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Cysticercosis and Trichinella spp. infection are parasitic zoonoses prevalent among pigs in Southeast Asia, where pork is the most important source of meat. In rural Cambodia, many pigs are raised extensively in family backyards, and information regarding the prevalence in rural small-scale pig production is very limited. This study was conducted in four provinces in north-eastern Cambodia to determine the seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis and Trichinella spp. infection in rural villages, and to identify possible risk factors. Only households with less than 10 pigs above three months old were eligible. In total, 139 households participated, and 242 blood samples were collected. Farmers were interviewed about food and hygiene habits, disease knowledge and practices. The serum samples were analysed by ELISA to determine antigens to Taenia spp. cysticerci or antibodies to Trichinella spp. muscle larvae. Positivity among the pigs was 11.2% (95% CI 7.5–15.8) for Taenia spp. cysts and 2.5% (95% CI 0.9–5.4) for Trichinella spp. Cysticerci were more common in the province Preah Vihear (p < 0.001) than in the other provinces. Risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis were management systems for the pigs and access to human faeces (p < 0.001). Trichinella spp. infection in pigs was more common in the province Ratanakiri (p = 0.001). The main risk factor associated with Trichinella spp. transmission was feeding pigs with food waste (p = 0.048). More men had heard about cysticercosis than women (p = 0.002), and men also consumed undercooked pork meat to a greater extent (p = 0.004). Although the present study is relatively small, several risk factors could be identified for porcine infection with Taenia spp. and Trichinella spp., which can be used to guide future interventions to improve both porcine and human health in these provinces.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is endemic in Cambodia, but circulation of JE virus (JEV) among domestic pigs has previously only been studied in the southern part of the country. The main purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of JEV antibodies in smallholder pigs held in rural areas of Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, and Stung Treng provinces, northeastern Cambodia. Another purpose was to identify possible associations between serologic status and other factors, such as reproductive disorders, and to investigate the farmers’ knowledge of mosquito-borne diseases and use of preventive measures. In October 2019, 139 households were visited throughout the study area, and 242 pigs were sampled for blood. The sera were analysed with ELISA for JEV antibodies. Household representatives were interviewed, and data were recorded for each sampled pig. The apparent seroprevalence was 89.1% in pigs between 3 and 6 months of age, and 100% in pigs over 6 months of age. In total, 93.0% of the pigs tested positive. Province appeared to be the only factor significantly associated with serologic status (p < 0.001). Almost all (97.8%) respondents knew that mosquitos could transmit diseases, and 70.5% had heard of JE. However, only one respondent knew that JEV is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Very few respondents knew that pigs can become infected with JEV, and no one knew that mosquitos transmit the virus. All families used some sort of mosquito protection for themselves, but only 15.1% protected their pigs from mosquito bites. The children were vaccinated against JE in 93 households, while adults only were vaccinated in eight households. The results suggest that JEV transmission is intense in northeastern Cambodia, and that people’s knowledge about the transmission route of JEV and the role of pigs in the transmission cycle is low. Fortunately, people are well aware of mosquito-borne diseases in general and use mosquito protection, and many children are vaccinated against JE. Nonetheless, it is important that national vaccination is continued, and that people—especially in rural areas where pigs are commonly kept—are educated on the ecology and transmission of JEV.

Simple Summary: In this retrospective study, three dogs and three cats were selected from the database of the Chonnam National University Teaching Hospital from February 2017 to June 2019. The inclusion criteria for the selection of patients were as follows: (1) clinical data including age, sex, breed, clinical signs, histology, fine-needle aspiration, or fluid centesis were available and (2) intraluminal CEUS was performed; CEUS findings helped confirm the diagnosis. Each patient underwent physical examination, blood tests, radiography, and conventional ultrasonography. Intraluminal CEUS was performed using contrast agents, including SonoVue, agitated saline, saline, or a combination for GI hydrosonography in two patients and sono-cystourethrography in four patients. GI hydrosonography could assess the anatomic relationship between the mass and gastric lumen after administration of a mixture of 0.1 mL SonoVue and 30 mL/kg water in case 1 and could dilate the colonic lumen to detect the thickened wall using saline infusion in case 2. Upon sono-cystourethrography, communication between the urinary tract and prostatic cyst was clearly visualized in case 3, and narrowing of the urethral lumen secondary to prostatomegaly could be ruled out in case 4 with pyogranulomatous prostitis using agitated saline. The saline or agitated saline is appropriate for filling the lumen and improving the acoustic window for GI hydrosonography. Intraluminal CEUS examinations helped to assess the patency of the lumen, evaluate the extent of luminal dilation, rule out luminal narrowing, determine the presence of a mass within the lumen, and identify rupture sites. Administering intraluminal fluid can improve the acoustic window for the visualization of the lumen and wall layers in the cavitary organs. Microbubbles in ultrasound contrast agents can also be used for intracavitary applications to enhance visualization of the lesion in human patients. However, there was no literature extending the clinical application of intraluminal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to patients with naturally occurring diseases in veterinary medicine. This case series aims to describe the detailed application and diagnostic value of intraluminal CEUS in six clinical cases with naturally occurring gastrointestinal (GI) and urinary tract diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli (E. coli) can be transmitted from dogs to surfaces through direct exposure to dog faeces, pus, and urine; alternatively, it can live in the environment for a short period. We aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli from dogs and environmental surfaces of animal clinics in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We swabbed twenty-four samples from dogs (18 faeces and 6 pus) and twenty-three from environmental surfaces (8 cage-floors, 7 cage-walls, 1 feeding-plate, and 7 treatment-tables) at animal clinics. The bacterial culture method was used to isolate E. coli from both dog and environmental surface samples. An antibiogram of the isolates was tested using the disk diffusion method with six antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, gentamycin, levofloxacin, and tetracycline), following the standard of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. The results showed that E. coli was present in approximately 54% of dog samples and 22% of environmental surface samples. The E. coli isolates from dog samples showed high resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin, and tetracycline (54%) and lower resistance to ceftriaxone, gentamycin (27%), and levofloxacin (8%). E. coli isolates from environmental surfaces demonstrated high resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline (80%-100%), and lower resistance to gentamicin and levofloxacin (60%). In conclusion, E. coli was found in both dogs and veterinary clinic surfaces and exhibited resistance to numerous antibiotics. This study suggests that further research is necessary to identify the specific genes responsible for the antibiotic resistance of E. coli found in dogs, on clinic surfaces, as well as in humans -- including clinic technicians and dog owners -- in order to better understand how this resistance is affected by the transmission of E. coli between different carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fisheries policy reforms on co-management in Cambodia have been implemented for almost two decades, starting its first reform in 2000 and its second reform in 2012. These reforms had promoted the organization of 516 Community Fisheries (CFis) around the country. After two decades of the CFis operation, it is noteworthy to identify the driving factors that brought the functionality and effective operation of the CFi on comanagement of the fisheries resources in Cambodia. The study aims to identify the different driving factors that led to the functionality and effective operation of the CFis comanagement of the fisheries resources development and sustainability resulting in the improvement of food security and socio-economic status of the CFi members. To identify those factors, the study purposely selected 16 CFis among the 516 CFis and randomly interviewed 527 CFi members from these CFis. To support the quantitative information from the interviews, the study conducted 16 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in the 16 selected CFis for validation and qualitative information. The results show that there are two key main factors influencing the functionality and effective operation of the CFis. First, according to 96% of the CFis members respondents and all FGDs respond, the legal framework that supports the process of CFi establishment and co-management of the fisheries resources have given them the legal rights and opportunity to use and sustain the fisheries resources. The legal frameworks supporting the CFis establishment includes the Royal Decree on the Establishment of CFi, the Sub-decree on CFi Management, and the amendments of Fisheries Law immediately after the reforms and the declaration on CFi Guideline. The second factor according to 93% of the total respondents and all 16 FGDs is the benefit of being a member of the CFi. Being a CFi member and small-scale fisher, they were given more access to the fishing ground, harvesting more fish for consumption and income that improve their socioeconomic status, recognition of their value in participating in a co-management concept of governance, capacity building and working together as one and trusting each other. Aside from these influencing factors, challenges and lessons learnt were also documented for a brighter future of CFi co-management. These include the actions on the amendment of CFi legal framework particularly on the CFi economic creation and financial support for a functional and effective CFi co-management. This should include the expansion of CFi rights and roles on economic activities and benefits of being CFi member, which needs to be clearly defined in the Fisheries Law and CFi sub-decree amendment followed by the development of the CFi Guideline. The government, development partners and the private sector should financially and technically support the CFis to function and operate effectively in comanaging the fisheries resources development and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]