Smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 is not clinically different from other viruses: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of cases with olfactory loss, other respiratory viruses can also cause this condition. We aimed to compare the prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and other respiratory viruses in patients with sudden smell loss, and to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infection on olfactory symptoms. METHODS: Patients with sudden smell loss were recruited in a multicenter prospective cohort study in 15 hospitals in Brazil. Clinical questionnaire, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test and nasopharyngeal swab to perform a PCR-based respiratory viral panel were collected at first visit (day 0) and 30 and 60 days after recruitment. RESULTS: 188 of 213 patients presented positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, among which 65 were co-infected with other respiratory viruses (e.g., rhinovirus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza). 25 had negative test results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients in both SARSCoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 groups had objective anosmia (less than 2 points according to the psychophysical olfactory CCCRC) at day 0, with no significant difference between them. Both groups had significant smell scores improvement after 30 and 60 days, with no difference between them. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not impact olfactory scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with sudden smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses had similar presentation, with most participants initiating with anosmia, and total or near total recovery after 60 days. SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infections with other respiratory viruses were not associated with poorer olfactory outcomes.

Different patterns of dermatological presentations in patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and those infected with HCV alone.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) share the same transmission routes. About 30% of HIV-positive patients are co-infected with HCV. Of the various HCV-related extrahepatic events, those involving the skin may be the first sign of infection. AIM: To specify the skin presentations in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV (co-infected patients; CP) and compare them with those found in patients with HCV mono-infection (mono-infected patients; MP). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, in which the studied population consisted of MP and CP from a tertiary hospital in the South of Brazil, who underwent complete skin examination and laboratory tests. RESULTS: In total, 201 patients were assessed, of whom 108 were CP, and 93 were MP. Pruritus tended to be more common in MP. MP also had significantly more dermatological conditions (mean of 5.2) than CP (mean of 4.5). In total, 104 different skin diseases were identified. There was a higher prevalence of infectious diseases and pigmentation disorders, such as verruca vulgaris and facial melasma, in CP, whereas trunk and facial telangiectasias, palmar erythema, and varicose veins were more common in MP. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of skin conditions both in MP and in CP; however, the patterns of the dermatological conditions were different. CP were found to have significantly fewer skin lesions than MP, but had a higher prevalence of infectious and pigmentation disorders. By contrast, vascular conditions were more common in MP.

Parasites of Italian sea turtles. II. Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta [Linnaeus, 1758]).

Eleven out of fourteen sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coast of the Adriatic sea (Mediterranean sea) were found infected with helminths. Seven trematode species (Rhytidodes gelatinosus, Orchidasma amphiorchis, Enodiotrema megachondrus. Pachypsolus irroratus, Pleurogonius trigonocephalus, Calicodes anthos, Plesiochorus cymbiformis) and one nematode (Sulcascaris sulcata) were found. S. sulcata was the most frequent species in the stomach and R. gelatinosus in the intestine. These species were also the most abundant. The redescriptions of C. anthos (Braun, 1899) and P. trigonocephalus (Rudolphi, 1809) Looss, 1901 are included. The accuracy of Braun's original description is questioned because it refers to specimens studied in dorsal view.