Elevated risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes in people with past history of COVID-19 in northeastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: An increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) after COVID-19 has been reported in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The burden of COVID-related DM has yet to be described in Africa, where the overall risk of DM has been increasing rapidly. Our objective was to compare the prevalence of pre-DM and DM in Nigerian individuals with a history of COVID-19 to individuals without known COVID-19 infection. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective cohort study with 256 individuals with a past medical history of COVID-19 with no history of pre-DM or DM and 256 individuals without a history of COVID-19 or pre-DM/DM. Participants were categorized as pre-DM (fasting capillary glucose 100-125 mg/dL) or DM (fasting capillary glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL). We employed univariate and multivariable logistic regression to identify key predictors and adjust for confounders related to hyperglycaemia risk factors. Additionally, we used multinomial logistic regression to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 history and diabetes status, distinguishing between normal, pre-diabetic, and diabetic glucose levels. All models were adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, physical activity, central adiposity, and family history of DM. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, those with a history of COVID-19 had a similar median age (38 vs. 40 years, p = 0.84), had a higher proportion of men (63% vs. 49%), and had a lower prevalence of central adiposity (waist: hip ratio ≥ 0.90 for males and WHR ≥ 0.85 for females) (48% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.06). Of the 256 with a history of COVID-19, 44 (17%) required in-patient care. The median (interquartile range) time interval between COVID-19 diagnosis and the glycaemic assessment was 19 (IQR: 14, 24) months. Pre-DM prevalence was 27% in the post-COVID-19 group and 4% in the control group, whereas the prevalence of DM was 7% in the post-COVID-19 group and 2% in the control group. After multivariable adjustment, the odds of pre-DM were 8.12 (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.98, 16.58; p < 0.001) higher, and the odds of DM were 3.97 (95% CI: 1.16, 13.63) higher in those with a history of COVID-19 compared to controls. In the adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, individuals with a history of COVID-19 exhibited significantly elevated risks for pre-diabetes (RRR = 7.55, 95% CI: 3.76-15.17) and diabetes (RRR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.01-11.71) compared to those without COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Previous COVID-19 was found to be a risk factor for prevalent pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus in Nigeria. More intensive screening for DM in those with a history of COVID-19 should be considered.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of ambient temperature and precipitation with infections from five food-borne bacterial pathogens.

Studies on climate variables and food pathogens are either pathogen- or region-specific, necessitating a consolidated view on the subject. This study aims to systematically review all studies on the association of ambient temperature and precipitation on the incidence of gastroenteritis and bacteraemia from Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio, and Listeria species. PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched up to 9 March 2023. We screened 3,204 articles for eligibility and included 83 studies in the review and three in the meta-analysis. Except for one study on Campylobacter, all showed a positive association between temperature and Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio sp., and Campylobacter gastroenteritis. Similarly, most of the included studies showed that precipitation was positively associated with these conditions. These positive associations were found regardless of the effect measure chosen. The pooled incidence rate ratio (IRR) for the three studies that included bacteraemia from Campylobacter and Salmonella sp. was 1.05 (95 per cent confidence interval (95% CI): 1.03, 1.06) for extreme temperature and 1.09 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.19) for extreme precipitation. If current climate trends continue, our findings suggest these pathogens would increase patient morbidity, the need for hospitalization, and prolonged antibiotic courses.

Validation of a national leadership framework to promote and protect quality residential aged care: protocol for a Delphi study.

INTRODUCTION: Australia's ageing population is driving an increased demand for residential aged care services, yet concerns about the quality and safety of such care remain. The recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified various limitations relating to leadership within these services. While some competency frameworks exist globally, there is a need for sector-specific leadership competencies in the Australian residential aged care setting to promote and protect quality of care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study uses the Delphi technique to establish the content validity of a national leadership framework (RCSM-QF) for promoting and protecting the quality of residential aged care in Australia. Participants will be identifiable experts through current employment within, policy development for or research with the aged care sector. The survey will ask participants to rate the relevance, importance and clarity of RCSM-QF items and their corresponding descriptions and seek suggestions for revisions or additional items. Content validity will be assessed using the Content Validity Index, with items meeting specific criteria retained, revised, or removed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval has been sought via the James Cook University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to ensure the well-being and convenience of participants while mitigating potential recruitment challenges. Data will be prepared for submission to an appropriate peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant academic conferences.

Costs and healthcare use of patients with chronic kidney disease in the Northern Territory, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is high in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. This study aims to describe the healthcare use and associated costs of people at risk of CKD (e.g. acute kidney injury, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease) or living with CKD in the NT, from a healthcare funder perspective. METHODS: We included a retrospective cohort of patients at risk of, or living with CKD, on 1 January 2017. Patients on kidney replacement therapy were excluded from the study. Data from the Territory Kidney Care database, encompassing patients from public hospitals and primary health care services across the NT was used to conduct costing. Annual healthcare costs, including hospital, primary health care, medication, and investigation costs were described over a one-year follow-up period. Factors associated with high total annual healthcare costs were identified with a cost prediction model. RESULTS: Among 37,398 patients included in this study, 23,419 had a risk factor for CKD while 13,979 had CKD (stages 1 to 5, not on kidney replacement therapy). The overall mean (± SD) age was 45 years (± 17), and a large proportion of the study cohort were First Nations people (68%). Common comorbidities in the overall cohort included diabetes (36%), hypertension (32%), and coronary artery disease (11%). Annual healthcare cost was lowest in those at risk of CKD (AUD$7,958 per person) and highest in those with CKD stage 5 (AUD$67,117 per person). Inpatient care contributed to the majority (76%) of all healthcare costs. Predictors of increased total annual healthcare cost included more advanced stages of CKD, and the presence of comorbidities. In CKD stage 5, the additional cost per person per year was + $53,634 (95%CI 32,769 to 89,482, p < 0.001) compared to people in the at risk group without CKD. CONCLUSION: The total healthcare costs in advanced stages of CKD is high, even when patients are not on dialysis. There remains a need for effective primary prevention and early intervention strategies targeting CKD and related chronic conditions.

Molecular epidemiology and genetic evolution of avian influenza H5N1 subtype in Nigeria, 2006 to 2021.

Nigeria recorded one of the earliest outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus H5N1 in 2006, which spread to other African countries. In 2023, 18 countries reported outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry, with human cases documented in Egypt, Nigeria, and Djibouti. There is limited information on the molecular epidemiology of HPAI H5N1 in Nigeria. We determined the molecular epidemiology and genetic evolution of the virus from 2006 to 2021. We investigated the trend and geographical distribution across Nigeria. The evolutionary history of 61 full-length genomes was performed from 13 countries worldwide, and compared with sequences obtained from the early outbreaks in Nigeria up to 2021. MEGA 11 was used to determine the phylogenetic relationships of H5N1 strains, which revealed close ancestry between sequences in Nigeria and those from other African countries. Clade classification was performed using the subspecies classification tool for Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Research Center (BV-BRC) version 3.35.5. H5N1 Clade 2.2 was observed in 2006, with 2.3.2, 2.3.2.1f clades observed afterwards and 2.3.4.4b in 2021. Our findings underscore the need for genomics surveillance to track antigenic variation and clades switching to monitor the epidemiological of the virus and safeguard human and animal health.Impacts Specific variations in the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of Avian influenza virus are consistent in different geographical regions. H5N1 Clade 2.2 was reported in 2006, with 2.3.2, 2.3.2.1f afterwards and 2.3.4.4b in 2021. Nigeria is an epicentre for avian influenza with three major migratory routes for wild birds transversing the country. It is plausible that the Avian influenza in Northern Nigeria may be linked to wild bird sanctuaries in the region.

Noma disease among internally displaced persons in Northeast Nigeria: a retrospective descriptive study.

Background: Recently recognized by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease, Noma, an acute and destructive gangrenous disease affecting the gums and facial structures within the oral cavity, has a high mortality rate if untreated. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and impact of Noma among internally displaced populations in Northeastern Nigeria. Design: A retrospective study. Methods: This retrospective study investigates the prevalence and impact of Noma among internally displaced populations in Northeastern Nigeria. Noma is endemic in Northern Nigeria, Africa, and its occurrence has been linked to extreme poverty, malnutrition, poor hygiene, and inadequate healthcare - conditions exacerbated by the ongoing Boko Haram conflict. Results: The retrospective descriptive cross-sectional analysis of 17 cases reveals a median age of 8 years, with most of the patients being children who suffer significant social stigmas, such as difficulties in speaking, eating, and social integration, including reduced school attendance and marital prospects. Conclusion: The study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive research into the etiology of Noma and its socio-economic impact. It emphasizes the necessity for early and effective intervention strategies, particularly in conflict-stricken areas with limited healthcare access.

Prevalence of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates and virulence gene expression in poultry farms in Jos, Nigeria.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is increasingly becoming a global health concern. This study aimed to investigate and report MDR Escherichia coli (E. coli) prevalence, resistance, and virulence genes from poultry in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: The samples were analyzed using microbiological standard methods and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Results: A total of 179 cloacal swabs were collected from bothlocal and exotic poultry breeds, of which 99.4% (178/179) tested positive for E. coli. Among these culturally identified samples, 99.4% (177/178) were furtherconfirmed Escherichia coli with a molecular weight of 401 bp. Multidrugresistance of 45% (80/178) was observed from the confirmed isolates. PCR assays were conducted to detect genes associated with resistance to antibiotics, specifically, tetracycline (tetA gene), sulfonamide (sul1 gene), ampicillin (ampC gene), and quinolone (gyrA gene). Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results revealed substantial antibiotic resistance, with 81.9% (145/177) of the isolates being resistant to tetracycline, 80.2% (142/177) to quinolone, 69.5% (123/177) to sulfonamide, and 66.1% (117/177) to ampicillin. Further analysis on 18 isolates that showed resistance to up to four different antibiotics was carried out using multiplex PCR to detect eae, hlyA, rfbE, fliC, and fstx virulence genes. The study found that 44.4% (15/18) of the isolates were positive for the eae gene, 27.7% (5/18) for stx, 22.2% (4/18) for rfbe gene, and 5.5% (1) for hlya gene, and none tested positive for fliC gene. Conclusion: These results showed high antibiotic resistance, virulent genes, and significant levels of MDR in E. coli from poultry. This study highlights the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship practices within the poultry industry due to their profound implications for food safety and public health. This issue is particularly critical in Nigeria, where poultry farming constitutes a significant portion of smallholder farming practices.

HIV estimation using population-based surveys with non-response: A partial identification approach.

HIV estimation using data from the demographic and health surveys (DHS) is limited by the presence of non-response and test refusals. Conventional adjustments such as imputation require the data to be missing at random. Methods that use instrumental variables allow the possibility that prevalence is different between the respondents and non-respondents, but their performance depends critically on the validity of the instrument. Using Manski's partial identification approach, we form instrumental variable bounds for HIV prevalence from a pool of candidate instruments. Our method does not require all candidate instruments to be valid. We use a simulation study to evaluate and compare our method against its competitors. We illustrate the proposed method using DHS data from Zambia, Malawi and Kenya. Our simulations show that imputation leads to seriously biased results even under mild violations of non-random missingness. Using worst case identification bounds that do not make assumptions about the non-response mechanism is robust but not informative. By taking the union of instrumental variable bounds balances informativeness of the bounds and robustness to inclusion of some invalid instruments. Non-response and refusals are ubiquitous in population based HIV data such as those collected under the DHS. Partial identification bounds provide a robust solution to HIV prevalence estimation without strong assumptions. Union bounds are significantly more informative than the worst case bounds without sacrificing credibility.

Monkeypox Outbreak 2022, from a Rare Disease to Global Health Emergence: Implications for Travellers.

Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), poses a significant public health threat with the potential for global dissemination beyond its endemic regions in Central and West Africa. This study explores the multifaceted aspects of monkeypox, covering its epidemiology, genomics, travel-related spread, mass gathering implications, and economic consequences. Epidemiologically, mpox exhibits distinct patterns, with variations in age and gender susceptibility. Severe cases can arise in immunocompromised individuals, underscoring the importance of understanding the factors contributing to its transmission. Genomic analysis of MPXV highlights its evolutionary relationship with the variola virus and vaccinia virus. Different MPXV clades exhibit varying levels of virulence and transmission potential, with Clade I associated with higher mortality rates. Moreover, the role of recombination in MPXV evolution remains a subject of interest, with implications for understanding its genetic diversity. Travel and mass gatherings play a pivotal role in the spread of monkeypox. The ease of international travel and increasing globalization have led to outbreaks beyond African borders. The economic ramifications of mpox outbreaks extend beyond public health. Direct treatment costs, productivity losses, and resource-intensive control efforts can strain healthcare systems and economies. While vaccination and mitigation strategies have proven effective, the cost-effectiveness of routine vaccination in non-endemic countries remains a subject of debate. This study emphasizes the role of travel, mass gatherings, and genomics in its spread and underscores the economic impacts on affected regions. Enhancing surveillance, vaccination strategies, and public health measures are essential in controlling this emerging infectious disease.

A comprehensive review of monkeypox virus and mpox characteristics.

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is the etiological agent of monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic disease. MPXV is endemic in the forested regions of West and Central Africa, but the virus has recently spread globally, causing outbreaks in multiple non-endemic countries. In this paper, we review the characteristics of the virus, including its ecology, genomics, infection biology, and evolution. We estimate by phylogenomic molecular clock that the B.1 lineage responsible for the 2022 mpox outbreaks has been in circulation since 2016. We interrogate the host-virus interactions that modulate the virus infection biology, signal transduction, pathogenesis, and host immune responses. We highlight the changing pathophysiology and epidemiology of MPXV and summarize recent advances in the prevention and treatment of mpox. In addition, this review identifies knowledge gaps with respect to the virus and the disease, suggests future research directions to address the knowledge gaps, and proposes a One Health approach as an effective strategy to prevent current and future epidemics of mpox.

Muscle biopsy long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions, IMF and FMP in Australian pasture-based Bowen Genetics Forest Pastoral Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu Beef Cattle.

BACKGROUND: We investigated breed and gender variations in the compositions of long-chain (≥ C20) omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC omega-3 PUFA), fat melting point (FMP) and intramuscular fat (IMF) contents in biopsy samples of the M. longissimus dorsi muscle of grazing beef cattle. The hypothesis that biopsy compositions of health-beneficial LC omega-3 PUFA, FMP and IMF in a pasture-based production system will vary with breed, was tested. Muscle biopsies were taken from 127 yearling pasture-based Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu heifers and young bulls exclusive to the Australian Bowen Genetics Forest Pastoral breeding stud averaging 12 ± 2.43 months of age and under the same management routine. RESULTS: Breed had a significant influence on IMF, FMP, and the compositions of oleic acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA), docosapentaenoic (DPA), and total EPA + DHA + DPA in the M. longissimus dorsi muscle biopsies (P ≤ 0.03). The Wagyu breed had the highest (11.1%) and Hereford the lowest (5.9%) IMF (P = 0.03). The reverse trend was observed in FMP values where the Hereford breed had the highest (55 °C), Angus intermediate (46.5 °C), and Wagyu the lowest (33 °C) FMP. The Wagyu and Angus breeds had similar oleic fatty acid (18:1n-9) content, while the Hereford breed had the lowest (P < 0.01). The highest ALA, DPA, total EPA + DHA, total EPA + DHA + DPA and total ALA + EPA + DHA + DPA contents were detected in the Wagyu breed (P ≤ 0.03). The Hereford had similar EPA and DPA contents to the Angus (P ≥ 0.46). Total EPA + DHA + DPA contents in Wagyu, Angus, and Hereford were 28.8, 21.5, and 22.1 mg/100g tissue (P = 0.01), respectively. Sex was an important source of variation that influenced LC omega-3 PUFA composition, FMP and IMF, where yearling heifers had higher IMF (11.9% vs 5.3%), lower FMP (33°C vs 37°C), and higher LC omega-3 PUFA than bulls. CONCLUSION: All the results taken together indicate that the Wagyu breed at 28.8 mg/100g tissue, was the closest to meeting the Australia and New Zealand recommended source level threshold of 30 mg/100g tissue of health-beneficial ≥ C20 omega-3 FA content. Since gender was a significant determinant of LC omega-3 PUFA composition, IMF content and FMP, it should be factored into enhancement strategies of healthy meat eating quality traits in grazing cattle. These findings also suggest that the Bowen Genetics Forest Pastoral beef cattle studs are important sources of LC omega-3 PUFA that can be used to cover the deficit in these health claimable fatty acids in Western diets.

Investigating Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus seropositivity in camels and human behavioural risks in an abattoir in Nigeria.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an emerging viral pathogen with pandemic potential that is often misdiagnosed. Case fatality in low-resource settings could be up to 40% due to close contact between animals and humans. A two-year cross-sectional study was conducted in Fagge abattoir, Kano State, Nigeria, to estimate the seropositivity of CCHFV in camels using a commercial multi-species competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to the abattoir workers to assess their awareness, mitigation, and behavioural practices associated with CCHF. Of the 184 camels tested, 179 (97%) were seropositive for CCHFV (95% confidence interval (CI): 93.77, 99.11). The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of respondents was 41 (35-52), with 62% having no education. Respondents had little knowledge about CCHFV and the concept of zoonotic disease. In this study, the high estimated prevalence of antibodies to CCHFV in camels highlights the heightened risk of transmission of CCHFV in Nigeria. Similarly, a concerning lack of knowledge and inadequate preventive practices, alongside a prevalence of high-risk behaviours associated with CCHF among abattoir workers, were noted in this study. Thus, there is an urgent need for comprehensive public health education and collaborative One Health strategies to avert the threats of spillover events.

Analysing the impact of comorbid conditions and media coverage on online symptom search data: a novel AI-based approach for COVID-19 tracking.

BACKGROUND: Web search data have proven to bea valuable early indicator of COVID-19 outbreaks. However, the influence of co-morbid conditions with similar symptoms and the effect of media coverage on symptom-related searches are often overlooked, leading to potential inaccuracies in COVID-19 simulations. METHOD: This study introduces a machine learning-based approach to estimate the magnitude of the impact of media coverage and comorbid conditions with similar symptoms on online symptom searches, based on two scenarios with quantile levels 10-90 and 25-75. An incremental batch learning RNN-LSTM model was then developed for the COVID-19 simulation in Australia and New Zealand, allowing the model to dynamically simulate different infection rates and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants. RESULT: The COVID-19 infected person-directed symptom searches were found to account for only a small proportion of the total search volume (on average 33.68% in Australia vs. 36.89% in New Zealand) compared to searches influenced by media coverage and comorbid conditions (on average 44.88% in Australia vs. 50.94% in New Zealand). The proposed method, which incorporates estimated symptom component ratios into the RNN-LSTM embedding model, significantly improved COVID-19 simulation performance. CONCLUSION: Media coverage and comorbid conditions with similar symptoms dominate the total number of online symptom searches, suggesting that direct use of online symptom search data in COVID-19 simulations may overestimate COVID-19 infections. Our approach provides new insights into the accurate estimation of COVID-19 infections using online symptom searches, thereby assisting governments in developing complementary methods for public health surveillance.

In patients with chronic heart failure which polypharmacy pheno-groups are associated with adverse health outcomes? (Polypharmacy pheno-groups and heart failure outcomes).

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure are living longer with the inevitable morbidity of rising medication counts. It remains uncertain what fraction of this ensuing polypharmacy exactly predicts adverse clinical outcomes. METHODS: This prospective study examined records of patients admitted to a Weill Cornell-affiliated tertiary medical institution with a confirmed diagnosis of heart failure between January 2018 to January 2022. Each patient's medications for the past four months were tallied, and a definitional threshold of ≤4, ≥5, ≥10 medications was established. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within the study period. RESULTS: Out of a total of 7354 patients included in the study, 70 % were males with a median age of 59 years IQR (48-71). The median (IQR) age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 21-5. A total of 1475 (20 %) participants died within the study period. Patient cohorts with excessive polypharmacy (≥9 medications) had the highest probability of survival up to 1.6 years compared to those with lower medication thresholds (≤4); the mortality rate decreased by 18 % for patients with excessive polypharmacy [HR = 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.71-0.94]). Conversely, patients with non-heart failure-related polypharmacy had increased risks of ICU admissions (aOR = 1.78, 95 % CI: 1.13-2.70). CONCLUSION: In an examination of a database of patients with chronic heart failure, major non-heart failure-related polypharmacy was associated with increased risks in intensive care admissions. Excessive polypharmacy was associated with increased rates of survival.

Differential expressions of FASN, SCD, and FABP4 genes in the ribeye muscle of omega-3 oil-supplemented Tattykeel Australian White lambs.

BACKGROUND: The concept of the functional nutritional value of health-beneficial omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) is becoming a phenomenon among red meat consumers globally. This study examined the expressions of three lipogenic genes (fatty acid binding protein 4, FABP4, fatty acid synthase, FASN; and stearoyl-CoA desaturase, SCD) in the ribeye (Longissimus thoracis et lumborum) muscle of Tattykeel Australian White (TAW) lambs fed fortified omega-3 diets and correlations with fatty acids. To answer the research question, "are there differences in the expression of lipogenic genes between control, MSM whole grain and omega-3 supplemented lambs?", we tested the hypothesis that fortification of lamb diets with omega-3 will lead to a down-regulation of lipogenic genes. Seventy-five six-month old TAW lambs were randomly allocated to the (1) omega-3 oil-fortified grain pellets, (2) unfortified grain pellets (control) or (3) unfortified MSM whole grain pellets diet supplements to generate three treatments of 25 lambs each. The feeding trial lasted 47 days. RESULTS: From the Kruskal-Wallis test, the results showed a striking disparity in lipogenic gene expression between the three dietary treatments in which the FABP4 gene was significantly up-regulated by 3-folds in the muscles of lambs fed MSM Milling (MSM) whole grain diet compared to the omega-3 and control diets. A negative correlation was observed between FASN gene expression and intramuscular fat (IMF), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). The FABP4 gene expression was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). CONCLUSION: Taken together, this study's results suggest that FABP4 and FASN genes perform an important role in the biosynthesis of fatty acids in the ribeye muscle of TAW lambs, and supplementary diet composition is an important factor influencing their expressions.

Corrigendum: The epidemiological trend of monkeypox and monkeypox-varicella zoster viruses co-infection in North-Eastern Nigeria.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1066589.].

Corrigendum: Fetoplacental transmission and placental response to SARS-CoV-2: evidence from the literature.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.962937.].

Analysis of Retrospective Laboratory Data on the Burden of Bacterial Pathogens Isolated at the National Veterinary Research Institute Nigeria, 2018-2021.

Farm animals harbour bacterial pathogens, which are often viewed as important indicators of animal health and determinants of food safety. To better understand the prevalence and inform treatment, we audited laboratory data at the Bacteriology Laboratory of the NVRI from 2018-2021. Antibiotics were classified into seven basic classes: quinolones, tetracyclines, beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, macrolides, nitrofuran, and cephalosporins. Trends were analysed using a generalised linear model with a log link function for the Poisson distribution, comparing proportions between years with an offset to account for the variability in the total number of organisms per year. Avian (73.18%) samples were higher than any other sample. The major isolates identified were Escherichia. coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Proteus spp., and Pseudomonas spp. We found that antimicrobial resistance to baseline antibiotics increased over the years. Of particular concern was the increasing resistance of Klebsiella spp. to cephalosporins, an important second-generation antibiotic. This finding underscores the importance of farm animals as reservoirs of pathogens harbouring antimicrobial resistance. Effective biosecurity, surveillance, and frugal use of antibiotics in farms are needed because the health of humans and animals is intricately connected.

An assessment of Individual, community and state-level factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption among pregnant and lactating women in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease, and in its severe form can result in cretinism; the impairment of the brain development of a child. Pregnant and breastfeeding women's daily iodine requirement is elevated due to physiological changes in iodine metabolism, requiring up to double the iodine intake of other women. Although Nigeria was the first African country to be declared iodine sufficient in 2007, recent evidence has shown that only about seven in ten households consume salt with adequate iodine content (≥ 15 ppm), with variation across states. The study aimed to assess the Individual- and household-, community- and state-level factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption among pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Nigeria. METHODS: This study utilised the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to assess factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption among 4911 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Nigeria. The descriptive analysis was presented using frequencies and percentages. The prevalence of adequate and inadequate iodised salt consumption with their 95% confidence interval were computed. Several multi-level mixed effect log-binomial logistic regressions were used to explore the factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption. The Loglikelihood, Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion were used to assess the goodness of fit of the models. All analyses were adjusted for the complex survey design and analysed using Stata 15.0 at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of inadequate iodised salt consumption among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers was 35.2% (95% CI: 33.1-37.5). Inadequate consumption of iodised salt was highest among pregnant and breastfeeding women aged 45-49 years (48.2%; 95%CI: 37.8-58.8), as well as those with non-formal education (52.7%; 95%CI: 47.7-57.6) and no education (34.6%; 95%CI: 31.3-38.1). Our findings revealed that pregnant and breastfeeding women living in the poorer, middle, richer and richest quintiles were 32%, 47%, 35% and 62% less likely to consume salt with inadequate iodine compared to those in the poorest households. Those with non-formal education were 1.8 times (95%CI: 1.36-2.42) more likely to consume salt with deficient iodine than those without education. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers residing in moderately and most deprived communities were 3.5 (95%CI: 2.57-4.73) and 4.7 times (95%CI: 3.38-6.55) more likely to consume salt with inadequate iodine than those from least deprived communities. Women in the Northwestern region and those from the Southwestern region were 4.0 and 3.5 times, respectively, more likely to consume salt with inadequate iodine compared to pregnant and breastfeeding women residing in the North-Central region. CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown that inadequate consumption of iodised salt dominates among older pregnant and breastfeeding women. Also, women with non-formal education have higher prospects of consuming salt with lesser iodine. There is a need to enhance women's economic opportunities and empowerment as well as sensitisation on their nutritional requirements during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Both formal and non-formal educational initiatives on nutrition are extremely important and should be prioritised by the Nigerian government in its efforts to encourage the consumption of iodised salt among pregnant and lactating mothers. Additionally, health promotion interventions that seek to advocate iodised salt intake must be prioritised by the actors in the health sector.