Risk Of Disease Outbreaks Research Articles

New Records of an Insect Species from Decomposed Animal Feces that Carry Pathogenic Bacteria on Human

Insects are introduced as the largest group of animals in the animal kingdom. There is always a risk of disease outbreaks from insects that greatly affects people's health. Hundreds of thousands of species have been determined, whereas many others remained unnamed and unidentified. This study was carried out to identify the insect species obtained in Mo Cay Bac district, Ben Tre province, Vietnam, and identify the human pathogenic bacteria that parasitize on this insect. The study results showed that the insect carried Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus, two strains of bacteria capable of causing festering wounds; whereas, the antibiotic Gentamicin (10 µg/mL) was shown to be capable of inhibiting Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus. Based on morphological characteristics and DNA fragment of COII gene, the insect species has been identified as a species belonging to the Scatopsidae family, which belongs to complete metamorphosis. Its life cycle lasts 7-8 days and goes through 4 stages, including egg (1 day), larva (3-4 days), pupa (2-3 days), and adult. This insect species carry the biological characteristics of an entirely new insect species.

Comparison of the efficiency of the Onderstepoort- and Centres for Disease Control ultraviolet light traps for the collection of livestock associated Culicoides species in South Africa.

Comparative monitoring of the abundance and distribution of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the biological vectors of the causative agents of several diseases of global veterinary importance, will be crucial in determining the risk of disease outbreak and spread. Ultraviolet (UV) suction traps have become the most frequent method used for the monitoring of Culicoides diversity and abundance. The current study compared the trapping efficiency of the two most used UV suction light traps, i.e., the Onderstepoort (OP)- and the Centres for Disease Control trap, for the collection of livestock associated Culicoides species in South Africa. The study confirmed the superiority of the OP trap and indicated a correlation in species composition and age grading results as determine with the two trap types. Substantial variations in the comparative trap efficiency, as found between areas and sites within an area, suggest that a universal conversion factor between the two trap types may not be advisable as it is unclear to what extent species composition and environmental factors may influence the conversion factor. Light traps, independent of trap model, can be considered acceptable for determining the serial comparison of population numbers for seasonal fluctuation and species abundance in distribution surveys.

Nutraceutical Application, Bioactive Compounds And Health Benefits Of Seaweeds

Human activities lead to many changes in the environment, which ultimately upset the natural balance between living organisms and encourage disease causing pathogens to multiply rapidly, thereby increasing the risk of disease outbreak. Natural resources have become the focus of drug research to deal with the pathogenic microbes, which in many cases, provided vital leads for the development of synthetic compounds. Seaweed is a rich source of nutrients included in Asians traditional cuisine and is being extensively explored for its other merits as a food. Apart from its proven nutritional properties, bioactive molecules found in seaweeds have attracted the interest of health conscious societies. At present, there is a high demand for seaweeds as many quarters have begun consuming healthy and ‘natural foodstuffs’, mainly because seaweeds are rich in minerals, vitamins and proteins.

Nutraceutical Application, Bioactive Compounds And Health Benefits Of Seaweeds

Human activities lead to many changes in the environment, whichultimately upset the natural balance between living organisms and encouragedisease causing pathogens to multiply rapidly, thereby increasing the risk ofdisease outbreak. Natural resources have become the focus of drug researchto deal with the pathogenic microbes, which in many cases, provided vitalleads for the development of synthetic compounds. Seaweed is a rich source of nutrients included in Asians traditional cuisine and is being extensively explored for its other merits as a food. Apart from its proven nutritional properties, bioactive molecules found in seaweeds have attracted the interest of health conscious societies.At present,there is a high demand for seaweeds as many quartershave begun consuming healthy and ‘natural foodstuffs’,mainly because seaweedsare rich in minerals, vitamins and proteins.

Agent-Based Simulation Framework for Epidemic Forecasting during Hajj Seasons in Saudi Arabia

The religious pilgrimage of Hajj is one of the largest annual gatherings in the world. Every year approximately three million pilgrims travel from all over the world to perform Hajj in Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The high population density of pilgrims in confined settings throughout the Hajj rituals can facilitate infectious disease transmission among the pilgrims and their contacts. Infected pilgrims may enter Mecca without being detected and potentially transmit the disease to other pilgrims. Upon returning home, infected international pilgrims may introduce the disease into their home countries, causing a further spread of the disease. Computational modeling and simulation of social mixing and disease transmission between pilgrims can enhance the prevention of potential epidemics. Computational epidemic models can help public health authorities predict the risk of disease outbreaks and implement necessary intervention measures before or during the Hajj season. In this study, we proposed a conceptual agent-based simulation framework that integrates agent-based modeling to simulate disease transmission during the Hajj season from the arrival of the international pilgrims to their departure. The epidemic forecasting system provides a simulation of the phases and rituals of Hajj following their actual sequence to capture and assess the impact of each stage in the Hajj on the disease dynamics. The proposed framework can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the different public health interventions that can be implemented during the Hajj, including size restriction and screening at entry points.

Low mammalian species richness is associated with Kyasanur Forest disease outbreak risk in deforested landscapes in the Western Ghats, India

Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) is a rapidly expanding tick-borne zoonotic virus with natural foci in the forested region of the Western Ghats of South India. The Western Ghats is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots and, like many such areas of high biodiversity, is under significant pressure from anthropogenic landscape change. The current study sought to quantify mammalian species richness using ensemble models of the distributions of a sample of species extant in the Western Ghats and to explore its association with KFDV outbreaks, as well as the modifying effects of deforestation on this association. Species richness was quantified as a composite of individual species' distributions, as derived from ensembles of boosted regression tree, random forest, and generalised additive models. Species richness was further adjusted for the potential biotic constraints of sympatric species. Both species richness and forest loss demonstrated strong positive associations with KFDV outbreaks, however forest loss substantially modified the association between species richness and outbreaks. High species richness was associated with increased KFDV risk but only in areas of low forest loss. In contrast, lower species richness was associated with increased KFDV risk in areas of greater forest loss. This relationship persisted when species richness was adjusted for biotic constraints at the taluk-level. In addition, the taluk-level species abundances of three monkey species (Macaca radiata, Semnopithecus hypoleucus, and Semnopithecus priam) were also associated with outbreaks. These results suggest that increased monitoring of wildlife in areas of significant habitat fragmentation may add considerably to critical knowledge gaps in KFDV epidemiology and infection ecology and should be incorporated into novel One Health surveillance development for the region. In addition, the inclusion of some primate species as sentinels of KFDV circulation into general wildlife surveillance architecture may add further value.

Increasing risks for emerging infectious diseases within a rapidly changing High Asia

The cold and arid mountains and plateaus of High Asia, inhabited by a relatively sparse human population, a high density of livestock, and wildlife such as the iconic snow leopard Panthera uncia, are usually considered low risk for disease outbreaks. However, based on current knowledge about drivers of disease emergence, we show that High Asia is rapidly developing conditions that favor increased emergence of infectious diseases and zoonoses. This is because of the existing prevalence of potentially serious pathogens in the system; intensifying environmental degradation; rapid changes in local ecological, socio-ecological, and socio-economic factors; and global risk intensifiers such as climate change and globalization. To better understand and manage the risks posed by diseases to humans, livestock, and wildlife, there is an urgent need for establishing a disease surveillance system and improving human and animal health care. Public health must be integrated with conservation programs, more ecologically sustainable development efforts and long-term disease surveillance.

Metagenomics and Other Omics Approaches to Bacterial Communities and Antimicrobial Resistance Assessment in Aquacultures.

The shortage of wild fishery resources and the rising demand for human nutrition has driven a great expansion in aquaculture during the last decades in terms of production and economic value. As such, sustainable aquaculture production is one of the main priorities of the European Union’s 2030 agenda. However, the intensification of seafood farming has resulted in higher risks of disease outbreaks and in the increased use of antimicrobials to control them. The selective pressure exerted by these drugs provides the ideal conditions for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance hotspots in aquaculture facilities. Omics technology is an umbrella term for modern technologies such as genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, culturomics, and metabolomics. These techniques have received increasing recognition because of their potential to unravel novel mechanisms in biological science. Metagenomics allows the study of genomes in microbial communities contained within a certain environment. The potential uses of metagenomics in aquaculture environments include the study of microbial diversity, microbial functions, and antibiotic resistance genes. A snapshot of these high throughput technologies applied to microbial diversity and antimicrobial resistance studies in aquacultures will be presented in this review.

Modelling forest degradation and risk of disease outbreaks in mainland Equatorial Guinea

Background: Epidemiologists have testified for a rise of emerging infectious diseases (EID) events in the tropical areas undergoing forest clearance episodes and make the case for their association to forest degradation and loss. In view of this, we developed a workflow of analyses based on open data to model the EID risk in a context of forest degradation, integrating both exposure to hazardous areas and vulnerability to EID. We applied the workflow to mainland Equatorial Guinea to assess population at risk and understand how anthropic activities overlap with hazardous areas.

A global pandemic treaty should aim for deep prevention

A global pandemic treaty should aim for deep prevention

Biosafety evaluation and detection of shrimp viruses on field samples using dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) system based multiplex PCR assay

Disease is the current major challenge and issue in shrimp aquaculture as it can be spread easily causing global outbreak. The risk of disease outbreak in shrimp populations can be further minimized with rapid and accurate diagnostic method. This study aims to develop a dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) based multiplex PCR system for simultaneous detection of shrimp DNA and RNA viruses. This system targets Baculovirus Penaei (BP), Monodon Baculovirus (MB), Infectious Hypodermal, Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV), Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV), Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV). The shrimp samples collected from shrimp farm were diagnosed to be infected with YHV infection in the 2nd cycle in year 2018 with 80% screening rate (4/5). DPO based multiplex PCR system may facilitate the rapid and effective screening of shrimp viruses in laboratory.

Threshold dynamics of a bat-borne rabies model with periodic incubation periods

Bat-borne rabies is a viral infection caused by lyssaviruses. To explore the complex interaction between bats and cattle, we develop a periodic compartment system with seasonality, temperature-dependent incubation period and different control measures. We derive the basic reproduction number R0 and show it determines the global dynamics. In particular, we prove the non-existence of positive periodic solutions in the critical case where R0=1. Numerically, we observe that sufficient long time-varying incubation periods could potentially increase the disease outbreak risk.

Habitat loss and the risk of disease outbreak

Evidence suggests that emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, originate from wildlife species, and that land-use change is an important pathway for pathogen transmission to humans. We first focus on zoonotic disease spillover and the rate at which primary human cases appear, demonstrating that a potential outbreak is directly related to the area of wildlife habitat. We then develop a model of the costs and benefits of land conversion that includes the effect of habitat size on the risk of disease outbreak. Our model and numerical simulations show that incorporating this risk requires more wildlife habitat conservation in the long run, and how much more should be conserved will depend on the initial habitat size. If the area is too small, then no conversion should take place. Any policy to control habitat loss, such as a tax imposed on the rents from converted land, should also vary with habitat area.

Reflections on the SARS-Covid-2 pandemic after one year: predictable, preventable but inevitable: an ecologist’s perspective

Aim: The major aim of the current essay is to argue that neoliberal capitalism, by virtue of its core tenets, has significantly increased the risk of disease outbreaks like SARS-Covid-2.
 
 Conclusion/Finding: The dominant socio-political-economic system across the industrialized world is neoliberal capitalism that focuses on economic growth and profit maximization. These are obtained in part through the weakening or elimination of environmental regulations. Although neoliberalism has brought benefits to some, it has exacerbated social and economic divisions within and between countries. More importantly, it is undeniably responsible for increasing the rate of environmental destruction, especially in developing countries in the south, which are rich is resources and raw materials coveted by multinational corporations based in the western developed countries. The loss and/or fragmentation of ecosystems is also bringing people into closer contact with many species that were once largely insulated from human communities, such as bats, that harbor harmful viruses with the potential to affect people through zoonotic spill-over via another wild or domesticated species.
 
 Originality/Value of Article: Because it eschews the precautionary principle, neoliberal capitalism is uniquely ill-equipped to prepare for potential calamities like pathogenic outbreaks and, more worryingly, climate change. This makes it obsolete in the Anthropocene. We need to seriously work towards making structural changes in the socio-political landscape in ways that reduce the damage we are doing and also strive to create social justice across the world. This is imperative if we are to create a sustainable future and to protect much of the living world from destruction.

The effect of the definition of \u2018pandemic\u2019 on quantitative assessments of infectious disease outbreak risk

In the early stages of an outbreak, the term ‘pandemic’ can be used to communicate about infectious disease risk, particularly by those who wish to encourage a large-scale public health response. However, the term lacks a widely accepted quantitative definition. We show that, under alternate quantitative definitions of ‘pandemic’, an epidemiological metapopulation model produces different estimates of the probability of a pandemic. Critically, we show that using different definitions alters the projected effects of key parameters—such as inter-regional travel rates, degree of pre-existing immunity, and heterogeneity in transmission rates between regions—on the risk of a pandemic. Our analysis provides a foundation for understanding the scientific importance of precise language when discussing pandemic risk, illustrating how alternative definitions affect the conclusions of modelling studies. This serves to highlight that those working on pandemic preparedness must remain alert to the variability in the use of the term ‘pandemic’, and provide specific quantitative definitions when undertaking one of the types of analysis that we show to be sensitive to the pandemic definition.

AN OVERVIEW OF ANIMAL FOSTER HOMES IN BRAZIL

Animal foster homes (AFHs) provide shelter for abandoned animals and are an essential part of street population management programs. An online survey was conducted in Brazil with questions about general aspects of AFHs. A total of 150 caregivers responded, most were female (n=140; 93.3%) with a mean age of 35.4 years. AFHs in most cases conduct vaccination (n=103; 68.3%), treatment for internal parasites (n=142; 94.7%), external parasites (n=138; 92.0%) and neutering (n=113; 75.3%) to animals in their care. The principal problem for AFHs is finding adopters (n=122; 81.3%) and indeed most caregivers adopted some of the animals under their care (n=129; 86.0%). Although most AFHs reported having no limit on housing time (n=61; 40.7%), there were significant differences between short-term (< 3 months) and long term (>24 months) housing. Long-term AFHs sheltered to more than 20 animals (P<0.05), frequently from the streets (P<0.05). Short-term AFHs offered shelter to fewer than six animals (P<0.05), and generally housed old (P<0.05), chronically ill (P<0.05), amputees (P<0.05), deaf or blind animals (P<0.05) – often at the request of rescue groups (P<0.05). Sheltering fewer (<6) animals guaranteed greater adoptability in a shorter timeframe, thus avoiding kennel stress, overcrowding and potentially reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.

Disease Emergence in Multi-Patch Stochastic Epidemic Models with Demographic and Seasonal Variability.

Factors such as seasonality and spatial connectivity affect the spread of an infectious disease. Accounting for these factors in infectious disease models provides useful information on the times and locations of greatest risk for disease outbreaks. In this investigation, stochastic multi-patch epidemic models are formulated with seasonal and demographic variability. The stochastic models are used to investigate the probability of a disease outbreak when infected individuals are introduced into one or more of the patches. Seasonal variation is included through periodic transmission and dispersal rates. Multi-type branching process approximation and application of the backward Kolmogorov differential equation lead to an estimate for the probability of a disease outbreak. This estimate is also periodic and depends on the time, the location, and the number of initial infected individuals introduced into the patch system as well as the magnitude of the transmission and dispersal rates and the connectivity between patches. Examples are given for seasonal transmission and dispersal in two and three patches.

HIGHER INFECTION PREVALENCE IN AMPHIBIANS INHABITING HUMAN-MADE COMPARED TO NATURAL WETLANDS.

It is unclear how suitable human-made wetlands are for supporting wildlife and how they impact wildlife disease risk. Natural wetlands (those that were created without human actions) can support more diverse and resilient communities that are at lower risk of disease outbreaks. We compared frog community composition and infection with the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) between human-made and natural wetlands in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, US. We conducted visual encounter surveys of frog communities and quantified Bd infection prevalence at four natural and five human-made wetlands. Water parameters associated with human practices (e.g., pH, salinity) and surrounding land use were also compared across sites. We found higher Bd infection prevalence at human-made sites than at natural sites, with monthly differences showing highest infection in spring and fall, and decreasing infection with increasing water temperature. However, we found no differences between human-made and natural sites regarding amphibian community composition, water quality, or surrounding land use. Further, we found frog density increased with distance to nearest roads among both human-made and natural sites. These findings might suggest that human-made wetlands can support frog communities similar to natural wetlands, but pose a greater risk of Bd infection.

Molecular breeding of wheat lines for multiple rust and Fusarium head blight resistance

Bread wheat is a widely cultivated crop with production that is often negatively influenced by disease outbreaks. Biological constraints in production include the wheat rusts (leaf rust, stem rust and stripe rust) and Fusarium head blight (FHB). Different strategies are available in the control of these important fungal diseases. However, resistance breeding remains the preferred option of control as it lowers the risk of disease outbreaks and is a more cost effective and environmentally friendly approach. Many effective rust and FHB resistance genes have been discovered and successfully deployed through resistance breeding worldwide. However, some of these genes, when deployed singly, are vulnerable to evolving pathogens. In this study we aimed to develop wheat lines with the prospect of durable resistance against the rusts and FHB through combining eight resistance genes/quantitative trait loci; Lr19, Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38/Ltn1, Sr2/Yr30, Sr26, Sr39, Fhb1, Qfhs.ifa-5A-1 and Qfhs.ifa-5A-2 into a single wheat plant using marker-assisted selection. Cross and self-pollinated populations were developed to increase the frequency and homozygosity levels of resistance genes in progeny. Molecular markers were furthermore applied to determine the identity of the high molecular weight-glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) and to screen for the presence of the 1BL.1RS translocation in the final populations. We were successful in developing wheat plants containing complex sources of rust and FHB resistance and confirmed the presence of HMW-GS markers linked to strong dough strength and good bread making qualities in these genotypes.

Impact of a reduced water salinity on the composition of Vibrio spp. in recirculating aquaculture systems for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and its possible risks for shrimp health and food safety.

Tropical shrimp, like Litopenaeus vannamei, in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are often kept at low water salinities to reduce costs for artificial sea salt and the amount of salty wastewater. Although these shrimp are tolerant against low salinities, innate immunity suppression and changes in the microbial composition in the water can occur. As especially Vibrio spp. are relevant for shrimp health, alterations in the species composition of the Vibrio community were analysed in water from six RAS, run at 15‰ or 30‰. Additionally, pathogenicity factors including pirA/B, VPI, toxR, toxS, vhh, vfh, tdh, trh, flagellin genes and T6SS1/2 of V.parahaemolyticus were analysed. The Vibrio composition differed significantly depending on water salinity. In RAS at 15‰, higher numbers of the potentially pathogenic species V.parahaemolyticus, V.owensii and V.campbellii were detected, and especially in V.parahaemolyticus, various pathogenicity factors were present. A reduced salinity may therefore pose a higher risk of disease outbreaks in shrimp RAS. Because some of the detected pathogenicity factors are relevant for human health, this might also affect food safety. In order to produce healthy shrimp as a safe food for human consumption, maintaining high water salinities seems to be recommendable.