bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indigenous Disseminated
Penicillium marneffei
Infection in the State of Manipur, India: Report of Four Autochthonous Cases
Authors: Singh P. Narendra , Ranjana K. , Singh Y. Indiver , Singh K. Priyokumar , Sharma S. Surchandra , Kulachandra M. , Nabakumar Y. , Chakrabarti A. , Padhye A. A. , Kaufman L. , Ajello L. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

We describe four cases of disseminated infection caused by endemic
Penicillium marneffei
in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients from the Manipur state of India. The most common clinical features observed were fever, anorexia, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly, and, more importantly, skin lesions resembling molluscum contagiosum. The diagnosis in each of the four cases was achieved by direct examination of smears, observance of intracellular yeast-like cells multiplying by fission in biopsied tissue from skin lesions, and isolation of the dimorphic
P. marneffei
in pure culture in each case. In one case, fluorescent antibody studies allowed specific diagnosis. This report documents a new area in which
P. marneffei
is endemic, located in eastern India, and describes the first occurrence in India of
P. marneffei
in HIV-infected patients as well as the extension of the areas of
P. marneffei
endemicity westward to the northeastern state of Manipur.
TT Virus Infection Is Widespread in the General Populations from Different Geographic Regions
Authors: Abe Kenji , Inami Tomoko , Asano Kazue , Miyoshi Chiaki , Masaki Naohiko , Hayashi Shigeki , Ishikawa Ko-ichi , Takebe Yutaka , Win Khin Maung , El-Zayadi Abdel Rahman , Han Kwang-Hyub , Zhang David Y. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
By PCR screening, we found an extremely high prevalence of TT virus (TTV) in the general populations from different geographic regions. This suggests that TTV may be a common DNA virus with no clear disease association in humans. TTV genotyping by phylogenetic analysis was also performed.
An Uncommon
Helicobacter
Isolate from Blood: Evidence of a Group of
Helicobacter
spp. Pathogenic in AIDS Patients
Authors: Weir Susan C. , Gibert Cynthia L. , Gordin Fred M. , Fischer Steven H. , Gill Vee J. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

An unusual
Helicobacter
sp. was isolated from the blood of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient. This organism had spiral morphology, with single amphitrichous flagella, and was negative for hippurate hydrolysis, production of urease, and reduction of nitrate. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis verified that the isolate was a species of
Helicobacter
, most closely related to an undescribed
Helicobacter
-like isolate from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and to
Helicobacter westmeadii
, a recently described species from Australia. Both organisms had also been isolated from the blood of HIV-infected patients. These blood isolates, along with
Helicobacter cinaedi
, form a cluster of closely related
Helicobacter
spp. that may represent an emerging group of pathogens in immunocompromised patients.
Detection of Porcine Rotavirus Type G9 and of a Mixture of Types G1 and G5 Associated with Wa-Like VP4 Specificity: Evidence for Natural Human-Porcine Genetic Reassortment
Authors: Santos Norma , Lima Rita C. C. , Nozawa Carlos M. , Linhares Rosa E. , Gouvea Vera 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Rotavirus type G5 is a primarily porcine pathogen that has caused frequent and widespread diarrhea in children in Brazil and in piglets elsewhere. Initial results on the rotavirus types circulating in diarrheic piglets in Brazil disclosed a high diversity of strains with distinct G types including G1, G4, G5, and G9 and the novelty of P[8], the predominant human P specificity type. Those results add strong evidence for the emergence of new strains through natural reassortment between rotaviruses of human and porcine origins.
Outbreak of Mupirocin-Resistant Staphylococci in a Hospital in Warsaw, Poland, Due to Plasmid Transmission and Clonal Spread of Several Strains
Authors: Łe˛ski Tomasz A. , Gniadkowski Marek , Skoczyńska Anna , Stefaniuk Elz˙bieta , Trzciński Krzysztof , Hryniewicz Waleria 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

An outbreak of mupirocin-resistant (MuR) staphylococci was investigated in two wards of a large hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Fifty-three MuR isolates of
Staphylococcus aureus
,
S. epidermidis
,
S. haemolyticus
,
S. xylosus
, and
S. capitis
were identified over a 17-month survey which was carried out after introduction of the drug for the treatment of skin infections. The isolates were collected from patients with infections, environmental samples, and carriers; they constituted 19.5% of all staphylococcal isolates identified in the two wards during that time. Almost all the MuR isolates were also resistant to methicillin (methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci). Seven of the outbreak isolates expressed a low-level-resistance phenotype (MuL), whereas the remaining majority of isolates were found to be highly resistant to mupirocin (MuH). The
mupA
gene, responsible for the MuH phenotype, has been assigned to three different polymorphic loci among the strains in the collection analyzed. The predominant polymorph, polymorph I (characterized by a
mupA
-containing
Eco
RI DNA fragment of about 16 kb), was located on a specific plasmid which was widely distributed among the entire staphylococcal population. All MuR
S. aureus
isolates were found to represent a single epidemic strain, which was clonally disseminated in both wards. The
S. epidermidis
population was much more diverse; however, at least four clusters of closely related isolates were identified, which suggested that some strains of this species were also clonally spread in the hospital environment. Six isolates of
S. epidermidis
were demonstrated to express the MuL and MuH resistance mechanisms simultaneously, and this is the first identification of such dual MuR phenotype-bearing strains. The outbreak was attributed to a high level and inappropriate use of mupirocin, and as a result the dermatological formulation of the drug has been removed from the hospital formulary.
Prospective Cohort Study of EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coliInfections in Argentinean Children
Authors: Viboud Gloria I. , Jouve Mabel J. , Binsztein Norma , Vergara Marta , Rivas Marta , Quiroga Marina , Svennerholm Ann-Mari 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTIn a follow-up study, enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) infections in 145 children from two communities located in northeastern Argentina were monitored for 2 years. The occurrence of diarrhea was monitored by weekly household visits. Of 730 fecal specimens collected, 137 (19%) corresponded to diarrheal episodes. ETEC was isolated from a significantly higher proportion of symptomatic (18.3%) than asymptomatic (13.3%) children (P= 0.04541). Individuals of up to 24 months of age were found to have a higher risk of developing ETEC diarrhea than older children (odds ratio [OR], 3.872;P= 0.00021). When the toxin profiles were considered, only heat stable enterotoxin (ST)-producing ETEC was directly associated with diarrhea (P= 0.00035). Fifty-five percent of the ETEC isolated from symptomatic children and 19% of the ETEC isolated from asymptomatic children expressed one of the colonization factors (CFs) investigated, i.e., CF antigen I (CFA/I), CFA/II, CFA/III, and CFA/IV; coli surface antigens CS7 and CS17; and putative CFs PCFO159, PCFO166, and PCFO20, indicating a clear association between diarrhea and ETEC strains that carry these factors (P= 0.0000034). The most frequently identified CFs were CFA/IV (16%), CFA/I (10%), and CS17 (9%). CFs were mostly associated with ETEC strains that produce ST and both heat-labile enterotoxin and ST. Logistic regression analysis, applied to remove confounding effects, revealed that the expression of CFs was associated with illness independently of the toxin type (OR, 4.81;P= 0.0003). When each CF was considered separately, CS17 was the only factor independently associated with illness (OR, 16.6;P= 0.0151). Most CFs (the exception was CFA/IV) fell within a limited array of serotypes, while the CF-negative isolates belonged to many different O:H types. These results demonstrate that some CFs are risk factors for the development of ETEC diarrhea.
Comparison of PCR, Culture, and Direct Fluorescent-Antibody Testing for Detection of
Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Loeffelholz Mike J. , Thompson Curt J. , Long Karla S. , Gilchrist Mary J. R. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

We prospectively compared the performance of culture, direct fluorescent-antibody testing (DFA), and an in-house-developed PCR test targeting the repeated insertion sequence IS
481
for the detection of
Bordetella pertussis
in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. We tested 319 consecutive paired specimens on which all three tests were performed. A total of 59 specimens were positive by one or more tests. Of these, 5 were positive by all three tests, 2 were positive by culture and PCR, 16 were positive by PCR and DFA, 28 were positive by PCR only, and 8 were positive by DFA only. Any specimen positive by culture was considered to be a true positive, as were specimens positive by both PCR and DFA. Specimens positive only by PCR or DFA were considered discrepant, and their status was resolved by review of patient histories. Patients with symptoms meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clinical case definition for pertussis and who had a specimen positive by PCR or DFA were considered to have true
B. pertussis
infections. Of the 28 patients positive by PCR only, 20 met the clinical case definition for pertussis, while 3 of the 8 patients positive by DFA only met the clinical case definition. After resolution of the status of discrepant specimens, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 15.2, 100, 100, and 87.5%, respectively, for culture; 93.5, 97.1, 84.3, and 98.9%, respectively, for PCR; and 52.2, 98.2, 82.8, and 92.4%, respectively, for DFA. The actual positive predictive value of PCR was probably greater, as several PCR-positive patients who did not meet the clinical case definition had symptoms consistent with typical or atypical pertussis. PCR is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of
B. pertussis.
Value of Prenatal Diagnosis and Early Postnatal Diagnosis of Congenital Toxoplasmosis: Retrospective Study of 110 Cases
Authors: Robert-Gangneux Florence , Gavinet Marie-Françoise , Ancelle Thierry , Raymond Josette , Tourte-Schaefer Claudine , Dupouy-Camet Jean 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

We reviewed the files of 110 women with
Toxoplasma
seroconversion during pregnancy. Prenatal diagnosis was attempted for 94 women by amniotic fluid sampling.
Toxoplasma gondii
was detected by PCR, with or without tissue culture and mouse inoculation. The early neonatal diagnostic procedure included placental testing by PCR and/or mouse inoculation, cord blood serological testing, and comparison of maternal and newborn antibodies by Western blotting (WB). Serological follow-up of the infants was conducted during the first year of life or until the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) could be ruled out. Congenital infection was diagnosed in 27 individuals (20 live births) in the prenatal and/or neonatal period. The sensitivity and specificity of prenatal diagnosis were 81 and 100%, respectively. Placental examination was positive for 66.7% of individuals with CT and was always negative for neonates without CT. Cord blood serology detected immunoglobulin M (IgM) and/or IgA in 80% of infected newborns, with respective specificities of 91.2 and 87.7%. By WB we detected bands on IgG and IgM blots recognized by the newborn serum but not by the maternal serum (neosynthesized IgG and/or IgM) for 88.2% of infected infants within the first 2 months of life with a specificity of 100%. Early postnatal diagnosis was negative for 2 of the 20 neonates with CT. Both of these newborns had a negative prenatal diagnosis and were asymptomatic, suggesting a very low parasite load. In conclusion, despite the use of advanced methods, some cases of congenital toxoplasmosis cannot be detected early, which underlines the importance of careful follow-up of newborns who are at risk.
Evaluation of Reference Dilution Test Methods for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Strains Isolated from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Saiman Lisa , Burns Jane L. , Whittier Susan , Krzewinski Jay , Marshall Steve A. , Jones Ronald N. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

The development of multidrug-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is most likely a consequence of increasing life expectancy and more prolonged exposure to antibiotics. The optimal method for antibiotic susceptibility testing of CF strains, particularly mucoid
P. aeruginosa
strains, is unknown. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 48 CF strains (25 mucoid) and 50 non-CF strains to 12 anti-
Pseudomonas
agents were tested by both agar dilution and commercially custom-prepared broth microdilution plates (PML Microbiologicals, Portland, Oreg.) in three laboratories simultaneously to determine if broth microdilution could substitute for agar dilution as the reference method in subsequent studies. Comparison of MICs generated by agar dilution and broth microdilution demonstrated correlation coefficients (
r
) exceeding 0.85 for all agents tested; correlation was excellent for aminoglycosides (
r
≥ 0.92) and very good for β-lactam agents including agents paired with a β-lactamase inhibitor (
r
≥ 0.87) and for ciprofloxacin (
r
= 0.86). Correlation was not improved by 48-h readings, but correlation between 24- and 48-h readings ranged between 0.91 and 0.98 for both methods. Interlaboratory variations were minimal, as the percentage of acceptable variations was 94% for both methods, and serious discords were infrequent (<2% of comparisons). However, CF strains were more likely to have serious discords than were non-CF strains (
P
< 0.0001), although mucoid strains were not more likely to have serious discords than were nonmucoid strains. In this study, MICs determined by custom-prepared broth microdilution compared favorably with MICs determined by agar dilution. Thus, this broth microdilution assay can serve as a reference method and facilitate future studies to determine the optimal method for antibiotic susceptibility testing of CF strains.
Detection of thePlasmodium falciparumAntigen Histidine-Rich Protein 2 in Blood of Pregnant Women: Implications for Diagnosing Placental Malaria
Authors: Leke Rose F. G. , Djokam Rosine R. , Mbu Robinson , Leke Robert J. , Fogako Josephine , Megnekou Rosette , Metenou Simon , Sama Grace , Zhou Yuan , Cadigan Timothy , Parra Marcela , Taylor Diane Wallace 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTPregnant women have an increased susceptibility to infection byPlasmodium falciparum. Parasites may be present in the placenta yet not detectable in peripheral blood smears by routine light microscopy. In order to determine how frequently misdiagnosis occurs, peripheral blood and placental samples were collected from 1,077 Cameroonian women at the time of giving birth and examined for the presence of malarial parasites by using light microscopy. Results showed that 20.1% of the women who had placental malaria were peripheral blood smear negative. Thus, malarial infection was not detected by microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears from approximately one out of five malaria-infected women. SinceP. falciparumparasites secrete histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP-2), we sought to determine if detecting HRP-2 in either peripheral plasma or whole blood might be used to diagnose the presence of parasites “hidden” in the placenta. Samples of peripheral plasma from 127 women with different levels of placental malarial infection were assayed by HRP-2-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HRP-2 was detected in 88% of the women with placental malaria who tested negative by blood smear. Additionally, whole blood was obtained from 181 women and tested for HRP-2 with a rapid, chromatographic strip test (ICT). The ICT test accurately detected malarial infection in 89.1% ofP. falciparum-infected women. Furthermore, 94% of women with malaria were accurately diagnosed by using a combination of microscopy and the ICT test. Thus, detection of HRP-2 in conjunction with microscopy should improve diagnosis of malaria in pregnant women.
Relevance of CagA Positivity to Clinical Course of
Helicobacter pylori
Infection in Children
Authors: Yahav J. , Fradkin A. , Weisselberg B. , Diver-Haver A. , Shmuely H. , Jonas A. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

A potential virulence determinant of
Helicobacter pylori
is the
cagA
gene product. To determine the relevance of the expression of CagA to the clinical picture and outcome of
H. pylori
infection in children, we examined 104 consecutive children diagnosed with
H. pylori
infection. Serum samples were collected to test for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-CagA antibodies. Forty-five patients (43%) had antibodies to the CagA protein (group I), and 59 did not (group II). Seropositive patients had a longer prediagnostic history of abdominal pain (
P
= 0.02), more severe abdominal pain (defined as ulcer pain) (
P
= 0.05), a higher prevalence of duodenal ulcer (38 versus 7%;
P
< 0.01), more active chronic gastritis (82 versus 32%;
P
< 0.001), and a higher titer of serum IgG anti-
H. pylori
antibodies (
P
< 0.001). Ninety percent of the patients were monitored for 27 ± 18 months. On multivariate analysis, CagA-negative patients had a 3.8-fold-higher chance of achieving a disease-free state than CagA-positive patients (95% confidence interval, 1.5- to 9.5-fold). We conclude that infection with CagA-producing strains of
H. pylori
is a risk factor for severe clinical disease and ongoing infection.
Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus Isolates using CLIP Sequencing
Authors: Ross R. S. , Viazov S. O. , Holtzer C. D. , Beyou A. , Monnet A. , Mazure C. , Roggendorf M. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Determination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and subtypes has become increasingly important for the clinical management and prognosis of HCV infections. The aim of the present study was to assess the specificity and reliability of a newly developed, commercially available HCV genotyping kit (TRUGENE
HCV 5′NC
genotyping kit). This technique utilizes PCR fragments previously generated by the diagnostic Roche AMPLICOR HCV test, which are subsequently subjected to simultaneous PCR amplification and direct sequencing (CLIP sequencing) of the 5′ noncoding region (5′NCR). HCV isolates from 100 randomly chosen patients were genotyped by both the TRUGENE
HCV 5′NC
genotyping kit and DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA). Typing results obtained by both methods were in complete concordance in 91% of the cases. HCV RNA from the samples with discordant genotype assignment in both assays was additionally amplified with primers from the HCV core and NS5B regions. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences supported the results obtained from DEIA in six cases and CLIP sequencing in two cases. In the former six cases, the TRUGENE
HCV 5′NC
genotyping kit could not correctly differentiate between subtypes of genotypes 1 and 2 due to the high conservation of the 5′NCR. However, since there was not any misclassification between HCV genotypes 1 and non-1 types, the results obtained with this system are, in general, reliable and can be used in clinical practice. The TRUGENE
HCV 5′NC
genotyping kit in our hands proved to be a fast and convenient technique that might be an attractive option for HCV genotyping in laboratories already using the Roche AMPLICOR HCV test for diagnostic reverse transcription-PCR.
Comparative Immunoglobulin G Antibody Profiles between Mother and Child (CGMC Test) for Early Diagnosis of Congenital Toxoplasmosis
Authors: Gross Uwe , Lüder Carsten G. K. , Hendgen Vera , Heeg Cornelia , Sauer Irmtraud , Weidner Andrea , Krczal Doris , Enders Gisela 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Early diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis is rendered difficult when specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and/or IgA antibodies are absent in the blood of the newborn infant. Since maternal IgG antibodies can cross the placenta, determination of IgG antibodies in newborn infants has hitherto not been used routinely for the diagnosis of congenital infection. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic usefulness of an immunoblot assay which compares the early IgG profiles between the mother and her child (comparative IgG profile between mother and child; CGMC test) directed against a total cell lysate of
Toxoplasma gondii
tachyzoites. Serum samples from 97 newborn infants at risk of toxoplasma infection were obtained from umbilical cord blood at birth or postnatally until 3 months of life and were directly compared with serum samples from the respective mothers. Congenital toxoplasmosis was diagnosed only when IgG-reactive protein bands that were present in any newborn serum samples were absent in the corresponding maternal serum sample. Congenital infection was defined by conventional serological assays when IgM and/or IgA antibodies were present in newborn infant blood or when IgG titers rose within the first 12 months or were persistently stable for more than 8 months. Using these criteria, congenital infection was definitely confirmed in 11 cases. Three additional cases were diagnosed based on indicative data. The CGMC test, which was performed without knowledge of the results of conventional serologal assays, had sensitivity and specificity of 82.4 and 93.0%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values of 73.7 and 95.7%, respectively. When true positives and true negatives were considered, the comparative IgG profile had a ratio of 90.9% true results. The CGMC test thus is useful as an additional assay for the rapid diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis when paired serum samples from mother and child are available.
Helicobacter pylori
: Clonal Population Structure and Restricted Transmission within Families Revealed by Molecular Typing
Authors: Han Shan-Rui , Zschausch Hans-Christoph E. , Meyer Heinz-Georg W. , Schneider Thomas , Loos Michael , Bhakdi Sucharit , Maeurer Markus J. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori
infects up to 50% of the human population worldwide. The infection occurs predominantly in childhood and persists for decades or a lifetime.
H. pylori
is believed to be transmitted from person to person. However, tremendous genetic diversity has been reported for these bacteria. In order to gain insight into the epidemiological basis of this phenomenon, we performed molecular typing of
H. pylori
isolates from different families. Fifty-nine
H. pylori
isolates from 27 members of nine families were characterized by using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of five PCR-amplified genes, by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of chromosomal DNA, and by
vacA
and
cagA
genotyping. The 16S rRNA gene exhibited little allelic variation, as expected for a unique bacterial species. In contrast, the
vacA
,
flaA
,
ureAB
, and
lspA-glmM
genes were highly polymorphic, with a mean genetic diversity of 0.83, which exceeds the levels recorded for all other bacterial species. In conjunction with PFGE, 59
H. pylori
isolates could be differentiated into 21 clonal types. Each individual harbored only one clone, occasionally with a clonal variant. Identical strains were always found either between siblings or between a mother and her children. Statistical analysis revealed clonality of population structure in all isolates. The results of this study suggest the possible coexistence of a large array of clonal lineages that are evolving in each individual in isolation from one another. Transmission appears to occur primarily from mother to child and perhaps between siblings.