Despite significant control efforts, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) persists in Turkey, and new strains of serotypes A, O and Asia-1 are periodically reported to enter the country from the east. The status of FMD in Turkey is important regionally because the country forms a natural bridge between Asia where the disease is endemic, and Europe which has disease-free status. This study analysed spatial and temporal patterns of FMD occurrence in Turkey to explore factors associated with the disease's persistence and spread. Annual records of FMD distribution in Turkish provinces throughout 1990-2002, grouped by serotype (O, A and Asia 1), were analysed using geostatistical techniques to explore their spatial and temporal patterns. A meta-population model was used to test how disease status, expressed in terms of presence/absence, extinction, and colonization, and measured at the province level throughout the periods 1990-1996 and 1997 2002, could be predicted using province-level data on: ruminant livestock numbers; meat production-demand discrepancy (as a surrogate measure of animal and animal products marketing, i.e. long-distance contagion through the traffic of mainly live animals to urban centres); and the disease prevalence distribution as recorded for the previous year. A drastic overall reduction in FMD occurrence was observed from the period 1990-1996 to 1997-2002 when the disease was shown to retract into persistence islands. FMD occurrence was associated with host abundance, short distance contagion from adjacent provinces, and meat production-demand discrepancies. With FMD retracting into identified provinces, a shift in predictors of FMD occurrence was observed with a lower contribution of short-distance contagion, and a relatively higher association with meat production-demand discrepancies leading to live animal transport over long distances, and hence presenting opportunities for identifying critical-control points. The pattern of persistence differed according to serotype groups and is discussed in relation to their differential affinity to cattle and small ruminant hosts.

Activation of bovine mammary gland macrophages and T cells in response to intramammary infusion of S. aureus was associated with an inability to culture this bacterium from milk. Identification of specific inflammatory phases of S. aureus-induced mastitis in cows may allow for the design of more efficacious treatment and control programs.

Introduction: After a large outbreak of dengue virus (DENV) serotype-3 in Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) in 2008, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of anti-DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in expatriate and local persons affiliated with an American veterinary school there. Methodology: This campus community comprised mostly expatriate students and faculty and Kittitian administrative staff. In 2009, a stratified random sample of students, faculty and staff was invited to complete an electronic survey to assess risk factors for DENV and provide blood for testing for anti-DENV IgG antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG-positive specimens were also tested by a 90% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) to determine immunoreactivity to DENV (1-4) serotypes and West Nile virus. Risk factors for anti-DENV IgG seropositivity were determined using simple and adjusted logistic regression. Results: Of the 118 participants, the overall prevalence of DENV IgG antibodies was 44.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1-53.0%), ranging from 30.1% in students, 100.0% in staff and 57.9% in faculty (p < 0.001). Duration of residence in St. Kitts was the only variable significantly associated with seropositivity on multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.07-1.37]). The serotype of DENV was determined in 11 persons: DENV-1 (n = 4), DENV-2 (n = 3), and DENV-3 (n = 4). Conclusions: Expatriate students and faculty moving to St. Kitts from non-endemic areas were at high risk of DENV infection. There is a need for increased emphasis on pre-travel mosquito-borne virus prevention education for persons moving to St. Kitts to study and work.

hlterdisciplinary synthesb and validity analysis (ISVA), a structured learning approach which integrates learning and communication theories, meta-analytic evaluation methods, and literature management-related technologies was applied in the context of the 1993-1997 bovine mastitis research literature. This study investigated whether ISVA could: 1) facilitate the analysis and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge claims, and 2)generate projects or research questions. The bovine mastitis-related literature was conceptualized as composed of microbiological, immunological, and epidemiological dimensions. Keywords involving these dimensions were searched in the Medline and Agricola databases. A final list of 148 articles were retrieved, analyzed, synthesized into fifteen information sub-sets, and evaluated for construct, internal, external and statistical validity through an interdisciplinary iterative dialogical process. Validity threats were re-phrased as new research or educational projects.Research on interdisciplinarity has been conducted from many paradigms. To mention a few, studies from sociology, management, organizational development, education, communication, political science and medicine, have investigated multiple aspects of interdisciplinarity. 1 However, to the best of our knowledge, no published report has integrated technology, research methodology and broad disciplinary perspectives.Addressing that need, we integrated: 1)evaluation theory; 2)education theory; 3) communication theory, 4)bibliographic management technologies, and 5)contextrelated disciplines (defined from the conceptualization of the problem being assessed).This system (interdisciplinary synthesis and validity analysis, or ISVA) was tested in the context of the bovine mastitis-related literature. Bovine intramammary infection or mastitis (IMI/M) is a complex disease which results in major economic losses for dairy agriculture. 9-12 Despite major financial efforts to prevent mastitis, the prevalence of this disease has not diminished in the last 10 years.13 Although meta-analysis has been practised extensively in social sciences and human medicine, only three rectaanalyses have been conducted in veterinary medicine. 14-16 Thus, a novel approach to address IMI/M knowledge needs appears justified.This study assessed whether ISVA could generate: a) comprehensive, updated and integrated information synthesis; and b) new research questions. Materials and methods [SVA phasesThis question generation method was composed of three phases. The first two phases involved literature synthesis and the last phase involved validity analysis.In the first or diverging phase, the research objective was conceptualized with the support of a multi-disciplinary team (which included experts in veterinary microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, epidemiology, and mastitis research). This team identified keywords to be searched and bibliographic databases, and conducted literature searches with the support of bibliographic reference management software. ...

IntroductionIn Britain, ethnic inequalities in STIs diagnoses persist. We hypothesised that these inequalities are associated with variations in sexual behaviour, which are influenced by differences in socioeconomic deprivation (SED) and mediated by substance use.MethodsData from 14,563 participants of Britain’s third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, a probability sample survey (N=15,162), were analysed by gender and ethnicity: white British (WB, reference category), black Caribbean (BC), black African (BA), Indian, Pakistani, white other (WO), and mixed ethnicity (ME). Using multivariable regression we examined ethnic variations in reported STI diagnoses adjusted for age, partner numbers (last 5y), recreational drug use (last 1y), and SED, and calculated adjusted odds ratios (AOR).ResultsSED was higher in BC, BA, and Pakistani participants than other ethnicities (50% vs. 16%-38%, p<0.0001). compared with men from other ethnicities, BC and BA men reported higher partner numbers (p<0.0001), and concurrent partnerships (27% and 39% respectively vs. 4%–15%, p=0.001). compared with women from other ethnicities, ME women reported higher partner numbers (p<0.0001) and concurrency (14% vs. 2%–8%, p=0.0005). Recreational drug use was highest among WO and ME participants (26% vs. 4%-15% among other ethnicities; p<0.0001). Reported STI diagnosis was highest among BC men (8.7) and ME women (6.7%), and remained AOR high after adjustment for BC men (2.68, 95%CI: 1.13–6.34) and ME women (2.03, 95%CI: 1.11–3.68).DiscussionEthnic variations in sexual behaviours, mediators, and SED partially explain higher STI diagnoses among BC men and ME women highlighting need for holistic interventions addressing these broader determinants.