Zoonotic parasite protection in the practice setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 312-316
Author(s):  
Ian Wright
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Zoonotic Potential ◽  
Practice Setting ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Zoonotic Parasite ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Parasite Exposure

Cats and dogs carry a wide range of parasites with zoonotic potential. While much focus is placed on protecting owners and the wider public from these infections, veterinary staff are also at risk of exposure. Veterinary nurses may be exposed to parasites through direct contact with pets, indirect surface transmission, aerosols or via vectors. The risk of zoonotic parasite transmission, however, can be minimised in the workplace with a few simple practice-wide precautions. This article considers some of the routes of parasite exposure in practice and steps to reduce them.

Faecal-oral parasite transmission and the veterinary nurse's role in education

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 410-415
Author(s):  
Ian Wright ◽  
Philippa Richmond
Keyword(s):  
Effective Communication ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Zoonotic Potential ◽  
Intestinal Protozoa ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Improve Compliance ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
The Uk

There are a wide range of parasites endemic in the UK which can infect cats and dogs, their pathological and zoonotic potential mean it is essential veterinary nurses (VNs) educate clients on how to prevent exposure and therefore minimise risk. A key mode of transmission is the faecal-oral route in which infective stages of parasites can pass directly to other hosts. The three main groups of parasites which can be transmitted via this route are roundworms (Toxocara spp.), intestinal protozoa and tapeworms. Through effective communication and the development of partnerships with clients VNs can improve compliance thus reducing parasite risk which is of benefit to both pet and owner.

scholarly journals Informing the public health response to COVID-19: a systematic review of risk factors for disease, severity, and mortality

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Flook ◽  
C. Jackson ◽  
E. Vasileiou ◽  
C. R. Simpson ◽  
M. D. Muckian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Multivariable Analyses

Abstract Background Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has challenged public health agencies globally. In order to effectively target government responses, it is critical to identify the individuals most at risk of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), developing severe clinical signs, and mortality. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to present the current status of scientific knowledge in these areas and describe the need for unified global approaches, moving forwards, as well as lessons learnt for future pandemics. Methods Medline, Embase and Global Health were searched to the end of April 2020, as well as the Web of Science. Search terms were specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19. Comparative studies of risk factors from any setting, population group and in any language were included. Titles, abstracts and full texts were screened by two reviewers and extracted in duplicate into a standardised form. Data were extracted on risk factors for COVID-19 disease, severe disease, or death and were narratively and descriptively synthesised. Results One thousand two hundred and thirty-eight papers were identified post-deduplication. Thirty-three met our inclusion criteria, of which 26 were from China. Six assessed the risk of contracting the disease, 20 the risk of having severe disease and ten the risk of dying. Age, gender and co-morbidities were commonly assessed as risk factors. The weight of evidence showed increasing age to be associated with severe disease and mortality, and general comorbidities with mortality. Only seven studies presented multivariable analyses and power was generally limited. A wide range of definitions were used for disease severity. Conclusions The volume of literature generated in the short time since the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 has been considerable. Many studies have sought to document the risk factors for COVID-19 disease, disease severity and mortality; age was the only risk factor based on robust studies and with a consistent body of evidence. Mechanistic studies are required to understand why age is such an important risk factor. At the start of pandemics, large, standardised, studies that use multivariable analyses are urgently needed so that the populations most at risk can be rapidly protected. Registration This review was registered on PROSPERO as CRD42020177714.

scholarly journals Taxonomic patterns in the zoonotic potential of mammalian viruses

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex D. Washburne ◽  
Daniel E. Crowley ◽  
Daniel J. Becker ◽  
Kevin J. Olival ◽  
Matthew Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Coarse Graining ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Zoonotic Potential ◽  
Human Host ◽  
Disease Biology ◽  
Taxonomic Patterns

Predicting and simplifying which pathogens may spill over from animals to humans is a major priority in infectious disease biology. Many efforts to determine which viruses are at risk of spillover use a subset of viral traits to find trait-based associations with spillover. We adapt a new method—phylofactorization—to identify not traits but lineages of viruses at risk of spilling over. Phylofactorization is used to partition the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses viral taxonomy based on non-human host range of viruses and whether there exists evidence the viruses have infected humans. We identify clades on a range of taxonomic levels with high or low propensities to spillover, thereby simplifying the classification of zoonotic potential of mammalian viruses. Phylofactorization by whether a virus is zoonotic yields many disjoint clades of viruses containing few to no representatives that have spilled over to humans. Phylofactorization by non-human host breadth yields several clades with significantly higher host breadth. We connect the phylogenetic factors above with life-histories of clades, revisit trait-based analyses, and illustrate how cladistic coarse-graining of zoonotic potential can refine trait-based analyses by illuminating clade-specific determinants of spillover risk.

To Support and Defend

2019 ◽  
pp. 152-187
Author(s):  
Juliane Hammer
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Religious Convictions ◽  
The One ◽  
Muslim Communities

This chapter highlights Muslim service providers of many kinds and the organizations in which they work. Muslim service providers, in different ways from advocates and community leaders, not only are at the front lines of the struggle against domestic violence (DV) in Muslim communities but also most directly and persistently interact with the mainstream DV landscape/movement. Service providers are at risk themselves in more acute ways as their direct contact with victims and survivors can also become contact with perpetrators who are a threat not only to DV victims but also to anyone who supports those victims. The chapter then explores the significance of their religious convictions and identities for the work they perform and for the ways in which they relate to their clients on the one hand and to “the system” on the other. It also sketches the landscape of Muslim DV services and offers some insights into the specific challenges this work entails.

Majority and Minority Shareholders

2020 ◽  
pp. 119-174
Author(s):  
Paul Davies
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Small Group ◽  
Company Law ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Private Benefits ◽  
Controlling Shareholders ◽  
The Third ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
A Company

Where a company has a controlling or a small group of controlling shareholders, the non-controlling shareholders are at risk that the controllers will extract private benefits of control at the expense of the non-controllers. UK company law contains a wide range of techniques for addressing this issue, some more effective than others. This chapter begins by examining the various ways in which well-advised investors can contract for protection before they enter the company and how the law protects the agreements reached. The second part discusses rights to exit the company upon the occurrence of certain events. The third part discusses disclosure rights, designed to bring self-dealing transactions into the open. The fourth focuses on ways of structuring the board or shareholder body when the decision before it carries a high risk of self-dealing. The final part considers cases where the courts review the substantive fairness of the controllers’ conduct, notably, but not only, the provisions on ‘unfair prejudice.

5. Majority and Minority Shareholders

2020 ◽  
pp. 119-174
Author(s):  
Paul Davies
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Small Group ◽  
Company Law ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Private Benefits ◽  
Controlling Shareholders ◽  
The Third ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
A Company

Where a company has a controlling or a small group of controlling shareholders, the non-controlling shareholders are at risk that the controllers will extract private benefits of control at the expense of the non-controllers. UK company law contains a wide range of techniques for addressing this issue, some more effective than others. This chapter begins by examining the various ways in which well-advised investors can contract for protection before they enter the company and how the law protects the agreements reached. The second part discusses rights to exit the company upon the occurrence of certain events. The third part discusses disclosure rights, designed to bring self-dealing transactions into the open. The fourth focuses on ways of structuring the board or shareholder body when the decision before it carries a high risk of self-dealing. The final part considers cases where the courts review the substantive fairness of the controllers’ conduct, notably, but not only, the provisions on ‘unfair prejudice.

scholarly journals The role of host phenology for parasite transmission

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannelore MacDonald ◽  
Erol Akçay ◽  
Dustin Brisson
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Nymphal Stage ◽  
Mouse Population ◽  
Tick Activity ◽  
Contact Rates ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Host Phenology ◽  
Host Parasite

Abstract Phenology is a fundamental determinant of species distributions, abundances, and interactions. In host–parasite interactions, host phenology can affect parasite fitness due to the temporal constraints it imposes on host contact rates. However, it remains unclear how parasite transmission is shaped by the wide range of phenological patterns observed in nature. We develop a mathematical model of the Lyme disease system to study the consequences of differential tick developmental-stage phenology for the transmission of B. burgdorferi. Incorporating seasonal tick activity can increase B. burgdorferi fitness compared to continuous tick activity but can also prevent transmission completely. B. burgdorferi fitness is greatest when the activity period of the infectious nymphal stage slightly precedes the larval activity period. Surprisingly, B. burgdorferi is eradicated if the larval activity period begins long after the end of nymphal activity due to a feedback with mouse population dynamics. These results highlight the importance of phenology, a common driver of species interactions, for the fitness of a parasite.

scholarly journals 2769. The Clinical and Economic Impact of MMR Vaccinations to Prevent Measles Importations from US Pediatric Travelers Returning from Abroad

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S976-S977
Author(s):  
Emily P Hyle ◽  
Audrey C Bangs ◽  
Amy P Fiebelkorn ◽  
Alison T Walker ◽  
Paul Gastanaduy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Primary Immunization ◽  
Mmr Vaccine ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
Lost Work ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Immunization Series

Abstract Background Although pediatric travelers comprise < 10% of US international travelers, they account for almost half of all measles importations among returning travelers. For travelers 1–18 years with no other evidence of measles immunity, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends 2 MMR vaccine doses before departure; 1 dose is recommended for infant travelers (6 to <12 months) and does not count toward their primary immunization series. All US travelers (6 months to < 6 years) are at risk for being undervaccinated for measles because MMR is routinely given at 1 years and 4–6 years. Methods We developed a decision tree model to evaluate the clinical impact and cost per case averted of pretravel health encounters (PHE) that vaccinate MMR-eligible pediatric international travelers. We compared 2 strategies for infant (6 to < 12 months) and preschool-aged (1 to <6 years) travelers: (1) no PHE: travelers departed with baseline MMR vaccination status vs. (2) PHE: MMR-eligible travelers were offered vaccination. All simulated travelers experienced a destination-specific risk of measles exposure during travel (mean, 237exposures/10M travelers; range, 19–6,750 exposures/10M travelers); if exposed to measles, travelers were at risk of illness stratified by age and MMR vaccination status (range, 0.03–0.90). Costs include direct medical costs and lost work wages for guardians. Model outcomes included measles cases, costs, and cost per case averted. We varied inputs in sensitivity analyses. Results Compared with no PHE, PHE averted 451 measles cases at $985,000/case averted for infant travelers and 54 measles cases at $1.5 million/case averted for preschool-aged travelers (table, bottom). PHE can be cost-saving for travelers to regions with higher risk of measles exposure and if more MMR-eligible travelers are vaccinated at PHE (Figure 1). At a risk of exposure associated with European travel, PHE had better value when a measles importation led to a higher number of contacts or more US-acquired cases per importation (Figure 2). Conclusion PHE for pediatric travelers (6 months to <6 years) decreased the number of imported measles cases and saved costs, especially if targeted to travelers with higher-risk destinations, if more MMR-eligible travelers are vaccinated at PHE, or if outbreaks are larger. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document