-
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine Mar 2024Okinawa prefecture is a popular tourist destination due to its beaches and reefs. The reefs host a large variety of animals, including a number of venomous species.... (Review)
Review
Okinawa prefecture is a popular tourist destination due to its beaches and reefs. The reefs host a large variety of animals, including a number of venomous species. Because of the popularity of the reefs and marine activities, people are frequently in close contact with dangerous venomous species and, thus, are exposed to potential envenomation. Commonly encountered venomous animals throughout Okinawa include the invertebrate cone snail, sea urchin, crown-of-thorns starfish, blue-ringed octopus, box jellyfish, and fire coral. The vertebrates include the stonefish, lionfish, sea snake, and moray eel. Treatment for marine envenomation can involve first aid, hot water immersion, antivenom, supportive care, regional anesthesia, and pharmaceutical administration. Information on venomous animals, their toxins, and treatment should be well understood by prehospital care providers and physicians practicing in the prefecture.
Topics: Animals; Anthozoa; Antivenins; Cubozoa; First Aid; Hydrophiidae
PubMed: 38379485
DOI: 10.1177/10806032231220401 -
Global Change Biology Jun 2022The climatic changes of the next decades will modify human and livestock interactions with venomous animals; Some venomous species will disappear in the coming decades;...
The climatic changes of the next decades will modify human and livestock interactions with venomous animals; Some venomous species will disappear in the coming decades; Other venomous species will shift their distributions or increase their geographic ranges invading new countries that may not have specific antivenoms.
Topics: Animals; Antivenins; Venoms
PubMed: 35384171
DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16175 -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2023Since the first human case in 2013, H7N9 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have caused more than 1500 human infections with a mortality rate of approximately 40%. Despite...
Since the first human case in 2013, H7N9 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have caused more than 1500 human infections with a mortality rate of approximately 40%. Despite large-scale poultry vaccination regimes across China, the H7N9 AIVs continue to persist and evolve rapidly in poultry. Recently, several strains of H7N9 AIVs have been isolated and shown the ability to escape vaccine-induced immunity. To assess the zoonotic risk of the recent H7N9 AIV isolates, we rescued viruses with hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) from these H7N9 AIVs and six internal segments from PR8 virus and characterized their receptor binding, pH of fusion, thermal stability, plaque morphology and virus replication. We also assessed the cross-reactivity of the viruses with human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against H7N9 HA and ferret antisera against H7N9 AIV candidate vaccines. The H7N9 AIVs from the early epidemic waves had dual sialic acid receptor binding characteristics, whereas the more recent H7N9 AIVs completely lost or retained only weak human sialic acid receptor binding. Compared with the H7N9 AIVs from the first epidemic wave, the 2020/21 viruses formed larger plaques in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and replicated to higher titres , demonstrating increased acid stability but reduced thermal stability. Further analysis showed that these recent H7N9 AIVs had poor cross-reactivity with the human mAbs and ferret antisera, highlighting the need to update the vaccine candidates. To conclude, the newly emerged H7N9 AIVs showed characteristics of typical AIVs, posing reduced zoonotic risk but a heightened threat for poultry.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype; Ferrets; Hemagglutinins; Poultry; Risk Assessment; Immune Sera; Influenza, Human; Influenza in Birds; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
PubMed: 36714929
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2172965 -
Vaccine Sep 2023Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that is mainly caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus 16 (CVA16). As there are no...
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that is mainly caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus 16 (CVA16). As there are no specific therapeutics for HFMD, the development of a bivalent vaccine is required to cover a broad range of infections. In this study, the effectiveness of novel monovalent and bivalent vaccines targeting EV71 C4a and CVA16 was investigated for their ability to prevent viral infections in neonatal human scavenger receptor class B member 2 (hSCARB2) transgenic mice. As hSCARB2 serves as a key viral receptor for EV71, these transgenic mice are susceptible to EV71 strains and facilitate viral binding, internalization, and uncoating processes. Antisera prepared by vaccine immunization were transferred to 2-day-old hSCARB2 transgenic mice, which were then infected with EV71 C4a or CVA16 virus. The antisera generated by each monovalent or bivalent vaccine effectively protected against EV71 C4a and CVA16 infections. The examination of tissue damage and viral contents in various organs indicated that both monovalent and bivalent antisera reduced EV71 C4a viral load in the brainstem, and no significant tissue damage was observed. During CVA16 infection, the monovalent and bivalent antisera significantly reduced viral contents in both the brainstem and muscles. These results suggest that passive immunity by monovalent and bivalent antisera can effectively protect against EV71 C4a and CVA16 infections. Thus, the development of a bivalent vaccine that can provide broad protection against both CV and EV infections may be a promising strategy in preventing HFMD.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Enterovirus A, Human; Vaccines, Combined; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease; Immune Sera; Mice, Transgenic
PubMed: 37648607
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.029 -
Toxins Dec 2022Botulism is a low incidence but potentially fatal infectious disease caused by neurotoxins produced mainly by . There are different routes of acquisition, food-borne and...
BACKGROUND
Botulism is a low incidence but potentially fatal infectious disease caused by neurotoxins produced mainly by . There are different routes of acquisition, food-borne and infant/intestinal being the most frequent presentation, and antitoxin is the treatment of choice in all cases. In Spain, botulism is under surveillance, and case reporting is mandatory.
METHODS
This retrospective study attempts to provide a more complete picture of the epidemiology of botulism in Spain from 1997 to 2019 and an assessment of the treatment, including the relationship between a delay in antitoxin administration and the length of hospitalization using the Cox proportional hazards test and Kruskal-Wallis test, and an approach to the frequency of adverse events, issues for which no previous national data have been published.
RESULTS
Eight of the 44 outbreaks were associated with contaminated commercial foods involving ≤7 cases/outbreak; preserved vegetables were the main source of infection, followed by fish products; early antitoxin administration significantly reduces the hospital stay, and adverse reactions to the antitoxin affect around 3% of treated cases.
Topics: Animals; Botulism; Antitoxins; Retrospective Studies; Spain; Clostridium botulinum; Botulinum Antitoxin
PubMed: 36668823
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15010002 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Oct 2022Bacillus anthracis can cause anthrax and is a potential bioterrorism agent. The 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for medical... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Bacillus anthracis can cause anthrax and is a potential bioterrorism agent. The 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for medical countermeasures against anthrax were based on in vitro data and expert opinion. However, a century of previously uncompiled observational human data that often includes treatment and outcomes is available in the literature for analysis.
METHODS
We reviewed treatment outcomes for patients hospitalized with anthrax. We stratified patients by meningitis status, route of infection, and systemic criteria, then analyzed survival by treatment type, including antimicrobials, antitoxin/antiserum, and steroids. Using logistic regression, we calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals to compare survival between treatments. We also calculated hospital length of stay. Finally, we evaluated antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis (PEPAbx) using data from a 1970 Russian-language article.
RESULTS
We identified 965 anthrax patients reported from 1880 through 2018. After exclusions, 605 remained: 430 adults, 145 children, and 30 missing age. Survival was low for untreated patients and meningitis patients, regardless of treatment. Most patients with localized cutaneous or nonmeningitis systemic anthrax survived with 1 or more antimicrobials; patients with inhalation anthrax without meningitis fared better with at least 2. Bactericidal antimicrobials were effective for systemic anthrax; addition of a protein synthesis inhibitor(s) (PSI) to a bactericidal antimicrobial(s) did not improve survival. Likewise, addition of antitoxin/antiserum to antimicrobials did not improve survival. Mannitol improved survival for meningitis patients, but steroids did not. PEPAbx reduced risk of anthrax following exposure to B. anthracis.
CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy appeared to be superior to monotherapy for inhalation anthrax without meningitis. For anthrax meningitis, neither monotherapy nor combination therapy were particularly effective; however, numbers were small. For localized cutaneous anthrax, monotherapy was sufficient. For B. anthracis exposures, PEPAbx was effective.
Topics: Adult; Anthrax; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Antitoxins; Bacillus anthracis; Biological Warfare Agents; Bioterrorism; Child; Hospitals; Humans; Mannitol; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Respiratory Tract Infections; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36251553
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac536 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Snakebite envenomations (SBEs) are a neglected medical condition of global importance that mainly affect the tropical and subtropical regions. Clinical manifestations... (Review)
Review
Snakebite envenomations (SBEs) are a neglected medical condition of global importance that mainly affect the tropical and subtropical regions. Clinical manifestations include pain, edema, hemorrhage, tissue necrosis, and neurotoxic signs, and may evolve to functional loss of the affected limb, acute renal and/or respiratory failure, and even death. The standard treatment for snake envenomations is antivenom, which is produced from the hyperimmunization of animals with snake toxins. The inhibition of the effects of SBEs using natural or synthetic compounds has been suggested as a complementary treatment particularly before admission to hospital for antivenom treatment, since these alternative molecules are also able to inhibit toxins. Biodiversity-derived molecules, namely those extracted from medicinal plants, are promising sources of toxin inhibitors that can minimize the deleterious consequences of SBEs. In this review, we systematically synthesize the literature on plant metabolites that can be used as toxin-inhibiting agents, as well as present the potential mechanisms of action of molecules derived from natural sources. These findings aim to further our understanding of the potential of natural products and provide new lead compounds as auxiliary therapies for SBEs.
Topics: Animals; Antivenins; Biological Products; Plants, Medicinal; Snake Bites; Snake Venoms
PubMed: 35615352
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.842576 -
The Journal of Histochemistry and... 2022Immunocytochemical (ICC) techniques are frequently used in basic and clinical research. Here, we focus on the importance of using antisera/antibodies at optimal...
Immunocytochemical (ICC) techniques are frequently used in basic and clinical research. Here, we focus on the importance of using antisera/antibodies at optimal dilutions to achieve specificity and reduce costs. Unfortunately, the basic principle, the necessity to test method specificity of the staining by a series of increasing dilutions of primary antiserum/antibodies, is only occasionally seen in papers using ICC. Many researchers rely on the company's information or others' published data. In this study, we show examples with monoclonal antibodies used in the peroxidase-based ICC technique in mouse and guinea pig brain sections. We show images of ICC staining of phospho-S129 alpha-synuclein in A53T mice and NeuN in guinea pig brains and demonstrate that optimal staining with them can be achieved at least at two to three orders of magnitude higher dilutions than generally used in the literature. We strongly recommend that when antisera/antibodies are used for the first time in any laboratory, independent of what the manufacturer or vendor recommends or are found in the literature, a dilution curve should be set up to identify the optimal dilution. This practice provides not only the highest specificity but is also an economic approach.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Guinea Pigs; Immunohistochemistry; Immune Sera; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Peroxidase; Brain
PubMed: 36514198
DOI: 10.1369/00221554221146213 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022
Topics: Animals; Antivenins; Immunity; Scorpion Stings; Scorpion Venoms; Snakes
PubMed: 36177020
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.988924 -
Biomaterials Science Jun 2021A venomous snakebite is an emergency. However, antivenoms are rare and very similar, difficult to produce and preserve, and almost impossible to be used for emergency...
A venomous snakebite is an emergency. However, antivenoms are rare and very similar, difficult to produce and preserve, and almost impossible to be used for emergency treatment. Therefore, it would be of great significance to develop convenient, efficient and broad-spectrum snake venom neutralizing nano-materials. In this study, inspired by boiled eggs, a new concept based on a ZnO complex (ZC) for the treatment of snake venoms is proposed. In vitro and in vivo experiments proved that ZC could widely adsorb biological (including snake) venoms and effectively reduce the concentration of toxic protein in the blood. More importantly, ZC could realize photothermal conversion under the stimulation of near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, resulting in protein hydrolyzation of venoms, thereby fundamentally prolonging survival time. In addition, ZC not only showed good biocompatibility, but also could inhibit bacterial reproduction, alleviate inflammation, and contribute to the healing of open wounds caused by biological venoms.
Topics: Antivenins; Humans; Porosity; Snake Bites; Snake Venoms; Zinc Oxide
PubMed: 33959736
DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00115a