Seroprevalence and risk factors for brucellosis in a high-risk group of individuals in Bangladesh

Brucellosis is an occupational hazard of livestock farmers, dairy workers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, and laboratory personnel, all of whom are considered to belong to the high-risk occupational group (HROG). A study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis, identify risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity, and detect Brucella at genus level using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among people in the HROG in the Dhaka division of Bangladesh. A sample of 500 individuals from the HROG was collected from three districts of Dhaka division of Bangladesh. A multiple random effects logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors. Two types of real-time PCR methods were applied to detect Brucella genus-specific DNA using serum from seropositive patients. The prevalence of brucellosis based on the three tests was observed to be 4.4% based on a parallel interpretation. The results of the multiple random effects logistic regression analysis with random intercept for district revealed that the odds of brucellosis seropositivity among individuals who had been in contact with livestock for more than 26 years was about 14 times higher as compared to those who had less than 5 years of contact with livestock. In addition, when the contact was with goats, the odds of brucellosis seropositivity were about 60 times higher as compared to when contact was with cattle only. Noticeable variation in brucellosis seropositivity among humans within the three districts was noted. All of the 13 individuals who tested positive for the serological tests were also positive in two types of real-time PCR using the same serum samples. Livestock farmers of brucellosis positive herds had a significantly higher probability to be seropositive for brucellosis. The study emphasized that contact with livestock, especially goats, is a significant risk factor for the transmission of brucellosis among individuals in the HROG.     

乌兰察布市人间布病血清学筛查报告及防治对策

目的通过大范围对布病高危人群主动筛查,做到人间布病早发现、早诊断、早报告、早治疗,防止布病慢性化。方法对网报有人间布病病例的自然村和畜间有阳性畜的自然村,开展全人口布病血清学普遍筛查。结果布病患病率(2915/150289)1939.60/10万;布病发病率(1012/150289)673.37/10万。结论通过大范围主动筛查,使布病患者得到及时规范免费治疗,防止了布病慢性化。     

辽西地区职业人群布鲁氏菌病患病的影响因素分析

[目的]了解辽西地区（凌海、朝阳、兴城、绥中、葫芦岛市）布鲁氏菌病（简称布病）患病的影响因素,为进一步制定预防和干预措施提供科学依据。[方法]采用单纯随机抽样的方法对辽西地区牲畜饲养、贩买及采购、屠宰、兽医等职业人群进行问卷调查。对调查资料进行,检验及多因素非条件Logistic回归分析。[结果]共调查职业人群1740人,其中布病患者98人,总患病率为5．63％。接触流产牲畜者患病率明显高于未接触者（P〈0．001）。不同年龄、不同文化程度、不同职业人群布病患病率差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．001）。经,检验得出10个影响布病患病的可疑危险因素。经多因素非条件Logistic回归分析,得出6个布病危险因素：饲养牲畜不进行免疫（OR=12．756）、不使用消毒液（OR=5．303）、不使用防护衣或手套（OR=3．265）、牲畜粪便不进行无害化处理（OR=3．129）、接触流产牲畜（OR=2．892）、购买牲畜不检疫（OR=2．549）。[结论]职业人群布病知识的缺乏及自我防护意识的淡薄,不良的生活习惯和行为是布病发生的主要原因。     

Prevalence of antibodies to Brucella spp. and risk factors related to high-risk occupational groups in Eritrea

In a study of three high-risk occupational groups using Rose Bengal and complement fixation tests, the highest prevalence (7.1%) was found among dairy farm workers and owners in randomly selected dairy-cattle farms, followed by veterinary personnel (4.5%) and inhabitants in pastoralist areas (3.0%). There was no evidence for significant differences between the three populations. Among dairy farm workers, a higher risk was associated with the presence of sheep in the farm (OR = 13.2, CI = 2.2-76.7). In the pastoral area, a high risk was linked to having close contact with animals (OR = 6.32, CI = 0.88-infinity), while a reduced risk was seen for contact with cattle (OR = 0.18, CI = 0-1.30). Symptoms suggestive of brucellosis were more commonly observed among the dairy farm workers, mainly found in the highlands, than among the pastoralist area inhabitants, where malaria is prevalent. The study documents not only the presence of serological and clinical evidence of human brucellosis, but also risk factors related to it in Eritrea, for the first time.     

中国中部有偿献血地区某行政村艾滋病病毒感染状况的研究

目的 研究中国中部献血地区某行政村艾滋病病毒(HIV)的感染状况以及HIV从感染人群向一般人群的传播途径和动力。方法 对户口属于该村的全体居民进行HIV筛查,对年龄>16岁的筛查居民进行入户问卷调查,收集该村已经进行HIV检查的记录以及死于艾滋病居民名单。结果 全村总共527户家庭,总人口2364人,65.6％的居民共1551人参加了筛查,完成问卷926份;HIV阳性居民总共144例,总阳性率为9.1％(7.7％～10.6％);全村19.6％的家庭有HIV血清阳性成员,2例以上HIV阳性的家庭占所有阳性家庭的25％;参加筛查的居民HIV阳性率性别间差异无显著性,年龄组间差异有显著性,以40～50岁组为最高;有偿献血员的阳性率为22.4％,参加筛查的HIV阳性居民中,有0.9％为输血感染,9.6％为性接触感染,5.2％为母婴感染。结论 中部献血地区某些村庄HIV感染率较高,主要以过去献血感染为主,性接触传播和母婴传播目前已成为献血地区HIV感染的主要途径,应采取综合措施遏制其进一步扩散。     

Trichinella infection in a hunting population of Papua New Guinea suggests an ancient relationship between Trichinella and human beings

A new Trichinella species, Trichinella papuae, was discovered in 11.5% of wild pigs in a remote region of Papua New Guinea. A survey was conducted to determine whether the inhabitants of this region are infected with Trichinella, as wild-pig meat represents their main source of protein. The prevalence of anti-Trichinella antibodies and its determinants were assessed among the inhabitants in 51 of the villages in the Morehead District of Papua New Guinea. We tested and interviewed 1536 people (28.8% of the adult population). Anti-Trichinella IgG were detected in 10.0% (95% Cl 8.5-11.6%) of them. The prevalence of seropositivity was higher in males (12.7%) than in females (7.5%) (P<0.01), and the seroprevalence significantly increased with age. In one area, seroprevalence was highest in villages nearest the hunting area in which wild pigs are infected with Trichinella papuae (P<0.01). Seropositivity was also correlated with the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Persons reporting pain in the muscle joints and limbs were more likely to be seropositive; no severe clinical manifestations were observed. That infection was never severe suggests that the seropositive people are reinfected relatively often, but with very few larvae. If the epidemiological pattern of Trichinella infection observed among the hunting population of this area is any indication of the pattern of infection in prehistoric hunters, we can speculate that Trichinella infection due to the consumption of meat from wild animals was possibly a common disease among prehistoric populations.     

山东省166例布鲁氏菌病患者资料分析

[目的]了解山东省人间布病疫情的变化趋势及其流行病学特点，为有效控制人间布病疫情提供科学依据。[方法]2005年1～11月，在山东省选取2005年布病新发疫点及老疫点，对布病高危人群及其密切接触者进行调查。[结果]确诊布病患者166例，其中2005年新发病人136例，2001-2004年发病的分别为1例、1例、3例、25例。136例新发病人中，3月发病的37例，31-40岁51例、41-50岁53例，菏泽市116例、德州市23例，因剥羊皮和牲畜养殖过程中感染发病的分别为77例、54例。[结论]山东省人间布病的传染源、传播途径均呈现多样化。     

Serological and bacteriological study of brucellosis in camels in central Saudi Arabia.

Sera from 2,630 apparently normal adult camels (Camelus dromedarius) raised in central Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Al-Kharj cities) were examined serologically by the Rose Bengal and standard United States of America Brucella plate agglutination tests. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis in the restricted populations of tested camels was 8%. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among camels raised in small numbers in the backyards of 24 houses in Riyadh and those intensively raised on one large camel farm near Al-Kharj were 4.3% and 8.6% respectively. Fresh milk samples from 100 brucellosis seropositive camels from Riyadh and Al-Kharj were cultured on Brucella-selective media. Brucella melitensis biovars 1 and 2 were isolated and identified from 26 camels. Epidemiologically, brucellosis in camels in central Saudi Arabia appeared to be connected with B. melitensis infection of sheep and goats, and also represents a serious public health risk.     

庆云县53例布鲁氏菌病病例流行病学分析

[目的]了解庆云县人间布病疫情的流行病学特征,为控制策略提供依据。[方法]在布病监测点对布病发病的高危人群及其密切接触者进行调查。[结果]2003~2008年确诊布病病例53例,病例集中在2~5月,年龄以青壮年为主,病例主要集中在1个村,因剥羊皮感染发病的占75.47%。[结论]省外疫区购入未检疫的不明原因病死羊羔为庆云县布病的主要传染源,传播途径较为单一。     

Raising the level of analysis of food-borne outbreaks: food-sharing networks in rural coastal Ecuador

OBJECTIVES: Consuming contaminated food is a well-documented individual-level risk factor for diarrheal disease. The sharing of food also influences the distribution of diarrheal disease risk through a community and region. Understanding this social process at a population level is therefore an important dimension of risk not captured by standard individual-level analyses. We examined social networks related to food-sharing in rural villages at 2 scales: within a village, examining whether connections within these networks clustered or were uniformly spread; and among villages, looking at whether food-sharing networks differed according to the village's remoteness from a population center. METHODS: We surveyed 2129 individuals aged 13 years and older in 2003-2004, within a representative (block-randomized) sample of 21 rural villages in Esmeraldas province, northern coastal Ecuador. We calculated degree (number of social contacts) for a social network defined by sharing food. RESULTS: Networks of households sharing food differ according to remoteness from a metropolitan center. On average, residents living in "far villages" had 2 more social contacts than those in "close villages," and 12 more years of residence in their village. Estimates of transmissibility (a measure of outbreak potential) based on network structure varied as much as 2-fold across these villages. CONCLUSIONS: Food-sharing practices link particular households in rural villages and have implications for the spread of food-borne pathogens. The food-sharing networks in remote rural villages are heterogeneous and clustered, consistent with contemporary theories about disease transmitters. Network-based measures may offer tools for predicting patterns of disease outbreaks, as well as guidance for interventions.     

Epidemiology of human brucellosis in a defined area of Northwestern Greece

Despite a European co-financial programme for control and eradication of brucellosis in Southern Europe, there is evidence that foci of brucellosis still exists in Greece and other Southern European countries. Human brucellosis cases are probably underreported in these countries. A local surveillance system was implemented in a defined region of Northwestern Greece, in order to record and study all human brucellosis cases, using several sources of retrieval. A total of 152 newly diagnosed cases were recorded during a 2-year study period (from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2004). The age- and sex-adjusted mean annual incidence rate for the population of the study area was 17.3 cases/10(5) inhabitants. Incomplete application of the control and eradication programme in livestock, and the possible illegal trafficking of animals and their products across the Greek-Albanian border could be responsible for the persistence of foci of brucellosis in the area.     

Human toxoplasmosis in Somalia. Prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in a village in the lower Scebelli region and in Mogadishu

The acquisition of Toxoplasma antibodies in various age groups was studied in 2 populations in Somalia, inhabitants of a village in the southern part of the country and residents in Mogadishu. The overall prevalence of antibodies was 56% in the village and 40% in Mogadishu. In both populations, antibodies were acquired early in life. At the age of 10 years, 44% of the villagers and 31% of the Mogadishu children were seropositive. In Europe and the USA the highest rate of antibody acquisition has been recorded in young adults. This difference may indicate different routes of transmission. In Europe and the USA Toxoplasma is transmitted mainly by the ingestion of undercooked pork or lamb. Undercooked meat is seldom consumed in Somalia, and pork not at all. However, the soil in Somalia is heavily contaminated with cat faeces and the humid climate in the southern part of the country may contribute to long survival of oocysts. In the villages all household activities are performed on the ground and in Mogadishu children play mainly outdoors on the ground. It therefore seems that conditions in Somalia favour transmission by oocysts rather than by infected meat. The early acquisition of antibodies in Somalia suggests that infection during pregnancy and, therefore, congenital toxoplasmosis are rare.     

广西少数民族农村地区肠道寄生虫感染因素的多水平多因素模型分析

目的 探讨广西少数民族农村地区肠道寄生虫感染的影响因素。方法 采用自制问卷进行横断面入户调查,收集资料和居民粪便标本;用改良加藤厚涂片法检查寄生虫卵;采用多水平多因素Logistic回归模型分析人口学特征、饮食和生活卫生习惯、家庭水平因素以及自然村水平因素对广西少数民族地区肠道寄生虫感染情况的影响。结果 多水平多因素Logistic回归模型显示:性别、受教育年限、个人饮食与生活卫生习惯、家庭人均年收入、家庭是否存在人畜混居现象、家庭是否有厕所与卫生橱柜等变量与肠道寄生虫感染有统计学关联（均有P<0.05）。控制个人和家庭水平因素后,自然村的自来水供应情况、公共厕所有无和环境卫生状况等社区环境水平变量均对肠道寄生虫感染具有独立效应（均有P<0.05）。结论 受教育程度较高和具有良好个人饮食与生活卫生习惯者肠道寄生虫感染机会较低,家庭经济条件好、拥有自家厕所和卫生橱柜均可降低肠道寄生虫的感染。自然村供应自来水、建有公共厕所和改善自然村环境卫生状况等社区社会经济环境因素也能降低肠道寄生虫感染。     

Significance of urinary cadmium concentration as an indicator of cadmium exposure in a population exposed to cadmium in a general environment

Study was made on the significance of urinary cadmium concentration as an indicator of internal dose in a general environment polluted by cadmium. As an index of external dose, the mean rice cadmium concentration in each of 23 villages was employed. Morning urine samples were collected from 3,178 inhabitants of 23 cadmium-polluted villages of Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa Prefecture and 294 inhabitants of two nonpolluted villages. Cadmium concentration in urine was determined. In addition, their residential history and intake of cadmium-polluted rice were obtained. All the subjects were 50 years of age or over. Participation rates were 91% for the polluted area and 94% for the nonpolluted area. Urinary cadmium concentrations were higher in the inhabitants of the cadmium-polluted area than in those of the nonpolluted area. Among the inhabitants in the cadmium-polluted area, urinary cadmium concentrations were higher in the subjects who had consumed cadmium polluted rice than in those who had not. The mean urinary cadmium concentrations in each village increased proportionally to increase in mean village rice cadmium concentration (intensity of exposure) when the inhabitants were classified according to period of residence at their present address. The mean urinary cadmium concentrations in each village were also significantly correlated with period of residence at the present address (duration of exposure) when the inhabitants were classified according to mean rice cadmium concentration of their village. It is concluded that urinary cadmium concentration mainly reflects the body burden of cadmium in a general environment polluted by cadmium.     

丰台区农村地区居民伤害状况调查与干预研究

目的了解北京市丰台区农村地区伤害发生的基本情况，通过实施干预提高群众相关知识知晓率水平，减少伤害发生。方法采用自行设计的调查问卷，通过随机抽样对2858名调查对象进行了调查。基线调查后，对1152名村民进行了伤害知识调查。随后开展了预防伤害健康教育系列活动，包括发放折页、海报、专家讲座等。对干预后的知识水平再次进行调查，分析干预前后村民知识知晓率变化情况。结果调查对象伤害发生率为10．9％，男女伤害发生率分别为10．9％和10.8％，两者之间无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。14岁以下儿童青少年伤害发生率为最高，为16．1％。干预前对照组伤害知识知晓率为69．38％，干预组为69．57％，两组之间无统计学差异（P〉0．05），干预后对照组知识知晓率为71．75％，干预组为74．26％，高于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论儿童青少年的伤害预防应作为今后工作的重点之一，本次研究所采取的健康教育干预方法对于提高村民的安全知识水平是有效的，可以在条件相似的地区推广。     

唐山市228例布鲁菌病病例流行病学调查及危险因素分析

目的 了解唐山市布鲁菌病（布病）的流行动态、临床特征及危险因素,为制定布病防控措施提供参考依据。方法 对2014 - 2016年重点职业人群筛查出的228例确诊病例进行流行病学个案调查,并通过病例对照研究、χ2检验及Logistic回归分析找出布病感染的危险因素。结果 2014 - 2016年共筛查重点职业人员2 534人,确诊布病阳性病例228例,感染率为9.0%。布病患者春夏季高发;40～69岁男性多见;饲养人员阳性率最高（12.5%）;回民感染布病的危险是汉族人的1.9倍;新发病例以发热、关节酸痛、乏力为主。多因素Logistic回归分析证实与羊接触、不使用防护衣或手套、不使用消毒液、饲养环境未定期消毒、接触流产物或为羊接生、接触牲畜时有外伤、人畜共饮井、吃过病死牲畜、食用不太熟的畜肉、饮用生奶是高危人群感染布病的危险因素,与动物密切接触时使用防护措施为其保护性因素。结论 开展重点人群监测、健康教育和行为干预,做好个人防护,同时加强牲畜检疫和市场监管是布病防控的有效措施。     

白银市人间布鲁氏菌病流行特征分析

目的 分析甘肃省白银市人间布鲁氏菌病流行特征,为制定布鲁氏菌病的预防控制措施提供基础数据。方法 对白银市2013 - 2017年布鲁氏菌病疫情资料进行描述性流行病学分析。结果 2013 - 2017年全市共发生布病1 823例,无死亡病例,年均发病率为21.20/10万,疫情总体呈上升趋势,其中2015年发病率最高,为36.51/10万;全年均可发病,但4 - 8月较集中,占病例总数的56.39%;发病主要集中在靖远县、景泰县和平川区,占病例总数的88.81%;性别以男性为主,占76.36%,男性发病率（31.40/10万）明显高于女性（10.34/10万）;病例集中在50～69岁人群,占病例总数的42.84%;职业以农民为主,占93.47%。结论 近年来白银市人间布鲁氏菌病发病呈上升趋势,以男性、50～69岁、农民为主,疫情控制形势十分严峻。应实施布病的零级预防,从畜间入手及时发现病畜,遏制布病在畜间传播,从源头预防危险因素流行,并针对重点人群开展相应的防控措施,降低布病发病率。     

Variations in Human Herpesvirus Type 8 Seroprevalence in Native Americans, South America

To determine the epidemiology of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) among non-Amazonian native populations, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraquay. Our data show striking ethnic and geographic variations in the distribution of HHV-8 seroprevalences in Amazonian (77%) and non-Amazonian native populations (range 0%–83%).     

Sanitation,financial incentives and health spillovers: A cluster randomised trial

Poor sanitation and its consequent negative health outcomes continue to plague the developing world. Drawing on the finding that financial subsidies have changed behaviour in other health contexts, we conducted a clustered randomised trial in 160 villages in Lao PDR to evaluate the effectiveness of combining financial incentives with Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), a widely-conducted behaviour change program. Villages were randomly allocated to four groups, all of which received CLTS but differed in the type of subsidy offered (none, household, village or both). Using data from a random sample of households with young children and village administrative data, we show that household incentives increased sanitation take-up among the poor, whereas a village incentive increased take-up primarily among the non-poor. Improved sanitation produced positive health spillovers - a 10 percentage point increase in village sanitation coverage decreased the probability of childhood stunting by 3 percentage points.     

Epidemiology of taeniasis and cysticercosis in a Peruvian village. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

To determine the prevalence of cysticercosis in a rural area where the disease is endemic, the authors studied the seroepidemiology of human and porcine cysticercosis in a Peruvian jungle community (Maceda, Peru) in 1988 using an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay. Of the 371 sampled inhabitants, 30 (8%) were seropositive, most of whom were asymptomatic. After niclosamide therapy, four Taenia species worms were identified in the seropositive group, compared with one in the control group (p = 0.06). Pigs were frequently infected: 44 of 133 (33%) were found positive for Taenia by tongue examination and 57 of 133 (43%) were positive by EITB. In 69% of the sampled households that had pigs, there was at least one seropositive pig. The number of pigs diagnosed positive by the tongue examination was significantly greater in households that had latrines than in those that did not. Cysticercosis is a common but usually asymptomatic infection that affects both humans and pigs in the high jungle areas of Peru.