The economic impact of peste des petits ruminants in India.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an economically important livestock disease which affects a vast section of the small ruminant population in India. However, data on the incidence of PPR are limited and scant literature is available on the economic losses caused by the disease. In the present study, a structured sampling design was adopted, which covered the major agro-climatic regions of the country, to ascertain the morbidity and mortality rates of PPR. Available estimates of the economic losses in India due to various livestock diseases are based on single values of various epidemiological and economic parameters. Stochastic modelling was used to estimate the economic impact of PPR. Overall annual morbidity and mortality rates of PPR for small ruminants in India have been estimated from the sample as being 8%and 3.45%, respectively. The authors have analysed variations in these rates across species, age group, sex, season and region. The expected annual economic loss due to PPR in India ranges from as little as US $2 million to $18 million and may go up to US $1.5 billion; the most likely range of expected economic losses is between US $653 million and $669 million. This study thus reveals significant losses due to the incidence of PPR in small ruminants in India.

La peste des petits ruminants (PPR) est une maladie du bétail à fort impact économique. En Inde, une grande partie de la population des petits ruminants est affectée. Cependant, les données disponibles sur l'incidence de la PPR sont rares et très peu d'articles ont été consacrés aux pertes économiques causées par la maladie. Les auteurs présentent une étude basée sur un échantillonnage structuré couvrant les principales régions agro-climatiques du pays, visant à déterminer avec certitude les taux de morbidité et de mortalité de la PPR. Les estimations disponibles des pertes économiques induites par diverses maladies des animaux d'élevage sont basées sur des valeurs uniques correspondant à divers paramètres épidémiologiques et économiques. Les auteurs ont évalué l'impact économique de la PPR en utilisant un modèle stochastique. En se basant sur l'échantillon, les taux annuels de morbidité et de mortalité de la PPR chez les petits ruminants en Inde ont été respectivement estimés à 8 % et à 3,45 %. Les auteurs ont également analysé les variations de ces taux en fonction de l'espèce, du groupe d'âge, du sexe, de la saison et de la région. Les pertes annuelles attendues imputables à la PPR en Inde fluctuent d'un minimum de 2 millions de dollars US (USD) à 18 millions d'USD, mais elles peuvent atteindre 1,5 milliard d'USD ; la fourchette la plus probable des pertes économiques attendues se situe entre 653 millions et 669 millions d'USD. Cette étude souligne l'importance des pertes économiques liées à la présence de la PPR en Inde.

La peste de pequeños rumiantes (PPR) es una enfermedad del ganado que reviste importancia económica y afecta a un vasto segmento de la población de pequeños rumiantes de la India. Sin embargo, existen pocos datos sobre su incidencia y muy escasas referencias bibliográficas sobre las pérdidas económicas que ocasiona. Los autores describen un estudio encaminado a determinar las tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad por PPR a partir de un muestreo estructurado que abarcaba las principales regiones agroclimáticas del país. Las estimaciones existentes de las pérdidas económicas causadas en la India por diversas enfermedades del ganado están basadas en valores únicos de diversos parámetros epidemiológicos y económicos. Para estimar el impacto económico de la PPR se utilizó una modelización estocástica. A partir de la muestra se calculó que, en los pequeños rumiantes del país, los índices anuales de morbilidad y mortalidad totales por PPR se cifran en un 8% y un 3,45%, respectivamente. Los autores analizaron después las variaciones que exhiben esos índices por especie, grupo de edad, sexo, estación y región. La cuantía prevista de las pérdidas económicas anuales causadas por la PPR en el país oscila: de apenas 2 a 18 millones de dólares estadounidenses puede llegar hasta los 1 500 millones. El intervalo más probable de pérdidas económicas se sitúa entre 653 y 669 millones. El estudio demuestra pues que la incidencia de la PPR entre los pequeños rumiantes de la India provoca pérdidas de importante magnitud.

Clinical predictors of success and failure for lumbar facet radiofrequency denervation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical factors associated with the success and failure of radiofrequency denervation of the lumbar facet joints. METHODS: Clinical data were garnered from 3 academic medical centers on 192 patients with low back pain who underwent radiofrequency denervation after a positive response to diagnostic blocks. Success was defined as >/=50% pain relief lasting at least 6 months. Factors evaluated for their association with outcome included duration of pain, opioid use, symptom location, paraspinal tenderness, pain exacerbated by extension/rotation (ie, facet loading), MRI abnormalities, diabetes, smoking, scoliosis, obesity, prior surgery and levels treated. RESULTS: The only factor associated with a successful outcome was paraspinal tenderness. Variables that correlated with treatment failure were 'facet loading,' long duration of pain, and previous back surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is counterproductive to use 'facet loading' as the sole basis for choosing patients for facet interventions. In patients at high risk for treatment failure, taking additional steps to reduce the rate of false-positive screening blocks may improve outcomes.

The immunological aspects of acute C.N.S. complications of the exanthematous viral diseases.

A total of 21 patients with postmeasles and 26 patients with postvaricella C.N.S. complications were studied. In both groups, males were predominant than females. The C.N.S. manifestations included disturbed level of consciousness, coma, seizures, motor deficits, ataxia and myoclonus. The sequelae were more frequent in postmeasles cases and ranged from behavioral abnormalities to motor deficits. C.S.F. examination showed that most of the cases demonstrated increase in the protein content (45-100mg) and pleocytosis. Myelin protein was detected in 8 samples and 6 samples of postmeasles and varicella C.S.F. out of 12 samples in Tested in each group. Specific virus IgG antibody was detected significantly in 8 paired C.S.F. samples of postvaricella group and only one sample of postmeasles out of 12 paired samples tested in each group. C-T. scan examination revealed that the most common finding was the brain oedema (13 in measles, and 21 in varicella group).