Jihye Um, Chad Douglas Nix, William Bill Messer, Yerun Zhu, Jun-Sun Park, Matthew Harmon Collins, BumSik Chin
{"title":"Long-Term Immunity after Vaccination against Yellow Fever in Korean Travelers.","authors":"Jihye Um, Chad Douglas Nix, William Bill Messer, Yerun Zhu, Jun-Sun Park, Matthew Harmon Collins, BumSik Chin","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2023.290","DOIUrl":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2023.290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although a live-attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccine is known to elicit durable immunity, antibody titers may wane after vaccination. This study evaluated long-term immunity after vaccination against YF among individuals who resided in Korea and were vaccinated with YF virus- 17D prior to international travel. Serum was collected between December 2018 and December 2019 at the National Medical Center, Republic of Korea, from YF vaccine recipients who had been vaccinated for more than five years prior to sample collection. Long-term immunity against YF was assessed using three serological assays: IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and the focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT). Sixty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. The overall positivity rates for 50% focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT<sub>50</sub> ), IFA, and ELISA in a time-variable cross-sectional sample of the cohort were 97.0%, 86.6%, and 26.9%, respectively. While 93.8% (15/16) of samples collected ≥10 years post-vaccination remained positive by FRNT<sub>50</sub> , a significant inverse correlation was observed between FRNT<sub>50</sub> titer and interval after vaccination (R = - 0.385, P = 0.001). Humoral immunity against YF was well preserved among Korean individuals who were vaccinated more than five years ago. IFA testing yielded results similar to those of FRNT<sub>50</sub> testing, which may justify the further development of IFA to screen for waning immunity among those with previous YF vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":"79-84"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142769035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samia Alaoui Boukhris, Mounia El Khadir, Safae Karim, Tiatou Souho, Dafr-Allah Benajah, Sidi Adil Ibrahimi, Laila Chbani, Mohamed El Abkari, Bahia Bennani
{"title":"Gastric Cancer and Associated Pathogens: Is There Any Association in the Moroccan Region?","authors":"Samia Alaoui Boukhris, Mounia El Khadir, Safae Karim, Tiatou Souho, Dafr-Allah Benajah, Sidi Adil Ibrahimi, Laila Chbani, Mohamed El Abkari, Bahia Bennani","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.147","DOIUrl":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Helicobacter pylori, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) are three pathogens associated with various human cancers. This study aimed to investigate the role of these pathogens in gastric cancer in a Moroccan population. A retrospective study was conducted with participants attending the Gastroenterology Department of Hassan II University Hospital in Fez. In total, 279 participants were enrolled in this study. Helicobacter pylori, EBV, and HPV were detected and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction. Significant associations have been established between H. pylori and EBV and gastric cancer. A total of 93.4% and 43.3% of gastric cancer cases were related to H. pylori and EBV, respectively (P ≤ 0.01). Helicobacter pylori-EBV co-infection was responsible for 31.6% of gastric cancer cases (P < 0.01). Correlation between pathogen genotypes and gastric cancer showed that 54.6% of gastric cancer EBV positive cases had a 30 bp deletion in the LMP1 gene, whereas 16% of gastric cancer cases had high-risk HPV genotypes (P = 0.21). These results highlight the possible role of co-infection in gastric cancer development.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":"99-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142545484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Akiko Ohta, Shuji Hashimoto, Miyuki Kawado, Mari S Oba, Ritei Uehara, Kiyosu Taniguchi, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Masaki Nagai, Yoshitaka Murakami
{"title":"Utilizing Infectious Disease Surveillance for Epidemic Warnings of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Japan from 2015 to 2019.","authors":"Akiko Ohta, Shuji Hashimoto, Miyuki Kawado, Mari S Oba, Ritei Uehara, Kiyosu Taniguchi, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Masaki Nagai, Yoshitaka Murakami","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2023.484","DOIUrl":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2023.484","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Japan's National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID) has implemented a warning system for detecting epidemics in smaller districts, such as public health center (PHC) areas. This system is applied to influenza and pediatric infectious diseases. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is not included but its incorporation is needed for effective early epidemic detection. We aimed to propose criterion values for an epidemic warning system related to RSV infection within PHC areas. We analyzed the weekly number of RSV infection cases reported by sentinel medical institutions (SMIs) in the NESID from 2015 to 2019. Weekly cases per SMI in the PHC area were set to establish an index for epidemic warnings. We determined criteria for issuing an epidemic warning by identifying distribution percentiles within the index. Setting the critical values for the onset and end of the epidemic warning at 5 and 2, respectively, yielded an approximately 5% annual proportion of PHC areas with an epidemic warning, which aligns with previously accepted frequency criteria for epidemic warnings. The 5-year (2015-2019) RSV infection epidemic trend showed that the set critical values were appropriate. Using these values could assist with issuing warnings regarding potential RSV infection epidemics in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":"114-117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142931734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antibody Responses and Infection Prevention Following the Sixth Vaccination Using the BA.1 Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Among Healthcare Workers During the XBB Variant Dominance in Japan.","authors":"Misuzu Yahaba, Haruna Asano, Kengo Saito, Shota Murata, Kenji Kawasaki, Hitoshi Chiba, Shou Yokota, Hiroshi Yoshikawa, Yoriko Herai, Kazutaka Yamagishi, Yuki Shiko, Kazuyuki Matsushita, Hideki Hanaoka, Toshibumi Taniguchi, Koutaro Yokote, Hiroshi Nakajima, Eiji Ido, Hidetoshi Igari","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.116","DOIUrl":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effect of the antibodies elicited by bivalent mRNA vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (the original strain and Omicron variant BA.1) on preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) onset during the XBB variant dominance remains unknown. We conducted a prospective cohort study at Chiba University Hospital and examined healthcare workers who received the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (targeting the original and Omicron BA.1) as their sixth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The serum antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein were measured quantitatively. Participants who were not infected during the 60-day observation period following the sixth vaccination had significantly higher S antibody titers than those who were newly infected (27,756 U/mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] 24,988-30,831 U/mL vs. 15,321 U/mL, 95% CI 10,824-21,688 U/mL; P < 0.05). S antibody titer ≥15,500 U/mL decreased the risk of infection by 84%. Neutralizing antibody titers against the XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.42 variants were higher in age- and sex-matched non-infected individuals than in newly infected individuals during the post-vaccination observation period. S antibody titers were highly correlated with neutralizing antibody titers. In conclusion, after the sixth vaccination with a bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, high S antibody titers correlated with disease prevention, even in the presence of the XBB variants.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":"106-109"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142768974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Severe Japanese Spotted Fever: A Retrospective Multicenter Study in the Nagasaki Prefecture, Western Japan.","authors":"Kohsuke Matsui, Shingo Masuda, Yosuke Koizumi, Monami Yamanaka, Yasumori Izumi, Chris Smith, Reiko Miyahara, Koya Ariyoshi","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.216","DOIUrl":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a tick-borne rickettsial disease prevalent in western Japan with an increasing incidence and geographical distribution. This retrospective study aimed to describe the clinical features of JSF and identify factors associated with its severe form. We included adult patients with laboratory-confirmed JSF in the Nagasaki Prefecture between 2010 and 2021. Severe JSF was defined as an altered mental status, low blood pressure, or low oxygen saturation. In total, 65 JSF cases were diagnosed. Common symptoms included fever (87%), rash (48%), and fatigue (48%), with eschars detected in 50 (79.4%) patients. Thirty-eight (60.3%) patients were initially diagnosed with non-JSF conditions. Twenty-one (33.3%) patients were categorized as having severe JSF, including one death. Prehospital factors associated with severe JSF included age ≥75 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 37.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.03-465.38), male sex (aOR 26.5, 95% CI 4.23-166.00), and a treatment delay ≥4 days from onset (aOR 5.96, 95% CI 1.13-31.60). This study highlights the diagnostic challenges of JSF owing to its non-organ-specific clinical presentation. Delayed initial treatment, advanced age, and male sex significantly increase the risk of disease severity. It is crucial to raise awareness of JSF among clinicians and residents in endemic areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":"63-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142545483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Differences in Characteristics, Treatments, and Mortality of Patients with COVID-19 Between 2022 and 2020-2021.","authors":"Shotaro Aso, Sachiko Ono, Nobuaki Michihata, Kohei Uemura, Hideo Yasunaga","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.272","DOIUrl":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.272","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2021, vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were developed and the Omicron variant emerged. This study compared the characteristics, treatments, and mortality of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between 2022 and 2020-2021, using administrative claims data linked including vaccine records in a Japanese city. Patients who underwent COVID-19 antigen or polymerase chain reaction tests and were diagnosed with COVID-19 were identified. Patient characteristics, treatments, and mortality were compared between 2022 and 2020-2021 among those diagnosed with COVID-19. We identified 26,262 patients with COVID-19. The mortality in 2022 was lower than that in 2020-2021 (0.6% vs. 1.7%; P < 0.01). Patients in 2022 were significantly less likely to receive oxygen therapy, high-flow nasal oxygenation, mechanical ventilation, steroids, and tocilizumab than those in 2020-2021. Among the deceased, the proportion of those aged ≥65 years was significantly higher in 2022 than in 2020-2021 (98.4% vs. 88.6%). The logistic regression analysis indicated, older age, male sex, and ≥3 comorbidities were associated with higher mortality, whereas ≥3 vaccinations were associated with lower mortality. Patients with COVID-19 in 2022 were less likely to require respiratory care or succumb to the disease. Older patients were more likely to die in 2022 than in 2020-2021.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":"85-90"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142769015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sensitivity evaluation of a modified real-time reverse-transcription PCR primer to detect a measles virus variant in Japan in 2024.","authors":"Takako Kurata, Daiki Kanbayashi, Atsushi Kaida, Saeko Morikawa, Satoshi Hiroi, Yuki Hirai, Mei Koyama, Takeshi Miyama, Noriyuki Otsuki, Kazushi Motomura","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.304","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A measles outbreak occurred in Japan in February 2024 due to a measles virus variant that was imported from central Asian countries with three mismatches at the PCR reverse primer (MVN1213R) annealing site. To examine and improve the impact of real-time PCR effectiveness for detecting this variant, we compared the sensitivity of real-time PCR between MVN1213R and a modified primer using control RNAs, clinical isolates, and clinical specimens. The median difference in the cycle threshold value was 2.92 (interquartile range, IQR 1.99-3.38) lower using the modified primer compared with MVN1213R. Thus, PCR primer sets should be modified to effectively detect this measles virus mutation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143537031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of the shortened quarantine policy among healthcare personnel in the cancer center setting during the Omicron epidemic in Japan: A descriptive epidemiological study.","authors":"Yuka Kudo-Nagata, Takahiro Ozawa, Tami Watanabe, Masako Sakurada, Noritaka Sekiya","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Updating and evaluating facility-based guidance in cancer centers for managing healthcare personnel (HCP) with close contact with individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is challenging because these settings are typically excluded from general guidance, and practical data on this population are limited. This study aimed to describe whether apparent outbreaks occurred under the updated protocol in the real-world setting of a cancer center. From July 2022 to January 2023, 402 HCP who had close contact with an individual with COVID-19 were identified and divided into two groups: the separation group, which underwent a five-day quarantine with physical isolation (172 HCP), and the cohabitation group, which followed a ten-day quarantine (227 HCP). A nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) was conducted the day before the HCP returned to work. Data from their medical records were retrospectively collected and analyzed. As a primary outcome, no outbreaks due to post-quarantine transmission from close-contacted HCP were observed throughout the study period in either group. Our findings suggested a 5-day quarantine for HCP with close contact with COVID-19 might be applicable in cancer center settings if combined with NAAT before returning to work without increasing the risk of apparent outbreaks.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143537022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mesocestoides vogae infection in dogs: confusion with echinococcosis.","authors":"Yasuyuki Morishima, Hiromu Sugiyama","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.343","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We describe six independent cases of Mesocestoides infection in dogs presenting with diarrhea. Between November 2022 and August 2024, we were consulted by veterinarians regarding the identification of a species of small tapeworm excreted in dog feces. These veterinarians suspected the organism was Echinococcus multilocularis and believed it should be reported to health centers as a notifiable disease. Segmented and unsegmented worms, approximately 600 to 1,400 µm in length, were recovered from fecal samples. Microscopically, the worms had four suckers on the scolex but no rostellum. Subsequent molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 and 12S rDNA genes revealed that all cases involved Mesocestoides vogae. Affected dogs were treated with an anthelmintic, and the diarrhea disappeared immediately. Perhaps due to the heavy infection load, the host animals developed diarrhea, and the parasite was likely expelled before reaching maturity. These small tapeworms with few proglottids could therefore confuse veterinarians.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143537030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of rapid amplicon-based nanopore sequencing using the latest chemistry for accurate whole genome analysis of influenza A virus in clinical samples.","authors":"Yumani Kuba, Nobuhiro Takemae, Satoshi Kawato, Kunihiro Oba, Kiyosu Taniguchi, Tsutomu Kageyama","doi":"10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2024.400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>MinION sequencing is widely used to sequence influenza A virus (IAV) genomes; however, the accuracy and utility of this approach, using the latest chemistry to obtain whole viral genome sequences directly from clinical samples, remain insufficiently investigated. We evaluated the sequencing accuracy of combining simultaneous multisegment one-step RT-PCR and MinION sequencing using various subtypes of 13 IAV isolates. The latest R10.4.1 chemistry significantly improved sequencing accuracy, achieving ≥99.993% identity with Illumina MiSeq results and reducing the single nucleotide deletion in homopolymer regions. Applying this method to 11 clinical samples enabled rapid subtype identification and the acquisition of eight full-length IAV genomes. In four of these samples, subtype identification of HA and NA was achieved within 20 min after the start of sequencing and a full-length IAV genome was obtained within 7 h after RNA extraction. However, there was concern that cross barcode misassignment during demultiplexing affected data interpretation, particularly for samples with low viral genome copy numbers. This approach can be used for the rapid identification of IAV subtypes and accurate acquisition of full IAV genome sequences from clinical samples, although careful data analysis is required for the multiplex sequencing of clinical samples with low viral genome copy numbers.</p>","PeriodicalId":14608,"journal":{"name":"Japanese journal of infectious diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143079439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}