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PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Nov 2023The increased pancreatic enzymes have recently been reported in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). However, its significance has not been...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The increased pancreatic enzymes have recently been reported in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). However, its significance has not been elucidated clearly. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence, clinical characteristics of elevated pancreatic enzymes (amylase and lipase) and its association with AP in patients with SFTS.
METHODS
Data of demographics, comorbid conditions, clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters and survival time of patients with SFTS were collected. Patients were assigned into the non-AP and AP groups according to the diagnostic criteria of AP. Patients in the non-AP group were divided into the normal (
3×ULN) groups according to the serum amylase and lipase levels, and then their clinical data were compared. RESULTS
A total of 284 patients diagnosed with SFTS were retrospectively enrolled, including 248 patients in the non-AP group and 36 patients in the AP group. Patients in the non-AP group were composed of 48, 116 and 84 patients in the normal, EPE and HPE groups, respectively. Compared with patients in the normal and EPE groups, patients in the HPE group had higher serum levels of laboratory parameters referring to liver, kidney, heart and coagulation system injury, as well as higher viral load. The cumulative survival rate of patients in the HPE group was significantly lower than that of patients in the normal group. In addition, patients in the AP group also had higher serum levels of laboratory variables reflecting liver, heart, coagulation dysfunction and viral load than patients in the HPE group. The cumulative survival rate of patients in the AP group was significantly lower than that of patients in the HPE group.
CONCLUSION
The increased pancreatic enzymes are very common in patients with SFTS, but they are not always associated with AP. Though AP accounts for the majority of deaths for patients with elevated pancreatic enzymes, patients with pancreatic enzymes >3×ULN except for AP also have a high in-hospital mortality rate.
Topics: Humans; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Retrospective Studies; Prevalence; Phlebovirus; Lipase; Amylases
PubMed: 37943950
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011758 -
Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen... Nov 2023BackgroundVarious pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses can lead to meningitis. Among viruses causing meningitis, Toscana virus (TOSV), a... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BackgroundVarious pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses can lead to meningitis. Among viruses causing meningitis, Toscana virus (TOSV), a phlebovirus, is transmitted through sandfly bites. TOSV infection may be suspected if patients with enterovirus- and herpesvirus-negative aseptic (non-bacterial) meningitis recall recent insect bites. Other epidemiological factors (season, rural area) may be considered. The broad range of possible meningitis aetiologies poses considerable diagnosis challenges. Untargeted metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) can potentially identify pathogens, which are not considered or detected in routine diagnostic panels.AimIn this retrospective, single-centre observational study, we investigated mNGS usefulness to understand the cause of meningitis when conventional approaches fail.MethodsCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients hospitalised in southern Spain in 2015-2019 with aseptic meningitis and no aetiology found by conventional testing, were subjected to mNGS. Patients' demographic characteristics had been recorded and physicians had asked them about recent insect bites. Obtained viral genome sequences were phylogenetically analysed.ResultsAmong 23 idiopathic cases, TOSV was identified in eight (all male; median age: 39 years, range: 15-78 years). Five cases lived in an urban setting, three occurred in autumn and only one recalled insect bites. Phylogenetic analysis of TOSV segment sequences supported one intra-genotype reassortment event.ConclusionsOur study highlights the usefulness of mNGS for identifying viral pathogens directly in CSF. In southern Spain, TOSV should be considered regardless of recalling of insect bites or other epidemiological criteria. Detection of a disease-associated reassortant TOSV emphasises the importance of monitoring the spread and evolution of phleboviruses in Mediterranean countries.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adult; Sandfly fever Naples virus; Insect Bites and Stings; Phylogeny; Retrospective Studies; Spain; Meningitis
PubMed: 37943504
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.45.2200913 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Dec 2023Phleboviruses are zoonotic pathogens found in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and cause disease symptoms ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to... (Review)
Review
Phleboviruses are zoonotic pathogens found in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and cause disease symptoms ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to severe disease, including hemorrhagic diathesis, encephalitis, and ocular pathologies. There are currently no approved preventative vaccines against phlebovirus infection or antivirals for the treatment of the disease. Here, we discuss the roles of neutralizing antibodies in phlebovirus infection, the antigenic targets present on the mature polyproteins Gn and Gc, progress in vaccine development, and the prospects of identifying conserved neutralizing epitopes across multiple phleboviruses. Further research in this area will pave the way for the rational design of pan-phlebovirus vaccines that will protect against both known phleboviruses but also newly emerging phleboviruses that may have pandemic potential.
Topics: Humans; Phlebovirus; Immunity, Humoral; Asia; Vaccines; North America
PubMed: 37936483
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15080 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus, presenting a serious threat to humans and animals. Susceptible hosts are of great... (Review)
Review
Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus, presenting a serious threat to humans and animals. Susceptible hosts are of great significance for the prevention of RVFV. Appropriate animal models are helpful to better understand the onset and development of diseases, as well as the control measures and vaccine research. This review focuses on the role of animal hosts in the maintenance of the virus, and summarizes the host range of RVFV. We list some common animal models in the process of RVFV research, which would provide some important insights into the prevention and treatment of RVFV, as well as the study of Rift Valley fever (RVF) pathogenesis and vaccines.
PubMed: 37929288
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1258172 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease causing acute hemorrhagic fever. Accurate identification of mutations and phylogenetic characterization of...
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease causing acute hemorrhagic fever. Accurate identification of mutations and phylogenetic characterization of RVF virus (RVFV) require whole-genome analysis. Universal primers to amplify the entire RVFV genome from clinical samples with low copy numbers are currently unavailable. Thus, we aimed to develop universal primers applicable for all known RVFV strains. Based on the genome sequences available from public databases, we designed eight pairs of universal PCR primers covering the entire RVFV genome. To evaluate primer universality, four RVFV strains (ZH548, Kenya 56 (IB8), BIME-01, and Lunyo), encompassing viral phylogenetic diversity, were chosen. The nucleic acids of the test strains were chemically synthesized or extracted via cell culture. These RNAs were evaluated using the PCR primers, resulting in successful amplification with expected sizes (0.8-1.7 kb). Sequencing confirmed that the products covered the entire genome of the RVFV strains tested. Primer specificity was confirmed via in silico comparison against all non-redundant nucleotide sequences using the BLASTn alignment tool in the NCBI database. To assess the clinical applicability of the primers, mock clinical specimens containing human and RVFV RNAs were prepared. The entire RVFV genome was successfully amplified and sequenced at a viral concentration of 10 copies/mL. Given the universality, specificity, and clinical applicability of the primers, we anticipate that the RVFV universal primer pairs and the developed method will aid in RVFV phylogenomics and mutation detection.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Rift Valley fever virus; Phylogeny; Rift Valley Fever; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Whole Genome Sequencing; RNA
PubMed: 37907670
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45848-z -
Viruses Oct 2023Severe Fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a highly fatal viral infectious disease that poses a significant threat to public health. Currently, the phase and...
Severe Fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a highly fatal viral infectious disease that poses a significant threat to public health. Currently, the phase and pathogenesis of SFTS are not well understood, and there are no specific vaccines or effective treatment available. Therefore, it is crucial to identify biomarkers for diagnosing acute SFTS, which has a high mortality rate. In this study, we conducted differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and WGCNA module analysis on the GSE144358 dataset, comparing the acute phase of SFTSV-infected patients with healthy individuals. Through the LASSO-Cox and random forest algorithms, a total of 2128 genes were analyzed, leading to the identification of four genes: ADIPOR1, CENPO, E2F2, and H2AC17. The GSEA analysis of these four genes demonstrated a significant correlation with immune cell function and cell cycle, aligning with the functional enrichment findings of DEGs. Furthermore, we also utilized CIBERSORT to analyze the immune cell infiltration and its correlation with characteristic genes. The results indicate that the combination of ADIPOR1, CENPO, E2F2, and H2AC17 genes has the potential as characteristic genes for diagnosing and studying the acute phase of SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection.
Topics: Humans; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Bunyaviridae Infections; Phlebovirus; Cyclic N-Oxides; Ethylnitrosourea
PubMed: 37896902
DOI: 10.3390/v15102126 -
Viruses Oct 2023Fermo virus is a that is increasingly reported in sand flies from northern Italy. The natural cycle is not fully understood, but the virus has been detected by direct...
Fermo virus is a that is increasingly reported in sand flies from northern Italy. The natural cycle is not fully understood, but the virus has been detected by direct methods only in sand flies. Although there is serological evidence that it can infect vertebrates, the virus has not been directly detected in animals or humans. Here, we have developed and reported a specific real-time PCR for Fermo virus. The availability of the described method will be useful to characterize the epidemiology of the FERV, ensuring, compared to previously available protocols, a more sensitive detection in insects and the possible detection in vertebrates to evaluate the presence of reservoirs and the pathogenic potential of the virus in humans or animals.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Phlebovirus; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Psychodidae; Italy
PubMed: 37896859
DOI: 10.3390/v15102082 -
Microorganisms Sep 2023Emerging viruses pose an important global public health challenge, and early action is needed to control their spread. The family contains a great number of arboviruses...
Emerging viruses pose an important global public health challenge, and early action is needed to control their spread. The family contains a great number of arboviruses which are potentially pathogenic for humans. For example, phleboviruses affect a large range of hosts, including humans and animals. Some infections usually have an asymptomatic course, but others lead to severe complications, such as Toscana virus, which is able to cause meningitis and encephalitis. Unfortunately, to date, no vaccines or antiviral treatments have been found. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of melittin-related peptides, namely the frog-derived RV-23 and AR-23, on sandfly fever Naples virus infection in vitro. Both peptides exhibited a strong antiviral activity by targeting the viral particles and blocking the virus-cell interaction. Their action was directed to an early phase of SFNV infection, in particular at viral adsorption on host cells, by interfering with the binding of common glycosaminoglycan receptors. Given the better antimicrobial behavior of AR-23 and RV-23 compared to melittin in terms of selectivity, our studies expand our understanding of the potential of these peptides as antimicrobials and stimulate further investigations in the direction of novel antiviral strategies against phlebovirus infection.
PubMed: 37894104
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102446 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of phleboviruses and spp., the causative agents of leishmaniases. The Mediterranean sand fly...
Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of phleboviruses and spp., the causative agents of leishmaniases. The Mediterranean sand fly fauna is diverse, and leishmaniasis, mainly caused by is endemic in the Balkan countries. Despite recent entomological surveys, only some districts of Kosovo have been sampled for sand flies, with no proof/confirmation of . This study aimed to gain further insights into the species composition of natural sand fly populations in previously unsampled districts and areas in Kosovo without reports of leishmaniasis and to detect DNA in sand flies. A sand fly survey was conducted in 2022 in all seven districts of Kosovo. Collected females were screened for DNA by PCR. Positive samples were sequenced and subjected to maximum likelihood analysis with reference sequences for further molecular characterization. The trapping activities at 114 different localities resulted in 3272 caught specimens, comprising seven sand fly species of two genera, namely , , , , , and . DNA was detected in three individual sand flies of and This study provides the most extensive sand fly survey in Kosovo and reports the first record of DNA in sand flies, indicating autochthonous circulation of .
PubMed: 37887706
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101190 -
Molecular Immunology Dec 2023Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a new infectious disease caused by bunyavirus, and the critically cases conform to the definition of sepsis. In...
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a new infectious disease caused by bunyavirus, and the critically cases conform to the definition of sepsis. In order to compare the differences between SFTS sepsis and non-SFTS sepsis, a retrospective analysis was performed. Thirty-seven SFTS sepsis and 96 non-SFTS sepsis patients were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, laboratory results were compared between the two groups and independent prognostic risk of mortality were investigated respectively. Compared with non-SFTS sepsis, SFTS cases had lower white blood cell, neutrophil and platelet counts, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and decreased fibrinogen, slightly elevated inflammatory indicators. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE II) score were independent prognostic risk factors in non-SFTS sepsis. The mortality risk of STFS sepsis was related to the viral clearance. There was no difference in viral load between SFTS survivors and non-survivors on admission. However, the differences were significant on 5th, 7th, 10th, and 14th day, and all SFTS non-survivors died within 14 days. Viral clearance rate on 7th day was an independent risk factor for mortality in SFTS sepsis. The mortality risk of STFS sepsis was related to the viral clearance rate.
Topics: Humans; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Phlebovirus; Retrospective Studies; Thrombocytopenia; Fever; Sepsis
PubMed: 37866135
DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.10.006