Publications by authors named "Hayley Benson"
Article Synopsis
- - Leptospirosis, a disease caused by bacteria prevalent mostly in tropical areas, is transmitted through contact with infected rat urine or contaminated environments, with brown rats being key urban reservoirs.
- - A study conducted in Boston from 2016-2022 involved analyzing DNA from 328 rat kidney samples, revealing that 59 rats were positive for leptospirosis and indicating significant genetic structure and limited dispersal among rat populations.
- - The researchers discovered distinct genetic clades of the bacteria linked to specific rat groups, suggesting that rat movement influences the spread of leptospirosis, and indicated a connection between the disease in humans and urban rat populations based on genomic analysis.
Background: Despite the importance of domesticated animals in the generation and transmission of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the role of wild animals, specifically rodents, in the ecology of S. aureus remains unclear. We recovered and genotyped S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) surveys regarding zoonotic diseases are crucial to understanding the extent of knowledge among citizens and for guiding health-related education programs.
Method: Employing a structured questionnaire, we interviewed residents (n = 388) in three districts of northern Tanzania (Karatu n = 128, Monduli n = 114, Babati n = 146) to assess knowledge, attitudes and reported practices regarding three zoonotic diseases that occur in the region (anthrax, brucellosis, and rabies). We used generalized linear mixed effects models and multi-model inference to identify demographic correlates of knowledge.