On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), a disease caused by a pathogen called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic. This ongoing pandemic has now been reported in 215 countries with more than 23 million confirmed cases and more than 803 thousand deaths worldwide as of August 22, 2020. Although efforts are undergoing, there is no approved vaccine or any specific antiretroviral drug to treat COVID-19 so far. It is now known that SARS-CoV-2 can affect not only humans but also pets and other domestic and wild animals, making it a one health global problem. Several published scientific evidence has shown that bats are the initial reservoir hosts of SARS-CoV-2, and pangolins are suggested as an intermediate hosts. So far, little is known concerning the role of pets and other animals in the transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, updated knowledge about the potential role of pets in the current outbreak will be of paramount importance for effective prevention and control of the disease. This review summarized the current evidence about the role of pets and other animals in the transmission of COVID-19.

Biofilms are accumulations of microorganisms in an extracellular polymeric substance matrix which are composed of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Many bacteria can switch between a planktonic form and a biofilm form. The planktonic bacteria have relatively high cell growth and reproduction rates and have a reduced likelihood of survival but can adapt to occupy new habitats. The biofilm state appears to be a natural and predominant state of bacteria. The need for the formation of bacterial biofilm is that it enhances the tolerance of bacteria to harsh environmental conditions, thereby allowing bacteria to avoid being washed away by water flow or the bloodstream by simply attaching to a surface or tissue, and the EPS matrix protects bacteria cells, in deeper layers, against antimicrobial agents, probably by limiting the diffusion of these agents. Biofilm formation steps are initial contact/attachment to the surface, followed by micro-colony formation, maturation and formation of the architecture of the biofilm, and finally detachment/dispersion of the biofilm. Once formed, biofilm restricts bacterial mobility and increases cell density. Secretions of autoinducers into the environment are critical for cross-signaling between bacteria. This cross-talk is called quorum sensing (QS). Quorum sensing is a cell–cell communication mechanism between bacteria that allows specific processes to be controlled, such as biofilm formation and virulence factor expression. Bacterial quorum sensing signaling mainly consists of acyl-homoserine lactones (produced by Gram-negatives), autoinducing peptides (produced by Gram-positives), and autoinducer-2 (produced by both Gram-negatives and Gram-positives). Therefore, this review is aimed at how bacterial biofilms work and are formed.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has remained as a top global public health concern of the 21st century. It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the magnitude of pulmonary tuberculosis and its associated factors among HIV-positive patients attending antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinic in Debre Tabor specialized hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 362 HIV-positive adult participants attending the ART clinic from October 1st to December 30th 2019. Socio-demographic data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Sputum was collected aseptically into a sterile and leak-proof container. Following aseptic techniques, each sample was processed using the GeneXpert assay based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Similarly, about 3– 5 mL of whole blood was drawn for CD4+ T-cell count and plasma viral load tests following standard blood collection procedures. CD4+ T-cell count was performed using the BD FACS caliber flow cytometry while the plasma viral load was performed by using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then, collected data were double-checked, cleaned and entered into Epi-Info version 7.2.0.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for further statistical analysis. The bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to address risk factor analysis. The 95%confidence interval with its corresponding cure and adjusted odds ratio was computed. Finally, p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as a statistically significant association. Results: In this study, the overall prevalence of tuberculosis among HIV-positive patients was 18 [(5%), 95% CI: 2.8– 7.5]. A high viral load (≥ 1000 copies/mL) was positively associated [AOR (95% CI: 6.4 (1.6– 25.7)), p < 0.001] with developing tuberculosis among HIV-positive patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of TB is low among ART-receiving patients in our study site.

Background. Antimicrobial resistance especially caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) has become a global public health concern. Globally, these isolates have remained the most important causes of several infections and associated mortality. Their rapid spread in Ethiopia is associated with a lack of regular surveillance and antibiotic stewardship programs. Isolates of ESBL-PE from different regions of Ethiopia were searched exhaustively. However, published data regarding the pooled estimate of ESBL-PE are not conducted in Ethiopia. For this reason, we systematically reviewed laboratory-based studies to summarize the overall pooled prevalence of the isolates recovered from various human specimens. Methods. An exhaustive literature search was carried out using the major electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library to identify potentially relevant studies without date restriction. Original articles which address the research question were identified, screened, and included using the PRISMA follow diagram. Data extraction form was prepared in Microsoft Excel, and data quality was assessed by using 9-point Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Then, data were exported to STATA 16.0 software for analyses of pooled estimation of outcome measures. Estimation of outcome measures at 95 confidence interval was performed using Der-Simonian-Lairds random-effects model. Finally, results were presented via text, figures, and tables. Results. A comprehensive electronic database literature search has yielded a total of 86 articles. Among the total, 68 original articles were excluded after the review process. A total of 18 studies with 1191 bacterial isolates recovered from 7919 various clinical samples sizes were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. In this study, the pooled prevalence of ESBL-PE was 18 (95 CI: 926). Nine out of the total (50) reviewed articles were studied using the combination disk test. Likewise, E. coli and K. pneumoniae (50 both) were the predominant isolates of ESBL-PE in addition to other isolates such as Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. Conclusion. This meta-analysis has shown a low pooled estimate of ESBL-PE in Ethiopia.

Background. In Ethiopia, 25.3 and 12.3 million school-age children are living in soil-transmitted helminth and schistosomiasis endemic areas, respectively. The school children are at risk for both soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni due to juvenile activities like walking barefoot, playing with dirty objects that might be contaminated with feces, and fetching of unclean water for drinking. There are no data that indicate the status of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni among children at Hiruy Abaregawi primary school. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth and Schistosoma mansoni infection among Hiruy Abaregawi primary school children. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2019, at Hiruy Abaregawi primary school, Rural Debre Tabor, North West Ethiopia. A total of 340 students were included in the study. Informed written consent was obtained from the children’s parent. Systematic sampling technique was used to select the children. About 2 grams of stool samples was collected and transported to Debre Tabor University Microbiology and Parasitology Teaching Laboratory to conduct the Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Variables with a p value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was 51/340 (15%). Among the identified parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides accounts for 28 (8.2%), hookworm 13 (3.8%), Trichuris trichiura 4 (1.2%), and Schistosoma mansoni 6 (1.8%). In this study, 24 (7%) of Ascaris lumbricoides-, 11 (3.2%) of hookworm-, 4 (1.2%) of Trichuris trichiura-, and 5 (1.5%) of Schistosoma mansoni-infected children showed light infections and no heavy infection in both soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was observed. Finger nail trimming status, hand washing before eating, availability of toilet at home, educational level of students, and sex of students were factors associated with soil-transmitted helminth infection. Conclusion and Recommendations. In this study, the low prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was observed. The combination of regular mass deworming program and health information on risk factors should be strengthened for the prevention and control of soil-transmitted helminth infection.

Background: Mpox is a zoonotic disease that has become a significant public health concern, especially in regions beyond its usual endemic areas in Africa. The rising global incidence and its classification as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization highlight the importance of healthcare professionals (HCPs) being knowledgeable and well‐prepared to effectively manage the virus. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and factors associated with HCPs regarding Mpox infections at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Between June 13th and September 3rd, 2024, a cross‐sectional study was conducted, among 384 HCPs selected through convenience sampling. A pretested, and well‐structured, questionnaire was used to assess the sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes of HCPs. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. A p ‐value of ≤ 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Results: Out of the 384 participants, the majority were male (55.47%) and aged 31–39 years (33.85%). Nurses made up the largest professional group at 31.25%. Only 28.13% and 37.76% of HCPs demonstrated good knowledge and favorable attitudes toward the Mpox, respectively. Interestingly, HCPs with prior information sources about Mpox were likely to possess good knowledge (AOR = 1.45, p = 0.002). Conclusions: The findings emphasize important gaps in the knowledge and attitude of HCPs. It is imperative to implement targeted educational initiatives such as information dissemination, training, and continuous professional development to improve the capacity of HCPs to effectively respond to Mpox and other emerging infectious diseases.