Use of Google Earth™ to Strengthen Public Health Capacity and Facilitate Management of Vector-Borne Diseases in Resource-Poor Environments

Novel, inexpensive solutions are needed for improved management of vector-borne and other diseases in resource-poor environments. Emerging free software providing access to satellite imagery and simple editing tools (e.g. Google Earth™) complement existing geographic information system (GIS) software and provide new opportunities for: (i) strengthening overall public health capacity through development of information for city infrastructures; and (ii) display of public health data directly on an image of the physical environment. Collaborators include: Saul Lozano-Fuentes, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Darwin Elizondo-Quiroga, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Jose Arturo Farfan-Ale, Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Maria Alba Loroño-Pino, Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Julian Garcia-Rejon, Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Salvador Gomez-Carro, Servicios de Salud de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Victor Lira-Zumbardo, Servicios de Salud de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Rosario Najera-Vazquez, Servicios de Salud de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Ildefonso Fernandez-Salas, Laboratorio de Entomología Medica, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Joaquin Calderon-Martinez, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico; Marco Dominguez-Galera, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico; Pedro Mis-Avila, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico; Natashia Morris, Malaria Research Programme, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Michael Coleman, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, England; Chester G Moore, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Barry J Beaty, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; and Lars Eisen, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, US

Use of Mapping and Spatial and Space-Time Modeling Approaches in Operational Control of Aedes aegypti and Dengue

The aims of this review paper are to 1) provide an overview of how mapping and spatial and space-time modeling approaches have been used to date to visualize and analyze mosquito vector and epidemiologic data for dengue; and 2) discuss the potential for these approaches to be included as routine activities in operational vector and dengue control programs. Geographical information system (GIS) software are becoming more user-friendly and now are complemented by free mapping software that provide access to satellite imagery and basic feature-making tools and have the capacity to generate static maps as well as dynamic time-series maps. Our challenge is now to move beyond the research arena by transferring mapping and GIS technologies and spatial statistical analysis techniques in user-friendly packages to operational vector and dengue control programs. This will enable control programs to, for example, generate risk maps for exposure to dengue virus, develop Priority Area Classifications for vector control, and explore socioeconomic associations with dengue risk

Multi-Disease Data Management System Platform for Vector-Borne Diseases

Background Emerging information technologies present new opportunities to reduce the burden of malaria, dengue and other infectious diseases. For example, use of a data management system software package can help disease control programs to better manage and analyze their data, and thus enhances their ability to carry out continuous surveillance, monitor interventions and evaluate control program performance. Methods and Findings We describe a novel multi-disease data management system platform (hereinafter referred to as the system) with current capacity for dengue and malaria that supports data entry, storage and query. It also allows for production of maps and both standardized and customized reports. The system is comprised exclusively of software components that can be distributed without the user incurring licensing costs. It was designed to maximize the ability of the user to adapt the system to local conditions without involvement of software developers. Key points of system adaptability include 1) customizable functionality content by disease, 2) configurable roles and permissions, 3) customizable user interfaces and display labels and 4) configurable information trees including a geographical entity tree and a term tree. The system includes significant portions of functionality that is entirely or in large part re-used across diseases, which provides an economy of scope as new diseases downstream are added to the system at decreased cost. Conclusions We have developed a system with great potential for aiding disease control programs in their task to reduce the burden of dengue and malaria, including the implementation of integrated vector management programs. Next steps include evaluations of operational implementations of the current system with capacity for dengue and malaria, and the inclusion in the system platform of other important vector-borne diseases

Influence of polyethylene glycol on in vitro gas production profiles and microbial protein synthesis of some shrub species

The aim was to determine effects of addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on in vitro gas production and microbial protein synthesis of the shrub species Acacia constricta, Acacia shaffneri, Calliandra eriophylla, Condalia lycioides, Cordia parvifolia, Larrea tridentata and Mimosa biuncifera, which are commonly consumed by grazing small ruminants in semiarid regions of Mexico despite the abundance of tannins in their foliage. Three individual samples (a minimum of 10 plants of each) of each shrub species were collected from different areas and prepared for chemical and secondary metabolite analysis. In vitro evaluations for each sample of each shrub species were completed in three incubation runs in different weeks using calibrated glass syringes in a 7 × 2 factorial design (i.e., 7 shrub species × 2 treatments with or without PEG). In vitro gas production after 24 and 96 h, partitioning factor (PF), metabolizable energy (ME) content, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS), and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were determined. A shrub species × PEG interaction (P<0.05) only occurred for some VFA, such as C3, C4, C4i and C5i, concentrations. Relative to control, addition of PEG increased (P<0.05) the concentrations of individual VFA in A. shaffneri, C. lycioides and C. parvifolia. Interactions between shrub and PEG occurred (P<0.001) for all gas production parameters (i.e., b, k, IVGP24, IVGP48). The fractional rate of gas production and IVGP24 h were highest in A. constricta and lowest (P<0.001) in A. shaffneri. L. tridentata had the highest PF and C. lycioides the lowest. A. constricta had the highest ME content. Purine content and EMPS differed (shrubs × PEG; P<0.001) among shrubs. Microbial protein synthesis was highest in M. biuncifera and lowest in C. eriophylla, while total VFA were highest in C. eriophylla. Incorporation of PEG increased (P<0.001) in vitro fermentation parameters and ME content with L. tridentata and C. lycioides being the highest. PEG also promoted reductions in the EMPS and PF values. In vitro fermentation variables such as fractional rate of gas production, VFA concentrations and EMPS support the potential of A. constricta, C. parvifolia and M. biuncifera as protein and energy sources for small ruminants in semiarid regions of North Mexico. Increments in gas production in these shrub species confirmed the affinity of PEG to bind condensed tannins and reduce EMPS

Mejoramiento de la Tenacidad de Polipropileno con nanopartículas de Carbonato de Calcio

ABSTRACT: Toe mechanical properties ofpolypropylene (PP)-calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanocomposites were studied in this work. In this study stearic acid was used as a new interface modifier during the compounding of the nanocomposites with a twin screw extruder. The concentration in weight of the nanofiller in the compounds was of 1.5%, 2.5% and 5.0% respectively. Toe nanocomposites were characterized by impact resistance and tensile tests. Toe interaction between CaCOJ and stearic acid was analyzed by FTIR. Toe infrared spectra <lid not show any chemical reaction between CaCOJ and stearic acid. Toe elongation at break and impact resistance were increased in nanocomposites with interface modifier ( stearic acid in hopper ofthe extruder)

Parallel evolution of vgsc mutations at domains IS6, IIS6 and IIIS6 in pyrethroid resistant Aedes aegypti from Mexico

Aedes aegypti is the primary urban mosquito vector of viruses causing dengue, Zika and chikungunya fevers –for which vaccines and efective pharmaceuticals are still lacking. Current strategies to suppress arbovirus outbreaks include removal of larval-breeding sites and insecticide treatment of larval and adult populations. Insecticidal control of Ae. aegypti is challenging, due to a recent rapid global increase in knockdown-resistance (kdr) to pyrethroid insecticides. Widespread, heavy use of pyrethroid spacesprays has created an immense selection pressure for kdr, which is primarily under the control of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (vgsc). To date, eleven replacements in vgsc have been discovered, published and shown to be associated with pyrethroid resistance to varying degrees. In Mexico, F1,534C and V1,016I have co-evolved in the last 16 years across Ae. aegypti populations. Recently, a novel replacement V410L was identifed in Brazil and its efect on vgsc was confrmed by electrophysiology. Herein, we screened V410L in 25 Ae. aegypti historical collections from Mexico, the frst heterozygote appeared in 2002 and frequencies have increased in the last 16 years alongside V1,016I and F1,534C. Knowledge of the specifc vgsc replacements and their interaction to confer resistance is essential to predict and to develop strategies for resistance management

Correlating Remote Sensing Data with the Abundance of Pupae of the Dengue Virus Mosquito Vector, Aedes aegypti, in Central Mexico

Using a geographic transect in Central Mexico, with an elevation/climate gradient, but uniformity in socio-economic conditions among study sites, this study evaluates the applicability of three widely-used remote sensing (RS) products to link weather conditions with the local abundance of the dengue virus mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti). Field-derived entomological measures included estimates for the percentage of premises with the presence of Ae. aegypti pupae and the abundance of Ae. aegypti pupae per premises. Data on mosquito abundance from field surveys were matched with RS data and analyzed for correlation. Daily daytime and nighttime land surface temperature (LST) values were obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Aqua cloud-free images within the four weeks preceding the field survey. Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)-estimated rainfall accumulation was calculated for the four weeks preceding the field survey. Elevation was estimated through a digital elevation model (DEM). Strong correlations were found between mosquito abundance and RS-derived night LST, elevation and rainfall along the elevation/climate gradient. These findings show that RS data can be used to predict Ae. aegypti abundance, but further studies are needed to define the climatic and socio-economic conditions under which the correlations observed herein can be assumed to apply

Interferon-driven alterations of the host’s amino acid metabolism in the pathogenesis of typhoid fever

Enteric fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, is an important public health problem in resource-limited settings and, despite decades of research, human responses to the infection are poorly understood. In 41 healthy adults experimentally infected with wild-type S. Typhi, we detected significant cytokine responses within 12 h of bacterial ingestion. These early responses did not correlate with subsequent clinical disease outcomes and likely indicate initial host–pathogen interactions in the gut mucosa. In participants developing enteric fever after oral infection, marked transcriptional and cytokine responses during acute disease reflected dominant type I/II interferon signatures, which were significantly associated with bacteremia. Using a murine and macrophage infection model, we validated the pivotal role of this response in the expression of proteins of the host tryptophan metabolism during Salmonella infection. Corresponding alterations in tryptophan catabolites with immunomodulatory properties in serum of participants with typhoid fever confirmed the activity of this pathway, and implicate a central role of host tryptophan metabolism in the pathogenesis of typhoid fever