Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2016-05-25T12:29:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Eulina Tereza Nery Farias.pdf: 655813 bytes, checksum: 0ff12376ca924b2b3be76f15875d198f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-25T12:29:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eulina Tereza Nery Farias.pdf: 655813 bytes, checksum: 0ff12376ca924b2b3be76f15875d198f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conjunctivitis can compromise the integrity of the eye and produce significant tissue destruction. Knowledge of the causative agent and progression of the disease, including the establishment of an effective and consistent treatment will influence the prognosis and evolution of this disease. The usual treatment is antibiotic therapy, but long term use of topic antimicrobials can result in multidrug resistance of pathogenic bacteria and/or fungi. The aim of this study was to evaluate the "in vitro" antimicrobial activity of the raw ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia ferrea, and determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against bacterial agents collected from dogs with conjunctivitis from our routine ophthalmology ambulatory services, and evaluate the sensitivity profile of these strains to ciprofloxacine, a commonly used antimicrobial in veterinary medical clinic, and the plant extract. Phytochemical tests confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds (flavonoids and hydrolysable tannins), that demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp. Antibiogram evaluation by disc diffusion method confirmed that all strains were sensitive to the C. ferrea extract, with inhibition zones ranging 8 to 24 mm when compared to standard antibiotic with zones with 0 to 35 mm. This demonstrated the viability of ethanol extract the C. ferrea as a natural antimicrobial agent and the possibility of its use as a therapeutic option for biological tests in vivo and as a complementary treatment for conjunctivitis in dogs. / A conjuntivite pode ameaçar a integridade do olho e produzir destruição tecidual significativa. O conhecimento do agente causador do processo e progressão da doença, bem como estabelecimento de tratamento coerente eficaz, influencia na evolução e prognóstico da doença. O tratamento usual é a antibioticoterapia, porém o uso prolongado de antimicrobianos de uso tópico pode resultar em multirresistência de bactérias patógenas e/ou fungos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana “in vitro” do extrato bruto etanólico de Caesalpinia ferrea (pau-ferro), frente a isolados clínicos de bactérias causadoras de conjuntivite em cães e a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) avaliando-se o perfil de sensibilidade dessas cepas frente à ciprofloxacina, antimicrobiano usado rotineiramente na clinica médica veterinária e o extrato da planta. Testes fitoquímicos comprovaram a presença de flavonoides e taninos hidrolisáveis, que apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana frente às bactérias Gram-positivas Staphylococcus sp. e Streptococcus sp.. O antibiograma foi avaliado pelo método de poço e disco-difusão, e todas as cepas mostraram-se sensíveis ao extrato de C. ferrea, com halos de inibição de 8 a 24 mm, quando comparados ao antibiótico padrão, o qual apresentou halos inibitórios de 0 a 35 mm, demonstrando a viabilidade do uso do extrato etanólico de C. ferrea como antimicrobiano natural, sendo uma possível opção terapêutica para ensaios biológicos in vivo, no tratamento complementar da conjuntivite em cães.

The purpose of this study was to explore the possible comparative in-vitro effects of two anthroposophical complex preparations on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of these two anthroposophical complexes, the first being Echinacea/ Quartz Complex Single Dose Eyedrops (Wala), and the second being a preparation called Euphrasia Single Dose Eyedrops (Wala) on Staphylococcus aureus in-vitro had not yet been established. The two methods employed were the agar dilution method and the disc diffusion method. These tests measured the in-vitro susceptibility of the Staphylococcus aureus to the anthroposophical complexes and to chloramphenicol (a broad spectrum allopathic anti-biotic commonly used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection). The experiments were conducted on twenty Staphylococcus aureus isolates, obtained from Van Drimmelin Laboratories. All experimentation was conducted in triplicate in order to eliminate laboratory error. In the agar dilution method, broth cultures of the twenty isolates were prepared and equal amounts of the cultures were plated out onto the agar media individually treated with the antimicrobial of choice, or onto unmedicated agar. After 24 hours of incubation the number of colonies per plate were counted. In the disc diffusion test, discs individually impregnated with the antimicrobial of choice and unmedicated discs were placed onto inoculated nutrient agar plates. After 24 hours of incubation the zone diameters were measured. The results were compared using a two-way analysis of variance. They showed that neither of the anthroposophical complexes had a significant in-vitro effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in the agar dilution method, and neither complex displayed any anti-bacterial action in the disc diffusion test. However, studies have shown that patients using these eyedrops to treat bacterial conjunctivitis have experienced significant symptomatic relief. Therefore, it is recommended that a follow on in-vivo study be conducted using these anthroposophical complexes as treatment and then growing bacterial cultures from swabs taken from the patients’ eyes at various stages of treatment to examine any anti-bacterial effects these complexes may have on Staphylococcus aureus in-vivo. / Dr. E. Solomon Dr. S. Arstall

Η επιπεφυκίτιδα (φλεγμονή του επιπεφυκότα) είναι η πιο συχνή ασθένεια των οφθαλμών, η οποία εκδηλώνεται σε παγκόσμια κλίμακα με τη μορφή σποραδικών κρουσμάτων ή επιδημίας. Μπορεί να είναι λοιμώδους (βακτήρια, ιοί, παράσιτα) ή μη λοιμώδους αιτιολογίας. Η κύρια αιτία της οξείας ιογενούς αιτιολογίας επιπεφυκίτιδας είναι οι αδενοϊοί. Περίπου το 15- 70% του συνόλου των κρουσμάτων της επιπεφυκίτιδας οφείλονται στους αδενοϊούς. Σκοπός της μελέτης είναι η χρήση επιδημιολογικών δεδομένων προκειμένου να πραγματοποιηθεί επιδημιολογική παρακολούθηση των κρουσμάτων επιπεφυκίτιδας στο Πανεπιστημιακό Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Πατρών (ΠΓΝΠ) από ασθενείς οι οποίοι επισκέφθηκαν την οφθαλμιατρική κλινική και τα εξωτερικά ιατρεία του νοσοκομείου τη χρονική περίοδο 2 Ιανουαρίου – 29 Ιουλίου 2012 (εβδομάδες 1- 30), ο καθορισμός της συχνότητας της ιογενούς αιτιολογίας επιπεφυκίτιδας και ο εντοπισμός πιθανής ύπαρξης επιδημίας. Ταυτόχρονα, πραγματοποιήθηκε μοριακή ανίχνευση και τυποποίηση αδενοϊών από ασθενείς με κλινική εικόνα ιογενούς επιπεφυκίτιδας το χρονικό διάστημα μεταξύ 27 Φεβρουαρίου και 17 Ιουνίου. Όλα τα κρούσματα καταγράφηκαν από τα ιατρικά αρχεία του ΠΓΝΠ για το χρονικό διάστημα Ιανουαρίου- Ιουλίου του 2012 και για το ίδιο χρονικό διάστημα το προηγούμενο έτος (2011). Καταγράφηκαν 231 κρούσματα επιπεφυκίτιδας (47,1% άνδρες και 52,8% γυναίκες), από τα οποία τα 205 ήταν ιογενούς αιτιολογίας, τα 4 βακτηριογενούς αιτιολογίας και 22 ήταν απροσδιόριστης αιτιολογίας από τους ιατρούς. Για την ίδια χρονική περίοδο το προηγούμενο έτος (2011), σύμφωνα με τα αρχεία του ΠΓΝΠ καταγράφηκε ένα σύνολο από 156 κρούσματα επιπεφυκίδας (38,5% άνδρες και 61,5% γυναίκες), από τα οποία τα 135 ήταν ιογενούς αιτιολογίας, τα 3 βακτηριογενούς αιτιολογίας και 18 ήταν απροσδιόριστης αιτιολογίας. Ο αριθμός κρουσμάτων επιπεφυκίτιδας τους δυο πρώτους μήνες καθώς και τον Ιούλιο του 2012 ήταν στα ίδια επίπεδα με τους αντίστοιχους μήνες το 2011 και παρατηρείται επιδημία που πραγματοποιήθηκε μεταξύ Μαρτίου- Ιουνίου 2012. Οι ασθενείς κατανέμονταν σε όλες τις ηλικίες και στα δυο φύλα. Το χρονικό διάστημα μεταξύ 27 Φλεβάρη- 17 Ιουνίου του 2012 (εβδομάδες 9- 24), 48 επιχρίσματα επιπεφυκότα ασθενών με κλινική εικόνα αδενικής επιπεφυκίτιδας συλλέχθηκαν από τους ιατρούς του ΠΓΠΝ και μεταφέρθηκαν υπό κατάλληλες συνθήκες στο εργαστήριο Υγιεινής της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Ταυτόχρονα συμπληρώθηκε από τους ιδίους ερωτηματολόγιο με δημογραφικά και κλινικά στοιχεία. Το DNA του ιού απομονώθηκε με Qiagen και ενισχύθηκε με nested PCR. Τα θετικά αποτελέσματα επιβεβαιώθηκαν με αλληλούχιση του PCR προϊόντος. Για τον προσδιορισμό της συγγένειας μεταξύ των διαφόρων απομονωμένων αλληλουχιών του DNA, φυλογενετική ανάλυση πραγματοποιήθηκε. Από το σύνολο των δειγμάτων που αναλύθηκαν με μοριακές τεχνικές, DNA αδενοϊού ανιχνεύθηκε σε 40 δείγματα (83%). Στα σαράντα θετικά δείγματα καθορίστηκε η αλληλουχία του DNA τους, από τα οποία τα 29 (72,5%) προσδιορίστηκαν ως τύπος HAdV17 και τα 5 (12,5%) ως τύπος HAdV-54. Σε 6 θετικά δείγματα (15%) ο τύπος του ιού δεν προσδιορίστηκε. Τέλος, με τη βοήθεια των μοριακών τεχνικών προκύπτει το συμπέρασμα ότι το στέλεχος αδενοϊού 17 (Αd 17) είναι η αιτία της εμφάνισης επιδημίας μεταξύ Μαρτίου- Ιουνίου 2012. Η έρευνα αυτή είναι από τις λίγες πιυ έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί στον Ελλαδικό χώρο σε κρούσματα επιπεφυκίτιδας με αποτέλεσμα να εμπλουτίζει τα φτωχά επιδημιολογικά και μοριακά δεδομένα για την συγκεκριμένη ασθένεια και το συγκεκριμένο τύπο ιών. Παράλληλα μέσω της έρευνας υπογραμμίζεται η ανάγκη για εθνικό σύστημα επιτήρησης της επιπεφυκίτιδας. / Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) is the most common eye disease that occurs worldwide in both sporadic and epidemic form. There are infectious conjunctivitis, which is caused by a variety of microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses and parasites) and noninfectious conjunctivitis, which is caused by an allergic reaction. The leading cause of acute viral conjunctivitis in clinical practice includes human adenoviruses (HAdVs). About 15- 70% of all conjunctivitis cases worldwide are associated with AdVs. The aim of the study is the performance of epidemiological surveillance of cases of conjunctivitis using epidemiological data from patients who visited the ophthalmic clinic and the outpatient ophthalmic department of the University General Hospital of Patras (UGHP) in the period from January 2nd to July 29th in 2011 and 2012 (weeks 1st-30th), in order to determine the frequency of viral conjunctivitis and to determine a potential epidemic. An additional task of the study is the molecular detection and typing of adenoviruses for cases of patients with clinical viral conjunctivitis in the period from February 27th to June 17th 2012. All conjunctivitis cases referred to UGHP in the period between January and July 2012 as well as between January and July 2011 were ascertained using medical records. 231 conjunctivitis cases were reported (47.1% male and 52.8% female), in which 205 were virological conjunctivitis, 4 bacteriological conjunctivitis and 22 were undefined conjunctivitis. For the same period the previous year (2011), according to the records of UGHP recorded a total of 156 conjunctivitis cases (38.5% male and 61.5% female), of which 135 were of viral origin, 3 bacteriogenic orogin and 18 were undetermined etiology. The number of conjunctivitis cases in the first two months and in July 2012 was at the same level as the corresponding period in 2011 and there is an epidemic that took place between March and June 2012. Patients were allocated to all age groups and both sexes. In the period from February 27th ,2012 to June 17th , 2012 (weeks 9th – 24th), 48 conjunctival swabs were collected from cases which were clinically suspected of having adenoviral conjunctivitis and transported under appropriate conditions to the laboratory of Hygiene, Medical School, University of Patras. At the same time, the patients were asked to answer a structured questionnaire with demographic and clinical data. The viral DNA was isolated with Qiagen and amplified by nested PCR. The positive results were confirmed by sequencing the PCR product. To determine the relatedness between the different isolated sequences, a phylogenetic analysis was constructed. Of the total samples, which were analyzed with molecular techniques, adenovirus DNA was detected in 40 samples (83%). Of the positive samples which were confirmed by sequencing, 29 samples (72.5%) were typed as AdV17 and 5 samples (12.5%) as AdV54. For 6 positive samples (15%) the serotype was not determined. Finally, it was concluded that the strain Adenovirus 17 (Ad 17) was the cause of the epidemic between March and June 2012. There are poor epidemiological and molecular data for this particular disease in Greece. This study is one of the very few on conjunctivitis determination in Greece. This research underscores the need for a national surveillance system for conjunctivis outbreaks.

Ögoninfektion är vanligt förekommande hos barn särskilt i kombination med övre luftvägsinfektion. 95% av alla barn mellan två och fem år vistas på förskola. Distriktssköterska/Avancerad primärvårdssjuksköterska ser förskolan som en viktig resurs i det förebyggande hälsoarbetet. Personal på förskolan har att ta ställning till sjukdom och ohälsa hos barnen. Syftet med studien är att undersöka förskolepersonalens uppfattningar om ögoninfektion hos barnen.   Fyra intervjuer med förskolepersonal ligger till grund för en kvalitativ studie. Intervjuerna har analyserats enligt fenomenografisk ansats. Sju beskrivningskategorier med tillhörande uppfattningar beskriver personalens olika uppfattningar: Spridning av ögoninfektion; Hur infektionen yttrar sig; Brist på kunskap; Betydelsen av handhygien; Föräldrarnas roll; Hälso- och sjukvårdens betydelse; Den kollegiala samvaron.   Förbättrad kommunikation mellan BVC/vårdcentral och förskola behövs. Undersökningen är tänkt att användas i distriktssköterskans/APS-sjuksköterskans fortsatta arbete för att befrämja hälsa och förebygga sjukdom. / Conjunctivitis is common among infants and children, especially whilst they are suffering from upper respiratory tract infections. 95% of all infants go to nursery from the age of 2 The nurse practitioner finds that nurseries are ideal places for health promotion. In nurseries the staff has to make decisions concerning health problems in the infants. The aim of this paper is to describe how the staff experience eye infection in infants. It is a qualitative study based on four interviews. They are analyzed using the phenomenographic method. The result contains seven different categories with all the significant answers from the participants: The spread of eye infection; The infection's appearance; Lack of knowledge; The importance of hand hygiene; The role of the parents; The importance of the health service; The social intercourse between colleagues. There is a need of improved communication between the GP center and the nurseries. The paper is intended to benefit the nurse practitioner in promoting health.

<p>Ögoninfektion är vanligt förekommande hos barn särskilt i kombination med övre luftvägsinfektion. 95% av alla barn mellan två och fem år vistas på förskola. Distriktssköterska/Avancerad primärvårdssjuksköterska ser förskolan som en viktig resurs i det förebyggande hälsoarbetet. Personal på förskolan har att ta ställning till sjukdom och ohälsa hos barnen. Syftet med studien är att undersöka förskolepersonalens uppfattningar om ögoninfektion hos barnen.</p><p> </p><p>Fyra intervjuer med förskolepersonal ligger till grund för en kvalitativ studie. Intervjuerna har analyserats enligt fenomenografisk ansats. Sju beskrivningskategorier med tillhörande uppfattningar beskriver personalens olika uppfattningar: Spridning av ögoninfektion; Hur infektionen yttrar sig; Brist på kunskap; Betydelsen av handhygien; Föräldrarnas roll; Hälso- och sjukvårdens betydelse; Den kollegiala samvaron.</p><p> </p><p>Förbättrad kommunikation mellan BVC/vårdcentral och förskola behövs. Undersökningen är tänkt att användas i distriktssköterskans/APS-sjuksköterskans fortsatta arbete för att befrämja hälsa och förebygga sjukdom.</p><p> </p><p> </p> / <p>Conjunctivitis is common among infants and children, especially whilst they are suffering from upper respiratory tract infections. 95% of all infants go to nursery from the age of 2 The nurse practitioner finds that nurseries are ideal places for health promotion. In nurseries the staff has to make decisions concerning health problems in the infants.</p><p>The aim of this paper is to describe how the staff experience eye infection in infants. It is a qualitative study based on four interviews. They are analyzed using the phenomenographic method. The result contains seven different categories with all the significant answers from the participants: The spread of eye infection; The infection's appearance; Lack of knowledge; The importance of hand hygiene; The role of the parents; The importance of the health service; The social intercourse between colleagues.</p><p>There is a need of improved communication between the GP center and the nurseries. The paper is intended to benefit the nurse practitioner in promoting health.</p>

Hund, bakterieller/ zytologischer Konjunktivalstatus, Konjunktivitis, Klinikaufenthalt

Orientador: Rodrigo Pessoa Cavalcanti Lira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T10:10:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fulco_EnzoAugustoMedeiros_M.pdf: 625645 bytes, checksum: 871772c97dcfc7b49d6bc56d1a72c439 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Introdução: Corticosteróides tópicos são utilizados comumente no tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite viral aguda. Tem sido sugerida a utilidade dos corticosteróides no tratamento sintomático da conjuntivite alívio dos sinais e/ou sintomas e prevenção dos infiltrados subepiteliais. Por outro lado, observou-se o relato dos possíveis efeitos colaterais, como o prolongamento da transmissão invitro do vírus e, no âmbito da medicina clínica, ensaios clínicos revelaram a eficácia duvidosa dos colírios de corticosteróides. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o uso dos corticosteróides tópicos, com quaisquer drogas usadas nos ensaios clínicos com o placebo. Objetivo: Avaliar se os corticosteróides tópicos são eficazes e seguros para o tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite adenoviral para melhorar os sintomas e evitar ou minimizar complicações relacionadas à doença. Desenho: Revisão sistemática. Métodos: Pesquisa documental na Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (que contém o Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, nas listas de referência de relatórios de ensaio identificados e no o Science Citation Index. Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos aleatorizados comparando quaisquer apresentações de corticosteróides tópico com quaisquer outras formas de tratamentos da ceratoconjuntivite adenoviral aguda. Resultados: Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos randomizados onde os corticosteróides tópicos foram comparados com placebo no tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite adenoviral aguda. A busca digital inicial identificou quatro ensaios clínicos comparando corticosteroides e placebo no manejo da ceratoconjuntivite epidêmica somando 243 pacientes. Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada. Conclusão: Nenhum estudo mostrou melhora no alívio dos sinais ou sintomas. A prevenção dos infiltrados subepiteliais permanece controversa, mostrando mais comumente um adiamento na história natural da doença do que uma modificação nela. O uso destes colírios deve ser recomendado com cautela e novos ensaios clínicos são necessários para comprovar sua eficácia / Abstract: Introduction: Topical corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of acute viral keratoconjunctivitis. It has been suggested the usefulness of corticosteroids in symptomatic relief of the signs of conjunctivitis and / or symptoms and prevention of subepithelial infiltrates. On the other hand, we observed the reported possible side effects, such as the extension of transmission of the virus in vitro, and beside that, clinical trials showing the effectiveness of corticosteroids eye drops. The aim of this study was to compare the use of topical corticosteroids, with any drugs used in clinical trials with placebo. Objective: To assess whether topical corticosteroids are effective and safe for the treatment of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis to improve symptoms and prevent or minimize complications related to the disease. Design: Systematic review. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and the reference lists of identified trial reports. We used the Science Citation Index to look for articles that cited the relevant studies. We included masked randomized controlled trials in which any form of topical corticosteroid treatment had been compared with placebo in the management of acute adenoviral ceroconjuctivitis. Results: Were included randomized controlled trials in which any form of topical corticosteroid treatment had been compared with placebo in the management of acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. The initial digital search identified 4 clinical trials comparing corticosteroids and placebo in the management of Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis totaling 243 patients. A narrative review was conducted. Conclusion: No study has shown improvement in relief of the signs or symptoms. Prevention of subepithelial infiltrates remains controversial, most commonly showing a delay in the natural history of disease than a change in it. The use of eye drops should be recommended with caution and new clinical trials are needed to prove its effectiveness / Mestrado / Oftalmologia / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Medical Immunology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Immunology / unrestricted

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this project are to review current literature regarding conjunctivitis including the pathogens that cause conjunctivitis, how to diagnose and differentiate between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, and the different modalities to treating the disease with limited resources in rural communities. Then examine an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in rural Belize in October of 2017. This includes examining data collected by ETSU Family Medicine Department during health outreach clinics regarding diagnosis made, treatment provided, and comparing this information to a survey collected about social determinants of health. Finally, discuss the importance of disseminating public health education regarding how to limit the spread of contagious infections to a rural population with limited health literacy and access to resources. METHODS: In October of 2017 East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Quillen College of Medicine medical students, primary care physicians, and residents traveled to rural Belize to provide free primary care. The clinics consisted of seeing patients at both an established clinic in Roaring Creek, Belize and at remote health clinics in even more rural locations. Many of the patients who presented to the clinics had similar complaints of itchy, red, and productive eyes. Quantitative data was recorded from patient charts regarding their presenting symptoms, diagnosis, and the treatment. The data was organized utilizing microsoft excel and evaluated using SPSS and measures of central tendency. Qualitative data was also collected from interactions with patients and newspaper articles published in Belize about the conjunctivitis outbreak. RESULTS: The results showed that a total of 431 patients received care and 52% of them were diagnosed with conjunctivitis. 46.9% of the patients were determined to have viral conjunctivitis, while 2.8% of them had bacterial conjunctivitis. It was discovered that many patients utilized one reusable cloth to wipe their children's eyes repeatedly thus spreading the disease across and throughout the rural communities. It was found through careful conversations with patients that they were putting urine and breast milk into their eyes in hopes that it would help their pink eye. The Belize Ministry of Health Reported that there were 5,343 cases of pink eye countrywide, with a viral strain being more predominant than bacterial. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, extremely contagious diseases like conjunctivitis are dangerous in rural developing countries because of lack of education about hygiene and limited resources necessary to contain such diseases. While medication is not effective for viral conjunctivitis, it can have devastating consequences (e.g blindness) if a superinfection is not caught early in the course. Education can be the best medicine especially in cases of viral diseases. Patients were also provided with resources to wash their hands often, sterilized water to flush their eyes, and single use towels. A lesson on conjunctivitis, its complications, and how to prevent the spread of the disease was aired on public television. This reports provides examples of both practice creative ways to spread health literacy in rural populations with limited access to resources.

Infectious disease is a ubiquitous aspect of life on earth; however, parasites and pathogens are not distributed equally among individual hosts. Due to its ability to shape the way that individuals interact with other potential hosts and the environment, behavior is one of the most salient ways through which host biology varies in the context of disease. Variation in animal behavior can impact both transmission and the extent of a host's pathogen acquisition, and thus can have important consequences for infectious disease dynamics. Additionally, in this world of rapid urbanization where landscapes and wildlife resources are being altered, it is important to understand the ways in which human activity impact wildlife behavior, and in turn, disease dynamics. Here, we used both observational and experimental studies in field and laboratory settings to investigate the relationships among host behavior and physiology, anthropogenic food sources, and disease transmission in a natural host-pathogen system. First, we examined the relationship between house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) stress physiology, exploratory behaviors, and social behaviors in the wild. We provided evidence that more exploratory house finches interact with more individuals in the wild, and have higher baseline concentrations of circulating stress hormones. Next, we found evidence that the amount of time spent on bird feeders drives both the acquisition and transmission of the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg), indicating that variation in host foraging behavior has important transmission consequences in this system. Lastly, we found that the density of bird feeders available to house finches predicts the extent of Mg transmission in captivity. Taken together, these results highlight the important role that behavioral heterogeneity can play in the acquisition and spread of pathogens, as well as the potential impacts of human behavior on wildlife disease dynamics. Future work should seek to identify specific physiological mechanisms driving Mg acquisition and transmission as they relate to variation in host behavior, and the ways in which bird feeders impact disease-relevant behaviors in the wild. / Ph. D.