Monitoring emerging pathogens using negative nucleic acid test results from endemic pathogens in pig populations: Application to porcine enteric coronaviruses.

This study evaluated the use of endemic enteric coronaviruses polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-negative testing results as an alternative approach to detect the emergence of animal health threats with similar clinical diseases presentation. This retrospective study, conducted in the United States, used PCR-negative testing results from porcine samples tested at six veterinary diagnostic laboratories. As a proof of concept, the database was first searched for transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) negative submissions between January 1st, 2010, through April 29th, 2013, when the first porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) case was diagnosed. Secondly, TGEV- and PEDV-negative submissions were used to detect the porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV) emergence in 2014. Lastly, encountered best detection algorithms were implemented to prospectively monitor the 2023 enteric coronavirus-negative submissions. Time series (weekly TGEV-negative counts) and Seasonal Autoregressive-Integrated Moving-Average (SARIMA) were used to control for outliers, trends, and seasonality. The SARIMA's fitted and residuals were then subjected to anomaly detection algorithms (EARS, EWMA, CUSUM, Farrington) to identify alarms, defined as weeks of higher TGEV-negativity than what was predicted by models preceding the PEDV emergence. The best-performing detection algorithms had the lowest false alarms (number of alarms detected during the baseline) and highest time to detect (number of weeks between the first alarm and PEDV emergence). The best-performing detection algorithms were CUSUM, EWMA, and Farrington flexible using SARIMA fitted values, having a lower false alarm rate and identified alarms 4 to 17 weeks before PEDV and PDCoV emergences. No alarms were identified in the 2023 enteric negative testing results. The negative-based monitoring system functioned in the case of PEDV propagating epidemic and in the presence of a concurrent propagating epidemic with the PDCoV emergence. It demonstrated its applicability as an additional tool for diagnostic data monitoring of emergent pathogens having similar clinical disease as the monitored endemic pathogens.

Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on vertigo and hearing impairment: A post-recovery analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has manifested with respiratory symptoms and a spectrum of extra-pulmonary complications. Emerging evidence suggests potential impacts on the auditory and vestibular systems, but the extent and nature of these effects in recovered individuals remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of vertigo and hearing impairment in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and to identify potential risk factors associated with these sensory symptoms. A cohort of 250 recovered COVID-19 patients was assessed. Standardized questionnaires, including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the Vertigo Symptom Scale, were used to evaluate vertigo. Hearing assessment was conducted using pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and oto-acoustic emissions testing. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between COVID-19 severity and the occurrence of sensory symptoms, controlling for confounding variables such as age and comorbidities. Of the participants, 10% reported vertigo, varying severity. Hearing assessments revealed that most participants had normal hearing, with an average speech discrimination score of 94.6. Logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between severe COVID-19 and an increased likelihood of vertigo (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.02-4.35, P = .043) and hearing impairment (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.60-6.78, P = .002). This study suggests a significant association between COVID-19 severity and vertigo and hearing impairment prevalence. The findings underscore the importance of sensory symptom assessment in the post-recovery phase of COVID-19, highlighting the need for comprehensive healthcare approaches to manage long-term sequelae.

Genotypic characterization of novel S-DEL variants of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus identified in South Korea.

The highly pathogenic genotype 2b (HP-G2b) of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), which caused a pandemic in 2013-2014, evolved in South Korea and became endemic, affecting the domestic pig industry. This study describes the genotypic traits of novel HP-G2b PEDV strains identified on affected farms experiencing low disease severity with < 10% neonatal mortality. Nucleotide sequencing revealed common deletion patterns, termed S-DEL2, resulting in a two-amino-acid deletion at positions 60 and 61, 61 and 62, or 63 and 64 in the N-terminal domain of the spike (S) protein of all isolates. The S barcode profiles of S-DEL2 variants differed from each other and shared 96.0-99.4% and 98.5-99.6% nt sequence identity with other South Korean HP-G2b PEDV strains in the S gene and in the complete genome sequence, respectively. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis showed that the S-DEL2 strains belonged to diverse domestic clades: CK, CK.1, CK.2, or NC. The emergence of novel S-DEL2 strains suggests that continuous evolution of PEDV occurs under endemic circumstances, resulting in genetic diversity and distinct clinical presentations. This study advances our knowledge regarding the genetic and pathogenic heterogeneity of PEDV and emphasizes the importance of active monitoring and surveillance to identify novel variants and determine their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of canine enteric coronavirus prevalence in dogs of mainland China.

BACKGROUND: Canine enteric coronavirus (CECoV) is a prevalent infectious disease among dogs worldwide, yet its epidemiology in mainland China remains poorly understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of CECoV in mainland China and identify factors influencing its prevalence. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases for studies regarding CECoV epidemiology of China. PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and CQVIP were searched to obtain the studies. Eligible studies were selected based on predefined criteria, and data were extracted and synthesized. The quality the studies was assessed using the JBI assessment tool. Heterogeneity was checked using I2 test statistics followed by subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore variations in CECoV prevalence by factors such as year, region, season, health status, social housing type, gender, age, and breed. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and eggers test that was followed by trim and fill analysis. RESULTS: A total of 27 studies involving 21,034 samples were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of CECoV in mainland China was estimated to be 0.30 (95% CI 0.24-0.37), indicating persistent circulation of the virus. Subgroup analyses revealed higher prevalence rates in younger dogs, multi-dog households, apparently healthy dogs, and certain regions such as southwest China. Seasonal variations were observed, with lower prevalence rates in summer. However, no significant differences in prevalence were found by gender. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the epidemiology of CECoV in mainland China, highlighting the persistent circulation of the virus and identifying factors associated with higher prevalence rates. Continuous monitoring and surveillance efforts, along with research into accurate detection methods and preventive measures, are essential for the effective control of CECoV and mitigation of its potential impact on animal and human health.

Coronaviruses (Coronaviridae) of bats in the northern Caucasus and south of western Siberia.

INTRODUCTION: Bats are natural reservoirs of coronaviruses (Coronaviridae), which have caused three outbreaks of human disease SARS, MERS and COVID-19 or SARS-2 over the past decade. The purpose of the work is to study the diversity of coronaviruses among bats inhabiting the foothills and mountainous areas of the Republics of Dagestan, Altai and the Kemerovo region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of bat oral swabs and feces were tested for the presence of coronavirus RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: It has been shown that the greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), inhabiting the Republic of Dagestan, are carriers of two different coronaviruses. One of the two coronaviruses is a member of the Sarbecovius subgenus of the Betacoronavirus genus, which includes the causative agents of SARS and COVID-19. The second coronavirus is assigned to the Decacovirus subgenus of the Alphacoronavirus genus and is most similar to viruses identified among Rhinolophus spp. from European and Middle Eastern countries. In the Altai Republic and Kemerovo region, coronaviruses belonging to the genus Alphacoronavirus, subgenus Pedacovirus, were found in the smooth-nosed bats: Ikonnikov`s bat (Myotis ikonnikovi) and the eastern bat (Myotis petax). The virus from the Altai Republic from M. ikonnikovi is close to viruses from Japan and Korea, as well as viruses from Myotis spp. from European countries. The virus from the Kemerovo region from M. petax groups with coronaviruses from Myotis spp. from Asian countries and is significantly different from coronaviruses previously discovered in the same natural host.

A review on the current approaches and perspectives of Covid-19 treatment.

At the beginning of 2020, the world was faced with the challenge of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic announced by the WHO on March 11, caused by the betacoronavirus type 2 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), which had profound health, sociological and even economic consequences. The quickly implemented and large-scale research resulted in the introduction of widely available vaccines that reduced the further development of the pandemic and antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Currently, 11 antiviral drugs (Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab, Regdanvimab, Casirivimab/Imdevimab, Sotrovimab, Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir, Baricitinib, Anakinra, Tocilizumab, Vilobelimab) have been approved or conditionally approved by the European Medicines Agency and/or by the Food and Drug Administration and are available on the pharmaceutical market. The progress in the pathophysiological description of the SARS-CoV-2 infection has allowed the identif i cation of potential targets for drugs against SARS-CoV-2: inhibitors of intracellular entry of the virus (the interaction between the viral spike (S) protein and the cellular angiotensin converting enzyme-2; ACE2 receptor), inhibitors of viral and cellular proteases, and immunomodulatory drugs (antagonists of pro-inf l ammatory cytokines or complement components). Novel agents against SARS-CoV-2 are also sought among the previously routinely used drugs as their repositioning and among plant-derived compounds. It is expected that ongoing research should result in the introduction of new drugs used in COVID-19 in the near future. The article brief l y describes the current epidemiological situation regarding COVID-19 and the currently used vaccines. Moreover, the paper outlines currently used and researched potential drugs in the pharmacotherapy of this disease.

Innovative use of Australian cancer registry data for early detection of the effects of epidemics and other mass disruptions on cancer incidence.

BACKGROUND: Predictive modelling using pre-epidemic data have long been used to guide public health responses to communicable disease outbreaks and other health disruptions. In this study, cancer registry and related health data available 2-3 months from diagnosis were used to predict changes in cancer detection that otherwise would not have been identified until full registry processing was completed about 18-24 months later. A key question was whether these earlier data could be used to predict cancer incidence ahead of full processing by the cancer registry as a guide to more timely health responses. The setting was the Australian State of New South Wales, covering 31 % of the Australian population. The study year was 2020, the year of emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Cancer detection in 2020 was modelled using data available 2-3 months after diagnosis. This was compared with data from full registry processing available from 2022. Data from pre-pandemic 2018 were used for exploratory model building. Models were tested using pre-pandemic 2019 data. Candidate predictor variables included pathology, surgery and radiation therapy reports, numbers of breast screens, colonoscopies, PSA tests, and melanoma excisions recorded by the universal Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS). Data were analysed for all cancers collectively and 5 leading types. RESULTS: Compared with full registry processing, modelled data for 2020 had a >95 % accuracy overall, indicating key points of inflexion of cancer detection over the COVID-disrupted 2020 period. These findings highlight the potential of predictive modelling of cancer-related data soon after diagnosis to reveal changes in cancer detection during epidemics and other health disruptions. CONCLUSIONS: Data available 2-3 months from diagnosis in the pandemic year indicated changes in cancer detection that were ultimately confirmed by fully-processed cancer registry data about 24 months later. This indicates the potential utility of using these early data in an early-warning system.

Determining the frequency of thyroid involvement in chest CT scans of COVID-19 patients and its correlation with the severity of lung involvement and survival of patients in 2020.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the frequency of thyroid gland involvement in chest CT scans of patients with COVID-19 admitted to university-affiliated hospitals and assess its relationship with the severity of lung involvement and patient survival in 2020. Material and methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 1000 PCR-positive patients with COVID-19 who were referred to University-affiliated Hospital in 2020 and had chest CT performed within 72 hours of admission to the hospital were examined. The data was collected by patient file information and CT findings recorded in the PACS system, including thyroid involvement, the severity of lung involvement, and findings related to the death and recovery of patients. Results: The mean age of the examined patients was 56 years. 525 people (52.5%) were men, and 475 (47.5%) were women. 14% had severe pulmonary involvement, and 9.3% had very severe involvement. Moreover, 15.9 percent of them had deceased. 19.7% had focal thyroid involvement, 14% had diffuse involvement, and 66.3% were healthy subjects. Male gender and older age showed a significant relationship with thyroid gland involvement. The severity of lung involvement, the death rate in patients, and hospitalization in ICU were also significantly related to thyroid gland involvement in patients with COVID. Discussion and conclusion: This study highlights the importance of considering thyroid-gland involvement in the comprehensive management of COVID-19 patients. Routine screening and monitoring of thyroid-function may facilitate earlier detection and appropriate management of thyroid-related complications, potentially improving clinical outcomes. This study suggests that in COVID-19 infection the monitoring of thyroid function is prudent, particularly in cases of more serious disease.

Evaluation of choices and time spent on an open online elective course by undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the weakness of relying on in-person tuition in higher education. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been a successful addition to higher education. In this study, educators had to replace a planned elective in the medical curriculum with an online option during the pandemic. The roles of the competency framework of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) (Leader and Manager, Health Advocate, Professional, Communicator, Collaborator, Scholar, and Healthcare Practitioner) were used to guide its development. This elective emphasised the non-clinical roles of medical practitioners and was offered in 2020 and 2021. OBJECTIVES: To describe the choices of third-year medical students and time spent participating in a modified online elective in 2020 and 2021. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used, involving the participation of 629 medical students. Data were collected and analysed from three primary sources: registration data from LinkedIn Learning, data from the Foundation for Professional Development, and self-reported estimates by students of the average time spent on selected courses. Data included identification of the associated competency acquired. Data analysis was conducted using Python, version 3.10.11. RESULTS: The course choices of 629 students were analysed. In 2020 there were 300 participants and in 2021 there were 329. All the students had one compulsory inclusion in the elective (Management and Leadership Short Course for Undergraduate Healthcare Students). Students in both years reported spending the most average time on courses related to clinical knowledge (Healthcare Practitioner), followed by financial literacy and management (Professional), diversity management (Collaborator), and priority actions to identify and/or respond to (Health Advocate). The most popular courses related to the Leader and Manager role were around decision-making in human resources, problem-solving, and managing healthcare teams. Based on the top 10 LinkedIn Learning course selections of both cohorts, there appeared to be a preference for courses that were consistent with the role of medical professionals in practice. The most popular LinkedIn Learning course was The Six Morning Habits of High Performers. CONCLUSION: Students gravitated toward courses aligned with their role as professional doctors within the HPCSA competency framework. More studies are needed to understand how medical students develop the six non-clinical roles in the HPCSA framework and the effectiveness of MOOCs in a medical curriculum.

Emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants from farmed mink to humans and back during the epidemic in Denmark, June-November 2020.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only caused the COVID-19 pandemic but also had a major impact on farmed mink production in several European countries. In Denmark, the entire population of farmed mink (over 15 million animals) was culled in late 2020. During the period of June to November 2020, mink on 290 farms (out of about 1100 in the country) were shown to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Genome sequencing identified changes in the virus within the mink and it is estimated that about 4000 people in Denmark became infected with these mink virus variants. However, the routes of transmission of the virus to, and from, the mink have been unclear. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of multiple clusters of the virus within the mink. Detailed analysis of changes in the virus during replication in mink and, in parallel, in the human population in Denmark, during the same time period, has been performed here. The majority of cases in mink involved variants with the Y453F substitution and the H69/V70 deletion within the Spike (S) protein; these changes emerged early in the outbreak. However, further introductions of the virus, by variants lacking these changes, from the human population into mink also occurred. Based on phylogenetic analysis of viral genome data, we estimate, using a conservative approach, that about 17 separate examples of mink to human transmission occurred in Denmark but up to 59 such events (90% credible interval: (39-77)) were identified using parsimony to count cross-species jumps on transmission trees inferred using Bayesian methods. Using the latter approach, 136 jumps (90% credible interval: (117-164)) from humans to mink were found, which may underlie the farm-to-farm spread. Thus, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to mink, mink to mink, from mink to humans and between humans were all observed.

Clinical findings and electrocardiography predicted mortality among COVID-19 patients with pre-existing hypertension: A cross-sectional study of East Java Province, Indonesia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors associated with mortality among coronavirus disease-2019 patients with preexisting hypertension. METHODS: The retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted from June 15 to July 7, 2021, after approval from Dr Soetomo General Province Hospital, Indonesia, and comprised data from the coronavirus disease-2019 registry in the East Java province of Indonesia from March 2020 to June 2021. Data was collected for adult patients infected by coronavirus disease-2019 with pre-existing hypertension Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 2,732 patients in the registry, 425(15.6%) with median age 56.5 years (interquartile range: 50-64 years) had pre-existing hypertension. Of them, 251(59.06%) were males, and 110(25.9%) had died while in hospital. Mortality was associated with older age; higher white blood cell counts at admission and lower platelet count (p<0.05). In addition, electrocardiogram parameters associated with mortality were faster heart rate and ST abnormality (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older age, high white blood cell level, lower platelet count, faster heart rate, and ST abnormality at admission were found to be the predictors of mortality among hospitalised coronavirus disease-2019 patients with pre-existing hypertension.

Reduced seasonal coronavirus incidence in high-risk population groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs) may provide insight on transmission patterns and demographic factors that favor coronaviruses (CoVs) with greater disease severity. This study describes the incidence of CoVs in several high-risk groups in Ottawa, Canada, from October 2020 to March 2022. METHODS: Serological assays quantified IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E. Incident infections were compared between four population groups: individuals exposed to children, transit users, immunocompromised, and controls. Associations between antibody prevalence indicative of natural infection and demographic variables were assessed using regression analyses. RESULTS: Transit users and those exposed to children were at no greater risk of infection compared to the control group. Fewer infections were detected in the immunocompromised group (p = .03). SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was greater in individuals with low income and within ethnic minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that nonpharmaceutical interventions intended to reduce SAR-CoV-2 transmission protected populations at high risk of exposure. The re-emergence of sCoVs and other common respiratory viruses alongside SARS-CoV-2 may alter infection patterns and increase the risk in vulnerable populations.

Prevalence, Genotype Diversity, and Distinct Pathogenicity of 205 Gammacoronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Isolates in China during 2019-2023.

Gammacoronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes a highly contagious disease in chickens and seriously endangers the poultry industry. The emergence and co-circulation of diverse IBV serotypes and genotypes with distinct pathogenicity worldwide pose a serious challenge to the development of effective intervention measures. In this study, we report the epidemic trends of IBV in China from 2019 to 2023 and a comparative analysis on the antigenic characteristics and pathogenicity of isolates among major prevalent lineages. Phylogenetic and recombination analyses based on the nucleotide sequences of the spike (S) 1 gene clustered a total of 205 isolates into twelve distinct lineages, with GI-19 as a predominant lineage (61.77 ± 4.56%) exhibiting an overall increasing trend over the past five years, and demonstrated that a majority of the variants were derived from gene recombination events. Further characterization of the growth and pathogenic properties of six representative isolates from different lineages classified four out of the six isolates as nephropathogenic types with mortality rates in one-day-old SPF chickens varying from 20-60%, one as a respiratory type with weak virulence, and one as a naturally occurring avirulent strain. Taken together, our findings illuminate the epidemic trends, prevalence, recombination, and pathogenicity of current IBV strains in China, providing key information for further strengthening the surveillance and pathogenicity studies of IBV.

Endothelin Level in Menopausal Women with Comorbidity of the Acute Phase Middle Severity COVID-19 with Arterial Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The levels of endothelins were assessed in menopausal women with arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the acute phase of the moderate COVID-19. Women under observation (age 45-69 years) were divided into two groups. Control group consisted of women (n=16) who did not have COVID-19, were not vaccinated, and had no antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgG). The main group included women (n=63) in the acute phase of the moderate COVID-19 accompanied by pneumonia. According to the clinical and anamnestic data analysis, the main group was divided into subgroups: without AH and T2DM (n=21); with AH and without T2DM (n=32); and with AH and T2DM (n=10). The parameters of clinical blood analysis, as well as endothelin-1, endothelin-2, and endothelin-3 levels were assessed. In women with a moderate COVID-19, the endothelin-1 and endothelin-2 levels were increased compared to the control regardless of AH and T2DM status. We found no statistically significant differences in the studied parameters of endothelial dysfunction between the subgroups of menopausal women in the acute phase of the moderate COVID-19.

Developments in treatment for middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

INTRODUCTION: An important respiratory pathogen that has led to multiple hospital outbreaks both inside and outside of the Arabian Peninsula is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Given the elevated case fatality rate, there exists a pressing requirement for efficacious therapeutic agents. AREAS COVERED: This is an updated review of the developments in MERS treatment approaches. Using databases like PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Google Scholar, a thorough search was carried out utilizing keywords like 'MERS,' 'MERS-CoV,' and 'Middle East respiratory syndrome' in conjunction with 'treatment' or 'therapy' from Jan 2012 to Feb 2024. EXPERT OPINION: MERS-CoV is a highly pathogenic respiratory infection that emerged in 2012 and continues to pose a significant public health threat. Despite ongoing efforts to control the spread of MERS-CoV, there is currently no specific antiviral treatment available. While many agents have been tested both in vivo and in vitro, none of them have been thoroughly examined in extensive clinical trials. Only case reports, case series, or cohort studies have been made available as clinical studies. However, there is a limited number of randomized-controlled trials. Because cases are irregular and sporadic, conducting a large prospective randomized trials for establishing an efficacious treatment might be difficult.

Research on the global trends of COVID-19 associated acute kidney injury: a bibliometric analysis.

Critically ill COVID-19 patients may exhibit various clinical symptoms of renal dysfunction including severe Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Currently, there is a lack of bibliometric analyses on COVID-19-related AKI. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current research status and hot topics regarding COVID-19 AKI. The literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Subsequently, we utilized Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, Citespace, and Pajek software to revealed the current research status, emerging topics, and developmental trends pertaining to COVID-19 AKI. This study encompassed a total of 1507 studies on COVID-19 AKI. The United States, China, and Italy emerged as the leading three countries in terms of publication numbers, contributing 498 (33.05%), 229 (15.20%), and 140 (9.29%) studies, respectively. The three most active and influential institutions include Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University and Harvard Medical School. Ronco C from Italy, holds the record for the highest number of publications, with a total of 15 papers authored. Cheng YC's work from China has garnered the highest number of citations, totaling 470 citations. The co-occurrence analysis of author keywords reveals that 'mortality', 'intensive care units', 'chronic kidney disease', 'nephrology', 'renal transplantation', 'acute respiratory distress syndrome', and 'risk factors' emerge as the primary areas of focus within the realm of COVID-19 AKI. In summary, this study analyzes the research trends in the field of COVID-19 AKI, providing a reference for further exploration and research on COVID-19 AKI mechanisms and treatment.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Before COVID-19, During COVID-19, and After Inactivated Vaccination: Experience From a Tertiary Referral Center in China.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence rate and audiological characteristics of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and after inactivated vaccination, and to analyze whether the novel coronavirus or inactivated vaccination have an impact on hearing loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of all patients who visited the hospital in July 2019 (before pandemic), July 2020 (during pandemic) and July 2021 (after the inactivated vaccination at least the first basic dose of COVID-19 vaccination) were retrospective analyzed. All patients diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in these three periods were screened, and their incidence rate, hearing characteristics, and prognosis were compared. RESULTS: Overall, the incidence rates of sudden hearing loss in July 2019, July 2020, and July 2021 were 0.59, 0.60, and 0.52% (25 of 4225, 20 of 3322, 28 of 5432), respectively, without significant difference ( χ2 = 0.372, p = 0.830). A significant difference was noted in the incidence of hypertension ( p = 0.02), whereas no significant difference was noted in age ( p = 0.591, p = 0.66), sex ( p = 0.19, p = 0.08), main symptoms ( p = 0.18, p = 0.15), side ( p = 0.483, p = 0.89), audiogram shape ( p = 0.56, p = 0.989), average hearing threshold of affected frequency ( p = 0.81, p = 0.89), average hearing threshold of normal ear affected frequency ( p = 0.65, p = 0.68), average hearing threshold of affected frequency after treatment ( p = 0.49, p = 0.38), days between symptoms onset and hospital visit ( p = 0.62, p = 0.85), treatment plan ( p = 0.551, p = 0.474), and effectiveness ( p = 0.104, p = 0.050). CONCLUSION: Our study failed to find a correlation between the novel coronavirus pandemic and inactivated vaccination and SSHL, and there was no direct evidence supporting that COVID-19 or inactivated vaccination had an impact on the incidence rate and prognosis of SSHL patients.

The effectiveness of intervention measures on MERS-CoV transmission by using the contact networks reconstructed from link prediction data.

Introduction: Mitigating the spread of infectious diseases is of paramount concern for societal safety, necessitating the development of effective intervention measures. Epidemic simulation is widely used to evaluate the efficacy of such measures, but realistic simulation environments are crucial for meaningful insights. Despite the common use of contact-tracing data to construct realistic networks, they have inherent limitations. This study explores reconstructing simulation networks using link prediction methods as an alternative approach. Methods: The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of intervention measures on the reconstructed network, focusing on the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea. Contact-tracing data were acquired, and simulation networks were reconstructed using the graph autoencoder (GAE)-based link prediction method. A scale-free (SF) network was employed for comparison purposes. Epidemic simulations were conducted to evaluate three intervention strategies: Mass Quarantine (MQ), Isolation, and Isolation combined with Acquaintance Quarantine (AQ + Isolation). Results: Simulation results showed that AQ + Isolation was the most effective intervention on the GAE network, resulting in consistent epidemic curves due to high clustering coefficients. Conversely, MQ and AQ + Isolation were highly effective on the SF network, attributed to its low clustering coefficient and intervention sensitivity. Isolation alone exhibited reduced effectiveness. These findings emphasize the significant impact of network structure on intervention outcomes and suggest a potential overestimation of effectiveness in SF networks. Additionally, they highlight the complementary use of link prediction methods. Discussion: This innovative methodology provides inspiration for enhancing simulation environments in future endeavors. It also offers valuable insights for informing public health decision-making processes, emphasizing the importance of realistic simulation environments and the potential of link prediction methods.

Prevalence of coronaviruses in European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland.

Coronaviruses have been confirmed to infect a variety of species, but only one case of associated winter dysentery of European bison has been described. The study aimed to analyze the prevalence, and define the impact on the species conservation, the source of coronavirus infection, and the role of the European bison in the transmission of the pathogen in Poland. Molecular and serological screening was performed on 409 European bison from 6 free-ranging and 14 captive herds over the period of 6 years (2017-2023). Presence of coronavirus was confirmed in one nasal swab by pancoronavirus RT-PCR and in 3 nasal swab samples by bovine coronavirus (BCoV) specific real time RT-PCR. The detected virus showed high (> 98%) homology in both RdRp and Spike genes to BCoV strains characterised recently in Polish cattle and strains isolated from wild cervids in Italy. Antibodies specific to BCoV were found in 6.4% of tested samples, all originating from free-ranging animals. Seroprevalence was higher in adult animals over 5 years of age (p = 0.0015) and in females (p = 0.09). Our results suggest that European bison play only a limited role as reservoirs of bovine-like coronaviruses. Although the most probable source of infections in the European bison population in Poland is cattle, other wild ruminants could also be involved. In addition, the zoonotic potential of bovine coronaviruses is quite low.