Unveiling the hidden threat: investigating gastrointestinal parasites and their costly impact on slaughtered livestock.

This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in ruminants slaughtered at the abattoir in district Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was determined to be 72.92% based on faecal examination. Among the ruminant species, goats exhibited a significantly higher (P < 0.05) prevalence of parasitic infection (78.63%) compared to cattle, buffalo, and sheep. Additionally, female ruminants showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) prevalence of infection (85.62%) compared to males (65.13%). The intestines (both small and large) of small and large ruminants were found to be significantly more affected, with a prevalence of 39.58% of parasitic infection compared to other examined organs. A total of ten parasitic genera were identified in ruminants, including hydatid cysts. Ruminants with a high burden of parasites (45.74%) significantly outnumbered those with light (23.40%) and moderate (30.85%) burdens. Economically, the estimated annual losses in Pakistan due to organ condemnation with GI parasites were substantial, amounting to Pak. Rs. 405.09/- million (USD = 1,428,760). These findings underscore the significance of GI parasite infections as a major animal health concern and a cause of significant economic losses in the research area.

AI-CADR: Artificial Intelligence Based Risk Stratification of Coronary Artery Disease using Novel Non-invasive Biomarkers.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest, accounting for a large percentage of global mortality. A timely diagnosis and detection may save a person's life. The research suggests a methodological framework for non-invasive risk stratification based on information only possible after invasive coronary angiography. Novel clinical, chemical, and molecular cardiac biomarkers were used as input features from an especially collected dataset. Following a thorough evaluative search in the biomarker feature space, the optimum feature and classifier or regression technique (regressor) set were selected using K-fold cross-validation. Ten machine learning (ML) classifiers were employed in classification tasks to determine the number of affected cardiac vessels, the Gensini group, and the severity of CAD with 82.58%, 86.26%, and 90.91% accuracy, respectively. Eleven approaches were used in regression tasks to calculate stenosis percentage and Gensini score, with R-squared values of 0.58 and 0.56, respectively. Following a thorough evaluative search in the biomarkers feature space, the optimum feature and classifier or regressor set were selected using K-fold cross-validation. The biomarkers and classifier or regressor combinations serve as the foundation for the proposed risk stratification framework, incorporating clinical protocol. Finally, our proposed framework is compared to state-of-the-art studies, offering a robust, well-rounded, early detection capable, and novel 'biomarkers-ML combination' approach to risk stratification.

A review of intact glycopeptide enrichment and glycan separation through hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography stationary phase materials.

Protein glycosylation, one of the most important biologically relevant post-translational modifications for biomarker discovery, faces analytical challenges due to heterogeneous glycosite, diverse glycans, and mass spectrometry limitations. Glycopeptide enrichment by removing abundant hydrophobic peptides helps overcome some of these obstacles. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), known for its selectivity, glycan separations, intact glycopeptide enrichment, and compatibility with mass spectrometry, has seen recent advancements in stationary phases like Amide-80, glycoHILIC, amino acids or peptides for improved HILIC-based glycopeptide analysis. Utilization of these materials can improve glycopeptide enrichment through solid-phase extraction and separation via high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, using glycopeptides themselves to modify HILIC stationary phases holds promise for improving selectivity and sensitivity in glycosylation analysis. Additionally, HILIC has capability to assess the information about glycosites and structural information of glycans. This review summarizes recent breakthroughs in HILIC stationary materials, highlighting their impact on glycopeptide analysis. Ongoing research on advanced materials continues to refine HILIC's performance, solidifying its value as a tool for exploring protein glycosylation.

Robust bilayer solid electrolyte interphase for Zn electrode with high utilization and efficiency.

Construction of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) of zinc (Zn) electrode is an effective strategy to stabilize Zn electrode/electrolyte interface. However, single-layer SEIs of Zn electrodes undergo rupture and consequent failure during repeated Zn plating/stripping. Here, we propose the construction of a robust bilayer SEI that simultaneously achieves homogeneous Zn2+ transport and durable mechanical stability for high Zn utilization rate (ZUR) and Coulombic efficiency (CE) of Zn electrode by adding 1,3-Dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone as a representative electrolyte additive. This bilayer SEI on Zn surface consists of a crystalline ZnCO3-rich outer layer and an amorphous ZnS-rich inner layer. The ordered outer layer improves the mechanical stability during cycling, and the amorphous inner layer homogenizes Zn2+ transport for homogeneous, dense Zn deposition. As a result, the bilayer SEI enables reversible Zn plating/stripping for 4800 cycles with an average CE of 99.95% (± 0.06%). Meanwhile, Zn | |Zn symmetric cells show durable lifetime for over 550 h with a high ZUR of 98% under an areal capacity of 28.4 mAh cm-2. Furthermore, the Zn full cells based on the bilayer SEI functionalized Zn negative electrodes coupled with different positive electrodes all exhibit stable cycling performance under high ZUR.

Role of the Nucleus Accumbens in Signaled Avoidance Actions.

Animals, humans included, navigate their environments guided by sensory cues, responding adaptively to potential dangers and rewards. Avoidance behaviors serve as adaptive strategies in the face of signaled threats, but the neural mechanisms orchestrating these behaviors remain elusive. Current circuit models of avoidance behaviors indicate that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the ventral striatum plays a key role in signaled avoidance behaviors, but the nature of this engagement is unclear. Evolving perspectives propose the NAc as a pivotal hub for action selection, integrating cognitive and affective information to heighten the efficiency of both appetitive and aversive motivated behaviors. To unravel the engagement of the NAc during active and passive avoidance, we used calcium imaging fiber photometry to examine NAc GABAergic neuron activity in ad libitum moving mice performing avoidance behaviors. We then probed the functional significance of NAc neurons using optogenetics and genetically targeted or electrolytic lesions. We found that NAc neurons code contraversive orienting movements and avoidance actions. However, direct optogenetic inhibition or lesions of NAc neurons did not impair active or passive avoidance behaviors, challenging the notion of their purported pivotal role in adaptive avoidance. The findings emphasize that while the NAc encodes avoidance movements, it is not required for avoidance behaviors, highlighting the distinction between behavior encoding or representation and mediation or generation.

Genetic variation and population structure of Taenia multiceps (Coenurus cerebralis) based on mitochondrial cox1 gene: A comprehensive global analysis.

Taenia multiceps is a neglected parasite having veterinary and public health importance. The predilection sites of the parasite larva (Coenurus cerebralis) are brain (cerebral coenurosis) and subcutaneous (non-cerebral coenurosis). There is a dearth of data regarding molecular characterization of T. multiceps and even fewer population structure-based studies on T. multiceps. The current study was conducted to provide epidemiological information regarding the global population structure of the parasite. The NCBI GenBank database was accessed to download the sequences of cox1 gene, which were further subjected to PopArt software to construct median-joining networks. The DnaSp software was used to compute neutrality and diversity indices. Host and region-wise indices of neutrality and diversity were also computed. There were 166 gene sequences found in the NCBI database. Followed by removal of short gene sequences, 143 were considered to perform bioinformatic analyses. A total of 30 haplotypes with 46 mutations and 23 parsimony informative sites were found. High diversity (Hd = 0.889, π = 0.01186) and negative but statistically insignificant neutrality indices (Tajima's D = -1.57659, Fu's Fs = -10.552) were found. Region-wise results revealed highest haplotype diversities in isolates from KSA (Hd = 1.00) followed by Greece and Italy (Hd = 0.962), and China (Hd = 0.931). Host-wise data analysis showed an overall negative Tajima's D value and there exists highest haplotype diversity in cattle (Hd = 1.00) followed by dogs (Hd = 0.833), sheep (Hd = 0.795) and goats (Hd = 0.788). The findings of the study indicate that the population diversity of T. multiceps will increase worldwide as shown by high diversity and negative neutrality indices. The findings of the study significantly add-in to the existing bank of knowledge about population structure of T. multiceps. We recommend conducting more studies employing different genetic markers to better comprehend the epidemiology of the parasite.

A novel algorithmic multi-attribute decision-making framework for solar panel selection using modified aggregations of cubic intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set.

To address the shortcomings of the cubic intuitionistic fuzzy sets (CIFSs) for the entitlement of multi-argument approximate function, the cubic intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set (Ω-set) is an emerging study area. This type of setting associates the sub-parametric tuples with the collection of CIFSs. Categorizing the evaluation of parameters into their corresponding sub-parametric values based on non-overlapping sets has significance in decision making and optimization related situations. Some operations of Ω-set are proposed in this study, along with certain practical features. We provide the complement, P-order, and R-order subsets, P-union ( ∪ P ), R-union ( ∪ R ), P-intersection ( ∩ P ) and R-intersection ( ∩ R ) of Ω-sets. The internal cubic intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set ( Ω I -set) and the external cubic intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set ( Ω E -set) are also proposed in this paper, which will aid researchers in applying this new theory to other areas of study. We show a few examples in this context and look into some more aspects of ∪ P , ∪ R , ∩ P and ∩ R of Ω I -sets and Ω E -sets. Arguments for a few significant theorems about Ω I -sets and Ω E -sets are also presented. Lastly, an algorithm is presented that assists decision-makers in evaluating appropriate solar panels to establish solar plants. The proposed algorithm uses the idea of ∪ P and ∪ R for two Ω-sets constructed based on expert opinions of decision makers.

Unveiling Endogenous Serum Peptides as Potential Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, mainly associated with liver cirrhosis. Current diagnostic methods for HCC have limited sensitivity and specificity, highlighting the need for improved early detection and intervention. In this study, we used a comprehensive approach involving endogenous peptidome along with bioinformatics analysis to identify and evaluate potential biomarkers for HCC. Serum samples from 40 subjects, comprising 20 HCC cases and 20 patients with liver cirrhosis (CIRR), were analyzed. Among 2568 endogenous peptides, 67 showed significant differential expression between the HCC vs CIRR. Further analysis revealed three endogenous peptides (VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG, NRFTQKSLSLSPG, and SARQSTLDKEL) that showed far better performance compared to AFP in terms of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), showcasing their potential as biomarkers for HCC. Additionally, endogenous peptide IAVEWESNGQPENNYKT that belongs to the precursor protein Immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 4 was detected in 100% of the HCC group and completely absent in the CIRR group, suggesting a promising diagnostic biomarker. Gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed the potential involvement of these dysregulated peptides in HCC. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of HCC and may contribute to the development of improved diagnostic methods and therapeutic targets for HCC.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Oleyl-WRH Peptides for siRNA Delivery.

Delivering nucleic acid therapeutics across cell membranes is a significant challenge. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) containing arginine (R), tryptophan (W), and histidine (H) show promise for siRNA delivery. To improve siRNA delivery and silence a model STAT3 gene, we hypothesized that oleyl acylation to CPPs, specifically (WRH)n, would enhance STAT3 silencing efficiency in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide chemistry, we synthesized, purified, and characterized the oleyl-conjugated (WRH)n (n = 1-4) peptides. The peptide/siRNA complexes were non-cytotoxic at N/P 40 (~20 µM) against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SK-OV-3, and HEK-293 cells after 72 h incubation. All peptide/siRNA complexes showed serum stability at N/P ≥ 40. The synthesized conjugates, with a diameter of <100 nm, formed nano-complexes with siRNA and exhibited a stable range of zeta potential values (13-18 mV at N/P = 40). Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis provided qualitative and quantitative evidence of a successful cellular internalization of siRNA. The peptides oleyl-(WRH)3 and oleyl-(WRH)4 showed ~60% and ~75% cellular uptake of siRNA, respectively, in both MDA-MB-231 and SK-OV-3 cells. Western blot analysis of oleyl-(WRH)4 demonstrated effective silencing of the STAT-3 gene, with ~75% silencing in MDA-MB-231 cells and ~45% in SK-OV-3 cells.

Thiourea-functionalized aminoglutethimide derivatives as anti-leishmanial agents.

Aim: We aim to develop new anti-leishmanial agents against Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica.Materials & methods: A total of 23 thiourea derivatives of (±)-aminoglutethimide were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro activity against promastigotes of L. major and L. tropica.Results & conclusion: The N-benzoyl analogue 7p was found potent (IC50 = 12.7 µM) against L. major and non toxic to normal cells. The docking studies, indicates that these inhibitors may target folate and glycolytic pathways of the parasite. The N-hexyl compound 7v was found strongly active against both species, and lacked cytotoxicity against normal cells, whereas compound 7r, with a 3,5-bis-(tri-fluoro-methyl)phenyl unit, was active against Leishmania, but was cytotoxic in nature. Compound 7v was thus identified as a hit for further studies.

[Box: see text].

Specialized nutritious foods and behavior change communication interventions during the first 1000 d of life to prevent stunting: a quasi-experimental study in Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Considerable evidence supports the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation with or without nutrition education in preventing stunting in developing countries, but evidence from Afghanistan is scarce. OBJECTIVES: This project aimed to assess the effectiveness of specialized nutritious food (SNF), social and behavior change communication (SBCC) intervention to prevent stunting among children under 2 y during the first 1000 d of life in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. METHODS: We used a community-based quasi-experimental pre-post study design with a control group. Pregnant and lactating women received a monthly ration of 7.5 kg of super cereal (250 g/d) during pregnancy and the first 6 mo of breastfeeding. Children aged 6-23 mo received 30 sachets of medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (50 g/sachet/d) monthly. We compared pre- and postintervention assessments of the intervention and control groups to isolate the effect of the intervention on key study outcomes at the endline by difference-in-differences (DID) estimates. RESULTS: A total of 2928 and 3205 households were surveyed at baseline and endline. DID estimates adjusted for child, maternal, and household characteristics indicated a significant reduction in stunting (DID: -5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -9.9, -0.2) and underweight (DID: -4.6% (95% CI: -8.6, -0.5) among children <2 y of age. However, DID estimates for wasting among children in the intervention and control groups were not significantly different (DID: -1.7 (95% CI: -5.1, 1.6). Furthermore, exposure to the SBCC messages was associated with improvements in the early initiation of breastfeeding (DID: 19.6% (95% CI: 15.6, 23.6), exclusive breastfeeding under 6 mo (DID: 11.0% (95% CI: 2.3, 19.7), minimum meal frequency (DID: 23% (95% CI: 17.7, 28.2), and minimum acceptable diet (DID: 13% (95% CI: 9.8, 16.3). CONCLUSIONS: The provision of SNF in combination with SBCC during the first 1000 d of life was associated with reduction in stunting and underweight and improvements in infant and young child feeding practices among children under 2 y of age. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04581993.

Rechargeable alkali metal-chlorine batteries: advances, challenges, and future perspectives.

The emergence of Li-SOCl2 batteries in the 1970s as a high-energy-density battery system sparked considerable interest among researchers. However, limitations in the primary cell characteristics have restricted their potential for widespread adoption in today's sustainable society. Encouragingly, recent developments in alkali/alkaline-earth metal-Cl2 (AM-Cl2) batteries have shown impressive reversibility with high specific capacity and cycle performance, revitalizing the potential of SOCl2 batteries and becoming a promising technology surpassing current lithium-ion batteries. In this review, the emerging AM-Cl2 batteries are comprehensively summarized for the first time. The development history and advantages of Li-SOCl2 batteries are traced, followed by the critical working mechanisms for achieving high rechargeability. The design concepts of electrodes and electrolytes for AM-Cl2 batteries as well as key characterization techniques are also demonstrated. Furthermore, the current challenges and corresponding strategies, as well as future directions regarding the battery are systematically discussed. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the state-of-the-art AM-Cl2 battery technology and accelerate the development of practical AM-Cl2 batteries for next-generation high-energy storage systems.

The Effectiveness of Nutritional Interventions Implemented through Lady Health Workers on the Reduction of Stunting in Children under 5 in Pakistan: The Difference-in-Difference Analysis.

In Pakistan, the 2018 National Nutrition Survey reported that 40% of children under five years old were stunted. This study assessed the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation in reducing stunting among children under five years old in two rural districts in Sindh, Pakistan. This was a mixed-method quasi-experimental study comprising intervention and control populations, with 3397 and 3277 children under five years old participating in the baseline and end-line surveys, respectively. The study areas were similar in terms of demographic and economic circumstances. In the intervention group, pregnant and lactating women (first six months post-partum) received wheat soy blend, children 6-23 months old received Wawamum (lipid-based supplement), and children 24-59 months old received micronutrient powders, all through lady health workers. This was underpinned by nutrition behaviour change communication for appropriate complementary feeding practices and hygiene promotion targeted at primary caregivers. The control group received no intervention. The impact was assessed using the difference-in-difference analysis with kernel propensity score matching to adjust the differences among the control and intervention populations. The overall DID analysis indicated that the intervention did not significantly reduce the prevalence of stunting (under 5 years) [DID = -5.1, p = 0.079]. The adjusted DID indicated a significant decrease of 13% [DID = -13.0, p = 0.001] in the number of stunted children 24-59 months of age at the endline survey. A significant reduction in underweight among children 24-59 months old was also observed (DID = -9.4%, p = 0.014). In conclusion, this evidence further establishes that nutrient uptake through an intervention for a short duration cannot effectively reduce stunting. It requires continuous nutritional supplementation for mothers during the pregnancy and an initial six months of lactation and then nutritional supplementation for children 6-59 months of age underpinned by effective behaviour change communication targeting mothers and other caregivers for improving complementary feeding practices and hygiene promotion.

Bidentate Coordination Structure Facilitates High-Voltage and High-Utilization Aqueous Zn-I2 Batteries.

The aqueous zinc-iodine battery is a promising energy storage device, but the conventional two-electron reaction potential and energy density of the iodine cathode are far from meeting practical application requirements. Given that iodine is rich in redox reactions, activating the high-valence iodine cathode reaction has become a promising research direction for developing high-voltage zinc-iodine batteries. In this work, by designing a multifunctional electrolyte additive trimethylamine hydrochloride (TAH), a stable high-valence iodine cathode in four-electron-transfer I-/I2/I+ reactions with a high theoretical specific capacity is achieved through a unique amine group, Cl bidentate coordination structure of (TA)ICl. Characterization techniques such as synchrotron radiation, in situ Raman spectra, and DFT calculations are used to verify the mechanism of the stable bidentate structure. This electrolyte additive stabilizes the zinc anode by promoting the desolvation process and shielding mechanism, enabling the zinc anode to cycle steadily at a maximum areal capacity of 57 mAh cm-2 with 97 % zinc utilization rate. Finally, the four-electron-transfer aqueous Zn-I2 full cell achieves 5000 stable cycles at an N/P ratio of 2.5. The unique bidentate coordination structure contributes to the further development of high-valence and high capacity aqueous zinc-iodine batteries.

Deep eutectic solvents as sustainable extraction media for extraction of polysaccharides from natural sources: Status, challenges and prospects.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) emerge as promising alternatives to conventional solvents, offering outstanding extraction capabilities, low toxicity, eco-friendliness, straightforward synthesis procedures, broad applicability, and impressive recyclability. DES are synthesized by combining two or more components through various synthesis procedures, such as heat-assisted mixing/stirring, grinding, freeze drying, and evaporation. Polysaccharides, as abundant natural materials, are highly valued for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustainability. These versatile biopolymers can be derived from various natural sources such as plants, algae, animals, or microorganisms using diverse extraction techniques. This review explores the synthesis procedures of DES, their physicochemical properties, characterization analysis, and their application in polysaccharide extraction. The extraction optimization strategies, parameters affecting DES-based polysaccharide extraction, and separation mechanisms are comprehensively discussed. Additionally, this review provides insights into recently developed molecular guides for DES screening and the utilization of artificial neural networks for optimizing DES-based extraction processes. DES serve as excellent extraction media for polysaccharides from different sources, preserving their functional features. They are utilized both as extraction solvents and as supporting media to enhance the extraction abilities of other solvents. Continued research aims to improve DES-based extraction methods and achieve selective, energy-efficient processes to meet the demands of this expanding field.

Cost-comparison of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal resections: a mapped systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies.

Background: Robotic colorectal resections (RCR) have been gaining popularity recently due to several advantages in addition to oncological safety. The objective of this review is to evaluate the cost comparison of RCR versus laparoscopic colorectal resections (LCR). Methods: All types of comparative studies reporting the cost of RCR versus LCR were retrieved from the search of standard medical electronic databases and analysis was conducted by using the principles of meta-analysis on the statistical software RevMan version 5. Results: The search of medical databases yielded 13 studies (one randomised trial and 12 comparative studies) on 16,082 patients undergoing oncological and non-oncological colorectal resections. Eleven studies reported total cost whereas seven studies reported only operative cost. In the random effects model analysis, LCR was associated with the reduced total cost [standardised mean difference -62.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): -75.14 to -49.54, Z=9.55, P<0.001] as well as reduced operative cost (standardised mean difference -4.60, 95% CI: -5.90 to -3.31, Z=6.96, P<0.001) compared to RCR. However, there was significant heterogeneity [Tau2=346.74, Chi2=29,559.11, df =11 (P<0.001; I2=100%); Tau2=2.73, Chi2=832.21, df =6 (P<0.001; I2=99%)] among included studies. Conclusions: The LCR seems to be more economical as compared to the RCR in terms of operative cost as well as total cost (operative plus in-patient stay). However, due to statistically significant heterogeneity among included studies and paucity of the randomised trials, these findings should be taken cautiously.

Molecular Epidemiology and Phylogeny of Theileria ovis and Theileria lestoquardi in Sheep and Goats from Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Background: Theileria spp. are responsible for ovine and caprine theileriosis, leading to significant morbidity and mortality in small ruminants. The present study aims to investigate Theileria spp. infections in small ruminants from Southern Punjab in Pakistan, and genetic characterize revealed Theileria spp. isolates. Methods: A total of 93 sheep and 107 goats were sampled between May and August 2022. Blood smears were examined microscopically, and PCR amplification targeting the 18S rRNA gene was performed to detect Theileria spp. Additionally, specific PCR assays targeting 18S rRNA and ms1 partial sequences were used to identify Theileria ovis and T. lestoquardi, respectively.  Results: The prevalence of Theileria spp. was significantly higher using PCR (13.5%) compared to microscopic screening (5%). Sheep showed a higher prevalence rate (19.4%) compared to goats (8.4%) (p = 0.024). Young sheep aged ≤ 1 year were more commonly infected with Theileria spp. (41%) compared to older sheep (p = 0.006). The prevalence of Theileria spp. was higher in sheep-only herds (37.3%) compared to goat-only herds (18%) or mixed-species herds (8.1%) (p = 0.015). The prevalence rates of T. ovis and T. lestoquardi were 9% and 2.5%, respectively, with four animals (2 goats and 2 sheep) showing co-infection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our T. ovis 18S rRNA sequence clustered with previously reported sequences from sheep in Turkey, China, Spain, and goats in Tanzania. The obtained T. lestoquardi ms1 partial sequence formed a distinct cluster from other T. lestoquardi isolates in Pakistan and neighboring countries.  Conclusion: Theileria spp. co-circulation in Pakistani small ruminants, particularly the presence of T. ovis and T. lestoquardi, highlights the need for attention from animal health decision-makers due to their financial and health impacts.

Exploring the path to polio eradication: insights from consecutive seroprevalence surveys among Pakistani children.

Introduction: After trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (tOPV) cessation, Pakistan has maintained immunity to type 2 poliovirus by administering inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine immunization, alongside monovalent OPV type 2 (mOPV2) and IPV in supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). This study assesses the change in poliovirus type 2 immunity after tOPV withdrawal and due to SIAs with mOPV2 and IPV among children aged 6-11 months. Methods: Three cross-sectional sequential serological surveys were conducted in 12 polio high-risk areas of Pakistan. 25 clusters from each geographical stratum were selected utilizing probability proportional to size. Results: Seroprevalence of type 2 poliovirus was 49%, with significant variation observed among surveyed areas; <30% in Pishin, >80% in Killa Abdullah, Mardan & Swabi, and Rawalpindi. SIAs with IPV improved immunity from 38 to 57% in Karachi and 60 to 88% in Khyber. SIAs with IPV following mOPV2 improved immunity from 62 to 65% in Killa Abdullah, and combined mOPV2 and IPV SIAs in Pishin improved immunity from 28 to 89%. Results also reflected that immunity rates for serotypes 1 and 3 were consistently above 90% during all three phases and across all geographical areas. Conclusion: The study findings highlight the importance of implementing effective vaccination strategies to prevent the re-emergence of poliovirus. Moreover, the results provide crucial information for policymakers working toward achieving global polio eradication.

Exploring mosquito abundance and Plasmodium infection through nested-PCR: implications for disease surveillance and control.

The Plasmodium is responsible for malaria which poses a major health threat, globally. This study is based on the estimation of the relative abundance of mosquitoes, and finding out the correlations of meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity and rainfall) with the abundance of mosquitoes. In addition, this study also focused on the use of nested PCR (species-specific nucleotide sequences of 18S rRNA genes) to explore the Plasmodium spp. in female Anopheles. In the current study, the percentage relative abundance of Culex mosquitoes was 57.65% and Anopheles 42.34% among the study areas. In addition, the highest number of mosquitoes was found in March in district Mandi Bahauddin at 21 °C (Tmax = 27, Tmin = 15) average temperature, 69% average relative humidity and 131 mm rainfall, and these climatic factors were found to affect the abundance of the mosquitoes, directly or indirectly. Molecular analysis showed that overall, 41.3% of the female Anopheles pools were positive for genus Plasmodium. Among species, the prevalence of Plasmodium (P.) vivax (78.1%) was significantly higher than P. falciparum (21.9%). This study will be helpful in the estimation of future risk of mosquito-borne diseases along with population dynamic of mosquitoes to enhance the effectiveness of vector surveillance and control programs.