Close Human Contact Research Articles

PSVII-18 Association of post-absorptive glucose and acetate metabolism with feed intake, growth, and efficiency in finishing beef heifers

Abstract Glucose and acetate are important nutrients for muscle and fat accretion in beef cattle. The objective of this experiment was to determine if the demand for acetate and glucose, as well as insulin response to glucose, are associated with dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), residual feed intake (RFI), and gain:feed (G:F). Charolais heifers (n = 16; initial BW = 412 ± 10 kg) were trained to close human contact and fed a finishing diet ad libitum in an Insentec feeding system. Following a 12-hour fast, a jugular catheter was inserted, and an acetate clearance test was performed by infusing acetate (2.18 mmol/kg BW0.75) and collecting blood samples over a 30-minute period. One hour after the conclusion of the acetate test, a glucose clearance test was performed by infusing glucose (7.57 mmol/kg BW0.75) and collecting samples over a two-hour period. Four days after the metabolic tests, heifers began an 84-d DMI and ADG test period. The area under the acetate, glucose, and insulin curves were calculated as were the clearance rate, peaks, nadir, and insulin time to peak. Pearson correlations were calculated for the metabolic parameters and production traits using SAS 9.4. Heifers gained 1.69 ± 0.03 kg/d and consumed 10.4 ± 0.19 kg/d. Acetate and glucose clearance rates were not associated with any production trait (P > 0.40). Insulin time to peak concentration after the glucose challenge was associated (r = 0.69; P = 0.003) with G:F, but peak concentration was not (P = 0.45). Additionally, there was a trend (r = 0.40; P = 0.13) for area under the insulin curve to be associated with G:F. Given the small sample size in this experiment, it is possible that decreased insulin sensitivity early in the finishing period is related to improved feed efficiency in finishing heifers.

Associations between occupational and environmental exposures and organ involvement in sarcoidosis: a retrospective case-case analysis

BackgroundSarcoidosis most commonly affects lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes, but any other organ can be involved. In epidemiological studies, many occupational and environmental exposures have been linked to sarcoidosis but their relationship with the disease phenotype has barely been studied.ObjectiveTo investigate how occupational and environmental exposures prior to diagnosis relate to organ involvement in patients with sarcoidosisMethodsWe retrospectively studied patients seen at a sarcoidosis clinic between 2017 and 2020. Patients were included if they had a clinical presentation consistent with sarcoidosis and histologically confirmed epithelioid granulomas or had Löfgren syndrome. In a case–case analysis using multivariable logistic regression we calculated odds ratios (OR) of prespecified exposure categories (based on expert ascertainment) for cases with a given organ involvement versus cases without this organ involvement.ResultsWe included 238 sarcoidosis patients. Sarcoidosis limited to pulmonary involvement was associated with exposure to inorganic dust prior to diagnosis (OR 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–4.17). Patients with liver involvement had higher odds of contact with livestock (OR 3.68; 95% CI 0.91–12.7) or having jobs with close human contact (OR 4.33; 95% CI 1.57–11.3) than patients without liver involvement. Similar associations were found for splenic involvement (livestock: OR 4.94, 95% CI 1.46–16.1; close human contact: OR 3.78; 95% CI 1.47–9.46). Cardiac sarcoidosis was associated with exposure to reactive chemicals (OR 5.08; 95% CI 1.28–19.2) or livestock (OR 9.86; 95% CI 1.95–49.0). Active smokers had more ocular sarcoidosis (OR 3.26; 95% CI 1.33–7.79).ConclusionsOur study indicates that, in sarcoidosis patients, different exposures might be related to different organ involvements—hereby providing support for the hypothesis that sarcoidosis has more than one cause, each of which may promote a different disease phenotype.

The phenomenon of interdependent states of animals and humans: tactics and treatment strategy using ultra-high dilutions of substances, 20-year research

Before the start of our research, there already was empirically developed experience on the appearance of similar conditions in animals and humans in close contact. However, there was no scientific explanation for this phenomenon, or scientifically grounded recommendations for its application in medical practice. Since 1995 we have been systematically studied cases of humans and animals in close contact exhibited a same pathological condition. The aim of the present study was to establish the features of these interdependent states and the factors that influence them.
 The experimental and clinical studies described here were performed based on spontaneous procurement by the animals’ owners at Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, St. Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and at Research Center of “POLEVET” Veterinary Clinic.
 
 Clinical, hematological, biochemical and immunologic parameters describing the condition of the animals during homeopathic treatment preparations were recorded. To assess the reliability of differences at 0.05 significance level was used.
 
 Statistical analysis was made of 8,061 episodes of addresses of animals and their owners. Based on these materials and using modern achievements in biology, genetics, physiology and neurophysiology, the main theses providing theoretical substantiation for this phenomenon were formulated, and the mechanisms of development of one and the same disease in both humans and animals according to modern scientific conceptions were revealed. Also a tactic and strategy for treatment of sick animals and humans in close contact are suggested. To correct interdependent conditions, a method of application of the effects of ultra-high dilutions of drugs was developed and proposed for practical use, which might enable veterinary specialists - based on the knowledge of the phenomenon of interdependent conditions - to significantly improve the recovery of their patients. The effectiveness of this approach was confirmed in practice by many specialists who made use of our results.
 
 The work performed and the attention paid by specialists to these studies, as well as the possibility to correct the phenomenon of interdependent conditions of animals and humans using ultra-high dilutions of substances, demonstrate the potential for further scientific developments in this field of medical practice.

Genetic characterization of two methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus spa type t127 strains isolated from workers in the dairy production chain in Greece.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes a constant threat for the public health. Aim of the present study was to analyse the whole genome sequences of two MRSA strains belonging to Staphylococcus protein A (spa) type t127 isolated from humans working in two distantly located dairy production farms in Greece.MRSA strains were isolated from the nasal cavity of a food handler in a milk industry in Epirus, northwestern Greece (E-MRSA), and a person working in a cattle farm in Thrace, northeastern Greece (T-MRSA). Whole genome sequences taken using next generation sequencing were analysed for resistance and virulence genes applying various bioinformatic tools.Both isolates were assigned to ST1-IVa-t127 type, and they were transferring genes conferring resistance to tetracycline, β-lactams, and aminoglycosides; T-MRSA was carrying additional genes leading to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance. Both isolates were carrying three plasmid replicon types, rep5, rep7 and rep16, while T-MRSA harboured also rep10 and rep15. E-MRSA carried scn and sak genes which were absent from T-MRSA.In conclusion, the genetic characterization of two unrelated ST1-IVa-t127 MRSA strains isolated from humans in close contact with livestock in Greece can be used as basis for further epidemiological and evolutionary studies.

Coronavirus surveillance in wildlife from two Congo basin countries detects RNA of multiple species circulating in bats and rodents.

Coronaviruses play an important role as pathogens of humans and animals, and the emergence of epidemics like SARS, MERS and COVID-19 is closely linked to zoonotic transmission events primarily from wild animals. Bats have been found to be an important source of coronaviruses with some of them having the potential to infect humans, with other animals serving as intermediate or alternate hosts or reservoirs. Host diversity may be an important contributor to viral diversity and thus the potential for zoonotic events. To date, limited research has been done in Africa on this topic, in particular in the Congo Basin despite frequent contact between humans and wildlife in this region. We sampled and, using consensus coronavirus PCR-primers, tested 3,561 wild animals for coronavirus RNA. The focus was on bats (38%), rodents (38%), and primates (23%) that posed an elevated risk for contact with people, and we found coronavirus RNA in 121 animals, of which all but two were bats. Depending on the taxonomic family, bats were significantly more likely to be coronavirus RNA-positive when sampled either in the wet (Pteropodidae and Rhinolophidae) or dry season (Hipposideridae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, and Vespertilionidae). The detected RNA sequences correspond to 15 alpha- and 6 betacoronaviruses, with some of them being very similar (>95% nucleotide identities) to known coronaviruses and others being more unique and potentially representing novel viruses. In seven of the bats, we detected RNA most closely related to sequences of the human common cold coronaviruses 229E or NL63 (>80% nucleotide identities). The findings highlight the potential for coronavirus spillover, especially in regions with a high diversity of bats and close human contact, and reinforces the need for ongoing surveillance.

Globalization, population flow and the spatial diffusion of COVID-19

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has swept the world since December 2019. The spread of COVID-19 has much to do with population flow and close human contacts. This paper demonstrates that the distribution of COVID-19 cases has close relation with the population flow and migration flow in the case of China. Rapid globalization has increased the volumes of migration and travelers in the world since the 1970s. If we reduce the number of air passengers to the level of 0.31 billion in 1970 by 13.6 times in the world, this may delay the same level of infections from being reached by about 3.5 weeks with reduced number of virus export and diffusion. But various authorities may only begin to take systematic and restrictive actions after the case number reaching certain “alarming level”, above “saved time” may not be effectively used as the “alarming level” may simply emerge later. The global production network is not able to meet unexpected surging demand of personal protective equipment and other medical essentials in the early stage of pandemic. Emergency plans are need to expand production capacity quickly to deal with future pandemic.

Linezolid-resistant MRSA-CC398 carrying the cfr gene, and MRSA-CC9 isolates from pigs with signs of infection in Spain.

To perform the molecular characterization of 23 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from pigs with signs of infections recovered in Spanish farms during 2018-2019. The antimicrobial resistance pattern and virulence profile were determined. The molecular typing was performed by different molecular techniques. The transferability of the cfr gene was assessed by conjugation and its genetic environment was determined by PCR mapping. In all, 21 isolates were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carrying the mecA gene (SCCmecV or non-typeable SCCmec), whereas the remaining two were methicillin-susceptible (MSSA). All but one MRSA isolates (n=20) belonged to the CC398, being the spa t011 the most prevalent (n=11). The remaining MRSA and the two MSSA isolates were ascribed to ST9/CC9. The S. aureus isolates exhibited resistance to (number of resistant isolates): β-lactamics (21), erythromycin and/or clindamycin (20), aminoglycosides (7), tetracycline (22), fluoroquinolones (14), chloramphenicol (5) and linezolid (1). The S. aureus isolates did not carry any of the virulence genes studied. One MRSA belonging to the CC398 showed linezolid resistance mediated by the cfr gene. The cfr gene was co-located with fexA in the Tn558 variant previously reported in the S. aureus plasmid pSCFS7. Two major livestock-associated genetic lineages were detected among pigs with signs of infection in Spain. The presence of the cfr gene among LA-MRSA-CC398 is of great concern not only for veterinary medicine, but also for humans in close contact. This work describes the molecular characterization of S. aureus isolates recovered from pigs with signs of infection and we report, as far as we know, the first description of MRSA-CC9 from pigs in Spain. Moreover, the detection of a MRSA-CC398 isolate carrying the multiresistance cfr gene highlights the need for continuous surveillance and awareness of LA-MRSA.

Susceptibility of Domestic Swine to Experimental Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent that causes coronavirus disease, has been shown to infect several species. The role of domestic livestock and associated risks for humans in close contact with food production animals remains unknown for many species. Determining the susceptibility of pigs to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to a One Health approach to manage potential risk for zoonotic transmission. We found that pigs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 after oronasal inoculation. Among 16 animals, we detected viral RNA in group oral fluids and in nasal wash from 2 pigs, but live virus was isolated from only 1 pig. Antibodies also were detected in only 2 animals at 11 and 13 days postinoculation but were detected in oral fluid samples at 6 days postinoculation, indicating antibody secretion. These data highlight the need for additional livestock assessment to determine the potential role of domestic animals in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Learning experience on sentinel cases of COVID-19 at a public healthcare institution: sharing on operating room processes.

Learning experience on sentinel cases of COVID-19 at a public healthcare institution: sharing on operating room processes.

In Consideration of Our Mutual Relationship with Cats

[ ]attached and loyal to humans, Maeo Boran are easy to keep in the home and to train to walk on a leash;they often have a beautiful, chatty voice and behave as if they were engaging in lively conversations Cats are the only animal in which the Toxoplasma gondii parasite completes its life cycle, and humans in close contact with cat litter, for example, are at risk of developing toxoplasmosis, which pregnant women can potentially transmit to a fetus Paper folding book [cited 2020 Oct 1] https://www bl uk/manuscripts/Viewer aspx?ref=OR_16797_f001r Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

SARS-COV-2 and biomimetics: What saves the planet will save our health.

SARS-COV-2 and biomimetics: What saves the planet will save our health.

Occurrence and Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant and -Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from the Beef Production Chain in Korea.

The emergence and persistence of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in livestock animals have been reported as a potential risk factor for transmission to humans. In this study, we investigated the nationwide prevalence and characteristics of MRSA and MSSA in the Korean beef production system, including retail markets, slaughterhouses, and cattle farms. From a total of 1,285 samples, only 5 MRSA strains were isolated: from a farmer (1 ST72 MRSA), a carcass sample from a slaughterhouse (1 ST72 MRSA), and beef cattle (3 ST5 MRSA). In addition, 11 MSSA strains were isolated from beef cattle (n=3), humans (1 farmer, 1 slaughterhouse worker, and 4 retail market workers), and carcass samples (n=1) and slaughterhouse environment (n=1). Although the prevalence of MRSA and MSSA in beef cattle was much lower than that reported in pigs, 5/5 MRSA and 2/11 MSSA strains displayed multiple drug resistance (MDR) phenotypes. Unlike the swine-associated MRSA, no correlation was found between tetracycline/zinc resistance and MDR phenotype. However, MRSA strains had an identical set of staphylococcal enterotoxins and exhibited enhanced levels of resistance to antimicrobial peptides (PMAP-36 and LL-37) compared to the MSSA strains. In conclusion, continued and systemic surveillance of livestock, meat products, and humans in close contact with livestock/meat products is necessary to prevent the transmission of MRSA and MSSA to humans.

Investigation of Problems faced during capturing of Gait Signals

To solve the issue of close human contact in biometric authentication system, relatively a new technique gait recognition is used. The human gait is a common feature for identifying the walking manner of the person during walking and it is viewed as significant indicator for gait function of individual for experimental and research setting. Gait symmetry is usually considered as function of locomotion between the changes of the body and its activities. An exclusive advantage of gait as a biometric is its latent for detection at a distance or at low resolution or when other biometrics might not be perceivable. In this paper we investigate the problem of people recognition by their gait. The coordination and cyclic nature of the body motion makes gait as unique characteristics of each individual, thus a good biometric identification approach. The purpose of this paper is to describe some of the problems that make it difficult to apply gait as a biometric identification and use recent literature to show suggestions being made to solve some of these technical issues.

Investigation of problems faced during capturing of gait signals

To solve the issue of close human contact in biometric authentication system, relatively a new technique gait recognition is used. The human gait is a common feature for identifying the walking manner of the person during walking and it is viewed as significant indicator for gait function of individual for experimental and research setting. Gait symmetry is usually considered as function of locomotion between the changes of the body and its activities. An exclusive advantage of gait as a biometric is its latent for detection at a distance or at low resolution or when other biometrics might not be perceivable. In this paper we investigate the problem of people recognition by their gait. The coordination and cyclic nature of the body motion makes gait as unique characteristics of each individual, thus a good biometric identification approach. The purpose of this paper is to describe some of the problems that make it difficult to apply gait as a biometric identification and use recent literature to show suggestions being made to solve some of these technical issues.

A Smartphone Magnetometer-Based Diagnostic Test for Automatic Contact Tracing in Infectious Disease Epidemics.

Smartphone magnetometer readings exhibit high linear correlation when two phones coexist within a short distance. Thus, the detected coexistence can serve as a proxy for close human contact events, and one can conceive using it as a possible automatic tool to modernize the contact tracing in infectious disease epidemics. This paper investigates how good a diagnostic test it would be, by evaluating the discriminative and predictive power of the smartphone magnetometer-based contact detection in multiple measures. Based on the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios, we find that the decision made by the smartphone magnetometer-based test can be accurate in telling contacts from no contacts. Furthermore, through the evaluation process, we determine the appropriate range of compared trace segment sizes and the correlation cutoff values that we should use in such diagnostic tests.

Characterization of bacterium types isolated from commercial laying hen farms in Ogun State Nigeria

This study investigated the distribution of bacterium categories isolated from poultry feces and litters on commercial laying hen farms in Remo and Egba local government areas, Ogun State, Nigeria. In total 29 species of lactose and non-lactose fermenters were recovered. Bacteria isolated from feces included Aeromonas hydrophila (27.5%), Providencia stuartii (15.5%), Actinobacillus sp. (9.1%), Burkholderia cepacia (7.7%), Serratia marcescens (4.9%), Citrobacter diversus (4.9%), Klebsiella oxytoca (4.2%), and Enterobacter gergoviae (4.2%). Others were Escherichia coli (2.1%), Plesiomonas shigelloides (2.1%), Vibrio alginolyticus (2.1%), Morganella morganii (2.1%), Pantoea agglomerans (1.4%), Vibrio mimicus (1.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.4%), Burkholderia pseudomallei (1.4%), Salmonella arizonae (0.7%), Klebsiella pneumonia (0.7%), Acinetobacter iwoffii (0.7%), Vibrio vulnificus (0.7%), Shewanella putrefaciens (0.7%), Proteus mirabilis (0.7%) and Proteus vulgaris (0.7%). There was 66.7% similarity between the bacterium profile of litters and that of feces; some additional strains were identified in the litters. No variation (p = 0.64) was observed in the number of isolated bacterium types from feces and litter samples. However, the number of bacterium types isolated from fecal samples differed (p = 0.002) between the two studied areas. Results suggest that there is a potential risk of wide-range bacterial transmission within poultry populations, and to humans in close contact with them.

High seroprevalence for Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in ruminants in the absence of reported human cases in many regions of Bulgaria

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne zoonotic disease in humans caused by CCHF virus. It has been observed in Bulgaria since 1952 and over the years more than 1600 cases have been reported in the country. Close contact with viraemic livestock was shown as one of the main causes of the infection. Detection of CCHF virus specific antibodies in livestock can be used as an indicator for virus circulation and risk assessment. CCHF seroprevalence was investigated in 843 cattle, 88 goats and 130 sheep, originating from all 28 districts of Bulgaria. CCHF virus-specific IgG antibodies were observed in 165 cattle (19.6, 95% CI 17.0-22.4%), in 20 goats (22.7, 95% CI 15.2-32.5%) and in 10 sheep (7.7, 95% CI 4.2-13.6%). The highest seroprevalence was detected in the district of Kardzhali, South Bulgaria (86.7, 95% CI 73.8-93.7%), a well-known focus of CCHF in humans. The other two districts with human CCHF cases, Blagoevgrad and Burgas, located in southwest and southeast Bulgaria, showed overall seroprevalences in livestock of 41.9% (95% CI 28.4-56.7%) and 31.3% (95% CI 22.2-42.1%), respectively. Seroprevalences in districts with no history of human CCHF cases varied between 55% (95% CI 39.8-69.3%) and 22.5% (95% CI 12.3-37.5%). These results suggest frequent CCHF virus infections even in regions without human CCHF cases and an enhanced risk of infection for humans in close contact with the infected livestock.

Empirical Determination of Efficient Sensing Frequencies for Magnetometer-Based Continuous Human Contact Monitoring.

The high linear correlation between the smartphone magnetometer readings in close proximity can be exploited for physical human contact detection, which could be useful for such applications as infectious disease contact tracing or social behavior monitoring. Alternative approaches using other capabilities in smartphones have aspects that do not fit well with the human contact detection. Using Wi-Fi or cellular fingerprints have larger localization errors than close human contact distances. Bluetooth beacons could reveal the identity of the transmitter, threatening the privacy of the user. Also, using sensors such as GPS does not work for indoor contacts. However, the magnetometer correlation check works best in human contact distances that matter in infectious disease transmissions or social interactions. The omni-present geomagnetism makes it work both indoors and outdoors, and the measured magnetometer values do not easily reveal the identity and the location of the smartphone. One issue with the magnetometer-based contact detection, however, is the energy consumption. Since the contacts can take place anytime, the magnetometer sensing and recording should be running continuously. Therefore, how we address the energy requirement for the extended and continuous operation can decide the viability of the whole idea. However, then, we note that almost all existing magnetometer-based applications such as indoor location and navigation have used high sensing frequencies, ranging from 10 Hz to 200 Hz. At these frequencies, we measure that the time to complete battery drain in a typical smartphone is shortened by three to twelve hours. The heavy toll raises the question as to whether the magnetometer-based contact detection can avoid such high sensing rates while not losing the contact detection accuracy. In order to answer the question, we conduct a measurement-based study using independently produced magnetometer traces from three different countries. Specifically, we gradually remove high frequency components in the traces, while observing the correlation changes. As a result, we find that the human coexistence detection indeed tends to be no less, if not more, effective at the sampling frequency of 1 Hz or even less. This is because unlike the other applications that require centimeter-level precision, the human contacts detected anywhere within a couple of meters are valid for our purpose. With the typical smartphone battery capacity and at the 1 Hz sensing, the battery consumption is well below an hour, which is smaller by more than two hours compared with 10 Hz sampling and by almost eleven hours compared with 200 Hz sampling. With other tasks running simultaneously on smartphones, the energy saving aspect will only become more critical. Therefore, we conclude that sensing the ambient magnetic field at 1 Hz is sufficient for the human contact monitoring purpose. We expect that this finding will have a significant practicability implication in the smartphone magnetometer-based contact monitoring applications in general.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A virus infection associated with respiratory signs in sloth bears (Melursus ursinus).

In 2009, a pandemic influenza A virus (pH1N1) spread globally in humans and infected a broad range of captive animals with close human contact. In February 2014, a pH1N1 virus was isolated from a sloth bear with respiratory signs at a US zoo, demonstrating that recurring epidemics present an ongoing threat to animals, including threatened species. This is the first report of pH1N1 infection in sloth bears. To understand the sloth bear virus within the global context of pH1N1, phylogenetic trees were inferred including full-length sequences from available non-human, non-swine hosts, representing four families in the order Carnivora and one order of birds. A combination of phylogenetic and epidemiological evidence strongly suggests the sloth bear was infected with a human-origin pH1N1 virus, supporting the implementation of biosecurity measures to protect human and animal health.

Serologic and Molecular Evidence of Vaccinia Virus Circulation among Small Mammals from Different Biomes, Brazil.

Vaccinia virus (VACV) is a zoonotic agent that causes a disease called bovine vaccinia, which is detected mainly in milking cattle and humans in close contact with these animals. Even though many aspects of VACV infection have been described, much is still unknown about its circulation in the environment and its natural hosts/reservoirs. To investigate the presence of Orthopoxvirus antibodies or VACV DNA, we captured small rodents and marsupials in 3 areas of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and tested their samples in a laboratory. A total of 336 animals were tested; positivity ranged from 18.1% to 25.5% in the 3 studied regions located in different biomes, including the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. Analysis of nucleotide sequences indicated co-circulation of VACV groups I and II. Our findings reinforce the possible role played by rodents and marsupials in VACV maintenance and its transmission chain.