Publications by authors named "Yarrow Linden"
Valley Fever is a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of arthroconidia, a type of spore produced by fungi within the genus Coccidioides spp. which are found in dry, hot ecosystems of the Western Hemisphere. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for the disease has not yet been performed due to a lack of dose-response models and a scarcity of quantitative occurrence data from environmental samples.
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- Scientists are using a new method to check for different germs in wastewater to help protect public health.
- They tested samples from wastewater plants in Atlanta and found many expected germs as well as some surprises, like a rare human worm.
- This research could help improve how we track and respond to infections from various germs in the future.
Introduction: We previously assessed the effect of an onsite sanitation intervention in informal neighbourhoods of urban Maputo, Mozambique on enteric pathogen detection in children after 2 years of follow-up (Maputo Sanitation (MapSan) trial, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02362932). We found significant reductions in and prevalence but only among children born after the intervention was delivered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn low-income, urban, informal communities lacking sewerage and solid waste services, onsite sanitation (sludges, aqueous effluent) and child feces are potential sources of human fecal contamination in living environments. Working in informal communities of urban Maputo, Mozambique, we developed a quantitative, stochastic, mass-balance approach to evaluate plausible scenarios of localized contamination that could explain why the soil-transmitted helminth remains endemic despite nearly universal coverage of latrines that sequester most fecal wastes. We used microscopy to enumerate presumptively viable ova in feces, fecal sludges, and soils from compounds (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnteric viruses, such as poliovirus, are a leading cause of gastroenteritis, which causes 2-3 million deaths annually. Environmental surveillance of wastewater supplements clinical surveillance for monitoring enteric virus circulation. However, while many environmental surveillance methods require liquid samples, some at-risk locations utilize pit latrines with waste characterized by high solids content.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltraviolet (UV) devices emitting UVC irradiation (200-280 nm) have proven to be effective for virus disinfection, especially on surfaces and in air, due to their rapid effectiveness and limited to no material corrosion. Numerous studies of UV-induced inactivation focused on nonenveloped viruses. Little is known about UVC action on enveloped viruses across UVC wavelengths.
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- - Environmental surveillance of poliovirus (PV) is crucial for global eradication efforts, with the bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS) enhancing effectiveness compared to the WHO's two-phase grab method.
- - The study improved the BMFS for use in wastewater and surface waters in Nairobi by modifying aspects such as bag size and filter design to increase efficiency.
- - The enhanced BMFS can concentrate larger volumes of water (3-10 L down to 10 mL), resulting in a 6-20 times greater effective volume assayed than the WHO method, potentially reducing false-negative results and simplifying logistics for virus detection.
Article Synopsis
- Environmental surveillance of poliovirus and non-enveloped viruses is crucial for detecting silent outbreaks and ensuring successful eradication efforts.
- The study tested a bag-mediated filtration system for filtering water samples, finding that preservatives (sodium benzoate and calcium propionate) and antibiotics improved the longevity and recovery of viruses like poliovirus type 1 during storage.
- Using these additives can enhance virus detection in environmental samples, making it easier to monitor and respond to potential health threats caused by viral circulation.