Potential Public Health Risk Research Articles

Exploring the role of wastewater-based epidemiology in understanding tuberculosis burdens in Africa

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a persistent challenge to public health and presents a substantial menace, especially in developing nations of sub-Saharan Africa. It exerts a considerable strain on healthcare systems in these regions. Effective control requires reliable surveillance, which can be improved by incorporating environmental data alongside clinical data. Molecular advances have led to the development of alternative surveillance methods, such as wastewater-based epidemiology. This studyinvestigated the presence, concentration, and diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, the cause of TB, in from six African countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, and South Africa. Samples were collected from wastewater treatment plants. All samples were found to contain Mycobacterium species that have been linked to TB in both humans and animals, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, and Mycobacterium caprae, at varying concentrations. The highest median concentration was found in Ghana, reaching up to 4.7 Log copies/ml for MTBC, 4.6 Log copies/ml for M. bovis, and 3.4 Log copies/ml for M. africanum. The presence of M. africanum outside of West Africa was found in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda and could indicate the spread of the pathogen. The study underscores the usefulness of wastewater-based epidemiology for tracking TB and shows that even treated wastewater may contain these pathogens, posing potential public health risks.

Yersinia pestis and plague in the 21st century: learning from a distant past

Plague is an often fulminant and fatal disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis. Three major historical plague pandemics have heavily influenced human societies, and recent evidence demonstrates that plague has also influenced human biology. Plague is still endemic in several continents and remains a potential public health risk. In this article, we examine the current situation of plague around the world and the different players that participate in plague ecosystems. We discuss in particular the recent research that allows us to understand plague in pre-historical times, as well as how past pandemics have modulated the evolution of human immune genes. We also highlight future challenges that await us in the study of this deadly but fascinating disease.

Enumeration, antimicrobial resistance and genomic characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing Escherichia coli from supermarket chicken meat in the United Arab Emirates

The occurrence and counts of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in retail chicken sold in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were investigated in this study. Results indicated that 79.68 % of chicken carcasses (251/315) sampled from UAE supermarkets harbored ESBL-producing E. coli. About half (51.75 % [163/315]) of the tested samples had an ESBL-producing E. coli count range between ≥3 log10 and < 5 log10 CFU/g. The antimicrobial resistance profiles of a subset of 100 isolates showed high rates of non-susceptibility to clinically significant antibiotics, particularly ciprofloxacin (80 %) and cefepime (46 %). Moreover, 7 % of the isolates exhibited resistance to colistin, with PCR-based screening revealing the presence of the mcr-1 gene in all colistin-resistant isolates. Multiplex PCR screening identified blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes as the most frequently presented genes among the phenotypically confirmed ESBL-producing E. coli. Further whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of 27 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates showed that the gene family blaCTX group 1 was the most prevalent, notably CTX-M-55 (55.55 % [15/27]), followed by CTX-M-15 (22.22 % [6/27]). The most common sequence types (STs) were ST359 and ST1011, with three evident clusters identified based on phylogenomic analysis, aligned with isolates from specific production companies. Analysis of plasmid incompatibility types revealed IncFIB, IncFII, Incl2, and IncX1 as the most commonly featured plasmids. The findings of this study indicate a noticeable prevalence and high counts of ESBL-producing E. coli in chicken sampled from supermarkets in the UAE. The high rates of antimicrobial resistance to clinically important antibiotics highlight the potential public health risk associated with consuming chicken contaminated with ESBL-producing E. coli. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of continued antimicrobial resistance monitoring in the UAE food chain and calls for further exposure risk assessment of the consumption of ESBL-producing E. coli via chicken meat.

Determination of Aflatoxin M1 levels in Turkish cheeses provided from different regions of Turkey

Hygienic quality is a very important problem in milk and dairy products. Aflatoxins are produced by moulds, and it is known that the Aflatoxin M1 type, which can be found in milk and dairy products, is a potential risk for public health. In this study, the presence of Aflatoxin M1 in white and Tulum cheese samples collected from three different provinces of Turkey (Burdur, Bursa, and Elazig) was investigated with the ELISA method. 42 white and 42 Tulum cheese samples (total 84) were analyzed, and the samples were evaluated in terms of their compliance with the limits of the Turkish Food Codex. According to the results; 34 (40.47 %) of 84 cheese samples were contaminated with Aflatoxin M1, ranging from 250 to 559 ng/kg. Fifty (59.52 %) cheese samples were found below the detection limit, meaning they are negative in terms of Aflatoxin M1 and do not pose a risk. On the other hand, 2 samples (2.38 %) were over the tolerance limit of the Turkish Food Codex. Also, the incidence of Aflatoxin M1 in white cheeses was 35.71 % and 45.23 % in Tulum cheeses. Although it is not much above the legal limit, Aflatoxin M1 contamination in cheese may reduce the food quality and adversely affect human health. Therefore, it should be treated more carefully in the production of milk and dairy products. In addition, quality feeds should be used in the feeding of dairy animals.

Comparative analysis of prevention and control measures toward COVID-19 epidemic between Shanghai and Beijing.

By serving and providing a guide for other regional places, this study aims to advance and guide the epidemic prevention and control methods, and practices and strengthen people's ability to respond to COVID-19 and other future potential public health risks. A comparative analysis was conducted that the COVID-19 epidemic development trend and prevention and control effects both in Beijing and Shanghai. In fact, regarding the COVID-19 policy and strategic areas, the differences between governmental, social, and professional management were discussed and explored. To prevent and be ready for potential pandemics, experience and knowledge were used and summarized. The strong attack of the Omicron variant in early 2022 has posed challenges to epidemic prevention and control practices in many Chinese cities. Shanghai, which had achieved relatively good performance in the fight against the epidemic, has exposed limitations in its epidemic prevention and control system in the face of Omicron. In fact, the city of Beijing has undertaken prompt and severe lockdown measures and achieved rather good results in epidemic prevention and control because of learning from Shanghai's experience and lessons; adhering to the overall concept of "dynamic clearing," implementing precise prevention and monitoring, enhancing community control, and making emergency plans and preparations. All these actions and measures are still essential in the shift from pandemic response to pandemic control. Different places have introduced different urgent policies to control the spread of the pandemic. Strategies to control COVID-19 have often been based on preliminary and limited data and have tended to be slow to evolve as new evidence emerges. Hence, the effects of these anti-epidemic policies need to be further tested.

MALDI-TOF MS-based identification and antibiotics profiling of Salmonella species isolated from retail chilled chicken in Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesSalmonella is a well-known foodborne pathogen that is spread around the world. It causes diseases both in animals and humans. The development of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains results in the failure of formerly effective drugs in humans and animals and poses a serious threat to world health. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the rise in Salmonella prevalence in poultry is seen as a serious problem. Saudi Arabia has endured several epidemics of Salmonella infections with varied patterns of drug resistance in the last few decades. MethodsA total of 112 chilled chicken carcass of five different local poultry companies were procured from retail outlets in Jeddah. The ISO 6579:2002 standard was followed to isolate and identify Salmonella. The isolates were identified using cultural and biochemical features and were further confirmed using (MALDI-TOF MS). Antibiotic susceptibility for each Salmonella isolate was determined using the automated MicroScan WalkAway plus System. ResultsOut of the 112 samples, 35 (31.25%) samples harboured Salmonella spp. According to MALDI-TOF MS identification, 34 isolates were recognized as S. Typhimurium or S. Enteritidis with high confidence levels (log (score) values between 2.00 and 3.00), while one isolate was characterized as a Salmonella sp. with a low confidence level (log (score) < 2.00). The antibiotic sensitivity pattern demonstrated resistance to fluoroquinolones, cephalosporin, and penicillin, however, carbapenem was effective against all the isolated Salmonella spp. Out of the 35 isolates, 23 (65.71%) isolates resisted three or more than three different antibiotics and thus were regarded as multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicated the presence of MDR Salmonella species in chilled chicken marketed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which highlights potential public health risks. Accordingly, a thorough investigation of the veterinary service, safety and hygienic system of poultry industry, as well as vendors is needed to safeguard the consumer health.

Click, click, buy: The market for novel synthetic peptide hormones on mainstream e-commerce platforms in the UK

In recent years there has been an increasing focus on the potential public health risks attached to human enhancement drugs (HEDs). While much work has explored the use and supply of HEDs, the market for these compounds is constantly evolving, with new substances being created and sold, and access becoming increasingly simplified through digital platforms. However, one area that has yet to receive scholarly attention is the availability of ‘grey market’ novel synthetic peptide hormones (SPH) through sellers on the mainstream e-commerce platforms Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba. This commentary piece therefore sets out to uncover this burgeoning corner of the broader HEDs trade in the UK market.Findings indicate that SPH are readily accessible over these e-commerce sites, with sellers evading restrictions by claiming that the substances are ‘not for human consumption’ or ‘for research only’, while simultaneously advertising their products as wellbeing supplements. Labelling practices are further identified as a point of concern, since packaging is not necessarily reflective of product quality or true location of origin. Finally, discussion centres on the enhanced legitimacy offered by selling through mainstream sites like Amazon, the capacity for counterfeiting and misrepresentation, and the public health implications of this substantial grey market.

Monitoring of Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Air Pollution in Enugu Urban using Remote Sensing and GIS

Ambient air pollution is widely acknowledged to be the worst type of environmental pollution. The amount of air pollution varies from time to time and from region to region. The spatiotemporal distribution of air pollutants in the city of Enugu was investigated in this study. Due to the high concentration of industrial clusters, heavy traffic and increasing population density in the study area, notable places were purposely sampled during the hours of 8a.m. and 4p.m. A portable gas analyzer, the Aerocet-531 Met One Instrument, Drager X-am 5000, was used to quantify the amounts of PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, and NO2. The GPS coordinates of the sampling spots were recorded using the portable Germin-300 Global Positioning System (GPS) device analyzer, which aided in the data processing to create spatial interpolation maps in ArcMap. GIS and remote sensing methods were utilized to analyze the spatial distribution of contaminants using satellite images. ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine were used to analyze the identification of pollution sources, the geographical distribution of pollutants in connection to land use and the epidemiological scope of pollutants from sources. The approaches employed to get the findings included image categorization, proximity, intersection, and interpolation. It was determined that there was a correlation between the landuse density and the levels of NO2, SO2, CO, PM2.5, and PM10. Within 100m – 400m of major roadways, correlation values were highest, indicating a high risk of vulnerability in this area. The maximum values for PM2.5 and PM10 were 1.78μg/m3 and 205μg/m3 respectively during the dry season and 2.13μg/m3 and 184μg/m3 during the wet weather. Similarly, the minimum values for PM2.5 and PM10 are 0.25μg/m3 and 161μg/m3 respectively during the dry season and 0.45μg/m3 and 132μg/m3 during the wet weather. The study further shows that the range values of SO2, NO2, and CO during the dry season are between 0.71 to 1.98ppb, 0.72 to 1.96ppb and 9.21 to 18.04ppb respectively while ranges of 0.45 to 1.73ppb, 0.31 to 0.89ppb, and 7.94 to 12.56ppb were recorded during the wet season. The study concluded that the high levels of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO in the study area monitored especially in the dry season may present a potential public health risk. Sequel to this, it is advised that the study area should reduce their exposure in light of this, especially during the dry season.

A Molecular Investigation of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase genes in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in raw cow Milk

Objective: Raw milk is an important source of nutrients. Therefore, today, there is a great demand for raw milk consumption. The positive side of milk consumption on growth and development cannot be ignored, but unfortunately, pathogens in raw milk are always potential public health risks for transmission pathogens. Bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae in normal flora can cause serious problems due to their extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. These bacteria and their resistance genes have been reported in raw milk. In this matter, the aim of the study is to determine the status of blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, blaTEM, and blaSHV genes responsible for the production of ESBL enzyme in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. strains to identify risk factors in raw milk consumption and to gain an understanding of the epidemiology of these resistant strains. &#x0D; Materials and methods: A total of different 50 raw milk samples were collected and subjected to phenotypic microbiological analysis and Real-time PCR targeting blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, blaTEM, and blaSHV genes. In the phenotypic analyses, suspicious isolates were identified by classical microbiological methods and antibiotic resistance profiles were revealed. &#x0D; Results: These results indicated that raw milk is a potential reservoir for ESBL producing E. Coli, Klebsiella spp. strains are obviously significant. And It was determined that CTX-M based ESBL genes are predominant in ESBL production. The present study revealed that raw milk is epidemiologically involved in the transmission of ESBL genes. Raw milk could be distributed to ESBL genes widely with which is consumed in Şanlı Urfa.

Burkholderia thailandensis Isolated from the Environment, United States.

Burkholderia thailandensis, an opportunistic pathogen found in the environment, is a bacterium closely related to B. pseudomallei, the cause of melioidosis. Human B. thailandensis infections are uncommon. We isolated B. thailandensis from water in Texas and Puerto Rico and soil in Mississippi in the United States, demonstrating a potential public health risk.

Quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli at the interface between humans, poultry and their shared environment- a potential public health risk

BackgroundCommensal Escherichia coli residing in the guts of humans and animals are reservoirs of multidrug resistance (MDR) genes, including quinolone resistance genes, in humans and poultry. This study aimed to characterize quinolones resistance in E. coli recovered from poultry workers, chickens, and poultry farm/market environments in Abuja, Nigeria.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted between December 2018 and April 2019 comprising poultry workers, chickens and their poultry farm/market environments. This study characterized E. coli isolates from stool, faecal and environmental samples using antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing methods. Core-genome multilocus sequences-based phylogeny was used to determine the relatedness between quinolone-resistant E. coli isolates. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsOf 110 E. coli isolates, quinolone-resistant phenotypes were observed in 68.2% (n = 75) isolates. Whole-genome sequencing detected plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in 63.6% (n = 70) isolates. The most prevalent PMQR gene detected in 56 of these 70 E. coli isolates was qnrS1, followed by qnrB19 in 14 isolates and aac(6’)-lb-cr in two isolates. Fifteen ciprofloxacin and 19 nalidixic acid-resistant isolates respectively showed double mutations in the quinolone-resistance determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA, with single or double mutations in parC, and a single mutation in parE. The most prevalent amino-acid substitutions observed were S83L + D87N in gyrA (46.5%, n = 20), S80I in parC (51.2%, n = 22) and S458A in parE (14%, n = 6). About 2.9% (2/70) of PMQR isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers while 2.9% (2/70) had plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (PMCR) genes.ConclusionsPMQR genes were prevalent in E. coli isolates recovered from healthy humans, chickens and poultry farm/market environments. PMCR genes (mcr-1.1) occurred in PMQR-positive isolates recovered from manure and drinking water originating from poultry farm/market environments. It was found that the gene encoding ESBL coexisted with qnrS-positive isolates of human and avian origin. Horizontal transfer of PMQR genes among E. coli isolates in the human-poultry-environment interface has public health implications for the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Relevant government agencies should enforce regulations to restrict the use of critically important antimicrobials in poultry production.

Mitigating potential public health risks and challenges from hazardous materials contained in electronic waste items in a developing country setting.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Targets 12.4 and 3.9 aim to reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and to achieve environmentally friendly management of chemical and wastes. Electronic wastes, which contain hazardous chemicals, are rapidly generated in poor countries due to demand for affordable near-end-of-life internet-enabled gadgets that soon wear out and are improperly disposed due to ignorance, throw-away mentality and dearth of waste management infrastructure. This study identified hazardous chemicals contained in significant quantities in e-waste items, described their public health challenges and suggested mitigation measures. Results showed that mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cadmium, lead and beryllium oxide were hazardous chemicals contained in significant quantities in e-waste items. The study recommended the formulation of appropriate environmental health education technology policy (AEHETP) to guide stakeholders to design education, preventive, therapeutic and decontamination plans for awareness creation and raising to address the toxic effects of e-waste items on users in poor countries.

Human pathogens in ticks removed from humans in Hebei, China

Ticks are the hosts or vectors of many human pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa, and can transmit these causative agents to humans when feeding on human bodies. In this study, 26 ticks removed from humans in Hebei, China were tested for the presence of human-pathogenic microorganisms by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Reversed Transcript PCR (RT-PCR). As a result, 11 ticks tested positive for at least one human pathogen. Specifically, four validated human pathogens, including Rickettsia raoultii, Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae, Babesia venatorum, and Borrelia garinii, as well as Anaplasma ovis with zoonotic potential, were identified in Ixodes persulcatus, Dermacentor silvarum and Haemaphysalis concinna. Importantly, this is the first report of Anaplasma and Babesia species pathogenic to humans in Hebei province. Moreover, the co-infections, including double infection and quadruple infection were observed. In addition, Candidatus R. principis with unknown pathogenicity was identified in one tick, which may be the same species as Candidatus R. hongyuanensis based on the nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analysis. Concluding, four validated tick-borne pathogens and one with zoonotic potential were identified in ticks parasitizing humans, suggesting the potential high public health risk in the local human population.

Heavy metals in unrecorded Albanian rakia: A pilot study on a potential public health risk

Unrecorded alcohol has been linked to illness above and beyond that caused by ethanol alone because of the presence of toxic contaminants. While it can be found in all countries, consumption is high in Albania, where it is frequently consumed as a fruit brandy known as rakia. Among the contaminants identified previously in such products, metals including lead have been detected at levels posing a risk to health but there is little information on their presence in rakia. To fill this gap, we measured the level of ethanol and 24 elements among them toxic metals in 30 Albanian rakia samples. We found that 63.3% of rakia samples had ethanol concentration above 40% v/v. We also showed that there was a significant difference between the measured [mean: 46.7% v/v, interquartile range (IQR): 43.4–52.1% v/v] and reported (mean: 18.9% v/v, IQR: 17.0–20.0% v/v) concentrations of ethanol in rakia. Among the metals detected, aluminium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc were present in rakia samples at concentrations ranging between 0.013 and 0.866 mg/l of pure alcohol (pa), 0.025–31.629 mg/l of pa, 0.004–1.173 mg/l of pa, 0.185–45.244 mg/l of pa, 0.044–1.337 mg/l of pa, and 0.004–10.156 mg/l of pa, respectively. Copper and lead were found to be the greatest concern posing a potential public health risk. Although the estimated daily intake of these heavy metals from unrecorded rakia was below their toxicological threshold, the concentrations of lead and copper exceeded their limit value of 0.2 and 2.0 mg/l of pa specified for spirits in 33% and 90% of samples, respectively. Therefore, the possibility of adverse health effects cannot be excluded completely. Our findings highlight the need for action by policymakers against the risks posed by these products in Albania.

Geographical distribution of Ixodes persulcatus and associated pathogens: Analysis of integrated data from a China field survey and global published data

The increasing incidence and range expansion of tick-borne diseases have caused global threats to human and animal health under the background of climate and socioeconomic changes. As an efficient vector in transmission of tick-borne diseases, a growing burden caused by Ixodes persulcatus and associated pathogens could not be underestimated. This study summarized the distribution, hosts, and pathogens of I. persulcatus, and predicted the suitable habitats of this tick species worldwide. An integrated database involving a field survey, reference book, literature review, and related website was constructed. Location records of I. persulcatus and associated pathogens were incorporated into distribution maps using ArcGIS software. Positive rates for I. persulcatus-associated agents were estimated by meta-analysis. The global distribution of the tick species was predicted using Maxent model. I. persulcatus was distributed in 14 countries across the Eurasian continent, involving Russia, China, Japan, and several Baltic Sea states, which ranged between 21°N to 66°N. The tick species fed on 46 species of hosts, and 51 tick-borne agents could be harbored by I. persulcatus. The predictive model showed that I. persulcatus could be predominantly distributed in northern Europe, western Russia, and northern China. Our study fully clarified the potential public health risks posed by I. persulcatus and I. persulcatus-borne pathogens. Surveillance and control measures of tick-borne diseases should be enhanced to promote the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems.

Public Health Significance of Veterinary Drug Residue in Food Animal Products - A Review

The objective of this review paper was to investigate the public health significance of veterinary drug residues in food of animal origin. Data were collected by means of the search engine and all relevant journals published between 2019 and 2022 and stocked under Google Scholar were retrieved for analysis. The use of veterinary medications in animals that produce food has the potential to leave residues in animal-derived products (meat, milk, eggs and honey), which puts the consumer's health at risk. The inability to follow the withdrawal period and incorrect drug use are the most likely causes of drug residues. The development of antimicrobial drug resistance, hypersensitivity reaction, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity and alteration of intestine natural flora are the main public health implications of drug residue. The frequent application of tandem or high-resolution mass spectrometry along with liquid chromatography has greatly enhanced analytical methods for residue analysis. This advancement made it possible to quickly conduct targeted searches for hundreds of target compounds in complicated matrices like milk, eggs, honey, or meat and organs after slaughter. Reduction of antimicrobial drug resistance problem has been indicated as one of the most challenging issues related to food safety in the forthcoming years. There is little data available on the extent of veterinary drug residue globally. Therefore, a significant amount of work must be done to assess the scope of the issue, prevent the occurrence of veterinary drug residues and to familiarize animal health professionals with the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicological effects of veterinary drugs in order to reduce the potential public health risk posed by drug residues in food derived from animals.

Molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile in companion animals: Genetic overlap with human strains and public health concerns.

The changing epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile reflects a well-established and intricate community transmission network. With rising numbers of reported community-acquired infections, recent studies tried to identify the role played by non-human reservoirs in the pathogen's transmission chain. This study aimed at describing the C. difficile strains circulating in canine and feline populations, and to evaluate their genetic overlap with human strains to assess the possibility of interspecies transmission. Fecal samples from dogs (n = 335) and cats (n = 140) were collected from two populations (group A and group B) in Portugal. C. difficile isolates were characterized for toxigenic profile and PCR-ribotyping. The presence of genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance was assessed in all phenotypically resistant isolates. To evaluate the genetic overlap between companion animals and human isolates from Portugal, RT106 (n = 42) and RT014/020 (n = 41) strains from both sources were subjected to whole genome sequencing and integrated with previously sequenced RT106 (n = 43) and RT014/020 (n = 142) genomes from different countries. The genetic overlap was assessed based on core-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using a threshold of 2 SNP. The overall positivity rate for C. difficile was 26% (76/292) in group A and 18.6% (34/183) in group B. Toxigenic strains accounted for 50% (38/76) and 52.9% (18/34) of animal carriage rates, respectively. The most prevalent ribotypes (RT) were the toxigenic RT106 and RT014/020, and the non-toxigenic RT010 and RT009. Antimicrobial resistance was found for clindamycin (27.9%), metronidazole (17.1%) and moxifloxacin (12.4%), associated with the presence of the ermB gene, the pCD-METRO plasmid and point mutations in the gyrA gene, respectively. Both RT106 and RT014/020 genetic analysis revealed several clusters integrating isolates from animal and human sources, supporting the possibility of clonal interspecies transmission or a shared environmental contamination source. This study shows that companion animals may constitute a source of infection of toxigenic and antimicrobial resistant human associated C. difficile isolates. Additionally, it contributes with important data on the genetic proximity between C. difficile isolates from both sources, adding new information to guide future work on the role of animal reservoirs in the establishment of community associated transmission networks and alerting for potential public health risk.

Antimicrobial resistance of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli isolated from sheep

The presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and resistance to beta-lactams in healthy sheep represents a potential public health risk. This study aimed to characterize STEC isolates in sheep feces for toxin production and resistance to beta lactam antibiotics. In the present study, among the 40 isolates, we found a predominance of subtype Stx1 (22/40), followed by subtype Stx1 + Stx2 (11/40), while the less prevalent group was Stx2 (7/40). Also, we found phenotypical resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in 50% (20/40) of the strains analyzed, forming two groups, one with resistant isolates and the other with non-resistant isolates. The cytotoxicity of the isolates did not vary among the groups. In addition to having this characteristic, some multiresistant isolates produced significant amounts of toxins. This leads to the conclusion that the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance via beta lactamases are present in sheep STEC and that the cytotoxicity of those isolates is variable regarding such resistance.

Assessment of ambient air quality in areas influenced by fuel and energy enterprises to provide environmental safety of the population

The article provides the spatial-dynamic and structural hygienic assessment of influence exerted by fuel and energy enterprises on ambient air quality and potential public health risks in the Russian Federation. An average potential health risk level (Rlav) equaled 5.44∙10-4 per one economic entity operating in the ‘Electrical power, gas and steam supply; air conditioning’ branch in the RF as a whole. In the RF regions, the highest potential health risk level per one economic entity was identified in the Siberian Federal District where it equaled 9.9∙10-4. According to the Register, the exposure level (Mi) established for economic entities operating in the ‘Electrical power, gas and steam supply; air conditioning’ branch and belonging to extremely high and high risk categories varies within the range of 0.0928 – 0.0093 and 0.00921 – 0.00092 million people accordingly; a potential health risk level identified for such economic entities equals 1.11∙10-3 – 0.17 and 1.0∙10-4 – 9.8∙10-4 accordingly.

Modeling release and distribution of harmful substances in river

The development and analysis of a computational algorithm for mathematical models of the release and spread of harmful substances is an important area of research that can help mitigate the impact of pollution on the environment and human health. Mathematical models of the distribution of harmful substances in the river are useful for predicting the spread of pollutants and identifying potential environmental and public health risks. The computational algorithm for the problem of diffusion of harmful substances can help researchers and policymakers to understand the mechanisms of pollutant dispersion and identify effective strategies for mitigating the impact of pollution. The algorithm can simulate the release and spread of harmful substances in various scenarios, including accidental spills, industrial discharges, and natural disasters. The results of a computational experiment can provide valuable insights into the behavior of pollutants in different environmental conditions and help identify potential risks and areas of concern. By analyzing the results of a computational experiment, researchers can develop effective strategies for managing and mitigating the impact of pollution on the environment and public health.