What do we know about parasites of wildlife in high biodiversity areas with anthropogenic disturbance? The special case of Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. I. Muñoz-García ◽  
E. Berriatua ◽  
C. Martínez-Carrasco

AbstractThe continual rise of anthropogenic disturbance of ecosystems has been associated with an increasing incidence of emerging diseases. The largest amount of data on emerging diseases relates to bacterial and viral pathogens, but there is a lack of parasite data, especially from wildlife. Monitoring wildlife parasitic diseases should be considered a priority, especially in high biodiversity regions with strong anthropogenic impacts, like Mexico, where the wildlife/livestock/human interface is associated with increased risk of disease transmission. Mexico belongs to the top-ten megadiverse countries and is located between two biogeographic regions. This situation makes Mexico a favourable region for the spillover of animal pathogens to human beings, causing pandemics, such as the one recently caused by influenza virus A (H1N1). The current state of knowledge of Mexican wildlife parasites is scarce and focuses mainly in Neotropical fauna. Moreover, this knowledge is heterogeneous for different parasite groups, especially concerning their pathologic effects and epidemiology. The goals of this review are to compile information on Mexican wildlife parasites and to identify knowledge gaps in order to stimulate research on pending epidemiological, public health, ecological and pathological areas, and to encourage the creation of more specialized groups from the perspective of the One-Health concept.

Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Capua ◽  
Giovanni Cattoli

The One Health concept recognizes that the health of human beings, animals, plants and the environment is interconnected and interdependent. This idea has been shaped over the centuries and has gained momentum and traction as anatomy, physiology, microbiology and other disciplines have substantiated earlier theories. Here we recall major historical milestones which have contributed to shaping the One Health concept as it is today, and discuss the past and future drivers in view of future challenges in an evolving scenario.


Author(s):  
R. Vijayaraghavan ◽  
Viswanathan Naveenkumar ◽  
B. S. Pradeep Nag ◽  
K. Porteen

The emerging coronaviral infection named as COVID-19 was officially declared as pandemic on 11, March 2020 by WHO. It has so far been reported from 215 countries or territories affecting about twenty seven million people infected globally. The novel attributes on COVID-19 with sporadic reports on animal, alarms the future chances of animal mediated COVID-19 transmission. Despite lockdown in two-third of the global population, health officials are worried about the risky nature of animal infection in the current pandemic situation. The reverse zoonotic index cases in the current epidemic reported sporadically in animals through infected humans. Reported evidence suggests that bat as the major reservoir involved in COVID-19. However, still, the role of intermediate host involvement in the human COVID-19 transmission from the bat is not yet understood. It is clear that humans play a potent source of infection to transmit the disease to other humans and animals. A literature survey was conducted to a) understand the level of animal’s involvement in COVID19 pandemic and b) to measure the amount of risk of reverse zoonoses in pet animals, exposed animals etc. The epidemiological investigation suggested the need for strong surveillance on the human-animal interface area with strict advisory measures to combat this dangerous disease transmission to humans and other animals. Hence understanding animal’s role in the current pandemic is of prime importance in devising preparedness and control strategies through unique one health approach. In implementing suitable research protocol at animal-human interface along with environment by devising appropriate control strategies will reduce the future reverse zoonosis risk in the current pandemic through a holistic one health drive.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Khan ◽  
Haroon Ahmed ◽  
Shaheera Amjad ◽  
Muhammad Sohail Afzal ◽  
Waseem Haider ◽  
...  

Background: The parasitic disease, cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a serious health problem in Pakistan. Risk of disease transmission is increased by economic and political instability, poor living conditions, and limited awareness of hygienic practices. The current study aimed to investigate the community perception and awareness regarding the risk factors of CE in Pakistan, from a One Health perspective.Methods: We conducted a community-based survey involving 454 participants in the major cities of Pakistan. Quantitative data based on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP), the One Health concept, risk factors, and community perception of CE among the general population of the major cities of Pakistan were collected. The questions included those related to knowledge, attitude, practices, One Health concept, risk factors, and community perception. The Chi-squared test was applied to determine the associations regarding KAPs across socio-demographic parameters.Results: KAPs had no significant associations with sociodemographic aspects such as age, sex, religion, ethnicity, education, marital status, occupation, or financial status of the participants. The findings indicated a lack of awareness about CE among the participants. Respondents were unaware of the risk factors and the One Health concept of CE. However, the community attitude and perception were positive toward the control of CE.Conclusion: Illiteracy, deficient sanitation systems and lack of awareness are the contributing factors to CE in Pakistan. It is necessary to make the community aware regarding CE and its importance. Increasing this awareness represents an important step toward the eradication and control of CE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Syaiful Rizal ◽  
R A Rahmawati

<p class="00-6Abstrak2Wtz">Monitor lizards have various body sizes, belong to the Varanidae and it is reported that there were various kinds of pathogenic organisms in their bodies. This review aims to describe various information on pathogenic organisms and their potential as zoonotic diseases and can be used as a reference in the prevention of zoonotic diseases originating from Varanidae. The results of this review discuss two types of viruses, three types of bacteria, five types of protozoa, two types of arthropods, and seven types of endoparasites that are pathogenic in Varanidae. Based on this information it is known that potentially zoonotic pathogens include bacteria group is <em>Salmonella </em>spp. and <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em>; groups of protozoa was <em>Giardia </em>sp<em>p</em>. and <em>Cryptosporidium </em>sp.; Arthropod group namely <em>Amblyomma </em>sp<em>.</em> which carries the bacteria <em>Rickettsia </em>sp<em>.</em>, <em>Borrelia </em>spp<em>.</em> and <em>Anaplasma </em>spp<em>.</em> and the endoparasite group consisting of <em>Ascaris </em>sp<em>.</em>, <em>Strongyloides </em>sp<em>.</em>, Pentastomida, and <em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em>, while for the virus group, there were no pathogenic organisms with zoonotic potential. The extensive use of Varanidae by humans as exotic pets, as well as for consumption and medicine has great potential in the transmission of zoonotic diseases. Those are possible because the varanids non-aseptically environment. The proper handling and maintenance of monitor lizards are necessary to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. Unhygienic and less aseptic way of handling food products of animal origin can lead to the potential for transmission of pathogenic organisms (foodborne disease). Efforts to prevent the transmission of foodborne diseases can apply Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) with the process of cooking reptile meat for consumption. Besides, disease transmission can be prevented by implementing the One Health concept.</p>


Author(s):  
Ursula Coope

The Neoplatonists have a perfectionist view of freedom: an entity is free to the extent that it succeeds in making itself good. Free entities are wholly in control of themselves: they are self-determining, self-constituting, and self-knowing. Neoplatonist philosophers argue that such freedom is only possible for nonbodily things. The human soul is free insofar as it rises above bodily things and engages in intellection, but when it turns its desires to bodily things, it is drawn under the sway of fate and becomes enslaved. This book discusses this notion of freedom, and its relation to questions about responsibility. It explains the important role of notions of self-reflexivity in Neoplatonist accounts of both freedom and responsibility. Part I sets out the puzzles Neoplatonist philosophers face about freedom and responsibility and explains how these puzzles arise from earlier discussions. Part II looks at the metaphysical underpinnings of the Neoplatonist notion of freedom (concentrating especially on the views of Plotinus and Proclus). In what sense (if any) is the ultimate first principle of everything (the One) free? If everything else is under this ultimate first principle, how can anything other than the One be free? What is the connection between freedom and nonbodiliness? Part III looks at questions about responsibility, arising from this perfectionist view of freedom. Why are human beings responsible for their behaviour, in a way that other animals are not? If we are enslaved when we act viciously, how can we be to blame for our vicious actions and choices?


Author(s):  
Andrea Springer ◽  
Antje Glass ◽  
Julia Probst ◽  
Christina Strube

AbstractAround the world, human health and animal health are closely linked in terms of the One Health concept by ticks acting as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. Animals do not only maintain tick cycles but can either be clinically affected by the same tick-borne pathogens as humans and/or play a role as reservoirs or sentinel pathogen hosts. However, the relevance of different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) may vary in human vs. veterinary medicine, which is consequently reflected by the availability of human vs. veterinary diagnostic tests. Yet, as TBDs gain importance in both fields and rare zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia spp., are increasingly identified as causes of human disease, a One Health approach regarding development of new diagnostic tools may lead to synergistic benefits. This review gives an overview on zoonotic protozoan, bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens worldwide, discusses commonly used diagnostic techniques for TBDs, and compares commercial availability of diagnostic tests for humans vs. domestic animals, using Germany as an example, with the aim of highlighting existing gaps and opportunities for collaboration in a One Health framework.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3397
Author(s):  
Gustavo Assunção ◽  
Nuno Gonçalves ◽  
Paulo Menezes

Human beings have developed fantastic abilities to integrate information from various sensory sources exploring their inherent complementarity. Perceptual capabilities are therefore heightened, enabling, for instance, the well-known "cocktail party" and McGurk effects, i.e., speech disambiguation from a panoply of sound signals. This fusion ability is also key in refining the perception of sound source location, as in distinguishing whose voice is being heard in a group conversation. Furthermore, neuroscience has successfully identified the superior colliculus region in the brain as the one responsible for this modality fusion, with a handful of biological models having been proposed to approach its underlying neurophysiological process. Deriving inspiration from one of these models, this paper presents a methodology for effectively fusing correlated auditory and visual information for active speaker detection. Such an ability can have a wide range of applications, from teleconferencing systems to social robotics. The detection approach initially routes auditory and visual information through two specialized neural network structures. The resulting embeddings are fused via a novel layer based on the superior colliculus, whose topological structure emulates spatial neuron cross-mapping of unimodal perceptual fields. The validation process employed two publicly available datasets, with achieved results confirming and greatly surpassing initial expectations.


Author(s):  
Shinwan Kany ◽  
Johannes Brachmann ◽  
Thorsten Lewalter ◽  
Ibrahim Akin ◽  
Horst Sievert ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Non-paroxysmal (NPAF) forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been reported to be associated with an increased risk for systemic embolism or death. Methods Comparison of procedural details and long-term outcomes in patients (pts) with paroxysmal AF (PAF) against controls with NPAF in the prospective, multicentre observational registry of patients undergoing LAAC (LAARGE). Results A total of 638 pts (PAF 274 pts, NPAF 364 pts) were enrolled. In both groups, a history of PVI was rare (4.0% vs 1.6%, p = 0.066). The total CHA2DS2-VASc score was lower in the PAF group (4.4 ± 1.5 vs 4.6 ± 1.5, p = 0.033), while HAS-BLED score (3.8 ± 1.1 vs 3.9 ± 1.1, p = 0.40) was comparable. The rate of successful implantation was equally high (97.4% vs 97.8%, p = 0.77). In the three-month echo follow-up, LA thrombi (2.1% vs 7.3%, p = 0.12) and peridevice leak > 5 mm (0.0% vs 7.1%, p = 0.53) were numerically higher in the NPAF group. Overall, in-hospital complications occurred in 15.0% of the PAF cohort and 10.7% of the NPAF cohort (p = 0.12). In the one-year follow-up, unadjusted mortality (8.4% vs 14.0%, p = 0.039) and combined outcome of death, stroke and systemic embolism (8.8% vs 15.1%, p = 0.022) were significantly higher in the NPAF cohort. After adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASc and previous bleeding, NPAF was associated with increased death/stroke/systemic embolism (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.02–2.72, p = 0.041). Conclusion Atrial fibrillation type did not impair periprocedural safety or in-hospital MACE patients undergoing LAAC. However, after one year, NPAF was associated with higher mortality. Graphic abstract


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg W. Bertram

AbstractThe concept of second nature promises to provide an explanation of how nature and reason can be reconciled. But the concept is laden with ambiguity. On the one hand, second nature is understood as that which binds together all cognitive activities. On the other hand, second nature is conceived of as a kind of nature that can be changed by cognitive activities. The paper tries to investigate this ambiguity by distinguishing a Kantian conception of second nature from a Hegelian conception. It argues that the idea of a transformation from a being of first nature into a being of second nature that stands at the heart of the Kantian conception is mistaken. The Hegelian conception demonstrates that the transformation in question takes place within second nature itself. Thus, the Hegelian conception allows us to understand the way in which second nature is not structurally isomorphic with first nature: It is a process of ongoing selftransformation that is not primarily determined by how the world is, but rather by commitments out of which human beings are bound to the open future.


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