35 cases of new animal-to-human virus reported in China Loop Cayman Islands

Black Immigrant Daily News

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, 35 cases of Langya henipavirus (LayV) were discovered in China following a study of “zoonotic” diseases at three hospitals in Henan Province and Shandong Province.

Purpose of study

The purpose of the study, using patients recruited from the Qingdao Sixth People’s Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong Province, Shangcheng People’s Hospital and PLA 990 Hospital, Xinyang, Henan Province, was to determine whether there was any link between acute fever (>=38?C) experienced by patients and any recent exposure to animals.

Sample testing

The tests were conducted by collecting blood and throat swab samples from patients, supplemented by an epidemiological investigation on the infected patients and their close contact family members.

In addition to patient samples, a study was also done on animals. This is according to a document related to the study which said:

To infer the infection source of LayV infection, we performed field investigation in the residence village of the infected patients to acquire samples from domestic animals.

Serum samples were obtained from 459 domestic animals (79 free-ranging dogs, 168 semi-captive goats, 112 captive pigs and 100 captive cattle), which were used for detection of LayV-specific IgG antibody by indirect immunofluorescence assay as above mentioned.

We performed PCR on the samples from wild small animals (25 species from 12 genera) to determine the presence of LayV specific RNA.

The wild small animals had been captured using snap traps and then identified by morphological features to the species level, which were further confirmed by sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b (mt-cyt b) gene13. The tissue, intestine digesta and urine samples were tested for LayV RNA by RT-PCR as above mentioned.

Test results

Regarding detection of Langya henipavirus, the study confirms that “whole genome sequences of LayV were obtained from 5 positive shrews by viral metagenomic sequencing and targeted PCR sequencing.” (Shrews resemble mice and live underground or in snow, the largest species reportedly being the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) of tropical Asia.)

Further investigation necessary

Due to the “probable animal origin” of Langya henipavirus associated with patients’ illness, the New England Journal of Medicine said that further investigation is warranted to better understand associated human illness.

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