Poor Sanitary Conditions Research Articles

PSV-16 Effect of precision feeding and functional amino acids on immune response and protein metabolism of growing pigs raised in poor sanitary conditions

Abstract The activation of the immune system reduces the nutrient availability for growth and increases the variability among pigs. Functional amino acids (AA) supplementation can reduce the negative effects of immune activation. Additionally, providing daily tailored diets using individual precision feeding (IPF) was shown to account for individual variability. Therefore, we hypothesized that the association of IPF and functional AA supplementation could reduce the negative effect of immune-challenged pigs fed with daily tailored diets. The aim of this study was to assess performance and blood parameters variation of growing pigs under poor sanitary conditions while being fed functional AA 120% above the estimated INRA AA ratios within IPF, compared with a conventional group-phase (GP) feeding system. The sanitary condition was characterized by oral inoculation of 2 × 109 cfu of Salmonella typhimurium and manure spreading on the pen floor on d 0. Sixty gilts (23 ± 2.8 kg body weight; BW) were distributed in a complete randomized block design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement composed of 2 diets: CN with 100% INRA AA ratio or AA+ with 120% of the ratio for Met, Thr and Trp; and 2 feeding systems: GP or IPF. GP pigs received a single diet matching the SID Lys requirement of the 80th-percentile pig at the beginning of the trial whereas IPF pigs received a diet tailored daily to each pig requirement. All pigs were group-housed and fed ad libitum for 28 d by automatic feeders. Body weight was measured at d 0 and 28 and feed intake was recorded daily. Blood samples were collected at d 0, 7 and 28. Data were analyzed with diet and feeding systems and their interactions as fixed effects and BW blocks as random effect. Blood parameters were analyzed as repeated measurements over time. The pig was considered the experimental unit. No diet effect or interactions were observed for any variable (P > 0.05), suggesting that only supplementing Met, Trp, and Thr is not enough to support growth during a sanitary challenge (Table 1). Haptoglobin and IgG increased linearly whereas IgA, urea, and creatinine had a quadratic increase over time (P < 0.05; Table 2). The IPF decreased growth performance and increased serum IgA and creatinine (P < 0.05), mostly due to the fact that IPF reduces AA provision compared with GP system. The IPF model, as most mathematical models, does not account for the AA and energy costs related to the immune challenge. Therefore, IPF might have underestimated the requirements of the pigs, and limited the amount of nutrients provided. In conclusion, the combined effect of IPF and functional AA supplementation was not able to reduce the negative effect of the sanitary challenge.

Childhood Intestinal Parasitic Reinfection, Sanitation and Hygiene Practice in Eastern Ethiopia: Case Control Study.

The recurrence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can lead to different problems that can be transferred from generation to generation. Sanitation and hygienic practices have vital role in the parasitic reinfection. In poor hygienic and sanitation condition children may live in a continuous cycle of infection and reinfection. To assess childhood IP reinfection and its association with sanitation and hygienic practice in eastern Ethiopia. A population-based case-control design was used in this study. Data were collected from 75 reinfected cases and 147 unmatched controls. Fecal specimens were observed for parasites using direct smear and formol ether techniques. Epi-Info and SPSS (the statistical package for social science) were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant associations (P<0.05) between variables. The overall IP reinfection rate within 24 weeks after treatment was 33.8% (75/222), with a 95% CI=27.7%-40.5%. The frequency of intestinal protozoa was 18%, and for helminths was 15.8%. Children who swam in a polluted water had 3.7 times greater odds of IP reinfection than children who did not swim (P =0.01, 95% CI: 1.4-10.0). Children who regularly bathed in streams and children who bathed both at home and in streams were found to have 12.6 times and 5.8 times higher odds of IP reinfection than children who bathed regularly at home (P=0.002, 95% CI:2.5-64.8) and (P = 0.042, 95% CI:1.1-31.3), respectively. Children in households that owned domestic animals had 4.5 times higher odds of IP reinfection than the reference group (P = 0.013, 95% CI: 1.3-12.5). IP reinfection rates were significantly associated with habits of swimming in a polluted water, places of bathing, and ownership of domestic animals. Therefore, efforts should be made considering such factors to minimize IP reinfection in the area.

Problems and Possible Solutions to Municipal Solid Waste Management in Malawi Urban Areas – An Overview

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management poses significant challenges in urban areas of Malawi, with rapid population growth, poor sanitary conditions, and inadequate waste disposal infrastructure exacerbating the situation. This overview synthesizes existing literature to examine the complexities of MSW management in key Malawian cities, including Mzuzu, Blantyre, Zomba, and Lilongwe. Drawing from diverse sources such as peer-reviewed papers, governmental reports, and policy documents, the study investigates the root causes of MSW problems and explores potential remedies. Key issues identified include poor waste disposal habits, lack of waste classification, insufficient waste removal services, and community perceptions towards waste disposal. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the legal frameworks and environmental regulations governing MSW management in Malawi, highlighting the roles of various stakeholders and policy instruments. To address these challenges, the paper proposes a multi-faceted approach involving enforcement of legal laws, civic education and awareness campaigns, community engagement, involvement of private operators, conversion of waste to energy, promotion of recycling activities, composting, and provision of public bins/trash containers. By implementing these strategies, Malawi can move towards sustainable MSW management, mitigate environmental risks, and improve public health outcomes in urban areas.

Increased Dietary Trp, Thr, and Met Supplementation Improves Performance, Health, and Protein Metabolism of Weaned Piglets under Mixed Management and Poor Housing Conditions.

A sanitary challenge was carried out to induce suboptimal herd health while investigating the effect of amino acids supplementation on piglet responses. Weaned piglets of high sanitary status (6.33 ± 0.91 kg of BW) were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement into two similar facilities with contrasting sanitary conditions and two different diets. Our results suggest that increased Trp, Thr, and Met dietary supplementation could support the immune systems of piglets under a sanitary challenge. In this manner, AA+ supplementation improved the performance and metabolism of piglets under mixed management and poor sanitary conditions. No major temporal microbiome changes were associated with differences in performance regardless of sanitary conditions or diets. Since piglets often become mixed in multiple-site production systems and facility hygiene is also often neglected, this study suggests that increased Trp, Thr, and Met (AA+) dietary supplementation could contribute to mitigating the side effects of these harmful risk factors in modern pig farms.

Factors associated with stunting in under-five children with environmental enteropathy in slum areas of Jimma town, Ethiopia.

Stunting is a major public health issue with a significant influence on the health and development of children in low-income countries, where it affects up to 32% of children. Nutritional intake is impacted by alterations in intestinal permeability and underlying chronic inflammation, which hinder children's normal linear growth. Environmental enteropathy is a poorly understood condition with chronic intestinal inflammation. The purpose of this study was to identify the magnitude of stunting, change in growth, and factors associated with stunting and change in height for the age Z-score of children with an elevated lactulose-to-mannitol ratio. An observational follow-up study was conducted to follow children with an elevated lactulose-to-mannitol ratio for changes in their linear growth. A lactulose-mannitol test was performed to identify children with elevated lactulose-to-mannitol ratios, indicative of environmental enteropathy. After a 1-year follow-up, anthropometry was repeated to assess their linear growth. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent predictors for stunting in children with elevated lactulose-to-mannitol ratios. All tests were two-sided, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. The prevalence of stunting in children with an elevated L:M at baseline and end line was found to be 72.4% (95% CI: 60.3, 84.5) and 78.4% (95% CI: 66.7, 90.2), respectively. In a multivariate analysis, a low dietary diversity score (<4 food groups), presence of flies and insects in the toilet area, poor handwashing practices during a critical time, and MUAC z < -2 were significantly associated with stunting. Flies and insects in the toilet area and unsafe disposal of feces were significantly associated with changes in HAZ in children with elevated lactulose-to-mannitol ratios, an indicator of environmental enteropathy. Most of the children with an elevated lactulose-to-mannitol ratio in the study population were stunted, and no significant change in their linear growth was observed after 1-year follow-up. Therefore, further investigation and urgent intervention are needed to prevent environmental enteropathy and stunting among under-five children in this community who are exposed to very poor sanitary conditions and other risk factors for malnutrition.

Evaluation of Different Techniques in Laboratory Diagnosis of Intestinal Amoebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal protozoan disease that causes amoebiasis, which is a health problem in several developing countries that can lead to 100000 deaths annually. This parasite is the third cause of death in tropical regions with poor sanitary conditions. An essential part of the treatment of patients is the detection of the pathogenic E. histolytica and its differentiation from non-pathogenic Entamoeba spp. Because microscopy and antigen detection techniques are inexpensive and readily available, these techniques are commonly used to diagnose amoebiasis. Rapid tests and different ELISAs for antigen detection are some of the more modern and sensitive methods, and some diagnostic methods are not able to distinguish different species of Entamoeba. Techniques for molecular detection are highly specific and sensitive. However, utilizing molecular methods as the usual diagnostic method becomes difficult due to their high cost in most endemic areas. For the diagnosis of intestinal amoebiasis, there is still a need for highly sensitive and specific tests that are quick and affordable to use, especially in developing countries where this disease is common.

The Concept of Sustainable Eco-Urban Settlement in Yogyakarta Peri-urban Area Regarding to Public Health Prevalence Reduction Efforts

Settlement quality has always been a concern in development issues in Indonesia. Humans as residents who live in a settlement act as subjects and objects in development so the role of humans in the quality of settlements is also closely related. Settlement quality is one of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), more precisely, the 11th goal which aims to make cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The general problem related to the quality of settlements is that most areas still have inadequate quality settlements and the density of existing settlements exceeds the carrying capacity and carrying capacity of the environment. This can affect the decline in environmental quality in these settlements. Diseases that occur due to environmental conditions can occur due to interactions between humans, human behavior, and the environment in which they live that have the potential to transmit disease. Poor residential environmental conditions will increase the risk of environmental-based disease transmission. One of the common environmental-based diseases that occurs in settlements is leptospirosis which is usually caused by poor environmental sanitation conditions and the presence of rats. Poor environmental conditions will indirectly affect the health conditions of residents, such as mothers and children in the house. Poor maternal and child health creates opportunities for stunting to occur. Stunting is a nutritional status outcome that occurs when a child has a height of less than −2.0 standard deviation (SD) compared to the population average.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri alleviates weaned stress by improving immune function and gut microbiota in piglets

Weaned stress may damage the tissue development, barrier function, and balance of microbiota of gut, resulting in the diarrhea and reduced growth performance of piglets. Probiotics with excellent characteristics can enhance the resistance of piglets to weaned stress. Under a poor sanitary condition, the Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) SLZX19-12 was supplemented to check its effects for piglets. Results showed that supplementation of L. reuteri significantly decreased the diarrhea incident, improved the growth performance, and enhanced the barrier integrity of gut. In ileum, L. reuteri decreased inflammation by NFκB p65 pathway, increased propionate, TCDCA, and THDCA contents, and regulated microbiota. In colon, L. reuteri decreased the inflammation by NFκB p65 pathway, reduced DCA content, and regulated microbiota. Therefore, the supplementation of L. reuteri may alleviate weaned stress by improving immune function and regulating the gut microbiota in piglets.

Enteroparasitoses as socioenvironmental indicators in Quilombola communities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The study addresses the presence of enteroparasitoses as a significant problem in quilombo communities, which face unique challenges due to their precarious socio-economic and environmental situation. The central objetive is to investigate the prevalence of these diseases in these communities and to highlight the influence of the socioenvironmental factors in their dissemination. To do so, a systematic and meta-analytical approach was used to examine the prevalence of enteroparasitoses in quilombo communities and their relationship with socioenvironmental factors. The results revealed a significant correlation between the prevalence of enteroparasitoses and factors such as inadequate access to treated water and poor sanitation conditions. However, other socioenvironmental variables, such as the presence of a toilet and the collection of blood, did not show statistically significant correlations with the prevalence of enteroparasitoses.

The role of operative protocols for the prevention of occupational infectious risk on the crime scene.

Crime scenes are possible scenario of accidents for operators, despite those risks the are no operative protocols in literature. However, COVID-19 pandemic has affected in a positive manner the management of infectious risk, encouraging use of Personal protective equipment (PPE). The aim of the study is to deepen and examine the occupational risk of all health professionals involved in the analysis of the crime scene and biological material collection to develop an operational protocol that explains in detail all the strategies applicable to reduce it. We conducted a review of the literature researching among the main databases, such as: PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE introducing as keywords: crime scene, medico-legal investigations, occupational risk, infections. Subsequently, we developed an operational protocol that is currently applied during the activity of the Institute of Forensic Medicine "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro. The crime scene can show numerous dangers for operators, due to the presence of syringes, contaminated biological material or sharps or access to areas with poor hygienic and sanitary conditions. This paper shows various strategies that may be implemented to reduce the risk. The aim of this work is to focus on the occupational risk for operators by proposing an operative protocol showing in detail how to manage a crime scene by reducing the infectious risk for operators until the transfer of the body and the collected evidence to the morgue and to the laboratory.

First molecular detection of Sarcocystis suihominis in a domestic pig of Nigeria.

Sarcocystis are Apicomplexan protozoa with a dixenous life cycle that includes a predator and a prey as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. Domestic and wild pigs are intermediate hosts of S. suihominis, with formation of sarcocysts in their muscles, while humans and non-human primates act as final hosts. After ingesting raw or undercooked sarcocyst-infested pork, signs of gastroenteritis including inappetence, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may develop in humans. Moreover, excretion of infective forms with human feces leads to dissemination of the parasite in the environment. In this study, macroscopic sarcocysts of white color, oval shape, and a diameter of approximately 3-8mm were found in the skeletal muscle of a slaughtered domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) destined for human consumption in an abattoir of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Sarcocyst DNA was used as template to PCR amplify the near-complete length of the 18S rRNA gene and a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox-1) gene. Amplicons were sequenced and used to construct phylogenetic trees with selected available Sarcocystis spp. sequences. In both cases, the placement of the analyzed sequences with S. suihominis was strongly supported, confirming the species identity of this macroscopic sarcocyst-forming parasite. This constitutes the first molecular identification of S. suihominis in Nigeria and the African continent. Proximity between pigs and humans, and poor sanitary conditions frequently encountered in pig farms of Nigeria might favor the dissemination of this zoonotic parasite, posing a threat to public health.

Om språkbruk, generaliseringar och ett besvärligt material

This article deals with narratives from northern Sweden about the Spanish flu pandemic (1918–1920). There are about 50 narratives collected between ca. 1950 and 1980. All of them were elicited in interviews: some were told in interaction with two or more informants, some are told by one informant in interaction with the interviewer, and some are monologues. There are different interviewers. The interviews have not been planned or conducted in a systematic and consistent way, or with a purpose to investigate the informants’ experiences of the Spanish flu. Rather, the main purpose seems to have been to elicit stories about “the old days”. Drawing on linguistic choices from the material as a whole, this article discusses the informants’ notion of the pandemic and their conceptions of etiology. The article concludes that the most conspicuous feature is what is not mentioned by any informant, namely the word influenza. Further, the Spanish flu clearly belongs to a past era that has no resemblance to modern society. It was an era characterized by suffering, poor sanitary conditions and starvation. As well, the article briefly discusses the critique of medical humanities and the study of illness narratives for the lack of systematic analyses and syntheses of how these are constructed in general.

Penile Pearls and Pearling: Characteristics and Social Identity from the Perspective of Forensic Pathologists.

Penile pearls are artificial implants placed beneath the skin of a penis to provide enhanced sexual experience for the partner or present a stigma of a particular social subgroup (e.g., prisoner, member of a gang). This genital modification is usually encountered in men of low socioeconomic status and prisoners who might (self) implant improvised pearls under poor sanitary conditions. We have only recently started to encounter penile pearls on autopsy, incidentally. The aim of this study was to analyze our autopsy cases with penile pearls to assess the characteristics of these subjects regarding their socioeconomic status, history of imprisonment, substance abuse, as well as the characteristics of implants. Nineteen men were included. Most were born in the 1970s and 1980s, with only elementary/vocational school education (n = 10). Only five men graduated from high school. At least 14 were in prison at some point in life and 13 were unemployed. Ten men were unmarried. In 11 men, regular alcohol consumption was reported. 12 used illicit substances, most with a history of heroin injection. Penile pearls were improvised and made of rigid plastic in 10 men, eight were of soft silicone-like material, and one was of metal. A distinct characteristic was a ribbed contour of some implants. Although this genital modification seems to gain more attention outside of described vulnerable groups, it mostly remains limited to them in our region. It is most likely performed in improvised, non-professional, unsanitary conditions, probably in prisons.

Size matters: lower body weight pigs have a different response to immune challenge and amino acids supplementation above the estimated requirement compared to heavy pigs.

The immune response varies between pigs, as not all pigs have the same response to a stressor. This variation may exist between individuals due to body weight (BW) or body composition, which may impact the capacity for coping with an immune challenge (IC). Tryptophan (Trp), threonine (Thr), and methionine (Met) requirements might also play a considerable part in supporting immune system activation while reducing variation between pigs; however, the latter has yet to be reported. This exploratory study investigated the effect of initial BW (light vs. heavy-weight) and supplementation of Trp, Thr, and Met above National Research Council (NRC) requirements on feeding behavior and the coping capacity of growing pigs under an IC. Eighty gilts were categorized into 2 groups according to BW: light-weight (LW, 22.5kg) and heavy-weight pigs (HW, 28.5kg). Both BW groups were group-housed for a 28-d trial in a good or poor sanitary condition (SC). Pigs within a poor SC were orally inoculated with 2 × 109 colony units of Salmonella Typhimurium, and fresh manure from a pig farm was spread on the floor. Pigs within good SC were not inoculated, nor was manure spread. Two diets were provided within each SC: control (CN) or supplemented (AA+) with Trp, Thr, and Met at 120% of NRC recommended levels. A principal component analysis was performed in R, and a feeding behavior index was calculated in SAS. Results showed that LW and HW pigs were clustered separately on day 0, where LW pigs had a positive correlation with body lipid percentage (r = 0.83), and HW pigs had a positive correlation with body protein percentage (r = 0.75). After the IC, the cluster configuration changed, with diets influencing LW more than HW pigs within poor SC. On day 14, LW fed AA + diet in poor SC was clustered separately from LW pigs fed CN diet, whereas LW fed AA + and CN diets in good SC were clustered together. For feeding behavior, in both analyzed periods (period 1: days 7 to 14; period 2: days 21 to 28), LW had lower total feed intake and shorter meals than HW pigs (P < 0.10), independent of the SC. Furthermore, LW pigs fed AA + diet had a more regular feed intake pattern than those fed CN diet, while a more irregular pattern was observed for HW pigs fed AA + diet than CN diet at period 2. These findings suggest that supplementing Trp, Thr, and Met above requirements may be a nutritional strategy for LW pigs under IC by improving feed intake regularity and reducing the probability of being susceptible to IC.

Monitoring of Some Food Poisoning Bacteria in Smoked and Cured Meat Products

The aim of this study is to estimate the presence of some food poisoning bacteria in smoked and cured meat products. This study was carried-out on a total of 120 samples of smoked and cured meat products. That includes (Smoked frankfurter, pasterma. Smoked Turkish meat and Oriental sausage) (30 samples of each) were randomly collected from supermarkets in different localities at Alexandria governorate. The total weight of each sample was about 500 gm. The samples were transferred Aseptically with a minimum of delay to the laboratory in an icebox for further examination to ensure that the samples were apparently fit for human consumption. The results indicated that, the higher level of Aerobic bacterial count observed in smoked frankfurter that was 7.35 X 10 6 followed by oriental sausage that was 1.20 X 10 6 and in pasterma was 1.18 X 10 6 and the lower MAC observed in smoked Turkish meat that was 0.59 X 10 6 cfu/g, respectively. Also, the higher level of psychrotrophic bacterial counts observed in smoked frankfurter that was 7.66 X 10 8 followed by smoked Turkish meat that was 0.55 X 10. while, the Enterobacteriaceae counts showed that, the higher level of enterobacteriaeceae counts observed in pasterma that was 2.46 X 10 4 followed by smoked frankfurter that was 1.62 X 10 4 . The higher level of E. coli counts observed in pasterma that was 8.29 X 10 4 followed by smoked Turkish meat that was 3.58 X 10 4 cfu/g. In smoked frankfurter the higher incidences of E. coli observed in serotypes of EHEC 2 (6.67 %), EPEC 2 (6.67 %), O113 that was 2 (6.67),. While, in pasterma the higher incidences of E. coli observed in serotypes of O113 that was 6 (20 %), O124 that was 3 (10 %), O125 that was 3 (10 %). While,in smoked Turkish meat observed in serotypes of ETEC 1 (3.33 %), O113 that was 2 (6.67 %). While, the higher incidences of E. coli serotypes in Oriental sausage observed in serotypes of O56 that was 6 (20 %), O113 that was 3 (10 %). The higher level of Salmonella serotypes observed in pasterma were S. Enter 5 (16.67 %), S. Tsavi 4 (13.33 %), S. Haifa 3 (10 %), S. Ingind 3 (10 %) and S. Ingan 2(6.67 %). While, its level in smoked turkish meat the higher serotypes observed in S. Haifa 4 (13.33 %), S. Tsavi 4 (13.33 %), S. Enter 3 (10 %), S. Typhi 3 (10 %) and S. Ingind 3 (10 %). The higher level of S. aureus counts observed in smoked frankfurter that was 7.83 X 10 4 followed by pasterma that was 1.24 X 10 4. While, in pasterma were S. epidermidis 6 (20 %), S. homini 4 (13.33 %) . While, in Smoked frankfurter it was in S. aureus 3 (10 %), S. epidermidis 3 (10 %) and in S. and in Oriental sausage in S. aureus 3 (10 %), S. epidermidis 2 (6.67 %). While, in smoked Turkish meat , the higher Stap. Serotypes were S. aureus that was 4 (13.33 %). The higher level of Enterococci serotypes observd in Smoked frankfurter it was in Ent. Facium 7 (23.33 %), Ent. Faecal 6 (20 %), while, in Pasterma were E. facium 5 (16.67 %) and En. Faaecal 8 (26.66 %). While, in smoked Turkish meat , the higher Enterococci serotype is the Ent. Faecal 6 (20 %) and Ent. Facium 2 (6.66%) Our results concluded that, through the examined samples of cured meat and meat products as smoked frankfurter, pasterma, smoked Turkish meat and oriental sausage give an idea about sanity measures given during all the steps of processing and production of such products and which to be said that it is of high number of total microbial count present it is of poor sanitary conditions. Thus, to improve the quality of meat and meat products and to prevent consumers from doing ill, control programs to reduce diseases in beef production farms and production of disease-free primary herds by regular vaccination and correct treatment to avoid pathogens and antibiotic resistant pathogens by using nature constituents and feed additives.

Influence of tides on the dissemination and related health risks of intestinal helminths along the Kribi beaches (Atlantic Coast, Southern Cameroon).

Kribi is a seaside town that welcomes thousands of tourists each year. However, the poor sanitation condition of its beaches along the Atlantic coast is not without risk for visitors. In this study, we used the formol-ether concentration technique to identify and quantify larvae or eggs of intestinal helminths in waters of three regularly visited Kribi beaches (Mpalla, Ngoyè, and Mboamanga). Results revealed that all identified larvae and eggs were cestodes (Hymenolepis nana) and nematodes (Strongyloides sp., Ascaris sp., Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura). All the helminth eggs and larvae showed high abundance at low tide during rainy seasons. Ancylostoma duodenale eggs, totally absent at Mpalla, were densely present at low tide at Ngoyè (301 ± 15 eggs/L). Trichuris trichiura eggs showed the lowest abundance (0 to 62 eggs/L) at all sites. Abiotic variables indicated that waters at the various beaches were basic (pH: 8.75-9.77), generally warmer (32.44°C at Mpalla in the Short Rainy Season), more oxygenated at low tide, and moderately mineralized at high tide. Positive and significant correlations were observed at Ngoyè at low tide between Strongyloides sp. larvae and dissolved oxygen (P ˂ 0.05); and between Ancylostoma duodenale eggs and temperature (P ˂ 0.05). The overall results indicated that the beaches studied are subjected to fecal pollution. This pollution is more accentuated during low tides than during high tides. Depending on tidal movements, swimmers risk exposure to helminth eggs and larvae known to be responsible for gastroenteritis.

Disseminated cysticercosis in humans

AbstractHuman cysticercosis, caused by the parasitic infection of Taenia Solium, is an important challenge for public health in Ecuador and other countries where poor sanitary conditions are a key factor for its appearance. In this series of cases, we publish the imaging findings corresponding to three patients treated in 2022 at the Center of Medical Specialties “Comité del Pueblo” Quito - Ecuador, in which, through radiographic images, multiple radiodense lesions were found in different anatomical regions which follow the typical pattern of distribution parallel to the muscular tissues of the affected region, generating the radiological sign known as “rice grain calcifications”, which corresponds to the presence of Disseminated Cysticercosis (DCC)in the muscular tissue of the host.

Factors Associated With Personal Hygiene and Sanitation Behavior of Food Handlers

&lt;p class="Normal1"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;Food and drink are the most important necessities of life and can potentially be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. One factor that influences food quality is the behaviour of food handlers in implementing personal hygiene and food sanitation. Several food handlers in Pengging Boyolali Square do not use aprons orneed to wash their hands when processing food ingredients. Vegetables, fish, shrimp and other food ingredients that will be cooked are not washed in running water, and there are still places to eat with poor hygiene and sanitation conditions. This research aims to determine the factors related to food handlers' personal hygiene and sanitation behaviour. This research is an analytical survey research using a cross-sectional study. This research will be conducted at Pengging Boyolali Field from September to October 2023. The population of this research is 100 food handlers with 80 samples. The research instrument uses a questionnaire through interviews and observations. Data analysis used bivariate analysis with the Chi-Square test. The results of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between knowledge and the personal hygiene and sanitation behaviour of food handlers (p-value=0.000; OR=7.792; 95%CI=2.403 – 25.777), there was a significant relationship between attitude towards personal hygiene and sanitation behaviour of food handlers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;p-value=0.001; OR=6.548; 95%CI=2.098–20.431), and there is a significant relationship between work experience and personal hygiene and sanitation behaviour of food handlers (p-value=0.042; OR=2.886; 95%CI= 1,081–8,175). It is recommended that food handlers wear aprons and footwear when serving food and when processing food.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="Normal1"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;Keywords: Attitude,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;Knowledge, Personal &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;h&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;ygiene,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;Sanitation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;Work &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;p&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;eriod&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;

How can machine learning predict cholera: insights from experiments and design science for action research.

Cholera is a leading cause of mortality in Nigeria. The two most significant predictors of cholera are a lack of access to clean water and poor sanitary conditions. Other factors such as natural disasters, illiteracy, and internal conflicts that drive people to seek sanctuary in refugee camps may contribute to the spread of cholera in Nigeria. The aim of this research is to develop a cholera outbreak risk prediction (CORP) model using machine learning tools and data science. In this study, we developed a CORP model using design science perspectives and machine learning to detect cholera outbreaks in Nigeria. Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) was used for dimensionality reduction, and synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) was used for data balancing. Outliers were detected using density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) were removed improving the overall performance of the model, and the extreme-gradient boost algorithm was used for prediction. The findings revealed that the CORP model outcomes resulted in the best accuracy of 99.62%, Matthews's correlation coefficient of 0.976, and area under the curve of 99.2%, which were improved compared with the previous findings. The developed model can be helpful to healthcare providers in predicting possible cholera outbreaks.

FioSchisto's expert perspective on implementing WHO guidelines for schistosomiasis control and transmission elimination in Brazil.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes schistosomiasis as one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases targeted for global elimination in the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. In Brazil, schistosomiasis mansoni is considered a public health problem, particularly prevalent among vulnerable populations living in areas with poor environmental and sanitary conditions. In 2022, the WHO published a Guideline encompassing recommendations to assist national programs in endemic countries in achieving morbidity control, eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem, and advancing towards interrupting transmission. The perspectives presented here, collectively prepared by members of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation's (Fiocruz) Schistosomiasis Translational Program (FioSchisto), along with invited experts, examine the feasibility of the WHO recommendations for the Brazilian settings, providing appropriate recommendations for public health policies applicable to the epidemiological reality of Brazil, and suggests future research to address relevant issues. In Brazil, the provision of safe water and sanitation should be the key action to achieve schistosomiasis elimination goals. The agencies involved in measures implementation should act together with the Primary Care teams for planning, executing, monitoring, and evaluating actions in priority municipalities based on their epidemiological indicators. Host snails control should prioritize judicious ecological interventions at breeding sites. The Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) strategy should be associated with water and sanitation and other control actions, actively involving school community. To identify infected carriers, FioSchisto recommends a two-stage approach of immunological and molecular tests to verify transmission interruption during the intervention and beyond. Praziquantel administration should be done under medical supervision at the Primary Care level. MDA should be considered in exceptional settings, as a measure of initial attack strategy in locations presenting high endemicity, always integrated with water and sanitation, IEC, and snail control. To assist decision-making, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of strategic actions, there is a need for an Information System. FioSchisto considers this systematization essential to make investments in strategic research to support the improvement of schistosomiasis control actions. Efforts toward schistosomiasis elimination in Brazil will succeed with a paradigm shift from the vertical prescriptive framework to a community-centered approach involving intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration.