The GIBACHT fellowship: a multilateral initiative for strengthening capacity in biosafety and biosecurity towards pandemic preparedness.

The German Biosecurity Programme was launched in 2013 with the aim to support partner countries overcome biological threats including natural outbreaks or the intentional misuse of highly pathogenic agents. As part of this programme, this paper describes the development and implementation of a multilateral biosafety and biosecurity training initiative, called 'Global Partnership Initiated Biosecurity Academia for Controlling Health Threats' (GIBACHT). To achieve its objectives, GIBACHT implemented a blended-learning approach with self-directed, distance-based learning phases and three training-of-trainer workshops.

Outbreak investigation of an unknown gastrointestinal illness in District Victoria, Country Mala, 2016.

This case study is based on an outbreak investigation conducted by multisectoral team from animal and public health offices in Kaktong (a remote village in Zhemgang District Bhutan) during July-September 2010. This outbreak caused by ingestion of infected cow meat which had died after a brief illness (bleeding of unclotted blood from nostrils). The owner of the affected cow had opened the carcass and dressed the meat, which he shared or sold within the village for human consumption.

Emergence of a febrile illness of unknown causes among the population and visitors of Upper Egypt.

This is a fictional case study for training that encourages participants to interact and apply theory into practice. A febrile illness of unknown cause that occurred in Upper Egypt in 2002 was chosen for the events. The location of Aswan was selected to define the climate, topography, and location with the characteristics that support the events.

Cholera outbreak in Funpur, Winland.

Vibrio Cholerae is a category B agent which has moderate to high potential to be used in bioterrorist events. This fictitious case study is based on man-made outbreak investigation and response carried out by disease surveillance and response unit of country Winland. The numbers of acute watery diarrhoea cases (AWDs) were concentrated in city Funpur of country Winland which share international border with Robiland, another country with poor health infrastructure.

Containment of a fatal and highly infectious disease outbreak.

This case study was designed based on several experience with several viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) outbreaks responded to in Uganda between 2000 and 2016. Fictitious scenarios have been included to facilitate learning of the users. The major goal of the case study is to facilitate learners to appreciate incident detection and the incident management processes for control and containment of a fatal and highly infectious viral disease outbreak.

Investigation of an outbreak caused by an unknown infectious pathogen in rural Zola.

This case study was written as part of a fellowship in biosafety and biosecurity organised by the German Biosecurity Programme, namely the Global Partnership Initiated Biosecurity Academia for Controlling Health Threats (GIBACHT). Among other objectives, the fellowship focuses on equipping participants with the skills of developing their own country-specific case studies with focus on biosafety- and biosecurity-related scenarios. Upon completion of the underlying case study, participants should be able to identify some existing gaps with regards to early detection and investigation of outbreaks, describe the key steps in outbreak investigation, explain the role of communication and coordination among the various stakeholders in outbreak investigations and analyse epidemiological data obtained during outbreak investigations.

Exposure of domestic swine to influenza A viruses in Ghana suggests unidirectional, reverse zoonotic transmission at the human-animal interface.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) have both zoonotic and anthroponotic potential and are of public and veterinary importance. Swine are intermediate hosts and 'mixing vessels' for generating reassortants, progenies of which may harbour pandemic propensity. Swine handlers are at the highest risk of becoming infected with IAVs from swine but there is little information on the ecology of IAVs at the human-animal interface in Africa.

Understanding attitude, practices and knowledge of zoonotic infectious disease risks among poultry farmers in Ghana.

Zoonotic infectious diseases (ZIDs) are increasing globally, and livestock farmers in low- and middle-income countries are at particularly high risk. An evaluation of farmer's behaviour on farms can be used to identify the risk factors and to develop tailored control strategies. This study documents the knowledge of zoonotic poultry diseases (ZPD) among 152 poultry farm workers (respondents) from 76 farms in the Ashanti region of Ghana and assessed their on-farm attitude and practices that increase their risk to exposure of ZPD.

Fluoroquinolone-Resistant , spp., and from Local and Imported Poultry Meat in Kumasi, Ghana.

and are important gastroenteric pathogens. is an emerging enteric pathogen. Data on the frequencies of these poultry-associated pathogens on meat products sold in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce.

Equinus Correction During Multilevel Surgery in Adults With Cerebral Palsy.

Background: Equinus foot deformity constitutes a common gait disorder in ambulatory adults with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP). The outcome after intramuscular aponeurotic lengthening in the context of single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) in adulthood has not been investigated.

Methods: We followed a group of 31 ambulatory adults with BSCP and equinus who underwent SEMLS including gastrocnemius-soleus intramuscular aponeurotic recession or Achilles tendon lengthening.

No serological evidence for Zika virus infection and low specificity for anti-Zika virus ELISA in malaria positive individuals among pregnant women from Madagascar in 2010.

It was previously reported that a malaria infection may interfere with the specificity of a commercial ELISA test against Zika virus (ZIKV). We analyzed 1,216 plasma samples from healthy, pregnant women collected in two sites in Madagascar in 2010 for ZIKV antibodies using a commercial ELISA and for Plasmodium infection by PCR. This screen revealed six putative ZIKV-positive samples by ELISA.

Antibiotic resistance and clonal diversity of invasive Staphylococcus aureus in the rural Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is among the most common pathogens isolated from blood cultures in Ghana; yet the epidemiology of blood infections in rural settings is poorly described. This study aims to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility and clonal diversity of S. aureus causing bloodstream infections in two hospitals in the Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Reassortant H14N2 Avian Influenza Virus from California.

We report the complete genome sequence of a reassortant H14N2 avian influenza virus isolated in 2011 from a northern shoveler in California. This introduced Eurasian subtype acquired seven segments from North American viruses and circulated in the Pacific Flyway 1 year after its detection in the Mississippi Flyway.

Evaluation of phenotypic markers in full genome sequences of avian influenza isolates from California.

We evaluated phenotypic markers in full-genome sequences of avian influenza isolates to identify avian strains with increased potential for transmission and pathogenicity in mammals. Of 149 markers examined, 67 were positive in the consensus sequences from 206 avian isolates. Analysis of deep sequencing data in a subset of 24 isolates revealed that 344 subpopulations occurred at marker positions.

West Nile virus and its emergence in the United States of America.

Zoonotic West Nile virus (WNV) circulates in natural transmission cycles involving certain mosquitoes and birds, horses, humans, and a range of other vertebrates are incidental hosts. Clinical infections in humans can range in severity from uncomplicated WNV fever to fatal meningoencephalitis. Since its introduction to the Western Hemisphere in 1999, WNV had spread across North America, Central and South America and the Caribbean, although the vast majority of severe human cases have occurred in the United States of America (USA) and Canada.

Viral determinants in the NS3 helicase and 2K peptide that promote West Nile virus resistance to antiviral action of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1b.

The interferon-inducible 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1b (Oas1b) protein inhibits West Nile virus (WNV) infection by preventing viral RNA (vRNA) accumulation in infected cells. Serial passage of WNV in Oas1b-expressing mouse cells selected a virus variant with improved growth capacity. Two major amino acid substitutions were identified in this Oas1b-resistant WNV variant: NS3-S365G in the ATPase/helicase domain of NS3 and 2K-V9M in the C-terminal segment of NS4A.

Human genetic determinants of dengue virus susceptibility.

Dengue virus (DENV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen that produces significant morbidity worldwide resulting in an estimated 50-100 million infections annually. DENV causes a spectrum of illness ranging from inapparent infection to life-threatening hemorrhagic fever and shock. The varied DENV disease outcome is determined by complex interactions between immunopathologic, viral, and human genetic factors.

Hepatitis C virus-induced secretion of inflammatory chemokines preferentially recruits NKG2A+CD8+ T cells.

In patients with hepatitis C, a loss-of-function mutation of chemokine receptor CCR5 (CCR5Delta32) has been shown to be associated with spontaneous viral clearance and lower levels of hepatic inflammation. In the present study, we show that CCR5 is coexpressed with the inhibitory NKG2A receptor on CD8(+) T cells. Consequently, CCR5(+) T cells were highly susceptible to NKG2A-mediated inhibition of cytotoxic activity and NKG2A(+) lymphocytes were preferentially attracted by CCR5 ligands induced by hepatitis C virus E2 antigen.