Journal of Ideas in Health (JIDHealth)
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Rodent reservoirs: unraveling spectrum of zoonotic and pathogenic bacteria
Get PDFBackground: Zoonotic diseases are the major public health threat, with over 70% originating from wildlife. Rodents, while beneficial to the environment, transmit many zoonotic diseases such as hemorrhagic fevers, plague, tularemia, and leptospirosis, mainly due to increased agriculture and land use changes. Understanding rodent-borne pathogens is essential for effective intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to identify pathogenic and zoonotic bacteria in rodents and identify rodent species in the study area.
Methods: A total of 116 rodents achieved samples (101 oral-pharyngeal and 15 rectal swabs) collected from Kibondo, Uvinza and Kyerwa were used in this study. Total RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) was extracted from each swab sample and then pooled based on rodent species, location and swab types to make twelve pools. A portion of pooled swabs were polyadenylated and used for metagenomics sequence libraries preparation. A 16S rRNA (ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid) metagenomics sequencing was performed on 12 pools by using MinIon platform in order to identify microbial diversity.
Results: A total of 13 different microbial communities includinng bacteria were identified; where, 15 families of potentially pathogenic, zoonotic and bacteria of unknown zoonotic potential were also identified. These families included Mycobacteriacea, Helicobacteriacea, Enterobacteriacea, Vibrionacea, Staphylococcaceae, Nocardiaceae, Bacillaceae, Pasteurellaceae, Streptococcaceae, Campylobacteraceae, Leptospiraceae, Brachyspiraceae, Moraxellaceae, Enterococcaea, Flavobacteriacea. Potentially zoonotic pathogenic bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Vibrio cholerae, Helicobacter pylori and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are reported in this study.
Conclusion: This study identifies several bacteria of public and veterinary importance, highlighting the possibility of increased risk of human infection and risk of cross-transmission between rodents, humans, and animals given the proximity between rodents, humans and animals. While no concrete evidence of rodent-to-human transmission was found, we hypothesize that rodents are a potential infection source, especially in resource-poor areas with close rodent-human contact
The role of effective patient-doctor communication in improving healthcare in Nigeria: a case study of the university of Abuja teaching hospital, Gwagwalada
Get PDFBackground: Patient-doctor communication is an important aspect of healthcare delivery. It impacts health outcomes and clinical success. This study explored the role of effective patient-doctor communication in improving healthcare in Nigeria.
Methods: This study used a mixed-methods design, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative method involved in-depth interviews with 15 doctors. The quantitative method followed a cross-sectional design, using questionnaires to collect data from 222 patients at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. The quantitative data from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, in contrast, the qualitative data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Findings revealed that accurate diagnosis, better treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction, and early detection of potential health issues are the outcomes of effective patient-doctor communication at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. It was also found that doctors employ patient-centered communication, active listening, and collaborative care to effectively communicate with patients. However, language barriers and cultural differences result in dissatisfaction among doctors and patients. Additionally, an overwhelming number of patients waiting to be seen, delayed appointments, inadequate file records, disorganized workloads, and system failures are setbacks that hinder effective patient-doctor communication at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
Conclusion: Effective patient-doctor communication offers great potential for improving healthcare delivery. Therefore, hiring sufficient employees will effectively aid in managing the high volume of patients. Furthermore, hospitals should employ professional interpreters proficient in local languages to facilitate effective communication. Also, when patients share their cultural beliefs, healthcare providers should educate them on how these beliefs can influence their treatment
Prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in cattle, sheep, and goats in Kilwa District, Tanzania: a risk to public health
Get PDFBackground: Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic infection affecting both humans and animals in tropical and subtropical countries, including Tanzania. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in livestock in Kilwa Southern Tanzania.
Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was undertaken from January to March 2023 to establish the prevalence of leptospirosis in livestock in Kilwa district, southern Tanzania. A total of 100 blood samples from cattle, 120 blood samples from goats, and 20 blood samples from sheep were sampled from different selected sites for serum harvesting. Through a microscopic agglutination test, the collected serum samples were tested against five live leptospiral antigens to detect leptospiral antibodies. Common five reported serovars in Tanzania were used in this study such as leptospiral serovars Sokoine, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Hebdomadis, and Lora.
Results: The overall prevalence of leptospirosis in cattle was 26.0%=95%CI=0.1774-0.3573, in goats was 27.5%=95%CI=0.1975-0.3640, and in sheep was 30.0%=95%CI=0.1189-0.5428. Both livestock hosts demonstrated high prevalence with serovar Sokoine being the most prevalent serovar over others. Most of the antibody titers obtained suggested prolonged exposures of this livestock to leptospirosis infection and only a few antibody titers especially from goats suggest recent infection of leptospirosis Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between different characteristics and disease. A significant (P=0.0086) association was obtained between disease prevalence and different characteristics such as location, sex, host, and serovars.
Conclusion: Increased human-livestock contact raises the risk of disease transmission to both humans and animals. Reducing this disease burden, especially in low-income countries like Tanzania where livestock are key to income and food security, is essential. Vaccinating livestock with locally adapted strains can significantly reduce leptospirosis transmission.
Cestodes fauna of silvery mole rats (Heliophobius Argentiocinereus Emini) in Morogoro Region, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: Silvery mole rat (Heliophobius Argentiocinereus) is a subterranean rodent widely distributed throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. They have been reported to host several gastrointestinal parasites, however, the status of parasites from these rats in Tanzania has not been widely studied. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cestodes parasites in silvery mole rats from the Morogoro region.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mlali and Mji mkuu wards of the Mvomero and Morogoro urban districts in Tanzania, from March to June 2023. Silvery mole rats were collected through manual excavation of their burrows in agri-ecological areas. The captured rats were euthanized using Diethyl Ether and dissected to remove the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). GIT contents were gathered. Adult worms were collected and preserved in 70.0% ethanol. A flotation and aceto-carmine staining techniques were employed to process gastrointestinal contents and adult tapeworms respectively. Both cestode eggs and adult tapeworms were identified based on general morphological features using taxonomic keys. The prevalence of cestodes was computed, and a chi-square test was applied to assess association, a p-value≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: One hundred thirty-seven silvery mole rats were collected, adult females 65% (89/137) were dominant among collected rats. One species of gastrointestinal cestode was detected with an overall prevalence of 20.44% (28/137) and identified as Hymenolepis diminuta. A total of 392 adult worms and 1450 eggs per gram (EPG) for H. diminuta were collected from the gastrointestinal tract. A significant association was shown between cestodes infection with both host age and reproductive category (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: This study has established that Hymenolepidae (H. diminuta) is prevalent in silvery mole rats of the Morogoro region, suggesting that this animal could be among the sources of hymenolepiasis disease in the community. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate cestodes fauna in community members of the respective study area
Biofilm formation and virulence factors in streptococcus pyogenes isolated from pharyngitis patients: implications for diagnosis and treatment
Get PDFBackground: Streptococcus, including Streptococcus pyogenes, causes infections from mild to severe. Understanding biofilm formation and virulence is crucial due to high mortality. This study aims to assess the biofilm production capabilities of different Streptococcus species isolated from patients with suspected pharyngitis. Specifically, it examines the correlation between biofilm formation and the bacterial virulence of Streptococcus pyogenes.
Methods: A total of 100 throat swabs were collected and cultured on selective media, specifically 5% defibrinated sheep blood agar and azide blood agar. Identification of isolates was achieved using the Vitek2 System and confirmed through 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing, utilizing specific primers. The nucleotide sequences were compared to reference databases to ensure accurate identification. Biofilm production was evaluated using the Congo Red Agar method and the Microtiter Plate Test, categorizing isolates based on their production capacity.
Results: The results revealed a high bacterial growth rate of 89.0%, with Streptococcus pyogenes being the most prevalent isolate (28.6%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus viridans. Significant variations in biofilm production were observed, with Streptococcus pyogenes exhibiting a strong correlation with significant biofilm formation, suggesting its potential enhanced virulence and increased resistance to treatments.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical role of biofilm formation in the virulence of Streptococcus pyogenes and underscore the need for integrating biochemical, molecular, and phenotypic methods for accurate bacterial identification and understanding of their pathogenic mechanisms. The use of molecular methods such as 16S rRNA sequencing provides a robust framework for the identification and characterization of these pathogens, contributing essential insights into the clinical implications of bacterial biofilm formation and informing improved management strategies against Streptococcus-related infections
Breaking the silence: navigating adolescent knowledge, attitude, and perception on substance abuse in Diyala Province, Iraq
Get PDFBackground: Drug use often leads to a range of health risks, social complications, and involvement in criminal behavior. This study aims to investigate adolescents\u27 understanding, opinions, and perspectives on substance abuse.
Methods: Between October and December 2023, a cross-sectional study was undertaken in Diyala Province, Iraq. High school students were sampled using a multistage sampling technique. Bivariate analysis utilized independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Additionally, a multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to predict factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS version 16.
Results: The study encompassed 365 students, with a mean age (SD) of 17.5 (+ 8.2), predominantly male (57.3%). Overall accuracy rates for knowledge, attitude, and perception stood at 87.1%, 86.7%, and 88.7%, respectively. Approximately 5.2% of the sample reported cannabis (hashish) use. Regression analysis revealed significant associations between higher knowledge scores and male gender (p=0.002, 95% CI:0.341, 0.729), urban residency (p<0.0001, 95% CI:1.165, 4.524), and monthly income > US$400 (p >0.0001, 95% CI:0.907, 1573). Attitudes toward drug abuse prevention were influenced by male gender and highly educated parental backgrounds (p<0.001, 95% CI:1.412, 5.223; p=0.002, 95% CI: 2.160, 4.881; p=0.007, 95% CI:1.810, 5.690). Perception scores were significantly associated with male gender (p=0.001, 95% CI: 0.430, 0.691), students from smaller families (p=0.013, 95% CI:2.201, 5.003), and those in the sixth class (p=0.021, 95% CI:1.423, 4.202).
Conclusion: While adolescents demonstrate a solid understanding of societal norms and consequences associated with substance abuse, there may still be areas where perceptions can be refined and aligned more closely with the realities of drug abuse
The prevalence of depression and anxiety in nurses caring for covid-19 patients in Saudi Arabia: a single center experience
Get PDFBackground: Healthcare workers in direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients often face a negative impact on psychological health. This study aims to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic from January 2022 to April 2022 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. Kruskal–Wallis’s test was used to compare the total scores of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 with respect to demographic characteristics. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 123 nurses were included in the study. Most of them were females (69.92%), aged 30–39 years (45.53%), had a bachelor\u27s degree in nursing (75.61%), and had more than ten years of experience (3830.89%). The depression and anxiety prevalence in the study was 78.1% and 72.4%, respectively. Nurses aged 30–39 years were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Female nurses showed significantly higher scores for depression and anxiety than males 74.42% and 67.45%, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that nurses are at risk for developing depression and anxiety. Therefore, regular mental health screening is necessary for nurses, particularly during a pandemic
Perceived stigmatization, psychosocial well-being and self-esteem among individuals living in leprosy center in south-west, Nigeria
Get PDFBackground: Leprosy has over time been seen as a symbol of shame and stigmatization as people affected by leprosy continue to be stigmatized and discriminated against even after they have been cured. The study aimed to assess the perceived levels of stigmatization, psychosocial well-being, and self-esteem among individuals living at a leprosy center in South-West, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design of face-to-face research was conducted in a leprosy center using a simple random technique. The study instrument was a self-structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic details, questions on stigmatization towards the individual affected by leprosy and their family members, and questions regarding their psychosocial well-being adapted from literature, as well as questions adapted from the validated Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) by Morris Rosenberg to assess their self-esteem. Data were analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 26 software.
Results: A total of 134 participants were included in the study. Most of the participants were females (61.2%) within the age range of 21- 40 years old (32.8%), and are students (25.4%). Out of the 134 participants, 29.1% (39) of them were affected by leprosy. The participants perceived a high level of stigmatization (37.3%), a high level of psychosocial well-being (38.8%), and demonstrated a moderate level of self-esteem (50.7%). The male gender perceived both low (B = -3.054, p = 0.004) and high (B = -1.84, p = 0.049) stigmatization at p< 0.05. The married (B = -5.421, p = 0.004), the Christians (B = 5.424, p = 0.043) and Islamic (B = 7.743, p = 0.011) participants perceived low stigmatization at p< 0.05. The participants within the age range 21 - 40 (B = 6.25, p = 0.019) and 61 – 80 years (B = 7.29, p = 0.017) perceived high psychosocial well-being while the single (B = -4.43, p = 0.049) and married (B = -5.26, p = 0.017) participants perceived low psychosocial well-being at p< 0.05. None of the demographic factors had relationships with self-esteem at p< 0.05. The perceived levels of stigmatization (r= 0.314, p= 0.0001) and psychosocial well-being (r= 0.225, p= 0.009) are associated with the level of self-esteem at p< 0.05.
Conclusion: This study concludes that the individuals affected by leprosy and their family members living at the leprosy center experienced a high level of stigmatization and, a high level of psychosocial well-being but had moderate self-esteem
Seroprevalence of Leptospira infection in slaughtered cattle in Unguja Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: Leptospirosis is an important disease of global distribution affecting humans and animals in the tropical and subtropical regions caused by pathogenic Leptospira serovars. It’s an occupational disease with little information in Unguja Island, Zanzibar.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected slaughter facilities to determine the seroprevalence for Leptospira infection in slaughtered cattle in Unguja Island, Zanzibar. The blood samples and demographic data from 355 slaughtered cattle were collected and sera were separated for the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) by using five types of Leptospira serovars; Hebdomadis, Sokoine, Lora, Grippotyphosa and Pomona with cutoff titer ≥ 1:40. The Chi-square test at p < 0.05 was used to assess the association between the variables and seropositivity of Leptospira infection.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of Leptospira infection in the slaughtered cattle sampled was 13.0% (46/355). The predominant serovars from the tested serogroups were Hebdomadis (3.9%), followed by Pomona (2.8%), Grippotyphosa (2.8%), and Lora (2.3%); while the least reacted was Sokoine (1.1%). The body condition score was the only significant significant variable (χ2=103.9038, p=0.00001) associated with Leptospira infection seropositivity.
Conclusion: The study offers the first report on the Leptospira seroprevalence in slaughtered cattle on Unguja Island. This might be a probable source of infection to slaughter facilities workers and other animals encroaching on the area. Therefore, precautions should be observed to prevent infection, especially for slaughter facility workers in Unguja.
A study of risk factors for breast cancer in Al-Anbar province: a case- control study
Get PDFBackground: Globally, breast cancer is a widespread malignancy among women, ranking as the second leading cause of female mortality. This study investigates risk factors for breast cancer in AL-Anbar province, Iraq, emphasizing their significance in disease development.
Methods: An investigation was carried out at Al-Anbar Cancer Center in Al-Anbar province, Iraq, employing a case-control design. The study comprised 60 confirmed breast cancer cases and 120 controls without breast issues. Data was collected through direct interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire, and subsequent analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate approaches.
Results: About 48.0% aged 41-49, and 25% aged 50-59. Case and control groups were matched in age, but varied in marital, education, occupation, menopausal status. Women with benign breast diseases have a 1.7 times higher breast cancer risk (OR=1.7, CI=0.063-4.53). Positive family history triples the risk (OR=3, CI=1.21-7.80, P=0.002), and the sedentary lifestyle exhibits 5 times higher risk of breast cancer (OR=5.67, CI=2.89-4.13, P < 0.001). Menstrual age, parity, and reproductive factors influence breast cancer risk. Menarche at ≤12 years triples the risk (OR=3.05, CI=1.82-5.05, P<0.001), while menarche at ≥16 decreases it (OR=0.89, CI=0.06-5.12, P<0.001). Nulliparity increases risk 2.1 times (OR=2.1, CI=0.8-4.89, P=0.002), and more live births provide significant protection. Preterm delivery before the eighth month triples the risk (OR=2.9, CI=1.32-6.53, P=0.002). Multiple children prevent breast cancer, while mother\u27s age at first full birth ≥30 raises the risk 3.5 times (OR=3.4, CI=1.45-7.88, P=0.014). Women who never breastfed had a significant twofold higher risk of breast cancer (OR=2, CI=0.8-4.38, P=0.003). Postmenopausal women at ≥50 years faced a threefold higher risk than their counterparts (OR=3.25, CI=1-1.11, P=0.004). Hormonal use showed a marginal risk increase (OR=1.2, CI=0.5-1.8, P<0.001).
Conclusion: Breast cancer susceptibility arises from diverse factors like genetics, nutrition, environment, and lifestyle. Effectively managing and preventing breast cancer involves implementing strategic control measures.