Objectives: We assessed the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine receipt in a representative sample of wet market workers in a highly dense, low-income setting. Wet markets are key in many Asian settings, including Dhaka, Bangladesh, for fresh food, including animal protein.
Methods: During early 2022, we assessed the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a random sample of poultry and vegetable workers in 15 wet markets, and investigated associations with socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 vaccination.
JAC Antimicrob Resist
December 2024
Objectives: Non-typhoidal (NTS) commonly causes a self-limiting illness but invasive disease (iNTS) can be life-threatening. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) increases the risk of mortality. This systematic review aimed to estimate the proportion of NTS isolated in those attending healthcare services, serovar burden, AMR, serovar-specific AMR, and case fatality rate (CFR) in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to determine the sequence type (ST) of Bartonella henselae infecting small Indian mongooses from Saint Kitts via multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). This investigation used stored EDTA blood (n = 22) samples from mongooses previously identified as positive for B. henselae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, there has been an increased focus on the teaching of small-animal dentistry to veterinary students in order to address the recognized gap between dental skill training and the expectations of employers regarding the competencies of new graduates in this field. In this study, third-year veterinary students were trained in three canine dental core skills using either a high-fidelity model (Group A) or video instruction (Group B). An objective structured clinical examination was used to assess skill acquisition and questionnaires were distributed in order to assess student confidence and perceptions related to small-animal dentistry practice and related skills before and after the training.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn chickens, avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) causes the swollen head syndrome, a respiratory disease often associated with a reduction in egg production. The virus' epidemiology in East and Southeast Asia is poorly understood. An aMPV serological survey was conducted on broiler chicken farms of Hong Kong SAR to assess the seroprevalence of aMPV in unvaccinated batches and the serological status of vaccinated batches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis globally distributed but evidence of zoonotic transmission in the Caribbean region is scarce. The bacterium presence is suspected on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe source and significance of pulmonary silicate crystals in animals and people are poorly understood. To estimate the prevalence and characterize the pulmonary crystalline material in animals from St. Kitts, tissue samples from dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, mongooses, and monkeys were examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM/EDXA), and x-ray diffraction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to test zona pellucida (ZP) vaccines’ immunocontraceptive efficacy and safety when formulated with non-Freund’s adjuvant (6% Pet Gel A and 500 Μg Poly(I:C)). Twenty-four jennies were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: reZP (n = 7) received three doses of recombinant ZP vaccine; pZP (n = 9) received two doses of native porcine ZP; and Control group (n = 8) received two injections of placebo. Jennies were monitored weekly via transrectal ultrasonography and blood sampling for serum progesterone profiles and anti-pZP antibody titres.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It has been proposed that childhood vaccines in high-mortality populations may have substantial impacts on mortality rates that are not explained by the prevention of targeted diseases, nor conversely by typical expected adverse reactions to the vaccines, and that these non-specific effects (NSEs) are generally more pronounced in females. The existence of these effects, and any implications for the development of vaccines and the design of vaccination programs to enhance safety, remain controversial. One area of controversy is the reported association of non-live vaccines with increased female mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aimed to investigate the quality of newly hatched broiler chicks delivered to Hong Kong (imported or local), and to develop tailored recommendations to improve their management. During 2019-2021, 70 batches (34 imported from mainland China and 36 local) of one/three day old chicks on 11 broiler farms were studied. From each batch, 23 or 24 chicks (1647 in total) were assessed for abnormalities in appearance, navel, crop filling, dehydration, body weight, and length uniformity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The expansion of vector-borne diseases is considered to be a threat to pet health. Some diseases such as heartworm disease have effective individual prevention methods; however, population-level disease control is limited by the lack of treatment compliance by pet owners. Veterinarians have a primary role in increasing compliance by educating owners on the appropriate prevention measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe benefits of vaccines have been centred on their specific effects on subsequent infections by target pathogens. Recent studies, however, have opened up new insights into additional effects of vaccines known as non-specific effects (NSEs) or heterologous effects of vaccines. While several articles have reviewed epidemiological and immunological evidence for NSEs of vaccines in humans, similar works on veterinary vaccines are scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to molecularly survey and evaluate the genetic diversity of spp. in mongooses and their fleas from St. Kitts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDecades of warnings that the trade and consumption of wildlife could result in serious zoonotic pandemics have gone largely unheeded. Now the world is ravaged by COVID-19, with tremendous loss of life, economic and societal disruption, and dire predictions of more destructive and frequent pandemics. There are now calls to tightly regulate and even enact complete wildlife trade bans, while others call for more nuanced approaches since many rural communities rely on wildlife for sustenance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccines may affect recipients' immune systems in ways that change morbidity or mortality rates to unrelated infections in vaccinated populations. It has been proposed that these non-specific effects differ by type of vaccine and by sex, with non-live vaccines enhancing susceptibility of females to unrelated infections, and live vaccines enhancing resistance in both sexes. Rabies vaccine-a non-live vaccine-has been associated with protection against unrelated central nervous system infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-live rabies vaccines have been associated with both beneficial and detrimental effects on host population morbidity and mortality rates to unrelated infections in people and animals, and these non-specific effects may differ by sex. Previous animal studies may have been affected by bias, including selection bias due to loss to follow up in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We previously reported results of an RCT in dogs on the effect of primary rabies vaccine administered at 6 weeks of age on all-cause mortality over a 7-week follow-up period, in a high-mortality population of owned dogs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEquine arytenoid chondritis causes airway obstruction and abnormal upper airway noise due to a space-occupying lesion(s) and decreased abduction. Our objective was to compare clinical scores and ultrasonographic findings with gross and microscopic lesions of naturally occurring arytenoid chondritis, in order to guide surgical treatment. Seventeen naturally affected horses with advanced/severe chronic arytenoid chondritis and 4 control arytenoid cartilages were evaluated after partial arytenoidectomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a ubiquitous zoonotic bacterium reported worldwide that causes Q-fever. Infections result in profound economic losses to livestock producers by causing abortions and low birth weights. Current information about the disease in the Caribbean region is scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNorthwest Atlantic leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are endangered and low hatch success limits potential for population recovery. We examined essential and nonessential metal concentrations in 43 eggs from nests on St. Kitts to determine if there was a relationship with hatch success.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In more recent years, international travel with cats has increased. The distribution of cat parasites can change with this movement. Already, subtropical and tropical parasites have been reported by veterinarians in areas where they are not naturally present.
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