No abstract

Helicobacter suis is the second most prevalent Helicobacter species in the stomach of humans suffering from gastric disease. This bacterium mainly inhabits the stomach of domesticated pigs, in which it causes gastric disease, but it appears to be absent in wild boars. Interestingly, it also colonizes the stomach of asymptomatic rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. The origin of modern human-, pig- or non-human primate-associated H. suis strains in these respective host populations was hitherto unknown. Here we show that H. suis in pigs possibly originates from non-human primates. Our data suggest that a host jump from macaques to pigs happened between 100 000 and 15 000 years ago and that pig domestication has had a significant impact on the spread of H. suis in the pig population, from where this pathogen occasionally infects humans. Thus, in contrast to our expectations, H. suis appears to have evolved in its main host in a completely different way than its close relative Helicobacter pylori in humans.

Sterols and polysaccharides of green alga Caulerpa lentillifera grown under laboratory conditions and in mariculture and polysaccharides of green alga C. sertularioides grown under natural conditions were studied. The sterol fraction consisted of C 27 -C 29 steroidal alcohols with Δ 5 -unsaturation in the steroid core regardless of the growth conditions. The dominant (79.9%) steroid component of the sterol fraction was clionasterol. The water-soluble fraction of C. lentillifera grown under laboratory conditions was a mixture of 1,4-α-and 1,3-β-D-glucans and protein. The same fraction isolated from C. lentillifera grown in mariculture contained only protein. The water-soluble fraction of C. sertularioides grown under natural conditions contained 1,3;1,6-β-D-galactan sulfated at C2. The principal components of the base-soluble polysaccharide fractions from all algae samples were 1,4-α-D-glucans.

This research was conducted to assess the location of population groups and conservation issues affecting dugongs Dugong dugon along the eastern Gulf of Thailand off Cambodia and Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. Interviews in fishing communities in 2002 and 2004 along the Cambodian coast revealed that dugongs are sporadically found in fishing nets and their body parts are sold for a relatively large profit. During 4 days of aerial surveys in Cambodia in 2004 we saw no dugongs. We interviewed villagers in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, in 2002 and learnt that dugongs are regularly found and hunted, again for high profits. In both countries we recommend that legislation addressing threatened species be strengthened and enforced. In collaboration with the Cambodian and Vietnamese governments and NGOs, we propose the exploration of alternative nondestructive fishing methods and the initiation of an education campaign based on conservation of marine wildlife and the nearshore environment. National and transboundary management and community-based conservation are required in conjunction with strategies to address overfishing and poverty.

Background African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable viral disease of pigs and wild boars that could lead to serious economic losses for the swine industry. Objectives The aim of this study was to identify risk factors in the early phase of ASF outbreaks in Vietnamese swine herds during the first epidemic year. Methods The period of interest for this case–control study was February to July 2019. A questionnaire was administered in northern Vietnam where all early cases of ASF were reported. Producers of herds with reported cases were asked to provide information starting from the day of onset of clinical signs as well as 30 days prior to that day. The period of interest for controls was within the 6 months of the first outbreak in Vietnam (February 2019). Questionnaires included 55 questions; responses were received from 67 cases and 115 controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with ASF status. Results Thirty‐seven variables of interest (among a total of 55 variables) were associated with ASF status in univariate analysis (p < 0.05). These 37 variables were assessed for inclusion in the multivariate analysis by backward stepwise selection. Six variables remained significant as ASF risk factors in the final model: distance to farm within 500 m, distance of irrigation systems within 200 m, total number of pigs (≤500), absence of dressing rooms for workers/visitors before entering the farm, poor hygienic practices for people within the farm, and poor hygienic practices at pig loading/unloading locations. Conclusions These results may help in understanding the epidemiology of ASF in Vietnam and provide a scientific basis for optimization of current interventions and development of new tools and strategies to reduce transmission of ASF.