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Viability of unmanned aerial vehicles in identifying potential breeding sites for mosquito

Mahfodz Z, Dom NC, Abdullah S, Precha N

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):148-157.
PMID: 38555900

INTRODUCTION: Surveillance of mosquito breeding sites is essential because it provides the information needed to assess risks and thus respond to dengue outbreaks. This article aims to review existing research on the viability of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to identify potential breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes and highlight the issues related to their implementation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors conducted a literature search in four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and IEEE Xplore) and completed it in December 2022. Articles that do not directly address the application of drones for surveillance and control of mosquito breeding sites were excluded.
RESULTS: The initial search using the keywords yielded 623 documents. After screening abstracts and reviewing the full text, only 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were in the proof-of-concept stage. Many studies have also incorporated drone technologies and machine learning techniques into surveillance efforts. The authors have highlighted seven key issues related to the operational aspects of using drones. Those are hardware, software, law and regulation, operating time, expertise, geography, and community involvement.
CONCLUSION: With rapid developments in drone technologies and machine learning techniques, the viability of drones as surveillance tools can be enhanced, thus effectively responding to global public health concerns.
Environmental factors influencing indoor airborne fungi in students dormitory - a case study in Nakhon Sithammarat, Thailand

Precha N, Totem K, Nuychoo L, Dom NC

Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2023;74(3):345-354.
PMID: 37698275 DOI: 10.32394/rpzh.2023.0273

BACKGROUND: Indoor airborne fungi are a significant health concern that can cause respiratory symptoms and other health problems. Indoor fungi are influenced by various factors such as meteorological conditions and dwelling characteristics.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the association between indoor airborne fungi and environmental factors in a student dormitory in southern Thailand.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Walailak University in southern Thailand from September toDecember 2020. Air samples were collected from rooms in thirteen dormitories, and the fungal load was determined using the passive air sampling method. The study also measured meteorological parameters and gathered data on occupant behaviors and exposure-related symptoms through a self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: In a total of 135 student rooms, the average concentration (mean ± SD) of indoor airborne fungi was 409.72±176.22 CFU/m3, which showed the highest concentration on the first floor. For meteorological parameters, the averages of RH (%), temperature (°C), and CO2 (ppm) were 70.99±2.37, 31.11±0.56 and 413.29±76.72, respectively. The abundance of indoor airborne fungi was positively associated with an increase in RH (β=0.267, 95% CI: 5.288, 34.401) and building height (β=0.269, 95% CI: 16.283, 105.873), with values of 19.845 and 61.078, respectively. Conversely, temperature exhibited a negative effect on indoor airborne fungi (-92.224, β=-0.292, 95% CI: -150.052, -34.396).
CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the influence of RH, temperature and building height on indoor airborne fungi in the student dormitory. Therefore, effective management strategies are necessary to improve indoor air quality and reduce associated health risks in student dormitories.
The association between dengue case and climate: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abdullah NAMH, Dom NC, Salleh SA, Salim H, Precha N

One Health, 2022 Dec;15:100452.
PMID: 36561711 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100452

Although previous research frequently indicates that climate factors impact dengue transmission, the results are inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis highlights and address the complex global health problems towards the human-environment interface and the inter-relationship between these variables. For this purpose, four online electronic databases were searched to conduct a systematic assessment of published studies reporting the association between dengue cases and climate between 2010 and 2022. The meta-analysis was conducted using random effects to assess correlation, publication bias and heterogeneity. The final assessment included eight studies for both systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of four meta-analyses were conducted to evaluate the correlation of dengue cases with climate variables, namely precipitation, temperature, minimum temperature and relative humidity. The highest correlation is observed for precipitation between 83 mm and 15 mm (r = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.31, 0.45), relative humidity between 60.5% and 88.7% (r = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.37), minimum temperature between 6.5 °C and 21.4 °C (r = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.48) and mean temperature between 21.0 °C and 29.8 °C (r = 0.07, 95% CI = -0.1, 0.24). Thus, the influence of climate variables on the magnitude of dengue cases in terms of their distribution, frequency, and prevailing variables was established and conceptualised. The results of this meta-analysis enable multidisciplinary collaboration to improve dengue surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention programmes.
Fulltext A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of temperature on the development and survival of the Aedes mosquito

Nik Abdull Halim NMH, Che Dom N, Dapari R, Salim H, Precha N

Front Public Health, 2022;10:1074028.
PMID: 36600940 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1074028

INTRODUCTION: The Aedes mosquito species, which are the vectors for the transmission of the dengue virus (DENV) to humans, are becoming increasingly susceptible to the formidable effects of influential factors, especially temperature. However, there are still very few studies that have systematically reviewed the existing literature. Hence, in the present study, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted into the effects of temperature on dengue vectors.
METHOD: Several research methodologies were incorporated into the current study, and a review was carried out using PRISMA as a guide. The publications for this study were chosen from two prominent databases, Scopus and Web of Science. All of the studies were assessed, reviewed, and evaluated independently by two reviewers. The meta-analysis tool, Review Manager (RevMan Copenhagen Version 5.4.1), was used to record the extracted data for the meta-analysis. Moran's I 2 and a funnel plot were utilized to measure heterogeneity, and publication bias was investigated. A 95% confidence interval (CI) and overall risk difference (RD) were estimated using a random-effects model.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION: As a consequence of the search efforts, a total of 46 articles were selected for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. This review was divided into five major themes, based on a thematic analysis: (i) hatching rate, (ii) development time, (iii) longevity, (iv) survival rate, and (v) wing morphology. In addition, the development time, survival rate, and wing morphology revealed significantly higher risk differences between the maximum and minimum temperatures (RD: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.36; p = < 0.00001; RD: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.14; p < 0.0001; and RD: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.12; p = 0.006, respectively). This study makes several substantial contributions to the body of knowledge and to practical applications. Finally, a number of recommendations are made at the conclusion of this research for the future reference of researchers.
Fulltext An analysis on the effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic movement control order (MCOS) on the solid waste generation in Peninsular Malaysia

Brohan MA, Dom NC, Ishak AR, Abdullah S, Salim H, Ismail SNS, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Dec;28(46):66501-66509.
PMID: 34665420 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17049-6

This study intends to deal with the environmental consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, by providing a summary of the effects of COVID-19 on municipal solid waste (MSW). In this analysis, the data on domestic waste collection were collected from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleaning Corporation (SWCorp) from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 to evaluate the relative changes in MSW percentage via a waste weighing method. The data consisted of the cumulative tonnage of MSW for every local authority in Peninsular Malaysia and was classified according to MCO phases; before the MCO, during the MCO, during the conditional MCO (CMCO) and during the recovery MCO (RMCO) phases. The results indicated that the enforcement of the early MCO showed a positive effect by decreasing the volume of MSW. This decrease was noted across 41 local authorities, which accounts for 87.23% of Peninsular Malaysia. However, the amount of MSW began to increase again when the MCO reached the conditional and recovery stages. From this, it can be concluded that the implementation of the MCO, in its various incarnations, has shown us that our lifestyles can have a harmful impact on our environment. While the pandemic was still spreading and limitations were still in place in Malaysia, local governments and waste management companies had to quickly alter their waste management systems and procedures. The current circumstance allows us to rethink our social and economic structures while improving environmental and social inclusion.
Fulltext Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use and resistance among health science and non-health science university students in Thailand

Precha N, Sukmai S, Hengbaru M, Chekoh M, Laohaprapanon S, Makkaew P, et al.

PLoS One, 2024;19(1):e0296822.
PMID: 38180959 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296822

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) have been recognized as one of the global health issues affecting humans, animals, and the environment. A lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, and irrational drug use can make significant contributions to the spread of ARB. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use and resistance among health science (HS) and non-health science (NHS) students and to determine the factors that influence their KAP concerning antibiotic use and resistance. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 HS and NHS students in Southern Thailand from December 2021 to March 2022. The students who fulfilled the study inclusion criteria responded to a questionnaire that had five dimensions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the qualitative variables, and Fisher's exact test was applied to compare the demographic variables, KAP responses between the HS and NHS students. The KAP regarding antibiotic use and resistance for each variable were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Spearman's correlation test was used to estimate the correlation between the variables and KAP. A total of 404 (HS,162; NHS,242) students completed the self-administered questionnaire. The students' highest score was for attitude, followed by practice and knowledge. Our findings revealed that the HS students had higher levels of KAP correlated with antibiotic use and resistance than the NHS students (P < 0.001). The higher KAP scores were among the more senior students, which indicates that instruction on antibiotics was effective in their curriculum. Antibiotic use and resistance knowledge and attitudes should be conveyed to all university students via academic curriculum. Such interventions could set the standard for rational antibiotic use as well as long-term prevention and control of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.