Beyond abundance: How microenvironmental features and weather influence Bartonella tribocorum infection in wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)
This study is an important first step to understanding how environment and weather impacts rat infections including zoonotic pathogen ecology in urban ecosystems. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: J. L. Rothenburger, C. G. Himsworth, N. M. Nemeth, D. L. Pearl, C. M. Jardine Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
High diversity of medically important gastrointestinal rodent ‐borne helminths in Singapore
This study demonstrates the diversity of helminths that are parasitizing the small mammals in Singapore. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: I. H. Mendenhall, L. Ch'ng, E. S. Neves, S. A. Borthwick, G. J. D. Smith Tags: SHORT COMMUNICATION Source Type: research
Risk of exposure to Coxiella burnetii from ruminant livestock exhibited at Iowa agricultural fairs
Summary
Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic pathogen typically associated with clinical and asymptomatic infection in ruminant livestock. A re‐emerging pathogen of significant public health importance, C. burnetii has caused recent epidemics in the United States and Europe, and public livestock exhibitions are increasingly scrutinized as a potential source of C. burnetii exposure. Although C. burnetii prevalence data among North American domestic ruminants are extremely limited, contemporary studies suggest that this pathogen is both geographically widespread and highly prevalent on a herd basis, especially in dairy cattl...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: K. M. Still Brooks, W. R. Stensland, K. M. Harmon, A. M. O'Connor, P. J. Plummer Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Zoonotic origin and transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the UAE
In this study, we sequenced whole MERS‐CoV genomes directly from respiratory samples collected from 23 confirmed MERS cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These samples included cases from three nosocomial and three household clusters. The sequences were analysed for changes and relatedness with regard to the collected epidemiological data and other available MERS‐CoV genomic data. Sequence analysis supports the epidemiological data within the clusters, and further, suggests that these clusters emerged independently. To understand how and when these clusters emerged, respiratory samples were taken from dromedary ca...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: C. R. Paden, M. F. B. M. Yusof, Z. M. Al Hammadi, K. Queen, Y. Tao, Y. M. Eltahir, E. A. Elsayed, B. A. Marzoug, O. K. A. Bensalah, A. I. Khalafalla, M. Al Mulla, K. A. Elkheir, Z. B. Issa, K. Pradeep, F. N. Elsaleh, H. Imambaccus, J. Sasse, S. Weber, M. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Detection and genetic characterization of diverse Bartonella genotypes in the small mammals of Singapore
Summary
Bartonella species are arthropod‐borne bacterial pathogens that infect numerous mammalian species. Small mammals play an important role as natural reservoirs of many Bartonella species, maintaining the greatest diversity of Bartonella described to date. Although Bartonella research has been conducted in Southeast Asia, no studies have been undertaken on small mammals in Singapore. Here, we report the detection and description of Bartonella in small mammals in Singapore during the period of November 2011 to May 2014. BartonellaDNA was detected in 20.8% (22/106) of small mammal spleens with a PCR amplifying the bet...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: E. S. Neves, I. H. Mendenhall, S. A. Borthwick, Y. C. F. Su, G. J. D. Smith Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
The challenges of implementing an integrated One Health surveillance system in Australia
This study aims to explore how professionals in these fields perceive a One Health approach to zoonotic disease surveillance, aiming to identify the challenges to the implementation of an integrated system in Australia. Using a qualitative research method, ten semistructured interviews were conducted with academic experts to gain insight into the possibility of developing an integrated surveillance system in Australia. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken. Findings showed the absence of a clear definition and subsequent vision for the future of One Health act as a barrier to interdisciplinary collaboration, and t...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: I. Johnson, A. Hansen, P. Bi Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Potential exposure to Australian bat lyssavirus is unlikely to prevent future bat handling among adults in South East Queensland
Summary
Despite ongoing public health messages about the risks associated with bat contact, the number of potential exposures to Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) due to intentional handling by members of the general public in Queensland has remained high. We sought to better understand the reasons for intentional handling among these members of the public who reported their potential exposure to inform future public health messages. We interviewed adults who resided in a defined geographic area in South East Queensland and notified potential exposure to ABLV due to intentional handling of bats by telephone between 1 Januar...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: M. K. Young, S. Banu, B. J. McCall, S. Vlack, H. Carroll, S. Bennett, R. Davison, D. Francis Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Systematic Review: Impact of point sources on antibiotic ‐resistant bacteria in the natural environment
This article summarizes the evidence only for those studies with ARB outcomes (n = 47). Thirty‐five studies were at high (n = 11) or at unclear (n = 24) risk of bias in the estimation of source effects due to lack of information and/or failure to control for confounders. Statistical analysis was used in ten studies, of which one assessed the effect of multiple sources using modelling approaches; none reported effect measures. Most studies reported higher ARB prevalence or concentration downstream/near the source. However, this evidence was primarily descriptive and it could not be concluded that there is a clear im...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - December 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: I. Bueno, J. Williams ‐Nguyen, H. Hwang, J. M. Sargeant, A. J. Nault, R. S. Singer Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Phenotypic and genotypic comparison of salmonellae from diarrhoeic and healthy humans and cattle, Nigeria
This study compared phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Salmonellae isolated from cattle and humans. Faecal samples of diarrhoeic patients (n = 234), and a healthy population (n = 160), beef cattle at slaughter (n = 250), farms (n = 72) and market (n = 100) were cultured for salmonellae and serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility were determined. Whole‐genome sequence typing (WGST) of selected isolates and bioinformatic analysis were used to identify the multilocus sequence type (MLST), plasmid replicons, antimicrobial resistance genes and genetic relatedness by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 29, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: K. Fashae, P. Leekitcharoenphon, R. S. Hendriksen Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Salmonella in breeding pigs: Shedding pattern, transmission of infection and the role of environmental contamination in Irish commercial farrow ‐to‐finish herds
This study aimed to provide new insights into the epidemiology of Salmonella in pig production, focusing on potential shedding patterns in breeding pigs throughout a full production cycle and the risk of transmission of infection from the sow to her offspring. A longitudinal study was conducted on five farrow‐to‐finish commercial pig farms. In each herd, shedding of Salmonella in faeces was monitored in breeders through service, gestation and lactation. Swabs of the farrowing room floor and pools of faeces from piglets were collected on two occasions during lactation. Environmental pen swabs were also taken in the wean...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 28, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: H. Lynch, K. Walia, F. C. Leonard, P. G. Lawlor, E. G. Manzanilla, J. Grant, G. Duffy, G. E. Gardiner, M. Cormican, J. King, B. K. Markey, S. Fanning, H. Arg üello Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Educating youth swine exhibitors on influenza A virus transmission at agricultural fairs
Summary
Influenza A virus (IAV) is a major zoonotic pathogen that threatens global public health. Novel strains of influenza A viruses pose a significant risk to public health due to their pandemic potential, and transmission of influenza A viruses from animals to humans is an important mechanism in the generation and introduction of IAVs that threaten human health. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to develop real‐life training scenarios to better inform swine exhibitors of the risks they may encounter when influenza A viruses are present in swine. Educational activities were implemented in five Oh...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 18, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: J. M. Nolting, J. Midla, M. S. Whittington, S. D. Scheer, A. S. Bowman Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Do animal exhibitors support and follow recommendations to prevent transmission of variant influenza at agricultural fairs? A survey of animal exhibitor households after a variant influenza virus outbreak in Michigan
Summary
Influenza A viruses circulate in swine and can spread rapidly among swine when housed in close proximity, such as at agricultural fairs. Youth who have close and prolonged contact with influenza‐infected swine at agricultural fairs may be at increased risk of acquiring influenza virus infection from swine. Animal and human health officials have issued written measures to minimize influenza transmission at agricultural exhibitions; however, there is little information on the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of these measures among animal exhibitors. After an August 2016 outbreak of influenza A(H3N2) varian...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 16, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: R. J. Stewart, J. Rossow, J. T. Conover, E. E. Lobelo, S. Eckel, K. Signs, M. G. Stobierski, S. C. Trock, A. M. Fry, S. J. Olsen, M. Biggerstaff Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Spatial variation in the parasite communities and genomic structure of urban rats in New York City
In this study, we use ecological data on parasites and genomic sequencing of their rat hosts to examine associations between spatial proximity, genetic relatedness and the parasite communities associated with 133 rats at five sites in sections of New York City with persistent rat infestations. We build on previous work showing that rats in New York carry a wide variety of parasites and report that these communities differ significantly among sites, even across small geographical distances. Ectoparasite community similarity was positively associated with geographical proximity; however, there was no general association betw...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 16, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: L. P. Angley, M. Combs, C. Firth, M. J. Frye, I. Lipkin, J. L. Richardson, J. Munshi ‐South Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Porcine respiratory disease complex after the introduction of H1N1/2009 influenza virus in Brazil
Summary
From 2009 to 2015, 74 lungs from suckling (6.8%), nursing (70.3%), fattening (20.3%) pigs and pregnant sows (2.7%) with respiratory signs from pig farms in Southern Brazil were submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for necropsy and/or histologic examination and screening for respiratory agents by RT‐qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), virus isolation (VI) and subtyping for influenza A virus (IAV), IHC and nested PCR for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo), PCR for porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), RT‐qPCR for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and bacterial culture. All lung samples were positive f...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 15, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: R. R. Rech, D. Gava, M. C. Silva, L. T. Fernandes, V. Haach, J. R. Ciacci ‐Zanella, R. Schaefer Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Serological evidence for the co ‐circulation of two lineages of influenza D viruses in equine populations of the Midwest United States
This study was designed to determine if equine is a possible host to this newly emerging influenza virus. Three hundred and sixty‐four equine serum samples were collected in 2015 from 141 farms within the Midwestern United States. Serum samples were examined using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay against two established IDV lineages (D/OK and D/660) and one IDV‐related human ICV lineage (C/JHB). Results of this study showed 44 (44 of 364, 12%) samples positive for antibodies against D/OK, 39 (39 of 364, 11%) samples positive for antibodies against D/660, and 41 (41 of 364, 11%) samples positive for antibodies aga...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - November 14, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: H. Nedland, J. Wollman, C. Sreenivasan, M. Quast, A. Singrey, L. Fawcett, J. Christopher ‐Hennings, E. Nelson, R. S. Kaushik, D. Wang, F. Li Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
