ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5065-9685
Current Organisations
Deakin University
,
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
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Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 10-09-2018
DOI: 10.1101/413542
Abstract: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a subcutaneous necrotic infection of the skin caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans . There has been increasing BU incidence in Victoria, Australia. The aim of this study to provide an epidemiological update of BU cases in Victoria to understand the pattern of distribution over time and space and attempt to identify local risk factors. A comprehensive descriptive epidemiological analyses were performed on BU notification data from 1994 to 2016. In addition, retrospective temporal, spatial and spatio-temporal analyses were conducted to understand the distribution of cases. Quantum GIS was used to generate maps. Demographic, new housing settlements and historical rainfall data were analysed to assess their effects on BU incidence in Victoria. There were a total of 902 patients notified from 1994-2016. The incidence rate was 0.8/100,000 persons in Victoria. Space and time analyses showed that the most likely disease cluster was the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas with incidence rate 50 times higher than the State of Victoria rate. Gender was not a risk factor, but age was, with increased susceptibility among the over 60 year old group. There was an unusual high risk in the 15-24 age group in Point Lonsdale. Correlation analyses indicated that increase in population and construction of new settlements might be some of the reasons contributing to the rise in cases in Victoria. The findings agreed with published works in Australia of the increase in BU cases in Victoria. However, our findings also highlights the endemic nature of cases. The identified spatial disease clusters could be relevant for future environmental s ling studies or screening tests for M. ulcerans exposure. Buruli ulcer (BU) has been reported in 33 countries, mainly from the Tropics and Sub-tropics. Tropical cases are mainly within the West African region. Australia is the only country outside Africa in the top six highest incidence countries for BU. The exact mode of transmission remains unclear. Disease cases are rising in Australia, especially in Victoria for reasons that remains unclear. We have provided a descriptive epidemiological analyses in space and time of 22 years of recorded data on BU cases in Victoria from 1994 to 2016. We have also discussed demographic and new settlement dynamics over the study period. There were a total of 902 PCR-confirmed BU cases from 245 suburbs. Five suburbs on the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas were identified as the most endemic locations in Victoria. Spatial analyses detected a wider disease cluster area on the Peninsulas. We propose environmental s ling for risk factors analyses should focus on the endemic regions and some secondary clusters.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2011
DOI: 10.1002/ASL.296
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-2000
DOI: 10.1086/315741
Abstract: Human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is a human oncoretrovirus that causes an adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma and a chronic neuromyelopathy. To investigate whether familial aggregation of HTLV-I infection (as determined by specific seropositive status) could be explained in part by genetic factors, we conducted a large genetic epidemiological survey in an HTLV-I-endemic population of African origin from French Guiana. All of the families in 2 villages were included, representing 83 pedigrees with 1638 subjects, of whom 165 (10.1%) were HTLV-I seropositive. The results of segregation analysis are consistent with the presence of a dominant major gene predisposing to HTLV-I infection, in addition to the expected familial correlations (mother-offspring, spouse-spouse) due to the virus transmission routes. Under this genetic model, approximately 1. 5% of the population is predicted to be highly predisposed to HTLV-I infection, and almost all seropositive children <10 years of age are genetic cases, whereas most HTLV-I seropositive adults are sporadic cases.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-11-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.VACCINE.2007.04.034
Abstract: Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis in Africa have plagued the continent for over a century. These epidemics have a strong association with the environment and efforts are being made to develop models to predict both their location and their incidence. This review describes the predictive models based on climate/environmental information currently available, describes work in progress, and presents evidence that the distribution of the epidemics is changing in a pattern that is compatible with changes in the environment. Discussion of priorities for research in the context of the new conjugate vaccines in Africa is also provided.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 25-04-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2007
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-04-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-2007
DOI: 10.1086/511646
Abstract: In Niger, epidemic meningococcal meningitis is primarily caused by Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) serogroup A. However, since 2002, Nm serogroup W135 has been considered to be a major threat that has not yet been realized, and an unprecedented incidence of Nm serogroup X (NmX) meningitis was observed in 2006. Meningitis surveillance in Niger is performed on the basis of reporting of clinically suspected cases. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens are sent to the reference laboratory in Niamey, Niger. Culture, latex agglutination, and polymerase chain reaction are used whenever appropriate. Since 2004, after the addition of a polymerase chain reaction-based nonculture assay that was developed to genogroup isolates of NmX, polymerase chain reaction testing allows for the identification of Nm serogroup A, Nm serogroup B, Nm serogroup C, NmX, Nm serogroup Y, and Nm serogroup W135. From January to June 2006, a total of 4185 cases of meningitis were reported, and 2905 cerebrospinal fluid specimens were laboratory tested. NmX meningitis represented 51% of 1139 confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis, but in southwestern Niger, it represented 90%. In the agglomeration of Niamey, the reported cumulative incidence of meningitis was 73 cases per 100,000 population and the cumulative incidence of confirmed NmX meningitis was 27.5 cases per 100,000 population (74.6 cases per 100,000 population in children aged 5-9 years). NmX isolates had the same phenotype (X : NT : P1.5), and all belonged to the same sequence type (ST-181) as the NmX isolates that were circulating in Niamey in the 1990s. Nm serogroup W135 represented only 2.1% of identified meningococci. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of such a high incidence of NmX meningitis, although an unusually high incidence of NmX meningitis was also observed in the 1990s in Niamey. The increasing incidence of NmX meningitis is worrisome, because no vaccine has been developed against this serogroup. Countries in the African meningitis belt must prepare to face this potential new challenge.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.VACCINE.2006.01.049
Abstract: Low measles vaccination coverage (VC) leads to recurrent epidemics in many African countries. We describe VC before and after late reinforcement of vaccination activities during a measles epidemic in Niamey, Niger (2003-2004) assessed by Lot Quality Assurance S ling (LQAS). Neighborhoods of Niamey were grouped into 46 lots based on geographic proximity and population homogeneity. Before reinforcement activities, 96% of lots had a VC below 70%. After reinforcement, this proportion fell to 78%. During the intervention 50% of children who had no previous record of measles vaccination received their first dose (vaccination card or parental recall). Our results highlight the benefits and limitations of vaccine reinforcement activities performed late in the epidemic.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-11-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2003
DOI: 10.1046/J.1365-3156.2003.01019.X
Abstract: Lot quality assurance s ling (LQAS) was evaluated for rapid low cost identification of communities where Schistosoma mansoni infection was hyperendemic in southern Madagascar. In the study area, S. mansoni infection shows very focused and heterogeneous distribution requiring multifariousness of local surveys. One s ling plan was tested in the field with schoolchildren and several others were simulated in the laboratory. Randomization and stool specimen collection were performed by voluntary teachers under direct supervision of the study staff and no significant problem occurred. As expected from Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, all s ling plans allowed correct identification of hyperendemic communities and of most of the hypoendemic ones. Frequent misclassifications occurred for communities with intermediate prevalence and the cheapest plans had very low specificity. The study confirmed that LQAS would be a valuable tool for large scale screening in a country with scarce financial and staff resources. Involving teachers, appeared to be quite feasible and should not lower the reliability of surveys. We recommend that the national schistosomiasis control programme systematically uses LQAS for identification of communities, provided that s le sizes are adapted to the specific epidemiological patterns of S. mansoni infection in the main regions.
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Date: 03-1998
Abstract: The pleiotropic adipokine chemerin affects tumor growth primarily as anti-tumoral chemoattractant inducing immunocyte recruitment. However, little is known about its effect on ovarian adenocarcinoma. In this study, we examined chemerin actions on ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro and intended to elucidate involved cell signaling mechanisms. Employing three ovarian cancer cell lines, we observed differentially pronounced effects of this adipokine. Treatment with chemerin (huChem-157) significantly reduced OVCAR-3 cell numbers (by 40.8% on day 6) and decreased the colony and spheroid growth of these cells by half. The spheroid size of SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells was also significantly reduced upon treatment. Transcriptome analyses of chemerin-treated cells revealed the most notably induced genes to be interferon alpha (IFNα)-response genes like IFI27, OAS1 and IFIT1 and their upstream regulator IRF9 in all cell lines tested. Finally, we found this adipokine to elevate IFNα levels about fourfold in culture medium of the employed cell lines. In conclusion, our data for the first time demonstrate IFNα as a mediator of chemerin action in vitro. The observed anti-tumoral effect of chemerin on ovarian cancer cells in vitro was mediated by the notable activation of IFNα response genes, resulting from the chemerin-triggered increase of secreted levels of this cytokine.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-11-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-10-2018
Location: France
Location: Madagascar
Location: Niger
No related grants have been discovered for Isabelle Jeanne.