International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance Vienna, Austria • October 31 – November 3, 2014 Co-sponsored by ProMED-mail, the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases EcoHealth Alliance European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases ( ESCMID) HealthMap Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE ) Organized by the International Society for Infectious Diseases FINAL PROGRAM Co-sponsored by ProMED-mail, the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases EcoHealth Alliance European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases ( ESCMID) HealthMap Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE ) Organized by the International Society for Infectious Diseases FINAL PROGRAM Table ii IMED 2014 of C ontents International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Committees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 General Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Floorplans | Hilton Vienna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Program-at-a-Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Scientific Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Friday, October, 31, 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Saturday, November 1, 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sunday, November 2, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Monday, November 3, 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Poster Presentations I • Saturday, November 1, 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Poster Presentations II • Sunday, November 2, 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Abstracts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Friday, October 31, 2014 Session 01: MERS-CoV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Session 02: In the Hot Zone: Ebola and MERS-CoV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Session 03: 2014 West African Ebola Virus Outbreak Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Session 04: West Nile Fever in the European Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Session 05: Rapid Diagnostics for Emerging Infectious Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Session 06: Oral Presentations: Surveillance and Modeling of EID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Session 07: Global Spread of Antibiotic Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Session 08: Pathogen and Host Diversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Session 09: Ethics and Disease Surveillance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Session 10: ProMED 20th Anniversary Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (no abstracts) Session 11: Oral Presentations: Hot Topics in EID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Sunday, November 2, 2014 Session 12: FAO of the UN: Tools for Animal Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Session 13: Health Care Associated Emerging Infections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Session 14: Launching of the New OIE Global Wildlife Disease Reporting System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Session 15: Emerging Viral Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Session 16: Things are Heating Up: EID and Climate Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Session 17: Pastoralism, Rural Communities and the Human Animal Health Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Session 18: Oral Presentations: High-Consequence Viral Pathogens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Monday, November 3, 2014 Session 19: One Health: From Research to Public Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Session 20: Oral Presentations: Emerging Respiratory Viruses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Session 21: Changing Disease Landscapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Poster Presentations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Session 22: Poster Presentations I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Diseases of Animals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Infections Related to Travel and Migration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Innovations in Diagnostic Tests for Emerging Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 New Approaches to Outbreak Surveillance and Monitoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 New Pathogen Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Outbreak Response and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Public Communication of Outbreaks and Emerging Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Sociopolitical Factors in Disease Emergence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Vaccines and Emergence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Vectorborne Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Sunday, November 2, 2014 Session 23: Poster Presentations I I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Antimicrobial Resistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Bioterrorism and Biological Warfare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Climate Change and Ecological Factors in Disease Emergence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Diseases at the Interface of Humans, Wildlife and Other Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Diseases of Animals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Ethical Issues in Emerging Diseases and Disease Surveillance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Infections of Public Health Significance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Outbreak Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 New Pathogen Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Disclosures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Index of Authors and Co-Authors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Welcome International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Welcome to the great city of Vienna and the fifth International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance, IMED 2014. Now established as a fixture for those whose work deals with threats from infectious agents, IMED 2014 will once again bring leading scientists, clinicians and policy makers together to present new knowledge and breakthroughs and discuss how to discover, detect, understand, prevent and respond to outbreaks of emerging pathogens. Since the last IMED, newly emerged diseases and outbreaks of familiar ones have continued to challenge us and keep us vigilant. The unprecedented and tragic epidemic of Ebola virus disease in West Africa has galvanized world attention and renewed our resolve to work toward answers to this and future outbreaks. Many unanswered questions regarding the MERS coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East remain. Diseases at the human-wildlife interface ranging from rabies to plague to Nipah virus continue to draw our attention. Growing resistance by pathogens to all types of therapeutic agents raise fundamental obstacles to our ability to respond to outbreaks and pandemics. The threat of intentional use of biological agents for nefarious purposes remains as real as ever. Since its inception, IMED has been a summit that unifies our approach to pathogens in the broadest ecological context. Drawing together human and veterinary health specialists, IMED serves as a true One Health forum where those working in diverse specialties and diverse regions can meet, discuss, present and challenge one another with findings and new ideas. This year, over 600 abstracts were submitted. A selection of the best among these will be presented in two poster sessions and four oral sessions. A meeting of this scope could not occur without the help of many, and I particularly want to thank our co-sponsors for making IMED possible: EcoHealth Alliance, the Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF), the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), HealthMap, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). We also acknowledge the generous technical contribution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the support from Metabiota, the Vienna Convention Bureau, the Mayor of Vienna and Austrian Airlines. While pathogens emerge and mutate, our methodology for detection, surveillance, prevention, control, and treatment also continue to evolve. New approaches to the uses of social media and data mining, novel laboratory methods, rapid point-of-care diagnostics, risk communication, political and societal responses to outbreaks have all seen innovation and change that will be explored at IMED 2014. Thank you for your participation. Sincerely, Larry MADOFF Chair, Scientific Program Committee Editor, ProMED-mail, International Society for Infectious Diseases Boston, USA 1 IMED 2014 C ommittees C ommittees International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Scientific Program Committee Larry Madoff, Boston, MA, USA – Chair Jacques Acar, Paris, France Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo, Rome, Italy Timothy Brewer, Los Angeles, CA, USA John Brownstein, Boston, MA, USA Sidi Coulibaly, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Onder Ergonul, Istanbul, Turkey Elisabeth Erlacher-Vindel, Paris, France Benson Estambale, Nairobi, Kenya David Fisman, Toronto, Canada Antoine Flahault, Paris, France David Heymann, London, United Kingdom Jim Hughes, Atlanta, GA, USA Damien Joly, Nanaimo, BC, Canada William Karesh, New York, NY, USA Najwa Khuri-Bulos, Amman, Jordan Keith Klugman, Seattle, WA, USA Britta Lassmann, Boston, MA, USA Daniel Lucey, Washington, DC, USA Nina Marano, Nairobi, Kenya Abla Mawadeku, Ottawa, Canada Norbert Nowotny, Vienna, Austria and Muscat, Oman Philip Polgreen, Iowa City, IA, USA Marjorie Pollack, New York, NY, USA Natalia Psenichnaya, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation Arnon Shimshony, Jerusalem, Israel Mark Smolinski, San Francisco, CA, USA Jaime Torres, Caracas, Venezuela Jack Woodall, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Sustaining Sponsor Metabiota A for-profit company that develops systems to mitigate microbial threats. Specializing in disease and pathogen detection, evaluation and response through the integration of field and lab research with health data analytics. Metabiota has a demonstrated track record in international collaboration, scientific and public health surveillance capacity-building, and research with high public health impact. Focused on scientific leadership, community health development and education, and exploratory research, Metabiota maintains offices in San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Guangzhou, China. Co-Sponsors ProMED-mail, the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases EcoHealth Alliance European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) HealthMap Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Technical Contributor Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO) 2 IMED 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Cooperating Organizations Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) Austrian Federal Ministry of Health Austrian Society for Infectious Diseases (ÖEGIT) Austrian Society of Hygiene, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine (ÖGHMP) Austrian Society of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (ÖGTP) CIRAD-INRA EDENext European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) INMI (Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive "LAZZARO SPALLANZANI") International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS) University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna – (Vetmeduni Vienna) Contributors Austrian Airlines City of Vienna International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) Vienna Hilton Am Stadtpark Vienna Convention Bureau Exhibitors Applied Maths Austrian Airlines Euroimmun Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) We invite you to visit the Exibits in the Pre-Function Area on the Ground Level. Organizer & Conference Office International Society for Infectious Diseases 9 Babcock Street, Unit 3, Brookline, MA 02446, USA phone: (617) 277-0551 • fax: (617) 278-9113 email: info@isid.org web: http://www.isid.org • http://imed.isid.org Exhibition Office Media Plan Freyung 6 1010 Vienna, Austria Phone: (+43 1) 536 63 0 Fax: (+43 1) 535 60 16 Email: mp@media.co.at 3 IMED 2014 General Information General Information International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Opening Hours of the Registration and Information Desk Friday, October 31, 2014 11:00 –19:00hrs Saturday, November 1, 2014 08:00 –18:00hrs Sunday, November 2, 2014 08:00 –18:00hrs Monday, November 3, 2014 08:00 –12:00hrs Congress Venue Hilton Vienna • Am Stadtpark • 1030 Vienna • Tel: +43 1 717 000 • http://www.hilton.com Registration Fees Participants: EUR 505.00 Students: EUR 285.00 Social Program The Welcome Reception will be held on Friday, October 31 from 17:30 to 19:00hrs at the Hilton Hotel Vienna on the Gallery (Upper Level). The Mayor’s Reception will take place on Sunday, November 2 at 19:00hrs at the wine tavern (Fuhrgassl Huber, Neustift am Walde). An invitation card is needed to gain access to this dinner. The price is EUR 20,00 per person. Onsite registration is subject to availability. Buses will leave at 19.00hrs from the Hilton Hotel (side entrance) and will return at approxmately 23.00hrs. For both functions business attire is appropriate. Badges Please wear your name badge at all times during the conference in order to gain access to the scientific program and all conference functions. Internet Access The Hilton provides free internet access in the main hotel lobby. WiFi access in the sleeping rooms and conference area is available for a special conference fee if you present your IMED name badge. Tickets can be purchased from the reception desk on the ground level (EUR 10 for 24 hours). IMED on Social Media Please tweet about IMED: #IMED2014 Like our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ IMED2014Vienna 4 IMED 2014 CME The IMED 2014 is accredited the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists. The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), www.uems.net. The IMED 2014 is designated for a maximum of, or up to 18 hours of European external CME credits. Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. Through an agreement between the European Union of Medical Specialists and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert EACCME credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Information on the process to convert EACCME credit to AMA credit can be found at www.ama-assn.org/go/internationalcme. Live educational activities, occurring outside of Canada, recognized by the UEMS-EACCME for ECMEC credits are deemed to be Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. RACE (Veterinary CE) The American Association of Veterinary State Boards RACE committee has reviewed and approved IMED 2014 as meeting the Standards adopted by the AAVSB, (maximum CME for one veterinarian: 16.5). This course meets the requirements for hours of continuing education in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/ or restrictions on certain methods of delivery. All CME forms are included in the congress bag. Please complete and return forms to the ISID after the conference is over as indicated on the form. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Poster Presentations Poster presentations will be held on Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2 from 11.45 to 13.15hrs. During this period all presenters must be available for discussion at their posters. Set-up for Poster Presentations I: Saturday, November 1 from 08:00 to 10:30hrs Removal: Saturday, November 1 from 16:30 to 18:00hrs Set-up for Poster Presentations II: Sunday, November 2 from 08:00 to 10:30hrs Removal: Sunday, November 2 from 16:30 to 18:00hrs Poster Areas (Upper Level) Saturday, November 1, 2014 / Poster Presentations I 11:45–13:15 Room Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms / Upper Level: Abstract Number Topic 22.001 Diseases of Animals 22.002 – 22.004 Infections Related to Travel and Migration 22.005 – 22.041 Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections 22.042 – 22.056 Innovations in Diagnostic Tests for Emerging Diseases 22.057 – 22.083 New Approaches to Outbreak Surveillance and Monitoring 22.084 – 22.094 New Pathogen Discovery 22.095 – 22.123 Outbreak Response and Control 22.124 – 22.133 Public Communication of Outbreaks and Emerging Diseases Klimt Ballroom I / Upper Level: Abstract Number Topic 22.134 – 22.138 Sociopolitical Factors in Disease Emergence 22.139 – 22.152 Vaccines and Emergence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases 22.153 – 22.193 Vectorborne Diseases Sunday, November 2, 2014 / Poster Presentations II 11:45–13:15 Room Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms / Upper Level: Abstract Number Topic 23.001 – 23.037 Antimicrobial Resistance 23.038 Bioterrorism and Biological Warfare 23.039 – 23.040 Climate Change and Ecological Factors in Disease Emergence 23.041 – 23.088 Diseases at the Interface of Humans, Wildlife and Other Animals 23.089 – 23.109 Diseases of Animals 23.110 – 23.111 Ethical Issues in Emerging Diseases and Disease Surveillance 23.112 – 23.126 Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Klimt Ballroom I / Upper Level: Abstract Number Topic 23.127 – 23.181 Infections of Public Health Significance 23.182 – 23.186 Outbreak Modeling 23.187 New Pathogen Discovery 5 IMED 2014 Floorplans • Hilton A m Stadtpark Vienna Program-at-a-Glance International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Time Friday, October 31, 2014 Room 11:00–19:00 14:00–14:20 14:20–15:00 15:00–16:30 16:30–17:15 17:30–19:00 Registration and Information Desk Welcome & Opening Session I: Plenary Lecture: MERS-CoV Session 2: Plenary Session: In the Hot Zone: Ebola and MERS-CoV Session 3: Plenary Lecture: Challenges and Controversies in the 2014 West African Ebola Virus Outbreak Response Welcome: Cocktail Reception Foyer/Park Congress/Ground Level Park Congress/Ground Level Park Congress/Ground Level Park Congress/Ground Level Park Congress/Ground Level Time Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room 3 Break-out Sessions: 08:30–09:30 Session 4: West Nile Fever in the European Union 09:30–10:30 Session 5: Rapid Diagnostics for Emerging Infecious Threats 08:30–10:30 Session 6: Oral Presentations: Surveillance and Modeling of Emerging Infectious Diseases 10:30–11:00 Coffee Break 11:00–11:45 Session 7: Plenary Lecture: Global Spread of Antibiotic Resistance 11:45–13:15 Poster Presentations I (Session 22) 14:30–16:00 2 Break-out Sessions: Session 8: Pathogen and Host Diversity Session 9: Ethics and Disease Surveillance 16:00–16:30 Coffee Break 16:30–18:00 2 Break-out Sessions: Session 10: ProMED 20th Anniversary Symposium Session 11: Oral Presentations: Hot Topics in EID Time Sunday, November 2, 2014 08:30–10:30 2 Break-out Sessions: Session 12: FAO of the UN: Tools for Animal Health Session 13: Health Care Associated Emerging Infections 10:30–11:00 Coffee Break 11:00–11:45 Session 14: Plenary Lecture: Launching of the New OIE Global Wildlife Disease Reporting System 11:45–13:15 Poster Presentations II (Session 23) 14:30–16:00 2 Break-out Sessions: Session 15: Emerging Viral Threats Session 16: Things are Heating Up: EID and Climate Change 16:00–16:30 Coffee Break 16:30–18:00 2 Break-out Sessions: Session 17: Pastoralism, Rural Communities and the Human Animal Health Interface in East Africa Session 18: Oral Presentations: High-Consequence Viral Pathogens 19:00–22:30 Mayor’s Reception (Dinner) 6 IMED 2014 Gallery/Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Ground Level and Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms/Upper Level and Klimt Ballroom 1/Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Ground Level and Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Room Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Ground Level and Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms/Upper Level and Klimt Ballroom 1/Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Ground Level and Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Wine Tavern (Fuhrgassl Huber) Time Monday, November 3, 2014 Room 08:30–10:30 10:30–11:00 11:00–11:45 2 Break-out Sessions: Session 19: One Health: From Research to Public Health Session 20: Oral Presentations: Emerging Respiratory Viruses Coffee Break Session 21: Plenary Lecture: Changing Disease Landscapes Park Congress/Ground Level Klimt Ballroom 2&3/Upper Level Ground Level and Upper Level Park Congress/Ground Level The program is subject to changes! 7 IMED 2014 Scientific Program FRIDAY • October 31, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Room: Park Congress 14:00–14:20 Ground Level Friday, October 31, 2014 Welcome by the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) Keith Klugman Seattle, WA (USA) FRIDAY • October 31, 2014 Opening Session Welcome to Vienna Norbert Nowotny Vienna (Austria) International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Session 02 Session 04 Session 06 Plenar y Session Break-out Session Oral Presentations In the Hot Zone: Ebola and MERS-CoV West Nile Fever in the European Union: Challenges for Integrated Surveillance and Control Surveillance and Modeling of Emerging Infectious Diseases Co-Chairs:William Karesh, USA Oyewale Tomori, Nigeria Room: Park Congress 15:00–16:30 Ground Level Friday, October 31, 2014 02.001Why did the camel kiss the bat? The ecology and animal origins of MERS-CoV K. Olival New York, NY (USA) 02.002Laboratory preparedness for Ebola and MERS-CoV M. Koopmans Rotterdam (Netherlands) Session 03 Room: Park Congress 08:30–09:30 Ground Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 04.001Status of West Nile fever surveillance in humans in the European Union L. Marrama Rakotoarivony Stockholm (Sweden) 04.002Status of West Nile fever surveillance in animals in the European Union A. Gervelmeyer Parma (Italy) 04.003Integrated West Nile fever surveillance: Experience of Italy P. Calistri Teramo (Italy) Developed in collaboration with ECDC and EFSA Plenar y Lecture Challenges and Controversies in the 2014 West African Ebola Virus Outbreak Response Session 05 Break-out Session Chair: Jonathan Cohen, United Kingdom Rapid Diagnostics for Emerging Infectious Threats Room: Park Congress 16:30–17:15 Ground Level Friday, October 31, 2014 Co-Chairs:Giuseppe Cornaglia, Italy Ron Dagan, Israel 03.001Challenges and controversies in the 2014 West African Ebola virus outbreak response A. Duse Johannesburg (South Africa) Room: Park Congress 09:30–10:30 Ground Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 Chair: Norbert Nowotny, Austria Welcome Cocktail Reception Room: Park Congress 14:20–15:00 Ground Level Friday, October 31, 2014 Gallery Upper Level 05.002Rapid diagnosis of invasive mycosis C. Lass-Flörl Innsbruck (Austria) Session 01 Keynote Plenar y Lecture MERS-CoV 01.001MERS-CoV Z. Memish Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) 17:30–19:00 Friday, October 31, 2014 05.001Rapid diagnosis of MDR gram-negatives G. Cornaglia Verona (Italy) 05.003Mobilization of samples and biocontainment laboratories for the diagnosis of risk group 4 agents in outbreak response G. Ippolito Rome (Italy) Co-sponsored by ESCMID Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 08:30–10:30 Upper Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 06.001Making detection and response to all events threatening human health faster: Guidance for early warning and response with focus on event-based surveillance P. Nabeth, J. Guerra, Y. Bayugo, P. Barboza Lyons (France) 06.002The world’s first application of participatory surveillance at a mass gathering: FIFA World Cup 2014, Brazil W. Oliveira, G. S. Dimech, O. B. L. N. Leal-Neto, M. Libel, M. Smolinski Brasília (Brazil), Recife, Pernambuco (Brazil), San Francisco, CA (USA) 06.003Communicable disease surveillance during the 2014 FIFA World Cup – Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil X. Marincic, R. Chitale, A. Marty, R. De Santis, Y. Aga, A. Chieppe Miami, FL (USA), Silver Spring, MD (USA), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands) November 1, 2014 02.003From the frontline of the Ebola crisis H. de Clerck Jette (Belgium) Co-Chairs:Celine Gossner, Sweden Tom Yuill, USA Co-Chairs:Timothy Brewer, USA Natalia Pshenichnaya, Russian Federation • Welcome to IMED 2014 Larry Madoff Boston, MA (USA) SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY Official Opening of the Conference Sabine Oberhauser Minister of Health, Austria Vienna (Austria) Scientific Program 06.004Estimating illness incidence and investigating outbreaks using a multi-purpose population-based reporting cohort in Sweden, 2013–2014 H. Merk, M. Edelstein, A. Wallensten Solna (Sweden) 06.005Mapping of networks to detect priority zoonoses in Jordan E. Sorrell, S. Kornblet, N. Maswdeh, M. El Azhari, R. Katz, J. Fischer Washington, DC (USA), Amman (Jordan) 06.006A University driven approach to engaging communities in control of infectious diseases at the human wildlife interface: Demonstration site survey in Kilosa district, Tanzania H. M. Amuguni, R. Mdegela, J. Killewo, C. Rioux North Grafton, MA (USA), Morogoro (Tanzania), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Boston, MA (USA) 06.007Community-based disease surveillance using mobile technology and the Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteer network A. McClelland Petit Saconnex (Switzerland) cancelled 8 IMED 2014 9 IMED 2014 Scientific Program 06.008Local transmission networks of community and hospital associated pathogens G. Almogy, A. Bernevig, G. Almogy, A. E. Moses, R. Nir-Paz Tel Aviv (Israel), Princeton, NJ (USA), Jerusalem (Israel) 09.003Big data—Healthy future? Using big data for public health S. Wallace Leicester (United Kingdom) Coffee Break Ground Level & Upper Level 10:30–11:00 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Session 07 Plenar y Lecture Global Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Chair: Britta Lassmann, USA Room: Park Congress 11:00–11:45 Ground Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 07.001Global spread of antibiotic resistance R. Laxminarayan New Delhi (India) 10 IMED 2014 Sessions 22.001–22.193 (see pages 17–27) Session 08 Break-out Session Pathogen and Host Diversity— Are There Clues that Can Help Us Prevent Emerging Infectious Diseases? Co-Chairs:Kevin Olival, USA Jack Woodall, Brazil Room: Park Congress 14:30–16:00 Ground Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 08.001Can host breadth and phylogeny portend viral emergence? K. Olival New York, NY (USA) 08.002Virodiversity—How many viruses are out there? S. J. Anthony New York, NY (USA) 08.003Ebola, SARS, MERS, oh my, can we limit outbreaks? W. Karesh New York, NY (USA) 08.004Wrap up—The big picture P. Daszak New York, NY (USA) Coffee Break Ground Level & Upper Level 16:00–16:30 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Session 10 Break-out Session ProMED 20th Anniversary Symposium: Innovations in Outbreak Detection Co-Chairs:Stephen Morse, USA Marjorie Pollack, USA Room: Park Congress 16:30–18:00 Ground Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 10.00120 years of outbreak reporting J. Woodall, S. Morse Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), New York, NY (USA) 10.002Ending pandemics in our lifetime M. Smolinski San Francisco, CA (USA) 10.003Innovations in disease detection J. Brownstein Boston, MA (USA) Round Table Discussion Session 11 Co-Sponsored by EcoHealth Alliance Oral Presentations Session 09 Hot Topics in Emerging Infectious Diseases Co-Chairs:Hanna Nohynek, Finland Jennifer Garland, USA Break-out Session Ethics and Disease Surveillance Co-Chairs:Effy Vayena, Switzerland Rana Hajjeh, USA Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 14:30–16:00 Upper Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 09.001Disease surveillance in the era of big data E. Vayena Zurich (Switzerland) 09.002Guidelines for ethical disease surveillance— WHO perspective A. Reis Geneva (Switzerland) Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 16:30–18:00 Upper Level Saturday, November 1, 2014 11.001Visceral Leishmaniasis and HIV co-infection in Bihar, India: Long-term effectiveness and treatment outcomes with Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome) T. Sunyoto, S. Burza, P. Sinha, R. Mahajan, J. van Griensven, P. Das, M. Gonzalez Sanz Delhi (India), Patna (India), Antwerp (Belgium), London (United Kingdom) 11.002Past, present and future of Chagas disease in Spain (1997–2011)—A descriptive study Z. Herrador, E. Rivas, A. Gherasim, P. Aparicio, A. Benito Madrid (Spain), Tenerife (Spain) 11.004A pilot study evaluating the level of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Campylobacter isolated from poultry farms T. Gaydos, S. Tilley, R. Berghaus, R. Singer, C. Hofacre Athens, GA (USA), St. Paul, MN (USA) 11.005Novel mycobacterial spp in the Serengeti ecosystems: Potential implications for human and animal health B. Z. Katale, M. Matee, E. Mbugi, M. Rweyemamu, P. D. Van Helden, R. M. Warren, J. Keyyu, S. Kendall, H. Docrell, A. L. Michel Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Morogoro (Tanzania), Tygerberg (South Africa), Arusha (Tanzania), London (United Kingdom), Pretoria (South Africa) 11.006Re-emergence of brucellosis in domestic ruminant animals of the Karamoja pastoral subregion in Uganda D. B. Ndumu, P. Otto, R. Mwebe, E. M. Namukose, K. J. N. Mugabi, J. Serrugga, A. Kagirita, M. Bahati, C. Rutebarika, J. Zingeser Entebbe (Uganda), Rome (Italy), Kampala (Uganda) November 1, 2014 06.012Rift Valley fever risk mapping and modelling in Tanzania C. Sindato, E. D. Karimuribo, J. Paweska, L. E. Mboera, K. B. Stevens, G. Dautu, F. Kivaria, D. U. Pfeiffer Morogoro (Tanzania), Snadringham-Johannesburg, Gauteng (South Africa), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), London (United Kingdom), Lusaka (Zambia) Saturday, November 1, 2014 11:45–13:15 Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms - Upper Level and Klimt Ballroom 1 - Upper Level 11.003Description and reporting of 303 probable neurocysticercosis cases identified by CT-brain scan imaging and hospital record: A one year retrospective medical record review utilizing active surveillance in a Southern California community hospital J. Garland, W. Robbins, C. Croker Los Angeles, CA (USA) • 06.011Understanding the spatio-temporal risks for bluetongue outbreaks across south India using space-time Bayesian Poisson regression modelling M. M. Chanda, D. J. Rogers, S. Carpenter, G. Prasad, M. Gajendragad, B. V. Purse Oxford (United Kingdom), Pirbirght (United Kingdom), New Delhi (India), Bangalore (India), Wallingford (United Kingdom) Poster Presentations I (Session 22) SATURDAY November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 06.010Design of optimal surveillance network for biosafety: A value of information model M. Convertino Minneapolis, MN (USA) • Scientific Program International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 06.009Developing a real-time syndromic surveillance system based on the monitoring of drug purchases in pharmacies: The OpenHealth.fr experience P. Guérin, V. Auvigne Vannes (France), Angers (France) SATURDAY SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 11.007Invasive non-capsulated Haemophilus influenzae in pregnancy and the newborn—An underrecognised pathogen S. Collins, M. Ramsay, H. Campbell, S. Flynn, N. Fry, D. Litt, M. Slack, S. Ladhani London (United Kingdom) 11.008Cholera outbreak in a prison in Port au Prince, Haiti, October 2013 W. Pierre, P. Dely, S. Corvil, G. Suarez-Rangel Delmas (Haiti), Bogota (Colombia) 11.009Above and beyond individual exposure: Ward-level antibiotic prescribing is the principal predictor of increased Clostridium difficile infection risk K. A. Brown, K. Valenta, D. Fisman, A. Simor, N. Daneman Salt Lake City, UT (USA), Montreal, QC (Canada), Toronto, ON (Canada), 1 King’s College Cir, ON (Canada) 11 IMED 2014 Scientific Program SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 12 Break-out Session Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN: Tools for Animal Health Co-Chairs:Arnon Shimshony, Israel Ulrich Herzog, Austria • SUNDAY Session 13 Break-out Session Health Care Associated Emerging Infections Co-Chairs:Philip Polgreen, USA Onder Ergonul, Turkey Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 08:30–10:30 Upper Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 13.001Contact networks and emerging infections at local, national and global levels P. Polgreen Iowa (USA) 12 IMED 2014 13.002The role of biologic therapies in emerging infections J. W. Baddley Birmingham, AL (USA) 13.003Emerging infections in transfusion and transplantation—An under-recognized mode of transmission M. Kuehnert Atlanta, GA (USA) 13.004Emerging medical device-related infections around the world D. K. Warren Saint Louis (USA) 15.002Avian influenza studies at the human-animal interface M. Koopmans Rotterdam (Netherlands) Coffee Break Co-Chairs:David Fisman, Canada Keith Klugman, USA Ground Level & Upper Level 10:30–11:00 Sunday, November 2, 2014 Session 14 Plenar y Lecture Launching of the New OIE Global Wildlife Disease Reporting System: WAHIS – Wild Chair: Jacques Acar, France Room: Park Congress 11:00–11:45 Ground Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 14.001Launching of the new OIE global wildlife disease reporting system: World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) P. Caceres Paris (France) Poster Presentations II (Session 23) Saturday, November 1, 2014 11:45–13:15 Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms - Upper Level and Klimt Ballroom 1 - Upper Level Sessions 23.001–23.187 (see pages 28–38) Session 15 Break-out Session Emerging Viral Threats Co-Chairs:Antoine Flahault, France Sidi Coulibaly, Burkina Faso Room: Park Congress 14:30–16:00 Ground Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 15.001Ebola and its spread in West Africa O. Tomori Lagos (Nigeria) 15.003Chikungunya’s entry into the Americas A. Flahault Paris (France) Session 16 Break-out Session Things Are Heating Up: Emerging Infectious Diseases and Climate Change Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 14:30–16:00 Upper Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 16.001Indirect effects of climate on disease emergence: Population stress and migration and emerging infectious diseases D. Fisman Toronto, ON (Canada) 16.002Water, climate and disease emergence A. Greer Guelph, ON (Canada) 16.003Unraveling disease signatures in climate for the improvement of disease prediction X. Rodo Barcelona (Spain) Coffee Break Ground Level & Upper Level 16:00–16:30 Sunday, November 2, 2014 Session 17 Break-out Session Pastoralism, Rural Communities and the Human Animal Health Interface in East Africa Co-Chairs:Bilal Butt, USA Benson Estambale, Kenya Room: Park Congress 16:30–18:00 Ground Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 17.001Staying mobile, staying healthy: Pastoralism, mobility, and human health in the drylands of East Africa B. Butt Ann Arbor, MI (USA) 17.002Reaching the fifth child: Operational challenges for polio eradication among pastoralist communities V. Gammino Atlanta, GA (USA) 17.003Strategic animal health surveillance in pastoral regions C. Okell London (United Kingdom) 17.004Integrated human and animal health surveillance and services for remote rural communities E. Schelling Basel (Switzerland) Session 18 Oral Presentations High-Consequence Viral Pathogens Co-Chairs:Larry Lutwick, USA Keith Klugman, USA Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 16:30–18:00 Upper Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 18.001Ebola virus disease outbreak in Nigeria: Lessons to learn C. Althaus, S. Gsteiger, N. Low Berne (Switzerland) 18.002Study of the impact of canine distemper and rabies viruses on the red fox population in Northern Italy trough a microsatellite analysis outlining the population genetic structure B. Zecchin, M. De Nardi, B. Crestanello, P. Nouvellet, M. Babbucci, C. A. Donnelly, C. Vernesi, A. Milani, P. De Benedictis, G. Cattoli Legnaro, Padova (Italy), San Michele All’adige (Italy), London (United Kingdom) 18.003A surveillance of Ebola outbreak disease at Télimélé, Guinea Conakry 2014 J. M. V. Namahoro, S. Mehtar Cape Town (South Africa) 18.004First deployment of the European mobile laboratory in the course of the Guinea Ebola outbreak K. Stoecker, E. Fleischmann, S. Mely, E. Newman, S. Meschi, B. Becker-Ziaja, M. Gabriel, A. DiCaro, S. Gunther, R. Wölfel Munich (Germany), Lyons (France), Porton Down (United Kingdom), Rome (Italy), Hamburg (Germany) 18.005Ebola preparedness and response: The role of a development organisation in Freetown, Sierra Leone S. Rokadiya, O. Johnson, P. Arkell, M. Lado, C. Brown, G. Deen, E. Hanciles Freetown (Sierra Leone) November 2, 2014 With a technical contribution from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • 12.001The progressive control pathway (PCP) for transboundary animal diseases, a bottom-up approach for disease control E. Raizman Rome (Italy) 12.002Global animal disease surveillance and health information tools J. Pinto Rome (Italy) 12.003Tackling emergency diseases head on through good emergency management practice (GEMP) I. Douglas Rome (Italy) 12.004Tools supporting laboratory capacities and information sharing F. Claes Rome (Italy) 12.005Research tools supporting livestock development and food security; Peste des petits ruminants as a working example W. Dundon Vienna (Austria) SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 Room: Park Congress 08:30–10:30 Ground Level Sunday, November 2, 2014 Scientific Program 13 IMED 2014 Scientific Program SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 18.006Syndromic approach to diagnostics of febrile travellers as a basis for surveillance of emerging arboviral diseases N. Cleton, J. Wagenaar, A. van der Eijk, J. Reimerink, E. van Gorp, C. Reusken, M. Koopmans Bilthoven (Netherlands), Rotterdam (Netherlands) 18.007Outbreak of Dengue fever in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during 2014: Preliminary results from an outbreak investigation F. Vairo, L. E. Mboera, P. De Nardo, N. Oriyo, S. Meschi, E. Nicastri, A. Minha, S. Rumisha, M. Malechela, G. Ippolito Rome (Italy), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Rome (Italy), Tanga (Tanzania) 18.008Epidemiology of West Nile virus and endemic arboviruses in neurological disease in South Africa: A One Health approach M. Venter, J. Williams, C. van Eeden, S. van Niekerk, V. Stivaktas, M. Pretorius, M. Rakgotho, L. Braack, P. Almeida, R. Swanepoel Pretoria (South Africa), Johannesburg (South Africa), Lisboa (Portugal) 18.009A strategy to estimate unknown viral diversity in mammals S. J. Anthony New York, NY (USA) 18.010Foot and mouth disease epizootic in the Maghreb (2014): Sequence of events and adopted strategy A. Benkirane, A. Shimshony Rabat (Morocco), Jerusalem (Israel) Mayor’s Reception Sunday, November 2, 2014 19:00–23:00 Wine Tavern (Fuhrgassl Huber) Buses will leave at 19.00hrs from the Hilton Hotel (side entrance) and will return to the Hilton at approximately 23.00hrs Scientific Program International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Session 19 Break-out Session One Health: From Research to Public Health Co-Chairs:Thierry Lefrancois, France Jan Clement, Belgium Room: Park Congress 08:30–10:30 Ground Level Monday, November 3, 2014 19.001State-space models, risk maps and public health: One Health approach of hantavirus infections K. Tersago Antwerp (Belgium) 19.002From risk maps to risk alleviation in public health: Examples for hantavirus and CCHF virus infections K. Dressel Munich (Germany) 19.003One Health as an every-day work: Example of Rift Valley fever in the animal and human health network in South-western Indian Ocean E. Cardinale Ste. Clotilde (France) 19.004How to improve the practical implementation of One Health? E. Schelling Basel (Switzerland) November 2, 2014 Developed in collaboration with EDENext Session 20 Oral Presentations Emerging Respiratory Viruses SUNDAY • Co-Chairs:Tam Garland, USA Nilufar Rakhmanova, Uzbekistan Room: Klimt Ballroom 2&3 08:30–10:30 Upper Level Monday, November 3, 2014 20.004Avian influenza surveillance and pathogenic potential assessment of animal influenza viruses in Russia K. Sharshov, M. Sivay, A. Glushchenko, O. Kurskaya, M. Gulyaeva, A. Alekseev, A. Yurlov, A. Shestopalov Novosibirsk (Russian Federation) 20.005Understanding the epidemiology of H5N1 and H9N2 influenza virus outbreaks in Nepal M. Akram, R. B. Dissanayake, K. S. Bisht, P. Tshering, C. Shrestha, K. C. Thakuri, P. Manandhar, S. P. Gautam, D. Castellan, M. S. Oberoi Lalitpur (Nepal), Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand) 20.006 Surveillance for avian influenza in wild birds and domestic poultry surrounding the wild bird’s sanctuaries in Viet Nam, from March, 2009 to October, 2012 T. L. Pham Hanoi (Viet Nam) cancelled 20.007Audience segmentation as a risk communication strategy for preventing complacency toward highly pathogenic avian influenza J. M. Kreslake, Y. Wahyuningrum, B. Safi, M. E. Figueroa, D. Storey Baltimore, MD (USA) 20.008Active surveillance of avian influenza A/H5 and H7 viruses at live bird markets in Vietnam, 2013–2014 D. T. Nguyen, T. N. Nguyen, T. L. To, T. D. Nguyen Hanoi (Viet Nam) 20.009What is the evidence for influenza transmission aboard aircraft—A systematic review C. Adlhoch, K. Leitmeyer Stockholm (Sweden) 20.010Impact of national influenza vaccine campaign on respiratory illness in Thailand, 2010–2011 P. Silaporn, S. Jiamsiri Nonthaburi (Thailand) November 3, 2014 20.011Selective pressure acting on influenza neuraminidase gene: A complementary approach for studying the emergence and evolution of antiviral drug resistance and reduced susceptibility V. C. P. M. Correia, A. Abecasis, H. Rebelo-de-Andrade Lisbon (Portugal) • 20.002Detecting H5N1-HPAI virus variants in the endemic situation: Developing an integrated web-based, surveillance platform (“IVM Online”) P. A. Durr, N. Hartaningsih, H. Wibawa, P. Pudjiatmoko, S. H. Irianingsih, R. Dharmawan, J. McGrane, P. Selleck, M. Kim Torchetti, W. Sastraningrat Geelong (Australia), Jakarta (Indonesia), Wates (Indonesia), Ames, IA (USA), Jimbaran (Indonesia) 20.003Survey for avian influenza A virus subtypes H5, H9 and H7 in the live bird markets’ environment in Bangladesh P. K. Biswas, M. Giasuddin, B. K. Nath, M. Z. Islam, N. C. Nath, M. Yamage Chittagong (Bangladesh), Dhaka (Bangladesh) MONDAY 20.001The distribution pattern of avian influenza H5N1 viruses in the high transmission area in Java, Indonesia T. A. Garjito, J. Jastal, M. Mujiyanto, W. Widoretno, Y. Udin Salatiga (Indonesia), Donggala (Indonesia), Jakarta (Indonesia) 14 IMED 2014 MONDAY • November 3, 2014 15 IMED 2014 Scientific Program MONDAY • November 3, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 20.012Occupational exposure to dromedary camels is a risk factor for infection with MERS-CoV: A comparative serologic study C. Reusken, E. Farag, B. Haagmans, G.-J. Godeke, A. Ibrahim, S. Al Dhahiry, S. Raj, K. Mohran, M. AlHajri, M. Koopmans Rotterdam (Netherlands), Doha (Qatar), Bilthoven (Netherlands) 20.013Experimental infection of dromedary camels with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus T. Schountz, A. Malmlov, D. Adney, V. Brown, E. De Wit, N. van Doremalen, S. Quackenbush, V. Munster, R. Bowen Fort Collins, CO (USA), Hamilton, MT (USA) Ground Level & Upper Level International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Session 22 10:30–11:00 Monday, November 3, 2014 Session 21 Plenar y Lecture Changing Disease Landscapes Chair: Larry Madoff, USA Room: Park Congress 11:00–11:45 Ground Level Monday, November 3, 2014 21.001Changing disease landscapes: Using the pressure-state-response model J. Lubroth Rome (Italy) Poster Presentations I Saturday, November 1, 2014 11:45–13:15 Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms • Upper Level Diseases of Animals 22.001Lumpy skin disease: Disease emergence, clinical signs, complications and preliminary associated economic losses in Jordan S. M. Abutarbush Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) Infections Related to Travel and Migration Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections 22.005Co-circulation of H7N9 virus with other HA subtypes in live poultry markets J. Li, J. Pan Hangzhou (China) 22.006Simultaneous detection of 5 respiratory bacteria by Seegene Anyplex II RB5 assay W. L. Tan, K. X. L. Chan, K. S. Chan, L. L. E. Oon Singapore (Singapore) November 3, 2014 22.007Ethnic disparities in healthcare use for respiratory infections S. Della Smirra, M. Campitelli, L. Rosella, M. Chiu, N. Daneman, J. Smylie, J. Kwong Toronto, ON (Canada) MONDAY • 22.008Predicting surges in influenza-like illness-related emergency department visits using spatiotemporal models L. J. Martin, Q. Liu, H. Dong, J. Talbot, Y. Yasui Edmonton, AB (Canada) 22.010A systematic analysis of investments in influenza awarded to UK institutions, 1997–2010 J. R. Fitchett, M. Head, R. Atun London (United Kingdom), Boston, MA (USA) 22.011Healthcare seeking behavior for respiratory illness in a northern province of Vietnam N. T. T. Yen, J. Patridge, N. H. Tuan, T. P. Nguyen, N. B. Thuy, N. V. Thom, A. Luliano, D. T. Trang, J. C. Kile, N. T. Hien Hanoi (Viet Nam), Thai Binh (Viet Nam), Atlanta, GA (USA) 22.012Sero-surveillance of Avian influenza A (H7N9) in high risk provinces of Lao PDR B. Douangngeun Vientiane (People’s Democratic Republic of Lao) 22.013Antiviral susceptibility and antigenic characterization among 2012–2013 seasonal influenza viruses in Uganda—Implications for management and pandemic responses J. T. Kayiwa, T. Byaruhanga, B. Namagambo, N. Owor, R. Chiizar, B. Bakamutumaho, J. J. Lutwama Entebbe (Uganda) November 1, 2014 22.003International rotations: An initiative to educate residents in tropical medicine and immigrant health P. Lichtenberger, S. Doblecki-Lewis Miami, FL (USA) 22.009Surveillance of respiratory and gastrointestinal virus infection from adults and children in Guangdong, China D. Zhang, X. Zhu, L. Xu, Z. He, J. Wu, W. Wen, Y. Hu, C. Lin, M. Li, K. Cao Guangzhou (China) • 22.002Migrant women's health: Molecular epidemiology of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis infections E. R. Frati, E. Fasoli, S. Bianchi, M. Martinelli, D. Colzani, P. Olivani, E. Tanzi Milan (Italy) 22.004Ten years tuberculosis trend in Gambella Regional Hospital, South Western Ethiopia G. A. Gulich, G. A. Chemidi, K. T. Tafese Gambella (Ethiopia), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 16 IMED 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY 20.014Detection of new genetic variants of betacoronaviruses in endemic frugivorous bats of Madagascar J.-M. Heraud, N. Razanajatovo, L. Nomenjanahary, D. Wilkinson, M.-M. Olive, J. Razafimanahaka, S. Goodman, R. Jenkins, J. Jones Antananarivo (Madagascar), Sainte Clotilde (France), Chicago, IL (USA), Gwynedd (United Kingdom) Coffee Break Poster Presentations I 22.014Fatal avian influenza A/H5N1 infection in a 36-week pregnant woman survived by her newborn – Soc Trang, Vietnam, 2012 T. V. Le, K. Ly, L. Nguyen, L. T. Phan, N. M. Tran Minh Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam), Hanoi (Viet Nam) 22.015Influenza as a cause of severe acute respiratory infection at national and provincial hospitals in Vietnam T. P. Nguyen, N. T. T. Yen, N. B. Thuy, N. H. Tuan, L. T. Q. Mai, T. N. Duong, J. Partridge, J. C. Kile, D. T. Trang, N. T. Hien Hanoi (Viet Nam) 22.016Severe acute respiratory infection in the North of Vietnam: Burden, economic impact N. T. T. Yen, N. B. Thuy, T. P. Nguyen, N. H. Tuan, L. T. Q. Mai, T. N. Duong, D. T. Trang, J. Partridge, J. C. Kile, N. T. Hien Hanoi (Viet Nam) 22.017In vivo reassortment of avian and swine influenza virus K. Urbaniak, K. Kwit, A. Kowalczyk, I. Markowska-Daniel Puławy (Poland) 17 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I 22.018In vivo adaptation of avian influenza virus to pig I. Markowska-Daniel, K. Urbaniak, K. Kwit, M. Pomorska-Mól, A. Kowalczyk Puławy (Poland) 22.033Impact of human enterovirus (hEV) and human parechovirus (hPeV) infections in children ≤5 years with influenza-like illness (ILI) in Northern Italy during 4 consecutive winter seasons (2010/2011–2013/2014) L. Bubba, L. Pellegrinelli, S. D. Discacciati, A. Ranghiero, G. Anselmi, V. Primache, S. Binda, A. Amendola, E. Pariani Milan (Italy) Innovations in Diagnostic Tests for Emerging Diseases 22.034Molecular phylogeny and evolutionary dynamics of influenza A(H1N1)09pdm NS1 gene M. B. Valli, E. Giombini, C. Caglioti, P. Zaccaro, S. Menzo, G. Ippolito, M. R. Capobianchi Rome (Italy), Ancona (Italy) 22.043Validation of cyscope microscope, quantitative buffy coat and rapid diagnostic kit for malaria diagnosis among clinic attendees in Southwest Nigeria A. O. Ogunniyi, D. M. Dairo, H. DadaAdegbola, O. Ajumobi, O. Fawole, W. Oyibo Abuja (Nigeria), Ibadan (Nigeria), Lagos (Nigeria) 22.023CAPA: Creating a network of investigators in general practice for the characterisation and management of acute community-acquired pneumonia in France L. Toubiana, H. Partouche, C. Buffel du Vaure, V. Personne, A. Lorenzo, C. Ghasarossian, P. Landais, S. Gilberg Paris (France), Nîmes (France) 22.024Serological surveillance of “human” influenza virus subtypes H1, H2, H3 among wild birds in Ukraine B. Stegniy, D. Muzyka, M. Pantin-Jackwood, M. Stegniy, V. Golovko, M. Mandygra, S. Doletskiy, A. Gerilovych Kharkiv (Ukraine), Athens, GA (USA), Kiev (Ukraine) 18 IMED 2014 22.027Replication potential of evolutionary distinct H3N8 equine influenza viruses in swine cell lines and respiratory explants L. V. P. L. Patrono, C. Zanardello, F. Bonfante, C. Terregino, I. Capua, P. R. Murcia Legnaro (Italy), Glasgow (United Kingdom) 22.035Molecular basis of influenza virus survival outside the host: Potential role of the hemagglutinin protein L. I. O. Sawoo, M. Feher, A. Dublineau, C. Batéjat, I. Leclercq, J.-C. Manuguerra, J. Vanhomwegen Paris (France) 22.028Discordant correlation between serological assays observed when measuring heterosubtypic responses against avian influenza H5 and H7 viruses in unexposed individuals E. Molesti, F. Ferrara, G. Lapini, E. Montomoli, N. Temperton Chatham Maritime (United Kingdom), Siena (Italy) 22.036Applying a risk based approach in surveillance guidance for emerging respiratory pathogens E. Wong, T. Mersereau, N. Khalil, M. Saboui Ottawa, ON (Canada), Montreal, QC (Canada) 22.029Vaccination of mice with plasmid DNA encoding hemagglutinin from H5N1 P. A. Redkiewicz, A. Gora-Sochacka, P. Kosson, A. Sirko Warsaw (Poland) 22.030Prevalence and molecular characteristics of respiratory viruses found in children’s with respiratory tract infections in Eastern India S. Kumar, S. Panda, N. K. Mohakud Bhubaneswar (India) 22.031A preliminary study comparing trends in influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection consultations in general practice in-hours services and out-of-hours services C. Kearns, N. Gallagher, C. Nugent Belfast (United Kingdom) 22.032Multiplex molecular diagnosis of viral acute respiratory infections in Algiers, Algeria H. Ziane, Z. Hanifa, F. Djennane, M. Bachtarzi, S. Gourari, M. Tazir Algiers (Algeria) 22.037Early clinical management of SARI patients improves outcomes and community outbreaks B. Namagambo, J. T. Kayiwa, T. Byaruhanga, R. Chiza, N. Owor, B. Bakamutumaho, J. J. Lutwama, I. Nabukenya Entebbe (Uganda), Kampala (Uganda) 22.038Evaluating the relationship of sex and age on the influenza test result J. K. Kigozi, J. T. Kayiwa, T. Byaruhanga, R. Chiza, I. Nabukenya, B. Namagambo, B. Bakamutumaho, J. J. Lutwama Entebbe (Uganda) 22.039Variability of influenza clinical sample adequacy as measured by rtPCR amplification of beta-actin T. E. Bell, K. Felkins Amarillo, TX (USA) 22.040Surveillance of influenza A exposure using noninvasive methods among industrial pig farm workers and household members in North Carolina M. Nadimpalli, N. Pisanic, J. Stewart, C. Heaney Chapel Hill, NC (USA), Baltimore, MD (USA) 22.041The neglected burden of influenza in relation to age, out-patients, hospitalized patients and the economic impact in Uganda T. Byaruhanga, J. T. Kayiwa, B. Namagambo, R. Chiza, I. Nabukenya, N. Owor, J. J. Lutwama Entebbe (Uganda) 22.044Detection of ASF virus found in Georgia using transmission electron microscope N. Vepkhvadze, M. Kokhreidze, M. Donduashvili, K. Goginashvili, R. Obiso, T. Tigilauri Tbilisi (Georgia), Blacksburg, VA (USA) 22.045Rapid detection of nanotechnology based diagnosis of rotavirus using silver nano-particles probe R. Kumar, G. Sahoo, K. Trivedi, R. Kumar, K. Pandey, V. Ravidas, Y. Ansari, S. Parva, R. Mansurri, P. Das Patna (India), Patna (India) November 1, 2014 22.022The international trade of chickens and increased risk for introducing highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) to previously uninfected countries J. M. Radin, J. Fowler La Jolla, CA (USA) 22.026Low pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV) chicken/England/4054/06 H7N3 replicates predominantly in olfactory epithelium in infected pigs A. Nunez, B. Z. Londt, D. J. Hicks, I. H. Brown, S. B. Brookes Addlestone (United Kingdom) 22.042The role of conventional and real-time PCR in determining the pneumococcal etiology of complicated pneumonia cases C. Silva-Costa, S. Aguiar, M. Pinho, M. Ramirez, J. Melo-Cristino, P. Portuguese Group for the Study of Streptococcal Infections Lisbon (Portugal) • 22.021Serological evidence of influenza A viruses in bats from Africa G. S. Freidl, T. Binger, M. A. Müller, E. de Bruin, J. van Beek, V. M. Corman, A. Rasche, J. F. Drexler, A. Sylverken, S. Oppong, Y. Adu-Sarkodie, M. Tschapka, V. M. Cottontail, M. Knörnschild, C. Drosten, M. Koopmans Bilthoven/ Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bonn (Germany), Kumasi (Ghana), Ulm (Germany) 22.025Use of pseudotyped viruses for investigations into vaccine efficacy, antigenic drift and vaccine breakdown for equine influenza R. Kinsley, J. Daly, A. Kliby, D. Elton, S. D. Scott, N. Temperton Chatham Maritime (United Kingdom), Nottingham (United Kingdom), Newmarket (United Kingdom) SATURDAY November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 22.020Prevalence and distribution of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus clade variants in live bird markets of Vietnam, 2011–2013 D. T. Nguyen, J. E. Bryant, T. C. David, L. V. Nguyen, K. Inui, L. T. Pham, L. Loth, T. Nguyen, Y. Jang, T. L. To Hanoi (Viet Nam), Atlanta, GA (USA) • Poster Presentations I International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.019Detection and monitoring of outbreaks of influenza-like illness using data of SOS Médecins France 2006–2014 L. Toubiana, P. Guerin, P. Chansard, C. Demoor Paris (France) SATURDAY SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 22.046Development of multiplex PCR for diagnosis of tick-borne zoonoses B. K. Mutai, J. Waitumbi Kisumu (Kenya) 22.047Construction of chimeric arctic-like rabies virus glycoproteins improves pseudotyped virus titre to permit use in serological studies E. Bentley, R. Ali, D. Horton, A. C. Banyard, E. Wright London (United Kingdom), Surrey (United Kingdom) 22.048Detection of specific antibodies to Francisella tularensis antigens to differentiate vaccine and infection process A. Gorbatov, P. Solov’ev, V. Firstova, E. Baranova, E. Panfertsev, A. Mokrievich, N. Pavlovich, N. Aronova, S. Biketov Obolensk (Russian Federation), Rostov-on-Done (Russian Federation) 22.049Multiplex molecular assay for diagnosis of multiple respiratory diseases of pigs in a single sample P. Naraghi-Arani, C. Jaing, A. C. Carrillo, J. Olivas, G. Anderson Livermore, CA (USA), Manhattan, KS (USA) 19 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.050Validation of pyrazinamide susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by reverse hybridization assay V. Trangan, Y. Kondo, S. Foongladda Bangkok (Thailand), Osaka (Japan) 22.058Development of a new antigen for screening diagnostics of animal brucellosis K. A. Khamdamov, R. G. Yaraev, B. H. Kuvatov, S. A. Rahmatullaev Samarkand (Uzbekistan) 22.051Role of matricellular proteins in systemic and local immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection B. Shiratori, F. Hasibuan, A. Senoputra, H. Chagan-Yasutan, B. Alisjahbana, T. Hattori Sendai (Japan), Bandung (Indonesia) 22.059Typing of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex with CRISPR analysis K. Koskela, L. Mattinen, L. Kalin-Mänttäri, G. Vergnaud, O. Gorgé, S. Nikkari, M. Skurnik Helsinki (Finland), Orsay (France) 22.055ReLASV® Pan-Lassa Immunodiagnostics for the detection of Lassa fever in West Africa M. Boisen, A. Goba, L. Branco, O. Folarin, P. Sabeti, E. Saphire, D. Asogun, C. Happi, S. H. Kahn, R. Garry Broomfield, CO (USA), Kenema (Sierra Leone), Germantown, MD (USA), Lagos (Nigeria), Cambridge, MA (USA), La Jolla, CA (USA), Irrua (Nigeria), New Orleans, LA (USA) 22.056EUROIMMUN Dengue Virus NS1 ELISA is more sensitive than Panbio® Dengue Early ELISA for early detection of dengue virus infection N. Ewers, S. Schütt, A. Kuhlencord, J. M. Warnecke, K. Steinhagen, W. Schlumberger Bielefeld (Germany), Lübeck (Germany) New Approaches to Outbreak Surveillance and Monitoring 22.057Local perception and traditional practices to cope with malaria risk affect related health policy in the Logone Valley (Cameroon) B. Marquis, J.-A. Ndione, O. Faye, M. Tsalefac Dakar (Senegal), Yaounde (Cameroon) 20 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY 22.062Suite for Automated Global Electronic bioSurveillance (SAGES) update: Re-engineering software to improve ease of installation, use, and sustainability A. Katz, T. Campbell, G. Gorelick-Feldman, J. Coberly, R. Wojcik, S. Patel, B. Feighner, C. Perdue, S. Lewis Laurel, MD (USA), Silver Spring, MD (USA) 22.063Using exterminator visits to characterize flea and tick home infestations—A novel way to assess disease vectors at the human-environment interface G. Lamielle, K. Ehnert Los Angeles, CA (USA) 22.064The Kombewa health and demographic surveillance systems in rural Western Kenya (Kombewa HDSS) P. Sifuna, J. Cowden, A. Berhane, R. Coldren, W. Otieno, M. Oyugi Kisumu (Kenya) 22.068Large-scale whole genome sequencing identifies country-wide spread of an emerging G9P[8] rotavirus strain in Hungary, 2012 R. Doro, E. Mihalov-Kovacs, S. Marton, B. Laszlo, J. Deak, F. Jakab, V. Martella, P. Molnár, I. Sántha, K. Bányai Budapest (Hungary), Debrecen (Hungary), Szeged (Hungary), Pécs (Hungary), Bari (Italy), Miskolc (Hungary) 22.069Influence of the electronic case report form for multicentric studies in general practice in France T. Poisson, H. Partouche, L. Toubiana Paris (France) 22.070Rabies veterinary laboratory capabilities in West and the Central Africa A. Angot, C. Bebay, Y. Kaboré, G. Dauphin, P. De Benedictis Legnaro (Italy), Bamako (Mali), Rome (Italy) 22.071Application of a framework to assess cost and performance of meningitis surveillance N. A. Erondu, U. K Griffiths London (United Kingdom) 22.072Research methods training for One Health projects: Lessons learned in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda J. A. Steele, D. Saila-Ngita, T. Odoch, H. M. Amuguni North Grafton, MA (USA), Kampala (Uganda) 22.073Multiplexed digital mRNA profiling of the inflammatory response in the West Nile Swiss Webster mouse model P. Naraghi-Arani, A. Freiberg, D. Beasley, J. Pena, J. Plante, A. C. Carrillo, M. Labute, K. Roberts, J. Smith, T. Juelic Livermore, CA (USA), Galveston, TX (USA), Chapel Hill, NC (USA) 22.074Predicting the potential for emerging infectious disease: Engaging communities in species observations, data management, and the semantic web M. McConnell, D. Pennington Albuquerque, NM (USA), El Paso, TX (USA) 22.065Combining semi logarithmic plotting and piecewise regression: A method to describe complex temporal dynamics of epidemics and to detect emerging patterns V. Auvigne, F. Nicod, P. Guérin, L. Toubiana Angers (France), Vannes (France), Paris (France) 22.075Using a mobile short message-based disease outbreak alert system to enhance disease surveillance in Kenya M. Toda, I. Njeru, S. O-Tipo, D. Kareko, S. Inoue, M. Mwau, K. Morita Nairobi (Kenya), Nagasaki (Japan) 22.066Listeriosis Surveillance System: Enhanced model in Lombardy region (Italy, 2006–2012) E. Amato, S. Azzini, A. Piatti, M. M. Pontello Milan (Italy) 22.076Double locus sequence typing (DLST), a standardized and portable typing method for epidemiological investigation of bacteria K. Vranckx, P. Basset, D. S. Blanc, K. Janssens Sint-Martens-Latem (Belgium), Lausanne (Switzerland) 22.067Monitoring Measles outbreak in Georgia in 2013 using different surveillance tools: EIDSS, ProMED and WHO CISID A. Ukharov, A. Burdakov, P. Imnadze, N. Papelova, K. Sanadze, K. Zakhashvili Overland Park, KS (USA), Tbilisi (Georgia) 22.077An automated analysis pipeline for whole genome MLST data using BioNumerics® K. De Bruyne, K. Vranckx, J. Goris, S. Valcke, H. Pouseele, K. Janssens Sint-Martens-Latem (Belgium) 22.078Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infections reported by Russian ProMED for the period of 2004–2014 B. Aslanov, N. Rakhmanova, N. Pshenichnaya, V. Melnik St. Petersburg (Russian Federation), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation), Donetsk (Ukraine) 22.079Community health workers can effectively implement disease surveillance of priority diseases at village level in Kenya E. M. Machache, J. Y. Carter, I. Njeru, J. Mwitari Nairobi (Kenya) 22.080Rabies surveillance in the combined joint operating area—Afghanistan H. Gobble, S. Stockwell, H. Gobble Honolulu, HI (USA), Colorado Springs, CO (USA) 22.081Improving public health and veterinary laboratory testing quality and capacity in Cambodia L. A. Perrone, V. Voeurng, S. Sek, S. Song, D. Confer, R. Martin Seattle, WA (USA), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) November 1, 2014 22.054Genetic structure of Aspergillus flavus populations in human and avian isolates H. Ines, N. Sourour, F. Cheikhrouhou, T. Houaida, S. Hayet, G. Raida, F. Makni, R. Stéphane, A. Ayadi Sfax (Tunisia), Marseilles (France) 22.061The value of evidence from syndromic surveillance G. M. Andersson, C. Faverjon, F. Vial, L. Legrand, A. Leblond Uppsala (Sweden), Marcy l’Etoile (France), Berne (Switzerland), Caen (France), Marcy L’Etoile (France) International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • 22.053Multiplex evaluation of influenza neutralizing antibodies with potential applicability to in-field serological studies E. Molesti, E. Wright, C. Terregino, R. Rahman, G. Cattoli, N. Temperton Chatham Maritime (United Kingdom), London (United Kingdom), Legnaro (Italy) 22.060Microbiological monitoring of ships’ ballast water in the South of the Russian Federation S. Vodyanitskaya, N. Pshenichnaya Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation) SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 22.052Genetic structure of Candida glabrata isolates in Sfax, Tunisia A. Salma, A. Imen, S. Hayet, T. Houaida, F. Cheikhrouhou, N. Sourour, A. Ayadi Sfax (Tunisia) Poster Presentations I 22.082Implementing a professional development program in clinical and public health laboratory leadership and management L. A. Perrone, E. Scott, L. Livingston, C. Bradburn, A. McGee, S. Shotorbani, D. Confer, A. Downer, A. Mokdad, R. Martin Seattle, WA (USA) 22.083Risk of transfusion-transmitted Chikungunya infection and efficacy of blood implementation measures H. Appassakij, C. Promwong, P. Rujirojindakul, P. Khuntikij, K. Silpapojakul Hat Yai (Thailand) New Pathogen Discovery 22.084Identification of eight clades of novel singlestranded circular DNA viruses in pig feces A. K. Cheung, T. F. F. Ng, K. M. Lager, D. P. Alt, E. Delwart, R. M. Pogranichniy Ames, IA (USA), San Francisco, CA (USA), West Lafayette, IN (USA) 22.085A novel parvovirus from horse with polysynovitis J. Wang, M. Yu, S. Valdeter, S. Walker, S. Riddell, I. Broz, B. Meehan, D. Eagles, L.-F. Wang, S. McCullough Geelong (Australia) 21 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I 22.086Saffold virus is able to productively infect primate and rodent cell lines, and induces apoptosis on these cells Y. Xu, Q. Ng, C. B. L. Victorio, Y. J. Tan, K. B. Chua Singapore (Singapore) 22.104Justified cholera vaccination trials in Uganda? Large outbreaks in Namayingo and Moyo Districts, 2014 I. Nabukenya, E. Namukose, G. Bwire, L. Lukwago, F. Alingu, M. Malimbo, H. Mayinja, I. Makumbi Kampala (Uganda), Tampa, FL (USA) 22.089Candidate new rotavirus species detected in the fecal virome of sheltered dog E. Kovacs, S. Marton, S. L. Farkas, V. Martella, K. Banyai Budapest (Hungary), Bari (Italy) 22.092Discovery of a novel bovine enteric calicivirus, Kırklareli virus, in calves with enteritis in Turkey F. Alkan, I. Karayel, C. Catella, L. Bodnar, G. Lanave, K. Bányai, N. Decaro, C. Buonavoglia, V. Martella Ankara (Turkey), Bari (Italy), Budapest (Hungary) 22.093Complete genome sequence of a new recombinant echovirus 25 strain isolated from a neonatal patient with hand, foot and mouth disease complicating encephalitis in Beijing, China Y. Meng, H. Li, J. Liang, Q. Wang, J. Zhang, S. Liu, J. Cheng Beijing (China) 22.094Increased detection of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Georgia (2009–2014) N. Mamuchishvili, K. Zakhashvili, G. Chakhunashvili, P. Imnadze, D. Echeverria Tbilisi (Georgia), Seattle, WA (USA) 22 IMED 2014 22.096Go big or go home: Impact of screening coverage on syphilis infection dynamics A. Tuite, D. Fisman Toronto, ON (Canada) 22.097Genomic analysis of Legionella outbreaks: Implications for outbreaks’ study and control F. Gonzalez-Candelas, L. Sanchez-Buso, I. Comas, G. Jorques, V. García-López de Meneses, J. Calafat, F. Adrian, J. Fenollar, I. Escribano, H. Vanaclocha Paterna (Spain), Valencia (Spain), Alcoy (Spain) 22.098Adhering to infection control practices prevents the transmission of MERS-CoV among health care workers in a tertiary care institution, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia T. S. Butt, I. Koutlakis-Barron, S. AlJummah, S. AlThawadi, S. AlMofada Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) 22.099Signalling and risk assessment of emerging zoonoses in the Netherlands K. Maassen, J. van der Giessen, A. van de Giessen Bilthoven (Netherlands) 22.100Epidemiological monitoring of anthrax soil foci in Kazakhstan M. Orynbayev, A. M. Aikimbayev, V. N. Sheyanov, G. A. Temiraliyeva, A. Tuleuov, G. Omasheva Gvardeisky (Kazakhstan), Almaty (Kazakhstan) 22.101A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated with cooling towers in Warstein, Germany, August 2013 A. Maisa, A. Brockmann, F. Renken, C. Lueck, S. Pleischl, M. Exner, I. Daniels-Haardt, A. Jurke Münster (Germany), Soest (Germany), Dresden (Germany), Bonn (Germany) 22.102Developing surveillance and situational awareness of an emerging pathogen for the U.S. military: Chikungunya J. Writer, N. Darling, S. Harris, W. Corr, R. Chitale Silver Spring, MD (USA) 22.103Outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in Cojutepeque military brigade, El Salvador, July 2013 J. Santos Santa Tecla (El Salvador) 22.105Using a One Health approach to build the capacity of “hot spot nations” to respond to infectious disease outbreaks: Overview of the USAID/ RESPOND project in Africa H. M. Amuguni, D. Saila Ngita, L. Foan, S. Tzipori North Grafton, MA (USA), Kampala (Uganda) 22.106Process evaluation of Pakistan’s disease early warning system S. Zareen, S. M. Mursalin Lahore (Pakistan), Islamabad (Pakistan) 22.107Measles cluster at a tertiary care hospital in Singapore—An outbreak investigation H. C. Chan, R. Sridhar, S. M. Chan, G. K. Goh, G. Ciccone, R. T. P. V. Lin, S. Salmon, I. Venkatachalam, P. A. Tambyah, D. A. Fisher Singapore (Singapore) 22.108Emerging dengue fever outbreak, Afar Region, Ethiopia – 2014 E. M. Sorassa, D. M. Abegaze, M. Mengesha, J. Fogarty, A. Belachew, L. Boulanger, A. Greenleaf, A. Bekele, D. Jima Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 22.109Epizootological investigation and laboratory diagnostics of Classical Swine Fever outbreak in Ukraine S. Nychyk, M. Sytiuk, I. Halka, N. Hudz, M. Peknii, V. Ukhovskii Kiev (Ukraine) 22.110The characteristic of leptospirosis patients following major flood in Jakarta in early 2014 D. O. T. L. Handayani, I. Inggariwati Jakarta (Indonesia) 22.111National Anti-Rabies Centre (CNAR) Centralized structure for the surveillance and control of rabies in Romania I. Parvu, G. Coltan, S. Petrea, A. Streinu Cercel Bucharest (Romania) 22.112Some epidmiological characteristics of tularemia in the south-eastern part of Serbia Z. Veličković, B. D. Kocić, V. Kostić, N. K. Rancić ˇ Nice (Serbia) 22.113Cluster of invasive group-A-streptococcal infections centred around a primary school in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region in the Netherlands in January and February 2012 H. Visser Rotterdam (Netherlands) 22.115The changes of safety culture of the infectious diagnostic sample handling in public health laboratories M. Shigematsu, M. Kigawa, S. Ando Tokyo (Japan), Toyama (Japan) 22.116Measles outbreak investigation, Kindo Didaya district-Southern region of Ethiopia, 2013 E. Z. Worku, H. Taame, Y. Mogessie, A. Bekele, A. Worku Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Hawassa (Ethiopia) 22.117Preparedness to infectious outbreaks: An e-learning course for healthcare professionals based on case histories T. Saita, M. R. Valleto, M. Bellone, R. Villa, C. Deligant, P. Dri Milan, Outside North America (Italy) 22.118Epidemiology of acute watery diarrhea outbreak and challenges of control – Afar, Ethiopia, 2009 B. Beyene, M. Tumato, R. LUCe, F. Enquesilassie Bahir Dar (Ethiopia), Hawasa (Ethiopia), Atlanata, GE (USA), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 22.119Preparedness for public health emergencies: Biggest hurdle in poor resource countries; a scan lens in Uganda A. Kagirita Kampala (Uganda) November 1, 2014 22.091Molecular survey of bat-transmitted RNA viruses: Discovering novel astroviruses, coronaviruses and caliciviruses G. Kemenesi, B. Dallos, T. Görföl, S. Boldogh, P. Estók, A. Kutas, M. Oldal, V. Martella, K. Bányai, F. Jakab Pécs (Hungary), Budapest (Hungary), Jósvafő (Hungary), Eger (Hungary), Bari (Italy) 22.095Investigation of Ebola viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreak in Luwero district Uganda, 2012–2013 E. N. Muwanguzi Kampala (Uganda) 22.114Impact of HIV/AIDS in the African military: Approaches to integrating prevention in care setting F. Obuseh, J. Cline Apo, AE (USA) • 22.090Genetic diversity and possible recombination events in canine astroviruses E. Kovacs, S. Marton, T. Tuboly, V. Martella, K. Banyai Budapest (Hungary), Bari (Italy) Outbreak Response and Control SATURDAY November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 22.088Small ssDNA viruses detected in domesticated and wild animals by viral metagenomics E. Feher, E. Kovacs, S. Marton, M. Balmann, P. Pazar, G. Kemenesi, G. Lengyel, F. Jakab, K. Banyai Budapest (Hungary), Pecs (Hungary) • Poster Presentations I International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.087Pathogen discovery and vaccine development for emerging diseases A. de Groof Boxmeer (Netherlands) SATURDAY SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 22.120Threat awareness and mitigation strategies for potential epidemic Salmonella in the United Kingdom D. Mueller-Doblies, R. Horton, R. H. Davies Addlestone (United Kingdom) 22.121Challenges in the management and control of Lassa fever epidemic in resource limited setting of South-East Nigeria—A situation study U. S. Unigwe Enugu (Nigeria) 22.122Control of a long standing community-wide outbreak of cholera in a semi-urban district, Atebubu-Amanten, Ghana: 2012 G. K. Kuma, J. Amankwa, E. Tinkorang, T. Letsa, F. Iddrisah, M. J. Adjabeng, B. Azumah, S. O. Sackey, J. A. Opintan, J. EL-Duah Sunyani (Ghana), Accra (Ghana), Dormaa (Ghana), Atebubu (Ghana) 22.123Outbreak of pneumonia for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the service of internal medicine in a hospital of El Salvador, June 2013 A. Martínez Chalatenango (El Salvador) 23 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Public Communication of Outbreaks and Emerging Diseases 22.142Progress towards measles elimination in Singapore H. J. A. Ho, C. Low, L. W. Ang Singapore (Singapore) 22.126Risk factors for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever among children with confirmed cases in Southeastern Iran B. Sharifi-Mood, M. Metanat, M. R. Sharifi Zahedan (Iran), Zahedan (Iran) 11:45–13:15 Sociopolitical Factors in Disease Emergence 22.134Comparison of Lyme disease risk perception and management in different populations and their experts C. Aenishaenslin, P. Michel, A. Ravel, L. Gern Montréal, QC (Canada), Neuchâtel (Switzerland) 22.135Registered nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the spread of nosocomial infections: The impact of organizational support E. W. Kamunge, R. K. Parasher, T. Cahill, G. Pinto-Zipp Newark, NJ (USA), South Orange, NJ (USA) 22.136Legal and ethical complexity challenging global health security: Sustainability of pathogen surveillance T. Makino Tokyo (Japan) 22.129A short history of the contributions of One Medicine and One Health in Norh America to current concepts of emerging infectious diseases P. Cowen, R. W. Currrier Raleigh, NC (USA), Ames, IA (USA) 22.137Incidence infectious diseases of childhood population before and after war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in emergence A. Bajraktarevic, L. Kumasin, E. Lokmic, G. Todosijevic, Z. Begic, B. Djukic, A. Abduzaimovic, S. Serdarevic Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Tesanj (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 22.130Transparent communications during infectious disease outbreaks: The importance of social media as a risk communication tool M. Billingsley, M. Wroczynski London (United Kingdom) 22.138Emergency transport: Not only a matter of time G. Torrell Vallespín, A. Fité, A. Saidy, A. Touray Barcelona (Spain), Reus (Spain), Kuwonku (Gambia) 22.131Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia M. A. Garbati, C. Syam, H. Alobida, M. Joseph, A. M. Hakawi Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) 22.132Rapid Semi-nested PCR for the identification of Candida species in Candidasis B. Sadeghi-Nejad, A. R. Samarbafzadeh, M. Mehdinejad Ahvaz (Iran) 22.133Full-length genome sequencing and analysis of 3 ZIKV strains on an Ion Torrent PGM sequencer M. Vandenbogaert, V.-M. Cao-Lormeau, L. Diancourt, J.-M. Thiberge, A. Sall, A. Kwasiborski, D. Musso, P. Desprès, J.-C. Manuguerra, V. Caro Paris (France), Papeete –Tahiti, Polynésie française (France), Dakar (Senegal) 24 IMED 2014 Vaccines and Emergence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases 22.139In silico prediction of common epitopes in gp63 protein of pathogenic Leishmania species for designing an epitope based DNA vaccine P. S. Slathia, P. Sharma Jammu (India) 22.140Immune responses induced by an alphavirus replicon derived candidate vaccine against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus F. Burt, R. Swanepoel, J. Paweska, M. Heise Bloemfontein (South Africa), Pretoria (South Africa), Sandringham (South Africa), North Carolina (USA) 22.141DNA priming-protein boosting immunization regime based on L7/L12 and TOmp31Brucellaantigens induces protective immunity in BALB/c mice M. Golshani, S. Rafati, A. Dashti, S. Bouzari Tehran (Iran) 22.143The introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into Cameroon’s expanded programme on immunization: Would every child be reached? J. Njuma Libwea, M. Kobela, H. Nohynek Tampere (Finland), Yaounde (Cameroon), Helsinki (Finland) 22.144Antibody response to DNA vaccine against H5N1 in broilers and layers chickens A. Stachyra, A. Gora-Sochacka, A. Protasiuk, A. Sirko Warsaw (Poland) 22.145Increase in endemic Neisseria meningitidis capsular group W ST-11 complex associated with severe invasive disease in England and Wales S. Ladhani, K. Beebeejaun, J. Lucidarme, H. Campbell, S. Gray, E. Kaczmarski, M. Ramsay, R. Borrow London (United Kingdom), Manchester (United Kingdom) 22.146Cross-protection evaluation of a lineage 1 West Nile virus inactivated vaccine against natural infections from a virulent lineage 2 strain in horses S. C. Chaintoutis, N. Diakakis, M. Papanastassopoulou, G. Banos, C. I. Dovas Thessaloniki (Greece) 22.147Economic model of rotavirus vaccination programme incorporating excess risk of intussusception in Singapore A. Green, C.-F. Yung Singapore (Singapore) 22.148Protective effect of vaccination on mumps complications: Analysis of the Czech national surveillance data, 2007–2012 H. Orlikova, M. Maly, P. Lexova, H. Sebestova, R. Limberkova, L. Jurzykowska, C. Benes, J. Kyncl Prague (Czech Republic) 22.149Multiantigen T cell epitope-enriched leishmaniasis vaccine C. Juhls, LeishDNAvax Consortium, A. Freier Berlin (Germany), London (United Kingdom) 22.150Epidemiological demographics of invasive pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenza diseases in Japan—First year assessment of national surveillance T. Makino, Y. Ohkusa Tokyo (Japan) 22.151Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in healthcare providers of an intensive care unit at a teaching hospital in Guatemala City I. Cazali, D. R. Erdmenger, L. O’Connell, J. Guerra, A. E. Arana, I. Gudiel Guatemala (Guatemala) Vectorborne Diseases 22.153Seroprevalence of arboviral infections in young male volunteers in Azerbaijan E. Huseynova, E. Garges, R. Rivard, A. Seyidov, N. Huseynov, T. Ahmadkhanov, C. Bautista, A. Debes, R. Woelfel, H. Dyson Baku (Azerbaijan), Silver Spring, MD (USA), Frederick, MD (USA), Munich (Germany), Porton Down (United Kingdom) 22.154Sero-study of rickettsial infections in young male volunteers in Azerbaijan E. Huseynova, C. Bautista, R. Rivard, E. Garges, H. Dyson, A. Seyidov, N. Huseynov, T. Ahmadkhanov, A. Richards, C. Farris Baku (Azerbaijan), Silver Spring, MD (USA), Frederick, MD (USA), Porton Down (United Kingdom) 22.155Association of IL1B-31C/T and IL1RA variable number of an 86-bp tandem repeat with dengue shock syndrome in Thailand A. Sa-ngasang, J. Ohashi, I. Naka, S. Anantapreecha, P. Sawanpanyalert, J. Patarapotikul Nonthaburi (Thailand), Ibaraki (Japan), Bangkok (Thailand) November 1, 2014 22.128Novel norovirus recombinants detected in South Africa T. Y. Murray, J. Mans, M. B. Taylor Pretoria (South Africa) Saturday, November 1, 2014 Klimt Ballroom I • Upper Level 22.152Epidemiological, clinical and virological supervision of the seasonal influenza in Tunisia: Season 2013–2014 D. G. Kilani, N. Achour, S. Amin, M. A. Hadj Kacem Tunis (Tunisia) • 22.127Does anticipated regret influence on willingness to be vaccinated? T. Kikkawa, M. Shigematsu Tokyo (Japan) Poster Presentations I SATURDAY November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 22.125Transforming the dynamics of Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) communication: An innovative integrative framework A. Gesser-Edelsburg, N. Walter, Y. Shir-Raz, E. Mordini, D. Dimitriou, M. S. Green Haifa (Israel), Paris (France), Rome (Italy) • Poster Presentations I International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.124Mining press articles about infectious diseases: Swine flu, avian flu and the seasonal flu E. Mayor Neuchâtel (Switzerland) SATURDAY SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 22.156Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Miyazaki, Japan T. Kawaguchi, M. Matsuda, I. Takajo, A. Okayama Miyazaki (Japan) 22.157Dengue virus non-structural protein 1 induces vascular leakage through macrophage migration inhibitory factor secretion and glycocalyx degradation T. M. Yeh, H.-R. Chen Tainan (Taiwan, R.O.C.), Tainan (Taiwan, R.O.C.) 22.158Avian biodiversity and Usutu virus circulation in Emilia-Romagna (Italy), 2010–2012 M. Calzolari, L. Fornasari, G. Calvi, R. Bellini, P. Angelini, M. Dottori Reggio Emilia (Italy), Parma (Italy), Crevalcore (Italy), Bologna (Italy) 22.159Clinical profiles of dengue infection in a teaching hospital of Sourthren province Sri Lanka J. I. Abeynayake Colombo (Sri Lanka) 25 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 22.160Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is an emerging disease in South Korea: A 10-year study J. Yi, K.-H. Kim, E. Y. Lee, M.-D. Oh Busan (Republic of Korea), Seoul (Republic of Korea) 22.177Detection of West Nile Virus from mosquito Culex pipiens (fam: Culicidae) in Belgrade, Serbia 2012–2013 M. Djordjević, N. P. Stajkovic, B. Pešić Belgrade (Serbia) 22.162Use of doxycycline in dengue patients: A potential alternative to a disease with no specific treatment T. Fredeking, J. Zavala-Castro, P. GonzálezMartinez, W. Moguel-Rodriguez, E. C. Sanchez, M. J. Foster, F. A. Diaz-Quijano Hurst, TX (USA), Mérida, Yucatán (Mexico), Sao Paulo (Brazil) 22.164Development of serological tools to detect antibodies to zoonotic arboviruses in sera of neurological disease cases of humans, livestock and horses in southern Africa T. Jooste, C. van Eeden, V. Stivaktas, R. Swanepoel, M. Venter Pretoria (South Africa) 22.165High seroprevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi antibodies in forestry workers and individuals suspected of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Netherlands S. Jahfari Bilthoven (Netherlands) 22.166Complete genome sequence of the first West Nile virus strain from Turkey K. Ergunay, T. Bakonyi, N. Nowotny, A. Ozkul Ankara (Turkey), Vienna (Austria) 22.167Studies of vector competence of Italian Aedes albopictus populations by experimental infections with Chikungunya virus C. Fortuna, M. E. Remoli, M. Di Luca, F. Severini, L. Toma, E. Benedetti, P. Bucci, M. G. Ciufolini, D. Boccolini, R. Romi Rome (Italy) 26 IMED 2014 22.169Modulation of cytokine activity by tetracycline and doxycycline alters disease course in experimental Ebola, Marburg and Lassa virus infections T. Fredeking, G. Ignatyev, A. Atrasheuskaya, F. A. Diaz-Quijano Hurst, TX (USA), Koltsovo (Russian Federation), Sao Paulo (Brazil) 22.170A case control study of risk factors associated with dengue fever in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan S. Ahmad, M. Chaudhry, H. B. Rashid, H. Ali, M. Ahmad, M. H. Mushtaq Lahore (Pakistan), Swat (Pakistan) 22.171Differential serodiagnosis of tick-borne virus encephalitis (TBE) and West Nile fever (WNF) in the South of Russia S. Vodyanitskaya, L. Ermakova, N. Pshenichnaya Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation) 22.172Toscana virus and Leishmania nucleic acids in sandflies, Northern Cyprus K. Ergunay, O. Erisoz Kasap, S. Orsten, F. Gunay, E. Dincer, K. Oter, A. Ozkul, B. Alten Ankara (Turkey), Mersin (Turkey), Istanbul (Turkey) 22.173Seroprevalence and asymptomatic carriage of Leishmania spp. in Austrian soldiers returning from missions in the Lebanon, Syria and Bosnia A. G. Obwaller, W. Poeppl, A. Graf-Langheinz, G. Mooseder, A. Faas, J. Walochnik Vienna (Austria) 22.174Identification of novel T cell epitopes on Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus and confirmation of long-lived memory T cell responses D. Goedhals, J. Paweska, F. Burt Bloemfontein (South Africa), SandringhamJohannesburg (South Africa) 22.175Genetic marker tools for identifying tropical human bed bugs and bat bugs: Leptocimex inordinatus R. Potiwat Bangkok (Thailand) 22.176Potential animal reservoirs of Toscana virus and co-infections with Leishmania infantum E. Dincer, S. Gargari, A. Ozkul, K. Ergunay Mersin (Turkey), Ankara (Turkey) 22.178Changing pattern of DENV serotypes in Vietnam N. T. T. Thuy, F. Hasebe, K. Morira Hanoi (Viet Nam), Nagasaki (Japan) 22.179Risk mapping of West Nile virus transmission to humans in Spain A. Sánchez Gómez, M. J. Sierra, M. Martinez-Aviles, E. Fernandez-Carrion, J. M. Sanchez-Vizcaino, S. Santos, C. Amela Madrid (Spain) 22.180First molecular detection of human relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes ricinus from Portugal M. Nunes, N. Lopes, T. Carreira, C. Maia, A. P. G. Almeida, M. L. Veira Lisbon (Portugal) 22.181Putative new lineage of West Nile virus in the mosquito Uranotaenia unguiculata G. Kemenesi, M. Oldal, A. Kutas, B. Dallos, F. Földes, V. Németh, P. Reiter, T. Bakonyi, K. Bányai, F. Jakab Pécs (Hungary), Paris (France), Budapest (Hungary) 22.182Epidemiology of tularaemia in South West Germany 2001–2013 C. Wagner-Wiening, G. Pfaff, I. Boone Stockholm (Sweden), Stuttgart (Germany), Berlin (Germany) 22.183Dengue in India: An epidemiological perspective K. Baruah, P. K. Sen, A. Dhariwal Dehli (India) 22.184Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium mosquitoes from Germany have vector competence for West Nile virus M. Leggewie, M. Badusche, M. Rudolf, S. Jansen, J. Börstler, K. Huber, A. Krüger, J. Schmidt-Chanasit, E. Tannich, S. C. Becker Hamburg (Germany), Greifswald-Insel Riems (Germany) 22.187Circulation of zoonotic arboviruses in equine populations of Mallorca island J. Vanhomwegen, J.-C. Manuguerra, C. Beck, R. G. García, A. Figuerola, S. Lecollinet, M. LópezRoig, C. Rousseaux, J. Serra-Cobo Paris (France), Maisons-Alfort (France), Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Barcelona (Spain) 22.188West Nile virus lineage 2 isolated from Culex modestus mosquitoes in the Czech Republic, 2013: Expansion of the European West Nile virus endemic area to the North? I. Rudolf, T. Bakonyi, O. Sebesta, J. Mendel, L. Betasova, H. Blazejova, K. Venclikova, P. Strakova, N. Nowotny, Z. Hubalek Brno (Czech Republic), Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria) 22.189What is the role of asymptomatic carriers in transmission of Gambiense human African trypanosomiasis? Mathematical model of data from North West Uganda R. Oettle, F. Checchi, J. Edmunds London (United Kingdom) 22.190Pathogenetic markers of severity in DF/DHF A. Biswas, P. Sohal, K. Baruah, S. Sharma, N. Wig, P. Aggarwal New Delhi (India) 22.191Imported and autochthonous dengue in Portugal—Three unusual years of experience at the National Institute of Health L. Zé-Zé, F. Amaro, H. C. Osório, M. J. Alves Águas de Moura (Portugal) November 1, 2014 22.163Serological detection of R. rickettsii in dengue fever-negative samples in Nuevo Leon, Mexico E. Jaramillo, E. Jaramillo-Reyna, J. Z. VillarrealPérez, F. J. García-Elizondo, F. González-Alanís, E. I. Galindo-Galindo, M. I. Tavitas-Aguilar, S. P. Mora-Gloria, P. Carranza-Rosales, C. B. Brito-Lorán Guadalupe (Mexico), Monterrey (Mexico) 22.168Addressing the risk of dengue virus transmission in developing country context: The case of Dhaka, Bangladesh P. Dhar-Chowdhury, C. E. Haque, R. Lindsay, S. Hossian, M. Drebot Winnipeg, MB (Canada) • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • Poster Presentations I International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.161Old world vs. new world West Nile virus: Is there any difference? M. A. Jimenez-Clavero, E. Perez-Ramirez, F. Llorente, J. Del Amo, N. Nowotny, R. Soriguer, J. Figuerola Valdeolmos (Spain), Vienna (Austria), Seville (Spain) SATURDAY SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 22.192Active surveillance for human plague in Northwestern Uganda, 2008–2014 T. Apangu, S. Acayo, J. Kaggwa, L. Atiku, J. Tendo, P. Anguzy, J. Wamala, I. Makumbi, B. Yockey, E. Mbidde Arua (Uganda), Kampala (Uganda), Fort Collins, CO (USA), Entebbe (Uganda) 22.193Emergence of a dengue problem in India— A public health challenge R. S. Sharma Delhi (India) 22.185Arrábida virus: First isolation of a phlebovirus in sandflies in Portugal F. Amaro, L. Zé-Zé, M.-J. Alves Águas de Moura (Portugal) 22.186Epidemiologic characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in South Korea, 2013 J. Shin, J. Kim, Y.-S. Park, D. Kwon, G.-R. Bae Cheongju (Republic of Korea) 27 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 23 Poster Presentations II Sunday, November 2, 2014 11:45–13:15 Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms • Upper Level Antimicrobial Resistance 23.001Inhibitor-resistant beta-lactamases in Enterobacteriaceae from Croatia B. Bedenic, S. Jaman, V. Zujic-Atalic, J. Vranes Zagreb (Croatia), Osijek (Croatia) 23.002High prevalence of faecal carriage of bla-SHV type extended spectrum-β-lactamases producing Escherichia coli among healthcare workers R. H. A. Bassyouni, S. Gaber, A. A. Wegdan Fayoum (Egypt) 23.003Emergence of of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in Portugal J. Melo-Cristino, A. Friães, C. Resina, V. Manuel, L. Lito, M. Ramirez Lisbon (Portugal) 23.007Chromosome-mediated multidrug resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi Y.-S. Liao, T.-L. Lauderdale, D. C. Phung, H. Watanabe, J.-C. Kuo, Y.-Y. Liu, P.-J. Wang, S.-Y. Liang, C.-S. Chiou Taichung City (Taiwan, R.O.C.), Zhunan (Taiwan, R.O.C.), Hanoi (Viet Nam), Tokyo (Japan), Taichung (Taiwan, R.O.C.) 28 IMED 2014 • SUNDAY 23.019ESBLs structure from Kazakhstan’s enterobacteria in the SMART study (2011–2013) I. S. Azizov, D. Babenko, E. Zakharova, A. Lavrinenko, N. Shambilova, E. Tishkanbayev Karaganda (Kazakhstan) 23.020The analysis of resistance of M. tuberculosis to drugs in Kazakstan (2010–2013) D. Babenko, I. S. Azizov, N. Tabriz Karaganda (Kazakhstan) 23.010Cefmetazole for bactermia caused by ESBLproducing Enterobacteriacae comparing with carbapanems T. Fukuchi, K. Iwata, G. Ohji Hyogo (Japan) 23.021Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a clinical hospital from Bucharest, Romania D. Talapan, O. M. Dorobat, A. Streinu Cercel, A. Rafila Bucharest (Romania) 23.011High antimicrobial resistance of urinary bacteria isolated from long-term respiratory care wards in a regional hospital in Taiwan W.-C. Lin, K.-S. Liu Yunlin County (Taiwan, R.O.C.) 23.022Increase in Clostridium difficile mortality in the United States, 1999–2011 V. N. Abdullatif, A. Noymer Irvine, CA (USA) 23.012Determinants of isoniazid and rifampicin resistant tuberculosis among suspected cases of Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2014 G. M. Misgana, N. H. Geda, G. J. Guto, T. W. Abebe, M. S. Hassen Adama (Ethiopia) 23.013Prospective case-control study of infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriacae M. A. Garbati, H. Sakkijha, A. Abu-Shaheen Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) 23.014Intestinal microflora in adults with acute infectious diarrhea N. Pshenichnaya, A. Aleshukina, A. Buslenko, A. Juravlev, I. Aleshukina Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation), Moscow (Russian Federation) 23.015Antibiotic resistance—Challenges and opportunities with bacteriophage and lytic proteins D. Trudil, M. Kutateladze Reisterstown, MD (USA), Tbilisi (Georgia) 23.016Comparisons of drugs resistant results between pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis in lower northern of Thailand 2013 R. Khummin Phitsanulok (Thailand) 23.017Reliability of Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method for detecting doripenem susceptibility in oxidase positive non-fermenting gram negative bacilli R. Misra, K. N. Prasad Lucknow (India) 23.018Prevalence and detection of ampC beta-lactamases in gram negative clinical isolates & associated risk factors at a tertiary care centre in northern India R. Misra, K. N. Prasad Lucknow (India) 23.023Efficacy of antibiotic combinations against P. aeruginosa isolated from UTI in Northern Jordan hospitals Y. H. Tarazi Irbid (Jordan) 23.024Antimicrobial resistance of fecal E. coli isolated from cattle and pigs M. Niculae, I. C. Mates, C. D. Sandru, G. F. Brudasca, E. Pall, M. Spinu Cluj (Romania), Bucharest (Romania) 23.025It is a no-brainer: Never use fusidic acid alone! A study from Alexandria, Egypt A. Abouelfetouh, M. Naguib, M. Kassem, M. El-Nakeeb Alexandria (Egypt), Damanhour (Egypt) 23.026Escherichia coli OXA-48 infection in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and potential for spread in hospitalised patients M. M. Wróblewska, I. Seferyńska, E. Lech-Marańda, K. Warzocha, M. Giemza, E. Mik, A. Kuziak, D. Żabicka, M. Gniadkowski, W. Hryniewicz Warsaw (Poland) 23.027Antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation by NT H. influenzae (NTHi) strains isolated from Mexican patients P. Gomez de Leon, T. Santander, F. J. Díaz, F. Quiñones, E. Sada Mexico City, DF (Mexico) 23.028Understanding the mutations responsible for carbapenem resistance in KPC-2 G. Cortina, P. Kasson Charlottesville, VA (USA) 23.029The changes of the levels of PFOR gene expression between MZ-resistant and MZ-susceptibility strains of G. intestinalis R. Begaydarova, Y. Yukhnevich, D. Babenko, S. Kaliyeva, I. S. Azizov Karaganda (Kazakhstan) 23.030Antibiogram, virulence genes markers and biofilm formation of aeromonas species recovered from cattle I. H. Igbinosa, E. O. Igbinosa, A. I. Okoh Pretoria (South Africa), Benin City (Nigeria), Alice (South Africa) 23.031Recovery of Escherichia coli susceptibility to cephalexin and co-trimoxasole due to changes in ambulatory antibiotic consumption in Croatia J. Vranes, V. Ticic, B. Bedenic, M. Anusic, T. Marjan, A. Mlinaric-Djepina Zagreb (Croatia) 23.032Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Makkah hospitals A. Asghar Makkah (Saudi Arabia) 23.033Prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites and drug resistance pattern of selected diarrheogenic Enterobacteriaceae among cotrimoxazole prophylaxis taking HIV seropositive individuals at St. Paul’s Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa M. M. T. K. Kebede, M. M. T. K. Tadesse Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 23.034Detection of CTX-M-15 type of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Cairo University Hospitals in Egypt R. H. Abd El-Aziz, M. Abd El-Halim, A. El-Banna, A. El-Kholy Cairo (Egypt) 23.035First identification of NDM-1 carbapenemase from Klebsiella pneumoniae in Seychelles J. T. Bibi, A. Michault Victoria (Seychelles), St Pierre (France) November 2, 2014 23.006Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus multiple sites surveillance: A systematic review J. Chipolombwe, E. Török, J. Taljaard, G. Revathi, P. S. Nyasulu Mzuzu (Malawi), Cambridge (United Kingdom), Cape Town (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa) International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • 23.005Characterization of mutations conferring resistance against first and second line drugs in multidrug resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Mexico R. Zenteno-Cuevas, O. Xochihua-Gonzalez, B. Cuevas-Cordoba, R. Muñis-Salazar Xalapa (Mexico), Veracruz (Mexico), Baja California (Mexico) 23.009Investigating role of putative peptidoglycan amidase, in biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis A. Padhi, S. Mohanty, A. Sonawane Bhubaneswar (India) SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 23.004Detection of antimicrobial resistance in selected bacteria isolated from non-human primates at a wildlife-human interface B. A. Glover, A. O. Jenkins, M. vanVuuren Pretoria (South Africa) 23.008ESKAPE bacteremia R. Gonçalves, D. Aguiar, J. Trêpa, R. Magano, J. Cortez, H. Oliveira, J. Gamboa Coimbra (Portugal) Poster Presentations II 23.036Magnitude of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing entrobacteriaceae among patients admitted for bacterial infection in Adama Hospital and clinical sample sent to Oromia Public Health Laboratory, Adama, Ethiopia G. M. Misgana, T. W. Abebe, G. J. Guto Adama (Ethiopia) 23.037Drug resistance variants in chronic hepatitis B Iranian patients under long term Lamivudine treatment S. R. Mohebbi, P. Azimzadeh, S. Mokhtari, M. Khanyaghma, S. Kazemian, A. Sharifian, M. R. Zali Tehran (Iran) 29 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Bioterrorism and Biological Warfare 23.038Biosecurity and the global maritime shipping industry: An analysis of the current state of surveillance metrics J. Varco, M. J. Varco Washington, DC (USA) Climate Change and Ecological Factors in Disease Emergence 23.039Genetic diversity of Aspergillus flavus and occurrence of aflatoxin contamination in stored maize across three agro-ecological zones in Kenya G. W. Gachara Nairobi (Kenya) 23.040Climatic influences on seasonality associated with influenza illness in Lao PDR, 2008–2011 P. Souliphone Vientiane (People’s Democratic Republic of Lao) Diseases at the Interface of Humans, Wildlife and Other Animals • 23.044Preventive vaccination against rabies and necessity of oral vaccination of wildlife L. Ninidze, R. Obiso Tbilisi (Georgia), Blacksburg, VA (USA) 23.045Rabies prevention protocols and policies and staff knowledge and training in animal shelters in the United States Z. N. Hedge San Diego, CA (USA) 23.046Genetic analysis of West Nile Virus isolates from different geographical regions in Kenya L. Musila, A. Nyunja, H. Koka, R. Sang Nairobi (Kenya) 23.047A ‘One Health’ approach to the elimination of rabies E. Fogelberg, M. Kennedy, W. Gates London (United Kingdom) 30 IMED 2014 23.051Prevalence of antibodies against influenza A/ H5N1 virus among live poultry market workers in NorthernVietnam, 2011 M. T. Q. Le, D. Tham, D. N. Pham, N. S. Vu, T. M. Luong, H. L. K. Nguyen, T. T. Le Hanoi (Viet Nam) 23.052Phylogenetic characterization of Bocaviruses infecting wild and captive living chimpanzees K. Brozova, K. Hrazdilova, A. K. Piel, F. A. Stewart, K. J. Petrzelkova, V. Celer Brno (Czech Republic), Cambridge (United Kingdom) 23.053Hantavirus in persons exposed to domestic and wild rats in the UK: Results of a sero-prevalence study J. Duggan, R. Close, L. McCann, N. McCarthy, T. Mannes, M. Keys, D. Wright, A. Walsh, A. Charlett, T. Brooks Salisbury (United Kingdom), Oxford (United Kingdom), Bristol (United Kingdom), London (United Kingdom) 23.054Bovine tuberculosis in pigs: A case of Mycobacterium caprae infection B. Amato, V. Di Marco Lo Presti, E. Gerace, F. Mandanici, E. Biasibetti, M. B. Boniotti, L. Spuria, F. Valenza, M. L. Pacciarini, M. T. Capucchio Barcellona P.G. (Italy), Grugliasco (Italy), Brescia (Italy) 23.055Features of epidemiology of Echinococcosus granulosus in the Southern Russia L. Ermakova, N. Pshenichnaya, Y. Kirtanasov, K. Bolatchiev, T. Tverdokhlebova Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation), Cherkessk (Russian Federation) 23.056Psittacosis associated with pet bird’s ownership: A cause of public health concern V. L. Ferreira, M. V. Silva, T. F. Raso São Paulo (Brazil) 23.057Hepatitis E virus in the South of Spain: Seroprevalence and acute infection in patients with anormal transaminases levels T. Perez-Gracia, F. Rivas, B. Suay, S. García-Valdivia, F. Galan-Sanchez, M. Rodriguez-Iglesias Valencia (Spain), Cadiz (Spain), Puerto Real (Spain) 23.058The serum archive for emerging zoonoses— A new national resource to inform public health risk assessments for new and emerging animal infections K. Russell, B. Said, D. Brown, D. Morgan, H. Kirkbride London (United Kingdom) 23.059Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in wild boars in Serbia B. I. Kureljusic, B. Savić, N. Jezdimirović, Đ. Cvetojević, J. Kureljusic, D. Jakić-Dimić, O. Radanović, V. Milićević, V. Ivetić Belgrade (Serbia) 23.060Clinical analysis of Helicobacter cinaedi bacteremia in patients with rheumatic diseases I. Takajo, T. Kawaguchi, M. Matsuda, A. Okayama Miyazaki (Japan) 23.061Molecular investigation of RNA viruses in bats V. Nikolic, G. Stamenkovic, J. Jovanovic, M. Paunovic, M. Stanojevic Belgrade (Serbia) 23.062Novel point mutations in rpoB gene useful for Brucella melitensis typing S. AbuBakar, K.-K. Tan, Y.-C. Tan, K.-W. Lee, W.-Y. Yee, L.-Y. Chang Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Selangor (Malaysia) 23.063The risk of import of potentially zoonotic and multi resistant bacteria through import of ornamental fish into the EU N. Tafro, O. Stenvers, O. Haenen Schiphol (Netherlands), Utrecht (Netherlands), Wageningen (Netherlands) 23.064Coxiella burnetii infection in wild boars (Sus scrofa) S. Anastacio, C. Coelho, M. Pereira, M. M. Vieira-Pinto, K. Sidi-Boumedine, G. J. da Silva Coimbra, Coimbra (Portugal), Vila Real (Portugal), Coimbra (Portugal), Sophia Antipolis (France) 23.065Pandemic influenza virus in pigs raised in smallholder farms in Kenya, 2010–2012 P. M. Munyua, L. Mwasi, C. Onyango, C. Cardona, L. Waiboci, K. Njenga, P. Kitala, P. Nyaga, J. Mott Nairobi (Kenya), Saint Paul, MN (USA) 23.066PRRS virus/Streptococcus suis co-infection in nursery pig which have unstable status of PRRS from farm in North-Eastern part of Thailand S. Porntrakulpipat, J. Jiwakanon, T. C. Nutravong, S. Angkititrakul Khon Kaen (Thailand) 23.067Rabies boosters: Serological follow-up of bat workers in the United Kingdom B. Said, H. Kirkbride, D. Horton, A. R. Fooks, D. Morgan, D. Brown London (United Kingdom), Surrey (United Kingdom) 23.068Canine rabies diagnosis from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue S. Beck, P. Gunawardena, D. Horton, D. J. Hicks, D. A. Marston, A. Ortiz-Pelaez, A. R. Fooks, A. Nunez Addlestone (United Kingdom), Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), Surrey (United Kingdom) 23.069Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the occupational environment: Attitudinal and structural determinants of behavior among commercial poultry sector workers in Indonesia J. M. Kreslake, Y. Wahyuningrum, B. Safi, M. E. Figueroa, D. Storey Baltimore, MD (USA) 23.070Assessing the risk of Mycobacterium bovis transmission from domestic cats to human contacts C. O’Connor, A. Walsh, D. Morgan London (United Kingdom) 23.071Zoonotic Bartonella species identified in wild rodents in Cotonou, Benin G. Bonnet, G. Houemenou, A. Martín-Alonso, E. Abreu-Yanes, I. Montoliu, B. Valladares, C. Feliu, P. Foronda Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain), Sart Tilman (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain) 23.072Antiparasitic activity of bovine milk protein lactoferrin on Toxoplasma gondii: An in vitro and in vivo study N. Anand Chandigarh (India) November 2, 2014 23.043Parapoxvirus infections in Turkey T. C. Oguzoglu, A. Karakas, B. T. Koç, S. Salar Ankara (Turkey) 23.050Do Costa Rican urban raccoon populations pose a public health concern? M. Baldi, G. Alvarado, E. Barquero, G. Hernadez, C. Jimenez, M. Santoro, S. Hutter, S. Smith, C. Walzer Heredia (Costa Rica), San Josè (Costa Rica), Rome (Italy), Vienna (Austria) International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SUNDAY 23.042Escherichia fergusonii: An emerging multi-drug resistant pathogen B. A. Glover, A. O. Jenkins, M. vanVuuren Pretoria (South Africa) 23.049Age-specific seriousness of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the second-wave epidemic in China E. H. Lau, P. Wu, J. Y. Wong, G. Freeman, J. T. Wu, G. M. Leung, Y. Hongjie, B. J. Cowling Hong Kong (China), Beijing (China) SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 23.041Molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus from hydatid cysts isolated from human and animals in Golestan Province, North of Iran M. Soosaraei Gorgan (Iran) 23.048Molecular and microbiological detection of Bartonella spp. bacteremia in cats M. R. Drummond, P. P. V. D. P. Diniz, B. G. Lania, D. M. R. Demolin, R. Gilioli, E. Breitschwerdt, G. Vieira-Damiani, D. G. Scorpio, P. E. N. F. Velho Sao Paulo (Brazil), Pomona, CA (USA), Raleigh, NC (USA), Baltimore, MD (USA) Poster Presentations II 23.073Detection of Coxiella burnetii in rodents and wild birds in Portugal A. S. P. Santos, F. Amaro, A. C. Norte, P. Melo, M. M. Santos-Silva, R. De Sousa, M. J. Alves, M. S. Nuncio, F. Hagen, J. J. H. C. Tilburg Águas de Moura (Portugal), Coimbra (Portugal), Lisbon (Portugal), Nijmegen (Netherlands) 31 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II 23.074Lyophilisation of lentiviral pseudotypes for the development and distribution of virus neutralization assay kits for rabies, Marburg and influenza viruses S. D. Scott, S. Mather, E. Wright, N. Temperton Chatham Maritime (United Kingdom), London (United Kingdom) 23.083Qatar national response to MERS-CoV: How has one health approach made a diference? E. Farag, M. Al-Hajri, A. El-Sayed, F. AlHajri, K. Mohran, H. Ghobashy1, C. Reusken, M. Koopmans Doha (Qatar), Doha, Qatar (Qatar), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bilthoven/ Rotterdam (Netherlands) 23.075Gastrointestinal helminthes of green-winged teal (Anas crecca) from north Iran M. R. Youssefi, H. Hosseini, M. T. Rahimi Babol (Iran) 23.084Seroprevalence of Ngari and Bunyamwera viruses in selected parts of North-Eastern and Rift Valley regions of Kenya R. C. Sang, C. O. Odhiambo, M. Venter, R. Swanepoel Nairobi (Kenya), Pretoria (South Africa) 23.092Detection of virus genome on animal surfaces and in litter in the course of outbreaks with low-pathogenic Avian influenza T. Homeier, T. Harder, Y. Gall, F. Conraths Greifswald (Germany) 23.093Serological and virological investigation of Maedi-Visna and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infections in sheep and goats in Erzurum Province, Turkey M. O. Timurkan, I. Sozdutmaz, H. Aydın, A. Kirbas, M. S. Aktas, Y. Ozkanlar Erzurum (Turkey), Kayseri (Turkey) 23.094Tembusu-like flavivirus (Perak virus) as the cause of neurological disease outbreaks in young Pekin duck G. Z. Homonnay, E. Walkone Kovacs, K. Bányai, M. Albert, E. Feher, T. Mató, T. Tatar-Kis, V. Palya Budapest (Hungary) 23.095D2R2: An evidence-based decision support tool to aid prioritisation of animal health issues for government funding A. J. Frost, F. Gauntlett, J. Gibbens, H. Lester, S. Wyllie London (United Kingdom) 23.096Molecular detection of Dirofilaria repens in shelter dogs from western Latvia M. Kirjusina, A. Daukste, L. Bankovska, R. Latvele, A. Krumina, I. Jahundovica Daugavpils (Latvia), Riga (Latvia) 23.097Prevalence of equine herpesvirus infections in foals with respiratory tract disease in a private pension farm, Turkey S. Bilge Dagalp, A. Faraji, V. S. Ataseven, Z. Başaran Karapınar, M. O. Timurkan, F. Dogan, A. Ozkul, F. Alkan Ankara (Turkey), Hatay (Turkey), Van (Turkey), Erzurum, Erzurum (Turkey) 23.098Outbreaks of hemorrhagic syndrome by Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus genotype 1 in Sicily (Italy): Pathology and biomolecular investigations V. Di Marco Lo Presti, V. Cannella, B. Amato, E. Biasibetti, G. Purpari, A. Tomaselli, M. Vitale, F. Antoci, A. Guercio, M. T. Capucchio Barcellona (Italy), Palermo (Italy), Grugliasco (Italy), Messina (Italy) 23.099Isolation and molecular characterization of a bovine enterovirus from calves with diarrhea, Turkey F. Alkan, I. Karayel, G. Lanave, C. Buonavoglia, K. Bányai, V. Martella Ankara (Turkey), Bari (Italy), Budapest (Hungary) 23.100Coxiella burnetii in dairy ruminant herds: Informative value of BTM serological and molecular analysis S. Anastacio, N. Carolino, K. Sidi-Boumedine, G. J. da Silva Coimbra (Portugal), Santarém (Portugal), Sophia Antipolis (France) 23.078Whole genome analysis of an explosively emerging human rotavirus G6P[6] in Cameroon V. N. Ndze, M. Esona, E. A. Achidi, R. Doro, S. L. Farkas, M. T. Obama-Abena, K. Bányai Yaounde (Cameroon), Atlanta, GA (USA), Buea (Cameroon), Budapest (Hungary) 23.079Group A rotavirus in domesticated animals in Cameroon V. N. Ndze, M. Esona, E. A. Achidi, M. T. Obama-Abena, K. Banyai Yaounde (Cameroon), Atlanta, GA (USA), Buea (Cameroon), Budapest (Hungary) 23.082Outbreak of Chlamydia psittaci: Timely detection and diagnostics in a wild bird rehabilitation centre I. Goverse, N. Reedijk, I. Veldhuijzen, R. van Gageldonk, O. Stenvers, F. Velkers, E. Heddema, O. Pontesilli, A. Tjon-A-Tsien Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bilthoven (Netherlands), Utrecht (Netherlands), Sittard-Geleen (Netherlands) 32 IMED 2014 23.087Diagnosis of a severe parapoxvirus infection in an Austrian sheep herd, in 2014 S. Richter, S. Revilla-Fernández, Z. Bago, M. Gonano, H. Weinberger, P. Schiefer, M. del Fabro, F. Schmoll Mödling (Austria), Vienna (Austria) 23.088Nasal carriage of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with multiple markers of livestock-association among industrial pig farmers and their household members in eastern North Carolina M. Nadimpalli, E. Pierce, N. Pisanic, J. Stewart, C. Heaney Chapel Hill, NC (USA), Baltimore, MD (USA) Diseases of Animals 23.089Evaluation of thermal stability and inactivation of peste des petits ruminants virus cultivated in cell culture A. Latif, A. Bin Zahur, R. Zahra, A. Ahmed, R. Wasee ullah, U. Farooq Islamabad (Pakistan) 23.090Is the control program for classical scrapie in Finland (2006–2012) sufficient to show negligible risk? K. Schulman, J. Kyyrö, T. Lyytikäinen Helsinki (Finland) 23.091Effects of community composition and temperature on fungal pathogen epidemics F. Al-Shorbaji, R. Gozlan, B. Roche, R. Britton, D. Andreou Bournemouth (United Kingdom), Montpellier (France) 23.103Reasons for a high rate of rabies in Ukraine S. Nychyk, I. Polupan, A. Nikitova, M. Sytiuk, V. Ukhovskyi Kiev (Ukraine) 23.104Detection of influenza virus A from wild birds in Kazakhstan Z. Kydyrbayev, M. Orynbayev, A. Sansyzbay, D. Suarez, J. Crawford, Z. Omarova, K. Tabynov Kordaiskiy (Kazakhstan), Gvardeisky (Kazakhstan), Athens, GA (USA), FPO, AE (Egypt) 23.105Molecular characterization of ovine herpesvirus type 2 (ovhv-2) in Turkey Y. Yildirim, S. Bilge Dagalp, V. Yilmaz, A. Faraji, N. Coskun Kars (Turkey), Ankara (Turkey) 23.106Detection and full-length genome characterization of feline kobuviruses identified from diarrheic cats B. Di Martino, F. Di Profio, I. Melegari, F. Marsilio, V. Martella Teramo (Italy), Bari (Italy) 23.107Horses naturally infected with Strongylidae and Ascaridae: Evaluation of hematological and some biochemical parameters S. Z. Borozan, I. Bosnjak, S. Katic-Radivojevic, S. Jovic, M. Krstic, S. Stojanovic Belgrade (Serbia) November 2, 2014 23.081HPAI H5N1 detection in illegally imported captive birds from Bali at the Vienna International Airport S. Revilla-Fernández, Z. Bagó, E. Wodak, S. Richter, F. Schmoll Mödling (Austria) 23.086Persisting West Nile virus infection in Kea (Nestor notabilis) T. Bakonyi, G. Gajdon, R. Schwing, W. Vogl, A.-C. Habich, H. Weissenböck, N. Nowotny Vienna (Austria) 23.102Serological monitoring of leptospirosis in the population of wild boars killed in the territory of Ukraine V. Ukhovskyi, S. Nychyk, M. Sytiuk, V. Kulykova, I. Polupan, O. Stepna Kiev (Ukraine) • 23.080Rodents as potencial reservoirs of vacciniavirus in periurban area of Sao Paulo City, Brazil L. H. Okuda, A. L. Arruda, C. Del Fava, M. M. Fusuma, S. F. Souza, A. H. C. Nogueira, E. De Stefano, E. M. Pituco, A. E. C. Campos Sao Paulo (Brazil) 23.085A clinical investigation into Brucella canis cases in dogs in Alberta, Canada: Public health and animal health implications S. Checkley, C. McMillan, S. Chalhoub, S. Neate, S. Cork, A. M. Rix, J. MacDonald, P. Buote Calgary, AB (Canada), Edmonton, AB (Canada) 23.101Identification of caliciviruses in cats with enteric symptoms V. Martella, C. Catella, L. Bodnar, G. Palermo, G. Romito, G. Lanave, B. Di Martino, D. Galante, M. A. Cafiero, C. Buonavoglia Bari (Italy), Novara (Italy), Bologna (Italy), Teramo (Italy), Foggia (Italy) SUNDAY November 2, 2014 SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 23.077Contribution of molecular biology in the diagnosis of human and animal cryptosporidiosis F. Cheikhrouhou, N. Sourour, T. Houaida, G. Raida, S. Hayet, F. Makni, A. Ayadi Sfax (Tunisia) • Poster Presentations II International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.076Facility based national rabies survey in Ethiopia H. M. Hailu Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) SUNDAY SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 23.108Mutations and phylogenetic analysis of the equine influenza virus (H3N8) nucleoprotein M. Boukharta, F. Zakham, N. Touil, M. Elharak, M. M. Ennaji Mohammedia (Morocco), Rabat (Morocco) 23.109A sheeppox outbreak in Morocco: Isolation and identification of virus responsible for the new clinical form of disease K. Zro, F. Zakham, M. Melloul, E. El Fahime, M. M. Ennaji Mohammedia (Morocco), Rabat (Morocco) 33 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Ethical Issues in Emerging Diseases and Disease Surveillance 23.11065 years since the introduction of universal vaccination against pertussis in the Czech Republic: Study and comparison of the Bordetella pertussis strains isolated during the period 1964–2015 by molecular biological methods K. Fabianova, J. Zavadilova, D. Lzicarova, M. Musilek, C. Benes, P. Krizova, B. Kriz Prague (Czech Republic) 23.111Development of the biosafety and biosecurity policy in National Scientific Center “Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine” A. Gerilovych, B. Stegniy, M. Stegniy, V. Golovko, I. Danylova Kharkiv (Ukraine) Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases 23.112Clinical manifestations and susceptibility testing of Salmonella typhito ciprofloxacin, from the second outbreak of typhoid fever in Songkhla province of southern Thailand S. Ruangchan Songkhla (Thailand) 23.116Development of the multiplex PCR for detection of the food-borne pathogens in feed-stuff raw B. Stegniy, A. Gerilovych, I. Gerilovych, A. Zavgorodnii, V. Arefiev Kharkiv (Ukraine) 23.117An estimate of the seasonal variation of pathogenic bacteria species around the Danube river mouth M. Spinu, E. Pall, M. Niculae, G. F. Brudasca, C. D. Sandru Cluj (Romania) 34 IMED 2014 • SUNDAY 23.121Hepatitis E seroprevalence varies by age and community in Southwest Germany C. Wagner-Wiening, G. Pfaff, S. Brockmann, J. <. <. Wenzel, P. Kimmig, I. Piechotowski Stockholm (Sweden), Stuttgart (Germany), Reutlingen (Germany), Regensburg (Germany) 23.122Outbreak of gastroenteritis by consumption of seafood “Ceviche”—Quetzaltenango, Guatemala; July 2012 I. R. Samayoa Gramajo, J. Moir Quetzaltenango (Guatemala) 23.123Human Bocavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran, Iran P. Azimzadeh, S. Romani, S. Mokhtari, S. R. Mohebbi, M. R. Zali Tehran (Iran) 23.124Investigation of suspected cholera— Quetzaltenango, Guatemala; October 2013 I. R. Samayoa Gramajo, J. Moir Quetzaltenango (Guatemala) 23.125Environmental health surveillance as an important function of public health laboratories S. Checkley, S. Fathima, N. Neumann, S. Mukhi Calgary, AB (Canada), Edmonton, AB (Canada), Winnipeg, MB (Canada) 23.126A One Health approach to food safety in Asia D. Hall, Q. B. Le Calgary, AB (Canada) Poster Presentations II Sunday, November 2, 2014 Klimt Ballroom I • Upper Level 11:45–13:15 Infections of Public Health Significance 23.127Evidence of Yersinia pestis DNA in rodents in plague outbreak foci in Mbulu and Karatu districts, northern Tanzania M. H. Ziwa, B. M. Hang’ombe, B. S. Kilonzo, M. I. Matee Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lusaka (Zambia), Morogoro (Tanzania) 23.128Hantavirus seroprevalence among forestry workers in Hungary M. Oldal, V. Németh, M. Madai, G. Kemenesi, G. Horváth, K. Bányai, F. Jakab Pécs (Hungary), Budapest (Hungary) 23.129Cellular immunity induced during HIV and falciparum malaria co-infection among pregnant mothers and their babies A. O. Micheal, A. I. Chiaka, A. O. Henrietta Ibadan (Nigeria) 23.130A review estimating the number of cases and number of deaths from MDR-TB among HIV/ AIDS around the globe P. J. Cazeau West Palm Beach, FL (USA) 23.131Prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis from active case finding among US-bound Bhutanese refugees and immigrants from Nepal A. K. Mishra, K. Takahashi, R. M. Wali Jhapa (Nepal), Kathmandu (Nepal) 23.132Risk factor analysis for bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis among US-bound Bhutanese refugees and immigrants from Nepal A. K. Mishra, K. Takahashi, R. M. Wali Jhapa (Nepal), Kathmandu (Nepal) 23.133Assessment of malaria treatment services to patients under 5 years attending public health facilities in Oyo State, South West Nigeria, 2013 O. T. Olugbade, M. O. Anyanwu, T. O. Ladipo, O. Ajumobi, A. T. Olayinka, I. Ajayi Abuja (Nigeria), Ibadan (Nigeria), Zaria (Nigeria) 23.134Utilization of malaria preventive services in pregnant women attending Public Health Facilities in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, 2013 O. T. Olugbade, O. Ajumobi, M. O. Anyanwu, T. O. Ladipo, A. T. Olayinka, I. Ajayi Abuja (Nigeria), Ibadan (Nigeria), Zaria (Nigeria) 23.135Clostridium difficile enteritis—Predictors for in hospital fatal outcome N. Ion Nedelcu, P. I. Calistru Bucharest (Romania) 23.136Study of causative pathogens of respiratory infections prevalent in long-term inpatient facilities: Examination at hospital wards housing patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities S. Matsuda Tohon (Japan) 23.137Co-circulation of three dengue serotypes in Mogadishu, Somalia: Findings of an enhanced hospital-based dengue surveillance system H. Kyobe Bosa, L. Lukwago, J. Montgomery, J. J. Lutwama, B. Fields Mogadishu (Somalia), Kampala (Uganda), Nairobi (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda) 23.138The effect of genetic polymorphisms on drugresistance and early treatment outcome in HIV patients with primary TB in Eastern Siberia O. Ogarkov, S. Zdanova, S. Heysell, E. Houpt, E. Zorkaltseva, V. Sinkov, E. Savilov Irkutsk (Russian Federation), Charlottesville, VA (USA) 23.139Quality of care in DOTS centers under national tuberculosis control programme in Dhaka City T. Bulbul Dhaka (Bangladesh) 23.140Fullerenpolyaminocapronic acid is effective against Herpes simplex virus infection N. N. Nosik, N. G. Kondrashina, I. K. Lyalina, L. D. Rasnetzov Moscow (Russian Federation), Nizhny Novgorod (Russian Federation) 23.141Transient workers may be a sentinel population for detection of emerging infectious diseases C. S. Chelvi, I. Venkatachalam, R. Sridhar, N. Oon Tek, F. Kelly, P. Hishamuddin, P. L. Lim, P. A. Tambyah Singapore (Singapore) 23.142Epidemiology of MRSA in cats in Wroclaw city— Cross sectional study K. Bierowiec, K. Płoneczka-Janeczko, K. Rypuła Wroclaw (Poland) November 2, 2014 23.115Response to Cryptosporidium waterborne outbreaks in the United States and the United Kingdom: Lessons learned from a comparative analysis M. J. Varco, J. Varco Washington, DC (USA) 23.120Free living amoebae: Morphological and molecular identification in hospital water circuit T. Houaida, D. Faten, S. Hayet, N. Sourour, F. Cheikhrouhou, G. Raida, J. Faiçal, F. Makni, H. Jamile, A. Ayadi Sfax (Tunisia) International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • 23.114Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 virulence genes in isolates from beef, pork, water, human and animal species in the North West province, South Africa: Public health implications C. N. Ateba, M. Mbewe Mmabatho (South Africa), Polokwane (South Africa) 23.119Molecular identification, morphometrics and geographical distribution of the sibling species Anisakis simplex s. s., Anisakis pegreffii (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in commonly consumed fish in Spain X. Roca, E. Borràs, R. Fisa, I. Montoliu Barcelona (Spain) SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 23.113Genomic identification of Anisakis simplex larvae by PCR-RAPD F. Kojima, S. Fujimoto Fukuoka (Japan) 23.118Thinking beyond Opisthorchis viverrini infection for risk of cholangiocarcinoma in the lower Mekong basin J. A. Steele, C. Richter, P. Saenna, V. Stout, P. Echaubard, B. A. Wilcox North Grafton, MA (USA), Kunming (China), Khon Kaen (Thailand), Sudbury, ON (Canada), Bangkok (Thailand) Poster Presentations II 23.143Group A streptococcal prosthetic joint infection—A thanskgiving offering: A rare manifestation of a classical pathogen L. Lutwick, D. Garg Kalamazoo, MI (USA) 23.144Th17 cell response is active during Sporothrix schenckii infection L. S. Ferreira, A. C. Gonçalves, D. C. G. Maia, M. C. Polesi, I. Z. Carlos Araraquara, (Brazil) 35 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II 23.145Novel Enterovirus 71 (EV71) strains passaged in murine NIH/3T3 cell successfully infect cultured rodent cells C. B. L. Victorio, Y. Xu, Q. Ng, K. B. Chua, V. T. Chow Singapore (Singapore) 23.153The KEMRI/USAMRU-Kenya laboratory’s acute febrille illness surveillance program: The need to quantify the role of brucellosis and other pathogens in febrile illnesses S. L. Konongoi, R. Coldren, V. O. Ofula, F. Eyase, R. Sang Nairobi (Kenya), Kisumu (Kenya) 23.160Chikungunya: Emergence of a debilitating virus in Sint Maarten S. Seng, B. G. Elliott, N. B. Esch, E. S. Fernandez, B. Finkel, V. Asin-Oostburg, K. ShupeRicksecker Cupecoy, St Maarten (Netherlands), Philipsburg, St Maarten (Netherlands) 23.154Epidemiological and laboratory aspects of advanced HIV-infection in the Chechen Republic A. Agoshkov, N. Pshenichnaya, H. Aidamirova, T. Shevchenko Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation), Grozny (Russian Federation) 23.161Two cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome with contrasting outcomes J. S. Park, C.-J. Kim, T. S. Kim, K. U. Park, H.-B. Kim, J. Song, E.-C. Kim Seongnam-si, KK (Republic of Korea), Seongnam-si (Republic of Korea), Seoul (Republic of Korea) 23.148Infants born to HBV-infected mothers—Are they fully protected after active-passive vaccination? R. Komitova, M. Nesherova, M. Atanasova Plovdiv (Bulgaria) 23.149Incidence of bacterial etiologies of acute diarrhea among refugees in Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, 2011–2013 M. O. Ope, A. Unshur, F. Oyier, S. A. Mowlid, S. B. Ochieng, B. Owino, C. I. Okello, R. Nyoka, N. Marano Nairobi (Kenya), Dadaab (Kenya) 23.152Revisiting the burden of typhoid fever in low and middle income countries for policy considerations V. Mogasale Seoul (Republic of Korea) 36 IMED 2014 23.157Moelcular and clinical surveillance of rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in northern Italy (2007–2013) L. Pellegrinelli, S. Binda, V. Primache, L. Bubba, E. Pariani, A. Amendola, R. Delogu, G. Ianiro, F. M. Ruggeri, L. Fiore Milan (Italy), Rome (Italy) 23.158Intestinal infectious diseases among febrile hospitalized patients in Armenia—A retrospective chart review E. Zardaryan, L. Paronyan, Z. Gevorgyan, V. Asoyan, H. Apresyan, A. Hovhannisyan, T. Kuchuloria, R. Rivard, C. Bautista Yerevan (Armenia), Tblisi (Georgia), Frederick, MD (USA), Silver Spring, MD (USA) 23.159A retrospective chart review study to describe the most common causes of febrile illnesses in hospitalized patients in Armenia L. Paronyan, E. Zardaryan, Z. Gevorgyan, V. Asoyan, H. Apresyan, A. Hovhannisyan, T. Kuchuloria, C. Bautista, R. Rivard Yerevan (Armenia), Tblisi (Georgia), Silver Spring, MD (USA), Frederick, MD (USA) 23.163The influence of consistency of not using shared syringe to the risk HIV infection in the population of injection drug users (IDU’s) in Jakarta in 2013 D. O. T. L. Handayani, I. Inggariwati, S. Ginting Jakarta (Indonesia) 23.164Physician knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding Chagas disease in U.S. areas of high prevalence of T. cruzipositive serology in blood donors K. Doktor, S. Doblecki- Lewis, A. Chang, K. Snow, P. Lichtenberger Miami, FL (USA) 23.165Improvement in measles control in Oyo State, South West Nigeria, between 2008 and 2012 A. O. Gbolahan, W. L. Abass, M. Gbadegesin, P. B. Adewuyi Ibadan (Nigeria), Abuja (Nigeria) 23.166Epidemiology, serotyping and identification of universal vaccine candidates against Group A Streptococcus of Indian origin by using in silico and proteomics approaches A. K. Johri, M. Dua New Delhi (India) 23.167Skin, lymph nodes and bones—What’s the disease? R. M. Silva, M. C. M. P. P. Ferreira, R. Gonçalves, J. Vicente, D. Aguiar, L. Martins, A. Ferreira Coimbra (Portugal), Porto (Portugal), Macedo de Cavaleiros (Portugal), Lisbon (Portugal), Cumura (Guinea-Bissau) 23.170Reverse vaccinology for vaccine development against Group B Streptococcus which causes high mortality in neonates M. Dua, A. K. Johri New Delhi (India) 23.171Serological detection of dengue fever re-emergence in Kenya: 2011–2014 S. L. Konongoi, R. Coldren, V. O. Ofula, S. Owaka, F. Eyase, R. Sang Nairobi (Kenya), Kisumu (Kenya) 23.172Sirt1-mediated synthesis of triglyceride by HCV core protein in HepG2 cells J. Wang, J. Cheng Beijing (China) 23.173First identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Seychelles J. T. Bibi, J. Gedeon, A. Ibrahim, J. Rossouw, A. von Gottberg, A. Bermingham Victoria (Seychelles), Mahe (Seychelles), Sandringham (South Africa), Johannesburg (South Africa), London (United Kingdom) 23.174Circulating rotavirus in hospitalized pediatric patients, with the predominance of G1P[8] DS-1-like human rotavirus in Manado, Indonesia A. F. C. Kalesaran, A. Thongprachum, D. H. C. Pangemanan, S. Takanashi, S. Okitsu, S. Hayakawa, S. M. Warouw, M. Mizuguchi, H. Ushijima Tokyo (Japan), Manado (Indonesia) November 2, 2014 23.151Assessing communicable disease situation using routine health information systems: A case of Pakistan S. M. Mursalin, S. Z. Zareen Islamabad (Pakistan), Lahore (Pakistan) 23.156Evaluation for effectiveness of rabies control project 2009–2013: A case study of Mtwara Region, Tanzania E. P. Matoja, E. Mbunda, N. J. M. Malamsha, S. Kimera, H. M. Msami Mtwara (Tanzania), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Morogoro (Tanzania) 23.162Molecular/epidemiological trends of the norovirus GII.4 variant New Orleans 2009 in Italy 2009/2013 M. C. Medici, G. M. Giammanco, F. Tummolo, S. De Grazia, F. Bonura, F. De Conto, M. C. Arcangeletti, K. Bányai, V. Martella, A. Calderaro Parma (Italy), Palermo (Italy), Budapest (Hungary), Bari (Italy) 23.169Prevelance of Cryptosporidium and giardia infection on HIV patient in Nepal G. R. Pant, V. Pant, N. Pant, B. Khatiwada, B. P. Bhattarai, R. K. Dangol Kathmandu (Nepal), Kanchanpur (Nepal), Makwanpur (Nepal), Lalitpur (Nepal) • 23.150Etiologies of undifferentiated febrile illness across Kenya: Lots of malaria, salmonella and zoonosis N. K. Nyakoe, M. Maraka, B. K. Mutai, I. M. Bashir, G. Awinda, J. Nyataya, C. Masakhwe, R. Coldren, J. Waitumbi Kisumu (Kenya) 23.155Bartonella spp. bacteremia in blood donors from Campinas, Brazil L. H. U. Pitassi, P. P. V. D. P. Diniz, D. G. Scorpio, M. R. Drummond, M. L. Barjas-Castro, G. Vieira-Damiani, S. Sowy, E. Breitschwerdt, W. Nicholson, P. E. N. F. Velho Sao Paulo (Brazil), Pomona, CA (USA), Baltimore, MD (USA), Campinas (Brazil), Raleigh, NC (USA), Atlanta, GA (USA) 23.168National measles surveillance data analysis, 2005−2009, Ethiopia B. Beyene, G. Gebrelibanose, D. Jima, R. LUCe Bahir Dar (Ethiopia), Mekelle (Ethiopia), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Atlanata, GE (USA) SUNDAY November 2, 2014 SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 23.147Characterisation and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nasal swabs from patients and healthcare workers at a tertiary non-academic hospital in Nigeria A. O. Adelowotan, M. M. Kock, M. M. Ehlers Pretoria, Gauteng (South Africa) • Poster Presentations II International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.146Amino acid substitution 51N->51I in the protein relE (Rv1246c) correlated with drug resistance distribution and phylogenetic divergence into two groups among 110 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype Ural by genome-sequencing V. Sinkov, O. Ogarkov, S. Zdanova, S. Heysell Irkutsk (Russian Federation), Charlottesville, VA (USA) SUNDAY SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 23.175Livestock as potential reservoirs of pathogenic leptospira in the periphery of the city of São Paulo, Brazil A. L. Arruda, L. H. Okuda, J. Ferreira, V. Castro, S. Papini, E. Masi, A. E. C. Campos Sao Paulo (Brazil) 23.176Two years’ experience of Toscana virus central nervous system infections in a single center in North-East Italy (2012–2013) A. Mastroianni, S. Varani, M. P. Landini, C. Cancellieri, V. Sambri, A. Pierro, S. Di Cesare, G. Rossini, E. Briganti, F. Allegrini Forlì, (Italy), Bologna, (Italy), Bologna, (Italy) 37 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.177Sero prevalence and associated risk factors of brucellosis in cattle in Pyawbwe Township, middle part of Myanmar T. T. Myaing, M. Y. Win, S. S. Wai, S. Bawn, K. K. Moe, W. Y. Maung, L. L. Htun Yangon (Myanmar), Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) 23.178Geotagging hepatitis A virus: A dynamic tool for public health surveillance R. De Sousa, H. Vennema, L. Verhoef, J. Sane, A. Kroneman, M. Koopmans Bilthoven (Netherlands), Rotterdam (Netherlands) 23.179Surveillance of latent tuberculosis infection among non-HIV immunocompromised patients at a Brazilian reference hospital P. Paulin, M. T. Garcia, G. D. J. Camargo, A. T. Ferreira, R. N. Angerami, V. M. Sinkoc, R. S. B. Stucchi, M. L. Moretti, M. R. Resende Campinas (Brazil) 23.180About diagnostic importance of ELISA method at herpetic infections in HIV infected patients F. Saipov Tashkent (Uzbekistan) SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 23.181Vertebral osteomyelitis and paraspinal abscess among patients with brucellosis B. Sharifi-Mood, M. Metanat, M. R. Sharifi, S. M. Hashemi-Shahri Zahedan (Iran), Zahedan (Iran) 38 IMED 2014 Outbreak Modeling 23.182Estimating the protective effect of case isolation: A case study of smallpox H. Nishiura, K. Ejima Tokyo (Japan) 23.183Shifts in the force of dengue infection in Curacao M. Limper, K. Thai, I. Gerstenbluth, A. Duits, E. van Gorp Rotterdam (Netherlands), Curacao (Netherlands) 23.184The advantages and disadvantages of using mathematical modeling to develop strategies for the control of livestock disease epidemics T. J. Chiwome Kwamhlanga (South Africa) 23.185Molecular spatiotemporal sequence analysis reveals multiple introductions of the 2009 Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic virus into Africa F. N. Nindo, G. W. Harkins, D. P. Martin Cape Town (South Africa) 23.186Simulation of African swine fever prevalence in the population of wild boars S. Nychyk, M. Sytiuk, I. Halka, N. Hudz, M. Peknii, V. Ukhovskii Kiev (Ukraine) New Pathogen Discovery 23.187Emerging phaeohyphomycoses among immunocompromised patients: Westerdykella dispersa as a cause of angioinvasive infection in a neutropenic pediatric cancer patient P. K. Sue, G. Gurda, S. Zhang Baltmiore, MD (USA) A bstracts International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Friday, October 31, 2014 Session 01: MERS-CoV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Session 02: In the Hot Zone: Ebola and MERS-CoV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Session 03: 2014 West African Ebola Virus Outbreak Response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Session 04: West Nile Fever in the European Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Session 05: Rapid Diagnostics for Emerging Infectious Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Session 06: Oral Presentations: Surveillance and Modeling of EID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Session 07: Global Spread of Antibiotic Resistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Session 08: Pathogen and Host Diversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Session 09: Ethics and Disease Surveillance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Session 10: ProMED 20th Anniversary Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (no abstracts) Session 11: Oral Presentations: Hot Topics in EID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Sunday, November 2, 2014 Session 12: FAO of the UN: Tools for Animal Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Session 13: Health Care Associated Emerging Infections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Session 14: Launching of the New OIE Global Wildlife Disease Reporting System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Session 15: Emerging Viral Threats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Session 16: Things are Heating Up: EID and Climate Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Session 17: Pastoralism, Rural Communities and the Human Animal Health Interface . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Session 18: Oral Presentations: High-Consequence Viral Pathogens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Monday, November 3, 2014 Session 19: One Health: From Research to Public Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Session 20: Oral Presentations: Emerging Respiratory Viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Session 21: Changing Disease Landscapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Session 22: Poster Presentations I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Diseases of Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Infections Related to Travel and Migration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Innovations in Diagnostic Tests for Emerging Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 New Approaches to Outbreak Surveillance and Monitoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 New Pathogen Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Outbreak Response and Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Public Communication of Outbreaks and Emerging Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Sociopolitical Factors in Disease Emergence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Vaccines and Emergence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Vectorborne Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Sunday, November 2, 2014 Session 23: Poster Presentations I I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Antimicrobial Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Bioterrorism and Biological Warfare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Climate Change and Ecological Factors in Disease Emergence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Diseases at the Interface of Humans, Wildlife and Other Animals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Diseases of Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Ethical Issues in Emerging Diseases and Disease Surveillance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Infections of Public Health Significance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Outbreak Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 New Pathogen Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 39 IMED 2014 A bstracts FRIDAY • October 31, 2014 • FRIDAY Keynote Plenary Lecture: MERS-CoV In the Hot Zone: Ebola and MERS-CoV Friday, October 31, 2014 Room: Park Congress 14:00–15:00 Friday, October 31, 2014 Room: Park Congress 15:00–16:30 01.001 MERS-CoV 02.001 Why did the camel kiss the bat? The ecology Z. Memish Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection in 2012 had resulted in an increased concern of the spread of the infection globally. The total global cases as of 30 September 2014 were 886 laboratory-confirmed cases officially reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), including 352 (39.9%) deaths. Known cases have been directly or indirectly linked to countries in the Arabian peninsula. The epidemiologic features of MERS remain poorly defined. Studies that have modeled the reproductive rate of MERS-CoV in humans have been based on notified, clinically apparent cases and auxiliary measurements, such as the viral evolutionary rate. However, these studies have emphasized the need to reevaluate estimates of reproductive rates through laboratory-based investigations of the actual rate of transmission, including silent and subclinical infections. Any unnoticed transmission of the virus in the population could explain why newly identified index cases often cannot be linked to zoonotic exposure. However, to date, the lack of approved serologic tools has hindered in-depth investigation of rates of secondary transmission. Humans can become infected within their communities and transmission can then be amplified in the healthcare setting. MERS-CoV infection had caused multiple healthcare associated outbreaks and resulted in the transmission within families. Contact investigation among cases shows a variable amount of spread among family members, hospitalized patients and healthcare workers. The rate of secondary transmission among household contacts of patients with MERS-CoV infection has been proven to be extremely low at a rate of approximately 5%, while the magnitude of transmission in Healthcare setting is difficult to estimate and is dependent on compliance with recommended infection control measures. So far, circulating virus strains remain similar under continuous monitoring, with no genetic changes. Community onset MERS-CoV cases continue to occur. Dromedary camels are currently the most likely linked animal to human MERS-CoV cases. Serologic tests showed significant infection in juvenile camel compared to adult camels. The prospect for the control of MERS-CoV infection relies on prompt identification of cases within healthcare facilities with the institution of the appropriate infection control measures. In addition, pointing the exact route of transmission from camels to humans would further add to the control measures of MERS-CoV infection. 40 IMED 2014 and animal origins of MERS-CoV K. Olival EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA The purpose was to review the current state of knowledge regarding the animal reservoirs, origins, and ecology of MERS-CoV. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging zoonotic disease with a high case fatality rate. We review the current state of knowledge and peer-reviewed literature regarding MERS-CoV and its animal reservoirs, and present data from field investigations, phylogenetic analyses, and camel trade. In October 2012, we identified a fragment of nucleic acid identical to MERS-CoV was detected in an Egyptian tomb bat (Taphozous perforatus) collected near the human index case in Southwestern Saudi Arabia, and MERS-related CoVs have been found globally from an array of bat species. Subsequently, MERS-CoV has been detected via serology, PCR, and virus isolation in camels over a large geographic range across the Middle East and Africa. Epidemiological and experimental studies have substantiated the link between human and camel transmission, but salient questions about the origins, geographic extent, and animal transmission of MERS-CoV remain. There remain significant gaps in understanding the linkages of MERS-CoV infections in bats, camels, and humans. An integrated ‘One Health’ framework to address these gaps and develop interventions to prevent current and future spillover of MERS-CoV is needed. 02.002 Laboratory preparedness for Ebola and MERS-CoV M. Koopmans Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands The initial response to emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks typically involves research laboratories with expertise in the specific pathogen, as routine diagnostic laboratories generally lack the expertise to diagnose unusual pathogens. Routine patient care and diagnostics target the most common diseases, and pressures on healthcare costs limit the ability for broader evaluation of a patient. Nevertheless, the most likely scenario is that routine settings are the first to be exposed to patients with a novel infectious disease, as the initial clinical presentation of most EID outbreaks is non-specific. In addition, as soon as an outbreak expands, scaling up of response requires input from and deployment of routine clinical laboratories, whereas more in depth research can help provide basic understanding on sources of introduction, modes of transmission, and level of control of an outbreak. Therefore, optimal response to an EID outbreak requires planning for these different tiers of the laboratory network, bearing in mind the need for information and data sharing provisions, and sufficient understanding of strengths, weaknesses, and robustness of conclusions based on laboratory work as well as clinical and epidemiological work. Based on review of past outbreaks, we prepared a standardized preparedness checklist, addressing the essential information that laboratory scientists can bring to outbreak investigation teams, as well as critical information needed for interpretation of laboratory results in support of outbreak investigations. As an EID event by default means working with unknowns, understanding data gaps and how those influence possible decisions on intervention are a crucial aspect of EID preparedness. Essential steps in laboratory preparedness will be discussed, using the recent MERS CoV and Ebola outbreak as examples. 02.003 From the frontline of the Ebola crisis H. de Clerck Médecins Sans Frontières, Jette, Belgium no abstract submitted by presenter Session 03 (Plenary) Challenges and Controversies in the 2014 West African Ebola Virus Outbreak Response Friday, October 31, 2014 Room: Park Congress 16:30–18:00 03.001 Challenges and controversies in the 2014 West African Ebola virus outbreak response October 31, 2014 Session 02 (Plenary) International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Session 01 (Plenary) FRIDAY • October 31, 2014 FRIDAY October 31, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 A bstracts A. Duse NHLS & University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Zoonotic infections are those that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Approximately two-thirds of human infections are zoonoses and caused by microorganisms as diverse as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Many of the pathogens causing zoonoses are considered to be either emerging or novel agents. Health of humans is inextricably linked to the health of animals and the environment. More broadly, the environment not only encompasses physical, geographical, climatic, ecological, agricultural and veterinary dimensions, but also the social, cultural, political and religious factors that influence those human behaviors that shape it. Addressing the connections between health and the environment requires an urgent expansion of interdisciplinary collaborations and strong political and global will.Viral hemorrhagic fever agents pose serious challenges to human health due to the fact that: (i) Filovirus outbreaks are largely created by man and driven by human behavior, (ii) there is significant nosocomial (hospital) amplification of disease, (iii) there is an associated high morbidity and mortality, (iv) case management is difficult and, as yet, there are no commercially available vaccines and therapeutic agents, (v) prevention of infections is fraught with difficulties, and (vi) infection prevention and control strategies can be frustratingly unsuccessful. The viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) of Africa provide an ideal illustration of the interconnected nature of man, microbe and the environment. This presentation will focus on the complexity of the current 2014 West African Ebola outbreak in which there has been multi-country involvement (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) and is deemed to the largest Ebola outbreak ever described. Challenges and controversies related to VHF outbreak responses, infection prevention control decisions and social mobilization will be contextualized and highlighted. Also discussed are the challenges faced, and posed. by expatriate workforces in the West African sub-region. 41 IMED 2014 A bstracts SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 04 (Invited Presentations) West Nile Fever in the European Union: Challenges for Integrated Surveillance and Control Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Park Congress 08:30–09:30 Break-out Session 04.001 Status of West Nile Fever surveillance in humans in the European Union animals in the European Union A. Gervelmeyer European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy In the European Union (EU), clinical signs of West Nile fever (WNF) in infected animals are mostly seen in horses (< 10% show neurological disorders). European birds infected with West Nile virus seldom show clinical symptoms and mortality is rare. At EU level, WNF as a cause of equine encephalomyelitis is notifiable in horses since January 2013, based on Council Directive 82/894/EEC, although this obligation was in force in several EU countries before. 42 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY Experience of Italy P. Calistri Istituto Zooprofilattico sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, Teramo, Italy The epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) is influenced by multiple ecological factors and, therefore, integrated and comprehensive surveillance systems are needed for early detecting the infection and activating consequent control actions. In Italy since 2001 a national veterinary surveillance plan (VS) is in place to identify the geographical areas at risk for re-introduction of the WNV infection. This surveillance plan is coordinated by the National Reference Centre for the study of Exotic Animal Diseases (CESME). It is based on entomological monitoring and periodical serological testing of birds and equines for WNV. Following the first human cases detected in 2008, a human surveillance plan (HS) for the West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) was put in place and is coordinated by the Italian National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (CNESPS-ISS). During the vector activity period (15 June–30 Nov) a data exchange protocol is in place between VS and HS to jointly define and update the map of the affected areas (provinces) on the basis of the WNV testing in both VS and HS. Veterinary and human surveillances are, therefore, linked each other and work as a chain reaction. Together with the animal and entomological monitoring, the surveillance of WNND human cases allows to detect the virus circulation in a given geographical area and to obtain an estimation of its magnitude through the systematic detection of emerging clinical cases. The data collected within the integrated human and veterinary information systems support the application of control measures for blood transfusions and organ donations, preventing the transmission of the disease among human population, thus allowing the evaluation of planned actions and, if needed, their improvement or revision. In conclusion, the Italian experience represents a good example of collaboration among different sectors of public health (human, veterinary, entomologists and blood and organ donation authorities) in a “one health” perspective. In case of zoonoses, such as WND, this approach is of paramount importance for a better and holistic understanding of the prevention of the diseases and the maintenance of both human and animal health. Session 05 (Invited Presentations) Session 06 (Oral Presentations) Rapid Diagnostics for Emerging Infectious Threats Surveillance and Modeling of Emerging Infectious Diseases Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Park Congress 09:30–10:30 Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 08:30–10:30 Break-out Session 05.001 Rapid diagnosis of MDR gram-negatives G. Cornaglia University of Verona, Verona, Italy no abstract submitted by presenter 05.002 Rapid diagnosis of invasive mycosis C. Lass-Flörl Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are increasingly recognized and are a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Fungal diseases are mostly opportunistic infections with a great variety of common and uncommon pathogens. Laboratory methods for diagnosing IFI include microscopy, culture, serology and histopathology. Conventional microbiologic and histological methods serve as the cornerstone for the definitive diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. Direct microscopic examination of clinical specimens is a first-line procedure in detecting fungal elements and is rapid, useful, and cost-effective. Cultures yield the specific aetiological agent and allow for susceptibility testing. All fungi obtained from sterile sites should be identified to species level. Non-invasive diagnostic tests for IFI include detection of antibodies, cell wall components and fungusspecific nucleic acids. The tests provide supplemental information for the diagnosis of IFI. Most serological tests designed to detect specific serum antibodies are ineffective as immunocompromised patients’ lack of a specific antibody response to infection. Detection of fungal cell wall and cytoplasmic antigens in serum or other body fluids represent the most direct means of providing a serologic diagnosis. Of great importance are the galactomannan (GM) immunoassay for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis and the (13)-ß-D-glucan (BG) assay for the diagnosis of infections caused by Aspergillus and Candida species or others. Overall, the galactomannan test seems to be a highly specific diagnostic tool (94% to 99%), even though sensitivity has ranged from 50% to 93% in patients with haematologic malignancy. Detection of galactomannan in BAL fluid provides better evidence for aspergillosis than culture. BG is detectable in patients’ serum during infection with Candida and Aspergillus species, Fusarium, Trichosporon, Saccharomyces, and Acremonium. The absence of a positive test result had a 100% negative predictive value, and the specificity of the test was 90% for a single positive test result. Specificity increased to 96% when 2 sequential positive results were required for a “truepositive” test result. PCR has been studied in detail for candidemia and invasive aspergillosis and clinical specimens include serum or whole blood, and respiratory samples. DNA and RNA-based methods hold promise for improved sensitivity and specificity, but these methods will require extensive validation in clinical studies. Break-out Session 06.001 Making detection and response to all events threatening human health faster: Guidance for early warning and response with focus on event-based surveillance P. Nabeth, J. Guerra, Y. Bayugo, P. Barboza World Health Organization, Lyons, France Purpose: The revised International Health Regulations (IHR[2005]) highlight the need for countries to reinforce surveillance and response systems that aim to rapidly detect and respond to public health events. Early warning and response (EWAR) is the organized mechanism to detect as early as possible any public health event requiring rapid investigation and response. As very limited guidance on implementation and management of EWAR exists, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed some guidance. Methods & Materials: In 2013–2014, under WHO coordination, three international and two regional consultations were held, a working group was constituted, and a guidance document entitled «Early detection, assessment and response to acute public health events: Implementation of EWAR including EBS» was developed. Results: The main channel that is usually used by EWAR is Indicator based surveillance (IBS): this is the routine surveillance system process to collect regular data mainly from healthcare structures. However, EWAR cannot be based solely on information provided by the health system, and the usual IBS needs to be complemented with ad hoc information on health events or risks which may represent a potential acute risk to human health. The organized collection, monitoring, assessment and interpretation of this mainly unstructured information is called « Event-Based Surveillance» (EBS). The process used by EWAR to detect public health events is referred to as Epidemic Intelligence. It is made up of different steps: detection, triage, verification, and risk assessment. For EBS, as the information can be provided by very diverse sources, detection should rely on mechanisms to be defined according to a country’s specificities; triage which consists of sorting data and information into the categories “likely to be relevant” or “not likely to be relevant” for EWAR, is crucial to limit the unnecessary verification and investigation of irrelevant signals. The verification and risk assessment steps are similar whether for EBS or IBS. Conclusion: Implementation of EWAR requires several resources. As the IHR(2005) prompt Member States to adopt an all hazard approach, multisectoral partnership (sharing with other sectors than human health) and political commitment are of upmost importance. November 1, 2014 04.002 Status of West Nile fever surveillance in 04.003 Integrated West Nile Fever surveillance: International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • After the West Nile fever outbreak in Romania in 1996, rapid expansion of the disease in the USA from 1999 and evidence of transmission through blood donations and organ transplantation in 2003, interest for the disease increased in the European countries. A series of EU regulations for Blood safety and surveillance, were published. Following the 2010 outbreak in Greece, the European Member States identified an urgent need to timely monitor this disease in the region. In 2011, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control started to develop the “West Nile fever maps tool” in order to provide European countries with timely updates of the spatial distribution of human cases in Europe. The tool covers 65 countries at a high spatial resolution level (NUTS3 or GAUL1). From 2011 to 2013, data were actively collected through an event-based surveillance web-system, screening of official national web sources and contacts with international networks and national official authorities. After data validation, static maps, table and synthesis were published on ECDC website on a weekly basis during the transmission season (June-November). In 2014, a real time reporting system was implemented so that all Member States can report West Nile fever cases directly into TESSy, the European Surveillance System for human notifiable diseases. Connection of this database with a West Nile specific atlas is currently under development. It will allow the publication of interactive maps and tables on ECDC website for the 2015 transmission season and onwards. The previous system based on active data collection will be still maintained to collect data from non-EU countries and will also be connected to interactive outputs. Since 2011, available information about cases or infection in non-human hosts and vectors has been provided in the weekly synthesis. This information is already used by some countries to raise awareness in areas without human case reports and to adapt surveillance activities. A systematic report of cases or infection in animals or vectors through an effective surveillance system would allow collecting and sharing at the EU level reliable data that would support surveillance and response activities for both human and animal health. It would also be an excellent example of the “One Health” approach that could be used for other diseases. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 L. Marrama Rakotoarivony European Centre for Disease Pervention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden In 2013, five countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Spain, reported 80 outbreaks of WNF in horses to the European Commission. Apart from reporting outbreaks of equine WNF encephalomyelitis under Council Directive 82/894/EEC, European Member States (MS) can report animal cases of WNF to the European Commission under Directive 2003/99/EC on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents. The Directive foresees that in addition to a number of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, for which monitoring is mandatory, others shall be monitored if warranted by the epidemiological situation. In 2012 MS agreed to start reporting WNF at EU level. In the first year of reporting, 13 countries reported data on animal cases of WNF. While not all MS have a WNF monitoring system in place, some, like Italy and Greece, have been operating systems involving active, passive and/or sentinel surveillance for several years. Most of the data reported in 2012 were from domestic solipeds (horses and donkeys) and birds, but data from other animal species, such as cattle and farmed deer were also included. Of the 11 MS reporting data on solipeds, only two, Germany and Poland, did not have positive findings. However, no data on the vaccination status of the tested animals has been provided. Four MS provided data on testing of birds, of which two, Belgium and Germany, did not find positive animals. Currently, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority strive to strengthen the collaboration between animal and human health sectors on WNF, to establish more integrated surveillance of West Nile fever that would improve the preparedness and response to WNF outbreaks in Europe. A bstracts 05.003 Mobilization of samples and biocontainment laboratories for the diagnosis of risk group 4 agents in outbreak response G. Ippolito National Institute fro Infectious Diseases “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy no abstract submitted by presenter 43 IMED 2014 A bstracts SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 06.002 The world’s first application of participatory surveillance at a mass gathering: FIFA World Cup 2014, Brazil during the 2014 FIFA World Cup— Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil X. Marincic1, R. Chitale2, A. Marty3, R. De Santis4, Y. Aga5, A. Chieppe6 1 University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA, 2Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA, 3Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA, 4Secretaria de Estado de Saude, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 5Erasmus MC University, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 6 Secretariat of State of Health of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Purpose: The Superintendencia de Vigilancia Epidemiologica e Ambiental (SVEA) is part of the Secretaria de Estado de Saude do Rio de Janeiro. Its mission is to plan, coordinate, assess, and support epidemiological and environmental surveillance activities in the State of Rio de Janeiro. It also provides technical support to health professionals in controlling illness and reporting health events, it therefore has a major role in health surveillance during a ‘Mass Gathering’ such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup. We provide a report of health surveillance data gathered during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Methods & Materials: For this Mass Gathering, data collection started one week before and will end one week after the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Data was sent daily to Centro de Informações Estratégicas 44 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY em Vigilância em Saúde (CIEVS) and Centro Integrado de Operações Conjuntas da Saúde (CIOCS) from local hospitals, Unidades de Pronto Atendimento (UPA), Maracana Stadium medical points, and the FIFA Fan Fest medical center. These data will be analyzed and events of public health significance will be summarized. Results: A total of 27 significant public health events were reported and assessed. Of the 27 events, 24 cases were in attendees as follow: 3 confirmed cases (1 suspected) of imported malaria; 9 cases related to violence;5 cases with suspected rabies exposure from animal bites; 3 cases potentially exposed to syphilis; 2 suspected dengue cases; 1 suspected typhoid fever case; and 1 person at risk of biological hazard from a needle stick. Among non-attendees, there were 3 confirmed cases of imported chikungunya. Conclusion: In contrast to what was expected by national and international authorities, communicable diseases did not have a major public health impact in the State of Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The surveillance system in place before the event coupled with international awareness and preparation of travelers before coming to Brazil likely played an important role. These results reflect the complete data collected during the approximately six week period that included the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 06.004 Estimating illness incidence and investigating outbreaks using a multi-purpose populationbased reporting cohort in Sweden, 2013–2014 H. Merk , M. Edelstein , A. Wallensten 1 Public Health Agency of Sweden and Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden, 2Public Health Agency of Sweden and European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC), Solna, Sweden, 3Public Health Agency of Sweden and Uppsala University, Solna, Sweden 1 2 3 Purpose: Healthcare-based surveillance often does not allow estimation of population incidence of illness, and response rate among controls during outbreaks is generally low. Therefore in 2013, to improve surveillance and preparedness, we set up a national cohort in Sweden that reports online. The cohort enables population-based active surveillance of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) and expedient control recruitment in outbreak investigations. We describe our multi-purpose cohort and report initial findings from the ongoing 2013/2014 pilot study. Methods & Materials: We selected individuals from the national population register, using stratified random sampling, and invited them by post to join the cohort by registering on the study website. For surveillance purposes, participants receive a weekly e-mail encouraging them to report online their health status for the previous week, including any symptoms if ill. AGI and ARI reports are used to calculate incidence. Participants reporting symptoms receive a follow-up questionnaire 3 weeks later. As part of a national listeria outbreak investigation we also selected participants from the cohort as controls based on age and sex. Results: Of 34,842 invitees, 3,245 (9.3%) joined the cohort, of which 1,720 (53%) were female and 1,451 (45%) were children under 5. On average 84.1% of participants submit a weekly report (range 11862850 reports). Between November 2013–June 2014, age-calibrated incidences were 5/100 person-weeks for ARI and 0.9/100 personweeks for AGI. The weekly average response rate to the follow-up questionnaire was 89.8%. Of 186 cohort participants invited as controls, 108 (58%) responded within 12 days of the e-mailed questionnaire. Conclusion: We successfully recruited a population-based cohort to report symptoms online on a weekly basis and enable rapid recruitment of controls for outbreak investigations. Although the recruitment response rate was low, the high weekly reporting rate combined with age-calibrated incidence estimates compatible with the published literature suggest a functional surveillance system. Furthermore, the response rate when recruiting controls was, in our experience, higher and timelier than usual. Hence such a cohort may facilitate investigation of outbreaks. Overall, a multi-purpose cohort can be a valuable instrument for surveillance and preparedness in countries with high internet usage and complete population registers. 06.005 Mapping of networks to detect priority zoonoses in Jordan E. Sorrell1, S. Kornblet1, N. Maswdeh2, M. El Azhari2, R. Katz1, J. Fischer1 1 George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA, 2Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan Background: Communication and coordination among national disease surveillance and response networks are vital in ensuring the timely response to a public health event. Although systematic information-sharing between the human and animal health sectors can assist with rapid detection and response to emerging infectious diseases, resource constraints and other barriers often prevent efficient crosssector reporting. Our study aim was to determine whether resources to develop one zoonotic disease network can be leveraged to build sustainable One Health laboratory and surveillance networks for priority zoonoses. Objective: In collaboration with the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in Jordan we mapped the existing laboratory and surveillance networks for detecting and reporting priority zoonotic diseases to identify the nodes of communication, coordination, and decision-making where health and veterinary sectors intersect, and to identify priorities and gaps that limit information-sharing for action. Methods & Materials: We selected three zoonotic diseases as case studies: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HAPI) H5N1, rabies, and brucellosis. Through meetings with government agencies and health officials, and desk research, we mapped each system from the index case through response—including both surveillance and laboratory networks, highlighting both areas of strength and those that would benefit from capacity-building resources. Results: Our major findings indicate a strong desire and commitment for multi-sectoral coordination in detection and response to zoonoses across public health and veterinary sectors. Past zoonotic events have shown that when political will and funding is available surveillance and laboratory diagnostics are accurate and effective. Our analysis indicates that for Jordan the HPAI networks are well developed, coordinated, and effective in event identification, diagnosis and response and suggests that current resources can be leveraged to expand national avian influenza plans to all priority zoonoses. Conclusion: Given the impact of zoonoses on public health this study demonstrates how the HAPI model and programming can (and should) be utilized for laboratory and surveillance One Health networks. 06.006 A University driven approach to engaging communities in control of infectious diseases at the human wildlife interface: Demonstration site survey in Kilosa district, Tanzania H. M. Amuguni1, R. Mdegela2, J. Killewo3, C. Rioux4 1 Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA, 2Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania, United Republic of, 3Muhimbili University of health and allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of, 4Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Purpose: In light of increasing global population, disease emergence and intensified encroachment on natural habitats, engaging communities in disease surveillance and emergency response activities is one way to ensure that they are involved in the planning, implementation and management of infectious diseases. In Africa through the One Health Central and Eastern Africa network (OHCEA), universities have developed local collaboration sites (One Health Demonstration Sites) as centers for engaging the communities, local first responders, students and faculty to jointly identify and solve complex health problems at the human-wildlife-livestock-interface. Methods & Materials: In Tanzania, a baseline survey was done in Kilosa district bordering Mikumi national park identified as a possible location for a demonstration site. A multidisciplinary team led by faculty and students from Sokoine and Muhimbili Universities in Tanzania and Tufts University surveyed key stakeholders, assessing health related activities, disease surveillance opportunities and practical interventions. A situational analysis was conducted and specific human health, animal health, ecosystem challenges and impacts were identified such as local human, livestock and wildlife diseases, habitat fragmentation, edge effect, and biodiversity loss. Focus group discussions were held with communities, local government and civil society officials. Results: The Kilosa site is a constellation of villages, landscapes, ethnic groups, domestic animals and wildlife. Together these entities form natural, social and political ecosystems that are especially suited for multidisciplinary collaboration, participatory research and joint interventions. Villages surround the national park, closely interacting with wild animals. Environmental issues such as flooding and internally displaced communities are present. Ongoing conflict among pastoralists, farmers and national parks administration present opportunities for community and government engagement, research and novel intervention systems. The region is strategically positioned in terms of cultural resources and vulnerable populations as well as endemic or threatened wildlife species. Rabies, Rift Valley fever, bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis and water borne zoonoses were identified by community members as priority diseases that could be used to develop locally led surveillance, disease control and prevention programs. Conclusion: The multifaceted issues identified presented opportunities for multidisciplinary investigation and intervention by community members, government and the universities and engagement of all stakeholders from the planning stages. 06.007 Community based disease surveillance using mobile technology and the Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteer network A. Kongelf, A. L. McClelland Internatoinal Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Petit Saconnex, Switzerland Purpose: In epidemic response operations community-based cases can go undocumented due to access barriers to facility based care, poor communication channels and limited endogenous response capacity. Developed nations continue to strengthen and improve electronic disease surveillance systems, however the parts of the world most vulnerable to life threatening outbreaks still lack essential public health infrastructure. Existing networks, are often inadequate during rapidly evolving infectious disease epidemics. Methods & Materials: In the cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone 2012, the Sierra Leone Red Cross established 370 Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) for community-based cholera first aid. The rehydration points were also valuable sources of information on the progress of the epidemic as they treated cases of cholera that did not attend the formal Ministry of Health clinics, and therefore were not counted in the exiting surveillance system. Data from 37 ORPs revealed that only 5 % of the cases were referred to formal clinics. Based on our experiences during the cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent undertook a literature review on the use of mobile technology in community based disease surveillance. We have developed a system of sms-based data collection, automated analysis, and report generation that enables stakeholders to easily collect, assimilate, and act on disease surveillance information in real-time. The key innovation is the linking of a large network of community based volunteers to software solutions such as MAGPI, allowing real time and remote analysis of data, and distribution of reports to support public health decisions. Results: Recent field implementation in Haiti and South Sudan has shown that the use of SMS data collectoin for disease survillance can contribute to operational response during outbreaks and endemic sceneriors and provides a signifcant prmiary data source for disease survillance. Conclusion: With its unique position with 17 million community based volunteers worldwide, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can support not only in the emergency phase but also in epidemic prone areas in support of their Ministries of Health if required, with valuable data that can ensure early identification of outbreaks, allowing rapid response and control measures. November 1, 2014 06.003 Communicable disease surveillance International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: The 2014 FIFA World Cup is an event that increased the risk of disease spread in Brazil. Participatory surveillance enhances the early detection of infectious diseases through direct notification by the population. Participatory surveillance was implemented at this mass gathering event to potentially detect clusters of illness. The objective was to detect possible changes in the epidemiological pattern of acute disease events in 12 Brazilian host cities during the mass gathering event of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Methods & Materials: A web-based and mobile application, “Healthy Cup”, was developed as an open sourced tool to allow the public to selfreport on 10 symptoms during the World Cup over the period between 12 May to 13 July, 2014. Scenarios are built on three syndromes, respiratory, rash (exanthema) and diarrheal, aiming to identify public health emergencies and their spatial distribution. The app uses gamefication and provides useful information to the user to encourage engagement. Results: The clinical-epidemiological characteristics of users and features related to the use of the system for the duration of the study will be presented. At the time of this abstract submission, the period from 16 May to 09 July 2014, we observed 9,418 downloads, 7,275 users registration, 4,672 active users and 44,029 reports on their health condition. Males were 52.7% of the participants; the median age was 30 (range 13–77 years old). Three hundred users were detected with respiratory syndrome, 162 with diarrheal syndrome and 87 with rash syndrome, but at no time, were clusters identified. Conclusion: The Healthy Cup was a pioneering use of participatory surveillance for mass gathering in Brazil. Confirming results from other digital disease detection systems along with intensified surveillance systems in use in Brazil, no clusters of illness were identified as serious health threats at the event. The participatory surveillance system showed potential for use in other mass gathering events and routine health services in the country. It is a promising tool for early detection of health events, complementing existing traditional surveillance sources. Engaging the public directly can strengthen the capacity to reduce the magnitude of outbreaks during mass gathering events. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 W. Oliveira1, G. S. Dimech2, O. B. L. N. Leal-Neto3, M. Libel4, M. Smolinski4 1 Secretariat of Surveillance in Health, Ministry of Health, Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, 2Ministry of Health Brazil, Brasilia, DF, Brazil, 3Epitrack, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 4Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA, USA A bstracts 45 IMED 2014 A bstracts SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 06.008 Local transmission networks of community and hospital associated pathogens system based on the monitoring of drug purchases in pharmacies: The OpenHealth.fr experience P. Guérin1, V. Auvigne2 Celtipharm, Vannes, France, 2Ekipaj, Angers, France 1 Background: Data on the purchase of medicines in pharmacies by patients are a source of information allowing the development ofrealtime “big data” syndromic surveillance systems. The proof of concept has been validated by numerous studies, but there are few examples of operational implementation. Objectives: Develop a syndromic surveillance system in operational real time, from field data collection to the publication of monitoring indicators, develop the pilot indicators, develop innovative approaches to spatio-temporal analysis and operate the system for at least six months. Methods & Materials: The field network consists of 4,600 pharmacies located throughout France (21 % of French pharmacies). They continuously transmit anonymous information on the sales of medicines to a secure data treatment centre. The information includes co-deliveries (multiple purchases by the same patient), the type of purchase (on prescription or over the counter) and the age of the patient 46 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY biosafety: a value of information model M. Convertino University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Purpose: The model here proposed is explicitly based on a multiobjective optimization in which the value of information of reporting nodes and the uncertainty related to outbreak source detection are maximized and minimized, respectively. In order to test the model independently of epidemiological, socio-environmental and biological features, we consider three well-known epidemics with different geographic range, pathogen features, and transmission routes. In this way we focus on macro-linkages between patterns and process on networks that allows to maximize detection via an optimally design surveillance. Methods & Materials: The integrated model used in this paper consists in the following main sequential steps: (1) Generation of potential surveillance networks within network topologies; (2) Model-based detection of onset/outbreak sources with uncertainty assigned to the reported outbreaks for all feasible surveillance networks from (1); the determination of outbreak sources is performed by minimizing the uncertainty in the effective distance estimations; and, (3) Determination of the most informative surveillance network by maximizing the VoI considering all combinations of feasible surveillance networks corresponding to potential reporting patterns. Results: The results of the study hold when surveillance works for any network topology. Here surveillance is seen as a function of the network to contrast the spreading of infectious diseases. The random surveillance design model, i.e. placing reporting nodes of outbreaks randomly along the transmission network produces errors in the distance from the real outbreak sources. The ability of the maxVoI model to detect outbreak sources with high accuracy and low surveillance nodes is related to determination of the most meaningful nodes (in terms of known information for describing outbreak patterns) via a portfolio model with Pareto optimization that explores all potential combinations of observers and corresponding outbreak information. Conclusion: The design of optimal surveillance networks allows to detect outbreak sources and paths correctly. Such detection is only possible if information about outbreak ‘’fingerprints’’, i.e reported outbreaks, is accurate and timely. We show that independently of system scale and resolution, biological and socio-environmental dynamics the ‘’unknowns’’ of epidemiological dynamics can be determined considering the same physics principles of reaction-diffusion processes and information theory. 06.011 Understanding the spatio-temporal risks for bluetongue outbreaks across south India using space-time Bayesian Poisson regression modelling M. M. Chanda1, D. J. Rogers1, S. Carpenter2, G. Prasad3, M. Gajendragad4, B. V. Purse5 1 University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2Pirbright Institute, Pirbirght, United Kingdom, 3ICAR, New Delhi, India, 4NIVEDI, Bangalore, India, 5CEH, Wallingford, United Kingdom Background: Bluetongue virus (BTV), is an economically important, midge-borne orbivus (family: Reoviridae)that causes disease in sheep and cattle. In south India, small holder farmers are affected by bluetongue disease (BT) annually but severity varies dramatically between years and farms. Temporal variability in numbers of outbreaks over two decades has been linked to monsoon conditions, with warm wet conditions in the preceding two months increasing outbreak numbers. The contribution of diverse livestock hosts, vectors and land use types found in south India to outbreak patterns is less well understood. Objective: The objective of this analysis was to understand how monsoon conditions interact with host and landscape factors to explain spatio-temporal patterns of outbreaks in districts in south India over over the last two decades and evaluate whether these relationships can provide robust forecasts for disease management Methods & Materials: The annual number of outbreaks in 61 districts (1992–2009) were related to land-cover, host availability (cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat densities) and lagged climate predictors (temperature and precipitation) using a Bayesian generalised linear mixed model with Poisson errors. Interacting structured and unstructured temporal and spatial random effects were used to account for spatial and temporal autocorrelation and models were selected based on Deviance information criteria. To evaluate out-of-fit predictive performance, the data was divided into training (12 years) and test data (6 years). Results: The best model combined climate, landover and host variables and unstructured spatial and temporal random effects and generate accurate predictions (r = 0.99 between observed and predicted outbreaks). Annual BT outbreaks increased when maximum temperatures were high on average in the preceding year. More BT outbreaks occurred in districts with (i) higher coverage of rainfed croplands, that may support suitable breeding sites for biting midge vectors and (ii) higher densities of goats and sheep—susceptible hosts for BT. Conclusion: Combining host, landscape and climate predictors in the same analytical framework vastly enhances our ability to predict spatio-temporal patterns in vector-borne diseases in endemic situations. District level yearly forecasts could form part of an early warning system for BT in India for planning of disease control measures. 06.012 Rift Valley fever risk mapping and modelling in Tanzania C. Sindato1, E. D. Karimuribo1, J. Paweska2, L. E. Mboera3, K. B. Stevens4, G. Dautu5, F. Kivaria6, D. U. Pfeiffer4 1 Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania, United Republic of, 2National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Labolatory Service, Snadringham-Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 3National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of, 4Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom, 5University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia, 6 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of Methods & Materials: A retrospective study was set to describe the spatial and temporal pattern of RVF outbreaks using ArcGIS 10. MaxEnt modelling was used to predict the current habitat suitability for RVF occurrence. A cross-sectional serological study was carried out in domestic ruminants in selected areas in Tanzania in order to validate the MaxEnt predictive algorithms. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze risk factors associated with RVFV activity in the country. Results: Between 1930 and 2007 a total of 10 outbreak waves were reported with average inter-epidemic period (IEP) of 7.9 years (range= 3–17 years) in 47/120 of the districts in Tanzania. RVFV seroprevalence was higher in the areas predicted as high risk (37.8%, n= 487) than the areas predicted as medium risk (22.4%, n= 482) and low risk (16.7%, n = 466) (p < 0.001). RVF outbreaks were associated with the eastern Rift Valley ecosystem (OR = 6.14, CI: 1.96, 19.28), soil texture (clay [OR =8.76, CI: 2.52, 30.50], and loam [OR = 8.79, CI: 2.04, 37.82]), introduction of new domestic ruminants into the herd from another district (OR = 3.92, CI: 2. 15, 7.15) and elevation of ≤1157 metres above sea level (OR = 1.82, CI: 1.27, 2.61). Conclusion: The past RVF outbreaks and the risk of disease occurrence were distributed heterogeneously in Tanzania. The sequence of outbreak waves, continuously cover more parts of the country. Whenever infection has been introduced into an area, it is likely to be involved in future outbreaks. The north-eastern and central parts of the country have larger amount of suitable habitats for RVF occurrence than the western and southern parts of the country. The findings can be applied to guide targeted cost-effective RVF interventions. Session 07 (Plenary) Global Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Park Congress 11:00–11:45 November 1, 2014 06.009 Developing a real-time syndromic surveillance 06.010 Design of optimal surveillance network for International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Real-time understanding of how pathogens spread within a community or a healthcare facility is pertinent for monitoring,infection control and prevention measures. Obviously, automated real time data analysis approach can improve decision-making processes, especially in outbreaks, where rapid, accurate and comprehensive analysis is critical. We propose that the dynamics of communicable diseases may be viewed as the sum of multiple local transmission networks. We explored the analytic and practical utility of applying computer simulations and signal analysis methodology to real-time pathogen data. Methods & Materials: We used real pathogen data obtained from the Hadassah Medical Centers (serving a population of ~1,000,000 people), including approximate home-address of patients, to preform spatial-temporal analysis and simulate individual pathogen spread in the entire Jerusalem area. Dataset contained 40,000 clinical test results for 6 causing agents: three community diseases (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza Virus), and three health care associated pathogens (Clostridium dificille, Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Methcillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus–MRSA). Results: We developed a signal-analysis terminology and methodology tailored for studying the real-time spread of pathogens, allowing effective deconvolution of pathogen signals in space and time. By using the patients’ residence data and applying our algorithm, we were able to eliminate the need for more than 30% of overall tests while maintaining ~100% of positive test results (i.e. saving 4000 tests per year in one facility without lowering diagnostic capability). We were able to predict the exact causative agent in the community in ~90% of cases. Furthermore, we could predict and visualize the spread pattern of two major community pathogens (figure). Interestingly, we also identified via spatial-temporal-distributiondensity-analysis that MRSA occurrence in Jerusalem is probably community-associated rather than health care associated. Conclusion: We have created a methodology applicable to both community and healthcare setting, based on spatial analysis of single patient data in the context of local transmission networks. Our approach enables cost-effective, real-time disease surveillance, epidemic spread analysis, diagnostic assistance, and identification of disease hotspots with an intuitive interface for both medical experts and researchers. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 G. Almogy1, A. Bernevig2, G. Almogy3, A. E. Moses3, R. Nir-Paz3 1 Flurensics Inc., Tel viv, Israel, 2Princeton U., Princeton, NJ, NJ, USA, 3 Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel (in case of purchase on prescription). Statistical processing algorithms are run each night and the results are published before 8am the following morning onwww.OpenHealth.fr. The entire process is automated. Open-source software (R and QGIS) is used. The development of a new indicator includes the following steps: defining the need, selecting the drug candidates based on expert opinion, developing the algorithm (choice of numerators and denominators, weighting different types of drugs and type of purchase, choice of spatial and temporal smoothing parameters…), validation by comparison with existing data and development of publication interfaces. Results: Six indicators, including two for the syndromic surveillance of infectious diseases (influenza-like illness, gastroenteritis) were developed. They were validated by comparison with the French Sentinelles Network. The update of the indicators was done in real time (1 day release lag, daily time resolution) on a daily basis since November 2013. The data can be freely downloaded (Open database licence). Conclusion: The developed methodology can be used to develop a surveillance system for any syndrome. The only prerequisite is to identify tracer drugs. The structure put in place will allow the development of indicators in a few days to allow a response to health crises. The structure can also be duplicated in other countries. A bstracts 07.001 Global spread of antibiotic resistance R. Laxminarayan Public Health Foundation of India-Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (USA), New Delhi, India After many years as a side issue, antimicrobial resistance is moving to centre stage, a move driven in large measure by the increasing global prevalence of bacterial infections that are essentially untreatable. As with other, highly mobile infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance is a shared global challenge affecting both the wealthiest and the poorest of countries. In the high-income world, the consequences of resistance are largely in the form of greater treatment costs while in the lowand middle-income world, the consequences are in terms of greater morbidity and mortality. Here we review the most recent evidence of global emergence and spread of resistance, the economic and health consequences of the loss of antibiotic effectiveness, the benefits of increasing access to effective antibiotics, and the appropriate balance between investments in the conservation of existing antibiotics and discovery of new antibiotics. Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute arthropod-borne viral zoonotic disease. The hypothesis tested in this study was that, “the risk of RVF occurrence is homogenously distributed throughout Tanzania”. Objectives: This study focused on mapping and modelling of spatial and temporal pattern of RVF outbreaks, habitat suitability for RVF occurrence, and potential risk factors associated with RVF virus (RVFV) activity in Tanzania. 47 IMED 2014 A bstracts SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 08 (Invited Presentations) Pathogen and Host Diversity—Are There Clues that Can Help Us Prevent Emerging Infectious Diseases? Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Park Congress 14:30–16:00 Break-out Session 08.001 Can host breadth and phylogeny portend viral emergence? S. J. Anthony Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Background: The majority of emerging zoonoses originate in wildlife and many are caused by viruses. However there are no rigorous estimates of total viral diversity (here termed ‘virodiversity’) for any wildlife species, despite the utility of this to future surveillance and control of emerging zoonoses. Here we present a framework for the discovery of novel viruses in wildlife and use it to make the first ever estimate of the number of viruses that exist in a mammalian host, and the sampling effort required to achieve it. Methods: Here, we repeatedly sampled a mammalian wildlife host known to harbor emerging zoonotic pathogens (the Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus) and used PCR with degenerate viral family-level primers to discover and analyze the occurrence patterns of viruses 48 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY outbreaks? W. Karesh EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA Nowhere in the world are the health impacts from both emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases more important than in developing countries, where daily work and livelihoods are highly dependent on natural resources. Most endemic diseases began as EID’s at some point in time and these diseases are now estimated to cause over one billion cases of human disease annually. Many developing countries have little to no capacity for diagnosis or detection of disease emergence and early spread. With globalization and international travel, disease movement is now rapid and the natural barriers to disease spread from points of origin are becoming meaningless. Ebola virus disease, SARS, and MERS illustrate the urgent need for improving early detection and implementing strategies to reduce emergence in the first place. While the linkages of human, animal, and environmental health is at the heart of the One Health approach, an increasingly important prism through which governments, NGOs, and practitioners view public health, we still have three critically important challenges facing us: 1) we need a broader and deeper knowledge of what underlies disease emergence and spread, 2) we need to better target our surveillance efforts to maximize available resources, and 3) we need to greatly expand implementation of EID prevention strategies based on our state of knowledge. 08.004 Wrap up—The big picture P. Daszak EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA Despite scientific advances in virology, diagnostics and biotechnology, we still are confronted regularly with new emerging infectious diseases. Each new emerging pathogen appears to be unexpected, either in its origins geographically or in the species it originated. At the same time, the public perception of pandemic risk is of a crisis to be dealt with after emergence, with efforts to predict or prevent their emergence preliminary at best. In this symposium, we will hear about advances in surveillance, viral ecology and host-virus evolution that begin to point a a predictive approach to pandemics. They involve ways to better track trends in disease emergence, analyze their underlying drivers, and use ecological approaches to predict where, or from what species, the next pandemic threat most likely will originate. In this wrap-up talk, I will highlight some of these trends, and identify critical questions that need to be addressed for pandemic prediction and prevention. In particular, I will review a framework to target surveillance for novel pathogens, identify where they are most likely to emerge and why, and find alternatives to the high risk behaviors that are accelerating their emergence. Session 09 (Invited Presentations) Ethics and Disease Surveillance Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 14:30–16:00 Break-out Session 09.001 Disease surveillance in the era of big data E. Vayena University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland The ever-expanding amounts of available data from social networks, use of mobile applications etc., have created a valuable source of health related information that should not remain untapped. However, utilizing such data for the global public health good takes place in the context of so-called “big data”, a space charged with high expectations and vexing ethical challenges. In this paper, I map these challenges specifically looking at questions that arise in the uses of big data for the purpose of disease surveillance. Three key ideas are highlighted: the nexus of ethics and methodology referring to the methodological challenges that the field is facing and their ethical implications; contextsensitivity referring to the distinct demands that the context of surveillance activities generate for those involved with digital surveillance; the need for digital disease surveillance to secure its legitimacy as a public health activity. I will highlight some aspects of these questions by referring to the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa. 09.002 Guidelines for ethical disease surveillance— WHO perspective A. Reis WHO, Geneva, Switzerland Goals of the presentation: • To raise awareness for ethical issues in surveillance • To report on WHO’s project to develop guidelines on ethics and surveillance • To solicit recommendations from the audience which will feed into current policy-making in this area Surveillance, often referred to as “the eyes of public health,” is one of the most fundamental activities of public health. Surveillance can raise multiple ethical and human rights issues, such as access to benefits, confidentiality, informed consent, and concerns regarding stigma and discrimination, for which appropriate national and international frameworks are required. Surveillance has also been at the center of controversy over the technical distinction between research, which requires ethical oversight, and public health practice, whose limits are typically a function of law, policy making, and public debate. There are also important issues related to tissue sampling and sharing of specimen and infectious agents (such as virus-sharing), as well as regarding the use of electronic records and social media. Remarkably, while there have been some efforts to craft surveillance guidelines for specific diseases, WHO Member States currently lack a comprehensive normative framework and specific guidelines on public health surveillance. In 2014 WHO launched a project to develop WHO Guidelines on Ethical Issues in Public Health Surveillance. The proposed document is intended to benefit public health surveillance activities in all WHO Member States. It is more specifically targeted at Ministries of Health and relevant public health agencies when designing public health surveillance policies and practices, as well as specific disease programs and members of research ethics committees. It will be important to receive feedback from participants in the IMED conference, which will directly feed into the further development of WHO guidelines. 09.003 Big data—Healthy future? Using big data for public health S. Wallace University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom Recent work conducted by the UK Nuffield Council on Bioethics Working Party on Biological and Health Data has focused on the new and potential developments in collecting, sharing and linking and using human biological and health-related data arising from advances in knowledge, technology, organisation and governance. ‘Big data’ is used in many facets of our everyday lives, including in public health activities. Medical record data and administrative are collected, linked and shared to search out indicators and incidences of health and disease, and to design and implement strategies to improve well-being. Research studies, such as population-based research biobanks and cohort studies, are combining participant health, life-style and environmental data with administrative and medical records to create detailed and extensive datasets for access internationally. Although designed to advance the common good, these uses of what might be sensitive personal data raise ethical and legal issues, such as around data security and confidentiality. This talk will present the discussions of the Nuffield Working Party, as well as that of others, on how big data is being used to advance public health initiatives and the ethical questions that these uses raise. Session 11 (Oral Presentations) Hot Topics in Emerging Infectious Diseases Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 16:30–18:00 November 1, 2014 08.002 Virodiversity—How many viruses are out there? 08.003 Ebola, SARS, MERS oh my, can we limit International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • To better understand the underlying factors that affect host-range for zoonotic viruses; and to test weather opportunity for contact or phylogenetic relatedness is a better predictor of zoonotic host potential. We identified ~600 ICTV recognized viruses known to infect mammals, and through exhaustive literature searches over several years, we compiled a comprehensive list of mammal host species for each virus. We also collated and calculated other data specific to each species—taxonomy, geographic range, geographic overlap with humans and other species, host traits, and phylogenetic distance to humans. To assess phylogenetic distance among host species, we used two datasets—the published mammal supertree and a cytochrome b maximum likelihood tree. Using the number of viruses shared with humans as a response variable, we used generalized additive models, to identify significant host-specific predictor variables and to plot potentially nonlinear relationships with predictors. We databased over 3000 host species-virus associations, including 750 species. The best model included phylogenetic distance to humans (cytb), urban area overlap, median human population density within a species host range, body mass, and measures of research bias. Phylogenetic distance to humans was negatively related to number of viruses shared, and the effect was stronger than our global measures for opportunity for contact. We found a strong effect of research bias suggesting that, with limits, the more we look the more viruses we find. We also found a strong, almost exponential effect of total viral richness for each host species on number shared. This also is likely capturing research bias, but may support the idea that the larger the pool of pathogens, the more likely some are to jump. We created the most comprehensive database of mammal-virus associations to date, and identified several host-specific variables to predict viral sharing. After controlling for research bias, we still found a strong effect of host phylogeny on virus sharing and smaller affect using our crude global measures of opportunity for contact with humans. Our analysis is currently being used to better target viral discovery and zoonotic disease surveillance in mammals. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 K. Olival EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA from nine viral families. We then adapted statistical techniques commonly used to estimate biodiversity in vertebrates and plants (E.g. rarefaction, Chao2) to estimate the total viral richness in this species. Results: A total of 55 viruses from seven viral families were detected in P. giganteus. This included 11 paramyxoviruses, 14 adenoviruses, 13 herpesviruses, 2 bocaviruses, 8 astroviruses, 4 coronaviruses and 3 polyomaviruses. Of these, 50 were considered novel and several were shown to be phylogenetically related to known human pathogens. Analysis of the relative frequency of these viruses demonstrated reliably asymptotic behavior and estimated the total viral richness to be 58 viruses (limited to the viral families tested for). We used a simple extrapolation to estimate there are a minimum of 320,000 mammalian viruses awaiting discovery within these families (assuming all species harbor a similar number of viruses, with minimal turnover between host species), and estimate the cost of their discovery to be ~US$6.3 billion (or ~US$1.4 billion for 85% of the total diversity). Conclusions: Our work illustrates the power of using ecological approaches to characterize virodiversity and estimate viral richness, and can be considered part of a strategy to better target surveillance to identify agents that pose zoonotic risks before they emerge in people. As pathogens continue to emerge from wildlife, this estimate allows us to put preliminary bounds around the potential size of the total ‘zoonotic pool’, and facilitates a better understanding of where best to allocate resources for the subsequent discovery of global viral diversity A bstracts Break-out Session 11.001 Visceral Leishmaniasis and HIV co-infection in Bihar, India: Long-term effectiveness and treatment outcomes with Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome) T. Sunyoto1, S. Burza1, P. Sinha2, R. Mahajan1, J. van Griensven3, P. Das2, M. Gonzalez Sanz4 1 Medecins Sans Frontieres, Delhi, India, 2Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Patna, India, 3ITM, Antwerp, Belgium, 4Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom Purpose: Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL; also known as kala-azar)is an ultimately fatal disease endemic in the Indian state of Bihar, while HIV/AIDS is an emerging disease in this region.A 2011 observational cohort study conducted in Bihar involving 55 VL/HIV co-infected patients treated with 20–25mg/kg intravenous liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) estimated an 85.5% probability of survival and a 26.5% probability of VL relapse within 2 years. Here we report the long-term field outcomes of a larger cohort of co-infected patients treated with this regimen between 2007 and 2012. Methods & Materials: Retrospective analysis of routine programme data. Results: Intravenous AmBisome (20-25 mg/kg) was administered to 159 VL/HIV co-infected patients (both primary infections and relapses) in four or five doses of 5 mg/kg over 4–10 days. Test of cure was not routinely performed.Initial cure was achieved in all discharged patients.A total of 36 patients died during follow-up, including six who died shortly after admission. Death occurred at a median of 11 weeks (IQR 4-51) after starting VL treatment. Estimated mortality risk was 14.3% at six months, 22.4% at two years and 29.7% at four years after 49 IMED 2014 A bstracts SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 treatment. Among the 153 patients discharged from the hospital, 26 cases of VL relapse were diagnosed during follow-up, occurring at a median of 10 months (IQR 7–14) after discharge. After accounting for competing risks, the estimated risk of relapse was 16.1% at one year, 20.4% at two years and 25.9% at four years. Low hemoglobin level and concurrent infection with tuberculosis were independent risk factors for mortality, while ART initiated shortly after admission for VL treatment was associated with a 64–66% reduced risk of mortality and 75% reduced risk of relapse. Conclusion: This is the largest cohort of HIV-VL co-infected patients reported from the Indian subcontinent. Even after initial cure following treatment with AmBisome, these patients appear to have much higher rates of VL relapse and mortality than patients not known to be HIV-positive, although relapse rates appear to stabilize after 2 years. These results extend the earlier findings that co-infected patients are at increased risk of death and require a multidisciplinary approach for long-term management. 50 IMED 2014 • Purpose: To investigate case reporting of probable neurocysticercosis (NCC) infection identified by CT brain scan reports and additional epidemiological diagnostic criteria in the hospital medical record in a community-based hospital in East Los Angeles during 2012. Methods & Materials: Active surveillance was conducted utilizing retrospective review of 7,363 CT brain scan reports and associated patient medical records from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.To meet the case definition of probable NCC, a CT brain scan report must describe evidence of lesions highly suggestive of NCC and the hospital medical record must provide supporting epidemiological evidence as defined by Del Brutto’s 2001 Diagnostic Criteria for NCC. Results: Of the 7,363 CT brain scans reviewed, 303 (4.1%) showed evidence of lesions highly suggestive of NCC and met additional criteria for the diagnosis of a probable case based on the medical record review. For this same time period (2012), Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Acute Communicable Disease Control had one cysticercosis case reported in Los Angeles County; the case was not submitted from the study site. The probable cases ranged in age from 20 to 91 years with a mean age of 64.7 years. 235 (77.5%) cases were born outside of the United States; 277 (91.4%) cases were Hispanic ethnicity; 203 (66.9%) were female. Upon analysis of reporting radiologist for all scans, it was noted that nine of the ten radiologists interpreting scans during the study period described evidence of NCC on CT Brain scan reports. The reporting rate of positive NCC scans read per radiologist ranged from 4.8% to 4.1% with an average reporting rate of positive scans at 4.3%. The radiologist that did not report any evidence of lesions consistent with NCC on CT brain scans reviewed 248 scans or 3.3% (248/7,363) of total scans conducted during the study period. Conclusion: Neurocysticercosis is vastly under-reported at this urban community hospital. Study findings suggest an important role for active case surveillance. This study improves understanding of the extent of NCC disease burden and under reporting in Los Angeles County and provides evidence of the need for attention to conduct active surveillance in hospitals to identify NCC. 11.004 A pilot study evaluating the level of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Campylobacter isolated from poultry farms T. Gaydos1, S. Tilley1, R. Berghaus1, R. Singer2, C. Hofacre1 1 University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, 2University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA Purpose: In the United States, monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Campylobacter for poultry is done by collecting isolates post-chill in the processing plant. The number of Salmonella isolates collected using this method is too low to be statistically significant. To evaluate the logistics and potential value of a pre-harvest component for poultry monitoring, a pilot study was conducted by collecting samples from poultry houses during the week prior to processing. Methods & Materials: During the course of the pilot study, boot sock samples were collected from broiler and turkey industry collaborators. Standard microbiological procedures were used to isolate Salmonella and Campylobacter. The antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined by mean inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the Sensititre NARMS Panel of Antimicrobials (Thermo®). The project plans to collect 1,400 samples from 350 different poultry farms from the United States. Results: As of June 30th, 2014, 624 samples have been collected from 156 different poultry farms. From the samples collect 37% (232) were positive for Salmonella and 20% (123) were positive for Campylobacter. The most common isolated serotypes of Salmonella were: Typhimurium (50), Schwarzengrund (22), Kentucky (22), enteritidis (11), and 1,4,5,12:i- (8). Of the isolates analyzed for antimicrobial resistance, 28% were resistant to no antimicrobials, 32% were resistant to 1 antimicrobial, 13% were resistant to 2 antimicrobials, 9% were resistant to 3 antimicrobials, 9% were resistant to 4 antimicrobials, and 8% were resistant to 5 or more antimicrobials. The most common Campylobacter species isolated was jejuni (84%) followed by coli (16%). Of the isolates analyzed for antimicrobial resistance 65% were resistant to no antimicrobials, 19% to 1 antimicrobial, 13% to 2 antimicrobials, and 3% to more than 3 antimicrobials. Only 15% of Campylobacter isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The majority of isolates collected in this trial were resistant to 1 or fewer antimicrobials. The study has provided a useful baseline for antimicrobial resistant organisms that are present on the average poultry farm in the United States. The trend of the level of antimicrobial resistance in human important pathogens is important to aid in the judicious use of antimicrobials in both human and animal treatment. 11.005 Novel mycobacterial spp in the Serengeti ecosystems: Potential implications for human and animal health B. Z. Katale1, M. Matee1, E. Mbugi1, M. Rweyemamu2, P. D. Van Helden3, R. M. Warren4, J. Keyyu5, S. Kendall6, H. Docrell7, A. L. Michel8 1 Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of, 2Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance, Morogoro, Tanzania, United Republic of, 3 Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa, 4Faculty of Health Sciences, Tygerberg, South Africa, 5Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of, 6Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom, 7London School of Hygiene and TRopical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, 8University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Purpose: Interspecies transmission of tuberculosis is of particular concern, particularly in areas where human, livestock and wildlife live in close proximity. The aim of this study was to determine species diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex MTBC) and its public health significance at human-animal interface of the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. Methods & Materials: DNA was extracted from Mycobacterium cultures obtained from sputum samples of 214 TB patients and tissues of 606 animals (livestock and wildlife). Multiplex PCR was used to differentiate Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) from nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) culture isolates. Spoligotyping and Mycobacteria Interspersed Repetitive Units-Variable Tandem Repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing on 24 loci were performed on DNA isolates. Results: Based on spoligotyping, three M. bovis strains were isolated from wildlife all belonging to SB0133, while 2 novel strains of M. bovis were identified in cattle and none from tuberculosis patients. M. bovis isolates from wildlife had 96.8% and 45.2% spoligotype pattern agreement with novel strains namely SB2290 and SB2289 isolated in cattle. Of the 24 MIRU-VNTR loci, QUB 11b showed the highest discrimination among the M. bovis strains.We found a diverse of M. tuberculosis strains dominated by CAS 55 (25.7 %), T 52 (24.3%), LAM 38 (17.8%) and EAI 25 (11.7%) families in TB patients. Other identified families were unassigned (‘named Serengeti strains’) 25 (11.7%) and Beijing 8 (3.7%). The minority group that included Haarlem, X and S altogether accounted for 11 (5.2%) of all genotypes. This study found Haarlem, EAI_Somalia, LAM3 and S/convergent and X2 subfamilies which were not reported previously in Tanzania. Conclusion: This study reveals a large diversity of M. bovis and M. tuberculosis strains in the Serengeti ecosystem, some of which were novel. One of the novel strains of M. bovis isolated from cattle was genetically linked to the SB0 133 isolated from buffaloes indicating possible interspecies transmission of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infections. The isolation of novel unassigned M. tuberculosis strains and subfamilies that have not reported in Tanzania could have a public health importance. 11.006 Re-emergence of brucellosis in domestic ruminant animals of the Karamoja pastoral sub-region in Uganda D. B. Ndumu1, P. Otto2, R. Mwebe1, E. M. Namukose3, K. J. N. Mugabi4, J. Serrugga1, A. Kagirita5, M. Bahati1, C. Rutebarika6, J. Zingeser2 1 National Animal Disease Diagnostic and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Entebbe, Uganda, 2Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), Rome, Rome, Italy, 3Ministry of Health, Kampala, Kampala, Uganda, 4Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Entebbe, Wakiso, Uganda, 5Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda, 6National Animal Disease Diagnostic and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Entebbe, Wakiso, Uganda Purpose: To determine the sero-prevalence of brucellosis in both domestic ruminant animals and humans, on the basis of a One Health framework, while identifying critical interventions for a disease prevention and control strategy. To present the survey findings in the domestic animal population. Methods & Materials: A multistage sampling design was used to select the parishes within the districts and the dwellings of the groups of livestock keepers referred as ‘manyattas’ within the parishes. The number of animals belonging to each group of livestock keepers (‘manyattas’) were selected at random. The sample size was calculated using the Survey Toolbox software, where the desired precision was set at 5% with an expected prevalence of 50%. A design effect (DE) of 2 was used and sample size calculated at a 95% confidence level. A survey analysis was done using the calculated sample size to determine the number of parishes and the number of animals from each group of livestock keepers (‘manyatta’); Consequently 6,594 animals (goats, sheep and cattle were sampled from 57 parishes. The serology of individual domestic ruminant animals was investigated using the cElisa brucella species antibody assay at the laboratory of the National Animal Disease Diagnostic and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC). Results: This paper discusses the initial findings in the bovine, caprine and ovine populations that respectively show 14.3%, 20.5% and 10.9% brucella species antibody prevalence. The highest district sero-prevalence was noted in caprine species, with Kaabong district having the highest record of 39.4%. Sero-prevalence among the bovine population ranged between 7.4% in Kotido district and 22.3% in Moroto district. The ovine population showed lower prevalence to the disease with the lowest record of 1.5% in Amudat district. Conclusion: The study shows a resurgence of brucellosis in the domestic ruminant populations of pastoral sub-region of Karamoja and establishes baseline data on sero-prevalence in all 7 districts of the sub-region for ease of future reference. Additionally, a strategic plan to prevent and control brucellosis in these populations of the sub-region and country at large has been laid down. November 1, 2014 Purpose: After United States, Spain comes second in the list of countries receiving migrants from Latin America, being the European country with highest expected prevalence of Chagas disease. Since 2005 control measures regarding blood donation and organ transplants were implemented at national level. Up to date, interventions targeting vertical transmission exists in 5 out of 17 autonomous regions. Moreover, the prevalence of Chagas disease remains unknown as Chagas is not a mandatory reporting disease. Using hospitalizations records we aimed to describe Chagas disease temporal and geographical trends to identify and suggest future improvements in its control in Spain. Methods & Materials: We performed a retrospective descriptive study using data provided by the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data. Hospitalized patients with diagnosis of Chagas diseases through the corresponding ICD-9-CM codes during a 15-year period (1997–2011) were identified. The immigrant population from countries endemics to Chagas obtained from the 1998–2011 census projection was used as denominator. Temporal and geographical trends were assessed and descriptive analysis was performed to characterize the study population. Results: 1.729 hospitalizations related to Chagas were recorded during the study period. Annual hospitalization rate varied from 18,0 during 1998-2004 to 224,8 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2005-2011. The rate of hospitalization was significantly higher among women (74%) and aged 16-45 years (69,8%). Chagas without organic affection was the most frequent diagnosis (75,3%). When comparing the two study periods, we identified significant increase in hospitalization rate in all but one autonomous region. The highest hospitalization rates increase were registered in: the Basque Country (9.2 to 370/100,000), Cataluña (17.3 to 427/100,000), Comunidad Valenciana (21 to 414/100,000), Murcia (18-320/100,000), Andalucía (16 to 278/100,000) and Balearic Islands (11 to 183/100,000). Conclusion: The significant increase in hospitalization rates observed during study period could be explained by the introduction of control programs at national level targeting the horizontal transmission. Four out of the six regions with the highest increase have in place some protocols for screening pregnant Latin American women. Systematization and nationwide implementation of such protocols will help improving Chagas disease information and control in Spain. J. Garland1, W. Robbins2, C. Croker3 1 White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 3Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY Spain (1997–2011)—A descriptive study Z. Herrador1, E. Rivas2, A. Gherasim1, P. Aparicio1, A. Benito1 1 National Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, 2University Hospital of Tenerife, Tenerife, Spain neurocysticercosis cases identified by CT-brain scan imaging and hospital record: a one year retrospective medical record review utilizing active surveillance in a Southern California community hospital SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 11.002 Past, present and future of Chagas disease in 11.003 Description and reporting of 303 probable A bstracts 11.007 Invasive non-capsulated Haemophilus influenzae in pregnancy and the newborn— An under-recognised pathogen S. Collins, M. Ramsay, H. Campbell, S. Flynn, N. Fry, D. Litt, M. Slack, S. Ladhani Public Health England, London, United Kingdom Purpose: Several studies have suggested an increased risk of invasive non-typable H. influenzae (ntHi) disease among pregnant women and newborn infants but none have been large enough to quantify the risk or assess the outcome of such infections. Here we describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of maternal/neonatal ncHi disease. Methods & Materials: Public Health England conducts enhanced national surveillance of invasive ntHi disease in England and Wales. Detailed clinical information was obtained for all laboratory-confirmed cases among women aged 15-44 years and neonates under 48 hours old during 2009-2012. 51 IMED 2014 A bstracts SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Results: Of 140 women diagnosed with ntHi, 72 (51.4%) were pregnant and two had recently given birth (1.4%). Most women were previously healthy (83.8%; 62/74) and presented with septicaemia (67/74, 90.5%); all survived their infection. During the first 24 weeks of pregnancy ntHi disease was associated with foetal loss at the time of infection in all but three of 45 pregnancies. Of the 27 infections after 24 weeks gestations, two were stillbirths and 10 were born prematurely. The risk of pregnancy loss (60·8/100) was 3-fold higher than the background rate. Most (67.8%) babies were unwell at birth; although only two had laboratory-confirmed invasive ntHi disease, most likely because the mothers of the other infants had received antibiotics during labour During the same period an additional 82 neonates, who’s mothers were not diagnosed with ntHi, were diagnosed with ntHi within the first 48 hours of life; 69 (84.1%) were born prematurely. Bacteraemia was the most common presentation (53/82, 64.6%). Fourteen neonates (16.7%) died within a week of infection. Conclusion: This is the first study to characterise the burden of invasive ntHi disease in pregnancy and the newborn period. These finding suggest that the true incidence of serious bacterial infections in the neonatal period is likely to be higher than reported because of mothers receiving empiric antibiotics during labour. The severe outcomes associated with invasive ntHi disease in pregnancy have not previously been recognised and merits further investigation. This study also highlights the need for linking of maternal and perinatal data in order to assess the true burden of disease in this vulnerable population. 11.008 Cholera outbreak in a prison in Port au Prince, Haiti, October 2013 W. Pierre1, P. Dely2, S. Corvil1, G. Suarez-Rangel3 1 Directiion d’Epidemiologie de Laboratoire et de Recherche (DELR), Delmas, Haiti, 2Direction d’Epidemiologie de Laboratoire et de Recherche (DELR)/Ministere de la Sante Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Delmas, Haiti, 3Tephinet, Bogota, Colombia Ward-level antibiotic prescribing is the principal predictor of increased Clostridium difficile infection risk K. A. Brown1, K. Valenta2, D. Fisman3, A. Simor4, N. Daneman5 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 2McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada, 3University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 4 University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir, ON, Canada, 5Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON, Canada Session 12 (Invited Presentations) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN: Tools for Animal Health Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Park Congress 08:30–10:30 Break-out Session 12.001 The progressive control pathway (PCP) for transboundary animal diseases, a bottom-up approach for disease control E. Raizman Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, Rome, Italy The Progressive Control Pathway (PCP) is the approach developed by FAO for classifying country progress in foot and mouth disease (FMD) risk management. In this approach there are criteria for classifying a country’s position along a series of stages from zero (uncontrolled, disease present, no action being taken, no investments for prevention or control) to stage five (free without vaccination, investment into prevention, detection, and emergency preparedness is considerable). It has lead to a tool that can be applied to measure (and communicate) country progress within regional roadmaps, and aims at assisting countries along a pathway and the activities to be implemented based on risk management, covering a series of stages before they could apply for recognition of disease freedom by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The PCP-FMD approach is considered a joint tool with the OIE, with countries able to submit to this organization recognition of their national plan for endorsement, which serves as an incentive for further progress and linked with the critical competencies established with the OIE Performance of Veterinary Services pathway. The Progressive Control Pathway approach(es) recognises that differences in risk of infection occur between (and within) infected countries, that countries (or provinces, governorates, or states) are at different stages in managing the risk of infection. The PCP is not a top down prescribed approach rather a method that applies a risk reduction approach in which each infected country is encouraged to develop national risk reduction strategies that are supportive to the regional effort. A similar approach with a roadmap of 4 stages was developed by FAO for progressive control of brucellosis and rabies. This roadmap was based upon information from extensive research and practical experience in the field in many countries over many years. The feasibility of this roadmap is being tested in some affected countries in Central Asia and Middle East. FAO and OIE have embarked into the formulation of a Global Strategy adopting a 3 phased strategic approach that should eventually lead countries to eradicate PPR. The 3 phase approach will correspond to 4 different implementation stages. Phase 1 would focus on gaining better epidemiological understanding of PPR and its socio-economic impact. Phase 2 would constitute the framework for addressing control and eradication measures. Finally phase 3 will correspond to the post-eradication of PPR where countries should be able to provide evidence of absence to obtain official recognition of freedom by the OIE. In terms of implementation this corresponds to stage 4 of the stepwise approach. 12.002 Global animal disease surveillance and health information tools J. Pinto FAO, Rome, Italy Animal diseases impact livestock production and farming systems, people and livelihoods. Recent outbreaks due to diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), H7N9 and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) globally has had unprecedented consequences in terms of impact. The impact of FMD in endemic regions on four continents has been estimated at US$6.5 to 21 billion, whilst outbreaks in FMD free countries and zones cause losses of >US$1.5 billion a year (Knight-Jones and Rushton, 2013). The H7N9 strain of avian influenza emergence in China has been estimated to be USD 6.5 billion (Chinese Agriculture Ministry estimates, 2013) over the course of two years, the annual cost of the bacterial disease, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Africa, is estimated at USD 61.4 Million per year (Tambi et al. 2006). Global Animal disease surveillance and reporting systems are notably weak in developing countries due to limited resources,technical capacities and weak surveillance infrastructures. Additionally, official disease reporting is limited to specific priority diseases or project related. The lack of incentives for famers and communities to report animal disease problems impact the amount, quality (e.g. sensitivity) and timeliness of disease reporting at multiple levels. In addition to this, surveillance at the animal/human interface is often neglected and absent. The consequences of the above mentioned weakness/limitations impact early warning and effective risk management. FAO provides policy advice to countries on how to prevent, control or eradicate animal diseases. FAO supports member countries in use and development of new approaches for disease surveillance tools and innovative approaches to assist member countries to improve national surveillance and disease intelligence capacities through a number of approaches. FAO has been leading the development of mobile devices to enhance disease surveillance such as SMS Gateways for Avian Influenza in Bangladesh, Digital Pen Technology in Africa and EMA-i. Bangladesh conducts active Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) surveillance in 260 out of 487 sub-districts as part of an USAID funded FAO project. Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW), Veterinary Surgeons Livestock Officers are using the Short Message Service (SMS) for sending and receiving SMS messages between computers and mobile phone to collect data and report on disease and death in poultry. Digital pen technologies (DPT) in Countries in Africa to report transboundary animal diseases of priority. In 2006 FAO introduced the Digital Pen Technology (DPT) into southern Africa as an innovative way of collecting and sending animal disease surveillance data from remote areas in the field to the Central Epidemiology Units for analysis and decision making. FAO also has developed an Event Mobile Application (EMAi) for data collection and real-time disease reporting. EMA-i has been piloted in 2013 in Uganda with the objective to support the veterinary services to improve the existing disease reporting system In Indonesia, teams trained in Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response (PDSR) method use a two-step process to diagnose HPAI based on clinical case definition and rapid antigen detection test. The advantage of this methodology is rapid field diagnosis to enable timely outbreak response. FAO has also been involved in supporting national capacity building in surveillance through the field veterinary epidemiology training (FETPV-FETP) in Asia and Africa. At global level, FAO, OIE, WHO have been coordinating since 2006 efforts through the implementation of the Global Early Warning System for Transboundary Animal Diseases, includes zoonoses (GLEWS+). GLEWS+ builds on existing event-based surveillance systems, global health information platforms (FAO EMPRES-i, OIE WAHIS and WHO) to confidentially track and verify relevant events and provides a framework with global reach to enable the convening and pooling of expertise, data, functional networks, operational systems and stakeholders with the ultimate goal of enhancing inter-organizational coordination and supporting member countries in the detection, prevention and control of threats to health and the food chain through cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary partnership. Linking veterinary epidemiology and laboratory networks to gather and share disease and non disease data, linking outbreak information with data related to the pathogen characteristics can help in describing epidemiological and genetic dynamics in a spatial and temporal context. Strengthening existing national or regional networks promotes rapid detection, information sharing, and harmonization of methodologies and development of strategies for disease control (to better consider trans-border threats) and builds trust among neighbours. Technical November 2, 2014 Purpose: Recent research on Clostridium difficile transmission suggests that exposure to spores from symptomatic patients may not completely explain hospital-acquired infections. Antibiotic exposure has been shown to be a primary risk factor for not only C. difficile infection (CDI), but also for asymptomatic colonization with C. difficile. In this study, we sought to discern the relative impacts of individual-level and ward-level antibiotic exposure on patient risk. Methods & Materials: A cohort study design was used to assess the association of antibiotic exposure with the incidence of CDI among patients admitted to Sunnybrook hospital, a large acute care teaching hospital located in Toronto, Canada. The source cohort consisted of all patients over 18 years old, without a previous CDI diagnosis, and hospitalized in an acute care ward at Sunnybrook hospital in a period spanning June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2012 (n= 34,119). Results: Across wards, patients received antibiotics for 22% to 58% of days. We found that ward-level prescribing was strongly associated with increased CDI risk. Based on weighted linear regression, each 10% increase in ward-level ABx prescribing was associated with a 3.9 per 1,000 patient-days (95% CI 2.1 to 5.6, p < 0.001) increase in CDI incidence and explained 56% of ward level variation in CDI rates (Figure). In multilevel Poisson analyses controlling for time since admission, age, individual-level antibiotic receipt, previous hospitalizations, infection pressure, and ICU admission, ward-level antibiotic prescribing was the strongest predictor of CDI risk. Each 10% increase in ward-level ABx prescribing was associated with a 36% increase in risk (RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.59). Conclusion: Although many studies have considered the impact of individual-level risk factors on CDI, we find that ward-level antibiotic prescribing better explains CDI risk, and this suggests that asymptomatic colonized patients may be driving infection spread. This research has major implications for infection control, hospital hygiene, and antimicrobial stewardship. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • 52 IMED 2014 11.009 Above and beyond individual exposure: SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY Purpose: The ongoing cholera epidemic in Haiti began in October 2010. Occasional suspected cases continue to be reported and clusters identified. On October 1, 2013, cases of profuse diarrhea consistent with cholera were reported at 30 prisoners in the 10 cells of the high prison for male in Haiti. We hypothesized that the water in the prison could be the transmission route. The purpose is to confirm the diagnosis, identify risk factors associated with infection, in order to inform prevention and control measures. Methods & Materials: We conducted a matched case-control (1:2) study. Suspected cases were any prisoner with >3 episodes in 24h of acute watery diarrhea, with or without vomiting between October 1 and 15, 2013. Controls were prisoners without diarrhea in the previous 6 months, matched by cell with the cases. We collected stool samples from selected cases for culture, and samples of several sources of drinking water for coliforms and residual chlorine assays. We collected demographics, food history, water use, hygiene and clinical characteristics by semi-structured survey. We used EpiInfo3.5.3 for analysis. We calculated frequencies, means, paired (pOR) and adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI 95%). Results: We enrolled 32 cases and 64 controls. The attack rate was 0.7% (30/4200) with no deaths. Mean age for was 28 years (range: 18–48) and 32 years (20–58) for cases and controls, respectively. All (6) stool samples were Vibrio cholera Ogawa 01- positive. Fecal coliforms were found in 2 water samples. Consumption of untreated (nonchlorinated) drinking water (pOR=5.7, 95%CI=1.7–24.9); unwashed fruits and vegetables (pOR=7.8; 95%CI=2.1–44.4), not washing hands before eating (pOR=12.2; 95%CI=2.7–11.4) or after using latrines (pOR=8.7; 95%CI=3.35–24.6) were significantly associated with illness. On logistic regression only not washing hands before eating was significant (aOR=8.75; 95%CI=3.4–24.6). Conclusion: Poor sanitary practices and drinking untreated water were risk factors associated with cholera infection. We could not conduct laboratory testing on all cases or foods, but met CDC attribution criteria. We recommended improving prison water and sanitary conditions, and educating prisoners on proper hand washing technique, resulting in no new cases after October 8, 2013. A bstracts 53 IMED 2014 A bstracts SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 networks that bring together institutions across the globe, including FAO Reference Centres in veterinary epidemiology, risk analysis, bioinformatics or epidemic intelligence. Cross sectoral collaboration, platforms and databases (including disease and non-disease data), multidisciplinary approaches, tools and partnerships are prerequisites for improving global disease surveillance at all levels and conducting adequate disease intelligence, risk assessment that support effectively disease prevention. 12.003 Tackling emergency diseases head on through good emergency management practice (GEMP) information sharing G. Dauphin Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy Laboratory capacities and tools for information sharing have to be constantly supported. To help laboratories assess their capacities and functionalities, FAO has developed a Laboratory Mapping Tool that addresses 108 critical points in the laboratory. This standardized tool was applied on a yearly (or more) basis by FAO in around 30 laboratories in Asia and Africa and enabled laboratories to monitor their strengths and weaknesses and identify priorities for action. This information has also been aggregated at regional level to generate regional overviews and inform about regional needs. Laboratory skills can be 54 IMED 2014 • SUNDAY development and food security: Peste des petits ruminants as a working example W. Dundon International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly infectious transboundary animal disease caused by the PPR virus (PPRV) that affects mainly sheep, goats and small wild ruminants. With morbidity and mortality rates that can be as high as 70–80%, PPR is classified within the group of animal diseases that are notifiable to the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health). Sheep and particularly goats contribute considerably to the household and cash income and nutrition of small farmers in many countries so the control of a disease such as PPR is considered an essential element in the fight for global food security and poverty alleviation. It is for this reason that PPR is presently being considered as the next animal disease for global eradication. The Joint FAO/IAEA Division is supporting the major drive by FAO to control and eliminate PPR from its Member States (MS), and has spent many years developing and validating diagnostic and vaccine technologies. Access to infected animal tissues from outbreaks in MS has allowed for the development and optimization of a number of tools and procedures in the fight against this important disease. In addition, on-going molecular epidemiological studies and full genome sequencing are providing a clearer understanding of the genetic influences on PPRV spreading dynamics, host specificity, viral pathogenicity and transmission. This presentation will include the current status of research and development based efforts within the Joint FAO/IAEA Division and discuss (1) the development of novel serological diagnostic tools for the identification of PPRV (2) cell lines for the improved isolation of PPRV from diagnostic samples (3) multiplex assays for the detection of respiratory disease in small ruminants including PPRV (4) full genome sequencing by standard and NGS techniques, (5) the monitoring of PPRV circulation within MS through molecular epidemiological approaches. Session 13 (Invited Presentations) Health Care Associated Emerging Infections Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 08:30–10:30 Break-out Session 13.001 Contact networks and emerging infections at local, national and global levels P. Polgreen University of Iowa, Iowa, USA Healthcare settings frequently bring patients, both with and without infectious diseases, into close contact with one another. Even patients in different rooms, units and clinics often share the same healthcare workers: seemingly disconnected patients can be connected through healthcare workers. Furthermore, patients frequently travel both within a hospital and among hospitals, increasing the opportunities for noninfected patients to come into contact with infected patients. This is true regardless of the route by which infectious diseases are spread, e.g., contact, droplet, respiratory. Thus, healthcare facilities –hospitals as well as outpatient clinics—present a unique environment for the potential spread of infectious diseases, both emerging and nonemerging. This presentation will focus on examples of how the process of healthcare delivery has contributed to the spread of emerging infections around the world. Specifically, we will focus on different types of infections and healthcare-associated contact networks. Finally, we will discuss interventions to prevent the spread of emerging infectious diseases that consider contact networks in healthcare settings. 13.002 The role of biologic therapies in emerging infections J. W. Baddley UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA The number of patients receiving immunosuppressive agents has increased over the past decade and is expected to increase substantially in the near future. Biologic immunosuppressive therapies, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, represent important treatment advances for patients with malignancy, autoimmune inflammatory diseases and other conditions. Although these drugs have revolutionized the treatment of malignancies and inflammatory and rheumatologic disorders, there is an important safety issue: a potential increased risk of infection caused by a broad spectrum of organisms. Besides an increased risk of traditional infections such as pneumonia, sepsis and urinary tract infections, there are descriptions among biologic-treated patients of increased risk of opportunistic and emerging infections, including tuberculosis, systemic mycoses, legionellosis, progressive multifocal encephalopathy and leishmaniasis. This presentation will review our current understanding of infectious risk in the setting biologic therapies and will provide an update of the immune system targets and potential infectious complications of established and emerging biologic therapies. 13.003 Emerging infections in transfusion and transplantation—An under-recognized mode of transmission M. Kuehnert CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA All medical products of human origin, including blood, solid organs, cells, and other tissues, can transmit infection from donors to recipients. Despite low risk, the number of infections transmitted through blood and blood products may be greatest because of the number of transfusions performed, with over 20 million units received in the United States alone. However, despite only 28,000 U.S. solid organ transplants annually, transplant transmission clusters are more frequently reported and notable, as recipients are more susceptible to complications of donor-derived infection because of immunosuppression. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has investigated an increasing number of donor-derived infection clusters among transfusion and transplant recipients. Parasites, bacteria, and viruses have been transmitted from infected donors, resulting in illness and death in recipients. In some cases, as with HIV and hepatitis B and C, recognition of the risk of transmission has resulted in changes in screening donors for these agents, making transfusions and transplants substantially safer. However, relatively very few pathogens are screened using laboratory testing, instead relying on epidemiologic risk assessment. Many infected donors who are the source of these transfusion- and transplant-associated clusters are asymptomatic, making screening triggered by signs or symptoms difficult. Transfusion- and transplanttransmitted infections may be challenging to diagnose. Several recent cases of transfusion- and transplant-associated encephalitis, including West Nile virus, rabies virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and Balamuthia mandrillaris amebae, highlight the challenges associated with detection of clusters of donor-derived illness. Particularly for transplant, in many of the clusters, identification of the etiology was complicated by delayed diagnosis due to the rarity of the disease, geographic distance separating transplant recipients, and lack of prompt recognition. On a worldwide level, “transplant tourism” may further complicate recognition. Traceability and international notification networks on possible threats (e.g., WHO NOTIFY project) are essential. Establishment of surveillance systems to detect illness among recipients, including communication among physicians, donor organizations, and public health authorities, may enable rapid discovery and investigation of disease clusters. These clusters highlight the need for greater awareness among clinicians, pathologists, and public health workers, and for better communication networks about emerging threats. 13.004 Emerging medical device-related infections around the world D. K. Warren Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA November 2, 2014 12.004 Tools supporting laboratory capacities and 12.005 Research tools supporting livestock International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • With increasing frequency, authorities are called upon to deal with emergency animal disease outbreaks. An effective response is critical to reducing the impacts of transboundary animal diseases. In many developing countries, food security depends on a rapid and solid response. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has long recognized that countries need to prepare themselves for emergency diseases. “Good Emergency Management Practice (GEMP)” is one important tool, developed by FAO to support its member countries. GEMP is an umbrella term that encompasses an evolving package of useful tools. Countries can adapt these tools to better assist their own needs regarding preparedness and response. At the core of GEMP is a manual “The Essentials (A guide to preparing for animal health emergencies)”. This publication, in a little over a hundred pages, emphasizes that “preparedness planning” is vital to establish the key approaches that are generic, and that more specific “contingency planning” is a natural and critical follow-on. A “preparedness plan” will equip those who are responsible for response to establish an agreed, multi-disciplinary mode of approach that can adapt to a wide range of emergency needs. A more focused “contingency plan” can outline specific strategies needed for specific threats. While a useful reference manual, FAO believes that it can be used by countries, and regions, to facilitate a planning process that enables countries to develop their own mechanisms for response to animal disease outbreaks. FAO is rolling out three-day introductory courses, designed for key animal health operatives. To date, seven multi-country or regional courses and four country-specific course have been completed, involving over 200 participants. The manual has been endorsed by a wide range of country and international animal health agencies and presents a global standard for best practice in relatively straight-forward language. “The Essentials” is currently available in English, French, and Spanish, and Arabic, Chinese and Russian translations will soon be completed. “GEMP Essentials” manual online:http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/ ba0137e/ba0137e00.pdf SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 I. Douglas FAO, Crisis Management Centre-Animal Health (CMC-AH), Rome, Italy supported by various trainings; today training tools include distancelearning. Databases can also support laboratory capacities and information sharing. For instance, sequence databases customized for a given pathogen makes the upload of sequences to the public domain easier for users and provides them with adapted analytical tools for sequence analysis and phylogeny. Furthermore the influenza genetic module developed within the global animal disease information system (EMPRES-i) integrates sequence data from OpenFlu, database for influenza isolates and epidemiological data related to influenza events. This tool helps better sharing and integration of information from the laboratory and from the field for better monitoring of influenza viruses (genetic mutations and geographical dispersion over time) and detection of those strains that represent or potentially represent significant threat to humans or animals. EMPRES-i functionalities have also been expanded with a mobile application for field real-time reporting (EMA-i) by animal health workers or field veterinarians. These field data can then be linked to laboratory results through a linkage between a Laboratory Information Management System and EMA-i. Another example is the ten Indonesian animal health laboratories which now share their raw laboratory influenza data for the national monitoring of influenza viruses in poultry through a shared database (IVM Online) where joint analysis is conducted with raw data from various sources. Lastly, strengthening of laboratory capacities and information sharing has shown to be highly supported through global, regional and national networks. Regional support/leading laboratories have been designated in various regions of the world and have great roles to play in supporting capacities of other laboratories in the region. In conclusion, laboratory capacities and information sharing need constant evolution and can be supported by various tools, such as assessment tools, distance learning tools, and also databases, networks, approaches or policies. A bstracts Healthcare-associated infections are one the most frequent adverse events in the delivery of care. These infections are often associated with the use of medical devices, such as urinary and intravascular catheters, and result in significant morbidity and mortality. We will review the global epidemiology of common device-related infections, including intravascular catheter-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator associated pneumonia. We will examine the impact of prevention efforts on these infections. We will also discuss the re-use of medical devices intended for single use, including syringes, hemodialysis filters and implantable cardiac devices, and infection. 55 IMED 2014 A bstracts SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Launching of the New OIE Global Wildlife Disease Reporting System: WAHIS–Wild Emerging Viral Threats the medical and veterinary domains. Our research program focuses on development of methods and approaches to enhance emerging disease preparedness, and to develop novel approaches to surveillance at the human-animal interface. Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Park Congress 14:30–16:00 A. Flahault Ecole des Hautes Etudes de Sante Publique, Paris, France disease reporting system: World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) P. Caceres OIE, Paris, France 15.001 Ebola and its spread in West Africa O. Tomori Redeemer’s University, Lagos, Nigeria Ebola virus disease, a hideous infection with fatalities as high as 90%, is caused by Ebola virus of the filoviridae family. It is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. Transmission can also occur by handling sick or dead infected wild animals (chimpanzees, fruit bats etc). Since there is no vaccine or specific drugs for treatment, patients receive general supportive therapy, The first outbreaks occurred simultaneously in 1976 in Sudan and DR Congo. There are five distinct species of the genus Ebolavirus: (Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Reston Tai Forest and Bundibugyo). Apart from Tai Forest and Reston viruses, all other Ebola virus species have been associated with large outbreaks of Ebola disease in Central and East Africa, principally in Zaire, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Uganda. The first report of Ebola virus human infection in West Africa was in 1994, in an ethnologist infected with the Ebola-Tai Forest virus strain, while conducting a necropsy on a wild chimpanzee in Tai Forest Ivory Coast. Late in 2013, an Ebola outbreak caused by Ebola-Zaire virus strain occurred in Guinea, spreading to Liberia and Sierra Leone. The West African Ebola outbreak is currently the most severe of reported outbreaks in Africa. As at July 20 2014, a total of 1,093 cases and 660 deaths have been reported. On 20th July 2014, a Liberian citizen on a flight originating from Monrovia was admitted into a private hospital on arrival in Lagos, Nigeria; he four days later with a diagnosis infection caused by Ebola-Zaire virus strain. The severity of the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa is attributed to several factors: poor disease surveillance and monitoring break down of infection control precautions in health facilities, noncompliance with aspects of the International Health Regulations (IHR) by countries and demonstrated ignorance and lack of awareness of the disease by residents of affected communities. Important lessons from the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak should be useful in controlling future epidemics of infectious diseases. 15.002 Avian influenza studies at the human-animal interface M. Koopmans Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands Influenza viruses remain among the top emerging disease threats, given their widespread presence in wild birds, and the proven capability of crossing the species barrier. The list of avian influenza viruses that may infect humans is growing, with the notable emergence of H7N9 influenza viruses in China since 2013 as the most prominent recent example. While the total number of recognized human cases is limited globally, each animal influenza virus infection in a person is considered a public health threat, as the influenza pandemics of the last 100 years all have emerged from the animal world. Science falls short in predicting which animal influenza viruses may develop into pandemic influenza viruses, and it is clear that many factors may influence this. Currently, humans are the sentinels for detection of transmission potential, a situation that is far from ideal. The history of avian influenza outbreaks affecting humans in the past decade has drawn attention to the importance of studies at the human animal interface, and development of new technologies may help strengthening and targeting surveillance efforts to hotspots for disease emergence. This may involve both serological and molecular surveillance, ideally integrated across Chikungunya is an arbovirosis (CHIKV) transmitted by the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. There are three CHIK genotypes: East-Central-South African (ECSA), West African and Asian lineages. The ECSA genotype has been associated with major epidemics in the Indian Ocean in 2005–2006, with spread towards India in 2006-2009 and then to Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, causing a total of more than 2 million cases. Since October 2013, an outbreak of Asian CHIKV occurred on the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean sea. It is not yet known from where this strain came to this French island. Within the nine following months transmission spread intensely, in numerous other Caribbean islands and in French Guyana, causing around 500,000 suspected cases (including about 6,000 laboratory-confirmed cases). Autochthonous transmission was confirmed in 89% of cases. Although we don’t have yet a deep knowledge and experience from the Asian lineage of CHIKV, what we have learned from the ECSA lineage is its high attack rate during epidemics (range from 40% in La Réunion to 75% in Lamu and Mombasa, Kenya), and the low proportion of asymptomatic cases (7 to 28%). CHIKV infections are mostly mild, with acute fever and arthralgia. Most of patients recover within one week, although a small proportion may experience debilitating arthralgia and fatigue for a couple of months or even years. Very rare severe complications have been seen, particularly in new born infants infected during delivery. No animal reservoir has been identified. Both Aedes types are competent vectors, although Aedes aegypti has been recognised as the predominant vector for the Asian genotype CHIKV. Economic burden from CHIKV has been calculated at La Réunion, and can be substantial, particularly in touristic areas. Epidemiological profile of CHIKV infections seems to follow the traces of dengue viruses, which are transmitted by the same vectors. It is therefore highly predictable that CHIKV will spread to the Americas, as dengue fever did. It is noteworthy however that CHIKV did not cause (yet) large outbreaks in temperate zones, but only limited number of autochthonous transmissions. There is no reason why CHIKV would not continue its progression, when globalization is fostering the process, and accelerating its pace. It is time to look actively for specific drugs and vaccines effective against these frequent and sometimes severe infections which have the potential to spread all over the world rapidly. Session 16 (Invited Presentations) Things Are Heating Up: Emerging Infectious Diseases and Climate Change Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 14:30–16:00 Break-out Session 16.001 Indirect effects of climate on disease emergence: Population stress and migration and emerging infectious diseases D. Fisman University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Our planet is undergoing rapid environmental change as a result of human activities. Profound changes are occurring in global climate as a result of greenhouse gas accumulation, and these changes in turn will affect precipitation patterns, temperatures, abundance of water for human consumption and agriculture, and sea level rise. All of these changes will impact human populations profoundly, and are projected 16.002 Water, climate and disease emergence A. Greer University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada The environment in which we live is changing at a rate that is unprecedented. For pathogens with environmental reservoirs such as water, climate change impacts such as warming temperatures, and changing precipitation patterns resulting in more extreme weather events can significantly alter the risk of disease occurrence in both humans and animals. This presentation will highlight how the use of both traditional and novel epidemiological modeling techniques can contribute to our understanding of the environmental drivers of waterborne disease risks. Drawing on both human and veterinary examples from across North America, we will describe environmental drivers of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) as well as the implications of these findings for understanding disease dynamics under climate warming scenarios. Identifying the potential impact of warmer temperatures, increased precipitation, and extreme weather events on the burden of different water-borne pathogens will begin to provide evidence to allow for a more nuanced understanding of the potential direction and magnitude of changes that may occur. This improved understanding will allow us to identify the best strategies for allocating appropriate resources to surveillance, and disease prevention activities in the future. 16.003 Unraveling disease signatures in climate for the improvement of disease prediction X. Rodo Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (IC3), Barcelona, Spain Assessing the role of climate variability and its changes on the incidence of infectious diseases globally, implies being able to understand the effects of climate dynamics at regional-to-local scales. Progress in climate models has been considerable over the last few decades and despite some important uncertainties, several model intercomparison exercises highlight that substantial consensus exists on both the direction and magnitude of the changes to occur over the next few decades. Understanding regional climate dynamics and how both vector populations and human societies integrate these forcing, becomes key when extrapolation to other settings and time scales is attempted. The latter being particularly true at the light of both short-term and long-term immune responses to infection. The process leading to a proper integration of climate information demands first the accurate identification of disease signatures on potential extrinsic predictors of disease, a task for which statistical approaches, which efficiently shape and constrain those regions and timescales, are required. The ulterior development of effective population disease models will therefore require a tradeoff among the paucity of data available, the understanding of disease epidemiology and a proper integration of the nonlinearities in disease dynamics within the selected modeling framework. Prediction capacity will therefore not necessarily improve with model complexity. Examples will be shown for a wide range of diseases, ranging from waterborne diseases to vector borne diseases having or not a zoonotic intermediate host and ultimately up to diseases recently seen to be windborne. November 2, 2014 56 IMED 2014 Break-out Session • The World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) is an internetbased computer system, launched in 2006, that processes data on OIE-Listed animal diseases in domestic animals and wildlife with the purpose of sharing information, reported by National Veterinary Services, with the international community. Currently, 180 OIE Member Countries have an obligation to provide animal disease information to the OIE on the 119 OIE Listed diseases on a six-monthly basis through WAHIS, additionally, 15 non-Member Countries voluntarily contribute to sharing animal health status. Moreover OIE Member Countries have to notify information on exceptional epidemiological events related to OIE-Listed diseases as well as emerging diseases (such as newly discovered Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus [MERS‐CoV]) within 24 hours after confirmation. From 1 January 2014 up to 30 July 2014, a total of 506 immediate notification/follow-up reports were submitted by Member and non-Member Countries. From 2009, to adapt to the situation created by recent animal health crises, WAHIS was tailored to make it possible to differentiate disease status between domestic animals and wildlife. One of the aims was to encourage countries to notify diseases detected in wildlife while avoiding unjustified adverse trade consequences. Another reason was to better understand epidemiological risks. In parallel, the OIE had started collecting information on wildlife specific diseases that had not met OIE’s criteria to be listed. In 2014, data on 53 infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting wildlife is voluntarily provided by OIE Member Countries on an annual basis and publicly available on a new web platform, WAHIS-Wild Interface, launched in December 2013. These diseases to be monitored in wildlife have been selected by OIE’s experts due to their importance for human health (e.g. infection with Hantavirus), domestic animals (e.g. ovine herpesvirus 2 causing malignant catarrhal fever in sheep), environmental integrity and biodiversity (e.g. Infection with Geomyces destructans also known as white nose syndrome). In addition, WAHISWild contributes in strengthening the epidemiological knowledge of diseases. For example, information on subtypes H5 and H7 of low pathogenic avian influenza virus in poultry is mandatorily reported through WAHIS, while complementary information on cases in wildlife involving all subtypes can be voluntarily reported and viewed on WAHIS-Wild Interface. This presentation will briefly introduce WAHIS and wildlife disease reporting system as well as WAHIS-Wild Interface. It will be explained how both systems can be utilised as complementary tools to provide early warning to protect animal and public health, as well as to better understand the epidemiology of various pathogens. 15.003 Chikungunya’s entry into the Americas to cause large-scale migration both due to loss of habitat (e.g., because farmland ceases to be arable, or due to loss of costal areas via sealevel rise), and due to resultant conflict. Much work has been done to date on the potential changes in infectious disease ecology that could result from, and that is already occurring as a result of, climate change, but less has been written about the impact that complex climatic feedbacks on human populations could have on the spread and emergence of infectious diseases. In this talk, I will draw on basic principles of infectious disease dynamics, as well as historical examples, to highlight how crises in human mobility and relocation that result from climate change could contribute to disease emergence. I will focus in particular on issues related to movement of human populations into erstwhile wilderness areas, the effects of refugee camps and transit centers on amplification of infectious disease outbreaks, and the interaction between conflict, climate change and disease emergence. SUNDAY November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Session 15 (Invited Presentation)s 14.001 Launching of the new OIE global wildlife • SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 Session 14 (Plenary) Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Park Congress 11:00–11:45 SUNDAY A bstracts 57 IMED 2014 A bstracts SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 17 (Invited Presentations) Pastoralism, Rural Communities and the Human Animal Health Interface in East Africa Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Park Congress 16:30–18:00 Break-out Session 17.001 Staying mobile, staying healthy: Pastoralism, mobility, and human health in the drylands of East Africa challenges for polio eradication among pastoralist communities V. Gammino US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Since its inception in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has consistently employed four key operational strategies to eradicate wild poliovirus: surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), routine immunization (RI), “mop-up” campaigns after an outbreak, and supplemental immunization activities (SIAs). In the absence of adequate RI, SIAs are relied upon to maintain population immunity, thus their 58 IMED 2014 • SUNDAY effectiveness is critical to eradication efforts. The logistics involved to implement these strategies can be daunting, however, in the presence of limited or out-of-date census data, a highly mobile target population or insecurity that can impede vaccine delivery during SIAs. Mobile populations, including pastoralists, may often live beyond the reach of established health care systems that are designed to serve sedentary populations. As a result, these groups may have limited perceptions of disease risk for low prevalence diseases such as polio, are frequently under-immunized and can be systematically excluded from disease surveillance measures. This is of particular concern within the context of GPEI, as communities with under-immunized children can serve as reservoirs for poliovirus, and unwittingly contribute to the continued disease transmission. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of the operational challenges, preliminary research findings and borrowing methods from epidemiology, geographic information systems, and anthropology, present potential “points of convergence” and solutions to strengthen current GPEI strategies and thereby improve service provision to these populations. 17.003 Control of zoonotic diseases: A route to poverty alleviation among livestock-keeping communities E. Fevre University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom no abstract submitted by presenter 17.004 Integrated human and animal health surveillance and services for remote rural communities E. Schelling Swiss Tropcial and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland no abstract submitted by presenter Session 18 (Oral Presentations) High-Consequence Viral Pathogens Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 16:30–18:00 Break-out Session 18.001 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Nigeria: Lessons to learn C. Althaus, S. Gsteiger, N. Low University of Bern, Berne, Switzerland Purpose: International travel has already spread Ebola virus disease (EVD) to major West African cities as part of the unprecedented epidemic that started in Guinea. An infected airline passenger who arrived in Nigeria on July 20, 2014 caused outbreaks in Lagos and Port Harcourt. By September 13, there were 21 reported EVD cases including 8 deaths. We quantified the impact of early control measures in preventing further spread of EVD in Nigeria and calculated the risk that a single undetected case will cause a new outbreak. Methods & Materials: We extended our EVD transmission model (Althaus, PLOS Curr, 2014 Sept 2) and applied it to data of the outbreak in Nigeria reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: We estimated the basic reproduction number R0=5.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.2-6.8). We also found that the reported control interventions including case isolation, contact tracing and surveillance were successful in reducing the reproduction number below unity 15 days (95% CI: 10–21 days) after the death of the index case. Using the estimated value of R0 in Nigeria, we calculated that the risk of an outbreak from a single undetected case was 81% (95% CI: 76–85%). Conclusion: R0 in Nigeria was substantially higher than in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. This shows the large number of contacts at risk of infection when EVD is introduced through air travel. Cities at the highest risk of imported cases should have strong surveillance at airports and the capacity to implement intensive control measures. 18.002 Study of the impact of canine distemper and rabies viruses on the red fox population in Northern Italy trough a microsatellite analysis outlining the population genetic structure B. Zecchin1, M. De Nardi1, B. Crestanello2, P. Nouvellet3, M. Babbucci4, C. A. Donnelly3, C. Vernesi2, A. Milani1, P. De Benedictis1, G. Cattoli1 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padova, Italy, 2Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele All’adige, Trento, Italy, 3 Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, 4University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy Purpose: In 2006 northern Italy was affected by an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV), which is still circulating in the red fox population. From 2008 to the beginning of 2011, the rabies virus was introduced in the same area from the Balkan region. The objective of this research is to study the genetic and spatial structure of the fox population in northern Italy, where rabies and CDV were circulating with similar temporal and spatial patterns; as well, we explored the association between these infections and the genetic characteristics of the fox population. Methods & Materials: We investigated the results of the microsatellite analysis of 379 samples of foxes collected from the regions affected by rabies and distemper infections. A panel of 21microsatellite markers was selected and we examined the genetic and spatial structure of the red fox population with a Bayesian clustering analysis implemented in Structure 2.3.3 and Geneland 4.0.2. We further explored the susceptibility of the identified fox sub-groups either to rabies or to CDV infection through a matched case-control study. Results: The study area included three regions of north easternItaly(Friuli-Venezia-Giulia,Veneto, Trentino-Alto-Adige) in which we identified 4 distinct sub-populations. The population structure likely reflects the presence of artificial and environmental barriers able to reduce the movement patterns of foxes; therefore, from a geographical point of view, sub-populations are partially segregated. As a result of the case control study we had indications that one of the four subpopulations was more susceptible to rabies and less to CDV, while another turned out to be less concerned by rabies and more by CDV. Conclusion: By analyzing the genetic structure of the red fox population, we found evidence for a spatial segregation able to influence the spread of CDV and rabies viruses. However, to better understand the dynamics of both diseases we have to take into account a multiplicity of factors: the ecological features of the red fox population, the presence of migrants, the land use and the presence of environmental and artificial barriers. This will allow improvement of diseases surveillance, control, preparedness and intervention. 18.003 A surveillance of Ebola outbreak disease at Télimélé, Guinea Conakry 2014 J. M. V. Namahoro, S. Mehtar Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa Results: 118 exposed persons were observed for 21 days and 25 persons among them develop the Ebola outbreak disease, 9 died. The attack rate of Ebola outbreak disease equals to at Télimélé and the mortality was 9 died out of 25 infected (36%). The female are more infected than the men (57% and 43%). The infection risk increases in adult generation. The funeral preparation of death from Ebola virus was the transmission risk factor of Ebola outbreak. Conclusion: To control the Ebola outbreak disease, additional strategies such as involving community leaders in response efforts are used to alleviate concerns of hesitant and fearful population so that healthcare workers can care for patients in treatment centers and thorough contact tracing can be performed. Enhancing communication across borders with respect to disease surveillance will assist in the control and prevention of more cases in this Ebola virus disease outbreak. 18.004 First deployment of the European mobile laboratory in the course of the Guinea Ebola outbreak K. Stoecker1, E. Fleischmann1, S. Mely2, E. Newman3, S. Meschi4, B. Becker-Ziaja5, M. Gabriel5, A. DiCaro6, S. Gunther7, R. Wölfel1 1 Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany, 2Laboratoire P4 INSERM–Jean Mérieux, Lyons, France, 3Public Health Engalnd, Porton Down, United Kingdom, 4National Institute for Infectious Diseases”L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 5Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, 6National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy, 7Bernhard notch Institute of Tropical medicine, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany Purpose: Over the last 30 years Filovirus outbreaks repeatedly occurred in the sub-Saharan African region. However, until recently the western African sub-region was spared from this burden. On the 10th of March 2014 local health authorities in Guéckédou and Macenta, Guinea, reported the outbreak of a deadly disease characterized by severe diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Methods & Materials: After confirmation of an Ebola Zaire strain as the causative agent of the disease, the Global Outbreak and Response Network of the World Health Organisation (GOARN/WHO) asked the European Mobile Laboratory (EMLab) Consortium on the 23rd of March to support the outbreak response mission by the deployment of the EMLab. Three days later the lab equipment was deployed, accompanied by a team of the EMLab consortium. Upon arrival at the Médecins Sans Frontières isolation ward in Guéckédou, the epicentre of the outbreak, the lab was set into operational readiness, and started to run diagnostic tests on patient samples. Results: Since then, more than 600 samples have been analysed and five team rotations took place (as of end of June). Here, we introduce the concept of the EMLab, which has been developed at the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology. Furthermore, lessons learned so far from this first deployment of the EMLab, including logistics, laboratory concept, differential diagnosis, case load, establishment of transmission chain and daily routine will be presented. Conclusion: The EMLab consortium consists of partners from the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Instituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive, Irrua-Specialist-TeachingHospital, National Institute for Medical Research Dar es Salam, Public health England, Institute of Virology Marburg, Laboratoire P4 INSERM, Robert Koch Institute and Spiez Laboratory. November 2, 2014 17.002 Reaching the fifth child: Operational International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Livestock keeping pastoralists who live in dryland regions of East Africa rely on macro- and micro-mobility in order to sustain their livelihood systems. Dominant narratives of pastoral mobility have suggested that pastoralists tend to move “haphazardly” and across wide spaces in search of water and forage, with little nuance surrounding the reasons for mobility. New empirical evidence suggests that pastoral mobilities are the result of synergies between social, ecological, economic, and political fluctuations, which change rapidly across time and space. Yet despite this new evidence, dominant narratives of mobility have persisted and hampered efforts to prevent and treat pastoralists for emerging infectious diseases such as Q Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Trypanosomiasis, and East Coast Fever. This is because existing health care facilities do not adequately reflect, both in their physical location and their social access, the complex realities of pastoral mobility in an era of changing climate, ecology, and politics. Additionally, there remain social and economic stigmas, regardless of proximity to healthcare, which limit pastoralists’ abilities to meaningfully engage with health care practitioners and reduce susceptibility to or prevent emerging infectious diseases. In this paper we describe a new conceptual approach to understand why pastoralists remain vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases, by relying on the lens of pastoral mobility. We present preliminary empirical data on the disjuncture between health care access and delivery and the everyday rhythms of pastoral mobility. We argue prevention and treatment of emerging infectious diseases can be more effective if the physical location of health care facilities and the services that they provide is coupled with a more detailed understanding of pastoral mobility. To demonstrate this claim, we present spatially explicit data on the GPS based locations of forage, water, market and trading centers, herders, livestock, and health care providers as they move around a dryland landscape in Kenya. This evidence clarifies how access to healthcare is mediated by space and time and across changing ecologies and politics. This new conceptual approach provides the potential to bridge gaps in our understanding of why pastoralists in drylands remain susceptible to emerging infectious diseases. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 B. Butt University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA A bstracts Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the trend of transmission risk of Ebola outbreak disease in community of Télimélé in Guinea Conakry. To identify the contacts of ill or deceased persons and tracking the contacts daily for the entire incubation period of 21 days Methods & Materials: A descriptive study design and audit form was used to collect the data. Two criteria were considered: being close to the patients with Ebola outbreak disease more than 12 hours and participation in unsafe burial practices. All exposed were under observation for 21 days after being exposed(1,4-6) 59 IMED 2014 A bstracts A bstracts SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 18.005 Ebola preparedness and response: The role of a development organization in Freetown, Sierra Leone • travellers as a basis for surveillance of emerging arboviral diseases N. Cleton1, J. Wagenaar2, A. van der Eijk3, J. Reimerink4, E. van Gorp5, C. Reusken5, M. Koopmans6 1 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands, 2ErasmusMC, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 3Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 4National Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands, 5 Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 6Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands Purpose: Emerging diseases with global public health impact have stressed global health surveillance in recent decades. Many display overlapping symptoms and geographical distribution, complicating early warning. Local diagnostic databases can support international surveillance activities in a wide range of diseases. Through a retrospective database and serological analysis of all arboviral diagnostic requests in the Netherlands from 2009-2013 we assessed the potential for syndromic diagnostic algorithms that enhance the ability to detect emerging infections. Methods & Materials: Patients were divided according to clinical syndromes, travel history and diagnostic results. Based on literature review, diagnostic flow charts and diagnostic serological multiplex protein arrays were created using a combination of syndrome and 60 IMED 2014 Tanzania during 2014: preliminary results from an outbreak investigation F. Vairo1, L. E. Mboera2, P. De Nardo3, N. Oriyo2, S. Meschi4, E. Nicastri5, A. Minha6, S. Rumisha2, M. Malechela2, G. Ippolito7 1 National institute for Infectious Diseases “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 2 National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of, 3National Institute for Infectious Diseases INMI “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Please Select, Italy, 4National Institute for Infectious Diseases”L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 5National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 6National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga, Tanzania, United Republic of, 7National Institute fro Infectious Diseases “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy Purpose: From 2010, seasonal outbreaks of dengue have been reported in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In February 2014 a report from PROMED mail showed the increasing occurrence of dengue cases. As early May 2014 there were over 300 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Dar es Salaam. An outbreak investigation was carried out. Preliminary data on risk factors and clinical presentation are reported. Methods & Materials: The survey was conducted, during June 2014 in seven selected sites in the three districts of Dar es Salaam. Patients with febrile illness of less than 7 days were tested dengue by rapid test (DRT) for the presence of antigen and antibodies. Demographic, environmental and clinical data were collected from the patient through a structured interview. Acute dengue fever (DF) has been defined as Antigen and/or IgM positivity at DRT. Results: We enrolled 483 patients with fever. DRT showed positive results in 110 (22.8%) subjects. Among these, 101 (20.9%) patients had DF. Among the enrolled patients, 9 (1.9%) patients were positive for IgG only. Among the DF patients, 30 (29.7%) subjects had IgG. The incidence of malaria was 35.2% overall and 20.8% among DF patients. In the clinical presentation only joint and muscle pain were strongly associated with the presence of DF (p <0.001). Dengue warning signs were present in 42 patients (41.6%). Three patients had severe dengue (1 had hemorrhagic manifestations and 2 shock; among these, one had IgG positive). No deaths were observed. Thirty-four patients (33.7%) were admitted. Conclusion: The incidence of DF was high. Compared to previous studies in Zanzibar, the prevalence of past infection is very low as shown by the IgG positivity. The high incidence of coinfection with malaria during epidemic underlines the need to simultaneously test all febrile patients for dengue and malaria. The non-specific clinical 18.008 Epidemiology of West Nile virus and endemic arboviruses in neurological disease in South Africa: A One Health approach M. Venter1, J. Williams2, C. van Eeden2, S. van Niekerk3, V. Stivaktas2, M. Pretorius2, M. Rakgotho2, L. Braack2, P. Almeida4, R. Swanepoel2 1 US-Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa, 2University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 3Roche, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, Portugal Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is endemic to South Africa but underreported as neurological pathogen. To investigate WNV and other arboviruses with zoonotic potential, a One Health approach was used since 2008 to trace virus activity, seasonality, molecular epidemiology, disease potential and vectors involved. Methods & Materials: Country-wide surveillance for acute neurological disease/fevers in horses was initiated in 2008. From 2010 postmortem specimens from fatal neurological cases in wildlife and livestock were also accepted. Mosquito vectors were trapped monthly since 2012 in 4 sites in Gauteng and Limpopo where horse and wildlife cases occurred. Specimens from humans with acute neurological disease were collected at 3 hospitals in Gauteng in 2008-2009 and since 2012. Sera from 127 healthy veterinarians from across the country were screened for WNV and Shunivirus (2012). Acute specimens were screened by Flavi- and alphavirus genus specific PCRs followed by specific realtime-PCRs for WNV, Wesselsbron, Sindbis, Middelburg, Shuni, equine encephalosis (EEV); WNV IgM ELISA and positive cases sequenced. Neutralization assays was used to define sero-prevalence. Results: WNV was detected annually in 1-17% of 609 horses (91% neurological and 36% fatal) (2008-2013). All PCR positive cases were lineage 2 except one fatal lineage 1 case. Other viruses identified by RTPCR in neurological horse cases include Middelburg(7%) Sindbisvirus(1%), Shunivirus(1.7%), Equine encephalosis(9%) and Wesselsbronvirus(0.3%). 15/169 brain or spinal cord specimens from other species tested positive for Sindbis (2); Shunivirus (4), WNV(2); Middelburg (6) and EEV(1) representing 5/23 rhinoceros, 3/15 warthog, 1/28 Cape Buffalo, 1/6 crocodiles, 2/2 giraffe and 2/37 bovine. Cases were distributed across the country from February-June. Mosquito abundance peaked in February-April and is being screened. In hospitalized humans with neurological diseases, WNV was confirmed in 3.6% of 206 cases while 17% had neutralizing antibodies (2008-2009). WNV (7.9%) and Shunivirus(4%) antibodies were detected in 127 healthy veterinarians across the country in 2012. Serological screening for the other viruses is in process. Conclusion: WNV lineage 2 was associated with severe disease in horses and humans in South Africa, across the country, predominated in late summer. Other endemic arboviruses with zoonotic potential contribute to neurological disease in several animal species and should be investigations in humans. 18.009 A strategy to estimate unknown viral diversity in mammals S. J. Anthony Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Purpose: The majority of emerging zoonoses originate in wildlife and many are caused by viruses. However there are no rigorous estimates of total viral diversity for any wildlife species, despite the utility of this to future surveillance and control of emerging zoonoses. Here we present a framework for the discovery of novel viruses in wildlife and use it to make the first estimate of the number of viruses that exist in a mammalian host, as well as the sampling effort required to achieve it. Methods & Materials: We repeatedly sampled a mammalian host known to harbor zoonotic pathogens (the Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus) and used PCR with degenerate viral family-level primers to discover viruses from nine viral families. We then adapted statistical techniques commonly used to estimate biodiversity in vertebrates and plants (rarefaction, Chao2) to estimate the total viral richness in this species. Results: A total of 55 viruses from seven viral families were detected. This included 11 paramyxoviruses, 14 adenoviruses, 13 herpesviruses, 2 bocaviruses, 8 astroviruses, 4 coronaviruses and 3 polyomaviruses. Of these, 50 were considered novel and several were shown to be phylogenetically related to known human pathogens. Analysis of the relative frequency of these viruses produced reliably asymptotic behavior and estimated the total viral richness to be 58 viruses (limited to the viral families tested for). We then used a simple extrapolation to estimate there are a minimum of 320,000 mammalian viruses awaiting discovery within these families and estimated the cost of their discovery to be ~US$6.3 billion (or ~US$1.4 billion for 85% of the total diversity). Conclusion: Our work illustrates the power of using ecological approaches to characterize viral diversity and estimate viral richness, and can be considered part of a strategy to better target surveillance to identify agents that pose zoonotic risks before they emerge in people. As pathogens continue to emerge from wildlife, this estimate allows us to put preliminary bounds around the potential size of the total ‘zoonotic pool’, and facilitates a better understanding of where best to allocate resources for the subsequent discovery of global viral diversity 18.010 Foot and mouth disease epizootic in the Maghreb (2014): Sequence of events and adopted strategy A. Benkirane1, A. Shimshony2 Department of Pathology & VPH, Rabat, Morocco, 2 Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel 1 Purpose: This paper describes the spatial and temporal sequence of events for the 2014 foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the Maghreb after 14 years of disease freedom, and analyzes the adopted control measures in affected Tunisia and Algeria, as well as preventive measures underway in neighboring Morocco, a country presently at high risk of contamination. Methods & Materials: Information used to this end was collected through OIE weekly bulletins, FAO global information system, personal contacts with senior veterinarians, reports from the local press, as well as data directly obtained from a vaccine producer and from two international FMD reference laboratories ; all have been published in ProMED-mail and ProMED-MENA’s postings. Results: FMDV serotype O (topotype ME-SA, lineage Ind-2001d) was officially notified from Libya in April 2013. Apparently, no contingency plans were consequently prepared by other North African countries at risk. In previous years, mass annual FMD vaccinations were applied in Tunisia (large & small ruminants) and Algeria (cattle only), using a bivalent A & O vaccine, the latter of the West African Lineage; coverage was partial. When both were hit in 2014, they reacted essentially through animal movement control, some culling of diseased and slaughtering of in-contact animals, and mass vaccination campaigns. Initially, FMDV vaccine strains O1 Manisa and O BFS were used ; both have been found poorly matching the circulating strain. As a result, the outbreak continued to spread rapidly in Tunisia (since April) and in Algeria (since July), eventually affecting vast territories within both countries. Morocco has opted, in 2007, for the cessation of FMD vaccination with the aim of applying for the OIE status of “free country without vaccination”. When the disease flared up in Tunisia, two million doses of a serotype O vaccine composed of strains O1 Manisa and O-3036 were ordered, a preventive vaccination campaign launched in August 2014. In September, Tunisia and Algeria started using new vaccines based on strain O-TUR-05-9 which, similarly to O-3036, matches the field strain. Conclusion: Hopefully this will limit the spread of FMD in the two affected countries and minimize the losses likely to result from a possible contamination of the Moroccan ruminant population, of which only cattle are being vaccinated. November 2, 2014 18.006 Syndromic approach to diagnostics of febrile 18.007 Outbreak of Dengue fever in Dar es Salaam, presentation of DF make the diagnosis harder in malaria endemic countries. High proportion of patients showed warning signs, three patients had diagnosis of severe dengue, 29.7% acute patients were positive for IgG suggesting more than one serotype could be circulating. ELISA, PCR and viral sequencing are ongoing. • SUNDAY Purpose: Since May 2014, Sierra Leone has experienced its first Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak.King’s Sierra Leone Partnership (KSLP), an initiative of King’s Health Partners in London, focuses on health system strengthening through a long-term health partnership with Connaught Hospital, where they have an in-country team. Traditionally, humanitarian organisations dominate emergency response. However, KSLP were invited immediately to join the national Ebola case management committee and taskforce at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), to assist with nationwide preparedness and response planning. Methods & Materials: Initially, KSLP were asked to advise Connaught on modifying international guidelines to develop a Hospital Preparedness Plan, which was disseminated nationally, and assist in training healthcare staff. Nationally, we assisted by contacting all Western Area hospitals were to assess whether they had an equipped isolation unit, received the national operational plan, and had trained staff. We also conducted site inspections of isolation units nationwide. Results: We helped Connaught set up a well-equipped isolation unit; provided training for staff including screening, disease management, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). We defined staff key roles and provided clinical assistance with suspected patients. Progressively, we’ve had less involvement in clinical management with an Ebola lead at Connaught, supported by KSLP. Our communication and site visits helped identify areas of weakness and distribute appropriate information and equipment. We also identified and addressed ethical dilemmas both clinically for suspected patients and for us, as an organisation. Conclusion: Development organisations such as KSLP are well placed to respond rapidly to specific scenarios in emergency response due to their knowledge of local health-systems and their relationship with key partners. This experience has augmented our close working relationship with local partners and MoHS. We believe that a wellequipped, technically and clinically proficient development organisation can play a key role in humanitarian emergencies. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 S. Rokadiya, O. Johnson, P. Arkell, M. Lado, C. Brown, G. Deen, E. Hanciles King’s Health Partners, Freetown, Sierra Leone geographical distribution in relation to virus group and probability of infection. These results were compared to diagnostics requested by physicians to identify possible gaps when using physician indexed approach. Results: Data for 26,511 samples (8126 patients) was analyzed. 25% of patients had both travel history and clinical history included in their diagnostic request and <0.1% had reported vaccination history. DENV was the most performed diagnostic test (84% of patients) followed by CHIKV (20%) and WNV (6%) of which respectively 20%, 18% and 3% tested positive. The largest proportion of patients returned from Southeast Asia (34%), followed by the Caribbean and South America. The most prominent symptoms were febrile disease (83%), arthralgia (19%) and rash (10%). Patients presenting with rash and hemorrhagic symptoms were more often DENV positive (odds ratio 1.7 and 2.3). Presenting arthralgia, arthritis or respiratory symptoms reduced probability (odds ratio 0.7 and 0.5). DENV was consistently tested when indicated from the diagnostic algorithm. This was not the case in 44% of patients with symptoms indicative of CHIKV infection. Conclusion: Returning travelers on which arboviral diagnostics are performed present frequently with febrile illness, sometimes with some additional symptoms. While travel destination and syndrome could be used to triage for diagnostics, this is not consistently done for all patients for whom this is indicated. This points at an important gap in case finding and stresses the need for syndromic based diagnostic algorithms and matching laboratory methods to identify all relevant (emerging) infections. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 61 IMED 2014 A bstracts MONDAY • November 3, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 19 (Invited Presentations) One Health Approach Monday, November 3, 2014 Room: Park Congress 08:30–10:30 Break-out Session 19.001 State-space models, risk maps and public health: One-health approach of hantavirus infections K. Tersago University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium Purpose: Predictive frameworks for wild zoonotic infection occurrence are needed for proper risk assessment of environmental changes and targeted prevention strategies. Puumala virus (PUUV) is the most common hantavirus in Europe, is specifically hosted by bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and causes a form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans, called nephropathia epidemica (NE). In the last decade, intermittent epidemic foci of NE have changed significantly in size and frequency in Western Europe. Consequently, within the EDENext project, a multidisciplinary approach was used to build and evaluate the potential of climate and land use variables in predicting occurrence of NE epidemics throughout the Western-European region in space and time. Hence, allowing the construction of risk maps and visualize detailed NE risk foci in the coming year. Methods and Materials: Geo-referenced NE case data between 2004 and 2010 linked to high resolution spatial polygons from Belgium, France, Germany and The Netherlands were used to construct a NE model dataset. Potential explanatory variables (climate, land use and remote sensing derivatives) were selected based on a literature study and previous modelling work. The final parameter selection was done by a bootstrapped mixed model approach and a geo-statistical spacetime Poisson model was used for prediction of NE relative risk in each of the polygons of our study region. Model evaluation was based on an out-of-sample dataset from 2011 and 2012. Results: A purely climate-based model frame was selected to predict the regionwide space-time trend in NE occurrence best. Beech occurrence was selected as the most dominant purely spatial determinant of NE occurrence. Our model frame enables forecasting NE relative risk in the coming year throughout the Western-European region with high specificity (96%) and moderate sensitivity (60%). Predictions improve further when correcting for risk overestimation in years directly following local high NE outbreaks. Conclusion: This study is one of few examples of applied forecasting of zoonotic disease emergence, based only on environmental triggers, that could aid targeted prevention measures over a vast region. Understanding the biology, epidemiology and public perception of zoonotic disease (and its emergence and mitigation) within the context of a One Health approach is needed to ensure all appropriate factors are taken into account. Close collaboration between disciplines and institutions is necessary to tackle the challenges for Public Health and its task to inform the public in a way that will enhance compliance and will help to protect or at least mitigate the risks for the public from vector-borne diseases in endemic areas. Drawing from ongoing work within the EDENext FP7 project ‘Biology and control of vector-borne 62 IMED 2014 E. Cardinale CIRAD, Ste Clotilde, France Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic infection caused by a Phlebovirus. This virus can be maintained in the environment by an enzootic cycle involving wild and domestic ruminants and mosquitoes. In domestic ruminants, RVFV causes mass abortions and high neonatal mortality. Humans are accidental hosts: infection is acquired when handling infected animals or contact. In Madagascar RVF epidemics occurred in 2008 and 2009 in several regions with 418 severe suspected human cases, including 59 confirmations and 7 deaths. The goal of this study was to investigate the RVFV spread in ruminants during these latest events taking into account environmental conditions and livestock trade and try to deduce the potential risks of infection for the human population in this country. Thus, monthly collections of recorded cattle and small ruminant movements were organized all over Madagascar in 2010 in primary and secondary markets and slaughterhouses and data were analyzed by social network analysis (SNA). To asses RVFV seroprevalence, blood was taken from 3,438 cattle, 227 sheep and 762 goats and sera were tested with commercial ELISA kits. Several remotely-sensed environmental data spanning from 2005 to 2008 were collected from different repositories, and their values were computed for the area covering each municipality. Human population data in 2010 was retrieved from international databases. We used a logistic regression model to check the associations between ruminant seroprevalence and environmental and ruminant-trade variables. We derived the RVFV infection risk for humans from previous serological studies in humans correlated with the density and predicted seroprevalence of ruminants in each municipality. Such research studies are not only led in Madagascar but also in the Comoros archipelago, within the new SEGA “One Health” network. This first-generation RVFV risk model will be further refined using both environmental and public-health data. Output of the model will be shared with the surveillance network and will serve to focus a combine human-animal surveillance and improve intersectoral emergency response. 19.004 How to improve the practical implementation of One Health? E. Schelling Swiss Tropcial and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland no abstract submitted by presenter Session 20 (Oral Presentations) Emerging Respiratory Viruses Monday, November 3, 2014 Room: Klimt 2 & 3 08:30–10:30 Break-out Session 20.001 20.001The distribution pattern of avian influenza H5N1 viruses in the high transmission area in Java, Indonesia T. A. Garjito1, J. Jastal2, M. Mujiyanto3, W. Widoretno4, Y. Udin2 1 Institute of Vector and reservoir control research and development, Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia, 2Vector Borne Diseases research and development unit donggala, Donggala, Central SUlawesi, Indonesia, 3Vector borne diseases research and development unit donggala, Donggala, Central SUlawesi, Indonesia, 4Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia Purpose: Indonesia has became a country with highest confirmed human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 virus (HPAIV) in Indonesia. As of Juli 2014, Ministry of Health Indonesia reported 197 confirmed human cases of infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus from Indonesia. Of these 165 died (CFR : 83.67 %). By the end of June 2014, a total of 51 H5N1 positive confirmed cases occured in Jakarta, 51 cases in West Java and 31 cases in Banten provinces. The aim of this study was to investigate the transmission pattern of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 in the highest transmission area in this area using molecular analysis and geographical information system. Methods & Materials: To analyze the transmission pattern, spatial modelling carried out to analyze and predict the pattern of transmission. Molecular analysis was also conducted to identify the virus population and genetic relationship between cases and outbreak of H5N1 virus in both of human and poultry that important for spatial analysis. Results: The distribution of positive confirmed HPAI H5N1 cases have the dispersal movement to west and east with spesific pattern that leads to the northwest and southeast. We have only used spatial data based on molecular information from the H5N1 cases in both of human and poultry with spesific clade 2.1.3. There is no relationship between the population density and the case distribution. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the possibility of HPAI H5N1 transmission is still ongoing in this region with spesific pattern. Strengthening early warning system to anticipate the possibility of outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in humans in the region becomes very urgent and important. 20.002 Detecting H5N1-HPAI virus variants in the endemic situation: developing an integrated web-based, surveillance platform (“IVM Online”) P. A. Durr1, N. Hartaningsih2, H. Wibawa3, P. Pudjiatmoko4, S. H. Irianingsih3, R. Dharmawan3, J. McGrane2, P. Selleck5, M. Kim Torchetti6, W. Sastraningrat7 1 Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 2 FAO, Jakarta, Indonesia, 3DGLAHS, Wates, Indonesia, 4DGLAHS, Jakarta, Indonesia, 5CSIRO, Geelong, Australia, 6USDA, Ames, IA, USA, 7Udayana University, Jimbaran, Indonesia Background: Since 2003, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 (HPAI-H5N1) has been endemic in poultry flocks in Indonesia. As from July 2005, it also caused sporadic disease in humans, with Indonesia having the highest cumulative total of cases worldwide. Through the use of vaccination, the disease has been largely controlled in poultry flocks, but there is an ongoing need to monitor antigenic drift in response to this vaccination, as well as detecting novel incursions. Objective: To develop a surveillance system based on the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture’s (MoA) regional veterinary laboratory network to antigenically and genetically characterize isolates from outbreaks of HPAI-H5N1. Methods & Materials: Since 2010, a partnership project between FAO and the Indonesian MoA has been developing a formal approach to monitor HPAI-H5N1 virus, the “Influenza Virus Monitoring” or “IVM” network. This “molecular surveillance” system has successfully implemented the laboratory protocols for the antigenic and genetic characterisation of H5N1 isolates. In the past year, work has focused on developing a robust data management platform (“IVM Online”) as well as defining governance structures for the network. Results: The IVM network has successfully undertaken antigenic screening for over 750 HPAI-H5N1 isolates. A particular success of the network was the recognition of a new incursion of clade “2.3.2.1” virus with distinct epidemiological and clinical features. The web-based system (“IVM Online”) stores all the test data, as well as the sequence data. IVM Online uses a mix of custom written programs and third-party modules to provide advanced bioinformatics tools, which enable fully replicable analyses. A quality control (QC) module plots the time series of the positive controls (“Levey-Jennings charts”), and thereby detects potentially sub-standard runs. The IVM Online application is written using open-source programming languages and only uses freeware third party tools, thus avoiding any costly overheads in its maintenance. Conclusion: The Indonesian IVM network (including IVM Online) is successful example of developing an advanced molecular surveillance system. As such, it has potential relevance for other countries seeking to establish laboratory networks to monitor avian influenza and other pathogens. 20.003 Survey for avian influenza A virus subtypes H5, H9 and H7 in the live bird markets’ environment in Bangladesh P. K. Biswas1, M. Giasuddin2, B. K. Nath1, M. Z. Islam1, N. C. Nath3, M. Yamage3 1 Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 3FAO, Dhaka, Bangladesh Purpose: A very little is known on the circulation of avian influenza A virus (AIV) subtypes in the live bird markets’ environment in Bangladesh, one of the badly-struck countries with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. To assess the circulation of AIV, particularly its three important zoonotic subtypes: HPAI H5, LPAI H9 and H7 in live bird markets’ environment, we conducted a survey in two phases on randomly selected 32 live bird markets (LBM) in Dhaka, the capital city and in Chittagong, the second largest city. Methods & Materials: In the first phase, four kinds of LBM environmental samples: market floor, poultry stall floor, poultry holding case and slaughter area of each of the selected LBM were sampled monthly once (but twice in August) during the period of July–December, 2012, except for October. In the second phase, the same four kinds of samples plus water used for meat processing were sampled, again monthly once for a period of five months—from September, 2013 to January, 2014. Each investigated sample from a selected material was a pooled one comprising samples/swabs from five places. The collected samples were investigated following the standard procedures practiced by the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza (NRL-AI) based in Savar, Dhaka. Using the recommended primer sets and probes, wherever applicable, real-time or conventional reverse transcription PCR were done to screen at first the Matrix (M) gene of AIV followed by the H5, H9 and H7 genes. Results: The results showed that, in the first phase, 13.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.4%–19.2%) LBM in their ≥ 1 environmental samples were positive with AIV, 9.4% (95% CI 5.9%–14.4%) with H5 and only 1.6% (95% CI 0.3%–4.7%) with H9. In the second phase, 19.4% (95% CI 14.0%–26.2%), 1.3% (95% CI 0.05%–4.7%) and 7.5% (95% CI 4.2%–12.8%) LBM in their ≥ 1 environmental samples were positive with AIV, H5 and H9, respectively, but none with H7. The HA cleavage site of the isolates belonging to the subtype H5 in the second phase had the amino acid motif RRRKKR*GLF. Conclusion: H5N1 and H9N2 are seemingly circulating in LBM environment in Bangladesh. November 3, 2014 • K. Dressel sine-Institut gGmbH, Munich, Germany Rift Valley fever in the animal and human health network in South-western Indian ocean International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • MONDAY health: Examples for hantavirus and CCHF virus infections 19.003 One Health as an every-day work: Example of MONDAY • November 3, 2014 MONDAY November 3, 2014 19.002 From risk maps to risk alleviation in public infections in Europe’ (www.edenext.eu) this talk will explore the challenges, rewards, limitations and potential methods for joining forces between modelling and social science with the purpose of producing more reliable and accessible alert maps for Public Health and for the design of health communication strategies for the public. Findings of a comparative study, based on qualitative, explorative data acquired by focus group research and conducted within the EU-funded project EDENext will be presented. In this approach we have produced alert maps (prevalence maps) and used them within the group discussion with people living in endemic areas of five countries. We have analysed public risk perception and information expectations of people potentially affected by the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHF) in the Republic of Macedonia and Turkey and affected regions of the Hantavirus in Germany, France and Finland. Results show considerable differences how people perceive provided alert maps and how they actually would use the material or how they evaluate the usability of these risk maps. These findings should not only be used for the improvement of future design of models; it should be also used to inform One Health practitioners on important conclusions to draw for improved Public Health communication strategies by using alert maps. A bstracts 63 IMED 2014 A bstracts MONDAY • November 3, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 20.004 Avian influenza surveillance and pathogenic potential assessment of animal influenza viruses in Russia K. Sharshov1, M. Sivay1, A. Glushchenko1, O. Kurskaya 1, M. Gulyaeva2, A. Alekseev1, A. Yurlov3, A. Shestopalov1 1 Research Center of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 2Novosibirsk University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 3 Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation Purpose: Recent outbreaks of an avian-origin H5N8, H6N1, H7N9 influenza virus raise concern of the emergence of novel reassortant viruses in Eurasia and the potential threat to the human population. Avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance and pathogenecity assesment are important tasks prior the fundamental study and using these data in practice. The study was aimed for collecting specific data on different AIV distribution and biodiversity, comparing to the data from other part of the world and filling the gap in Global Influenza Surveillance Network in Russia. Methods & Materials: The specimens were tested for AIV by standard methods. AIVs were isolated and studied by standard virological and molecular-biological methods according to WHO and OIE manuals. Cell cultures and mice model were used. Results: The report focuses on some epidemiological, pathogenic and evolutionary aspects of AIVs including H5N1 isolated in Northern Eurasia, russia in the last decade. During surveillance for AIV in Northern Eurasia (Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan) more than 10000 samples from wild birds were collected. More than 300 AIVs were isolated and 25 different subtypes were detected. All the isolated viruses belong to low pathogenic except the H5N1 virus. Moreover, we isolated some rare subtypes including H1N2, H8N8, H13N8, H10N7, H15N4, H16N3, LPAI H5N1. Some of them have not been detected in Russia earlier or elsewhere (according to databases). The biological properties of these viruses were studied. Phylogenetic analysis of different genes shows close relationship of Russian viruses with strains from different European, African, Asian countries and from Australia. We found some reassortment events between animal viruses; evolutionary trends are discussed. The report contains more detailed comparative virological, molecular, pathogenic characteristics of viruses. Some molecularepidemiological aspects are discussed. Conclusion: We showed circulation of different AIV including HPAI H5N1 among wild birds and mammals in the natural ecosystems of Northern Eurasia. Our study confirms the significant role of AIV surveillance in Russia for the Global Influenza Surveillance Network. The results demonstrate the need for ongoing surveillance to detect new pathogenic variants of animal influenza viruses. We suggest increasing efforts of AIV surveillance in discovered “hotspots” in Northern Eurasia. 20.005 Understanding the epidemiology of H5N1 and • MONDAY T. L. PHam Department of Animal Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam Purpose: To understand avian influenza (AI) in wild birds as well as in domestic birds in backyard farms and live-poultry markets (LPMs) located surrounding the wild bird’s sanctuaries in Viet Nam, DAH with the support from the OIE/Japan Trust Fund Project on Strengthening HPAI Control in Asia conducted a surveillance programme for AI from March, 2009 to October, 2012. Methods & Materials: In total, 583 wild birds classified in 95 different species, 203 environmental specimens and 5,025 poultry (including 3,697 ducks, 933 Muscovy ducks, 8 geese and 387 chickens) surrounding the wild bird’s sanctuary areas in three Southern provinces and one Northern province of Viet Nam were examined on AI viruses (AIV). At the same time of sampling, a survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) with 215 questionnaires was undertaken to 110 backyard farm owners and 105 vendors of the LPMs. The samples were tested by Real-time RT-PCR in Viet Nam then were analyzed in depth at OIE Reference Laboratory for HPAI in Japan, Hokkaido University. Data were entered into an Excel-database at DAH and were imported into SPSS 11.5 software for statistical analysis and descriptions. ArcGIS 9.3 and spatial database of Viet Nam were used for mapping. Results: The results showed that there was not any AIV detected in all wild birds sampled and in environmental samples, vice versus, at least 19 different sub-types of AIV including two sub-types of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and H5N2 were identified in poultry surrounding the wild bird’s sanctuaries. Conclusion: Poor practices of poultry grazing at backyard farms, of bird trading at LPMs together with HPAI viruses circulating among poultry population would be risky to human health. Moreover, because multiple subtypes of AIV were widely circulating in LPMs and genetic reassortment is known to occur frequently in domestic ducks, there is a potential threat that novel influenza viruses may emerge. In order to break HPAI virus circulation among poultry and to progressively reduce the risk of H5N1 in Viet Nam, more and special attention to the poultry marketing systems including LPMs should be taken in consideration. 20.007 20.007Audience segmentation as a risk communication strategy for preventing complacency toward highly pathogenic avian influenza J. M. Kreslake, Y. Wahyuningrum, B. Safi, M. E. Figueroa, D. Storey Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Purpose: Risk perception (RP) and self-efficacy (SE) are predictors of behavior in pandemic outbreaks, but research on their relevance is limited in populations with routine exposure. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) is endemic among poultry in Indonesia and human mortality is relatively high. Previous research found paradoxical associations between these predictors and behavioral outcomes, suggesting complacency and overconfidence. This study examines differences in behaviors among population segments defined by interactions between attitudinal predictors to inform targeted risk communication. Methods & Materials: Cluster analysis was conducted on a 2009 population-based Indonesian household survey (n=2,413). Attitudinal clusters were defined by mean RP and SE scores: responsive (highRP/high-SE); proactive (low-RP/high-SE); avoidant (high-RP/low-SE); indifferent (low-RP/low-SE). Multilevel regression analyses (reference group: responsives) were used. Outcomes: risk (poultry roaming around home, mingling with livestock) and protective behaviors (soap use during food preparation, safe disposal of poultry waste, reporting poultry deaths). Predictors: attitudinal group membership, controlling for age, wealth and education (SES), knowledge, district-level interventions, and district. High-incidence districts were excluded to focus on behaviors amid H5N1 background prevalence. Results: Indifferents were the largest cluster (41.2%), followed by proactives (27.2%), avoidants (22.1%), and responsives (9.6%). Avoidants were poorer (r=-0.33, p=0.01) than the highest-SES group (responsives). Odds of poultry roaming were lower among proactives (OR:0.51, p=0.002) and indifferents (OR:0.65, p=0.04) than responsives. Compared to responsives, clusters had: greater odds of livestock mingling (proactive OR:9.55, p=0.02; avoidant OR:14.77, p=0.02; indifferent OR:6.99, p=0.04), lower odds of safe poultry waste disposal (proactive OR:0.49, p=0.03; avoidant OR:0.40, p=0.01; indifferent OR:0.50, p=0.03), lower odds of reporting (proactive OR:0.20, p=0.03; avoidant OR:0.20, p=0.03; indifferent OR:0.06, p<0.001), and less soap use (proactive r=-0.41, p=0.01; avoidant r=-0.40, p=0.01; indifferent r=-0.50, p<0.001). Conclusion: Behavioral outcomes were best among individuals with high RP and high SE. Targeted communication should be designed to improve both RP and SE in the indifferent majority. Proactives are vulnerable to overconfidence; despite high SE, behavioral outcomes were poorer than indifferents. Responsives and avoidants accurately perceive high-risk environments, but avoidants demonstrate fewer protective behaviors; their lower SE may be attributable to fewer resources. Structural interventions are recommended to complement risk communication to populations with low SE and low socioeconomic status. 20.008 20.008Active surveillance of avian influenza A/ H5 and H7 viruses at live bird markets in Vietnam, 2013–2014 D. T. Nguyen1, T. N. Nguyen2, T. L. To1, T. D. Nguyen1 1 National Center for Veterinary Diagnosis, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 2 Epidemiology Division, Hanoi, Viet Nam Purpose: Vietnam is affected by avian influenza (AI) A/H5N1 viruses in both poultry and human cases since 2003. On 31/3/2013, China reported the first human infection with novel influenza A strain (H7N9), and as 4/6/2014 the number of cases reported to WHO reached 448 including 156 deaths. Vietnam shares land border with China and then exposes to a risk of H7N9 virus incursion. Therefore, two active surveillance programs were put in place (1) to monitor circulation of A/H5N1 viruses and (2) to monitor a possible influenza A/H7N9 incursion from China. Methods & Materials: Surveillance program for A/H5N1 was conducted from 10/2013-02/2014 in 147 live bird markets (LBMs) in 44 out of 63 provinces. 13,000 oropharyngeal swabs were collected from ducks and tested for flu A, H5 and N1 viruses using rRT-PCR. For H7N9, 60 markets were selected in nine northern provinces of high risk and sampled weekly from 12/2013 to 03/2014. 64,390 oropharyngeal swabs taken from chickens were tested for influenza type A and H7N9 viruses using rRT-PCR. Results: From 10/2012 to 9/2013, 147 LBMs were surveyed with 5.68% of 40,000 samples positive to H5N1. From 11/2013 to 02/2014, 5.89% of about 13,000 samples showed positive to H5N1. For the A/H7N9 surveillance, there were 2,188 pooled samples were flu A positive (17.0%), but none of these samples were positive to H7N9. Overall, Influenza type A virus was detected in 42/60 LBMs (70.0%). Conclusion: The evidence that H5N1 viruses are present indicates a threat to poultry populations and human health. The surveys’ data provide a basis for adjusting prevention/controlling policy for AI caused by A/H5N1 viruses. Although, H7N9 has not been detected in poultry, large number of tested samples were positive with influenza type A virus. Continued surveillance of H7N9 in poultry at LBMs is critical to timely response. Overall, prevalence of influenza A was detected in both active surveillances. Additionally, China recently reported influenza non-H5 subtypes such as H10N8. Hence active surveillance will help provide a comprehensive approach towards more efficient disease control and prevention for poultry and humans with a better preparation to control new introduction of other non-H5 subtypes into Vietnam. 20.009 What is the evidence for influenza transmission aboard aircraft—A systematic review C. Adlhoch, K. Leitmeyer European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden Purpose: Air travel has been shown to contribute to the spread of influenza through infected passengers and potentially through in-flight transmission. Contact tracing (CT) after exposure to influenza is not performed systematically. A systematic literature review of published investigations was performed to evaluate the evidence for influenza transmission aboard aircraft as a basis for deciding whether to trace contacts. Methods & Materials: Two databases (EMBASE, PubMed) were screened for publications on the transmission of influenza virus on aircraft. Studies investigating on-board influenza transmission from passengers and/or crew to passengers and/or crew were included. Relevant data of each publication were systematically and independently extracted by the two authors. Points were awarded to studies that limited the potential for both recall and selection bias. Points were deducted for studies failing to control for confounders like other possible exposure before and/or after the flight. Results: Independent review of 402 retrieved articles yielded 14 articles providing evidence of on-board transmission of influenza viruses. The majority (11/14) of these studies described potential transmission of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 during the initial phase of the pandemic in 2009. Overall, the evidence for on-board influenza transmission in the reviewed literature was of limited quality; the level of evidence in most studies was medium or low. Overall 68/163 (42%) identified secondary cases were sitting in the same or within two rows ahead and behind the index. When limiting this analysis to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 confirmed cases only, the ratio was higher (21/30, 70%). Conclusion: There might be a higher risk for influenza transmission in close proximity, but up to 60% of the cases would not have been identified when restricting CT. Therefore the objective for CT e.g. containment needs to be clearly identified. The analysed studies showed discrepancies in the case definition and ascertainment, CT strategies using a restricted or comprehensive approach, timeliness and completeness of follow-up as well as the investigation of alternative exposures after possible on-board exposure to influenza. These limitations made a comparison of the studies and outcomes challenging. A standardised procedure for initiating, conducting and summarizing contact tracing would be helpful for evidence-based assessment of the risk for transmission aboard aircraft. November 3, 2014 64 IMED 2014 and domestic poultry surrounding the wild bird’s sanctuaries in Viet Nam, from March, 2009 to October, 2012 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Background: The first outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (clade 2.2) and H9N2 were officially reported in Nepal in early 2009 and early 2010, respectively. The first report of H5N1clade 2.3.2.1a in South Asia was reported in January 2010. Objective : To conduct a retrospective study of laboratory data including description and preliminary analysis of spatial, temporal and population factors related to the distribution and spread of avian influenza H5N1 and H9N2 subtypes in Nepal between 2010 and 2012. Methods & Materials: A secondary data analysis was conducted of laboratory data from 2010 to 2012 related to H5N1 and H9N2. Two hundred and ninety-eight laboratory submissions were analysed and 20.006 Surveillance for avian influenza in wild birds MONDAY • November 3, 2014 MONDAY November 3, 2014 H9N2 influenza virus outbreaks in Nepal M. Akram1, R. B. Dissanayake1, K. S. Bisht1, P. Tshering1, C. Shrestha2, K. C. Thakuri2, P. Manandhar2, S. P. Gautam2, D. Castellan3, M. S. Oberoi1 1 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Lalitpur, Nepal, 2Department of Livestock Services, Kathmandu, Nepal, 3Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Bangkok, Thailand confirmed by RT-PCR at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Nepal and an international reference laboratory. Spatial, temporal and population distributions are described and analysed. Results: The analysis of retrospective data indicated that the frequency of reported avian influenza events increased by 355% from 51 in 2010 to 232 in 2012. Commercial broilers and layers constituted about 71.5% (n=213) of total AI events while backyard chicken and ducks constituted about 20.8% (n=62) of AI events. Sixty eight per cent (n=203) of the events were only related to H9N2 virus and 29.8% (n=89) were typed as H5N1 virus subtype. Three events (1%) were found to have concurrent infection with both H5N1 and H9N2 virus subtypes occurred in 2011. H5N1events were reported mainly during the first and fourth quarters of the year between 2010 and 2012 while H9N2 events were reported diffusely in all four quarters particularly in the latter half of 2011 and 2012. The highest number of H5N1events (between 16 and 32 events per year) concentrated in five districts while only two of those same districts reported H9N2 events. Conclusion: The majority of avian influenza events verified during the study period were attributable to H9N2 virus. The spatial and temporal distribution of reported H5N1 and H9N2 events differed with reference to year of onset of reporting and the temporal distribution, suggesting unique reporting and transmission characteristics of H5N1 and H9N2 events. A bstracts 65 IMED 2014 A bstracts MONDAY • November 3, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 20.010 Impact of national influenza vaccine campaign on respiratory illness in Thailand, 2010-2011 P. Silaporn1, S. Jiamsiri2 1 International communicable disease control section, Nonthaburi, Thailand, 2Expanded Program on Immunization section, Nonthaburi, Thailand Purpose: To determine the efficacy of influenza vaccine on outpatient visit and hospitalization related to influenza like illness (ILI), influenza, pneumonia of all causes and pneumonia due to influenza among high risk population in Thailand. Methods & Materials: This retrospective cohort study compared the incidence rate of ILI, influenza, pneumonia of all causes and pneumonia due to influenza among vaccinated and non-vaccinated high risk population. Vaccination status was defined according to the influenza vaccination registration in 2010 and the incidence rate of ILI, influenza, pneumonia of all causes and pneumonia due to influenza were determined using the national administrative data from the National Health Security Office during 2010–2011 and calculated into incidence rate ratio, 95% confidence interval and vaccine efficacy. Results: There were 2,244,594 high risk individuals according to the influenza vaccination registration. 1,370,373 (61.1%) were unvaccinated and 874,221 (38.9%) were vaccinated in 2010. Influenza vaccine efficacy in preventing ILI was 56% (IRR=0.44[95% CI=0.44-0.45]), but there was no significance reduction of outpatient visit related to influenza infection, pneumonia of all causes and pneumonia due to influenza infection. Influenza vaccine efficacy in preventing hospitalization related to ILI, pneumonia of all causes and pneumonia due to influenza infection were 25% (IRR=0.75[95%CI=0.71-0.78]), 38% (IRR=0.62[95%CI=0.54-0.72]) and 32% (IRR=0.68 [95%CI=0.530.86]), respectively. Interestingly, there is no significant reduction of hospitalization related to influenza infection, however, among children age 6 months to 2 years, the vaccine efficacy in preventing hospitalization due to influenza was 60% (IRR=0.40[95%CI=0.13-0.96]). Conclusion: Influenza vaccine efficacy in preventing hospitalization related to pneumonia, ILI and pneumonia related to influenza in high risk population were 25.0%, 38.0% and 32.0%, respectively. However, children age 6 months to 2 year demonstrated 60% vaccine efficacy in preventing influenza hospitalization. 20.011 Selective pressure acting on influenza neuraminidase gene: a complementary approach for studying the emergence and evolution of antiviral drug resistance and reduced susceptibility • MONDAY C. Reusken1, E. Farag2, B. Haagmans1, G.-J. Godeke3, A. Ibrahim4, S. Al Dhahiry5, S. Raj1, K. Mohran6, M. AlHAjri2, M. Koopmans7 1 Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar, 3National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands, 4Leawaina camel hospital, Doha, Qatar, 5Hamad Medical Center, Doha, Qatar, 6Ministry of the Environment, Doha, Qatar, 7Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands Purpose: There is growing evidence that dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are a reservoir for human infections with Middle East respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Although camels are suspected to be the primary source of infection for humans, the routes of direct or indirect zoonotic transmission are yet unknown. The majority of primary cases do not report contact with animals and one of the major issues to be resolved is whether, and to what extent, asymptomatic or mildly diseased individuals contribute to the spread of the virus. Here, we describe a comparative serologic investigation in Qatar, among healthy people with daily, occupational exposure to dromedary camels and healthy people who do not have contact with camels. Methods & Materials: Serum samples from nine different human cohorts were analysed for the presence of antibodies against MERSCoV, SARS-CoV or HCoV-OC43 spike domain 1 by protein micro-array technology. Individuals in five cohorts had no contact with camels (n=242), while individuals in four cohorts had daily and intensive occupational exposure to camels (n=290). Confirmatory testing was performed by plaque reduction neutralization (PRNT) for MERS-CoV. Results: None of the sera from the non-camel contact cohorts showed reactivity with MERS-CoV S1 while serum samples from 20 persons in the camel-contact cohorts reacted with the MERS-CoV antigen on the protein micro-array. Regardless whether there was occupational contact with camels or not, all cohorts showed a high seropositivity for HCoV-OC43, ranging between 93 and 100%. None of the serum samples reacted with SARS-CoV antigen. The micro-array results for MERS-CoV S1 were confirmed by PRNT. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that occupational exposure to dromedary camels is a risk factor for MERS-CoV infection. 20.013 Experimental infection of dromedary camels with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus T. Schountz1, A. Malmlov1, D. Adney1, V. Brown1, E. De Wit2, N. van Doremalen2, S. Quackenbush1, V. Munster2, R. Bowen1 1 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2Rocky Mountain Laboratories NIAID, Hamilton, MT, USA Purpose: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) emerged in 2012 and has caused more than 800 cases of disease with a fatality rate of more than 30%. It is thought the disease has an inflammatory immunopathologic component, similar to what is observed in severe acute respiratory syndrome. Recent work has shown that human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) are productively infected by MERS-CoV and these cells express many inflammatory cytokine genes, including Ifna, Cxcl10, Ccl2 and Ccl5. Although the virus likely originated in bats, serological, virological and molecular evidence suggests it is naturally hosted by dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) without causing significant disease. Methods & Materials: Camels were intranasally and intratracheally inoculated with MERS-CoV to determine susceptibility, pathology, host response and virus dynamics. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were generated to examine MERS-CoV effects on antiviral gene expression. Results: Each camel had nasal discharges and mild fevers for several days. Infectious virus was recovered only from the upper respiratory tract and for the first seven days; however, viral RNA was detected for several weeks in oral and nasal swabs. Virus was not detected in other tissues and histopathology was unremarkable, suggesting infection was confined to the upper respiratory tract. Camels held past 28 days seroconverted by ELISA to nucleoprotein. UV-inactivated MERSCoV induced robust expression of several antiviral genes in camel dendritic cells; however, infectious MERS-CoV repressed the expression of Cxcl10, Ifna, Tbk1 and Ikbke, but not Rigi or Mda5, suggesting the impact on this pathway occurs prior to IFN gene expression and IFNRα signaling. Despite this activity, and in contrast to human DC, camel DC failed to support replication of MERS-CoV. Conclusion: Together, these data indicate that camels are susceptible to MERS-CoV, but they only develop mild disease and may remain persistently infected for several weeks. These features support the hypothesis that camels are a reservoir host of MERS-CoV. We also identifed several important differences in human and camel dendritic cell responses to MERS-CoV that may account for the differential outcomes of infection. These differences may also play an important role in the ecology of MERS-CoV circulation in camel populations. 20.014 Detection of new genetic variants of betacoronaviruses in endemic frugivorous bats of Madagascar J.-M. Heraud1, N. Razanajatovo1, L. Nomenjanahary1, D. Wilkinson2, M.-M. Olive1, J. Razafimanahaka3, S. Goodman4, R. Jenkins5, J. Jones5 1 Institut Pasteur of Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2Centre de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Emergentes dans l’Ocean Indien (CRVOI), Sainte Clotilde, France, 3Madagasikara Voakajy, Antananarivo, Madagascar, 4Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, il, USA, 5Bangor University, Gwynedd, United Kingdom Purpose: Bats are amongst the natural reservoirs of many coronaviruses (CoVs) of which some can lead to severe infection in human. To date no CoVs has been identified in endemic bats of Madagascar. Methods & Materials: We sampled frugivorous bats in four different areas of Madagascar: Anjohibe, Anosibe An’Ala, Menabe and Toliara based on known accessible colonies of roosting bats and sites where bats are frequently hunted and eaten by people. Specimen were tested for the presence of coronavirus using RT-PCR that target the RdRp gene. Phylogenetic analysis were performed from a 440 bp fragment of the RdRp gene previously cleaned and aligned with reference sequence collected from a literature search. Results: We analyzed fecal and throat swabs from 351 frugivorous bats belonging to three species captured in four different regions of Madagascar. We detected 14 coronaviruses from two endemic bats species, of which 13 strains were isolated from Pteropus rufus and one strain isolated from Eidolon dupreanum, giving an overall prevalence of 4.5%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Malagasy strains belong to the genus Betacoronavirus but form three distinct clusters, which seem to represent previously undescribed genetic lineages. Molecular dating analyses estimated the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) dates for coronavirus for all Malagasy strains at 1074 years ago, while the separation of Malagasy strains from SARS virus strains was estimated to have occurred 1769 years ago. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CoVs, which circulate in frugivorous bats of Madagascar, potentially pose a spillover risk to human populations especially for individuals that hunt and consume infected bats. Overlaying in a temporal sense the estimated emergence period of Coronavirus genetic lineages occurring on Madagascar with apparent African affinity, and the dispersal biogeographical history of the three Malagasy fruit bat species, it can be presumed that they colonized Madagascar before the emergence of virus group. To date the mechanism of dispersal of coronavirus in Madagascar is unknown. One of our hypothesis is that another bat specy might play a role in pathogen dispersal across the Mozambique Channel. Session 21 (Plenary) Changing Disease Landscapes Monday, November 3, 2014 Room: Park Congress 11:00–11:45 21.001 Changing disease landscapes: Using the pressure-state-response model J. Lubroth FAO, Rome, Italy Threats of animal origin are increasing as a result of ongoing societal developments that alter and shape global disease landscapes. Population growth escalates, the globe becomes more interconnected through traffic of people, goods, and animals or their products, fluctuations in climate become more common, encroachment into sylvatic disease cycles mesh with compounding urban expansion and agriculture intensification, and in the face of continuous proliferation of poverty, accesses to goods and medical services (human or veterinary) is often weak. The joint outcome of these pressures is the intensified contact between humans, wildlife, and domestic animals and sharing of their microbes, resulting in emergence, spread and persistence of infectious diseases (a degraded ‘state’). Disease burdens are increasingly caused by infectious disease agents that flare up in an existing reservoir, spill over into other vulnerable species, invade new geographic areas, or gain new traits such as virulence or antimicrobial resistance through genetic evolution. These disease burdens contribute to the vicious cycle of rural and urban poverty. Livestock health is the weakest link in our global health chain, and disease drivers in livestock as well as wildlife are having increasing impacts on humans. Over 70 percent of human diseases originate in animals, and our expanding human population inhabits more wildernesses while becoming ever more reliant on animals for food. With regard to the pressures and the state of livestock and global health, diseases must be addressed at its source, particularly in animals. A sustainable response requires decision makers inside and outside the medical community to identify the drivers of the pressures and reduce the ominous state we find ourselves. Approaches that capture and apply the One Health mind set are of utmost importance to effectively manage disease risks emanating from the complex interactions between humans, animals and their environment. This integrated and interdisciplinary approach is required to develop policies that are sensitive to the natural resource base, conservation and to promote sustainable livestock production to meet the needs food production that demands more animal foodstuffs to feed the world of 9.6 billion by 2050. November 3, 2014 66 IMED 2014 is a risk factor for infection with MERS-CoV: A comparative serologic study International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: The repertoire of influenza antivirals is currently very limited, making resistance a serious public health threat. Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) oseltamivir and zanamivir are presently the only effective antiviral drugs available worldwide for influenza management, targeting neuraminidase (NA) protein that is under both antiviral and antibody selective pressure (SP). Aim: To investigate the SP acting on the NA of seasonal (A(H3N2), A(H1N1), B-Yamagata, B-Victoria) and pandemic (A(H1N1)pdm09) influenza viruses. It comprises two main objectives:(1) to evaluate the contribution of positive SP (PSP) for the emergence of NAIs resistance (R) or reduced susceptibility (RS); and (2) to determine the impact of NAIs introduction into clinic and wide use during 2009 pandemic in the SP acting on influenza NA. Methods & Materials: Large-datasets of NA sequences were constructed using sequences from GISAID and NCBI Databases and from viruses circulating in Portugal. Analyses of seasonal epidemics were performed in the total dataset and in three temporal sub-datasets:(1) before NAIs clinic introduction (1999); (2)before pandemic oseltamivir wide use (2009); and (3) from 2009 to date. Regarding A(H1N1)pdm09, 20.012 Occupational exposure to dromedary camels MONDAY • November 3, 2014 MONDAY November 3, 2014 V. C. P. M. Correia1, A. Abecasis2, H. Rebelo-de-Andrade1 1 Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal, 2 Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal a total dataset and 2 sub-datasets split according to the end of the pandemic period(10/08/2010) were studied. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were inferred in PhyML3.0, after performing sequence alignment by ClustalW in MEGA5 and determining the best-fit model in jModelTest. SP analysis were performed in HyPhy, including estimation of global dN/dS, estimation of site-specific dN/dS and identification of positively selected sites by SLAC and FEL methods, and differential selection analysis according to time, using a significance level of ≤0.05. Results: Preliminary analysis revealed the occurrence of PSP on position 275 (R oseltamivir) of A(H1N1) seasonal NA after 1999 but not from 2009 onwards. The site 151 (RS oseltamivir and zanamivir) of A(H3N2) NA showed to be under PSP since 1999. A(H1N1)pdm09 post-pandemic results cause some concern since PSP was found on positions 247 (RS oseltamivir) and 275. Influenza B SP and differential selection results are now being obtained. Conclusion: This study may contribute for understanding the role of selective pressure in NAIs resistance and reduced susceptibility and may detect potential risks of emergency of resistant viruses. A bstracts 67 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 22 Poster Presentations I Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms • Upper Level 11:45–13:15 Diseases of Animals 22.001 Lumpy skin disease: disease emergence, clinical signs, complications and preliminary associated economic losses in Jordan 22.002 Migrant women’s health: molecular epidemiology of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections E. R. Frati1, E. Fasoli1, S. Bianchi1, M. Martinelli1, D. Colzani1, P. Olivani2, E. Tanzi1 1 University of Milan, Milan, Italy, 2Naga Centre Onlus, Milan, Italy Purpose: Nowadays, we live in an era of the greatest human mobility recorded in history and almost half of all migrants are women. One of the major public health problems in this high-risk population are Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). STIs surveillance in migrant women is determined both by the real need to know their spread in the population and to avoid serious consequences and relevant costs related to the healthcare system. This study aimed at evaluating the molecular epidemiology of two STIs, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), in undocumented immigrant women in Milan. 68 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY educate residents in tropical medicine and immigrant health P. Lichtenberger1, S. Doblecki-Lewis2 1 University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA, 2 University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA Purpose: The Division of Infectious Diseases in partnership with the Department of Medicine at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital has developed a working relationship with the Universidad del Valle and the CIDEIM in Cali, Colombia to develop a bi-directional exchange program in Tropical Medicine. Methods & Materials: Rotation objectives include develop skills for cultural and social sensitivity to one of the minority communities in South Florida, development of clinical skills for effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment tropical diseases, exposure to an alternate healthcare system/culture and improvement Spanish language skills, to allow participants to increase their clinical skills for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious and tropical diseases in areas with limited resources and to prepare and encourage individuals to pursue a career in global and tropical medicine. Results: Seven trainees from University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital had experienced a 2–4 week ACGME/GME approved elective rotation offered to Internal Medicine Residents, Infectious Diseases Fellows and Global Health Residents within the year 2013–2014 at the Hospital Universitario del Valle (HUV), and CIDEIM a private research unit dedicated to the management and research on Leishmania, syphilis, and vector control. All residents were funded from Medicine Department and Global health resources. Trainees were exposed to cases of Malaria, dengue, Leishmania, Leprosy, Leptospirosis, Endemic Mycosis, Parasitosis among others. They interacted with patients, other physicians and prepared clinical presentations in Spanish. No safety or health issues happened during their rotation stay. Conclusion: This rotation help trainees develop skills for the management and preventionof tropical diseases as well as educational exposure to different healthcare models and fluency in medical Spanish. It is also intended to act as a cultural exchange, allowing participants to gain an understanding of how medicine is practiced in resource poor environments as well as other health issue that may affect developing countries. With the success of exchanges the Department of Infectious diseases is looking to continue to expand its sites and also fortify the relationship with countries of high immigration rates in the US like Colombia, Central America and Brazil, developing a robust curriculum and facilitating the educational exchange from trainees from the other countries in the US. 22.004 Ten years tuberculosis trend in Gambella Regional Hospital, South Western Ethiopia G. A. Gulich1, G. A. Chemidi2, K. T. Tafese3 1 Mettu university, Gambella, Gambella, Ethiopia, 2Addis Ababa University,, Addis Ababa, shewa, Ethiopia, 3Armawerhansen institute, Addis Ababa, shewa, Ethiopia Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTBC). It is one of the major health problems in Ethiopia, across the nation. According to World Health Organization 2009 report the status of TB in Gambella Region was the highest from all the Ethiopian Regions, with the notification rate of (new and relapse) 261-421/100, 000. We, therefore, carried out this study to investigate the trend of TB in Gambella Regional Hospital Southwest Ethiopia. Methods & Materials: Methods: The study was conducted at the Gambella Regional Hospital, South Western Ethiopia. Retrospectively the medical records of all TB patients registered from 1st January 2003 to 14th November 2012 were assessed. Results: The results of the study revealed that there were 4300 TB cases registered in the ten years duration in Gambella Regional Hospital. Males consist the highest percentage 2430 (56.51%). Out of 4300 TB cases registered 1045 (24.30%) had Extra pulmonary TB (EPTB) and 3255 (75.70%) suffered from pulmonary TB (PTB) (χ2=31. 14; p<0.001). From 3255 registered PTB cases, smear positive PTB accounted for 1368 (31.81%) of the cases. The age groups 15-44 took the highest percentage among the patients 2918 (67.86%). Only 1444 patients were knew their HIV status out of these 423 (29.29%) were HIV positives. The trend in TB registered cases of all forms of TB was gradually declining in the ten years. Conclusion: The retrospective study showed that TB problem in the study area was not at the level to be undermined. Hence, TB control program should give attention to the control of TB in Gambella Region. Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections 22.005 Co-circulation of H7N9 virus with other HA subtypes in live poultry markets J. Li, J. Pan Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China Purpose: Avian influenza virus (AIV) H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2 have been extensively studied due to its ability to cause contagious respiratory disease in both humans and animals with potentially fatal outcomes. However, “which subtype of AIV might play a key role in the next pandemic” is highly questionable, since the broad range of AIVs. In this study, all subtypes of AIVs were investigated for Hemagglutinin (HA) gene in the specimens collected from live poultry markets (LPMs) and live poultry farms (LPFs). Methods & Materials: Real-time RT-PCR was performed to identify specimen positive for each HA subtype of a total of 457 environmental and animal swab specimens collected from 36 LPMs and 5 LPFs of 14 districts cover the whole city from June 2013 to February 2014, while Hangzhou had a total of 30 human infection cases confirmed during the second wave of H7N9 epidemic in January/February 2014. Results: AIVs were continually detected in both summer and winter seasons with peaks of 41.94% (13/31) and 60.89% (151/248), respectively. The LPMs were heavily contaminated by AIVs, notably higher than that in LPFs (χ2 = 45.57, P < 0.01). All HA subtypes, with the exception of H8 and H12 to H16, were detected in specimens from the LPMs of Hangzhou. AIVs of subtypes H7, H9, H6 and H5 were detected most frequently from the specimens related to chickens (poultry swabs and feces, smear specimens from the surface of cages, etc.); H1, H2, H3 and H4 less frequently; and H10 and H11 only sporadically. Be differ from that, H6, H2, H9 and H5 make up four of the most commonly recognized subtypes in samples correlated with domestic ducks. H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7 and H9 co-circulated over than two months in LPMs, creating the opportunity for genetic mixing. Conclusion: LPMs carrying fomites can become a predominant infection source for both poultry flocks and human contacted. Our finding suggest that, besides H5, H7 and H9, the risk caused by AIVs of other subtypes, including H6, H10, H2, H3, H4, etc., should not be underestimated. Therefore, from a public health standpoint, extensive surveillance of avian influenza virus is recommended. 22.006 Simultaneous detection of 5 respiratory bacteria by Seegene Anyplex II RB5 assay W. L. Tan, K. X. L. Chan, K. S. Chan, L. L. E. Oon Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Purpose: To evaluate the performance of Seegene Anyplex II RB5 assay, a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test that allows the simultaneous detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Bordetella pertussis, and Bordetella parapertussis from respiratory samples. Rapid and accurate identification of these causative agents is a key component for establishment of proper diagnosis, facilitation of early treatment, and easing of public health concerns. Classical microbiological identification techniques, however, cannot provide an efficient means of diagnosis, because most of these organisms grow either slowly or not at all in culture, leading to delay in detection and diagnosis. Methods & Materials: The Anyplex II RB5 assay is based on TOCETM (Tagging Oligonucleotide Cleavage Extension) technology which makes it possible to detect multi-pathogens in a single fluorescence channel on real-time PCR instruments. A total of 63 samples were tested, 42 were external quality assurance program samples, 6 were isolates from ATCC and NCTC Bacteriology Collection, and 15 were clinical specimens. Results: 34 positive PCR were obtained, 5 with Bordetella parapertussis, 6 with Bordetella pertussis, 8 with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 5 with Chlamydophila pneumoniae and 10 with Legionella pneumophila. Sensitivity and specificity of the assay was determined to be 97.1% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: This study shows the overall good performance of the assay for the rapid diagnosis of multifaceted atypical pneumonia. November 1, 2014 Infections Related to Travel and Migration 22.003 International rotations: an initiative to International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a vector borne, viral disease of cattle. It is endemic in parts of Africa and currently is emerging in different parts of the Middle East. Objective: The objectives of this study are to report the emergence of LSD in Jordan and associated clinical signs, complications and preliminary economic losses. Methods & Materials: Methods: Two adult dairy cattle developed clinical signs suggestive of LSD and were confirmed as positive by PCR. The 2 cases were in Irbid governorate, on the Jordanian border of Israel and Syria (Figure 1). The disease spread rapidly to all the districts of Irbid governorate. During the month following the emergence of the disease, epidemiological data were collected from the affected region. Results: Results: Forty one dairy cattle holdings were surveyed. The morbidity rate ranged from 3 to 100%, (Mean = 35.1%, SD ±28.5%). The mortality rate ranged from 0 to 20%, (Mean = 1.3%, SD ±4.4%). The case fatality rate ranged from 0 to 100%, (Mean = 6.2%, SD ±22%). The overall morbidity rate was 26%, mortality rate 1.9%, and case fatality rate 7.5%. Skin nodules (Figure 2-3), anorexia, decreased milk production, and decreased body weight were common clinical signs, while mastitis and myiasis were seen as complications in a few affected animals. Decreased body weight ranged from 0 to 80%, (Mean = 23.1%, SD ±15.7%). Decreased milk production ranged from 0 to 100%, (Mean = 51.5%, SD ±22.2%). Affected cattle were treated accordingly and the cost of treatment ranged from 0 to 84.3 British Pound/animal, (Mean = 27.9 GBP, SD ±22.5 GBP). Conclusion: Conclusion: LSD continues to spread through the Middle East region and poses a serious threat to the rest of Asia and Europe. International collaboration and communication is warranted to prevent the further spread of the disease to the rest of Asia and Europe. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 S. M. Abutarbush College of Food and Agriculture, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates Methods & Materials: 537 urine samples were collected from immigrant women (median age 36 years; range: 18–65) attending the Naga Centre (http://www.naga.it) in Milan between June 2012-December 2013 and not involved in the national cervical cancer screening or in routine gynecological visits. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Socio-demographic and sexual-behavioural patterns were collected by a questionnaire. HPV and Ct DNA were detected using PCR assays that amplify an ORF L1 segment and a cryptic plasmid segment, respectively. Results: Out of 757 undocumented migrant women enrolled, 537 participated in the study (acceptability rate: 71%). The women belonged to 39 different nationalities and 22.5% were immigrants from <1-year. Most of the women came from South-America (43.4%) and Eastern-Europe (30.7%). Over 65% of them were married/had a stable partner, were not using contraception and had at least one pregnancy. The prevalence rates of HPV and Ct infections were 24.2% and 7.8%, respectively. Moreover, 66.1% of HPV infections was sustained by HR-types. All STIs-positive women were recalled and referred to indepth investigation and/or therapeutic treatment. Conclusion: These data indicate that undocumented migrant women living in Milan are very willing to get educational information and counseling interventions on sexual health issues, given the high acceptability to participate in the study bypassing barriers to access to healthcare facilities. A urine-based test seems to increase the “screening uptake” among women at increased risk of STIs. In addition, these data improve the epidemiological surveillance of HPV and Ct infections in women unlikely to seek healthcare services and allow to understand their patterns of sexual-risk behavior. Poster Presentations I 22.007 22.007Ethnic disparities in healthcare use for respiratory infections S. Della Smirra1, M. Campitelli2, L. Rosella3, M. Chiu2, N. Daneman4, J. Smylie5, J. Kwong2 1 University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3University of Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada, 4Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON, Canada, 5St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada Purpose: Previous studies suggest that ethnic disparities exist for infectious diseases. However, it is unknown if this holds true in Canada with universal healthcare access and a diverse ethnic population. We aimed to examine the association between ethnicity and healthcare use for respiratory infections, and whether ethnic disparities differ between healthcare settings. Methods & Materials: We conducted a retrospective cohort study with up to 16 years of follow-up (1996 through 2012) of 156,161 population health survey respondents in Ontario, Canada. We included individuals aged 12 years or older whose data could be successfully linked to health administrative data. The outcome comprised upper respiratory infections, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia stratified by healthcare setting (hospitalizations, emergency department [ED] visits, and physician office visits). The exposure of interest was ethnicity, of which twelve distinct groups were captured. We used multivariable Poisson regression models using person-week of exposure as the offset term. The final models were adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, immigrant effects, health status, and healthcare utilization. Results: Differences in baseline characteristics between ethnic groups were notable. The incidence of healthcare encounters for respiratory infections was higher for most ethnic groups than the White group for physician office visits, but the opposite was observed for ED visits and hospitalizations. This pattern largely persisted after multivariable adjustment. The most prominent example was the South Asian group, 69 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 who were more likely to have a physician office visit for respiratory infection compared to the White group (rate ratio=1.64; 95%CI 1.561.72), but were less likely to have an ED visit (RR=0.57; 95%CI 0.490.65) or a hospitalization (RR=0.58; 95%CI 0.41-0.82). The Aboriginal population was unique, with an increased likelihood of ED visits for RIs (RR=1.43; 95%CI 1.30-1.56) compared to Whites. Conclusion: We observed marked variations in healthcare utilization for respiratory infections between ethnic groups and across healthcare settings. This may be attributed to differences in disease burden, but appears more likely to relate to patterns of healthcare access between ethnic groups. These differences might inform the development of ethno-culturally appropriate interventions to improve outcomes. 22.008 Predicting surges in influenza-like illness- related emergency department visits using spatio-temporal models virus infection from adults and children in Guangdong, China D. Zhang1, X. Zhu2, L. Xu2, Z. He2, J. Wu2, W. Wen2, Y. Hu2, C. Lin2, M. Li2, K. Cao2 1 School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 2Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China Purpose: To determine the respiratory viruses among children and adults with respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal viruses 70 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY influenza awarded to UK institutions, 1997–2010 J. R. Fitchett1, M. Head2, R. Atun3 1 King’s College London, London, United Kingdom, 2Infectious Disease Research Network, London, United Kingdom, 3Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Purpose: Influenza causes a significant disease burden globally. We describe the investments awarded to UK institutions for influenza research and outline potential funding gaps in this portfolio. Methods & Materials: We sourced data from major public and philanthropic funding sources for infection research for 1997–2010. We systematically analysed each study and allocated them to disease categories including respiratory infectious disease and influenza. We described studies by type of science (pre-clinical; clinical trials; product development; implementation research), and identified the most prominent funders. Results: Respiratory infectious disease research received £419 million across 1192 studies. Influenza received £80.0 million (19.1% of all respiratory infection research) across 141 studies (11.8%). The mean award was £567 823 (SD £818 009), and median award £299 988 (IQR £159 841-656 509); these were higher than all other respiratory pathogens or diseases. The highest contributing investor was the Medical Research Council (£42.4 million, 53% of influenza funding). The proportional change in influenza funding between 1997–2004 and 2005–2010 is an increase of 42% (going from £29.2 million to £50.8 million). Immunology and vaccinology studies accounted for £35.7 million (44.6% of all influenza research). By type of science along the R&D value chain, £57.9 million (72%) was for pre-clinical studies. There were just 5 studies in phase I-III trials and 5 in product development research. Implementation research was a focus of 16% of the funding. Using the Global Burden of Disease 2010 figures for disabilityadjusted life years (DALYs), the total research investment for influenza over this time period equates to £4.16 per DALY. This is higher than equivalent measures for tuberculosis, pneumonia, measles, diphtheria and respiratory syncytial virus. Conclusion: Compared to burdens imposed by other respiratory disease areas, influenza has been relatively well funded over this time period, in terms of awards to UK institutions. There were relatively few studies on antivirals, diagnostics and influenza in the context of global health, and there are areas that may warrant greater future research investment (alongside implementation and surveillance services). The lack of private sector information leaves a notable data gap that we urge needs to be redressed. 22.011 Healthcare seeking behavior for respiratory illness in a northern province of Vietnam N. T. T. Yen1, J. Patridge2, N. H. Tuan1, T. P. Nguyen1, N. B. Thuy1, N. V. Thom3, A. Luliano4, D. T. Trang2, J. C. Kile2, N. T. Hien1 1 National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ha noi, Viet Nam, 2 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hanoi, Vietnam, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 3Thai Binh Provinvial Preventive Medicine Center, Thai Binh, Viet Nam, 4Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Purpose: In Vietnam, the influenza sentinel surveillance system captures only consulting cases, limiting understanding of burden of disease in the community. We conducted a survey to identify self-reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to describe healthcare utilization to better estimate the burden of influenza-associated illness. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in urban and rural areas of Thai Binh Province in northern Vietnam. A two-stage cluster sample was used to select households. Standardized questionnaires were used to screen households for episodes of selfreported ILI in the previous month and SARI in the previous 12 monthsand health seeking behavior for each episode. Results: During May 2013, we surveyed 2100 households and 6760 residents, including 1470 rural households and 4666 residents in Kien Xuong District and 630 urban households and 2094 residents in Thai Binh City. Overall, we identified 582 (8.6%, 95% CI: 6.3-10.9) episodes of self-reported ILI and 121 (1.8%, 95% CI: 1.2-2.4) episodes of selfreported SARI cases. Proportions of both self-reported ILI and SARI were significantly (p< 0.05) lower in Thai Binh City than in Kien Xuong District. Overall, the proportion of participants that reported seeking healthcare outside the home for an ILI episode was 89.0% (95% CI: 84.4-93.5). Only 18.2% (95% CI: 10.0-26.5) of household members with a self-reported ILI episode reported seeking healthcare at the ILI sentinel surveillance site. Similarly, the estimated proportion of SARI cases that seek healthcare at a SARI burden study site was 24.9%. Conclusion: In both urban and rural communities of Thai Binh Province the vast majority of cases with self-reported respiratory illness, as captured by ILI, sought healthcare outside the home. However, less than 1/5 of self-reported ILI cases presented to a national ILI surveillance sentinel site. Similarly, for SARI we estimated that only 1/4 of cases seek healthcare at a SARI burden study site. National sentinel surveillance and facility-based research studies that depend upon healthcare seeking behavior of the populations they serve will significantly underestimate burden of influenza-associated disease in Vietnam. Adjustment for healthcare utilization practices will improve the ability to accurately estimate incidence of influenza in the community. 22.012 Sero-surveillance of Avian influenza A (H7N9) in high risk provinces of Lao PDR B. Douangngeun, Bounlom Douangngeun, Chintana Chanthavisouk, Phouvong Phommachanh, Vatthana Theppangna, Bounheuang Kounnavong, Sithong Phiphakkhavong The National Animal Health Laboratory, Vientiane, Lao, People’s Democratic Republic of Background: Since March 2013, human cases of avian influenza A (H7N9) have been detected in China and H7N9 is low pathogenic for poultry but is high pathogenic for humans. Lao PDR has not yet been affected by this new subtype of avian influenza. However, poultry and humans are still at risk because Lao PDR shares a border with China and people and poultry frequently across the border resulting in an increased risk of spread of the virus across the border. The preliminary sero-surveillance is crucial to elucidate the circulation of the influenza A(H7N9) in poultry population in Lao PDR. Objectives: To identify the hot spot of influenza A(H7N9) in asymptomatic poultry for further virological surveillance. Methods & Materials: Methods: Site selection for the surveillance was based on the Information obtained from the study on the poultry value chain. Phongsaly, Bounneua and Nhot Ou District of Phongsaly Province, Louangnamtha and Sing District of Loungtnamtha Province, and Xay District of Oudomxay Province were chosen for surveillance. Asymptomatic chickens from backyards and semi-commercial farms were selected for sampling. From January to March 2014, serum sampling has been conducted once a month and submitted to the National Animal Health Laboratory for testing. The serum samples were screened by ELISA for Flu A. Positive samples were submitted for further testing against H7 and N9. Results: Overall, ~ 20% (129/657 sera) test positive. While sample sizes are moderately low, it appears that semi-commercial farms in Louangnamtha and Oudomxay Provinces have the highest rates of seropositive poultry at 95% and 45% respectively. Conclusion: The result obtained from this preliminary sero-surveillance indicated the circulation of avian influenza A virus in the poultry population in the high risk areas. Further tests are required to determine the presence of H7 and N9 in the FluA ELISA positive tested sera to support further virological surveillance. Continue keeping vigilance for avian influenza A (H7N9) is of great benefit in preventing the virus incursion. 22.013 Antiviral susceptibility and antigenic characterization among 2012–2013 seasonal influenza viruses in Uganda—Implications for management and pandemic responses J. T. Kayiwa, T. Byaruhanga, B. Namagambo, N. Owor, R. Chiizar, B. Bakamutumaho, J. J. Lutwama Uganda Virus Reseacrh Institute, Entebbe, Uganda Purpose: To characterize and assess the susceptibility of influenza viruses to neuraminadase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir. Methods & Materials: Specimens shipped to the WHO collaborating center, CDC Influenza Division, Atlanta, were regrown to a larger volume with sufficient titer. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests were performed with a panel of post infection ferret antisera for detailed antigenic characterization. Also a functional neuramindase inhibition (NI) assay and genetic analysis were performed to assess susceptibility of the viruses to neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir. In addition a subset of viruses were selected for sequence analysis (HA, NA and M genes for type A viruses and HA, NA and NS genes for type B viruses). Real-time RT PCR assay was used to determine the influenza type/subtype of specimens which were unable to regrow or grow to sufficient titers. Results: 56 nasal- and oral-pharyngeal specimens collected from February, 2012 to December, 2012, were shipped to CDC-Atlanta. Upon testing, 12 specimens were negative by PCR for influenza, 2 specimens were a mixture of A(H3) and B by real time RT-PCR. 6 were influenza B by HI test, of which 3 belonged to B/Victoria/2/87-lineage and were antigenically similar to B/Brisbane/60/2008 virus. 3 were B/Yamagata lineage viruses and all were antigenically similar to B/ Wisconsin/01/2010. All 6 B viruses tested were sensitive to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the HA, NA and NS genes of one influenza B virus related it to reference vaccine strain B/Brisbane/60/2008 of Victoria lineage in clade 1A. Seventeen H3N2 viruses which were HI tested were antigenically similar to A/Victoria/361/2012 virus, which was the H3 component of the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere and 2013 influenza season for the Southern Hemisphere. All 17 H3N2 viruses were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA genes of two H3N2 viruses showed them to belong to group 3C or 3B. Conclusion: Influenza viruses were antigenically similar to the recommended WHO trivalent influenza vaccines for the 2012-2013 season of the Northern Hemisphere and all were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. November 1, 2014 22.009 Surveillance of respiratory and gastrointestinal 22.010 A systematic analysis of investments in International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Influenza-like illness (ILI) creates substantial burdens on the healthcare system, including surges in emergency department (ED) visit volumes during seasonal influenza epidemics and pandemics. However, the timing and magnitude of these surges are not commonly forecasted. Advanced warning of these increases can inform public health decision-making aimed at managing an epidemic and mitigating pressure on EDs, including the opening of influenza assessment centres (IACs). Our objective was to predict surges in ILI-related ED visit volumes to inform public health decision-making during influenza epidemics. Methods & Materials: We analyzed ILI-related ED visits for Edmonton, Alberta residents over ten years to develop (2004–2008, training data) and test (2008–2014, testing data) spatio-temporal prediction models. We used Poisson regression with ILI-related visits as the outcome; log transformed age- and area-specific population as the offset; age, neighborhood, Christmas holidays, weekday, and day of the year as main effects; and included hypothesized main effect interactions. We incorporated prediction residuals over 14 days and predicted volume three days ahead. To evaluate model effectiveness, we defined a peak as a day with ≥36 visits and examined area under the ROC curve (AUC) and the frequency with which predicted volumes were within 30% of observed volumes. Additionally, we investigated the value of including ILI-related telehealth call data. Results: The most effective model for seasonal influenza incorporated linear regression of mean residuals from the model with fixed effects and an offset of the prediction residual on the most recent day (i.e., three days prior). For influenza seasons in 2008–2014, AUC values ranged from 0.83 to 0.91 and predicted volumes were within 30% of observed volumes for 64–82% of the 266 peak days. However, during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic period, using the observed visit volume three days ahead of time as a prediction value outperformed the timeliness of our models. Telehealth calls did not improve predictions. Conclusion: For seasonal influenza epidemics of varying severity, our prediction models provide advanced warning of ILI-related ED volume increases. This information may assist in public health decision-making regarding opening an IAC. However, during influenza pandemics such as H1N1 in 2009, other approaches appear necessary. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 L. J. Martin1, Q. Liu1, H. Dong1, J. Talbot2, Y. Yasui1 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada infection among children with diarrhea in Guangdong, China. Methods & Materials: Seven respiratory viruses (influenza A (FluA), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), adenovirus (ADV), human metapneumovirus hMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV), human bocavirus (HBoV) were detected by PCR/RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swaps, and major five enteric viruses (human rotavirus Group A, B and C, enteric adenovirus, norovirus, sapovirus and human astrovirus) and human bocavirus were investigated by real time PCR from fecal specimens collected from children visiting general hospitals with complaints of diarrhea. Results: FluA were detected in18.50%, RSV in 7.82%, PIV in 3.47%, ADV in 3.47%, hMPV in 2.24%, HCoV in2.47% and HBoV in1.27% specimens. Co-infection occurred in 3.39% of nasopharyngeal swaps specimens and was more prevalent among males, inpatients, children, and persons <14 years of age. Human rotaviruses were the most prevalent and were detected 22.9%, enteric adenovirus in 6.7%, human astrovirus in 3.4%, sapovirus in 1.3% and norovirus in 0.8% and human bocavirus in 1.5% fecal samples. Co-infections were found in 3.7% of specimens with 23.5% of the human bocavirus positive specimens coinfected with another enteric virus. Conclusion: This study indicates that RSV was the most prevalent viral infection for children, and FluA was the most prominent viral infection for adults. Human rotavirus and enteric adenovirus were most frequently detected in children with diarrhea. HBoV was the most common pathogen, tending to co-infect with other respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses. Poster Presentations I 71 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.014 Fatal avian influenza A/H5N1 infection in a 36-week pregnant woman survived by her newborn – Soc Trang, Vietnam, 2012 T. V. Le1, K. Ly2, L. Nguyen3, L. T. Phan4, N. M. Tran Minh5 WHO, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, 2Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, 3Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, 4 Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam, 5World Health Organization, Hanoi, Viet Nam infection at national and provincial hospitals in Vietnam T. P. Nguyen1, N. T. T. Yen1, N. B. Thuy1, N. H. Tuan1, L. T. Q. Mai1, T. N. Duong1, J. Partridge2, J. C. Kile2, D. T. Trang2, N. T. Hien1 1 National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ha noi, Viet Nam, 2 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hanoi, Vietnam, Hanoi, Viet Nam Purpose: In response to potential public health threats from influenza, since 2011 Vietnam’s National Influenza Surveillance System has been conducting SARI surveillance to enhance information on severe hospitalized cases of influenza disease. Our objective was to determine the burden of influenza as a cause of SARI, by gender and age. Methods & Materials: Patients who were hospitalized for fever and cough or sore throat with onset within 7 days of presentation were enrolled at 4 select hospitals in four regions of Vietnam. The demographic and clinical data, and one respiratory specimen were collected. Specimens were tested by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for influenza at 4 reference regional laboratories in Vietnam. Results: From March 2011 to April 2013, a total of 2,803 SARI patients were enrolled. The age ranged from <1 year to 102 years old, with a median age of 16 years (IQR 1 -34 years). Of 2,803 enrolled patients, 1381 (49.3%) were children <16 years old and 1450 (69.6%) were male. Overall, 282 (10%) of SARI patients were positive for influenza virus by RT-PCR. Positive rates by age group were 41/764 (5.4%), 35/533 (6.6%), 5/69 (7.2%), 155/980 (15.8%), 22/216 (10.2%) and 24/241 (10%) in 0 to < 2 years, 2 to < 5 years, 5 to < 15 years, 15 to < 50 years, 50 to < 65 and >= 65 years old respectively. Of these, 72 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY of Vietnam: burden, economic impact N. T. T. Yen1, N. B. Thuy1, T. P. Nguyen1, N. H. Tuan1, L. T. Q. Mai1, T. N. Duong1, D. T. Trang2, J. Partridge2, J. C. Kile2, N. T. Hien1 1 National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ha noi, Viet Nam, 2 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hanoi, Vietnam, Hanoi, Viet Nam Purpose: The burden of disease, economic impact and health care utilization related to influenza viruses is not well described for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients in Vietnam. Our study proposes to describe the burden of human influenza illness in terms of morbidity, mortality, socioeconomic impact and understand health care utilization at hospitals in Thai Binh province, North of Vietnam Methods & Materials: A modified WHO case definition of SARI was used. Adults and children meeting the definition were enrolled at three hospitals (Provincial hospital, a Pediatric hospital and a District Hospital) in Thai Binh, North of Vietnam. For each patient, the direct and indirect costs, work days lost and school absenteeism associated with hospitalization and influenza treatment, a nasal or throat swab were collected for influenza virus detection by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction at National Influenza Centre Results: From January 2013 through December 2013, of 23,411 hospitalized patients at enrolled hospitals in Thai Binh, 7,833 (30%) were identified as SARI. Of 1295 SARI cases tested, 229 (18%) were positive for influenza viruses, including pA/H1N1 2009 (39.3%), A/ H3N2 (32.3%), B (26.2%), co-infection of A/H3 & B (1.3%) and coinfection of pA/H1N1 09 & B (0.9%). Both normal and low white blood cell counts were found in influenza related SARI patients. Of influenza related SARI patients, 13.4% required treatment in ICU. There were two SARI deaths positive with influenza B among tweleves SARI deaths at the three hospitals. The median hospital stay was seven days (IQR 6-10). Of 1,295 survey respondents, 3 (<1%) reported receiving an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months. Socioeconomic impact included direct and indirect costs per patient of 4,595,00 VND ($US 230), an average of 10 work days lost and 6 school days lost, and care giver 11 days lost Conclusion: We found the most frequent influenza viruses identified were pA/H1N1 2009, A/H3N2 and B. A low rate of influenza vaccination was found in the study population. The costs due to SARI case hospitalization are important to patients with limited resources (per capita monthly income = 5,451,000 VND ($US 270), even for only one week of the treatment 22.017 In vivo reassortment of avian and swine influenza virus K. Urbaniak, K. Kwit, A. Kowalczyk, I. Markowska-Daniel National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland Purpose: A genetic reassortment of influenza virus is an important mechanism for overcome the species barrier. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the percentage reassortants and their genetic constellation after co-infection of pigs with 2 strains of different subtype and origin. The differences between isolates from the upper and the lower respiratory tract were also studied. Methods & Materials: Six pigs were i.n. inoculated with sw/ Gent/172/08 (H3N2) and A/Duck/Italy/1447/05 (H1N1) viruses to examine the likelihood of genetic reassortment in the pig. At 2 DPI, 6 sentinel pigs were introduced. Swabbing and body temperature check were executed daily. At 4 DPI/DPC three infected and sentinel piglets were euthanized and samples from the respiratory tract were checked by RRT-PCR (M gene). Blood samples for an HI test were collected at 14, 21 and 28 DPI/DPC. All positive samples were used for plaque purification and virus isolation. The genetic analysis of isolated viruses was performed with use of different molecular methods (PCR, RT-PCR, PCR-RPLF). Results: Virus shedding was detected from 1 to 6 DPI/DPC in the infected and sentinel pigs. From samples positive in the RRT-PCR in total, 207 and 40 isolates from tissue and swab samples were obtained, respectively. In both cases most of them were isolate from sentinel pigs. For most of isolates differentiation between all H3N2 and H1N1 genes were done. All viruses from tissue were H3N2, whereas 37.5% (15 isolates) from swabs were H1N1 subtype. All H1N1 viruses were isolate from sentinels, which were also infected with H3N2 subtype. Up to now no reassortant was detected. All collected sera were seronegative for H1N1 and were seropositive for H3N2. Conclusion: Based on the results we can state that for the reassortment to occur co-infection of pig with two or more influenza virus must take place. However the reassortment is a very complex process and different factors may influence on its occurrence. Under experimental conditions we did not succeeded to achieve the reassortation between H1N1 and H3N2 viruses of different origin. *This work is supported by FLUPIG Project No 258084 founded by EC FP7. 22.018 In vivo adaptation of avian influenza virus to pig I. Markowska-Daniel, K. Urbaniak, K. Kwit, M. Pomorska-Mól, A. Kowalczyk National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland Purpose: Pigs are considered important intermediate hosts in which avian influenza viruses (AIV) adapt to mammals before they transmit to humans. However, the exact role of pigs in this process is unclear. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing the efficiency of AIV adaptation to pigs. Methods & Materials: 25 serial passages of AIV (A/duck/Bavaria/77, H1N1) in pigs were performed. In total 70 influenza virus-naïve, 6-8 weeks old pigs were used. Pigs were i.n. inoculated with positive respiratory tract tissue homogenates of euthanized pigs from the previous passage. The sentinel pigs were introduced to the force infected animals when the virus shedding was evidenced. The pigs were daily checked of body temperature and swabbing. At DPI 4 they were euthanized. The respiratory tract tissues were checked by RRT-PCR (M gene) and all positive samples were used for virus isolation. The sequence of genome of the original AIV was compared with the obtained isolates. Results: Both, force infected and sentinel pigs do not demonstrate typical clinical symptoms of acute influenza. The virus shedding was detected at passages: p8, p15, p19, p20, p23 and p24. The most frequent positive results were evidenced in middle right lobe and in trachea, however, from p19 most of tested tissues were positive. So we confirm that AIV shows tropism to the lower respiratory tract. Additionally, majority of organ samples of sentinels from p19, p23 and p24 were PCR positive. Several mutations in HA (S159R/S, K180E, E204D, G239E, G411S), NA (I30L, V34I, L127M, A131T, N364S), M1 (M248I), M2 (C19Y) and NP (I63M, R132K) genes were evidenced. Conclusion: Based on our results we can state that adaptation of AIV to the pig is possible but under experimental conditions the effective transmission of pig-adapted AIV between pigs does not occur. This suggest that the barrier between birds and pigs is much stronger than previously assumed and the role and risk of the pig in the emergence of novel influenza viruses in the human population is probably lower that previously assumed. *This work is supported by FLUPIG Project No 258084 founded by EC FP7. 22.019 Detection and monitoring of outbreaks of influenza-like illness using data of SOS Médecins France 2006-2014 L. Toubiana1, P. Guerin2, P. Chansard2, C. Demoor2 INSERM ; UPMC : Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Paris, France, 2SMF, Paris, France 1 Purpose: Established in 1966, SOS Médecins France (SMF) is an umbrella organisation of 64 associations throughout France, covering 60% of the French population. A partnership was signed with INSERM in 2012 in order develop an information system (SIS_READ) dedicated to epidemiological research, with automatic and independent diagnostic data collection using records of general practitioners. Over 18 million medical acts have been recorded over a 9-year period. On average, 7,000 acts (consolidated over 3 days) are aggregated at national level every day. Objective: Set up an observatory of the spatiotemporal evolution of influenza-like illness and the early detection of epidemics using SMF data. Methods & Materials: We used the SIS-READ data stream for estimating the incidence of the diagnosis “influenza-like illness”. The Serfling method was used to detect the epidemic. The interpolated map was generated by the Krigeage method. Results: Over the past 4 years, the average weekly participation is 951 general practitioners (GPs), i.e. 1.6% of all GPs in France. 54,514 cases of influenza-like illness were described in 2012 and 82,006 cases in 2013. The estimated incidences are very similar to those released by the Institute for Public Health (InVS). According to InVS sources, the 20132014 influenza epidemic started in the 5th week of 2014. Using SMF data, the epidemic threshold was exceeded during week 52 in 2013. Conclusion: Given the collection method used by SMF, the stability and the temporal resolution, the independence of disease (all acts are automatically recorded in real time) and the spatial representativeness of the SMF network, the estimation of incidence is more reliable and more accurate than the currently used sources of reference. The epidemic was detected several weeks earlier. November 1, 2014 22.015 Influenza as a cause of severe acute respiratory 22.016 Severe acute respiratory infection in the North International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Reports of prenant women infected with avian influenza A/ H5N1 are rare. Previous studies showed that A/H5N1 virus can penetrate the placental barrier and infect the fetus. Of six reported cases, four died and the two survivors had a spontaneous abortion. We report a clinical case and outcome of a 36-week pregnant woman infected with A/H5N1 and her newborn in Soc Trang province, Viet Nam, in January 2012. Methods & Materials: Epidemiological, veterinary and laboratory investigations were conducted. Clinical manifestations, progress, treatment and outcome of the case-patient and her newborn were collected from medical records. Human tracheal aspirate, throat swab and serum specimens were tested for influenza A/H5N1, A/H3N1, A/H1N1, A/ H1N1/09 and B by reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR, real tiem RT-PCR and genome sequencing. Poultry throat and rectal swabs were tested by PCR and virus isolation. Results: The case-patient developed fever on 22 January, was hospitalized on 25 January and died on 28 January. Clinical manifestation showed typical characteristics of avian influenza A/H5N1 infection with rapid progressive severve pneumonia. Her tracheal aspirate sample was positive for influenza A/H5N1 belonging to clade 1.1 virus. The newborn baby was delivered by caesarean section on 25 January. She had low birth weight, early onset pneumonia, but fully recovered and was discharged on 10 Febuary. Her throat swabs and paired serum samples tested negative for influenza A/H5N1. The mother had slaughtered sick poultry in the week before illness onset and the same clade virus was detected in patient’s poultry samples. Conclusion: This was the first documented case of a live birth from a severely ill pregnant woman infected influenza A/H5N1. Further studies are needed to better understand the transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus in human. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 1 141(50%) B, 82 (29.1%) A/H3N2 and 58 (20.6%) A/H1N1pdm09. Among the influenza positive patients, there were 41 (14.5%) hospitalized in an ICU. Underlying health conditions were reported by 35 (12.4%) influenza positive patients, and included at least one condition, such as smoking, lung disease (such as asthma), diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, hypertension, neurologic disease, kidney disease, pregnancy. Conclusion: Influenza virus infection was a significant cause of SARI in hospitalized patients and it remains a burden to the healthcare system as well as a burden to the patient and family. Additional studies may allow for better understanding of risk factors related to infection and disease progression, including why some cases present as the more severe SARI form, and to investigate the contribution of other pathogens to SARI burden. Poster Presentations I 22.020 Prevalence and distribution of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus clade variants in live bird markets of Vietnam, 2011–2013 D. T. Nguyen1, J. E. Bryant2, T. C. David3, L. V. Nguyen4, K. Inui1, L. T. Pham4, L. Loth5, T. Nguyen1, Y. Jang3, T. L. To1 1 National Center for Veterinary Diagnosis, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 2Oxford University Clinical Research Unit and Wellcome Trust, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 3Influenza Division, Atlanta, GA, USA, 4Epidemiology Division, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 5ECTAD Programme, Hanoi, Viet Nam Purpose: Active surveillance for avian influenza (AI) viruses in poultry sold at live bird markets (LBMs) was conducted in 44 of 63 provinces throughout Vietnam over two periods from September 2011 to February 2012 and October 2012 to June 2013. The study objectives were to assess the prevalence of avian influenza type A, H5 and H5N1 subtype viruses and characterize the geographical and temporal distribution of H5N1 virus genetic variants across the country. Methods & Materials: Monthly sampling was conducted in 394 LBMs located in 372 communes. A total of 9,790 oropharyngeal swabs from poultry were screened for influenza A virus by real-time RT-PCR. Virus isolation was attempted on all positive samples in embryonated chicken eggs and the HA1 region of each H5 virus isolate was sequenced Results: Market prevalence of H5 subtype virus was 32.2% (127/394) over the cumulative 15 months of surveillance. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that clade 1.1 viruses persisted in the south, whereas three genetically distinct subgroups of clade 2.3.2.1 were found simultaneously in northern, central and southern Vietnam. Clade 2.3.2.1c viruses first appeared in July 2012 and spread rapidly to the center and south of Vietnam in late 2012, where they were predominant among clade 2.3.2.1 viruses and were detected in both active LBM surveillance and poultry outbreaks. 73 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Conclusion: Given the overlapping geographic distribution of clade variants and the antigenic divergence previously described for these clades, current AI poultry vaccines used in Vietnam may require bivalent formulations containing representatives of both clade 1.1 and clade 2.3.2.1 viruses. 22.021 Serological evidence of influenza A viruses in bats from Africa increased risk for introducing highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) to previously uninfected countries J. M. Radin1, J. Fowler2 1 aJoint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Epidemiology), San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA, 2Univeristy of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Purpose: Every year billions of chickens are shipped thousands of miles around the globe in order to meet the ever increasing demands for this cheap and nutritious protein source. Unfortunately, transporting chickens internationally can potentially increase the chance for introducing zoonotic viruses, such as avian influenza A (H5N1) to new, uninfected countries and regions. The global spread of this virus is especially worrisome due to its devastating economic impact, its zoonotic nature, and high case fatality rate in both poultry and humans. Aim: To determine if poultry outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 have been influenced by the magnitude of poultry imported from infected countries. The role of different poultry species, including ducks and turkeys, were also examined. 74 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY general practice for the characterisation and management of acute community-acquired pneumonia in France L. Toubiana1, H. Partouche2, C. Buffel du Vaure2, V. Personne2, A. Lorenzo2, C. Ghasarossian2, P. Landais3, S. Gilberg2 1 INSERM ; UPMC : Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Paris, France, 2Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France, 3CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France Purpose: The French National College of Teachers in General Practice (CNGE) and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) have joined forces to develop a prospective, multi-centric study to describe acute community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The inclusion of approximately 1,000 cases within one year was required. As CAPs are relatively rare, a large network of investigators needed to be created, which would be demographically representative of the population of general practitioners practicing in mainland France. Given the limited financial resources for this study, the “all-electronic” option was chosen. This approach for a study of this magnitude was a first, and a real challenge. Methods & Materials: The MetaSurv generator of the Inserm allowed creating an ubiquitous information platform dedicated to the study. It included a multi-phase electronic form containing over 1,000 variables with consistency check allowing an unlimited number of follow-up visits. The platform, accessible via the Internet, allowed the creation of a network of nearly 500 operational investigators in less than three weeks. Management functions of the system allowed real-time monitoring of the participation of investigators and patient enrolment. Reports for the attention of the investigators containing enrolment evolution charts and maps were posted online regularly. Results: The observatory worked without interruption between September 2011 and July 2012. A total of 425 GPs enrolled 912 patients aged over 18 years showing one or more signs suggestive of CAP. The first statistical analyses allowed the publication of several important communications. Conclusion: The technological choice made in this study has demonstrated its effectiveness from all points of view compared to the conventional alternative. The network was up and running in record time and the participation was constant throughout the study period. The real-time follow-up and the online management of the study is a major asset, both from the viewpoint of quality of the collected data and of the overall cost reduction. 22.024 Serological surveillance of “human” influenza virus subtypes H1, H2, H3 among wild birds in Ukraine B. Stegniy1, D. Muzyka2, M. Pantin-Jackwood3, M. Stegniy1, V. Golovko4, M. Mandygra5, S. Doletskiy5, A. Gerilovych1 1 NSC IECVM, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2National Science Center Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 3 Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Athens, GA, USA, 4KhDZVA, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 5NAAS, Kiev, Ukraine Purpose: To perform serological surveillance of H1, H2, H3 influenza viruses in wild birds of various environmental groups in Ukraine Methods & Materials: Monitoring of circulating influenza virus of H1, H2, H3 subtypes were conducted in 2006–2012 in different regions of Ukraine. By hemagglutination inhibition we studied 946 wild birds of 44 species. All studies were performed as recommended by the OIE. Results: 6.06% of Dunlin, 5.88% of Grey Plover, 14.28 % of Curlew Sandpiper, 40% of Broad-billed Sandpiper in 2006, 15.38 % of Mute Swan in 2008 and 6.97% of mallards in 2011 had antibodies to H1 influenza virus in serum. Also, antibodies were found in egg yolks of Song Thrush, Blackbird, Jay in 2006, 3.22–4.16 % of mallard yolks in 2009. Antibodies to H2 AIV in serum were found in 2006, 2009, 2011 at 13.04%, 1.61%, 1.55 -3.04% of mallards respectively, while in egg yolks in 2006 at Song Thrush, Great Tit, Slender-billed Gull and egg yolks of mallards (12.5%). Antibodies to H3 AIV were found in 2006 at egg yolks of Yellowlegged Gull (23.07%), in 2007 in yolks of Coot (33.3%) and Grey Plover (14.28%), in 2008 at yolks of Common Tern, in 2009 at blood serum of mallards (12.90%). Conclusion: Obtained data demonstrate that sufficiently wide circulation of “human” H1, H2, H3 subtypes of influenza viruses in wild waterfowl, that could potentially create risks for human infection. 22.025 Use of pseudotyped viruses for investigations into vaccine efficacy, antigenic drift and vaccine breakdown for equine influenza R. Kinsley1, J. Daly2, A. Kliby3, D. Elton3, S. D. Scott1, N. Temperton4 1 University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, Kent, United Kingdom, 2 University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom, 3Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, United Kingdom, 4University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom Purpose: Standard assays used for assessing equine influenza vaccine efficacy (i.e. haemagglutination inhibition and single radial haemolysis) do not measure antibody neutralisation of virus. On the other hand, pseudotype viruses (PVs) provide a flexible tool to conduct neutralisation testing, and to investigate the effect of specific antigenic mutations on vaccine effectiveness. We next began an investigation into haemagglutinin (HA) antigenic drift mutations that lead to vaccine breakdown and a subsequent epidemic amongst horses across Europe including the UK. There were approximately 30 amino acid differences between the A/equine/Newmarket/79 vaccine strain and the A/equine/ Sussex/89 outbreak strain. Three of these mutations are located within regions of the HA that appear to correspond to major epitopes previously identified in human influenza. Objective: was to generate equine influenza-pseudotyped lentiviruses for use to develop a PV antibody neutralisation assay (PVNA), and compare with the Single Radial Haemolysis (SRH) standard influenza antibody assay used for surveillance and vaccine assessment. The PVNA was then used to investigate the potential role of the three mutations mentioned in the vaccine breakdown. Methods & Materials: Equine influenza pseudotyped lentiviruses were produced by co-transfection of HEK293T cells with four plasmids expressing the following genes; HIV gag-pol, firefly luciferase reporter, influenza surface haemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein and TMPRSS2 protease (for HA cleavage). Pseudotype particles were then harvested and used to develop a 96-well plate luminescence assay for measuring neutralising antibody levels in serum samples from vaccinated and naïve equines. Specific single mutations were introduced into the HAs of A/equine/Newmarket/79 vaccine strain and the A/equine/Sussex/89 outbreak strain PVs and PVNAs conducted using Newmarket/79- and Sussex/89-specific antisera. Results: The pseudotype virus neutralisation assay (PVNA) was clearly able to differentiate between the vaccinated and naïve populations, and demonstrated a good correlation (r=0.65) with the SRH assay. Results also showed that specific single amino acid mutations in putative major epitope sites altered the ability of the sera to neutralise the PVs, indicating their importance in vaccine protection. Conclusion: Equine influenza pseudotyped lentiviruses can be used in antibody neutralisation assays to distinguish between vaccinated and naïve equines and for investigation into the role of specific haemagglutinin mutations in vaccine breakdown. 22.026 Low pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV) chicken/England/4054/06 H7N3 replicates predominantly in olfactory epithelium in infected pigs A. Nunez, B. Z. Londt, D. J. Hicks, I. H. Brown, S. B. Brookes Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom Purpose: Pigs are considered potentially important mixing vessels for a range of influenza viruses, as they possess both avian (α2-3) and mammalian (α2-6) sialic acid viral receptors. In this study we evaluated the susceptibility and the pathogenesis of a LPAIV in pigs. Methods & Materials: Fourteen 6-week-old pigs were challenged intranasally with A/chicken/England/4054/06 H7N3 LPAIV and killed in pairs at 3, 4, 5, 7, 12 and 19 days post infection (dpi). At post mortem, samples from the respiratory tract, draining lymph nodes and brain were collected, fixed in buffered formalin and routinely processed for histopathology. Influenza A nucleoprotein and sialic acid receptors were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: No clinical signs were observed during the course of infection. Virus antigen was detected in the olfactory epithelium of all animals killed from 3-12 dpi. Only one of the animals, killed at 4 dpi, showed minimal virus antigen in bronchiolar epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages, associated with a mild bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Virus antigen was also observed in the olfactory nerves, but not in the olfactory bulb, of one of the animals killed at 7 dpi. Distribution of mammalian influenza virus receptors was widespread throughout the respiratory system, but avian influenza virus receptors were only abundant in the olfactory epithelium, bronchioles and alveoli. Conclusion: LPAIV A/chicken/England/4054/06 H7N3 infection in pigs resulted in a subclinical presentation, with viral replication in olfactory epithelium associated with a high prevalence of avian influenza virus receptors. November 1, 2014 22.022 The international trade of chickens and 22.023 CAPA: Creating a network of investigators in International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Bats are known natural hosts for a range of zoonotic viruses such as Marburg, Ebola, Rabies, Nipah, Hendra, as well as for various Corona- and Paramyxoviruses. In 2009/10, researchers discovered RNA of two novel influenza virus subtypes—H17N10 and H18N11—in Central and South American fruit bats. Although the newly discovered bat influenza virus genome diverged significantly from previously known influenza viruses, evidence suggests that conditions are met to reassort with human influenza viruses in human cells. The identification of bats as possible additional reservoir for influenza A viruses raises questions about the role of this mammalian taxon in influenza A virus ecology and possible public health relevance. Methods & Materials: As molecular testing can be limited by a short time window in which the virus is detectable, serological testing provides information about past infections and virus spread in populations, after the virus has been cleared. This study aimed at screening serum from 101 frugivorous bats (Eidolon helvum) sampled in 2009/10 in Ghana, for the presence of antibodies against the complete panel of influenza A haemagglutinin (HA) types ranging from H1 to H18 by means of a protein microarray platform. This technique enables simultaneous serological testing against multiple recombinant HA-types in 5µl of serum. Results: Preliminary results indicate serological evidence against avian influenza virus HA-type H9 in 21% of the animals screened, with somewhat cross-reactivity to phylogenetically more closely related HA-types H8 and H12. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of serological evidence of influenza A viruses other than H17 and H18 in bats. As avian influenza subtype H9 is associated with human infections, the implications of our findings from a public health context remain to be investigated. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 G. S. Freidl1, T. Binger2, M. A. Müller2, E. de Bruin1, J. van Beek1, V. M. Corman2, A. Rasche2, J. F. Drexler2, A. Sylverken3, S. Oppong3, Y. Adu-Sarkodie3, M. Tschapka4, V. M. Cottontail4, M. Knörnschild4, C. Drosten2, M. Koopmans1 1 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment/Erasmus Medical Center, Bilthoven/Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany, 3Kumasi Collaborative Center for Tropical Medicine/Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, 4University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany Methods & Materials: A retrospective analysis of poultry trading data from the Food and Agriculture’s FAOSTAT database and poultry outbreaks recorded by the WHO were collected from 2003 to 2011. A Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was used to assess the risk of infection in a country with the quantity of chickens imported from countries experiencing at least one poultry H5N1 case during that year. Results: This study found significant and positive interaction between quantity of chickens traded and H5N1 poultry infection in the exporting country, in both the non-adjusted (p=0.0013) and adjusted model (p=0.0005). For every 1,000 chickens imported from an infected country, the odds of infection in the importing country increased by 1.3, when adjusting for year, population in the importing country, and population in the exporting country. The trade of ducks and turkeys was not significantly associated with increased risk. Conclusion: These findings show that reducing or halting trade from countries experiencing H5N1 poultry cases can greatly reduce the risk of introducing the virus to previously uninfected countries. These findings may also have important implications for preventing the spread of similar emerging avian influenza virus subtypes, such as H7N9. Poster Presentations I 22.027 Replication potential of evolutionary distinct H3N8 equine influenza viruses in swine cell lines and respiratory explants L. V. P. L. Patrono1, C. Zanardello2, F. Bonfante2, C. Terregino2, I. Capua2, P. R. Murcia3 1 University of Padua/Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy, 2Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy, 3MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom Purpose: In early 2000’s an equine influenza virus (EIV) of the H3N8 subtype crossed the species barrier and established in dogs as canine influenza virus. Moreover, between 2004–2006, H3N8 viruses closely related to EIV were detected in pigs in China, and recently, EIV H3N8 has been isolated from camels in Mongolia. To understand nature of host range determinants of Influenza A viruses, is fundamental to study influenza pathogenesis at the site of infection. Swine respiratory explants constitute a unique model to study the dynamics of influenza virus infection in the target tissues of the natural host. Aim: To assess and compare the replication potential of evolutionary distinct H3N8 equine influenza viruses in pig cells and respiratory explants. Methods & Materials: Newborn Pig Trachea (NPTr) and Newborn Swine Kidney (NSK) cell lines were infected at a MOI of 0.001 with various EIV isolates spanning from 1963 to 2003. Triplicate samples of the 75 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 E. Molesti1, F. Ferrara1, G. Lapini2, E. Montomoli2, N. Temperton1 1 University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom, 2University of Siena, Sienna, Italy Purpose: The human population is constantly exposed to multiple influenza A subtypes due to zoonotic spillover and rapid viral evolution driven by intrinsic error-prone replication and immunological pressure. In this context, antibody responses directed against the HA protein are of importance since they have been shown to correlate with protective immunity. Serological techniques, detecting these responses, play a critical role for influenza surveillance, vaccine development, and assessment. As the recent human pandemics and avian influenza outbreaks have demonstrated, there is an urgent need to be better prepared to assess the contribution of the antibody response to protection against newly emerged viruses and to evaluate the extent of preexisting heterosubtypic immunity in populations. Methods & Materials: SRH, HI, MN and pp-NT were used in a comparative serology approach to deliniate the humoral response against avian viruses in human sera. Results: In this study, 68 serum samples collected from the Italian population between 1992 and 2007 were found to be positive for antibodies against H5N1 as determined by single radial hemolysis (SRH), but most were negative when evaluated using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralisation (MN) assays. Conclusion: As a result of these discordant serological findings, the increased sensitivity of lentiviral pseudotypes was exploited in pseudotype-based neutralisation (pp-NT) assays and the results obtained provide further insight into the complex nature of humoral immunity against influenza A viruses. 22.029 Vaccination of mice with plasmid DNA encoding hemagglutinin from H5N1 P. A. Redkiewicz1, A. Gora-Sochacka1, P. Kosson2, A. Sirko1 1 Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Warsaw, Poland, 2 Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Warsaw, Poland Purpose: Recombinant DNA vaccine based on the sequence of H5 HA from H5N1 strain of HPAIV was prepared. Sequence manipulation included deletion of the proteolytic cleavage site, codon usage optimization and cloning into a commercially available expression vector. Further study was focused on the enhancement of immunogenicity of 76 IMED 2014 22.030 Prevalence and molecular characteristics of respiratory viruses found in children’s with respiratory tract infections in Eastern India S. Kumar1, S. Panda1, N. K. Mohakud2 1 KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, 2KIMS, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India Purpose: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children both in developed and developing countries. In the last few decades, a wide range of respiratory viruses, including human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza viruses (PIVs), rhinovirus (HRV), have been repeatedly detected in acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children. Role of these respiratory viruses in ARTIs among children has not been well established in India. Our work represents a complete profiling of respiratory viruses circulating in eastern India. Methods & Materials: Total 260 nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected (2012–2014) from patients suspected of ARTIs. All these samples were subjected to multiplex RT-PCR for detection of respiratory viruses. The demographic characteristics, viral prevalence, age distribution, seasonal distribution, and pathogen spectrum of the patients with ARTIs were analyzed. hMPV positive samples were subjected to partial sequencing of F gene (571 nt–977 nt) using ABI PRISM BigDye termination reaction. N-J algorithm was implemented for phylogenetic analysis using MEGA 6.06 to calculate the percentage of nucleotide identity and genetic divergence between hMPV isolates. Results: 74/260 (27.69%) sample were found positive for any respiratory virus (Influenza, Parainfluenza virus (PIV), Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) or human rhinovirus (HRV). HRV was the major etiological agent (18.85%), followed by hRSV (4.61%), hMPV (3.85%), PIV (2.31%), and Influenza (1.54%). Co-infection of hMPV with hRSV, PIV, HRV and Influenza was observed in 2, 1, 1 and 1 cases respectively. In phylogenetic analysis, the present hMPV isolates clustered with hMPV subgroup A2. Conclusion: The characterisation and epidemiological investigation of respiratory viruses at molecular level is very important. The present study adds to our knowledge of the epidemiology characteristics of these common respiratory viruses among patients with ARTIs in eastern India. It provides a useful insight into the circulation of prevalent strains and helps in the understanding of illness attributable to these respiratory viruses. 22.031 A preliminary study comparing trends in influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection consultations in general practice in-hours services and out-of-hours services C. Kearns, N. Gallagher, C. Nugent Public Health Agency, Belfast, United Kingdom Purpose: A variety of data sources collated annually by the Public Health Agency provide information on respiratory disease and timing of activity. Influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) consultations in primary care were obtained by automated extraction, from all general practitioners in-hours and out-of-hours (OOH) services across Northern Ireland. The OOH service may provide an earlier indication of activity than in-hours service as it is operational for longer periods. We examined ILI and ARI trends in GP in-hours and OOH over a three year period. Methods & Materials: Weekly aggregate data on ILI and ARI consultations, stratified by age-group were extracted from both services for the years 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13. Differences in peak activity periods were observed using longitudinal graphs and proportional estimates. Results: The peak week for ILI activity was one week earlier in the OOH than the in-hours service in two of the three years. In contrast the peak week of activity for ARI was one week later in the OOH than the in-hours service. ILI consultations were a much lower proportion of all in-hour and OOH consultations (1%) than ARI consultations (15%). Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that OOH services may provide a slightly earlier indication of ILI activity than the in-hours service. Conversely, indicators for ARI appear earlier in the in-hours service, possibly due to the age-groups accessing these services. The low proportion of consultations due to ILI may indicate the effectiveness of the public health message to remain at home when ILI is suspected 22.032 Multiplex molecular diagnosis of viral acute respiratory infections in Algiers, Algeria H. Ziane, Z. Hanifa, F. Djennane, M. Bachtarzi, S. Gourari, M. Tazir Service de microbiologie, Algiers, Algeria Purpose: Rapid and accurate identification of the causative agent among potential bacterial and viral pathogens is essential for the management of acute respiratory infections. Methods & Materials: To evaluate the prospective utility of multiplex PCR assay in diagnosis of viral respiratory infections, a panel of 54 respiratory samples collected from children (n=47) and adults (n=7) with severe bronchiolitis (n=24) or pneumonia (n=30), were analyzed by the Seegene Seeplex® RV12 system. The study was conducted in 5 centers from February to April 2011. Results: Of 54 cases, 36 (66.6%) were positive by RV12 multiplex PCR. Viruses identified were: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV, n= 26) with RSV B (n=23) and RSV A (n=3), followed by Human Rhino Virus (n=7), Adenovirus (n=7), Influenza virus A (n=6), Influenza virus B (n=2), Coronavirus: OC43/229E/NL63 (n=3), Human Parinfluenza virus (n=2) and Human Metapneumovirus (n=1). In 20 cases (37%), viruses were the only etiology reported. However, viral coinfection (identification of more than 1 virus) was noted in 17 cases (31.5%), and association with bacterial etiology was identified in 16 cases (29.6%), mostly with S.pneumoniae (n=10). In 18 cases (33.3%) no viral etiology has been identified, and 11 cases (20.4%) remained without etiological diagnosis. Conclusion: Multiplex molecular testing has improved the ability of clinical laboratories to diagnose respiratory virus infections. As a result, following the adoption of these tests, clinical laboratories will provide much on the treatment of respiratory infections and detect emerging viruses. 22.033 Impact of human enterovirus (hEV) and human parechovirus (hPeV) infections in children ≤5 years with influenza-like illness (ILI) in Northern Italy during 4 consecutive winter seasons (2010/2011–2013/2014) L. Bubba, L. Pellegrinelli, S. D. Discacciati, A. Ranghiero, G. Anselmi, V. Primache, S. Binda, A. Amendola, E. Pariani University of Milan, Milan, Italy Purpose: Influenza-like illness (ILI) can cause excess pediatric morbidity during winter season. An ILI case is defined by abrupt onset of fever (>38˚C), one or more respiratory symptoms (non-productive cough, sore throat, or rhinitis), and one or more systemic symptoms (myalgia, headache, or severe malaise). ILI is considered to be a valid proxy of influenza activity, and up to 30–40% of children develop ILI during each influenza season. Influenzaviruses are considered the main cause of ILI, however other respiratory viruses-generally not included among common pathogens under investigation-can be involved, such as human enterovirus (hEV) and human parechovirus (hPeV) This study aimed at investigating the impact of hEV and hPeV infections in children ≤5 years with ILI during 4 consecutive winter seasons (from 2010/2011 to 2013/2014) in Lombardy (Northern Italy). Methods & Materials: During the study period, throat-swabs were collected from 312 children ≤5 years (48.4% females) with ILI by sentinel practitioners in the framework of the Italian influenza surveillance network InfluNet. Nucleic acids were extracted from each sample by a commercial method (Invitek) and two one-step real-time RT-multiplexPCRs were carried out to detect influenzaviruses type A/B and hEV/ hPeV. Results: 46.1% (144/312) of samples were positive to influenzavirus detection (70.8% type A); the median age of these outpatients was 4 years (IQR: 1 year); hEVs were detected in 9% (28/312) of children (median age: 2 years; IQR: 3 years), and hPeV in 3.5% (11/312) of ILI cases (median age: 1 year; IQR: 1 year). 11.1% (16/144) of influenzavirus-positive samples resulted positive also to hEV or hPeV detection (6.9% and 4.2%, respectively). No hEV/hPeV co-infections were identified. Among influenzavirus-negative samples, 10.7% (18/168) were positive to hEV and 3% (5/168) to hPeV. Conclusion: During the study period, 46% of ILI cases were laboratory-confirmed influenzaviruses infections. Unexpectedly, the impact of hEV and hPeV infections in children ≤5 yearswas 9% and 3.5%, respectively. HPeV was mainly detected in children ≤3 years. HPeV and hEV were identified either as single infection or as co-infection. Further investigations will allow to ascertain the hEV and hPeV genotypes circulating in the community, particularly among children. November 1, 2014 • serological assays observed when measuring heterosubtypic responses against avian influenza H5 and H7 viruses in unexposed individuals International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY 22.028 Discordant correlation between HA DNA vaccines by modification of the coding sequence and using various adjuvants. Variants of the plasmids containing unmodified and modified sequence encoding HA were prepared and tested in mice along with three different adjuvants. Methods & Materials: 4–6 week old BALB/c mice were immunized twice intramuscularly in the quadriceps muscle at two weeks intervals with either 50 μg or 10 μg of plasmid DNA along with adjuvant 1, 2 or 3. At three time points: (i) two weeks after the prime dose, (ii) one week after the boost dose and (iii) two weeks after the boost dose the blood samples were collected and sera were prepared. Four weeks after the priming mice were scarified and spleens were isolated. HA-specific IgG titers in sera samples were determined by indirect ELISA. The proliferation ability of murine splenocytes stimulated with commercial hemagglutinin H5 from A/Bar-headed Goose/Qinghai/12/05 H5N1 strain was determined using CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay (MTS). Results: The results show that both vaccine doses (50 µg and 10 μg) of the tested plasmids elicited HA-specific IgG antibody response. However, the level of the response depended on the sequence variant, the dose and the adjuvant. Additionally, the study of splenocytes proliferation confirmed that the tested vaccines elicited the T-cell proliferative responses. Acknowledgments:This work was supported by Innovative Economy Program, Grant No. WND-POIG.01.01.02-00-007/08. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 supernatants were collected at different time points for virus quantification. Six to eight week-old piglets (n=6) were used to collect explants of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Explants were infected in triplicate with 200 PFU of EIVs. Infection phenotypes evaluated by virus titres, histological lesions and immunostaining were determined at different time points. Results: All EIVs tested replicated in swine cell lines whereas in organ explants only “old” EIVs were able to replicate. Viral loads were higher in the lower than in the upper respiratory tract. In agreement with this finding, histological damage and viral antigen were not detected in nasal mucosa nor tracheas but commonly observed in the lungs. Conclusion: Our ex vivo system has proven to be more selective than the in vitro for screening the replication potential of EIVs in the pig host. Moreover, we describe the phenotype of infection of equine influenza in swine explants highlighting a tropism for the lower respiratory tract. Our preliminary data show that EIVs progressively lost their ability to replicate in swine explants along their evolutionary history, suggesting that evolutionary determinants play an important role on EIV host range. Poster Presentations I 22.034 Molecular phylogeny and evolutionary dynamics of influenza A(H1N1)09pdm NS1 gene M. B. Valli1, E. Giombini2, C. Caglioti3, P. Zaccaro3, S. Menzo4, G. Ippolito5, M. R. Capobianchi6 1 National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani”, Rome, IT, Italy, 2National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 3National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 4Marche Polithecnic University, Ancona, Italy, 5National Institute fro Infectious Diseases “L.Spallanzani”, Rome, Italy, 6National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy Purpose: Following its jump to human population, swine-origin pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1) experienced fast evolutionary rates and strong selection pressure, diverging early into two different clusters. Despite these findings strongly suggest that the relevant evolutionary steps to adapt to humans occurred at the beginning of the pandemic, many aspects of its adaptation and the subsequent evolutionary trends of the virus remain obscure. In this study the dynamics of genetic variations of NS1 protein, which plays a crucial role in viral replication aswell-as in host adaptation, has been investigated Methods & Materials: Nucleic acid extracted by nasopharyngeal swabs has been amplified with RT-PCR in house to obtained full-lenght 77 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 • outside the host: Potential role of the hemagglutinin protein L. I. O. Sawoo1, M. Feher1, A. Dublineau2, C. Batéjat1, I. Leclercq1, J.-C. Manuguerra1, J. Vanhomwegen1 1 Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, 2Insitut Pasteur, Paris, France Purpose: Of the viruses belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae, influenza A virus (IAV) is the most predominant cause of morbidity and mortality in humans through yearly epidemics and pandemics. Pandemic threats with new IAVs such as the H1N1 (2009) pandemic virus (H1N1pdm), have stimulated numerous studies on their transmission mechanism. However, knowledge on how environmental factors may impact IAV persistence is still rudimentary. We have previously shown that IAV can persist in water and on surfaces for extended periods of time and that susceptibility of the virus to a given temperature or salinity was not due to genomic degradation. Our findings suggested that external structures of IAVs, particularly the surface glycoprotein Hemagglutinin (HA) which could play a role in virus survival. To identify molecular determinants involved in IAV survival outside the host, we used influenza pseudotypes based on lentiviral vectors expressing a luciferase reporter gene. Methods & Materials: Pseudotypes produced with HA genes of H1N1pdm and pre-pandemic H1N1 strains were generated and subjected to various environmental parameters such as different salinities and temperatures over time. Luciferase expression was measured after MDCK cells transduction to evaluate influenza pseudotypes integrity. Results: No differences were observed between H1N1pdm and seasonal H1N1 pseudotypes at low salinities at a given temperature, as shown with their viral counterparts. However, increasing temperatures and salinities had a strong negative effect on the survival of the H1N1 pseudotypes, with a higher impact on pre-pandemic H1N1 pseudotypes. After intermolecular comparison of both viruses on the HA gene, several key-point mutations were targeted and 10 different pseudotyped mutants were studied for their persistence in water. Recombinant viruses bearing those mutations will also be tested in order to confirm the results. Conclusion: Influenza pseudotypes provided reliable assays to study the loss of viability of IAV outside the host, and allowed the identification of amino-acids that are potentially involved in IAV survival. 78 IMED 2014 guidance for emerging respiratory pathogens E. Wong1, T. Mersereau1, N. Khalil2, M. Saboui1 1 Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada, 2Public Health Agency of Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada Purpose: Internationally, a number of health organizations have adopted a risk based approach to ensure the public health response is appropriate to risk posed by an emerging pathogen (including novel influenza strains). As surveillance is important in understanding novel diseases and informing effective action, guidance must identify the key elements needed to contribute to risk assessment. Objective: To apply a risk based approach to surveillance that serves the public and public health in a meaningful way and to support planning activities in Canada. Methods & Materials: An environmental scan was conducted to review national and international risk based surveillance guidance documents. Committees with representatives from different areas of expertise were created and/or consulted to identify assumptions and operational limitations when setting surveillance objectives and recommended activities for different disease transmission scenarios. Results: Using scenarios that considered the evolution of disease characteristics (e.g. increasing capacity for human-to-human transmission and geographic origin/spread), key considerations were identifiedby individuals with a broad range of expertise (laboratory, epidemiology, public health, and zoonosis) to develop guidance, objectives and recommendations for emerging respiratory pathogens (including pandemic influenza). Factors that were affected by these considerations included the public health response goals (containment vs. mitigation), surveillance activities (collection of case-level or aggregate data, outbreak investigations), laboratory testing procedures, and need for special studies. Existing infrastructure was recognized as being vital in the surveillance of emerging respiratory pathogens. These findings were applied in surveillance guidance for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus and avian influenza A(H7N9). The need for a formal assessment tool was also recognized and a risk assessment framework is under development. Conclusion: Collaborative discussions allowed for the communication of expectations and limitations among public health authorities, laboratory scientists and clinicians when faced with a public health threat. Given the unknown nature of the epidemiology of an emerging respiratory pathogen, a risk-based approach to surveillance establishes guidance that is flexible and responsive for an evolving situation. 22.037 Early clinical management of SARI patients improves outcomes and community outbreaks B. Namagambo1, J. T. Kayiwa1, T. Byaruhanga1, R. Chiza2, N. Owor1, B. Bakamutumaho1, J. J. Lutwama1, I. Nabukenya3 1 Uganda Virus Reseacrh Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, 2Uganda Virus Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda, 3Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda Purpose: There have been several incidents of severe respiratory infectious diseases in Uganda for the last five years; these include the 2009 Pandemic Influenza commonly known as “SWINE FLU”, Seasonal Influenza A(H1N1), Influenza A(H3N2) and Influenza B. These Acute Respiratory Infections pose a substantial risk for humans due to their extremely high potential to spread from person-to-person hence these infections can produce worse outcomes. Events of these severe acute respiratory infections have demonstrated the importance of strengthening Case management systems that include patient follow up to help in detection of new viruses and provide information to assess the impact on the population being investigated for better operational preparedness plans. Objectives: To assess incidence of outcomes and incidence of complications in SARI patients. Methods & Materials: Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens were collected from Patients between the age ≥ 2 months with an acute respiratory infection presenting history of fever or measured fever (≥ 38 °C, 100.4 °F) and cough; AND suspicion of pulmonary parenchymal disease (e.g. pneumonia or RTI), based on clinical evidence of consolidation: WITH symptom onset within 10 days were followed up from in five hospitals of Mbarara, Entebbe, Arua, Tororo and FortPortal; from date of admission up to the time they leave the hospital. Samples were tested for influenza A and B with real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and subtyped for seasonal A/H1, A/H3, A/ H5, and 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1). Results: Out of the 3,576 SARI admissions, 1,572 patients were put under the SARI clinical/case management system; 4,404(93%) were discharged after full recovery, 29(2%) death, 81(5%) runaway and 6(0%) were transferred when conditions worsened. The minimum length of stay on admission was 10day. Although 172/4404 (3.9%) were positive for influenza, no patient was confirmed dead for Influenza. Conclusion: Case management programmes improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, improve patient follow up, and ensure patients acquire right medication with in a minimum time. 22.038 Evaluating the relationship of sex and age on the influenza test result J. K. Kigozi, J. T. Kayiwa, T. Byaruhanga, R. Chiza, I. Nabukenya, B. Namagambo, B. Bakamutumaho, J. J. Lutwama Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda Purpose: There is limited data available from Africa on Population at risk for Influenza. Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world (Martin et a,l 2013). Severe outcomes of Influenza illness among individuals have been reported. Sex and age have been independent factors of causing influenza (Martin et al, 2013). Since there is limited data available in African countries about the impact of Influenza, our study evaluated the association of age and sex on influenza results. Methods & Materials: We established a sentinel surveillance system for influenza in five hospitals and outpatient clinics respectively and other identified areas of outbreaks in four distinct geographical regions of Uganda (northern, eastern western and central), using standard case definitions for influenza like illness (ILI). Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens were collected from January 2012 through June 2014 from 2474 non-smoking patients with ILI above 18 years and tested for influenza A and B with real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and subtyped for seasonal A/H1, A/H3, A/ H5, and 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1). Data analysis was done using Chi square which involved the comparing of sex and different age ranges of the patients. Results: Out of the 2474 people tested for influenza, 1228 were males and 1246 females. 328 tested positive for Influenza while 2146 were negative. 12 patients were aged >45 years and 2462 were below 45 years. On analysis, sex was not statistically significant when compared with the influenza results (p =0.25). Also age groups was not statistically significant when compared with the influenza results. (p=0.181). Conclusion: Sex and Age groups are not associated or related with the Influenza test results. 22.039 Variability of influenza clinical sample adequacy as measured by rtPCR amplification of beta-actin T. E. Bell, K. Felkins Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Amarillo, Amarillo, TX, USA Purpose: Influenza diagnosis is hampered by imperfect diagnostic tools. Clinical mimicry of influenza with other respiratory pathogens limits clinical accuracy for influenza diagnosis. Rapid antigen testing has less than ideal sensitivity, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) remains relatively expensive and not universally available. These limitations may be magnified during influenza outbreaks, when public health decisions affecting whole populations are reliant on accurate and predictable results. Although antigen testing remains the mainstay for outpatient laboratory detection of influenza, the successful identification of influenza is dependent on the volume of antigen collected during sampling. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability of nasal clinical sampling adequacy based on Beta-actin quantity in influenza samples. Methods & Materials: Beta-actin DNA is a housekeeping gene that has been used as a proxy measure of epithelial cells in nasal sampling. For our study, we analyzed data from 48 clinical influenza samples with beta-actin control data collected and analyzed between 2009 and 2011. All samples were influenza positive by rt-PCR utilizing a commercially available detection kit (PrimerDesign, UK) on an ABI7500 PCR platform. The kit incorporates beta-actin as an internal control. Samples were collected by trained research staff or clinical nursing staff. Samples were run in triplicate and included in final analysis if there was less than 10% variability between runs. Results: Data for 48 samples were available for analysis. Patients ranged in age from 9 months to 78 years. The average number of cycles required for B-actin detection was 29.9 (range 25.5–36.9, std dev 2.77). There was no significant difference in beta-actin quantity relative to patient age or year of collection and analysis. Conclusion: There was significant variability in influenza sampling adequacy in this study. We demonstrated an eleven-fold difference in beta-actin between the lowest and highest quantity samples. The standard deviation of cycles for rt PCR detection equates to more than an order of magnitude difference within one standard deviation. Incorporation of intra-sample beta-actin controls in antigen tests may be one way to improve diagnostic accuracy of these tests and control for sampling variability. 22.040 Surveillance of influenza A exposure using non-invasive methods among industrial pig farm workers and household members in North Carolina M. Nadimpalli1, N. Pisanic2, J. Stewart1, C. Heaney2 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, 2 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA November 1, 2014 22.035 Molecular basis of influenza virus survival 22.036 Applying a risk based approach in surveillance International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY NS1 sequences and than sequenced by a modified Sanger method. The Phylogenetic analisys was performed using MEGA 5 package (NJ) and the selective pressure was computed using the Nei and Gojobori substitution model (with the Jukes-Cantor correction) Results: The NS1 variants isolated in Rome were examined and compared to worldwide sequences downloaded from GISAID Database. The phylogenetic tree of 2009 and 2013 Rome-sequences revealed a significant (bootstrap 1000) segregation of the two groups in well separated clades. The selective pressure analysis on NS1 and HA demonstrated that dN/dS ratio of NS1 and HA was highest in 2009, than its value progressively decreased from 0.456 (2009) to 0.092 (2013) in NS1 gene whereas it started to increase in HA gene since 2011 Conclusion: Our study reveals that NS1 was generally subjected to a growing purifying selection during the course of seasonal epidemics, whereas its variability has increased, mainly in synonymous substitutions, in a typical genetic radiation pattern. NS and HA show discrepant evolution: from 2009 to 2011 both genes displayed growing purifying selection, while in 2012 and 2013 selective pressure on HA started growing again. This demonstrates that after initial adaptation to humans for both genes, neutralizing antibodies in the human population subjected HA to continuous pressure through seasonal epidemics, while NS has reached optimal adaptation to the new host. The evolutionary dynamics of NS1 gene obtained in this study provides new insight into the epidemiology of influenza, which is crucial for its surveillance and control. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Poster Presentations I Purpose: Workers at confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) may be exposed to reassortant influenza A viruses. There is a growing need for influenza A surveillance in eastern North Carolina, where pig CAFOs are concentrated and poultry CAFOs are rapidly proliferating. However, influenza A surveillance among CAFO workers is difficult in the U.S. due to trouble recruiting workers, who often fear retribution from their employers; and invasive sampling methods, which can reduce study participation and retention. New approaches are needed to investigate the emergence of novel influenza A viruses among CAFO workers in the U.S. Aim: To examine baseline prevalence of influenza A among industrial pig farmers and their household members enrolled in a four-month, repeated measures study of influenza A exposure and infection. Methods & Materials: In collaboration with the Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (REACH), a community organization based in eastern North Carolina, we enrolled a convenience sample of industrial pig farmers and their household members from October, 2013 to February, 2014. Baseline nasal swabs and questionnaires assessing influenza A symptoms were collected from each participant upon enrollment. Community organizers from REACH collected biweekly nasal samples and questionnaires from participants for the next four months. RT-qPCR was used to quantify and subtype influenza A virus RNA present in each baseline sample. Results: 183 baseline nasal swabs were collected from 102 workers, 27 adult household members, and 54 minors. Retention of participants was high; 87% (159/183) contributed all time points and 95% (174/183) contributed at least 8/9. Eight percent of participants (15/183) were positive for influenza A at baseline, including 10 workers, two adult household members, and three minors. Subtyping revealed presumptive pandemic swine H1N1 influenza A virus among one worker at baseline. 79 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Conclusion: Influenza A surveillance studies of CAFO workers in the U.S. are possible when non-invasive methods are used, and when researchers collaborate with community groups who have the trust of participants. Our findings suggest industrial pig farmers and their household members are exposed to influenza A, including pandemic strains. Further research is required to determine whether CAFOs are the source of exposure to these strains. 22.041 The neglected burden of influenza in relation to age, out-patients, hospitalized patients and the economic impact in Uganda 22.042 The role of conventional and real-time PCR in determining the pneumococcal etiology of complicated pneumonia cases C. Silva-Costa, S. Aguiar, M. Pinho, M. Ramirez, J. Melo-Cristino, P. Portuguese Group for the Study of Streptococcal Infections Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal Purpose: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of pneumonia, including complicated cases, such as those associated with empyema or pleural effusion. However, the etiology of complicated pneumonia is frequently not established, given the low microbiological yield of the specimens by traditional methods. This possibly under-estimates the contribution of pneumococci to the burden of diseased and may introduce a bias in the determined serotype prevalence. The aim of this 80 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY quantitative buffy coat and rapid diagnostic kit for malaria diagnosis among clinic attendees in Southwest Nigeria A. O. Ogunniyi1, D. M. Dairo2, H. Dada-Adegbola3, O. Ajumobi4, O. Fawole5, W. Oyibo6 1 Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria, 2University of Ibadan, Ibadan, OYO, Nigeria, 3University College Hospital, Ibadan, OYO, Nigeria, 4Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, FCT Abuja, Nigeria, 5 University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 6University of Lagos, Lagos, LAG, Nigeria Purpose: The unavailability of accurate, rapid, reliable and costeffective diagnostic instruments compels many laboratories to depend on the labour-intensive and time-consuming light microscopy for diagnosis. Alternative instruments like Cyscope fluorescent microscope (Cyscope), Quantitative Buffy Coat fluorescent microscope (QBC) and CareStart™ Rapid diagnostic kit (CareStart™) with the potential to address these challenges have been developed but their validity and cost effectiveness have not been determined in Nigeria, an endemic and resource limited setting. This study was designed to validate these instruments and assess their comparative cost-effectiveness. Methods & Materials: Blood samples collected from 502 patients who were systematically randomly selected from 1800 patients at three hospitals in southwestern Nigeria, were tested for malaria parasites using the diagnostic tools mentioned above, with Light Microscopy as the gold standard. For each instrument, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PVP), negative predictive value (NPV), turn around time and costper-hour of use were assessed. Statistical analysis included McNemar chi-square and Kappa statistics at 0.05 significance level. Results: Malaria prevalence in the samples was 19.5% (CareStart™), 21.7% (light microscopy), 30.7% (Cyscope) and 32.7% (QBC) respectively. Sensitivity of the instruments compared with light microscopy was 76% (CareStart™), 95% (Cyscope) and 98.1% (QBC) while specificity was 85.5% (QBC), 87.3% (Cyscope) and 96% (CareStart™). PPV for the instruments was 65.2% (QBC), 67.5% (Cyscope), and 84.7% (CareStart™) with NPV of 93.6% (CareStart™), 98.6% (Cyscope) and 99.4% (QBC). Inter instrument agreement index, Kappa value (Ka) were 0.71 [(OR=28.5; CI=7.54–241.01) (QBC)], 0.72 [(OR=10.0; CI= 4.01–32.13) (Cyscope)] and 0.75 [(OR=0.6; CI= 0.3–1.13) (CareStart™)]. Average cost per hour of use for the instruments was $2.04 (Cyscope), $5.61 (RDT), $5.89 (QBC) and $10.77 (light microscopy). The turnaround time per result output was 5minutes (Cyscope), 10minutes (QBC), 20minutes (CareStart™) and 45 minutes (light microscopy). Conclusion: Cyscope fluorescent microscopy was found to be comparatively accurate, rapid and most cost-effective for malaria diagnosis in this resource-limited setting and is therefore recommended for routine diagnosis for control and elimination of malaria. 22.044 Detection of ASF virus found in Georgia using transmission electron microscope N. Vepkhvadze1, M. Kokhreidze1, M. Donduashvili1, K. Goginashvili1, R. Obiso2, T. Tigilauri1 1 Laboratory for the Ministry of Agriculture, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2Attimo R&D, Blacksburg, VA, USA Purpose: African Swine Fever virus (ASFv) is the causative agent of African Swine Fever. ASFv is a large double-stranded DNA virus that replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells and is the only member of the Asfaviridae family. ASFv infects domestic pigs, warthogs and bush pigs, as well as soft ticks. This infection is characterized by a high morbidity and mortality rate (>95%). In 2007, several regions in Georgia were affected by massive porcine mortality. The LMA utilizes both ELISA and PCR techniques in the detection of ASF. A total of 415 samples out of 2,964 samples tested positive (2007-2010). Some of those samples were sent to the PIADC for study. Methods & Materials: The PIADC evaluated 20 ASFv positive samples. The study used Virus visualization by HAD reaction—all Georgian virus isolates (twenty) were grown in Primary Swine Macrophage Cultures (PSMC). Virus stocks were produced and titrated in PSMC. Virus genomic areas were sequenced in all isolates. Sequenced viruses were fragmented by CD2 and 9GL in the Virus genome in order to define the similarity of virus strains circulating within the regions of Georgia. A cytopathic effect (cell rounding and appearance of refractive bodies) occurs in at least 50% of cells. Primary porcine macrophage cell cultures were infected by a pathogenic ASFv isolate and examined 24 hours post infection, prepared three (3) samples for comparison a) mock-infected, b) infected and c) infected cells with RBC (Red-Blood-Cells). Then, we prepared and stained samples with 1% Toluidine blue and tested the stained cells using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Results: In the case of virus detection, samples were placed on Nickel and Copper Electron Microscope grids and examined using the Hithachi electron microscope (EM). The microphage of the ASF virus was detected with high magnification (>10,000). We observed ASFvinfected macrophage with a cytoplasmic Virus Factory (VF) adjacent to the Nucleus (N) and recruiting mitochondria (M). Conclusion: TEM is expensive and cannot be afforded by many laboratories. For the first time, we had the opportunity to study the vírus-molecular epidemiology of ASF using the TEM. 22.045 Rapid detection of nanotechnology based diagnosis of rotavirus using silver nanoparticles probe R. Kumar1, G. Sahoo1, K. Trivedi1, R. Kumar1, K. Pandey2, V. Ravidas2, Y. Ansari3, S. Parva1, R. Mansurri4, P. Das2 1 rmrims, Patna, Bihar, India, 2rmrims, Patna, India, 3Niper, Patna, Bihar, India, 4niper, Patna, Bihar, India Purpose: Rotavirus A, which accounts for more than 90% of rotavirus gastroenteritis in humans, is endemic worldwide. Each year rotavirus causes millions of cases of diarrhoea in developing countries, almost 2 million resulting in hospitalisation and an estimated 611,000 resulting in death. Definitive diagnosis of Rotavirus A typically relies on virus isolation, antigen detection, serological response, or PCR, and each of these methods is generally time- or cost-prohibitive, thus, they are not often appropriate for clinical diagnosis.The development of a simple, rapid, and sensitive method for quantitative detection of Rotavirus A virus using dynamic light scattering (DLS) Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Silver nanoparticle labels. Methods & Materials: Rotavirus specific antibodies are conjugated to Silver nanoparticles, and aggregation of the silver nanoparticles probes is induced upon addition of the target virus. DLS is used to measure the extent of aggregation and the mean hydrodynamic diameter is correlated to virus concentration. Additional TEM characterization has been done are provided as further support for the interpretation of the DLS calibration. Results: The effects of nanoparticle concentration and size on the analytical performance of the assay were systematically investigated. It was determined that decreasing the silver nanoparticles probe concentration improves the detection limit while the effect of changing the silver nanoparticle size is minimal. Conclusion: This work not only extends the application of a DLSbased assay to the detection of viruses, it elucidates inherent properties of this approach which make it better suited for virus detection in comparison to smaller analyte targets such as DNA and proteins. This assay could be easily implemented in most laboratories for a wide variety of pathogens. Unconjugated silver and antibodies are commercially available and cost effective. 22.046 Development of multiplex PCR for diagnosis of tick-borne zoonoses B. K. Mutai1, J. Waitumbi2 1 Walter Reed Project-Kisumu/Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya, 2Walter Reed Project/Kenya Medical Research Institute-Kisumu, Kisumu, Kenya Purpose: Ticks are important vectors of zoonoses that include rickettsioses, Q-fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and lyme disease among others. These diseases cause febrile illnesses that are usually outside the differential diagnosis radar of clinicians. Here we describe development of a multiplex PCR for diagnosis of 8 tick-borne zoonoses. Methods & Materials: Two multiplex PCR methods that can simultaneously detect four pathogens each were developed. Taqman primers and probe sequences were selected from published literature and base calling specificity confirmed from sequences available in the NCBI Genbank. Reporter dyes for the probes were selected to allow multiplexing of four targets. Each of the primers/probe set was optimized in a singleplex assay for each pathogen and then multiplexed into a one tube assay of four pathogens. Sensitivity and specificity of the assays was tested using serially diluted control DNA in a singleplex and multiplex formats. Human samples from patients with undifferentiated febrile illness were tested to evaluate performance of the multiplex assays on clinical samples. Results: The primers and probes sets for four targets that worked at the same conditions were pooled together. Assay one comprised primers and probes for detection of Coxiella burnetii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Assay two comprised primers and probes for detection of Rickettsia, Babesia, Bartonella, and Borrelia spp. The assay dynamics of the tests (lower and upper limit of detection) were comparable when the assays were performed in singleplex or multiplex formats. The primers and probes were specific to their targets whether performed in a singleplex or multiplex assay. On 1100 human samples, the assays have identified the following infections: 4% Rickettsiae, 5% cases of Q-fever, 2% A. phagocytophilum cases, 1% cases of E. chaffeensis, and 1% cases of Borrelia. Conclusion: Two multiplex PCR assays for detection of important tick borne zoonoses were developed. The test will be very useful for cataloguing tick-borne infections in Kenya. November 1, 2014 Innovations in Diagnostic Tests for Emerging Diseases 22.043 Validation of cyscope microscope, International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: we investigated the burden of Influenza on age, hospitalized and out-patients, and the economic impact of disease. The burden of Influenza goes unnoticed year round in Uganda without profound intervention by government. World Health Organization emphasized assessing the severity of Influenza virus in hospitalized patients and assess its impact as a nosocomial infection. In communities, the risk of spread of influenza from one individual to another is high stressing the importance of maintaining surveillance activities and the introduction of the Influenza vaccine in the country. Methods & Materials: Demographic and clinical data, together with nasal pharyngeal and or throat swabs were collected from enrolled patients using two case definitions; influenza-like illness (ILI) for outpatients and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) for hospitalized patients for a period from January 2012 to December 2013. Samples were screened at National Influenza Center (NIC)/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for influenza A and B virus using Real Time rtPCR. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS. The impact was assessed by evaluating the number of days lost from school at hospital among school attending children and the economic loss caused through medication. The medical cost for drugs prescribed to patients was calculated and converted from Uganda Shillings to the US dollars rate of 2680:1 respectively for the year 2014. Results: A total of 4758 specimens from enrolled patients were tested for ILI and SARI on Real Time PCR. 1913 (40%) were hospitalized SARI patients and 2845 (60%) were ILI out-patients. 505 (10.6%) patients were SARI and ILI positive for influenza; with 367 (73%) ILI and 138 (27%) SARI. The results showed that in out-patients (ILI), there was an almost twice more likelihood to have Influenza (OR 1.905, 95% CI: 1.552-2.338) than hospitalized patients (SARI) and this was statistically significant (p 0.001). Children <17 years lost an average of 3 school days in hospital and total of 2372.35$ spent on all positive ILI and SARI patients. Conclusion: More out patients are infected with influenza than hospitalized patients. There is need to allocate more resources towards combatting Influenza in the country. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 T. Byaruhanga1, J. T. Kayiwa1, B. Namagambo1, R. Chiza2, I. Nabukenya2, N. Owor1, J. J. Lutwama1 1 Uganda Virus Reseacrh Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, 2 Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda study was to enhance the detection of pneumococci in pleural fluid of children and adolescents (< 18yrs), in Portugal (from May 2009 to May 2013), using two PCR approaches and to compare their effectiveness. Methods & Materials: The pediatric departments of 30 hospitals were asked to report and submit samples of all cases of pneumonia with empyema or pleural effusion with a suspected pneumococcal etiology. The serotype of the isolated pneumococci was determined by Quellung. Total DNA of culture negative samples was extracted, followed by conventional (end-point) or real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis targeting the lytA and cpsA genes. Amplification of specific capsular genes by conventional PCR was used to identify the serotype in culture negative samples. Results: A total of 105 complicated pneumonia cases were identified. Isolation of S. pneumoniae was possible in 14 pleural fluid samples (13%). In the remaining 91 culture negative cases, pneumococci were identified in 70 samples (77%), of which 27 samples (30%) by both conventional and RT-PCR and in an additional 43 samples (47%) by RT-PCR only. The main capsular serotypes identified among the available isolates were: serotype 1 (n=6) and 3 (n=5). Identification of the serotype by conventional PCR for the culture negative cases was possible in 25 samples. Again in these cases, a pronounced dominance of serotypes 1 (n=7) and 3 (n=9) was found. Conclusion: The detection of pneumococcal DNA by PCR greatly enhances the identification of pneumococci in pleural fluid. RT-PCR offers a significant enhancement relative to conventional PCR and culture (51% of pneumococcal positive samples were identified by RT-PCR only). Serotypes 1 and 3 are the major causes of complicated pediatric pneumonia cases in Portugal (accounting for 70% of cases). Poster Presentations I 22.047 Construction of chimeric arctic-like rabies virus glycoproteins improves pseudotyped virus titre to permit use in serological studies E. Bentley1, R. Ali2, D. Horton3, A. C. Banyard 4, E. Wright 1 1 University of Westminster (Viral Pseudotype Unit-Fitzrovia), London, United Kingdom, 2University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, 3 University of Surrey, Surrey, United Kingdom, 4Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey, United Kingdom Background: The Arctic-like rabies viruses (AL RABV) constitute a lineage of RABV circulating in the Middle East and Asia with distinct antigenic and genetic characteristics. As with all lyssaviruses, AL RABV 81 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 • SATURDAY tularensis antigens to differentiates vaccine and infection process A. Gorbatov1, P. Solov’ev1, V. Firstova1, E. Baranova1, E. Panfertsev1, A. Mokrievich 1, N. Pavlovich2, N. Aronova2, S. Biketov1 1 SRCAMB, Obolensk, Russian Federation, 2Anti-plague research institution, Rostov -on -Done, Russian Federation Purpose: Tularemia diagnostics in human is based mainly on detection of specific antibodies (Ab) to F.tularensis(Ft). However, it may be difficult to diagnose tularemia infection in vaccinated humans because they have positive reaction in serological tests which based on LPS of vaccine strain of F.tularensis(TLV). Previously we observed that animals infected by F.tularensis holarctica strains generated antibodies to LPS F.novicida.The purpose of this work was to evaluate the serodiagnosis tests in rapid lateral flow (LF) format constructed with LPS Ft, LPS F.novicida and FTT-1696 antigens. Methods & Materials: Methods. LPS Ft, LPS F.novicida or FTT-1696 antigens were adsorbed to test line of each test. Sera obtained from rabbits immunized with TLV or challenged with Ft holarctica or Ft mediasiatica 30 days ago was used. Human sera obtained from vaccinated with TLV or donors after recovery from Ft holarctica also were analyzed. Data of LFests were confirmed in dot-blot, Western-blot and ELISA. Results: Results. Ab to LPS Ft were found in all sera, obtained from tularemia recovered rabbits and humans, and only in 30% of sera were detected Ab to LPS F.novicida. Abs to LPS Ft and F.novicida were found in all serum, obtained from rabbit challenged with Ft mediasiatica. Ab to FTT-1696 were found in 70% of tularemia recovered human serum and in all serum obtained from rabbit challenged with Ft holarctica or Ft mediasiatica.Ab to LPS F.novicida were not found in all sera obtained from human or rabbits immunized with TLV. Ab to LPS Ft and FTT-1696 were found in 80% and 30%, respectively, in human sera vaccinated with TLV. Conclusion: Conclusion. Simultaneous detections of Ab to LPS Ft and LPS F.novicida get opportunity to differentiate Ab response during vaccine and infection tularemia processes. Sera from vaccinated people and rabbits contain only antibodies to LPS Ft. Antibodies to FTT-1696 proteins could be found only in serum with high antibody titers to F.tularensis and could not differentiate vaccine and infection tularemia processes. 82 IMED 2014 multiple respiratory diseases of pigs in a single sample 22.051 Role of matricellular proteins in systemic and local immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection P. Naraghi-Arani1, C. Jaing1, A. C. Carrillo2, J. Olivas2, G. Anderson3 1 Lawrence Livemore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA, 2 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA, 3 Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA B. Shiratori1, F. Hasibuan2, A. Senoputra2, H. Chagan-Yasutan1, B. Alisjahbana2, T. Hattori1 1 Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, 2Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia Purpose: To develop a multiplex molecular diagnostic assay that can be used to simultaneously detect and differentiate between multiple respiratory pathogens of swine from oral fluids. The assay is to be used for diagnosis of commonly occuring pathogens of pigs and includes assays for foreign animal diseases in order to enable rapid, highthroughput surveillance during outbreaks of ASF and CSF. Methods & Materials: A multiplex molecular assay using multiplex RT-PCR followed by hybridization to probe-coupled beads and analysis on the Luminex MagPix instrument has been developed. Results: The assay enables detection and differentiation of 4 bacterial (M. hyponeumoniae, A.pleuropneumoniae, H.parasuis, and S.suis) and 6 viral pathogens (PRRS, Flu, PCV2, Pseudorabies Virus, ASF, CSF) with no cross-reactivity to clinical and genetic near-neighbor organisms. In addition to endemic diseases, the assay is able to detect and differentiate between African Swine Fever and Classical Swine Fever. The 25-plex assay has sensitivity of 1000 infectious units or less per ml of porcine oral fluid.For Influenza detection, an LOD of 200 infectious units per ml has been demonstrated. Conclusion: The assay is expected to be of utility in clinical diagnosis of important endemic diseases as well as surveillance for FADs Purpose: Matricellular proteins (MP), such as osteopontin (OPN), galectin-9 (gal-9) and tenascin-C (TN-C) are expressed upon physiological processes, but also during infection, inflammation, or tumorigenesis. We studied plasma MP levels as potential markers of tuberculosis (TB) activity. Methods & Materials: Plasma levels of MP and other biomarkers were measured by ELISA and Luminex assay in 16 TB cases, 66 LTBI individuals and 35 healthy individuals. Granulomatous disease biopsies were examined for gal-9. Results: Levels of OPN and TN-C was higher in active TB patients compared to healthy individuals (HC) and latently infected individuals (LTBI). Moreover LTBI had higher OPN level compared to HC. No significant difference of gal-9 levels was found among groups. Studied MP correlated with each other in TB group, but not in LTBI and HC groups. In TB group, plasma MP levels also correlated with G-CSF and IL-6, and high OPN and TN-C levels were associated with neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia. To investigate the role of gal-9 in TB infection, we studied the expression of gal-9 in TB granuloma and compared its expression to other granulomatous diseases. Positive gal-9 staining was observed only in TB granuloma, but not in sarcoidosis and Crohn’s disease granulomas. Intracellular gal-9 was detected inside of the TB granuloma encapsulated by fibrotic tissue. To investigate whether gal-9 plays role in granuloma necrosis, we performed in vitro apoptotic and necrotic assays. Gal-9 showed dose dependent apoptotic and necrotic effect on Jurkat, and ED 40515(-) cells. Conclusion: We propose that OPN and TN-C levels may serve as a good markers to monitor TB disease severity. For the first time, we showed the localization of gal-9 in TB granuloma and suggest that gal-9 is one of the factors involved in granuloma necrosis. 22.050 Validation of pyrazinamide susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosisby reverse hybridization assay V. Trangan1, Y. Kondo2, S. Foongladda1 1 Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, 2Nipro Corporation, Osaka, Japan Purpose: Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a first-line drug for tuberculosis treatment. Pyrazinamide resistance has a correlation with mutation in pncA gene of M. tuberculosis that encoded for pyrazinamidase to get the active pyrazinoic acid. The objective of this work was to evaluate the line probe assay (LiPA) kit which includes 47 probes cover the entire pncA gene of wild-type to detect PZA resistance. Methods & Materials: A total of 92 clinical isolates of multidrugresistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB, n = 78) and M. bovis BCG (n = 14) were tested with the LiPA kit. Among these isolates, 48 were previously found to be resistant to PZA by the BACTEC MGIT 960. The results obtained were compared with DNA sequencing and MGIT method. Results: LiPA was 93.5% concordance to sequencing results with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.0% and 100%, respectively. All 6 discrepancies attributed to heterogeneous of mutant pncA gene mix with wild-type that were revealed by sequencing. All M. bovis BCG strains was detected by probe number 16 of C-to-G point mutation at codon 59. Sequencing of pncA was concordant to initial MGIT for 76/92 isolates (82.6%). After retesting, MGIT method showed reproducibility of 84.8% with shifting of 7 resistant to susceptible and 7 susceptible to resistant. Afterward, MGIT and sequencing results was 97.8% concordance. Two strains of PZA resistance by MGIT did not show any mutation on pncA gene by both LiPA and sequencing. Conclusion: The results of LiPA kits were good correlation with pncA sequencing. The LiPA is a rapid and reliable test for the detection of pncA gene mutation and is good predicator for PZA resistance, because MGIT can be hampered by false results. The limitation of the LiPA test is mix population of sequences. 22.052 Genetic structure of Candida glabrata isolates in Sfax, Tunisia A. Salma, A. Imen, S. Hayet, T. Houaida, F. Cheikhrouhou, N. Sourour, A. Ayadi Laboratory of Parasitology Mycology, Sfax, Tunisia Purpose: Candida glabrata has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen, yet little is known about its epidemiology. Aims: we aimed to identify possible variation in the population structure of C.glabrata isolates by polymorphic markers analysis from hospitalized and non hospitalized patients. Methods & Materials: Two populations of isolates were considered in our study. The first included 108 isolates from in-patients. The second population was collected from the out-patients and contain 24 isolates from vaginal site and three isolates from buccal site. Results: A total of 135 Candida glabrata isolates were typed using polymorphic markers. Multilocus analyses resulted in the delineation of 52 genotypes. We allowed the identification of 8 new alleles and 25 new genotypes. Five genotypes G14, G42, G20, G15 and G35 were the most frequent and represented 54.8% of the entire population. These genotypes were identified in all studied isolation sites except buccal site which were unique. Three genotypes G42, G14 and G20 predominated in both invasive and non-invasive population and in hospitalized and non hospitalized. Moreover, the genotype G35 was absent in outpopulation (vaginal and buccal samples) and four patients (among 7 patients) infected with genotype G35 were hospitalized in the same intensive care unit and period. Conclusion: We can conclude that very little differentiation exists between both hospitalized and non hospitalized patients and invasive and colonizing population. Endogenous flore of the host was the main source of infection but inter-patient transfers can be also exist but still quite common and can’t be in important factor in the transmission of this yeast in our hospital. 22.053 Multiplex evaluation of influenza neutralizing antibodies with potential applicability to in-field serological studies E. Molesti1, E. Wright 2, C. Terregino3, R. Rahman1, G. Cattoli4, N. Temperton1 1 University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom, 2University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, 3Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie-IZSVe, Legnaro (PD), Italy, 4Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padova, Italy Purpose: The increased number of outbreaks of H5 and H7 LPAI and HPAI viruses in poultry has major public and animal health implications. The continuous rapid evolution of these subtypes and the emergence of new variants influence the ability to undertake effective surveillance. Retroviral pseudotypes bearing influenza haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) envelope glycoproteins represent a flexible platform for sensitive, readily standardized influenza serological assays. We describe a multiplex assay for the study of neutralizing antibodies that are directed against both influenza H5 and H7 HA. This assay permits the measurement of neutralizing antibody responses against two antigenically distinct HAs in the same serum/plasma sample thus increasing the amount and quality of serological data that can be acquired from valuable sera. Methods & Materials: Sera obtained from chickens vaccinated with a monovalent H5N2 vaccine, chickens vaccinated with a bivalent H7N1/H5N9 vaccine, or turkeys naturally infected with an H7N3 virus were evaluated in the pseudotype assay (simple and multiplex format). Results: The results obtained using the pseudotype-based assays correlated strongly with data obtained by HI assay. We show that pseudotypes are highly stable under basic cold-chain storage conditions and following multiple rounds of freeze-thaw. Conclusion: We propose that this robust assay may have practical utility for in-field serosurveillance and vaccine studies in resourcelimited regions worldwide. November 1, 2014 22.048 Detection of specific antibodies to Francisella 22.049 Multiplex molecular assay for diagnosis of International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • cause an invariably fatal disease of mammals with zoonotic implications. A RABV glycoprotein (G) lentiviral pseudotyped virus (PV) has shown to be a highly sensitive and specific surrogate to live virus in neutralisation assays. However, using wildtype AL RABV G failed to generate infectious PV. Objective: To generate AL RABV PV with chimeric G and compare titres achieved with PVs bearing wildtype G. Undertake serology studies to determine the efficacy of current vaccines and antivirals against this RABV subset. Methods & Materials: Chimeras were constructed by splicing the ecto- and transmembrane domains of four AL RABV G strains with the cytoplasmic domains of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) G or RABV challenge virus standard-11 (CVS-11) G. PV generation followed a three plasmid transfection protocol and neutralisation assays (IC100) were undertaken using a panel of sera. Results: Comparison of PV expressing wildtype or chimeric G revealed chimeric AL RABV with a VSV G cytoplasmic domain significantly increased PV titres (22-2200 fold). When comparing wildtype and VSV G based chimeric G PVs the latter showed neutralisation occurred within a single doubling serum dilution. AL RABV chimeric PV were neutralised by a range of the serum samples tested. Conclusion: Infectious PV titre is effectively improved for AL RABV through the generation of chimeric G with a VSV G cytoplasmic domain. Comparison of chimeric and wildtype G PV shows switching the cytoplasmic domain does not affect the neutralisation profile. AL RABV are neutralised by responses to existing vaccines and therapeutics. On-going serological studies will fully evaluate the efficacy of current vaccines and antivirals against these viruses. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Poster Presentations I 22.054 Genetic structure of Aspergillus flavus populations in human and avian isolates H. Ines1, N. Sourour1, F. Cheikhrouhou1, T. Houaida1, S. Hayet1, G. Raida1, F. Makni1, R. Stéphane2, A. Ayadi1 1 Laboratory of Parasitology Mycology, Sfax, Tunisia, 2Laboratory of Parasitology Mycology, Marseilles, France Purpose: Aspergillus flavus is the second leading cause of allergic, invasive, and colonizing fungal diseases in humans, and also the second most frequent organism associated with avian infections. Currently, it is not known whether there is a link between the environmental isolates and/or human isolates of A. flavus and those responsible for aspergillosis in birds. Methods & Materials: Microsatellite typing was used to analyze 29 A. flavus clinical and environmental avian isolates and 63 human clinical isolates collected from patients with a variety of aspergillosis diseases. Results: The combination of all six markers yielded 77 different genotypes with a 0.98 D value. A. flavus genotypes obtained from avian isolates were compared with those obtained from human clinical and environmental samples. The standardized indices of association IA and rBarD were significantly different from zero (p < 0.01), suggesting a prevailing clonal reproduction. There was high genetic diversity between the hospital and poultry environments of A. flavus isolates. The human environmental population was significantly differentiated from environmental and clinical avian populations (Fst > 0.25). The avian clinical subpopulation exchanged few strains with the environmental human (Nm = 7.24) and avian (Nm = 6.60) populations. The minimum spanning tree analysis identified three A. flavus genotype clusters that were highly structured according to the isolation source (p < 10-4). Conclusion: The present study describes a specific population structure of human environmental Aspergillus flavus isolates which was clearly distinct from environmental and clinical avian populations. Further studies are needed in order to better understand the epidemiology of A. flavus at a wider geographical scale and in particular situations, such as in hospitals or avian farms, where invasive aspergillosis (IA) outbreaks occur. 83 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.055 ReLASV® Pan-Lassa Immunodiagnostics for the detection of Lassa fever in West Africa sensitive than Panbio® Dengue Early ELISA for early detection of dengue virus infection N. Ewers1, S. Schütt2, A. Kuhlencord 1, J. M. Warnecke2, K. Steinhagen2, W. Schlumberger2 1 MVZ DIAMEDIS GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, 2Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany Purpose: Dengue fever is a potentially life-threatening viral disease caused by dengue virus (DENV). For early infection diagnosis, serological detection of DENV nonstructural glycoprotein 1 (NS1) is the most suitable method. Objective: We evaluated the performance of the EUROIMMUN Dengue Virus NS1 ELISA in comparison to the well-established Panbio® Dengue Early ELISA. Methods & Materials: 413 routine serum samples from patients with suspected DENV infection were tested by both NS1 ELISA capture assays. Divergent results were further analyzed using different serology-based methods. 84 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY EUROIMMUN Dengue Virus NS1 ELISA diagnostics of animal brucellosis K. A. Khamdamov, R. G. Yaraev, B. H. Kuvatov, S. A. Rahmatullaev Veterinary Research Institute, Samarkand, UZ, Uzbekistan borderline negative positive 76 2b 8b borderline 0 0 1 negative 1a 0 325 a Follow-up samples from this patient showed no seroconversion, clearly indicating no active DENV infection. b Additional serological analyses indicated a potentially active DENV infection in all 10 cases. In 11 sera with dissimilar outcome, correctness of EUROIMMUN Dengue Virus NS1 results could be confirmed by additional serological testing. Conclusion: The EUROIMMUN Dengue Virus NS1 ELISA is 9% more sensitive than the PanBio® ELISA and thus ideally suited for screening patients with suspected acute DENV infection. New Approaches to Outbreak Surveillance and Monitoring 22.057 Local perception and traditional practices to cope with malaria risk affect related health policy in the Logone Valley (Cameroon) B. Marquis1, J.-A. Ndione2, O. Faye3, M. Tsalefac4 Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal, 2Centre de Suivi Ecologique, Dakar, Senegal, 3Université Cheikh Anta Diop/Ecole Doctorale Eau, Qualité et Usages de l’Eau, Dakar, Senegal, 4The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon 1 Purpose: Malaria, a highly environmental dependent disease remains a major concern for public health in the sahelian Logone Valley. Therefore, improving the health policy requires a holistic assessment of environmental factors that influence the malaria seasonal outbreaks. None of the studies carried out in this area focuses on local perception, knowledge and traditional practices. Consequently, the question that needs to be addressed is how inhabitants perceive and try to cope with malaria risk there. The objective of this study is to examine the relevance of existing malaria risk-related local perception on the management strategies in the Logone Valley. Methods & Materials: The study was conducted during the period from 15th March to 30th May 2013, in the Health district of Yagoua, Mayo-Danay Division in the Far-North Region of Cameroon. The study included a structured questionnaire about malaria-related information administered to households, 3 in-depth interviews, 3 group discussions, field visits and picture assignment. Results: The results revealed that 40% respondents ended up school in primary level, 15%. Most of them (87%) were familiar with the main symptoms of malaria. 45% responded that mosquito bite causes malaria while the remaining proportion (65%) indicated that the disease transmission is related to various environmental factors. 50% new quinine. 35% were found consulting traditional healers for the treatment and a similar percentage of the respondents declared using tradition medicine in addition to cure malaria. The outside sleeping habit was found in almost 70% of the population mainly in hot season (between March and June). Only 13% had knowledge on insecticide impregnated bednets. Conclusion: The findings indicate that a well designed Health educational program would be an important step in increasing community participation in environmental management for malaria control in the Logone valley. The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) could benefit from this ecohealth approach to produce desired outcomes in malaria control. Purpose: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes human suffering and great economic loss. When implemented, the control of this disease is usually based on vaccination, serological testing, and culling. In regions where brucellosis is widely spread, mass epidemiological screening tests are one of the most effective means for controlling this dangerous disease. In the USA, a rapid method called the Card test has been developed for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis. Rose Bengal Antigen imported from Russia to Uzbekistan is made of Brucella abortus19 strain. Our research was devoted to the development of a new antigen that possesses more specificity and agglutinability (more agglutinable) compared to the antigens of vaccine strain 19. Methods & Materials: We tested vaccine strain Brucella abortus 104M as an antigen for Rose Bengal Test due to its high agglutination properties and ability to grow quickly, which is important for the industrial manufacture of antigen. Three day-old Brucella culture was inactivated at 800C and then in a 0.5% phenol solution at pH 3.75 and then tested for activity and specificity. Results: Activity of a new brucellosis antigen was verified using 40 serum samples of cattle, experimentally infected by brucellosis. Results showed that experimentally infected animals’ serum reacted with the new antigen as a large-grained agglutinate, and that this antigen was as active as brucellosis antigen of Russian origin. The specificity of the brucellosis antigen was tested on 407 cattle serum, including; 30 samples of animals vaccinated against emphysematous carbuncle, 50 samples—against anthrax, 30 samples—against tuberculosis, 15 samples—against foot and mouth disease, 40 samples—against leptospirosis, as well as 20 samples—calves up to 2 month age (free of brucellosis), 162 samples—healthy cattle of private households, and 60 samples—3–6 month age calves before vaccination. Results showed that the brucellosis antigen developed in the Uzbek Research Institute of Veterinary gave negative results with serum of various animal groups. Conclusion: These results testified to the great promise of using this new antigen for mass animal screening in regions where brucellosis is widely spread. 22.059 Typing of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex with CRISPR analysis K. Koskela1, L. Mattinen2, L. Kalin-Mänttäri1, G. Vergnaud3, O. Gorgé3, S. Nikkari1, M. Skurnik2 1 The Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland, 2University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, 3Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France Purpose: CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat –CRISPR-associated proteins) adaptive immune system is responsible for developing immunity against invading foreign mobile genetic elements such as plasmids and bacteriophages in prokaryotes. CRISPR loci are constructed from a chain of ca. 30 bp repeated sequences (direct repeats, DR). In between DRs are unique spacer sequences, which originate mostly from conjugative plasmids or phage genomes. The spacer setup of the CRISPR loci is specific and reflects the evolutionary history of the bacterium. Our aim was to generate a comprehensive CRISPR database for typing Y. pseudotuberculosis strains and to evaluate their potential phylogenetic relationships with Y. pestis. Methods & Materials: More than 300 Yersinia strains were studied, including 201 Y. pestis, 120 Y. pseudotuberculosis, ten Y. similis and four Y. wautersii strains. Results: Altogether 1902 different spacer sequences were identified from the three CRISPR genomic loci. A Small fraction of these spacer sequences found matching sequences in the databases, these mostly being of prophage origin. Conclusion: Our results revealed major differences among the spacers of Y. pseudotuberculosis complex strains. This method may be useful for forensic applications and outbreak monitoring; however, this will require the generation of an extensive reference database. Our results suggest that Y. pestis has lived protected or secluded life and it probably has not encountered many foreign transforming DNAs. Apparently in the life cycle of Y. pestis there have been rare instances where it has been exposed to other bacteria or bacteriophages. Therefore, a relatively low number of spacers are present in Y. pestis compared to Y. pseudotuberculosis. 22.060 Microbiological monitoring of ships’ ballast water in the South of the Russian Federation S. Vodyanitskaya, N. Pshenichnaya Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation Purpose: In 2012 Russian Federation joined the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, developed within the scope of activities of the International Maritime Organization. For realization of the Convention rules it is necessary to organize collection and analysis of ballast water samples in Russian ports. Methods & Materials: The standard for ballast water quality on ships, which are required to manage their ballast, stipulates discharge concentrations of indicator microbes, including: toxigenic Vibrio cholerae (O1 and O139)—less than 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per 100 ml and less than 1 CFU per 1 g (raw weight) of zooplankton samples; Escherichia coli—less than 250 CFU per 100 ml, intestinal Enterococci—less than 100 CFU per 100 ml. Results: Since 2010 the Rostov Anti-Plague Institute was carrying out investigations of ballast water from international sea traffic in the Azov sea basin for detection of human pathogenic vibrios. During the study period different sampling methods were approbated, ship routes with isolation of V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 were analyzed, the algorithm was developed for preventive measures in case of detection of cholera causative agents, which were nоt recorded so far. In 2012 the potential of molecular proteomic mass-spectrometry was used in investigations. Bacterial identification with the help of MALDITOF mass-spectrometry presents an addition to standard methods of detection. Though the Bruker database lacks profiles of cholera etiological agents, we managed to gain some experience of identification, using the commercial Biotyper database for ship ballast monitoring in 2012-2013. Conclusion: The monitoring results showed evidence of possible importation into the Azov sea basin of Vibrio species. The use of MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry improved informational value of the study, increased spectrum and rate of bacteriological findings. The ongoing investigations would contribute to realization of the Convention rules on the territory of Russian Federation. November 1, 2014 22.056 EUROIMMUN Dengue Virus NS1 ELISA is more Panbio® Dengue Early ELISA 22.058 Development of a new antigen for screening • Purpose: Lassa fever is a severe viral illness endemic to west Africa which can progress to hemorrhagic fever with high mortality. The Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium (VHFC.org) has developed Pan-Lassa immunoassays to detect Lassa fever in austere laboratory environments. These new prototypes utilize reagents specific for three variants of Lassa virus (LASV) nucleoprotein (NP) that represent the strains of LASV currently circulating in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The prototypes that were evaluated include ReLASV® Pan-Lassa Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), Antigen ELISA, and IgG/IgM ELISA Tests. The aim of this study was to establish immunoassay clinical effectiveness in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Methods & Materials: ReLASV® Pan-Lassa immunoassays were developed using recombinant LASV NP and affinity purified LASV NP specific rabbit polyclonal antibody. Testing was performed using banked and fresh serum samples from Irrura Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrura, Nigeria and Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone. Samples from suspected cases or contacts were screened using the Pan-Lassa Antigen RDT followed by Pan-Lassa ELISA testing for NP antigen, IgM, and IgG reactivity. Some antibody positive samples received endpoint titer testing of multiple samples to demonstrate conversion from NP+ to IgM+ or seroconversion from IgM+ to IgG+ (class-switching). For confirmation of LF, RT-PCR testing was repeated on freshly extracted viral RNA. Results: The final clinical performance dataset consisted of 32 Nigerian, 92 Sierra Leone. Using a combined diagnostic algorithm (Ag+ and/or IgM+), the Pan-Lassa diagnostics demonstrated Sensitivity of 94% and Specificity of 86%. Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 83.6% but this includes 7 of 9 false-positive samples that were in fact IgG+/PCR- which would indicate these patients were post-acute or LF convalescent. Removing these 7 cases increases the PPV to 96% vs RT-PCR. Performance on Nigerian and Sierra Leone samples showed no significant difference for Sensitivity or Specificity between LF endemic countries. Conclusion: The ReLASV® Pan-Lassa prototypes successfully detected Lassa fever in suspected cases in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Using the combined diagnostic results algorithm, this suite of tests detected 94% of PCR confirmed LF cases and represent a viable LF screening method for laboratories in LF endemic countries. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 Results: Comparison of the two NS1 capture ELISAs led to an overall correlation of 91%. n=413 positive SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 M. Boisen1, A. Goba2, L. Branco3, O. Folarin4, P. Sabeti5, E. Saphire6, D. Asogun7, C. Happi4, S. H. Kahn2, R. Garry8 1 Corgenix Inc., Broomfield, CO, USA, 2Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra leone, 3Zalgen LLC, Germantown, MD, USA, 4 Redeemer University, Lagos, Nigeria, 5Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA, 6Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA, 7Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria, 8Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA Poster Presentations I 22.061 The value of evidence from syndromic surveillance G. M. Andersson1, C. Faverjon2, F. Vial3, L. Legrand4, A. Leblond5 1 National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden, 2VetagroSup, Marcy l’Etoile, France, 3Vetsuisse Fakultät, Berne, Switzerland, 4 Normandie Universite, Caen, France, 5Vetagrosup and INRA UR346, Marcy L’Etoile, France Background: In syndromic surveillance, an aberration detection algorithm typically alerts when the observed counts from some epidemiological indicator[FV1] exceed a threshold value. However, such, binary result can be difficult to combine with other knowledge. The art of presenting scientific evidence to decision makers has been more extensively studied in forensic sciences in which legal certainty requires statements that clearly specify how strong the evidence for/ against an hypothesis is and how the expert reached that conclusion. Forensic evidence is evaluated using likelihood ratios in the framework of Bayesian hypothesis testing. The central concept is the value of evidence (V), the likelihood ratio for the observed results given the main hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. Objective: To demonstrate how the value of evidence concept may be incorporated into a decision support system to calibrate the output from syndromic surveillance systems for the purpuse of warning and informed decision making. 85 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 A. Katz1, T. Campbell1, G. Gorelick-Feldman1, J. Coberly1, R. Wojcik1, S. Patel1, B. Feighner1, C. Perdue2, S. Lewis1 1 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA, 2US Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA Purpose: SAGES is a collection of open source software tools for electronic disease surveillance in resource-limited settings. The SAGES architecture uses mobile and web-based methods to collect structured data from SMS, Wi-Fi, and Internet connected devices. The primary data analysis tool, OpenESSENCE, provides a web-based interface supporting data analysis, visualization, and reporting. SAGES tools are now in use in several countries on three continents, with several more installations planned. This presentation describes the SAGES collection of tools and the on-going re-engineering effort to improve ease of installation, configuration, and use. We describe challenges encountered when designing tools for use in resource-limited settings, including downstream effects of decisions made at the project’s inception. Particular attention will be paid to the trade-offs between designing individual, customized systems (requiring heavy technical support) versus generic ‘80% solution’ systems that are closer to functioning ‘out of the box.’ Methods & Materials: The past five years have seen significant advancements in open source software, technological approaches to data management, and our understanding of the issues involved with deploying SAGES systems. All of these advancements called for a reengineering effort to improve our SAGES tools. Additionally, while our intitial engagement strategy of customized installation was successful, it required significant external technical support during installation and configuration of the SAGES tools. After surveying the technical landscape for solutions that met our new technical requirements, we re-engineered several SAGES tools. Results: Our re-engineering effort has resulted in SAGES tools which are easier to install, configure, and use. Users now have significantly enhanced web and mobile interfaces, with greater flexibility when querying the data and generating analysis products. The result is an improved ‘out of the box’ capability while still allowing advanced developers to enhance or customize SAGES systems. Conclusion: The SAGES project is intended to enhance electronic disease surveillance capacity in resource-limited settings around the world. We have re-engineered our SAGES tools with an eye toward ease of installation and use, with an ultimate goal of creating a selfsustaining SAGES users community. We believe the SAGES tools facilitate local and regional disease surveillance, regional public health collaborations, and increased WHO IHR 2005 compliance. 86 IMED 2014 G. Lamielle, K. Ehnert County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA Purpose: Complete control and management of vector-borne diseases such as endemic typhus can be challenging due to the persistence of vectors in the environment, and information on the local distribution of fleas and ticks is often limtied. By using an under-utilized resource, local exterminator data, we aim to assess the geographic and temporal patterns of home infestations with fleas and ticks in Los Angeles County. Methods & Materials: To our knowledge, using local exterminators data to evaluate home infestations with fleas and ticks has never been done before. Exterminators were contacted by the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) program to collect data about home flea and tick infestations, consisting of: initial visit date, zip code and vector species (flea vs. tick). Temporal and geographical analysis was performed using ArcGIS and Epi-Info 7. Results: The initial results of this on-going study yielded a higher number of home visits for flea infestations than originally anticipated. Flea infestations also showed a highly seasonal pattern, whereas tick infestations appeared more randomly distributed in time. Conclusion: This project represents a new strategy for surveillance of vectors in close proximity to humans, and therefore with a higher potential of disease transmission. This information may be used by public health departments to conduct targeted educational outreach for flea and tick prevention, thus reducing the role of companion animals in the transmission of zoonoses carried by fleas and ticks. In addition, the results may help local veterinarians advocate for the year-round use of pet ectoparasite preventives by their clients, further reducing local disease risk. 22.064 The Kombewa health and demographic surveillance systems in rural Western Kenya (Kombewa HDSS) P. Sifuna, J. Cowden, A. Berhane, R. Coldren, W. Otieno, M. Oyugi Usamru-k, Kisumu, Kenya Purpose: The Kombewa Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) established by the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit –Kenya (USAMRU-K) in rural Western Kenya, is a registration system designed to track the evolving health status, demographics and health threats of the catchment population over time. A dynamic cohort of 141,956 residents drawn from 34,718 households forms the HDSS surveillance population. Methods & Materials: The core of the HDSS consists of biannual household visits to register new or outgoing residents and record any vital demographic changes (births, deaths, or pregnancies) that have occurred in the interim. A standard verbal autopsy technique is applied by the program to determine probable cause of registered deaths. A short questionnaire on illnesses and health-seeking behavior in the two weeks before the study enumeration visit is included in the HDSS surveys to obtain data on prevalence of syndromes at household level. The program is currently developing capability to link hospital data with the HDSS so that clustering of various diseases presenting to hospital (inpatient or outpatient) can be better identified. Results: Under-five mortality rate for the area is estimated at 118 deaths/1000 live births. Using the household morbidity data, we have estimated the prevalence of malaria in the study area at 184/1,000 residents/year and prevalence of convulsions among children under the age of five years at 15/1, 000 children under the age of five per year. The Kombewa HDSS has successfully supported recruitment and retention activities for several research studies nested within it, including the concluded phase 3 randomized, controlled trial of RTS,S/ AS01 malaria vaccine. Published results have shown that the vaccine reduces episodes of both clinical and severe malaria in children 5 to 17 months of age by approximately 50%. 22.065 Combining semi logarithmic plotting and piecewise regression: a method to describe complex temporal dynamics of epidemics and to detect emerging patterns V. Auvigne1, F. Nicod1, P. Guérin2, L. Toubiana3 Ekipaj, Angers, France, 2Celtipharm, Vannes, France, 3INSERM ; UPMC : Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Paris, France 1 Background: One of the purposes of monitoring seasonal epidemics, such as influenza, is to detect the emergence of atypical epidemic patterns. This detection requires describing dynamics of epidemics. The dynamics are usually described by the dates of crossing the epidemic threshold, the peak level and the time above threshold. However, these criteria do not allow the description of dynamics during an entire year. Objective: Developing a method allowing the description of complex temporal dynamics of seasonal infectious patterns using a minimum of variables, as well as the early detection of atypical emerging patterns. Methods & Materials: The method is based on the fact that the semilogarithmic plotting of the ascending phase of an epidemic—when the increase in the number of cases is exponential—becomes linear. After semi-logarithmic plotting, daily time series are broken into segments by piecewise regression. Coordinates (time and incidence) of the breakpoints and the slope (a) of each segment are then determined. The daily transmission rate (Rq) equals a +1. The method is applied to the daily series of the incidence of influenza-like-illness in France, from July 2010 to June 2014, published on www.OpenHealth.fr. Results: Each of the four yearly cycles, from July 1st to March 30th, is modelled in 5 to 8 log-linear segments. From July to mid-November, the dynamics of the four years are similar, with a low-intensity epidemic phase from mid-August to end September, preceded and followed by phases of stability or slight decline in incidence. Regarding the period from mid November to end March, the four years can be divided into two subgroups. Years 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 have only one ascending phase (Rq 1.07 and 1.11) starting mid-November and ending at the incidence peak (5 February and 7 January). The two other years (2011/2012 and 2013/2014) show two rapidly ascending phases (Rq 1.06 to 1.11) interspersed by a slowly ascending phase (Rq 1.01 and 1.02). Conclusion: A real-time method is proposed for the detection of a possible emerging pattern, before it passes the epidemic threshold. This requires a monitoring system able to estimate low incidences with accuracy. 22.066 Listeriosis Surveillance System: enhanced model in Lombardy region (Italy, 2006–2012) E. Amato1, S. Azzini1, A. Piatti2, M. M. Pontello1 1 University of Milan, Milan, MI, Italy, 2Regione Lombardia, Milan, Italy Purpose: Invasive listeriosis is a rare, life-threatening foodborne disease. Most industrialized countries have developed surveillance system for listeriosis since 1987. European surveillance system are passive, in particular in Italy the notification of listeriosis has been mandatory since 1990. In Lombardy region (about 10 million inhabitants, 17% of Italian popolation), the national mandatory notification system of listeriosis since 2005 has been integrated with a laboratory-based network involving voluntary referral of human isolates and standardized data-sheet (demographic, clinical and microbiological data) to the Regional Reference Centre-RRC (University of Milan). Aim: To evaluate the efficiency of the two surveillance system (MAINF and RRC) and carry out a comparison of regional data with the Italian and European data in the same period by the Annual Report EFSA/ECDC. Methods & Materials: All detected cases, from the two surveillance system in the period 2006-2012, were analyzed using the personal data as variable of linkage. Therefore, it was possible to realize a database that collects the reported cases by MAINF and/or RRC. Results: In the period under study (2006-2012), 355 cases of listeriosis have been reported to MAINF surveillance system while 202 isolates were sent from hospital laboratories to RRC. The comparison of the two databases detects a total of 427 listeriosis cases, including 53% of cases notified only to MAINF system, 16% of the isolates detected only by RRC and 31% of cases recognized by both surveillance sources. The trend of the two indipendent sources (MAINF and RRC) is equivalent (Figure 1). Based on notification data the average annual incidence rate is 0.53/105 and the incidence rises to 0.63/105 considering the observed cases by both sources. This data are significantly higher than the Italian notification rate (0.17/105) and more aligned with the European notification rate (0.33/105). Conclusion: Although there are certainly differences in eating habits between different Italian region, the observed difference in listeriosis incidence is primarily due to the different sensitivity of surveillance also with regard to the mandatory notification system. The integrated surveillance system (MAINF and RRC) may represent an extensible model for other Italian regions. 22.067 Monitoring Measles outbreak in Georgia in 2013 using different surveillance tools: EIDSS, ProMED and WHO CISID A. Ukharov1, A. Burdakov1, P. Imnadze2, N. Papelova3, K. Sanadze2, K. Zakhashvili2 1 Black & Veatch, Overland Park, KS, USA, 2National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia, 3 Black & Veatch, Tbilisi, Georgia November 1, 2014 • bioSurveillance (SAGES) update: Re-engineering software to improve ease of installation, use, and sustainability flea and tick home infestations—A novel way to assess disease vectors at the humanenvironment interface Conclusion: The HDSS is an important surveillance platform for determining disease burden (the population size is known, so there is a denominator against which to measure indicators and diseases of interest). All houses are GPS-mapped, so individuals in the study area have an “address” for use in case of an outbreak. The Kombewa HDSS encourages sharing of data under approved collaborations for ethically approved activities. • SATURDAY 22.062 Suite for Automated Global Electronic 22.063 Using exterminator visits to characterize International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 Methods & Materials: The predicted distribution of reported cases in a non-outbreak situation and the expected distribution of cases during an outbreak are exploited to calculate the likelihood ratio for observing n cases given no outbreak over the likelihood for the same number of cases given an ongoing outbreak. The concept is demonstrated using data on horses presenting nervous and respiratory symptoms. Results: Weekly counts on nervous and respiratory syndromes [FV1] from 2006 to2010 were fitted to alternative regression models based on Poisson and Negative Binomial distributions respectively. The counts from historical outbreaks of West Nile Virus and New Influenza were fitted to a NB model. Using different scenarios we demonstrate how V may be translated to verbal statements or combined with estimates of risk of introduction (Pprior) and costs of different outcomes to estimate the utility of a decision. By lowering action threshold at high risk seasons the sensitivity is increased without loosing specificity. Conclusion: The value of evidence concept is a promising approach for presenting results from syndromic surveillance. The approach is in concordance with the risk analysis framework by offering explicit separation of assumptions (Pprior), value of evidence (V), criteria for decisions and a transparency of how the evidence is evaluated. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 Purpose: Georgia encountered a big measles outbreak in 2013: over 7000 cases with a few deaths were observed. Crude incidence per 1 million populations from Jan 13 till Dec 13 reached 1829.9. Measles cases were tracked by the 92-node surveillance network in Georgia with the Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS), an open source tool developed to improve national disease surveillance providing a secure way to collect, share and analyze data within One Health approach. Other early warning and disease monitoring tools also traced this outbreak. Evaluate EIDSS, ProMED and WHO CISID tools for monitoringmeasles outbreak in Georgia in 2013 based on a retrospective analysis of the available data. Methods & Materials: Data from EIDSS, ProMED (English and Russian domains) and WHO CISID systems was analyzed and compared with official numbers provided by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia. Evaluation was done by the following criteria: 1) Outbreak detection delay between the outbreak discovering and appearance of the warning in a tool. 2) Number of reports published. 3) Total number of reported cases. 4) Reports regularity. 5) Average report publication delay between official epi report and its publication in a tool. 6) Divergence of reports from official numbers. 87 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 CISID ProMED -EN ProMED -RU Outbreak Detection Delay (in days) 1 50 3 22 Number of Reports 170 7 4 4 Total Number of Cases 7477 7477 3150 3787 Reports Regularity Daily Monthly Sporadically Sporadically Average Report Publication Delay (in days) 4.46 >30 8 2.2 Average Report Divergence from Official Numbers None None 46% 20% Conclusion: EIDSS demonstrated strong results in each category providing good early warning and disease monitoring capabilities including data quality and reporting consistency. ProMED results depend on language: Russian version shows small average reporting delay, but it is slow in initial outbreak detection; English version delivers the initial warning fast but has big lags in the follow up reports. ProMED suffers from inconsistency and reports quality on both languages. WHO CISID guarantees official reporting numbers but features the longest delay. 22.068 Large-scale whole genome sequencing identifies country-wide spread of an emerging G9P[8] rotavirus strain in Hungary, 2012 R. Doro1, E. Mihalov-Kovacs1, S. Marton1, B. Laszlo2, J. Deak3, F. Jakab4, V. Martella5, P. Molnár6, I. Sántha7, K. Bányai1 1 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary, 2Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 3University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary, 4University of Pécs, Pécs, Baranya, Hungary, 5Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, University of Bari, Bari, Italy, 6Szent László Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary, 7Hungarian National Public Health and Medical Officer Service, Miskolc, Hungary Purpose: Two vaccines, the monovalent Rotarix and the pentavalent RotaTeq, have been available in >100 countries worldwide for about eight years to reduce RVA associated disease burden. Both vaccines have shown marked safety and efficacy profile in pre licensure clinical trials as well as in ongoing national immunizations programs. With the availability of vaccines, many countries continued or started rotavirus surveillance to monitor the fluctuation of strains and document any potential vaccine associated events, including possible selection of heterotypic strain(s), spread of vaccine strain to non-vaccinated persons, reassortment between vaccine and field strains, or, reversion of the attenuated phenotype. In this study the distribution of rotavirus G and P types having circulated during 2012 in Hungary is reported. In addition, nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of near full length genomes of >100 strains was performed to gain a deeper insight into the molecular epidemiology and evolution of co-circulating strains and to monitor if vaccine derived strains or reassortants have been in circulation in the community. Methods & Materials: In routine strain characterization, the VP7 and VP4 genes were amplified using published oligonucleotide primers. Amplicons were direct-sequenced in both directions on an ABI3100 equipment. Deep sequencing was carried out using the Ion Torrent PGM equipment. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses were carried out using freely available computer programs. Results: In 2012, the Hungarian rotavirus surveillance network identified an increase in the prevalence of G9P[8] strains across the country. This genotype combination predominated in seven out of nine study sites (detection rates, 45%-83%). In addition to G9P[8]s, epidemiologically major strains included genotypes G1P[8] (34.2%), G2P[4] (13.5%), and G4P[8] (7.4%), whereas unusual and rare strains were G3P[8] (1%), G2P[8] (0.5%), G1P[4] (0.2%), G3P[4] (0.2%), and G3P[9] (0.2%). Genomic analysis of 125 Hungarian human rotaviruses 88 IMED 2014 identified nine major genotype constellations and uncovered both intraand intergenogroup reassortment events in circulating strains. The conserved genomic constellation of medically important genotypes suggested the clonal spread of the re-emerging G9P[8] genotype and several co-circulating strains (e.g. G1P[8] and G2P[4]) during 2012. Conclusion: This study indicates the robustness of whole genome sequencing in routine rotavirus strain surveillance. 22.069 Influence of the electronic case report form for multicentric studies in general practice in France T. Poisson1, H. Partouche1, L. Toubiana2 1 Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France, 2INSERM ; UPMC : Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Paris, France Purpose: As part of a large prospective multicentre study describing the acute community-acquired pneumopathies treated in general practice, an ancillary study was performed. Objective: To identify the role of the electronic case report form (eCRF) among the determinants of inclusion of patients by investigating general practitioners. Methods & Materials: A platform independent from that of the main study was developed. 425 investigators enrolled in the main study were invited to participate by interactive e-mail with simplified validation. In less than three weeks, a specific eCRF allowed to collect the motivation to participate, the difficulties encountered to include patients, opinions and practices regarding the main study. Results: 336 investigators (79 %) responded to the survey.235 doctors had included at least one patient. 101 doctors had included none. The variables associated with inclusions are: having already participated in a study with an eCRF (p< 0.001); feeling supported by the clinical study supervisor (p< 0.001); being motivated by participation in a GP network; receiving remuneration. The barriers that were identified are: lack of time; lack of training; lack of cases encountered. Conclusion: The ease of use of an eCRF and knowledge of the existence of “human assistance” are the essential factors for participating in fully electronic clinical studies. This information should be taken into account when developing research protocols, in particular in general practice, where the variables are collected “during the consultation”. 22.070 Rabies veterinary aboratory capabilities in West and the Central Africa A. Angot1, C. Bebay2, Y. Kaboré2, G. Dauphin3, P. De Benedictis1 1 FAO Reference Centre for Rabies, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy, 2FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Diseases for West and central Africa, Bamako, Mali, 3Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy Purpose: Updated data on the human mortality from canine rabies shows that about 70,000 people die worldwide each year. Africa is the second most affected continent, with 31,329 annual deaths, the domestic dog being the main reservoir of the virus [A. Anderson and S.A Shwiff.,2013]. About 99% of human cases are ascribable to a dog bite. However, the epidemiological data and laboratory confirmatory cases are rare. The burden and the impact of the disease are not well known, and this contributes to considering rabies a low priority issue. Being rabies endemic in most West and Central African countries, in 2010 a rabies subnetwork was created in the region to pinpoint the actual animal rabies diagnostic capabilities, and to finally improve the data available on animal rabies cases in the 23 member countries. Methods & Materials: Three questionnaires were submitted in 2011– 2012 to all the national veterinary laboratories with the aim of recognizing the priority gaps in rabies diagnosis, which needed to be bridged. The collected data were supplemented with information resulted from support activities carried out in the region between 2013–2014. Results: Twelve out of 23 laboratories declared not to carry out any diagnostic activity for rabies while eleven laboratories carry out rabies diagnosis on a routine basis. The total number of samples collected in 9 out of the 11 laboratories performing rabies diagnosis between 2011–2012 is of 1.66 sample per million of estimated inhabitants. These data reveal failure in the number of suspect samples submitted to and analyzed by veterinary laboratories in the region, due to dearth in reagents and proficiency. Conclusion: The lack of reagents/material and capacity building are the crucial issues preventing an improvement in animal rabies diagnosis. In 2013 key equipments/reagent and training sessions were provided by UN-FAO thanks to the IDENTIFY project (USAID). These efforts allowed the detection in September 2013 of a rabies outbreak, for the first time in Congo. The successful outcome achieved in Brazzaville clearly shows that an improvement in the diagnosis of the disease is indeed possible in all the member countries. 22.071 Application of a framework to assess cost and performance of meningitis surveillance N. A. Erondu, U. K Griffiths London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom Purpose: Serogroup A meningococcal (NmA), has historically accounted for approximately 85% of all meningitis cases in the African meningitis belt. Since 2009, mass campaigns with a new conjugate vaccine, MenAfriVac,® have been conducted targeting 1-29 year olds. The long term health impact of MenAfriVac® can only be determined by strong disease surveillance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and estimate the costs of meningitis surveillance in Chad and determine resources needed for implementing an improved surveillance strategy. Methods & Materials: A questionnaire was designed to measure core surveillance function (detect, report, analysis, feedback, investigation, and response), and support activity (training, supervision, communication, and co-ordination) performance. Interviews were conducted with 51 participants in seven districts. Participants represented health facilities, district, regional, and national surveillance offices, and district and national laboratories. Resource utilization data according to surveillance activities was also included in interviews and collected from other sources, including financial records of the Ministry of Health and international partners. Identified needs were combined with international standards and guidelines to develop an optimal operational surveillance standard with associated costs. Results: A lack of adequate resources and missing standard procedures for meningitis surveillance was reported at the sub-national health levels. Nine percent of specimens were sent to the national laboratory for confirmation and four percent of probable meningitis cases had a known outcome reported. One district laboratory had not been able to conduct any analysis of cerebrospinal fluid due to lack of supplies. Three of the districts reported zero meningitis cases in 2012. In the other four districts, reported cases varied between 43 and 232, equivalent to between 11 and 89 per 100,000 populations. In facilities with no detected cases, resources spent on surveillance were marginal. Costs per detected cases amounted to US$ 49. Costs of lumbar puncture comprised 43% and laboratory analysis 41% of total costs. Conclusion: Investments are needed across the system in Chad and other African meningitis belt countries. A systematic approach that assesses performance gaps and the associated costs can provide a more sustainable solution for ideal integrated disease surveillance. 22.072 Research methods training for One Health projects: lessons learned in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda J. A. Steele1, D. Saila-Ngita1, T. Odoch2, H. M. Amuguni3 Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA, 2Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 3 Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA 1 Purpose: University members of the One Health Central and East Africa (OHCEA) network from the DRC and Uganda identified training in research methods as a priority for advancement of their One Health research capacity. A research methods course was designed to effectively train students and researchers and to identify gaps related to One Health research training for future curriculum and capacity development. Methods & Materials: An intensive research methods short-course was designed by faculty at Tufts University with OHCEA partners at the University of Kinshasa and University of Lubumbashi in the DRC and Makerere University in Uganda. The course was designed with minimum lecture time and an emphasis on active learning to guide participants through the research process at an intermediate level, given that most target participants had completed basic research methods training. Participants were evaluated based on presentation of either their own proposed research or a hypothetical project. Results: Thirty junior faculty from each of the universities in the DRC attended the course and used the applied training to develop their own research project proposals. Twelve students in the Masters in Veterinary Preventive Medicine (MVPM) program attended the course at Makerere University and used the training to develop a hypothetical research project related to their One Health field attachments. All participants made positive progress; however, many of the faculty participants in the DRC lacked the assumed previous training and benefitted from more detailed instruction in the basics of research methods. Students in the MVPM program had immediately preceding coursework related to One Health research and statistical methods and were well prepared for the level and pace of training. Conclusion: Active learning for research methods training, in which participants develop their own project and present their plan to an audience, proved to be an effective method for an intensive short-course. Implementation of the course in this project revealed that thorough understanding of participant background is necessary to effectively design the course and also revealed gaps in research methods content and teaching methods that can guide future curriculum development for One Health research capacity at these institutions. 22.073 Multiplexed digital mRNA profiling of the November 1, 2014 • EIDSS • SATURDAY Results: Criteria International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 inflammatory response in the West Nile Swiss Webster mouse model P. Naraghi-Arani1, A. Freiberg2, D. Beasley2, J. Pena1, J. Plante3, A. C. Carrillo4, M. Labute1, K. Roberts2, J. Smith2, T. Juelic2 1 Lawrence Livemore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA, 2 University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA, 3University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, 4Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA Purpose: The ability to track changes in gene expression following viral infection is paramount to understanding viral pathogenesis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the nCounter,® a high throughput digital gene expression system, as a means to better understand West Nile virus (WNV) dissemination and the inflammatory response against WNV in the outbred Swiss Webster (SW) mouse model over the course of infection. Methods & Materials: The nCounter® Mouse Inflammation gene expression kit containing 179 inflammation related genes was used to analyze gene expression changes in multiple tissues over a nine day course of infection in SW mice following intraperitoneal injection with WNV. Protein expression levels for a subset of these cytokine/chemokine genes were determined using a multiplex protein detection system (BioPlex) and comparisons of protein/RNA expression levels made. Results: Expression analysis of spleen, lung, liver, kidney and brain of SW mice infected with WNV revealed that Cxcl10 and Il12b are differentially expressed in all tissues tested except kidney. Data stratification of positively confirmed infected (WNV [+]) versus non-infected (WNV (-) tissues allowed differentiation of the systemic inflammatory gene response from tissue-specific responses arising from WNV infection. Significant (p<0.05) decrease in C3ar1 was found in WNV (-) spleen. Il23a was significantly upregulated, while Il10rb was down-regulated in WNV (-) lung. Il3 and Mbl2 were down-regulated in WNV (-) liver. In WNV (+) livers, Stat1, Tlr2, chemokines Cxcl1, Cxcl3, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, cytokines Il6, Il18, cytokine-related gene Il1r and cytokine agonist Ilrn were significantly upregulated. In WNV (-) brain tissues, Csf2 and 89 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Cxcl10 were significantly upregulated. Similar gene and protein expression kinetics were found for Ccl2, Ccl3, Ccl4 and Ccl5 and correlated with the presence of infectious virus. Conclusion: The utility of the nCounter® platform for rapid identification of gene expression changes in SW mice associated with WNV infection was demonstrated. 22.074 Predicting the potential for emerging infectious disease: Engaging communities in species observations, data management, and the semantic web outbreak alert system to enhance disease surveillance in Kenya M. Toda1, I. Njeru2, S. O-Tipo2, D. Kareko2, S. Inoue1, M. Mwau3, K. Morita4 1 Nagasaki University, Nairobi, Kenya, 2Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya, 3Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya, 4Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan Purpose: The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kenya conducts surveillance for priority diseases, conditions and events within the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy. This entails detection and timely notification of select priority diseases, conditions and events by health facilities. While an electronic web-based system 90 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY genome MLST data using BioNumerics® K. De Bruyne, K. Vranckx, J. Goris, S. Valcke, H. Pouseele, K. Janssens Applied Maths NV, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium Purpose: For many years, Sanger sequencing-based multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has been one of the standards in bacterial typing, characterizing isolates by looking at a set of housekeeping genes (loci). As next-generation sequencing is increasingly replacing Sanger sequencing, conventional MLST can be extended to whole genome MLST (wgMLST), incorporating many more loci and thus providing higher resolution. The bioinformatics behind this approach exceeds the capabilities of many routine surveillance labs. We aim to make this technique available to labs with neither the expertise nor the hardware to implement this technique. Methods & Materials: The wgMLST platform we present, consists of a user-friendly point and click interface based on BioNumerics® 7.5, combined with a scalable, high-throughput calculation infrastructure for sample processing. An internal nomenclature is used for qualitycontrolled automated allele naming. Next to the pan-genomic wgMLST scheme, different subsets of loci can be defined such as MLST, rMLST, eMLST, core loci... Results: As an illustration, we will focus on the Listeria scheme. This scheme contains 3436 loci over the 4 lineages, of which around 68%, i.e. 2345 loci can be counted among the core genome (= present in all lineages). 19% of the loci are lineage-specific and around 4% of the loci are multi-allelic. Conclusion: The BioNumerics® 7.5 software (Applied Maths NV) offers a powerful platform for biologists where wgMLST schemes can be defined, automatically curated, analyzed and compared with historical data such as MLST, PFGE… 22.078 Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infections 22.076 Double locus sequence typing (DLST), a standardized and portable typing method for epidemiological investigation of bacteria K. Vranckx1, P. Basset2, D. S. Blanc2, K. Janssens1 Applied Maths NV, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium, 2University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland 1 Purpose: Sequence-based typing methods are more and more finding their way in the epidemiological and clinical setting; replacing the time consuming and laborious gold standard PFGE (pulsed field electrophoresis). While whole genome sequencing is becoming more available for these settings, it is still too expensive for most routine clinical and epidemiological microbiology laboratories. As the price and analysis time continue to go down, this will likely be solved in the near future. For many labs however, there is an immediate need for a quick, unambiguous and cheap technique to monitor outbreaks and nosocomial infections. Methods & Materials: For this purpose, we developed a typing scheme based on the single strand sequencing of two highly polymorphic loci, double locus sequence typing (DLST). Currently, two schemes have been set up and validated, one for Staphylococcus aureus and the other for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A third one for Clostridium difficile is in development. Results: In comparison with multi locus sequence typing (MLST), the throughput of DLST is substantially higher while the use of highly polymorphic regions resulted in a similar (for P.aeruginosa) or higher (for S.aureus) discriminatory power. Sequences can be compared to a central BioNumerics® Server database through the website www.dlst. org. Fasta, text files or raw chromatograms can be submitted to obtain allele numbers at both loci. Alleles that are not present in the database can be assigned a new allele automatically for registered users upon submission of a high quality chromatogram. The trace files are stored in the database together with the contact details of the submitting lab to allow manual curation. All labs with access to a sequencer and internet are able to use these schemes. Conclusion: Unambiguous, standardized and definitive typing results are obtained quickly and can be incorporated in databases at local or international level for surveillance purposes. reported by Russian ProMED for the period of 2004–2014 B. Aslanov1, N. Rakhmanova2, N. Pshenichnaya3, V. Melnik4 North-Western State Medical Academy, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 2ProMED-mail, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 3Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, 4Donetsk Medical University, Donetsk, Ukraine 1 Purpose: Several Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries have annual cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Russian ProMEDmail (http://promedmail.org/ru) is one of ProMED’s regional networks that offers Russian language reports on emerging infection outbreaks relevant to 15 FSU countries. We have reviewed Russian ProMED (ProMED-RUS) to assess epidemiologic situation on CCHF for the past 10 years in the territory of FSU based on available ProMED data. Methods & Materials: We used CCHF as the keyword to search reports in ProMED-RUS posted from 2004-2014. Comments by the moderators to complement the information provided in the outbreak itself were also reviewed. Results: According to ProMED-RUS, CCHF cases were recorded in 4 countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Tajikistan). The southern part of Russia (Stavropol, Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions, and Kalmikiya, Ingushetiya, Dagestan, Karachaevo-Cherkessia republics) has the highest prevalence of CCHF over the past 10 years with 1177 total cases, 37 fatal cases, 125 average annual cases, 4 lethal cases, and over 3% case fatality rate (CFR). The highest number of cases in Russia were registered in the period of 2006–2008, which coincides with official Russian MOH statistics. Beginning in 2009, the incidence rate decreased, averaging 70 registered cases. In Kazakhstan, ProMED-RUS has been reporting on CCHF cases since 2008, with the highest number of cases reached in 2009 in the southern part of the country along with Jambyl and Kizilorda regions. Up until 2013 63 total cases and 13 fatal cases were registered with a CFR of 24%. In Tajikistan, ProMED-RUS reported 5 cases in 2009 with 3 lethal cases and a CFR of 60%. Georgia reported in ProMED-RUS one case in 2012 and 5 cases in 2014 with 2 lethal cases (CFR 40%). CCHF starts in April, peaks between May-June, and decreases in August. The majority of cases are due to tick bites. However, Kazakhstan (2009), Tajikistan (2009), and Russia (2011) registered 3 nosocomial clusters among healthcare workers due to inadequate infection control with 5, 7, and 9 cases respectively. Conclusion: ProMED-RUS’ reports of outbreaks and particularly comments from experts provide useful information for emerging infection case reporting, analysis, and comparison in the territory of FSU 22.079 Community health workers can effectively implement disease surveillance of priority diseases at village level in Kenya E. M. Machache1, J. Y. Carter1, I. Njeru2, J. Mwitari3 Amref Health Africa-Headquaters, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, 2Divison of Disease Surveillance and Response, Nairobi, Kenya, 3Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya 1 Purpose: In 2009, the Ministry of Health, Kenya, in collaboration with Amref Health Africa, established a pilot project to introduce a Community Based Disease Surveillance (CBDS) system into three districts in Kenya. The project aimed to provide Community Health Workers (CHWs) with the capacity and means to identify, refer and report patients with suspected priority conditions, according to the national Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy, to local health facilities for diagnosis and management Methods & Materials: A national project steering team was created comprising senior officers from the Units of Disease Surveillance, Outbreak and Response; and Community Health Services, and Amref Health Africa. Criteria for selection of pilot districts included high burden of communicable diseases and areas with established community structures. Priority diseases were grouped into major conditions with simplified lay case definitions. Data collection, referral and reporting tools were developed, using a paper-based system. District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) received refresher training on principles of IDSR and the CBDS system; who in turn trained CHWs and health care personnel at the link health facilities. Results: Three districts in Kenya participated in the CBDS pilot project. A total of 64 CHEWs from 32 Community Health Units (CHUs) and 1600 CHWs were trained. Data will be presented on reporting rate of CHWs, total number of cases referred and attendance rate at health facilities; and number of suspected priority conditions reported by type, since the project start. Conclusion: The project has established clear pathways for early detection of suspected priority conditions, and referral and reporting between different levels of the health system, starting from village level. With adequate support and supervision, CHWs can play a critical role in detecting suspected priority diseases and outbreak surveillance within their local communities. The reporting system complements the passive, facility-based IDSR surveillance and management system for priority diseases and outbreaks; however establishing a CBDS system requires major resource inputs November 1, 2014 22.075 Using a mobile short message-based disease 22.077 An automated analysis pipeline for whole • Purpose: Biosurveillance of emerging diseases from wildlife hosts creates challenges that require interdisciplinary collaborations. Historically, a “mono-culture” approach to disease research prevented effective infectious disease research, because discipline-specific disease indicators often do not transcend to other disciplinary concepts. Founded in 2010, the Geospatial Epidemiology Research Network (GERN) advances new approaches to zoonotic infectious diseases by bringing together experts with common interests to utilize emerging technologies to their fullest advantage. Methods & Materials: GERN initially identified Chagas’ Disease as a potential challenge to the public health of New Mexico residents. Chagas’ Disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and vectored through triatomine bugs, is a primary example of a neglected disease yet remains poorly understood in the southwestern United States. A pilot study conducted in 2011 re-confirmed the existence of Triatoma and T. cruzi in New Mexico. Community collection efforts during Spring/ Summer of 2013 yielded Triatoma specimens from local dwellings and peridomestic areas. Traditional analyses are forthcoming, yet new tools are critical to next generation disease research and outreach. Results: New methods and tools for improving our understanding of emerging diseases such as Chagas are rapidly evolving across disciplines and institutions. Enabling the diffusion of innovations within and across communities in our information-rich society remains challenging, especially for researchers searching for new techniques that transcend to complementary disciplines. The Virtual Learning Commons (VLC), to be released in 2014, will standardize processes, support researchers, and potentially facilitate the collection of critical information in disease research. The VLC utilizes next generation Web approaches (a.k.a. Semantic Web) enabling easier discovery of relevant methods and tools, along with advanced data visualization: who created the methods, who is using them, where they are being used, and other pertinent information for a particular application. Conclusion: The VLC will enable disease researchers and decision makers to more easily integrate surveillance strategies with new analytical approaches. This interdisciplinary approach toward translational infectious disease research will be critical as more infectious diseases emerge. By expanding parameters from different disciplines through technologies, effective public health outreach programs may be created to reduce potential risk of exposure and maintain health populations. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 M. McConnell1, D. Pennington2 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 2University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA had been developed for weekly reporting, there still existed a gap in appropriate technology for immediate notification. The MOH in partnership with the JICA-JST SATREPS project developed a mobile short message service (SMS)-based disease outbreak alert system (mSOS) as an early warning system to enhance realtime notification, coordination, preparedness, and response to priority diseases, events and conditions within the IDSR strategy. Using formatted SMS clinicians at health facilities would notify multiple levels simultaneously. Methods & Materials: A 6-month pilot implementation was conducted in Busia and Kajiado counties between November 2013 and April 2014. An endline survey was conducted in June 2014 to assess IDSR and mSOS reporting systems using mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) research. Results: The pilot consisted of 127 health facilities. Fifty-eight (45.7%) health facility in-charges were asked to use mSOS (formatted SMS) and IDSR reporting (paper-based and or unformatted SMS) systems to notify suspected priority diseases to the next level, and 69 (54.3%) were asked to continue their routine IDSR reporting. Over 400 alert notification messages were sent through mSOS, which consisted of mostly suspected measles and dysentery cases. A total of 43 incharges used mSOS. Among those who used mSOS (43 out of 58 health facilities selected), 39 (90.7%) in-charges said mSOS was easy to use and that mSOS was helpful in reducing reporting challenges. Thirty (69.8%) in-charges felt mSOS was helpful in triggering response action. Forty-one (95.4%) in-charges felt mSOS shortened time required to send notification to the next level. However, twelve (27.9%) in-charges experienced network challenges. Forty-two (97.7%) incharges felt mSOS should be rolled-out nationally. Conclusion: The pilot implementation provided proof that mSOS would be effective in enhancing surveillance. However, infrastructural challenges in the country may hinder full benefits of the system. Further analyses on qualitative data may provide insights into components that need to be addressed. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 22.080 Rabies surveillance in the combined joint operating area – Afghanistan H. Gobble1, S. Stockwell2, H. Gobble1 1 US Army, Honolulu, HI, USA, 2US Army, Colorado Springs, CO, USA Purpose: Military Expeditionary and Special Operations Forces are often operating in remote regions where infectious disease prevalence is not available for all disease. This is true for the rabies virus in particular. A rabid bench-top Rabies test was used to establish local rabies prevalence in animals euthanatized, as part of vector control procedures, on United States and Coalition bases in Afghanistan. Methods & Materials: Animals captured on Coalition Bases were presented to veterinary services for humane euthanasia. The 438th Medical Detachment teams maintained a tissue bank of frozen brainstems collected from these animals as a way to ensure that if a bite report was made identifying a previously euthanized animal, tissue was available to test. These samples were tested with the BIONOTE’s Anigen Rapid Rabies Ag Test Kit, a chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of Rabies virus antigen. 91 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 L. A. Perrone1, V. Voeurng2, S. Sek2, S. Song2, D. Confer1, R. Martin1 1 International Training and Education Center for Health, Seattle, wa, USA, 2International Training and Education Center for Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Purpose: Functional laboratory systems are increasingly being recognized as a keystone of effective biosurveillance, biosecurity and sustainable health programs. Specifically, diagnostic laboratories significantly contribute to disease detection, patient care, disease surveillance and outbreak investigations. Inaccuracies in diagnostic testing can lead to potentially devastating outcomes for patient, public and veterinary health, surveillance data, and can ultimately affect health policy. The WHO and signatories of the International Health Regulations acknowledge the importance of quality laboratory testing and the need to develop sustainable laboratories in countries in which many of the “hot-spots” for emerging infectious diseases exist. Capacity and capability of such testing remains inadequate in resource-limited countries and many geographically strategic nations including Cambodia are ill-prepared. Laboratories need adequate human resources who understand quality management practices, can utilize the laboratory’s resources effectively and maximize the laboratory’s capacity to detect diseases of public health concern. Laboratories also need effective leaders who have the skills to advocate for resources in a fluctuating health care environment. Methods & Materials: Working with the WHO, the Cambodian Ministry of Health and the US Centers for Disease Control, we are implementing a laboratory and clinical mentoring program to strengthen the quality and capacity of infectious disease diagnosis and surveillance in national and provincial laboratories across Cambodia. I-TECH is working in 4 provincial hospital laboratories (Takeo, Kampot, Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng), the National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, the National Veterinary Research Institute, and 2 hospital laboratories (Preah Kossamak, National Pediatric Hospital) in Phnom Penh to provide training to staff on quality management and quality systems implementation. In addition to testing capacity, quality indicators such as proficiency testing results, turnaround time, and surveys from clinical staff are also being evaluated. This work builds on laboratory capacity assessment data from 22 hospital laboratories across Cambodia collected in early 2014 by other WHO-sponsored organizations. Following a gap analysis of the data, individual quality improvement implementation plans were developed for our 8 target laboratories. Laboratory quality is monitored closely on site and progress towards meeting international standards are measured. Results: This work is currently in progress however our approach and initial findings will be presented here. 92 IMED 2014 L. A. Perrone1, E. Scott1, L. Livingston2, C. Bradburn1, A. McGee1, S. Shotorbani1, D. Confer1, A. Downer1, A. Mokdad3, R. Martin1 1 University of Washington, Seattle, wa, USA, 2Interactive Outcomes, Seattle, WA, USA, 3Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, USA Purpose: Laboratories are an essential component in the WHO’s Integrated Framework Model for Health Systems and accurate laboratory testing is essential to provide evidence for disease diagnosis and treatment, for surveillance activities, and establishing disease prevalence. The WHO and signatories of the International Health Regulations acknowledge the importance of quality laboratory testing and the need to develop laboratories in resource-limited countries in which many of the “hot-spots” for emerging infectious diseases exist. Capacity and capability of such testing remains limited in many geographically strategic nations. Laboratories need leaders who can utilize resources effectively, maximize the laboratory’s capacity to diagnose disease and have the skills to advocate for laboratories in a fluctuating health care environment. To address this need we developed an inservice professional development program for senior health laboratory directors and managers. Methods & Materials: Working together with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, I-TECH solicited over 65 nominations of candidates from 10 Ministries of Health. Up to 3 participants were chosen per country and paired with a senior mentor for the duration of the program. The 9 month program was delivered through 2 in-person meetings and a series of 4 distance-learning courses via an online learning platform. The coursework addressed key competencies such as: testing quality, laboratory systems, leadership and management, analysis and communication of laboratory information, law and regulation of laboratory practice, and appropriate utilization of diagnostic technology. The curriculum was also bolstered by weekly online community discussion boards. Participants also completed a capstone project during the program that addressed an issue related to improving their laboratory’s operations. The program was piloted in 2014 and included 17 participants and 11 mentors from 10 countries across the Middle East. Results: We found that the in-person meetings were crucial to build rapport amongst our participants and mentors and provided a strong foundation for them as an online community throughout the program. Timely support by faculty and active involvement from the mentors was important for participant morale. Over 80% of the participants completed the program successfully. Conclusion: In-service and online professional development programs can be effective interventions to improve laboratory operations and network linkages regionally. 22.083 Risk of transfusion-transmitted Chikungunya infection and efficacy of blood implementation measures H. Appassakij, C. Promwong, P. Rujirojindakul, P. Khuntikij, K. Silpapojakul Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand Purpose: A ‘real-time’ chikungunya fever (CHIKF)-related symptoms observation-based strategy was implemented during the 2009 epidemic in Songkhla Province, southernThailand to mitigate transfusionassociated CHIKF. 11 of 13,202 (0.08%) blood donations suggestive of CHIKF-contamination were deterred from blood transfusion. To date, no published data on actual transfusion-transmitted CHIKF to recipients has been reported. This study estimated transfusion-transmitted CHIKF through the blood transfusion chain and the efficacy of blood safety implementation measures. Methods & Materials: A web-based tool named the “European Up-Front Risk Assessment Tool” (EUFRAT; http://eufrattool.ecdc. europa.eu) was used to estimate the risk of transfusion-transmitted CHIKF using the published data and transfusion practices from the 2009 CHIKF epidemic in Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. Results: The mean and maximal weekly risk of viraemic donations during the entire epidemic period were estimated to be from 5.1 (95% confidence interval (CI); 0.7-9.5) to 26.5 (95% CI; 16.4-36.6) per 100,000, respectively. This meant that the mean and maximal potential risk of total transfusion-transmitted CHIKF to recipients receiving all infective products from packed red blood cells, plasma, and platelets, in the absence of blood safety measures, were estimated from 58.7 (95% CI; 43.7-73.7) to 312.3 (95% CI; 277.7-346.9) per 100,000. Based on percentage of transfusion-transmitted risk reduction calculated in the EUFRAT model, the estimates suggested that implementation measures-based on CHIKF-related symptoms observation or screening for CHIKV RNA could be used independently or in a combination to effectively minimize the risk of transfusion-transmitted CHIKV in recipients. Alternatively, pre-donation screening for donors at risk in combination with either CHIKF-related symptoms observation or screening for RNA detection-based strategies would be expected to be effective and practical preventive strategies. Conclusion: This study confirms that prompt blood screening measures can effectively reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted CHIKF and maintain blood safety supply during an outbreak. New Pathogen Discovery 22.084 Identification of eight clades of novel singlestranded circular DNA viruses in pig feces A. K. Cheung1, T. F. F. Ng2, K. M. Lager1, D. P. Alt1, E. Delwart2, R. M. Pogranichniy3 1 National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, USA, 2University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA, 3Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA Background: Because of the serious shortage of organs from human donors, xenotransplantation has become a valuable alternative. Provided that the genetic incompatibility is overcome, pig organs are considered a good match in size and shape for their human counterparts. However, unknown pathogens, including viruses not harmful in the animal, may pose risks to the organ recipient. Objective: Identification of the circular replication initiator protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses in swine feces. Methods & Materials: The chimpanzee stool-associated circular viruses (ChiSCV)-related nucleotide sequences identified using viral pyrosequencing were used to design primers for PCR. DNA amplification employing converging primers were used to confirm the presence of contig sequences in the sample and diverging primers to amplify and clone the complete circular viral genomes. The Rep-related sequences were aligned by MAFFT and used to generate a Bayesian interference phylogenetic tree. Results: Metagenomic analysis of fecal samples collected from diarrheal swine was conducted. Complete nucleotide sequences of 18 novel genomes were cloned and determined. Each genome encodes two putative major open reading frames (ORFs): ORF1 encodes a Rep involved in rolling-circle DNA replication and ORF2 encodes a capsid protein. Thus, these new viruses belong to the group of CRESS-DNA genomes, which includes Circoviridae, Gemininviridae, Nanoviridae and other unclassified circular genomes. In this study, phylogenetic analysis revealed that sixteen genomes are in a monophyletic clade with porcine stool-associated virus (PoSCV) previously described, but are divergent enough to be further classified into to six distinct virus clades. One virus shares Rep homology with fur seal stool-associated virus and the other belongs to a unique clade with no known counterparts. Conclusion: The development of metagenomics has revolutionized virus discovery leading to the identification of many new viruses. The impact of this technology is exemplified by the breadth of CRESS-DNA viruses detected in a diverse range of organisms including swine. This work showed that the fecal virome of swine exhibits a very diverse set of viruses. 22.085 A novel parvovirus from horse with polysynovitis J. Wang, M. Yu, S. Valdeter, S. Walker, S. Riddell, I. Broz, B. Meehan, D. Eagles, L.-F. Wang, S. McCullough Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Australia Purpose: To identify and characterize a novel parvovirus from a diseases outbreak in horses. Methods & Materials: Whole blood, lymph node and joint fluid from a horse with polysynovitis were used for the study. Virus isolation was conducted on lymph node and joint fluid using equine embryonic kidney cells and Vero cells. Nucleic acid extracted from partially purified original samples was used for next generation sequencing (NGS) using 454 GS FLX system (Roche) and MiSeq system (Illumina), respectively. A qRT-PCR assay was later developed for the specific detection of newly identified virus based on NGS results. Results: No viral pathogen was isolated following 3 passages on each of the two cell lines. 51,820 and 32,451 sequence reads were generated from blood and lymph node samples, respectively, by 454 sequencing. The sequences were assembled into 574 and 679 large contigs, respectively. BLASTN analysis at the nucleotide level showed no sequence identity to any of the known viruses in GenBank. A protein-based BLASTX search resulted in 13 contigs showing best protein sequence identity to chipmunk parvovirus and various degree of sequence identity to several other members of genus Erythroparvovirus, in the family Parvoviridae, including human parvovirus B19. The fulllength genome sequence (5,538 bp) of the virus was obtained following subsequent re-sequencing using MiSeq system. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the virus is distinct from all known parvoviruses. The viral genome has 55.7%, 52.1%, and 50.5% nucleotide identity to chipmunk parvovirus, bovine parvovirus 3, human parvovirus B19, respectively. Application of a qRT-PCR developed based on the newly identified virus resulted in detection of the virus from other horses that had similar clinical symptoms in the affected farm. Conclusion: A novel parvovirus has been identified from horses with polysynovitis using NGS analysis. The novel virus represents a distinct genetic lineage from all existing parvoviruses. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of parvovirus in horses with disease syndrome. The presence of the virus in site-appropriate samples from affected individuals and the similarity of clinical findings to those of humans infected with parvovirus B19 suggest that the virus is likely the causative agent of the disease. November 1, 2014 • laboratory testing quality and capacity in Cambodia program in clinical and public health laboratory leadership and management International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY 22.081 Improving public health and veterinary 22.082 Implementing a professional development SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 Results: A total of 130 samples were tested from 7 different sites. There were a total of 103 felines, 3 jackals, 21 canines, and 3 fox samples tested (Table 1). 129 tests negative test results and 1 positive in a canine. Conclusion: An accurate understanding of the prevalence and risk is key to making wise command decisions and utilizing limited medical and human capital to its fullest. In countries where domestic and feral dog populations are not regularly vaccinated for rabies, they are the primary reservoir of the disease. These dogs represent both the solution and the problem to the risk factor. The key to reduce the incidence and therefore the threat of rabies is to vaccinate the dogs. When this is not done, either due to instability or will the assumption is made that all dogs are rabid and therefore treated as such. This sets up a vicious cycle that neither protects man or animal. The disease surveillance efforts conducted here by the US. Army Veterinary Corps provide enormous scientific real world data from which to make wise decisions now and for years to come at very little expense. This data indicates that the rabies virus is less prevalent in the animal populations of Afghanistan than previously reported. Poster Presentations I 22.086 Saffold virus is able to productively infect primate and rodent cell lines, and induces apoptosis on these cells Y. Xu1, Q. Ng1, C. B. L. Victorio1, Y. J. Tan2, K. B. Chua1 1 Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore, 2 National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Purpose: Saffold virus (SAFV), a newly discovered human cardiovirus of the Picornaviridae family, causes widespread infection among children as shown by previous seroprevalence studies. Prior to the discovery of Saffold virus (SAFV), viruses belonging to the Cardiovirus genus under the family Picornaviridae, were only known to infect mammals other than humans. However, characteristics of SAFV, such as host range and cytopathogenicity, remain largely unknown. This study is designed to determine the host cell range of SAFV and its cytopathogenicity. Methods & Materials: Available mammalian cell lines in the laboratory were screened for productive SAFV infection by a laboratory-adapted SAFV of genotype 3. The susceptible cell lines were subsequently subjected to cellular study to assess the kinetics of cell death and virus growth. Following which, a series of cellular studies, such as DNA laddering analysis, Apo-One Fluorometric assay, and Western Blot, were performed in infected cell lines to determine the forms of cell death and pathways involved. 93 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Results: Five of the eight tested cell lines (Neuro2A, CHO-K1, NIH/3T3, Vero and HEp-2) were found to be susceptible. The time frame for SAFV to cause full lytic cytopathic effect (CPE) of these permissible cells and the resultant endpoint virus titer differed for each cell type. HEp-2 exhibited the shortest time frame to reach full CPE compared to the others. All infected cell lines produced high virus titer at 72 hours post infection. Besides causing lytic cell death, SAFV also induced host cells to undergo apoptotic cell death through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways though the apoptotic events in HEp-2 cells appeared to have been blocked between the early and late stages. Conclusion: In conclusion, laboratory-adapted SAFV is able to productively infect a number of mammalian cell lines and induce apoptosis in the infected host cells but the apoptotic activities in HEp-2 cells are blocked before the end stage. 22.087 Pathogen discovery and vaccine development for emerging diseases • E. Kovacs1, S. Marton1, S. L. Farkas1, V. Martella2, K. Banyai1 1 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary, 2Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, University of Bari, Bari, Italy Purpose: Rotaviruses (RVs) are classified within the genus Rotavirus, family Reoviridae. The 9th report of ICTV has listed five virus species (designated Rotavirus A to E), but with the availability of new sequence information, an additional three species, Rotavirus G to H, have been proposed. Species demarcation criteria include serological crossreactivity, sequence similarity values and host range. Methods & Materials: In this study we report a diverse rotavirus strain identified by deep sequencing of the fecal virome of a suckling dog. Results: Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the genes encoding structural proteins revealed a low genetic relatedness between the strain 135/2012 and those being representatives of their respective virus species. The greatest aa similarities were seen when compared with the type strains of candidate species Rotavirus H. The VP1, VP2, VP3, VP4, VP6 and VP7 proteins shared 57%, 44%, 41%, 40%, 46%, and 28%, although the length of the VP4 protein aligning between the two candidate species was relatively short (50%). The 46% aa identity within the VP6 gene was comparable to similarity values obtained for other species (range, RVA, 27%; RVB, 38%) and was below the 53% aa cutoff value proposed recently for differentiation of RV species. Conclusion: Analysis of the structural genes strongly suggests that the identified RV strain may be the representative of a novel RV species. The availability of full length structural genes will permit further investigations to uncover the host range and any potential public health implications of this unusual rotavirus. 22.088 Small ssDNA viruses detected in domesticated 22.090 Genetic diversity and possible recombination E. Feher1, E. Kovacs1, S. Marton1, M. Balmann1, P. Pazar2, G. Kemenesi3, G. Lengyel4, F. Jakab3, K. Banyai1 1 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary, 2Szent Istvan University, Budapest, Hungary, 3 University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary, 4Dr. György Radó Military Medical Centre, Hungarian Defence Forces, Budapest, Hungary E. Kovacs1, S. Marton1, T. Tuboly2, V. Martella3, K. Banyai1 1 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary, 2Szent István University, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary, 3Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, University of Bari, Bari, Italy and wild animals by viral metagenomics Purpose: Small ssDNA viruses of the Circoviridae and Anelloviridae family are widely distributed. In our study fecal and organ samples of healthy and diseased domesticated and wild animals were investigated by high-throughput sequencing by using an Ion Torrent PGM platform. Methods & Materials: Sequence data generated by viral metagenomics were used to obtain the whole genomes with the adaptation of back-to-back primed PCR and traditional sequencing. Results: With this approach, six whole genomic sequences of new type gyroviruses (human gyrovirus, avian gyrovirus 2, gyrovirus 3 and 4) were described in fecal samples of ferrets with spleen and lymph node enlargement. Identification and determination of different circoviral or circovirus-like sequences in the fecal specimens of rabbit, swine and different European bat species was carried out by the same approach. We also identified traces of the recently described pigeon torque teno virus in liver samples of pigeons suffering from young 94 IMED 2014 events in canine astroviruses Purpose: Dogs are among the most popular companion animals in Hungary and in other countries all around the world. These animals are in close contact with humans, other pets and wild-living animals. Viral infections of dogs manifest frequently as gastrointestinal symptoms that could also affect the environment thus dogs and also other susceptible organisms. Furthermore, virus infections of dogs may have implications on human health. Methods & Materials: In this study healthy and diarrheic fecal specimens were collected during 2012 in Hungary from 51 sheltered dogs and subjected to viral metagenomics on an Ion Torrent PGM platform. Results: A large variety of enteric viruses were identified, including rotaviruses, kobuviruses, noroviruses, picodicistroviruses, bocaviruses, parvoviruses, and astroviruses. Most typically, partial genomic sequences were obtained for the identified viruses. To further study the genomic structure of canine astroviruses, the sequence output was multiplied in repeated sequencing runs. As a result, the coding sequences of five canine astrovirus strains were determined. The five, near-full length Hungarian astrovirus genomic sequences shared 74–96% nt identity with each other and 80–97% nt identity with the overlapping regions of the reference sequences deposited in the GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis divided canine astroviruses into four lineages based on the gene sequence coding for the capsid protein. Simplot analysis identified potential recombination events between two pairs of strains, bc41 and bc14 and bc23 and bc14, localizing the crossing points in the capsid region. Conclusion: Our study is the first to describe the coding region of canine astroviruses and shows a great diversity among co-circulating strains. 22.091 Molecular survey of bat-transmitted RNA viruses: discovering novel astroviruses, coronaviruses and caliciviruses G. Kemenesi1, B. Dallos1, T. Görföl2, S. Boldogh3, P. Estók4, A. Kutas1, M. Oldal1, V. Martella5, K. Bányai6, F. Jakab1 1 University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 2Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary, 3Aggtelek National Park, Jósvafő, Hungary, 4Eszterházy Károly College, Eger, Hungary, 5Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, University of Bari, Bari, Italy, 6Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary Purpose: With over 1250 species, bats represent the most widespread mammalian order worldwide. Emerging infectious diseases pose a significant threat to human and animal welfare. Moreover, anthropogenic activities, such as urbanization and destruction of natural bat habitats are increasing interactions between bats, humans, and livestock. Methods & Materials: We investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of bat RNA viruses in Hungary. Bat faecal samples were collected from different geographic areas of Hungary and screened for RNA viruses of six distinct virus families (Astroviruses—AstV, Coronaviruses—CoV, Caliciviruses—CalV, Lyssaviruses—LysV, Orthoreoviruses—OrthV, Paramyxoviruses—ParmV, Rotaviruses— RotV) with different sets of consensus primer pairs. Results: A total of 447 bat faecal samples were collected in 2012 and 2013 from 45 sampling sites across Hungary. Twenty-four out of the 28 known Hungarian bat species were sampled and tested in this study. Novel strains of AstVs, CoVs and novel CalVs were detected, while LyssV-, OrthV-, ParmV- and RotV were not identified in the samples. The overall prevalence of AstVs in bats was 6.93% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.854, 9.571). Out of the 24 bat species tested, AstVs were identified in the following eight species: Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis nattereri, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Plecotus auritus. CoV RNA was detected in seven bat species: Myotis daubentonii, Myotis myotis, Myotis nattereri, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros. The prevalence of bat CoV among the sampled bats was 1.79% (95%, CI 0.849, 3.348). Novel bat CalVs were detected in three bat species, namely Myotis daubentonii, Myotis alcathoe and Eptesicus serotinus. The prevalence of BtCalV among the sampled bats was 0.67% (95%, CI 0.189, 1.780). Conclusion: As the main results of this study, i) we have successfully confirmed SARS-related CoVs in bats, ii) we have described new bat species harbouring AstVs in Europe and iii) first time we found new species of CalVs in bats. 22.092 Discovery of a novel bovine enteric calicivirus, Kırklareli virus, in calves with enteritis in Turkey F. Alkan1, I. Karayel1, C. Catella2, L. Bodnar2, G. Lanave2, K. Bányai3, N. Decaro2, C. Buonavoglia2, V. Martella2 1 Ankara University Veterinary Faculty, Ankara, Turkey, 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University Aldo Moro of Bari, Bari, Italy, 3 Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary Purpose: In cattle, caliciviruses of at least three distinct genera (Nebovirus, Norovirus and Vesivirus) have been detected but only neboviruses and noroviruses have been associated with enteric replication and with enteric signs, on the basis of either experimental infections or observational studies. In this study it is reported the molcular characterization of novel bovine enteric calicivirus from calves with diarrhea. Methods & Materials: In 2012, an outbreak of enteritis occurred in Kırklareli, Thrace, Turkey. Faecal samples were tested and found positive for either group A rotavirus or coronavirus. Also, all the analyzed animals tested positive for Cryptosporidium spp. Interestingly, upon electron microscopy observation, small round viruses(SRVs) could be observed in the stools. Also the virus was identified by RT-PCR with consensus primers and sequence analysis. Results: By RT-PCR with consensus primers and sequence analysis, the SRVs were characterized as caliciviruses, with limited homology(<65% nucleotide[nt] identity) in a short(300nt) fragment of the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase, to the bovine calicivirus (Nebovirus) prototype strain NB. By combining RT-PCRs with a primer walking strategy, 5’ and 3’RACE protocols and next generation sequencing semiconductor technology, the complete genome of the novel calicivirus, named Kırklareli virus, was determined. The genome was 7484nt long with a 57nt-long 5’UTR, and a 80nt-long 3’UTR. Two ORFs, of 6581nt (ORF1) and 657nt (ORF2) in length, were mapped. ORF1 contained the replicative proteins and, at the 3’ end, the 1629nt-long (542 amino acids,aa) capsid region, with a potential cleavage site between the non-structural proteins and the capsid protein. In the full length VP1, Kırklareli virus displayed less than 60%nt and 43%aa identity to other bovine caliciviruses. A distinctive feature, with respect to other bovine neboviruses, was found in the genome organization, as there was a 1-nt overlap between ORF1 and ORF2, while members of the Nebovirus genus have a 1-nt interval between the two ORFs. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified a novel bovine calicivirus, distantly related to other bovine enteric caliciviruses, and with a distinctive genome organization. Information on the epidemiological and patho-biological features of Kırklareli virus needs to be gathered, in order to assess the relevance of this novel enteric virus in the bovine species. 22.093 Complete genome sequence of a new recombinant echovirus 25 strain isolated from a neonatal patient with hand, foot and mouth disease complicating encephalitis in Beijing, China November 1, 2014 SATURDAY the fecal virome of sheltered dog International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Outbreaks of infectious diseases in animals and fish for food production continue to be threats for animal health, human health, and food security. The identification of the causative agents involved in emerging diseases, and the development of efficacious vaccines against these diseases, are therefore highly desired. Identification of an unknown infectious agent requires specialized techniques, especially when a novel virus is considered. Methods & Materials: Nowadays, next generation sequencing platforms combined with viral purification and library preparations provide and excellent method to identify viruses of which the genome composition is unknown. The VIDISCA method (Virus discovery cDNA-AFLP) is one of the library preparation methods which have been successfully applied to identify novel viruses. Results: In the study presented here, the VIDISCA technology combined with Roche-454 next generation sequencing was used to identify a previously unknown virus that causes a long-known disease in commercially kept tropical fish for food production. Subsequently, the near complete genome sequence was obtained, the virus was cultured in vitro, Koch’s postulates were fulfilled and three candidate vaccines were developed which all provided efficacious protection against disease. All this was accomplished in 20 months. Conclusion: Our integrated approach shows that vaccine development against unknown pathogens can greatly benefit from novel molecular genetic techniques for virus identification. 22.089 Candidate new rotavirus species detected in SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 A. de Groof MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, Netherlands pigeon disease syndrome. In a number of cases the obtained genome sequences showed significant sequence differences from reference genome sequences deposited in the GenBank (e.g., 77% nt identity with gyrovirus 3; 90% nt identity with gyrovirus 4; 75-92% nt identity with different types of circovirus-like viruses) and thus may represent novel genotypes or virus species within the respective virus families. Conclusion: Our study indicates the robustness of the virus metagenomics methodology to detect novel circoviruses and circovirus-like agents in specimens of domesticated and feral animal species. The significance of these findings from the viewpoint of veterinary medicine needs further investigations. Poster Presentations I Y. Meng, H. Li, J. Liang, Q. Wang, J. Zhang, S. Liu, J. Cheng Institutes of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China Purpose: Echovirus 25 is a member of human enterovirus B, which is unfrequent in HFMDs, but it often causes aseptic meningitis. By now, only three strains have been sequenced completely in the NCBI. To know more about its gene structure, evolution, and virulence,we sequenced a novel E25 strain of china completely. Methods & Materials: Viral RNA was extracted from 140 μl of throat swabs of the HFMD patient hospitalized in the Division of Pediatrics, Beijing Ditan Hospital.Reverse transcription (RT) was performed with 5 μl RNA to synthesize cDNA.Partial VP1 region was amplified to find out it belongs to E25.Then we designed the specific primers for sequencing the complete genome of the strain.The phylogenetic tree based on VP1 section was drawn by MEGA 6.0. Simplot and similar bootscan analyses was used to find recombination. Results: The complete genome consists of 7429 nucleotides, including an 6585-nt open reading frame. The phylogenetic dendrogram based on VP1 gene regions showed that our strain was located in the novel subgroup D4 with other E25 strains of China. Both Simplot and similar bootscan analyses of the genome revealed that E25/2010/CHN/ BJ was a probable progeny of recombination of the E25 strain and Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) strain. Conclusion: We sequenced the complete genome of an E25 strain successfully, which is the fourth report of the whole genome sequence of the E25 strain prevalent in the world, and the first one inBeijing,China. The whole genome consists of 7429 nucleotides, encoding a 2194-amino-acid polyprotein, which is identical to the other three. The Phylogeny based on VP1 showed that our strain E25/2010/ CHN/BJ was located in the novel subgenogroup D4, along with the other E25 strains prevalent inChinain recent years. Phylogenetic 95 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 analysis based on full-length genome revealed that E25/2010/CHN/ BJ was a possible progeny of recombination of E25 strain HN-2 (or E25SD2010CHN) and CVB3 Beijing0811(or CVB3 Fuyang19), but it’s the first report of recombination between E25 and CVB3 inthe world. The complete genome sequence of E25/2010/CHN/BJ strain was deposited in the NCBI GenBank database under accession number KJ957190. 22.094 Increased detection of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Georgia (2009–2014) N. Mamuchishvili , K. Zakhashvili , G. Chakhunashvili , P. Imnadze , D. Echeverria4 1 NCDC, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia, 3National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia, 4University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA 3 Purpose: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is a febrile disease caused by the CCHF virus and transmitted by ticks and contact fluids from infected hiumans or animals. CCHF is an emerging disease in Georgia. The first laboratory case was diagnosed in 2009 in Tbilisi. Since then, cases have increased with a case-fatality rate of 8%. Similar to Turkey, the CCHF virus (genus Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae) is transmitted to humans by bites of infected ticks from the genus Hyalomma. In this study, we describe 25 patients from different Georgian regions who were admitted to the Tbilisi infectious disease hospital between 2009 and 2014. This study represents the first study where CCHF incidence rates are described in Georgia. Methods & Materials: The introduction of an Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System in 2007 permits case-based analyses. Clinicians adhere to a clearly defined case definition, which requires laboratory confirmation based on positive PCR and ELISA test results accompanied by symptoms of high fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, elevated enzymes, pancytopenia. Petechia and hemorrhagic subcutaneous bleeding. Results: Twenty-five lab confirmed cases were reported in 9 women and 16 men. The majority were <45 years of age (range=19-77). Cases increased from single reports in 2009 and 2012 to 13 cases in 2013. There have been 10 cases to date in 2014. In order of importance, cases were elevated in 7 villages near Kashuri (n=12, incidence rate = 1.92/100,000) and 2 villages near Apsindza (n=3, incidence rate = 2.27/100,000). The remaining villages incurred fewer cases in Borjomi (n=3, incidence rate = 0.95), Khaspi (n=2, incidence rate = 0.38), Tbilisi (n=2, incidence rate = 0.08), with 1 case from Mtsxeta (incidence rate = 0.17), Gori (incidence rate =0.21), and Marneuli (incidence rate = 0.23). The mortality rate was 2/25 or 8%. Conclusion: Laboratory results are consistent with other CCHF case series reported in Turkey. Recent training in laboratory diagnostics and intensive training in clinical recognition of CCHF disease among regional family doctors account for the increased reporting of cases. Proposed CCHF prevention programs in Kashuri and Aspindza with the goal of scaling up prevention to all high risk regions in Georgia. Outbreak Response and Control 22.095 Investigation of Ebola viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreak in Luwero district Uganda, 2012/13 E. N. Muwanguzi Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda Purpose: The main objective of the investigation was to confirm the outbreak and institute response and control measures. Methods & Materials: Investigations involved specimen collection and analysis and epidemiologic case-based investigations using the surveillance case definition. The team also conducted investigations on the possible index case and worked with Village Health Teams for contact tracing. 96 IMED 2014 22.096 Go big or go home: impact of screening coverage on syphilis infection dynamics A. Tuite1, D. Fisman2 1 University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Purpose: Syphilis has reemerged as a significant public health problem in many high-income countries, with outbreaks focused in urban men who have sex with men (MSM). In many jurisdictions these outbreaks are ongoing, despite intensification of efforts to screen and treat at-risk individuals. We sought to understand how population-level coverage of asymptomatic screening impacts the ability to control syphilis transmission during an outbreak. Methods & Materials: We developed a risk-structured dynamic compartmental mathematical model of syphilis transmission in a population of sexually active MSM. Parameters were derived from the biomedical literature and by model calibration. We assumed a baseline level of treatment of early (primary, secondary, and early latent) syphilis cases due to seeking medical care for symptoms or referral via partner notification in all scenarios. We evaluated the impact of the level of annual population-wide screening (0-90% coverage) on incidence of early syphilis at endemic equilibrium. Assumptions around immunity following treatment, sexual mixing, and screening frequency were tested in sensitivity analyses. Results: The relationship between screening coverage and equilibrium syphilis incidence displayed an inverted U-shape relationship, with peak equilibrium incidence occurring with 40% screening coverage (Figure). In the base case, 75% of the population needed to be screened annually for local elimination (incidence <1 case per 100,000 population). Results were qualitatively similar in the face of differing programmatic, behavioural, and natural history assumptions, although the screening thresholds for local elimination differed. Results were particularly sensitive to screening frequency; with 6- or 3-monthly screening, the population coverage required to achieve local elimination was reduced to 50% or 30%, respectively. Conclusion: Screening has the potential to control syphilis outbreaks. However, when coverage is suboptimal, screening may ultimately result in the establishment of higher equilibrium infection incidence than that observed in the absence of the intervention. 22.097 Genomic analysis of Legionella outbreaks: implications for outbreaks’ study and control F. Gonzalez-Candelas1, L. Sanchez-Buso2, I. Comas2, G. Jorques3, V. García-López de Meneses 3, J. Calafat3, F. Adrian3, J. Fenollar3, I. Escribano4, H. Vanaclocha5 1 University of Valencia-FISABIO Salud Publica, Paterna, Spain, 2 FISABIO Salud Publica, Valencia, Spain, 3Direccion General de Salud Pública, Alcoy, Spain, 4Hospital Virgen de los Lirios, Alcoy, Spain, 5Direccion General de Salud Pública, Valencia, Spain Purpose: Genome sequencing of pathogens is becoming a routine method for outbreak investigations and surveillance programs. The Gram-negative Legionella pneumophila is a strictly environmental, opportunistic pathogen and the main cause of Legionnaire’s disease and Pontiac fever. As for most environmental bacteria, our knowledge at the genome level of this pathogen is still very limited. During the 1999-2010 period, 18 legionellosis outbreaks were recorded in the city of Alcoy (Alicante province, Spain). Methods & Materials: We analyzed 69 clinical and environmental isolates of L. pneumophila collected during the investigation of 13 of those outbreaks. Most (n=45) samples corresponded to a specific Sequence Type (ST578) almost endemic to this area and frequently found in clinical samples of Legionellosis patients. The samples were sequenced using the SOLiD 5500XL platform to an average coverage of 90X. Mapping and subsequent variant calling and filtering were performed to obtain aligned pseudo-genomes. Results: The analysis of ST578 strains involved in the same outbreak showed overlapping levels of variability (range 6-1,760 SNPs in a core of 3,046,296 bp) to those observed between strains from different outbreaks (range 5-1,807 bp), thus revealing that some of these outbreaks have not been caused by a single bacterial clone. Our results also showed that recombination is the main force introducing variability in the ST578 clade (>98%), with at least 16 events mapped on 5 different branches of the phylogeny in a 20-year period. These events increased more than 10-fold the per-branch substitution rates compared to those obtained only from mutation. Conclusion: In conclusion, L. pneumophila strains involved in ST578 outbreaks in Alcoy do not show a clonal relationship even after removing the effects of recombination from the analyses. These results suggest that Legionella outbreaks can be more complex than previously considered on the basis of sequence typing and that this methodology can be misleading when the complete genomic diversity is not considered. In these cases, deep genome sequencing can unveil the actual relationships between clinical and environmental strains during outbreak investigations and contribute to their control. A distinction between physical and biological sources of outbreaks might also help in this respect. 22.098 Adhering to infection control practices prevents the transmission of MERS-CoV among health care workers in a tertiary care institution, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia T. S. Butt, I. Koutlakis-Barron, S. AlJummah, S. AlThawadi, S. AlMofada King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Purpose: Transmission of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among Health Care Workers (HCWs) and patients has been clearly documented. A mortality rate of approximately 30% poses a significant risk to exposed individuals. It is not conclusive whether adhering to basic Infection control (IC) practices alone is sufficient to prevent the transmission of MERS-CoV. We propose that Advanced IC Measures incorporated at an institutional level, in conjunction with the Basic Measures is necessary to reduce the risk of transmission during an epidemic. A retrospective observational study of combined Basic and Advanced IC Measures implemented since the initial discovery of MERS-CoV was conducted to determine effectiveness in preventing transmission to HCWs. Methods & Materials: Basic IC measures include standard and transmission based precautions that include hand and environmental hygiene, designated patient placement, prompt institution of isolation precautions, proper quality, type and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Advanced IC measures include daily administrative rounds to review adequacy of strategies, IC risk assessment, patient screening for symptoms, high-particulate mask fit-testing, interdepartmental collaboration, epidemic-plan implementation, stock piling of critical supplies, Emergency Department contingency plan, appropriate ordering, collection, transportation and analysis of specimens, full PPE use including high-particulate mask during advanced airway management, isolation flagging on electronic medical records, IC on-call, MERS-CoV testing for inter-hospital transfers, effective staff education and communication. Results: Total of 511 real time PCR MERS-CoV tests performed. HCW with post-unprotected exposure: 107 resulting in zero cases. Patients tested: 404 resulting in 11 positive cases. 73% positive cases were male, with an average age of 56.5 years (range: 19-84). Potential HCW Exposure Days (patient presentation to cure or expired): 281 days. Patient mean duration of infectivity: 25.5 days (range: 6-58). Allcause mortality: 45% (5 of 11). Mortality directly related to MERS-CoV infection: 27% (3 of 11). Conclusion: Adhering to a combination of Basic and Advanced IC measures prevented the transmission of MERS-CoV to HCWs at a Tertiary Care Institution, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 22.099 Signalling and risk assessment of emerging zoonoses in the Netherlands K. Maassen, J. van der Giessen, A. van de Giessen National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands Purpose: In the last decade, The Netherlands has encountered some outbreaks related to (emerging) zoonoses. After the avian influenza outbreak in 2003 causing conjunctivitis amongst cullers and the emergence of livestock associated MRSA in 2004, the world’s largest outbreak of Q fever among people took place. These events emphasized the need for a more systematic approach of sharing and assessing signals for (emerging) zoonotic infections. Methods & Materials: A zoonoses risk analysis structure was developed and implemented consisting of several steps covering signaling, response (including up scaling), outbreak management and decisionmaking at the governmental level. Important is that at each stage in all teams experts from both human and veterinary health are involved. In the ‘signaling forum zoonoses’ a risk assessment is performed on the zoonotic signals that are brought in by the participants. This signaling forum is the basis of the structure with regular meetings every month. If necessary, ad hoc meetings can be organized in case of an urgent signal. Experts from the key veterinary institutes (Animal Health Service, Central Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dutch Wildlife and Health Center), the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the Community Health Services and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment assess the risk and determine whether a follow-up action is desired. Results: An integrated human-veterinary risk analysis structure has been developed and implemented in order to improve early warning and control of emerging zoonoses in The Netherlands. Conclusion: In this example of a One Health strategy next to the actual assessment of signals, the signaling forum strengthens the relationship, collaboration and communication between the human and veterinary health partners in The Netherlands, also key factors in the joint battle against emerging zoonoses November 1, 2014 • 1 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY 2 SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 1 Results: The putative index case was a motor cycle rider who is reported to have transported an Ebola patient to the hospital. Of the 33 reported cases, 7 met the suspected case definition, and 6(18.2%) were confirmed positive for the Ebola of Sudan type (SEBOV) virus species and 1(3.0%) was classified as a probable case. The remaining 26(78.8%) were confirmed negative for the Ebola of Sudan type (SEBOV)virus species. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for the outbreak was 4/7(57.1%). The most affected village was Kakute and the most affected age group was 20-30years. Conclusion: The investigation confirmed the outbreak to be due to Ebola of Sudan type (SEBOV)virus. Response and control measures were established that enabled the outbreak to be controlled without spreading beyond the villages of the index cluster. Poster Presentations I 22.100 Epidemiological monitoring of anthrax soil foci in Kazakhstan M. Orynbayev1, A. M. Aikimbayev2, V. N. Sheyanov3, G. A. Temiraliyeva4, A. Tuleuov5, G. Omasheva5 1 Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeisky, Kazakhstan, 2Scientific Practical Center for Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 3Scientific and Practical Center for Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 4Scientific Practical Center for Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 5Scientific and Practical Center for Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise, Almaty, Kazakhstan Purpose: Anthrax has established niches in Kazakhstan, and this continues to pose a threat to animal and human health. There is a historic heritage of more than 1,930 old anthrax cattle graves that are subject to continuous monitoring. Veterinary and sanitary services should develop control methods of historical anthrax points and anthrax soil foci. Methods & Materials: Retrospective cohort analysis, bacteriological methods, GIS, and PCR-based surveillance. Results: The 2010 outbreak in the Pavlodar region serves as an example for the long-term persistence of Bacillus anthracis spores in the soil. This area had been considered safe for 40 years. Other examples: animals got infected when grazing at the archaeological excavation site in Zhambyl region in 2004. In 2009, infection of animals was reported in association with construction trenches for a gas pipeline in the West Kazakhstan region. In 2011, a PCR-confirmed case of anthrax associated with excavation work occurred in an area of East Kazakhstan region, which was registered as an anthrax stationary point. The results indicated the standard qualitative analytical method 97 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 of detecting Bacillus anthracis spores in the soil is not enough effective. Conclusion: The soil of pasture and sick cattle burial grounds may become a factor in the spread of pathogens of various diseases. The causative agent of anthrax can be dangerous for an indefinitely long period of time. After nutrients and water reach the layer where spores are present, germination occurs, vegetative growth becomes possible, and then, re-sporulation may occur again. This cycle of recloning maintains and restores the pathogenic properties of spores. The more sensitive methods of anthrax spores detection in soil should be investigated. The researches were carried out with the support of the US Department of Energy (US-DOE) through ISTC to determine the epidemic potential of soil anthrax foci. 22.101 A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated 98 IMED 2014 • Purpose: AFHSC’s Division of Integrated Biosurveillance, established in April 2012, provides U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) decisionmakers regular communication and consultation on timely, relevant, and actionable biosurveillance data and information. In December 2013, France reported two cases of autochthonous chikungunya on Saint Martin—the first autochthonous cases in the Western Hemisphere. While U.S. military personnel have operated in chikungunya endemic countries, the emergence of the disease in the Caribbean has the potential to significantly increase the risk to DoD personnel. The need to understand how this could affect the U.S. military was immediately recognized and DoD leadership has been requiring regular updates on this emerging disease. Methods & Materials: A broad range of websites are scanned daily for pertinent information on chikungunya to track trends and intensity of disease spread. An analysis of the impact of chikungunya on military personnel going back to the Vietnam War was undertaken. We developed a preliminary model based on chikungunya importation into France and Australia to predict cases in DoD personnel. Regular interaction with other U.S. government agencies (USG) supplies additional information. Results: Regular ‘Surveillance Summaries’ as well as disease-specific laboratory and surveillance guidance are published and distributed to a U.S. military list serve numbering more than 500 persons and the USG numbering over 40 persons. These publications provide readers with information and analysis of specific relevance to DoD populations. They include background information on cases; affected locations; transmission modes; diagnostic capability within DoD; and vaccine/ treatment efforts initiated by PAHO, MOHs, USG, and industry. The preliminary model yielded broad estimates of annual cases (0 to 624) related to the Caribbean outbreak. Conclusion: The integration of timely, verified information and data in published products for ongoing surveillance and situational awareness of an emerging disease has led to enhanced communication, more comprehensive and better knowledge of internal and external disease-related activities, and improved synchronization of biosurveillance efforts across DoD. Characterizing the past impact of chikungunya has proven more difficult as it is not a reportable disease in the DoD and has no specific ICD-9 code. The modeling of chikungunya incidence in service members requires further refinement. 22.103 Outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in Cojutepeque military brigade, El Salvador, July 2013 J. Santos Ministry of Health El Salvador, Santa Tecla, El Salvador Objectives: 1) Identify etiologic agent, 2) Describe characteristics of inffected people, 3) Identify risk factors associated with the infection, and 4) Recommend measures for prevention and control. Methods & Materials: We made a descripcion of case series. Screening to 80 military personnel of the brigade was performed with three sputum smears and X-ray of the chest. Beside HIV tests were taken at the positive cases, which are also made interview, investigating demographic, clinical, laboratory and risk factors data. Frecuencies, percentages and rates were calculated using an Excel worksheet. The rates were calculated for each of the five military bedrooms (called A, B, C, D and E). Results: It was identified the Mycobacterium as the etiologic agent. The affected people were all male, and 19 years old. All of them came from a rural area. The main risk factor that we found was the overcrowding, beside to be a contact of a pulmonary tuberculosis case. Attack rate was 18.75% in bedroom C. The index case was identified and two secundary cases, with and exposure period of 59 days. The index case was contact of a Pulmonary Tuberculosis case at his home. Only the index case presented symptoms: cough, fever and weight loss for more than 15 days.The other two cases had cough since two days duration. Conclusion: We found a rate of pulmonary tuberculosis 526 times higher than the national rate. It was also 12.5 times higher than that found in other studies in closed populations such as school facilities. As a result of the investigation we could stop the outbreak, cure cases and to intoduce tests for pulmonary tuberculosis screening for all incoming soldiers. This is the firs time that an outbreak of tuberculosis is described in a military instalation in El Salvador. The health personnel in military brigades has begun the procces of training and continuing education. 22.104 Justified cholera vaccination trials in Uganda? Large outbreaks in Namayingo and Moyo Districts, 2014 I. Nabukenya1, E. Namukose2, G. Bwire 2, L. Lukwago2, F. Alingu3, M. Malimbo4, H. Mayinja2, I. Makumbi2 1 Ministry of Health, Kampala, 284, Uganda, 2Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda, 3University of San Florida, Tampa, FL, USA, 4 Uganda Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda Background: Over the past seven years, Uganda has reported a cholera outbreak annually. Cholera vaccine trials are in advanced stages and Uganda has been considered a candidate. On 23rd April 2014, cholera was reported in Obongi county, Moyo district, West Nile. Four weeks later, another cholera outbreak started on 15th May 2014 in Namayingo district, Eastern Uganda. Purpose: To establish the extent of the cholera outbreak in Moyo and Namayingo districts and to assess the risk factors in the affected areas. Methods & Materials: A national multidisciplinary team supported investigations, surveillance, case management and infection control as well as social mobilization to curb the spread. Contact tracing, line listing, active case search and investigation were conducted. Data was analysed in Epiinfo 6.0. Results: Laboratory confirmation of Vibrio cholera 01 Inaba was obtained from Central Public Health Laboratories for both outbreaks. Up to 84 cases, 4 deaths in Obongi county, Moyo district (Attack Rate 108.7 cases per 100,000 people, Case Fatality Rate 4.7%) and 86 cases, 2 deaths (AR 189.5, CFR 2.3%) from Mutumba Sub-county, Namayingo district were recorded. In Moyo, average age of 22.3 years and 60% (n=64) female cases were recorded compared to mean age of 18.4 years and 58% (n=86) females in Namayingo. All patients responded well to antibiotics and fluid therapy at Obongi Health Centre IV and Mutumba HCIII where cholera treatment centres (CTC) were set up. All deaths occured in the community, none of the referred patients died. Both outbreaks occurred in fishing communities where poor hand washing practices in Moyo; low latrine coverage (46%) and use, poor access to safe drinking water and poor hygiene/sanitation practices in Namayingo were risk factors. There was prompt case detection, referral, good case management and effective infection control at the CTC. Conclusion: Vaccine trial introduction may reduce incidence of cholera outbreaks in Uganda but this should be harnessed with improved access to water, latrine coverage and hygiene practices. 22.105 Using a One Health approach to build the capacity of “hot spot nations” to respond to infectious disease outbreaks: overview of the USAID/RESPOND project in Africa H. M. Amuguni1, D. Saila Ngita1, L. Foan2, S. Tzipori3 1 Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA, 2USAID, Kampala, Uganda, 3Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA Purpose: Infectious diseases are emerging from wildlife and livestock with greater frequency in areas with limited resources for disease prevention and control. Responding effectively requires coordination with a diversity of professions and stakeholders in both human, animal health, social and environmental sciences. The USAID RESPOND project was part of multi-year multi-project effort to pre-empt or combat at their source, the first stages of zoonotic diseases that pose significant threats to human health. It focused on eight countries in Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon, areas considered “hot spots” for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Methods & Materials: RESPOND used a one health approach to improve countries capacities to prepare and respond to emerging diseases. RESPOND reinforced and supported existing public health services by developing the skills of a wide range of professionals with multidisciplinary applied training and experience in animal, human and environmental health threats, while simultaneously strengthening the institutions that provided the training. It leveraged established relationships with key international and national frontline organizations to build sustainable response capacity. The project provided training to enable partners to prepare and respond to outbreaks, enhanced their capacity to plan and conduct investigations, improved cross-sectoral linkages across multiple disciplines to support a coordinated response and introduced technologies that improve surveillance and outbreak investigation. Results: A multidisciplinary field based epidemiology graduate program serving six countries was started at Makerere University. Government and private sectors were engaged in training programs such as risk analysis, participatory epidemiology, gender in emerging pandemics, outbreak investigation and emerging zoonotic disease integrative training to broaden and train the community of frontline responders. Seven schools of public health and veterinary medicine reviewed and mapped their curricula to integrate One Health competencies. Demonstration sites connected communities, universities and government counterparts and nine institutions were linked into TUSK, an open source software that creates, manages, and delivers technology to support and enhance health sciences education. Conclusion: Over the past 5 years, RESPOND has strengthened training and support to universities, governments, and civil society using One Health approaches to improve their capacity to respond to outbreaks and diseases of zoonotic origin. November 1, 2014 Background: Between the 1st of August and 6th of September 2013 an unusual cluster of patients with Legionnaires’ disease (LD) of unknown aetiology in Warstein was notified to the public health authorities in Soest, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. An investigation team comprised of professionals with different expertise was formed to control the outbreak. Objective: Potential sources were inspected, sampled and shut down. A case-control study was conducted to identify possible sources of infection. Methods & Materials: Methods: Cases and controls completed a questionnaire or were interviewed by phone using random digit dialling. Laboratory investigation was performed at the national consultant laboratory. Odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-values were calculated by logistic regression (SPSS). Results: Results: According to German case definition the outbreak consisted of 159 reported suspected cases of LD including 78 laboratory-confirmed cases and 2 fatalities. Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1, subtype Knoxville, sequence type 345, could be identified as the epidemic strain. Applying the European case definition, this outbreak included 77 laboratory-confirmed cases and 1 fatality only. Cases were 19 to 94 years old (median of 63 years) and 64% were male. The case fatality rate was 1.28%, whilst 91% of cases were hospitalised and 17% of those needed intensive care. Further analysis involved 75 age- and sex-matched laboratory-confirmed cases and controls, respectively. In univariable analysis cases were almost five times more likely to smoke than controls (OR 4.81; 95% CI 2.33-9.93; p<0.0001). Furthermore cases were two times more likely to live in a 3 km distance around one identified infection source than controls (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.09-4.20; p<0.027). Conclusion: Conclusion: This is the largest outbreak of LD in Germany to date; however the case fatality rate was low compared to previous outbreaks throughout Europe. Due to a series of uncommon events, this outbreak was most likely caused by multiple sources involving industrial cooling towers. Quick epidemiological assessment, source tracing and shutting down potential sources as well as rapid laboratory testing and early treatment are necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality. Maintenance of cooling towers must be reliable to prevent such LD-outbreaks in the future. J. Writer, N. Darling, S. Harris, W. Corr, R. Chitale Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY A. Maisa1, A. Brockmann2, F. Renken2, C. Lueck3, S. Pleischl4, M. Exner4, I. Daniels-Haardt1, A. Jurke1 1 NRW Centre for Health, Münster, Germany, 2Public Health Department Soest, Soest, Germany, 3Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Dresden, Germany, 4Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, Bonn, Germany awareness of an emerging pathogen for the U.S. military: Chikungunya SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 with cooling towers in Warstein, Germany, August 2013 22.102 Developing surveillance and situational Poster Presentations I 22.106 Process evaluation of Pakistan’s disease early warning system S. Zareen1, S. M. Mursalin2 1 Federal Research and Training Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, 2National Health Management and Information System Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan Background: In the last decade, Pakistan has experienced a number of natural and manmade calamities that caused massive human and economic damage. Of these the earthquake of 2005 was a big disaster claiming around 100,000 deaths in affected areas. That led to emergence of first National Disease Early Warning System (DEWS). Since then it has progressed to a stage to cater more than 107 million (57%) population of the country. Purpose: To assess if this system is meeting the intended objectives mainly timely detection and response of epidemics. It also aims at formulating recommendations for its effective functioning and scale up in yet uncovered districts. Methods & Materials: In this study, both quantitative cum qualitative approach were used to collect the intended information during and after devastating floods in July, 2010. The districts were ranked into 3 categories (top, middle and lowest) according to the number of alerts produced. Thus 15 districts and their 37 health facilities (HFs) out of 45 potential sampling frames were selected by simple random sampling for data collection. The study also included semi-structured questionnaire and unstructured interview of 46 DEWS Managers and field workers. Results: DEWS is operative in 2762 HFs. About 2/5 of the visited HFs had received one day training on DEWS since July, 2010. Whereas, 3/4 of the sampled HFs are visited by DEWS staff at least once a month 99 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 with more frequency of visits to the larger hospitals. DEWS case definitions were displayed at 59.5% of the HFs only. The case definition of Cholera was less specific. DEWS weekly reporting forms were available at 91.9% HFs and only 8.1% HFs visited have received DEWS weekly bulletin. The barriers identified for lack of HFs participation in DEWs are; lack of communication and training, insecurity and lack of incentives for staff. Conclusion: By and large DEWS is meeting its objective of timely detection of epidemics and response generation. There is need for capacity building and closed follow-up as per standard operation procedures evolved. There is also a need for accelerated use of innovative ICT for its promotion. 22.107 Measles cluster at a tertiary care hospital in 22.109 Epizootological investigation and laboratory diagnostics of Classical Swine Fever outbreak in Ukraine S. Nychyk, M. Sytiuk, I. Halka, N. Hudz, M. Peknii, V. Ukhovskii Institute of Veterinary Medicine of the NAAS, Kiev, Ukraine Purpose: Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is a dangerous transborder disease of domesticated and wild pigs. During the last 3 years CSF was registered in Russia, Belorussia, Lithuania and Ukraine. The last CSF outbreak was registered in Ukraine in July-August 2003 in a private household in Khotiv village, Kiev-Sviatoshyno district of Kyiv. The goal of this work was to present the results of epizootological study and laboratory diagnostics of CSF in Ukraine. Methods & Materials: Investigation was conducted at the place of outbreak. Clinical picture and pathoanotomical changes were documented during external examination and autopsy of the animals. White blood cells were counted and viral antigens in samples from the spleen lymph nodes were detected via fluorescent antibody method. There were 1 bore, 2 breeding sows older than 1 year, 7 yelts and 20 piglets 2 months old in the household. Animals were kept in 3 separate sheds 5-10 meters apart. Animals were fed with the leftovers from the different canteens and concentrated feedstuff. Results: Animals were not vaccinated against CSF. 1 breeding sow, a boar, and 5 yelts died. It was found during the study that not disinfected leftovers were the source of CSF virus. During the clinical studies 2 yelts demonstrated no appetite, depression, dystaxia, • SATURDAY nosebleeding, hemorrhages on the abdominal wall and high body temperature 40.1-41.1ºС. During the autopsy, hemorrhagic inflammation of submandibular lymph nodules, hemorrhaging in epiglottis, hemorrhagic infraction of spleen, and diffused hemorrhage in urocyst were found. Laboratory methods confirmed CSF via the detection of lymphocytopenia and presence of antibodies to the virus in the spleen and lymph nodes samples. Conclusion: All above studies confirmed the diagnosis of CSF in pigs. Recommended to conduct educational outreach on the dangers of food waste use for animals that was not decontaminated by the local veterinaries. Also to enhance the pig product import control into Ukraine. 22.110 The characteristic of leptospirosis patients following major flood in Jakarta in early 2014 D. O. T. L. Handayani, I. Inggariwati Health Department, Jakarta Metropolitan City Government, Jakarta, Indonesia Purpose: In early 2014, Jakarta suffered from major flood, covering for nearly 30% of Jakarta. Water level were varied between 10 to 150 centimeters. The rise of Leptospirosis cases were noticed through hospital based surveillance system and followed by field investigation. The objectives of our study were to understand the characteristics of leptospirosis patients in Jakarta. Methods & Materials: Information of leptospirosis patients were collected from in-patient which is reported through Hospital based surveillance system. Patients were probable leptospirosis cases, diagnosis was made by rapid diagnostic test conducted at each hospital. Cases were then followed up by team of Surveillance Officer. Results: The outbreak period of leptospirosis in Jakarta was between the 3rd to 12th week in 2014. Total leptospirosis patients reported from Hospital were 105 cases with 18 death (case fatality rate 18%). Majority of case was male (70%). There were differences in patients age group based on their gender. In female group the highest proportion of patients was in the age group of 41–50 years old (48%). In male group the highest proportion of patients was in the age group of 31–40 years old (27%), followed by 51–60 years old (22%) and 41–50 years old (20%). Patient symptoms were fever (91%), malaise (66%), headache and myalgia (42%), jaundice (38%), calf tenderness (18%) and conjunctival suffusion (15%). At the average, patients were admitted to hospital at th 6th day after onset of symptom. Average of patients had history of visiting physician twice due to their illness before hospital admission. Potential occupational risk factors known were lay workers (33%), housewives (21%), etc. Most of cases (76%) were flood victims, others had history of contacted with flood due to their activities. Conclusion: Leptospirosis is one of health problem in Jakarta especially following major flood. Overall, male in the age group of 31–50 year old were at the highest risk of suffering from leptospires. Differences of patients distribution based on their gender possibly due to their activities, while female usually stay at flood victims shelters, male were more likely to be more active and exposed by flood. 22.111 National Anti-Rabies Centre (CNAR) Centralized structure for the surveillance and control of rabies in Romania I. Parvu1, G. Coltan2, S. Petrea2, A. Streinu Cercel2 1 National Institute fir Infectious diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Bals”, Bucharest, Romania, 2National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș”, Bucharest, Romania Purpose: In Romania, human and animal rabies still represents a very important issue for public health, our country being on the 6-th place among European countries concerning animal rabies and is one of the few countries with indigenous human rabies. In Romania, two structures exist for the surveillance and control of Rabies—the human network and the veterinary one. Giving the fact that communication between these two networks was poor, whenever an accurate evaluation on Rabies cases in Romania was needed, the data was incomplete. Following the initiative of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș”, the Ministry of Health approved the creation of CNAR within the Institute. Objectives: Completing the missing links in communication between the human and veterinary anti-rabies surveillance structures, by creating a National structure that collects and manages all the data regarding Rabies in Romania. Compiling and transmitting immediate reports to territorial human anti-rabies centers. Methods & Materials: CNAR was created within INBI “ Matei Balș” because the Institute had already experienced a similar action in the surveillance of HIV cases across the Romanian territory. Furthermore, the Bucharest Anti-Rabies Centre already existed within the structure of the Institute and had the highest number of presentations from patients with bite wounds from either domestic or wild animals (12.000/ year). In order to create CNAR, the Bucharest Anti-Rabies Centre kept it’s previous location, but was transformed into a territorial anti-rabies department. In addition, a logistics department was created with the purpose to collect, centralize and forward national data on rabies. Results: By elaborating and forwarding accurate and immediate reports between the two structures we managed to achieve major improvement in medical attitude on rabies which lead to a better management of patients with bite wounds in Romania and a significant decrease in post-exposure prophylaxis costs. Conclusion: Human rabies, a disease which always leads to death, can only be prevented by controlling animal rabies outbreaks and by reporting new cases to human anti-rabies centers, in order to obtain proper, accurate and rapid medical response. CNAR is likely to be the key structure created in order to significantly improve all of these actions. 22.112 Some epidmiological characteristics of tularemia in the south-eastern part of Serbia Z. Veličković1, B. D. Kocić1, V. Kostić2, N. K. Rančić3 1 Institute for public health, Nice, Serbia, 2Clinic for Infectious Disease, Clinical Center Niš, Nice, Serbia, 3Institut za javno zdravlje Niš, Nice, Serbia November 1, 2014 100 IMED 2014 Purpose: Dengue fever is a mosquito born viral disease. In the past nine months, 11,609 cases of Dengue fever have been reported in Ethiopia. Previous to September 2013, there had been no reported Dengue outbreaks. On 03 April 2014, we received report of an increase of acute febrile illness (AFI) negative for malaria from Adaar District, Afar Region, Ethiopia. A team was deployed to the district to confirm the existence of the outbreak, identify the etiology, source, risk factors and to implement intervention measures. Methods & Materials: We conducted a descriptive study followed by unmatched case-control study (60 case and 120 controls). A suspected case was defined as any person with AFI (fever, severe headache and/ or diarrhea) with a negative malaria test from 19 March to 30 April, 2014. Controls were neighbors of cases without signs and symptoms of the disease. We collected 39 blood specimens for laboratory confirmation. Results: There were 708 AFI cases with no deaths. The crude attack rate (AR) was 12,048 per100, 000 population and the highest AR was among people 15-44 (AR=17,472 per 100,000) years of age. The subsequent analytic study determined that factors associated with illness were having an AFI patient in the household (OR: 2.3: 95% CI: 1.2-4.4) and wearing short pants and a t-shirt (OR: 3.6: 95% CI: 1.2-11.1). Of the fourteen specimens that were ELISA tested at national laboratory in Addis Ababa, nine (64%) were positive for Dengue fever. Conclusion: We confirmed the third Dengue fever outbreak in Ethiopia since September 2013. However, it is the first reported Dengue fever in Afar Region. Dengue is an emerging public health problem in Ethiopia. We recommended enhanced surveillance for Dengue in Ethiopia in order to improve case detection, diagnosis, and to provide timely intervention. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: 2014 saw a global resurgence of measles, with 15000 cases in the Philippines. Singapore noted an increase, with 23 of 72 cases in 2014 to date reporting travel to the Philippines. The National University Hospital (NUH) also noted nosocomial measles transmission. Methods & Materials: NUH is a 1000 bed tertiary hospital with routine laboratory surveillance for infectious diseases of public health significance. Measles diagnoses were confirmed by polymerase-chain reaction and genotyping. Contact tracing was based on congruence of time, place and activity. Susceptibility was assessed through IgG testing (≤250 mIU/mL indicated susceptibility) and vaccination history. Non-immune contacts were offered measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or intravenous immunoglobulin if pregnant or immunocompromised. Patient details were obtained from hospital records and interviews. Contacts were risk assessed by the Occupational Health Clinic. Results: Of 4 cases identified in the pediatric department from 25-February to 21-March 2014, 3 were inpatients and 1, a healthcare worker (HCW). Case 1, a 17 year old boy with leukaemia, was transferred from the Philippines. Measles was confirmed on D18 of admission, with B3 genotype. He died of severe necrotizing pneumonia. Case 2, a 5 month old boy with biliary atresia, was symptomatic on D19 of admission. Case 3, an 8 month old boy, presented with measles 10 days post-discharge. Case 4, a 39 year old paediatrician, was a contact of cases 1 and 2. Cases 2, 3 and 4 were of D9 genotype, each with symptom onset within 2 days. The 353 contacts were: 189 (53.5%) HCW, 162 (45.9%) patients, 2 (0.6%) visitors. The HCW were: 89 (47.1%) doctors, 78 (41.3%) nurses, 22 (11.6%) other staff. Of 150 HCW tested, 9 had inadequate immunity by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) but found to be immune by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). 6 received booster MMR, 2 declined, and 1 deferred due to pregnancy. Conclusion: The genotypic and epidemiological data is suggestive of an unidentified index as the source of this measles outbreak instead of Case 1. Secondary transmission was averted due to high herd immunity, prompt immunization, and administration of immunoglobulin to high risk, non-immune persons. Ongoing surveillance and vigilance is essential with the evolving global measles epidemic. Ethiopia – 2014 E. M. Sorassa1, D. M. Abegaze2, M. Mengesha1, J. Fogarty 3, A. Belachew 4, L. Boulanger5, A. Greenleaf6, A. Bekele1, D. Jima7 1 Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2Addis Ababa Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 3University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 4Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 5Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6Allan Rosen field Global Health fellow, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 Singapore—An outbreak investigation H. C. Chan1, R. Sridhar2, S. M. Chan3, G. K. Goh3, G. Ciccone3, R. T. P. V. Lin2, S. Salmon3, I. Venkatachalam3, P. A. Tambyah3, D. A. Fisher1 1 NUH, Singapore, Singapore, 2National University Health Systems, Singapore, Singapore, 3National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore 22.108 Emerging dengue fever outbreak, Afar Region, Poster Presentations I Purpose: The aim of the paper was to present main characteristics of two outbreaks of tularemia. Methods & Materials: Epidemiologic and environmental investigations were conducted to identify sources of infection, modes of transmission, and household risk factors. Retrospective epidemiological study was done. Results: The study involved 34 patients, 18 women (52.9%) and 16 (47.1%) men. The age ranged from 10 to 75. The great number of cases were from the age group 60-65. The most of the patients were from villages 27 (87.1%), and only 4 (12.9%) were from a city. The high number of patients were housewives or engaged in agriculture. 23 patients were hospitalized in Clinic for Infectious diseases in the city of Niš. The patients having complaints of fever, malaise, chills and shivering, painful sore throat with swollen tonsils and enlarged cervical lymph nodes were affected and the patients were different in all cases. The sera from all patients were analysed for the presence of F. tularensis antibodies using a microagglutination assay. Overall 14 sera of all analysed, (bouth from the first and second outbreak) showed antibody titres of 1/1280 and/or more (in two patients from the second outbreak was 1/15120) against F. tularensis. The first cases appeared during 1999 and the leading clinical symptom was lymphadenopathia and all sick perons had it. 24 (77,4%) patients had temperature higher than 38 degrees and 21 (22.6%) had pain in the throat. The outbreak in 1999 was registered only in villages surrounding Sokobanja and the next year the new cases were noted in whole Nishava District. The most frequent clinical form of tularemia in the second outbreak was tonsiloglandular. Only one patient had ulcero-glandular form of tularemia. The leading symptom was pain in the throat followed by exudates. Enlarged lymph cervical glands were noted in all patients. Conclusion: The current report suggests that tularemia exists in south-eastern part of Serbia. 101 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.113 Cluster of invasive group-A-streptococcal infections centred around a primary school in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region in the Netherlands in January and February 2012 approaches to integrating prevention in care setting F. Obuseh, J. Cline USAFE/AFAFRICA, Apo, AE, USA Introduction: Reports and data have shown that Sub Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the AIDS pandemic. Numerous studies estimated an average HIV prevalence of over 6% among military personnel. The HIV sentinel surveys indicate that the seroprevalence rate varies by region from 3.1 to 15%. Although prevalence and AIDS-related mortality began to decline in Sub Saharan Africa, sentinel data shows that HIV prevalence is on the rise among uniformed services. Purpose: To highlight the impact of HIV in the military to the general population, the importance of integrating prevention with military environment into comprehensive clinical care HIV/AIDS, to establish the minimum package of services and to explore ways to implement this package. Methods & Materials: Methods: The methodology evaluates existing programs through extensive literature review. Presenter will present an overview of the impact of HIV in the military and how to effectively manage the problem. Results: The presentation will be followed by discussion concluding 102 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY diagnostic sample handling in public health laboratories M. Shigematsu1, M. Kigawa2, S. Ando1 1 National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan, 2University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan Purpose: Multiple guideline changes and logistical support were implemented to public health laboratories during the last decade trying to meet global requirements of Biosafety and Biosecurity. Coincided with global recession, all laboratories struggled to meet all the requests. The study analyzed readily available multiple surveys carried out during the period to illustrate how well they responded to changes and what are the obstacles they still face. Methods & Materials: Multiple surveys were carried out to the same public health laboratories in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2012. The surveys were done to serve different purposes but some questions were remarkably similar. Stratified by the similar questions and none similar questions, we analyzed the factors influenced in implementation of the new biosafety at the institution using SPSS. Results: The surveys were targeted to public health laboratories in Japan. Although the overall number of the laboratories varies a little by year, response rate was hundred percent with follow-up calls and letters in all cases. The preparation of in-house guidelines and manuals for infectious pathogen and samples handling, the guidance for exposure incidents and the establishment of the in-house biosafety committee were increased overtime. Health monitoring improvement such as free vaccination offer struggled to increase may be because of the extra cost on top of routine health checkup provided. Slow progress observed with the education and training part where the demand of tools and train-the-trainer session increase being noticed. Transport of the infectious substances were one of the targeted area of improvement as preparedness for pandemic and emergency of highly infectious diseases. Knowledge gain and practice improvement were observed from the survey. The size of the institution by number of workers and budgetary size of hosting city or the prefecture did affect the progress. Also, the rotation period of the personnel clearly affected the outcome. Conclusion: Inevitable personnel turn over by regular rotation of the position in public health sector influences as much as the financial support availability in the case of biosafety. Repeated and regular training is the one most important elements to improve biosafety in such area. 22.116 Measles outbreak investigation, Kindo Didaya district-Southern region of Ethiopia, 2013 E. Z. Worku1, H. Taame1, Y. Mogessie2, A. Bekele3, A. Worku4 1 Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2Southern Nation and Nationalites People Regional Health Bureau, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 3Ethiopian Public Health Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 4 Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Purpose: Measles is a highly contagious disease and remains the leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the world. In Ethiopia measles accounts four percent of childhood mortality. On October 2, 2013, an outbreak of measles was reported from Southern Nation and Nationalities People Regional Health Bureau of Kindo Didaya district that affected 591 people. We investigated to describe the outbreak and to assess risk factors and recommend prevention and control measure. Methods & Materials: We reviewed national surveillance data also conducted unmatched case control study (1:2). A measles case was defined as illness characterized by fever, rash, and either cough, coryza or conjunctivitis. Controls were individuals who had no clinical signs of measles and were randomly selected from the same communities where cases were identified. Risk factors were assessed using logistic regression. Results: A total of 50 cases and 100 controls were enrolled in the study.The mean age for cases were 8.4 years while for controls were 8.6 years old. 90% of the cases were children below the age of 15 years old. A total of eight deaths with case fatality rate of 1.4% were attributed to this outbreak. Not being vaccinated (OR=6.62; CI: 2.29-19.10), and having contact with suspected or confirmed cases (OR=12.6; CI: 3.5239.62) was associated with contracting measles. Conclusion: Being unvaccinated and having contact with suspected and confirmed case was precipitated measles outbreak in kindo Didaya district. Based on our finding we recommended strengthening routine measles immunization and health education in the district. 22.117 Preparedness to infectious outbreaks: an e-learning course for healthcare professionals based on case histories T. Saita, M. R. Valleto, M. Bellone, R. Villa, C. Deligant, P. Dri Zadig-on behalf of Tell Me, Milan, Outside North America, Italy Purpose: TELL ME is an EU funded Collaborative Project, which aims to provide evidence-based models, tools and guidance for improved risk communication during infectious disease outbreaks. The purpose of the research was to develop an interactive, online learning course about risk communication in case of infectious disease outbreaks that can be used across all EU countries. A survey of healthcare professionals across Europe and the US, revealed that during the A(H1N1) pandemic in 2009 there was a considerable lack of reliable information to convey to people and insufficient tools and guidance for handling the public’s doubts and fears, especially in relation to vaccination. An online course for health care professionals could provide consistent information and convey it simultaneously all over Europe. Methods & Materials: The following approach was used for the development of the e-learning course: 1) Analysis of usability, width of adoption, languages and scalability of open source e-Learning Management Systems. 2) Analysis of e-learning models aimed at healthcare professionals. 3) Validation and evaluation of the course by healthcare professionals across the EU. Results: Our analysis revealed that the best open source platform for this purpose was Moodle 2.7 release. A formal review of scientific literature showed that case histories were the most effective model for a course aimed to healthcare professionals. Case histories drag education into daily clinical activity testing its practical application in real life. A prototype online course for primary care staff has been developed and will be tested by a range of healthcare professionals from the EU in the coming months. It will be freely available in English across all EU countries via the TELL ME website (http://www.tellmeproject.eu/ content/d33-proptotype-online-course-primary-care-staff). Conclusion: The availability of an interactive, online course about risk communication in case of infectious disease outbreaks will facilitate homogeneous training for healthcare professionals, improving their knowledge, skills and preparedness. 22.118 Epidemiology of acute watery diarrhea outbreak and challenges of control—Afar, Ethiopia, 2009 B. Beyene1, M. Tumato2, R. LUCe3, F. Enquesilassie4 Amhara Regional state Health Bureau, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawasa, Ethiopia, 3CDC, Atlanata, GE, USA, 4Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1 Purpose: The aim was to rapidly investigate the outbreak epidemiologically and guiding response activities in the affected districts of Afar from April–June 2009. Methods & Materials: A line list and case register log book of the districts were reviewed as per the world health organization case definition. 31 cases and 23 controls were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. A checklist also applied to observe case treatment centers and investor camps. Stool and drinking water samples were also collected, transported and examined as per standard microbiologic procedures. Then analysis was done using EPi Info version 3.5.1. Results: A total of 1,076 cases and 48 deaths were reviewed with an attack rate of 0.9% and a case fatality rate of 4.4%. 87.8% (945) of cases were males. Hand washing after latrine usage was protective of illness (OR = 0.13, p= 0.03) while unsanitary latrine (OR = 10.5, P-value= 0.001), contact with a case (OR = 200, P-value= 0.001) and visiting a place which has similar illness (OR=33.6, P=0.001) shown statistically significant association. Vibrio cholera 01 serotype Inaba and Escherichia coli were isolated from 89 % (9) of stool and100 % (4) of water samples respectively. Conclusion: V. cholera 01 serotype Inaba was confirmed as etiologic agent in all districts. Drinking untreated water, close contact with a case, not practicing hand washing and unsanitary latrines were likely determinants for this outbreak. Therefore, provision of safe drinking water supply and raising community awareness about hygienic practices to control diarrheal disease is necessary. November 1, 2014 22.114 Impact of HIV/AIDS in the African military: 22.115 The changes of safety culture of the infectious International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: This is a case report describing a community outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus in a municipality in the Rotterdam area. The outbreak appeared to be centred on an urban primary school, strongly suggested by the fact that two of the cases had no other epidemiological link other than that their respective son and daughter were in the same primary school class. The relative risk contracting invasive GAS disease is higher in household contacts. If non-household contacts also have a higher relative risk is unknown. In this outbreak we look into this difference between (non)household contacts. Do we need to broaden the indication of prophylactically treatment of close contacts? Methods & Materials: Diagnoses from the index-patients were retrieved from the treating physician. In order to identify the contacts of the patients, the Municipal Public Health Service (MPHS) contacted all index-patients by telephone. Contact tracing was intensified to investigate if we faced an outbreak, for early detection and treatment of possible GAS infections and stop transmission. Clinical specimens were obtained and processed by clinical microbiology laboratories according to routine procedures. Results: A total of 42 contacts were identified. Eleven contacts (26%) were sampled before treatment. Four contacts were defined as household contacts, seven contacts were close contacts. None of the household contacts sampled tested positive, seven non-household contacts were sampled of which three tested positive for the GAS strain found in three of the index patients. Four out of seven index patients were cultured and tested positive. Three out of seven non-household contacts tested positive for the same strain. This outbreak strain was determined to be a non-mucoid group A streptococcus, T3, Emm3.1 possessing the gene for exotoxin A. Conclusion: To stop transmission and prevent severe illness, we would advice to broaden the indication of prophylaxis in outbreak settings such as described here. We also would consider to treat persons that have been in contact with a person in the period before death. These people can be considered as household contacts. iGAS infections have a high mortality rate, so careful consideration for prescribing prophylaxis is needed. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 H. Visser Municipal Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, Netherlands with recommendations for strengthening and increasing capacity to deal with HIV/AIDS among uniformed services. Presentation will show an understanding to the risk factors, surveillance, epidemics of HIV, and effects of HIV & AIDS in the African military, It will provide a forum for thinking through strategies to achieve HIV/AIDS prevention, prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, Opportunities to mitigation of the impact of the disease, capacity building for program sustainability, share African military experience with HIV/AIDS prevention activities. Conclusion: Discussion/conclusion: HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of death on the continent and has been identified “the greatest threat to development, stability, and security”. The rate of infection in some African security forces is believed to be high, raising concerns that those forces being unable to deploy when needed and co-infection through interaction with civilian population, spouses, and especially individuals in sex trade. Outcome of presentation would initiate discussion around issues of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and managing the impact of HIV on the African military. Poster Presentations I 22.119 Preparedness for public health emergencies: biggest hurdle in poor resource countries; a scan lens in Uganda A. Kagirita Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda Purpose: Uganda Implements both IDSR and IHR concepts to address the question of threat to global public health security and trade caused by emerging and re-emerging diseases including PHEIC and call for strengthening of national capacities for surveillance and response using a well coordinated preparedness mechanism. Public health emergency preparedness refers to steps taken in advance of outbreaks or public health events so that response is quick and essential supplies and equipment are available for immediate action. Uganda has been hit and contained several emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including Yellow fever, Ebola, Murburg, Ziika fever, HPA influenza, meningitis, cholera etcetera and devastating conditions like Nodding diseases with remarkable and internationally recognised response and containment. However, the question remains whether this performance has been attributed to high levels of preparedness. Aim: Analyzing the Public health threats preparedness levels in respect to successes and challenges in effective control of emerging and re-emerging infectious public health threats in Uganda. Methods & Materials: A cross sectional and purposive descriptive study was conducted in more than 50% districts of Uganda targeting response committes. other information sources included key informats and the health and humanitarian assistance organisations that have supported public health emergency response. structured questionnaires and interviews were conducted. This study only focused on the main preparedness areas; like availability of : Human resources for deployment, functional response committees (rapid response team and epidemic preparedness committee), emergency response plan, emergency funds, stockplies of drugs and protective gears, MOU with Non governmnetal organisations and training of staff on IDSR and IHR 103 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Results: Preliminary analysis of collected data indicate better performance in public health response is not proportional to levels of preparedness but rather attributed to other factors like staff attitudes and is immensely affected by poor prioritisation and funding. Conclusion: Uganda has had remarkable performance to public health emergency response evienced by recent effective control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Uganda’s response capacity needs to be integrated and focused to institutional strengthening rather than individualistic efforts 22.120 Threat awareness and mitigation strategies for potential epidemic Salmonella in the United Kingdom Lassa fever epidemic in resource limited setting of South-East Nigeria—A situation study U. S. Unigwe University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria Purpose: The Lassa fever virus discovered in Lassa town in the Northeast region of Nigeria in 1969 has increased in prevalence and endemicity over the past four and half decades. Though Lassa has occurred in about 22 of the 37 states in the country, only 6 states have been established as endemic. In the South-east region of Nigeria comprising 5 states, only Ebonyi state is established as endemic for Lassa virus with epidemics occurring at more frequent intervals and losing its seasonal variation. 104 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY outbreak of cholera in a semi-urban district, Atebubu-Amanten, Ghana: 2012 G. K. Kuma1, J. Amankwa2, E. Tinkorang3, T. Letsa3, F. Iddrisah4, M. J. Adjabeng2, B. Azumah5, S. O. Sackey6, J. A. Opintan7, J. EL-Duah1 1 Regional Hospital, Sunyani-B/A, Sunyani, Ghana, 2Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana, 3Ghana Health Service, Sunyani, Ghana, 4 Ghana Health Service, Dormaa, Ghana, 5Ghana Health Service, Atebubu, Ghana, 6University of Ghana School of Public Health, Accra, Ghana, 7University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana Purpose: On June 4th 2012, the Atebubu-Amanten District (AAD) and Brong Ahafo Regional Health Directorate (BARHD) notified the National Disease Surveillance (NDS)-Accra, of a long standing diarrhoea outbreak in AAD which had spread to surrounding communities. A multi-task team was constituted to investigate the extent of outbreak, identify cause and source of infection, individuals at risk, and enhance control and preventive measures Methods & Materials: We conducted a descriptive study in which we reviewed medical records and surveillance data from health facilities, interviewed health officials and opinion leaders at AAD, conducted environmental assessment and collected water and stool samples for laboratory investigations. A suspected cholera-case was any person with acute watery diarrhoea with or without vomiting in AAD, from 20th March to 15th July 2013. A case-patient was a suspected case from who V. cholera O1 has been isolated. We embarked on active case searches, treatment and community education. We analysed data by person, place and time using Epi Info version 3.3.1 Results: A total of 157 cases were recorded with attack rate of 1.6/1000 population and 7/157 deaths (CFR-4.5%). 17 of 26 communities were affected. Of all the cases 82(52.2%) were females. Mean age was 23.9 ±22.3 (Range:4months-95yrs). Age-group mostly affected was 0-4yrs, 44/157(28.0%). Index case occurred on 3rd April 2012, and epidemic curve showed a peak of cases, 39(24.8%) in the 21st epidemiological week (between 20-27th June). Average incubation period was estimated to be 3days (Range: 1-7days). We observed that Dam Y, located in the main Atebubu township, where most of the cases 42/157(26.8%) occurred, was exposed to open gutters and broken sewerages. Vibrio cholera O1 ogawa was isolated from case patients, but non from sampled water bodies. Isolates were resistance to all antibiotics tested except tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. A total of 67 contacts were given Tetracycline prophylaxis Conclusion: Vibrio cholera O1 ogawa was responsible for the prolonged propagated outbreak of cholera in AAD which was suspected to emanate from Dam Y. Female children were mostly affected. Our treatment of cases, contacts, health education, recommendation of boiling drinking water and chlorination of Dam Y helped in the control of the outbreak 22.123 Outbreak of pneumonia for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the service of internal medicine in a hospital of El Salvador, June 2013 A. Martínez Hospital Nacional de Chalatenango, El Salvador, Chalatenango, El Salvador Background: Among healthcare-associated infections, Pseudomona aeruginosa pneumonia(PAP) is particularly important. In June 2013, the medicine service of a general hospital with capacity of 100 beds, 22 of which become of internal medicine reported PAP cases for the first time. Objectives: We aimed to confirm a PAP outbreak,to determine patient and healthcare characteristics associated with infection, and to identify outbreak source and mode of transmission. Methods & Materials: We conducted a case series among internal medicine admissions with pneumonia during June 2013. Suspected cases were admissions with respiratory illness; confirmed cases were suspected cases with P.aeruginosa isolated from respiratory secretion cultures. We collected person, place and time data through medical chart reviews. We used a Microsoft Excel database to compile data and calculate central tendency and dispersion measures. We inspected nursing and respiratory care areas, and reviewed disinfection procedures of reused respiratory therapy materials. We collected samples from surfaces and materials from medicine service, emergency and respiratory care areas for cultivation. We compared antibiotic-resistance profiles of P.aeruginosa isolates. Results: We identified 21 suspected cases; seven were confirmed, for a 33% (7/21) attack rate. The first case presented on June 6 at 22. Within 72 hours, there were three additional cases. Male: female ratio was 1:6. For the cases mean age was 69 years (range: 54–87). No case developed complications or died. P.aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, with identical antibiotic-resistance profiles. Cases received IV ciprofloxacin, with a bacterial sensibility of the 100%, resulting in cure. All 12 surface samples were negative for P.aeruginosa. Disinfection procedures of respiratory therapy materials didnot comply with standards, relying on a powdered-soap wash. The container used to wash respiratory therapy materials was also used for cleaning patients with diabetic foot. We found nasal cannulas that were humid and inadequately-bagged. Conclusion: We documented a limited, non-lethal outbreak of PAP, probably transmitted by inadequate disinfection practices throughout the medicine service. Clonality of P.aeruginosa isolates was not assessed, but suggested by antibiotic-resistance patterns. We recommended discarding used respiratory therapy materials, limiting reuse of equipment to only those suitable for reuse by washing and disinfection. Public Communication of Outbreaks and Emerging Diseases 22.124 Mining press articles about infectious diseases: swine flu, avian flu and the seasonal flu E. Mayor University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland Purpose: In this contribution, we examine the press coverage of the H1N1 A(2009) pdm influenza virus, the H1N5 avian flu virus and the common/seasonal flu viruses. We ask several questions, including: Are there lexical patterns that organize the data, allowing to recognize the strand discussed from the lexicon ? How does the depiction of emerging infectious diseases differ from the coverage of the seasonal flu generally ? Are the swine and avian flu depicted differently ? Methods & Materials: From the archives of two prominent newspapers (the New York Times and the Guardian), we retrieved two thousand articles that contained the term ‘flu’ in their title. The articles spanned over 30 years, (from January 1980 to May 2013). Included articles featured the word ‘flu’ in their title. We produced the term/document matrix using tf-idf as a measure, after tokenization, top-word filtering stemming and pruning. Results: We present descriptive analyses which display the frequency of mentions of each strain monthly and yearly. Logistic regressions in which the strain discussed is regressed on the tf-idf measure of each term simultaneously, show that the lexicon for discussing the different strains is partly specialized, but also overlapping. Association rules further explore these relationships. Conclusion: The main interest of this contribution is to understand the differences and similarities in the press coverage of flu-type emerging diseases, and the seasonal flu. The media communicate about the different flu strands is specialized to some extent, but part of the lexicon is common between the strands. Implications regarding the automatic classification of articles will be discussed. 22.125 Transforming the dynamics of Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) communication: An innovative integrative framework A. Gesser-Edelsburg1, N. Walter1, Y. Shir-Raz1, E. Mordini2, D. Dimitriou3, M. S. Green1 1 University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel, 2Responsible Technology SAS, Paris, France, 3Zadig Communication, information and Education in Science, Rome, Italy Purpose: This EID communication integrative framework asks how to incorporate notions of two-way communication, uncertainty and transparency; and how to harness the potential of social media. It is aimed mainly at local-level health organizations, which often lack adequate “maps” for EID communication. Methods & Materials: Building upon existing textbooks of outbreak communication, and identifying gaps and misconceptions of pandemic communication campaigns, it suggest that in order to succeed we need to adopt a multilayered public health perspective that is aware of technological, cultural and social changes. Results: We propose a theory-driven framework incorporating key components from culture and communication studies into the wider context of the communication process (public sphere, segmentation, mass media, social media, opinion leaders, research and stakeholders). Each component is discussed separately, and then amalgamated into one communication integrative framework, emphasizing its unique position in the dynamical nature of public health crises. Conclusion: The significance of the proposed risk communication framework is that it integrates relevant concepts and theories with a practical approach. The contribution of this framework is that it can be adapted to many specific risk situations through simulations in which the ideas can be developed into concrete plans. November 1, 2014 22.121 Challenges in the management and control of 22.122 Control of a long standing community-wide International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Over the past few years, several Salmonella serovars of public health significance have been circulating in EU member states, posing a risk to the British poultry industry and potentially having an impact on human salmonellosis risk. Some of those serovars are a potential threat because of their multidrug resistance, whereas others have the potential to become established in poultry production units where they might be difficult to eliminate because of special environmental persistence properties. Methods & Materials: Three examples of recent Salmonella outbreak situations in the UK and how they were dealt with successfully are shown in this presentation. Results: A multi-country outbreak of nalidixic acid resistant S. Stanley, the source of which seems to be the turkey production chain, has been ongoing in Europe since 2011. PFGE analysis of S. Stanley isolates from different livestock species in the UK showed that the UK strains are different from the epidemic strain circulating in other EU member states. Multidrug-resistant S. Infantis has become a problem in several EU member states over the past few years, with the main reservoir being the broiler production chain. The persistence of this serovar in broiler houses and the high invasiveness in human patients make it a potential threat to public health. An outbreak in a UK broiler company was quickly contained due to early detection and strict intervention measures being applied. Multidrug-resistant S. Paratyphi B variant Java was isolated from two unrelated broiler farms in the UK. The ability of this strain to become established in broiler houses and the difficulty in eliminating contamination from poultry houses triggered a strict control programme on the affected farms and the infection was thereby contained and was not carried over into subsequent crops. Conclusion: These examples show the importance of scanning surveillance, early detection and intervention to ensure that Salmonella strains, which may be present in other EU member states, do not become established the UK. A good working relationship between policy makers, the surveillance network and the poultry industry has proved to be a particular strength of the Salmonella control programme in the UK. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 D. Mueller-Doblies, R. Horton, R. H. Davies AHVLA, Addlestone, United Kingdom Methods & Materials: The most recent episode occurred in the month of May 2014 in Ebonyi state and was subsequently exported to the neighbouring Enugu state. Blood samples of ill health staff and close contacts to index case were collected and tested in different diagnostic centres. Other tests as surrogate markers- LFT, CBC, Urinalysis and Prothrombin time/INR were assayed for contacts without suggestive symptoms. This epidemic highlighted the various challenges in managing Lassa fever epidemics in resource limited settings. Results: It established poor infection prevention and control measures with attendant high risk of infection to Medical and health workers (25 were clinically ill from the exposure). Morbid fear of Lassa fever among health workers in the tertiary institutions and grossly inadequate/absent drugs (Ribavirin) and Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) complicated management of ill staff. In the absence of specially trained staff, the ill staff had to be transferred to the only treatment centre in the country located 300 km away. Questionable political will has delayed the establishment of more diagnostic and treatment centres. The variability in positive results for Lassa virus in the two diagnostic centres in the country (0 and 8 samples) compared to 19 samples in a diagnostic laboratory in Nagasaki University questions the sensitivity and specificity of our diagnostic centres for Lassa virus and undermines management of ill patients. Conclusion: There is need to establish more treatment and diagnostic centres in each of the endemic states, train dedicated staff and improve quality of diagnostic processes. Establishing effective infection prevention and control procedures and insisting on its implementation is necessary to prevent the high transmission of infection to hospital staff. Poster Presentations I 22.126 Risk factors for Crimean-Cong0 hemorrhagic fever among children with confirmed cases in Southeastern Iran B. Sharifi-Mood1, M. Metanat2, M. R. Sharifi3 Infectious diseases and tropical medicine reasearch center,Zahedan university of medicacl sciences, Zahedan, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 2 Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center,Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran S&B, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 3Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran&SB, Iran, Islamic Republic of 1 Purpose: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease caused by the arbovirus which is a member of the nairovirus genus and can transmit to human by several routes.Tick bite is one of the most important way and in endemic areas,animal holder,slaughter houses, livestock worker and farmer are at risk for CCHF.Health care staff also are at risk through unprotected contact with infectious blood and other infected body fluids.This study was conducted to evaluate the routes of transmission among children with confirmed CCHF in Southeastern Iran 105 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study,we reviewd all patient,s files with age less than nineteen years who admitted to our hospital (Boo-ali hospital,zahedan,Southeastern Iran) betwwen 1991–4014 Results: Among 39 children and adolescens with CCHF(28 male,11female with age range 4.5 to 18 years) animal contact was the most common route for acquistion of disease (21%).Tick living are (14%),contact with fresh slaughtered meat (11%) and tick bite (3%) were other routes for transmission. Conclusion: We conclude although,Prevalence of CCHF is less than adults among children but, they can acquire infection by same routes which adults can infect, and animal contact is more important among children. 22.127 Does anticipated regret influence on willingness to be vaccinated? South Africa T. Y. Murray, J. Mans, M. B. Taylor University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Purpose: Noroviruses (NoVs) are the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Recombination frequently occurs within and between NoV genotypes, particularly at the conserved ORF1/2 junction between the polymerase and capsid genes. Recombinants have been implicated in sporadic cases, outbreaks and pandemics of NoV. There is a lack of data on NoV recombinants in Africa and therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence and diversity of norovirus recombinants in South Africa (SA). 106 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY Medicine and One Health in North America to current concepts of Emerging Infectious Diseases P. Cowen1, R. W. Currrier2 1 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA Purpose: One clear idea that stands out when examining the history of One Medicine and One Health is that, at times, a One Health perspective dominates the landscape of medical advancements and in other historical periods a large void can emerge between the disciplines that often naturally contribute to One Health discoveries. Tragically, the idea of One Health can virtually be lost in certain epochs. The reasons for this ebb and flow of One Health concept are examined over specific periods of North American history. The purpose of this purpose of this paper is to sketch out key contribution of individuals to One Health and the understanding of Emerging Diseases, starting with Revolutionary War through the Post World War II period. Methods & Materials: Beginning with Benjamin Rush, M.D. the lectures, writings, and accomplishments of several physicians, microbiologists, virologists and veterinarians are examined. Individuals or groups included in this history include Benjamin Rush, contributors to the earliest editions of the American Journal of Public Health, Theodore Smith, Daniel Elmer Salmon, William Osler, K.F. Meyer, Richard Shope, James H. Steele and Calvin W. Schwabe (who coined the term One Medicine). Results: A summary of major contributions to and understanding of One Health and its impact on Emerging Disease for each of the individuals mentioned characterize the dominant conceptual paradigm governing One Health over historical time periods dating back to the middle of 18th century. Conclusion: Approximately once a century we lose a firm grip on the basics of the One Health approach at which time people of visionary stature bring it back to prominence in order to address key societal challenges such as the presence or threat of an Emerging Diseases. This historical examination of the waxing and waning of One Health activities highlights the fact that the fundamental idea of One Health is tremendously resilient. One Health bounces back because it is relevant. No matter how out of fashion One Health may be, when intractable problems come up One Health is reinvented or reinvigorated, as Steele and Schwabe have done for us. disease outbreaks: the importance of social media as a risk communication tool M. Billingsley, M. Wroczynski BMJ-on behalf of Tell Me Project, London, Outside North America, United Kingdom Purpose: To explore use of social media as a risk communications tool for encouraging a culture of sharing and collaboration and analyse how this has manifested in previous emergencies to help spread public health messages; to highlight the benefits of using social media as a risk communication tool, identify potential challenges for integration into formal communication strategies; identify best practice guidelines on how organisations involved in crisis communication can build, maintain and assert a presence on social media. Methods & Materials: Qualitative literature search including analysis of: 1) Social media during epidemics, specifically Facebook and Twitter; 2) Global audience interacting and sharing information using social media; 3) Role of social media in keeping up to date with developing news; 4) How user-generated content contributes to a collective body of information during a crisis; 5) Role of social media in spreading misinformation and validating or discrediting rumour; and 6) Extent to which social media encourages pro-social behavior. We also conducted surveys and carried out scenario based testing of members of the NHS Social Media (@nhssm) Twitter community regarding the integration of social media in communications strategies. Results: We identified best practice principles, which can be applied when planning social media communications before and during infectious disease outbreaks, including ten golden rules for risk communication. Research has contributed to the development of guidance documents and tools to enable health communicators at decision making level, who are responsible for drafting and delivering communication strategies in outbreak situations, to develop appropriate messages. Conclusion: Social media can facilitate the process of open dialogue, democratic and transparent exchange and cross referencing of knowledge across multiple platforms during public health crises. It is important for organisations involved in risk communication to monitor and have a stake in these exchanges in order to build social capital, track public opinion and provide a consistent source of accurate information that helps the public make informed decisions and interpret risk. Social media has generally been used inconsistently by health agencies. To ensure social media platforms are harnessed to their fullest potential, organisations should do more to monitor and analyse sentiment and messages that users share to help formulate relevant, timely and transparent outbreak communications. 22.131 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia M. A. Garbati1, C. Syam2, H. Alobida2, M. Joseph2, A. M. Hakawi2 King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1 Purpose: To describe the socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and outcome of infection due to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus (MERS CoV) among healthcare workers in King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods & Materials: This is a retrospective chart review of healthcare workers infected with MERS CoV from April, 2014 to June 2014. The institutional review board (IRB) of KFMC approved the study. Nasopharyngeal and throat swab and, where available, tracheal-aspirate, or bronchoalveolar-lavage specimen were obtained and placed in a viral transport medium (Vircell). Samples were subjected to real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of consensus viral RNA targets (upE and ORF1b) to detect MERS CoV. Routine tests for bacterial and viral co-infections were negative. Results: During the outbreak, 23 staff members were infected. Seventy per cent were female nurses with no chronic medical problems. Staff members from critical areas were mainly affected (table 1) and 74% had fever at presentation. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and articular features were prominent (table 2). Fifteen (65%) cases got admitted, 5 to the intensive care unit (ICU). Those with mild disease were isolated at home or to a designated charity building. Mean length of stay was 9 days (5–17) and 10 days (3–19) for those admitted and isolated cases respectively. The mean period of infectivity was 10 days (6–21). Treatment was mainly supportive. Only one patient died, while 96% recovered. Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of MERS CoV cases at KFMC Characteristic Number Percentage (%) Gender Male Female 5 18 22 78 Age group (years) 20-29 30-39 40-49 ≥50 3 13 4 3 13 57 17 13 Job category Nurses Respiratory therapist Pharmacist Radiology technician 18 3 1 1 78 13 4 4 Nationality Saudi Non Saudi 0 23 0 100 Job location Critical care Emergency room Medical wards Pharmacy Radiology 4 8 9 1 1 18 35 39 4 4 November 1, 2014 22.128 Novel norovirus recombinants detected in 22.129 A short history of the contributions of One 22.130 Transparent communications during infectious • Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore how “anticipated regret” of being vaccinated and unvaccinated will influence on willingness to be vaccinated. The precedent psychological study by Connolly & Reb (2003 and 2010) presented that the anticipating regrets merely does affect decisions to be vaccinated. We focused on the types of anticipated regrets related to the decision of vaccination and evaluated the effect of information given about the vaccination. Methods & Materials: Online survey was carried out from 20th to 22nd February, 2014 to readily available registered panel. A total of 1017 (521 male, 496 female), age from17 to 85 years, participated in the survey. First, participants were asked to anticipate regret, asked to read a brief information of a fictitious vaccine, and then asked to fill the questionnaire including evaluation of the explanation of vaccine, expectation to vaccination, regret and demographic variables. The study was 3x2x2 between-subject design of following three factorials: 1) Content of anticipated regret such as anticipating regret of suffering from the disease without vaccination (RSDV), adverse effects of vaccination (RSAEV), and no regret anticipated (Control); 2) Personal relevance such as being vaccinated for themselves or to protect children;3) Order of the information given, positive information first or the negative first. The ANOVA was used for analysis with all of the dependent variables. Results: Main findings are two-fold. First, participants of RSAEV and Control evaluated importance of vaccination less than those of RSDV (M=2.12, 2.23, 2.33, respectively; 5-point Likert type scale). Second, participants of RSAEV and Control showed greater reluctance to be vaccinated than RSDV (M=2.91, 2.85, 2.49, respectively). Participants who read negative information first showed greater willingness to be vaccinated, and are more reluctant to be vaccinated for children. Conclusion: The content of anticipated regret affected attitudes toward vaccination. Interestingly, those who DO NOT anticipate regret (control) took similar attitudes as RSAEV. This result suggests that people would spontaneously think about the regret of side effects occurrence at vaccination and be aversive in real events. It is extremely important to offer more information about the disease impact on health if contracted without vaccination in effective order. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 T. Kikkawa1, M. Shigematsu2 1 Keio University, Tokyo, Japan, 2National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan Methods & Materials: From 2010 to 2013, NoV GII strains from positive stool specimens were selected for further genotypic characterisation. Genotypes were assigned based on partial polymerase and capsid nucleotide sequences. If discordant genotypes were detected in a single specimen, amplification of the polymerase/capsid region spanning the ORF1/2 junction was used to confirm the recombinant type. SimPlot, maximum Chi-squared and phylogenetic analyses were used to confirm the breakpoints of recombination. Results: During the four-year period, eleven NoV recombinants types were identified in SA. All recombinants had a breakpoint in the region of the ORF1/2 junction (P<0.05). The majority (9/11) were intergenotype recombinants, but two intragenotype GII.4 recombinants were also characterised. Three combinations represented novel recombinants namely GII.P not assigned (NA)/GII.3, GII.P4 New Orleans 2009/GII.4 NA and GII.P16/GII.17. Several widely reported recombinants that were also identified included GII.P21/GII.2, GII.P21/GII.3, GII.Pe/GII.4 Sydney 2012 and GII.Pg/GII.12. Other recombinants that were identified and to date, have a reportedly restricted geographic distribution, included GII.Pg/GII.1, GII.Pe/GII.4 Osaka 2007, GII.P4 New Orleans/ GII.4 Sydney 2012 and GII.P7/GII.6. This is the first report of the GII.P4 New Orleans/GII.4 Sydney 2012 recombinant in Africa. Conclusion: Over the past four years, remarkably diverse NoV recombinants have been circulating in SA. Pandemic strains such as the GII.Pe/GII.4 Sydney 2012 recombinant co-circulated with novel and emerging recombinant strains. Combined polymerase- and capsidbased NoV genotyping is essential to determine the true diversity and global prevalence of these viruses. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 Table 2: Clinical characteristics of MERS CoV cases at KFMC Presentation Number Percentage (%) Respiratory Sore throat Runny nose Cough Shortness of breath Chest pain Wheezing 5 2 14 2 1 1 20.8 8.3 58.3 8.3 4.2 4.2 Gastrointestinal Abdominal pain Nausea/Vomiting Diarrhea 6 10 9 24 40 36 Conclusion: MERS CoV infection among the elderly with chronic medical conditions was associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Earlier reports have suggested human-to-human transmission, though unsustained. Thus raising the possibility of airborne transmission. The secondary cases being less severe. If promptly identified, implementation of strict infection control measures can decrease the risk of nosocomial transmission from mild and asymptomatic cases. 22.132 Rapid Semi-nested PCR for the identification of Candida species in Candidasis B. Sadeghi-Nejad1, A. R. Samarbafzadeh2, M. Mehdinejad3 1 Abadan School of Medicine Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 2Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR. Iran, Ahvaz, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 3Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS), Ahvaz, Iran, Islamic Republic of Purpose: The incidence of candidiasis caused by Candida species has been increased in immunocompromised, cancer patients. In current surveysemi-nested PCR (sn-PCR) as rapid identification for detection of the species of Candida sp. specially Candida albicans were carried out in 65 clinical isolates. 107 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 analysis of 3 ZIKV strains on an Ion Torrent PGM sequencer M. Vandenbogaert1, V.-M. Cao-Lormeau2, L. Diancourt1, J.-M. Thiberge1, A. Sall3, A. Kwasiborski1, D. Musso2, P. Desprès1, J.-C. Manuguerra 1, V. Caro1 1 Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, 2Insitut Louis Malardé, Papeete-Tahiti, Polynésie française, France, 3Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal Purpose: Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging arbovirus, was first isolated in 1947. In October 2013, French Polynesia (FP), South Pacific, suffered the largest ZIKV outbreak ever reported, with subsequent ZIKV outbreaks in 2014 in the Pacific region. No severe diseases resulting from ZIKV infection had previously been reported but, during the FP outbreak, severe neurological complications have been described. There is limited information about the genotype circulating in the country causing such conditions, and its potential to acquire varying competence to host-adaptation. Therefore, establishment of alert systems and promotion of awareness in the case of ZIKV epidemics is necessary to anticipate the emergence of new or more virulent viral strains. Both the lack of data on this pathogen and its rapid emergence stress the necessity for more comprehensive genetics-driven studies in order to measure the ability and potential to host-adaptation of the virus, and to elaborate whether severe neurological manifestations may be associated to recent infection by ZIKV. Methods & Materials: Viral RNA was extracted from infected cell culture supernatants following nonspecific amplification (Whole Transcription Amplification). The full-length genome of three ZIKV strains was obtained by High Throughput Sequencing (HTS), using an Ion Torrent PGM. Results: We successfully sequenced the full genome of three ZIKV virus strains, one from the FP outbreak, and the 2 others from former African isolates (1980 and 1991). Data analysis for the FP strain revealed low variability compared to a genome recently added to public databases, corresponding to a French imported case from FP, with the exception of a number of variable sites, evidencing genomic microevolution during outbreaks. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirms the samples clustered with respectively Asian and African genotypes. Conclusion: We obtained genomic sequences for the newer Asia genotype FP ZIKV isolate, in addition to the 2 former Africa-genotype isolates, which will be committed to the scientific community, the analysis of which underlined the importance of genetic surveillance to emerging epidemic viral strains. 108 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Saturday, November 1, 2014 Room: Klimt Ballroom I • Upper Level 11:45–13:15 Sociopolitical Factors in Disease Emergence 22.134 Comparison of Lyme disease risk perception and management in different populations and their experts C. Aenishaenslin1, P. Michel2, A. Ravel1, L. Gern3 Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, 2Public Health Agency of Canada, Montréal, QC, Canada, 3Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland 1 Purpose: Endemic for several decades in many temperate countries, Lyme disease (LD) is emerging in Canada. In the last decade, decision aid tools for LD management have focused on risk quantification in ecological systems. But the population’s knowledge and perceptions of risk are also important determinants of the success of prevention strategies. Aim: To describe and compare the knowledge, risk perceptions, preventive behaviors and social acceptability of vector control interventions for LD, as well as their determinants, within and between populations and experts from two different regions: one Swiss region where LD is endemic for more than 30 years (Neuchâtel), and one Canadian region, where the disease has been emerging for 6 years (Montérégie). Methods & Materials: A quantitative analysis of a web-based survey involving 814 participants along with focus groups composed of citizens and of experts was conducted in both study regions. The results are interpreted for each region, with a comparative analysis between them. Results: The comparative analysis showed very different trends in knowledge level, risk perceptions and behaviors between both regions. In Montérégie, 22% perceived themselves as being at high or very high risk of contracting LD vs. 53% in Neuchâtel, but a higher percentage of participants from this region believe that personal protection is easy (74% vs. 54% in Montérégie). Different predictors of risk perception were identified for both regions. Concerning predictors of preventive behaviors, in Neuchâtel, exposure and knowledge were the strongest identified predictors, while risk perception was more strongly associated with behaviors in Montérégie. Most dimensions of risk perceptions were different between populations and their regional experts. Social acceptability of different vector control interventions was higher in Montérégie. Conclusion: The results of this study illustrate that population perceptions, knowledge, behaviors and acceptability of interventions toward the same disease can be different, presumably according to the emerging or endemic status of the disease, to previous public health actions and to other characteristics of the local context. Thus, the effectiveness of potential preventive strategies are not universal but context-dependent. Decision-makers ought to consider this context in their choice of public health actions. 22.135 Registered nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the spread of nosocomial infections: the impact of organizational support E. W. Kamunge1, R. K. Parasher2, T. Cahill2, G. Pinto-Zipp2 1 Essex County College, Newark, NJ, USA, 2Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA Purpose: Nosocomial infections (NIs) are new localized or systemic infections that develop in patients receiving medical care in a hospital or other healthcare facilities. The infections are not incubating or present during a patient’s admission into the healthcare facility and are identified at least forty-eight to seventy-two hours following the patient’s admission. Episodes of NIs are recognized in hospitalized patients world-wide and are prevalent in all age groups. They are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites present in the air, surfaces or equipment and are often transmitted by indirect and direct contact. Some of the pathogens are resistant to antimicrobial agents. The burdens of NIs include prolonged duration of hospitalization for patients resulting in increased costs of healthcare and deaths. Implementation of safe patient care activities is the role of healthcare practitioners such as physicians, dental health care workers and nurses. Therefore these healthcare workers should be familiar with practices to prevent the spread of NIs. It has been documented in the literature that at the time of graduation from their professional education, healthcare professionals have sufficient knowledge to practice patient safety and infection control guidelines. However, the evidence suggests otherwise since a cadre of healthcare workers including nurses are implicated in the transmission of nosocomial infections. This enigma prompts an exploration for plausible contributory factors that could be implicated in the spread of nosocomial infections. With nurses having the most contacts with patients; understanding of their knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns, and an examination of the impact of organizational support may provide one approach by which this health care issue would be addressed. Methods & Materials: This exploratory, cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted using on-line survey responses from 352 registered nurses (RNs). Data was analyzed with descriptive and inferential non-parametric statistics. Results: The participants demonstrated high levels of knowledge, adherence to recommended guidelines of infection control practices, and positive attitudes. Analysis of data also indicated significant associations between organizational support and RNs’ knowledge, attitudes and practices. Conclusion: Findings in this study suggest that nursing education, concerted efforts of infection control and organizational support play pivotal roles toward reducing the spread of NIs. 22.136 Legal and ethical complexity challenging global health security: sustainability of pathogen surveillance T. Makino National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Purpose: After SARS in 2003, global health community has committed the transparent sharing of any emerging outbreaks. This momentum crystalized the revision of International Health Regulations (IHR) in 2005, which now binds member states to notify any potential public health emergencies within 24 hours to World Health Organization (WHO). In the extension of this global disease surveillance mechanism, pathogen surveillance and genome information sharing play key roles for both risk assessment and development of medical countermeasures. However, question still lies in whether benefits of surveillance are equitably shared by the member states. This research aims to analyze the intersection of different values and norms regarding the pathogen sharing and benefit sharing. Methods & Materials: WHO’s Influenza A(H5N1) sample sharing dispute was chosen for the case analysis. Materials were official documents and press releases of WHO, and witnesses of experts and national delegates engaged in the dispute. Stakeholder analysis was conducted to contrast the argument between developed and developing nations on the viewpoints of security and equity. Policy analysis applied the existing international legal framework and ethical codes to examine the legitimacy of both sides. Results: Developed nations were for sample sharing, recognizing the benefit of sample sharing as the preparedness and prompt response to be beneficial to the global community. IHR and rights for security supported the recognition of efficient sample sharing as the key for immediate response to any potential pandemic. Developing nations, in contrast, were hesitant to share pathogens unless equitable attribution of benefit to the originating nations was guaranteed. Convention of the Biological Diversity (CBD) and rights for healthcare access supported the recognition of biological sample collection as the biopiracy, in which situation revenues of diagnostics and vaccines were monopolized by pharmaceutical industries mostly located in developed nations. Conclusion: Different legal frameworks and ethical values justified each side. Equitable sharing of benefit should be ensured for global health security by practical operation of disease surveillance, which can be supplemented by the voluntary international aid by private sector and non-governmental organizations. Public health community is now encouraged to step outside and get engaged in the fora of diplomacy and economics. 22.137 Incidence infectious diseases of childhood population before and after war in Bosnia and Heryegovina in emergence A. Bajraktarevic1, L. Kumasin1, E. Lokmic1, G. Todosijevic2, Z. Begic3, B. Djukic4, A. Abduzaimovic5, S. Serdarevic6 1 Public Health Institution Sarajevo-Department for preschool children, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2Clinical medical Center, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3Pediatrics Clinic, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4First medical aid, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5Private laboratory, Tesanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6 Public Healt Institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Background: The importance of social factors as causes of infectious disease has been well established. The decrease in emergence of morbidity and mortality with increasing socioeconomic position is one of the most consistent relationships in pediatrics and epidemiology. Objective: Our intent and purpose of this paper is to compare the incidence of childhood diseases and infectious diseases in different periods before and after the war in the period of a quarter century in Bosnia and Herzegovina with similar GPD and poor social and economic situation completely changed by the political situation. Methods & Materials: Infectious disease outcomes, including infectious aetiologies of chronic conditions, accounted for 77 reviews but in Bosnia and Herzegovina we have only two articles about infectious diseases and social conditions before the war 1992/1995. In this article we compared the incidence of infectious diseases in children and overall morbidity now and 25 years ago on the basis of data of public institutes for health care. Results: We found no significant differences in the incidence of infectious diseases in children today 2013 years and 25 years ago in 1989. The structure of the disease paediatrics occupied the annual level of about 5 percent and for other infectious diseases of about a quarter of the total number without counting the ordinary sore throat, colds, bronchitis and other common short-term viral diseases. The specific structure of intestinal infectious disease and tick-borne disease showed differences It is also now more tick-borne diseases and less intestinal infectious diseases. Conclusion: Historical social and political transitions may have shaped trends in infectious disease research. Changes in the political situation has not significantly affected the incidence of infectious diseases in the child population as a bad social situation has not drastically changed given the worsening economic situation before the war and now twenty years after the war. November 1, 2014 • 22.133 Full-length genome sequencing and Session 22 continued International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SATURDAY Methods & Materials: We carried out phenotypic characterization including germ tube test, temperature tolerance, clamidoconidia production, CHROMagar Candida and semi-nested PCR using universal and species-specific primers for detection of Candida species on the culture of clinical isolates. By using universal primers, carried out the amplification of the 3’ end of 5.8S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the 5’ end of 28S rDNA, including the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), production 350 to 410-bp fragments from the four Candida species, such as Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis. Results: By phenotypic identification system 60 (92.3 c%) yeasts isolates were identified including, Candida albicans (n = 33), Candida glabrata (n = 14), Candida tropicalis (n = 11) and Candida parapsilosis (n =2) and five isolates were mixed culture. By the semi-nested PCR, 63 (96.6 %) isolates were identified. Candida albicans (n = 37), Candida glabrata (n = 11), Candida tropicalis (n = 14) and C. parapsilosis (n = 1) and the species of two isolates could not be identified. The survey of semi-nested for specific identification of Candida species of 65 clinical Candida isolates revealed 70.3% resultsagreement with PCR. Conclusion: The semi-nested in this survey was specific and more sensitive than phenotypic characterizationfor the detection of Candida albicans in candidal vulvovaginitis. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Poster Presentations I 22.138 Emergency transport: Not only a matter of time G. Torrell Vallespín1, A. Fité2, A. Saidy3, A. Touray4 1 CAPI Baix-a-mar Consorci de Servei a les Persones, Barcelona, Spain, 2FUNCA (Reus), Independent Personnel for this publication, Reus, Spain, 3Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kuwonku, Gambia, 4Associació per al Desenvolupament Kuwonku, Kuwonku, Gambia Purpose: Some of the major health challenges facing The Gambia today include malaria, maternal and infant mortality, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and pneumonia. The Gambia has only 5 hospitals and a relatively centralized non coordinated health system. Lots of efforts are invested to study and improve the maternal and new-born emergency care, including the analysis of the delay in health care. Aim: To describe and to analyse the emergency transport in rural Gambia 109 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 22.139 In silico prediction of common epitopes in gp63 protein of pathogenic Leishmania species for designing an epitope based DNA vaccine P. S. Slathia, P. Sharma Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu, J&K, India Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects about 350 million individuals worldwide. The causative agent Leishmania sp., is a protozoan parasite having a relatively simple life cycle with two principal stages: the flagellated mobile promastigote living in the gut of the sand fly vector and the intracellular amastigote within phagolysosomal vesicles of the vertebrate host macrophage. The Leishmania surface protease gp63 has been shown to induce immunity and currently DNA vaccines based on it are under trials. In the current study we have tried to find out epitopic sequences that are conserved across Leishmania species for designing a common vaccine. Objective: To study gp63 protein sequences for finding out the conserved regions. To predict conserved epitopes and design a rational concept based DNA vaccine in silico. Methods & Materials: 395 protein sequences of gp63 of Leishmania species viz. Leishmania donovani donovani, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania guyanensis, Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major strain friedlin, Leishmania braziliensis mhom/br/75/m2904, Leishmania infantum jpcm5, Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana mhom/ gt/2001/u1103 having protein length from 550 to 650 were collected from NCBI. These sequences were subjected to multiple sequence alignment using ClustalOmega. The conserved fragments of ≥9-mers were chosen for T-cell epitope prediction. NetMHCPan, NetMHCIIPan, CTLPred, IEDB Analysis, BCPREDS servers were used for T-cell 110 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY 22.140 Immune responses induced by an alphavirus replicon derived candidate vaccine against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus F. Burt1, R. Swanepoel2, J. Paweska3, M. Heise4 UFS/NHLS, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 3Special Pathogens Unit National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa, 4The University of North Carolina, North Carolina, NC, USA 1 Purpose: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick borne virus that causes severe haemorrhagic fever with fatalities. The recent emergence of CCHFV in several countries in the Balkans and re-emergence in south-western regions of the Russian Federation after an extended absence raises concerns that this virus could expand its current geographic distribution and establish new endemic foci. Currently there is no vaccine and the pathogenesis of the virus is not well understood. The immune correlates of protection are not well understood hence investigating immune responses to specific viral proteins contributes to our knowledge on possible mechanisms of protection. Methods & Materials: A replicon-based vector derived from Sindbis alphavirus was developed which expresses CCHFV glycoproteins. A mouse model was used to characterize humoral immune responses. Groups of mice were immunized with a Sindbis based replicon vaccine expressing the Gn and Gc of CCHFV. Control groups of mice received mock vaccine. All groups received booster doses. Serum samples were collected and tested for antibody responses. Mouse spleens were harvested and splenocyte cultures were stimulated with CCHFV antigen or conconalavin A as the control. IgG antibody titers against Gc were determined by indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) tests using commercially available antigen slides prepared with cells tranfected with plasmid expressing CCHF Gc. Isotyping was performed using antimouse IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b FITC conjugates. Interferon gamma, tumour necrosis factors, interleukin (IL) -2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in stimulated splenocyte culture media were determined using ELISA. Results: Antibody against CCHFV was detected in all mice using IFA, with titers ranging from 8 to>128. IgG1 and IgG2a responses were detected with a lower IgG2b. Cytokine profiling of antigen-stimulated splenocyte culture supernatants indicated elevated levels of interferon gamma and IL-2, two cytokines known to be involved in Th-1 type cellular responses. Conclusion: CCHFV glycoproteins are likely responsible for recognition of receptor sites on susceptible cells and consequently cell tropism and pathogenicity of the virus in humans. The Sindbis virus based replicon vectors efficiently expressed the CCHFV glycoproteins and induced strong detectable humoral immune responses and cell mediated immune responses against CCHFV in mice. 22.141 DNA priming—Protein boosting immunization regime based on L7/L12 and TOmp31Brucellaantigens induces protective immunity in BALB/c mice M. Golshani1, S. Rafati1, A. Dashti2, S. Bouzari2 1 Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 2Pasteur Institute of iran, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of Purpose: Brucellosis is the most common bacterial zoonotic disease worldwide and no vaccine is available for the prevention of human brucellosis. In humans, brucellosis is mostly caused by Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus. TheOmp31 and L7/L12 are immunodominant and protective antigens conserved in human Brucella pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a L7/L12-truncated Omp31 vaccine candidate administered as DNA priming-protein boosting immunization regime. Methods & Materials: Bioinformatic tools were used to design the truncated Omp31 and L7/L12- TOmp31 fusion protein. The humoral/ cellular immune response and protection levels against challenge with wild B.melitensis and B.abortus were evaluated in vaccine immunized mice and control groups. Results: Vaccination of BALB/c mice with the DNA priming/Protein boosting immunization regime provided the significant protection level against both B.melitenisis and B.abortus remarkably compatible to the vaccine positive control groups.Moreover, L7/L12-TOmp31 elicited a strong specific IgG response with shift to Th1 response (higher IgG2a titers) and significant IFN-gamma/IL2 production and T-cell proliferation was also observed. The Th1 oriented response persisted for 12 weeks after final immunization. Conclusion: rL7/L12-TOmp31 could be a new potential candidate for the development of a prime-boost vaccine regime against B. melitensis and B.abortus. 22.142 Progress towards measles elimination in Singapore H. J. A. Ho1, C. Low2, L. W. Ang2 1 Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore, 2Ministry of Health Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Purpose: We describe the epidemiological trends of measles in Singapore to assess its progress towards measles elimination and to identify gaps in fulfilling the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) regional measles elimination criteria. Methods & Materials: Epidemiological data on measles maintained by the Communicable Disease Division, Ministry of Health from 1981 to 2012 were collated and analysed. Data on measles vaccination coverage were obtained from the National Immunisation Registry and School Health Services, Health Promotion Board. To assess the changing levels of herd immunity of the population, the findings of periodic seroepidemiological surveys on measles were traced and reviewed. Results: With the successful implementation of the National Childhood Immunisation Programme using the monovalent measles vaccine, the disease incidence declined from 88.5 cases per 100,000 in 1984 to 6.9 per 100,000 in 1991. A ‘catch-up’ vaccination programme using the trivalent measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was conducted in 1997, followed by the introduction of the 2-dose vaccination schedule in January 1998 to curb the resurgences in 1992, 1993 and 1997. This led to a sharp decline in incidence to 2.9 per 100,000 in 1998. Measles vaccination coverage was maintained at 95% for the first dose and between 92-94% for the second dose. In children aged 1-17 years, 83.1% were seropositive for measles IgG antibodies in 2008-2010, while more than 95% of adults were seropositive. Sporadic cases with very few clusters of two or more cases continued to occur among unvaccinated population, in particular children below 4 years of age. The predominant measles virus genotype, D9, is being replaced by B3 and G3 genotypes endemic in other countries. Conclusion: Singapore is making good progress towards the elimination of endemic measles. To protect young children with two doses of MMR vaccine by 2 years of age, recent amendments have been made to the measles immunisation schedule. A targeted multi-pronged strategy is required for further reduction of measles incidence. 22.143 The introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into Cameroon’s expanded programme on immunization: Would every child be reached? J. Njuma Libwea1, M. Kobela2, H. Nohynek3 University of Tampere School of Health Sciences, Tampere, Finland, 2 Expanded Programme on Immunisations, Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon, 3National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland 1 Purpose: This study was purposed to describe the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of parents/guardians on pneumonia and immunisations/EPI vaccines; identify predictive parental socio-economic/ demographic characteristics that of good knowledge on pneumonia infections and EPI vaccines. Finally, the study described health center personnel perceptions about immunisations. Methods & Materials: The WHO’s immunisation coverage cluster survey design was used, involving parents/guardians (n=205) of children aged 0-59 months and health centre personnel (n=13) directly concerned with vaccination activities between July-September 2010 in two health districts in Yaounde, Cameroon. The response rate was 79.3%. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic models were used to analyse the parental/guardian data while the health personnel data was only analysed descriptively using SPSS version 17.0. Results: Only 19% of the parents/guardians were aware of the availability of the PCV. Logistic modelling identified important associations between parental socio-economic/demographic factors and good knowledge on pneumonia disease burden and prevention. Conclusion: According to parents/guardians, a concise message through mass sensitisation/out-reach campaigns on the dangers of pneumonia and urgent need for prevention is primordial, if the PCV is to reach every child. 22.144 Antibody response to DNA vaccine against November 1, 2014 Vaccines and Emergence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases and B cell epitope prediction. Self epitopes were removed by BLAST analysis. The predicted epitopes were joined in tandem separately. For analyzing IgE epitopes AlgPred server was used. The epitopic peptides so obtained were reverse translated using human codons and conceptually cloned into pBI-CMV1 vector. Results: Multiple sequence alignment and variability masking studies revealed the presence of six conserved sequences that were used for epitope prediction. Four epitopes for Class I MHC and three each for Class II MHC and B cell were predicted. No similarity to human proteins and no allergenic sequences were found. The reverse translated sequences were cloned into Multiple Cloning Site of vector. Conclusion: The vector construct generated could work as immunogenic DNA vaccine for all the pathogenic species of Leishmania. The results need to be validated by experimental studies and use of different adjuvants could further enhance immunogenicity. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Methods & Materials: Using the conceptual model of “three delays in maternal care” and the social determinants of health we describe the system of emergency transport in the Upper River Region of rural Gambia by direct observation during a period of a month in a primary health centre in Kuwonku. Results: 1st delay: Making the decision to go to the health centre • Socioeconomic and political context: distance to the health centre typology of health system (payment), subsistence economy, believes (acceptance of illness and death), difficulties in understanding the severity of the situation • Core elements of inequity: Age (old/new-born/young), Gender (man/woman), role in the family (mother, father, son, daughter), ethnics (Fula, Mandinka) • Material Resources: subsistence economy, lack of money. 2nd delay: Delay in reaching the health centre and the place of referral • Socioeconomic and political context: Poor roads (not paved), crossing river (schedules, money), high price of fuel, systematic police road controls, schedules of public transport. • Core elements of inequity: age, gender, ethnics • Material Resources: access to the money, access to fuel, existence of a suitable vehicle 3rd delay: Delay in receiving appropriate health care when arriving. • Socioeconomic and political context: lack of hospitals in rural territories • Core elements of inequity: age, gender, rural • Material Resources: medical equipment (oxygen, shortage of essential drugs and technical diagnoses), continuous electricity source. Conclusion: We have observed different cases of referrals during this period. Time to afford the money for the ride, non existence of paved roads and the need to cross the river are three of the main difficulties for the emergency transport in rural Gambia. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Poster Presentations I H5N1 in broilers and layers chickens A. Stachyra, A. Gora-Sochacka, A. Protasiuk, A. Sirko Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Warsaw, Poland Purpose: Avian Influenza virus brings continuous threat of new outbreaks among human and domestic animals populations, which stimulate research in new methods of prevention and control of the disease. One of the promising new technology, proven to work well against influenza, is DNA vaccination, which is implemented by our group. Chickens are the most popular domestic poultry species and they have great economical importance. Different breeds of different types are distinguished in many levels like body weight, life span, metabolism or immunological potential. Since there are not many data comparing immunological differences between broiler and laying chickens which are definitely economically most important chicken types, vaccination studies using H5N1 DNA experimental vaccine were performed. Methods & Materials: Chicken were immunized with plasmid DNA complexed with liposomal carrier for improvement of uptake by host cells. Hemagglutinin gene with optimized nucleotide sequence from H5N1 highly pathogenic strain (clade 2.2) was the basis of the vaccine. Chickens were divided into several groups which received either single or two-doses of vaccine in different schedules. Blood samples were collected in several time points and the dynamics of humoral response to the DNA vaccine was followed. The anti-HA IgY level were measured in chicken serum using optimized ELISA test procedure and HI assay. Results: The results showed high efficacy of our DNA composition, which induced strong humoral responses levels, when two doses of vaccine were applied. They also indicated some differences in immune responses of broilers and layers chicken types when induced by H5-DNA vaccine, which to our knowledge, were never compared before. Conclusion: Our study sheds more light on chicken’s immunological system and broaden immunization methods against influenza virus. Acknowledgments of financial support: This work was supported by Innovative Economy Program, Grant No. WND-POIG.01.01.02-00-007/08 111 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.145 Increase in endemic Neisseria meningitidis capsular group W ST-11 complex associated with severe invasive disease in England and Wales West Nile virus inactivated vaccine against natural infections from a virulent lineage 2 strain in horses S. C. Chaintoutis, N. Diakakis, M. Papanastassopoulou, G. Banos, C. I. Dovas Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Purpose: Lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV) strains are associated with encephalitis outbreaks in humans and horses in Africa, Central Europe, Italy and Greece. In 2010, West Nile fever occurred in Northern Greece with 17 confirmed horse cases, attributed to “Nea Santa-Greece-2010” lineage 2 strain, which eventually became endemic. Currently, all the commercially available horse vaccines (inactivated, recombinant, and DNA vaccines) are being developed and evaluated for the protection they offer, using lineage 1 strains. On the other hand, results regarding their efficacy against lineage 2 infections in horses, especially under field conditions are lacking. This study was conducted to evaluate the capability of an inactivated lineage 1 vaccine (Equip WNV, Zoetis Inc.) to provide cross-protection against natural infections of the highly pathogenic “Nea Santa-Greece-2010” WNV-lineage 2 strain. 112 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY programme incorporating excess risk of intussusception in Singapore A. Green1, C.-F. Yung2 National University Hospital Systems Residency, Singapore, Singapore, 2Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore 1 Purpose: The rotavirus vaccine is available in Singapore on a private basis which achieves coverage of only about 15%. In view of increasing demands on health infrastructure especially hospital bed pressures, we evaluated the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination if it were incorporated into a national vaccination programme achieving 90% coverage. Methods & Materials: Analysis was conducted through a Markov model that followed two cohorts of children from birth to 5 years of age with differing rotavirus vaccination coverage (15% vs 90%). Principal model inputs included data on rotavirus disease burden, full market value vaccine cost, coverage rates, efficacy, and burden of excess intussusception attributable to rotavirus vaccination. The model estimated the effect of vaccination on outpatient/hospitalization utilisation, cost as well as Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY). Results: Within 5 years after implementation, increasing vaccination coverage from 15% to 90% would prevent 1,561 more hospitalizations and 9,177 outpatient visits due to rotavirus infection among children <5 years. This equates to approximately US$1 million of medical costs being averted. Furthermore, 90% vaccination coverage would reduce the DALY across the cohort by approximately half. The programme would be cost effective with an incremental cost per DALY averted of ~US$31,000 despite our estimated 5 excess intussusception. If all the excess intussusception cases resulted in death, the cost per DALY averted would rise to ~US$120,000, but still remain cost effective based on accepted WHO guidelines at 3x gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (Singapore GDP in 2012, $51000). Conclusion: A national rotavirus vaccination programme is cost effective in helping to alleviate health service utilisation resulting from the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis even at full market vaccine costs. Our model demonstrated that recent identification of excess intussusception attributable to rotavirus vaccine would not have a significant impact on overall cost effectiveness of a rotavirus vaccination programme. However, apart from financial considerations, monitoring and public communication of excess risk remain crucial in maintaining confidence in vaccines. 22.148 Protective effect of vaccination on mumps complications: analysis of the Czech national surveillance data, 2007–2012 H. Orlikova, M. Maly, P. Lexova, H. Sebestova, R. Limberkova, L. Jurzykowska, C. Benes, J. Kyncl National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic Background: In the Czech Republic mandatory mumps vaccination with two doses was introduced in 1987. Despite the high 98% vaccination coverage the routine surveillance reporting detects mumps outbreaks. Moreover, mumps and complications (mainly orchitis, meningitis and pancreatitis) and hospital admission affect both, unvaccinated but also vaccinated individuals. We assessed the effect of vaccination on complications and hospitalizations among mumps cases. Objective: We compared the effect of mumps vaccination on complications and hospitalization need among unvaccinated and vaccinated mumps cases reported to the Czech national surveillance system between 2007–2012. Methods & Materials: We analysed data on incident mumps cases reported to the Czech national surveillance system EPIDAT in period 2007–2012. We described the epidemiological characteristics of the patients with mumps. We assessed association between vaccination and the most frequent mumps complications and hospitalization. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression with predictors age, sex, year of onset, region NUTS2, were performed using the statistical programme STATA9. We compared adjusted odds ratios (OR) and computed the preventable fractions for mumps complications in vaccinated, reflecting the effect of vaccitation (VE). Point estimates with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined, p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: In 2007–2012, total 9898 mumps cases were reported, 5740 (58 %) in males. Mean age was 17.3, median 16 years. The most affected age groups were 10-24 years old. Seventeen percent were not vaccinated, 1.4 % received one dose and 80% two doses. Ninety percent of cases had no complications, while 1.8 % developed meningitis or encephalitis and 0.7 % pancreatitis. Mumps orchitis occured in 680 (11.8 %) of male cases. Total 1224 (12.4 %) mumps cases required hospitalization. After two doses of mumps vaccine the risk was significantly (p<0.001) reduced for hospitalization OR 0.29 (95% CI 0.240.35), reflecting 71% (95% CI 65-76) preventable fraction. Significant (p<0.001) protective effect of two-dose vaccination was 70 % (95% CI 53-81) for meningitis or encephalitis and 73 % (95% CI 65-79) for orchitis in male. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates significant positive preventive effect of vaccination for complications (orchitis, meningitis, encephalitis) and hospitalization need in mumps cases reported to surveillance. 22.149 Multiantigen T cell epitope-enriched leishmaniasis vaccine C. Juhls1, LeishDNAvax Consortium2, A. Freier3 1 Mologen AG, Berlin, Germany, 2London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, 3CharitéUniversitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany Purpose: Leishmaniases are neglected protozoal diseases that severely affect large populations in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Treatment options are limited due to variations in efficacy, toxicity and high costs of the available drugs, and increasing drugresistance. Effective preventative measures are not available. A vaccine is needed for prevention, control and elimination of leishmaniasis in endemic regions. Ideally, such a vaccine should be immunogenic in populations of different genetic backgrounds and efficacious against the various Leishmania species. Methods & Materials: We present preclinical data of a multiantigen T cell epitope-enriched DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis [1]. The vaccine antigens were selected as conserved in various Leishmania species, different endemic regions, and over time. Results: The antigens induced T cell-based immunity in natural infection as demonstrated with T cells from individuals who had recovered from leishmaniasis, and harbor epitopes for both CD4 and CD8 T cells in genetically diverse human populations of different endemic regions. The vaccine proved immunogenic and protective in a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis. GLP studies with single and multiple vaccinations revealed a good safety profile of the vaccine. Conclusion: From establishing the immunology of vaccine antigens in human populations of endemic regions to the proof-of-principle for induction of specific immune responses and protection against Leishmania infection in mice, the development strategy for the vaccine was translational. The vaccine is ready to be tested in clinical trials. The project was funded by the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission. 1. Das, S., et al., Modular multiantigen T cell epitope-enriched DNA vaccine against human leishmaniasis. Science Translational Medicine, 2014. 6(234): p. 234ra56. 22.150 Epidemiological demographics of invasive pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenza diseases in Japan—First year assessment of national surveillance T. Makino, Y. Ohkusa National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Purpose: Japanese Immunization Program (JIP) decided to include Haemophilus Influenza Type B vaccine and Conjugated Pneumococcal Vaccine into its children routine schedule in 2013 April. According to this, Japanese National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID) was also modified to include Invasive Haemophilus Influenza Diseases (IHD) and Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases (IPD) at the same time. These agents in adults are associated with pneumonia, which has become the third biggest largest cause of death among Japanese entire population. Our study tried to illustrate the demographics of these infections in Japan, using the notifications in the first year of surveillance. Methods & Materials: Case data were collected from the NESID database notified between April 1st 2013 and March 31 2014, including patients’ age, sex, signs and symptoms, and vaccination history. Disease types are defined as follows: Bacteremia (pathogens detected from either blood by culture or PCR, excluding), Meningitis (bacteremia with symptoms of neck spasticity or meningeal signs, or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) positive by culture or PCR), and Pneumonia (bacteremia with symptom of pneumonia, excluding Meningitis). National population data as of the end of March 2013 was used to estimate the morbidity. Results: 1,481 cases of IPD and 159 cases of IHD were reported. Incident rates were the highest among children-under-5 followed by senior of 65 and more. Case fatality rates of IPD were highest among senior (10%) and lowest among children-under-5 (0.3%), while IHD had as high fatality rate among children-under-15 as among senior (8%). Bacteremia prevailed more among children, while pneumonia among senior for both IPD and IHD. IPD has increased proportion of Meningitis among young adult. Regarding seasonality, incident rate had major peak in spring (April and May) for children, while senior had two peaks of both spring and winter. Vaccination history was collected almost 70% of adolescent cases (under 15 years old). Conclusion: This analysis first illustrated the nationally notified cases of IPD and IHD throughout a year. Because doctors are mandated to report cases within seven days, national surveillance data has limitation on prognosis. Few serotypings limit evaluation of the vaccine effectiveness. Following survey should examine the impact of national vaccination policy. November 1, 2014 22.146 Cross-protection evaluation of a lineage 1 22.147 Economic model of rotavirus vaccination International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcome of laboratory-confirmed invasive meningococcal capsular group W (MenW) disease in England and Wales. Methods & Materials: Prospective, enhanced national surveillance of laboratory-confirmed invasive meningococcal disease with questionnaire follow-up of cases and whole genome sequence analysis of clinical isolates. Study included patients with laboratory-confirmed invasive MenW disease in England and Wales. The main outcome measrures were trends in MenW disease incidence during July 2002-May 2013; association between age, infecting strain, risk factors, clinical presentation, intensive care requirement and outcome among cases diagnosed during July 2010–June 2013. Results: Invasive MenW disease has increased year-on-year from 2009/10 because of rapid expansion of a single endemic clone belonging to the ST-11 complex (cc11). In 2013/14, MenW was responsible for 15% of all invasive meningococcal disease. All but one of the recent MenW cc11 isolates were very closely-related, consistent with recent clonal expansion. Initially, cc11 cases were observed in adults but subsequently detected across all age-groups. Clinical follow-up of all 129 MenW cases diagnosed during the 2010/11-2012/13 epidemiological years revealed that most cases were previously healthy (n=105, 81%) and, while the majority presented with meningitis (n=21, 16%), septicaemia (n=16, 12%) or both (n=63, 49%), a quarter had atypical presentations including pneumonia (n=15, 12%), septic arthritis (n=9, 7%) and epiglottitis/supraglottitis (n=5, 4%). Forty-eight (37%) required intensive care and meningococcal-related case-fatality was 12% (n=15). There was no association between infecting strain, clinical disease or outcome. Conclusion: The recent increase in invasive MenW disease has been associated with rapid endemic expansion of a single clone belonging to cc11. Although there were no differences in clinical characteristics or outcome between this and other clones, MenW disease in general was associated with severe disease with unusual clinical presentations, high rates of intensive care admissions and high case fatality. The rapid increase in MenW cc11 will require careful monitoring in the coming years. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 S. Ladhani1, K. Beebeejaun1, J. Lucidarme2, H. Campbell1, S. Gray2, E. Kaczmarski2, M. Ramsay1, R. Borrow2 1 Public Health England, London, United Kingdom, 2Public Health England, Manchester, United Kingdom Methods & Materials: In total 185 WNV-seronegative horses in Thessaloniki, Greece were selected during two consecutive years (2011-2012). The 140 were immunized with the aforementioned vaccine and 45 were used for control purposes. The horses were being examined for presence of neurological signs compatible with WNVinfection. Blood serum samples were taken at specific time-points. MAC-ELISA (detection of WNV-specific IgM antibodies) was used for the confirmation of the diagnosis in horses with clinical signs. The neutralizing antibody titers of the vaccinated horses against the “Nea Santa-Greece-2010” lineage 2 strain and the “PaAn001/France” lineage 1 strain, were also determined. Results: WNV enzootic circulation was observed during the study, as evidenced by testing of the control horses (serology), as well as by testing sentinel birds (serology and sequencing of WNV) residing in proximity to the study area. Neurological signs were detected in 3 control animals and diagnosis was confirmed by MAC-ELISA. Νo clinical signs related to WNV disease were observed in any of the vaccinated animals. Neutralizing antibody titers against both WNV strains, in the immunized horses, ranged between 1:40 and 1:320, one month after the double primovaccination. The protective titers were maintained until the annual booster, where a strong anamnestic humoral response was observed. Conclusion: “Equip WNV” is capable to offer cross-protection in horses, against natural infections of lineage 2 WNV strains under field conditions. Poster Presentations I 113 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.151 Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in health-care providers of an intensive care unit at a teaching hospital in Guatemala City supervision of the seasonal influenza in Tunisia: Season 2013–2014 D. G. Kilani1, N. Achour2, S. Amin3, M. A. Hadj Kacem4 1 National Observatory of Emerging Diseases, Tunis, Tunisia, 2Health Ministry, Tunis, 1009, Tunisia, 3Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia, 4charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia Purpose: The monitoring of the circulation of influenza viruses and its antigenic characteristics will be an important aspect for prevention of any influenza outbreak. The circulating influenza viruses in Tunisia, during 2013-2014, compared with the past season. Methods & Materials: A descriptive study, to identify the influenza viruses that circulated in Tunisia during the seasonal influenza 20132014, comparing with the past season. The field data is, first the sentinel physicians collecting respiratory specimens to identify those positive for influenza viruses, and second the virological surveillance. The data are weekly and the analyses are done in the Observatory. Results: The 268 sentinal physicians distributed throughout the country detected 156593 influenza virus among 2196715 medical consultation (7.1%). According to the regions, Monastir(14.6%), Manouba(14.2%), Kef(14.1%), Siliana(13.6%), Kasserine(8.9%), Mahdia(9.6%). The indicator increased from 5% in October 2013, to 6.6% in November, 7.5% in December, 8.4% in January 2014, 8.9% in February, than 7.6% in March and 5.3% in April 2014. A total of 270000 114 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY 22.153 Seroprevalence of arboviral infections in young male volunteers in Azerbaijan E. Huseynova1, E. Garges2, R. Rivard3, A. Seyidov4, N. Huseynov4, T. Ahmadkhanov4, C. Bautista2, A. Debes3, R. Woelfel5, H. Dyson6 1 US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Baku, Azerbaijan, 2Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA, 3U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA, 4Ministry of Defense Army Medical Office, Baku, Azerbaijan, 5Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany, 6Defense Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, United Kingdom Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to certain arboviral infections in young male volunteers, as well as their incidence, as evidenced by seroconversion during the study period, and assess risk factors associated with prior exposure and development of an antibody response to the infections studied. Methods & Materials: We have evaluated the sero-prevalence in a cohort of 892 healthy male individuals arising from urban and rural regions of Azerbaijan, as part of medical in-processing. We collected serum and self-reported risk factor and medical history information at enrollment and at follow-up 12 months later. Specific IgG ELISAs were performed. Results: Evidence of prior exposure to these pathogens was very rare. 6/892 samples tested positive for WNV at enrollment (prevalence 0.45%). Similar results were found for CCHF (0.45%) and TBE (0.11%). No seroconversions were noted within the cohort at follow-up. Conclusion: Despite a history of reported WNV disease in Azerbaijan, we failed to detect significant exposure history in the cohort studied. This may be due to a temporal trend in outbreaks and epidemics in the community, an age-cohort effect, or a true lack of any transmission in the region. Similarly, despite known vectors and the presence of TBE infections throughout Ukraine, the Baltic States, Russia and Asia, exposure to TBE appears to be rare among young males in Azerbaijan. CCHF is commonly reported in neighboring Turkey and Iran, but appears to be limited in Azerbaijan. These studies suggest that despite the potential for transmission in the region, it is unlikely that significant transmission does occur. Further study in additional populations is warranted. 22.154 Sero-study of rickettsial infections in young male volunteers in Azerbaijan E. Huseynova1, C. Bautista2, R. Rivard3, E. Garges2, H. Dyson4, A. Seyidov5, N. Huseynov5, T. Ahmadkhanov5, A. Richards6, C. Farris6 1 US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Baku, Azerbaijan, 2Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA, 3U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA, 4Defense Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, United Kingdom, 5Ministry of Defense Army Medical Office, Baku, Azerbaijan, 6Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA Purpose: Rickettsial diseases, including both the typhus group (TGR) and spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR), show considerable variation in their regional epidemiology. Prior studies from the Southern Caucasus region demonstrate a variety of regional SFGR; in addition, Rickettsia typhi is also known to be prevalent. Published data regarding the epidemiology of rickettsial disease in Azerbaijan is limited. However, recent studies of known tick vectors in the country have demonstrated the presence of human-pathogenic rickettsia. Both TGR and SFGR are reported in the Azeri public health system with low frequency. However, limited diagnostic capacity and clinical recognition of often non-specific disease may decrease the clinical awareness of rickettsial diseases. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to identify seroprevalence and seroincidence of Rickettsial Diseases, including SFGR and TGR, as well as associated risk factors in young male volunteers arising from urban and rural regions of Azerbaijan. Methods & Materials: We have evaluated the sero-prevalence and sero-incidence in a cohort of 886 healthy male individuals originating from urban and rural regions of the country, as part of routine medical in-processing. We collected serum samples and self-reported risk factor and medical history information at enrollment and at follow-up12 months later. Rickettsia-specific IgG ELISAs were performed using whole cell antigen preparations of R. conorii Moroccan strain and R. typhi Wilmington strain for detecting SFG- and TG- specific antibodies, respectively. Results: 33 subjects tested positive for Rickettsial antibodies, while 853 tested negative, resulting in a seroprevalence of 3.7% at enrollment. Of those who tested negative for SFGR on enrollment, 18 tested positive on follow up, resulting in a one year cumulative seroincidence of 2.09% (1.3%, 3.4%). No antibodies against TGR were identified in the population at either enrollment or follow-up. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of both pathogen groups was substantially lower than expected. SFGR sero-incidence was high considering the one year window of follow up. This study suggests that similar aged individuals from the same region may be at higher risk of SFGR exposure. Although the baseline endemicity for TGR is unclear, this study demonstrates that exposure is unlikely to occur during childhood in these regions. 22.155 Association of IL1B-31C/T and IL1RA variable number of an 86-bp tandem repeat with dengue shock syndrome in Thailand A. Sa-ngasang1, J. Ohashi2, I. Naka2, S. Anantapreecha1, P. Sawanpanyalert3, J. Patarapotikul4 1 National Institute of Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand, 2Graduated School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan, 3Food and drug Administration, Nonthaburi, Thailand, 4Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bangkok, Thailand Purpose: Dengue patients present a range of symptoms: dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). It is not clear whether this variability is due to their genetic background. Here we tested polymorphisms of interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) genes for association with DSS in Thai population. Methods & Materials: Polymorphisms of IL1B −31C/T (rs1143627) and IL1RA 86-bp tandem repeat were analyzed in 871 patients (DF = 384, DHF = 413, and DSS = 74). Results: IL1B −31C and IL1RA 2/4 genotype were associated with DSS [IL1B −31C: DSS versus DHF: p = 0.0061, OR (95% CI) = 3.49 (1.36–8.95); DSS versus DF: p = 0.027, OR (95% CI) = 2.81 (1.12–7.06); IL1RA 2/4: DSS versus DHF: p = 0.017, OR (95% CI) = 1.94 (1.12–3.40); DSS versus DF: p = 0.024, OR (95% CI) = 1.90 (1.07–3.4)]. No difference was found between DF and DHF. Logistic regression analysis revealed that IL1B −31C and IL1RA 2/4 genotypes were each independently associated with DSS. Conclusion: Patients with IL1B −31C carrier, or IL1RA 2/4 genotype carry a risk for DSS implying that IL1B may play a role in pathogenesis of DSS. 22.156 Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Miyazaki, Japan T. Kawaguchi, M. Matsuda, I. Takajo, A. Okayama Miyazaki University Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan Purpose: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV), a novel bunyavirus, was discovered in China in 2010. SFTS was first reported in Japan in 2013. Subsequently, the number of SFTS cases has been increasing in western Japan and we analyzed the clinical characteristics of cases in Miyazaki, Japan. Methods & Materials: The diagnosis of SFTS was made by the detection of SFTSV by conventional RT-PCR. We analyzed 6 patients treated at Miyazaki University Hospital. Results: None of the 6 patients (2 men and 4 women; mean age 69 years) lived in urban areas and none had traveled abroad during the several months before onset. Four patients had cats, cows, and wild boar as pets or livestock. Obvious tick bite was observed only in 2 patients. All patients exhibited high fever, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms (lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). Five patients exhibited neurological symptoms (disturbance of consciousness, convulsion and myoclonus). Hemorrhage (melena and hemoptysis) were seen in only 2 patients. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and elevation of transaminase and creatine kinase (CK) were seen in all patients. It is possible that these data were the result of hemophagocytosis due to SFTSV infection. Heart failure was seen in 1 patient. Corticosteroid was administered in all save 1 patient, who was rather young (47 years old) and showed only a mild abnormality. Five patients survived, and their symptoms and abnormal laboratory data improved gradually over the 7 days following onset. One patient, who showed the highest transaminase and CK, died on day 10 post onset. Conclusion: The elevation of transaminase and CK may be an indicator of poor prognosis. It is still not clear whether the steroid therapy can improve the clinical course of SFTS. Further studies including a larger number of patients with SFTS are necessary. 22.157 Dengue virus non-structural protein 1 induces vascular leakage through macrophage migration inhibitory factor secretion and glycocalyx degradation T. M. Yeh1, H.-R. Chen2 National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C., 2National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Please Select, Taiwan, R.O.C. 1 Purpose: Dengue virus (DENV) is the most common mosquito-borne Flavivirus. DENV can cause life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and shock syndrome (DSS). One of the characteristic features of DHF/DSS is vascular leakage, of which the mechanisms remain unclear. DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is a highly conserved protein which can be secreted into patients’ plasma and its level is positively-correlated with the severity of the disease. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that NS1 plays a pathogenic role in DENVinduced vascular leakage. Methods & Materials: Recombinant NS1 (rNS1) was incubated with human endothelial cell line (HMEC-1). The expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and heparanase-1 (HPA-1) were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA. Endothelial permeability was determined by transwell permeability assay. The junction proteins were stained by fluorescent antibodies and their distribution was observed by confocal microscope. The degradation of glycocalyx was measured by CD138 levels in culture medium. Results: We demonstrated that rNS1 induced HMEC-1 cell to secrete MIF which may cause autophagy formation, junctional proteins disarray and endothelial permeability increase. NS1-induced hyperpermeability were inhibited in the presence of NS1 antibodies, MIF or autophagy inhibitors. Besides to MIF secretion, HPA-1 expression and CD138 level in rNS1-treated endothelial cell cultured medium were also increased, indicating NS1 may cause endothelial glycocalyx degradation. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that NS1 may play pathogenic roles in DENV-induced vascular hyperpermeability through MIF secretion and glycocalyx degradation. November 1, 2014 22.152 Epidemiological, clinical and virological Vectorborne Diseases International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Hepatitis B (HBV) infection due to percutaneous exposure through occupational accidents in health-care workers (HCW’s) continues to be a significant health hazard. Estimates are that 66,000 new cases of HBV infections can be related to percutaneous injury in HCW’s. Little information is available about vaccination coverage of HCW’s in Guatemala. Evaluating the immunization status among HCW’s should be a public health priority. A review of the immunization status among HCW’s of an intensive care unit (ICU) and Cardiovascular Surgery Unit (CSU) in a Guatemalan hospital was done from 2011 to 2013, as an effort to reinforce vaccination policies. Methods & Materials: To evaluate the immune response to HBV vaccine in health-care workers of an ICU and a CSU of a Guatemalan hospital, blood samples from 440 HCW’s were obtained in order to analyse Anti-HBs titers, those with negative Anti-HBs were analysed for Anti-HBc and AgHBs. Immunization history and occupational accidents history were obtained from a questionnaire. Results: A total of 41 (63%) and and 399 (100%) HCW’s in the ICU and CSU, were evaluated respectively. Twenty nine percent of the subjects (53.6% ICU; 27% CSU) had a history of HBV vaccination. Of these, 20% (18.2% ICU; 20% CSU) had a negative Anti-HBs titer. Anti-HBc and AgHBs titers were measured and none proved positive. Eleven subjects (26.83%) from the ICU and 189 (47.36%) from the CSU groups had never been vaccinated. Of these 4 (36.3%) and 143 (75.66%), had a positive Anti-HBs titer respectively. Regarding occupational injuries a total of 21 incidents were reported. No transfusions were reported in the last 5 years. No significant correlation between age and Anti-HBs titer was identified. Conclusion: Eighteen percent of subjects with a history of complete vaccination did not develop immunity. The number of subjects without vaccination history and positive Anti-HBs titers could be attributable to occupational related injuries. However no HBV carriers were identified. Based on our findings, several new internal policies were established. Efforts to create vaccination campaigns to include all HCW’s have been initiated. The high incidence of occupational injuries requires additional research and interventions. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 I. Cazali, D. R. Erdmenger, L. O’Connell, J. Guerra, A. E. Arana, I. Gudiel Hospital Roosevelt, Guatemala, Guatemala doses of vaccines was distributed, 37300 doses to the public health patients, 32300 doses for the elderly persons and the chronic diseases, 5000 doses for the healthy personal. Sentinal physicians collected 514 respiratory specimens of which were positive for 61 cases, one case of the virus A/H1N1 and 60 cases of A/H3N2.The interval of age 5-16 years old is the most important, than > 16, than 0-4 years old. The seasonal indicator is about 8%. Conclusion: Public health vigilance should be maintained throughout the seasons as influenza outbreaks are unpredictable events. Poster Presentations I 22.158 Avian biodiversity and Usutu virus circulation in Emilia-Romagna (Italy), 2010–2012 M. Calzolari1, L. Fornasari2, G. Calvi2, R. Bellini3, P. Angelini4, M. Dottori1 1 IZSLER, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 2MITO2000, Parma, Italy, 3CAA, Crevalcore, Italy, 4Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, Italy Purpose: Usutu virus (USUV) circulates between mosquitoes, particularly Culex pipiens, and wild birds, for which this arbovirus could be pathogenic. Since 2009 the Regional plan of arboviral surveillance (based on testing field-sampled mosquito) recorded the USUV 115 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 teaching hospital of Sourthren province Sri Lanka J. I. Abeynayake Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka Purpose: Dengue infection with one of four related serotypes of dengue virus (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4) results in a range of clinical manifestations spanning asymptomatic infection, classical dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). The outbreaks hitting with different clinical manifestations are being reported recently. In this study, we present varied clinical manifestations of dengue patients who had been admitted to the teaching hospital in southern province Sri Lanka. Methods & Materials: This observational study included total of 81 laboratory confirmed dengue patients, from October 2013 to February 2014. Clinically suspected, 81routine serum samples from both children and adults, received to the hospital laboratory have been tested for dengue virus infection, using rapid immunochromatographic assay (Dengue SD-Bio line, Germany). Assay detects anti-DENV IgM and IgG antibodies. Patients were diagnosed with primary dengue if they were IgM positive with or without detectable IgG antibody. Patients with only detectable IgG were judged to have secondary dengue infection. Patient data sent along with the sample on the request form included age and clinical history. Rapid antibody test positive patient’s clinical profile analyses was performed and categorized carefully. Results: The clinical features gathered stratified the patients with dengue. • SATURDAY 22.160 Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is an emerging disease in South Korea: A 10-year study J. Yi1, K.-H. Kim2, E. Y. Lee1, M.-D. Oh2 Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea, Republic of, 2Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of 1 Purpose: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) are tick-borne rickettsial diseases that affect humans and domestic and wild animals. Major clinical manifestations of HGA and HME are fever, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Severe cases can show hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and be fatal. HGA and HME were first identified in the United States and subsequently in European countries in 1980-1990s. HGA cases were only recently reported in Asian countries, i.e., China in 2008 and Japan in 2013. In South Korea, Anaplasma phagocytophilum has been detected in ticks and wild animals, however, there is no report with clinical description of HGA yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the patients with fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia for HGA or HME. Methods & Materials: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who came to a university hospital between 2003 and 2013 due to fever, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia without hematologic or microbiologic causes. Patients were included if they had a bone marrow examination and if their blood samples had been stored. Laboratory diagnosis of HGA or HME was made by detecting 16S rRNA genes of A. phagocytophilum or E. chaffeensis from the stored blood samples. DNA was extracted from the samples, and nested PCRs were conducted to amplify 16S rRNA genes using species-specific primer sets for A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis. Stored peripheral blood smear slides were reviewed under microscope for morulae within neutrophils. Results: A total of 73 cases met inclusion criteria. Of these, 16S rRNA gene of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 6 patients (8.2%). Median age of the 6 patients was 42.5 years (range 0.5-61), and the ratio of males to females was 5:1. Two cases were fatal and the earliest case dated back to 2006. In two cases, hemophagocytosis was shown in bone marrow examination. All patients were living in southeastern part of Korea, and three patients have had outdoor activities or tick-bites before the illness. In retrospective review of peripheral blood smears, morulae were found in three patients. Conclusion: In South Korea, HGA should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in patients with fever and thrombocytopenia. 22.161 Old world vs. new world West Nile virus: is there any difference? M. A. Jimenez-Clavero1, E. Perez-Ramirez1, F. Llorente1, J. Del Amo1, N. Nowotny2, R. Soriguer3, J. Figuerola4 1 INIA, Valdeolmos, Spain, 2University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, 3Sevilla, Seville, Spain, 4Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Seville, Spain Purpose: West Nile virus (WNV) emerged in New York in 1999, and subsequently spread throughout the Americas, with an unprecedented speed and virulence for humans, horses and wild birds. Almost simultaneously, WNV re-emerged in Europe and the Mediterranean area after 116 IMED 2014 an absence of almost three decades, but showing more limited spread capacity and virulence, and lower bird mortality. We and others have demonstrated recently that European wild bird species are susceptible to disease and death by WNV infection. Therefore, the strains circulating in each Continent could account for this different behaviour. We have shown previously that European WNV strains are as pathogenic as North American ones, either for birds and for mice. It thus may be interesting to determine if there are differences between Old World and New World WNV strains on phenotypic traits other than virulence. In the present work we hypothesized the existence of differences in transmissibility between WNV strains circulating in each Continent, which would account for the observed differences. Methods & Materials: For this purpose, we determined experimentally the competence index (Ci) of 4 European WNV strains (Spain/2007; Austria/2008; Italy/2008, and Italy/2009) and compared them to the North American WNV prototype strain NY99, determined in parallel, in a competent host species that is common in both continents: the House sparrow. One of these strains (Austria/2008) belongs to genetic lineage 2 while the other strains examined belong to lineage 1. In addition to competence indexes, we compared the course of infection caused by the different WNV strains in this passerine host, Clinical and analytic parameters (viraemia, viral load, antibodies) were examined until 14 days after inoculation. Results: The main outcome of these experiments is that we found consistently lower Ci for the recent European and Mediterranean strains than for the North American strain, i.e. we can expect House sparrows infected with NY99 to infect a higher number of mosquitoes than if infected with a European strain. Conclusion: We concluded that this different transmission capacity observed between Old and New World WNV strains could, at least in part, account for the different epidemiological behavior of WNV between Europe and North America. 22.162 Use of doxycycline in dengue patients: A potential alternative to a disease with no specific treatment T. Fredeking1, J. Zavala-Castro2, P. González-Martinez2, W. MoguelRodriguez2, E. C. Sanchez3, M. J. Foster1, F. A. Diaz-Quijano4 1 Antibody Systems, Inc., Hurst, TX, USA, 2Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, 3Hospital Agustín O´Horan SSY, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, 4Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Purpose: Incidence of dengue has increased dramatically over the past 30 years since its reemergence in South and Central America. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for dengue or its complications. However, treatment by modulation of the cytokine response through use of drugs or antibodies has attracted considerable attention. Recently doxycycline or tetracycline has been shown to down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in tick borne encephalitis and dengue patients. Objective: To determine the effect of doxycycline treatment on cytokine levels and mortality in dengue patients at high risk of complication. Methods & Materials: A group of dengue hemorrhagic fever patients (n=231) were randomized to receive either standard supportive care or supportive care in addition to oral doxycycline twice daily for 7 days. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by PCR using multiple primers. Serum samples were obtained at days 0, 3, 5 and 7 and tested for levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Results: Doxycycline-treated group presented a 46% lower mortality than that observed in the untreated group (11,2% [13/116] vs 20,9% [24/115], respectively, p=0.05). Moreover, administration of doxycycline resulted in a significant (p<0.01) decrease in levels of TNF and IL-6 versus controls in the tests performed during follow-up (day 3, 5 and 7). Patients who died in both groups possessed significantly (p<0.01) higher levels of TNF and IL-6 compared to those who survived at alltime points. Conclusion: This study has some limitations that must be considered. First, this trial was not conducted following a double blind, placebo-controlled design. Moreover, since only patients who eventually received doxycycline treatment were considered in the doxycycline group, the principle of intention to treat analysis was not applied. However, analyzed groups were comparable in demographic variables and cytokine levels at baseline. Consequently, we believe that this study provides clinical evidence of a benefit from the use of doxycycline to reduce the case fatality rate of dengue through its immune-modulatory effects. Nevertheless, we consider these results need to be validated in other studies, preferably randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial to conclusively demonstrate the ability of doxycycline to reduce dengue mortality. 22.163 Serological detection of R. rickettsii in dengue fever-negative samples in Nuevo Leon, Mexico E. Jaramillo1, E. Jaramillo-Reyna2, J. Z. Villarreal-Pérez 3, F. J. García-Elizondo3, F. González-Alanís 3, E. I. Galindo-Galindo3, M. I. Tavitas-Aguilar3, S. P. Mora-Gloria3, P. Carranza-Rosales4, C. B. Brito-Lorán5 Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Publica -Secretaria de Salud Pública del Estado de Nuevo León. Guadalupe, NL, México, Guadalupe, NL, Nuevo León, Mexico, 2Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Publica -Secretaria de Salud Pública del Estado de Nuevo León. Guadalupe, NL, México, Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico, 3Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Publica -Secretaria de Salud Pública del Estado de Nuevo León. Guadalupe, NL, México, Guadalupe, Mexico, 4Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste-Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Monterrey, NL, México, Monterrey, Mexico, 5Laboratorio de Leptospirosis y Rickettsiosis-Instituto de Diagnostico y Referencia Epidemiológicos. México, DF, Mexico, Mexico 1 Purpose: Rickettsioses are zoonotic diseases with heterogeneous geographical distribution, the severity of the disease varies from benign to fulminant infections with elevated mortality. The distribution of rickettsial diseases is global, with geographical boundaries depending on the reservoirs and vectors involved. In Mexico, different outbreaks were reported between 2008 and 2010, the most important was in Mexicali, with 275 infections of R. rickettsii and 3 of R. prowazekii; in Baja California Sur, and in Sonora, 25 and 14 cases where detected respectively for each species during the same period. In Nuevo Leon, during 2010-2012, 233 cases were reported, 175 of R. rickettsii, 40 of R. typhi and 18 of R. prowazekii. These cases placed Nuevo León within the three entities with more cases registered in the country. The clinical signs reported included fever, headache, vomiting, skin rashes, sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and petechiae. This same symptoms were presented in another outbreak in the state of Coahuila during 2012, with 3 deaths. However, the symptoms are nonspecific and rickettsial diseases are misdiagnosed as other infectious diseases, such as dengue fever, leptospirosis, meningococcemia, typhoid fever, or influenza. Objective: To determine the presence of Rickettsia in dengue-negative human serum samples. Methods & Materials: Methods: One hundred and fifty three samples were selected for diagnosis of R. rickettsii, R. typhi and R. prowazekii from a bank of 11090 samples with negative result for dengue fever which were analyzed during 2012, this was because of the similarity of symptoms that patients presented and also because of the scarce epidemiological information about rickettsiosis in Nuevo León. Detection of Rickettsias was performed by indirect immunofluorescence. The rickettsial antigens were provided by the Centers for Disease Control Disease and Prevention CDC, Atlanta, USA. Results: Results: 7.189% of the samples had positive titers for IgM (1:64) and R. rickettsii (1:512), suggesting recent infection. Conclusion: Conclusion: With this study we present serological evidence of infection with R. rickettsii in negative samples of patients presumable with dengue fever. This finding suggests that the disease can be confused with other infectious disease and therefore epidemiological data, clinical symptoms, and differential diagnosis must be taken into account. November 1, 2014 22.159 Clinical profiles of dengue infection in a It was noted fever was present in all patients. Next common symptoms were headache 73 (90.1%) followed by body aches 69 (85.1%), chills/rigors 63 (77.7%), abdominal pain 61 (75.3%), nausea/vomiting 52 (64.1%), retro-orbital pain 41 (50.6%). Rash and bleeding from different sites were evident in 23 (28.3%) and 14 (17.2%) respectively. Analysis also observed some had chest pain 22 (27.1%), diarrhea 19 (23.4%), dyspnea 11 (13.5%), ascites 9 (11.1%), pleural effusion 7 (8.6%), and neurological features 4 (4.9%). Conclusion: This study proved dengue patients can present with different clinical manifestations varied from known clinical presentations like fever, headache, body aches to some atypical presentations like chest pain and neurological features. One should aware of different presentations of dengue to early diagnose and intervene timely. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • circulation in Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy). Several mosquito sampling stations were close to bird survey areas included in the Italian breeding bird monitoring programme MITO2000 (www.mito2000.it), performed by means of single visit point counts. Aim: To identify possible correlation between avian fauna and virus circulation, USUV and MITO data recorded in the same period (20102012) were analyzed. Methods & Materials: Cx. pipiens mosquito population data and USUV test results were obtained for 40 entomological stations which operated all years in 2010-2012; the overall minimum infection rate (MIR) was calculated for every station. MITO2000 observation points, in a buffer of 3 km around mosquito stations, were selected and bird number for every species, as well as the maximal number of observed bird species, were retrieved. Results: A total of 349,341 Cx. pipiens specimens, grouped in 2,135 pools (of which 90 USUV-positive), were obtained in selected stations. 210 MITO observations were performed around these stations, with the detection of 90 bird species. A meaningful polynomial relation was found between maximal number of bird species and the overall MLE (p<0.01, R2=0.3, figure) for every station. According to the linear correlation model, the abundance of twelve species was significantly correlated to the USUV circulation. Among these the Blackbird Turdus merula, the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, and the Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur were found around more than 40% of stations. Conclusion: This preliminary investigation candidates some birds, like Blackbird (particularly susceptible to USUV), as key species in the virus circulation; but theirs role must be deepen investigated, to discern causal relationships from spurious correlations. The obtained data seem to indicate an early positive association between USUV circulation and number of bird species, followed by a decreasing effect (figure). This particular dynamic seem to combine the opposed hypothesis postulated to describe the relation between arbovirus circulation and biodiversity. Obtained results stressed out the added value of combining bird and mosquito data to understand arbovirus ecology. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Poster Presentations I 117 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.164 Development of serological tools to detect antibodies to zoonotic arboviruses in sera of neurological disease cases of humans, livestock and horses in southern Africa antibodies in forestry workers and individuals suspected of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Netherlands S. Jahfari National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands Purpose: Substantial exposure to Borrelia miyamotoi occurs through bites from Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Netherlands, which also transmit Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A flu-like illness with high fever, resembling Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, has been attributed to Borrelia miyamotoi-infections. Borrelia miyamotoi-infections associated with chronic meningoencephalitis have also been described in case reports. The long-term objective of our studies is to gain more insight of public health risk of B. miyamotoi. As a first attempt to describe the exposure of B. miyamotoi in the Netherlands, using a newly developed serological assay, we determined here the seroprevalence of anti-B. miyamotoi antibodies in different risk groups within the general population. Methods & Materials: Assuming that an IgG antibody response against Borrelia miyamotoi antigens reflects (endured) infection, the seroprevalence in different risk groups was examined. Antibodies to the 118 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY Nile virus strain from Turkey K. Ergunay1, T. Bakonyi2, N. Nowotny3, A. Ozkul4 1 Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 2Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, Vienna, Austria, 3University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, 4Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Purpose: Serosurveillance reports, sporadic human and equine cases and vector screening studies have revealed widespread WNV circulation inTurkey. Partial genomic sequences have so far suggested the activity of lineage 1 viruses. The complete genome of the WNV strain (WNV-T2), isolated from an equine with febrile disease inCentral Anatolia in 2011, was sequenced and analyzed. Methods & Materials: Viral RNA was extracted from Vero cell culture supernatant and converted to complementary DNA via commercial assays. The viral genome was amplified via continuous Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays using WNV lineage 1 specific primers as previously described. Amplification products were directly sequenced by Sanger’s method. The obtained sequences were aligned and overlapping regions were compiled. Three regions, not covered by the reactions, were amplified with novel primers and sequenced to complete the viiral genome. Results: The viral genome consisted of 11026 nucleotides (nt), where 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions comprised 93 (nt:1-93) and 630 bases (nt:10396-11026), respectively. The putative open reading frame (nt:93-10395) was translated to a 3433 aminoacid polypeptide that encoded viral capsid (C, 1-105), C-anchor peptide (ER, 106-123), premembrane protein (prM, 124-290), envelope protein (E, 291-791), non-structural proteins NS1 (792-1143), NS2A (1144-1374), NS2B (1375-1505), NS3 (1506-2124), NS4A (2125-2250), Peptide 2k (22512273), NS4B (2274-2528) and NS5 (2529-3433). T2 strain grouped with WNV lineage 1 clade 1a viruses. Comparison of the T2 sequence with several lineage 1 viruses revealed 0.7% to 20.6% divergence. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated T2 to form a separate group with the WNV strain ArB310/67, isolated from theCentral African Republicin 1967. Network analysis indicated a closer location of T2 to the common ancestor and a closer network with IS98-Israel and PaH001-Tunisia strains. T2 strain retained the original envelope glycosylation motif and lacked substitutions associated with attenuated or enhanced neurovirulence. However, aminoacid variations with unknown implications were noted. Conclusion: The WNV Turkish strain T2 has been observed to be closely -related with the Central African Strain ArB310/67. It is genetically distinct from viruses fromEastern Europe, albeit with common ancestors circulating and/or originating from the Mediterranean region. 22.167 Studies of vector competence of Italian Aedes albopictus populations by experimental infections with Chikungunya virus C. Fortuna, M. E. Remoli, M. Di Luca, F. Severini, L. Toma, E. Benedetti, P. Bucci, M. G. Ciufolini, D. Boccolini, R. Romi Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is endemic in Africa, India and South-East Asia. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, both vectors of CHIKV, are two mosquito species co-existing in the Indian Ocean region. In the Reunion Island, a single mutation in the viral envelope has been selected leading to high levels of replication and a short extrinsic incubation period in Ae. albopictus. In 2005 the mutated CHIKV spread from the Indian Ocean producing large epidemics in India, Southeast Asia and Italy. Purpose: To evaluate the vector competence of several Italian populations of Ae. albopictus by experimental infections with CHIKV using a membrane feeding apparatus Methods & Materials: Experimental infections were performed using CHIKV GB M2V2 seed, isolated from serum of a patient during the Italian outbreak (2007). Nine laboratory colonies, from different Italian regions, were tested. Females 8-12 days old were fed and monitored for 3 weeks after the infected meal. CHIKV titre of infected mosquitoes was evaluated both by quantitative Real Time PCR and titration by Plaque Forming Units/ml in VERO cells. Infection, Dissemination, and Transmission Rates (IR, DR, TR) were assessed by detection of the virus in body, legs plus wings and saliva respectively. Results: All tested Ae. albopictus populations resulted susceptible to the CHIKV infection with similar trend of viral titres analyzed at different time points. Six populations showed viral dissemination starting from day 2 p.i. From day 3 p.i. the virus was detected in legs plus wings in all tested populations. We detected high values of IR and DR in all tested populations. The viral titre increased, both in the body and in legs plus wings of tested infected females, reaching the higher value of dissemination on day 7 p.i. The analysis of the TR, to determine the capacity of the considered populations to transmit the virus, is still in progress Conclusion: Our preliminary results demonstrate the susceptibility of all tested populations to CHIKV infection and the virus ability to quickly disseminate in the processed specimens. These findings confirm that Ae. albopictus could represent a potential threat in Italy playing an important role as CHIKV vector 22.168 Addressing the risk of dengue virus transmission in developing country context: The case of Dhaka, Bangladesh P. Dhar-Chowdhury1, C. E. Haque2, R. Lindsay3, S. Hossian4, M. Drebot3 1 University of Manitoba; National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 3 National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 4University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada Purpose: Southeast Asian countries including Bangladesh have remained hyperendemic for dengue due to unplanned urbanization, overcrowding, poverty and health inequalities. In recognition of the need for a multidisciplinary, scientific research on this problem, we applied an “Ecohealth Approach” to understand dengue virus (DENV) transmission and social-ecological risk factors in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods & Materials: Multiple disciplinary aspects were encapsulated by examination of: i) rates of human exposure to DENV by identifying individuals (via a serosurvey in 1200 households/season for three seasons) with IgM and IgG antibodies; ii) abundance of dengue vector during different seasons in the same households; iii) self-risk perception and knowledge, attitudes, and practices by the community members. Data included in the analysis are: a) four vector surveys [i.e., pupal surveys conducted in 2537 households (monsoon season 20112013) and 459 households (dry season 2012)]; b) two serosurveys [ i.e., serosurveys conducted in 1126 households (pre monsoon season 2012), 1130 households (630 paired sera and 500 replacement sera during post monsoon season 2012), and 817 households in post monsoon 2013 for seroconversion]; c) socio-demographic survey of 300 households; and d) 12 focus group discussions and 18 key informant interviews. Results: Competent dengue vectors were detected in >40% and 12% of households during the monsoon and dry seasons respectively. The monsoon and dry seasonal pupal index were 0.40 and 0.33 respectively for the selected 12 wards. Only 8 types of key containers and two types of ecological clusters are responsible for 72% of pupal distribution. More than 80% IgG and nearly 3% IgM were positive during pre- and post-monsoon serosurvey. Among the IgM positives, in-house PRNTs, using a serial dilution of sera mixed with a DENV serotype, are being carried out. There are significant variations in dengue risk perception between lower and higher socioeconomic groups. Also, experts ranked dengue risk at a much lower level than lay persons and experts emphasized the need for stronger institutional measures to control dengue outbreaks. Conclusion: From this study, we were able to capture multidimensionality in dengue transmission, as well as to determine the need for effective dengue transmission knowledge and awareness enhancement campaign for community target groups. 22.169 Modulation of cytokine activity by tetracycline and doxycycline alters disease course in experimental Ebola, Marburg and Lassa virus infections T. Fredeking1, G. Ignatyev2, A. Atrasheuskaya2, F. A. Diaz-Quijano3 1 Antibody Systems, Inc., Hurst, TX, USA, 2State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology (Vector), Koltsovo, Russian Federation, 3 Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Purpose: The absence of readily available and effective vaccines for Ebola, Marburg and Lassa virus infections has dictated the development viable post exposure treatment modalities that can be used early on in the disease course. Mononuclear phagocytic cells are activated upon infection and the resulting release of soluble host factors, in particular cytokines and their soluble receptors, in response to the pathogen and are important players in the pathogenesis of these viruses. It has been shown that the systemic release of soluble host factors, in particular cytokines and their soluble receptors, in response to the pathogen are important players in the pathogenesis of these viruses. Increases in the production of cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2, -4, -6, and -10), as well as chemokines (MCP-1, MIP1-α, MIP1-β, IP-10 and RANTES) play an important role in the outcome of Ebola and Marburg infections, and although the key cytokines in Lassa fever are somewhat different, it is clear that immunomodulation of cytokine release may be a viable target for therapy. Methods & Materials: Challenge virus Ebola virus, strain <May>; Marburg, Popp strain; Lassa, strain Josiah Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever experiments were performed in the maximum-containment biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) of the SRC VB “Vector.” Animals Ebola 4-week-old BALB/c mice (haplotype H-2k) were used in the experiments with Ebola virus. Mice weighed 10-12 grams. The animals were received from the vivarium of SRC VB “Vector” and kept at a standard ration. Marburg Outbreed guinea pigs weighing 200-220 grams Lassa 4-week-old CBA/calac mice (haplotype H-2k) Results: 20% Survival rate from Ebola infection when doxycycline was administered at day 3 through 7. 33% Survival rate from Marburg virus, but only when doxycycline was administered at day 3 through 7. 70% Survival rate from Lassa virus when tetracycline was administered at day 3 through 7. 80% Survival rate from Lassa virus when doxycycline was administered at day 3 through 7. Controls without drug had a 40% Survival rate. Conclusion: Cytokine levels remained elevated in the control group but declined upon the initiation of tetracycline therapy. Soluble receptor levels increased in the treatment group while there was little if any increase in the control group. November 1, 2014 22.165 High seroprevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi 22.166 Complete genome sequence of the first West International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: A high proportion of cases of neurological disease remain undiagnosed worldwide. Diagnosis is complicated by diseases caused by veterinary pathogens, such as African horse sickness and equine encephalosis viruses, poor awareness of the zoonotic agents with only a small proportion of cases being subjected to laboratory investigation, and the large proportion of infections that are asymptomatic. Molecular assays and reliable antibody tests to diagnose infection during acute or later stages of infection are not available for less known arboviruses. Our aim is to increase our differential serological assay repertoire to complement our recently developed molecular assays to detect arboviral contribution to neurological disease burden and relevance to veterinary vaccine development strategies. In the present study we evaluate the potential of recombinant and cell culture antigen serological assays to detect antibodies to WNV, Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Shuni virus in humans, livestock and horses. Methods & Materials: Recombinant RVF nucleoprotein (rRVFN) and WNV envelope (ectodomain region) (rWNVEcto) proteins were produced using a bacterial expression system and purified using histidine tag purification methods. The rRVFN was conjugated to HRP for use in IgM capture ELISA. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to produce whole-virus antigen derived from tissue culture cells infected with a Shuni virus. Standard checkerboard titration was used to determine optimal conditions for the ELISAs. Results: Indirect and capture ELISAs using rRVFN and rWNVEcto as antigens (Ag) and rRVFN conjugated to HRP was used effectively to detect IgG and IgM antibodies to RVF and WNV in sera of humans and livestock, as well as horses respectively. IgG to Shuni virus was also detected in horse sera screened in an indirect cell culture Ag ELISA. Conclusion: Development of reliable in-house serological and molecular tools have aided in preliminary efforts to determine the etiology of hitherto undiagnosed cases of neurological disease in humans and animals, and highlighted that arboviruses are being overlooked as a possible cause of neurological disease in southern Africa. Expansion of the assays to include more arboviruses prevalent in southern Africa is recommended. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 T. Jooste1, C. van Eeden1, V. Stivaktas1, R. Swanepoel1, M. Venter2 1 University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 2Global Disease Detection, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa GlpQ protein of B. miyamotoi were determined by an in house Luminexassay. Sera from different groups were used for this study; blood donors, erythema migrans patients, suspected Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis patients and in individuals with serologically confirmed or unconfirmed Lyme neuroborreliosis. Results: Sera from nine out of ten confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi infections from Russia were found positive, and no significant crossreactivity was observed in secondary syphilis patients. The seroprevalence in blood donors was set at 2.0% (95% CI 0.4–5.7%). Elevated seroprevalences in erythema migrans patients 5.6% (3.0-9.2%) and in individuals with serologically confirmed 7.4% (2.0-17.9%) or unconfirmed 8.6% (1.8-23%) Lyme neuroborreliosis were not significantly different from blood donors. The prevalence of anti-Borrelia miyamotoi antibodies among forestry workers 10% (5.3-16.8%) and in patients with serologically unconfirmed but suspected Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis 14.6% (9.0-21.8%) were significantly higher compared the seroprevalence in blood donors. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that infections with Borrelia miyamotoi occur in tick-exposed individuals in the Netherlands. In addition, Borrelia miyamotoi infections should be considered in patients reporting tick bites and febrile illness with unresolved aetiology in the Netherlands, and other countries where Ixodes ricinus ticks are endemic. Poster Presentations I 119 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.170 A case control study of risk factors associated with dengue fever in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan encephalitis (TBE) and West Nile fever (WNF) in the South of Russia S. Vodyanitskaya, L. Ermakova, N. Pshenichnaya Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation Purpose: Flaviviridae family is characterized by marked antigenic cross-reactivity between its members. Blood samples of the population of the South of Russia were screened for the presence of anti-TBE virus IgG and anti-WNF virus IgG in ELISA. The positivity coefficient (PK)—the ratio of optical density (OD) of serum tested to OD value of negative control—was used as a differentiation criterion. Methods & Materials: Human antibodies to TBE were detected with test-systems “VectoVKE-IgG” (Novosibirsk), “EIA-VKE-IgG” (“Ecolab”, Moscow), “DS-EIA-Anti-VKE-G” (Nizhny Novgorod). For the detection of antibodies to WNF virus “VectorNile-IgG” test-system was used (Novosibirsk). Results: Results obtained were classified into three groups. Group I included blood sera which reacted only with homologous antigen to WNF or TBE. Group II contained sera, cross-reacting with antigens of “VectorNile-IgG” and “EIA-VKE-IgG” test-systems. Group III included donor blood sera, reacting simultaneously with antigens of all three manufacturers’ test-systems. 120 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY In Group I antibodies to WNF were detected with “VectorNile-IgG” in 23 sera (38.3 %). The antibodies to TBE were detected with the use of “VectoVKE-IgG” in 10 sera (16.7 %). With the use of “DS-EIAAnti-VKE-G” homologous results were obtained in 13 sera (21.7 %). When comparing OD reactions it was found that with “VectoVKE-IgG” the OD index was 4.3 times higher than results, obtained with “DS-EIAAnti-VKE-G”. Thus, we could consider reaction with diagnosticum “VectoVKE-IgG” positive. Group II included blood sera simultaneously reacting with antigens of “VectorNile-IgG” and “EIA-VKE-IgG” diagnosticums; specific density of such sera constituted 16.7 %. Analysis of sera OD revealed that its value ranged from 1.16 to 10.3. On this base 10 sera positively reacting with two antigens were classified as follows: seven were attributed to sera with higher OD index to WNF, three—to TBE, with OD values exceed those to “VectorNile-IgG” 1.2-1.9 times. Group III was made of two blood sera which tested positive to all three antigenic preparations used. The serum was attributed to WNF by OD index. Conclusion: The use of two proven diagnosticums for serodiagnosis of TBE and WNF is advisable, because the use of only one test-system could limit informational content of results by 40-60 %. 22.172 Toscana virus and Leishmania nucleic acids in sandflies, Northern Cyprus K. Ergunay , O. Erisoz Kasap , S. Orsten , F. Gunay , E. Dincer , K. Oter4, A. Ozkul5, B. Alten2 1 Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 2Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Ankara, Turkey, 3Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey, 4Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, 5Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 1 2 1 2 3 Purpose: Phleboviruses and Leishmania parasites are causative agents of two important neglected infectous diseases prevalent around the Meditarranean area and constitute significant public health threats to indigenous populations and travellers. Epidemiological association of phleboviruses, including Toscana virus (TOSV), a phlebovirus with neuroinvasive potential, with Leishmaniasis due to the common sandfly vectors has been recently described. This study was undertaken to identify Phlebovirus and Leishmania activity in field-collected sandflies from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a Leishmaniasis endemic area with preliminary evidence for phlebovirus infections. Methods & Materials: Sandfly sampling was carried out in localizations around Girne province in 2013. A total of 1484 specimens were evaluated. In selected specimens (n:614), morphological identification to species level was performed. Phlebovirus and Leishmania nucleic acids were sought via nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays in 870 samples distributed in 45 pools with subsequent characterization of the amplicons via sequencing. Pools with detectable nucleic acids were further evaluated via DNA barcoding based on partial cytochrome oxidase sequences. Results: Sandfly specimens belonging to 7 species were captured, where Phlebotomus perfiliewi sensu lato (n:536, 87.3%) and P. tobbi (n:52, 8.5%) comprise the most abundant species, followed by P. papatasi, Larroussius sp., P. jacusieli, Sergentomyia minuta and Sergentomyia sp. In 2 (4.4%) and 3 (6.7%) pools, Leishmania and Phlebovirus nucleic acids were detected. The Leishmania sp. were characterized as L. infantum and phlebovirus strains were identified as TOSV that grouped with genotype A strains, prevalent in several Mediterranean countries and in Turkey. Leishmania and TOSV positive pools originated from the identical sampling localization. Barcoding revealed Leishmania and TOSV positive pools to include P. tobbi and P.perfiliewi s.l./P. tobbi sandflies, respectively. Conclusion: These findings reveal the presence of TOSV in sandflies for the first time in Cyprus and suggest P.perfiliewi s.l./P. tobbi as probable vectors. Leishmania and TOSV were detected in sandflies collected from the same sampling site, confirming co-localization and circulation of these agents. 22.173 Seroprevalence and asymptomatic carriage of Leishmania spp. in Austrian soldiers returning from missions in the Lebanon, Syria and Bosnia A. G. Obwaller1, W. Poeppl2, A. Graf-Langheinz3, G. Mooseder4, A. Faas4, J. Walochnik2 1 Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports, Vienna, Austria, 2Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 3National Defence Academy, Vienna, Austria, 4Military Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria Purpose: Leishmaniases are caused by the protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, ranging from cutaneous lesions to visceral disease. Especially, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region leishmaniases are a major public health problem and occur in 14 of the 22 countries of the region. Despite this, leishmaniases increase in conflict areas, where sanitation and hygiene practices as well as medical prevention and treatment were collapsed. Humanitarian assistance or peace-keeping missions allow extensive contact with the local population and environment which increases the chance of getting into contact with endemic infectious diseases. Aim: To assess the risk factors and exposure to Leishmania spp. in Austrian soldiers serving in UN or EU peace-keeping missions inSyria,Lebanon and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Methods & Materials: During an explorative cross-sectional serological study in June and July 2013, serum, EDTA whole blood samples and epidemiological data were collected from 225 healthy soldiers. Antibodies were tested using a commercial ELISA. All seropositive and borderline subjects were then tested for the presence of Leishmania DNA by PCR using the LITSR/L5.8 S primer pair and the respective Leishmania species were identified by DNA sequencing. Results: In total, 18 out of 225 individuals (8%) tested positive and 12 (5%) showed borderline results in the serological screening. Broken down to the operation areas, the data showed an expected higher seroprevalence in soldiers returning from Syria (12% positive, 6% borderline) and Lebanon (7% positive, 5% borderline). Individuals returning from Bosnia and Herzegovina showed a seroprevalence of 3%. Out of the 12 seropositive/borderline samples from Syria tested by ELISA 10 were also positive by PCR. All PCR amplicons were identified as belonging to the Leishmania donovani/infantum complex. Interestingly, Leishmania DNA only detected in the samples from Syria. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the risk of being exposed to Leishmania spp. is highest inSyria and lowest inBosnia. For a detailed risk assessment further investigation such as vector/ pathogen-monitoring, epidemiological studies in mission areas and recurring cross-sectional studies, especially before and after missions, should be performed. 22.174 Identification of novel T cell epitopes on Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus and confirmation of long-lived memory T cell responses D. Goedhals1, J. Paweska2, F. Burt3 1 University of the Free State/National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Labolatory Service, SnadringhamJohannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 3UFS/NHLS, Bloemfontein, South Africa Purpose: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a member of the Nairovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family. This tickborne virus is associated with haemorrhagic fever in humans, with a fatality rate of approximately 30%. The negative-stranded RNA genome consists of three segments (S, M and L) coding for the nucleoprotein, the envelope glycoproteins (GN and GC), and the viral polymerase respectively. Although T lymphocyte responses are known to play a role in protection from and clearance of many viral infections, specific T cell epitopes have yet to be identified for CCHFV and immune correlates of protection have not been defined. Methods & Materials: A panel of 156 overlapping peptides covering the CCHFV nucleoprotein and the structural glycoproteins, GN and GC, were screened by Elispot assay to detect interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ten subjects with previous CCHFV infection. Cell depletion studies were performed to confirm whether the responses identified were due to CD8+ or CD4+ T cells. Epitope conservation was evaluated by comparing the amino acid residues to the sequences of geographically distinct CCHFV isolates available on GenBank. Results: Sixteen novel T cell epitopes were identified predominantly on the nucleoprotein, with only a single subject reacting to two epitopes on the glycoprotein GC. No single epitope was immunodominant, but all subjects showed reactivity to at least one T cell epitope. These responses were present at high frequency and detectable several years after the acute infection despite the absence of continued antigenic stimulation, with the time since infection ranging from 10 months to 13 years. Depletion studies confirmed that IFN-γ production was mediated chiefly by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Amino acid sequence conservation was high among southern African isolates, with a maximum of one amino acid difference across each 19mer peptide. Conclusion: The novel epitopic regions identified in this study represent the first such T cell epitopes to be described following natural infection with CCHFV. These findings provide confirmation of long-lived memory T cell responses in survivors which may aid vaccine development and evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity. 22.175 Genetic marker tools for identifying tropical human bed bugs and bat bugs: Leptocimex inordinatus R. Potiwat Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand Purpose: To differntiation of human bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus) and bat bugs(Leptocimex inordinatus) from bat cave in Thailand. Methods & Materials: We applied molecular markers to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to clarify Leptocimex inordinatus (Hemipterus: Cimicidae) from a bat cave in Thailand. Samples from individual adult L. inordinatus were extracted for molecular identification, and two genes, 16S rRNA and COI were used to evaluate each genetic sequence according to the manufacturer’s protocol. This phylogenetic tree was constructed by using the MEGA version 5.10 programs with default parameters. Results: Phylogenetic trees revealed that L. inordinatus are in a separate genetic group to Cimex hemipterus, and also displayed the closest relative bat bug species, Cacodmus vicinus. These results help us to clarify the genetic lineage between tropical human bedbugs (C. hemipterus) and bat bugs (L. inordinatus). The molecular identification of L. inordinatus has never been reported. Conclusion: Short mitochondrial gene COI fragments are commonly used as the standard barcode region for insects and animals. However, this mitochondrial gene sequence can be altered with the insertion of bacteria that effect mtDNA, meaning species identification based on mtDNA might not be possible for many insects (Whitworth et al, 2007). Here, we used 16S rRNA of mtDNA to identify L. inordinatus. The results showed positive results at 134 bp, but genetic sequences from the database were rarely reported (data not shown). Finally, our study suggests that the molecular genetic loci of COI and 16S rRNA can be used to identify L. inordinatus. This study described the genetic information and potential molecular identification method for L. inordinatus from Thailand. November 1, 2014 22.171 Differential serodiagnosis of tick-borne virus International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Among vector-borne diseases dengue fever (DF) is the most rapidly spreading viral infection that affects human population throughout the world, transmitted mainly by the bite of female mosquito Aedes aegypti. Between August and November 2013, an outbreak of dengue fever occurred in Swat valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK) province, Pakistan. To establish the relationship of recent dengue infection in current outbreak and potential risk factors, this matched case-control study was conducted. Methods & Materials: Patients presented with acute febrile illness of two to seven days, myalgia, and headache to the Saidu Sharif Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat and confirmed by laboratory diagnosis (NS1 rapid detection test) were approached to participate in the study. For each case of DF, one hospital control was selected from the wards other than infectious diseases and was negative for any clinical sign of DF. Controls were matched with cases on the date of admission to the hospital. Data about potential risk factors was collected on a pre-structured questionnaire from the cases and controls in a face-toface interview. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate the strength of the association between the potential risk factors and occurrence of DF. Results: A total of 133 cases and 133 controls were included. Significant associations were found between DF and travel to endemic area (OR=15.73; 95% CI: 3.248-76.271), uncovered water container in bathroom (OR=4.51; 95% CI: 1.598-12.736), stagnant water in drainage holes (OR=5.25; 95% CI 1.719-16.064), water supply (public or private) (OR=5.63; 95% CI: 1.866-17.030), and family size (OR=2.80; 95% CI: 1.348-5.834). Monthly income (OR=0.07897, 95% CI: 0.0590.416) was found as protecting factor against dengue infection. Conclusion: This study was conducted to find an association between DF and potential risk factor in the current outbreak of DF in Swat. There are several factors like travel to endemic area, uncovered water container in bathroom, stagnant water in drainage holes, water supply and family size that are significantly associated with outbreak of dengue fever in district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. By avoiding or eliminates these risk factors, future outbreaks could be controlled. Enhanced sanitary practices and awareness of masses could further reduce the risk. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 S. Ahmad1, M. Chaudhry1, H. B. Rashid1, H. Ali2, M. Ahmad1, M. H. Mushtaq1 1 University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, Pakistan, 2Dengue Cell, Swat, Pakistan Poster Presentations I 22.176 Potential Animal Reservoirs of Toscana Virus and Co-infections with Leishmania infantum E. Dincer1, S. Gargari2, A. Ozkul3, K. Ergunay4 1 Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey, 2Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 3Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 4Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Purpose: Toscana virus (TOSV), a sandfly-borne phlebovirus, is an important agent of human meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean region. Mechanisms of TOSV maintenance in times when the vector sandflies are inactive and the impact of potential animal reservoirs 121 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 • SATURDAY Culex pipiens (fam: Culicidae) in Belgrade, Serbia 2012–2013 M. Djordjević1, N. P. Stajkovic2, B. Pešić3 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia, 2MIlitary Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia, 3Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology, Belgrade, Serbia Purpose: West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic, vector-borne virus within the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. West Nile natural cycle involves birds and mosquitoes. Many species of wild birds might act as vertebrate amplifying hosts, whereas humans, horses and other mammals are considered incidental or dead-end hosts. Methods & Materials: Following the evidence of WNV circulation in humans in the summer 2012, mosquito traps (BG Sentinel®) were located in 30 different sites in the territory of Belgrade. The collection sites were characterized by the contemporaneous presence of wild birds, potential reservoirs of the virus, and an increased population of the competent vector Cx. pipiens. Results: One hundred fifty samples were collected and 20 female mosquitoes were identified as Cx. Pipiens. Samples were tested in the Veterinary Specialized Institute-Kraljevo, Serbia. The RT-PCR technique identified 10 positive samples (6.66%). and sequencing classified the WNV circulating strain as Lineage 2. From June to September 2013 the circulation of WNV in mosquitoes in the Belgrade area was investigated as previously described. A total of 259 samples were analyzed by RAMP WNV test and WNV genome was detected in 45samples(17.37%). The number of positive samples varied from one in June to 12 in September with a peak in July (15) and August (17) In order to confirm the results of the RAMP test and to determinate the Lineage of the virus, the samples were sent to the OIE reference laboratory for West Nile Fever, in Teramo, Italy. Conclusion: RAMP WNV test provides rapid and reliable results for use in detection of West Nile Virus from mosquitoes. 122 IMED 2014 in Vietnam N. T. T. Thuy1, F. Hasebe2, K. Morira3 1 National Institute of Hygiene and epidemiology, Ha noi, HN, Viet Nam, 2Institute of Tropical Medicine., Nagasaki, Japan, 3Institute of Tropical Medicine., Nagasaki, Viet Nam Purpose: Large outbreak of dengue virus infection occurred in Vietnam at intervals of 10 years. In this study, a total of 444 and 896 blood specimens were collected in 2012 and 2013, Vietnam. Methods & Materials: RNA extraction: Total RNA was extracted from blood samples using QIAGEN kits. RNA was then amplified via RT-PCR using degenerate primers and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using ClustalX. Results: Serotyped DENV from blood samples in 2012, DENV-1, -2, -3 and -4 were 29.8%, 44.7%, 9.3% and 16%, respectively. Comparing 2012 and 2013 serotyped samples, an increase from 9.3% to 25.6% in DENV-3 and from 16.1% to 37.2% in DENV-4 was observed. Number of DENV-3 case-patients in the Northern increased to 67.3% and of DENV-4 case- patients in the Central to 41.9% in 2013. Among genotype I of DENV-1 circulating in Vietnam, different sub-clusters of viruses have been shifted and some sub-clusters exist for long period. Genotype shift was occurred within DENV-2 in Vietnam, with Asian 1 lineage viruses entirely displacing the Asian/American lineage viruses between 2004 and 2006. All Vietnamese DENV-3 isolates were fell into the genotype II and formed a distinct cluster. One isolate in Hanoi in 2012 was belong to another subtype of genotype I which was not reported in Vietnam. Vietnamese DENV-4 isolates formed a distinct cluster and this cluster was observed to group together with isolates from other countries, except for some strains isolated in 2010 and 2011, in Vietnam. Conclusion: Huge dengue outbreak have been reported in the Central provinces of Vietnam in 2013. DENV-4 was first detected in Vietnam in 1984 but with a low incidence and this was followed by a long period where this serotype could not be detected. Then, it became the predominant serotype in the outbreaks from late 1999 to 2002 but later became rare because DENV-1&2 predominated. It seems a changing pattern is emerging recently with DENV-3 and -4 becoming the predominant serotypes. 22.179 Risk mapping of West Nile virus transmission to humans in Spain A. Sánchez Gómez1, M. J. Sierra1, M. Martinez-Aviles2, E. Fernandez-Carrion2, J. M. Sanchez-Vizcaino2, S. Santos1, C. Amela1 1 Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equity, Madrid, Spain, 2University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) infection is an emergent disease in Europe. Since 2010, areas with confirmed human cases have further spread and the number of cases has increased markedly. In Spain, two cases of human WNV disease were confirmed in 2010 in Andalusia (southern Spain). In the same area, outbreaks in horses have been detected since 2010 to 2013. Objective: To assess the risk of WNV transmission to humans in Spain, categorizing risk areas, in order to set up recommendations for risk-based surveillance and early detection of potential viral circulation. Methods & Materials: Risk maps for WNV transmission to humans were obtained. Predisposed areas (where existing conditions might facilitate the transmission), imperilled areas (where transmission to animals or humans has been previously detected) and areas not at risk were identified following the risk assessment tool recently proposed (July 2013) by the European Center of Disease Prevention and Control. Predisposing conditions were defined based on environmental and climatic variables as well as avian and human host presence and combined using a multi criteria decision analysis model based in GIS. Results: Imperilled areas were located mainly in Andalusia (near Guadalquivir marshes and adjoining wetlands) but also in some areas of central (Castilla La Mancha) and northeastern Spain (Cataluña). Predisposed areas were widely distributed, as propitious climatic and ecologic conditions, such as long periods of high temperatures and abundance of wetlands, habitat of avian hosts including migratory birds from endemic areas, are present in Spain. Conclusion: This study highlights the vulnerability of Spain to WNV transmission and contributes to identify areas at higher risk. Reinforcing animal and human WNV surveillance, within a multisectoral and collaborative approach, is needed for an appropriate response to WNV in Spain. 22.180 First molecular detection of human relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes ricinus from Portugal M. Nunes, N. Lopes, T. Carreira, C. Maia, A. P. G. Almeida, M. L. Veira Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (IHMT,UNL), Lisbon, Portugal Purpose: Human pathogenic Borrelia species can be divided in two groups: Lyme Borreliosis (LB) group which agents are widely spread through Europe and North America and are transmitted by hard ticks; the relapsing fever (RF) spirochetes, mainly transmitted by soft ticks. Borrelia miyamotoi belongs to RF group, although it can also be transmitted by Ixodes species of LB, such as Ixodes scapularis, I. persulcatus and I. ricinus. B. miyamotoi was first isolated from vector in Japan (1995), and the first human cases were reported in Russia (2011), and more recently, in USA and Netherlands. In Europe, LB is the most common tick-borne disease, caused by spirochetes belonging to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (B.b.s.l). In Portugal several studies have confirmed LB spirochetes circulation in tick and human populations. Objective: collect and identify ticks from vegetation, at Tapada Nacional de Mafra, (TNM, Portugal); determine B.b.s.l. infection rate in captured ticks, contributing to update tick’s fauna and LB epidemiology. Methods & Materials: Between May 2012 and May 2014, ticks were captured and identified taxonomically. Two different nested-PCR protocols, targeting ITS region between 5S and 23S rRNA and flagellin genes were used for B.b.s.l.DNA detection. LB species were identified by RFLP and sequencing. Results: 2,999 ticks were collected from vegetation belonging to Ixodes, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma and Dermacentor species, being I. ricinus the most prevalent. 35 out of 731 ticks (4.8%) showed B.b.s.l DNA and Borrelia garinii was the most prevalent species. B. miyamotoi was detected in one I. ricinus nymph, and sequencing showed that the genotype is close to those found in other countries (Poland, Russia,Switzerland). Conclusion: B.b.s.l. DNA was found in I. ricinus, being nymphs the most infected stage. The genotype of B. miyamotoi circulating in TNM is closed to those already described in vectors, animal and human hosts. This result suggests that even though no human cases have been so far reported in Portugal, more studies should be done. Moreover it’s possible that ticks could carry both B miyamotoi and LB spirochetes, increasing human co-infection risk. 22.181 Putative new lineage of West Nile virus in the mosquito Uranotaenia unguiculata G. Kemenesi1, M. Oldal1, A. Kutas1, B. Dallos1, F. Földes1, V. Németh1, P. Reiter2, T. Bakonyi3, K. Bányai4, F. Jakab1 1 University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 2Institute Pasteur, Paris, France, 3 Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary, 4Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary Purpose: Mosquito-borne viruses (MBV) represent a considerable healthcare problem worldwide, causing numerous infections both in humans and animals. MBVs belong to a variety of virus families; most prominent members of MBVs are those within the Flaviviridae (eg. West Nile virus, Dengue virus, Usutu virus), Bunyaviridae (eg. Tahyna virus), and Togaviridae (eg. Sindbis virus). In many parts of Europe, the greatest medical and veterinary burden is attributed to flaviviruses, and particularly West Nile virus (WNV). WNV has been subdivided into at least eight distinct lineages (WNV-1 to WNV-8): WNV-1 and WNV-2 strains have been identified most frequently in human and animal diseases, while strains within WNV-3 to WNV-8 have been detected sporadically during MBV surveillance in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. We report the description of a novel putative lineage of WNV (WNV-9) which was identified during a 3-year surveillance of MBVs conducted in Southwest Hungary. Methods & Materials: A total of 23,029 female mosquitoes captured in a range of habitats in Hungary were tested for flaviviruses and orthobunyaviruses. WNV was detected in a single pool of Uranotaenia unguiculata. Sequence- and phylogenetic analyses for two different regions (NS5 and E) of the viral genome indicated the virus was different from other previously described WNV lineages. Results: In the phylogenetic tree, the Hungarian WNV sequence clustered with other WNV strains, but unambiguously formed a separate monophyletic branch. The NS5 gene-based analyses showed that the Hungarian novel WNV strain shared the greatest similarity with representatives of WNV-4 (up to 82%, phylogenetic distance: 0.413) and the putative lineage 8 strain (83%, phylogenetic distance: 0.360), originating from Russia and Spain, respectively. Similarly, the E genebased analyses indicated that the novel Hungarian WNV strain was different from the WNV strain that derived from the same mosquito species in Volgograd, Russia, which rather clustered together with WNV-4. Conclusion: These findings may indicate the presence of a novel lineage of WNV (WNV-9) in Europe. 22.182 Epidemiology of Tularaemia in South West Germany 2001–2013 C. Wagner-Wiening1, G. Pfaff2, I. Boone3 1 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden, 2Baden-Wuerttemberg State Health Office, Stuttgart, Germany, 3Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany November 1, 2014 22.177 Detection of West Nile Virus from mosquito 22.178 Changing pattern of DENV serotypes International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • are not thoroughly elucidated. Leishmaniasis is another sandfly-borne disease, endemic in several countries and has been continously reported in the Mediterranean region. Preliminary reports revealed that these agents were epidemiologically-related. This study investigates TOSV and Leishmania infections in dogs, cats, sheep and goats fromAdana andMersin provinces in southeasternTurkey, an Leishmaniasis endemic region. Methods & Materials: The study was conducted in districts of Mersin and Adana provinces, southern Anatolia, during May-September 2013. TOSV and Leishmania nucleic acids were sought via nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays, with subsequent sequencing of the amplicons. Results: Among 252 samples, TOSV RNA was detected in a total of 25 samples (9.9%), that comprise 24 dogs (9.5%) and a cat (0.4%). Partial sequences characterized in positive samples demonstrated TOSV genotype A and B strains. No association of TOSV detection or virus genotype with animal age, gender, location or collection date was noted. Leishmania DNA was investigated in 155 canine and 22 feline samples where Leishmania infanfum was identified in 2 canine (1.3%) and 1 feline (4.5%) plasma. The infected dogs were presenting with symptoms of canine leishmaniasis and concominant TOSV genotype B RNA in plasma. All other animals with detectable TOSV RNA were asymptomatic. Conclusion: Canine species can be suggested as the potential reservoir hosts of TOSV. Presence of TOSV genotype B and co-circulation of genotypes A and B have been described for the first time in southern Anatolia. TOSV genotype B and L. infantum co-infections were documented. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Poster Presentations I Purpose: Tularaemia is a rare zoonosis endemic inSouthwest Germany. We described cases notified in the federal state of BadenWuerttemberg during 2001–2013 in order to guide physicians’ practice towards an increased awareness of tularaemia especially among patients reporting tick bites. Methods & Materials: We defined cases as persons reported to the mandatory surveillance with clinical illness and detection of IgM and IgG specific antibodies against Francisella tularensis. We described cases by age, sex, symptoms, suspected route of transmission, pathogen, lag between day of onset and laboratory diagnosis, and geographical distribution. Results: Since 2001, forty-five cases (median age 52, range 1–86 years; 33 males) of human tularaemia were notified; two had reported travel history. Nineteen of 44 districts notified cases. The average annual number of tularaemia cases increased from two (2001-2007) up to six (2008–2013). Suspected vectors were hares, 10 cases (22%), ticks, 8 cases (18%) and mosquitoes, 3 cases (7%). In 24 (53%) cases, the source was unknown. Most cases showed ulceroglandular (41%) or glandular (15%) lesions; 27 (60%) were hospitalized. Lags between disease onset and diagnosis varied from seven days to three months. In six cases (13%), Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica was identified as the causative agent by culture or PCR. Conclusion: Long lags between disease onset and diagnosis indicate a delay in the identification of Francisella tularensis as causal pathogen. An increase in tickborne tularaemia indicates that ticks may play an important role in the pathogen transmission. Tularaemia should be included in the differential diagnosis among patients with fever and ulcerative lymphadenopathy, notably after tick bite exposure. 123 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.183 Dengue in India: An epidemiological perspective from Germany have vector competence for West Nile virus M. Leggewie1, M. Badusche1, M. Rudolf1, S. Jansen1, J. Börstler2, K. Huber1, A. Krüger3, J. Schmidt-Chanasit2, E. Tannich1, S. C. Becker4 1 Bernhard-Nocht-Institute For Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, 2 Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, 3 Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, 4FriedrichLoeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany Purpose: West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus with an avian primary host, can pose an infection risk to Germany since millions of birds migrate every year between West Nile endemic areas in south and southeast Europe to Germany. If competent vectors are present, introduction of WNV could establish an enzootic transmission cycle within the resident bird population in Germany. Furthermore, potential bridge vectors i.e mosquitoes that use both birds and mammals for blood meals, might induce epidemic WNV outbreaks in human and equine populations.Therefore, we analysed the ability of WNV circulation through German Culex mosquitoes with special emphasis on Culex torrentium and the separation of Culex pipiens sibling species with different host preferences. Methods & Materials: Egg rafts of Culex species collected over two subsequent seasons at geographically distinct sampling areas in 124 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY in sandflies in Portugal F. Amaro, L. Zé-Zé, M.-J. Alves National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal Purpose: Viruses within the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae family) are widely spread and emerging, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin. In this region Toscana virus is the most important sandfly-borne phlebovirus in what concerns to human health due to its neurotropism and consequent ability to cause central nervous system disease. Other recently described viruses are also being implicated in human disease such as Adria, Cyprus and Turkey viruses. On the other hand, Massilia, Punique and Granada are examples of newly found phleboviruses for which medical importance is yet to be determined. The main goal of this work was to conduct a field study to assess sandflies as possible phleboviruses’ vectors in Arrábida region, in south Portugal. Methods & Materials: Sandflies were collected with modified CDC light-traps from May to October 2007 and 2008 and pooled according to collection station, date of collection and gender. Pools were screened by RT-PCR for the presence of viral RNA and isolation attempts were made. Results: A novel putative virus was isolated in a pool of 53 P. perniciosus female sandflies. RT-PCR results showed amplification products of 391 bp for the nucleocapsid protein, an amplicon of 456 bp for the G2 glycoprotein and an amplicon of 284 bp, for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This virus was provisionally named Arrábida virus. Based on the analyzed genomic sequences, Arrábida virus is undoubtedly assigned to the Sandfly fever Naples virus species complex. Genetic analysis showed that the virus sequences present higher similarity with Massilia and Granada viruses nucleotide sequences. However, in G2 glycoprotein tree Arrábida virus clusters closer to Punique virus than to Massilia or Granada viruses at amino acid level. Conclusion: This is the first description of a phlebovirus isolation in sandflies in Portugal. Therefore, in addition to Toscana virus previously reported, there is, at least, one more sandfly-borne phlebovirus occurring in this country. Full genome sequencing is ongoing and further studies are planned to clarify the human health impact of Arrábida virus. This work was partly supported by the PTDC/SAU-SAP/119199/2010 FCT project. with thrombocytopenia syndrome in South Korea, 2013 J. Shin1, J. Kim1, Y.-S. Park2, D. Kwon1, G.-R. Bae1 Korean Centers for Disease Control and prevention, Cheongju, Korea, Republic of, 2Korea Centers for Disease Control and prevention, Cheongju, Korea, Republic of 1 Purpose: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by novel bunyavirus, SFTS virus (SFTSV), is an emerging vector-borne infectious disease. The disease was first identified in China, 2009. Based on the nationwide distribution of the vector, Haemophysalis longicornis, it has been suggested that SFTS can be occurred in South Korea. We conducted epidemiological investigations to determine the extent of SFTS and to find out epidemiological and clinical features of SFTS in South Korea. Methods & Materials: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have begun national surveillance since March 2013. Isolation of SFTSV from the patient’s serum and the detection of SFTSV RNA with polymerase chain reaction were performed to confirm the human infection of SFTS. Epidemiological investigations were conducted in all confirmed cases. Results: The diagnosis of SFTS was confirmed in 35 patients and 16 patients (45.7%) were dead in 2013. The 35 patients consisted of 17 males and 18 females with ages ranging from 28 to 84 and median age of 69 years. Twenty-eight patients (80.0%) were over 60-year-old. Fatal groups were statistically older than non-fatal group (p value <0.05) Geographically patients were uniformly distributed, except 6 patients (17.1%) in Jeju Province. Twenty patients (60.6%) were farmers living in rural areas. Main symptoms were fever (100.0%), diarrhea (62.9%), vomiting (42.9%), and the common abnormal results of laboratory tests were thrombocytopenia (100%) and leukocytopenia (88.9%). Neurologic symptoms occurred in 27 patients (80.0%) and were associated with fatality (p value <0.05) Conclusion: We confirmed and described characteristics of SFTS cases in Korea. Old population in rural area with field works is high risk group and requires precautions and changes of working habits. In the Asia-Pacific nations reported with H. longicornis, active surveillance system should be implemented to detect SFTS cases. 22.187 Circulation of zoonotic arboviruses in equine populations of Mallorca island J. Vanhomwegen1, J.-C. Manuguerra1, C. Beck2, R. G. García3, A. Figuerola3, S. Lecollinet2, M. López-Roig4, C. Rousseaux1, J. Serra-Cobo4 1 Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, 2European Reference Laboratory for equine diseases, Maisons-Alfort, France, 3Col·legi Oficial de Veterinaris de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 4Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Purpose: The presence of major arbovirus mosquito vector species, several potential animal reservoirs and a particularly favorable climate for vector-borne diseases, represents a significant health risk for the human and equine populations of Mallorca Island. For these reasons, microbiological monitoring of circulating arboviruses, particularly flaviviruses and alphaviruses causing equine and human encephalitis, was initiated. In this context, domestic horse populations from different localities placed near wetlands were used as “sentinel” hosts. Methods & Materials: Serum samples were collected from 235 horses between 2011 and 2012, and paired samples were taken from several horses during the study period to highlight seroconversion events reflecting recent arboviral infections. An in-house multiplex immune-assay (MIA) was used to screen equine sera for specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against 3 major arboviruses: WestNile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV) and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Results were confirmed using gold standard serological assays. Results: The overall IgG antibodies seroprevalence in the surveyed horse population was 8.5 % for WNV, 1.3 % for USUV and 0.9 % for TBEV. Two seroconversion events were detected between the spring of 2011 and the fall of 2012 for WNV and for USUV, respectively. The southern region was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of IgG antibodies against WNV. Conclusion: These observations highlight the active transmission of zoonotic arboviruses in Mallorca, particularly in the southern wetlands and salt marshes which (i) host a wide variety of waterfowl, (ii) are favorable to mosquito breeding and (iii) serve as a drop point for migratory birds. These findings reinforce the urgent need to conduct complementary studies, including serosurveys of the human population to identify risk groups and screening of collected mosquitoes to describe circulating arboviral strains. 22.188 West Nile virus lineage 2 isolated from Culex modestus mosquitoes in the Czech Republic, 2013: expansion of the European West Nile virus endemic area to the North? I. Rudolf1, T. Bakonyi2, O. Sebesta1, J. Mendel1, L. Betasova1, H. Blazejova1, K. Venclikova1, P. Strakova1, N. Nowotny3, Z. Hubalek1 1 Institute of Vertebrate Biology v.v.i, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic, 2Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary, 3University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Purpose: Because of the rapidly changing epidemiological situation regarding West Nile fever (WNF) in Europe, we decided to perform virological surveillance of mosquitoes for West Nile virus (WNV) to investigate the epidemiological relevance of WNF in our country. Methods & Materials: Mosquitoes were collected within reed belts of South-Moravian fishponds during July and August 2013 with the help of CDC minilight-CO2 baited traps, identified, and monospecific pools consisting of 50 Cx. modestus females were processed for molecular analysis and virus isolation. Generic primers targeting the NS5 region of flaviviruses were used for screening purposes. In case of positive samples, WNV-specific primers were applied in continuous RT-PCR for amplification of overlapping genome regions which cover the entire genome sequences of the detected viruses. Amplification products were subjected to direct sequencing and the sequences were aligned, compiled, and identified by BLAST search against the GenBank database. The original mosquito homogenates of PCR positive samples were inoculated intracerebrally into suckling mice. Results: A total of 32,500 females of Cx. modestus mosquitoes in 650 pools were examined for flaviviruses by RT-PCR. RNA of WNV-2 was detected in four pools:13-104 (collected at Nový fishpond on 8 August 2013); 13-329 (coll. at Nesyt fishpond on 23 August 2013); 13-479 (coll. at Mlýnský fishpond on 15 August 2013); and 13-502 (coll. at Mlýnský fishpond on 1 August 2013); minimum prevalence rate of WNV is therefore 1:8,125 (0.012%). Three of these pools killed specifically suckling mice after inoculation. Phylogenetic analysis based on full genome sequences demonstrated that the Czech WNV strains form two, closely related groups and they are clustered together with an Austrian WNV strain (goshawk; 2008), a Serbian WNV strain (Cx. pipiens; 2012) and an Italian WNV strain (human, 2011), while they differ partially from other European WNV-2 strains compared. Conclusion: Discovery of neuroinvasive WNV-2 in the Czech Republic has added another country to the list of WNV risk areas in Europe. This record presents the currently northernmost range of WNV-2 in Europe and highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance of (re-)emerging mosquito-borne viruses in Central Europe. November 1, 2014 22.184 Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium mosquitoes 22.185 Arrábida virus: First isolation of a phlebovirus 22.186 Epidemiologic characteristics of severe fever • Purpose: Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito borne viral disease with 30 fold increase in global incidence over the last five decades. Almost half the world’s population lives in countries where Dengue is endemic. About 50–100 million new Dengue infections are occurring annually in more than 100 endemic countries. Approximately 1.8 billion (> 70 %) of population at risk for Dengue worldwide live in SEAR and WPR bearing 75 % of the global Dengue burden. India contributes 19% of SEAR dengue burden. Methods & Materials: A National Strategy with eight elements is implemented in the country for prevention and control of Dengue. Diagostic facilities and proactive surveiallnce through a network of laboratories across the country. Results: In India dengue virus was first isolated in Calcutta in 1945, first evidence of dengue fever documented from Vellore district, Tamil Nadu 1956 and DHF from Calcutta in 1963. During last two decades the disease is spreading to newer geographical areas including rural areas with recurring outbreaks from various States. In 2012, total 50,222 cases reported, which increased to 75,808 in 2013, the highest since 1991. The actual figure may be much higher as all private sector hospitals are not reporting. All age of both the genders are affected. Though cases are increasing case fatality ratio has declined from 3.3% in 1996 to 0.3% in 2013 after the National Guidelines were developed in 2007. All 4 serotypes are in circulation. Aedes aegypti is the principal vector, but Ae. albopictus, has posed serious threats in certain geographical regions endowed with sylvatic environment leading to perennial transmission. Breeding habitats of both the vectors varies in different parts of the country. Seasonal trend of the disease is changing and the transmission window is expanding in recent years. Conclusion: Based on transmission potential at macro and micro levels, WHO SEARO grouped India as Category A Countries in 2010 where Dengue is a major public health problem. Average economic burden of dengue in India was estimated at US$29.3million. However, in absence of any drug or vaccine, increasing morbidity with varying clinical spectrum dengue has emerged as a serious public health challenge in India. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 K. Baruah1, P. K. Sen1, A. Dhariwal2 1 National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Delhi, Outside U.S. & Canada, India, 2National Vector Borne Disease Control Program, Dehli, India Germany were differentiated by molecular methods. Adult females, reared from the various egg rafts, were challenged with WNV by feeding of artificial blood meals. WNV infection status was subsequently analysed using a WNV specific qRT-PCR. Results: All of the tested Culex species and biotypes, most abundant and native to Germany, are susceptible to WNV infection at 25°C incubation temperature, with infection rates between 25,0 and 90,1%. The two ornithophilic species Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and Culex torrentium also promoted WNV infection at 18°C with infection rates similar to those at 25°C (35,0-85,0% at 18°C), whereas the mamalophilic species Culex pipiens biotype molestus did not support replication of WNV at low temperatures. Culex torrentium mosquitoes, which have not been established as WNV vector so far, were most efficient in amplifying WNV with maximum infection rates of 90,1% at 25°C. Furthermore, 84,5 to 97,8% of infected Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and Culex. torrentium mosquitoes had disseminating infections at 18 as well as 25°C. Conclusion: These findings indicate that a WNV enzootic infection cycle in Germany is possible. However, transmission of WNV to humans by Culex pipiens biotype molestus appears rather unlikely, since prolonged periods with temperatures of 25°C required for WNV replication in this mamalophilic species, are rarely being reached in Germany. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 125 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations I SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 22.189 What is the role of asymptomatic carriers in transmission of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis? Mathematical model of data from North West Uganda A. Biswas1, P. Sohal2, K. Baruah3, S. Sharma2, N. Wig1, P. Aggarwal1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India, 2 AIIMS, New Delhi, India, 3 National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, New Delhi, India 1 Purpose: Dengue epidemic has become a serious emerging infectious diseases and a major public health problem in India. Some of the Dengue Fever patients present with mild symptoms and some present with severe manifestations such as Dengue Haemorrahgic Fever (DHF), Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) and involvement of vital organs responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Exact pathogenetic mechanism of severity is still not clearly understood. It is hypothesized that high level of serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 and soluble Thrombomodulin are associated with severe Dengue Fever, bleeding and shock. 126 IMED 2014 • SATURDAY Portugal—Three unusual years of experience at the National Institute of Health L. Zé-Zé, F. Amaro, H. C. Osório, M. J. Alves National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal Purpose: Dengue virus (genus Flavivirus) is the etiological agent of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection endemic in tropics and subtropics. Four distinct serotypes (DEN-1-4) are recognized. Infection with Dengue causes a wide spectrum of human disease, from asymptomatic cases to classic dengue fever and more severe life threatening cases. Since 1991 the diagnostic of arboviral diseases, including Dengue virus, is performed at the Centre for Vectors and Infectious Disease Research/National Institute of Health (CEVDI/INSA). Annually the laboratory identifies 15-20 dengue cases imported from endemic areas, mainly Brazil, but also Timor, India, Cape Verde, Angola, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Equator, Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam. In 2012 an autochthonous outbreak of dengue was recognized in Madeira Island and in 2013 the laboratory identified a major outbreak occurring in Angola. Methods & Materials: The diagnostic of dengue at the CEVDI/INSA (national reference laboratory) is performed by serological methods namely in-house Immunofluorescent Assay (IgM and IgG) and molecular methods (Real time-qPCR and RT-PCR). Results: In 2011, the laboratory identified only six cases (less than usual), half of them from Brazil. In October 2012 the laboratory confirmed the first two autochthonous cases from Madeira Island and identified the circulating serotype as DEN-1, with a probable origin from Latin America. The laboratory followed this Dengue outbreak with more than 2000 cases. In February 2013 the laboratory received the first samples related to the Dengue outbreak in Angola. These were the first cases of a major outbreak occurring in Luanda region where more than 800 cases were reported. CEVDI/INSA confirmed 89 imported cases, of those 20 were diagnosed by RT-PCR and identified as DEN-1 virus, related to DEN viruses circulating in Africa and Asia. Conclusion: The geographical areas, where dengue confirmed cases in this last three years were acquired, reflects the global distribution of dengue (2011) but also the how dengue affects new areas (2012) and how the travelling preferences, in this case professional, changes every year (2013). In dengue imported and autochthonous cases, the laboratory has an essential role for early detection,precise identification of the aetiological agent and reporting. This work was partly funded by the PTDC/SAU-SAP/119199/2010 FCT project. 22.192 Active surveillance for human plague in Northwestern Uganda, 2008-2014 T. Apangu1, S. Acayo2, J. Kaggwa2, L. Atiku2, J. Tendo2, P. Anguzy3, J. Wamala3, I. Makumbi3, B. Yockey4, E. Mbidde5 1 Uganda Virus Research Institute, Arua, Uganda, 2UVRI, Arua, Uganda, 3Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda, 4CDC, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 5Uganda Virus Reseacrh Institute, Entebbe, Uganda Purpose: Plague is a life-threatening flea-borne zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis. Over 95% of cases worldwide are reported from rural Africa. We developed a program to better define the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of human plague in Uganda Methods & Materials: Active surveillance, coupled with central laboratory support, was established in 10 clinics and 2 hospitals in the endemic West Nile region. Community awareness was enhanced though training of Village Health Team workers and a small number of traditional healers. For surveillance purposes, a suspect plague case was defined as rapid onset of fever and painful lymphadenopathy or hemoptysis. A confirmed case was defined as a suspect case with isolation of Y. pestis from a clinical specimen (blood, bubo aspirate, or sputum) confirmed by phage lysis, or a 4-fold increase in anti-F1 antibody titers. A probable case was defined as a suspect case epidemiological linked to a laboratory-confirmed case. Results: A total of 250 cases were identified during January 2008– March 2014, including 75 laboratory confirmed and 25 probable cases. The number of cases per full year ranged from a high of 153 in 2008 to a low of 13 in 2013. Median patient age was 11 years (range <1-70 yrs); 53% were female. Overall, 211 patients had bubonic, 20 septicemic, and 18 pneumonic forms of plague. Among 248 patients with a documented outcome, 26% (26/100) with confirmed or probable plague died, as compared with 8% (12/148) of those with suspect plague. Mortality among patients with pneumonic plague was 44% (8/18) overall, and 55% (5/9) for those with confirmed pneumonic plague. Antimicrobials used for treatment included doxycycline, gentamycin, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. Forty-nine (19.6%) cases were outbreak-related. Conclusion: Plague remains a public health concern in the West Nile region of Uganda. Although most cases are bubonic and sporadic, small outbreak of pneumonic plague with person-to-person transmission do occur, with the potential for larger outbreaks. Mechanisms to enhance prompt referral, rapid diagnosis, and effective antimicrobial treatment are needed to reduce mortality. 22.193 Emergence of a dengue problem in India— A public health challenge R. S. Sharma National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, India Purpose: India contains approximately half of the 205 billion people worldwide who are at risk of dengue fever. The virus causing Dengue/ DHF is believed to have established in almost all parts of India and has emerged as major public health concern. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world, predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas. It is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. Globally, 2.5 billion people live in areas where dengue viruses can be transmitted. At the National level, dengue control is coordinated by the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP). NVBDCP is the agency responsible for framing national dengue guidelines and policies for guiding the implementations of programme strategies at the state level. This paper highlights the state of dengue control in India, explore vector control mechanisms that have worked elsewhere, to strengthen dengue control activities by policy and practice. Methods & Materials: A systematic review was done to identify eligible articles. Relevant findings of all published articles were compiled together and discussed in this paper. The NVBDCP web sites also searched to get valuable information on dengue control pragramme. The entomological survey was conducted for dengue vectors in different states as well as Air ports/Sea ports. Results: In the absence of a vaccine, vector control is the primary means of controlling dengue. Aedes spp. Mosquitoes provides challenges to traditional vector measures. The cement tanks in Maharashtra state were preferential breeding source for Aedes aegypti. Coconut shells and Latex cup reported maximum breeding in southern states viz Kerala and Lakshadweep Island. Conclusion: As control measures continue to focus on emergency epidemic containment and personal protections, the urban and rural poor, who are at most risk of transmission, will bear the brunt of the disease. India must become a world leader in dengue research control. The mobility of modern populations and good means that no country is safe if neighboring countries still harbor dengue. The country must take action to curb the transmission and spread of Aedes-borne diseases. November 1, 2014 22.190 Pathogenetic markers of severity in DF/DHF 22.191 Imported and autochthonous dengue in International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Background: Studies from West Africa have reported self-resolving first stage infection and chronic, non-pathogenic carriage of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) (Sternberg, 2010; Checchi et al., 2008). Chronic carriers may constitute an important reservoir of infection and thus contribute to transmission maintenance even in foci with intensive control. Objectives: The objective of the study was to examine the role of chronic carriers of HAT in seeding ongoing disease transmission in North West Uganda and suggest priorities for control programmes and diagnosis in the drive towards elimination. Methods & Materials: A mathematical model incorporating an explicit chronic carriage compartment was fitted to time series data observed during a HAT intervention programme in 26 villages in North West Uganda, between 1995-2002 (data taken from a HAT control project implemented by Médecins Sans Frontières and the Ugandan National Sleeping Sickness Control Programme). A total of 67071 individuals were screened, 237 of which had either stage 1 or 2 infection. The model was run under varying assumptions of the fraction of infections that are chronic and of their detectability. The model-predicted prevalence was fitted to the observed prevalence data. The best-fitting parameter assumptions were adopted as the most plausible estimates. Results: Results indicated that chronic carriage of HAT represented between 0–10% of all infections in the time series analysed. Force of infection estimates were relatively consistent across varying parameter combinations. The model was inconclusive with regard to the ease with which chronic cases can be detected. Conclusion: Chronic carriage of gambiense HAT is unlikely to contribute significantly to the reservoir of infection, but may play some role in maintaining transmission. This study demonstrates considerable inter-village variation in infection dynamics, highlighting the need for targeted control programmes. Further investigation into chronic infection and its detectability is needed to predicate future control programmes aiming for long-term control or elimination. References: Checchi F. et al.. The natural progrssion of Gambiense sleeping sickness: what is the evidence? PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2008;2(12):e303. Sternberg, J.M. et al. (2010) A spectrum of disease in Human trypanosomiasis: the host and parasite genetics of virulence. Parasitology. 137, 2007–2015. SATURDAY • November 1, 2014 SATURDAY November 1, 2014 R. Oettle, F. Checchi, J. Edmunds London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom Methods & Materials: It was a prospective observational case control study conducted at tertiary care hospital. All cases with either +ve for IgM or NS1 were enrolled for the study. Patients with shock were enrolled as cases and patients without shock were enrolled as control. We estimated serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 and sTM among shock and non-shock patients at the time of 1st visit and followed up till death, discharge or 14 days. Results: Thirty Dengue patients with shock were enrolled as cases and 50 patients without shock were enrolled as control. Mean value of sTM was 15.8±6.4 ng/ml among shock and 6.4±4.4 ng/ml among nonshock and their difference was highly statistically significant (p<0.001). About 21 cases (70%) from shock and 3 cases (6%) from noshock were found to have high sTM level (>15 ng/ml) and their association was also found to have statistically significant (<0.001). About 12 cases (39.9%) from shock and 10 cases (20%) from non-shock were found to have elevated TNF-alpha (>100 pg/ml). About 11 cases (37.7%) from shock and 15 cases (30%) from non-shock were found to have elevated IL-6 (>100 pg/ml). However serum level of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were not found to be significant.We found 22% incidence (11) of shock among Dengue Fever and found to have significant rise of sTM (13±4.67) and IL-6 (136±76.4) at the time of 1st visit and they all had normal blood pressure but subsequently developed shock. Conclusion: In our study we foundhigh serum soluble Thrombomoduline level (sTM) and IL-6 were both predictor and risk factor for the development of severe Dengue Fever and shock. Poster Presentations I 127 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Session 23 Poster Presentations II Sunday, November 2, 2014 Room: Bruckner/Mahler/Brahms • Upper Level 11:45–13:15 Antimicrobial Resistance 23.001 Inhibitor-resistant beta-lactamases in Enterobacteriaceae from Croatia • SUNDAY Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of faecal carriage of ESBLs producing E. coli among Health Care Workers (HCWs) by conventional microbiological methods and on molecular basis. Methods & Materials: Stool samples were collected from 200 HCWs. Phenotypic screening test for ESBLs and AmpC β-lactamases was done using disc diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentrations of ceftazidime and cefotaxime. Phenotypic confirmation was performed by combined discs test and Double Synergy Differential Test. Multiplex PCR was used to detect blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX-M and bla CIT group of genes. Results: Of 200 isolated E. coli; 100%were susceptible to imipenem, 59 (29.5%) isolates were resistant for one or more of 3rd generation cephalosporins, By molecular analysis: 21% (42/200) were colonized by ESBL-producing E. coli and 3% (6/200) were colonized by AmpCproducing E. coli. bla. SHV genes was the predominant ESBL gene detected in 81.8% of the resistant E. coli isolates while bla TEM 15.9%, bla CTX-M 4.5% and AmpC genes (CIT group) 13.6%. Conclusion: These findings report an alarming increase in the fecal carriage of ESBL and AmpC resistant E.coli among HCWs. This is the first study that reports faecal carriage rate of AmpC among HCWs. Sound infection control measures and regular detection of ESBLAmpC producing isolates should be carried in Hospitals. 23.003 Emergence of of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in Portugal J. Melo-Cristino1, A. Friães1, C. Resina2, V. Manuel2, L. Lito2, M. Ramirez1 1 Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, 2 Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal Purpose: Portugal is a country with one of the highest prevalences of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and VancomycinResistant Enterococci (VRE) in Portugal. Vancomycin is widely used in the therapy of Gram-positive infections in the country. A VRSA strain (vancomycin MIC = 1024 mg/l) was isolated from a 74 year-old female patient under treatment with vancomycin for a MRSA infection of a toe amputation wound. The patient had chronic renal failure requiring haemodialysis, diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also isolated from the wound. Methods & Materials: The patient was treated with with daptomycin, rifampicin and amikacin, control precautions were reinforced and an epidemiological survey to monitor its possible dissemination was carried out. The patient and 53 close contacts were screened for S. aureus colonization. All isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiling, and the structure of the SCCmec element of all MRSA isolates was determined. Results: The VRSA strain harboured vanA, was ST105-II and belonged to CC5, like most of the characterized isolates of VRSA from other countries. vanA-positive E. faecalis may have been the donor of the vanA into a MRSA during co-infection and therapy with vancomycin. The VRSA strain was no longer found in the wound after 3 weeks of antimicrobial therapy. The strain remained confined to the infected foot of the patient and was not detected in any of the close contacts. Nasal colonization with S. aureus was detected in 20 subjects, five harbouring MRSA. The majority of the isolates belonged to prevalent clones in Portugal. Conclusion: Despite the absence of VRSA dissemination, the recent increase in the incidence of MRSA lineages belonging to CC5 in Portugal and other European countries may result in more frequent opportunities for the emergence of VRSA. 23.004 Detection of antimicrobial resistance in selected bacteria isolated from non-human primates at a wildlife-human interface B. A. Glover, A. O. Jenkins, M. vanVuuren University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa Purpose: Though wild animals are not directly exposed to antimicrobials, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been reported in some wild animal populations. Proximity to humans has been reported to be associated with higher prevalence of AMR in some wild animal populations. Methods & Materials: 300 fresh faecal samples from non-human primates at two wildlife rehabilitation centres in South Africa were screened for the presence of indicator and zoonotic bacteria. For comparison purposes, samples were obtained from non-human primates with 3 distinct levels of exposure to humans. The 1st had maximum human contact, the 2nd had occasional contact whilst the 3rd had almost no human contact. 60 enterococci, 64 Klebsiella sp., and 64 E. coli strains were each isolated from the baboon and vervet monkey samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out on all our isolates using the Sensititre GPALL1F and GNX2F MIC plates (Trekds, UK). Results: 99% of the gram negative isolates were resistant to polymyxin B and E (Colistin) as well as the carbapenems with occasional resistance recorded against aminoglycosides whilst 99% of the gram positives were resistant to aminoglycosides, carbapenems and flouroquinolines. Over 90% of the entire gram negative isolates were susceptible to Penicillins and β-Lactamase Inhibitor combinations with the exception of the Salmonella spp. in which about 50% of the isolates were resistant. We observed the highest level of resistance in group 1. Comparatively; group 1 had 20% and 23% higher levels of resistance than group 2 and group 3 respectively. This was observed across most antimicrobials tested; especially polymyxin B and Colistin. We further observed decreasing levels of antimicrobial resistance with age; with isolates from older animals being less resistant. This resistance profile was similar in all 3 groups in both camps. Conclusion: Microbial connectivity between human populations and wildlife even in the absence of immediate disease concerns, may identify points of contact where the justifying of increased surveillance may be needed because of higher risks of disease emergence. Further molecular typing will be carried out on resistance genes via integron PCRs and PFGE to assess the clonality, genetic evolution and transmission dynamics of resistance genes at the human-non human primate interphase. 23.005 Characterization of mutations conferring resistance against first and second line drugs in multidrug resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Mexico R. Zenteno-Cuevas1, O. Xochihua-Gonzalez2, B. Cuevas-Cordoba3, R. Muñis-Salazar4 1 Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico, 2University of Veracruz, Veracruz, VERACRUZ, Mexico, 3University of Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico, 4Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Baja California, Mexico Purpose: According to the Pan-American Health Organization in 2013, México was on the top ten contributors of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Latin America. Nevertheless, the genetic mechanisms related with this phenomenon are poorly described, for that reason the aim of this work was to characterize the genes related with MDR-TB in isolates from México. Methods & Materials: In a collection of isolates of tuberculosis with resistance toward rifampin (R) and isoniazid (H) determined by BACTEC, the genes rpoB, katG e inhA were sequenced and mutations characterized. In addition, a sub-set of 24 MDR-TB strains were spoligotyped and genes gyrA, rrS, eiS and tlyA were sequenced. Results: From the period 2010–2013, 113 isolates with resistance to H and 95 to R were recovered, 90 of these isolates were MDR-TB. Only 39 (35%) isolates with resistance to H had SNPs in katG, the most frequent mutation was S315T (276 G/C) in 29 (26%) isolates. Just 15 (13%) isolates had SNPs in inhA gene and the most common change was -15 C/T in 6 (8%) isolates. Of the isolates with resistance to R, only 61 (84%) had SNPs in rpoB, the most frequent was S531L (163C/T) in 43 (61%) isolates. Only 3 (13%) MDR-TB isolates presented changes in genes associated to second line drug resistance. The first had mutations H-R (1401A/G) in rrS, and V-S (322 GTG/AGT) in tlyA. The second had mutation N-S (1356 A/G) in rrS, and the third had mutations S91P (271 TC/) in gyrA, H-R (1401 A/G) in rrS and -10G/A in eis. These two isolates shared the lineage LAM (SIT 379). Conclusion: Hitherto this is one of the most detailed characterizations of the genetic mechanisms associated to MDR-TB in México. Our results show a considerable number of isolates lacking of “traditional” mutations. This could have implications for the implementation of molecular diagnostic test, and show a considerable diversity of MDR-TB isolates circulating. One of the MDR-TB isolates was identified as pre-XDR-TB and one as XDR-TB; hence the DNA sequencing could be of great support for the screening of XDR-TB isolates. 23.006 Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus multiple sites surveillance: A systematic review J. Chipolombwe1, E. Török2, J. Taljaard3, G. Revathi4, P. S. Nyasulu5 1 Mzuzu Central Hospital, Mzuzu, Malawi, 2University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, 4Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, 5Monash South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa Purpose: To review was to evaluate the optimal number sampling sites for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization. Methods & Materials: MEDLINE search was conducted from January 2005 to February 2014 for articles which reported the prevalence of MRSA at different body sites. Studies were characterized by study design, country and period of the study, number of patients and/ or isolates of MRSA, specimen type, site of MRSA isolation, and percentage of the MRSA isolates at each site in relation to total sites. Results: A total of 124 abstracts and 45 manuscripts were reviewed, of which 8 met the criteria for analysis. (n=37570 patients). MRSA colonization prevalence varied from 2.8% to 22.5% in different studies and 8% to 93% at different body sites. The throat and nares gave the highest detection rates as single sites. A combination of two swabs improved MRSA detection rates with the best combination being groin/ throat (74.5%). A combination of three swabs improved MRSA detection rate to 99% with the best combination being groin/nose/throat. Certain combinations were associated with low detection rates. MRSA detection rates also varied with different culture methods. Conclusion: A combination of three swabs from different body sites resulted in the highest detection rate for MRSA colonization. The use of 3 swabs would likely improve recognition and treatment of MRSA colonization, which may in turn reduce infection and transmission to other patients in hospital. However, this is associated with incremental costs. 23.007 Chromosome-mediated multidrug resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi November 2, 2014 128 IMED 2014 R. H. A. Bassyouni1, S. Gaber2, A. A. Wegdan2 1 Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt, 2Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Inhibitor-resistant β-lactamases (IRT) are derivatives of TEM, SHV and OXA-β-lactamases and confer resistance to betalactam combinations with inhibitors such as amoxycillin/clavulanate and ampicillin/sulbactam. Plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases also confer resistance to β-lactam/inhibitor combinations. They pose therapeutic problem in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Recently, emergence of resistance to amoxycillin/clavulanate was noticed among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Croatia. The aim of the study was to determine the phenotype and the mechanisms of resistance to β-lactam/inhibitor combinations in clinical isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates in Croatia. Methods & Materials: In total, 56 isolates (52 E. coli and 4 K. pneumoniae) were collected from urine in three large medical centers (University Hospital Center Zagreb, Sisters of Mercy Hospital and Public Health Institute Osijek). The susceptibility to a wide range of antibiotics was determined by disk-diffusion and broth microdilution method. Transferability of resistance to amoxycillin/clavulanate was determined by conjugation (broth mating method). PCR was used to detect genes encoding resistance to β-lactam/inhibitor combinations (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA, blaampC). Results: All strains showed resistance to amoxycillin, piperacillin and amoxycillin/clavulanate. Thirty six% (21/56) of the strains were resistant to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, 26% (15/56) to cefepime, 25% (14/56) to cefoxitin and 14% (8/56) to ceftazidime and piperacillin/tazobactam. Only 10% (6/56) of the strains were resistant to gentamicin. No resistance to carbapenems was observed. Fourteen strains (25%) transferred resistance to co-amoxyclav to E. coli recipient strain. TEM type of β-lactamase was identified in 28 strains (50%) and OXA-1 in 19 strains (34%). Twelve strains coproduced TEM and OXA-1 β-lactamase. Plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases were found in 30% of the isolates. CMY type of β-lactamase was found in 13 strains (23%) and DHA-2 in four strains (7%). Sequencing of the representative amplicons revealed OXA-1, CMY-2 and DHA-1 β-lactamase. Conclusion: This is the first investigation of inhibitor-resistant β-lactamases in Croatia. The results showed that TEM and OXA variants are the most prevalent IRT. Inhibitor-resistant variants pose serious therapeutic problem in the treatment of community acquired urinary tract infections. Accurate and quick laboratory identification of such isolates is imporant to improve antimicrobial therapy. type extended spectrum-β-lactamases producing Escherichia coli among healthcare workers SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 B. Bedenic1, S. Jaman2, V. Zujic-Atalic3, J. Vranes4 1 University hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, 2Sonesta, Zagreb, Croatia, 3Public Health Institute of Osijek-baranja county, Osijek, Croatia, 4School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia 23.002 High prevalence of faecal carriage of bla-SHV Poster Presentations II Y.-S. Liao1, T.-L. Lauderdale2, D. C. Phung3, H. Watanabe4, J.-C. Kuo1, Y.-Y. Liu1, P.-J. Wang1, S.-Y. Liang1, C.-S. Chiou5 1 Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taichung City, Taiwan, R.O.C., 2 National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan, R.O.C., 3 National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 4 National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan, 5Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. Purpose: To characterize genetic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Methods & Materials: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was applied to assess the genetic relatedness among S. Typhi isolates and whole genome sequencing approach was used to determine a multidrug resistant (MDR) island in chromosomes and the clonality of the MDR strains. DNA sequencing was applied to reveal mutations on the quinolone-resistance determining regions of the gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE genes, PCR was used to detect the presence of qnrA, qnrB1, 129 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 qnrB4, qnrD, and qnrS, and phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide was used to assess the effect of the efflux pump on nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin resistance. Results: The isolates from Bangladesh and Vietnam were genetically closely related but distant from those from Indonesia and Taiwan. All but a few isolates from Indonesia and Taiwan were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested. Of the isolates from Bangladesh and Vietnam, 68% and 82% were multidrug resistant (MDR), respectively, and belonged to the widespread haplotype H58 clone. MDR in S. Typhi are almost exclusively conferred by a suite of resistance genes carried by IncHI1 plasmids. That plasmid type was detected in all MDR S. Typhi from Vietnam but in only 15% of MDR isolates from Bangladesh; 12 of the 26 MDR isolates from Bangladesh did not bear any plasmid. Whole genome sequencing analysis identified a MDR genomic island, designated SGI5, which conferred resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamide, and trimethoprim in 18 of the 26 MDR isolates. Of the isolates from Bangladesh, 82% and 40% isolates were resistant to varying concentrations of nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Several resistance mechanisms including alterations in gyrase A, the presence of QnrS and enhanced efflux pumps were involved in the reduced susceptibility and resistance to fluoroquinolone. Conclusion: Antimicrobial resistance in the majority of MDR S. Typhi isolates from Bangladesh was chromosome-mediated. Intensive surveillance is necessary to monitor the spread of the chromosome-borne resistance in S. Typhi strains emerging in Bangladesh. 23.008 ESKAPE bacteremia • SUNDAY Purpose: Bacterial species are capable of living as biofilm and/ or planktonic forms. Role of biofilms in pathogenesis of mycobacterial diseases remains largely unknown. Here we try to characterize a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) hypothetical gene for its role in biofilm formation and to correlate the role of biofilm with their antimicrobial resistance and bacterial adherence onto cells. Methods & Materials: The Mtb gene was over-expressed in saprophytic M.smegmatis with shuttle vector pSMT3. The mutant strain was checked for its planktonic growth at air-water interface using Sauton’s media. Surface attached biofilm formation was studied using crystal violet staining method and acridine orange staining under fluorescence microscope. Antimicrobial resistance to anti-TB drugs of biofilm was studied by fluorescence microscopy and with antibiotic susceptibility test using Polycarbonate membrane. Correlating with Biofilm formation bacterial adherence onto lung epithelial cells (A549) was studied with SYTO 9 staining of bacteria and Rhodamine Phalloidin staining of cells and observed under fluorescence microscopy. Microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH) test was performed to assess bacterial hydrophocity in presence and absence of antibacterial agents. Results: Mutant over-expressing putative Mtb peptidoglycan amidase gene was found to show significantly enhanced planktonic growth in Sauton’s media after 5 days incubation without shaking. Crystal violet staining and flourescence microscopy showed increased biofilm formation on Polystyrene cell culture plates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of biofilm on polycarbonate membrane, showed resistance against antiTB drugs Pyrazinamide and Isoniazid at their MIC (Minimum Inhibitory concentration), CFU (Colony forming unit) assay indicates resistance towards cell degrading agents i.e. SDS, ciprofloxacin. SYTO 9 and Phallodin staining showed increased bacterial adherence onto cell surface. Conclusion: The present study highlights the role of a novel peptidoglycan amidase in bacterial growth in media and inside the host. It was found to alter the colony morphology, cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm forming ability and resistance to anti-Tb antibiotics. Since the gene plays a role in many different cellular functions, it could be good target for drugs against Mtb. 23.010 Cefmetazole for bactermia caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriacae comparing with carbapanems T. Fukuchi, K. Iwata, G. Ohji Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan Purpose: ESBL-producing Enterobacteriacae are challenging organisms with little treatment options. Carbapenems are often used to treat these but other options are intently sought as judicious use of carbapenems are immensely necessary in the era of increasing multi-drug resistant organisms. Cephamycins such as cefmetazole can be good option in treating urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producers, but its efficacy against bacteremia caused by ESBLs remains unknown. Methods & Materials: We performed a retrospective study on 73 cases of ESBL bacteremia to investigate the efficacy of cefmetazole comparing with carbapenems, at Kobe-University Hospital from Jan 1 2008, through 31 Dec 2013. Retrospective chart review was conducted for data such as causative pathogens, entries of infection, SOFA score, with the primary outcome of 30-day mortality after blood culture becoming positive. Results: Seventy-three patients (male 38, female 34), including two relapse cases, were reviewed for this analysis. The average age of the patients was 69.2±14.4 years old. Most common causative organisms were E. coli (93%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (4%), K. oxytoca (4%). Fifty-six percent of the patients received carbapenems as definitive therapy, whereas 37% of them received cefmetazole. Forty-five percent of entries of infection were urinary tract, and 12% were hepatobiliary. Mean SOFA score on cefmetazole group and carbapenem group were 2.8±2.8, and 5.0±4.7, respectively (p=0.049). Mortality appeared better on cefmetazole group than carbapenem group (4% vs 12%) but the difference was not statistically significant. Only one patient died on cefmetazole group secondary to hemorrhagic shock unrelated to the infection. In majority of cases, infectious diseases consultants were involved in therapeutic decision-making. Conclusion: Cefmetazole may be safely given to patients with ESBL bacteremia in Japan, where CTX-M is predominant, if ID consultants are involved and select out relatively stable patients. 23.011 High antimicrobial resistance of urinary bacteria isolated from long-term respiratory care wards in a regional hospital in Taiwan W.-C. Lin, K.-S. Liu St. Joseph’s hospital, Yunlin County, Taiwan, R.O.C. Purpose: Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) patients are unique because of multiple underlying diseases, long-term hospitalization in specific wards and in high antibiotic pressure. Urine tract infections are most common among these patients. However, the changing pattern of antibiotic resistance makes the treatment very difficultly. The objective of this study is to investigate the distribution of bacteria isolated from urine and their antibiogram. Methods & Materials: The urine samples from PMV patients in a 499-bed regional hospital were obtained in every month during 2012. All PMV patients were hospitalized at specialized respiratory care wards. There were total 50 beds for those patients who were mechanical ventilator-dependent more than 21 days. The bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility were performed by ViITEK-2 following instructions of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2011. Results: Total 340 bacteria were isolated and identified. The most frequently reported urinary microorganisms in PMV wards were Eschericheria coli (27%), Proteus mirabilis (21%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9%) and Enterococcus faecium (8%). Among these isolated Enterobacteriaceae, the percentage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae is high (53% and 59%, respectively). Fluoroquinolone resistance was noted in these urinary gram-negative pathogens, especially among E. coli which was 78% resistant to Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin. K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis were less resistant to fluoroguinolones but the rates were still high (45% and 55%, respectively). In another way, no carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae was found in these isolates. Similar fluoroquinolone resistance could be found among P. aeruginosa (48%). P. aeruginosa was also resistant to ceftazidime (52%) and piperacillin-tazobactam (27%). Most Enterococci was susceptible to vancomycin but resistant to ampicillin. The rate of ampicillin resistance were E. faecalis 44% and E. faecium 91%. Conclusion: The most common isolated bacteria from urine samples were Enterobacteriaceae. The emerging multi-drug resistance was a serious problem in such specialized long-term respiratory care units. Markedly increased prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae were observed, which limited the treating options if nosocomial infection developed. 23.012 Determinants of isoniazid and rifampicin resistant tuberculosis among suspected cases of Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2014 G. M. Misgana1, N. H. Geda2, G. J. Guto1, T. W. Abebe1, M. S. Hassen3 1 Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2Oromia Public Health Laboratory, Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia, 3Oromia Public Health Laboratory, Adama, Ethiopia Purpose: Diagnosis and treatment of Multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is challenging in resource limited countries. Thus prevention of MDR TB is the feasible approach to overcome difficulties posed by it. Thus this study aimed to determine risk factors for the emergency of concomitant Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin (RIF) resistant tuberculosis (TB) Methods & Materials: A case control study design was employed to achieve the desired objective among MDR-TB suspected cases. Associated factors data were collected using the predesigned questioner and sensitivity to INH and RIF were determined using line probe assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Based on the data obtained from 88 cases and 177 controls bi-variate analysis reveals rural residence, tertiary education, alcoholism and anti-acid use for gastritis during TB treatment were statistically associated with concomitant resistance. In the multi-variate analysis; four exposure variables occupation/farmer/AOR= 4.8(1.07, 11.98), TB patient contact history AOR= 6.6(1.48, 29.60), Human Immuno Viru (HIV) infection AOR= 1.4(1.03, 6.71) and pervious TB treatment outcome AOR 3.5(1.57, 6.99) were found to be independent determinant factors of simultaneous resistance after adjusting for other variables. Conclusion: TB patient contact history, pervious TB treatment, HIV infection and rural community should be considered in MDR TB control in the study area. 23.013 Prospective case-control study of infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriacae M. A. Garbati1, H. Sakkijha2, A. Abu-Shaheen2 1 King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Purpose: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and treatment outcome of infections due to CRE in King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods & Materials: Prospective observational case-control study. Ethical approval was obtained. Subjects aged 13 years and above with infection due to CRE were compared with those without CRE infection as controls. Matching was for infection site, organism and admission site. Isolation and susceptibility testing of the Enterobacteriacae was done by the disk diffusion method and phoenix according to CLSI and EUCAST guidelines. A structured sheet was used to collect data. Analysis was with SPSS (20.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Results are presented as means (±SD). Alpha level was set at 0.05. Results: Between March, 2012 and December, 2013, 29 cases of healthcare-associated infections due to CRE were recorded. Controls were selected in a ratio of 1:2. Males made up 57.5% of the subjects with an age-range of 15-94 years [mean 54.9 (±19.927)]. Fifty-six per cent of the subjects were in the 51-80-year-age group. Eighteen (62%) cases were admitted from other hospitals. Admissions were in to medical (41.4%), and surgical (40.2%) wards, while 16 (18.4%) went to the intensive care unit (ICU). Mean age (p=0.065) and sex (p=0.647) distribution among the study subjects were similar. More cases died (31% vs 12.1%; p=0.031). Mortality was more among females OR 3.98 [1.04-15.19]. By univariable analysis CRE infection was associated with prior antibiotic use (p=0.000), ICU stay (p=0.000), prior surgery (p=0.019), urinary catheterization (p=0.003), renal disease (p=0.017) and mechanical ventilation (p=0.011). By multivariable analysis only prior antibiotic use was associated with CRE infection (OR 15.71 [95% CI, 1.00-32.26]). Majority (87.4%) of the subjects had co-morbid conditions [DM (52.9%), hypertension (52.9%), and renal disease (31%)]. Renal disease was associated with CRE infection (p=0.014). Cases had more co-morbid conditions (p=0.006), urinary catheterization (p=0.003), mechanical ventilation (p=0.011), dialysis (p=0.017), ICU stay (p=0.000), prior surgery (p=0.021) and CVC line placement (p=0.000) than controls. Conclusion: Nosocomial infection due to CRE is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. improved survellance, effective infection control measures, and antimicrobial stewardship should be strengthened. Development of novel antimicrobial agents with reliable efficacy against resistant organisms should be pursued. November 2, 2014 130 IMED 2014 A. Padhi, S. Mohanty, A. Sonawane KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Bacteremia is a serious and frequently life-threatening entity, linked to risk factors and comorbidities. It is quite often associated to prolonged hospital admissions, but may occur in patients with no admittances to health facilities. We aimed to characterize the bacteremia patients admitted to the ward, assessing comorbidities and risk factors, isolated pathogens (more specifically the ESKAPE group), antibiotics on use and clinical evolution. Methods & Materials: A retrospective analysis of 105 patients clinical charts (admitted to the wards of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases amid January 2010 and December 2012) was established, concerning patients with two or more positive blood cultures for the same pathogen (correctly drought). Results: There was equal distribution of genders, with a mean age of 77 years. In 95% of cases comorbidities associated to immunosuppression or predisposing to infections (neurological diseases, heart failure, diabetes mellitis, obstructive lung disease) were noted. Half of the bacteremia were attributed to ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcos faecium 1%, Staphylococcos aureus 27%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 4%, Acinetobacter Baumanii 7%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 8% e Enterobacter spp <1%), 50% of these with respiratory source and 33% with urinary source. 75% were nosocomial in origin, and drug-resistance risk factors were present on 70% of these cases, mostly previous antibiotic therapy (62%) and recent hospital admission (40%).Empirical antibiotic therapy was started in 82% of patients, only 21% of antibiotics being appropriate. The drug classes more frequently used were glycopeptides (45%), carbapenems (22%) and linezolid (15%). The drug scheme was altered in 68% of patients, mostly due to resistance, and guided by drug susceptibility testing (68%). The rate of innapropriate use of carbapenems attained 72%. The drug combination, typically glycopeptides and polymixin (29%) was mostly used in A. baumanii infections.The ESKAPE bacteremia patients developed septic shock in 25% of cases and respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation in 4% of case. The global mortality rate was 37% (46% ESKAPE pathogens vs. 25% other bacteria). Conclusion: ESKAPE pathogens have greater resistance rates, are associated with more complications and mortality. The empirical therapy is frequently inappropriate, and so, larger (eventually combination therapy) and earlier antibiotic therapy shift should be considered. amidase, in biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 R. Gonçalves, D. Aguiar, J. Trêpa, R. Magano, J. Cortez, H. Oliveira, J. Gamboa Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal 23.009 Investigating role of putative peptidoglycan Poster Presentations II 131 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.014 Intestinal microflora in adults with acute infectious diarrhea • SUNDAY and opportunities with bacteriophage and lytic proteins D. Trudil1, M. Kutateladze2 NHDetect Corp, Reisterstown, MD, USA, 2Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Tbilisi, Georgia 1 Purpose: Drug-resistant pathogens are a growing menace to all individuls, regardless of background. They endanger industrial societies as well as less developed nations, causing problems in hospitals, homes and farms at an increasing rate. What can be done? One approach is to treat bacterial diseases by the use of bacteriophages. Phages are very small viruses that destroy by lysing select bacteria. First proposed by d’Herelle around World War I and used over 80 years bacteriophage has been a key tool of healthcare professionals within Eastern Europe. More recently scientists have isolated and developed specific lytic components which have further broadened the potential of phage derived technologies. These include applications for treatments, preventatives and decontaminants as well as diagnostics and more recently linked to psychological disorders. The current state of the phage related technologies will be discussed with specific application examples provided. Although previously focused primarily on human therapies, the use of phage has been 132 IMED 2014 23.018 Prevalence and detection of ampC beta- between pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis in lower northern of Thailand 2013 R. Khummin The office of Diseases Prevention and Control region 9 Phitsanulok, Phitsanulok, Thailand Purpose: Tuberculosis(TB) is the major respiratory infection disease inThailand. The problem with TB treatment are follow: patients lost in contact, stop medication, not take medicine on time, side effect, life styles. All reasons can lead to multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The aim of this study is a comparisons of drugs resistant results between pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods & Materials: The samples from 40 hospitals in lower northern of Thailand in year 2013 with symptomatic of tuberculosis(TB) were collected. All samples were culture by automate Bectec MGIT 960 and solid culture, identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis by immuno chromatographic assay (ICA). AllICA positive samples were determine drug susceptibility testing (DST) with 4 drug follow: Isoniazid (0.1 ug/ml), Rifampicin (1.0 ug/ml),Streptomycin (1.0 ug/ml) and Ethambutol (5.0 ug/ml) by bectec MGIT 960. Results: The results showed 1,855 samples were collected for TB culture.617 samples were identified M. tuberculosis (497 sputum and 120 were the other samples: Pus, Bone marrow, CSF, Fluid, Urine, Stool, Synovial fluid, Lymp node, Gastric fluid).Found MDR-TB 24 samples. In addition, 23 samples of MDR-TB were collected from sputum. The data showed both sputum and other samples were resistance to TB drug. Conclusion: MDR-TB can be found in all type of patients and specimens then need to be improved on the process of case finding, specimens collection and good national strategy plan. 23.017 Reliability of Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method for detecting doripenem susceptibility in oxidase positive non-fermenting gram negative bacilli R. Misra1, K. N. Prasad2 Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, UP, India 1 Purpose: To determine the reliability of the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion (KBDD) method for detecting doripenem susceptibility against 80 isolates of Non-fermenting Gram negative bacilli. Methods & Materials: Eighty consecutive clinical isolates of oxidase positive NFGNB recovered from pus and urine samples of patients with cUTI and cIAI were included in this study. The isolates were identified lactamases in gram negative clinical isolates and associated risk factors at a tertiary care centre in northern India R. Misra1, K. N. Prasad2 Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, UP, India 1 Purpose: To determine the prevalence, molecular types, associated risk factors and outcome of plasmid mediated AmpC β-lactamases in Gram negative clinical isolates at a tertiary care centre in northern India. Methods & Materials: Consecutive non-repeat clinical isolates (n=1677) of Gram negative bacilli were collected at the Department of Microbiology from various clinical specimens such as pus, urine, sputum, blood and infected body fluids. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was carried out by the disc diffusion method using current CLSI recommendations. Co-resistance to other antimicrobial agents such as ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefoperazone-sulbactam, piperacillin–tazobactam, imipenem, meropenem, amikacin, gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, cefepime and ciprofloxacin was also determined. Candidate isolates were those resistant to cefotaxime and/ or ceftazidime irrespective of addition of clavulanic acid. A 30µg cefoxitin disc was used as a screen test. All isolates resistant to cefoxitin were confirmed by a phenotypic three dimensional (3D) extract test. Genes encoding six phylogenetic groups of acquired AmpC enzymes were sought by multiplex PCR. The following factors were analyzed as risk for infections by AmpC producing strains: surgery, sepsis, use of invasive procedure, diabetes, immunosupression, renal failure, total parenteral nutrition and hemodialysis. Results: One thousand twenty seven isolates (61.2%) out of 1539 were screen positive and 505 (30.1%) were 3D test positive. These were Escherichia coli (n=341), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=79), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=56), Proteus mirabilis (n=18) Citrobacter spp. (n=8) and Pseudomonas spp. (n=3).Out of 53 isolates tested by multiplex PCR, 18 yielded amplicons for FOX enzymes. Plasmid mediated inducible enzyme production was confirmed in Escherichia coli (n=11) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=7).On binary logistic regression surgery, sepsis and use of invasive procedure were risk factors most predictive of mortality associated with AmpC production. Conclusion: This study has describedthe prevalence and associated risk factors with outcome of infections caused by a large number of AmpC β-lactamase-producing clinical Gram negative bacilli.Diverse acquired Amp C enzymes occur in Gram negative bacilli;however FOX type was recovered at our centre.Since only genes that are expressed cause resistance, a phenotypic test like the 3D test may be more valuable than a genotypic method like PCR for such isolates. 23.019 ESBLs structure from Kazakhstan’s enterobacteria in the SMART study (2011–2013) I. S. Azizov, D. Babenko, E. Zakharova, A. Lavrinenko, N. Shambilova, E. Tishkanbayev Karaganda State Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan Purpose: Study of ESBLs structure of enterobacteria from Kazakhstan collected in the frame of SMART Project (2011-2013yy). Methods & Materials: Samples of enterobacteria have been collected according SMART criteria. Subtyping of ESBLs has been performed with using Check Point biochips in the Central laboratory of IHMA. Statistical analysis was done based on the resources of www.globalsmartsite.org; calculation of 95% CI was performed with Pearsone-Clopper method. Results: The part of ESBL was significant increased during all period of study. In 2011 the proportion of ESBL-positive strains was 24,77% (95%CI=14,97-36,85), in 2012—29,51% (95%CI=15,77-46,54) and in 2013—51,35% (95%CI=38,85-63,74). CTX-M genes were major group and detected in 84,62% (95%CI 67,80-94,83). Old group of ESBL (SHV/TEM genes) was found in 82,69% (95%CI=65,49-93,67). During the period of 2011–2013 the part of CTX-M-15 were increased twice, from 23,08% to 44,23%. However, the proportion of AmpC-positive strains was significant decreased. Simultaneously spectrum of other types of ESBL was narrowed. About half of ESBL positive strains (48,08%; 95%CI=30,17-66,35) were with two ESBL genes and more than quarter cases (26,92%; 95%CI=12,86-45,33), the ESBL-positive strains had 3 or more different types of ESBL genes. Conclusion: The results of SMART study (2011-2013 yy.) showed that the proportion of ESBL-positive enterobacteria collected in Kazakhstan was increased twice. The major part of ESBL genes was CTX-M-15. 23.020 The analysis of resistance of M.tuberculosis to drugs in Kazakstan (2010–2013) D. Babenko1, I. S. Azizov2, N. Tabriz1 1 Karaganda state medical university, Karaganda, Kazakhstan, 2 Karaganda State Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan Purpose: Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a growing hazard to public health. As a result, the standard antimicrobial therapy, such as directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS) in the cases with multi-drug resistant and especially extensively drug resistant M.tuberculosis is considered to be ineffective. It requires longer treatment with drugs that are very expensive and show not so good efficacy with increased side effects. Aim: To analyze the resistance among M.tuberculosis strains in Kazakhstan for period of time 2010–2013 yy and influence standard therapy for the level of drug resistance. Methods & Materials: From 2010 to 2013, 5067 stains of M.tuberculosis were isolated from two groups of patients in tuberculosis dispensary laboratory (Karaganda, Kazakhstan). First group included the patients who never received treatment (or <1 month), and second group of patients who received standard four-drug therapy (isoniazid [INH], rifampicin [RIF], pyrazinamide [PZA], and ethambutol [EMB]) more than for one month. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing has been carried out with disk diffusion method. Statistical analyses were performed using MedCalc for Windows, version 10.2 (MedCalc Software, Ostend, Belgium). P-value less than 0.05 was considered as a significant. Results: Investigation of 5067 strains of M.tuberculosis showed that total level of resistance to antimicrobial drugs fluctuated within the range of 0.2%-5.6%. The rate of resistant strains to isoniaside was from 0.57% in 2012 to 2.3% in 2011. The ranges of portion resistant microorganisms for rifampicin, ethambutol and streptomycin were 0.21.08%, 1.22-3.95% and 3.08-5.67% respectively. Analysis the level of November 2, 2014 23.015 23.015Antibiotic resistance—Challenges 23.016 Comparisons of drugs resistant results by standard bacteriological techniques and sensitivity to doripenem was determined by the KBDD method using discs (10µgm) of both Hi-media and BD diagnostics. The E test was taken as the reference standard. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were used as quality control strains. Susceptibility pattern of the isolates was determined by both current CLSI guidelines as well as EUCAST.Discordant results were categorized as very major (sensitive according to KBDD method but resistant by E test), major (resistant according to KBDD method but sensitive by E test) and minor (reported intermediate when resistant or susceptible or vice versa). Results: The isolates were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=34), other Pseudomonas species (n=38) and Burkholderia cepacia complex (n=8).Very major errors and major errors were observed with two and one isolates respectively. Minor error rates of 7.5% were observed when results were interpreted as per CLSI breakpoints. No discrepancies were recorded between KBDD method and E test when EUCAST break-points were applied to the results obtained. Conclusion: CLSI does not provide interpretive break-points of doripenem for oxidase positive NFGNB other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa while EUCAST has clubbed all isolates under the heading Pseudomonas spp. Though we used the E test as the reference method and tested only a small number of isolates,the KBDD method can be reliably used for routine testing of doripenem susceptibility against oxidase positive NFGNB • Purpose: Opportunistic microflora demonstrates in increase of resistance to various antibiotics. The aim of study was to determine the composition of bacterial flora in AID and evaluate its sensitivity to antibiotics. Methods & Materials: We observed 20 patients with AID in the age from 31 to 54 years old, who admitted to the hospital in the 1st day of the onset of symptoms. Rectal swab samples were taken from each patient within 1–2 hours of admission. Results: The symptoms at the onset of AID were: fever in 40%, nausea in 80%, vomiting in 35%, diarrhea in 100% of patients. Diarrhea was watery in 85 ± 7,98% of cases, with mucus in 15 ± 7,98%, p = 0,001. Leukocytosis was recorded in 80% of cases. Bacteriological examination of rectal swabs based on MULTI-TOF mass spectrometry revealed in all patients only representatives of opportunistic microflora. In 100% of cases the basis of the microbial landscape consisted of E.coli with normal lactate dehydrogenase activity (N-LDA). In 40% of cases, its association with S. capitis was defined, in 35% with S. epidermidis and K.pneumonia. E.coli NLA was found together with S.hominis and Citrobacter freundii in 25%, with E.faecium and S. aureus—in 20%. Also in 20% of cases E.coli N-LDA was detected simultaneously with E.coli wich had reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity, Citrobacter freundii, K.pneumonia and yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. At least 2 microbes were detected in all samples of rectal swabs. Association of 3 microorganisms was revealed in 20%, 4—in 40% of cases. Intestinal microflora was resistant to cephalosporins of I–IIIth generations and penicillins in 100% of cases. Resistance to chloramphenicol was detected in 85%, tetracycline—in 80%, aminoglycosides—in 80%, macrolides—in 75% of samples. Less frequency of resistance was observed to fluoroquinolones (65%) and carbapenems (60%). Conclusion: Detected opportunistic microflora in patients with AID consists of different association of microorganisms based on E.coli N-LDA. Intestinal microflora in 60–100% of cases demonstrated resistant to antibiotics used as primary regime of therapy for various diseases. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 N. Pshenichnaya1, A. Aleshukina2, A. Buslenko1, A. Juravlev3, I. Aleshukina2 1 Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, 2Rostov Scientific and Research Institute of microbiology and parasitology, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, 3First Moscow Medical University named after I.M.Sechenov, Moscow, Russian Federation further expanded to include use for agricultural, environmental and novel detection applications. This includes aquaculture, incorporation within animal feed/water, and control of sulfate reducing bacteria as well as new emerging bacteria. Also, a novel decontamination method for hospital use will be presented. Next step projects and technologies will be mentioned with a goal of enhancing collaborations and applications. Methods & Materials: A phage preparationof sterile filtrates of phage lysate active to various strains of S. aureus was obtained from Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages (Tbilisi). Phage was applied via oral administration (soda solution to neutralize pH of gastric juice was administered prior to phage preparation) 5 ml of preparation twice a day over a period of 7 days. Results: The Eliava Instituteanti-staphylococcal phage preparations demonstrated lytic activity to 91.1% strains (95.4% of sensitive strains of S. aureus and 83.2% of coagulase-negative staphylococcus), while in case of pediatric patients, the sensitivity of S. aureus strains isolated was 98%. Conclusion: The clinical studies of phage therapy in cases of staphylococcaemia clearly show the high efficacy of phage treatment. Multiresistance strains of S. aureus, including MRSA (methicillin resistant), may induce scientists to divert to alternative therapies to treat antibiotic resistant. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 133 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 resistance among microorganisms isolated from two groups of patients revealed higher rate resistance (45.28%; 95%CI 43.4-47.2) simultaneously to 4 drugs (isoniaside + rifampicin+ethambutol+streptomycin) in the group who received standard therapy in comparison with microorganisms from patients who never received treatment (22.37%; 95% CI 20.8-24.1) (p<0.001) Conclusion: Our study showed that initial standard therapy with using four drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol) might be as a factor resk for appearance of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) M.tuberculosis. 23.021 Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a clinical hospital from Bucharest, Romania • SUNDAY 23.023 Efficacy of antibiotic combinations against P. aeruginosa isolated from UTI in Northern Jordan hospitals Y. H. Tarazi Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Irbid, Jordan Purpose: The current study aims to isolate and identify P. aeruginosa from human urinary tract infections (UTI), evaluate their MICs for commonly used antimicrobial agents in North Jordan hospitals and to determine the best antibiotic combinations to be used for clinical treatment. Methods & Materials: Six P. aeruginosa strains. Conventional methods for isolation and idetification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, checkerboard titration technique and Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) were used to evaluate the synergy of antimicrobial combinations. Results: The 6 isolates were susceptible to 10 antimicrobial agents; ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, amikacin, gentamicin, piperacillin, azlocillin, ticarcillin, ceftazidime, imipenem, and colistin and resistant to chlortetracycline, doxycycline, amoxicillin, clavulanic acid and ceftazidime with resistant rate 100, 100, 100, 100% and 83.3%, respectively. One hundred and four possible combinations of two antimicrobial agents were tested. Synergistic interaction were observed in 37 combinations (26 showed 100% synergy and 11 showed 50-93% synergy of the 6 isolates). The best antimicrobials combinations showed synergism were; ceftazidime and piperacillin with other beta-lactam group, ceftazidime with tetracycline, aztreonam, ticarcillin, azlocillin, amoxicillin and tetracycline with clavulanic acid, piperacillin with chlortetracycline, ticarcillin with amikacin and tetracycline, azlocillin with amikacin and tetracycline with amoxicillin.In contrast, 39 combinations showed antagonistic interactions (20 showed 100% antagonism and 19 showed 50-83.3% antagonism) of the six isolates. Conclusion: The current study shows that combinations of β-lactam/ β-lactam, β-lactam/amikacin, β-lactam/tetracycline were the best in-vitro antimicrobial combination to be used to control P. aeruginosa urinary tract infections. In addition the use of single drug of; ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin, colistin, piperacillin, ticarcillin, azlocillin, aztreonam, ceftazidime, and imipenem are effective. 23.024 Antimicrobial resistance of fecal E. coli isolated from cattle and pigs M. Niculae1, I. C. Mates2, C. D. Sandru1, G. F. Brudasca1, E. Pall1, M. Spinu1 1 University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine ClujNapoca, Cluj, Romania, 2Krka România Srl, Bucharest, Romania Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate and analyze the antibiotic resistance in bovine and swine fecal Escherichia coli strains considering the impact of intensive antimicrobials practices, therapeutic and prophylactic, applied for these farm animals on the antimicrobial resistance emergence. Methods & Materials: The in vitro susceptibility patterns of a total of 117 strains isolated from pooled fecal samples obtained from finisher pigs (n=65) and dairy bovine (n=52) towards 12 antimicrobials were determined using the standard Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing method according to CLSI guidelines. E. coli ATCC 25922 was also tested as a quality control organism. Results: Overall, E. coli isolates recovered from fecal samples were resistant to one or more of 12 tested antimicrobials, with decreased susceptibility towards penicillin/streptomycin (20.51%), tetracycline (29.06%), ampicillin (30.77%), amoxicillin (45.30%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (47.86%). Significantly higher levels (p < 0.01) of susceptibility were recorded only for fluoroquinolones: enrofloxacin (75.21%), marbofloxacin (92.31%) and ciprofloxacin (100.00%) and cephalosporins: ceftiofur (87.18%) and cefquinome (82.91%), respectively. Gentamycin and florfenicol were also active against E. coli (64.96% and 61.54%, respectively). Multi-drug resistance (MAR) was exhibited by both bovine and swine isolates, with strains simultaneously resistant to two or more antimicrobial groups. The most commonly recorded multidrug-resistance patterns were represented by: penicillin/streptomycin-tetracycline, penicillin/streptomycin-tetracycline-ampicillin, penicillin/streptomycin-tetracycline-ampicillin-amoxicillin and penicillin/ streptomycin-tetracycline-ampicillin- amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. The resistance level did not vary widely among the commensal bovine isolates compared to swine, except for a significant difference (p < 0.05) in ceftiofur and cefquinome susceptibility in case of bovine strains suggesting differences in use regimens of these drugs in case of the farm species. Conclusion: The results of the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing from the study indicate that cattle and pigs feces contain strains of E. coli resistant to various antimicrobials commonly used in veterinary medicine and with relevance for human medicine. MAR detection in fecal E coli of bovine and swine origin reflects the importance of the rational use of antimicrobials and recommends continuous monitoring of the trends and features of resistance given the role of commensal enteric bacteria as potential reservoir of resistance genes. 23.025 It is a no-brainer: never use fusidic acid alone! A study from Alexandria, Egypt A. Abouelfetouh1, M. Naguib2, M. Kassem1, M. El-Nakeeb1 1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt, 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt Purpose: Fusidic acid (FA) is largely used in the treatment of staphylococcal infections in different forms, including creams and ointments which are its most common dosage forms in Egypt. The past few years have seen a clinically significant prevalence of FA resistant staphylococci. Here, we are reporting the prevalence of FA resistance among 100 clinical isolates obtained from three major tertiary hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt over 3 months in 2011. We are monitoring the rate of emergence of resistant clones among some of the originally sensitive isolates. We are exploring some combinations for treating infections due to resistant strains. Methods & Materials: We determined FA minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the isolates using the agar dilution technique. For laboratory-induction of FA resistance, we passed the strains 10 times in medium containing FA (½ x MIC). We also used polymerase chain reaction to screen for the presence of fusB, a gene coding for FA resistance. Results: Forty two % of the isolates were resistant to FA with MICs ranging between 3.1 and 1000 µg/mL. Of the remaining sensitive strains, ten (MIC ≤0.4 µg/mL) were studied for development of FA resistance, without induction, and the level ranged between 1 in 106.3 and 108 colony forming units. The same isolates were laboratory-induced for FA resistance, and as a result, FA MIC increased between 4 and 32 folds. S208, an originally-sensitive isolate, was subjected to a conjugation experiment with a FA resistant clone where rate of conjugation reached 30%. It is interesting to note that S208 was shown to contain fusB, but never exhibited FA resistance phenotype without induction or conjugation. FA, at subinhibitory concentrations, was tested in combination with gentamicin, rifampicin or ampicillin/sulbactam (SAM) against the induced S208. All 3 combinations were synergistic with a decrease in survivors of about 4 logs, relative to FA alone. Conclusion: Although the exact mechanism of FA resistance in S208 is not quite clear at this point, it is evident that exposure to FA alone is deleterious to the responsiveness of the strain to treatment. This finding suggests combination therapy with agents like gentamicin, rifampicin or SAM as a necessity. 23.026 Escherichia coli OXA-48 infection in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and potential for spread in hospitalised patients M. M. Wróblewska1, I. Seferyńska2, E. Lech-Marańda2, K. Warzocha1, M. Giemza1, E. Mik1, A. Kuziak1, D. Żabicka3, M. Gniadkowski3, W. Hryniewicz3 Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland, Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Postgraduate Medical Training Centre, Warsaw, Poland, 3National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland 1 2 Purpose: In recent years a worldwide increase in the frequency of isolation of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative rods from clinical specimens has been observed. Resistance mechanisms mediating this phenotype in enteric rods are variable and comprise the production of carbapenemases of class A (e.g. KPC), class B (e.g. VIM, NDM) or class D (e.g. OXA-48). OXA-48 type carbapenemases are encoded by genes located on the plasmids, which are responsible to a large extent for their spread in the bacterial populations.Enteric rods producing OXA-48-type carbapenemase are now endemic in Turkey, Marocco and India, as well as in France. Many cases, including epidemic outbreaks reported in Western Europe, are now linked to endemic regions, particularly in the Mediterranean region. These strains belong to different species, the most common being Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae. Methods & Materials: A 39-year-old woman from Cambodia was treated at the Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine (IHT) in Warsaw from May 2012 because of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) diagnosed in Cambodia. Results: In July 2012 and in February 2013 a significant bacteriuria was detected (105 CFU/ml) with a strain of E. coli ESBL(+) susceptible to carbapenems. During the following hospitalisation in July 2013 a carbapenem-resistant strain of E. coli ESBL(+) was cultured from the patient’s urine, and in August 2013—from stool culture. In the National Medicines Institute in Warsaw it was confirmed that the strain was producing carbapenemase of OXA-48 type. Strict infection control procedures had been implemented and to date no other cases of colonisation or infection with this strain of other patients hospitalised in the IHT were detected. Conclusion: 1) OXA-48- producing strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family may spread in Europe and other parts of the world not only by November 2, 2014 134 IMED 2014 Purpose: To describe overall, as well as age- and sex-specific mortality from Clostridium difficile enteritis in the United States. Methods & Materials: We analyze complete mortality records for the United States during the ICD-10 era, 1999 to present (approximately 30 million deaths up to and including 2011, the most recent year for which data are available). We calculate age-specific mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates separately by sex. Results: We find that mortality from Clostridium difficile has increased dramatically in the last 13 years. The age-adjusted mortality rate for this cause has more than quadrupled duting this period. Similar changes are seen when considering use of this cause of death as a conributory cause. The observed increases are remarkably stable at all ages 30 and up and are not caused by sharp increases among the elderly. Both sexes are equally effected by the increase in C. difficile mortality. Conclusion: Clostridium difficile entiritis is an emerging cause of death in the United States. Changes in mortality rates due to this cause by age have assumed a proportional-hazard pattern, ruling-out sharp increases in (e.g.) nursing homes as the root cause. Continued vigilence and antibiotic stewardship is required. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Background: The spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (most frequently Klebsiella pneumoniae) in the last years was observed worldwide. Hospital-acquired infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae producing different types of carbapenem-hydrolizing enzymes are now commonly observed and represent a great limitation for antimicrobial therapy. Purpose: To evaluate the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobaceriaceae among the strains isolated from patients admitted to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Bucharest and the identification of different types of carbapenemases. Methods & Materials: Between January–June 2014, 582 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter species and E.coli were isolated from various clinical specimens. In the study were included all the strains nonsusceptible to carbapenems according to the EUCAST clinical breakpoints (MIC>0.5 µg/L for ertapenem and >2 µg/L for meropenem and imipenem) as determined by using microdilution MicroScan Panels (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics). The modified Hodge test (MHT) was performed as phenotypic confirmatory test for carbapenemase production according to CLSI guidelines and the combination disk test (KPC, MBL and OXA-48 Confirm kit, Rosco Diagnostica) according to EUCAST guidelines (following the manufacturer’s instructions). Results: Fifty nonrepeat Enterobaceriaceae (34 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 6 E.coli, 6 Enterobacter cloacae and 4 Enterobacter aerogenes) were identified with decrease susceptibility to one or more carbapenems (7.50% ertapenem, 51.02% meropenem, 53.16% imipenem). Most of these strains were isolated from urine (72%). MHT was positive in 50% of carbapenem-resistant strains for which in 23 cases the carbapenem-hydrolizing enzyme was identified: 16 OXA-48, 3 KPC, 2 MBL and 2 strains had both KPC and MBL. Among carbapenemase-negative strains, false positive results were obtained by MHT for 2 isolates. All carbapenemase-positive strains were 100% resistant to 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, showing less resistance to tigecycline (26.66% resistant and 26.66% intermediate), fosfomycin (42.85%) and colistin (18.18%). Conclusion: During 6 months there were isolated 23 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The combinationn disk test (Rosco) was able to detect not only MBL and KPC producers, but also OXA-48 which proved to be the most frequent carbapenemase isolated in our study. Acknowledgment: this study is supported by SOP HRD, financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government under the contract number POSDRU/159/1.5/S/137390 United States, 1999–011 V. N. Abdullatif, A. Noymer University of California, Irvine, CA, USA SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 D. Talapan1, O. M. Dorobat1, A. Streinu Cercel2, A. Rafila 1 1 National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Bals”, Bucharest, Romania, 2National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș”, Bucharest, Romania 23.022 Increase in Clostridium difficile mortality in the Poster Presentations II 135 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 travellers, but also by patients requiring hospital care. 2). This report comprises the third case of a carbapenemase OXA-48- producing strain of the Enterobacteriaceae family in Poland. To date further 5 cases have been recorded in Poland. It points to the danger of these strains being further spread in the country and the need for stringent implementation of infection control procedures in healthcare. 23.027 Antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation by NT H. influenzae (NTHi) strains isolated from Mexican patients P. Gomez de Leon1, T. Santander1, F. J. Díaz1, F. Quiñones2, E. Sada2 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico UNAM, Mexico City, DF, Mexico, 2INER, Mexico, DF, Mexico • SUNDAY carbapenem resistance in KPC-2 G. Cortina, P. Kasson University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA Purpose: The most common cause of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is the presence of a beta-lactamase capable of cleaving carbapenems. The KPC beta-lactamase is responsible for a large fraction of clinical resistance to carbapenems, and constitutes all Enterobacteriaceal carbapenemases in clinical isolates to date from our hospital. We have examined KPC-2 and the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase CTX-M9 to identify which mutations are be necessary and sufficient to confer carbapenemase activity. To systematically test a large number of mutations, we have used large-scale simulation of gain-of-function mutants in CTX-M9 and loss-of-function mutants in KPC-2 followed by targeted experimental validation. Methods & Materials: We have examined point mutants for all residues that differ between CTX-M9 and KPC-2, both the CTX-toKPC and the KPC-to-CTX mutations. Molecular dynamics simulations of each mutant enzyme in complex with meropenem were performed 136 IMED 2014 expression between MZ-resistant and MZsusceptibility strains of G. intestinalis R. Begaydarova1, Y. Yukhnevich2, D. Babenko1, S. Kaliyeva2, I. S. Azizov2 1 Karaganda state medical university, Karaganda, Kazakhstan, 2 Karaganda State Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan Purpose: Gardia intestinalis is considered to be the most common intestinal protozoan in the world (Thompson 2000). Widely using of metronidazole for the treatment of giardiasis led to drug-resistant protozoa (Bansal,Sehgal et al.2006). Investigations for finding the genetic markers related with resisstance to metronidazole led to discovery the correlation between expression of PFOR gene and drug resistance (Muller,Sterk et al.2007). The aim of the study was to evaluate the difference in the levels of PFOR gene expression between MZ-resistant and MZ-susceptibility strains of G.inestinalis with relative gene expression approach. Methods & Materials: The collection (n=159) of fecal samples with cysts of G. intestinalis proved by commercial PCR real-time kit “Parasitic Stool Panel” were gathered from 2013 to 2014. Phenotypic detection of resistance to metronidazole was performed by cultivation G. intestinalis trophozoites in the presence of metronidazole as described in (Upcroft and Upcroft 2001) with two concentration of drug (6.3 and 3.2µM of metronidazole). The relative PFOR gene expression was performed with real-time PCR (sybr gene) using primer pair (F: 5 ‘-CTACGACATTGACTTTGCTG- 3 and R: 5 ‘-CCCATCTTCTTGTCCTTGAC- 3 ‘) normalized on Actin gene. Bayesian analysis of qRT-PCR using MCMC.qpcr of R statistics package was used to calculate the relative gene expression. Results: The rate of successful cultivation, when we were able to obtain axenic cultures, was 30.2 % (48 strains out 159). 13 strains of G. intestinalis showed the growth at 6.3 µM of metronidazole and were considered as Resistant (R). 11 samples were with intermediate resistance and others (n=24) were susceptible to metronidazole and considered as a control. Based on Bayesian analysis MCMC.qpcr package, the level of PFOR gene expression was down-regulated, ranged from -1.7 to -1.34, in group of Giardia with MIC 6.3 µM (p<0.05), while the level of relative expression of PFOR gene did not differ (p<0.05) in group with MIC 3.2 µM. The gene expressions in different groups of G. intestinalis are presented in Figure 1. Conclusion: PFOR gene was down-regulated in sample group (MIC 6.3 µM) in comparison to control group. 23.030 Antibiogram, virulence genes markers and biofilm formation of aeromonas species recovered from cattle I. H. Igbinosa1, E. O. Igbinosa2, A. I. Okoh3 1 University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 2University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, 3University of FortHare, Alice, South Africa Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Aeromonas strains recovered from cow feces, and the virulence potentials of the isolates by examining some virulence genes markers and the adherence ability of the isolates. Methods & Materials: Disc diffusion method was used for detection of antibiotic susceptibility of isolates, polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of virulence genes and antibiotic resistant determinant while microtitre plate was used for quantification of biofilm producing potential of Aeromonas isolates. Results: Aeromonas isolates obtained in the study were found to show total resistance to novobiocin, oxacillin, clindamycin, ticarcillin and trimethoprim. Also Aeromonas strains demonstrated susceptibility against oxytetracycline, tobramycin and cefotaxime. Aeromonas strains from Lovedale farm were found to harbor virulence genes in the following proportion:-ast 35.7%, aer 71.4%, fla 60.7%, hlyA.25%, lip 35.7%. While isolates from Fort Cox farms were found to possess virulence markers in the following fraction:-ast 55.2%, fla 78.9%, alt 10.5%, aer 63.1%, hlyA 35.9%, lip 21%. Antibiotic resistance determinants were also found present in some isolates. Class 1 integron was present in 27.2% of isolates; blaTEM gene was detected in 34.8% of isolates while blaP1class A β-lactamase gene was present in 12.1% of isolates. About 86% of the isolates form biofilm on microtitre plates and were categorized as follows:-non biofilm producer 14%, weak producer 35%, moderate producer 39% and strong producer 12%. Conclusion: The possession of multidrug-resistant determinants and virulence genes presence in Aeromonas isolates from cow feces reveals the pathogenic and infectious significance of these isolates and is of great significant to public health. The biofilm forming potential of the isolates may pose challenge during treatment of infection associated with Aeromonas species. 23.031 Recovery of Escherichia coli susceptibility to cephalexin and co-trimoxasole due to changes in ambulatory antibiotic consumption in Croatia J. Vranes1, V. Ticic2, B. Bedenic3, M. Anusic2, T. Marjan2, A. Mlinaric-Djepina2 1 School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb Institute of Public Health “Andrija Stampar”, Zagreb, Croatia, 2Zagreb Institute of Public Health “Andrija Stampar”, Zagreb, Croatia, 3University hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Background: Community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) are very frequent infections and Escherichia coli is the most common cause of UTIs. Aim: To assess the impact of ambulatory antibiotic consumption on resistance patterns of E. coli strains isolated from patients with CA-UTIs in Zagreb region Methods & Materials: All urinary specimens with significant bacteriuria processed during three different years in nine-year period (2005, 2011 and 2013) were included. Urinary specimens were collected in the course of routine diagnostics procedures. Resistance patterns of 3052 E. coli strains collected during the first study period were compared with those of 4817 E. coli strains from the second study period, and 9417 strains isolated in 2013. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates to commonly prescribed antibiotics was tested by disk diffusion method according to CLSI criteria. Information on ambulatory consumption of antibiotics was expressed in defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). Results: In the studied period ambulatory consumption of broad spectrum penicillins, first generation of cephalosporins and co-trimoxasole declined from 4.09 DID, 1.65 DID and 1.70 DID in 2001 to 3.60 DID, 1.21 DID and 0.98 DID in 2009, respectively. While consumption of fluoroquinolones (FQs) remained more or less unchanged, usage of nitrofurantoin showed since 2007 constant increase. Considering the resistance of E. coli between 2005 and 2013, significant decrease in resistance was observed for amoxicillin (from 46.1% to 38.7%; p<0.01, cephalexin (from 21.3% to 10.2%; p<0.01) and co-trimoxasole (from 28.9% to 19.85%; p<0.01). The recovery of susceptibility to cotrimoxasole was the most significant in younger women group, where only 16.5% strains were resistant. While resistance to nitrofurantoin remained very low in the study periods (2.4% in 2005, 2.1% in 2010,2.5 in2013), resistance to FQs significantly increased (8.6% in 2005, 12.0% in 2010 and 15% in 2013; p<0.01). Conclusion: Due to the updates in Croatian guidelines on empirical treatment of CA-UTIs, changes in ambulatory use of antibiotics occurred. Withdrawal of amoxicillin, cephalexin and co-trimoxasole from the list of first line agents for empirical treatment of uncomplicated cystitis, elicited significant improvement in susceptibility of uropathogenic E. coli to these antibiotics. 23.032 Molecular characterization of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Makkah hospitals A. Asghar Umm Al-Qura University-Hajj Research Institute, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Purpose: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has become widespread and tends to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. Methicillin resistance is conferred by the acquisition of the mecA gene, which is carried by a mobile genetic element called the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). There are five major types of SCCmec elements (I–V). The majority of hospital acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) strains carry SCCmec types I, II, or III, whereas communityacquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains carry SCCmec types IV or V. In addition, Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) is a gene encoding a powerful cytotoxin that strongly associated with CAMRSA strains. The present study aimed to identify the types of SCCmec and PVL genes among clinical MRSA isolates. Methods & Materials: This study was conducted in Makkah hospitals from March to September of 2012. A total of 206 S. aureus clinical isolates were analysed using standard microbiological methods. Multiplex PCR was performed on genomic DNA from MRSA isolates in order to identify the types of SCCmec. In addition, PCR was performed to detect the PVL gene among the isolates. Results: Of the 206 S. aureus isolates, 114 (55.3%) were MRSA, and 100 of the MRSA isolates carried the mecA gene. Results from SCCmec typing revealed that 3% were type I; 9% were type II; 47% were type III, and 29% were type IV. Nineteen per cent of the isolates harboured the PVL gene. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant correlation between the presence of the PVL gene and SCCmec type IV. Conclusion: The virulence of MRSA strains is increasing in both hospital and community settings in Makkah, highlighting the importance of their rapid identification in order to appropriately control infection. November 2, 2014 23.028 Understanding the mutations responsible for 23.029 The changes of the levels of PFOR gene International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: NTHi strains are major cause of respiratory infections among adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), mainly during exacerbation episodes. Several lines of evidence suggest that biofilm formation by this microorganism may play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Our objective was to assess the possible correlation between the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and the ability of NTHi to form biofilms. Methods & Materials: Forty NTHi strains from hospitalized adults with COPD (INER, Mexico City) were evaluated for the in vitro biofilm formation ability by means of a crystal violet staining-based microtiter plate assay and optical density (OD) measurements. The NTHi strains 2019 and its siaB- mutant (donated by E. Swords, Wake Forest Univ. USA) were included. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns against nine antibiotics were determined by the Kirby-Bauer method. Results: Ninety % of the strains showed varying ability to form biofilms. Biofilm-producing strains were categorized as follows: Strong (OD > 1.7), moderate (OD between 0.862 and 1.7), weak (OD between 0.48 and 0.862) and null (OD<0.48). Frequencies of biofilm-forming strains were of 19.1%, 50%, 21.4% and 9.5% for the strong, moderate, weak and null categories respectively. Seven out of 9 strong biofilmproducing strains showed antimicrobial susceptibility to all antibiotics tested. Heterogeneous antibiotic susceptibility was observed among moderate and weak biofilm-producing strains, whereas the null biofilmproducing strains showed resistance to two or more antibiotics. Overall, antibiotic resistance to beta lactams and quinolones was observed among the strains. Conclusion: Most of the NTHi isolates from COPD patients were able to form biofilms. Our results point to a high frequency of NTHi strains with moderate to strong biofilm-forming ability that are susceptible to most of the tested antimicrobial agents. Analysis of data as showed in this study concerning antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation ability of NTHi from COPD patients, may serve as a guide for proper surveillance and selection of antibiotic treatment of airway infections in these patients. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 1 using the GROMACS molecular dynamics package. We performed 1000 independent simulations per mutant and scored structural snapshots in these simulations by predicted ability to hydrolyze meropenem. Top-scoring mutations were then tested for gain-of-function by introducing the CTX-to-KPC mutation into CTX-M9 via site-directed mutagenesis and expressing the beta-lactamase in porin-deficient E. coli. Carbapenemase activity was assessed via meropenem disc diffusion assays. Results: Our simulations suggest a structural hypothesis for the carbapenemase activity of KPC-2: this enzyme in complex with meropenem is capable of assuming a conformation poised for hydrolysis that CTX-M9 is not. When tested in complex with a cephalosporin that both enzymes can hydrolyze, both simulated enzymes access the hydrolysis-ready position. We used this structural characteristic to score KPC-to-CTX and CTX-to-KPC mutations. Of our five top-scoring mutations, all confer an increased ability to survive meropenem challenge, suggesting that these mutations contribute to the activity of KPC. As expected, no single mutation confers complete resistance. Conclusion: We have developed a mutant scoring technology and identified a set of mutations that increase the ability of CTX-M9 to hydrolyze carbapenems. As expected, no single point mutation confers complete resistance. We are currently investigating combinations of mutations to better understand resistance. Another important question is why CTX-M9 does not spontaneously acquire any of these mutations when under selective pressure. Poster Presentations II 23.033 Prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites and drug resistance pattern of selected diarrheogenic enterobacteriaceae among cotrimoxazole prophylaxis taking HIV seropositive individuals at St. Paul’s Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa M. M. T. K. Kebede, M. M. T. K. Tadesse Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites as well as to assess antibiotic resistance pattern of selected diarrheognic Enterobacteriaceae among HIV infected ART-Naïve as well as ART-experienced individuals taking co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Methods & Materials: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV sero-positive individuals with diarrhea taking cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at least for two weeks or more. Stool samples was collected and examined, using modified Ziehl-Neelsenmethods 137 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 to determine the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites. Besides, culture followed by sensitivity tests was done to isolate and evaluate the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of selected diarrheogenic Enterobacteriaceae. The strength of association was measured using chi-square for both OIs and bacterial isolates. p-value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant within 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 162 HIV sero-positive co-trimoxazole taking patients presented with diarrhea, Frequently isolated intestinal parasites were Cryptosporidium spp. (6.8%), Larva of Strongyloides stercoralis(3.7%) and oocyst of Isospora belli (3.1%). The common bacterial isolates was Shigella species (6.8%), Salmonella paratyphi (4.9%) and Salmonella typhi (3.1%).There were co-infection with intestinal parasites and pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae with rate of (3.7%).Most bacterial isolates were resistant to co-trimoxazole with over all resistance pattern of 91.7% and these isolates were sensitive to Ceftraxone with the overall resistance pattern of 20.8%,Next to Ceftraxone the isolates were sensitive to Chloramphenicol with resistance pattern of 33.3%. The most multi drug resistant bacteria isolates were Salmonella typhi which is 100 resistant to co-trimoxazole, Ampicilline, Nitroforantine and Naldixic acid. There was no significant relation observed with water source and other related risk factors.In addition patient at high WHO clinical stage were not a risk for prevalence of intestinal opportunistic parasite (COR = 0.5 [95% C.I. 180–1.141]). Conclusion: In the present study the prevalence of intestinal opportunistic parasite were lower than the from prevalence studies report without co-trimoxazole intervention. Bacterial resistance to co-trimoxazole was found very high, hence its use for routine treatment of acute diarrheal illness is questionable. 23.034 Detection of CTX-M-15 type of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Cairo University Hospitals in Egypt • SUNDAY 23.036 Magnitude of extended spectrum beta- lactamase producing entrobacteriaceae among patients admitted for bacterial infection in Adama Hospital and clinical sample sent to Oromia Public Health Laboratory, Adama, Ethiopia G. M. Misgana, T. W. Abebe, G. J. Guto Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia Purpose: Beta-lactam group of antibiotics is by far the largest group of antibacterial agents used in clinical medicine and they are among the most frequently prescribed antibiotics worldwide. Despite this fact the emergency and spread of extended-spectrum β lactamases producing bacterial pathogens compromised the use of these novel antibiotics. Prevalence of ESBLs varies from institute to institute. Thus the current study aimed to determine the magnitude of extended-spectrum β lactamases producing entrobacteriaceae. Methods & Materials: Across sectional laboratory based prevalence study was conducted from May 1/2013-June 1/2014. Consecutive nonrepeat culture isolates of were obtained from different clinical specimens of 384 clients. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. All strains which were resistant for cefotaxime and ceftriaxone were selected for checking the extendedspectrum β lactamases production by the modified double disc synergy test. Results: A total 384 different clinical samples from 178 males and 279 females were processed and 133 organisms were isolated of which entrobacteriaceae were account for 46.61% (62). E. coli (56.45%) is the leading isolate among the entrobacteriaceae. Twenty one entrobacteriaceae were suspected for extended-spectrum β lactamases production and 88.95% of them were confirmed to produce it. Majority of extended-spectrum β lactamases producer were isolated from urine and surgical wound swab with 23.5% (4), 52.9% (9), 17.6% (3) 5.9% (1) were isolated from urine, surgical wound swab, body fluids and ear discharge respectively. E.coli is the leading extended-spectrum β lactamases producer and it accounts for 58.8% while Proteus species, Klebsiella species, E. cloacae, Citrobacter species and accounts for 17.6%, 11.8%, 5.9%,and 5.9% respectively. Conclusion: Routine detection of extended-spectrum β lactamases -producing microorganisms should be done by each laboratory, which helps physicians in choosing an appropriate empirical therapy and conserve powerful antibiotics for life threatening infections. 23.037 Drug resistance variants in chronic hepatitis B Iranian patients under long term Lamivudine treatment S. R. Mohebbi1, P. Azimzadeh1, S. Mokhtari2, M. Khanyaghma1, S. Kazemian1, A. Sharifian1, M. R. Zali1 1 Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of Purpose: Worldwide, about 2 billion people have been infected with hepatitis B virus and 400 million people have become chronically infected. Chronic HBV infection can lead to serious liver damage, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Lamivudine, a nucleoside analogue, has been widely used for treatment of chronic HBV since 1998. Lamivudine treatment results in significant histologic, virologic, and biochemical improvement among patients with chronic HBV infection. However, treatment with treatment results in a high rate of drug resistance, which is primarily associated with the substitutions in the YMDD motif of HBV reverse transcriptase domain. Therefore, the detection and monitoring of these resistance mutations is of clinical importance. Aim: To determine the rate of YMDD mutation among Iranian HBV infected patients under long term Lamivudine therapy. Methods & Materials: Samples from 70 HBV infected patients under long term Lamivudine therapy who were sent to gastroenterology ward of the Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, were studied. Serological and biochemical markers of HBV infection were determined. HBV DNA was extracted and a semi nested-PCR was performed to amplify a region of the Polymerase gene that covers sequences codifying YMDD motif of HBV. Substitution of the Methionine at residue 204 with Valine, Isoleucine or serine in these patients was investigated. Results: YMDD mutations were detected among 36 patients. 7 of them had rtM204V mutation and the rest of them showed rtM204I variant. No YSDD mutation was found among Iranian patients. Conclusion: Results indicate that mutations related to Lamivudine arise during prolong treatment, in chronically infected patients. The incidence and pattern may be different but YIDD mutation is more common among these patients. Bioterrorism and Biological Warfare 23.038 Biosecurity and the global maritime shipping industry: an analysis of the current state of surveillance metrics J. Varco, M. J. Varco Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA Purpose: Over 90% of international cargo is transported via the maritime shipping industry, with over 50,000 cargo ships servicing over 150 nations; despite this, a mere 10% of cargo is screened. As the global trade industry grows, attention must be paid to the potential for disease dissemination, whether accidental or deliberate. At present, significant gaps exist in shipping infrastructures with respect to surveillance, prevention, and mitigation. We seek to elucidate upon the relationship between infectious disease prevention, surveillance, biosecurity, and global shipping. We examine specifically the metrics of oversight currently employed in the United States, the European Union, and the nation-states of Southeast Asia. Global and local policies are examined, as well as the efficacy thereof through an evaluation of recorded metrics. We seek also to elucidate upon a well-known event of precedence—the Black Death (plague) outbreak of Medieval Europe, which was introduced via the shipping industry at that time. We identify ‘lessons learned’ from previous events, as well as methodologies that should be employed to address these issues and ensure global trade is neither hindered by, nor acts as the vehicle for the dissemination of infectious agents. Methods & Materials: We evaluate all available scientific literature, as well as individual shipping methodologies and metrics, as well as policies instituted by governmental, nongovernmental, and local authorities, in addition to statistical analyses and key interviews with industry professionals. We generate feasibility metrics for potential amendments, as well as identify unique, global sociodynamic factors that must be considered in the implementation thereof. Results: Our findings illuminate notable gaps with regard to disease surveillance and prevention in the global maritime shipping arena. We propose both engineering and policy-based solutions to address these issues, from the perspectives of both accidental transport and deliberate dissemination of infectious agents. Conclusion: The global maritime shipping industry presents several notable vulnerabilities from the perspective of disease transmission, whether accidental or deliberate. We identify these deficiencies and propose effective surveillance and mitigative metrics by which to better protect global public health. Climate Change and Ecological Factors in Disease Emergence 23.039 Genetic diversity of Aspergillus flavus and occurrence of aflatoxin contamination in stored maize across three agro-ecological zones in Kenya G. W. Gachara Kenyatta University, Nairobi, nairobi, Kenya Purpose: Aflatoxin contamination of maize in Africa poses a major threat to food security and the health of many African people. In Kenya, aflatoxin contamination of maize is high due to environmental, agricultural and socio-economic factors. This research was carried out to gather scientific information on the fungi population, diversity and aflatoxin level during post-harvest period. The study was conducted in three geographical locations of Kitui, Kitale and Nakuru. Methods & Materials: Samples were collected from storage structures of farmers and transported to the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA)-International Livestock and Research Institute (ILRI) hub laboratories. Mycoflora were recovered using the direct plating method. A total of five fungal genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Bssyochlamys spp.) were isolated from the stored maize samples. Results: The most common fungal species that were isolated from the three study sites included A. flavus at 82.03% followed by A.niger and F.solani at 49% and 26% respectively. When individual samples were analysed using Vicam fluorometer method,aflatoxin analysis revealed that most of the samples (58.4%) had been contaminated with aflatoxins. The means were significantly different (p=0.00<0.05) in all the three locations. Genetic relationships of A. flavus isolates were determined using 13 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) markers. T Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) of the genetic distances among the 91 A.flavus isolates explained over 50.3% of the total variation when two coordinates were used to cluster the isolates. Conclusion: Findings from this study showed that maize stored in the sampled geographical regions were found to be highly contaminated. The level of extracted aflatoxins was found to higher than recommended levels (10 µg/kg). A. flavus strains were found to be the most predominant hence calling for adequate procedures that maintain low moisture content. November 2, 2014 138 IMED 2014 Purpose: This abstract documents the emergence of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) in Klebsiella pneumoniae in Seychelles. Methods & Materials: In September 2012, a 47 year old Seychelles man with a history of paraplegia was transferred from Seychelles Hospital to the department of neurology of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in the south of Reunion Island. On the day of admission the patient was screened for multidrug resistance. Results: Culture on chromID ESBL media (BioMérieux La Balme les Grottes France) isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae strain from a rectal swab. MIC values were measured by the Vitek Compact system (BioMérieux). The K. pneumoniae was resistant to carbapenem (imipenem MIC = 8 mg/liter, ertapenem MIC≥ 8). The isolate was not susceptible to 19 other antimicrobial agents screened (MIC Vitek: ampicillin, ticarcillin, cephalotin, cefoxitine, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, gentamicin, tobramycin, netimicin, amikacin, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin; Etest MIC: colistin; disk diffusion method: tigecycline).The strain was tested on Mueller Hinton agar with the KPC + MBL confirmation ID Kit (Rosco diagnostica Taastrup Denmark). The diameters obtained with meropenem 10µg, meropenem 10µg cloxacillin, meropenem 10 µg boronic acid, meropenem dipicolinic acid were respectively 17, 17, 17, 25 millimeters that were interpreted as positive metallo-β-lactamase test. The metallo-β-lactamase was confirmed genotypically by CheckMDR CT 102 (Naas Cuzon et al 2011) (Check-Points Health BV, The Netherlands) and gave a positive result for NDM-1 carbapenemase and CTX-M group 1 and SHV wt extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes. Most bacteria NDM-1 gene harbour multiple resistance (Potron 2011, Doccobo-Perez 2012) and the only treatment options are often colistine and tygecycline. For this patient all the tested antibiotics were resistant including colistin and tigecycline. Conclusion: This patient had never left the Seychelles before September 2012 for hospitalization in Reunion Island. The acquisition of NDM-1 K. pneumonia was probably in Seychelles. To our knowledge this is the first report of carbapenemase and NDM-1 in Seychelles and the fourth report of NDM-1 in the South West islands of the Indian Ocean (Poirel L 2012 Antimicrobiol Agents Chemo, Cabanes 2012 JCM). Protocols need to be put in place for active surveillance of New Delhimetallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) inKlebsiella pneumoniae in Seychelles. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: CTX-M ESBLs have emerged as the predominant type of ESBLs in many parts of the world. However, data about the presence of CTX-M β-lactamases in Cairo University Hospitals are still missing. Our study was carried out to detect the presence of CTX-M ESBLproducers among isolates of Klebsiella spp. and to identify the predominant specific CTX-M group in Cairo University Hospitals, Egypt. Methods & Materials: In our study 100 Klebsiella clinical isolates were identified as K. pneumoniae using Microbact TM gram-negative identification system 12A for Enterobacteriaceae (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK). The isolates were phenotypically confirmed as ESBL producers by both the double disk synergy test(DDST) and combined disk test according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Further genotypic analysis was done using PCR to amplify a universal DNA fragment specific for the different CTX-M β-lactamases to detect the presence of CTX-M gene followed by RFLP to identify the specific blaCTX-M groups. Results: the CTX-M gene was found in 16 (16%) of the ESBLproducing K. pneumoniae clinical isolates; 14 (87.5%) of them belonged to CTX-M-1-group and 2 (12.5%) belonged to CTX-M-8group. Sequencing of two randomly selected isolates from the CTX-M-1 group identified blaCTX-M-15 (GenBank accession no. JN849393). In our study 76% of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae infection were health care-associated (HAI), 7.9% of them were CTX-M producers. The rest of the ESBL isolates (24%) were community-acquired (CA) infections, 41.7% of them were CTX-M producers p value < 0.001. Thus a significantly higher percent of the CTX-M gene was found among CA infections. Conclusion: This demonstrates for the first time the incidence of CTX-M enzymes, the predominant CTX-M group and the presence of CTX-M-15 gene among ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Cairo University Hospitals. It also demonstrates that CTX-M enzymes especially CTX-M-15 were significantly higher among CA versus HAI. from Klebsiella pneumoniae in Seychelles J. T. Bibi1, A. Michault2 1 Ministry of Health, Victoria, Seychelles, 2Centre Hospitalier Régional, St Pierre, France SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 R. H. Abd El-Aziz, M. Abd El-Halim, A. El-Banna, A. El-Kholy Cairo university, Faculty of medicine, Cairo, Egypt 23.035 First identification of NDM-1 carbapenemase Poster Presentations II 139 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.040 Climatic influences on seasonality associated 23.042 Escherichia fergusonii: an emerging multi-drug P. Souliphone National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Vientiane, Vientiane, Lao, People’s Democratic Republic of B. A. Glover, A. O. Jenkins, M. vanVuuren University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa with influenza illness in Lao PDR, 2008–2011 Purpose: the study objective was to determine the relationship of seasonality of ILI patient and climate pattern in Lao PDR. Methods & Materials: Sampling of ILI cases using prescribed selection criteria was carried out one day per week from five hospital surveillance sites and aggregated into three geographical representative regions: north, central and south. Laboratory testing nasal pharyngeal swabs was carried out at the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), using RT PCR. A retrospective review of climatic data (rainfall, humidity and temperature) was obtained from the Department of Meteorology, Ministry of Science and Environment, from 2008–2011. Results: Twenty-four percent (512 out of 2053) of samples tested from seasonality of ILI patients were positive for influenza. It is clearly demonstrated, principally from July through December. Whereas gradual increases and declines of ILI correspond with beginning and ending of the rainy season, influenza positivity yields are observed rising and dramatically peaking only at the tail end of this period, accounting for over 40% of ILI. This climatic phenomenon was evident in the all three geographical regions, annually. Conclusion: Rainfall proved predictive of ILI, but not so for laboratory confirmed influenza although seasonal patterns were clearly evident. Diseases at the Interface of Humans, Wildlife and Other Animals 23.041 Molecular characterization of Echinococcus 140 IMED 2014 • 23.043 Parapoxvirus infections in Turkey T. C. Oguzoglu1, A. Karakas2, B. T. Koç1, S. Salar1 1 Ankara University Veterinary Faculty, Ankara, Turkey, 2Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Purpose: Viruses of the genus parapoxvirus from the family Poxviridae are comprised traditionally of orf virus (ORFV, ecthyma contagiosum), pseudocowpox virus (PCPV) and bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV), which infect ruminants, and zoonotic transmission is capable of causing cutaneous infections in humans worldwide. At the same time these infections may be classified as emerging diseases. The purpose of this study, to present informations about the existence of parapoxvirus infections in Turkey in ruminants and human. This study is originated from two studies that have already been published (Karakas et al., 2013, ArchVirol May;158(5):1105-8; Oguzoglu et al., 2014, VirusDisease, DOI:10.1007/s13337-014-0214-z) on presence of emerging zoonotic parapoxviruses in Turkey, and additionally contributed with molecular characterization based on sequence analysis of new achived parapoxvirus from a goat at seasonal outbreaks in 2014, Turkey. Methods & Materials: Molecular characterization methods in the cited studies have been used. The additional material of this study is scab sample from one Saanen goat kid that two months old age. In this herd, Orfvirus-associated some clinical signs have been described on the muzzle, lips, mouth and in the oral cavity of infected animals. Results: In our two studies about parapoxvirus infections in Turkey were titled that “First molecular characterization of a Turkish orf virus strain from a human based on a partial B2L sequence” and “Evidence of zoonotic pseudocowpox virus infection from a cattle in turkey”. Molecular charaterization results of new achived scab sample from an infected goat kid showed that it also was a parapoxvirus. Conclusion: Domestic ruminants infected with parapoxviruses provides the most likely source of human infections. Additionally, the current live vaccines also may be efficient on spreading of parapoxviruses which contaminates the environment in a manner similar to natural infection. Our results showed that zoonotic parapoxvirus infections are endemic among the different animal species in Turkey. Clinicians in hospitals with questions regarding the diagnosis of a suspected parapoxvirus infection in Turkey should be consider that may be originated occupational or other contact with infected ruminants. 23.044 Preventive vaccination against rabies and necessity of oral vaccination of wildlife L. Ninidze1, R. Obiso2 1 National Food Agency, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2Attimo R&D, Blacksburg, VA, USA Purpose: The rabies virus represents a serious, endemic concern in Georgia. This virus affects the central nervous system, which leads to brain damage and death for the infected animal. Cases of rabies in Georgia are mostly found in villages bordering forested areas. In total, 37.7% of Georgia’s 69,700 km2 land area is forested, which provides a great habitat for many species of wild animals that may act to spread the rabies virus. Historically, there has been little effort to preemptively vaccinate species against the virus. From 2008 to 2012, vaccination against rabies was conducted only when the disease was detected at a given foci. Methods & Materials: In this study, 2,883 tissue samples were collected from different species of animals in order to test for the rabies virus. These species include: dogs, cats, cattle, small ruminants, horses, pigs, and other wild animals. This sampling represents wild animals as well as livestock who are likely to interact with these species. Results: Of the animals tested, 959 tested positive for rabies. The species that tested positive include: 715 dogs, 178 cattle, 19 cats, 19 horses and pigs, 17 wild animals, and 11 small ruminants. The most commonly affected animals were: domestic animals (78.2%), livestock (22.1%), and wild mammals (1.8%). During this time period, 46 people died from hydrophobia as a result of the rabies virus in Georgia during this period. In the second half of 2013, a prophylactic vaccination campaign against rabies was initiated. The goal of the campaign was to vaccinate carnivores in high-risk areas in order to reduce virus transmission. Conclusion: In total, 62,113 domestic animals were vaccinated during the campaign in 2013. In that year, only 116 cases of rabies were registered in Georgia, a decrease of approximately 20% over the previous years. The country’s unregulated breeding system and likelihood of livestock coming into contact with rabies-infected animals contributes to the endemic threat of the rabies virus in Georgia. Preventative vaccination of wildlife is a promising and necessary practice that should continue to be utilized. 23.045 Rabies prevention protocols and policies and staff knowledge and training in animal shelters in the United States Z. N. Hedge San Diego Humane Society & SPCA, San Diego, CA, USA Purpose: Few studies exist on the zoonotic disease risk for animal shelter workers with regards to rabies, and no studies have examined if animal shelters in the US have protocols and policies in place to protect staff against rabies exposure. Animal shelter workers are a high risk population that come in contact with a variety of domestic animals and wildlife species with unknown medical histories on a daily basis. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional internet-based survey was conducted to gain knowledge about rabies prevention policies, practices, and training for shelter staff in the US. Survey questions focused on demographic shelter information, rabies preventive protocols, rabies tissue submission protocols, rabies pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination and rabies concern and worker training. Results: A total of 100 animal shelters participated in the survey and shelters varied in type, size, location and species accepted at the shelter. The majority of shelters have at least one individual in charge of infection control, with the veterinarian being the most common (63%). With regard to requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by animal staff when handling animals at intake, during euthanasia or in quarantine, 38% required the use of PPE. Latex gloves (43%) were the most commonly required PPE. In 75% of responding shelters, there is a written policy for staff-related animal bites, and 83% keep records on all bite quarantine animals. With regard to bite quarantine, 63% of shelters place a warning sign on bite quarantine housing. Sixty percent of shelters submit animals or tissues for rabies testing, and 50% of those shelters have written protocols for tissue submission. The majority of responding shelters (56%) do not provide pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination for staff, and rabies was listed as a top disease concern by 26% of shelters. Many shelters do provide staff training in animal handling (90%), proper use of animal restraint equipment (77%) and bite and scratch prevention (86%). Conclusion: Results from this survey show the need for further education on rabies prevention policies within animal shelters and an emphasis for written protocols and requirements for staff to follow in order to reduce the risk of rabies exposure. 23.046 Genetic analysis of West Nile Virus isolates from different geographical regions in Kenya L. Musila1, A. Nyunja1, H. Koka1, R. Sang2 1 USAMRU-K, Nairobi, Kenya, 2Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) is spread to humans from a mosquito-bird cycle. Originally endemic in Africa and the Mediterranean region, it has emerged as a global disease of medical significance with symptoms ranging from mild fever to severe neuroinvasive disease. Kenya has a significant wild and domestic bird population and three active migratory bird paths: the Rift Valley, the Eastern and Coastal flyways. West Nile Virus has been isolated from vectors in these different regions in Kenya and we hypothesis that these isolates could represent independent introductions of the virus into the country. Objective: To perform genomic sequence comparisons of West Nile virus isolates from different regions in Kenya to identify genetic diversity consistent with independent introductions into the country. Methods & Materials: Archived West Nile Virus isolates were cultured, RNA extracted and RT-PCR performed to generate fifteen overlapping fragments spanning the genome. The fragments were sequenced and assembled into consensus sequences for each virus isolate using DNA Baser Sequence Assembler and translated using Transeq (EMBOSS). Sequence comparisons were made with publically available sequences using Clustal Omega alignments to identify mutations associated with distinct West Nile lineages and phenotypes. Results: Partial genome sequences were obtained for all the West Nile virus isolates from the regions representing the 3 bird migratory flyways and deduced amino acid sequences analyzed for strain divergence at key residues in the envelope and nonstructural proteins. Key findings were that the coastal isolate had a T249P substitution at the NS3 -249 locus associated with increased virulence in birds and an A at position 70 in the NS1 protein unlike the rift valley isolate which had the Cluster 2 defining A70S substitution. The isolate from the Eastern region had an L in the L338T position of the NS1 protein undocumented in any WNV isolates from Kenya and associated with attenuated strains. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the co-circulation of West Nile virus isolates in Kenya with unique genetic signatures correlated with the different bird migratory paths consistent with independent virus introductions. The study highlights the importance of surveillance along these flyways to identify emergent virulent strains. November 2, 2014 Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine the molecular characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus from paraffin-embedded tissues of hydatid cysts isolated from human and protoscoleces of hydatid cysts from sheep, cattle and camel isolates using PCR- RFLP of ITS1- rDNA analysis in Golestan Province, northern Iran. Methods & Materials: E. granulosus isolates from human patients infected with hydatid cyst and protoscoleces from hydatid cysts of sheep, cattle and camel isolates were collected from different hospitals and the abattoir throughout the Golestan Province. In all, 60 E. granulosus genomic DNA were extracted and examined by PCR-ITS1 of rDNA and amplified using BD1/4S and EGF1/EGR2 primers, followed by RFLP using Alu1, Msp1 and TaqI restriction enzymes. Results: The PCR-ITS1 products obtained from sheep, cattle and human isolates were similar to sheep strain (1000 bp and 391 bp). Majority of the camel samples yielded 295 bp DNA bands. RFLP -ITS1 of E. granulosus with Taq1 in human, sheep and cattle isolates showed similar patterns in the number and size of DNA. RFLP methods in camel isolates showed a different genotype, using Taq1, whereas no DNA bands were observed using Alu1 in camel and human isolates. Therefore, two clearly distinguishable banding patterns of E. granulosus were obtained with the three enzymes, which separating human, sheep and cattle isolates from the camel origin. Conclusion: The results indicate the possible of transmission of the G1 and G6 genotypes of E. granulosus between livestock animals and human in Golestan Province. International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SUNDAY M. Soosaraei Social Security Organization, Gorgan, Iran, Islamic Republic of Purpose: Escherichia fergusonii was first proposed as a new species within the genus Escherichia and family Enterobacteriaceae in 1985 with a 64% similarity to Escherichia coli when analysed through DNA hybridization. It has been isolated from humans usually in cases of opportunistic infections and was first described in animals in cases clinically suggestive of salmonellosis abd identified to be of enteric origin. Methods & Materials: Bacterial isolates from faecal samples of nonhuman primates at two wildlife rehabilitation centres in South Africa were screened for the presence of Escherichia coli. Samples were obtained from non-human primates with 3 distinct levels of exposure to humans. Biochemical characterization of the bacterial isolates done using the Remel® RapidID One panel strips showed some adonitol positive, sorbitol negative strains uncharacteristic of E. coli. Two tests were further carried out using Simmons citrate agar supplemented with 2% adonitol and other biochemical tests based on their ability to ferment cellobiose and D-arabitol. A duplex PCR was carried out targeting two genes; the yliE gene (cellulose synthase and regulator of cellulose synthase island) and the EFER_1569 (putative transcriptional activator for multiple antibiotic resistance). E. fergusonii isolates were confirmed by the presence of 233bp for the yliE gene and or 432bp for the EFER_1569 gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were run on the isolates using microbroth-dilution-plates Results: Twenty three E. coli-like bacteria were confirmed as E. fergusonii based on the confirmatory tests and they were in 100% agreement. All E. fergusonii bacteria isolated from juvenile vervet monkeys with maximum human exposure showed positive amplification to EFER_1569. Resistance patterns to the antimicrobial drugs in both E. coli and E. fergusonii were 95% similar with observed differences to Amikacin. Conclusion: This is the first reported isolation and confirmation of E. fergusonii in non-human primates. The presence of EFER_1569 genes in young vervets that had consistent human contact is suggestive of the possible routes of transmission of antimicrobial resistance into the non-human primate populations; however we cannot fully conclude this until we carry out molecular fingerprinting analysis. Our findings support the assertion that E. fergusonii is an emerging pathogen of zoonotic importance. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 granulosus from hydatid cysts isolated from human and animals in Golestan Province, North of Iran resistant pathogen Poster Presentations II 141 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.047 A ‘One Health’ approach to the elimination of rabies • Bartonella spp. bacteremia in cats M. R. Drummond1, P. P. V. D. P. Diniz2, B. G. Lania1, D. M. R. Demolin1, R. Gilioli1, E. Breitschwerdt3, G. Vieira-Damiani1, D. G. Scorpio4, P. E. N. F. Velho1 State University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA, 3North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, 4Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 1 2 Purpose: Currently, Bartonella genus comprises at least 31 species and subspecies, 15 of them are pathogenic to humans. Three species are associated with the largest number of clinical symptoms in human beings: Bartonella bacilliformis, Bartonella quintana and Bartonella henselae. B. henselae is the one most frequently associated with human diseases. This specie is considered zoonotic and its transmission is usually related with infected cat scratches In order to evaluate Bartonella spp. bacteremia prevalence in cats from Campinas, Brazil and to isolate a B. henselae regional strain, we analyzed blood samples from 112 cats. Methods & Materials: An overview of the diagnostic procedures performed is presented in the Figure 1. The whole blood was collected during spay/neuter surgery and submitted to DNA extraction. A preenrichment culture in liquid medium was also performed. An aliquot of 142 IMED 2014 A(H7N9) in the second-wave epidemic in China E. H. Lau1, P. Wu1, J. Y. Wong1, G. Freeman1, J. T. Wu1, G. M. Leung1, Y. Hongjie2, B. J. Cowling1 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China Purpose: In spring 2013, a novel avian influenza A(H7N9) emerged in China causing more than 130 human infections mostly in the eastern provinces. The hospital fatality risk of A(H7N9) were about 35% and caused severe illness especially in older patients. In winter 2013-14, a second wave of A(H7N9) began with higher burden in the southern provinces in China. We estimated the relative risk of serious illness of patients aged 65 or above in the second wave of A(H7N9) epidemic, accounting for potential age-specific differences in poultry exposure across different geographic locations. Methods & Materials: A line list of laboratory-confirmed A(H7N9) cases with information on age, geographic location and seriousness of disease (mild/severe) were collated by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A recent survey was also conducted in early 2014 on residences in 5 urban cities and 3 rural cities, to measure the age-specific exposure to live poultry. We constructed a statistical model on age-specific risk of serious illness as a function of geographic location and live poultry exposure, stratified by urban and rural areas. The relative age-specific risk seriousness of A(H7N9) was estimated under a Bayesian framework. Results: There were 274 laboratory-confirmed A(H7N9) cases aged 15 or above in China, Oct 1, 2013–May 19, 2014. Of which, 156 were severe cases. The estimated average exposure to live poultry shows small variation across urban areas but exhibited strong age-specific patterns with older people having higher exposure in most cities. We estimated that the risk of serious illness after A(H7N9) infection was 3.1 times higher in patients aged 65 or above (95% credibility interval 2.7-4.1), compared to 5.1 times (95% credibility interval 3.0-8.2) in the first wave of the epidemic. Conclusion: Adjusted for the age-specific and geographical variation in live poultry exposure, we found a slightly lower relative risk of serious illness in laboratory-confirmed A(H7N9) patients in the second wave epidemic. This may indicate improvements in patient management particularly for patients with co-morbid conditions, or change in virulence of the circulating virus strain in Southern China which was divergent from that in the first wave epidemic. 23.050 Do Costa Rican urban raccoon populations pose a public health concern? M. Baldi1, G. Alvarado2, E. Barquero3, G. Hernadez4, C. Jimenez1, M. Santoro5, S. Hutter6, S. Smith7, C. Walzer 8 1 Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica, 2Universidad de Costa Rica, San Josè, Costa Rica, 3Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica, 4Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Heredia, Costa Rica, 5“Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 6University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 7University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 8University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Purpose: Due to the increasing report of raccoons in Costa Rican urban areas there is a risk of zoonotic transmission. The purpose of our study was determine which zoonotic disease agents are holded by an urban raccoon population that can pose a real disease risk to humans Methods & Materials: A total of 20 raccoons classified as problematic intruders, were removed in collaboration with the Veterinary School (Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica) and National Wildlife Service (MINAE). Life traps were placed either in a small wooded area or inside the gardens in affected areas and left three nights. Biological samples were taken from captured animals (serum, blood and faeces). To assess Baylisascaris procyonis parasites a real-time PCR specific for primer sequence of it was used (Dangoudoubiyam et al 2009). Adult parasites were measure following the description given by Karacas 2001. Raccoon faeces were culture for Salmonella isolation and identification. It was cultured directly onto selective agar media (Xylose-LysineDesoxycholate (XLD), and biochemistry methods for identification were used. Serological positive isolates were assess against serovar using specific antisera (antigen for flagellar [H]and somatic [O]). Leptospira antibodies in serum were assessed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) according to OIE diagnostic test recommendations. Results: We found that 50% of the raccoons were positive to Baylisascaris procyonis. We also found that 30% of 20 assessed animals were culture positive to Salmonella Typhimurium, Hartford and San Diego. Additionally, 20% of them were seropositive to Leptospira interogans, including; serovare Australis, Copenhagani, Kantorowics, RGA, Tarrasovi, Hebdomadibus and Icterohaemorrhagiae. Conclusion: Based on our preliminary findings we are sure that Costa Rica`s urban raccoon population harbours zoonotic agents that can pose a real disease risk to humans. Human public concern has a direct connection to how wildlife is perceived, especially when they are associated with a potential risk for disease transmission.Risk factors and their dynamics urgently need be studied to mitigate zoonotic transmission to the susceptible human population. 23.051 Prevalence of antibodies against influenza A/ H5N1 virus among live poultry market workers in NorthernVietnam, 2011 M. T. Q. Le1, D. Tham1, D. N. Pham1, N. S. Vu2, T. M. Luong1, H. L. K. Nguyen1, T. T. Le1 1 National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 2 Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam Purpose: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 (H5N1) is endemic in poultry in Vietnam. The country has experienced the third highest number of human infections with H5N1 in the world. A study in Hanoi in 2001 prior to the epizootic that was identified in 2003, found A/H5N1 specific antibodies in 4% of poultry market workers (PMWs). After eight years of circulation of H5N1 in Vietnam, we conducted a seroprevalence study to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to H5N1 among 607 PMWs in Hanoi city, Thaibinh and Thanhhoa provinces. Methods & Materials: Using the horse hemagglutination inhibition assays (HHI) and the microneutralization assay (MN) with all three clades of HPAI H5N1 viruses that have cirulated in Vietnam since 2004 Results: The overall seroprevalence was 6.1% (95%CI 4.6%–8.3%). The highest rate (7.2%) was found in PMWs at Hanoi city, and the majority of seropositive subjects (70.3%) were slaughters or sellers of poultry Conclusion: The continued circulation and evolution of HPAI H5N1 requires comprehensive surveillance of both human and animal sites throughout country, with follow up studies on PMWs to estimate the risk of avian-human transmission of HPAI H5N1 viruses in Vietnam 23.052 Phylogenetic characterization of Bocaviruses infecting wild and captive living chimpanzees K. Brozova1, K. Hrazdilova1, A. K. Piel2, F. A. Stewart2, K. J. Petrzelkova3, V. Celer1 1 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic, 2University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic Purpose: Increasing contact between human and non-human primates enhances exchange of pathogens in both directions. Close host relationship and previous Parvovirus cross species transmission evidence prompts a question, whether also newly described primate bocaviruses may cross the species barrier. Members of the genus Bocavirus belong to the Parvoviridae family. These are small, non-enveloped single stranded DNA viruses infecting large number of mammals including human and non-human primates resulting in respiratory and gastrointestinal tract disorders. To investigate whether primate bocaviruses cross the species barrier, we analyzed fecal sample isolates from wild living savanna-woodland chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) from Ugalla, Tanzania and captive chimpanzees from Czech and Slovak zoos to determine their phylogenetic relationship to previously established human and nonhuman primate bocaviruses. Although primate bocaviruses were previously described, there are only few partial sequences of NS1 and VP2 genes of gorilla (GBoV) and chimpanzee bocaviruses obtained from wild living primates available on GenBank, and only little is known about their phylogenetic relationship to human (HBoV) isolates. Methods & Materials: Diagnostic nested PCR with degenerated primers targeted in NS1 and VP2 genes were performed. Whole genome sequences were obtained by PCR using sets of degenerated primers. Phylogenetic analyses of obtained NS1 and VP2 genes sequences were performed using maximum likelihood method. Results: Nested PCR results confirmed the presence of Bocavirus DNA in one captive (1/25) and 13 wild living Ugalla chimpanzee (13/113) fecal samples. Phylogenetic analyses of both genes revealed a close relationship of Ugalla chimpanzee isolates to bocaviruses isolated from Cameroonian chimpanzees described previously. The captive chimpanzee isolate did not cluster to any other known chimpanzee bocavirus, either in NS1, or VP2 genes, and formed separated cluster more related to HBoV genotypes. Conclusion: Bocaviruses infecting wild chimpanzees are species specific and form two distinct lineages circulating in wild living chimpanzee population. The captive chimpanzee isolate formed a separated cluster divergent from other chimpanzee bocaviruses and due to frequent contact with human care-takers may have a human origin. To further support or refute the potential of bocaviruses crossing the species barrier, more samples from different chimpanzee populations in various stages of habituation should be investigated. November 2, 2014 23.048 Molecular and microbiological detection of 23.049 Age-specific seriousness of avian influenza International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • SUNDAY Purpose: Globally there are an estimated 55,000 human deaths caused by rabies each year. The majority of cases occur in Africa and Asia, with children under the age of 15 most often infected. More than 99% of cases are transmitted via dog bites (WHO, 2013). Misconceptions about the best means of controlling rabies often result in inhumane dog culling; this is not an effective means of rabies control (WHO, 2013). Risk of transmission in rabies-endemic areas is high, due to an abundance of potentially-infected stray and free-roaming dogs in conjunction with poor local knowledge of rabies management and dog behaviour. Rabies has been effectively controlled in several areas through coordinated mass canine vaccination campaigns when at least 70% herd immunity has been achieved (WHO, 2013). The elimination of rabies is possible through raising awareness about the disease, coupled with humane dog population management and mass dog vaccination campaigns. Methods & Materials: To ensure this is achieved, sharing of knowledge across regions and a ‘One Health’ approach to animal and human health is critical. Programmes require political support that actively integrates human and animal health agencies. NGOs, such as World Animal Protection, have a key role to play in facilitation. By way of example, World Animal Protection worked with the government of Zanzibar to establish a humane and sustainable dog population management programme as part of their rabies control strategy. Results: Following initial success, the objectives of the Zanzibar dog population management programme were expanded to include rabies elimination through mass dog vaccination. The project integrates public health and veterinary resources with village administrative systems to produce a strong multi-sectorial approach. This has led to rabies being controlled on the island with the programme now transitioning to the elimination and surveillance stage. Conclusion: World Animal Protection supports a holistic approach which sees animal and human health as inextricably connected, and works through cooperation between municipalities and public health and veterinary sectors. By coupling humane dog population management with responsible ownership and mass canine rabies vaccination, conflict between humans and dogs can be mitigated, creating a harmonious co-existence. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 E. Fogelberg, M. Kennedy, W. Gates World Animal Protection, London, London, United Kingdom the ten-day culture was seeded in a solid medium supplemented with 30% sheep blood. Another aliquot was tested for PCRs of two different gene targets. Sample isolates obtained from solid cultures were also tested. Results: An overview of the results is presented in the table 1. B. henselae DNA was detected in 86 (77%) of blood samples and 56 (50%) of liquid culture samples. In total, bacteremia was detected in 90% (101/112) cats. When the genus-specific ITS conventional PCR was used, Bartonella spp. bacteremia was detected just in 31/112 (28%) of liquid culture. Sixteen Gram-negative isolates were obtained from solid medium culture and eleven of them were PCR positive. Some samples were sequenced and three of these isolates demonstrated a 100% homology with B. henselae Brazil-1 strain at analyzed ITS region. These isolates were the first samples of this strain to be deposited at a Culture Collection in Brazil. The specie-specific FtsZ nested PCR was positive at least at one sample of bacteremic cats. Conclusion: Our results show that Bartonella sp. bacteremia prevalence among cats is very frequent in Campinas, Brazil and suggest that the prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection among cats and its consequences for public health remains underestimated. More sensitive diagnostic methods should be used in studying of this infection. Poster Presentations II 143 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.053 Hantavirus in persons exposed to domestic and wild rats in the UK: Results of a sero-prevalence study • SUNDAY Mycobacterium caprae infection B. Amato1, V. Di Marco Lo Presti1, E. Gerace1, F. Mandanici1, E. Biasibetti2, M. B. Boniotti3, L. Spuria1, F. Valenza2, M. L. Pacciarini3, M. T. Capucchio2 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Sicily, Barcellona P.G. (Messina), Italy, 2University of Torino, Grugliasco (Torino), Italy, 3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy Purpose: Bovine tuberculosis is a worldwide zoonosis that has been reemerging in different ecological scenarios. The presence of wildlife reservoirs frequently hampers eradication. In Sicily cases of tuberculous lesions have been reported in a population of Sicilian Black pig, an autochthonous variety of pig that live in Natural Parks of Nebrodi and Madonie in free or semifree roaming conditions, frequently sharing pastures with cattle. The authors report a description of M. caprae infection case in a Nebrodi Black pig with the characterization of pathological lesions and genotyping of isolated strains. Methods & Materials: In the first half of 2013, a Nebrodi Black pig carcass was subjected to a complete routine meat inspection at the abattoir. Macroscopical, histopathological and bacteriological investigations were carried out on suspected lesions. Molecular identification 144 IMED 2014 granulosus in the Southern Russia L. Ermakova1, N. Pshenichnaya2, Y. Kirtanasov3, K. Bolatchiev4, T. Tverdokhlebova1 1 Rostov Research Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Rostovon-Don, Russian Federation, 2Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, 3Rostov regional hospital #2, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, 4Rospotrebnadzor on Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic, Cherkessk, Russian Federation Background: Human echinococcosis is characterized by the formation of permanent endemic foci. In the Southern Russia (SR) maintaining of current foci provides by a dry and hot climate, large number of livestock and dogs. These areas are the habitat of all definitive hosts of Echinococcus—wolf, jackal, fox, raccoon dog and vulpes corsac. High prevalence of Echinococcosis in humans constantly recorded in Karachaevo-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria, Astrakhan and Stavropol regions. Human morbidity in these areas exceeds the average level in Russia more than 2 times. However, in the neighboring areas (Ingushetia and Chechnya, Rostov region) with the same conditions for the implementation of the full life cycle of parasite, the incidence of Echinococcosis is missing or significantly below the average level in Russia. Aim: To determine the reasons of variability in the incidence rate of echinococcosis among a population in the territories with similar climatic and household conditions in SR. Methods & Materials: During the period from 2008 to 2013 we performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 74 patients, treated surgically due to echinococcosis in the republican hospital in Karachaevo-Cherkessia and 68 in the Rostov Regional Hospital #2. Also we analyzed 82 epidemiological survey of echinococcosis cases in Karachaevo-Cherkessia and 57 in the Rostov region. 5914 blood serums of healthy inhabitants have been studied for anti-Echinococcus IgG by ELISA in the frames of sero-epidemiological study in the several territories of the SR. Results: Analysis of the medical records demonstrated that the number of patients received surgical treatment in hospitals of the Rostov region in the period 2008-2013 exceeds the officially registered cases. In Karachaevo-Cherkessia number of officially reported cases is more than number of patients, who operated due to echinococcosis in the republican hospital, because patients surgically treated in other territories of the SR were also taken into this account. The results of sero-epidemiological surveys showed that the percentage of seropositive persons among conditionally healthy population of the Rostov region 2 times more than in Karachaevo-Cherkessia—0.8% and 1.6% respectively. Conclusion: The real prevalence of echinococcosis in some territories of the SR is higher than official statistics. 23.056 Psittacosis associated with pet bird’s ownership: a cause of public health concern V. L. Ferreira1, M. V. Silva2, T. F. Raso1 1 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 2 Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Purpose: Birds are among the most popular pets around the world. Nonetheless, public awareness about the risks regarding zoonotic disease posed by pet birds is very limited. One of the main bacterial diseases related to birds exposure is psittacosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci. Infections occur when a person inhales the aerosolized organism from secretions of infected birds. In humans psittacosis varies in severity from mild “flu-like” symptoms with fever, headache and photophobia to serious atypical pneumonia. Unless specifically thought of and investigated, the diagnosis of psittacosis can be easily missed and the disease is usually treated as atypical pneumonia. The aim of this report is to describe cases of psittacosis related to household pet birds. Methods & Materials: A 16 years old male patient was admitted to the Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, Brazil, with fever, fatigue and persistent cough. During anamnesis the patient reported previously therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics with limited improvement of his health conditions and having pet birds, thus psittacosis was suspected. Chest x-ray revealed interstitial infiltrate in the lungs. Serum samples of the patient and others five family members were obtained and tested using a microimmunofluorescence assay (Foccus,® USA). Results: Three of those presented anti-C. psittaci antibodies. The patient revealing IgG titer of 1:64; IgM titer was not detected. The patient’s father, 51 years old, with IgG titer of 1:64 and IgM 1:20 and the patient’s brother, 14 years old, with IgG titer of 1:128. Both reported having mild respiratory symptoms in the past. Due to the zoonotic nature of this disease swabs samples of their birds were collected and C. psittaci’s DNA was detected by PCR in love birds (A. personata) and cockatiel (N. hollandicus). Conclusion: Probably this disease occurs more often than reported. As shown in this study, milder cases may not seek medical attention and physicians may not elicit a history of bird exposure. Furthermore, laboratorial confirm cases can be difficult to determine since antimicrobials employed empirically for community-acquired pneumonia therapy may inhibit antibodies response. Due to the popularity of birds as pets there is a need for consciousness campaigns directed at health workers and the general public. 23.057 Hepatitis E virus in the South of Spain: seroprevalence and acute infection in patients with anormal transaminases levels T. Perez-Gracia1, F. Rivas2, B. Suay1, S. García-Valdivia3, F. GalanSanchez2, M. Rodriguez-Iglesias2 1 Cardenal Herrera Univ, Valencia, Spain, 2Puerta del Mar Univ Hosp, Cadiz, Spain, 3Puerto Real Univ Hosp, Puerto Real, Spain Purpose: Hepatitis E is a very important public health disease in many developing countries. Sporadic cases of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have been described and the number of documented autochthonous infections seems to be increasing in industrialized countries. The common transmission route is fecal-oral. Other probable modes of transmission in endemic areas include vertical transmission, blood transmission, person-to-person contact and zoonotic transmission route. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of HEV infection among normal population with anormal transaminases levels in the south of Spain, once discarded other hepatotropic infections. Methods & Materials: A total of 267 patients were included in this study due to present ALT >100U/mL in sera obtained in a community area of 550.000 assigned to Puerto Real and Puerta del Mar Univ Hosp (Cádiz, Spain). These patients were selected with hepatitis viral markers negative with the exception of hepatitis A virus infection. Blood samples were obtained from all the participants by venipuncture, and sera were obtained and frozen at −80°C until used. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies (IgG and IgM) was investigated using the Fortress Diagnostics ELISAs (Fortress Diagnostics Limited, Antrim, Northern Ireland). Positive results by the immunoenzymatic methods were confirmed by Western Blot analysis (RecomBlot HEV IgG/IgM, Mikrogen, Martinsried, Germany). Results: The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG confirmed by immunoblotting was 6.8% (18/263) and anti-HEV IgM was detected in 4.9% (13/263). Fourteen patients (61.2%) with anti-HEV were male. The median age of anti-HEV IgG positive patients was 53 years and the median age of anti-HEV IgM positive patients was 29 (p<0,005). Two cases were hepatitis A coinfection with anti-HAV IgM positive. Conclusion: Hepatitis E is a global infection with an estimated incidence of millions of cases per year and it should no longer be considered of little importance in developed countries. It must be included in the diagnostic algorithm of acute, chronic and fulminant hepatitis even in the presence of more common hepatitis virus or other non-viral hepatitis. 23.058 The serum archive for emerging zoonoses— A new national resource to inform public health risk assessments for new and emerging animal infections K. Russell, B. Said, D. Brown, D. Morgan, H. Kirkbride Public Health England, London, United Kingdom Purpose: Human exposure to potentially zoonotic infections often occurs first in occupational groups with close and frequent exposure to animals. The ability to undertake serological surveys of such groups has been helpful in building up the evidence base of the zoonotic potential of new pathogens. This approach was used in Europe to determine the zoonotic potential of Schmallenberg virus which first appeared in cattle and sheep in 2011. The United Kingdom’s cross-governmental Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group is responsible for the risk assessment of new and emerging animal pathogens and the Serum Archive for Emerging Zoonoses (SAfEZ) has been established to collect blood samples which can be tested for new and emerging animal pathogens to inform these risk assessments. Methods & Materials: This anonymous archive of sera has been developed from individuals regularly exposed to animals through their work or recreational activities. It includes an occupational cohort from veterinary and field staff based at the United Kingdom government’s Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), as well as blood samples donated from bat handlers, sheep, pig and poultry workers across England. Public Health England is working collaboratively with the AHVLA and a range of stakeholder organisations representing the pig, poultry, and sheep industries to promote participation in the study to animal workers. Results: 150 serum samples have been collected to date since recruitment commenced in May 2014, with an expected target of 750 samples collected during the first year of the archive. Further recruitment is planned throughout 2014-2015 via the AHVLA’s occupational health service and other large animal industry events. A steering committee will oversee the future management and use of the serum archive. Conclusion: This unique archive, the first of its kind worldwide, will contribute to the understanding and risk assessment of new and emerging zoonoses, and is consistent with the One Health concept that human and animal health are inextricably linked. The Serum Archive for Emerging Zoonoses represents a valuable national resource and is a successful model which could easily be replicated in other countries to contribute to a greater international understanding of emerging threats to health. November 2, 2014 23.054 Bovine tuberculosis in pigs: a case of 23.055 Features of epidemiology of Echinococcosus International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Introduction: Six recent indigenous cases of acute kidney injury due to Seoul hantavirus infection from exposure to wild or pet rats suggest this infection is emerging in the UK. In particular, Seoul hantavirus infection in people exposed to pet “fancy” rats has not previously been documented. The recent cases of hantavirus indigenous to the UK suggest that the problem may be more widespread than is currently known and that there may be a public health risk to those who breed, own or handle pet rats in the UK, or are exposed to wild rats through their occupation. Objective: To conduct a sero-prevalence study to determine the exposure incidence in at-risk groups with close contact with domesticated and wild rats to assess risk and inform public health advice. Methods & Materials: We compared a random sample of stored blood specimens (group 1) with recruited owners/breeders of pet rats (group 2), persons with occupational exposure to pet rats (e.g. veterinarians, group 3) and persons with occupational exposure to wild rats (e.g. farmers, sewage workers, pest control workers, group 4), aiming to sample 300 participants per group. Information on the nature and extent of contact with rats was collected by questionnaire. Hantavirus immune response was measured using a commercial immunofluorescence assay (Euroimmune) to test for 6 hantaviruses (Hantaan, Puumala, Seoul, Dobrava, Saareema, Sin Nombre). Results: From October 2013 to May 2014, 498 individuals were sampled, 84 in group 2 (all were members of the specialist pet rat owning/ breeding community), 170 in group 3 and 244 in group 4. Preliminary results suggest that hantavirus seroprevalence varied from 35% in group 2 (95% CI:25-45%) to 1.4% in group 4 (95% CI:0.5-3.9%) Conclusion: Variation in seroprevalence across groups with different exposure suggests that occupational exposure to wild rats carries almost no risk, however domestic acquisition of hantavirus among specialist pet rat owners/breeders may be more common than previously thought. Awareness among clinicians should be raised to ensure diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Additional testing of non-specialist pet rat owners is required to determine whether the risk of hantavirus is isolated to the specialist pet rat community. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 J. Duggan1, R. Close2, L. McCann3, N. McCarthy2, T. Mannes2, M. Keys1, D. Wright1, A. Walsh4, A. Charlett4, T. Brooks1 1 Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom, 2Public Health England, Oxford, United Kingdom, 3Public Health England, Bristol, United Kingdom, 4Health Protection Agency, London, United Kingdom and genotyping of the isolate was also performed by Spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR analysis (ETRA-E, VNTR 2163a, 2163b, 4052, 3155, 1895, 3232 and MIRU-26). Results: An adult sow, showed generalized granulomatous lesions involving lymph nodes of the head, thorax and abdomen, tonsils, udders and coxo-femoral joint. In the tonsils small translucent gray nodules with a pale yellow core were observed. Multiple granulomatous lesions of different size were identified in three udders. A voluminous neoformation (10 cm) involving the right coxo-femoral joint was also detected. The X-ray examination revealed bone remodeling of the trochanter and ischial bones osteolysis. Histologically granulomatous lesions appeared as classical fibronecrotic granulomas with a necrotic centre surrounded by epithelioid, multinucleated giant cells, macrophages and lymphocytes with minimal or abundant calcifications. Mycobacterial colonies Ziehl-Neelsen positive were isolated from all the affected organs. By genotyping, all the isolates were M. caprae, spoligotype SB0866 and MIRU-VNTR 4,1,5,4,4,11, 4,2,4,3,8,7. Conclusion: In Sicily, the number of isolates of M.caprae compared to M.bovis in domestic and wild animals since 2004 till now is very low (0,01%). This is the first report of M. caprae isolation in pigs in Italy. The same genotype was found in two cattle herds from neighboring areas, suggesting an inter-species transmission. At the moment, little is known about the host susceptibility to M. caprae infection in swine. Poster Presentations II 23.059 Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in wild boars in Serbia B. I. Kureljusic, B. Savić, N. Jezdimirović, Đ. Cvetojević, J. Kureljusic, D. Jakić-Dimić, O. Radanović, V. Milićević, V. Ivetić Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Purpose: Hepatitis E is considered an emerging human viral disease with many evidences of zoonotic nature of disease. Recent studies from Serbia indicated presence of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) in commercial pig farms, as well as high seroprevalence in human population. 145 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 Aim: To determine HEV seroprevalence in wild boars in 9 large hunting areas in northern, southern, western, eastern and central parts of Serbia. Methods & Materials: Serum samples collected from 111 wild boars from 2010 to 2013 were analysed by commercial ELISA test for the presence of antibodies directed against HEV. Recombinant HEV antigen of the ORF 2 and ORF 3 of the genotypes 1 and 3 was coated on the ELISA plate. Results: Overall HEV seroprevalence was 52,25% (58/111). All hunting areas in all 5 parts of Serbia were positive on the presence of antibodies against HEV. Detection of anti-HEV varied with the geographical origin of the boar, being 65,22% (15/23) in northern, 40,91% (9/22) in southern, 47,62% (10/21) in western, 52,17% (12/23) in eastern, and 54,54% (12/22) in central part of Serbia. Conclusion: Very high seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies indicated an active circulation of HEV in the Serbian wild boar population suggests that wild boars can be source of HEV infection for domestic pigs, as well as for human beings, particular in northern part where the seroprevalence is the highest. 23.060 Clinical analysis of Helicobacter cinaedi bacteremia in patients with rheumatic diseases V. Nikolic1, G. Stamenkovic2, J. Jovanovic3, M. Paunovic3, M. Stanojevic1 1 University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia, 2 University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, 3Natural History Museum, Belgrade, Serbia Purpose: Bats have recently been recognized as potential reservoir of emerging human pathogens, including hantaviruses and paramyxoviruses. Hantaviruses are known to be endemically present in Serbia, both in humans and in animal reservoirs comprising several rodent species, and causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. On the 146 IMED 2014 • SUNDAY Brucella melitensis typing S. AbuBakar1, K.-K. Tan1, Y.-C. Tan2, K.-W. Lee2, W.-Y. Yee2, L.-Y. Chang1 1 University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2Codon Genomics Sdn. Bhd., Selangor, Malaysia Purpose: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease that affects humans and animals. Differentiation of the different Brucella species however, is difficult. The rpoB gene encoding for the β subunit of RNA polymerase was proposed as a new chromosomal marker useful for the Brucella spp typing. The canonical pattern of nucleotide polymorphisms within the gene allows segregation of the B. melitensis into three major types. Adaptation of the bacteria into new hosts however, could introduce changes in the genome which could result in the emergence of new polymorphic variants. The present study was undertaken to investigate and compare the complete rpoB gene sequences of globally distributed B. melitensis strains. Methods & Materials: B. melitensis rpoB gene sequences were retrieved from the GenBank and the PATRIC database. The rpoB gene sequences were aligned against that of the B. melitensis 16M. Strains with similar nucleotide sequences to the B. melintensis 16M were recorded as the rpoB type 1. Whereas, strains with nucleotide substitutions at codon 629, GCG to GTG (A629I), codon 985, GCC to GTC (A985V) and codon 1309, CTG to CTA were identified as the rpoB type 2. Lastly, strains with changes at codon 1249, ATG to ATA were identified as the rpoB type 3. Results: Comparisons of the rpoB gene sequences revealed the presence of two new SNPs at codons 186 and 1067. Nucleotide substitution at codon 1067, GGC to GGT, was present in most of the African B. melitensis strains and one B. melitensis strain isolated in the UK (UK22_04). This mutation was specific and absent in other Brucella spp. It is a canonical SNP that is unique to the newly identified B. melitensis type, which we denote as the rpoB type 4. Within the rpoB type 4 strains, an additional nucleotide substitution at codon 186, CCT to CCA, was observed in the UK22_04 strain. Conclusion: A novel canonical SNP at codon 1067 was found specific to a newly identified rpoB type 4 strains. The usefulness of the codon 186 for B. melitensis typing and phylogeography studies however, requires further investigation. 23.063 The risk of import of potentially zoonotic and multi resistant bacteria through import of ornamental fish into the EU N. Tafro1, O. Stenvers2, O. Haenen3 1 Netherlands Food & Consumer Product Safety Authority, Schiphol, Netherlands, 2Netherlands Food & Consumer Product Safety Authority, Utrecht, Netherlands, 3Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen, Netherlands Purpose: This paper presents an overview of the current EU legislative criteria for import control of ornamental fish from third countries (outside the EU) into the EU and describes the principal topically acquired zoonoses and risks of importing multiresistant bacteria. Methods & Materials: Within the current EU legislation imported ornamental fishes intended for closed water systems are checked at the border inspection posts for clinical signs and mortality only, and not for presence of any zoonotical agent, nor for multiresistant bacteria. With the increase of global international trade in ornamental fish and imports into the EU this implies a risk and requires special attention. Results: Annually, millions of ornamental fishes from third counties are imported into the EU. Handling these animals, including contact with water in which they are transported may cause topical bacterial infections, via puncture of fish spines or by open wounds. The principal potentially zoonotic bacteria which can be transmitted via this route to humans are Mycobacterium marinum, Vibrio vulnificus, Streptococcus iniae and Edwardsiella tarda. Groups at risk are professionals in all segments of the ornamental fish business (aquaculture and fisheries), but also people having an aquarium at home and all individuals having direct skin contact with live fish kept in warm water. Especially immunocompromised people with open skin injuries or pierced by fish spines are at risk of developing a topically acquired zoonosis, which may be serious. Moreover, ornamental fish and the water in which there are transported may contain bacteria which are (multi)resistant against antibiotics, due to intensive use of antibiotics in the farm of origin and/ or transport water. Conclusion: It is important, to increase awareness of these risks to the ornamental fish branch, including the fish hobbyist, but also to veterinarian and medical practitioners and governing authorities, to prevent for ornamental fish related bacterial zoonoses. 23.064 Coxiella burnetii infection in wild boars (Sus scrofa) S. Anastacio1, C. Coelho2, M. Pereira3, M. M. Vieira-Pinto4, K. Sidi-Boumedine5, G. J. da Silva6 1 Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama-Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, 2Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu-Centro de Estudos em Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal, 3Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, 4Dept. Ciências Veterinárias. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Centro de Estudos em Ciência Animal e Veterinária. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal, 5ANSES, Laboratoire Sophia-Antipolis, Sophia Antipolis, France, 6Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Background: Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic infection worldwide distributed. The role of wild animals in the transmission of the infection is globally recognized but poorly known. Objectives: The aims of this study were firstly to investigate the exposure of wild boars to C. burnetii infection and, secondly, to clarify the infection status of the animals by detection of C. burnetii DNA in sera. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional study was developed during the hunting season 2011/2012 in the northeast region of Portugal. Sera samples were collected from wild boars (n=89) and tested for specific antibodies anti-C. burnetii by ELISA kit (LSIVET Ruminant Milk/Serum Q Fever,® LSI) adapted for multi-species detection, using a multi-antispecies conjugate. Sera with an S/P per cent <50% were considered to be negative. Samples with an S/P per cent of between 50% and 75% were considered to be positive; those >75% were considered strongly positive. Of the 89 serum samples, 28 were randomly selected to detect the DNA of C. burnetii by PCR testing. Results: Of the tested animals, 5.6% (95% CI: 1.8 to 12.6%) were seropositive and among these 40% (95% CI: 11.8 to 76.9%) were classified as strong positive. No positive results were obtained on PCR testing, revealing that the animals were not in acute phase of infection. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of seroprevalence of C. burnetii in wild boars in Europe. Despite the low seroprevalence, the exposure to the pathogen occurs, revealing wild boar as a potential reservoir of infection and highlighting the importance of monitoring this population. Furthermore, and considering the C. burnetii low infectious dose for humans, the zoonotic risk when handling hunted wild boars should not be neglected. 23.065 Pandemic influenza virus in pigs raised in smallholder farms in Kenya, 2010–2012 P. M. Munyua1, L. Mwasi2, C. Onyango1, C. Cardona3, L. Waiboci1, K. Njenga4, P. Kitala5, P. Nyaga5, J. Mott1 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, 2 Kenya Medical Research Institute/CDC, Nairobi, Kenya, 3University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA, 4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, 5University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya Purpose: Influenza AH1N1pdm09 virus, first detected in humans in April 2009, has been reported in pigs in multiple countries globally. We carried out surveillance in pigs at a slaughterhouse located near Nairobi to determine prevalence and sero-prevalence of influenza A viruses. Methods & Materials: We collected nasal and bronchial swabs and blood samples from pigs at a slaughterhouse for 10-day periods in May 2010, August and December 2011 and April, August and December 2012. A standardized questionnaire was administered to traders to collect data on characteristics of the farm of origin. Swabs were tested for influenza A by rt RT-PCR and virus isolation undertaken on all positive swabs. Virus subtyping was carried out on the virus isolated. Sera were tested for anti-influenza A nucleoprotein antibodies by ELISA and all positive sera tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) for specific antibodies to swine influenza AH1N1, H3N2 and AH1N1pdm09. Results: A total of 1346 nasal and bronchiole swabs and 978 blood samples were collected. A majority of the pigs (82%) were from Kiambu County in Central Kenya with median pig herd size of 10. In total 7/1346 (0.5%; 95% CI 0.2-1.1) swabs were positive for influenza A. Three virus isolates were obtained from nasal swabs collected in August 2011 and were determined to be A/California/07/2009-like (H1N1) pdm09 on antigenic characterization. Of the 957 pig sera tested by ELISA, 16.6 % (95% CI, 14.3–19.1) were positive for influenza A. Influenza A sero-prevalence was variable over the sampling periods; with a sero-prevalence of 42.2% recorded in August 2011 significantly higher than the lowest (4.7%) recorded in April, 2012 (Χ2, 119.8, df =5, p<0.0001). Generally, the sero-prevalence declined after 2011 and remained at low levels (<10%) in 2012. On HI, 89/156 (57.1%) of the sera were positive for AH1N1pdm09 antibodies. Conclusion: We report infection and circulation of AH1N1pdm09 over a two year period among pigs raised on small holder farms in Kenya suggesting introduction and maintenance of the virus in local pig populations. Continued influenza surveillance in humans and pigs, is key in monitoring evolution of influenza viruses in this critical interface. November 2, 2014 23.061 Molecular investigation of RNA viruses in bats 23.062 Novel point mutations in rpoB gene useful for International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Purpose: Helicobacter cinaedi (H. cinaedi) has been increasingly recognized as important pathogen for human bacteremia. It has been commonly isolated from the immune-compromised hosts like patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. We experienced cases of H. cinaedi bacteremia in patients with rheumatic diseases and analyzed their clinical pictures. Methods & Materials: Four cases of H. cinaedi bacteremia in patients with rheumatic diseases were diagnosed in Miyazaki University hospital during 2008-2014. Their background, clinical pictures, and treatment were retrospectively analyzed based on the medical record. Results: All 4 patients were female and medium age was 58 years old (48-64 years old). All of them were admitted in the hospital because of rheumatic arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These patients received low to medium doses of prednisolone (2-60mg/ day). In addition, two patients with RA received biologics agents (antiTNFs) and 2 patients with SLE received immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide). At the onset of H. cinaedi bacteremia, all of them complained fever and 2 of them had eruption. Three of them were treated with ceftriaxone and the other one was treated with meropenem. H. cinaedi isolated from blood culture was sensitive to these agents in all 4 cases; however, one case repeatedly had bacteremia for 6months. The administration of minocycline for a month finally stopped the bacteremia in this case. Conclusion: H. cinaedi could be the important pathogen for the patients with rheumatic diseases, who are treated with corticosteroid, biologics agents, and immunosuppressive agents. Minocycline can be effective to the patients with H. cinaedi bacteremia, that is resistant to the beta-lactams. Further study to include many cases is necessary to clarify the best treatment for H. cinaedi bacteremia. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 I. Takajo, T. Kawaguchi, M. Matsuda, A. Okayama Miyazaki University Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan other hand, paramyxoviruses are widely distributed worldwide and known to be associated with a range of human diseases (bronchiolitis, pneumonia, encephalitis, meningitis, parotitis, orchitis). No molecular data exist about the occurrence of human or zoonotic viruses in bats in Serbia. Aim: To examine the presence of paramyxovirus and hantavirus genetic material in bats in Serbia. Methods & Materials: Ninety-five deceased bats were collected on different sites in Serbia, in the period 2002 to 2009. Bat carcasses were identified to species and stored at –20oC until further examination. Isolation of total RNA from animal lungs was performed using TRIZOL Reagent (GibcoBRL, Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) according to manufacturer’s instruction. All samples were tested with universal primers for beta-actin mRNA as RT-PCR positive control. Viral RNA was detected by nested RT-PCR method. Hantaviral RNA was detected using degenerate primers partially amplifying the highly conserved L segment of all known hantaviruses, while paramyxoviruses were tested for by primers that afford amplification of both paramyxovirus subfamilies. Obtained RT-PCR products were visualized by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: Collected animals were identified as: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Hypsugo savii, Myotis alcathoe, Myotis brandtii, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis oxygnathus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus. All tested samples were found positive for beta-actin mRNA, confirming successful RNA isolation and amplification. However, no sample tested positive for virus specific RNA. Conclusion: We report negative finding of viral genetic material in bats, in the first study exploring bats as paramyxovirus and hantavirus reservoirs in Serbia. Lack of detection of specific viral RNA may be due to tissue degradation prior to collection. In view of challenges in studies involving protected and endangered species, approaches involving better quality and non-invasive sampling are needed. Further investigations are underway to research bats as putative reservoirs of emerging viruses in Serbia. Poster Presentations II 147 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 23.066 PRRS virus/Streptococcus suis co-infection in nursery pig which have unstable status of PRRS from farm in North-Eastern part of Thailand • SUNDAY workers in the United Kingdom B. Said1, H. Kirkbride1, D. Horton2, A. R. Fooks2, D. Morgan1, D. Brown1 1 Public Health England, London, United Kingdom, 2Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey, United Kingdom Purpose: Rabies is an acute viral infection affecting the central nervous system. Clinical rabies is invariably fatal once symptoms become apparent but can be prevented by prompt administration of post-exposure treatment. There have been no human cases of indigenous classical rabies in the UK since 1902. However, a fatal case caused by European bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2) occurred in a bat handler in 2002 and around 2% of British Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii) are known to have EBLV-2 antibodies. UK bat workers are considered to be at risk of exposure to rabies and therefore receive a primary course of rabies vaccine (three intramuscular injections) with a single reinforcing dose one year later, followed by subsequent boosting every three to five years. The WHO recommends boosters should be administered when rabies virus-neutralising antibody (VNA) titre falls below 0.5IU/ml. To improve the understanding of the serological antibody response to rabies vaccination in order to develop more specific advice on the timing of rabies booster vaccinations for bat handlers and 148 IMED 2014 paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue S. Beck1, P. Gunawardena2, D. Horton3, D. J. Hicks1, D. A. Marston3, A. Ortiz-Pelaez3, A. R. Fooks3, A. Nunez1 1 Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom, 2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 3Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey, United Kingdom Purpose: Rabies is a highly neurotropic virus, with the potential to infect most mammalian species. Dog bites are the most common source of exposure leading to human deaths from rabies in many developing countries. Although WHO recommended screening involves testing fresh brain tissue, preservation of fresh tissue may be difficult under field conditions: formalin fixation provides a simple alternative. In this study we describe the sensitivity of histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for rabies diagnosis using formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) canine brains. Methods & Materials: Samples from 57 rabies suspect cases from Sri-Lanka were examined. Presence of Negri bodies and detection of rabies antigen using IHC was evaluated in cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and brainstem. The effect of autolysis and artefactual degeneration of the tissue was also assessed. In 13 cases confirmatory PCR for rabies was performed using RNA extracted from fresh frozen tissue and from FFPE samples. Results: Rabies was confirmed in 53/57 cases by IHC. IHC labeling was significantly increased in the brainstem as compared to other encephalic areas. Negri bodies were observed in 60% of the cases. Tissue degradation did not prevent diagnosis by IHC but it was associated with not detecting Negri bodies. PCR testing of fresh tissue was in agreement with testing of FFPE tissue and IHC results. Conclusion: Formalin fixation allowed confirmatory diagnosis of rabies by IHC and PCR with increased viral antigen found in the brainstem of infected animals. 23.069 Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the occupational environment: Attitudinal and structural determinants of behavior among commercial poultry sector workers in Indonesia J. M. Kreslake1, Y. Wahyuningrum1, B. Safi1, M. E. Figueroa1, D. Storey2 1 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA, 2Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Purpose: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) is endemic among poultry in Indonesia and can be transmitted through the commercial poultry supply chain. There is ongoing risk of poultry worker and community exposure to HPAI(H5N1)-infected poultry at trade, slaughter, and markets. This study identifies attitudinal and structural predictors of occupational risk/protective behaviors. Methods & Materials: Multilevel regression was performed on a 2009 representative survey (n=1,404) of trader/transporters, slaughterers, and market vendors in Java. Outcomes: Risk/protective behaviors (hygiene, protective equipment, unsold poultry treatment, caging practices, waste disposal). Predictors: Respondent attitudes (perceived risk, collective efficacy of neighborhood and workplace, self-efficacy) and workplace features. Covariates: age, gender, SES, knowledge of protective actions, presence of local interventions. Results for no-incidence subdistricts (no outbreaks in prior three months) are reported. Results: Controlling for covariates, perceived severity and susceptibility predicted lower likelihood of recommended practices among vendors and trader/transporters. High perceived neighborhood efficacy was positively associated with: vendor soap use (coeff:0.58, p=0.02), vendors’ disinfectant use (OR:2.32, p=0.002), slaughters’ use of protective equipment (coeff:0.31, p=0.02), and trader/transporters having clean tires (OR:2.42, p<0.001). High perceived workplace efficacy predicted: vendors’ disinfectant use (OR:2.28 p=0.001); trader/transporters’ disinfectant use (OR:2.21, p<0.001), having clean tires (OR:3.00, p<0.001) and crates (OR:2.81, p<0.001). High self-efficacy predicted: vendors’ disinfectant use (OR:2.07, p=0.004); trader/transporters’ soap use (coeff:0.99, p=0.01); disinfectant use (OR:2.15, p=0.004), having clean tires (OR:1.98, p=0.006) and crates (OR:1.84, p=0.03). Plastic crates predicted trader/transporters’ soap use (coeff:1.55, p<0.001) and disinfectant use (OR:3.67, p<0.001). Workplaces providing (1)disinfectant: predicted disinfectant use by vendors (OR:25.25, p<0.001), slaughters (OR:54.47, p<0.001), and trader/transporters (OR:20.90, p<0.001); (2)brushes: predicted soap use by vendors (coeff:0.57, p=0.03) and trader/transporters (coeff:1.42, p=0.007); (3)soap: predicted lower likelihood of vendors bringing poultry home (OR:0.25, p=0.02) and greater likelihood of trader/transporters having clean tires (OR:2.08, p=0.04); and (4)waste bins: predicted vendors’ proper disposal of poultry waste (OR: 3.23, p<0.001). Routine closure of slaughter areas increased odds of disinfectant use (OR:2.41, p=0.009). Conclusion: Simple interventions (e.g., provision of cleaning supplies, plastic cages/crates) improve poultry workers’ protective actions. Targeted communication efforts to foster responsibility to community, occupational norms, and self-efficacy can encourage behavioral vigilance. Emphasizing susceptibility to and severity of HPAI(H5N1) is not recommended. 23.070 Assessing the risk of Mycobacterium bovis transmission from domestic cats to human contacts C. O’Connor, A. Walsh, D. Morgan Public Health England, London, London, United Kingdom Purpose: Bovine tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis is one of the most significant issues facing cattle farmers in Britain. This epidemic in cattle has not significantly affected companion animal populations which are considered ‘spill-over’ hosts. Since 2006, when M. bovis infection in companion animals became notifiable in England, fewer than 30 cats have been confirmed with M. bovis disease annually. The risk of cat-to-human transmission of M. bovis was previously assumed to be negligible and public health actions in response to notification of feline cases were minimal and sporadic. In 2013, an unprecedented feline outbreak involving ten cats across nine households in one geographically defined area in England provided the first recorded incident of cat-to-human transmission of M. bovis. The objective of this study was to determine the risk cats infected with M. bovis present to human health. Methods & Materials: A qualitative assessment of the risk of transmission of M. bovis infection from cats to human contacts was carried out using information from the 2013 outbreak and combined with results from a comprehensive review of the scientific literature. Results: The 2013 feline M. bovis outbreak and subsequent human cases in England provided the first documented evidence of zoonotic transmission of M. bovis from cats to humans. While this demonstration of transmission, coupled with the clinical presentation of M. bovis disease in cats indicates that there is a risk, the absence of any previous reports of cat-to-human spread indicates that the risk of transmission of M. bovis from infected catsto humans is very low. Conclusion: In response to the first occurrence of cat-to-human transmission of M. bovis infection and the assessment of the risk to human health being raised from negligible to very low, it is recommended that household and other close contacts of cats with confirmed M. bovis should be assessed and receive advice to minimise the risk to their health. 23.071 Zoonotic Bartonella species identified in wild rodents in Cotonou, Benin G. Bonnet1, G. Houemenou2, A. Martín-Alonso1, E. Abreu-Yanes1, I. Montoliu3, B. Valladares1, C. Feliu3, P. Foronda1 1 University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, 2Université de Liége, Sart Tilman, Belgium, 3University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Purpose: Bartonella infections in rodents have been reported worldwide and close contacts between humans and rodent populations around the world have been found to create excellent conditions for transmission of Bartonella spp. from animals to humans. However, there have been no studies investigating the presence of Bartonella spp. in rodents from Benin. Aims: To determine the possible infection of rodents and insectivores from Benin with Bartonella spp. and evaluate the genetic heterogeneity of the Bartonella strains in this country and estimate the importance of our results from the point of view of the public health. Methods & Materials: A total of 69 rodents and 4 insectivores were captured in four zones of Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Those rodents belonged to the species Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus and Mastomys sp., whereas Crocidura sp. and Crocidura oliveri were the insectivore species analyzed. Spleens of the animals were examined for the presence of Bartonella by PCR targeting a 767-bp fragment of the citrate synthase gene. Results: Four out of the 73 individuals analyzed were positive for Bartonella species. Therefore, the overall prevalence found in this study was 5.48%. We obtained positive results for two rodent species, R. norvegicus and Mastomys sp., and the highest prevalence was observed in R. norvegicus (37.5%). No significant prevalence differences were found between those rodent species which were found to harbour Bartonella organisms. On the other hand, no positive results were obtained for the insectivore species. The sequences obtained showed highest similarity with pathogenic Bartonella species Conclusion: The results of this study could indicate that Bartonella organisms are present in wild rodents in Cotonou, Benin. To our knowledge, this study constitutes the first finding of Bartonella spp. in rodents in Benin. Our results are important from a public health point of view due to the pathogenic potential of the species identified, which have been isolated from humans with severe clinical manifestations. 23.072 Antiparasitic activity of bovine milk protein lactoferrin on Toxoplasma gondii: An in vitro and in vivo study November 2, 2014 23.067 Rabies boosters: serological follow-up of bat 23.068 Canine rabies diagnosis from formalin fixed International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 • Background: Since the primary infects cells of PRRS virus are macrophage cell lineage which are important in the destruction of bacteria, this scenario predisposing the pig to Streptococcus suis (S. suis). S. suis, an opportunistic pathogen of pigs, is an emerging zoonotic pathogen among humans. Around 35 S.suis serotypes have been found worldwide, only a limited number are pathogenic for pigs, and sertype 2 have been found to be the cause of human disease. Objective: To find the percentage of nursery pig with PRRS virus/S. suis co-infection in farms which have unstable status of PRRS in nursery. Methods & Materials: Forty crossbred pigs age between 7 and 10 weeks from farm which had an outbreak of Highly-virulent PRRS in year 2010 were grouped into clinically normal and sick. The sick group were pig with respiratory sign. Blood collection and tonsillar swab were applied in both group to detect antibody tiger to PRRS and S.suis respectively. Inactivated PRRS vaccine had been applied to breeding herd since the outbreak. The PRRS status was considered stable in breeding herd. In weaning, however, the PRRS status was unstable. Results: Most all of nursery pigs considered infected with PRRS virus during week 4 and 5 of age according to ELISA s/p ratio result. Ten percent of nursery pig showed respiratory sign and 50% of which died. Only 10 percent of clinically normal pigs were found positive to S.suis whereas 30% of sick pigs were found positive and one pig in this group was serotype 2. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that pig farm in North-eastern part of Thailand were positive to S.suis including serotype 2. Both clinically normal and sick pigs, in farm with unstable status of PRRS, could be the source of S.suis. Awareness should be raised to veterinary and worker who work closely in this pig farm. Regarding to the study of Thanawongnuwech (2000), Cefiofur antibiotic should be applied during week 4 and 5 of pig life to reduce the loss cause by PRRS virus/S.suis co-infection and S.suis infection in pig. SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 SUNDAY November 2, 2014 S. Porntrakulpipat1, J. Jiwakanon2, T. C. Nutravong3, S. Angkititrakul2 1 Research Group for Preventive Technology in Livestock, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 3Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, -, Thailand to record the rate of adverse reactions due to booster vaccinations. Methods & Materials: Bat workers recruited to the study were due for second or subsequent rabies booster vaccinations between August 2010 and August 2013. Blood samples, taken before boosting, were tested for rabies VNA. Dedicated questionnaires were used to collect information about adverse reactions. Results: A total of 150 bat workers participated in the study. There were 77 male and 73 female participants aged between 29 and 81 years (mean 54 years). All participants were due for their booster and all but one had rabies VNA titre ≥0.5IU/ml. There was a wide range of antibody titres and no clear correlation between titre and number of previous boosters or length of time since boosting. A range of mild adverse reactions, including redness and swelling at the site, were reported by 65 (43%) participants. Conclusion: These results suggest that, whilst there is no indication of increasing frequency or severity of reactions with more doses, there is considerable individual variation in response to rabies vaccine. Therefore monitoring of rabies VNA may be preferable to routine boosters. Poster Presentations II N. Anand Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India Purpose: Lactoferrin (Lf) protein is a milk protein known as antimicrobial and immunomodulating in nature. The protein has shown its effect against parasites like Giardia, Entamoeba,. But till now there is no study which has shown its inhibitory effect on animal & human parasite Toxoplasma Methods & Materials: In vitro Inhibition Assay: infected macrophages with intracellular tachyzoites were incubated with: 1) Apo Lf & 2) Fe Lf 3) Native Lf at 40 and 80ug/ml concentrations 4), Sulphadiazine (std doses) 5) untreated group. After 24 and 48 hrs, Giemsa smear for counting inhibited parasites & nitric oxide production in culture supernatant was measured. In vivo Inhibition Assay: Study divided in four gps. Gp: 1) Bovine Lf. 2) Sulphadiazine. 3) Untreated group. Histopathology of liver and spleen tissues was done to determine 149 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 parasite and RT-PCR was done to determine the parasite load. ROS, NO, Th1 and Th2 type of cytoine analysis studies was done to study the type of immune response in treated and untreated mice. Statistical Analysis: All parameters were studied by One way Anova test and significant difference was calculated by t test (p<0.05). Results: In vitro: The parasitemia count was found to be high in untreated group of mice compared with treated group (p = 0.005). NO production was found to be high in treated group compared with untreated group which expressed the killing action of macrophages(p<0.005). Results: In vivo: RT-PCR results of parasite load determination showed significantly less copy number of parasite in treated group (p=0.005). These results well correlated with histopathology of spleen and liver which showed less foci of parasites in various visceral organs & did not show any site of inflammation. Elevated levels of ROS, NO and cytokine in treated group of mice showed protective response of Lactoferrin. Lf helped mice survived till day 25 post infection, whereas, all mice in untreated mice died at day 10 post infection. Conclusion: Present study has shown good inhibitory effect of Lf protein on virulent parasite T. gondii and has shown immunomodulatory effect. Hence, Lf a milk protein can act as a potential drug against intracellular parasite T. gondii. wild birds in Portugal A. S. P. Santos , F. Amaro , A. C. Norte , P. Melo , M. M. Santos-Silva 1 , R. De Sousa1, M. J. Alves1, M. S. Nuncio1, F. Hagen4, J. J. H. C. Tilburg 4 1 National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal, 2Institute of Marine Research (IMAR/CMA), Coimbra, Portugal, 3VetNatura, Lisbon, Portugal, 4Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, Netherlands 3 Purpose: Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium that infects a wide range of animal species and causes a disease known as Q fever. Domestic ruminants are regarded as the main source of human infection but the agent´s natural cycle may also involve other domestic as well as wild animals, such as birds and rodents. Portugal is regarded as a C. burnetii endemic country but limited information is available on animal infection, especially regarding the wildlife. This work presents the results of C. burnetii screening on bird cloacae swabs and rodent spleens preserved in a sample biobank. Methods & Materials: A total of 244 rodents belonging to five species and 451 wild birds of more than 68 species were included in this study. DNA was manually extracted and screened by realtime PCR targeting the multicopy insertion element IS1111 of C. burnetii. Results: Active infections were detected on both rodents (n=2; 0.82%) and birds (n=12; 2.67%) and were linked to species and geographical area. All positive samples were additionally processed for multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) in order to compare the genotypes found with those that circulate in domestic animals and are associated to human infection inPortugal. Conclusion: The low infection rate found suggests a limited role for these hosts in C. burnetii maintenance cycle in the screened areas. 23.074 Lyophilisation of lentiviral pseudotypes for the development and distribution of virus neutralisation assay kits for rabies, Marburg and influenza viruses S. D. Scott1, S. Mather1, E. Wright2, N. Temperton3 University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, Kent, United Kingdom, 2 University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, 3University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom 1 Purpose: Some conventional serological assays can accurately quantify neutralising antibody responses raised against epitopes on virus glycoproteins, enabling mass vaccine evaluation and serosurveillance studies to take place. However, these assays often necessitate the handling of wild-type virus in expensive high biosafety laboratories, which 150 IMED 2014 teal (Anas crecca) from north Iran M. R. Youssefi , H. Hosseini , M. T. Rahimi Islamic azad university, Babol-Branch, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 2Islamic Azad University, Babol-Branch, Babol, Iran, Islamic Republic of 1 1 2 1 Purpose: Annually, an enormous number of aquatic migratory birds migrate from northern hemisphere to Mazandaran province, north of Iran due to considerable appropriate winter quarters. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to determine the helminth parasites ofAnas crecca in one of proper refuges of Iran, Fereydoonkenar. Methods & Materials: A total number of one hundred thirty-six gastrointestinal tracts of green-winged teal (A. crecca) were collected from Fereydoonkenar, Mazandaran province during September and October 2011.The gastrointestinal tracts were examined for helminth infection. Results: The total infection rate was 70.5% (96) that 68.96 % (40) of males and 71.79 (56) of females shown helminth infection. The examined A. crecca harbored one species of Nematoda, Cestoda and two species of Digenea which were as following: Contracecum larvae, Diorchis stefanskii Hypoderaeum conoideum and Notocotylus attenuates, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of infection between examined males and females ducks in Hypoderaeum conoideum, Diorchis stefanskii and Notocotylus attenuates (P > 0.05) whereas a significant relationship was observed between males and females in Contracecum larvae (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, we conclude that A. crecca plays a prominent role in transmission of mentioned parasites. In addition, this is the first report of Conteracecum larvae, Diorchis stefanskii and Notocotylus attenuates from A. crecca in Iran. 23.076 Facility based national rabies survey in Ethiopia H. M. Hailu Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Purpose: Rabies is a viral disease caused by Lyssa virus with 100% case fatality. According to WHO report around 55 000 deaths have been estimated annually. However, Asia and Africa account for the vast majority of rabies fatalities. In Ethiopia, rabies is one of the notifiable diseases in humans and animals. Thus, conducting rabies survey at public health, veterinary service and wildlife facilities has great significant impact on prevention and control of rabies. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of animal and human rabies cases, identify the distribution of rabies among different animal species, measure the level of vaccination coverage, assess the challenges and give recommendation. 23.077 Contribution of molecular biology in the diagnosis of human and animal cryptosporidiosis F. Cheikhrouhou, N. Sourour, T. Houaida, G. Raida, S. Hayet, F. Makni, A. Ayadi laboratory of parasitology mycology, Sfax, Tunisia Purpose: Cryptosporidiosis is an emerging opportunistic disease with a significant impact in immunocompromised patients, including AIDS patient. In Calves, Cryptosporidium is also one of the major causative agents of diarrhea of the newborn calf. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the contribution of molecular techniques in the diagnosis and typing of Cryptosporidium sp. in calves and HIV patients in the region of Sfax (south of TUNISIA). Methods & Materials: We conducted a survey during a one-month period (September 2013) following recognition of diarrhea occurred in young calves in two farms. We also analyzed samples of human feces from 5 HIV-infected patients. Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the feces of calves in the two farms and in the stools of HIV patients was based on the Ziehl Neelsen coloration and PCR-RFLP detection using CPB DIAG F and R as primers and VspI restriction enzyme, and the real time PCR method using SYBR Green I. Results: in calves, cryptosporidiosis frequency was 32. 6% by the Ziehl Neelsen and 57.1% by PCR. It only affects calves between one and four weeks with a frequency of 39.6% by Ziehl Neelson and 75.7% by PCR. For samples of sideen patients, 12.5% of samples were positive by microscopy, whereas the PCR analysis gives a frequency of 75%. These results clearly show the sensitivity of the PCR compared to Ziehl Neelsen. RFLP analysis gives the same profile for all samples, corresponding to Cryptosporidium parvum species. The real-time PCR correlates with PCR. Conclusion: PCR-RFLP of 18S rRNA gene after digestion with the restriction enzyme VspI allowed the identification of the species Cryptosporidium parvum as a species responsible for human and animal cryptosporidiosis in our region. 23.078 Whole genome analysis of an explosively emerging human Rotavirus G6P[6] in Cameroon V. N. Ndze1, M. Esona2, E. A. Achidi3, R. Doro4, S. L. Farkas5, M. T. Obama-Abena1, K. Bányai4 1 Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon, 2Centers for disease control and prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA, 3Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon, 4Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary, 5Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary 23.079 Group A rotavirus in domesticated animals in Cameroon V. N. Ndze1, M. Esona2, E. A. Achidi3, M. T. Obama-Abena4, K. Banyai5 1 Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Yaounde, Cameroon, 2 Centers for disease control and prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA, 3 Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon, 4Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon, 5Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary Purpose: Rotavirus infection is the most important cause of severe diarrhea in children and the young of a variety of animals resulting in significant economic losses in livestock. In this study we present the first rotavirus epidemiology in domesticated animals in Cameroon. Methods & Materials: The study was conducted in 3 geographic locations in Cameroon (Esu, Bamenda, and Maroua) between 2010 and 2011. Stool samples were collected from symptomatic diarrhea and asymptomatic domesticated animals. Rotavirus was identified by RT-PCR targeting VP6 and genotyping of the VP7 and VP4 genes by multiplex RT-PCR and sequencing. Results: A total of 393 stool samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic animals including pigs (50); Bos primigenius taurus and Bos primigenius indicus cattle species (157); Sahel type and Uda type sheep species (50); Nigerian dwarf goats and the Black Bengal goat species (36); dogs (5); ducks (16) and chickens (79). Of these, group A rotaviruses was detected in 3(6.0%) porcine samples, 3(8.3%) caprine samples, 4(2.5%) bovine samples and 3(6.0%) ovine samples giving an overall group A animal rotavirus prevalence of 3.3% (13/393). Group A rotavirus was not detected in dogs and avian samples. VP7 genotypes determination was possible for only 7 samples including genotypes G1(one ovine G1, one porcine G1), one porcine G4 and four bovine G12, Two VP4 genotypes were identified circulating in November 2, 2014 • 2 Purpose: Rotavirus still remains the leading cause of under 5 years diarrhea. Rotavirus strain surveillance has intensified in recent years globally to gain information on the impact of vaccines on circulating rotavirus strains. Here we report the whole genome analysis of an explosively emerging human rotavirus G6P[6] in Cameroon. Methods & Materials: The study was conducted in Cameroon (Esu, Bamenda, and Maroua) between 2010 and 2011. Stool samples were collected from diarrheic patients <5 years old. Viral RNA was amplified by RT-PCR and genotyping by multiplex RT-PCR assay, targeting the medically most important rotavirus G and P types. Whole genome sequencing was done using the semi-conductor Ion Torrent PGM method and phylogenetic analysis done using Mega 5. Results: Whole genome analysis of the five Cameroonian human rotavirus G6 showed a DS-1-like gene constellation of G6 P[6] I2 R2 C2 M2 A2 N2 T2 E2 H2. The VP7 gene of genotype G6 RVA strains detected for the first time in Cameroon shared >95% nucleotide and amino acid similarity identities among themselves. Compared with other G6 rotaviruses the five Cameroonian strains shared similar ranges of sequence identities with contemporary African and European G6 rotavirus strains, whereas a lower identity was seen with a variety of other human and animal origin strains detected worldwide (range: nt, 76.7%–86.6%; aa, 87.8%–93.0%). The phylogenetic analysis showed that our Cameroonian G6 RVA strains represented two clusters, both classified into lineage I. The detection of G6P[6] strains on the DS-1-like backbone gene constellation was unexpected, and perhaps the finding was most intriguing. Furthermore, molecular analysis of the VP7 (and some of the backbone genes) of Cameroonian G6P[6] strains indicated the separation of the strains identified in the Far North region (Maroua) and the Northwest region (Bamenda and Esu) into two branches that is consistent with multiple introductions of G6P[6] strains into this country. Conclusion: The emergence and explosive spread of G6P[6] RVA strains in west and central African countries over the past few years must be better understood using whole genome analysis and should be closely monitored in the future following the routine administration of rotavirus vaccines in these countries. • SUNDAY 1 23.075 Gastrointestinal helminthes of green-winged Methods & Materials: Cross sectional study has been used and randomly selected 176 Public Health, 176 Veterinary services and 15 Wildlife facilities were involved in the survey using pretested Questionnaire and retrospective data collection were also used for analysis during the period of 2007 to 2012. Results: The facility based survey resultshowed that, 69% of public health facilities were reported that rabies as major public health problem. Similarly, lower rate of surveillance data completeness 46 % were reported, which is below the WHO recommended rate i.e. 80%. High percentage of human rabies death was observed in Amhara (33.6) and Oromia (25.6) as well as high human anti-rabies vaccination was covered by Amhara region, i.e. 57%, followed by Oromia, SNNP and Tigray regions i.e. 23%, 14%, and 4%, respectively. The distribution of rabies case in different animal species indicates that 67% of Dogs, 11% of Cats, 20% of livestock and 1% of wild animals are the main sources of rabies. Wild animals in the national as well as regional parks were not protected, and there had been seen rabid animals with in the parks. Conclusion: Rabies is a public and animal health problem in Ethiopia, thus development and implementation of comprehensive and sustainable national rabies prevention and control strategy is mandatory. Participation and contribution of veterinary services to the goal of prevention and control of human rabies at animal source is crucial. SUNDAY November 2, 2014 1 SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Sur veillance 2014 restricts the scope of their application, particularly in resource-deprived areas. A solution to this issue is the use of lentiviral pseudotype viruses (PVs)—chimeric, replication-deficient virions that imitate the binding and entry mechanisms of their wild-type equivalents. Pseudotype virus neutralisation assays (PVNAs) bypass high biosafety requirements and yield comparable results to established assays. This study explores the potential for using lyophilisation of pseudotypes as a cost-effective, alternative means for production, distribution and storage of a PVNAbased diagnostic kit. Methods & Materials: Rabies, Marburg and H5 subtype Influenza virus pseudotypes were each suspended in cryoprotectant solutions of various molarities and subjected to freeze-drying before incubation at a variety of temperatures, humidities and time periods. Samples were then employed in antibody neutralisation assays using specific sera. Results: High levels of PV titre were retained post-lyophilisation, with acceptable levels of virus activity maintained even after medium-term storage in tropical conditions. Also, the performance of PVs in neutralisation assays was not affected by the lyophilisation process. Conclusion: These results confirm the viability of a freeze-dried PVNA-based diagnostic kit, which could considerably facilitate in-field serology for a number of clinically important viruses. 23.073 Detection of Coxiella burnetii in rodents and Poster Presentations II 151 IMED 2014 Poster Presentations II SUNDAY • November 2, 2014 International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance 2014 animals in Cameroon during the study period including a porcine P[6] and a caprine P[14] genotypes. G-P gene constellation was possible in only one porcine sample with the following combination G4P[6]. Conclusion: A better understanding of the potential long-term effect of vaccine use on the epidemiology of co-circulating wild type strains requires sustained and continuous rotavirus strain surveillance in both the animal and human population in Africa and Cameroon in particular. 23.080 Rodents as potencial reservoirs of vacciniavirus in periurban area of Sao Paulo City, Brazil captive birds from Bali at the Vienna International Airport S. Revilla-Fernández, Z. Bagó, E. Wodak, S. Richter, F. Schmoll AGES, Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Mödling, Austria Purpose: In June 2013, 60 birds were confiscated at the Vienna airport in the suitcases of a couple smuggling them from Bali to Prague. The birds, crammed into boxes and cardboard rolls with small air holes, were detected by trained dogs during a routine airport check. Forty of them did not survive the journey. Methods & Materials: All dead birds were sent to Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling to determine the cause of death and to screen for Avian Influenza by real-time PCR and virus isolation. The 20 live animals were transported to a quarantine station. 152 IMED 2014 • SUNDAY detection and diagnostics in a wild bird rehabilitation centre I. Goverse1, N. Reedijk1, I. Veldhuijzen1, R. van Gageldonk2, O. Stenvers3, F. Velkers4, E. Heddema5, O. Pontesilli6, A. Tjon-A-Tsien1 1 GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands, 3Netherlands Food & Consumer Product Safety Authority, Utrecht, Netherlands, 4Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands, 5Orbis Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands, 6 Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands Purpose: Chlamydia psittaci can be transmitted from birds to humans and cause respiratory infections, with symptoms ranging from no or mild symptoms to severe pneumonia. Timely detection and diagnostics in human outbreaks with C. psittaci are challenging due to the aspecific clinical picture. Sampling within 10 days after the onset of illness increases the probability of a positive test. Here we report lessons from an outbreak in a large Dutch wild bird rehabilitation centre in 2012. Methods & Materials: Epidemiological case definition involved employees with at least 3 of 6 respiratory and systemic symptoms. Confirmation of psittacosis in cases involved 2 to 3 point serological testing using a C.pneumoniae assay and a C. psittacispecific Micro Immuno Fluorescence assay. Throat swabs were PCR tested for C. psittaci, Coxiella burnetii and Influenza A. Thirty six avian samples were taken. PCR positive samples were genotyped. Results: During the outbreak, 40/108 (37%) employees were reported ill of which 23 (58%) met the case definition. Samples were available for 19 of these patients, of which 10 (53%) were taken within 10 days of the onset of illness. Recent infection was proven serologically for 6 patients (6/18, 33%), another 2 patients (2/12, 16%) had a positive PCR. Of samples taken within 10 days of onset 6/10 (60%) were positive, and of later samples 2/9 (22%) (Fisher’s exact-test p=0.11). Genotyping revealed genotype E/B. Three avian samples tested PCR positive for genotype B. Existing hygiene procedures were tightened and antibiotic treatment of birds was started. Conclusion: Timely detection of an outbreak of C. psittaci is difficult due to aspecific symptoms and causes delay in sampling. The higher positivity rate in samples taken within 10 days of the onset of illness emphasises the importance of timely sampling. Furthermore, PCR testing was done on throat swabs while induced sputum has preference. This might have influenced the diagnostic results. Transmission was successfully halted after tightening of hygiene measures and antibiotic treatment. Hygiene procedures alone do not suffice to prevent transmission. It is important to raise awareness among employees working with wild birds about psittacosis, with emphasis on seeking medical attention as soon as symptoms arise. 23.083 Qatar national response to MERS-CoV: How has one health approach made a diference? E. Farag1, M. Al-Hajri 2, A. El-Sayed1, F. AlHajri3, K. Mohran3, H. Ghobashy13, C. Reusken4, M. Koopmans5 1 Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar, 2Supreme Council of Health,, Doha, Qatar, Qatar, 3Ministry of the Environment, Doha, Qatar, 4Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 5National Institute for Public Health and the Environment/Erasmus Medical Center, Bilthoven/Rotterdam, Netherlands Purpose: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a human respiratory disease reported to have emerged in the human population in April 2012; it is associated with coronavirus (MERS CoV) infection. As of July 2014, Qatar had reported seven laboratory confirmed human cases of MERS CoV infection to the WHO and four confirmed camel cases of MERS CoV infections to the OIE. One Health approach was implemented as national strategy to control MERS-CoV outbreak in Qatar. Here, we describe Qatar National response to MERS-CoV, using one health approach as strategy and How has one health approach support the quick implementation of collaborative studies to assess the transmission of MERS CoV at the human animal interface. Methods & Materials: Guided by one Health approach, Qatar’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) have been working closely together (a joint committee were established, as well as joit work plan) to conduct joint outbreak investigations, surveys and epidemiologic studies to identify potential links between MERS CoV infections in humans and camels. Results: Intersectoral cooperation is fundamental for controlling MERS CoV infection, through their transparency and commitment to work with public health authorities, the Veterinary Services in Qatar have set an excellent example for others to follow. WHO,OIE congratulated Qatar for Achievements and for its transparency in sharing important research findings with the international community. The outputs from human animal interface ongoing studies in Qatar are making an important contribution to better understanding the potential relationship between human and animal infections. The results provide compelling evidence that MERS CoV is circulating in the camel population; that camel workers are at increased risk of exposure to MERS CoV; and that slaughterhouses and camel racing yards may be higher risk environments for virus shedding and exposure. Conclusion: We conclude that a one health approach is the best option to mitigate MERS-CoV outbreak, and the most efficient strategy to support the quick implementation of the collaborative studies to assess transmission of MERS CoV at the human animal interface. Qatar one health approach can be used as a model by the rest of MERS-CoV affected Countries. 23.084 Seroprevalence of Ngari and Bunyamwera viruses in selected parts of Norther Eastern and Rift Valley regions of Kenya R. C. Sang1, C. O. Odhiambo1, M. Venter2, R. Swanepoel2 1 International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya, 2University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Purpose: Ngari and bunyamwera viruses are among the few mosquito-borne human pathogens in the Orthobunyavirus genus, family Bunyaviridae, associated with febrile illness. Ngari virus has in the past been associated with hemorrhagic fever during Rift Valley fever outbreak in Kenya. Ngari is a reassortant virus composed of the S and L segments from bunyamwera and the M segment from batai virus. While isolations of both viruses have been made from mosquito and tick vectors sampled from selected foci in Kenya, nothing is known of human infections or exposure in such areas. Methods & Materials: Bunyamwera and Ngari virus specific antibodies were detected by plaque reduction neutralization test in 84 (24.3%) of 345 persons tested; Results: We report findings from a retrospective serosurvey of febrile patients attending three health facilities located in Sangailu, Kotile (in Garissa, North Eastern Kenya) and Naivasha (in Rift Valley) of Kenya. Prevalence rates were 11.9% and 15.9% for Bunyamwera and Ngari viruses respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed age and location as risk factors for Bunyamwera and Ngari virus infections.Although not significant, herdsmen were at higher risk of infection by both viruses than housewives, farmers, students and businessmen. Conclusion: Orthobunyavirus infections in human populations occur but remain unrecognized and undiagnosed in parts of Kenya. These infections should be considered when investigating etiologies of febrile illness in patients report
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