Pneumonia in US hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness: BioSense, 2007-2010.

We used data from BioSense, a national electronic surveillance system, to describe pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness (ILI). Ninety-five hospitals from 20 states reported ICD-9-CM-coded inpatient final diagnosis data during the study period of September 2007 to February 2010. We compared the characteristics of persons with and without pneumonia among those with ILI-related hospitalizations. BioSense captured 26 987 ILI-related inpatient hospitalizations; 8979 (33%) had a diagnosis of pneumonia. Analysis of trends showed highest counts of pneumonia during the 2007-2008 season and the second 2009 pandemic wave. Pneumonia was more common with increasing age. Microbiology and pharmacy data were available for a subset of patients; 107 (5%) with pneumonia had a bloodstream infection and 17% of patients were prescribed antiviral treatment. Our findings demonstrate the potential utility of electronic healthcare data to track trends in ILI and pneumonia, identify risk factors for disease, identify bacteraemia in patients with pneumonia, and monitor antiviral use.

Investigating the effect of high spring incidence of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) on early autumn incidence.

A pandemic H1N1 infection wave in the USA occurred during spring 2009. Some hypothesized that for regions affected by the spring wave, an autumn outbreak would be less likely or delayed compared to unaffected regions because of herd immunity. We investigated this hypothesis using the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Network, a collaboration among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health departments, and care providers. We evaluated the likelihood of high early autumn incidence given high spring incidence in core-based statistical areas (CBSAs). Using a surrogate incidence measure based on influenza-related illness ratios, we calculated the odds of high early autumn incidence given high spring incidence. CBSAs with high spring ILI ratios proved more likely than unaffected CBSAs to have high early autumn ratios, suggesting that elevated spring illness did not protect against early autumn increases. These novel methods are applicable to planning and studies involving other infectious diseases.

Detecting 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection: availability of diagnostic testing led to rapid pandemic response.

Diagnostic tests for detecting emerging influenza virus strains with pandemic potential are critical for directing global influenza prevention and control activities. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received US Food and Drug Administration approval for a highly sensitive influenza polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Devices were deployed to public health laboratories in the United States and globally. Within 2 weeks of the first recognition of 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed and began distributing a new approved pandemic influenza H1N1 PCR assay, which used the previously deployed device platform to meet a >8-fold increase in specimen submissions. Rapid antigen tests were widely used by clinicians at the point of care; however, test sensitivity was low (40%-69%). Many clinical laboratories developed their own pandemic influenza H1N1 PCR assays to meet clinician demand. Future planning efforts should identify ways to improve availability of reliable testing to manage patient care and approaches for optimal use of molecular testing for detecting and controlling emerging influenza virus strains.

Effects of feeding Original XPC™ to broilers with a live coccidiosis vaccine under industrial conditions: Part 2. Cecal microbiota analysis.

Biological supplements in poultry feed are of continued interest due to the improvements in growth performance, protection from pathogen invasion, and benefits in overall host health. The fermentation metabolites of Diamond V Original XPC™ (XPC) have previously been shown to improve commercial performance and reduce Salmonella in poultry. The current study sought to characterize the cecal microbiota using culture-independent analysis based on 16S rRNA gene in Coccivac-D sprayed broilers supplemented with XPC and/or Salinomycin (SAL). Ross 708 male broilers (n = 640) were assigned to one of 4 treatments: Cocci-vaccine (T1), Cocci-vaccine + XPC (T2), Cocci-vaccine + SAL (in the grower diet only) (T3), and Cocci-vaccine + SAL (in the grower diet only) + XPC (T4). Analysis with a PCR-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) indicated a shift in the microbial populations present at the various sampling ages - 16, 28, and 42 days. Phylogenetic analysis indicated further consistency in microbial communities directly related to bird age. Identification of microbial communities present and the assessment of their respective quantities using an Illumina MiSeq indicated treatment with XPC had no significant impact on microbial diversity (Chao1 index, observed operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) whole tree). Sampling age revealed significantly greater diversity at 16 and 28 d (P < 0.05) as compared to the 42 d for the Shannon diversity index, while showing significantly decreased richness and diversity in the 42 d sampling age (Chao1 and observed OTU; P < 0.05). The results of the current study indicate that the chicken intestinal microbiota are impacted more by temporal changes rather than by the feed additive studied.

Effects of feeding Original XPC™ to broilers with a live coccidiosis-vaccine under industry conditions: Part 1. Growth performance and Salmonella inhibition.

Supplementation of poultry diets with Diamond V Original XPC™ (XPC) has been proposed as a means to ameliorate the commonly observed loss of appetite and depression of growth in birds given a live coccidiosis vaccine. A study was conducted to compare the effects on bird performance of a live coccidiosis vaccine in broilers, with and without the dietary inclusion of XPC (1.25 g/kg). Ross 708 male broilers (n = 1,280) were allocated to one of 4 feed treatments: cocci-vaccine (T1), cocci-vaccine + XPC (T2), cocci-vaccine + salinomycin in the grower diet only, (T3), and cocci-vaccine + salinomycin in the grower diet + XPC (T4). Birds consuming diets containing XPC (T2 and T4) and salinomycin (T3) exhibited increased (P < 0.05) feed intake and significantly heavier body weights at 28 d (1.70, 1.74, and 1.67 kg, respectively) and 42 d (3.29, 3.31, and 3.26 kg, respectively). Feed conversion ratio at 28 d was improved (P < 0.05) by adding XPC to diets (T2: 1.47 and T4: 1.44) compared to control diets (T1: 1.50 and T3: 1.47). Salmonella prevalence determined via selective media indicated the inclusion of XPC in the diet resulted in a significant reduction of Salmonella when compared to treatments lacking XPC. Molecular confirmation of Salmonella species indicated S. Kentucky to be present in 38 of the 39 positive samples. Results revealed the ability of XPC in reducing the prevalence of Salmonella. Results from this study also suggest that XPC could be used in conjunction with a live coccidiosis-vaccine to increase growth rate and improve feed conversion of broilers. However, further work is needed to delineate more specific effects directly attributable to XPC.

Correction: Temporal Patterns of Influenza A and B in Tropical and Temperate Countries: What Are the Lessons for Influenza Vaccination?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152310.].

Silver(I) carboxylates: versatile inorganic analogs of carboxylic acids for supramolecular network formation.

Dimeric motifs formed by silver(I) carboxylates, illustrated here by the unit Ag2(CF3CO2)2, resemble the well known dimerization of carboxylic acids, i.e. 'H2(RCO2)2', but exhibit greater flexibility, while permitting further elaboration into neutral coordination networks through linkage of the silver centres via ditopic ligands.

Synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro nucleosides via a serendipitous route.

This paper describes a "green" synthesis of 2',3'-unsaturated 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides via an electrochemical reaction. Using this approach d4T, d4U, ddA and ddI can be synthesized in high yields.

Monoclonal antibodies to three strains of hantaviruses: Hantaan, R22, and Puumala.

Thirty hybrid cell lines that produce monoclonal antibodies to three strains of hantaviruses have been generated and characterized. One clone specific to Hantaan 76-118 strain, four clones specific to Rattus strains and one clone specific to Puumala virus have been identified. Most of the monoclones produced antibodies specific to nucleoproteins. Only two monoclones were found to produce glycoprotein specific, neutralizing antibodies. The immunofluorescent (IFA) staining patterns of the monoclonal antibodies show consistent correlation with viral protein specificities as described for other hemorrhagic fever viruses. Cross-reactivity studies with hantaviruses tested demonstrate conserved antigenic sites on nucleoproteins among these hantaviruses tested. Puumala specific monoclones, produced for the first time, reveal both conserved and strain specific sites on the viral nucleoproteins of the Scandinavian virus.

Influenza surveillance--United States, 1992-93 and 1993-94.

PROBLEM/CONDITION: CDC conducts active surveillance annually from October through May on the emergence and spread of influenza virus variants and the impact of influenza-related morbidity and mortality. Influenza activity is also monitored throughout the year by passive surveillance. REPORTING PERIOD COVERED: This report summarizes U.S. influenza surveillance from October 1992 through May 1994. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM: Influenza surveillance comprises four components, three of which provide weekly data from October through May: a) state and territorial epidemiologists provide estimates of local influenza activity; b) approximately 140 sentinel physicians report their total number of patient visits and the number of cases of influenza-like illness; and c) approximately 70 collaborating laboratories of the World Health Organization (WHO) report weekly influenza virus isolations and submit selected influenza isolates to CDC for antigenic analysis. Throughout the year, vital statistics offices of 121 cities report deaths related to pneumonia and influenza (P&I), providing an index of the impact of influenza on mortality. RESULTS: Influenza B viruses predominated during the 1992-93 influenza season, but influenza A(H3N2) isolates increased and were associated with outbreaks in nursing homes at the end of the season. The increase in influenza A(H3N2) activity was associated with a rise in P&I-related mortality. Preseason outbreaks of influenza A(H3N2) virus were reported during August and September 1993 in Louisiana. In the past, preseason outbreaks of influenza have been associated with earlier than usual epidemic-level activity. During the 1993-94 influenza season, activity rose during November and December and peaked earlier than usual, during the last week of December and the first week of January; influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominated. INTERPRETATION: The change in predominance from influenza B to influenza A in the spring of 1993 emphasizes the importance of annual influenza surveillance. Although influenza vaccine is effective against both influenza A and B, the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine are effective only against influenza A. Outbreaks during the summer of 1993 emphasize that influenza should be considered a possible cause of respiratory infections during summer and early autumn. ACTIONS TAKEN: Surveillance data were provided weekly throughout the influenza season to public health officials, WHO, and health-care providers.

Protection of rhesus monkeys from fatal Lassa fever by vaccination with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the Lassa virus glycoprotein gene.

Lassa fever is an acute febrile disease of West Africa, where there are as many as 300,000 infections a year and an estimated 3000 deaths. As control of the rodent host is impracticable at present, the best immediate prospect is vaccination. We tested as potential vaccines in rhesus monkeys a closely related virus, Mopeia virus (two monkeys), and a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the Lassa virus glycoprotein gene, V-LSGPC (four monkeys). Two monkeys vaccinated with the New York Board of Health strain of vaccinia virus as controls died after challenge with Lassa virus. The two monkeys vaccinated with Mopeia virus developed antibodies measurable by radioimmunoprecipitation prior to challenge, and they survived challenge by Lassa virus with minimal physical or physiologic disturbances. However, both showed a transient, low-titer Lassa viremia. Two of the four animals vaccinated with V-LSGPC had antibodies to both Lassa glycoproteins, as determined by radioimmunoprecipitation. All four animals survived a challenge of Lassa virus but experienced a transient febrile illness and moderate physiologic changes following challenge. Virus was recoverable from each of these animals, but at low titer and only during a brief period, as observed for the Mopeia-protected animals. We conclude that V-LSGPC can protect rhesus monkeys against death from Lassa fever.