A multi-country field validation of the FluChip-8G Insight Assay.

Introduction: It is critical to rapidly detect novel and non-seasonal influenza strains. Currently available assays have limited sensitivity in detecting novel influenza subtypes. We performed a multi-country field validation of the FluChip-8G Insight, an assay able to detect and characterize influenza A/B viruses and non-seasonal influenza viruses.

Chikungunya Virus Infections Among Patients with Dengue-Like Illness at a Tertiary Care Hospital in the Philippines, 2012-2013.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) often co-circulates with dengue virus (DENV). A cross-sectional surveillance study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines, to describe the prevalence and characteristics of DENV and CHIKV infections among patients seeking care for dengue-like illness. Acute blood samples from patients ≥ 6 months of age clinically diagnosed with dengue from November 2012 to December 2013 underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect DENV and CHIKV RNA.

Elevated transmission of upper respiratory illness among new recruits in military barracks in Thailand.

Background: New recruits within military barracks present conditions favorable for the spread of respiratory pathogens. However, respiratory pathogen transmission in such confined settings in the tropics has not been well studied.

Methods: Recruits in four successive Royal Thai Army basic training classes living in military barracks were monitored for the symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) or upper respiratory illness (URI).

Monitoring and improving the sensitivity of dengue nested RT-PCR used in longitudinal surveillance in Thailand.

Background: AFRIMS longitudinal dengue surveillance in Thailand depends on the nested RT-PCR and the dengue IgM/IgG ELISA.

Objective: To examine and improve the sensitivity of the nested RT-PCR using a panel of archived samples collected during dengue surveillance.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 16,454 dengue IgM/IgG ELISA positive cases collected between 2000 and 2013 was done to investigate the sensitivity of the nested RT-PCR.

The impact of primer and probe-template mismatches on the sensitivity of pandemic influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus detection by real-time RT-PCR.

Background: In response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic the US CDC and WHO rapidly developed and distributed a real-time RT-PCR kit to detect this strain in clinical samples. The results from the WHO swH1 primer and probe set exhibited diverse sensitivities for the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 strains in Southeast Asia (SEA).

Objective: Investigate the primer and probe-template mismatches among the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 strains in SEA that reduced the real-time RT-PCR sensitivity.

High rates of apoptosis in human Mycobacterium ulcerans culture-positive buruli ulcer skin lesions.

Buruli ulcer, a disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, causes ulcerative skin disease likely generated by a toxin that mediates apoptosis. We analyzed paraffin-embedded sections of surgically excised Buruli ulcer lesions (two ulcers and one edematous plaque) and adjacent non-lesional skin samples (n = 9) for apoptosis by an indirect immunofluorescent terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. All samples were stained for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and cultured for mycobacteria, and most were analyzed with an M.