Dynamic evolution of canine parvovirus in Thailand

Background and Aim: According to the previous study, the circulating canine parvovirus (CPV) in Thailand is 2a and 2b. Nowadays, CPV mutants, including CPV-2c, have been identified in many parts of the world. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of the circulating CPV in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Eighty-five CPV-positive fecal samples were obtained from dogs with either acute hemorrhagic diarrhea or diarrhea. The complete VP2 gene of these samples was amplified using VP2 specific primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The obtained full-length VP2 sequences were analyzed and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. Results: Sixty and 25 CPV-positive fecal samples were collected in 2010 and 2018, respectively. Thirty-four samples were new CPV-2a and 31 samples were new CPV-2b due to amino acids substitution at position 297 (Ser-Ala). In 2018, 5 new CPV-2a, 19 CPV-2c, and 1 feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) were found, but no new CPV-2b was detected. Moreover, most of the CPV in this study had amino acids mutations at positions 324 and 440. The phylogenetic construction demonstrated the close relationship between the current new CPV-2a with the previous CPV-2a reported from Thailand, China, Uruguay, Vietnam, Singapore, and India. Interestingly, the current new CPV-2b in this study was not closely related to the previous CPV-2b reported in Thailand. The CPV-2c in this study was closer to Asian CPV-2c and further from either European or South America CPV-2c. Interestingly, FPV was identified in a diarrhea dog. Conclusion: The evolution of CPV in Thailand is very dynamic. Thus, it is important to monitor for CPV mutants and especially the clinical signs relating to these mutants to conduct surveillance for the emergence of new highly pathogenic CPV in the future

Variation among Bm86 sequences in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks collected from cattle across Thailand

Anti-tick vaccines based on recombinant homologues Bm86 and Bm95 have become a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides commonly used to control the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. However, Bm86 polymorphism among geographically separate ticks is reportedly associated with reduced effectiveness of these vaccines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variation of Bm86 among cattle ticks collected from Northern, Northeastern, Central and Southern areas across Thailand. Bm86 cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences representing 29 female tick midgut samples were 95.6–97.0 and 91.5–93.5 % identical to the nucleotide and amino acid reference sequences, respectively, of the Australian Yeerongpilly vaccine strain. Multiple sequence analyses of these Bm86 variants indicated geographical relationships and polymorphism among Thai cattle ticks. Two larger groups of cattle tick strains were discernable based on this phylogenetic analysis of Bm86, a Thai group and a Latin American group. Thai female and male cattle ticks (50 pairs) were also subjected to detailed morphological characterization to confirm their identity. The majority of female ticks had morphological features consistent with those described for R. (B.) microplus, whereas, curiously, the majority of male ticks were more consistent with the recently re-instated R. (B.) australis. A number of these ticks had features consistent with both species. Further investigations are warranted to test the efficacies of rBm86-based vaccines to homologous and heterologous challenge infestations with Thai tick strains and for in-depth study of the phylogeny of Thai cattle ticks

Elastic and 'transparent bone' as an electrochemical separator

Sem informaçãoThe organic matrix of a bone mainly composed of a collagen matrix serves as a crucial component for remarkable toughness and strength in bones. The porous collagen matrix can also serve as an efficient template for various applications such as nanoparticle synthesis, catalysis or catalysis supports, electrochemical separator, filtration membrane, and tissue engineering. However, fabricating collagen matrix from bones without degrading its morphological structure still remains a challenge. Here, we present evidence of how ceramic crystals from a bone can be removed to fabricate a complete 'transparent bone' structure with improved porosity and elasticity. We show that demineralization or selective etching using dilute acid (citric) can remove ceramic mineral nanoparticles without degrading the collagen matrix. The transparent bone collagen matrix is investigated as the separator in electrochemical supercapacitor with aqueous electrolyte where it shows better performance compared with conventional separators.12132138Sem informaçãoSem informaçãoSem informaçãoThe authors thank the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Grant FA9550-13-1-008) for funding this research and Air Force Office of Scientific Research MURI Grant (FA9550-12-1 0035) financial support of this research

COVID-19: Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across 17 countries

Abstract Background The current pandemic of COVID-19 impacted the psychological wellbeing of populations globally. Objectives We aimed to examine the extent and identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study across 17 countries during Jun-2020 to Jan-2021. Levels of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale), fear of COVID-19 (Fear of COVID-19 Scale), and coping (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) were assessed. Results A total of 8,559 people participated; mean age (&plusmn;SD) was 33(&plusmn;13) years, 64% were females and 40% self-identified as frontline workers. More than two-thirds (69%) experienced moderate-to-very high levels of psychological distress, which was 46% in Thailand and 91% in Egypt. A quarter (24%) had high levels of fear of COVID-19, which was as low as 9% in Libya and as high as 38% in Bangladesh. More than half (57%) exhibited medium to high resilient coping; the lowest prevalence (3%) was reported in Australia and the highest (72%) in Syria. Being female (AOR 1.31 [95% CIs 1.09-1.57]), perceived distress due to change of employment status (1.56 [1.29-1.90]), comorbidity with mental health conditions (3.02 [1.20-7.60]) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress and fear. Doctors had higher psychological distress (1.43 [1.04-1.97]), but low levels of fear of COVID-19 (0.55 [0.41-0.76]); nurses had medium to high resilient coping (1.30 [1.03-1.65]). Conclusions The extent of psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping varied by country; however, we identified few higher risk groups who were more vulnerable than others. There is an urgent need to prioritise health and well-being of those people through well-designed intervention that may need to be tailored to meet country specific requirements. </jats:sec