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Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases

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A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2023) | Viewed by 9029

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michael Kundi

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Health, Medizinische Universitat Wien, Vienna, Austria
Interests: epidemiology of infectious diseases; vaccinology; vector-borne diseases; modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of understanding the spread of infectious diseases became apparent to both lay persons and the media. However, epidemiology addresses a large number of issues in the context of infectious diseases with descriptive epidemiology aiming at unbiased representation of incidences and spread dynamics to analytic epidemiology assessing factors related to risk of and protection against infection, disease, and death. In addition to descriptive and analytic methods, prediction of outbreaks and more generally the spread of infectious diseases that are transmitted by human-to-human contact or by vectors became a focus of research. Another important issue is the containment of infectious diseases including vaccination and non-pharmacological protection methods. Outcome research addresses the impact of prevention and protection strategies at the level of the target population.

This Special Issue of Pathogens is focused on the application of epidemiological methods to describe and analyze as well as to predict the incidence of infectious diseases of all types in different populations and subgroups. A further focus will be the analysis of outcomes of prevention and protection strategies of infectious diseases. We invite you to submit either original research manuscripts or reviews related to these topics.

Prof. Dr. Michael Kundi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

incidence of infectious diseases
incidence trends and prediction
risk factors
prevention strategies
protection vaccination

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hunting for Answers: Assessing Brucella spp. Seroprevalence and Risks in Red Deer and Wild Boar in Central Portugal

by Humberto Pires, Luís Cardoso, Ana Patrícia Lopes, Maria da Conceição Fontes, Sérgio Santos-Silva, Manuela Matos, Cristina Pintado, Natália Roque, Leonardo Filipe Fonseca, Inês Morgado, Ana Sofia Dias, Luís Figueira, Ana Cristina Matos, João Rodrigo Mesquita and Ana Cláudia Coelho

Pathogens 2024, 13(3), 242; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens13030242 - 08 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1202

Abstract

Between 2016 and 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the central region of Portugal in order to better understand the epidemiology and public health risks resulting from the handling and consumption of game animals infected with Brucella spp. The seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella spp. seropositivity were evaluated. Antibodies against Brucella spp. were determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Results showed that in the 650 serum samples collected from red deer (n = 298) and wild boars (n = 352) in Portugal, 21.7% (n = 141; 95% CI: 18.6–25.1%) tested positive. Wild boar had a significantly higher prevalence (35.5%; 95% CI: 30.5–40.8%) than red deer (5.4%, 95% CI: 3.1–8.6%; p ≤ 0.001). Risk factors for seropositivity were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. The odds of being seropositive was 8.39 (95% CI: 4.75–14.84; p ≤ 0.001) times higher in wild boar than in red deer. Correlations between sex, age, body condition, and seropositivity could not be observed. The higher seroprevalence in wild boar suggests that this species may primarily contribute to the Brucella spp. ecology in central Portugal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases)

16 pages, 1773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Brucella Species, Coxiella burnetii, and Trichinella Species in Recently Imported Camels from Sudan to Egypt: Possible Threats to Animal and Human Health

by Ragab M. Fereig, Amira M. Mazeed, Ashraf A. Abd El Tawab, Mohamed El-Diasty, Ahmed Elsayed, Raafat M. Shaapan, Abdelbaset E. Abdelbaset, Caroline F. Frey, Bader S. Alawfi, Sarah A. Altwaim, Azzah S. Alharbi and Gamal Wareth

Pathogens 2024, 13(2), 179; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens13020179 - 16 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 992

Abstract

Brucellosis and coxiellosis/Q fever are bacterial infections caused by Brucella species and Coxiella burnetii, respectively; camels are highly susceptible to both pathogens. Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection caused by various Trichinella nematode species. Reportedly, camels are susceptible to experimental infection with Trichinella spp., but information on this potential host species is scarce. All three infections are of zoonotic nature and thus of great public health concern. The current study aimed to determine antibodies against the three pathogens in recently imported camels (n = 491) from Sudan at the two main ports for the entrance of camels into southern Egypt using commercial indirect ELISAs. Samples were collected in two sampling periods. The seropositivity rates of Brucella spp., C. burnetii, and Trichinella spp. were 3.5%, 4.3%, and 2.4%, respectively. Mixed seropositivity was found in 1% for Brucella spp. and C. burnetii. Marked differences were found between the two study sites and the two sampling periods for Brucella. A higher rate of seropositivity was recorded in the Red Sea/older samples that were collected between 2015 and 2016 (4.3%, 17/391; odds ratio = 9.4; p < 0.030) than in those collected in Aswan/recent samples that were collected between 2018 and 2021 (0/100). Concerning C. burnetii, samples collected during November and December 2015 had a significantly higher positivity rate than the other samples (13%, 13/100; OD = 4.8; p < 0.016). The same effect was observed for antibodies to Trichinella spp., with samples collected during November and December 2015 showing a higher positivity rate than the other samples (7%, 7/100; OD = 10.9; p < 0.001). This study provides valuable information on the seroprevalence of Brucella spp. and additional novel information on C. burnetii and Trichinella spp. in recently imported camels kept in quarantine before delivery to other Egyptian regions. This knowledge can be utilized to reduce health hazards and financial burdens attributable to brucellosis, Q fever, and trichinellosis in animals and humans in Egypt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases)

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10 pages, 255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Demographic Characteristics of Unvaccinated Asymptomatic and Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Cases in Barwon South West, Victoria, Australia

by Shinae C. Tobin-Salzman, Darcie Cooper, Bridgette J. McNamara, Eugene Athan and Catherine M. Bennett

Pathogens 2023, 12(12), 1420; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens12121420 - 04 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1092

Abstract

We investigated 328 SARS-CoV-2 cases in Barwon South West, Victoria, Australia, in the 2020 pre-vaccination period, comparing infections with symptoms to those that remained asymptomatic. De-identified self-reported data on case characteristics and symptom progression from three sequential questionnaires were examined. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model associations between demographic profiles and symptoms. Asymptomatic infections were more than three times as likely to be seen in ethnic minority groups than the Caucasian population after adjusting for gender and age [OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.5–6.7, p < 0.01] and were more common among cases of Asian background [OR 2.8, 95%CI 1.2–6.4]. Asymptomatic infections were also more common in youth and younger adults, but cases were approximately seven times more likely to be in seniors (≥65 years) compared with those 24 years of age or younger after adjusting for sex and ethnicity [OR 6.9, 95% CI 1.3–35.8]. The overrepresentation of ethnic minority groups among asymptomatic infections is suggestive of genetic haplotype variability by ethnic group, conferring greater cross-protection from other coronaviruses in the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Replication of this analysis in the post-vaccination era and reassessment of symptom expression according to ethnicity in a community with established vaccine and infection-induced immunity would determine whether this is a sustained association or one confined to the early stages of a pandemic in an immunologically naive population. These findings may, in part, reflect differences in testing patterns by ethnicity and true differences in disease expression, both of which are important to understand in order to inform transmission prevention strategies and tailored risk messaging according to ethnic background. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases)

11 pages, 1281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Changing Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in a Post-Soviet Country—The Case of Kyrgyzstan

by Manas K. Akmatov, Nurgul J. Beisheeva, Asylbek Z. Nurmatov, Sattarova J. Gulsunai, Kylychbekova N. Saikal, Aisuluu A. Derkenbaeva, Zamira O. Abdrahmanova, Jana Prokein, Norman Klopp, Thomas Illig, Omor T. Kasymov, Zuridin S. Nurmatov and Frank Pessler

Pathogens 2023, 12(8), 989; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens12080989 - 28 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1050

Abstract

Historically, viral hepatitis has been a considerable public health problem in Central Asian countries, which may have worsened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, up-to-date seroepidemiological studies are lacking. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to provide current estimates of the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis in Kyrgyzstan, one of the economically least developed countries in the region. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in 2018 in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek (n = 1075). Participants, children and adults, were recruited from an outpatient clinic. The data were collected during face-to-face interviews. A blood sample (6 mL) was collected from each participant and tested with ELISA for the presence of serological markers for five viral hepatitides (A, B, C, D, and E). Post-stratification weighing was performed to obtain nationally representative findings. The overwhelming majority of the study participants were positive for anti-HAV (estimated seroprevalence, 75.3%; 95% confidence interval, 72.5–77.9%). The weighted seroprevalence estimates of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HDV were 2.2% (1.5–3.3%), 3.8% (2.8–5.1%), and 0.40% (0.15–1.01%), respectively. Anti-HEV seropositivity was 3.3% (2.4–4.5%). Of the 33 HBsAg-positive participants, five (15%) were anti-HDV-positive. Our study confirms that Kyrgyzstan remains a highly endemic country for hepatitis virus A and C infections. However, seroprevalences of HBV and HDV were lower than previously reported, and based on these data, the country could potentially be reclassified from high to (lower) intermediate endemicity. The observed anti-HEV seroprevalence resembles the low endemicity pattern characteristic of high-income countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases)

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12 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

“Monkeypox: What Do You Know about That?” Italian Adults’ Awareness of a New Epidemic

by Francesca Gallè, Lavinia Bianco, Giovanna Da Molin, Rita Mancini, Salvatore Sciacchitano, Stefano Ferracuti, Giorgio Liguori, Giovanni Battista Orsi and Christian Napoli

Pathogens 2022, 11(11), 1285; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11111285 - 01 Nov 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

In the course of 2022, an epidemic of monkeypox (MPX) arose worldwide. In order to assess the level of knowledge of the Italian adults regarding the new emerging disease, its prevention and their level of worrying and the acceptance of a possible vaccination, a web questionnaire was spread nationwide. A total of 1352 individuals (mean age 54.5 ± 13.4, 52.4% males) completed the questionnaire. Only 26. 7% of the sample were aware of the burden of the epidemic at the moment of the investigation; 47.1% were not able to identify the transmission route, nor the main symptoms (48.9%); and 54.2% were hesitant toward a possible MPXV vaccination, mainly because of a lack of confident in vaccines (38.5%). A low level of worrying about the disease was registered (mean score 2.3 ± 1.2 on a 5-point scale). In the regression analysis performed considering MPX knowledge as outcome, a lower level of knowledge was associated with higher age (OR 1.378, CI95% 0.998–1.904), working or studying in a nonhealthcare setting (OR 0.046, CI95% 0.033–0.066), being single (OR 0.624, CI95% 0.455–0.856) and having mass media as the main source of information (OR 0.332, CI95% 0.158–0.696). These findings indicate as of the time of this investigation, the communication about the MPXV epidemic was not effective in determining a good level of knowledge about the disease and its transmission among Italian adults. This highlights the need to improve risk communication strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases)

Other

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12 pages, 1114 KiB

Open AccessProject Report

Characterization of COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients in Three United States Electronic Health Record Databases

by Patrick Saunders-Hastings, Cindy Ke Zhou, Shayan Hobbi, Eva Boyd, Patricia Lloyd, Nader Alawar, Timothy Burrell, Jeff Beers, Tainya C. Clarke, Aaron Z. Hettinger, Hui-Lee Wong and Azadeh Shoaibi

Pathogens 2023, 12(3), 390; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens12030390 - 01 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1620

Abstract

COVID-19 infections have contributed to substantial increases in hospitalizations. This study describes demographics, baseline clinical characteristics and treatments, and clinical outcomes among U.S. patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 during the prevaccine phase of the pandemic. A total of 20,446 hospitalized patients with a positive COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification test were identified from three large electronic health record databases during 5 February–30 November 2020 (Academic Health System: n = 4504; Explorys; n = 7492; OneFlorida: n = 8450). Over 90% of patients were ≥30 years of age, with an even distribution between sexes. At least one comorbidity was recorded in 84.6–96.1% of patients; cardiovascular and respiratory conditions (28.8–50.3%) and diabetes (25.6–44.4%) were most common. Anticoagulants were the most frequently reported medications on or up to 28 days after admission (44.5–81.7%). Remdesivir was administered to 14.1–24.6% of patients and increased over time. Patients exhibited higher COVID-19 severity 14 days following admission than the 14 days prior to and on admission. The length of in-patient hospital stay ranged from a median of 4 to 6 days, and over 85% of patients were discharged alive. These results promote understanding of the clinical characteristics and hospital-resource utilization associated with hospitalized COVID-19 over time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Outcomes Research in Infectious Diseases)

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