Surveillance Tool Research Articles

Comparative efficacy of Biogents Sentinel and CDC traps for Aedes and Culex mosquito surveillance in India

BackgroundMosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are important arthropod vectors that are responsible for transmitting numerous pathogens of major diseases. Adult mosquito traps help in effective surveillance. In this study, we compared the efficacy of the Biogents® Sentinel (BGS) traps and CO2-baited CDC traps for adult mosquito collection within four sites in India.ResultsWe found that BGS traps collected significantly more Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (85.8% of the total catch) than CDC traps (14.9% of the total catch). We also conducted a follow-up experiment to study the effect of adding CO2 as bait along with the BG lure to determine if it increases the number of mosquitoes collected. The results showed that BGS traps with BG lure + CO2 collected significantly more mosquitoes (69.5% of the total catch) than BGS traps with BG lure only (30.5% of the total catch). Although BGS traps were developed for surveillance of Ae. albopictus (Skuse) and Ae. aegypti (L.), the traps collected more Cx. quinquefasciatus (Say.) than any other mosquito species.ConclusionBGS trap is an efficient surveillance tool, and it can be used as part of an integrated mosquito management program by public health officials in order to combat mosquito-borne diseases.

Applying nanopore sequencing technology in Paracoccidioides sp.: a high-quality DNA isolation method for next-generation genomic studies.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a severe systemic endemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. which mainly affects individuals in Latin America. Progress in Paracoccidioides genomics has been slow, as evidenced by the incomplete reference databases available. Next-generation sequencing is a valuable tool for epidemiological surveillance and genomic characterization. With the ability to sequence long reads without the need for prior amplification, Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) offers several advantages, but high-quality and high-quantity DNA samples are required to achieve satisfactory results. Due to the low concentration of Paracoccidioides DNA in clinical samples and inefficient culture isolation methods, DNA extraction can be a significant barrier to genomic studies of this genus. This study proposes a method to obtain a high-coverage de novo genome assembly for Paracoccidioides using an improved DNA extraction method suitable for sequencing with ONT. The assembly obtained was comparable in size to those constructed from available data from Illumina technology. To our knowledge, this is the first genome assembly of Paracoccidioides sp. of such a large size constructed using ONT.

Little disease but lots of bites: social, urbanistic, and entomological risk factors of human exposure to Aedes aegypti in South Texas, U.S.

Aedes aegypti presence, human-vector contact rates, and Aedes-borne virus transmission are highly variable through time and space. The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), Texas, is one of the few regions in the U.S. where local transmission of Aedes-borne viruses occurs, presenting an opportunity to evaluate social, urbanistic, entomological, and mobility-based factors that modulate human exposure to Ae. aegypti. Mosquitoes were collected using BG-Sentinel 2 traps during November 2021 as part of an intervention trial, with knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and housing quality surveys to gather environmental and demographic data. Human blood samples were taken from individuals and a Bitemark Assay (ELISA) was conducted to quantify human antibodies to the Ae. aegypti Nterm-34kDa salivary peptide as a measure of human exposure to bites. In total, 64 houses were surveyed with 142 blood samples collected. More than 80% of participants had knowledge of mosquito-borne diseases and believed mosquitoes to be a health risk in their community. Our best fit generalized linear mixed effects model found four fixed effects contributed significantly to explaining the variation in exposure to Ae. aegypti bites: higher annual household income, younger age, larger lot area, and higher female Ae. aegypti abundance per trap night averaged over 5 weeks prior to human blood sampling. Most surveyed residents recognized mosquitoes and the threat they pose to individual and public health. Urbanistic (i.e., lot size), social (i.e., income within a low-income community and age), and entomological (i.e., adult female Ae. aegypti abundance) factors modulate the risk of human exposure to Ae. aegypti bites. The use of serological biomarker assays, such as the Bitemark Assay, are valuable tools for surveillance and risk assessment of mosquito-borne disease, especially in areas like the LRGV where the transmission of target pathogens is low or intermittent.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Saliva-based Testing as a Vibrio Cholerae Surveillance Tool among naturally-infected patients.

Saliva, as a diagnostic medium, offers a promising alternative to blood by virtue of its non-invasive collection, which enhances patient compliance, especially in paediatric and geriatric populations. In this study, we assessed the utility of saliva as a non-invasive medium for measuring V. cholerae-specific serum antibodies in naturally infected individuals. We tested paired serum and saliva samples obtained from a total of 63 cholera patients enrolled in a cohort study. Vibriocidal antibodies assay (IgM/IgG) as markers for accurate determination was used to determine cholera specific antibody levels. Using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, we found that the best cut-off that maximizes (sensitivity + specificity) is 10 titres. At this saliva titre, the sensitivity is 76.9% (95%CI: 60.9%, 87.7%) and specificity is 80.0% (95%CI: 56.6%, 92.5%). Using Spearman's correlation coefficient, we also found evidence of a positive correlation between Vibrio Cholerae saliva and serum antibodies (rho=0.66, p<0.001). In conclusion, saliva-based diagnostic cholera tests has high diagnostic accuracy, and would be advantageous, cheaper, and quicker for early diagnosis of severe cholera outcomes.

Epidemiological model can forecast COVID-19 outbreaks from wastewater-based surveillance in rural communities

Wastewater has emerged as a crucial tool for infectious disease surveillance, offering a valuable means to bridge the equity gap between underserved communities and larger urban municipalities. However, using wastewater surveillance in a predictive manner remains a challenge. In this study, we tested if detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater can forecast outbreaks in rural communities.Under the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance program, we monitored the SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater of five rural communities and a small city in Idaho (USA). We then used a particle filter method coupled with a stochastic susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model to infer active case numbers using quantities of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.Our findings revealed that while high daily variations in wastewater viral load made real-time interpretation difficult, the SEIR model successfully factored out this noise, enabling accurate forecasts of the Omicron outbreak in five of the six towns shortly after initial increases in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations were detected in wastewater. The model predicted outbreaks with a lead time of 0 to 11 days (average of 6 days +/- 4) before the surge in reported clinical cases.This study not only underscores the viability of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in rural communities—a demographic often overlooked in WBE research—but also demonstrates the potential of advanced epidemiological modeling to enhance the predictive power of wastewater data. Our work paves the way for more reliable and timely public health guidance, addressing a critical gap in the surveillance of infectious diseases in rural populations.

A quantitative and systematic analysis of Anopheles stephensi bionomics and control approaches

Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito endemic to South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula that has recently been detected in eight African countries, posing a significant threat to global malaria control efforts. A challenge with An. stephensi is that it requires unique surveillance and control tools when compared to other malaria vectors. Through a systematic literature review, we investigated the efficacy of trapping methods and controls for An. stephensi mosquitoes, with a focus on studies of its behavior and biology. Data from 83 articles (native range: Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Qatar; invasive range: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) met our study inclusion criteria. Data from these studies revealed that using host-seeking animal baited traps increased the number of mosquitoes collected per trap per day in the native range when compared to host-seeking human baited traps. However, these differences were not present in data collection rate assessments from the invasive range. We also found that An. stephensi equally used a large variety of breeding habitats in the native range, but that it tended to prefer water reservoirs and wastewater in the invasive range. Finally, we found that temephos, fenthion, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, and Beauveri bassiana were more effective at reducing larvae in their native range compared to the approaches found in our systematic literature search, but the relative effectiveness of these approaches in the invasive range was less clear. Understanding proven historical surveillance and control approaches is essential to the advancement of invasive An. stephensi mitigation efforts, but continued investigations in the invasive range are critical to reducing the impacts of malaria morbidity and mortality.

A study on fast detection methods for tetracycline antibiotic residues based on magnetic nanoparticles and electrochemical aptasensors

This study presents the development of novel electrochemical aptasensors utilizing magnetic nanomaterials for rapid and sensitive detection of tetracycline (TET) antibiotic residues. Two types of nanocomposites, Cu2O@Au octahedral nanoparticles and rGO-Fe3O4, were synthesized and characterized for aptasensor fabrication. The Cu2O@Au-based aptasensor demonstrated a linear detection range from 1 nM to 1 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 nM. The rGO-Fe3O4/sodium alginate-based aptasensor exhibited a linear range of 5 nM to 500 nM, with an LOD of 1.5 nM. Both aptasensors showed excellent specificity towards TET, good reproducibility (RSD < 5.6 %), and stability (>90 % response after 2 weeks). The practical applicability of the aptasensors was validated through TET detection in spiked milk samples, achieving recoveries between 88.6 % and 107.8 % with RSDs below 7.2 %. These aptasensors offer advantages such as rapid response, simple fabrication, and potential for on-site detection, making them promising tools for food safety monitoring and environmental surveillance.

Risk factors of foodborne parasitic diseases still remain in China: a WeChat-based knowledge, attitudes, and practices study

ObjectiveWith the progress of economic globalization and food diversification, foodborne parasitic diseases pose a significant public health challenge in China. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding foodborne parasitic diseases among the Chinese population via WeChat, which is a promising tool for disease surveillance and health education.MethodsUsing a questionnaire, this cross-sectional study was conducted on September 25, 2023. Participants completed a structured questionnaire by scanning a QR code provided in a tweet from the WeChat official account of the Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Disease. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to explore potential independent determinants of adequate knowledge of foodborne parasitic diseases, and the positive attitude and good practice rates of the participants were calculated.ResultsIn total, 5,675 valid questionnaires were collected via the WeChat official account. Most participants (79.91%) fell within the age range of 20–40 years, with a higher representation of males (53.18%), and 89.80% were of Han Chinese ethnicity. It was found that 76.65% of the participants had adequate level of knowledge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals of Hui nationality (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40–0.81, p = 0.002), clinicians (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.19, p < 0.001), teachers (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34–0.69, p < 0.001), and government staff (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.30–0.53, p < 0.001) had significantly higher levels of knowledge. Among the participants, 33.9% reported consuming raw fish or drunken shrimp, 10.6% would still try to consume raw fish despite the risk of parasitic infection, and 84.1% did not use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods in their kitchens.ConclusionsAlthough majority of the Chinese public (76.65%) demonstrates adequate level of knowledge on foodborne parasitic diseases, there is a need to enhance personal hygiene practices and dietary habits, particularly the utilization of distinct cutting boards and the consumption of raw fish. A WeChat official account is an accessible tool for spreading foodborne parasitic diseases related health information to the public. WeChat-based health education should be implemented to enhance public awareness regarding the prevention and control of foodborne parasitic diseases.

Is there enough evidence supporting the clinical adoption of clear cell likelihood score (ccLS)? An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo review the evidence for clinical adoption of clear cell likelihood score (ccLS) for identifying clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from small renal masses (SRMs).MethodsWe distinguished the literature on ccLS for identifying ccRCC via systematic search using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data until 31 March, 2024. The risk of bias and concern on application was assessed using the modified quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2) tool. The level of evidence supporting the clinical adoption of ccLS for identifying ccRCC was determined based on meta-analyses.ResultsEight MRI studies and three CT studies were included. The risk of bias and application were mainly related to the index test and flow and timing, due to incomplete imaging protocol, unclear rating process, and inappropriate interval between imaging and surgery. The diagnostic odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of MRI and CT ccLS were 14.69 (9.71–22.22; 6 studies, 1429 SRM, 869 ccRCC), and 5.64 (3.34–9.54; 3 studies, 296 SRM, 147 ccRCC), respectively, for identifying ccRCC from SRM. The evidence level for clinical adoption of MRI and CT ccLS were both rated as weak. MRI ccLS version 2.0 potentially has better diagnostic performance than version 1.0 (1 study, 700 SRM, 509 ccRCC). Both T2-weighted-imaging with or without fat suppression might be suitable for MRI ccLS version 2.0 (1 study, 111 SRM, 82 ccRCC).ConclusionccLS shows promising diagnostic performance for identifying ccRCC from SRM, but the evidence for its adoption in clinical routine remains weak.Critical relevance statementAlthough clear cell likelihood score (ccLS) demonstrates promising performance for detecting clear cell renal cell carcinoma, additional evidence is crucial to support its routine use as a tool for both initial diagnosis and active surveillance of small renal masses.Key PointsClear cell likelihood score is designed for the evaluation of small renal masses.Both CT and MRI clear cell likelihood scores are accurate and efficient.More evidence is necessary for the clinical adoption of a clear cell likelihood score.Graphical

Measles and Pertussis outbreaks in England and Wales: a time-series analysis

Background Vaccine coverage for common infectious diseases such as Measles and Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) have been declining in England and Wales since 2014. Consequently, significant increases in Measles and Pertussis cases are observed in the community. Aim To explore whether Google Trends offers a predictive utility as a health surveillance tool for Meases and Pertussis in England and Wales. Design and Setting Google search data related to Measles and Pertussis, including common associated symptoms, were downloaded for 52 weeks from 07/01/2023 – 07/01/2024. Measles and Pertussis case data were retrieved from the weekly Notification of Infectious Disease (NOID) reports. Methods The associations between searching and case data were explored using a time-series analyses, including cross-correlations, Prais-Winsten regression and joinpoint analysis. Results Significant cross-correlations were found for Measles cases and “measles” searching (r=.41) at a lag of -1 week. For Pertussis cases, searching for “whooping cough” (r=.31), “cough” (r=.39), “100 day cough” (r.41) and “vomiting” (r=.42) were significantly correlated at a lag of -3 to -2 weeks. In multivariable regression, “measles” remained significantly associated with Measles cases (β=.24, SE=.33, p=.02) as did “whooping cough” (β=.71, SE=.27, p=.01) and “cough” (β=1.99, SE=.54, p=.001) for pertussis. Conclusion Increases in Measles and Pertussis cases follow increases in online searches for both diseases and selected respective symptoms. Further work is required to explore how GT can be used in conjunction with other health surveillance systems to monitor or even predict disease outbreaks, to better target public health interventions.

Is Colonoscopy Alone Adequate for Surveillance in Stage I Colorectal Cancer?

While colonoscopy is the standard surveillance tool for stage I colorectal cancer according to NCCN guidelines, its effectiveness in detecting recurrence is debated. This study evaluates recurrence risk factors and patterns in stage I colorectal cancer to inform comprehensive surveillance strategies. A retrospective analysis of 2,248 stage I colorectal cancer patients who underwent radical surgery at Samsung Medical Center (2007-2018) was conducted. Exclusions were based on familial history, prior recurrences, preoperative treatments, and inadequate data. Surveillance included colonoscopy, laboratory tests, and CT scans. Stage I colorectal cancer patients showed favorable 5-year disease-free survival (98.3% colon, 94.6% rectal). Among a total of 1,467 colon cancer patients, 26 (1.76%) experienced recurrence. Of the 781 rectal cancer patients, 47 (6.02%) experienced recurrence. Elevated preoperative CEA levels and perineural invasion were significant recurrence risk factors in colon cancer, while tumor budding was significant in rectal cancer. Distant metastasis was the main recurrence pattern in colon cancer (92.3%), while rectal cancer showed predominantly local recurrence (50%). Colonoscopy alone detected recurrences in a small fraction of cases (3.7% in colon cancer and 14.9% in rectal cancer). Although recurrence in stage I colorectal cancer is rare, relying solely on colonoscopy for surveillance may miss distant metastases or locoregional recurrence outside the colorectum. For high-risk patients, we recommend considering regular CT scans alongside colonoscopy. This targeted approach may enable earlier recurrence detection and improve outcomes in this subset while avoiding unnecessary scans for the low-risk majority.

Development of a fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for the quantitative and qualitative detection of antibodies against African swine fever virus p72.

African swine fever (ASF), caused by ASF virus (ASFV), is a highly infectious and severe hemorrhagic disease of pigs that causes major economic losses. Currently, no commercial vaccine is available and prevention and control of ASF relies mainly on early diagnosis. Here, a novel automated double antigen sandwich chemiluminescent immunoassay (DAgS-aCLIA) was developed to detect antibodies against ASFV p72 (p72-Ab). For this purpose, recombinant p72 trimer was produced, coupled to magnetic particles as carriers and labeled with acridinium ester as a signal trace. Finally, p72-Ab can be sensitively and rapidly measured on an automated chemiluminescent instrument. For quantitative analysis, a calibration curve was established with a laudable linearity range of 0.21 to 212.0 ng/mL (R2 = 0.9910) and a lower detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL. For qualitative analysis, a cut-off value was set at 1.50 ng/mL with a diagnostic sensitivity of 100.00% and specificity of 98.33%. Furthermore, antibody response to an ASF gene-deleted vaccine candidate can be accurately quantified using this DAgS-aCLIA, as evidenced by early seroconversion as early as 7 days post-immunization and high antibody levels. Compared with available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, this DAgS-aCLIA demonstrated a wider linearity range of 4 to 16-fold, and excellent analytical sensitivity and agreement of over 95.60%. In conclusion, our proposed DAgS-aCLIA would be an effective tool to support ASF epidemiological surveillance.IMPORTANCEAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) is highly contagious in wild boar and domestic pigs. There is currently no vaccine available for ASF, so serological testing is an important diagnostic tool. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays provide only qualitative results and are time and resource consuming. This study will develop an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) that can quantitatively and qualitatively detect antibodies to ASFV p72, greatly reducing detection time and labour-intensive operation, and improving detection sensitivity and linearity range. This novel CLIA would serve as a reliable and convenient tool for ASF pandemic surveillance and vaccine development.

Development of an indirect ELISA for the serologic detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus based on E2 antigen sub-genotypes 1b, 1e, and 1d.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes ongoing economic losses to cattle industries, directly through reduced herd performance or indirectly through control program costs. ELISA assays, one of the most widely used techniques due to their ease of implementation, have been a valuable tool for mass surveillance and detection of BVDV. In this study, we developed a new indirect ELISA (rE2-ELISA) for serologic detection of BVDV. The assay considers three recombinant E2 protein subtypes as antigens, allowing serologic diagnosis of BVDV-1b (high prevalence worldwide), BVDV-1d and 1e (high prevalence in southern Chile) sub-genotypes. Recombinant E2 (rE2) proteins were successfully expressed in stably transfected CHO cells. Conditions for rE2 ELISAs were established after determining appropriate concentrations of antigen, blocking agent, secondary antibody, and serum dilutions to achieve maximum discrimination between positive and negative serum samples. The developed rE2-ELISA showed a sensitivity of 92.86% and a specificity of 98.33%. Clinical testing of 180 serum samples from herds in southern Chile showed high accuracy (kappa > 0.8) compared to the commercial BVDV Total Ab kit (IDEXX), with 95.37% positive and 87.5% negative predictive value. In addition, the rE2 ELISA has shown the capability to detect anti-BVDV antibodies from naturally infected animals with sub-genotypes 1b, 1e, or undetermined. These results indicate that the developed indirect ELISA could serve as a valid, and efficient alternative for identifying BVDV-infected animals, thus contributing to the success of disease control and eradication programs.

B-234 Evaluating the diagnostic utility of dd-cf-dna in renal allograft surveillance: a single-center perspective

Abstract Background Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cf-DNA) tests offer a non-invasive alternative to biopsy for allograft surveillance in solid organ transplantation. Unlike biopsies, dd-cf-DNA tests are not subject to interpretation bias and have the potential to detect subclinical rejection, which can lead to graft dysfunction and poor outcomes. At our institution, dd-cf-DNA testing is currently offered as a send out test and we sought to evaluate its efficacy in monitoring our post-transplant patients. Methods We retrospectively examined electronic health records of 50 renal transplant patients with dd-cf-DNA (using AlloSure and Prospera assays) between January 1st, 2019, and December 31st, 2022 to assess diagnostic utility of dd-cf-DNA relative to donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and biopsy (all predictors of graft function). Statistical analysis included correlation testing with t-tests. Results Overall, dd-cf-DNA levels correlated with DSA levels (p = 0.0002) and patients with both HLA-class I and II DSA had significantly higher dd-cf-DNA levels (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The Prospera dd-cf-DNA assay appeared to be a better predictor of DSA levels (p = 0.04) than the Allosure dd-cf-DNA assay. Though not statistically significant, there was trend towards an increase in dd-cf-DNA in patient with biopsy-proven graft injury and rejection vs no rejection. Interestingly, dd-cf-DNA levels were significantly elevated in patients with biopsy-proven antibody mediated rejection (ABMR). Because dd-cfDNA levels have been reported to be impacted by sensitizing events including prior transplant, we evaluated and observed levels of dd-cf-DNA to be higher in patients with a history of more than one graft vs single graft recipients (p&amp;lt; 0.0001) and this observation was prominent in the Allosure assay. Conclusions Our findings suggest that dd-cf-DNA testing holds promise as a valuable tool for graft surveillance and early detection of ABMR. The lack of correlation with biopsy-confirmed rejections may be attributed to the dd-cf-DNA assays’ ability to detect rejection events earlier in the disease progression process compared to biopsy. Time course analysis will be beneficial. Additionally, the observed differences between AlloSure and Prospera emphasize the significance of thoroughly evaluating and selecting assays, particularly in multi-transplant recipients. We highlight that our initial analysis is limited due to a small sample size. However, we aim to assess 200 patients by the conclusion of this study.

The detection of health problems in Australian Youth Olympic divers using the OSTRC-H2 questionnaire as a surveillance tool

The detection of health problems in Australian Youth Olympic divers using the OSTRC-H2 questionnaire as a surveillance tool

Enhancing colorectal cancer screening in high-risk population through fecal immunochemical test surveillance: Results from a surveillance program.

Current guidelines recommend colonoscopy-based surveillance to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among these participants with above-average risk. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) holds promise as a viable alternative surveillance tool, but the existing evidence regarding the use of settings remains limited. Therefore, our aim is to evaluate the CRC incidence rates in individuals with above-average CRC risk and the relationship between FIT surveillance and CRC incidence. The retrospective cohort study was performed based on the CRC screening program between January 2012 and December 2022, in Tianjin, China. This cohort study included 12,515 participants aged 40-74 years with above-average risk. The primary outcomes were the incidence rates of CRC and advanced colorectal neoplasia which were expressed as the number of events per 100,000 person-years. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. We included 12,515 participants aged 40-74 years, of whom 4980 received subsequent FIT surveillance during the study period. Among these participants, 51 CRC cases occurred in the non-FIT surveillance group (incidence rate, 233.88 per 100,000 person-years) and there were 29 cases of CRC in the FIT surveillance group (incidence rate, 184.85 per 100,000 person-years), resulting in an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.37-0.91). Meanwhile, 428 advanced colorectal neoplasia cases were reported in the non-FIT surveillance group, while 269 cases occurred in the FIT surveillance group, with significantly lower incidence of advanced colorectal neoplasia in the FIT surveillance group (IRR: 0.64; 95% CI, 0.55-0.74). Compared with the non-FIT surveillance group, the FIT surveillance group had a 54% decreased risk of developing CRC (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29-0.74) and a 45% decreased risk of developing advanced colorectal neoplasia (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.47-0.64). In this retrospective cohort study, above-average risk individuals who received subsequent FIT in the intervals between colonoscopies were associated with a reduction of CRC and advanced colorectal neoplasia incidence, which indicated the value and utility of FIT in the surveillance program.

Use of passive samplers as sewage surveillance tool to monitor a hepatitis A outbreak at a school in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Oct 2022 – March 2023

BackgroundEnteric hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections during childhood are often asymptomatic but may cause severe illness in adults. To improve public health surveillance we assessed the applicability of sewage monitoring during an HAV outbreak at a primary school.MethodsBetween October 19 and December 27, 2022, five symptomatic HAV cases were notified to the Public Health Service Amsterdam; all attended the same primary school. Passive samplers, small absorbent tools, were deployed in sewage near the school from November 14, 2022, to March 22, 2023. The absorbents were subjected to RNA extraction, HAV PCR testing, and, if positive, sequencing. PCR and sequencing were also performed on plasma and feces samples of HAV cases.ResultsIn 22 out of 88 (25%) of sewage samples, HAV RNA was detected. All HAV-RNA-positive sewage samples until 8 February 2023 were subgenotype IB, matching the strain detected in all cases. Another strain of HAV (subgenotype IA) was detected in sewage from 15 February 2023 onwards, without associated cases.ConclusionsPassive sampler-based sewage monitoring is an effective method to rapidly detect HAV shedding linked to diagnosed cases. It detects unnoticed viral infections and allows monitoring of outbreaks. This suggests that passive sampler-based monitoring is a promising tool supporting the public health response during HAV and other outbreaks.

Assessment of the Effective Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Sample Pooling Based on a Large-Scale Screening Experience: Retrospective Analysis.

The development of new large-scale saliva pooling detection strategies can significantly enhance testing capacity and frequency for asymptomatic individuals, which is crucial for containing SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to implement and scale-up a SARS-CoV-2 screening method using pooled saliva samples to control the virus in critical areas and assess its effectiveness in detecting asymptomatic infections. Between August 2020 and February 2022, our laboratory received a total of 928,357 samples. Participants collected at least 1 mL of saliva using a self-sampling kit and registered their samples via a smartphone app. All samples were directly processed using AutoMate 2550 for preanalytical steps and then transferred to Microlab STAR, managed with the HAMILTON Pooling software for pooling. The standard pool preset size was 20 samples but was adjusted to 5 when the prevalence exceeded 2% in any group. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted using the Allplex SARS-CoV-2 Assay until July 2021, followed by the Allplex SARS-CoV-2 FluA/FluB/RSV assay for the remainder of the study period. Of the 928,357 samples received, 887,926 (95.64%) were fully processed into 56,126 pools. Of these pools, 4863 tested positive, detecting 5720 asymptomatic infections. This allowed for a comprehensive analysis of pooling's impact on RT-PCR sensitivity and false-negative rate (FNR), including data on positive samples per pool (PPP). We defined Ctref as the minimum cycle threshold (Ct) of each data set from a sample or pool and compared these Ctref results from pooled samples with those of the individual tests (ΔCtP). We then examined their deviation from the expected offset due to dilution [ΔΔCtP = ΔCtP - log2]. In this work, the ΔCtP and ΔΔCtP were 2.23 versus 3.33 and -0.89 versus 0.23, respectively, comparing global results with results for pools with 1 positive sample per pool. Therefore, depending on the number of genes used in the test and the size of the pool, we can evaluate the FNR and effective sensitivity (1 - FNR) of the test configuration. In our scenario, with a maximum of 20 samples per pool and 3 target genes, statistical observations indicated an effective sensitivity exceeding 99%. From an economic perspective, the focus is on pooling efficiency, measured by the effective number of persons that can be tested with 1 test, referred to as persons per test (PPT). In this study, the global PPT was 8.66, reflecting savings of over 20 million euros (US $22 million) based on our reagent prices. Our results demonstrate that, as expected, pooling reduces the sensitivity of RT-PCR. However, with the appropriate pool size and the use of multiple target genes, effective sensitivity can remain above 99%. Saliva pooling may be a valuable tool for screening and surveillance in asymptomatic individuals and can aid in controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of these strategies for SARS-CoV-2 and their application to other microorganisms or biomarkers detected by PCR.

Rapid detection of Impatiens necrotic spot virus from thrips vectors using reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification

The plant virus, Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), is an economically important pathogen of vegetables, fruits, and ornamental crops. INSV is vectored by the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, a small insect pest that is globally distributed. In recent years, INSV outbreaks have reached epidemic levels in the Salinas Valley of California—an agriculturally rich region where most of the lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is produced in the United States. Due to the obligate nature in which virus transmission occurs, new tools that could rapidly detect INSV from thrips vectors would enhance our ability to predict where virus outbreaks may occur. Here, we report on the development of a reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay that can detect INSV from individual thrips. The assay uses crude extraction methods, is performed at a single temperature of 42 °C, can be completed in 25 min, and provides sensitivity levels that are comparable to other available detection methods. When the assay was used on field populations of thrips, INSV was successfully identified and quantified from individual larvae and adults. The work provides a new cost-effective surveillance tool that can rapidly detect INSV from its insect vector and from plants.

Resistance and collaboration within the panoptivarsity: differing views of ORCID in Ireland

PurposeORCID is well recognised as a Persistent Identifier (PID) amongst the global academic community. The international literature is generally extremely positive towards this development. A minority of vociferous critics however have continued to dispute its benefits. Particular concerns have been noted around the potential for ORCID to be used as a tool for evaluation and surveillance by University management structures. This research sought to critically evaluate in-depth perceptions of ORCID in the Technological University (TU) sector in Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThis study involved ten semi-structured interviews with academics and five with librarians in the TU sector. Reflexive thematic analysis informed by Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological principles was used to explore transcribed interview data.FindingsThe results demonstrate a clear difference in perceptions concerning ORCID, with library staff being very positive and uncritical, even arguing for mandatory adoption. Although some academics were using ORCID IDs in a performative manner, most were suspicious of, or resigned to their use. Concerns about ORCID ranged across various issues including employer surveillance, a lack of institutional autonomy and its inappropriateness for the sector. It is argued that academics in the TU sector have so far not had an opportunity to fully explore and articulate their vision for the future. In its current form ORCID represents a foreign, imposed and inappropriate tool that may facilitate willing or unwilling inclusion in the inequitable and crude “game” of global university league tables.Originality/valueThe paper offers an in-depth and critical analysis of ORCID adoption in Ireland based on perceptions amongst two stakeholder groups: academics and librarians.