Seroepidemiological Study of Interepidemic Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection Among Persons with Intense Ruminant Exposure in Madagascar and Kenya.

In this cross-sectional seroepidemiological study we sought to examine the evidence for circulation of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) among herders in Madagascar and Kenya. From July 2010 to June 2012, we enrolled 459 herders and 98 controls (without ruminant exposures) and studied their sera (immunoglobulin G [IgG] and IgM through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and plaque reduction neutralization test [PRNT] assays) for evidence of previous RVFV infection. Overall, 59 (12.

Absence of neutralizing antibodies against influenza A/H5N1 virus among children in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand.

Background: Influenza A/H5N1 actively circulated in Kamphaeng Phet (KPP), Thailand from 2004 to 2006. A prospective longitudinal cohort study of influenza virus infection in 800 adults conducted during 2008-2010 in KPP suggested that subclinical or mild H5N1 infections had occurred among this adult cohort. However, this study was conducted after the peak of H5N1 activity in KPP.

Serological evidence of equine influenza infections among persons with horse exposure, Iowa.

Background: Equine influenza virus (EIV) is considered enzootic in North America and experimental studies have documented human EIV infections.

Study Design: This cross-sectional study examined 94 horse-exposed and 34 non-exposed controls for serological evidence of EIV infection. Sera were evaluated for antibodies against three EIV and two human H3N2 viruses using microneutralization (MN), neuraminidase inhibition (NI), enzyme-linked lectin (ELLA), and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) serological assays.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Seroprevalence of Influenza A(H9N2) Infection Among Humans.

Introduction: Given that influenza A(H9N2) is recognized as a pandemic threat, we evaluated the overall burden of influenza A(H9N2) infections among avian-exposed human populations.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, AGRICOLA, and CAB Abstracts databases for literature published during 1997-2013. Studies reporting serological evidence of human influenza A(H9N2) infection among avian-exposed populations were included.

Elevated antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus among humans with exposure to ruminants in Saudi Arabia.

In 2000, an outbreak of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) occurred in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Since then there have been sparse efforts to monitor for RVFV reemergence. During 2012, we enrolled 300 individuals with ruminant exposure and 50 age-group matched non-exposed controls in southwestern KSA, in a cross-sectional epidemiological study of RVFV.

Sparse evidence of MERS-CoV infection among animal workers living in Southern Saudi Arabia during 2012.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging viral pathogen that primarily causes respiratory illness. We conducted a seroprevalence study of banked human serum samples collected in 2012 from Southern Saudi Arabia. Sera from 300 animal workers (17% with daily camel exposure) and 50 non-animal-exposed controls were examined for serological evidence of MERS-CoV infection by a pseudoparticle MERS-CoV spike protein neutralization assay.

Equine influenza A(H3N8) virus isolated from Bactrian camel, Mongolia.

Because little is known about the ecology of influenza viruses in camels, 460 nasal swab specimens were collected from healthy (no overt illness) Bactrian camels in Mongolia during 2012. One specimen was positive for influenza A virus (A/camel/Mongolia/335/2012[H3N8]), which is phylogenetically related to equine influenza A(H3N8) viruses and probably represents natural horse-to-camel transmission.

High rate of A(H1N1)pdm09 infections among rural Thai villagers, 2009-2010.

Background: Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 emerged in Thailand in 2009. A prospective longitudinal adult cohort and household transmission study of influenza-like illness (ILI) was ongoing in rural Thailand at the time of emergence. Symptomatic and subclinical A(H1N1)pdm09 infection rates in the cohort and among household members were evaluated.

A prospective study of Romanian agriculture workers for zoonotic influenza infections.

Background: In this prospective study we sought to examine seroepidemiological evidence for acute zoonotic influenza virus infection among Romanian agricultural workers.

Methods: Sera were drawn upon enrollment (2009) and again at 12 and 24 months from 312 adult agriculture workers and 51 age-group matched controls. Participants were contacted monthly for 24 months and queried regarding episodes of acute influenza-like illnesses (ILI).

Evidence for subclinical H5N1 avian influenza infections among Nigerian poultry workers.

In recent years Nigeria has experienced sporadic incursions of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza among poultry. In 2008, 316 poultry-exposed agricultural workers, and 54 age-group matched non-poultry exposed adults living in the Enugu or Ebonyi States of Nigeria were enrolled and then contacted monthly for 24 months to identify acute influenza-like-illnesses. Annual follow-up sera and questionnaire data were collected at 12 and 24 months.

Comparison of commercial influenza A virus assays in detecting avian influenza H7N9 among poultry cloacal swabs, China.

Background: Avian H7N9 virus emerged in China in February 2013 and has since spread widely among China's poultry, causing numerous human infections.

Objectives: To compare World Health Organization (WHO) and US commercial influenza assays in detecting avian H7N9 virus in poultry cloacal specimens.

Study Design: Between April 6 and July 15, 2013, 261 cloacal swabs were collected from commercial poultry in Nanjing and Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China.

Little evidence of avian or equine influenza virus infection among a cohort of Mongolian adults with animal exposures, 2010-2011.

Avian (AIV) and equine influenza virus (EIV) have been repeatedly shown to circulate among Mongolia's migrating birds or domestic horses. In 2009, 439 Mongolian adults, many with occupational exposure to animals, were enrolled in a prospective cohort study of zoonotic influenza transmission. Sera were drawn upon enrollment and again at 12 and 24 months.

Little evidence of human infection with equine influenza during the 2007 epizootic, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Equine influenza virus (EIV) is considered enzootic in Europe (except Iceland), Asia, North Africa, and North and South America. When EIV outbreaks occur they may severely impact the equine and tourist industries. Australia faced its first EIV outbreak beginning in August of 2007.

No evidence for zoonotic transmission of H3N8 canine influenza virus among US adults occupationally exposed to dogs.

Objectives: The zoonotic potential of H3N8 canine influenza virus (CIV) has not been previously examined; yet considering the popularity of dogs as a companion animal and the zoonotic capabilities of other influenza viruses, the public health implications are great. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against CIV among a US cohort.

Design: A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted between 2007 and 2010.

Serological evidence for avian H9N2 influenza virus infections among Romanian agriculture workers.

In recent years, wild birds have introduced multiple highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus infections in Romanian poultry. In 2005 HPAI infections were widespread among domestic poultry and anecdotal reports suggested domestic pigs may also have been exposed. We sought to examine evidence for zoonotic influenza infections among Romanian agriculture workers.

Prospective study of avian influenza virus infections among rural Thai villagers.

Background: In 2008, 800 rural Thai adults living within Kamphaeng Phet Province were enrolled in a prospective cohort study of zoonotic influenza transmission. Serological analyses of enrollment sera suggested this cohort had experienced subclinical avian influenza virus (AIV) infections with H9N2 and H5N1 viruses.

Methods: After enrollment, participants were contacted weekly for 24 mos for acute influenza-like illnesses (ILI).

Sparse evidence for equine or avian influenza virus infections among Mongolian adults with animal exposures.

In recent years, Mongolia has experienced recurrent epizootics of equine influenza virus (EIV) among its 2·1 million horses and multiple incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus via migrating birds. No human EIV or HPAI infections have been reported. In 2009, 439 adults in Mongolia were enrolled in a population-based study of zoonotic influenza transmission.

Serologic evidence of avian influenza virus infections among Nigerian agricultural workers.

Nigeria has had multiple incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 virus into its poultry population since 2006. This study aimed to determine if Nigerians exposed to poultry had evidence of avian influenza virus transmission to man. Between 2008 and 2010, 316 adult farmers and open market workers and 54 age-group matched, non-animal exposed controls were enrolled in a prospective, population-based study of zoonotic influenza transmission in four towns in southeastern Nigeria.

Isolation and characterization of H3N8 equine influenza A virus associated with the 2011 epizootic in Mongolia.

Background: Equine influenza virus (EIV) epizootics affect 2.1 million Mongolian horses approximately every 10 years and critically impact economy and nomadic livelihood of Mongolia.

Objectives: An active surveillance program was established in 2011 to monitor influenza viruses circulating among Mongolian horses.

Recovery of live virus after storage at ambient temperature using ViveST™.

Background: A major impediment to performing virological field studies in developing nations is the lack of ultra-low freezers as well as the expense and difficulty of shipping frozen samples. A commercially available product, ViveST™, was developed to preserve nucleic acids at ambient temperature for use in specimen storage and transportation. However, its applications as a viral storage, transport and recovery device have not been evaluated.

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus among healthy show pigs, United States.

Within 5 months after the earliest detection of human influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, we found molecular and culture evidence of the virus in healthy US show pigs. The mixing of humans and pigs at swine shows possibly could further the geographic and cross-species spread of influenza A viruses.

A comparison of viral fitness and virulence between emergent adenovirus 14p1 and prototype adenovirus 14p strains.

Background: Epidemiological studies from the last decade have suggested that the morbidity and mortality associated with a newly emergent strain of human adenovirus (HAdV-14p1) is greater than other, more prevalent, adenovirus strains. Recent molecular analysis identified very minor genetic differences in HAdV-14p1 compared to prototype HAdV-14p. No studies have evaluated how these differences may affect virulence.