16 research outputs found
Prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in livestock in Palestine
Background: Trypanosoma evansi is the causative agent of surra, a disease that occurs in many animal species. The
disease is responsible for substantial losses in global production and can be fatal if not diagnosed early. This study
aims to determine the prevalence of T. evansi in livestock, equids and dromedary camels in Palestine.
Methods: Blood samples were collected during 2015â2017 from domesticated animals (n = 259 animals; 77%
females and 23% males) including camels (n = 87), horses (n = 46), donkeys (n = 28), mules (n = 2), sheep (n = 49)
and goats (n = 48) from eight districts: Ariha (Jericho), Nablus, Bethlehem, Deir Al Balah, Jenin, Rafah, Tubas, and Khan
Yunis. Parasite prevalence was determined using PCR and blood smear microscopy. PCR-positive samples were further
phylogenetically analyzed using DNA sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene.
Results: The overall infection prevalence was 18% (46/259). The positivity rates according to PCR and microscopy
examination were 17% (45/259) and 2.7% (7/259), respectively. The infection rates were as follows: camels, 26/61
(30%); horses, 8/46 (17%); donkeys, 3/28 (11%); mules, 1/2 (50%); sheep, 2/42 (4%); and goats, 6/42 (13%). Phylogenetic
analyses of the 18S rRNA gene showed that 24 positive T. evansi samples from Palestine formed a monophyletic
cluster with seven T. evansi sequences from Africa, Asia and South America, and three T. brucei sequences from Africa
retrieved from GenBank. The spatial analysis showed three statistically significant foci of T. evansi infection in Jenin,
Tubas (P = 0.02) and Ariha (Jericho) (P = 0.04). No statistically significant foci were detected in the Gaza Strip.
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of high levels of infection with T. evansi as
a causative agent of surra in Palestine. Our study emphasizes the need for a stringent surveillance system and risk
assessment studies as prerequisites for control measures. Further investigations focusing on vectors and evaluation of
risk factors are needed.Acknowledgments
Not applicable.
Authorsâ contributions
AN, SE, AA-J and ZA conceived and designed the experiments. AN, SE, HA-J,
NA-L and AA-J performed the experiments. SE, AN and AA-J analyzed the data.
AN, AA-J and SE wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AN, SE, NA-L, HA, AA-J
and ZA competed the final revision of the manuscript to be published. All
authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
This research received no financial support
Incidence of Echinococcus granulosus in Domestic Dogs in Palestine as Revealed by Copro-PCR
Hydatidosis or echinococcosisis considered a neglected zoonotic disease despite its high
burden in the livestock industry and the high risk of infection by humans in endemic areas.
In a cross-sectional study we estimated the copro-Incidence and also genotyped Echinococcus
granulosus isolates from domestic dogs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Medical archives in nine major hospitals in Palestine were reviewed to determine incidence
of E. granulosus infection detected in humans during surgery. Faecal samples were collected
from 93 domestic dogs in three districts with the highest number of human cases: Al-
Khalil (Hebron), Tubas and Jenin. Genomic DNA was extracted from dog faecal samples
and amplified by PCR targeting the repeat DNA sequence (EgG1 Hae III) followed by
sequencing of five positive samples. Genotyping was determined by sequencing and
BLAST searching of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit (CO1). The incidence of
E. granulosus infection detected in humans at surgery was 1.2 per 100,000 in the West
Bank and 1.0 per 100,000 in Gaza Strip. Seventeen of 93 domestic dogs (18%) were positive,
based upon comparison with the Echinococcus DNA control. The five sequenced samples
were confirmed to be E. granulosus. Successfully genotyped sample belonged to E.
granulosus sensu stricto (formerly G1-G3 complex, sheep strain). For domestic dogs, age
group (13-24 months) and sex were identified as two risk factors for contracting E. granulosus.
The study identified the high incidence of E. granulosus sensu stricto in dogs in
Palestine.
AuthorWe thank the Arab American University in
Jenin-Palestine for the fund received under grant
number 2013-104, cycle 2. Also, the study received
support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, The Hague, The Netherlands and NVHU
under grant reference number 2014.52146. The
funders had no role in study design, data collection
and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of
the manuscript
The clinical burden of human cystic echinococcosis in Palestine, 2010-2015
Background
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is classified by the WHO as a neglected disease inflicting economic
losses on the health systems of many countries worldwide. The aim of this caseseries
study was to investigate the burden of human CE in Palestine during the period
between 2010 and 2015.
Methodology/Principal findings
Records of surgically confirmed CE patients from 13 public and private hospitals in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip were reviewed. Patients' cysts were collected from surgical
wards and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks were collected from histopathology
departments. Molecular identification of CE species /genotypes was conducted
by targeting a repeat DNA sequence (EgG1 Hae III) within Echinococcus nuclear genome
and a fragment within the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, (CO1). Confirmation
of CE species/genotypes was carried out using sequencing followed by BLAST
analysis and the construction of maximum likelihood consensus dendrogram. CE cases
were map-spotted and statistically significant foci identified by spatial analysis. A total of
353 CE patients were identified in 108 localities from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The
average surgical incidence in the West Bank was 2.1 per 100,000. Spot-mapping and
purely spatial analysis showed 13 out of 16 Palestinian districts had cases of CE, of which
9 were in the West Bank and 4 in Gaza Strip. Al-Khalil and Bethlehem were statistically
significant foci of CE in Palestine with a six-year average incidence of 4.2 and 3.7 per
100,000, respectively.
Conclusions/Significance
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of human CE causative agent
in Palestine. This study revealed that E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was the predominating
species responsible for CE in humans with 11 samples identified as G1 genotype and 2
as G3 genotype. This study emphasizes the need for a stringent surveillance system and
risk assessment studies in the rural areas of high incidence as a prerequisite for control
measures.The research that has led to these results has been technically supported by the European Community's
Seventh Framework Programme under the grant agreement 602051 (Project HERACLES:
Human cystic Echinococcosis ReseArch in CentraL and Eastern Societies; http://www.
Heracles-fp7.eu/)
A Novel Method to Prevent Control System Instability Based on a Soft Computing Knowledge System
The aim of this study is to present a novel soft computing method to assure PID tuning parameters place the system into a stable region by applying the gain scheduling method. First the system is identified for each significant operation point. Then using transfer functions solid structures of stability are calculated to program artificial neural networks, whose object is to prevent system from transitioning to instability. The method is verified empirically under a data set obtained by a pilot plant
A Hybrid System for Dental Milling Parameters Optimisation
This study presents a novel hybrid intelligent system which focuses on the optimisation of machine parameters for dental milling purposes based on the following phases. Firstly, an unsupervised neural model extracts the internal structure of a data set describing the model and also the relevant features of the data set which represents the system. Secondly, the dynamic system performance of different variables is specifically modelled using a supervised neural model and identification techniques from relevant features of the data set. This model constitutes the goal function of the production process. Finally, a genetic algorithm is used to optimise the machine parameters from a non parametric fitness function. The reliability of the proposed novel hybrid system is validated with a real industrial use case, based on the optimisation of a high-precision machining centre with five axes for dental milling purposes
The clinical burden of human cystic echinococcosis in Palestine, 2010-2015.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is classified by the WHO as a neglected disease inflicting economic losses on the health systems of many countries worldwide. The aim of this case-series study was to investigate the burden of human CE in Palestine during the period between 2010 and 2015.Records of surgically confirmed CE patients from 13 public and private hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were reviewed. Patients' cysts were collected from surgical wards and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks were collected from histopathology departments. Molecular identification of CE species /genotypes was conducted by targeting a repeat DNA sequence (EgG1 Hae III) within Echinococcus nuclear genome and a fragment within the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, (CO1). Confirmation of CE species/genotypes was carried out using sequencing followed by BLAST analysis and the construction of maximum likelihood consensus dendrogram. CE cases were map-spotted and statistically significant foci identified by spatial analysis. A total of 353 CE patients were identified in 108 localities from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The average surgical incidence in the West Bank was 2.1 per 100,000. Spot-mapping and purely spatial analysis showed 13 out of 16 Palestinian districts had cases of CE, of which 9 were in the West Bank and 4 in Gaza Strip. Al-Khalil and Bethlehem were statistically significant foci of CE in Palestine with a six-year average incidence of 4.2 and 3.7 per 100,000, respectively.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of human CE causative agent in Palestine. This study revealed that E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was the predominating species responsible for CE in humans with 11 samples identified as G1 genotype and 2 as G3 genotype. This study emphasizes the need for a stringent surveillance system and risk assessment studies in the rural areas of high incidence as a prerequisite for control measures
Results of copro-polymerase chain reaction with fecal samples from domestic dogs and controls.
<p>(a) Diagnostic 133 base pair-<i>Hae III</i> target (b) 269 base pair- <i>Hae III</i> target. J-8 and K-8 were shown to be <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> by sequencing (c) 446 base pair- <i>CO1</i> target gene for genotyping. Sequencing of Q-8 PCR products revealed a G1 (sheep strain) genotype of <i>Echinococcus granulosus senso stricto</i>.</p
Distribution of sampled domestic dogs: Map of Palestine West Bank and Gaza showing in brackets the number of human cases reviewed in the medical archives and the three districts from which dog fecal samples were collected.
<p>First number indicates positive results while the second one represents the total number of sampled dogs.</p
Demographic and behavioral factors associated with <i>E</i>. <i>granulosus</i> infection in domestic dogs in Palestine.
<p>*Significant at P-value †0.05</p><p>Demographic and behavioral factors associated with <i>E</i>. <i>granulosus</i> infection in domestic dogs in Palestine.</p
Distribution of human cases of cystic echinococcosis in Palestine.
<p>(a) Spot mapping of 338 cases (blue circles) based on actual lat-long coordinates with light blue circles representing one case while dark blue circles representing more than one case in some areas. Major Palestinian cities are shown (b) Purely-spatial distribution of 268 cases based on SaTScan software showing three major statistically-significant (P<0.05) foci, each represented by number of cases within a circle. (c) Space-time distribution of 268 cases showing two statistically-significant foci, each represented by number of cases within a circle.</p