Lyme Disease in Iraq： First Detection of IgM Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in Human Sera

The sera of 180 human samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi using the ELISA （enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay） technique. Out of 180 sero-samples, 46 （25.55%） were positive. Females of the age range 18-35 years had the highest rate of sero-positive samples 14 （38.88%）, while the highest percentage of sero-negative samples was found in males of the age range 50-80 years. The other sero-positive samples were： 6 （26.08%）, 6 （25%） and 3 （11.53%） in males of ages between 18-35, 35-50 and 50-80 years, respectively, and 11 （29.72%） and 6 （17.64%） in females in the age ranges 35-50 and 50-80 years, respectively. The mean concentration of Anti- B. burgdorferi antibody was higher （16.7 U/mL） when compared with mean concentration of normal value （5.5 U/mL）, P 〈 0.001.

Human IgM and IgG Responses to an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine

Objective:The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic warrants accelerated efforts to test vaccine candidates.To explore the influencing factors on vaccine-induced effects,antibody responses to an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthy individuals who were not previously infected by COVID-19 were assessed.Methods:All subjects aged 18-60 years who did not have SARS-CoV-2 infection at the time of screening from June 19,2021,to July 02,2021,were approached for inclusion.All participants received two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.Serum IgM and IgG antibodies were detected using a commercial kit after the second dose of vaccination.A positive result was defined as 10 AU/mL or more and a negative result as less than 10 AU/mL.This retrospective study included 97 infection-naive individuals(mean age 35.6 years;37.1%male,62.9%female).Results:The seropositive rates of IgM and IgG antibody responses elicited after the second dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were 3.1%and 74.2%,respectively.IgG antibody levels were significantly higher than IgM levels(P<0.0001).Sex had no effect on IgM and IgG antibody response after the second dose.The mean anti-IgG level in older persons(≥42 years)was significantly lower than that of younger recipients.There was a significantly lower antibody level at>42 days compared to that at 0-20 days(P<0.05)and 21-31 days(P<0.05)after the second dose.Conclusion:IgG antibody response could be induced by inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthy individuals(>18 years),which can be influenced by age and detection time after the second dose of vaccination.

Serum Treponema lgM Antibody Test for Syphilis Diagnoss

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of testingserum anti-treponema pallidum IgM antibody in thediagnosis of syphilis patients. Methods: Seventy-two cases of syphilis were testedfor specific IgM antibody with ELISA, and the resultswere compared with RPR and TPPA. Results: The sensitivity of IgM antibody was 73.3%(11/15) in primary syphilis, 88.9% (16/18) in sec-ondary syphilis, and there was no significant differ-ence between these values (x^2=1.6363, P>0.10). Thesensitivity of IgM antibody in diagnosing latent syphi-lis was only 26.1% (6/23), much lower than the detec-tion rate in symptomatic early syphilis (x^2=17.6189, P<0.005). RPR and TPPA were both 100% sensitive inlatent and early symptomatic syphilis. Two were posi-tive for IgM in the 16 cases who had received regulartreatments 2 to 24 months before enrolled. Conclusions: Specific IgM antibody detection doesnot appear superior to RPR and TPPA in diagnosingprimary syphilis. The diagnosis of latent syphilisshould mainly rely on RPR and TPPA, since there arelow titers of IgM antibody at that stage. IgM antibodytesting alone should not be recommended for monitor-ing syphilis development or treatment efficacy. Fur-ther studies should be concerned.

Evaluate the prevalence and trend of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Nahavand: west of Iran, 2013–2017

Viral hepatitis is a global threat to public health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide.Often,acute viral cases in children and adults are associated with viral hepatitis A,B,C,D and E,or co-infection with two types of hepatitis.Infection with these viruses is a global health problem and continuous efforts are in place to identify infected people through targeted screening,preventing new infections through vaccination,monitoring and treating people at risk for complications of all types of hepatitis.The aim of this study was to determine the evaluate the prevalence and trends of hepatitis B and C infection in the Nahavand city during 5 consecutive years(2013–2017).The total number of patients with hepatitis B and C was 141 persons from March 2013 to March 2017,of these,101 had hepatitis B,and 40 had hepatitis C.The prevalence of hepatitis B and C was higher in men than women.The percentage frequency hepatitis B in the city in the last five years was 0.05 percent.11 cases(10.89%)pregnant women and Six cases(5.9%)receiving blood(blood transfusions)in Hepatitis B was observed.the prevalence of hepatitis C was 0.2%at the end of 2017.The study on the cause of hepatitis C in Nahavand has shown that 21(52.5%)of the total of 40 people were infected with addiction.The interesting point in this report is that according to reports from viral hepatitis testing questionnaires,24 of 101 people with type B hepatitis have 23.7%of people with a history of complete vaccination of hepatitis B and one person(0.9%)had incomplete vaccination.A significant relationship was found between the level of education and the prevalence of hepatitis(P=0.005).

Local Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Rome, Italy: A Single Center Experience

In the present study, we analysed the results from the use of serological tests for the evaluation of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the aim of verifying the seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in Rome. Evaluations related to the seroprevalence are important for defining the epidemiological parameters of this disease. We therefore analysed the data deriving from 1586 subjects, residing in the geographical area of Rome, subjected to a rapid test, capable of detecting the presence of specific IgM and IgG class antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Among the 1586 cases, 83 had positive conversion of IgM antibody and/or IgG antibody and 1503 tested negative. Out of 83 positive cases, 48% (40/83) samples resulted positively for both IgM and IgG, while 45% (37/83) were positive for IgG only, and 7% (6/83) for IgM only. The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the considered geographical area was 5% (83/1586), and 54% (45/83) of our population was an asymptomatic carrier. The study was performed to better evaluate the population prevalence in the studied geographic area. To our knowledge, this is the first study carried out in the Lazio region reporting data related to the asymptomatic carriers.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among Blood Donors in the Republic of Congo

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly transmissible and pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which erupted in Wuhan, China, in 2019 and has spread worldwide [1]. The objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in the Republic of Congo. Method: This is an analytical and cross-sectional study that was carried out during the period from July to December 2021. Biological analyses were performed with the serological tests n2019 rapid IgG/IgM from Beijing Diagreat Biotechnologies and antigen tests from Abbot using the serum for the detection of anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies and nasal mucus for the detection of SARS-Cov-2 antigens. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. The Results: Out of 2553 donors recruited in our study, we observed a predominance of male sex with 86.1% or a ratio of 6.19, the age group of 18 - 30 years was dominant with 45.9%, family donation represented 59.2%, the dominant profession was workers with 46.9% and the dominant blood group was O Rh positive with 54%. The prevalence of anti-SRAS-CoV-2 antibodies and antigens were respectively 31.4% for anti-SRAS CoV-2 IgG antibodies, 36.7% for anti-SRAS CoV-2 IgM antibodies and 2.93% for SARS-CoV-2 antigen.

No association between Parkinson disease and autoantibodies against NMDA-type glutamate receptors

Background:IgG-class autoantibodies to N-Methyl-D-Aspartate(NMDA)-type glutamate receptors define a novel entity of autoimmune encephalitis.Studies examining the prevalence of NMDA IgA/IgM antibodies in patients with Parkinson disease with/without dementia produced conflicting results.We measured NMDA antibodies in a large,well phenotyped sample of Parkinson patients without and with cognitive impairment(n=296)and controls(n=295)free of neuropsychiatric disease.Detailed phenotyping and large numbers allowed statistically meaningful correlation of antibody status with diagnostic subgroups as well as quantitative indicators of disease severity and cognitive impairment.Methods:NMDA antibodies were analysed in the serum of patients and controls using well established validated assays.We used anti-NMDA antibody positivity as the main independent variable and correlated it with disease status and phenotypic characteristics.Results:The frequency of NMDA IgA/IgM antibodies was lower in Parkinson patients(13%)than in controls(22%)and higher than in previous studies in both groups.NMDA IgA/IgM antibodies were neither significantly associated with diagnostic subclasses of Parkinson disease according to cognitive impairment,nor with quantitative indicators of disease severity and cognitive impairment.A positive NMDA antibody status was positively correlated with age in controls but not in Parkinson patients.Conclusion:It is unlikely albeit not impossible that NMDA antibodies play a significant role in the pathogenesis or progression of Parkinson disease e.g.to Parkinson disease with dementia,while NMDA IgG antibodies define a separate disease of its own.

A COVID-19 Patient Discharged According to Strict Discharge Standards:Viral Negativity in Both Nasopharynx and Feces

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)currently has spread all over the world.However,the dynamic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infections have not previously been described in detail.Here,we report a cured patient in West China Hospital,and describe the dynamic detection of SARS-CoV-2-RNA in different specimens and viral specific IgM and IgG antibodies in blood.The findings suggest that the fecal SARS-CoV-2-RNA negativity may be considered as a new standard for de isolation.Serum IgM and IgG antibodies detection were helpful for early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and judgment of patients in recovery stage,respectively.