@article {1456, title = {Association of weather variables with pathogens contributing to conjunctivitis worldwide.}, journal = {Clin Infect Dis}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 Aug 19}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To identify weather variables associated with pathogens contributing to infectious conjunctivitis globally.

METHODS: Sample collection and pathogen identification from patients with acute infectious conjunctivitis was performed from 2017 to 2023. We linked pathogens identified from 13 sites across 8 countries with publicly available weather data by geographic coordinates. Mixed effects logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the associations between temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity exposures, and the prevalence of infection types (RNA virus, DNA virus, bacteria, and fungus).

RESULTS: 498 cases from the United States, India, Nepal, Thailand, Burkina Faso, Niger, Vietnam, and Israel were included in the analysis. 8-day average precipitation (mm) was associated with increased odds of RNA virus infection (odds ratio (OR)=1.47, 95\% confidence interval (CI): 1.12 to 1.93, P=0.01) and decreased odds of DNA infection (OR=0.62, 95\% CI: 0.46 to 0.82, P\<0.001). Relative humidity (\%) was associated with increased odds of RNA virus infections (OR=2.64, 95\% CI: 1.51 to 4.61, P\<0.001), and fungal infections (OR=2.35, 95\% CI: 1.19 to 4.66, P=0.01), but decreased odds of DNA virus (OR=0.58, 95\%CI: 0.37 to 0.90, P=0.02) and bacterial infections (OR=0.42, 95\% CI: 0.25 to 0.71, P\<0.001). Temperature ({\textdegree}C) was not associated with ocular infections for any pathogen type.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that weather factors affect pathogens differently. Particularly, humidity and precipitation were predictors for pathogens contributing to conjunctivitis worldwide. Additional work is needed to clarify the effects of shifts in weather and environmental factors on ocular infectious diseases.

}, issn = {1537-6591}, doi = {10.1093/cid/ciae417}, author = {Yan, Daisy and Prajna, N Venkatesh and Lalitha, Prajna and Sansanayudh, Wiwan and Satitpitakul, Vannarut and Laovirojjanakul, Wipada and Chaudhary, Meenu and Bountogo, Mamadou and Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Amza, Abdou and Nassirou, Beido and Almou, Ibrahim and Tran, Huy and Tran, Yen and Tsui, Edmund and Onclinx, Tania and Sella, Ruti and Goren, Lee and McClean, Esmeralda and Tham, Vivien and Chen, Cindi and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Liu, YuHeng and Yu, Danny and Abraham, Thomas and Lebas, Elodie and Arnold, Benjamin F and McLeod, Stephen D and Deiner, Michael S and Porco, Travis C and Seitzman, Gerami D and Lietman, Thomas M and Shantha, Jessica and Hinterwirth, Armin and Doan, Thuy} } @article {1416, title = {Coxsackievirus A24 Causing Acute Conjunctivitis in a 2023 outbreak in Vietnam.}, journal = {Int J Infect Dis}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 Jun 12}, pages = {107133}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine the causative pathogen during the 2023 conjunctivitis outbreak in Vietnam METHODS: RNA-sequencing was used to identify pathogens before and during the outbreak.

RESULTS: 24 patients with infectious conjunctivitis between March and October 2023 from Hai Yen Vision Institute in Vietnam were swabbed. Coxsackievirus A24v was the most common pathogen identified. Phylogenetic analysis of these strains demonstrates similarities to the Coxsackievirus identified in the 2022 India outbreak. Human adenovirus D was also circulating. Ocular findings of tearing, purulence, and itching were common in this outbreak.

CONCLUSIONS: Multiple viruses can co-circulate during conjunctivitis outbreaks. Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, commonly associated with coxsackievirus conjunctivitis, was not a common clinical sign in this outbreak. Repeat genetic surveillance, with the notable inclusion of RNA virus detection strategies, is important for outbreak detection.

}, issn = {1878-3511}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107133}, author = {Tran, Huy and Hạ, Thảo and Hoang, Linh and Tran, Yen and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Liu, YuHeng and Yu, Danny and Abraham, Thomas and Hinterwirth, Armin and Deiner, Michael and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M and Doan, Thuy and Seitzman, Gerami D} } @article {1411, title = {Pathogen Profiles of Infectious Conjunctivitis in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.}, journal = {Cornea Open}, volume = {2}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Dec}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: Conjunctivitis epidemics and pandemics remain a global burden. This study aims to comprehensively identify pathogens associated with conjunctivitis in Vietnam.

METHODS: Patients with acute conjunctivitis presented to an outpatient clinic in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, were enrolled from September 2022 to March 2023. Swabs were obtained from conjunctiva and anterior nares of all patients. Unbiased RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to identify any replicating pathogens in the samples.

RESULTS: Samples from 35 patients were analyzed. A pathogen was identified in 80\% of the patients. 72\% (95\% confidence interval: 54\% to 85\%) were infected with either HAdV-D or HAdV-B. RNA viruses detected were rhinoviruses and human coronavirus 229E. Bacteria etiologies included , , and One patient had co-infection of rhinovirus A and HAdV-B. , a fungus, was identified in one patient. Corneal sub-epithelial infiltrates, pseudomembranes, or pre-auricular lymphadenopathy were not reported in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS: Human adenoviruses are the common circulating pathogens associated with infectious conjunctivitis in Vietnam. HAdV species, however, appear to vary between geographic locations within Vietnam. Other under-recognized pathogens identified in this study, such as RNA viruses, suggest broader pathogen surveillance may be beneficial.

}, issn = {2833-6992}, doi = {10.1097/coa.0000000000000025}, author = {Tran, Huy and Hoang, Linh and Tran, Yen and Hạ, Thảo and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Yu, Danny and Liu, YuHeng and Abraham, Thomas and Hinterwirth, Armin and Deiner, Michael and Porco, Travis and Lietman, Thomas M and Seitzman, Gerami D and Doan, Thuy} }