Recurrent splanchnic and extrasplanchnic thrombotic events in patients with non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis associated with local factors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: One-third of non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis (NCPVT) cases are associated with local factors. The risk of rethrombosis after anticoagulation withdrawal is unknown. We aimed to determine factors associated with new splanchnic or extrasplanchnic thrombotic events in this setting. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study including cases of recent NCPVT associated with local factors. High- and low-risk prothrombotic factors, prespecified according to RIPORT study criteria, were assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox models assessed the influence of different variables on the occurrence of new thrombotic events. RESULTS: At baseline, 83/154 (53.9%) patients had at least one prothrombotic factor including 50 (32.5%) with a high-risk and 33 (21.4%) with a low-risk prothrombotic factor. Oestrogen-containing contraception was discontinued in all patients. During follow-up, 63/140 (45%) patients had at least one prothrombotic factor, including 47 (33.6%) with a high-risk and 16 (11.4%) with a low-risk prothrombotic factor. Seventeen new thrombotic events occurred after a median follow-up of 52 (IQR 14-62) (min-max 3.0-69.0) months. New thromboses were associated with high-risk factors (hazard ratio [HR] 3.817, 95% CI 1.303-11.180, p = 0.015), but were inversely related to recanalization (HR 0.222, 95% CI 0.078-0.635, p = 0.005) and anticoagulation (HR 0.976, 95% CI 0.956-0.995, p = 0.016). When a high-risk factor was present a new thrombotic event occurred in 7.4%, 14.6%, 14.6% and 28.8% of patients at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years under anticoagulants, respectively, compared to 21.2%, 21.2%, 58% and 58% without anticoagulants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of recent NCPVT associated with local factors, high-risk factors for thrombosis are associated with new thrombotic events. Permanent anticoagulation appears beneficial in this high-risk situation. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: In non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis (NCPVT) associated with local factors, systematic screening for prothrombotic factors is recommended, but the prevalence of the latter is not clearly established, and the risk of recurrent intra or extrasplanchnic thromboembolism is poorly described. Thus, interest in permanent anticoagulation remains. NCPVT associated with local factors is a matter of concern for hepatologists, gastroenterologists and digestive surgeons. Due to a lack of knowledge, practices are heterogeneous. Our findings highlight that systematic screening for prothrombotic factors in NCPVT is needed even when associated with local factors, as it may justify long-term anticoagulation for the prevention of new intra or extrasplanchnic thrombotic events in at least one-third of cases. The interest in long-term anticoagulation should be investigated prospectively in the absence of high-risk prothrombotic factors. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT0536064.

Draft genomes announcement of Vietnamese Xanthomonas euvesicatoria strains causing bacterial spot on pepper.

Xanthomonas euvesicatoria the primary causal agent of bacterial spot of pepper (BSP), poses a significant global challenge, resulting in severe defoliation and yield losses for pepper growers. We present the whole genome sequences of eight X. euvesicatoria strains associated with BSP in Vietnam. These genomes contribute to representation of pepper production regions in the global sample of X. euvesicatoria genomes, enabling the development of precise global disease management strategies.

Application of Essential Oils Extracted from Peel Wastes of Four Orange Varieties to Control Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum scovillei and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on Mangoes.

A huge amount of orange peel waste is annually discharged into the environment. Processing of this waste for the control of post-harvest fruit diseases can reduce environmental pollution. Essential oils (EOs) from fruit peels of Citrus reticulata × sinensis (Sanh cultivar) and Citrus sinensis (Xoan, Mat and Navel cultivar) were investigated for their ability to control anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum scovillei on mangoes. EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The antifungal activity of the EOs was determined by in vitro and in vivo assays. The Mat cultivar had the highest extraction yield of 3% FW, followed by Xoan (2.9%), Sanh (2.2%), and Navel (1%). The chemical composition of the EOs was similar, with limonene as the main compound (around 96%). The antifungal activity of EOs was not different, with a minimum fungicidal concentration of 16% for both fungi. The disease inhibition of EOs increased with their concentration. The highest inhibition of anthracnose caused by both fungi on mangoes was achieved at 16% EO. EOs had no adverse effect on mango quality (pH, total soluble solids, total acidity, color and brightness of mangoes), except firmness and weight loss at high concentrations (16%). Orange EOs can be used as bio-fungicides to control mango anthracnose at high concentrations.

Use of Essential Oils for the Control of Anthracnose Disease Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum on Post-Harvest Mangoes of Cat Hoa Loc Variety.

Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. makes heavy losses for post-harvest mangoes of Cat Hoa Loc variety during storage, packaging, and transportation. The synthetic fungicides are commonly used to control the disease, but they are not safe for consumers' health and environment. This study was aimed to investigate the use of essential oils (EOs) as the safe alternative control. Pathogen was isolated from the infected Cat Hoa Loc mangoes and identified by morphology and DNA sequencing of the ITS region. Six EOs (cinnamon, basil, lemongrass, peppermint, coriander, and orange) were chemically analyzed by GC-MS. The antifungal activity of EOs was studied in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the isolated pathogen was Colletotrichum acutatum. Cinnamon, basil, and lemongrass EOs effectively inhibited the growth of C. acutatum in descending order of cinnamon, basil, and lemongrass. However, they (except basil oil) severely damaged fruit peels. The antifungal activity was closely related to the main compounds of EOs. Basil EOs effectively controlled anthracnose development on Cat Hoa Loc mangoes artificially infected with C. acutatum, and its effectiveness was comparable to that of fungicide treatment. Consequently, basil EOs can be used as a biocide to control anthracnose on post-harvest Cat Hoa Loc mangoes.

Phage Biocontrol of Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease on Welsh Onion Caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii.

Bacterial leaf blight, which is caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii, annually causes significant yield losses to Welsh onion in many producing countries, including Vietnam. In this study, we isolated and characterized lytic phages Φ16, Φ17A and Φ31, specific to X. axonopodis pv. allii and belonging to a new phage species and genus within the Autographiviridae, from four provinces in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Moreover, we evaluated their efficacy for the biocontrol of leaf blight in greenhouse and field conditions. When applying the three highly related phages individually or as a three-phage cocktail at 108 PFU/mL in greenhouse conditions, our results show that treatment with Φ31 alone provides higher disease prevention than the two other phages or the phage cocktail. Furthermore, we compared phage concentrations from 105 to 108 and showed optimal disease control at 107 and 108 PFU/mL. Finally, under field conditions, both phage Φ31 alone and the phage cocktail treatments suppressed disease symptoms, which was comparable to the chemical bactericide oxolinic acid (Starner). Phage treatment also significantly improved yield, showing the potential of phage as a biocontrol strategy for managing leaf blight in Welsh onion.

Corrigendum: Relative Level of Bacteriophage Multiplication in vitro or in Phyllosphere May Not Predict in planta Efficacy for Controlling Bacterial Leaf Spot on Tomato Caused by Xanthomonas perforans.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02176.].

Relative Level of Bacteriophage Multiplication in vitro or in Phyllosphere May Not Predict in planta Efficacy for Controlling Bacterial Leaf Spot on Tomato Caused by Xanthomonas perforans.

Following analysis of eight phages under in vitro, growth chamber and greenhouse conditions with the bacterial spot of tomato pathogen Xanthomonas perforans, there was no correlation between disease control efficacy and in vitro phage multiplication, in vitro bacterial suppression, or in vivo phage multiplication in the presence of the host, but there was a low correlation between phage persistence on the leaf surface and disease control. Two of the 8 virulent phages (ΦXv3-21 and ΦXp06-02) were selected for in depth analysis with two X. perforans (Xp06-2-1 and Xp17-12) strains. In in vitro experiments, phage ΦXv3-21 was equally effective in infecting the two bacterial strains based on efficiency of plating (EOP). Phage ΦXp06-02, on the other hand, had a high EOP on strain Xp06-2-1 but a lower EOP on strain Xp17-12. In several growth chamber experiments, ΦXv3-21 was less effective than phage ΦXp06-02 in reducing disease caused by strain Xp06-2-1, but provided little or no disease control against strain Xp17-12. Interestingly, ΦXp06-02 could multiply to significantly higher levels on the tomato leaf surface than phage ΦXv3-21. The leaf surface appears to be important in terms of the ability of certain bacteriophages to multiply in the presence of the bacterial host. ΦXv3-21, when applied to grapefruit leaves in combination with a bacterial host, was unable to multiply to high levels, whereas on tomato leaflets the phage multiplied exponentially. One plausible explanation is that the leaf surface may be an important factor for attachment of certain phages to their bacterial host.

Emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as the major cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit patients at an infectious disease hospital in southern Vietnam.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious healthcare-associated infection that affects up to 30 % of intubated and mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. The bacterial aetiology and corresponding antimicrobial susceptibility of VAP is highly variable, and can differ between countries, national provinces and even between different wards in the same hospital. We aimed to understand and document changes in the causative agents of VAP and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles retrospectively over an 11 year period in a major infectious disease hospital in southern Vietnam. Our analysis outlined a significant shift from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Acinetobacter spp. as the most prevalent bacteria isolated from quantitative tracheal aspirates in patients with VAP in this setting. Antimicrobial resistance was common across all bacterial species and we found a marked proportional annual increase in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. over a 3 year period from 2008 (annual trend; odds ratio 1.656, P = 0.010). We further investigated the possible emergence of a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clone by multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis, finding a blaOXA-23-positive strain that was associated with an upsurge in the isolation of this pathogen. We additionally identified a single blaNDM-1-positive A. baumannii isolate. This work highlights the emergence of a carbapenem-resistant clone of A. baumannii and a worrying trend of antimicrobial resistance in the ICU of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.