Working to rule or working safely? Part 2 : The management of safety rules and procedures
- Authors: Hale, Andrew , Borys, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol.55, no. (2012), p.54-59
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- Description: Part 1, the companion paper to this paper () reviews the literature from 1986 on the management of those safety rules and procedures which relate to the workplace level in organisations. It contrasts two different paradigms of how work rules and their development and use are perceived and managed. The first is a top-down classical, rational approach in which rules are seen as static, comprehensive limits of freedom of choice, imposed on operators at the sharp end and violations are seen as negative behaviour to be suppressed. The second is a bottom-up constructivist view of rules as dynamic, local, situated constructions of operators as experts, where competence is seen to a great extent as the ability to adapt rules to the diversity of reality. That paper explores the research underlying and illustrating these two paradigms. In this second paper we draw on that literature study to propose a framework of rule management which attempts to draw the lessons from both paradigms. It places the monitoring and adaptation of rules central to its management process and emphasises the need for participation of the intended rule followers in the processes of rule-making, but more importantly in keeping those rules alive and up to date in a process of regular and explicit dialogue with first-line supervision, and through them with the technical, safety and legal experts on the system functioning. The framework is proposed for testing in the field as a benchmark for good practice. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Working to rule, or working safely? Part 1 : A state of the art review
- Authors: Hale, Andrew , Borys, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol.55, no. June (2013), p.207-221
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- Description: The paper reviews the literature from 1986 on the management of those safety rules and procedures which relate to the workplace level in organisations. It contrasts two different paradigms of how rules and their development and use are perceived and managed. The first is a top-down classical, rational approach in which rules are seen as static, comprehensive limits of freedom of choice, imposed on operators at the sharp end and violations are seen as negative behaviour to be suppressed. The second is a bottom-up constructivist view of rules as dynamic, local, situated constructions of operators as experts, where competence is seen to a great extent as the ability to adapt rules to the diversity of reality. The paper explores the research underlying and illustrating these two paradigms, drawn from psychology, sociology and ethnography, organisational studies and behavioural economics. In a separate paper following on from this review (Hale and Borys, this issue http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753512001312#b0285) the authors propose a framework of rule management which attempts to draw the lessons from both paradigms. It places the monitoring and adaptation of rules central to its management process. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A psychological pathway from insomnia to depression among older adults
- Authors: Sadler, Paul , McLaren, Suzanne , Jenkins, Megan
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Psychogeriatrics Vol. 25, no. 8 (2013), p. 1375-1383
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- Description: Background: Higher levels of insomnia predict greater depression severity among older adults; however. The psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. This study tested a path model that explored whether dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and hopelessness mediate. The relationship from insomnia to depression. It was hypothesized that insomnia would predict depression, both directly and indirectly, via dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and hopelessness. Methods: A community sample of 218 independent-living Australian older adults aged from 65 to 96 years completed a self-report questionnaire package. From the initial 218 participants, 171 completed a measure of depression three months later. Results: Path analysis demonstrated that maladaptive sleep beliefs and hopelessness partly explained how insomnia influenced depression, irrespective of the presence of obstructive sleep apnea and/or restless legs syndrome. Conclusions: An older adult's beliefs about sleep and sense of hopelessness were important psychological factors that helped explain how insomnia related to depression. © 2013 International Psychogeriatric Association.
- Description: 2003011128
A study of caregiver characteristics and carer burden when caring for people with cognitive impairment from a Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) clinic in regional Australia
- Authors: Tyagi, Vaibhav , Yates, Mark , Muhi, Steve , Harvey, Jack , Dalziel, Alison
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal on Ageing Vol. 32, no. (June 2013), p. 42-42
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A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for adults : Informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Young, Janet , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Vol. 10, no. (2013), p. 1-14
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- Description: Background: The definition of health incorporates the physical, social and mental domains, however the Physical Activity (PA) guidelines do not address social health. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence about the levels or types of PA associated specifically with psychological health. This paper first presents the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social health benefits of participation in sport by adults. Secondly, the information arising from the systematic review has been used to develop a conceptual model of Health through Sport. Methods: A systematic review of 14 electronic databases was conducted in June 2012, and studies published since 1990 were considered for inclusion. Studies that addressed mental and/or social health benefits from participation in sport were included. Results: A total of 3668 publications were initially identified, of which 11 met the selection criteria. There were many different psychological and social health benefits reported, with the most commonly being wellbeing and reduced distress and stress. Sport may be associated with improved psychosocial health in addition to improvements attributable to participation in PA. Specifically, club-based or team-based sport seems to be associated with improved health outcomes compared to individual activities, due to the social nature of the participation. Notwithstanding this, individuals who prefer to participate in sport by themselves can still derive mental health benefits which can enhance the development of true-self-awareness and personal growth which is essential for social health. A conceptual model, Health through Sport, is proposed. The model depicts the relationship between psychological, psychosocial and social health domains, and their positive associations with sport participation, as reported in the literature. However, it is acknowledged that the capacity to determine the existence and direction of causal links between participation and health is limited by the cross-sectional nature of studies to date. Conclusion: It is recommended that participation in sport is advocated as a form of leisure-time PA for adults which can produce a range of health benefits. It is also recommended that the causal link between participation in sport and psycho-social health be further investigated and the conceptual model of Health through Sport tested. © 2013 Eime et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: Informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Young, Janet , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Vol. 10, no. Article 98 (2013), p.
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- Description: Background: There are specific guidelines regarding the level of physical activity (PA) required to provide health benefits. However, the research underpinning these PA guidelines does not address the element of social health. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence about the levels or types of PA associated specifically with psychological health. This paper first presents the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social health benefits of participation in sport by children and adolescents. Secondly, the information arising from the systematic review has been used to develop a conceptual model.Methods: A systematic review of 14 electronic databases was conducted in June 2012, and studies published since 1990 were considered for inclusion. Studies that addressed mental and/or social health benefits from participation in sport were included.Results: A total of 3668 publications were initially identified, of which 30 met the selection criteria. There were many different psychological and social health benefits reported, with the most commonly being improved self-esteem, social interaction followed by fewer depressive symptoms. Sport may be associated with improved psychosocial health above and beyond improvements attributable to participation in PA. Specifically, team sport seems to be associated with improved health outcomes compared to individual activities, due to the social nature of the participation. A conceptual model, Health through Sport, is proposed. The model depicts the relationship between psychological, psychosocial and social health domains, and their positive associations with sport participation, as reported in the literature. However, it is acknowledged that the capacity to determine the existence and direction of causal links between participation and health is limited by the fact that the majority of studies identified (n=21) were cross-sectional.Conclusion: It is recommended that community sport participation is advocated as a form of leisure time PA for children and adolescents, in an effort to not only improve physical health in relation to such matters as the obesity crisis, but also to enhance psychological and social health outcomes. It is also recommended that the causal link between participation in sport and psychosocial health be further investigated and the conceptual model of Health through Sport tested. © 2013 Eime et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
- Description: C1
Age-related differences revealed in australian fur seal arctocephalus pusillus doriferus gut microbiota
- Authors: Smith, Stuart , Chalker, Andrea , Dewar, Meagan , Arnould, John
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: FEMS Microbiology Ecology Vol. 86, no. 2 (2013), p. 246-255
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- Description: The gut microbiota of Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) was examined at different age classes using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The FISH results indicated that in the fur seal groups, the predominant phyla are Firmicutes (22.14-67.33%) followed by Bacteroidetes (3.11-15.45%) and then Actinobacteria (1.4-5.9%) consistent with other mammals. Phylum Proteobacteria had an initial abundance of 1.8% in the 2-month-old pups, but < 1% of bacterial numbers for the other fur seal age groups. Significant differences did occur in the abundance of Clostridia, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria between 2 months pups and 9 months pups and adult fur seals. Results from the 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing supported the FISH data and identified significant differences in the composition of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Fusobacteria at all ages. Class Clostridia in phylum Firmicutes dominates the microbiota of the 2 months and 9 months seal pups, whilst class Bacilli dominates the 6 months pups. In addition, a high level of dissimilarity was observed between all age classes. This study provides novel insight into the gut microbiota of Australian fur seals at different age classes. © 2013 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.
Applying implementation science to sports injury prevention
- Authors: Donaldson, Alex , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Editorial , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 8 (2013), p. 473-475
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
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- Description: Recent commentary in the BJSM has argued that a key challenge for future sports injury prevention is to reduce the ‘research to practice’ gap. Unfortunately, very few examples of this type of research actually exist. In this issue, Myklebust et al describe their approach to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention in Norwegian Handball over the past 13 years. This is one of the first published papers on the long-term outcomes of a sports injury prevention intiative that has shown promising efficacy in controlled trials. While this paper describes an impressive intial research effort and outstanding example of long-term follow-up through an ACL Injury Surveillance Programme, it also highlights challenges associated with conducting sports injury prevention implementation research.
- Description: Editorial
- Description: 2003011041
Cholera in Papua New Guinea : Observations to date and future considerations
- Authors: Horwood, Paul , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 162-165
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- Description: Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal illness caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. From July 2009 to late 2011 Papua New Guinea (PNG) experienced thefirst outbreak of cholera ever reported in this country. During this time > 15,000 cases of cholera were reported, resulting in approximately 500 deaths. The origin of this outbreak is unknown, but considering the remote location of the initial outbreak an infected international traveller is unlikely to be the source. In this paper we review the characteristics of the PNG cholera outbreak and discuss the ongoing threat of cholera to the country and the region.
Concussion guidelines need to move from only expert content to also include implementation and dissemination strategies
- Authors: Finch, Caroline , McCrory, Paul , Ewing, Michael , Sullivan, John
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 1 (2013), p. 12-14
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
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- Description: Sport-related head injuries place a significant burden on the health service delivery systems needed to treat and assess them; the sport delivery systems responsible for providing safe sporting opportunities; and personally on the individuals who sustain them. The number of head injury occurrences, the anecdotally high levels of public concern about the risk of head injury in sport and the fact that there is so much public misinformation about their assessment, management and prevention make the prevention of sport-related head injury a health priority. The most recent international consensus statement on the management of concussion in sport stated that there is a need to develop guidelines, education resources and other health promotion approaches for the prevention of head injury and its adverse outcomes across all sports with a risk of serious head injury.4 However, while there is evidence that some educational resources and guidelines have been developed, these have had varying success because they have not incorporated social marketing approaches.
Determinants of discharge to long-term care after a lower limb amputation
- Authors: Fortington, Lauren , Dijkstra, Pieter , Geertzen, Jan
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Vol. 61, no. 2 (February 2013 2013), p. 298-299
- Full Text: false
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- Description: C1
Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus from children hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea
- Authors: Kas, Monalisa , Maure, Tobias , Soli, Kevin , Umezaki, Masahiro , Morita, Ayako , Bebes, Sauli , Jonduo, Marinjho , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 141-144
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- Description: We evaluated the IP-Triple I immunochromatographic rapid test for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus using stool samples from children with diarrhoea. The detection of norovirus and adenovirus was poor compared to polymerase chain reaction assays. However, high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (99%) were obtained for the detection of rotavirus.
Evaluation of a WASH intervention demonstrates the potential for improved hygiene practices in Hiri District, Central Province
- Authors: Phuanukoonnon, Suparat , Namosha, Elias , Kua, Lydia , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea medical journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 126-135
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions aim to improve health outcomes through provision of safe water supplies and improved sanitation facilities, while also promoting better hygiene practices in communities. Population Services International introduced a WASH intervention project in the Hiri District, Central Province in May 2012. Shortly after its introduction we conducted a survey to determine the uptake of the intervention and gauge its impact. We invited 400 households to participate in the study, which consisted of a questionnaire for the head of the household. A total of 395 questionnaires were completed: 314 from households that had participated in the WASH intervention and 81 that had not (controls). Results demonstrated that improved water sources were not routinely used, with a high dependence on well and surface water. While self-reported handwashing was common, use of soap was not common. Treatment of water inside the house was common in the intervention group (95%), compared to 49% in the non-WASH group. The study indicates that people in the Hiri District are supportive of a WASH intervention, with good uptake of some aspects of the intervention. The sustainability of the intervention remains unknown. Targetted interventions focusing on community priorities might be beneficial in the future.
Evaluation of how different implementation strategies of an injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) impact team adherence and injury risk in Canadian female youth football players : A cluster-randomised trial
- Authors: Steffen, Kathrin , Meeuwisse, Willem , Romiti, Maria , Kang, Jian , McKay, Carly , Bizzini, Mario , Dvorak, Jiri , Finch, Caroline , Myklebust, Grethe , Emery, Carolyn
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 8 (2013), p. 480-487
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
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- Description: Background Injury prevention programme delivery on adherence and injury risk, specifically involving regular supervisions with coaches and players on programme execution on field, has not been examined. Aim The objective of this cluster-randomised study was to evaluate different delivery methods of an effective injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) on adherence and injury risk among female youth football teams. Method During the 4-month 2011 football season, coaches and 13-year-old to 18-year-old players from 31 tier 1-3 level teams were introduced to the 11+ through either an unsupervised website ('control') or a coachfocused workshop with ('comprehensive') and without ('regular') additional supervisions by a physiotherapist. Team and player adherence to the 11+, playing exposure, history and injuries were recorded. Results Teams in the comprehensive and regular intervention groups demonstrated adherence to the 11+ programme of 85.6% and 81.3% completion of total possible sessions, compared to 73.5% for teams in the control group. These differences were not statistically significant, after adjustment for cluster by team, age, level and injury history. Compared to players with low adherence, players with high adherence to the 11+ had a 57% lower injury risk (IRR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.00). However, adjusting for covariates, this betweengroup difference was not statistically significant (IRR=0.44, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.06). Conclusion Following a coach workshop, coach-led delivery of the FIFA 11+ was equally successful with or without the additional field involvement of a physiotherapist. Proper education of coaches during an extensive preseason workshop was more effective in terms of team adherence than an unsupervised delivery of the 11+ programme to the team.
- Description: 2003011024
Exploring Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology: a perfect fit for midwifery research
- Authors: Miles, Maureen , Chapman, Ysanne , Francis, Karen , Taylor, Beverley
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Women and Birth Vol. 26, no. 4 (2013), p. 273-276
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- Description: Background Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology has been used widely to understand the meaning of lived experiences in health research. For midwifery scholars this approach enables deep understanding of women's and midwives’ lived experiences of specific phenomena. However, for beginning researchers this is not a methodology for the faint hearted. It requires a period of deep immersion to come to terms with at times impenetrable language and perplexing concepts. Objectives This paper aims to assist midwives to untangle and examine some of the choices they face when they first come to terms with an understanding of this methodology and highlights the methodology's capacity to reveal midwifery authenticity and holistic practice. Discussion The illumination of a selection of various concepts underpinning hermeneutic phenomenology will inform midwives considering this methodology as suitable framework for exploring contemporary midwifery phenomena.
Family support and ease of access link socio-economic status and sports club membership in adolescent girls : A mediation study
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Craike, Melinda , Symons, Caroline , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Vol. 10, no. (2013), p. 1-12
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- Description: Background: Much research has been conducted into the determinants of physical activity (PA) participation among adolescent girls. However, the more specific question of what are the determinants of particular forms of PA participation, such as the link between participation through a sports club, has not been investigated. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between participation in a sports club and socio-economic status (SES), access to facilities, and family and peer support, for female adolescents.Methods: A survey of 732 female adolescent school students (521 metropolitan, 211 non-metropolitan; 489 Year 7, 243 Year 11) was conducted. The survey included demographic information (living arrangements, ethnicity indicators, and indicators of SES such as parental education and employment status and locality); access to facilities; and family and peer support (travel, encouragement, watching, praise, joint participation). For each characteristic, sports club participants and non-participants were compared using chi-square tests. Multiple mediation analyses were used to investigate the role of access, family and peer support in the link between SES and sport participation.Results: There were significant associations (p<0.05) between sports club participation and: all demographic characteristics; all measures of family and peer support; and access to sport-related facilities. Highest levels of participation were associated with monolingual Australian-born families, with two parents, at least one of whom was well-educated, with both parents employed, and high levels of parental assistance, engagement and support. Participation in club sport among both younger and older adolescent girls was significantly positively associated with the SES of both their neighbourhoods and their households, particularly in metropolitan areas. These associations were most strongly mediated by family support and by access to facilities.Conclusions: To facilitate and promote greater participation in club sport among adolescent girls from low SES neighbourhoods and households, strategies should target modifiable determinants such as facility access and parental support. This will involve improving access to sports facilities and promoting, encouraging and assisting parents to provide support for their daughters' participation in sport clubs. © 2013 Eime et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
- Description: 2003011031
High adherence to a neuromuscular injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) improves functional balance and reduces injury risk in Canadian youth female football players : A cluster randomised trial
- Authors: Steffen, Kathrin , Emery, Carolyn , Romiti, Maria , Kang, Jian , Bizzini, Mario , Dvorak, Jiri , Finch, Caroline , Meeuwisse, Willem
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 12 (2013), p. 794-802
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
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- Description: Background A protective effect on injury risk in youth sports through neuromuscular warm-up training routines has consistently been demonstrated. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the quantity and quality of coach-led injury prevention programmes and its impact on the physical performance of players. Objective The aim of this cluster-randomised controlled trial was to assess whether different delivery methods of an injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) to coaches could improve player performance, and to examine the effect of player adherence on performance and injury risk. Method During the 2011 football season (May- August), coaches of 31 tiers 1-3 level teams were introduced to the 11+ through either an unsupervised website or a coach-focused workshop with and without additional on-field supervisions. Playing exposure, adherence to the 11+, and injuries were recorded for female 13-year-old to 18-year-old players. Performance testing included the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), single-leg balance, triple hop and jumping-over-a-bar tests. Results Complete preseason and postseason performance tests were available for 226 players (66.5%). Compared to the unsupervised group, singleleg balance (OR=2.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.6) and the anterior direction of the SEBT improved significantly in the onfield supervised group of players (OR=4.7; 95% CI 2.2 to 7.1), while 2-leg jumping performance decreased (OR=-5.1; 95% CI -9.9 to -0.2). However, significant improvements in 5 of 6 reach distances in the SEBT were found, favouring players who highly adhered to the 11+. Also, injury risk was lower for those players (injury rate ratio, IRR=0.28, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.79). Conclusions Different delivery methods of the FIFA 11+ to coaches influenced players' physical performance minimally. However, high player adherence to the 11+ resulted in significant improvements in functional balance and reduced injury risk.
- Description: 2003011216
Housing type and depressive symptoms among older adults: a test of sense of belonging as a mediating and moderating variable
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Turner, Jayne , Gomez, Rapson , McLachlan, Angus , Gibbs, Petah
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Aging & Mental Health Vol. 17, no. 8 (November 2013), p. 1023-1029
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objectives: Higher levels of depression have been documented among older adults who reside in an assisted living facility, compared with those who remain in their own homes. The aims of the current study were to test whether the relationship between housing type and depressive symptoms was mediated by a sense of belonging and whether housing type and sense of belonging interact to influence the depressive symptoms among older adults (moderation model).Method: A sample of 257 older adults who lived in their own homes and 166 older adults who lived in an assisted living facility completed the psychological subscale of the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.Results: Results showed that a sense of belonging partially mediated the relationship between housing type and depressive symptoms, such that living in a nursing home was associated with lower levels of belonging, and lower levels of belonging were, in turn, associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Residing in an assisted living facility was associated with depressive symptoms at low and average levels of belonging.Conclusion: Results highlight the need for more research on the role of sense of belonging as an influencing factor on depressive symptoms among institutionalised older adults for both theoretical and treatment goals.
- Description: C1
Isolation of Vibrio cholerae and other enteric microbiota from patients with suspected cholera during the 2009 outbreak in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Kas, Monalisa , Horwood, Paul , Laman, Moses , Manning, Laurens , Atua, Vincent , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea medical journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 110-115
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: When cholera was first detected in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in mid-2009, national diagnostic capacity faced many challenges. This was in part due to the non-endemic status of the outbreak, resulting in few local staff experienced in Vibrio cholerae detection and poor access to the required consumables. The PNG Institute of Medical Research conducted culture on specimens from suspected cholera patients in Madang Province, with presumptive V. cholerae isolates sent to Goroka for confirmation. Of 98 samples analysed 15 were culture positive, with V. cholerae detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in an additional 3 samples. Further analyses were conducted to identify other pathogenic bacteria from thiosulphate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar. Molecular-based assays detected enteropathogenic (n = 1) and enterotoxigenic (n = 1) strains of Escherichia coli. No other major enteric pathogens were detected. The low detection rate of V. cholerae at the provincial level reflects challenges in the laboratory diagnosis of cholera and in-country challenges in responding to an outbreak of a non-endemic disease, such as lack of in-country diagnostic expertise and available consumables in the early stages. It also suggests that full aetiological investigations are warranted in future outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea in PNG to fully elucidate the potentially complex aetiology, which could in turn guide diagnostic, treatment and prevention measures.
Local immune responses of the Chinese water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, against Schistosoma japonicum larvae: crucial insights for vaccine design
- Authors: McWilliam, Hamish , Piedrafita, David , Li, Yuesheng , Zheng, Mao , He, Yongkang , Yu, Xinling , McManus, Donald , Meeusen, Els
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Vol.7, no.9(Art.No: e2460) (2013), p. 1-11
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- Description: Asian schistosomiasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease infecting up to a million people and threatening tens of millions more. Control of this disease is hindered by the animal reservoirs of the parasite, in particular the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), which is responsible for significant levels of human transmission. A transmission-blocking vaccine administered to buffaloes is a realistic option which would aid in the control of schistosomiasis. This will however require a better understanding of the immunobiology of schistosomiasis in naturally exposed buffaloes, particularly the immune response to migrating schistosome larvae, which are the likely targets of an anti-schistosome vaccine. To address this need we investigated the immune response at the major sites of larval migration, the skin and the lungs, in previously exposed and re-challenged water buffaloes. In the skin, a strong allergic-type inflammatory response occurred, characterised by leukocyte and eosinophil infiltration including the formation of granulocytic abscesses. Additionally at the local skin site, interleukin-5 transcript levels were elevated, while interleukin-10 levels decreased. In the skin-draining lymph node (LN) a predominant type-2 profile was seen in stimulated cells, while in contrast a type-1 profile was detected in the lung draining LN, and these responses occurred consecutively, reflecting the timing of parasite migration. The intense type-2 immune response at the site of cercarial penetration is significantly different to that seen in naive and permissive animal models such as mice, and suggests a possible mechanism for immunity. Preliminary data also suggest a reduced and delayed immune response occurred in buffaloes given high cercarial challenge doses compared with moderate infections, particularly in the skin. This study offers a deeper understanding into the immunobiology of schistosomiasis in a natural host, which may aid in the future design of more effective vaccines.