Do Ross River and dengue viruses pose a threat to New Zealand?
The serological studies showed that both Ross River and dengue viruses have probably been introduced into New Zealand by viraemic travellers on many occasions. Although some local mosquitoes can transmit these viruses in the laboratory, there is no evidence of local spread of virus from these imported cases. Changing environmental conditions such as global warming with concomitant effects on vector distribution, increasingly rapid air travel by viraemic persons and the accidental introduction of new vector mosquitoes, particularly Aedes albopictus, could pose a threat in view of the high percentage of New Zealand residents with no protective antibody.
Our results suggest that L. rhamnosus L34 and L. casei L39 each produce factors capable of modulating inflammation stimulated by C. difficile. These vancomycin-resistant Lactobacillus strains are potential probiotics for treating or preventing CDAD.