scholarly journals The History of Rabies in Trinidad: Epidemiology and Control Measures

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Seetahal ◽  
Alexandra Vokaty ◽  
Christine Carrington ◽  
Abiodun Adesiyun ◽  
Ron Mahabir ◽  
...  
2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Lessler ◽  
Cassandra T. Ott ◽  
Andrea C. Carcelen ◽  
Jacob M. Konikoff ◽  
Joe Williamson ◽  
...  

Background Evidence suggests that Zika virus has driven a 10-fold increase in babies born with microcephaly in Brazil, prompting the WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. However, little is known about the natural history of infection. These data are critical for implementation of surveillance and control measures such as protecting the blood supply. Methods We conducted a systematic review and pooled analysis to estimate the distribution of times from Zika infection to symptom onset, seroconversion, and viral clearance, and analyzed their implications for surveillance and blood supply safety. Results Based on 25 case reports, we estimate the median incubation period of Zika virus infection is 5.9 days (95% CI: 4.4-7.6), and that 95% of cases will develop symptoms by 11.1 days post-infection (95% CI: 7.6-18.0). On average seroconversion occurs 9.0 days (95% CI, 7.0-11.6) after infection, and virus is detectable in blood for 9.9 days (95% CI: 6.8-21.4). In 5% of cases detectable virus persists for over 18.9 days (95% CI: 12.6-79.5). The baseline (no screening) risk of a blood donation being infected with Zika increases by approximately 1 in 10,000 for every 1 per 100,000 person-days increase in Zika incidence. Symptom based screening reduces this by 7% (RR 0.93, 93% CI 0.86-0.99), and antibody screening by 29% (RR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.28-0.88). Conclusions Symptom or antibody-based surveillance can do little to reduce the risk of Zika contaminated blood donations. High incidence areas may consider PCR testing to identify lots safe for use in pregnant women.


2008 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Otlu ◽  
M. Sahin ◽  
H. I. Atabay ◽  
A. Unver

The prevalence of brucellosis was investigated in cattle, farmers and veterinarians in the Kars district of Turkey between 2004 - 2006. In order to achieve this, a total of 407 serum samples of cattle from 27 herds having history of abortions were examined for Brucella antibodies by RBPT and SAT. In addition, the sera collected from 246 farmers (130 males and 116 females) and 28 veterinarians in the same district were analysed serologically by RBPT, SAT and ELISA. Of the cattle sera analysed, 134 (32.92%) and 141 (34.64%) were determined as positive by RBPT and SAT, respectively. Thirty-two (13%), 35 (14.22%) and 44 (17.88%) of the farmers' sera were found positive for brucellosis by RBPT, SAT and ELISA, respectively. There was no significant difference between sexes for Brucella seropositivity. Of the 28 sera from veterinarians, 13 (46.42%) were positive by the three serological tests. The high prevalence of brucellosis both in cattle and humans suggests that brucellosis is common in this area. Preventive and control measures should be implemented and pursued more strictly to reduce and/or eradicate brucellosis from the area.


1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 827 ◽  
Author(s):  
PA Horne ◽  
JA Horne

The incidence and life-history of potato wireworm, Hapatesus hirtus Candeze, in Victorian potato crops were studied, and insecticidal control measures assessed. Larval stages were present and active throughout the year. Ten larval instars were identified, probably requiring several years to complete development. Egg development occurred in October-November and the most likely timing of oviposition was December. The relative numbers of larval H. hirtus detected in soil samples, pre-planting baits and harvested tubers are presented. Baiting with halves of potatoes provided an efficient means of detecting areas likely to suffer wireworm damage. One formulation of chlorpyrifos ('Lorsban') was effective in reducing damage to, and larval numbers in, potatoes in field trials. The granular formulation of tefluthrin and the controlled release chlorpyrifos were not effective in protecting potato tubers.


Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 869-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. Browne ◽  
J. H. Connell ◽  
S. M. Schneider

Trials were conducted in orchards near Chico, CA and microplots near Parlier, CA to examine symptoms and control measures for a replant disease (RD) on almond (Prunus dulcis). In the orchard trials, areas with a recent history of severe RD were cleared, given soil fumigation treatments in the fall, and replanted with almond trees on various rootstocks the following winter. The replants in nonfumigated soil developed severe RD (stunting, wilting, chlorosis, defoliation) by the following summer, while those in most fumigated treatments remained healthy. Trees in nonfumigated soil developed smaller trunk diameters and fewer healthy roots ≤1 mm diameter, compared with the healthy trees. Almond developed RD on all rootstocks evaluated (Marianna 2624, Lovell, and Nemaguard), but the trees on Marianna 2624 were the most severely affected. Pre-plant tree-site (spot) fumigation treatments with methyl bromide (MB), chloropicrin (CP), 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), 1,3-D + CP, iodomethane, and iodomethane + CP all prevented severe RD. Broadcast soil fumigation with CP also was effective, but broadcast MB and 1,3-D were ineffective. In microplots filled with RD-conducive soil, CP was more potent than MB for prevention of RD on Nemaguard peach. There was no association between nematodes and RD in orchard or microplot trials. The RD apparently was mediated by a biological agent(s) other than nematodes and can be prevented by appropriate fumigation with CP or other MB alternatives.


CORD ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
T.G.L.G. Gunasekara

Chromolaena odorata (1.) K. & R. is a tropical peren­nial weed species qf the Asteraceae family that has be­come a serious problem in coconut plantations in Sri Lanka and in the tropics of Asia and Africa. The history of distribution, habitat and economic importance is summarized The botanical features and seed biology of this species are presented in this review Finally in­formation on the control measures such as mechanical, cultural, chemical and biological methods is discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deise Keli Farias ◽  
Gabriela Dick ◽  
Silvério Bunn ◽  
André Thaler Neto ◽  
Carolina Rech ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira spp. The consequences of infection in horses are unclear, and the serogroups involved vary depending on the region. This study aimed to evaluate the seropositivity of unvaccinated horses in the Serra Catarinense region and the possible risk factors associated with the infection. We used 207 horses from 26 properties, with no clinical history of infection and unvaccinated for leptospirosis. We submitted serum samples to the microscopic agglutination serum (SAM) to obtain the main reference serogroups. We considered animals with titre ≥100 as infected. The results of the serology revealed seropositivity in 45.4% (94/207) of the animals studied. The most frequent antibodies reportedwere those against the serogroups Australis 16.9% (35/207), Ichterhaemorrhagiae 14.4% (30/207), and Grippotyphosa 5.31% (11/207). Among the primary risk factors associated with the infection we reported extensive rearing system (OR = 1.27; P<0.05) and the presence of other animal species such as cattle (OR = 3.85; P<0.01) and capybaras (OR = 2.07; P=0.06). The findings presented in this study showed that leptospirosis is endemic in horses in the Serra Catarinense region, and revealed the need for emergency surveillance and control measures specific to this important zoonosis.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0241754
Author(s):  
Fredrick Eyase ◽  
Solomon Langat ◽  
Irina Maljkovic Berry ◽  
Francis Mulwa ◽  
Albert Nyunja ◽  
...  

Between late 2017 and mid-2018, a chikungunya fever outbreak occurred in Mombasa, Kenya that followed an earlier outbreak in mid-2016 in Mandera County on the border with Somalia. Using targeted Next Generation Sequencing, we obtained genomes from clinical samples collected during the 2017/2018 Mombasa outbreak. We compared data from the 2016 Mandera outbreak with the 2017/2018 Mombasa outbreak, and found that both had the Aedes aegypti adapting mutations, E1:K211E and E2:V264A. Further to the above two mutations, 11 of 15 CHIKV genomes from the Mombasa outbreak showed a novel triple mutation signature of E1:V80A, E1:T82I and E1:V84D. These novel mutations are estimated to have arisen in Mombasa by mid-2017 (2017.58, 95% HPD: 2017.23, 2017.84). The MRCA for the Mombasa outbreak genomes is estimated to have been present in early 2017 (2017.22, 95% HPD: 2016.68, 2017.63). Interestingly some of the earliest genomes from the Mombasa outbreak lacked the E1:V80A, E1:T82I and E1:V84D substitutions. Previous laboratory experiments have indicated that a substitution at position E1:80 in the CHIKV genome may lead to increased CHIKV transmissibility by Ae. albopictus. Genbank investigation of all available CHIKV genomes revealed that E1:V80A was not present; therefore, our data constitutes the first report of the E1:V80A mutation occurring in nature. To date, chikungunya outbreaks in the Northern and Western Hemispheres have occurred in Ae. aegypti inhabited tropical regions. Notwithstanding, it has been suggested that an Ae. albopictus adaptable ECSA or IOL strain could easily be introduced in these regions leading to a new wave of outbreaks. Our data on the recent Mombasa CHIKV outbreak has shown that a potential Ae. albopictus adapting mutation may be evolving within the East African region. It is even more worrisome that there exists potential for emergence of a CHIKV strain more adapted to efficient transmission by both Ae. albopictus and Ae.aegypti simultaneously. In view of the present data and history of chikungunya outbreaks, pandemic potential for such a strain is now a likely possibility in the future. Thus, continued surveillance of chikungunya backed by molecular epidemiologic capacity should be sustained to understand the evolving public health threat and inform prevention and control measures including the ongoing vaccine development efforts.


2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Vaux ◽  
A Carbonne ◽  
J M Thiolet ◽  
V Jarlier ◽  
B Coignard ◽  
...  

Emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is currently a major public health concern worldwide. This study showed that 53 episodes of CPE infection or colonisation have been notified by French healthcare facilities since 2004. A sharp increase in the number of notifications was observed in the last three years. Oxacillinase (OXA)-48 and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) beta-lactamases were the most frequent enzymes reported in these episodes. The index cases in most episodes were patients with a history of hospitalisation abroad within the previous year. Around a third of the episodes (n=18) led to secondary transmission in hospitals but most of them were controlled due to reinforced measures. Reinforcement of screening and control measures at national level when there is cross-border transfer of patients, along with overall reinforcement of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship worldwide, is urgently needed to contain the spread of CPE.


1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Subramanian ◽  
P. K. Das ◽  
W. Souza ◽  
T. Lapa ◽  
A. F. Furtado ◽  
...  

Abstract:The LYMFASIM modeling framework for the transmission and control of the tropical parasitic disease lymphatic filariasis is described and its use in the context of an endemic community in north-eastern Brazil is illustrated. Lymphatic filariasis is a disease with a complex natural history with many unknowns. This complicates decision making with respect to control strategies. With LYMFASIM, a variety of hypotheses can be tested about the life history of the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti, its transmission from man to man through mosquitoes, the role of the immune system in regulating parasite numbers, the development of disease symptoms, and the effects of control measures (drug treatment or mosquito control). The implications of alternative assumptions and uncertainty about the quantification of parameters for the effectiveness of control strategies can be investigated. Thanks to the use of stochastic microsimulation, LYMFASIM is highly flexible and can be adapted and extended as new knowledge emerges.


2019 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Gabriel Guimarães Luz ◽  
Amanda Gabriela Carvalho ◽  
Danilo Bueno Naves ◽  
João Victor Leite Dias ◽  
Cor Jesus Fernandes Fontes

ABSTRACT Background This retrospective case-control study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the municipality of Rondonópolis, which is a highly endemic area for VL in Central-Western Brazil. Methods All VL cases reported in Rondonópolis from 2011 to 2016 were included. For each case, two neighborhood- and age-matched controls with the absence of past and present history of VL and negative rk39-based immunochromatographic test, were recruited. Data were retrospectively collected through interviews that assessed socioeconomic aspects, housing features, backyard characteristics, presence of animals and daily habits. A multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with human VL. Results During the study period, 81 VL cases were reported in Rondonópolis, of which 37 (45.7%) were included in this study. Seventy controls were also included. The variables associated with VL occurrence were the outdoor location of a bathroom and/or kitchen separated from the rest of the house (OR 7.8; 95% CI 2.1 to 29.5), the presence of a vegetable garden (OR 5.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 21.2) and the presence of decaying fruits (OR 10.7; 95% CI 2.0 to 52.1) in the backyard. Conclusions Our findings suggest an association between backyard characteristics and VL. This may be useful in guiding preventive and control measures against zoonotic VL worldwide.


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