Prospects and Evaluation of an Integrated Extension Model designed for Anthrax-free Area Development

The main purpose of this study wasto assess and evaluate anIntegrated Extension Modelto improve the overall knowledge, attitude and practice habits of community people over a sustained period.The survey questionnaire results have indicated that the various sources of anthrax message dissemination had played a significant role in the study. Among those responsible for disseminating the information, it was realized that studentsserving in the role of message disseminators played the most significant role (15%) indelivering the anthrax-related key information to the community. Majority community members (97.5%) were made aware of the nature, occurrence, public health importance, and management of the disease. Theirdangerous habits and attitudes toward slaughtering of sick animals were reduced (\u3c30%). The attention of local administration and the law enforcement agency focused distinctively on the issue of animal slaughter. Vaccination and clinical records reveal that the percentage of vaccination coverage was increased from 40% to 85% andthe percentage of farmers who can diagnose anthrax has been increased from 30% to 40%.On the other hand, their poor economic background together with the dispersed settlement nature of the farmers was the main gaps identified that continued to force them to slaughter infected animals, sell their products and to consequently concealthat information, all issues that are required to be addressed in the future. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that this modelis an efficient, effective and suitable method to raise awareness levels in a large communitywith regards to a zoonotic disease like anthrax

Investigation of Campylobacter fetus in breeding bulls of private farms in Bangladesh

Abstract Background Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) is a venereal disease caused by Campylobacter fetus that has a negative impact on animal reproduction. The bull is considered to be a symptomless carrier that spreads the disease agent to breeding cows, causing infertility and sporadic abortion. Aim The study aims to estimate the prevalence, identify risk factors of Campylobacter fetus (C. fetus) infection and antimicrobial resistance pattern of the C. fetus isolates. Method A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Bull smegma samples (single sample from each bull) were collected from 300 bulls from four farms and tested via culture, biochemical identification and finally 16S rRNA and cdtA gene‐based molecular assays (PCR) for herd and animal‐level prevalence estimation. Herd‐ and animal‐level data on risk factors were collected from the farmers using a pretested questionnaire and analysed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models with a p value of <0.05 was taken statistically significant for both analyses. Results Among the surveyed farms, 75% (95% CI: 19.4%–99.4%) were confirmed to have bulls infected with Campylobacter fetus at herd level. However, animal‐level occurrence of C. fetus was estimated to be 8.7% (26/300) (95% CI: 5.7%–12.4%). Natural service increases the odds of campylobacteriosis 38.18 times (95% CI: 13.89–104.94) in comparison to artificial insemination for C. fetus infection in bulls. Significantly, half of the isolates (50%, n = 13) were identified to be multidrug resistant (MDR) for three to five antimicrobial agents. Conclusion This study highlights the need to develop official guidelines for C. fetus control and prevention in Bangladesh including mandatory artificial insemination in reproductive cows and heifers, routine screening of breeding bulls for C. fetus free status

Diagnostic Yield of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay Using Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis among the Sputum-Scarce Suspected Pulmonary TB Patients

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is caused by the single infectious agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Although sputum is the most common specimen for pulmonary TB detection, some other respiratory specimens, such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, gastric lavage (GL), and induced sputum (IS), are also collected from patients who are unable to deliver sputum. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performances of different test methods for TB diagnosis using BAL fluid specimens from sputum-scarce pulmonary TB patients. In this current study, a total of 210 BAL fluid specimens were collected and subjected to culture on Lowenstein&ndash;Jensen (L-J) medium, using an N-acetyl-L-cysteine-Sodium Hydroxide decontamination and digestion method, Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert, Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) assay, and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy with a Ziehl&ndash;Neelsen staining method for the detection of pulmonary TB. The sensitivity and specificity of these methods were then analyzed against the composite reference standard (CRS). Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of these assays. Among the 210 specimens, 39 (18.6%), 27 (12.8%), and 12 (5.7%) were found positive with Xpert assay, culture, and AFB microscopy, respectively. Considering the CRS, 42 (20%) were positive as the final diagnosis. The Xpert assay had a significantly higher sensitivity (92.9%, 95% CI: 80.5&ndash;98.5) compared to culture (64.3%, 95% CI: 48.0&ndash;78.4) and AFB microscopy (28.6%, 95% CI: 15.7&ndash;44.6) against the CRS. Additionally, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the Xpert assay, culture, and AFB microscopy accounted for 0.964, 0.821, and 0.655, respectively, when using CRS as the reference. In conclusion, our study findings demonstrated that the Xpert assay conferred a considerable diagnostic potential compared to other conventional methods for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB from BAL fluid specimens

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Molecular Detection of Campylobacter in Farmed Cattle of Selected Districts in Bangladesh

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected districts of Bangladesh to estimate prevalence, risk factors, and molecular detection of Campylobacter isolates from 540 farmed cattle of 90 herds. As an individual sample, 540 feces, and as a pooled sample, 180 milk samples, 90 feed samples, 90 water samples, 90 manure samples, and 90 animal attendants’ hand-rinse water were collected and tested via culture, biochemical, and molecular assays. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect herd-level data on risk factors with the herd owners. The herd-level data on risk factors were analyzed through univariate and multivariate analyses, and a p-value &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Overall, farm-level prevalence of bovine Campylobacter was enumerated to be 53.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.5–63.9%). The feces sample was found to be a high level of contamination of 30.9% (95% CI: 27–35%) followed by the manure swab (pooled) at 15.6% (95% CI: 8.8–24.7%). Campylobacter jejuni was documented as an abundant species (12.6%), followed by Campylobacter coli (5.1%), and Campylobacter fetus (0.3%). Older farms (&gt;5 years of age), no/minimum cleaning and disinfection practices, along with animal roaming outside of the farm, were documented as significant risk factors for farm-level Campylobacter occurrence. Evidence-based control measures need to be taken through stringent biosecurity and hygienic measurement to lessen the load of the Campylobacter pathogen in the farm environment and prevent further transmission to animals and humans

Prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends in anaemia burden by severity and cause, 1990–2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Anaemia is a major health problem worldwide. Global estimates of anaemia burden are crucial for developing appropriate interventions to meet current international targets for disease mitigation. We describe the prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends of anaemia and its underlying causes in 204 countries and territories. Methods: We estimated population-level distributions of haemoglobin concentration by age and sex for each location from 1990 to 2021. We then calculated anaemia burden by severity and associated years lived with disability (YLDs). With data on prevalence of the causes of anaemia and associated cause-specific shifts in haemoglobin concentrations, we modelled the proportion of anaemia attributed to 37 underlying causes for all locations, years, and demographics in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Findings: In 2021, the global prevalence of anaemia across all ages was 24·3% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 23·9–24·7), corresponding to 1·92 billion (1·89–1·95) prevalent cases, compared with a prevalence of 28·2% (27·8–28·5) and 1·50 billion (1·48–1·52) prevalent cases in 1990. Large variations were observed in anaemia burden by age, sex, and geography, with children younger than 5 years, women, and countries in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia being particularly affected. Anaemia caused 52·0 million (35·1–75·1) YLDs in 2021, and the YLD rate due to anaemia declined with increasing Socio-demographic Index. The most common causes of anaemia YLDs in 2021 were dietary iron deficiency (cause-specific anaemia YLD rate per 100 000 population: 422·4 [95% UI 286·1–612·9]), haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias (89·0 [58·2–123·7]), and other neglected tropical diseases (36·3 [24·4–52·8]), collectively accounting for 84·7% (84·1–85·2) of anaemia YLDs. Interpretation: Anaemia remains a substantial global health challenge, with persistent disparities according to age, sex, and geography. Estimates of cause-specific anaemia burden can be used to design locally relevant health interventions aimed at improving anaemia management and prevention. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation