Invited Commentary on Genetically Modified Mosquitoes for Population Control of Pathogen-Transmitting Wild-Type Mosquitoes
(Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports)
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - February 2, 2016 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Wolbachia Biocontrol Strategies for Arboviral Diseases and the Potential Influence of Resident Wolbachia Strains in Mosquitoes
Abstract
Arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes are a major cause of human disease worldwide. The absence of vaccines and effective vector control strategies has resulted in the need for novel mosquito control strategies. The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia has been proposed to form the basis for an effective mosquito biocontrol strategy. Resident strains of Wolbachia inhibit viral replication in Drosophila fruit flies and induce a reproductive phenotype known as cytoplasmic incompatibility that allows rapid invasion of insect populations. Transinfection of Wolbachia strains into the principle mosquito v...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - February 2, 2016 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Pathogenesis of Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever From an Immunological Perspective
Abstract
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe viral infection disease. Infection is a battle between the virus and host immune system. The CCHF virus can enter to the organism by way of skin, mucosa, or inhalation and encounters innate immune system cells like monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. These cells cannot successfully eliminate viruses. Thus, the viruses are able to disseminate to regional lymph nodes and to whole body. Different viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) stimulate the intracellular Toll-like receptors, RIG-like Helicase receptors, and NOD-like ...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - January 30, 2016 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Human Trichuriasis: Diagnostics Update
Abstract
Trichuris trichiura infection is part of the so-called neglected tropical diseases, given the little interest and resources spent in developing novel diagnostic tools and treatment to detect and fight this disease. One of the main neglected aspects of trichuriasis pertains to diagnostic methods, which are currently based on copro-parasitological methods and burdened by low sensitivity. This leads to different levels of underestimation of the real prevalence and morbidity caused by T. trichiura, in both public health and individual patient management. Only few new diagn...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - October 7, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Human Ascariasis: Diagnostics Update
Abstract
Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infect over one billion people worldwide. Ascariasis may mimic a number of conditions, and individual clinical diagnosis often requires a thorough work-up. Kato-Katz thick smears are the standard detection method for Ascaris and, despite low sensitivity, are often used for mapping and monitoring and evaluation of national control programmes. Although increased sampling (number of stools) and diagnostic (number of examinations per stool) efforts can improve sensitivity, Kato-Katz is less sensitive than other microscopy methods such as FLOTAC®. Antibody-based diag...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - October 3, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Invited Commentary on Growth and Development in Children with Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections
The objective of this review is to highlight fundamental aspects of childhood growth and development essential for the investigation and further understanding of morbidity associated with gastrointestinal parasitic infections in children. (Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports)
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - October 2, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Human Ascariasis Increases the Allergic Response and Allergic Symptoms
Abstract
Ascariasis is still very prevalent; one billion people are infected all around the world. In rural areas, severe ascariasis impairs the immune responses to natural infections and vaccination programs. However, in urbanized areas, improved hygiene conditions and periodic anthelmintic treatments have led to light forms of ascariasis, where parasite-induced immunosuppressive effects are surpassed by the immunostimulating effects of the infection. During the last years, the clinical impact of this type of ascariasis on allergic diseases, especially asthma, has been well documented, and it is currentl...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - September 30, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Global Health and Tropical Medicine in the Twenty-First Century: A Renewed Interest in the Understanding and the Control of Helminth Infections
Abstract
The twenty-first century has shown an expansion and renewed excitement in global health, and tropical medicine is one of the critical drivers leading this global health phenomenon. Among the tropical diseases, helminth infections rank first in the list of diseases causing the highest disability adjusted life years. Because of the importance of helminth infections and their impact on global health, we highlight in this commentary an elegant compilation of reviews recently published by Springer, which provide a detailed overview of the biology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strate...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - September 30, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Human Trichuriasis: Whipworm Genetics, Phylogeny, Transmission and Future Research Directions
Abstract
Human trichuriasis is a neglected tropical disease which affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is particularly prevalent among children living in areas where sanitation is poor. This review examines the current knowledge on the taxonomy, genetics and phylogeography of human Trichuris and its relationship to whipworm parasites in other host species. The evidence for zoonotic transmission of Trichuris and the emergence of anthelmintic resistance is assessed. In addition, the implications of the recent publication of the genomes and transcriptomes of multiple Trichuris species are dis...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - September 28, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Update on Treatment and Resistance of Human Trichuriasis
Abstract
Trichuris trichiura is a common soil-transmitted helminthic pathogen with considerable impact on human health. To achieve appropriate control of trichuriasis from a public health perspective, effective treatments and regular education of populations most at risk such as children and pregnant women are essential. Currently available drugs show however only unsatisfying cure rates when used in short-course regimens, and egg reduction rates are disappointingly low. An improvement in efficacy of drug therapy has been demonstrated for a prolonged 3-day dosing regimen of alb...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - September 28, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Treatment of Cryptosporidium: What We Know, Gaps, and the Way Forward
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is increasingly recognized as an important global health concern. While initially reported in immunocompromised patients such as AIDS patients, cryptosporidiosis has now been documented as a major cause of childhood diarrhea and an important factor in childhood malnutrition. Currently, nitazoxanide is the only proven anti-parasitic treatment for Cryptosporidium infections. However, it is not effective in severely immunocompromised patients and there is limited data in infants. Immune reconstitution or decreased immunosuppression is critical to therapy in AIDS and transplant pati...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 1, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Challenges and Innovative Strategies to Interrupt Cryptosporidium Transmission in Resource-Limited Settings
Abstract
In addition to Cryptosporidium being recognized as a very important cause of morbidity and mortality among humans, it is also an important economical problem with hundreds of outbreaks reported throughout the world every year and in agriculture where it affects mostly young animals. Transmission of Cryptosporidium is often by oral route through water and food. Although Cryptosporidium is most prevalent in resource-constrained areas, the majority of studies on the disease transmission have been conducted in developed countries. The control of Cryptosporidium has progressed over time, and with the ...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 23, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Advancing Cryptosporidium Diagnostics from Bench to Bedside
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is increasingly being recognized as an important cause of diarrhea worldwide. Although well known for its impact among HIV positive population, improved diagnostic tests have contributed to its emerging recognition one among the most prevalent causes of early childhood moderate to severe diarrhea, persistent diarrhea, and impaired neurocognitive development. The diagnosis of Cryptosporidiosis is generally carried out based on availability of skilled microscopist or advanced equipment for molecular- and immunologic-based assays. As an emerging enteric pa...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 22, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses to Cryptosporidium —Vaccine Development
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide, particularly in malnourished children and untreated AIDS patients in developing countries in whom it can cause severe, chronic, and debilitating disease. Unfortunately, there is no consistently effective drug for these vulnerable populations and no vaccine, partly due to a limited understanding of both the parasite and the host immune response. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of the systemic and mucosal immune responses to Cryptosporidium infection, discuss the feasibility o...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 21, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
The Global Burden of Pediatric Cryptosporidium Infections
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis has been identified as a leading cause of diarrhea in young children worldwide. Infection results in significant short-term morbidity as well as long-term sequelae. Recent advancements in molecular diagnostics used in large multicenter prospective studies have led to the discovery that burden of Cryptosporidium disease is higher than previously recognized; however, the implications of this discovery are not fully understood. Epidemiologic studies suggest infection impacts long-term growth; however, the mechanisms driving this vicious cycle have yet to be elucidated, and it remai...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 16, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
