scholarly journals Detection of DENV-2 and Insect-Specific Flaviviruses in Mosquitoes Collected From Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Fang ◽  
Ernest Tambo ◽  
Jing-Bo Xue ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Nong Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Mosquito Surveillance ◽  
Culex Flavivirus ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Human Infections

BackgroundMosquito-borne diseases are rapidly spreading due to increasing international travel and trade. Routine mosquito surveillance and screening for mosquito-borne pathogens can be early indicators for local disease transmission and outbreaks. However, arbovirus detection in mosquito vectors has rarely been reported in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA total of 769,541 Aedes and Culex mosquitoes were collected by Black Hole traps during routine mosquito surveillance in the first half of 2016. Culex. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti were the most prevalent species observed. Twenty-five and 24 randomly selected pools of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively, were screened for arboviruses by RT-PCR.ResultsDengue 2 (DENV-2) and four strains of insect-specific flaviviruses, including one of cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV) and three of Phlebotomus-associated flavivirus (PAFV) were detected in pools of Ae. aegypti. We also detected 10 strains of Culex flavivirus (CxFV) in pools of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Phylogenetic analysis using whole genome sequences placed the DENV strain into the cosmopolitan 1 sub-DENV-2 genotype, and the CxFVs into the African/Caribbean/Latin American genotype. These analyses also showed that the DENV-2 strain detected in the present study was closely related to strains detected in China in 2014 and in Japan in 2018, which suggests frequent movement of DENV-2 strains among these countries. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis suggested at least five introductions of DENV-2 into Saudi Arabia from 2014 through 2018, most probably from India.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study reports the first detection of four arboviruses DENV, CFAV, PAFV, and CxFV in mosquitoes in Saudi Arabia, which shows that they are co-circulating in Jeddah. Our findings show a need for widespread mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance programs in Saudi Arabia, which will improve our understanding of the transmission dynamics of the mosquito-borne arboviruses within the country and help early predict and mitigate the risk of human infections and outbreaks.

scholarly journals How does globalization affect COVID-19 responses?

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve J. Bickley ◽  
Ho Fai Chan ◽  
Ahmed Skali ◽  
David Stadelmann ◽  
Benno Torgler
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
State Capacity ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Government Effectiveness ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
High Government

Abstract Background The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vast differences in approaches to the control and containment of coronavirus across the world and has demonstrated the varied success of such approaches in minimizing the transmission of coronavirus. While previous studies have demonstrated high predictive power of incorporating air travel data and governmental policy responses in global disease transmission modelling, factors influencing the decision to implement travel and border restriction policies have attracted relatively less attention. This paper examines the role of globalization on the pace of adoption of international travel-related non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the coronavirus pandemic. This study aims to offer advice on how to improve the global planning, preparation, and coordination of actions and policy responses during future infectious disease outbreaks with empirical evidence. Methods and data We analyzed data on international travel restrictions in response to COVID-19 of 185 countries from January to October 2020. We applied time-to-event analysis to examine the relationship between globalization and the timing of travel restrictions implementation. Results The results of our survival analysis suggest that, in general, more globalized countries, accounting for the country-specific timing of the virus outbreak and other factors, are more likely to adopt international travel restrictions policies. However, countries with high government effectiveness and globalization were more cautious in implementing travel restrictions, particularly if through formal political and trade policy integration. This finding is supported by a placebo analysis of domestic NPIs, where such a relationship is absent. Additionally, we find that globalized countries with high state capacity are more likely to have higher numbers of confirmed cases by the time a first restriction policy measure was taken. Conclusions The findings highlight the dynamic relationship between globalization and protectionism when governments respond to significant global events such as a public health crisis. We suggest that the observed caution of policy implementation by countries with high government efficiency and globalization is a by-product of commitment to existing trade agreements, a greater desire to ‘learn from others’ and also perhaps of ‘confidence’ in a government’s ability to deal with a pandemic through its health system and state capacity. Our results suggest further research is warranted to explore whether global infectious disease forecasting could be improved by including the globalization index and in particular, the de jure economic and political, and de facto social dimensions of globalization, while accounting for the mediating role of government effectiveness. By acting as proxies for a countries’ likelihood and speed of implementation for international travel restriction policies, such measures may predict the likely time delays in disease emergence and transmission across national borders.

scholarly journals Satellite Imaging and Long-Term Mosquito Surveillance Implicate the Influence of Rapid Urbanization on Culex Vector Populations

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
Eleanor N. Field ◽  
Ryan E. Tokarz ◽  
Ryan C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Mosquito Surveillance

The ecology and environmental conditions of a habitat have profound influences on mosquito population abundance. As a result, mosquito species vary in their associations with particular habitat types, yet long-term studies showing how mosquito populations shift in a changing ecological landscape are lacking. To better understand how land use changes influence mosquito populations, we examined mosquito surveillance data over a thirty-four-year period for two contrasting sites in central Iowa. One site displayed increasing levels of urbanization over time and a dramatic decline in Culex pipiens group (an informal grouping of Culex restuans, Culex pipiens, and Culex salinarius, referred to as CPG), the primary vectors of West Nile virus in central Iowa. Similar effects were also shown for other mosquito vector populations, yet the abundance of Aedes vexans remained constant during the study period. This is in contrast to a second site, which reflected an established urban landscape. At this location, there were no significant changes in land use and CPG populations remained constant. Climate data (temperature, total precipitation) were compiled for each location to see if these changes could account for altered population dynamics, but neither significantly influence CPG abundance at the respective site locations. Taken together, our data suggest that increased landscape development can have negative impacts on Culex vector populations, and we argue that long-term surveillance paired with satellite imagery analysis are useful methods for measuring the impacts of rapid human development on mosquito vector communities. As a result, we believe that land use changes can have important implications for mosquito management practices, population modeling, and disease transmission dynamics.

scholarly journals Discovery of Cocirculating Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus At Wide Bay Military Training Area, Northeastern Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-223
Author(s):  
Jo Kizu ◽  
Christina Neuman ◽  
Luke Le Grand ◽  
Wenjun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Ross River Virus ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Culex Annulirostris ◽  
Australian Defence Force ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Training Area

ABSTRACT An arbovirus surveillance military exercise was conducted to assess the risk of Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Wide Bay training area (WBTA), northeastern Australia, in April 2018. Of the 5,540 female mosquitoes collected, 3,702 were screened for RRV and BFV by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in a field laboratory. One pool of Verrallina funerea was positive for RRV and 8 pools (7 pools of Aedes vigilax and 1 pool of Culex annulirostris) were positive for BFV. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of the E2 protein subgrouped both RRV and BFV with viruses previously isolated from human infections, indicating the potential risk of RRV and BFV infection to ADF personnel while training in WBTA. This is the 1st time that both RRV and BFV have been detected in a military training area.

scholarly journals Barriers and Facilitators to COVID-19 screening at Jaipur International Airport, India.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Mantri ◽  
Nitin Kumar Joshi ◽  
Pankaj Bhardwaj ◽  
Akhil Dhanesh Goel ◽  
Manoj Kumar Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health Department ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Organization Behavior ◽  
Travel History ◽  
International Airport ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background:Airports pose a possible threat in facilitating global disease transmission within the community which may be prevented by rigorous systematic entry-exit screening. With the aim to capture the perception of stakeholders associated with COVID-19 on barriers and facilitators of airport screening at Jaipur International Airport. Also, to assess key outcomes viz. total passengers screened, suspected cases, & confirmed cases.Methods:An inductive-deductive mix-method thematic analysis was conducted to capture qualitative data of key stakeholders. Additionally, quantitative data was obtained from the Rajasthan Medical & Health Department team deployed for COVID-19 airport screening.Results:Jaipur International Airport screened 4565 passengers (Males=4073 and Females=492) with 23 suspected cases during an outlined period of declaration of Pandemic to Lockdown in India (11th to 24th March 2020). Total 65 passengers had travel history from China (3 from Wuhan). The mean average age of passengers was 40.95 ± 7.8 years. The average screening time per passenger was 2-3 minutes with a load of 25-90 passengers per team per flight. Fishbone analysis of screening challenges revealed poor cooperation of passengers, masking symptoms, apprehension, and stigma related to quarantine. Moreover, inadequate human resources and changing guidelines overburdened healthcare providers. But, perception of risk, and social responsibility of travelers together with supportive organization behavior act as facilitators. Overall, groundwork on airport screening was insightful to propose key action areas for screening.Conclusions:Globally, COVID-19 has an impact on health infrastructure and international travel. International coordination with streamlined screening will go a LONG way in virus containment.

Molecular characterization of the first human G15 rotavirus strain of zoonotic origin from the bovine species

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Tsugawa ◽  
Yoshiki Fujii ◽  
Yusuke Akane ◽  
Saho Honjo ◽  
Kenji Kondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Potential Reservoir ◽  
Group A Rotaviruses ◽  
Paediatric Outpatient ◽  
Group A ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Bovine Species

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) infect a wide variety of mammalian and avian species. Animals act as a potential reservoir to RVA human infections by direct virion transmission or by contributing genes to reassortants. Here, we report the molecular characterization of a rare human RVA strain Ni17-46 with a genotype G15P[14], isolated in Japan in 2017 during rotavirus surveillance in a paediatric outpatient clinic. The genome constellation of this strain was G15-P[14]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A13-N2-T9-E2-H3. This is the first report of an RVA with G15 genotype in humans, and sequencing and phylogenetic analysis results suggest that human infection with this strain has zoonotic origin from the bovine species. Given the fact that this strain was isolated from a patient with gastroenteritis and dehydration symptoms, we must take into account the virulence of this strain in humans.

The Arabs and Gabriel García Márquez

2021 ◽  
pp. 231-245
Author(s):  
Heba El Attar
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Gabriel Garcia Marquez ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
South American ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
The Third ◽  
American Author

In 2014, newspapers across the Spanish-speaking world covered how the international press paid tribute to García Márquez. Particular attention was given to the extensive eulogies in the Arab press. A special homage was paid to the author’s memory in Saudi Arabia, where the Third South American-Arab Countries Summit was being held at the time. This was not Naguib Mahfuz; this was García Márquez. How was it possible for a Latin American author to become that popular across the Arab world? How was it possible for his novels to be referenced naturally in popular Arab films such as The Embassy in the Building (2005)? Was all this simply due to the fact that in postindependence Latin America, particularly since the 1940s, there has been a growing de-orientalist discourse? Or did García Márquez craft a particular dialogue with the internal and external Arabs? With all this in mind, and by drawing on Latin American (de)orientalism in the works of Kushigian, Nagy-Zekmi, and Tyutina, among others, this article analyzes the dimensions and implications of García Márquez’s depiction of the internal Arab (immigrant in Latin America) in some of his novels as well as his dialogue with the external Arab (the Arab world) in some of his press articles.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Analysis of MERS-CoV in a Camel Abattoir, Saudi Arabia, 2016–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3089-3091
Author(s):  
Maged Gomaa Hemida ◽  
Daniel K.W. Chu ◽  
Yen Y. Chor ◽  
Samuel M.S. Cheng ◽  
Leo L.M. Poon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Saudi Arabia

scholarly journals 46. Teaching of Astronomy

1982 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 633-634
Author(s):  
D. G. Wentzel ◽  
L. Houziaux ◽  
M. Rigutti ◽  
W. Buscombe ◽  
C. Iwaniszewska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Canary Islands ◽  
International Schools ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Local Sources ◽  
Latin American Countries

The projects of this Commission are increasingly aimed at the astronomically developing countries. The projects are:International Schools for Young Astronomers. These are the highest-priority activity of the Commission. They last three weeks, have typically 25 to 35 participants, cover a range of astronomical topics with emphasis on practical training, and are funded by the IAU, UNESCO, and local sources. This report covers three schools: i) La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, September 1979, participants from Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands and five Latin American countries, ii) Hvar, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia, September – October 1980, participants from Balkan and Mediterranean countries, iii) Helwan Observatory, Cairo, Egypt, participants from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, China.

scholarly journals Qualitative exploration of cultural factors influencing diet among African-, Caribbean- and US-born Blacks living in the northeast USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. M. Brown ◽  
R. F. Houser ◽  
J. Mattei ◽  
A. H. Lichtenstein ◽  
S. C. Folta
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Black Population ◽  
Taste Preferences ◽  
Dietary Acculturation ◽  
African Caribbean

Abstract Limited research considers the ethnic and cultural diversity among the US Black population, and how this diversity influences diet. The purpose of the present qualitative study is to (1) explore the influence of culture, nativity and ethnicity on the diet of US-born, African-born and Caribbean/Latin American-born Blacks and (2) explore a model of dietary acculturation among the African-born and Caribbean/Latin American-born Blacks. The purposive sample included twenty-two US-born, fifteen Caribbean/Latin American-born and ten African-born Blacks (n 47) living in Boston, who participated in either an in-depth interview (n 12) or a focus group (five groups, size 5–9). Satia-Abouta's model of dietary acculturation informed the interview and focus group questions, which explored the influence of psychosocial factors, taste preferences and environmental factors on dietary changes. NVivo 10 software was utilised for the coding and analysis. Topics based on a priori and posteriori analyses included differences in psychosocial factors and taste preferences and environmental factors by nativity. Caribbean/Latin American-born and African-born Blacks expressed the importance of cultural identity in their dietary preferences and found adaptive strategies to maintain cultural diet, while US-born Blacks demonstrated a variety of preferences for traditionally African American foods. Environmental factors varied by place of birth and residence, with US-born Blacks citing poorer quality and limited affordability of foods. These findings suggest the importance of psychosocial and environmental factors in shaping the diet of the ethnically diverse US Black population and underscore the dietary diversity within and across the different ethnic groups of Blacks.

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