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BACKGROUND: Coccidioidomycosis ranges clinically from a self-limited respiratory illness to multi-organ dissemination. Based largely on skin testing from the 1940s, 60% of infections are thought to be asymptomatic. Limited Coccidioides seroincidence data support our understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenicity of this disease. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study tested 2000 U.S. military personnel for Coccidioides exposure after transfer to an endemic region of California between 2011 and 2017. The presence of IgG and IgM anti-Coccidioides antibodies were tested on pre- and post-transfer serum samples from the DoD Serum Repository to establish rates of seroconversion. Medical histories and participant demographics including race/ethnicity and military occupational specialty codes were collected from the electronic medical record and participants were stratified by a history of Coccidioides-specific or general respiratory illness based on ICD9/ICD10 coding. RESULTS: Thirty of 2000 participants tested newly positive for anti-Coccidioides antibodies after 12 months on station. Seroconversion incidence varied from 0.0-1.32 annually and overall 0.5 per 100 person years. Seroconverters were more frequently diagnosed with coccidioidomycosis or pneumonia than non-converters (p=0.027). No statistically significant association between demographic characteristics and seroconversion or disease was observed. Clinical disease was detected in only three seroconverters (10%). Incidence Rate of Coccidioidomycosis Infection among Active Duty Stationed at NAS Lemoore, 2011-2017 [Image: see text] Seroconversion Status by Cocci/Pneumonia Diagnosis Status [Image: see text] CONCLUSION: In this study Coccidioides seroincidence was similar to that observed by others, adding longitudinal evidence to epidemiologic assumptions about coccidioidomycosis. A trend toward increasing incidence over the course of the study is consistent with the classification of coccidioidomycosis as an emerging infectious disease. While transmission ...

Human adenoviruses (AdV) are mostly associated with minimal pathology. However, more severe respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory diseases, most often caused by AdV-4 and AdV-7, have been reported. The only licensed vaccine in the United States, live oral AdV-4 and AdV-7 vaccine, is indicated for use in the military, nearly exclusively in recruit populations. The excellent safety profile and prominent antibody response of the vaccine is well established by placebo-controlled clinical trials, while, long-term immunity of vaccination has not been studied. Serum samples collected over 6 years from subjects co-administered live oral AdV-4 and AdV-7 vaccine in 2011 were evaluated to determine the duration of the antibody response. Group geometric mean titers (GMT) at 6 years post vaccination compared to previous years evaluated were not significantly different for either AdV-4 or AdV-7 vaccine components. There were no subjects that demonstrated waning neutralization antibody (NAb) titers against AdV-4 and less than 5% of subjects against AdV-7. Interestingly, there were subjects that had a four-fold increase in NAb titers against either AdV-4 or AdV-7, at various time points post vaccination, suggesting either homotypic or heterotypic re-exposure. This investigation provided strong evidence that the live oral AdV-4 and AdV-7 vaccine induced long-term immunity to protect from AdV-4 and AdV-7 infections.

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) causes acute respiratory disease of variable severity and has become an emergent threat in both civilian and military populations. HAdV-55 infection is endemic to China and South Korea, but data from other regions and time periods are needed for comprehensive assessment of HAdV-55 prevalence from a global perspective. In this study, we subjected HAdV-55 isolates from various countries collected during 1969–2018 to whole-genome sequencing, genomic and proteomic comparison, and phylogenetic analyses. The results show worldwide distribution of HAdV-55; recent strains share a high degree of genomic homogeneity. Distinct strains circulated regionally for several years, suggesting persistent local transmission. Several cases of sporadic introduction of certain strains to other countries were documented. Among the identified amino acid mutations distinguishing HAdV-55 strains, some have potential impact on essential viral functions and may affect infectivity and transmission.

BACKGROUND: Military recruits suffer high rates of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) during training. ILIs may lead to morbidity, lost training time, and hospitalization. We evaluated the incidence and clinical outcomes of ILI among recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (MCRD-SD) in a prospective trial of influenza vaccine efficacy. METHODS: Recruits at MCRD-SD were enrolled to compare the effectiveness of 3 types of FDA approved influenza vaccine: Afluria®, an egg-based vaccine; Flucelvax®, a cell-culture-derived vaccine; and Flublok®, a recombinant vaccine. Four companies of recruits were enrolled sequentially from 28 November 2018 to 19 December 2018, then randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio. Participants were followed for 18 weeks at MCRD-SD and Camp Pendleton. All participants who presented with ILI symptoms at medical care sites underwent viral diagnostic testing in addition to immunologic studies. Recruits were excluded from participation if <18 years of age, if previously vaccinated in the 2018–2019 season, or if reporting allergy to the vaccines. RESULTS: Of 1338 recruits approached, 771 (57.6%) participants consented for enrollment. All recruits were men between 18 and 28 years. There were 182 ILIs amongst 177 recruits (23% of 771 recruits). Nasal swabs were obtained in 180/182 cases (99%). Mean duration of ILI symptoms was 7 days. Mean days of fever was 4. Subjects reported a total 168 days of reduced training (range 0–14 days; mean 0.9 days). There were 47 total days of missed training for all subjects (range of 0–4 days; mean 0.3 days/subject). There were no hospitalizations related to ILIs. Approximately 82% (148/182) of ILIs presented within the first 3 weeks of training; 44% (80/182) of ILIs occurred during the second week of training. PCR- nasal swabs results; race/ethnicity data, and frequency of ILI mapped to week of training are illustrated below. CONCLUSION: ILIs can negatively impact training effectiveness. Days lost to training from ILIs and hospitalizations can prevent ...

Abstract Vector-borne infections (VBI) are defined as infectious diseases transmitted by the bite or mechanical transfer of arthropod vectors. They constitute a significant proportion of the global infectious disease burden. United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) personnel are especially vulnerable to VBIs due to occupational contact with arthropod vectors, immunological naiveté to previously unencountered pathogens, and limited diagnostic and treatment options available in the austere and unstable environments sometimes associated with military operations. In addition to the risk uniquely encountered by military populations, other factors have driven the worldwide emergence of VBIs. Unprecedented levels of global travel, tourism and trade, and blurred lines of demarcation between zoonotic VBI reservoirs and human populations increase vector exposure. Urban growth in previously undeveloped regions and perturbations in global weather patterns also contribute to the rise of VBIs. The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center-Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (AFHSC-GEIS) and its partners at DoD overseas laboratories form a network to better characterize the nature, emergence and growth of VBIs globally. In 2009 the network tested 19,730 specimens from 25 sites for Plasmodium species and malaria drug resistance phenotypes and nearly another 10,000 samples to determine the etiologies of non- Plasmodium species VBIs from regions spanning from Oceania to Africa, South America, and northeast, south and Southeast Asia. This review describes recent VBI-related epidemiological studies conducted by AFHSC-GEIS partner laboratories within the OCONUS DoD laboratory network emphasizing their impact on human populations.