Obesity strongly predicts COVID-19-related major clinical adverse events in Coptic Clergy

Background and aims The Coptic Clergy, due to their specific work involving interaction with many people, could be subjected to increased risk of infection from COVID-19. The aim of this study, a sub-study of the COVID-19-CVD international study of the impact of the pandemic on the cardiovascular system, was to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among Coptic priests and identify predictors of clinical adverse events. Methods Participants were geographically divided into three groups: Group-I: Europe and USA, Group II: Northern Egypt and Group III: Southern Egypt. Participants' demographic indices, cardiovascular risk factors, possible source of infection, number of liturgies, infection management and major adverse events (MAEs), comprising death, re-infection or mechanical ventilation, were assessed. Results Out of the 1,570 clergy serving in 25 dioceses, 226 (14.39%) were infected. Their mean age was 49.5±12 years and mean weekly number of liturgies was 3.44±1.0. The overall prevalence rate was 14.7% and did not differ between Egypt as a whole and overseas (p=0.23). Disease prevalence was higher in Northern Egypt clergy compared to Europe and USA combined (18.4% vs 12.1%, p=0.03) and tended to be higher than in Southern Egypt (18.4% vs. 13.6%, p=0.09). Ten priests (4.42%) died of COVID-19 related complications, 2 (0.9%) had re-infection and 27 (11.9%) suffered a MAE. The clergy from Southern Egypt were more obese but the remaining risk factors were less prevalent compared to those in Europe and USA (p=0.01). In multivariate analysis, obesity OR 4.184 (2.483 to 12.14; p=0.01); age OR 1.070 (0.014 to 1.130; p=0.02), and systemic hypertension OR 0.932 (0.874 to 0.994; p=0.007) predicted MAEs. Obesity was the most powerful independent predictor of MAE in Southern Egypt and systemic hypertension in Northern Egypt (p<0.05 for both). Conclusion Obesity is very prevalent among Coptic clergy and seems to be the most powerful independent predictor of major COVID-19-related adverse events. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Prevalence of SARS-CoV2 among Clergy

New shell information and new generic attributions for the Egyptian podocnemidid turtles “<i>Podocnemis</i>” <i>fajumensis</i> (Oligocene) and “<i>Podocnemis</i>” <i>aegyptiaca</i> (Miocene)

The early Oligocene “Podocnemis” fajumensis and the early Miocene “Podocnemis” aegyptiaca are two podocnemidid turtles from northern Egypt, defined more than a century ago. Their identification as representatives of the South American genus Podocnemis cannot currently be supported. Relatively limited information on both species was available. In fact, no photograph on the shell of either of them has been published so far, and the type material of both is currently lost. Shell remains of almost 15 specimens of “Podocnemis” fajumensis are analyzed here, including a complete carapace and two complete plastra. A neotype is designated here for the species. An artificial mold of the holotype of “Podocnemis” aegyptiaca is identified, corresponding to its holoplastotype. Both “Podocnemis” fajumensis and “Podocnemis” aegyptiaca are confirmed as valid species, attributable to Erymnochelyini, a clade currently exclusively represented by the Malagasy Erymnochelys madagascariensis. A new diagnosis is proposed for each of these extinct species, including both autapomorphies and a unique combination of characters. They are attributed to two new genera, corresponding to the oldest defined for the African record of Erymnochelyini. Thus, the new combinations Shetwemys fajumensis (http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/B4805343-8533-4DA7-808B-BB972D4471CB, urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B4805343-8533-4DA7-808B-BB972D4471CB) and Apeshemys aegyptiaca (http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/43DD73CF-AAED-47A0-9FFB-EB6CFB80D389, urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:43DD73CF-AAED-47A0-9FFB-EB6CFB80D389) are proposed.

A recent update about seroprevalence of ovine neosporosis in Northern Egypt and its associated risk factors

Neospora caninum (Family: Sarcocystidae) is an obligate intracellular protozoan. It is one of the most critical abortifacients in ruminants. The seroprevalence of antibodies against N. caninum and its risk factors was investigated among 430 sheep from four North Egyptian governorates, Alexandria, Gharbia, Menofia, and Qalyubia, during the period from 2017 to 2018. Generally, the overall prevalence rate of N. caninum among sheep was 8.6%. The logistic regression analysis for the obtained data revealed that N. caninum increased significantly with age (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 8.4–18.7) of the ewe (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 7.6–14.9), particularly among sheep in contact with dogs (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 7.5–14.3). Besides, locality, season, and pregnancy status of examined sheep had no significant effect on the appearance of N. caninum infection. the present findings confirm the presence of N. caninum among sheep in Egypt which probably play a role in reproductive failure in sheep. Therefore, sanitary measures and monitoring of the infection should be implemented to reduce the spreading of the infection.

Obesity Strongly Predicts COVID-19-Related Major Clinical Adverse Events in Coptic Clergy

Background and Aims: The Coptic clergy, due to their specific work involving interaction with many people, could be subjected to increased risk of infection from COVID-19. The aim of this study, a sub-study of the COVID-19-CVD international study of the impact of the pandemic on the cardiovascular system, was to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among Coptic priests and to identify predictors of clinical adverse events. Methods: Participants were geographically divided into three groups: Group-I: Europe and USA, Group II: Northern Egypt, and Group III: Southern Egypt. Participants’ demographic indices, cardiovascular risk factors, possible source of infection, number of liturgies, infection management, and major adverse events (MAEs), comprising death, or mechanical ventilation, were assessed. Results: Out of the 1570 clergy serving in 25 dioceses, 255 (16.2%) were infected. Their mean age was 49.5 ± 12 years and mean weekly number of liturgies was 3.44 ± 1.0. The overall prevalence rate was 16.2% and did not differ between Egypt as a whole and overseas (p = 0.23). Disease prevalence was higher in Northern Egypt clergy compared with Europe and USA combined (18.4% vs. 12.1%, p = 0.03) and tended to be higher than in Southern Egypt (18.4% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.09). Ten priests (3.92%) died of COVID-19-related complications, and 26 (10.2) suffered a MAE. The clergy from Southern Egypt were more obese, but the remaining risk factors were less prevalent compared with those in Europe and USA (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, obesity (OR = 4.180; 2.479 to 12.15; p = 0.01), age (OR = 1.055; 0.024 to 1.141; p = 0.02), and systemic hypertension (OR = 1.931; 1.169 to 2.004; p = 0.007) predicted MAEs. Obesity was the most powerful independent predictor of MAE in Southern Egypt and systemic hypertension in Northern Egypt (p < 0.05 for both). Conclusion: Obesity is very prevalent among Coptic clergy and seems to be the most powerful independent predictor of major COVID-19-related adverse events. Coptic clergy should be encouraged to follow the WHO recommendations for cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 prevention.