A pandemic strain of calicivirus threatens rabbit industries in the Americas

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a severe acute viral disease specifically affecting the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus. As the European rabbit is the predominant species of domestic rabbit throughout the world, RHD contributes towards significant losses to rabbit farming industries and endangers wild populations of rabbits in Europe and other predatory animals in Europe that depend upon rabbits as a food source. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus (RHDV) – a Lagovirus belonging to the family Caliciviridae is the etiological agent of RHD. Typically, RHD presents with sudden death in 70% to 95% of infected animals. There have been four separate incursions of RHDV in the USA, the most recent of which occurred in the state of Indiana in June of 2005. Animal inoculation studies confirmed the pathogenicity of the Indiana 2005 isolate, which caused acute death and pathological changes characterized by acute diffuse severe liver necrosis and pulmonary hemorrhages. Complete viral genome sequences of all USA outbreak isolates were determined and comparative genomics revealed that each outbreak was the result of a separate introduction of virus rather than from a single virus lineage. All of the USA isolates clustered with RHDV genomes from China, and phylogenetic analysis of the major capsid protein (VP60) revealed that they were related to a pandemic antigenic variant strain known as RHDVa. Rapid spread of the RHDVa pandemic suggests a selective advantage for this new subtype. Given its rapid spread, pathogenic nature, and potential to further evolve, possibly broadening its host range to include other genera native to the Americas, RHDVa should be regarded as a threat

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

تغيرات البنيان الدقيق بالمجهر الإلكتروني الماسح لسطح الأهاب في ديدان شيستوسوما مانسوني البالغة بعد العلاج بعقاري برازيكوانتل و رو-15(5458)

In view of the known relationship between changes in the tegumental surface of schistosomes and the potency of antischistosomal drugs, the present work is done to study the effect of two oral drugs, namely Praziquantel and Ro-15 (5458), on the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni by scanning electron microscopy. The damage produced in the tegument of both male and female worms after treatment with the curative and subcurative doses of Praziquantel and Ro-15 (5458) are described. A pronounced deformation of the whole worms was detected after the treatment with a combined reduced dose of the two oral antibilharzial drugs. The potency of the new compound Ro-15 (5458) is encouraging and deserves further studies to be recommended as an antischistosomal drug, particularly in those cases which may show evidence of drug resistance to Praziquantel.تتضمن الدراسة الحالية متابعة تأثير عقارين مضادين لديدان البلهارسيا شيستوسومامانسوني باستخدام الميكروسكوب الالكتروني الماسح . وهذان العقاران هما البرازيكوانتل وعقار جديد هو رو-15 (5458) . وقد وصفت التغيرات التي تظهر على السطح الخارجي للديدان الناتجة عن استخدام الجرعات الشافية والتحت شافية لكل من العقارين ، كما وصفت أيضاً تشوهات الديدان الناجمة عن استخدام جرعة مركبة من كلا العقارين . وقد أوضحت الدراسة كفاءة عقار رو-15(5458) الجديد ، في تأثيره على ديدان البلهارسيا المعوية بصورة مشجعة على مواصلة دراسته وإِمكانية استخدامه ، في حالات المرضى الذين يظهرون دلائل على مقاومة الطفيليات للعلاج بعقار برازيكوانتل

التركيب الدقيق لبعض مراحل هيموجريجارينا تارينتانيو لاري الذي يصيب البرص تارينتولا أنيولاريس

Certain blood and schizogonic stages of Haemogregarina larentannulari - occuring in the vertebrate host Tarenlola annularis - were studied by electron microscopy. Certain crylhrocytic stages, as well as some schizogonic stages observed within the endolhelial cells of the lung arc described. The fine structure of both the blood stages and merozoites exhibited the general characteristics of the phylum Apicomplexa regarding the pellicle, conoid, polar ring, micropore, rhoptrics, microncmes and subpcllicular microiubulcsيتناول هذا البحث دراسة التركيب الدقيق بالمجهر الالكتروني لبعض مراحل الدم ومراحل التزاوج اللاجنسى لطفيلي الهيموجريجارينا تارينتاتيولارى في العائل الفقاري تارينتولا انيولاريس . وقد أوضحت الدراسة تركيب بعض الأطوار داخل كريات الدم الحمراء وبعضها الآخر داخل الخلايا ص المبطنة للشعيرات الدموية في رئة العائل الفقاري (البرص ) . ووجد أن التركيب الدقيق لأغشية كل من الميروزويتات والأطوار الاخرى بداخل كريات الدم الحمراء متشابهة تركيبيا وتحمل المواصفات القياسية لشعبية إبيكومبلكسا والتي تتكون من شمع وحلقة أمامين وميكرونيمات وروبتيرات ، وكذلك الثقب الدقيق والأنابيب تحت الجدارية

نوع جديد من الهيموجريجارينات في دم الورل الصحراوي من مصر

Ten monitors, Varanus griseus collected from various localities in Egypt were examined for protozoan blood parasites. A new species of the genus Haemogregarina senso lato is reported from six of these monitors. Blood forms of Haemogregarina roshdyi n.sp. are described. These forms produce changes to the shape and structure of infected cells including stretching and slight dehaemoglobization of infected cells and displacement of the nuclei. Despite of the low parasitaemia observed in the blood, schizogonic stages have been observed in the lungs and liver. The new species is compared with other species of haemogregarines described previously from varanids.يصف الباحثون نوعاً جديداً من الهيموجريجارنيات في دم الورل الصحراوي من مصر ، ويشتمل البحث على وصف تفصيلي لمختلف مراحل الطفيلي التي تصيب خلايا الدم الحمراء ، وتؤدي إلى حدوث بعض التغيرات في تلك الخلايا وإزاحة أنويتها ، كما تم وصف مراحل نمو تلك الطفيليات في الرئتين والكبد ، فضلا عن مقارنة النوع الجديد بالأنواع الأخرى التي سبق وصفها من زواحف الورل في أفريقيا

نوعان جديدان من الهيموجريجارينات في دم نوعين من الثعابين في مصر

Two species of colubrid and elapid snakes collected from different localities in Egypt were examined for protozoan blood parasites. TWo new species of Haemogregarina senso lato are described: Haemogregarina garnhami n.sp. is described from 65.2% of Psammophis schokari aegyptius collected from El-Faiyum, El Bahariya Oases and Aswan and Hg. aswanensis n.sp. is reported in one specimen out of four Naja haje collected from Aswan in Upper Egypt. Blood and tissue stages are described for the two species of haemogregarines and are compared with eight species of haemogregarines reported previously from snakes in Egypt.وصف المؤلفون نوعين من طفيليات الدم الأولية التي تصيب نوعين من الثعابين في مصر ، هما هيموجريجارينا جارنامي الذي يصيب ثعبان أبو السيورشوكارى الجبلي ، هيموجريجارينا أسواننسز الذي يصيب ثعبان الكوبرا . ويتضمن البحث وصفا كاملا لمختلف مراحل نمو الهيموجريجارينات في خلايا الدم الحمراء وكذلك في أنسجة الرئتين أو/ والكبد ، كما ناقش المؤلفون الأسس التي تم الاعتماد عليها في تمييز النوعين الجديدين عن الأنواع الأخرى المشابهة التي سبق التعرف عليها من الثعابين

هيموجررينات الأبراص في مصر مع وصف نوع جديد : هيموجريجارينا حلميمحمدى

Three species of geckos collected from various localities in Egypt were examined for protozoan blood parasites. Haemogregarines were reported in all the three species of geckos. Problems of the generic and specific identification of haemogregarines are reviewed and a practical policy suggested earlier is discussed, updated and followed in the present work. Haemogregarina tarentannulari Mohammed and Ramadan, 1996 and H.rawashi Mohammed and Ramadan, 1996 are redescribed from 44.4 and 43.8% of Tarentola annularis and Pty-chodactylus hasselquisti respectively and their geographical distribution is extended to new localities in Egypt. H.helmymohammedi n.sp. is described from Hemidactylus flaviviridis collected from Southern Sinai. Various blood forms and some tissue stages are described for the three species of haemogregarines which are also compared with other related species from Africa.سجل المؤلفون أوليات الدم الطفيلية المعروفة بالهيموجريجارينات من ثلاثة أنواع من الأبراص (زواحف برية صغيرة) تم جمعها من عدة أماكن في مصر . وقد تضمن البحث إجراء مراجعة تحليلية ومناقشة موسعة للآراء العلمية التي سبق أن أبداها العديد من الباحثين المهتمين بدراسة هذه المجموعة من الأوليات الطفيلية ، خلص بعدها المؤلفون إلى ترجيح الأخذ بنهج علمي سبق اقتراحه منذ فترة واتبعه بعد ذلك عدد من الباحثين الثقاة في هذا المجال ، كما تضمن البحث وصفاً لثلاثة أنواع من تلك الطفيليات هي : هيموجريجارينا تارنتانيولاري ، هيموجريجارينا رواشي بالإضافة إلى هيموجريجارينا حلميمحمدى وهو نوع جديد يوصف لأول مرة . وقد ناقّش المؤلفون الأسس التي يمكن الاعتماد عليها في تمييز الأنواع الثلاثة عن غيرها من الأنواع التي سبق تسجيلها في تلك المجموعة من الزواحف البرية

A pandemic strain of calicivirus threatens rabbit industries in the Americas-4

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "A pandemic strain of calicivirus threatens rabbit industries in the Americas"</p><p>http://www.virologyj.com/content/4/1/96</p><p>Virology Journal 2007;4():96-96.</p><p>Published online 2 Oct 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2147015.</p><p></p>-capture ELISA using type-specific HRP-conjugated monoclonal antibodies (MAb). MAb 1H8 is specific for the original RHDV serotype, MAb 3B12 is specific for the new RHDVa pandemic strain, and MAb 2B4 recognizes a shared epitope. The four U.S. RHDV isolates, Mexico 1989 isolate, an Italian isolate, and Korean isolate were compared in comparison with a control liver homogenate derived from an uninfected rabbit (Normal Liver). All U.S. isolates were recognized by MAb 3B12 as belonging to the RHDVa pandemic strain