Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have significantly reduced the global morbidity and mortality burdens of pneumococcal disease in children under five years of age, but supply constraints remain. We evaluated the safety, immunogenicity, and lot-to-lot consistency of a tetanus toxoid-conjugated 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Chinese children aged 2-5years. In this randomized, Phase III study, 1800 healthy children aged 2-5years were enrolled and randomized (1:1:1) to receive a single dose of one of three consecutive manufacturing lots of PCV13. Safety and reactogenicity were assessed up to 30days post-vaccination, and serious adverse events (SAEs) up to 180days. Immunogenicity was evaluated 30days post-vaccination by measuring serotype-specific IgG concentrations using ELISA. The primary objective was to demonstrate lot-to-lot consistency based on predefined equivalence criteria for geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratios; seropositivity and safety outcomes were secondary endpoints. The prespecified primary objective was met: for all 13 vaccine serotypes, pairwise serotype-specific IgG geometric mean ratios (GMRs) between the three manufacturing lots fell within the predefined equivalence margins (0.5-2.0). By Day 30, seropositivity rates (IgG ≥0.35μg/mL) were≥99% for 12 serotypes and 85.6-88.3% for serotype 3. Solicited local and systemic reactions were predominantly mild or moderate in severity and occurred at similar frequencies across groups; rates of SAEs and unsolicited adverse events considered related to vaccination were low. This tetanus toxoid-conjugated PCV13 met prespecified criteria for lot-to-lot manufacturing consistency and showed favorable immunogenicity and safety profiles in children aged 2-5years, supporting its licensed use in this age group. The vaccine may help strengthen the global supply of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, particularly in regions with unmet pediatric vaccination needs.

Q fever is a globally distributed zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, which is mainly harbored by farm ruminants. Although some studies have reported the presence of C. burnetii in cats, cat-associated Q fever is very rare. In this study, we report the case of a 30-year-old man who was diagnosed with Q fever in May 2024. The diagnosis was based on the results of next-generation sequencing and confirmed by nested PCR. Epidemiological investigations suggest that he had not come into contact with any infection sources other than two cats, one of which was a parturient cat. The blood samples of the cats were collected and tested by nested PCR and immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that the serum of the parturient cat was positive for both phase I and phase II Q fever antigens, suggesting that it had been infected with C. burnetii. This is a rare human case of Q fever transmitted by a domestic cat in China. Importantly, it shows that the pet cat may be a neglected risk factor of Q fever in China.

ABSTRACT Pakistan has the highest child diarrhoea mortality in South Asia, but the impact of household air pollution from polluting cooking fuels remains understudied. This study explores the association between exposure to such fuels and the odds of diarrhoea in children under five, using PDHS 2017–18 data. Diarrhoea prevalence was based on maternal self-reports of episodes in the past two weeks. Household air pollution exposure was measured using the household’s primary cooking fuel. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied, adjusting for socioeconomic, child, maternal, nutritional, and water, sanitation, and hygiene factors. Among 11,947 children included, diarrhoea was reported in 2107 (17.6%). In the fully adjusted model, exposure to polluting cooking fuels was associated with higher odds of diarrhoea (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.25, P-value = 0.013). Fuel-specific analysis showed that children in households using animal dung had the highest odds of diarrhoea (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06–1.84, P-value = 0.015). Subgroup analyses showed the strongest association among infants under 1 year, children with stunting, and those born to uneducated mothers. This study found that cooking with solid fuels increases childhood diarrhoea in Pakistan. Transitioning to clean fuels is crucial for public health in Pakistan and similar countries to reduce this burden.

Hu sheep are highly prized for their tender meat, but heat stress (HS) caused by the high temperature and humidity in southern China severely impacts their performance. This study compared the alleviating effects of Mogroside V (Mog V), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol (RES) on HS in Hu sheep. Forty male Hu sheep were randomly divided into a control group and three treatment groups (n = 10), each with a pen. The sheep were housed under HS for 60 days. Body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), respiratory rate (RR), and rectal temperature (RT) were monitored. Blood physiological parameters, HSPs, antioxidant enzymes, and inflammatory factors were measured. 16S rRNA sequencing and targeted metabolomics were used to analyze the correlation between rumen microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolites. Results showed that all three extracts significantly increased final weight, total weight gain, and daily weight gain, while reducing FCR, RR, and RT. They also decreased HSP70/90, MDA, and the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Microbiome and metabolome analysis revealed that RES increased Verrucomicrobia and Fibrobacterium, promoting propionic and butyric acid production; Mog V enriched Firmicutes and Clostridium succinate, promoting energy metabolism; and EGCG regulated acetate metabolism through Lactobacilli, inhibiting pathogenic bacteria. In summary, all three plant extracts alleviated the physiological damage caused by HS and improved production performance, with Mog V showing the most significant effect and possessing high potential for application.