A remote management system for control and surveillance of echinococcosis: design and implementation based on internet of things

A scoping review on control strategies for Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato

Background

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a widespread neglected zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (EG) with a global burden of control in the billions of dollars. E. granulosus' life cycle involves definitive, intermediate, and humans as dead-end hosts. Echinococcosis control programs use strategies that focus on any of these hosts. We aimed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the EG control interventions worldwide.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review by mapping all studies on interventions for EG control following the Arksey and O'Malley Framework. We screened identified articles, and charted and coded selected papers. We classified the data based on target host, type of study, and control mechanism. We described the efficacy or safety outcomes, and the associated barriers/facilitators for the intervention. Critical appraisal was conducted.

Results

From 7,853 screened studies, we analyzed 45: seven centered on human interventions, 21 on animals, and 17 on both. Studies on humans focused on educational strategies and human CE monitoring. The studies on animals were field trials and most were based on Praziquantel (PZQ) for dogs. Studies focused on both animals and humans had, in general, more participants, lasted longer, and covered larger geographical areas. Overall, the quality of studies was moderate to low.

Conclusions

Available evidence suggests that long-term interventions aimed at both animals and humans can achieve significant reduction in EG transmission, particularly when PZQ treatment for dogs is included. Higher quality evidence, standardization of methodologies, and better reporting on post-intervention outcomes are necessary for drawing stronger conclusions. Further evidence is needed to assess the sustainability and scalability of control measures. Nonetheless, an integrative One Health approach is essential for overcoming the multiple challenges associated with sustaining long-term control efforts for Echinococcosis.

Modern technologies and solutions to enhance surveillance and response systems for emerging zoonotic diseases

Background

Zoonotic diseases originating in animals pose a significant threat to global public health. Recent outbreaks, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have caused widespread illness, death, and socioeconomic disruptions worldwide. To cope with these diseases effectively, it is crucial to strengthen surveillance capabilities and establish rapid response systems.

Aim

The aim of this review to examine the modern technologies and solutions that have the potential to enhance zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak responses and provide valuable insights into how cutting-edge innovations could be leveraged to prevent, detect, and control emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks. Herein, we discuss advanced tools including big data analytics, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, geographic information systems, remote sensing, molecular diagnostics, point-of-care testing, telemedicine, digital contact tracing, and early warning systems.

Results

These technologies enable real-time monitoring, the prediction of outbreak risks, early anomaly detection, rapid diagnosis, and targeted interventions during outbreaks. When integrated through collaborative partnerships, these strategies can significantly improve the speed and effectiveness of zoonotic disease control. However, several challenges persist, particularly in resource-limited settings, such as infrastructure limitations, costs, data integration and training requirements, and ethical implementation.

Conclusion

With strategic planning and coordinated efforts, modern technologies and solutions offer immense potential to bolster surveillance and outbreak responses, and serve as a critical resource against emerging zoonotic disease threats worldwide.

Projections of IoT Applications in Colombia Using 5G Wireless Networks

Wireless technologies are increasingly relevant in different activities and lines of the economy, as well as in the daily life of people and companies. The advent of fifth generation networks (5G) implies a promising synergy with the Internet of Things (IoT), allowing for more automations in production processes and an increase in the efficiency of information transmission, managing to improve the efficiency in decision-making through tools such as big data and artificial intelligence. This article presents a description of the 5G implementation process in Colombia, as well as a revision of opportunities when combining with IoT in featured sectors of the departmental development plans, such as agriculture, tourism, health, the environment, and industry. Results shows that the startup of 5G in Colombia has been a slow process, but there are comparisons with similar procedures in other developed countries. Additionally, we present examples of 5G and IoT applications which can be promoted in Colombia, aimed at improving the quality of life of their habitants and promoting economic development.

Smart deworming collar: A novel tool for reducing Echinococcus infection in dogs

Echinococcosis is a serious zoonotic parasitic disease transmitted from canines to humans and livestock. Periodic deworming is recommended by the WHO/OIE as a highly effective measure against echinococcosis. However, manual deworming involves significant challenges, particularly in remote areas with scarce resources. The insufficient awareness delivering praziquantel (PZQ) baits for dogs leads to low compliance rate. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a novel smart collar for dogs to address these challenges. We developed a smart Internet of Things (IoT)-based deworming collar which can deliver PZQ baits for dogs automatically, regularly, quantitatively with predominant characteristics of being waterproof, anti-collision, cold-proof and long life battery. Its performance was tested in two remote locations on the Tibetan Plateau. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the compliance of the dog owners. Further, a randomized controlled study was performed to evaluate the difference between smart-collar deworming and manual deworming. The collar's effectiveness was further assessed on the basis of Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE). The testing and evaluation was done for 10 smart deworming collars in factory laboratory, 18 collars attached for 18 dogs in Seni district, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, and 523 collars attached for 523 dogs in Hezuo city, Gansu province, China. The anti-collision, waterproof, and coldproof proportion of the smart collars were 100.0%, 99.5%, and 100.0%, respectively. When compared to manual deworming, the dogs' risk of infection with Echinococcus on smart-collar deworming is down to 0.182 times (95% CI: 0.049, 0.684) in Seni district and 0.355 (95%CI: 0.178, 0.706) in Hezuo city, the smart collar has a significant protective effect. The owners' overall compliance rate to attach the smart collars for their dogs was 89%. The smart deworming collar could effectively reduce the dogs' risk of infection with Echinococcus in dogs, significantly increase the deworming frequency and coverage and rapidly remove worm biomass in dogs. Thus, it may be a promising alternative to manual deworming, particularly in remote areas on the Tibetan Plateau.