Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Southern Ontario

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from wildlife has raised concerns about spillover from humans to animals, the establishment of novel wildlife reservoirs, and the potential for future outbreaks caused by variants of wildlife origin. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) are abundant in urban areas and live in close proximity to humans, providing the opportunity for spillover of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure has been reported in Norway rats. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure in Norway rats from Southern Ontario, Canada. From October 2019 to June 2021, 224 rats were submitted by collaborating pest control companies. The majority of samples were collected in Windsor (79.9%;n = 179), Hamilton (13.8%;n = 31), and the Greater Toronto Area (5.8%;n = 13). Overall, 50.0% (n = 112) were female and most rats were sexually mature (55.8%;n = 125). Notably, 202 samples were collected prior to the emergence of variants of concern (VOC) and 22 were collected while the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was the predominant circulating VOC in humans. Nasal turbinate (n = 164) and small intestinal (n = 213) tissue samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Thoracic cavity fluid samples (n = 213) were tested for neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) (GenScript cPass);confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was conducted on presumptive positive samples. We did not detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in any samples tested. Two out of eleven samples positive on sVNT had neutralizing antibodies confirmed positive by PRNT (1 : 40 and 1 : 320 PRNT70);both were collected prior to the emergence of VOC. It is imperative that efforts to control and monitor SARS-CoV-2 include surveillance of rats and other relevant wildlife species as novel variants continue to emerge.

Environmental determinants of infectious and chronic disease prevention behaviours: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative research.

Regulatory health policies facilitate desired health behaviours in communities, and among them, smoke-free policies and COVID-19 restrictions have been widely implemented. Qualitative research studies have explored how these measures and other environmental influences shape preventive behaviours. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize previously published qualitative research, generate across-study themes, and propose recommendations for behaviour change interventions. We used a comprehensive search strategy, relevance screening and confirmation, data extraction, quality assessment, thematic synthesis, and quality-of-evidence assessment. In total, 87 relevant studies were identified. Findings were grouped under six overarching themes and mapped under three categories: (i) the political environment, (ii) the sociocultural environment, and (iii) the physical environment. These findings provide insights into the environmental influences of behaviour and indicate future interventions may be more effective by considering moral norms, community norms, policy support, and group identity.

A Cross-Sectional Study and Observational Assessment of Shoppers' COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the level of alcohol-based sanitizer, mask use, and physical distancing across indoor community settings in Guelph, ON, Canada, and to identify potential barriers to practicing these behaviors. METHODS: Shoppers were observed in June 2022 across 21 establishments. Discrete in-person observations were conducted and electronically recorded using smartphones. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted to identify possible covariates for the 3 behavioral outcomes. RESULTS: Of 946 observed shoppers, 69% shopped alone, 72% had at least 1 hand occupied, 26% touched their face, 29% physically distanced ≥ 2 m, 6% used hand sanitizer, and 29% wore masks. Sanitizer use was more commonly observed among people who wore masks and in establishments with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) signage posted at the entrance. Mask use was more commonly observed during days without precipitation and in establishments with some or all touch-free entrances. Shoppers more commonly physically distanced ≥ 2 m when they were shopping alone. CONCLUSIONS: This supports evidence for environmental context influencing COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Intervention efforts aimed at visible signage, tailored messaging, and redesigning spaces to facilitate preventive behaviors may be effective at increasing adherence during outbreaks.

"I Can Sense When My Hands Need Washing": A Qualitative Study and Thematic Analysis of Factors Affecting Young Adults' Hand Hygiene.

Handwashing is one of the most effective and low-cost public health measures. However, it is often not practiced frequently enough or correctly by the public. Young adults in particular have poorer intentions to wash their hands, frequency of handwashing, and sanitizer use compared to other age groups. Therefore, there is a need to identify barriers and facilitators affecting hand hygiene within this group. The objective of this qualitative study was to apply the Theoretical Domains Framework to explore factors which influence hand hygiene among young adults aged 18 to 25 years old. An online questionnaire (n = 37) and thematic analysis were used to generate 3 overarching themes. The main findings indicated internal factors such as knowledge and intentions; interpersonal factors such as social norms; and environmental factors such as reminders, cues, accessibility, and cleanliness of handwashing facilities determined the level of hand hygiene practiced among young adults. The findings suggest that behavior change techniques such as social comparisons and tailored messaging to suit the needs of young adults may be more effective at increasing hand hygiene.

A qualitative study exploring healthcare providers' and trainees' barriers to COVID-19 and influenza vaccine uptake.

Background: Vaccines are effective biological interventions which reduce health burdens and protect healthcare providers from vaccine-preventable diseases. However, there are concerns about varying levels of vaccination coverage of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines among those working in healthcare. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations among healthcare providers and trainees using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n = 18) were carried out with healthcare providers and trainees in Canada. A thematic analysis approach was used to code interview transcripts and match findings to TDF domains and broader categories. Results: Three overarching themes were generated from six TDF domains and three inductively generated categories: (1) making informed health decisions with an added responsibility to protect oneself and patients; (2) a pro-vaccine social network, widespread accessibility, and pursuing a sense of normalcy; and (3) seeking a more nuanced, respectful, and calculated approach to vaccine communication and policy implementation. Conclusion: These findings help to identify factors associated with influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among individuals in the healthcare field. Addressing these factors may improve healthcare provider sentiments surrounding vaccines, lead to better patient education, and increased uptake of vaccinations with the potential for seasonal booster doses.

The impact of the initial public health response to COVID-19 on swine health surveillance in Ontario.

COVID-19 restrictions and the pandemic have affected animal health and food production through the disease's effects on human activities. COVID-19 impact on swine health surveillance can be assessed by investigating submissions and test positivity for pathogens before and after COVID-19 restrictions. PRRSV, Influenza A virus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and PCV-2 are considered important and economically challenging respiratory diseases for the swine populations. By reviewing test results from swine samples submitted for diagnostic testing to a regional diagnostic laboratory, and by assessing total submissions, total positive tests, and the proportion of positive tests at weekly intervals with time series techniques and generalized linear regression models, we evaluated COVID-19's impact on the monitoring of these respiratory pathogens in Ontario, Canada. We classified weeks that fell from week 12 through week 24 in each year as pandemic equivalent weeks and the non-pandemic weeks included all other weeks. The pandemic period in 2020 resulted in a significantly higher number of submissions (p < 0.05) and PRRSV positive submission counts (p < 0.05) when compared to equivalent time periods in previous years; however, no changes could be detected in the odds of weekly PRRSV submission positivity. Weekly positive proportions of PCV-2 tests were higher during the pandemic period in 2020 compared with the pandemic equivalent period in 2018 and 2017. The counts of submissions that requested tests for PRRSV, Influenza A virus and M. hyopneumonia combined, as well as the number of submissions and the proportions of submissions that tested negative for these multiple respiratory pathogens were not significantly different between the pandemic period in 2020 and other periods examined. Our findings indicate that swine producers, in conjunction with various private and public veterinary support services, continued monitoring and performing diagnostic screening on farms for economically important animal diseases despite complications resulting from COVID-19 public health restrictions. PRRSV continues to have a serious impact on swine health. The absence of an increased proportion of negative tests for individual or groups of pathogens, or an accompanying increase in submissions during the 2020 pandemic period suggests that no new undetected pathogens with an impact on respiratory signs in swine were introduced during this time.

Exploration of Factors Affecting Post-Secondary Students' Stress and Academic Success: Application of the Socio-Ecological Model for Health Promotion.

OVERVIEW: There has been an increase in the frequency and severity of stress experienced by Canadian post-secondary students, which has adverse implications on their academic success. This work applied the socio-ecological model for health promotion to explore the contextual factors that influence this relationship at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and public policy levels. METHODS: Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, we conducted 38 semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students and on-campus staff who provide services to this population at a post-secondary institution in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Thematic analysis inductively identified overarching themes among participants' perspectives. RESULTS: Several positive and negative factors were identified at each socio-ecological model level, demonstrating the complex interplay of demographic, psychological, emotional, social, physical, and academic factors impacting students' academic stress. CONCLUSIONS: A lack of communication and knowledge seems to underlie many factors, highlighting the need to strengthen communication strategies to promote awareness, accessibility, and availability of services and programs on campus. Results also pointed to focusing on proactive, resilience-focused, upstream mental health promotion efforts at post-secondary institutions to reduce stress and improve academic success. This knowledge can help Canadian campuses better address students' needs.