A serosurvey of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection of goats in the North of Portugal

Abstract To better understand the epizootiology of caprine paratuberculosis in the North of Portugal, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2015. The seroprevalence and risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) seropositivity were evaluated. Antibodies against Map were determined by a commercial ELISA. In 936 sera tested from 56 goat herds, 120 (12.8%, 95% CI: 10.8–15.1%) goats and 34 (60.7%, 95% CI: 47.6–72.4%) herds were positive. Risk factors for seropositivity were investigated by logistic regression models. The odds of Map seropositivity were found to be higher for animals with clinical signs, OR = 5.1 (95% CI: 2.7–9.6%), animals belonging to herds with previous wasting disease, OR = 2.3 (95% CI: 1.1–4.8%), and accumulation of manure in the herd, OR = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.7–5.7%). The potential risk factors identified in this study support the current recommendations for the control of paratuberculosis in these and other animals.

Author(s):  
Mohamed E Ahmed ◽  
Sara Siddig Abdalla ◽  
Ibrahim A Adam ◽  
Martin P Grobusch ◽  
Imadeldin E Aradaib

Abstract Background Hydatid disease or cystic echinococcosis (CE) is caused by the larval stages of the cestode parasite Echinococcus granulosus. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of seropositivity and to identify the risk factors associated with the disease among humans in Khartoum State, Central Sudan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2017 and April 2018. A total of 305 randomly selected consenting participants from three localities were included in the current investigation using a multistage probability sampling method. An in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies to E. granulosus. The χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factors associated with CE seropositivity. Results A seroprevalence of 6.5% (20/305) was recorded among humans in Khartoum State, Central Sudan. Age (odds ratio [OR] 16.61 [confidence interval {CI} 2.21 to 117.92], p=0.006), locality (OR 3.08 [CI 1.42 to 22.54], p=0.011) and contact with dogs (OR 2.34 [CI 0.026 to 0.646], p=0.013) were recorded as potential risk factors for seropositivity to CE in the study area. Conclusions The seroprevalence of CE (6.5%) is high among humans in Khartoum State, Central Sudan. Improved surveillance is necessary to optimize control and prevention strategies for CE as an important neglected zoonotic disease among the human population in the study area of Central Sudan.


Dermatology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 235 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Molina-Leyva ◽  
Carlos Cuenca-Barrales

Background/Aims: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory and destructive skin disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to stop its progression. Data concerning adolescent-onset HS are scarce. The aims of this study are to describe the prevalence of adolescent-onset HS and to explore potential risk factors and the disease features of these patients. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study including 134 patients was performed. Results: Adolescent-onset HS occurred in 51.5% (69/134) of patients. Adolescent-onset HS was associated with female sex, positive family history, presence of pilonidal sinus, acne conglobata, longer disease duration and a worse perception of disease severity. Conclusion: Adolescent-onset HS might be more frequent than previously reported. Female sex, positive family history and the presence of elements of the follicular occlusion tetrad identify individuals with a higher risk of early onset. These patients experience a longer disease duration and perceive their disease as severer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Mei ◽  
Qing Zhong ◽  
Gong Chen ◽  
Yuanxia Huang ◽  
Junlin Li

Abstract Background In recent years, research on health literacy has become increasingly focused on the health care system and public health. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate health literacy and analyse the risk factors that affect health literacy in Wuhan, China. Methods Multistage stratified random sampling was used to select 5304 urban and rural residents aged 15 to 69 years from 204 monitoring points in 15 districts of Wuhan. Using the Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) (2018 edition), a face-to-face survey was conducted from November to December 2018. Risk factors that may affect health literacy were assessed using the Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression models. Results The knowledge rate of health literacy was relatively low (19.3%). The knowledge rate of health-related behaviour and lifestyle (BAL, 17.3%) was the lowest of the three aspects of health literacy, and the knowledge rate of chronic diseases (CD, 19.0%) was the lowest of the six dimensions of health literacy. Respondents who lived in urban areas, had higher education levels, worked as medical staff, had a higher household income and did not suffer from chronic diseases were likely to have higher health literacy. Conclusions The health literacy levels of citizens in Wuhan are insufficient and need to improve.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1085-1092
Author(s):  
E. K. Kathambi ◽  
J. A. VanLeeuwen ◽  
G. K. Gitau ◽  
C. Kamunde

Background and Aim: The welfare of animals kept in livestock production systems has raised concerns around the world. Adult dairy cattle require adequate rest and spend approximately 12 h/day lying down. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the stall factors and management practices affecting cows' lying time, stall cleanliness, and cows' cleanliness (udder and upper leg), in smallholder dairy cows in Meru County of Kenya. Materials and Methods: A total of 106 milking cows from 73 farms were assessed for daily lying time and cleanliness. Data loggers were used to record the lying time of cows for 3 days. Stall, udder, and upper leg cleanliness were assessed using a 5-score system: 1 (very clean) to 5 (very dirty). Management information was acquired using a questionnaire that was administered face-to-face to the farmers in their native Kimeru language. Univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were fit to determine factors associated with cows' lying time and dichotomized stall and cows' own cleanliness, respectively. Results: The mean daily lying time was 10.9±2.2 h, and the mean stall cleanliness score was 2.4±1.0. The mean average cleanliness scores of the udder and upper legs were 1.9±0.7 and 2.5±1.1, respectively. Overall, 35% of the stalls were categorized as dirty (>2.5), whereas 13% and 47% of the cows had udder and leg cleanliness scores >2.5, respectively. From the final multivariable models (p<0.05), daily lying time increased by 1.0 h for cows older than 5.25 years versus younger cows. Conversely, lying time decreased by 1.0 h with stall cleanliness scores >2.5 and by 1.6 h with poorly positioned neck rails. In an interaction term, addition of new bedding at least once a day without removing stall manure at least once a day decreased the daily lying time of the cows by 1.5 h, whereas failure to add new bedding at least once a day but removing stall manure at least once a day decreased the lying time of the cows by 1.2 h. Farm-level risk factors for stall dirtiness (>2.5) included delayed cleaning of the alley (odds ratio [OR]=6.6, p=0.032), lack of bedding (OR=4.9, p=0.008), and standing idle and/or backward in the stall (OR=10.5, p=0.002). Stalls categorized as dirty (OR=2.9, p=0.041) and lack of bedding (OR=2.7, p=0.065) were cow- and farm-level risk factors for dirtiness of the udder (>2.5), respectively, whereas the stall being dirty (OR=2.3, p=0.043) was the only risk factor (cow level) for dirtiness of the upper legs (>2.5). Conclusion: It was recommended that farmers should pay attention to the specific factors identified regarding the stall design (e.g., neck rail position) and bedding/manure management that impact the cleanliness of cows and their lying time.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Andro Pramana Witarto ◽  
Alpha Fardah Athiyyah ◽  
I.G.B. Adria Hariastawa ◽  
I Gusti Made Reza Gunadi Ranuh

Background: Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) is one of the worst and most common complications of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). The mortality rate of HD patients with enterocolitis is still considered to be higher compared to that of those without enterocolitis. Purpose: This study aimed to identify and evaluate potential risk factors for HAEC development. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the medical records of HD patients treated from January 2015 to September 2018 at Regional Public Hospital (RSUD) Dr. Soetomo, Surabaya. The inclusion criteria were HD patients who had or had not experienced enterocolitis. The analysis was done by comparing the presence of risk factors between groups of HD patients with and without preoperative and/or postoperative HAEC. The results were presented as the median value and frequency. To evaluate further, a prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% confidence interval was performed. The Mann–Whitney U test was also performed with a significance level of p < 0.05 for one factor: length of aganglionic intestinal segments. Results: This study showed that 12 of the 40 HD patients studied (30%) had experienced enterocolitis. The risk of developing HAEC was associated with patients who had a history of previous enterocolitis (PR 6.60 [2.94 < PR < 14.80]). Regarding surgical details, patients who had had surgery only once (31.30% compared to 14.30%), surgery with one surgical method (29.40% compared to 20.00%), and a primary procedure had a higher incidence of HAEC (29.40% compared to 27.30%). Conclusion: HD patients with a history of previous enterocolitis were found to have a higher risk of developing HAEC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Ylade

Background. Deaths may occur due to complications of measles. The most common measles complication is pneumonia and accounts for most measles-related deaths. Objective. The study aimed to identify risk factors for developing pneumonia among measles cases. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted using measles surveillance data from an outbreak in the Philippines from January 2013 to December 2014. Data on age, sex, area of residence, clinical manifestations, receipt of measles vaccine, and other exposure variables were obtained and analyzed using logistic regression. Results. Approximately 25,166 confirmed measles cases were included in the study where 16% had pneumonia. Potential risk factors identified in the development of pneumonia among confirmed measles cases were younger age (<5 years = OR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.81,3.42; 5-14 years = OR 2.34, 95% CI: 1.64,3.33), resident of Mindanao (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.74,2.74), presence of cough (OR 5.51, 95% CI: 2.04,14.86), presence of conjunctivitis (OR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11,1.55), and being admitted to hospital (OR 3.16, 95% CI: 2.57,3.90). Confirmed measles cases with receipt of measles containing vaccine (MCV) (OR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63,0.87) were found to be less likely to have pneumonia. Conclusion. These risk factors help identify cases requiring prompt management to reduce morbidity and mortality in any future measles outbreaks.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademar Takahama ◽  
Vitoria Iaros de Sousa ◽  
Elisa Emi Tanaka ◽  
Evelise Ono ◽  
Fernanda Akemi Nakanishi Ito ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: This a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between oral health findings and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). Material and Methods: Data were collected from medical records, and a detailed oral physical examination was performed on 663 critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. Data were statistically analysed using univariate and logistic regression models relating the development of VAP with the oral findings. Results: At oral physical examination, the most frequent findings were tooth loss (568 - 85.67%), coated tongue (422 - 63.65%) and oral bleeding (192 - 28.96%). Patients with a coated tongue or oral bleeding on the first day of ICU hospitalization developed more VAP than did patients without these conditions (20.14% vs 13.69%: p=0.02; 23.44% vs 15.50%: p=0.01, respectively). In the logistic regression, a coated tongue and oral bleeding were considered independent risk factors for VAP development [OR=1.60 (1.02-2.47) and OR=1.59 (1.05 – 2.44), respectively]. Conclusions: The presence of a coated tongue and oral bleeding in ICU admission could be considered markers for the development of VAP. Clinical relevance: The results of this paper reinforces the importance of proper maintenance of oral hygiene before intubation, which may lead to a decrease in the incidence of VAP in the ICU. This is particularly important in the COVID-19 current scenario, where more people are expected to need mechanical ventilation, consequently increasing cases of VAP.


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