Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs underlie West Nile virus encephalitis in ∼40% of patients

Mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) infection is benign in most individuals but can cause encephalitis in <1% of infected individuals. We show that ∼35% of patients hospitalized for WNV disease (WNVD) in six independent cohorts from the EU and USA carry auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-α and/or -ω. The prevalence of these antibodies is highest in patients with encephalitis (∼40%), and that in individuals with silent WNV infection is as low as that in the general population. The odds ratios for WNVD in individuals with these auto-Abs relative to those without them in the general population range from 19.0 (95% CI 15.0-24.0, P value <10-15) for auto-Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml IFN-α and/or IFN-ω to 127.4 (CI 87.1-186.4, P value <10-15) for auto-Abs neutralizing both IFN-α and IFN-ω at a concentration of 10 ng/ml. These antibodies block the protective effect of IFN-α in Vero cells infected with WNV in vitro. Auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-α and/or IFN-ω underlie ∼40% of cases of WNV encephalitis

Specialist laboratory networks as preparedness and response tool - The emerging viral diseases-expert laboratory network and the chikungunya outbreak, Thailand, 2019

We illustrate the potential for specialist laboratory networks to be used as preparedness and response tool through rapid collection and sharing of data. Here, the Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet) and a laboratory assessment of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in returning European travellers related to an ongoing outbreak in Thailand was used for this purpose. EVD-LabNet rapidly collected data on laboratory requests, diagnosed CHIKV imported cases and sequences generated, and shared among its members and with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Data across the network showed an increase in CHIKV imported cases during 1 October 2018-30 April 2019 vs the same period in 2018 (172 vs 50), particularly an increase in cases known to be related to travel to Thailand (72 vs 1). Moreover, EVD-LabNet showed that strains were imported from Thailand that cluster with strains of the ECSA-IOL E1 A226 variant emerging in Pakistan in 2016 and involved in the 2017 outbreaks in Italy. CHIKV diagnostic requests increased by 23.6% between the two periods. The impact of using EVD-LabNet or similar networks as preparedness and response tool could be improved by standardisation of the collection, quality and mining of data in routine laboratory management systems

Effects of the subchronic administration of zinc ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (Zineb) in rabbits.

The effects of subchronic administration (90 d) of zineb were studied in male New Zealand White rabbits. Rabbits were allotted to 3 groups of 8 animals each and offered diets containing 0, 0.3 or 0.6% zineb. A marked decline in weight gain, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and erythrocyte and leucocyte counts occurred at the highest zineb dosage. There was a dose-related depression in circulating thyroid hormones, whereas serum lipid concentration, particularly that of cholesterol and triglycerides, increased. Hepatic lipid concentration was considerably reduced in rabbits exposed to 0.6% zineb. Neither serum testosterone nor the activities of selected testicular enzymes showed changes suggestive of testicular involvement. Pathological changes were in agreement with biochemical findings; there was a marked dose-related enlargement of the thyroid showing histological colloid struma. An increase in relative weight and moderate glycogenosis were detected in liver, whereas no lesions occurred in testes. It was concluded that thyroid and liver are the main targets for zineb toxicity in the rabbit. Unlike the results from previous studies conducted on other food-producing species, repeated exposure of rabbits to zineb failed to cause testicular damage. This might be related to the inability of zineb to significantly accumulate in the testes