Difference between revisions of "User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel1"

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Approximately 10 to 15 percent of cases of what we call the "common cold" are associated with an endemic coronavirus, of which are two distinct groups: HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43.<ref name="WatTheCommon04">{{cite journal |title=The common cold: A review of the literature |journal=European Journal of Internal Medicine |author=Wat, D. |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=79–88 |year=2004 |doi=10.1016/j.ejim.2004.01.006 |pmid=15172021}}</ref> Disease symptoms associated with these coronaviruses—typically in the form of respiratory infection and the symptoms that come with it—by themselves are typically mild<ref name="LoeffelholzLab20">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory diagnosis of emerging human coronavirus infections – The state of the art |journal=Emerging Microbes & Infections |author=Loeffelholz, M.J.; Tang, T.-W. |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=747–56 |year=2020 |doi=10.1080/22221751.2020.1745095 |pmid=32196430}}</ref>, and laboratory testing isn't necessarily indicated for those immunocompetent individuals capable of self-limiting.<ref name="BabadyMulti18">{{cite journal |title=Multicenter Evaluation of the ePlex Respiratory Pathogen Panel for the Detection of Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Tract Pathogens in Nasopharyngeal Swabs |journal=Journal of Clinical Microbiology |author=Babady, N.E.; England, M.R.; Jurcic Smith, K.L. et al. |volume=56 |issue=2 |at=e01658-17 |year=2018 |doi=10.1128/JCM.01658-17 |pmid=29212701 |pmc=PMC5786739}}</ref> However, symptom overlap with pharyngitis and bronchitis, as well as the complication of pharyngitis and sinusitis also potentially having bacterial origin, can complicate clinical diagnosis. Additionally, as more antivirals that target a specific virus are created, and as concerns of unnecessarily using antibiotics to treat viral diseases grows<ref name="JenisonRapid16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/30/antibiotic-resistance-molecular-diagnostics/ |title=Rapid lab tests can help reduce antibiotic resistance |author=Jenison, R. |work=STAT |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=03 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="RoyRapid18">{{cite web |url=https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20180926/rapid-test-for-viral-infections-reduces-unnecessary-antibiotic-prescribing |title=Rapid test for viral infections reduces unnecessary antibiotic prescribing |author=Roy, K. |work=Healio |date=26 September 2018 |accessdate=06 September 2021}}</ref>, laboratory methods of respiratory virus diagnosis—particularly for those who are immunocompromised—have value.<ref name="WatTheCommon04" /><ref name="BabadyMulti18" />  
[[File:MERS-CoV Particles (8414774264).jpg|left|thumb|Colorized transmission electron micrograph showing particles of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus that emerged in 2012]]Unlike SARS, Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, continues to appear in the human population. Since its appearance in 2012, several thousand laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS have been reported to the WHO.<ref name="Bernard-StoecklinCompar19">{{cite journal |title=Comparative Analysis of Eleven Healthcare-Associated Outbreaks of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-Cov) from 2015 to 2017 |journal=Scientific Reports |author=Bernard-Stoecklin, S.; Nikolay, B.; Assiri, A. et al. |volume=9 |at=7385 |year=2019 |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-43586-9 |pmid=31089148 |pmc=PMC6517387}}</ref> The virus MERS-CoV is believed to have originated from bats, which at some unknown point spread to Dromedary camels. Approximately 55 percent of MERS-CoV infections have come from direct contact with such camels, though it's not entirely clear how the rest of known cases have been caused<ref name="BanerjeeBats19">{{cite journal |title=Bats and Coronaviruses |journal=Viruses |author=Banerjee, A.; Kulcsar, K.; Misra, V. et al. |volume=11 |issue=1 |at=E41 |year=2019 |doi=10.3390/v11010041 |pmid=30634396 |pmc=PMC6356540}}</ref> (Alshukairi ''et al.'' suggest asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic camel workers may serve as a possible transmission source<ref name="AlshukairiHigh18">{{cite journal |title=High Prevalence of MERS-CoV Infection in Camel Workers in Saudi Arabia |journal=mBio |author=Alshukairi, A.N.; Zheng, J.; Zhao, J. et al. |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=e01985-18 |year=2018 |doi=10.1128/mBio.01985-18 |pmid=30377284 |pmc=PMC6212820}}</ref>). The following sample collection and test procedures have evolved from working with the MERS-CoV virus (note that this is only a summary; consult the cited literature directly for full details)<ref name="CDCLabTestMERS19">{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/lab/lab-testing.html |title=CDC Laboratory Testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) |author=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |date=02 August 2019 |accessdate=04 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="CDCInterimMERS19">{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html |title=Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Version 2.1 |author=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |date=02 August 2019 |accessdate=04 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="WHOLabMERS18">{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/mers-laboratory-testing/en/ |title=Laboratory testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Interim guidance |work=WHO/MERS/LAB/15.1/Rev1/2018 |author=World Health Organization |publisher=World Health Organization |date=January 2018 |accessdate=04 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Al-AbdelyMiddle19">{{cite journal |title=Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection Dynamics and Antibody Responses among Clinically Diverse Patients, Saudi Arabia |journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases |author=Al-Abdely, H.M.; Midgley, C.M.; Alkhamis, A.M. et al. |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=753-766 |year=2019 |doi=10.3201/eid2504.181595}}</ref><ref name="Kelly-CirinoAnUpdated19">{{cite journal |title=An updated roadmap for MERS-CoV research and product development: focus on diagnostics |journal=BMJ Global Health |author=Kelly-Cirino, C.; Mazzola, L.T.; Chua, A. et al. |volume=4 |issue=Suppl. 2 |at=e001105 |year=2019 |doi=10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001105 |pmid=30815285 |pmc=PMC6361340}}</ref>:
 
* Determine that the patient is indicating clinical and/or epidemiological evidence of MERS (meets case definitions). "Testing for other respiratory pathogens using routinely available laboratory procedures, as recommended in local management guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia, should also be performed but should not delay testing for MERS-CoV."<ref name="WHOLabMERS18" />
 
* Collect at a minimum both lower respiratory and upper respiratory tract samples. Lower respiratory tract specimens are typically the most revealing, as they have been shown to contain the highest viral load (due to the expression of the virus's cellular receptor DPP4 in the lower respiratory system). Bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspiration, or a pleural tap can be used to collect specimens from the lower respiratory tract. (Sputum can also be collected.) Upper respiratory tract specimens (in this case, both a nasopharyngeal and an oropharyngeal swab are recommended) are also valuable in diagnosis, though extra care should be taken to ensure nasopharyngeal swabs gather secretions from the [[Pharynx#Nasopharynx|nasopharynx]] and not just the nostril. Nasopharyngeal aspiration is also an acceptable sample collection method for the upper respiratory tract.
 
:Regarding serum specimens, slight differences in guidance appear between WHO guidance and CDC guidance. The WHO appears to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic patient testing, whereas the U.S. CDC seems to only indirectly differentiate the two. The WHO suggests if testing symptomatic patients, stick with lower and upper respiratory tract specimens, which will be tested using nucleic acid amplification (molecular) testing (NAAT). Serological testing of serum specimens should be used for symptomatic patients "only if NAAT is not available."<ref name="WHOLabMERS18" /> If this is the case, the WHO recommends paired samples, one collected within the first week of illness and the second about three to four weeks later. For asymptomatic patients in high-contact outbreak scenarios, the WHO recommends all three sample types (with respiratory samples taken preferably within 14 days of last documented contact).
 
:The current CDC guidance differentiates between molecular testing for active infections and serology for previous infections. The CDC adds that "MERS-CoV serology tests are for surveillance or investigational purposes and not for diagnostic purposes."<ref name="CDCLabTestMERS19" /> Whether or not to collect a serum specimen in MERS diagnostics may depend on the assay used, however. For example, the CDC, in its Version 2.1 guidance, indicates that testing using the CDC MERS rRT-PCR assay requires collection of serum in addition to upper and lower respiratory tract specimens. For that specific assay, the CDC differentiates between patients who've had symptom onset less than 14 days prior and those who've had it 14 days or later: if prior, serology is for the rRT-PCR test, and if later, serology is for antibody testing. In either case, 200 µL of serum is required.
 
* Conduct testing. NAAT methods like real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays have been the most common tool for diagnosing MERS-CoV infection due to their high sensitivity. According to late 2018 research by Kelly-Cirino ''et al.'', at least 11 commercial single assay and five commercial multiplex assay kits are available (see [https://gh.bmj.com/content/bmjgh/4/Suppl_2/e001105/DC1/embed/inline-supplementary-material-1.pdf Table S1], a PDF file, from their highly relevant paper), perhaps more as of April 2020. Serological antibody detection is performed using ELISA, [[Immunofluorescence#Secondary (indirect)|indirect immunofluorescence]] (IIF), and [[Neutralisation (immunology)|microneutralization]].
 
* Confirm the results. Laboratory confirmation of MERS-CoV infection is the same for both the WHO and the CDC: one of either a validated NAAT test providing a positive result for at least two different genomic targets, or a validated NAAT test providing a positive result for a specific genomic target along with sequencing confirmation of a separate genomic target. Persons under investigation who receive one negative NAAT result on a recommended specimen are considered to be negative for active MERS-CoV infection. The laboratory should consider testing additional specimens after the first negative. The CDC considers known MERS patients to be negative for active MERS-CoV infection after two consecutive negative NAAT tests on all specimens. The WHO adds: "A patient with a positive NAAT result for a single specific target without further testing but with a history of potential exposure and consistent clinical signs is considered a probable case."<ref name="WHOLabMERS18" /> The WHO also has additional guidance on using serology for confirming MERS-CoV infection for purposes of reporting under the International Health Regulations.
 
* Report using national reporting requirements. More broadly, state or local health departments should receive details about received specimens to be tested for MERS-CoV, even before testing begins. Regardless of result, the final positive or negative laboratory confirmation should also be reported to national authorities. If the infection becomes widespread, updates for each new confirmed case or suspected positive should also be made.


RT-PCR, a molecular method, has been used for well over a decade for detecting coronaviruses.<ref name="WatTheCommon04" /><ref name="MahonyDetect08">{{cite journal |title=Detection of Respiratory Viruses by Molecular Methods |journal=Clinical Microbiology Reviews |author=Mahoney, J.B. |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=716–47 |year=2008 |doi=10.1128/CMR.00037-07 |pmid=18854489 |pmc=PMC2570148}}</ref> However, as molecular methods of analysis have expanded over the years, more rapid solutions for testing have been developed. For example, the GenMark ePlex rapid multiplex molecular diagnostics instrument and the ePlex Respiratory Pathogen Panel were evaluated in a multicenter trial by Babady ''et al.'' in 2017.<ref name="BabadyMulti18" /> The panel is capable of testing for the presence of 15 viral types—including the -229E, -OC43, and two other coronaviruses—and two bacterial types in nasopharyngeal swab specimens, with results in typically less than two hours.<ref name="BabadyMulti18" /> The cost associated with these sorts of tests, compared to their benefits, likely limits ubiquitous use at the first sign of a cold<ref name="BabadyMulti18" />, but as molecular diagnostic technologies become more compact and easy-to-use, testing for infection by endemic human coronaviruses may become slightly more commonplace. However, as the authors point out, with no treatment for these endemic coronaviruses, any additional utility beyond diagnosing an illness as viral rather than bacterial would primarily be found in epidemiological studies of the associated genotyping data.<ref name="BabadyMulti18" />


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Revision as of 17:59, 3 February 2022

Colorized transmission electron micrograph showing particles of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus that emerged in 2012

Unlike SARS, Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, continues to appear in the human population. Since its appearance in 2012, several thousand laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS have been reported to the WHO.[1] The virus MERS-CoV is believed to have originated from bats, which at some unknown point spread to Dromedary camels. Approximately 55 percent of MERS-CoV infections have come from direct contact with such camels, though it's not entirely clear how the rest of known cases have been caused[2] (Alshukairi et al. suggest asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic camel workers may serve as a possible transmission source[3]). The following sample collection and test procedures have evolved from working with the MERS-CoV virus (note that this is only a summary; consult the cited literature directly for full details)[4][5][6][7][8]:

  • Determine that the patient is indicating clinical and/or epidemiological evidence of MERS (meets case definitions). "Testing for other respiratory pathogens using routinely available laboratory procedures, as recommended in local management guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia, should also be performed but should not delay testing for MERS-CoV."[6]
  • Collect at a minimum both lower respiratory and upper respiratory tract samples. Lower respiratory tract specimens are typically the most revealing, as they have been shown to contain the highest viral load (due to the expression of the virus's cellular receptor DPP4 in the lower respiratory system). Bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspiration, or a pleural tap can be used to collect specimens from the lower respiratory tract. (Sputum can also be collected.) Upper respiratory tract specimens (in this case, both a nasopharyngeal and an oropharyngeal swab are recommended) are also valuable in diagnosis, though extra care should be taken to ensure nasopharyngeal swabs gather secretions from the nasopharynx and not just the nostril. Nasopharyngeal aspiration is also an acceptable sample collection method for the upper respiratory tract.
Regarding serum specimens, slight differences in guidance appear between WHO guidance and CDC guidance. The WHO appears to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic patient testing, whereas the U.S. CDC seems to only indirectly differentiate the two. The WHO suggests if testing symptomatic patients, stick with lower and upper respiratory tract specimens, which will be tested using nucleic acid amplification (molecular) testing (NAAT). Serological testing of serum specimens should be used for symptomatic patients "only if NAAT is not available."[6] If this is the case, the WHO recommends paired samples, one collected within the first week of illness and the second about three to four weeks later. For asymptomatic patients in high-contact outbreak scenarios, the WHO recommends all three sample types (with respiratory samples taken preferably within 14 days of last documented contact).
The current CDC guidance differentiates between molecular testing for active infections and serology for previous infections. The CDC adds that "MERS-CoV serology tests are for surveillance or investigational purposes and not for diagnostic purposes."[4] Whether or not to collect a serum specimen in MERS diagnostics may depend on the assay used, however. For example, the CDC, in its Version 2.1 guidance, indicates that testing using the CDC MERS rRT-PCR assay requires collection of serum in addition to upper and lower respiratory tract specimens. For that specific assay, the CDC differentiates between patients who've had symptom onset less than 14 days prior and those who've had it 14 days or later: if prior, serology is for the rRT-PCR test, and if later, serology is for antibody testing. In either case, 200 µL of serum is required.
  • Conduct testing. NAAT methods like real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays have been the most common tool for diagnosing MERS-CoV infection due to their high sensitivity. According to late 2018 research by Kelly-Cirino et al., at least 11 commercial single assay and five commercial multiplex assay kits are available (see Table S1, a PDF file, from their highly relevant paper), perhaps more as of April 2020. Serological antibody detection is performed using ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and microneutralization.
  • Confirm the results. Laboratory confirmation of MERS-CoV infection is the same for both the WHO and the CDC: one of either a validated NAAT test providing a positive result for at least two different genomic targets, or a validated NAAT test providing a positive result for a specific genomic target along with sequencing confirmation of a separate genomic target. Persons under investigation who receive one negative NAAT result on a recommended specimen are considered to be negative for active MERS-CoV infection. The laboratory should consider testing additional specimens after the first negative. The CDC considers known MERS patients to be negative for active MERS-CoV infection after two consecutive negative NAAT tests on all specimens. The WHO adds: "A patient with a positive NAAT result for a single specific target without further testing but with a history of potential exposure and consistent clinical signs is considered a probable case."[6] The WHO also has additional guidance on using serology for confirming MERS-CoV infection for purposes of reporting under the International Health Regulations.
  • Report using national reporting requirements. More broadly, state or local health departments should receive details about received specimens to be tested for MERS-CoV, even before testing begins. Regardless of result, the final positive or negative laboratory confirmation should also be reported to national authorities. If the infection becomes widespread, updates for each new confirmed case or suspected positive should also be made.


References

  1. Bernard-Stoecklin, S.; Nikolay, B.; Assiri, A. et al. (2019). "Comparative Analysis of Eleven Healthcare-Associated Outbreaks of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-Cov) from 2015 to 2017". Scientific Reports 9: 7385. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43586-9. PMC PMC6517387. PMID 31089148. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6517387. 
  2. Banerjee, A.; Kulcsar, K.; Misra, V. et al. (2019). "Bats and Coronaviruses". Viruses 11 (1): E41. doi:10.3390/v11010041. PMC PMC6356540. PMID 30634396. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356540. 
  3. Alshukairi, A.N.; Zheng, J.; Zhao, J. et al. (2018). "High Prevalence of MERS-CoV Infection in Camel Workers in Saudi Arabia". mBio 9 (5): e01985-18. doi:10.1128/mBio.01985-18. PMC PMC6212820. PMID 30377284. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6212820. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2 August 2019). "CDC Laboratory Testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/lab/lab-testing.html. Retrieved 04 April 2020. 
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2 August 2019). "Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Version 2.1". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html. Retrieved 04 April 2020. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 World Health Organization (January 2018). "Laboratory testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Interim guidance". WHO/MERS/LAB/15.1/Rev1/2018. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/mers-laboratory-testing/en/. Retrieved 04 April 2020. 
  7. Al-Abdely, H.M.; Midgley, C.M.; Alkhamis, A.M. et al. (2019). "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection Dynamics and Antibody Responses among Clinically Diverse Patients, Saudi Arabia". Emerging Infectious Diseases 25 (4): 753-766. doi:10.3201/eid2504.181595. 
  8. Kelly-Cirino, C.; Mazzola, L.T.; Chua, A. et al. (2019). "An updated roadmap for MERS-CoV research and product development: focus on diagnostics". BMJ Global Health 4 (Suppl. 2): e001105. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001105. PMC PMC6361340. PMID 30815285. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6361340.