Seroprevalence of Newcastle disease virus and avian influenza virus in poultry and captive wild birds in poultry-dense regions of Pakistan.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian influenza virus (AIV) are causing contagious diseases in chickens and wild birds worldwide; however, there is a paucity of information on the current status of seropositivity of Newcastle and avian influenza diseases in chickens and wild birds of Pakistan. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the serological evidence of both diseases in commercial poultry (broiler, layer chickens), backyard poultry, and captive wild birds in poultry­dense regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Enzyme­linked immunosorbent (ELISA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays were performed for the determination of antibodies against NDV and AIV and their genotyping and subtyping, respectively. Overall, 47.5% and 67.4% seroprevalence of NDV and AIV, respectively, was observed in both poultry and wild birds. Based on bird's category, layer chickens had the highest seroprevalence of NDV (60.8%, 95% CI: 52.95­68.22, OR: 0.71) followed by backyard poultry (56.8%, 95% CI: 47.92­65.32, OR: 0.82), broilers (52.7%, 95% CI: 46.84­58.64), pigeons (41.3%, 95% CI: 30.53­52.81, OR: 1.59), peafowls (26.1%, 95% CI: 11.09­48.69, OR: 3.16), ducks (23.8%, 95% CI: 12.59­39.8, OR: 3.57), turkeys (16.7%, 95% CI: 4.41­42.27, OR: 5.58), parrots (14.3%, 95% CI: 2.52­43.85, OR: 6.70) and quails (2.3%, 95% CI: 0.2­13.51, OR: 4.8). Comparatively, backyard chickens had the highest seroprevalence of AIV (78.8%, 95% CI: 70.64­85.22, OR: 0.63) followed by ducks (73.8%, 95% CI: 57.68­85.6, OR: 0.83), layers (73.5%, 95% CI: 65.98­79.89, OR: 0.84), pigeons (72.5%, 95% CI: 61.2­81.61, OR: 0.89), broilers (70.1%, 95% CI: 64.44­75.29), turkeys (55.5%, 95% CI: 31.35­77.6, OR: 1.87), peafowls (47.8%, 95% CI: 27.42­68.9, OR: 2.56) and parrots (42.8%, 95% CI: 18.8­70.3, OR: 3.1). Overall, 40.1%, 34.2%, 31.3%, and 25.1% sera were positive for H9 AIV, G­VII NDV, H7 AIV, and G­VI NDV, respectively. The current study revealed a widespread exposure to NDV and AIV in poultry and captive wild birds. Therefore, it is crucial to include captive wild birds in NDV and AIV surveillance programs to further strengthen disease control measures, particularly in endemic regions.

Role of High Resolution Computed Tomography chest in the diagnosis and evaluation of COVID -19 patients -A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies reported that CT scan findings could be implicated in the diagnosis and evaluation of COVID-19 patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify the role of High-Resolution Computed Tomography chest and summarize characteristics of chest CT imaging for the diagnosis and evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 patients. METHODOLOGY: Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Research Gate and Medscape were searched up to 31 January 2020 to find relevant articles which highlighted the importance of thoracic computed tomography in the diagnosis as well as the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. HRCT abnormalities of SARS-CoV-2 patients were extracted from the eligible studies for meta-analysis. RESULTS: In this review, 28 studies (total 2655 patients) were included. Classical findings were Ground Glass Opacities (GGO) (71.64 %), GGO with consolidation (35.22 %), vascular enlargement (65.41 %), subpleural bands (52.54 %), interlobular septal thickening (43.28 %), pleural thickening (38.25 %), and air bronchograms sign (35.15 %). The common anatomic distribution of infection was bilateral lung infection (71.55 %), peripheral distribution (54.63 %) and multiple lesions (74.67 %). The incidences were higher in in the left lower lobe (75.68 %) and right lower lobe (73.32 %). A significant percentage of patients had over 2 lobes involvement (68.66 %). CONCLUSION: Chest CT-scan is a helpful modality in the early detection of COVID-19 pneumonia. The GGO in the peripheral areas of lungs with multiple lesions is the characteristic pattern of COVID-19. The correct interpretation of HRCT features makes it easier to detect COVID-19 even in the early phases and the disease progression can also be accessed with the help of the follow-up chest scans.