Many Mule, Muscovy, and Bikini duck flocks in different duck-producing regions in Egypt have shown signs of a new disease designated "short beak and dwarfism syndrome" (SBDS) since 2015. The ducks with SBDS showed strong growth retardation with beak atrophy, enteritis, and paralysis. Although the mortality rate was 2%–8% in affected flocks, the morbidity rate was 20%–50% and even 80% in some regions. The disease is characterized by dyspraxia, weight loss, a protruding tongue, and high morbidity and low mortality rates. To characterize the etiological agent, a virus was isolated from the allantoic fluid following serial passage in embryonated duck eggs. This virus causes a cytopathic effect in duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the isolate was positive for the antigen of goose parvovirus (GPV). The bovine sperm agglutination test indicated that the virus was most closely related to GPV strain. Together, these data indicated that the isolated virus from mule ducks with SBDS disease is a GPV-related parvovirus causing and that it is divergent from classical GPV isolates.
Goose Parvovirus (GPV) is a highly infectious disease of water fowls causing short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS).The importance of the GPV resides in its ability to transmit horizontal, vertical and also through contamination of eggs hatchery. The appearance of the virus in Egypt and all over the world is still mysterious and not well understood. The current study aims at assessment of the current epidemic situation of GPV through isolation and molecular characterization of the capsid protein VP1 gene and comparative computational assessment of the antigenic structure between the recently isolated strains in 2023 and the strain isolated during 2018 epidemics that used for preparation of the local monovalent vaccine. Molecular analysis revealed that there 100 % homology between the local isolates of 2023 while the isolate of 2018 shares 98.1% homology with those isolated in 2023. Comparative sequence analysis of VP1 gene between 2023 and 2018 isolates revealed that there were 16 SNPs, 3 of them are nonsynonymous SNPs that lead to codon shift in the significantly important predicted antigenic domains of VP1 protein. The first codon shift occurs at residue number 28 from (alanine) in 2018 isolate to (serine) in 2023 isolates this lead to change in the antigenic structure at this portion, the second change occurs at residue number 217 to be aspartate in the local isolate of 2018 while being serine in the isolates of 2023, the 3rd codon difference is at residue 265 which is serine in the local isolate of 2018 and is aspartate in the local isolates of 2023. On the other hand the isolates of 2023 epidemics are typically the same at the molecular level and antigenic structures even though they have been isolated from different locations ;Gharbia governorates in the north of Egypt and Beni Suef in the upper Egypt which indicates that the isolate of 2023 is the most prevailing GPV during this period, so it is recommended to update the current prepared monovalent vaccine with bivalent vaccine that include both the isolates of 2018 and 2023 for better protection against GPV in Egypt and to make continuous monitoring of the current circulating viruses to make better assessment of the current epidemic status in Egypt for continuous vaccine update to cope with the existing field epidemic status.
This study assessed the effects of a group intervention-Siblings Coping Together (SibCT)-on siblings' and caregivers' anxiety symptoms compared to controls, and potential moderators.Seventy healthy siblings of children on or off treatment (7-16 y old, 41 males) participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 2 arms/groups: SibCT (n = 41) and an attention control (CG) (n = 34). Both groups had eight 2-hour weekly sessions. EG followed SibCT's educational, social, and problem-solving activities. CG had planned games and crafts. Siblings and caregivers self-reported on anxiety symptoms at baseline, intervention end, and 3 months later. Multivariable mixed model analyses examined the intervention effect over time, and potential moderators (gender, on/off ill child's treatment).No main effects of group or time were found in sibling scores. A group × gender interaction (P < .05) indicated that in the intervention group female siblings reported less total anxiety symptoms than male siblings, with no significant gender differences in the control group. Caregivers' total anxiety symptoms declined over time (P < .02). A group × on/off treatment interaction in physiological/panic subscale (P < .03) indicated that when ill child was on treatment, caregivers of siblings in SibCT reported less anxiety compared with caregivers of CG.There was no clear SibCT intervention effect. SibCT may benefit female siblings, and caregivers whose ill child is on active treatment. Contextual factors (gender) seem to influence psychosocial intervention in this population.
Abstract The current worldwide pandemic COVID-19 is causing severe human health problems, with high numbers of mortality rates and huge economic burdens that require an urgent demand for safe, and effective and vaccine development. Our study was the first trail to development and evaluation of safety and immune response to inactivated whole SARS-COV-2 virus vaccine adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide. We used characterized SARS-COV-2 strain, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolates (SARS-CoV-2/human/EGY/Egy-SERVAC/2020) with accession numbers; MT981440 ; MT981439; MT981441; MT974071; MT974069 and MW250352 at GenBank that isolated from Egyptian patients SARS-CoV-2-positive. Development of the vaccine was carried out in a BSL - 3 facilities and the immunogenicity was determined in mice at two doses (55µg and 100µg per dose). All vaccinated mice were received a booster dose 14 days post first immunization. Our results demonstrated distinct cytopathic effect on the vero cell monolayers induced through SARS-COV-2 propagation and the viral particles were identified as Coronaviridae by transmission electron microscopy. SARS-CoV-2 was identified by RT-PCR performed on the cell culture. Immunogenicity of the developed vaccine indicated the high antigen-binding and neutralizing antibody titers, regardless the dose concentration, with excellent safety profiles.However, no deaths or clinical symptoms in mice groups. The efficacy of the inactivated vaccine formulation was tested by wild virus challenge the vaccinated mice and detection of viral replication in lung tissues. Vaccinated mice recorded complete protection from challenge infection three weeks post second dose. SARS-COV-2 replication was not observed in the lungs of mice following SARS-CoV-2 challenge, regardless of the level of serum neutralizing antibodies. This finding will support the future trials for evaluation an applicable SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.
The current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is causing severe human health problems, with high mortality rates and huge economic burdens requiring the urgent development of a safe and effective vaccine. Here, preclinical evaluation of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate (EgySerVac-20) is reported. Oropharyngeal swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates obtained from Egyptian patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were isolated using Vero cells and were then genetically characterized. Vaccine inactivation was performed using diluted formaldehyde, followed by safety testing for the inactivated vaccine. To determine the high humoral immune responses against SARSCOV-2 infection, the safety and capacity of the vaccine prepared with alum adjuvant were tested. The immunogenicity and efficacy of the vaccine candidate was tested in vitro by a neutralization assay and in vivo using mouse models. Our results revealed a cytopathic effect which was observed 48 hours post infection and the viral particles were identified by rRT-PCR as SARS-CoV-2. Propagation of the isolated virus in ten serial passages on the Vero cells yielded a virus titer 7.5 log10 TCID50/ml. Complete inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 was observed at 37°C in 24 hours post treatment by diluted formaldehyde. Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 infected fluid safety was determined by absence of cytopathic effect by repeated passage in Vero cell line, indicating loss of virus infectivity. Virus inactivated by diluted formaldehyde showed no deaths or clinical symptoms in mice groups post intraperitoneal inoculation (0.5ml/mouse). EgySerVac-20 inactivated vaccine has safely induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies titers in mice, where 0.1 ml immunization dose showed protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in mice. This finding will support the future preclinical and clinical trials evaluation for our SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate in primates and human, respectively.
Newcastle disease (ND) causes severe economic losses in poultry production. Despite the intensive vaccination regimes of NDV in Egypt, many outbreaks are being reported. The present study focused on the preparation and evaluation of inactivated velogenic Newcastle disease virus vaccine (genotype VII) isolated from Egyptian broiler chicken during 2015-2016. Fifty-five tissue samples including trachea, lung, liver, proventriculus, intestine, and kidney collected from commercial broiler chickens were used for virus isolation in specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) and identified using RT-PCR and sequencing. The isolates were classified by sequencing as velogenic NDV genotype VIId containing F0 protein cleavage site motifs (112RRQKRF117). A selected isolate was served as a master seed for the preparation of inactivated NDV vaccine with or without Montanide ISA70 adjuvant and evaluated in SPF chicks. Nine NDV isolates were isolated on ECE and the highest infectivity titer of the virus was 7.50 log10 EID50 mL-1 by the 5th passage. Vaccinated chicks with NDV-Montanide ISA70 adjuvanted vaccine exhibited antibody titer of 5.20 log2 at the 3rd-week-post-vaccination (WPV) with the highest titer (8.90 log2 mL-1) at the 6th-WPV. Protective antibodies values were persisted to 12th WPV followed by a gradual decrease to the end of the experiment (16th weeks). Vaccination of chicks with inactivated NDV isolate without adjuvant failed to induce protective HI antibodies all over the experiment. Chickens vaccinated with the ISA70 adjuvant vaccine were passed homologous challenge tests with 100% protective efficiency, while the unadjuvanted vaccine could not provide any protective efficiency. In conclusion, the preparation of inactivated oil adjuvant vaccine from NDV field circulating strains was efficient in controlling the disease in Egypt.
scorbic acid, Beta propilacton and binary ethylenamine (BEA) were evaluated as inhibitors of rabies' virus (Evely-Retkitincki-Abeleseths skauis) in optimized BHK21 cell cutrures.Ascorbic acid inactivated rabies virus at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and1mg/ ml after 22,18 and 14 hours at 37 o C respectively, while BPL inactivated the virus after 4,6,8 hours with concentrations of 1/500,1/10000,and1/20000 respectively at 37 o C. BEI inactivated the virus after 6 hours when used with 0.3 M.These Inactivators did not affect the antigincity of rabies virus in three prepared experimental vaccine batches.Ascorbic acid appears to be the most preferable one as safe natural noncarcinogenic agent when compared with BPL and BEI. INRODCTIONRabies is a highly fatal infectious disease affecting most worm blooded animals including man.It is an infection of the central nervous system which is usually fatal (OIE 2012).El-Gaballi (2008) reported that there is an increasing in the number of bitten persons by street dogs representing a huge problem facing the ministry of health.Number of affected persons was 121509 in 2003.This number reached 207694 during 2007 with a medication cost of 25 million Egyptian pounds.Sincerabies is known to be an incurable disease, so vaccination is a powerful tool in combating the disease.WHO (1996) recommended the prevention of usage of all live vaccine to be administrated for vaccination either in humans or in animals to avoid the recurrence vicinal strains.In order to elicit the production of a safe inactivated vaccine for immunization of pet and farm animals has been recommended.Since rabies virus is highly neurotropic and can cause fatal encephalitis, necessary precautions should be taken while handling.Inactivation of rabies virus is essential for preparation of vaccines, diagnostic reagents and research purposes (Madhusudana et. al., 2004).The present study aims to comparatively evaluate the inactivation effect of βPL; BEI and ascorbic acid on rabies virus to select the best inactivator that provides the safe and potent vaccine.A
Current worldwide pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with high numbers of mortality rates and huge economic problems require an urgent demand for safe and effective vaccine development. Inactivated SARS-CoV2 vaccine with alum. Hydroxide can play an important role in reducing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, vaccine efficacy was evaluated through the detection of the neutralizing antibodies that protect mice from challenge with SARS-CoV 2 3 weeks after the second dose. We conclude that the vaccine described here has safety and desirable properties, and our data support further development and plans for clinical trials.Characterized SARS-COV-2 strain, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolates (SARS-CoV-2/human/EGY/Egy-SERVAC/2020) with accession numbers; MT981440; MT981439; MT981441; MT974071; MT974069; and MW250352 at GenBank were isolated from Egyptian patients SARS-CoV-2-positive. Development of inactivated vaccine was carried out in a BSL-3 facilities and the immunogenicity was determined in mice at two doses (55 and 100 μg per dose).The distinct cytopathic effect induced by SARS-COV-2 propagation on Vero cell monolayers and the viral particles were identified as Coronaviridae by transmission electron microscopy and RT-PCR on infected cells cultures. Immunogenicity of the developed vaccine indicated the high antigen-binding and neutralizing antibody titers, regardless of the dose concentration, with excellent safety profiles and no deaths or clinical symptoms in mice groups. The efficacy of the inactivated vaccine formulation was tested by the wild virus challenge of the vaccinated mice and viral replication detection in lung tissues.Vaccinated mice recorded complete protection from challenge infection via inhibition of SARS-COV-2 replication in the lung tissues of mice following virus challenge, regardless of the level of serum neutralizing antibodies. This finding will support future trials for the evaluation of an applicable SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.