Outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 Infections,Ghana

In September 2019, high mortality in commercial rabbits was reported in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 phylogenetically related to isolates from 2015–2017 outbreaks in the Netherlands was confirmed as the causative agent. The virus has not yet been detected in native rabbits in Ghana.     

Evaluating Differences in Whole Blood,Serum, and Urine Screening Tests for Zika Virus,Puerto Rico,USA, 2016

We evaluated nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for Zika virus on whole-blood specimens compared with NAAT on serum and urine specimens among asymptomatic pregnant women during the 2015–2016 Puerto Rico Zika outbreak. Using NAAT, more infections were detected in serum and urine than in whole blood specimens.     

Rare Norovirus GIV Foodborne Outbreak,Wisconsin, USA

We report a norovirus GIV outbreak in the United States, 15 years after the last reported outbreak. During May 2016 in Wisconsin, 53 persons, including 4 food handlers, reported being ill. The outbreak was linked to individually prepared fruit consumed as a fruit salad. The virus was phylogenetically classified as a novel GIV genotype.     

Barriers of Adherence among Palestinian Healthcare Professionals towards the Protocol of Health Education and Counselling on Healthy Behaviours for Non-Communicable Diseases

BackgroundDespite the huge numbers of the universally produced and employed protocols, the adherence with them is still low to moderate in the healthcare settings. This study was employed to assess the attitudes of Palestinian healthcare professionals in Gaza Strip to health education and counseling on healthy behaviours protocol (WHO-PEN Protocol 2), for patients with non-communicable diseases in the Ministry of Health primary healthcare centers.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with a census sample of all governmental family physicians and nurses (n=175). The study questionnaire was developed based on Cabana theoretical framework. The Arabic version questionnaire was developed based on the cross-cultural adaptation framework. The psychometric properties of the Arabic version questionnaire was finally evaluated.ResultsThe psychometric properties of the Arabic version questionnaire showed good construct validity and internal consistency reliability. The overall adherence level to WHO-PEN Protocol 2 was 70.0, SD=6.9. The main perceived barriers were lack of incentive, patients'' factors, and lack of time. In general, most of healthcare professional respondents had a positive attitude toward the protocol, but this attitude was not predictor to protocol adherence.ConclusionThe good validity and reliability of the questionnaire can provide support for the accuracy of the study results. Varied implementation strategies targeting the major barriers derived from the study are extremely required for addressing the lack of incentives, patients'' factors and time constraints.     

Recency-Weighted Statistical Modeling Approach to Attribute Illnesses Caused by 4 Pathogens to Food Sources Using Outbreak Data,United States

Foodborne illness source attribution is foundational to a risk-based food safety system. We describe a method for attributing US foodborne illnesses caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter to 17 food categories using statistical modeling of outbreak data. This method adjusts for epidemiologic factors associated with outbreak size, down-weights older outbreaks, and estimates credibility intervals. On the basis of 952 reported outbreaks and 32,802 illnesses during 1998–2012, we attribute 77% of foodborne Salmonella illnesses to 7 food categories (seeded vegetables, eggs, chicken, other produce, pork, beef, and fruits), 82% of E. coli O157 illnesses to beef and vegetable row crops, 81% of L. monocytogenes illnesses to fruits and dairy, and 74% of Campylobacter illnesses to dairy and chicken. However, because Campylobacter outbreaks probably overrepresent dairy as a source of nonoutbreak campylobacteriosis, we caution against using these Campylobacter attribution estimates without further adjustment.     

Sexual Contact as Risk Factor for Campylobacter Infection,Denmark

Campylobacteriosis is a disease of worldwide importance, but aspects of its transmission dynamics, particularly risk factors, are still poorly understood. We used data from a matched case-control study of 4,269 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 26,215 controls, combined with national surveillance data on Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp., to calculate matched odds ratios (mORs) for infection among MSM and controls. MSM had higher odds of Campylobacter (mOR 14, 95% CI 10–21) and Shigella (mOR 74, 95% CI 27–203) infections, but not Salmonella (mOR 0.2, 95% CI 0–13), and were less likely than controls to have acquired Campylobacter infection abroad (χ² = 21; p<0.001). Our results confirm that sexual contact is a risk factor for campylobacteriosis and also suggest explanations for unique features of Campylobacter epidemiology. These findings provide a baseline for updating infection risk guidelines to the general population.     

Murine Typhus in Canary Islands,Spain, 1999–2015

To document the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of murine typhus patients in the Canary Islands (Spain), we analyzed data that were retrospectively collected for 16 years for 221 patients. Murine typhus in the Canary Islands is characterized by a high rate of complications (31.6%), mainly liver, lung, kidney or central nervous system involvement.     

慢性阻塞性肺病大鼠模型的建立及药物干预的影响

目的：寻求建立慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）大鼠模型的新方法,探讨吸入皮质激素布地奈德及抗胆碱能受体支气管扩张剂溴化异丙托品（异丙托品）对大鼠COPD模型干预的影响。方法：用两次气管内注入脂多糖（LPS200μg/次）及熏香烟4周的复合刺激法建立大鼠COPD模型（模型组）,药物干预组于制作模型后第8天起分别吸入布地奈德及异丙托品溶液。观察支气管病理学改变及支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）细胞计数与分类,检测有关呼吸功能指标。结果：模型组气管、支气管及肺组织有慢性支气管炎、阻塞性肺气肿的特征性病理改变;气管壁厚度及腺体厚度／气管壁厚度的比值显著高于对照组（P＜0．01－0．001）;BALF中白细胞总数及中性粒细胞数较对照组显著增高（P＜0．01）,静息分钟通气量（VE）、呼气峰流速（PEF）和“0．3s用力呼气容积”（“FEV0．3”）则显著降低（P＜0．05）。与模型组相比,布地奈德组白细胞总数及中性粒细胞数显著降低,单核－巨噬细胞所占构成比显著升高（P＜0．05）,异丙托品组则无显著差异（P＞0．05）。结论：采用两次气管内注入适量LPS和反复熏香烟的方法,可成功制备大鼠COPD模型,其病理及病生理改变与人类COPD类似,为人类COPD研究提供了一个新工具。皮质激素对大鼠COPD模型有一定保护作用。     

Mirizzi综合征18例外科治疗体会

目的：提高临床上对Mirizzi综合征的认识,避免胆道损伤。方法：对经手术证实的18例Mirizzi综合征的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果：术前明确诊断者仅3例。行单纯胆囊切除11例,胆囊切除、胆管壁瘘口修补3例,胆囊切除、瘘口修补、T型管引流3例,胆囊切除、肝总管空肠Roux-en-y吻合术1例。随访11例平均时间5年,无胆道狭窄情况。结论：为避免胆道损伤,应结合病史、体检、化验及影像学检查进行全面综合分析,以提高术前确诊率,在手术时要认真对待,根据术中情况选择合理术式。