Control of Dog Mediated Human Rabies in Haiti: No Time to Spare

The American region has pledged to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2015. As part of these efforts, we describe the findings of a desk and field mission review of Haiti’s rabies situation by the end of 2013. While government officials recognize the importance of dog-mediated rabies control, and the national rabies plan adequately contemplates the basic capacities to that effect, regular and sufficient implementation, for example, of dog vaccination, is hampered by limited funding. Compounding insufficient funding and human resources, official surveillance figures do not accurately reflect the risk to the population, as evidenced by the large number of rabid dogs detected by focalized and enhanced surveillance activities conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) and the Health and Population Ministry (MSPP) with the technical assistance of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although international support is common, either in the form of on-the-ground technical support or donations of immunobiologicals, it is not comprehensive. In addition, there is limited coordination with MARNDR/MSPP and with other actors at the strategic or operational level due to human resources limitations. Given these findings, the 2015 elimination goal in the region is compromised by the situation in Haiti where control of the disease is not yet in sight despite the best efforts of the resolute national officials. More importantly, dog-mediated rabies is still a threat to the Haitian population.     

Mutagenicity of butadiene and butadiene monoxide.

Incubation of $\text{S. typhimurium}$ strains TA1530 and TA1535 in the presence of gaseous butadiene increased the number of his⁺ revertants/plate. This mutagenic effect occured in absence of fortified S-9 rat liver fraction. In its presence, the mutagenic effect seemed to be dependent on its composition. With butadiene monoxide, a reversion to histidine prototrophy was obtained without metabolic activation with strains TA1530, TA1535 and TA100. Butadiene monoxide might be a possible primary metabolite of butadiene.     

A Parallel plate electrostatic droplet generator: Parameters affecting microbead size

Polymer microbead production by parallel plate electrostatic extrusion is presented. Factors affecting microbead size such as needle gauge, electrostatic potential, distance between needle and collecting solution, and polymer solution concentration and flow rate were evaluated. Smaller microbeads resulted from reduced needle diameter, reduced needle to collecting solution distance, increased electrostatic potential, and reduced polymer solution concentration and flow rate. In terms of process scale-up, it was shown that a multi-needle (20) device could continuously produce relatively uniform beads via electrostatics. The technology was demonstrated to be feasible for cell encapsulation or immobilization as there was no detectable effect of applied potential onSpodoptera frugiperda viability.