The Effects of Socioeconomic Contextual Factors on Racial Differences in CFSR-3 Permanency Outcomes.

We examined the role of state and county socioeconomic contextual characteristics in explaining Black-White child differences in permanency within one year of foster care entry. We estimated race-specific hierarchical linear models consisting of individual-level demographic and case characteristics of children, state and county socioeconomic contextual factors, and CFSR-3 performance-improvement plans. Findings showed that socioeconomic contextual characteristics were significantly associated with permanency for Black and White children in different ways.

Evaluation of dam parity and internal biosecurity practices in influenza infections in piglets prior to weaning.

Influenza is an important respiratory disease of pigs and humans. Controlling influenza in pigs is challenging due to the substantial genetic diversity of influenza A virus (IAV). In this study, we assessed the impact of internal biosecurity practices directed at limiting exposure of piglets to IAV before weaning; evaluated the association of sow parity with IAV prevalence in piglets and the levels of maternally derived antibodies (MDA), and documented the frequency of detection of IAV on farmworkers' hands and the instruments used when handling pigs.

Influenza Vaccination of Swine Reduces Public Health Risk at the Swine-Human Interface.

Influenza A viruses (IAV) in swine (IAV-S) pose serious risk to public health through spillover at the human-animal interface. Continued zoonotic transmission increases the likelihood novel IAV-S capable of causing the next influenza pandemic will emerge from this animal reservoir. Because current mitigation strategies are insufficient to prevent IAV zoonosis, we investigated the ability of swine vaccination to decrease IAV-S zoonotic transmission risk.

Shedding and transmission of a live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine in pre-weaned pigs under field conditions.

Influenza A virus (IAV) is one of the most important respiratory viruses affecting pig health and vaccination is the most common strategy to control influenza infections. In this field study we assessed the onset and duration of shedding of a live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccine, its ability to transmit to non-vaccinated pigs and whether the LAIV could be aerosolized and detected in the environment. Thirty-three litters (n = 33) of a farm using the LAIV vaccine were selected for the study, a subset of them (n = 12) were left unvaccinated and a subset of piglets (n = 3) in vaccinated litters were also left unvaccinated to serve as sentinels.