Journal of Vector Borne Diseases最新文献

Background objectives: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is reported as the most neglected tropical disease. The polarization of macrophages such as M1 or M2 phenotypes significantly affects the development of leishmaniasis disease. However, the accurate immune responses behind the macrophage polarization process in cutaneous Leishmaniasis are poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the status of macrophage polarization in cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia, from January to December 2023. Patients aged 18 to 65 yrs diagnosed with cutaneous Leishmaniasis were included. Patients with other immunocompromising conditions (e.g., HIV infection), those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, or those with systemic Leishmaniasis were excluded.

Results: In a sample of 70 cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, macrophage polarization profiles were assessed in 43 (61.42%) patients in the case group and 27 (38.57%) in the control group. The experimental group had a higher prevalence of mild iNOS expression (24/43), while the control group had more iNOS-negative subjects (11/27). Arg-1 expression analysis showed a higher adverse and mild expression incidence in both groups, with 26/43 and 16/43 cases, respectively. Ml macrophage polarization was significantly higher in patients with lesions <4 (65.11%) compared to M2 polarization (11.62%). Lesions lasting <12 months also showed greater M1 polarization (51.61%) compared to M2 (30.23%), with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Additionally, ulcerated lesions were more common in the M1 group (37.20%) than in the M2 group (16.27%) (p < 0.001).

Interpretation conclusion: The findings reported that M1 macrophages are more prevalent in CL's early and acute stages, while M2 macrophages may be more active in the long-term or healing phases. There were also notable changes in macrophage polarization among the experimental and control groups.

Background objectives: Mosquitoes transmit malaria and other infectious diseases. A thorough understanding of the dynamics, biting behavior, and infectiousness of Anopheles vector, sporozoites is required to calculate transmission indices and develop effective control tactics. The goal of this study was to identify the mosquito species in a rural settlement near the Osogbo city in southern Nigeria, as well as their sources of blood meals and the rate at which sporozoites are formed.

Methods: From June to December 2021, 23 homes in the community were chosen at random to catch adult mosquitos with CDC light traps and Pyrethrum Spray Catches (PSC). Mosquitoes were sorted using morphological criteria, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the origin of the blood meal, check for the infectivity of sporozoites in the mosquitoes, and calculate the fraction of An. gambiae s.l. collected.

Results: Among the 318 mosquitos collected, 185 (58.18%) were recognized as An. gambiae s.l., 4 (1.26 %) as Aedes aegypti, 104 (32.70 %) as Cx. quequinfasciatus, and 25 (7.86 %) as M. uniformis. The PCR revealed that the specimens of An. gambiae s.l. were 96% An. colluzzi and 4% An. gambiae s.s. The An. colluzzi mosquito species only consumed human blood.

Interpretation conclusion: The presence of sporozoites in none of the An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes in the area indicates a low rate of malaria transmission. The anthropoliphic nature of the Anopheles species implies a danger of malaria transmission, despite the fact that none of the Anopheles tested positive for sporozoites.

Background objectives: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors for dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses, which threaten over half the world's population. Therefore, new techniques are needed to control vector mosquitoes. The present study aimed to control female A. aegypti by targeting 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and ecdysone receptor (EcR), which could potentially disrupt egg development, using sulfasalazine (SSZ)-double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA) nanoparticles (NPs).

Methods: The SSZ-dsRNA NPs are characterized by light microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, raman spectroscopy, and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Next, 40 pl of SSZ, dsRNA, and SSZ-dsRNA NPs individually were injected into eggs of Ae. aegypti. Finally, the temporal gene expression levels of 3β-HSD and EcR genes were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: The mortality rate and sterility were significantly increased (p<0.05), and the percentage of fecundity and viable progeny (p<0.05) showed effective results when exposed to SSZ-dsRNA compared to control eggs. In addition, the Sf9 cell line also confirmed the downregulation of the m-RNA 3β-HSD and EcR successfully when exposed to SSZ-dsRNA.

Interpretation conclusion: The current study proves for the first time that SSZ-dsRNA NPs can be used broadly for 3β-HSD and ECR gene silencing in mosquitoes. The use of this NPs SSZ-dsRNA complex in mosquito eggs leads to reduced fecundity in Ae. aegypti. This method will open a new door for mosquito control, which can be explored and utilized with future comprehensive research for better results. This method is not only limited to the mosquito species like Ae. Aegypti, it can also be tried with different mosquitoes as well as other insect species that cause harm to humans as pests of crops or vectors of various diseases.

Background objectives: Chikungunya fever is caused by an arbovirus transmitted primarily by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is prevalent in Mexico along with other pathogens carried by this vector. This study aimed to detect the presence of the Chikungunya virus in A.Aegypti mosquitoes in a vulnerable area of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

Methods: Mosquitoes were collected from both indoor and outdoor areas of 87 households using BG-GAT and Gravid traps during the fall of 2015. The presence of CHIKV was determined molecularly using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the infection rate was calculated using the PooledInfRate program.

Results: A total of 328 female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were captured, grouped into 131 pools. 66% of them tested positive for CHIKV. The infection rate, as measured by Minimum Infection Rate (MIR), was 26%, and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) was 15.2%.

Interpretation conclusion: The presence of the infected vector was confirmed in the study area. This first report in the region highlights the need for active epidemiological surveillance to prevent potential Chikungunya outbreaks in this border population.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) typically presents with various bleeding manifestations such as epistaxis, gum bleeding, and gastrointestinal bleeding. However, spontaneous large muscle hematoma formation is a rare complication. This case report discusses a patient with DHF who developed bilateral psoas muscle hematomas, a very uncommon presentation. The patient experienced acute abdominal pain and was diagnosed with psoas muscle hematomas complicated by bacterial infection. Conservative treatment, including fluid management, blood transfusions, and antibiotics, led to the patient's full recovery. This case highlights the importance of suspecting muscle hematomas in DHF patients who present with sudden abdominal or flank pain, especially in the context of dropping hemoglobin and platelet counts. Imaging techniques such as ultrasonography and CT scans are critical for diagnosis. Early diagnosis, close monitoring, and appropriate conservative management are essential for preventing serious outcomes. Prompt treatment of any secondary infections is also crucial to patient recovery. This case report is reminding clinicians to consider this rare complication similar to previous studies as reviewed.

West Nile virus (WNV) infection is emerging as a disease of public health concern in Kerala, India with recurring outbreaks since 2011. With its tropical climate, biodiversity hot spots of Western ghats, forest cover, plenty of water bodies and bird sanctuaries, Kerala provides an ideal ecological niche for vector breeding and transmission of WNV. In this article, we reflect on the peculiar features of the outbreaks of WNV fever in Kerala and highlight the knowledge gaps, the research priorities and the need for effective control measures. Information on transmission patterns of WNV, its circulating lineages and identification of vectors is needed to adopt appropriate control strategies in the state. In addition to the active measures on the part of the health system to ensure vector control and to curtail transmission pathways of the disease, inclusion of the community in preventing WNV infection through awareness campaigns and other participatory control measures should be initiated in the pre-monsoon months.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is an arboviral single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. Initial reports of the virus were found in 1937 when the WNV was isolated from a febrile individual from Uganda and later reported from Algeria, West Africa, and the Middle East. Since then, every year cases of WNV infections are emerging and posing a threat to public health.

Worldwide elimination of malaria remains a challenge yet to be accomplished, and the domain of malaria relapse equally remains obtuse. Yet sophisticated cell culture and screening techniques and animal models are being constructed and molecular regulations are discovered in this intriguing discipline. An elaborate understanding of these schemes is mandatory to conceive effective therapeutic strategies. Hence this present review details the landmark paradigms, technical advances and novel clinical interventions pertaining to malaria relapse. Keywords such as 'Malaria', 'Vivax Relapse' and 'Hypnozoites' were selected from the PubMed database, and the data were duly extracted for the present manuscript to be synthesized. In addition, special attention was given to the molecular nature and activation of hypnozoites and sexual cycles of parasites in the context of malaria relapse biology.

Background objectives: Co-infection of dengue virus and acute hepatitis A virus in paediatric population is a major health concern in endemic countries. This cross sectional retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus among the clinically dengue suspected paediatric cases presented at our tertiary care centre during the two-year period (2022-2023).

Methods: A total of 747 dengue suspected paediatric clinical specimens were included in this study. Serological diagnosis of DENV and HAV was done using Dengue IgM capture ELISA kit and anti-HAV IgM ELISA kits.

Results: Out of the 747 dengue suspected paediatric patients, 245 (32.8%) were seropositive for either DENV, HAV, or both viruses and among these 135 (18.07%) were positive for DENV, 110 (14.72%) were positive for HAV, 22 (2.94%) were co-infected with both DENV and HAV. Further, among DENV seronegative cases, 88 (11.78%) clinical samples were found to be HAV positive. Among all the age groups, the highest prevalence of DENV and HAV was observed in 6-10 yrs. The monsoon season observed the highest number of seropositive cases compared to winter season and summer seasons. Fever was found to be most prevalent clinical symptom followed by nausea/vomiting and stomach discomfort.

Interpretation conclusion: This study underlines the significance of differential diagnosis for the detection of concurrently transmitted viral diseases during the common seasons in the endemic areas. Diagnostic challenges like misdiagnosis events can be solved by advising differential diagnosis especially in paediatric cases.

Background and objectives: Salivary glands proteins but not glycoconjugates have been previously studied in mosquito vectors of human diseases. Glycoconjugates from salivary gland-derived proteins from human-feeding tick vectors can elicit hypersensitivity reactions which may also occur with mosquito bites. Protein glycoconjugate in salivary glands of the principal arboviral vector Aedes aegypti and the rapidly spreading malaria vector Anopheles stephensi were therefore investigated.

Methods: Forty different lectins in a microarray were used to analyse glycoconjugates in salivary gland proteins from both mosquito species.

Results: Salivary gland glycoproteins of both mosquitoes possessed similar lectin-binding specificities. Lectin-binding profiles in both mosquitoes showed the significant presence of oligomannose N-linked glycans, O-linked glycans, a limited presence of glycan structures capped with terminal GalNAc, GlcNAc, β linked Gal, α1-6 linked fucose, and no detectable sialic acids or terminal α-linked Gal in salivary gland glycoproteins.

Interpretation conclusion: Aedes aegypti and An. stephensi possess similar salivary gland protein glycoconjugates to mosquito larval tissues. They differ from arachnid ticks in lacking detectable α-gal epitopes that are responsible for red meat allergy caused by tick bites.