2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Taiwan: Reports of two cases from Wuhan,China

We reported two cases with community-acquired pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who returned from Wuhan, China in January, 2020. The reported cases highlight non-specific clinical presentations of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as well as the importance of rapid laboratory-based diagnosis.     

Emerging diseases, zoonoses and vaccines to control them

Vaccination, when available, is undoubtedly the most cost-effective means of preventing and controlling, and even eradicating, infectious diseases. In recent years vaccination has also been used for other purposes in animal health, production and welfare, e.g. immunocastration.Vaccination of animals serves many different purposes, such as controlling animal infections and infestations, thus improving animal health and welfare; controlling anthropozoonoses and food poisoning in humans, thereby protecting public health; solving problems associated with antibiotic and anthelmintic resistance; helping to leave food-producing animals free of chemical residues; protecting the environment and biodiversity and ensuring animal farming sustainability. The problem is nevertheless more complex when facing emerging or re-emerging infections particularly zoonotic ones.     

Some challenges in progressive control of livestock originated zoonotic diseases in Pakistan–a pilot survey

ObjectiveTo document the recent livestock related practices and possible unhygienic ways of pathogen entry. Identification of the potential risk factors for the spread of infection is important to design an evidence-based disease control programme.MethodsRapid assessment method was adopted and a purposive sample of 60 dairy farmers were interviewed. The following factors were noted for contributing in primary and secondary transmission of zoonotic infections: (i) persons who come in close contact with animals and their secretions, (ii) management strategies of farm animals (sheds and environment), (iii) management practices adopted at farms, (iv) small scale farmers and rural livestock production systems, (v) milk collection systems.ResultsThis research unveiled the certain routes of zoonotic disease transmission. Certain management practices, precautionary measures and strategies were the pivotal risk factors.ConclusionsThe study emphasizes the need to educate the poor livestock keepers.     

Acute hepatitis E of a man who consumed wild boar meat prior to the onset of illness in Nagasaki, Japan.

Zoonotic infection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been suggested. To date, pigs, deer, and wild boar have been implicated as reservoirs of HEV in Japan. However, it is not known to what extent zoonotic transmission of HEV play roles of causing HEV transmission. In the present report, we describe a case of acute hepatitis E in which a transmission of HEV by a zoonotic transmission is strongly suggested. The patient had eaten grilled wild boar meat 59 days prior to onset of acute hepatitis. Although the meat was not stored, one of the two people who ate boar meat with the patient at the same time showed high levels of HEV-IgM and -IgG and normal levels of liver enzymes, suggesting a subclinical infection of HEV. Accumulating evidence suggests that eating wild boars is associated with a high risk of acquiring hepatitis E infection.     

媒介与媒介生物性疾病

该文在收集分析文献材料的基础上，探讨了媒介与媒介生物性疾病等概念及其相互关系。（1）狭义的媒介生物即传染病流行三环节中的生物性传播因素，即有关的节肢动物；广义的媒介生物即世界卫生组织所定义的、包括人畜共患病的脊椎和非脊椎动物的终宿主和中间宿主以及动物贮存宿主。（2）当前世界范围内广泛接受的媒介生物性疾病概念为由节肢动物、鼠类和软体动物起主要传播作用的传染病。（3）自然疫源性疾病的概念当前仪见使用于中俄两国，分原始的和后来扩展的两种，且后者定义不甚严格，但当前我国对该概念的使用已远远超出其原始定义的范围，按照原始定义，自然疫源性疾病必然同时既是人畜共患病，又是一种狭义的媒介生物性疾病。（4）媒介生物性疾病与人畜共患病及按原始定义的自然疫源性疾病三者的关系可以概括为：媒介生物性疾病与自然疫源性疾病是整体与部分的关系，后者是前者的一部分；媒介生物性疾病与人畜共患病的关系是绝大部分重叠的关系。三个概念中目前在世界范围内应用最多的足人畜共患病，其次是媒介生物性疾病，应用最少的为自然疫源性疾病。     

Comparison of Oestrus ovis Metabolic and Somatic Antigens for the Immunodiagnosis of the Zoonotic Myasis Oestrosis by Immunoenzymatic Probes

Control of zoonosis implies reduction of infected animal hosts, and the first measure consists of a suitable and accurate detection test. An experimental study for determining the most appropriate antigen (metabolic or somatic) to be used in the detection of the oestrosis (Oestrus ovis) zoonotic myasis by means of immunoenzymatic probes was carried out. A flock of 23 uninfected goats was maintained under field conditions to allow their infection in Sassari (Sardinia, Italy). Caprine were bled monthly and serum samples processed by means of an iELISA. After comparing these results to the chronobiology of O. ovis, we proved that the IgG humoral response against the metabolic antigens increased only during the period of real risk of infestation (when adults fly, from May to September), whereas the absorbances against the somatic products were positive from the beginning of the study (in January, prior to infection). We concluded that the excretory/secretory products are most useful andsuitable for the immunodiagnosis of oestrosis in goats, because a direct relation between the development of O. ovis and the IgG humoral response is possible, allowing a more accurate diagnostic.     

Fasciola hepatica IN BOVINES IN BRAZIL: DATA AVAILABILITY AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION

Fasciolosis is a disease of importance for both veterinary and public health. For the first time, georeferenced prevalence data of Fasciola hepatica in bovines were collected and mapped for the Brazilian territory and data availability was discussed. Bovine fasciolosis in Brazil is monitored on a Federal, State and Municipal level, and to improve monitoring it is essential to combine the data collected on these three levels into one dataset. Data were collected for 1032 municipalities where livers were condemned by the Federal Inspection Service (MAPA/SIF) because of the presence of F. hepatica. The information was distributed over 11 states: Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pará, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The highest prevalence of fasciolosis was observed in the southern states, with disease clusters along the coast of Paraná and Santa Catarina and in Rio Grande do Sul. Also, temporal variation of the prevalence was observed. The observed prevalence and the kriged prevalence maps presented in this paper can assist both animal and human health workers in estimating the risk of infection in their state or municipality.