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ObjectivesChronic bronchitis (CB) is an important chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related phenotype, with distinct clinical features and prognostic implications. Occupational exposures have been previously associated with increased risk of CB but few studies have examined this association prospectively using objective exposure assessment. We examined the effect of occupational exposures on CB incidence in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.MethodsPopulation samples aged 20–44 were randomly selected in 1991–1993, and followed up twice over 20 years. Participants without chronic cough or phlegm at baseline were analysed. Coded job histories during follow-up were linked to the ALOHA Job Exposure Matrix, generating occupational exposure estimates to 12 categories of chemical agents. Their association with CB incidence over both follow-ups was examined with Poisson models using generalised estimating equations.Results8794 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria, contributing 13 185 observations. Only participants exposed to metals had a higher incidence of CB (relative risk (RR) 1.70, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.50) compared with non-exposed to metals. Mineral dust exposure increased the incidence of chronic phlegm (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.06). Incidence of chronic phlegm was increased in men exposed to gases/fumes and to solvents and in women exposed to pesticides.ConclusionsOccupational exposures are associated with chronic phlegm and CB, and the evidence is strongest for metals and mineral dust exposure. The observed differences between men and women warrant further investigation.

Background Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that affects the poultry industry globally. The disease is caused by avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), member of the genus Gammacoronavirus . In Ethiopia, IBV has been reported in both commercial and backyard chickens based on clinical observation. The objectives of this study were to isolate the virus, conduct molecular based identification, and phylogenetic analysis of the circulating IBV isolates. Methods and materials A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2023 and May 2024 in Mekele and Bishoftu, Ethiopia. A total of 49 clinical samples were collected, comprising 12 tissue samples and 39 pooled swab samples. Of these, 6 samples—specifically, 5 swab samples and 1 tissue sample—tested positive for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) through virus-specific conventional RT-PCR and real-time PCR. Nested PCR was performed using serotype-specific primers. The purified PCR products, which targeted the spike glycoprotein S1 subunit gene and the 3′ UTR of the IBV, were sequenced, followed by phylogenetic tree analysis. Results The six positive samples propagated into specific pathogen free embryonated eggs and exhibited characteristic IBV lesions and mortality observed over five consecutive passages. IBV isolates from Bishoftu ( n  = 4) and Mekele ( n  = 2) were amplified using one-step RT-PCR to target 466 bp of the S1 subunit gene and 433 bp of the 3ʹUTR. A BLAST search on the S1 partial gene and 3ʹUTR sequences, nested PCR, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the present IBV isolates are genetically similar to the Massachusetts serotype. The S1 gene sequences of the five IBV isolates were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers PQ389500 to PQ389504. Conclusions This is the first detailed study on IB virus isolation, molecular detection, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis in Ethiopia. The findings revealed that the outbreaks were caused by the IB virus, which created a serious health risk and economic losses in the chicken industry. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on the isolation and genetic analysis of IBV in Ethiopia. Further research on the economic impact of IBV in chicken production, farm biosecurity, serotyping of circulating IB virus, and vaccine development based on the local serotypes is recommended.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection causes significant economic losses to various sectors of the poultry industry worldwide. Over the past few years, the incidence of false layer syndrome in Eastern Canadian layer flocks has been associated with the increased prevalence of the IBV Delmarva (DMV)/1639 strain. In this study, 1-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) hens were infected with the Canadian DMV/1639 strain and observed until 16 weeks of age in order to determine if the IBV DMV/1639 strain is causing false layer syndrome. Early after infection, the virus showed a wide tissue distribution with characteristic gross and histopathological lesions in the respiratory tract and kidney. Around 60–70% of the infected hens demonstrated continuous cloacal viral shedding until the end of the experiment (at 16 weeks) which was associated with high IBV genome loads detected in the cecal tonsils. The experiment confirmed the field observations that the Canadian DMV/1639 strain is highly pathogenic to the female reproductive tract causing marked cystic lesions in the oviduct. Moreover, significant histopathological damage was observed in the ovary. Our study provides a detailed description of the pathological consequences of the IBV DMV/1639 strain circulating in an important poultry production sector.

•An inactivated IBV vaccine encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (IBV-CS) was developed.•Immunogenicity of IBV-CS vaccine was evaluated by mucosal route vaccination.•IBV-CS vaccine induced high antibody and CMI responses at mucosal sites.•IBV-CS vaccine provided an effective protection against IBV infection. Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry. The mucosa of upper respiratory tract, specially the trachea, is the primary replication site for this virus. However, conventional inactivate IBV vaccines usually elicit reduced mucosal immune responses and local protection. Thus, an inactivated IBV vaccine containing BR-I genotype strain encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (IBV-CS) was produced by ionic gelation method to be administered by oculo-nasal route to chickens. IBV-CS vaccine administered alone resulted in markedly mucosal immune responses, characterized by high levels of anti-IBV IgA isotype antibodies and IFNγ gene expression at 1dpi. The association of live attenuated Massachusetts IBV and IBV-CS vaccine also induced strong mucosal immune responses, though a switch from IgA isotype to IgG was observed, and IFNγ gene expression peak was late (at 5 dpi). Efficacy of IBV-CS was evaluated by tracheal ciliostasis analysis, histopathology examination, and viral load determination in the trachea and kidney. The results indicated that IBV-CS vaccine administered alone or associated with a live attenuated heterologous vaccine induced both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses at the primary site of viral replication, and provided an effective protection against IBV infection at local (trachea) and systemic (kidney) sites.

Abstract Chronic bronchitis (CB) is a common but variable phenomenon in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has numerous clinical consequences, including an accelerated decline in lung function, greater risk of the development of airflow obstruction in smokers, a predisposition to lower respiratory tract infection, higher exacerbation frequency, and worse overall mortality. CB is caused by overproduction and hypersecretion of mucus by goblet cells, which leads to worsening airflow obstruction by luminal obstruction of small airways, epithelial remodeling, and alteration of airway surface tension predisposing to collapse. Despite its clinical sequelae, little is known about the pathophysiology of CB and goblet cell hyperplasia in COPD, and treatment options are limited. In addition, it is becoming increasingly apparent that in the classic COPD spectrum, with emphysema on one end and CB on the other, most patients lie somewhere in the middle. It is known now that many patients with severe emphysema can develop CB, and small airway pathology has been linked to worse clinical outcomes, such as increased mortality and lesser improvement in lung function after lung volume reduction surgery. However, in recent years, a greater understanding of the importance of CB as a phenotype to identify patients with a beneficial response to therapy has been described. Herein we review the epidemiology of CB, the evidence behind its clinical consequences, the current understanding of the pathophysiology of goblet cell hyperplasia in COPD, and current therapies for CB.

Background Previous research has demonstrated a notable increase in neutrophil counts among pediatric patients with plastic bronchitis (PB) associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). However, the role of neutrophils in MPP-associated PB remains largely elusive. Methods This is a nested case-control study that enrolled patients diagnosed with MPP who underwent bronchoscopy in our department during the MPP pandemic from September 2023 to January 2024. We conducted an analysis of clinical characteristics, blood samples, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and cast specimens, correlating these factors with the development and outcomes of PB. Results Among the 557 patients with MPP included in the study, 21 (3.8%) developed PB. The peripheral neutrophil count was identified as an independent risk factor for PB (OR = 3.113 [95%CI 1.050–9.224], P  = 0.04) and exhibited strong predictive value for the condition (AUC = 0.885 [95%CI 0.796–0.975], P  < 0.001). Notably, there was a marked presence of neutrophil infiltration and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation in the blood, BALF, and cast samples from patients with PB. Furthermore, the levels of neutrophils and NETs correlated significantly with clinical outcomes. Conclusion A high level of neutrophils poses a risk for PB and demonstrates strong predictive value for its diagnosis. Neutrophils and NETs are closely linked to the clinical outcomes of PB in patients with MPP.

•A CEK-attenuated QX-like IBV vaccine SczyC100 was prepared.•SczyC100 is effective against prevalent Chinese IBV strains.•The vaccine efficacy of SczyC100 is significantly better than H120. Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious disease, and hazardous to the poultry industry. Immune failure often occurs due to the emergence of new serotypes or field strains antigenically different from the vaccine strains. To prepare a candidate vaccine against the prevalent avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in China, the GI-19/QX-like field isolate Sczy3 was selected as the progenitor strain and attenuated via passaging in chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells for 100 times. The 100th generation of CEK-adapted strain, designated SczyC100, was safe to use on one-day old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicken as determined by pathogenicity and virulence reversion test. The efficacies of SczyC100 and two commonly used commercial vaccines (H120 and 4/91) against prevalent GI-19/QX and GI-7/TWI type virulent strains were evaluated. Sczy3C100 effectively reduced the morbidity, mortality, mean lesion scores (MLSs), and viral load of trachea of chickens challenged by GI-19/QX and GI-7/TWI strains. CEK-adapted SczyC100 is therefore a potential vaccine candidate for the control of IB in China.

Avian infectious bronchitis is a contagious viral disease, caused by avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), that leads to severe losses in the poultry industry all over the world. Since the 1950s, IBV has circulated in the Middle East and North Africa, and no tangible evidence has shown any effects of measures taken to control its spread or evolution. Furthermore, new IBV variants are continually discovered. Although several genetic studies on IBV have been conducted, many IBV strains from this region have either been misclassified or remain unclassified. The genotype 23 (GI-23) variant emerged and has prevailed in the Middle East by continuously evolving through inter- and/or intra-genotypic recombination. The GI-23 genotype is currently enzootic throughout Europe and Asia. Although many studies of protection against the circulating strains have been conducted, they have not been standardized according to regulatory requirements. In this review, we provide an overview of the evolution and genetic diversity of IBV genotypes and a genetic classification of IBV strains, with a focus on the GI-23 genotype. The high prevalence of IBV GI-23 strains necessitates the adoption of vaccination schemes using GI-23-based vaccines.

The continuous emergence of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) variants poses a critical threat to poultry health and productivity in China. In this study, we conducted comprehensive genetic and antigenic analyses of IBV strains isolated in our laboratory between 2020 and 2024. A total of 94 IBV isolates were sequenced for the S1 gene, revealing widespread nucleotide insertions, deletions, and mutations. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that GI-19 was the predominant genotype (70.21%), followed by GI-13 (21.28%). Recombination analysis using RDP 5.42 identified 14 recombinant strains, primarily GI-13/GI-22 (50%), GI-19/GI-7 (28.6%), and GI-19/GI-22 (21.4%), which were further confirmed using Simplot. Glycosylation analysis revealed that all isolates possessed 14 to18 N-glycosylation sites, whereas only the SDJN3/23 strain contained an O-glycosylation site (position 416). Novel cleavage site motifs (HRRKR, HRHRR, RRFRR) were identified in GI-19 strains, diverging from the canonical HRRRR. The evolutionary rate calculated via BEAST software, was 1.98 × 10 -4 substitutions/site/year. Serum neutralization assays demonstrated that GI-19 recombinants exhibited partial one-way cross-protection against GI-1, GI-13, and GI-22 genotypes (titer ≥ 1:32), but reciprocal neutralization was limited. Overall, we systematically characterized the genetic diversity and antigenic evolution of the currently circulating IBV strains in China, emphasizing the critical demand for genotype-specific vaccine development and dynamic surveillance systems to counteract viral immune escape.

Chronic cough is a debilitating condition affecting 10–12% of the general population and is one of the leading causes for referral to secondary care. Many conditions have been associated with chronic cough, including asthma, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and upper airways cough syndrome. Inflammatory airway conditions including cough variant asthma (CVA) and non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB) contribute to a significant proportion of presentations with chronic cough, with differing diagnostic criteria and different responses to commonly used asthma therapy for their respective diagnoses. Mechanistic studies in both animal models and humans have identified increased neuronal sensitivity and subsequent central sensitization. These mechanisms include inflammatory-mediated nociceptor sensitization and alterations of afferent nerve terminal excitability, phenotypic changes in the vagal afferent neurons over time, and central neuroplasticity resulting from increased synaptic signalling from peripheral afferents. The aim of this review is to discuss the mechanisms, neurophysiology, and management approaches currently available for patients presenting with chronic cough with underlying asthma, CVA, and NAEB and to shed a light on areas of further research required to elucidate the mechanisms of cough in this patient population.