High Percentage Of Positive Samples Research Articles

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) does not transmit Babesia bovis, a causative agent of cattle fever

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was first reported in the United States in 2017 and has since been detected in at least 17 states. This tick infests cattle and can produce large populations quickly due to its parthenogenetic nature, leading to significant livestock mortalities and economic losses. While H. longicornis has not been detected in Texas, species distribution models have identified southern Texas as a possible hospitable region for this tick. Southern Texas is currently home to the southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus), which can transmit the causative agent of cattle fever (Babesia bovis). With the potential for H. longicornis and B. bovis to overlap in southern Texas and their potential to negatively impact the national and global livestock industry, it is imperative to identify the role H. longicornis may play in the cattle fever disease system. A controlled acquisition and transmission experiment tested whether H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis, with the R. microplus-B. bovis system used as a positive control. Transstadial (nymphs to adults) and transovarial (adults to larvae) transmission and subsequent transstadial maintenance (nymphs and adults) routes were tested in this study. Acquisition-fed, splenectomized animals were used to increase the probability of tick infection. Acquisition nymphs were macerated whole and acquisition adults were dissected to remove midguts and ovaries at five time points (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 days post-repletion), with 40 ticks processed per time point and life stage. The greatest percentage of nymphs with detectable B. bovis DNA occurred six days post-repletion (20.0 %). For adults, the percentage of positive midguts and ovaries increased as days post-repletion progressed, with day 12 having the highest percentage of positive samples (67.5 % and 60.0 %, respectively). When egg batches were tested in triplicate, all H. longicornis egg batches were negative for B. bovis, while all R. microplus egg batches were positive for B. bovis. During the transmission phase, the subsequent life stages for transstadial (adults) and transovarial transmission/transstadial maintenance (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were fed on naïve, splenectomized calves. All life stages of H. longicornis ticks tested during transmission were negative for B. bovis. Furthermore, the transmission fed animals were also negative for B. bovis and did not show signs of bovine babesiosis during the 45-day post tick transmission period. Given the lack of successful transstadial or transovarial transmission, it is unlikely that H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis.

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ancient Domestic Goats from the Archaeological Site Cueva Huenul 1, Patagonia, Argentina

ABSTRACT The goat is one of the first herbivores to be domesticated, expanding throughout the world. Goats were introduced in South America during the sixteenth century. Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism constitutes one of the main constraints to the breeding of goats worldwide. This is the first study conducted to investigate the GI parasites recovered from goat coprolites from historical times of Patagonia. Goat coprolites were studied from the archaeological site Cueva Huenul I. Coprolites were processed by rehydration followed by homogenisation and sieved for spontaneous sedimentation. Samples were examined by light microscopy. At least 12 parasite species were recorded. In this first paleoparasitological study of Patagonian ancient goats we found a high percentage of positive samples. We recorded parasite species that currently are common in wild and domestic ruminants, some of them are of public health and veterinary importance; several species are zoonotic. Our results suggest that this could also have been a problem in terms of animal and human health in historical times. The results urge further investigation of the diversity and origin of the infectious diseases of domesticated animals around the dispersal routes associated with ancient human activities and their interaction with native species.

Virus-specific humoral immune response in Bulgarian COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity.

Our study aimed to analyze virus-specific humoral immune responses in COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity. A total of 109 serum samples from 87 patients, symptomatic for COVID-19 were studied using anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays detecting different classes of immunoglobulins. Clinical samples were divided into 2 groups - collected up to and more than 2 weeks post-onset of symptoms (PoS). In the first group, the highest percentage of positive samples was found for IgA class virus-specific antibodies (78.1%), followed by IgM (71.9%/59.4%) and IgG (56.3%/53.1%). In the second group, samples positive for virus-specific IgA class antibodies were also the most (97.7%) along with those positive for IgG. A total of 72 IgA and/or IgM and/or IgG positive samples were further tested for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) - 89.1% and 100% of samples obtained up to and after 2 weeks PoS, respectively were positive. Serological test results were also analyzed depending on the severity of the disease - SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in mild forms of COVID-19 were fewer than in moderate and severe forms but this difference was not statistically significant. SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies and a high virus neutralization capacity of these antibodies appear early PoS; Immunoglobulins of IgA class are of most significant diagnostic value for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection; Timing of testing is the most important factor for positivity rate.

Detection of plasma anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in asymptomatic kindergarten teachers from Buenos Aires province

In Argentina, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by EHEC has the highest incidence in the world. EHEC infection has an endemo-epidemic behavior, causing 20–30% of acute bloody diarrhea syndrome in children under 5 years old. In the period 2016–2020, 272 new cases per year were notified to the National Health Surveillance System. Multiple factors are responsible for HUS incidence in Argentina including person-to-person transmission. In order to detect possible EHEC carriers, we carried out a preliminary study of the frequency of kindergarten teachers with anti-LPS antibodies against the most prevalent EHEC serotypes in Argentina. We analyzed 61 kindergarten teachers from 26 institutions from José C. Paz district, located in the suburban area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Fifty-one percent of the plasma samples had antibodies against O157, O145, O121 and O103 LPS: 6.4% of the positive samples had IgM isotype (n=2), 61.3% IgG isotype (n=19) and 32.3% IgM and IgG (n=10). Given that antibodies against LPS antigens are usually short-lived specific IgM detection may indicate a recent infection. In addition, the high percentage of positive samples may indicate a frequent exposure to EHEC strains in the cohort studied, as well as the existence of a large non-symptomatic population of adults carrying pathogenic strains that could contribute to the endemic behavior through person-to-person transmission. The improvement of continuous educational programs in kindergarten institutions could be a mandatory measure to reduce HUS cases not only in Argentina but also globally.

Trend of Pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus Occurrences in Bivalve Molluscs Harvested in Sardinian Coastal Environments Between 2011 and 2018

The aim of the present study was to evaluate Vibrio parahaemolyticus occurrences in bivalve molluscs harvested from Sardinian coastal environments between 2013 and 2015. The prevalence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates is based on the detection of the two major virulence genes thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and thermolabile hemolysin (trh) To assess changes between 2011 and 2018 in the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus in bivalve molluscs, we compared our results with those of previous investigations. In total, 2,933 samples were collected: 1,079 in 2013, 1,288 in 2014, and 566 in 2015. The mean prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus in shellfish was 3.5% in 2013, 1.7% in 2014, and 3.5% in 2015. The highest percentage of positive samples in 2013 and 2014 was observed in clams (3.5% and 2.7%, respectively), whereas in 2015, it was reported in oysters (15.1%). By comparing the sampling period of 2011–2014 with that of 2015–2018, an increase in the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was observed in shellfish (p < 0.05). In parallel, 208 potentially enteropathogenic V. parahaemolyticus strains were identified through the years 2011–2018 and, in particular, 10 trh+ and six tdh+ isolates. Our present study provides information regarding trends of V. parahaemolyticus occurrences in bivalve molluscs harvested from Sardinian coastal environments between 2011 and 2018 suggesting that the prevalence varies depending on the sampling period and shellfish species.

Seroepidemiology Study of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus in Mexico by Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Based on a Recombinant Fragment of N-Terminus Domain Spike Protein.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is an intestinal disease caused by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and affects Mexico's swine industry. Despite the disease initially being described in Mexico in 2013, there has been no research into the virus's seroepidemiology carried out in Mexico. Thus, the goal of this study was to develop an indirect ELISA (iELISA) based on a recombinant N-terminal domain truncated spike (S) protein (rNTD-S) of PEDV to evaluate serum obtained from different pig-producing states in Mexico. A total of 1054 sera were collected from pig farms, slaughterhouses, and backyard production in the states of Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Morelos, Queretaro, Sinaloa, and Veracruz between 2019 and 2021. The rNTD-S protein was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells. Negative and positive serum samples used in the iELISA were previously tested by Western blot. According to our findings, 61.66% of the serum samples (650/1054) were positive, with Jalisco having the highest percentage of positive samples, at a rate of 21.44% (226/1054). This is the first seroepidemiology study of PEDV carried out in Mexico, revealing that the virus is still circulating since the initial outbreak; furthermore, it provides an overview of PEDV's spread and high level of persistence across the country's key swine-producing states.

Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period

An outbreak of acute mastitis was investigated in a dairy sheep farm in Central Greece with a prevalence of 8.2%. Two animals were examined with symptoms of hyperacute inflammation in one of the two mammary glands. Affected glands presented swollen to grossly enlarged, warm and painful. In both animals, haematological examination revealed mild anaemia, increased leucocyte counts with mature neutropaenia and left shift, and marked thrombocytosis. Bacteriological examinations of mammary gland secretion yielded heavy growth of Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli from each of the two animals, respectively. Serological examination revealed a high percentage of positive samples for small ruminant lentivirus infection in both animals. The somatic cell count in the bulk-tank milk was 0.65 × 106 cells/mL. The housing conditions were inadequate with high levels of ammonia, intense stocking and muddy bedding. This pathological condition in nulliparous ewes was attributed to the extensive oedema of mammary gland and teat, the relaxation of immunity during the peri-parturient period and the heavily contaminated environment. These findings are in general agreement with corresponding incidents in heifers. Following our instructions for improving housing conditions, no other similar incidents were recorded.

Enhancing the environmental monitoring of pesticide residues through Apis mellifera colonies: Honey bees versus passive sampling

The use of apicultural matrices for the environmental monitoring of pesticides is a widely employed approach that facilitates to a great extent the sampling procedures. Honey bees are one of the most commonly employed matrices in these studies due to their abundance in the colonies and their direct contact with the beehive and the environment. However, the analysis of this matrix is associated to a lack of representativity of the contaminants accumulated within the beehive, due mainly to the limited number of honey bees that are sampled and analyzed compared to the population in a hive. This small proportion of organisms which are sampled from the colony may lead to underestimations or overestimations of the total pesticide load, depending on the specific individuals that are included in the analysis. In the present work, the passive, non-invasive APIStrip-based sampling approach is compared to active bee sampling with a total of 240 samples taken from 15 apiaries from Austria, Denmark and Greece over a two-month period in 2022. The APIStrips have been found to provide a more comprehensive image of the pesticide residues accumulated in the beehive in terms of number of identified residues and robustness of the results. A total of 74 different pesticide residues were detected: the use of APIStrips allowed to detect 66 pesticides in the three countries, compared to 38 residues in honey bees. The use of APIStrips also resulted in a higher percentage of positive samples (containing at least one pesticide residue). The results provided by the passive sampling approach were also more consistent among the replicates and over time, which reveals an increased sampling robustness.

Retrospective study on the prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in food collected in Umbria region (central Italy).

Yersinia enterocolitica represents one of the main foodborne pathogens in Europe and the evaluation of possible sources of contamination and its prevalence in food is of considerable interest for risk analysis approach. The results of the search for Yersinia enterocolitica in food samples taken in Umbria region (central Italy) were evaluated during the years 2015-2018. Different types of foods were considered, both ready-to-eat (meat products, dairy products, and raw vegetables) and meat preparations to be eaten after cooking. Samples were assayed by molecular screening for the species indicator gene ompF. Screening positives were subjected to isolation and characterization by searching for specific virulence marker genes, including the ail gene responsible for invasiveness and the ystB gene for the production of enterotoxin. The total prevalence of positive samples for Yersinia enterocolitica was 16.86% with a higher percentage of positive samples in meat preparations (19.35%), followed by ready-to-eat vegetables (11.76%). Poultry meat samples had a higher prevalence than pork and beef samples. Neither positive samples were found in meat products and dairy, nor seasonality in positivity was observed. All isolated strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were biotype 1A, with absence of the ail virulence gene but presence of ystB gene. Since the strains isolated from human patients appear to be primarily biotypes that possess the ail marker, future investigations would be needed regarding the real role of biotype 1A in human disease. In this context, attention should certainly be paid to ready-to-eat vegetables and to careful cooking of meat preparations.

An update on the distribution of Blastocystis subtypes in the Americas

Blastocystis is an intestinal protist that presents worldwide distribution, colonizes animal and human hosts, and is classified into at least 34 ribosomal subtypes (STs). Herein, we conducted an update based on studies reporting Blastocystis-positive samples obtained from diverse hosts in the Americas. We described the distribution throughout the continent by assembling maps representing the distribution of STs and the most important 18S-rRNA alleles. Thirty-nine articles from the previous study, “A summary of Blastocystis subtypes in North and South America,” and forty-one additional articles from March 2019 to March 2022 were considered. The most common subtype described was ST3, representing the highest percentage of positive samples. Other recently identified STs include ST12, ST13, and ST16 in humans, and ST10, ST14, and ST17 in animals. Novel subtypes have also been described in this continent. We assembled and updated the distribution of Blastocystis in the Americas. We hope this delivers new understandings and knowledge of this microorganism’s prevalence and genetic diversity.

Occurrence and distribution of Salmonella serovars in carcasses and foods in southern Italy: Eleven-year monitoring (2011-2021).

Salmonella is one of the most common agents of foodborne illness. The genus Salmonella includes two species (Salmonella bongori and S. enterica) and six subspecies (enterica I, salamae II, arizonae IIIa, diarizonae IIIb, houtenae IV, and indica VI), each of which contains multiple serotypes associated with animal and human infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of Salmonella spp. in carcasses of food-producing animals and foods in southern Italy and the serovar distribution among different sources. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 12,246 foods and 982 samples from animal carcasses were collected and analyzed. The overall percentage of positive samples was 5.84% (N = 773) and a significant increase in prevalence was observed by comparing the years 2011–2015 (257, 3.27%) and 2016–2021 (516, 9.61%; p < 0.05). The highest percentage of positive food samples was observed in “Meat and Meat Products” (N = 327/2,438, 13.41%) followed by “Fish and fishery products” (N = 115/1,915, 6.01%). In carcasses, the highest percentage of positive samples was reported from broilers (N = 42/81, 51.85%) followed by buffalo (N = 50/101, 49.50%) and pork (N = 140/380, 36.84%). After typing, the isolates were assigned to the species S. enterica and to the subspecies: enterica (N = 760, 98.32%), diarizonae (N = 8, 1.03%), salamae (N = 3, 0.39%) and houtenae (N = 2, 0.26%). S. Infantis was the most frequently detected (N = 177, 24.76%), followed by S. Derby (N = 77, 10.77%), monophasic S. Typhimurium (N = 63, 8.81%), S. Typhimurium (N = 54, 7.55%), and S. Rissen (N = 47, 6.57%). By comparing the sampling period 2011–2015 with that of 2016–2021, an increase in the prevalence of S. Infantis and monophasic S. Typhimurium and a decrease of S. Typhimurium were recorded (p < 0.05). Thus, present data suggest that, despite the implementation of national and European control strategies to protect against Salmonella, the prevalence of this pathogen in southern Italy is still increasing and a change of national control programs to protect against Salmonella are necessary.

Genomic and Epidemiological Features of COVID-19 in the Novosibirsk Region during the Beginning of the Pandemic.

In this retrospective, single-center study, we conducted an analysis of 13,699 samples from different individuals obtained from the Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, from 1 April to 30 May 2020 in Novosibirsk region (population 2.8 million people). We identified 6.49% positive for SARS-CoV-2 cases out of the total number of diagnostic tests, and 42% of them were from asymptomatic people. We also detected two asymptomatic people, who had no confirmed contact with patients with COVID-19. The highest percentage of positive samples was observed in the 80+ group (16.3%), while among the children and adults it did not exceed 8%. Among all the people tested, 2423 came from a total of 80 different destinations and only 27 of them were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Out of all the positive samples, 15 were taken for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing. According to the analysis of the genome sequences, the SARS-CoV-2 variants isolated in the Novosibirsk region at the beginning of the pandemic belonged to three phylogenetic lineages according to the Pangolin classification: B.1, B.1.1, and B.1.1.129. All Novosibirsk isolates contained the D614G substitution in the Spike protein, two isolates werecharacterized by an additional M153T mutation, and one isolate wascharacterized by the L5F mutation.

Comparative Detection of Immunoglobulin Isotypes and Subclasses against Toxoplasma gondii Soluble Antigen in Serum and Colostrum Samples from Puerperal Women.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect several species, including humans, and can cause severe damage to the fetus when the infection occurs during pregnancy. The environment and/or food contamination are critical to spreading the infection. Human milk is rich in nutrients and bioactive elements that provide growth and development of the immune system of the newborn. All isotypes of immunoglobulins are present in human colostrum and they are produced from systemic or local sources. Breastfeeding protects the infant against various pathogens, but there is no conclusive study to detect IgG subclasses in colostrum against T. gondii. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect and evaluate the presence of antibody isotypes against T. gondii in paired samples of serum and colostrum. Methods: The study included 283 puerperal patients. ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) for detection of anti-T. gondii-specific IgM, IgA, and IgG isotypes and IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 subclasses were conducted on paired samples of serum and colostrum. Results: It was found that 45.9%, 6.0%, and 2.1% of serum samples and 45.2%, 7.1%, and 2.1% of colostrum samples were positive for IgG, IgM, and IgA, respectively. Specific IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 were positive, respectively, in 98.5%, 54.6%, and 44.6% of serum samples, in contrast with 56.9%, 78.5%, and 34.6% of colostrum samples. Thus, the predominant reactivity of IgG subclasses against T. gondii was IgG1 in serum and IgG3 in colostrum. The higher percentage of positive samples and higher levels of anti-T. gondii IgG3 antibodies were observed in colostrum, when compared to serum samples, suggesting a local production of this subclass. IgG3 and IgG1 subclasses presented different percentages of positivity in serum and colostrum. Only the IgG1 subclass showed a significant correlation between the levels of anti-T. gondii in serum and colostrum, suggesting that IgG1 in breast milk comes from a systemic source. IgG4 showed a similar percentage of positivity in both sample types, but no significant correlation was observed between their levels. Conclusion: Colostrum presents representative levels of IgM, IgA, IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 antibodies specific to T. gondii. The detection of these antibodies presents the potential for diagnostic application of colostrum samples to better identify the diagnostic status of T. gondii infection, especially during the acute phase. In addition, breastfeeding can also be a possible source of protective antibodies for the newborn against toxoplasmosis, an anthropozoonosis maintained by environmental infection, which interferes in the public health of many countries.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN KERBALA GOVERNORATE CHILDREN, CAUSES AND INFLUENCING FACTORS

Urinary tract infections (UTI) is one of the most frequent types of bacterial infection in humans; children are not an exemption, UTI is so common among young ages; it caused by pathological germs (kidneys, bladder, urethra, prostate). It is one of the significant difficulties facing the health sector in third-world nations, affecting children of all ages. UTI is are one of the severe problems that place a financial burden on the healthcare system, as the number of incidents worldwide might exceed 150 million in a single year, and infants and children are more prone to the disease's risks. This study was conducted on (1334) children ( males 611/ 45.8%, females723/54.2%) between the ages of one day - 12 years who visited Karbala governorate hospitals and some children's clinics in the governorate to determine whether the injuries are related to the months of the year, the environment, the parent's educational level and if females or males are more affected. The number of samples that gave positive results was 525(66.62%), and the number of negative samples was 263(33.38%). This study showed that the highest percentage of positive samples was recorded in January 54(10.29%), and the lowest rate of infection was recorded on April 36 (6.86%). This study found significant differences in the distribution of disease cases between residents of the rural environment 356 (69.13% and residents of the urban environment 169(61.9%). The educational level of the parents directly and significantly affects urinary tract infections in children. The highest incidence of urinary tract infection was in school-aged 143 (27,24%). The lowest incidence was in newborns, 42(8.0%) among all gender. The study showed significant differences (0.05) in the distribution of injuries between males and females between different age groups, where the highest injury was recorded among females school-aged 102 (33.77%).

Monitoring and dietary risk assessment of pesticide residues in brinjal, capsicum, tomato, and cucurbits grown in Northern and Western regions of India

The present study monitored pesticide residues in 2319 samples of fruiting vegetables namely, tomato (416), capsicum (363), brinjal (448), and cucurbits (1092) grown in the Northern and Western regions of India. The samples were extracted using QuEChERS method and analyzed for the residues of 155 multi–class pesticides by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and/or liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The residues of 56 pesticides were detected in vegetables with the highest percentage of positive samples in capsicum (69.7%) followed by brinjal (36.6%), cucurbits (34%), and tomato (30.3%). Residues of acetamiprid, profenofos, imidacloprid, metalaxyl, chlorpyrifos, and tebuconazole were most frequently detected. Dietary risk due to pesticide residues was evaluated using food consumption data, acceptable daily intake (ADI), and safety indices such as hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) considering lower bound (LB) and upper bound (UB) scenarios in adults and children. The HQs and HIs did not exceed unit value (HQ, HI < 1) for both adults and children, indicating that the level of pesticide residues in these fruiting vegetables does not pose any appreciable risk to the consumers.

Isolation and identification of Legionella spp. from non-hospital facilities: a preliminary one-year surveillance study in the urban area of Pesaro-Urbino (Central Italy).

Legionella is considered one of the most important causes of potentially preventable morbid-ity and mortality. These microorganisms are ubiquitous, but incomplete information is available on the geographic distribution of Legionella species in our region. For the mentioned reasons, in this work the distribution of Legionella spp. in non-hospital facilities of the urban area of Pesaro-Urbino (Central Italy), including public fountains, residential build-ings, public and private offices and retirement homes, was investigated. A total of 298 water samples were collected from the different facilities and subjected to standard Legionella isolation and identification protocols. As reported, 17.8% of the collected water samples resulted positive for Legionella spp. (28.6% from retirement homes, 21.3% from residential buildings, 15.3% from private and public offices). The highest per-centage of positive samples (14.4%) was found in hot water from retirements homes (58.8%) and residential buildings (31.8%); the most frequent isolated serogroups were L. pneumophila 2-14 (71.7%). This work is the first describing the distribution of Legionella spp. in non-hospital facilities in the province of Pesaro-Urbino, and highlights a condition of potential risk for susceptible categories. From our data, we can point that a regular and constant control to prevent microbiological risk from legionellosis, particularly in facilities housing the elderly, is recommended.

Detection of seven Alternaria toxins in edible and medicinal herbs using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Alternaria mycotoxins are ubiquitous mycotoxins that contaminate food and animal feed. Here, an UPLC-MS/MS was developed and used for the detection of seven Alternaria mycotoxins in 19 different edible and medicinal herbs. Extensive optimization resulted in a simple and convenient sample preparation procedure with satisfactory extraction and a lower matrix effect. LOQs ranged from 0.01 to 2.0 ng/mL. Recoveries varied between 71.44% and 112.65%, with RSD less than 12%. The method was successfully applied for use in the mycotoxin analysis of 260 samples. A high percentage (28.46%) of samples were contaminated by 1–5 mycotoxins. Alternariol mono methylether was the predominant mycotoxin with high percentage of positive samples (37.5%), followed by alternariol (22.5%), alternariol (17.5%), tentoxin (10.83%), altertoxin Ⅰ (7.5%), and altenusin (4.17%). Collectively, the natural incidence data obtained from this study will help with better, validated risk assessments and efforts towards more comprehensive, future regulation.

Occurrence of P. aeruginosa in Water Intended for Human Consumption and in Swimming Pool Water

Considering the fact that water is a basic need of every living being, it is important to ensure its safety. In this work, the data on the presence of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa in drinking water (n = 4171) as well as in pool water (n = 5059) in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia in the five-year period (2016–2020) were analysed. In addition, the national criteria were compared with those of neighboring countries and worldwide. The proportion of P. aeruginosa-positive samples was similar for drinking water (3.9%) and pool water (4.6%). The prevalence of this bacterium was most pronounced in the warmer season. P. aeruginosa-positive drinking water samples were mostly collected during building commissioning, while pool samples were from entertainment and spa/hydromassage pools. Outdoor pools showed a higher percentage of positive samples than indoor pools, as well as the pools filled with freshwater rather than seawater. The highest P. aeruginosa load was found in rehabilitation pools. Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are countries that have included P. aeruginosa in their national regulations as an indicator of the safety of water for human consumption as well as for bottled water, while Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have limited this requirement to bottled water only. In the case of swimming pool water, this parameter is mandatory in all countries considered in this study.

Molecular detection and seroprevalence of classical swine fever virus from 2016 to 2018 in pigs of Mizoram, India

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a fatal endemic disease of pig population of North eastern India in particular and India in general. Present study revealed molecular detection of CSFV and seroprevalence of the disease in pig population of Mizoram, India during 2016–2018. Serum samples from apparently healthy, unvaccinated pigs were collected in collaboration with the State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Mizoram and a total of 594 serum samples from 7 districts were subjected to detection of CSFV specific antibodies by indirect ELISA. A total of 206 (34.68%) serum samples were positive for CSFV antibodies by ELISA. District wise, Saiha district showed highest seroprevalence of the disease followed by Kolasib and Serchhip. Apart from this, during the same time period, CSFV suspected samples received in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology consisting of 269 serum samples, 10 whole blood and 83 tissue samples obtained from 8 districts of Mizoram were subjected to detection of NS5b and E2 mRNA transcripts by nRT-PCR of which a total of 42 (11.60%) samples including serum (5.58%), tissues (27.71%) and whole blood (40%) were positive for the NS5b and E2 mRNA transcripts, specific for CSFV. District wise analysis revealed that Aizawl has the highest percentage of positive samples of CSFV followed by Saiha and Lawngtlai district.

A serological survey of brucellosis in wildlife in four major National Parks of Uganda

BackgroundBrucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease of great public health and economic significance especially in developing countries. The disease affects humans and several species of livestock and wildlife. Studies on Brucellosis in wildlife in Uganda have been limited to single populations particularly in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This study aimed at estimating the percentage of positive samples of Brucella spp. in wildlife in four major national parks of Uganda. This was a retrospective survey which utilized archived samples collected from wildlife during the annual disease surveillance activities between 2013 and 2017.ResultsA total of 241 samples from seven species namely African buffalo (Syncerus caffer, n = 109), African elephant (Loxodonta africana, n = 22), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, n = 41), Uganda kob (Kobus kob thomasi, n = 36), lion (Panthera leo, n = 6), plain zebra (Equus quagga, n = 25), and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus, n = 2), were tested for antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test. The overall percentage of positive samples in the four national parks was 31.1% (75/241; 95% CI: 25.6–37.2). Kidepo Valley National Park had a significantly higher percentage of positive samples of 55.9% (19/34; 95% CI: 39.5–71.1) compared to other sampled national parks (p < 0.05). Lions had significantly higher percentage of positive samples at 66.7% (4/6) than African buffalo at 48.6% (53/109, p < 0.0001). There were no antibodies for Brucella spp. detected in African elephant and bushbuck.ConclusionThis study shows variations in percentage of positive samples with Brucella spp. between species and across national parks and notably a high percentage with Brucella spp. in wildlife in Uganda than that recorded elsewhere in sub-Saharan region of Africa. Potential for transmission to other wildlife and spill over to livestock is high especially in national parks with high livestock-wildlife interaction.