Coinfection of Viral Agents in Korean Children with Acute Watery Diarrhea

Currently, there are a few reports on viral coinfection that causes an acute watery diarrhea in Korean children. So, to evaluate the features of coinfectious viral agents in children with acute watery diarrhea, we enrolled 155 children with acute watery diarrhea from July 2005 to June 2006. Fecal samples were collected and evaluated for various viral infections such as rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and astrovirus. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the children was 2.71±2.37 yr. The detection rate of viral agents was most common in children between the ages of 1 and 3 yr. Rotavirus was detected in 63 children (41.3%), norovirus in 56 (36.2%), adenovirus in 11 (7.1%), and astrovirus in 1 (0.6%). Regarding rotavirus, there were 38 (60.3%) cases with monoinfection and 25 (39.7%) with coinfection. For norovirus, there were 33 (58.9%) cases with monoinfection and 23 (41.1%) with coinfection. Coinfection with rotavirus and norovirus was most common, and occurred in 20/155 cases (12.9%) including coinfection with adenovirus. So, rotavirus and norovirus were the most common coinfectious viral agents in our study population with acute watery diarrhea

Two Epidemiologic Patterns of Norovirus Outbreaks: Surveillance in England and Wales, 1992–2000

In the period 1992–2000, the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre collected standardized epidemiologic data on 1,877 general outbreaks of Norovirus (formerly “Norwalk-like virus”) infection in England and Wales. Seventy-nine percent of general outbreaks occurred in health-care institutions, i.e., hospitals (40%) and residential-care facilities (39%). When compared with outbreaks in other settings, those in health-care institutions were unique in exhibiting a winter peak (p<0.0001); these outbreaks were also associated with significantly higher death rates and prolonged duration but were smaller in size and less likely to be foodborne. These data suggest that Norovirus infection has considerable impact on the health service and the vulnerable populations residing in institutions such as hospitals and residential homes. A distinct outbreak pattern in health-care institutions suggests a combination of host, virologic, and environmental factors that mediate these divergent epidemiologic patterns

Porcine Noroviruses Related to Human Noroviruses

Pigs may be reservoirs for human noroviruses, and porcine/human genogroup II recombinants could emerge

Norovirus gastroenteritis general outbreak associated with raw shellfish consumption in South Italy

BACKGROUND: Despite Noroviruses (NV, previously "Norwalk-like viruses") being a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks, the impact of NV infection is at present unknown and little information is available about strains circulating in Italy. In April 2002 an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in the province of Bari (South-east Italy), involving several households. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in order to assess risk factors associated with illness. All households where a case occurred were included in the study. Faecal specimens were collected from ill individuals. NV-specific RT-PCR was performed. Eleven samples of mussels were collected from fish-markets involved in the outbreak. A nested PCR was used for mussel samples. RESULTS: One hundred and three cases, detected by means of active surveillance, met the case definition. Raw shellfish eating was the principal risk factor for the disease, as indicated by the analytic issues (Risk Ratio: 1.50; IC 95%: 1.18 – 1.89; p < 0.001). NVs were found by means of RT-PCR of all the stool specimens from the 24 patients tested. Eleven samples of shellfish from local markets were tested for the presence or NVs; six were positive by nested PCR and genotypes were related to that found in patients' stools. CONCLUSION: This is the first community outbreak caused by NVs related to sea-food consumption described in Italy. The study confirms that the present standards for human faecal contamination do not seem to be a reliable indicator of viral contaminants in mussels

Avaliação da destinação de indivíduos de aves silvestres apreendidas no Estado de São Paulo

Globally, crimes against the environment have been growing at an alarming rate, only trafficking and illegal trade in plants and animals has moved around $7-$ 23 billion in 2016. Along with other pressures such as habitat loss, introduction of alien species and degradation of natural environments, illegal trade can drastically reduce the size of populations of the species of interest. Information compiled by IBAMA indicated that 47,895 animals in Brazil were victims of illegal trafficking in 2005, where a little more than half belonged to the group of birds (57%). This study evaluated the data of wild confiscated birds from the Environmental Military Police of São Paulo, as well as the information contained in the infraction notices, in order to understand the flow of seized animals. The 116,011 birds confiscated were distributed in 242 species, and the family with the highest number of individuals seized was Thraupidae, followed by the parrots. The species most apprehended were the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola), the Double-collared Seedeater (Sporophila caerulescens), the Green-winged Saltator (Saltator similis), and in the family Psittacidae, the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) was the most seized. The vast majority of birds confiscated were not classified as endangered (94% to 95% of individuals), analysis carried out with the Brasilian and São Paulo Red Lists. Most of these confiscated animals were sent to breeders and rehabilitations centers (52.7%), another 23.1% were released in nature and 14.4% were deposited with the lawbreaker. The absence of more rigorous punishments for lawbreakers such as prison sentences and / or confiscation of capital equipment are the causes of the large number of animals that is illegally trade in Brazil, and it is pointed out the need for new and severe laws regulating the protections of Brazilian biodiversity. Since 2001, the number of confiscated animals has been increasing in São Paulo, and discussion and improvement of laws to punish offenders and to improve surveillance and monitoring strategies for the trade in animals is important.Não recebi financiamentoNo mundo todo, os crimes contra o meio ambiente vêm crescendo a uma velocidade alarmante, só o tráfico e comércio ilegal de plantas e animais movimentou cerca de 7 a 23 bilhões de dólares em 2016. Juntamente com outras pressões como perda e alteração de habitats, introdução de espécies exóticas e poluição e/ou degradação dos ambientes naturais, podem reduzir drasticamente o tamanho das populações das espécies mais exploradas. Informações compiladas pelo IBAMA apontaram que 47.895 animais no Brasil foram vítimas do tráfico ilegal em 2005, onde pouco mais da metade pertenciam ao grupo das aves (57%). Este estudo avaliou os dados de apreensão das aves silvestres realizados pela Polícia Militar Ambiental de São Paulo, como também as informações contidas nos autos de infração, visando entender o fluxo dos animais apreendidos. No período de 2012 a 2016 foram apreendidos pela Polícia Militar Ambiental 152.864 animais no total, onde as aves corresponderam a 72% a 79% dos indivíduos apreendidos. As 116.011 aves apreendidas distribuíram-se em 242 espécies, sendo que a família com maior quantidade de indivíduos apreendidos foi Thraupidae, seguido pelos psitacídeos. As espécies mais apreendidas foram o canário-da-terra (Sicalis flaveola), o coleirinha (Sporophila caerulescens), o trinca-ferro (Saltator similis), e dentro da família Psittacidae, o papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva), foi o mais apreendido. A grande maioria das aves apreendidas não estavam classificadas como ameaçadas de extinção (94% a 95% dos indivíduos), tanto pela esfera federal como estadual. Grande parte desses animais apreendidos, foram encaminhados para criadores e centros de triagem (52,7%), outros 23,1% foram soltos em ambientes de mata e 14,4% foram depositados com a autuado. A ausência de punições mais severas para os infratores, tais como sentenças de prisão e/ou confisco de equipamentos de capital é uma das causas da grande quantidade de animais apreendidos, sendo apontada a necessidade de novas leis e decretos regulamentando essa gestão. Desde 2001, a quantidade de animais apreendidos vêm aumentando, sendo importante a discussão e o aprimoramento das leis para punir os infratores e melhorar as estratégias de fiscalização e de monitoramento do comércio de animais

Seroprevalence of Noroviruses in Swine

Noroviruses (NVs) are important human pathogens that cause acute gastroenteritis. Genetically related animal enteric NVs have also been described, but there is no evidence of interspecies transmission of NVs. In this study we characterized antibody prevalence among domestic pigs by using recombinant capsid antigens of two human NVs (Norwalk and Hawaii) and one swine NV (SW918) that is genetically related to GII human NVs. Recombinant SW918 capsid protein expressed in baculovirus self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs) that were detected by antibodies against GII (Hawaii and Mexico), but not GI (Norwalk and VA115), human NVs. NVs recognize human histo-blood group antigens as receptors, but SW918 VLPs did not bind to human saliva samples with major histo-blood group types. Seventy-eight of 110 (71%) pig serum samples from the United States and 95 of 266 (36%) pig serum samples from Japan possessed antibodies against SW918. Serum samples from pigs in the United States were also tested for antibodies against human NVs; 63% were positive for Norwalk virus (GI) and 52% for Hawaii virus (GII). These results indicate that NV infections are common among domestic pigs; the finding of antigenic relationships between SW918 and human NVs and the detection of antibodies against both GI and GII human NVs in domestic animals highlights the importance of further studies on NV gastroenteritis as a possible zoonotic disease