Cost of tuberculosis-related aeromedical retrievals in the Torres Strait, Australia

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a disease of public health significance at the Australia / Papua New Guinea (PNG) international border. In the remote Torres Strait Islands, aeromedical evacuation is a necessary but costly component of TB management and patients with critical care needs require support to prevent onward TB transmission. A detailed costing of an exemplar TB patient from PNG who presented to a Queensland Health facility in the Torres Strait and required urgent aeromedical evacuation was performed. Data were drawn from patient charts, financial and clinical information systems used within Queensland Health and the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service. The total cost of aeromedical evacuation was AUD 124,280; 54% of the cost was attributed to travel. Between 2016 and 2019, 19 patients diagnosed with TB were medically evacuated from an outer Torres Strait Island with a median length of hospital stay of 57 days. Aeromedical evacuation and medical management costs require adequate budget allocation.

An Observational Study of the Morning and Evening Behavior of Individuals With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

As individuals with ADHD move to young adulthood, the morning and evening times become of increased importance. Sixty individuals were enrolled in a 14-day study (30 with ADHD and 30 did not have ADHD). Participants provided self-reports of ADHD symptoms and impairment using ecological momentary assessments administered each morning and each evening. Participants also identified a collateral who could provide daily ratings of the participant during the same time. Driving data were also passively collected. Results indicated differences in self and collateral ratings of ADHD symptoms and impairment, with greater symptom endorsement and reports of impairment for the individuals with ADHD. Self-report indicated greater endorsement in the evening, relative to the morning, for individuals with ADHD. Collateral report did not interact with time of day. Passive evaluation of driving performance was not significantly different. Results indicate young adult ADHD symptoms and impairment can be reliably assessed in the morning/evening. Public Health Significance Evidence of ADHD symptoms and impairments were documented in the morning and evening hours for individuals diagnosed with ADHD. These results illustrate additional areas in need of attention in the refinement of treatments for adults with ADHD.

Occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the pig-production chain in Ibadan, Nigeria

Staphylococcus species colonises humans and animals and is a major food contaminant with public health significance. Here, we assessed the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in the pig-production chain in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nares of 120 pigs and 10 farmers were sampled with sterile swabs whilst 54 pork samples were collected from a retail slaughterhouse. Staphylococcus species were isolated using enrichment, cefoxitin–aztreonam selective broth and Mannitol salt agar. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to cefoxitin (30 μg), oxacillin (1 μg) and vancomycin (30 μg). Methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolates were characterised using conventional biochemical tests. From 184 samples, 364 staphylococcal isolates were obtained. Amongst the 54 pork samples, 44.0% were contaminated with Staphylococcus species. Overall, 9 (2.5%) MRS were obtained and presumptively identified as Staphylococcus xylosus (n = 3), Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 3), Staphylococcus warneri (n = 2) and Staphylococcus cohnii (n = 1). There was no relationship between the prevalence of MRS between pigs and pig handlers in the farms, but Farm 2 had the highest frequency of 66.7% (p 0.05). Piglets had the highest prevalence of 66.7% (p 0.05) whilst MRS was absent in workers and pork samples. This study raises concerns about the cross-contamination of staphylococci in the food chain. Constant surveillance is imperative to ensure food safety.

Dominance of Zoonotic Pathogen Cryptosporidium Meleagridis in Broiler Chickens in Guangdong, China, Reveals Evidence of Cross-Transmission

Background Cryptosporidium is one of the most prevalent parasites infecting both birds and mammals. To examine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species and evaluate the public health significance of domestic chickens in Guangdong Province, Southern China, we analyzed 1001 fecal samples collected from 43 intensive broiler chicken farms from six distinct geographical regions between June 2020 and March 2021. Methods Individual DNAs were subjected to nested PCR-based amplification and sequencing of the small subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA). The 60 kDa glycoprotein gene (pgp60) was performed from all positive SSU rRNA samples to characterise subtypes of C. meleagridis. Results Cryptosporidium infection rates was found to be 13.2%, comprising with infections with C. meleagridis (78/1001, 7.8%), C. baileyi (48/1001, 4.8%) and mixed infections (6/1001, 0.6%). Three subtype families were identified, IIIb, IIIe and IIIg. Six subtypes were identified in broiler chickens, including one novel (IIIgA25G3R1a) and five previously reported (IIIbA23G1R1c, IIIbA24G1R1, IIIbA21G1R1a, IIIeA17G2R1 and IIIeA26G2R1). Within these subtypes, five known subtypes were genetically identical to those identified in humans. Conclusions This is the first report of C. meleagridis in chickens from Guangdong. The frequent occurrence of C. meleagridis in domestic chickens and the common C. meleagridis subtypes identified both in humans and chickens is of public health significance. Our study indicates that broiler chickens represent a potential zoonotic risk for the transmission of Cryptosporidium in this region.

Anemia among Men in Malaysia: A Population-Based Survey in 2019

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and factors associated with anemia among men in Malaysia. The researchers used data from the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). The hemoglobin levels of men aged 15 years and above who gave their consent was measured using the HemoCue® Hb 201+ System©. The majority of them (87.2%) were men aged 15–59 years, referred to as the younger age group in this study. The prevalence of anemia among men was 12.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.9, 14.5). The prevalence was higher among older men (30.7%; 95% CI: 26.6, 35.1) than younger men (10.0%; 95% CI: 8.2, 12.2). Anemia among men was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1, 4.4) and those with diabetes (aOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.1) via a logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, older men were more affected by anemia than younger men in this study. Anemia among older men in Malaysia is at the level of moderate to severe public health significance. The likelihood of developing anemia is increased among older men with diabetes compared to older men without diabetes. These often-overlooked issues among men need to be detected and treated early in order to prevent complications and improve their quality of life.

Serological and Molecular Screening of Camels for Brucellosis in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease affecting domestic animals and humans worldwide. The present study was undertaken on camels in and around Bikaner city of Rajasthan state of India to assess the extent of prevalence of Brucellosis in camels in this region. Since Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) is a serological screening method for diagnosis of Brucellosis approved by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), RBPT was employed for detecting antibodies against Brucella organisms in camels. Polymerase Chain Reaction is widely followed for molecular diagnosis of several infectious diseases. DNA from whole blood of camels was analyzed by PCR for detection of Brucella organisms in the blood of camels. Blood samples from 177 camels (108 males and 69 females) from Bikaner and nearby villages were analyzed for Brucellosis by RBPT. Fifteen camels [7 (46.66%) males and 8 (53.33%) females] were found positive. However, none of the DNA samples from whole blood (RBPT positive or negative) from 25 camels tested was Brucella positive by PCR. The serological results indicate that Brucellosis is prevalent in camels and is of public health significance in Bikaner and nearby villages in Rajasthan state of India. However, detection of DNA of Brucella organisms in blood by PCR may not be advised for regular screening for Brucellosis since there is intermittent bacteremia in Brucellosis and Brucella DNA may not be detectable in blood continuously throughout the course of the disease. This reminds us that the OIE has approved RBPT, but not PCR for screening of Brucellosis.

Tuberculosis in goats in Benoue area of North Cameroon: Prevalence, diagnostic performance of intradermal tuberculin skin test and zoonotic risk factors

Tuberculosis (TB) due to Mycobacterium bovis is a wasting disease of animals with severe public health significance. Though widely diagnosed in cattle and the performance of Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) at different cut-off points compared in various environmental conditions, there is dearth of information with respect to TB in goats in Cameroon. This study estimated the prevalence of bovine TB in goats in Benuoe area of Cameroon, based on the performance of TST against detection of tuberculous-like lesions and acid-fast bacilli as gold tests. The study detected goat TB based on tuberculous-like lesions (27.87%), acid-fast bacilli (3.29%); and bovine TB positive reactions (12.28%, 95%CI: 9.19–15.95), (8.95%, 95%CI: 6.31–12.23) and (5.37%, 95%CI: 3.36–8.09) at Single intradermal cervical tuberculin (SICT) ≥2.5mm, ≥3mm, and ≥4mm and (2.30%, 95%CI: 1.06–4.32), (1.79%, 95%CI: 0.72–3.65) and (1.02%, 95%CI: 0.28– 2.60) at Single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) ≥2mm, ≥3mm, and ≥4mm cut-off points, respectively. SICT and SICCT sensitivity (11.76%) against detection of tuberculous-like lesions was significantly lower [p<0.05] with slight agreements [Kappa=0.161] compared to sensitivity (100%) and perfect agreements [Kappa=1.00] against detection of acid-fast bacilli at these cut-offs. The Bayesian model revealed a goat TB prevalence of 18.41% (95%CI: 11.73–27.00) using SICT and 4.28 (95%CI: 1.26–8.60) using SICCT with the performance characteristic being higher for SICT than SICCT at ≥2mm cut-off. However, two-graph ROC (TG-ROC) analysis revealed that the optimal goat TB diagnosis with SICCT was at ≥2mm cut-off point. Many goat handlers were aware of health hazards of zoonotic TB but ignorant about goat TB and its possible zoonotic transmission to humans. The study reports the first comparative tuberculin skin test of goats in Benoue area of North-Cameroon and confirmed that zoonotic TB is a neglected health and production problem of goats in Cameroon that needs further investigated.

Echinococcus granulosus Antibodies in Dogs and Breeder practices promoting spread of infection in Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: Echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus is a zoonotic disease of public health significance, but there have been few studies of the infection in dogs in Nigeria. This study aimed to establish the seroprevalence of E. granulosus in dogs in four Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 179 dog sera were examined for the presence of E. granulosus antibody using an ELISA kit between May to October 2017. Results; Eleven of the sera (6.1%) were seropositive with a prevalence of 7.4% and 2.3% for dogs less than 2 years and those above 2 years of age respectively. More male dogs (7.5%) than females (4.1%) were seropositive. Seroprevalence was associated with <2years than > 2 years dogs (OR=3.33, p=0.46) and male than female dogs (OR=1.90, p=0.53) but association were not significant. Dogs from Bassa had the highest seroprevalence (15.2%), followed by Mangu (5.9%), Kanke (4.8%) and Jos South (2.0%). Odds ratio showed an association which was not significant between Bassa (OR=3.3), Kanke (OR=2.50). Conclusion: This study shows that E. granulosus infection is present in dogs in some parts of Plateau State. More studies should be done to ascertain echinococcus infection in dogs in Nigeria to aid the formulation of control programmes to forestall its public health impacts.