Publications by authors named "William Bellini"

Background: Measles can lead to serious complications and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study we aimed to assess the etiological diagnosis of discarded measles cases in the context of an outbreak among a highly immunized population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of discarded measles cases from an outbreak that occurred from October 2006 to July 2007 in Catalonia.

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There is no use restriction associated with bees for many fungicides used in agriculture; however, this does not always mean that these pesticides are harmless for these nontarget organisms. We investigated whether the fungicide pyraclostrobin, which acts on fungal mitochondria, also negatively affects honey bee mitochondrial bioenergetics. Honey bees were collected from 5 hives and anesthetized at 4 °C.

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In the past decade, multiple mumps outbreaks have occurred in the United States, primarily in close-contact, high-density settings such as colleges, with a high attack rate among young adults, many of whom had the recommended 2 doses of mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Waning humoral immunity and the circulation of divergent wild-type mumps strains have been proposed as contributing factors to mumps resurgence. Blood samples from 71 healthy 18- to 23-year-old college students living in a non-outbreak area were assayed for antibodies and memory B cells (MBCs) to mumps, measles, and rubella.

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Waning mumps IgG antibody and incomplete IgG avidity maturation may increase susceptibility to mumps virus infection in some vaccinees. To measure mumps IgG avidity, serum specimens serially diluted to the endpoint were incubated on a commercial mumps-specific IgG enzyme immunoassay and treated with the protein denaturant diethylamine (60 mM, pH 10). End titer avidity indices (etAIs [percent ratio of detected diethylamine-resistant IgG at endpoint]) were calculated.

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Silkworm cocoon production has been reduced due to a number of problems other than those inherent in sericulture, such as diseases, malnutrition, and inappropriate management. The use of pesticides in areas surrounding mulberry fields can contaminate these plants and consequently harm caterpillars. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the application of the fungicide pyraclostrobin in mulberry plants interferes with the mitochondrial bioenergetics and the productive performance of silkworms.

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In the United States, approximately 9% of the measles cases reported from 2012 to 2014 occurred in vaccinated individuals. Laboratory confirmation of measles in vaccinated individuals is challenging since IgM assays can give inconclusive results. Although a positive reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay result from an appropriately timed specimen can provide confirmation, negative results may not rule out a highly suspicious case.

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This article describes measles and measles vaccination, along with the challenges, successes, and progress in the postelimination era.

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Background: The long-term antibody response to measles vaccine (MV) administered at age 6 months with or without subsequent doses is not well documented.

Methods: Measles serum antibody responses were evaluated after a supplemental dose of measles vaccine (sMV) administered at a median age of 20 months among Malawian children who had previously received 2 doses of measles vaccine (MV) at ages 6 and 9 months (HIV-infected and random sample of HIV-uninfected) or 1 dose at age 9 months (random sample of HIV-uninfected). We compared measles antibody seropositivity between groups by enzyme linked immunoassay and seroprotection by plaque reduction neutralization geometric mean concentrations.

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Background: The burden of rotavirus morbidity and mortality is high in children aged <5 years in developing countries, and evaluations indicate waning protection from rotavirus immunization in the second year. An additional dose of rotavirus vaccine may enhance the immune response and lengthen the period of protection against disease, but coadministration of this dose should not interfere with immune responses to concurrently given vaccines.

Methods: A total of 480 9-month-old participants from Matlab, Bangladesh, were enrolled in a study with a primary objective to establish noninferiority of concomitant administration of measles-rubella vaccine (MR) and a third dose of human rotavirus vaccine (HRV; MR + HRV), compared with MR given alone.

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Background: Measles, a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause severe complications, was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. The last published summary of US measles epidemiology was during 2001-2008. We summarized US measles epidemiology during 2009-2014.

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Article Synopsis
  • Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective (97%) against measles, but some individuals experience waning immunity, prompting a study on the efficacy of a third dose (MMR3) in young adults.
  • In a study of 662 participants, the majority were seropositive for measles antibodies before receiving MMR3, and only minor changes in immune response were observed one month and one year post-vaccination.
  • The findings suggest that a third dose of the MMR vaccine does not significantly enhance immunity or warrant routine administration based on the limited immune response detected.
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Purpose: Hypomorphic mutations in RAG1 and RAG2 are associated with significant clinical heterogeneity and symptoms of immunodeficiency or autoimmunity may be late in appearance. As a result, immunosuppressive medications may be introduced that can have life-threatening consequences. We describe a previously healthy 13-month-old girl presenting with rash and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, while highlighting the importance of vigilance and consideration of an underlying severe immunodeficiency disease prior to instituting immunosuppressive therapy.

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On May 15, 2014, CDC was notified of two laboratory-confirmed measles cases in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), after 20 years with no reported measles. FSM was assisted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and CDC in investigating suspected cases, identify contacts, conduct analyses to guide outbreak vaccination response, and review vaccine cold chain practices. During February–August, three of FSM’s four states reported measles cases: Kosrae (139 cases), Pohnpei (251), and Chuuk (3).

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Background: Children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (PHIV) may not be protected against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) because of impaired initial vaccine response or waning immunity. Our objectives were to estimate seroimmunity in PHIV-infected and perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children and identify predictors of immunity in the PHIV cohort.

Methods: PHIV and HEU children were enrolled in the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS) at ages 7-15 years from 2007 to 2009.

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Background.  In the United States, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella immunity is now primarily achieved through vaccination. Monitoring population immunity is necessary.

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A 29-year-old pregnant woman developed progressively worsening encephalopathy, left hemiparesis, and hemodynamic instability over a 6-week period. Initial brain MRI and work-up for infectious and autoimmune causes were normal, although elevated IgG and oligoclonal bands were seen on analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). After uncomplicated spontaneous delivery of a preterm healthy infant, her condition worsened.

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Article Synopsis
  • * There was a moderate level of agreement between two testing methods used to measure measles immunity, indicated by a Kappa value of 0.59.
  • * More research is necessary to identify the factors that influence immunity in individuals within this population.
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Virologic surveillance is a critical component of measles management. One of the criteria for verification of elimination of endemic measles is genetic analysis of wild-type viruses to demonstrate lack of an indigenous genotype. Measles is yet to be eliminated in China, and genotype H1 has been detected continuously since virologic surveillance was initiated in 1993.

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Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that can lead to serious complications and death. Although measles elimination (i.e.

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The length of the single stranded, negative sense RNA genome of measles virus (MeV) is highly conserved at 15,894 nucleotides (nt). MeVs can be grouped into 24 genotypes based on the highly variable 450 nucleotides coding for the carboxyl-terminus of the nucleocapsid protein (N-450). Here, we report the genomic sequences of 2 wild-type viral isolates of genotype D4 with genome lengths of 15,900 nt.

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Background: Measles was eliminated in the United States through high vaccination coverage and a public health system able to rapidly respond to measles. Measles may occur among vaccinated individuals, but secondary transmission from such individuals has not been documented.

Methods: Suspected patients and contacts exposed during a measles outbreak in New York City in 2011 were investigated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Neutralizing antibodies are crucial for protection against mumps virus, but measuring them is complicated and time-consuming, leading to reliance on ELISAs to check for mumps-specific IgG levels.
  • There’s a poor correlation between these IgG measurements and actual mumps neutralization, which indicates the need for better ELISA methods that match neutralization outcomes.
  • The study showed that responses to different mumps proteins might explain the inconsistencies in serologic tests, and that some people who test positive might still have low levels of neutralizing antibodies, potentially overstating their immunity.
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Importance: To verify the elimination of endemic measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) from the Western hemisphere, the Pan American Health Organization requested each member country to compile a national elimination report. The United States documented the elimination of endemic measles in 2000 and of endemic rubella and CRS in 2004. In December 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened an external expert panel to review the evidence and determine whether elimination of endemic measles, rubella, and CRS had been sustained.

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Background: China experienced several large measles outbreaks in the past two decades, and a series of enhanced control measures were implemented to achieve the goal of measles elimination. Molecular epidemiologic surveillance of wild-type measles viruses (MeV) provides valuable information about the viral transmission patterns. Since 1993, virologic surveillnace has confirmed that a single endemic genotype H1 viruses have been predominantly circulating in China.

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