Browsing by Author "Vale, Beatriz do"
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- Knowledge about COVID-19: best practices in the North of Portugal and the importance of health education in the prevention of pandemic eventsPublication . Oliveira, Joana; Rodrigues, Isilda; Matos, Manuela; Carvalho, Isabel; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Alegria, Nuno; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Vale, Beatriz do; Cardoso, Luís; Coelho, Ana CláudiaThe rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made COVID-19 one of the biggest pandemics of all time, with several devastating public health challenges. In this study, we investigated the knowledge towards COVID-19 best practices in the north of Portugal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of the population of northern Portugal to assess their knowledge about COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and measures to prevent and mitigate pandemics. An online validated questionnaire was completed by 411 participants, from September to October 2020. Results: The overall correct knowledge was 81.3%, which indicates a good knowledge by the northern Portuguese respondents about COVID-19. The correct answer score differed considerably between men and women, being significantly higher among the latter (12.28 ± 1.22; p = 0.011). Moreover, the highest knowledge was observed in participants who attended high school or above (12.27 ± 1.21; p < 0.000). Conclusion: This study contributes to the analysis of COVID-19 knowledge by the northern Portuguese population, emphasizes the crucial role of health education in the control and mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides field-based evidence to prevent the next pandemic event.
- Update on infections with Thelazia callipaeda in European wildlife and a report in a red fox, Vulpes vulpes, in PortugalPublication . Lopes, Ana Filipa; Ferreira, Mariana Ribeiro; Vale, Beatriz do; Santos, Marlene; Silveira, Inês; Claudino, Sofia; Martins, Manuel; Brida, Telma; Figueira, Luís; Cardoso, Luís; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Matos, Manuela; Matos, Ana CristinaThelazia callipaeda, also known as the “oriental eye worm”, is a zoonotic parasitic nematode with a wide range of hosts, particularly wild and domestic carnivores, but also lagomorphs and humans. Currently, ocular thelaziosis presents an expanding distribution range throughout Europe, including Portugal. This study provides an update on T. callipaeda infection reports (30 studies) in European wildlife comprising 54 host-locality records in 10 host species from nine European countries. The prevalence of T. callipaeda varied widely, with ranges from around 1% in red foxes and European hares to almost 50% in red foxes. The lowest mean intensity was 2.7 nematodes/host in European wildcats and the highest was 38.0 nematodes/host in wolves. In addition, a massive infection with T. callipaeda in a juvenile male red fox from eastern-central Portugal is also described, representing the south ernmost report in a wild animal in this country. A total of 188 nematodes (139 females and 49 males) were collected from both eyes and were submitted to morphological and molecular characterization. Collected nematodes were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda. Given the endemicity of T. callipaeda in easterncentral Portugal, surveillance system should be implemented to monitor its presence among wild and domestic animals.