Search Results (79)

(1) Background: Understanding the distribution of Salmonella serovars in food, animals, and their environments is crucial for identifying infection sources and monitoring pathogen prevalence in the food chain. This study analysed Salmonella serovars in Poland from 2016 to 2020, focusing on their epidemiological significance. (2) Methods: Isolation of Salmonella was carried out following PN-EN ISO 6579 standards, and serotyping was performed using the White–Kauffmann–Le Minor scheme. A total of 7104 isolates were collected from food-producing animals, their environments, food of animal origin, feedingstuffs, and fertilisers. (3) Results: A total of 175 serovars were identified, with S. Enteritidis (n = 2905; 40.9%), S. Infantis (n = 1167; 16.4%), and S. Typhimurium (n = 360; 5.1%) being the most prevalent. Species-specific patterns were observed: S. Enteritidis dominated in chickens, ducks, and cattle; S. Kentucky in turkeys; S. Typhimurium in geese; and monophasic S. Typhimurium in pigs. S. Enteritidis and S. Infantis were most frequent in food of animal origin, especially broiler meat. In feedingstuffs, S. Agona was predominant, while fertilisers mostly contained S. Derby and S. Infantis. (4) Conclusions: The study highlights the source-dependent variety of Salmonella serovars and the importance of serotyping in tracing infection routes and preventing the spread of pathogens. Identifying the most common serovars supports the development of targeted preventive measures, including improved biosecurity, hygiene, and management practices to enhance food safety. Full article

Indoor radon constitutes a public health issue in various regions across the United States as the second leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises radon mitigation interventions for residential buildings with indoor radon concentrations exceeding the threshold level of 4 pCi/L. Despite considerable research assessing the technical effectiveness of radon mitigation systems, there remains a gap in understanding their broader influence on occupant behavior and preferences in residential design. This study aims to investigate the impact of residing in radon-mitigated homes within the Commonwealth of Kentucky—an area known for elevated radon concentrations—on occupants’ preferences regarding healthy home design attributes. The objectives of this research are twofold: firstly to determine if living in radon-mitigated homes enhances occupant awareness and consequently influences their preferences toward health-related home attributes and secondly to quantitatively evaluate and compare the relative significance homeowners assign to health-related attributes such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and water quality relative to conventional attributes including home size, architectural style, and neighborhood quality. The overarching purpose is to explore the potential role radon mitigation initiatives may play in motivating occupants towards healthier home construction and renovation practices. Using choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis, this paper compares preferences reported by homeowners from radon-mitigated homes against those from non-mitigated homes. While the findings suggest a relationship between radon mitigation and increased preference for indoor air quality, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the possibility of reverse causation—where health-conscious individuals are more likely to seek mitigation—must be considered. The results provide novel insights into how radon mitigation efforts might effectively influence occupant priorities towards integrating healthier design elements in residential environments. Full article

Dollar spot is one of the world’s most widely distributed turfgrass diseases. The pathogen of the disease has been re-identified as a fungus belonging to the genus Clarireedia in the United States, Japan, and China. Since Clarireedia species vary depending on the response to fungicides, hosts, and distribution ranges, it is necessary to re-identify dollar spot in South Korea for effective turfgrass management. In this study, the amplified nucleotide sequences with primer sets of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, Calmodulin (CaM), and Mini-chromosome maintenance complex component 7 (Mcm7) were analyzed to re-identify Clarireedia spp. isolated from creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass on golf courses in South Korea. The ITS and CaM regions were analyzed through multiple sequence alignments. The isolates were identified as C. paspali, and Clarireedia sp. When cultured on PDA, three groups formed fast growing, cottony colonies with white aerial hyphae that later collapsed and turned tan to brown. Most isolates formed apothecia, but ascospores were not observed. The apothecia formation of C. paspali has never been reported. All isolates exhibited pathogenicity on creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass. These results indicated that the pathogens causing dollar spot on creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass in South Korea might be C. paspali and Clarireedia sp. The present study reports the first re-identification of the turfgrass dollar spot pathogen Sclerotinia homoeocarpa into the genus Clarireedia in South Korea. Full article

Livestock are a source of zoonotic pathogens and bacteria harbouring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that can pose a threat to public health. This study assessed the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and genomic diversity of Salmonella and Escherichia coli at 25 poultry farms in Oyo State, Nigeria. The farm-level occurrence of Salmonella was 48%, with 12 serovars identified, including S. Kentucky Sequence Type 198. Notably, 70% of Salmonella isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones, and multidrug resistance was observed in S. Kentucky and S. Derby. The study also found a 52% farm-level occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli, with four bla_CTX-M variants detected (bla_CTX-M-15, bla_CTX-M-27, bla_CTX-M-55, and bla_CTX-M-65). A genomic analysis revealed the dissemination of bacterial clones between farms, indicating potential routes of transmission. The high occurrence of AMR in both Salmonella and E. coli presents a potential public health risk, mainly through the consumption of contaminated poultry products. The study highlights the need for improved farm biosecurity and appropriate antimicrobial use to reduce the spread of resistant strains and combat AMR. These findings contribute to the Nigerian National Action Plan for AMR and underscore the importance of ongoing research and interventions in the poultry sector. Full article

Background: Although children can contract COVID-19, their typically lower immune reactivity appears to shield them from the intense hyperinflammatory response observed in other age groups, leading to milder disease symptoms. Nonetheless, children’s infection raises the possibility of unwanted transmission of the coronavirus to others, especially because most infected children are asymptomatic. Objectives: This study examines the uptake of the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine among children by combinations of age, race, ethnicity, and sex. Methods: Data from the immunization registry were utilized to assess changes over time in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children in Jefferson County, Kentucky’s most populous county. The analysis examined trends by age, race, ethnicity, and combinations of age-race, age-ethnicity, age-race-sex, and age-ethnicity-sex during the first six quarters of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Results: By May 2022, in 16–17-year-olds, the highest and lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates were observed among White and Black children (64.8% versus 41.2%, respectively, for dose two). The highest two-dose vaccination rate at ages 12–15 years was among Multiracial and White children (63.3% and 62.9%, respectively), the lowest among Black children (38.8%). The highest two-dose vaccination rate at ages 5–11 years was among children of Some Other Races, Asian, and White children (37.0%, 36.7%, and 35.5%, respectively), and the lowest among Black children (17.2%). Conclusions: Inequalities in COVID-19 vaccination based on race, ethnicity, and sex persisted throughout the study period. Efforts in vaccine distribution and promotional initiatives should focus on increasing vaccination rates among children from racial and ethnic minority groups and males. Full article

Forests play a crucial role in carbon cycling, contributing significantly to global carbon cycling and climate change mitigation, but their capture strength is sensitive to the climatic zone in which they operate and its adjoining environmental stressors. This research investigated the carbon dynamics of a typical deciduous forest, the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF), in the Mixed-Humid climate of Kentucky, USA, employing the Eddy Covariance technique to quantify temporal CO₂ exchanges from 2016 to 2020 and to assess its controlling biometeorological factors. The study revealed that the DBNF functioned as a carbon sink, sequestering −1515 g C m⁻² in the study period, with a mean annual Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of −303 g C m⁻²yr⁻¹. It exhibited distinct seasonal and daily patterns influenced by ambient sunlight and air temperature. Winter months had the lowest rate of CO₂ uptake (0.0699 g C m⁻² h⁻¹), while summer was the most productive (−0.214 g C m⁻² h⁻¹). Diurnally, carbon uptake peaked past midday and remained a sink overnight, albeit negligibly so. Light and temperature response curves revealed their controlling effect on the DBNF trees’ photosynthesis and respiration. Furthermore, clear seasonality patterns were observed in the control of environmental variables. The DBNF is a carbon sink consistent with other North American deciduous forests. Full article

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus: hereafter armadillo) was first recorded in the United States (U.S.) in the state of Texas in 1849 and has been expanding its range northward and eastward since then. With the widespread adoption of participatory science as well as the proliferation of nationwide wildlife game camera studies, occurrence data of armadillos can be compiled more rapidly and thoroughly than at any time in the past. Here, we use disparate data sources to update the current geographic distribution of the armadillo in the United States and use occurrence data from the leading edge of its range expansion to create a species distribution model to understand their relationship with landscape and bioclimatic factors. Since the last report on the geographic distribution of the armadillo in 2014, we show that armadillos have expanded to cover the entirety of Missouri and established in southern Iowa, expanded modestly within Kansas and Illinois, expanded northward and eastward in Indiana, expanded eastward in both Kentucky and Tennessee, established throughout the entirety of South Carolina and Georgia and established in the western third of North Carolina. Our species distribution model indicates that there is substantial opportunity for the species to continue to expand its geographic range, particularly in the Eastern United States. These results provide information to managers who are now or might soon be co-existing with the armadillo to proactively manage the species or inform the public regarding potential conflicts. Full article

Lawns play a vital role in urban development, but the impact of sod production on soil properties has always been controversial. In this study, we examined the physical, chemical, and biological properties of sod production bases across different regions and years [including northern China (2.5, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 years), referred to as N-2.5, N-3, etc., and southern China (3, 10, 11, 14, 17 years), referred to as S-3, S-10, etc.], with tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass planted in the north and bermudagrass or creeping bentgrass planted in the south. Sod production was found to increase soil bulk density while reducing porosity and field capacity, but these effects did not consistently intensify with longer production periods. Except for available phosphorus and available potassium, other soil nutrients (total carbon, total nitrogen, organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, etc.) were either unaffected or increased at certain time points (S-11, S-14). Prolonged sod production (S-10, S-17) also boosted microbial content. In northern regions, organic matter and total nitrogen were the key factors influencing microbial community structure, whereas in southern regions, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, electrical conductivity, available potassium, and organic matter were most influential. We also found that crop rotation, sand mulching, and deep plowing could enhance soil nutrient content and microbial activity in sod production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dysfunctions of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been identified as a significant risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, current colon cancer guidelines do not classify patients with MetS as high risk, thereby leaving these individuals vulnerable. Consequently, we explored the relationship between MetS, its individual components, and the development of CRC in a cohort of patients with MetS to assess the necessity for CRC screening in these individuals. Methods: This study included patients ages 18 and older that received a service from the Marshall-Health (MH) practice plan, Cabell-Huntington Hospital (CHH), MU/JCESOM’s Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center (ECCC), or the University of Kentucky HealthCare (UKHC) system between 2010 and 2018. We implemented log-binomial regression models to assess the individual and collective effects of MetS components after adjusting other CRC risk factors. Results: Given that CRC prevalence increases in the older population (aged 65 years and above), and that multiple components of MetS are observed within the same population, we analyzed the concurrent impact of all MetS components on CRC. Log-binomial regression models were implemented to assess the risk of CRC due to MetS components after adjusting other risk factors. Conclusions: We identified specific components that markedly increased CRC risk, suggesting that individuals with these components should be prioritized for early screening. These findings could significantly influence early CRC screening protocols, with the ultimate aim to reduce mortality associated with the disease. Full article

Surface coal mining and reclamation have greatly reshaped eastern Kentucky’s landscape affecting its socioeconomic, environmental and climatic aspects. This study examined the land-cover changes, trends and patterns in Floyd, Knott, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Perry, and Pike counties from 2004 to 2019. Using a random forest classifier, land cover was categorized into seven major classes, i.e., water, barren land, developed land, forest, shrubland, herbaceous, and planted/cultivated, majorly based on Landsat images. The Kappa accuracy ranged from 75 to 89%. The results showed a notable increase in forest area from 5052 sq km to 5305 sq km accompanied by a substantial decrease in barren land from 179 sq km to 91 sq km from 2004 to 2019. These findings demonstrated that reclamation activities positively impacted the forest expansion and reduced the barren land of the study area. Key land-cover transitions included barren land to shrubland/herbaceous, forest to shrubland, and shrubland to forest, indicating vegetation growth from 2004 to 2019. An autocorrelation analysis indicated similar land-cover types clustered together, showing effective forest restoration efforts. As surface coal mining and reclamation significantly influenced the landscapes of the coalfield counties in eastern Kentucky, this study provides a holistic perspective for understanding the repercussions of these transformations, including their effects on humans, society, and environmental health. Full article

The changes produced during the aging of wines in oak barrels are strongly dependent on the oak’s geographical origin and aging time. This paper analyzes the effect of Quercus alba oak from four different geographical locations in four states in the USA, namely Missouri (Mo), Ohio (Oh), Kentucky (Kt), and Pennsylvania (Py), during 24 months of aging. Oak origin had a higher effect on the wine’s aromatic composition than the polyphenolic one. Mo and Oh barrels enhanced coconut, spicy, and sweet notes for 12 months of aging, while Kt barrels achieved higher extraction of wood-related compounds at longer aging (24 months). Py wines showed the lowest contents of most volatile compounds at both aging times, as well as hydroxycinnamic acids, flavanols, anthocyanins, flavonols, stilbenes, and ellagitannins, attributed to their higher porosity. At 12 months of aging, Kt wines showed the highest content of ellagitannins, and Mo wines had the highest content of anthocyanins, but Oh wines had the highest concentrations at 24 months. In the sensory analysis, Kt wines were preferred at both aging times. Kt and Mo wines achieved the highest punctuations for the olfactory phase at 12 months of aging and Kt wines kept it after 24 months. These findings are essential for producers to achieve the sensory characteristics of their wines through strategic barrel aging. Full article

Perennial groundcover (PGC) has promise as a scalable approach to generating natural resource benefits and sustainable biofuel feedstock while preserving the high yields of annual row crop production. Partnering row crops with temporally and spatially complementary low-growing, shallow-rooted perennials, such as Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) (Poa pratensis L.), is one example of an emerging PGC system. PGC’s ecosystem benefits can only be fully realized if commercial-scale adoption occurs, which hinges on its economic feasibility. This paper utilizes an enterprise budget framework to detail and compare the expected cost and revenue of establishing and maintaining PGC in row crop systems with standard continuous corn (SCC) (Zea mays L.) production, including stover harvest, but excluding economic incentives for ecosystem services. Optimistic and pessimistic assumptions were used, along with Monte Carlo simulation, to characterize the uncertainty in results. In the optimistic stover market scenario, Year 1 net returns for PGC averaged USD 84/ac less than for SCC; Year 2+ net returns averaged USD 83/ac more, meaning that cost parity with SCC occurs by the second PGC system year. Without stover revenue, parity is achieved after five years. These results affirm that PGC’s economic viability is critically impacted by a groundcover’s lifespan, the yield parity with SCC, and the availability of a stover market. Full article

Salmonella is one of the world’s leading causes of zoonotic and foodborne illnesses. Recently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the most critical challenges to public health and food safety. Herein, we employed a meta-analysis to determine the pooled prevalence and spatiotemporal distribution of serovars and antimicrobial resistance in NTS in Burkina Faso. To find eligible articles, a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, African Journals Online, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and the gray literature (university libraries) in Burkina was conducted for the period from 2008 to 2020. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and assessed for risk of bias. To assess the temporal and spatial relationships between serotypes and resistant strains from humans, animals, food, and the environment, a random-effects statistical model meta-analysis was carried out using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.0 program. The NTS prevalence rates were 4.6% (95% CI: 3–7) and 20.1% (95% CI: 6.6–47.4) in humans and animals, respectively, and 16.8% (95% CI: 10.5–25.8) and 15.6% (95% CI: 8.2–27.5) in food and the environment, respectively. Most NTS serovars were S. Derby, reported both in food and animals, and S. Typhimurium, reported in humans, while S. Croft II, S. Jodpur II, and S. Kentucky were the most prevalent in the environment. NTS isolates were highly resistant to erythromycin, amoxicillin, cefixime, and cephalothin, with a pooled prevalence of multidrug resistance of 29% (95% CI: 14.5–49.5). The results of this review show a high diversity of Salmonella serotypes, as well as high antibiotic resistance in Salmonella isolates from animal, human, food, and environmental samples in Burkina, calling for a consolidated “One Health” approach to better understand the drivers of pathogen emergence, spread, and antimicrobial resistance, as well as the formulation of intervention measures needed to limit the risk associated with the disease. Full article

Incorporation of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) into grass pastures can reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer applications and increase the nutritional value of the forage. However, red clover cultivars available for Kentucky producers are highly susceptible to herbicides, such as 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid), used for pasture broadleaf weed control. To overcome this problem, ‘UK2014’ red clover was selected for increased tolerance to 2,4-D. We employed a transcriptome analysis approach to compare the gene expression response following 2,4-D treatment of ‘UK2014’ to that of ‘Kenland’, a 2,4-D sensitive red clover and one of the parents of ‘UK2014’. The objectives were to first determine if the increased 2,4-D tolerance in ‘UK2014’ is reflected in a change of transcription response and/or a quicker recovery of a transcriptional response following 2,4-D treatment, and second, to identify genes, whether constitutively expressed or induced by 2,4-D, which could be the basis for the increased 2,4-D tolerance. Leaf tissue from the two red clovers grown in the field was collected at 4, 24, and 72 h after 2,4-D (1.12 kg 2,4-amine a.e. ha⁻¹) treatment from both untreated and treated plants. Global gene expression was determined with reads from Illumina Hiseq 2500 mapped against the red clover draft genome, Tpv2.1 (GenBank Accession GCA_900079335.1). Genes that displayed differential expression (DEGs) following 2,4-D treatment were selected for further analysis. The number of DEGs was higher for ‘Kenland’ than for ‘UK2014’, suggesting that a lower transcriptional response corresponds with the higher 2,4-D tolerance in the ‘UK2014’ line. Similarly, gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that expression of photosynthesis-related genes was less affected by 2,4-D in the ‘UK2014’ line than ‘Kenland’. Although we were not able to identify any specific genes that are the basis for the increased 2,4-D tolerance of ‘UK2014’, we concluded that the increased 2,4-D tolerance of ‘UK2014’ correlates with a decreased transcription response to 2,4-D. Additionally, expression of several cytochrome P450 genes that had different isoforms between ‘UK2014’ and ‘Kenland’ increased significantly in both following 2,4-D treatment, one or more of these P450s could be mediators of 2,4-D metabolism and tolerance in red clover. Full article

Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a cause of foodborne diarrheal diseases worldwide. Important emerging NTS serotypes that have spread as multidrug-resistant high-risk clones include S. Typhimurium monophasic variant and S. Kentucky. In this study, we isolated Salmonella in 5019 stool samples collected from patients with clinical diarrhea and 484 food samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing were performed on positive strains. The detection rates of Salmonella among patients with diarrhea and food samples were 4.0% (200/5019) and 3.1% (15/484), respectively. These 215 Salmonella isolates comprised five main serotypes, namely S. Typhimurium monophasic variant, S. Typhimurium, S. London, S. Enteritidis, and S. Rissen, and were mainly resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The MDR rates of five major serotypes were 77.4%, 56.0%, 66.7%, 53.3%, and 80.0%, respectively. The most commonly acquired extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding genes were bla_TEM−1B, bla_OXA-10, and bla_CTX-M-65. The S. Typhimurium monophasic variant strains from Jiaxing City belonged to a unique clone with broad antibiotic resistance. S. Kentucky isolates showed the highest drug resistance, and all were MDR strains. The discovery of high antibiotic resistance rates in this common foodborne pathogen is a growing concern; therefore, ongoing surveillance is crucial to effectively monitor this pathogen. Full article