DigitalUM :: Browsing by Subject "Epidemiology"

Browsing by Subject "Epidemiology"

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A contemporary picture of enterococcal endocarditis
(Elsevier, 2020-02-03) Pericàs, Juan M.; Llopis, Jaume; Muñoz, Patricia; Gálvez-Acebal, Juan; Kestler, Martha; Valerio, Maricela; Hernández-Meneses, Marta; Goenaga, Miguel Á.; Cobo-Belaustegui, Manuel; Montejo, Miguel; Ojeda-Burgos, Guillermo; Sousa-Regueiro, M. Dolores; Alarcón, Arístides de; Ramos-Martínez, Antonio; Miró, José M.; García-Vázquez, Elisa; GAMES Investigators; Medicina
BACKGROUND: Enterococcal endocarditis (EE) is a growing entity in Western countries. However, quality data from large studies is lacking. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and analyze the prognostic factors of EE in the GAMES cohort. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of a prospectively collected cohort of patients from 35 Spanish centers from 2008 to 2016. Characteristics and outcomes of 516 cases of EE were compared with those of 3,308 cases of nonenterococcal endocarditis (NEE). Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to investigate risk factors for in-hospital and 1-year mortality, as well as relapses. RESULTS: Patients with EE were significantly older; more frequently presented chronic lung disease, chronic heart failure, prior endocarditis, and degenerative valve disease; and had higher median age-adjusted Charlson score. EE more frequently involved the aortic valve and prosthesis (64.3% vs. 46.7%; p < 0.001; and 35.9% vs. 28.9%; p ¼ 0.002, respectively) but less frequently pacemakers/defibrillators (1.5% vs. 10.5%; p < 0.001), and showed higher rates of acute heart failure (45% vs. 38.3%; p ¼ 0.005). Cardiac surgery was less frequently performed in EE (40.7% vs.45.9%; p ¼ 0.024). No differences in in-hospital and 1-year mortality were found, whereas relapses were significantly higher in EE (3.5% vs. 1.7%; p ¼ 0.035). Increasing Charlson score, LogEuroSCORE, acute heart failure, septic shock, and paravalvular complications were risk factors for mortality, whereas prior endocarditis was protective and persistent bacteremia constituted the sole risk factor for relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Besides other baseline and clinical differences, EE more frequently affects prosthetic valves and less frequently pacemakers/defibrillators. EE presents higher rates of relapse than NEE.
Open Access
Aprendizaje integrado de epidemiología y bioestadística en el Grado en Medicina: valoración de los estudiantes
(Universidad de Murcia. Servicio de Publicaciones, 2014-01-31) Rubio Alonso, Margarita; Hernando Jerez, Asunción; Mohedano del Pozo, Rosa
Los objetivos fueron conocer la valoración de los alumnos de 2º de Medicina sobre la integración Epidemiología-Bioestadística y comparar su percepción a comienzo y final de curso. Se elaboraron dos cuestionarios con afirmaciones que los alumnos valoraron mediante una escala tipo Likert. Participaron 102 estudiantes. Para comparar los resultados a principio y final de curso se utilizó la prueba de rangos con signo de Wilcoxon. El 83% creía al finalizar el curso que comprendían la importancia de Epidemiología-Bioestadística en Medicina y les parecía interesante estudiarlas de forma integrada. Al inicio de curso, un 46,1% pensaba que la asignatura iba a ser interesante y al final este porcentaje fue 69,6%. Al inicio, el 69,6% veía la relación entre la Medicina y la Estadística y al final, el 83,3%. El 41% creía al inicio que iban a adquirir competencias fundamentales para el desempeño profesional y al final lo creía el 57,8%.
Open Access
Aspectos epidemiológicos de la mortalidad infantil en un estado del Nordeste de Brasil
(Universidad de Murcia, 2018) Antunes de Araujo Filho, Augusto Cezar; Dantas Almeida, Priscilla; Lages de Araujo, Anna Karolina; Magalhães Sales, Isabela Maria; Evangelista de Araújo, Telma Maria; Santiago da Rocha, Silvana
Objetivo: Analizar la mortalidad infantil en el estado de Piauí, en el período 2004-2014. Métodos: Estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo, utilizando datos secundarios extraídos de DATASUS, donde la población se compone de todos las óbitos infantiles de madres que viven en Piauí, en el período 2004-2014. Resultados: A pesar de las fluctuaciones, se produjo una disminución en la tasa de mortalidad infantil y sus componentes, neonatal y la mortalidad post-neonatal. Por otra parte, la mayoría de las muertes podrían minimizarse a través de acciones dirigidas a las mujeres durante el embarazo y el parto y el cuidado del recién nacido. Conclusión: Se ha demostrado que existe una necesidad de mejora en la atención a la salud maternoinfantil en Piauí para que la mortalidad infantil alcance niveles de las regiones del mundo más desarrolladas
Open Access
Blastocystis in free-ranging wild ruminant species across the Iberian Peninsula
(BioMed Central, 2025-07-09) Figueiredo, Ana M.; Dashti, Alejandro; Maloney, Jenny G.; Molokin, Aleksey; George, Nadja S.; Köster, Pamela C.; Bailo, Begoña; Sánchez de las Matas, Ana; Habela, Miguel Ángel; Rivero Juarez, Antonio; Vicente, Joaquín; Serrano, Emmanuel; Arnal, María C.; Fernández de Luco, Daniel; Morrondo, Patrocinio; Armenteros, José A.; Balseiro, Ana; Cardona, Guillermo A.; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Torres, Rita T.; Fonseca, Carlos; Mysterud, Atle; Carvalho, João; Calero-Bernal, Rafael; González Barrio, David; Santín, Mónica; Carmena, David; Sanidad Animal; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
The growing wild ungulate populations across Europe represents an increasingly important source for the spread of zoonotic pathogens. Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist observed in humans and animals worldwide. Studies on Blastocystis occurrence and subtype (ST) diversity in free-ranging wild ruminants are lacking globally, and more data are needed to understand the epidemiological scenario in wild European ruminants. We collected 833 faecal samples from free-ranging wild angulates across Spain (n = 699) and Portugal (n = 134) between 1998 and 2021. Using conventional PCR and nextgeneration amplicon sequencing, Blastocystis was found in 13.8% (115/833; 95% CI: 11.5–16.3) of the wild ruminants analysed. Its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (38.1%, 51/134; 95% CI 29.8–46.8) than in Spain (9.2%, 64/699; 95% CI: 7.1–11.5). Fifteen Blastocystis STs, fourteen previously recognised (ST2, ST5, ST10, ST13, ST14, ST21, ST23–ST26, ST30, and ST42–ST44), and one novel (named ST49), were detected among the surveyed wild ruminant populations. Novel ST49 was described using Oxford Nanopore sequencing to produce full-length reference sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. A greater ST diversity was observed in Spanish samples. Mixed infections were found in 58.3% (67/115) of the total Blastocystis-positive samples. Our results have enhanced the knowledge regarding Blastocystis occurrence and ST diversity and host preference present in wild ruminants from the Iberian Peninsula, which will assist in clarifying the relationships between the sylvatic and domestic cycles of this protist and may ultimately provide tools to help manage future public health epidemiological scenarios.
Open Access
Cancer Survival in Adults in Spain: A Population-Based Study of the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN)
(MDPI, 2022-05-15) Guevara, M; Molinuevo, A; Salmerón, D; Marcos-Gragera, R; Carulla, M; Rodríguez Camblor M; Alemán, A; Rojas, D; Vizcaíno Batllés, A; Chico, M; Jiménez Chillarón, R; López de Munain, A; de Castro, V; Sánchez, MJ; Ramalle-Gómara, E; Franch, P; Galceran, J; Ardanaz, E; Chirlaque López, María Dolores; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
The assessment of cancer survival at the population level is essential for monitoring progress in cancer control. We aimed to assess cancer survival and its trends in adults in Spain. Individual records of 601,250 adults with primary cancer diagnosed during 2002-2013 and followed up to 2015 were included from 13 population-based cancer registries. We estimated net survival up to five years after diagnosis and analyzed absolute changes between 2002-2007 and 2008-2013. Estimates were age-standardized. Analyses were performed for 29 cancer groups, by age and sex. Overall, age-standardized five-year net survival was higher in women (61.7%, 95% CI 61.4-62.1%) than in men (55.3%, 95% CI 55.0-55.6%), and ranged by cancer from 7.2% (pancreas) to 89.6% (prostate) in men, and from 10.0% (pancreas) to 93.1% (thyroid) in women in the last period. Survival declined with age, showing different patterns by cancer. Between both periods, age-standardized five-year net survival increased overall by 3.3% (95% CI 3.0-3.7%) in men and 2.5% (95% CI 2.0-3.0%) in women, and for most cancer groups. Improvements were greater in patients younger than 75 years than in older patients. Chronic myeloid leukemia and myeloma showed the largest increases. Among the most common malignancies, the greatest absolute increases in survival were observed for colon (5.0%, 95% CI 4.0-6.0%) and rectal cancers (4.5%, 95% CI 3.2-5.9%). Survival improved even for some cancers with poor prognosis (pancreas, esophagus, lung, liver, and brain cancer). Further investigation of possible sociodemographic inequalities is warranted. This study contributes to the evaluation of cancer control and health services' effectiveness.
Open Access
Características sociales y de género en el ámbito de contagio de COVID-19 en una región mediterránea
(Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, 2022-12-19) Soriano López, Jesús; Salmerón Martínez, Diego; García Pina, Rocío; Humberto Gómez, Jesús; Sánchez Rodríguez, Inés; Ballesta Ruiz, Mónica; Chirlaque López, María Dolores; Ciencias Sociosanitarias; Facultad de Enfermería
BACKGROUND // Knowledge of social and gender determinants, which influence the places where people are exposed to COVID-19, may be relevant in the development of preventive and control strategies. The aim of this paper was to determine the context in which COVID-19 cases were infected (household, work/labor, health, social-health, and social-leisure settings) according to country of origin,occupational social class and gender, which is essential in order to designing public health strategies. METHODS // A cross-sectional study of an epidemiological registry of 56,628 COVID-19 incident cases was made, whose exposure/contagion setting was studied according to the previous variables from June 15 to December 23, 2020, in the Region of Murcia (Spain). An exact Fisher test was used to study the distribution of COVID-19 cases based on the above variables. RESULTS // The cumulative incidence was higher in people from Africa (5,133.5 cases/100,000 inhabitants) and Latin America (11,351.1) than in non-immigrants (3,145.7). It was also higher in women (3,885.6) than in men (3,572.6). It is noteworthy, that 53.3% of the cases with employment were workers in industry or construction, artisans, agricultural workers, or elementary occupations. In contrast, during the second semester of 2020, 41.3% of the employed population in the Region of Murcia performed such jobs. The household was the main exposure setting (56.5% of cases with a known setting), followed by social-leisure (20.7%) and work/labor (18.2%). The labor settings were more important in immigrants from Africa (28.4%) and Latin America (35.7%) than in non-immigrants (12%), inversely to social-leisure settings. Labor context was more important in women (19.6%) than in men (16.5%) and in manual workers (44.1%) than in non-manual workers (26.6%). CONCLUSIONS // The context in which COVID-19 cases were infected is different according to social inequalities related to country of origin, gender and occupational social class.
Open Access
El Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos como Herramienta de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Incidencia Diabetes Mellitus 1: Experiencia en Extremadura
(Murcia: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2013) Gimeno Benítez, Alfredo; Suero Villa, Pedro; Suero Villa, Severo; Guerrero Porras, Maruja; Sánchez Veja, Javier; Luengo Pérez, Luis Miguel
El 'gold standard' del conocimiento de la evolución epidemiológica de las patologías que para su diagnóstico necesitan hospitalización, son las historias clínicas, aunque la recogida de datos de ella es lenta, dificultosa y costosa en tiempo, por lo que si validáramos otra fuente de datos que fuese más rápida, fácil y barata sería de gran utilidad para los estudios epidemiológicos. Objetivo. Verificar la validez del el Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD) como fuente de vigilancia epidemiológica, comparando los datos del CMBD y los recogidos en la historia clínica. Metodología. Comparamos los datos del CMBD con los registros de las historias clínicas de los casos de incidencias de la Diabetes Mellitus 1 (DM 1) en la población menor de 15 años de Extremadura durante 2003-2007 en un estudio observacional retrospectivo y descriptivo, con método de captura-recaptura. Resultados. Los casos seleccionados fueron 208. En el 2,40 % de los casos no coincide con la codificación de diabetes. En un 6,73 % de los casos en el CMBD están codificados con otros tipos de diabetes u otra patología. De los codificados como DM 1 con cetoacidosis, el 20,75 % no consta cetoacidosis en la historia, y en el 69,71 % coinciden historia y el CMBD. Discusión. A pesar de sus limitaciones, el CMBD ha demostrado ser una fuente de información valiosa. Conclusión. El CMBD sirve como fuente de información, pero no como vigilancia de la epidemiológica de la DM 1
Open Access
Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA and antibodies against Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and Ehrlichia canis in a dog kennel in South-Central Romania
(BioMed Central, 2020-08-03) Cazan, Cristina Daniela; Matei, Ioana Adriana; Ionică, Angela Monica; D’Amico, Gianluca; Muñoz Hernández, Clara; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Dumitrache, Mirabela Oana; Sin departamento asociado
Canine vector-borne diseases are caused by pathogens transmitted by arthropods including ticks, mosquitoes and sand flies. Many canine vector-borne diseases are of zoonotic importance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of vector-borne infections caused by Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma spp. and Leishmania infantum in a dog kennel in Argeș County, Romania. Dog kennels are shelters for stray dogs with no officially registered owners that are gathered to be neutered and/or boarded for national/international adoptions by various public or private organizations. The international dog adoptions might represent a risk in the transmission of pathogens into new regions. In this context, a total number of 149 blood samples and 149 conjunctival swabs from asymptomatic kennel dogs were assessed using serology and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. were detected in one dog (0.6%), anti-Anaplasma antibodies were found in five dogs (3.3%), while ten dogs (6.7%) tested positive for D. immitis antigen. Overall, 20.1% (30/149) of dogs were positive for L. infantum DNA. All samples were seronegative for anti-Leishmania antibodies. When adopting dogs from this region of Romania, owners should be aware of possible infection with especially L. infantum. The travel of infected dogs may introduce the infection to areas where leishmaniasis is not present.
Open Access
Editorial: Diet and digestive tract cancers: investigating the nutritional influences on gastrointestinal carcinogenesis
(Frontiers Media, 2025-11-06) Huerta Castaño, José María; Colorado Yohar, Sandra Milena; Salmerón Martínez, Diego; Armando Agudelo, Nelson; Ciencias Sociosanitarias; Facultad de Medicina
Open Access
Epidemiología de las lesiones en el parkour y revisión de la literatura
(Murcia: Servicio de publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2020) Giner Gran, Miguel Ángel
El parkour es una actividad física cada vez más popular que continúa atrayendo practicantes. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la prevalencia de lesiones en el parkour así como la naturaleza, zona anatómica, procedimiento requerido, lugar dónde sucedió y movimiento de parkour. Se analizó a los practicantes de la Comunidad de Madrid, un total de 161 sujetos con una experiencia mínima de 12 meses y una prác-tica regular de al menos 1 vez por semana, empleando un cuestionario ad hoc. Los resultados muestran una prevalencia de lesión del 70,2%, siendo más frecuentes: esguinces (22,3%) y contusiones (21,1%), extremidad inferior (69,9%) y superior (24,7%), no precisaron pruebas médicas ni cirugía (68,6%), parque/plaza (60,9%) y calle (28%), salto de precisión (18,8%) y salto de longitud (11,1%). Por consiguiente se confirma que el parkour es susceptible de sufrir lesiones, en su mayoría esguinces, en la extremidad inferior y no resultan graves.
Open Access
Epidemiological analysis of gender violence in the European Union
(Universidad de Murcia, 2020) Bermúdez, María Paz; Meléndez-Domínguez, Montserrat
Existe una gran heterogeneidad regional y desconocimiento de la situación actual de la violencia de género (VdG) en los diferentes países de la Unión Europea (UE-28). El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar la prevalencia actual de la VdG y de feminicidios en la UE-28 y en particular en España. Consiste en un estudio descriptivo observacional (análisis de documentos) seleccionando y analizando datos de las diferentes modalidades de la VdG y de feminicidios en los 28 países de la UE. Letonia, Dinamarca, Reino Unido, Suecia, Bélgica, Finlandia, Eslovaquia y Luxemburgo tienen tasas más altas que la media de la UE en todos los tipos de VdG y Finlandia, Hungría, Irlanda del Norte y Letonia poseen las incidencias más altas en feminicidios. Con respecto a España, el 0.13% de las mujeres fueron víctimas de VdG y se producen 2.3 feminicidios anuales por cada 1.000.000 mujeres, situándose España entre los países con tasas más bajas. Se concluye que el maltrato psicológico es el más prevalente en la UE-28, sin embargo, existe una dificultad para la comparación de datos de los diferentes países debido a la inexistencia de una conceptualización legal común de la VdG.
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Epidemiological study of non-systemic parasitism in dogs in Southeast Mediterranean Spain assessed by coprological and post-mortem examination
(Wiley, 2007-06-01) Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Berriatua, Eduardo; Garijo Toledo, María Magdalena; Martínez, José; Alonso de Vega, Francisco D.; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Sanidad Animal
The prevalence and risk factors of non-systemic canine ecto- and endoparasitism and anthelminthic use in Murcia located at the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastal arch, was investigated by coprology and necropsy in up to 275 pet, city shelter and stray dogs in 2001–2004. Faecal parasite stages were detected in 25% of dogs. Species frequency was 6–10% for Toxocara canis, Ancylostomatidae spp., Toxascaris leonina and Isospora canis, and 0.4–1% for Trichuris vulpis, Giardia lamblia, and Dipylidium caninum. Logistic regression indicated that the risk of intestinal parasitism was highest for dogs £1 year old, in the middle to low weight range and kept at the city shelter. Although risk factors varied according to the species, T. canis was most common in <1 year old and Ancylostomatidae spp. was more prevalent in older dogs. This suggests that the dominant species was Uncinaria spp. and not the more zoonotically important Ancylostoma spp. This was further supported by necropsy findings; however, the degree of agreement between post-mortem and coprological examination for intestinal parasites was generally poor. Necropsy revealed 10% G. lamblia, 12% Taenia spp. 38% D. caninum infections. Fleas, ticks and lice were also found in 38%, 6% and 2% of necropsied stray dogs. These results demonstrate the need for an urgent parasite control programme at the city dog shelter and the need to improve the owner’s education on zoonotic risks, the proper use of anthelminthics, and other parasite control practices.
Open Access
Epidemiology and molecular biology of gastrointestinal stromal tumors -GISTs- a population-based study in the South of Switzerland, 1999-2005
(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2008) Mazzola, Paola; Spitale, Alexandra; Banfi, Sara; Mazzucchelli, Luca; Frattini, Milo; Bordoni, Andrea
Introduction. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized at the molecular level by c-kit or PDGFRA oncogene mutations. Although GISTs raised major interest in past decades, population-based studies are still rare. Materials and Methods. All GISTs diagnosed in Southern Switzerland (1999-2005) were identified using Ticino Cancer Registry and analysed for c-kit and PDGFRA mutations. Clinical and molecular features were studied. Results. Annual incidence of GISTs was 1.47 cases/100,000 inhabitants (median age: 64 years; median size: 6.0 cm). Most GISTs arose in the stomach (60.5%). The malignancy risk was verylow/ low in 47% of patients. DNA sequences showed a gene alteration in either c-kit or PDGFRA genes in 72.5% of patients. Mutations occurred mostly in c-kit exon 11 (60%). No mutations in c-kit exons 13 or 17 were found. An equal number of alterations in exons 12 and 18, and no mutations in exon 14 were observed in the PDGFRA gene. Discussion. This is the first comprehensive population-based study of GISTs incidence and molecular biology characterization in Central Europe. Our incidence data showed higher agestandardized rates compared to other European countries. The gene mutation spectrum differed when compared to the literature. This is relevant to improve the molecular profile knowledge based on Cancer Registry data.
Open Access
Estudio clínico-epidemiológico de la coinfección TB-VIH en municipio prioridad: análisis de 10 años
(Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de publicaciones, 2020) de Oliveira Sena, Inara Viviane; Carneiro Flôr, Sandra Maria; Wellington Dourado Júnior, Francisco; Bomfim de Araújo, Mariana; Rodrigues Viana, Rafaela; Dantas Almeida, Priscilla
Objetivo: Conocer el perfil clínico-epidemiológico de TB / VIH en municipio prioridad de el Ceará. Método: Estudio descriptivo, epidemiológico, realizado a través de la recolección de datos. Recolección realizada en octubre de 2019 para los años 2009 a 2019. Se utilizaron las variables grupo de edad, sexo, educación, raza, forma clínica, cierre de casos, terapia antirretroviral. Los datos fueron tomados de SINAN (Sistema de Información para Enfermedades de Notificación), la tabulación se realizó en el software Tabwin y luego los registros fueron transportados a Excel. Resultados: Se registraron 71 casos de coinfección TB-VIH, lo que corresponde al 4,28% de los casos de tuberculosis en el municipio. Del análisis de la base de datos sobre los casos notificados, en 2014 se identificó la mayor proporción de casos (6,72%), seguido del año 2013 (6,43%). Es de destacar que a partir de 2017, hay una disminución en los casos en el municipio. Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que, durante el período investigado, el 4,3% de las personas con TB tuvieron coinfección con VIH, lo que muestra su relevancia epidemiológica como una comorbilidad con un gran impacto en la salud pública.
Open Access
Factores asociados a la mortalidad en pacientes afectados por COVID-19
(Universidad de Murcia. Servicio de publicaciones, 2025) Moreira, Cindhy Mífia da Silva; Oliveira, Fabiana Maria Rodrigues Lopes de; Cabral, João Victor Batista; Brasil, Maria Hellena Ferreira; Silva, Deysianne Ferreira da; Barbosa, Keylla Talitha Fernandes; Departamentos
bjective: To investigate the clinical conditions and sociodemographic characteristics associated with mortality due to COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic in an intensive care unit in a capital city in northeastern Brazil.Method:This was an exploratory, retrospective documentary study based on secondary data obtained from medical records of patients admitted to an intensive care unit of a public hospital in northeastern Brazil. Data collection occurred between July and September 2021. The data were analyzed viadescriptive and inferential statistics. The chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Student's t test, and binary logistic regression modeling were employed. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee.Results: A total of 274 patients, predominantly male, mixed-race, and aged over 65 years, were included. The variables male sex, age 65 years or older, marital status (married), and length of hospital stay were significantly associated with clinical outcomes. Logistic regression analysis revealed that male individuals, those aged 65 years or older, those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, and patients in the prone position had higher odds of mortality as an outcome.Conclusions:Observing the factors associated with mortality outcomes in patients affected by novel coronavirus infection can aid healthcare professionals and public health managers in decision-making.
Open Access
First report of oestrosis in aoudad from southeastern Spain
(2017-05-15) Barroso, Patricia; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Gens, M.J.; Escribano, F.; Sánchez, A.; Pérez, J.M.; Sanidad Animal
In spring 2016, we analyzed the skull of 44 aoudads (Ammotragus lervia) from Sierra Espuña Regional Park (SE Spain) for the presence of oestrid larvae. Oestrus ovis larvae were found in 27.3% of sampled hosts, with a mean intensity of 1.5 ± 6.1 larvae/per parasitized host (range 1–21). To our knowledge, this is the first report of oestrosis affecting this host species.
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Free-Ranging Wolves (Canis lupus) are Natural Reservoirs of Intestinal Microeukaryotes of Public Health Significance in Southwestern Europe
(Wiley, 2024-12-08) Ortega, Sheila; Figueiredo, Ana M.; Moroni, Barbara; Abarca, Nadia; Dashti, Alejandro; Köster, Pamela C.; Bailo, Begoña; Cano-Terriza, David; Fayos, Manena; Oleaga, Álvaro; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Velarde, Roser; Torres, Rita T.; Ferreira, Eduardo; Hipólito, Dário; Barros, Tânia; Lino, Ana; Robetto, Serena; Rossi, Luca; Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J.; Ávalos, Gabriel; Calero- Bernal, Rafael; González- Barrio, David; Sánchez, Sergio; García- Bocanegra, Ignacio; Carmena, David; Gonzálvez Juan, Moisés; Sanidad Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria
Introduction: Intestinal microeukaryote parasites are major contributors to the burden of diarrhoea in humans and domestic animals, but their epidemiology in wildlife is not fully understood. We investigated the frequency, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of protists of animal and public health significance in free-ranging grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations in south-western Europe. Methods: Individually formed faecal samples collected from necropsied wolves or scat trails in Italy (n = 47), Portugal (n = 43) and Spain (n = 225) during the period 2011–2023 were retrospectively analysed using molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods. Complementary epidemiological data were gathered when available. Results: Giardia duodenalis was the most frequent microeukaryote found (40.3%, 127/315; 95% CI: 34.9–46.0), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (3.5%, 11/315; 95% CI: 1.8–6.2), Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. (1.6%, 5/315; 95% CI: 0.5–3.7 each). Blastocystis was not identified in any of the faecal samples analysed. Sequence analyses confirmed the presence of canine-adapted assemblage D within G. duodenalis (n = 7). Three Cryptosporidium species were identified, namely canine-adapted C. canis (n = 9), zoonotic C. parvum (n = 1) and primarily anthroponotic C.hominis (n = 1). Genotyping tools enabled the identification of subtype family XXe2 within C. canis. Among microsporidia, the canine-adapted genotype PtEb IX was identified within E. bieneusi. Two samples were confirmed as Enc. intestinalis and three more as Enc. cuniculi genotype IV. This is the first record of Enc. intestinalis and Enc. cuniculi in the grey wolf globally. Conclusions: Silent carriage of intestinal microeukaryotes seems common in free-ranging grey wolves in southwestern Europe. Wolves can contribute to environmental contamination through the transmission stages (cysts, oocysts, spores) of species/genotypes potentially infective to humans. Individuals in close contact with wolf carcasses or their faecal material may be at potential risk of infection by microeukaryotic pathogens.
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Gender inequality is associated with gender differences and women participation in physical activity
(Oxford University Press, 2021-10-01) Moreno-Llamas, Antonio; García Mayor, Jesús; Cruz Sánchez, Ernesto de la; Actividad Física y Deporte
Background: Living standards determine population’s physical activity (PA); however, more women are systemically insufficiently active, suggesting social gender inequality factors. Thus, we assessed the association between gender inequality, PA differences between genders, and total PA. Methods: We used three independent cross-sectional databases at country-level: PA prevalence (i.e., Active Lifestyle) from the World Health Organization with 1.9 million individuals from 168 countries; daily steps (smartphone registers) of 693 806 people from 46 countries and sport participation in the 2016 Summer Olympics with 11 191 athletes. Gender Inequality Index was used to evaluate aspects surrounding gender equality controlling for overall economic and health status. Results: Higher gender inequality was associated with gender differences in PA (Active Lifestyle, 0.402, P < 0.001; Steps, 0.542, P < 0.001; Olympic participation, 0.346, P = 0.001). Likewise, lower gender inequality was associated with increased women activity (Active Lifestyle, −0.838, P < 0.001; Steps, −0.81, P < 0.001; Olympic participation, −0.577, P < 0.001), and men activity (Active Lifestyle, −0.453, P < 0.001; Steps, −0.461, P = 0.002). Conclusions: Lower women PA levels could be influenced by gender inequality. Public health policies aimed to improve women living conditions which may promote their participation in PA and sport.
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Geographical Variation and Factors Associated to Seroprevalence of Canine Leishmaniosis in an Endemic Mediterranean Area
(Blackwell Verlag GmbH, 2010) Alonso de Vega, Francisco; Giménez Font, P.; Manchón, Manuel; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Segovia, M.; Berriatua, Eduardo; Sanidad Animal
This article retrospectively analyses the spatial distribution and dog- and environmental-level risk factors associated to Leishmania infantum seroprevalence mong 807 asymptomatic dogs in the Municipality of Crevillente in Alicante in southeast Spain in 1999. They represented 60% of the dogs in this 103 km2 area, with a human census of 27 034 people and 90% lived in Crevillente town. The estimated seroprevalence (95% confidence interval) in 714 dogs ‡1-year old was 22% (19–25) however; it was 12% (8–15) in town dogs and 0–100% in other administrative zones. High–medium seroprevalence zone clustered along a northeast–southwest fringe and around the town. They comprised the highest and driest inhabited part of the municipality, where farmland was interspersed by residential detached houses, whilst null–low seroprevalence zones included larger farmland extensions and two small rural villages. Predominant vegetation and ground soil type were bush, non-irrigated fruit trees and conglomerate crust and sandstone in medium–high seroprevalence zones and irrigated grassland and fruit trees and colluvial deposits in null–low seroprevalence zones. Random effects logistic regression indicated that the prevalence of infection with L. infantum was higher for dogs sharing residence with infected dogs, increased until 5–6 years old and with body weight and was associated to increasing conglomerate crust and low surface water in the dog’s zone of residence. The study confirms that L. infantum infection is endemic in this part of Spain and shows that prevalence can vary significantly within a small area depending on specific demographic and environmental factors conditioning the habitat of the local L. infantum vector, Phlebotomus perniciosus. It suggests similar low-scale variability is present in other geographically variable endemic areas and should be investigated to design Leishmaniosis risk maps and cost-effective, evidence-based, targeted control interventions.
Open Access
High prevalence and intensity of Stephanurus dentatus in a population of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in south western Spain
(Elsevier, 2018) Moratal, Samantha; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Barroso, Patricia; Granados, José Enrique; Höfle, Úrsula; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Acevedo, Pelayo; Vicente, Joaquín; Sanidad Animal
In the period from October 2016 to February 2017, the urinary tracts of 390 wild boar (Sus scrofa) from four areas of south central Spain (102 from Doñana National Park; 150 from Sierra Morena and the Toledo Mountains; 84 from Sierra Nevada; 54 from Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park) were examined for the presence of adult specimens of Stephanurus dentatus (Nematoda: Strongyloidea). This parasite was only detected in the wild boar population of Doñana National Park, with high prevalence (76.5 ± 4.2%; 78/102), mean intensity (43.2 ± 4.4) and mean abundance (33.1 ± 3.8). Juvenile wild boar had significantly lower prevalence and abundance than subadult and adult wild boar. The intensity of infestation was significantly higher in male than in female wild boar. The detection of a focus of S. dentatus infestation in the wild boar population in Doñana National Park will provide further opportunities for understanding the epidemiology of this parasite.