Knowledge, attitudes and practices with regard to the presence, transmission, impact, and control of cystic echinococcosis in Sidi Kacem Province, Morocco

BACKGROUND: This study is a component of a large research project on five major neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs) including cystic echinococcosis and was undertaken in the Province of Sidi Kacem over a period of four years (April 2009-March 2013). METHODS: Questionnaires were administered at community level in a total of 27 communes and visits were made to all of the 10 abattoirs situated in the Province, to collect qualitative data on determinants of transmission for disease in humans and animals. More specifically, community knowledge, attitudes and practices related to cystic echinococcosis were assessed, as well as the extent to which local customs and behaviours may promote transmission. Abattoir infrastructure and practices, and their role in perpetuating disease transmission were also critically evaluated. RESULTS: The results show that only 50 % of people have heard of the disease, and of those, only 21 % are aware of the dog’s role in disease transmission. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents stated that dogs are fed ruminant organs deemed unfit for human consumption. Owned dogs have access to the family home, including the kitchen, in 39 % of households. The extent of this close proximity between humans and animals is even more pertinent when one considers that dogs are omnipresent in the community, with an average of 1.8 dogs owned per household. The unrestricted access of dogs to abattoirs is a huge issue, which further promotes disease transmission. CONCLUSION: This study would suggest that the high prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in humans and animals in Morocco is largely due to three factors: 1) abundance of dogs 2) engagement in risky behaviour of the local population and 3) poor abattoir infrastructure and practices. This has serious implications in terms of the socio-economic impact of the disease, especially for rural poor communities. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-015-0082-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

World Health Organization Estimates of the Global and Regional Disease Burden of 11 Foodborne Parasitic Diseases, 2010: A Data Synthesis

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of the WHO Secretariat over the life of the FERG initiative, particularly Amy Cawthorne, Tim Corrigan, Tanja Kuchenmüller, Yuki Minato, Kurt Straif and Claudia Stein. We acknowledge the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (Seattle, WA, USA) for providing data on the global burden of selected diseases.In this data synthesis, Paul Robert Torgerson and colleagues estimate the global and regional disease burden of 11 foodborne parasitic diseases.Yeshttp://www.plosmedicine.org/static/editorial#pee

Sur les spectres d'absorption des polyéthylène et polypropylène dans l'infrarouge purs et additionnés de substances diverses organiques et minérales

Polyethylene and polypropylene show only one band in the far infrared at 140 μ and 90 μ respectively, and can be used to make cells windows. Care must be taken to avoid the dissolution of many organic and inorganic materials which may lead to the disappearance of one band, and the appearance of another one. The case of chloroform, acetonitrile and methyl formate is considered.Le polyéthylène et le polypropylène présentent dans l'infrarouge lointain une seule bande d'absorption située à 140 μ et 90 μ respectivement, et permettent de préparer des fenêtres pour cuves à liquide ou à gaz. La dissolution de nombreuses substances organiques et minérales limite toutefois cette utilisation. Une bande caractéristique du liquide peut disparaître ou se trouver déplacée

Spectres de vibration du sulfate d'ammonium dans l'infrarouge lointain, dans les phases para- et ferroélectrique

Far infrared absorption by an ammonium sulphate single crystal is studied with polarized light between 10 and 250 cm-1, both in the paraelectric phase, at 300 and 223 K, and in the ferroelectric phase, at 203 and 80 K. The principal effect of the phase transition is to decrease the vibrational anharmonicity. No new absorption bands appeared and there was no marked increase in transmission. The soft mode predicted in the paraelectric phase by A. Sawada et al. was not observed.L'absorption dans l'infrarouge lointain d'un cristal de sulfate d'ammonium est étudiée en lumière polarisée de 10 à 250 cm-1 dans la phase paraélectrique à 300 et 223 K, et dans la phase ferroélectrique à 203 et 80 K. Le changement de phase se traduit surtout par une diminution de l'anharmonicité des vibrations, mais il n'y a pas apparition nette de nouvelles bandes, ni augmentation brutale de la transmission. Par ailleurs, le mode mou prévu par A. Sawada et al. dans la phase paraélectrique n'a pu être observé

Sur l'absorption des liquides dans l'infrarouge lointain (50-700 microns)

1. Internal vibrations can be observed beyond 100 microns when there is a possibility of libration. 2. Polar molecules absorb strongly up to 700 microns, with a maximum absorption generally located between 100 and 300 microns (except for water). This maximum persists in the solid state and the background absorption is often more important.A côté des vibrations internes attribuées par comparaison avec les spectres de diffusion Raman, on observe souvent une absorption importante centrée entre 150 et 350 microns. Pour l'eau liquide, la transmission augmente régulièrement de 75 à 700 microns

Spectres d'absorption d'un cristal d'acide benzoïque en lumière polarisée à la température de l'hydrogène liquide et à température ordinaire

At room temperature, two translational lattice frequencies of the dimers are tentatively located at 28.5 and 36 cm-1. The torsional frequencies of the dimer give three doublets : 62.5-69 ; 81.5-87 ; 104-105 cm-1 . At low temperature, the external frequencies increase of about 10 to 20 %, several lines are split into doublets, and the intensities of several torsional vibrations increases markedly.A température ordinaire, deux fréquences de translation des dimères de la maille sont fixées provisoirement à 28,5 et 36 cm-1. Les fréquences de torsion internes du dimère donnent trois doublets : 62,5-69 cm-1 ; 81,5-87 cm-1; 104-105 cm-1. A basse température, les fréquences externes augmentent de 10 à 20, %. certaines raies se dédoublent, et l'intensité de plusieurs raies de torsion augmente nettement