In several parts of China, there have been a large number of hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) outbreaks caused by serotype 4 fowl adenovirus (FAdV­4) in broiler chickens since 2015. These outbreak-associated FAdV-4 strains were distinct from previous circulating strains which did not lead to severe HPS outbreaks. To better understand the molecular epidemiology of the currently circulating FAdV strains for effective diagnosis and treatment of HPS, we isolated 12 HPS outbreak-associated FAdV-4 strains from different regions in central China and investigated their molecular characteristics by performing phylogenetic analyses based on the hexon genes. Our results indicated the FAdV-4 strains in this study all belonged to serotype FAdV-4, species FAdV-C. And in comparison with ON1, KR5, MX-SHP95, PK-01, PJ-06 strains within the cluster where outbreak-associated FAdV-4 strains were located, the nucleotide sequence divergence were 1.31, 1.10, 1.42, 2.77 and 2.84%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the hexon genes of the 12 outbreak-associated strains clustered to a relatively independent branch of the tree, and evolved from the same ancestor and we suggested that these outbreak-associated FAdV-4 strains originate from earlier strains in India.

In several parts of China, there have been a large number of pseudorabies (PR) outbreaks which have devastated many swine farms even though the herds had been previously immunized with gE-deleted vaccines (Bartha-K61). The emergence of these outbreak-associated PRV strains might indicate that Bartha-K61 vaccine could not provide effective protection and poses challenges for current serologic diagnostics of anti-PRV antibodies. Here, we performed phylogenetic analyses based on partial gE, gB, and gC genes to provide information about the molecular epidemiology, diagnostics, and immune protection in these outbreak-associated PRV strains. Our results indicated that the maximal nucleotide sequence divergence for gE, gB, and gC genes are 1.7, 0.4, and 2.7 % within the cluster where outbreak-associated PRV strains were located, and are 2.3, 2.7, and 7.6 % with other clusters in the phylogenetic trees, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that gE, gB, and gC genes of the twelve outbreak-associated PRV strains clustered to a relatively independent branch of the tree, and evolved from the same ancestor with strains Ea-China-1999, Fa-China-2001, and BJ-China-2008. The genetic relationship between these outbreak-associated PRV strains and strain Bartha is not close which may genetically explain the emergence of PR outbreaks in Bartha-K61-vaccinated swine farms. We suggest that these outbreak-associated PRV strains originate from earlier strains in local regions in China.

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Objectives As the largest organ of the human body, the skin is the major exposure route of NO 2. However, the evidence for a relationship between NO 2 exposure and dermatologic diseases (DMs) is limited. This time-series study was conducted to assess the shortterm effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) exposure on DMs outpatient visits in Xinxiang, China. Methods Daily recordings of NO 2 concentrations, meteorological data, and the outpatient visits data for DMs were collected in Xinxiang from January 1st, 2015, to December 31st, 2018. The analysis method used was based on the generalized additive model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson regression to investigate the relationship between NO 2 exposure and DMs outpatient visits. Several covariates, such as long-term trends, seasonality, and weather conditions were controlled. Results A total of 164,270 DMs outpatients were recorded. A 10 lg/m 3 increase in NO 2 concentrations during the period was associated with a 1.86% increase in DMs outpatient visits (95% confidence intervals [Cl]: 1.06-2.66%). The effect was stronger (around 6 times) in the cool seasons than in warmer seasons and younger patients (\ 15 years of age) appeared to be more vulnerable. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that short-term exposure to NO 2 increases the risk of DMs in Xinxiang, China, especially in the cool seasons. Policymakers should implement more stringent air quality standards to improve air quality.