Severe Influenza Outbreak in Western Ukraine in 2009 – a molecular-epidemiological study
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2013, Vol 20, Issue 3
Abstract
[b]Introduction:[/b][i] [/i]In the autumn of 2009 the authors participated in a humanitarian operation in Western Ukraine by undertaking an epidemiological investigation of an influenza-like-illness (ILI) in the L’viv Oblast region. Mobile biological survey teams took samples from civilian patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, rapid transportation of the samples, and their molecular analysis in Poland to provide accurate results. [b]Objective:[/b] The aim of the study was the molecular and epidemiological analysis of the biological samples collected. [b]Material and Methods:[/b] Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR), multiplex PCR techniques, traditional Sanger Sequencing and classical viral culture methods were used. [b]Results:[/b] Among the 124 influenza-like illness cases, ~50% (58) were positive for influenza A virus in WHO-CDC molecular assay, including subtyping. The specimens were further analyzed to confirm results and determine the genetic sequence. Phylogenetically, the nucleotide similarity of both the Ukraine specimens and reference A/California/7/2009 (pH1N1) was 99.2–99.3%. Oseltamivir resistance was not registered. HA1 region characterization showed an overall protein identity of 98.5–99.4%. [b]Conclusions:[/b] An unexpected high contribution of influenza A was confirmed among ILI patients, as well as a very limited number of other detected viruses, indicate that the 2009 epidemic in western Ukraine was strongly related to novel influenza A/H1N1. The importance of swift sharing of information and reference laboratories networking in surveillance, as well as serving governments and international agencies in pursuing adequate actions, should be stressed.
Authors and Affiliations
Janusz Kocik, Marcin Niemcewicz, Matthew Johns, Kurt Jerke, Aleksander Michalski, Anna Bielecka, Krzysztof Lasocki, Jerzy Gaweł, Agata Bielawska-Drózd, Justyna Joniec, Grzegorz Graniak, Mariusz Goniewicz, Leszek Kubiak
Non-malignant respiratory diseases and occupational exposure to wood dust. Part II. Dry wood industry.
This paper reviews the literature on associations between dry wood dust exposure and non-malignant respiratory diseases. Criteria for inclusion are epidemiological studies in English language journals with an internal or...
Motor skills, cognitive development and balance functions of children with Down syndrome
Introduction and objectives: Motor and cognitive development of children with Down syndrome (DS) is delayed and inharmonic. Neuro–muscular abnormalities, such as hypotonia, retained primary reflexes, and slow performance...
Analysis of lifestyle of young adults in the rural and urban areas
An unhealthy lifestyle among young people is a serious and often unnoticed problem. It seems that there are differences in the lifestyle of young people from rural and urban areas. The objective of this study was to comp...
Preliminary assessment of usefulness of cELISA test for screening pig and cattle populations for presence of antibodies against [i]Toxoplasma gondii[/i]
Serology testing is an appropriate method for the detection of slaughter animals infected with [i]Toxoplasma[/i], which remain one of the main reservoirs of this parasite in the environment. Competitive ELISA (cELISA) in...
Influence of hyperosmotic conditions on basophil CD203c upregulation in patients with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
Increased in vitro basophil activation in buffers of slightly elevated osmolarity in 2 cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is presented. These data may suggest the importance of basophil activation degre...