Emergency health response of Japanese local governments after the “3·11” great earthquake / 上海预防医学

The earthquake occurred in Japan on March 11， 2011 was accompanied by a tsunami， which also led to a leakage accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The disaster caused large-scale casualties and property damage. Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture established a disaster response headquarter and held its first meeting 9 minutes after the earthquake. Disaster response can be divided into three stages. In the first phase， life protection is the primary task. In the second phase， the primary tasks are health protection and basic life support. And in the third phase， life quality improvement is the primary task. This article reviewed the public health emergency response of local governments in Japan after the disaster in order to improve the response to public health emergencies in China.

Prevalence and control of human diseases caused by Beta Coronavirus / 上海预防医学

Beta coronaviruses (β-CoVs) can infect human and a variety of animals, causing respiratory, intestinal, liver and nervous system diseases of the hosts.Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by coronavirus in 32 countries and regions in 2002, there have been Middle East respiratory syndrome and human coronavirus HKU1 pneumonia caused by other viruses of this genus.β-CoVs pose a continuous threat to human health with its high transmission efficiency, serious infection consequences and uncertain epidemic outbreaks.Hereby, the epidemic history, virus sources and transmission modes of β-CoVs, as well as the detection and monitoring methods for the virus are reviewed in the paper to provide ideas and measures for better control of human diseases caused by β-CoVs.

Prevalence and control of human diseases caused by Beta Coronavirus / 上海预防医学

Beta coronaviruses (β-CoVs) can infect human and a variety of animals, causing respiratory, intestinal, liver and nervous system diseases of the hosts.Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by coronavirus in 32 countries and regions in 2002, there have been Middle East respiratory syndrome and human coronavirus HKU1 pneumonia caused by other viruses of this genus.β-CoVs pose a continuous threat to human health with its high transmission efficiency, serious infection consequences and uncertain epidemic outbreaks.Hereby, the epidemic history, virus sources and transmission modes of β-CoVs, as well as the detection and monitoring methods for the virus are reviewed in the paper to provide ideas and measures for better control of human diseases caused by β-CoVs.

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) H9N2 are in the course of reassorting into novel AIVs / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

In 2013, two episodes of influenza emerged in China and caused worldwide concern. A new H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) first appeared in China on February 19, 2013. By August 31, 2013, the virus had spread to ten provinces and two metropolitan cities. Of 134 patients with H7N9 influenza, 45 died. From then on, epidemics emerged sporadically in China and resulted in several victims. On November 30, 2013, a 73-year-old woman presented with an influenza-like illness. She developed multiple organ failure and died 9 d after the onset of disease. A novel reassortant AIV, H10N8, was isolated from a tracheal aspirate specimen that was obtained from the patient 7 d after onset. This case was the first human case of influenza A subtype H10N8. On 4 February, 2014, another death due to H10N8 avian influenza was reported in Jiangxi Province, China.

An investigation on hepatitis E virus infection status among livestock in Xi'an area / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the carrier state of hepatitis E virus(HEV) in livestock in Xi'an area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bile samples from swine, canine, sheep and cow were collected from a local slaughtering house. Reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) was employed to amplify the ORF2 region in HEV RNA genome. All positive samples were sequenced and compared with data from GenBank. Homology analysis was conducted based on the outcome of sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>194, 178, 79 and 191 bile samples from swine, canine, cow and sheep were collected. Positive rates with RT-nPCR method in these domestic animals were 4.10%, 0%, 0% and 0% respectively. Genetic distance analysis indicated that strains being identified were close to genotype IV of HEV, then genotype I, II and III in nucleic acid. Same outcome was shown by the same analysis on amino acid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Swine was the only reservoir of HEV in livestock and genotype IV was the prevalent genotype.</p>

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Rabies Virus from Human Patients / 中国病毒学

Saliva and blood were collected from two patients who had not received post exposure prophylaxis in the cities of Wenzhou and Xinning respectively. Both patients were confirmed as positive for rabies by detection of rabies virus specific nucleoprotein antibodies in the sera by Western Blot. However, rabies virus specific RNA was only identified in the saliva collected from the patient in Wenzhou. Furthermore, the isolate Zhejiang Wz0 (H) was obtained by inoculating one-day-old suckling mice. Both nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes from the isolate were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate belonged to classic rabies virus, and shared a higher homology with the street viruses from dogs in the main endemic areas in China and the street virus from dogs in Indonesia than with other known strains. Further comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences between the isolate and the vaccine strains used in China showed that the virus had a higher level of homology with the vaccine strain CTN than with the other vaccine strains (3aG, PV, PM and ERA). In particular, amino acid residues substitutions located in antigenic site Ⅲ in the G protein, which could react with the neutralizing antibodies, were observed. These results suggested that the virus belonged to the classic rabies virus, and both N and G genes diverged from the current vaccine strains used in China at either the nucleotide or the amino acid level.

Molecule character of rabies virus in 3 counties in Hunan China / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the rabies molecular biology features in animals between high incidence area of rabies and no rabies cases area in Hunan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>detect saliva of dogs and brains of dogs and cats by direct immunofluorescence assay, review positive samples by RT-PCR, sequencing extract RNA virus for genetic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>12 were detected rabies virus antigen and positive nucleoside acid in 82 dogs from Wugang city also 1 in 17 from Dongkou county; the positive rate: Wugang 14.63 percent, Dongkou 5.88 percent. No rabies virus was detected in 67 samples of dog brains from Fenghuang County. Also none in 28 samples of cat brains. Amplificating N gene of rabies virus from positive samples of dog brain's tissue (No Wg13, Dk13) by RT-PCR, it shows that homology of nucleoside acid between two strain of virus is 99.4 percent; also 99.1 percent of amino acid. The homology of nucleoside acid (amonio acid) among Wg13 stain and Chinese strain CTN and aG strain is 89.4 percent (98.2 percent) and 86.1 percent (95.1 percent); The homology of nucleoside acid (amonio acid) among Dk13 stain Chinese strain CTN and aG strain is 89.1 percent (98.0 percent), 86.1 percent (94.9 percent).Compare with isolated rabies virus from abroad, the homology between two strains and Indonesia is 92.8 percent and 93.2 percent, the most similar of them. The strains isolated from other countries including Japan, Sri Lanka and India are relatively lower; The sequence of gene Wg13 and Dk13 were taken replacement of amino acid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Two strains are belong to type I rabies virus, comparing its N gene with current using vaccine strains, both are in same group, and homology are relatively higher.</p>

Analyses on the isolation and characterization of canine rabies virus isolates in Henan / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the genetic characteristics of two rabies virus isolates from Henan province and to compare their relations hip with known rabies virus isolates and vaccine strains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rabies viral antigens were detected in 100 canine brains by immunofluorescence assay method. Rabies virus was isolated through inoculating the suspensions of positive brains into suckling mice. N gene and G were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed for the analysis on genetic characteristics of rabies virus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two rabies virus strains were isolated (Henan Hb1 and Henan Sq1). Data from sequential comparison revealed that the nucleotide and amino acid identities of N and G gene between the two isolates were 99.3% and 98.9%, and 98.7% and 98.4% respectively. The two isolates were more closely related to CTN, with the homogeny of N gene and G gene as 89.1% and 85.6%-85.7% at the nucleotide level, but 97.6%-98.0% and 92.3% at the amino acid level respectively, than to other vaccine strains. When comparing with other known viruses including Chinese isolates, the two stains shared closer identity with the isolates from Indonesia, and the rates of homogeny of N and G gene were 92.1%-93.2% and 91.9%-92.1% at the nucleotide level, 97.5%-98.6% and 96.0%-96.2% at the amino acid level, respectively. Data from the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that some amino acid residues including the residues in the N and G antigenic sites were substituted in the two isolates. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that the two isolates were also more closely related to the strains from Indonesia and vaccine strain CTN than to any other known street viruses and vaccine strains.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both Henan Hbl and Henan Sql belonged to genotype 1. However, the N and G gene diverged from known street viruses and vaccine strains at either nucleotide level or amino acid level.</p>

The survey of 21 cases of human rabies in Anlong county in Guizhou province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze 21 cases of rabies from February 8 to May 1 in 2004 in Anlong county in Guizhou province, and to explore the possible factors causing the epidemics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>21 cases of rabies were investigated. The canine brains were collected, and indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect rabies virus antigen in the brains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From February 8 to May 1st in this year, 21 cases of rabies were reported, with 5.12/100,000 of the prevalence rate. Dogs accounted for 20 cases, and cat for one case. Median incubation period was 36.52 days, but less than 15 days in 6 cases. Among 21 cases, 17 cases were not correctly treated, and 9 cases received vaccine, with 3 cases vaccinated in time. No cases received passive immunization of antirabies serum or human antirabies immune globulin. A total of 73 dogs' brains were examined for rabies viral antigen by IFA, and 9 (12.33%) were positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increasing number of dog, high rate of virus carrier in dogs, incorrect treatment of the wound, and as well as low inoculating rate of rabies vaccine might be responsible for the outbreak of rabies in Anlong county.</p>