139 research outputs found
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Rede,
in verkorte vorm uitgesproken
ter gelegenheid van het aanvaarden
van het ambt van bijzonder hoogleraar
in de virologie aan het Erasmus
faculteit van de Erasmus Universiteit
Rotterdam op 8 maart 200
Metagenomic sequencing for surveillance of food- and waterborne viral diseases
A plethora of viruses can be transmitted by the food- and waterborne route. However, their recognition is challenging because of the variety of viruses, heterogeneity of symptoms, the lack of awareness of clinicians, and limited surveillance efforts. Classical food- and waterborne viral disease outbreaks are mainly caused by caliciviruses, but the source of the virus is often not known and the foodborne mode of transmission is difficult to discriminate from human-to-human transmission. Atypical food- and waterborne viral disease can be caused by viruses such as hepatitis A and hepatitis E. In addition, a source of novel emerging viruses with a potential to spread via the food- and waterborne route is the repeated interaction of humans with wildlife. Wildlife-to-human adaptation may give rise to self- limiting outbreaks in some cases, but when fully adjusted to the human host can be devastating. Metagenomic sequencing has been investigated as a promising solution for surveillance purposes as it detects all viruses in a single protocol, delivers additional genomic information for outbreak tracing, and detects novel unknown viruses. Nevertheless, several issues must be addressed to apply metagenomic sequencing in surveillance. First, sample preparation is difficult since the genomic material of viruses is genera
Laboratory support during and after the Ebola virus endgame: Towards a sustained laboratory infrastructure
The Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa is on the brink of entering a second phase in which the (inter)national efforts to slow down virus transmission will be engaged to end the epidemic. The response community must consider the longevity of their current laboratory support, as it is essential that diagnostic capacity in the affected countries be supported beyond the end of the epidemic. The emergency laboratory response should be used to support building structural diagnostic and outbreak surveillance capacity
Cross host transmission in the emergence of MERS coronavirus
Coronaviruses (CoVs) able to infect humans emerge through cross-host transmission from animals. There is substantial evidence that the recent Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV outbreak is fueled by zoonotic transmission from dromedary camels. This is largely based on the fact that closely related viruses have been isolated from this but not any other animal species. Given the widespread geographical distribution of dromedaries found seropositive for MERS-CoV, continued transmission may likely occur in the future. Therefore, a further understanding of the cross host transmission of MERS-CoV is needed to limit the risks this virus poses to man
Animals as Reservoir for Human Norovirus
Norovirus is the most common cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis and is a burden
worldwide. The increasing norovirus diversity is currently categorized into at least 10 genogroups
which are further classified into more than 40 genotypes. In addition to humans, norovirus can
infect a broad range of hosts including livestock, pets, and wild animals, e.g., marine mammals and
bats. Little is known about norovirus infections in most non-human hosts, but the close genetic
relatedness between some animal and human noroviruses coupled with lack of understanding
where newly appearing human norovirus genotypes and variants are emerging from has led to the
hypothesis that norovirus may not be host restricted and might be able to jump the species barrier.
We have systematically reviewed the literature to describe the diversity, prevalence, and geographic
distribution of noroviruses found in animals, and the pathology associated with infection. We further
discuss the evidence that exists for or against interspecies transmission including surveillance data
and data from in vitro and in vivo experiments
General practitioner practices in requesting laboratory tests for patients with gastroenteritis in the Netherlands, 2001–2002
Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the (selective) proportion of patients
consulting their GP for an episode of gastroenteritis for whom laboratory tests were requested. In
addition adherence of GPs to the guidelines for diagnostic test regime was ascertained.
Methods: Data were collected from a GP network in the Netherlands. Information was also
collected on the reason for requesting the test, test specifications, and test results.
Results: For 12% of the GP patients with gastroenteritis, a stool sample was requested and tested
for enteric pathogens. In most patients, the duration, followed by severity of complaints or a visit
to a specific, high-risk country were reported as reasons to request laboratory diagnostics. Tests
were requested most often in summer months and in February. Campylobacter (requested for 87%
of the tests), Salmonella (84%), Shigella (78%) and Yersinia (56%) were most frequently included in
the stool tests. Campylobacter was detected most often in patients.
Conclusion: Test requests did not always comply with existing knowledge of the etiology of
gastroenteritis in GP patients and were not always consistent with the Dutch GP guidelines.
Therefore, the data of this study can be used to develop educational approaches for GP's as well
as for revision of the guidelines
Capturing norovirus transmission
Human norovirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis and is efficiently transmitted between humans and around the globe. The burden of norovirus infections in the global community and in health-care settings warrant the availability of outbreak prevention strategies and control measures that are tailored to the pathogen, outbreak setting and population at risk. A better understanding of viral and host determinants of transmission would aid in developing and fine-tuning such efforts. Here, we describe mechanisms of transmission, available model systems for studying norovirus transmission and their strengths and weaknesses as well as future research strategies
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