Diagnosing PrEP Communication Self-Efficacy in a Community-Based Peer Leader Intervention for Black Sexual Minority Men.

HIV prevention interventions that leverage endogenous peer leaders to communicate about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV prevention tools in their social networks offer a way to reach greater portions of communities most impacted by HIV like Black/African American gay, bisexual, same gender-loving, and other sexual minority men (BSMM). However, the success of these interventions hinge on the communication self-efficacy of its peer leaders. In this exploratory study, we present a multi-theoretical framework that situates the PrEP communication self-efficacy (PCSE) of a cohort of young BSMM peer leaders (n = 303) in the context of personal, behavioral, social, and structural factors. Using censored regression models, our analysis shows that PCSE is influenced by evaluations of PrEP itself (its relative advantage, complexity, and compatibility), network embeddedness (degree centrality) among other BSMM, social media network exposure to HIV information, and medical mistrust. We conclude with a discussion of the practical implications of our findings for intervention design and implementation.

Isolation of the Fathead Minnow Nidovirus from Muskellunge Experiencing Lingering Mortality.

In 2011, the Fathead Minnow nidovirus (FHMNV; Genus Bafinivirus, Family Coronaviridae, Order Nidovirales) was isolated from pond-raised juvenile Muskellunge Esox masquinongy suffering from lingering mortality at the Wild Rose Hatchery in Wild Rose, Wisconsin. Moribund Muskellunge exhibited tubular necrosis in the kidneys as well as multifocal coalescing necrotizing hepatitis. The FHMNV was also isolated from apparently healthy juvenile Muskellunge at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, Michigan. The identity of the two syncytia-forming viruses (designated MUS-WR and MUS-WL from Wild Rose Hatchery and Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, respectively) as strains of FHMNV was determined based on multiple-gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The pathogenicity of the MUS-WL FHMNV strain was determined by experimentally infecting naive juvenile Muskellunge through intraperitoneal injection with two viral concentrations (63 and 6.3 × 10(3) TCID50/fish). Both doses resulted in 100% mortality in experimentally infected fish, which exhibited severely pale gills and petechial hemorrhaging in eyes, fins, and skin. Histopathological alterations in experimentally infected fish were observed mainly in the hematopoietic tissues in the form of focal areas of necrosis. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated partial spike glycoprotein and helicase gene sequences revealed differences between the MUS-WL FHMNV, MUS-WR FHMNV, and two other FHMNV originally isolated from moribund Fathead Minnows Pimephales promelas including the index FHMNV strain (GU002364). Based on a partial helicase gene sequence, a reverse transcriptase PCR assay was developed that is specific to FHMNV. These results give evidence that the risks posed to Muskellunge by FHMNV should be taken seriously. Received May 1, 2015; accepted February 8, 2016.

Fathead minnow nidovirus infects spotfin shiner Cyprinella spiloptera and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas.

Since the initial isolation of the fathead minnow nidovirus (FHMNV), concerns have been raised regarding the risks it may pose to other fish species. In this study, 7 fish species resident to the Laurentian Great Lakes were challenged intraperitoneally with 2 doses of FHMNV: 102.8 and 104.8 median tissue culture infective dose (TCID(50)) ml(-1). Infected spotfin shiner Cyprinella spiloptera and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas suffered morbidity and mortality during the 40 d observation period, while other species, including creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and walleye Sander vitreus, showed no clinical signs or mortality. FHMNV was re-isolated on the epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell line from the tissues of infected spotfin shiner and golden shiner, which harbored high numbers of viral RNA copies as measured by quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Infected spotfin shiner and golden shiner exhibited external petechiae, exophthalmia, oedematous kidneys, and liver pallor. Histopathological analysis revealed multifocal areas of necrosis in the kidney, spleen and liver of infected fish. Spotfin shiner and golden shiner were then infected with 2 doses of FHMNV (10(3.5) and 10(3.9) TCID(50) ml(-1)) by immersion to mimic more natural modes of infection. Spotfin shiner experienced 60% mortality at both doses, while golden shiner did not experience mortality nor develop any clinical signs following a 40 d observation period. Overall, piscivorous fish tested in this study do not seem to be at risk for infection, while cyprinids appear to vary in their susceptibility to the strain of FHMNV used in this study.