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OBJECTIVES@#To summarize the clinical features of neonates infected with Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).@*METHODS@#The medical data of 23 neonates with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the City North Campus of Urumqi First People's Hospital from October to December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.@*RESULTS@#All 23 infants had a history of exposure to confirmed caregivers with SARS-CoV-2 infection after birth, and none of them was vertically transmitted. Clinical classification: 5 cases of asymptomatic infection, 18 cases of mild infection, and no cases of moderate, severe, or critically ill. The first symptoms were fever in 13 cases, cough in 3 cases, nasal congestion in 1 case, and diarrhea in 1 case. Blood white blood cell counts decreased in 2 cases, and C-reactive protein increased in 1 case. Seven infants underwent chest X-ray examination due to cough or shortness of breath, and one of which showed focal exudative changes, while the rest showed no abnormal changes. All infants were discharged after symptomatic treatment and the median hospital stay was 6 days. The duration of nucleic acid positivity of SARS-CoV-2 was negatively correlated with N gene Ct values and ORF1ab gene Ct values (rs=-0.719 and -0.699, respectively; P<0.05). One month after discharge, all infants had no symptoms or signs of nucleic acid re-positivity.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The clinical manifestations are usually mild or asymptomatic in neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The lower the Ct values of the N and ORF1ab genes of SARS-CoV-2, the longer the duration of nucleic acid positivity. Neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant can have a good prognosis after symptomatic treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Cough , COVID-19 , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Abstract Background: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, and on February 28, Mexico reported its first case. Internationally, cases in newborns are few and the outcomes, in general, are good. There is no certainty of possible vertical transmission, and the presence of the virus in human milk is improbable. The gold standard for diagnosis is the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. We performed a literature review and presented a case of perinatal COVID-19. Clinical case: We describe the case of a full-term male infant with a birth weight of 3450 g and history of rooming-in with another mother-baby pair, both positive for SARS-CoV-2. On the second day of life, the neonate developed pneumonia, with clinical, X-ray and ultrasound diagnostic confirmation. On the third day of life, RT-PCR was positive for SARS-CoV-2; the mother was also positive but remained asymptomatic. The patient required mechanical ventilation and was transferred to a tertiary level neonatal unit on day 5 of life, where congenital heart disease was ruled out. He evolved satisfactorily with a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 on day 8 and was extubated and discharged on day 21 of life. Telephone follow-up was performed without complications. Conclusions: The present case was classified as horizontal transmission with a short incubation period of COVID-19.
Resumen Introducción: El 11 de marzo de 2020 la Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 y el 28 de febrero México reportó su primer caso. En todo el mundo, los casos en recién nacidos son pocos y la evolución, en general, es buena. No hay certeza sobre la posible transmisión vertical, y la presencia del virus en la leche humana es altamente improbable. El método de referencia para el diagnóstico es la prueba de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa (RT-PCR). Se presenta un caso clínico de COVID-19 perinatal y se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura sobre el tema. Caso clínico: Recién nacido de sexo masculino, de término, con un peso al nacer de 3,450 g, con antecedente de alojamiento conjunto con otro binomio madre-hijo positivo para SARS-CoV-2. Al segundo día de vida desarrolló neumonía diagnosticada por clínica, rayos X y ultrasonido. Presentó prueba positiva para SARS-CoV-2 al día 3 de vida, al igual que la madre, quien permaneció asintomática. El paciente requirió ventilación mecánica y fue trasladado a una unidad neonatal de tercer nivel el día 5 de vida, donde se descartó cardiopatía congénita y evolucionó satisfactoriamente. La prueba de RT-PCR para SARS-CoV-2 fue negativa al día 8, por lo que se realizó extubación y egreso al día 21 de vida. Se realizó seguimiento telefónico, sin complicaciones. Conclusiones: El presente caso fue catalogado como transmisión horizontal con un periodo corto de incubación de COVID-19.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Pregnancy , Young Adult , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical , COVID-19/transmission , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis , Respiration, Artificial , Follow-Up Studies , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , COVID-19 Testing , COVID-19/diagnosis , MexicoABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem. Over two billion people have been infected with hepatitis B virus globally, of whom over 350 million are chronic carriers. Vertical (mother to child) and horizontal early childhood transmission are the main routes of HBV transmission and are responsible for most chronic infections. The aim of this study was to study the role played by different modes of transmission of HBV and to study the burden of hepatitis B in pediatric age group.Methods: All children below 12 years of age, admitted for jaundice, of both sexes, during one year study period were included. 50 patients (control) who were not suffering from jaundice or known liver disease were also included.Results: Prevalence of HBsAg positivity among jaundiced children was 15.24%. There was increase in HBsAg positivity with increase in the age signifying role of horizontal mode of transmission in Hepatitis B virus infection.Conclusions: HBV infection is an important health problem in paediatric age group. Horizontal mode of transmission plays important role in the spread of HBV infection among children.
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Background@#Few data are available regarding the progression of liver disease and therapeutic efficacy in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers infected by mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). This study aimed to investigate these two aspects by comparing the adult chronic HBV carriers in MTCT group with those in horizontal transmission group.@*Methods@#The 683 adult chronic HBV patients qualified for liver biopsy including 191 with MTCT and 492 with horizontal transmission entered the multi-center prospective study from October 2013 to May 2016. Biopsy results from 217 patients at baseline and 78 weeks post antiviral therapy were collected.@*Results@#Patients infected by MTCT were more likely to have e antigen positive (68.6% vs. 58.2%, χ2 = -2.491, P = 0.012) than those with horizontal transmission. However, in patients with MTCT, levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P = 0.031), Fibroscan (P = 0.013), N-terminal propeptide of Type III procollagen (PIIINP) (P = 0.014), and Laminin (LN) (P = 0.006) were high, in contrast to the patients with horizontal transmission for whom the levels of albumin (ALB) (P = 0.041), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) (P = 0.001) were high. The 47.2% of patients with MTCT and 36.8% of those with horizontal transmission had significant liver fibrosis (P = 0.013). Following antiviral therapy for 78 weeks, 21.2% and 38.0% patients with MTCT and horizontal transmission acquired hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance, respectively (P = 0.043), and the virological response rates were 54.7% and 74.1% in the MTCT and horizontal groups, respectively (P = 0.005). MTCT was a risk factor for HBeAg clearance and virological response.@*Conclusion@#Adult patients with MTCT were more prone to severe liver diseases, and the therapeutic efficacy was relatively poor, which underlined the importance of earlier, long-term treatment and interrupting perinatal transmission.@*Trial Registration@#NCT01962155; https://clinicaltrials.gov.
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We report a Serratia marcescens outbreak occurred in the NICU of a pediatric hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Nine cases of infection were detected, from which septicemia was developed in 55.5%. The index case was a newborn derived from another institution with septic arthritis caused by the outbreak strain. The infection rate was 17.6% and mortality rate was 33.3%. All isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides and susceptible to third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. Clonality analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed the presence of two closely related clones confirming the horizontal spread. Measures were taken by the committee such as: strengthening the hand hygiene, patient hygiene and cohort studies of gastrointestinal colonization, which allowed the control of the outbreak.
Comunicamos un brote nosocomial por Serratia marcescens en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos en un hospital pediátrico de Guayaquil, Ecuador. Se detectaron nueve casos de infección, manifestándose en 55,5% de los casos como sepsis. El caso índice correspondió a un neonato derivado de otra institución con artritis séptica. La tasa de ataque fue 17,6% (n: 51) y la mortalidad 33,3%. Todos los aislados presentaron resistencia a las cefalosporinas y aminoglucósidos y sensibilidad a carbapenémicos. El análisis de clonalidad reveló la presencia de dos clones estrechamente relacionados, confirmando la diseminación horizontal. Las medidas de control de brote fueron: reforzamiento de higiene de manos, cohorte de los pacientes y búsqueda de colonización gastrointestinal.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant, Newborn , Serratia marcescens/isolation & purification , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Serratia Infections/epidemiology , Serratia marcescens/drug effects , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Cross Infection/microbiology , Serratia Infections/microbiology , Ecuador/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Thermophilic Campylobacter are commonly associated with poultry as commensals of the avian gut and are the causative agent responsible for human Campylobacteriosis. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. from environmental sources that have previously been implicated as sources of horizontal transmission. The highest prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter was found in water samples (87.5%) and lowest from flies (7.2%). Only C. jejuni was isolated from all sources. A secondary aim was to provide a baseline of resistance profiles of Campylobacter spp. isolates obtained. Alarmingly all the C. jejuni isolates from environmental sources as well as humans were multi‑drug resistant.
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Aim: Nigeria has been classified among the nations highly endemic for viral Hepatitis with a seroprevalence of 2.7-13.3% in normal population. The study determines the seroprevalent rates of hepatitis B virus based on trimester stages in a population of pregnant women. Study Type: Case control. Place of Study: Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 300 pregnant women sampled in the population were attending ante-natal clinic at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria. A rapid one-step diagnostic strip method was used for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) detection and Smart check HBsAg Immunoassay used for confirmation. The study had a structured questionnaire to generate baseline information. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. Results: High prevalence of HBsAg was observed in pregnant women that are married (6.67%), have multiple sexual partners (7.76%) and indulge in transactional sexual behaviour (7%). Awareness of HbsAg transmission to the fetus by the pregnant mothers (0.95%) and previous HbsAg testing were low (3%). Differentials in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd pregnancy trimesters showed 42.9%, 10.9%, and 18.4% prevalent rates respectively. Conclusion: The result expresses high potential and possible risk associated with HbsAg vertical transmission during the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, proactive approach targeted at this population should be designed to reduce HbsAg transmission to the fetus.
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INTRODUCTION:The objectives of this study were evaluate hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers in children and adolescents followed up at the Child Institute of the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo; identify chronic HBV carriers and susceptible individuals in the intrafamilial environment; characterize HBV genotypes; and identify mutations in the patients and household contacts. METHODS: Ninety-five hepatitis B surface antigen-positive children aged <19 years and 118 household contacts were enrolled in this study. Commercial kits were used for the detection of serological markers, and PCR was used for genotyping. RESULTS: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was detected in 66.3% (63/95) of cases. Three of the 30 HBeAg-negative and anti-HBeAg-positive patients presented with precore mutations and 11 presented with mutations in the basal core promoter (BCP). Genotype A was identified in 39 (43.8%) patients, genotype D in 45 (50.6%), and genotype C in 5 (5.6%). Of the 118 relatives, 40 were chronic HBV carriers, 52 presented with the anti-HBc marker, 19 were vaccinated, and 7 were susceptible. Among the relatives, genotypes A, D, and C were the most frequent. One parent presented with a precore mutation and 4 presented with BCP mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Genotypes A and D were the most frequent among children, adolescents, and their relatives. The high prevalence of HBV in the families showed the possibility of its intrafamilial transmission.
INTRODUÇÃO: Os objetivos deste estudo foram: avaliar os marcadores sorológicos nas crianças e adolescentes acompanhadas no Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP); identificar portadores crônicos do VHB e indivíduos suscetíveis no ambiente intrafamiliar; caracterizar o genótipo do VHB; observar a presença de cepas mutantes entre os pacientes e familiares estudados. MÉTODOS: Noventa e cinco crianças e adolescentes positivas para o antígeno de superfície do vírus da Hepatite B (AgHBs), menores de 19 anos, e 118 familiares foram envolvidos neste estudo. Foram utilizados kits comerciais para a pesquisa dos marcadores sorológicos e a PCR foi utilizada para genotipagem. RESULTADOS: O antígeno e do vírus da hepatite B (AgHBe) foi detectado em 66,3% (63/95) dos casos. Três dos 30 pacientes AgHBe negativo e anti-HBe positivo apresentaram mutação na região pré-core e 11 na região BCP. Em 39 (43,8%) pacientes, foi identificado o genótipo A, 45 (50,6%)o genótipo D e cinco (5,6%) o genótipo C. Dos 118 familiares estudados, 40 eram portadores crônicos do VHB, 52 tinham marcador sorológico de contato prévio e sete eram suscetíveis. Dentre os familiares AgHBs positivos, os genótipos A, D e C foram os mais frequentes. Um familiar apresentou mutação na região pré-core e quatro apresentaram mutação na região do BCP. CONCLUSÕES: Os genótipos A e D foram os mais frequentes dentre as crianças adolescentes e seus familiares. Alta frequência do VHB nos familiares mostrou a possibilidade de transmissão intrafamiliar.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Young Adult , Family , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology , Mutation/genetics , Carrier State , Contact Tracing , DNA, Viral/genetics , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Genotype , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B, Chronic/transmission , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Promoter Regions, GeneticABSTRACT
A transmissão horizontal de fungos entomopatogênicos tem papel importante na epizootiologia, pois está diretamente associada à disseminação do agente causal da doença de insetos. Em hospedeiros que apresentam restrita mobilidade, a presença de pragas secundárias no agroecossistema pode ajudar na formação de focos secundários da doença e, com isso, aumentar a mortalidade das pragas-chave. Para tanto, a disseminação de Beauveria bassiana, introduzida inoculativamente através de iscas tipo telha, foi avaliada em um bananal infestado por Cosmopolites sordidus (Piracicaba) e outro por C. sordidus e Metamasius hemipterus (Botucatu). Constatou-se que, em Piracicaba, não foram capturados insetos infectados na testemunha, sendo os índices de infecção nas parcelas que receberam B. bassiana de 8 e 15 por cento. Em Botucatu, o índice de infecção dos insetos capturados na testemunha chegou a 17 por cento, enquanto que, nas parcelas tratadas, variou de 28 a 54 por cento. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho demostram que a presença de M. hemipterus influenciou na disseminação de B. bassiana para a população de C. sordidus, praga-chave dessa cultura.
Horizontal transmission of entomopathogenic fungi plays an important role in the epizootiology, because it is directly associated with the spread of causal agents of insect diseases. In hosts with restricted mobility, the presence of secondary pests in the agroecosystem can help in the formation of secondary disease outbreaks and increase the mortality of the target pest. For this purpose, the dissemination of Beauveria bassiana inoculated using tile-type baits was evaluated in a banana plantation infested with Cosmopolites sordidus (Piracicaba) and one with C. sordidus and Metamasius hemipterus (Botucatu). In Piracicaba, insects contaminated with the pathogen were not found in the control group, and infection rates in the plots that received B. bassiana ranged between 8 and 15 percent. In Botucatu, the infection rate of insects in the control reached 17 percent, whereas in the fungal treatment plots, it varied from 28 to 54 percent. The present results demonstrate the influence of M. hemipterus in the dissemination of B. bassiana in populations of C. sordidus, a target pest of this crop.
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We investigated two populations of Melittobia digitata Dahms, a gregarious parasitoid (primarily upon a wide range of solitary bees, wasps, and flies), in search of Wolbachia infection. The first population, from Xalapa, Mexico, was originally collected from and reared on Mexican fruit fly pupae, Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae); the other, from Athens, Georgia, was collected from and reared on prepupae of mud dauber wasps, Trypoxylon politum Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). PCR studies of the ITS2 region corroborated that both parasitoid populations were the same species; this potentially provides a useful molecular taxonomic profile since females of Melittobia species are superficially similar. Amplification of the Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp) confirmed the presence of this endosymbiont in both populations. Sequencing revealed that the Wolbachia harbored in both populations exhibited a wsp belonging to a unique subgroup (denoted here as Dig) within the B-supergroup of known wsp genes. This new subgroup of wsp may either belong to a different strain of Wolbachia from those previously found to infect Melittobia or may be the result of a recombination event. In either case, known hosts of Wolbachia with a wsp of this subgroup are only distantly related taxonomically. Reasons are advanced as to why Melittobia - an easily reared and managed parasitoid - holds promise as an instructive model organism of Wolbachia infection amenable to the investigation of Wolbachia strains among its diverse hosts.
Se investigaron dos poblaciones de Melittobia digitata Dahms, un parasitoide gregario (principalmente sobre un rango amplio de abejas solitarias, avispas y moscas), en busca de infección por Wolbachia. La primera población, provenía de Xalapa, México, y fue originalmente colectada y criada sobre pupas de la Mosca Mexicana de la Fruta, Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae). La segunda población, originaria de Athens, Georgia, fue colectada y criada sobre prepupas de avispas de barro, Trypoxylon politum Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Estudios de PCR de la región ITS2 confirmaron que ambas poblaciones del parasitoide pertenecen a la misma especie; lo que nos provee de un perfil molecular taxonómico muy útil debído a que las hembras de las diversas especies de Melittobia son superficialmente similares. La amplificación del gen de superficie de proteina (wsp) de Wolbachia confirmó la presencia de este endosimbionte en ambas poblaciones. La ejecución de la secuencia reveló que Wolbachia alojada en ambas poblaciones exibe un wsp que pertenece a un subgrupo único (denominado aquí como Dig) dentro del supergrupo B de los genes wsp conocidos. Este nuevo subgrupo de wsp podría pertenecer o a un lineaje de Wolbachia de los previamente conocidos infectando a Melittobia o podría ser el resultado de algún evento recombinante. En cualquier caso, los huéspedes conocidos de Wolbachia con un wsp en este subgrupo están relacionados taxonómicamente en forma lejana. Se presentan razones posibles del por qué Melittobia - un parasitoide fácil de criar y manipular - es prometedor como un organismo modelo conveniente para el estudio de líneas de Wolbachia entre diversos huéspedes.