Hutterite Communities Research Articles

Simple Ceramics? Design, Decorative Materiality and Anabaptist Pottery in Early Modern Central Europe

Abstract This article traces the manufacture and consumption of faience ceramics made by Hutterite communities in central Europe from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. The production, use and survival of Anabaptist Haban ware offers insights into the nature of Anabaptist material regimes and communities and into overlapping but distinct communities of consumption and collecting. Hutterite craftsmen were instructed to produce objects ‘in the same way as was always done’, with regulations about uncomplicated designs and colours. Yet faience Haban ware was highly sought after, and decorative items were made for powerful patrons from materials drawn from all over Europe. Such objects have now become associated with specific national ‘folk’ cultures. These distinctive remnants of Hutterite communities in Germany and central Europe problematize the material dimensions of survival, conformity and separatism in Anabaptist communities and give access to the complicated affective properties of the white faience ware that Hutterites produced.

Phenotype and pathology of the dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome in children.

The dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome (DCMA) is an autosomal recessive mitochondrial disease caused by mutations in the DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C19 (DNAJC19) gene. DCMA or 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type V is globally rare, but the largest number of patients in the world is found in the Hutterite population of southern Alberta in Canada. We provide an update on phenotypic findings, natural history, pathological findings, and our clinical experience. We analyzed all available records for 43 patients diagnosed with DCMA between 2005 and 2015 at the Alberta Children's Hospital. All patients studied were Hutterite and homozygous for the causative DNAJC19 variant (c.130-1G>C, IVS3-1G>C) and had elevated levels of 3-methyglutaconic acid. We calculated a birth prevalence of 1.54 cases per 1000 total births in the Hutterite community. Children were small for gestational age at birth and frequently required supplemental nutrition (63%) or surgical placement of a gastrostomy tube (35%). Early mortality in this cohort was high (40%) at a median age of 13 months (range 4-294 months). Congenital anomalies were common as was dilated cardiomyopathy (50%), QT interval prolongation (83%), and developmental delay (95%). Tissue pathology was analyzed in a limited number of patients and demonstrated subendocardial fibrosis in the heart, macrovesicular steatosis and fibrosis in the liver, and structural abnormalities in mitochondria. This report provides clinical details for a cohort of children with DCMA and the first presentation of tissue pathology for this disorder. Despite sharing common genetic etiology and environment, the disease is highly heterogeneous for reasons that are not understood. DCMA is a clinically heterogeneous systemic mitochondrial disease with significant morbidity and mortality that is common in the Hutterite population of southern Alberta.

Is ethnicity a 'treatable trait' in asthma?

Is ethnicity a 'treatable trait' in asthma?

Sex-specific differences in peripheral blood leukocyte transcriptional response to LPS are enriched for HLA region and X chromosome genes

Sex-specific differences in prevalence are well documented for many common, complex diseases, especially for immune-mediated diseases, yet the precise mechanisms through which factors associated with biological sex exert their effects throughout life are not well understood. We interrogated sex-specific transcriptional responses of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) to innate immune stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in 46 male and 66 female members of the Hutterite community, who practice a communal lifestyle. We identified 1217 autosomal and 54 X-linked genes with sex-specific responses to LPS, as well as 71 autosomal and one X-linked sex-specific expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). Despite a similar proportion of the 15 HLA genes responding to LPS compared to all expressed autosomal genes, there was a significant over-representation of genes with sex by treatment interactions among HLA genes. We also observed an enrichment of sex-specific differentially expressed genes in response to LPS for X-linked genes compared to autosomal genes, suggesting that HLA and X-linked genes may disproportionately contribute to sex disparities in risk for immune-mediated diseases.

Effect of seasonal influenza vaccination on influenza symptom severity among children in Hutterite communities: Follow-up study of a randomized trial.

BackgroundWe investigated whether influenza vaccination reduces symptom severity among children who develop laboratory‐confirmed influenza, and whether this association differed between influenza vaccine formulations.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study using data from two blinded cluster randomized control trials of influenza vaccines in Hutterite colonies. In trial 1, children received trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) or hepatitis A vaccine. In trial 2, children received trivalent live attenuated (TLAIV) or TIV. We assessed four outcomes (total number of symptoms, number of respiratory symptoms, number of systemic symptoms, and duration of symptoms) among children with PCR‐confirmed influenza. We utilized two‐sample t tests to quantify the relationship between vaccine group and outcome. We performed multivariable strain‐specific analyses, controlling for age and season.Results TIV vs. Hep A vaccine: Among vaccinated children, 200 confirmed influenza infections were observed across 3014 person‐seasons. Vaccine type (TIV vs. Hep A vaccine) did not significantly affect the number of respiratory or systemic symptoms, nor duration of symptoms (P > .05). TLAIV vs. TIV: Among 1186 children who received a study vaccine, 166 confirmed influenza infections were observed. TLAIV recipients experienced fewer total, respiratory, and systemic symptoms compared to TIV recipients (P < .05 for all). TLAIV‐associated attenuation of symptom severity was observed in influenza B or A/H1N1 infections, but not H3.ConclusionsSeasonal influenza vaccine did not consistently attenuate symptom severity in the context of vaccine failure; however, TLAIV offered superior severity attenuation compared to TIV. Our results challenge the dictum that influenza vaccine reduces the severity of symptoms even when the vaccine fails to prevent influenza.

Development and validation of clinical prediction models to distinguish influenza from other viruses causing acute respiratory infections in children and adults.

Predictive models have been developed for influenza but have seldom been validated. Typically they have focused on patients meeting a definition of infection that includes fever. Less is known about how models perform when more symptoms are considered. We, therefore, aimed to create and internally validate predictive scores of acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms to diagnose influenza virus infection as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from respiratory specimens. Data from a completed trial to study the indirect effect of influenza immunization in Hutterite communities were randomly split into two independent groups for model derivation and validation. We applied different multivariable modelling techniques and constructed Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves to determine predictive indexes at different cut-points. From 2008–2011, 3288 first seasonal ARI episodes and 321 (9.8%) influenza positive events occurred in 2202 individuals. In children up to 17 years, the significant predictors of influenza virus infection were fever, chills, and cough along with being of age 6 years and older. In adults, presence of chills and cough but not fever were highly specific for influenza virus infection (sensitivity 30%, specificity 96%). Performance of the models in the validation set was not significantly different. The predictors were consistently found to be significant irrespective of the multivariable technique. Symptomatic predictors of influenza virus infection vary between children and adults. The scores could assist clinicians in their test and treat decisions but the results need to be externally validated prior to application in clinical practice.

Commentary: Family Member Well-Being in the Kinship Enterprise: A Self-Determination Perspective

Nordstrom and Jennings (2017) provide an in-depth view of the Hutterite Brethren community to theorize family business practices and their association with familial well-being. Drawing from self-determination theory, we extend their model to provide additional theoretical development regarding the role of task and enterprise practices in satisfying basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), promoting motivation, and fostering family member well-being. Although the Hutterite community’s practices likely facilitate high levels of competence and relatedness, there is potential for autonomy need deficits. As such, we address areas for future research regarding need fulfillment and well-being in family businesses.

Enhancing access to cervical and colorectal cancer screening for women in rural and remote northern Alberta: a pilot study.

Women in rural and remote northern Alberta access breast cancer screening through a mobile mammogram program (Screen Test). The Enhanced Access to Cervical and Colorectal Cancer Screening (EACS) project was a 2-year pilot that aimed to integrate cervical and colorectal cancer screening with the Screen Test program. This study compares cervical and colorectal cancer screening uptake among women screened through the pilot (Screen Test-EACS) versus Screen Test. Screen Test-EACS was offered between 2013 and 2015 in selected rural and remote sites, with a focus on hard-to-reach women living in First Nations, Métis and Hutterite communities. Participation in cervical and colorectal cancer screening was analyzed for Screen Test and Screen Test-EACS participants 6 weeks before clients received their mammogram and then again 3 months after. A total of 8390 and 1312 women participated in Screen Test and Screen Test-EACS, respectively. Screen Test-EACS significantly increased uptake of cervical (10.1% v. 27.5%) and colorectal (10.9% v. 22.5%) cancer screening, increasing the prevalence of women up to date with screening from 52.5% to 62.9% for cervical cancer screening and from 37.3% to 48.7% for colorectal cancer screening. Screen Test-EACS increased participation in and the overall prevalence of cervical and colorectal cancer screening among hard-to-reach clients in northern Alberta, probably through removal of barriers to access and increased awareness. Further research should focus on balancing the benefits of increased participation with the costs and potential risks of over-screening.

Prevalence and predictors of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in rural Canadian children.

Studies in Canada have reported varying prevalences of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, but none have been conducted in rural paediatric populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of low vitamin D levels in rural communities. We conducted a cross-sectional study of children aged 3 to 15 living in Canadian Hutterite communities. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured between October 2008 and April 2009 using a chemiluminescence assay. Predictors of vitamin D levels were evaluated using multivariable linear regression. A multilevel model was used to evaluate the impact of individual, household and colony factors on the variation in vitamin D levels. Serum 25(OH)D levels were available on 743 children/adolescents. The median was 62.0 nmol/L (interquartile range 51.0, 74.0). Levels lower than 50 nmol/L and 75 nmol/L were found in 152 (20.5%) and 565 (76%) children, respectively. Adolescents were at highest risk for levels <75 nmol/L (odds ratio 3.38, 95% confidence interval 2.00, 5.80). Age and latitude were negatively correlated with serum 25(OH)D level. In the multilevel model, most of the variation in levels was associated with individual children. Low vitamin D levels are a significant problem in rural Hutterite communities in Canada. Adolescents were at greatest risk for low levels and represent an important target group for supplementation. Variation in serum 25(OH)D levels was explained mostly at the individual level. Additional studies are needed to explore factors associated with individuals (e.g., genetics) leading to lower 25(OH)D levels.

Predictors of influenza a molecular viral shedding in Hutterite communities.

BackgroundPatterns of influenza molecular viral shedding following influenza infection have been well established; predictors of viral shedding however remain uncertain.ObjectivesWe sought to determine factors associated with peak molecular viral load, duration of shedding, and viral area under the curve (AUC) in children and adult Hutterite colony members with laboratory‐confirmed influenza.MethodsA cohort study was conducted in Hutterite colonies in Alberta, Canada. Flocked nasal swabs were collected during three influenza seasons (2007‐2008 to 2009‐2010) from both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with influenza. Samples were tested by real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction for influenza A and influenza B, and the viral load was determined for influenza A‐positive samples.ResultsFor seasonal H1N1, younger age was associated with a larger AUC, female sex was associated with decreased peak viral load and reduced viral shedding duration, while the presence of comorbidity was associated with increased peak viral load. For H3N2, younger age was associated with increased peak viral load and increased AUC. For pandemic H1N1, younger age was associated with increased peak viral load and increased viral AUC, female sex was associated with reduced peak viral load, while inapparent infection was associated with reduced peak viral load, reduced viral shedding duration, and reduced viral AUC.ConclusionsPatterns of molecular viral shedding vary by age, sex, comorbidity, and the presence of symptoms. Predictor variables vary by influenza A subtype.

Asthma and innate immunity in Amish and Hutterite communities

A small elegant mixed-methods study examined the pathogenesis of asthma.1 Amish children were age and sex-matched with Hutterite children. Because they have similar genetic ancestries (Fig. 1a), this is a quasi-twin study. Both communities have large families, diets rich in fat, salt and raw milk and live in low-pollution, low-tobacco environments. However, Amish communities use traditional farming practices, whereas the Hutterites use modern technology. Investigators took immune and genetic blood samples, analysed house dust, and then used an ovalbumin mouse model of allergic asthma to compare immune responses and broncho-responsiveness. As expected, principal component analysis confirmed remarkable genetic similarities between the Amish and Hutterites. Dust analysis (Fig. 1b) revealed median endotoxin levels 6.8 times higher in Amish homes (P < 0.001). Amish children had more neutrophils, but lower eosinophils and median levels of 23 cytokines (P < 0.001). Gene expression profiles showed clustering around genes encoding inflammation (e.g. tumour necrosis factor and interferon regulatory factor 7). Mice exposed to Amish dust had less airway hyper-responsiveness and their bronchoalveolar lavage samples had less eosinophilia than mice exposed to Hutterite dust. The unique populations studied enable hypothesis generation from this small study. The risk of asthma may be reduced through environmental exposure to aeroallergens from microbe-rich dust which trigger activation of innate immunity, or through interventions targeting innate immunity triggering pathways.

Effect of Influenza Vaccination of Children on Infection Rate in Hutterite Communities: Follow-Up Study of a Randomized Trial.

BackgroundAn earlier cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Hutterite colonies had shown that if more than 80% of children and adolescents were immunized with influenza vaccine there was a statistically significant reduction in laboratory-confirmed influenza among all unimmunized community members. We assessed the impact of this intervention for two additional influenza seasonal periods.MethodsFollow-up data for two influenza seasonal periods of a cluster randomized trial involving 1053 Canadian children and adolescents aged 36 months to 15 years in Season 2 and 1014 in Season 3 who received the study vaccine, and 2805 community members in Season 2 and 2840 in Season 3 who did not receive the study vaccine. Follow-up for Season 2 began November 18, 2009 and ended April 25, 2010 while Season 3 extended from December 6, 2010 and ended May 27, 2011. Children were randomly assigned in a blinded manner according to community membership to receive either inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine or hepatitis A. The primary outcome was confirmed influenza A and B infection using RT-PCR assay. Due to the outbreak of 2009 H1N1 pandemic, data in Season 2 were excluded for analysis.ResultsFor an analysis of the combined Season 1 and Season 3 data, among non-recipients (i.e., participants who did not receive study vaccines), 66 of the 2794 (2.4%) participants in the influenza vaccine colonies and 121 of the 2301 (5.3%) participants in the hepatitis A colonies had influenza confirmed by RT-PCR, for a protective effectiveness of 60% (95% CI, 6% to 83%; P = 0.04); among all study participants (i.e., including both those who received study vaccine and those who did not), 125 of the 3806 (3.3%) in the influenza vaccine colonies and 239 of the 3243 (7.4%) in the hepatitis A colonies had influenza confirmed by RT-PCR, for a protective effectiveness of 63% (95% CI, 5% to 85%; P = 0.04).ConclusionImmunizing children and adolescents with inactivated influenza vaccine can offer a protective effect among unimmunized community members for influenza A and B together when considered over multiple years of seasonal influenza.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT00877396

“Nobody Told Me They Didn’t Speak English!”: Teacher Language Views and Student Linguistic Repertoires in Hutterite Colony Schools in Canada

ABSTRACTThis article presents a qualitative study of five monolingual teachers’ understandings of the linguistic repertoires of their multilingual students. These teachers deliver the Saskatchewan provincial curricula in English to Hutterite colony students who are users of three languages: (a) spoken Hutterisch as a home and community language, (b) written High German as a language for religious worship, and (c) spoken and written English for school and for communication outside the colony. Findings from this study demonstrate that the teachers report having had limited or inaccurate understandings of their students’ linguistic repertoires prior to beginning their teaching positions. Secondly, the teacher participants’ awareness of the students’ language resources was, and is, an ongoing process. Finally, the willingness and ability to cultivate hybrid language use of Hutterisch and English varies from teacher to teacher. The article concludes with discussion of considerations for teacher education and in-service teachers working in Hutterite communities.

Live Attenuated Versus Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Hutterite Children

Whether vaccinating children with intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is more effective than inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in providing both direct protection in vaccinated persons and herd protection in unvaccinated persons is uncertain. Hutterite colonies, where members live in close-knit, small rural communities in which influenza virus infection regularly occurs, offer an opportunity to address this question. To determine whether vaccinating children and adolescents with LAIV provides better community protection than IIV. A cluster randomized blinded trial conducted between October 2012 and May 2015 over 3 influenza seasons. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01653015). 52 Hutterite colonies in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. 1186 Canadian children and adolescents aged 36 months to 15 years who received the study vaccine and 3425 community members who did not. Children were randomly assigned according to community in a blinded manner to receive standard dosing of either trivalent LAIV or trivalent IIV. The primary outcome was reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza A or B virus in all participants (vaccinated children and persons who did not receive the study vaccine). Mean vaccine coverage among children in the LAIV group was 76.9% versus 72.3% in the IIV group. Influenza virus infection occurred at a rate of 5.3% (295 of 5560 person-years) in the LAIV group versus 5.2% (304 of 5810 person-years) in the IIV group. The hazard ratio comparing LAIV with IIV for influenza A or B virus was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.24). The study was conducted in Hutterite communities, which may limit generalizability. Immunizing children with LAIV does not provide better community protection against influenza than IIV. The Canadian Institutes for Health Research.

Autosomal-Recessive Intellectual Disability with Cerebellar Atrophy Syndrome Caused by Mutation of the Manganese and Zinc Transporter Gene SLC39A8

Manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) are essential divalent cations used by cells as protein cofactors; various human studies and animal models have demonstrated the importance of Mn and Zn for development. Here we describe an autosomal-recessive disorder in six individuals from the Hutterite community and in an unrelated Egyptian sibpair; the disorder is characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, hypotonia, strabismus, cerebellar atrophy, and variable short stature. Exome sequencing in one affected Hutterite individual and the Egyptian family identified the same homozygous variant, c.112G>C (p.Gly38Arg), affecting a conserved residue of SLC39A8. The affected Hutterite and Egyptian individuals did not share an extended common haplotype, suggesting that the mutation arose independently. SLC39A8 is a member of the solute carrier gene family known to import Mn, Zn, and other divalent cations across the plasma membrane. Evaluation of these two metal ions in the affected individuals revealed variably low levels of Mn and Zn in blood and elevated levels in urine, indicating renal wasting. Our findings identify a human Mn and Zn transporter deficiency syndrome linked to SLC39A8, providing insight into the roles of Mn and Zn homeostasis in human health and development.

Practicality and Identity as Functions of Education in Old Order Mennonite and Hutterite Communities

This study is an exploration of common structures, theories, and practices among the educational systems of selected Anabaptist communities, focusing on a Midwestern Schmiedeleut Hutterite community and the Groffdale Conference (Old Order) Mennonites in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Building on ideas of utopian communities, this research suggests two key foci of education as practiced in Hutterite and Old Order Mennonite communities. The first is identity, both of the community—as manifested by a common purpose and identity—and of the individual—as manifested by a belief in free will. The second is practicality, both in the physical (pragmatic) and metaphysical (idealistic) realm. Anabaptist communities tend to perceive education as highly important to the continued meaningful existence of the community because education serves as a means of socializing children and youth into community norms, standards, and beliefs.

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Influenza Vaccine Immunogenicity in Children and Adolescents

BackgroundVaccination is an important strategy in the prevention of influenza, but immunologic response to vaccination can vary widely. Recent studies have shown an association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and immune function. The purpose of this study was to determine if serum 25(OH)D level correlates with influenza vaccine immunogenicity in children and adolescents.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study of children age 3 to 15 years of age vaccinated with trivalent influenza vaccine (A/Brisbane/59/2007[H1N1]-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 [H3N2]-like virus and B/Florida/4/2006-like virus) in Hutterite communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured at baseline and immunogenicity was assessed using hemagluttination inhibition (HAI) titers done at baseline and 3–5 weeks post vaccination. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between serum 25(OH)D level as both a continuous and dichotomous variable and seroprotection, seroconversion, fold increase in geometric mean titer (GMT) and post vaccination titer.ResultsA total of 391 children and adolescents were included in the study and 221 (57% had post-vaccination HAI titers. The median serum 25(OH)D level was 61.0 nmol/L (Interquartile range [IQR] 50.0, 71.0). No relationship was found between serum 25(OH)D level and seroprotection (post-vaccination titer ≥40 and ≥320) or seroconversion (post-vaccination titer ≥40 for participants with pre-vaccine titer <10 or four-fold rise in post-vaccination titer for those with a pre-vaccine titer ≥10).ConclusionSerum 25(OH)D level was not associated with influenza vaccine immunogenicity in otherwise healthy children and adolescents. Other strategies to enhance influenza vaccine response should continue to be evaluated in this population.The role of serum 25(OH)D level in vaccine responsiveness in other populations, especially those hyporesponsive to influenza vaccination, requires further study.

Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Risk of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Children and Adolescents

Vitamin D may be important for immune function. Studies to date have shown an inconsistent association between vitamin D and infection with respiratory viruses. The purpose of this study was to determine if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was associated with laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured at baseline and children from Canadian Hutterite communities were followed prospectively during the respiratory virus season. Nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained if symptoms developed and infections were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction. The association between serum 25(OH)D and time to laboratory-confirmed viral RTI was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model. Seven hundred forty-three children aged 3-15 years were followed between 22 December 2008 and 23 June 2009. The median serum 25(OH)D level was 62.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 51.0-74.0). A total of 229 participants (31%) developed at least 1 laboratory-confirmed viral RTI. Younger age and lower serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased risk of viral RTI. Serum 25(OH)D levels <75 nmol/L increased the risk of viral RTI by 50% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.07, P = .011) and levels <50 nmol/L increased the risk by 70% (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.16-2.40, P = .006). Lower serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased risk of laboratory-confirmed viral RTI in children from Canadian Hutterite communities. Interventional studies evaluating the role of vitamin D supplementation to reduce the burden of viral RTIs are warranted.

Characteristics of respiratory viral infections during influenza season in Canadian Hutterite Communities

To determined the pathogen-specific incidence of respiratory virus infection in Hutterite communities occurring over the 2008-2009 influenza season and assess temporal characteristics of respiratory illness related to infection. 3273 participants community members enrolled in a cluster randomized trial of influenza vaccine were studied. One hundred forty-nine participants had laboratory-confirmed influenza, and 595 had at least one episode of laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infection other than influenza. Entero/rhinovirus had the highest incidence among children<5 years. A decline in the incidence of infections with age was observed for influenza as well as for most other respiratory viruses.

Influenza vaccination of children and adolescents decreased influenza infection in nonvaccinated community members

Source Citation Loeb M, Russell ML, Moss L, et al. Effect of influenza vaccination of children on infection rates in Hutterite communities: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010;303:943-50. 20215608