Early Release
Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released.
Volume 30, Number 7—July 2024
Perspective
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Xenotransplantation
Synopses
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Looking Beyond the Lens of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Africa
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a lethal viral disease that has severe public health effects throughout Africa and a case fatality rate of 10%–40%. CCHF virus was first discovered in Crimea in 1944 and has since caused a substantial disease burden in Africa. The shortage of diagnostic tools, ineffective tick control efforts, slow adoption of preventive measures, and cultural hurdles to public education are among the problems associated with continued CCHF virus transmission. Progress in preventing virus spread is also hampered by the dearth of effective serodiagnostic testing for animals and absence of precise surveillance protocols. Intergovernmental coordination, creation of regional reference laboratories, multiinstitutional public education partnerships, investments in healthcare infrastructure, vaccine development, and a One Health approach are strategic methods for solving prevention challenges. Coordinated efforts and financial commitments are needed to combat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and improve all-around readiness for newly developing infectious illnesses in Africa.
- Strategies to Enhance COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Prioritized Groups, Uganda
Research
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024
We report highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in dairy cattle and cats in Kansas and Texas, United States, which reflects the continued spread of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses that entered the country in late 2021. Infected cattle experienced nonspecific illness, reduced feed intake and rumination, and an abrupt drop in milk production, but fatal systemic influenza infection developed in domestic cats fed raw (unpasteurized) colostrum and milk from affected cows. Cow-to-cow transmission appears to have occurred because infections were observed in cattle on Michigan, Idaho, and Ohio farms where avian influenza virus–infected cows were transported. Although the US Food and Drug Administration has indicated the commercial milk supply remains safe, the detection of influenza virus in unpasteurized bovine milk is a concern because of potential cross-species transmission. Continued surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in domestic production animals is needed to prevent cross-species and mammal-to-mammal transmission.
- Phylogeographic Analysis of Mycobacterium kansasii Isolates from Patients with M. kansasii Lung Disease in Industrialized City, Taiwan
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Newly Recognized Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia as Cause of Severe Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever–Like Illness, Northern California, USA
The incidence of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses in the United States has tripled since 2010. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the most severe SFG rickettsiosis, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. The lack of species-specific confirmatory testing obfuscates the relative contribution of R. rickettsii and other SFG Rickettsia to this increase. We report a newly recognized rickettsial pathogen, Rickettsia sp. CA6269, as the cause of severe Rocky Mountain spotted fever–like illness in 2 case-patients residing in northern California. Multilocus sequence typing supported the recognition of this pathogen as a novel Rickettsia genotype most closely related to R. rickettsii. Cross-reactivity observed for an established molecular diagnostic test indicated that Rickettsia sp. CA6269 might be misidentified as R. rickettsii. We developed a Rickettsia sp. CA6269–specific real-time PCR to help resolve this diagnostic challenge and better characterize the spectrum of clinical disease and ecologic epidemiology of this pathogen.
- COVID-19 Death Determination Methods, Minnesota, USA, 2020–2022
- Engaging Communities in Emerging Infectious Disease Mitigation to Improve Public Health and Safety
- Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Influenza A Virus in Dairy Cattle and Role of Sialic Acid Receptor Specificity in Mammary Gland
Dispatches
- Borrelia miyamotoi-associated Acute Meningoencephalitis, Minnesota, United States
- Treatment Outcomes for Tuberculosis Infection and Disease Among Persons Deprived of Liberty, Uganda, 2020
- Evidence of Orientia Genus Endemicity among Severe Infectious Disease Cohorts, Uganda
- Orthohantavirus in Misiones Province, Northeastern Argentina
- Wuchereria bancrofti Lymphatic Filariasis, Barrancabermeja, Colombia, 2023
- Alongshan Virus Infection in Rangifer tarandus Reindeers, Northeastern China
- Vaccine Effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 among Household Contacts during Omicron BA.2–Dominant Period, Japan
- Body Louse Pathogen Surveillance Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Winnipeg, Canada 2020–2021
- Re-emergence of Clade IIb-Associated Mpox, Germany, July–December 2023
- Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 and Schmallenberg Virus in Culicoides Biting Midges, Western Germany, 2023
- Multicountry Spread of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses with Reduced Oseltamivir Inhibition, May 2023–February 2024
- Risk for Donor-Derived Syphilis after Kidney Transplantation, China, 2007–2022
- Relapsed Monkeypox Keratitis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Among Dairy Cattle, Texas, USA
- Effect of Rodent Control Program on Incidence of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Iran
Research Letters
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Pasteurella bettyae Infections in Men Who Have Sex with Men, France
Pasteurella bettyae is a gram-negative bacillus sporadically involved in human infections; its main reservoirs are cats and dogs. A recent publication suggests the possibility of sexual transmission leading to genital infections in men who have sex with men. We report 9 cases in France of genital infection among this population.
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Plasmodium vivax Infections among Immigrants from China Traveling to the United States
Beginning in 2023, we observed increased Plasmodium vivax malaria cases at an institution in Los Angeles, California, USA. Most cases were among migrants from China who traveled to the United States through South and Central America. US clinicians should be aware of possible P. vivax malaria among immigrants from China.
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Emergence of Indigenous Dengue Fever, Niger, October 2023
Dengue fever is a growing worldwide public health concern. In mid-October 2023, multiple cases of uncommon febrile illness were reported among patients in Niamey, Niger. Fifteen samples were tested by using molecular methods, from which 7 (46.66%) were confirmed positive for mosquitoborne dengue virus belonging to serotypes 1 and 3.
- Serosurvey of Chikungunya Virus in Old World Fruit Bats, Senegal, 2020–2022
- Genomic Epidemiology of Large Blastomycosis Outbreak, Northern Ontario, Canada, 2021
- World Health Organization Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme, Cambodia, 2023
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Large-Scale Outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection, Marseille, France, 2023–2024
We report a large-scale outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory infections encompassing 218 cases (0.8% of 26,449 patients tested) during 2023–2024 in Marseille, France. The bacterium is currently circulating and primarily affects children <15 years of age. High prevalence of co-infections warrants the use of a syndromic diagnostic strategy.
Books and Media
- Germ Theory: Medical Pioneers in Infectious Diseases, 2nd edition
Volume 30, Number 8—August 2024
Synopses
- Outbreak of Intermediate Species Leptospira venezuelensis Spread by Rodents to Cows and Humans in Leptospira interrogans–Endemic Region, Venezuela
- Systematic Review of Prevalence of Histoplasma Antigenuria in Persons with HIV in Latin America and Africa
Research
- Retrospective Study of Infections by Corynebacteria of diphtheriae Species Complex, French Guiana, 2016–2021
- SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity in Urban Population of Wild Fallow Deer, Dublin, Ireland, 2020–2022
Research Letter
- Emayella augustorita, New Member of Pasteurellaceae, Isolated from Blood Cultures of Septic Patient
Etymologia
- Microbiota [mī′′-krō-bī′-ō-′tә], microbiome [mī′′-krō-bī′-ōm]