The health sector has not yet begun to explore the full potential of geographical information system (GIS) technology for health research and planning. The goal of this thesis is to demonstrate this potential in Africa through the application of GIS to the most important health issues in the continent. In excess of 23,000 homesteads are mapped and interviewed throughout Hlabisa district, Kwa-Zulu Natal using differential global positioning systems (GPS). I use the GIS to analyse mode health care usage patterns. 87% of homesteads use the nearest clinic and travel an average distance of 4.72 km to do so. There is a significant logarithmic relationship between distance from clinic and usage by the homesteads (r2 = 0.774, p<0.0001). I propose the distance usage index (DUI) as a composite spatial measure of clinic usage. The index is the sum of the distances from clinic to all actual client homesteads divided by the sum of the distances from clinic to all homesteads within its distance-defined catchment. The index encompasses inclusion, exclusion and strength of patient attraction for each clinic. The DUI highlights significant disparities in clinic usage patterns across the district (mean = 110%, SD =43.7). The results of the study have important implications for health planning in Africa. I use GIS/GPS technology to quantify the spatial implications of a shift towards community-based treatment of tuberculosis using the DOTs strategy in Hlabisa. The mean distance from each homestead in the district to nearest supervision point is measured using a GIS. The shift in treatment strategy from hospital to community-based between 1991-1996 reduces the mean distance to treatment point from 29.6 km (94% of the population > 5km) to 1.5 km (entire population < 5km). GIS effectively documents and quantifies the impact of community-based tuberculosis treatment on access to treatment. I produce the first quantifiable evidence of a relationship between distance to roads and HIV prevalence using a GIS. HIV prevalence was measured through anonymous surveillance among pregnant women in Hlabisa and stratified by clinic attended. Assuming women attend the nearest clinic, the mean distance from homesteads to a primary or secondary road for each clinic catchment is strongly correlated with HIV prevalence (r = 0.66; p = 0.002). Further research is needed to better understand this relationship both at ecological and individual levels.I develop a methodology that has numerous applications to health systems provision in developing countries where limited physical access to primary health care is a major factor contributing to the poor health of populations. I use an accessibility model within a GIS to subdivide an area into units of equal workload using a range of physical and social variables. The methodology could be used to ergonomically design programmes for home-based care and tuberculosis directly observed treatment. It could also be used as a basis for more efficient distribution of community health workers. I use high-resolution long-term rainfall and temperature data to produce the first malaria seasonality (length, start and end of transmission season(s)) maps for Africa. I relate the model to population data and estimate the population exposure in a variety of transmission settings. I investigate the relationship between predicted length of transmission season and parasite ratio from 2335 geo-referenced studies of children <10 years across Africa. The research is the first to correlate actual malaria survey data with model predictions at a continental scale. The seasonality model corresponds well with historical expert opinion maps and case data. A significant logarithmic relationship is detected between predicted length of transmission season and parasite ratio (r2=0.712, p=0.001). I recompute the changes in the disease likely to occur as a result of global warming. The seasonality model constitutes an important first step towards an estimate of continental intensity of transmission. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, 2000.

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

The two main causes of child mortality and morbidity in Africa are malaria and invasive bacterial diseases. In addition, co-infections in sub-Saharan Africa are the rule rather than the exception. However, not much is known about the host-pathogen interaction during a concomitant infection or how it affects the outcome of disease. In order to study the immunological responses during malaria and bacterial co-infections, we established a co-infection mouse model. In these studies we used two pathogenic bacteria found in malaria co-infected patients: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Relapsing fever Borrelia duttonii. Hosts co-infected with malaria and Borrelia showed greatly increased spirochetal growth but low parasite densities. In addition, the co-infected hosts presented symptoms of experimental-cerebral malaria, in an otherwise unsusceptible mouse model. This was found to be a consequence of a dysregulated immune response due to loss of timing and control over regulatory mechanisms in antigen presenting cells thus locking the host in an inflammatory response. This results in inflammation, severe anemia, internal organ damage and pathology of experimental cerebral malaria. On the other hand, in the malaria - S. pneumoniae co-infection model we found that co-infected hosts cleared the bacterium much more efficiently than the single infected counterpart. This efficiency of clearance showed to be neutrophil dependent. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed that neutrophils isolated from malaria-infected hosts present an altered migratory effect together with a significantly increased capacity to kill S. pneumoniae. This suggests that a malaria infection primes neutrophils to kill S. pneumoniae more efficiently. Furthermore, a study was carried out on plasma samples from Rwandan children under the age of five, on which a full metabolomics profile was performed. We showed that these children could be divided in different disease categories based on their metabolomics profile and independent of clinical information. Additionally, the mild malaria group could further be divided in two sub-groups, in which one had a metabolomic profile resembling that of severe malaria infected patients. Based on this, metabolite profiling could be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the distinct phase, or severity of a malaria infection, identify risk patients and provide helpful and correct therapy.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy are significant public health concerns. Abstinence-only until marriage (AOUM) and abstinence pledge programs have received a significant amount of government funding in an attempt to address these problems. Despite receiving over two billion dollars in funding, the programs have not been shown to be effective in achieving their stated goals. In addition, there are significant concerns about the content of AOUM curriculums, including medical inaccuracy and use of outdated gender stereotypes.

The aim of this study is to investigate similarities and dissimilarities in the preschools work to prevent infections through hygiene in a municipality. The study was done through a survey of handhygiene among preschool-pedagogues and by analysing written instructions in the preschools and how these are being followed. The results from the survey show that both similarities and dissimilarities exist, both between and within preschools in the municipality. Most pedagogues wash their hands after changing diapers and before eating meals, but not before eating fruits. There is a considerable variation both within and between preschools in their use of handdesinfection and handglowes. Handhygiene instructions for pedagogues and children are missing in many preschools. The response from preschool headmasters to written hygiene instructions was low. Current written instructions in handhygiene could be more detailed. The education in handhygiene among pedagogues has shortages. / Syftet med studien är att undersöka likheter och olikheter i hur handhygien används i det smittförebyggande arbetet på förskolor inom en kommun. Studien görs genom en enkätundersökning om handhygien bland pedagoger samt genom att undersöka vad som står i de skriftliga hygienanvisningarna på förskolorna och hur dessa efterföljs. Resultatet från enkätundersökningen visar att både likheter och olikheter finns såväl mellan som inom förskolorna i kommunen. De flesta pedagoger tvättar händerna efter blöjbyten och före mat, detta gäller dock inte handtvätt då frukt ska ätas. Det föreligger stora skillnader både inom och mellan förskolorna då handdesinfektion och användning av handskar är aktuella. En tredjedel av pedagogerna anser att skriftliga anvisningar om handhygien saknas. 38 % av förskoleavdelningarna anser att det saknas skriftliga rutiner för barnens handhygien. Svarsfrekvensen från förskolecheferna på skriftliga hygienanvisningar var låg. Aktuella anvisningarna om handhygien kunde vara mer utförliga. Utbildning inom handhygien bland pedagogerna har brister.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of nutrition during "early" HIV-infection in African women. METHODS: Data reported in this investigation formed part of two cross-sectional studies, the THUSA and Mangaung studies. The Mangaung study investigated women and, therefore, the sub-sample of the THUSA study was chosen accordingly. The data of the two studies were kept and analysed separately. The investigation consisted of 1040 women from the THUSA study, aged between 15 and 90 years of which 120 (11.5%) were HIV infected. The Mangaung study comprised of 488 women aged between 25 and 44 years of which 248 (51%) women were infected. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, health outcome variables and habitual nutrient intakes by a quantified food frequency questionnaire were used. The SPSS statistical package (version 14.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 2005) was used to analyse data. Descriptive statistics were done expressing variables as means, medians, standard deviations (SD), standard errors (SE) and confidence intervals (CI). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to test for significance between the HIV-infected and non-infected groups in both studies. Partial correlations were done in the infected and non-infected groups to determine associations between dietary / nutrient intake, anthropometry and the biological health variables. In the THUSA study we controlled for age, education level, degree of urbanization and alcohol intake and in the Mangaung study for age, education level and alcohol intake. Nutrient intakes of both infected and non-infected women above and below median values as well as in the first and fourth quartile of total cholesterol (TC) and albumin distribution were compared to assess the role of nutrients in the observed decreases in TC and albumin of HIV-infected women. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The dietary intakes of the HIV-infected women in both the studies did not differ significantly from the non-infected women. Total serum cholesterol, albumin, fibrinogen and blood pressure were significantly lower in the HIV-infected women in both the THUSA and Mangaung studies. The non-infected THUSA women with lower serum cholesterol levels (than the median) had significantly lower intakes of percentage energy from fat (25.2 versus 26.4%, p ≤0.027), percentage energy from total protein (11.6 versus 12.1%, p≤0.000), animal protein (25.6 versus 27.7g, p≤0.005), and significantly higher intakes of plant protein (32.2 versus 29.4g, p≤0.002) and fibre (16.9 versus 15.89 p≤0.029). There were no significant differences observed in the nutrient intakes in the infected women with serum cholesterol levels above and below the median. In the Mangaung study no significant nutrient intake differences were observed in both of the HIV-infected and non-infected women with lower and higher than the median TC levels. In the THUSA study, higher intakes of fat (percentage energy) were close to significant (27.3 versus 24.5%, p≤0.053) in the infected women with higher (than the median) albumin levels. In the non-infected group with higher albumin levels, significant differences were observed in percentage energy from fat (26.6 versus 24.9%; p≤0.001) protein (12.2 versus 11.6%; p≤0.001) and carbohydrate (62.8 versus 65.2%; p≤0.000). Higher intakes of saturated fat (SATFAT) (17.7 versus 16.1g, p≤0.008), monounsaturated fats (MUFAT) (19.3 versus 17.4g, p≤0.004) as well as higher intakes of animal protein (28.5 versus 24.4g, p≤0.000) were observed in the group with higher than the median levels of serum albumin. In the Mangaung study the HIV-infected women (with higher than the median serum albumin levels), had significantly higher intakes of energy (13 275 versus 11 622 kJ, p≤0.022), polyunsaturated fatty acids (32.3 versus 17.3g, p≤0.036), dietary cholesterol (412.9 versus 344.5mg, p≤0.043) and plant protein (42.3 versus 35.3g, p≤0.008). No differences were observed in the non-infected women. The further analyses, comparing the dietary intakes in both studies of infected and non-infected women with TC and albumin levels in the first and fourth quartiles, showed that in the THUSA study, non-infected women with lower TC levels had significantly lower intakes of protein (% of total energy), total fat (% of total energy) and vitamin B12 and significantly higher intakes of total energy (TE), plant protein, total carbohydrate, % TE from carbohydrate, dietary fibre, added sugar and thiamine. In the infected women saturated fatty acids (SATFAT), calcium and the fat ratio (polyunsaturated/saturated ratio) differed significantly between women with TC levels in the first and the fourth quartile. A significant higher intake of riboflavin was seen in the non-infected women from Mangaung with TC levels in the fourth quartile, while significant higher intakes of energy, total protein, animal protein, total fat, SATFAT, MUFAT, total carbohydrate, phosphorus, chromium and iodine was seen in the infected women with TC levels in the fourth quartile. These results suggest that a more "westernized" diet with higher intakes of energy, and animal derived foods (SATFAT and calcium) could have protected against the detrimental decreases in TC observed in HIV infection. Significant differences were observed in the intakes in the non-infected THUSA women who had serum albumin in the first and fourth quartiles. lntakes in percentage energy from protein and fat, animal protein, total fat, SATFAT, MUFAT, calcium, zinc, vitamin C and fat ratio, were significantly lower in the women with albumin levels in the first quartile. Significantly higher carbohydrate intakes were observed in the women who had serum albumin levels in the first quartile. In the Mangaung study, significant differences were seen in the intakes between infected women who had serum albumin levels in the first and fourth quartiles. lntakes of total energy, protein, fat, MUFAT, SATFAT, carbohydrate, magnesium, zinc, chromium, biotin, pantothenic acid and iodine were significantly lower in the infected women with serum albumin levels in the first quartile. In the non-infected women significantly lower intakes of calcium were observed in the group who had serum albumin levels in the first quartile compared to those who had serum albumin levels in the fourth quartile. These results also suggest that a more "westernized” diet was associated with higher albumin levels in HIV-infected women. CONCLUSION: It is well known that nutrition has an integral part to play in the care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Maintaining proper nutrition, weight and immune function is thought to delay disease progression, prolong the asymptomatic phase and improve survival. These analyses suggest that the "prudent" diet generally regarded as an optimal diet for prevention of non-communicable diseases, may not be the optimal diet for PLWHA. The overall analyses therefore suggest that a more "westernized" diet, higher in fat and protein could be more beneficial to asymptomatic HIV-infected women compared to that of a more "prudent" diet. As these studies were not primarily designed to investigate HIV and nutrition, the role of a higher energy, fat and animal protein intake ("western" diet) in asymptomatic HIV warrants urgent investigation. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Respiratory viral testing in hospitalized patients is thought to improve quality of care by reducing the use of diagnostic tests, guiding infection control precautions, and rationalizing antimicrobial therapies. Few small published studies have tested these assumptions, and have demonstrated conflicting results. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 24,567 hospitalizations using administrative data to determine the associations between viral testing, patient outcomes, and process of care. Viral testing was not associated with improved mortality or length of stay in hospital, and resulted in more resource utilization. The test result did not influence the duration of isolation precautions. This implies that health care providers may not use the results of testing in making management decisions, or in guiding the use of isolation precautions. This study provides the foundation for further scientific evaluation and reform of our current respiratory infection control policy.

Bakgrunn: Blodbaneinfeksjon er en av de alvorligste sykehusinfeksjonene pasienter kan utsettes for, og i intensivavdelingen rammes de mest sårbare pasientene. Målet med studien:Å finne insidensen av blodbaneinfeksjoner (BSI) i en intensivavdeling i et lokalsykehus i Norge, samt undersøke ulike risikofaktorer knyttet til Centrale Venekatetre (CVK) og generell infeksjon ved innleggelse i intensivavdelingen. Metode: Insidensregistrering av BSI i løpet av 12 mnd. der definisjoner av BSI bygger på 2001 International Sepsis Definition Conference. Data er samlet inn prospektivt etter hvert som pasientene ble lagt. Studiepopulasjonen er antallet pasienter som hadde vært innlagt i mer enn 48 timer i intensivavdelingen, og deles opp i tre åpne kohorter:Pasienter med diagnostisert BSI i løpet av oppholdet, pasienter som fikk lagt inn CVK og pasienter med infeksjon ved innleggelse. Resultater: 615 pasienter ble lagt inn i intensivavdelingen i løpet av 12 mnd, av disse ble 116 av de pasientene som hadde vært innlagt i intensivavdelingen i mer enn 48 timer inkludert i studien. Gjennomsnittlig liggetid i intensivavdelingen varierte fra 2 til 40 (median 4 dager). 73 av de 116 pasientene fikk lagt inn CVK, og av disse fikk 11 en bekreftet BSI. Tre pasienter uten CVK fikk bekreftet BSI, totalt 14. Av disse 14 var 6 nosokomiale, altså 5,2 % (6 av 116) eller 7,8 BSI/1000 pasientdøgn. Enpasient fikk diagnosen kateter-relatert BSI(CR-BSI), noe som tilsvarer 1,7 CR-BSI/1000 kateterdøgn. Det ble tatt totalt 69 blodkulturer, herav 54 fra pasienter med CVK. Pasienter med CVK har signifikant større risiko for å utvikle klinisk BSI, enn de utenCVK (OR=5,31; 95 % CI 2,32 –12,0; p&lt; 0,0001). Konklusjon: Denne studien viser en relativt lav forekomsten av BSI, NBSI og CR-BSI, men for å kunne sammenligne tall nasjonalt og internasjonalt er det behov for en consensus i fagmiljøet rundt definisjoner BSI og særlig CR-BSI. Det er signifikant sammenheng mellom CVK og utvikling av klinisk BSI, men studien viser ingen signifikant sammenheng mellom CVK og bekreftet BSI. Studien bør bidra til fokus på risikofaktorene knyttet til bruk av CVK, samt arbeid for consensus angående definisjoner og økt fokus på CR-BSI og klinisk BSI, siden dette har vist seg å ha like høy letalitet som bekreftet BSI / Background: BSIs is areof the most serious hospital infections patients are exposed to, and in the intensive care unit (ICU) it affects the most vulnerable patients. Aim: To find the incidence of BSI in an ICU in a local hospital in Norway, as well as examine the various risk factors related to Central venous catheters (CVK), as well as patients with general infection at point of admission. Method: Incidence registration of BSIs within 12 months, where the definitions of BSI is based upon the 2001 Sepsis Definition Conference. Data is collected prospectively as patients were admitted to the ICU. The study population is the number of patients who had been hospitalized for more than 48 hours in the ICU, and the study population is divided into three open cohorts.Patients with diagnosed BSI during their stay, patients with CVK during stay and patients with infection at admission. Results: 615 patients were in the ICU within 12 months, and 116 of those patients had been hospitalized for more than 48 hours in the ICU and were included in the study. Average length of stay ranged from 2 to 40 days (median 4 days). 73 of the 116 patients had CVK in place during their stay, andof these 11 had a laboratory confirmed BSI. Three patients without any central CVK in place during their stay in the ICU had a laboratory confirmed BSI, 14 in total. Of these 14, 6 weredefined nosocomial, i.e.5.2% (6 of 116) or 7.8 BSI/1,000 patient days. One patient was diagnosed with catheter-related BSI (CR-BSI), which corresponds to 1.7 CR-BSI/1, 000 catheter days. A total of 69 blood cultures were performed, of which 54 patients with CVK. Patients with CVK has a significantly higher risk of developing clinical BSI than those without CVK (OR = 5.3, 95% CI 2.32 to 12.0, p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows a relatively low incidence of BSI, NBSI and CR-BSI. CVK is significantly related to the development of clinical BSI, but the study shows no link between CVK and laboratory confirmed BSI. This study may encourage health care  workers to focus more on the risk factors associated with the use of CVK to critically ill patients. It should also encourage researchers to focus more on the importance of consensus regarding definitions of BSI and clinical BSI, since this have been proven to have as high lethality rates as laboratory confirmed BSI / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-86-7</p>

Tyrimo tikslas: nustatyti infekcinių komplikacijų rizikos veiksnius ir jų kontrolės valdymo mechanizmą artroskopinių operacijų metu. Tyrimo metodai. Anketinė apklausa, stebėjimo tyrimas operacinėje, dokumentinė analizė ir statistinė analizė. Anketavimui buvo naudojami klausimynai, o stebėjimo tyrimui – kriterijai, įtakojantys infekcijų kontroliavimą operacijų metu. Tiriamieji. Tyrimas vyko 2013 m. sausio – balandžio mėnesiais. Jo metu buvo sudarytos dvi tiriamųjų grupės (anketinis tyrimas) ir atliktas operacinės personalo stebėjimo tyrimas. Pirmąją grupę sudarė 6 (85,7 proc.) Ortopedijos traumatologijos skyriuje dirbantys chirurgai. Antrąją grupę tiriamųjų sudarė Ortopedijos traumatologijos skyriaus operacinėje 14 (93,3 proc.) dirbančių operacinės slaugytojų. Stebėjimo tyrimo metu operuojant pacientus, buvo stebima operacinėje dirbančių chirurgų ir operacinės slaugytojų veiksmai, kurie įtakoja infekcijos kontrolės valdymą. Šio tyrimo metu išoperuotas 51 pacientas. Operacijos atliktos LSMUL KK Ortopedijos traumatologijos klinikoje Ortopedijos traumatologijos skyriaus operacinėje. Po operacijų pacientai gulėjo LSMUL KK Ortopedijos klinikoje Ortopedijos traumatologijos skyriuje. Rezultatai. Palygintos chirurgų ir operacinės slaugytojų žinios apie infekcijos kontrolės valdymą, nustatyti operacinio personalo judėjimo ypatumai artroskopinių operacijų metu bei įvertinta chirurgų ir operacinės slaugytojų nuomonė apie veiksnius, kurie padėtų valdyti infekcijų riziką. Išvados... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of research: to identify risk factors for infectious complications and the control mechanism during arthroscopic surgery. Research methods: A questionnaire, an observational study at operating, documentary analysis and statistical analysis. Question forms were used in questionnaires; whereas the criteria that influence infection controls during operations were used for the observation research. Research. The study took place in January – April, 2013. Two groups of persons under investigation (questionnaire survey) have been formed and the operating personnel tracking study was carried out. The first group consisted of 6 surgeons (85.7 percent) working at Orthopedics and Traumatology departments. The second group consisted of 14 (93.3 percent) Orthopedics and Traumatology department surgery nurses. Infection control management practices of operating surgeons and nurses that make an influence on infection controls have been monitored on surgery patients. 51 patients underwent surgeries in the course of this study. Surgeries were made at Orthopedic Traumatology Clinics of Orthopedics and Traumatology Department at LUHS Kaunas Clinics. After surgery, the patient were staying at Orthopedic Traumatology Department of LUHS Kaunas Clinics Orthopedic Clinic. Results. A comparison of infection control management knowledge between surgeons and surgery nurses was made, movement characteristics of operational staff during arthroscopic surgeries were identified and the infection... [to full text]

Tikslas - Ištirti pirmą kartą vakcinuojamų šuniukų motininio imuniteto trukmę ir įvertinti specifines profilaktikos priemones šunų parvovirusinio enterito sukėlėjui. Tyrimai buvo atlikti Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto Veterinarijos akademijoje, Anatomijos ir fiziologijos katedros Imunologijos laboratorijoje ir privačioje veterinarijos klinikoje 2013 metais. Per šį periodą buvo surinkti duomenys apie atliktas 324 vakcinacijas prieš CPV infekciją. Buvo registruojama informacija apie amžių, lytį, veislę, naudotą vakciną ir laikymo sąlygas. 15 šunų buvo įtraukti į tyrimą paremtą imunofermentine analize. Kraujas buvo imamas iš ≤ 3 mėnesių amžiaus nevakcinuotų, kliniškai sveikų šuniukų. Buvo nustatyti parvovirusui specifiniai antikūnai. Standartinėje smulkių gyvūnų klinikoje šuniukų parvovirusinio enterito vakcinacijos atliekamos 6, 8-9 ir 12 savaičių laikotarpyje, kuomet motininio imuniteto parvovirusui specifinių antikūnų vidutinis titras yra ne mažesnis nei 1:1007. Šešių savaičių amžiaus šuniukų grupėje nustatyti aukšti (iki 1:1040) parvovirusui specifinių antikūnų titrai įrodo, kad pirmą kartą vakcinuojamų šuniukų motininis imunitetas šiame amžiuje gali nuslopinti aktyvų imuninį atsaką. Aštuonių savaičių amžiaus šuniukų motininių antikūnų parvovirusams titras kraujo serumo mėginiuose sumažėjo 3,7 karto iki 1:272 ir todėl leidžia atlikti sėkmingą vakcinaciją jau nuo 8 savaičių amžiaus. Nors didžiausias antikūnų parvovirusams kiekis prieš vakcinaciją buvo nustatytas Kinų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Purpose – to investigate maternal immunity duration among the puppies vaccinated for the first time and to evaluate specific preventive measures against canine parvovirus agent. Studies have been carried out at LSMU Veterinary academy, Anatomy and physiology department, Laboratory of immunology and private veterinary clinic „Dainavos veterinarija“ in 2013. During this period data was collected about 324 cases that preventive vaccination was used in the clinic against CVP infection. Registered data of dogs: age, sex, breed, used vaccine and dogs housing conditions. 15 dogs were included in this study based on enzime-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood samples were taken from ≤ 3 months age non-vaccinated and clinically healthy puppies. Specific parvovirus antibodies were determined. In standard private small animal veterinary clinic puppies against CPV are vaccinated at 6, 8-9 and 12 weeks of age, when maternal immunity specific antibody for parvovirus average titer is not less than 1:1007. In group puppies of 6 weeks age with high titres (up to 1:1040) of specific antibodies for parvovirus were determined and its demonstrate that maternal immunity of first time vaccinated puppies in this age could inhibit active immune response. In group of puppies at 8 weeks of age the titre of maternal antibodies for parvovirus in blood serum samples decrease by 3.7 times down to 1:272 an therefore allow a successful vaccination since the age of 8 weeks. Data of CPV vaccination demonstrate... [to full text]