A lesion in two: Buruli ulcer and squamous cell carcinoma coexistence
This report presents an intriguing case of concurrent diagnoses, with clues alluding to more than one skin condition being present. The case involves a 73-year-old man with BU diagnosed on the scalp, an atypical location, which led to the consideration of malignancy, ultimately revealing concurrent SCC. This case highlights the importance of considering both conditions in patients with epidemiological risk factors, necessitating multiple lines of investigation for accurate diagnosis. Medical practitioners must remain vigilant and incorporate this possibility into their diagnostic algorithms for suspicious skin lesions to o...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 8, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jessica C. O ’Keeffe Source Type: research
Detection of < i > Salmonella < /i > Typhi bacteriophages in surface waters as a scalable approach to environmental surveillance
ConclusionsS. Typhi bacteriophages were highly abundant in surface waters of typhoid-endemic communities but rarely detected in low typhoid burden communities. Bacteriophages recovered were specific forS. Typhi and required Vi polysaccharide for infection. Screening small volumes of water with simple, low-cost (~$2) plaque assays enables detection ofS. Typhi phages and should be further evaluated as a scalable tool for typhoid environmental surveillance. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 8, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Sneha Shrestha Source Type: research
The use of artificial intelligence to improve mycetoma management
by Hyam Omar Ali, Lamis Yahia Mohamed Elkheir, Ahmed Hassan Fahal (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 8, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Hyam Omar Ali Source Type: research
Spatial heterogeneity in mass drug administration from a longitudinal epidemiological study assessing transmission interruption of soil transmitted helminths in the Wolaita zone of southern Ethiopia (Geshiyaro Project)
ConclusionAggregating data at large spatial scales can result in prematurely ceasing deworming, prompting rapid infection bounce-back. There is a strong need to define context-specific spatial scales for monitoring and evaluating intervention programmes. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 8, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Santiago Rayment Gomez Source Type: research
Host gastric corpus microenvironment facilitates < i > Ascaris suum < /i > larval hatching and infection in a murine model
by Yifan Wu, Grace Adeniyi-Ipadeola, Mahliyah Adkins-Threats, Matthew Seasock, Charlie Suarez-Reyes, Ricardo Fujiwara, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Lizhen Song, Jason C. Mills, Jill E. Weatherhead
Ascariasis (roundworm) is the most common parasitic helminth infection globally and can lead to significant morbidity in children including chronic lung disease. Children become infected withAscaris spp. via oral ingestion of eggs. It has long been assumed thatAscaris egg hatching and larval translocation across the gastrointestinal mucosa to initiate infection occurs in the small intestine. Here, we show thatA.suum larvae hatched in t...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 7, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Yifan Wu Source Type: research
“Our desire is to make this village intestinal worm free”: Identifying determinants of high coverage of community-wide mass drug administration for soil transmitted helminths in Benin, India, and Malawi
ConclusionThe convergent mixed-methods study identified barriers and facilitators that may be useful to NTD programs to improve cMDA implementation for STH, increase treatment coverage, and contribute to the successful control or elimination of STH. Trial registrationThe parent trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03014167). (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 6, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Malvika Saxena Source Type: research
Dog ecology and rabies knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia
by Tenzin Tenzin, Emmanuel H. Hikufe, Nehemia Hedimbi, Rauna Athingo, Mainelo Beatrice Shikongo, Thompson Shuro, Johannes Iipinge, Nelson Herman, Matias Naunyango, Frenada Haufiku, Josephat Peter, Laina Hango, Sara Gottlieb, Kenneth Shoombe, Nicolai Denzin, Frank Busch, Frederic Lohr, Moetapele Letshwenyo, Gregorio Torres, Conrad M. Freuling, Thomas M üller, Albertina Shilongo
In 2021, a comprehensive dog demographic questionnaire combined with a KAP survey were conducted in the northern communal areas (NCAs) of Namibia with the aim of gaining a better understanding of dog populations, owner behaviour, and knowledge, att...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 5, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Tenzin Tenzin Source Type: research
Geographic characteristics of HTLV-1 molecular subgroups and genetic substitutions in East Asia: Insights from complete genome sequencing of HTLV-1 strains isolated in Taiwan and Japan
In this study, we determined the complete genome sequences of HTLV-1 strains isolated from Taiwan and Japan and investigated the geographic characteristics of molecular subgroups and substitution mutations to understand the spread of HTLV-1 and its correlation with human migration. Methodology/Principal findingsThe complete genome sequences of 26 HTLV-1 isolates from Taiwan were determined using next-generation sequencing and were compared with those of 211 isolates from Japan in terms of subgroup and genetic mutations. In total, 15/26 (58%) isolates from Taiwan belonged to the transcontinental subgroup and 11/26 (42%) iso...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 5, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Satoshi Nozuma Source Type: research
Modelling spatiotemporal patterns of visceral leishmaniasis incidence in two endemic states in India using environment, bioclimatic and demographic data, 2013 –2022
by Swaminathan Subramanian, Rajendran Uma Maheswari, Gopalakrishnan Prabavathy, Mashroor Ahmad Khan, Balan Brindha, Adinarayanan Srividya, Ashwani Kumar, Manju Rahi, Emily S. Nightingale, Graham F. Medley, Mary M. Cameron, Nupur Roy, Purushothaman Jambulingam
BackgroundAs of 2021, the National Kala-azar Elimination Programme (NKAEP) in India has achieved visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination (93% and 99% coverage probability (proportion of observations falling inside 95% Bayesian credible interval for the predicted number of VL cases per month) during the training and testing periods. PIT (probability integral transform)...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 5, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Swaminathan Subramanian Source Type: research
Metabolomic landscape of macrophage discloses an anabolic signature of dengue virus infection and antibody-dependent enhancement of viral infection
by Li Xu, Min Li, Jingpu Zhang, Dongxiao Li, Jie Tao, Fuchun Zhang, Xia Jin, Jiahai Lu, Tiefu Liu
Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes dengue fever, the most prevalent arthropod-transmitted viral disease worldwide. Viruses are acellular parasites and obligately rely on host cell machinery for reproduction. Previous studies have indicated metabolomic changes in endothelial cell models and sera of animal models and patients with dengue fever. To probe the immunometabolic mechanism of DENV infection, here, we report the metabolomic landscape of a human macrophage cell model of DENV infection and its antibody-dependent enhanc...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 2, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Li Xu Source Type: research
Effect of montelukast in preventing dengue with warning signs among patients with dengue: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
ConclusionOral montelukast does not reduce the incidence of warning signs among patients with dengue. Nevertheless, the observed decrease in transaminase elevations warrants further investigation to evaluate the potential effect of montelukast. Clinical Trials RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov, NCT04673422, registered on 9 December 2020 (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 2, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Nattapat Nitinai Source Type: research
The interplay between temperature, < i > Trypanosoma cruzi < /i > parasite load, and nutrition: Their effects on the development and life-cycle of the Chagas disease vector < i > Rhodnius prolixus < /i >
This study aimed to investigate the effects of different temperatures onR.prolixus development and life-cycle, its relationship withT.cruzi, and to gather information about the nutritional habits and energy consumption ofR.prolixus. We exposed uninfected and infectedR.prolixus to four different temperatures ranging from 24 °C to 30°C, and monitored their survival, developmental rate, body and blood meal masses, urine production, and the temporal dynamics of parasite concentration in the excreted urine of the triatomines over the course of their development. Our results demonstrate that temperature significantly impa ctsR...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 2, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Henri Loshouarn Source Type: research
Feasibility of post-exposure-prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin and identification of high prevalent clusters in villages ’ hyperendemic for leprosy in Senegal
ConclusionsOur strategy has proved the feasibility of active screening for leprosy in contacts and the introduction of PEP for leprosy under programmatic conditions. Only individuals living in the same household as the leprosy patient had a significant risk of contracting leprosy. We documented nine clusters of leprosy that could benefit from tailored control activities while optimizing resources. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 1, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Gilbert Batista Source Type: research
Unraveling the role of miRNAs as biomarkers in Chagas cardiomyopathy: Insights into molecular pathophysiology
ConclusionIn this review, we point out miR-21, miR-146b, miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-145-5p role in the complex mechanisms of ChCM. These miRNAs have been shown as potential biomarkers for precise diagnosis, reliable prognostic evaluation, and effective treatment strategies in the ChCM. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - February 1, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Heriks Gomes Ribeiro Source Type: research
Increasing transmission of dengue virus across ecologically diverse regions of Ecuador and associated risk factors
by Leah C. Katzelnick, Emmanuelle Quentin, Savannah Colston, Thien-An Ha, Paulina Andrade, Joseph N. S. Eisenberg, Patricio Ponce, Josefina Coloma, Varsovia Cevallos
The distribution and intensity of viral diseases transmitted byAedes aegypti mosquitoes, including dengue, have rapidly increased over the last century. Here, we study dengue virus (DENV) transmission across the ecologically and demographically distinct regions or Ecuador. We analyzed province-level age-stratified dengue incidence data from 2000 –2019 using catalytic models to estimate the force of infection of DENV over eight decades. We found that provinc...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - January 31, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Leah C. Katzelnick Source Type: research
