ABSTRACT
Improved understanding and assessment of the complex factors associated with disease emergence and spread will lead to better management and thus reduction of risk for disease occurrence. Specific biological, ecologic, environmental, and societal factors have been identified that precede emerging infections. Based on these factors, a qualitative tool was developed to assess risk for disease emergence and spread. Within this tool, three separate assessment elements were developed: novel disease evolution, pathways by which a disease agent could be introduced into a country, and domestic spread from the location of introduction or evolution. Risk factors identified for each of the three elements consist of specific descriptions of production practices, consumer demand, trade, health conditions, and environmental conditions, and are categorized as primary or secondary. Using this tool, those factors contributing greatest to risk of disease emergence can be identified and targeted for mitigation. In addition, risk can be monitored over time, focusing on factors that are primary or that have the greatest potential for increasing disease emergence risk.
Subject(s)
Aquaculture/standards , Communicable Disease Control/methods , Communicable Disease Control/organization & administration , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/veterinary , Risk Assessment , Animals , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology , Likelihood Functions , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine if an incidence of hypodiploidy in urinary specimens is related to seasonal temperature changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA ploidy was evaluated on 10,846 urinary specimens fixed in buffered alcohol (MOPSO/NaCl + ETOH) and received over a one year period from numerous sites throughout the United States. The percentage of hypodiploid (DNA index < 0.8) cases was evaluated in each month. As a control, DNA ploidy results from 3, 755 prostate biopsies, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, received during the winter and summer months of the same year, were evaluated. RESULTS: The average percentage of hypodiploidy in cytologic specimens during the summer months was 19.6% compared to 5. 4% in the winter and early spring months (range: 20.6-4.8%). The average percentage of hypodiploid cells in histologic specimens was 0.8% for both the summer and winter months (range: 1.73-0.36%). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of hypodiploidy in urinary cytology seems to be temperature related. The hypodiploidy rate of histologic specimens fixed in formalin shows no fluctuation with the seasons.
