Bacterial Contamination of Imported and Local Corn Kernel (Used as Animal Feed) in Iraq

This study was carried out to determine bacterial contamination of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) in Iraq, which causes diseases and great economic losses. A total of 163 samples were collected (100 samples of the imported corn kernel from border points and 63 samples of the local corn kernel from the provinces) and cultured then Isolates were identified according to morphological Characteristics, biochemical tests and Agglutination test. The results indicated a total Gram-negative bacteria in 94 samples of the total samples (163) at (58%), includes: 57 Isolates from the imported corn kernel at (57%), which includes :Salmonella spp. in 14 samples at (14%), Escherichia coli in 21 samples at (21%), Klebsiella spp. in 13 samples at (13%), Proteus spp. in 9 samples at (9%) but absence of Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. . Addition to 37 Isolates from the local corn kernel at (60%),which includes: Salmonella spp. in 10 samples at (16%), Escherichia coli in 15 samples at (24%), Proteus spp. in 6 samples at (10%), Serratia spp. in 3 samples at (5%), Enterobacter spp. in 3 samples at (5%) but absence of Klebsiella spp. This study concluded that must be evaluated the microbial quality of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) by manufacturers and health authorities to ensure safety and quality of corn to prevent diseases and great economic losses

Bacterial Contamination of Imported and Local Corn Kernel (Used as Animal Feed) in Iraq

This study was carried out to determine bacterial contamination of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) in Iraq, which causes diseases and great economic losses. A total of 163 samples were collected (100 samples of the imported corn kernel from border points and 63 samples of the local corn kernel from the provinces) and cultured then Isolates were identified according to morphological Characteristics, biochemical tests and Agglutination test. The results indicated a total Gram-negative bacteria in 94 samples of the total samples (163) at (58%), includes: 57 Isolates from the imported corn kernel at (57%), which includes :Salmonella spp. in 14 samples at (14%), Escherichia coli in 21 samples at (21%), Klebsiella spp. in 13 samples at (13%), Proteus spp. in 9 samples at (9%) but absence of Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. . Addition to 37 Isolates from the local corn kernel at (60%),which includes: Salmonella spp. in 10 samples at (16%), Escherichia coli in 15 samples at (24%), Proteus spp. in 6 samples at (10%), Serratia spp. in 3 samples at (5%), Enterobacter spp. in 3 samples at (5%) but absence of Klebsiella spp. This study concluded that must be evaluated the microbial quality of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) by manufacturers and health authorities to ensure safety and quality of corn to prevent diseases and great economic losses

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric cancer is a leading cause of death for children. Children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were four times more likely to die than children in high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the delivery of healthcare services worldwide, and exacerbated the disparity in paediatric cancer outcomes between LMICs and HICs. DESIGN: A multicentre, international, collaborative cohort study. SETTING: 91 hospitals and cancer centres in 39 countries providing cancer treatment to paediatric patients between March and December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years, and newly diagnosed with or undergoing active cancer treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas or neuroblastomas, in keeping with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality at 30 days and 90 days. RESULTS: 1660 patients were recruited. 219 children had changes to their treatment due to the pandemic. Patients in LMICs were primarily affected (n=182/219, 83.1%). Relative to patients with paediatric cancer in HICs, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 12.1 (95% CI 2.93 to 50.3) and 7.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 19.7) times the odds of death at 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 15.6 (95% CI 3.7 to 65.8) times the odds of death at 30 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected paediatric oncology service provision. It has disproportionately affected patients in LMICs, highlighting and compounding existing disparities in healthcare systems globally that need addressing urgently. However, many patients with paediatric cancer continued to receive their normal standard of care. This speaks to the adaptability and resilience of healthcare systems and healthcare workers globally

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality