High levels of contamination and antimicrobial-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars on pig and poultry farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

We investigated the prevalence, diversity, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) and associated risk factors on 341 pig, chicken, and duck farms in Dong Thap province (Mekong Delta, Vietnam). Sampling was stratified by species, district (four categories), and farm size (three categories). Pooled faeces, collected using boot swabs, were tested using ISO 6575: 2002 (Annex D). Isolates were serogrouped; group B isolates were tested by polymerase chain reaction to detect S. Typhimurium and (monophasic) serovar 4,[5],12:i:- variants. The farm-level adjusted NTS prevalence was 64·7%, 94·3% and 91·3% for chicken, duck and pig farms, respectively. Factors independently associated with NTS were duck farms [odds ratio (OR) 21·2], farm with >50 pigs (OR 11·9), pig farm with 5-50 pigs (OR 4·88) (vs. chickens), and frequent rodent sightings (OR 2·3). Both S. Typhimurium and monophasic S. Typhimurium were more common in duck farms. Isolates had a high prevalence of resistance (77·6%) against tetracycline, moderate resistance (20-30%) against chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, ampicillin and nalidixic acid, and low resistance (<5%) against ciprofloxacin and third-generation cephalosporins. Multidrug resistance (resistance against ⩾3 classes of antimicrobial) was independently associated with monophasic S. Typhimurium and other group B isolates (excluding S. Typhimurium) and pig farms. The unusually high prevalence of NTS on Mekong Delta farms poses formidable challenges for control

Indicators for assessing the quality of refractive error care

Significance: Quality refractive error care is essential for reducing vision impairment. Quality indicators and standardized approaches for assessing the quality of refractive error care need to be established. Purpose: This study aimed to develop a set of indicators for assessing the quality of refractive error care and test their applicability in a real-world setting using unannounced standardized patients (USPs). Methods: Patient outcomes and three quality of refractive error care (Q.REC) indicators (1, optimally prescribed spectacles; 2, adequately prescribed spectacles; 3, vector dioptric distance) were developed using existing literature, refraction training standards, and consulting educators. Twenty-one USPs with various refractive errors were trained to visit optical stores across Vietnam to have a refraction, observe techniques, and order spectacles. Spectacles were assessed against each Q.REC indicator and tested for associations with vision and comfort. Results: Overall, 44.1% (184/417) of spectacles provided good vision and comfort. Of the spectacles that met Q.REC indicators 1 and 2, 62.5 and 54.9%, respectively, provided both good vision and comfort. Optimally prescribed spectacles (indicator 1) were significantly more likely to provide good vision and comfort independently compared with spectacles that did not meet any indicator (good vision: 94.6 vs. 85.0%, P =.01; comfortable: 66.1 vs. 36.3%, P <.01). Adequately prescribed spectacles (indicator 2) were more likely to provide good comfort compared with spectacles not meeting any indicator (57.7 vs. 36.3%, P <.01); however, vision outcomes were not significantly different (85.9 vs. 85.0%, P =.90). Good vision was associated with a lower mean vector dioptric distance (P <.01) but not with comfort (P =.52). Conclusions: The optimally prescribed spectacles indicator is a promising approach for assessing the quality of refractive error care without additional assessments of vision and comfort. Using USPs is a practical approach and could be used as a standardized method for evaluating the quality of refractive error care

High levels of contamination and antimicrobial-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars on pig and poultry farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

We investigated the prevalence, diversity, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) and associated risk factors on 341 pig, chicken, and duck farms in Dong Thap province (Mekong Delta, Vietnam). Sampling was stratified by species, district (four categories), and farm size (three categories). Pooled faeces, collected using boot swabs, were tested using ISO 6575: 2002 (Annex D). Isolates were serogrouped; group B isolates were tested by polymerase chain reaction to detect S. Typhimurium and (monophasic) serovar 4,[5],12:i:- variants. The farm-level adjusted NTS prevalence was 64·7%, 94·3% and 91·3% for chicken, duck and pig farms, respectively. Factors independently associated with NTS were duck farms [odds ratio (OR) 21·2], farm with >50 pigs (OR 11·9), pig farm with 5-50 pigs (OR 4·88) (vs. chickens), and frequent rodent sightings (OR 2·3). Both S. Typhimurium and monophasic S. Typhimurium were more common in duck farms. Isolates had a high prevalence of resistance (77·6%) against tetracycline, moderate resistance (20-30%) against chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, ampicillin and nalidixic acid, and low resistance (<5%) against ciprofloxacin and third-generation cephalosporins. Multidrug resistance (resistance against ⩾3 classes of antimicrobial) was independently associated with monophasic S. Typhimurium and other group B isolates (excluding S. Typhimurium) and pig farms. The unusually high prevalence of NTS on Mekong Delta farms poses formidable challenges for control

Osteomalácia em bubalinos na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco-Brasil

O presente estudo foi desenvolvido em um rebanho de 61 bubalinos, no qual cerca de 10% do rebanho era constitu&iacute;do de&nbsp;f&ecirc;meas em lacta&ccedil;&atilde;o e todas apresentavam problemas de locomo&ccedil;&atilde;o. No exame &nbsp;cl&iacute;nico ficou evidente perda de peso,&nbsp;inapet&ecirc;ncia, relut&acirc;ncia ao se locomover, andar cambaleante e dificuldade de levantar-se. Um dos animais caminhava&nbsp;sob as articula&ccedil;&otilde;es carpianas e outro que apresentava cifose, permanecia durante &nbsp;v&aacute;rios dias em dec&uacute;bito esternal.&nbsp;Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para identifica&ccedil;&atilde;o de par&acirc;metros hematol&oacute;gicos e teores s&eacute;ricos de c&aacute;lcio (Ca) e&nbsp;f&oacute;sforo (P). Registrou-se um decl&iacute;nio no valor da hemoglobina e do hemat&oacute;crito, a rela&ccedil;&atilde;o Ca:P encontrava-se bastante&nbsp;ampla, tendo o Ca apresentado teores normais e os de P (&lt;2,4 mg/dL) indicando uma significante hipofosfatemia. Com&nbsp;base nos exames cl&iacute;nicos e nos resultados hematol&oacute;gicos e &nbsp;bioqu&iacute;micos, o caso estudado em b&uacute;falas lactantes foi&nbsp;diagnosticado como sendo osteomal&aacute;cia de intensidade avan&ccedil;ada.&nbsp

Examining the interlinkages between regional infrastructure disparities, economic growth, and poverty: A case of Indian states

This paper investigates the interlinkages between regional infrastructure disparities, economic growth, and poverty in the 21 major Indian States. An overall comprehensive index of infrastructure, the Composite Infrastructure Index (CII), is calculated for each Indian state using the Principal Component Analysis technique. In order to analyse the regional disparities between states in terms of infrastructure, they are ranked based on the calculated CII. We extend our analysis by evaluating the inter-relationship between the Composite Infrastructure Index, Per Capita Net State Domestic Product (PCNSDP), and poverty. The empirical analysis also proves that composite infrastructural growth and economic growth go hand in hand

Public Infrastructure Investment and Economic Growth : A Sector Wise Investigation for India Using Westerlund Panel Cointegration Approach

The paper aims to empirically analyze the relationship between Public Infrastructure Investment and economic growth for India using yearly data for its twenty-eight states (excluding Telangana) over the time-period of 1999-00 to 2014-15. We have aimed to assess this eye catching issue after the recent focus of Indian government to devote a majority of public funds to finance Infrastructure. For all the states, we have taken Public Investment data for six major sub sectors falling under overall Infrastructure sector: Transport, Education, Sports, Art and Culture, Medical and Public Health, Water supply and sanitation, Irrigation, Energy/Power. The Per Capita Gross State Domestic Product is taken as an indicator to represent economic growth. For empirical analysis, we apply panel unit root and cointegration tests, and estimate a panel error correction model. The Per Capita Gross State Domestic Product along with Public Investment in analyzed sectors have a unit root at their levels suggesting that there is presence of long-term relationships among the variables for the whole sample. Finally, Granger causality tests are applied to check for the presence of causal relationships between Per Capita Gross State Domestic Product and Public Investment in different sub sectors of Infrastructure. The research study proposes that the state governments across India should focus upon private as well as foreign direct investment options which would ultimately help in improving the landscape of India’s Infrastructure sector