Depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health is still being unravelled. It is important to identify which individuals are at greatest risk of worsening symptoms. This study aimed to examine changes in depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms using prospective and retrospective symptom change assessments, and to find and examine the effect of key risk factors. METHOD: Online questionnaires were administered to 34 465 individuals (aged 16 years or above) in April/May 2020 in the UK, recruited from existing cohorts or via social media. Around one-third (n = 12 718) of included participants had prior diagnoses of depression or anxiety and had completed pre-pandemic mental health assessments (between September 2018 and February 2020), allowing prospective investigation of symptom change. RESULTS: Prospective symptom analyses showed small decreases in depression (PHQ-9: -0.43 points) and anxiety [generalised anxiety disorder scale - 7 items (GAD)-7: -0.33 points] and increases in PTSD (PCL-6: 0.22 points). Conversely, retrospective symptom analyses demonstrated significant large increases (PHQ-9: 2.40; GAD-7 = 1.97), with 55% reported worsening mental health since the beginning of the pandemic on a global change rating. Across both prospective and retrospective measures of symptom change, worsening depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms were associated with prior mental health diagnoses, female gender, young age and unemployed/student status. CONCLUSIONS: We highlight the effect of prior mental health diagnoses on worsening mental health during the pandemic and confirm previously reported sociodemographic risk factors. Discrepancies between prospective and retrospective measures of changes in mental health may be related to recall bias-related underestimation of prior symptom severity.

Eosinophilic myocarditis: characteristics, diagnostics and outcomes of a rare condition.

Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare and potentially fatal condition characterised by eosinophilic inflammatory infiltration of myocardium. We report seven consecutive cases of eosinophilic myocarditis at our centre and discuss the important characteristics, investigation and management of this disease.

A long-term study examining the antibacterial effectiveness of Agion silver zeolite technology on door handles within a college campus.

Laboratory studies have shown that small concentrations of silver are effective at inhibiting the growth micro-organisms through the disruption of important cell structures and processes. The additional ability to incorporate silver into surfaces has increased the usage of silver in the medical field and expanded its use into the consumer market. To understand the impact of increased silver-containing antimicrobial use, it is important to determine whether silver-based consumer goods are effective at reducing bacterial populations. Our study examined the antibacterial effectiveness of Agion silver zeolite technology applied to 25 silver- and control-coated door handles across a college campus. Door handles were sampled for 6 week periods in both the fall and spring semester, and bacteria were cultured and enumerated on tryptic soy agar (TSA), MacConkey agar (MAC) and mannitol salt agar (MSA). A significant difference was observed between the bacterial populations isolated from silver- and control-coated door handles after 3 years. However, bacteria were consistently isolated from silver-coated door handles suggesting that the silver zeolite was only effective against a portion of the bacterial populations, and further studies are necessary to determine the identities of the isolated bacteria and the prevalence of silver resistance.

Two species of Entamoeba from white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, from Georgia.

Large numbers of 2 species of Entamoeba, Entamoeba coli and Entamoeba bovis, were recovered from captive white-tailed deer from Georgia. The trophozoite of the first ameba was a large form with a well-defined vesicular nucleus bearing a prominent eccentric endosome, abundant peripheral chromatin, and numerous periendosomal granules. Cytoplasmic vacuoles containing bacteria and other substances were common. Mature cysts were octonucleate. Glycogen vacuoles and irregularly shaped chromatoids were frequently present. This ameba was identified as Entamoeba coli. The trophozoite of the second ameba was small, with a typical Entamoeba nucleus. Cysts were uninucleate, containing numerous chromatoids resembling bars, splinters of wood, and irregular masses. There was occasionally a glycogen vacuole. This ameba was identified as Entamoeba bovis.

Trypanosoma cervi sp. n. from elk (Cervus canadensis) in Wyoming.

Trypanosoma cervi sp. n. is described from 22 trypomastigote syntypes from the blood of elk, Cervus canadensis, in North America (type locality: Wyoming). The blood trypomatigotes of T. cervi are compared with various culture forms: epimastigotes in 22 to 25 C NNN cultures; trypomastigotes in 37 C NNN cultures; and trypomastigotes from CAM chick embryo (10-day) cultures. Trypanosoma cervi is differentiated on morphological grounds from the cosmopolitan bovine species, T. theileri, and from T. ingens and T. mazamarum. Transmission of T. cervi to cattle was attempted using infected elk blood. No trypanosomal stages were recovered when recipients were examined by blood culture. The findings support the morphological data that T. cervi is distinct from T. theileri.

Trypanosoma theileri Laveran, 1902, in Wyoming cattle.

Trypanosoma theileri Laveran, 1902, a cosmopolitan blood parasite of cattle, was found in 86 of 377 Wyoming cattle. Acute infection was experimentally produced in 22 cattle, with blood stream trypanosomes reaching peaks (up to 8,00/ml) in the first 2 weeks of infection. Infection subsided after 3 to 4 weeks. In studies of animals with chronic infection, the parasites reappeared in the blood 4 to 6 months after initial exposure and again at 8 months. Morphologically, three trypomastigote forms were seen: short-thin forms, long-thin forms, and long-broad forms. It is considered that the first two types derived from the last. Comparisons of bloodstream trypomastigotes were made with chicken embryo culture forms, and it was concluded that identification and description of trypanosomes from cattle can be made only by examination of bloodstream stages.

Further studies on trypanosomers in game animals in Wyoming.

Blood samples were collected from captive and free-ranging elk (Cervus canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer, (Odocoileus virginianus), black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), moose (Alces alces), and bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) for cultural evidence of Trypanosoma sp. infection. Eleven of 188 (12%) hunter-killed elk, 22 of 37 (59%) free-ranging elk, and 79 of 119 (66%) captive elk were culture positive in 1973-74. Parasitemia in adult captive elk showed seasonal variation. Other captive or live-trapped animals found positive included 16 mule deer, two white-tailed deer, and one black-tailed deer. No pronghorn, moose, or bighorn sheep were positive. A 0.25 ml inoculum of elk blood was sufficient to give positive culture results. Small sample size may have contributed to negative results from elk trapped in March 1973.

Babesia moshkovskii (Schurenkova, 1938) Laird and Lari, 1957; from the prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus, in Wyoming; with comments on other parasites found in this host.

Babesia moshkovskiiwas found in the blood of 6 of 30 downy (D) Prairie Falcons and in none of 5 adults (A) from Wyoming. Intestinal parasites included Neodiplostomum (C) spathula (A,3), Cladotaenia globifera, (A,1), Physaloptera sp., (A,1), and Serratospiculum amaculatum, (a,4). ornithodorus concanensis, (D,3), Thrassis francisi, (D,1), Opisocrostis sp., (D.1), Degeeriella rufa, (D,2), Simulium (E.) canonicola (D,2), and an unidentified hippoboscid fly, (D,2) were external parasites. It is considered that the soft tick, O. concanensis, is the most likely vector of the hematozoon. The morphological forms of B.moshkovskii are described and discussed. This is the first report of an avian babesoid on this continent.

Trypanosoma cervi Kingston and Morton, 1975 from mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, in Wyoming.

Mensural values of blood stream stages and cross-transmission studies defined the trypanosome species from mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, as con-specific with Trypanosoma cervi, the trypanosome found in elk from the same locality. Trypanosomes were found in eight mule deer sampled in the spring and eight sampled in the winter in southeastern Wyoming.

Invasive entamoebae in pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) from Wyoming.

Trophozoites and cysts of an amoeba resembling Entamoeba bovis were recovered from soft stools of captive pronghorn fawns (Antilocapra americana). Chronic or intermittent diarrhea was observed in most individuals in two groups of hand-raised 1- to 8-mo-old pronghorns. Ileocecal lymph nodes were mildly to moderately enlarged. Microscopic lesions were characterized by lymphoid hyperplasia, focal necrosis and pyogranulomatous inflammation in lymph nodes and focal necrosis and diffuse nonsuppurative enteritis in ileum and cecum. In 12 of 17 fawns, trophic stages of amoebae were observed in the submucosa of the cecum and/or the cortex of the ileocecal lymph node. This is the first report of E. bovis-like organisms invading and causing pathological changes in the tissues of their host.

Trypanosomes from mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus in Wyoming.

Examination of mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, from Wyoming in Spring, 1974 (8) and in Winter of 1974-75 (8) revealed trypanosomes in all 16 deer. Spring samples showed dividing epimastigotes as well as normal bloodstream forms. Winter samples showed only normal blood stream forms. These differences are considered to be seasonally related.

Malaria in a captively-produced F1 gyrfalcon and in two F. peregrine falcons.

One Falco rusticolus and two of 24 Falco peregrinus were positive for Plasmodium relictum. Sixteen percent of the erythrocytes (RBC) of the gyrfalcon were parasitized. Following treatment with chloroquine the parasite burden was dramatically reduced (to less than 0.01%). Infection in peregrine falcons was low (0.01-0.4% RBCs were parasitized). This is the second report of Plasmodium in the gyrfalcon and the first report in the peregrine falcon.

Further studies on trypanosomes in game animals in Wyoming II.

Further studies on moose revealed trypanosomes in two captive moose (Alces alces shirasi) and in 4 of 7 free-ranging moose in Wyoming by blood culture. Two free-ranging moose from Utah were negative. One of two additional captive moose calves was positive for trypanosomes. Trypanosomes also were detected in blood cultures of 8 of 39 American Bison (Bison bison) being brought into Wyoming from Nebraska. Nineteen additional bison were negative for trypanosomes by blood cultures. Identification of species was not possible due to the failure to obtain bloodstream trypomastigotes from this host. Trypanosomes were recovered from 8 of 57 pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana). This is the first report of Trypanosoma sp. from bison and from pronghorn; the trypanosome from moose was identified as Trypanosoma cervi from bloodstream trypomastigotes. In 1978, natural transplacental transmission of trypanosomes was found to occur in 1 of 15 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fetuses, examined near term by blood culture. No trypanosomes were found in 18 male deer fetuses examined in 1979. Of 100 free-ranging elk from western Wyoming examined by blood culture in 1979, 71 were infected. These data are compared with data from 1973-74.