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Tiwari A, Meriläinen P, Lindh E, Kitajima M, Österlund P, Ikonen N, Savolainen-Kopra C, Pitkänen T. Avian Influenza outbreaks: Human infection risks for beach users - One health concern and environmental surveillance implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173692. [PMID: 38825193 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Despite its popularity for water activities, such as swimming, surfing, fishing, and rafting, inland and coastal bathing areas occasionally experience outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI), including A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b. Asymptomatic infections and symptomatic outbreaks often impact many aquatic birds, which increase chances of spill-over events to mammals and pose concerns for public health. This review examined the existing literature to assess avian influenza virus (AIV) transmission risks to beachgoers and the general population. A comprehensive understanding of factors governing such crossing of the AIV host range is currently lacking. There is limited knowledge on key factors affecting risk, such as species-specific interactions with host cells (including binding, entry, and replication via viral proteins hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, nucleoprotein, and polymerase basic protein 2), overcoming host restrictions, and innate immune response. AIV efficiently transmits between birds and to some extent between marine scavenger mammals in aquatic environments via consumption of infected birds. However, the current literature lacks evidence of zoonotic AIV transmission via contact with the aquatic environment or consumption of contaminated water. The zoonotic transmission risk of the circulating A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus to the general population and beachgoers is currently low. Nevertheless, it is recommended to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds and to refrain from bathing in locations where mass bird mortalities are reported. Increasing reports of AIVs spilling over to non-human mammals have raised valid concerns about possible virus mutations that lead to crossing the species barrier and subsequent risk of human infections and outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland; Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
| | - Päivi Meriläinen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland
| | - Erika Lindh
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Research Center for Water Environment Technology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Pamela Österlund
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland
| | - Niina Ikonen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland
| | - Carita Savolainen-Kopra
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland; Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
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Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Wang C, Zhai X, Wang W, Chen X, Zhang T. Detection method for reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification of avian influenza virus subtypes H5, H7, and H9. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:203. [PMID: 38755641 PMCID: PMC11097555 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Avian influenza virus (AIV) not only causes huge economic losses to the poultry industry, but also threatens human health. Reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) is a novel isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology. This study aimed to improve the detection efficiency of H5, H7, and H9 subtypes of AIV and detect the disease in time. This study established RT-RAA-LFD and real-time fluorescence RT-RAA (RF-RT-RAA) detection methods, which combined RT-RAA with lateral flow dipstick (LFD) and exo probe respectively, while primers and probes were designed based on the reaction principle of RT-RAA. RESULTS The results showed that RT-RAA-LFD could specifically amplify H5, H7, and H9 subtypes of AIV at 37 °C, 18 min, 39 °C, 20 min, and 38 °C, 18 min, respectively. The sensitivity of all three subtypes for RT-RAA-LFD was 102 copies/µL, which was 10 ∼100 times higher than that of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) agarose electrophoresis method. RF-RT-RAA could specifically amplify H5, H7, and H9 subtypes of AIV at 40 °C, 20 min, 38 °C, 16 min, and 39 °C, 17 min, respectively. The sensitivity of all three subtypes for RF-RT-RAA was 101 copies/µL, which was consistent with the results of real-time fluorescence quantification RT-PCR, and 100 ∼1000 times higher than that of RT-PCR-agarose electrophoresis method. The total coincidence rate of the two methods and RT-PCR-agarose electrophoresis in the detection of clinical samples was higher than 95%. CONCLUSIONS RT-RAA-LFD and RF-RT-RAA were successfully established in this experiment, with quick response, simple operation, strong specificity, high sensitivity, good repeatability, and stability. They are suitable for the early and rapid diagnosis of Avian influenza and they have positive significance for the prevention, control of the disease, and public health safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongshu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Zichuang Zhang
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Chunguang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Xianghe Zhai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Xi Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Tie Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China.
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Flores RA, Cammayo-Fletcher PLT, Nguyen BT, Villavicencio AGM, Lee SY, Son Y, Kim JH, Park KI, Yoo WG, Jin YB, Min W, Kim WH. Genetic Characterization and Phylogeographic Analysis of the First H13N6 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Vega Gull in South Korea. Viruses 2024; 16:285. [PMID: 38400060 PMCID: PMC10891532 DOI: 10.3390/v16020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza virus (AIV) is a pathogen with zoonotic and pandemic potential. Migratory birds are natural reservoirs of all known subtypes of AIVs, except for H17N10 and H18N11, and they have been implicated in previous highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks worldwide. This study identified and characterized the first isolate of the H13N6 subtype from a Vega gull (Larus vegae mongolicus) in South Korea. The amino acid sequence of hemagglutinin gene showed a low pathogenic AIV subtype and various amino acid substitutions were found in the sequence compared to the reference sequence and known H13 isolates. High sequence homology with other H13N6 isolates was found in HA, NA, PB1, and PA genes, but not for PB2, NP, M, and NS genes. Interestingly, various point amino acid mutations were found on all gene segments, and some are linked to an increased binding to human-type receptors, resistance to antivirals, and virulence. Evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses showed that all gene segments are gull-adapted, with a phylogeographic origin of mostly Eurasian, except for PB2, PA, and M. Findings from this study support the evidence that reassortment of AIVs continuously occurs in nature, and migratory birds are vital in the intercontinental spread of avian influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rochelle A. Flores
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Paula Leona T. Cammayo-Fletcher
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Binh T. Nguyen
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Andrea Gail M. Villavicencio
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Seung Yun Lee
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Yongwoo Son
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Jae-Hoon Kim
- National Park Research Institute, Korean National Park Service, Wonju 26441, Gangwon, Republic of Korea;
| | - Kwang Il Park
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Won Gi Yoo
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yeung Bae Jin
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Wongi Min
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
| | - Woo H. Kim
- Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea; (R.A.F.); (P.L.T.C.-F.); (B.T.N.); (A.G.M.V.); (S.Y.L.); (Y.S.); (K.I.P.); (Y.B.J.); (W.M.)
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Zhang F, Shang J, Luo J, Yin X, Yu X, Jiang W, Li J, Yuan L, Hou G, Liu H, Li Y. Development of a recombinase-aided amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick assay for rapid detection of H7 subtype avian influenza virus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1286713. [PMID: 38029110 PMCID: PMC10654746 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1286713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses (AIV) pose a significant persistent threat to the public health and safety. It is estimated that there have been over 100 outbreaks caused by various H7 subtypes of avian influenza viruses (AIV-H7) worldwide, resulting in over 33 million deaths of poultry. In this study, we developed a recombinase-aided amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick assay for the detection of hemagglutinin (HA) genes to provide technical support for rapid clinical detection of AIV-H7. The results showed that the assay can complete the reaction within 30 min at a temperature of 39°C. Specificity tests demonstrated that there was no cross-reactivity with other common poultry pathogens, including Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infections bronchitis virus (IBV). The detection limit of this assay was 1 × 101 copies/μL, while RT-qPCR method was 1 × 101 copies/μL, and RT-PCR was 1 × 102 copies/μL. The κ value of the RT-RAA-LFD and RT-PCR assay in 132 avian clinical samples was 0.9169 (p < 0.001). These results indicated that the developed RT-RAA-LFD assay had good specificity, sensitivity, stability and repeatability and may be used for rapid detection of AIV-H7 in clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyou Zhang
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiajing Shang
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
- Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Juan Luo
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
- Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Xin Yin
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaohui Yu
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenming Jiang
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinping Li
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Liping Yuan
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Guangyu Hou
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Hualei Liu
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Yang Li
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
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Duong BT, Bal J, Sung HW, Yeo SJ, Park H. Molecular Analysis of the Avian H7 Influenza Viruses Circulating in South Korea during 2018-2019: Evolutionary Significance and Associated Zoonotic Threats. Viruses 2021; 13:v13112260. [PMID: 34835066 PMCID: PMC8623559 DOI: 10.3390/v13112260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5 and H7, possessing the ability to mutate spontaneously from low pathogenic (LP) to highly pathogenic (HP) variants, are major concerns for enormous socio-economic losses in the poultry industry, as well as for fatal human infections. Through antigenic drift and shift, genetic reassortments of the genotypes pose serious threats of increased virulence and pathogenicity leading to potential pandemics. In this study, we isolated the H7-subtype AIVs circulating in the Republic of Korea during 2018–2019, and perform detailed molecular analysis to study their circulation, evolution, and possible emergence as a zoonotic threat. Phylogenetic and nucleotide sequence analyses of these isolates revealed their distribution into two distinct clusters, with the HA gene sharing the highest nucleotide identity with either the A/common teal/Shanghai/CM1216/2017, isolated from wild birds in Shanghai, China, or the A/duck/Shimane/2014, isolated from Japan. Mutations were found in HA (S138A (H3 numbering)), M1 (N30D and T215A), NS1 (P42S), PB2 (L89V), and PA (H266R and F277S) proteins—the mutations had previously been reported to be related to mammalian adaptation and changes in the virulence of AIVs. Taken together, the results firmly put forth the demand for routine surveillance of AIVs in wild birds to prevent possible pandemics arising from reassortant AIVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Tuan Duong
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (B.T.D.); (J.B.)
| | - Jyotiranjan Bal
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (B.T.D.); (J.B.)
| | - Haan Woo Sung
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si 24341, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.W.S.); (S.-J.Y.); (H.P.)
| | - Seon-Ju Yeo
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.W.S.); (S.-J.Y.); (H.P.)
| | - Hyun Park
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (B.T.D.); (J.B.)
- Correspondence: (H.W.S.); (S.-J.Y.); (H.P.)
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Na EJ, Kim YS, Kim YJ, Park JS, Oem JK. Genetic Characterization and Pathogenicity of H7N7 and H7N9 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from South Korea. Viruses 2021; 13:v13102057. [PMID: 34696486 PMCID: PMC8540337 DOI: 10.3390/v13102057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
H7 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) can mutate into highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs). In addition to avian species, H7 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) also infect humans. In this study, two AIVs, H7N9 (20X-20) and H7N7 (34X-2), isolated from the feces of wild birds in South Korea in 2021, were genetically analyzed. The HA cleavage site of the two H7 Korean viruses was confirmed to be ELPKGR/GLF, indicating they are LPAIVs. There were no amino acid substitutions at the receptor-binding site of the HA gene of two H7 Korean viruses compared to that of A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9), which prefer human receptors. In the phylogenetic tree analysis, the HA gene of the two H7 Korean viruses shared the highest nucleotide similarity with the Korean H7 subtype AIVs. In addition, the HA gene of the two H7 Korean viruses showed high nucleotide similarity to that of the A/Jiangsu/1/2018(H7N4) virus, which is a human influenza virus originating from avian influenza virus. Most internal genes (PB2, PB1, PA, NP, NA, M, and NS) of the two H7 Korean viruses belonged to the Eurasian lineage, except for the M gene of 34X-2. This result suggests that active reassortment occurred among AIVs. In pathogenicity studies of mice, the two H7 Korean viruses replicated in the lungs of mice. In addition, the body weight of mice infected with 34X-2 decreased 7 days post-infection (dpi) and inflammation was observed in the peribronchiolar and perivascular regions of the lungs of mice. These results suggest that mammals can be infected with the two H7 Korean AIVs. Our data showed that even low pathogenic H7 AIVs may infect mammals, including humans, as confirmed by the A/Jiangsu/1/2018(H7N4) virus. Therefore, continuous monitoring and pathogenicity assessment of AIVs, even of LPAIVs, are required.
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Genetic Characterization and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza Virus H7N3 Isolated from Spot-Billed Ducks in South Korea, Early 2019. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050856. [PMID: 34067187 PMCID: PMC8151380 DOI: 10.3390/v13050856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) introduced by migratory birds circulate in wild birds and can be transmitted to poultry. These viruses can mutate to become highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses causing severe disease and death in poultry. In March 2019, an H7N3 avian influenza virus—A/Spot-billed duck/South Korea/WKU2019-1/2019 (H7N3)—was isolated from spot-billed ducks in South Korea. This study aimed to evaluate the phylogenetic and mutational analysis of this isolate. Molecular analysis revealed that the genes for HA (hemagglutinin) and NA (neuraminidase) of this strain belonged to the Central Asian lineage, whereas genes for other internal proteins such as polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), PB2, nucleoprotein, polymerase acidic protein, matrix protein, and non-structural protein belonged to that of the Korean lineage. In addition, a monobasic amino acid (PQIEPR/GLF) at the HA cleavage site, and the non-deletion of the stalk region in the NA gene indicated that this isolate was a typical LPAIV. Nucleotide sequence similarity analysis of HA revealed that the highest homology (99.51%) of this isolate is to that of A/common teal/Shanghai/CM1216/2017 (H7N7), and amino acid sequence of NA (99.48%) was closely related to that of A/teal/Egypt/MB-D-487OP/2016 (H7N3). An in vitro propagation of the A/Spot-billed duck/South Korea/WKU2019-1/2019 (H7N3) virus showed highest (7.38 Log10 TCID50/mL) virus titer at 60 h post-infection, and in experimental mouse lungs, the virus was detected at six days’ post-infection. Our study characterizes genetic mutations, as well as pathogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo model of a new Korea H7N3 viruses in 2019, carrying multiple potential mutations to become highly pathogenic and develop an ability to infect humans; thus, emphasizing the need for routine surveillance of avian influenza viruses in wild birds.
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Long Term Respiratory Follow-Up for COVID-19 Patients a Multicenter Study. CURRENT HEALTH SCIENCES JOURNAL 2021; 47:507-515. [PMID: 35444815 PMCID: PMC8987475 DOI: 10.12865/chsj.47.04.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic initiated officially in October 2020. Since then several observations have been made regarding the disease and its symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS We included eighty seven in our observational study. Our main aim was to investigate their long term respiratory follow-up in correlation with their initial radiological and laboratory findings and values. The nose swab PCR test for COVID-19 was used for diagnosis. Patients were monitored at 3 and 6 months after their hospital reception whereas basic parameters of health condition (smoking, PO2, SPO2, WBC, CXR, CRP, intercurrent findings, days of nursing, colchicine administration) in joint with gender and age were recorded. RESULTS Males seem more susceptible to the viral disease than females in a ratio 1,8:1. The parameters FEV1 and FVC (as % relative changes) were not affected, apart from the DLCO to which CRP (in loge+1 transformation) and SPO2 showed a statistically significant effect. CONCLUSION None of these patients were intubated, or admitted to the intensive care unit. The respiratory function is affected by the virus and the effect is reversed within the first three months. Males are more affected and the radiological and laboratory findings are associated with the respiratory functions.
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