Rift Valley Fever outbreaks in the East African Community: insights from ProMed data (2010-2024).

Background: Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that poses a serious threat to both humans and livestock across various regions, particularly in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of the Indian Ocean Islands. This study seeks to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution and trends of RVF outbreaks within the East African Community (EAC) countries, offering insights into the patterns and progression of these outbreaks in the region.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMed), a digital, event-based disease surveillance system, to identify reports of outbreak events in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and South Sudan from 2010 to 2024.

N-alkylation of amines for the synthesis of potential antiviral agents: A structural modification approach.

The threat of emerging viral outbreaks has increased the need for fast and effective development of therapeutics against emerging pathogens. One approach is to modify the structure of existing therapeutic agents to achieve the desired antiviral properties. Here, we attempted to synthesize a new antiviral compound by modifying the structure of chloroquine using the of the primary amine (N1,N1-diethylpentane-1,4-diamine) that is used in chloroquine synthesis.

Transmission of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates between Finnish- and foreign-born cases, 2014-2021: A molecular epidemiological study.

Background: Data on the molecular epidemiology and transmission of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in low-incidence settings with immigration from high-incidence settings is limited.

Method: We included 115 drug-resistant (DR) MTB isolates with whole-genome sequencing data isolated in Finland between 2014 and 2021. Potential transmission clusters were identified using a threshold of 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Understanding knowledge, attitudes and practices on Ebola Virus Disease: a multi-site mixed methods survey on preparedness in Rwanda.

Background: The overall goal of this survey was to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Rwanda.

Methods: This mixed-method cross-sectional survey was conducted in five selected districts of Rwanda. Quantitative data were collected from 1,010 participants using Kobo Collect Software and the analysis was performed using SPSS and Python software.

Predicting the distribution of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus in Europe: a comparison of climate niche modelling approaches.

Background: The ticks Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus are two of the most important vectors in Europe. Climate niche modelling has been used in many studies to attempt to explain their distribution and to predict changes under a range of climate change scenarios. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of different climate niche modelling approaches to explain the known distribution of I.

Molecular detection of pathogens from ticks collected from dogs and cats at veterinary clinics in Finland.

Background: Ticks carry microbes, some of which are pathogenic for humans and animals. To assess this One Health challenge, 342 ticks were collected from pet dogs and cats at 10 veterinary clinics in Finland as part of the European project "Protect Our Future Too".

Methods: The tick species were identified, and ticks were screened with quantitative PCR (qPCR) for tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp.

Activity of lipid-loaded lectin against co-infection of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus using the zebrafish model.

Aim: Nosocomial infection caused by mixed species of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans (CA) is difficult to manage with existing antimicrobials, particularly in the presence of mixed-species biofilm. This study evaluates the activity of cationic lipid, specifically functionalized with lectin, against mixed biofilms of MRSA and CA and their effectiveness in vivo using the zebrafish model.

Methods And Results: The present study demonstrates for the first time the antimicrobial activity of 2-((N-[2-hydroxyethyl]palmitamido)methyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide (cN16E) against MRSA and mixed species of MRSA + CA.

Clinical and Serological Findings of COVID-19 Participants in the Region of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Makkah in Saudi Arabia hosts the largest annual religious event in the world. Despite the many strict rules enacted, including Hajj cancellation, city lockdowns, and social distancing, the region has the second highest number of new COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia. Public health interventions that identify, isolate, and manage new cases could slow the infection rate.

Incidence Trends for SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Beta Variants, Finland, Spring 2021.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Alpha and Beta variants became dominant in Finland in spring 2021 but had diminished by summer. We used phylogenetic clustering to identify sources of spreading. We found that outbreaks were mostly seeded by a few introductions, highlighting the importance of surveillance and prevention policies.

Viral RNA Metagenomics of Ticks Collected from Dromedary Camels in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia.

Arthropod-borne infections are a medical and economic threat to humans and livestock. Over the last three decades, several unprecedented viral outbreaks have been recorded in the Western part of the Arabian Peninsula. However, little is known about the circulation and diversity of arthropod-borne viruses in this region.

Pan and Core Genome Analysis of 183 Strains Revealed a High Inter-Species Diversity among the Human Adapted Strains.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne communicable disease with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in developing countries. The causal agents of TB belong to the complex (MTBc), which is composed of different human and animal TB associated species. Some animal associated species have zoonotic potential and add to the burden of TB management.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia miyamotoi strains from ticks collected in the capital region of Finland.

Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging pathogen that shares high similarity with relapsing fever Borrelia, but has an atypical clinical presentation. Within the framework of tick-borne disease surveillance in Finland, human serum samples suspected for tick-borne encephalitis (n=974) and questing ticks (n=739) were collected from the capital region in Finland to determine the prevalence of B. miyamotoi.

Challenges and coping strategies faced by female scientists-A multicentric cross sectional study.

Women can play a pivotal role in the progress and sustainability of the world if they are empowered through education and employment opportunities in Science, technology, innovation and through changing the social stereotypes that restrain them in certain workplaces. In the literature, few recently published studies exist that document the challenges faced by female scientists in their workplaces. The purpose of this study was to understand the challenges and coping strategies faced by female scientists around the world today, in order to contribute to their improved performance.

Genome sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates revealed isoniazid resistance mechanisms undetected by conventional molecular methods.

A combination of targeted molecular methods and phenotypic drug-susceptibility testing is the most widely used approach to detect drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. We report the delay in the introduction of an efficient anti-tuberculous drug regimen because of a M. tuberculosis strain displaying a high level of resistance to isoniazid, in the absence of the common mutations associated with isoniazid-resistance, including katG mutations and inhA promoter mutations.

CD4+ regulatory T cells and CD4+ activated T cells in new active and relapse tuberculosis.

The aim of the present study was to examine characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) patients with different clinical forms and to study the frequency of Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and Activated T cells in patients with new active and relapse TB. Forty-five pulmonary TB patients and a control group of 15 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Of the 45 TB patients, 15 were new cases with drug-susceptible active TB and 30 were relapsed cases (15 drug-susceptible and 15 multidrug resistant-TB).

Detection of novel tick-borne pathogen, Alongshan virus, in ticks, south-eastern Finland, 2019.

The newly identified tick-borne Alongshan virus (ALSV), a segmented Jingmen virus group flavivirus, was recently associated with human disease in China. We report the detection of ALSV RNA in ticks in south-eastern Finland. Screening of sera from patients suspected for tick-borne encephalitis for Jingmen tick virus-like virus RNA and antibodies revealed no human cases.

Molecular diagnosis and enrichment culture identified a septic pseudoarthrosis due to an infection with Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum.

We describe here a rare case of septic pseudarthrosis due to Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum in a female young patient. The patient, currently in remission from Ewing's sarcoma treated by a bone resection and allograft combined with chemotherapy, suffered from a chronic femoral pseudarthrosis in a context of bone insufficiency and graft resorption. A broad range 16S PCR followed by sequencing, as well as an enrichment culture of a bone biopsy revealed the presence of E.

Added Value of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Low-Prevalence Setting.

Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) for direct molecular detection of and rifampin resistance from clinical specimens has dramatically improved the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) is proposed as a substitute of Xpert with increased sensitivity and improved rifampin resistance detection. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of Ultra and Xpert for pulmonary TB diagnosis in a low-TB-burden setting.

Epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli from hospital settings in Yemen.

Introduction: Infection with Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing bacteria is considered as serious health problem worldwide. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of ESBL producing Escherichia coli in hospitalized patients and the risk factors contributed for its nosocomial infections in addition to the antibiotics susceptibility patterns of isolates from 130 inpatients collected in Al Thawra General Hospital and Al-Kuwait University Hospital in Sana'a city.

Methodology: Antibiotic susceptibility testing and confirmation of ESBL production were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Molecular characterization of mutations associated with resistance to second-line tuberculosis drug among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients from high prevalence tuberculosis city in Morocco.

Background: The emergence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has raised public health concern for global TB control. Although multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR- TB) prevalence and associated genetic mutations in Morocco are well documented, scarce information on XDR TB is available. Hence, the evaluation of pre-XDR and XDR prevalence, as well as the mutation status of gyrA, gyrB, rrs, tlyA genes and eis promoter region, associated with resistance to second line drugs, is of great value for better management of M/XDR TB in Morocco.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers in the Tihamah region of the western Arabian Peninsula.

Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) refers to a group of diseases characterized by an acute febrile syndrome with hemorrhagic manifestations and high mortality rates caused by several families of viruses that affect humans and animals. These diseases are typically endemic in certain geographical regions and sometimes cause major outbreaks. The history of hemorrhagic fever in the Arabian Peninsula refers to the 19th century and most outbreaks were reported in the Tihamah region-the Red Sea coastal plain of the Arabian Peninsula in the west and southwest of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Cleavage site and Ectodomain of HA2 sub-unit sequence of three equine influenza virus isolated in Morocco.

Background: The equine influenza (EI) is an infectious and contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract of horses. Two outbreaks were notified in Morocco during 1997 and 2004 respectively in Nador and Essaouira. The aims of the present study concern the amino acids sequences comparison with reference strain A/equine/Miami/1963(H3N8) of the HA2 subunit including the cleavage site of three equine influenza viruses (H3N8) isolated in Morocco: A/equine/Nador/1/1997(H3N8), A/equine/Essaouira/2/2004 (H3N8) and A/equine/Essaouira/3/2004 (H3N8).