Parasitic Diseases

Parasitic wasps murder insects with a smallpox-like virus - Massive Science Parasitic wasps murder insects with a smallpox-like virus - Massive Science Posted: 07 May 2020 12:00 AM PDT Many of our readers and friends are scientists and experts in their fields. Would that stop mansplainers from talking down to them? We asked if they had any stories of being mansplained to, and they did not disappoint. Here are a few of our favorites. If you have stories you'd like to contribute, please email me at dan@massivesci.com, or DM me on Twitter (@d_samorodnitsky). Anonymity guaranteed. All the below respondents asked to remain anonymous. These quotes have been lightly edited for clarity. A wild kilogram expert appears "Once I was going to a popular radio show to talk about a new science story. Someone came to escort me up to the studio and I apologized that, on our walk, I would have to watch a press conference so I could give an update fr...

Q&A: What is lungworm and how does it affect cattle? - FarmersWeekly Q&A: What is lungworm and how does it affect cattle? - FarmersWeekly Posted: 08 Apr 2018 12:00 AM PDT © Tim Scrivener Lungworm is a parasitic infection of the bovine respiratory tract ingested from grazing contaminated pasture. It is becoming more prevalent in cattle – both adults and youngstock and as farmers aim to graze for longer periods, to keep feed and bedding costs low, it's important that they understand the parasite and how to control it. The overall cost of an incident of lungworm per adult dairy cow is conservatively estimated at £140. Zoetis vet Dave Armstrong explains more about lungworm, how it affects cattle and how it can be treated. What is it? Lungworm is more commonly seen in first-year grazing cattle in summer or early autumn, although it is increasingly being reported in older cattle. Where are they fou...

HKBU unveils COVID-19 transmission patterns - BSA bureau HKBU unveils COVID-19 transmission patterns - BSA bureau Posted: 29 Apr 2020 12:00 AM PDT The researchers were able to characterise the disease transmission patterns by examining the interactions between people New research led by Hong Kong  Baptist University  (HKBU) computer scientists has used a data-driven modelling approach to answer the time-critical question of when the stringent social distancing and quarantine measures against COVID-19 can be loosened so that normal life and economic activities can be restored in a safe manner. The research team developed a novel computational model that explicitly characterises and quantifies the underlying transmission patterns among different populations throughout the various phases of the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the model, the research team carried out a prospective analysis of the different work resumption plans, revealing the re...

Merck Animal Health to Acquire U.S. Rights to SENTINEL® Brand of Combination Parasiticides for Companion Animals - The Baytown Sun Merck Animal Health to Acquire U.S. Rights to SENTINEL® Brand of Combination Parasiticides for Companion Animals - The Baytown Sun Posted: 12 May 2020 11:01 PM PDT MADISON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2020-- Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), and Virbac (NYSE Euronext:VIRP) today announced that the companies have signed a definitive agreement under which Merck Animal Health would acquire the U.S. rights to SENTINEL® FLAVOR TABS® and SENTINEL® SPECTRUM® Chews in the Companion Animal category. Merck Animal Health will make a cash payment of approximately $400 million to acquire the SENTINEL branded products in the United States at closing of the acquisition. Comprehensive parasite pr...

Africa's Covid-19 research must be tailored to its realities – by its own scientists - The Guardian Africa's Covid-19 research must be tailored to its realities – by its own scientists - The Guardian Posted: 25 Apr 2020 12:00 AM PDT Research to find a cure and effective treatment for Covid-19 is well under way, with hundreds of trials already announced. But very few involve African researchers, and this is a mistake. Although Africa has yet to feel the full force of the coronavirus, preventing severe cases is a higher priority than it is elsewhere. Africa needs research that is tailored to our reality. Even hospitals in New York are overwhelmed; hospitals in many African countries barely have enough ventilators to fill one room. So research needs to be directed towards preventing hospitalisations, potentially though treatment of mild cases as early as possible. If research is not conducted in Africa, potent...

Get It Growing: Vermicompost, is a superhero for your vegetable and flowering plants - Sequim Gazette Get It Growing: Vermicompost, is a superhero for your vegetable and flowering plants - Sequim Gazette Lawn conversion therapy - StarNewsOnline.com Intestinal worms: Pictures, symptoms, and treatment - Medical News Today Get It Growing: Vermicompost, is a superhero for your vegetable and flowering plants - Sequim Gazette Posted: 22 Apr 2020 12:00 AM PDT Do you have kitchen food scraps that are just thrown away? You can reduce your trash and make organic fertilizer with a worm bin. The end-product is called vermicompost and it is a secret ingredient for successfully growing strong healthy vegetables and flowers. The words vermicompost and vermicastings are often used interchangeably but it is good to understand the difference. Vermicompost is a combination of worm waste and broken down organic matter from your wor...

Why the fox has moved into our cities - RTE.ie Why the fox has moved into our cities - RTE.ie Posted: 15 May 2020 01:39 AM PDT Analysis: how we live in urban areas has created the ideal ecosystem for urban foxes to thrive (and it's not good news for grey squirrels) Meeting a fox in a city is like meeting a friend in another country. It feels like the individuals and surroundings don't match. But foxes are adaptable, especially to cities. All over Europe in the last century, they moved in to took their place in cities from London to Dublin to Geneva.  Why did this happen? The patterns that humans live in cities change and allowed ecological space for urban foxes. The canals, railways, streams and rivers provided them with corridors in and out of built-up areas. Waste foods, rodents, mowed green spaces (which provide earthworms) and ignored dead spaces allowed foxes to thrive. Changes in how humans view foxes probably also assisted in ...