The elimination of human African trypanosomiasis: Monitoring progress towards the 2021 –2030 WHO road map targets
by Jose R. Franco, Gerardo Priotto, Massimo Paone, Giuliano Cecchi, Agustin Kadima Ebeja, Pere P. Simarro, Dieudonne Sankara, Samia B. A. Metwally, Daniel Dagne Argaw
BackgroundHuman African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease that usually occurs in rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa. It caused devastating epidemics during the 20th century. Sustained, coordinated efforts by different stakeholders working with national sleeping sickness control programmes (NSSCPs) succeeded in controlling the disease and reducing the number of cases to historically low levels. In 2012, WHO targeted the elimination of the di...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 16, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jose R. Franco Source Type: research
Effect of fasting plasma glucose level in severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome patients without diabetes
This study assessed the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and in-hospital mortality, disease type, and secondary infections among individuals with SFTS without preexisting diabetes. The clinical data and laboratory results upon admission of 560 patients with SFTS without preexisting diabetes meeting the inclusion criteria at Wuhan Union Hospital were collected. FPG levels in surviving patients with SFTS subjects were significantly lower than those in patients with SFTS who had died (P (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 16, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jun Pan Source Type: research
Local amphotericin B therapy for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A systematic review
ConclusionsDifferent AmB formulations and administration routes have been explored in preclinical and clinical studies. Developing therapeutic technologies is evident. Current findings might be interpreted as a favorable proof of concept for the local AmB administration which makes this intervention eligible to be explored in future well-designed studies towards less toxic treatments for leishmaniasis. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 16, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: L índicy Leidicy Alves Source Type: research
Extant interspecific hybridization among trematodes within the < i > Schistosoma haematobium < /i > species complex in Nigeria
by Oluwaremilekun G. Ajakaye, Elisha E. Enabulele, Joshua B. Balogun, Oyetunde T. Oyeyemi, Michael E. Grigg
BackgroundNatural interspecific hybridization between the human parasite (Schistosoma haematobium [Sh]) and bovine parasites (Schistosoma bovis [Sb],Schistosoma curassoni [Sc]) is increasingly reported in Africa. We developed a multi-locus PCR DNA-Seq strategy that amplifies two unlinked nuclear (transITS,BF) and two linked organellar genome markers (CO1,ND5) to genotypeS.haematobium eggs collected from infected people in Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo, Ondo State (an agrarian community) and Kachi, Jigawa State (a pastoral commu...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 15, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Oluwaremilekun G. Ajakaye Source Type: research
Endemic status of urogenital schistosomiasis and the efficacy of a single-dose praziquantel treatment in unmapped rural farming communities in Oyo East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
ConclusionUrogenital schistosomiasis was hyperendemic in the Ajagba community, and hypoendemic in the Awosan community. The presence ofBulinus globosus supported the transmission of the schistosomiasis in the Ajagba community. Communities where schistosomiasis is still actively transmitted in Nigeria should be identified for effective intervention through the MDA programs. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 15, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Alexander B. Odaibo Source Type: research
< i > Ginkgo biloba < /i > attenuated detrimental inflammatory and oxidative events due to < i > Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense < /i > in mice treated with melarsoprol
ConclusionUtilization of GB as an adjuvant therapy may ameliorate detrimental effects caused by T.b.r infection and MelB toxicity during late stage HAT. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 15, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Janet Khatenje Wendo Source Type: research
Helminth exposure and immune response to the two-dose heterologous Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen
In this study, we aimed to assess the association between helminth exposure to the most prevalent parasitic infections, schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminths infection and filariasis, and the Ebola virus glycoprotein (EBOV GP) antibody concentration in response to vaccination with the Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen in African and European participants using samples obtained from three international clinical trials. Methods/Principal findingsWe conducted a study in a subset of participants in the EBL2001, EBL2002 and EBL3001 clinical trials that evaluated the Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen against EV...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 11, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Houreratou Barry Source Type: research
Urgent administration of antivenom following proven krait bites in Southeast Asia irrespective of neurotoxic symptoms
by Joerg Blessmann, Benno Kreuels (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 11, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Joerg Blessmann Source Type: research
Diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth infections with digital mobile microscopy and artificial intelligence in a resource-limited setting
Conclusions/SignificanceAnalysis of digitally scanned stool samples with the DLS provided high diagnostic accuracy for detection of STHs. Importantly, a substantial number of light intensity infections were missed by manual microscopy but detected by the DLS. Thus, analysis of WSIs with image-based AI may provide a future tool for improved detection of STHs in a primary healthcare setting, which in turn could facilitate monitoring and evaluation of control programs. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 11, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Johan Lundin Source Type: research
Diagnostic accuracy of DPP Fever Panel II Asia tests for tropical fever diagnosis
Conclusions/SignificanceThese results demonstrate that the diagnostic accuracy of the DPP Fever Panel II is comparable to that of commonly used RDTs. The optimal cut-off would depend on the use of the test and the desired sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are required to authenticate the use of these cut-offs in other endemic regions. This multiplex RDT offers diagnostic benefits in areas with limited access to healthcare and has the potential to improve field testing capacities. This could improve tropical fever management and reduce the public health burden in endemic low-resource areas. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 10, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Sandhya Dhawan Source Type: research
Severe leptospirosis in tropical and non-tropical areas: A comparison of two french, multicentre, retrospective cohorts
by J érôme Allyn, Arnaud-Félix Miailhe, Benjamin Delmas, Lucas Marti, Nicolas Allou, Julien Jabot, Jean Reignier
BackgroundLeptospirosis is an anthropozoonosis that occurs worldwide but is more common in tropical regions. Severe forms may require intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Whether the clinical patterns and outcomes differ between tropical and non-tropical regions with similar healthcare systems is unclear. Our objective here was to address this issue by comparing two cohorts of ICU patients with leptospirosis managed in mainland France and in the overseas French department of R éunion, respectively. Methodolo...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 10, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: J érôme Allyn Source Type: research
Comparison of two approaches to measuring clean faces as part of the facial cleanliness component of the SAFE trachoma elimination strategy
This study compared two possible metrics for facial cleanliness. Method/FindingsMetric one: Clean face was defined as observed absence of ocular and nasal discharge on the face. Metric two: observing a grade of dirtiness (scale 10 = lightest to 0 = darkest) on a standard facial wipe. The reliability of grading a child ’s face or grading a facial wipe was determined in children in Kongwa Tanzania. We also observed both measurements in a cohort of 202 children ages 1 to (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 10, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Sheila K. West Source Type: research
Assessing and managing the risk of < i > Aedes < /i > mosquito introductions via the global maritime trade network
by Janna R. Willoughby, Benjamin A. McKenzie, Jordan Ahn, Todd D. Steury, Christopher A. Lepzcyk, Sarah Zohdy
The global shipping network (GSN) has been suggested as a pathway for the establishment and reintroduction ofAedes aegypti andAedes albopictus primarily via the tire trade. We used historical maritime movement data in combination with an agent-based model to understand invasion risk in the United States Gulf Coast and how the risk of these invasions could be reduced. We found a strong correlation between the total number of cargo ship arrivals at each port and likelihood of arrival by bothAe.aegypti andAe.albopict...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 10, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Janna R. Willoughby Source Type: research
Transcriptional signatures in human macrophage-like cells infected by < i > Leishmania infantum < /i > , < i > Leishmania major < /i > and < i > Leishmania tropica < /i >
by Aurora Diotallevi, Federica Bruno, Germano Castelli, Giuseppe Persico, Gloria Buffi, Marcello Ceccarelli, Daniela Ligi, Ferdinando Mannello, Fabrizio Vitale, Mauro Magnani, Luca Galluzzi
BackgroundIn the Mediterranean basin, threeLeishmania species have been identified:L.infantum,L.major andL.tropica, causing zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL), zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and anthroponotic CL, respectively. Despite animal models and genomic/transcriptomic studies provided important insights, the pathogenic determinants modulating the development of VL and CL are still poorly understood. This work aimed to id...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 5, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Aurora Diotallevi Source Type: research
Protoplast-mediated transformation of < i > Madurella mycetomatis < /i > using hygromycin resistance as a selection marker
by Saskia du Pr é, Mickey Konings, Dorenda J. A. Schoorl, Ahmed H. Fahal, Mark Arentshorst, Arthur F. J. Ram, Wendy W. J. van de SandeMadurella mycetomatis is the main cause of mycetoma, a chronic granulomatous infection for which currently no adequate therapy is available. To improve therapy, more knowledge on a molecular level is required to understand howM.mycetomatis is able to cause this disease. However, the genetic toolbox forM.mycetomatis is limited. To date, no method is available to genetically modifyM.mycetomatis. In this paper, a protoplast-mediated transformation protocol was successfully developed for this f...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 5, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Saskia du Pr é Source Type: research
