International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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5 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses

by Beate Conrady

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111704 - 8 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

There is increasing evidence on the negative impacts of animal diseases on global productivity [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

Research

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16 pages, 456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Factors for Positivity to Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica in Backyard Production Systems Animals from Metropolitana Region, Chile: A Threat to Public Health?

by Erika Pavez-Muñoz, Bastián Fernández-Sanhueza, Constanza Urzúa-Encina, Nicolás Galarce and Raúl Alegría-Morán

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010730 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2173

Abstract

In the Metropolitana region of Chile there are 3836 backyard production systems (BPS), characterized as small-scale systems. They act as a source of zoonotic pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), whose prevalence in BPS has not been fully [...] Read more.

In the Metropolitana region of Chile there are 3836 backyard production systems (BPS), characterized as small-scale systems. They act as a source of zoonotic pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), whose prevalence in BPS has not been fully described. The objective of this study was to determine the positivity for both agents in BPS and to establish the risk factors related to their presence. In each BPS, an epidemiological survey was undertaken, and stool samples were collected to detect these pathogens via bacteriological culture and conventional PCR techniques. Subsequently, multivariable logistic regression models were applied to establish the risk factors associated with their presence. BPS positivity rates of 11.76% for STEC and 4.7% for S. enterica were observed. The systems showed poor welfare standards and a lack of biosecurity measures. The risk factor analysis concluded that the Gini–Simpson index (p = 0.030; OR = 1.717) and the presence of neighboring intensive poultry or swine production systems (p = 0.019; OR = 20.645) act as factors that increased the risk of positivity with respect to STEC. In the case of S. enterica, exchanging embryonated eggs (p = 0.021; OR = 39) and the presence of debeaked chickens (p = 0.001; OR = 156) were determined as factors that increased the risk of positivity for this agent. For positivity with respect to both pathogens, the Gini–Simpson index (p = 0.030; OR = 1.544) and being INDAP/PRODESAL users (p = 0.023; OR = 15.026) were determined as factors that increased the risk, whereas the type of confinement (p = 0.002; OR = 0.019) decreased it. Epidemiological surveillance of these neglected populations is lacking, highlighting the fact that STEC and S. enterica maintenance on BPS represents a potential threat to public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

10 pages, 730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of the Impact of Foodborne Salmonellosis on Consumer Well-Being in Hungary

by Ágnes Vajda, László Ózsvári, Dávid Szakos and Gyula Kasza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910131 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2986

Abstract

In Hungary, salmonellosis is one of the most frequent foodborne illnesses. According to our estimation, based on a representative consumer survey with 1001 respondents, the annual number of salmonellosis cases exceeded 90,000, which was 18 times higher than the officially reported data. Salmonellosis [...] Read more.

In Hungary, salmonellosis is one of the most frequent foodborne illnesses. According to our estimation, based on a representative consumer survey with 1001 respondents, the annual number of salmonellosis cases exceeded 90,000, which was 18 times higher than the officially reported data. Salmonellosis infections impose significant direct and indirect costs to the health care system, to companies (as employers) and to households. This study focused on the cost to households by analysing well-being losses due to Salmonella infections, for which the WTP (willingness-to-pay) method was used. WTP measures the cost that an individual would pay to avoid an undesirable harm or health outcome. For estimating WTP, 456 respondents gave quantifiable answers. The average WTP to avoid salmonellosis was 86.3 EUR. Based on this data, the total consumer well-being loss could be estimated to be about 7.87 million EUR per year in Hungary. These results indicate that consumers’ well-being losses alone would necessitate further interventions for Salmonella reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

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20 pages, 1560 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Snakebites in Rural Areas of Brazil by Race: Indigenous the Most Exposed Group

by Maria Cristina Schneider, Myriam Vuckovic, Lucia Montebello, Caroline Sarpy, Quincy Huang, Deise I. Galan, Kyung-Duk Min, Volney Camara and Ronir Raggio Luiz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9365; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179365 - 5 Sep 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3138

Abstract

Animal stings are environmental hazards that threaten millions annually and cause a significant socioeconomic impact. Snakebite envenoming affects 2.7 million people globally every year, mostly the poorest and rural communities, with approximately 27,000 annual cases in Brazil. This study’s objective is to identify [...] Read more.

Animal stings are environmental hazards that threaten millions annually and cause a significant socioeconomic impact. Snakebite envenoming affects 2.7 million people globally every year, mostly the poorest and rural communities, with approximately 27,000 annual cases in Brazil. This study’s objective is to identify the most exposed racial group for snakebites in rural areas of Brazil and analyze possible differences in the outcome of an accident. A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted using a database of rural snakebite cases from Brazil’s Ministry of Health (2017). Descriptive analysis and a regression model were performed to examine the association of bad outcomes after a snakebite with several covariables. While mixed-race individuals presented the highest number of cases (61.79%), indigenous and white populations were the racial groups with the highest and lowest exposure rates (194.3 and 34.1 per 100,000 population, respectively). The fatality rate was 3.5 times higher in the indigenous population compared to the white population. In the multivariable model, the number of hours between the accident and health care received and the case classification suggested an association with a bad outcome. Snakebite is prominent in Brazil, particularly among indigenous groups. Antivenom is available in the Brazilian Health System; however, efforts need to be made for decentralization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

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15 pages, 3287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Trend Analysis of Human Brucellosis in China, 1950–2018

by Huixin Yang, Siwen Zhang, Taijun Wang, Chenhao Zhao, Xiangyi Zhang, Jing Hu, Chenyu Han, Fangfang Hu, Jingjing Luo, Biao Li, Wei Zhao, Kewei Li, Ying Wang and Qing Zhen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072382 - 31 Mar 2020

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4099

Abstract

The rate of brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, has rapidly increased in humans brucellosis(HB) in recent years. In 1950–2018, a total of 684,380 HB cases (median 2274/year (interquartile range (IQR) 966–8325)) were reported to the National Infectious Disease Surveillance System in mainland China. The [...] Read more.

The rate of brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, has rapidly increased in humans brucellosis(HB) in recent years. In 1950–2018, a total of 684,380 HB cases (median 2274/year (interquartile range (IQR) 966–8325)) were reported to the National Infectious Disease Surveillance System in mainland China. The incidence of HB peaked in 2014 (4.32/100,000), and then showed a downward trend; we predict that it will maintain a steady downward trend in 2019–2020. Since 2015, the incidence of HB has shown opposite trends in the north and south of China; rates in the north have fallen and rates in the south have increased. In 2004–2018, the most significant increases in incidence of HB were in Yunnan (IQR 0.002–0.463/100,000), Hubei (IQR 0.000–0.338/100,000), and Guangdong (IQR 0.015–0.350/100,000). The areas where HB occurs have little overlap with areas with high per capita GDP in China. The “high–high” clusters of HB are located in northeastern China (Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shanxi, and Gansu), and the “low–low” clusters of HB are located in southern China (Yunnan, Jiangxi, Shanghai, Guangxi, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Guizhou, and Hunan). In recent years, the incidence of HB in China has been controlled to some extent, but the incidence of HB has increased in southern China, and the disease has spread geographically in China from north to south. Further research is needed to address this change and to continue to explore the relationship between the incidence of HB and relevant factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

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10 pages, 650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing the Climatic and Landscape Risk Factors for Lyme Disease Cases in the Upper Midwest and Northeast United States

by Yuting Dong, Zheng Huang, Yong Zhang, Yingying X.G. Wang and Yang La

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051548 - 28 Feb 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3649

Abstract

Lyme disease, recognized as one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extend in United States. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. Currently, many studies have been conducted [...] Read more.

Lyme disease, recognized as one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extend in United States. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. Currently, many studies have been conducted to identify factors influencing Lyme disease risk in the Northeast, however, relatively few studies focused on the Upper Midwest. In this study, we explored and compared the climatic and landscape factors that shape the spatial patterns of human Lyme cases in these two regions, using the generalized linear mixed models. Our results showed that climatic variables generally had opposite correlations with Lyme disease risk, while landscape factors usually had similar effects in these two regions. High precipitation and low temperature were correlated with high Lyme disease risk in the Upper Midwest, while with low Lyme disease risk in the Northeast. In both regions, size and fragmentation related factors of residential area showed positive correlations with Lyme disease risk. Deciduous forests and evergreen forests had opposite effects on Lyme disease risk, but the effects were consistent between two regions. In general, this study provides new insight into understanding the differences of risk factors of human Lyme disease risk in these two regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

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7 pages, 541 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

First Report of Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Digenea) in European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) from an Italian Subalpine Lake: A Risk for Public Health?

by Vasco Menconi, Chiara Manfrin, Paolo Pastorino, Davide Mugetti, Luana Cortinovis, Elisabetta Pizzul, Alberto Pallavicini and Marino Prearo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041389 - 21 Feb 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3631

Abstract

Clinostomum complanatum, a digenean trematode of the Clinostomidae family, is a fish-borne zoonotic parasite responsible for Halzoun syndrome in humans and is transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish. Of the total of 112 specimens of European perch ( [...] Read more.

Clinostomum complanatum, a digenean trematode of the Clinostomidae family, is a fish-borne zoonotic parasite responsible for Halzoun syndrome in humans and is transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish. Of the total of 112 specimens of European perch (Perca fluviatilis) sampled from a subalpine lake (Lake Endine) in North Italy in 2019, 21 (18.75%) tested positive for encysted metacercariae in the fillet. This study reports the first isolation of C. complanatum in P. fluviatilis and highlights the possible zoonotic risk for consumers, since P. fluviatilis is a food fish used in the traditional local cuisine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

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Review

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14 pages, 662 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review of the Impacts of Coronavirus on Society and Culture

by Yeon Jung Yu, Young Su Park, Alison Keller, Jin-Won Noh and Jiho Cha

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020491 - 9 Jan 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4503

Abstract

Little is understood of the social and cultural effects of coronaviruses such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV). This systematic review aims to synthesize existing findings (both qualitative and quantitative) that focus on [...] Read more.

Little is understood of the social and cultural effects of coronaviruses such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV). This systematic review aims to synthesize existing findings (both qualitative and quantitative) that focus on the social and cultural impacts of coronaviruses in order to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a predetermined search strategy, we searched CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify existing (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods) studies pertaining to the coronavirus infections and their intersection with societies and cultures. A narrative synthesis approach was applied to summarize and interpret findings of the study. Stemming from SARS outbreak in 2003, qualitative and quantitative findings (twelve adopted quantitative methods and eight exclusively used qualitative methods) were organized under five topical domains: governance, crisis communication and public knowledge, stigma and discrimination, social compliance of preventive measures, and the social experience of health workers. The selected studies suggest that current societies are not equipped for effective coronavirus response and control. This mixed-methods systematic review demonstrates that the effects of coronaviruses on a society can be debilitating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiological, Mitigation and Economic Impact of Zoonoses)

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