Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 4 in mainland France in November 2017

In November 2017, a 15‐day‐old calf located in France (Haute‐Savoie department) was found positive for bluetongue virus (BTV ) RNA by RT ‐PCR . Laboratory investigations allowed the isolation and identification of the serotype: BTV ‐4. The analysis of the full viral genome showed that all the 10 genome segments were closely related to BTV ‐4 strains involved in a large BT outbreak in the Balkan Peninsula, in Italy since 2014 and in Corsica since the end of October 2016. These results together with epidemiological data suggest that BTV ‐4 has been introduced to mainland France from Corsica or Italy where BTV ‐4 outbreaks have been reported in summer and autumn 2016. This is the first report of the introduction of BTV ‐4 in mainland France.     

Demographic Profile of Healthy Children with Nasopharyngeal Colonisation of Streptococcus pneumoniae: A Research Paper

Background: Pneumonia is a preventable cause of mortality in children. Streptococcus pneumoniae colonising the nasopharynx of healthy children can cause invasive diseases and the serotype distribution of colonisation isolates should be an indicator of invasive disease, antibiotic resistance profiles, and potential vaccine coverage. Identifying factors influencing nasopharyngeal colonisation, the serotypes and antimicrobial resistance pattern can improve rational preventive strategies. Objectives: Identify risk factors associated with nasopharyngeal colonisation of S.pneumoniae in healthy children between 6 months to 5 years of age. Determine the serotype and antibiotic sensitivity of S. pneumoniae isolated from nasopharynx of healthy children. Methods: This prospective observational included 500 healthy children, 6months to 5 years of age. Demographic features of the study population, the serotypes and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of S.Pneumoniae isolated from cultures of nasopharyngeal swabs were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: S. pneumoniae was isolated in 9% of 450 children. Increased nasopharyngeal carriage rate was associated with overcrowding 48.8% and poor ventilation 35.5%. 6B (n=16) was the most common serotype isolated. 69% were serogroups known to cause invasive disease All S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. Antimicrobial susceptibility of PCV 7 serotypes were greater than non PCV 7 serotypes for almost all antimicrobials tested. Penicillin resistance was 11 % and MDR 51%     

Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 15A in Psychiatric Unit,Rhode Island,USA, 2010–2011

During a pneumococcal disease outbreak in a pediatric psychiatric unit in a hospital in Rhode Island, USA, 6 (30%) of 20 patients and staff were colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 15A, which is not included in pneumococcal vaccines. The outbreak subsided after implementation of antimicrobial drug prophylaxis and enhanced infection control measures.     

小儿沙门菌肠炎344例病原菌分布及药敏试验结果

目的了解中山市区腹泻儿童中沙门菌感染的流行病学特征及其对抗菌药物敏感性,为临床选用抗菌药物提供依据。方法中山市博爱医院2009年9月至2013年4月儿科门诊及住院腹泻患儿的粪便标本中,共检出沙门菌属344株,检出率为5．0％,采用V1TEK-2Compact进行药敏试验。结果344株沙门菌属经血清学鉴定,鼠伤寒沙门菌185株（53．8％）,斯坦利沙门菌43株（12．5％）,肠炎沙门菌29株（8．4％）。男女比例为1．8：1;〈1岁的婴儿占68．9％。药敏试验结果显示,沙门菌属对左氧氟沙星、哌拉西林-他唑巴坦、头孢吡肟、头孢他啶、头孢曲松有较高的敏感率,为88．9％～98．0％,对氨苄西林敏感率较低,为39．2％。结论中山市区引起儿童腹泻的沙门菌属感染以鼠伤寒沙门菌为主,其次为斯坦利沙门菌和肠炎沙门菌。夏秋季为高发季节。1岁以下婴儿为易感人群,男性患儿较多。治疗时应根据药敏试验合理、谨慎选用抗生素。     

四川遂宁地区居民乙肝病毒基因型别分析

目的了解遂宁地区人群乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)基因型及血清亚型流行特征。方法在遂宁6个县级行政区域内共采集血清样本1 468人份筛出HBsAg检测阳性的血清样本,用巢氏PCR法扩增提取HBV DNA S区,根据PCR产物基因测序结果对样本HBV进行基因分型。结果测出基因序列118例HBsAg阳性标本中,B基因型40例(33.89%),C基因型73例(61.86%),D基因型5例(4.23%),未发现BCD以外的其他基因型。42份(35.59%)血清亚型分型为adr型,76份(64.41%)为adw型。结论遂宁地区乙肝病毒基因型别以B、C为主要基因型,其中C型基因占优势,存在少量D基因型。血清亚型的分布以adr\adw亚型为主,其中adw亚型占优势。     

Streptococcus pneumoniae infection: a Canadian perspective

Streptococcus pneumoniae infections have resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide in children and adults. In Canada, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease including pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia and otitis media. Although the widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Canadian children has reduced the incidence of pneumococcal diseases associated with vaccine-serotypes, rapid increase of non-vaccine serotypes in carriage and pneumococcal infections is of great concern to clinicians. The main goal of this review is to provide an overall picture of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in Canada for the past few decades, including serotype changes and shifts in antibiotic resistance patterns. The effects of PCV vaccines on incidence, serotype distribution, antibiotic resistance of pneumococcal infections and nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage are discussed. We also examined historical outbreaks of Streptococcus pneumoniae and their public health impact. Recent developments in universal protein vaccines against pneumococcus show promise.     

The epidemiology of pneumococcal carriage and infections in Malaysia

In Malaysia, various aspects of the epidemiology of pneumococcal carriage and disease remain largely unclear due to the lack of supporting data. Although a number of relevant studies have been documented, their individual discrete findings are not sufficient to inform experts on pneumococcal epidemiology at a national level. Therefore, in this review we aim to bring together and systematically evaluate the key information regarding pneumococcal disease epidemiology in Malaysia and provide a comprehensive overview of the data. Major aspects discussed include pneumococcal carriage, disease incidence and prevalence, age factors, invasiveness of pneumococci, serotypes, molecular epidemiology and antibiotic susceptibility. Penicillin resistance is increasingly prevalent and studies suggest that the majority of pneumococcal serotypes causing pneumococcal disease in Malaysia are covered by currently available conjugate vaccines. Continued surveillance is needed to provide a better understanding of pneumococcal epidemiology in Malaysia.     

Characterization of variable immunodominant antigens of Cowdria ruminantium by ELISA and immunoblots

Cross-immunization experiments have revealed a significant antigenic diversity of the isolate of Cowdria ruminantium which needs to be characterized for the development of vaccines. We identified polymorphic immunodominant antigens by ELISA and immunoblot. Using serum from a goat immune to the Gardel stock of Cowdria (isolated in Guadeloupe) adsorbed on antigen of the Senegal stock of this pathogen, distinct serogroups were revealed by ELISA among six isolates from different geographical origins. Furthermore, a goat serum directed against the Senegal stock and adsorbed on Gardel antigens was shown to be specific for the Senegal stock, thus confirming the existence of serotypes in Cowdria . The Major Antigenic Protein 1 (MAP1) of Cowdria was shown to have variable antigenic determinants. Also in a group of variable proteins ranging from 23 to 29 kDa, one antigen of 26–27 kDa had a determinant specific for the Gardel isolate. These polymorphic antigens may be relevant components of Cowdria ruminantium for a vaccine as the sera revealing these antigens originated from a goat surviving a lethal challenge. However, the presence of T-cell epitopes and the ability of these antigens to confer protection to ruminants remain to be investigated. The production of a rabbit antiserum against this group of polypeptides will be of great use for their purification and for the screening of expression libraries .     

Serotype competence and penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae

From 2003 to 2005, we prospectively collected 118 isolates of pneumococci belonging to 7 serotypes to investigate their competence under the influence of the synthetic competence-stimulating peptides. The degree of competence of the various serotypes differed significantly. Serotype 6B had the highest competence, followed by serotypes 14, 19F, 9V, 23F, 3, and 18C. Isolates belonging to serotype 6B had greater genetic diversity than isolates belonging to serotype 3, which has high genetic clustering. Isolates belonging to serotypes 3 and 18C that were 100% sensitive to penicillin were significantly less competent than isolates belonging to serotypes 6B, 14, 19F, 9V, and 23F, which were frequently resistant to penicillin. Under the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine program, enhanced molecular surveillance of virulent clones with higher competence to detect serotype switching will become more important.     

Hearing loss in adults surviving pneumococcal meningitis is associated with otitis and pneumococcal serotype

We assessed the incidence of hearing loss and its relationship with clinical characteristics and pneumococcal serotypes in adults surviving pneumococcal meningitis. We analysed hearing loss in 531 adults surviving pneumococcal meningitis included in two prospective nationwide cohort studies performed from April 1998 through to October 2002 and March 2006 through to January 2009. Hearing loss was evaluated on admission and discharge for all patients. Severe hearing loss was assessed by pure tone average on audiology and corrected for age, or by the combination of hearing loss on discharge and a score on the Glasgow Outcome Scale below 5, which could not be explained by other neurological sequelae. A total of 531 episodes of pneumococcal meningitis with non-lethal outcome were included. Predisposing conditions for pneumococcal meningitis were present in the majority of patients (64%), most commonly otitis (36%). Hearing loss was present at discharge in 116 patients (22%) and was classified as mild in 53% and severe in 47%. Hearing loss was related to otitis (odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66-4.02; p < 0.001) and inversely related to serotype 23 F infection (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.13-0.98; p = 0.025), but not with parameters of disease severity or indicators of cerebrospinal fluid inflammation severity. Meningitis due to pneumococcal serotype 3 was associated with the highest rate of hearing loss. Hearing loss frequently complicates pneumococcal meningitis. Risk factors for hearing loss were infection with pneumococcal serotype 23 F and otitis, but not disease severity. Otitis and resulting perilympathic inflammation contribute to meningitis-associated hearing loss.