New insight into avian malaria vectors in New Zealand.

Background: Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are vectors for most malaria parasites of the Plasmodium species and are required for Plasmodium spp. to complete their life cycle. Despite having 16 species of mosquitoes and the detection of many Plasmodium species in birds, little is known about the role of different mosquito species in the avian malaria life cycle in New Zealand.

Monitoring of alien mosquitoes in Western Austria (Tyrol, Austria, 2018).

Mosquitoes are of major importance to human and animal health due to their ability to transmit various pathogens. In Europe the role of mosquitoes in public health has increased with the introduction of alien Aedes mosquitoes such as the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus; the Asian bush mosquito, Ae. japonicus; and Ae.

Toxocara vitulorum infection in a yak (Bos mutus grunniens) calf from Tyrol (Austria).

The domestic yak Bos mutus grunniens is an important livestock animal in parts of Asia, especially of the Himalayan region, where people rely on it for meat, wool, milk and labour. In its countries of origin, the yak is commonly infected with the ascarid Toxocara vitulorum. This parasite mainly infects cattle (Bos taurus) and domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalus) and is most commonly found in sub-tropical regions, but has been occasionally reported in more temperate climates, including several Central European countries.

Unnoticed arrival of two dipteran species in Austria: the synanthropic moth fly Clogmia albipunctata (Williston, 1893) and the parasitic bird louse fly Ornithoica turdi (Olivier in Latreille, 1811).

In the framework of a mosquito-monitoring program conducted from 2014 to 2018, non-culicid dipteran bycatch was identified to species-level with a focus on Diptera of medical and veterinary importance as part of a biodiversity initiative and barcoding project ("Austrian Barcode of Life"). Two species hitherto not known from Austria, the regularly sampled synanthropic moth fly Clogmia albipunctata (Psychodidae) and a single specimen of the louse fly Ornithoica turdi (Hippoboscidae), were collected in Vienna and Lower Austria. We confirmed identification results using a barcoding approach and provide the first reference sequence for O.

Presence and diversity of mixed avian spp. infections in introduced birds whose distribution overlapped with threatened New Zealand endemic birds.

To determine the presence of infection and co-infection of lineages in introduced birds at translocation sites for the North Island saddleback (), to investigate their role as spp. reservoirs. Blood samples were collected from introduced bird species, with a special focus on blackbirds () and song thrushes (), at six locations in the North Island of New Zealand that were the origin, or translocation sites, for North Island saddleback.

Monitoring of alien mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Austria.

Systematic, continuous mosquito surveillance is considered the most reliable tool to predict the spread and establishment of alien mosquito species such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), Japanese bush mosquito (Aedes japonicus), and the transmission risk of mosquito-borne arboviruses to humans. Only single individuals of Ae. albopictus have been found in Austria so far.

Protozoan parasites in Culex pipiens mosquitoes in Vienna.

Avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and kinetoplastid (Trypanosoma spp.) parasites are common vector-borne pathogens in birds worldwide; however, knowledge about vector competence of different mosquito species is currently lacking.

Xenomonitoring of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for the Presence of Filarioid Helminths in Eastern Austria.

Information on mosquito-borne filarioid helminths in Austria is scarce, but recent discoveries of indicate autochthonous distribution of this parasite in Eastern Austria. In the current xenomonitoring study, more than 48,000 mosquitoes were collected in Eastern Austria between 2013 and 2015, using different sampling techniques and storage conditions, and were analysed in pools with molecular tools for the presence of filarioid helminth DNA. Overall, DNA of , , and two unknown filarioid helminths were documented in twenty mosquito pools within the mitochondrial gene (barcode region).

Trypanosomatid parasites in Austrian mosquitoes.

Trypanosomatid flagellates have not been studied in Austria in any detail. In this study, specific nested PCR, targeted on the ribosomal small subunit, was used to determine the occurrence and diversity of trypanosomatids in wild-caught mosquitoes sampled across Eastern Austria in the years 2014-2015. We collected a total of 29,975 mosquitoes of 19 species divided in 1680 pools.

Avian Plasmodium in Eastern Austrian mosquitoes.

Background: Insect vectors, namely mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), are compulsory for malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) to complete their life cycle. Despite this, little is known about vector competence of different mosquito species for the transmission of avian malaria parasites.

Development of a rapid HRM qPCR for the diagnosis of the four most prevalent Plasmodium lineages in New Zealand.

Although wildlife rehabilitation and translocations are important tools in wildlife conservation in New Zealand, disease screening of birds has not been standardized. Additionally, the results of the screening programmes are often difficult to interpret due to missing disease data in resident or translocating avian populations. Molecular methods have become the most widespread method for diagnosing avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.

Avian malaria in New Zealand.

Avian malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium have the ability to cause morbidity and mortality in naïve hosts, and their impact on the native biodiversity is potentially serious. Over the last decade, avian malaria has aroused increasing interest as an emerging disease in New Zealand with some endemic avian species, such as the endangered mohua (Mohua ochrocephala), thought to be particularly susceptible. To date, avian malaria parasites have been found in 35 different bird species in New Zealand and have been diagnosed as causing death in threatened species such as dotterel (Charadrius obscurus), South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus), mohua, hihi (Notiomystis cincta) and two species of kiwi (Apteryx spp.

Coccidia species in endemic and native New Zealand passerines.

New Zealand native passerines are hosts to a large variety of gastrointestinal parasites, including coccidia. Coccidian parasites are generally host-specific, obligate intracellular protozoan parasites. In passerine birds, members of the genus Isospora are most common.

Coccidiosis in hihi/stitchbirds (Notiomystis cincta) due to coccidia of the Eimeriidae.

Aim: To describe the pathology of coccidiosis in hihi and to provide preliminary data on the taxonomy of the coccidia involved using molecular methods.

Methods: In an initial study from 1994 to 1997, gross and histopathological examinations were performed on 12 dead juvenile hihi from the National Wildlife Centre (NWC) at Mt. Bruce.

Interdisciplinary benefits in Project MAINSTREAM: a promising health professions educational model to address global substance abuse.

Our purpose was to evaluate the interdisciplinary aspects of Project MAINSTREAM, a faculty development program that trained 39 competitively selected health professional tutors in substance abuse education. Mid-career faculty fellows (tutors) from 14 different health professions across the US dedicated 20% of their academic time for two years to Project MAINSTREAM. Teams of three fellows carried out curricular enhancement and service-learning field project requirements in mentored Interdisciplinary Faculty Learning Groups (IFLGs).

Training and fidelity monitoring of behavioral interventions in multi-site addictions research.

Aims: Methods for the training and fidelity monitoring of behavioral interventions in multi-site addictions research are reviewed, including five published studies and seven ongoing studies sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded Clinical Trials Network.

Methods: Methods are categorized and reviewed consistent with a technology model of treatment delivery. Topics include: therapist selection, training, certification, and supervision; selection, training, and certification of supervisors; scales and processes used for monitoring of the quality of treatment; and processes followed to provide new training for replacement staff once trials have begun.

Interdisciplinary service-learning substance abuse projects: processes and outcomes.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation of community-based, service-learning field projects by 30 health professional faculty fellows of Project MAINSTREAM, a faculty development program on substance abuse. The fellows worked together for two years in 10 Interdisciplinary Faculty Learning Groups (IFLGs), which consisted of three academics of different disciplines. The ten projects are viewed within the context of service- learning and are based on a balance between the provision of services to the community and furthering the learning objectives of Project MAINSTREAM.

Creating change agents: a national substance abuse education project.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a national interdisciplinary faculty development program, Project MAINSTREAM, on creating curriculum enhancement in health professional education.

Method: Thirty-nine faculty completed a two-year, part-time fellowship program featuring interdisciplinary collaboration, mentoring, training meetings, and Internet-based instructional materials. The main vehicle for curricular change was a required collaborative education project to develop trainees' core competencies in substance abuse prevention services.

Effects of motivational interviewing training on mental health therapist behavior.

This study examined the effectiveness of training community mental health therapists in motivational interviewing (MI) adapted to treat clients with co-occurring disorders. Ten therapists with high caseloads of culturally diverse clients in two different community mental health settings fulfilled all study requirements. MI training consisted of a two-day didactic and experiential workshop followed by eight biweekly small group supervision (coaching) sessions.

Integrating medical and substance abuse treatment for addicts living with HIV/AIDS: evidence-based nursing practice model.

Forty-five active substance abusers with HIV/AIDS voluntarily participated in a substance abuse treatment research study with interviews at intake, 6 months and 12 months. These participants were engaged in treatment for a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 90 days. The study used a nursing model of care, The Personalized Nursing LIGHT model, to integrate treatment for HIV/AIDS with substance abuse treatment.

Reinforcement of counseling attendance and alcohol abstinence in a community-based dual-diagnosis treatment program: a feasibility study.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based contingency management (CM) protocol reinforcing punctual dual-diagnosis group counseling attendance and negative breath alcohol levels. Participants were 20 dual-diagnosis patients. The A-B-A within-subjects reversal design included a 4-week baseline phase (BL), a 12-week CM intervention, and a 4-week return-to-baseline phase (R-BL).

Brief Intervention in Hazardous Drinking: An Important Adjunct to Medical School ATOD Curriculum.

Most medical school alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) curricula emphasize the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol abuse and dependence, even though a significant amount of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality is associated with the hazardous use of alcohol. An increased emphasis on screening for hazardous drinking and the use of early intervention has been shown to be effective in reducing heavy drinking in the primary care setting. This paper describes a family medicine clerkship seminar on clinical preventive medicine that focuses on tobacco and alcohol use.

Injection drug use in North America.

Injection drug use of psychotropic agents for nontherapeutic purposes is associated with some of the most pernicious infectious diseases seen in the United States. There is an inextricable link between infection, injection drug use (IDU) and other risk behaviors, especially those related to sexual activity. A number of national surveys now provide excellent databases to track the breadth, scope and impact of IDU across the United States.

Laboratory analysis of remotely collected oral fluid specimens for opiates by immunoassay.

The performance characteristics of a method for detecting opiates (morphine, codeine, heroin, and 6-acetylmorphine [6-AM]) in oral fluid specimens were examined and compared with methods for urine specimens. The oral fluid was easily obtained using a simple device that collects between 1 and 1.5 mL of fluid for laboratory analysis.