1,507 research outputs found
The risk of STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli) contamination in wild venison
No full textWe have published this report to address knowledge gaps and better understand the risk of STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli) contamination of wild venison.
The report is based on three core objectives to:
- map the venison industry in Scotland
- assess STEC prevalence in wild deer faeces in Scotland
- review cross-contamination risks in the slaughter and processing stages of wild deer from the field to larder
Although the prevalence of STEC O157 in wild deer is low, the report found that when discovered, it is the strain associated with the most severe forms of human disease. Therefore, adherence to strict hygiene practices from cull to final product are strongly recommended within the report.
The venison industry continues to take a cooperative and responsible approach to STEC O157 when found, working to better understand the risks in the sector and how to mitigate them in the interest of public health protection
The microbial condition of Scottish wild deer carcasses collected for human consumption and the hygiene risk factors associated with Escherichia coli and total coliforms contamination
No full textWild deer hunting is necessary in Scotland to control deer population density, with most carcasses being processed for human consumption. As limited information is available on the microbial condition of Scottish venison, we studied the variation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) on 214 wild deer carcasses collected from six approved establishments. Samples were collected from the hide, body cavity and external surface of each carcass and mean values were determined following bacterial plate counts. The mean log10/cm2 coliforms were 5.78 (hide), 6.80 (body cavity) and 6.36 (external surface). The mean log10/cm2 E. coli were 1.82 (hide), 2.27 (body cavity) and 2.17 (external carcass). Significantly higher coliforms counts were associated with storage-to-dressing times above 6 days and with transport distances. Risk factors that increased E. coli were red deer species, ambient temperature above 7°C during hunting, dirty hides, faecal contamination and moisture or slimy film on the carcass. Although the bacterial counts obtained in this study indicated some hygienic processing, for around half of the carcasses, the E. coli counts were above 2 log10/cm2. Therefore, the above risk factors suggest a few handling hygiene practices that should be further improved to enhance quality and safety.<br/
Hellas, her monuments and scenery by Thomas Chase, M.A. Trübner and Co., 60, Paternoster Row, London. Cambridge Sever and Francis 1863
No full textPreface: by Chase, THomasDedication: by the author to Cornelius Conway Felton, .D.Content description: TitlePagination: PP8+220PVolumes: 1Edition:1stText Genre:Prose / Journa
Epidemiology of emerging human-infective RNA viruses: discovery, geographical extent, and disappearance
No full textPrevious investigations into human infectious diseases have revealed RNA
viruses as major etiological agents. Given the recent rate of newly detected
human-infective RNA viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2, Middle East respiratory syndrome
coronavirus, and Bundibugyo ebolavirus, targeting virus discovery in high-risk
regions, characterizing viruses with the greatest likelihood of spreading and
establishing sustained infection in humans would benefit better preparedness
for future outbreaks. There is a lack of evidence on determinants of spatio-temporal patterns in the discovery of human-infective RNA viruses, though
previous studies have attempted to identify hotspots of emerging infectious
diseases caused by various pathogens. There are also no quantitative studies
exploring predictors of geographical extent and the disappearance for all
currently known human-infective RNA viruses.
This thesis aimed to address the following gaps.
1. Identifying predictors discriminating between areas with and without
discovery of human-infective RNA viruses and predicting discovery hotspots,
at both global and regional scales. Predictors identified include socio-economic, climatic, land use, and biodiversity variables.
2. Prediction of the geographical extent and the disappearance of human-infective RNA viruses, using features such as taxonomy, virus structure,
transmission mode, host range, origin, and clinical presentation.
3. Taking SARS-CoV-2 as an example, investigating how predictors related to
demographics, socioeconomics, travel, healthcare, co-morbidities, readiness,
geography, COVID-19 testing, and interventions have affected the epidemic
of the disease it caused—coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)—between
countries in the WHO African Region.
In order to address the gaps outlined above, I firstly geocoded the first reports
of 223 human-infective RNA viruses at the global scale. Using a Poisson
boosted regression tree (BRT) model, I identified GDP growth, GDP, and
urbanization as top predictors of virus discovery, and predicted discovery
hotspots including both historical hotspots—eastern North America, Europe,
central Africa, eastern Australia, and north-eastern South America, and new
hotspots—East and Southeast Asia, India, and Central America. Stratified
analyses suggested discovery of vector-borne viruses and strictly zoonotic
viruses was more correlated with climatic variables and biodiversity, whereas
the discovery of non-vector-borne viruses and human-transmissible viruses
was more strongly correlated with GDP and urbanization. Next, I focused on
comparisons of the specific predictors of RNA virus discovery in three different
regions with different GDP—United States, China, and Africa. A similar
methodology as the global analysis was used on each region separately, the
results showed that predictors such as GDP and land use continued to be top
predictors in three regions, but climate and biodiversity variables were
consistently less important predictors than at a global scale.
To identify predictors of the geographical extent and the disappearance (no
record of infection in the literature for the past ten years or more), I collated
information for 223 human-infective RNA viruses on their geographical extents
and persistence in causing human infections from peer-reviewed literature. By
fitting Bernoulli BRT models, I observed that viral features that predicted wide
geographic extent included transmissibility between humans, a +ssRNA
genome, narrow host range [i.e. infecting humans only or humans and other
non-human primates (NHP) only], and having a reservoir host in a NHP.
Viruses were more likely to disappear if they were incapable of transmission
between humans, have had a localised geographic extent, a dsRNA genome,
were non-pathogenic and non-fatal, were firstly discovered through active
discovery programmes rather than passive investigation of the aetiology, and
were transmitted by vectors and direct contact. Results for both geographical
extent and virus disappearance did not change after factoring out reporting
effort. I concluded that multiple characteristics determined the geographical
extent and disappearance of human-infective RNA viruses; however,
transmission mode and structure were consistently the most important
predictors of the geographical extent and disappearance of human-infective
RNA viruses. Host range was an important predictor of geographical extent,
though less important for disappearance. Geographical extent, clinical
presentation and discovery process all contributed to the probability of a virus
disappearing.
To understand the differences between epidemics of COVID-19 between
countries of the WHO African Region, I selected the timing of the first case and
the mortality rate in the first and second waves as the three outcomes. By
applying a series of statistical models including Cox proportional hazards
regression models, generalized linear mixed models and multinomial logistic
regression models, I found that COVID-19 in Africa arrived earlier and caused
greater mortality in countries with more pre-pandemic international
connectivity and a more urban population. Mortality was exacerbated by high
HIV prevalence. The stringency and timing of government restrictions on
behaviour were not associated with a lower per capita mortality rate. A more
urban population and a higher infectious disease resilience score were
associated with more stringent restrictions and/or a higher per capita mortality
rate. The predictor set for the first and second waves were similar, and first
wave per capita mortality was a significant predictor of second wave per capita
mortality.
In summary, studies in this thesis showed that there were variations in
predictors of discovery both between virus types and geographical regions,
and identified high-risk regions for virus discovery beyond their historical extent.
The studies also provided proof-of-principle for the prediction of attributes such
as mortality, geographical extent, and disappearance for new human-infective
RNA viruses. These results help identify priority regions for investment in
surveillance systems for new human-infective viruses, and to make risk
assessments once they have emerged
Oral history interview with Robert W. Topping, 2008 May 8
No full textRobert Topping was born in West Lafayette, Indiana. His father was on the faculty in the School of Electrical Engineering from 1903 to 1949. Topping talks about growing up in West Lafayette and graduating from Purdue in 1950 with a BS in Science. During the Korean War, he served as an Information Specialist in the US Air Force at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, California. After serving a stint on a newspaper in Michigan, he came to Purdue in 1962 as Assistant Director of the Bureau of Information. He served as Director of the University News Service until 1976. He then became Assistant to the Vice President for Advancement. Topping talks about the Office of Publications and its role in the university communication chain. Topping is the author of several publications about Purdue: The Hovde Years and A Century and Beyond: The History of Purdue University
The Family History of Chase Theodore Uhlich
No full textThe Family History of
Chase T. Uhlich
28 November 2022
Chase T. Uhlich authored this family history as part of the course requirements for HIST 550/700 Your Family in History offered online in Fall 2022 and was submitted to the Pittsburg State University Digital Commons. Please contact the author directly with any questions or comments: [email protected]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) in Scotland
No full textThe emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) is a global public health threat in healthcare settings, resulting in high mortality, prolonged healthcare and increased costs. In the last two decades, many papers aiming to identify individuals at high risk of acquiring CRO have been published. However, the results reported across these studies are inconsistent and there are no studies systematically summarising those findings. Carbapenem resistance is mediated by multiple mechanisms. Carbapenemase production is the most concerning as the encoding genes of carbapenemases are located on mobile genetic elements, facilitating horizontal genetic exchange and therefore promoting the acquisition and spread of resistance genes. Examination of the epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) will inform local infection prevention and control strategies.
This thesis has two main parts. The aim of the first part is to systematically summarise risk factors for CRO infection and colonisation in healthcare facilities worldwide and identify study characteristics contributing most to the heterogeneity across studies. In the second part I focused on CPO in Scotland to investigate the incidence, microbiological characteristics and outcomes of CPO and determine risk factors associated with CPO among hospitalised patients.
In the first part, I conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate risk factors associated with infection and/or colonisation of CRO in healthcare facilities. In total, 227 papers published between 1986 and 2016 were identified. Using pooled odds ratio estimates and the likelihood of statistical significance as criteria, prior carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms, prior antibiotics usage (carbapenem or oxazolidinone), prior provision of medical devices (mechanical ventilation or nasogastric tube) and prior healthcare exposure (intensive care unit ICU stay, and longer hospital stay) were most consistently found to be leading risk factors for CRO infection and/or colonisation. Additionally, decubitus ulcer was a specific leading risk factor for CRO infection, and prior antibiotics usage (polymyxin or cefepime) and steroid treatment were specific for hospital acquired CRO infection. However, prior provision of some medical devices (parenteral nutrition or gastrostomy or urinary catheter) were only leading risk factors for CRO colonisation. Study organism, case-control selection, study population, sample size, study setting and specialty (ICU or non-ICU) were the characteristics accounting for most heterogeneity across the published studies examined.
In the second part of this thesis, I focused on CPO in Scotland using data extracted from several national datasets. I performed a retrospective analysis on all CPO from clinical and screening cultures in 2003-2016 using generalised linear models and survival analyses, and then conducted a matched casecontrol study to determine risk factors for CPO infection and colonisation among hospitalised patients using conditional logistic regression models. In total, 243 CPO isolates were identified in 214 individuals from 13 of 14 NHS Boards. The overall incidence of CPO cases increased significantly (P<0.001), from 0.02 to 1.38 per 100,000 population. The case fatality rate was 5.6%. Enterobacteriaceae isolates predominated (84.8%) and increased significantly faster than non-fermenters. Community-associated CPO were more likely to be colonisations while healthcare-associated CPO were more likely to be infections. The ‘big 5’ carbapenemases (VIM, NDM, KPC, OXA-48 and IMP) predominated (96.7%). Awareness is required that older patients, with systemic infection or organ failure or presenting non-fermenters are at higher 30-day mortality risk from CPO. Patients with CPO infection had higher hospital mortality and longer hospital stay. A history of prolonged hospitalisation, prolonged ICU or high dependency unit (HDU) stay and being immunocompromised all independently increased the risk of CPO infection, while a history of HDU stay and ‘endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases’ were independent risk factors for CPO colonisation.
In conclusion, this thesis sheds light on patients at high risk of being infected or colonised by CRO including CPO in healthcare facilities. Pre-emptive management should be prioritised for these patients. The findings also demonstrate the necessity of continuing the existing acute hospital admission screening programme for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Scotland. Future efforts are required to understand underlying factors accounted for mortality, evolution and transmission of carbapenem resistance in Scotland
Letter from Irah Chase to T.Z.R. Jones
No full text3 p.Irah Chase, the father of the author of Letter 286, Thomas S. Chase, writes another letter in a series concerning his daughter Emma to T.Z.R. Jones. The “mutual misunderstanding” between Emma and Mrs. Stone mentioned by Thomas is also the subject of this letter, and Irah suggests that Emma return for the next term in order to repair her relation with Mrs. Stone. Irah also clarifies the status of Mollie, T.Z.R. Jones’ daughter, who was mentioned in Letter 286. Mollie is a friend of Emma’s, and Irah does not want to see them separated. The rest of the letter consists of Irah articulating a sincere reconciliation grounded in Christian faith, culminating in the written recitation of the Lutheran hymn Blest Be the Tie That Binds by John Fawcett
Camp Chase surgeon's report
No full textThis Civil War-era surgeon's report dated August 4, 1862, describes the conditions of the training camp and Confederate prison at Camp Chase, located in Columbus, Ohio. Post-surgeon L. C. Brown outlines the layout of the camp, hygienic issues of concern to its inhabitants, and the general health of those housed at the camp and in its hospital.
Established in 1861, Camp Chase served as a recruitment and training center for the Union Army and as a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War
Data for "Pathogen transmission from vaccinated hosts can cause dose-dependent reduction in virulence"
No full text# Abstract # Many livestock and increasingly human vaccines are leaky, blocking symptoms without preventing infection or onward transmission. Leakiness is concerning as it increases vaccination coverage required to prevent disease spread, and can promote evolution of increased pathogen virulence. Despite leakiness, vaccination may reduce pathogen load, affecting disease transmission dynamics. However, the impacts on post-transmission disease development and infectiousness in contact individuals are unknown. Here, we use transmission experiments involving Marek’s disease virus in chickens to show that vaccination with a leaky vaccine substantially reduces viral load in both vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated contact individuals they infect. Consequently, contact birds are less likely to develop disease symptoms or die, show less severe symptoms when these are present, and shed less infectious virus themselves, when infected by vaccinated birds. These results highlight that even partial vaccination with a leaky vaccine can have unforeseen positive consequences in controlling the spread and symptoms of disease.Dunn, John R; Cheng, Hans H; Doeschl-Wilson, Andrea; Bailey, Richard I; Chase-Topping, Margo; Mays, Jody; Anacleto, Osvaldo. (2019). Data for "Transmission from vaccinated hosts can cause dose-dependent reduction in pathogen virulence", [dataset]. University of Edinburgh. https://doi.org/10.7488/ds/2725
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