title: Diarrheal and Respiratory Illness Surveillance During US-RP Balikatan 2014.
abstract: Diarrheal and respiratory illness surveillance was conducted during the 2014 Republic of the Philippines-U.S. Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines. Seven stool and three respiratory specimens that met the inclusion criteria were collected. Diarrhea stool specimens were tested with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 12 viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens. Campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) were detected in four of seven (57%), two of seven (29%), and four of seven (57%) specimens, respectively. There were co-infections of EPEC and ETEC in two cases and EPEC and Campylobacter spp. in one case. Respiratory samples were tested using RT-PCR. One of three samples was positive for influenza B. Laboratory-based surveillance is important in determining causative agents for illnesses experienced by military personnel during deployment. Development of vaccines for enteric diseases should be expedited to mitigate their impact on operational readiness.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Valderamat
authors.forename: Kathyleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nogrado
authors.forename: Tippa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wongstitwilairoong
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swierczewski
authors.forename: Ladaporn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodhidatta
authors.forename: Paphavee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lertsethtakarn
authors.forename: Chonticha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klungthong
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: In-Kyu
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macareo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004403:Dysentery / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010679:Philippines; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult