Prevention Of Invasive Disease Research Articles

Epizootological monitoring of rabbit parasitoses on the territory of Ukraine

One of the conditions for successfully managing rabbit breeding is ensuring the epizootological well-being of farms concerning invasive animal diseases. Helminthiases, protozooses, and acaroses cause significant economic damage to the industry due to a decrease in the biological value of rabbit meat and skins, a delay in growth, development, and a decrease in the growth of young animals, as well as their death. Carrying out epizootic monitoring and assessment of the epizootic situation in different regions of Ukraine is one of the main preventive measures, which, based on the results of the study of the epizootic state, analysis of veterinary reports, and the results of laboratory tests, will allow effective treatment and prevention of invasive diseases in rabbit farms. The purpose of the work was to conduct monitoring studies of the epizootic situation regarding rabbit parasitoses in the territory of some areas of Ukraine. It was established that the total incidence of domestic rabbits by parasitoses was 36.27 %. The weight of infestations caused by the simplest organisms was the highest, reaching 81.96 %. The specific weight of infestations caused by acariform mites, nematodes, and cestodes was insignificant and amounted to 9.88 %, 7.3 %, and 0.86 %, respectively. Among the protozooses – eimeriosis, nematodoses – pasalurosis, cestodoses – cysticercosis, acaroses –psoroptosis were found in rabbits. High indicators of the extensiveness of animal invasion were established for eimeriosis (50.23 %). Smaller values of infestation of rabbits were found for psoroptosis (18.0 %) and pasalurosis (16.87 %). For pysiform cysticercosis, the extent of invasion was insignificant – 5.97 %. Indicators of the extensiveness of invasions in different regions of Ukraine ranged from 15.28 to 100.0 % for eimeriosis, from 4.35 to 100.0 % for pasalurosis, from 50.0 to 100.0 % for cysticercosis, and from psoroptosis 11.54 to 100.0 %. The obtained results of monitoring studies on the epizootic status of invasive rabbit diseases on the territory of Ukraine indicate the relevance and perspective of further studying the distribution of parasite fauna in the population of domestic rabbits, taking into account the climatic conditions of different regions, the way rabbits are kept, their age and season.

HELMINTHOFAUNA OF HORSES IN RYAZAN REGION

The high susceptibility of horses to invasive diseases caused by the intestinal helminthofauna, regardless of age, physiological state of the livestock of horse breeding farms, is still the object of research. The damage caused by helminths is a decrease in productivity and efficiency, weakening the immunity of horses and, with severe invasion, can lead to blockage of the intestines, colic and death of animals. Only timely detection of parasites and subsequent treatment, prevention of invasive diseases can prevent economic losses. The importance of studying the climatic and geographical distribution of these parasitic organisms becomes obvious. This paper discusses the presence of horse helminths as a phenomenon in the Ryazan Region. 26 fecal samples from horses aged 5–10 years were examined using the microscopy method. Samples of fresh feces were taken from individual stalls twice: on November 16, 2021 and on December 2, 2021. Identification of intestinal helminths was conducted by the Fulleborn method (with a saturated saline solution) followed by examination of drops under a microscope with a magnification of 400. As a result of the studies, eggs of Strongylus equinus, Parascaris equorum, as well as sexually mature representatives of Parascaris equorum after livestock deworming were found. Antiparasitic measures were selected taking into account the biology of the pathogen.

Health-Economic Value of Vaccination Against Group A Streptococcus in the United States.

Vaccines are needed to reduce the burden of group A Streptococcus (GAS). We assessed the potential health-economic value of GAS vaccines achievable through prevention of invasive disease and acute upper respiratory infections in the United States. We estimated annual incidence of invasive GAS disease and associated costs incurred from hospitalization and management of long-term sequelae, as well as productivity losses resulting from acute illness, long-term disability, and mortality. We also estimated healthcare and productivity costs associated with GAS pharyngitis, sinusitis, and acute otitis media. We estimated costs averted by prevention of invasive disease and acute upper respiratory infections for vaccines with differing efficacy profiles; our base case considered vaccines meeting the World Health Organization Preferred Product Profile (WHO-PPP) with a 6-year average duration of protection. Costs of invasive GAS disease and acute upper respiratory infections totaled $6.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], $5.33-$6.86) billion annually. Direct effects of vaccines meeting WHO-PPP characteristics and administered at ages 12 and 18 months would avert $609 (95% CI, $558-$663) million in costs annually, primarily by preventing noninvasive disease; with an additional dose at age 5 years, averted costs would total $869 (95% CI, $798-$945) million annually. Adult vaccination at age 65 years would avert $326 (95% CI, $271-$387) million in annual costs associated with invasive GAS disease. Indirect effects of vaccination programs reducing incidence of GAS diseases across all ages by 20% would avert roughly $1 billion in costs each year. The economic burden of GAS is substantial. Our findings should inform prioritization of GAS vaccine development and evaluation.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Serotype Distribution of Streptococcus Pneumoniae in Iran: Practical Evidence to Optimizing Local Vaccination Protocols.

Little is known regarding the burden of predominant circulating serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the serotype distribution of pneumococcal diseases in Iran by using a comprehensive systematic review of available articles. ; Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out to identify papers published by Iranian authors in the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar electronic databases from January 2000 to December 2018. Then, eight publications that met our inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction and analysis by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. ; Results: In total, three studies reported the distribution of S. pneumoniae serotypes among patients, two studies among healthy individuals, and three studies among both groups. Of those studies, serotype 19A/F (17.9%; 95% CI: 13.6-23.0) was the most circulating serotype followed by 23A/F (12.3%; 95% CI: 7.7-19.2), 6A/B (11.0%; 95% CI: 8.0-14.9), and 14 (8.8%; 95% CI: 5.8-13.2). In contrast, the lowest circulating serotype was 60 (0.02%; 95% CI: 0.0-1.2), 29 (0.07%; 95% CI: 0.01-5.0), and 36 (0.09%; 95% CI: 0.04-2.1). Meta-regression results showed that prevalence of serotype 23A/F significantly increased each year about 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1-0.3, P <0.001, tau2 <0.001). ; Conclusion: In the present study, it was found that over the last decade, the most prevalent serotypes in Iran were 19, 23, 6, and 14, respectively. These findings provide practical evidence to select effective pneumococcal vaccine candidates for the prevention of invasive diseases in Iranian patients and also to compare our situation with others.

Research progress on prevention and treatment of invasive fungal diseases in patients with hematological malignancies

The incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD) is high in patients with hematological malignancies, including those with acute myeloid leukemia(AML)/myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS), and those receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). IFD is an important prognostic factor in patients with hematological malignancies. IFD is difficult to diagnose, and the efficacy of treatment is poor. Therefore, antifungal treatment begins with prevention. At present, there are still controversies about the clinical indications, drugs, administration time and efficacy of IFD chemoprevention. This article intends to review the research progress on the epidemiology and risk factors of IFD, as well as the clinical outcomes of antifungal agents for antifungal prophylaxis in patients with hematological malignancies. Key words: Antifungal agents; Hematologic neoplasms; Epidemiologic studies; Chemoprevention; Invasive fungal disease

Application of posaconzole in prophylactic antifungal treatment of patients with hematological malignancies

Objective To observe the effect and safety of posaconzole in prophylactic antifungal treatment of high-risk patients with hematological malignancies. Methods The effect of posaconzole on prevention of invasive fungal disease (IFD) during chemotherapy in 102 patients with hematological malignancies in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from February 2014 to April 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The correlation analysis was carried out by Spearman analysis. Results A total of 102 patients were included, and only 2 (1.96%) patients had IFD. 2 patients died because of development of hematological malignancies. 11 (10.8%) patients had to discontinuation of posaconzole because of sever adverse events. Two patients with IFD and 1 case of undiagnosed IFD had to discontinue posaconzole. The total rate of discontinuation was 13.7% (14/102). There was no correlation between the time of using pothiazol and the time of hospitalization (rs=-0.02, P= 0.853) and the time of neutrophilic deficiency (rs= 0.167, P= 0.113), but the time of hospitalization was positively correlated with the time of neutrophilic deficiency (rs= 0.448, P= 0.000). Conclusion Posaconzole could effectively and safely prevent IFD in patients with hematological malignancies. Key words: Hematological neoplasms; Mycoses; Posaconzole

Genetic characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strains carried by adolescents living in Milan, Italy

Before a protein vaccine is introduced into a country, it is essential to evaluate its potential impact and estimate its benefits and costs. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis B (NmB) in the pharyngeal secretions of 1375 healthy adolescents aged 13–19 y living in Milan, Italy, in September 2012, and the possible protection offered by the two currently available NmB protein vaccines. Ninety-one subjects were Nm carriers (6.6%), 29 (31.9%) of whom carried the NmB capsular gene. The 29 identified strains belonged to eight clonal complexes (CCs), the majority of which were in the ST-41/44/Lin.3 CC (n = 11; 37.9%). All of the identified strains harboured ƒHbp alleles representing a total of 15 sub-variants: the gene for NHBA protein was found in all but three of the studied strains (10.3%) with 13 identified sub-variants. There were 15 porA sub-types, seven of which were identified in just one CC. The findings of this study seem to suggest that both of the protein vaccines proposed for the prevention of invasive disease due to NmB (the 4-protein and the 2-protein products) have a composition that can evoke a theoretically effective antibody response against the meningococcal strains currently carried by adolescents living in Northern Italy. The genetic characteristics of NmB strains can be easily evaluated by means of molecular methods, the results of which can provide an albeit approximate estimate of the degree of protection theoretically provided by the available vaccines, and the possible future need to change their composition.

Prevention of invasive diseases: strategies to increase vaccination coverage in children and adolescents.

Vaccines able to prevent invasive bacterial diseases have been introduced into national and/or regional immunization plans through different strategies. We evaluated Haemophilus influenzae type b, Pneumococcus and Meningococcus C vaccination coverage in the 5 Ligurian Local Health Agencies, in the Liguria Region, and in Italy in order to assess the efficacy of current immunisation policies concerning children at the 24th month and adolescents. Furthermore, we considered new strategies for increasing vaccination coverage. We estimated the vaccination coverage of Local Health Agency 4 by means of the "OASIS" software. The regional mean vaccination coverage was calculated from the data provided by the other four Local Health Agencies in Liguria. National data were obtained from the database of the Ministry of Health and from the last report of the ICONA Working Group. We used a questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge of Meningococcus C vaccination among the pediatricians and general practitioners operating in our Local Health Agency. The regional vaccination coverage at the 24th month proved to be: > 95% for Haemophilus influenzae type b, 93% for Pneumococcus and 87% for Meningococcus C. The national mean is: > 95% for Haemophilus influenza type b, 55% for Pneumococcus and 37% for Meningococcus C. Meningococcus C vaccination coverage among adolescents is 49% in Liguria, while the national mean is 16%. The questionnaire administered to the physicians was composed of 5 questions, which were answered by 81% of pediatricians and only 22% of general practitioners. Reducing the incidence of invasive meningococcal diseases through large-scale vaccination was deemed very important by 92% of pediatricians and 81% of general practitioners. About 92% of pediatricians and 85% of general practitioners considered the vaccine safe and effective. All (100%) physicians expressed their agreement with the Ligurian immunization strategy. However, while all the pediatricians reported recommending this vaccination, only 76% of general practitioners did so. Finally, all the physicians interviewed stated their willingness to collaborate with the Department of Prevention to increase vaccination coverage. VC against Hib at the 24th month, in both Liguria and Italy, proved excellent. Compliance with vaccination against Pneumococcus has been very high since its introduction in 2003 in Liguria, while the national mean is suboptimal. The regional vaccination coverage against Meningococcus C at the 24th month is good; the national value, however, is low because some Italian Regions have not yet introduced this vaccination into their immunization plans. Vaccination coverage in adolescents varies widely among the Ligurian Local Health Agencies and needs to be increased; the national figure is very low because few Regions have introduced this vaccination. However, achieving compliance with vaccinations in adolescents is difficult. The questionnaire indicated that general practitioners place less emphasis on vaccinations than pediatricians. Nevertheless, both general practitioners and pediatricians expressed their willingness to collaborate with the Department of Prevention of Local Health Agency 4 in improving the immunization strategies aimed at adolescents. In conclusion, we consider it very important to create a network involving the Department of Prevention, pediatricians and general practitioners, in order to share the best immunization strategies.

Critical appraisal of a quadrivalent CRM197 conjugate vaccine against meningococcal serogroups A, C W-135 and Y (Menveo&amp;reg;) in the context of treatment and prevention of invasive disease

Worldwide, invasive meningococcal disease affects about 500,000 people annually. Case fatality in developed countries averages 10%, and higher rates are reported in less prosperous regions. According to the World Health Organization, the most important pathogenic serogroups are A, B, C, W-135, X, and Y. Clinical features of invasive meningococcal disease make diagnosis and management difficult. Antibiotic measures are recommended for prophylaxis after exposure and for treatment of invasive meningococcal disease cases; however, resistant strains may be emerging. Vaccines are generally regarded as the best preventative measure for invasive meningococcal disease. Polysaccharide vaccines against serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y using protein conjugation technology have clear advantages over older plain polysaccharide formulations without a protein component. The first quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) was licensed in the US in 2005. More recently, MenACWY-CRM (Menveo®) was licensed in Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Latin America. MenACWY-CRM uses cross-reactive material 197, a nontoxic mutant of diphtheria toxin, as the carrier protein. MenACWY-CRM offers robust immunogenicity in all age groups, with a tolerability profile similar to that of a plain polysaccharide vaccine. Given its potential for protecting persons from infancy to old age, MenACWY-CRM offers the opportunity to protect broad populations against invasive meningococcal disease. The most optimal strategy for use of the vaccine has to be assessed country by country on the basis of local epidemiology, individual health care systems, and need.

Pneumococcal vaccination: current and future issues.

Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major global health burden meaning the development of effective vaccines is urgently needed. The current 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine has been shown to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia in immunocompetent young adults, but not in elderly persons. However, in prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease, the vaccine is efficacious in the elderly and may also be effective in some groups of immunocompromised patients. The polysaccharide vaccine is, therefore, recommended in all older (> or = 55-65 yrs of age) adults and in young children (>2 yrs of age) who have a high risk for pneumococcal disease. Revaccination can be safely performed and is recommended 5 yrs after the first dose. In children <2 yrs of age, the new polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines, including 7-11 serotypes, seem to be effective in the prevention of invasive disease, severe pneumonia and serotype-specific (and vaccine-related types) otitis media. The low serotype coverage, need for repeated doses, and high price, may decrease the usefulness of the new conjugates. However, the included serotypes correspond to those most often associated with penicillin resistance and vaccination is, therefore, a possible tool in limiting the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci.

Haemophilus influenzae type b infections are preventable everywhere

The virtual elimination by vaccine of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in industrial countries is a modern public health triumph. Early vaccines, consisting of the Hib polysaccharide capsule, were shown to be effective in the prevention of invasive disease in older children in Finland in 1974. Conjugate Hib vaccines consisting of protein combined with polysaccharide had better immunogenicity in young infants and were shown to be highly effective. During the 1990s widespread use of conjugate Hib vaccines has virtually eliminated Hib disease from North America, northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Cervical Cancer: Screening and Prevention of Invasive Disease.

Cancer of the cervix is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women in the United States and accounts for more cancer deaths than any other cancer in third-world countries. Various screening procedures have been developed, but many issues need to be resolved for cervical cancer screening to be effective. Large segments of the population who do not undergo regular screening account for most of the patients with invasive cancers in the United States and worldwide. Allocation of resources and widespread educational programs for these target populations are needed to promote adequate cytologic screening programs and to reduce the death rate from squamous carcinoma of the cervix.