Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Infection and Proinflammatory Cytokine Level Assessment in Patients With Myocardial Infarction in Iraq: A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Al-Abbas Fadhil Jasim, Amal Khudair Khalaf","doi":"10.1155/cjid/2553949","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/2553949","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infections have been implicated in cardiac complications in both humans and animals, including myocarditis and pericarditis. This study surveyed the frequency of <i>T. gondii</i> antibodies and investigated the serum concentrations and gene expression profiles of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in myocardial infarction (MI) patients in Iraq.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted on MI (case) and non-MI healthy (control) individuals (200 participants/each group) in Baghdad, Iraq. The frequency of IgG and IgM anti-<i>Toxoplasma</i> antibodies and the serum and expression level of IFN-γ and TGF-β were assessed by serological and real-time PCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The frequency of anti-<i>Toxoplasma</i> IgG and IgM antibodies in the patient group was reported to be 55.5% and 4.5%, respectively, while in the non-MI group, this rate was observed to be 42.9% and 2.5%. In addition, both serum levels and gene expression levels of IFN-γ and TGF-β were meaningfully higher in the MI group compared to the non-MI control group (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study revealed that individuals with MI exhibited significantly higher concentrations of anti-<i>T. gondii</i> antibodies compared to non-MI. The data further suggest that IFN-γ and TGF-β serve as critical biomarkers connected in the pathogenesis of MI. Our findings propose that <i>T. gondii</i> may contribute to the development of MI via immune-mediated inflammatory pathways. This observation indicates potential molecular similarities between the pathological elements of MI and the <i>T. gondii</i> pathogen. Moreover, the elevated expression of IFN-γ and TGF-β may offer a respected context for investigating the involvement of <i>T. gondii</i> in MI pathophysiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2553949"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12951694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Hospitalized Patients With Dengue Fever in Can Tho City: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, 2018-2019.","authors":"Thuy Thi Thu Nguyen, Phuong Vu Mai Hoang, Hang Le Khanh Nguyen, Hau Thi Bich Vu, Phuc Van Tran, Truc Minh Huynh, Hung Minh Ha, Thanh Huy Ong, K Morita, F Hasebe, Mai Thi Quynh Le","doi":"10.1155/cjid/6410209","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/6410209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dengue poses a significant public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries, especially in urban areas. Can Tho, the fourth-largest city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, is highly vulnerable to climate change. This study characterizes dengue fever (DF) and identifies factors linked to severe disease in hospitalized patients from 2018 to 2019. We analyzed the clinical manifestations of 123 patients, along with blood count tests, RT-PCR, the NS1 antigen rapid test, and ELISA for IgM and IgG antibodies, upon admission. The results revealed that 88.6% of dengue patients were under 15 years, primarily treated at Can Tho Pediatric Hospital, with 66.7% experiencing secondary infections. Warning signs included high fever, rapid pulse, abdominal pain (54.4%), nausea/vomiting (43.2%), and bleeding (5.7%). DEN-1, DEN-2, and DEN-4 circulated during the study, with DEN-1 predominating in 2018 (85.7%) and both DEN-1 and DEN-2 as primary causes in 2019 (52.2% and 39.1%, respectively). The DEN-2 serotype and secondary infections may significantly contribute to severe dengue, and further research on dengue immunity is essential for understanding the effects of dengue vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6410209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12935753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occurrence and Antimicrobial Resistance of <i>Salmonella</i> in Raw Beef and Meat Contact Surfaces: A Cross-Sectional Study From Hossana Town, Central Ethiopia.","authors":"Assefa Alemu, Galana Abaya, Girma Godebo, Abdulhakim Mussema","doi":"10.1155/cjid/7477794","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/7477794","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; is a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide, with a rising concern for the developing and spreading of antimicrobial-resistant strains due to the imprudent utilization of antimicrobials. Continuous surveillance of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; resistance patterns is critical. This study aims to estimate the occurrence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; species (spp.) in raw beef and on meat contact surfaces in Hossana Town, Central Ethiopia. Additionally, it seeks to identify associated risk factors that contribute to the presence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; and to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Materials and methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023 to December 2023, involving 370 raw beef and meat contact surfaces selected through simple random sampling. Sociodemographic data, hygiene practices of meat handlers, and factors contributing to meat contamination at randomly selected abattoirs and retail outlets were evaluated by semistructured questionnaire and observation checklists. &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; was isolated and identified by using standard bacteriological culture methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and data were analyzed by using SPSS version 2020, with significance set at &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Out of a total of 370 samples that were collected using a simple random sampling method, 31 (8.4%) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.2-12.2) were tested positive for &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates using biochemical tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that having less than 1 year of service, lack of food safety and hygiene training, not undergoing medical checkups in the past 6 months, failure to use sanitizer, not washing hands with soap before and after meat processing, absence of protective gear, lack of hygiene of slicing material, and absence of flies control at meat retailer outlets were among the potential risk factors that significantly correlated with the occurrence &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; spp. in the study area. &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates were 100% susceptible for both ciprofloxacin and gentamycin, whereas the highest resistance rate (93.5%) was observed against tetracycline.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion and recommendations: &lt;/strong&gt;The study revealed an 8.4% occurrence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates, indicating a serious public health issue driven by key factors like inadequate training, lack of medical check-ups, poor hand hygiene, insufficient protective clothing, and unsanitary equipment. While the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin, there was a concerning 93.5% resistance to tetracycline, highlighting the need for better antibiotic stewardship in the meat supply chain. To address these issues, it is recommended to implement hygiene training for food handlers, mandatory medical check-ups, and enforcement ","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7477794"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12935764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Remdesivir in COVID-19: A Focus on Pediatric Cardiac Patients.","authors":"Dima Bsat, Dalia Safi, Mariam Arabi","doi":"10.1155/cjid/4700812","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/4700812","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a significant global health challenge that necessitated the immediate search for various therapeutic modalities. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), was among the most heavily used drugs against COVID-19. Of the several randomized controlled trials studying the efficacy of remdesivir, the vast majority were studied on the adult population. Results remain contradictory, with some studies supporting the high efficacy of remdesivir while others highlighting the lack of significance of its antiviral effects. Given the lack of focus on the pediatric population, the antiviral effects of remdesivir in cardiac pediatric patients, who are particularly vulnerable, remain especially under-investigated. This literature review explores current literature on remdesivir's mechanism of action and efficacy against COVID-19, especially in the pediatric cardiac population. Therefore, by combining results of studies from randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies in the adult and pediatric populations, this literature review underlines current knowledge gaps and highlights the need for studies targeting specific ages and comorbidities to effectively treat patients at higher risk of adverse events.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4700812"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147312247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution and Drug-Resistance Analysis of Uropathogens in Urinary Tract Infections.","authors":"Weiyi Wu, Qiong Wu, Wenying Zhong, Lizhong Han","doi":"10.1155/cjid/1700474","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/1700474","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major global health concern with increasing antimicrobial resistance. Regional data on pathogen distribution and resistance patterns are essential for guiding empirical therapy. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of UTI pathogens in Shanghai, China, and identify risk factors associated with UTIs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on urine culture records from 61,450 patients suspected of UTIs, collected between January 1 and December 31, 2023, from two general hospitals in Shanghai. Pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed according to CLSI guidelines (2021). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for UTIs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 5671 confirmed UTI cases, <i>Escherichia coli</i> was the predominant pathogen (36.1%), followed by <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (11.2%) and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (8.2%). <i>E. coli</i> exhibited high resistance to <i>ampicillin</i> (75.9%), <i>levofloxacin</i> (59.2%), and <i>cefazolin</i> (49.1%) but low resistance to <i>carbapenems</i> (1.0%). <i>K. pneumoniae</i> showed higher resistance rates, with the highest to <i>ampicillin</i> (97.3%) and <i>levofloxacin</i> (45.1%). <i>Proteus spp.</i> demonstrated significant resistance to <i>ampicillin</i> (66.7%) and <i>fosfomycin</i> (34.6%). Multivariable analysis identified female sex (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.25-1.89), age > 60 years (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.08-2.99), and hospitalization (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.95-2.95) as significant risk factors for UTIs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High antimicrobial resistance rates were observed among uropathogens in Shanghai, particularly to commonly used antibiotics. These findings highlight the need for region-specific antibiotic stewardship programs and updated empirical treatment guidelines to combat rising resistance and improve clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1700474"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12927959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147285982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of HTLV-1: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Endemic and Nonendemic Regions.","authors":"Bezhan Noori, Ramin Shahbahrami, Yousef Douzandegan, Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani, Mehdi Norouzi, Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri","doi":"10.1155/cjid/8667755","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/8667755","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human T-lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) is a globally distributed, oncogenic retrovirus endemic in specific regions, including southwestern Japan, sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, parts of South America (notably Brazil), Iran, and Indigenous communities in Australia. Although most infections are asymptomatic, a minority of carriers develop severe, life-altering conditions: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) or HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). This narrative review presents a comprehensive analysis of epidemiological studies, clinical reports, and public health surveillance data. Data on HTLV-1 prevalence, incidence, clinical outcomes, proviral load associations, and public health measures were extracted and compared across major endemic and nonendemic regions. HTLV-1 exhibits extreme geographic heterogeneity. Hyperendemic foci include southwestern Japan (carrier population ∼534,000 in 2020), parts of Brazil (estimated 800,000 carriers), the Caribbean (e.g., Jamaica, general population prevalence ∼6.1%), and sub-Saharan Africa (estimated 2-5 million infections, the largest global burden). In Central Australia, prevalence among Indigenous adults over 45 reaches 49.3%, the highest recorded regional rate globally. Prevalence varies significantly within populations: In Brazil, it is highest in the north/northeast. In Gabon, rural prevalence is 8.7%, rising to 12.5% in rainforest provinces, with Pygmy ethnicity identified as an independent risk factor. In Iran, prevalence is concentrated in the northeast (2%-7%), whereas the rest of the country shows rates below 1%. In contrast, prevalence is very low in nonendemic areas such as the United States and most of Europe (< 0.01% in Spain and Italy), except for Romania (5.3 per 10,000 donors) and areas with migrant populations. Incidence data are sparse but informative: In Japan, the annual incidence among blood donors is 6.88 per 100,000 person-years for women and 2.29 per 100,000 person-years for men. In the United Kingdom, the incidence of HAM/TSP among HTLV-1 carriers is 1.98 per 1000 person-years. A Brazilian cohort reported an HAM/TSP incidence of 1.47% over 3 years, substantially higher than Japan's lifetime risk of 0.25%. HTLV-1 remains a significant yet profoundly neglected global pathogen, exhibiting extreme geographic heterogeneity in prevalence, clinical outcomes, and transmission dynamics, driven by complex interactions of viral genetics, host factors, and disparities in public health infrastructure. Although proven cost-effective interventions such as universal antenatal screening in Japan have demonstrably reduced transmission, the persistent \"silent\" spread in endemic, low-resource regions particularly sub-Saharan Africa and Indigenous Australia demonstrates a critical global health inequity demanding urgent, region-specific strategies for screening, prevention, and patient care to mitigate its substantial burden of morbidity and mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8667755"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12927918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147285955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Causes and Seasonality of Upper Respiratory Infections in Adults in Lesotho (2021-2022) (CORIAL).","authors":"Nikita Sass, Linda Janita Wüthrich, Flor Lucia Gonzalez Fernandez, Emmanuel Firima, Tracy R Glass, Moniek Bresser, Josephine Muhairwe, Bulemba Katende, Mamello Molatelle, Irene Ayakaka, Daniel Goldenberger, Kinga Feuz, Pascal Schlaepfer, Klaus Reither, Niklaus D Labhardt","doi":"10.1155/cjid/3732614","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/3732614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Upper respiratory tract infections cause morbidity and a high burden on healthcare systems worldwide, especially in low- and lower middle-income countries. Recent studies throughout Africa indicate seasonal patterns that deviate from those previously described in settings with temperate climates. Currently, there are no data available on pathogens causing upper respiratory infections and their seasonal patterns in Lesotho, Southern Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional nested study enrolled a randomly selected sample of adults presenting at St. Charles Mission Hospital, Seboche, in northern Lesotho between 01 August 2021 and 31 July 2022 with symptoms of respiratory infection (cough, shortness of breath or sore throat). As part of the parent study procedures, all participants underwent on-site SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic testing (RDT), with a subset also receiving on-site PCR testing. Aliquots of the nasopharyngeal swab samples used for RDT were stored at -80 °C for subsequent multiplex PCR testing for 18 viruses and 4 bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2 (BIOFIRE RP 2.1 plus).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 511 samples tested, 161 (31.5%) were positive for one pathogen and five (1.0%) for two pathogens. The most common pathogens were SARS-CoV-2 (41.6%), human rhinovirus/enterovirus (36.7%), non-COVID human coronaviruses (6.6%), parainfluenza viruses (6%) and influenza A and B viruses (4.8%). Human rhinoviruses/enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 showed a counter-cyclical pattern. Seasonal patterns were observed for human rhinoviruses/enteroviruses, human coronaviruses, parainfluenza and influenza A and B viruses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, viral upper respiratory infections in Lesotho showed a pathogen spectrum and seasonal patterns similar to those described in other temperate climate settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3732614"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12920662/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147272722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unrecognized Transmission Risks of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Blood Donors in Central Ethiopia.","authors":"Gizachew Beykaso, Zeleke Dutamo Agde, Solomon Gebre, Tigist Girma","doi":"10.1155/cjid/3706202","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/3706202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) refers to the detection of HBV DNA in blood or liver tissue in individuals who test negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), excluding the early phase of acute HBV infection. This hidden form of infection represents a substantial but frequently underestimated risk to blood transfusion safety, particularly in settings with limited resources. In Ethiopia and other low-income countries, routine screening of blood donors often depends solely on HBsAg tests, which may overlook symptom-free carriers with low viral loads. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of OBI among HBsAg-negative blood donors and to assess its potential contribution to undetected HBV transmission in central Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five hundred and eighty-two plasma samples from HBsAg-negative donors were analyzed. Initial screening for anti-Hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) was carried out using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples that tested positive for anti-HBc were then analyzed for HBV DNA using the Abbott m2000 automated real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) system. At the same time, information on sociodemographic characteristics and potential clinical risk factors for HBV exposure was obtained through structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS Version 21, and statistical significance was considered at a <i>p</i> value of less than 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, screening of 582 blood donors who were negative for HBsAg revealed that 135 (23.2%) donors, or nearly one-quarter, showed evidence of previous HBV exposure through anti-HBc reactivity. Subsequent molecular testing (PCR) identified a small proportion of these individuals carrying HBV DNA, confirming occult infection. Viral loads in all confirmed cases were low. Older donors, particularly those above 35 years of age, demonstrated a markedly higher rate of anti-HBc positivity. Overall, the occurrence of OBI was estimated at 1.7%, or approximately 17 cases for every 1000 blood donations, highlighting a critical gap in the current HBV screening protocol.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings demonstrate that a notable number of blood donors in central Ethiopia carry occult HBV infection, equivalent to 17 cases per 1000 donations. This indicates a concealed yet important risk of HBV transmission through blood transfusion. These results underscore the need to enhance donor screening protocols by incorporating both anti-HBc testing and nucleic acid testing (NAT) to improve transfusion safety and prevent the spread of undetected HBV.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3706202"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12876466/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146144576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Nanopore Targeted Sequencing for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Infections: A Comparative Multidisease Approach.","authors":"Ying Zhao, Guannan Ma, Tianxiao Ma, Yongshuai Miao, Heya Na, Yuhui Liu, Xiaohua Li","doi":"10.1155/cjid/5479737","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/5479737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pulmonary infections remain a significant global health burden, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and patients with chronic respiratory or systemic diseases. Conventional microbiological tests (CMTs), though widely used, often have limited sensitivity and delayed results, especially in polymicrobial or atypical infections. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of nanopore targeted sequencing (NTS) in 284 patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infections at Chifeng Municipal Hospital, using CMTs and clinical diagnosis as references. NTS demonstrated markedly higher sensitivity (91.85%) compared to CMTs (74.81%), with substantial improvements in detecting fungal (81.7%) and mixed infections (99.65%). A total of 259 pathogens were detected. Among them, bacteria were the most frequently identified pathogens (69.5%), followed by fungi (15.44%) and viruses (14.28%). Pathogen distribution varied by clinical subgroup, such as community-acquired pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reflecting infection heterogeneity. Patients with hypertension (HBP) showed a higher incidence of fungal and mixed infections than non-HBP patients. NTS was particularly effective in detecting opportunistic pathogens in the HBP group, suggesting an association between cardiovascular comorbidity and altered pathogen susceptibility.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5479737"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12868382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146127410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Characteristics and Cytokines of Children With Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Caused by Influenza A After COVID-19.","authors":"Yue Qi, Xinqian Xu, Hongrong Dan, Miao He, Qinxin Zheng, Xing Liu, Li Xiang, Yingshun Zhou, Cheng Li","doi":"10.1155/cjid/5007103","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/5007103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To date, there is a lack of research on the clinical characteristics and cytokine profiles in children with influenza A following COVID-19 infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Children with influenza A lower respiratory tract infection who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 15 to April 15, 2023, were divided into mild and severe groups according to their symptoms, followed up on the COVID-19 infection status by telephone, and selected those who had been infected with COVID-19 for comparison of clinical characteristics and cytokines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>An analysis of influenza A case in children with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed that the proportion of previous infection was significantly higher in the severe group compared to the mild group. Univariate analysis indicated significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of convulsions, concurrent or secondary bacterial infections, white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte percentage (L%), neutrophil percentage (N%), and interferon-induced protein-10 (IP-10) (all <i>P</i> < 0.05). Binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified IP-10 and WBC as independent risk factors for severe influenza A following SARS-CoV-2 infection, the combination of IP-10 and WBC demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for disease severity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IP-10 and WBC count serve as diagnostic biomarkers for severe influenza infection following SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their combination significantly enhances diagnostic performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5007103"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12828273/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146054736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}