Rabies vaccines being administered to dogs in India

Alcohol and tobacco use in India declined during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using a propensity score matching approach with data from India’s National Family and Health Survey 2019-2021, One Health Trust researchers found that tobacco and alcohol consumption in India decreased by 1.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Declines in tobacco use were more prevalent among low-income, rural households and older, male populations. Alcohol use decreased in high-wealth and urban households and younger, male populations, whereas no decreases were observed in low-wealth, rural, female, and older populations. [BMJ Global Health]

AMR bacteriology testing gaps in sub-Saharan Africa

One Health Trust researchers contributed to the Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership (MAAP) project which explored gaps in laboratory networks across 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and showed how these issues impact AMR detection, surveillance, and policies. The findings paint a stark picture of limited laboratory capacity to detect antimicrobial resistance; among more than 53,000 laboratories, only 1 percent were equipped for bacterial testing. While most laboratories had access to uninterrupted water (88 percent) and power (87 percent), only 23 percent were internationally accredited (ISO15189), and just 13 percent used electronic information systems for data collection and storage. These findings highlight the urgent need to expand bacterial testing to lower-tier laboratories, increase the number of designated AMR sentinel sites, and improve information systems and quality management across laboratory networks. [The Lancet Microbe] 

Motivation and social capital drive effective One Health collaborations for zoonotic disease prevention in India.  

OHT researchers and colleagues conducted a mixed qualitative study demonstrating that current One Health initiatives for zoonotic disease prevention and control in India are largely sectorally driven and dominated by human health and animal health institutions. A network analysis revealed that national One Health efforts are relatively self-contained within departments or sectors with the majority of actors having previously worked together. Key informant interviews suggested that institutional barriers to operationalizing a One Health approach to zoonotic disease prevention could be circumvented by responsible actors with high social capital who could leverage their networks to effectively drive cross-sectoral collaborations. [One Health Outlook] 

Asymptomatic food-handling workers in Yulin, China had higher Salmonella carriage rates than non-food-handling workers.  

A longitudinal study spanning over an eight-year period found a significantly higher carriage rate of Salmonella carriage in asymptomatic food-handling workers (FW) than in asymptomatic non-food-handling workers (nFW) (2.03 vs. 1.29 percent) in Yulin, China. Notably, female nFW demonstrated double the carriage rate of male nFW (1.45 vs. 0.74 percent), which authors attribute to women’s higher engagement in home cooking than men in this setting. Despite increased urbanization and access to public toilets over the study period, Salmonella carriage rates among FW remained stable, suggesting an independent association between food contact and asymptomatic Salmonella carriage. [Nature Communications] 

Understanding wild animals’ adaptation mechanisms calls for urgent innovation.  

The findings of a review indicate a need for novel technologies and methods to overcome limitations and reduce the ecological footprint of conducting fieldwork aimed at understanding the impact of antimicrobial resistance on wildlife. Investigating wild animals without disturbing their environment or natural processes, such as breeding, requires the development of new, sustainable techniques and increased academic funding, especially as the threat of antimicrobial resistance grows globally. [Science in One Health] 

Air raid alarms and evacuations are associated with leptospirosis case notification rates in Ukraine.

An epidemiologic study of leptospirosis in Ukraine from 2018 to 2023 found a statistically significant positive correlation between higher density of the river network and the notification rate (NR) of leptospirosis. The study also identified a significant correlation between monthly air raid alarm frequency and the NR of leptospirosis cases in 2023. These results in combination with reports of leptospirosis cases in bomb shelters in Ukraine suggest that air raid evacuations impact leptospirosis transmission and epidemiology. [One Health] 

Assessing childhood vaccination timeliness and delays in low- and middle-income countries

While administering vaccines on a timely basis helps to maximize their impact, vaccination delay is not included as a standard indicator in most evaluations of immunization programs. An analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data from 54 low- and middle-income countries revealed that initial coverage, or coverage at the recommended age of vaccination, was highest for childhood vaccines administered earlier in life. The second and third doses of vaccines were administered to a smaller proportion of children compared to the first dose and had a higher median vaccination delay. Notably, children receiving first doses after the recommended age were less likely to complete vaccination courses, minimizing the overall impact of immunization programs. [PLOS Global Public Health] 

Preconception antibiotic exposure may increase the risk of infertility, miscarriage, and congenital anomalies.  

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that women of reproductive age who are exposed to certain antibiotics in the preconception period may have an increased risk of infertility, miscarriage, and congenital anomalies. Exposure to macrolides in the preconception period was associated with delays in the probability of getting pregnant by 35 percent (fecundability ratio: 0.65). Conversely, some beta-lactams and quinolones were associated with a reduced risk of infertility. Preconception antibiotic exposure was found to significantly increase the risk of spontaneous miscarriage by 34 percent (risk ratio: 1.34). Future studies should address the causal mechanisms between preconception antibiotic exposure and pregnancy outcomes while mitigating the effect of confounders, such as underlying infectious status. [eClinicalMedicine] 

Epidemic experiences contribute to increased biosecurity behaviors among farmers in China.

An analysis based on protection motivation theory found that epidemic experiences can enhance biosecurityrelated behaviors among farmers in China, such as establishing quarantine zones, changing clothes, and disinfecting. This effect was stronger for professional farmers compared to small-scale farmers as seen in a heterogeneity analysis. Agricultural policies should leverage the relationship between farmers’ epidemic experiences and their accumulated experience to promote implementation of biosecurity measures. [One Health]

Rapid opportunistic infection diagnosis intervention generally accepted by people living with HIV/AIDS and healthcare providers.  

Qualitative findings of a study in Porto Alegre, Brazil revealed that a rapid opportunistic infection (OI) diagnosis intervention for tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis was generally well-received by people living with HIV/AIDS and healthcare professionals. At the same time the study identified areas for improvement such as expanding psychosocial support and strengthening coordination between health services. Policymakers and health professionals should prioritize implementing the rapid OI diagnosis intervention in patients with advanced HIV/AIDS with a focus on clear communication, psychosocial support, and patient-centered care. [PLOS One] 

The role of chatbots in improving vaccine knowledge and attitudes

A scoping review found that chatbots can enhance vaccine literacy and facilitate the dissemination of vaccine-related information across diverse settings and populations. Chatbots can surpass traditional methods and provide novel learning experiences, offer real-time advice and incentives, and provide accurate information about pediatric vaccinations. Some chatbot interventions have been shown to increase vaccine confidence and acceptance among parents, university students, and health workers. The effectiveness of chatbots depends on the target population and context, indicating a need for cultural adaptations to optimize vaccine messaging. [Vaccine]

 

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