Fasciola hepatica in bovines in Brazil: data availability and spatial distribution.

Fasciolosis is a disease of importance for both veterinary and public health. For the first time, georeferenced prevalence data of Fasciola hepatica in bovines were collected and mapped for the Brazilian territory and data availability was discussed. Bovine fasciolosis in Brazil is monitored on a Federal, State and Municipal level, and to improve monitoring it is essential to combine the data collected on these three levels into one dataset. Data were collected for 1032 municipalities where livers were condemned by the Federal Inspection Service (MAPA/SIF) because of the presence of F. hepatica. The information was distributed over 11 states: Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pará, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The highest prevalence of fasciolosis was observed in the southern states, with disease clusters along the coast of Paraná and Santa Catarina and in Rio Grande do Sul. Also, temporal variation of the prevalence was observed. The observed prevalence and the kriged prevalence maps presented in this paper can assist both animal and human health workers in estimating the risk of infection in their state or municipality.

Fasciola hepatica IN BOVINES IN BRAZIL: DATA AVAILABILITY AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION / Fasciola hepatica em bovinos no Brasil: disponibilidade de dados e distribuição espacial

Fasciolosis is a disease of importance for both veterinary and public health. For the first time, georeferenced prevalence data of Fasciola hepatica in bovines were collected and mapped for the Brazilian territory and data availability was discussed. Bovine fasciolosis in Brazil is monitored on a Federal, State and Municipal level, and to improve monitoring it is essential to combine the data collected on these three levels into one dataset. Data were collected for 1032 municipalities where livers were condemned by the Federal Inspection Service (MAPA/SIF) because of the presence of F. hepatica. The information was distributed over 11 states: Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pará, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The highest prevalence of fasciolosis was observed in the southern states, with disease clusters along the coast of Paraná and Santa Catarina and in Rio Grande do Sul. Also, temporal variation of the prevalence was observed. The observed prevalence and the kriged prevalence maps presented in this paper can assist both animal and human health workers in estimating the risk of infection in their state or municipality.

A fasciolose é doença de alta importância para a saúde tanto veterinária quanto humana. Pela primeira vez, dados georreferenciados da prevalência de Fasciola hepatica em bovinos foram coletados e mapeados para o território brasileiro e a disponibilidade desses dados discutida. Fasciolose bovina no Brasil é monitorado em nível Federal, Estadual e Municipal, e para melhorar esse monitoramento é preciso juntar os dados dos três níveis para construir um único banco de dados. As informações foram coletadas de 1032 municípios onde fígados bovinos foram condenados por causa de F. hepatica pelo Serviço de Inspeção Federal (MAPA/SIF). Onze estados foram representados: Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pará, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina e São Paulo. A prevalência mais alta da fasciolose foi observada nos estados do Sul, com presença de focos da doença ao longo do litoral do Paraná e Santa Catarina e no Rio Grande do Sul. Variação temporal da prevalência também foi observada. Os mapas de prevalência observada e de krigeagem aqui apresentados podem auxiliar a profissionais da área da saúde veterinária e humana a estimar o risco de infecção nos seus estados e/ou municípios.

Lung volume reduction surgery 10 years later.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether favorable short-term results in term of functional outcome and survival following lung volume reduction surgery persist for longer periods. Composite preoperative and early postoperative variables were analysed. METHODS: This study was conducted on 52 emphysematous patients who underwent lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) from 1993 to 2000, through a delayed retrospective analysis that has allowed us to evaluate a long-term follow-up (10 years or more); lung function and other variables were considered with respect to survival; 11 patients submitted to lung transplantation were also evaluated. RESULTS: Upper lobe distribution of emphysema (P=0.02, HR:2.43) and systolic PAP (P=0.04, HR=2.11) were significantly correlated to survival in a multivariate analysis; these variables seem to identify a small subgroup of 14 patients with longer survival (more than 10 years). Lung transplantation performed in some worsening patients (mean FEV1%:17±4) showed a trend of better survival when we compared the observed survival (55±47 months) with expected survival (39.5±15 months) (P=ns). CONCLUSION: We conclude that LVRS can lead to a very long survival (10 years or more) in a small subgroup of patients, with improvement of pulmonary functional data. Some preoperative data (upper lobe distribution of emphysema and pulmonary arterial pressure) appear to predict survival. Lung transplantation can be offered to these patients, showing a trend to improved life expectancy.

Lung volume reduction surgery 10 years later.

AIM:The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether favorable short-term results in term of functional outcome and survival following lung volume reduction surgery persist for longer periods. Composite preoperative and early postoperative variables were analysed. METHODS: This study was conducted on 52 emphysematous patients who underwent lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) from 1993 to 2000, through a delayed retrospective analysis that has allowed us to evaluate a long-term follow-up (10 years or more); lung function and other variables were considered with respect to survival; 11 patients submitted to lung transplantation were also evaluated. RESULTS:Upper lobe distribution of emphysema (P=0.02, HR:2.43) and systolic PAP (P=0.04, HR=2.11) were significantly correlated to survival in a multivariate analysis; these variables seem to identify a small subgroup of 14 patients with longer survival (more than 10 years). Lung transplantation performed in some worsening patients (mean FEV1%:17±4) showed a trend of better survival when we compared the observed survival (55±47 months) with expected survival (39.5±15 months) (P=ns). CONCLUSION: We conclude that LVRS can lead to a very long survival (10 years or more) in a small subgroup of patients, with improvement of pulmonary functional data. Some preoperative data (upper lobe distribution of emphysema and pulmonary arterial pressure) appear to predict survival. Lung transplantation can be offered to these patients, showing a trend to improved life expectancy.

Epidemiology and risk factors for exposure to gastrointestinal nematodes in dairy herds in northwestern Europe.

In this survey, the epidemiology of gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes in dairy herds in five northwestern European countries was studied using a standardized Ostertagia ostertagi ELISA applied on bulk-tank milk, and a common questionnaire. The levels of exposure to GI nematodes were high in Belgium, the UK and Ireland, intermediate in Germany and low in Sweden, with a mean (95% confidence interval) ELISA result (ODR) of 0.83 (0.82-0.84) in Belgium, 0.82 (0.79-0.84) in the UK and 0.80 (0.78-0.83) in Ireland; significantly higher than the mean ODR of 0.66 (0.65-0.68) in Germany and 0.52 (0.51-0.53) in Sweden. Taking into account previous literature, these regional differences are likely to be systematic. Regional variations in exposure were significantly explained by differences in management (grazing time per day, mowing, the months of turnout, housing and anthelmintic treatment). However, after controlling for these factors, significant regional differences in levels of exposure remained, suggesting an importance for climate (temperature, rainfall) and unmeasured management factors. This study emphasizes that GI nematode-induced production losses should be considered on a large percentage of northwest European dairy herds. Proposals are made for the development of region-specific monitoring and control strategies. Further advances in this area are likely to come from intervention studies that investigate the feasibility of control measures and from studies on the potential effects of climatic conditions on shifts in levels of exposure between years and regions.