Comparative genomics of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii associated with meningitis in HIV infected and uninfected patients in Vietnam

10.1371/journal.pntd.0005628PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases116e000562

Dengue-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, Vietnam

10.3201/eid2402.171634Emerging Infectious Diseases242402-40

Human Brucella melitensis infections in southern Vietnam

Brucellosis is a collective term for infections caused by small Gram-negative coccobacilli belonging to genus Brucella. This genus incorporates the well-described animal pathogens Brucella melitensis, Brucella abortus, Brucella ovis, Brucella suis, and Brucella canis, which are associated with disease in goats, cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs, respectively. Brucella are facultative intracellular pathogens, and are sequestered by monocytes and macrophages, spreading throughout the body to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow [1]. These pathogens are synonymous with an aggressive disease syndrome in animals causing abortion, stillbirth, and the delivery of weak offspring. The organisms replicate to high concentrations in the affected tissues and are transmitted through contact with the placenta, foetus, foetal fluids, and vaginal discharge. Notably, goats can shed B. melitensis in vaginal discharge for up to 3 months after abortion and organisms can be shed in milk for the lifetime of an infected animalLa brucelosis es un término colectivo para las infecciones causadas por pequeños coccobacilos Gram-negativos pertenecientes al género Brucella. Este género incorpora los patógenos animales bien descritos Brucella melitensis, Brucella abortus, Brucella ovis, Brucella suis y Brucella canis, que se asocian con enfermedades en cabras, vacas, ovejas, cerdos y perros, respectivamente. Las Brucella son patógenos intracelulares facultativos, y son secuestrados por monocitos y macrófagos, extendiéndose por todo el cuerpo hasta el hígado, el bazo, los ganglios linfáticos y la médula ósea [1]. Estos patógenos son sinónimos de un síndrome de enfermedad agresiva en los animales que causa aborto, mortinato y el nacimiento de una descendencia débil. Los organismos se replican en altas concentraciones en los tejidos afectados y se transmiten a través del contacto con la placenta, el feto, los fluidos fetales y el flujo vaginal. Notablemente, las cabras pueden derramar B. melitensis en el flujo vaginal hasta 3 meses después del aborto y los organismos pueden ser derramados en la leche durante toda la vida de un animal infectado.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaEscuela de Medicina Veterinari

Human Brucella melitensis infections in southern Vietnam

Publishe

Validation and utilization of an internally controlled multiplex Real-time RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of enteroviruses and enterovirus A71 associated with hand foot and mouth disease

Background: Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a disease of public health importance across the Asia-Pacific region. The disease is caused by enteroviruses (EVs), in particular enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). In EV-A71-associated HFMD, the infection is sometimes associated with severe manifestations including neurological involvement and fatal outcome. The availability of a robust diagnostic assay to distinguish EV-A71 from other EVs is important for patient management and outbreak response. Methods: We developed and validated an internally controlled one-step single-tube real-time RT-PCR in terms of sensitivity, linearity, precision, and specificity for simultaneous detection of EVs and EV-A71. Subsequently, the assay was then applied on throat and rectal swabs sampled from 434 HFMD patients. Results: The assay was evaluated using both plasmid DNA and viral RNA and has shown to be reproducible with a maximum assay variation of 4.41 % and sensitive with a limit of detection less than 10 copies of target template per reaction, while cross-reactivity with other EV serotypes was not observed. When compared against a published VP1 nested RT-PCR using 112 diagnostic throat and rectal swabs from 112 children with a clinical diagnosis of HFMD during 2014, the multiplex assay had a higher sensitivity and 100 % concordance with sequencing results which showed EVs in 77/112 (68.8 %) and EV-A71 in 7/112 (6.3 %). When applied to clinical diagnostics for 322 children, the assay detected EVs in throat swabs of 257/322 (79.8 %) of which EV-A71 was detected in 36/322 (11.2 %) children. The detection rate increased to 93.5 % (301/322) and 13.4 % (43/322) for EVs and EV-A71, respectively, when rectal swabs from 65 throat-negative children were further analyzed. Conclusion: We have successfully developed and validated a sensitive internally controlled multiplex assay for rapid detection of EVs and EV-A71, which is useful for clinical management and outbreak control of HFMD

Longitudinal sampling is required to maximize detection of intrahost A/H3N2 virus variants

10.1093/ve/veaa088Virus Evolution62veaa08

Effect of double dose oseltamivir on clinical and virological outcomes in children and adults admitted to hospital with severe influenza: Double blind randomised controlled trial

10.1136/bmj.f3039BMJ (Online)3467911-BMJO