Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a contagious disease of high morbidity and mortality in small ruminant populations globally. Using cross-sectional serosurvey data collected in 2016, our study investigated PPRV seroprevalence and risk factors among sheep, goats and cattle in 20 agropastoral (AP) and pastoral (P) villages in northern Tanzania. Overall observed seroprevalence was 21.1% (95% exact confidence interval (CI) 20.1–22.0) with 5.8% seroprevalence among agropastoral (95% CI 5.0–6.7) and 30.7% among pastoral villages (95% CI 29.3–32.0). Seropositivity varied significantly by management (production) system. Our study applied the catalytic framework to estimate the force of infection. The associated reproductive numbers (R0) were estimated at 1.36 (95% CI 1.32–1.39), 1.40 (95% CI 1.37–1.44) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.11–1.14) for sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. For sheep and goats, these R0 values are likely underestimates due to infection-associated mortality. Spatial heterogeneity in risk among pairs of species across 20 villages was significantly positively correlated (R2: 0.59–0.69), suggesting either cross-species transmission or common, external risk factors affecting all species. The non-negligible seroconversion in cattle may represent spillover or cattle-to-cattle transmission and must be investigated further to understand the role of cattle in PPRV transmission ahead of upcoming eradication efforts.

Overweight and obesity prevalence has increased over the past 30 years. Few studies have looked at the enrolled Military Health System (MHS) population (2.2 million per year). This descriptive study examined trends in overweight and obesity in both children and adults from fiscal years 2009 to 2012 and compared them to the U.S. population. Prevalence in MHS children decreased over time for overweight (14.2-13.8%) and obesity (11.7-10.9%). Active duty adults showed an increase in overweight prevalence (52.7-53.4%) and a decrease in obesity prevalence (18.9-18.3%). For nonactive duty, both overweight and obesity prevalence remained relatively unchanged around 33%. For both children and adults, overweight and obesity prevalence increased with age, except for obesity in the nonactive duty ≥ 65 subgroup. When compared to the United States by gender and age, MHS children generally had a lower overweight and obesity prevalence, active duty adults had higher overweight and lower obesity prevalence, and nonactive duty adults had comparable overweight and obesity prevalence, except for obesity in both men in the 40 to 59 subgroup and women in ≥ 60 subgroup. More research on the MHS population is needed to identify risk factors and modifiable health behaviors that could defeat the disease of obesity.

Millions of individuals who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection may be eligible to participate in convalescent plasma donor programs, yet the optimal window for donating high neutralizing titer convalescent plasma for COVID-19 immunotherapy remains unknown. Here we studied the response trajectories of antibodies directed to the SARS-CoV-2 surface spike glycoprotein and in vitro SARS-CoV-2 live virus neutralizing titers (VN) in 175 convalescent donors longitudinally sampled for up to 142 days post onset of symptoms (DPO). We observed robust IgM, IgG, and viral neutralization responses to SARS-CoV-2 that persist, in the aggregate, for at least 100 DPO. However, there is a notable decline in VN titers ≥160 for convalescent plasma therapy, starting 60 DPO. The results also show that individuals 30 years of age or younger have significantly lower VN, IgG and IgM antibody titers than those in the older age groups; and individuals with greater disease severity also have significantly higher IgM and IgG antibody titers. Taken together, these findings define the optimal window for donating convalescent plasma useful for immunotherapy of COVID-19 patients and reveal important predictors of an ideal plasma donor.

Background Returning university students represent large-scale, transient demographic shifts and a potential source of transmission to adjacent communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we tested for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in a non-random cohort of residents living in Centre County prior to the Fall 2020 term at the Pennsylvania State University and following the conclusion of the Fall 2020 term. We also report the seroprevalence in a non-random cohort of students collected at the end of the Fall 2020 term. Findings Of 345 community participants, 19 (5.5%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies at their first visit between 7 August and 2 October. Of 625 student participants who returned to campus for fall instruction, 195 (31.2%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies between 26 October and 23 November. Twenty-eight (8.1%) community participants returned a positive IgG antibody result by 9 December. Only contact with known SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals and attendance at small gatherings (20-50 individuals) were significant predictors of detecting IgG antibodies among returning students (aOR, 95% CI: 3.24, 2.14-4.91; 1.62, 1.08-2.44; respectively). Interpretation Despite high seroprevalence observed within the student population, seroprevalence in a longitudinal cohort of community residents was low and stable from before student arrival for the Fall 2020 term to after student departure. The study implies that heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 transmission can occur in geographically coincident populations. Funding The Pennsylvania State University Office of the Provost, Social Science Research Institute, Huck Institute for the Life Sciences, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute; National Institutes of Health.

Future studies should define the role of environmental exposures in hematopoietic carcinogenesis in this population. In-depth studies should also investigate the role of access to health care in the urban-rural variation of HC distribution in this population.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a contagious disease of high morbidity and mortality in global sheep and goat populations. To better control this disease and inform eradication strategies, an improved understanding of how PPRV transmission risk varies by age is needed. Our study used a piece-wise catalytic model to estimate the age-specific force of infection (FOI, per capita infection rate of susceptible hosts) among sheep, goats, and cattle from a cross-sectional serosurvey dataset collected in 2016 in Tanzania. Apparent seroprevalence increased with age, reaching 53.6%, 46.8%, and 11.6% (true seroprevalence: 52.7%, 52.8%, 39.2%) for sheep, goats, and cattle, respectively. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among pastoral animals than agropastoral animals across all ages, with pastoral sheep and goat seroprevalence approaching 70% and 80%, respectively, suggesting pastoral endemicity. The best fitting piece-wise catalytic models merged age groups: two for sheep, three for goats, and four for cattle. The signal of these age heterogeneities were weak, except for a significant FOI peak among 2.5-3.5-year-old pastoral cattle. The subtle age-specific heterogeneities identified in this study suggest that targeting control efforts by age may not be as effective as targeting by other risk factors, such as production system type. Further research should investigate how specific husbandry practices affect PPRV transmission.

26Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a contagious disease of high morbidity and 27 mortality in global sheep and goat populations and leads to approximately $2 billion USD in 28 global annual losses. PPRV is currently targeted by the Food and Agricultural Organization and 29 World Animal Health Organization for global eradication by 2030. To better control this disease 30 and inform eradication strategies, an improved understanding of how PPRV risk varies by age is 31 needed. Our study used a piece-wise catalytic model to estimate the age-specific force of 32 infection (FOI, per capita infection rate of susceptible hosts) among sheep, goats, and cattle from 33 a cross-sectional serosurvey dataset collected in 2016 in Tanzania. Apparent seroprevalence rose 34with age, as would be expected if PPRV is a fully-immunizing infection, reaching 53.6%, 46.8%, 35 and 11.6% (true seroprevalence: 52.7%, 52.8%, 39.2%) for sheep, goats, and cattle, respectively. 36 Seroprevalence was significantly higher among pastoral animals than agropastoral animals 37 across all ages, with pastoral sheep and goat seroprevalence approaching 70% and 80%, 38 respectively, suggesting endemicity in pastoral settings. The best fitting piece-wise catalytic 39 models included merged age groups: two age groups for sheep, three age groups for goats, and 40 four age groups for cattle. However, the signal of these age heterogeneities was weak, with 41 overlapping confidence intervals around force of infection estimates from most models with the 42 exception of a significant FOI peak among 2.5-3.5 year old pastoral cattle. Pastoral animals had a 43 higher force of infection overall, and across a wider range of ages than agropastoral animals. The 44 subtle age-specific force of infection heterogeneities identified in this study among sheep, goats, 45 and cattle suggest that targeting control efforts by age may not be as effective as targeting by 46 other risk factors, such as management system type. Further research should investigate how 47 3 48 Author Summary 49Age differences in transmission are important for many infections, and can help target control 50 programs. We used an age-structured serosurvey of Tanzanian sheep, goats, and cattle to explore 51 peste des petits ruminants virus transmission. We estimated rate at which susceptibles acquire 52 infection (force of infection) to determine which age group(s) had the highest transmission rates. 53 We hypothesized that an age-varying model with multiple age groups would better fit the data 54 than an age constant model and that the highest transmission rates would appear in the youngest 55 age groups. Furthermore, we hypothesized evidence of immunity would increase with age. The 56 data supported our hypothesis at the species level and the best fitting models merged age groups: 57 two, three, and four age group models were best for sheep, goats, and cattle, respectively. The 58 highest rates occurred among younger age groups and evidence of immunity rose with age for all 59 s...

The optimal timeframe for donating convalescent plasma to be used for COVID-19 immunotherapy is unknown. To address this important knowledge deficit, we determined in vitro live-virus neutralizing capacity and persistence of IgM and IgG antibody responses against the receptor-binding domain and S1 ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in 540 convalescent plasma samples obtained from 175 COVID-19 plasma donors for up to 142 days post-symptom onset. Robust IgM, IgG, and viral neutralization responses to SARS-CoV-2 persist, in the aggregate, for at least 100 days post-symptom onset. However, a notable acceleration in decline in virus neutralization titers ≥160, a value suitable for convalescent plasma therapy, was observed starting 60 days after first symptom onset. Together, these findings better define the optimal window for donating convalescent plasma useful for immunotherapy of COVID-19 patients and reveal important predictors of an ideal plasma donor, including age and COVID-19 disease severity score.