scholarly journals Predictive Analytics of Cattle Host and Environmental and Micro-Climate Factors for Tick Distribution and Abundance at the Livestock–Wildlife Interface in the Lower Okavango Delta of Botswana

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nlingisisi D. Babayani ◽  
Anastacia Makati
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Okavango Delta ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
Tick Count ◽  
Hot Dry Season ◽  
Tick Distribution

Tick distribution and abundance is influenced by several factors that include micro-climate and environmental and host factors. Contextual understanding of the role played by these factors is critical to guide control measures. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of these factors for changes in tick distribution and abundance at the livestock–wildlife interface of the lower Okavango Delta. A two-stage quota sampling design was adopted to select 30 clusters of seven cattle each for tick investigation. Tick investigation was done by lifting the tail to count the total number of ticks at the anno-vulva region during the four meteorological seasons of the year. Additional data were collected on ear tag number, location of origin, sex, age, body condition score (BCS), season of the year, stocking density, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values of source terrain. A random effects model was used to evaluate predictive value of the above for tick abundance. Additional mapping of tick distribution pattern in the abattoir catchment area was conducted using spatial autocorrelation and hot-spot analysis. Tick intensity of infection increased linearly from males to females (Z = 3.84, p < 0.001), decreased linearly from lower to higher BCS (Z = −4.11, p < 0.001), and increased linearly from cold-dry through dry to wet seasons (Z = 10.19, p < 0.001). Significant clustering of neighboring crushes on account of tick count was noted in the late-hot-dry season, with high tick count in crushes located along the seasonal flood plains and low tick counts in those located in the dry grasslands. It was concluded from this study that cattle tick abundance is influenced largely by season of the year and that the micro-climatic conditions brought about by the seasonal flooding of the delta have a decided effect on tick distribution during the driest of the seasons. Our study has, for the first time, profiled drivers of tick distribution and population growth in this unique ecosystem. This has the potential to benefit human and veterinary public health in the area through implementation of sustainable tick control strategies that are not heavily reliant on acaricides.

scholarly journals Biocidal potential of Eugenia pyriformis essential oil in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in the free-living cycle

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 879-888
Author(s):  
Jaqueline P. Medeiros ◽  
Wanessa C. Bortollucci ◽  
Eloisa S. Silva ◽  
Herika L.M. Oliveira ◽  
Caio F.A.A. Campo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Immersion Test ◽  
Probit Analysis ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Southern Cattle Tick ◽  
Cattle Herds

ABSTRACT: Brazil has one of the largest commercial cattle herds in the world, which naturally coexist with an enormous number of parasitic species. Southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is among these species, interfering with animal productivity and causing losses to the beef and dairy cattle sector. The use of chemical acaricides in the control of this mite has resulted in the emergence of resistant populations. In this sense, alternative control measures using plants as sources of botanical acaricides have shown to be effective. Eugenia pyriformis Cambess is a Brazilian plant with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; however, there are no reports on its acaricidal activity in the literature. The present study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal and larvicidal potential of E. pyriformis leaf essential oil (EO) on southern cattle tick at different stages of the reproductive cycle. E. pyriformis leaves were collected and dried, and had their EO extracted by hydrodistillation (3h) using a modified Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and 32 compounds belonging to the sesquiterpene class were identified: hydrocarbons (17.98%) and oxygenated forms (81.96%), with spathulenol (43.65%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.17%) as the most common. The EO was evaluated by the Adult Immersion Test at the concentrations (500.00 to 3.12mg/mL) in which the following parameters were measured: mortality of females (%), hatchability of eggs (%), and product efficiency (%). Larvae were assessed by the Larval Packet Test at concentrations ranging from 25.00 to 0.00004mg/mL. Lethal concentrations (LC) required for killing 50 and 99.9% of adult females and larvae were determined using Probit analysis. LC50 and LC99.9 of EO were 0.06 and 24.60mg/mL and 1,208.80 and 2,538mg/mL for larvae and adult females, respectively. Action of the EO in the free-living cycle of R. (B.) microplus larvae was another parameter assessed. To this end, the larvae were deposited in pots containing Brachiaria decumbens and, after migration to the leaf apex, a solution containing LC99.9 (24.60mg/mL) of the EO was sprayed. After 24h, 72.25% of the larvae had died, indicating stability of the EO when subjected to uncontrolled temperature and humidity conditions. The mechanism of action through which the EO killed the larvae and adult females was investigated by the Bioautographic Method, which showed inhibition of 3.15mg/mL of the EO on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. The results found in the present experiment indicate that E. pyriformis essential oil is an alternative in the control of southern cattle tick in the larval (parasitic) and free-living cycle (non-parasitic) stages under field conditions.

scholarly journals Distribution of the 2019-nCoV Epidemic and Correlation with Population Emigration from Wuhan, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeliang Chen ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
Zhongmin Guo ◽  
Xi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hot Spot ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Hubei Province ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Spring Festival ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Source ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Case Number

AbstractBACKGROUNDSThe ongoing new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia outbreak is spreading in China and has not reached its peak. Five millions of people had emigrated from Wuhan before the city lockdown, which potentially represent a source of virus spreaders. Case distribution and its correlation with population emigration from Wuhan in early epidemic are of great importance for early warning and prevention of future outbreak.METHODSThe officially reported cases of 2019-nCoV pneumonia were collected as of January 30, 2020. Time and location information of these cases were extracted analyzed with ArcGIS and WinBUGS. Population migration data of Wuhan City and Hubei province were extracted from Baidu Qianxi and analyzed for their correlation with case number.FINDINGSThe 2019-nCoV pneumonia cases were predominantly distributed in Hubei and other provinces of South China. Hot spot provinces included Sichuan and Yunnan provinces that are adjacent to Hubei. While Wuhan city has the highest number of cases, the time risk is relatively stable. Numbers of cases in some cities are relatively low, but the time risks are continuously rising. The case numbers of different provinces and cities of Hubei province were highly correlated with the emigrated populations from Wuhan. Lockdown of 19 cities of Hubei province, and implementation of nationwide control measures efficiently prevented the exponential growth of case number.INTERPRETATIONPopulation emigrated from Wuhan was the main infection source for other cities and provinces. Some cities with low case number but were in rapid increase. Due to the upcoming Spring Festival return transport wave, understanding of the trends of risks in different regions is of great significance for preparedness for both individuals and institutions.FUNDINGSNational Key Research and Development Program of China, National Major Project for Control and Prevention of Infectious Disease in China, State Key Program of National Natural Science of China.

scholarly journals 838. Oral Vancomycin Prophylaxis Works!

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S10-S10
Author(s):  
Nicholas W Van Hise ◽  
David Hines ◽  
Vishal Didwania ◽  
David Beezhold ◽  
Vishnu Chundi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Antibiotic Stewardship ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Pay For Performance ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Urban Hospital ◽  
Oral Vancomycin

Abstract Background Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) cause approximately 500,000 cases a year with an estimated cost that exceeds $4.8 billion. Despite interventions that addressed environmental disinfection, antibiotic stewardship, and infection control, many institutions continue to have a significant burden of disease. Public reporting and “pay for performance” have increased the impetus for better control of CDI. We describe the use of an unpublished scoring system to assess the risk of CDI with subsequent use of OVP to prevent exsporulation and infection in high-risk groups. Methods A large urban hospital in the Chicago area of approximately 400 beds, after following recommended guidelines for prevention of C. difficile, instituted an assessment tool to predict the risk of developing C. difficile infection.This is an observational, cohort study reviewing the pre- and post-implementation of OVP (oral Vancomycin prophylaxis) in hospitalized patients. From January 2017 to December 2017, eligible patients were assessed for risk of C. difficile. The intervention period, from January 2018 to December 2018, we prospectively gave eligible patients oral vancomycin (OVP) 125 mg twice daily if the risk score was 13 or above. No changes in environmental cleaning, antimicrobial stewardship, or restriction of testing were instituted during the periods of enrollment. The analysis was approved by the institutional review board. Results In 2017, 82 patients had a score of 13 or over. Of the 82 patients, 72 (87.8%) developed CDI. In 2018, 62 eligible patients had a score of 13 or over and were given OVP. Of the 62 patients, 5 (8%) developed CDI. The relative risk comparing C. difficile in ≥13 vs. <13 patients (RR = 19.2652; 95% CI = 7.3656, 50.3899). The tool is associated with a specificity of 88.54% and sensitivity of 94.67%, along with a negative predictive value of 95.51% and positive predictive value of 86.59%. Fisher’s exact test was performed between OVP and no OVP in relation to the development of CDI in high-risk patients (P < 0.01). VRE rates reported on the antibiogram remained consistent throughout the study period. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were noted. Conclusion In institutions where appropriate infection control measures and antibiotic stewardship have been implemented, the use of a prediction tool to guide OVP is effective in preventing C. difficile. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.

scholarly journals The dynamics of energy metabolism in the tick embryo

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Martins ◽  
Newton Ruiz ◽  
Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca ◽  
Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior ◽  
Carlos Logullo
Keyword(s):  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Nutrient Utilization ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Cattle Industry ◽  
Glycogen Resynthesis ◽  
Late Embryogenesis ◽  
Novel Drugs ◽  
Energy Consuming

Abstract The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite capable of transmitting a large number of pathogens, causing considerable losses in the cattle industry, with substantial damage to livestock. Over the years, important stages of its life cycle, such as the embryo, have been largely ignored by researchers. Tick embryogenesis has been typically described as an energy-consuming process, sustaining cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. During the embryonic stage of arthropods, there is mobilization of metabolites of maternal origin for the development of organs and tissues of the embryo. Glycogen resynthesis in late embryogenesis is considered as an effective indicator of embryonic integrity. In the cattle tick R.(B. (B.) microplus, glycogen resynthesis is sustained by protein degradation through the gluconeogenesis pathway at the end of the embryonic period. Despite recent advancements in research on tick energy metabolism at the molecular level, the dynamics of nutrient utilization during R. (B.) microplus embryogenesis is still poorly understood. The present review aims to describe the regulatory mechanisms of carbohydrate metabolism during maternal-zygotic transition and identify possible new targets for the development of novel drugs and other control measures against R. (B.) microplus infestations.

Analysis on Causes about Concrete Slab Cracks of Residential Projects and Research on Control Measures

2010 ◽  
Vol 163-167 ◽  
pp. 1768-1771
Author(s):  
Li Qun Zhang ◽  
Yong Feng Xu ◽  
Rui Jun Li
Keyword(s):  
Construction Management ◽  
Concrete Slab ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Strategic Development ◽  
Concrete Floor ◽  
Advanced Experience ◽  
Residential Projects

At present, China lacks theoretical guiding and research on the concrete floor cracks control of residential projects, and there is no advanced experience of other countries for reference on some aspects. The concrete slab cracks of residential projects has become the focus of public attention, the hot spot of complaints and the difficult point of government business. To avoid the cracks has become a big problem and an important content in improving the residential projects’ quality, which demands prompt solution. This paper analyzes the causes of cracks from construction point, and puts forward some proposals from four aspects including formwork engineering, reinforced bar engineering, concrete engineering and aspect of construction management. This paper advances some immediate countermeasures, makes some moderate extensions on the strategic development of architectural technology and designs the solution orientation of the long-term countermeasures. These concrete solutions strive to be conveniently carried out, meanwhile give consideration to the economic legitimacy.

Employing electronic health record data to predict risk of emergency department visits for new patients.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 314-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Michael Daly ◽  
Dmitriy Gorenshteyn ◽  
Lior Gazit ◽  
Stefania Sokolowski ◽  
Kevin Nicholas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Training Set ◽  
Electronic Health Record Data ◽  
Test Set

314 Background: Acute care accounts for half of cancer expenditures and is a measure of poor quality care. Identifying patients at high risk for ED visits enables institutions to target symptom management resources to those most likely to benefit. Risk stratification models developed to date have not been meaningfully employed in oncology, and there is a need for clinically relevant models to improve patient care. Methods: We established a predictive analytics framework for clinical use with attention to the modeling technique, clinician feedback, and application metrics. The model employs EHR data from initial visit to first antineoplastic administration for new patients at our institution from January 2014 to June 2017. The binary dependent variable is occurrence of an ED visit within the first 6 months of treatment. From over 1,400 data features, the model was refined to include 400 clinically relevant ones spanning demographics, pathology, clinician notes, labs, medications, and psychosocial information. Clinician review was performed to confirm EHR data input validity. The final regularized multivariate logistic regression model was chosen based on clinical and statistical significance. Parameter selection and model evaluation utilized the positive predictive value for the top 25% of observations ranked by model-determined risk. The final model was evaluated using a test set containing 20% of randomly held out data. The model was calibrated based on a 5-fold cross-validation scheme over the training set. Results: There are 5,752 antineoplastic starts in our training set, and 1,457 in our test set. The positive predictive value of this model for the top 25% riskiest new start antineoplastic patients is 0.53. The 400 clinically relevant features draw from multiple areas in the EHR. For example, those features found to increase risk include: combination chemotherapy, low albumin, social work needs, and opioid use, whereas those found to decrease risk include stage 1 disease, never smoker status, and oral antineoplastic therapy. Conclusions: We have constructed a framework to build a clinically relevant model. We are now piloting it to identify those likely to benefit from a home-based, digital symptom management intervention.

scholarly journals Land Use and Land Cover Changes and Its Impact on Soil Erosion in Stung Sangkae Catchment of Cambodia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9276
Author(s):  
Nareth Nut ◽  
Machito Mihara ◽  
Jaehak Jeong ◽  
Bunthan Ngo ◽  
Gilbert Sigua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Mekong River Commission ◽  
The Impact

Agricultural expansion and urban development without proper soil erosion control measures have become major environmental problems in Cambodia. Due to a high population growth rate and increased economic activities, land use and land cover (LULC) changes will cause environmental disturbances, particularly soil erosion. This research aimed to estimate total amounts of soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model within a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. LULC maps of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 2002 and Mekong River Commission (MRC) 2015 were used to evaluate the impact of LULC on soil erosion loss in Stung Sangkae catchment. LULC dynamics for the study periods in Stung Sangkae catchment showed that the catchment experienced a rapid conversion of forests to paddy rice fields and other croplands. The results indicated that the average soil loss from the catchment was 3.1 and 7.6 t/ha/y for the 2002 and 2015 periods, respectively. The estimated total soil loss in the 2002 and 2015 periods was 1.9 million t/y and 4.5 million t/y, respectively. The soil erosion was accelerated by steep slopes combined with the high velocity and erosivity of stormwater runoff. The spatial distribution of soil loss showed that the highest value (14.3 to 62.9 t/ha/y) was recorded in the central, southwestern and upland parts of the catchment. It is recommended that priority should be given to erosion hot spot areas, and appropriate soil and water conservation practices should be adopted to restore degraded lands.

scholarly journals Questing tick abundance in urban and peri-urban parks in the French city of Lyon

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Mathews-Martin ◽  
Manon Namèche ◽  
Gwenaël Vourc’h ◽  
Sabrina Gasser ◽  
Isabelle Lebert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Borreliosis ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Urban Parks ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Tick Abundance

Abstract Background In Europe, ticks are responsible for the transmission of several pathogens of medical importance, including bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) complex, the agents of Lyme borreliosis. In France, the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region is considered a hot spot for human tick-borne pathogen infections, with an estimated annual rate of 156 cases of Lyme borreliosis per 100,000 inhabitants. Although several studies have assessed the abundance of ticks in rural areas, little consideration has been given thus far to urban green spaces in France. Methods This study aimed to estimate tick abundance in three parks, two urban (U1, U2) and one peri-urban (PU), in and around the city of Lyon (France). A forest in a rural area was used as a control (C). Tick sampling campaigns were performed in each site in April, May, June, July, and October 2019 using the dragging method. One hundred transects of 10 m2 each were randomly chosen in each park in places frequented by humans. The sampling sessions were carried out under semi-controlled abiotic conditions. Ticks were stored in 70% ethanol and identified to species and developmental stage under a light microscope using morphological keys. Results A total of seven ticks (nymphs and adults) were collected in the two urban parks (six in U1 and one in U2), while 499 ticks were sampled in the peri-urban park. Of the 506 ticks collected, 504 were identified as Ixodes ricinus, one as Dermacentor marginatus, and one as Ixodes frontalis. In the peri-urban park, ticks were mainly collected under the forest cover and at forest edges. Tick density under forest cover was 7.1 times higher in the control site than in the peri-urban park throughout the survey period. Conclusions This study confirmed the presence of ticks in all of the parks surveyed, although their occurrence in the urban parks was very rare compared to the peri-urban park and the control site. These results should serve as a basis for the implementation of preventive measures.

scholarly journals Epidemiological study of scarlet fever in Shenyang, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijie Chen ◽  
Ye Chen ◽  
Baijun Sun ◽  
Lihai Wen ◽  
Xiangdong An
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Scarlet Fever ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
And Control ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Abstract Background Since 2011, there has been an increase in the incidence of scarlet fever across China. The main objective of this study was to depict the spatiotemporal epidemiological characteristics of the incidence of scarlet fever in Shenyang, China, in 2018 so as to provide the scientific basis for effective strategies of scarlet control and prevention. Methods Excel 2010 was used to demonstrate the temporal distribution at the month level and ArcGIS10.3 was used to demonstrate the spatial distribution at the district/county level. Moran’s autocorrelation coefficient was used to examine the spatial autocorrelation and the Getis-Ord statistic was used to determine the hot-spot areas of scarlet fever. Results A total of 2314 scarlet fever cases were reported in Shenyang in 2018 with an annual incidence of 31.24 per 100,000. The incidence among males was higher than that among females(p<0.001). A vast majority of the cases (96.89%) were among children aged 3 to 11 years. The highest incidence was 625.34/100,000 in children aged 5–9 years. In 2018 there were two seasonal peaks of scarlet fever in June (summer-peak) and December (winter-peak). The incidence of scarlet fever in urban areas was significantly higher than that in rural areas(p<0.001). The incidence of scarlet fever was randomly distributed in Shenyang. There are hotspot areas located in seven districts. Conclusions Urban areas are the hot spots of scarlet fever and joint prevention and control measures between districts should be applied. Children aged 3–11 are the main source of scarlet fever and therefore the introduction of prevention and control into kindergarten and primary schools may be key to the control of scarlet fever epidemics.

Comparison of Three Methods to Recover Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) From Perianal and Environmental Samples Collected During A Hospital Outbreak of VRE

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 775-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara S. Reisner ◽  
Stephanie Shaw ◽  
Mary E. Huber ◽  
Carla E. Woodmansee ◽  
Silvia Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Broth Culture ◽  
Hospital Outbreak ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant

Objective:To establish an efficient and sensitive technique for recovering vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from perianal and environmental samples collected during implementation of control measures for an outbreak of VRE.Design:Perianal and environmental samples were collected in triplicate on sterile swabs. One swab was used to inoculate a selective broth medium containing 6 μg of vancomycin and 8 μg of ciprofloxacin per mL, one to inoculateCampylobacteragar containing 10 μg/mL of vancomycin, and one to inoculate Enterococcosel agar containing 8 μg/mL of vancomycin.Setting:Samples were collected in the intensive care units of a 600-bed university hospital over a period of 2 months.Sample Selection:Patients and their immediate environment were sampled if they resided in a ward with a patient known to be colonized or infected with VRE.Results:Of the 88 perianal samples obtained from 63 patients, 37 were positive for VRE by broth culture, with 36 also recovered on both types of solid media (sensitivity, 97.3%; negative predictive value, 98.1%). Of the initial samples collected from each of the 63 patients, 20 were positive for VRE by all methods. Of the 500 environmental samples cultured, 139 were positive for VRE in broth, with only 33 recovered onCampylobacteragar (sensitivity, 23.7%; negative predictive value, 77.2%) and 22 on Enterococcosel agar (sensitivity, 15.8%; negative predictive value, 75.2%).Conclusions:Our data indicate that, when performing surveillance cultures during an outbreak of VRE, use of an enrichment broth medium is required to recover VRE contaminating environmental surfaces; however, direct inoculation to selective solid medium is adequate to recover VRE in patient perianal specimens.

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