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
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80656
- DOI -
- Views 143
- Downloads 0
Survey of [i]Toxoplasma gondii [/i]antibodies in meat juice of wild boar ([i]Sus scrofa[/i]) in several districts of the Czech Republic
Introduction and objective. The aims of the study were: 1) to detect antibodies against T[i]oxoplasma gondii[/i] from wild boar meat; 1) establish seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in the wild boar population; 3) establish...
Alcohol-related Developmental Origin of Adult Health – population studies in Poland among mothers and newborns (2010-2012)
Alcohol related harm is a global problem for public health where frequent consumption of large amounts of alcohol constitutes a serious health risk, particularly to vulnerable groups such as adolescents, pregnant women a...
Factors involved in the phenological mechanism of Alnus flowering in Central Europe.
The objectives of this paper are to ascertain the main factors involved in the phenological mechanism of alder flowering in Central Europe by understanding the influence of the main meteorological parameters, the North A...
Unusual presentation of the urogenital myiasis caused by Luciliasericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Introduction and objective. The case report describes the unusual presentation of the urogenital myiasis caused by [i]Luciliasericata[/i] in two Slovakian men.Material and methods: The first patient, aged 66, who suffere...
The cause of Actinomyces canalictulis – a case study
Actinomycosis of the lacrimal ducts is a rare chronic infection, caused by bacteria of the genus [i]Actinomyces[/i], usually [i]A. israelii[/i]. The analyzed case of a 72-year-old man draws attention to the chronic natur...