The risk of rabies spread in Japan: a mathematical modeling assessment

Rabies was eliminated from Japan in 1957. In the 60 years since elimination, vaccination coverage has declined and dog ownership habits have changed. The purpose of this study was to assess the current risk of rabies spread in Japan. A spatially explicit transmission model was developed at the 1 km2 grid scale for Hokkaido and Ibaraki Prefectures. Parameters associated with dog movement and bite injuries were estimated using historical records from Japan, and were used with previously published epidemiological parameters. The final epidemic size, efficacy of rabies contingency plans and the influence of dog owner responses to incursions were assessed by the model. Average outbreak sizes for dog rabies were 3.1 and 4.7 dogs in Hokkaido and Ibaraki Prefectures, respectively. Average number of bite injury cases were 4.4 and 6.7 persons in Hokkaido and Ibaraki Prefectures, respectively. Discontinuation of mandatory vaccination increased outbreak sizes in these prefectures. Sensitivity analyses showed that higher chance of unintentional release of rabid dogs by their owners (from 0.5 to 0.9 probability) increased outbreak size twofolds. Our model outputs suggested that at present, incursions of rabies into Japan are very unlikely to cause large outbreaks. Critically, the reaction of dog owners to their dogs developing rabies considerably impacts the course of outbreaks. Contingency measures should therefore include sensitisation of dog owners

Analyse des risques microbiens du lait cru local à Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

The hygiene practices during milking, the microbiological and chemical quality of cow raw milk from production to sale were studied in 15 small dairies in Abidjan. The analysis of raw milk quality showed that 81.5% of raw milk taken udders of cow were of good quality, against 35.30% for raw milk on sale. The average of Coliforms was 8.7.103 cfu/ml for raw milk taken cow’s udder, 3.2.105 cfu/ml for raw milk in tank and 9.9.105 cfu/ml for raw milk sales. The udders of cows, hands of milkers were identified as primary sources of milk contamination. The utensils (farmer, vendor) and environment were identified as major sources of secondary contamination. In addition, 24.7% of milk contained antibiotics and 50% of raw milk on sale were wet with water. The occurrence of food borne diseases is significantly related to the behavior of consumption of unpasteurized raw milk (P<0.05) with a relative risk of 2.81 (95%CI: 1.17 – 6.78). The zootechnical management of actors and popularization of good hygiene practices throughout the production chain are necessary for improvement of local milk quality

Disolución de hierro de un concentrado complejo de esfalerita por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

En el presente trabajo se empleó una cepa de Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Af) para biolixiviar el hierro pirítico presente en un concentrado de sulfuro de zinc con un contenido de 1,41% en peso de hierro. El proceso de biolixiviación se llevó a cabo en una suspensión conteniendo de 5 a 8% de sólidos p/v a un pH de alrededor de 2,7 (ajustado con ácido sulfúrico) y a una temperatura de 30 °C. Los resultados muestran que en un periodo de 15 días, el contenido metalúrgico del hierro disminuyó en un 17%, lo cual se traduce en un incremento en el grado metalúrgico del concentrado de zinc de 64,6 a 66,9%, lo que permitió incrementar  substancialmente el valor comercial de éste, evitando penalizaciones por el contenido de hierro presente

Aflatoxin M1 survey in dairy households in Kenya

Kenya has the largest dairy herd and highest per capita milk consumption in east Africa. Kenya has also experienced multiple aflatoxicosis outbreaks in recent years, and several surveys have reported high levels of contamination in maize. When lactating cows consume feed which is contaminated with aflatoxins, they excrete a metabolite (aflatoxin M1) in their milk. This metabolite is injurious to human health, but there is no current information on the risk to human health posed by aflatoxins in milk in Kenya. To fill this gap, a risk assessment is being conducted in four agroecological zones in Kenya (semi-arid, temperate, sub-humid and humid). In 2014, we conducted a survey of households in these four zones. We surveyed 286 households in 37 villages and in each household administered a questionnaire and collected feed and milk samples. In all, 280 milk samples were analyzed using competitive ELISA. The limit of detection was 2 parts per trillion (ppt). Overall, 59 per cent of all samples had aflatoxin below the limits of detection, 32 per cent of samples had aflatoxin between 2 ppt and 50 ppt while 9 per cent exceeded the WHO/FAO limit of 50 ppt

Effects of telmisartan and ramipril on adiponectin and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes

&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Adiponectin is secreted by adipose tissue and may play a role in cardiovascular disease. We examined adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Telmisartan vs. Ramipril in Renal Endothelial Dysfunction (TRENDY) study. &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; A total of 87 patients were assessed at baseline and following 9 weeks treatment with the angiotensin-receptor blocker telmisartan (final dose, 80 mg; n = 45) or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (final dose, 10 mg; n = 42). Adiponectin levels were measured in plasma by radioimmunoassay. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with systolic (SBP; r = -0.240, P &#60; 0.05) and diastolic (DBP; r = -0.227, P &#60; 0.05) blood pressure at baseline and following treatment with telmisartan or ramipril (SBP: r = -0.228, P &#60; 0.05; DBP: r = -0.286, P &#60; 0.05). Changes in adiponectin levels were related to changes in SBP (r = -0.357, P &#60; 0.01) and DBP (r = -0.286, P &#60; 0.01). There was a significant increase in adiponectin levels in the telmisartan (0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.27 to 1.10) &lt;sup&gt;&#181;&lt;/sup&gt;g/ml, P &#60; 0.01) but not in the ramipril group (0.17 (95% CI, -0.56 to 0.90) &lt;sup&gt;&#181;&lt;/sup&gt;g/ml, P = 0.67). Blood pressure reduction in the telmisartan group (DeltaSBP: -13.5 (95% CI, -17.0 to -10.0) mm Hg; &#916;DBP: -7.6 (95% CI, -9.8 to -5.3) mm Hg, each P &#60; 0.001) was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01 for SBP and P &#60; 0.01 for DBP) greater than in the ramipril group (&#916;SBP: -6.1 (95% CI, -6.2 to -2.0) mm Hg; &#916;DBP: -2.7 (95% CI, -5.0 to -0.5) mm Hg; P &#60; 0.01 and P &#60; 0.05, respectively). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Adiponectin is correlated with blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether increased adiponectin contributes to the blood pressure–lowering effect of telmisartan needs further study