Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa Before Onward Dispersal Toward Europe.

Viral hepatitis is a global health care challenge due to its worldwide distribution, chronic persistence, complications, and high prevalence with unchecked conditions in areas like sub-Saharan Africa. A high proportion of asymptomatic infections allows serious complications and poses infection risk to destination populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of both HBV and HCV among 3248 migrants from different parts of sub-Saharan Africa newly arrived at Kufra, Libya, a remote agricultural North African city.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Myriad Other Applications.

As the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic begins, it remains clear that a massive increase in the ability to test for SARS-CoV-2 infections in a myriad of settings is critical to controlling the pandemic and to preparing for future outbreaks. The current gold standard for molecular diagnostics is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but the extraordinary and unmet demand for testing in a variety of environments means that both complementary and supplementary testing solutions are still needed. This review highlights the role that loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has had in filling this global testing need, providing a faster and easier means of testing, and what it can do for future applications, pathogens, and the preparation for future outbreaks.

RT qLAMP-Direct Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Raw Sewage.

A highly efficient, selective, and sensitive method for analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in raw sewage was developed and tested to illustrate basic characteristics of the procedure. The method uses reverse transcriptase (RT) loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in a quantitative application, RT qLAMP. The applicability of this procedure to detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples has been documented in many reports since early 2020.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in children with diarrhea, Kufra, Libya, a North African migration route city.

Background: Giardia and Cryptosporidium are common parasitic diarrhea agents of children contributing to childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Major risk factors, based on the international literature, are expected to include domestic animals, fresh vegetables and drinking water and foodstuffs purchased from street vendors. These factors and sub Saharan migrants are common in the study area.

Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis: The Asian perspective.

This review discusses findings of Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis research in Asia and highlights the current situation of Cryptosporidium epidemiology, genetic diversity and distribution, and transmission throughout Asia taking into account all the available papers published for Cryptosporidium research in Asian countries since 2000. This effort will facilitate future research approaches and further developments in the understanding of Cryptosporidium epidemiology in Asia. The intent is to contribute to improvement in protection measures for mitigating the burden associated with this illness in the future.

Evolution of monitoring for Giardia and Cryptosporidium in water.

This review describes the evolution of monitoring methodology for Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water since the 1970's. Methods in current use for Giardia and Cryptosporidium in water are highlighted, though attention is given to all available published methods by country and continent. The review is intended to stimulate research leading to future improvements and further developments in monitoring methodology for Giardia, Cryptosporidium and other waterborne protozoan parasites in water.

Waterborne transmission of protozoan parasites: Review of worldwide outbreaks - An update 2011-2016.

This review provides a comprehensive update of worldwide waterborne parasitic protozoan outbreaks that occurred with reports published since previous reviews largely between January 2011 and December 2016. At least 381 outbreaks attributed to waterborne transmission of parasitic protozoa were documented during this time period. The nearly half (49%) of reports occurred in New Zealand, 41% of the outbreaks in North America and 9% in Europe.

Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts-A practical and sensitive method for counting and manipulating small numbers.

A rapid and inexpensive method is described for accurate and reproducible counting and manipulating small numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts. From a suspension of oocysts or cysts at concentration from 1000 to 5000/mL (1-5/μL), replicate 5μL droplets are micro pipetted onto the edge of a microscope slide. Unstained oocysts or cysts in each droplet can be counted in a few minutes and replicated for statistical strength.

ICR SS protozoan data site-by-site: a picture of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in U.S. surface water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Information Collection Rule Supplemental Survey (ICR SS) required analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in 10 L surface water samples twice a week for a year by USEPA Method 1623 at 80 representative U.

LT2 Cryptosporidium data: what do they tell us about Cryptosporidium in surface water in the United States?

Beginning in 2006 a United States Federal regulation required public water suppliers using surface water serving more than 10,000 population to analyze for Cryptosporidium in at least 24 consecutive monthly samples from each surface water source. In July 2012, the U.S.

The concentration of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water--the role and importance of recovery efficiency.

The concentration of Cryptosporidium and of Giardia in surface water is a subject of importance to public health and public water supply. The term concentration is a fundamental property of any water quality parameter having a classical definition as used in chemistry and biology. Analytical methods for measuring the occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water find only a fraction of the organisms actually present.

Distribution of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in water above and below the normal limit of detection.

Analysis of water samples for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts is a specialised and demanding pursuit. Understanding and evaluating data resulting from such analyses is equally specialised and complicated by the most common result--not finding any of the target organisms. Coming to an accurate conclusion regarding such monitoring results has been hampered by a lack of pertinent information presented in the context of current monitoring requirements.

Giardia taxonomy, phylogeny and epidemiology: Facts and open questions.

Giardia duodenalis (synonymous Giardia lamblia and Giardia intestinalis) is a flagellated protozoan parasite that reproduces in the small intestine causing giardiasis. It is a cosmopolitan pathogen with a very wide host range, including domestic and wild animal species, as well as human beings. In this paper the current knowledge about the taxonomy and phylogeny of G.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia detection in environmental waters of southwest coastal areas of Thailand.

The aim of this study was to investigate water samples collected in coastal areas of Southern Thailand in the years of 2005 and 2008 for their contamination by the protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia. One hundred eighteen water samples of different origin were collected from six Tsunami affected southern provinces of Thailand in early 2005, and they have been analyzed using standardized methodology. Fifteen out of 118 samples (12.

First description of Cryptosporidium bovis in Japan and diagnosis and genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheic pre-weaned calves in Hokkaido.

Eighty fecal samples from pre-weaned calves with diarrhea were collected in the Tokachi area in Northern Japan to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in such animals. Oocysts from fecal samples collected from each animal were concentrated using sucrose gradient centrifugation. Genomic DNA was extracted from each sample and processed by nested PCR to amplify the partial SSU rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium.

Sensitive and specific detection of Cryptosporidium species in PCR-negative samples by loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification and confirmation of generated LAMP products by sequencing.

Three LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification) assays were applied to detect Cryptosporidium species DNA in a total number of 270 fecal samples originating from cattle, sheep and horses in South Africa. DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of fecal material.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of human and bovine Cryptosporidium isolates in Thailand.

This study was performed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium species among HIV patients and cattle in Thailand. Stool specimens were collected from 46 HIV patients from Prabat Nampu Temple, Lop Buri Province in central Thailand. Two hundred fecal samples from dairy cattle were collected from seven farms in Chon Buri Province, the eastern part of Thailand.

Prevalence and genotyping of Cryptosporidium species from farm animals in Mongolia.

The presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in 460 animals (439 cattle, 16 kids, and 5 sheep) of Tuv-aimak Mongolian district was investigated by IFT. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 116 (26.4%) cattle.

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium from animal sources in Qinghai province of China.

The presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in 20 zoo animals of the Xining Zoo, 16 farm yaks and 42 farm goats in Qinghai province, China was investigated by an immunofluorescence test (IFT). The species and/or genotypes were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of a fragment of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 16 zoo animals, 2 yaks, and 15 goats by IFT.

Development and preliminary evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification procedure for sensitive detection of cryptosporidium oocysts in fecal and water samples.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium in environmental and fecal samples was developed and evaluated. This is the first demonstration of LAMP applied to detection of Cryptosporidium. Due to its specificity and simplicity, the method could become a useful diagnostic tool for epidemiologic studies of Cryptosporidium presence.

An evaluation of primers amplifying DNA targets for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. using C. parvum HNJ-1 Japanese isolate in water samples.

The performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum HNJ-1 strain (genotype II) oocysts purified from mice using published protocols was evaluated. Oocysts were concentrated from fecal samples of infected severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice by sucrose flotation and were then purified by immunomagnetic separation method. The genotype of C.

Modelling of pharmaceutical residues in Australian sewage by quantities of use and fugacity calculations.

A conceptual model is presented for determining which currently prescribed pharmaceutical compounds are most likely to be found in sewage, and for estimating their concentrations, both in raw sewage and after successive stages of secondary sewage treatment. A ranking of the "top-50" pharmaceutical compounds (by total mass dispensed) in Australia over the 1998 calendar year was prepared. Information on the excretion ratios and some metabolites of the pharmaceuticals enabled prediction of the overall rates of excretion into Australian sewage.

Development and Evaluation of Oligonucleotide DNA Probes for Detection and Genotyping of Shiga-like Toxin Producing Escherichia coli.

Use of antisense oligonucleotide probes (OP) for detection and genotyping of Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli (SLTEC) was evaluated. Based on published deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences of the A subunits of Shiga-like toxin (SLT) I and II genes, three synthetic antisense OP were constructed (OP-1, -2 and -3). Their use for detection and genotyping of SLTEC was evaluated and the results were compared to those obtained using cloned toxin-gene probe fragments.