Emerging Infectious Diseases back issues from September 2008:
Underreported threat of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Africa.(PERSPECTIVE)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in Africa may be more prevalent than previously appreciated. Factors leading to development of drug resistance need to be understood to develop appropriate control strategies for national programs. We gathered estimates of MDR TB rates for 39 of 46 ...
Preventing and controlling emerging and reemerging transmissible diseases in the homeless.(PERSPECTIVE)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Homelessness is an increasing public health problem. Because of poor living conditions and limited access to healthcare systems, homeless persons are exposed to many communicable infections. We summarize the intervention measures reported to be efficient for the control and the prevention ...
Questions on Mediterranean spotted fever a century after its discovery.(SYNOPSIS)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) was first described in 1910. Twenty years later, it was recognized as a rickettsial disease transmitted by the brown dog tick. In contrast to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), MSF was thought to be a benign disease; however, the first severe case that ...
Regulatory systems for prevention and control of rabies, Japan.(SYNOPSIS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Japan is one of the few rabies-free countries. Although 3 imported cases of human rabies were seen in 1970 and 2006, no other cases have been reported for [approximately equal to]50 years. The elimination of rabies in Japan is attributed to not only its geographic isolation but also to ...
Forest fragmentation as cause of bacterial transmission among nonhuman primates, humans, and livestock, Uganda.
Sep 01, 2008; ... We conducted a prospective study of bacterial transmission among humans, nonhuman primates (primates hereafter), and livestock in western Uganda. Humans living near forest fragments harbored Escherichia coil bacteria that were [approximately equal to]75% more similar to bacteria from ...
Pigs as source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 infections in humans, Denmark.(RESEARCH)
Sep 01, 2008; ... An emerging subtype of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), clonal complex (CC) 398, is associated with animals, particularly pigs. We conducted a matched case-control and a case-case study comparing 21 CC398 case-patients with 2 controls randomly selected from the Danish ...
Pediatric parapneumonic empyema, Spain.(RESEARCH)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Pediatric parapneumonic empyema (PPE) has been increasing in several countries including Spain. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major PPE pathogen; however, antimicrobial pretreatment before pleural fluid (PF) sampling frequently results in negative diagnostic cultures, thus greatly ...
Circulation of 3 lineages of a novel Saffold cardiovirus in humans.(RESEARCH)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cardioviruses cause serious disease, mainly in rodents, including diabetes, myocarditis, encephalomyelitis, and multiple sclerosis-like disseminated encephalomyelitis. Recently, a human virus isolate obtained 25 years ago, termed Saffold virus, was sequenced and classified as a ...
Excretion of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy infectivity in urine.(RESEARCH)
Sep 01, 2008; ... The route of transmission of most naturally acquired transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) infections remains speculative. To investigate urine as a potential source of TSE exposure, we used a sensitive method for detection and quantitation of TSE infectivity. Pooled urine ...
Spatial analysis of tuberculosis cases in migrants and permanent residents, Beijing, 2000-2006.(RESEARCH)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To determine the role of the migrant population in the transmission of tuberculosis (TB), we investigated the distribution and magnitude of TB in permanent residents and migrant populations of Beijing, People's Republic of China, from 2000 through 2006. An exploratory spatial data analysis ...
We Are Legend.(ANOTHER DIMENSION)(Poem)
Sep 01, 2008; ... <Pre>We Are Legend We are HIV. Our family is ancient.Out of Africa,Monkey to man,From the trees and forests,To the towns and cities.We are here. For we are HIV, we are legion.Our children are billions,Our home, in your defenses,...
Bluetongue virus serotype 8 reemergence in Germany, 2007 and 2008.(DISPATCHES)(Case study)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Reemerging bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) in Germany was detected first in May 2007 in a sentinel cow and in February 2008 in an export heifer. Reemergence was confirmed by retesting the samples, experimental inoculation, fingerprinting analysis, and virus isolation. Over-wintering of ...
Ecoepidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak, Israel.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... A total of 161 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica occurred in the Jerusalem district during 2004-2005; 127 (79%) cases were in a town just outside Jerusalem. Environmental models suggest that in the context of global warming, this outbreak has the potential to ...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) isolated from whooper swans, Japan.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... On April 21, 2008, four whooper swans were found dead at Lake Towada, Akita prefecture, Japan. Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of the H5N1 subtype was isolated from specimens of the affected birds. The hemagglutinin (HA) gene of the isolate belongs to clade 2.3.2 in the HA ...
Neurobrucellosis in stranded dolphins, Costa Rica.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Ten striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, stranded along the Costa Rican Pacific coast, had meningoencephalitis and antibodies against Brucella spp. Brucella ceti was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of 6 dolphins and 1 fetus. S. coeruleoalba constitutes a highly susceptible host and a ...
Monkey malaria in a European traveler returning from Malaysia.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... In 2007, a Finnish traveler was infected in Peninsular Malaysia with Plasmodium knowlesi, a parasite that usually causes malaria in monkeys. P. knowlesi has established itself as the fifth Plasmodium species that can cause human malaria. The disease is potentially life-threatening in ...
Mycobacterium haemophilum and lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children, Israel.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... The database of a major microbiology laboratory in Israel was searched to determine the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children. We observed a 4-fold increase in nontuberoulous mycobacteria isolates during 1985-2006, which was attributable ...
Obligations to report outbreaks of foodborne disease under the international health regulations (2005).(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Every year, Australia identifies 2-3 outbreaks associated with imported foods. To examine national authorities' obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005), we reviewed outbreaks in 2001-2007 that implicated internationally distributed foods. Under these regulations, 7 ...
Occurrence and clinical relevance of Mycobacterium chimaera sp. nov., Germany.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Retrospective molecular genetic analysis of 166 Mycobacterium intracellulare isolates showed that 143 (86%) strains could be assigned to Mycobacterium chimaera sp. nov. Of 97 patients from whom M. chimaera sp. nov. was isolated, only 3.3% exhibited mycobacterial lung disease, whereas all ...
Juquitiba-like hantavirus from 2 nonrelated rodent species, Uruguay.(DISPATCHES)(Case study)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Serologic and genetic analyses indicate that a Juquitiba-like hantavirus circulates in Maldonado, Uruguay. This virus is carried by 2 rodent species, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Oxymycterus nasutus. The same hantavirus in 2 non-related species can be explained by a spillover infection or a ...
Rabies postexposure prophylaxis, Marseille, France, 1994-2005.(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... The administration of human rabies postexposure prophylaxis near Marseille (southern France) has changed since the eradication of terrestrial mammal rabies in 2001. Most injuries were associated with indigenous dogs; rabies vaccine was overprescribed. We suggest that the World Health ...
Host range and genetic diversity of arenaviruses in rodents, United Kingdom.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... During a study to extend our knowledge of the host range and genetic diversity of arenaviruses in Great Britain, 66 of 1,147 rodent blood samples tested for antibody, and 127 of 482 tested by PCR, were found positive. All sequences most closely resembled those of previously identified ...
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding avian influenza (H5N1), Afghanistan.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... From February through April 2007, avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in poultry in 4 of 34 Afghan provinces. A survey conducted in 2 affected and 3 unaffected provinces found that greater knowledge about reducing exposure was associated with higher socioeconomic status, residence in ...
Emergence and spread of Chlamydia trachomatis variant, Sweden.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... A variant of Chlamydia trachomatis that had escaped detection by commonly used systems was discovered in Sweden in 2006. In a nationwide study, we found that it is now prevalent across Sweden, irrespective of the detection system used. Genetic analysis by multilocus sequence typing ...
Crack cocaine and infectious tuberculosis.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... We hypothesize that crack cocaine is independently associated with smear-positive tuberculosis (TB). In a case-control study of TB in London, 19 (86%) of 22 crack cocaine users with pulmonary TB were smear positive compared with 302 (36%) of 833 non-drug users. Respiratory damage caused by ...
Human case of swine influenza A (H1N1) triple reassortant virus infection, Wisconsin.(DISPATCHES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Zoonotic infections with swine influenza A viruses are reported sporadically. Triple reassortant swine influenza viruses have been isolated from pigs in the United States since 1998. We report a human case of upper respiratory illness associated with swine influenza A (H1N1) triple ...
Diagnostic challenges of central nervous system tuberculosis.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) was identified in 20 cases of unexplained encephalitis referred to the California Encephalitis Project. Atypical features (encephalitic symptoms, rapid onset, age) and diagnostic challenges (insensitive cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] TB PCR result, ...
In Memoriam: Michael B. Gregg (1930-2008).(COMMENTARY)(In memoriam)
Sep 01, 2008; ... "He has in his make-up two essential elements--common sense and the will to work ... in collecting [facts] he is diligent, patient, careful, thorough and unbiased ... he avoids needless or obfuscating high mathematics and formulae ... he does not twist the facts ... He remains broad-minded ...
Rudolf Virchow.(Photo Quiz)(Biography)
Sep 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who is this man and what did he accomplish? Here is a clue. He said: "For if medicine is really to accomplish its great task, it must intervene in political and social life. It must point out the hindrances that impede the normal social ...
Tularemia in a Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Tularemia is a bacterial zoonosis caused by the gram-negative, nonmotile coccobacillus Francisella tularensis, which is endemic in lagomorphs in North America (1,2). Tularemia is considered a possible biological weapon of terrorism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Genotyping of Orientia tsutsugamushi from humans with scrub typhus, Laos.(LETTERS)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Rickettsial diseases have been only recently identified as underrecognized but important causes of fever of unknown origin in Laos. In 2006, 63 (14.8%) of 427 adults with negative blood cultures admitted to Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane had scrub typhus, an infection caused ...
Clindamycin--resistant clone of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027, Europe.(LETTERS)(Polymerase chain reaction)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Since 2003, outbreaks of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) associated with the emergence of a hypervirulent strain have been reported worldwide (1,2; www.eurosurveillance.org/em/v12n06/1206-221.asp). This strain has been associated with increased disease ...
Increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated disease, Singapore.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) has increased in incidence across North America and Europe (1). Recent reports document the emergence of an epidemic strain of C. difficile, NAP1/BI/027, associated with increased virulence (2,3). However, less information is ...
West Nile virus in Golden Eagles, Spain, 2007.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Although West Nile virus (WNV) has not been isolated in Spain, several recent studies provide evidence for its circulation in this country (1-5). We report isolation of WNV in Spain from 2 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). A captive-bred 2-year-old male golden ...
Merkel cell polyomavirus and Merkel cell Carcinoma, France.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor. This aggressive skin cancer is uncommon but increasing in frequency. During 1986-2001, incidence rate tripled; average annual increase was 8% (1). MCC shares epidemiologic features with Kaposi sarcoma, ...
Worldwide prevalence of head lice.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Pediculosis capitis has been well-known since antiquity (1). Human infestation can result in psychological frustration for parents and children (2); furthermore, preventive and therapeutic practices, such as head shaving and the "no-nit" policy of excluding infected children ...
Texas isolates closely related to Bacillus anthracis Ames.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Forensic and epidemiologic investigation of the 2001 bioterrorism-associated anthrax attacks used multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) to identify the attack strain as Ames (1). Strain identity was essential for subsequent molecular epidemiologic and ...
Bluetongue in Eurasian lynx.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Bluetongue is an infectious disease of ruminants; it is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV), has 24 known serotypes, and is transmitted by several species of Culicoides biting midges. The disease mainly affects sheep and occurs when susceptible animals are introduced to areas ...
Indigenous dengue fever, Buenos Aires, Argentina.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: For 2 decades dengue has increased in the Americas, with epidemic peaks every 3 to 5 years (1). The disease has reemerged in 3 South American countries bordering Argentina, namely, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Argentina had remained free from dengue for >80 ...
Naegleria fowleri in well water.(LETTERS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Naegleriafowleri, a protozoon found in hot springs and warm surface water, can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis in humans. A survey of drinking water supply wells in Arizona determined that wells can be colonized and may be an unrecognized source of this organism ...
Popular and scientific attitudes regarding pandemic influenza.(LETTERS)(Survey)
Sep 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Blendon et al. (1) described a survey of public attitudes regarding Americans' willingness and ability to follow the advice of public health officials during a severe influenza pandemic. The authors' results, however, can only be considered indicative if Americans' ...
Merkel [mer'-kel] cells.(etymologia)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Specialized cells found near the dermal-epidermal junction, characterized by numerous membrane-bound granules with dense cores. The cells were named after German anatomy professor Friedrich Sigmund Merkel, who experimented with osmium tetroxide staining and described these cells in 1875 ....
Food-borne parasitic Zoonoses: fish and Plant-Borne parasites (World Class Parasites).(Book review)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Springer, New York, New York, USA, 2007 ISBN-10: 0387713573 ISBN-13: 978-0-387-71357-1 Pages: 686; Price: US $169 With >4,000 biomedical journals currently available, and more being added seemingly every month, one of the most overwhelming and daunting tasks for any health ...
Epidemiologic principles and food safety.(Book review)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA, 2007 ISBN-10: 0-19-517263-9 ISBN-13: 978-0-19-517263-8 Pages: 272; Price: US $49.95 This text is an ambitious overview of the wide field of public health and food safety. Topics include foodborne pathogens, public health ...
"How comes it, Rocinante, you're so lean?" "I'm underfed, with overwork I'm worn".(ABOUT THE COVER)(Cover story)
Sep 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] --Cervantes "There are only two families in the world, the Haves and the Haven'ts," wrote Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) at a time he viewed as "no golden age" in his native Spain (1). A brilliant satirist, Cervantes ridiculed the socially ...