ABSTRACT
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) are the cause of acute hemorrhagic disease in endangered Asian and African elephants. In the present study, we report the incidence of EEHV infection and associated mortality in the captive elephant of Assam, India. Our result showed the gross morphology and histopathological changes of EEHV infection in the elephant. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis of the polymerase, helicase, and GPCR genes from the infected tissue samples suggested the presence of EEHV1A virus.
Subject(s)
Elephants/virology , Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Herpesviridae/classification , Animals , DNA, Viral/genetics , Female , Herpesviridae/genetics , Herpesviridae Infections/virology , Incidence , India/epidemiology , Male , PhylogenyABSTRACT
Timely diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), is only achieved for ~58% cases. An improved, accurate, time- and cost-effective method for bacteriological confirmation of MTB is necessary. We evaluated Mycotube, a new variant of Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture medium, by comparing it with Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 (gold standard), local LJ, and bioMérieux LJ-T in terms of isolation rate and time-to-growth. Pulmonary and extra-pulmonary samples from treatment-naïve suspects (n = 207) were decontaminated by the N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide method and used to inoculate the four media. Subjective and objective parameters were used for evaluation. Mycotube yielded 140 positive results, compared to 162, 69, and 141 from MGIT, local LJ, and LJ-T, respectively. Of these, 139 (67%) were true-positive results and 1 (0.5%) was false-positive. The mean time-to-growth detection was 17.4 days for Mycotube, compared to 14.5, 28.1, and 16.5 days for MGIT, local LJ, and LJ-T, respectively. The mean time-to-growth for local LJ significantly differed from that for MGIT, but not those for LJ-T and Mycotube. No contamination was observed. Mycotube had a sensitivity of 85.8% and a specificity of 97.8% as compared to MGIT. Mycotube offers good results, comparable with those observed for conventional LJ. It requires only basic laboratory infrastructure. The overall cost of the test should be nearly three times lower than that of MGIT. Mycotube helps with TB diagnosis and generates pure isolates for drug susceptibility testing.
Subject(s)
Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Culture Media/chemistry , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Diagnostic Errors , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensitivity and Specificity , Time Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
According to indications, "since 1961, a seventh pandemic outbreak of cholera, caused by the biotype El Tor of Vibrio cholerae, appears to be in the making"
This supplement has been published following the dictates of the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". It is intended to serve as a handbook and practical guide for identifying the choleric vibrio and publicizing its method of attack and characteristics. A brief description is given of laboratory procedures for diagnosing the disease and the method for isolating the vibrio in water, in sewage, in food, in fomites and in flies
The authors discuss in detail the treatment of cholera patients and include a list of indispensable supplies, necessary precautions for hospital personnel and the care of adults and children. The importance of anticholera vaccines, environmental sanitation and constant vigilance by health authorities in preventing the disease is stressed(AU)
Subject(s)
Cholera/prevention & control , Cholera/epidemiology , Vibrio cholerae/isolation & purification , Water Purification , Epidemiological Monitoring , Environmental Health , JupiterABSTRACT
According to indications, "since 1961, a seventh pandemic outbreak of cholera, caused by the biotype El Tor of Vibrio cholerae, appears to be in the making"
This supplement has been published following the dictates of the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". It is intended to serve as a handbook and practical guide for identifying the choleric vibrio and publicizing its method of attack and characteristics. A brief description is given of laboratory procedures for diagnosing the disease and the method for isolating the vibrio in water, in sewage, in food, in fomites and in flies
The authors discuss in detail the treatment of cholera patients and include a list of indispensable supplies, necessary precautions for hospital personnel and the care of adults and children. The importance of anticholera vaccines, environmental sanitation and constant vigilance by health authorities in preventing the disease is stressed(AU)
