Impact of Mosquito Age and Insecticide Exposure on Vector Competence of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) for Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause birth defects in humans and is a serious global public health concern. This arbovirus is primarily transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes; however, it can also be transmitted sexually and congenitally (from human to human). Vector-virus interactions influencing vector competence (the ability for a mosquito to become infected with and transmit a pathogen) vary and depend on biological (e.g., mosquito age) and environmental factors (e.g., temperature). A mosquito's chronological age at time of infection may impact its immune response against virus infection. There are no effective vaccines for most arboviruses, including ZIKV, hence insecticides are the best defense against mosquito transmitted ZIKV. Aedes albopictus is difficult to control due to its day-active nature and propensity to oviposit in containers throughout landscapes. However, residual barrier treatments can control Ae. albopictus and may use pyrethroid insecticides, such as bifenthrin. Since the efficacy of barrier spray treatments decreases over time due to environmental degradation, we characterized the extent to which sublethal bifenthrin exposure impacted vector competence for ZIKV. We exposed young (6-7 d post-emergence) and old (11-12 d post-emergence) Ae. albopictus to bifenthrin prior to oral exposure to blood meals containing ZIKV (7-day extrinsic incubation period). For this mosquito population, old mosquitoes experienced a significantly (P=0.0017) higher rate of mortality than young mosquitoes. Significantly (P=0.003) higher body titers were shown in old control group compared to young control group. Significantly (P=0.013, P=0.001) higher ZIKV dissemination rates and leg titers were observed in old bifenthrin-exposed mosquitoes compared to old control mosquitoes or young bifenthrin-exposed or control mosquitoes. This indicates that bifenthrin exposure may increase the potential for virus transmission (measured by proxy dissemination rate here); however, the degree of these impacts varies with mosquito age. Impacts of insecticides should be considered to improve risk assessments of potential vector populations

Impact of Mosquito Age and Insecticide Exposure on Susceptibility of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) to Infection with Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is primarily transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Vector–virus interactions influencing vector competence vary and depend on biological and environmental factors. A mosquito’s chronological age may impact its immune response against virus infection. Insecticides, source reduction, and/or public education are currently the best defense against mosquitoes that transmit ZIKV. This study assessed the effects of a mosquito’s chronological age at time of infection on its response to ZIKV infection. We exposed young (6–7 d post-emergence) and old (11–12 d post-emergence) Ae. albopictus to a sublethal dose of bifenthrin prior to oral exposure to blood meals containing ZIKV (7-day incubation period). Old mosquitoes experienced a significantly (p < 0.01) higher rate of mortality than young mosquitoes. Significantly higher ZIKV body titers (p < 0.01) were observed in the old control group compared to the young control group. Significantly higher (p < 0.01) ZIKV dissemination rates and leg titers (p < 0.01) were observed in old bifenthrin-exposed mosquitoes compared to old control mosquitoes or young bifenthrin-exposed or control mosquitoes. Hence, bifenthrin exposure may increase the potential for virus transmission; however, the degree of these impacts varies with mosquito age. Impacts of insecticides should be considered in risk assessments of potential vector populations

Retrospective Risk Assessment of Forestry Workers in the United States: Injuries, Fatalities, and Hazards Impacting Occupational Health

Forestry (including logging) is one of the most hazardous occupations due to environmental, ergonomic, chemical, mechanical, mental, and physical components of the job. In the United States (US), workplace injuries account for one-third of all injuries and one-sixth of all fatal injuries among people ages 20-64 years of age. The fatal accident rate of forestry workers in the US is 19-times higher than other physically demanding industries such as construction and manufacturing. Forestry workers must deal with multiple workplace factors that range from moving heavy machinery and other job tasks while adapting to changes in terrain and weather. Forestry workers also may encounter wild animals, arachnids, insects, and snakes. Arboviruses (transmitted primarily by mosquitoes) and bacterial pathogens (transmitted primarily by ticks) are potential health threats to foresters. There are a limited number of studies that have retrospectively assessed work-related injuries/fatalities in forestry/logging industries and current literature is deficient on the additional health hazards associated with foresters. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to compile what is known about potential health and safety risks in foresters from the standpoint of biological (e.g., insects/arachnids, plants); chemical (e.g., pesticides); ergonomic (e.g., awkward postures, forceful motions); physical (extreme temperature, noise, vibrations, and radiation); psychosocial (e.g., workplace factors that cause stress, strain, or interpersonal problems for the worker); and safety (e.g., beetles and trucking) hazards that impact the overall health and injury status of workers. The aims of this study on forestry workers are to: 1) Analyze causes of injuries/fatalities to inform future intervention studies focused on risk mitigation, 2) Build the foundation for using multiple databases to analyze trends in injuries/fatalities, 3) Determine whether there are any trends/associations between work-related risk factors and workplace injuries/fatalities among foresters/loggers over a 16-year period (2003-2019), 4) Evaluate trends in injuries/fatalities to determine where intervention efforts are most needed, 5) Systematically review current knowledge on health hazards in the forestry industry, and 6) Identify knowledge gaps related to forestry and logging injuries, and fatalities for future studies to address. Our findings determined that, for the period of study (2003-2018 for fatalities; 2005-2019 for injuries), “contact with objects and equipment� was the primary cause of injuries and fatalities. “Transportation�-related incidents ranked second for the cause of fatalities, while “falls, slips, & trips� was the second leading cause of injuries. Our systematic review of recent literature showed that while many studies have focused on machinery related injuries and deaths, some areas of occupational health in the forestry industry have been understudied with in the US in the last ten years. Areas identified as needing additional study include chemical exposures from pesticides and diesel exhaust, cold and heat related illnesses, and exposure to ticks and mosquitoes. Our findings identified major gaps in knowledge for health and safety of US forestry/ logging workers and occupational health outcomes. Future research should focus on these areas with an emphasis on intervention strategies that eliminate or mitigate the deleterious health effects of occupational exposures. By identifying specific needs of the forestry industry, more appropriate interventions and aids can be designed and implemented to benefit worker health and safety. Here, we have identified several areas of research that need to be addressed in the future. The areas identified here should be addressed in a collaborative effort between researchers and the forestry industry to promote worker health and safety

The Effects of Use and Resharpening on Morphometric Variability of Aurignacian Antler Projectile Points

International audienceDespite their morphological similarities, Aurignacian antler projectile points show a wide range of dimensions that remains to be explained. In this paper we focus on the contribution of use and resharpening to this morphometric variability. Our results show that these two converging processes primarily affect the distal tip of the armature. This analysis and discussion set forth an unexplored research perspective, i.e., how curation behaviors produced some of the observed morphometric variation among Aurignacian antler projectile points. We argue that artifacts must be approached in terms of functional constraints, and both structural and mechanical properties of the raw material should be considered within a broader theoretical framework that highlights how the dynamics between social transmission mechanisms and individual practices can introduce morphometric variability into material culture. Finally, we propose a new metric, the proximal-distal ratio, that can serve as a proxy measure of the range of relative dimensions of antler projectile points that Aurignacian hunters considered fit for dispatching prey.Trotz ihrer morphologischen Ähnlichkeiten weisen die Geweihspitzen aus dem Aurignacien hinsichtlich ihrer Abmessungen eine weite Spanne auf, die es nach wie vor zu erklären gilt. Das Augenmerk der Autoren liegt auf dem Beitrag, den die Benutzung und die Nachschärfung der Geschossspitzen zu dieser morphometrischen Variabilität leisten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass diese beiden Hand in Hand verlaufenden Prozesse vor allem die distale Spitzenpartie der Waffen beeinflussen. Mit den Analysen und der Diskussion öffnet sich eine bisher unberücksichtigte Perspektive, nämlich die Frage, in welchem Umfang der allgemeine Umgang mit Geweih-Geschossspitzen aus dem Aurig-nacien und die Nachbearbeitung solcher Stücke für einige der beobachteten morphometrischen Unter-schiede verantwortlich sind. Die Autoren sprechen sich dafür aus, dass eine Interpretation auch solcher Artefakte funktionale Grenzen einbeziehen muss. Sowohl die strukturellen als auch die mechanischen Eigenschaften des Rohmaterials sollten in einem breiteren theoretischen Rahmen betrachtet werden, der deutlich werden lässt, wie die Dynamik zwischen gesellschaftlicher Übermittlung und individuellen Verhaltensweisen morphometrische Variabilität in der materiellen Kultur hervorrufen kann. Schließlich wird ein neuer Messwert vorgeschlagen, das proximal-distale Verhältnis, das als Maß (proxy measure) für die Spannweite der relativen Abmessungen von Geweihspitzen dienen kann, die die Aurignacien-Jä-ger als geeignet für die Beutejagd angesehen haben

Impact of Mosquito Age and Insecticide Exposure on Vector Competence of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) for Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause birth defects in humans and is a serious global public health concern. This arbovirus is primarily transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes; however , it can also be transmitted sexually and congenitally (from human to human). Vector-virus interactions influencing vector competence (the ability for a mosquito to become infected with and transmit a pathogen) vary and depend on biological (e.g. , mosquito age) and environmental factors (e.g. , temperature). A mosquito's chronological age at time of infection may impact its immune response against virus infection. There are no effective vaccines for most arboviruses , including ZIKV , hence insecticides are the best defense against mosquito transmitted ZIKV. Aedes albopictus is difficult to control due to its day-active nature and propensity to oviposit in containers throughout landscapes. However , residual barrier treatments can control Ae. albopictus and may use pyrethroid insecticides , such as bifenthrin. Since the efficacy of barrier spray treatments decreases over time due to environmental degradation , we characterized the extent to which sublethal bifenthrin exposure impacted vector competence for ZIKV. We exposed young (6-7 d post-emergence) and old (11-12 d post-emergence) Ae. albopictus to bifenthrin prior to oral exposure to blood meals containing ZIKV (7-day extrinsic incubation period). For this mosquito population , old mosquitoes experienced a significantly (P=0.0017) higher rate of mortality than young mosquitoes. Significantly (P=0.003) higher body titers were shown in old control group compared to young control group. Significantly (P=0.013 , P=0.001) higher ZIKV dissemination rates and leg titers were observed in old bifenthrin-exposed mosquitoes compared to old control mosquitoes or young bifenthrin-exposed or control mosquitoes. This indicates that bifenthrin exposure may increase the potential for virus transmission (measured by proxy dissemination rate here); however , the degree of these impacts varies with mosquito age. Impacts of insecticides should be considered to improve risk assessments of potential vector populations

Retrospective Risk Assessment of Forestry Workers in the United States: Injuries, Fatalities, and Hazards Impacting Occupational Health

Forestry (including logging) is one of the most hazardous occupations due to environmental, ergonomic, chemical, mechanical, mental, and physical components of the job. In the United States (US), workplace injuries account for one-third of all injuries and one-sixth of all fatal injuries among people ages 20-64 years of age. The fatal accident rate of forestry workers in the US is 19-times higher than other physically demanding industries such as construction and manufacturing. Forestry workers must deal with multiple workplace factors that range from moving heavy machinery and other job tasks while adapting to changes in terrain and weather. Forestry workers also may encounter wild animals, arachnids, insects, and snakes. Arboviruses (transmitted primarily by mosquitoes) and bacterial pathogens (transmitted primarily by ticks) are potential health threats to foresters. There are a limited number of studies that have retrospectively assessed work-related injuries/fatalities in forestry/logging industries and current literature is deficient on the additional health hazards associated with foresters. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to compile what is known about potential health and safety risks in foresters from the standpoint of biological (e.g., insects/arachnids, plants)\; chemical (e.g., pesticides)\; ergonomic (e.g., awkward postures, forceful motions)\; physical (extreme temperature, noise, vibrations, and radiation)\; psychosocial (e.g., workplace factors that cause stress, strain, or interpersonal problems for the worker)\; and safety (e.g., beetles and trucking) hazards that impact the overall health and injury status of workers. The aims of this study on forestry workers are to: 1) Analyze causes of injuries/fatalities to inform future intervention studies focused on risk mitigation, 2) Build the foundation for using multiple databases to analyze trends in injuries/fatalities, 3) Determine whether there are any trends/associations between work-related risk factors and workplace injuries/fatalities among foresters/loggers over a 16-year period (2003-2019), 4) Evaluate trends in injuries/fatalities to determine where intervention efforts are most needed, 5) Systematically review current knowledge on health hazards in the forestry industry, and 6) Identify knowledge gaps related to forestry and logging injuries, and fatalities for future studies to address. Our findings determined that, for the period of study (2003-2018 for fatalities\; 2005-2019 for injuries), “contact with objects and equipment” was the primary cause of injuries and fatalities. “Transportation”-related incidents ranked second for the cause of fatalities, while “falls, slips, & trips” was the second leading cause of injuries. Our systematic review of recent literature showed that while many studies have focused on machinery related injuries and deaths, some areas of occupational health in the forestry industry have been understudied with in the US in the last ten years. Areas identified as needing additional study include chemical exposures from pesticides and diesel exhaust, cold and heat related illnesses, and exposure to ticks and mosquitoes. Our findings identified major gaps in knowledge for health and safety of US forestry/ logging workers and occupational health outcomes. Future research should focus on these areas with an emphasis on intervention strategies that eliminate or mitigate the deleterious health effects of occupational exposures. By identifying specific needs of the forestry industry, more appropriate interventions and aids can be designed and implemented to benefit worker health and safety. Here, we have identified several areas of research that need to be addressed in the future. The areas identified here should be addressed in a collaborative effort between researchers and the forestry industry to promote worker health and safety

Delayed Hyponatremia is the Most Common Cause of 30-Day Unplanned Readmission After Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumors

BACKGROUND: Unplanned readmission after surgical procedures is an important quality metric. Yet, readmission rates and causes have not been evaluated for patients after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors. OBJECTIVE: To analyze unplanned 30-day readmissions at a pituitary center and to encourage the development of effective clinical pathways to prevent readmission. METHODS: A retrospective review of adult patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions at Barrow Neurological Institute (January 2011-March 2014) was performed to identify causes of unplanned readmission within 30 days of surgery. Patient demographics, tumor details, surgical complications, and endocrine function were documented. RESULTS: Of 303 patients who had transsphenoidal surgery, 27 (8.9%) were readmitted within 30 days. Most of the 27 (15 [55.6%]) had delayed hyponatremia. Other causes were diabetes insipidus (4 [14.8%]), adrenal insufficiency (2 [7.4%]), and cerebrospinal fluid leak, epistaxis, cardiac arrhythmia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and hypoglycemia (1 each [3.7%]). Outpatient sodium screening was performed as needed. In cases of hyponatremia, the mean postoperative day of readmission was day 8 (range, 6-12 days) and the mean serum sodium was 119 mmol/L (range, 111-129 mmol/L). Numerous patient and surgical factors were examined, and no specific predictors of readmission were identified. We developed an outpatient care pathway for managing hyponatremia with the goal of improving readmission rates. CONCLUSION: This study establishes a quality benchmark for readmission rates after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions and identifies delayed hyponatremia as the primary cause. Implementation of an outpatient care pathway for managing hyponatremia may improve readmission rates