Identification of decomposition volatile organic compounds from surface deposited and submerged porcine remains

Cadaver dogs are routinely used internationally by police and civilian search organisations to locate human remains on land and in water, yet little is currently known about the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released by a cadaver underwater; how this compares to those given off by a cadaver deposited on land; and ultimately, how this affects the detection of drowned victims by dogs. The aim of this study was to identify the VOCs released by whole porcine (Sus scrofa domesticus) cadavers deposited on the surface and submerged in water using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME GC–MS) to ascertain if there are notable differences in decomposition odour depending on the deposition location. For the first time in the UK, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the headspace of decomposing porcine cadavers deposited in both terrestrial and water environments have been detected and identified using SPME-GCMS, including thirteen new VOCs not previously detected from porcine cadavers. Distinct differences were found between the VOCs emitted by porcine cadavers in terrestrial and water environments. In total, seventy-four VOCs were identified from a variety of different chemical classes; carboxylic acids, alcohols, aromatics, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, esters, ethers, nitrogen compounds and sulphur compounds. Only forty-one VOCs were detected in the headspace of the submerged pigs with seventy detected in the headspace of the surface-deposited pigs. These deposition-dependent differences have important implications for the training of cadaver dogs in the UK. If dog training does not account for these depositional differences, there is potential for human remains to be missed. Whilst the specific odours that elicit a trained response from cadaver dogs remain unknown, this research means that recommendations can be made for the training of cadaver dogs to incorporate different depositions, to account for odour differences and mitigate the possibility of missed human remains operationally

The links between agriculture, Anopheles mosquitoes, and malaria risk in children younger than 5 years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a population-based, cross-sectional, spatial study

Background: The relationship between agriculture, Anopheles mosquitoes, and malaria in Africa is not fully understood, but it is important for malaria control as countries consider expanding agricultural projects to address population growth and food demand. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of agriculture on Anopheles biting behaviour and malaria risk in children in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). Methods: We did a population-based, cross-sectional, spatial study of rural children (0]=0·89), with the probability of malaria infection increased between 0·2% (95% UI −0·1 to 3·4) and 2·6% (–1·5 to 6·6) given a 15% increase in agricultural cover, depending on other risk factors. The models predicted that large increases in agricultural cover (from 0% to 75%) increase the probability of infection by as much as 13·1% (95% UI −7·3 to 28·9). Increased risk might be due to Anopheles gambiae sensu lato, whose probability of biting indoors increased between 11·3% (95% UI −15·3 to 25·6) and 19·7% (–12·1 to 35·9) with a 15% increase in agriculture. Interpretation: Malaria control programmes must consider the possibility of increased risk due to expanding agriculture. Governments considering initiating large-scale agricultural projects should therefore also consider accompanying additional malaria control measures. Funding: National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, President's Malaria Initiative, and Royster Society of Fellows at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sanitation in urban areas may limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance via flies

Synanthropic filth flies are common where sanitation is poor and fecal wastes are accessible to them. These flies have been proposed as mechanical vectors for the localized transport of fecal microbes including antimicrobial resistant (AMR) organisms and associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), increasing exposure risks. We evaluated whether an onsite sanitation intervention in Maputo, Mozambique reduced the concentration of enteric bacteria and the frequency of detection of ARGs carried by flies collected in household compounds of low-income neighborhoods. Additionally, we assessed the phenotypic resistance profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolates recovered from flies during the pre-intervention phase. After fly enumeration at study compounds, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify an enteric 16S rRNA gene (i.e., specific to a cluster of phylotypes corresponding to 5% of the human fecal microflora), 28 ARGs, and Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion of Enterobacteriaceae isolates was utilized to assess resistance to eleven clinically relevant antibiotics. The intervention was associated with a 1.5 log10 reduction (95% confidence interval: -0.73, -2.3) in the concentration of the enteric 16S gene and a 31% reduction (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.69, [0.52, 0.92]) in the mean number of ARGs per fly compared to a control group with poor sanitation. This protective effect was consistent across the six ARG classes that we detected. Enterobacteriaceae isolates–only from the pre-intervention phase–were resistant to a mean of 3.4 antibiotics out of the eleven assessed. Improving onsite sanitation infrastructure in low-income informal settlements may help reduce fly-mediated transmission of enteric bacteria and the ARGs carried by them

Adição de complexo multienzimático em dietas à base de soja extrusada: valores energéticos e digestibilidade de nutrientes em pintos de corte Effects of feeding multienzymatic complex addition and different extruded soybean on energy values and nutrient digestibility in broiler chicks

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da adição de complexo multienzimático (CM) e do nível de processamento da soja sobre os valores energéticos e os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes de rações para pintos de corte. Foram utilizados 288 pintos de corte machos da linhagem Avian Farms, com oito dias de idade, em arranjo fatorial 3 x 2 (rações à base de soja extrusada subprocessada, normal e superprocessada, suplementadas ou não com complexo multienzimático), totalizando seis tratamentos, com oito repetições de seis aves por unidade experimental. As excretas foram coletadas e pesadas durante cinco dias consecutivos, utilizando-se os métodos de coleta total e de coleta ileal. A adição do CM (protease, amilase e celulase) promoveu aumento médio dos coeficientes de digestibilidade ileal aparente de matéria seca, proteína, energia e gordura das dietas de 4,8; 1,3; 4,8 e 6,0%, respectivamente. Entretanto, os maiores aumentos nos valores de digestibilidade ileal proporcionados pelo CM foram obtidos com as rações contendo soja extrusada subprocessada: 10,7% MS, 4,2% PB, 11,4% EB e 17,6% gordura. A adição do CM melhorou a digestibilidade ileal de FDN, FDA e HEM, em média, 10,60; 23,05 e 6,39%, respectivamente. As aves alimentadas com dietas contendo soja extrusada normal apresentaram maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade ileal dos nutrientes e valores de EM que aquelas alimentadas com sojas extrusadas sub e superprocessadas.<br>This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of multienzymatic complex (MC) addition in diets with different types of extruded soybeans on the energy values and nutrient digestibility coefficients for broiler chicks. A total of 288 Avian Farms males broiler chicks averaging eight days old was allotted to a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (under, standard and over processed extruded full fat soybean-based diets with and without MC, in a total of six treatments with eight replicates and six birds per experimental unit. Feces were collected and weighed during five days. It was observed that the MC addition (composed by cellulase, amylase and protease) increased the coefficients of dietary ileal apparent digestibility of DM, CP, GE, and fat by 4.8, 1.3, 4.8, and 6%, respectively. However, under processed extruded full fat soybean-based diets, with MC, increased most the ileal digestibility: 10.7% (DM), 4.2% (CP), 11.4%, (GE), and 17.55% fat. The MC addition increased the ileal digestibilility of NDF, ADF, and hemicelullose at average 10.60, 23.05, and 6.39%, respectively. The birds fed diets with standard processed extruded full fat soybean showed higher values of coefficients of nutrient ileal digestibility and of metabolizable energy than those fed extruded under and over processed full fat soybean-based diet