ABSTRACT
Medical detection dogs have potential to be used to screen asymptomatic patients in crowded areas at risk of epidemics such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the fact that SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs are in direct contact with infected people or materials raises important concerns due to the zoonotic potential of the virus. No study has yet recommended a safety protocol to ensure the health of SARS- CoV-2 detection dogs during training and working in public areas. This study sought to identify suitable decontamination methods to obtain nonpathogenic face mask samples while working with SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs and to investigate whether dogs were able to adapt themselves to other decontamination procedures once they were trained for a specific odor. The present study was designed as a four-phase study: (a) Method development, (b) Testing of decon- tamination methods, (c) Testing of training methodology, and (d) Real life scenario. Surgical face masks were used as scent samples. In total, 3 dogs were trained. The practical use of 3 different decontam- ination procedures (storage, heating, and UV-C light) while training SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs were tested. The dog trained for the task alerted to the samples inactivated by the storage method with a sensitivity of100 % and specificity of 98.28 %. In the last phase of this study, one dog of 2 dogs trained, alerted to the samples inactivated by the UV-C light with a sensitivity of 91.30% and specificity of 97.16% while the other dog detected the sample with a sensitivity of 96.00% and specificity of 97.65 %.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the effects of face mask usage on ocular structures in children during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic Materials and Methods: Forty-two children's ocular data from the pandemic period were compared with the same children's ocular data from the pre-pandemic period. Results: Their mean age was 14.6±2.1 (9-18) years initially. The tear film break-up time values of the children with a mask in the pandemic period were significantly shorter than those of the children without a mask in the pre-pandemic period (9.35±1.40 vs. 12.10±1.05 seconds, p=0.033). There was no staining in any case in the pre-pandemic period, while minimal punctate epithelial corneal staining pattern was determined in 4 (9.5%) children in the pandemic period. The Schirmer test 1 value detected in the pandemic period was similar to the value detected in the pre-pandemic period (11.14±2.07 vs. 12.03±1.01 mm, p=0.127). Additionally, there were no significant changes in visual acuities, central corneal thicknesses, anterior chamber depths, lens thicknesses, and axial lengths between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods (p>0.05). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to date to evaluate the effects of face mask usage on ocular structures in just children. The use of face masks may cause increased tear evaporation and dry eye in pediatric cases. Educating children about the correct use of face masks can be important. Thus, possible ocular surface changes which may occur relating to masks can be prevented, and children may be more willing to use masks. Increased mask compliance may also indirectly help protect children from the virus.