Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solid of raw milk for the detection of bovine subclinical mastitis.

Background and Aim: Bovine subclinical mastitis (SCM) is highly prevalent among dairy cattle. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangladesh to evaluate the performance of electric conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) tests for the detection of SCM. Materials and Methods: We randomly selected 108 milk samples from cows of different breeds in the primary milk-producing region of Pabna and Sirajgonj districts of Bangladesh. Samples were subjected to the California mastitis test (CMT), white side test (WST), electric conductivity (EC), TDS, and culture. A cow was considered positive for SCM if it tested positive in CMT, WST, and culture, whereas a cow was considered negative for SCM if it tested negative in all three methods. These gold standards have been used to evaluate the performance of the EC and TDS tests. The optimal EC and TDS cutoff values for the detection of SCM were determined using the "optimal cutoff" function in R version 4.3.1. Results: The optimal EC cutoff value for SCM detection was found to be 6159 µS/cm or 6.16 mS/cm. A positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 31.2 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.905 were obtained for this cutoff value. The optimal cutoff value for TDS was 3100 mg/L of milk, which resulted in a positive LR+ of 45.5 and an AUC of 0.924. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the performance of EC and TDS tests in detecting SCM in Bangladesh. These results suggest that EC and TDS tests, which are inexpensive, rapid, and easy to conduct, can effectively detect SCM at the farm level.

Hierarchical true prevalence, risk factors and clinical symptoms of tuberculosis among suspects in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: The study was aimed to estimate the true prevalence of human tuberculosis (TB); identify risk factors and clinical symptoms of TB; and detect rifampicin (RIF) sensitivity in three study areas of Bangladesh. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in three Bangladesh districts during 2018. Potential risk factors, clinical symptoms, and comorbidities were collected from 684 TB suspects. Sputum specimens were examined by LED microscopy. TB hierarchical true prevalence, risk factors and clinical symptoms were estimated and identified using a Bayesian analysis framework. Rifampicin sensitivity of M. tuberculosis (MTB) was detected by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay. RESULTS: The median TB true prevalence was 14.2% (3.8; 34.5). Although overall clustering of prevalence was not found, several DOTS centers were identified with high prevalence (22.3% to 43.7%). Risk factors for TB identified (odds ratio) were age (> 25 to 45 years 2.67 (1.09; 6.99), > 45 to 60 years 3.43 (1.38; 9.19) and individuals in families/neighborhoods where a TB patient(s) has (ve) already been present (12.31 (6.79; 22.60)). Fatigue, night sweat, fever and hemoptysis were identified as important clinical symptoms. Seven of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF positive sputum specimens (65) were resistant to rifampicin. CONCLUSIONS: About one in every seven TB suspects was affected with TB. A number of the TB patients carry multi drug resistant MTB. Hierarchical true prevalence estimation allowed identifying DOTS centers with high TB burden. Insights from this study will enable more efficient use of DOTScenters-based TB surveillance to end the TB epidemic in Bangladesh by 2035.

Factors associated with antihypertensive medication use and blood pressure control in a rural area in Bangladesh: baseline data from a cluster randomised control trial.

BACKGROUND: The use of antihypertensive medications is critical for controlling high blood pressure. We aimed to investigate associations between socio-demographic factors and antihypertensive medications use, and antihypertensive medications use with different types of drugs use with levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). METHODS: For the present report we derived data from the baseline measurements of a cluster randomised control trial on 307 participants with previously diagnosed hypertension from the rural district of Narial in Bangladesh. We measured the participant's current blood pressure levels and recorded antihypertensive medications uses. Associated factors included socio-economic status, diabetes, antihypertensive medications use, and types of drugs and doses used for controlling blood pressure. We applied analysis of variance and logistic regression techniques to identify factors associated with blood pressure. RESULTS: Of the total participants, 144 (46.9%) were on antihypertensive medications. After multivariate adjustment, binary logistic regression revealed that employees (odds ratio, (95% confidence interval (CI)) (OR 3.58, 95%CI 1.38-9.28) compared to farmers, and people with diabetes (OR 2.43, 95%CI 1.13-5.26) compared to people without diabetes were associated with a higher proportion of antihypertensive medications use. Of 144 participants on antihypertensive medications, 7 (5%) had taken two doses, 114 (79%) had taken one dose per day and the rest were irregular in medication use. The mean (standard deviation) [min, max] SBP and DBP were 149 (19) mmHg [114, 217] and 90 (10) mmHg [75, 126], respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference in SBP (p = 0.10) or DBP (p = 0.67) between participants with or without antihypertensive medications or using any type of medications (p = 0.54 for SBP and 0.76 for DBP). There was no significant association between antihypertensive medications use and elevated BP levels SBP/DBP≥140/90 mmHg (p = 0.42) CONCLUSION: Less than half of the people with hypertension were on medication. Irrespective of the antihypertensive medications use, most of the participant's blood pressure was high. Further study is needed with a large sample to understand the factors and aetiology of unmanaged hypertension in rural areas of Bangladesh where the prevalence of hypertension is very high.

Lowering blood pressure by changing lifestyle through a motivational education program: a cluster randomized controlled trial study protocol.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is a major cause of disability and death. Managing a healthy lifestyle has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve health outcomes. We aim to investigate the effectiveness of a lifestyle modification intervention program for lowering blood pressure in a rural area of Bangladesh. METHODS: A single-center cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT). The study will be conducted for 6 months, a total of 300 participants of age 30 to 75 years with 150 adults in each of the intervention and the control arms. The intervention arm will involve the delivery of a blended learning education program on lifestyle changes for the management of high blood pressure. The education program comprises evidence-based information with pictures, fact sheets, and published literature about the effects of high blood pressure on CVD development, increased physical activity, and the role of a healthy diet in blood pressure management. The control group involves providing information booklets and general advice at the baseline data collection point. The primary outcome will be the absolute difference in clinic SBP and DBP. Secondary outcomes include the difference in the percentage of people adopting regular exercise habits, cessation of smoking and reducing sodium chloride intake, health literacy of all participants, and the perceived barriers and enablers to adopt behavior changes by collecting qualitative data. Analyses will include analysis of covariance to report the mean difference in blood pressure between the control and the intervention group and the difference in change in blood pressure due to the intervention. DISCUSSION: The study will assess the effects of physical activity and lifestyle modification in controlling high blood pressure. This study will develop new evidence as to whether a simple lifestyle program implemented in a rural region of a low- and middle-income country will improve blood pressure parameters for people with different chronic diseases by engaging community people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04505150 . Registered on 7 August 2020.

Green synthesis of silk sericin-embedded silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial application against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

BACKGROUND: The green synthesis strategy of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has become popular due to being environmentally friendly. Stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized by natural products such as starch, soy protein, various extract of leaves, barks, and roots functioning both as reducing and stabilizing agents. Likewise, silk sericin (SS) is a globular protein discarded in the silk factory might be used for NP synthesis. In this research, we focus on the green synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs by SS as well as assessment of their antibacterial activities against some drug-resistant pathogen. RESULTS: SS was extracted from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons in an aqueous medium. 17 w/w% of dry sericin powder with respect to the cocoon's weight was obtained by freeze-drying. Furthermore, AgNPs conjugated to sericin, i.e., SS-capped silver nanoparticles (SS-AgNPs) were synthesized by easy, cost-effective, and environment-friendly methods. The synthesized SS-AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction measurement. It has been found from the absorbance of UV-visible spectroscopy that a higher percent of SS-AgNPs was obtained at a higher concentration of silver nitrate solution. FTIR-ATR spectra showed that the carboxylate groups obtained from silk sericin act as a reducing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, while NH2+ and COO- act as a stabilizer of AgNPs. The X-ray diffractogram of SS-AgNPs was quite different from AgNO3 and sericin due to a change in the crystal structure. The diameter of AgNPs was around 20-70 nm observed using TEM. The synthesized SS-AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations against E. coli and P. aeruginosa were 20µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: This study encourages the use of Bombyx mori for the ecofriendly synthesis of SS-AgNPs to control multidrug-resistant microorganisms.

Welfare Assessment of Dairy Cows in Small Farms in Bangladesh.

Protocols for assessing the welfare of dairy cows in large scale intensive dairy systems in the developed world have been used extensively. Little attention has been paid to the use of similar welfare assessment protocols for small dairy enterprises in developing countries. We modified part of the standard assessment protocol and used it to assess aspects of the welfare of dairy cows in a field survey of 70 small farms in the Sirajgonj district of Bangladesh. Welfare indicators selected were mainly those of health and economic importance, such as lameness, lesions on the body and limbs, cleanliness levels, milk yield, and body condition. The study included physical examination of 700 cows and use of a structured questionnaire to collect data on health and management practices and farmers' perspectives about animal welfare. Mean milk yield, averaged across farms, was 10.3 L/d (range 6.3-14.2) and body condition assessment indicated that cows were, on average, thin. Hygiene management was often poor, with soiling of body parts with faeces. The prevalence of lameness, at 4.3%, was less than has commonly been observed in larger, more intensive dairy farms, but body injuries were commonly detected at the carpal and hock joints (56 and 51% of cows, respectively). This suggests that floors and/or bedding to lie on were inadequate. Many farmers did not follow routine vaccination and deworming schedules (63% and 31%, respectively) and farmers were not generally aware of the concept of animal welfare. The study demonstrates some similar welfare issues to those that have been commonly identified in large, intensive units, but also some differences, in particular a failure to provide good floors, bedding, and basic health care.

First Genome Sequence of Brucella abortus Biovar 3 Strain BAU21/S4023, Isolated from a Dairy Cow in Bangladesh.

We report the genome sequence of Brucella abortus biovar 3 strain BAU21/S4023, isolated from a dairy cow that suffered an abortion in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The genome sequence length is 3,244,234 bp with a 57.2% GC content, 3,147 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), 51 tRNAs, 1 transfer messenger RNA (tmRNA), and 3 rRNA genes.

Current status of veterinary public health activities in Bangladesh and its future plans.

BACKGROUND: Veterinary Public Health (VPH) is a major part of public health in which human health and well-being are the central tasks. In recent years the VPH is gaining increasing importance because immense changes have occurred in animal production processes and agricultural structures. The aim of this paper is to describe the current VPH activities in Bangladesh, its major constraints and future activities plan to ensure safe food production as well as protect the environment and public health. MAIN TEXT: VPH concerns all areas of food production and safety, zoonosis control, environmental protection and animal welfare. In Bangladesh, the VPH unit was established in 1984 by the Directorate of Livestock Services (DLS) for zoonosis control and production of wholesome food of animal origin. Zoonoses are the core domain of VPH. Bangladesh is facing the emergence of zoonotic diseases including anthrax, tuberculosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, E. coli infections, avian influenza, rabies, nipah and dengue virus infections.. Multi-drug resistance bacteria are emerging due to indiscriminate uses of antibiotics in livestock and poultry industries. Lack of proper slaughter houses, antemortem and postmortem inspections of carcasses by qualified veterinarians contributes greatly to unwholesome meat production. The VPH unit has a significant role to play to ensure better public health. However, there are many constraints that affect the VPH services. Absence of VPH services at all administrative level, inadequate budget, lack of qualified personnel, poor lab facilities, absence of legal framework, and the lack of coordination with health department are the major constraints. CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of VPH issues in Bangladesh is very large. Therefore it is important to carefully set priorities in order to ensure effective and efficient VPH services. Establishment of VPH units at all levels, effective surveillance for zoonotic diseases, institution of legal framework to define role of VPH services, creation of public health awareness, collaborative works with health departments, improving laboratory facilities and training programs for the veterinarian are keys to ensure better VPH services in Bangladesh.

A risk assessment-driven quantitative comparison of gene expression profiles in PBMCs and white adipose tissue of humans and rats after isoflavone supplementation.

Quantitative insight into species differences in risk assessment is expected to reduce uncertainty and variability related to extrapolation from animals to humans. This paper explores quantification and comparison of gene expression data between tissues and species from intervention studies with isoflavones. Gene expression data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and white adipose tissue (WAT) after 8wk isoflavone interventions in postmenopausal women and ovariectomized F344 rats were used. A multivariate model was applied to quantify gene expression effects, which showed 3-5-fold larger effect sizes in rats compared to humans. For estrogen responsive genes, a 5-fold greater effect size was found in rats than in humans. For these genes, intertissue correlations (r = 0.23 in humans, r = 0.22 in rats) and interspecies correlation in WAT (r = 0.31) were statistically significant. Effect sizes, intertissue and interspecies correlations for some groups of genes within energy metabolism, inflammation and cell cycle processes were significant, but weak. Quantification of gene expression data reveals differences between rats and women in effect magnitude after isoflavone supplementation. For risk assessment, quantification of gene expression data and subsequent calculation of intertissue and interspecies correlations within biological pathways will further strengthen knowledge on comparability between tissues and species.

Eosinophilic fasciitis: what matters in management in a developing country--a case report with two and a half-year follow-up.

Eosinophilic fasciitis is an uncommon disorder of unknown aetiology and poorly-understood pathogenesis. Since 1974, over 250 cases of eosinophilic fasciitis have been reported worldwide. The first case of eosinophilic fasciitis from Bangladesh is reported here. The challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, including family and social support, are discussed.