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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Regulation of neurosecretory activity in the freshwater pulmonate Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) with particular reference to the role of the eyes: a quantitative electron microscopical study.

The process of neurosecretion in the Caudo-Dorsal Cells (CDC) of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis, which produce an ovulation hormone, shows a diurnal rhythmicity. Synthesis, transport and release of the neurosecretory material (NSM) is high during the evening and the early night and low during the rest of the day, while storage of NSM mainly occurs during the daytime. In the present study the role of the eyes in the regulation of the CDC-rhythm was investigated. During a 24-hr period, at time intervals of 6 hrs, cerebral ganglia, which contain CDC, of blinded and control snails (5 per group) were fixed and the CDC were studied with quantitative electron microscopical methods. The CDC of the controls showed a distinct diurnal thythmicity. Blinding, on the other hand, clearly affected this rhythmicity. The results indicate that after blinding the circadian CDC-rhythms of individual snails are no longer synchronous with each other ("interanimal desynchronization"). It is suggested that the rhythm of CDC neurosecretory activity is synchronized by the natural light/dark cycle via the eyes. The information from the eyes probably reaches the CDC via a nervous pathway. True snyapses and three types of synapse-like structures were found on the CDC. Their role in the regulation of CDC-activity is discussed. The effect of blinding is specific for the CDC; blinding does not influence the diurnal rhythmicity of another type of cerebral neurosecretory cells, the Light Green Cells (LGC). The CDC within a cluster act synchronously. This synchrony does not depend upon the presence of the eyes. Some structures which may be involved in establishing this synchrony, such as subsurface cisterns, desmosome-like structures and "specific release sites", are described.

Animals

Appetite stimulant activity of 3-carboxy-10,11-dihydrocyproheptadine.

The orexigenic and ancillary pharmacologic properties of 3-carboxy-10,11-dihydrocyproheptadine (CDC) were compared to those of cyproheptadine. The threshold dose, 0.0312 mg/kg p.o., of CDC for increasing food intake in the cat is similar to that of cyproheptadine, but CDC has a broader effective dose range, extending to 8 mg/kg p.o., compared with 1 mg/kg p.o. for cyproheptadine. Using an increase in food consumption of 20% or more as the criterion of a positive response, the dose effective in 50% of the animals was 0.35 mg/kg p.o. for both CDC and cyproheptadine. Both CDC and cyproheptadine possess a long duration of appetite-stimulant action, exceeding 18 hr following 0.5 mg/kg p.o. The ancillary pharmacologic properties of CDC are considerably reduced over those of cyproheptadine, except for antihistaminic activity, CDC being about two times more potent (protection against lethality in guinea-pigs exposed to an aeosol of histamine). As an anticholinergic in mice, CDC is greater than thirteen times less active than cyproheptadine as a mydriatic agent and greater than forty-two times less potent as an antagonist of oxotremorine-induced tremors. CDC retains only about 1/25 of the antiserotonin potency of the parent compound (inhibition of serotonin-elicited edema in the rat paw and 5-hydroxytryptophan provoked head twitch in rats). CDC reduced locomotor activity in rats to a significantly lesser degree than cyproheptadine. CDC thus is a more selective agent for the therapy of anorexia.

Animals

Alternative quadruplex real-time PCR reactions for detection and discrimination of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes within serogroup 6.

UNLABELLED: Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and serotyping is important to assess the burden of disease that is vaccine preventable. For serotyping, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) use a series of 12 real-time multiplex PCRs (rmPCRs) performed in quadruplex reactions; however, rmPCR reaction 5 (rmPCR-5) for serotypes 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D often failed at low DNA concentrations. This study investigated the cause of rmPCR-5 failure and provided alternative rmPCRs to resolve this issue. Quadruplex rmPCR target sequences were compared to S. pneumoniae reference genomes. Reactions rmPCR-5 [6ABCD, 6AB, 6BD, and 6CD] and rm-PCR-11 [37, 10F, 11BC, and 18CFBA] were compared to alternative reactions rmPCR-A1 [6ABCD, 10F, 11BC, and 18CFBA] and rmPCR-A2 [37, 6AB, 6BD, and 6CD]. All rmPCRs were tested using 10-fold serial dilutions of DNA from representative serotypes, and analytical specificity was assessed using DNA from other S. pneumoniae serotypes or various streptococci and Gram-positive cocci. Failure of rmPCR-5 was associated with overlapping 6ABCD and 6BD targets. Separation of these targets in the alternative rmPCRs-A1 and rmPCR-A2 allowed sensitive and specific detection and discrimination of serotypes 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D, without impacting the detection of serotypes 10F, 11BC, 18CFBA, and 37. This study highlights the importance of rigorous author and peer-review to avoid manuscript errors and unintended consequences. By explaining what caused rmPCR-5 failure and proposing alternative reactions rmPCRs-A1 and rmPCR-A2, this study demonstrates the value of scientific collaboration to ensure molecular assays best serve the scientific community. IMPORTANCE: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause life-threatening infections like pneumonia and meningitis, leading to millions of deaths worldwide each year. A key feature enabling S. pneumoniae to cause disease is its sugar coating, allowing it to avoid the immune system. These surface sugars are the target of S. pneumoniae vaccines. However, vaccines only protect against some sugars and understanding which ones are on the surface of S. pneumoniae is called "serotyping." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have protocols that allow us to predict S. pneumoniae serotypes by looking at its DNA. We found errors in the CDC protocols and provided a simple solution to fix them. Ultimately, having accurate serotyping protocols allows us to know how much disease is preventable by vaccine, allows us to monitor how well vaccine are working, and helps develop new vaccines if needed.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System: Three Decades of Advancing Public Health Through Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms adapt in ways that make medicines less effective, causing infections that are harder to treat and more likely to spread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AMR infections affect millions of Americans each year and contribute to thousands of deaths (CDC, 2019). After three decades of operation, the U.S. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) stands as a model of sustained, collaborative public health surveillance. What began in 1996 as an effort to track resistance in Salmonella and E. coli O157 has evolved into a One Health surveillance network monitoring AMR across the farm-to-fork continuum. Through a partnership among CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state and local health departments, and universities, NARMS has become the backbone of foodborne AMR surveillance in the United States. The past decade has been particularly transformative. NARMS explored new sampling to include companion animals, minor livestock, aquaculture, surface water, and wildlife. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revolutionized the program's capabilities, enabling timely identification of emerging pathogens and revealing how resistance genes spread. Near real-time public dashboards make NARMS data accessible to researchers, clinicians, regulators, and policymakers. NARMS data shape decisions about new animal drug approvals, guide stewardship programs, and inform clinical treatment guidelines nationwide. As NARMS enters its fourth decade with a 2026-2030 strategic plan, the program will leverage artificial intelligence and metagenomics while expanding surveillance to fill remaining gaps ensuring this vital system continues to protect the food supply and both human and animal health from AMR.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in the USA from October, 2013, to March, 2022: a retrospective molecular epidemiological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Most US carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolates harbour carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamases. Other carbapenemases, such as New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), are uncommon but emerging. We describe the epidemiology of NDM-producing CRAB reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). METHODS: We defined cases as A baumannii with blaNDM confirmed by molecular testing and isolated from any specimen source from a patient in the USA between Oct 1, 2013, and March 31, 2022, and passively reported to the CDC from regional, state, local public health, and CDC laboratories. Epidemiologically linked cases had epidemiological linkage (eg, overlapping health-care facility stay) with one or more other cases. We assessed case relatedness through analysis of whole-genome sequence data using traditional multilocus sequence typing (MLST; Oxford scheme [sequence typeOX]) and core genome MLST. To understand the potential origins of NDM-CRAB in the USA, we compared sequences of cases to US CRAB without NDM and to NDM-CRAB from non-US locations. FINDINGS: We identified 327 NDM-CRAB cases from 264 patients in 21 US states. Among patients with available epidemiological information, 192 (90%) of 214 had epidemiological linkage to at least one additional case and 13 (7%) of 193 were hospitalised outside the USA 12 months or less before index specimen collection. Five regionally distinct sequence type clusters were identified among the 264 case patients; three (sequence type OX218, sequence type OX281, and sequence type OX1697) were closely related to international NDM-CRAB isolates. INTERPRETATION: We identified regionally distinct NDM-CRAB strains, suggesting localised transmission in the USA. Some NDM-CRAB strains in the USA are closely related to strains identified outside the USA, suggesting that spread followed importation. FUNDING: None.

Acinetobacter baumannii

[The effect of chenodesoxycholic acid on cholesterol gallstones (author's transl)].

30 patients with radiolucent gallstones and 2 patients with radioopaque stones recieved chenodesoxycholic acid (CDC). In 12 patients stones were dissolved completely by CDC therapy, in 6 of the patients the size of the stones decreased by 40-70%. Only 1 patient developed severe diarrhea, so therapy had to be stopped. In 5 patients there was a slight and transient increase in SGOT and SGPT, in 2 other patient gammaGT increased; value normalized while treatment was continued. In 23 cases liver biopsies were done before and during treatment: no histological changes could be found in the specimens. 5 of the patients, whose gallstones had been dissolved, received 500 mg CDC/day thereafter, another 5 patients received 500 mg/d every other day. No recurrence of lithiasis was observed in either group. One patient on 500 mg CDC twice a week developed lithiasis after 6 months, another one stopped treatment completely and gallbladder stones reappeared after 8 months. The patients with radioopaque stones did not show any changes during treatment.

Adult

Characteristics of Tuberculosis Tests Performed during Postimport Quarantine of Nonhuman Primates, United States, 2021 to 2024.

Screening nonhuman primates (NHPs) for tuberculosis (TB) is important to protect the health of NHP colonies and people who interact with them. Screening is especially important for imported NHPs from countries where TB is prevalent and biosecurity practices may be lax. There are a variety of testing methods available for TB screening and diagnosis in NHPs; all have limitations, and their performance in different settings is incompletely characterized. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collects TB testing results as part of its regulatory oversight of NHP importation. We collated the results of tuberculin skin tests (TSTs), interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs), multiplexed fluorometric immunoassay (MFIA), Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex PCR, staining for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), and culture of bacteria from tissues for imported NHPs in CDC-mandated quarantine during fiscal years 2021 to 2024. We used these data to assess test performance and intertest agreement for the different tests used. Among 107 imported NHPs tested, TST and IGRA were the most common antemortem tests performed, but they agreed poorly with each other and with culture. AFB staining and PCR exhibited moderate agreement and high positive predictive values using culture as the gold standard. The most commonly affected tissues were lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes, regardless of the Mycobacterium sp. identified. Further research is needed to identify and validate additional methods for TB testing in NHPs, particularly for antemortem screening. Tissue acid-fast staining and PCR exhibited high positive predictive values and could be useful to inform policies and clinical decisions about colony management and occupational health while awaiting culture results.

AFB, acid-fast bacilli

Decreased UV mutagenesis in cdc8, a DNA replication mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A DNA replication mutant of yeast, cdc8, was found to decrease UV-induced reversion of lys2-1, arg4-17, tyr1 and ura1. This effect was observed with all three alleles of cdc8 tested. Survival curves obtained following UV irradiation in cdc8 rad double mutants show that cdc8 is epistatic to rad6, as well as to rad1; cdc8 rad51 double mutants seem to be more sensitive than the single mutants. Since UV-induced reversion in cdc8 rad1 and cdc8 rad51 double mutants is like that of the cdc8 single mutants, we conclude that CDC8 plays a direct role in error-prone repair. To test whether CDC8 codes for a DNA polymerase, we have purified both DNA polymerase I and DNA polymerase II from cdc8 and CDC+ cells. The purified DNA polymerases from cdc8 were no more heat labile than those from CDC+, suggesting that CDC8 is not a structural gene for either enzyme.

Alleles

Immune responses in human colon cancer. II. Cytotoxic antibody detected in patients' sera.

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity (SCMC) were evaluated in patients with colon cancer with the use of a 51Cr release microcytotoxicity assay. We studied the sera and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with colon cancer as well as from normal controls using three separate human colon cancer cell lines as targets. Antibody active in either the CDC or ADCC assay was detected in 11 of 14 (79%) patients with colon cancer, but none was found in 18 normal individuals. The ability of PBL from patients with colon cancer and from normal controls to mediate ADCC and SCMC did not differ significantly.

Antibodies, Neoplasm

Concordance of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Results during a Period of Low Prevalence.

Accurate, highly specific immunoassays for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are needed to evaluate seroprevalence. This study investigated the concordance of results across four immunoassays targeting different antigens for sera collected at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United States. Specimens from All of Us participants contributed between January and March 2020 were tested using the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG (immunoglobulin G) assay (Abbott) and the EuroImmun SARS-CoV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (EI). Participants with discordant results, participants with concordant positive results, and a subset of concordant negative results by Abbott and EI were also tested using the Roche Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 (IgG) test (Roche) and the Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Vitros anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test (Ortho). The agreement and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for paired assay combinations. SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations were quantified for specimens with at least two positive results across four immunoassays. Among the 24,079 participants, the percent agreement for the Abbott and EI assays was 98.8% (95% confidence interval, 98.7%, 99%). Of the 490 participants who were also tested by Ortho and Roche, the probability-weighted percentage of agreement (95% confidence interval) between Ortho and Roche was 98.4% (97.9%, 98.9%), that between EI and Ortho was 98.5% (92.9%, 99.9%), that between Abbott and Roche was 98.9% (90.3%, 100.0%), that between EI and Roche was 98.9% (98.6%, 100.0%), and that between Abbott and Ortho was 98.4% (91.2%, 100.0%). Among the 32 participants who were positive by at least 2 immunoassays, 21 had quantifiable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations by research assays. The results across immunoassays revealed concordance during a period of low prevalence. However, the frequency of false positivity during a period of low prevalence supports the use of two sequentially performed tests for unvaccinated individuals who are seropositive by the first test. IMPORTANCE What is the agreement of commercial SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) assays during a time of low coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence and no vaccine availability? Serological tests produced concordant results in a time of low SARS-CoV-2 prevalence and no vaccine availability, driven largely by the proportion of samples that were negative by two immunoassays. The CDC recommends two sequential tests for positivity for future pandemic preparedness. In a subset analysis, quantified antinucleocapsid and antispike SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies do not suggest the need to specify the antigen targets of the sequential assays in the CDC's recommendation because false positivity varied as much between assays targeting the same antigen as it did between assays targeting different antigens.

Humans

Detection and characterization of antiviral-resistant viruses during the influenza season of 2024-25.

UNLABELLED: During the high severity season of 2024-25, CDC with public health partners sequenced and analyzed genomes of >10,000 influenza viruses for antiviral resistance markers. Available sequence-flagged and representative viruses were tested with antivirals using in vitro assays. In the US, three oseltamivir-resistant A(H3N2) viruses had treatment-emergent neuraminidase (NA) mutations, either E119V or R292K. Oseltamivir-resistant A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses with NA-H275Y were detected in 15 states, albeit at a low frequency (0.53%). They belonged to several phylogenetic groups, with hemagglutinin (HA) subclade D.3.1 combined with either NA subclade D.1 or D.2 being most common. Based on shared sequence data, nearly all H275Y viruses from Australia, Canada, and Chile also belonged to these HA and NA subclades. Conversely, most H275Y viruses (68/81) from China belonged to HA subclade C.1.9 and NA subclade D and shared the permissive mutation R257K. Influenza polymerase acidic (PA) mutations conferring 4- to 92-fold decreased baloxavir susceptibility were detected in nine influenza A viruses. Viruses with PA-I38T showed mild attenuation of replicative fitness in three cell lines. Based on available data, NA-H275Y and PA-I38T viruses were collected from patients with no exposure to antivirals. Baseline susceptibility to all US-approved influenza antivirals remained largely unchanged compared to previous seasons. All swine-origin viruses detected in the US had adamantane resistance-conferring marker, M2-S31N, but remained susceptible to other approved antivirals. Monitoring antiviral susceptibility has substantially improved with increased sequencing capacities and bioinformatic support at public health laboratories. Information gained through influenza surveillance has been used to guide recommendations on antiviral use. IMPORTANCE: Circulation of influenza viruses with reduced susceptibility to antivirals can diminish the usefulness of medications prescribed for influenza. This study informs on the prevalence of drug-resistant influenza viruses in the US during the high severity season of 2024-25. It provides information on susceptibility profile to all approved antiviral medications and on replicative fitness of representative drug-resistant viruses. Most drug-resistant viruses were collected from patients who were not exposed to antivirals indicating their ability to transmit from human to human. Whole-genome sequence (WGS)-based analysis is the cornerstone for surveillance, and numerous laboratories have been utilizing this approach. However, CDC laboratory is the only laboratory in the US conducting phenotypic testing of circulating viruses needed to confirm the outcomes of sequence-based analysis and to identify new molecular markers of resistance. Data gathered through virologic surveillance give much-needed information on drug susceptibility of influenza viruses which are used to guide recommendations on antiviral use.

Antiviral Agents

Tracing and characterization of a family outbreak of subtype B2 botulism linked to homemade pickled eggs in Jinan, China.

Foodborne botulism (FB) results from the ingestion of food contaminated with botulinum neurotoxin. Here, we report a family outbreak of foodborne botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum subtype B2 linked to homemade pickled eggs. On August 13, 2024, the Jinan Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Shanghe County Center for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated to investigate an outbreak of botulism poisoning related to a family gathering in Shanghe County, Jinan City. A total of 4 people attended the family gathering, three of whom developed clinical symptoms of botulism after consuming pickled eggs. The diagnosis of botulism was suspected through collaborative efforts by the Qilu Medical Prevention and Control Innovation Integration Mechanism and multidisciplinary consultations across multiple hospitals. We detected the bont gene using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in Jinan CDC, determined the toxin serotype by mouse bioassay (MBA) in China CDC and performed whole-genome sequencing of bacterial strains isolated from patient feces, the homemade pickled eggs and soil in both laboratories. It was shown that the toxin type and bont gene were subtype B2, belonging to the ha gene cluster. The Clostridium botulinum strains isolated from two patients were closely related to the strains from the homemade pickled eggs through whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis. We also found that Clostridium botulinum strains from soil clustered into one branch with those from patients and food, suggesting that the source of Clostridium botulinum contamination may be from soil, although the contamination pathway was not clear. Importantly, our findings provided a basis for clinical antitoxin treatment, in which one patient successfully gave birth after recovery. These results underscore the importance of strengthening public education about the health risks associated with consuming homemade fermented or preserved foods and enhancing the laboratory detection capabilities.

Botulism

The Re-Emergence of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo: Epidemiological Drivers, Response Strategies, and Implications for Global Health Security.

Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) is one of the least studied species within the genus Orthoebolavirus (family Filoviridae), despite its capacity to cause severe Ebola virus disease (EVD) with substantial mortality. First identified during a 2007-2008 outbreak in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda (149 reported cases, 37 deaths; case-fatality rate [CFR] approximately 25-36%), BDBV re-emerged in 2012 in Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (57-59 cases, 29-34 deaths; CFR 34-58%), before resurfacing in Ituri Province, DRC, in April-May 2026. By 11 August 2026, this third outbreak had grown to 4566 laboratory-confirmed cases and 2128 deaths (CFR ≈ 47%) across five DRC provinces and Uganda, becoming the largest, fastest-growing BDBV epidemic on record and the second-largest Ebola-family outbreak overall. This narrative review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, summarizes peer-reviewed literature, preprints, and official situation reports from WHO, Africa CDC, US CDC, ECDC, and national health ministries, identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase from inception to 12 August 2026, to examine BDBV historical evolution, virology and pathogenesis, drivers of re-emergence, surveillance and response, therapeutic and vaccine gaps, and global health security implications. The 2026 outbreak, unfolding amid conflict and mass displacement in eastern DRC, has been marked by an estimated basic reproduction number of 1.4-2.1 (central estimate 1.71), disproportionate infection among healthcare workers (7.2% of confirmed cases in DRC, 20% in Uganda), and the continued absence of licensed BDBV-specific vaccines or therapeutics. Findings underscore the need for sustained genomic and ecological surveillance, decentralized rapid diagnostics, broadly protective pan-filovirus vaccines, conflict-sensitive response strategies, and strengthened Uganda-DRC collaboration. Because the evidence base for the ongoing outbreak remains preliminary, findings should be interpreted cautiously and revisited as further peer-reviewed data emerge.

Bundibugyo ebolavirus

Lymphocyte-C-Reactive Protein Ratio as Promising New Marker for Predicting Surgical Site Infection in Children With Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC), significantly impairing quality of life. The lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), a composite marker of systemic inflammation and immune/nutritional status, has emerged as a potential predictor of postoperative outcomes. This study assessed the utility of preoperative LCR in predicting SSI in pediatric UC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed pediatric UC patients who underwent IPAA at Mie University Hospital between 2000 and 2024. Preoperative LCR values were analyzed, and the optimal cutoff for SSI prediction was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors. SSI was defined according to CDC criteria within 30&#x2009;days postoperatively. RESULTS: Among 57 patients, 11 (19.3%) developed SSI. The incidence was higher in three-stage procedures than in two-stage procedures (22.7% vs. 17.1%). In both groups, preoperative LCR was significantly lower in SSI-positive patients. ROC analysis demonstrated good discrimination (AUC: 0.80), with an optimal cutoff of LCR <&#x2009;5000 (sensitivity: 90.9%, specificity: 71.7%). Multivariate analysis confirmed LCR <&#x2009;5000 as an independent predictor of SSI (odds ratio [OR]: 6.34, 95% CI: 1.23-48.2, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.027). CONCLUSION: Preoperative LCR is a simple, objective biomarker that reliably predicts SSI risk in pediatric UC patients undergoing IPAA. Incorporating LCR into preoperative risk stratification may enable personalized interventions, including nutritional optimization and tailored prophylaxis, to improve surgical outcomes.

inflammatory bowel disease

A study of the host selection patterns of the mosquitoes of the Kisumu area of Kenya.

The results of 12,168 precipitin tests on blood meals of mosquitoes of the Kano Plain caught by a variety of catching techniques indicate that to gain an accurate overall picture of feeding patterns both the indoor and the outdoor biotope must be sampled. CDC light traps operated inside houses and Monkswood type light traps operated under the outside eaves of houses were found to collect larger numbers of blood fed specimens from a wider range of species than battery driven aspirators collecting from natural resting sites. The results indicated that 7 mosquito species entered houses to bite man in appreciable numbers in the Kisumu area. These were Anopheles gambiae s.l., A. funestus, A. pharoensis, Mansonia uniformia, M. africana, Culex antennatus, and C. univittatus. Eight mosquito species were found to bite man and domestic animals in the outdoor biotope in large numbers. These were: A. pharoensis, A. ziemanni, M. uniformis, M. africana, C. antennatus, C. univittatus, Aedes circumluteolus, and Ae. ochraceus. From an epidemiological point of view, species with a narrow range of hosts are most likely to be of importance as vectors of parasitic diseases such as malaria and into this category fall the major man biting anophelines A. gambiae and A. funestus. Those mosquito species which switch from one group of hosts to another according to local circumstances are most likely to be involved in arbovirus transmission and in this group the following species must be considered: A. pharoensis, A. ziemanni, M. uniformia, M. africana, C. antennatus, C. univittatus and Ae. circumluteolus.

Animals

Development of a multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection and differentiation of influenza A, B, C, and D viruses.

Influenza is a common and contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza A, B, C, and D viruses (IAV, IBV, ICV, and IDV). A multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay was developed for simultaneous detection of IAV, IBV, ICV, and IDV. The assay was designed to target unique sequences in the matrix gene of IBV and ICV, the RNA polymerase subunit PB1 of IDV, and combined with USDA and CDC IAV assays, both target the matrix gene. The host 18S rRNA gene was included as an internal control. In silico analyses indicated high strain coverages: 97.9% for IBV, 99.5% for ICV, and 100% for IDV. Transcribed RNA, viral isolates and clinical samples were used for validation. The assay specifically detected target viruses without cross-reactivity, nor detection of other common pathogens. The limit of detection was approximately 30 copies for each viral RNA template, which was equivalent to a threshold cycle value of ~37.

Animals