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Editor’s Choice Articles

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

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16 pages, 922 KiB  
Review
The State of the HIV Epidemic in the Philippines: Progress and Challenges in 2023
by Louie Mar A. Gangcuangco and Patrick C. Eustaquio
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(5), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8050258 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 114262
Abstract
In the past decade, the Philippines has gained notoriety as the country with the fastest-growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the Western Pacific region. While the overall trends of HIV incidence and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths are declining globally, an increase [...] Read more.
In the past decade, the Philippines has gained notoriety as the country with the fastest-growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the Western Pacific region. While the overall trends of HIV incidence and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths are declining globally, an increase in new cases was reported to the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines. From 2012 to 2023, there was a 411% increase in daily incidence. Late presentation in care remains a concern, with 29% of new confirmed HIV cases in January 2023 having clinical manifestations of advanced HIV disease at the time of diagnosis. Men having sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected. Various steps have been taken to address the HIV epidemic in the country. The Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11166) expanded access to HIV testing and treatment. HIV testing now allows for the screening of minors 15–17 years old without parental consent. Community-based organizations have been instrumental in expanding HIV screening to include self-testing and community-based screening. The Philippines moved from centralized HIV diagnosis confirmation by Western blot to a decentralized rapid HIV diagnostic algorithm (rHIVda). Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy is now the first line. Pre-exposure prophylaxis in the form of emtricitabine–tenofovir disoproxil fumarate has been rolled out. The number of treatment hubs and primary HIV care facilities continues to increase. Despite these efforts, barriers to ending the HIV epidemic remain, including continued stigma, limited harm reduction services for people who inject drugs, sociocultural factors, and political deterrents. HIV RNA quantification and drug resistance testing are not routinely performed due to associated costs. The high burden of tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus co-infection complicate HIV management. CRF_01AE is now the predominant subtype, which has been associated with poorer clinical outcomes and faster CD4 T-cell decline. The HIV epidemic in the Philippines requires a multisectoral approach and calls for sustained political commitment, community involvement, and continued collaboration among various stakeholders. In this article, we outline the current progress and challenges in curbing the HIV epidemic in the Philippines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HIV Transmission and Control)
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17 pages, 531 KiB  
Systematic Review
Coinfection with Strongyloides and SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review
by Elena C. Rosca, Carl Heneghan, Elizabeth A. Spencer, Annette Plüddemann, Susanna Maltoni, Sara Gandini, Igho J. Onakpoya, David Evans, John M. Conly and Tom Jefferson
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(5), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8050248 - 25 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3418
Abstract
Background: Treatments for COVID-19, including steroids, might exacerbate Strongyloides disease in patients with coinfection. We aimed to systematically review clinical and laboratory features of SARS-CoV-2 and Strongyloides coinfection, investigate possible interventions, assess outcomes, and identify research gaps requiring further attention. Methods: We searched [...] Read more.
Background: Treatments for COVID-19, including steroids, might exacerbate Strongyloides disease in patients with coinfection. We aimed to systematically review clinical and laboratory features of SARS-CoV-2 and Strongyloides coinfection, investigate possible interventions, assess outcomes, and identify research gaps requiring further attention. Methods: We searched two electronic databases, LitCOVID and WHO, up to August 2022, including SARS-CoV-2 and Strongyloides coinfection studies. We adapted the World Health Organization—Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) system for standardized case causality assessment to evaluate if using corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs in COVID-19 patients determined acute manifestations of strongyloidiasis. Results: We included 16 studies reporting 25 cases of Strongyloides and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection: 4 with hyperinfection syndrome; 2 with disseminated strongyloidiasis; 3 with cutaneous reactivation of strongyloidiasis; 3 with isolated digestive symptoms; and 2 with solely eosinophilia, without clinical manifestations. Eleven patients were asymptomatic regarding strongyloidiasis. Eosinopenia or normal eosinophil count was reported in 58.3% of patients with Strongyloides reactivation. Steroids were given to 18/21 (85.7%) cases. A total of 4 patients (19.1%) received tocilizumab and/or Anakirna in addition to steroids. Moreover, 2 patients (9.5%) did not receive any COVID-19 treatment. The causal relationship between Strongyloides reactivation and COVID-19 treatments was considered certain (4% of cases), probable (20% of patients), and possible (20% of patients). For 8% of cases, it was considered unlikely that COVID-19 treatment was associated with strongyloidiasis reactivations; the relationship between the Strongyloides infection and administration of COVID-19 treatment was unassessable/unclassifiable in 48% of cases. Of 13 assessable cases, 11 (84.6%) were considered to be causally associated with Strongyloides, ranging from certain to possible. Conclusions: Further research is needed to assess the frequency and risk of Strongyloides reactivation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our limited data using causality assessment supports recommendations that clinicians should screen and treat for Strongyloides infection in patients with coinfection who receive immunosuppressive COVID-19 therapies. In addition, the male gender and older age (over 50 years) may be predisposing factors for Strongyloides reactivation. Standardized guidelines should be developed for reporting future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases)
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21 pages, 2978 KiB  
Review
Dengue as a Disease Threatening Global Health: A Narrative Review Focusing on Latin America and Brazil
by Carlos Letacio Silveira Lessa, Katharine Valéria Saraiva Hodel, Marilda de Souza Gonçalves and Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(5), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8050241 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 14219
Abstract
Arboviruses constitute the largest known group of viruses. These viruses are the etiological agents of pathologies known as arboviruses, with dengue being one of the most prevalent. Dengue has resulted in important socioeconomic burdens placed on different countries around the world, including those [...] Read more.
Arboviruses constitute the largest known group of viruses. These viruses are the etiological agents of pathologies known as arboviruses, with dengue being one of the most prevalent. Dengue has resulted in important socioeconomic burdens placed on different countries around the world, including those in Latin America, especially Brazil. Thus, this work intends to carry out a narrative-based review of the literature, conducted using a study of the secondary data developed through a survey of scientific literature databases, and to present the situation of dengue, particularly its distribution in these localities. Our findings from the literature demonstrate the difficulties that managers face in controlling the spread of and planning a response against dengue, pointing to the high cost of the disease for public coffers, rendering the resources that are already limited even scarcer. This can be associated with the different factors that affect the spread of the disease, including ecological, environmental, and social factors. Thus, in order to combat the disease, it is expected that targeted and properly coordinated public policies need to be adopted not only in specific localities, but also globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Topics in Arbovirus Vectors)
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14 pages, 3125 KiB  
Article
Chagas Disease Maternal Seroprevalence and Maternal–Fetal Health Outcomes in a Parturition Cohort in Western El Salvador
by Mary K. Lynn, Marvin Stanley Rodriguez Aquino, Pamela Michelle Cornejo Rivas, Mufaro Kanyangarara, Stella C. W. Self, Berry A. Campbell and Melissa S. Nolan
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040233 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3043
Abstract
Congenital Chagas disease is a growing concern, prioritized by the World Health Organization for public health action. El Salvador is home to some of the highest Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) burdens in the Americas, yet pregnancy screening remains neglected. This pilot [...] Read more.
Congenital Chagas disease is a growing concern, prioritized by the World Health Organization for public health action. El Salvador is home to some of the highest Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) burdens in the Americas, yet pregnancy screening remains neglected. This pilot investigation performed a maternal T. cruzi surveillance study in Western El Salvador among women presenting for labor and delivery. From 198 consented and enrolled pregnant women, 6% were T. cruzi positive by serology or molecular diagnosis. Half of the infants born to T. cruzi-positive women were admitted to the NICU for neonatal complications. Geospatial statistical clustering of cases was noted in the municipality of Jujutla. Older women and those knowing an infected relative or close friend were significantly more likely to test positive for T. cruzi infection at the time of parturition. In closing, maternal T. cruzi infections were significantly higher than national HIV or syphilis maternal rates, creating an urgent need to add T. cruzi to mandatory pregnancy screening programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chagas Disease Control)
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24 pages, 314 KiB  
Article
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of the General Population toward the Old-New Outbreak of Cholera in a Developing Country
by Marwan Akel, Fouad Sakr, Chadia Haddad, Aline Hajj, Hala Sacre, Rony M. Zeenny, Jihan Safwan and Pascale Salameh
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040236 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5155
Abstract
Background: In October 2022, the first case of cholera since 1993 was recorded in Lebanon. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward cholera infection and its prevention among the general population in [...] Read more.
Background: In October 2022, the first case of cholera since 1993 was recorded in Lebanon. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward cholera infection and its prevention among the general population in Lebanon and identify the associated factors related to the KAP assessment to guide prevention and awareness strategies. The nation’s already precarious healthcare system might become overwhelmed by the response to the cholera outbreak. Therefore, evaluating the level of cholera-related KAP among the Lebanese population is crucial since it directly affects the disease’s treatment, control, and prevention. Methods: This online cross-sectional study was carried out between October and November 2022 during the cholera outbreak in Lebanon. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 448 adults living in Lebanon. Results: The suggested KAP scales had adequate structural and convergent validity and were internally consistent. The disease knowledge was inversely associated with the reluctance to receive educational information (β = −1.58) and cigarette smoking (β = −1.31) but positively associated with the female gender (β = 1.74) and awareness of vaccine availability and efficacy (β = 1.34). For attitude, healthcare professionals were less frightened than others (β = 2.69). Better practices were related to better knowledge (β = 0.43), while inadequate practices were associated with getting information from social media (β = −2.47). Conclusions: This study could identify notable gaps in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices, which varied according to participant characteristics. Cholera incidence can be reduced by improved community education and training, increased access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene amenities, and changes in behavior. These findings warrant additional actions by public health stakeholders and governmental authorities to promote better practices and curb disease transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surveillance and Control of Foodborne and Waterborne Infections)
16 pages, 1938 KiB  
Systematic Review
Trends in ELISA-Based Flavivirus IgG Serosurveys: A Systematic Review
by Fatima Ericka S. Vista, Ourlad Alzeus G. Tantengco, Micah D. Dispo, Danna Mae S. Opiso, Christian Luke D. C. Badua, John Patrick Z. Gerardo, Juan Raphael M. Perez, Karol Ann T. Baldo, Day-Yu Chao and Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040224 - 13 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3320
Abstract
Flaviviruses include virus species that are major public health threats worldwide. To determine the immunity landscape of these viruses, seroprevalence studies are often performed using IgG ELISA, which is a simple and rapid alternative to the virus neutralization test. In this review, we [...] Read more.
Flaviviruses include virus species that are major public health threats worldwide. To determine the immunity landscape of these viruses, seroprevalence studies are often performed using IgG ELISA, which is a simple and rapid alternative to the virus neutralization test. In this review, we aim to describe the trends in flavivirus IgG ELISA-based serosurveys. A systematic literature review using six databases was performed to collate cohort and cross-sectional studies performed on the general population. A total of 204 studies were included in this review. The results show that most studies were performed on dengue virus (DENV), whereas Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) was the least studied. For geographic distribution, serosurveys followed known disease prevalence. Temporally, the number of serosurveys increased after outbreaks and epidemics except for JEV, for which studies were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. Commercial kits were more commonly used than in-house assays for DENV, West Nile Virus (WNV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). Overall, most studies employed an indirect ELISA format, and the choice of antigens varied per virus. This review shows that flavivirus epidemiology is related to the regional and temporal distribution of serosurveys. It also highlights that endemicity, cross-reactivities, and kit availabilities affect assay choice in serosurveys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases)
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10 pages, 1039 KiB  
Article
A Spatial Autocorrelation Method for Taenia solium Risk Mapping: The Case of Lao PDR
by Andrew Larkins, Mieghan Bruce and Amanda Ash
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040221 - 10 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2527
Abstract
Background: The World Health Organization has identified Taenia solium mapping tools as an important development for intensifying control in hyperendemic areas. Taenia solium has also been identified as a priority by the Lao PDR government. There is a limited understanding of the distribution [...] Read more.
Background: The World Health Organization has identified Taenia solium mapping tools as an important development for intensifying control in hyperendemic areas. Taenia solium has also been identified as a priority by the Lao PDR government. There is a limited understanding of the distribution of T. solium due to inherent diagnostic challenges. Method: Global and local autocorrelation statistics were applied to available risk factor data sourced from national censuses to map the risk of Taenia solium in Lao PDR. Results: Approximately 50% of villages could be considered hot spots for one or more risk factors. Different risk factor hot spots co-occurred in 30% of villages. Twenty per cent of villages were classified as hot spots for the proportion of households owning pigs and another risk factor. Northern Lao PDR was the dominant high-risk area. This is consistent with passive reports, limited surveys, and anecdotal reports. One smaller area in southern Lao PDR was also identified as high-risk. This is of particular interest because T. solium has not previously been investigated in this area. Conclusions: The methods applied provide a simple, rapid, and versatile approach that allows endemic countries to begin mapping the risk of T. solium at a sub-national level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Neglected and Emerging Tropical Diseases)
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12 pages, 2101 KiB  
Article
Evaluating COVID-19-Related Disruptions to Effective Malaria Case Management in 2020–2021 and Its Potential Effects on Malaria Burden in Sub-Saharan Africa
by Paulina A. Dzianach, Susan F. Rumisha, Jailos Lubinda, Adam Saddler, Mauricio van den Berg, Yalemzewod A. Gelaw, Joseph R. Harris, Annie J. Browne, Francesca Sanna, Jennifer A. Rozier, Beatriz Galatas, Laura F. Anderson, Camilo A. Vargas-Ruiz, Ewan Cameron, Peter W. Gething and Daniel J. Weiss
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040216 - 4 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2480
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to far-reaching disruptions to health systems, including preventative and curative services for malaria. The aim of this study was to estimate the magnitude of disruptions in malaria case management in sub-Saharan Africa and their impact on malaria burden [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to far-reaching disruptions to health systems, including preventative and curative services for malaria. The aim of this study was to estimate the magnitude of disruptions in malaria case management in sub-Saharan Africa and their impact on malaria burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used survey data collected by the World Health Organization, in which individual country stakeholders reported on the extent of disruptions to malaria diagnosis and treatment. The relative disruption values were then applied to estimates of antimalarial treatment rates and used as inputs to an established spatiotemporal Bayesian geostatistical framework to generate annual malaria burden estimates with case management disruptions. This enabled an estimation of the additional malaria burden attributable to pandemic-related impacts on treatment rates in 2020 and 2021. Our analysis found that disruptions in access to antimalarial treatment in sub-Saharan Africa likely resulted in approximately 5.9 (4.4–7.2 95% CI) million more malaria cases and 76 (20–132) thousand additional deaths in the 2020–2021 period within the study region, equivalent to approximately 1.2% (0.3–2.1 95% CI) greater clinical incidence of malaria and 8.1% (2.1–14.1 95% CI) greater malaria mortality than expected in the absence of the disruptions to malaria case management. The available evidence suggests that access to antimalarials was disrupted to a significant degree and should be considered an area of focus to avoid further escalations in malaria morbidity and mortality. The results from this analysis were used to estimate cases and deaths in the World Malaria Report 2022 during the pandemic years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing the Power of Data and Technology to Improve Infectious Disease Control)
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16 pages, 3303 KiB  
Article
Clinical Diagnosis of Chikungunya Infection: An Essential Aid in a Primary Care Setting Where Serological Confirmation Is Not Available
by Juan C. Rueda, Ingris Peláez-Ballestas, Jose-Ignacio Angarita, Ana M. Santos, Carlos Pinzon, Eugenia-Lucia Saldarriaga, Jorge M. Rueda, Elias Forero, Diego L. Saaibi, Paula X. Pavía, Marta Juliana Mantilla, Gustavo Rodríguez-Salas, Juan Camilo Santacruz, Igor Rueda, Mario H. Cardiel and John Londono
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040213 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3936
Abstract
Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) diagnosis has become a challenge for primary care physicians in areas where the Zika virus and/or Dengue virus are present. Case definitions for the three arboviral infections overlap. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out. A bivariate analysis was [...] Read more.
Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) diagnosis has become a challenge for primary care physicians in areas where the Zika virus and/or Dengue virus are present. Case definitions for the three arboviral infections overlap. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out. A bivariate analysis was made using confirmed CHIKV infection as the outcome. Variables with significant statistical association were included in an agreement consensus. Agreed variables were analyzed in a multiple regression model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to determine a cut-off value and performance. Results: 295 patients with confirmed CHIKV infection were included. A screening tool was created using symmetric arthritis (4 points), fatigue (3 points), rash (2 points), and ankle joint pain (1 point). The ROC curve identified a cut-off value, and a score ≥ 5.5 was considered positive for identifying CHIKV patients with a sensibility of 64.4% and a specificity of 87.4%, positive predictive value of 85.5%, negative predictive value of 67.7%, area under the curve of 0.72, and an accuracy of 75%. Conclusion: We developed a screening tool for CHIKV diagnosis using only clinical symptoms as well as proposed an algorithm to aid the primary care physician. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Response Strategies for Emerging Infectious Diseases)
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13 pages, 277 KiB  
Article
Scaling Up TB Screening and TB Preventive Treatment Globally: Key Actions and Healthcare Service Costs
by Srinath Satyanarayana, Carel Pretorius, Avinash Kanchar, Ines Garcia Baena, Saskia Den Boon, Cecily Miller, Matteo Zignol, Tereza Kasaeva and Dennis Falzon
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040214 - 1 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3173
Abstract
The 2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (UNHLM) set targets for case detection and TB preventive treatment (TPT) by 2022. However, by the start of 2022, about 13.7 million TB patients still needed to be detected and treated, and 21.8 million household [...] Read more.
The 2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (UNHLM) set targets for case detection and TB preventive treatment (TPT) by 2022. However, by the start of 2022, about 13.7 million TB patients still needed to be detected and treated, and 21.8 million household contacts needed to be given TPT globally. To inform future target setting, we examined how the 2018 UNHLM targets could have been achieved using WHO-recommended interventions for TB detection and TPT in 33 high-TB burden countries in the final year of the period covered by the UNHLM targets. We used OneHealth-TIME model outputs combined with the unit cost of interventions to derive the total costs of health services. Our model estimated that, in order to achieve UNHLM targets, >45 million people attending health facilities with symptoms would have needed to be evaluated for TB. An additional 23.1 million people with HIV, 19.4 million household TB contacts, and 303 million individuals from high-risk groups would have required systematic screening for TB. The estimated total costs amounted to ~USD 6.7 billion, of which ~15% was required for passive case finding, ~10% for screening people with HIV, ~4% for screening household contacts, ~65% for screening other risk groups, and ~6% for providing TPT to household contacts. Significant mobilization of additional domestic and international investments in TB healthcare services will be needed to reach such targets in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ending Tuberculosis Epidemic: Current Status and Future Prospects)
12 pages, 1084 KiB  
Article
Behavior of Adult Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Kinshasa, DRC, and the Implications for Control
by Emile Zola Manzambi, Guillaume Binene Mbuka, Gillon Ilombe, Richard Mundeke Takasongo, Francis Wat’senga Tezzo, Maria del Carmen Marquetti, Emery Metelo, Veerle Vanlerberghe and Wim Van Bortel
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040207 - 30 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3296
Abstract
Yellow fever and chikungunya outbreaks—and a few dengue cases—have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in recent years. However, little is known about the ecology and behavior of the adult disease vector species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, [...] Read more.
Yellow fever and chikungunya outbreaks—and a few dengue cases—have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in recent years. However, little is known about the ecology and behavior of the adult disease vector species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, in DRC. Preliminary studies showed important differences in Aedes behavior in DRC and Latin-American sites. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the host-seeking and resting behaviors of female Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, and their densities in four communes of Kinshasa (Kalamu, Lingwala, Mont Ngafula and Ndjili). Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out, one in the dry season (July 2019) and one in the rainy season (February 2020). We used three different adult vector collection methods: BG-Sentinel 2, BG-GAT, and prokopack. Both Aedes species were clearly exophagic, exophilic, and sought breeding sites outdoors. The adult house index for Ae. aegypti exceeded 55% in all communes except Lingwala, where it was only 27%. The Adult Breteau Index (ABI) for Ae. aegypti was 190.77 mosquitoes per 100 houses inspected in the rainy season and 6.03 in the dry season. For Ae. albopictus, the ABI was 11.79 and 3.52 in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Aedes aegypti showed unimodal host-seeking activity between 6 h and 21 h. The exophagic and exophilic behaviors of both species point to the need to target adult mosquitoes outdoors when implementing vector control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Topics in Arbovirus Vectors)
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6 pages, 216 KiB  
Opinion
Community-Led Data Collection: Enhancing Local-Level Scabies Surveillance in Remote Aboriginal Communities in Australia
by Miriam Glennie, Michelle Dowden, Meg Scolyer, Irene O’Meara, Geoffrey Angeles, Hannah Woerle, Patricia T. Campbell and Karen Gardner
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040200 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2137
Abstract
Novel approaches to geohealth data analysis offer major benefits to neglected tropical disease control by identifying how social, economic and environmental elements of place interact to influence disease outcomes. However, a lack of timely and accurate geohealth data poses substantial risks to the [...] Read more.
Novel approaches to geohealth data analysis offer major benefits to neglected tropical disease control by identifying how social, economic and environmental elements of place interact to influence disease outcomes. However, a lack of timely and accurate geohealth data poses substantial risks to the accuracy of risk identification and challenges to the development of suitably targeted disease control programs. Scabies is one of many skin-related NTDs that is nominated as a priority for global disease control by the World Health Organization, but for which there remains a lack of baseline geospatial data on disease distribution. In this opinion paper, we consider lessons on impediments to geohealth data availability for other skin-related NTDs before outlining challenges specific to the collection of scabies-related geohealth data. We illustrate the importance of a community-centred approach in this context using a recent initiative to develop a community-led model of scabies surveillance in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Health (GeoHealth): Current Trends, Methods, and Applications)
23 pages, 1831 KiB  
Review
Ecological Niche Modelling Approaches: Challenges and Applications in Vector-Borne Diseases
by Pablo Fernando Cuervo, Patricio Artigas, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, María Dolores Bargues and Santiago Mas-Coma
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040187 - 25 Mar 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4048
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose a major threat to human and animal health, with more than 80% of the global population being at risk of acquiring at least one major VBD. Being profoundly affected by the ongoing climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, modelling approaches [...] Read more.
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose a major threat to human and animal health, with more than 80% of the global population being at risk of acquiring at least one major VBD. Being profoundly affected by the ongoing climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, modelling approaches become an essential tool to assess and compare multiple scenarios (past, present and future), and further the geographic risk of transmission of VBDs. Ecological niche modelling (ENM) is rapidly becoming the gold-standard method for this task. The purpose of this overview is to provide an insight of the use of ENM to assess the geographic risk of transmission of VBDs. We have summarised some fundamental concepts and common approaches to ENM of VBDS, and then focused with a critical view on a number of crucial issues which are often disregarded when modelling the niches of VBDs. Furthermore, we have briefly presented what we consider the most relevant uses of ENM when dealing with VBDs. Niche modelling of VBDs is far from being simple, and there is still a long way to improve. Therefore, this overview is expected to be a useful benchmark for niche modelling of VBDs in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Vector-Borne Diseases: Celebrating the First Impact Factor of TMID and in Memory of Sir Patrick Manson (1844-1922))
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25 pages, 2236 KiB  
Systematic Review
Reactive Case Detection Strategy for Malaria Control and Elimination: A 12 Year Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis from 25 Malaria-Endemic Countries
by Ebenezer Krampah Aidoo, Frank Twum Aboagye, Felix Abekah Botchway, George Osei-Adjei, Michael Appiah, Ruth Duku-Takyi, Samuel Asamoah Sakyi, Linda Amoah, Kingsley Badu, Richard Harry Asmah, Bernard Walter Lawson and Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(3), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030180 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3725
Abstract
Reactive case detection (RACD) is the screening of household members and neighbors of index cases reported in passive surveillance. This strategy seeks asymptomatic infections and provides treatment to break transmission without testing or treating the entire population. This review discusses and highlights RACD [...] Read more.
Reactive case detection (RACD) is the screening of household members and neighbors of index cases reported in passive surveillance. This strategy seeks asymptomatic infections and provides treatment to break transmission without testing or treating the entire population. This review discusses and highlights RACD as a recommended strategy for the detection and elimination of asymptomatic malaria as it pertains in different countries. Relevant studies published between January 2010 and September 2022 were identified mainly through PubMed and Google Scholar. Search terms included “malaria and reactive case detection”, “contact tracing”, “focal screening”, “case investigation”, “focal screen and treat”. MedCalc Software was used for data analysis, and the findings from the pooled studies were analyzed using a fixed-effect model. Summary outcomes were then presented using forest plots and tables. Fifty-four (54) studies were systematically reviewed. Of these studies, 7 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in individuals living with an index case < 5 years old, 13 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in an index case household member compared with a neighbor of an index case, and 29 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in individuals living with index cases, and were included in the meta-analysis. Individuals living in index case households with an average risk of 2.576 (2.540–2.612) were more at risk of malaria infection and showed pooled results of high variation heterogeneity chi-square = 235.600, (p < 0.0001) I2 = 98.88 [97.87–99.89]. The pooled results showed that neighbors of index cases were 0.352 [0.301–0.412] times more likely to have a malaria infection relative to index case household members, and this result was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The identification and treatment of infectious reservoirs is critical to successful malaria elimination. Evidence to support the clustering of infections in neighborhoods, which necessitates the inclusion of neighboring households as part of the RACD strategy, was presented in this review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Malaria Treatment and Prevention)
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7 pages, 274 KiB  
Opinion
Human Schistosomiasis Vaccines as Next Generation Control Tools
by Peter J. Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(3), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030170 - 14 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5068
Abstract
Human schistosomiasis remains one of the most important yet neglected tropical diseases, with the latest estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study indicating that over 140 million people are infected with schistosomes [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Schistosomiasis in Endemic Countries and in Travelers—Two Sides of the Same Coin)
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8 pages, 489 KiB  
Brief Report
The Impact of COVID-19 on Tuberculosis Program Performance in the Kingdom of Lesotho
by Afom T. Andom, Donald Fejfar, Courtney M. Yuen, Melino Ndayizigiye, Jean Claude Mugunga and Joia S. Mukherjee
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(3), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030165 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2165
Abstract
Background: As tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease requiring multi-month therapy, systems of TB detection and care were profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The worsening economic situation, including income, food, and housing insecurity, impacted the social conditions in which TB—already a leading [...] Read more.
Background: As tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease requiring multi-month therapy, systems of TB detection and care were profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The worsening economic situation, including income, food, and housing insecurity, impacted the social conditions in which TB—already a leading killer in resource-limited settings—thrives. This study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on TB detection and treatment in Lesotho. Methods: We used routine program data from 78 health facilities in Lesotho. We created time series models from July 2018 to March 2021 to quantify COVID-19-related disruptions to TB program indicators: outpatient visits; presumptive, diagnosed, treated, and HIV co-infected cases; and treatment outcomes including successful (cured and completed) and unsuccessful (death and treatment outcome unknown). Results: We observed a significant decline in cumulative outpatient visits (−37.4%, 95% prediction interval [PI]: −40.1%, −28.7%) and new TB cases diagnosed (−38.7%, 95%PI: −47.2%, −28.4%) during the pandemic, as well as TB-HIV co-infections (−67.0%, 95%PI: −72.6%, −60.0%). However, we observed no difference in treatment success (−2.1%, 95%PI: −17.0%, 15.8%). Conclusions: TB case detection in Lesotho fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely related to the uptake of overall health services. However, treatment success rates did not change, indicating a strong health system and the success of local strategies to maintain treatment programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Infectious Diseases)
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11 pages, 1849 KiB  
Review
Treatment of Animal Tungiasis: What’s New?
by Katharine Costa dos Santos, Paula Elisa Brandão Guedes, Jamille Bispo de Carvalho Teixeira, Tatiani Vitor Harvey and Renata Santiago Alberto Carlos
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(3), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030142 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5525
Abstract
In tropical and subtropical countries, particularly in disadvantaged communities, tungiasis is a severe public health problem, which is often neglected by the authorities. The sand fleas Tunga penetrans, predominant in endemic areas, and Tunga trimamillata, whose cases in humans are less [...] Read more.
In tropical and subtropical countries, particularly in disadvantaged communities, tungiasis is a severe public health problem, which is often neglected by the authorities. The sand fleas Tunga penetrans, predominant in endemic areas, and Tunga trimamillata, whose cases in humans are less frequent, are the cause of this zoonosis. Domestic animals are potential reservoirs and disseminators of tungiasis, so controlling their infection would significantly advance the prevention of human cases. This literature review compiles the most recent studies and innovations in treating animal tungiasis. Studies of approaches to the treatment of animal tungiasis, as well as disease control and prevention, are described. Isoxazolines are highlighted as promising drugs to treat animal tungiasis, with high efficacy and pharmacological protection. The positive impacts of this discovery on public health are also discussed, since dogs are an essential risk factor for human tungiasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Tungiasis: Morbidity, Epidemiology, and Control)
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13 pages, 2892 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Preliminary Application of Epitope Peptide-Based Antibody against Toxoplasma gondii GRA3
by Ru Wang, Minmin Wu, Haijian Cai, Ran An, Ying Chen, Jie Wang, Nan Zhou and Jian Du
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(3), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030143 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2265
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein GRA3 has been shown to promote Toxoplasma gondii transmission and proliferation by interacting with the host cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through calcium-regulated cyclophilin ligands (CAMLG). Although many studies have focused on the interaction between the host cell endoplasmic [...] Read more.
Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein GRA3 has been shown to promote Toxoplasma gondii transmission and proliferation by interacting with the host cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through calcium-regulated cyclophilin ligands (CAMLG). Although many studies have focused on the interaction between the host cell endoplasmic reticulum and GRA3, no polyclonal antibodies (PcAbs) against GRA3 have been reported to date. According to the antigenicity prediction and exposure site analysis, three antigen peptide sequences were selected to prepare polyclonal antibodies targeting GRA3. Peptide scans revealed that the major antigenic epitope sequences were 125ELYDRTDRPGLK136, 202FFRRRPKDGGAG213, and 68NEAGESYSSATSG80, respectively. The GRA3 PcAb specifically recognized the GRA3 of T. gondii type Ⅱ ME49. The development of PcAbs against GRA3 is expected to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which GRA3 regulates host cell function and contribute to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for toxoplasmosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Toxoplasmosis)
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10 pages, 1294 KiB  
Article
Serum Cortisol as a Biomarker of Severe Dengue
by Chansuda Bongsebandhu-phubhakdi, Vichit Supornsilchai, Suphab Aroonparkmongkol, Umaporn Limothai, Sasipha Tachaboon, Janejira Dinhuzen, Watchadaporn Chaisuriyong, Supachoke Trongkamolchai, Mananya Wanpaisitkul, Chatchai Chulapornsiri, Anongrat Tiawilai, Thawat Tiawilai, Terapong Tantawichien, Usa Thisyakorn and Nattachai Srisawat
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(3), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030146 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2410
Abstract
Dengue infection presents a wide range of clinical symptoms. Serum cortisol is known as a severity predictor of serious infection but is not yet clearly understood in dengue infection. We aimed to investigate the pattern of cortisol response after dengue infection and evaluate [...] Read more.
Dengue infection presents a wide range of clinical symptoms. Serum cortisol is known as a severity predictor of serious infection but is not yet clearly understood in dengue infection. We aimed to investigate the pattern of cortisol response after dengue infection and evaluate the possibility of using serum cortisol as the biomarker to predict the severity of dengue infection. This prospective study was conducted in Thailand during 2018. Serum cortisol and other laboratory tests were collected at four time points: day 1 at hospital admission, day 3, day of defervescence (DFV) (4–7 days post-fever onset), and day of discharge (DC). The study recruited 265 patients (median age (IQR) 17 (13, 27.5)). Approximately 10% presented severe dengue infection. Serum cortisol levels were highest on the day of admission and day 3. The best cut-off value of serum cortisol level for predicting severe dengue was 18.2 mcg/dL with an AUC of 0.62 (95% CI, 0.51, 0.74). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 65.4, 62.3, 16 and 94%, respectively. When we combined serum cortisol with persistent vomiting and day of fever, the AUC increased to 0.76. In summary, serum cortisol at day of admission was likely to be associated with dengue severity. Further studies may focus on the possibility of using serum cortisol as one of the biomarkers for dengue severity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Dengue)
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11 pages, 1284 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Risk of Exotic Zika Virus Strain Transmission by Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus from Senegal Compared to a Native Strain
by Alioune Gaye, Cheikh Fall, Oumar Faye, Myrielle Dupont-Rouzeyrol, El Hadji Ndiaye, Diawo Diallo, Paolo Marinho de Andrade Zanotto, Ibrahima Dia, Scott C. Weaver and Mawlouth Diallo
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8020130 - 20 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2604
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) shows an enigmatic epidemiological profile in Africa. Despite its frequent detection in mosquitoes, few human cases have been reported. This could be due to the low infectious potential or low virulence of African ZIKV lineages. This study sought to assess [...] Read more.
Zika virus (ZIKV) shows an enigmatic epidemiological profile in Africa. Despite its frequent detection in mosquitoes, few human cases have been reported. This could be due to the low infectious potential or low virulence of African ZIKV lineages. This study sought to assess the susceptibility of A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus to ZIKV strains from Senegal, Brazil, and New Caledonia. Vertical transmission was also investigated. Whole bodies, legs/wings and saliva samples were tested for ZIKV by real-time PCR to estimate infection, dissemination and transmission rates as well as the infection rate in the progeny of infected female A. aegypti. For A. aegypti, the Senegalese strain showed at 15 days post-exposure (dpe) a significantly higher infection rate (52.43%) than the Brazilian (10%) and New Caledonian (0%) strains. The Brazilian and Senegalese strains were disseminated but not detected in saliva. No A. aegypti offspring from females infected with Senegalese and Brazilian ZIKV strains tested positive. No infection was recorded for C. quinquefasciatus. We observed the incompetence of Senegalese A. aegypti to transmit ZIKV and the C. quinquefasciatus were completely refractory. The effect of freezing ZIKV had no significant impact on the vector competence of Aedes aegypti from Senegal, and vertical transmission was not reported in this study. Full article
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13 pages, 1256 KiB  
Review
A Current Perspective on the Potential of Nanomedicine for Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy
by Khushboo Borah Slater, Daniel Kim, Pooja Chand, Ye Xu, Hanif Shaikh and Vaishali Undale
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(2), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8020100 - 3 Feb 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5394
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the ten infectious diseases that cause the highest amount of human mortality and morbidity. This infection, which is caused by a single pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, kills over a million people every year. There is an emerging problem [...] Read more.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the ten infectious diseases that cause the highest amount of human mortality and morbidity. This infection, which is caused by a single pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, kills over a million people every year. There is an emerging problem of antimicrobial resistance in TB that needs urgent treatment and management. Tuberculosis treatment is complicated by its complex drug regimen, its lengthy duration and the serious side-effects caused by the drugs required. There are a number of critical issues around drug delivery and subsequent intracellular bacterial clearance. Drugs have a short lifespan in systemic circulation, which limits their activity. Nanomedicine in TB is an emerging research area which offers the potential of effective drug delivery using nanoparticles and a reduction in drug doses and side-effects to improve patient compliance with the treatment and enhance their recovery. Here, we provide a minireview of anti-TB treatment, research progress on nanomedicine and the prospects for future applications in developing innovative therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Holistic Approach to Tuberculosis Detection, Treatment and Prevention, Volume II)
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38 pages, 1586 KiB  
Review
Challenges and the Way forward in Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis Infection
by Kai Ling Chin, Luis Anibarro, Maria E. Sarmiento and Armando Acosta
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8020089 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6223
Abstract
Globally, it is estimated that one-quarter of the world’s population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), also known as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Recently, this condition has been referred to as tuberculosis infection (TBI), considering the dynamic spectrum of the infection, as [...] Read more.
Globally, it is estimated that one-quarter of the world’s population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), also known as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Recently, this condition has been referred to as tuberculosis infection (TBI), considering the dynamic spectrum of the infection, as 5–10% of the latently infected population will develop active TB (ATB). The chances of TBI development increase due to close contact with index TB patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the risk of development of latent MDR-TB has further complicated the situation. Detection of TBI is challenging as the infected individual does not present symptoms. Currently, there is no gold standard for TBI diagnosis, and the only screening tests are tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs). However, these tests have several limitations, including the inability to differentiate between ATB and TBI, false-positive results in BCG-vaccinated individuals (only for TST), false-negative results in children, elderly, and immunocompromised patients, and the inability to predict the progression to ATB, among others. Thus, new host markers and Mtb-specific antigens are being tested to develop new diagnostic methods. Besides screening, TBI therapy is a key intervention for TB control. However, the long-course treatment and associated side effects result in non-adherence to the treatment. Additionally, the latent MDR strains are not susceptible to the current TBI treatments, which add an additional challenge. This review discusses the current situation of TBI, as well as the challenges and efforts involved in its control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Infectious Diseases)
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13 pages, 1208 KiB  
Article
Mpox, Caused by the MPXV of the Clade IIb Lineage, Goes Global
by Liping Gao, Qi Shi, Xiaoping Dong, Miao Wang, Zhiguo Liu and Zhenjun Li
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(2), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8020076 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6685
Abstract
Mpox is a great public health concern worldwide currently; thus, a global primary epidemiological analysis of mpox and a phylogenetic analysis of currently circulating MPXV strains based on open-source data is necessary. A total of 83,419 confirmed cases with 72 deaths were reported [...] Read more.
Mpox is a great public health concern worldwide currently; thus, a global primary epidemiological analysis of mpox and a phylogenetic analysis of currently circulating MPXV strains based on open-source data is necessary. A total of 83,419 confirmed cases with 72 deaths were reported from 7 May to 23 December 2022, representing an ongoing increasing trend. Mpox was largely restricted to being endemic in children in West Africa (WA) before 2022, and it mainly spread from animals to humans. Our analysis highlights that mpox has not only spread across regions within Africa but has also led to most infection events outside Africa. Currently, mpox has been dominated by human-to-human spread in 110 countries, with the majority of cases distributed in the non-endemic regions of Europe and North America. These data indicate that the geographic range, transmission route, vulnerable populations, and clinical manifestations of mpox have changed, which suggests that the niche of mpox has the potential to change. Remarkably, approximately 38,025 suspected mpox cases were recorded in West and Central Africa during 1970–2022, which implied that the epidemiology of mpox in the two regions remained cryptic, suggesting that strengthening the accuracy of molecular diagnosis on this continent is a priority. Moreover, 617 mpox genomes have been obtained from 12 different hosts; these data imply that the high host diversity may contribute to its ongoing circulation and global outbreak. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of 175 MPXV genome sequences from 38 countries (regions) showed that the current global mpox outbreak was caused by multiple sub-clades in the clade IIb lineage. These data suggest that MPXV strains from the clade IIb lineage may play a predominated role in the spread of mpox worldwide, implying that the current mpox outbreak has a single infection source. However, further investigations into the origin of the new global mpox outbreak are necessary. Therefore, our analysis highlights that adjusted timely interventive measures and surveillance programs, especially using cheap and quick strategies such as wastewater monitoring the DNA of MPXV in Africa (WA), are important for uncovering this disease’s transmission source and chain, which will help curb its further spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Human Monkeypox Research)
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10 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
Accuracy of Three Serological Techniques for the Diagnosis of Imported Schistosomiasis in Real Clinical Practice: Not All in the Same Boat
by María Pilar Luzón-García, María Isabel Cabeza-Barrera, Ana Belén Lozano-Serrano, Manuel Jesús Soriano-Pérez, Nerea Castillo-Fernández, José Vázquez-Villegas, Jaime Borrego-Jiménez and Joaquín Salas-Coronas
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8020073 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3377
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease despite of being a major public health problem affecting nearly 240 million people in the world. Due to the migratory flow from endemic countries to Western countries, an increasing number of cases is being diagnosed in non-endemic [...] Read more.
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease despite of being a major public health problem affecting nearly 240 million people in the world. Due to the migratory flow from endemic countries to Western countries, an increasing number of cases is being diagnosed in non-endemic areas, generally in migrants or people visiting these areas. Serology is the recommended method for screening and diagnosis of schistosomiasis in migrants from endemic regions. However, serological techniques have a highly variable sensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the sensitivity of three different serological tests used in real clinical practice for the screening and diagnosis of imported schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan migrant patients, using the detection of schistosome eggs in urine, faeces or tissues as the gold standard. We evaluated three different serological techniques in 405 sub-Saharan patients with confirmed schistosomiasis treated between 2004 and 2022: an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), an indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) and an immunochromatographic test (ICT). The overall sensitivity values obtained with the different techniques were: 44.4% for IHA, 71.2% for ELISA and 94.7% for ICT, respectively. According to species, ICT showed the highest sensitivity (S. haematobium: 94%, S. mansoni: 93.3%; and S. intercalatum/guineensis: 100%). In conclusion, our study shows that Schistosoma ICT has the best performance in real clinical practice, when compared to ELISA and IHA, in both S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Neglected and Emerging Tropical Disease)
20 pages, 3737 KiB  
Article
Exploring Evolutionary Relationships within Neodermata Using Putative Orthologous Groups of Proteins, with Emphasis on Peptidases
by Víctor Caña-Bozada, Mark W. Robinson, David I. Hernández-Mena and Francisco N. Morales-Serna
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010059 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4025
Abstract
The phylogenetic relationships within Neodermata were examined based on putative orthologous groups of proteins (OGPs) from 11 species of Monogenea, Trematoda, and Cestoda. The dataset included OGPs from BUSCO and OMA. Additionally, peptidases were identified and evaluated as phylogenetic markers. Phylogenies were inferred [...] Read more.
The phylogenetic relationships within Neodermata were examined based on putative orthologous groups of proteins (OGPs) from 11 species of Monogenea, Trematoda, and Cestoda. The dataset included OGPs from BUSCO and OMA. Additionally, peptidases were identified and evaluated as phylogenetic markers. Phylogenies were inferred using the maximum likelihood method. A network analysis and a hierarchical grouping analysis of the principal components (HCPC) of orthologous groups of peptidases were performed. The phylogenetic analyses showed the monopisthocotylean monogeneans as the sister-group of cestodes, and the polyopisthocotylean monogeneans as the sister-group of trematodes. However, the sister-group relationship between Monopisthocotylea and Cestoda was not statistically well supported. The network analysis and HCPC also showed a cluster formed by polyopisthocotyleans and trematodes. The present study supports the non-monophyly of Monogenea. An analysis of mutation rates indicated that secreted peptidases and inhibitors, and those with multiple copies, are under positive selection pressure, which could explain the expansion of some families such as C01, C19, I02, and S01. Whilst not definitive, our study presents another point of view in the discussion of the evolution of Neodermata, and we hope that our data drive further discussion and debate on this intriguing topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Neglected and Emerging Tropical Disease)
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14 pages, 805 KiB  
Review
Trichomonas tenax: A Neglected Protozoan Infection in the Oral Cavities of Humans and Dogs—A Scoping Review
by Maurice A. Matthew, Nawu Yang, Jennifer Ketzis, Samson Mukaratirwa and Chaoqun Yao
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010060 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 7983
Abstract
Trichomonas tenax is a flagellated protozoan parasite found in the oral cavities of humans and animals and has been associated with periodontal disease, the most prevalent inflammatory disease affecting them all. Studies have shown that T. tenax can cause damage to mammalian cells [...] Read more.
Trichomonas tenax is a flagellated protozoan parasite found in the oral cavities of humans and animals and has been associated with periodontal disease, the most prevalent inflammatory disease affecting them all. Studies have shown that T. tenax can cause damage to mammalian cells and secretes virulent proteins, such as cysteine. It is presently considered zoonotic. Despite the few studies that have been done, the pathogenicity of this oral protozoan is still not fully understood. A database search was performed in July 2022 using PubMed and Google Scholar to retrieve data eligible for this study. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed to conduct this scoping review. A total of 321 articles were found with 87 included in this review after applying the exclusion criteria. Due to its increasing prevalence worldwide in both humans and dogs, detecting and elucidating the pathogenicity of this parasite is paramount for effective global control and prevention of periodontal disease. However, there is a paucity in the literature on this neglected zoonotic trichomonad, which is in large contrast to the closely related human pathogen T. vaginalis. Here, we comprehensively review the history, morphology and reproduction, host, prevalence, diagnosis, pathogenicity, control, and prevention of T. tenax. Hopefully, this article will call attention to both medical and veterinary professionals as well as epidemiologists on this most neglected and zoonotic protozoan. More epidemiological and clinical studies need to be conducted on T. tenax to gain a better understanding of its pathogenicity, to increase the chances of developing effective drugs to aid in the control of this oral parasite, and reduce the spread of periodontal disease worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Insights in Pathogenesis of Infectious Protozoa and Algae)
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14 pages, 775 KiB  
Article
Feline Susceptibility to Leptospirosis and Presence of Immunosuppressive Co-Morbidities: First European Report of L. interrogans Serogroup Australis Sequence Type 24 in a Cat and Survey of Leptospira Exposure in Outdoor Cats
by Elisa Mazzotta, Gabrita De Zan, Monia Cocchi, Maria Beatrice Boniotti, Cristina Bertasio, Tommaso Furlanello, Laura Lucchese, Letizia Ceglie, Laura Bellinati and Alda Natale
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010054 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4567
Abstract
Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases and can infect both humans and animals worldwide. The role of the cat as a susceptible host and potential environmental reservoir of Leptospira is still not well understood, due to the lack of obvious [...] Read more.
Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases and can infect both humans and animals worldwide. The role of the cat as a susceptible host and potential environmental reservoir of Leptospira is still not well understood, due to the lack of obvious clinical signs associated with Leptospira spp. infection in this species. This study aims to describe the first European detection of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Australis ST 24 in a young outdoor cat with a severe comorbidity (feline panleukopenia virus). In addition, the results of a preliminary study conducted in 2014–2016 are presented (RC IZSVE 16/12), which reports an investigation of Leptospira exposure of outdoor cats in Northeast Italy by means of serological investigation and molecular evaluation of urine. The animals included in the survey are part of samples collected during active and passive surveillance (diagnostic samples). The study reported a seroprevalence of 10.5% among outdoor cats and the serogroups identified were Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bratislava, Canicola and Ballum. Symptomatic cats reported high MAT titres (ranging from 1:800 to 1:1600) towards antigens belonging to the serovars Grippotyphosa (1:800), Bratislava (1:1600), Icterohaemorrhagiae (1:200) and Copenhageni (1:200–1:800). In one subject, urine tested positive for Leptospira PCR. Cats with high antibody titres for Leptospira and/or positivity on molecular test suffered from immunosuppressive comorbidities (feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus; feline herpesvirus and lymphoma; hyperthyroidism). The overall prevalence of serum antibodies against Leptospira found in free-ranging cats (10.53%, 95% CI: 4.35–16.70%) and the identification of L. interrogans ST 24 in a young cat with immunosuppressive disease (feline panleukopenia virus) suggest the possibility of natural resistance to clinical leptospirosis in healthy cats. In a One Health perspective, further studies are needed to better define the pathogenesis of leptospirosis in cats and their epidemiological role as environmental sentinels or possible carriers of pathogenic Leptospira. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Leptospirosis)
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12 pages, 2683 KiB  
Article
Clinical Features of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease in the Yangtze River Delta of China: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Observational Study
by Hai Lou, Ansheng Zou, Xiaona Shen, Yong Fang, Qin Sun, Fen Zhang and Wei Sha
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010050 - 9 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3202
Abstract
With increased focus on nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), and the improvement in detection methods, the global incidence continues to increase every year, but the diagnosis and treatment are difficult with a high misdiagnosis rate and poor curative effect. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
With increased focus on nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), and the improvement in detection methods, the global incidence continues to increase every year, but the diagnosis and treatment are difficult with a high misdiagnosis rate and poor curative effect. This study aimed to analyze the clinical indicators of different pathogenic NTM in the Yangtze River Delta. The study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with NTM-PD, who resided in the Yangtze River Delta and were diagnosed using sputum or bronchial lavage fluid and hospitalized in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from March 2017 to February 2019. The clinical data of confirmed patients were collected. Among the 513 cases of NTM-PD, 482 cases were infected by four common bacteria: Mycobacterium intracellulare (224, 46.5%), M. abscessus (138, 28.6%), M. kansasii (84, 17.4%), and M. avium (36, 7.5%). The analysis found that different NTM strains have their corresponding positive and negative correlation factors (p < 0.05). M. intracellulare, M. abscessus, M. kansasii, and M. avium were the main pathogenic bacteria isolated from patients with NTM-PD in the Yangtze River Delta were. Different strains resulted in different clinical features, assisting in the early diagnosis and treatment of NTM-PD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycobacteria Infection (including TB and NTM))
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9 pages, 531 KiB  
Article
Vitamin D Deficiency (VDD) and Susceptibility towards Severe Dengue Fever—A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study of Hospitalized Dengue Fever Patients from Lahore, Pakistan
by Somia Iqtadar, Amjad Khan, Sami Ullah Mumtaz, Shona Livingstone, Muhammad Nabeel Akbar Chaudhry, Nauman Raza, Mehreen Zahra and Sajid Abaidullah
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010043 - 5 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6645
Abstract
Dengue is a mosquito-borne flaviviral serious febrile illness, most common in the tropical and subtropical regions including Pakistan. Vitamin D is a strong immunomodulator affecting both the innate and adaptive immune responses and plays a pivotal role in pathogen-defense mechanisms. There has been [...] Read more.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne flaviviral serious febrile illness, most common in the tropical and subtropical regions including Pakistan. Vitamin D is a strong immunomodulator affecting both the innate and adaptive immune responses and plays a pivotal role in pathogen-defense mechanisms. There has been considerable interest in the possible role of vitamin D in dengue viral (DENV) infection. In the present prospective cross-sectional study, we assessed a possible association between serum vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and susceptibility towards severe dengue fever (DF) illness. Serum vitamin D levels were measured at the time of hospitalization in 97 patients diagnosed with dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS) at Mayo Hospital, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, PK, from 16 November 2021 to 15 January 2022. In terms of disease severity, 37 (38.1%) patients were DF, 52 (53.6%) were DHF grade 1 and 2, and 8 (8.2%) were DSS. The results revealed that most patients (75 (77.3%)) were vitamin-D-deficient (i.e., serum level < 20 ng/mL), including 27 (73.0%) in DF, 41 (78.8%) in DHF grade 1 and 2, and 7 (87.5%) in DSS. The degree of VDD was somewhat higher in DSS patients as compared to DF and DHF grade 1 and 2 patients. Overall, serum vitamin D levels ranged from 4.2 to 109.7 ng/mL, and the median (IQR) was in the VDD range, i.e., 12.2 (9.1, 17.8) ng/mL. Our results suggest that there may be a possible association between VDD and susceptibility towards severe dengue illness. Hence, maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels in the body either through diet or supplementation may help provide adequate immune protection against severe dengue fever illness. Further research is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Dengue)
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10 pages, 439 KiB  
Article
Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Tuberculosis and Other Imported Diseases Screening among Migrant Minors in Spain
by Isabel Mellado-Sola, Paula Rodríguez-Molino, Elisa-Andrea Armas, Javier Nogueira López, Iker Falces-Romero, Cristina Calvo Rey, Carlos Grasa Lozano, María José Mellado, Milagros García López-Hortelano and Talía Sainz
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010028 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3514
Abstract
Background: In recent decades, the increase in population movements has turned the focus to imported diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the access to health care systems, especially in highly vulnerable populations. We address the effects of the pandemic on the health [...] Read more.
Background: In recent decades, the increase in population movements has turned the focus to imported diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the access to health care systems, especially in highly vulnerable populations. We address the effects of the pandemic on the health screening of migrant unaccompanied minors (UM) in Spain. Method: Retrospective cross-sectional study including UM screened for imported diseases with a unified protocol at a pediatric reference unit for tropical and infectious diseases in Madrid, Spain. We compared the pre-pandemic (2018–2019) and post-pandemic periods (2020–2021). Results: A total of 192 minors were screened during the study period, with a drop in UM’s referral to our center in the post-pandemic years (140 in 2018–2019 vs. 52 in 2020–2021). Out of 192, 161 (83.9%) were diagnosed with at least one medical condition. The mean age was 16.8 years (SD 0.8) and 96.9% were males. Most cases were referred for a health exam; only 38% of children were symptomatic. Eosinophilia was present in 20.8%. The most common diagnosis were latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) (72.9%), schistosomiasis (15.1%), toxocariasis (4.9%) and strongyloidiasis (4.9%). The prevalence of LTBI did not vary significantly (69.3% vs. 82.7%, p = 0.087). A total of 38% of the patients diagnosed with LTBI never started treatment or were lost to follow-up, as were two out of three patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusions: In this series, the number of UM referred for health screening has dropped dramatically after the COVID pandemic, and two years after the beginning of the pandemic, access to care is still limited. Lost to follow-up rates are extremely high despite institutionalization. Specific resources, including multidisciplinary teams and accessible units are needed to improve diagnoses and linkage to care in this vulnerable population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ending Tuberculosis Epidemic: Current Status and Future Prospects)
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12 pages, 1923 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Regulatory T Cells in Patients Infected by Leishmania Infantum
by Rephany F. Peixoto, Bruna M. Gois, Marineuma Martins, Pedro Henrique S. Palmeira, Juliana C. Rocha, Juliana A. S. Gomes, Fátima L. A. A. Azevedo, Robson C. Veras, Isac A. de Medeiros, Teresa C. S. L. Grisi, Demétrius A. M. de Araújo, Ian P. G. Amaral and Tatjana S. L. Keesen
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010018 - 27 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2977
Abstract
High IL-10 levels are pivotal to parasite survival in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Antigenic stimuli induce IL-10 expression and release of adenosine by CD39/CD73. Due their intrinsic ability to express IL-10 and produce adenosine from extracellular ATP, we evaluated the IL-10, CD39, and CD73 [...] Read more.
High IL-10 levels are pivotal to parasite survival in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Antigenic stimuli induce IL-10 expression and release of adenosine by CD39/CD73. Due their intrinsic ability to express IL-10 and produce adenosine from extracellular ATP, we evaluated the IL-10, CD39, and CD73 expression by Regulatory T cells (Treg) correlated with VL pathology. Using flow cytometry, Treg cells was analyzed in peripheral blood samples from VL patients (in the presence and absence of Leishmania infantum soluble antigen (SLA)) and healthy individuals (negative endemic control—NEC group), without any treatment. Additionally, IL-10 levels in leukocytes culture supernatant were measured in all groups by ELISA assay. VL patients presented more Treg frequency than NEC group, independently of stimulation. ELISA results demonstrated that SLA induced higher IL-10 expression in the VL group. However, the NEC group had a higher Treg IL-10+ compared to the VL group without stimulation and SLA restored the IL-10 in Treg. Additionally, an increase in Treg CD73+ in the VL group independently of stimuli compared to that in the NEC group was observed. We suggest that Treg are not the main source of IL-10, while the CD73 pathway may be an attempt to modulate the exacerbation of immune response in VL disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cell Biology and Immunology of Leishmania)
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12 pages, 2348 KiB  
Article
Reduction in Anti-Dengue Virus IgG Antibody Levels with the Use of a Larvicide for Vector Control in Rural Lao People’s Democratic Republic
by Pheophet Lamaningao, Seiji Kanda, Takaki Shimono, Mariko Kuroda, Somchit Inthavongsack, Thonelakhanh Xaypangna and Toshimasa Nishiyama
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010020 - 27 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3257
Abstract
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is an endemic area of dengue, with cases reported in urban and rural areas every year. In this study, we indirectly evaluated the efficacy of a larvicide (SumiLarvTM 2MR discs) that was used for vector control against [...] Read more.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is an endemic area of dengue, with cases reported in urban and rural areas every year. In this study, we indirectly evaluated the efficacy of a larvicide (SumiLarvTM 2MR discs) that was used for vector control against Aedes mosquitoes. Villages in a rural area of Lao PDR were selected as study areas, non-intervention and intervention villages. At the intervention village, the larvicide was used to treat refillable water containers for 27 months (October 2017 to February 2020), while at the non-intervention villages were no treatment. The serum samples of villagers from both villages were randomized to collect in the pre-intervention and in post-intervention periods. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine anti-dengue virus (DENV) IgG antibody levels in serum samples. Recombinant DENV serotype 2 non-structural protein1 was used as an antigen for the ELISA, the optical density (OD) values were analyzed for comparison. The results showed that the OD values decreased significantly (p < 0.01) between the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods at the intervention site. The treatment of water storage containers in rural areas with SumiLarvTM 2MR discs may help to protect residents from Aedes mosquito bites, and hence, reduce DENV infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Topics in Arbovirus Vectors)
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8 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of JC and BK Polyomavirus Infection in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in the State of Pará, Brazil
by Scheila do Socorro Vasconcelos Ávila da Costa, Jacqueline Cortinhas Monteiro, Ana Paula do Vale Viegas, Keyla Santos Guedes de Sá, Silvia Regina da Cruz, Sandra Souza Lima, Izaura Maria Vieira Cayres Vallinoto, Igor Brasil Costa and Antonio Carlos Rosário Vallinoto
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010009 - 23 Dec 2022
Viewed by 4356
Abstract
The polyomaviruses that infect humans, JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV), can establish persistent infections in the cells that make up the renal system, causing nephritis and BKV-associated nephropathy in up to 10% of renal transplant patients, and of these, 90% lose [...] Read more.
The polyomaviruses that infect humans, JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV), can establish persistent infections in the cells that make up the renal system, causing nephritis and BKV-associated nephropathy in up to 10% of renal transplant patients, and of these, 90% lose the graft and return for hemodialysis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of polyomaviruses (PyV) in the population with chronic kidney disease (CKD), classified into three groups (conservative, dialysis, and transplanted) and a control group. Urine samples were collected from 290 individuals, including 202 patients with CKD and 88 from the control group. PyV screening was performed by PCR amplification of a fragment of the VP1 region, and the JCV and BKV species were distinguished through enzymatic digestion with the restriction endonuclease BamHI from the amplification of a TAg region. All amplification products were visualized on a 3% agarose gel. The prevalence of PyV infection was correlated with clinical-epidemiological variables using the chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. In the group with CKD, the prevalence of PyV was 30.2%, a higher rate being observed in conservative patients (36.66%; 22/60), followed by dialysis patients (30.48%; 25/82), and transplanted patients (20%; 12/60). In the control group, the prevalence was 46.59% (41/88). The differentiation between species revealed that JCV was present in 77.8% and BKV in 22.2% of the group with CKD. The prevalence of infection was higher in male patients (59.32%), whose most common pathology was systemic arterial hypertension (35.59%). In the group of transplanted patients, there was a statistically significant association between infection and the use of the immunosuppressant azathioprine (p = 0.015). The prevalence of PyV infection was higher in the control group than in the group with CKD, being predominant in males and in patients with systemic arterial hypertension. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Infectious Diseases)
18 pages, 573 KiB  
Systematic Review
Detection of Monkeypox Virus according to The Collection Site of Samples from Confirmed Cases: A Systematic Review
by Darwin A. León-Figueroa, Joshuan J. Barboza, Hortencia M. Saldaña-Cumpa, Emilly Moreno-Ramos, D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana, Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, Ranjit Sah and Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010004 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5795
Abstract
Due to the rapid evolution of the monkeypox virus, the means by which the monkeypox virus is spread is subject to change. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze the detection of the monkeypox virus according to the collection site of samples from [...] Read more.
Due to the rapid evolution of the monkeypox virus, the means by which the monkeypox virus is spread is subject to change. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze the detection of the monkeypox virus according to the collection site of samples from confirmed monkeypox cases. A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases until 5 October 2022. A total of 1022 articles were retrieved using the search strategy. After removing duplicates (n = 566) and examining by title, abstract, and full text, 65 studies reporting monkeypox case reports were included with a detailed description of risk factors, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), site of monkeypox virus-positive specimens, location of skin lesions, and diagnostic test. A total of 4537 confirmed monkeypox cases have been reported, of which 98.72% of the cases were male with a mean age of 36 years, 95.72% had a sexual behavior of being men who have sex with men, and 28.1% had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The most frequent locations of lesions in patients diagnosed with monkeypox were: 42.85% on the genitalia and 37.1% in the perianal region. All confirmed monkeypox cases were diagnosed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the most frequent locations of samples collected for diagnosis that tested positive for monkeypox virus were: 91.85% from skin lesions, 20.81% from the oropharynx, 3.19% from blood, and 2.43% from seminal fluid. The disease course of the cases with monkeypox was asynchronous, with no severe complications, and most patients did not report specific treatment but simply followed a symptomatic treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Human Monkeypox Research)
(This article belongs to the Section Infectious Diseases)
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5 pages, 230 KiB  
Case Report
COVID-19 and Pasteurella multocida Pulmonary Coinfection: A Case Series
by Ornella Cabras, Jean-Marie Turmel, Claude Olive, Bastien Bigeard, Mélanie Lehoux, Sandrine Pierre-Francois, Karine Guitteaud, Sylvie Abel, Lise Cuzin and André Cabié
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120429 - 11 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2887
Abstract
Objectives: In COVID-19 patients, bacterial and fungal pulmonary coinfections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, or Aspergillus, have been reported, but to our knowledge, no case has been reported due to Pasteurella multocida. Patients and methods: We [...] Read more.
Objectives: In COVID-19 patients, bacterial and fungal pulmonary coinfections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, or Aspergillus, have been reported, but to our knowledge, no case has been reported due to Pasteurella multocida. Patients and methods: We describe three cases of Pasteurella multocida coinfections occurring during the 4th wave of COVID-19 in Martinique (French West Indies). Results: All three cases were fatal; thus, Pasteurella multocida has to be considered as a potentially severe coinfection agent. Conclusions: Alteration of the epithelial–endothelial barrier due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection probably promotes the expression of a Pasteurella infection. In addition, the SARS-CoV-2 infection induced immunosuppression, and an inflammatory cascade could explain the infection’s severity. The use of corticosteroids, which are part of the first-line therapeutic arsenal against COVID-19, may also promote the pathogenicity of this agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Neglected and Emerging Tropical Diseases)
12 pages, 1447 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Chiral Organosulfur Compounds on Their Activity against the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum
by Che Julius Ngwa, Rabea Stratmann, Jean Pierre Musabyimana, Kristina Pannen, Jan-Hendrik Schöbel, Marcus Frings, Ingo Schiffers, Calogero Quaranta, Steffen Koschmieder, Nicolas Chatain, Gabriele Pradel and Carsten Bolm
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120416 - 3 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2279
Abstract
Malaria is one of the deadliest tropical diseases, especially causing havoc in children under the age of five in Africa. Although the disease is treatable, the rapid development of drug resistant parasites against frontline drugs requires the search for novel antimalarials. In this [...] Read more.
Malaria is one of the deadliest tropical diseases, especially causing havoc in children under the age of five in Africa. Although the disease is treatable, the rapid development of drug resistant parasites against frontline drugs requires the search for novel antimalarials. In this study, we tested a series of organosulfur compounds from our internal library for their antiplasmodial effect against Plasmodium falciparum asexual and sexual blood stages. Some active compounds were also obtained in enantiomerically pure form and tested individually against asexual blood stages of the parasite to compare their activity. Out of the 23 tested compounds, 7 compounds (1, 2, 5, 9, 15, 16, and 17) exhibited high antimalarial activity, with IC50 values in the range from 2.2 ± 0.64 to 5.2 ± 1.95 µM, while the other compounds showed moderate to very low activity. The most active compounds also exhibited high activity against the chloroquine-resistant strain, reduced gametocyte development and were not toxic to non-infected red blood cells and Hela cells, as well as the hematopoietic HEL cell line at concentrations below 50 µM. To determine if the enantiomers of the active compounds display different antimalarial activity, enantiomers of two of the active compounds were separated and their antimalarial activity compared. The results show a higher activity of the (–) enantiomers as compared to their (+) counterparts. Our combined data indicate that organosulfur compounds could be exploited as antimalarial drugs and enantiomers of the active compounds may represent a good starting point for the design of novel drugs to target malaria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmodium falciparum: From Biology to Intervention Strategies)
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17 pages, 3183 KiB  
Article
Genetic Diversity, Haplotype Relationships, and kdr Mutation of Malaria Anopheles Vectors in the Most Plasmodium knowlesi-Endemic Area of Thailand
by Tanawat Chaiphongpachara, Sedthapong Laojun, Tanasak Changbunjong, Suchada Sumruayphol, Nantana Suwandittakul, Sakultip Chookaew and Yuppayong Atta
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120412 - 1 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2743
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite that occurs naturally in long-tailed macaques, pig-tailed macaques, and banded leaf monkeys, is currently regarded as the fifth of the human malaria parasites. We aimed to investigate genetic diversity based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( [...] Read more.
Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite that occurs naturally in long-tailed macaques, pig-tailed macaques, and banded leaf monkeys, is currently regarded as the fifth of the human malaria parasites. We aimed to investigate genetic diversity based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, detect Plasmodium parasites, and screen for the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC)-mutation-mediated knockdown resistance (kdr) of Anopheles mosquitoes in Ranong province, which is the most P. knowlesi-endemic area in Thailand. One hundred and fourteen Anopheles females belonging to eight species, including An. baimaii (21.05%), An. minimus s.s. (20.17%), An. epiroticus (19.30%), An. jamesii (19.30%), An. maculatus s.s. (13.16%), An. barbirostris A3 (5.26%), An. sawadwongporni (0.88%), and An. aconitus (0.88%), were caught in three geographical regions of Ranong province. None of the Anopheles mosquitoes sampled in this study were infected with Plasmodium parasites. Based on the sequence analysis of COI sequences, An. epiroticus had the highest level of nucleotide diversity (0.012), followed by An. minimus (0.011). In contrast, An. maculatus (0.002) had the lowest level of nucleotide diversity. The Fu’s Fs and Tajima’s D values of the Anopheles species in Ranong were all negative, except the Tajima’s D values of An. minimus (0.077). Screening of VGSC sequences showed no presence of the kdr mutation of Anopheles mosquitoes. Our results could be used to further select effective techniques for controlling Anopheles populations in Thailand’s most P. knowlesi-endemic area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases and Public Health Challenges)
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13 pages, 804 KiB  
Article
Mosquito Fauna and Spatial Distribution in an Atlantic Forest Area in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Reveal a High Risk of Transmission of Yellow Fever and Other Arboviruses
by Rafaella Moraes de Miranda, Anielly Ferreira-de-Brito, Júlia dos Santos Silva, Alexandre da Silva Xavier, Shayenne Olsson Freitas Silva, Jeronimo Alencar and Ricardo Lourenço-de-Oliveira
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120410 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
In 2017–2019, Brazil recorded its most severe outbreak of yellow fever due to the spread of the virus (YFV) in the country’s southeast. Here, we investigated mosquito fauna and the spatial distribution of species in a primatology center in the Atlantic Forest bioregion [...] Read more.
In 2017–2019, Brazil recorded its most severe outbreak of yellow fever due to the spread of the virus (YFV) in the country’s southeast. Here, we investigated mosquito fauna and the spatial distribution of species in a primatology center in the Atlantic Forest bioregion in Rio de Janeiro state to evaluate the risk of YFV transmission in distinct environments. Fortnightly mosquito collections were performed from December 2018 to December 2019 at 12 sites along a disturbance gradient from a modified environment to 400 m inside the forest. We used ovitraps, BG-Sentinel, and protected human attraction (PHA). A total of 9349 mosquitoes of 21 species were collected. The collection method strongly influenced the captured fauna, with species such as Anopheles cruzii, Psorophora ferox, Runchomyia cerqueirai, Wyeomyia incaudata, Wy. theobaldi, Sabethes chloropterus, and Sa. albiprivus only collected via PHA. Collections with ovitraps resulted in low diversity and richness, with Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Hg. janthinomys/capricornii predominating. The diverse local fauna and the abundance and ubiquity of the latter species, which are the primary vectors of YFV, indicated that this area was highly vulnerable to arbovirus transmission, especially yellow fever, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and vaccination coverage in human and captive endangered non-human primates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)
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28 pages, 7857 KiB  
Article
A Novel Protocol for the Synthesis of 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles Active against Trypanosomatids and Drug-Resistant Leukemia Cell Lines
by Paulo Pitasse-Santos, Eduardo Salustiano, Raynná Bittencourt Pena, Otávio Augusto Chaves, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Kelli Monteiro da Costa, Carlos Antônio do Nascimento Santos, Jhenifer Santos Dos Reis, Marcos André Rodrigues da Costa Santos, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonça Previato, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Nelilma Correia Romeiro, Lúcia Helena Pinto-da-Silva, Célio G. Freire-de-Lima, Débora Decotè-Ricardo and Marco Edilson Freire-de-Lima
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120403 - 28 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3776
Abstract
Cancer and parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, share similarities that allow the co-development of new antiproliferative agents as a strategy to quickly track the discovery of new drugs. This strategy is especially interesting regarding tropical neglected diseases, for which chemotherapeutic [...] Read more.
Cancer and parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, share similarities that allow the co-development of new antiproliferative agents as a strategy to quickly track the discovery of new drugs. This strategy is especially interesting regarding tropical neglected diseases, for which chemotherapeutic alternatives are extremely outdated. We designed a series of (E)-3-aryl-5-(2-aryl-vinyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles based on the reported antiparasitic and anticancer activities of structurally related compounds. The synthesis of such compounds led to the development of a new, fast, and efficient strategy for the construction of a 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring on a silica-supported system under microwave irradiation. One hit compound (23) was identified during the in vitro evaluation against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia cell lines (EC50 values ranging from 5.5 to 13.2 µM), Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes (EC50 = 2.9 µM) and Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes (EC50 = 12.2 µM) and amastigotes (EC50 = 13.5 µM). In silico studies indicate a correlation between the in vitro activity and the interaction with tubulin at the colchicine binding site. Furthermore, ADMET in silico predictions indicate that the compounds possess a high druggability potential due to their physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity profiles, and for hit 23, it was identified by multiple spectroscopic approaches that this compound binds with human serum albumin (HSA) via a spontaneous ground-state association with a moderate affinity driven by entropically and enthalpically energies into subdomain IIA (site I) without significantly perturbing the secondary content of the protein. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancement in Leishmaniasis Diagnosis and Therapeutics)
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13 pages, 1246 KiB  
Article
Estimating the Distribution of Japanese Encephalitis Vectors in Australia Using Ecological Niche Modelling
by Morgan Furlong, Andrew Adamu, Roslyn I. Hickson, Paul Horwood, Maryam Golchin, Andrew Hoskins and Tanya Russell
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120393 - 22 Nov 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3775
Abstract
Recent Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreaks in southeastern Australia have sparked interest into epidemiological factors surrounding the virus’ novel emergence in this region. Here, the geographic distribution of mosquito species known to be competent JEV vectors in the country was estimated by combining [...] Read more.
Recent Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreaks in southeastern Australia have sparked interest into epidemiological factors surrounding the virus’ novel emergence in this region. Here, the geographic distribution of mosquito species known to be competent JEV vectors in the country was estimated by combining known mosquito occurrences and ecological drivers of distribution to reveal insights into communities at highest risk of infectious disease transmission. Species distribution models predicted that Culex annulirostris and Culex sitiens presence was mostly likely along Australia’s eastern and northern coastline, while Culex quinquefasciatus presence was estimated to be most likely near inland regions of southern Australia as well as coastal regions of Western Australia. While Culex annulirostris is considered the dominant JEV vector in Australia, our ecological niche models emphasise the need for further entomological surveillance and JEV research within Australia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Topics in Arbovirus Vectors)
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8 pages, 750 KiB  
Communication
Proteomic Analysis of Urine from Patients with Plasmodium vivax Malaria Unravels a Unique Plasmodium vivax Protein That Is Absent from Plasmodium falciparum
by Raianna F. Fantin, Claudia Abeijon, Dhelio B. Pereira, Ricardo T. Fujiwara, Lilian L. Bueno and Antonio Campos-Neto
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100314 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1996
Abstract
Five species of Plasmodium cause malaria in humans and two of them, P. vivax and P. falciparum, pose the greatest threat. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) have been used for many years to diagnose and distinguish malaria caused by these two parasites. [...] Read more.
Five species of Plasmodium cause malaria in humans and two of them, P. vivax and P. falciparum, pose the greatest threat. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) have been used for many years to diagnose and distinguish malaria caused by these two parasites. P. falciparum malaria can single-handedly be diagnosed using an RADT, which detects the unique P. falciparum specific histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2). Unfortunately, there is no RADT that can single-handedly diagnose P. vivax malaria because no specific marker of this parasite has yet been described. Here, we report the discovery of a unique P. vivax protein (Vir14, NCBI Reference Sequence: XP_001612449.1) that has no sequence similarity with proteins of P. falciparum and no significant similarities with proteins of other species of Plasmodium. We propose that this protein could be an outstanding candidate molecule for the development of a promising RADT that can single-handedly and specifically diagnose P. vivax malaria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vector-Borne Diseases)
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26 pages, 2475 KiB  
Review
Detection of Tropical Diseases Caused by Mosquitoes Using CRISPR-Based Biosensors
by Salma Nur Zakiyyah, Abdullahi Umar Ibrahim, Manal Salah Babiker, Shabarni Gaffar, Mehmet Ozsoz, Muhammad Ihda H. L. Zein and Yeni Wahyuni Hartati
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100309 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4900
Abstract
Tropical diseases (TDs) are among the leading cause of mortality and fatality globally. The emergence and reemergence of TDs continue to challenge healthcare system. Several tropical diseases such as yellow fever, tuberculosis, cholera, Ebola, HIV, rotavirus, dengue, and malaria outbreaks have led to [...] Read more.
Tropical diseases (TDs) are among the leading cause of mortality and fatality globally. The emergence and reemergence of TDs continue to challenge healthcare system. Several tropical diseases such as yellow fever, tuberculosis, cholera, Ebola, HIV, rotavirus, dengue, and malaria outbreaks have led to endemics and epidemics around the world, resulting in millions of deaths. The increase in climate change, migration and urbanization, overcrowding, and other factors continue to increase the spread of TDs. More cases of TDs are recorded as a result of substandard health care systems and lack of access to clean water and food. Early diagnosis of these diseases is crucial for treatment and control. Despite the advancement and development of numerous diagnosis assays, the healthcare system is still hindered by many challenges which include low sensitivity, specificity, the need of trained pathologists, the use of chemicals and a lack of point of care (POC) diagnostic. In order to address these issues, scientists have adopted the use of CRISPR/Cas systems which are gene editing technologies that mimic bacterial immune pathways. Recent advances in CRISPR-based biotechnology have significantly expanded the development of biomolecular sensors for diagnosing diseases and understanding cellular signaling pathways. The CRISPR/Cas strategy plays an excellent role in the field of biosensors. The latest developments are evolving with the specific use of CRISPR, which aims for a fast and accurate sensor system. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide concise knowledge on TDs associated with mosquitoes in terms of pathology and epidemiology as well as background knowledge on CRISPR in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Moreover, the study overviews the application of the CRISPR/Cas system for detection of TDs associated with mosquitoes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Neglected and Emerging Tropical Disease)
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19 pages, 1653 KiB  
Article
Spatially Explicit Environmental Factors Associated with Lymphatic Filariasis Infection in American Samoa
by Morgan E. Lemin, Angela Cadavid Restrepo, Helen J. Mayfield and Colleen L. Lau
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100295 - 12 Oct 2022
Viewed by 2316
Abstract
Under the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) American Samoa conducted seven rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) between 2000 and 2006. Subsequently, the territory passed the WHO recommended school-based transmission assessment survey (TAS) in 2011/2012 (TAS-1) and 2015 (TAS-2) but failed [...] Read more.
Under the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) American Samoa conducted seven rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) between 2000 and 2006. Subsequently, the territory passed the WHO recommended school-based transmission assessment survey (TAS) in 2011/2012 (TAS-1) and 2015 (TAS-2) but failed in 2016, when both TAS-3 and a community survey found LF antigen prevalence above what it had been in previous surveys. This study aimed to identify potential environmental drivers of LF to refine future surveillance efforts to detect re-emergence and recurrence. Data on five LF infection markers: antigen, Wb123, Bm14 and Bm33 antibodies and microfilaraemia, were obtained from a population-wide serosurvey conducted in American Samoa in 2016. Spatially explicit data on environmental factors were derived from freely available sources. Separate multivariable Poisson regression models were developed for each infection marker to assess and quantify the associations between LF infection markers and environmental variables. Rangeland, tree cover and urban cover were consistently associated with a higher seroprevalence of LF-infection markers, but to varying magnitudes between landcover classes. High slope gradient, population density and crop cover had a negative association with the seroprevalence of LF infection markers. No association between rainfall and LF infection markers was detected, potentially due to the limited variation in rainfall across the island. This study demonstrated that seroprevalence of LF infection markers were more consistently associated with topographical environmental variables, such as gradient of the slope, rather than climatic variables, such as rainfall. These results provide the initial groundwork to support the detection of areas where LF transmission is more likely to occur, and inform LF elimination efforts through better understanding of the environmental drivers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing the Power of Data and Technology to Improve Infectious Disease Control)
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27 pages, 678 KiB  
Systematic Review
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with Cruise Ship Travel: A Systematic Review
by Elena Cecilia Rosca, Carl Heneghan, Elizabeth A. Spencer, Jon Brassey, Annette Plüddemann, Igho J. Onakpoya, David Evans, John M. Conly and Tom Jefferson
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100290 - 9 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4329
Abstract
Background: Maritime and river travel may be associated with respiratory viral spread via infected passengers and/or crew and potentially through other transmission routes. The transmission models of SARS-CoV-2 associated with cruise ship travel are based on transmission dynamics of other respiratory viruses. We [...] Read more.
Background: Maritime and river travel may be associated with respiratory viral spread via infected passengers and/or crew and potentially through other transmission routes. The transmission models of SARS-CoV-2 associated with cruise ship travel are based on transmission dynamics of other respiratory viruses. We aimed to provide a summary and evaluation of relevant data on SARS-CoV-2 transmission aboard cruise ships, report policy implications, and highlight research gaps. Methods: We searched four electronic databases (up to 26 May 2022) and included studies on SARS-CoV-2 transmission aboard cruise ships. The quality of the studies was assessed based on five criteria, and relevant findings were reported. Results: We included 23 papers on onboard SARS-CoV-2 transmission (with 15 reports on different aspects of the outbreak on Diamond Princess and nine reports on other international cruises), 2 environmental studies, and 1 systematic review. Three articles presented data on both international cruises and the Diamond Princess. The quality of evidence from most studies was low to very low. Index case definitions were heterogeneous. The proportion of traced contacts ranged from 0.19 to 100%. Studies that followed up >80% of passengers and crew reported attack rates (AR) up to 59%. The presence of a distinct dose–response relationship was demonstrated by findings of increased ARs in multi-person cabins. Two studies performed viral cultures with eight positive results. Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed in individuals from three cruises. Two environmental studies reported PCR-positive samples (cycle threshold range 26.21–39.00). In one study, no infectious virus was isolated from any of the 76 environmental samples. Conclusion: Our review suggests that crowding and multiple persons per cabin were associated with an increased risk of transmission on cruise ships. Variations in design, methodology, and case ascertainment limit comparisons across studies and quantification of transmission risk. Standardized guidelines for conducting and reporting studies on cruise ships of acute respiratory infection transmission should be developed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Infectious Diseases)
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12 pages, 2452 KiB  
Article
Immunization with EmCRT-Induced Protective Immunity against Echinococcus multilocularis Infection in BALB/c Mice
by Lujuan Chen, Zhe Cheng, Siqi Xian, Bin Zhan, Zhijian Xu, Yan Yan, Jianfang Chen, Yanhai Wang and Limei Zhao
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100279 - 1 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2571
Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. The identification of the antigens eliciting acquired immunity during infection is important for vaccine development against Echinococcus infection. Here, we identified that E. multilocularis calreticulin ( [...] Read more.
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. The identification of the antigens eliciting acquired immunity during infection is important for vaccine development against Echinococcus infection. Here, we identified that E. multilocularis calreticulin (EmCRT), a ubiquitous protein with a Ca2+-binding ability, could be recognized by the sera of mice infected with E. multilocularis. The native EmCRT was expressed on the surface of E. multilocularis larvae as well as in the secreted products of metacestode vesicles and protoscoleces (PSCs). The coding DNA for EmCRT was cloned from the mRNA of the E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles and a recombinant EmCRT protein (rEmCRT) was expressed in E. coli. Mice immunized with soluble rEmCRT formulated with Freund’s adjuvant (FA) produced a 43.16% larval vesicle weight reduction against the challenge of E. multilocularis PSCs compared to those that received the PBS control associated with a high titer of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses as well as high levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10), produced by splenocytes. Our results suggest that EmCRT is an immunodominant protein secreted by E. multilocularis larvae and a vaccine candidate that induces partial protective immunity in vaccinated mice against Echinococcus infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Immunology of Zoonotic Infection)
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17 pages, 3378 KiB  
Article
Healthcare Management of Human African Trypanosomiasis Cases in the Eastern, Muchinga and Lusaka Provinces of Zambia
by Allan Mayaba Mwiinde, Martin Simuunza, Boniface Namangala, Chitalu Miriam Chama-Chiliba, Noreen Machila, Neil E. Anderson, Peter M. Atkinson and Susan C. Welburn
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100270 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3139
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease that has not received much attention in Zambia and most of the countries in which it occurs. In this study, we assessed the adequacy of the healthcare delivery system in diagnosis and management of [...] Read more.
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease that has not received much attention in Zambia and most of the countries in which it occurs. In this study, we assessed the adequacy of the healthcare delivery system in diagnosis and management of rHAT cases, the environmental factors associated with transmission, the population at risk and the geographical location of rHAT cases. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted among the affected communities and health workers. The study identified 64 cases of rHAT, of which 26 were identified through active surveillance and 38 through passive surveillance. We identified a significant association between knowledge of the vector for rHAT and knowledge of rHAT transmission (p < 0.028). In all four districts, late or poor diagnosis occurred due to a lack of qualified laboratory technicians and diagnostic equipment. This study reveals that the current Zambian healthcare system is not able to adequately handle rHAT cases. Targeted policies to improve staff training in rHAT disease detection and management are needed to ensure that sustainable elimination of this public health problem is achieved in line with global targets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Health (GeoHealth): Current Trends, Methods, and Applications)
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21 pages, 787 KiB  
Review
Epidemiology of Leptospirosis: The First Literature Review of the Neglected Disease in the Middle East
by Elena Harran, Christo Hilan, Zouheira Djelouadji and Florence Ayral
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100260 - 24 Sep 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5025
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease that has emerged worldwide, and numerous studies performed in affected countries have provided epidemiological knowledge of the disease. However, currently, there is inadequate knowledge of leptospirosis in the Middle East. Therefore, we grouped publications from various Middle [...] Read more.
Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease that has emerged worldwide, and numerous studies performed in affected countries have provided epidemiological knowledge of the disease. However, currently, there is inadequate knowledge of leptospirosis in the Middle East. Therefore, we grouped publications from various Middle Eastern countries to acquire a general knowledge of the epidemiological situation of leptospirosis and provide an initial description of the leptospiral relative risk and circulating serogroups. We conducted a detailed literature search of existing studies describing Leptospira prevalence and seroprevalence in Middle Eastern countries. The search was performed using online PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. One hundred and one articles were included in this review. Some countries, including Iran, Turkey, and Egypt, reported more publications compared to others, such as Lebanon, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Frequently, the seroprevalence of leptospirosis varied considerably between and within countries. The prevalence of leptospirosis was comparable in most Middle Eastern countries; however, it varied between some countries. The methods of detection also varied among studies, with the microscopic agglutination test used most commonly. Some hosts were more recurrent compared with others. This review summarizes the epidemiological situation of Leptospira infection in the Middle East, reporting predominant serogroups—Sejroe, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Autumnalis, and Pomona—that were identified in the most commonly tested hosts. Our findings emphasize the need to develop a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of Leptospira spp. and prioritize the disease as a public health problem in this region. To achieve this goal, increased awareness is critical, and more publications related to the topic and following a standardized approach are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leptospirosis and One Health Approach: Current Status and Future Prospects)
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17 pages, 639 KiB  
Systematic Review
Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, Diagnostic Work Up, and Treatment Options of Leishmania Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review
by Evaldo Favi, Giuliano Santolamazza, Francesco Botticelli, Carlo Alfieri, Serena Delbue, Roberto Cacciola, Andrea Guarneri and Mariano Ferraresso
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(10), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7100258 - 22 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2287
Abstract
Current knowledge on Leishmania infection after kidney transplantation (KT) is limited. In order to offer a comprehensive guide for the management of post-transplant Leishmaniasis, we performed a systematic review following the latest PRISMA Checklist and using PubMed, Scopus, and Embase as databases. No [...] Read more.
Current knowledge on Leishmania infection after kidney transplantation (KT) is limited. In order to offer a comprehensive guide for the management of post-transplant Leishmaniasis, we performed a systematic review following the latest PRISMA Checklist and using PubMed, Scopus, and Embase as databases. No time restrictions were applied, including all English-edited articles on Leishmaniasis in KT recipients. Selected items were assessed for methodological quality using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Given the nature and quality of the studies (case reports and retrospective uncontrolled case series), data could not be meta-analyzed. A descriptive summary was therefore provided. Eventually, we selected 70 studies, describing a total of 159 cases of Leishmaniasis. Most of the patients were adult, male, and Caucasian. Furthermore, they were frequently living or travelling to endemic regions. The onset of the disease was variable, but more often in the late transplant course. The clinical features were basically similar to those reported in the general population. However, a generalized delay in diagnosis and treatment could be detected. Bone marrow aspiration was the preferred diagnostic modality. The main treatment options included pentavalent antimonial and liposomal amphotericin B, both showing mixed results. Overall, the outcomes appeared as concerning, with several patients dying or losing their transplant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancement in Leishmaniasis Diagnosis and Therapeutics)
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14 pages, 4898 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Oviposition on the Coast of Paraná, Brazil, a Recent Area of Dengue Virus Transmission
by Silvia Jaqueline Pereira de Souza, André de Camargo Guaraldo, Nildimar Alves Honório, Daniel Cardoso Portela Câmara, Natali Mary Sukow, Sarita Terezinha Machado, Claudia Nunes Duarte dos Santos and Magda Clara Vieira da Costa-Ribeiro
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(9), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090246 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3677
Abstract
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are considered the most important vectors of arboviruses in the world. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, urban yellow fever, chikungunya and zika in Brazil, and Ae. albopictus is considered a potential vector. Distribution patterns and [...] Read more.
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are considered the most important vectors of arboviruses in the world. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, urban yellow fever, chikungunya and zika in Brazil, and Ae. albopictus is considered a potential vector. Distribution patterns and the influence of climatic variables on the oviposition of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were evaluated in Morretes, a tourist city in the coastal area of Paraná State, Brazil, which has recently been experiencing cases of dengue fever. Eggs were collected using ovitraps over a period of one year (September 2017 to September 2018) and reared from hatching until the emergence of the adults. Both Aedes species were found in anthropized areas with a high human density index. Findings suggest that the monthly average temperature (LRT = 16.65, p = 0.001) had significant positive influences on the oviposition of the Aedes species. Considering the wide distribution of DENV around the Paraná coast and the presence of Ae. albopictus alongside Ae. aegypti, studies on natural arbovirus infection patterns and seasonality are recommended in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases and Public Health Challenges)
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13 pages, 685 KiB  
Article
A Risk Prediction Model and Risk Score of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Following Healthcare-Related Exposure
by Kantarida Sripanidkulchai, Pinyo Rattanaumpawan, Winai Ratanasuwan, Nasikarn Angkasekwinai, Susan Assanasen, Peerawong Werarak, Oranich Navanukroh, Phatharajit Phatharodom and Teerapong Tocharoenchok
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(9), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090248 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2526
Abstract
Hospital workers are at high risk of contact with COVID-19 patients. Currently, there is no evidence-based, comprehensive risk assessment tool for healthcare-related exposure; so, we aimed to identify independent factors related to COVID-19 infection in hospital workers following workplace exposure(s) and construct a [...] Read more.
Hospital workers are at high risk of contact with COVID-19 patients. Currently, there is no evidence-based, comprehensive risk assessment tool for healthcare-related exposure; so, we aimed to identify independent factors related to COVID-19 infection in hospital workers following workplace exposure(s) and construct a risk prediction model. We analyzed the COVID-19 contact tracing dataset from 15 July to 31 December 2021 using multiple logistic regression analysis, considering exposure details, demographics, and vaccination history. Of 7146 included exposures to confirmed COVID-19 patients, 229 (4.2%) had subsequently tested positive via RT-PCR. Independent risk factors for a positive test were having symptoms (adjusted odds ratio 4.94, 95%CI 3.83–6.39), participating in an unprotected aerosol-generating procedure (aOR 2.87, 1.66–4.96), duration of exposure >15 min (aOR 2.52, 1.82–3.49), personnel who did not wear a mask (aOR 2.49, 1.75–3.54), exposure to aerodigestive secretion (aOR 1.5, 1.03–2.17), index patient not wearing a mask (aOR 1.44, 1.01–2.07), and exposure distance <1 m without eye protection (aOR 1.39, 1.02–1.89). High-potency vaccines and high levels of education protected against infection. A risk model and scoring system with good discrimination power were built. Having symptoms, unprotected exposure, lower education level, and receiving low potency vaccines increased the risk of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 following healthcare-related exposure events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19: Current Status and Future Prospects)
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