scholarly journals Bayesian Source Attribution of Salmonella Typhimurium Isolates From Human Patients and Farm Animals in England and Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Arnold ◽  
Richard Piers Smith ◽  
Yue Tang ◽  
Jaromir Guzinski ◽  
Liljana Petrovska
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Clustering Methods ◽  
Source Attribution ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Frequency Matching ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of the study was to apply a Bayesian source attribution model to England and Wales based data on Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) and monophasic variants (MST), using different subtyping approaches based on sequence data. The data consisted of laboratory confirmed human cases and mainly livestock samples collected from surveillance or monitoring schemes. Three different subtyping methods were used, 7-loci Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), Core-genome MLST, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism distance, with the impact of varying the genetic distance over which isolates would be grouped together being varied for the latter two approaches. A Bayesian frequency matching method, known as the modified Hald method, was applied to the data from each of the subtyping approaches. Pigs were found to be the main contributor to human infection for ST/MST, with approximately 60% of human cases attributed to them, followed by other mammals (mostly horses) and cattle. It was found that the use of different clustering methods based on sequence data had minimal impact on the estimates of source attribution. However, there was an impact of genetic distance over which isolates were grouped: grouping isolates which were relatively closely related increased uncertainty but tended to have a better model fit.

scholarly journals A spatial model of COVID-19 transmission in England and Wales: early spread, peak timing and the impact of seasonality

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1829) ◽  
pp. 20200272
Author(s):  
Leon Danon ◽  
Ellen Brooks-Pollock ◽  
Mick Bailey ◽  
Matt Keeling
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Capacity Planning ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Starting Location ◽  
The Impact

An outbreak of a novel coronavirus was first reported in China on 31 December 2019. As of 9 February 2020, cases have been reported in 25 countries, including probable human-to-human transmission in England. We adapted an existing national-scale metapopulation model to capture the spread of COVID-19 in England and Wales. We used 2011 census data to inform population sizes and movements, together with parameter estimates from the outbreak in China. We predict that the epidemic will peak 126 to 147 days (approx. 4 months) after the start of person-to-person transmission in the absence of controls. Assuming biological parameters remain unchanged and transmission persists from February, we expect the peak to occur in June. Starting location and model stochasticity have a minimal impact on peak timing. However, realistic parameter uncertainty leads to peak time estimates ranging from 78 to 241 days following sustained transmission. Seasonal changes in transmission rate can substantially impact the timing and size of the epidemic. We provide initial estimates of the epidemic potential of COVID-19. These results can be refined with more precise parameters. Seasonal changes in transmission could shift the timing of the peak into winter, with important implications for healthcare capacity planning. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling that shaped the early COVID-19 pandemic response in the UK.

Salmonellae in cattle and their feedingstuffs, and the relation to human infection

1965 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Phage Type ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Cross Infection ◽  
Holding Time ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Phage Types ◽  
High Incidence

1. The incidence of salmonellosis in cattle in England and Wales has been investigated.2. S. dublin and S. typhi-murium were much the commonest serotypes encountered.3. The frequency of both serotypes was highest in the last quarter of the year, which is the period of maximum calvings. The high incidence of calf infection in this quarter is probably related to calf sales and movement.4. In the previous investigations (Reports, 1959a, 1961), these serotypes were isolated only infrequently from the raw materials of animal feedingstuffs and from complete animal foods.5. The distribution of phage-types of S. typhi-murium in cattle was compared with that in man and in animal feedingstuffs. Six phage-types were common both in cattle and in man. These types were: 1a (2), 1 var. 5 (U9), 1a var. 1 (3an), 1 (1), 1a (U57) and 2 (12). Three of the types found in feedingstuffs were common in both human and bovine infections. These types were: 1a (2), 1a (U57)and 2 (12).6. In a study of ten incidents of salmonellosis in cattle, it was shown that the same phage-type or serotype was commonly found in man in other farm animals and occasionally in feedingstuffs.7. It is clear that salmonellosis is spread into different regions of the country by calf movement.8. The importance is endorsed of conditions of travel and lairage, and of the holding time at abattoirs, in the promotion of cross-infection with salmonellae.9. Measures are outlined for the reduction of salmonellosis in cattle and of its transfer to man.

Influence of DAFS-25+polizon composition on blood and functional state of liver of steers at fattening

2020 ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
Inna R. Kilmetova ◽  
◽  
Igor A. Rodin ◽  
Nazira I. Khayrullina ◽  
Nikolay G. Fenchenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional State ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Stimulation Of

Summary. The disbalanced feeding and the uneven distribution of micro- and macroelements in the environment leads to a trace element, in particular hypomelanosis. To accelerate the growth and preservation of young farm animals include in the diet of various biological additives and drugs, which include selenium. For stimulation of weight gain in the livestock industry, as well as for the prevention and treatment of pathological processes in addition to micro - and macrouse amino acids, primarily methionine. The aim of this work was to study the influence of composition of DAFS-25+Polizon on morpho-biochemical parameters of blood and functional state of the liver in fattening bulls of black-motley breed in the conditions of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Experiments using were conducted on bull-calves of black-motley breed of the properties in the properties age from 6 to 15 months. The first experimental group during the experiment was additionally given the composition of DAFS-25+Polizon at a dose of 2 mg/kg, the animals of the control group received a standard diet. To assess the impact of the composition DAFS-25+Polizon on metabolism cattle studied morphological and biochemical indicators of blood and conducted histological examination of the liver. It is established that the use of the composition of DAFS-25+Polizon at a dose of 2 mg/kg increases the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the experimental group and reduces the amount of white blood cells. The serum content of total protein, phosphorus and calcium increases in the group of experimental animals. Microscopic examination of the liver revealed no changes in the structure of the organ and hepatocytes in the experimental group, whereas in the control group hemodynamic disorders and dystrophic changes in liver cells were observed. Thus, the use of the composition DAFS-25+Polizon at a dose of 2 mg/kg of live weight in fattening bulls black-and-white breed contributes to the increase of redox processes in the body, stimulation of metabolism, prevent the development of liver disorders of cellular mechanisms of metabolism, optimizes the structure of the liver, which generally provides higher productivity.

scholarly journals PSI-40 Two mitochondrial lineages revealed in North American yak

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 477-477
Author(s):  
Leah K Treffer ◽  
Edward S Rice ◽  
Anna M Fuller ◽  
Samuel Cutler ◽  
Jessica L Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Haplotype Network ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Mt Dna ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Sister Clade ◽  
Mtdna Sequence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) are bovids native to the Asian Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Studies of Asian yak have revealed that introgression with domestic cattle has contributed to the evolution of the species. When imported to North America (NA), some hybridization with B. taurus did occur. The objective of this study was to use mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequence data to better understand the mtDNA origin of NA yak and their relationship to Asian yak and related species. The complete mtDNA sequence of 14 individuals (12 NA yak, 1 Tibetan yak, 1 Tibetan B. indicus) was generated and compared with sequences of similar species from GeneBank (B. indicus, B. grunniens (Chinese), B. taurus, B. gaurus, B. primigenius, B. frontalis, Bison bison, and Ovis aries). Individuals were aligned to the B. grunniens reference genome (ARS_UNL_BGru_maternal_1.0), which was also included in the analyses. The mtDNA genes were annotated using the ARS-UCD1.2 cattle sequence as a reference. Ten unique NA yak haplotypes were identified, which a haplotype network separated into two clusters. Variation among the NA haplotypes included 93 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms. A maximum likelihood tree including all taxa was made using IQtree after the data were partitioned into twenty-two subgroups using PartitionFinder2. Notably, six NA yak haplotypes formed a clade with B. indicus; the other four haplotypes grouped with B. grunniens and fell as a sister clade to bison, gaur and gayal. These data demonstrate two mitochondrial origins of NA yak with genetic variation in protein coding genes. Although these data suggest yak introgression with B. indicus, it appears to date prior to importation into NA. In addition to contributing to our understanding of the species history, these results suggest the two major mtDNA haplotypes in NA yak may functionally differ. Characterization of the impact of these differences on cellular function is currently underway.

scholarly journals Networking for Cloud Robotics: The DewROS Platform and Its Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Alessio Botta ◽  
Jonathan Cacace ◽  
Riccardo De Vivo ◽  
Bruno Siciliano ◽  
Giorgio Ventre
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Cloud Services ◽  
Cloud Provider ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Network Connection ◽  
Cloud Robotics ◽  
Networking Technologies ◽  
The Impact

With the advances in networking technologies, robots can use the almost unlimited resources of large data centers, overcoming the severe limitations imposed by onboard resources: this is the vision of Cloud Robotics. In this context, we present DewROS, a framework based on the Robot Operating System (ROS) which embodies the three-layer, Dew-Robotics architecture, where computation and storage can be distributed among the robot, the network devices close to it, and the Cloud. After presenting the design and implementation of DewROS, we show its application in a real use-case called SHERPA, which foresees a mixed ground and aerial robotic platform for search and rescue in an alpine environment. We used DewROS to analyze the video acquired by the drones in the Cloud and quickly spot signs of human beings in danger. We perform a wide experimental evaluation using different network technologies and Cloud services from Google and Amazon. We evaluated the impact of several variables on the performance of the system. Our results show that, for example, the video length has a minimal impact on the response time with respect to the video size. In addition, we show that the response time depends on the Round Trip Time (RTT) of the network connection when the video is already loaded into the Cloud provider side. Finally, we present a model of the annotation time that considers the RTT of the connection used to reach the Cloud, discussing results and insights into how to improve current Cloud Robotics applications.

scholarly journals Do Animals Play a Role in the Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)? A Commentary

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Anna Costagliola ◽  
Giovanna Liguori ◽  
Danila d’Angelo ◽  
Caterina Costa ◽  
Francesca Ciani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Partial Protection ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
First Case ◽  
And Behavior

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the Beta-coronavirus genus. It is 96.2% homologous to bat CoV RaTG13 and 88% homologous to two bat SARS-like coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 is the infectious agent responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was first reported in the Hubei province of Wuhan, China, at the beginning of December 2019. Human transmission from COVID-19 patients or incubation carriers occurs via coughing, sneezing, speaking, discharge from the nose, or fecal contamination. Various strains of the virus have been reported around the world, with different virulence and behavior. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 shares certain epitopes with some taxonomically related viruses, with tropism for the most common synanthropic animals. By elucidating the immunological properties of the circulating SARS-CoV-2, a partial protection due to human–animal interactions could be supposed in some situations. In addition, differential epitopes could be used for the differential diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There have been cases of transmission from people with COVID-19 to pets such as cats and dogs. In addition, wild felines were infected. All These animals were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and recovered spontaneously. Experimental studies showed cats and ferrets to be more susceptible to COVID-19. COVID-19 positive dogs and felines do not transmit the infection to humans. In contrast, minks at farms were severely infected from people with COVID-19. A SARS-Cov-2 variant in the Danish farmed mink that had been previously infected by COVID-19 positive workers, spread to mink workers causing the first case of animal-to-human infection transmission that causes a moderate decreased sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. Thus, more investigations are necessary. It remains important to understand the risk that people with COVID-19 pose to their pets, as well as wild or farm animals so effective recommendations and risk management measures against COVID-19 can be made. A One Health unit that facilitates collaboration between public health and veterinary services is recommended.

Funding Local Political Parties in England and Wales: Donations and Constituency Campaigns

2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Johnston ◽  
Charles Pattie
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Liberal Democrats ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The funding of political parties is an issue of considerable contemporary concern in the UK. Although most attention has been paid to the situation regarding national parties, the new funding regime introduced in 2001 also applies to constituency parties, and some concerns have been raised regarding the limits on spending and expenditure there. Using data released by the Electoral Commission on all donations above a specified minimum to constituency parties, this article looks at the pattern of donations over the period 2001–05. It then analyses the impact of spending on the 2005 constituency campaigns, showing that for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats substantial donations enhanced their vote-winning performances in seats where their candidates were challengers whereas for Labour substantial donations aided its performance in marginal seats that it was defending.

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