No abstract available.
Zoonoses*

BACKGROUND

Mpox, a zoonotic disease identified in central Africa in 1958, is mainly endemic to the Congo basin and West Africa. Collecting demographic and clinical data is crucial for early recognition and differentiation of skin lesions as the Philippines addresses this public health challenge.

We describe the demographics, clinical profile, and outcomes of suspected and confirmed mpox cases in the Philippines from July to November 2022.

This case series reviewed suspected and confirmed mpox cases at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine from July to November 2022. Clinical data, demographics, and outcomes were collected through retrospective chart reviews and summarized using descriptive statistics.

Fifteen cases were reviewed, including 2 confirmed mpox cases, with an average age of 37.8 years and 80% male. The other symptoms associated with rash at presentation included fever (20%) followed by lymphadenopathy, malaise and chills reported in 1 case each. All patients had pustules and erythematous papules, with 67% showing vesicles. Lesions mainly appeared on the extremities (93%), trunk (60%), and head/neck (47%), evolving into crusts within 1–2 days. Non-confirmed cases were often misdiagnosed as varicella (60%), arthropod bites (20%), or folliculitis (7%).

Young to middle-aged males with travel histories were common in suspected and confirmed mpox cases. Lesions typically included papules and pustules on the extremities, evolving into crusts and erosions within 1–2 days. Confirmed cases had umbilicated papules and fever, while PCR-negative cases were diagnosed with local skin conditions. Testing is vital for timely detection and management, especially since mpox resembles other conditions.

Zoonoses are the diseases that are transmitted to human being from vertebrate animals either from livestock animals or from wildlife. Recently, zoonoses are increasingly common as a result of incremental human-animal contact. Propagative infections in wild animals and livestock are transmitted to human beings who are encountered with them. In general, wild animals can transmit infectious agents to livestock, and then livestock further transmit them to human being is a simple model of on how zoonotic diseases get transmitted to human being. This model emphasizes the importance of early detection of zoonoses by surveillance at its incipient stage. Cooperation between the respective ministries plays an important role in the identification of zoonoses and planning for the formulation of better preventive and control policy and strategy. We will be able to predict the occurrence of zoonotic diseases in human on the basis of disease trends in wildlife and livestock once when we obtain the surveillance data and data generated by respective ministries through sound cooperation and collaboration.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Livestock ; Vertebrates ; Zoonoses

Modeling and simulations of infectious diseases are useful tools to estimate epidemic size and determine effective intervention methods. Models are idealized, simplified representations of reality. Therefore, a simple model should be the first design, with complex models always able to be added later to better represent reality. The following recommendations are made to ensure accurate simulations: (1) minimal feasible complexity, (2) mathematically well-defined, models should be constructed with well characterized stochastic processes rather than 'ad-hoc'behavioral models, (3) if predictions are being made, unknown parameters need to be robustly estimated using the model from epidemiological data, (4) where data is unavailable, a detailed sensitivity analysis needs to be undertaken, and (5) even if models are only being used to explore dynamics, sensitivity analysis is important to understand mechanisms. For the effective control of infectious diseases with models and simulations, we need effective information systems (laboratory and clinical data) for communicable disease control as a permanent infrastructure, closer collaboration between academic and service providers on new developments in communicable disease control, and enhanced monitoring of veterinary infections and 'minor' zoonoses, particularly in resources poor settings.
Communicable Disease Control ; Communicable Diseases* ; Cooperative Behavior ; Information Systems ; Zoonoses

Animals ; China ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Virus Diseases ; transmission ; Zoonoses

Aims: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) among Malaysian pilgrims are caused by exposure to zoonotic-potential respiratory pathogens, symptomatically and asymptomatically affected by rigorous pilgrimage rituals, overcrowding and other stressors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, virulence and antibiotic resistance genes of selected zoonotic respiratory pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays among Hajj pilgrims from Kelantan state, Malaysia. Methodology and results: Throat swab specimens were obtained from 189 Kelantan Hajj pilgrims in 2016 and examined by PCR for the identification of respiratory pathogens. Thirteen samples (6.88%) were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae and four (2.11%) were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. All the samples were negative for Influenza A virus, MERS-CoV and Mycobacterium bovis. One sample was positive for S. pneumoniae virulence lytA gene. One sample was positive for K. pneumoniae virulence magA and K2A genes respectively, and three samples were positive for K. pneumoniae rmpA genes. Ten and seven samples were positive for S. pneumoniae mefA and pbpA antibiotic resistance genes respectively. Two samples were positive for K. pneumoniae blaKPC and blaOXA-48 antibiotic resistance genes. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This work provided insight into the existence of zoonotic respiratory pathogens inducing Hajj RTIs in Kelantan pilgrims. It showed promising findings for zoonotic studies in Hajj settings. The findings could be relevant in potential control measures for the management of zoonotic infections among Hajj pilgrims.
Respiratory Tract Infections ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Bacterial Zoonoses

Zoonoses are diseases caused by the agents that are transmitted between vertebrate animals and human. It is the interaction between agents, host, and the environment they share that determines whether or not infection will be successful. Zoonotic diseases usually have a wide range of host and are particularly important sources of emerging new infectious diseases in human. From an evolutionary point of view, infections in humans and in other animals share common origins. Zoonotic agents are extremely variable in their host specificity and their impact on individuals and host population. The control of zoonoses depends on attempts to reduce vector populations of to limit contacts with reservoir species. In most instances, however, the control efforts require an environmental or human behavioral modification in addition to direct efforts to reduce the size of the vector population. In this article, I described the common natural history and ecologic characteristics of zoonoses, and explained why we should keep an eye on the change in zoonoses with emerging infections. And I also introduced the recent change in the incidence of notifiable zoonotic diseases among animals and humans in Korea, and the principle of control and prevention of zoonoses.
Animals ; Communicable Diseases ; Epidemiology* ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Natural History ; Vertebrates ; Zoonoses*

Animals ; Humans ; Incidence ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Zoonoses ; epidemiology ; transmission

This study assesses the causes and prevention measures of rabies through epidemiological investigation and analysis. A field epidemiological survey was conducted to investigate a case of rabies by fox bite. The onset of symptoms began 50 days after the bite. The patient did not receive standard treatment, rabies vaccination, or rabies immunoglobulin injection. The fox was killed on the spot. Saliva and pre-death blood samples were collected at different periods, and only blood RT-PCR tests yielded positive results. Wild fox bite is a major risk factor of rabies infection in Xinjiang Province, China.
Adult ; Animals ; Brain ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Fatal Outcome ; Foxes ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Zoonoses

Tularemia is a potentially severe zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. A lack of awareness about tularemia can be embarrassing and could result in delayed treatment because of improper diagnosis. The diagnosis of tularemia is difficult, because the infections are rare and the clinical spectrum is broad. As only 1 adult case has been reported in Korea thus far, pediatricians in Korea may be unfamiliar with tularemia. We report our experience with a 14-year-old male adolescent with tularemia who presented with atypical pneumonia and possible infective endocarditis. Although the infectivity and mortality rates for tularemia are very high if left untreated, we did not suspect tularemia in this case until the incidental isolation of F. tularensis. The present case suggests that clinicians in Korea should be more aware of tularemia. This case also suggests that tularemia should be considered in undetermined cases of atypical pneumonia or acute febrile illness without local signs.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis ; Endocarditis* ; Francisella tularensis ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia* ; Tularemia* ; Zoonoses