Seroprevalance of pertussis antibodies in maternal and cord blood of preterm and term infants

Background: The resurgence of pertussis has resulted in an increased morbidity and mortality, especially among young infants. The aim of our study was to determine the antibody concentrations against pertussis antigens in cord and maternal blood in both preterm and term infant-mother pairs and to evaluate the efficacy of transplacental antibody transfer

Prevalence of rotavirus genotypes in children younger than 5 years of age before the introduction of a universal rotavirus vaccination program: Report of Rotavirus Surveillance in Turkey

PubMedID: 25437502Background: Group A rotaviruses are the most common causative agent of acute gastroenteritis among children less than 5 years of age throughout the world. This sentinel surveillance study was aimed to obtain baseline data on the rotavirus G and P genotypes across Turkey before the introduction of a universal rotavirus vaccination program. Methods: Rotavirus antigen-positive samples were collected from 2102 children less than 5 years of age who attended hospitals participating in the Turkish Rotavirus Surveillance Network. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the laboratories of participating hospitals by commercial serological tests such as latex agglutination, immunochromatographic test or enzyme immunoassay. Rotavirus G and P genotypes were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using consensus primers detecting the VP7 and VP4 genes, followed by semi-nested type-specific multiplex PCR. Results: RT-PCR found rotavirus RNA in 1644 (78.2%) of the samples tested. The highest rate of rotavirus positivity (38.7%) was observed among children in the 13 to 24 month age group, followed by children in the age group of 25 to 36 months (28.3%). A total of eight different G types, six different P types, and 42 different G-P combinations were obtained. Four common G types (G1, G2, G3, and G9) and two common P types (P[8] and P[4]) accounted for 95.1% and 98.8% of the strains, respectively. G9P[8] was the most common G/P combination found in 40.5% of the strains followed by G1P[8] (21.6%), G2P[8] (9.3%), G2P[4] (6.5%), G3P[8] (3.5%), and finally, G4P[8] (3.4%). These six common genotypes included 83.7% of the strains tested in this study. The rate of uncommon genotypes was 14%. Conclusion: The majority of the strains analyzed belonged to the G1-G4 and G9 genotypes, suggesting high coverage of current rotavirus vaccines. This study also demonstrates a dramatic increase in G9 genotype across the country. © 2014 Durmaz et al

PCR-BASED NATIONAL BACTERIAL MENINGITIS SURVEILLANCE IN TURKEY YEARS 2006 TO 2009

Polymerase chain reaction-based surveillance for bacterial meningitis including 841 children revealed 246 with bacterial DNA in cerebrospinal fluid samples of which 53% were Streptococcus pneumoniae, 19% Neisseria meningitidis, and 16% Haemophilus influenzae type b. The most common S. pneumoniae serotypes/serogroups were 1, 19F, 6A/6B, 23F, 5, 14, 18 and 19A. Among 47 meningococci, 86% were serogroup B, 6% serogroup C, 3% serogroup A, 3% serogroup X and 3% serogroup W

Distribution of common G and P genotype combinations among seven geographic regions of Turkey.

<p>The “n” indicates the total number of antigen-positive samples collected in each region.</p

Rotavirus positivity (A) and genotype distribution (B) between females and males.

<p>Rotavirus positivity (A) and genotype distribution (B) between females and males.</p

Seasonal distribution of rotavirus-positive samples (A) and G–P genotype combinations detected (B).

<p>Seasonal distribution of rotavirus-positive samples (A) and G–P genotype combinations detected (B).</p

The total number of rotavirus RNA-positive samples and distribution of major genotypes in different age groups.

<p>The total number of rotavirus RNA-positive samples and distribution of major genotypes in different age groups.</p

Geographical distribution of 42 different rotavirus G and P genotype combinations in Turkey from August 2012 to July 2014.

<p>N, non-typeable G and/or P genotype; Mixed, presence of multiple genotypes in the same stools.</p><p>Geographical distribution of 42 different rotavirus G and P genotype combinations in Turkey from August 2012 to July 2014.</p

G and P consensus and type-specific primers.

a,b<p>Primers were obtained from references 6 and 27. ^c,dAmplicon sizes were obtained from references 6 and 27. ^eAmplicon sizes were estimated using the nucleotide positions of forward and reverse primers.</p><p>G and P consensus and type-specific primers.</p