scholarly journals A geostatistical investigation of agricultural and infrastructural risk factors associated with primary verotoxigenicE. coli(VTEC) infection in the Republic of Ireland, 2008–2013

2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. ÓHAISEADHA ◽  
P. D. HYNDS ◽  
U. B. FALLON ◽  
J. O'DWYER
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Domestic Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Multivariate Modelling ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Systems

SUMMARYIreland reports the highest incidence of verotoxigenicEscherichia coli(VTEC) infection in Europe. This study investigated potential risk factors for confirmed sporadic and outbreak primary VTEC infections during 2008–2013. Overall, 989 VTEC infections including 521 serogroup O157 and 233 serogroup O26 were geo-referenced to 931 of 18 488 census enumeration areas. The geographical distribution of human population, livestock, unregulated groundwater sources, domestic wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS) and a deprivation index were examined relative to notification of VTEC events in 524 of 6242 rural areas. Multivariate modelling identified three spatially derived variables associated with VTEC notification: private well usage [odds ratio (OR) 6·896,P< 0·001], cattle density (OR 1·002,P< 0·001) and DWWTS density (OR 0·978,P= 0·002). Private well usage (OR 18·727,P< 0·001) and cattle density (OR 1·001,P= 0·007) were both associated with VTEC O157 infection, while DWWTS density (OR 0·987,P= 0·028) was significant within the VTEC O26 model. Findings indicate that VTEC infection in the Republic of Ireland is particularly associated with rural areas, which are associated with a ubiquity of pathogen sources (cattle) and pathways (unregulated groundwater supplies).

Microbial impact assessment of the 2018 European drought on groundwater quality in the Republic of Ireland: An opportunistic field study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean O'Dwyer ◽  
John Weatherill ◽  
Carlos Chique ◽  
Paul Hynds
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Domestic Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Private Wells ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Systems

&lt;p&gt;Global climate change models predict an increase in both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including prolonged drought conditions, thus posing a unique set of challenges for regions traditionally unaccustomed to severe climate phenomena. This is particularly significant for the occurrence of severe drought events in areas characterised by temperate maritime climates, such as the Republic of Ireland (ROI). While numerous studies have explored the impacts of drought on groundwater levels and chemical contamination, few studies have sought to investigate the impacts of sporadic drought events on the microbial quality of groundwater for human consumption. Accordingly, the 2018 (June-August) European drought event represented a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of prolonged low rainfall and elevated temperature (relative to seasonal means) on the incidence of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) among unregulated domestic groundwater supplies in the ROI.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A dual-sampling fieldwork regime (during and post-event) of private wells (n=74) and subsequent risk factor (logistic regression) and bivariate analyses were used to evaluate the potential role of meteorological and site specific (hydrogeology, contaminant sources etc.) conditions on the incidence of microbial contamination. During absolute drought conditions (&amp;#8805;15 days characterised by no measureable precipitation, June 2018), the sampled cohort exhibited a significantly decreased risk of microbial contamination (OR: 0.356, p = 0.024) with 12.2% (n = 9/74) of supplies contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli), increasing to 28.4% (n = 21/74) upon abatement of drought conditions (October 2018). No analysed risk factors were associated with E. coli presence at the 95% confidence level, although, the presence of onsite domestic wastewater treatment systems (U = 1.03 p = 0.057) approached statistical significance during the drought. Findings suggest that the 2018 European drought served to decrease background levels of FIO within private wells in the ROI, likely due to reduced hydraulic loading from the surface, soil moisture deficits and consequently, significantly decreased bacterial survival. Results would seem to reiterate the significance of onsite domestic wastewater treatment systems as a source of subsurface contaminants in Ireland. The presented opportunistic field study provides a critical characterization of the impacts of unprecedented drought events on microbiological water quality in domestic groundwater supplies in temperate regions, and may be used by sanitary/environmental engineers, hydrologists, hydrogeologists, policy-makers, planners and healthcare practitioners to safeguard against the future human health effects of climate change and extreme weather events. &amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Herd-level risk factors associated with Leptospira Hardjo seroprevalence in Beef/Suckler herds in the Republic of Ireland

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eoin Gerard Ryan ◽  
Nola Leonard ◽  
Luke O'Grady ◽  
Michael L Doherty ◽  
Simon J More
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Herd Level ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Beef Suckler

scholarly journals Assessment of decentralized wastewater treatment systems in the rural area of Cuenca, Ecuador

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 240-249
Author(s):  
Andrés Alvarado ◽  
Josué Larriva ◽  
Esteban Sánchez ◽  
Diego Idrovo ◽  
Juan F. Cisneros
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Domestic Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Physical Infrastructure ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Systems

The rapid urbanization of Cuenca, Ecuador, since about 1990 has led to efforts to build and operate decentralized domestic wastewater treatment systems in periurban and rural areas. The treatment efficiency of some of these is falling, however, and others are no longer working. ETAPA, the municipal institution in charge of water supply and sanitation, is evaluating them fully to identify common operating and maintenance difficulties, as well as deficiencies in design and/or construction. This paper presents an evaluation of the physical infrastructure and characterization of the treatment processes performed historically. The objective is to overcome the technical deficiencies and adopt a long-term, sustainable O&M plan.

scholarly journals Regional Differences in the Prevalence of Anaemia and Associated Risk Factors among Infants Aged 0–23 Months in China: China Nutrition and Health Surveillance

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1293
Author(s):  
Shujuan Li ◽  
Yacong Bo ◽  
Hongyan Ren ◽  
Chen Zhou ◽  
Xiangqian Lao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Haemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Western China ◽  
World Health ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Potential Risk Factors

Infantile anaemia has been a severe public health problem in China for decades. However, it is unclear whether there are regional differences in the prevalence of anaemia. In this study, we used data from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (CNHS) to assess the prevalence of anaemia and the risk factors associated with its prevalence in different regions. We included 9596 infants aged 0–23 months from the CNHS 2013 database. An infant was diagnosed with anaemia if he/she had a haemoglobin concentration of <110 g/L. We used multivariate logistic regression to investigate the potential risk factors associated with the development of anaemia. We found that anaemia was present in 2126 (22.15%) of the infants assessed. Approximately 95% of these cases were classified as mild anaemia. Based on the guidelines laid out by the World Health Organization, 5.5% and 43.6% of the surveillance sites were categorized as having severe and moderate epidemic levels of anaemia, respectively. The prevalence of infantile anaemia in Eastern, Central and Western China was 16.67%, 22.25% and 27.44%, respectively. Premature birth, low birth weight, breastfeeding and residence in Western China were significantly associated with higher odds of developing anaemia. Female sex and having mothers with high levels of education and maternal birth age >25 years were associated with lower odds of developing anaemia. In conclusion, we observed significant regional disparities in the prevalence of infantile anaemia in China. Western China had the highest prevalence of infantile anaemia, and rural regions showed a higher prevalence of anaemia than urban regions.

Cervical insufficiency: a noteworthy disease with controversies

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 648-655
Author(s):  
Yu Han ◽  
Mengnan Li ◽  
Huijing Ma ◽  
Hailan Yang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cervical Insufficiency ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The World ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Recurrent Pregnancy Losses ◽  
Recurrent Abortions

AbstractCervical insufficiency (CI) is a mainly disease leading to recurrent abortions and preterm birth which may present in about 1% of obstetric populations. Recurrent pregnancy losses caused by CI incur serious economic burdens on society as well as huge psychological burdens to family members. However, many patients even clinicians in some areas of the world still remain confused about this disease. At the same time, the etiology of CI is still uncertain and it is still a controversial disease in diagnosis and treatment. This article summarizes the potential risk factors associated with CI, which could be worthy of attention and helpful for future research. It also reviews the methods for diagnosis and treatment of CI to better understand this noteworthy disease, as well as presents the related consensus and controversies according to the newly updated guidelines, which has practical significance for conducting more in-depth investigations in the future.

Prevalence of Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Rio Negro Province, Argentina and Direct Risk Factors for Infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Uchiumi ◽  
Guillermo Mujica ◽  
Daniel Araya ◽  
Juan Carlos Salvitti ◽  
Mariano Sobrino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cystic Echinococcosis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Rio Negro ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Current Address

Abstract Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato This study investigated the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with human CE in the towns and rural areas of Ñorquinco and Ramos Mexia, Rio Negro province, Argentina. Methods: In order to detect abdominal CE cysts, we screened 892 volunteers by ultrasound and investigated potential risk factors for CE using a standardized questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to estimate the Prevalence Ratio (PR) and their 95% CIs of the association between CE and the factors investigated. Results: Abdominal CE was detected in 42/892 screened volunteers (4.7%, CI 3.2-6.1), only two of who being under 15 years of age. Thirteen CE (30.9%) cases had 25 cysts in active stages (CE1, CE2, CE3) The most relevant risk factors identified in the bivariate analysis included: live in rural area (p=0.003), age >40 years (p=0.000), drinking always water of natural source (p=0.007), residing in rural areas during first five years of life (p=0.000) and live more than 20 years at your current address (p=0.013). In the multivariate model, statistically significant risk factors were: frequently touch dogs (p=0.012), residing in rural areas during first five years of life (p=0.004), smoking (p=0.000), age > 60 years (p­­=0.002) and live in rural areas (p=0.017).Conclusions: our results point toward infection with CE being acquired since childhood and with constant exposure throughout life, especially in rural areas with a general environmental contamination

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