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BACKGROUND: A recent dramatic surge in pet ownership has been observed across metropolitan areas in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of information on the risk associated with pet ownership for the transmission of parasites on a large scale in Asia, despite this continent giving rise to the largest burden of zoonotic infections worldwide. METHODS: We explored the nature and extent of zoonotic internal (endo-) and external (ecto-) parasites and arthropod-borne pathogens in 2381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia using reliable diagnostic tests and then undertook extensive statistical analyses to define predictors of exposure to zoonotic pathogens. RESULTS: The estimated ORs for overall parasite infections are 1.35 [95% CIs 1.07;1.71] in young animals and 4.10 [1.50;11.2] in the animal group older than 15 years as compared with adult animals, 0.61 [0.48;0.77] in neutered animals as compared to unneutered animals, 0.36 [0.26;0.50] in animals living in urban areas as compared with rural areas, 1.14 [1.08;1.21] for each 1 °C increase of annual mean temperature which varies from 12.0 to 28.0 °C, and 0.86 [0.78;0.95] for each year of life expectancy which varies from 70.9 to 83.3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Here we highlight the influence of human life expectancy and the neutering status of the animals, which reflect increased living standards through access to education and human and veterinary health care, to be both strongly associated with exposure to zoonotic parasites. An integrated approach of local and international authorities to implement and manage educational programs will be crucial for the control of zoonotic infections of companion animals in Asia.
Parasites live on or inside animals or humans and can cause disease. Companion animals (pets) with parasites present a potential risk to the health of their owners, as certain kinds of parasites (known as zoonotic parasites) can affect both animal and human health. Here, we investigated whether human social conditions are associated with zoonotic parasite infections in companion animals in East and Southeast Asia. We found that higher human life expectancy and neutering of the companion animals were associated with fewer zoonotic parasite infections in the animals. These findings highlight the need for an enhanced commitment of local authorities to establish prevention campaigns, including education programs, against zoonotic pathogens. These measures will play a crucial role in alleviating the impact of these diseases in companion animals and humans in Asia.
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Objective:To dynamically investigate the iodine nutritional status of residents in water source high iodine areas in Hebei Province, so as to provide basis for taking targeted prevention and control measures and accurate intervention strategies.Methods:According to the "National Monitoring Program for Water Source High Iodine Areas (2018 Edition)", water source high iodine monitoring was carried out in 5 cities and 35 counties (cities, districts, hereinafter referred to as counties) of Hebei Province. According to the survey results of drinking water iodine of residents of Hebei Province in 2017, the administrative villages with a median water iodine above 100 μg/L were sorted according to the water iodine value. The systematic sampling method was adopted. Five administrative villages were selected in each county, if there were less than 5 administrative villages, all of them were selected (if the median water iodine was > 300 μg/L, at least one village shall be selected). The iodine content in drinking water of residents among the monitoring sites, salt iodine, urinary iodine and thyroid volume of children aged 8 - 10, as well as salt iodine and urinary iodine of pregnant women were tested. Water iodine was detected by the "Method Suitable for the Detection of Water Iodine in Iodine Deficient and High Iodine Areas" recommended by the National Iodine Deficiency Reference Laboratory of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Salt iodine was detected by semi quantitative method. Urinary iodine was detected by "Arsenic Cerium Catalytic Spectrophotometry Method" (WS/T 107-2006). Children's thyroid volume was detected by B-ultrasound.Results:A total of 239 water samples were collected in 167 villages, 35 counties, the median water iodine was 163.95 μg/L, ranging from 5.53 - 930.82 μg/L. A total of 6 772 edible salt samples were monitored, including 3 495 non-iodine salt samples and the rate of non-iodine salt was 51.61% (3 495/6 772). A total of 6 101 urine samples of children were tested, the median urinary iodine was 328.00 μg/L. A total of 6 103 children aged 8 - 10 were carried out B-ultrasound detection of thyroid volume in 35 counties. The goiter rate of children was 5.01% (306/6 103), and the rate of nodules was 0.56% (34/6 103). A total of 713 urine samples of pregnant women were tested, and the median urinary iodine was 221.70 μg/L.Conclusions:The iodine nutrition of children in water source high iodine areas of Hebei Province is at an excess level, and the iodine nutrition of pregnant women is at an appropriate level. In addition to stopping the supply of iodized salt, we should further expand the coverage of water improvement and iodine reduction projects in high iodine areas, and strengthen the monitoring of iodine nutrition status of key populations.
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Objective:To master the iodine nutritional level of children aged 8-10 and pregnant women in non-iodine excess areas in Hebei Province, and provide scientific basis and targeted prevention and treatment strategies for prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:Iodine nutrition analysis was conducted in 162 counties (cities and districts, hereinafter referred to as counties) of Hebei Province in 2018. Each monitoring county was divided into 5 sampling areas according to east, west, south, north and middle locations. One township/street was randomly selected in each area, 1 primary school was selected in each township/street, and 40 non-boarding students aged 8-10 were selected from each primary school. In each monitoring county, 20 pregnant women were selected from each of the 5 townships/streets. Both children and pregnant women were collected samples for salt and urinary iodine (with a random urine sample) detection. The iodine content of salt was tested using the "General Test Method for Salt Industry-Determination of Iodine" (GB/T 13025.7-2012), and Sichuan salt and other fortified edible salt used the arbitration method. The urinary iodine content was tested using the "Arsenic-Cerium Catalytic Spectrophotometric Determination of Iodine in Urine" (WS/T 107-2006).Results:A total of 31 883 samples of edible salt were collected from children's homes in 162 counties, among which 28 539 were iodized salt, 26 456 were qualified iodized salt, the iodized salt coverage rate was 88.36% (after population standardization), and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate was 81.03% (after population standardization). A total of 31 883 urine samples were collected from children, with the median urinary iodine of 193.13 μg/L. There was one county with a median urinary iodine < 100 μg/L, and the median urinary iodine in 150 counties was 100-299 μg/L. A total of 15 572 salt samples of pregnant women were collected, among which the iodized salt samples were 14 260, the qualified iodized salt samples were 13 363, the iodized salt coverage rate was 90.10% (after population standardization), and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate was 83.54% (after population standardization). A total of 15 569 pregnant women were collected urine samples, the median urinary iodine was 164.86 μg/L, and the number of counties with a median urinary iodine < 150 μg/L was 67.Conclusions:Iodine nutrition of children and pregnant women is appropriate at the provincial level, but children and pregnant women in some counties are at risk of iodine deficiency. In the future, the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders should focus on the iodine nutrition monitoring of the special needs.
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To provide data that can be used to inform treatment and prevention strategies for zoonotic pathogens in animal and human populations, we assessed the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens and their vectors on 2,381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of 8 countries in eastern and Southeast Asia during 2017-2018. Overall exposure to ectoparasites was 42.4% in dogs and 31.3% in cats. Our data cover a wide geographic distribution of several pathogens, including Leishmania infantum and zoonotic species of filariae, and of animals infested with arthropods known to be vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Because dogs and cats share a common environment with humans, they are likely to be key reservoirs of pathogens that infect persons in the same environment. These results will help epidemiologists and policy makers provide tailored recommendations for future surveillance and prevention strategies.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases , Dog Diseases , Leishmania infantum , Animals , Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cats , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dogs , Zoonoses/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Objective:To master the iodine content of drinking water in all counties (cities, districts) and clarify the distribution characteristics of water iodine and the distribution range of water-borne high iodine areas in Hebei Province.Methods:In all counties (cities, districts) of Hebei Province, water samples in townships (towns, street office, hereinafter referred township) were collected according to different water supply methods to detect iodine content in 2017; in townships with a median of water iodine ≥10 μg/L, the administrative village (neighborhood committee, hereinafter referred village) was used as a unit to collect water sample to detect iodine content.Results:A total of 2 199 townships in 168 counties (cities, districts) were surveyed for water iodine. The median range of water iodine of the townships was 0.0 - 1 113.7 μg/L. The median of water iodine in 1 579 townships was < 10 μg/L, accounting for 71.81% of the total; the number of townships with water iodine of 10 μg/L or more was 620. The village water iodine survey was carried out in the townships with water iodine of 10 μg/L or more, the number of villages monitored was 17 930. The number of villages with a median of water iodine of less than 10 μg/L was 2 312 (12.89%), and there were 6 104 villages with water iodine of 100 μg/L or more, accounting for 34.04%. The number of villages with median of water iodine ≥300 μg/L was 1 577 (8.80%). The water-borne high iodine areas in Hebei Province were distributed in 39 counties (cities, districts) of five cities, namely, Cangzhou, Handan, Xingtai, Hengshui and Langfang. They were mainly distributed in sheet shape or spot shape.Conclusion:The water-borne high iodine areas in Hebei Province are widely distributed, in the form of sheet or spot.
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Objective:To master the situation of iodine deficiency disorders and iodine nutrition status of the population in Hebei Province, and to evaluate the effect of salt iodization intervention.Methods:According to "National Surveillance Program on iodine deficiency disorders", in 2018, iodine deficiency disorders surveillance was carried out in 162 counties (cities, districts). Each monitoring county (city, district) was divided into 5 sampling areas according to its locations of east, west, south, north and middle. One township/street was selected in each area, 1 primary school was selected in each township/street, and 40 non-boarding students aged 8 - 10 were selected from each primary school. In each monitoring county, 20 pregnant women were selected from each of the 5 townships/streets. Both children and pregnant women were collected urine and salt samples for detection of iodine levels. The thyroid volume of students was detected by B-ultrasound.Results:A total of 31 883 urine samples were collected from children aged 8 - 10 years in 162 counties (cities, districts), with the median urinary iodine of 193.13 μg/L. There was one county (cities, districts) with a median urinary iodine below 100 μg/L, and the median urinary iodine in 150 counties (cities, districts) was 100 - 299 μg/L. A total of 8 941 children aged 8 - 10 years were tested thyroid by B-ultrasound. A total of 232 cases of goiter were detected, and the rate of goiter was 2.59% (232/ 8 941). A total of 15 569 urine samples of pregnant women were tested, the median urinary iodine was 164.86 μg/L, and the number of counties (cities, districts) with a median urinary iodine below 150 μg/L was 67. A total of 47 455 salt samples were tested across the province, including 31 883 salt samples from children's homes and 15 572 salt samples from pregnant women's homes. The iodized salt coverage rate was 88.79%, and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 81.69%.Conclusions:The iodized salt coverage rate and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt in Hebei Province are all below 90%. The iodine nutrition of children aged 8 - 10 years is at an appropriate level. The thyroid enlargement rate of children is below the national standard, and the iodine nutrition of pregnant women is generally at an appropriate level. But pregnant women in 67 counties (cities, districts) have a risk of iodine deficiency.
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Objective To evaluate the results of external quality assessment (EQA) of iodine deficiency disorders laboratories and the network operation in Hebei Province in 2017 in order to further improve the quality of EQA and provide reliable laboratory quality assurance for epidemiological surveillance and control of iodine deficiency disorders. Methods The EQA of salt iodine, water iodine and urinary iodine of iodine deficiency disorders laboratories at provincial, prefectural and county levels in Hebei Province in 2017 was evaluated. Among them, there were 1 provincial, 11 prefectural, and 128 county-level laboratories participated in the national urinary iodine assessment; there were 1 provincial and 11 prefectural-level laboratories participated in the national water iodine assessment; 1 provincial, 11 prefectural, and 30 county-level laboratories participated in the national salt iodine assessment;and 138 county-level laboratories participated in the provincial-level salt iodine assessment. The testing results of water iodine and urinary iodine of all the participatory laboratories were evaluated by using standard Z score generated from laboratories participated in the examination. The testing results of salt iodine were evaluated by using reference value ± uncertainty. Results One provincial and 11 prefectural-level iodine deficiency disorders laboratories in Hebei Province participated in the national urinary iodine, water iodine and salt iodine assessment, the qualified rate was 100.0％(12/12);128 county-level iodine deficiency disorders laboratories participated in the national urinary iodine assessment, the qualified rate was 100.0％(128/128);30 county-level iodine deficiency disorders laboratories took part in the national salt iodine assessment, the qualified rate was 100.0％(30/30);and 138 county-level iodine deficiency disorders laboratories participated in the provincial-level salt iodine assessment, the qualified rate was 94.9％(131/138). Conclusions Iodine deficiency disorders laboratories in Hebei Province in 2017 have remained at a relatively high level in detection quality, and network operation is good. Only a few county-level laboratories failed to pass the examination. Therefore, the key task in the future is to strengthen the detection capacity of county-level laboratories.
