Leptospira seroprevalence and risk factors in health centre patients in Hoima District, Western Uganda

Background The burden of human leptospirosis in Uganda is unknown. We estimated the seroprevalence of Leptospira antibodies, probable acute/recent leptospirosis, and risk factors for seropositivity in humans in rural Western Uganda. Methodology and Principal Findings 359 non-pregnant adults visiting the Kikuube and Kigorobya Health Centers were sequentially recruited during March and April 2014. A health history survey and serum were collected from consented participants. Overall, 69% reported having fever in the past year, with 49% reporting malaria, 14% malaria relapse, 6% typhoid fever, 3% brucellosis, and 0% leptospirosis. We tested sera by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) against eight Leptospira serovars representing seven serogroups. Leptospira seroprevalence was 35% (126/359; 95%CI 30.2–40.3%) defined as MAT titer ≥ 1:100 for any serovar. The highest prevalence was against L. borgpetersenii Nigeria (serogroup Pyrogenes) at 19.8% (71/359; 95%CI 15.9–24.4%). The prevalence of probable recent leptospirosis (MAT titer ≥1:800) was 1.9% (95%CI 0.9–4.2%) and uniquely related to serovar Nigeria (serogroup Pyrogenes). Probable recent leptospirosis was associated with having self-reported malaria within the past year (p = 0.048). Higher risk activities included skinning cattle (n = 6) with 12.3 higher odds (95%CI 1.4–108.6; p = 0.024) of Leptospira seropositivity compared with those who had not. Participants living in close proximity to monkeys (n = 229) had 1.92 higher odds (95%CI 1.2–3.1; p = 0.009) of seropositivity compared with participants without monkeys nearby. Conclusions/Significance The 35% prevalence of Leptospira antibodies suggests that exposure to leptospirosis is common in rural Uganda, in particular the Nigeria serovar (Pyrogenes serogroup). Leptospirosis should be a diagnostic consideration in febrile illness and “smear-negative malaria” in rural East Africa

Progestin Exposure Before Gonadotropin Stimulation Improves Embryo Development after In Vitro Fertilization in the Domestic Cat1

This study investigated the influence of progestin priming and ovarian quiescence on response to exogenous gonadotropin stimulation in the cat. Because a subpopulation of cats routinely ovulated spontaneously, there also was the opportunity to examine the ovary's reaction to the added impact of endogenously secreted progestagen. Queens were given 1) equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) plus human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) only (control; n = 9 cats), 2) GnRH antagonist (antide) injections followed by eCG and hCG (n = 9), and 3) a progestin implant (levonorgestrel) followed by eCG and hCG (n = 9). Laparoscopy was used to assess ovarian activity and aspirate follicular oocytes that were graded on the basis of morphology. In five cats per treatment, half of the high-quality oocytes were assessed for glucose, pyruvate, and lactate metabolism as well as nuclear maturation. Remaining oocytes were inseminated in vitro, cultured, and examined at 72 h after insemination for cleavage. In the remaining four cats per treatment, all oocytes were inseminated in vitro and assessed at 72, 120, and 168 h after insemination for embryo developmental stage. Cats pretreated with progestin had more follicles and produced more embryos per donor (including at the combined morula/blastocyst stage) than controls or females treated with GnRH antagonist (P < 0.05). There were no differences among groups (P > 0.05) in oocyte carbohydrate metabolism, nuclear maturation metrics, or fertilization success, although there was a tendency toward improvements in all three (P < 0.2) in progestin-treated females. Interestingly, cats that spontaneously ovulated within 60 days of treatment onset also produced more embryos per cat than induced-ovulation counterparts (P < 0.05). Results indicate that prior exposure to exogenous progestin (via implant) or endogenous progestagen (via spontaneous ovulation) improves ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins in the cat through a mechanism that is independent of the induction of ovarian quiescence

Characterizing the One Health workforce to promote interdisciplinary, multisectoral approaches in global health problem-solving

BackgroundIn recognition of the interconnected nature of complex challenges such as COVID-19, a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach, referred to as One Health, has been employed to address sustainable development and strengthen global health security. Although significant investments have been made to build global health capacity, characterization of the One Health is absent from the literature.Methods and findingsWe collected and analyzed perspectives from students, graduates, workers, and employers in One Health through a multinational online survey across health disciplines and sectors. Respondents were recruited through professional networks. A total of 828 respondents from 66 countries participated, representing governmental and academic institutions and students, among others; 57% were female, and 56% had completed professional health degrees. Interpersonal communication, communication with non-scientific audiences, and the ability to work in transdisciplinary teams were valued in the workplace and were considered essential competencies to build an interdisciplinary health workforce. Employers indicated difficulty recruiting workers, while workers indicated limited availability of positions. Employers identified limited funding and ill-defined career pathways as prominent challenges for retaining One Health workers.ConclusionsSuccessful One Health workers use interpersonal skills and scientific knowledge to address complex health challenges. Aligning the definition of One Health will likely improve the matching of job seekers and employers. Encouraging the employment of the One Health approach for a diverse range of positions, even if they do not explicitly include "One Health" in the job title, and clarifying the expectations, roles and responsibilities within a transdisciplinary team will lead to building a stronger workforce. As One Health has evolved to address food insecurity, emerging diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, it holds promise for supporting an interdisciplinary global health workforce that can make substantial progress on Sustainable Development Goals and improve global health security for all

Characterizing the One Health workforce to promote interdisciplinary, multisectoral approaches in global health problem-solving.

BackgroundIn recognition of the interconnected nature of complex challenges such as COVID-19, a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach, referred to as One Health, has been employed to address sustainable development and strengthen global health security. Although significant investments have been made to build global health capacity, characterization of the One Health is absent from the literature.Methods and findingsWe collected and analyzed perspectives from students, graduates, workers, and employers in One Health through a multinational online survey across health disciplines and sectors. Respondents were recruited through professional networks. A total of 828 respondents from 66 countries participated, representing governmental and academic institutions and students, among others; 57% were female, and 56% had completed professional health degrees. Interpersonal communication, communication with non-scientific audiences, and the ability to work in transdisciplinary teams were valued in the workplace and were considered essential competencies to build an interdisciplinary health workforce. Employers indicated difficulty recruiting workers, while workers indicated limited availability of positions. Employers identified limited funding and ill-defined career pathways as prominent challenges for retaining One Health workers.ConclusionsSuccessful One Health workers use interpersonal skills and scientific knowledge to address complex health challenges. Aligning the definition of One Health will likely improve the matching of job seekers and employers. Encouraging the employment of the One Health approach for a diverse range of positions, even if they do not explicitly include "One Health" in the job title, and clarifying the expectations, roles and responsibilities within a transdisciplinary team will lead to building a stronger workforce. As One Health has evolved to address food insecurity, emerging diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, it holds promise for supporting an interdisciplinary global health workforce that can make substantial progress on Sustainable Development Goals and improve global health security for all

<i>Heterosporis</i>-positive fish submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from 2009–2010.

<p>All samples were confirmed by gross lesions, light microscopy, and sequence analysis. Fish were collected by hook and line recreational fishing.</p

<i>Heterosporis sutherlandae</i> n. sp. from yellow perch and walleye.

<p><b>A)</b> Sporophorocyst containing several sporophorous vesicles. The sporophorocyst is lined by a thick wall (double headed arrow). The inner surface of the sporophorocyst is indicated by arrows. The edge of the wall of one sporophorous vesicle is highlighted by arrowhead. Spore is marked by an asterisk. Scale bar is 2 μm. <b>B)</b> Magnification of the sporophorocyst wall (double headed arrow) in a muscle fiber (mf); note the thick external layer, which is formed of microtubules and filaments (tf) and an inner electron dense membrane (arrow). The most internal smooth electron dense layer is a sporophorous vesicle, which is formed of an electron dense amorphous material (white arrowhead). A sporoblast (sb) is near the wall of the sporophorous vesicle. Scale bar is 1 μm. <b>C)</b> Spore wall (sw) of 122–137 nm comprised of an electron dense exospore (ex) measuring 20.78–33.98 nm and an electron lucent endospore (en) measuring 101.76–103.36 nm. Scale bar is 200 nm. <b>D)</b> Longitudinal section of <i>H</i>. <i>sutherlandae</i> displaying a spore wall (wide arrow), posterior vacuole (Pv), coiled filament (white arrowhead), polar filament (white arrow), nucleus (N), and anterior polaroplast. Scale bar is 0.5 μm. Inset: Anchoring disk of a spore. Scale bar is 200 nm. <b>E)</b> Transverse section of the anterior pole of <i>H</i>. <i>sutherlandae</i> displaying a spore wall (wide arrow), polar filament (white arrow), and anterior (Pa) and posterior polaroplast (Pp). Scale bar is 200 nm. <b>F)</b> Longitudinal section of coiled filament of <i>H</i>. <i>sutherlandae</i>. Scale bar is 200 nm. <b>G)</b> Transverse section of polar filaments of <i>H</i>. <i>sutherlandae</i> showing a concentrically multilayer structure. Spore wall (sw). Scale bar is 200 nm.</p

Phylogenetic analysis based on the 3,646bp nearly complete ribosomal RNA gene of <i>Heterosporis</i> sp., corresponding to nucleotide positions 170 to 3,815 of reference sequence AF387331.

<p>The Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed using the General Time Reversible (GTR) model of nucleotide substitution (4 gamma categories) with 1,000 bootstrap replicates.</p

Description of the Microsporidian Parasite, <i>Heterosporis sutherlandae</i> n. sp., Infecting Fish in the Great Lakes Region, USA

<div><p>Heterosporosis is an increasingly important microsporidian disease worldwide, impacting wild and farmed raised fishes in both marine and freshwater environments. A previously undescribed species (<i>Heterosporis</i> sp.), with widespread distribution in the Great Lakes region, was the subject of this study. Three angler-caught fish were submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from 2009–2010 with lesions caused by intracellular proliferation of parasitic spores, resulting in destruction and eventual widespread necrosis of the host skeletal muscles. Mature ovoid (5.8 x 3.5μm) spores of a microsporidian parasite, consistent with the genus <i>Heterosporis</i>, were observed by light and electron microscopy. Molecular identification was performed using primer walking to obtain a near-complete rRNA gene sequence (~3,600 bp). A unique species of <i>Heterosporis</i> was identified, demonstrating less than 96% sequence identity to other published <i>Heterosporis</i> sp. on the basis of partial rRNA gene sequence analysis. <i>Heterosporis sutherlandae</i> n. sp. (formerly <i>Heterosporis</i> sp.) was identified in yellow perch (<i>Perca flavescens</i>), northern pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) and walleye (<i>Sander vitreus</i>) from inland lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Previous research suggests this species may be even more widespread in the Great Lakes region and should be reexamined using molecular techniques to better understand the distribution of this novel species.</p></div

Description of the Microsporidian Parasite, <i>Heterosporis sutherlandae - Fig 2 </i> n. sp., Infecting Fish in the Great Lakes Region, USA

<p><b>A)</b> Fresh preparation of microsporidia-infected fish. Arrow indicates a spore of <i>Heterosporis sutherlandae</i> n. sp. Arrowhead shows a sporophorous vesicle with several spores. <b>B)</b> Widespread muscle destruction due to <i>H</i>. <i>sutherlandae</i>. Mature spores have replaced muscle cells and are surrounded by loose fibrous tissue (asterisk). The wide arrow indicates a large sporophorocyst containing sporoblast and spores. The narrow arrow shows ruptured sporophorocyst vesicles. Tissue embedded in paraffin and stained with PAS. Scale bar is 100 μm. Inset: Giemsa stained preparation showing a detail of the wall of a sporophorocyst (wide arrow) and the wall of a sporophororous vesicle (arrowhead). Scale bar is 25 μm. <b>C)</b> Sporophorocysts (asterisk) within skeletal muscle cells (sm). Arrows indicate the sporophorocystic wall. Tissue embedded in resin and stained with Toluidine blue. Scale bar is 12 μm.</p