Diagnostic accuracy of qPCR and microscopy for cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Ecuador: A Bayesian latent class analysis
ConclusionThe accuracy of either qPCR on DNA extracted from filter paper or microscopy for CL diagnosis as a stand-alone test seems to be unsatisfactory and region-dependent. We recommend further studies to confirm the clinically relevant increment found in the diagnostic yield due to the addition of qPCR. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 29, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jacob M. Bezemer Source Type: research
Vaccination against the HDL receptor of < i > S. japonicum < /i > inhibits egg embryonation and prevents fatal hepatic complication in rabbit model
Conclusions/SignificanceThe results demonstrated that vaccination strategy against nutritional supply pathway of the parasite is effective for reducing its pathogenesis. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 29, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jifeng Zhu Source Type: research
Morphological and functional cardiac alterations in children with congenital Zika syndrome and severe neurological deficits
by Imara Correia de Queiroz Barbosa, Luizabel de Paula Gomes, Israel Nilton de Almeida Feitosa, Lu ís Fábio Barbosa Botelho, Bruno Robalinho Cavalcanti Barbosa, Alex Barbosa, André Telis de Vilela Araújo, Marcelo Dantas Tavares de Melo, Adriana Suely de Oliveira Melo, Vera Maria Cury Salemi
IntroductionZika virus infection during pregnancy causes fetal microcephaly and brain damage. Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) is characterized by systemic involvement with diffuse muscle impairment, a high frequency of arthrogryposis, and microphthalmia. Cardiac impairment in CZS has rarely been evaluated. Our study assessed morpholo...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 29, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Imara Correia de Queiroz Barbosa Source Type: research
Mitochondrial protein BNIP3 regulates Chikungunya virus replication in the early stages of infection
by Liliana Echavarria-Consuegra, Nilima Dinesh Kumar, Marleen van der Laan, Mario Mauthe, Denise Van de Pol, Fulvio Reggiori, Jolanda M. Smit
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a human pathogen causing outbreaks of febrile illness for which vaccines and specific treatments remain unavailable. Autophagy-related (ATG) proteins and autophagy receptors are a set of host factors that participate in autophagy, but have also shown to function in other unrelated cellular pathways. Although autophagy is reported to both inhibit and enhance CHIKV replication, the specific role of individual ATG proteins remains largely unknown. Here, a s...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Liliana Echavarria-Consuegra Source Type: research
Mapping the potential distribution of the principal vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus < i > Hyalomma marginatum < /i > in the Old World
This study updated the distributional map of the principal vector of CCHFV,H.marginatum, in the Old World using an ecological niche modeling approach based on occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and a set of covariates. The model predicted higher suitability ofH.marginatum occurrences in diverse regions of Africa and Asia. Furthermore, the model estimated the environmental suitability ofH.marginatum across Europe. On a continental scale, the model anticipated a widespread potential distribution encompassing the southern, western, central, and eastern parts of Europe, reaching as far ...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Seyma S. Celina Source Type: research
Effects of human mobility on the spread of Dengue in the region of Caldas, Colombia
by Carolina Ospina-Aguirre, David Soriano-Pa ños, Gerard Olivar-Tost, Cristian C. Galindo-González, Jesús Gómez-Gardeñes, Gustavo Osorio
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue is the most common acute arthropod-borne viral infection in the world. The spread of dengue and other infectious diseases is closely related to human activity and mobility. In this paper we analyze the effect of introducing mobility restrictions as a public health policy on the total number of dengue cases within a population. To perform the analysis, we use a complex metapopulation in which we implement a compartmental propag...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Carolina Ospina-Aguirre Source Type: research
Minimal effective dose of bedaquiline administered orally and activity of a long acting formulation of bedaquiline in the murine model of leprosy
ConclusionWe demonstrated that the MED of BDQ administered orally againstM.leprae was 3.3 mg/kg in mice and BDQ did not add significantly to the efficacy of CFZ at the doses tested. BDQ-LA IM was similar or less active than BDQ administered orally at equivalent dosing and frequency but should be tested at higher dosing in order to reach equivalent exposure in further experiments. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Aur élie Chauffour Source Type: research
Central nervous system infection in a pediatric population in West Java
by Dewi H. Alisjahbana, Syndi Nurmawati, Mia Milanti, Hofiya Djauhari, Jeremy P. Ledermann, Ungke Antonjaya, Yora Permata Dewi, Edison Johar, Ageng Wiyatno, Ida Yus Sriyani, Bachti Alisjahbana, Dodi Safari, Khin Saw Aye Myint, Ann M. Powers, Dzulfikar DL Hakim
Central nervous system (CNS) viral infections are critical causes of morbidity and mortality in children; however, comprehensive data on etiology is lacking in developing countries such as Indonesia. To study the etiology of CNS infections in a pediatric population, 50 children admitted to two hospitals in Bandung, West Java, during 2017 –2018 were enrolled in a C...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Dewi H. Alisjahbana Source Type: research
An evaluation of Mp1p antigen screening for talaromycosis in HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-na ïve population in Guangdong, China
by Dandan Gong, Weiyin Lin, Huihua Zhang, Xu Ou, Liya Li, Pengle Guo, Yaozu He, Cong Liu, Weiping Cai, Xiaoping Tang, Linghua Li
BackgroundTalaromycosis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. However, few researches have explored the prevalence in Southern China and fully assessed the value of the Mp1p antigen screening for the diagnosis of talaromycosis. Methodology/Principal findingsWe performed a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy (ART)-na ïve adult patients who were seen in 2018 at Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guang...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Dandan Gong Source Type: research
< i > Bothrops < /i > venom-induced hemostasis disorders in the rat: Between Scylla and Charybdis
by S ébastien Larréché, Lucie Chevillard, Georges Jourdi, Simon Mathé, Aurélie Servonnet, Bérangère S. Joly, Virginie Siguret, Jean-Philippe Chippaux, Bruno Mégarbane
Hemostasis impairment represents the most threatening consequence of Viperidae envenoming, notably withBothrops genus. In the French departments of America,B.atrox envenomation in French Guiana may lead to bleeding whileB.lanceolatus envenomation in Martinique to thrombosis. Bleeding related toB.atrox envenomation is attributed to vascular damage mediated by venom metalloproteinases and blood uncoagulable state resulting from thrombocytopenia and con...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: S ébastien Larréché Source Type: research
Epetraborole, a leucyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitor, demonstrates murine efficacy, enhancing the < i > in vivo < /i > activity of ceftazidime against < i > Burkholderia pseudomallei < /i > , the causative agent of melioidosis
by Jason E. Cummings, Christopher S. Lunde, M. R. K. Alley, Richard A. SlaydenBurkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, which is increasingly being reported worldwide. Mortality rates as high as 40% have been reported based on clinical patient outcomes in the endemic areas of Australia and Thailand. Novel therapies are needed to reduce treatment duration and adverse effects and improve treatment outcomes. Epetraborole, a novel antibiotic, targets leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS), an essential enzyme that catalyzes the attachment of leucine to transfer RNA. Epetraborole was evaluated forin vitro activit...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jason E. Cummings Source Type: research
Impact of a small-scale tsetse fly control operation with deltamethrin impregnated “Tiny Targets” on tsetse density and trypanosomes’ circulation in the Campo sleeping sickness focus of South Cameroon
by Tito Tresor Melachio Tanekou, Calmes Ursain Bouaka Tsakeng, Inaki Tirados, Alphonse Acho, Jude Bigoga, Charles Sinclair Wondji, Flobert Njiokou
BackgroundSignificant progress has been made towards African sleeping sickness elimination in the last decade. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) global goal of eliminating the chronic form of the disease as a public health problem was achieved in 2020 (i.e., (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Tito Tresor Melachio Tanekou Source Type: research
The economic burden of Chagas disease: A systematic review
The objective of this study was to assess the main costs associated with the treatment of CD in both endemic and non-endemic countries. MethodsAn electronic search of the Medline, Lilacs, and Embase databases was conducted until 31st, 2022, to identify and select economic studies that evaluated treatment costs of CD. No restrictions on place or language were made. Complete or partial economic analyses were included. ResultsFifteen studies were included, with two-thirds referring to endemic countries. The most commonly investigated cost components were inpatient care, exams, surgeries, consultation, drugs, and pacemakers. H...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 22, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: M ônica Viegas Andrade Source Type: research
The impact of vaccine-linked chemotherapy on liver health in a mouse model of chronic < i > Trypanosoma cruzi < /i > infection
ConclusionsThese data confirm toxicity associated with curative doses of BNZ and suggest that while dose sparing low BNZ plus vaccine treatment does not reduce parasite burdens, it better preserves liver health. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 21, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Duc Minh Nguyen Source Type: research
Health professionals ’ knowledge on dengue and health facility preparedness for case detection: A cross-sectional study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
by Ummul-khair Mustafa, Elingarami Sauli, Johanna Brinkel, Katharina Sophia Kreppel
Dengue presents a growing public health concern in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania, marked by the recurring incidence of outbreaks. Unfortunately, there is little information available on the region ’s preparedness in terms of health care workers’ knowledge on dengue as well as the availability of reagents and equipment essential for diagnosing and monitoring of dengue infections. To elucidate this, 78 health facilities were visited in Temeke district and structured questionnaires were dist ributed to 324 health care workers. The ...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - November 21, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Ummul-khair Mustafa Source Type: research
