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Holloway L, Mahon N, Clark B, Proctor A. Interspecies encounters with endemic health conditions: co-producing BVD and lameness with cows and sheep in the north of England. Sociol Ruralis 2024; 64:180-201. [PMID: 38680761 PMCID: PMC7615895 DOI: 10.1111/soru.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
This paper focuses on the relationships between people and farmed nonhuman animals, and between these animals and the farmed environments they encounter, in the enactment of interspecies endemic disease situations. It examines how the nonhuman embodied capacities, agency and subjectivities of cows and sheep on farms in the north of England make a difference to how the endemic conditions of lameness and bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) are encountered and responded to by farmers and advisers. The paper draws on empirical research with farmers and their advisers, and explores three key, inter-related, themes: first, the importance of intersubjective relationships between people and animals on farms; second, the nonhuman components of the 'disease situations' associated with endemic diseases, including animals' embodied characteristics and behaviours and the relationships between bodies and environments on different farms; and finally the ways in which animal agency and resistance makes a difference to on-farm interventions aiming to prevent or treat lameness and BVD. The paper concludes by arguing that animals' capacities, and nonhuman difference, should be taken further into account in future policy and practice interventions in endemic disease in farmed animals.
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2
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Abdullah SJ, Ali SA. Molecular Detection of a Pathogenic Entamoeba among Symptomatic Children in Eastern Kurdistan of Iraq. Pol J Microbiol 2024; 73:99-105. [PMID: 38437467 PMCID: PMC10911696 DOI: 10.33073/pjm-2024-010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica infects the large intestine of humans, causing a spectrum of clinical appearances ranging from asymptomatic colonization to severe intestinal and extra-intestinal disease. The parasite is identical microscopically to commensal nonpathogenic amoeba. To detect the pathogenic Entamoeba and estimate the precise prevalence of the parasite among the symptomatic pediatric population using molecular techniques. 323 fecal samples were collected from symptomatic children admitted to Sulaimani Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Sulaimaniyah Province, Iraq, from June to October 2021. A structured, validated questionnaire was prepared and used to report participants' gender, residency, and drinking water source. Then, stool samples were microscopically examined, and the positive samples were submitted to molecular analysis by amplifying the 18s rRNA gene using nested PCR to differentiate E. histolytica from other nonpathogenic Entamoeba. Finally, gene sequences were done to confirm the species. Microscopically, 58 positive samples represented Entamoeba species infection rate of 18% among symptomatic patients. However, only 18 samples were positive for E. histolytica based on molecular methods, which accounts for 31% of the positive by microscopy and 5.6% among the 323 symptomatic populations. NCBI, available in their database, gives the gene sequence and accession number. Patients' sociodemographic data and water sources were directly related to the infection rate. Classical microscopic examination provides a misleading profile about the prevalence of E. histolytica in an endemic region that might lead to unnecessary treatments and a lack of appropriate management for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sham Jamil Abdullah
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq
| | - Shahnaz Abdulkader Ali
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq
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3
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Liu M, Wang Y, Ye Y, Xia Y, Shang L, Ding Z, Wang P. Comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of endemic disease prevention and control in Jiangsu Province, China, 2013-2022. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1271765. [PMID: 38026345 PMCID: PMC10655136 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1271765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As a strong economic and populous province in China, Jiangsu is home to four endemic diseases. Despite efforts in the past decade, the prevention and control of these four endemic diseases are not uniform because of the different etiological chains and influencing factors of these diseases. Among the evaluation methodologies for endemic disease control, only one method is currently available for each disease. In this study, we selected 14 indicators to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of endemic disease control in Jiangsu between 2013 and 2022. We improved the method for calculating the weights of the indicators and established a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on the weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution model and a weighted grey relational analysis model. The results of the comprehensive evaluation showed that the progress of endemic disease control in Jiangsu was not always in line with our expectations of improvement, with the top five years of better control occurring in 2015, 2013, 2021, 2022, and 2014. The results of the sensitivity analysis confirm the reliability and accuracy of these findings. We discovered that measures such as the reform of the salt industry, use of thyroid ultrasound, and new water supply projects for residents in Jiangsu affected the progress of endemic disease prevention and control. The tracking of endemic disease status should consider the potential effects of changes in policies implemented in other industries on endemic disease prevention and control. Additionally, the results of this study provide a theoretical basis for enhancing prevention and control practices in other regions of China.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhen Ding
- Environment and Health Institute (Endemic Disease Control Department), Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Peihua Wang
- Environment and Health Institute (Endemic Disease Control Department), Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
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4
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Meng Y, Ren Q, Xiao J, Sun H, Huang Y, Liu Y, Wang S, Wang S. Progress of research on the diagnosis and treatment of bone cystic echinococcosis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1273870. [PMID: 37920269 PMCID: PMC10618348 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1273870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most complex and dangerous of all echinococcoses. The lack of typical imaging features and clinical manifestations makes diagnosis and treatment of this disease difficult. X-ray and computed tomography (CT) images of bone CE are similar to those of bone cysts, giant-cell bone tumors, and bone metastases, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows good diagnostic value due to excellent soft-tissue imaging features. Serological tests cannot be used as a definitive diagnostic method for bone CE due to cross-reactivity, which can lead to false-positive or false-negative results. The development of novel antigens can open new frontiers in the diagnosis of the disease. Currently, views conflict on how to diagnose and treat bone CE. Both surgical and pharmacological treatments can be used, but determining which is appropriate is difficult due to the different sites and clinical manifestations of bone CE. Radical resection is not indicated for large-bone injuries, and Pharmacotherapy becomes important. This article reviews the progress of research into the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of, and diagnostic strategies and treatment options for, bone CE. We aimed to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and -treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Meng
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xi’an Jiaotong University Affiliated HongHui Hospital, Xi’an, China
| | - Qian Ren
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Haohao Sun
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yiping Huang
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yaqing Liu
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Sibo Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xi’an Jiaotong University Affiliated HongHui Hospital, Xi’an, China
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5
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Chen Z, OuYang S. Three cases of scrub typhus with hemorrhage: a case report and literature review. J Int Med Res 2023; 51:3000605231204430. [PMID: 37890141 PMCID: PMC10612463 DOI: 10.1177/03000605231204430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus (ST) is an acute focal infectious disease that is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. The Asia-Pacific region is an area of relatively high incidence. There is a high incidence in China, principally owing to the disease being endemic in the south of the country. The main source of ST infection is rats, which act as reservoirs of infection after being bitten by the chigger mite, and the human population is generally susceptible to the disease. ST can be controlled and treated successfully if antibiotics are administered in a timely manner. However, because it does not have a specific clinical manifestation, it is difficult to distinguish ST from other febrile diseases in clinical practice. Therefore, rapid diagnostic methods are still needed to help clinicians make a timely diagnosis. Here, we share three cases of patients with ST who experienced hemorrhage, but did not have typical skin lesions, such as eschar and ulcer, early in the course of their disease, and review the relevant literature regarding ST. We conclude that clinicians should pay attention to the risk of hemorrhage associated with this disease, and emphasize the importance of making an early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziren Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy, and Rehabilitation of the Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi OuYang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy, and Rehabilitation of the Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Gullapalli D, Vangara A, Ganti SS, Kommineni SS, Rahmlow T, Moon J. Gilchrist's Hollow Lung. Cureus 2023; 15:e44288. [PMID: 37779779 PMCID: PMC10533367 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastomycosis is an endemic mycosis in certain parts of North America. The dimorphic fungus can manifest with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary features. We present the case of a 24-year-old African American male with a history of vaping and daily marijuana who presented with hemoptysis and a cough of one-week duration. He was initially treated as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The patient had a bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) done in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe. Cultures grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), followed by Blastomyces dermatitidis in the histopathologic examination. Chronic pulmonary blastomycosis may present with hemoptysis, weight loss, chronic cough, and night sweats, along with upper lobe predominant cavitation. We have to exclude tuberculosis (TB), lung cancer, and chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis. This case epitomizes many classic perils in the identification of pulmonary blastomycosis. The patient was being treated with itraconazole 200 mg BID for 12 months as per infectious disease suggestion. The patient is nine months into treatment. At six months, his chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a reduction in size from 5.0 × 5.3 cm to 4.2 × 4.0 cm. Although there are no articles supporting increased secondary bacterial infections with underlying fungal infections, more research needs to be done to find any associated features.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Avinash Vangara
- Internal Medicine, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), Harlan, USA
| | - Subramanya Shyam Ganti
- Internal Medicine/Pulmonary Critical Care, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), Harlan, USA
| | - Sai S Kommineni
- Internal Medicine, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), Harlan, USA
| | - Tara Rahmlow
- Internal Medicine, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), Harlan, USA
| | - Jessica Moon
- Internal Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), Harrogate, USA
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7
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Paz WS, Ramos RES, Bezerra LP, Matos DF, Tavares DS, Souza CDF, Bezerra-Santos M, Ximenes RAA. Temporal trend, high-risk spatial and spatiotemporal clustering of leprosy indicators in Brazil: A 20-year ecological and population-based study. Trop Med Int Health 2023. [PMID: 37243431 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Leprosy still represents a public health concern in Brazil. The country is the only one in America not to reach the global goal of leprosy disease control. Hence, this study aimed to assess the temporal, spatial and space-time patterns of leprosy cases in Brazil of the 20-year time series 2001-2020. METHODS An ecological and population-based analysis was carried out, applying temporal and spatial techniques, and using the detection coefficient of sociodemographic and clinical-epidemiological variables of leprosy new cases in the 5570 municipalities of Brazil. Temporal trends were assessed using a segmented linear regression model. For spatial analysis, global and local Moran indexes were applied, and space-time scan statistics was used to identify risk clusters. RESULTS The mean detection coefficient was 19.36/100,000 inhabitants, with a higher occurrence among men (21.29/100,000 inhabitants) and in the 60-69 age group (36.31/100,000). A decreasing temporal trend was observed in the country (annual percentage change: -5.20% per year). The North and Midwest regions were the most affected, exhibiting municipalities with a high/high standard, and with the highest annual percentage increase of multibacillary (MB) cases. Leprosy has a heterogeneous distribution throughout Brazil, but with high-risk spatiotemporal clusters, mainly located in the North and Midwest regions. CONCLUSION Although Brazil has shown a decreasing temporal trend during the past 20 years, the country is still classified as highly endemic for leprosy, showing an increase in the proportion of new MB cases over the years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wandklebson Silva Paz
- Tropical Medicine Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Pereira Bezerra
- Biosciences and Biotechnology in Health Graduate Program, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Brazil
| | - Dalton Ferreira Matos
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
| | | | | | - Márcio Bezerra-Santos
- Health Science Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Medical Science Center, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Arapiraca, Brazil
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8
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Abe T, Yamaguchi F, Sakakura S, Shiratori Y, Mase A, Funaki T, Kamio Y, Suzuki T, Shikama Y, Hoshino Y. Surgical Resection to Treat a Japanese Patient with Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:2787-2791. [PMID: 37187484 PMCID: PMC10178290 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s401752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease that is particularly prevalent in the United States. However, its geographic distribution is becoming widespread. Here, we present a Japanese male who resided in the United States for 1 year, where he was diagnosed with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis that was accompanied by cavity formation. He did not tolerate antifungal therapy and consequently underwent partial resection of the upper lobe of his left lung upon his return to Japan. The patient's symptoms improved after surgery. The trend toward global networking and logistics means that a diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis should be considered in routine practice in nonendemic areas. Due to the rarity of surgical treatment for this disease, prolonged follow-up is necessary. During the last follow-up, the patient was symptom-free.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Abe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Fumihiro Yamaguchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
- Correspondence: Fumihiro Yamaguchi, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, 1-30 Fujigaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, 227-8501, Japan, Tel +81-45-971-1151, Email
| | - Shunsuke Sakakura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yo Shiratori
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ayaka Mase
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Toshitaka Funaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoshito Kamio
- Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yusuke Shikama
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Hoshino
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Compston P, Limon G, Häsler B. A systematic review of the methods used to analyze the economic impact of endemic foot-and-mouth disease. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2249-e2260. [PMID: 35445543 PMCID: PMC9795869 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has large economic consequences in livestock systems, which must be robustly assessed to support disease control policy. This study described and assessed methods used within economic analyses of FMD and its control in endemic contexts. A systematic literature search was conducted in six academic search engines. Studies were included if they applied an economic analysis to a context with endemic FMD, producing a result articulated as a monetary figure. Data collected from each article included country of study, animal population, geographical level of analysis, time horizon and type of economic analysis. Each study was scored using a quality assessment tool containing a checklist of 42 reporting criteria. Sixty-four articles were included, from 12,087 identified in the searches, describing results for 26 countries. Over half of the articles (56%) described economic impact of FMD retrospectively, often only accounting for a selection of direct costs at farm or household level. Median quality score calculated was 41% (range 8%-86%). Methods were generally poorly reported, confirming previously described difficulties in using published data to evaluate economic impact of endemic FMD. Few studies included disaggregation of public and private costs, or benefits, of FMD control, or accounted for economic or social influences of scale in vaccination programmes. Many of the studies included had gaps in both premise and methodology. If these analyses are used when planning and budgeting FMD control programmes in endemic contexts, there is a risk of inefficient resource allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polly Compston
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.,The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, UK
| | - Georgina Limon
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.,The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, UK
| | - Barbara Häsler
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
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10
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Abstract
In Western countries during the post-World War II decades, endemic viral diseases were increasingly important to health. Such diseases have attracted limited historical attention. Due to changing methods of livestock production, they were particularly prevalent on the farm. This article uses a case study of the cattle disease, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), to demonstrate their historical significance. Spanning North America, the UK and Australia, it reveals the complex nature of BVD, and how and why its clinical, aetiological, epidemiological and host species identities evolved over time. This analysis sheds new light on how endemic viral diseases of livestock were experienced, understood and distributed in this period, and the influence exerted by changing agricultural practices, concerns about biological warfare and the development of virology as applied to veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Woods
- College of Arts, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK. E-mail:
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11
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Fairley M, Rao IJ, Brandeau ML, Qian GL, Gonsalves GS. Surveillance for endemic infectious disease outbreaks: Adaptive sampling using profile likelihood estimation. Stat Med 2022; 41:3336-3348. [PMID: 35527474 PMCID: PMC9283243 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Outbreaks of an endemic infectious disease can occur when the disease is introduced into a highly susceptible subpopulation or when the disease enters a network of connected individuals. For example, significant HIV outbreaks among people who inject drugs have occurred in at least half a dozen US states in recent years. This motivates the current study: how can limited testing resources be allocated across geographic regions to rapidly detect outbreaks of an endemic infectious disease? We develop an adaptive sampling algorithm that uses profile likelihood to estimate the distribution of the number of positive tests that would occur for each location in a future time period if that location were sampled. Sampling is performed in the location with the highest estimated probability of triggering an outbreak alarm in the next time period. The alarm function is determined by a semiparametric likelihood ratio test. We compare the profile likelihood sampling (PLS) method numerically to uniform random sampling (URS) and Thompson sampling (TS). TS was worse than URS when the outbreak occurred in a location with lower initial prevalence than other locations. PLS had lower time to outbreak detection than TS in some but not all scenarios, but was always better than URS even when the outbreak occurred in a location with a lower initial prevalence than other locations. PLS provides an effective and reliable method for rapidly detecting endemic disease outbreaks that is robust to this uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Fairley
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, California, United States
- Correspondence: Michael Fairley,
| | - Isabelle J. Rao
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, California, United States
| | - Margaret L. Brandeau
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, California, United States
| | - Gary L. Qian
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, California, United States
| | - Gregg S. Gonsalves
- Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, Connecticut, United States
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12
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McMullin P. Infectious diseases in free-range compared to conventional poultry production. Avian Pathol 2022; 51:424-434. [PMID: 35675285 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2022.2086448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Commercial chicken production for the supply of meat and eggs has expanded in the scale and variety of production systems in use to facilitate the supply of a range of cost-effective products in response to consumer demand. In the egg sector, traditional cage systems were required to be replaced in the EU by 2012, and most of this production capacity has been replaced by colony cage systems, which provide more space, perching, and environmental enrichment. In some countries there is significant production of "cage-free" or "barn" eggs in which the birds remain housed, but have access to litter. In the UK most egg production is now free-range. Meat poultry is produced in "barn" systems with various enrichments and some free-range. The rise in free-range production has seen the return of some diseases. Biosecurity is a critical tool for disease control in all production systems, particularly when disease challenge is high or farms are in a high poultry density area. An infectious dose of a pathogen is important in determining outcomes in terms of health and productivity, so biosecurity, hygiene, and good management are important across many diseases. Infections which are notifiable, of zoonotic importance and those which are sporadic or endemic in commercial poultry production are reviewed. General principles of preventative medicine applicable to the control of infectious diseases in different poultry production systems are proposed in areas such as biosecurity, system design and maintenance, range, and vaccination, though good management is always important.
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13
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Medina-Escobedo M, Sánchez-Pozos K, Gutiérrez-Solis AL, Avila-Nava A, González-Rocha L, Lugo R. Recurrence of Nephrolithiasis and Surgical Events Are Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Adult Patients. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022; 58:medicina58030420. [PMID: 35334596 PMCID: PMC8954899 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58030420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective: Nephrolithiasis (NL) is a public health problem in the population of Southeast Mexico because of its high prevalence and recurrence. The evolution of this pathology can result in renal damage and may even cause chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to a reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), decreased kidney function, and kidney loss in advanced stages. However, few studies support this evidence in the population. The present study aimed to determine risk factors associated with CKD in adult patients in an endemic population of Mexico. Materials and methods: A case-control study was carried out with patients diagnosed with NL. Additionally, the clinical information of patients (age, weight, height, blood pressure, comorbidities, and time of progress of NL), characteristics of the stones (number, location, and Hounsfield units), and biochemical parameters were collected. Results: The recurrence of NL was associated with CKD (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.37−2.27; p = 0.003). In addition, male sex (p = 0.016), surgical history (p = 0.011), bilateral kidney stones (p < 0.001), and urinary tract infections (p = 0.004) were other factors associated with CKD. Interestingly, thirty-two patients younger than 50 years old with >2 surgical events presented a significant decrease in GFR (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The recurrence of NL and the number of surgical events were risk factors associated with CKD in patients with NL treated in our population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Medina-Escobedo
- Research Unit, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Peninsula de Yucatán, Calle 7 por 20 y 22, Fraccionamiento Altabrisa, Merida 97130, Mexico; (M.M.-E.); (A.L.G.-S.); (A.A.-N.); (L.G.-R.)
| | - Katy Sánchez-Pozos
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Hospital Juarez de Mexico, Av. Instituto Politecnico Nacional 5160, Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07760, Mexico;
| | - Ana Ligia Gutiérrez-Solis
- Research Unit, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Peninsula de Yucatán, Calle 7 por 20 y 22, Fraccionamiento Altabrisa, Merida 97130, Mexico; (M.M.-E.); (A.L.G.-S.); (A.A.-N.); (L.G.-R.)
| | - Azalia Avila-Nava
- Research Unit, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Peninsula de Yucatán, Calle 7 por 20 y 22, Fraccionamiento Altabrisa, Merida 97130, Mexico; (M.M.-E.); (A.L.G.-S.); (A.A.-N.); (L.G.-R.)
| | - Lizeth González-Rocha
- Research Unit, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Peninsula de Yucatán, Calle 7 por 20 y 22, Fraccionamiento Altabrisa, Merida 97130, Mexico; (M.M.-E.); (A.L.G.-S.); (A.A.-N.); (L.G.-R.)
| | - Roberto Lugo
- Research Unit, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Peninsula de Yucatán, Calle 7 por 20 y 22, Fraccionamiento Altabrisa, Merida 97130, Mexico; (M.M.-E.); (A.L.G.-S.); (A.A.-N.); (L.G.-R.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Qiao L, Liu X, He Y, Zhang J, Huang H, Bian W, Chilufya MM, Zhao Y, Han J. Progress of Signaling Pathways, Stress Pathways and Epigenetics in the Pathogenesis of Skeletal Fluorosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111932. [PMID: 34769367 PMCID: PMC8584317 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorine is widely dispersed in nature and has multiple physiological functions. Although it is usually regarded as an essential trace element for humans, this view is not held universally. Moreover, chronic fluorosis, mainly characterized by skeletal fluorosis, can be induced by long-term excessive fluoride consumption. High concentrations of fluoride in the environment and drinking water are major causes, and patients with skeletal fluorosis mainly present with symptoms of osteosclerosis, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, and degenerative changes in joint cartilage. Etiologies for skeletal fluorosis have been established, but the specific pathogenesis is inconclusive. Currently, active osteogenesis and accelerated bone turnover are considered critical processes in the progression of skeletal fluorosis. In recent years, researchers have conducted extensive studies in fields of signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Hedgehog, parathyroid hormone, and insulin signaling pathways), stress pathways (oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways), epigenetics (DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs), and their inter-regulation involved in the pathogenesis of skeletal fluorosis. In this review, we summarised and analyzed relevant findings to provide a basis for comprehensive understandings of the pathogenesis of skeletal fluorosis and hopefully propose more effective prevention and therapeutic strategies.
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Arnoux S, Bidan F, Damman A, Petit E, Assié S, Ezanno P. To Vaccinate or Not: Impact of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea in French Cow-Calf Herds. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9101137. [PMID: 34696246 PMCID: PMC8540166 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) remains an issue despite control programs implemented worldwide. Virus introduction can occur through contacts with neighbouring herds. Vaccination can locally protect exposed herds. However, virus spread depends on herd characteristics, which may impair vaccination efficiency. Using a within-herd epidemiological model, we compared three French cow-calf farming systems named by their main breed: Charolaise, Limousine, and Blonde d’Aquitaine. We assessed vaccination strategies of breeding females assuming two possible protections: against infection or against vertical transmission. Four commercial vaccines were considered: Bovilis®, Bovela®, Rispoval®, and Mucosiffa®. We tested various virus introduction frequency in a naïve herd. We calculated BVD economic impact and vaccination reward. In Charolaise, BVD economic impact was 113€ per cow over 5 years after virus introduction. Irrespective of the vaccine and for a high enough risk of introduction, the yearly expected reward was 0.80€ per invested euro per cow. Vaccination should not be stopped before herd exposure has been decreased. In contrast, the reward was almost nil in Blonde d’Aquitaine and Limousine. This highlights the importance of accounting for herd specificities to assess BVD impact and vaccination efficiency. To guide farmers’ vaccination decisions against BVD, we transformed this model into a French decision support tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandie Arnoux
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300 Nantes, France; (S.A.); (A.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Fabrice Bidan
- Institut de L’élevage, 42 rue Georges Morel, F-49070 Beaucouzé, France;
| | - Alix Damman
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300 Nantes, France; (S.A.); (A.D.); (S.A.)
| | | | - Sébastien Assié
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300 Nantes, France; (S.A.); (A.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Pauline Ezanno
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300 Nantes, France; (S.A.); (A.D.); (S.A.)
- Correspondence:
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16
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He W, Baysal C, Lobato Gómez M, Huang X, Alvarez D, Zhu C, Armario‐Najera V, Blanco Perera A, Cerda Bennaser P, Saba‐Mayoral A, Sobrino‐Mengual G, Vargheese A, Abranches R, Alexandra Abreu I, Balamurugan S, Bock R, Buyel JF, da Cunha NB, Daniell H, Faller R, Folgado A, Gowtham I, Häkkinen ST, Kumar S, Sathish Kumar R, Lacorte C, Lomonossoff GP, Luís IM, K.‐C. Ma J, McDonald KA, Murad A, Nandi S, O’Keef B, Parthiban S, Paul MJ, Ponndorf D, Rech E, Rodrigues JC, Ruf S, Schillberg S, Schwestka J, Shah PS, Singh R, Stoger E, Twyman RM, Varghese IP, Vianna GR, Webster G, Wilbers RHP, Christou P, Oksman‐Caldentey K, Capell T. Contributions of the international plant science community to the fight against infectious diseases in humans-part 2: Affordable drugs in edible plants for endemic and re-emerging diseases. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1921-1936. [PMID: 34181810 PMCID: PMC8486237 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The fight against infectious diseases often focuses on epidemics and pandemics, which demand urgent resources and command attention from the health authorities and media. However, the vast majority of deaths caused by infectious diseases occur in endemic zones, particularly in developing countries, placing a disproportionate burden on underfunded health systems and often requiring international interventions. The provision of vaccines and other biologics is hampered not only by the high cost and limited scalability of traditional manufacturing platforms based on microbial and animal cells, but also by challenges caused by distribution and storage, particularly in regions without a complete cold chain. In this review article, we consider the potential of molecular farming to address the challenges of endemic and re-emerging diseases, focusing on edible plants for the development of oral drugs. Key recent developments in this field include successful clinical trials based on orally delivered dried leaves of Artemisia annua against malarial parasite strains resistant to artemisinin combination therapy, the ability to produce clinical-grade protein drugs in leaves to treat infectious diseases and the long-term storage of protein drugs in dried leaves at ambient temperatures. Recent FDA approval of the first orally delivered protein drug encapsulated in plant cells to treat peanut allergy has opened the door for the development of affordable oral drugs that can be manufactured and distributed in remote areas without cold storage infrastructure and that eliminate the need for expensive purification steps and sterile delivery by injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshu He
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Can Baysal
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Maria Lobato Gómez
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Derry Alvarez
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Changfu Zhu
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Victoria Armario‐Najera
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Aamaya Blanco Perera
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Pedro Cerda Bennaser
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Andrea Saba‐Mayoral
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | | | - Ashwin Vargheese
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Rita Abranches
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Isabel Alexandra Abreu
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Shanmugaraj Balamurugan
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Johannes F. Buyel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAachenGermany
- Institute for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Nicolau B. da Cunha
- Centro de Análise Proteômicas e Bioquímicas de BrasíliaUniversidade Católica de BrasíliaBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Henry Daniell
- School of Dental MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Roland Faller
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - André Folgado
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Iyappan Gowtham
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Suvi T. Häkkinen
- Industrial Biotechnology and Food SolutionsVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland LtdEspooFinland
| | - Shashi Kumar
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyNew DelhiIndia
| | - Ramalingam Sathish Kumar
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Cristiano Lacorte
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | | | - Ines M. Luís
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Julian K.‐C. Ma
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Karen A. McDonald
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Global HealthShare InitiativeUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Andre Murad
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Somen Nandi
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Global HealthShare InitiativeUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Barry O’Keef
- Division of Cancer Treatment and DiagnosisMolecular Targets ProgramCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, and Natural Products Branch, Developmental Therapeutics ProgramNational Cancer Institute, NIHFrederickMDUSA
| | - Subramanian Parthiban
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Mathew J. Paul
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Daniel Ponndorf
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research Park, NorwichUK
| | - Elibio Rech
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Julio C.M. Rodrigues
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Stephanie Ruf
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Stefan Schillberg
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAachenGermany
- Institute for PhytopathologyJustus‐Liebig‐University GiessenGiessenGermany
| | - Jennifer Schwestka
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Priya S. Shah
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Rahul Singh
- School of Dental MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Eva Stoger
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Inchakalody P. Varghese
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Giovanni R. Vianna
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Gina Webster
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Ruud H. P. Wilbers
- Laboratory of NematologyPlant Sciences GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
- ICREACatalan Institute for Research and Advanced StudiesBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
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Knight MA, White PCL, Hutchings MR, Davidson RS, Marion G. Generative models of network dynamics provide insight into the effects of trade on endemic livestock disease. R Soc Open Sci 2021; 8:201715. [PMID: 33959334 PMCID: PMC8074963 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We develop and apply analytically tractable generative models of livestock movements at national scale. These go beyond current models through mechanistic modelling of heterogeneous trade partnership network dynamics and the trade events that occur on them. Linking resulting animal movements to disease transmission between farms yields analytical expressions for the basic reproduction number R 0. We show how these novel modelling tools enable systems approaches to disease control, using R 0 to explore impacts of changes in trading practices on between-farm prevalence levels. Using the Scottish cattle trade network as a case study, we show our approach captures critical complexities of real-world trade networks at the national scale for a broad range of endemic diseases. Changes in trading patterns that minimize disruption to business by maintaining in-flow of animals for each individual farm reduce R 0, with the largest reductions for diseases that are most challenging to eradicate. Incentivizing high-risk farms to adopt such changes exploits 'scale-free' properties of the system and is likely to be particularly effective in reducing national livestock disease burden and incursion risk. Encouragingly, gains made by such targeted modification of trade practices scale much more favourably than comparably targeted improvements to more commonly adopted farm-level biosecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A. Knight
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5NG, UK
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Piran C. L. White
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5NG, UK
| | | | - Ross S. Davidson
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Glenn Marion
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
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18
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Abstract
As COVID-19 drags on and new vaccines promise widespread immunity, the world's attention has turned to predicting how the present pandemic will end. How do societies know when an epidemic is over and normal life can resume? What criteria and markers indicate such an end? Who has the insight, authority, and credibility to decipher these signs? Detailed research on past epidemics has demonstrated that they do not end suddenly; indeed, only rarely do the diseases in question actually end. This article examines the ways in which scholars have identified and described the end stages of previous epidemics, pointing out that significantly less attention has been paid to these periods than to origins and climaxes. Analysis of the ends of epidemics illustrates that epidemics are as much social, political, and economic events as they are biological; the "end," therefore, is as much a process of social and political negotiation as it is biomedical. Equally important, epidemics end at different times for different groups, both within one society and across regions. Multidisciplinary research into how epidemics end reveals how the end of an epidemic shifts according to perspective, whether temporal, geographic, or methodological. A multidisciplinary analysis of how epidemics end suggests that epidemics should therefore be framed not as linear narratives-from outbreak to intervention to termination-but within cycles of disease and with a multiplicity of endings.
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Garbelotto M, Popenuck T, Hall B, Schweigkofler W, Dovana F, Goldstein de Salazar R, Schmidt D, Sims LL. Citizen Science Uncovers Phytophthora ramorum as a Threat to Several Rare or Endangered California Manzanita Species. Plant Dis 2020; 104:3173-3182. [PMID: 33044918 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-03-20-0619-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Blitzes consist of yearly surveys led by citizen scientists designed to map the distribution of Phytophthora ramorum, cause of the forest disease called SOD, across northern California. During the 2017 Santa Cruz County SOD Blitz, six rare or endangered Arctostaphylos (manzanita) species were found to be possibly symptomatic for the first time. Symptoms included branch cankers and associated canopy mortality, and affected multiple individuals per species. Isolates of P. ramorum were obtained from each of the six species and, through a 30-day-long inoculation experiment on live plants, Koch's postulates were completed for each one of them, conclusively determining that they all are hosts of this pathogen. Two additional manzanita species were later found to be apparently symptomatic in Marin County. Inoculations on detached branches using an isolate of P. ramorum obtained from one of the six rare species from Santa Cruz County were successful, suggesting that these two species may also be hosts of P. ramorum. Detached leaves of all eight species were also successfully inoculated at the University of California-Berkeley in fall 2018 and then again in spring 2019. In these cases, the same isolate was used for all inoculations, in order to obtain information on the comparative susceptibility of the eight species in question. Both branch and leaf inoculations identified significant interspecific differences in susceptibility. The production of sporangia was low on all species but it was not zero, suggesting that sporulation may cause within-plant and limited across-plant contagion, especially in rainy years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Garbelotto
- Department of ESPM, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
| | - Tina Popenuck
- Department of ESPM, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
| | - Brett Hall
- University of California-Santa Cruz Arboretum California Conservation Gardens, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, U.S.A
| | - Wolfgang Schweigkofler
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, U.S.A
| | - Francesco Dovana
- Department of ESPM, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, I-10125 Torino, Italy
| | | | - Doug Schmidt
- Department of ESPM, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
| | - Laura Lee Sims
- Department of ESPM, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
- School of Ag Sciences and Forestry, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71270, U.S.A
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20
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Sirawan A, Berry A, Badra R, El Bazzal B, Dabaja M, Kataya H, Kandeil A, Gomaa MR, Ali M, Kayali G. Avian influenza surveillance at the human-animal interface in Lebanon, 2017. East Mediterr Health J 2020; 26:774-778. [PMID: 32794162 DOI: 10.26719/emhj.20.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Background Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) cause severe diseases in poultry and humans. In Lebanon, AIV H9N2 was detected in 2006 and 2010 and H5N1 was detected in 2016. Aim To evaluate the current circulating AIVs in Lebanon at the human-animal interface. Methods A total of 1000 swabs were collected from poultry from 7 Lebanese governorates between March and June 2017. Swabs were screened for influenza infection. Haemagglutinin and neuraminidase AIV subtypes were determined for positive samples. Gene segments were cloned and sequenced. Blood was collected from 69 exposed individuals. Serological studies were performed to test sera for antibodies against AIV. Results In chickens, 0.6% were positive for AIV H9N2. Sequences obtained clustered tightly with those of Israeli origin as well as Lebanese H9N2 viruses from 2010. All human samples tested negative. Conclusion We recommend regular surveillance for AIVs in poultry using a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Sirawan
- Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, Bir Hassan, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Atika Berry
- Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Bassel El Bazzal
- Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, Bir Hassan, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mayssa Dabaja
- Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, Bir Hassan, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mokhtar R Gomaa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Ali
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.,Faculty of Biotechnology, October University of Modern Sciences and Arts, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghazi Kayali
- Human Link, Hazmieh, Lebanon.,Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, United States of America
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21
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Abstract
Background Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease in the Americas. No cases have been reported in Africa. Patient A 23-year-old HIV seronegative Ugandan man was referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda with a 10-month history of haemoptysis and difficulty breathing, and a 6-month history of localized swellings on the extremities. He had associated weight loss and drenching sweats, but no fevers. He had taken anti-tuberculosis medicine for 2 months with no improvement. He had never travelled out of Uganda. On physical examination, he had cystic swellings and ulcerated lesions on the extremities. He had tachypnoea, crackles in the chest and mild hepatomegaly. Bronchoscopic examination showed two masses occluding the right main bronchus. Bronchoscopic biopsy showed findings consistent with coccidioidomycosis. The patient improved with antifungal treatment and was discharged. Conclusion We report the first case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis with pulmonary and cutaneous manifestations in Africa. LEARNING POINTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel D Yoo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - John K Lusiba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Robert Lukande
- Department of Pathology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Kyungmin Shin
- Department of Radiology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
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22
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Iroegbu CD, Chen W, Wu X, Wu M, Yang J. Endomyocardial fibrosis. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2020; 10:208-222. [PMID: 32420101 DOI: 10.21037/cdt.2020.02.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a neglected cardiovascular disease of poverty which carries a poor prognosis with no specific treatment affecting mainly children and young adults. Here, we report our 10-year experience in the therapeutic management and surgical treatment for EMF. Methods From February 2009 to 2019 March, 55 patients diagnosed with EMF from our cardiology unit underwent surgical repair at our department's pediatric surgical division. There were 35 male, and 20 female patients whose ages varied from 1 year 2 months to 12 years mean age 5.7 (±3.2). We designed the study aimed at assessing the cardio-structural abnormalities and coronary vascular changes faced with EMF patients using echocardiography, and coronary angiography with a detailed and thorough surgical examination of each case. Results Of the 55 operated patients, 1 had mild lesions, 26 had moderate lesions, and 28 had severe heart disease. All but one patient was in NYHA functional class III or IV at the time of surgery. All but one female patient with mild ventricular lesions and no valvular involvement had severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation with valves considered suitable for both replacements; 45 patients mean age 6.0 (±3.1) and repair nine patients mean age 3.8 (±2.9). The mean endocardial thickness was 3,000 (±1519) µm. Conclusions The echocardiographic changes corresponded well to the findings on surgery and histopathology. The coronary changes seen included a spectrum of fibrin deposition, medial sclerosis and degeneration, and the formation of plexiform lesions. Surgically evaluating the resected cardiac tissue might help improve disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuemeka Daniel Iroegbu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Wangping Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Xun Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Ming Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Jinfu Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
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23
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Byrne AW, Graham J, McConville J, Milne G, Guelbenzu-Gonzalo M, McDowell S. Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) co-infection with bovine tuberculosis in cattle: A prospective herd-level assessment of herd bTB risk in dairy enterprises. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:1727-1736. [PMID: 31012527 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Co-infection of tuberculosis (TB) and helminths is recognized as a significant problem in regions where such pathogens are endemic and chronic cases exist. Co-infection can modulate the immune system leading to interference with diagnostic tests, increased pathological impacts and pathogen persistence. However, research has found that such interactions between pathogens can be context and species specific. Recent studies have suggested that liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, infection may impact on immunological responses and diagnostics for bovine tuberculosis (bTB; caused by Mycobacterium bovis) in cattle. Where evidence of such interaction exists, there would be an onus on policy makers to adjust eradication programs to minimize impacts. We assessed the association between herd-level bTB breakdown risk and seasonal variation in liver fluke exposure based on 5,753 bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 1,494 dairy herds across Northern Ireland. BTM was tested by an IDEXX antibody specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the 'f2' antigen as a detection agent. The ELISA determined the result based on a sample to (known) positive ratio (S/P%) from which binary status and categories of exposure were derived. Associations were tested using multivariable random effects models. Models predicting bTB risk were not improved with the inclusion of liver fluke exposure levels. Variations in modelling liver fluke exposure (S/P%, binary, categories of exposure) and bTB risk (skin test breakdowns, post-mortem confirmed breakdowns, breakdown size and lag effects) also failed to support associations (neither positive nor negative) between the pathogens at herd-level. These results, along with previously published animal-level data from Northern Ireland, suggest that the nexus between bTB and F. hepatica may have small size effects at the population-level. However, our results also highlight the high prevalence of F. hepatica in cattle in our study population, and therefore we cannot fully discount the potential hypothesis of population-level depression of immune response to M. bovis due to co-infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Byrne
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Jordon Graham
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
| | - James McConville
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
| | - Georgina Milne
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
| | - Maria Guelbenzu-Gonzalo
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK.,Animal Health Ireland, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim, Ireland
| | - Stanley McDowell
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
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Becker JA, Gilligan D, Asmus M, Tweedie A, Whittington RJ. Geographic Distribution of Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) in Freshwater Fish in South Eastern Australia: Lost Opportunity for a Notifiable Pathogen to Expand Its Geographic Range. Viruses 2019; 11:v11040315. [PMID: 30939801 PMCID: PMC6520861 DOI: 10.3390/v11040315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) was originally detected in Victoria, Australia in 1984. It spread rapidly over two decades with epidemic mortality events in wild redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) and mild disease in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) being documented across southeastern Australia in New South Wales (NSW), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Victoria, and South Australia. We conducted a survey for EHNV between July 2007 and June 2011. The disease occurred in juvenile redfin perch in ACT in December 2008, and in NSW in December 2009 and December 2010. Based on testing 3622 tissue and 492 blood samples collected from fish across southeastern Australia, it was concluded that EHNV was most likely absent from redfin perch outside the endemic area in the upper Murrumbidgee River catchment in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), and it was not detected in other fish species. The frequency of outbreaks in redfin perch has diminished over time, and there have been no reports since 2012. As the disease is notifiable and a range of fish species are known to be susceptible to EHNV, existing policies to reduce the likelihood of spreading out of the endemic area are justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy A Becker
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden 2570, Australia.
| | - Dean Gilligan
- NSW Industry and Investment, Batemans Bay Fisheries Office, Batemans Bay 2536, Australia.
| | - Martin Asmus
- NSW Industry and Investment, Narrandera Fisheries Centre, Narrandera 2700, Australia.
| | - Alison Tweedie
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden 2570, Australia.
| | - Richard J Whittington
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden 2570, Australia.
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus and Ranavirus Infection of Amphibians, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University Sydney, Camden 2570, Australia.
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Abstract
CONTEXT Anthrax is an endemic disease in developing countries. Human cases are usually associated with animal products. About 95% of naturally acquired cases are cutaneous anthrax. OBJECTIVE In this study, cutaneous anthrax cases from the Elazig province (the Eastern Anatolian region) of Turkey seen in our hospital within a 6-year period were evaluated with respect to epidemiological and clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. METHODS Twenty-eight patients with cutaneous anthrax observed between January 2009 and December 2014 were investigated retrospectively. The diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax was based on detailed history, dermatologic findings, including painless, ulcers covered by a characteristic black eschar and/or microbiological procedures, including Gram stain and culture of materials obtained from the lesions. RESULTS Of the 28 patients followed up with cutaneous anthrax diagnosis, 14 (50%) were female and 14 (50%) were male. The mean age of the cases was 39.6 years (age range 17-65 years). The patients have an incubation period in the range of 1-9 days (mean 4.6 ± 0.5 days). The cases were seen between April and November of each year during the study period. Twenty-three cases (82%) had a history of contact with animals or animal products. Twenty patients (71.4%) showed malignant pustules and eight (28.6%) malignant edema. Bacillus anthracis was isolated in three cases (10.7%) and Gram stain smear were positive in five cases (17.8%). All patients were treated successfully with penicillin or ciprofloxacin. Systemic corticosteroids were added to the antibiotic treatment in six patients with malignant edema. Sepsis no developed in patients, all the cases recovered. CONCLUSION Anthrax is still a serious public health problem in Turkey. Cutaneous anthrax must always be kept in mind when characteristic lesions such as a painless ulcer with vesicles, edema, and a history of contact with animals or animal products are observed in an individual. Early and correct diagnosis significantly affects course of the disease. Protective precautions such as vaccination of animals against anthrax and education of the population would reduce the incidence of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Affan Denk
- a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine , Firat University , Elazig , Turkey
| | - Ayse Sagmak Tartar
- b Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Cizre State Hospital , Sirnak , Turkey , and
| | - Mehmet Ozden
- a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine , Firat University , Elazig , Turkey
| | - Betul Demir
- c Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine , Firat University , Elazig , Turkey
| | - Ayhan Akbulut
- a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine , Firat University , Elazig , Turkey
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Zhang HL, Zhang YZ, Yang WH, Tao XY, Li H, Ding JC, Feng Y, Yang DJ, Zhang J, He J, Shen XX, Wang LH, Zhang YZ, Song M, Tang Q. Molecular epidemiology of reemergent rabies in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Emerg Infect Dis 2015; 20:1433-42. [PMID: 25144604 PMCID: PMC4178403 DOI: 10.3201/eid2009.130440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This province is a focal point for spread of rabies between Southeast Asia and China. Yunnan Province in China borders 3 countries (Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar) in Southeast Asia. In the 1980s, a large-scale rabies epidemic occurred in this province, which subsided by the late 1990s. However, 3 human cases of rabies in 2000 indicated reemergence of the disease in 1 county. In 2012, rabies was detected in 77 counties; 663 persons died of rabies during this new epidemic. Fifty two rabies virus strains obtained during 2008–2012 were identified and analyzed phylogenetically by sequencing the nucleoprotein gene. Of the 4 clades identified, clades YN-A and YN-C were closely related to strains from neighboring provinces, and clade YN-B was closely related to strains from Southeast Asia, but formed a distinct branch. Rabies virus diversity might be attributed to dog movements among counties, provinces, and neighboring countries. These findings suggest that Yunnan Province is a focal point for spread of rabies between Southeast Asia and China.
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Duarte HDO, Droguett EL, Moura MDC, Gomes ECDS, Barbosa C, Barbosa V, Araújo M. An ecological model for quantitative risk assessment for schistosomiasis: the case of a patchy environment in the coastal tropical area of northeastern Brazil. Risk Anal 2014; 34:831-846. [PMID: 24200189 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We developed a stochastic model for quantitative risk assessment for the Schistosoma mansoni (SM) parasite, which causes an endemic disease of public concern. The model provides answers in a useful format for public health decisions, uses data and expert opinion, and can be applied to any landscape where the snail Biomphalaria glabrata is the main intermediate host (South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa). It incorporates several realistic and case-specific features: stage-structured parasite populations, periodic praziquantel (PZQ) drug treatment for humans, density dependence, extreme events (prolonged rainfall), site-specific sanitation quality, environmental stochasticity, monthly rainfall variation, uncertainty in parameters, and spatial dynamics. We parameterize the model through a real-world application in the district of Porto de Galinhas (PG), one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil, where previous studies identified four parasite populations within the metapopulation. The results provide a good approximation of the dynamics of the system and are in agreement with our field observations, i.e., the lack of basic infrastructure (sanitation level and health programs) makes PG a suitable habitat for the persistence and growth of a parasite metapopulation. We quantify the risk of SM metapopulation explosion and quasi-extinction and the time to metapopulation explosion and quasi-extinction. We evaluate the sensitivity of the results under varying scenarios of future periodic PZQ treatment (based on the Brazilian Ministry of Health's plan) and sanitation quality. We conclude that the plan might be useful to slow SM metapopulation growth but not to control it. Additional investments in better sanitation are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heitor de Oliveira Duarte
- Department of Production Engineering, Centre for Risk Analysis and Environmental Modeling (CEERMA), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Mollentze N, Nel LH, Townsend S, le Roux K, Hampson K, Haydon DT, Soubeyrand S. A Bayesian approach for inferring the dynamics of partially observed endemic infectious diseases from space-time-genetic data. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20133251. [PMID: 24619442 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe a statistical framework for reconstructing the sequence of transmission events between observed cases of an endemic infectious disease using genetic, temporal and spatial information. Previous approaches to reconstructing transmission trees have assumed all infections in the study area originated from a single introduction and that a large fraction of cases were observed. There are as yet no approaches appropriate for endemic situations in which a disease is already well established in a host population and in which there may be multiple origins of infection, or that can enumerate unobserved infections missing from the sample. Our proposed framework addresses these shortcomings, enabling reconstruction of partially observed transmission trees and estimating the number of cases missing from the sample. Analyses of simulated datasets show the method to be accurate in identifying direct transmissions, while introductions and transmissions via one or more unsampled intermediate cases could be identified at high to moderate levels of case detection. When applied to partial genome sequences of rabies virus sampled from an endemic region of South Africa, our method reveals several distinct transmission cycles with little contact between them, and direct transmission over long distances suggesting significant anthropogenic influence in the movement of infected dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardus Mollentze
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, , Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, , Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, Directorate of Veterinary Services, KwaZulu Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, , Pietermaritzburg 3202, South Africa, INRA, UR546 Biostatistics and Spatial Processes, , 84914 Avignon CEDEX 9, France
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Abstract
Endomyocardial fibrosis is a form of endemic restrictive cardiomyopathy that affects mainly children and adolescents, and is geographically restricted to some poor areas of Africa, Latin America and Asia. It is a condition with high morbidity and mortality, for which no effective therapy is available. Although several hypotheses have been proposed as triggers or causal factors for the disease, none are able to explain the occurrence of the disease worldwide. In endemic areas of Africa endomyocardial fibrosis is as common a cause of heart failure as rheumatic heart disease, accounting for up to 20% of cases of heart failure and imposes a considerable burden to the communities and the health systems. However, due to lack of resources for research in these areas, the exact epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown, and the natural history is incompletely understood. We here review the main aspects of epidemiology, natural history, clinical picture and management of endomyocardial fibrosis, proposing new ways to increase research into this challenging and neglected cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Olga Mocumbi
- National Health Institute, Caixa Postal 264, Avenida Eduardo Mondlane/Salvador Allende, Maputo, Mozambique
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30
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Abstract
A healthy 51-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of lower urinary tract irritative symptoms. Urinalysis was suggestive of infection, and the patient was treated with multiple antibiotics without relief of symptoms. A urological exam demonstrated abnormal induration of the prostate gland. Biopsy of the prostate gland revealed Blastomyces dermatitidis. In areas where Blastomyces dermatitidis is endemic, clinicians should be aware of the presence of this fungus and possible sites of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Neal
- Department of Urology, Marshfield Clinic Indianhead Center, 1020 Lakeshore Drive, Rice Lake, WI 54868, USA.
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