Giardia duodenalis multi-locus genotypes in dogs with different levels of synanthropism and clinical signs

Abstract Background In dogs, infections with Giardia duodenalis are mainly caused by assemblages C and D, but also by the potentially zoonotic assemblages A and B. The aims of this study were to assess differences in assemblages (i) between dogs living mainly in close proximity to humans (synanthropic dogs) versus dogs living mainly among other dogs, (ii) between samples of dogs with or without loose stool, and (iii) related to the amount of cysts shedding. Methods One hundred eighty-nine qPCR Giardia positive fecal samples of dogs originating from four groups (household, sheltered, hunting, and dogs for which a veterinarian sent a fecal sample to a diagnostic laboratory) were used for genotyping. For this, multi-locus genotyping of beta-giardin, triose phosphate isomerase, and glutamate dehydrogenase and genotyping of SSU rDNA gene fragments were performed. Fecal consistency was scored (loose or non-loose stool), and cysts per gram of feces were determined with qPCR. Results Assemblage D was the most prevalent in all groups, followed by the other canid assemblage C. Also, mixed C/D was common. In two (synanthropic) household dogs, the potentially zoonotic assemblage AI was present. Although occurrence of assemblage AI in household dogs was not significantly different from dogs living among other dogs (sheltered and hunting dogs), it was significantly higher compared to dogs for which a sample was sent to a diagnostic laboratory. Dogs with assemblage D shed significantly more cysts than dogs with other assemblages (except for mixed C/D results) or dogs in which no assemblage could be determined. None of the assemblages was significantly associated with loose stool. Conclusion Not only do dogs mainly shed the canid Giardia duodenalis assemblages D and/or C, the numbers of cysts per gram for the canid assemblage D were also higher than for the potential zoonotic assemblage AI. Based on the assemblages shed by dogs, the risk to public health posed by dogs is estimated to be low, even though the dogs that shed AI were synanthropic household dogs. Loose stool in infected dogs was not associated with any particular Giardia assemblage.

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Health care of hunting dogs

Veterinarski glasnik ◽

10.2298/vetgl1304259s ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 67 (3-4) ◽

pp. 259-268

Author(s):

Ljubica Spasojevic-Kosic ◽

Sara Savic

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

The Other ◽

Complete Analysis ◽

Hunting Dogs ◽

Hunting Dog ◽

Awareness Level

There are two basic aspects of hunting dog?s health care: infectious diseases of hunting dogs and dog?s hunting performance. Concerning infectious diseases of hunting dogs, special attention is paid to public health, preventing possible dangers that could possibly arise. On the other hand, hunting performance of dogs depends on their nutrition. A complete analysis of hunting dogs? health care in our country requires an assessment of awareness level in hunters about dangers which both humans and hunting dogs are exposed to, evaluation of preventive measures implementation in dogs by hunters, the prevalence of certain infections in dogs and determination of health risk for dogs and people related to hunting. This paper shows the results of a survey conducted among hunters with the objective to perceive their awareness of medical risks that hunters and hunting dogs could possibly be exposed to during hunting.

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Host factors associated with Giardia duodenalis infection in dogs across multiple diagnostic tests

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-019-3810-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mathilde Uiterwijk ◽

Rolf Nijsse ◽

Frans N. J. Kooyman ◽

Jaap A. Wagenaar ◽

Lapo Mughini-Gras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

Direct Immunofluorescence ◽

Loose Stool ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasite ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Hunting Dogs ◽

High Prevalence ◽

One Year

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to assess potential associations between Giardia duodenalis infection in dogs, as determined by three diagnostic tests, and dog’s group of origin, fecal consistency, age, sex, neuter status, and co-infections with other gastrointestinal parasites. Methods Fecal samples from 1291 dogs from four groups (household, shelter, hunting and clinical dogs) were tested with qPCR, rapid enzyme immunochromatographic assay (IDEXX SNAP®Giardia), and direct immunofluorescence (DFA, Merifluor) for presence of G. duodenalis. Moreover, fecal samples were tested with centrifugation sedimentation flotation (CSF) coproscopical analysis for presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Associations were expressed as odds ratios (ORs). Results Several significant associations were found, of which a few were consistent for all three tests and Giardia positivity in general (positive with at least one of these tests). Dogs older than one year were significantly less likely to test positive for Giardia than younger dogs. Group-housed dogs, especially hunting dogs, were significantly more likely to test positive for Giardia compared to household and clinical dogs. A consistently significant association with Trichuris appeared to be driven by the high prevalence in hunting dogs. Although there was no significant association between loose stool and Giardia infection in the overall population, household dogs were significantly more likely to test Giardia-positive when having loose stool. Overall, Giardia-positive dogs with loose stool shed significantly more cysts, both determined semi-quantitatively with CSF and quantitatively by qPCR, than positive dogs with no loose stool. When other gastrointestinal parasites were present, significantly fewer cysts were detected with CSF, but this was not confirmed with qPCR. Conclusion Giardia is the most common gastrointestinal parasite in Dutch dogs, except for hunting dogs, in which Trichuris and strongyle-type eggs (hookworms) prevailed. Giardia infection was not significantly associated with loose stool, except for household dogs. Young dogs and group-housed dogs were significantly more often Giardia-positive. These associations were consistent across diagnostic tests. Young dogs, clinical dogs and dogs with loose stool shed Giardia cysts in the highest numbers. If another gastrointestinal parasite was present lower numbers of cysts were observed by microscope (CSF), but not with a molecular method (qPCR).

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Toxocara cati and Other Parasitic Enteropathogens: More Commonly Found in Owned Cats with Gastrointestinal Signs Than in Clinically Healthy Ones

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10020198 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 198

Author(s):

Aurora L. Ursache ◽

Adriana Györke ◽

Viorica Mircean ◽

Mirabela O. Dumitrache ◽

Andrei Răzvan Codea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Intestinal Parasite ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Zoonotic Potential ◽

Toxocara Cati ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Flotation Method

Intestinal parasites are involved in the health and wellbeing of cats and some of them, due to their zoonotic potential, represent a problem for public health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of parasitic infections in cats with gastrointestinal signs. Fecal samples collected from 137 cats were analyzed by the flotation method using a sodium chloride saturated solution. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 50.4%. Intestinal parasites were significantly (p < 0.0001) more common in cats with digestive clinical signs (66.7%) than in clinically healthy ones (19.2%). Toxocara cati (40.2%) was the most frequently identified intestinal parasite, followed by Cystoisospora spp. (10.2%), hookworms (3.7%), Taeniidae (2.2%), Giardia duodenalis (2.2%), and Toxoplasma gondii (0.7%). Toxocara cati (53.3%, p < 0.0001) and Cystoisospora spp. (15.6%, p < 0.001) were significantly more frequently diagnosed in cats with clinical signs. A lack of deworming in the last three months (OR: 15.9), outdoor access (OR: 13.8), the presence of digestive symptoms (OR: 5.4), and young age (OR: 4.2) were identified as risk factors for T. cati infection by logistic regression analysis. Regardless of age, gastrointestinal signs like vomiting, diarrhea, and inappetence were positively associated with T. cati.

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Overuse of Health Care in the Emergency Services in Chile

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3082

Author(s):

Ximena Alvial ◽

Alejandra Rojas ◽

Raúl Carrasco ◽

Claudia Durán ◽

Christian Fernández-Campusano

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Emergency Services ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Public Health Policies ◽

The Public ◽

Healthcare Network ◽

Use Of Emergency Services ◽

Low Coverage ◽

Different Levels

The Public Health Service in Chile consists of different levels of complexity and coverage depending on the severity and degree of specialization of the pathology to be treated. From primary to tertiary care, tertiary care is highly complex and has low coverage. This work focuses on an analysis of the public health system with emphasis on the healthcare network and tertiary care, whose objectives are designed to respond to the needs of each patient. A review of the literature and a field study of the problem of studying the perception of internal and external users is presented. This study intends to be a contribution in the detection of opportunities for the relevant actors and the processes involved through the performance of Triage. The main causes and limitations of the excessive use of emergency services in Chile are analyzed and concrete proposals are generated aiming to benefit clinical care in emergency services. Finally, improvements related to management are proposed and the main aspects are determined to improve decision-making in hospitals, which could be a contribution to public health policies.

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The Properties of Cu Ions in Zeolites CuY Studied by IR Spectroscopy

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26154686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (15) ◽

pp. 4686

Author(s):

Jerzy Podobiński ◽

Mariusz Gackowski ◽

Grzegorz Mordarski ◽

Katarzyna Samson ◽

Michał Śliwa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ir Spectroscopy ◽

Positive Charge ◽

Co Adsorption ◽

The Other ◽

Probe Molecules ◽

Adsorption And Desorption ◽

Other Hand ◽

Close Proximity ◽

No And Co Adsorption ◽

Cu Ions

The properties of both Cu2+ and Cu+ ions in zeolite CuY were followed with NO and CO as probe molecules. Cu2+ was found to be located in SII, SII*, and SIII sites, whereas Cu+ was found in SII and SII* sites. The fine analysis of the spectra of Cu2+-NO and Cu+-CO adducts suggests that both in SII and in SII* sites two kinds of Cu cations exist. They differ in the positive charge, which may be related to the varying numbers of AlO4− in close proximity. The experiments of NO and CO adsorption and desorption evidenced that both Cu2+ and Cu+ sites of highest positive charge bind probe molecules most strongly but activate them to a lesser extent than the Cu sites of lowest positive charge. The experiments of reduction with hydrogen evidenced that the Cu ions of higher positive charge are first reduced by hydrogen. On the other hand, Cu sites of the lowest positive charge are first oxidized by oxygen. The experiments with CuNaY zeolites of various Cu contents suggest that the first introduced Cu (at low Cu contents) created Cu+, which was the most neutralized by framework oxygens. Such Cu cations are the most stabilized by framework oxygens.

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The Effect of Route Choice in Children’s Exposure to Ultrafine Particles Whilst Walking to School

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157808 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7808

Author(s):

Mehrdad Rafiepourgatabi ◽

Alistair Woodward ◽

Jennifer A. Salmond ◽

Kim Natasha Dirks

Keyword(s):

Ultrafine Particles ◽

Route Choice ◽

The Other ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Public Health Officials ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

The Mean ◽

Walking To School ◽

Elevated Exposure ◽

Children’S Exposure

Children walking to school are at a high risk of exposure to air pollution compared with other modes because of the time they spend in close proximity to traffic during their commute. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a walker’s route choice on their exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) on the walk to school. During morning commutes over a period of three weeks, exposure to UFP was measured along three routes: two routes were alongside both sides of a busy arterial road with significantly higher levels of traffic on one side compared to the other, and the third route passed through quiet streets (the background route). The results indicate that the mean exposure for the pedestrian walking along the background route was half the exposure experienced on the other two routes. Walkers on the trafficked side were exposed to elevated concentrations (>100,000 pt/cc) 2.5 times longer than the low-trafficked side. However, the duration of the elevated exposure for the background route was close to zero. Public health officials and urban planners may use the results of this study to promote healthier walking routes to schools, especially those planned as part of organized commutes.

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Effect of Catfish Bone Paste on the Properties of Steamed Bread

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.881-883.757 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 881-883 ◽

pp. 757-760

Author(s):

Xiao Qing Ren ◽

Li Zhen Ma ◽

Xin Yi He

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Specific Volume ◽

Cell Structure ◽

The Other ◽

Gas Cell ◽

A Value ◽

Crumb Structure ◽

Steamed Bread ◽

Different Levels ◽

Structure Properties

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different levels of catfish bone paste to flour on the physicochemical, textural and crumb structure properties of steamed bread. Six different levels (0, 1, 3, 5, 7,10 %) of catfish bone paste to flour were used in the formulation of the steamed bread. The results showed that the weight loss and TTA of steamed bread decreased with an increase in the levels of the catfish bone paste. On the other hand, the pH increased with an increase in the levels of the catfish bone paste. The specific volume, hardness, chewiness and gas cell structure in the crumb of steamed bread with catfish bone paste at 5% supplementation level were better. Thus, a value of 5% catfish bone paste was considered a better level for incorporation into the steamed bread.

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Delivery of the National Child Measurement Programme in England

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020004991 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Martin Čadek ◽

Stuart W. Flint ◽

Ralph Tench

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Local Government ◽

Best Practice ◽

Online Survey ◽

The Other ◽

Service Availability ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Weight Category ◽

Convenience Sampling

Abstract Objective: The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is a mandatory initiative delivered in England to children in reception and year 6. To date, no research has explored the methods used to deliver the NCMP by Local Government Authorities (LGA) across England. Design: An online survey was administered between February 2018 and May 2018 to explore the delivery of the NCMP across the 152 LGAs in England and disseminated using non-probability convenience sampling. Setting: LGAs received an anonymous link to the survey. Participants: A total of 92 LGAs participated in the survey. Results: Most LGAs who responded provide result feedback (86%), a proactive follow-up (71%) and referrals to services (80%). Additionally, 65% of the authorities tailor Public Health England specimen result letters to suit their needs, and 84% provide attachments alongside. Out of 71% of LGAs who provide proactive follow-up, 19 (29%) provide the proactive follow-up only to upper weight categories, and only 4 (6 %) include Healthy Weight category with other categories in proactive follow-up. Regarding the service availability for children, out of 80% of LGAs who indicated that services are available, 32 (43%) targeted solely upper weight categories while the other 42 (57%) offered services across all weight categories. Finally, most LGAs (88%) commission providers to manage various parts of the NCMP. Conclusions: The results show that LGAs in England localise the NCMP. Further guidance regarding standards of best practice would help LGAs to find the most suitable localisation out of various options that exist across other LGAs.

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COVID-19: systematic learning across boundaries requires a conceptual agreement

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/14034948211027086 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 140349482110270

Author(s):

Knut Ole Sundnes ◽

Geir Sverre Braut

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Knowledge Base ◽

External Validity ◽

Evaluation Research ◽

The Other ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Early Publication ◽

Number Of Publications ◽

Short Time

The COVID-19 epidemic has revealed a shortage of basic knowledge and understanding of pandemics, especially regarding their dynamics and how to contain them. The results are a host of governments’ decrees and instructions, one replacing the other, often within the same week. It has further, in a truly short time, resulted in an overwhelming number of publications, many of them prioritising early publication over quality. This commentary addresses the concept of structured research related to disasters and how the use of endorsed guidelines will facilitate well-designed evaluation research with improved rigour and external validity, even if applied retrospectively. The outcome should be a solidified knowledge base. Further, the important role of public health efforts is to be highlighted, as their role has proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A proposal to leverage high-quality veterinary diagnostic laboratory large data streams for animal health, public health, and One Health

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/10406387211003088 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104063872110030

Author(s):

Craig N. Carter ◽

Jacqueline L. Smith

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Data Streams ◽

One Health ◽

Animal Health ◽

Disease Outbreaks ◽

Large Data ◽

Health Impact ◽

The United States ◽

Zoonotic Diseases ◽

Diagnostic Laboratory

Test data generated by ~60 accredited member laboratories of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) is of exceptional quality. These data are captured by 1 of 13 laboratory information management systems (LIMSs) developed specifically for veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs). Beginning ~2000, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) developed an electronic messaging system for LIMS to automatically send standardized data streams for 14 select agents to a national repository. This messaging enables the U.S. Department of Agriculture to track and respond to high-consequence animal disease outbreaks such as highly pathogenic avian influenza. Because of the lack of standardized data collection in the LIMSs used at VDLs, there is, to date, no means of summarizing VDL large data streams for multi-state and national animal health studies or for providing near-real-time tracking for hundreds of other important animal diseases in the United States that are detected routinely by VDLs. Further, VDLs are the only state and federal resources that can provide early detection and identification of endemic and emerging zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are estimated to be responsible for 2.5 billion cases of human illness and 2.7 million deaths worldwide every year. The economic and health impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is self-evident. We review here the history and progress of data management in VDLs and discuss ways of seizing unexplored opportunities to advance data leveraging to better serve animal health, public health, and One Health.

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