This thesis represents the first anthropological perspective to be offered on the nature of the Klondike Gold Rush population. In order to better understand the experience of the average gold rusher, morbidity and mortality patterns are examined for the residents of the Yukon Territory following the discovery of gold in the region (1898-1904). Infectious diseases such as measles, pneumonia, smallpox and typhoid fever are the primary focus of this study, however local factors such as the severe climate and the seclusion of the gold fields from the outside world also offers an interesting opportunity to examine the consequences of leading a particularly harsh and physically demanding lifestyle in an inhospitable environment. / October 2008

Foreign animal disease outbreaks can cause substantial economic losses. Policy makers need information on both the vulnerability of the food supply to disease epidemics and the impacts of alternative protection actions. This research focused on the assessment of the U.S. agricultural sector and human vulnerability to a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak and the value of a select set of alternative disease control strategies. RVF is a vector-borne, zoonotic disease that affects both livestock and humans; thus both animal and human consequences of an outbreak were examined. This research was conducted in two parts. Livestock impact assessment used an integrated epidemic/economic model to examine the extent of RVF spread in the animal population and its consequences plus the outcome of implementing two different control strategies: emergency vaccination and larvicide vector control. The number of infected, aborted, and dead animals is best controlled by coupling vaccination along with larvicide, but results in the second highest median national welfare loss. Therefore, careful decisions must be made as to what actions should be taken. Total national producer welfare is reduced with each scenario, and is more severe than the total national welfare loss (producer, consumer, and processor together). Consumer welfare is increased with each scenario due to a drop in prices of some commodities, and in some instances, an increase in supply as well. The majority of the national welfare loss can be attributed to the producers' and processors' loss in welfare. The highest damages are seen in the regions of the outbreak such as the South Central (SC). Other regions such as the Corn Belt, Lake States, and South East regions also see high damages due to price changes. The outbreak did not have substantial price effect on dairy products, but did have noticeable price changes for live cattle such as heifer calves, stocked yearling, and dairy calves. Prices for substitutes such as pork, chicken, and turkey experienced a price reduction, which can also be a factor resulting in consumer welfare gains. Human impact assessment utilized an inferential procedure for estimating the human consequences which comprise of a cost of illness calculation to assess the dollar cost of human illnesses and deaths, as well as a Disability Adjusted Life Year calculation to give an estimate of the burden of disease on public health as a whole. With potential costs above $2 billion for human illness, and with this number not accounting for loss or damages to other sectors of the economy, it can be highly probable that investing in a human vaccination campaign can be cost-effective and possibly cost-reducing. This cost along with the economic loss of the agriculture sector suggests substantial potential losses to the U.S. if this hypothetical situation were to become reality. Combining total loss estimates from the cost of illness and ASM models, potential damage of a RVF outbreak could range from 121 million to 2.3 billion US 2010$. The results of this study show the economic damages of an outbreak in the livestock population being much greater relative to the outbreak in the human population (roughly 16 times greater). It should be pointed out that both cost estimates are most likely under estimated. The animal outbreak is not incorporating all susceptible livestock (e.g. hogs and goats), and the human illness is not incorporating other damages to society (e.g. damages due to loss of tourism). By providing estimates on the potential economic outcomes, policy makers can better choose where, when, and how to invest their resources.

Dengue fever is a debilitating, viral, mosquito-borne disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas in the world. The majority of dengue cases in the United States were acquired in endemic areas by travelers or immigrants. However, in recent years, autochthonous (locally acquired) dengue cases have been diagnosed in Florida. The purpose of this study was to find an association between potential risk factors and the expansion of dengue fever in the United States. Guided by the eco-bio-social framework, which offers a broad assessment of risk factors for the illness, a retrospective design was used with archival data to correlate changes in climatic variables and imported dengue cases with autochthonous dengue cases in Southeast Florida from 1980 to 2013. A Spearman correlation indicated weak correlations between temperature and autochthonous dengue cases (rs = .999, p = 000) and imported dengue cases with autochthonous dengue cases (rs = .162, p = 000). A negative binomial multivariate regression was used to analyze the expansion of dengue to each monthly unit of temperature, rainfall, and imported dengue cases over 34 years. The results indicated that temperature (IRR = 2.198; 95% CI [1.903, 2.538]) and precipitation (IRR = .991; 95% CI [.988, .994]) were predictors for the geographic expansion of dengue fever in Southeast Florida. The positive social changes include the use of the results to develop an understanding of how climatic variables and migration may influence the expansion of dengue fever to nonendemic regions. The results can be used by public health authorities to address risk factors and to formulate evidence-based decisions in regard to prevention and education concerning dengue fever.

A total of 12 multicomponent solutions of various compositions were developed in which we attempted to blend calcium and phosphoric salts, which usually precipitate and form sediments. Among the medicines of similar composition and purpose registered in Lithuania, there is none containing all three important macroelements: Ca, Mg, and P. After the tests, one of the solutions tested – C2 – was registered in Lithuania and was manufactured by AB Ukmergės Biofabrikas (Lithuania) for several years. Production technology of the developed preparation – Kamavetas – is patented (patent No. LT 4509 B. 1999 05 25). Kamavetas is the first preparation created and manufactured in Lithuania, which contains Ca, Mg, and P salts and glucose. It is convenient to use, because the animal receives several mineral substances within a single infusion.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Background & Objectives: There has been few investigation of the association between the farming related activities or specific characteristics and atopic disease in rural Canadian children. In population-based studies, assuring the quality of information from questionnaires is of concern. We conducted this study in order to: first, identify the prevalence and risk factors of atopy and allergic conditions among school-age children in a rural region of Canada. Also, we sought to evaluate the validity and reliability of a questionnaire report of allergy to assess in this population. Methods: As part of a longitudinal study of lung health in rural residents, we conducted a cross-sectional baseline study in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. This included an initial survey phase followed by a clinical testing phase. A sub-sample of 584 children (grades 1-8) completed skin prick testing to assess atopic status. Of these, 480 children completed a questionnaire report of allergy and atopic outcomes and participated in skin prick testing (SPT). Atopy was defined as a positive reaction to any of 6 allergens (local grasses, wheat dust, cat dander, house dust mite, Alternaria, Clasdosporium)≥3mm compared to the negative control. Agreement between questionnaire report and objective measures of atopy was considered overall and between the specific allergens tested on SPT and those assessed on questionnaire. We considered percent concordance, Kappa, sensitivity, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive values of reported allergies or allergic conditions in comparison to SPT as the gold standard. Results: The prevalence of atopy as well as allergen-specific sensitizations was similar between farm and non-farm children but supported the notion that livestock farming is protective against atopy. Also, we found that 25.0% of children reported a history of allergic conditions by questionnaire and 19.4% were atopic detected by skin pick test. In our study, the agreement between questionnaire report of specific allergic triggers and atopy measured by SPT was high (83.0% - 89.5%). Conclusion: In children, livestock exposure has a protective effect on SPT positivity.The agreement between questionnaire report of allergic symptoms and atopy measured by SPT was high and the agreement between atopy and report of allergic conditions was moderate.

This thesis represents the first anthropological perspective to be offered on the nature of the Klondike Gold Rush population. In order to better understand the experience of the average gold rusher, morbidity and mortality patterns are examined for the residents of the Yukon Territory following the discovery of gold in the region (1898-1904). Infectious diseases such as measles, pneumonia, smallpox and typhoid fever are the primary focus of this study, however local factors such as the severe climate and the seclusion of the gold fields from the outside world also offers an interesting opportunity to examine the consequences of leading a particularly harsh and physically demanding lifestyle in an inhospitable environment.

This thesis represents the first anthropological perspective to be offered on the nature of the Klondike Gold Rush population. In order to better understand the experience of the average gold rusher, morbidity and mortality patterns are examined for the residents of the Yukon Territory following the discovery of gold in the region (1898-1904). Infectious diseases such as measles, pneumonia, smallpox and typhoid fever are the primary focus of this study, however local factors such as the severe climate and the seclusion of the gold fields from the outside world also offers an interesting opportunity to examine the consequences of leading a particularly harsh and physically demanding lifestyle in an inhospitable environment.

Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Europe. After inhalation of virus shed by bank voles, the virus systemically targets the vascular endothelium leading to vascular dysfunction and leakage. Many patients with PUUV infection experience cardiopulmonary manifestations but the underlying mechanisms have not been determined. The aims of the studies presented were to describe cardiopulmonary manifestations, investigate pathogenetic mechanisms including presence of virus in the lungs and the local immune response in PUUV infection. The results showed cardiopulmonary involvement of varying severity in almost all studied patients. High-resolution computed tomography frequently revealed vascular leakage into the lungs or pleural cavities. Pulmonary function tests generally showed reduced gas diffusing capacity, evidenced in patients as dyspnea, poor oxygenation and frequent need of oxygen treatment. Among patients who were not fully recovered at 3 months follow-up, remaining decreased gas diffusing capacity was highly common. Echocardiography revealed mainly right heart dysfunction which was related to manifestations within the lungs, in terms of increased estimated pulmonary vascular resistance, mild to moderate pulmonary hypertension, and reduced right ventricular systolic function in patients with more pronounced lung involvement, as indicated by need of oxygen treatment. Analyses on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial biopsies revealed a highly activated cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response in the lungs. The CTL response was not balanced by the expansion of regulatory T cells and high numbers of CTLs were associated with more severe disease. PUUV RNA was detected in almost all patients’ BAL samples and the viral load was inversely correlated to the number of CTLs. Three patients presenting with severe and fatal cardiopulmonary distress were also described. Autopsies revealed PUUV protein in vascular endothelium in all investigated organs, including the heart and lungs, along with a massive CTL response mainly in the lungs. In conclusion, cardiopulmonary involvement of varying severity was present in almost all patients with PUUV infection. Cytotoxic immune responses could contribute to disease development but also help in clearing the infection. Long lasting fatigue after hantavirus infection may be explained by remaining manifestations within the lungs.

Diss. Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2004. / Härtill 7 uppsatser.