Bo Albinsson, Bengt Rönnberg, Sirkka Vene, Åke Lundkvist
{"title":"Antibody responses to tick-borne encephalitis virus non-structural protein 1 and whole virus antigen-a new tool in the assessment of suspected vaccine failure patients.","authors":"Bo Albinsson, Bengt Rönnberg, Sirkka Vene, Åke Lundkvist","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1696132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1696132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report a new tool for improved serological diagnostics in suspected tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine failure cases. Due to an increase in the incidence of disease as well as the number of vaccinees, specific and simplified diagnostic methods are needed. Antibody responses to TBE-virus (TBEV) non-structural protein 1 (NS1) are detectable post TBEV infection but not post vaccination. We have used samples from 14 previously confirmed Swedish TBEV vaccine failure patients to study antibody responses against NS1 and whole virus antigens, respectively. Our conclusion is that the detection of antibodies directed to TBEV NS1 antigen is a useful tool to considerably simplify and improve the quality in investigations regarding suspected TBEV infection in vaccinated patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1696132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1696132","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37459676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Complete genome sequencing of H1N1pdm09 swine influenza isolates from Nigeria reveals likely reverse zoonotic transmission at the human-animal interface in intensive piggery.","authors":"C A Meseko, A Heidari, G N Odaibo, D O Olaleye","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1696632","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1696632","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prevailing agro-ecological conditions and intermingling of human and animals in intensive farms in urban and peri-urban areas in Africa favour cross species transmission of pathogens at the human-animal interface. However, molecular epidemiology studies of zoonotic swine influenza viruses in this region are limited. In this study, isolates of pandemic influenza virus (H1N1pdm09) obtained from pigs in Nigeria were fully sequenced. BLAST of swine influenza virus genes from Nigeria was carried out in GenBank and gene alignment was done using MEGA version 7. Maximum likelihood method (PhyML program) was used to determine gene evolutionary relationships with other viruses and phylogenetic trees were constructed to infer genomic clusters and relationship. Swine influenza viruses isolated and sequenced in this study were monophyletic and 99% congenetic with human isolates from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and USA suggesting reverse zoonotic transmission from humans to pigs in intensive husbandry. A Q240R and S31N substitution among others were detected in the haemagglutinin and matrix genes, respectively, indicating potentials for mutations during interspecies co-mingling and transmission. The A/H1N1pdm09 viruses circulating in pigs that are also exposed to avian influenza in the same epidemiological zones could engender emergence of novel viruses with zoonotic or pandemic potential requiring enhanced surveillance and monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1696632"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1696632","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37459677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samuel Cronhjort, Peter Wilhelmsson, Linda Karlsson, Johanna Thelaus, Andreas Sjödin, Pia Forsberg, Per-Eric Lindgren
{"title":"The Tick-Borne Diseases STING study: Real-time PCR analysis of three emerging tick-borne pathogens in ticks that have bitten humans in different regions of Sweden and the Aland islands, Finland.","authors":"Samuel Cronhjort, Peter Wilhelmsson, Linda Karlsson, Johanna Thelaus, Andreas Sjödin, Pia Forsberg, Per-Eric Lindgren","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1683935","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1683935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A milder climate has during the last decade contributed to an increased density and spreading of ixodid ticks, thus enhancing their role as emerging vectors for pathogenic microorganisms in northern Europe. It remains unclear if they contribute to the occurrence of infections caused by the bacteria <i>Bartonella</i> spp., <i>Francisella tularensis</i> subspecies <i>holarctica</i> and the parasite <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Sweden and on the Åland islands, Finland. In this study, we want to improve understanding of the tick-borne transmission of these pathogens. Volunteers were recruited at primary healthcare centers. Ticks and blood samples were acquired from participants recruited in 2008 and 2009. Health questionnaires were completed, and medical records were acquired where applicable. Feeding time was estimated and screening of pathogens in the ticks was performed through real-time PCR. Ticks (n = 1849) were of mixed developmental stages: 76 larvae, 1295 nymphs, 426 adults and 52 undetermined. All analyzed ticks were considered negative for these pathogens since the CT-values were all below the detection limit for <i>Bartonella</i> spp. (1663 ticks), <i>Francisella</i> spp. (1849 ticks) and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (1813 ticks). We assume that infections with these pathogens are caused by other transmission pathways within these regions of Sweden and the Åland islands, Finland.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1683935"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1683935","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46499532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Urban transmission of mosquito-borne flaviviruses - a review of the risk for humans in Vietnam.","authors":"Thang Nguyen-Tien, Åke Lundkvist, Johanna Lindahl","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1660129","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1660129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vietnam is a tropical country where mosquito-borne diseases are common. This review explores the transmission of mosquito-borne flaviviruses in urban areas of Vietnam. It concludes that urban transmission has mainly been studied for Dengue virus, and so far, much less for Japanese encephalitis virus. Dengue is the most common flavivirus in Vietnam. Due to fast urbanization and favorable climatic conditions, the viral transmission concentrates mainly to large cities with high population density including Ha Noi, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh. Human cases of Japanese encephalitis have been controlled by an expanded immunization program. However, this virus is still circulating throughout the country, also in cities due to the pig rearing practices in urban and peri-urban areas. Zika virus is an additional major concern because it has long circulated in the Northern area and is now increasingly diagnosed in urban areas of the Central, Central Highlands and Southern regions using the same mosquito vectors as Dengue virus. There was alarge outbreak of Zika disease from 2016 to early 2017, with most infections observed in Ho Chi Minh city, the largest town in Vietnam. Other flaviviruses circulate in Vietnam but have not been investigated in terms of urban transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1660129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6735309/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41215115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maureen M Kuboka, Jasper K Imungi, Lucy Njue, Florence Mutua, Delia Grace, Johanna F Lindahl
{"title":"Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk traded in peri-urban Nairobi, and the effect of boiling and fermentation.","authors":"Maureen M Kuboka, Jasper K Imungi, Lucy Njue, Florence Mutua, Delia Grace, Johanna F Lindahl","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1625703","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1625703","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background: </b>Dairy production in Kenya is important and dominated by small-holder farmers who market their produce through small-scale traders in the informal sector. <b>Method</b>: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of aflatoxin (AFM1) in informally marketed milk in peri-urban Nairobi, Kenya, and to assess knowledge of milk traders on aflatoxins using questionnaires. A total of 96 samples were analyzed for AFM1 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, boiling and fermentation experiments were carried out in the laboratory. <b>Results</b>: All samples had AFM1 above the limit of detection (5 ng/kg) (mean of 290.3 ± 663.4 ng/kg). Two-thirds of the samples had AFM1 levels above 50 ng/kg and 7.5% of the samples exceeded 500 ng/kg. Most of the traders had low (69.8%) or medium (30.2%) knowledge. Educated (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and female traders (<i>p</i>= 0.04) were more knowledgeable. Experimentally, fermenting milk to <i>lala</i> (a traditional fermented drink) and yogurt significantly reduced AFM1 levels (<i>p</i>< 0.01) (71.8% reduction in lala after incubation at room temperature for 15 h, and 73.6% reduction in yogurt after incubation at 45ºC for 4h). Boiling had no effect. <b>Conclusion</b>: The study concluded that the prevalence of raw milk with AFM1 was high, while knowledge was low. Fermentation reduced the AFM1 levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1625703"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1625703","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37385817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carol Esson, Lee F Skerratt, Lee Berger, Jonas Malmsten, Tanja Strand, Åke Lundkvist, Josef D Järhult, Johan Michaux, Tserennadmid Nadia Mijiddorj, Rana Bayrakçısmith, Charudutt Mishra, Örjan Johansson
{"title":"Health and zoonotic Infections of snow leopards <i>Panthera unica</i> in the South Gobi desert of Mongolia.","authors":"Carol Esson, Lee F Skerratt, Lee Berger, Jonas Malmsten, Tanja Strand, Åke Lundkvist, Josef D Järhult, Johan Michaux, Tserennadmid Nadia Mijiddorj, Rana Bayrakçısmith, Charudutt Mishra, Örjan Johansson","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1604063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1604063","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Snow leopards, <i>Panthera uncia</i>, are a threatened apex predator, scattered across the mountains of Central and South Asia. Disease threats to wild snow leopards have not been investigated.<b>Methods and Results</b>: Between 2008 and 2015, twenty snow leopards in the South Gobi desert of Mongolia were captured and immobilised for health screening and radio-collaring. Blood samples and external parasites were collected for pathogen analyses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. The animals showed no clinical signs of disease, however, serum antibodies to significant zoonotic pathogens were detected. These pathogens included, <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, (25% prevalence), <i>Leptospira</i> spp., (20%), and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (20%). Ticks collected from snow leopards contained potentially zoonotic bacteria from the genera <i>Bacillus, Bacteroides, Campylobacter, Coxiella, Rickettsia, Staphylococcus</i> and <i>Streptococcus</i>.<b>Conclusions</b>: The zoonotic pathogens identified in this study, in the short-term did not appear to cause illness in the snow leopards, but have caused illness in other wild felids. Therefore, surveillance for pathogens should be implemented to monitor for potential longer- term disease impacts on this snow leopard population.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1604063"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1604063","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37354761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rajeswari Shome, Ram Pratim Deka, Swati Sahay, Delia Grace, Johanna F Lindahl
{"title":"Seroprevalence of hemorrhagic septicemia in dairy cows in Assam, India.","authors":"Rajeswari Shome, Ram Pratim Deka, Swati Sahay, Delia Grace, Johanna F Lindahl","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1604064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1604064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a highly fatal disease caused by <i>Pasteurella multocida</i> that often cause outbreaks in buffalo and cattle in India, and thus is a major cause of production losses. It is one of the livestock diseases with the highest mortality, and despite available vaccines, outbreaks still occur. To assess the seroprevalence in the state of Assam, Northeast India, 346 serum samples from cows from 224 randomly selected households, from both urban and rural areas of three districts, were tested with a commercial ELISA. In total 88 cows were seropositive (25.4%), and indigenous cattle were significantly more seropositive (33.5%) compared to the crossbred cattle (18.5%) (p = 0.002). Herd prevalence was 35.7%, and more rural farms (47.4%) were positive compared to the urban farms (23.6%) (p < 0.001). No other risk factors were identified in this study. Only one farm had vaccinated against HS, but there were no seropositive animals detected in that herd. This study shows that HS is highly prevalent in Assam. Considering the importance of dairy production in India, and the dependence of the rural Assam population on farming and livestock keeping, more extensive vaccination campaigns would be important.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1604064"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1604064","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37417939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Improving food safety in the informal sector: nine years later.","authors":"Delia Grace, Morenike Dipeolu, Silvia Alonso","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1579613","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1579613","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Foodborne disease is a major public health problem in poor countries, but we lack effective, sustainable and scalable approaches that work in the traditional, informal markets where most fresh, risky food is sold. A promising intervention is working with informal sector vendors to provide: a) training and technologies; b) an enabling environment; c) motivation for behaviour change. <b>Materials and methods:</b> We present a long-term follow-up of pilot project in one of the largest abattoirs and meat markets in Nigeria. An evaluation shortly after implementation found the intervention was acceptable, cost-effective and resulted in safer meat. The follow-up nine years later using mixed methods: qualitative surveys and microbiological tests. <b>Results and Discussion:</b> The policy environment had become disabling, partly as a result of authorities attempts to move butchers to a modern, hygienic but more distant abattoir. This was resisted by the butchers. Authorities revoked the license for Bodija market and stopped providing services. Matters escalated and forceful attempts to remove butchers resulted in deaths followed by riots. Meat safety deteriorated. <b>Conclusion:</b> The case study shows the importance of an enabling environment and need for stakeholder collaboration in attempting to improve food safety in the traditional sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1579613"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1579613","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37248609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rat-borne diseases at the horizon. A systematic review on infectious agents carried by rats in Europe 1995-2016.","authors":"Tanja Maria Strand, Åke Lundkvist","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2018.1553461","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2018.1553461","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To investigate the spectrum of rat-borne pathogens circulating in Europe a systematic review spanning across 55 European countries during the years 1995-2016 was performed. The study surveyed viruses, bacteria, macroparasites and unicellular eukaryotes (protozoa). Fifty-three different infectious agents, all with zoonotic potential, were reported to be carried by commensal rats; 48 by the brown rat (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) and 20 by the black rat (<i>R. rattus</i>). There was a tendency for rural areas to harbour more rat-borne microbes than urban areas regarding the brown rat, but the opposite could be observed for the black rat. The study clearly indicated that an improved surveillance on wild rats is needed in Europe, and further indicated the pathogens and geographical areas where the major focus is required. For example, six zoonotic microbes seemed to be clearly more geographically widespread in Europe than others; virulent or resistant <i>E. coli</i>, pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp., <i>Hymenolepis diminuta, H. nana, Capillaria hepatica</i> and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1553461"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2018.1553461","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37025041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Berking, I. Vågsholm, Lisa-Marie Hedberg, Sölvi Sörgjerd, R. Niskanen
{"title":"Non-compliances - an indicator of food control effectiveness","authors":"C. Berking, I. Vågsholm, Lisa-Marie Hedberg, Sölvi Sörgjerd, R. Niskanen","doi":"10.1080/20008686.2019.1599276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2019.1599276","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Introduction: This paper presents an option for evaluating food control effectiveness by analysing the frequency of non-compliances (FnC). Material and methods: A food business establishment can have several different types of control areas (i.e. pest control, HACCP), that can be inspected to assess its compliance with regulations in the food sector. From April 2012 to April 2014, 10 736 inspections were performed in Sweden, covering all 15 types of control areas. In these inspections, 2223 non-compliances were found, giving a FnC of 0.21 per control area inspected. Outlying types of control areas, inspection teams and establishments were selected for supervision of the internal audit procedure. Results and discussion: The key and surprising finding was that types of control area, teams and establishments with high FnC had a higher ratio of false negative non-compliances than those with low FnC. Moreover, false negative non-compliances were more common than false positive non-compliances. Possible explanations include the complexity of legislation affecting food businesses and the complexities of the food business. Conclusions: The risk of non-compliance going undetected is greatest where many non-compliances have already been detected. These results should inform future food control strategies.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/20008686.2019.1599276","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45165610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}