During a mouse plague in early 2021, a farmer from New South Wales, Australia, sought treatment for aseptic meningitis and was subsequently diagnosed with locally acquired lymphocytic ...choriomeningitis virus infection. Whole-genome sequencing identified a divergent and geographically distinct lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain compared with other published sequences.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
There is a vital need for authentic COVID-19 animal models to enable the pre-clinical evaluation of candidate vaccines and therapeutics. Here we report a dose titration study of SARS-CoV-2 in the ...ferret model. After a high (5 × 10
pfu) and medium (5 × 10
pfu) dose of virus is delivered, intranasally, viral RNA shedding in the upper respiratory tract (URT) is observed in 6/6 animals, however, only 1/6 ferrets show similar signs after low dose (5 × 10
pfu) challenge. Following sequential culls pathological signs of mild multifocal bronchopneumonia in approximately 5-15% of the lung is seen on day 3, in high and medium dosed groups. Ferrets re-challenged, after virus shedding ceased, are fully protected from acute lung pathology. The endpoints of URT viral RNA replication & distinct lung pathology are observed most consistently in the high dose group. This ferret model of SARS-CoV-2 infection presents a mild clinical disease.
Background. Available data on the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Australia are very limited. Local treatment guidelines promote the use of combination therapy with agents such as ...penicillin or amoxycillin combined with either doxycycline or a macrolide. Methods. The Australian CAP Study (ACAPS) was a prospective, multicenter study of 885 episodes of CAP in which all patients underwent detailed assessment for bacterial and viral pathogens (cultures, urinary antigen testing, serological methods, and polymerase chain reaction). Antibiotic agents and relevant clinical outcomes were recorded. Results. The etiology was identified in 404 (45.6%) of 885 episodes, with the most frequent causes being Streptococcus pneumoniae (14%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (9%), and respiratory viruses (15%; influenza, picornavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus). Antibiotic-resistant pathogens were rare: only 5.4% of patients had an infection for which therapy with penicillin plus doxycycline would potentially fail. Concordance with local antibiotic recommendations was high (82.4%), with the most commonly prescribed regimens being a penicillin plus either doxycycline or a macrolide (55.8%) or ceftriaxone plus either doxycycline or a macrolide (36.8%). The 30-day mortality rate was 5.6% (50 of 885 episodes), and mechanical ventilation or vasopressor support were required in 94 episodes (10.6%). Outcomes were not compromised by receipt of narrower-spectrum β-lactams, and they did not differ on the basis of whether a pathogen was identified. Conclusions. The vast majority of patients with CAP can be treated successfully with narrow-spectrum β-lactam treatment, such as penicillin combined with doxycycline or a macrolide. Greater use of such therapy could potentially reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance among common bacterial pathogens.
A range of laboratory methods is now available for the detection of norovirus, a major cause of gastroenteritis. Recently, a commercial immunochromatographic assay for norovirus detection, the RIDA
...®QUICK assay, has become available, but there is still only limited information on its efficacy. This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of the RIDA
®QUICK assay, using faecal material received for testing in a major diagnostic/reference laboratory in Australia. The sensitivity of the assay was found to be 83% and the specificity was 100%. No false positive norovirus results were found and the assay did not cross-react with common faecal viruses such as rotavirus, astrovirus, sapovirus and adenovirus. The assay was less reliable for genogroup I (GI) noroviruses than for genogroup II (GII) noroviruses. Genotypes detected by the assay included GII.1, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6 and GII.7. The assay failed to detect any GI specimens in the test group. Genotypes not detected included GI.4 and GI.6. The assay was simple and quick to perform. It is valuable in a point-of-care situation or as a backup in a laboratory where a rapid initial norovirus result is required.
Laboratory diagnosis is important to distinguish influenza from other respiratory virus infections. It will be especially important in detecting the first cases of pandemic influenza.
Good quality ...respiratory tract sampling is needed to maximise diagnostic yield in influenza infection.
In the appropriate clinical setting, pandemic strain‐specific nucleic acid testing is the initial test of choice for suspected pandemic influenza. It is more sensitive than virus isolation, and more sensitive and specific than serology, immunofluorescence and other antigen detection methods.
Virus isolation is needed to monitor new influenza strains and for vaccine development. Analysis of influenza isolates is undertaken by the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance Network.
Monitoring for antiviral resistance will be needed with widespread use of neuraminidase inhibitors for treatment and prophylaxis during a pandemic.
For pandemic influenza planning, realistic estimates of personal protective equipment (PPE) and antiviral medication required for hospital healthcare workers (HCWs) are vital. In this simulation ...study, a patient with suspected avian or pandemic influenza (API) sought treatment at 9 Australian hospital emergency departments where patient-staff interactions during the first 6 hours of hospitalization were observed. Based on World Health Organization definitions and guidelines, the mean number of "close contacts" of the API patient was 12.3 (range 6-17; 85% HCWs); mean "exposures" were 19.3 (range 15-26). Overall, 20-25 PPE sets were required per patient, with variable HCW compliance for wearing these items (93% N95 masks, 77% gowns, 83% gloves, and 73% eye protection). Up to 41% of HCW close contacts would have qualified for postexposure antiviral prophylaxis. These data indicate that many current national stockpiles of PPE and antiviral medication are likely inadequate for a pandemic.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Human norovirus is a major cause of both sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis and comprises two main genogroups (GI and GII) which, in turn, comprise a variety of genotypes. The ...current study examined the efficacy of the Bioline SD kit using fecal material from Australian gastroenteritis incidents. At best, the SD kit had a sensitivity of 62%. Freezing and thawing specimens before testing significantly improved sensitivity. The SD kit had a specificity of 98.6%. Genotype analysis (Open Reading Frame 2) indicated the SD kit could detect a range of genotypes and genotype variants including GI.1, GI.3, GI.4, GII.1, GII.3, GII.4 (unclassified), GII.4 (2006b), GII.4 (2009), GII.4 (2012) and GII.6 but the kit failed to detect GI.2 and GII.2 norovirus. The kit did not cross-react with a number of common fecal viruses including astrovirus, sapovirus, rotavirus or adenovirus. The kit was very easy to use and would be valuable in point-of-care testing.
Laboratory‐confirmed influenza is a nationally notifiable disease in Australia. According to notification data, Queensland has experienced more severe influenza seasons than other states and ...territories. However, this method ignores available denominator data: the number of laboratory tests performed.
We propose that negative results of laboratory tests for influenza should be made notifiable, alongside laboratory‐confirmed disease, and used to calculate the proportion of positive test results in real‐time.
Using data from the public health pathology services of three Australian states — Queensland Health laboratories, the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and Western Australia's PathWest — for 2004 to 2008, we show that incorporating laboratory‐negative test data into national surveillance data would add to and improve our understanding of influenza epidemiology.
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