Mapping of poverty and likely zoonoses hotspots

The objective of this report is to present data and expert knowledge on poverty and zoonoses hotspots to inform prioritisation of study areas on the transmission of disease in emerging livestock systems in the developing world, where prevention of zoonotic disease might bring greatest benefit to poor people

Coxiella burnetii Infection in Livestock, Pets, Wildlife, and Ticks in Latin America and the Caribbean: a Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Purpose of the Review Q fever , a bacterial zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, is reported very heterogeneously in humans in Latin America. The objective of this study was to review the data on Coxiella burnetii Infection in animals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent Findings A comprehensive literature review was carried out in the 47 countries and territories of Latin America on various search engines and grouped into four groups: livestock, pets, wildlife, and ticks. Summary Thus, 113 studies were selected between 1950 and 2022. Among the 47 countries, only 25 (53%) had at least one publication related to C. burnetii infection in animals. The most productive country was Brazil (N = 51), followed by French Guiana (N = 21), and Colombia (N = 16). Studies in livestock from 20 countries have shown widely varying country-to-country rates of seroprevalence, ranging from 0 to 67%. Some studies from seven countries, especially French Guiana and Brazil, found antibodies and sometimes positive PCR in dogs and cats, generally in the context of investigations around human clustered cases. Knowledge remained fragmented about infection in wildlife from only five countries (Chile, Colombia, Brazil, French Guiana, and Uruguay). C. burnetii infection was identified by PCR in Chiroptera (7 species), Rodentia (6 species), Suina (2 species), Xenartha (1 species), Cingulata (1 species), and Perissodactyla (1 species). Studies on Coxiella sp. in ticks have been performed in 11 countries, mostly in Brazil, and mainly found Coxiella-like endosymbionts. Thus, data on C. burnetii infection in animals are sparse and incomplete in Latin America and the Caribbean, and more research is warranted

Environmental Aspects of Zoonotic Diseases

Environmental Aspects of Zoonotic Diseases provides a definitive description, commentary and research needs of environmental aspects related to zoonotic diseases. There are many interrelated connections between the environment and zoonotic diseases such as: water, soil, air and agriculture. The book presents investigations of these connections, with specific reference to environmental processes such as: deforestation, floods, draughts, irrigation practices, soil transfer and their impact on bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitological spread. Environmental aspects such as climate (tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, arid and semi-arid), developed and undeveloped countries, animal traffic animal border crossing, commercial animal trade, transportation, as well geography and weather on zoonosis, are also discussed and relevant scientific data is condensed and organized in order to give a better picture of interrelationship between the environment and current spread of zoonotic diseases

Survey of brucellosis among people at risk in Lagos, Nigeria

Brucellosis is one of the neglected diseases in Nigeria. In Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria with about twenty one million people, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in order to determine the sero-prevalence of brucellosis among people at risk in some selected abattoirs and secondary health care facilities (hospitals) in the state. Mixed sampling method was employed at the abattoir while convenient sampling method was used in sampling the respondents at the hospitals. Sera samples from three hundred and one (n=301) abattoir-based workers and traders; and one hundred and twenty one (n=121) hospital-based individuals which include people with febrile illnesses and blood donors were tested for brucellosis using Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), with indirect ELISA being used as a confirmatory test. Of the 301 abattoir-based workers and traders, 27 (8.97%) were sero-positive to the infection when Rose Bengal Plate test antigen was used. The twenty seven individuals consists of fifteen (15) butchers; four (4) veterinarians; two (2) meat transporters and bone/cow horn dealers each as well as one each of blood meal producer, abattoir engineer, water seller and meat supplier. When blood samples from the sero-positive individuals were subjected to ELISA, 3 (11.1%) were sero-positive to the brucellosis, while one is equivocal. These results confirm that agglutination observed on RBPT might be related to unknown cross-reactions and confirmation with a different test was necessary. None of the hospital-based respondents is sero-positive to the infection. The clinical signs significant for the infection in this study were fever, joint pain, lower backache, regular headache and miscarriage. Brucellosis awareness level among the respondents was very low. Data was analysed using (SPSS) version 20.0 at α0.05 significant level. The significant risk factors for human brucellosis according to this research are consumption of fura (unpasteurized milk) and wara (fresh cheese). The study revealed that brucellosis is not only an occupational disease but can also affect people who trade or live in proximity with infected animals.Agriculture, Animal Health and Human EcologyM. Sc. (Agriculture

An epidemiological study of the impact of Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella melitensis on reproduction in sheep and goats in Dohuk Province, Iraq

Brucellosis and toxoplasmosis are very important zoonoses in many countries of the world, including Iraq. These diseases are considered economically important due to the negative effects on reproduction of small ruminants, which are a critical part of livestock enterprises in Iraq. Prior to the study outlined in this thesis, few studies on the epidemiology of brucellosis and toxoplasmosis and their effect on the reproduction in Dohuk Province had been undertaken. Consequently, the aims of the study were to determine the epidemiological characteristics, economic impact, and effect of brucellosis and toxoplasmosis on reproduction in small ruminants in Dohuk Province. A cross-sectional study of 432 small ruminants (335 sheep and 97 goats) belonging to 72 farms in six districts in Dohuk Province, northern Iraq, was undertaken to investigate risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity. Sera were tested using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). Using parallel interpretation, RBT and iELISA results showed that 31.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 26.1, 36.3) of sheep and 34.0% (95% CI: 24.7, 44.3) of goats in the study had antibodies against Brucella. A random-effects multivariable logistic regression model indicated that a higher chance of being seropositive (odds ratio (OR) = 1.7; 95% 1.4; 2.2) was associated with an increase in the age of animals. The odds of Brucella seropositivity in flocks where sheep and goats grazed together was 2.0 times higher (95% CI: 1.08; 3.9) compared to flocks where sheep and goats grazed separately. The odds of Brucella seropositivity in small ruminants was 2.2 higher (95% CI: 1.2; 4.3) for animals originating from farms with a history of goat abortion in the preceding 12 months. In contrast, for every 1000 Iraqi Dinars (US$0.85) spent by the farmers on control of Brucella in their flocks, the odds of Brucella seropositivity decreased significantly (OR = 0.9, p-value = 0.021). The final model also indicated significant differences in Brucella seropositivity between the different districts of Dohuk province. The small ruminants were also tested for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, using a latex agglutinin test (LAT) and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). When the test results were interpreted in parallel, 42.1$ 0.85) spent by the farmers on the prophylactic treatment in their flocks, the odds of Toxoplasma seropositivity decreased significantly (OR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.90, 0.98). Sera from 240 small ruminants (192 sheep and 48 goats) from 12 farms in Dohuk Province, northern Iraq, were collected to investigate relative risk of pregnancy loss associated with brucellosis and toxoplasmosis seroconversion during pregnancy. All the selected pregnant animals were examined by ultrasonography twice, at the time of blood collection (approximately 2 and 4 months of gestation). For detection of antibodies to Brucella, serum samples were tested using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA), while the Latex agglutination test (LAT) and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) were used to test for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. There were significance differences in the seroprevalence in sheep and goats at the two sampling times for Brucella and Toxoplasma (P-value = 0.0003 and 0.03 in first and second sampling, respectively). The incidence risk of seroconversion to Brucella over the two months was 10.6% (95% CI: 6.9 -15.3) and 7.3% (95% CI: 4.3 - 11.6) for Toxoplasma. The analysis indicated that animals that seroconverted to Brucella were more likely to lose their pregnancy (OR: 2.9, 95%CI 1.6-5.5). An economic evaluation of mass vaccination programme for brucellosis indicated that the financial loss overall from brucellosis would decrease from 1.75 to 0.55 US$per adult female. The net present value of the mass vaccination program was estimated at US$ 10,564,828 (95% CI: -16,203,454 to 37,049,245), the benefit-cost ratio was estimated to be 4.25 (95% CI: 0 to 11.22), and the internal rate return (IRR) was estimated at 91.38% (95% CI:11.71 to 190.62%). The seroprevalence in small ruminants was predicted to decrease from 9.22 to below 0.73 % after 20 years of the implementation of the proposed mass vaccination program. It is concluded that, identifying the putative risk factors for both pathogens with implementing a mass vaccination program of small ruminants with Rev. 1 for brucellosis will inform the development of more effective control programs to reduce the impact of the infection and advocate for adequate resources to implement the programs