Nonfebrile Seizures after Mumps, Measles, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Virus Combination Vaccination with Detection of Measles Virus RNA in Serum, Throat, and Urine

ABSTRACTWe report the case of a child presenting with nonfebrile seizures 6 and 13 days after the first vaccination with a measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) combination vaccine. Measles virus RNA was detected in the patient's serum, throat, and urine. Genotyping revealed the Schwarz vaccine virus strain.

The occurrence of Orthoreovirus, Rotavirus and chicken anemia virus in chickens of the poultry industry in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Fifty-four fecal samples taken from broiler chickens from 1 to 45 days of age, and of pullets from 10 to 13 weeks of age, original from eight different poultry regions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were collected from March 2008 to January 2010 for avian Orthoreovirus (ARV) and avian Rotavirus (AvRV) analyses. For the assay of ARV, RNA was immediately extracted (Trizolâ) and transcribed into cDNA for assaying in a nested-PCR with ARV-specific primers. For AvRV, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was performed with RNA extracts obtained by phenol-chloroform extraction. CAV was additionally investigated through a nested-PCR of thymus and spleen. Results found 5.55% positive for ARV and 9.25% for AvRV. Also, CAV and ARV genomes were detected in co-infection, in a highly prostrated and claudicating chicken flock. No ARV or AvRV infections were detected in pullets. Material of a clinically affected flock was inoculated into SPF embryos, resulting in embryonic hemorrhage, whitish foci in the chorio-allantoic membrane and death. Sequencing of ARV amplicons and isolate cDNA grouped local strains with the ARV S1133 strain, historically used in live vaccines, suggesting the continued circulation of this vaccine virus strain in intensive poultry regions. Detection rates for ARV and AvRV, as well as the presence of CAV, were additionally indicative of failing biosecurity strategies for the intensive poultry regions examined.

Attenuation Markers of a Candidate Dengue Type 2 Vaccine Virus, Strain 16681 (PDK-53), Are Defined by Mutations in the 5′ Noncoding Region and Nonstructural Proteins 1 and 3

ABSTRACT The genome of a candidate dengue type 2 (DEN-2) vaccine virus, strain PDK-53, differs from its DEN-2 16681 parent by nine nucleotides. Using infectious cDNA clones, we constructed 18 recombinant 16681/PDK-53 viruses to analyze four 16681-to-PDK-53 mutations, including 5′ noncoding region (5′NC)-57 C-to-T, premembrane (prM)-29 Asp-to-Val (the only mutation that occurs in the structural proteins), nonstructural protein 1 (NS1)-53 Gly-to-Asp, and NS3-250 Glu-to-Val. The viruses were studied for plaque size, growth rate, and temperature sensitivity in LLC-MK2 cells, growth rate in C6/36 cells, and neurovirulence in newborn mice. All of the viruses replicated to peak titers of 107.3 PFU/ml or greater in LLC-MK2 cells. The crippled replication of PDK-53 virus in C6/36 cells and its attenuation for mice were determined primarily by the 5′NC-57-T and NS1-53-Asp mutations. The temperature sensitivity of PDK-53 virus was attributed to the NS1-53-Asp and NS3-250-Val mutations. The 5′NC-57, NS1-53, and NS3-250 loci all contributed to the small-plaque phenotype of PDK-53 virus. Reversions at two or three of these loci in PDK-53 virus were required to reconstitute the phenotypic characteristics of the parental 16681 virus. The prM-29 locus had little or no effect on viral phenotype. Sequence analyses showed that PDK-53 virus is genetically identical to PDK-45 virus. Restriction of the three major genetic determinants of attenuation markers to nonstructural genomic regions makes the PDK-53 virus genotype attractive for the development of chimeric DEN virus vaccine candidates.

Molecular analysis of foot-and-mouth disease type O viruses isolated in Saudi Arabia between 1983 and 1995

Partial nucleotide sequence of the capsid polypeptide coding gene 1D (VP1) was determined for 68 serotype O foot-and-mouth disease viruses isolated between 1983 and 1995 from outbreaks occurring in Saudi Arabia. The sequences were compared with previously published sequences: 14 viruses of Middle Eastern origin (isolated between 1987 and 1991); and with four vaccine virus strain sequences, three originating from the Middle East (O1/Turkey/Manisa/69, O1/Sharquia/Egypt/72 and O1/Israel/2/85) and one from Europe (O1/BFS 1860/UK/67). The virus isolates from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East vaccine virus strains formed a related genetic group distinct from the European O1virus. Within this large group 12 distinct genetic sublineages were observed.

A serological evaluation of 1979–1982 Kenyan foot-and-mouth disease type SAT 2 viruses

SUMMARYSerological evaluations of foot-and-mouth disease type SAT 2 viruses isolated in Kenya between 1979 and 1982 were performed using the two-dimensional microneutralization test. Nine field isolates of epizootiological significance were compared with four vaccine viruses. The results obtained identified Tan 5/68 as the most appropriate reference vaccine virus strain since it had the broadest serological spectrum. Potent Tan 5/68 vaccines would be expected to provide adequate protection against the contemporary SAT 2 field viruses. In the case of K 83/74, which also was shown to have a broad spectrum with viruses isolated in Kenya, the results show that the 1982 isolate from central Kenya was significantly divergent (r < 1·00 at P = 0·01) and warranted tactical revaccination for its control. The study highlighted the fact that strain R1215 which had been isolated from the oesophageal-pharyngeal swabs of asymptomatic carrier cattle had a narrow serological spectrum suggesting that such viruses could be unsuitable as vaccine for the national campaign.