The Impact of Intestinal Helminths on Mammalian Nutritional Physiology

A critical review of the literature (Section 1) interprets evidence to show how various mammalian intestinal helminth infections have been associated with alterations in the nutritional physiology of the mammalian host. The effects have been observed during all stages of metabolism, from initial ingestion through all the intra-luminal events, including digestion and nutrient absorption, and finally to the post-absorptive events of intermediary metabolism, and the mechanisms appear to be as diverse as structural histopathologic changes and alterations in the concentrations of circulating hormones. An experimental investigation of interactions between rat host metabolism and infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda), (Section 2), was conducted. Plasma glucose concentrations were observed to fall between days 6 - 14 p. i. of a primary infection of rats with N. brasiliensis, and although food intake was also observed to fall during this intake, with marked troughs on days 3 and 9 p. i. , this is considered to be no more than contributory to the reduced plasma glucose concentrations. Measurements of the activity of the hepatic gluconeogenic enzyme alanine-amino-transferase (ALT), by in vitro assay, during N. brasiliensis infections revealed striking fluctuations. An elevation followed by a reduction in the activity of the enzyme was observed, and these alterations were found to be dose-dependent. In secondary infections similar fluctuations were observed, but appeared to be attenuated. A reduction in the activity of the enzyme was detected when the infection was initiated by oral transfer of adult N. brasiliensis worms, but when an infection initiated by subcutaneous inoculation of N. brasiliensis larvae was terminated on day 4 p. i. by anthelmintic treatment, ALT activity measured on day 10 p. i. was not found to be different from that measured in control rats. Addition of parasitic homogenate to the liver assay caused no change in the measurements, but addition of serum was associated with a decrease in the ALT activity measured, and this was particularly marked with serum from immune rats. These results suggested that an immune response of the host to the N. brasiliensis infection may be influencing ALT activity. Measurements of hepatic ALT activity in immunosuppressed rats infected with N. brasiliensis supported this theory. Accordingly measurements were made in rats during N. brasiliensis infections of parameters known to be indicators of an immune response involving cytokines, known to influence a number of aspects of metabolism (Klasing, 1988). Although body temperature, leukocyte numbers and plasma zinc concentrations provided no evidence of an immune response involving cytokines, a marked elevation in the concentration of plasma a2-macroglobulin was observed, suggesting that cytokines may be produced. Measurements of plasma corticosterone concentrations during both primary and secondary N. brasiliensis infections in rats revealed fluctuations in concentration that provided a tempting suggestion that alterations in concentrations of this immunosuppressant hormone may be contributing to the fluctuations in ALT activity described. The possibility that metabolic fluctuations may be a "trade off" for an effective immune response is discussed in terms of these results. A collaborative study of a human community in Cocle Province, Panama (Section 3) was undertaken to investigate associations between nutritional variables, in particular vitamin A status, and soil-transmitted helminth infections in primary school children, with measurements being made of nutritional parameters both before and after anthelmintic intervention. The epidemiological data collected revealed that Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura were the most common intestinal helminth infections observed, with prevalences of 18.2, 12.0 and 27.5% respectively. This data could be compared not only to results of intestinal helminth surveys conducted in the same area over the past 60 years, but also to more contemporary data from various regions of Central America. The efficacy of levamisole as a control measure was assessed, and considered to have an effective role. Plasma retinol concentrations were not found to be indicative of vitamin A deficiency, and no association between lower concentrations and intestinal helminths was detected. Over 20% of the children, however, were found to have blood haemoglobin concentrations indicative of anaemia, and concomitant infections of T. trichiura and hookworm were considered to be contributory. Heavier infections of T. trichiura were also found to be associated with lower anthropometric variables. These results suggest that even relatively light infections of soil-transmitted helminths may exert an insidious effect on the nutritional status of growing children, despite the availability of adequate nutritional resources

Global goat! Is the expanding goat population an important reservoir of Cryptosporidium?

Goats are a primary or additional income source for many families in resource-poor areas. Although often considered inferior to other livestock, the resilience of goats and their ability to thrive in a range of environments means that that they are of particular value. Furthermore, goats emit less methane than other livestock species. In these same areas, it is well-documented that cryptosporidiosis has a substantial impact on infant morbidity and mortality, as well as reducing child growth and development. As Cryptosporidium also causes diarrheal disease in goats, the question arises whether goats may represent a reservoir of infection to humans. Epidemiological studies regarding the potential for transmission of Cryptosporidium between goats and humans have largely concluded that Cryptosporidium species infecting goats are not zoonotic. However, these studies are mostly from developed countries, where goat husbandry is smaller, management routines differ greatly from those of developing countries, contact between goats and their owners is more limited, and cryptosporidiosis has less impact on human health. In this article, background information on goat husbandry in different countries is provided, along with information on Cryptosporidium prevalence among goats, at both the species and sub-species levels, and the potential for zoonotic transmission. The intention is to indicate data gaps that should be filled and to increase awareness of the role of goats as providers for low-income families, often living in areas where cryptosporidiosis is endemic and where appropriate baseline interventions could have a positive impact, regardless of species of goat or parasite.publishedVersio

A risk assessment of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the Norwegian meat chain with emphasis on dry-cured sausages

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Risk assessment on use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) as an ingredient in infant formula and baby foods (II)

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Risk assessment on use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) as an ingredient in infant formula and baby foods (II)

Source at https://vkm.no/On 10. March 2006 , The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) decided that, on the basis of VKM’s previous risk assessment (2005), Nutramigen 1 with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) could not be marketed in Norway as medical foods for infants (0-4 months). In addition, The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) decided (08. November 2006) to withdraw permission for marketing ofNutramigen 2 with LGG, which is a milk supplement for infants aged between 4 and 6 months, with cow’s milk and soy protein allergy. On 13. December 2006, Mead Johnson Nutritionals appealed against this decision from The Norwegian Food SafetyAuthority (Mattilsynet). The Norwegian Food Safety Authority forwarded the appeal from the companies, asked the VKM Panel on biological hazards and the VKM Panel on nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy, for a new risk assessment including the new data provided in the appeal.Basert på VKMs tidligere risikovurdering fra 2005, bestemte Mattilsynet 10. mars 2006 atNutramigen 1 med LGG ikke kunne markedsføres som næringsmiddel til spesielle medisinske formål (0-4 måneder) i Norge. I tillegg trakk Mattilsynet tilbake tillatelsen (08. november, 2006) til å markedsføre Nutramigen 2 med LGG, som er en melkeerstatning for spedbarn mellom fire og seks måneder som er allergiske mot kumelk og soyaproteiner. Den 13. desember 2006 Mead Johnson Nutritionals på vedtaket fra Mattilsynet. Mattilsynet videresendte klagen fra selskapene og ba VKMs faggrupper for hygiene og smittestoffer samt ernæring, dietetiske produkter, ny mat og allergi om å foreta en ny risikovurdering basert på nye data som er lagt frem i forbindelse med klagen

Risikovurdering knyttet til konsum av rå melk og kolostrum

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Comparison of organic and conventional food and food Production. Part IV: Human health – hygiene and pathogens

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Investigating the uptake, effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines : protocol for an observational study using linked UK national data

Funding: This research is part of the Data and Connectivity National Core Study, led by Health Data Research UK in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and funded by UK Research and Innovation (HDRUK2020.146). EAVE II is funded by the Medical Research Council (MC_PC_19075) and supported by the Scottish Government. This work is supported by BREATHE - The Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health (MC_PC_19004). BREATHE is funded through the UK Research and Innovation Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and delivered through Health Data Research UK. ConCOV is supported by the Medical Research Council (MR/V028367/1); Health Data Research UK (HDR-9006) which receives its funding from the UK Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Department of Health and Social Care (England), Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Wellcome Trust; and Administrative Data Research UK which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (grant ES/S007393/1).Introduction : The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which emerged in December 2019, has caused millions of deaths and severe illness worldwide. Numerous vaccines are currently under development of which a few have now been authorised for population-level administration by several countries. As of 20 September 2021, over 48 million people have received their first vaccine dose and over 44 million people have received their second vaccine dose across the UK. We aim to assess the uptake rates, effectiveness, and safety of all currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the UK. Methods and analysis : We will use prospective cohort study designs to assess vaccine uptake, effectiveness and safety against clinical outcomes and deaths. Test-negative case–control study design will be used to assess vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Self-controlled case series and retrospective cohort study designs will be carried out to assess vaccine safety against mild-to-moderate and severe adverse events, respectively. Individual-level pseudonymised data from primary care, secondary care, laboratory test and death records will be linked and analysed in secure research environments in each UK nation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models will be carried out to estimate vaccine uptake levels in relation to various population characteristics. VE estimates against laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection will be generated using a generalised additive logistic model. Time-dependent Cox models will be used to estimate the VE against clinical outcomes and deaths. The safety of the vaccines will be assessed using logistic regression models with an offset for the length of the risk period. Where possible, data will be meta-analysed across the UK nations. Ethics and dissemination : We obtained approvals from the National Research Ethics Service Committee, Southeast Scotland 02 (12/SS/0201), the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage independent Information Governance Review Panel project number 0911. Concerning English data, University of Oxford is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation and the National Health Service (NHS) Digital Data Security and Protection Policy. This is an approved study (Integrated Research Application ID 301740, Health Research Authority (HRA) Research Ethics Committee 21/HRA/2786). The Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Clinical Informatics Digital Hub meets NHS Digital’s Data Security and Protection Toolkit requirements. In Northern Ireland, the project was approved by the Honest Broker Governance Board, project number 0064. Findings will be made available to national policy-makers, presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Risk assessment on the use of triclosan in cosmetics. Prepared by the Scientific Committee in cooperation with the Panel on Biological Hazards and the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in contact with Food and Cosmetics

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COVID-19 vaccine uptake, effectiveness, and waning in 82,959 health care workers: A national prospective cohort study in Wales.

BACKGROUND: While population estimates suggest high vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection, the protection for health care workers, who are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure, is less understood. METHODS: We conducted a national cohort study of health care workers in Wales (UK) from 7 December 2020 to 30 September 2021. We examined uptake of any COVID-19 vaccine, and the effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech) against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used linked and routinely collected national-scale data within the SAIL Databank. Data were available on 82,959 health care workers in Wales, with exposure extending to 26 weeks after second doses. RESULTS: Overall vaccine uptake was high (90%), with most health care workers receiving theBNT162b2 vaccine (79%). Vaccine uptake differed by age, staff role, socioeconomic status; those aged 50-59 and 60+ years old were 1.6 times more likely to get vaccinated than those aged 16-29. Medical and dental staff, and Allied Health Practitioners were 1.5 and 1.1 times more likely to get vaccinated, compared to nursing and midwifery staff. The effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine was found to be strong and consistent across the characteristics considered; 52% three to six weeks after first dose, 86% from two weeks after second dose, though this declined to 53% from 22 weeks after the second dose. CONCLUSIONS: With some variation in rate of uptake, those who were vaccinated had a reduced risk of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to those unvaccinated. Second dose has provided stronger protection for longer than first dose but our study is consistent with waning from seven weeks onwards