February 24, 2025
Intergenerational trends in depression and anxiety in India
OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan and Dr. Arindam Nandi co-authored a study demonstrating intergenerational associations in depression and anxiety between parents and their children in India. One standard deviation increase in a parent’s average depression and anxiety scores was linked to a 0.61 and 0.68 standard deviation increase in their children’s depression and anxiety scores, respectively. Notably, while mild levels of depression and anxiety among parents typically persisted in their children, moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety in parents improved for the next generation, driven mainly by socioeconomic improvements in families with higher incomes. [IZA Institute of Labor Economics]
Societal impacts of Salmonella infection in low- and middle-income countries
A systematic review shows that Salmonella infections in low- and middle-income countries have a negative effect on productivity, childhood education and physical development, household financial security, and national income. While there is currently no vaccine against non-typhoidal Salmonella, the typhoid conjugate vaccine has been introduced into the national vaccine schedule in only five countries. The detrimental societal effects of Salmonella should be integrated into cost-effectiveness evaluations to fully estimate the value of a Salmonella vaccine. [npj vaccines]
Limits on veterinary feed antimicrobial use increased the susceptibility of bovine Salmonella.
Analysis of bovine Salmonella isolated from U.S. slaughterhouse fecal samples reveals an increase in antimicrobial susceptibility and a decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations of several antimicrobials from 2018 to 2022 compared to 2013 to 2017, reflecting the positive impact of a national veterinary feed directive to limit broad antimicrobial use. These findings were replicated in a logistic regression model, further emphasizing the value of bans and other restrictions on antimicrobial use in cattle and other livestock. [One Health]
Association between population density and resistant gonorrhea in U.S. men
A spatio-temporal modeling study of isolates collected from men treated for symptomatic urethral gonorrhea in the United States found a significant association between denser populations and higher prevalence of ciprofloxacin (odds ratio: 1.5) and penicillin resistance (OR: 1.36). Specifically, an increase of 1,000/km2 in population density was associated with a 50 percent and 36 percent increase in the odds of a sampled isolate having resistance to ciprofloxacin and penicillin. [The Lancet Regional Health – Americas]
Direct costs of neonatal bacteremia in Lima, Peru
A cross-sectional study of neonatal bacteremia in Lima, Peru reveals that the average direct cost of a single case of bacteremia is US$349 for multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains and US$276 for non-MDR strains. Costs were higher for infections with microorganisms associated with late-onset sepsis, which, along with MDR and age, was significantly associated with bloodstream infection costs. [International Health]
Emergence of a novel strain of Oropouche virus in Brazil
An observational epidemiological study of Oropouche virus (an arbovirus endemic to Central and South America) between 2015 and 2024 found that a novel Oropouche virus reassortant (resulting from the mixing of genetic material between similar viruses) likely emerged in Amazonas State, Brazil, sometime between 2023 and 2024. Analysis reveals that the reassortant has higher viral fitness than the previous strain and can more easily evade antibodies in previously infected individuals. Although endemic areas in northern Brazil are more affected, immunologically-naive populations across Brazil and the Americas are at risk of virus emergence. [The Lancet Infectious Diseases]
Exploring the role of environment and dog ownership on human gut microbiota diversity
An analysis of the gut microbiota of dog owners in the Czech Republic found higher microbial diversity in dog owners and their dogs who lived in villages than urban dwellers, likely due to their greater exposure to natural environments. The presence of the protist Blastocystis spp. in the human participants’ microbiota was also associated with greater microbial stability compared to individuals without gut Blastocystis spp., highlighting the need to further investigate the interplay between human gut microbiota, their environments, and dog ownership. [One Health]
Oral cholera vaccine offers limited protection to children under five in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The two-dose oral cholera vaccine, Euvichol-Plus, was markedly more effective in individuals five years of age and older with a vaccine effectiveness of 79 percent in a matched case-control analysis in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since children under five carry a significant part of the cholera burden, the limited protection (vaccine effectiveness of 12 percent) observed in this age group underscores the need for a more effective vaccine. [BMJ Global Health]
Barriers and facilitators of antiviral uptake among individuals exposed to avian flu in the United Kingdom
A qualitative assessment of individuals occupationally exposed to avian influenza and public health professionals in the United Kingdom found that the biggest barrier to uptake and adherence to antivirals was experiencing side effects, particularly if they disrupted daily life or work. Participants reported being motivated to take the antivirals if they had health conditions or vulnerable family members they wanted to protect. Furthermore, they emphasized the role of accessibility on uptake among those at risk. [BMC Public Health]
A call for more inclusive language to describe neglected tropical diseases
The term “neglected tropical diseases” has long been used to describe a set of 21 diseases that disproportionately impact under-resourced communities in low- and middle-income countries. While the term has generated interest and funding for these diseases, it also may perpetuate existing inequities between the Global North and South and reinforce negative perceptions of already marginalized communities. Some have proposed alternative terms, such as “conditions requiring special attention,” underscoring the need for an extended dialogue with affected individuals and communities to promote inclusive global health terminology that transcends social and geographical boundaries. [PLOS Global Public Health]
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