Spatiotemporal dynamics and risk factors of rotavirus A circulation in backyard pig farms in a Philippine setting.

Rotavirus A is one of the leading etiological agents of porcine gastroenteritis, a condition which results to stunted growth among piglets. Moreover, there is increasing evidence for zoonosis of rotavirus A (RVA), which is also the principal cause of diarrhea in children. In the absence of rigorous animal health monitoring in Philippine backyard farms, there is therefore a strong need for RVA surveillance. In this study, 30 randomly selected backyard farms were subjected to surveillance for RVA for 12 months. Results show that RVA detection at a monthly farm-level rate ranged from 0 to 52%, with an overall average of 23%. RVA had higher detection rates in adult pigs compared to young piglets and was most prevalent in non-diarrheic stools, indicating asymptomatic circulation of the virus. Spatiotemporal analysis demonstrated that the viral circulation exhibits a seasonal pattern that peaks and forms geographical clusters during the cooler months of the year, suggesting farm-to-farm transmission. Risk factor analysis identified specific farm conditions that increase the likelihood of RVA circulation: presence of gilts, larger herd size, presence of other animals, and abiotic factors such as low relative humidity and low altitude. The same analysis also revealed three major management practices that can help reduce the pressure of infection in these farms: sanitation and waste disposal, animal grouping, and diet. This new perspective on porcine RVA circulation will benefit the underprivileged backyard farmers and help empower them to protect both animal and public health.

Association between nutrient intake from vegetables and BMI category of in-school adolescents in urban and rural areas in Davao City, Philippines.

Consumption of vegetables may contribute to alleviating the double burden of malnutrition, which is widespread among adolescents. However, the link between specific nutrient intakes from vegetables and the body mass index (BMI) of in-school adolescents is not widely studied. This study determined the association between the nutrient intakes from the vegetables consumed and the BMI category of in-school adolescents in urban and rural areas in Davao City, Philippines. Self-reported vegetable consumption was collected from the respondents, and the corresponding nutrient intakes were calculated using the USDA food composition tables. The BMI of the participating adolescents was also measured. The results show that being underweight or overweight is generally associated with lower macronutrient and micronutrient intakes from the vegetables consumed, namely, bell pepper, bitter gourd, cabbage, carrot, chayote, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, Malabar spinach, moringa, mung bean, okra, potato, sponge gourd, squash, string beans, sweet potato, sweet potato tops, taro, tomato, water spinach (P < 0.05). The nutrient intakes from vegetables consumed by adolescents from urban households were generally higher. The findings highlight the contribution of vegetables to the nutrient intakes in the adolescent population. This study reinforces the need for targeted dietary guidelines and further promotion of vegetables, especially indigenous ones, to improve the nutritional status of adolescents in the Philippines.

The effect of fast-food restaurants on childhood obesity: a school level analysis.

We analyze, using an instrumental variable approach, the effect of the number of fast-food restaurants on school level obesity rates in Arkansas. Using distance to the nearest major highway as an instrument, our results suggest that exposure to fast-food restaurants can impact weight outcomes. Specifically, we find that the number of fast-food restaurants within a mile from the school can significantly affect school level obesity rates.