scholarly journals Impact of the Timing of Spay-Neuter Related to Transport on Disease Rates in Relocated Dogs

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 630
Author(s):  
Erin Doyle ◽  
Maya Gupta ◽  
Miranda Spindel ◽  
Emily D. Dolan ◽  
Margaret R. Slater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Surgical Stress ◽  
Surgical Complication ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Disease Rates ◽  
Surgical Sterilization ◽  
Disease Exposure ◽  
The Impact

Companion animal relocation programs are an important method to address geographic and resource disparities in pet overpopulation through transport from areas with high homeless pet populations to areas with high adopter demand. Despite mitigation by following best practices, a potential risk of animal relocation is increased disease incidence related to infectious disease spread and the effects of stress during transport. Surgical sterilization may compound disease risk due to the impact of surgical stress on disease susceptibility and the potential for disease exposure from other patients. Our study aimed to provide information about disease and surgical complication incidence as relates to the timing of surgical sterilization in relocated dogs. A population of 431 dogs relocated to a shelter in Washington State was monitored for disease while at the destination shelter and immediately post-adoption. No increased disease incidence was identified for dogs altered within two weeks of transport at the destination shelter compared with those altered within two weeks prior to transport at the source shelter. Because of disparities addressed by relocation programs, surgical sterilization of relocated companion animals is typically best performed at the destination shelter. Our study indicates that disease incidence is not increased by spay-neuter at the destination shelter.

scholarly journals Pandemic in the network society: Network readiness increases population vulnerability to COVID-19 in less developed countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (S1) ◽  
pp. 187-203
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This paper examines the factors which determine the impact of network communication and network connections on the likelihood of contracting the new coronavirus in the European and Latin American countries. The author presents several data sets to prove the following suggestions: 1) The generalized indicators of economic development and society’s globalization are not indicators of how vulnerable a country’s population may be in a pandemic; 2) Not the economy as such, but the conventional way of life of people, their daily behaviour and habits have a decisive influence on the disease spread; 3) Factors of prevention of illness and health promotion such as the habit of exercise, distance, and network communications use modern online services to become protective factors against the risk of infection only at a certain level of development of the country; 4) In the developed countries, a much broader set of factors than in the developing countries determine protection against disease risk; 5) The evolution of a networked society opens up significant opportunities for the developing countries to improve the quality of life, and the emergence of new, progressive traditions.

scholarly journals Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 in Europe in 2020: a quasi-experimental non-equivalent group and time series design study

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R Hunter ◽  
Felipe J Colón-González ◽  
Julii Brainard ◽  
Steven Rushton
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Mass Gatherings ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions ◽  
At Home

Introduction The current pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is unparalleled in recent history as are the social distancing interventions that have led to a considerable halt on the economic and social life of so many countries. Aim We aimed to generate empirical evidence about which social distancing measures had the most impact in reducing case counts and mortality. Methods We report a quasi-experimental (observational) study of the impact of various interventions for control of the outbreak through 24 April 2020. Chronological data on case numbers and deaths were taken from the daily published figures by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and dates of initiation of various control strategies from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation website and published sources. Our complementary analyses were modelled in R using Bayesian generalised additive mixed models and in STATA using multilevel mixed-effects regression models. Results From both sets of modelling, we found that closure of education facilities, prohibiting mass gatherings and closure of some non-essential businesses were associated with reduced incidence whereas stay-at-home orders and closure of additional non-essential businesses was not associated with any independent additional impact. Conclusions Our findings are that schools and some non-essential businesses operating ‘as normal’ as well as allowing mass gatherings were incompatible with suppressing disease spread. Closure of all businesses and stay at home orders are less likely to be required to keep disease incidence low. Our results help identify what were the most effective non-pharmaceutical interventions in this period.

scholarly journals ‘Keeping the kids at home’ can limit the persistence of contagious pathogens in social animals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Marescot ◽  
M. Franz ◽  
S. Benhaiem ◽  
H. Hofer ◽  
M.L. East ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Social Species ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Group Contact ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTIn social species where offspring are reared together in communal burrows or similar structures, young animals typically do not engage in between-group contact during their development – a behavioural trait we call ‘offspring with restricted between-group contact’ (ORC). The impact of this trait on the persistence of contagious pathogens that generate lifelong immunity in their hosts is currently unclear. We hypothesize that in populations with ORC, the formation, in groups, of a ‘protective barrier’ of only recovered adults, prevents the transmission of this type of pathogens to the new susceptible hosts (i.e. young animals), thereby increasing the probability of epidemic fade-out. We implement a spatially implicit individual-based Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model for a large range of host and pathogen traits and show that the epidemic fade-out probability is consistently higher in populations with ORC, especially when disease spread is fast (high basic reproduction number R0). We also show that ORC can counteract the cost of group-living in terms of disease risk to a greater extent than variation in other traits. We discuss our findings in relation to herd immunity and outline how they could be used to implement efficient management measures such as vaccinations.

scholarly journals The Impact of Using Geographic Information Systems Technology on Students’ Understanding of Epidemiology

2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
Jason A. Rosenzweig ◽  
Maruthi Sridhar Balaji Bhaskar ◽  
Shishir Shishodia
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Geographic Information Science ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Data Mapping ◽  
Laboratory Exercise ◽  
Incidence Data ◽  
Post Infusion ◽  
The Impact

To enhance/update our microbiology course, we employed a geographic information science and technology (GIST) infusion to improve students’ understanding of epidemiology and disease spread and to encourage students to earn a GIST certificate, making them more marketable in an increasingly competitive workplace. Following a 25-minute introductory GIST infusion lecture during a microbiology class session, a 1.5-hour GIST laboratory exercise was performed in which teams of students evaluated Centers for Disease Control (CDC) chlamydial disease incidence data. In addition to answering three quiz questions addressing the data, students created a map, using ArcGIS software, indicating which Texas counties experienced the highest rates of chlamydia in 2014. To determine the efficacy/value of our infusion, GIST survey data (pre- and post-infusion), GIST lab quiz scores, and answers to four GIST lecture exam questions were evaluated. In conclusion, our study was successful in improving understanding of what GIST is and how it could impact biological fields by improving attitudes about the likelihood of further GIST study leading to a certificate program, and by exposing biology undergraduates to GIST technologies and software, enabling student data mapping. Ultimately, our efforts could promote enhanced vocationalization of our biology program, thereby enhancing and broadening employment opportunities for our graduates.

scholarly journals Risk of invasive pneumococcal disease varies by neighbourhood characteristics: implications for prevention policies

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
pp. 1679-1689 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. FEEMSTER ◽  
Y. LI ◽  
A. R. LOCALIO ◽  
J. SHULTS ◽  
P. EDELSTEIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Black Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Small Area Variation ◽  
Disease Rates ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Area Variation ◽  
Pneumococcal Bacteraemia

SUMMARYThis study investigates neighbourhood variation in rates of pneumococcal bacteraemia and community-level factors associated with neighbourhood heterogeneity in disease risk. We analysed data from 1416 adult and paediatric cases of pneumococcal bacteraemia collected during 2005–2008 from a population-based hospital surveillance network in metropolitan Philadelphia. Cases were geocoded using residential address to measure disease incidence by neighbourhood and identify potential neighbourhood-level risk factors. Overall incidence of pneumococcal bacteraemia was 36·8 cases/100 000 population and varied significantly (0–67·8 cases/100 000 population) in 281 neighbourhoods. Increased disease incidence was associated with higher population density [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1·10/10 000 people per mile2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·0–1·19], higher percent black population (per 10% increase) (IRR 1·07, 95% CI 1·04–1·09), population aged ⩽5 years (IRR 3·49, CI 1·8–5·18) and population aged ⩾65 years (IRR 1·19, CI 1·00–1·38). After adjusting for these characteristics, there was no significant difference in neighbourhood disease rates. This study demonstrates substantial small-area variation in pneumococcal bacteraemia risk that appears to be explained by neighbourhood sociodemographic characteristics. Identifying neighbourhoods with increased disease risk may provide valuable information to optimize implementation of prevention strategies.

scholarly journals The Influence of Pesticide Use on Amphibian Chytrid Fungal Infections Varies with Host Life Stage

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha L. Rumschlag ◽  
Jason R. Rohr
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTAimPesticides are widespread and may alter host-pathogen interactions, ultimately influencing pathogen distributions across landscapes. Previous laboratory research supports two hypotheses regarding the effects of pesticides on interactions between amphibians and the predominately aquatic fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd): 1) pesticides can be directly toxic to Bd reducing infection risk of aquatic larval amphibians, and 2) exposure to pesticides at formative stages of amphibian development can have long-term consequences on defenses, increasing disease risk after metamorphosis. It remains equivocal whether these laboratory patterns are consistent across amphibian species and occur in the field across broad spatial scales. The aim of this research is to address this research gap on the impact of pesticides on Bd distributions.LocationContiguous United States.Time Period1998-2009.Major Taxa StudiedAmphibian hosts and Bd.MethodsOur data included 3,946 individuals evaluated for Bd infection across 49 amphibian species, at 126 locations, which resulted in 199 estimates of Bd prevalence in populations. We used species distribution models and multimodel inference to assess the influence of 1) total pesticide use, 2) pesticide use by type (herbicide, insecticide, fungicide), and 3) the most commonly used pesticide compounds on Bd infection prevalence in amphibian populations across life stages, controlling for several factors previously documented to affect Bd's distribution.ResultsConsistent with laboratory findings, our results indicate 36 that exposure to multiple herbicide compounds is associated with lowered infection risk in the aquatic larval stage but higher risk in the terrestrial post-metamorphic stage.Main ConclusionsOur study highlights the complex nature of the effects that pesticides can have on disease distributions and suggests that pesticides should be strongly considered at broad scales and across host species, especially in environments in which exposure is widespread. Accurate predictions of disease distributions may lead to more effective management strategies to limit disease spread.

scholarly journals Kiwifruit under plastic covering: impact on fruit quality and on orchard microclimate

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Chiabrando ◽  
G. Giacalone
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Bacterial Canker ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
The Impact

Italy has a preeminent rank in kiwifruit industry, being the first exporter and the second largest producer after China. However, in the last few years kiwifruit yields and the total cultivated area considerably decreased, due to the disease spread of the bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). Bacterial canker has affected significantly orchards productivity and consequently has caused severe economic losses in all major areas of kiwifruit cultivation, including Italy,and considerable damage to the international kiwifruit industry.Several climatic conditions and cultural practices affect the development of the bacterial canker.Orchard hygiene, restrictions on the movement of nursery plants, orchard management and cultural practices, chemical and biological controls and breeding programs are being employed to limit the diffusion of the disease and help kiwifruit orchards to survive and produce. A possible way seems to be the modification of environmental conditions and it is being explored through the building of plastic covers over the orchards. This research work is focused on the impact of plastic cover on fruit quality, microclimate conditions and incidence of Psa. To evaluate the impact of plastic cover on microclimate, quality of fruits and disease incidence the following parameters were evaluated: climatic parameters (temperature, PAR), quality parameters (color, fruit firmness, titratable acidity, °Brix, vitamin C), disease incidence (%).  The use of a permanenttunnel modify light intensity and microclimate without any negative consequences on kiwifruits quality. Covering a kiwifruit orchard with a protective canopy reduces the spread of Psa throughout the orchard when covers are constructed over vines with low levels of infection.The use of plastic covers ensure the production of the current and future kiwifruit without compromising the quality of the fruit, but future trials will provide further information clarifying the effectiveness of the actual crop covers.

scholarly journals Climate and the Global Spread and Impact of Bananas’ Black Leaf Sigatoka Disease

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 947
Author(s):  
Eric Strobl ◽  
Preeya Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Black Sigatoka ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Leaf Disease ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

While Black Sigatoka Leaf Disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) has arguably been the most important pathogen affecting the banana industry over the past 50 years, there are no quantitative estimates of what risk factors determine its spread across the globe, nor how its spread has affected banana producing countries. This study empirically models the disease spread across and its impact within countries using historical spread timelines, biophysical models, local climate data, and country level agricultural data. To model the global spread a empirical hazard model is employed. The results show that the most important factor affecting first time infection of a country is the extent of their agricultural imports, having increased first time disease incidence by 69% points. In contrast, long distance dispersal due to climatic factors only raised this probability by 0.8% points. The impact of disease diffusion within countries once they are infected is modelled using a panel regression estimator. Findings indicate that under the right climate conditions the impact of Black Sigatoka Leaf Disease can be substantial, currently resulting in an average 3% reduction in global annual production, i.e., a loss of yearly revenue of about USD 1.6 billion.

scholarly journals A Peri-Implant Disease Risk Score for Patients with Dental Implants: Validation and the Influence of the Interval between Maintenance Appointments

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel de Araújo Nobre ◽  
Francisco Salvado ◽  
Paulo Nogueira ◽  
Evangelista Rocha ◽  
Peter Ilg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
Moderate Risk ◽  
C Statistic ◽  
Disease Risk Score ◽  
Very High

Background: There is a need for tools that provide prediction of peri-implant disease. The purpose of this study was to validate a risk score for peri-implant disease and to assess the influence of the recall regimen in disease incidence based on a five-year retrospective cohort. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-three patients with 1238 implants were observed. A risk score was calculated from eight predictors and risk groups were established. Relative risk (RR) was estimated using logistic regression, and the c-statistic was calculated. The effect/impact of the recall regimen (≤ six months; > six months) on the incidence of peri-implant disease was evaluated for a subset of cases and matched controls. The RR and the proportional attributable risk (PAR) were estimated. Results: At baseline, patients fell into the following risk profiles: low-risk (n = 102, 28.9%), moderate-risk (n = 68, 19.3%), high-risk (n = 77, 21.8%), and very high-risk (n = 106, 30%). The incidence of peri-implant disease over five years was 24.1% (n = 85 patients). The RR for the risk groups was 5.52 (c-statistic = 0.858). The RR for a longer recall regimen was 1.06, corresponding to a PAR of 5.87%. Conclusions: The risk score for estimating peri-implant disease was validated and showed very good performance. Maintenance appointments of < six months or > six months did not influence the incidence of peri-implant disease when considering the matching of cases and controls by risk profile.

scholarly journals Variation in human mobility and its impact on the risk of future COVID-19 outbreaks in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Chun Chang ◽  
Rebecca Kahn ◽  
Yu-An Li ◽  
Cheng-Sheng Lee ◽  
Caroline O. Buckee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Intercity Travel ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, understanding how patterns of human mobility and connectivity affect outbreak dynamics, especially before outbreaks establish locally, is critical for informing response efforts. In Taiwan, most cases to date were imported or linked to imported cases. Methods In collaboration with Facebook Data for Good, we characterized changes in movement patterns in Taiwan since February 2020, and built metapopulation models that incorporate human movement data to identify the high risk areas of disease spread and assess the potential effects of local travel restrictions in Taiwan. Results We found that mobility changed with the number of local cases in Taiwan in the past few months. For each city, we identified the most highly connected areas that may serve as sources of importation during an outbreak. We showed that the risk of an outbreak in Taiwan is enhanced if initial infections occur around holidays. Intracity travel reductions have a higher impact on the risk of an outbreak than intercity travel reductions, while intercity travel reductions can narrow the scope of the outbreak and help target resources. The timing, duration, and level of travel reduction together determine the impact of travel reductions on the number of infections, and multiple combinations of these can result in similar impact. Conclusions To prepare for the potential spread within Taiwan, we utilized Facebook’s aggregated and anonymized movement and colocation data to identify cities with higher risk of infection and regional importation. We developed an interactive application that allows users to vary inputs and assumptions and shows the spatial spread of the disease and the impact of intercity and intracity travel reduction under different initial conditions. Our results can be used readily if local transmission occurs in Taiwan after relaxation of border control, providing important insights into future disease surveillance and policies for travel restrictions.

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