Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii and Cat Ownership in Nova Scotia

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 1169-1172
Author(s):  
Linda H. Pereira ◽  
Miriam Staudt ◽  
Charles E. Tanner ◽  
Juan A. Embil
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Toxoplasma Infection ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Diagnostic Center

In this survey, 998 children and adolescents between 7 months and 17 years of age who attended a hospital diagnostic center in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for routine evaluation were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibody. The 5.2% prevalence rate of antibody for children living in the outlying rural areas was significantly higher than the 1.1% rate among the urban children (P = .0006). Seroprevalence increased with age for both rural and urban children. Cat ownership was associated with antibodies to Toxoplasma among rural children but not urban children. Rural children who lived in a house with more than one cat were two times more likely to be infected than children who had one cat and three times more likely to be infected than children with no cats. The geometric mean titer was also significantly higher among the rural children with more than one cat, 1:152, than rural children with one or no cats, 1:63 (P = .02). In light of these findings for children and adolescents, the association of Toxoplasma infection with cat ownership needs to be thoroughly evaluated among pregnant women in rural areas.

scholarly journals COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLCHILDREN OF 7-10 YEARS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-313
Author(s):  
I. P. Saldan ◽  
Artem P. Pashkov ◽  
O. V. Zhukova
Keyword(s):  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Vital Capacity ◽  
Physical Development ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
School Level ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
The Right

The study assessed the physical development of rural and urban children aged of 7-10 years in the Altai Territory for somatometric and physiometric indices (height, body weight, chest circumference, vital capacity of lungs, dynamometry, arterial pressure). Somatometric indices of the physical development in rural children of primary school level have been established to be statistically significantly higher than similar indices of urban children in boys and girls. The evaluation of physiometric indices in groups of rural and urban children revealed another trend. Indices of the right-hand muscle strength, the vital capacity of lungs, arterial pressure (systolic and diastolic) by 10 years in urban children begins to exceed these indices of rural peers. The revealed differences in the physical development of rural and urban children show a different combination and a share of the influence of environmental factors on the schoolchildren’s organism.

scholarly journals Association of maternal ethnicity and urbanicity on severe pediatric disease: a nationwide cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Ting Chang ◽  
Huei-Shyong Wang ◽  
Jia-Rou Liu ◽  
Chi-Nan Tseng ◽  
I-Jun Chou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Kawasaki Disease ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Healthy Migrant Effect

Abstract Background A healthy migrant effect on birth outcomes has been reported, however, whether this protective effect persists throughout childhood is unknown. The effect of urbanicity on child health among an immigrant population is unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence rate and cumulative incidence of severe diseases among urban children of Taiwan-born mothers, rural children of Taiwan-born mothers, urban children of foreign-born mothers, and rural children of foreign-born mothers. Methods A nationwide cohort study was conducted for children born in Taiwan during 2004–2011 and follow-up till age 4 to 11 years old by linkage the Taiwan Birth Registry 2004–2011, Taiwan Death Registry 2004–2015, and National Health Insurance Research Database 2004–2015. Cox proportional hazards model (multivariable) was used to examine differences among the four study groups. Results There were 682,982 urban children of Taiwan-born mothers, 662,818 rural children of Taiwan-born mothers, 61,570 urban children of foreign-born mothers, 87,473 rural children of foreign-born mothers. Children of foreign-born mothers had a lower incidence of vasculitis, mainly Kawasaki disease. The incidences of congenital disorders did not differ between children of foreign-born mothers and children of Taiwan-born mothers. The incidence of psychotic disorders was higher in urban children. However, children in rural areas had a higher incidence of major trauma/burn and a higher mortality rate. Conclusions A healthy migrant effect was only seen for Kawasaki disease. The mental health of urban children born to immigrant mothers warrants concern.

scholarly journals Epidemiological Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Associated Risk Factors in Ruminant Species of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Abid Ali ◽  
Talha Omer ◽  
Asad Ullah ◽  
Abdul Haleem ◽  
Maryam Naseem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Toxoplasma Infection ◽  
Ruminant Species ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Toxoplasma infection is one of the most common human parasitic diseases. During 2018-2020, in the rural areas of three districts of Pakistan, we surveyed a total of 451 animals, belonging to different asymptomatic ruminant species, to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. We used ELISA assay as well as recorded some associated risk factors contributing to its transmission. IgM antibodies were detected in 17% and IgG in 13.4% of ruminant samples with the highest percentage, 10% for IgM and 8.6% for IgG in sheep. A strong significant association was found between antibodies and different species (IgM, χ 2 = 29 .280, P = .000 , and IgG, χ 2 = 22.580 , P = .000 ), respectively. Infection with T. gondii seems mainly associated with different geographic features and the presence of cats in the environment, low hygiene water systems and livestock that are mostly dependent on outdoor drinking and grazing. There was no significant association between IgM and age grouping ( χ 2 = 6.660 , P = 0.840 nor for IgG ( χ 2 = 8.136 , P = 0.43 ). The results of this study may be considered the starting point to promote the awareness about parasitic infections in ruminants in Pakistan in order to prevent this infection from further spreading.

scholarly journals The phenomenon of zinc deficiency among children in China aged 3–5 years old

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Bi ◽  
Zhenyu Yang ◽  
Xuehong Pang ◽  
Yifan Duan ◽  
Jianqiang Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Zinc Deficiency ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Serum Zinc ◽  
Zinc Level ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Control Samples

AbstractIntroductionzinc is an essential micro-nutrient for growth and proper immune function. Yet there are limited data available on the prevalence of zinc deficiency among children aged 3–5 at the country level. This information will enable health planners to determine the need for zinc intervention activities and to stimulate further research into these areas.materials and methodsThe data on children aged 3–5 were extracted from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in 2013. By multi-stage stratified cluster randomly sampling method, 30 children aged 3–5 years old were selected from each region for this study from 55 counties in China to analyze serum zinc. Finally, 1472 children aged 3–5 years were included in the study. The concentration of serum zinc was determined by high resolution inductively coupled plasm mass spectrometry. High and low level quality control samples were used, measured value was (1.63 ± 0.04)mg/l and (2.80 ± 0.06)mg/l, respectively. CV of quality control samples were 1.69%~2.45%. The zinc deficiency was defined as serum zinc level < 70μg/dl with the standard of WHO.Resultsserum zinc means of children aged 3–5 years was (95.3 ± 18.2)μg/dl and 3.9% children with zinc deficiency. serum zinc means level in urban children was (98.9 ± 17.6)μg/dl, and (91.6 ± 18.2)μg/dl in rural area. we showed that the serum zinc deficiency rate was higher in rural children (5.5%) than urban children (2.4%), and there were significant differences between these two areas. serum zinc means level in boys aged 3–5 years was (95.3 ± 18.7)μg/dl, and (95.3 ± 17.8)μg/dl in girls aged 3–5 years old. The prevalence of zinc deficiency was 1.5%, 6.6% and 1.8% in 3~,4~,5~ years old urban boys, respectively; 6.8%, 7.7% and 4.0% in rural boys, respectively. The prevalence of zinc deficiency was 2.3%, 0.8% and 1.7% in 3~,4~,5~ years old urban girls, respectively; 4.1%, 7.0% and 4.0% in rural girls, respectively. And there were differences between urban and rural areas in girls of 4~.5 years.DiscussionThe zinc level of children aged 3–5 years in China has been improved compared with ten years ago, but the zinc deficiency of rural children is still lower than that of urban children, especially those aged 4 to 5 years in rural areas, so we should pay more attention to this group.

scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes among Chinese children and adolescents: a national observational study

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (7) ◽  
pp. 813-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenghe Wang ◽  
Zhiyong Zou ◽  
Haijun Wang ◽  
Jin Jing ◽  
Jiayou Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Impaired Fasting Glucose ◽  
Fasting Glucose ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Chinese Children ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Obesity Prevalence ◽  
Fried Foods ◽  
Chinese Children And Adolescents

AbstractThe prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has reportedly increased significantly among Chinese children and adolescents. We aimed to examine the prevalence of IFG and DM, the disparities in sex and region and related risk factors among Chinese children and adolescents. A total of 16 434 Chinese children aged 6–17 years were selected from a national cross-sectional survey, and fasting glucose was measured for all participants. Overall, mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration was (4·64 (sd 0·51)) mmol/l, and the prevalence of DM and IFG was 0·10 and 1·89 %, respectively. Compared with girls, boys had higher FPG concentration (4·69 v. 4·58 mmol/l, r 0·107, P<0·001) and IFG prevalence (2·67 v. 1·07 %, rφ 0·059, P<0·001). Compared with rural children and adolescents, urban children and adolescent had higher FPG concentration (4·65 v. 4·62 mmol/l, r 0·029, P<0·001) and DM prevalence (0·15 v. 0·05 %, rφ 0·016, P<0·01). In addition, self-reported fried foods intake and overweight/obesity were positively associated with IFG, and the proportion of consuming fried foods more than or equal to once per week and overweight/obesity prevalence in boys and urban children and adolescents were significantly higher than girls and rural children and adolescents, respectively (P<0·05). Although the prevalence of IFG and DM was relatively low in Chinese children and adolescents, sex and region disparities were observed, which may be associated with differences in overweight/obesity prevalence and dietary factors.

scholarly journals The Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Urban Schoolchildren with Moderate Anemia is Better than in a Rural Area in Kenya

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Charlotte Evang ◽  
Tsige-Yohannes Habte ◽  
Willis Omondi Owino ◽  
Michael Bernhardt Krawinkel
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Iron And Zinc ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Low diet quality is a driver of general and micronutrient malnutrition in urban and rural areas. The objective was to compare malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies linked to dietary intake among urban and rural schoolchildren from food insecure settings in Kenya. The cross-sectional study was conducted among urban and rural schoolchildren aged 7–9 years. Height and weight were measured, venous blood samples were assessed and data on dietary intake was collected. After screening out children with hemoglobin >12.2 g/dL and moderate or severe undernutrition, a total of 36 urban and 35 rural children participated. The prevalence of moderate underweight, wasting, and stunting were lower in urban than in rural children, with significant differences in median z-scores for underweight (p < 0.001) and wasting (p < 0.001). Significantly higher values for serum ferritin (p = 0.012) and zinc (p < 0.001) were found in urban children. Yet, the median adequacy ratios were higher for vitamin C (p = 0.045), iron (p = 0.003), and zinc (p = 0.003) in rural than in urban children. General nutritional, iron, and zinc status were significantly better in slightly anemic urban children than in rural ones. Improving the nutrition of schoolchildren in urban and rural settings requires different dietary approaches.

Physical fitness in rural and urban children and adolescents from Spain

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 417-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Palma Chillón ◽  
Francisco B. Ortega ◽  
Jose Antonio Ferrando ◽  
Jose Antonio Casajus
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Rural And Urban

scholarly journals Sprawność fizyczna dzieci wiejskich i miejskich z niskiej grupy społeczno-ekonomicznej na Jukatanie (Meksyk)

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
Maryla Aftanasiuk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Body Build ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Arm Circumference

Body build and physical fitness of schoolchildren of low socioeconomic strata from urban and rural areas of Yucatan were studied. The material consisted of 552 children from Merida (the capital city of Yucatan State, Mexico) and of 526 children from the Yaxcaba horticultural community, 7 through 14 years of age. These are cross-sectional samples studied in 1996-97 in Merida and in 1999 and 2000 in Yaxcaba. The ethnic origin was evaluated using two surnames of children (from the father and mother side). The studied variables included stature, BMI, arm circumference, grip strength, agility run, Sargent vertical jump index (explosive strength), spine flexibility index, and reaction time. Urban children are significantly taller than rural ones, and BMI and arm circumference show also a tendency to be greater in urban areas. Physical fitness tests are better performed (better results) in rural areas than in urban ones. If the whole material is divided according to two ethnic groups (Mayas and Mestizos, and Creoles)  the differences in body build are still observed but those in physical fitness disappeared. Creole children are taller than Mayas and Mestizos and they show a tendency to have more weight for height and greater arm circumference. Generally, the differences in physical fitness are only observed between rural and urban children what may be caused by a more active way of life in villages than in towns resulting from agricultural activity. However, differences in stature are observed between ethnic as well as between rural and urban groups. This may have the genetic origin (Creoles and Mayas), and in the case of different localities, it may also be caused by more various nutrition in towns than in villages.

scholarly journals Differences in School-readiness among Pre-school Children in Rural and Urban areas of Kisumu County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Catherine Vuhya Mbagaya
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Readiness ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Grade One

This study compared primary school preparedness of urban and rural preschool children in Kisumu county, Kenya. Children were assessed on their level of learning and development in the following domains: pre-academic skills (pre-literacy and pre-mathematics, executive function, and socioemotional cognition. The sample consisted of 390 preschool children who had completed their curriculum and were transitioning to Grade One. Children were assessed using an adapted and validated form of the Measurement of Development and Early Learning (MODEL) global item set. We hypothesized that urban children would score higher on all domains of learning and development than rural children. Results showed that indeed urban children were more prepared for primary school than were rural children in all the domains of learning examined in this study. In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 on equitable quality education that ensures life-long learning for all, county and national government should invest in early childhood development and education (ECDE) in both rural and urban so that all boys and girls can be ready for primary education and improve future outcomes for all children.

scholarly journals Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs of urban and rural areas of Cuiaba, Mato Grosso

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 3705
Author(s):  
Eveline Da Cruz Boa Sorte ◽  
Arleana Bom Parto Ferreira de Almeida ◽  
Felipe Augusto Constantino S. da Cruz ◽  
Naiani Domingos Gasparetto ◽  
Isabela De Godoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection using serological and molecular analyses in dogs from Cuiabá, a municipality of the Brazilian Cerrado, and the associated factors involved in the transmission cycle. A cross-sectional study was conducted with dogs from the rural and urban areas of Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) from February 2010 to January 2011, and antibodies and the DNA of Toxoplasma gondii were evaluated using indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the study, a total of 269 dogs were evaluated using IFA considering positive titer threshold of ? 16 and buffy coat PCR. Of the 269 dogs surveyed, 48.7% had anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies according to IFA, and 15.6% had the parasite’s DNA. The seroprevalence was 62.4% in the rural districts and 40.4% in the urban areas, and the difference between these areas was significant (p = 0.0007). The most common levels of antibody titers were 51 in 256 (39%) dogs, followed by 1024 in 37 (28.2%) dogs. The infectious agent was associated with breed, age, access to the street and the environment in which the animal lived (p <0.05). The serological and molecular results showed that T. gondii infection is active in the canine population in the rural and urban areas of Cuiabá, with a higher risk in dogs residing in rural areas.

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