Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-12 (of 12 Records) |
Query Trace: Parkinson AJ[original query] |
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Human seroprevalence to 11 zoonotic pathogens in the U.S. Arctic, Alaska
Miernyk KM , Bruden D , Parkinson AJ , Hurlburt D , Klejka J , Berner J , Stoddard RA , Handali S , Wilkins PP , Kersh GJ , Fitzpatrick K , Drebot MA , Priest JW , Pappert R , Petersen JM , Teshale E , Hennessy TW , Bruce MG . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019 19 (8) 563-575 BACKGROUND: Due to their close relationship with the environment, Alaskans are at risk for zoonotic pathogen infection. One way to assess a population's disease burden is to determine the seroprevalence of pathogens of interest. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of 11 zoonotic pathogens in people living in Alaska. METHODS: In a 2007 avian influenza exposure study, we recruited persons with varying wild bird exposures. Using sera from this study, we tested for antibodies to Cryptosporidium spp., Echinococcus spp., Giardia intestinalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, California serogroup bunyaviruses, and hepatitis E virus (HEV). RESULTS: Eight hundred eighty-seven persons had sera tested, including 454 subsistence bird hunters and family members, 160 sport bird hunters, 77 avian wildlife biologists, and 196 persons with no wild bird exposure. A subset (n = 481) of sera was tested for California serogroup bunyaviruses. We detected antibodies to 10/11 pathogens. Seropositivity to Cryptosporidium spp. (29%), California serotype bunyaviruses (27%), and G. intestinalis (19%) was the most common; 63% (301/481) of sera had antibodies to at least one pathogen. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, Cryptosporidium spp. seropositivity was higher in females (35.7% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.01) and G. intestinalis seropositivity was higher in males (21.8% vs. 15.5%; p = 0.02). Alaska Native persons were more likely than non-Native persons to be seropositive to C. burnetii (11.7% vs. 3.8%; p = 0.005) and less likely to be seropositive to HEV (0.4% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.01). Seropositivity to Cryptosporidium spp., C. burnetii, HEV, and Echinococcus granulosus was associated with increasing age (p </= 0.01 for all) as was seropositivity to >/=1 pathogen (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Seropositivity to zoonotic pathogens is common among Alaskans with the highest to Cryptosporidium spp., California serogroup bunyaviruses, and G. intestinalis. This study provides a baseline for use in assessing seroprevalence changes over time. |
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among Alaskans: Factors associated with infection and comparison of urea breath test and anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies
Miernyk KM , Bulkow LR , Gold BD , Bruce MG , Hurlburt DH , Griffin PM , Swerdlow DL , Cook K , Hennessy TW , Parkinson AJ . Helicobacter 2018 23 (3) e12482 BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common human infections in the world, and studies in Alaska Native people, as well as other Indigenous peoples, have shown a high prevalence of this gastric infection. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection by urea breath test (UBT) and anti- H. pylori IgG among Alaskans living in four regions of the state and to identify factors associated with infection. METHODS: A convenience sample of persons > 6 months old living in five rural and one urban Alaskan community were recruited from 1996 to 1997. Participants were asked about factors possibly associated with infection. Sera were collected and tested for anti- H. pylori IgG antibodies; a UBT was administered to participants > 5 years old. RESULTS: We recruited 710 people of whom 571 (80%) were Alaska Native and 467 (66%) were from rural communities. Rural residents were more likely to be Alaska Native compared with urban residents (P < .001). Of the 710 people, 699 (98%) had a serum sample analyzed, and 634 (97%) persons > 5 years old had a UBT performed. H. pylori prevalence was 69% by UBT and 68% by anti- H. pylori IgG. Among those with a result for both tests, there was 94% concordance. Factors associated with H. pylori positivity were Alaska Native racial status, age >/= 20 years, rural region of residence, living in a crowded home, and drinking water that was not piped or delivered. CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori prevalence is high in Alaska, especially in Alaska Native persons and rural residents. Concordance between UBT and serology was also high in this group. Two socioeconomic factors, crowding and drinking water that was not piped or delivered, were found to be associated with H. pylori positivity. |
Climate change in the North American Arctic: a One Health perspective
Dudley JP , Hoberg EP , Jenkins EJ , Parkinson AJ . Ecohealth 2015 12 (4) 713-25 Climate change is expected to increase the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases among human and animal populations within the Arctic and subarctic latitudes of North America. Warmer temperatures are expected to increase disease risks from food-borne pathogens, water-borne diseases, and vector-borne zoonoses in human and animal populations of Arctic landscapes. Existing high levels of mercury and persistent organic pollutant chemicals circulating within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Arctic latitudes are a major concern for the reproductive health of humans and other mammals, and climate warming will accelerate the mobilization and biological amplification of toxic environmental contaminants. The adverse health impacts of Arctic warming will be especially important for wildlife populations and indigenous peoples dependent upon subsistence food resources from wild plants and animals. Additional research is needed to identify and monitor changes in the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in humans, domestic dogs, and wildlife species of critical subsistence, cultural, and economic importance to Arctic peoples. The long-term effects of climate warming in the Arctic cannot be adequately predicted or mitigated without a comprehensive understanding of the interactive and synergistic effects between environmental contaminants and pathogens in the health of wildlife and human communities in Arctic ecosystems. The complexity and magnitude of the documented impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems, and the intimacy of connections between their human and wildlife communities, makes this region an appropriate area for development of One Health approaches to identify and mitigate the effects of climate warming at the community, ecosystem, and landscape scales. |
The diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in Arctic regions with a high prevalence of infection: expert commentary
McMahon BJ , Bruce MG , Koch A , Goodman KJ , Tsukanov V , Mulvad G , Borresen ML , Sacco F , Barrett D , Westby S , Parkinson AJ . Epidemiol Infect 2015 144 (2) 1-9 Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of peptic ulcer and is also associated with chronic gastritis, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Guidelines have been developed in the United States and Europe (areas with low prevalence) for the diagnosis and management of this infection, including the recommendation to 'test and treat' those with dyspepsia. A group of international experts performed a targeted literature review and formulated an expert opinion for evidenced-based benefits and harms for screening and treatment of H. pylori in high-prevalence countries. They concluded that in Arctic countries where H. pylori prevalence exceeds 60%, treatment of persons with H. pylori infection should be limited only to instances where there is strong evidence of direct benefit in reduction of morbidity and mortality, associated peptic ulcer disease and MALT lymphoma and that the test-and-treat strategy may not be beneficial for those with dyspepsia. |
Climate change and infectious diseases in the Arctic: establishment of a circumpolar working group
Parkinson AJ , Evengard B , Semenza JC , Ogden N , Borresen ML , Berner J , Brubaker M , Sjostedt A , Evander M , Hondula DM , Menne B , Pshenichnaya N , Gounder P , Larose T , Revich B , Hueffer K , Albihn A . Int J Circumpolar Health 2014 73 25163 The Arctic, even more so than other parts of the world, has warmed substantially over the past few decades. Temperature and humidity influence the rate of development, survival and reproduction of pathogens and thus the incidence and prevalence of many infectious diseases. Higher temperatures may also allow infected host species to survive winters in larger numbers, increase the population size and expand their habitat range. The impact of these changes on human disease in the Arctic has not been fully evaluated. There is concern that climate change may shift the geographic and temporal distribution of a range of infectious diseases. Many infectious diseases are climate sensitive, where their emergence in a region is dependent on climate-related ecological changes. Most are zoonotic diseases, and can be spread between humans and animals by arthropod vectors, water, soil, wild or domestic animals. Potentially climate-sensitive zoonotic pathogens of circumpolar concern include Brucella spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., Clostridium botulinum, Francisella tularensis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bacillus anthracis, Echinococcus spp., Leptospira spp., Giardia spp., Cryptosporida spp., Coxiella burnetti, rabies virus, West Nile virus, Hantaviruses, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses. |
The International Polar Year: continuing the Arctic human health legacy
Parkinson AJ . Int J Circumpolar Health 2011 70 (5) 447-9 The International Polar Year (IPY) presenteda unique opportunity to further advance thecircumpolar human health agendas of theInternational Union for Circumpolar Healthand the Arctic Council. The Arctic HumanHealth Initiative (AHHI) was an IPY coordinatingproject that aimed to serve as a focalpoint for human health research, education, outreach, and communication activities duringIPY (2007–2009). |
Diagnostic accuracy of tests for Helicobacter pylori in an Alaska Native population
Bruden DL , Bruce MG , Miernyk KM , Morris J , Hurlburt D , Hennessy TW , Peters H , Sacco F , Parkinson AJ , McMahon BJ . World J Gastroenterol 2011 17 (42) 4682-8 AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of two non-invasive tests in a population of Alaska Native persons. High rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, H. pylori treatment failure, and gastric cancer in this population necessitate documentation of infection status at multiple time points over a patient's life. METHODS: In 280 patients undergoing endoscopy, H. pylori was diagnosed by culture, histology, rapid urease test, (13)C urea breath test (UBT), and immunoglobulin G antibodies to H. pylori in serum. The performances of (13)C-UBT and antibody test were compared to a gold standard defined by a positive H. pylori test by culture or, in case of a negative culture result, by positive histology and a positive rapid urease test. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the (13)C-UBT were 93% and 88%, respectively, relative to the gold standard. The antibody test had an equivalent sensitivity of 93% with a reduced specificity of 68%. The false positive results for the antibody test were associated with previous treatment for an H. pylori infection [relative risk (RR) = 2.8]. High levels of antibodies to H. pylori were associated with chronic gastritis and male gender, while high scores in the (13)C-UBT test were associated with older age and with the H. pylori bacteria load on histological examination (RR = 4.4). CONCLUSION: The (13)C-UBT outperformed the antibody test for H. pylori and could be used when a non-invasive test is clinically necessary to document treatment outcome or when monitoring for reinfection. |
Elimination of hepatocellular carcinoma and acute hepatitis B in children 25 years after a hepatitis B newborn and catch-up immunization program
McMahon BJ , Bulkow LR , Singleton RJ , Williams J , Snowball M , Homan C , Parkinson AJ . Hepatology 2011 54 (3) 801-7 Alaska Native people experienced the highest rates of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States. We examine the effect of a universal newborn immunization with hepatitis B vaccine and mass population screening immunization program initiated in 1984 on rates of HBV and HCC in children 25 years later. During this time period, the population of Alaska Native people grew from an estimated 75,000 to 130,000 persons. A surveillance system to detect acute HBV infection in Alaska Native facilities was established in 1981. Cases of HCC in children under 20 years of age were identified using a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded Cancer Registry established in 1969 coupled with an active surveillance program of screening persons with chronic HBV semiannually for alpha-fetoprotein since 1982. The incidence of acute symptomatic HBV infection in persons < 20 years of age fell from cases 19/100,000 in 1981-1982 to 0/100,000 in 1993-94, respectively. No cases of acute HBV have occurred in children since 1992. The incidence of HCC in persons < 20 years decreased from 3/100,000 in 1984-1988 to zero in 1995-1999 and no cases have occurred since 1999. The number of identified HBsAg-positive children < 20 years in the Alaska Native Population declined from 657 in 1987 to two in 2008. Universal newborn vaccination coupled with mass screening and immunization of susceptible Alaska Native has eliminated HCC and acute symptomatic HBV infection among Alaska Native children and this approach is the best way to prevent HBV related disease in children. (HEPATOLOGY 2011.). |
Improving human health in the Arctic: the expanding role of the Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group
Parkinson AJ . Int J Circumpolar Health 2010 69 (3) 304-13 Human health is now a critical component of the Arctic Council's sustainable development program. The newly formed Arctic Human Health Expert Group (AHHEG), a subsidiary body of experts within the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG), will focus on identifying human health priorities that will improve the health of Arctic residents; engage experts in the field to evaluate possible actions; strengthen co-operation and collaboration between Arctic Council working groups and other Arctic co-operatives; and promote the translation of research into actions that will improve the health of Arctic peoples. |
Sustainable development, climate change and human health in the Arctic
Parkinson AJ . Int J Circumpolar Health 2010 69 (1) 99-105 Presentation and recommendations made to an international experts meeting: “Sustainable Developmentin the Arctic in the Face of Global Climate Change: Scientific, Social, Cultural and EducationalChallenges,” Monte Carlo, Monaco, 3–6 March 2009.The statements and positions contained in this report represent the proceedings of the meeting.They are those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent the official position of CDC orthe symposium’s sponsors. |
Climate change, its impact on human health in the Arctic and the public health response to threats of emerging infectious diseases
Parkinson AJ , Evengard B . Glob Health Action 2009 2 The Arctic has warmed substantially over the last few decades. A recent study shows that temperatures over the last century increased almost three times faster in the Arctic than elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, reversing a 2000-year cooling trend, and outpacing current climate model predictions (1). This rapid warming trend is anticipated to continue into the next century with temperature increases exceeding those predicted in the rest of the Northern Hemisphere and will result in accelerated loss of land and sea ice, and an increased rate of sea level rise, with global consequences. These changes are already impacting local communities, which have observed profound changes in their local environments, and are leading to significant economic and cultural upheaval particularly for the indigenous peoples of the Arctic (2). Because climate change is more advanced in the Arctic than other regions of the world, the Arctic can play a vital role in preparing the world for what is to come. | Resident indigenous populations of the Arctic are uniquely vulnerable to climate change because of their close relationship with, and dependence on, the land, sea and natural resources for their well-being (3). Direct health threats from climate change include morbidity and mortality resulting from increasing extreme events (storms, floods, increased heat and cold) and an increased incidence of injury and mortality associated with unpredictable ice and storm conditions. Indirect effects include increased mental and social stress related to changes in environment and loss of traditional lifestyle; potential changes in bacterial and viral diseases; and decreased access to quality water sources (4, 5). Some regions are at risk for increasing illness due to failing sanitation infrastructure resulting from changes in permafrost and storm surges. Some regions will also experience changes in diet resulting from changes in subsistence species distribution and accessibility (6). This may result in a shift away from a traditional subsistence diet to a more Western diet. While this shift may be beneficial, providing a more varied and reliable diet, the increased accessibility to processed foods, high in saturated fats and sugar, may result in an increase in the incidence of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer (7, 8). Projected warming will affect the transport, distribution and behaviour of contaminants, further threatening the safety of the traditional food supply and potentially increasing human exposure (9). Higher temperatures at lower latitudes will increase volatisation of contaminants resulting in increased delivery of contaminants to the Arctic. As precipitation increases over land, river flow will increase resulting in greater delivery of contaminants to the coasts and oceans. |
Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines in Alaska native adults 55-70 years of age
Miernyk KM , Butler JC , Bulkow LR , Singleton RJ , Hennessy TW , Dentinger CM , Peters HV , Knutsen B , Hickel J , Parkinson AJ . Clin Infect Dis 2009 49 (2) 241-8 BACKGROUND: Vaccination with conjugate vaccines stimulates T cell-dependent immunity, whereas vaccination with polysaccharide vaccines does not. Thus, vaccination with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) followed by the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) may offer better protection against invasive pneumococcal disease for older adults than does vaccination with PPV23 alone, which is what is currently recommended. METHODS: Alaska Native adults 55-70 years of age with no previous pneumococcal vaccination were randomized to receive (1) PPV23, (2) PCV7 followed 2 months later by PPV23, or (3) PCV7 followed 6 months later by PPV23. Participants recorded reactions after each vaccination. Serum samples collected during the period from May 2002 through February 2003 were tested for serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and for opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) against serotypes 1, 4, 6B, 14, and 19F. RESULTS: Vaccination with PCV7 was well tolerated, but persons receiving PCV7 followed by PPV23 reported more local reactions than those receiving only PPV23. All reactions resolved spontaneously within 72 h of receiving vaccine. The geometric mean IgG concentrations of and the median OPA titers to serotypes 4, 6B, 14, and 19F increased in all groups after 1 dose of either PCV7 or PPV23. Serotype-specific geometric mean IgG concentrations and median OPA titers did not differ between any of the groups after vaccination with PPV23, regardless of whether they had previously received PCV7. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PCV7 given 2 or 6 months before PPV23 was well tolerated but did not improve immune response to PPV23 in older Alaska Native adults. |
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