ABSTRACT
Since African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in the Dominican Republic in July 2021, it has negatively impacted the country's swine industry. Assessing the epidemiological situation is crucial to helping local authorities and industry stakeholders control the disease. Here, data on 155 reported outbreaks in the Dominican Republic from November 2022 to June 2023 were evaluated. Descriptive spatiotemporal analysis was performed to characterize disease distribution and spread, and between-herd R0 was calculated for the study period. The Knox test and a space-time permutation model were used to evaluate clustering. Data on clinical presentation, biosecurity measures, and suspected reasons for introduction were categorized and summarized. The majority (78%) of outbreaks occurred on backyard farms which generally had low biosecurity. Across farm types, the majority of pigs were still alive at the time of depopulation. Spatiotemporal findings and R0 estimates suggest an endemic pattern of disease geographically located centrally within the country. Clustering was detected even at small temporal and spatial distances due to outbreaks amongst neighboring backyard farms. These results provide critical information on the current state of the ASF epidemic in the Dominican Republic and will aid government officials and swine industry leaders in developing effective ASF control strategies.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surveillance for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the United States has become a focus of public health attention due to concerns about disease acquired through exposure to transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in other species. A definitive diagnosis requires neuropathologic examination, yet concerns about the invasiveness of procedures and infection control may be barriers to brain biopsy or autopsy in patients with suspected CJD. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 50 of the 97 patients identified through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health CJD surveillance system for 1991-2001 and of an additional 21 patients in whom CJD was suspected but later ruled out. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients, brain biopsy was performed on 14 (28%), brain biopsy or autopsy was performed on 27 (54%), and brain biopsy and autopsy were performed on 4 (8%). Brain biopsy or autopsy was declined for an additional 7 patients (14%) by family or health care proxy. The proportion of patients on whom brain biopsy was performed was inversely correlated with age, with only 9 (21%) of the 43 patients >60 years old having brain tissue diagnosis. Brain biopsy was performed on patients in whom CJD was suspected but ruled out somewhat less often than it was for patients with confirmed CJD (4 [19%] of 21 patients vs. 7 [23%] of 30 patients, respectively; P=.71). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with CJD-related death whose medical records were available had a brain biopsy or autopsy performed or requested (34 [68%] of 50 patients).
