Gut microbiota composition in obese and non-obese adult relatives from the highlands of Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Jonduo, Marinjho , Wawae, Lorry , Masiria, Geraldine , Suda, Wataru , Hattori, Masahira , Takayasu, Lena , Abdad, Mohammad , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul , Pomat, William , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 367, no. 19 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Obesity is a condition that results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Recently, obesity has been linked to differences in the composition of gut microbiota. To examine this association in Papua New Guinea (PNG) highlanders, fecal samples were collected from 18 adults; nine obese participants were paired with their non-obese relative. Amplification of the 16S rRNA gene targeting the V1-V2 region was performed on DNA extracts for each participant, with high-quality sequences selected and used for operational taxonomic unit clustering. The data showed Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the two dominant phyla, while at genus level Prevotella was the most dominant genus in all of the samples. Nonetheless, statistical evaluation of potential association between nutritional status and bacterial abundance at both phyla and genus levels showed no significant difference. Further studies, ideally in both rural and urban areas, are needed to evaluate the role of the gut microbiome in the occurrence of obesity in PNG and other resource-limited settings. © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.
Influenza A(H5N1) viruses with A(H9N2) single gene (matrix or PB1) reassortment isolated from Cambodian live bird markets
- Authors: Suttie, Annika , Karlsson, Erik , Deng, Yi-Mo , Horm, Srey , Yann, Sokhoun , Tok, Songha , Sorn, San , Holl, Davun , Tum, Sothyra , Hurt, Aeron , Greenhill, Andrew , Barr, Ian , Horwood, Paul , Dussart, Philippe
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Virology Vol. 523, no. (2018), p. 22-26
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Live bird market surveillance for avian influenza viruses in Cambodia in 2015 has led to the detection of two 7:1 reassortant influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1c viruses. These reassortant strains, designated A/duck/Cambodia/Z564W35M1/2015 and A/chicken/Cambodia/Z850W49M1/2015, both contained a single gene (PB1 and matrix gene, respectively) from concurrently circulating A(H9N2) influenza viruses. All other viral genes from both isolates clustered with A(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1 viruses. Continued and prolonged co-circulation of influenza A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) viruses in Cambodian live bird markets may present a risk for the emergence of novel influenza reassortant viruses with negative agricultural and/or public health implications. © 2018
A high burden of asymptomatic gastrointestinal infections in traditional communities in Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Maure, Tobias , Naito, Yuichi , Morita, Ayako , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Igai, Katsura , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Siba, Peter , Pomat, William , McBryde, Emma , Umezaki, Masahiro , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 97, no. 6 (2017), p. 1872-1875
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Stool samples were collected from 148 healthy adults living a traditional subsistence lifestyle in Papua New Guinea and screened for enteric pathogens using real-time RT-PCR/PCR assays. Enteric pathogens were detected in a high proportion (41%) of individuals. Clear differences were observed in the detection of pathogens between highland and lowland communities. In particular, there was a marked difference in detection rates of norovirus GII (20% and 0%, respectively) and Shigella sp. (15% and 0%, respectively). Analysis of the relationship between enteric pathogen carriage and microbial community composition of participants, using box plots to compare specific normal flora population numbers, did not suggest that gut microbial composition was directly associated with pathogen carriage. This study suggests that enteric pathogens are common in healthy individuals in Papua New Guinean highland communities, presumably acting as a reservoir of infection and thus contributing to a high burden of gastrointestinal illnesses.
Shigellosis : A truly neglected disease in Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Malau, Elisheba , Mosse, Jenny , Horwood, Paul , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 59, no. 3/4 (2016), p. 147-154
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Diarrhoeal diseases still affect many people, especially children living in impoverished and under-developed settings. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) diarrhoea remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and a major cause of death. Here, we focus on the role of Shigella in diarrhoeal illness in PNG, and provide an overview of the causative organism and the illness. A review of the available data on the aetiology of diarrhoea in PNG suggests that shigellosis is a major cause of diarrhoeal illness. Since shigellosis can cause protracted and life-threatening illness an appreciation of the burden of shigellosis is important to aid in the development of optimal prevention and control strategies. Treatment strategies for all cases of moderate-severe diarrhoeal illness should centre on rehydration, but where antimicrobial treatment is required consideration should be given to the increasing antimicrobial resistance observed in Shigella isolates in PNG.
Cholera in Papua New Guinea : Observations to date and future considerations
- Authors: Horwood, Paul , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 162-165
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal illness caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. From July 2009 to late 2011 Papua New Guinea (PNG) experienced thefirst outbreak of cholera ever reported in this country. During this time > 15,000 cases of cholera were reported, resulting in approximately 500 deaths. The origin of this outbreak is unknown, but considering the remote location of the initial outbreak an infected international traveller is unlikely to be the source. In this paper we review the characteristics of the PNG cholera outbreak and discuss the ongoing threat of cholera to the country and the region.
Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus from children hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea
- Authors: Kas, Monalisa , Maure, Tobias , Soli, Kevin , Umezaki, Masahiro , Morita, Ayako , Bebes, Sauli , Jonduo, Marinjho , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 141-144
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: We evaluated the IP-Triple I immunochromatographic rapid test for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus using stool samples from children with diarrhoea. The detection of norovirus and adenovirus was poor compared to polymerase chain reaction assays. However, high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (99%) were obtained for the detection of rotavirus.
Isolation of Vibrio cholerae and other enteric microbiota from patients with suspected cholera during the 2009 outbreak in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Kas, Monalisa , Horwood, Paul , Laman, Moses , Manning, Laurens , Atua, Vincent , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea medical journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 110-115
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: When cholera was first detected in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in mid-2009, national diagnostic capacity faced many challenges. This was in part due to the non-endemic status of the outbreak, resulting in few local staff experienced in Vibrio cholerae detection and poor access to the required consumables. The PNG Institute of Medical Research conducted culture on specimens from suspected cholera patients in Madang Province, with presumptive V. cholerae isolates sent to Goroka for confirmation. Of 98 samples analysed 15 were culture positive, with V. cholerae detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in an additional 3 samples. Further analyses were conducted to identify other pathogenic bacteria from thiosulphate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar. Molecular-based assays detected enteropathogenic (n = 1) and enterotoxigenic (n = 1) strains of Escherichia coli. No other major enteric pathogens were detected. The low detection rate of V. cholerae at the provincial level reflects challenges in the laboratory diagnosis of cholera and in-country challenges in responding to an outbreak of a non-endemic disease, such as lack of in-country diagnostic expertise and available consumables in the early stages. It also suggests that full aetiological investigations are warranted in future outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea in PNG to fully elucidate the potentially complex aetiology, which could in turn guide diagnostic, treatment and prevention measures.