Toxoplasma gondii infections are acquired through the ingestion of oocysts present in the environment. However, there is no data about their occurrence in the air or about airborne transmission of these infections. In the present paper, we report on the identification of T. gondii using rapid molecular detection methods, supported by microscopic analysis, in environmental air samples. A total of 71 samples were collected, using gelatine filters, from kitchen gardens, recreational areas and sandpits located in northern and north-eastern Poland. Material recovered from the filters was analysed using real-time PCR and loop-mediated isothermal assays targeting the T. gondii B1 gene. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was found in two samples, as confirmed by both molecular assays. Genotyping at the SAG2 locus showed Toxoplasma SAG2 type I. Moreover, the presence of T. gondii oocysts was confirmed in one of the positive samples with the use of microscopy. The results showed that T. gondii may be present in environmental air samples and that respiratory tract infections may play a role in the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first epidemiological evidence that oro-fecal and foodborne toxoplasmosis may be traceable to an airborne respiratory origin and that this may represent a new, previously unknown transmission route for this disease.

Faecal specimens collected from outbreak (n = 253) and sporadic (n = 147) cases of acute gastroenteritis that occurred in western India between 2006 and 2014 were tested for group C rotavirus (GCR) using partial VP6 gene-based RT–PCR. All specimens were tested previously for the presence of other viral and bacterial aetiological agents by conventional methods. The rate of GCR detection was 8·6% and 0·7% in outbreak and sporadic cases, respectively. GCR infections prevailed in outbreaks reported from rural areas (10·9%) compared to urban areas (1·6%). Clinical severity score of the patients with GCR infection (n = 23) indicated severe disease in the majority (70%) of cases. The age distribution analysis indicated 52·1% of GCR infections in children aged <10 years. The male:female ratio in GCR-positive patients was 2·3:1. Of the 23 GCR-positive cases, 17 (73·9%) had a sole GCR infection and six had mixed infections with other viral and/or bacterial agents. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences classified GCR strains of the study in to I2 genotype of the VP6 gene. This is the first study to show the occurrence of GCR in gastroenteritis outbreaks in India.

There are six strains of the complete genomic sequences of black queen cell virus (BQCV) published in the GenBank, including South Africa (AF183905), South Korea (JX149531), Hungary 10 (EF517515), Poland 4 (EF517519), Poland 5 (EF517520) and Poland 6 (EF517521). Based on the six BQCV strains published in the GenBank, ten pairs of primers were designed in the present study using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to obtain the first complete genome sequence of a BQCV strain in China, called the BQCV China-JL1 strain (KP119603). A phylogenetic tree was then built to analyse their genetic relationships. The BQCV China-JL1 strain showed 86–93% similarity with the six strains published in the GenBank. The BQCV China-JL1 strain consisted of 8358 nucleotides (nt). The 5′-proximal open reading frame (ORF1) initiated at nt position 546 and terminated at nt position 4676, ORF3 initiated at nt position 4891 and terminated at nt position 5433, and the 3′-proximal ORF (ORF2) was located between nt positions 5750 and 8203.

Faecal specimens collected from 2101 patients with acute gastroenteritis from three cities (Pune, Alappuzha, Belgaum) in India during 1994–1995 and 2004–2010 were tested for group B rotavirus (RVB) by amplification of the NSP2 gene using RT–PCR. Seventy-five (3·6%) specimens were shown to contain RVB RNA. The positivity rate in Pune, Alappuzha and Belgaum was 4·1%, 7·3% and 4·1%, respectively, in the 2000s which was not significantly different from the detection rate in the 1990s in Pune (2·5%, P>0·05). RVB infections prevailed in adolescents and adults (62/1082, 5·7%) compared to children (13/1019, 1·3%, P<0·001) and were detected throughout the year. Phylogenetically, all strains clustered in an NSP2 lineage together with Indian-Bangladeshi RVB strains belonging to VP7 genotype G2. The study confirmed the occurrence of RVB infections in western India and reported for the first time circulation of RVB strains in southern India, suggesting that an increased awareness and monitoring for RVB infections is necessary in India.

Acute gastroenteritis (AG) is considered as one of the major health problems affecting humans of all ages. A number of viruses have been recognized as important causes of this disease. Recently, Aichi virus has been shown to play an aetiological role in sporadic infections and outbreaks of AG. A study on surveillance of enteric viruses was conducted during 2004–2008 in three cities in Maharashtra state, western India. A total of 1240 stool specimens from children aged ⩽8 years hospitalized for AG were screened for the presence of Aichi virus by RT–PCR of the 3C–3D junction region followed by sequencing for the identification of genotype. Aichi virus was detected at a prevalence of 1·1% in the <5 years age group and characterized as genotype B. This is the first report on the circulation of Aichi virus genotype B in India.

Faecal specimens of diarrhoea cases (n=2495, collected between November 2007 and October 2009) from Infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General (ID&BG) Hospital, Kolkata, India, were screened by RT–PCR using specific primers targeting region C of the capsid gene of noroviruses (NoVs) to determine the seasonal distribution and clinical characteristics of NoVs associated with diarrhoea. NoV infection was detected in 78 cases, mostly in children aged <2 years. In 22/78 positive cases, the virus was detected as the sole agent; others were as mixed infections with other enteric pathogens. Sequencing of NVGII strains showed clustering with GII.4 NoVs followed by GII.13 and GII.6 NoVs. Clinical characteristics of the diarrhoeic children and adults in Kolkata indicated that NoV infections were detected throughout the year and were associated with a mild degree of dehydration.

Marginal Zn deficiency is thought to be prevalent in both developed and developing countries. However, the extent of Zn deficiency is not known, due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic indicator. Blood plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of metallothionein (MT) reflect Zn status, but measurement of MT is dependent on the availability of sensitive immunoassays. Our aim was to show whether measurement of T lymphocyte MT-2A mRNA, using a competitive reverse transcriptase (RT)–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, could indicate Zn status in human subjects in a residential Zn-depletion study. In the study, the Zn intake of seven volunteers was maintained at 13·7 mg/d for 5 weeks (baseline) followed by 4·6 mg/d for 10 weeks (marginal intake) and then 13·7 mg/d (repletion) for 5 weeks. The quantitative assay was developed using standard techniques and concentrations of MT-2A mRNA were normalized by reference to β-actin mRNA which was also measured by competitive RT–PCR assay. An alternative method of measuring the PCR product using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection was also evaluated. There was considerable inter-individual variation in MT-2A mRNA concentration and the mean level at the end of the baseline period was 10·3 (SE 3·7) fg MT-2A mRNA/pg β-actin mRNA, which then decreased by 64 % during the low Zn intake period. After repletion, MT-2A mRNA returned to baseline concentrations. In contrast, plasma Zn was unchanged by marginal Zn intake or repletion. The effect of low Zn in all individuals was consistent. We conclude that this assay is a sensitive method of evaluating marginal changes in dietary Zn intake.

Full-length cDNAs encoding cytosolic (SODc) and putative extracelluar (SODe) Cu/Zn superoxide dismutases (SODs) from the ovine gastrointestinal parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus have been isolated and characterized. The predicted sequences of the H. contortus SODs showed strong homology to other helminth SODs, the highest level of sequence similarity was with those of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The predicted amino acid sequence of the putative extracellular form contained an N-terminal extension with the characteristics of a signal sequence including a potential signal peptidase cleavage site. Transcripts of both classes of Cu/Zn SOD were detected in all life-cycle stages examined. The cytosolic SOD mRNA was approximately 6-fold more abundant than that of the extracellular enzyme in adult parasites. Immunoblotting with antisera raised to in vitro-expressed parasite SODs revealed the presence of 2 proteins in extracts of adult H. contortus, with molecular masses of approximately 19·8 and 18 kDa. An additional protein of approximately 16·8 kDa was detected in adult ES material. Immunofluorescent staining showed Cu/Zn SOD was localized in the body wall musculature and the pharynx in adult worms and in the uterine tract of adult females. The immunogenic properties of recombinant H. contortus Cu/Zn SODs was assessed in a challenge infection experiment in lambs.