Correlation analysis of EV71 detection and case severity in hand, foot, and mouth disease in the Hunan Province of China.

An increase in the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases has been observed in the Hunan province of mainland China since 2009 with a particularly higher level of severe cases in 2010-2012. Intestinal viruses of the picornaviridae family are responsible for the human syndrome associated with HFMD with enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (Cox A16) being the most common causative strains. HFMD cases associated with EV71 are generally more severe with an increased association of morbidity and mortality.

Evaluation of post-mortem heart blood culture in a Chinese population.

Background: Post-mortem blood cultures have been used in a wide variety of research studies. However, their significance is still a matter of dispute among medico-legal experts. This study was aimed to determine the factors which influenced post-mortem blood culture results and to assess their value in determining the cause of death.

[Analysis on genetic characteristics of mumps virus strains circulating in Hunan province in 2011].

Objective: To be acquainted with genetic characteristics and variation of mumps virus strains circulating in Hunan province.

Methods: Mumps virus (MV) strains were isolated using Vero/ SLAM cells. The small hydrophobic protein (SH) genes of MV isolates were sequenced, and the sequences were analysed phylogenetically between the isolated strains and other reference mumps strains.

[Virological surveillance of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus and its genetic characteristics in Hunan Province, 2009-2011].

To understand and master the dynamic variation of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in Hunan province from 2009 to 2011, and to know the genetic characteristics and drug resistance of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses. Throat swab specimens of influenza-like illness patients were collected from sentinel hospitals and tested for influenza by fluorescent PCR or virus isolation methods. Partial isolates were selected for sequencing.

[Analysis of genetic features of influenza B virus in Hunan province from 2007 to 2010].

Objective: To investigate the gene variations of influenza B virus isolated in Hunan province from 2007 to 2010.

Methods: A total of 42 strains of influenza B virus,which were isolated in the Influenza Surveillance Network Laboratories in Hunan province between year 2007 and 2010, were selected for the study. The hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the selected strains were amplified by RT-PCR, and the sequence of the purified product were detected and homologically compared with the sequence of influenza vaccine strains isolated from Northern Hemisphere by WHO during the same period.

[Surveillance on the etiology and genetic characteristics of rabies in Hunan province, from 2008 to 2009].

Objective: To analyze the etiology of rabies in Hunan province and the genetic characteristics of rabies N gene isolated from 2008 to 2009.

Methods: Direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) and nested PCR were employed to detect the monitoring samples including brain tissues of dogs and saliva, serum or urine which were collected in 2008 to 2009, from the rabies patients. Positive samples were sequenced by ABI3730 gene analyzer for the full length of the N gene target.

Molecular characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of N gene of human derived rabies virus.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the molecular characteristics and phylogenetic evolution of rabies N gene.

Methods: Saliva samples were collected from rabies cases, and RT-PCR was used to amplify the N gene of rabies virus with the specific primers. The amplifying product of RT-PCR was cloned to pUCm-T vector and transformed into E.

[Molecular characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses isolated from humans in Hunan province, 2006 - 2009].

Objective: To understand the possible origins, genetic re-assortment and molecular characterization of 4 highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses isolated from humans in Hunan province, between 2006 and 2009.

Methods: H5N1 PCR test-positive specimens were inoculated in embryonated eggs while H5N1 virus was isolated and genomes sequenced. Genome homology and genetic molecular characterization were analyzed by BLAST and MEGA 4.

[Serological survey of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection among population in Hunan Province].

Objective: To understand the infection condition and analytical methods of Influenza A (H1N1) virus in the population of Hunan Province during different periods.

Methods: Quick surveys on the positive rate of Influenza A (H1N1) virus hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test have been conducted for 5 times successively from November 2009 to March 2010 in 14 medical and health institutions of Changsha city, whose results were then compared with those from the sampling surveys of whole Hunan province.

Results: 2131 subjects were involved in this study; the total population standardized rates of antibody positive investigated for 5 times were 9.

[Pathogenic diagnosis of an unexplained epidemic event of infectious diarrhea].

Objective: To determine the pathogen of an unexplained epidemic event of infectious diarrhea by laboratory diagnosis of suspected cases samples.

Methods: 28 samples from 28 suspected cases (22 fecal samples, 3 vomitus samples, 3 anus swab samples) were tested for Norovirus by RT-PCR. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were acomplished of 5 positive samples.

[Viral surveillance on rabies in Hunan province, in 2006].

Objective: To understand the source and distribution of rabies virus (RV) in Hunan province with viral surveillance in order to provide scientific measures for prevention and control on rabies.

Methods: Brain samples from healthy-looking domestic dogs were collected in the agricultural markets at the districts of high, middle, and low incidence rates and detected by direct Immunofluorescence assay (DFA). Positive samples would be further detected by RT-PCR and the surveillance samples were detected by RT-PCR.

[Virological surveillance on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Hunan province in 2006].

Objective: To understand the rate of viral carrying status among rodents as well as genotypes and distribution of Hantaviruses (HV) isolated in Hunan province.

Methods: With DFA, the HV antigen in lung tissues of rodents was detected. The total viral RNA was extracted from the lung tissues of the HV infected rats and amplified with reverse transcrition-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using the HV genotype specific primers.

[Laboratory diagnosis and molecular characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) in human in Hunan Province in 2005-2006].

To determine the etiologic agents of two atypical pneumonia human cases in Hunan Province in 2005-2006 and to study their pathogenic potential, the patients' respiratory tract samples and sera were collected. The respiratory tract samples were tested by real-time RT-PCR and RT-PCR methods, and the sera by hemagglutination-inhibition assay. Virus was isolated from case 2 and its genome was sequenced and analyzed.

[Laboratory diagnoses of the first confirmed human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in the mainland of China].

Background: To determine the etiologic agent of an atypical pneumonia human case admitted to Xiangtan City hospital, Hunan Province in Oct. 2005.

Methods: The patient's respiratory tract samples and serum were collected.

[Treating high strength antibiotic wastewater by micro-aerobic hydrolysis and acidification process].

The effect of micro-aerobic hydrolysis and acidification to high strength antibiotic wastewater treatment is studied. The results demonstrate that micro oxygen enhanced the physiological metabolizability of facultative hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria, and aerating stirring improved the hydraulic condition. Degree of acidification (AD) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the effluent reached 58.