Iridovirus in the root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus

Invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (IIV6) was evaluated for mode of transmission and ability to cause infection in the root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.). This is the first evidence of IIV6 infection in D. abbreviatus, which caused both patent and sub-lethal covert infections in both larvae and adults. Adults and larvae were successfully infected with IIV6 by puncture, injection and per os. Transmission of IIV6 was demonstrated between infected and healthy individuals regardless of gender. Virus was detected in egg masses produced by virus-infected females suggesting IIV6 is transmitted transovarially. Virus particles were observed in the cytoplasm of weevil cells, and were shown to infect fat bodies, muscle, and nerve tissues, as visualized using transmission electron microscopy. Patent infections resulted in death of individuals within 3 to 4 days post infection. Individuals with covert infections tested positive for virus infection on day 7 by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Sequencing of PCR amplicons confirmed virus infection. Discovery of new pathogens against root weevils may provide new management tools for development of control strategies based on induced epizootics. This is the first report of a virus infecting D. abbreviatus

Correction to: Cluster identification, selection, and description in Cluster randomized crossover trials: the PREP-IT trials

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

Violence and Mental Health among Adolescents in South East Nigeria

Background: There is a rise in the prevalence of mental illness among adolescents and the impact of violence on this rising trend requires to be evaluated. Aim: The aim of the study is to better understand the impact of violence on adolescent’s mental health. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional school-based study. Adolescents in the selected schools were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Information on previous experience of violence, the action is taken, and the effect on them was collected. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS. The level of significance was at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 716 adolescents were studied over a one month period. The prevalence of violence was 87%. About 57.2% of the violence occurred at home, 44.2% was carried out by relatives and 49.2% happened within the past six months. Sexual abuse was 10.2%. Among the adolescents that experienced violence, 58.7% suffered some form of mental illness. There was a significant difference between the action the adolescents took after the violent incident and the action that was considered appropriate for it (P = 0.00001). Female gender (P = 0.042), not living with parents (P = 0.015) and poverty (P = 0.00001) significantly correlate with adolescent violence. Conclusion: Violence is high among adolescents and associated with a high prevalence of mental illness. Interventional measures targeted at reducing violence by improving poverty alleviation programs that empower families to carter for their children should be implemented.&nbsp