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This study aimed to (i) select the endophytic bacteria from maize roots for their N2-fixing ability and (ii) evaluate the efficacy of potent indigenous bacterial strains on soil fertility, nitrogen (N) uptake, and growth and yield of maize. A total of 31 maize root samples were collected from An Giang province in Vietnam to isolate the bacteria. The pot experiment was conducted in nine treatments: (i) 100% N of the recommended fertiliser formula (RFF), (ii) 85% N of RFF, (iii) 70% N of RFF, (iv) 55% N of RFF, (v) 85% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria (NFEB), (vi) 70% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of NFEB, (vii) 25% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of NFEB, (viii) 0% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of NFEB, and (ix) 0% N of RFF. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to collect soil and plant samples at harvest and observe their growth and agronomic parameters. The results showed that two acid-resistant endophytic bacterial strains were selected and identified as Enterobacter cloacae ASD-21 and E. cloacae ASD-48. At 85% N level, a mixture of the two endophytic bacteria strains was applied as biofertilisers and proved their ability to significantly enhance NH4+ content and N uptake, with an increase of 14.8 mg NH4+ kg-1 and 0.26 g N pot-1, respectively. A mixture of the two potent strains of NFEB produced higher values in plant height, stem diameter, cob length, and cob diameter compared to 100% N of RFF. It replaced 15% N of RFF but still maintained the maize grain yield

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal concentration of boron (B) to obtain the highest growth, yield, and oil content of black sesame. A field experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with five treatments and five replications. Treatments included foliar application of B at five rates: control, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg L−1 at 25 and 35 days after sowing. Results showed that spraying B on leaves increased sesame growth in terms of plant height, number of leaves, and chlorophyll content. Moreover, spraying B increased yield components including the number of pods; the highest pods per plant was 46.2 in the B application treatment with 150 mg L−1 compared to the control with 27.2 pods per plant. The grain yield of the B spray treatment produced 1.10–1.32 t ha−1, with the highest yield at the dose of 150 mg L−1 and the lowest yield at no B spray treatment. Spraying B on leaves at optimal concentration also increased the oil content in seeds up to 5.3% compared to the control treatment. The findings of the study suggest that foliar B application with 150 mg L−1 increases the growth, fruit set, seed yield, and oil content in sesame.

Summary Background Data are scarce from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to support the choice of vaccination schedule for the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). We aimed to compare the immunogenicity of four different infant PCV10 schedules in infants in Vietnam. Methods In this single-blind, parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled trial, infants aged 2 months were recruited by community health staff in districts 4 and 7 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Eligible infants had no clinically significant maternal or prenatal history and were born at or after 36 weeks' gestation. Participants were randomly assigned (3:3:5:4:5:4) using block randomisation, stratified by district, to one of six PCV10 or PCV13 vaccination schedules. Here we report results for four groups: group A, who were given PCV10 at ages 2, 3, 4, and 9 months (a 3 + 1 schedule); group B, who were vaccinated at ages 2, 3, and 4 months (3 + 0 schedule); group C, who were vaccinated at ages 2, 4, and 9·5 months (2 + 1 schedule); and group D, who were vaccinated at ages 2 and 6 months (two-dose schedule). Laboratory-based assessors were masked to group allocation. Blood samples were collected at different prespecified timepoints between ages 3–18 months depending on group allocation, within 27–43 days after vaccination, and these were analysed for serotype-specific IgG and opsonophagocytic responses. Participants were followed-up until age 24 months. The primary outcome was the proportion of infants with serotype-specific IgG levels of 0·35 μg/mL or higher at age 5 months, analysed as a non-inferiority comparison (10% margin) of the two-dose and three-dose primary series (group C vs groups A and B combined). We also compared responses 4 weeks after two doses administered at either ages 2 and 4 months (group C) or at ages 2 and 6 months (group D). The primary endpoint was analysed in the per-protocol population. Reactogenicity has been reported previously. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT01953510 , and is now closed to accrual. Findings Between Sept 30, 2013, and Jan 9, 2015, 1201 infants were enrolled and randomly assigned to group A (n=152), group B (n=149), group C (n=250), group D (n=202), or groups E (n=251) and F (n=197). In groups A–D, 388 (52%) of 753 participants were female and 365 (48%) were male. 286 (95%) participants in groups A and B combined (three-dose primary series) and 237 (95%) in group C (two-dose primary series) completed the primary vaccination series and had blood samples taken within the specified time window at age 5 months (per-protocol population). At this timepoint, a two-dose primary series was non-inferior to a three-dose primary series for eight of ten vaccine serotypes; exceptions were 6B (84·6% [95% CI 79·9–88·6] of infants had protective IgG concentrations after three doses [groups A and B combined] vs 76·8% [70·9–82·0] of infants after two doses [group C]; risk difference 7·8% [90% CI 2·1–13·6]) and 23F (90·6% [95% CI 86·6–93·7] vs 77·6% [71·8–82·2]; 12·9% [90% CI 7·7–18·3]). Two doses at ages 2 and 6 months produced higher antibody levels than two doses at ages 2 and 4 months for all serotypes except 5 and 7F. Interpretation A two-dose primary vaccination series was non-inferior to a three-dose primary vaccination series while two doses given with a wider interval between doses increased immunogenicity. The use of a two-dose primary vaccination schedule using a wider interval could be considered in LMIC settings to extend protection in the second year of life. Funding Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mục tiêu của nghiên cứu đánh giá đặc tính hình thái và hóa học của phẫu diện đất phèn nhiễm mặn ở hệ thống canh tác lúa-tôm. Mô tả đặc tính hình thái dựa trên bảng so màu Munsell đối với ba phẫu diện của xã Lộc Ninh, huyện Hồng Dân, tỉnh Bạc Liêu. Thu mẫu đất theo tầng phát sinh trên ba phẫu diện canh tác lúa-tôm để phân tích đặc tính hóa học đất. Kết quả hình thái cho thấy phẫu diện đất HD-LN-01 thuộc đất phèn tiềm tàng xuất hiện rất sâu, nhiễm mặn trong khi phẫu diện đất HD-LN-02 và HD-LN-03 được phân loại là đất phèn hoạt động xuất hiện sâu, nhiễm mặn. Đối với đặc tính hóa học, giá trị pHKCl tầng đất mặt nhỏ hơn 4,50. Hàm lượng đạm tổng số ở đất tầng mặt được đánh giá ở mức thấp, lượng đạm hữu dụng dao động 3,98-9,07 mg NH4+ kg-1. Hàm lượng tổng số được đánh giá ở mức nghèo, với hàm lượng lân dễ tiêu ở đất tầng mặt 1,93-8,34 mg P kg-1. Ngoài ra, hàm lượng lân khó tan gồm lân nhôm, lân sắt và lân calcium cao. Hàm lượng Na+ trao đổi dao động 4,17-4,99 meq Na+ 100 g-1 đất. Hàm lượng chất hữu cơ được đánh giá ở mức rất thấp đến thấp.

Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm tìm ra nồng độ naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) phù hợp cho sinh trưởng và năng suất mè cao nhất. Thí nghiệm được bố trí khối hoàn toàn ngẫu nhiên với sáu nghiệm thức, năm lặp lại, mỗi lặp lại 25 m2 tại quận Ô Môn, thành phố Cần Thơ. Các nghiệm thức thí nghiệm bao gồm (i) không phun NAA (đối chứng, phun nước), (ii) phun NAA với nồng độ 25 ppm, (iii) phun NAA với nồng độ 50 ppm, (iv) phun NAA với nồng độ 75 ppm, (v) phun NAA với nồng độ 100 ppm và (vi) phun NAA với nồng độ 150 ppm. Kết quả cho thấy phun bổ sung naphthalene acetic acid với nồng độ 50 ppm đã góp phần tăng số lá/cây, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll tổng, tỉ lệ đậu trái mè, hàm lượng dinh dưỡng N, P trong lá, số trái/cây, sinh khối khô và năng suất hạt mè.

Highlights • 1st study to directly compare effect of 2+1 schedule of PCV10 or PCV13 on carriage. • Includes an unvaccinated comparator group. • Both PCVs reduce carriage of serotypes in the corresponding vaccine. • May be some differences between the vaccines in their impact on carriage. • Majority of carriage was vaccine-type, so both vaccines likely to be beneficial., Background Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) generate herd protection by reducing nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage. Two PCVs, PCV10 and PCV13, have been in use for over a decade, yet there are few data comparing their impact on carriage. Here we report their effect on carriage in a 2+1 schedule, compared with each other and with unvaccinated controls. Methods Data from four groups within a parallel, open-label randomised controlled trial in Ho Chi Minh City contribute to this article. Three groups were randomised to receive a 2+1 schedule of PCV10 (n = 250), a 2+1 schedule of PCV13 (n = 251), or two doses of PCV10 at 18 and 24 months (controls, n = 197). An additional group (n = 199) was recruited at 18 months to serve as controls from 18 to 24 months. NP swabs collected at 2, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months were analysed (blinded) for pneumococcal carriage. This study aimed to determine if PCV10 and PCV13 have a differential effect on pneumococcal carriage, a secondary outcome of the trial. We also describe the serotype distribution among unvaccinated participants. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01953510. Findings Compared with unvaccinated controls, a 2+1 schedule of PCV10 reduced PCV10-type carriage by 45–62% from pre-booster through to 24 months of age, and a 2+1 schedule of PCV13 reduced PCV13-type carriage by 36–49% at 12 and 18 months of age. Compared directly with each other, there were few differences between the vaccines in their impact on carriage. Vaccine serotypes accounted for the majority of carriage in unvaccinated participants. Interpretation Both PCV10 and PCV13 reduce the carriage of pneumococcal vaccine serotypes. The introduction of either vaccine would have the potential to generate significant herd protection in this population. Funding National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Drought is the main constraint for crop growth worldwide. Selenium reportedly plays an important role in improving plant tolerance to drought stress. In this study, two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of foliar selenium application on the drought tolerance of sesame. Five selenium concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L) were used in the first experiment. Water deficit was triggered 25 days after sowing. The application of 5 or 10 mg/L of selenium maintained the number of leaves and increased the number of capsules. However, higher concentrations induced necrosis. The second experiment aimed to study the effect of selenium concentrations (5 and 10 mg/L) and the number of applications (one to three times). Drought stress was triggered 50 days after sowing, and selenium was sprayed 50, 55, and 60 days after sowing. The results indicated that a one-time foliar selenium application of 5 mg/L was able to maintain the number of leaves and to increase proline accumulation, plant biomass, and grain weight per plant. This finding confirms that selenium can be applied to enhance sesame’s tolerance to drought stress.

Background In Vietnam, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of disease, including meningitis. Antibiotics are available without physician prescription at community pharmacies and rates of antibiotic non-susceptibility are high. Appropriate treatment and antibiotic stewardship need to be informed by surveillance data. Objectives To report community-based pneumococcal antibiotic susceptibility testing data from children enrolled in a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine trial in Ho Chi Minh City [the Vietnam Pneumococcal Project (ViPP)] and compare these with published hospital-based data from the nationwide Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) to determine whether hospital surveillance data provide an informative estimate of circulating pneumococcal resistance. Methods Pneumococcal isolates from 234 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from ViPP participants at 12 months of age underwent antibiotic susceptibility testing using CLSI methods and the data were compared with SOAR data. Results Antibiotic susceptibility testing identified penicillin-non-susceptible pneumococci in 93.6% of pneumococcus-positive ViPP swabs (oral, non-meningitis breakpoints). Non-susceptibility to erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin and tetracycline also exceeded 79%. MDR, defined as non-susceptibility to three or more classes of antibiotic, was common (94.4% of swabs). Low or no resistance was detected for ceftriaxone (non-meningitis breakpoints), ofloxacin and vancomycin. Antibiotic non-susceptibility rates in ViPP and SOAR were similar for several antibiotics tested. Conclusions A very high proportion of pneumococci carried in the community are MDR. Despite wide disparities in population demographics between ViPP and SOAR, the non-susceptibility rates for several antibiotics were comparable. Thus, with some qualification, hospital antibiotic susceptibility testing data in Vietnam can inform circulating pneumococcal antibiotic non-susceptibility in young children, the group at highest risk of pneumococcal disease, to guide antibiotic prescribing and support surveillance strategies.

This brief communication describes the findings from a randomised controlled trial in Vietnam that co-administration of measles vaccine (MV) with 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10, Synflorix®, GSK) does not affect the immunogenicity of MV. These findings are most relevant for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia considering PCV introduction.

Saline soils reduce available phosphorus, retarding plant growth, and rice is particularly affected. We evaluated the ability of purple nonsulfur bacteria to resist the acidic-sodium conditions in saline acid sulfate soil and saline soil, and their ability to enhance rice growth and grain yield by releasing normally unavailable phosphorus. Two P-solubilizing Luteovulum sphaeroides strains were applied to rice seedlings in a soil pot experiment. Single cultures and a mixed (1:1) culture of the strains increased rice growth and grain yield up to 10% in saline acid sulfate soil and 18% in saline soil. After harvest, both inoculated soils showed significantly increased pHH2O but significantly decreased electrical conductivity. The increase in Pavail in both inoculated soils resulted in higher accumulations of P in the rice plants. The need for chemical P fertilizer was reduced by 50% of the recommended application. Both inoculated soil types showed significant increases in NH4+ and potassium. Sodium concentrations in both inoculated soil types were significantly lower than in controls. Proline content in rice from both inoculated soil types was also significantly lower. Rice grain yields were proportional to the inoculated bacterial populations.

Background: This study investigated the immunogenicity and impact on nasopharyngeal carriage of a single dose of PCV10 given to 18-month-old Vietnamese children. This information is important for countries considering catch-up vaccination during PCV introduction and in the context of vaccination during humanitarian crises. Methods: Two groups of PCV-naïve children within the Vietnam Pneumococcal Project received PCV10 (n=197) or no PCV (unvaccinated; n=199) at 18 months of age. Blood samples were collected at 18, 19, and 24 months of age, and nasopharyngeal swabs at 18 and 24 months of age. Immunogenicity was assessed by measuring serotype-specific IgG, opsonophagocytosis (OPA) and memory B cells (Bmem). Pneumococci were detected and quantified using real-time PCR and serotyped by microarray. Findings: At 19 months of age, IgG and OPA responses were higher in the PCV10 group compared with the unvaccinated group for all PCV10 serotypes and cross-reactive serotypes 6A and 19A. This was sustained out to 24 months of age, at which point PCV10-type carriage was 60% lower in the PCV10 group than the unvaccinated group. Bmem levels increased between 18 and 24 months of age in the vaccinated group. Interpretation: We demonstrate strong protective immune responses in vaccinees following a single dose of PCV10 at 18 months of age, and a potential impact on herd protection through a substantial reduction in vaccine-type carriage. A single dose of PCV10 in the second year of life could be considered as part of catch-up campaigns or in humanitarian crises to protect children at high-risk of pneumococcal disease. publishedVersion

BACKGROUND: Few data are available to support the choice between the two currently available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), ten-valent PCV (PCV10) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13). Here we report a head-to-head comparison of the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of PCV10 and PCV13. METHODS: In this parallel, open-label, randomised controlled trial, healthy infants from two districts in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, were randomly allocated (in a 3:3:5:4:5:4 ratio), with use of a computer-generated list, to one of six infant PCV schedules: PCV10 in a 3 + 1 (group A), 3 + 0 (group B), 2 + 1 (group C), or two-dose schedule (group D); PCV13 in a 2 + 1 schedule (group E); or no infant PCV (control; group F). Blood samples were collected from infants between 2 months and 18 months of age at various timepoints before and after PCV doses and analysed (in a blinded manner) by ELISA and opsonophagocytic assay. The trial had two independent aims: to compare vaccination responses between PCV10 and PCV13, and to evaluate different schedules of PCV10. In this Article, we present results pertaining to the first aim. The primary outcome was the proportion of infants with an IgG concentration of at least 0·35 μg/mL for the ten serotypes common to the two vaccines at age 5 months, 4 weeks after the two-dose primary vaccination series (group C vs group E, per protocol population). An overall difference among the schedules was defined as at least seven of ten serotypes differing in the same direction at the 10% level. We also assessed whether the two-dose primary series of PCV13 (group E) was non-inferior at the 10% level to a three-dose primary series of PCV10 (groups A and B). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01953510. FINDINGS: Of 1424 infants screened between Sept 30, 2013, and Jan 9, 2015, 1201 were allocated to the six groups: 152 (13%) to group A, 149 (12%) to group B, 250 (21%) to group C, 202 (17%) to group D, 251 (21%) to group E, and 197 (16%) to group F. 237 (95%) participants in group C (PCV10) and 232 (92%) in group E (PCV13) completed the primary vaccination series and had blood draws within the specified window at age 5 months, at which time the proportion of infants with IgG concentrations of at least 0·35 μg/mL did not differ between groups at the 10% level for any serotype (PCV10–PCV13 risk difference −2·1% [95% CI −4·8 to −0·1] for serotype 1; −1·3% [–3·7 to 0·6] for serotype 4; −3·4% [–6·8 to −0·4] for serotype 5; 15·6 [7·2 to 23·7] for serotype 6B; −1·3% [–3·7 to 0·6] for serotype 7F; −1·6% [–5·1 to 1·7] for serotype 9V; 0·0% [–2·7 to 2·9] for serotype 14; −2·1% [–5·3 to 0·9] for serotype 18C; 0·0% [–2·2 to 2·3] for serotype 19F; and −11·6% [–18·2 to −4·9] for serotype 23F). At the same timepoint, two doses of PCV13 were non-inferior to three doses of PCV10 for nine of the ten shared serotypes (excluding 6B). Reactogenicity and serious adverse events were monitored according to good clinical practice guidelines, and the profiles were similar in the two groups. INTERPRETATION: PCV10 and PCV13 are similarly highly immunogenic when used in 2 + 1 schedule. The choice of vaccine might be influenced by factors such as the comparative magnitude of the antibody responses, price, and the relative importance of different serotypes in different settings. FUNDING: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Vietnam plans to replace the routine childhood diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus combination (DPT) vaccine with a pentavalent vaccine. The present study was performed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the combined diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell pertussis, hepatitis B (HepB), and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTwP-HepB-Hib) Quinvaxem® vaccine in children. A total of 131 infants received the Quinvaxem® vaccine at 2, 3 and 4 months. Antibody levels were measured at baseline, at one month after the third injection and one year after the first injection. Seroprotection rates were high for each vaccine antigen at one month after the third dose: 93.1% for diphtheria, 98.5% for tetanus, 99.2% for pertussis (seroconversion rate), 93.1% for HepB, and 100% for Hib (anti-PRP ≥ 0.15 µg/ml). The rate of children with protective antibodies persisting at one year after the first dose was 88.4% for diphtheria, 49.6% for pertussis, 82.2% for tetanus, 76.7% for HepB and 97.7% for Hib (anti-PRP ≥ 0.15 µg/ml). The Quinvaxem® vaccine was well tolerated and has a low rate of adverse events. Quinvaxem® given at 2, 3 and 4 months of age was immunogenic and safe for primary immunization among infants in Vietnam.

An improved understanding of heterogeneities in dengue virus transmission might provide insights into biological and ecologic drivers and facilitate predictions of the magnitude, timing, and location of future dengue epidemics. To investigate dengue dynamics in urban Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring rural provinces in Vietnam, we analyzed a 10-year monthly time series of dengue surveillance data from southern Vietnam. The per capita incidence of dengue was lower in Ho Chi Minh City than in most rural provinces; annual epidemics occurred 1–3 months later in Ho Chi Minh City than elsewhere. The timing and the magnitude of annual epidemics were significantly more correlated in nearby districts than in remote districts, suggesting that local biological and ecologic drivers operate at a scale of 50–100 km. Dengue incidence during the dry season accounted for 63% of variability in epidemic magnitude. These findings can aid the targeting of vector-control interventions and the planning for dengue vaccine implementation.

Background Pneumococcal infections are major causes of child mortality and morbidity worldwide and antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major concern, especially in Asian countries. The present study was designed to evaluate the reactogenicity and safety of the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) when co-administered with the licensed diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B virus, inactivated poliovirus and H. influenzae type b vaccine (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib) in a 3-dose primary vaccination course in Vietnamese infants. Methods This phase III, open, randomised study was conducted in one centre in Ho Chi Minh City between February and July 2011. Healthy infants (N=300) were randomised (2:1) to receive either PHiD-CV co-administered with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib (PHiD-CV group) or DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib alone (Control group) at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. Results Within 31 days post-vaccination, 8.2% of overall doses in the PHiD-CV group and 3.0% of overall doses in the Control group were followed by at least one solicited and/or unsolicited, local and/or general adverse event of grade 3 intensity. Pain at injection site was the most common grade 3 solicited symptom, which was reported following 6.5% and 1.0% of overall doses in the PHiD-CV and Control groups, respectively. Within 4 days post-vaccination, the most common solicited local and general symptoms reported with any intensity were pain (48.9% and 31.0% of doses in the PHiD-CV and Control groups) and irritability (58.0% and 40.4% of doses in the PHiD-CV and Control groups). Within 31 days post-vaccination, the incidence of unsolicited symptoms was comparable in both groups (following 12.3% and 14.8% of doses in the PHiD-CV and Control groups, respectively). Throughout the study, 13 serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 9 infants in the PHiD-CV group and 11 SAEs in 6 infants in the Control group. None of them were fatal or considered causally related to vaccination. Conclusions PHiD-CV had a clinically acceptable safety profile when co-administered with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib in Vietnamese infants. The reactogenicity of PHiD-CV was comparable to that observed in other South-East Asian populations. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: http://NCT01153841

Since 2003, Southern Vietnam has become the most serious affected area by various emerging diseases such as: A/H5N1, SARS, Rubella, etc. Therefore, the establishment of emerging disease surveillance is essential and necessary to provide scientific information for good understand on the emerging diseases and for effective outbreak response. A specific surveillance system for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) was established in 02 sentinel hospitals in Ben Tre province from August 2008 to June 2010. Patient’s signature on written ICF had been required before the enrollment. All of the enrolled SARI cases were investigated and their throat swabs were collected for testing. Multiplex RT-PCR was applied to determine 17 viral agents. In addition, blood culture has been performed since August 2009 in order to detect bacterial agents on these SARI cases. Out of 1,842 SARI cases enrolled into the surveillance system, 969 (52.61%) cases had positive testing results, including: 913 (49.75%) cases had positive testing results with viral agents and 56 (9.89%) of 566 blood culture specimens had positive testing results with bacterial agents. Moreover, the proportion of co-infection between virus and bacteria was 0.98%. There were 14 viral agents had been detected including: Inf A/H1N1pdm (1.41%), Inf A (2.61%), Inf B (0.98%), Inf C (0.11%), hRV (18.1%), RSV (14.13%), Boca (3.32%), Adeno (1.68%), Entero (0.65%), Corona HKUI (0.11%), hMPV (2.28%), Parainfluenza type 1 (1.58%), Parainfluenza type 3 (2.23%) and Parainfluenza type 4 (0.33%) viruses. A remarkable attention is that hRV and RSV which were identified as the cause of some sudden deaths in infants in China, Philippines and respiratory outbreak in Cambodia in 2008 were 02 predominant agents. The major concern is that Inf A virus in the South predominates in summer season and this is very different from other regions in Vietnam and even other parts of the world. In addition, viral agents were shifted by seasons: Boca virus (January to April), Inf A (May to July) and RSV (August to November). The results of the surveillance show that the viral pathogens of SARI are variety and most of them have never been detected in the South of Vietnam. In addition, all types of Influenza virus are detected on SARI cases and the viral pathogens vary by the seasons.

Background After quickly spreading since March 2009 in Mexico, influenza pandemic H1N1 has affected a large part of the world’s population. Countries have made great efforts to contain the pandemic. An important key in containing community transmission and reducing the impacts of the pandemic influenza is to have local people educated to have good knowledge, attitude and practice toward influenza pandemic (H1N1). The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitute and practice of local people toward influenza pandemic (H1N1) prevention after launching education programs since early pandemic period (June 2009).

Since 2005, Arboviruses and Enteroviruses have been confirmed as some of pathogens causing acute meningo-encephalitis in children in the South of Vietnam. Therefore, they have been selected in priority into a sentinel surveillance and investigation system of emerging infectious diseases in Ben Tre province during 2008-2010. The surveillance system for viral Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) was established in 02 sentinel hospitals in Ben Tre province, Vietnam. All AES cases with macroscopic appearance corresponding to viral AES were enrolled into the surveillance. Their specimens (CSF, paired sera and feces) were only collected after patients or their legal guarantees had signed in the written ICF. The second serum of paired sera was collected on the field in case patient had discharged. MAC-ELISA was applied for detecting Arboviruses (such as Japanese encephalitis virus and Dengue viruses), and RT-PCR was used for detecting Enteroviruses, especially Enterovirus type 71. From August 2008 to June 2010, 138 AES cases were enrolled into the surveillance system with 138 CSF, 276 sera and 138 feces specimens. Out of 138 reported cases from the surveillance system, 60 (43.48%) AES cases had positive testing results with viral agents, including: 7 (5.07%) Japanese encephalitis virus, 6 (4.35%) Dengue viruses, and 47 (34.06%) Enteroviruses. No case of infecting Enterovirus type 71 was detected. Epidemiological analysis shown that Enteroviruses circulated all year round, Dengue viruses circulated from August to October in accordance to the Dengue epidemic season in the South of Vietnam and Japanese encephalitis virus circulated sporadically in a year. Moreover, distribution of viral agents specific by age groups shown that age group of 0 – 14 (11.76%) and over 60 (18.18%) were the most susceptible for infecting Japanese encephalitis virus. The surveillance system has provided valuable information as a baseline for future studies on viral agents of AES and for implementing Japanese encephalitis vaccination campaigns in Ben Tre province. The implementation in reality also raised the needs of developing and applying diagnostic tests with high sensitivity and specificity such as NS1 antigen detection for Japanese encephalitis virus and multiplex RT-PCR for Enteroviruses.