Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.3
Journals
IJERPH
Special Issues
Global Environmental Changes, Pathogens Spread and Influences on Infectious Diseases
ijerph-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Global Environmental Changes, Pathogens Spread and Influences on Infectious Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2025 | Viewed by 9238

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Aline Viancelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group on Engineering, Performance and Environmental Quality, Universidade do Contestado (PMPECSA), Concórdia 89711-330, SC, Brazil
Interests: environmental microbiology; bacteriphages; emerging contaminants; water quality; biogas; swine manure; environmental virology
Prof. Dr. William Michelon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group on Engineering, Performance and Environmental Quality, Universidade do Contestado (PMPECSA), Concórdia 89711-330, SC, Brazil
Interests: microalgae; phycoremediation; circular economy; water footprint; wastewater treatment; environmental microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human behavior is the main factor of environmental changes. From water pollution to climatic changes, all of them can have consequences such as the emergence and reemergence of certain infectious diseases, which have being more frequent all around the world, due to the wide spread of pathogenic organisms. Multidisciplinary fields, such as biology, environmental engineering, medicine, veterinary and all those related to One Health concept, have studied the complex environmental systems related to spread of pathogens and ocurrence of infection diseases. In this context, the key players on pathogens dissemination are animals (by zoonotic pathogens), water, food, wastewater and other residues that may be a reservoir of bacteria, virus or parasites. So that, the present Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health invites the submisstion of original articles and reviews addressing these topics, especially, but not limited to, those reporting the detection of pathogens on enviromental systems, alternatives and safe practices to minize the occurrence of infection diseases.

Prof. Dr. Aline Viancelli
Prof. Dr. William Michelon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wastewater treatment
  • foodborne disease
  • waterborne disease
  • one health
  • zoonotic disease
  • water quality
  • risk assessment
  • climatic changes
  • wet events
  • flood events

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

15 pages, 2409 KiB  
Article
Development of a COVID-19 Vulnerability Index (CVI) for the Counties and Residents of New Jersey, USA
by Remo DiSalvatore, Sarah K. Bauer, Jeong Eun Ahn and Kauser Jahan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136312 - 7 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1915
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has impacted countless aspects of everyday life since it was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March of 2020. From societal to economic impacts, COVID-19 and its variants will leave a lasting impact [...] Read more.
The coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has impacted countless aspects of everyday life since it was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March of 2020. From societal to economic impacts, COVID-19 and its variants will leave a lasting impact on our society and the world. During the height of the pandemic, it became increasingly evident that indices, such as the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), were instrumental in predicting vulnerabilities within a community. The CDC’s SVI provides important estimates on which communities will be more susceptible to ‘hazard events’ by compiling a variety of data from the U.S. Census and the American Community Survey. The CDC’s SVI does not directly consider the susceptibility of a community to a global pandemic, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the four themes and 15 factors that contribute to the index. Thus, the objective of this research is to develop a COVID-19 Vulnerability Index, or CVI, to evaluate a community’s susceptibility to future pandemics. With 15 factors considered for CDC’s SVI, 26 other factors were also considered for the development of the CVI that covered themes such as socioeconomic status, environmental factors, healthcare capacity, epidemiological factors, and disability. All factors were equally weighted to calculate the CVI based on New Jersey. The CVI was validated by comparing index results to real-world COVID-19 data from New Jersey’s 21 counties and CDC’s SVI. The results present a stronger positive linear relationship between the CVI and the New Jersey COVID-19 mortality/population and infection/population than there is with the SVI. The results of this study indicate that Essex County has the highest CVI, and Hunterdon County has the lowest CVI. This is due to factors such as disparity in wealth, population density, minority status, and housing conditions, as well as other factors that were used to compose the CVI. The implications of this research will provide a critical tool for decision makers to utilize in allocating resources should another global pandemic occur. This CVI, developed through this research, can be used at the county, state, and global levels to help measure the vulnerability to future pandemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Environmental Changes, Pathogens Spread and Influences on Infectious Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1252 KiB  
Article
Enterobacteria Survival, Percolation, and Leaching on Soil Fertilized with Swine Manure
by William Michelon, Nivia Rosana Weber Peter, Tamili Martins Schneider, Dara Cristina Segalla and Aline Viancelli
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(7), 5283; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075283 - 28 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1658
Abstract
Swine manure has a high load of pathogens, which can pose a risk to human and environmental health. In Brazil, studies evaluating the survival of pathogens in soil are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the survival, percolation, and leaching of enterobacteria [...] Read more.
Swine manure has a high load of pathogens, which can pose a risk to human and environmental health. In Brazil, studies evaluating the survival of pathogens in soil are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the survival, percolation, and leaching of enterobacteria in clayey soil after fertilization with swine manure. For this purpose, soil columns were fertilized with manure spiked with enterobacteria. The microorganisms’ behavior was monitored in terms of survival, percolation, and leaching with and without rain. Soil samples were collected, and Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Senftemberg were quantified. The results indicated that E. coli survived for a longer period (43 days) than S. senftemberg (14 days). E. coli percolated quickly through the soil, leaching 60 cm in less than 5 min during rainy events and remaining viable for up to 24 h after the rain. The results show the importance of treating manure effectively before being added to the soil. An efficient treatment could be anaerobic digestion, followed by a pond system. Considering the characteristics of swine-producing regions, the load of effluents applied to the soil may percolate, leach, or run off and consequently contaminate water bodies with pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Environmental Changes, Pathogens Spread and Influences on Infectious Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2957 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Harsh Stratospheric Conditions on Survival and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Non-Spore Forming Multidrug Resistant Human Pathogenic Bacteria Causing Hospital-Associated Infections
by Ignacy Górecki, Agata Kołodziejczyk, Matt Harasymczuk, Grażyna Młynarczyk and Ksenia Szymanek-Majchrzak
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2787; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042787 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2213
Abstract
Bacteria are constantly being lifted to the stratosphere due to air movements caused by weather phenomena, volcanic eruptions, or human activity. In the upper parts of the atmosphere, they are exposed to extremely harsh and mutagenic conditions such as UV and space radiation [...] Read more.
Bacteria are constantly being lifted to the stratosphere due to air movements caused by weather phenomena, volcanic eruptions, or human activity. In the upper parts of the atmosphere, they are exposed to extremely harsh and mutagenic conditions such as UV and space radiation or ozone. Most bacteria cannot withstand that stress, but for a fraction of them, it can act as a trigger for selective pressure and rapid evolution. We assessed the impact of stratospheric conditions on the survival and antibiotic resistance profile of common non-spore-forming human pathogenic bacteria, both sensitive and extremely dangerous multidrug-resistant variants, with plasmid-mediated mechanisms of resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not survive the exposure. In the case of strains that were recovered alive, the survival was extremely low: From 0.00001% of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying the ndm-1 gene and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus mecA-positive with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (MRSA/VISA), to a maximum of 0.001% of K. pneumoniae sensitive to all common antibiotics and S. aureus sensitive to vancomycin (MRSA/VSSA). We noticed a tendency towards increased antibiotic susceptibility after the stratospheric flight. Antimicrobial resistance is a current real, global, and increasing problem, and our results can inform current understandings of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and development in bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Environmental Changes, Pathogens Spread and Influences on Infectious Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 3569 KiB  
Systematic Review
Rainfall and Temperature Influences on Childhood Diarrhea and the Effect Modification Role of Water and Sanitation Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Gorfu Geremew, Oliver Cumming, Alemayehu Haddis, Matthew C. Freeman and Argaw Ambelu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070823 - 24 Jun 2024
Viewed by 2298
Abstract
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the worsening impacts of climate change. Two climate factors—temperature and rainfall uncertainties—influence the risk of childhood diarrhea, which remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. [...] Read more.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the worsening impacts of climate change. Two climate factors—temperature and rainfall uncertainties—influence the risk of childhood diarrhea, which remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. They create a conducive environment for diarrhea-causing pathogens and overwhelm environmental prevention measures. This study aimed to produce comprehensive evidence on the association of temperature and rainfall variability with the risk of childhood diarrhea and the influence of water and sanitation conditions on those associations. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach. Records published in English from 2006 to 2023 were searched on 8 January 2024 via PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Google/Google Scholar using comprehensive search terms. We assessed studies for any risk of bias using the Navigation Guide and rated the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. The heterogeneity among estimates was assessed using I-squared statistics (I2). The findings of the analysis were presented with forest plots using an incidence rate ratio (IRR). A meta-analysis was conducted on effect modifiers (water supply and sanitation conditions) using a random effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The statistical analyses were conducted using R 4.3.2 software and Review Manager 5.3. A total of 2017 records were identified through searches, and only the 36 articles that met the inclusion criteria were included. The analysis suggests a small positive association between increased temperature and the occurrence of under-five diarrhea, with the pooled IRR = 1.04; 95% CI [1.03, 1.05], at I2 = 56% and p-value < 0.01, and increased rainfall and U5 diarrhea, with IRR = 1.14; 95% CI [1.03, 1.27], at I2 = 86% and p-value < 0.01. The meta-analysis indicated a positive association between unimproved latrine facilities and drinking water sources with a rainfall-modified effect on U5 diarrhea, with IRR = 1.21; 95% CI [0.95, 1.53], at I2 = 62% and p-value = 0.03. We found that an increase in mean temperature and rainfall was associated with an increased risk of childhood diarrhea. Where there were unimproved latrine facilities and drinking water sources, the increase in mean rainfall or temperature would increase the incidence of childhood diarrhea. The results of this review help in assessing the effectiveness of current intervention programs, making changes as needed, or creating new initiatives to lower the prevalence of childhood diarrhea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Environmental Changes, Pathogens Spread and Influences on Infectious Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop