The use of immunocontraception to improve rabies eradication in urban dog populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Carroll ◽  
Alexander Singer ◽  
Graham C. Smith ◽  
Dave P. Cowan ◽  
Giovanna Massei

ContextRabies causes ~55 000 human deaths each year, primarily as a result of bites from dogs, which are the major rabies reservoir in the developing world. Current rabies control strategies include vaccination, culling and surgical sterilisation of dogs. However, recently developed immunocontraceptives could be used alongside vaccination to apply fertility control to more animals. AimsWe used a modelling approach to explore (1) whether adding single-dose contraceptives to rabies vaccination would improve effectiveness of rabies eradication, (2) how sensitive control methods are to variation in population parameters and (3) the effects of applying control continuously or in pulses on rabies eradication. MethodsA continuous time, compartmental model was created to describe canine rabies epidemiology. Parameters were derived from the literature. The following three control methods were applied at varying rates and durations: vaccination, vaccination plus fertility control (v + fc) and culling. Outcomes were classified into the following three categories: rabies persistence, rabies eradication and population extinction. Key resultsWhen control was applied continuously for up to 24 months, vaccination was least effective; the effort required to eradicate rabies was about twice that required with culling or v + fc. At realistic control rates, only v + fc consistently resulted in rabies eradication. Increasing population growth rate and city size made rabies eradication harder; for vaccination, considerably greater control rates and durations were required, whereas culling and v + fc showed only minor decreases in effectiveness. When control was applied for 1 or 2 months (for one month every 12 months or every 6 months) per year for up to 20 years, vaccination became less effective because of population turnover between control periods; v + fc lost little effectiveness, as decreased birth rates reduced the input of susceptible animals. ConclusionsUsing immunocontraception alongside vaccination could improve rabies control campaigns by reducing the proportion of the population that must be treated, or reducing the necessary duration of the campaign. It could also make control effective under larger population growths, in larger cities and when control is pulsed. ImplicationsImmunocontraceptives could become a useful tool in canine rabies control by allowing fertility control to be applied on a large scale. Further work is required to improve understanding of dog ecology and parameterise location-specific models, which could be used to inform management plans.

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Kemenszky ◽  
Ferenc Jánoska ◽  
Gábor Nagy ◽  
Ágnes Csivincsik

In Hungary, the rabies control programme with oral bait immunisation of wild carnivores dates back to 1992. Since than, the rules of vaccine placement on bait density has not changed, in spite of drastic expansion of both the carnivore community and the wild boar population in Europe. Though, all these elements of the concerned ecosystem compete for the baits. This case study was based on the accidental finding of vaccine blisters in jackal stomachs during a large-scale investigation on jackals’ feeding ecology. The results showed 3.17% (0.57-10.87%) frequency of bait occurrence in jackal specimens harvested during the vaccination term. This finding contradicted previous reports on high bait uptake rate and rabies seroconversion in golden jackals. These results called the attention the need for paradigm shift in management of diseases maintained in a natural reservoir. In the authors’ opinion, for reassuring result, multidisciplinary research groups should re-evaluate disease control strategies time and again.


2011 ◽  
Vol 383-390 ◽  
pp. 4286-4293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Jie Jin ◽  
Cai Xing Lin

Piping engineering, which involves a plenty of materials and has a large-scale construction work quantity, is an important part of chemical engineering, and how to make a good cost control of it is very important for the success of chemical project. Based on the Cybernetics and Systems science, this paper has established a whole process covered cost control model and proposed the control system for the piping engineering, and the related control strategies have been also proposed on this basis. Finally, combined with some cases, this paper analyzed the application of the whole process covered cost control methods in the chemical piping engineering.


Author(s):  
B. N. Dlamini ◽  
S. Mdluli ◽  
C. Mudyanavana ◽  
N. E. Chikuni ◽  
M. T. Masarirambi

National efforts to control canine rabies have encountered some challenges, hence the disease is becoming endemic in Eswatini. The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which resources and other relevant constraints may have an impact on implementing the national rabies programms in the country. In this study retrospective data going as far back as 1999 to 2018 was used to highlight the rabies situation in the country. The available insight into the existing and previous control measures may become useful guidelines for designing and implementing future control strategies. The major challenges identified were issues of vaccine and vaccination, government fiscal challenges, High birth rate of stray dogs were responsible for the rabies virus circulation in the domestic environment, provision of diagnostic facilities for testing of vaccine efficacy, vaccine quality, healthy dog carriers, check for vaccination antibody titres. Observations from this study were that the continuing efforts of the competent authority to spearhead the rabies control programms were acceptable and commendable considering the challenges encountered. A few recommendations are outlined for possible consideration as a contribution towards the rabies disease elimination.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Hamza Shahbaz ◽  
Arslan Ahmed Amin

: Because of the consistently expanding energy request, the introduction of a decentralized micro-grid based on energy resources will soon be the most exciting development in the power system. Micro-grids, which are mainly based on inverters, are becoming more popular as they can handle different forms of renewable energy effectively. However, one of the most challenging areas of research is their control. In the last few years, many control strategies have been developed. In this review, different control methods have been discussed that apply to the micro-grid system. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of classical and modern control strategies is also considered. This survey guides the new researchers about all available control strategies and room for improvement towards the optimal solution of the micro-grid control techniques. It also identifies several research gaps and future trends therein as well as provides a solution to manage problems in MGs. The strategies are then compared based on their applicability to different control requirements.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Huo ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Shigui Ruan

Abstract Background The COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan started in December 2019 and was under control by the end of March 2020 with a total of 50,006 confirmed cases by the implementation of a series of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) including unprecedented lockdown of the city. This study analyzes the complete outbreak data from Wuhan, assesses the impact of these public health interventions, and estimates the asymptomatic, undetected and total cases for the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Methods By taking different stages of the outbreak into account, we developed a time-dependent compartmental model to describe the dynamics of disease transmission and case detection and reporting. Model coefficients were parameterized by using the reported cases and following key events and escalated control strategies. Then the model was used to calibrate the complete outbreak data by using the Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) method. Finally we used the model to estimate asymptomatic and undetected cases and approximate the overall antibody prevalence level. Results We found that the transmission rate between Jan 24 and Feb 1, 2020, was twice as large as that before the lockdown on Jan 23 and 67.6% (95% CI [0.584,0.759]) of detectable infections occurred during this period. Based on the reported estimates that around 20% of infections were asymptomatic and their transmission ability was about 70% of symptomatic ones, we estimated that there were about 14,448 asymptomatic and undetected cases (95% CI [12,364,23,254]), which yields an estimate of a total of 64,454 infected cases (95% CI [62,370,73,260]), and the overall antibody prevalence level in the population of Wuhan was 0.745% (95% CI [0.693%,0.814%]) by March 31, 2020. Conclusions We conclude that the control of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan was achieved via the enforcement of a combination of multiple NPIs: the lockdown on Jan 23, the stay-at-home order on Feb 2, the massive isolation of all symptomatic individuals via newly constructed special shelter hospitals on Feb 6, and the large scale screening process on Feb 18. Our results indicate that the population in Wuhan is far away from establishing herd immunity and provide insights for other affected countries and regions in designing control strategies and planing vaccination programs.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1658
Author(s):  
Leandro Almeida Vasconcelos ◽  
João Alberto Passos Filho ◽  
André Luis Marques Marcato ◽  
Giovani Santiago Junqueira

The use of Direct Current (DC) transmission links in power systems is increasing continuously. Thus, it is important to develop new techniques to model the inclusion of these devices in network analysis, in order to allow studies of the operation and expansion planning of large-scale electric power systems. In this context, the main objective of this paper is to present a new methodology for a simultaneous AC-DC power flow for a multi-terminal High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system with a generic representation of the DC network. The proposed methodology is based on a full Newton formulation for solving the AC-DC power flow problem. Equations representing the converters and steady-state control strategies are included in a power flow problem formulation, resulting in an expanded Jacobian matrix of the Newton method. Some results are presented based on HVDC test systems to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-29
Author(s):  
Hussaini Ojagefu Adamu ◽  
Rahimat Oshuwa Hussaini ◽  
Cedric Obasuyi ◽  
Linus Irefo Anagha ◽  
Gabriel Oscy Okoduwa

AbstractMastitis is a disease of livestock that directly impede livestock production and thus hindering the socio-ecological development of sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have estimated the prevalence of this disease in 30% of Africa countries, with Ethiopia having the highest prevalence. The coverage is low, despite the wide livestock and dairy farms distribution in Africa. Furthermore, estimated economic losses due to the impact of mastitis are lacking in Nigeria. The disease is endemic in Nigeria as indicated by the available data and there are no proposed management plans or control strategies. This review is thus presented to serve as a wakeup call to all parties involved to intensify efforts towards the diagnosis, control, and management of the disease in Nigeria.


2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 788-793
Author(s):  
Xiao Hua Zhou ◽  
Ming Qiang Wang ◽  
Wei Wei Zou

Traditional decoupling control strategy of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine makes little contribution to system inertia and do not participate in the system frequency control, the synchronization of large-scale wind power requires wind turbine have the ability to participate in the regulation of power system frequency. This paper adds a frequency control segment to traditional DFIG wind turbine and considers the doubly-fed wind turbine operating on the state of the super-synchronous speed, by analysis the effect of inertia and proportional control strategies, a fuzzy control strategy which combines the advantages of the former two control strategies is proposed, simulation results show that this control strategy can more effectively improve the system frequency response.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. IJCM.S25889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Mohan ◽  
Harry A. Lando

This comprehensive review includes large-scale pan-India surveys and regional studies. Every aspect of smokeless tobacco, including variations in social, economic, demographic, gender, and education stratifiers, is presented. This evidence-based presentation thereby provides insight not only to assess the burden but can serve as a base, leading to the development and encouragement of research in closing the existing gaps in knowledge. It can also provide a track to formulate tobacco control strategies as well as to reinforce and potentially guide tobacco control policy aimed at addressing the tailored needs in the Indian context. The recommendations expand the tobacco control spectrum and are the first of their kind in the literature to focus on cessation programs as a paramedical subject to draw the attention of not only policymakers but also to integrate medical and dental educational institutions, health care professionals, and tobacco users to synergistically develop successful tobacco control measures.


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