Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Properties of , and , Used as Medicinal Plants in Chad.

The plants , and are well known in traditional African medicine, and particularly in traditional Chadian medicine. They are commonly used to treat infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, fevers, gastroenteritis and other medical conditions. The aim of this study was to perform a phytochemical screening to determine the antioxidant properties of different extracts and fractions from the three plants.

Precision arbovirus serology with a pan-arbovirus peptidome.

Arthropod-borne viruses represent a crucial public health threat. Current arboviral serology assays are either labor intensive or incapable of distinguishing closely related viruses, and many zoonotic arboviruses that may transition to humans lack any serologic assays. In this study, we present a programmable phage display platform, ArboScan, that evaluates antibody binding to overlapping peptides that represent the proteomes of 691 human and zoonotic arboviruses.

Allometric scaling of skin weight and thickness to body weight in relation to taxonomic orders and habitats in mammals.

Skin is the largest organ in a mammal body, and it exhibits most significant range of adaptations to different habitats. It is a complex, biological composite structure, consisting of epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissues and is used for the therapeutic application of medical devices to improve healthcare. Extensive studies have been performed on the roles of the skin; however, little is known on its physiological characteristics in relation to body size among different species.

Individual-based modeling of COVID-19 transmission in college communities.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created major public health and socio-economic challenges across the United States. Among them are challenges to the educational system where college administrators are struggling with the questions of how to mitigate the risk and spread of diseases on their college campus. To help address this challenge, we developed a flexible computational framework to model the spread and control of COVID-19 on a residential college campus.

Differential expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms type II in skeletal muscles of polar and black bears.

In this study, the pattern of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms expression in skeletal muscles of the trunk, forelimb and hindlimb in Polar Bear (PB) Ursus maritimus; American Black Bear (AmBB), Ursus americanus and Asian Black Bear (AsBB), Ursus thibetanus was analysed by immunohistochemistry and SDS-PAGE. Results showed that slow (MHC-I) and fast (MHC-II) isoforms exist in muscles of bears. Type II fibres were classified further into Type IIa and IIx in PB but not in AsBB and AmBB.

HISTOLOGIC LESIONS IN PLACENTAS OF NORTHERN FUR SEALS (CALLORHINUS URSINUS) FROM A POPULATION WITH HIGH PLACENTAL PREVALENCE OF COXIELLA BURNETII.

Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that can be associated with significant reproductive disease or acute mortality in livestock and wildlife. A novel marine mammal-associated strain of C. burnetii has been identified in pinnipeds of the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

A prospective epidemiological, clinical, and clinicopathologic study of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection in 435 cats from Greece.

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses causing significant morbidity and mortality in cats. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and clinicopathologic aspects of FeLV and FIV infections in different populations of cats in Greece, including client-owned cats, stray cats and cats who live in catteries. A total of 435 cats were prospectively enrolled.

SARS-CoV-2 transmission and control in a hospital setting: an individual-based modelling study.

Development of strategies for mitigating the severity of COVID-19 is now a top public health priority. We sought to assess strategies for mitigating the COVID-19 outbreak in a hospital setting via the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions. We developed an individual-based model for COVID-19 transmission in a hospital setting.

Risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers: a retrospective study of a nosocomial outbreak.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they are at high risk of acquiring the pathogen from infected patients and transmitting to other HCWs. We aimed to investigate risk factors for nosocomial COVID-19 infection among HCWs in a non-COVID-19 hospital yard.

Dairy Caretaker Perspectives on Performing Euthanasia as an Essential Component of Their Job.

The objectives of this study were to identify caretakers' perceptions and stressors related to performing on-farm euthanasia as well as potential ideas for intervention strategies to alleviate negative effects of performing euthanasia on caretaker well-being. Additionally, we aimed to determine how euthanasia methods, procedures, and training correlate with dairy caretakers' attitudes toward performing on-farm euthanasia and their job satisfaction and sense of well-being. Thirty-eight dairy caretakers (19 workers, 15 supervisors, 3 owners, 1 veterinarian) participated in focus groups or interviews conducted and recorded on five Northern Colorado dairies.

Schistosoma Transmission in a Dynamic Seasonal Environment and its Impact on the Effectiveness of Disease Control.

Background: A seasonal transmission environment including seasonal variation of snail population density and human-snail contact patterns can affect the dynamics of Schistosoma infection and the success of control interventions. In projecting control outcomes, conventional modeling approaches have often ignored seasonality by using simplified intermediate-host modeling, or by restricting seasonal effects through use of yearly averaging.

Methods: We used mathematical analysis and numerical simulation to estimate the impact of seasonality on disease dynamics and control outcomes, and to evaluate whether seasonal averaging or intermediate-host reduction can provide reliable predictions of control outcomes.

Population genomic transformations induced by isolation of wild bird avian influenza viruses (Orthomyxoviridae) in embryonated chicken eggs.

Isolation and cultivation of wild-type viruses in model organism cells or tissues is standard practice in virology. Oftentimes, the virus host species is distantly related to the species from which the culture system was developed. Thus, virus culture in these tissues and cells basically constitutes a host jump, which can lead to genomic changes through genetic drift and/or adaptation to the culture system.

Predicting whole genome sequencing success for archived avian influenza virus (Orthomyxoviridae) samples using real-time and droplet PCRs.

Long-term viral archives are valuable sources of research data. Each archive can store hundreds of thousands of diverse sample types. In the current era of whole genome sequencing, archived samples become a rich source of evolutionary and epidemiological data that can span years, and even decades.

Cholera hotspots and surveillance constraints contributing to recurrent epidemics in Tanzania.

Objective: We described the dynamics of cholera in Tanzania between 2007 and 2017 and assessed the weaknesses of the current surveillance system in providing necessary data in achieving the global roadmap to 2030 for cholera control.

Results: The Poisson-based spatial scan identified cholera hotspots in mainland Tanzania. A zero-inflated Poisson regression investigated the relationship between the incidence of cholera and available demographic, socio-economic and climatic exposure variables.

Comparison of cross-sectional geometrical properties and bone density of the proximal radius between Saint Bernard and other giant breed dogs.

Objective: To compare the geometrical properties and bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal radius between Saint Bernard and other giant breed dogs.

Study Design: Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study.

Animals: Thirteen client-owned Saint Bernard dogs and 13 other client-owned giant breed dogs.

Circulation of Rift Valley Fever Virus Antibody in Cattle during Inter-Epizootic/Epidemic Periods in Selected Regions of Tanzania.

Tanzania is one of the sub-Saharan countries that have experienced a number of Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreaks at intervals of 10-20 years since the first isolation of the virus during the early 1930s. Recent studies have reported serological evidence of inter epizootic/epidemic period circulation of RVF virus (RVFV) in livestock and humans. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey in Tanzania during 2015/16 to further explore the possibility that RVFV was circulating among cattle during the Inter epizootic/epidemic period.

Surgical Treatment of an Osseous Cyst-Like Lesion in the Middle Phalanx Communicating With the Distal Interphalangeal Joint of a Horse.

Subchondral or osseous cyst-like lesions within the distal aspect of the middle phalanx are not commonly reported in equids. These osseous lesions, which can communicate with the distal interphalangeal joint, can result in significant lameness and may not respond well to medical management. This report describes the clinical, diagnostic imaging, and surgical management of a 4-year-old mixed breed gelding where medical management of a chronic subchondral osseous cyst-like lesion of the middle phalanx, which communicated with the distal interphalangeal joint, was unsuccessful.

Molecular evidence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in goats from Cebu, Philippines.

Hemotropic mycoplasma (hemoplasma), a neglected vector-borne pathogen in goats, causes extensive economic damage to farmers due to production losses. In this study, 107/295 (36.27%) goats sampled from 4 farms (Barili, Danao City, Dumanjug and Minglanilla) in Cebu, Philippines tested positive for PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Mycoplasma.

Serum Cobalamin and Folate Concentrations in Common Marmosets () with Chronic Lymphocytic Enteritis.

Serum cobalamin and folate concentrations can serve as surrogate markers of gastrointestinal disease in dogs and cats, where they can have diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications. Chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly chronic lymphocytic enteritis (CLE), occurs frequently in captive common marmosets. The aims of this study were to validate a commercially available assay for measuring serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in common marmosets, to establish reference intervals for these analytes in healthy marmosets, and to measure serum concentrations in common marmosets with CLE.

Fecal Concentrations of N-methylhistamine in Common Marmosets ().

Chronic lymphocytic enteritis (CLE) is a frequent disease in common marmosets. However, no diagnostic test for early detection of CLE is available. Mast cells have an important role in gastrointestinal disease.

Anatomical variation of habitat-related changes in scapular morphology.

The mammalian forelimb is adapted to different functions including postural, locomotor, feeding, exploratory, grooming and defence. Comparative studies on morphology of the mammalian scapula have been performed in an attempt to establish the functional differences in the use of the forelimb. In this study, a total of 102 scapulae collected from 66 species of animals, representatives of all major taxa from rodents, sirenians, marsupials, pilosa, cetaceans, carnivores, ungulates, primates and apes, were analysed.

Association of Brucellosis with Abortion Prevalence in Humans and Animals in Africa: A Review.

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease suspected to be the cause of abortions which remain largely undiagnosed in both humans and animals. A review of literature was performed to elucidate the contribution of brucellosis to abortions in humans, livestock and wildlife in Africa. A total number of 18 published articles associated brucellosis to abortions observed in humans and livestock in some parts of Africa.

Development and analytical validation of a radioimmunoassay for the quantification of alpha -proteinase inhibitor in serum and feces from the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Background: The objective of this study was to develop and analytically validate a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of alpha -proteinase inhibitor (α -PI) concentrations in serum and feces from the common marmoset.

Methods: Serum samples (n = 30) and 3-day fecal samples (n = 30) were obtained from healthy marmosets. An RIA was established and validated by determination of sensitivity, working range, dilutional parallelism, spiking recovery, and intra- and interassay variability.