RESUMO
Laboratory preparedness with quality-assured diagnostic assays is essential for controlling the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. We conducted an external quality assessment study with inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) samples to support clinical laboratories with a proficiency testing option for molecular assays. To analyse SARS-CoV-2 testing performance, we used an online questionnaire developed for the European Union project RECOVER to assess molecular testing capacities in clinical diagnostic laboratories.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico/métodos , Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico/normas , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Coronavirus/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular/métodos , Pandemias , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Teste para COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Serviços de Laboratório Clínico , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Surtos de Doenças , Europa (Continente) , Humanos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologia , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real/normas , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa/normas , SARS-CoV-2 , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The Dutch virus-typing network VIRO-TypeNed reported an increase in ECHOvirus 6 (E-6) infections with neurological symptoms in the Netherlands between June and August 2016. Of the 31 cases detected from January through August 2016, 15 presented with neurological symptoms. Ten of 15 neurological cases were detected in the same province and the identified viruses were genetically related. This report is to alert medical and public health professionals of the circulation of E-6 associated with neurological symptoms.
Assuntos
Surtos de Doenças , Echovirus 6 Humano/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Echovirus/epidemiologia , Meningite Asséptica/epidemiologia , Meningite Asséptica/virologia , Vigilância da População/métodos , Saúde Pública , Adolescente , Adulto , Líquido Cefalorraquidiano/virologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Sistemas de Informação em Laboratório Clínico , Echovirus 6 Humano/genética , Infecções por Echovirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Echovirus/virologia , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Países Baixos/epidemiologia , Filogenia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses are highly diverse with a wide spectrum of genotypes and clinical manifestations. Coxsackievirus A22 (CVA22) has been detected globally from sewage surveillance; however, currently there is limited information on its prevalence in patients, as well as available genomic data. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide genomic and relative frequency data on CVA22 from a regional hospital perspective between 2013-2020. STUDY DESIGN: Sanger sequencing was performed on all samples with a positive enterovirus RT-qPCR result (≤Ct 32). Viral targeted sequence capture (ViroCap) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) (Illumina NextSeq 500) was used to characterize and generate near-complete CVA22 genomes for enteroviruses without genotyping results from Sanger sequencing. Epidemiological and phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum likelihood trees on MEGA-11. RESULTS: A total of twenty detections derived from fecal material from sixteen patients were observed between 2013- 2020. One transplant recipient had five different CVA22 infection episodes over five years, with phylogenetic analysis indicating possible reinfection with an additional prolonged infection (>3 weeks). Furthermore, we report the first two near-complete CVA22 sequences from Europe, which grouped with a strain previously isolated from Bangladesh in 1999. CONCLUSIONS: We show a highly diverse enterovirus genotype which causes infections annually, typically in autumn and winter, and is capable of recurrent infection in an immunocompromised patient. Furthermore, we highlight the use of NGS to complement conventional targeted Sanger sequencing.
Assuntos
Infecções por Coxsackievirus , Infecções por Enterovirus , Enterovirus , Infecções por Coxsackievirus/epidemiologia , Infecções por Enterovirus/epidemiologia , Genômica , Genótipo , Hospitais , Humanos , Países Baixos/epidemiologia , Filogenia , EsgotosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Serological responses to COVID-19 vaccination are diminished in recipients of solid organ transplants, especially in lung transplant recipients (LTR), probably as result of immunosuppressive treatment. There is currently no marker of immunosuppression that can be used to predict the COVID-19 vaccination response. Here, we study whether torque tenovirus (TTV), a highly prevalent virus can be used as an indicator of immunosuppression. METHODS: The humoral response to the mRNA 1273 vaccine was assessed in 103 LTR, who received a transplant between 4 and 237 months prior to vaccination, by measuring Spike (S)-specific IgG levels at baseline, 28 days after first, and 28 days after the second vaccination. TTV loads were determined by RT-PCR and Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to correlate serological responses to TTV load. RESULTS: Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccination were observed in 41 of 103 (40%) LTR at 28 days after the second vaccination. Sixty-two of 103 (60%) were non-responders. Lower TTV loads at baseline (significantly) correlated with higher S-specific antibodies and a higher percentage of responders. Lower TTV loads also strongly correlated with longer time since transplantation, indicating that participants with lower TTV loads were longer after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a better humoral response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in subjects with a lower TTV load pre-vaccination. In addition, TTV load correlates with the time after transplantation. Further studies on the use of TTV load in vaccination efficacy studies in immunocompromised cohorts should provide leads for the potential use of this marker for optimizing vaccination response.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Torque teno virus , Vacina de mRNA-1273 contra 2019-nCoV , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Humanos , Pulmão , SARS-CoV-2 , Torque , Torque teno virus/genética , Transplantados , VacinaçãoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: An acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in an HIV-positive man who had sex with men (MSM) was notified. In the period of his seroconversion he was also diagnosed with a rectal lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) infection, and was part of a cluster of 15 LGV cases in 2003. Our aim was to investigate HCV transmission and to search for potential spread among sexual contacts and known LGV patients. METHODS: Our case series included the index, two recent contacts, and 14 LGV cases. They were interviewed about parenteral exposure for HCV, history of sexually transmitted diseases(STDs), sexual behaviour and drug use. Laboratory investigations included anti-HCV antibodies, HCV-polymerase chain reaction, and HCV genotyping. RESULTS: Seven out of 17 MSM recently seroconverted for HCV (41%). Three genotypes were found. Parenteral risk factors were excluded. Six out of seven had LGV proctitis coinciding with HCV seroconversion, six (86%) were HIV infected. Unprotected anal contact was practised by both HCV uninfected and infected cases. Unprotected active and passive fisting was reported by all seven HCV infected men, compared with two of nine uninfected men (P = 0.003). Non-intravenous drug use during sexual activities was common among all MSM. Numerous, often anonymous, sexual contacts in various European countries were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A cluster of acute HCV infection is reported among mostly HIV-positive MSM, with multiple partners throughout Europe. Sexual techniques potentially leading to mucosal damage (fisting), concomitant STDs such as LGV and drug use seem facilitating factors for spread. Extensive case finding and partner tracing is advocated as well as targeted prevention messages.