The matrix protein gene sequence analysis reveals close relationship between peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and dolphin morbillivirus

The gene encoding the matrix protein of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) has been cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. This gene is 1466 nucleotides long and contains an open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding a basic protein of 335 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 38,057 Da. This ORF starts at position 33-35 and ends with the codon TAA at position 1038-1040 thus leaving a long untranslated region (426 nucleotides) at the 3' end of the messenger RNA. This fragment is very G/C rich (68.5%) and in contrast to the ORF region appears to be least conserved in the M gene sequence of the morbilliviruses. A comparison of the PPRV M protein with those of other viruses in the group confirms the previously noted high degree of conservation for this protein sequence. The percent of identity within the group ranges from 76.7 to 86.9%, the highest being with the dolphin morbillivirus matrix protein.

Amebic liver abscess in children

Five children with amebic liver abscesses are presented, and the distinctive clinical and laboratory features for these and 119 other children are described. The majority (91%) were less than 3 years old, and 77% had an isolated abscess in the right hepatic lobe. Each child presented with a history of fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, and two-thirds presented with cough or difficulty breathing. Most (81%) patients had hepatomegaly on physical examination and some had a well-defined mass. Hematologic abnormalities including anemia, neutrophilia and an increased ratio (greater than 0.15) of immature neutrophils to total neutrophils were commonly observed at the time of admission. Of interest, intravenous pyelograms revealed deviation of the right kidney due to hepatomegaly in each of three children studied. All patients evaluated had one or more filling defects demonstrated by liver-spleen scan or abdominal ultrasound. Most patients underwent either an open (9%) or closed (77%) drainage procedure. Fifty-six children (46%) died, in some cases before specific therapy was instituted. Of those who recovered all received therapy with metronidazole or a combination of chloroquine with emetine or dehydroemetine.