ETIDIOH - NEW

Highlights •  A large B19V French outbreak of an unexpected magnitude occurred, with a monthly rate that has reached 21.4%. •  During this outbreak, 50% of infected pregnant women exhibited fetal complications. •  Phylogenetic analysis revealed the co-circulation of several B19V lineages of genotype 1a, the main epidemic lineage of which emerged in 2017. Abstract Background The human parvovirus B19 (B19V) infections cycle occurs in 3- to 4-year periods and is responsible for benign childhood erythema infectiosum . It is also associated with transient aplastic crisis in patients with underlying hemolytic diseases and with severe fetal sometimes fatal infection . This study investigated the epidemiological, clinical and molecular characteristics of an unusually large 2023-2024 outbreak of B19V. Methods . Laboratory-confirmed cases were retrospectively and prospectively recorded at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, France , between January, 2018 and November, 2023 an...

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med BALTE PP, Kim JS, Sun Y, Allen N, et al Associations of Pre-Pandemic Lung Function and Structure with COVID-19 Outcomes: The C4R Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 Apr 16. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202408-1656. PubMed           Abstract available Antiviral Res KELLY JA, Aida-Ficken V, McMullan LK, Chatterjee P, et al Mechanisms of action of repurposed Ebola virus antivirals - the roles of phospholipidosis and cholesterol homeostasis. Antiviral Res. 2025 Apr 15:106167. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106167. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis MESSCHENDORP AL, Zaeck LM, Bouwmans P, van den Broek DAJ, et al Replacing Mycophenolate Mofetil by Everolimus in Kidney Transplant Recipients to Increase Vaccine Immunogenicity: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Apr 15:ciaf107. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           ...

  Am J Med BILC M, Cramer H Use of Complementary Medicine Among US Adults with Post-COVID-19: Results from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Am J Med. 2025;138:862-869. PubMed           Abstract available MAURO M, Cegolon L, Bestiaco N, Zulian E, et al Heart Rate Variability Modulation Through Slow-Paced Breathing in Health Care Workers with Long COVID: A Case-Control Study. Am J Med. 2025;138:870-883. PubMed           Abstract available NAIK H, Wilton J, Tran KC, Janjua NZ, et al Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life in Working-Age COVID-19 Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Am J Med. 2025;138:850-861. PubMed           Abstract available PALACIO A, Bast E, Klimas N, Tamariz L, et al Lessons Learned in Implementing a Multidisciplinary Long COVID Clinic. Am J Med. 2025;138:843-849. PubMed           Abstract avail...

Abstract Background Avian influenza virus (AIV), a zoonotic pathogen found worldwide , includes multiple subtypes, one of which is the H4 subtype frequently detected in wild birds and poultry . Despite its prevalence, research on H4 subtype AIV has been scarce, with a focus predominantly on the H4N2 and H4N6 subtypes. The zoonotic potential of H4N1 has not been investigated to date. Methods In this study, we used gene sequencing in conjunction with bioinformatics methodologies to analyze wild-type H4N1 AIV strain and mutant strains emerging from serial passaging in cell culture . Furthermore, we assessed the zoonotic potential of H4N1 and the alterations caused by mutations via a series of phenotype assays, including evaluation of receptor binding affinity, immunofluorescence assays, analyses of growth kinetics across different animal cell cultures, and in vivo pathogenicity studies. Results Our research reveals that H4N1 AIV can bind to human receptors and exhibits an affinity for hum...

Abstract Gammacoronavirus (γ-CoV) primarily infects poultry, wild birds, and marine mammals . The widespread distribution and circulation of γ-CoV in the ecological environment may lead to sustained transmission and economic loss . To better understand the diversity of γ-CoV in wild birds , we collect 482 wild-bird fecal samples from Yunnan , encompassing fourteen bird species . We detected twelve γ-CoV positive samples in five bird species, with the characterization of five complete genomes - HNU5-1, HNU5-2, HNU5-3, HNU6-1, and HNU6-2 -indicating that these genomes represent two viral species . The HNU5 strains were derived from Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), while the HNU6 strains were came from Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and both of those were recombinant. The HNU5 strain exhibited the highest sequence identity (95.45%) with a γ-CoV strain isolated from Numenius phaeopus (GenBank accession: PP845452). Similarly, the HNU6 strain showed 95.18% nucleotide identity w...

Abstract Pigeons (Columba livia) are usually kept as free-ranging or racing birds, and they have direct contact with livestock, poultry, and humans . Therefore, they may have an important role in the ecology of influenza virus among various species. In the present study, we bring together all available sequence data of pigeon avian influenza virus (AIV) from public databases to address the current understanding of the genomic characteristics and emergence of each subtype of AIV in pigeons. Collectively, we identified 658 pigeon AIV strains in 21 countries across the world, which were mainly distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America. H1 (2), H2 (1), H3 (8), H5 (71), H6 (16), H7 (16), H9 (543), and H11 (1) AIV subtypes have been identified in pigeons. In addition, we interrogate features of the H5, H6, H7, and H9 subtypes of pigeon AIV, which are relatively common in pigeons. It is particularly noteworthy that the H5 AIV strains identified in pigeons are all classified as HPAIV. For...

  A poultry farm in Totota, right behind the Lutheran football field in Bong County. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6432 ____

{Excerpt} Time Period: April 06, 2025 - April 12, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  3 sites ( 0.9% ) -- No Detection :  348 sites ( 99.1% ) -- No samples in last week :  243 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html?cove-tab=0 ____

Summary Background Adults older than 65 years are at increased risk for atypical presentations of chikungunya disease, as well as for severe outcomes including death. Methods In this phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial, adults aged 65 years and older received a single intramuscular dose of Vimkunya (previously chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine) or placebo at ten sites in the USA. Participants, clinical site personnel, and the sponsor were masked to individual treatment assignments until all participants had completed their involvement in the trial and the database was cleaned and locked. Baseline and postvaccination chikungunya virus serum neutralising antibody (SNA) titres (NT80) were assessed at selected timepoints. Safety was assessed up to 183 days after dose administration in all participants from the exposed population who provided safety assessment data. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05349617, and is comp...

Abstract Background   The ongoing H5N1 panzootic in mammals has amplified zoonotic pathways to facilitate human infection . Characterising key epidemiological parameters for H5N1 is critical should it become widespread.  Aim   To identify and estimate critical epidemiological parameters for H5N1 from past and current outbreaks, and to compare their characteristics with human influenza subtypes and the 2003 Netherlands H7N7 outbreak .  Methods   We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews reporting parameter estimates from primary data or meta-analyses. To address gaps, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar for studies of any design providing relevant estimates. We estimated the basic reproduction number for the outbreak in the US and the 2003 Netherlands H7N7 outbreak. In addition we estimated the serial interval for H5N1 using data from previous household clusters in Indonesia . We also applied a branching process model to simulate t...

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b was first detected in birds in the United States in 2021 and an ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle began in early 2024. At least 70 U.S. cases have been identified in humans with exposure to infected cattle, poultry, and wild birds. No human-to-human transmission has been documented . However, as part of diagnostic preparedness, we evaluated the ability of currently available influenza tests to detect 2024 U.S. H5N1 strains. Contrived nasal swab samples were prepared using live or inactivated 2024 H5N1 and used to test twelve rapid antigen tests (lateral flow assays, or LFA), including 10 commercially-available influenza A LFAs and two H5-specific LFAs. Five point-of-care (POC) molecular assays were also tested. An inclusivity testing protocol was used, wherein a predetermined dilution series is used to evaluate each assay, enabling head-to-head comparison of assay performance. All lateral flow assays and POC molecu...

Key points   -- At the present time , based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5) viruses to be low , while the risk of infection for occupationally exposed persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation measures in place and the local avian influenza epidemiological situation.  -- Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a growing yet still limited number of human infections are being reported. Although additional human infections associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are expected to occur, the overall public health impact of such infections at a global level, at the present time, is considered minor .  -- The assessment could change if and when additional epidemiological or virological information becomes available.  -- This risk assessment from FAO, WHO and WOAH updates the assessment of the risk of zoonotic transmission (for example, ani...