Borrelia burgdorferi infection is the most frequent tick-transmitted disease worldwide. Our aim was to assess the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi infection among forestry workers and farmers in Duzce, in the north-west region of Turkey. Blood samples from 349 forestry workers and farmers and 193 healthy blood donors were obtained to determine the presence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi. A two...

The main purpose of the study was to ascertain the attitude of rural elite farmers towards extension activities performed by Upazilla Agricultural Extension personnel of DAE and to explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the respondents and their extent of attitude towards those extension activities under reference. The study was conducted in two unions, namely Ratanpur...

Hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen, fibronectin, and fibroblast growth factors (FGF) were measured in 43 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimens obtained from 38 patients with farmer's lung (FL) and in BALF of 9 nonexposed normal control subjects. Bronchoalveolar lavage was done in 21 farmers with acute FL (acute) and in 22 with a history of previous FL (Ex) who were still in dail...

BACKGROUND Few studies have considered in detail the range of biosecurity practices undertaken on cattle farms, particularly within the UK. In this study, 56 cattle farmers in a 100 km² area of north-west England were questioned regarding their on-farm biosecurity practices, including those relating to animal movements, equipment sharing and companies and contractors visiting the farms. METHO...

Little is known about Coxiella burnetii infection among cattle farmers and farm residents in China. Thus, the present study was conducted to detect the seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection and estimate associated risk factors among cattle farmers and farm residents in China. A cross-sectional study was designed, and sera of 362 people living or working on 106 cattle farms were tested for C. ...

BACKGROUND During 2008, Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus re-emerged in South Africa as focal outbreaks in several provinces. AIMS To investigate an outbreak affecting cattle farmers and farm workers, and the staff and students of a veterinary school, assess the prevalence of infection during the outbreak, document the clinical presentation of cases, and identify potential risk factors. METHODS...

The number of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) relative to the total number of enterococci was determined in fecal samples from turkeys and three human populations in 1996, each with a different level of contact with turkeys, i.e., turkey farmers, turkey slaughterers, and (sub)urban residents. The percentage of VRE relative to the total enterococcal population (i.e., the degree of resista...

BACKGROUND The study was done in three villages in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It surveys farmers' belief system and pesticide practices relative to health and safety. METHODS Initially it used a simulated market study on willingness to pay for personal protective equipment in the form of gloves and masks. Then a combination of semi-structured, formal, informal, and key-informant interviews, as...

BACKGROUND Surfactant protein A (SP-A) acts as an immune system modulator in the lungs and may therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. METHODS The levels of SP-A in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured in 20 subjects with acute farmer's lung, 16 asymptomatic dairy farmers, and 14 normal controls. Eight patients had a second evaluation after one m...