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The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and genetic characteristics of Bartonella quintana in pet cats from Urmia City, located in the northwest of Iran. Blood samples were collected from 200 cats, and their age, gender, and breed were noted. Nested-PCR and sequencing were used to identify B. quintana in positive samples, and the ftsZ gene sequences were analyzed using BioEdit software. The gene sequence obtained in this study exhibited 100.00 % similarity to reference sequences in the GenBank® database, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA11. The results revealed that 15 % of the cats (30 out of 200 blood samples) tested positive for the B. quintana gene, with a 95 % confidence interval of 10.71 % to 20.61 %.

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We discuss genomic detection of Schmallenberg virus in both Culicoides midges and affected ruminants during June 2018-December 2019, demonstrating its circulation in Israel. This region is a geographic bridge between 3 continents and may serve as an epidemiologic bridge for potential Schmallenberg virus spread into Asia.

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The emergence and worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 raises new concerns and challenges regarding possible environmental contamination by this virus through spillover of human sewage, where it has been detected. The coastal environment, under increasing anthropogenic pressure, is subjected to contamination by a large number of human viruses from sewage, most of them being non-enveloped viruses like norovirus. When reaching coastal waters, they can be bio-accumulated by filter-feeding shellfish species such as oysters. Methods to detect this viral contamination were set up for the detection of non-enveloped enteric viruses, and may need optimization to accommodate enveloped viruses like coronaviruses (CoV). Here, we aimed at assessing methods for the detection of CoV, including SARS-CoV-2, in the coastal environment and testing the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 can contaminate oysters, to monitor the contamination of French shores by SARS-CoV-2 using both seawater and shellfish. Using the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a CoV, as surrogate for SARS-CoV-2, and Tulane virus, as surrogate for non-enveloped viruses such as norovirus, we assessed and selected methods to detect CoV in seawater and shellfish. Seawater-based methods showed variable and low yields for PEDV. In shellfish, the current norm for norovirus detection was applicable to CoV detection. Both PEDV and heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 could contaminate oysters in laboratory settings, with a lower efficiency than a calicivirus used as control. Finally, we applied our methods to seawater and shellfish samples collected from April to August 2020 in France, where we could detect the presence of human norovirus, a marker of human fecal contamination, but not SARS-CoV-2. Together, our results validate methods for the detection of CoV in the coastal environment, including the use of shellfish as sentinels of the microbial quality of their environment, and suggest that SARS-CoV-2 did not contaminate the French shores during the summer season.

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BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that gastric cancer (GC) incidence has decreased, whereas signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) incidence has increased. However, recent trends in GC incidence are unclear. We used our hospital cancer registry to evaluate the changes in the incidence of GC, SRC, and non-SRC (NSRC) over time in comparison to changes in the H. pylori infection rates over time. METHODS: We identified 2532 patients with GC enrolled in our registry between January 2007 and December 2018 and statistically analyzed SRC and NSRC incidence. The H. pylori infection rate in patients with SRC was determined by serum anti-H. pylori antibody testing, urea breath test, biopsy specimen culture, and immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) of gastric tissue. Additionally, genomic detection of H. pylori was performed in SRCs by extracting DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric tissue and targeting 16S ribosomal RNA of H. pylori. RESULTS: Overall, 211 patients had SRC (8.3%). Compared with patients with NSRC, those with SRC were younger (P <  0.001) and more likely to be female (P <  0.001). Time series analysis using an autoregressive integrated moving average model revealed a significant decrease in SRC (P <  0.001) incidence; NSRC incidence showed no decline. There was no difference in H. pylori infection prevalence between the SRC and NSRC groups. IHC and genomic methods detected H. pylori in 30 of 37 (81.1%) SRCs. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in H. pylori infection prevalence may be associated with the decrease in the incidence of SRC, which was higher than that of NSRC.

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We used portable genome sequencing to investigate reported dengue virus transmission in Angola. Our results show that autochthonous transmission of dengue serotype 2 (cosmopolitan genotype) occurred in January 2018.

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Abstract Objective. Canine parvovirus is one of the most important diseases of dogs all over the world that threaten their health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of canine parvovirus in dogs referred to the Small Animal Clinic of Tehran University in Tehran province by genomic method of detection. Materials and methods. Diarrheal stool samples were obtained from 60 dogs during the years 2014-2016 and the presence of CPV was investigated by PCR method. Results. Prevalence of canine parvovirus infection in the studied dogs was 8.33% (5 0f 60). No significant differences between different age groups and breeds were found. However, infection was significantly higher in dogs with hemorrhagic diarrhea (3 of 25), but it was not statistically significant using chi-square test (p>0.05). Conclusions. This study showed that hemorrhagic diarrhea and lack of vaccination may be considered as important symptoms and risk factors for canine parvoviral infection in dogs and Dog owners in Iran should be aware of the fact that vaccination against CPV infection must be done carefully and on schedule to control and prevent the virus.

Resumen Objetivo. El parvovirus canino es una de las enfermedades más importantes en perros en todo el mundo la cual amenaza su salud. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia del parvovirus canino en perros remitidos a la Clínica de Pequeños Animales de la Universidad de Teherán en la provincia de Teherán por el método de detección del genoma. Materiales y Métodos. Se obtuvieron muestras de heces diarreicas de 60 perros durante los años 2014-2016 y se investigó la presencia de CPV por el método de PCR. Resultados. La prevalencia de infección por parvovirus canino en los perros estudiados fue del 8.33% (5 0f 60). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los diferentes grupos de edad y razas. Sin embargo, la infección fue significativamente mayor en perros con diarrea hemorrágica (3 de 25), pero no fue estadísticamente significativa usando la prueba de chi-cuadrada (p>0.05). Conclusiones. Este estudio demostró que la diarrea hemorrágica y la falta de vacunación pueden considerarse como síntomas y factores de riesgo importantes de la infección por parvovirus canino en perros, y que los propietarios de perros en Irán deben ser conscientes del hecho de que la vacunación contra la infección CPV debe hacerse con cuidado y a tiempo para controlar y prevenir el virus.

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