scholarly journals Endo-parasites of public-health importance recovered from rodents in the Durban metropolitan area, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Colleen E. Archer ◽  
Christopher C. Appleton ◽  
Samson Mukaratirwa ◽  
Jennifer Lamb ◽  
M. Corrie Schoeman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Moniliformis Moniliformis

Background: Parasite infections of public health importance carried by Rattus spp. on the African continent (excluding toxoplasmosis) have not been adequately researched. The aim of this study was to investigate endoparasites of public health importance, particularly those associated with R. norvegicus, at different locations and seasons within the port-city, Durban.Methods: Four hundred rodents (379 R. norvegicus, 10 R. rattus and 11 Mastomys natalensis) were live-trapped at 60 sites in four locations, during wet and dry seasons in 2009. Rats were humanely euthanased, cardiac blood drawn (for blood smears and serology), ectoparasites removed and dissected. Each organ was separately processed to collect parasites. Binary logistic regression and four-way ANOVAs were used to test for the effects of location, season, rodent age and gender on parasite prevalence, richness and abundance.Results: Eight parasites of public health importance were detected: Gongylonema sp. (25.3%), Trypanosoma lewisi (22.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta (17.2%), Angiostrongylus cantonensis (15.3%), Toxoplasma gondii (11.2%), Moniliformis moniliformis (9.5%), Calodium hepaticum (2.6%) and H. nana (0.8%). Ascaris spp. (probably A. lumbricoides) ova, assumed to have been acquired from consuming infected human faeces were found in rat faeces (4.8%). Parasite species richness was positively associated with location, season and rodent age. Location, season, rat age and gender differentially affected prevalence and worm abundance of parasite species.Conclusions: These occurrence data of parasites of public health importance provide valuable information to local and provincial organisations and medical practitioners for diagnoses of possible zoonoses, and a reference point for further studies in metropolitan areas of Africa.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Public Health Importance of Hydatidosis in Sheep Slaughtered by Unlicensed Ways

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 399-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadia Abd Al-Muhsin Al-Khayat
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Microscopic Examination ◽  
Prevalence Rate ◽  
Parasitic Disease ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
And Gender ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Relationship

Hydatidosis is a zoonotic, helminthes parasitic disease that cause veterinary and human problems due to economic burden. Amis of the current study was to estimate the prevalence rate of hydatidosis infecting different organs of sheep slaughtered in street. In addition, investigate the relationship between age, gender and the infected rates in some Baghdad areas during a period from may to end of July 2018.A total of 188 sheep was examined for detection of Hydatid cyst in different organs using macroscopic and microscopic examination The overall prevalence rate of 47.9% was recorded. The results indicate non significant differences according to age and gender, the highest rate 57% was observed in sheep more than one year old compared with small ages 31.3%. The females showed the highest rate 59.3% while the male recorded 30.7%. The most affected organ was the liver 64.4% followed by the lung 25.6% and finally the spleen 10%. Conclusion of this study indicates the higher prevalence rate lead to the necessity for control programs against hydatidosis includ preventing of illegal slaughtering.

scholarly journals Domiciliary Cockroaches as Carriers of Human Intestinal Parasites in Lagos Metropolis, Southwest Nigeria: Implications for Public Health

2018 ◽  
pp. 141-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adedotun A Adenusi ◽  
Mary I Akinyemi ◽  
Dele Akinsanya
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Housing Type ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Southwest Nigeria

Background: Domiciliary cockroaches are obnoxious pests of significant medical importance. We investigated the prevalence of human intestinal parasites in cockroaches and its attendant public health importance. Methods: Overall, 749 cockroaches (Periplaneta americana, 509, Blattella germanica, 240) caught by trapping from 120 households comprising 3 different housing types in Somolu, Lagos metropolis, southwest Nigeria, in 2015 were screened for human intestinal parasites using standard parasitological techniques. Results: The prevalence of human intestinal parasites in cockroaches was 96.4%. There was no statistically signifi­cant difference (P> 0.05) in parasite prevalences between P. americana (95.7%) and B. germanica (97.9%). Parasite species identified and their prevalence were as follows: Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (44.1%), E. coli (37.8%), Gi­ardia lamblia (18.7%), Cryptosporidium sp. (13.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61.3%), Trichuris trichiura (55.8%), hookworms (11.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (11.7%), Taenia/Echinococcus spp. (10.5%), Enterobius vermicularis (17.2%) and Hymenolepis nana (11.6%). Parasite prevalence and burdens varied with housing type; the prevalence was significantly higher statistically (P< 0.05) in cockroaches from low-cost bungalow, LCB (100%) and low-cost, 2-storey, LC2-S (100%) houses than in medium-cost flats, MCF (81.3%). Parasite burdens were also significantly higher statistically (P< 0.05) in cockroaches from LCB or LC2-S than in cockroaches from MCF. Parasite preva­lences between cockroach gut and body surfaces were not statistically significant (P> 0.05) but mean parasite bur­dens in gut were significantly higher statistically (P< 0.05) than on body surfaces. Conclusion: Cockroaches types carry transmissive stages of human intestinal parasites and may act as reservoirs and potential mechanical vectors for disease transmission.

Living arrangements and marital status: a register-based study of survival of older adults in Belgium at the beginning of the 21st century

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2141-2162 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNE HERM ◽  
JON ANSON ◽  
MICHEL POULAIN
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
And Gender

ABSTRACTBeing married reduces the mortality risk of older persons. More generally, living arrangements that include co-residence with a source of support and a close care-giver are associated with a lower mortality risk. We build a detailed typology of private and collective living arrangements, including marital status, and check its association with mortality risks, controlling for health status. Using administrative data from the population register, we identify the living arrangement of all individuals aged 65 years and over living in Belgium as at 1 January 2002, and their survival during the year 2002. Data on health status are extracted from the 2001 census. We use binary logistic regression with the probability to die as outcome and living arrangement, health, age and gender as covariates. Our results show that mortality is more closely associated with actual living arrangements than with marital status. This association is age and gender-specific and remains even at very old ages. Living with a spouse is confirmed to be beneficial for survival but in older age living alone becomes more favourable. Of all living arrangements, older persons living in religious communities experience the lowest mortality risk whereas those living in nursing homes experience the highest risk.

scholarly journals The Factors Predicting the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Public Health Region 4, Thailand: A Mixed-Methods Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-113
Author(s):  
Atchanat Wangsom ◽  
Pranom Othaganont ◽  
Sigrid Ladores
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
And Gender

Background: Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) is an important consideration for persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This convergent parallel mixed-methods study aimed to examine the factors predicting HRQOL and to explore a comprehensive in-depth understanding of the factors associated with HRQOL in persons with COPD. Methods: For the quantitative arm, simple random sampling consisted of 240 persons with COPD in Public Health Region 4, Thailand and self-reported questionnaires were employed and analyzed by using SPSS version 22.0 software. For the qualitative arm, purposive sampling consisted of 30 participants that were interviewed and the transcripts analyzed using content analysis. Subsequently, a side-by-side joint display table was used to merge the data. Results: Social support was the strongest predictor of HRQOL, followed by nutritional status, pulmonary function, and functional performance with R2 = 0.801, p = 0.00. The participants perceived that social support can create encouragement, build convenience, and offer good recommendations. They also reported that the effects of COPD included poor nutritional status, deteriorating lung function, and activity limitations resulting in inadequate self-care in people living with COPD. Although age and gender were not found to be significant predictors of HRQOL, the participants perceived that differences in age and gender did not predict the prognosis of the disease. Conclusion: Four factors were seen to be significant predictors of HRQOL and potential explanations for the identification of the factors predicting HRQOL. Nurses and healthcare teams can modify the predicting factors and implement appropriate care leading to increased HRQOL in persons with COPD.

scholarly journals Examining and Investigating the Impact of Demographic Characteristics and Chronic Disease with Mortality of COVID-19: Retrospective Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Al Mutair ◽  
Alya Al Mutairi ◽  
Saad Alhumaid ◽  
Syed Maaz Abdullah ◽  
Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Retrospective Design ◽  
History Of ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Inferential Analysis ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has burdened hospitals globally and there is currently no proven treatment available. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether demographic characteristics (age and gender) and non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes mellitus) have a significant association with mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This is a retrospective design where we used descriptive and inferential analysis have been employed to analyze the data. Binary logistic regression was done to study the connection between comorbidities and mortality of COVID-19. Results: 43 (86%) of the male patients were non-survivors while 7 (14%) of the female patients were survivors. The odds of non-survivors among hypertensive patients are 3.56 times higher than those who are not having a history of hypertension (HTN). The odds of non-survivors among diabetic patients are 5.17 times higher than those who are not having a history of diabetes (DM). The odds of non-survivors are 2.77 times higher among those who have a history of HTN and DM as compared to those who did not have a history of HTN and DM.Conclusions: Those patients that had a history of hypertension and diabetes had a higher probability of non-survival in contrast to those who did not have a history of diabetes and hypertension. Further studies are required to study the association of comorbidities with COVID-19 and mortality.

scholarly journals COVID-19 myth-busting: an experimental study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimée Rebecca Challenger ◽  
Petroc Sumner ◽  
Lewis Bott
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Partial Replication ◽  
Health Campaigns ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Answer Format

Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 misinformation is a danger to public health. A range of formats are used by health campaigns to correct beliefs but data on their effectiveness is limited. We aimed to identify A) whether three commonly used myth-busting formats are effective for COVID-19 myths, immediately and after a delay, and B) which is the most effective.MethodsWe tested whether three common correction formats could reduce beliefs in COVID-19 myths: (i) question-answer, ii) fact-only, (ii) fact-myth. n = 2215 participants (n=1291 after attrition), UK representative of age and gender, were randomly assigned to one of the three formats. n = 11 myths were acquired from fact-checker websites and piloted to ensure believability. Participants rated myth belief at baseline, were shown correction images (the intervention), and then rated myth beliefs immediately post-intervention and after a delay of at least 6 days. A partial replication, n = 2084 UK representative, was also completed with immediate myth rating only. Analysis used mixed models with participants and myths as random effects.ResultsMyth agreement ratings were significantly lower than baseline for all correction formats, both immediately and after the delay; all β’s > 0.30, p’s < .001. Thus all formats were effective at lowering beliefs in COVID-19 misinformation.Correction formats only differed where baseline myth agreement was high, with question-answer and fact-myth more effective than fact-only immediately; β=0.040, p=.022 (replication set: β = 0.053, p = .0075) and β = -0.051, p = .0059 (replication set: β=-0.061, p < .001), respectively. After the delay however, question-answer was more effective than fact-myth, β = 0.040, p =. 031, and fact-only marginally so, β = .025, p = 0.10.ConclusionOur results imply that COVID-19 myths can be effectively corrected using materials and formats typical of health campaigns. Campaign designers can use our results to choose between correction formats. When myth belief was high, question-answer format, in which the reader is invited to consider whether a myth is true, had a more lasting effect than a traditional fact-myth format.

Interspecific effects betweenMoniliformis(Acanthocephala),Hymenolepis(Cestoda) andNippostrongylus(Nematoda) in the laboratory rat

Parasitology ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia Holland
Keyword(s):  
Dry Weight ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Single Infection ◽  
Nippostrongylus Brasiliensis ◽  
Laboratory Rat ◽  
Concurrent Infections ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Moniliformis Moniliformis

Rats harbouring 35-day-old primary infections ofMoniliformis moniliformisandHymenolepis diminutawere inoculated with equal doses ofNippostrongylus brasiliensisand were autopsied 10 days later. Significant reductions were found in the dry weight ofMoniliformisandHymenolepisand in the numbers ofNippostrongylusrecovered compared with single infections. Similarly, in infections with two parasites, the numbers ofNippostrongyluswere reduced when concurrent withMoniliformisand the dry weights ofMoniliformisandHymenolepisdecreased in the presence of each other. A comparison of the concurrent infections themselves revealed thatMoniliformisweighed significantly less in the presence ofHymenolepisthan in the three parasite infections. Parasite interactions and their possible mechanism are discussed and comparisons are made with the relevant single infection for each parasite.

scholarly journals Science knowledge and trust in medicine affect individuals’ behavior in pandemic crises

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sailer ◽  
Matthias Stadler ◽  
Elouise Botes ◽  
Frank Fischer ◽  
Samuel Greiff
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Prophylactic Effect ◽  
Science Knowledge ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Types Of Knowledge ◽  
General Trust ◽  
Different Types ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Reasonable Behavior

In pandemic crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals’ behavior has a strong impact on epidemiological processes during critical stages of the outbreak. Engaging in reasonable behavior, such as social distancing, is critical to avoid further spreading an infectious disease or to slow down its spread. However, some individuals also or instead engage in unreasonable behavior, such as panic buying. We investigate why different behavior occurs and how different types of knowledge and trust in medicine can encourage individuals to engage in reasonable behavior and prevent them from engaging in unreasonable behavior. Based on a sample of N = 1,182 adult Americans stratified by age and gender, we conclude that science knowledge has a prophylactic effect: We show that science knowledge helps individuals convert information into knowledge about the coronavirus. This knowledge then helps individuals avoid unreasonable behavior. Individuals lacking coronavirus knowledge and science knowledge still act reasonably when they have a general trust in medicine. Both trust in medicine and knowledge are crucial factors for individuals to act reasonably and avoid unreasonable behavior. Individuals with low knowledge or trust tend to engage in unreasonable behavior. Facilitating science knowledge and reasonable trust in medicine through education and targeted public health messaging are likely to be of fundamental importance for bringing crises such as the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic under control.

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