Cell fusing agent virus isolated from Aag2 cells does not vertically transmit in Aedes aegypti via artificial infection.

BACKGROUND: Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) was the first insect-specific virus to be characterized, and has been reported to negatively influence the growth of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and La Cross, making it a promising biocontrol agent for mosquito-borne disease prevention. Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells were naturally infected with CFAV. However, the ability of this virus to stably colonize an Ae. aegypti population via artificial infection and how it influences the vector competence of this mosquito have yet to be demonstrated. METHODS: CFAV used in this study was harvested from Aag2 cells and its complete genome sequence was obtained by polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends, followed by Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of newly identified CFAV sequences and other sequences retrieved from GenBank was performed. CFAV stock was inoculated into Ae. aegypti by intrathoracic injection, the survival of parental mosquitoes was monitored and CFAV copies in the whole bodies, ovaries, and carcasses of the injected F0 generation and in the whole bodies of the F1 generation on different days were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The virus harvested from Aag2 cells comprised a mixture of three CFAV strains. All genome sequences of CFAV derived from Aag2 cells clustered into one clade but were far from those isolated or identified from Ae. aegypti. Aag2-derived CFAV efficiently replicated in the mosquito body and did not attenuate the survival of Ae. aegypti. However, the viral load in the ovarian tissues was much lower than that in other tissues and the virus could not passage to the offspring by vertical transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that Aag2-derived CFAV was not vertically transmitted in Ae. aegypti and provide valuable information on the colonization of mosquitoes by this virus.

Completely ossified thoracic intradural meningioma in an elderly patient: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Spinal meningioma is the second most common spinal neoplasm that commonly occurs in middle-aged women. As a rare histological variation of meningioma, completely ossified meningioma (OSM) and its standard surgical strategies have been reported. However, the surgical outcomes of elderly OSM cases (age >70) are less investigated. Herein, we intend to present an elderly OSM case and review the elderly OSM cases in published literatures. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 85-year-old female presented with 10-year history of back pain and developed radiating pain on her left lower extremity within the last 2 weeks. DIAGNOSES: A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an intradural tumor at the T11 level. A computed tomography scan demonstrated that the mass was completely ossified and had distinct borders (D-F). In a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scan, the mass presented as a lateral intradural extramedullary tumor with abundant blood supply (). INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent en bloc intradural tumorectomy via posterior approach. OUTCOMES: After surgery, the patient's pain was relieved. However, the patient spent another 3 weeks in hospital due to a series of post-surgery complications, including hypostatic pneumonia, pulmonary heart failure, hydrothorax in both thoracic cavities, hypoproteinemia, and deep venous thrombosis on both of her legs. The complications recovered after 3-weeks treatment. In 1-year follow up, no additional symptom was found and the patient was recurrence free. LESSONS: Our report indicated that the surgical outcome can be satisfying in elderly OSM patients, while the post-operative complications frequently occur due to the poor physical condition of elderly patients. As a result, treatment of peri-operative complications of elderly OSM patients also deserves greater attention along with surgical resection.