Understanding Pig and Poultry Trade Networks and Farming Practices Within the Pacific Islands as a Basis for Surveillance.

Pacific Island countries have large pig and poultry populations. Yet little is known about patterns of contact between animals and how this influences disease spread in these islands. The objectives of this study were to examine farmer practices and the movements of pig and poultry within the Pacific Islands using questionnaires and social network analysis (SNA) tools to understand disease spread in the region. Questionnaire-based surveys were conducted in Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu with interviews of 310 pig farmers and 491 poultry farmers. Pacific Island farmers were found to have few animals (median = 7 pigs/farm, IQR 4-12), (median = 50 chicken/farm, IQR 23-52), (median = 10 ducks/farm, IQR 4-25), (median = 12 Muscovy ducks/farm, IQR 7-28) and a diversified number of species. A large proportion of farmers (44.6-61.3%) do not implement any preventive or control measures, yet the majority (80.6-88%) did not experience any animal diseases over the past 12 months. Most farmers never ask for veterinary care, never engage in laboratory testing and do not report when their animals show clinical signs. Many pig farmers (31.8%) trade within their communities only and sell (24.5%) directly to consumers which reduces the risk of diseases spreading. Our results show an association between farmers that report having had disease on their farm in the past 12 months and movements of animals on and off their farms. The capitals of the studied provinces in PNG, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands were identified as the most connected nodes of both pig and poultry trade, while Fiji networks appeared much less connected. Our study found that farmer practices increased the risk of disease spread, but this was currently limited by trading practices. The SNA results serve as a basis for more targeted disease surveillance and better use of available resources for disease prevention and control.

Retrospective review of leptospirosis in Guadeloupe, French West Indies 1994-2001.

Demographic, clinical, biological and personal data were obtained from patients hospitalized with symptoms of leptospirosis in the Hospital of Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe, French West Indies from 1994 to 2001. Of the 897 screened patients, 212 were acute cases, 607 were non-infected and 78 were undetermined cases. There was no predominant age group. Leptospirosis transmission followed the rainfall cycle and was greater in rural areas. Jaundice and conjunctival suffusion were significantly more frequent in cases than non-cases. Males, professions considered to be at risk and contact with swine or bovine were associated with infection. Serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Cynopteri, Australis, Sejroe, Pomona and Ballum were serovars presumed responsible for acute cases.

Retrospective review of leptospirosis in Guadeloupe, French West Indies 1994-2001 / Revisión retrospectiva de la leptospirosis en Guadalupe, Indias Occidentales Francesas 1994­2001

Demographic, clinical, biological and personal data were obtained from patients hospitalized with symptoms of leptospirosis in the Hospital of Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe, French West Indies from 1994 to 2001. Of the 897 screened patients, 212 were acute cases, 607 were non-infected and 78 were undetermined cases. There was no predominant age group. Leptospirosis transmission followed the rainfall cycle and was greater in rural areas. Jaundice and conjunctival suffusion were significantly more frequent in cases than non-cases. Males, professions considered to be at risk and contact with swine or bovine were associated with infection. Serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Cynopteri, Australis, Sejroe, Pomona and Ballum were serovars presumed responsible for acute cases

Se obtuvieron los datos demográficos, clínicos, biológicos y personales de pacientes hospitalizados con síntomas de leptospirosis en el Hospital de Pointe à Pitre, Guadalupe, Indias Orientales Francesas, en el período comprendido de 1994 a 2001. De los 897 pacientes investigados, 212 eran casos graves, 607 eran no infectados y 78 eran casos indeterminados. No hubo grupo etario predominante. La transmisión de la leptospirosis seguía el ciclo hidrológico y era mayor en las áreas rurales. La ictericia y sufusión conjuntival fueron significativamente más frecuentes en los casos que en los no casos. Los varones, las profesiones consideradas en riesgo, y el contacto con cerdos o bovinos estuvieron asociados con la infección. Los serogrupos Icterohemorragia, Cynopteri, Australis, Sejroe, Pomona y Ballum fueron serovares presumiblemente responsables de los casos graves