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.

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

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

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

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica, a liver fluke, for which human acts as an accidental host. Fascioliasis, while common in some tropical countries, is rare in Korea. Endoscopie retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) has been described in only a very few cases as a useful technique for the diagnosis of fascioliasis. We report a case of fascioliasis diagnosed by ERCP, after endoscopic sphinchterotomy adult worms were removed by Dormia basket.
Adult ; Biliary Tract* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Diagnosis ; Fasciola hepatica ; Fascioliasis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Pancreas* ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Zoonoses

Parasites are recorded from the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, from Cheongju, the Republic of Korea. A total of 5 road-killed squirrels were thoroughly examined for internal and external parasites from November 2011 to May 2014. Total 4 parasite species, including 1 tapeworm and 3 ectoparasite species were recovered. They were morphologically identified as Catenotaenia dendritica (Cestoda: Catenotaeniidae), Hirstionyssus sciurinus, Leptotrombidium pallidum, and Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages. Among them, C. dendritica and H. sciurinus are recorded for the first time in the Korean parasite fauna. In addition, the possibility that the red squirrel could act as a reservoir host for a zoonotic disease like tsutsugamushi disease with L. pallidum as its vector has been raised.
Cestoda ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Globus Pallidus ; Korea* ; Parasites ; Republic of Korea ; Sciuridae* ; Scrub Typhus ; Trombiculidae ; Zoonoses

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

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