Research Publications (Food Safety)

Pets from COVID‐19 owners were screened for SARS‐CoV‐2 (April‐May 2020). From 23 pets, an asymptomatic cat showed positive RT‐qPCRs results from oropharyngeal swab (negative rectal swab). Remaining pets were negative. This suggests that cats can contract the virus from their infected owners and may act as potential hosts for SARS‐CoV‐2. Their role in carrying live or infectious viruses and disseminating them needs more investigation.

The outbreak of COVID‐19 as a pandemic has shaken the global health system and economy by their roots. This epidemic is still spreading and showing no signs of decreasing trend. Vaccination could be the only effective and economical means to control this pandemic. A number of research institutions and pharmaceutical companies have plunged into the race of vaccine development against COVID‐19 which are in various stages of development.

Wet markets are a critical part of South‐East Asian culture and economy. However, their role in circulation and transmission of both endemic and emerging disease is a source of concern in a region considered a hotspot of disease emergence. In the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR, Laos), live and dead wild animals are frequently found in wet markets, despite legislation against the bushmeat trade.

With the declaration of a national emergency in early March of 2020, the United States formally joined the list of countries around the world implementing nonessential business closures and social distancing policies in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). As individuals, businesses, and the U.S. government responded to protect public health and combat the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, our collective actions have not been without consequences.

This is my first column as President of AFS, and I am honored to have the chance to serve you in this capacity. In these tumultuous times, I pledge to do all I can to keep our organization on track as an effective voice for our members and for aquatic conservation. The coronavirus pandemic has limited our ability to meet in the face‐to‐face venues that AFS normally sponsors, so AFS and various Units are doing all we can to maintain open lines of communication.

Significance and Impact of the Study: The role of probiotics in alleviation of the novel COVID‐19 has not been established. This review provides an insight about the anti‐inflammatory, antiviral effects of probiotics in vitro, animal models and human. The latter can provide an indirect evidence and/or hypothesis‐driven approach to investigate the use of probiotics as adjunctive therapy in the prophylaxis and/or alleviation of COVID‐19 symptoms.

Significance and Impact of the Study: It has been suggested in the recent literature that some countries have lower case rates or death rates of Covid‐19 as a result of large‐scale BCG vaccination programs. This has resulted in the initiation of clinical trials to assess if the vaccine can act as a prophylactic or ameliorate the disease.

The densely wooded 800‐acre Madras Christian College (MCC) campus, India where I lived most of my early years, sparked my curiosity in plants. Observing the pitcher plant that captured insects, trees that produced fruits in the shape of a human skull, wild orchids, bright wildflowers, and dense vegetation amidst monsoon rains was exciting but also scary due to the wildlife, especially foxes and snakes.

In the absence of an efficient drug treatment or a vaccine, the control of the COVID‐19 pandemic relies on classic infection control measures. Since these means are socially disruptive and come with substantial economic loss for societies, a better knowledge of the epidemiology of the new coronavirus epidemic is crucial to achieve control at a sustainable cost and within tolerable restrictions of civil rights.

Background Morbidity and mortality from COVID‐19 caused by novel coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 is accelerating worldwide and novel clinical presentations of COVID‐19 are often reported. The range of human cells and tissues targeted by SARS‐CoV‐2, its potential receptors and associated regulating factors are still largely unknown.

The outbreak of the SARS‐CoV‐2‐induced Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic re‐shaped doctor‐patient interaction and challenged capacities of healthcare systems. It created many issues around the optimal and safest way to treat complex patients with severe allergic disease. A significant numberof the patients are on treatment with biologicals and clinicians face the challenge to provide optimal care during the pandemic.

Background The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has made widespread impact recently. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics of COVID‐19 children with different severities and allergic status.

Background The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has evolved as a pandemic infectious disease transmitted by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐)2. Allergists and other health care providers (HCPs) in the field of allergies and associated airway diseases are in the front line, taking care of patients potentially infected with SARS‐CoV‐2.

With the worldwide spread of the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) resulting in declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, the SARS‐CoV‐2‐induced Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) has become one of the main challenges of our times. The high infection rate and the severe disease course led to major safety and social restriction measures worldwide.

The “coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)” outbreak was first reported in December 2019 (China).

The circulating eosinophil counts decrease dramatically in most COVID‐19 patients. Low eosinophil counts and slow recovery may be related to severe conditions. The restore of eosinophil counts is synchronous with the improvement of chest CT, later than that of body temperature, but earlier than the negative conversion of nucleic acid assays. Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) emerged in Wuhan city and rapidly spread globally outside China.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has become a global pandemic, with 10‐20% of severe cases and over 508,000 deaths worldwide. Objective This study aims to address the risk factors associated with the severity of COVID‐19 patients and the mortality of severe patients. Methods 289 hospitalized laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 patients were included in this study.

In December 2019, China reported the first cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has developed into a pandemic. To date, it has resulted in ~9 million confirmed cases and caused almost 500 000 related deaths worldwide. Unequivocally, the COVID‐19 pandemic is the gravest health and socioeconomic crisis of our time.