Heavy alcohol intake seems to increase risk of TB in males. New measures for alcohol abuse are neededhttp://ow.ly/2Esr304cDg4

Excessive tobacco consumption in men (20 or more cigarettes per day) is a risk factor for tuberculosishttp://ow.ly/AWdK30hdZOq

Canine leishmaniasis is a major veterinary issue and also a public health challenge due to its zoonotic potential. In this context, serological evaluation is essential for Canine leishmaniasis management. Several serological alternatives, such as rapid diagnostic tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), are well established. In fact, the capacity of distinct tests and antigens, evaluated by their sensitivity and specificity, to detect disease is normally considered sufficient for diagnosing Canine leishmaniasis. In this context, we evaluated the seropositivity using 8 different serological tests (ELISA with Leishmania recombinant proteins (rK39, LicTXNPx); soluble promastigote Leishmania antigens (SPLA); commercial ELISA test) in 82 clinically suspect animals from Northern Portugal. The obtained serological data originated 50% of inconclusive serological information with a mixture of seropositive and seronegative results for individual animals. Cut-off independent risk groups were then generated from the serological data to evaluate the clustering of the samples. This analysis originated risk groups that correlated with the most seropositive samples, suggesting that this method might be used, in a cut-off independent manner, to improve conventional serological evaluation. Ultimately, given that no test prioritization exists, the use of any single serological test increases the potential for misdiagnosis, along with all associated risks for the dog as well as public health. The use of a cut-off independent analysis has the potential to improve the predictive values of these tests, enabling a more accurate evaluation of the dog’s condition.

Early diagnosis is necessary for the success of the tuberculosis (TB) program. Goal: To identify factors associated with diagnosis delay of TB in Huambo, Angola. Cross-sectional study carried out in patients diagnosed with TB at the Huambo Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary (ATD) in the period between October 2015 and January 2016. The 247 patients included in the analysis had a median age of 27 years and a median diagnosis delay of 64 days. In the univariate analysis, age, consumption of alcoholic beverages, living in a residence further than 10 km from a healthcare unit, and looking for any other health unit than the emergency unit were associated with longer diagnosis delay. In the multivariate analysis model, to be between 30 and 44 years of age (p = 0.018), to live in a residence more than 10 km from a healthcare unit (p = 0.006) and to turn to traditional medicine as the first healthcare option (p < 0.001) were factors that led to greater time delay before diagnosis. In the Huambo province, age, distance to healthcare facility and the first healthcare service consulted were associated with diagnosis delay of TB.