Epidemiology of severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection and the need for therapeutics for the prevention

Over the past ten years there has been a marked increase in cases of severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome in East Asia. This tick-borne hemorrhagic fever presents along with clinical signs including high fever and leukopenia. In addition to humans, the virus has also been detected with shared genetic homology in farm animals including goats, cattle, horses, and pigs. Furthermore, several genotypes of severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) are currently co-circulating between humans and animals. In China, where the virus was first detected in rural areas in 2009, the SFTSV mortality rate has been reported to be as 6% and higher than 30%, especially in immuno-compromised patients. Moreover, this virus has been isolated in neighbor countries including Japan and South Korea where the fatality rates in 2015 were more than 30% in both countries. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the virology, genotypes, pathogenesis, and epidemiology of SFTSV infection in humans and animals. Currently, a collaborative global approach against SFTSV infection is being undertaken; however, the need for continuous disease surveillance and production of an effective vaccine is imperative as this virus may lead to an epidemic of irreversible status in both humans and animals.

Evaluation of two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus diagnosis

To develop the large scale serological assay for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection, we evaluated two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods using nucleocapsid protein (NP) and Gn proteins of CB1 (genotype B) SFTSV strains. The NP-based ELISA tests showed more sensitive with broad cross-reactivity between two different genotype A and B strains compared with those of Gn-based ELISA tests. However, Gn-based ELISA showed more genotype specificity and specificity. These result suggested that NP-based ELISA test could be applicable for general sero-prevalence studies of SFTSV infections, while Gn-based ELISA could be applicable for a certain specific genotype sero-prevalence study.

Intestinal Total IgA and Rotavirus - specific IgA Detection in ICR Mouse Model

In a murine model system, enhancement of the total IgA and rotavirus-specific IgA of suckling mice was measured by ELISA with the intestinal fluid following oral administration of murine rotavirus EC (EDIM-Cambridge) strain. In the EC strain-administered group, the geometric mean titers (GMT) of total IgAs were 512 and 91 at 1 and 2 week postinfection, respectively. On the other hand, the GMTs of the rotavirus-specific IgAs were 108 and 3 at the same periods, respectively. Thus increase in the total IgAs was 64 folds and that in the rotavirus-specific IgAs was 43 folds compared with the negative control group. As the maximal titers of both the total and rotavirus-specific IgAs were observed at 1 week decreasing until 2 weeks after infection, it is evident that the GMT of the total IgA implies that of rotavirus-specific IgA. In our ELISA system, whose specificity was verified by Western blot analysis, the total IgA in the administered group was determined to be 40-400 ng per 1 ml of the intestinal fluid. Therefore it is concluded that determination of the rotavirus-specific IgA in murine models can be a sensitive indication of rotavirus infection, and will be another promising tool in viral challenge experiments in vaccine development.

Endoscopic Removal of Foreign Bodies in Upper GI Tract in Children

PURPOSE: The foreing bodies in the upper GI tract are chiefly caused by accidental swallowing and rarely provoke symptoms. It is recommended to remove the foreign bodies if they produce symptoms or remain in GI tract for long duration or complications are expected to bring about. Nowadays the development of pediatric therapeutic endoscopy enables the removal of the foreign bodies in upper GI tract easily. METHODS: A clinical study of 30 cases of pediatric patients with the foreign bodies in the upper gastrointesinal tract diagnosed by the endoscopy at Seoul Red Cross hospital from January 1991 to December 1995 was perforemed. RESULTS: 1) The ages ranged from 1 year to 9 years and the male to female ratio was 2.3:1. 2) The types of ingested foreign bodies were coins (63.3%), audiokeys (10.0%), plastic toy (3.3%), earphone cap (3.3%), metal (3.3%), screw (3.3%), and battery (3.3%). Eighteen cases (60.0%) were located in the 1st narrowing part of the esophagus and 10 cases (33.3%) were in the stomach 3) Presenting symptoms were asymptomatic in 46.7%, dysphagia in 20.0%, vomiting in 16.7%, sore throat in 10.0%, and poor oral intake in 10.0%. The most common symptom in the cases of gastric foreign bodies was asymptomatic (90%), and common symptoms in the cases of 1st esophageal foreign bodies were dysphagia (33.3%), vomiting (27.8%) and asymptomatic (27.8%). 4) Abnormal endoscopic findings were erosive gastritis (16.7%), erosive esophagitis (6.7%), esophageal ulcer (3.3%), esophagitis (3.3%), and pharyngeal necrosis (3.3%) in order. CONCLUSIONS: The upper GI endoscope is a safe and essential method to diagnose and treat foreign bodies in the upper GI tract in pediatric patients.