scholarly journals Wastewater based surveillance system to detect SARS-CoV-2 genetic material for countries with on-site sanitation facilities: an experience from Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Jakariya ◽  
Firoz Ahmed ◽  
Md. Aminul Islam ◽  
Tanvir Ahmed ◽  
Abdullah Al Marzan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Sewage Sample ◽  
Sewage System ◽  
Number Of Patients

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic materials in wastewater has become a matter of grave for many countries of the world. Wastewater based epidemiology, in this context, emerged as an important tool in developed countries where proper sewage system is available. Due to the recent shift in the spread of the infection from urban to rural areas, it is now equally important to develop a similar mechanism for rural areas as well. Considering the urgency of the issue a study was conducted in 14 districts of Bangladesh and a total of 238 sewage samples were collected in two different periods from December 2020 to January 2021. We are the first to propose a surveillance system for both urban and rural areas where a proper sewage system is absent. Based on RT-PCR analysis of the water samples, in more than 92% of cases, we found the presence of the SARS-COV-2 gene (ORF1ab, N, and Internal Control-IC). The trend of Ct value varies for different study locations. The spread of genetic material for on-site (m = - 0.0386) sanitation system was found more prominent than that of off-site sewage system (m = 0.0105); which indicated the shift of genetic material from urban to rural areas. Wastewater samples were also measured for physicochemical parameters, including pH (6.30 - 12.50) and temperature (22.10 - 32.60)C. The highest viral titer of 1975 copy/mL in sewage sample was observed in a sample collected from the isolation ward of the SARS-COV-2 hospital. Additionally, a correlation was found between bacterial load and SARS-CoV-2 genetic materials. The results indicated the association of increased Ct values with decreasing number of patients and vice versa. The findings reported in this paper contributed to the field of wastewater-based epidemiology dealing with SARS-COV-2 surveillance for developing countries where proper sewage system is absent and highlighting some of the challenges associated with this approach in such settings. Keywords: On-site Sanitation, Off-site Sanitation, SARS-CoV-2, Genetic Materials, Developing Countries, Rural Wastewater-Based Surveillance System.

scholarly journals Clinical profile of scrotal swellings in Jharkhand, India: our experience of four rural health camps

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 244
Author(s):  
Vishnu Singh Munda ◽  
Nagendra Nath Murmu ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
Ajay Bhengra ◽  
Manoj Kumar Korah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Late Presentation ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Symptom Duration ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Scrotal Swelling ◽  
The Common

Background: Scrotal swellings are one of the common problems in all age groups. Since these swellings are usually painless and can attain a very big size without causing much discomfort; the patients are reluctant to seek medical advice. Social stigma, embarrassment and fear of getting under the knife are the other reasons for late presentation. However in developing countries like India; the poverty, illiteracy, unawareness and poor health care facilities are the common reasons for late presentation. The objective of the study was to bring forward the volume of problem and morbidity associated with scrotal swellings in rural populations of Jharkhand, India.Methods: This study was based on the four health camps with emphasis on scrotal swellings organized in the rural areas East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Simdega districts of Jharkhand state in Eastern India between December 2015 and June 2017. Data obtained from these camps were analyzed retrospectively.Results: A total of 1567 persons were screened for scrotal swellings in four camps; 180 (11.4%) of them found to have some scrotal pathology. Most of the cases were in the age group of 31-50 years (61.35%), scrotal swelling being main complaint. Out of the 180 cases with scrotal swelling, Primary vaginal hydrocoele was found in 78.9% (n=142); followed by sebaceous cyst and epididymal cyst. The majority of cases had symptom duration of 1 to 2 years– 33.9% (n=61), followed by 2 to 5 years– 23.23% (n=42); the duration of symptoms ranged from 2 weeks to 12 years.Conclusions: Although the diagnosis and treatment of scrotal swellings are relatively simple the number of patients with scrotal swellings is high, especially in the rural areas of developing countries like India. The rural health camps can be effective in decreasing the morbidities of scrotal swellings. 

Relating Household Consumption Expenditures to Road Traffic Fatalities: A Rural–Urban Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110332
Author(s):  
Ruchika Agarwala ◽  
Vinod Vasudevan
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Household Consumption ◽  
Household Expenditure ◽  
Traffic Fatality ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
The Relationship

Research shows that traffic fatality risk is generally higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In developing countries, vehicle ownership and investments in public transportation typically increase with economic growth. These two factors together increase the vehicle population, which in turn affects traffic safety. This paper presents a study focused on the relationship of various factors—including household consumption expenditure data—with traffic fatality in rural and urban areas and thereby aims to fill some of the gaps in the literature. One such gap is the impacts of personal and non-personal modes of travel on traffic safety in rural versus urban areas in developing countries which remains unexplored. An exhaustive panel data modeling approach is adopted. One important finding of this study is that evidence exists of a contrasting relationship between household expenditure and traffic fatality in rural and urban areas. The relationship between household expenditure and traffic fatality is observed to be positive in rural areas and a negative in urban areas. Increases in most expenditure variables, such as fuel, non-personal modes of travel, and two-wheeler expenditures, are found to be associated with an increase in traffic fatality in rural areas.

scholarly journals The Extent of Heat on Health and Sustainable Farming in Ghana –Bawku East

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frimpong Kwasi ◽  
Jacque Oosthuizen ◽  
Eddie Van Etten
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Outdoor Work ◽  
Globe Temperature

<p>Little is known about the health effects of heat in outdoor work and appropriate work and rest schedules for farmers working in developing countries. As temperatures continue to increase in tropical regions, such as Northern Ghana, it is necessary to evaluate how farmers experience and respond to high heat exposures. In this study, WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) estimates and the ISO work / rest standards were applied to a cohort of farmers in the rural areas of Bawku East, Northern Ghana, to assess how farmers respond to high heat and how much they rest to protect their health, as well as the level of heat on their productivity. WBGT data was recorded over a period of 6 months among vegetable, cereals, and legume farmers. The ISO proposed and actual rest regimes observed by farmers in the same time period were evaluated. In the dry season the dry bulb temperature rose as high as 45 ºC, while during the humid months of March and April WBGT rose to levels as high as 34 ºC. Farmers worked for nine hours a day during these hot periods with insufficient rest, which has adverse consequences on their health and productivity.</p>

Role of cardiac hypoxia in the pathogenesis of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens – A metabolic and molecular study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pegah Safaei ◽  
Gholamhossein Khadjeh ◽  
Mohammad Reza Tabandeh ◽  
Keramat Asasi
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Death ◽  
Cardiac Muscle ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Sudden Death Syndrome ◽  
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase ◽  
Cardiac Insufficiency ◽  
Monocarboxylate Transporter ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Glucose Transporter 1

AbstractSudden death syndrome (SDS) is an economically important disorder in broiler chickens with unknown aetiology. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the metabolic and molecular alterations related to hypoxia in the myocardium of broiler chickens with SDS. Samples from the cardiac muscle of internal control broiler chickens (ICs) (n = 36) and chickens having died of SDS (n = 36) were obtained during the rearing period. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and the concentration of lactate were measured in the cardiac tissue using available commercial kits. The expression of hypoxia-inducing factor 1α (HIF1α), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDHK4) and monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) genes was determined in the myocardium by real-time PCR analysis. The results showed the elevation of lactate level and activities of LDH and CPK in the cardiac muscle of SDS-affected chickens compared with the IC birds (P < 0.05). The cardiac muscle expression of HIF1α, MCT4 and GLUT1 genes was increased, while the PDHK4 mRNA level was decreased in the SDS-affected group compared to those in the IC chickens (P < 0.05). Our results showed that metabolic remodelling associated with hypoxia in the cardiac tissues may have an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac insufficiency and SDS in broiler chickens.

Acute Pituitary Apoplexy following Snake Bite: A Rare but Treatable Complication

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (06) ◽  
pp. 397-399
Author(s):  
Narendrakumar Barad
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Pituitary Apoplexy ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Snake Bite ◽  
Important Public Health ◽  
Russell’S Viper ◽  
Public Health Hazards

AbstractPoisonous snake bite is one of the important public health hazards in developing countries, such as India, where majority of the population resides in rural areas. Among various poisonous species of snakes, Russell's viper venom causes neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, hemolysis, and coagulopathies leading to shock and acute kidney injury. Pituitary apoplexy causing acute hypopituitarism is an extremely rare but treatable complication following viper bite. Here in, we report the case of a 14-year-old boy admitted with Russell's viper bite complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), acute kidney injury, and pituitary apoplexy with secondary acute hypopituitarism.

scholarly journals Identification of Leishmania spp. in horses and a dog from rural areas of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 2687-2694
Author(s):  
Gabriela Döwich Pradella ◽  
◽  
Taiane Acunha Escobar ◽  
Claudia Acosta Duarte ◽  
Irina Lübeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Direct Sequencing ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Transmission Area ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan of the genus Leishmania. The disease is transmitted by the bite of a sand fly vector. Although the main reservoirs are dogs, other hosts can be infected and may play this role. Rio Grande do Sul western region, located on the triple border of Brazil-Uruguay-Argentina, represents a VL transmission area. The goal of the present study was to identify Leishmania spp. infection in animals from rural areas of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul. Nine farms in the Uruguaiana municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, were included. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 113 animals (canine [n=22], equine [n=91]) for detection of Leishmania spp. DNA was isolated and polymerase chain reaction was performed. Eight (7%) animals with Leishmania spp. infection were detected on two farms in the same geographical area, seven of which were horses and one was canine, all of which were asymptomatic. To investigate the species of Leishmania, one of the positive equine samples was subjected to direct sequencing, which confirmed the presence of L. infantum genetic material. Results of this study confirm the presence of L. infantum-infected animals in rural areas of Uruguaiana, and provide evidence supporting further investigation of risk factors for dissemination in such areas.

scholarly journals The Changes in The Utilization Rate of Traditional Chinese Medicine During the 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun-Ku Lin ◽  
Chien-Tung Wu ◽  
Chia-Jen Liu ◽  
Hui-Jer Chou ◽  
Fu-Yang Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
City Hospital ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
Mobile Medicine ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Large-scale epidemics have changed people’s medical behavior, and patients tend to delay non-urgent medical needs. However, the impact of the pandemic on the use of complementary and alternative medicine remains unknown. Methods: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the changes in the number of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patients and examine the epidemic prevention policy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We analyzed the number of TCM patients in Taipei City Hospital from January 2017 to May 2020. We tallied the numbers of patients in each month and compared them with those in the same months last year. We calculated the percentage difference in the number of patients to reveal the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TCM utilization. We used the Mann­–Whitney U test to examine whether there was a significant difference in the number of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: We included a total of 41 months and 1,935,827 patients in this study. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients decreased significantly, except in February 2020. The numbers of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic had fallen by more than 15% compared with those in the same months last year. March and April had the greatest number of patient losses, with falls of 32.8% and 40%, respectively. TCM patients declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and mobile medicine provided to rural areas fell considerably. Among all the TCM specialties, pediatrics and traumatology, as well as infertility treatment, witnessed the most significant decline in the number of patients. However, the number of cancer patients has reportedly increased. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic decreased the utilization rate of TCM, especially for mobile healthcare in rural areas. We suggest that the government pay attention to the medical disparity between urban and rural areas, which are affected by the pandemic, as well as allocate adequate resources in areas deprived of medical care.

scholarly journals Regional differences in reasons for consultation and general practitioners’ spectrum of services in Northern Germany – Results of a cross-sectional observational study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingmar Schäfer ◽  
Heike Hansen ◽  
Thomas Ruppel ◽  
Dagmar Lühmann ◽  
Hans-Otto Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Practice Trial ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Federal States ◽  
German Federal States ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Individual Consultation

Abstract Background Among other factors, the patients’ consultation reasons and GPs’ spectrum of services determine the process and outcome of the medical treatment. So far, however, there has been little information on differences in reasons for consultation and GPs’ services between urban and rural areas. Our study’s goal was thus to investigate these factors in relation to the regional location of GPs’ practices. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional observational study based on standardised GP interviews in a quota sampling design. All counties and independent cities within a radius of 120 km around Hamburg were divided into three regional categories (urban area, environs, rural area) and stratified proportionally to the population size. Differences in the number of reasons for consultation and services were analysed by multivariate linear regressions in mixed models adjusted for random effects on the levels of the German federal states and administrative districts. Differences in individual consultation reasons and services were identified by logistic regression via stepwise forward and backward selection. Results Primary care practices in 34 of the 37 selected administrative districts (91.9%) were represented in the dataset. In total, 211 GPs were personally interviewed. On average, GPs saw 344 patients per month with a slightly higher number of patients in rural areas. They reported 59.1 ± 15.4 different reasons for consultation and 30.3 + 3.9 different services. There was no statistically significant regional variation in the number of different consultation reasons, but there was a broader service spectrum by rural GPs (ß=-1.42; 95% confidence interval -2.75/-0.08; p=0.038) which was statistically explained by a higher level of medical training. Additionally, there were differences in the frequency of individual consultation reasons and services between rural and urban areas. Conclusion GPs in rural areas performed more frequently services usually provided by medical specialists in urban areas. This might be caused by a low availability of specialists in rural areas. The association between medical training and service spectrum might imply that GPs compensate the specific needs of their patients by completing advanced medical training before or after setting up a medical practice. Trial registration The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02558322).

scholarly journals Genotyping of Listeria by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its Epidemiological Significance

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
V. Zyuzin ◽  
◽  
O. Tuzova ◽  
U. Frenkel ◽  
Muntian L. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Virulence Markers ◽  
Chip Technology ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Primer Sets ◽  
Epidemiological Significance

The purpose of the study. The article covers the issues of genotyping of listeria by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its epidemiological significance. It is known that molecular genetic methods allow to detect specific microbial pathogens, virulence markers, antimicrobial resistance genes faster and with greater sensitivity than traditional culture methods. Therefore, the development of detection methods and genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is relevant. Materials and methods. For the detection and genotyping of Listeria, the technology of DNA chips is becoming increasingly important, which can significantly expand the possibilities of molecular detection. Chip technology can be used to simultaneously identify a whole range of pathogenic microorganisms, to determine genetic virulence markers, the relationship to antibiotics, subtyping, as well as to determine the quality of microorganisms in samples. A simplified version of DNA chip technology is multiplex (numerical) PCR, which is used to detect and genotype listeria. Studies have shown that to detect Listeria spp. using a polymerase chain reaction, it is advisable to use the gene iap (invasive associated protein), known for 6 species of listeria, which encodes a protein P 60 that is common to all species of listeria, including L.murrayi. Computer analysis revealed areas with 100% homology, from which primers were selected for PCR detection of all types of listeria. Areas of genomes characterized by 100% homology were selected for further analysis and labeling of primer sets. The sequences of the constructed primers List 1 and List 2 allowed to identify 6 species of Listeria (L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. grayi, L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri). Increasing the length of the primer leads to the increasing of specificity of PCR analysis. The greater the length of the primer, the smaller the specific gravity of one error of the unpaired nucleotide. The degree of primer homology is a key parameter that indicates the "quality" of a set of primers. Results and discussion. It is established that a significant disadvantage of the vast majority diagnosed using PCR test systems is the lack of internal control of amplification. The negative result of PCR analysis may be due to the absence in the clinical material of a fragment of the Listeria genome, and the fact that the PCR product was not synthesized for other reasons. They may be as the following ones: operator errors, erroneously determined reaction mixture concentrations and PCR temperature parameters. False-negative results can also be caused by factors that inhibit thermostable DNA polymerase. In its turn, such inhibition of the enzyme responsible for amplification is caused by a very large amount of DNA - template, pre-treatment of clinical samples. It has been shown that 80% of clinical specimens contain a substance that inhibits DNA polymerase. Therefore, it is necessary to use internal control, the positive result of the reaction of which indicates the successful amplification, that is the absence of false positive results. Conclusion. There are several reasons why the accuracy of PCR analysis does not reach 100%. Accuracy depends on the technology (variety) of PCR - the method used (ordinary or fluorescent), detection of amplicons, PCR homogeneous or nested, nested in one test tube or in two test tubes, as well as the level of quality of the survey (primarily on the technical parameters of the amplifier). The test systems used can be used for PCR detection and are recommended as standard primer sets for the detection and cross-species testing of listeria, which is important for the timely implementation of appropriate anti-epidemic measures in listeriosis

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