Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about rabies among the people in the community, healthcare professionals and veterinary practitioners in Bangladesh

It is crucial to explore knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) about rabies among the people in the community, the personnel dealing with animal bite management and suspected rabies patients, including humans and animals, to facilitate intervention in improving rabies elimination strategies. In 2016, we conducted an interactive face-to-face survey in three different districts of Bangladesh to understand the extent of KAP towards rabies in the community peoples (CPs), human healthcare professionals (HCPs) and veterinary practitioners (VPs). A set of prescribed questions was employed to measure what proportion of each group possessed sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes and adequate perceptions about rabies. A total of 1133 CPs, 211 HCPs and 168 VPs were interviewed by using a standard questionnaire comprising both closed and open-ended questions. Of the CPs, 49% identified the disease correctly (i.e. rabies is caused by an animal bite or a scratch). Only 29% of the CPs were aware that a wound should be washed immediately with soap and water after an animal bite or a scratch. However, only 49% of the CPs, 65% of the HCPs and 60% of the VPs felt that it is important to consult a physician and receive post-exposure vaccine as the first line of treatment following an animal exposure. Among the HCPs, 23% of the respondents did not possess sufficient knowledge about animal bites as categorised by the World Health Organization (WHO), and 12% of the respondents did not possess the knowledge on how to manage an animal bite properly. Out of 52% of the VPs who previously treated suspected rabid animals, only 29% had a history of taking rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Lack of formal education and rural subsistence were found to largely contribute to poor rabies KAP level among the CPs (P ≤ 0.01). There has been a high demand for proper training to be provided to HCPs and VPs for the effective management of an animal bite incidence in human and animals, respectively. Multi-sectoral collaboration through integrated One Health initiatives including community education, awareness programmes, facilitation of rabies PEP, and dog vaccination as well as its population control are critical in the way forward to control rabies in Bangladesh

Chaotic Dynamics and Control of Discrete Ratio-Dependent Predator-Prey System

This study examines the complexity of a discrete-time predator-prey system with ratio-dependent functional response. We establish algebraically the conditions for existence of fixed points and their stability. We show that under some parametric conditions the system passes through a bifurcation (flip or Neimark-Sacker). Numerical simulations are presented not only to justify theoretical results but also to exhibit new complex behaviors which include phase portraits, orbits of periods 9, 19, and 26, invariant closed circle, and attracting chaotic sets. Moreover, we measure numerically the Lyapunov exponents and fractal dimension to confirm the chaotic dynamics of the system. Finally, a state feedback control method is applied to control chaos which exists in the system

Three Species Food Web in a Chemostat

Abstract: In this paper, we consider a model describing predator prey interaction in a chemostat that incorporates general response functions and identical removal rates. The existence of steady states, their local stability and persistence of the model are presented. We construct a Lyapunov function in the study of the global stability of a predator free steady state. We show that a slight fluctuation in the maximal growth rates of prey and/or predator devastate the form of conservation principle. Numerical simulations are also presented to analyze the model equations and determine the effect of the operating parameters of the chemostat on its dynamics

On the qualitative study of a discrete fractional order prey–predator model with the effects of harvesting on predator population

This research investigates the discrete prey–predator model by including harvesting on the predator population, in the sense of Caputo fractional derivative. We define the topological categories of the model fixed points. We demonstrate mathematically that, under certain parametric conditions, a fractional order prey-predator model undergoes both a Neimark–Sacker (NS) and a Period-doubling (PD) bifurcations. Using the central manifold and bifurcation theory, we present proof for NS and PD bifurcations. It has been discovered that the fractional order prey-predator model's dynamical behavior is significantly influenced by the parameter values and the initial conditions. Two chaos control techniques have been used to eliminate the chaos in the model. In order to support our theoretical and analytical results and to illustrate complex and chaotic behavior, numerical simulations have been shown

In vitro α–amylase inhibitory activity and in vivo hypoglycemic effect of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr.fruit in α-amylase inhibitory activity (in vitro) and hypoglycemic activity in normal and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (in vivo). Methods: Fruits of Citrus macroptera without rind was extracted with pure methanol following cold extraction and tested for presence of phytochemical constituents, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats. Results: Presence of saponin, steroid and terpenoid were identified in the extract. The results showed that fruit extract had moderate α-amylase inhibitory activity [IC50 value=(3.638±0.190) mg/mL] as compared to acarbose. Moreover at 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg doses fruit extract significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) reduced fasting blood glucose level in normal rats as compared to glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). In oral glucose tolerance test, 500 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level (P<0.05) at 2 h but 1000 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level at 2 h and 3 h (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) whereas glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced glucose level at every hour after administration. Overall time effect is also considered extremely significant with F value=23.83 and P value=0.0001 in oral glucose tolerance test. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the plant may be a potential source for the development of new oral hypoglycemic agent