{"title":"Risk of resistant avian influenza A virus in wild waterfowl as a result of environmental release of oseltamivir","authors":"Anna Gillman","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.32870","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.32870","url":null,"abstract":"Oseltamivir is the best available anti-influenza drug and has therefore been stockpiled worldwide in large quantities as part of influenza pandemic preparedness planning. The active metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) is stable and is not removed by conventional sewage treatment. Active OC has been detected in river water at concentrations up to 0.86 µg/L. Although the natural reservoir hosts of influenza A virus (IAV) are wild waterfowl that reside in aquatic environments, the ecologic risks associated with environmental OC release and its potential to generate resistant viral variants among wild birds has largely been unknown. However, in recent years a number of in vivo mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) studies have been conducted regarding the potential of avian IAVs to become resistant to OC in natural reservoir birds if these are drug exposed. Development of resistance to OC was observed both in Group 1 (N1) and Group 2 (N2, N9) neuraminidase subtypes, when infected ducks were exposed to OC at concentrations between 0.95 and 12 µg/L in their water. All resistant variants maintained replication and transmission between ducks during drug exposure. In an A(H1N1)/H274Y virus, the OC resistance mutation persisted without selective drug pressure, demonstrating the potential of an IAV with a permissive genetic background to acquire and maintain OC resistance, potentially allowing circulation of the resistant variant among wild birds. The experimental studies have improved the appreciation of the risks associated with the environmental release of OC related to resistance development of avian IAVs among wild birds. Combined with knowledge of efficient methods for improved sewage treatment, the observations warrant implementation of novel efficient wastewater treatment methods, rational use of anti-influenza drugs, and improved surveillance of IAV resistance in wild birds.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.32870","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69759932","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}
{"title":"Bat consumption in Thailand","authors":"K. Suwannarong, S. Schuler","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.29941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.29941","url":null,"abstract":"Background Human consumption of bats poses an increasing public health threat globally. Communities in which bat guano is mined from caves have extensive exposure to bat excreta, often harvest bats for consumption, and are at risk for bat-borne diseases. Methods This rapid ethnographic study was conducted in four provinces of Thailand (Ratchaburi, Sakaeo, Nakorn Sawan, and Phitsanulok), where bat guano was mined and sold during the period April–August 2014. The aim of this study was to understand behaviors and risk perceptions associated with bat conservation, exposure to bats and their excreta, and bat consumption. Sixty-seven respondents playing various roles in bat guano mining, packaging, sale, and use as fertilizer participated in the study. Data were collected through interviews and/or focus group discussions. Results In spite of a bat conservation program dating back to the 1980s, the benefits of conserving bats and the risks associated with bat consumption were not clear and infrequently articulated by study respondents. Discussion Since bat consumption continues, albeit covertly, the risk of bat-borne diseases remains high. There is an opportunity to reduce the risk of bat-borne diseases in guano-mining communities by strengthening bat conservation efforts and raising awareness of the health risks of bat consumption. Further research is suggested to test behavior change strategies for reducing bat consumption.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.29941","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69757826","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}
{"title":"Case report: malaria attack in southern Brazil – five-decade relapse, simian malaria or something else?","authors":"J. Woodall","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.30139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.30139","url":null,"abstract":"First attack, Borneo 1956 I contracted malaria during a student expedition from Cambridge to British North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia) in 1956. It was diagnosed at the time at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London as P. vivax. (Published: 8 February 2016) Citation: Infection Ecology and Epidemiology 2016, 6: 30139 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.30139","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.30139","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69757830","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}
R. Söderlund, J. Hurel, T. Jinnerot, C. Sekse, A. Aspán, E. Eriksson, E. Bongcam-Rudloff
{"title":"Genomic comparison of Escherichia coli serotype O103:H2 isolates with and without verotoxin genes: implications for risk assessment of strains commonly found in ruminant reservoirs","authors":"R. Söderlund, J. Hurel, T. Jinnerot, C. Sekse, A. Aspán, E. Eriksson, E. Bongcam-Rudloff","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.30246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.30246","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction Escherichia coli O103:H2 occurs as verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) carrying only vtx 1 or vtx 2 or both variants, but also as vtx-negative atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC). The majority of E. coli O103:H2 identified from cases of human disease are caused by the VTEC form. If aEPEC strains frequently acquire verotoxin genes and become VTEC, they must be considered a significant public health concern. In this study, we have characterized and compared aEPEC and VTEC isolates of E. coli O103:H2 from Swedish cattle. Methods Fourteen isolates of E. coli O103:H2 with and without verotoxin genes were collected from samples of cattle feces taken during a nationwide cattle prevalence study 2011–2012. Isolates were sequenced with a 2×100 bp setup on a HiSeq2500 instrument producing >100× coverage per isolate. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing was performed using the genome analysis tool kit (GATK). Virulence genes and other regions of interest were detected. Susceptibility to transduction by two verotoxin-encoding phages was investigated for one representative aEPEC O103:H2 isolate. Results and Discussion This study shows that aEPEC O103:H2 is more commonly found (64%) than VTEC O103:H2 (36%) in the Swedish cattle reservoir. The only verotoxin gene variant identified was vtx 1a . Phylogenetic comparison by SNP analysis indicates that while certain subgroups of aEPEC and VTEC are closely related and have otherwise near identical virulence gene repertoires, they belong to separate lineages. This indicates that the uptake or loss of verotoxin genes is a rare event in the natural cattle environment of these bacteria. However, a representative of a VTEC-like aEPEC O103:H2 subgroup could be stably lysogenized by a vtx-encoding phage in vitro.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.30246","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69757934","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}
J. Ederth, C. Jern, H. Norder, L. Magnius, E. Alm, Björg Kleverman Rognsvåg, C. Sundin, M. Brytting, J. Esbjörnsson, M. Mild
{"title":"Molecular characterization of HCV in a Swedish county over 8 years (2002–2009) reveals distinct transmission patterns","authors":"J. Ederth, C. Jern, H. Norder, L. Magnius, E. Alm, Björg Kleverman Rognsvåg, C. Sundin, M. Brytting, J. Esbjörnsson, M. Mild","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.30670","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.30670","url":null,"abstract":"Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health concern and data on its molecular epidemiology in Sweden is scarce. We carried out an 8-year population-based study of newly diagnosed HCV cases in one of Sweden's centrally situated counties, Södermanland (D-county). The aim was to characterize the HCV strains circulating, analyze their genetic relatedness to detect networks, and in combination with demographic data learn more about transmission. Methods Molecular analyses of serum samples from 91% (N=557) of all newly notified cases in D-county, 2002–2009, were performed. Phylogenetic analysis (NS5B gene, 300 bp) was linked to demographic data from the national surveillance database, SmiNet, to characterize D-county transmission clusters. The linear-by-linear association test (LBL) was used to analyze trends over time. Results The most prevalent subtypes were 1a (38%) and 3a (34%). Subtype 1a was most prevalent among cases transmitted via sexual contact, via contaminated blood, or blood products, while subtype 3a was most prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the subtype 3a sequences formed more and larger transmission clusters (50% of the sequences clustered), while the 1a sequences formed smaller clusters (19% of the sequences clustered), possibly suggesting different epidemics. Conclusion We found different transmission patterns in D-county which may, from a public health perspective, have implications for how to control virus infections by targeted interventions.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.30670","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69758579","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}
Clara Atterby, A. Ramey, Gabriel Gustafsson Hall, J. Järhult, S. Börjesson, J. Bonnedahl
{"title":"Increased prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in gulls sampled in Southcentral Alaska is associated with urban environments","authors":"Clara Atterby, A. Ramey, Gabriel Gustafsson Hall, J. Järhult, S. Börjesson, J. Bonnedahl","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.32334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.32334","url":null,"abstract":"Background Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose challenges to healthcare delivery systems globally; however, limited information is available regarding the prevalence and spread of such bacteria in the environment. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in large-bodied gulls (Larus spp.) at urban and remote locations in Southcentral Alaska to gain inference into the association between antibiotic resistance in wildlife and anthropogenically influenced habitats. Methods Escherichia coli was cultured (n=115 isolates) from fecal samples of gulls (n=160) collected from a remote location, Middleton Island, and a more urban setting on the Kenai Peninsula. Results Screening of E. coli from fecal samples collected from glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) at Middleton Island revealed 8% of isolates were resistant to one or more antibiotics and 2% of the isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics. In contrast, 55% of E. coli isolates derived from fecal samples collected from large-bodied gulls (i.e. glaucous, herring [Larus argentatus], and potentially hybrid gulls) on the Kenai Peninsula were resistant to one or more antibiotics and 22% were resistant to three or more antibiotics. In addition, total of 16% of the gull samples from locations on the Kenai Peninsula harbored extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant E. coli isolates (extended-spectrum beta-lactamases [ESBL] and plasmid-encoded AmpC [pAmpC]), in contrast to Middleton Island where no ESBL- or pAmpC-producing isolates were detected. Conclusion Our findings indicate that increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance is associated with urban environments in Southcentral Alaska and presumably influenced by anthropogenic impacts. Further investigation is warranted to assess how migratory birds may maintain and spread antimicrobial-resistant bacteria of relevance to human and animal health.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.32334","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69759187","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}
C. Geurtsvankessel, M. Goeijenbier, J. Verner-Carlsson, Eline Litjens, Willem-Jan W. Bos, S. Pas, M. Medonça Melo, M. Koopmans, Å. Lundkvist, C. Reusken
{"title":"Two clinical cases of renal syndrome caused by Dobrava/Saaremaa hantaviruses imported to the Netherlands from Poland and Belarus, 2012–2014","authors":"C. Geurtsvankessel, M. Goeijenbier, J. Verner-Carlsson, Eline Litjens, Willem-Jan W. Bos, S. Pas, M. Medonça Melo, M. Koopmans, Å. Lundkvist, C. Reusken","doi":"10.3402/iee.v6.30548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v6.30548","url":null,"abstract":"We report the rare event of two imported cases in the Netherlands presenting with renal syndrome caused by Dobrava (DOBV)/Saaremaa (SAAV) hantaviruses. DOBV/SAAV hantaviruses are not circulating in the Netherlands and their clinical manifestation is typically more severe than that of the endemic Puumala virus (PUUV). This report aims to increase awareness among healthcare professionals and diagnostic laboratories to consider different hantaviruses as a cause of renal failure.","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/iee.v6.30548","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69757947","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}
Olivia Wesula Lwande, Vincent Obanda, Göran Bucht, Gladys Mosomtai, Viola Otieno, Clas Ahlm, Magnus Evander
{"title":"Global emergence of Alphaviruses that cause arthritis in humans.","authors":"Olivia Wesula Lwande, Vincent Obanda, Göran Bucht, Gladys Mosomtai, Viola Otieno, Clas Ahlm, Magnus Evander","doi":"10.3402/iee.v5.29853","DOIUrl":"10.3402/iee.v5.29853","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) may cause severe emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, which pose a significant threat to human and animal health in the world today. These infectious diseases range from mild febrile illnesses, arthritis, and encephalitis to haemorrhagic fevers. It is postulated that certain environmental factors, vector competence, and host susceptibility have a major impact on the ecology of arboviral diseases. Presently, there is a great interest in the emergence of Alphaviruses because these viruses, including Chikungunya virus, O'nyong'nyong virus, Sindbis virus, Ross River virus, and Mayaro virus, have caused outbreaks in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and America. Some of these viruses are more common in the tropics, whereas others are also found in temperate regions, but the actual factors driving Alphavirus emergence and re-emergence remain unresolved. Furthermore, little is known about the transmission dynamics, pathophysiology, genetic diversity, and evolution of circulating viral strains. In addition, the clinical presentation of Alphaviruses may be similar to other diseases such as dengue, malaria, and typhoid, hence leading to misdiagnosis. However, the typical presence of arthritis may distinguish between Alphaviruses and other differential diagnoses. The absence of validated diagnostic kits for Alphaviruses makes even routine surveillance less feasible. For that purpose, this review describes the occurrence, genetic diversity, clinical characteristics, and the mechanisms involving Alphaviruses causing arthritis in humans. This information may serve as a basis for better awareness and detection of Alphavirus-caused diseases during outbreaks and in establishing appropriate prevention and control measures. </p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"5 1","pages":"29853"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69757193","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}
Olivia Wesula Lwande, George Omondi Paul, Patrick I Chiyo, Eliud Ng'ang'a, Viola Otieno, Vincent Obanda, Magnus Evander
{"title":"Spatio-temporal variation in prevalence of Rift Valley fever: a post-epidemic serum survey in cattle and wildlife in Kenya.","authors":"Olivia Wesula Lwande, George Omondi Paul, Patrick I Chiyo, Eliud Ng'ang'a, Viola Otieno, Vincent Obanda, Magnus Evander","doi":"10.3402/iee.v5.30106","DOIUrl":"10.3402/iee.v5.30106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a fatal arthropod-borne zoonotic disease of livestock and humans. Since the identification of RVF in Kenya in the 1930s, repeated epizootics and epidemics coinciding with El Niño events have occurred in several locations in Africa and Saudi Arabia, causing mass deaths of livestock and humans. RVF is of great interest worldwide because of its negative effect on international livestock trade and its potential to spread globally. The latter is due to the increasing incidence of extreme climatic phenomena caused by global warming, as well as to the increase in global trade and international travel. How RVF is maintained and sustained between epidemics and epizootics is not clearly understood, but it has been speculated that wildlife reservoirs and trans-ovarian transmission in the vector may be important. Several studies have examined the role of wildlife and livestock in isolation or in a limited geographical location within the one country over a short time (usually less than a year). In this study, we examined the seroprevalence of anti-RVF antibodies in cattle and several wildlife species from several locations in Kenya over an inter-epidemic period spanning up to 7 years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A serological survey of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to RVF using competitive ELISA was undertaken on 297 serum samples from different wildlife species at various locations in Kenya. The samples were collected between 2008 and 2015. Serum was also collected in 2014 from 177 cattle from Ol Pejeta Conservancy; 113 of the cattle were in close contact with wildlife and the other 64 were kept separate from buffalo and large game by an electric fence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The seroprevalence of RVF virus (RVFV) antibody was 11.6% in wildlife species during the study period. Cattle that could come in contact with wildlife and large game were all negative for RVFV. The seroprevalence was relatively high in elephants, rhinoceros, and buffalo, but there were no antibodies in zebras, baboons, vervet monkeys, or wildebeest.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Diverse species in conservation areas are exposed to RVFV. RVFV exposure in buffalo may indicate distribution of the virus over wide geographical areas beyond known RVFV foci in Kenya. This finding calls for thorough studies on the epizootology of RVFV in specific wildlife species and locations.</p>","PeriodicalId":37446,"journal":{"name":"Infection Ecology and Epidemiology","volume":"5 1","pages":"30106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4683986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69756927","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}