Nipah Virus: A Zoonotic Virus Transmitted from Bats and Pigs, Causing an Epidemic in Southeast Asia

Nipah Virus (NiV), a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, is one of the most infectious zoonotic viruses in Southeast Asia. First recorded in Malaysia in 1998, the NiV outbreak infected hundreds of people, with an almost 50% death rate. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with contaminated subjects and infecting the human respiratory system. Ephrin B2 and B3, the surface glycoproteins on the host cell, have been the primary and the most effective route for viral entrance. Binding with viral surface G protein, the F protein triggers, enabling viral-host fusion. Until now, NiV vaccines are not yet available in the public market, however, preventions such as avoiding direct contact and masking are advised.

Characterization, prevalence and antibiogram study of Staphylococcus aureus in poultry

Objective: To reveal the presence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus)(MRSA) in poultry samples and to determine the antibiogram pattern against five antibiotics.Methods: Samples from different poultry farm of Chittagong city, Bangladesh were examined for S. aureus by different biochemical tests and confirmed as MRSA by identifying the presence of mec A gene using PCR. Antibiotic resistance pattern in S. aureus was determined by antibiotic disk diffusion method.Results: In this study, a total of 60 samples(30 from nasal swabs and 30 from cloacal swabs) were used, of which 54 were confirmed as S. aureus by different biochemical tests. Among these, 12 were confirmed as MRSA by detecting mec A gene using PCR.During antibiogram study, both nasal and cloacal samples showed the highest resistance against penicillin-G and the lowest resistance was observed against neomycin.Conclusions: Based on the present study, it can be said that different antibiotics are used extensively in poultry that leads to MRSA and is alarming for human health.

The epidemiology of swine influenza

Globally swine influenza is one of the most important diseases of the pig industry, with various subtypes of swine influenza virus co-circulating in the field. Swine influenza can not only cause large economic losses for the pig industry but can also lead to epidemics or pandemics in the human population. We provide an overview of the pathogenic characteristics of the disease, diagnosis, risk factors for the occurrence on pig farms, impact on pigs and humans and methods to control it. This review is designed to promote understanding of the epidemiology of swine influenza which will benefit the control of the disease in both pigs and humans.

Identification of a novel coronavirus causing severe pneumonia in human:a descriptive study

Background:Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses(CoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)-CoV,have raised great public health concern globally.Here,we report a novel batorigin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans.Methods:We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital,Hubei province,China.Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing.Virus isolation was carried out,and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed.Results:Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29,2019 presented with fever,cough,and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome.Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation.One of these patients died.Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknownβ-CoV strain in all five patients,with 99.8%to 99.9%nucleotide identities among the isolates.These isolates showed 79.0%nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV(GenBank NC_004718)and 51.8%identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV(GenBank NC_019843).The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV(SL-ZC45,GenBank MG772933)with 87.6%to 87.7%nucleotide identity,but is in a separate clade.Moreover,these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8,as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs.However,the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV,indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor.Conclusion:A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.