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Objective: To explore the pathogen composition and distribution characteristics of pathogens in respiratory samples from patients with fever of unknown origin. Methods: A total of 96 respiratory samples of patients with unknown cause fever with respiratory symptoms were collected from four hospitals above grade II in Shijiazhuang area (Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Luancheng District People's Hospital, Luquan District People's Hospital, Shenze County Hospital) from January to April 2020, and multiplex-fluorescent polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect influenza A virus, influenza B virus, enterovirus, parainfluenza virus I/II/III/IV, respiratory adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human rhinovirus, human bocavirus, COVID-19, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Group A streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus nucleic acid detection, the results were analyzed for chi-square. Results: A total of 8 pathogens were detected in the upper respiratory tract samples of 96 fever patients, including 1 kind of virus, 6 kinds of bacterias, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. There were 12 viruses including influenza virus and parainfluenza virus, Legionella pneumophila and Chlamydia pneumoniae were not detected. The pathogen detection rates in descending order were Streptococcus pneumoniae (58/96, 60.42%), Haemophilus influenzae(38/96, 39.58%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14/96, 14.58%), Staphylococcus aureus (10/96, 10.42%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (8/96, 8.33%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6/96, 6.25%), Group A streptococcus (4/96, 4.17%) and human rhinovirus (2/96, 2.08%). The proportions of single-pathogen infection and multi-pathogen mixed infection in fever clinic patients were similar, 41.67% (40/96) and 45.83% (44/96), respectively, and 12.50% (12/96)of the cases had no pathogens detected. The infection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in female patients with fever (21.43%) was higher than that in male patients with fever (2.94%) (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the distribution of of other pathogens and gender and age(P > 0.05). Conclusions: The upper respiratory tract pathogens were mainly bacterial infections, and occasional human rhinovirus and Mycoplasma pneumonia infections. In clinical diagnosis and treatment, comprehensive consideration should be given to the pathogen detection.
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The possession of exotic animals as pets is a social practice that has become more visible in Mexico in recent years, so it is interesting to understand its environmental and social implications and those related to human health. The present study aims to identify the main species of exotic animals kept as pets and the zoonotic diseases reported in these species. We analyzed official figures of seizures of exotic fauna in Mexico and reviewed specialized literature on zoonotic diseases documented in Mexico in these species. We identified zoonoses in species of fauna that can be acquired legally and illegally in the country, reported in environments in which animals coexist with other species and are in direct contact with people, which represents an important factor in the spread and propensity of this type of disease. We conclude that the sanitary regulation of wildlife markets, the monitoring and studying microorganisms associated with wildlife are valuable strategies to prevent the emergence of zoonoses.
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This paper describes the clinical signs and use of differential laboratory diagnostic techniques (computed tomography, cytology, histopathology, antigen/antibody detection and polymerase chain reaction) for infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic) and non-infectious (inflammatory/immune mediated, neoplastic, cardiac, malformation, foreign body, smoke inhalation, aspiration of caustic material, non-cardiogenic, pulmonary oedema, traumativ, pneumothorax, pulmonary contusions and idiopathic) causes of respiratory diseases in cats and dogs in Ontario, Canada.
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Parachlamydia acanthamoebae and Simkania negevensis, two Chlamydia-like bacteria, have been recently recognized as emerging human respiratory pathogens. The prevalence and frequency of these bacteria in the environment and among atypical pneumonia patients are still underestimated by classical cultures, immunohistochemistry and serology which are non-specific, long and tedious methods. This study aims to develop a new duplex probe-based q-PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and quantification of P. acanthamoebae and S. negevensis. The selected hydrolysis probes displayed no cross-reaction with the closely related Chlamydia or the other tested waterborne pathogens. The assay achieved a large dynamic range for quantification (from 5 × 106 to 5 DNA copies/reaction). Efficiencies of FAM and JOE label probes weren't affected when they were combined. They were close to 100%, indicating the linear amplification. The application of this diagnostic tool resulted in 9/47 (19%) and 4/47 (8.5%) positive water samples for P. acanthamoebae and S. negevensis, respectively. P. acanthamoebae was also covered from 2/78 (2.5%) respiratory specimens and only one case (1/200 = 0.5%) of P. acanthamoebae and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection was noticed. While S. negevensis wasn't detected in clinical samples, the developed duplex q-PCR was shown to be an accurate, highly sensitive, and robust diagnostic tool for the detection and quantification of P. acanthamoebae and S. negevensis.
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COVID-19 , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , COVID-19 TestingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of 10 cases of clustered Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia during the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The clinical data of 10 patients with clustered Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in a college diagnosed and treated by the Third Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from Mar. 10, 2021 to Mar. 17, 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, the clinical characteristics of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection were summarized, and the diagnosis and treatment plan was selected quickly and accurately. RESULTS: All 10 cases with Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia infection had no history of contact with live or dead birds, 80% of them had cough symptom, 50% of them had fever symptom. Laboratory test results showed that 80% of patients had white blood cell count in normal range, 60% of patients had increased c-reactive protein level to varying degrees, 70% of patients had creatine kinase above normal, creatinine and procalcitonin were all normal, and some coagulation function indexes were abnormal. Lung CT scan showed increased density of unilateral lung floccus, nodules or spots, with air bronchial signs and even consolidation. The results of respiratory tract five-link card showed that all 10 patients were positive for Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin M(IgM) antibody. The nucleic acid sequence of Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected by metagenomics next-generation sequencing(mNGS)in 2 patients after hospitalization. 10 patients were treated with moxifloxacin hydrochloride and sodium chloride injection and moxifloxacin hydrochloride tables in sequences, all of which were cured. After 1 month, the outpatient reexamination of lung CT showed that the inflammation was basically absorbed. CONCLUSION: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection can cause outbreak through respiratory transmission, which tend to occur in the spring. The combination of respiratory pathogen antibody detection and mNGS technology can improve the efficiency of clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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This article provides a brief overview of the 31st meeting of the International TaskForce for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) that was convened at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, USA on 20-21 October 2020 to discuss "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eradication and elimination programmes and the way forward." It highlights the results of 7 eradication programmes, with specific conclusions and recommendations for each: Guinea Worm Eradication Programme(dracunculiasis;GWEP);Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI);elimination programmes for measles and rubella (MR), malaria, river blindness (onchocerciasis;RB), and lymphatic filariasis (LF);and the program for the Global Elimination of Trachoma.
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Objective: To understand the change characteristics of respiratory pathogens in hospitalized children with respiratory tract infection in Shunyi district of Beijing from 2019 to 2020, and to provide basis for the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract diseases in children.
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Objective: To understand the pathogen spectrum in the lower respiratory tracts of 100 suspected cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Chaoyang district of Beijing from January to March, 2020.
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Introduction - The CeGIDDs are centres of information, screening and diagnosis for HIV, viral hepatitis and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a network of French free-to-use clinics created in 2016. This article describes the characteristics of CeGIDD visitors as well as the screening and diagnostic activities carried out by the structures for the year 2020, comparing them with 2018. Method - We present a repeated cross-sectional study, based on continuous monitoring data from the SurCeGIDD system, which relies on the secure transmission of individual visitor data according to a predefined format. The socio-demographic and behavioural data of the visitors, and their reasons for consultation, are described. The proportions of visitors tested and the positivity rates for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), syphilis, gonococcus (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) are described according to sexual practices. Results - In 2020, 336,333 consultations were reported by 50.3% of the 336 CeGIDDs identified in 2020. Attendance at CeGIDDs fell sharply in the second quarter of 2020 (-58% compared to the first quarter). In 2020, the visitors were mostly men (62.1%) and young people under 30 (64.5%). About a quarter (23.5%) of the visitors were born abroad. The proportion of men having sex with men (14.8%) and trans people (0.38%) had increased compared to 2018. The most frequent reasons for consultation remained risk exposure (60.4%) and systematic screening (43.3%). Some reasons for consultation increased between 2018 and 2020, such as initiating or monitoring a post-exposure prophylaxis. An increase in positivity rate between 2018 and 2020 is observed for HIV (from 0.37% to 0.41%), but especially for NG (from 2.8% to 4.0%), undoubtedly related to changes in visitor characteristics. At the same time, positivity rates decreased for HBV (from 1.3% to 0.93%) and HCV (from 0.94% to 0.60%). They are relatively stable for CT (7.0% in 2020), MG (6.8%) and syphilis (1.0%). Conclusion - Despite a drop in consultations in 2020 related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CeGIDDs continued to carry out their screening/diagnostic missions in a comprehensive sexual health approach. SurCeGIDD surveillance provides elements for monitoring the national sexual health strategy, hence the need to improve the comprehensiveness and completeness of the data collected.