Search results for "infections"

Molecular surveillance of norovirus, 2005–16 : an epidemiological analysis of data collected from the NoroNet network

2018

BACKGROUND: The development of a vaccine for norovirus requires a detailed understanding of global genetic diversity of noroviruses. We analysed their epidemiology and diversity using surveillance data from the NoroNet network.METHODS: We included genetic sequences of norovirus specimens obtained from outbreak investigations and sporadic gastroenteritis cases between 2005 and 2016 in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. We genotyped norovirus sequences and analysed sequences that overlapped at open reading frame (ORF) 1 and ORF2. Additionally, we assessed the sampling date and country of origin of the first reported sequence to assess when and where novel drift variants originated.FINDINGS: W…

A 12-year-old boy with severe back pain and blast-like cells in the CSF

1999

Mast cells as rapid innate sensors of cytomegalovirus by TLR3/TRIF signaling-dependent and -independent mechanisms

2014

The succinct metaphor, ‘the immune system's loaded gun', has been used to describe the role of mast cells (MCs) due to their storage of a wide range of potent pro-inflammatory and antimicrobial mediators in secretory granules that can be released almost instantly on demand to fight invaders. Located at host–environment boundaries and equipped with an arsenal of pattern recognition receptors, MCs are destined to be rapid innate sensors of pathogens penetrating endothelial and epithelial surfaces. Although the importance of MCs in antimicrobial and antiparasitic defense has long been appreciated, their role in raising the alarm against viral infections has been noted only recently. Work on cy…

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, serum inflammatory biomarkers and clinical severity of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

2020

Background The involvement of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in mediating immunopathogenetic events in COVID-19 patients has been suggested. By using several experimental approaches, we investigated the potential association between SARS-CoV-2 IgGs recognizing the spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), neutralizing antibodies (NtAb) targeting S, and COVID-19 severity. Patients and methods This unicenter, retrospective, observational study included 51 hospitalized patients (24 at the intensive care unit; ICU). A total of 93 sera from these patients collected at different time points from the onset of symptoms were analyzed. SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgGs were quantitated by ELISA and NtAb50 titers wer…

Eosinophilic Meningitis due toAngiostrongylus cantonensisin Germany

2009

We report a case of eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in a patient who returned from Thailand. The presence of a compatible epidemiologic history and eosinophilia in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lead to the diagnosis, which was confirmed by detection of specific antibodies. After treatment with albendazole and corticosteroids he recovered completely.

Efficacy of a bivalent vaccine against eel diseases caused by Vibrio vulnificus after its administration by four different routes

2003

Vulnivaccine, a vaccine against vibriosis caused by Vibrio vulnificus serovar E (formerly biotype 2), confers acceptable levels of protection to eels after its administration by prolonged immersion in three doses. Recently, a new pathogenic serovar, named serovar A, has been isolated from vaccinated eels in a Spanish freshwater eel farm. The main objective of this work was to design a bivalent vaccine, and to study its effectiveness against the two pathogenic serovars. With this aim, eels weighing around 20 g were immunised with the bivalent vaccine by oral and anal intubation, intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and prolonged immersion. The overall results indicated that: (i) the new vaccine …

Efficacy of immunoglobulins in gram-negative infections in experimentally induced peritonitis in the rat

1985

The effect of adjuvantly administered, newly developed immunoglobulin preparations in combination with an antibiotic is investigated by means of an animal experimental model. The animal model was peritonitis which was induced by a left-open colotomy in the rat. Administration of a combination therapy of immunoglobulins and an antibiotic succeeded in reducing lethality and shock index (according to Staub [15]) significantly by up to 50% as compared to the untreated control group. Using sub-therapeutic dosage of the antibiotic (50% of the human equivalent dose) the synergistic effect of the immunoglobulins could be confirmed clearly. A single summation of the offered immunoglobulin preparatio…

A European multicentre evaluation of detection and typing methods for human enteroviruses and parechoviruses using RNA transcripts

2020

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection has become the gold standard for diagnosis and typing of enterovirus (EV) and human parechovirus (HPeV) infections. Its effectiveness depends critically on using the appropriate sample types and high assay sensitivity as viral loads in cerebrospinal fluid samples from meningitis and sepsis clinical presentation can be extremely low. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of currently used commercial and in‐house diagnostic and typing assays. Accurately quantified RNA transcript controls were distributed to 27 diagnostic and 12 reference laboratories in 17 European countries for blinded testing. Transcripts represented the four human EV…

Susceptibility of eye fluke-infected fish to predation by bird hosts.

2005

Host manipulation by trophically transmitted parasites may predispose infected hosts to predation and in this way enhance parasite transmission. In most study systems, however, the evidence comes from laboratory studies, and therefore knowledge of the effect of manipulation on parasite transmission efficiency in the wild is still limited. Here we examined the effect ofDiplostomum spathaceum(Trematoda) eye flukes on the susceptibility of fish intermediate hosts to predation by bird definitive hosts. Our earlier studies have shown that the parasite alters fish phenotype and increases their susceptibility to artificial predation under laboratory conditions. In the present field study, we allow…

Capacity assessment for provision of quality sexual reproductive health and HIV-integrated services in Karamoja, Uganda

2020

Introduction: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are crucial global health issues. Uganda continues to sustain a huge burden of HIV and AIDS.
 Methods: A cross-sectional health facility-based assessment was performed in November and December 2016 in Karamoja Region, northern Uganda. All the 126 health facilities (HFs) in Karamoja, including 5 hospitals and 121 Health Centers (HCs), covering 51 sub-counties of the 7 districts were assessed. We assessed the capacity of a) leadership and governance, b) human resource, c) service delivery, d) SRH and HIV service integration and e) users satisfaction and perceptions.
 Results: 64% of the establi…