OBJECTIVES: The American Academy of Pediatrics National Registry for the Surveillance and Epidemiology of Perinatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (NPC-19) was developed to provide information on the effects of perinatal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS: National Registry for the Surveillance and Epidemiology of Perinatal COVID-19 participating centers entered maternal and newborn data for pregnant persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection between 14 days before and 10 days after delivery. Incidence of and morbidities associated with maternal and newborn SARS-CoV-2 infection were assessed. RESULTS: From April 6, 2020 to March 19, 2021, 242 centers in the United States centers reported data for 7524 pregnant persons; at the time of delivery, 78.1% of these persons were asymptomatic, 18.2% were symptomatic but not hospitalized specifically for COVID-19, 3.4% were hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment, and 18 (0.2%) died in the hospital of COVID-related complications. Among 7648 newborns, 6486 (84.8%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2, and 144 (2.2%) were positive; the highest rate of newborn infection was observed when mothers first tested positive in the immediate postpartum period (17 of 125, 13.6%). No newborn deaths were attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, 15.6% of newborns were preterm: among tested newborns, 30.1% of polymerase chain reaction-positive and 16.2% of polymerase chain reaction-negative were born preterm (P < .001). Need for mechanical ventilation did not differ by newborn SARS-CoV-2 test result, but those with positive tests were more likely to be admitted to a NICU. CONCLUSIONS: Early in the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection was acquired by newborns at variable rates and without apparent short-term effects. During a period that preceded widespread availability of vaccines, we observed higher than expected numbers of preterm births and maternal in-hospital deaths.

Several studies have suggested SARS‐CoV‐2 originated from a viral ancestor in bats, but whether transmission occurred directly or via an intermediary host to humans remains unknown. Concerns of spillover of SARS‐CoV‐2 into wild bat populations are hindering bat rehabilitation and conservation efforts in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Current protocols state that animals cared for by individuals who have tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 cannot be released into the wild and must be isolated to reduce the risk of transmission to wild populations. Here, we propose a reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR)‐based protocol for detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in bats, using fecal sampling. Bats from the United Kingdom were tested following suspected exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2 and tested negative for the virus. With current UK and international legislation, the identification of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in wild animals is becoming increasingly important, and protocols such as the one developed here will help improve understanding and mitigation of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the future.

BackgroundSchmallenberg virus (SBV) is a midge borne virus of cattle and sheep. Infection is typically asymptomatic in adult sheep but fetal infection during pregnancy can result in abortion, stillbirth, neurological disorders and malformations of variable severity in newborn animals. It was first identified in Germany and the Netherlands in 2011 and then circulated throughout Europe in 2012 and 2013. Circulation in subsequent years was low or non-existent until summer and autumn 2016, leading to an increased incidence of deformed newborn lambs and calves in 2016–17. This study reports SBV circulation in October 2016 within a group of 24 ewes and 13 rams. The ewes were monitored at 3 times points over an 11 week period (September to December 2016).ResultsMost ewes displayed an increase in SBV VNT with antibody titre increases greater in older, previously exposed ewes. Two ewes had SBV RNA detectable by RT-qPCR, one on 30/09/16 and one on 04/11/16. Of these ewes, one had detectable serum SBV RNA (indicating viraemia) despite pre-existing antibody. The rams had been previously vaccinated with a commercial inactivated SBV vaccine, they showed minimal neutralising antibody titres against SBV 8 months post-vaccination and all displayed increased titre in October 2016.ConclusionThis data suggests that SBV circulated for a minimum period of 5 weeks in September to October 2016 in central England. Ewes previously exposed to virus showed an enhanced antibody response compared to naïve animals. Pre-existing antibody titre did not prevent re-infection in at least one animal, implying immunity to SBV upon natural exposure may not be life-long. In addition, data suggests that immunity provided by killed adjuvanted SBV vaccines only provides short term protection (< 8 months) from virus.

Genetic X environmental interactions are examined at an intrachromosomal level in Drosophila melanogaster. With respect to two fitness components, egg production and egg-to-adult viability, evidence is provided that different segments of the X chromosome are affected differently by each of the chemical substances, zinc sulfate and selenocystine. The extent of a segment's effect on a trait is not always parallelled by the extent of its association with that trait's sensitivity to chemical treatment. Both attributes are functions of the genetical background. The degree of dominance of each segment is not always greater in the chemical environments, a finding inconsistent with Parson's concept of "extreme-environment heterosis".

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