The sero‐epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) across livestock species and herding contexts in Laikipia County,Kenya

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Query fever (Q fever), is among the most highly infectious zoonotic pathogens transmitted among livestock, with chronic effects challenging to veterinary and medical detection and care systems. Transmission among domestic livestock species can vary regionally due to herd management practices that determine which livestock species are raised, whether or not livestock are in contact with wildlife, and the susceptibility of these livestock to infection. To explore how different livestock management practices are associated with the risk of infection in multispecies environments, we carried out a comparative study of three types of herd management systems in the central Kenyan county of Laikipia: agro‐commercial, mixed conservancy/commercial, and smallholder ranches. We tested C. burnetii antibody seroprevalence in four common livestock species. Across all management types, the highest seroprevalence was in camels (20%), followed by goats (18%), sheep (13%), and cattle (6%). We observed a lower odds of testing seropositive for young compared to adult animals (adjusted OR = 0.44 [95% CI 0.24, 0.76]), and for males compared to females (adjusted OR = 0.52 [95% CI 0.33, 0.80]). Animals from mixed conservancy/commercial and smallholder operations had a higher odds of testing seropositive compared to animals from agro‐commercial ranches (adjusted OR = 5.17 [95% CI 2.71, 10.44] and adjusted OR = 2.21 [95% CI 1.17, 4.43] respectively). These data suggest that herd management practices might affect the transmission dynamics of C. burnetiiin arid African ecosystems like those seen in Kenya where several transmission modes are possible, risk of drought has promoted new livestock species such as camels, and multiple wildlife species may co‐occur with livestock on the landscape. Further longitudinal studies are needed to disentangle the mechanisms underlying these patterns, and further explore transmission patterns between wildlife, domestic animal, and human populations.     

云南省猪戊型肝炎血清流行病学调查

 为了解云南省猪群戊型肝炎流行情况，从各地养猪场、屠宰场共采集270份血清，应用双抗夹心酶联免疫测定法（DS-ELISA）进行血清学调查。检测结果174份样品呈HEV-IgG抗体阳性，总阳性率64.4%，其中养殖场血清抗体阳性率为55.6%，屠宰厂为68.9%。比较养殖场的各年龄阶段猪群显示，母猪群血清抗体阳性率最高，为71.4%。本研究表明猪戊型肝炎在云南省也有存在，并呈一定的流行趋势，感染率随年龄增长而升高。     

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii during Pregnancy: Seroepidemiological Studies in Austria

Seropositivity among pregnant woman in Austria has decreased from 48% to 50% at the end of the 1970s to 35% in recent years. Despite this decrease, knowledge of possible sources and risk factors for Toxoplasma infection remains important. We reviewed seroepidemiological studies that were undertaken to assess the roles of undercooked meat and oocysts in cat faeces as potential sources of infection in pregnant women. Improved management and hygiene in pig herds raised in confinement have resulted in less contact of pigs with cats and a decrease of infected pigs within one decade from 14% in 1982 to 0.9% in 1992. In Austrian wild boar populations, however, seroprevalences remained essentially unchanged during the same decade (18% in 1983 and 19% in 1990–1993). Austrian sheep and goats are usually kept on small farms where cats abound and are predominantly seropositive (66% in sheep and 69% in goats). The seroprevalence in cats has decreased from approximately 81% in 1987 to 59% in 1996; presumably because of cats’ increased consumption of processed food. Despite the decrease of infection in pregnant women via the cat‐to‐pig pathway, it may be offset by a recent concomitant increase in mutton consumption. Free‐ranging chickens are a good indicator of the prevalence of T. gondii oocysts in the soil because chickens are ground feeders. Antibodies to T. gondii, as evaluated by the modified agglutination test, were found in 36% of chickens from 12 Austrian ‘biofarms’. Because Austrians rarely consume raw pork, the fraction of human T. gondii infections associated with pig meat consumption is likely small. As meat consumption and lifestyle patterns change in Austria, the risk of human infection with T. gondii via different pathways needs re‐evaluation and targeted educational efforts to control transmission.     

辽宁地区鸡乙型肝炎的血清流行病学调查

应用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）对辽宁地区鸡血清标本进行了乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）、乙型肝炎表面抗体（HBsAb）、乙型肝炎e抗原（HBeAg）和乙型肝炎核心抗体（HBcAb）的血清流行病学调查。结果显示：鸡HBsAg阳性率为9．09％；HBsAb阳性率为5．88％HBeAg、HBcAb阳性率为0。     

牛病毒性腹泻分子及血清流行病学研究进展

牛病毒性腹泻病毒主要侵害牛,尤其是犊牛,引起以腹泻(急性感染症状)和黏膜病(慢性持续性感染症状)为临床特征的疾病,给养牛业造成了巨大损失。为此,主要就牛病毒性腹泻的病原特征、分子及血清流行病学概况进行了综述。     

Seroepidemiology of Selected Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses in Bats in Trinidad

A serosurvey of antibodies against selected flaviviruses and alphaviruses in 384 bats (representing 10 genera and 14 species) was conducted in the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Sera were analysed using epitope‐blocking enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) specific for antibodies against West Nile virus (WNV), Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), all of which are zoonotic viruses of public health significance in the region. Overall, the ELISAs resulted in the detection of VEEV‐specific antibodies in 11 (2.9%) of 384 bats. Antibodies to WNV and EEEV were not detected in any sera. Of the 384 sera, 308 were also screened using hemagglutination inhibition assay (HIA) for antibodies to the aforementioned viruses as well as St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV; which also causes epidemic disease in humans), Rio Bravo virus (RBV), Tamana bat virus (TABV) and western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV). Using this approach, antibodies to TABV and RBV were detected in 47 (15.3%) and 3 (1.0%) bats, respectively. HIA results also suggest the presence of antibodies to an undetermined flavivirus(es) in 8 (2.6%) bats. Seropositivity for TABV was significantly (P < 0.05; χ²) associated with bat species, location and feeding preference, and for VEEV with roost type and location. Differences in prevalence rates between urban and rural locations were statistically significant (P < 0.05; χ²) for TABV only. None of the aforementioned factors was significantly associated with RBV seropositivity rates.     

检测猪乙型脑炎病毒抗体间接ELISA方法的建立与应用

以乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)弱毒疫苗株作为诊断抗原,对ELISA反应条件进行优化,初步建立了检测猪乙型脑炎病毒血清抗体的间接ELISA方法。应用该法检测从江苏、安徽、山东、浙江4省部分地区收集到的1089份血样,对华东地区猪乙型脑炎血清流行病学进行初步调查。结果JEV抗体阳性率为68.2%,其中,种猪JEV抗体阳性率为82.1%,商品猪JEV抗体阳性率为62.6%。从中随机抽取135份血样与国产商品化试剂盒进行比较,间接ELISA方法的特异性和敏感性分别为92%和96.4%,2种方法的符合率为95.6%;与NS1蛋白包被建立的ELISA比较,两者的符合率为97.7%;同时,本法的阳性检出率显著高于临床普遍使用的乳胶凝集试验结果。由此表明,本试验建立的间接ELISA方法具有较高的敏感性和特异性,适于大规模猪乙型脑炎血清流行病学调查。     

应用基因重组NcSRS1抗原对新疆部分地区牛（牦牛）新孢子虫病的血清学调查

目的为摸清新疆部分地区牛（牦牛）感染新孢子虫病的情况。方法从阿勒泰市牛场、104团三分牧场牦牛、乌鲁木齐种牛场的随机抽样48头份血清,采用直接酶联免疫吸附反应（direct-ELISA）法进行检测。结果阿勒泰市牛场感染率为53％（9／17）,乌鲁木齐种牛场感染率为0％（0／15）,104团三分牧场牦牛感染率为0％（0／16）,总感染率为18．8％（9／48）。结论新孢子虫病已经传入新疆地区,应引起人们足够重视,加强防范。     

云南省地方品种鸡群4种垂直传播病毒血清流行病学调查

为了解云南省地方品种鸡群中禽白血病病毒(ALV)、禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒(REV)、鸡传染性贫血病毒(CAV)和禽脑脊髓炎病毒(AEV)的感染情况,采用ELISA方法对云南省滇东、滇西、滇中、滇南和滇北5个区域8个地方品种鸡群的2295份血清样品进行了上述4种垂直传播病毒的抗体检测。结果显示:云南省8个地方品种鸡群中,ALV、REV、CAV和AEV平均抗体阳性率分别为27.02%、72.77%、98.47%和76.25%,二重、三重、四重感染率分别为32.90%、36.38%、15.90%;不同区域、不同品种鸡群中均存在上述4种病原的感染,抗体阳性率有一定差异,但无规律性。结果表明,云南省地方品种鸡群中4种垂直传播病毒感染率较高,流行面较广,且呈现严重的混合感染状态。结果提示:应重视这4种可垂直传播病原的流行控制,谨防因病毒混合感染导致重大疫病免疫失败;继续加强抗体检测,及时淘汰阳性鸡群,净化种群,同时定期进行疫苗污染监测,提升饲养管理水平,保障云南省地方鸡种质资源的安全健康发展。