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Introduction: Vaccination against influenza is indicated in children at risk of complications or severe disease. The objective of this study was to describe the percentage of children aged less than 15 years with risk conditions vaccinated against influenza in the Community of Madrid, and to analyze the factors associated with adherence to vaccination throughout 3 vaccination campaigns. Materials and methods: Population-based cross-sectional observational study of children aged 6 months to 14 years with conditions that indicated influenza vaccination at the beginning of the 2018−2019 campaign. Electronic population registers were used. We described the percentage of children vaccinated in 3 consecutive campaigns, and assessed the association of adherence to vaccination with demographic and socioeconomic variables and risk conditions using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The vaccination coverage was 15.6% in the 2018−2019 campaign. The adherence to vaccination was 65.9%. The variables associated with greater adherence were age greater than 2 years, especially in the 6−10 years group (aOR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.43−1.85) and presenting more than one risk condition, especially 3 or more diseases (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.00−3.26). Diabetes mellitus was the disease associated most strongly with adherence (aOR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.74–2.65). Adherence was lower in the immigrant population (aOR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.36−0.51). We found no association between vaccination adherence and sex or socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Vaccination coverage and adherence were suboptimal. Adherence to vaccination against influenza is associated with demographic and clinical conditions. Strategies need to be established to increase vaccination in children, with greater involvement of professionals and education of parents. Resumen: Introducción: La vacunación antigripal está especialmente indicada en población infantil con riesgo de complicaciones o enfermedad grave. El objetivo de este estudio es describir el porcentaje de vacunación frente a la gripe en menores de 15 años con condiciones de riesgo en la Comunidad de Madrid, así como analizar los factores asociados a la adherencia vacunal a lo largo de tres campañas de vacunación. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal de base poblacional de niños/as de 6 meses a 14 años y con condiciones de riesgo que fueran indicación de vacunación antigripal al inicio de la campaña 2018−2019. Se emplearon registros poblacionales electrónicos. Se describió el porcentaje de vacunados durante tres campañas consecutivas. Se analizó mediante análisis bivariado y multivariado la asociación de la adherencia vacunal con variables demográficas, socioeconómicas y condiciones de riesgo. Resultados: La cobertura vacunal fue del 15,6% en la campaña 2018−2019. La adherencia a la vacunación fue del 65,9%. Se asociaron a una mayor adherencia edad ≥3 años, fundamentalmente de 6−10 años (ORa = 1,63; IC 95% [1,43−1,85]) y presentar más de una condición de riesgo, especialmente ≥3 (ORa = 1,80; IC 95% [1,00–3,26]). Diabetes mellitus fue la enfermedad más asociada (ORa = 2,15; IC 95% [1,74−2,65]). Las personas extranjeras presentaron menor adherencia (ORa = 0,43; IC 95% [0,36−0,51]). No se encontraron diferencias en la adherencia según sexo ni nivel socioeconómico. Conclusiones: La adherencia y cobertura vacunal se encuentran en niveles subóptimos. La adherencia a la vacunación antigripal se asocia a características demográficas y clínicas. Es necesario establecer estrategias para incrementar la vacunación en población infantil, con mayor implicación de profesionales y formación de progenitores.

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are widely used for pest control, resulting in their pervasive presence in the environment and posing significant toxicological risks to a range of predatory and scavenging species. Our study mainly aimed to evaluate AR exposure and effects in nestlings of eagle owl (Bubo bubo) from the Region of Murcia (southeastern Spain). We analysed ARs in blood samples (n = 106) using high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole (HPLC-TQ), assessed the influence of potential anthropogenic (presence of livestock farms, landfills and human population density) and environmental (land uses and proximity to watercourses) variables, and measured prothrombin time (PT) and plasma biochemical parameters as biomarkers of effects. Our results showed the presence of AR residues in 91.5% of the nestlings, with 70.8% exhibiting multiple ARs (up to six compounds in a single individual). Second-generation ARs (SGARs) were the most prevalent compounds. The analysis of biochemical parameters indicated that the sampled individuals were in good physiological condition. Although PT was positively correlated with total AR concentration (ΣARs), the relationship was not significant (Rho = 0.04; p = 0.49). Regarding environmental factors, higher ΣARs were associated with the most urbanised study site and the presence of landfills, likely due to the increased availability of rodent prey. The prevalence of two SGARs (brodifacoum and difenacoum) was linked to closer proximity to riverbeds, suggesting a contamination pathway associated with inland aquatic ecosystems, where these AR compounds may concentrate due to water scarcity. This study underscores the widespread exposure of eagle owls to ARs and highlights the importance of effective monitoring and management of these pollutants to protect conservation-concern wildlife in Mediterranean semiarid regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) poses a worldwide threat to farmland wildlife. These compounds accumulate in tissues of both target and non-target species, potentially endangering both direct consumers and their predators. However, investigations on ARs in blood of free-ranging predatory birds are rare. Here, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) has been used as a model predator to assess AR exposure in different agricultural landscapes from a Mediterranean semiarid region. A total of 69 owlets from 38 nests were blood-sampled over 2021 and 2022, aiming to detect AR residues and explore factors that determine their exposure, such as land uses. In addition, prothrombin time (PT) test was conducted to assess potential effects of AR contamination. Overall, nearly all the samples (98.6 %) tested positive for at least one compound and multiple ARs were found in most of the individuals (82.6 %). Among the ARs detected, flocoumafen was the most common compound (88.4 % of the samples). AR total concentration (ΣARs) in blood ranged from 0.06 to 34.18 ng mL -1 , detecting the highest levels in the most intensively cultivated area. The analysis of owl pellets from 19 breeding territories showed relevant among-site differences in the contribution of rodents and birds into the diet of long-eared owls, supporting its high dietary plasticity and indicating AR presence at multiple trophic levels. Moreover, a positive and significant correlation was found between ΣARs and PT (Rho = 0.547, p < 0.001), which demonstrates the direct effect of ARs on free-living nestlings. Our results provide a preliminary overview of AR exposure in a little-studied owl species inhabiting agricultural and rural landscapes. Despite the low detected levels, these findings indicate widespread exposure -often to multiple compounds- from early life stages, which raises concern and draws attention to an ongoing and unresolved contamination issue., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)