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In countries endemic for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), routine or emergency vaccinations are strategic tools to control the infection. According to the WOAH/FAO guidelines, a prior estimation of vaccine effectiveness is recommendable to optimize control programs. This study reports the results of a small-scale immunogenicity study performed in Transcaucasian Countries. Polyvalent vaccines, including FMDV serotypes O, A (two topotypes) and Asia1 from two different manufacturers, were evaluated in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Naïve large and small ruminants were vaccinated once and a subgroup received a second booster dose. The titers of neutralizing antibodies in sera collected sequentially up to 180 DPV were determined through the Virus Neutralization Test versus homologous strains. This study led to the estimate that both the vaccines evaluated will not induce a protective and long-lasting population immunity, even after a second vaccination, stressing that consecutive administrations of both vaccines every three months are mandatory if one aspires to achieve protective herd immunity.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is widely distributed in Sudan where outbreaks occur on an annual basis especially during the winter months (December-February). This study aimed to increase our understanding of the epidemiological patterns of FMD in Sudan and connections to neighbouring countries by characterizing the genetic sequences of FMD viruses (FMDV) collected from samples collected in 10 Sudanese states over a 10-year period (between 2009 and 2018). FMDV was detected in 91 of the 265 samples using an antigen-detection ELISA. Three serotypes were detected: O (46.2%), A (34.0%), and SAT 2 (19.8%). Fifty-two of these samples were submitted for sequence analyses, generating sequences that were characterized as belonging to O/EA-3 (n = 17), A/AFRICA/G-IV (n = 23) and SAT 2/VII/Alx-12 (n = 12) viral lineages. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence that FMDV lineages were maintained within Sudan, and also highlighted epidemiological connections to FMD outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries in East and North Africa (such as Ethiopia and Egypt). This study motivates continued FMD surveillance in Sudan to monitor the circulating viral lineages and broader initiatives to improve our understanding of the epidemiological risks in the region., (© 2022 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Polypharmacy is becoming increasingly common and all doctors must be prepared to manage it competently., Aims: The aim of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and use of a novel gamification-based teaching intervention on polypharmacy among doctors undergoing advanced geriatric training. Among others, one of the learning goals for the students was to be able to describe the adherence to medication., Methods: Electronic questionnaire sent to students of the third session "evidence-based medicine in geriatrics" of advanced postgraduate course in geriatrics of the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing., Results: Most students reported issues with forgetting doses and remembering sufficiently to establish a medication routine due to busy schedules as well as social influences around medication taking. Reflecting on the challenges of the game, most students reported that their own prescribing practice was likely to change., Discussion and Conclusion: The current model of learning appears to be a feasible approach for postgraduate medical education or in other areas of healthcare such as nursing or physiotherapy. Learning through action and reflection promotes deeper thinking and can lead to behavioral change, in this case thus enhancing the attitudes and understanding regarding pharmacological issues associated with ageing. Recommendations for future research in medical education about medication adherence are outlined., (© 2021. The Author(s).)