Pasteur Institute of Iran

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Introduction: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral infection transmitted mainly via CCHF virus-infected ticks between vertebrate hosts. The disease occurs in almost all provinces of Iran. This study investigated the CCHFV infection in hard ticks collected from livestock in the Sistan region of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeast of Iran. Methods: In this study, ticks were collected from 220 livestock, including 150 sheep, 50 goats, 20 cows in five counties of Sistan Province (Zabol, Zehak, Hirmand, Nimruz, and Hamun). The ticks were identified under a stereomicroscope according to valid morphological keys. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used to detect the CCHFV genome via amplifying the S segment. Results: Among 100 selected ticks, RT-PCR revealed no CCHFV infection. Conclusions: Although no ticks were positive for CCHFV, it should be recalled that Sistan and Baluchestan province is among the highly endemic CCHF foci. As a result, further investigation and larger sample sizes are required to confirm our outcome. According to the hypothesis that direct contact with viremic livestock is more significant than tick bites in the viral transmission, more serological and molecular screening should be performed on high-risk individuals, e.g., slaughterhouse staff, ranchers, farmers, and veterinarians in the Sistan region.

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Introduction: In Sub-Saharan Africa, the data on the mutations and variants of circulating SARS-CoV-2 is limited. This study aimed to screen specific mutations and variants of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Burkina Faso. Methods: This study included symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals who underwent diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs from 7 December 2021 to 12 January 2022. Samples from individuals with a Ct value ≤ 33 were selected for the variants-specific mutation screening. The screening was performed using two kits, “SNPsig^® SARS-COV-2 (Escape PLEX)" and "SNPsig® VariPLEX™ (COVID-19) Real-Time PCR Assay". Results: SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 18.9% (332/1758). A total of 113 samples (34.04%) had a Ct value less than (≤ 33), with only 20.35% (23/113) belonging to symptomatic patients. The mean age was 39.01±13 years. The Beta variant (B.1.351) was the most detected one comprising 78.8% (89/113) of variants. Gamma and Delta variants were detected at a low proportion of 0.9% (1/113). No mutation or variant was detected in seven (6.2%) samples. Conclusion: Specific mutation screening detected Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Burkina Faso. The absence of mutations in some samples might suggest variants other than those detected.
 

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Precision tracking and monitoring viral genome mutations are critical during a viral pandemic such as COVID-19. As molecular assays for diagnosing numerous infectious agents are being developed, RT-PCR is still deployed as the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Despite its proofreading capability, SARS-CoV-2, like other RNA viruses, adopts several changes in its genome. If these mutations, especially deletions, occur in the target areas of primers and probes, they will hinder molecular detection methods from identifying the given gene. The authors describe the cases in which, despite the lack of the N gene detection, the ORF1ab gene was discovered with a relatively low cycle of threshold (Ct). Following sequencing, changes were discovered in the annealing region of the forward and reverse primers and probes used in the SARS-CoV-2 detection kit. Among the most significant mutations is a large deletion of 15 nucleotides in the N gene, which has never been seen in prior variants. This highlights the importance of persistent monitoring of hypervariable regions in the SARS-CoV-2 genome through sequencing and updating the molecular detection kits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii is the cause of nosocomial infections, primarily in intensive care units. The pgaA gene plays an essential role in biofilm formation, making it a promising target for developing new strategies to tackle A. baumannii infections. This study investigated the meropenem effect on pgaA gene expression and biofilm formation in A. baumannii. Methods: Over five months, 50 urine samples were taken from patients receiving medical care in the intensive care unit, of which 20 A. baumannii isolates were detected. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined with meropenem, imipenem, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, amikacin, as well as gentamicin disks by the Kirby-Bauer method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of meropenem was determined using the microdilution method. Biofilm formation was investigated through the tissue culture plate (TCP) technique and imaged using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) determined the expression level of the pgaA gene. Results: Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that all A. baumannii isolates were resistant to meropenem, imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin, and 71.42% were resistant to tetracycline. The MIC for meropenem could not be determined for isolates. Meropenem prevented biofilm formation in more than 70% of the isolates, and AFM imaging revealed thin biofilms. The RT-PCR showed that exposure to meropenem significantly decreased the pgaA expression gene in over 95% of the isolates (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Meropenem inhibited biofilm formation in most A. baumannii isolates by downregulating the pgaA expression, suggesting a potential role in preventing A. baumannii infections by reducing biofilm formation

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Introduction: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, had a widespread impact on lives worldwide. Its global impact has transcended geographical barriers, affecting people of all ages, races, and genders. Pregnancy induces critical physiological changes in women that can increase their susceptibility to infections. As a result, pregnant women may be at a higher risk of acquiring infections compared to non-pregnant individuals. This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among pregnant women from April 2020 to January 2022. Methods: Screening was performed on a total of 4929 pregnant women nearing their expected delivery date. Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal samples were collected and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 detection using real-time RT-PCR. Result: Pregnant women in the study had a mean age of 30.28 years, and the overall prevalence of COVID-19 was 3.6%. Positivity rates varied between zero and 23.2% during different intervals, with increases in positivity coinciding with the peaks of the country's first, second, and third waves of COVID-19. Pregnant females exhibited a higher positivity rate for COVID-19 compared to the general population. Conclusions: The presence of COVID-19-positive patients in our study group, which comprised entirely of asymptomatic individuals, underscores the importance of active screening among at-risk populations, particularly during periods of increased activity in the general population. These findings can be of vital importance for the management of COVID-19 in pregnant patients, as well as policymaking at all levels.