Age-associated differences in clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters during a dengue virus type 4 outbreak in Argentina

Infection by any of the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes produces a wide spectrum of clinical illness in humans. Differences in clinical manifestation and severity have been associated with secondary heterologous infection, patient age, and virus serotype. In this context, this retrospective study sought to analyze the presentation of dengue in patients during the 2014 DENV-4 outbreak affecting the City of Orán, Salta Province, Argentina. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory abnormalities of laboratory-confirmed dengue patients were compared between age groups and between patients with and without warning signs. Of 301 patients with laboratory-confirmed dengue, 37.9% presented dengue with warning signs. Although nearly half of all patients had secondary DENV infections, no severe dengue cases, or deaths were reported. Furthermore, no association was found between incidence of warning signs and pre-existing immunity to DENV. Pediatric patients were least likely to present warning signs and showed significantly decreased risk of fever, retro-orbital pain, arthalgia, diarrhea and thrombocytopenia, and higher risk of rash compared to older patients. Female patients of all ages were also at higher risk of developing several symptoms. The characterization of DENV-4 infection in humans, a DENV serotype recently reported in Argentina, revealed differences in clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters and the presence/absence of warning signs based on age group. Further investigation of these age-related differences should contribute to better assessment of dengue disease in at risk populations.Fil: Byrne, Alana Brooke. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectología Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Francisco Guillermo. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Agostina Alejandra. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; ArgentinaFil: Cordoba, María Teresa. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; ArgentinaFil: Bono, María M.. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; ArgentinaFil: Polack, Fernando Pedro. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectología Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Talarico, Laura Beatriz. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectología Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Quipildor, Marcelo Omar. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; Argentin

Neosporosis in dogs: consequences on reproduction?

Neospora caninum is currently considered as one of the major pathogens responsible for abortions in cattle, which acts as an intermediate host. Dogs are the definitive hosts, but they also act as intermediate hosts for this parasite. This raises the legitimate question as to whether N. caninum is indeed responsible for reproductive disorders in dogs, given that the worldwide seroprevalence of the infection is far fromnegligible among the canine populations. There are arguments in favour of an adverse effect of N. caninum during pregnancy in bitches : firstly, the vertical transmission of this parasite in dogs is practically proven, and secondly, experimental studies with the inoculation of pregnant bitches induced foetal or neonatal infections. However, results are contradictory and more systematic and rigorous studies must be carried out before any conclusion can be drawn on the prevalence of this parasite in reproductive disorders in pregnant bitches.Neospora caninum est à l'heure actuelle considéré comme un des principaux agents pathogènes responsables d'avortements chez les bovins, hôtes intermédiaires de ce parasite. Le chien est l'hôte définitif, mais il est aussi un hôte intermédiaire. À ce titre, on peut légitimement s'interroger sur les éventuels troubles de la reproduction que cette maladie pourrait générer dans l'espèce canine, d'autant que la séroprévalence de l'infection, au niveau mondial, ne semble pas négligeable dans les effectifs de chiens. Des arguments en faveur d'un rôle néfaste de N. caninum au cours de la gestation existent: d'une part, il est désormais quasiment certain que ce parasite est transmis verticalement dans l'espèce canine et d'autre part, des études expérimentales consistant à inoculer des chiennes gestantes ont induit des infections foetales ou néonatales. Toutefois, les résultats sont contradictoires et des études plus systématiques et rigoureuses sont nécessaires avant de pouvoir conclure sur la prévalence de ce parasite dans les troubles de la reproduction chez la chienne gestante

A clinical case of demodectic mange in a dairy cow

Adjou Karim Tarik, Polack Bruno, Gourreau Jean-Marie, Brugère-Picoux Jeanne. Un cas de démodécie chez une vache laitière. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 156 n°4, 2003. pp. 85-88

Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016

Peer reviewe

Using scale modelling to assess the prehistoric acoustics of stonehenge

With social rituals usually involving sound, an archaeological understanding of a site requires the acoustics to be assessed. This paper demonstrates how this can be done with acoustic scale models. Scale modelling is an established method in architectural acoustics, but it has not previously been applied to prehistoric monuments. The Stonehenge model described here allows the acoustics in the Late Neolithic and early Bronze Age to be quantified and the effects on musical sounds and speech to be inferred. It was found that the stone reflections create an average mid-frequency reverberation time of (0.64 ± 0.03) seconds and an amplification of (4.3 ± 0.9) dB for speech. The model has a more accurate representation of the prehistoric geometry, giving a reverberation time that is significantly greater than that measured in the current ruin and a full-size concrete replica at Maryhill, USA. The amplification could have aided speech communication and the reverberation improved musical sounds. How Stonehenge was used is much debated, but these results show that sounds were improved within the circle compared to outside. Stonehenge had different configurations, especially in terms of the positions of the bluestones. However, this made inaudible changes to the acoustics, suggesting sound is unlikely to be the underlying motivation for the various arrangements

Short-chain fatty acid acetate triggers antiviral response mediated by RIG-I in cells from infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty-acid (SFCA) acetate protects mice against RSV A2 strain infection by increasing interferon-β production and expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). However, the role of SFCA in RSV infection using strains isolated from patients is unknown. METHODS: We first used RSV clinical strains isolated from infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis to investigate the effects of in vitro SCFA-acetate treatment of human pulmonary epithelial cells. We next examined whether SCFA-acetate treatment is beneficial in a mouse model of RSV infection using clinical isolates. We sought to investigate the relationship of gut microbiota and fecal acetate with disease severity among infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis, and whether treating their respiratory epithelial cells with SCFA-acetate ex-vivo impacts viral load and ISG expression. We further treated epithelial cells from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with SCFA-acetate. FINDINGS: In vitro pre-treatment of A549 cells with SCFA-acetate reduced RSV infection with clinical isolates and increased the expression of RIG-I and ISG15. Animals treated with SCFA-acetate intranasally recovered significantly faster, with reduction in the RSV clinical isolates viral load, and increased lung expression of IFNB1 and the RIG-I. Experiments in RIG-I knockout A549 cells demonstrated that the protection relies on RIG-I presence. Gut microbial profile was associated with bronchiolitis severity and with acetate in stool. Increased SCFA-acetate levels were associated with increasing oxygen saturation at admission, and shorter duration of fever. Ex-vivo treatment of patients’ respiratory cells with SCFA-acetate reduced RSV load and increased expression of ISGs OAS1 and ISG15, and virus recognition receptors MAVS and RIG-I, but not IFNB1. These SCFA-acetate effects were not found on cells from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. INTERPRETATION: SCFA-acetate reduces the severity of RSV infection and RSV viral load through modulation of RIG-I expression. FUNDING: FAPERGS (FAPERGS/MS/CNPq/SESRS no. 03/2017 - PPSUS 17/2551-0001380-8 and COVID-19 20/2551-0000258-6); CNPq 312504/2017-9; CAPES) - Finance Code 001

Pediatric Hospitalizations Associated with 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Argentina

Fil: Libster, Romina. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Bugna, Jimena. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Coviello, Silvina. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Hijano, Diego R. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Dunaiewsky, Mariana. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Reynoso, Natalia. Hospital Municipal Materno Infantil de San Isidro; Argentina.Fil: Cavalieri, Maria L. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Guglielmo, Maria C. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Areso, M. Soledad. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gilligan, Tomas. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Santucho, Fernanda. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Cabral, Graciela. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Gregorio, Gabriela L. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Moreno, Rina. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Lutz, Maria I. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Panigasi, Alicia L. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Saligari, Liliana. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Caballero, Mauricio T. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Egües Almeida, Rodrigo M. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Gutierrez Meyer, Maria E. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Neder, Maria D. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Davenport, Maria C. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Del Valle, Maria P. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Santidrian, Valeria S. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Mosca, Guillermina. Ministerio de Ciencia, Técnica e Innovación. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Alvarez, Liliana. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Landa, Patricia. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Pota, Ana. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Boloñati, Norma. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Dalamon, Ricardo. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Sanchez Mercol, Victoria I. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Espinoza, Marco. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Peuchot, Juan Carlos. Hospital Eva Perón, Benito Juárez, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Karolinski, Ariel. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Bruno, Miriam. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos G. Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Borsa, Ana. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Ferrero, Fernando. Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Bonina, Angel. Hospital De Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; Argentina.Fil: Ramonet, Margarita. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Albano, Lidia C. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Luedicke, Nora. Ministerio de Ciencia, Técnica e Innovación. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Alterman, Elias. Fundación Infant, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Savy, Vilma L. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Baumeister, Elsa. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virología. Servicio de Virosis Respiratoria; Argentina.Fil: Chappell, James D. Vanderbilt University. Pathology, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Fil: Edwards, Kathryn M. Vanderbilt University. Departments of Pediatrics, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Fil: Melendi, Guillermina A. Vanderbilt University. Departments of Pediatrics, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Fil: Polack, Fernando P. Vanderbilt University. Departments of Pediatrics, Nashville, Tennessee; Estados Unidos.Background: While the Northern Hemisphere experiences the effects of the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, data from the recent influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere can provide important information on the burden of disease in children. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series involving children with acute infection of the lower respiratory tract or fever in whom 2009 H1N1 influenza was diagnosed on reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction assay and who were admitted to one of six pediatric hospitals serving a catchment area of 1.2 million children. We compared rates of admission and death with those among age-matched children who had been infected with seasonal influenza strains in previous years. Results: Between May and July 2009, a total of 251 children were hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza. Rates of hospitalization were double those for seasonal influenza in 2008. Of the children who were hospitalized, 47 (19%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, 42 (17%) required mechanical ventilation, and 13 (5%) died. The overall rate of death was 1.1 per 100,000 children, as compared with 0.1 per 100,000 children for seasonal influenza in 2007. (No pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza were reported in 2008.) Most deaths were caused by refractory hypoxemia in infants under 1 year of age (death rate, 7.6 per 100,000). Conclusions: Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza was associated with pediatric death rates that were 10 times the rates for seasonal influenza in previous years