scholarly journals Seroprevalence and Factors Associated with Scrub Typhus Infection among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3131
Author(s):  
Ji-Hyuk Park ◽  
Byoungchul Gill ◽  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Seok-Ju Yoo ◽  
Kwan Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Forestry Workers

Scrub typhus is caused by the arthropod-borne bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and is an endemic infectious disease in the Asia-Pacific area. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of scrub typhus and identify associated risk and protective factors among forestry workers, a neglected risk group for scrub typhus, in National Park Offices in South Korea. A nationwide cross-sectional serosurvey was carried out on 1945 National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) in South Korea during December 2016. We visited 29 main offices and used a structured questionnaire to collect data regarding general characteristics, work activities, work hygiene-related factors, and other potential risk factors. Serum samples from NPOFWs were tested using indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect O. tsutsugamushi immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M antibodies. Of the 1945 NPOFWs, 718 (36.9%) participated in this cross-sectional study. The seroprevalence, defined as ≥1:256 for IgG and/or ≥1:16 for IgM, was 4.9% (35/718). In multivariate logistic analysis, longer duration of work in national parks (≥15 years; odds ratio (OR), 4.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.71–10.28) and dry field farming (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.12–5.46) were significantly associated with a higher risk of scrub typhus infection. Furthermore, the risk of scrub typhus infection was significantly lower among NPOFWs who washed working clothes daily (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18–0.75). This study indicated that scrub typhus is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. Work hygiene, especially washing working clothes daily, needs to be emphasized among NPOFWs. Additionally, more precautions are required to diminish the rate of scrub typhus infection among NPOFWs who perform dry field farming.

scholarly journals Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2933
Author(s):  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Ji-Hyuk Park
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
South Korea ◽  
National Park ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Forestry Workers ◽  
Independent Risk Factors

Limited data are available on the current status of Lyme disease in South Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lyme disease infection among forestry workers in National Park Offices in South Korea. We enrolled National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) who had worked for ≥1 year. Participants completed questionnaires that addressed various subjects including work types and work hygiene-related factors. Collected serum samples were tested using immunofluorescence assay to detect anti-Borrelia antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of seroprevalence. Of 1,410 NPOFWs, 655 (46.5%) participated in this study, and an overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease antibodies was 8.1%. Analysis showed that always eating meals in woodland (odds ratio (OR), 5.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.08–12.52) and raising dogs outside homes (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.57–6.75) were significantly associated with Lyme disease infection. This seroprevalence study indicates that Lyme disease is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. These identified modifiable risk factors should be considered while designing preventive strategies for reducing Lyme disease infection among NPOFWs.

scholarly journals Trail impact monitoring in Rocky Mountain National Park, USA

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 3117-3149
Author(s):  
J. Svajda ◽  
S. Korony ◽  
I. Brighton ◽  
S. Esser ◽  
S. Ciapala
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Rocky Mountain National Park ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Impact Monitoring ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
The Usa

Abstract. This paper examines impacts of increased visitation leading to human trampling of vegetation and soil along several trails in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) to understand how abiotic factors and level of use can influence trail conditions. RMNP is one of the most visited national parks in the USA with 3.3 million visitors in 2012 across 1075 km2 and 571 km of hiking trails. 95 % of the park is designated wilderness making the balance between preservation and visitor use challenging. This research involves the application of trail condition assessments to 56 km of trails to determine prevailing factors and what, if any, connection between them exist. The study looked at a variety of inventory and impact indicators and standards to determine their importance and to develop a baseline condition of trails. The data can be used for future comparison and evaluation of development trends. We found that trail widening (mean trail width 88.9 cm) and soil loss (cross sectional area 172.7 cm2) are the most visible effects of trail degradation. Further statistical analyses of data identified the role and influence of various factors (e.g. use level and topography). Insights into the influence of these factors can lead to the selection of appropriate management measures to avoid or minimize negative consequences from increased visitation.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Antitransglutaminase and Antiendomysium Antibodies in Adult Colombian Blood Bank Donors

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sara Paredes-Echeverri ◽  
Ayda N. Rodríguez ◽  
Wilmer A. Cárdenas ◽  
Belén Mendoza de Molano ◽  
John M. González
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
High Reactivity ◽  
Blood Bank ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Hla Dq2

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy induced by the ingestion of gluten from wheat, barley, and rye in genetically susceptible individuals. The global prevalence of CD is 1.4%. However, most of the prevalence studies have been conducted in Caucasian populations; few studies have been performed in Latin America. The aim of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of auto-antibodies used as markers for CD in a Colombian cohort. In this cross-sectional study, the serum samples from Colombian donors of the National Red Cross Blood Bank were collected between June and September 2017 in Bogotá, Colombia. All sera were tested for IgA antitissue transglutaminase (TTG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seropositive sera were tested for IgA antiendomysium (EMA) using indirect immunofluorescence assay. The ancestral genetic composition was determined in donor samples with antibody assay reactivity. Those with two seroreactive assays were typed for HLA class II DQ2 and DQ8. In total, 228 blood donors participated in the study. Among them, 113 were females (49.56%) with an average age of 31.63 years (SD ± 12.99); males had an average of 34.71 years (SD ± 13.01). Only 3 (1.31%) donors reported chronic diarrhea and nonintentional weight loss; 11 (4.82%) had a family history of CD. For the serological assays, 11 donors (4.82%) were seroreactive to IgA anti-TTG: 3 had high reactivity and 8 had low reactivity. Of those seroreactive to IgA anti-TTG, 3 (1.32%) were also seroreactive to anti-EMA, and they were typed as HLA-DQ8 or HLA-DQ2. The baseline ancestral percentage of the seroreactive donors was higher for European and Native American than for African genes. The seroprevalence for anti-TTG and anti-EMA with the presence of HLA-DQ8 and HLA-DQ2 was 1.32%. Additionally, 4.82% donor participants were reactive only for anti-TTG. Compared with other studies, our findings suggest that Colombia has a high prevalence of CD markers.

scholarly journals Why travel motivations and socio-demographics matter in managing a National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melville Saayman ◽  
Andrea Saayman
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Regional Economy ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Pseudo Panel ◽  
The World ◽  
Travel Motivations ◽  
Tourism Destinations

The Addo Elephant National Park is one of only a few national parks in the world that offers the Big 7 experience and is therefore one of South Africa’s prime tourism destinations. The park plays an important role in the regional economy and has become a hub for tourism development. The aim of this article is to determine the extent to which socio-demographic and behavioural and motivational indicators influence the spending of tourists to the park. A better understanding of the latter could help marketers and planners to increase the economic impact of the park. Since 2001, surveys have been conducted among tourists to the park and have included a number of socio-demographic, behavioural and motivational questions. In this analysis, 537 questionnaires were used. The methodology used includes factor analysis, cross-sectional regression analysis and pseudo-panel data analysis to determine and compare possible influences on spending. The research identifies six motives for tourists travelling to the Addo Elephant National Park; these are nature, activities, family and socialisation, escape, attractions and photography. The research found that a combination of socio-demographic and motivational factors influences visitor spending decisions. Added to this, the research confi rms that tourist attractions, including national parks, differ from one another and that the variables that influence spending therefore also differ.

Barriers to low-carbon warehousing and the link to carbon abatement

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 679-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao Hung Goh
Keyword(s):  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Carbon Abatement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
The Government

Purpose Warehouses are large emitters of greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change is under increasing focus. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers that inhibit the adoption of low-carbon warehousing in Asia-Pacific and their links to carbon abatement performance. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory conceptual model was first developed from a literature review of the general barriers to sustainable supply chain practices and hence potentially in low-carbon warehousing. A large contract logistics services provider in the Asia-Pacific served as the subject of a case study. The perceived barriers to low-carbon warehousing were derived from an internal survey of respondents from the case company and regressed against carbon abatement outcomes at that organization’s operations across the region. Findings Results show that the case company reduced carbon emissions by 36 percent on a revenue-normalized basis between 2008 and 2014, but with relatively lower success in emerging markets vs mature markets. An Elastic Net regression analysis confirms that technology and government-related factors are the most important barriers in the case company’s efforts to “decarbonize” its local warehousing operations. However, results suggest that the customer-related barrier, which is highly correlated with the government barrier, is in part driven by the latter. Research limitations/implications This case study is based on a single multinational company in Asia-Pacific, but nonetheless serves as an impetus for more cross-sectional studies to form an industry-wide view. Originality/value An extended stewardship framework based on the natural resource-based view has been proposed, in which logistics services providers take on a proactive boundary-spanning role to lower the external barriers to low-carbon warehousing.

scholarly journals Seroreactivity and Risk Factors Associated with Coxiella burnetii Infection among Cattle Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Hyuk Park ◽  
Seon Hwang ◽  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Seung Lee ◽  
Kyu Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Related Risk

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic disease that is an occupational hazard to people who work in close contact with animals or their carcasses. A nationwide serologic study among cattle slaughterhouse workers who were presumed to be at risk of having C. burnetii infection in South Korea was performed to investigate the seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection and identify related risk factors. Out of 1017 cattle slaughterhouse workers in South Korea, 923 (90.8%) participated in this cross-sectional study. Samples were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies against phase II C. burnetii via indirect immunofluorescence assay. The overall seroreactivity, defined as IgG or IgM antibody titer cutoffs ≥1:16, was 9.1% (84/923). Additionally, a significant association was found between the seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection and performing carcass evisceration work (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.39–4.03) in multivariate analysis. To diminish C. burnetii infection, cattle slaughterhouse workers need to take precautions during the evisceration process.

scholarly journals Comparative Accuracy of the InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test for the Detection of IgM Antibodies by Using Conventional Serology

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1130-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh W. F. Kingston ◽  
Stuart D. Blacksell ◽  
Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai ◽  
Achara Laongnualpanich ◽  
Buddha Basnyat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Diagnostic Test ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Igm Antibodies ◽  
Comparative Accuracy

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the comparative accuracy of a recombinant 56-kDa type-specific antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for scrub typhus for the detection of IgM antibodies by using conventional serology in well-characterized serum samples from undifferentiated febrile illness patients. The RDT showed high specificity and promising comparative accuracy, with 82% sensitivity and 98% specificity for samples defined positive at an IgM indirect immunofluorescence assay positivity cutoff titer of ≥1:1,600 versus 92% and 95% at ≥1:6,400, respectively.

scholarly journals Awareness and Work-Related Factors Associated with Scrub Typhus: A Case-Control Study from South Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Seob Kim ◽  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Kwan Lee ◽  
Seok-Ju Yoo ◽  
Ji-Hyuk Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Control Study

scholarly journals Leptospirosis Outbreak in a Hill Due to Water From an Unprotected Well, Keerakadu Village, Kollihills, Namakkal, Tamilnadu, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s310-s310
Author(s):  
Sree Kalpana Mohankumar ◽  
Ramesh Kumar Govindarajan ◽  
Mohanasundari Chokkalingam
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Attack Rate ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Years

Background: Annually, an estimated 1.03 million leptospirosis cases lead to 2.9 million disability adjusted life years. A cluster of fever cases was reported in Keerakadu village, Kollihills block in Namakkal district of Tamilnadu state, India, on April 28, 2017. We investigated to control the outbreak. Methods: We did a cross-sectional survey between April 29 and May 1. We defined a case of fever as any resident of Keerakadu village with fever for >2 days, with or without headache or myalgia, between April 15 and May 1, 2017. We conducted active surveillance. We reviewed medical records. We collected the line list from nearby health centers. We computed proportions to calculate the attack rate. We collected 11 serum samples and tested for dengue, scrub typhus, hepatitis A and leptospirosis by IgM ELISA method. We did a Widal slide agglutination test. We conducted an environmental survey to identify water sources. We performed a dengue larval survey. We collected 5 water samples: 1 from unprotected well, 1 from overhead tank and 3 from the houses of residents. We tested for fecal coliforms in the district public health laboratory. Results: The population of Keeradu village was 540. We identified 11 cases, for an attack rate of 2% (11 of 540). The hospitalization rate of cases was 81% (9 of 11). Median age was 45 years (range, 23–65). Of 11 samples, 3 were positive for leptospirosis; all were negative for dengue, scrub typhus, hepatitis A, and typhoid. The single water source for the whole village was an open, unprotected well. This well supplied water every day to the community, both for drinking purpose and domestic use. No breeding of dengue larva was observed. All the 5 water samples tested positive for fecal coliforms. Water was not chlorinated regularly. All patients were isolated and treated in the primary health center. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to the whole community. Conclusions: There was a leptospirosis outbreak in Keerakadu village, probably due to contaminated water from unprotected well. There were no cases after May 1, 2017. We recommended that the community chlorinate the water regularly and protect the well. We also recommend continued surveillance and a rodent survey.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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