A Characterization of Rice Tungro Epidemics in The Philippines from Historical Survey Data

Background: Malaria is one of the world’s major public health concerns contributing to 243 million clinical cases and around million deaths annually. India reports the highest malaria burden in the South East Asia region. There is evidence that the availability of services alone may not ensure healthy practices, as they could be influenced by socio cultural barriers and inappropriate understanding of the disease etiology. Understanding of community perceptions and practices are crucial to bring down the burden of malaria. The objectives was to assess the awareness of malaria and treatment seeking behavior in an endemic and non-endemic area and to highlight the differences in the perceptions and treatment seeking behavior between the two areas. Methods: A descriptive study was undertaken in Primary Health Centres of Rajakkamangalamthurai (Endemic) and Chembagaramanputhur (Non endemic) for 2 Months. Patients with fever above the age of 15 years attending the Outpatient department of both the PHCs were chosen as study subjects. 150 patients were included in the study. Responses regarding malaria awareness and treatment seeking behavior were obtained using pre-structured, pre-tested and closed ended questionnaire. Results: Majority of the study subjects from the endemic area gave a correct response to the questions related to the disease terminology, modes of transmission and the usefulness of indoor residual sprays than the subjects from the non-endemic area and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P<.05). Most of the patients from the non-endemic areas were not aware about any information regarding malaria. Among the health seeking behaviour majority of the study subjects from the endemic area visits the health centre in less than 3 days after the onset of fever and also undergo a blood smear examination than that of the patients from the non-endemic area and the difference was found to be statistically significant. Majority of the patients from a non-endemic area opted for private hospital for their treatment whereas majority of them from the endemic area received the treatment from a government hospital. Conclusions: The lack of awareness of malaria in non endemic areas need special attention and the need of health awareness through the health care workers should be enhanced in both the endemic and non-endemic areas.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine how specialists in paediatric infectious diseases (PIDs) manage children with suspected Lyme disease (LD) by comparing their approaches in Italian endemic and non-endemic areas. A cross-sectional survey of the PID specialists participating in the Italian Society for Pediatric Infectious Disease (SITIP) Registry of LD was carried out between 1 January and 30 April 2012. A total of 160 children (80 living in endemic areas and 80 living in non-endemic areas) were diagnosed as having LD between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2011. The clinical manifestations were erythema migrans in 130 cases (81.3 %), arthritis in 24 (15.0 %) and neuroborreliosis in six (3.8 %). Significant differences from the recommendations concerning serology and the tests to undertake were mainly observed in the children with erythema migrans, especially those living in non-endemic areas (p < 0.05). The children with erythema migrans who lived in non-endemic areas were treated with antibiotics significantly less frequently than those living in endemic areas (p < 0.05), and significantly fewer children with erythema migrans or arthritis living in non-endemic areas were treated with amoxicillin in comparison with those living in endemic regions (p < 0.05). The duration of antimicrobial therapy was significantly shorter than recommended in the children with erythema migrans or arthritis, especially those living in non-endemic areas (p < 0.05). Paediatric LD is also present in areas of Italy in which it is not considered endemic, but knowledge concerning its management is generally poor among PID specialists and characterised by enormous gaps in non-endemic areas.

The survival of &lt;em&gt;Aedes aegypti&lt;/em&gt; larvae is inseparable from the adequacy of food, including organic substances available in the breeding water. It is very dependent on the level of water markers such as temperature, salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH. The study used quantitative observational analytic with a case-control study design. Case group has consisted of breeding water in endemic area and control group was in non-endemic area. The sample size was 43 samples for each group, collected by purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Mann-Whitney test. Larvae mostly presence in endemic area (68.3%) and mostly absent in non-endemic area (85.4%) (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt;-value = 0.002). Temperature in endemic area mostly in 27-30&lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C (86%) and non-endemic area mostly in &amp;lt;27&lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C or &amp;gt;30&lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C (72.1%) (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt;-value = 0.000). Salinity in endemic and non-endemic areas has no difference (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt;-value = 0.266). DO in endemic areas were mostly in 5.02-7.82 mg/l (76.7%). While DO in non-endemic area was mostly in &amp;lt;5.02 mg/l or &amp;gt;7.82 mg/l (95.3%) (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt;-value = 0.001). The pH &amp;lt;6 or &amp;gt;7.8 is mostly in non-endemic areas (87.8%) and pH 6-7.8 is mostly in endemic areas (63.4%) (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt;-value = 0.000). Bio-physicochemical markers of breeding sites water have differences between endemic and non-endemic area except salinity. The temperature, salinity, DO, and pH affected the presence of larvae and the most affected is DO marker. While the marker that affected the presence of larvae in the non-endemic area is pH.

The study investigated the impact of abiotic factors on the yield of harvested mangoes before and after Science and Technology (S&amp;T) interventions in five municipalities, namely: President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, Tulunan, North Cotabato, Tantangan, South Cotabato, Malungon, Sarangani Province, and General Santos City. The study used the simple linear regression model Y=βX + α to determine the extent to which there was a linear relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In simple linear regression, a single independent variable, ie, rainfall or temperature, was used to predict the value of a dependent variable, the yield of mangoes per hectare during the first and second cycle productions of farmer-cooperators in four provinces, namely: Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato and General Santos/Sarangani. The results indicated that the General Santos/Sarangani Province obtained the highest yield in terms of baseline yield after two years of interventions. The derived regression model for rainfall (mm), temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), and soil pH was unable to predict the yield of mangoes in all provinces studied during the second production cycle of the farmer-cooperators. Conversely, the regression model for temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) statistically predicted the yield of mangoes (t ha-1) of farmer-cooperators in Sultan Kudarat during the first cycle of production. Additionally, rainfall (mm), temperature (°C), and relative humidity had linear relationships with the yield of mangoes per hectare. However, soil pH showed fluctuating, curvilinear relationships with the yield of mangoes per hectare. Additionally, rainfall (mm), temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), and soil pH did not show significant relationships with the yield of mangoes per hectare.

Hereditary transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a life-threatening, autosomal dominant, systemic amyloidosis caused by mutant transthyretin. In addition to ATTRV30M in endemic and non-endemic areas, more than 140 non-V30M mutations occur worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and genetic frequencies of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. Diagnostic results and clinical manifestations of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2017, at Amyloidosis Medical Practice Center, Kumamoto University Hospital were analyzed. One hundred and four patients received a diagnosis of symptomatic hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. The following mutations of the TTR gene and their percentages were found: V30M in endemic areas, 10.6%; V30M in non-endemic areas, 51.0%; and non-V30M, 38.5%. The ages at onset of patients with ATTRV30M amyloidosis in non-endemic areas (66.6±8.7years) and those with non-V30M ATTR amyloidosis (55.8±13.6years) were significantly higher than those with ATTRV30M amyloidosis in endemic areas (37.0±12.6years). Of patients with ATTRV30M amyloidosis in endemic and non-endemic areas, and non-V30M ATTR amyloidosis, 63.6, 66.0, and 27.5% initially presented with polyneuropathy, respectively. Of patients with ATTRV30M amyloidosis in endemic areas, 81.8% had a family history of this disease. However, a significantly smaller percentage of patients with ATTRV30M amyloidosis (30.0%) in non-endemic areas and non-V30M ATTR amyloidosis (34.0%) had a family history. Patients with ATTRV30M amyloidosis in non-endemic areas and patients with non-V30M ATTR amyloidosis occurred more frequently than previously believed, and their clinical manifestations were diverse.

Investigation of selenium nutritional status and dietary pattern among children in Kashin-Beck disease endemic areas in Shaanxi Province, China using duplicate portion sampling method.

BackgroundChina has achieved zero indigenous malaria case report in 2017. However, along with the increasing of international cooperation development, there is an increasing number of imported malaria cases from Chinese nationals returning from malaria-affected countries. Previous studies have focused on malaria endemic areas in China. There is thus limited information on non-endemic areas in China, especially on the performance of malaria surveillance and response in health facilities.MethodsA comparative retrospective study was carried out based on routine malaria surveillance data collected from 2013 to 2017. All imported malaria cases reported within the mainland of China were included. Variables used in the comparative analysis between cases in former endemic and former non-endemic areas, included age, gender and occupation, destination of overseas travel, Plasmodium species and patient health outcome. Monthly aggregated data was used to compare seasonal and spatial characteristics. Geographical distribution and spatial-temporal aggregation analyses were conducted. Time to diagnosis and report, method of diagnosis, and level of reporting/diagnosing health facilities were used to assess performance of health facilities.ResultsA total of 16 733 malaria cases, out of which 90 were fatal, were recorded in 31 provinces. The majority of cases (96.2%) were reported from former malaria endemic areas while 3.8% were reported from former non-malaria endemic areas. Patients in the age class from 19 to 59 years and males made the highest proportion of cases in both areas. There were significant differences between occupational categories in the two areas (P < 0.001). In former endemic areas, the largest proportion of cases was among outdoor workers (80%). Two peaks (June, January) and three peaks (June, September and January) were found in former endemic and former non-endemic areas, respectively. Time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis at clinics was significantly different between the two areas at different level of health facilities (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAll the former non-endemic areas are now reporting imported malaria cases. However, the largest proportion of imported cases is still reported from former endemic areas. Health facilities in former endemic areas outperformed those in former non-endemic areas. Information, treatment, and surveillance must be provided for expatriates while capacity building and continuous training must be implemented at health facilities in China.

Abstract. Choiruddin MR, Fatawi ZD, Hadiwiyono. 2019. Virulence and genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae as the cause of root rot in garlic. Bioteknologi 16: 31-36. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a well-known name in the community. The development of garlic in an area intensively and continuously has a positive impact on increasing farmers' income but also has a negative impact with a significant increase in garlic disease attacks. Root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cepae is one of the factors causing garlic yield loss, both in the field and during storage. Recently, this disease has also become endemic in the garlic production center in Tawangmangu, Indonesia. This study aims to obtain information about the virulence and genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae from endemic and non-endemic areas of garlic based on RAPD analysis. This research was conducted from August to December 2009 in Indonesia. Based on the virulence test, there is no significant difference in the damage caused by various isolates between endemic and non-endemic areas. There is no difference in the pattern of DNA fragments in endemic and non-endemic areas, but 3 groups of DNA strains can be obtained from these results. Still, the grouping is unrelated to the virulence and origin of endemic or non-endemic isolates. The grouping between lines does not include differences between endemic and non-endemic areas. In line 1, all isolates are isolates from endemic areas; in line 2, there are isolates from endemic areas (FCp2 isolates) and non-endemic (FCp7 isolates); while strain 3 is also a mixture of isolates from endemic areas (FCp3 isolates) and non-endemic areas. (FCp5, FCp6, and FCp8) isolates. It proves that there is genetic diversity in F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae isolated from Tawangmangu. However, the genetic diversity of these pathogens is not related to the disease status of the area of ??origin of the isolates.

Abstract: The study aims to determine differences in water quality of breeding sites in endemic and non-endemic areas. The method used is quantitative observational analytic with a case control study design. Case group was water parameters in endemic areas and the control group is in non-endemic areas. 43 samples of breeding water were taken from each area then water quality measurements were carried out. Data were analyzed using independent t-test. The results obtained mean temperature in endemic areas 27.51 ± 0.739 oC, salinity 2,544 ± 0.638 gr/l, and DO 7,253 ± 1,097 mg/l. The mean temperature in non-endemic areas is 25.7 ± 1.124 oC, salinity is 2.472 ± 2.365 gr/l, and DO is 6.479 ± 1.059 mg/l. P-value of statistical tests of differences in temperature, salinity, and DO parameters in endemic and non-endemic areas are 0.000, 0.266, and 0.001. It was concluded that temperature and DO parameters in endemic areas proved to be significantly different from those in non-endemic areas. However, for salinity variables there are no significant differences. Keywords: Aedes aegypti, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature

Objective To study the benchmark dose (BMD) of fluoride concentration in saliva, and to evaluate the significance of saliva fluoride on control and prevention of endemic fluorosis. Methods In September 2014, middle school students in endemic fluorosis areas and non-endemic fluorosis areas in North China Petoleum were selected as objects. The contents of fluoride in water, urine and saliva were determined. The correlation of fluoride content in water, urine fluoride and fluoride concentration in saliva was analyzed. According to the levels of the saliva fluoride concentration, the children were divided into 11 groups, < 1.00, 1.00-, 2.00-, 3.00-, 4.00-, 5.00-, 6.00-, 7.00-, 8.00-, 9.00-and ≥10.00 mg/L. The prevalence of dental fluorosis and defected dental fluorosis were investigated and the saliva fluoride concentration was calculated by Banch-Mark Dose Software. Results Compared with non endemic areas, the fluoride contents in water, urine and saliva [(2.13 ± 0.13) ,(1.29 ± 0.73), (4.01 ± 3.61) mg/L] were higher than that in endemic areas [(0.67 ± 0.13), (0.38 ± 0.08),(0.75 ± 0.12) mg/L, t = 158.730, 24.780, 18.114, all P < 0.01]. The fluoride concentration in saliva was positively correlated with the fluoride content in water and urine in endemic areas (r = 0.626, 0.945, all P < 0.01). The (BMDs and benchmark dose lower bound (BMDLs) were 0.91, 0.54, 3.72, 3.32 mg/L respectively, calculated by Banch-Mark Dose Software. With the increase of fluoride concentration in saliva, the prevalence of dental fluorosis and defect dental fluorosis had increased too, especially when the fluoride content in saliva was more than 4 mg/L. There were significant dose-response relationships between the urine fluoride and the prevalence of dental fluorosis and defected dental fluorosis. Conclusion The fluoride concentration in saliva could be used as one of the evaluation indexes of fluorosis, and the BMD of saliva fluoride concentration in endemic fluorosis areas is suggested as 0.91 mg/L. Key words: Dental fluorosis; Urinary fluoride; Saliva fluoride concentration; Dose-response relationship; Benchmark dose

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease with uncertain etiology (CKDu) was first recognized in the 1990s in Sri Lanka. Considering the distribution of CKDu in the country, clusters of endemic and nonendemic areas can be identified. This study was carried out to compare the biochemical characteristics between CKDu endemic and nonendemic areas in Sri Lanka. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among randomly selected males between the age category of 30 and 60 years in selected villages of Wilgamuwa (endemic) and Hanguranketha (nonendemic), located in the dry and wet zone, respectively. Results: The total participation percentage from the endemic area was 74.7% (224 out of 300 invitees). Out of 150 participants invited from the nonendemic area, only 100 participated in the study cohort. There was a striking difference between the two areas in serum creatinine levels (P = 0.001). When considering the behavioral patterns of the two study areas, the main occupation was farming and there was no significant difference between the behaviors of the people in the selected areas. A significant number of participants (n = 31, 13.8%) from the endemic area had high serum creatinine levels with a mean of 109 μmol/L (standard deviation [SD] = 66.41) (normal: 90–116 μmol/L). Whereas, in the nonendemic area, only 3 (3%) participants had elevated creatinine levels with a mean value of 85.41 μmol/L (SD = 18.78). A significant difference was observed in the two groups in the mean values of serum creatinine levels (P = 0.001). The mean value of random blood sugar (RBS) was 113.56 mg/dL (SD = 44.38) and 119.10 mg/dL (SD = 50.48) in endemic and nonendemic areas, respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean values of RBS (P = 0.2). The mean serum cholesterol was slightly higher in Wilgamuwa (119.26 mg/dl, SD = 45.31) compared to Hanguranketha (189.02 mg/dl, SD = 45.09). However, that was not statistically significant (P = 0.6). Conclusions: Serum creatinine is remarkably increased in CKDu endemic areas. RBS and serum cholesterol are less significant according to the endemicity of CKDu.

In order to clarify the epidemiological background of the endemic occurrence of tsutsugamushi disease in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, since 1978, comparative surveys have been carried out between endemic and nonendemic areas. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi (Rt) was isolated at a rate of about 36% (158/439) from field rodents in the endemic area while it was not isolated from any of 280 in nonendemic areas. In all of six stations in the endemic area, a significantly high proportion of rodents were found to be Rt carriers. However, no Rt was isolated from rodents captured from July to September. The organism was isolated from rodents captured in the other months, especially in a high proportion in November when infestation of rodents with Leptotrombidium pallidum was at its peak. When the rodents were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining, the rate of anti-Rt antibody-positive animals was about 55% (157/287) and about 17% (62/368) in endemic and nonendemic areas, respectively. Larvae of mites collected from the rodents were found to belong to four genera and 11 species. Among them L. pallidum was the only mite that had been known to be a vector of Rt. L. pallidum was found most frequently and in abundance from rodents in the endemic area, whereas it was present in very small numbers in rodents in nonendemic areas. The infestation of rodents with L. pallidum showed a seasonal variation, i.e. two peaks per year, in spring and autumn, and the number of mites detected was markedly greater in November than in spring. Rt was isolated from L. pallidum on rodents captured in the endemic area.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major Yakimoff & Shokhor and transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) is a public health concern in Morocco. The disease is endemic mainly in pre-Saharan regions on the southern slope of the High Atlas Mountains. The northern slope of the High Atlas Mountains and the arid plains of central Morocco remain non-endemic and are currently considered high risk for ZCL. Here we investigate and compare the population genetic structure of P. papatasi populations sampled in various habitats in historical foci and non-endemic ZCL areas. A fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified and sequenced in 59 individuals from 10 P. papatasi populations. Haplotype diversity was probed, a median-joining network was generated (FST) and molecular variance (AMOVA) were analyzed. Overall, we identified 28 haplotypes with 32 distinct segregating sites, of which seven are parsimony informative. The rate of private haplotypes was high; 20 haplotypes (71.4%) are private ones and exclusive to a single population. The phylogenetic tree and the network reconstructed highlight a genetic structuration of these populations in two well defined groups: Ouarzazate (or endemic areas) and Non-Ouarzazate (or nonendemic areas). These groups are separated by the High Atlas Mountains. Overall, our study highlights differences in terms of population genetics between ZCL endemic and non-endemic areas. To what extent such differences would impact the transmission of L. major by natural P. papatasi population remains to be investigated.

The Relationship Between Environmental Factors and the Profile of Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies in the Lytic and Latent Infection Periods in Healthy Populations from Endemic and Non-Endemic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Areas in China

Borna Disease (BD) is a mostly fatal disease of horses and sheep endemic in central Europe. Antibodies to Borna disease virus (BDV) have been described in sheep and other species living in BD non-endemic areas. Meaningful clinical BDV serology is hampered by difficulties in defining serological cut-offs, which require the investigation of populations from endemic areas. Here we studied BD serology in sheep from endemic and non-endemic areas of similar geography in Switzerland. Antibodies to BDV antigens were detected by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence analysis (IFA) only in sera from 3 of 6 sheep with autopsy confirmed BD. One serum was positive by IFA but not by ELISA, while 2 sera were negative in both assays, indicating that not all diseased animals develop BDV specific antibodies. Six % of clinically healthy animals (6/106) from an endemic area and 2% from a non-endemic area (4/192) had serum antibody to either BDV p40 or p24 as detected by ELISA. None of the animals showed a cellular immune response to BDV p40. In some healthy sheep from the endemic area, serum antibody titers to BDV p24 antigen remained elevated over several months without onset of disease symptoms. Infections with either BDV or related viruses may thus occur at low frequency in sheep from non-endemic areas leading to the production of antibodies to BDV antigens. We further propose viral strain differences or environmental factor(s) may determine the clinical outcome.