This study assessed the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its risk factors in migratory nomads in the Fars province of Iran. Active brucellosis was defined as the combination of clinical symptoms, including fever, chills, night sweats, headache, low back pain, arthralgia, or myalgia, and positive laboratory testing, including either a serum agglutination test (SAT) ⩾1:80 with a 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test ⩾1:40, or a SAT <1:80 combined with a positive Coombs Wright test (CWT) at a titre of at least threefold higher than SAT titre results. For the 536 participants, the female (316, 59%) to male (220, 41%) ratio was 1·4 and the participants' mean age was 32·4 ± 18·9 (range 1-96) years. Of all participants, 325 (60·6%) showed clinical symptoms; in symptomatic participants, the Rose Bengal plate test was positive in 33 (6·1%) cases, the SAT was positive in 18 (3·3%) cases, and the 2-ME test was positive in 30 (5·5%) cases. Positive SAT and 2-ME results were seen in 18 (3·3%) cases, but a negative SAT and a positive CWT were found in 36 (6·7%) cases. As a result, active brucellosis was detected in 54 cases, indicating a prevalence of 10% (95% confidence interval 8-12). In conclusion, we determined that brucellosis is a prevalent yet neglected disease in this nomadic population. Brucellosis control is not possible as long as these high-risk populations remain neglected.

Background: Sniffer dogs have been shown to detect certain chemical particles and to help diagnose many diseases and complications, such as colorectal cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, and even dangerous states such as hypoglycemia in DM-1 patients. With the spread of COVID-19 throughout the world and the need to have a real-time screening of the population, especially in crowded places, this study aimed to investigate the applicability of these sniffer dogs.Methods: This study was done in two phases. In the first step, three dogs (including one German shepherd, one German black, one Labrador) were intensively trained by the classical conditioning method for seven weeks. Human specimens were obtained from the throat culture and pharyngeal secretions of both definitely positive and negative COVID-19 participants. During the first seven weeks, each dog underwent the conditioning process for averagely 1000 times. In the verification process, 80 pharyngeal secretion samples consisting of 26 positive samples of hospitalized patients and 54 negative samples of hospitalized patients for other medical reasons were provided to the training team in a single-blind manner. The verification test was done using three dogs (Lexi, Sami, and Kozhi). Another similar conditioning process was done using COVID-19 patients’ clothes and masks and the verification test was done using 50 positive and 70 negative samples by three other trained dogs (one Labrador, one Border gypsy, and one Golden retriever). Results: In the pharyngeal secretions verification test, the sniffer dogs showed 65% sensitivity and 89% specificity. In this process, they could identify 17 out of the 26 true positive samples and 48 out of the 54 true negative samples. According to the results, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value for this experiment were 74% and 84%, respectively. In the next verification test for the patients’ face masks and clothes, 43 out of the 50 positive samples were correctly identified by the dogs. Moreover, out of the 70 negative samples, 65 samples were correctly found to be negative by the canines. The sensitivity of this method was as high as 86% and its specificity was 92.9%. In addition, the positive and negative predictive values were 89.6% and 90.3%, respectively.Conclusion: Dogs are capable of being trained as the identifier of people with COVID-19 by detecting their odor and can be used as a reliable tool in limited screening.

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of readiness of Eghlid city community for adolescents' substance abuse prevention programs, and to develop strategies to improve community readiness levels based on the community readiness model (CRM). In this two-stage qualitative study, a 36-item semi-structured CRM questionnaire, was used to interview 11 key informants in Eghlid city, Iran, 2019. The interviews were analyzed and scored by two independent researchers. Strategies for increasing the level of readiness were developed and prioritized by participants using the nominal group method. The readiness levels to prevent substance abuse in community efforts and leadership dimensions were at stabilization and preparation stage. In terms of community awareness of efforts, community space, and public awareness of the issue, the readiness level was at the pre-planning stage, and in the resources for prevention efforts dimension, it was at the vague awareness level. In the strategy development section, the key participants focused on using traditional methods such as holding face-to-face training programs and festivals, using IRIB platform, local media, and lectures.The general level of readiness is at a moderate level.

No abstract

Background: Sniffer dogs are able to detect certain chemical particles and are suggest to be capable of helping diagnose some medical conditions and complications, such as colorectal cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, and even critical states such as hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. With the global spread of COVID-19 throughout the world and the need to have a real-time screening of the population, especially in crowded places, this study aimed to investigate the applicability of sniffer dogs to carry out such a task.Methods: Firstly, three male and female dogs from German shepherd (Saray), German black (Kuzhi) and Labrador (Marco) breeds had been intensively trained throughout the classical conditioning method for seven weeks. They were introduced to human specimens obtained from the throat and pharyngeal secretions of participants who were already reported positive or negative for SARS-COV-2 infection be RT-PCR. Each dog underwent the conditioning process for almost 1000 times. In the meantime another similar condition process was conducted on clothes and masks of COVID-19 patient using another three male and female dogs from Labrador (Lexi), Border gypsy (Sami), and Golden retriever (Zhico) breeds. In verification test for the first three dogs, 80 pharyngeal secretion samples consisting of 26 positive and 54 negative samples from different medical centers who underwent RT-PCR test were in a single-blind method. In the second verification test for the other three dogs, masks and clothes of 50 RT-PCR positive and 70 RT-PCR negative cases from different medical center were used.Results: In verification test using pharyngeal secretion, the sniffer dogs’ detection capability was associated with a 65% of sensitivity and 89% of specificity and they amanged to identify 17 out of the 26 positive and 48 out of the 54 true negative samples. In the next verification test using patients’ face masks and clothes, 43 out of the 50 positive samples were correctly identified by the dogs. Moreover, out of the 70 negative samples, 65 samples were correctly found to be negative. The sensitivity of this test was as high as 86% and its specificity was 92.9%. In addition, the positive and negative predictive values were 89.6% and 90.3%, respectively.Conclusion: Dogs are capable of being trained to identify COVID-19 cases by sniffing their odour, so they can be used as a reliable tool in limited screening.