Detection of Brucella spp. in raw milk from various livestock species raised under pastoral production systems in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties, northern Kenya

Abstract Introduction Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease in Kenya, and identifying the bacteria in milk is important in assessing the risk of exposure in people. Methods A cross-sectional study that involved 175 households was implemented in the pastoral counties of Marsabit and Isiolo in Kenya. Pooled milk samples (n = 164) were collected at the household level, and another 372 were collected from domesticated lactating animals (312 goats, 7 sheep, 50 cattle and 3 camels). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing of the milk samples was performed to identify Brucella species. Brucella anti-LPS IgG antibodies were also detected in bovine milk samples using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Based on the qPCR, the prevalence of the pathogen at the animal level (considering samples from individual animals) was 2.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.5) and 3.0% (CI: 1.0–7.0) in pooled samples. All 14 samples found positive by qPCR were from goats, with 10 contaminated with B. abortus and 4 with B. melitensis. The Brucella spp. antibody prevalence in bovine milk using the milk ELISA was 26.0% (95% CI: 14.6–40.3) in individual animal samples and 46.3% (95% CI: 30.7–62.6) in pooled samples. Conclusion The study is the first in Kenya to test for Brucella spp. directly from milk using qPCR without culturing for the bacteria. It also detected B. abortus in goats, suggesting transmission of brucellosis between cattle and goats. The high prevalence of Brucella spp. is a significant public health risk, and there is a need for intervention strategies necessary in the study area.

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Dogs as Sentinels for Flavivirus Exposure in Urban, Peri-Urban and Rural Hanoi, Vietnam

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13030507 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 507

Author(s):

Long Pham-Thanh ◽

Thang Nguyen-Tien ◽

Ulf Magnusson ◽

Vuong Bui-Nghia ◽

Anh Bui-Ngoc ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mosquito Control ◽

Risk Mitigation ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Major Health ◽

Household Level

Diseases caused by flaviviruses, including dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, are major health problems in Vietnam. This cross-sectional study explored the feasibility of domestic dogs as sentinels to better understand risks of mosquito-borne diseases in Hanoi city. A total of 475 dogs serum samples from 221 households in six districts of Hanoi were analyzed by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for antibodies to the pr-E protein of West Nile virus and other flaviviruses due to cross-reactivity. The overall flavivirus seroprevalence in the dog population was 70.7% (95% CI = 66.4–74.8%). At the animal level, significant associations between seropositive dogs and district location, age, breed and keeping practice were determined. At the household level, the major risk factors were rural and peri-urban locations, presence of pigs, coil burning and households without mosquito-borne disease experience (p < 0.05). Mosquito control by using larvicides or electric traps could lower seropositivity, but other measures did not contribute to significant risk mitigation of flavivirus exposure in dogs. These results will support better control of mosquito-borne diseases in Hanoi, and they indicate that dogs can be used as sentinels for flavivirus exposure.

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Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Brucellosis in Livestock and Residents of New Valley Governorate, Egypt

World s Veterinary Journal ◽

10.54203/scil.2020.wvj64 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 531-539

Author(s):

Mohamed Said Diab ◽

Sherif Abd Allah Zidan ◽

Nermin Abdalla A. Hassan ◽

Haitham Elaadli ◽

Ahmed Mohamed Bayoumi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Raw Milk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Human Brucellosis ◽

Human Occupation ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Associated Risk Factors

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease which is now considered endemic in most parts of Egypt. A cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2018 to February 2020 to investigate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans and livestock residing in two regions located in New Valley Governorate, Egypt. A total of 1254 animals (673 cattle, 348 sheep, and 233 goats) and 523 human serum samples were examined for brucellosis using Rose Bengal test (RBT) and then randomly selected sera (15 from cattle, 7 from sheep, 3 from goats, and 45 from humans) were further analyzed by complement fixation test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to compare and detect the sensitivity and specificity of RBT. The prevalence of brucellosis was 0% in cattle, sheep, and goats while it was 23.9% in humans using RBT. Concerning humans, there was a higher percentage of infection in EL Kharga (33.6%). The prevalence of this infection was also at a higher level among individuals aged above 40 years (28.57%). Furthermore, men (26.11%) were more inclined to be inflicted, compared to women (22.5%) with no significant difference. Considering the human occupation, abattoir workers were the most predominant group of people at risk (33.3%), followed by farmers (31.25%) and animal keepers (20.6%) while the lowest prevalence was demonstrated in the housewives where the prevalence was 18.8 %. As a result, risk factors of the age range, locality, time of infection, contact with animals, and occupational groups could significantly affect the prevalence of human brucellosis in the New Valley Governorate. In conclusion, brucellosis is an alarming problem among residents of the New Valley Governorate. Thus, reducing the prevalence in humans and animals in the region of study may include restriction of the marketing the raw milk and enhancing public health awareness.

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Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 in human breast milk in Rafsanjan, Iran

Current Medical Mycology ◽

10.18502/cmm.7.1.6177 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Somayeh Pourtalebi ◽

Seyyed Amin Ayatollahi Mousavi ◽

Zahra Assadollahi ◽

Seyyed Mahdi Mousavi

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Aflatoxin M1 ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

The European Union ◽

Postnatal Exposure ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Lactating Mothers

Background and Purpose: Aflatoxins (AFs) are a group of highly toxic mycotoxins present both in the environment and in foodstuffs. The food of infants should be safe and free of various pollutants, including breast milk mycotoxins. This study aimed to measure the mycotoxin of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in human milk samples obtained from lactating mothers living in Rafsanjan city, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, breast milk samples were collected from 150 lactating mothers in Rafsanjan city from September 2015 to April 2016 using the structured food-frequency questionnaire. The AFM1 was measured by employing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific kits. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 16). Results: The AFM1 was detected in 98 mothers (65%) with a mean concentration of 14.69±8.15 ng/kg, ranging from 5.02 to 41.25 ng/kg. The AFM1 concentration exceeded the tolerable and accepted limit promulgated by the European Union and the USA (25 ng/kg) in only 10 milk samples. Moreover, in 59 milk samples, the AFM1 concentration exceeded the limit recommended by Australia and Switzerland (10 ng/kg). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, lactating mothers and their infants are at risk of AFM1 exposure in southern Iran. Accordingly, the examination of AFM1 concentrations in lactating mothers, as a critical postnatal exposure marker of infants to this carcinogenic compound, requires further studies in various seasonal periods and different parts of Iran.

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Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern ofE. coliO157:H7 Isolated from Traditionally Marketed Raw Cow Milk in and around Asosa Town, Western Ethiopia

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.1155/2017/7581531 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Nigatu Disassa ◽

Berhanu Sibhat ◽

Shimelis Mengistu ◽

Yimer Muktar ◽

Dinaol Belina

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Raw Milk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

E Coli ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Agar Disc

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2014 to July 2015 to determine the prevalence and populations ofE. colias well as the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility ofE. coliO157:H7 isolated from raw milk. Biochemical and serological tests methods were used to confirmE. coliandE. coliO157:H7 and isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the agar disc diffusion method. Out of 380 raw milk samples examined, 129 (33.9%) and 11 (2.9%) were contaminated withE. coliandE. coliO157:H7, respectively. The highest prevalence was recorded in samples obtained from vendors (39.1%, 4.978 ± 0.180 log10/ml) compared with samples from farmers (28.1%, 3.93 ± 0.01 log10/ml) with significant differences(P=0.02). The frequency of contamination was higher in the samples collected from milk that was stored and transported in plastic containers (39.4%) than in the containers made of stainless steel (23.0%)(P=0.002). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile showed thatE. coliO157:H7 were resistant to tetracycline (81.8%), streptomycin (81.8%), and kanamycin (63.6%). Milk samples were produced and handled under poor hygienic conditions, stored, and transported in inappropriate containers and under temperature abuse conditions leading to high health risk to the consumers. Additional studies would be needed to establish association between the occurrences ofE. coliO157:H7 in raw milk and all the risk factors involved in and around Asosa town.

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Seroprevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae and associated risk factors in free-range pigs in Kenya

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x10000076 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 398-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J.M. Kagira ◽

N. Maingi ◽

P.W.N. Kanyari ◽

S.M. Githigia ◽

J.C. Ng'ang'a ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Control Measures ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Farm Level ◽

Household Level ◽

Free Range ◽

Porcine Cysticercosis

AbstractPorcine cysticercosis is an emerging zoonosis with public health and economic importance. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate the disease in free-range pigs on 182 smallholder farms in Busia District, Kenya. The survey households were selected using a snowballing technique. Serum samples were obtained from 284 pigs of all ages at farm level and 37 pigs from slaughter slabs in the study area. The samples were analysed for the presence of cysticercus antigen using an antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A structured questionnaire was administered to determine the risk factors for porcine cysticercosis on the study farms. At pig level, the total number of pigs testing positive were 11, resulting in a seroprevalence of 4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9–6.2%), while the farms with a positive pig were 9% (95% CI: 3.9–14.1%). All pigs examined in the slaughter slab survey were seronegative. The distribution of possible risk factors for porcine cysticercosis that were observed at farm level was as follows: free-range pig keeping (100%), history of human taeniosis infection in a family (51%), slaughtering of pigs at home (20%), lack of meat inspection (15%) and absence of latrines (15%). The only significant (χ2 = 4.4, P = 0.034, odds ratio (OR) = 3.8) risk factor associated with the occurrence of cysticercosis was lack of latrines at household level. The study shows that porcine cysticercosis is prevalent in free-range pigs in Busia District, Kenya and thus control measures need to be instituted.

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Serological investigation of bovine brucellosis in three cattle production systems in Yewa Division, south-western Nigeria

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v84i1.217 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Simeon I.B. Cadmus ◽

Peter I. Alabi ◽

Hezekiah K. Adesokan ◽

Emma J. Dale ◽

Judy A. Stack

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Herd Size ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Bovine Brucellosis ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Serological Screening ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ogun State ◽

The Rose

Limited data are available on the risk factors responsible for the occurrence of brucellosis amongst different cattle production systems in Nigeria despite its significant impact on livestock production. Consequently, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis in three cattle production systems in Yewa Division of Ogun State, south-western Nigeria. A total of 279 blood samples (sedentary = 88; transhumance = 64; trade = 127) were examined for antibodies to Brucella sp. using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Overall, 24 (8.6%) and 16 (5.7%) of the animals tested seropositive for Brucella using RBT and cELISA, respectively. The herd seroprevalences based on RBT and cELISA were 31.6% and 15.8%, respectively. The results using cELISA reveal higher seroprevalence in the trade cattle (7.9%; confidence intervals [CI] = 3.2% – 12.6%) and those in a sedentary system (5.7%; CI = 0.9% – 10.5%) than in cattle kept under a transhumant management system (1.6%; CI = 1.5% – 4.7%). Age (> 3 years; p = 0.043) and breed (Djali; p = 0.038) were statistically significant for seropositivity to brucellosis based on cELISA, but sex (female, p = 0.234), production system (trade and sedentary; p = 0.208) or herd size (> 120; p = 0.359) was not. Since breeding stock is mostly sourced from trade and sedentary cattle, it is important that routine serological screening should be conducted before introducing any animal into an existing herd.

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Prevalence of MDR organism (MDRO) carriage in children and their household members in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

10.1093/jacamr/dlaa097 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Shweta R Singh ◽

Bunsoth Mao ◽

Konstantin Evdokimov ◽

Pisey Tan ◽

Phana Leab ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Final Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle Income ◽

E Coli ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Siem Reap ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

History Of

Abstract Background The rising incidence of infections caused by MDR organisms (MDROs) poses a significant public health threat. However, little has been reported regarding community MDRO carriage in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in Siem Reap, Cambodia comparing hospital-associated households, in which an index child (age: 2–14 years) had been hospitalized for at least 48 h in the preceding 2–4 weeks, with matched community households on the same street, in which no other child had a recent history of hospitalization. Participants were interviewed using a survey questionnaire and tested for carriage of MRSA, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) by culture followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing. We used logistic regression analysis to analyse associations between collected variables and MDRO carriage. Results Forty-two pairs of households including 376 participants with 376 nasal swabs and 290 stool specimens were included in final analysis. MRSA was isolated from 26 specimens (6.9%). ESBL-producing Escherichia coli was detected in 269 specimens (92.8%) whereas ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from 128 specimens (44.1%), of which 123 (42.4%) were co-colonized with ESBL-producing E. coli. Six (2.1%) specimens tested positive for CPE (4 E. coli and 2 K. pneumoniae). The prevalence ratios for MRSA, ESBL-producing E. coli and ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae carriage did not differ significantly in hospital-associated households and hospitalized children compared with their counterparts. Conclusions The high prevalence of ESBL-E across both household types suggests that MDRO reservoirs are common in the community. Ongoing genomic analyses will help to understand the epidemiology and course of MDRO spread.

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Angiogenin—A Proposed Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease—Is Not Associated With Long-Term Survival in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Angiology ◽

10.1177/00033197211004393 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000331972110043

Author(s):

Clemens Höbaus ◽

Gerfried Pesau ◽

Bernhard Zierfuss ◽

Renate Koppensteiner ◽

Gerit-Holger Schernthaner

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Artery Disease ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Ankle Brachial Index ◽

Limb Ischemia ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Peripheral Artery ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Term Survival ◽

Artery Disease

We evaluated angiogenin as a prospective biomarker in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients with and without claudication symptoms. A pilot study suggested an elevation of angiogenin in critical limb ischemia. However, in PAD patients, the predictive value of angiogenin has not yet been evaluated. For this purpose, 342 patients with PAD (age: 69 ± 10 years, 34.5% women) were followed-up for 7 years in a cross-sectional study. Angiogenin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were analyzed by Cox regression. Angiogenin levels were higher in men ( P = .001) and were associated with patient waist-to-hip ratio ( P < .001), fasting triglycerides ( P = .011), and inversely with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( P = .009). However, angiogenin showed no association with age, characteristics of diabetes, markers of lipid metabolism, or C-reactive protein. Angiogenin did not correlate with markers of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, or tie-2. Furthermore, angiogenin was not associated with PAD Fontaine stages or with patient ankle-brachial index in addition to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09 [95% CI: 0.89-1.34]) or cardiovascular morality (HR = 1.05 [0.82-1.35]). These results suggest that angiogenin does not provide further information regarding outcome prediction in patients with PAD.

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SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies Seroprevalence and Sera Neutralizing Activity in MEXICO: A National Cross-Sectional Study during 2020

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040850 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 850

Author(s):

José Esteban Muñoz-Medina ◽

Concepción Grajales-Muñiz ◽

Angel Gustavo Salas-Lais ◽

Larissa Fernandes-Matano ◽

Constantino López-Macías ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Molecular Diagnostic ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neutralizing Activity

Until recently, the incidence of COVID-19 was primarily estimated using molecular diagnostic methods. However, the number of cases is vastly underreported using these methods. Seroprevalence studies estimate cumulative infection incidences and allow monitoring of transmission dynamics, and the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the population. In February 2020, the Mexican Social Security Institute began conducting anonymous unrelated sampling of residual sera from specimens across the country, excluding patients with fever within the previous two weeks and/or patients with an acute respiratory infection. Sampling was carried out weekly and began 17 days before Mexico’s first officially confirmed case. The 24,273 sera obtained were analyzed by chemiluminescent-linked immunosorbent assay (CLIA) IgG S1/S2 and, later, positive cases using this technique were also analyzed to determine the rate of neutralization using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We identified 40 CLIA IgG positive cases before the first official report of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. The national seroprevalence was 3.5% in February and 33.5% in December. Neutralizing activity among IgG positives patients during overall study period was 86.1%. The extent of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico is 21 times higher than that reported by molecular techniques. Although the general population is still far from achieving herd immunity, epidemiological indicators should be re-estimated based on serological studies of this type.

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Evaluation of the Blood Level of Adiponectin in Pregnant Adolescents

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1730288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (06) ◽

pp. 429-435

Author(s):

Elaine Cristina Rocha Pádua ◽

Silvia Daher ◽

Isa de Pádua Cintra Sampaio ◽

Edward Araujo Júnior ◽

Cristina Falbo Guazzelli

Keyword(s):

Serum Levels ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Serum Adiponectin ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Pregnant Adolescents ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adolescent Group ◽

Gestational Weight ◽

Intergroup Comparison

Abstract Objective To evaluate serum levels of adiponectin in pregnant adolescents between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation. Method: A prospective cross-sectional study enrolled 67 normal pregnant women between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation and eutrophic (body mass index [BMI]: 18.5–25 kg/m2), of which 36 were adolescents (< 20 years old) and 31 adults (≥ 20 years old). Serum adiponectin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The t-student or Mann-Whitney tests were used for intergroup comparison. Results Pregnant adolescents showed significantly higher serum adiponectin concentrations compared with pregnant adults (p = 0.04). No differences were observed in adiponectin levels in younger pregnant adolescents (< 16 years old) compared with older pregnant adolescents (≥ 16 years old). Adiponectin values were divided into 3 subgroups: < 3,000 ng/mL, between 3,000 and 5,000 ng/mL, and > 5,000 ng/mL. Birthweight was significantly higher in women > 5,000 ng/mL when compared with < 3,000 ng/mL in the adolescent group. No association between pregestational adiponectin levels and BMI, gestational weight gain, and gestational age was observed; however, there was a positive relation with birthweight (p = 0.0239). Conclusion Serum adiponectin values in pregnant adolescents between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation were higher compared with pregnant adults; however, no differences between younger and older pregnant adolescents were observed.

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