61 research outputs found

    How do genetic relatedness and spatial proximity shape African swine fever infections in wild boar?

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    The importance of social and spatial structuring of wildlife populations for disease spread, though widely recognized, is still poorly understood in many host-pathogen systems. In particular, system-specific kin relationships among hosts can create contact heterogeneities and differential disease transmission rates. Here, we investigate how distance-dependent infection risk is influenced by genetic relatedness in a novel host-pathogen system: wild boar (Sus scrofa) and African swine fever (ASF).We hypothesized that infection risk would correlate positively with proximity and relatedness to ASF-infected individuals but expected those relationships to weaken with the distance between individuals due to decay in contact rates and genetic similarity.We genotyped 323 wild boar samples (243 ASF-negative and 80 ASF-positive) collected in north-eastern Poland in 2014–2016 and modelled the effects of geographic distance, genetic relatedness and ASF virus transmission mode (direct or carcass-based) on the probability of ASF infection. Infection risk was positively associated with spatial proximity and genetic relatedness to infected individuals with generally stronger effect of distance. In the high-contact zone (0–2 km), infection risk was shaped by the presence of infected individuals rather than by relatedness to them. In the medium-contact zone (2–5 km), infection risk decreased but was still associated with relatedness and paired infections were more frequent among relatives. At farther distances, infection risk further declined with relatedness and proximity to positive individuals, and was 60% lower among un-related individuals in the no-contact zone (33% in10–20 km) compared among relatives in the high-contact zone (93% in 0–2 km). Transmission mode influenced the relationship between proximity or relatedness and infection risk. Our results indicate that the presence of nearby infected individuals is most important for shaping ASF infection rates through carcass-based transmission, while relatedness plays an important role in shaping transmission rates between live animals

    ABO blood group system and placental malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Understanding the pathogenesis of malaria in pregnancy and its consequences for both the mother and the baby is fundamental for improving malaria control in pregnant women.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The study aimed to investigate the role of ABO blood groups on pregnancy outcomes in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 293 women delivering in New Half teaching hospital, eastern Sudan during the period October 2006–March 2007 have been analyzed. ABO blood groups were determined and placental histopathology examinations for malaria were performed. Birth and placental weight were recorded and maternal haemoglobin was measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>114 (39.7%), 61 (22.1%) and 118 (38.2%) women were primiparae, secundiparae and multiparae, respectively. The ABO blood group distribution was 82(A), 59 (B), 24 (AB) and 128 (O). Placental histopathology showed acute placental malaria infections in 6 (2%), chronic infections in 6 (2%), 82 (28.0%) of the placentae showed past infection and 199 (68.0%) showed no infection. There was no association between the age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.45–2.2; <it>P </it>= 0.9), parity (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3–1.2; <it>P </it>= 0.1) and placental malaria infections. In all parity blood group O was associated with a higher risk of past (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1–3.2; <it>P </it>= 0.01) placental malaria infection. This was also true when primiparae were considered separately (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.05–6.5, <it>P </it>= 0.03).</p> <p>Among women with all placental infections/past placental infection, the mean haemoglobin was higher in women with the blood group O, but the mean birth weight, foeto-placental weight ratio was not different between these groups and the non-O group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that women of eastern Sudan are at risk for placental malaria infection irrespective to their age or parity. Those women with blood group O were at higher risk of past placental malaria infection.</p

    ABO phenotypes and malaria related outcomes in mothers and babies in The Gambia: a role for histo-blood groups in placental malaria?

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    BACKGROUND: Host susceptibility to P.falciparum is critical for understanding malaria in pregnancy, its consequences for the mother and baby, and for improving malaria control in pregnant women. Yet host genetic factors which could influence placental malaria risk are little studied and there are no reports of the role of blood group polymorphisms on pregnancy outcomes in malaria endemic areas. This study analyses the association between ABO blood group phenotypes in relation to placental malaria pathology. METHODS: A total of 198 mother/child pairs delivering in Banjul and the Kombo-St Mary District (The Gambia) were analysed. ABO blood group was measured by agglutination. Placental malaria parasites wee enumerated and the presence of malaria pigment noted. Birth anthropometry was recorded and placental weight. Maternal and infant haemoglobin was measured. RESULTS: 89 (45%) subjects were primiparae and 110 (55%)multiparae. The ABO phenotype distribution was 38(A), 52(B), 6(AB) and 102(O). Placental histo-pathology showed active placental malaria in 74 (37%), past infection in 42 (21%) and no infection in 82 cases (41%). In primiparae blood group O was associated with a higher risk of active infection (OR = 2.99; 95% CI = 1.24–7.25), and a lower risk of past infection (OR = 0.31, 0.10–1.01, p < 0.05). In multiparae the O phenotype was associated with reduced prevalence of active or past placental infection (OR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.21–0.98). The mean feto-placental weight ratio was significantly higher in multiparae with group O women compared to non-O phenotypes (5.74 vs 5.36; p = 0.04). Among primiparae with active placental infection, mean birth weight was higher in children of mothers with the O phenotype (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that blood group O was significantly associated with increased placental malaria infection in primiparae and reduced risk of infection in multiparae. This parity related susceptibility was not present with other ABO phenotypes. Cell surface glycans, such as ABO and related antigens have special relevance in reproductive biology and could modulate specific cell interactions as those associated with the pathogenesis of placental malaria

    Caution, "normal" BMI: health risks associated with potentially masked individual underweight - EPMA position paper 2021

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    An increasing interest in a healthy lifestyle raises questions about optimal body weight. Evidently, it should be clearly discriminated between the standardised "normal" body weight and individually optimal weight. To this end, the basic principle of personalised medicine "one size does not fit all" has to be applied. Contextually, "normal" but e.g. borderline body mass index might be optimal for one person but apparently suboptimal for another one strongly depending on the individual genetic predisposition, geographic origin, cultural and nutritional habits and relevant lifestyle parameters - all included into comprehensive individual patient profile. Even if only slightly deviant, both overweight and underweight are acknowledged risk factors for a shifted metabolism which, if being not optimised, may strongly contribute to the development and progression of severe pathologies. Development of innovative screening programmes is essential to promote population health by application of health risks assessment, individualised patient profiling and multi-parametric analysis, further used for cost-effective targeted prevention and treatments tailored to the person. The following healthcare areas are considered to be potentially strongly benefiting from the above proposed measures: suboptimal health conditions, sports medicine, stress overload and associated complications, planned pregnancies, periodontal health and dentistry, sleep medicine, eye health and disorders, inflammatory disorders, healing and pain management, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancers, psychiatric and neurologic disorders, stroke of known and unknown aetiology, improved individual and population outcomes under pandemic conditions such as COVID-19. In a long-term way, a significantly improved healthcare economy is one of benefits of the proposed paradigm shift from reactive to Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (PPPM/3PM). A tight collaboration between all stakeholders including scientific community, healthcare givers, patient organisations, policy-makers and educators is essential for the smooth implementation of 3PM concepts in daily practice

    Influence of physical activity on the quality of life of healthy adults – preliminary remarks

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    Praca omawia terminologię związana z jakością życia i metody badania. Zwrócono uwagę na badanie jakości życia osób zdrowych w aspekcie systematycznie uprawianej aktywności fizycznej jako zachowań prozdrowotnych.The paper discusses terminology of the quality of life and the examination methods. The attention was paid to the quality of life of healthy adults that can be influenced by systematic physical activity as a health promoting and preventive measure

    Static and dynamic test of postural control in Taekwondo contenders

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    Równowaga dynamiczna i statyczna oceniania była u osób w wieku 19 do 27 lat, trenujących Taekwondo i w grupie kontrolnej, nieuprawiającej aktywności fizycznej. Równowaga statyczna była mierzona w czasie 20 s spokojnego stania na platformie stabilograficznej. Równowaga dynamiczna oceniana była przez 2,5 s po skoku na platformę i zeskoku z platformy. Nie stwierdzono znaczących różnic w równowadze statycznej pomiędzy grupami. W grupie osób uprawiających Taekwondo zmierzono mniejsze zmiany sił reakcji podłoża po skoku jednonożnym na platformę niż u osób nieuprawiających sportu, co dowodzi lepszej równowagi dynamicznej.Static and dynamic postural stability was tested on a force plate between recreational Taekwondo athletes (TAE) and subjects who were not involved in any systematic sports activities (CON) aged 18 to 27 years. The static stability was measured in single- and double-leg 20 s quiet stance. The dynamic stability was assessed by the standard deviation of the ground vertical forces during 2.5 s period after landing in two tests: hopping and leaping on the force plate. The results revealed similar postural sway in TAE and in CON groups during a 20-sec quiet stance indicating that the traditional interpretation of stabilographic findings may be sometimes misleading in the assessment of postural performance in athletes. However, the vertical force variability that resulted from a single-leg hopping on the force plate was much lower in athletes than in controls

    Assessment of geometry of radiation source-plant-detector on value of the remote sensing indices

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    The aim of this study is an analysis of an influence of geometry electromagnetic radiation (lamp or sun) - research target (leaves) - detector. The electromagnetic radiation was emitted by the lamp ASD ProLamp, which was installed at 30°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 150° angles. Reference measurements was a system in which the lamp and detector were set vertically. During the laboratory measurements spectral properties of Rhoeo spathacea were acquired. Based on the measured spectral curves of vegetation remote sensing indices were calculated and statistical ANOVA tests were applied. The results confirmed the relationship between the geometry of the lamp - plant - detector. The higher the angle the incident radiation results were less diverse and close to optimum values were observed. Analysis of the indicators showed that the high variability characterized by the indicators measuring water, chlorophyll contents and overall vigor parameters of plants. While the tests can be used for measuring rates of nitrogen content, the absorption of carotenoids and photosynthetically active radiation
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