Md. Makshuder Rahman Zim, Nurnabi Ahmed, Mostak Ahmed
et al.
Bovine anaplasmosis is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by Anaplasma species, which is accountable for huge economic loss in dairy industry. This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of bovine anaplasmosis on randomly selected 61 commercial dairy farms in 3 intensive regions of Bangladesh. A total of 1472 sera were analysed using VMRD Anaplasma Antibody Test Kit cELISA v2 for the presence of Anaplasma-specific antibodies. The highest regional seroprevalence of Anaplasma was 45.93% in individual level and 74.4% in herd level recorded in the southeast region, whereas it was 48.8% in individual level and 83.3% in herd level in Khagrachari and Sherpur districts, indicating an emerging state of the disease. The herd size and type in herd level and regions, districts, sex, age and breed in individual level were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) associated with anaplasmosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cattle aged >1 year had 1.86 times higher odds compared to cattle younger than 1 year. Dairy cows had the highest odds (2.25) of anaplasmosis, followed by dairy heifers (1.68), compared to bulls. Compared to herd sizes of <4, the odds of Anaplasma infection were 11.3 and 7.45 times greater in herd sizes of >28 and 4–28. Crossbred cattle had 2.4 times higher odds of anaplasmosis compared to indigenous cattle. This first seroprevalence study signifies the widespread presence and underscores the importance of monitoring and managing anaplasmosis to safeguard cattle health in Bangladesh. Study on the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of Anaplasma among cattle populations should be prioritized.
Zhuzhu Qin,1,* Xinxin Ye,2,* Huanju Liu,3 Yining Tao,4 Xutong Zheng,1 Yanxia Zhong,5 Danfeng Chen,1 Wan Ye,6 Chenju Zhan7 1School of Nursing, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; 2Department of Sports and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; 3Women’s Hospital and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; 4Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; 5Department of Nursing, Shijiazhuang Medical College, Shijiazhuang, China; 6Department of Nursing, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, Fujian, China; 7Department of Nursing, Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Ningde, China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wan Ye, Department of Nursing, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, Fujian, China, Tel +86 13806086169, Email 200600010142@xmmc.edu.cn Chenju Zhan, Department of Nursing, Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, No. 89 HeShan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, 355000, China, Tel +86 13809562183, Email zhanchenju@yeah.netObjective: This study investigated factors influencing the knowledge, attitudes, practice profiles, and vaccination intentions among Chinese nursing students and nursing interns toward the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination.Materials and Methods: The multicenter cross-sectional study was based on a self-reported questionnaire collecting information among nursing students and nursing interns from three major geographic regions of China, and the sample was selected by consecutive sampling. The questionnaire was developed by knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) theory. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results: A total of 3180 nursing students and interns (effective rate: 99.8%) from six Chinese provinces were polled. The vaccine hesitation rate was 9.65% (307/3180), 2230 participants (70.1%) had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, and 643 participants (67.7%) had indicated a readiness to be vaccinated. The results showed that older age, higher academic background, perfect vaccine management, others’ recommendations, influenza vaccination history, epidemic under control, knowledge of vaccines or intervals, and vaccine knowledge training were associated with higher vaccination rates. Conversely, vaccine hesitancy was caused by a perceived lack of physical need, uncertainty about vaccination requirements, and fear of vaccination.Conclusion: This study provided population-based estimates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake intention among mainland Chinese nursing students and interns. Factors such as age, education, vaccine knowledge, and attitudes influence COVID-19 vaccine behaviour. Relevant authorities should understand the barriers to COVID-19 vaccination from knowledge, attitude and practice, which is significant for formulating effective response strategies in future global public health crises.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: COVID-19, vaccine, knowledge, attitudes, practice, nursing students and interns
Daniel Alexis Zárate-Rendón, David Godoy Padilla, Samuel Pizarro Carcausto
et al.
This study aimed to develop maps for Fasciola hepatica infection occurrence in dairy cattle in the districts of Matahuasi and Baños in the Peruvian central highlands. For this, a model based on the correlation between environmental variables and the prevalence of infection was constructed. Flukefinder® coprological test were performed in samples from dairy cattle from 8 herds, during both the rainy and wet season. Grazing plots were geo-referenced to obtain information on environmental variables. Monthly temperature, monthly rainfall, elevation, slope, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), distance to rivers, urban areas and roads were obtained by using remote sensor images and ArcGIS®. Multilayer perceptron Artificial Neural Networks modeling were applied to construct a predictive model for the occurrence of fasciolosis, based on the relationship between environmental variables and level of infection. Kappa coefficient (k > 0.6) was used to evaluate concordance between observed and forecasted risk by the model. Coprological results demonstrated an average prevalence from 20% to 100%, in Matahuasi, and between 0 and 87.5%, in Baños. A model with a high level of concordance between predicted and observed infection risk (k = 0.77) was obtained, having as major predicting variables: slope, NDWI, NDVI and EVI. Fasciolosis risk was categorized as low (p < 20%), medium (20% < p < 50%) and high (p ≥ 50%) level. Using ArcGIS 10.4.1, risk maps were developed for each risk level of fasciolosis. Maps of fasciolosis occurrence showed that 87.2% of Matahuasi area presented a high risk for bovine fasciolosis during the dry season, and 76.6% in the wet season. In contrast, 21.9% of Baños area had a high risk of infection during the dry season and 12.1% during the wet season. In conclusion, our model showed areas with high risk for fasciolosis occurrence in both districts during both dry and rainy periods. Slope, NDWI, NDVI and EVI were the major predictors for fasciolosis occurrence.
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) cause major economic losses and affect many domestic animals, mainly cattle and sheep, in tropical and subtropical regions. Tropical theileriosis is a TBD caused by a protozoon called Theileria annulata transmitted by several tick species of the genus Hyalomma. Clinical manifestations of theileriosis are expressed mainly as anorexia, febrile generalized lymphadenitis and anemia followed by lethargy, lacrimation, nasal discharge and exopthalmia. Anemia is a feature point in tropical bovine theileriosis and severity was positively related to parasitaemia rates. Fatality due to infection is greatly dependent on the overproduction of cytokines, such as TNF-α produced by the schizont-infected monocytes/macrophages and uninfected macrophages. Buparvaquone gave 86.66% clinical efficacy against Theileria annulata, but 97.1% and 95.2% efficacy against Theileria parva. In Theileriosis, hemolysis occurs due to isoantibody to RBC. To prevent this isoantibody lysis, immunosuppressive dose of steroid such as Dexamethasone@2.2 mg/kg.b.wt could be used.
Bhuneshwar Sahu, Shashikant Swarnakar, Henu Kumar Verma
et al.
Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in diabetes patients. The angiotensin AGT M235T gene polymorphism, which is linked to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), has been extensively studied in DN patients, but the results are still conflicting. The current study’s goal is to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between AGT M235T gene polymorphism and DN susceptibility. Methods: Fourteen case-control studies related to AGT M235T polymorphism and DN were searched using PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Genotype data from the T2DM and T2DN groups were collected from all papers. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95 percent confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated employing a random-effects model to assess the relationship. Results: There were no statistically significant link between AGT M235T and DN risk in dominant (P=0.801, OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.66-1.38), allelic (P=0.933, OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.75-1.37) and recessive (P=0.374, OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.80-1.83) genetic models. Further, the stratified analysis based on ethnicity did not reveal significant link between AGT M235T and DN risk in Asian (Dom OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.63-1.82) and the Caucasian populations (Dom OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.49-1.21). In all three models, there was a high degree of heterogeneity between studies. Publication bias was not seen. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the AGT gene M235T polymorphism does not contribute to DN risk. However, validation of this association will require multi-center and large population-based studies.
Specialties of internal medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases
Aditi Arya, Loick P. Kojom Foko, Shewta Chaudhry
et al.
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) are currently used as a first-line malaria therapy in endemic countries worldwide. This systematic review aims at presenting the current scenario of drug resistance molecular markers, either selected or involved in treatment failures (TF) during in vivo ACT efficacy studies from sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) and India. Eight electronic databases were comprehensively used to search relevant articles and finally a total of 28 studies were included in the review, 21 from sSA and seven from India. On analysis, Artemether + lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate + sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS + SP) are the main ACT in African and Indian regions with a 28-day efficacy range of 54.3–100% for AL and 63–100% for AS + SP respectively. It was observed that mutations in the Pfcrt (76T), Pfdhfr (51I, 59R, 108N), Pfdhps (437G) and Pfmdr1 (86Y, 184F, 1246Y) genes were involved in TF, which varied with respect to ACTs. Based on studies that have genotyped the Pfk13 gene, the reported TF cases, were mainly linked with mutations in genes associated with resistance to ACT partner drugs; indicating that the protection of the partner drug efficacy is crucial for maintaining the efficacy of ACT. This review reveals that ACT are largely efficacious in India and sSA despite the fact that some clinical efficacy and epidemiological studies have reported some validated mutations (i.e., 476I, 539T and 561H) in circulation in these two regions. Also, the role of PfATPase6 in ART resistance is controversial still, while P. falciparum plasmepsin 2 (Pfpm2) in piperaquine (PPQ) resistance and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) + PPQ failures is well documented in Southeast Asian countries but studied less in sSA. Hence, there is a need for continuous molecular surveillance of Pfk13 mutations for emergence of artemisinin (ART) resistance in these countries.
Fikru Gashaw, Samuel Bekele, Yalemtsehay Mekonnen
et al.
Abstract Background Tuberculosis and parasitosis are the widely distributed diseases in Ethiopia with the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, respectively. There has been no information on the status of co-infections of tuberculosis and parasitosis in Oromia Zone of Amhara Region and South Wollo, Ethiopia. Hence, this study primarily focuses on determining the status of tuberculosis and parasitosis co-infections and associated factors. Methods The study was conducted in Oromia Special Zone of the Amhara Regional State and South Wollo Zone, northeastern Ethiopia from April 2015 to January 2017. Tuberculosis cases confirmed by health personnel at the health institutions were the source of the study sample. In a cross-sectional study 384 smear positive pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis cases were recruited. Faecal specimens provided by the study participants were examined for parasitic co-infections using direct saline microscopic test, Kato-Katz and concentration techniques. Nutritional status was determined using body mass index and mid-upper arm circumferences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and Pearson chi-square. Results Tuberculosis and parasitosis co-infection prevalence was 10.8%, and the proportion of intestinal helminths accounted for 9.7% while intestinal protozoa accounted for 1.9%. Cases with single parasitic infection was 89.3% among co-infected individuals. Co-infection of both disease was not significantly associated with gender and age (P > 0.05). The prevalence of undernutrition was 58.6% as determined using body mass index and 73.0% as determined using mid-upper arm circumference with no significant association with gender. Among all forms of tuberculosis cases (384) screened for the study, the bacterial positivity was relatively more common in males (55.5%) than females (44.5%). Tuberculosis lymphadenitis was found to be the most prevalent (85.9%) form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis with cervical adenopathy (75.3%) being the commonly existing disease. Conclusions The rate of helminthic co-infection is predominantly high than that of intestinal protozoa. Single parasitic co-infection was more common than double or multiple co-infections. Both body mass index and mid-upper arm circumference anthropometric parameters revealed greater risk of undernutrition in tuberculosis patients. Thus, screening and prompt treatment of parasites in tuberculosis patients and a support of nutritional supplementation for malnourished tuberculosis patients should be further studied which might enhance the disease treatment and minimize the risk of its complexity.
Infectious and parasitic diseases, Public aspects of medicine
Kaliny Xavier da Guarda, Giuliana Thaíse Araújo da Silva, Edlaine Faria de Moura Villela
Justificativa e Objetivos: O estudo da cobertura vacinal (CV) demonstra a concretização das ações de políticas públicas no âmbito saúde, embora as metas determinadas sejam parcialmente alcançadas. Realizar o diagnóstico situacional da Cobertura Vacinal em menores de um ano em âmbito nacional, estadual (Goiás) e municipal (Jataí) no período de 2011 a 2015. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, do tipo transversal, baseado na coleta de dados secundários dos registros do SI-PNI sobre cobertura vacinal em menores de um ano na plataforma do Datasus. Resultados: A CV no país atingiu, no geral, índices superiores àqueles estabelecidos pela meta com algumas exceções. O estado de Goiás, juntamente com o município de Jataí, demonstraram resultados semelhantes em relação à CV por tipo de vacinas em menores de um ano, sendo evidentes os índices elevados de CV no referido município. Conclusão: A CV em menores de um ano em âmbito nacional revela índices superiores à meta. O estado de Goiás apresentou situação vacinal semelhante à observada na Região Centro-Oeste em que está inserido. A elevada CV por tipo de vacina em menores de um ano indica que o município de Jataí expressa efetividade no PNI.
Taher Azimi, Mohammad Javad Nasiri, Samin Zamani
et al.
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) still remains an important public health problem in Iran. The genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates is expected to lead to a better understanding of M. tuberculosis transmission in Tehran, the most populated city of Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 2300 clinical specimens were obtained from TB suspected patients who were referred to a TB center in Tehran from Jan 2014 to Dec 2016. Identification was performed using both conventional and molecular methods. The presence of resistance to rifampicin was examined by the GeneXpert MTB/RIF. The standard 15-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing method was applied to genotype of clinical isolates. Results: Of 2300 specimens, 80 isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis by using biochemical and molecular tests. Of 80 M. tuberculosis isolates, 76 (95%) had unique genotypic profiles and 4 (5%) shared a profile with one or more other strains. Based on single loci variation (SLV) 4 clonal complexes were observed. NEW-1 was found to be the most predominant lineage (22.5%) followed by West African (1.25%), Central Asian (CAS)/Delhi (1.25%), Bovis (1.25%), H37Rv (1.25%) and multiple matches (1.25%). Loci MIRU10, MIRU26, MTUB21 and QUB26 were found as highly discriminative. No mutation was detected in the hotspot region of rifampicin by using GeneXpert MTB/RIF. Conclusions: Our study findings show that there was considerable genotypic diversity among M. tuberculosis isolates in Tehran. The 15-locus MIRU-VNTR showed high HGDI and could be used as a first-line genotyping method for epidemiological studies. Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Genotyping, MIRU-VNTR, Tehran, Iran
Diseases of the respiratory system, Infectious and parasitic diseases
Abstract Background The increasing incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), has resulted in a difficult problem in the current clinical anti-infective treatment. We performed a retrospective analysis of prevalence and treatment for CRE infections patients. Methods This study was conducted in three tertiary care hospitals from January 1, 2010 to December 30, 2016. Baseline data, treatment, and outcomes were collected in patients with ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), bacteremia, complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI)/acute pyelonephritis (AP), hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP), superficial wound infection (SWI), biliary tract infection (BTI), deep wound infection (DWI) and sterile body fluids infection (SBFI) due to CRE. Results One hundred twenty-four cases of CRE infection were identified: 31 VABP, 22 bacteremia, 18 cUTI/AP, 16 HABP, 16 SWI, 9 BTI, 7 DWI and 5 SBFI. The patient population had significant immunocompromised (33 of 124, 26.6%) and severe sepsis (43 of 124, 34.7%). The most common CRE pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (84 of 124, 67.7%) and Enterobacter cloacae (24 of 124, 19.4%). And the production of IMP-type carbapenemase was the main antibiotic resistance mechanism. The majority of patients to take monotherapy for empiric therapy and dual therapy for direct treatment. Outcomes were universally poor (28-day mortality was 22.6%, 28 of 124) across all sites of infection. Conclusions We identified a large number of cases of CRE infection in 7 years from different parts, most of these pathogens have been confirmed to produce IMP-type carbapenemases. The retrospective analysis of cases of such bacterial infections will help to control future infections of these pathogens. Despite the high mortality rate, we still found that the selection of quinolone antibiotics can be effective in the treatment of CRE producing IMP type enzymes.
Therapeutics. Pharmacology, Infectious and parasitic diseases
Freitas LS, Almeida NCC, Freitas Queiroz MA
et al.
Larissa S Freitas,1 Núbia Caroline C Almeida,1 Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz,1 Marcelo M Zaninotto,2 Hellen T Fuzii,3 Alfredo Ribeiro-Silva,4 Antonio CR Vallinoto,1 Marluísa OG Ishak,1 Juarez AS Quaresma,3 Ricardo Ishak1 1Virus Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Para, 2Hospital of Clinic Gaspar Viana, 3Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Para, Belém, 4Departament of Pathology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Background: Chronic coronary artery disease has been associated, as a consequence of the local inflammatory reaction with previous or persistent infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, which led to the investigation of the association of cardiovascular disease and previous infection with C. trachomatis and the role of cytokine profile (in situ) markers in the vascular system tissues. Methods: Sixty-nine biopsies were collected for immunohistochemical analysis for the presence of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10, in 16 fragments from atheromatous plaques, 32 aorta fragments, and 21 valve fragments, using a tissue microarray technique for paraffin embedded tissues. Results: Most patients undergoing revascularization surgery were men >50 years, while those undergoing valve replacement were mostly women <50 years. TNF-α was the most prevalent marker, detected in 91.7% (55/60) of the samples. The mean percent area stained was greater in patients infected with C. pneumoniae (3.81% vs 1.92%; p=0.0115) and specifically in the aorta (4.83% vs 2.25%; p=0.0025); C. trachomatis infection was higher in valves, and C. pneumoniae in plaques, both without statistical significance. There was no significant difference in the cytokine staining profile between patients previously infected with both species and uninfected patients. Conclusion: Although there was no difference in the cytokine profile between patients previously infected with both species of Chlamydia, and uninfected patients, the presence of the bacteria antigens in the three biological specimens indicates it is important to focus on the role of C. trachomatis. It is necessary to improve the understanding of the natural history of chronic coronary artery disease and the clinical history of the patients and cytokine dynamics in cardiac disease in the presence or absence of infectious agents. Keywords: Chlamydia, C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis, atherosclerosis, cytokines
Adediwura O. Arowosegbe, David A. Ojo, Iyabode O. Dedeke
et al.
Background:Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries. The aetiological agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are dynamic.
Objectives: This study determined clinical features, aetiology, antimicrobial susceptibility and clinical outcome of neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.
Methods: Neonates undergoing sepsis evaluation at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital were included in the study. Demographic and clinical information were obtained using standard questionnaires. Blood samples were cultured on MacConkey, Blood and Chocolate agar. Isolated bacteria were identified based on morphology, Gram stain appearance and standard commercially prepared biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar using the Kirby-Bauer method.
Results: Eighty-five of the 180 neonates admitted during the study period were recruited. Fifty-five neonates presented with early-onset sepsis and 30 with late-onset sepsis. Culture-proven sepsis was detected in 19 (22.4%) neonates. The incidence of culture-proven sepsis in the hospital was 2.8/100 live-births. The most common clinical feature at presentation was respiratory distress. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 78.9 percent of all isolates and were the only organisms encountered in earlyonset sepsis. Isolated pathogens were predominantly Klebsiella spp (31.6%), Enterobacter spp (21.1%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (15.8%). The isolates were most sensitive to ofloxacin. Gram-negative bacteria showed high resistance to cefuroxime and ampicillin. The case-fatality rate was 26%.
Conclusion: Gram-negative bacilli, especially Klebsiella spp, was predominant. Neonatal sepsis persists as a cause of mortality in this region. Regular antimicrobial surveillance for empirical treatment remains an important component of neonatal care.
Cristiane Varella Lisboa, Rafael Veríssimo Monteiro, Andreia Fonseca Martins
et al.
Here, we present a review of the dataset resulting from the 11-years follow-up of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in free-ranging populations of Leontopithecus rosalia (golden lion tamarin) and Leontopithecus chrysomelas (golden-headed lion tamarin) from distinct forest fragments in Atlantic Coastal Rainforest. Additionally, we present new data regarding T. cruzi infection of small mammals (rodents and marsupials) that live in the same areas as golden lion tamarins and characterisation at discrete typing unit (DTU) level of 77 of these isolates. DTU TcII was found to exclusively infect primates, while TcI infected Didelphis aurita and lion tamarins. The majority of T. cruzi isolates derived from L. rosalia were shown to be TcII (33 out 42) Nine T. cruzi isolates displayed a TcI profile. Golden-headed lion tamarins demonstrated to be excellent reservoirs of TcII, as 24 of 26 T. cruzi isolates exhibited the TcII profile. We concluded the following: (i) the transmission cycle of T. cruzi in a same host species and forest fragment is modified over time, (ii) the infectivity competence of the golden lion tamarin population fluctuates in waves that peak every other year and (iii) both golden and golden-headed lion tamarins are able to maintain long-lasting infections by TcII and TcI.