Published Date 03-AUG-2005 Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Streptococcus suis, porcine, human - China (04) STREPTOCOCCUS SUIS, PORCINE, HUMAN - CHINA (04) *********************************************** A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org> ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org> Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene <http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/journals/trst> Date: Wed 3 Aug 2005 From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> Source: People's Daily Online [edited] <http://english.people.com.cn/200508/03/eng20050803_199959.html> One new death of pig-borne endemic reported in Sichuan ----------------------------------------------- The death toll of the pig-borne endemic in southwest China's Sichuan Province had reached 37 as of Tue 2 Aug 2005, with one new death reported, according to the Chinese Ministry of Health. Although no new cases were reported, 8 retrospective cases were found. Among them, 5 were confirmed and 3 suspected, said the ministry in a latest report. The province has so far reported 205 cases of swine _Streptococcus suis_ type 2, with 159 confirmed and 46 suspected. 18 people have been discharged from the hospital, and 29 others are in critical condition. The endemic broke out late in June 2005 and has now been pinpointed in 10 cities, including Ziyang, Jianyang, Neijiang and the provincial capital Chengdu. All the patients had direct contact with ill or dead pigs.>snip<
Diagnosis of _S. suis_ infection in both pigs and humans is based upon culture of the organism from normally sterile sites and should not be difficult. Clinical details from the current outbreak (both from the pigs and the humans) are thus far lacking and it is therefore difficult to assess whether some co-infection (or other co-morbidity) may be accounting for this unprecedented cluster of human disease. - Mod.LM
H5N1 and Ebola Recombinants in Qinghai and Sichuan
Recombinomics Commentary
August 2, 2005
The spread of H5N1 along Russia's southern border and the increased toll in Sichuan province form the mysterious pig disease, demand more transparency from China who claims to have never had a human case of H5N1 and a fatal pig disease due to a relatively benign bacterium.
Boxun reports indicate that China has several strains of H5N1 and Ebola capable of causing human disease. Although sequence data for the early Qinghai isolates were published, China has failed to share samples from live birds or bird flu isolates beyond the 12 collected in May. Similarly, samples from Sichuan appear to be lacking. Sichuan is adjacent to Qinghai, suggesting a possible linkage.
Boxun reports also describe an industrial accident and use of the wrong treatment as part of the problem in Sichuan. The are also rumors of problems caused by an adenovirus vectored hog cholera vaccine. There many be several viruses involved, including an Ebola recombinant.
Thus, there clearly appear to be too many viruses in the area that could recombine and create a new entity. Ebola and H5N1 share a region in common that could allow for recombination between the two viruses. Having Ebola and H5N1 co-circulating creates a potentially volatile situate. This situation could be exacerbated by an adenovirus vectored vaccine because adenovirus also has homology to this region, as does African swine fever virus.
Thus, the boxun report describing recombinants could be referring to many different combinations including Ebola and H5N1 or either one plus adenovirus linked of hog cholera virus.
To resolve these issues, samples must be provided. China has created a genetically unstable environment.
Denials of human H5N1 infections or creation of new bacterial diseases are not acceptable.