High efficacy of integrated preventive measures against zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Afghanistan, as revealed by Quantified Infection Rates

Following an outbreak of more than 200 cases of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) during 2004 and 2005 among International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops stationed in the Mazar-e Sharif (MeS) airport area, epidemiological investigations indicated the presence of a local high-density ZCL focus. Based on ZCL's specific transmission modes, density and seasonality, integrated preventive measures were continuously implemented from February 2006 at a German military camp constructed at MeS. Preventive techniques included such synergistic measures as skin repellents and insecticide-impregnated clothing, bednets and curtains, sand fly and rodent monitoring and control, extended habitat sanitation, and health education, all designed to achieve maximum protection against ZCL. Habitat alteration included: (a) erection of a 3.0 m high stone wall around the entire camp area; (b) removal of ≥30 cm of the upper earth layer throughout the site; (c) soil compaction and stone paving to a depth of ≥30 cm plus compaction of the surrounding area to a distance of 100 m outside the camp wall; and (d) regular eradication of vegetation. Aggressive implementation of these measures led to a 166-fold and 546-fold reduction in sand fly numbers and complete eradication of the local rodent reservoir, Rhombomys opimus, inside the camp during 2006 and 2007, respectively. ZCL attack rates decreased significantly (p < 0.0001), from 17.5% (14 cases/80 persons) for the 2005 German assessment teams to 0.087% (1 case/1150 persons) for the 2006 contingent, and 0% (0 cases) (p < 0.0001) for the 2007 contingent, with Quantified Infection Rates (QIRs) of 0.058, 0.0000055, and 0.0, respectively. Using QIR values, the protective factor of the integrated preventive measures was shown to be ≥10,545 times higher in the 2006 and 2007 contingents, compared with the 2005 assessment teams. Results show that the continuously implemented, integrated preventive techniques used in this study gave excellent and long-lasting protection against zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis under field conditions.     

The French antibiotic resistance monitoring programs

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from animal origin in France is organised by the French Agency for Food Safety (Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, AFSSA) through two types of networks. The first collects non-human zoonotic Salmonella strains in one centre (AFSSA, Paris) where they are tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility. The others, managed by AFSSA Lyon, deal with bovine pathogenic strains and are multicentric, that is they collecting antibiotic sensitivity and other data from the local public veterinary diagnostic laboratories. This requires standardisation of the methods used in each partner laboratory. Statistical analysis of any change in French resistance patterns can be monitored by these three networks either as a function of strain pathogenicity and/or of the ecological origin of the isolate. The system also encourages efficient collaboration between veterinarians and the laboratory. Such collaboration improves both the quality of routine antibiotic testing and understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance.     

Adventitious agents and smallpox vaccine in strategic national stockpile

In keeping with current standards, we urge that old smallpox vaccines that were made in animal skin and are still a key part of our strategic national stockpile be tested for adventitious infectious agents. The advisory especially applies to viruses that have the potential for zoonotic transmission to human vaccine recipients.     

Rift Valley fever in Chad

To evaluate the importance of human exposure to Rift Valley fever virus in Chad, investigations were carried out to determine specific antibody prevalence in domestic ruminants during the 2002 rainy season. Results highlighted recent, substantial, active transmission of this virus.     

快速诊断人畜旋毛虫病ELISA试剂盒的研制及应用

本研究建立了快速诊断人畜旋毛虫病的ELISA试剂盒,该试剂盒与常规ELISA平行检测107例旋毛虫病人血清,阳性率分别为99.07％和97.19％;检测10份感染旋毛虫的病猪血清、5份病豚鼠血清、4份病犬血清、5份病兔血清,除病兔的阳性率两法均为80％外,其余两法均为100％。实验证明该试剂盒具有较好的特异性和重复性,已在全国人体寄生虫病分布调查中推广应用。     

Orientobilharzia species: Neglected parasitic zoonotic agents

Parasites of the genus Orientobilharzia belong to Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Schistosomatidae, and the type species is Orientobilharzia turkestanicum. O. turkestanicum was first described by Skrjabin from cattle in Russian Turkestan in 1913. Adult worms of Orientobilharzia species live in the portal veins or intestinal veins of cattle, sheep and other mammals, and often cause orientobilharziasis in China, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran in Asia, and Russia and Turkey in Europe. More importantly, the cercariae of Orientobilharzia species can infect humans and often cause cercarial dermatitis. Though Orientobilharzia species have been confirmed as zoonotic agents, they have been largely neglected, compared with other pathogens causing cercarial dermatitis, such as Trichobilharzia spp., Schistosoma spindale and Bilharziella sp., which have attracted considerable attention. Here we review the current status of knowledge on the taxonomy of Orientobilharzia spp., human and animal infections with Orientobilharzia spp., and address some considerations for further work on the systematics and pathogenesis of these organisms.     

Differences in transmission seasons as an epidemiological tool for characterization of anthroponotic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Afghanistan

Regional epidemiological data, when available from Afghan or international health authorities, usually include cutaneous leishmaniasis cases without further elaboration. Scientific reports from Afghanistan mainly focus on the current status of war and refugee-related anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), but little is known about zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), its regional and seasonal distribution, or other disease characteristics. Multiple field investigations revealed that both ACL and ZCL are widespread in Afghanistan and may show sharp differences in specific epidemiology and incubation periods. The previously unknown transmission dynamics and differing seasonality of ZCL, with maximum clinical cases in September and October, as opposed to the ACL peak in March and April, are here described, thus permitting for the first time prediction of the causative Leishmania species in undiscriminated CL reports. Results show that epidemiological differences may serve as a convenient tool for discriminating between ACL and ZCL, at least in northern and central Afghanistan, which can be important because specific treatment and control measures may be different.     

人兽共患病疫情防控新观念

人兽共患病(zoonoses)是指在脊椎动物与人类之间自然传播的疾病或感染症,由人类和脊椎动物的共同或相似病原体引起,在流行病学上有密切相关。很多人兽共患病既是畜禽的严重疾病,也是人类的烈性传染病。随着政治经济的发展,文化的融合,人类、动物和环境联系越来越紧密,人兽共患传染病问题已比以往更复杂、更棘手。到2020年,肉类蛋白质需求将增加50%[1]。对动物产品日益提高的需求(与减少贫穷有关)以及生态系统     

阿伯丁沙门菌在人和动物间的传播和风险评估

目的研究阿伯丁沙门菌(11:i:1,2)在全球范围的食品安全风险评估和人群感染传播的现状和特征。方法追溯阿伯丁沙门菌自发现起至今有关人源和动物源中感染和风险暴露的文献报道,比较国外和国内的文献和案例报告的异同点。结果阿伯丁沙门菌在世界范围动物界广泛存在,能引起成人和幼儿等高危人群肠道或非肠道感染,其在国内的流行传播可能与不科学管理的养殖业有关。发达国家最终选择联合农业、食品和卫生部门开展食源性网络化监控非伤寒沙门菌的综合模式值得借鉴和学习。结论阿伯丁沙门菌在全球动物界广泛存在,是食源性监测中具有典型代表意义的动物源性的环境污染指标菌。其流行和食品加工、禽畜养殖和加工业、潜在的行为生态学传染病发病模式等相关。