevalence rate and field FMD outbreaks. Our results indicate that the current sero-prevalence rates are significantly associated with previous field outbreaks up to 2 years. Besides, we observe downward trends in sero-prevalence and outbreaks over the years, specifically after 2013, which indicate the effectiveness of various measures implemented under the FMD control programme. The findings of the study may help researchers and policymakers to track virus infection and identification of potential disease-free zones through vaccination.

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure and risk factors on neurodevelopment until 12 months: A prospective cohort study in Brazil

BackgroundThe effects of SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure on child development remain inconclusive. AimsTo analyze the effects of SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure on neurodevelopment until 12 months. Study designProspective cohort study conducted in five municipalities in Southeast Brazil from August 2021 to September 2022. SubjectsInfants were recruited from a serological survey performed during neonatal screening and followed up to 12 months old. We included 224 infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and 225 non-exposed, according to the serology results of the newborn as well as their mothers and the maternal antenatal RT-PCR results. Outcome measuresDevelopmental assessments were performed at 6 and 12 months using the Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children-Brazilian Version (SWYC-BR). Children with suspected developmental delay (SDD) at 6 and 12 months were considered at high risk for developmental delay (HRDD). Additionally, risk factors associated with SDD were examined. ResultsThere were 111 children identified with SDD and 52 with HRDD. SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure was not associated with SDD. Exposure in the first gestational trimester increased SDD risk by 2.15 times compared to the third. Cesarean delivery predicted SDD (OR 1.56; 95%CI 1.01–2.42) and HRDD (OR 1.91; 95%CI 1.04–3.48). Additionally, suspected maternal depression predicted SDD (OR 1.76; 95%CI 1.01–3.10). ConclusionSARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure did not increase the developmental delay risk. However, our findings suggest that the earlier the gestational exposure, the greater the developmental delay risk at 12 months. Cesarean delivery and suspected maternal depression increased the developmental delay risk, independent of virus exposure.

Misdiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis: why do we still risk animal lives?

Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tick-borne disease caused by Ehrlichia canis that manifests as acute, chronic, or subclinical forms without specific clinical symptoms. This disease is diagnosed using clinical and laboratory findings (blood smears, molecular techniques, and serology). This study aimed to demonstrate the occurrence of false-positive results for Ehrlichia spp. in veterinary clinical practice. Seventy dogs with positive blood smears before treatment for Ehrlichia spp. subjected to doxycycline and imidazole treatment were analyzed using hematological examination, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and indirect immunofluorescence assay. PCR analysis identified no samples positive for E. canis according to PCR analysis, while serological techniques showed a frequency of 51.4% in dogs with antibodies (IgG) against Ehrlichia spp. There was a correlation between hyperproteinemia and titers &gt; 10,240. Nonspecific changes occurred in 24.3% (17/70) of the patients with CME, such as anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The results indicated that the blood count and blood smear analysis were insufficient for diagnosis and that positive serological results associated with hematological changes suggestive of ehrlichiosis in dogs can be incorrectly assigned by a veterinarian, putting animals at risk.

Genotype analysis to clarify RhD variants in discrepant samples of Chilean population.

The D antigen variants are classified as weak, partial, and extremely weak (DEL) and can be differentiated using molecular tests. In Chile, the laboratories of local blood centers do not identify variants of the D antigen, referring them for study to the Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Institute of Chile. So, our aim was to talk about the results of the molecular analysis of variants of the D antigen in samples that had different results in the serological classification. In the D antigen classification of the Rh system, 479 samples with serological discrepant results were sent for molecular analysis. The Rh phenotype was performed with monoclonal anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e antisera by direct agglutination. To find the D antigen, researchers used direct agglutination with monoclonal antisera and indirect antiglobulin testing with the column (gel) agglutination method. Molecular analysis was performed with a polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (SSP-PCR) and sequencing. The presence of D antigen variants was confirmed in 332 samples (69.3%), with an initial discrepancy in serological classification. In this group of discrepant samples, the frequency of weak RhD variants was 66% (219/332), that of extremely weak RhD was 28% (93/332), and that of partial RhD was 6% (20/332). The weak variants type 2 (27.4%), type 3 (8.4%), type 48 (8.4%), and type 1 (8.1%) were the next most prevalent variants after RHD*DEL43 (28%). The ccEe (R2r) phenotype was the most frequently detected (38.4%) and is present in 87% of the RHD*DEL43 samples. The E antigen is associated with the presence of this variant. Our analyses give the first description of D antigen variants in Chile. The most common variants are DEL type (RHD*DEL43) and weak (weak type 2), which are linked to the ccDEe (R2r) phenotype. These findings allow us to characterize the variants of the D antigen in Chile and, according to the obtained data, to design strategies for the management of donors, patients, and pregnant women.

The influence of SARS-COV-2 viral infection on the serological level of igm antibodies in patients with infectious mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpes virus family, which usually occurs in older children, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25. In young adults, infectious mononucleosis often causes fever, cough, pharyngitis and malaise, and lymphadenopathy. The similar symptoms of COVID-19 and EBV-induced IM suggest a possible association. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of coinfection with Epstein-Barr virus in COVID-19 patients. 80 serum samples from IM patients from January 2020 to December 2022 are included and analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis and determination of EBV-VCA IgM stage. Patients were classified into an EBV/SARS- CoV-2 coinfection group based on serologic results. A high frequency of reinfection and coinfection with EBV was found in patients with COVID-19 (23.42 % - 34.58 %). C-reactive protein (CRP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) results were higher in EBV SARS-CoV-2 coinfection during disease. EBV coinfection may be associated with disease severity at COVID -19.

The Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study: Design and Baseline Characteristics of a Minority Cohort.

The Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS) is an ongoing prospective cohort study examining health disparities associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among medically underserved populations. This report describes procedures implemented to establish the MRCIS cohort and examines the factors associated with the molecular and serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection status at participant enrollment. Participants were recruited from 5 geographically dispersed federally qualified health centers between November 2020 and April 2021. At baseline, participants completed a detailed demographic survey and biological samples were collected for testing. SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined based on the combined molecular and serological test results. Chi-squared and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 safety measures, existing comorbidities, and SARS-CoV-2 infection status. The final cohort included 3238 participants. The mean age of participants was 50.2 ± 15.8 years. Most participants identified as female (60.0%), heterosexual or straight (93.0%), White (47.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (49.1%). Approximately 26.1% of participants had at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. The main effect model included age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Compared with adults ≥65 years, participants in all other age groups had ∼2 times increased odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. In addition, racial/ethnic minorities had ∼2 times increased odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 infection status compared with non-Hispanic Whites. A unique cohort of a traditionally medically underserved minority population was established. Significant racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 infection status at baseline were discovered.

Association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody status and reinfection: A case-control study nested in a Colorado-based prospective cohort study

ObjectiveThe association between the presence of detectable antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection is not well established. The objective of this study was to determine the association between antibody seronegativity and reinfection. Methods: Participants in Colorado, USA, were recruited between June 15, 2020, and March 28, 2021, and encouraged to complete SARS-CoV-2 molecular ribonucleic acid (RNA) and serology testing for antibodies every 28 days for 10 months. Participants with reinfections (positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA test ≥ 90 days after the first positive RNA test) were matched to controls without reinfections by age, sex, date of the first positive RNA test, date of the last serology test, and serology test type. Using conditional logistic regression, case patients were compared to control patients on the last serologic test result, with adjustment for demographic and clinical confounders. Results: The cohort (n = 4,235) included 2,033 participants with ≥ 1 positive RNA test, of whom 120 had reinfection. Among the 80 case patients who could be matched, the last serologic test was negative in 12 of the cases (15.0 %) whereas the last serologic test was negative in 77 of 1,034 (7.5 %) controls. Seronegativity (adjusted OR [aOR] 2.24; 95 % CI 1.07, 4.68), Hispanic ethnicity (aOR 1.87; 95 % 1.10, 3.18), and larger household size (aOR 1.15; 95 % 1.01, 1.30 for each additional household member) were associated with reinfection. Conclusions: Seronegative status, Hispanic ethnicity, and increasing household size were associated with reinfection. Serologic testing could be considered to reduce vaccine hesitancy in higher risk populations.

Investigating associations of multiple common infections with brain structure and white matter lesions: findings from prospective neuroimaging studies

AbstractBackgroundEvidence for a role of common infections in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases is conflicting, and the extent to which pathogen exposure associates with subclinical imaging markers of these diseases is unclear. We aimed to investigate associations between a panel of serological measures characterising exposure to common pathogens – selected based on their relevance to public health – and brain volume, hippocampal volume, and white matter lesions in two population‐based cohorts in the UK.MethodSerology and imaging data were available for 1371 participants across two studies: the UK Biobank (N = 935, mean age(SD)[years] = 55.3(7.7) at serology; 63.8(7.7) at imaging) and the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development [N = 436, mean age(SD) [years] = 63.3(1.1) years at serology; 70.7(0.7) years at imaging). Serology measures included a) serostatuses of 17 pathogens, b) total proportion of 17 pathogens exposed to, and c) total proportion of 11 neurotropic pathogens exposed to (Table 1). Associations between serology measures and outcomes (brain volume, hippocampal volume, and white matter lesion volume) were tested using linear regression. Regression models included adjustments for total intracranial volume and clinic information (basic models), and age, sex, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic position and lifestyle factors (Figure 1). Findings across cohorts were meta‐analysed using random‐effects models. The present study will be expanded to include an additional cohort (Southall and Brent Revisited,N≤1200) to add more precision for identifying associations.ResultSeropositivity to seven pathogens associated with an outcome in basic models, and four in fully‐adjusted models: seropositivity to JC virus was associated with smaller brain volumes, Epstein‐Barr virus with larger brain volumes, Merkel cell virus with larger hippocampal volumes and fewer white matter lesions, and C.trachomatis with fewer white matter lesions (Figure 2). Neurotropic pathogen burden scores associated with smaller hippocampal volumes in basic models, but no associations were seen for either pathogen burden score in fully‐adjusted models.ConclusionWe found some evidence of both positive and negative associations between common infections and imaging markers of subclinical cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration, with no evidence of relationships with pathogen burden. This work highlights key relationships for further investigation, which may reveal novel pathways associated with brain structure and cerebrovascular pathology.

Indirect contact increases antibody titers in people exposed to Anthrax

Introduction: Anthrax is a zoonotic infection that often becomes epidemic in endemic areas. It can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals. The most common manifestation is the appearance of eschar on the skin. Early detection as a screening for anthrax exposure can use serum anti PA Ig G antibody tests. This study aims to analyze the contact history and appearance of eschar on the skin against serum antibodies of people exposed to anthrax. Material and Methods: This analytical observational study used a cross-sectional design. It assessed the relationship of contact history and eschar to Ig G anti PA serum antibodies. To determine the significance of the association between the factors studied, an analysis using SPSS version 22.0 for windows was used, with a 95% confidence level. Result and Discussion: A total of 35 respondents who were exposed to anthrax in Gunungkidul District, Yogyakarta. Most of the respondents were women aged between 40 - 60 years and worked as farmers. It showed that Anti-PA Ig G antibodies are 40% positive, with 17% having a history of direct contact showing positive serology and 20% having eschar on skin with positive antibodies. It indicates a significant association between contact history and antibodies with p &lt;0.05, but there is no significant difference in the appearance of eschar on the skin. Conclusion: There is a relationship between the results of serology with a history of contact with infected animals, so it’s very important information in efforts to prevent and screen anthrax in endemic areas.