Awoniyi, A. M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2024

Prevalence and risk factors for avian influenza in backyard pigeons, ducks, and chickens in District Toba Tek Singh Pakistan

Avian influenza virus (AIV) is a zoonotic disease that can be transferred from birds to humans. Various pandemics of AIV have drastically affected the poultry industry and backyard birds (ducks, chickens, and pigeons) worldwide, such as in Europe, the USA, Africa, and Asia. In Pakistan, numerous outbreaks of H7, H5, and H9 in poultry industries have been documented in commercial and rural areas, resulting in financial losses. The epidemiological status of different AIV subtypes in backyard birds in rural areas is largely unknown. Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018-2019 with multistage clustering sampling. These tracheal and cloacal pooled swab samples were collected and tested for AIV. Positive AIV pooled swab samples were further evaluated at the individual level. RNA was extracted using the Trizol method followed by multiplex RT-PCR with primers and probes to identify the M-gene and subtypes of the AI virus. Statistical analysis was performed by using the multivariate logistic regression model. Overall, the prevalence of AIV in backyard chickens, pigeons, and ducks was 13.0%, 7.7%, and 11.3%, respectively. Among AIV subtypes, H7, H9, and HA/Untyped commonly circulated within backyard birds. All cities had nonsignificant differences (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of AIV among pigeons, ducks, and chickens. According to univariate logistic regression analysis, 16 of the 32 risk factors were further selected for the multivariate logistic regression model. Two potential factors were identified to be significantly associated (p < or =0.05). Among the variables, species (pigeon OR 9.2, 95% CI: 1.92-44.2; p=0.006) and chicken (OR 16.2, 95% CI: 2.89-91.5; p=0.006) strongly associated with the incidence of AIV among cities. Another variable, fighting cock, had a moderate association (OR 2.25, 95% CI: 0.99-5.09; p=0.051) with AIV prevalence. Enhancing surveillance, biosecurity, educational intervention, and farm practices to prevent AIV and improve poultry production and public health in Pakistan.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Effect of Socio-environmental Factors on Rat Proliferation and Leptospira Transmission in Suburban Areas of Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia

BackgroundRats play a significant role as important reservoirs in the transmission of neglected zoonotic diseases, such as leptospirosis, particularly in poor urban and suburban communities of Low and Middle-Income Countries. Their proliferation is influenced by poor socio-environmental conditions like poor housing conditions, improper refuse disposal, and open sewer which generally furnish rats with food, water and harborage sources. Several interventions have been targeted against rats, given their public health menace but with no significant success, probably due to insufficient knowledge about context-specific factors influencing their proliferation in poor environments. Methodology/Principal FindingsWe evaluated the effect of different socio-environmental conditions on rat proliferation and the possible outcome on the transmission of Leptospira in suburban environments. We performed ten trapping sessions between April 2021 and January 2022, and captured 89 small mammals from 1385 trapping efforts (specifically, Rattus norvegicus (n = 39), Rattus rattus (n = 27), Rattus exulans (n = 10), Suncus murinus (n = 11), and Tupaia glis (n = 2)), with a 15.7% (n = 14/89) of the captured animals testing positive for Leptospira bacteria using PCR detection. We used a generalized linear model to evaluate the effect of different socio-environmental variables on household rat infestation and reported residences without paved floors, the presence of animals/pets, residence type and residences with vacant lots as variables positively associated with rat proliferation in the study sites. ConclusionRats are widely and differentially distributed in the poor communities of Dungun. Besides R. norvegicus and R. rattus, S. murinus and T. glis could also maintain and encourage pathogenic Leptospira transmission in the study areas. To adequately control rats proliferation and subsequent human zoonoses transmission, it will be critical to advocate and promote appropriate infrastructure and urban services, together with good hygiene practices to reduce rats access to water, food and harborage. Author SummaryRats are important reservoirs in the transmission of urban and suburban leptospirosis, and their proliferation is generally supported by poor socio-environmental conditions. Despite the strong association between poor socio-environmental conditions, rat proliferation and leptospirosis transmission, few studies have characterized their relationships in many poor suburban environments. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of different socio-environmental conditions on rat proliferation and possible effect on leptospirosis transmission in suburban communities of Dungun, Malaysia. We performed rat trapping and captured 89 small mammals from three orders, with a 15.7% (n = 14/89) of the captured animals testing positive for Leptospira bacteria using PCR detection. Using a generalized linear model, we reported residences without paved floors, the presence of animals/pets, residence type and residences with vacant lots as variables that are positively associated with rat proliferation in the study sites. Our findings show that rats are widely distributed in the study sites, and that in addition to R. norvegicus and R. rattus, S. murinus and T. glis could also maintain and transmit pathogenic Leptospira. Given the variables associated with rats proliferation, it is crucial to promote appropriate infrastructure and good hygiene practices to reduce rats access to water, food and harborage and subsequent rodent-borne diseases.

ecology↗