| geospatial risk factors of canine american trypanosomiasis (chagas disease) (42 cases: 2000-2012). | american trypanosomiasis or chagas disease caused by trypanosoma cruzi affects many mammals, including humans and dogs, in all latin american countries outside the caribbean and increasingly also in the southern united states. dogs are considered as reliable sentinels and have been identified as an important risk factor for the disease in humans in endemic countries. factors that determine american trypanosomiasis in dogs may therefore have public health relevance. associations of different envi ... | 2015 | 26393300 |
| use of remote cameras to monitor the potential prevalence of sarcoptic mange in southern texas, usa. | sarcoptic mange, caused by the mite sarcoptes scabiei , is a common, highly contagious skin disease that has been reported from more than 100 species of mammals, including humans. our objectives were to 1) determine the prevalence of sarcoptic mange within mammals from southern texas, and 2) determine the efficacy of using remote cameras to estimate mange prevalence. we collected remote camera photographs from a 64-km(2) area and blood and skin scrapings from 166 mammals representing 12 species ... | 2017 | 28135133 |
| salmonella surveillance among great-tailed grackles (quiscalus mexicanus) and other urban bird species in eastern texas. | wild birds may play an important role in maintaining and transmitting salmonella. their ability to travel large distances and their proximity to human habitations could make them a vehicle for bridging salmonella from wild and domestic animals to humans. to determine the potential public health risk presented by urban birds, we investigated the prevalence of salmonella among great-tailed grackles (quiscalus mexicanus) and other cohabiting urban bird species. fecal samples were collected from 114 ... | 2016 | 27827557 |
| agent-based mathematical modeling as a tool for estimating trypanosoma cruzi vector-host contact rates. | the parasite trypanosoma cruzi, spread by triatomine vectors, affects over 100 mammalian species throughout the americas, including humans, in whom it causes chagas' disease. in the u.s., only a few autochthonous cases have been documented in humans, but prevalence is high in sylvatic hosts (primarily raccoons in the southeast and woodrats in texas). the sylvatic transmission of t. cruzi is spread by the vector species triatoma sanguisuga and triatoma gerstaeckeri biting their preferred hosts an ... | 2015 | 26215127 |
| shelter dogs as sentinels for trypanosoma cruzi transmission across texas. | chagas disease, an infection with the parasite trypanosoma cruzi, is increasingly diagnosed among humans in the southern united states. we assessed exposure of shelter dogs in texas to t. cruzi; seroprevalence across diverse ecoregions was 8.8%. canine serosurveillance is a useful tool for public health risk assessment. | 2014 | 25062281 |
| identification of a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance gene in salmonella isolates from texas dairy farm environmental samples. | a recent increase in plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (pmqr) has been detected among salmonella isolated from humans in the united states, and it is necessary to determine the sources of human infection. we had previously isolated salmonella from dairy farm environmental samples collected in texas, and isolates were tested for anti-microbial susceptibility. two isolates, serotyped as salmonella muenster, showed the discordant pattern of nalidixic acid susceptibility and intermediate suscept ... | 2016 | 27801549 |
| temporal variation in the abundance and timing of daily activity of chagas disease vector triatoma gerstaeckeri (stål, 1859) in a natural habitat in the lower rio grande valley, south texas. | chagas disease caused by trypanosoma cruzi is a burden to millions of people in south and central america. a sylvatic life cycle of the parasite exists in the southern united states, but recent studies indicate an active peri-domestic life cycle of t. cruzi in texas. the usa-mexico border region in texas displays areas of high poverty and sub-standard housing conditions which are important risk factors for a potential spill-over transmission to a domestic life cycle including humans. the objecti ... | 2017 | 28530845 |
| knowledge, attitudes, and practices of texas hunters: a potentially high-risk population for exposure to the parasite that causes chagas disease. | chagas disease is a parasitic infection transmitted to humans and mammals by the triatominae insect. if untreated, chagas disease can lead to heart failure and death. previous publications highlighted the potential public health risk of disease transmission among hunters in the united states. | 2015 | 25886035 |
| bacillus anthracis gamma phage lysis among soil bacteria: an update on test specificity. | bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax in humans and animals, is enzootic in parts of the u.s. state of texas where cases are typically reported in animals annually. the gamma phage lysis assay is a common diagnostic method for identification of b. anthracis and is based on the bacterium's susceptibility to lysis. this test has been shown to be 97% specific for b. anthracis, as a small number of strains of other bacillus spp. are known to be susceptible. in this study, we evaluated the perform ... | 2017 | 29145870 |
| serological detection of tick-borne relapsing fever in texan domestic dogs. | tick-borne relapsing fever (tbrf) is caused by spirochetes in the genus borrelia. very limited information exists on the incidence of this disease in humans and domestic dogs in the united states. the main objective of this study is to evaluate exposure of dogs to borrelia turicatae, a causative agent of tbrf, in texas. to this end, 878 canine serum samples were submitted to texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory from october 2011 to september 2012 for suspected tick-borne illnesses. ... | 2017 | 29232415 |
| prevalence and diversity of cryptosporidium and giardia identified among feral pigs in texas. | the population size and geographic range of feral pigs in the united states are rapidly expanding. nevertheless, the role of this invasive species in the ecology and transmission of zoonotic enteric pathogens is poorly understood. our objectives were to describe the prevalence and diversity of cryptosporidium and giardia shedding among feral pigs throughout texas and to identify risk factors for infection. fecal samples were collected from feral pigs in texas from february 2014 through may 2015. ... | 2016 | 27763822 |
| new opportunities for funding dialysis-dependent undocumented individuals. | the cost of dialysis for the estimated 6500 dialysis-dependent undocumented individuals with kidney failure in the united states is high, the quality of dialysis care they receive is poor, and their treatment varies regionally. some regions use state and matched federal funds to cover regularly scheduled dialysis treatments, while others provide treatment only in emergent life-threatening conditions. nephrologists caring for patients who receive emergent dialysis are tasked with the difficult mo ... | 2017 | 27577244 |
| xylazine exposures reported to texas poison centers. | xylazine is a sedative, analgesic, anesthetic, and central muscle relaxant approved for animals but not humans. although xylazine is an emerging drug of abuse, there are limited data on potentially adverse exposures to the drug. | 2016 | 27473444 |
| development of a chronic inhalation reference value for hexamethylenediamine using an exposure model based on the dihydrochloride salt. | the texas commission on environmental quality has developed a chronic inhalation reference value (rev) for hexamethylenediamine (hmda, cas 124-09-4) based on respiratory effects identified in an animal study. hmda is used in the fiber and plastics industry as an intermediate in the production of nylon, high-strength resins and polyamide adhesives. as a toxicant, hmda acts primarily as a respiratory irritant with effects occurring in the upper respiratory tract, although systemic effects have bee ... | 2015 | 26213288 |
| consumer perceptions about a community pharmacy-based medication take back program. | the stockpiling and improper disposal of unused or expired medications has the potential to harm the environment and humans. community-based medication take-back programs have been established to ensure proper disposal of unused drugs; however, few of these programs present consumers' perceptions about the program. therefore, the main aims of this pilot study are 1) to assess the users' and non-users' perceptions about a medication take-back program and 2) to determine if perceptions differ betw ... | 2013 | 23669605 |
| identifying areas of high risk of human exposure to coccidioidomycosis in texas using serology data from dogs. | coccidioidomycosis or valley fever (vf) is an emerging soil-borne fungal zoonosis affecting humans and animals. most non-human cases of vf are found in dogs, which we hypothesize may serve as sentinels for estimating the human exposure risk. the objective of this study is to use the spatial and temporal distribution and clusters of dogs seropositive for vf to define the geographic area in texas where vf is endemic, and thus presents a higher risk of exposure to humans. the included specimens wer ... | 2013 | 22856539 |
| hexabromocyclododecane (hbcd) stereoisomers in u.s. food from dallas, texas. | hexabromocyclododecane (hbcd) is a brominated flame retardant used in polystyrene foams in thermal insulation and electrical equipment. the hbcd commercial mixture consists mainly of α, β, and γ stereoisomers. health concerns of hbcd exposure include alterations in immune and reproductive systems, neurotoxic effects, and endocrine disruption. stereoisomer-specific levels of hbcd have not been measured previously in u.s. food. | 2012 | 22647707 |
| landscape-level patterns of mercury contamination of fish in north texas, usa. | mercury (hg) is a toxic metal that is found in aquatic food webs and is hazardous to humans. an emerging conceptual model predicts that the areas of the landscape that have the potential to contain food webs with elevated concentrations of hg are those that receive high amounts of hg and sulfate deposition and have high coverage of forests and wetlands and low coverage of agriculture. the objective of the present study was to test this conceptual model using concentrations of hg in largemouth ba ... | 2011 | 21647946 |
| pesticides and other chemicals: minimizing worker exposures. | pesticides, ammonia, and sanitizers, all used in agricultural production present ongoing risks for exposed workers. pesticides continue to poison workers despite elimination of some of the most toxic older products. obligatory reporting of pesticide poisonings exists in 30 states and surveillance of poisoning occurs in only 12. estimates of poisoning numbers have been based on sampling but funding for this is scant and in constant jeopardy. there appears to be a downward trend in poisonings nati ... | 2010 | 20665311 |
| the monstering of tamarisk: how scientists made a plant into a problem. | dispersal of biota by humans is a hallmark of civilization, but the results are often unforeseen and sometimes costly. like kudzu vine in the american south, some examples become the stuff of regional folklore. in recent decades, "invasion biology," conservation-motivated scientists and their allies have focused largely on the most negative outcomes and often promoted the perception that introduced species are monsters. however, cases of monstering by scientists preceded the rise of popular envi ... | 2009 | 19852397 |
| dioxin chronology and fluxes in sediments of the houston ship channel, texas: influences of non-steady-state sediment transport and total organic carbon. | polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (dioxins) are persistent contaminants that bioaccumulate and pose serious risks to humans. the primary objective of this study was to determine the history and mechanisms of dioxin accumulation in sediments of the houston ship channel (hsc) using analytical data on natural and anthropogenic radionuclides (7be, 137cs, and 210pb) and dioxins. results showed that present-day sedimentary dioxin accumulation rates are orders of magnitude higher than ... | 2007 | 17822093 |
| physicians' attitudes toward pain and the use of opioid analgesics: results of a survey from the texas cancer pain initiative. | despite extensive progress in the scientific understanding of pain in humans, serious mismanagement and undermedication in treating acute and chronic pain is a continuing problem. this study was designed to examine the barriers to adequate pain management, especially as they might be associated with community size and medical discipline. | 2000 | 10832945 |
| a comparative assessment of contaminants in fish from four resacas of the texas, usa-tamaulipas, mexico border region. | a recent survey of contaminant information for the lower rio grande valley (lrgv), texas, has shown that little is known about contaminants and their impacts on biota of resacas (oxbows) along the us-mexico border. in 1996, fish were collected from four resacas in the texas-tamaulipas border region to assess contaminant loadings and their impacts on fish and birds. tissue residue concentrations in fish were analyzed and also compared to two histopathological bioindicators of unhealthy environmen ... | 2001 | 11488385 |
| mortality in a cohort of antimony smelter workers. | animal studies show that antimony may cause lung cancer and heart and lung disease in rodents. in exposed humans, ecg abnormalities and heart and lung disease have been reported. this mortality study of 1,014 men employed between 1937 and 1971 in a texas antimony smelter consisted primarily of workers of spanish ancestry (n = 928, 91.5%). hispanics are known to smoke at much lower rates than non-hispanics, and their lung cancer and heart disease mortality is generally low. when ethnic-specific t ... | 1995 | 7611310 |
| quinacrine pellets have potential for simple, low-cost female sterilizations. | thousands of women in developing countries depend on quinacrine as a simple, low cost, nonsurgical sterilization method. few us reproductive health professionals know about quinacrine's family planning use. since quinacrine cannot be patented, no pharmaceutical company can protect its financial investments in quinacrine. so none has asked the us food and drug administration to approve it for contraception. us family planners question quinacrine's safety and efficacy, but supporters have access t ... | 1994 | 12318749 |