Genetic Changes of S Gene during Co-inoculation of Two Infectious Bronchitis Virus Vaccines in SPF Chicks

Despite widespread immunizations, infectious bronchitis (IB) remains a significant issue in the Egyptian poultry industry. Multiple IBV genotypes, GI-1, GI-13, GI-16, and GI-23 have been continually circulating among chicken flocks in Egypt, inducing a substantial economic loss to the poultry sector. In addition, live attenuated vaccines representing classical and variant strains can control IBV in Egypt, mainly H120 and 793B. The H120 vaccine is widely spread and offers inadequate protection against heterotypic IBVs in the field. Therefore, a homologous live-attenuated VAR2 vaccine was developed from the Egyptian variant-2 strain Eg/1212B/2012.IB. Variant II vaccine protects against the homologous IBV challenge under experimental and field circumstances. In this study, an experimental trial was performed to simulate field practices such as heterologous vaccination of day-old specific pathogen-free chicks with IBV H120 vaccine (representing GI-1) and IB Var 2 vaccine (representing GI- 23). The current study aimed to determine the existence of nucleotide and amino acid variations within the S gene in isolated viruses following ten passages in the same bird. The deduced amino acid sequence of the S gene indicated viruses isolated from the 6th and 10th passages were identical and shared (96 %) and (83 %) identities with the IB variant II vaccine and H120, respectively. However, amino acid substitutions were observed at 26 positions in the N terminal domain (S1) and S2 is conserved compared to IB Var 2 vaccine. Most amino acid modifications occurred in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S1 gene. HVR2 has seven amino acid changes compared to the IB Var II vaccine. Isolates of P6 and P10 lacked IBV glycosylation site at position 139 which was detected in IBV/EG/1212B/2012 as well as IB variant II vaccine. The study also revealed no evidence of recombination between the two used live vaccines

Genetic characterization of a rare H12N3 avian influenza virus isolated from a green-winged teal in Japan

This study reports on the genetic characterization of an avian influenza virus, subtype H12N3, isolated from an Eurasian green-winged teal (Anas crecca) in Japan in 2009. The entire genome sequence of the isolate was analyzed, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to characterize the evolutionary history of the isolate. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes indicated that the virus belonged to the Eurasian-like avian lineage. Molecular dating indicated that this H12 virus is likely a multiple reassortant influenza A virus. This is the first reported characterization of influenza A virus subtype H12N3 isolated in Japan and these data contribute to the accumulation of knowledge on the genetic diversity and generation of novel influenza A viruses.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (Contracts HHSN266200700009C and HHSN266200700007)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Grant-in-Aid for the Bilateral Joint ProjectsHeiwa Nakajima Foundatio

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Molecular Characterization of Chicken Anemia Virus Circulating in Chicken Flocks in Egypt

Introduction. Although many previous studies reported detection of chicken anemia virus (CAV) in Egypt since 1990, genomic characterization of this circulating CAV has not been published. In the present study, four nucleotide sequences of detected CAV were genetically characterized. Methods. These nucleotide sequences were obtained from commercial chicken flocks in two different locations of Egypt during 2010. The target region for sequencing was 675 bp nucleotide of partial coding region of VP1 protein. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the detected CAV were aligned and compared to worldwide CAV isolates including commonly used vaccine strains. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences was also carried out. Results. Our results showed that all the Egyptian CAV sequences were grouped in one group with viruses from diverse geographic regions. This group is characterized by amino acids profile 75I, 97L, 139Q, and 144Q in VP1. The phylogenetic and amino acid analyses of deduced amino acid indicated that the detected CAV sequences differ from CAV vaccine strains. Conclusion. This is the first report that describes molecular characterization of circulating CAV in Egypt. The study showed that the detected CAV, in Egypt are field viruses and unrelated to vaccine strains

Genetic characterization of a rare H12N3 avian influenza virus isolated from a green-winged teal in Japan

This study reports on the genetic characterization of an avian influenza virus, subtype H12N3, isolated from an Eurasian green-winged teal (Anas crecca) in Japan in 2009. The entire genome sequence of the isolate was analyzed, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to characterize the evolutionary history of the isolate. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes indicated that the virus belonged to the Eurasian-like avian lineage. Molecular dating indicated that this H12 virus is likely a multiple reassortant influenza A virus. This is the first reported characterization of influenza A virus subtype H12N3 isolated in Japan and these data contribute to the accumulation of knowledge on the genetic diversity and generation of novel influenza A viruses.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (Contracts HHSN266200700009C and HHSN266200700007)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Grant-in-Aid for the Bilateral Joint ProjectsHeiwa Nakajima Foundatio

Change of daily process measures over the study period among the whole cohort and in subgroups of ICUs with baseline spontaneous trial (SAT) compliance of >50% and ≤50.

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Minimal underlying data.

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Outcomes.

Outcomes.</p

CONSORT 2010 checklist of information to include when reporting a randomised trial*.

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List of interventions.

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