Emerging Infectious Diseases最新文献

Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa fever; mortality rates are higher in pregnant women, and fetal infection and death are possible. Sexual transmission after recovery from Lassa fever has occurred. Using virus strains that are lethal (Josiah) or nonlethal (NJ2015) in guinea pigs, we characterized LASV-associated pathology and reproductive tissue tropism in male and female animals. Uterus, ovary, and epididymis were the earliest and most affected tissues; perivascular lymphocytic inflammation was prominent at lethal timepoints and persisted in survivors after clinical disease. LASV-Josiah RNA was detected in reproductive tissues by 4 days postinfection (dpi). Virus localized by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization predominantly within vascular smooth muscle and interstitial mesenchymal cells and was widespread in reproductive tissues in lethal infections (12-25 dpi) but not detected in survivors (41-42 dpi). Using a physiologically relevant model, we describe reproductive tissue targets to further elucidate LASV infection and effects on reproductive health and virus transmission.

We describe 2 genetically unrelated outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes infections (outbreak A and outbreak B) linked to packaged salads from 2 different firms that were investigated simultaneously in 2021. Combined, the outbreaks caused 30 illnesses, 27 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths over 8 years. Those investigations led to recalls of product from 2 different firms and highlight how L. monocytogenes contamination can persist for long periods and cause illnesses over many years. Outbreak A was investigated 3 times with illnesses occurring over 8 years, whereas illnesses in outbreak B occurred over 5 years. Both outbreaks illustrate the importance of routine and epidemiologically directed sampling by state partners, without which these outbreaks likely would have gone unsolved. The outbreaks were the second and third multistate outbreaks of listeriosis linked to packaged salads, providing further documentation of the potential for L. monocytogenes infections from consumption of contaminated packaged salads.

In 2020, a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia was described in 3 clinically ill dogs in the United States. Using naturally infected canine blood, the novel Rickettsia sp. was isolated in epithelial (Vero E6) and mononuclear (DH82 and 030D) cell lines. The sequenced whole genome revealed a 1.27 Mb circular chromosome with 96.87% identity to Rickettsia raoultii on the basis of average nucleotide identity analysis. A maximum-likelihood phylogeny tree placed the novel Rickettsia in its own branch within the spotted fever group. Immunofluorescence revealed single rods localized along the membrane in epithelial cells and randomly distributed in the cytoplasm of mononuclear cells. We propose the name Rickettsia finnyi sp. nov., strain 2024-CO-Wats, which is available from national and international Rickettsial isolate reference collections. Fever and thrombocytopenia were among abnormalities in the 17 naturally infected dogs we describe, underscoring the pathogenic importance of R. finnyi sp. nov. and its potential public health relevance.

Respiratory virus indicators were unreliable at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when testing availability was limited and residents with mild symptoms were advised to avoid unnecessary medical care. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Los Angeles, California, USA) developed Angelenos in Action (AiA), a text message–based community syndromic surveillance system to monitor respiratory illness trends. Approximately 17,000 unique participants responded >1 time; 43% of participants continue to regularly respond to the survey. We assessed AiA’s performance by measuring correlation coefficients with reported COVID-19 case counts (0.975), sentinel laboratory SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate (0.762), and wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations (0.861). AiA performed strongly against 3 comparator surveillance methods and correlated particularly well with raw case counts. A moderate correlation was also noted between influenza test positivity rate and AiA data, indicating the system has potential to detect respiratory illness besides COVID-19.

We describe 2 cases of autochthonous human anaplasmosis in Washington, USA, where anaplasmosis has been rarely reported. Clinicians should consider anaplasmosis in the differential diagnosis for patients with compatible clinical symptoms after tick bite or time spent outdoors in an area where Ixodes pacificus ticks are present.

Dengue remains a major public health challenge. In Costa Rica, we implemented nationwide genomic surveillance to track dengue virus serotype 2 cosmopolitan genotype emergence. Phylogenetic and eco-epidemiologic analyses revealed early detection, climate-driven spread, and spatial heterogeneity. Our findings underscore the need for integrated surveillance to guide adaptive responses to emerging arboviral threats.

Among >25,000 invasive pneumococcal disease isolates recovered in US locations during 2015–early 2024 through population-based surveillance, we detected 17 case isolates carrying the lsaC gene, which has been shown to confer resistance to clindamycin in group B Streptococcus. Sixteen isolates carried the mef, msrD, tetM, and lsaC genes on a 29-kb mobile element acquired through an interspecies recombination event and were intermediately clindamycin resistant. One isolate acquired a 62-kb mobile element containing the ermB, tetM, and lsaC genes through a transposition event. All 17 cases were in adults, including 4 adults experiencing homelessness and 9 with substance abuse problems. All 17 lsaC-positive isolates shared a 5.2-kb lsaC-containing element precisely integrated within the conserved oriT site of their respective mobile element. Those 17 lsaC-positive strains were all serotype 20, multilocus sequence type 1257, and were recovered recently (2021–2024); isolates 1–16 represented emergent disease clusters in New York and Connecticut.

We report 3 cases of probable invasive pulmonary disease caused by Bjerkandera spp. fungi in immunocompromised patients in Germany. Accurate identification required internal transcribed spacer sequencing. Response to antifungal treatment varied. Our report underlines the pathogenic potential of Bjerkandera spp. and the importance of molecular diagnostics in rare fungal infections.

We conducted a nationwide serologic and molecular survey to elucidate the epidemiologic status of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Israel. We found serologic and molecular evidence of virus circulation in the country. Future human cases could be prevented by increasing public awareness and implementing public health measures.