Bat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence.

Anthropogenic disturbances and the subsequent loss of biodiversity are altering species abundances and communities. Since species vary in their pathogen competence, spatio-temporal changes in host assemblages may lead to changes in disease dynamics. We explore how longitudinal changes in bat species assemblages affect the disease dynamics of coronaviruses (CoVs) in more than 2300 cave-dwelling bats captured over two years from five caves in Ghana. This reveals uneven CoV infection patterns between closely related species, with the alpha-CoV 229E-like and SARS-related beta-CoV 2b emerging as multi-host pathogens. Prevalence and infection likelihood for both phylogenetically distinct CoVs is influenced by the abundance of competent species and naïve subadults. Broadly, bat species vary in CoV competence, and highly competent species are more common in less diverse communities, leading to increased CoV prevalence in less diverse bat assemblages. In line with the One Health framework, our work supports the notion that biodiversity conservation may be the most proactive measure to prevent the spread of pathogens with zoonotic potential.

MHC class II genes mediate susceptibility and resistance to coronavirus infections in bats.

Understanding the immunogenetic basis of coronavirus (CoV) susceptibility in major pathogen reservoirs, such as bats, is central to inferring their zoonotic potential. Members of the cryptic Hipposideros bat species complex differ in CoV susceptibility, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are the best understood genetic basis of pathogen resistance, and differences in MHC diversity are one possible reason for asymmetrical infection patterns among closely related species. Here, we aimed to link asymmetries in observed CoV (CoV-229E, CoV-2B and CoV-2Bbasal) susceptibility to immunogenetic differences amongst four Hipposideros bat species. From the 2072 bats assigned to their respective species using the mtDNA cytochrome b gene, members of the most numerous and ubiquitous species, Hipposideros caffer D, were most infected with CoV-229E and SARS-related CoV-2B. Using a subset of 569 bats, we determined that much of the existent allelic and functional (i.e. supertype) MHC DRB class II diversity originated from common ancestry. One MHC supertype shared amongst all species, ST12, was consistently linked to susceptibility with CoV-229E, which is closely related to the common cold agent HCoV-229E, and infected bats and those carrying ST12 had a lower body condition. The same MHC supertype was connected to resistance to CoV-2B, and bats with ST12 were less likely be co-infected with CoV-229E and CoV-2B. Our work suggests a role of immunogenetics in determining CoV susceptibility in bats. We advocate for the preservation of functional genetic and species diversity in reservoirs as a means of mitigating the risk of disease spillover.

Interventional radiology in obstetric patients: A population-based record linkage study of use and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Interventional radiology (IR) is a technique for controlling hemorrhage and preserving fertility for women with serious obstetric conditions such as placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) or postpartum hemorrhage. This study examined maternal, pregnancy and hospital characteristics and outcomes for women receiving IR in pregnancy and postpartum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A population-based record linkage study was conducted, including all women who gave birth in hospital in New South Wales or the major tertiary hospital in the neighboring Australian Capital Territory, Australia, between 2003 and 2019. Data were obtained from birth and hospital records. Characteristics and outcomes of women who underwent IR in pregnancy or postpartum are described. Outcomes following IR were compared in a high-risk cohort of women: those with PAS who had a planned cesarean with hysterectomy. Women were grouped by those who did and those who did did not have IR and were matched using propensity score and other factors. RESULTS: We identified IR in 236 pregnancies of 1 584 708 (15.0 per 100 000), including 208 in the delivery and 26 in a postpartum admission. Two-thirds of women receiving IR in the birth admission received a transfusion of red cells or blood products, 28% underwent hysterectomy and 12.5% were readmitted within 6 weeks. Other complications included: severe maternal morbidity (29.8%), genitourinary tract trauma/repair (17.3%) and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (4.3%). Outcomes for women with PAS who underwent planned cesarean with hysterectomy were similar for those who did and did not receive IR, with a small reduction in transfusion requirement for those who received IR. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional radiology is infrequently used in pregnant women. In our study it was performed at a limited number of hospitals, largely tertiary centers, with the level of adverse outcomes reflecting use in a high-risk population. For women with PAS undergoing planned cesarean with hysterectomy, most outcomes were similar for those receiving IR and those not receiving IR, but IR may reduce bleeding.

Validation of anaemia, haemorrhage and blood disorder reporting in hospital data in New South Wales, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Hospital data are a useful resource for studying pregnancy complications, including bleeding-related conditions, however, the reliability of these data is unclear. This study aims to examine reliability of reporting of bleeding-related conditions, including anaemia, obstetric haemorrhage and blood disorders, and procedures, such as blood transfusion and hysterectomy, in coded hospital records compared with obstetric data from two large tertiary hospitals in New South Wales. RESULTS: There were 36,051 births between 2011 and 2015 included in the analysis. Anaemia and blood disorders were poorly reported in the hospital data, with sensitivity ranging from 2.5% to 24.8% (positive predictive value (PPV) 12.0-82.6%). Reporting of postpartum haemorrhage, transfusion and hysterectomy showed high sensitivity (82.8-96.0%, PPV 78.0-89.6%) while moderate consistency with the obstetric data was observed for other types of obstetric haemorrhage (sensitivity: 41.9-65.1%, PPV: 50.0-56.8%) and placental complications (sensitivity: 68.2-81.3%, PPV: 20.3-72.3%). Our findings suggest that hospital data may be a reliable source of information on postpartum haemorrhage, transfusion and hysterectomy. However, they highlight the need for caution for studies of anaemia and blood disorders, given high rates of uncoded and 'false' cases, and suggest that other sources of data should be sought where possible.

Reporting of gestational diabetes and other maternal medical conditions: validation of routinely collected hospital data from New South Wales, Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital datasets are a valuable resource for examining prevalence and outcomes of medical conditions during pregnancy. To enable effective research and health planning, it is important to determine whether variables are reliably captured. OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability of reporting of gestational and pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, thyroid conditions, and morbid obesity in coded hospital records that inform the population-level New South Wales Admitted Patient Data Collection. METHODS: Coded hospital admission data from two large tertiary hospitals in New South Wales, from 2011 to 2015, were compared with obstetric data, collected by midwives at outpatient pregnancy booking and in hospital after birth, as the reference standard. Records were deterministically linked and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values for the conditions of interest were obtained. RESULTS: There were 36,051 births included in the analysis. Sensitivity was high for gestational diabetes (83.6%, 95% CI 82.4-84.7%), pre-existing diabetes (88.2%, 95% CI 84.1-91.6%), and gestational hypertension (80.1%, 95% CI 78.2-81.9%), moderate for chronic hypertension (53.5%, 95% CI 47.8-59.1%), and low for thyroid conditions (12.9%, 95% CI 11.7-14.2%) and morbid obesity (9.8%, 95% CI 7.6-12.4%). Specificity was high for all conditions (≥97.8%, 95% CI 97.7-98.0) and positive predictive value ranged from 53.2% for chronic hypertension (95% CI 47.5-58.8%) to 92.7% for gestational diabetes (95% CI 91.8-93.5%). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that coded hospital data are a reliable source of information for gestational and pre-existing diabetes and gestational hypertension. Chronic hypertension is less consistently reported, which may be remedied by grouping hypertension types. Data on thyroid conditions and morbid obesity should be used with caution, and if possible, other sources of data for those conditions should be sought.

Rates of neonatal morbidity by maternal region of birth and gestational age in New South Wales, Australia 2003-2016.

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that neonatal morbidity differs by maternal region of birth at different gestational ages. This study aimed to determine the overall and gestation-specific risk of neonatal morbidity by maternal region of birth, after adjustment for maternal, infant and birth characteristics, for women giving birth in New South Wales, Australia, from 2003 to 2016. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study utilized a retrospective cohort study design using linked births, hospital and deaths data. Modified Poisson regression was used to determine risk with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of neonatal morbidity by maternal region of birth, overall and at each gestational age, compared with Australian or New Zealand-born women giving birth at 39 weeks. RESULTS: There were 1 074 930 live singleton births ≥32 weeks' gestation that met the study inclusion criteria, and 44 394 of these were classified as morbid, giving a neonatal morbidity rate of 4.13 per 100 live births. The gestational age-specific neonatal morbidity rate declined from 32 weeks' gestation, reaching a minimum at 39 weeks in all maternal regions of birth. The unadjusted neonatal morbidity rate was highest in South Asian-born women at most gestations. Adjusted rates of neonatal morbidity between 32 and 44 weeks were significantly lower for babies born to East (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 0.65, 95% CI 0.62-0.68), South-east (aRR 0.76, 95% CI 0.73-0.79) and West Asian-born (aRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98) mothers, and higher for babies of Oceanian-born (aRR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.18) mothers, compared with Australian or New Zealand-born mothers. Babies of African, Oceanian, South Asian and West Asian-born women had a lower adjusted risk of neonatal morbidity than Australian or New Zealand-born women until 37 or 38 weeks' gestation, and thereafter an equal or higher risk in the term and post-term periods. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal region of birth is an independent risk factor for neonatal morbidity in New South Wales.

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Are Associated with Children's Psychological Health: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Protecting children's mental health is important and studies have shown that diet and exercise can have a positive impact. There are limited data available, however, from representative populations of children on the relationship between regular healthy lifestyle behaviours and psychological health. Data were obtained from the New South Wales Child Population Health Survey, 2013-2014. Parents were asked about diet, physical activity and screen time behaviours and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for one child aged 5-15. Higher SDQ scores indicate poorer psychological health and risk for mental health problems. Multivariable linear and logistic regression examined the relationships among dietary consumption, physical activity, screen time and SDQ scores, adjusting for potential confounding. Meeting screen time recommendations was most strongly associated with a lower SDQ total difficulties score (5-10 years: -1.56 (-2.68, -0.44); 11-15 years: -2.12 (-3.11, -1.12)). Children and adolescents who met screen time recommendations were also significantly less likely to have any score in the at-risk range. Children and adolescents meeting vegetable intake guidelines had significantly lower total difficulties scores (5-10 years: -1.54 (-3.03, -0.05); 11-15 years: -1.19 (-3.60, -0.39)), as did adolescents meeting discretionary food guidelines (-1.16 (-2.14, -0.18)) and children consuming the recommended fruit intake (-1.26 (-2.42, -0.10)). Our findings indicate that more effective interventions to increase the proportion of young Australians who meet the guidelines for diet and screen time would contribute to protecting their mental health.

Outcomes of Subsequent Births After Placenta Accreta Spectrum.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate subsequent birth rates, maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with a history of placenta accreta spectrum (placenta accreta, increta, and percreta). METHODS: A population-based record linkage study of women who had a first, second, or third birth in New South Wales from 2003 to 2016 was conducted. Data were obtained from birth and hospital records and death registrations. Women with a history of placenta accreta spectrum were matched to women without, on propensity score and parity, to compare outcomes with women who had similar risk profiles. Modified Poisson regression models were used to calculate adjusted relative risk (aRR) for a range of maternal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: We identified recurrent placenta accreta spectrum in 27/570 (4.7%, 95% CI 3.0-6.5%) of second and 9/119 (7.6%, 95% CI 2.8-12.3%) of third pregnancies after placenta accreta spectrum in the preceding birth, with an overall recurrence rate of 38/689 (5.5%, 95% CI 3.9-7.5%, compared with the population prevalence of 25.5/10,000 births (95% CI 24.6-26.4). Subsequent births after placenta accreta spectrum had higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage (aRR 1.51, 95% CI 1.19-1.92), transfusion (aRR 2.13, 95% CI 1.17-3.90), cesarean delivery (aRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.37), manual removal of placenta (aRR 6.92, 95% CI 3.81-12.55), and preterm birth (aRR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03-1.98), with lower risk of small for gestational age (aRR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43-0.96), compared with similar-risk births. CONCLUSION: Women with a history of placenta accreta spectrum have increased risk of maternal morbidity, preterm birth, and placenta accreta spectrum in the subsequent pregnancy compared with similar-risk women with no previous placenta accreta spectrum, although the absolute risks are generally low. These findings may be used to inform counseling of women on the risks of future pregnancies.

Like and share: associations between social media engagement and dietary choices in children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether social media and online behaviours are associated with unhealthy food and beverage consumption in children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional online survey was used to assess Internet and social media use, including engagement with food and beverage brand content, and frequency of consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages. Linear regression models were used to examine associations between online behaviours, including engagement with food and beverage brand content, and consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages, adjusting for age, sex and socio-economic status. SETTING: New South Wales, Australia, in 2014. SUBJECTS: Children aged 10-16 years (n 417). RESULTS: Watching food brand video content on YouTube, purchasing food online and seeing favourite food brands advertised online were significantly associated with higher frequency of consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks after adjustment for age, sex and socio-economic status. CONCLUSIONS: Children who have higher online engagement with food brands and content, particularly through online video, are more likely to consume unhealthy foods and drinks. Our findings highlight the need to include social media in regulations and policies designed to limit children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing. Social media companies have a greater role to play in protecting children from advertising.

Is the weekend effect really ubiquitous? A retrospective clinical cohort analysis of 30-day mortality by day of week and time of day using linked population data from New South Wales, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between day of week and time of admission and 30-day mortality for six clinical conditions: ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort analyses. Hospitalisation records were linked to emergency department and deaths data. Random-effect logistic regression models were used, adjusting for casemix and taking into account clustering within hospitals. SETTING: All hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, from July 2009 to June 2012. PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis for one of the six clinical conditions examined. OUTCOME MEASURES: Adjusted ORs for all-cause mortality within 30 days of admission, by day of week and time of day. RESULTS: A total of 148 722 patients were included in the study, with 17 721 deaths within 30 days of admission. Day of week of admission was not associated with significantly higher likelihood of death for five of the six conditions after adjusting for casemix. There was significant variation in mortality for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by day of week; however, this was not consistent with a strict weekend effect (Thursday: OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.48; Friday: OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.44; Saturday: OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.37; Sunday OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.22; compared with Monday). There was evidence for a night effect for patients admitted for stroke (ischaemic: OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.45; haemorrhagic: OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.78). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality outcomes for these conditions, adjusted for casemix, do not vary in accordance with the weekend effect hypothesis. Our findings support a growing body of evidence that questions the ubiquity of the weekend effect.

Antecedents of Abnormally Invasive Placenta in Primiparous Women: Risk Associated With Gynecologic Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between prior invasive gynecologic procedures and the risk of subsequent abnormally invasive placenta (ie, placenta accreta, increta, and percreta). METHODS: We conducted a population-based data linkage study including all primiparous women who delivered in New South Wales, Australia, between 2003 and 2012. Data were obtained from linked birth and hospital admissions with a minimum lookback period of 2 years. Prior procedures invasive of the uterus were considered including gynecologic laparoscopy with instrumentation of the uterus; hysteroscopy, including operative hysteroscopy; curettage, including suction curettage and surgical termination; and endometrial ablation. Modified Poisson regression was used to determine the association between the number of prior gynecologic procedures and risk of abnormally invasive placenta. RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty-four cases of abnormally invasive placenta were identified among 380,775 deliveries included in the study (22.4/10,000). In total, 33,296 primiparous women had at least one prior procedure (8.7%). Among women with abnormally invasive placenta, 152 (17.8%) had undergone at least one procedure compared with 33,144 (8.7%) among women without abnormally invasive placenta (P<.01). After adjustment, the relative risk was 1.5 for one procedure (99% CI 1.1-1.9), 2.7 for two procedures (99% CI 1.7-4.4), and 5.1 for three or more procedures (99% CI 2.7-9.6). Abnormally invasive placenta was also positively associated with maternal age, socioeconomic advantage, mother being Australia-born, placenta previa, hypertension, multiple births, use of assisted reproductive technology, and female fetal sex. CONCLUSION: Women with a history of prior invasive gynecologic procedures were more likely to develop abnormally invasive placenta. These insights may be used to inform management of pregnancies in women with a history of gynecologic procedures.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes following abnormally invasive placenta: a population-based record linkage study.

INTRODUCTION: Abnormally invasive placenta involves abnormal adherence of the placenta to the myometrium and is associated with severe pregnancy complications such as blood transfusion and hysterectomy. Knowledge of outcomes has been limited by small sample sizes and a focus on maternal rather than neonatal outcomes. This study uses population-level data collected over 10 years to investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes and trends in incidence of abnormally invasive placenta (also known as placenta accreta, increta and percreta). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A population-based record linkage study was performed, including all women who gave birth in New South Wales, Australia, between 2003 and 2012. Data were obtained from birth records, hospital admissions and deaths registrations. Modified Poisson regression models, adjusted for confounding factors, were used to quantify the effect of abnormally invasive placenta on adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: Abnormally invasive placenta was significantly associated with morbidity for mothers (adjusted relative risk 17.6, 99% confidence interval 14.5-21.2) and infants (adjusted relative risk 3.1, 99% confidence interval 2.7-3.5). Abnormally invasive placenta increased risk of stillbirth (relative risk 5.4, 99% confidence interval 4.0-7.3) and neonatal death (relative risk 8.0, 99% confidence interval 1.5-41.6). The overall rate of abnormally invasive placenta was 24.8 per 10 000 deliveries, and 22.7 per 10 000 among primiparae. Incidence increased by 30%, from 20.6 to 26.9 per 10 000, over the 10-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormally invasive placenta substantially increases the risk of severe adverse outcomes for mothers and babies, and the incidence is increasing. Delivery should occur in tertiary hospitals equipped with neonatal intensive care units. Clinicians should be cognizant of the risks, particularly to infants, and maintain a high index of suspicion of abnormally invasive placenta, including in primiparae.

Evidence for an Ancestral Association of Human Coronavirus 229E with Bats.

UNLABELLED: We previously showed that close relatives of human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) exist in African bats. The small sample and limited genomic characterizations have prevented further analyses so far. Here, we tested 2,087 fecal specimens from 11 bat species sampled in Ghana for HCoV-229E-related viruses by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Only hipposiderid bats tested positive. To compare the genetic diversity of bat viruses and HCoV-229E, we tested historical isolates and diagnostic specimens sampled globally over 10 years. Bat viruses were 5- and 6-fold more diversified than HCoV-229E in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and spike genes. In phylogenetic analyses, HCoV-229E strains were monophyletic and not intermixed with animal viruses. Bat viruses formed three large clades in close and more distant sister relationships. A recently described 229E-related alpaca virus occupied an intermediate phylogenetic position between bat and human viruses. According to taxonomic criteria, human, alpaca, and bat viruses form a single CoV species showing evidence for multiple recombination events. HCoV-229E and the alpaca virus showed a major deletion in the spike S1 region compared to all bat viruses. Analyses of four full genomes from 229E-related bat CoVs revealed an eighth open reading frame (ORF8) located at the genomic 3' end. ORF8 also existed in the 229E-related alpaca virus. Reanalysis of HCoV-229E sequences showed a conserved transcription regulatory sequence preceding remnants of this ORF, suggesting its loss after acquisition of a 229E-related CoV by humans. These data suggested an evolutionary origin of 229E-related CoVs in hipposiderid bats, hypothetically with camelids as intermediate hosts preceding the establishment of HCoV-229E. IMPORTANCE: The ancestral origins of major human coronaviruses (HCoVs) likely involve bat hosts. Here, we provide conclusive genetic evidence for an evolutionary origin of the common cold virus HCoV-229E in hipposiderid bats by analyzing a large sample of African bats and characterizing several bat viruses on a full-genome level. Our evolutionary analyses show that animal and human viruses are genetically closely related, can exchange genetic material, and form a single viral species. We show that the putative host switches leading to the formation of HCoV-229E were accompanied by major genomic changes, including deletions in the viral spike glycoprotein gene and loss of an open reading frame. We reanalyze a previously described genetically related alpaca virus and discuss the role of camelids as potential intermediate hosts between bat and human viruses. The evolutionary history of HCoV-229E likely shares important characteristics with that of the recently emerged highly pathogenic Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus.

Isolation and characterization of 11 novel microsatellite loci in a West African leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros aff. ruber.

BACKGROUND: Noack's leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros ruber, is a cryptic species within the Hipposideros caffer species complex. Despite a widespread distribution in Africa and being host to potentially zoonotic viruses, the genetic structure and ecology of H. ruber is poorly known. Here we describe the development of 11 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci to facilitate the investigation of genetic structure. FINDINGS: We selected 20 microsatellite sequences identified from high throughput sequence reads and PCR amplified these for 38 individuals, yielding 11 consistently amplifying and scorable loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 12, and observed heterozygosities from 0.00 to 0.865. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was observed, and nine of the markers showed no departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We demonstrate successful amplification in two closely related species and two divergent lineages of the H. caffer species complex. CONCLUSIONS: These new markers will provide a valuable tool to investigate genetic structure in the poorly understood Hipposideros caffer species complex.

Human betacoronavirus 2c EMC/2012-related viruses in bats, Ghana and Europe.

We screened fecal specimens of 4,758 bats from Ghana and 272 bats from 4 European countries for betacoronaviruses. Viruses related to the novel human betacoronavirus EMC/2012 were detected in 46 (24.9%) of 185 Nycteris bats and 40 (14.7%) of 272 Pipistrellus bats. Their genetic relatedness indicated EMC/2012 originated from bats.