Belina Research Articles

P14.27 Female sex workers (FSW) in ba ria – vung tau, vietnam: socio-demographic characteristics and risk behaviours

Background FSWs are a high-risk population group for the transmission and acquisition of STIs and HIV. This research investigated socio-demographic characteristics and risk behaviours among FSWs in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam. Methods Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of 420 direct/indirectly employed FSWs between January–May, 2014, from 2 cities/6 districts in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. FSWs were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and biological samples taken and tested for STI/HIV. Data were entered (Epidata 3.1) and analysed (SPSS 20.0) using univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate the associations between STIs and risk-related factors. Results 166 direct and 254 indirect FSWs participated in the survey, with a median age of 27 years, within a range of 18–43 years. Many (43.3%) had minimal education (grade 5 or less). Most claimed religious affiliation (90.5%) and 91.7% were of Kinh ethnicity. At 63.1%, the unemployment rate before becoming FSWs was high. There were significant differences between direct/indirect types of FSWs in terms of: education levels (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.65–3.67, p = 0.001); marital status, including married or cohabitating (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.43–3.207, p = 0.001); unemployment before becoming FSWs (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.54–3.63, p = 0.001); low income ≤ A$200 (OR = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.83–7.65, p = 0.001); and number of paying clients in the last month >15 (OR = 24.88, 95% CI: 14.73–42.01, p = 0.001). Inconsistent condom use with regular and new clients was 21.8% and 15.2% respectively. Most (89.0%) FSWs performed oral sex, also a high proportion (82.4%) of them consumed alcohol. Nearly half (48.3%) have had sex when drunk. Regarding drug use, 23.4% FSWs have used drugs and 26.1% have clients who use or inject drugs. Conclusions FSWs in Vietnam need targeted intervention programs and improved services to prevent HIV and STIs infection. Administrative and political support for improved health education and services are required to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

P14.28 Sexual transmitted infections and risk factors among female sex workers in ba ria – vung tau, vietnam

Introduction Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be a major concern in public health because of their high incidence and prevalence. STIs are also a major problem for FSWs in Vietnam. The purpose of the research is to determine the prevalence of STIs and risk-related factors in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam. Methods Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of 420 direct and indirect FSWs between January–May, 2014, from 2 cities and 6 districts in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. FSWs were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and biological samples taken and tested for HIV. A database was created using Epidata 3.1 software and analysed using the SPSS 20.0 statistical package. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the associations between STIs and risk-related factors. Results Prevalence were 6.9% for Syphilis, 7.9% for Gonorrhoea (GC), 16.4% for Chlamydia (CT) and 21.4% for any one of the STIs (GC/CT). Increased risks for GC/CT were associated with age of first sexual intercourse ≤18 (OR 3.57, 95% CI: 2.11–6.06, p = 0.011); number of paying clients in the past month >15 (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.34–3.46, p = 0.001); inconsistent condom use with regular customers (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.17–3.37, p = 0.010) and new customers (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.20–3.94, p = 0.009); and unprotected sex with non-paying partners (OR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.51–10.00, p = 0.003). A higher likelihood of Syphilis was significantly associated with having anal sex (OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.25–7.85, p = 0.010). Conclusion The prevalence of STIs is high among FSWs in Ba Ria–Vung Tau, Vietnam. Therefore, the existing STIs treatment and intervention programs should be reviewed and if necessary modified or strengthened to reduce the risk of infection. Health education, especially relevant to the risk-related factors observed in the study should be improved and 100% condom use program should be implemented.

Evolutionary history and adaptive significance of the polymorphic Pan I in migratory and stationary populations of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

The synaptophysin (SYP) family comprises integral membrane proteins involved in vesicle-trafficking events, but the physiological function of several members has been enigmatic for decades. The presynaptic SYP protein controls neurotransmitter release, while SYP-like 2 (SYPL2) contributes to maintain normal Ca2+-signaling in the skeletal muscles. The polymorphic pantophysin (Pan I) of Atlantic cod shows strong genetic divergence between stationary and migratory populations, which seem to be adapted to local environmental conditions. We have investigated the functional involvement of Pan I in the different ecotypes by analyzing the 1) phylogeny, 2) spatio-temporal gene expression, 3) structure–function relationship of the Pan IA and IB protein variants, and 4) linkage to rhodopsin (rho) recently proposed to be associated with different light sensitivities in Icelandic populations of Atlantic cod. We searched for SYP family genes in phylogenetic key species and identified a single syp-related gene in three invertebrate chordates, while four members, Syp, Sypl1, Sypl2 and synaptoporin (Synpr), were found in tetrapods, Comoran coelacanth and spotted gar. Teleost fish were shown to possess duplicated syp, sypl2 and synpr genes of which the sypl2b paralog is identical to Pan I. The ubiquitously expressed cod Pan I codes for a tetra-spanning membrane protein possessing five amino acid substitutions in the first intravesicular loop, but only minor structural differences were shown between the allelic variants. Despite sizable genomic distance (>2.5Mb) between Pan I and rho, highly significant linkage disequilibrium was found by genotyping shallow and deep water juvenile settlers predominated by the Pan IA–rhoA and Pan IB–rhoB haplotypes, respectively. However, the predicted rhodopsin protein showed no amino acid changes, while multiple polymorphic sites in the upstream region might affect the gene expression and pigment levels in stationary and migratory cod. Alternatively, other strongly linked genes might be responsible for the sharp settling stratification of juveniles and the different vertical behavior patterns of adult Atlantic cod.

Effect of Imbrasia belina (westwood), Tylosema esculentum (Burchell) Schreiber and Vigna subterranea (L) Verde as protein sources on growth and laying performance of Tswana hens raised under intensive production system

A feeding trial was conducted to determine growth and laying performance of indigenous Tswana hens fed diets formulated with four different protein sources consisting of either Tylosema esculentum (Burchell) or Vigna subterranea (L) Verde or Imbrasia belina (Westwood) and commercial diets under an intensive system in Botswana. Sixty 25 weeks old normal feathered Tswana hens were bought from a local farmer and reared up to 38 weeks on diets containing T. esculentum (Burchell) or V. subterranea (L) Verde or I. belina (Westwood) and a commercial diet (control). The hens were then randomly allocated to four treatment groups of 15 hens, with each treatment having three replicates of five hens each. Tylosema esculentum , V. subterranea and I. belina diets were formulated to meet the nutritional composition of commercial layers diet using T. esculentum (Burchell) Schreiber beans, V. subterranea (L) Verde beans and I. belina (Westwood), respectively as sources of protein before the start of egg production. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS (2002-2008) as a completely randomized design with initial body weight as a covariate. Hens fed control diet had high (P<0.05) feed intake (84.6±7.9 g) and those fed T. esculentum diet had lowest feed intake (54.6±7.9 g). Hens fed I. belina , control and V. subterranea diets had the highest (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) per hen of 4.77±1.31g, 3.27±1.16 g and 3.13±1.51 g, respectively. On the other hand, hens fed T. esculentum diet had the lowest (P<0.05) ADG/hen (-0.82±1.60 g) . The FCR was highest (P<0.05) for control diet with 1.76±0.16 g and lowest for hens fed I. belina diet with 1.10±0.16 g. Hen day egg production was highest (P<0.05) for control diet (90±0.87%) and lowest (41±0.87%) for T. esculentum diet. These results suggest that I. belina (Westwood) and V. subterranea (L) Verde are potentially good protein sources for formulating poultry diets.

Book Review of Paneas, by V. Tzaferis and S. Israeli

Book Review of Paneas, by V. Tzaferis and S. Israeli

Integrating the markers Pan I and haemoglobin with the genetic linkage map of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

BackgroundHaemoglobin (Hb) and pantophysin (Pan I) markers have been used intensively in population studies of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and in the analysis of traits such as temperature tolerance, growth characteristics and sexual maturation. We used an Illumina GoldenGate panel and the KASPar SNP genotyping system to analyse SNPs in three Atlantic cod families, one of which was polymorphic at the Hb β1 locus, and to generate a genetic linkage map integrating Pan I and multiple Hb loci.FindingsData generated allowed the mapping of nine Hb loci, the Pan I locus, and other 122 SNPs onto an existing linkage genetic map for Atlantic cod. Four Hb genes (i.e. α1, α4, β1 and β5) have been mapped on linkage group (LG) 2 while the other five (i.e. α2, α3, β2, β3 and β4) were placed on LG18. Pan I was mapped on LG 1 using a newly developed KASPar assay for a SNP variable only in Pan IA allelic variants. The new linkage genetic map presented here comprises 1046 SNPs distributed between 23 linkage groups, with a length of 1145.6 cM. A map produced by forcing additional loci, resulting in a reduced goodness-of-fit for mapped markers, allowed the mapping of a total of 1300 SNPs. Finally, we compared our genetic linkage map data with the genetic linkage map data produced by a different group and identified 29 shared SNPs distributed on 10 different linkage groups.ConclusionsThe genetic linkage map presented here incorporates the marker Pan I, together with multiple Hb loci, and integrates genetic linkage data produced by two different research groups. This represents a useful resource to further explore if Pan I and Hbs or other genes underlie quantitative trait loci (QTL) for temperature sensitivity/tolerance or other phenotypes.