Evaluating the public health response to a mass bat exposure—Wyoming, 2017

Mass bat exposures (MBEs) occur when multiple people are exposed to a bat or a bat colony, often over an extended period. In August 2017, a public health investigation was started in response to an MBE that occurred during May–August 2017 at a national park research station in Wyoming. We identified 176 people who had slept primarily in two lodges (Lodges A and B) at the research station, and successfully contacted 165 (93.8%) of these individuals. Risk assessments (RAs) were administered to all 165 individuals to determine degree and type of exposures to bats (e.g., biting or scratching). Exposure status for research station guests was classified as “non‐exposed,” “low risk” or “high risk,” and counselling was provided to guide post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) recommendations. Prior to public health notification and intervention, 19 persons made the decision to pursue PEP. The healthcare‐seeking behaviours of this group were taken to represent outcomes in the absence of public health intervention. (These persons received a RA, and their risk classification was retrospectively assigned.) Approximately 1–2 weeks after conducting the RAs, we conducted a follow‐up survey to determine whether recommendations regarding PEP were ultimately followed. The proportion of individuals that unnecessarily pursued PEP was higher among the 19 individuals that sought health care prior to receiving the RA (p < 0.00001). Among those receiving the RA first, all persons classified as high risk followed public health guidance to seek PEP treatment. Despite this, upon re‐interview, only 21/79 (26.6%) of guests could accurately recall their risk classification, with most people (55.7%) overestimating their risk. Study findings demonstrate that early public health interventions such as RAs can reduce unnecessary use of PEP and that messaging used during rabies counselling should be clear.     

The serine protease inhibitors and SERPINE1/2 disrupt prostaglandin E2 production and hyaluronic acid retention in FSH‐stimulated pig cumulus–oocyte complexes

The serine proteases, tissue‐ and urokinase‐type plasminogen activators (PLAT and PLAU) and their inhibitors SERPINE1/2 are regulators of plasminogen to plasmin conversion. They are widely expressed in ovarian tissues, including granulosa and cumulus cells, and their expression is regulated by gonadotropins. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of serine protease inhibitors (aprotinin and AEBSF) and SERPINE1/2 on FSH‐induced cumulus cell expansion, the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and retention of hyaluronic acid (HA) in expanding cumulus. The serine protease activity proved to be essential for the production of PGE2 and also for the retention of HA; the inhibition of plasminogen activators by SERPINE1/2 had the same effect. Collectively, these data indicate that plasmin is required for proper function of expanding cumulus cells in vitro and presumably also in vivo in the pre‐ovulatory follicles.     

Investigation of infectious laryngotracheitis outbreaks in Namibia in 2018

Between July and August 2018, two outbreaks of infectious laryngotracheitis caused the death of over 116,000 commercial poultry (layers and broilers) near the city of Windhoek, Namibia. A third outbreak occurred in September 2018 in the north of the country approximately 800 km from the original outbreaks. Sample collection and molecular epidemiological analyses revealed that the outbreaks were most likely caused by poor vaccination practices leading to the reversion to virulence of an ILT vaccine strain. The analyses also indicate that inaccurate declarations were made by one of the farms involved and that illegal movement of animals most likely occurred.