scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum infection in ovine flocks of central-western Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Manuel Romo-Gallegos ◽  
Carlos Cruz-Vázquez ◽  
Leticia Medina-Esparza ◽  
Miguel Ramos-Parra ◽  
Dora Romero-Salas

This study, carried out in 13 sheep flocks of central-western Mexico, aimed to identify the prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies, to develop a risk analysis of the infection and to estimate the prevalence of parasite DNA in blood. A total of 368 serum and blood samples were subjected to ELISA and PCR tests, respectively, and the association between the prevalence of antibodies and some management factors was estimated. The overall prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 13.5% [50/368; 95% confidence interval (CI) 10–17], ranging from 2.7 to 90% per flock, and 92% of the farms had seropositive animals. In ewes the prevalence was 14% (48/348, 95% CI 10–17) and in rams 10% (2/20; 95% CI 1– 33). The mean prevalence of Neospora DNA in blood was 27% (99/368, 95% CI 22–31), implying a range between 16 and 82%. In rams, the prevalence was 5% (1/20 95% CI 2–26), while in ewes it was 28% (98/348, 95% CI 23–33). The agreement between the tests was k = 0.19. The presence of other domestic animal species in the farms [odds ratio (OR) 4.4] and the consumption of placental debris, fetuses and stillborn lambs by dogs living in the farms (OR 5.8) were demonstrated to be risk factors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henock Woldu ◽  
B. Joseph Guglielmo

Background: Particularly with the current increased vancomycin dosing trends, the true risk of the agent’s nephrotoxicity is not well characterized and remains of concern. Objective: To determine the incidence of vancomycin nephrotoxicity in acutely ill hospitalized children and to secondarily characterize the risk factors for this complication. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital from June 2012 to June 2015. Inpatients 3 months to <19 years who received intravenous vancomycin for ≥48 hours were included. The primary outcome was incidence of nephrotoxicity, defined as an increase in serum creatinine by ≥50% from baseline. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for vancomycin nephrotoxicity. Results: A total of 291 patients (272 nonnephrotoxic and 19 nephrotoxic) were included in the analysis. Of the 19 patients, 12 (4.1%) were found to have moderate to severe toxicity. The median duration of therapy was 3 (3-5) and 4 (3-6) days for the group with “no nephrotoxicity” and “nephrotoxicity,” respectively. The mean time for the serum creatinine to return to normal in patients with nephrotoxicity was 5.1 days. In the multivariate analysis, only final trough concentration ≥15mg/dL (odds ratio = 3.49, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-10.1; P = .021) and receipt of piperacillin/tazobactam (odds ratio = 3.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-9.6; P = .046) were significantly associated with nephrotoxicity. Conclusion: The rate of moderate to severe vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity in acutely ill children is relatively uncommon and reversible. Kidney injury is associated with increased vancomycin trough concentrations and concomitant receipt of nephrotoxins, particularly piperacillin/tazobactam.


2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (10) ◽  
pp. 2116-2125 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. SANHUEZA ◽  
C. HEUER ◽  
P. R. WILSON ◽  
J. BENSCHOP ◽  
J. M. COLLINS-EMERSON

SUMMARYThis study assessed seroprevalence and risk factors for Leptospira (serovars Hardjo, Pomona, Ballum, Copenhageni, Tarassovi) exposure in New Zealand veterinarians. Veterinarians (n = 277) at one of two conferences were voluntarily enrolled and blood samples taken. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titres ⩾48 were considered seropositive. Fourteen veterinarians (5·1%, 95% confidence interval 2·8−8·3) were seropositive to Leptospira. Home slaughter of cattle or pigs were significant risk factors for Leptospira exposure. There were no clear relationships between the animal species handled at work and serostatus. However, veterinarians spending a ‘mid to high’ proportion of their time (>50% to ⩽75%) with pets had higher odds of being seropositive than those not working with pets. A borderline positive association (P = 0·09) was observed between seropositivity and clinical influenza-like illness (⩾3 days off work) in the 18 months before the study. Assuming causality, this suggests that 8·3% of these cases may be attributed to Leptospira exposure.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Malik ◽  
Haseeb Rahman ◽  
Adnan Qureshi ◽  
Martha A Wojtowycz

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether having an optimistic outlook on life decreases the risk of developing incident stroke. Methods: Participants who developed incident stroke in Americans’ Changing Lives study, and participants who did not develop incident stroke (dependent variable) in were compared for demographics, baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and optimistic outlook on life. Numbers and proportions of respondents in both groups were reported for all categorical variables, while mean and standard deviation were reported for age. All statistically significant variables from the above analyses were entered into a logistic regression analysis to ascertain the association between optimistic outlook on life and stroke. Results: Of the 98,577,928 participants, 73,040,055 did not have stroke at baseline. There were 599,190 who developed incident stroke and 1,104,751 who did not develop incident stroke. The mean age (standard deviation) was lower in those who developed incident stroke compared to those who did not [45.9 (13.8) vs. 46.4 (9.9) p<.0001], and participants with an optimistic outlook on life, were 0.20 times less likely to develop stroke as those who did not have an optimistic outlook on life [OR (Odds ratio) 0.20 95% CI (95% confidence interval) 0.20,0.21], after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: People who have an optimistic outlook on life are less likely to develop incident stroke. The protective value of optimism lends credence to the value of targeting unconventional risk factors in stroke prevention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicitas Schulz ◽  
Ekkehart Jenetzky ◽  
Nadine Zwink ◽  
Charlotte Bendixen ◽  
Florian Kipfmueller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Evidence for periconceptional or prenatal environmental risk factors for the development of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is still scarce. Here, in a case-control study we investigated potential environmental risk factors in 199 CDH patients compared to 597 healthy control newborns. Methods The following data was collected: time of conception and birth, maternal BMI, parental risk factors such as smoking, alcohol or drug intake, use of hairspray, contact to animals and parental chronic diseases. CDH patients were born between 2001 and 2019, all healthy control newborns were born in 2011. Patients and control newborns were matched in the ratio of three to one. Results Presence of CDH was significantly associated with maternal periconceptional alcohol intake (odds ratio = 1.639, 95% confidence interval 1.101–2.440, p = 0.015) and maternal periconceptional use of hairspray (odds ratio = 2.072, 95% confidence interval 1.330–3.229, p = 0.001). Conclusion Our study suggests an association between CDH and periconceptional maternal alcohol intake and periconceptional maternal use of hairspray. Besides the identification of novel and confirmation of previously described parental risk factors, our study underlines the multifactorial background of isolated CDH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Aoun ◽  
Rabab Khalil ◽  
Walid Mahfoud ◽  
Haytham Fatfat ◽  
Line Bou Khalil ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 have been reported to be at higher risk for death than the general population. Several prognostic factors have been identified in the studies from Asian, European or American countries. This is the first national Lebanese study assessing the factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 mortality in hemodialysis patients. Methods This is an observational study that included all chronic hemodialysis patients in Lebanon who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from 31st March to 1st November 2020. Data on demographics, comorbidities, admission to hospital and outcome were collected retrospectively from the patients’ medical records. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors for mortality. Results A total of 231 patients were included. Mean age was 61.46 ± 13.99 years with a sex ratio of 128 males to 103 females. Around half of the patients were diabetics, 79.2% presented with fever. A total of 115 patients were admitted to the hospital, 59% of them within the first day of diagnosis. Hypoxia was the major reason for hospitalization. Death rate was 23.8% after a median duration of 6 (IQR, 2 to 10) days. Adjusted regression analysis showed a higher risk for death among older patients (odds ratio = 1.038; 95% confidence interval: 1.013, 1.065), patients with heart failure (odds ratio = 4.42; 95% confidence interval: 2.06, 9.49), coronary artery disease (odds ratio = 3.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.69, 6.30), multimorbidities (odds ratio = 1.593; 95% confidence interval: 1.247, 2.036), fever (odds ratio = 6.66; 95% confidence interval: 1.94, 27.81), CRP above 100 mg/L (odds ratio = 4.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.48, 15.30), and pneumonia (odds ratio = 19.18; 95% confidence interval: 6.47, 56.83). Conclusions This national study identified older age, coronary artery disease, heart failure, multimorbidities, fever and pneumonia as risk factors for death in patients with COVID-19 on chronic hemodialysis. The death rate was comparable to other countries and estimated at 23.8%.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Silvia M. Cardoso ◽  
Michele Honicky ◽  
Yara M. F. Moreno ◽  
Luiz R. A. de Lima ◽  
Matheus A. Pacheco ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Subclinical atherosclerosis in childhood can be evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness, which is considered a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic disease in adulthood. The aims of this study were to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness and, to investigate associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study with children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed. Subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as physical activity, screen time, passive smoke, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, dietary intake, lipid parameters, glycaemia, and C-reactive protein, were also assessed. Factors associated with carotid intima-media thickness were analysed using multiple logistic regression. Results: The mean carotid intima-media thickness was 0.518 mm and 46.7% had subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness ≥ 97th percentile). After adjusting for confounding factors, cyanotic CHD (odds ratio: 0.40; 95% confidence interval: 0.20; 0.78), cardiac surgery (odds ratio: 3.17; 95% confidence interval: 1.35; 7.48), and be hospitalised to treat infections (odds ratio: 1.92; 95% confidence interval: 1.04; 3.54) were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics related to CHD were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. This finding suggests that the presence of CHD itself is a risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis. Therefore, the screen and control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors should be made early and intensively to prevent atherosclerosis.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Stefania Perrucci ◽  
Lisa Guardone ◽  
Iolanda Altomonte ◽  
Federica Salari ◽  
Simona Nardoni ◽  
...  

Donkeys may be susceptible to many pathological agents and may act as carriers of pathogens for other animal species and humans. This study evaluated the occurrence of potentially abortifacient apicomplexan protozoa DNA in blood and milk samples collected at different time periods during lactation (1, 6, and 10 months) from 33 healthy dairy jennies. A total of 73 blood and 73 milk samples were used for DNA extraction and analysis. Blood specimens from 11/33 (33%) jennies scored positive for Theileria equi, while milk samples scored negative. Blood and milk of 3/33 jennies yielded DNA of Toxoplasma gondii at 6 months (n. 1) and 10 months (n. 2) after parturition. Neospora caninum DNA was found in four milk and in five blood samples only at one month after parturition. This study is the first report about the presence of N. caninum DNA in milk of naturally infected jennies. Moreover, the excretion of N. caninum DNA in some of these jennies at 30 days from the parturition may suggest a possible occurrence of an endogenous cycle, while the presence of T. gondii DNA in the milk collected at 6 and 10 months after parturition may be suggestive of a discontinuous excretion.


2017 ◽  
Vol 242 ◽  
pp. 22-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing-Feng Meng ◽  
Gui-Zhe Yao ◽  
Si-Yuan Qin ◽  
Jian Wu ◽  
Xi-Chen Zhang ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
José Luis Salguero-Romero ◽  
Dora Romero-Salas ◽  
Anabel Cruz-Romero ◽  
Miguel A. Alonso-Díaz ◽  
Mariel Aguilar-Domínguez ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1009-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Sousa ◽  
J.N. Porto Wagnner ◽  
Pedro P.F. Albuquerque ◽  
Orestes L. Souza Neto ◽  
Eduardo B. Faria ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle from milk producing farms of the microregion of Batalha, state of Alagoas, Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with the infection. Blood samples were collected from 1,004 cattle of 17 farms for the serological investigation regarding the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction Technique (IMRT). From the total amount of samples analyzed, 77/1,004 (7.67%) were positive and 927/1,004 (92.33%) were negative. The logistical regression identified that cattle from farms without consortium breeding have an infection risk 6.33 (p<0.001; C.I. 2.89-13.10) times higher than cattle from farms with that type of breeding. Cattle from farms where the aborted fetuses are not adequately buried have an infection risk 3.04 (p<0.001; C.I. 1.64-5.63) times higher than cattle from farms with adequate destination of these fetuses. Infection by N. caninum occurs in cattle of the investigated region. The factors identified in our study can be used as risk indicators, so that control measures could be implemented to avoid infection by N. caninum in the herds of this region.


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