Prophylactic Campaigns Research Articles

Backyard Poultry Flocks in Morocco: Demographic Characteristics, Husbandry Practices, and Disease and Biosecurity Management.

Backyard poultry farming is an important tool for poverty alleviation and food security in rural areas of Morocco. A descriptive epidemiologic survey was conducted in 286 backyard poultry flocks from the provinces of Khemisset and Skhirat-Temara to gain baseline data on the current status of backyard poultry flocks in Morocco as well as its potential implications on the transmission and spread of avian diseases. The findings indicated that 88.8% of flocks were raised in a mixed confinement system, with an average flock size of 30 birds (range 1-352). Chickens accounted for 83% of the overall reported birds. More than two-thirds of respondents (69%) kept chickens only, while the remaining flocks raising multiple bird species in total promiscuity. Diseases were the highest cause of mortality (84.7%), followed by predation (15.3%). According to 56.1% of the owners, respiratory symptoms were among the major disease signs reported, besides ectoparasite infestation. Flock health management revealed a lack of preventive vaccination, lack of veterinary consulting, lack of biosecurity practices, and irrational self-medication of diseased birds using antibiotics, pesticides, and hazardous chemicals that could be a significant health risk for consumers. The need for an outreach program about disease prevention and biosecurity practices, along with prophylactic campaigns, should be emphasized to further mitigate the risks of backyard poultry flocks on the commercial sector and public health.

Contribution of the prophylactic campaigns of sheep flocks in preserving animal health in the Wilaya of Djelfa

Contribution of the prophylactic campaigns of sheep flocks in preserving animal health in the Wilaya of Djelfa

“Prevention is cure, Education is essential” – responsible implications of young people in educational and prophylactic actions against accidental cervical spinal cord injury and severe disabilities by diving in unverified waters

Introduction: Encouraged by the favorable outcomes of previous mediatic national prophylactic campaigns, initiated and sustained by the medical team of Teaching Emergency Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni" and National TV Channels (ProTv, TVR1) focused on the risk of severe disability after cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) by diving in unknown waters, we decided to continue increasing awareness education actions. The previous prophylactic campaigns were followed by a statistically significant reduction in the number of young patients admitted to hospital with quadriplegia after diving in unverified waters (26.8% in 2016 and 39% in 2017). Starting from the ISCoS paradigm "Prevention is cure", we have resumed the prophylactic educational actions addressed to healthcare professionals (students, residents, young doctors) in campaigns to prevent CSCI and accidental tetraplegia during summer sports. The objective of the study was to test medical, diving biomechanical level of knowledge and circumstances regarding risks associated with diving in unknown waters, among young kinetotherapy FMAM students (under the age of 35). The study has the Teaching Emergency Hospital “Bagdasar-Arseni” Ethics Committee's approval NO 17464/14.06.2019. Materials and methods: The research was conducted using the questionnaire technique, containing 16 closed questions addressed to a number of 40 students from Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania Results: We observed that most of the young students act precociously: 67.5% swim in special designated places, 77.5% dive with their feet first, versus 22.5% plunge the head first. Students have a low level of knowledge about biomechanics of plunging and the impressive speeds reached during diving. More than two-thirds of them did not answer the question about the speed reached during diving from 1 m (7.5 m/s, equivalent to 27 km/h) (67.5% students), from 10 m platform (17.5 m/s, 63 km/h) (70% students) and diving from 30 m (25 m/s, 90 km/h) (67% students). Regarding the alcohol consumption before diving, 80% of them responded with "no", and only 5% responded with "occasional consumption". Eighteen students (45%) know the main risk of diving in unknown and shallow waters, and 20 students (50%) have responded incorrectly. Conclusions: Young students - future therapists have a low level of knowledge about CSCI risk and the severe disabilities that can occur accidentally by diving. It is mandatory to continue the education prophylactic initiative sustained activity through mass media, started in 2016-2018. Key words: traumatic spinal cord injury, tetraplegia, diving, plunging, unverified / unfamiliar water, summer sports,

Stray Dogs of Sofia (Bulgaria) Could be an Important Reservoir of Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis).

SummaryDirofilaria immitis (heartworm) is a zoonotic and an emerging disease, expanding in Europe. In Bulgaria, the presence of the parasite has been described in many regions. However, canine heartworm has hardly been evaluated in the capital of the country and, therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of canine heartworm in Sofia. Eighty stray dogs from the city of Sofia and the metropolitan area were analysed for circulating D. immitis antigens. The prevalence was 31.25 %, being 34.7 % in the metropolitan area and 25.8 % in the city of Sofia. The current results are among the highest reported in the country. This could be due to the lack of prophylactic measures against infection in these dogs, but also to the spread of D. immitis into non-endemic countries. Stray dogs may act as an important reservoir of heartworm being a risk for client-owned animals and for the development of pulmonary dirofilariosis in inhabitants. The results show the need to establish further epidemiological studies and prophylactic campaigns for stray and client-owned animals, as well as to create awareness campaigns about the severity and importance of this disease for both animals and humans.

Baixo Beberibe: a represa do Varadouro e os negros canoeiros – o higienismo entre o Recife e Olinda

O artigo aborda a geografia histórica do baixo rio Beberibe, entre os núcleos habitáveis de Recife e Olinda, desde a segunda metade do século XVII até o final do XIX, centrando-se nas ações médico-higienistas junto à represa do Varadouro e ao transporte de canoas d’água. As mortíferas epidemias da época eram associadas ao mangue e à água parada da represa, como também à “sujidade” das embarcações conduzidas por negros. Desvela-se, assim, as campanhas profiláticas frente às epidemias, que engendrou destruições e reconstruções da represa, além de coações junto aos canoeiros. Discorre-se sobre estes aspectos desde a construção da represa em 1685, até sua demolição definitiva em 1856, seguido do arrefecimento no uso das canoas. Neste contexto, revela-se a configuração de um “espaço marginal” no baixo Beberibe, no século XIX, com a construção de objetos higienistas às suas margens – hospitais, cemitérios e matadouro.

Sub-national variation in measles vaccine coverage and outbreak risk: a case study from a 2010 outbreak in Malawi

BackgroundDespite progress towards increasing global vaccination coverage, measles continues to be one of the leading, preventable causes of death among children worldwide. Whether and how to target sub-national areas for vaccination campaigns continues to remain a question. We analyzed three metrics for prioritizing target areas: vaccination coverage, susceptible birth cohort, and the effective reproductive ratio (RE) in the context of the 2010 measles epidemic in Malawi.MethodsUsing case-based surveillance data from the 2010 measles outbreak in Malawi, we estimated vaccination coverage from the proportion of cases reporting with a history of prior vaccination at the district and health facility catchment scale. Health facility catchments were defined as the set of locations closer to a given health facility than to any other. We combined these estimates with regional birth rates to estimate the size of the annual susceptible birth cohort. We also estimated the effective reproductive ratio, RE, at the health facility polygon scale based on the observed rate of exponential increase of the epidemic. We combined these estimates to identify spatial regions that would be of high priority for supplemental vaccination activities.ResultsThe estimated vaccination coverage across all districts was 84%, but ranged from 61 to 99%. We found that 8 districts and 354 health facility catchments had estimated vaccination coverage below 80%. Areas that had highest birth cohort size were frequently large urban centers that had high vaccination coverage. The estimated RE ranged between 1 and 2.56. The ranking of districts and health facility catchments as priority areas varied depending on the measure used.ConclusionsEach metric for prioritization may result in discrete target areas for vaccination campaigns; thus, there are tradeoffs to choosing one metric over another. However, in some cases, certain areas may be prioritized by all three metrics. These areas should be treated with particular concern. Furthermore, the spatial scale at which each metric is calculated impacts the resulting prioritization and should also be considered when prioritizing areas for vaccination campaigns. These methods may be used to allocate effort for prophylactic campaigns or to prioritize response for outbreak response vaccination.

European Animal Health Strategy and Transboundary Diseases

A new animal health strategy has been developed for the European Union in 2007. European Member States competent authorities implemented a 4 pillars action plan based on prioritization of intervention, legislative framework, prevention, surveillance and preparedness, and science, innovation and research. The initiative identified long term preventive approaches and recognized the strong relations among animal health and welfare and public health. A positive impact was demonstrated by reported epidemiological trends, showing decreases of certain infectious diseases incidences. However, despite steps toward the application of the new strategy, problems such as the full control of tuberculosis, object of prophylactic campaigns for more than 50 years, still remain to be solved. In addition, high attention is required to face emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases. Exotic diseases such as blue tongue, African swine fever and lumpy skin disease recently challenged Europe showing their potential of transboundary diseases, and indicating that sustainable animal health prevention strategies should be based on interdisciplinary approaches, international cooperation and in line with the “One health” principle.

Characteristics and determinants of adult patients with acute poisoning attending the accident and emergency department of a teaching hospital in Qatar

Data about etiologic and demographic characteristics of acute poisoning in adults in Qatar are lacking. This prospective observational study was undertaken to analyze characteristics and possible determinants of acute poisoning in adults in Qatar. During 2010, 18,073 patients attended the emergency department of Hamad General Hospital, a teaching hospital in Qatar. Out of them, 599 (3.3%) patients were diagnosed as "poisoning case" with either chemical or pharmaceutical substances. The prevalence rate of poisoning incidence was 35.3/100,000 population. Seven patients died, corresponding with a case-fatality rate of 0.39/1000. The majority were male (65%) and the mean age was 34 years. The poisons involved were mainly chemicals (61.6%) and pharmaceuticals (38.4%). Female, mainly single, suffered more intentional poisoning compared to male. Of the patients aged 60 years and above (7.2%), the majority (95.3%) suffered unintentional poisoning with pharmaceuticals; 56% with warfarin, 12% with digoxin and 7% with insulin. Multivariate analysis shows that female gender, single status, younger than 35 years of age, being poisoned by pharmaceutical products, and the need for hospitalization are significant determinants for acute intentional poisoning after adjusting all other possible covariates. The findings of this study can be used to establish awareness and prophylactic campaigns in Qatar.

Perfil epidemiológico de pacientes vítimas de escalpelamento tratados na Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará

INTRODUCAO: Escalpelamento e trauma causado por avulsao parcial ou total do couro cabeludo, decorrente, principalmente, de contato acidental dos cabelos longos com motor de eixo rotativo. A alta rotacao desses motores gera uma forca que suga os cabelos da vitima, tracionando e arrancando o couro cabeludo de forma abrupta. METODO: Foi realizado um estudo observacional transversal, retrospectivo, descritivo, incluindo 62 pacientes vitimas de escalpelamento tratados na Fundacao Santa Casa de Misericordia do Para. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes mais acometidos foram criancas de 7 anos a 16 anos (56,4%), do genero feminino (93,5%), sendo 59,7% estudantes e que, predominantemente, praticavam a religiao catolica (43,5%). CONCLUSOES: Campanhas profilaticas sobre os riscos de se viajar e manter uma embarcacao sem protecao no eixo do motor sao fundamentais, uma vez que a tragedia do escalpelamento e causada principalmente pelos cabelos que se enrolam no eixo do motor.

O controle da transmissão vetorial

Between 1950 and 1951, the first Prophylactic campaign against Chagas Diseases was carried on in Brazil by the so existing Serviço Nacional de Malária. The actions involving chemical vector control comprehended 74 municipalities along the Rio Grande Valley, between the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Ever since, until 1975, the activities were performed according the availability of resources, being executed with more or less regularity and coverage. At that time, Chagas disease did no represent priority, in comparison with other endemic diseases prevalent in the Country. Even so, taking into account the accumulated data along those 25 years, the volume of work realized cannot be considered despicable. Nevertheless, it was few consistent, in terms of its impact on disease transmission. In 1975, with an additional injection of resources surpassed from the malaria program, plus the methodological systematization of the activities, and with the results of two extensive national inquiries (entomologic and serologic), the activities for vector control could be performed regularly, following two basic principles: interventions in always contiguous areas, progressively enlarged, and sustainability (continuity) of the activities, until being attained determined requirements and purpose previously established. Such actions and strategies lead into the exhaustion of the populations of the principal vector species, Triatoma infestans, no autochthonous and exclusively domiciliary, as well as the control of the domiciliary colonization of autochthonous species important to disease transmission. Vector transmission today is being considered residual, by means of some few native and peridomestic species, such as Triatoma brasiliensis and Triatoma pseudomaculata. There is, also, the risk of progressive domiciliation of some species before considered sylvatic, such as Panstrongylus lutzi and Triatoma rubrovaria. Finally, there is the possibility of the occurrence of cases of human infection directly related to the enzootic cycle of the parasite. By all these reasons, it is still indispensable the maintenance of a strict epidemiological surveillance against Chagas Disease in Brazil.

A inserção institucional do controle da doença de Chagas

After the starting of the Center for studies and prophylaxis of Chagas disease in 1943, with the help of Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, in the city of Bambuí, state of Minas Gerais, technological and methodological basis for the extensive control of the disease were conceived. A main step to achieve success was the introduction of a new insecticide (gammexane, P 530) and the demonstration of its efficacy in the vector control. A consequence of these improvements was the official inauguration of the first prophylactic campaign for Chagas disease in Brazil, held in Uberaba in May, 1950. Even with the knowledge of how to control the vectorial transmission, financial resources were not available by this time, at a necessary degree to make it both regularly and in all the affected area. The institutional allocation of these activities is useful to understand the low priority given to them at that time. Several national services were created in 1941, for diseases as malaria, pest, smallpox, among others, but Chagas was included in a group of diseases with lower importance, inside a Division of Sanitary Organization. In 1956, the National Department of Rural endemies (DNERu) allocate all the major endemic diseases in a single institution, however this was not translated in an implementation program for the control of Chagas disease. After profound changes at the Ministry of Health, in 1970, the Superintendência de Campanhas de Saúde Pública (SUCAM) was in charge of all rural endemies including Chagas disease, which now could compete with other diseases transmitted by vectors, formerly priorities, included in the National Division. With this new status, more funds were available, as well as redistribution of personnel and expenses from the malaria program to the vectorial control of Chagas disease. In 1991 the Health National foundation was created to substitute SUCAM in the control of endemic diseases and it included all the units of the Ministry of Health related to epidemiology and disease control. By this time a new tendency for decentralization of these programs was clear. In the case of diseases transmitted by vectors, this was a major difference from the campaign model so far employed. At the same time, the Initiative for the South Cone countries for the control of Chagas disease started, sharing techniques among the countries of this region, as well as establishing similar objectives and trends, what possible helped to maintain Chagas disease as a priority among all the public health issues. From 2003 on, all activities for control of the disease at a national level are under responsibility of the Secretary of Health Surveillance of the Ministry of Health.

WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE AS A CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTOR IN A POPULATION EXAMINED IN A PROPHYLACTIC CAMPAIGN LADIES IN RED: PP.34.381

Objective: Assessment of the waist circumference as a cardiovascular risk factor, during a prophylactic campaign. Design and Method: 343 patients (195 women and 148 men), aged 18 to 87 were examined during prophylactic campaign ”Ladies in red”. Patients were divided into two groups according to central obesity prevalence: (A) obese (WC>80 cm in women and WC>94 cm in men) - 206 patients and (B) slim (the others) - 137 patients. Following measurements were taken during the campaign: blood pressure (BP), weight, height, BMI, waist circumference and adipose tissue content (ATC). Also the lipid measurements was taken. Results: We revealed significant difference in age [(A) 50+/−15 yrs; (B) 39+/−16 yrs; p < 0,0001)] and the level of systolic (SBP) [(A) 142+/−22 mmHg; (B) 131+/−19 mmHg; p < 0,0001)] and diastolic (DBP) [(A) 86+/−12 mmHg; (B) 80+/−12 mmHg; p < 0,0001)] blood pressure. We also observed statistically significant difference in BMI [(A) 27,6+/−3,9 kg/m2; (B) 22,3+/−2,7 kg/m2; p < 0,0001] and adipose tissue content [(A) 31,81+/−6,83%; (B) 25,68+/−6,65%; p < 0,0001] between the two analyzed groups. Besides positive correlation between waist circumference and adipose tissue content was observed (r = 0,1919; p = 0,0004). We also revealed statistically significant correlation between waist circumference and the prevalence of dyslipidaemia [(A) 45 patients; (B) 11 patients; p = 0,0012). Moreover statistically significant correlation between BMI value and the systolic (r = 0,2879; p < 0,0001) and diastolic (r = 0,3522; p < 0,0001) blood pressure and also between the ATC and the systolic (r = 0,1187; p = 0,0279) and diastolic (r = 0,1288; p = 0,017) blood pressure were observed. Conclusions: 1) Waist circumference has a significant influence on SBP and DBP values. 2) Patients with central obesity developed dyslipidaemia more often than those, who were slim. 3) Patients who had lower BMI and ATC had also lower values of SBP and DBP. 4) Slim figure that coexists with low ATC and BMI influence the level of SBP and DBP and lipid metabolism. In this way reducing central obesity can be interpreted as a cardiovascular risk reducing factor and should be an essential element of a healthy lifestyle.

Longevity of antibody and cytokine responses following vaccination with high potency emergency FMD vaccines

The ability of high potency emergency foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines to promote sustainable immune responses in sheep and pigs following a single application was examined. All vaccine formulations induced a rapid seroconversion in both species, as expected, which was maintained at near peak titres for up to 6 months in sheep and 7 months in pigs. The Montanide ISA 206 formulation gave the best results in sheep. Vaccinated pigs challenged with homologous FMDV were protected from disease at 7 months post vaccination. Systemic levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and in some pigs IL-12, increased following vaccination and were often maintained at an increased level for the duration of the trials. These initial results suggest that high potency vaccines may promote longer lasting immunity than the conventional lower potency vaccines in ruminants and a comparable response in pigs. Results indicate that in an outbreak situation, should emergency vaccination be done with these high potency vaccines, protection should be conferred for a long enough period for the outbreak to be brought under control without the need to revaccinate. Given the increased interval for re-vaccination the use of high potency vaccines for routine prophylactic campaigns could provide a more cost-effective and efficient means of maintaining herd immunity and is an area thus worthy of further examination.

Village chickens as a reservoir of Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum in Morocco

Village chicken flocks in two different regions of Morocco were studied for the presence of the causative organisms of pullorum disease and fowl thpoid. Serum samples and cloacal swabs were taken from 250 chickens in 50 farms in each region, and litter samples were taken from each farm. The overall seropositivity was 6%, 23.5% and 58% using the seroagglutination test with Salmonella pullorum antigen, and the microagglutination test and ELISA with Salmonella gallinarum antigen, respectively. Four isolates of S. gallinarum and four isolates of S. pullorum were made. The results show that village chickens can act as a reservoir for these bacteria, and thus any prophylactic campaign must take them into account.

Chagas' disease in Minas Gerais; critical review of literature published in 1951

O grande impulso que têm tornado, nestes últimos anos, as investigações sôbre a doença de Chagas, não sòmente em Minas Gerais, como também em outros Estados do Brasil e países do novo continente atingidos pela endemia; o interêsse cada vez mais crescente por parte dos médicos em geral e a facilidade com que vêm sendo por êles assimiladas as recentes contribuições ao estudo desta entidade mórbida; a importância médico-social e a repercussão econômica que tem sido atribuída à esquizotripanose como fator de letalidade e de incapacidade relativa ou total para o trabalho, depois de conhecidos os resultados de inquéritos clínico-epidemiológicos realizados em zonas infestadas por triatomíneos; a recente adoção, por parte das autoridades responsáveis pela saúde publica, de medidas concretas de contrôle da doença pelo combate aos seus transmissores domiciliares, por meio de inseticidas de ação residual aplicados em larga escala; e, principalmente, a escassez de trabalhos de conjunto e de fácil acesso, com referencias bibliográficas adequadas e extensas, que facilitassem aos não especializados no assunto, o conhecimento e a consulta das investigações já realizadas sôbre êste importante problema de medicina tropical; tais são os principais motivos que sugeriram a elaboração de um esbôço crítico do desenvolvimento dos trabalhos até agora publicados sôbre a esquizotripanose em Minas Gerais. De fato, foi aí descoberta a nova entidade mórbida do homem, foram aí estudados e esclarecidos problemas relativos à etiologia, epidemiologia, aspectos clínicos e anatomo-patológicos da esquizotripanose, foram aí realizadas investigações experimentais e desenvolvidos métodos de profilaxia, constituindo, em conjunto, os trabalhos realizados sôbre a esquizotripanose em Minas Gerais, fundamentados nos alicerces sólidos legados pelo seu grande descobridor, uma obra verdadeiramente monumental, que tanto orgulha e engrandece a ciência latino-americana. Os trabalhos publicados sôbre a doença de Chagas em Minas Gerais, compreendendo tôdas as inves tigações aí realizadas e as contribuições que com material procedente do Estado se realizaram fora dêle, foram divididos em cinco grandes grupos: l.º) — Trabalhos realizados em Lassance 2.º) — Trabalhos realizados em Bambuí 3.º) — Trabalhos realizados em Belo Horizonte 4.º) — Trabalhos realizados em outras zonas do Estado 5.º) — Profilaxia da doença de Chagas em larga escala. I) — Os trabalhos realizados em Lassance cobrem um longo período de quase 30 anos, período êsse que vai desde 1909, data da descoberta de um novo tripanosoma e da descrição da nova entidade mórbida do homem feita por CHAGAS, ate 1936, data da publicação de trabalhos de pesquisadores de Manguinhos, apresentados no ano anterior à Nona Reunião da Sociedade Argentina de Patologia Regional convocada em homenagem à memória do grande tropicalista brasileiro CARLOS CHAGAS. Pràticamente, as pesquisas desenvolvidas em Lassance e os trabalhos realizados com o abundante material que de lá foi canalizado para o Instituto Oswaldo Cruz — investigações condensadas em uma centena de publicações — foram feitas por CHAGAS e colaboradores durante a vida do descobridor da esquizotripanose. Neste período, CHAGAS e pesquisadores que, sob sua orientação, trabalharam em Lassance e Manguinhos, descreveram a nova doença nas suas diversas...

Experience with BCG Vaccination in Cordoba, Argentina

From comparative investigations carried out in vaccinated and non-vaccinated children the following conclusions have been reached: a) The general mortality within the first year of life was 8.3 per cent among the vaccinated and 15.6 per cent among the control group; b) A mild degree of tuberculin sensitiveness was prevalent among vaccinated in contrast to the strongly positive results of Mantoux tests sometimes found in children belonging to the control group; c) Chest x-ray films made on the vaccinated group disclosed 57.5 per cent lesions among children exposed to tuberculosis and 18.9 per cent among noncontacts, while in the control group there were 74.3 per cent lesions among exposed children and 47.6 per cent among noncontacts. In addition, the x-ray findings of the vaccinated group proved to be less important than that evidenced in the non-vaccinated. When primary infection was observed among vaccinated children, only glandular envolvement could be detected. For the protection of the newborn, small children, school children, and young adult non-reactors, exposed or not to tuberculosis, the BCG vaccination represents a good weapon in the prophylactic campaign against tuberculosis. However, vaccination must be employed together with the other known measures used in the control of tuberculosis.

Sleeping sickness of an unusual type in Sierra Leone and its attempted control

A short history is given of the outbreak of an epidemic of sleeping sickness of unusual type which resisted control by standard methods. Infected cases have been kept under observation for periods up to 9 months without treatment. The observations indicate that in many cases a state of equilibrium exists between parasite and host over long periods, and suggest that spontaneous cure may occur. The strain has been isolated and its behaviour studied in monkeys and guineapigs. In vivo tests of its resistance to normal human serum and to tryparsamide are described. The suppressive effect of antrypol and pentamidine in various doses on peripheral trypanosomes in already infected cases has been studied. An interim report is made on the results after 7 months of mass prophylaxis with antrypol and pentamidine in part of the area affected by the atypical strain. For comparison, the results after 10 months of prophylaxis in two small areas affected by the normal Sierra Leone strain are described. No overt infections have been discovered after pentamidine in any of the areas, and those after antrypol have been very few. Practical considerations are mentioned which indicate that pentamidine is to be preferred to antrypol in a mass prophylactic campaign. The possibility of the occurrence after prophylaxis of cryptic new infections is considered, but at this stage no conclusion is possible. Observations are continuing, and it is hoped to publish a later report dealing with this question and summarizing the results of mass prophylaxis after 1 year in a much larger area than is dealt with in this report.