VirusDisease最新文献

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) remains a globally important swine pathogen, and its genetic diversity is central to understanding disease dynamics and control. We estimated a pooled prevalence of 42% (95% CI: 33-52%) by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of 53 studies reporting sequencing data (n = 26,200; PCV2-positive = 11,339) published across 18 countries between 2012 and 2022. The most common genotype was PCV2d (57%), which was followed by PCV2b (33%), and PCV2a (11%). This indicates a distinct global shift in genotype from PCV2b dominance in 2013 to PCV2d predominance starting in 2014. Despite having the largest dataset, China ranked fourth (55%) and Russia had the highest prevalence (97%) indicating clear regional differences. These results imply PCV2's rapid genotype evolution and regional heterogeneity, underscoring the need for effective vaccines, genotype-specific diagnostics for continuous genomic surveillance to guide global control measures. We believe that close monitoring of evolving genotypes would enable making evidence-based decisions related to pig health management which in turn can lead to effective global control of PCV2-associated diseases.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00947-5.

This particular study assesses the quality of life (QoL) of HIV/AIDS patients in Nepal, taking into account the social effects of disclosing one's HIV status. The study aims to determine how QoL differs by gender and how disclosure affects each dimension of QoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 972 participants (486 men and 486 women) from different ART centers in Nepal. Data were gathered through a pre-designed self-administered questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic variables and the WHOQOL-HIV-BREF. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including ANOVA. The results revealed that informing a physician about a patient's HIV status significantly increases all aspects of quality of life: physical health (estimate = 0.502, p = 0.001), psychological well-being (estimate = 0.642, p = 0.001), social relationships (estimate = 0.596, p = 0.001) and environmental factors (estimate = 0.608, p = 0.001). On the other hand, disclosure to family members deteriorated in all the aforementioned dimensions, where physical health was reported at (estimate = -0.417, p = 0.001), psychological health was (estimate = -0.453, p = 0.001), social relationships (estimate = -0.381, p = 0.025) and environmental quality was (estimate = -0.559, p = 0.001). Disclosure to either physician or partner has no relevant effect on quality of life. Patients with co-morbidity reported variable effects, where positive changes in physical health (estimate = 0.329, p = 0.032) and environmental quality (estimate = 0.649, p < 0.001) were reported alongside no changes in psychological and social well-being. In managing HIV, it is critical to incorporate all aspects of health and the interrelatedness of the nuances. This study established an effective intervention that needs to improve communication strategies, reduce stigma, and provide robust support systems. Incorporating education level, employment opportunities, and internalized stigma is critical for improving an HIV/AIDS patient's general health in the context of Nepal.

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a disease that has severe economic effects in poultry production worldwide. This condition is caused by the avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In Costa Rica, the virus was reported for the first time in the 1990s, becoming an important infectious agent associated with respiratory disease outbreaks in the country. This study describes an IB outbreak occurred in Costa Rica during 2016-2019. The IB outbreak occurred in the province of Alajuela, place that holds most of the poultry production IBV was also detected in the neighboring provinces of Puntarenas and Guanacaste. Samples were collected from birds exhibiting IB-related symptoms and IBV infection was molecularly diagnosed by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. Diagnosis resulted in 76% (52/68) of the samples positive for IBV in 2016, 71% (24/34) in 2017, 56% (14/25) in 2018 and 42% (8/19) in 2019. The main affected farms affected were large farms (85% of positive cases), farms dedicated to meat production (82%), and young birds, broilers (1 day to 6 weeks) and pullets (1 day to 18 weeks) (81%). Respiratory symptoms and carcass condemnations in broilers were reported during the entire period of this study, while gastrointestinal symptoms, high mortality, or low quality of the eggs were not reported regularly. Moreover, 22% of the positive cases showed secondary infections by other pathogens. Sequencing results identified IBV GA13-like variants in samples during the 2016-2017 period. In 2017, a 4/91 live-attenuated vaccine variant was introduced, which was later detected in birds exhibiting symptoms during 2018 and 2019. The biosecurity tool did not reveal IB risk or gaps in biosecurity at positive farms.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00945-7.

HHV-6 and HHV-7, also known as roseola viruses, are Human Herpesviruses that can cause infections in early childhood, leading to short febrile illnesses. HHV-7 is among the least studied members among human betaherpesviruses. We report an outbreak caused by HHV-7 among hostel inmates in the western part of Odisha. HHV-7 was detected in 35.3% of throat swab samples.The mean age was 23.2 years with equal sex distribution.Throat pain was the commonest symptom in 81.8% of cases followed by fever and rash in 41% of cases and itching in 27.3%.HHV-7 has been associated with a variety of clinical syndromes suggesting it has a broader impact on human health than previously thought. Hence sensitization among health care professionals is important for clinical differentiation and early reporting of febrile illness with rash and for timely containment of the disease.

Infectious bronchitis (IB), caused by the Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), remains a formidable challenge to the poultry industry worldwide, owing to its multi-systemic nature and the continual emergence of diverse viral variants that undermine vaccine efficacy. Despite widespread vaccination efforts, controlling IBV in regions like Kerala is particularly challenging due to inconsistent vaccination practices and the documented presence of the disease. This study set out to characterize IBV isolates circulating in Kerala, with a focus on assessing their genetic diversity and pathological impact. Field samples (n = 80) were screened using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the hypervariable region 3 of the S1 subunit, leading to the detection of IBV in 32 samples. Virus isolation was successfully achieved from these positive samples using embryonated eggs, with subsequent confirmation via RT-PCR using the same set of primers. From the confirmed positive samples, we amplified the full S1 subunit of the S gene as well as the M and N genes, and the resulting products were sequenced. Comparative analyses were conducted against the widely used vaccine strain H120 and other Indian IBV isolates deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Kerala isolates clustered together with other isolates from different parts of India. Histopathological examination of key organs revealed characteristic lesions, offering insights into the virus's tissue tropism. The findings underscore the significant genetic variability among IBV strains in Kerala and highlight the critical need for region-specific vaccination strategies to achieve effective disease management.

The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Treponema pallidum among Cameroonian blood donors was addressed in this study. This prospective study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022 at the Blood Transfusion Centre (BTC) of Douala Laquintinie Hospital. Blood bags were screened for HBV, HCV, HIV, and T. pallidum using standard tests. Donors' medical records and the BTC database were consulted to collect data of interest. A total of 1,728 blood bags were included in the study; among them, 805 (46.6%) were from first-time donors. The overall prevalence of TTIs was 19.6%. HCV infection (9.3%) was the most frequent recorded TTI. Co-infections (3.2%) were mainly caused by HCV + T. pallidum (1.2%) and HCV + HIV (0.8%). The risk of TTI was higher in donors aged 35-45 years (aOR = 1.62, p = 0.04) and ≥ 45 years (aOR = 2.59, p = 0.0009). A high education level and being a family donor were protective factors for TTIs, HIV, and T. pallidum. Our findings will contribute to ongoing efforts by the government of Cameroon to improve the safety of transfusion-related systems and strategies at both the regional and national levels.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00927-9.

Apple is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. Due to climate change-related issues, cultivating low-chilling commercial apple cultivars has become a widespread practice among growers in the mid-hill region of India. Additionally, several biotic and abiotic factors influence apple cultivation, with viral diseases being a major biotic threat to crop productivity and nutritional quality. Among all viruses affecting apples, the apple stem grooving virus is one of the major ones. It primarily causes a latent infection, which makes its detection and management challenging. Additionally, the adoption of low-chilling cultivars has also created new niches for ASGV infection. A survey of the low-chilling apple cultivars in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Manipur was conducted, and 105 samples from five locations were analyzed. This study documented the co-infections of major apple viruses and viroids, notably apple stem grooving virus, apple chlorotic leaf spot virus, apple stem pitting virus, apple mosaic virus, and apple scar skin viroid, detected through multiplex PCR standardized primarily in our lab. Among these viruses, apple stem grooving virus showed the highest incidence, and its infection was detected in Anna, Dorsett Golden, and Michael cultivars. The complete coat protein gene sequences of thirty-seven isolates of ASGV were analyzed. The sequence identities of the characterized ASGV isolates ranged from 87.34 to 100%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no clear correlation between cultivar and the geographic origin of the isolates. Alignment of the CP gene sequences from ASGV isolates with global isolates obtained from various host species revealed the formation of eight distinct clusters, effectively grouping the isolates. Significantly, six isolates showed little spatial clustering and were closely related to isolates from China and Canada.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00931-z.

Purpose: The Indian subcontinent is endemic to dengue, with an estimated 33 million clinically apparent dengue cases annually, contributing to one-third of the total global dengue burden. This study aimed to assess the disease burden among dengue-suspected patients visiting our tertiary care center in North India and to explore the correlation between clinical-biochemical parameters in dengue fever or severe dengue with disease severity.

Methods: A total of 318 dengue patients were enrolled in dengue fever with/without warning signs (DF ± WS, n = 229) and severe dengue (SD, n = 89) cohorts. Demographical, clinical, and biochemical data were collected during recruitment. Blood samples were screened for dengue NS1 antigen and IgM antibodies using ELISA. Representative NS1 antigen-positive samples (n = 50) were further tested for dengue RNA and serotyping via reverse transcriptase RT-PCR, followed by phylogenetic analysis of 17 PCR-positive samples.

Results: The mean age was 36.02 ± 14.73 years and 35.46 ± 13.61 years for DF ± WS and SD individuals, respectively. Among DF ± WS patients, 49 (21.4%) were NS1 antigen positive, 122 (53.28%) had dengue IgM, and 58 (25.32%) were positive for both. In the severe dengue cohort, 14 (15.73%) and 45 (50.56%) were positive for NS1 and IgM, respectively, with 30 (33.71%) patients positive for both NS1 antigen and IgM antibodies. Among the DF ± WS and SD cohort, 35/229 (15.29%) and 31/79 (39.25%) patients had IgG antibodies depicting secondary dengue. The majority of patients were from Chandigarh (n = 130), followed by Punjab (n = 85) and Haryana (n = 46). With approximately six days of illness at the time of enrolment, fever, joint pain, lethargy, vomiting, hematocrit, and rashes were present in more than 50% of cases in DF ± WS and SD patients. Severe dengue patients exhibited significant thrombocytopenia (88,340 ± 6,575/ml vs. 40,620 ± 5,280/ml) and elevated liver enzymes compared to DF ± WS (AST: 1506 ± 220.4 IU/L vs. 179.3 ± 16.79 IU/L; ALT: 906.8 ± 141.4 IU/L vs. 124.8 ± 10.17 IU/L; ALP: 169.3 ± 20.06 IU/L vs. 120.4 ± 7.14 IU/L). Among SD patients, 20 deaths (22.47%) were reported, primarily due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), while only two deaths occurred in the DF ± WS cohort for unrelated reasons. Sequencing revealed 14 and 3 isolates belonging to serotype-2 and serotype-4, respectively.

Conclusion: Elevated liver function tests and severe thrombocytopenia in dengue patients indicate progression towards severe dengue with high mortality. A notable prevalence of secondary dengue infection (39.25%) was found in severe cases, with serotype-2 predominating in the north-Indian population.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00930-0.

Faced with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, vaccine hesitancy remains a major challenge in the global fight against the pandemic, particularly in rural areas. Understanding the immune response to vaccination is crucial for dispelling doubts and building public trust. By providing tangible evidence of vaccine effectiveness, this approach could not only alleviate skepticism but also contribute to preventing future epidemics. To evaluate and compare salivary SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in Mthatha, South Africa. A case-control study involved 183 participants aged 18 years and above, comprising 91 vaccinated and 92 unvaccinated individuals in Mthatha, South Africa. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using Bio-Plex Pro Human IgG SARS-CoV-2 Assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Data were processed using STATA/SE version 18.0. The results of this study demonstrate that participants vaccinated against COVID-19 exhibit significantly (p = 0.01) higher salivary IgG antibody levels (988 ± 104 pg/mL) compared to unvaccinated individuals (552 ± 83 pg/mL). No significant difference was observed between those vaccinated recently (975 ± 175 pg/mL) and those vaccinated more than two years ago (990 ± 215 pg/mL). Additionally, participants who received two doses showed notably higher antibody levels (1790 ± 445 pg/mL) compared to those who received a single dose (668 ± 75 pg/mL), with a significant difference (p = 0.004). In summary, vaccination is associated with higher salivary anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels, influenced by vaccine type and number of doses. The detection of IgG in unvaccinated individuals and the lack of a defined protective correlate underscore the need for further studies on both humoral and cellular immunity to clarify the durability and magnitude of the immune response.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00942-w.

Angel's trumpets (Brugmansia spp.) are important medicinal and ornamental plants belonging to the Solanaceae family, domesticated in the Andean region of South America. Indigenous communities in the Colombian Andes have created unique medicinal cultivars exhibiting a variety of unusual shapes in leaves, and specific uses for ritual or medicinal procedures. These cultivars exhibit leaf symptoms typically associated with viral infections, including mosaic, vein chlorosis, and morphological deformities. Colombian datura virus (CDV) is one of the most studied viruses in Brugmansia, which is distributed globally and affects even other agriculturally significant hosts. The present study aimed to evaluate the viral infections in Colombian cultivars of the Brugmansia genus and the relationship between the presence of viruses and the symptom expression in their leaves. We searched for CDV in the transcriptomes from a set of Solanaceae species and found it mainly in Brugmansia medicinal cultivars and wild solanaceous species. Plant material from B. × candida with different symptoms was collected and inoculated into plants of representative genera in the Solanaceae family, to evaluate symptom expression. We confirmed the sap of CDV-infected Brugmansia ability to cause infections through mechanical inoculation and the CDV presence in the inoculated plants by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Symptoms expressed by these plants included severe leaf deformations in agriculturally important plants such as Physalis peruviana, Solanum lycopersicum, and for the first time, reported the symptoms of the infection in S. melongena and S. quitoense.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00939-5.