Viral shedding and viraemia of Andes virus during acute hantavirus infection: a prospective study.

Background: Andes virus (ANDV) is a zoonotic Orthohantavirus leading to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Although most transmissions occur through environmental exposure to rodent faeces and urine, rare person-to-person transmission has been documented, mainly for close contacts. This study investigates the presence and infectivity of ANDV in body fluids from confirmed cases and the duration of viraemia.

New Perspective on the Use of α-Bisabolol for Weed Control.

The indiscriminate use of synthetic herbicides reduces its effectiveness. Bioherbicides produced with metabolites emerge as an alternative to managing weeds. We aimed to analyze the phytotoxic potential of the essential oil of (EOVA) and the α-bisabolol molecule, its main component.

A Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism of αβ₃ Integrin Is Associated with the Andes Virus Infection Susceptibility.

The (ANDV), which causes the hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, enters cells via integrins, and a change from leucine to proline at residue 33 in the PSI domain (L33P), impairs ANDV recognition. We assessed the association between this human polymorphism and ANDV infection. We defined susceptible and protective genotypes as "TT" (coding leucine) and "CC" (coding proline), respectively.

Typhoid Fever in Chile 1969-2012: Analysis of an Epidemic and Its Control.

From 1975 to 1983, a large epidemic of typhoid fever (TF) affected the metropolitan region (MR) of Chile (incidence rate [IR] of 219.6 per 10 in 1983). In 1983-1984, interventions were implemented focusing on person-to-person transmission (vaccination, food handlers' control, and mass communication) and regulations to control irrigation waters containing fecal contaminates.

Serum levels of interleukin-6 are linked to the severity of the disease caused by Andes Virus.

Andes virus (ANDV) is the etiological agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in Chile. In this study, we evaluated the profile of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-21, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 in serum samples of ANDV-infected patients at the time of hospitalization. The mean levels of circulating cytokines were determined by a Bead-Based Multiplex assay coupled with Luminex detection technology, in order to compare 43 serum samples of healthy controls and 43 samples of ANDV-infected patients that had been categorized according to the severity of disease.

Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL28B, but Not TNF-α, With Severity of Disease Caused by Andes Virus.

Background: Andes virus (ANDV) is the sole etiologic agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Chile, with a fatality rate of about 35%. Individual host factors affecting ANDV infection outcome are poorly understood. In this case-control genetic association analysis, we explored the link between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs12979860, rs8099917 and rs1800629 and the clinical outcome of ANDV-induced disease.

A non-randomized multicentre trial of human immune plasma for treatment of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome caused by Andes virus.

Background: In Chile, Andes virus (ANDV) is the sole aetiological agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) with mean annual incidence of 55 cases, 32% case fatality rate (CFR) and no specific treatment. Neutralizing antibody (NAb) titres at hospital admission correlate inversely with HCPS severity. We designed an open trial to explore safety and efficacy and evaluate pharmacokinetics of immune plasma as a treatment strategy for this disease.

Person-to-person household and nosocomial transmission of andes hantavirus, Southern Chile, 2011.

Andes hantavirus (ANDV) causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in Chile and is the only hantavirus for which person-to-person transmission has been proven. We describe an outbreak of 5 human cases of ANDV infection in which symptoms developed in 2 household contacts and 2 health care workers after exposure to the index case-patient. Results of an epidemiologic investigation and sequence analysis of the virus isolates support person-to-person transmission of ANDV for the 4 secondary case-patients, including nosocomial transmission for the 2 health care workers.

The impact of organic farming on quality of tomatoes is associated to increased oxidative stress during fruit development.

This study was conducted with the objective of testing the hypothesis that tomato fruits from organic farming accumulate more nutritional compounds, such as phenolics and vitamin C as a consequence of the stressing conditions associated with farming system. Growth was reduced in fruits from organic farming while titratable acidity, the soluble solids content and the concentrations in vitamin C were respectively +29%, +57% and +55% higher at the stage of commercial maturity. At that time, the total phenolic content was +139% higher than in the fruits from conventional farming which seems consistent with the more than two times higher activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) we observed throughout fruit development in fruits from organic farming.

Prospective evaluation of household contacts of persons with hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in chile.

Background: Andes virus (ANDV) infection, which has a case fatality rate of 37% in Chile, often occurs in household clusters and may be transmitted from person to person.

Methods: To determine the incidence and risk factors for additional household cases, we conducted a prospective study among recent household contacts of persons with hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Chile, including testing of serum for anti-hantavirus antibodies and blood cells for ANDV RNA by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: We enrolled 76 index case patients and 476 household contacts, of whom 16 (3.