Shedding light on risk: Seroprevalence of Q fever among farm animals and workers in Ecuador.

Q fever, caused by the bacterium , is a zoonotic disease that has been largely overlooked despite presenting significant risks to both animal and public health. Although well studied in some countries, in most countries in Latin America, there's a lack of information on infection, its prevalence, and its impact on both livestock and human populations. To address this gap, we conducted a serosurvey among farm workers, cattle, sheep, and dogs on two dairy farms in Ecuador using a commercial ELISA kit.

A rapid and inexpensive 96-well DNA-extraction method from blood using silicon dioxide powder (Glassmilk).

We present a rapid high-throughput DNA extraction method for use with EDTA-anticoagulated blood using silicon dioxide (SiO) powder in a guanidine-HCl solution, hereinafter referred to as "Glassmilk." The method utilizes a 96-well deep-well plate, enabling DNA extraction from 96 samples in under 3 h. The method integrates cell lysis, washing, elution, and DNA storage within the same well, eliminating the need for DNA transfer.

Mycobacterium leprae in Nine-Banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), Ecuador.

We found Mycobacterium leprae, the most common etiologic agent of Hansen disease or leprosy, in tissues from 9 (18.75%) of 48 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) collected across continental Ecuador. Finding evidence of a wildlife reservoir is the first step to recognizing leprosy zoonotic transmission pathway in Ecuador or elsewhere.

The barriers and facilitators family caregivers experience when participating in resource-limited hospital care: a qualitative systematic review.

Background: In many resource-limited settings, understaffed hospitals rely on patients' families to provide care during admission. These care tasks are often performed informally, untrained and unsupported. The WHO has called for innovative approaches to tackle health worker shortages globally.

Managing Complicated Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections in Plastic Surgery.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections after cosmetic surgery have become an increasing concern. These infections are often initially misdiagnosed and treated with standard antibiotic regimens, which fail to resolve the underlying infection, leading to prolonged patient suffering. In this case study, we describe a chronic wound infection caused by subsp.