First records of bat-associated Cimex lectularius (Cimicidae, Heteroptera) for Armenia and Georgia

Besides humans, the common bed bug Cimex lectularius uses bats as hosts, but no such records were available from the Southern Caucasus. Here, we record the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and the lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii) as hosts of C. lectularius from two Georgian and one Armenian sites. A summary of all known published records of bat-associated populations of C. lectularius shows they are both scattered and restricted to the Palearctic only. Observations of C. lectularius from bat colonies in Georgia and Armenia were made in old buildings or ruins, like churches or monasteries, but not in caves, despite a specific search. This supports previous studies suggesting that 1) bat-associations of common bed bugs are very rare outside Central Europe and 2) almost never occur in caves. We discuss climatic conditions and host preferences as possible factors for these findings and the implications for the origin of the human bed bug interaction

One Health Armenia: An Assessment of One Health Operations and Capacities

<p>This report outlines the progress that Armenia has made in operationalizing the One Health approach, while identifying continued needs for One Health system strengthening. The report is available in English and Armenian.</p><p>Specific highlights of the report include:</p><ul><li>Overview of current One Health initiatives, national plans, policies, biosurveillance systems, and multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms;</li><li>A country-specific risk profile that identifies key factors for infectious disease emergence, spread, vulnerability and mitigation;</li><li>Case studies examining implementation successes and challenges at subnational and country levels;</li><li>Key recommendations that synthesize findings on themes including One Health coordination, workforce and training, surveillance and monitoring of disease risks, laboratory systems, disease prevention and control, vulnerabilities, and financial resources.</li></ul><p>The report findings and overall approach provide a practical starting point for identifying systems-level coverage and needs to address threats to humans, animals and the environment in line with a One Health approach. We hope this report can be useful in guiding local implementation of the global One Health Joint Plan of Action and related investment priorities. </p&gt

One Health Armenia: An Assessment of One Health Operations and Capacities

<p>This report outlines the progress that Armenia has made in operationalizing the One Health approach, while identifying continued needs for One Health system strengthening. The report is available in English and Armenian.</p><p>Specific highlights of the report include:</p><ul><li>Overview of current One Health initiatives, national plans, policies, biosurveillance systems, and multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms;</li><li>A country-specific risk profile that identifies key factors for infectious disease emergence, spread, vulnerability and mitigation;</li><li>Case studies examining implementation successes and challenges at subnational and country levels;</li><li>Key recommendations that synthesize findings on themes including One Health coordination, workforce and training, surveillance and monitoring of disease risks, laboratory systems, disease prevention and control, vulnerabilities, and financial resources.</li></ul><p>The report findings and overall approach provide a practical starting point for identifying systems-level coverage and needs to address threats to humans, animals and the environment in line with a One Health approach. We hope this report can be useful in guiding local implementation of the global One Health Joint Plan of Action and related investment priorities. </p&gt

Minimally invasive micro sclerostomy (MIMS) procedure in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma

Abstract Background To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Minimally Invasive Micro Sclerotomy (MIMS) procedure in the management of uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma. Methods A prospective, open-label, single-arm clinical evaluation with intra-subject comparisons performed at the Ophthalmologic Center after S.V. Malayan, Yerevan, Armenia. Included were adults with primary open-angle glaucoma (OAG) (N = 114) or exfoliative glaucoma (N = 6) who were uncontrolled (IOP > 21) on tolerated topical medication. Mild (N = 7), moderate (N = 66) and severe (n = 47) cases were prospectively included without preselection. Following subconjunctival Mitomycin C, an ab-interno MIMS procedure was performed alone (N = 100) or combined with phacoemulsification (N = 20). Patients were followed for 52 weeks. Procedure-related complications and adverse events were recorded. Success criteria were defined as -5  21 mmHg on tolerated medication. At 52 weeks (n = 93), mean IOP decreased by 38% from baseline (P < 0.001), from 27.9 ± 3.7 to 17.5 ± 5.3 mmHg, a difference of 10.5 mmHg (95% CI: -11.7, -9.3). One-year qualified success was documented in 82.1% (95% CI: 72.9%,89.2%) of the patients and complete success, in 70.5% (60.3-79.4%). 60% (95 CI:49.4%,69.9%) of the patients achieved maximum IOP level of 14 mmHg or at least 30% reduction in IOP. Conclusions MIMS procedure is a relatively simple, short and safe minimally invasive bleb-forming procedure. Its efficacy, as found in this short-term evaluation, lends it suitable for mild and moderate uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04503590 2019-05-29

The role of the Caucasus, Carpathian, and Dinaric–Balkan regions in preserving wolf genetic diversity

Mountain regions have long been important for maintaining populations and genetic diversity of wild species, especially those species that require large areas to sustain viable populations. We examined wolves (Canis lupus) in the Caucasus, Carpathian, and Dinaric–Balkan regions, expecting these persistent populations to contain high genetic diversity and an overlap of the major haplogroups detected in earlier broad-scale investigations. We analyzed 926 mitochondrial DNA control region sequences, including 533 new samples whose geographic distribution allowed us to reduce sampling gaps observed in previous broad-scale studies. We estimated genetic variability, population structure, and phylogeographic relationships to evaluate the diversity and connectivity of populations throughout the study regions. We detected haplogroups H1 and H2 that overlapped across the study regions. Haplogroup H1 can be divided into three subgroups: H1A and H1B that partially overlap throughout the study regions, and H1C that was found only in wolves from Armenia. Haplogroup H2 was largely confined to the Carpathian and Dinaric–Balkan regions. Our analyses of population structure partly concurred with the haplogroup distribution and produced four major genetic clusters. Our results demonstrated high genetic diversity within the study regions, supporting their role in maintaining intraspecific variability in wolves and other species that require large areas to sustain viable populations. The unique diversity and north–south structure observed within the Caucasus emphasize the need for further research and conservation efforts in this highly biodiverse region. Our findings highlight the role of broad-scale planning in conserving evolutionary processes in this and other transboundary areas.</p