From: owner-promed@promed.isid.harvard.edu on behalf of ProMED Digest [promed-digest-Owner@promed.isid.harvard.edu] Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 9:12 AM To: promed-digest@promedmail.org Subject: PRO> ProMED Digest V2011 #534 ProMED Digest Wednesday, November 9 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 534 In this issue: PRO/AH/EDR> Infectious salmon anemia - Canada (02): (BC) PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax, human, bovine - Uganda (02): (Western) PRO/AH> Avian influenza (68): H5N1 transmissibility to ferrets PRO/AH> Tularemia, human, possum - Australia (02): (TS), RFI PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis - Thailand: flood related See the end of the digest for information on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 12:09:24 -0500 (EST) From: ProMED-mail Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Infectious salmon anemia - Canada (02): (BC) INFECTIOUS SALMON ANEMIA - CANADA (02): (BRITISH COLUMBIA) ********************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Thu 3 Nov 2011 Source: The Province, Postmedia News [edited] Lethal salmon virus now detected in 4 species - ------------------------------------------------------- A lethal virus that could pose a new threat to British Columbia's prized Pacific salmon has now been detected in 4 wild species, prompting fears about its effect on the multi-billion-dollar fishery. On Wednesday [2 Nov 2011], biologist and salmon advocate Alexandra Morton learned an infectious salmon anemia (ISA) lab at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI [Prince Edward Island] found evidence of the virus in 3 of 10 dead fish -- a chinook, coho, and chum -- she pulled from the Harrison River on 12 Oct [2011]. Researchers at Simon Fraser University [SFU] announced last month [October 2011] the virus was found in 2 of 48 sockeye smolts collected in BC's Central Coast. "The terrible thing about the work that myself and (SFU researcher Rick) Routledge have done is that it's tiny," Morton said. "We looked at 60 fish, and we got it in 2 different generations, 600 kilometres [373 mi] apart, 4 different species. That's a huge red flag." ISA's effect on Pacific salmon -- if any -- is not known. This is the 1st time the disease has been found in wild Pacific salmon, raising fears among advocates that the already stressed wild stocks could be further jeopardized. A spokeswoman for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said Morton's samples are now being tested in Canada's official ISA lab in Moncton, NB [New Brunswick]. Vancouver-area MP [Member of Parliament] Fin Donnelly, raised the issue in Ottawa Thursday [3 Nov 2011], calling on the government to develop an action plan to deal with the virus on Canada's West Coast. "Concern is mounting both in British Columbia and the United States that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is not taking this threat seriously," the New Democrat fisheries critic said. Some have suggested the virus may have come from Atlantic salmon eggs imported to local fish farms from Chile or Norway. Salmon farmers have been quick to shoot down those claims, as has the federal government. "In recent years we tested over 5000 wild and farmed BC salmon without a single case of confirmed ISA in BC," Randy Kamp, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said Thursday [3 Nov 2011]. Chile, a major producer of farmed Atlantic salmon, has seen its wild fish stocks decimated by ISA over the last 4 years, with USD 2 billion in estimated losses. [Byline: Sean Sullivan] - -- Communicated by: ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts [This highly contagious marine influenza virus has for the 1st time been officially reported in the North Pacific (see ProMED-mail post 20111019.3120). Outbreaks of infectious salmon anemia occur in farmed Atlantic salmon (_Salmo salar_). Wild Atlantic salmon might also be susceptible. Rarely, isolates have been reported to affect other salmonids, like here. More information on the disease may be found at . - - Mod.PMB A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of British Columbia can be seen at . - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ] [see also: Infectious salmon anemia - Chile (02) 20111029.3217 Infectious salmon anemia - Canada: (BC) Pacific, 1st rep 20111019.3120 Infectious salmon anemia - Chile 20110730.2287 2010 - ---- Infectious salmon anemia - Chile 20100820.2909 Infectious salmon anemia - Chile (02): (MA) 20101109.4064] .................................................sb/pmb/mj/dk ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 15:17:55 -0500 (EST) From: ProMED-mail Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax, human, bovine - Uganda (02): (Western) ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - UGANDA (02): (WESTERN REGION) ******************************************************* A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Tue 8 Nov 2011 Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda) [edited] Ankole cattle corridor faces anthrax outbreak - ------------------------------------------- Two people have already been reported dead in Sheema District, and the region has now moved a quarantine on all animals. The Ankole cattle corridor is on high alert following an anthrax outbreak that claimed the lives of two people in Sheema District, last week. The district health inspector, Mr Francis Mugume, said five other people were admitted to Kabwohe Health Centre IV in critical condition. Mr Mugume identified the dead as males aged 56 years and 67 years, all butchers in Mashojwa Village, Kagango Sub-county. [Previous reports indicated that a third butcher might be among the sick. MHJ] Sheema District Health Officer Johnson Kabwishwa told Daily Monitor that a partial quarantine has been imposed on the sub-counties of Muzira, Kibingo, Kagango, and Kabwohe Itendero Town Council to stem the spread of the disease. "As a control measure, beef and its products have been banned in the affected sub-counties and farmers have started immunising their animals. We advise that dead animals should be buried immediately," Mr Kyabwisho said. Mbarara District veterinary officer Lewis Barigye said they are investigating the cause of the death of a cow in Kyantamba Mixed Farm in Kashaari. He said drugs for vaccination are readily available on the open market in pharmacies and farmers should be able to vaccinate their animals with the guidance of sub-county veterinary staff. The district leadership held a meeting yesterday and slammed quarantine on all movements of animals in the district. Bushenyi veterinary officer Rusoke Tibakyenga said ring vaccination will be carried out at the border with Sheema. "We have put up a roadblock at Rwentuuha Township and will start immunisation today (7 Nov 2011) along the border of Bushenyi with Sheema District. We have placed announcements on radios and there are talk shows to educate the public about the dangers of the disease," Dr Rusoke said. In Isingiro District, the district veterinary officer, Dr Bruhan Kasozi, said the area was safe while Kiruhura's Francis Mugisha said the district is already under quarantine. [Byline: Otushabire Tibyangye] - -- Communicated by: ProMED-mail [Much of this is a repetition of yesterday's reports (see ProMED-mail archive no 20111107.3316) but control activities, both voluntary and compulsory, are now in place. So far, cases, whether human or bovine, have been seen in the Sheema and Mbarara districts. The neighbouring districts of Bushenyi, Isingiro, and Kiruhura are under alert with quarantine measures and vaccination advisories, and some compulsory vaccination. To see where, go to the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Uganda at http://healthmap.org/r/1pFa and the district map at . NB: Some African news websites have a reputation for being virus prone so care is recommended when viewing them. - Mod.MHJ] [see also: Anthrax, human, bovine - Uganda: (SE) 20111107.3316 2009 - ---- Anthrax, human, wildlife - Uganda (02): (BS) unresolved 20090223.0758 Anthrax, human, wildlife - Uganda: (BS) susp 20090219.0690 2003 - ---- Anthrax, bovine - Uganda (Hoima) 20030218.0422] .................................................mhj/mj/dk ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 17:33:06 -0500 (EST) From: ProMED-mail Subject: PRO/AH> Avian influenza (68): H5N1 transmissibility to ferrets AVIAN INFLUENZA (68): H5N1 TRANSMISSIBILITY TO FERRETS ****************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Mon 7 Nov 2011 Source: CIDRAP news [edited] Complex steps needed for airborne H5N1 spread in ferrets - -------------------------------------------------------- A series of complex changes allowed the H5N1 avian flu virus to become transmissible via airborne droplets in ferrets, US researchers reported in the journal 'Virology' [see Abstract of this publication below]. Working on the assumption that acquisition of alpha-2-6 sialoside receptor specificity by alpha-2-3-specific H5N1 is a prerequisite for efficient transmission in humans, they identified 4 variant viruses that had modestly increased alpha-2- 6 and minimally decreased alpha-2-3 binding. They then created a mutant virus combining one of these variants (Q196R) with mutations from previous pandemic viruses (Q226L and G228S) that had predominantly alpha-2-6 binding. This novel virus was transmitted between ferrets, which are seen as good models of flu transmission in humans. Spread, however, occurred by direct contact, not by airborne droplets. The team then created a reassortant virus containing the mutant hemagglutinin, a human N2 neuraminidase, and internal genes from an H5N1 virus, and observed that it was "partially transmitted via respiratory droplets." The researchers conclude, "The complex changes required for airborne transmissibility in ferrets suggest that extensive evolution is needed for H5N1 transmissibility in humans." - -- Communicated by: ProMED-mail [The paper referred to above is titled; "In vitro evolution of H5N1 avian influenza virus toward human-type receptor specificity". By Li-Mei Chen and 8 others, in: Virology online 5 Nov 2011 doi:10.1016/j.virol.2011.10.006: . The Abstract reproduced below provides more specific information. "Acquisition of alpha 2-6 sialoside receptor specificity by alpha 2-3 specific highly-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5N1) is thought to be a prerequisite for efficient transmission in humans. By in vitro selection for binding alpha 2-6 sialosides, we identified 4 variant viruses with amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin (S227N, D187G, E190G, and Q196R) that revealed modestly increased alpha 2-6 and minimally decreased alpha 2-3 binding by glycan array analysis. However, a mutant virus combining Q196R with mutations from previous pandemic viruses (Q226L and G228S) revealed predominantly alpha 2-6 binding. Unlike the wild type H5N1, this mutant virus was transmitted by direct contact in the ferret model although not by airborne respiratory droplets. However, a reassortant virus with the mutant hemagglutinin, a human N2 neuraminidase and internal genes from an H5N1 virus was partially transmitted via respiratory droplets. The complex changes required for airborne transmissibility in ferrets suggest that extensive evolution is needed for H5N1 transmissibility in humans." These experiments demonstrated that multiple genetic changes were required to produce experimentally a predominantly avian H5 influenza virus that could be transmitted to ferrets (the mammal most susceptible to influenza virus infection) by respiratory droplet infection. These results are consistent with the rarity of H5N1 virus infection in humans despite the extent of their exposure to avian H5N1 virus infection from diseased poultry. While these experiments do not exclude the rapid evolution of a novel H5N1 human pandemic virus, this is likely to be a rare event. The priority must remain to reduce the exposure of humans to the avian virus in domestic poultry. - Mod.CP] [see also: 2006 - ---- Avian influenza, human (178): receptor mutations 20061116.3279 Avian influenza virus (03): virus receptor distribution 20060322.0893] .................................................cp/ejp/dk ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 19:44:45 -0500 (EST) From: ProMED-mail Subject: PRO/AH> Tularemia, human, possum - Australia (02): (TS), RFI TULAREMIA, HUMAN, POSSUM - AUSTRALIA (02): (TASMANIA), REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ****************************************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Tue 8 Nov 2011 Source: Robert Spencer Do you believe the story of tularemia in Tasmania? Has the organism been sequenced? The reason I ask is we did have a so-called case in an HIV positive patient but the organism turned out to be _F. philomiragia_. - -- Dr. Robert Spencer University Hospitals Bristol NHS Bristol, UK [ProMED thanks Dr. Spencer for his comment. Indeed, ProMED does not have any additional information regarding the identification of the isolate as _F. tularensis_. The species of _Francisella_ mentioned by Dr. Spencer, _philomiragia_ was initially _Yersinia philomiragia_ after being isolated from an ill muskrat and from surface water in Utah, USA (1). The specific epithet, derived from the Greek combining form philo (loving) and the plural of the Latinized English word mirage, was chosen because of the spectacular mirages that are seen in the area where the isolations were made. The organism was linked to human disease and renamed _F. philomiragia_ in 1989. Dannie Hollis and her colleagues at the CDC (2,3) reported 14 human isolates of _F. philomiragia_ over 16 years grown primarily from blood (n=8) but also from cerebrospinal fluid, lung, pleural, and pericardial and peritoneal fluids. Clearly the isolates were invasive and none were associated with an ulceroglandular or glandular presentation found in noninvasive tularemia as well as the Australian cases. The best way to identify an isolate as _F. philomiragia_ is by analysis of the organism's 16S ribosomal RNA. However, good growth (_F. tularensis_ is a fastidious, slow grower) of the isolate suggests _F. philomiragia_. The ulceroglandular nature of the illnesses of the 2 Australian patients, given the more invasive nature of _F. philomiragia_, suggests that the isolate was _F. tularensis_ but ProMED still awaits further information. References - ---------- 1. Jensen WI, Owen CR, Jellison WL:_Yersinia philomiragia_ sp. n., a new member of the Pasteurella Group of bacteria, naturally pathogenic for the muskrat (_Ondatra zibethica_). J Bacteriol 1969;100: 1237-1241. 2. Wenger JD, Hollis DG, Weaver RE, et al: Infection caused by _Francisella philomiragia_ )formerly _Yersinia philomiragia_). Ann Intern Med 1989;110: 888-892. 3. Hollis DG, Weaver RE, Steigerwalt AG, et al: _Francisella philomiragia_ comb. nov. )formerly _Yersinia philomiragia_) and _Francisella tularensis_ biogroup Novicida (formerly _Francisella novicida_) associated with human disease. J Clin Microbiol 1989;27: 1601-1608. - - Mod.LL] [see also: Tularemia, human, possum - Australia: (TS), RFI 20111105.3299 Tularemia - USA: (DE) 20111011.3043 Tularemia, pneumonic - Taiwan: (Taipei) ex USA 20110812.2445 Tularemia, imported - Germany: (Berlin) ex Turkey, alert 20110510.1441 Tularemia - Norway (02): (central) 20110401.1007 Tularemia - Norway: (central) 20110225.0622 2009 - ---- Tularemia, laboratory-acquired - USA: (MD) 20091207.4167 Tularemia, human - USA: (AK), RFI 20090810.2845 2008 - ---- Tularemia, human, feline - USA: (NV) 20080825.2652 Tularemia - Spain: (northern) 2007 20080815.2538 Tularemia - Russia: (Moscow) 20080722.2227 Tularemia, pneumonic - USA: (NYC) 20080612.1863 Tularemia - Thailand: (Prachuap Khiri Khan), RFI 20080318.1049 Tularemia, human, hare, 2007 - Germany: (Baden-Wuerttemberg) 20080218.0640 2007 - ---- Tularemia, hunter - Russia: (Amur) 20071207.3946 Tularemia - Spain (03): (northern) 20071108.3626 Tularemia - Russia (Khanti-Mansiysky) (03) 20070910.2988 Tularemia - Russia (Khanti-Mansiysky) 20070826.2804 Tularemia - Spain (northern): vole reservoir (02) 20070813.2646 Tularemia - USA (UT,NJ) (05): UT 20070809.2590 Tularemia - USA (WY) 20070803.2525 Tularemia - USA (UT, NJ) 20070716.2283 Undiagnosed fatal illness - Iran (Sistan-Baluchestan) (02): tularemia? 20070423.1329 Tularemia, water-borne - Norway (North) 20070329.1081] .................................................ll/ejp/dk ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 09:11:46 -0500 (EST) From: ProMED-mail Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis - Thailand: flood related LEPTOSPIROSIS - THAILAND: FLOOD RELATED **************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Tue 8 Nov 2011 Source: The Nation [edited] Health hazards are becoming a major concern as contamination of floodwater caused mainly by uncollected garbage is widespread -- while warnings against waterborne zoonoses [diseases transferred from animals to humans] and food poisoning have been issued. The Public Health Ministry's Department of Medical Sciences yesterday [7 Nov 2011] warned of possible leptospirosis in flooded areas and against consuming ice and iced drinks from unknown production sources. In a recent survey, 21 food samples, collected in 4 flooded provinces including Bangkok, yielded food poisoning manifestations, while 17 out of 57 samples of drinking water possessed germs which caused diarrhoea. The minister reported one leptospirosis case in Khon Kaen and 20 suspected cases. The bacterial disease, which is found usually in flooded areas up to 3 weeks after a flood recedes, is potentially fatal if not properly treated. In Bangkok, residents are encouraged to sort and separate rubbish, with decaying foodstuff and materials tightly sealed, as only 30 per cent of daily garbage can now be collected while more than 100 garbage trucks are undergoing modification to enable them to travel through high water. As Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra admitted, an understaffing problem has resulted in increasing garbage accumulation. District offices are hiring contractors to collect up to 70 per cent of garbage during flooding, while boats are being used to collect rubbish in badly flooded areas. The Senate yesterday [7 Nov 2011] discussed contamination and hygiene issues and called on the government to immediately begin water treatment and other public health concerns including possible post-flooding outbreaks. The senators, mostly those who sought to open yesterday's session, said the city administration and the government Flood Relief Operations Centre [FROC] had overlooked health issues while concentrating too much on flood prevention and drainage. Senator Surachai Liangbunlertchai proposed that FROC set up a special panel to oversee measures relevant to disease prevention and treatment of spoiled water. Senator Nillawan Phetchara-booranin, of the Senate commission on science and technology, said she admired volunteers' dedication in making disinfectant EM [effective microorganism] balls but expressed skepticism over their effectiveness. A number of university lecturers have questioned use of the medicinal balls, even though charity groups who made and used them claim their effectiveness as a water disinfectant. Dr Anant Ariyachaiphanich, head of the Senate commission on public health, called on diabetics to avoid wading in floodwater or against wounding themselves, and raised awareness of leptospirosis and mosquito-borne dengue fever. A retired Army commander, Phichet Wisaijorn, who has had experience disinfecting wastewater with EM balls, said he had been assigned by General Prayuth Chan-ocha to promote the use of the balls and to boost their production among Army units. He said the EM balls would be most effective when used together with a liquid disinfectant, with the balls working underwater while the liquid is sprayed on the floodwater and works on the surface. He said the space ratio of EM balls used under his supervision is one ball per square metre, compared to 1 to 4 claimed by charity groups. Examples of success with EM balls' use are in tackling contamination of Pattani Bay a few years ago, and in spoiled water in vast areas of rice paddies in Nakhon Ratchasima during a major flood last year [2010]. Phichet said Prayuth had already ordered Army units to make EM balls, even before this year's flood, and now wanted a large number produced by Army units for immediate use. - -- Communicated by: ProMED-mail [GIDEON (Global Infectious Disease & Epidemiology Network) data previously posted on ProMED-mail indicate that: _Leptospira interrogans_ serovar bataviae predominates in Bangkok, and serovar autumnalis in rural areas of Thailand. Leptospirosis outbreaks occur with some regularity during periods of flooding in Thailand as a result of people wading through contaminated water. Most cases occur among agricultural workers, notably rice producers. The principal reservoirs in Thailand are chronically infected rats and dogs that excrete _Leptospira_ in their urine (see ProMED-mail posts Leptospirosis - Thailand (02) 19971121.2345 and Leptospirosis - Thailand (Nan)(02): background 20060913.2592). EM (effective microorganism) mudballs are made of local dirt kneaded with: "Activated EM-1(R) (AEM), molasses, EM(TM) Bokashi (fermented organic material made from EM, molasses, water and rice or wheat bran), [and] EM-X(R) Ceramics Powder" (). EM-1(R) is said by its manufacturer to contain harmless lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and phototrophic bacteria: "EM-1(R) consists only of safe microorganisms that have been used, either intentionally or unintentionally, since ancient times" (). EM mudballs are used, according to its manufacturer, for sewage treatment and water purification, and "to clean up bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans where there are concentrated deposits of sludge and slime" (). Its effectiveness in preventing leptospirosis from exposure to contaminated floodwater is not known (). Pictures of EM mudballs can be found at . The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Thailand can be found at . - Mod.ML] [see also: 2006 - ---- Leptospirosis - Thailand (Nan)(02): background 20060913.2592 Leptospirosis - Thailand (Nan) 20060912.2579 2005 - ---- Leptospirosis - Thailand (Kalasin) 20050614.1666 2001 - ---- Leptospirosis - Germany ex Thailand 20011215.3030 2000 - ---- Leptospirosis - Thailand 20000908.1535 1997 - ---- Leptospirosis - Thailand (02) 19971121.2345] .................................................mpp/ml/mj/dk ------------------------------ End of ProMED Digest V2011 #534 ******************************* For all automated requests, send a message to: "majordomo@promedmail.org" To (un)subscribe to the promed list, type: "(un)subscribe promed" To (un)subscribe to the promed-digest, type: "(un)subscribe promed-digest" To (un)subscribe to the promed-edr list, type: "(un)subscribe promed-edr" To (un)subscribe to the promed-ahead list, type: "(un)subscribe promed-ahead" To (un)subscribe to the promed-ahead-digest, type: "(un)subscribe promed-ahead-digest" To obtain past digests, type: "get promed vYYYY.nNNN" (Substitute NNN with the desired file number and YYYY with the desired year. 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