Motor unit size estimation of enlarged motor units with surface electromyography

Surface EMG is hardly used to estimate motor unit (MU) characteristics, while its non-invasiveness is less stressful for patients and allows multi-electrode recordings to investigate different sites of the muscle and MU. The present study compares motor unit potentials (MUPs) obtained with surface EMG and macro EMG during voluntary contraction of the biceps brachii muscle of patients with enlarged MUs caused by prior poliomyelitis. Averaged surface MUPs were obtained by means of needle EMG (SMUP1) and surface EMG (SMUP2) triggering. The MUPs area and peak amplitudes correlated well when comparing the macro MUP and SMUP1 of the same MUs. When MU populations of different patients were compared, the SMUP1s and SMUP2s were equally sensitive to pathology as macro MUPs. In this, the late non-propagating positive wave (only present in unipolar recordings) is more robust than the triphasic propagating wave. Therefore, surface EMG can be used for detecting enlarged MUs. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:878–886, 1998.     

Molecular characterisation of type 1 polioviruses associated with epidemics in South Africa

The molecular epidemiology of wild-type 1 polioviruses isolated in South Africa during 2 major poliomyelitis epidemics in the 1980s and during the pre- and inter-epidemic periods was investigated by partial sequence analysis across the VP1/2A junction. Poliovirus-specific primers were used to amplify and subsequently sequence the region of interest. Viruses belonging to different genotypes were found to have been responsible for the 2 outbreaks. The Gazankulu outbreak in 1982 was caused by a poliovirus genotype which was unique to South Africa and which circulated endemically throughout much of the country between 1980 and 1985. Two additional genotypes, imported from the Middle East and West Africa, cocirculated endemically with the South African genotype between 1982 and 1985. The 1988 epidemic in Kwazulu-Natal was attributed to an imported genotype apparently introduced into South Africa in 1985 from countries north of the border. This genotype displaced the 3 genotypes previously in circulation and continued to be transmitted within the country until 1989, when the last confirmed cases of poliomyelitis associated with wild-type viruses were documented. All circulating wild-type poliovirus strains appear to have been eliminated from South Africa. J. Med. Virol. 52:42–49, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Pan-Enterovirus Amplicon-Based High-Throughput Sequencing Detects the Complete Capsid of a EVA71 Genotype C1 Variant via Wastewater-Based Epidemiology in Arizona

We describe the complete capsid of a genotype C1-like Enterovirus A71 variant recovered from wastewater in a neighborhood in the greater Tempe, Arizona area (Southwest United States) in May 2020 using a pan-enterovirus amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing strategy. The variant seems to have been circulating for over two years, but its sequence has not been documented in that period. As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in changes in health-seeking behavior and overwhelmed pathogen diagnostics, our findings highlight the importance of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE ) as an early warning system for virus surveillance.     

National Action Plan for Response to Poliovirus Importation

The Division of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Program of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared a plan of action as a guide for key actions that will be taken if a poliovirus outbreak occurs in the Republic of Korea. The history of poliomyelitis and vaccination against poliovirus in the nation was reviewed and the routine surveillance procedures that are currently in place were described. The principles and specific actions for an effective response to a poliovirus outbreak were prepared. The guidelines clearly outline the actions to be taken in case of a polio outbreak. When a suspected case of poliovirus infection is reported, an immediate epidemiological investigation is to be conducted. The response to a poliovirus outbreak includes case isolation, management of potential contacts and immunization. All stakeholders are to be made aware of what key actions should be taken at each stage of the response to a poliovirus outbreak in the nation.     

Interrupting wild poliovirus transmission using oral poliovirus vaccine: environmental surveillance in high-risks area of India

Global eradication of poliomyelitis has reached critical stage. Sabin Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV) has been successful in three major regions of the world. In India eradication of poliomyelitis from states of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar has been difficult due to high population and low-socioeconomic standards of living. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance and intensive OPV rounds continues with the World Health Organization (WHO) operational strategies. Yet apparent lack of progress in reducing the number of wild cases has resulted in occasional impatience and frustration, even leading to questions about ultimate feasibility of global eradication using OPV. Lucknow in UP is in geographical area endemic for poliomyelitis and is surrounded by high-risk areas yet maintains a polio-free status since 2002. Environmental surveillance study was conducted (2004-2006) to authenticate the decline in the wild poliovirus (PV) cases in Lucknow. Sewage sample analyses were compared with stools of AFP patients and healthy children from same geographical area. Study reveals useful information on OPV circulation and proves important epidemiological tool to trust WHO's OPV immunization program. Genetic sequencing had detected silent wild PV-1 circulation of RCP1PGI (EU049849), RCP2PGI (EU049850), RCP3PGI (EU049851), and RCP4PGI (EU049852) in sewage waters. Properties of isolates from sewage reflected those of viruses excreted from human. This study provides valuable information and encouragement to AFP surveillance to maintain high levels of OPV immunization campaigns in the most difficult endemic region of India to interrupt the wild PV transmission.     

Recombinant murine L20B cell line supports multiplication of group A coxsackieviruses

Sensitive, reliable, and rapid methods of virus culture are essential for wild poliovirus isolation and identification from stool specimens collected from cases of acute flaccid paralysis. Recently, recombinant murine cell lines expressing human poliovirus receptor (CD155) on the cell surface have become available. These cells are sensitive selectively to poliovirus because the poliovirus receptor is not used by other enteroviruses. In early field studies non-polio enteroviruses were not isolated from stool samples of cases of acute flaccid paralysis using L20B cells. For the past 3 years, L20B cells were used extensively in our laboratory for virus culture. The objective of the present study was to identify non-polio enteroviruses causing cytopathic changes in L20B cells. Stool specimens collected from 1,153 cases of acute flaccid paralysis and 2,670 apparently healthy children were tested for enteroviruses using RD and L20B cell lines. A small number of viruses other than poliovirus causing cytopathic effect in L20B cells were isolated. Such isolates detected in other polio network laboratories in India were also included. The virus isolates were typed using partial VP1 nucleotide sequence analysis and virus neutralization tests. Of the 111 viruses studied, 8 were non-enteroviruses. Among the 103 non-polio enteroviruses, 73 were identified as group A coxsackieviruses. Of the 30 isolates that could not be characterized, 1 remained unidentified even by sequence analysis and 29 did not reach high titers in L20B as well as RD cells. In conclusion, coxsackie A viruses multiply in L20B cells causing cytopathic effect. Coxsackievirus A8 and coxsackievirus A10 were predominant among the eight coxsackie A virus types so far identified.     

泉州市2002—2007年急性弛缓性麻痹病例的监测

目的了解泉州市2000—2007急性弛缓性麻痹（AFP）病例的发病情况、分布特征及AFP监测系统运转情况,为我市继续保持无脊髓灰质炎（脊灰）决策提供依据。方法采用回顾性调查方法,分析泉州市2002—2007年AFP病例个案调查表、随访表和实验室病毒学检测结果等资料。结果泉州市2002—2007年AFP病例监测系统共报告AFP病例183例,15岁以下儿童非脊灰AFP病例报告发病率为1．7／10万。AFP病例男女比为2．6：1,以5岁小年龄组居多,全年各月分布无差异。报告AFP病例未完成OPV基础免疫及免疫史不详的病例分别占9．8％（18／183）和6．0％（11／183）,其中181例为脊灰排除病例,2例为脊灰临床符合病例。AFP病例合格粪便标本采集率为96．2％（176／183）,脊灰病毒分离率为4．0（7／176）,其中6例为脊灰疫苗株,1例为脊灰疫苗高变异株。75d内随访及时率为99．4％（180／181）。结论2002—2007年泉州市无脊灰野病毒确诊病例,AFP病例监测系统各项指标均达到《全国急性弛缓性麻痹（AFP）病例监测方案》的要求,但适龄儿童的基础免疫工作仍需加强,还应加强临床医生的培训,提高AFP病例监测系统的工作质量。