Emerging Infectious Diseases back issues from February 2008:
Dissemination of clonally related Escherichia coli strains expressing extended-spectrum [beta]-lactamase CTX-M-15.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We analyzed 43 CTX-M-15--producing Escherichia coli isolates and 6 plasmids encoding the [bla.sub.CTX-M-15] gene from Canada, India, Kuwait, France, Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain. Most isolates belonged to phylogroups B2 (50%) and D (25%). An EC-B2 strain of clonal complex sequence type ...
Severe Streptococcus pyogenes infections, United Kingdom, 2003-2004.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this educational activity for a ...
Effectiveness of personal protective measures to prevent Lyme disease.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... After the manufacture of Lyme vaccine was discontinued in 2002, strategies to prevent Lyme disease (LD) have focused on personal protective measures. Effectiveness of these measures has not been conclusively demonstrated. The aim of our case--control study was to assess the effectiveness ...
Human bocavirus infections in hospitalized children and adults.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Studies have reported human bocavirus (HBoV) in children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs), but only occasionally in adults. We searched for HBoV DNA in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) from adults with exacerbations of chronic bronchitis or pneumonia, from children hospitalized for ...
Genetic determinants of virulence in pathogenic lineage 2 West Nile virus strains.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We determined complete genome sequences of lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV) strains isolated from patients in South Africa who had mild or severe WNV infections. These strains had previously been shown to produce either highly or less neuroinvasive infection and induced genes similar to ...
Unexpected occurrence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants in environmental Aeromonas spp.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We searched for plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants of the Qnr type in several water samples collected at diverse locations from the Seine River (Paris, France). The qnrS2 genes were identified from Aeromonas punctata subsp, punctata and A. media. The qnrS2 gene was located ...
Emergence of new norovirus variants on spring cruise ships and prediction of winter epidemics.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In June 2006, reported outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships suddenly increased; 43 outbreaks occurred on 13 vessels. All outbreaks investigated manifested person-to-person transmission. Detection of a point source was impossible because of limited investigation of initial outbreaks and ...
Cost-effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccination in the United States.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We describe a simplified model, based on the current economic and health effects of human papillomavirus (HPV), to estimate the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination of 12-year-old girls in the United States. Under base-case parameter values, the estimated cost per quality-adjusted life ...
Genetic characterization of feline leukemia virus from Florida panthers.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... From 2002 through 2005, an outbreak of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) occurred in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi). Clinical signs included lymphadenopathy, anemia, septicemia, and weight loss; 5 panthers died. Not associated with FeLV outcome were the genetic heritage of the panthers ...
Diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis, central Peruvian Highlands.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We evaluated prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in a central Peruvian Highland district by using 4 diagnostic methods: ultrasonography for 949 persons, radiography for 829, and 2 serologic tests for 929 (2 immunoblot formats using bovine hydatid cyst fluid [IBCF] and recombinant EpC1 ...
Cost-effectiveness of antiviral stockpiling and near-patient testing for potential influenza pandemic.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... A decision analytical model was developed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of stockpiling antiviral (AV) drugs for a potential influenza pandemic in the United Kingdom and the possible role of near-patient testing in conserving AV drug stocks. Under base-case assumptions (including a ...
Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in children, South Korea.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Despite the concern of replacement disease, notably by serotype 19A after 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7) use, serotype 19A was increasingly recognized in Korean children before the introduction of PCV7. To understand the dynamics of serogroup 19 prevalence from 1991-2006, we serotyped ...
Molecular typing of Australian Scedosporium isolates showing genetic variability and numerous S. aurantiacum.(RESEARCH)
Feb 01, 2008; ... One hundred clinical isolates from a prospective nationwide study of scedosporiosis in Australia (2003-2005) and 46 additional isolates were genotyped by internal transcribed spacer-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-RFLP) analysis, ITS sequencing, and M13 PCR fingerprinting ....
Emergence of polycystic neotropical echinococcosis.(HISTORICAL REVIEW)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Echinococcosis is a parasitic zoonosis of increasing concern. In 1903, the first cases of human polycystic echinococcosis, a disease resembling alveolar echinococcosis, emerged in Argentina. One of the parasites responsible, Echinococcus oligarthrus, had been discovered in its adult ...
Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathies, France, 2001-2007.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In France, through exhaustive active surveillance, [approximately equal to] 17.1 million adult cattle were tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy from July 2001 through July 2007; [approximately equal to] 3.6 million were >8 years of age. Our retrospective Western blot study of all ...
Burkholderia pseudomallei antibodies in children, Cambodia.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Antibodies to Burkholderia pseudomallei were detected in 16% of children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This organism was isolated from 30% of rice paddies in the surrounding vicinity. Despite the lack of reported indigenous cases, melioidosis is likely to occur in Cambodia. ********** ...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Geneva, Switzerland, 1993-2005.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains different from those of an endemic healthcare-associated clone was conducted over 13 years in Geneva, Switzerland. We demonstrated strain diversity, including clones rarely found in Europe. Local ...
Experimental infection and natural contact exposure of dogs with avian influenza Virus (H5N1).(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Experiments that exposed influenza virus (H5N1)-infected cats to susceptible dogs did not result in intraspecies or interspecies transmission. Infected dogs showed increased body temperatures, viral RNA in pharyngeal swabs, and seroconversion but not fatal disease. ********** ...
Timeliness of enteric disease surveillance in 6 US states.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We reviewed timeline information for a sample of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Escherichia coil O157:H7 cases and all confirmed foodborne outbreaks reported in 6 states during 2002. Increasing the timeliness of case follow-up, molecular subtyping, and linkage of ...
Dengue virus 3 genotype 1 associated with dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever, Brazil.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Dengue serotype 3 viruses were isolated from patients in Brazil from 2002 through 2004. On the basis of phylogenetic analyses, these isolates were assigned genotype 1. This genotype had never been reported in South America before. Its appearance indicates a major risk factor for dengue ...
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreak, Germany, and calculation of outbreak start.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... On the basis of a large outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a German university hospital, we estimated costs ([approximately equal to] 1 million Euros) that could have been avoided by early detection of the imminent outbreak. For this purpose, we demonstrate an ...
Plasmodium falciparum malaria and atovaquone-proguanil treatment failure.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We noticed overrepresentation of atovaquone-proguanil therapeutic failures among Plasmodium falciparum-infected travelers weighing >100 kg. We report here 1 of these cases, which was not due to resistant parasites or impaired drug bioavailability. The follow-up of such patients should be ...
Prolonged Plasmodium falciparum infection in immigrants, Paris.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Few immigrant travelers have Plasmodium falciparum infections >2 months after leaving malaria-endemic areas. We conducted a case-control study to identify factors associated with prolonged P. falciparum infection in immigrant travelers. Results suggest that P. falciparum infection should ...
Candida dubliniensis meningitis as delayed sequela of treated C. dubliniensis fungemia.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... We present a case of Candida dubliniensis meningitis that developed 2 months after apparently successful treatment of an episode of C. dubliniensis candidemia in a heartlung transplant recipient in Australia. This case highlights the importance of follow-up in patients with candidemia or ...
Greek goat encephalitis virus strain isolated from Ixodes ricinus, Greece.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... A strain of Greek goat encephaltitis virus was isolated from engorged Ixodes ricinus ticks that had fed on goats in northern Greece. The strain was almost identical to the prototype strain isolated ********** Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a zoonotic infection of ...
Transmission of Hepatitis C virus during computed tomography scanning with contrast.(DISPATCHES)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Six cases of acute hepatitis C related to computed tomography scanning with contrast were identified in 3 hospitals. A patient with chronic hepatitis C had been subjected to the same procedure immediately before each patient in whom acute infection developed. Viral molecular analysis ...
Chikungunya fever, Mauritius, 2006.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: When an outbreak of chikungunya fever swept across several Indian Ocean islands in 2005 and 2006, the international public health community's attention was drawn to chikungunya virus (genus Alphavirus, family Togaviridae). Among those areas affected was the Republic of ...
Increasing resistance in commensal Escherichia coli, Bolivia and Peru.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: The global increase of antimicrobial-drug resistance, including resistance to the new and most potent antimicrobial agents, is a major public health concern. In low-resource countries, where bacterial infections are still among the major causes of death, especially for ...
Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica, United Kingdom.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs used to treat many clinical infections. Salmonellosis is treated with fluoroquinolones only in elderly or immunocompromised patients, but these drugs are also used for treating patients with enteric fever, invasive ...
Saksenaea vasiformis infection, French Guiana.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: The Zygomycetes are a class of filamentous fungi that are ubiquitous in the environment. Most of the species known to cause human or animal infections belong to a few genera within the order Mucorales. Saksenaea vasiformis, isolated from soil in India and described by ...
Q fever in young children, Ghana.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Recently, experts identified Q fever, caused by the small, gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii, as an important underdiagnosed childhood disease (1). Studies on Q fever in children <5 years of age are scarce, especially with respect to sub-Saharan Africa. The only ...
Early diagnosis of disseminated Mycobacterium genavense infection.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Nontuberculous mycobacteria are environmental organisms that cause life-threatening diseases, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. They are increasingly recognized for causing problems in the management of solid-organ transplant recipients, due to improved diagnostic ...
Isolation of novel adenovirus from fruit bat (Pteropus dasymallus yayeyamae).(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Bats are thought to be one of the most important reservoirs for viruses such as Nipah virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, and Ebola virus (1). These pathogens became known after extensive surveys of bats following outbreaks. As a first step in ...
Fluoroquinolone-resistant group B streptococci in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) that are active against streptococcal species (e.g., levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) have been recommended by numerous national health authorities and international organizations for treating acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia in ...
Dengue and relative bradycardia.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: In a recent letter to Emerging Infectious Diseases, Lateef and colleagues identified a relationship between dengue and relative bradycardia in patients in Singapore. They stated that "To our knowledge, this sign has not been previously associated with dengue" (1) ....
Importation of poliomyelitis by travelers.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: In July 2007, an Australian traveler imported polio from Pakistan to Australia (1). He was a 22-year-old man who had immigrated to Australia and had traveled to his country of origin (Pakistan) to visit friends and relatives. Pakistan is one of 4 countries (Afghanistan, ...
Importation of poliomyelitis by travelers (response).(LETTERS)(Medical condition overview)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... /// In Response: After poliomyelitis was imported into Australia, WilderSmith and colleagues (1) call for proof of vaccination for travelers from polio-endemic countries. Although superficially attractive, their recommendation won't be extremely effective, will be burdensome ...
Handbook of Zoonoses: Identification and Prevention.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Handbook of Zoonoses: Identification and Prevention Joann Colville and David L. Berryhill Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 2007 ISBN: 9780323044783 Pages: 272; Price: US $44.95 In "Handbook of Zoonoses: Identification and Prevention," authors Joann ...
The Microbiology Bench Companion.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Microbiology Bench Companion J. Michael Miller ASM Press, Washington, DC, USA, 2007 ISBN-10: 1555814026, ISBN-13: 978-1555814021 Pages: 120; Price: US $36.90 Diagnostic testing for infectious diseases is an increasingly complex area of laboratory ...
Bioviolence: Preventing Biological Terror and Crime.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Bioviolence: Preventing Biological Terror and Crime Barry Kellman Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2007 ISBN-10: 0521709695, ISBN-013: 978-0521709699 Pages: 392; Price US $28.99 Even before the anthrax attacks in 2001, public health ...
Encyclopedia of Infectious Diseases: Modern Methodologies.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Encyclopedia of Infectious Diseases: Modern Methodologies Michel Tibayrenc, editor Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, 2007 ISBN: 978-0-471-65732-3 Pages: 747; Price: US $175.00 Michel Tibayrenc is someone with big ideas. For many years, he has ...
Emerging Infectious Diseases: Trends and Issues, 2nd Edition.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Emerging Infectious Diseases: Trends and Issues, 2nd Edition Felissa R. Lashley and Jerry D. Durham, editors Springer Publishing Company, New York, New York, USA, 2007 ISBN: 0826102506 Pages: 591; Price: US $70.00 This second edition of Emerging Infectious ...
This Time of Dying.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... This Time of Dying Reina James Portobello Books Ltd., London, United Kingdom, 2006 ISBN: 9781846270468 Pages: 296; Price: US $14.55 A must-read for those who think flu pandemic preparedness is much ado about nothing, this first novel by Reina James brings ...
A Rondelay (Without Cadenza) by the Virion of Influenza.(ANOTHER DIMENSION)(Poem)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Now you have me--sucrose-banded, Enveloped and negative-stranded Spiked and cleaved and slightly dented Into pieces eight, segmented-- Without mercy I've been strained Through filters--then been bromelained, and Torn apart ...
Artistic light and capturing the immeasurable.(ABOUT THE COVER)(Cover story)
Feb 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "After school, I would often go down on Chestnut Street to see the pictures in Earle's Galleries," Henry Ossawa Tanner recalled about his early years (1). He was especially drawn to the marine subjects of T. Alexander Harrison (1853-1930). "After drinking ...