Optimizing environmental viral surveillance: bovine serum albumin increases RT-qPCR sensitivity for high pathogenicity avian influenza H5Nx virus detection from dust samples.

With the circulation of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses having intensified considerably in recent years, the European Union is considering the vaccination of farmed birds. A prerequisite for this vaccination is the implementation of drastic surveillance protocols. Environmental sampling is a relevant alternative to animal sampling.

A real-time colourimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of highly pathogenic H5 clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza viruses.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) are a major threat to the global poultry industry and public health due to their zoonotic potential. Since 2016, Europe and France have faced major epizootics caused by clade 2.3.

Household Cases Suggest That Cats Belonging to Owners with COVID-19 Have a Limited Role in Virus Transmission.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for COVID-19 and spread rapidly following its emergence in Wuhan in 2019. Although cats are, among other domestic animals, susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, little is known about their epidemiological role in the dynamics of a household infection. In this study, we monitored five cats for viral shedding daily.

Experience of a Portuguese Center: Effectiveness of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C.

Introduction: In late 2014, Portugal implemented a national program for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with directacting antiviral agents. This program has made Portugal one of the first European countries to implement a structured measure of treatment to eliminate this serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C Virus Eradication in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience in Portugal.

Introduction: Hepatitis C (HCV) is a major cause of liver impairment post-kidney transplantation (KT). Anti-HCV direct-acting antivirals (DAA) made viral eradication possible.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of KT patients (n = 23) who received DAA at our hospital.

Repeated exposure reduces the response to impulsive noise in European seabass.

Human activities have changed the acoustic environment of many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems around the globe. Mounting evidence indicates that the resulting anthropogenic noise can impact the behaviour and physiology of at least some species in a range of taxa. However, the majority of experimental studies have considered only immediate responses to single, relatively short-term noise events.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients on Third Generation Nucleos(t)ides Analogs: Risk Factors and Performance of a Risk Score.

Objective: To investigate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence, risk factors and the performance of baseline REACH-B risk score in a Portuguese chronic hepatitis B (CHB) population on antiviral therapy.

Methods: Retrospective study of CHB patients who were treated with tenofovir or entecavir for at least 12 months. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with HCC.

Lack of impact of hepatitis C virus infection on graft survival after kidney transplantation--a Portuguese single-center experience.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a common problem among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. The long-term burden of HCV infection on graft survival after kidney transplantation is controversial.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study including all renal transplant recipients with HCV infection (n = 34) compared with a control group (n = 80).

[Cyclosporin A--a therapeutic alternative in giant-cell arteritis?].

Cyclosporine A (CyA) is an immune modulator that may treat immune diseases. The authors present two cases of temporal arteritis treated with CyA; the two patients improved very quickly and after the first six or eight weeks of treatment there were no clinical or laboratory signs of inflammation. As to adverse effects there was a moderate increase in serum creatinine and arterial pressure levels which were controlled when the CyA dosage was reduced.

[Essential thrombocythemia. Therapy with interferon alfa].

A clinical case of essential thrombocythaemia is presented to demonstrate good therapeutic response to subcutaneous Alpha-2b Interferon in a dosage of 3 x 10(6) units, three times a week. Based on this case and on a literature research we propose that Alpha-2b Interferon is a legitimate alternative to alkylating agents or radioactive phosphorus (32P), showing identical efficacy and less Leukemogen effect.