ABSTRACT
Globally, vaccines against 47 infectious etiologic agents are approved by at least one regulatory authority as of December 2022. The numbers of viral diseases, infections caused by mycoplasma, bacterial and protozoal diseases, mycoses, diseases caused by parasitic worms, and other infectious diseases of unknown etiology run into thousands. Therefore, more vaccines are required to be developed to keep more populations disease free. Climate change and global increase in temperature may promote sea level rises and an increase in the intensity of rains, causing an upsurge in certain infectious diseases in regions of the human population and even causing movement of habitats. In societies where the expenditure on health as a percentage of gross domestic product is higher, people are more capacitated to tackle the treatment and spread of infectious diseases. As several of such conditions are zoonotic, well-planned strategies for controlling the spread would go a long way in the proper direction. Poverty and contagious diseases are infallibly linked. Major infectious diseases of poverty include tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS), malaria, measles, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and several neglected tropical diseases. The world is not yet unified in action to jointly work to contain the global problem of infectious diseases in every human habitat. There was a visible divide between and among the rich countries versus the developing countries regarding accessibility and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19 flu. To contain the spread of infectious diseases in the future, the whole world would have to work together, raising funds, strengthening epidemiological surveys, inventing effective vaccines, and vaccinating the eligible population, as also treating the infected with therapy in time, besides resorting to other preventive measures for overall human progress. The developmental efforts are to be pursued jointly and together to benefit all people, respecting the world as one.
ABSTRACT
Infectious diseases are a significant burden on the global economy and public health. The major factors attributed to the rise in infectious diseases are thought to be the unstructured rise in the human population with expanding poverty, unplanned urbanization, fast urban migration, unplanned human habitats in thickly populated urban pockets that are the residence of poor people, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, inadequate vaccination, and neglect in effectively containing the zoonotic diseases, among others. Certain global regions such as China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia among the other Asian countries, sections of South America, and vast parts of Sub-Saharan Africa harbor more infectious human diseases. To contain the infectious disease burden, the health infrastructure especially in poor countries needs to be improved. With the assistance of rich countries monetarily as well as technologically, the situation can be improved. International institutions and large philanthropic organizations are working to improve human health globally. More monetary assistance to these organizations would positively contribute to the cause and would go a long way in diffusing the infectious agents.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a dam on the ecological parameters of the fish assemblages of a stream of second order of the upper Paraná River basin, southern Brazil. Samplings of abiotic data and ichthyofauna occurred quarterly between September 2012 and June 2013. Were collected 3,128 individuals in six orders, eight families and 13 species. The Cluster analysis (Jaccard) based on species composition indicated the separation of the sampling units into two groups, demonstrating the dissimilarity between upstream and downstream units. The artificial dam was characterized as a discontinuity factor for diversity patterns and ecological processes related to biota. Thus, this study has indications that the creation of dams can significantly affect the richness and abundance of fish species of small lotic systems, as streams, by modifying their environments.
O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência de uma barragem sobre os parâmetros ecológicos das assembleias de peixes presentes em um riacho de segunda ordem da bacia do Alto rio Paraná, sul do Brasil. As amostragens dos dados abióticos e da ictiofauna ocorreram trimestralmente entre o período de setembro de 2012 e junho de 2013. Foram coletados 3.128 indivíduos distribuídos em seis ordens, oito famílias e 13 espécies. A análise de agrupamento com base no índice de Jaccard indicou a separação dos pontos em dois grupos com relação à composição de espécies, demonstrando distinção entre os pontos à montante e à jusante da barragem artificial. A barragem artificial se caracterizou como um fator de descontinuidade para os padrões de diversidade e para os processos ecológicos relacionados à biota. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho possui indicativos de que a criação de barragens, mesmo que para a formação de pequenas represas ou açudes, pode afetar de forma significativa a riqueza e abundância das espécies de peixes de pequenos sistemas lóticos, como riachos, por meio da modificação de seus ambientes.
Subject(s)
Rivers , EcologyABSTRACT
Study of changes in macrobenthic community structure is an intrinsic part of many environmental monitoring programmes. Hence, it is pivotal to distinguish the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on these sensitive organisms for accurate assessment and management of coastal environment. Polychaete species diversity of five stations in the Ratnagiri bay was investigated during premonsoon and postmonsoon months in 2007. Though no spatial trends in polychaete diversity vis-à-vis the pollution was visible, the polychaete univariate indices were uniformily better in premonsoon indicating clear seasonal trends. Shannon diversity values ranged from 1.4-2.4 during premonsoon and 0.6-1.6 during postmonsoon. Station 5, which was most impacted by anthropogenic wastes as demonstrated by the anoxic conditions coupled with higher nutrient load, had comparatively higher H’ values (1.9 and 1.6) and better evenness values (0.9 and 0.7) during both seasons indicating that the polychaetes were not influenced by anthropogenic contamination. The study indicates that the polychaete distribution and diversity in the bay were governed primarily by variations in sediment texture rather than the anthropogenic disturbances.