Human infections with influenza H7 subtypes, such as H7Ng, have raised concerns worldwide. Here, we report a human infection with a novel influenza A（HTN4） virus. A 68 years-old woman with cardiovascular and cholecy...Human infections with influenza H7 subtypes, such as H7Ng, have raised concerns worldwide. Here, we report a human infection with a novel influenza A（HTN4） virus. A 68 years-old woman with cardiovascular and cholecystic comorbidities developed rapidly progressed pneumonia with influenza-like-illness as initial symptom, recovered after 23 days-hospitalization including 8 days in ICLI. Laboratory indicators for liver and blood coagulation dysfunction were observed. Oseltamivir phosphate, glucocorticoids and antibiotics were jointly implemented, with nasal catheterization of oxygen inhalation for this patient. We obtained the medical records and collected serial respiratory and blood specimens from her. We col- lected throat, cloacal and/or feces samples of poultry and wild birds from the patient＇s backyard, neigh- borhood, local live poultry markets （LPMs） and the nearest lake. All close contacts of the patient were followed up and sampled with throat swabs and sera. Influenza viruses and other respiratory pathogens were tested by real-time RT-PCR, viral culturing and/or sequencing for human respiratory and bird sam- ples. Micro-neutralizing assay was performed for sera. A novel reassortant wild bird-origin H7N4 virus is identified from the patient and her backyard poultry （chickens and ducks） by sequencing, which is dis- tinct from previously-reported avian H7N4 and H7N9 viruses. At least four folds increase of neutralizing antibodies to H7N4 was detected in her convalescent sera. No samples from close contacts, wild birds or other poultry were tested positive for H7N4 by real-time RT-PCR.展开更多
Genotoxic chemicals, through damage and alteration of the genetic material of wild organisms, pose significant threats to the persistence of wild animal populations. Their damaging effects can ultimately impair the he...Genotoxic chemicals, through damage and alteration of the genetic material of wild organisms, pose significant threats to the persistence of wild animal populations. Their damaging effects can ultimately impair the health of the ecosystem and its provision of services to human society. Bird species are good candidates for the role of sentinels of the effects of genotoxins, thanks to （i） the diversity of their ecological niches, （ii） their ubiquity across environments, （iii） their conspicuousness, abundance and approachability, together with （iv） their well-known life histories and the availability of historical data series. Avian diversity increases the likelihood that adequate model species be available for monitoring genotoxicants and assessing their impact. This paper reviews the methods utilized by genetic ecotoxicological studies of wild birds, highlighting their benefits and shortcomings. It also summarizes the genetic ecotoxicological studies so far conducted. In spite of a paucity of studies, several classes of genotoxicants have already been investigated across a variety of species and environments, thus supporting the versatility of birds as monitors of genotoxic contamination. Future technical advancements and applications are suggested, with par- ticular reference to the analysis of mutational events, gene expression and methylation patterns. Finally, I argue that the development of avian genetic ecotoxicology will contribute to the understanding of natural variation in the underlying machinery for coping with DNA damage and oxidative stress, both of which are increasingly recognized as proximate factors in the evolution of life history adaptations [Current Zoology 60 （2）： 285-298, 2014].展开更多
基金supported by National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2015ZX09101044)Science & Technology Demonstration Project for Emerging Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, China (BE2015714 & BE2017749)Key Medical Discipline of Jiangsu Science & Technology Project of China (epidemiology,ZDXKA2016008)
文摘Human infections with influenza H7 subtypes, such as H7Ng, have raised concerns worldwide. Here, we report a human infection with a novel influenza A（HTN4） virus. A 68 years-old woman with cardiovascular and cholecystic comorbidities developed rapidly progressed pneumonia with influenza-like-illness as initial symptom, recovered after 23 days-hospitalization including 8 days in ICLI. Laboratory indicators for liver and blood coagulation dysfunction were observed. Oseltamivir phosphate, glucocorticoids and antibiotics were jointly implemented, with nasal catheterization of oxygen inhalation for this patient. We obtained the medical records and collected serial respiratory and blood specimens from her. We col- lected throat, cloacal and/or feces samples of poultry and wild birds from the patient＇s backyard, neigh- borhood, local live poultry markets （LPMs） and the nearest lake. All close contacts of the patient were followed up and sampled with throat swabs and sera. Influenza viruses and other respiratory pathogens were tested by real-time RT-PCR, viral culturing and/or sequencing for human respiratory and bird sam- ples. Micro-neutralizing assay was performed for sera. A novel reassortant wild bird-origin H7N4 virus is identified from the patient and her backyard poultry （chickens and ducks） by sequencing, which is dis- tinct from previously-reported avian H7N4 and H7N9 viruses. At least four folds increase of neutralizing antibodies to H7N4 was detected in her convalescent sera. No samples from close contacts, wild birds or other poultry were tested positive for H7N4 by real-time RT-PCR.
文摘Genotoxic chemicals, through damage and alteration of the genetic material of wild organisms, pose significant threats to the persistence of wild animal populations. Their damaging effects can ultimately impair the health of the ecosystem and its provision of services to human society. Bird species are good candidates for the role of sentinels of the effects of genotoxins, thanks to （i） the diversity of their ecological niches, （ii） their ubiquity across environments, （iii） their conspicuousness, abundance and approachability, together with （iv） their well-known life histories and the availability of historical data series. Avian diversity increases the likelihood that adequate model species be available for monitoring genotoxicants and assessing their impact. This paper reviews the methods utilized by genetic ecotoxicological studies of wild birds, highlighting their benefits and shortcomings. It also summarizes the genetic ecotoxicological studies so far conducted. In spite of a paucity of studies, several classes of genotoxicants have already been investigated across a variety of species and environments, thus supporting the versatility of birds as monitors of genotoxic contamination. Future technical advancements and applications are suggested, with par- ticular reference to the analysis of mutational events, gene expression and methylation patterns. Finally, I argue that the development of avian genetic ecotoxicology will contribute to the understanding of natural variation in the underlying machinery for coping with DNA damage and oxidative stress, both of which are increasingly recognized as proximate factors in the evolution of life history adaptations [Current Zoology 60 （2）： 285-298, 2014].
