Acta tropica最新文献_第7页

Evaluation of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii matrix antigen MAG1 for toxoplasmosis screening in HIV/AIDS patients 重组刚地弓形虫基质抗原MAG1对HIV/AIDS患者弓形虫病筛查的评价

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107983

Ruenruetai Udonsom , Charoonluk Jirapattharasate , Supaluk Popruk , Sumonmal Uttayamakul , Intira Tantawiwattananon , Manas Kotepui , Sukhontha Siri , Hirotake Mori , Yoshifumi Nishikawa , Aongart Mahittikorn

Timely serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii is critical for HIV/AIDS patients, in whom latent infection can reactivate into life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a novel recombinant T. gondii matrix antigen 1 (TgMAG1)-based indirect ELISA and a commercial latex agglutination test (LAT) for detecting anti-T. gondii IgG in HIV/AIDS patients, using the Sabin-Feldman dye test (DT) as the reference standard. A secondary objective was to determine the current prevalence of latent toxoplasmosis in this population in Thailand. We conducted a comparative serological evaluation using 348 residual clinical specimens collected from 2016 to 2019 from HIV/AIDS patients. All samples were tested using the in-house TgMAG1 ELISA, a commercial LAT, and the DT. The sensitivity, specificity, and agreement (kappa statistic) of each index test were calculated against the DT. The DT identified a T. gondii seroprevalence of 12.36% (43/348; 95% CI: 8.94–16.64). Compared to the DT, the TgMAG1-ELISA demonstrated a sensitivity of 72.09% and a specificity of 93.11%, with moderate agreement (κ = 0.598). The LAT showed a similar sensitivity of 69.76% but a higher specificity of 97.04%, achieving substantial agreement with the DT (κ = 0.696). In conclusion, both the TgMAG1-based ELISA and LAT demonstrated high specificity but moderate sensitivity compared to the reference standard. Consequently, while these assays are valuable screening tools in settings lacking the DT, their results require careful interpretation and potential confirmation in high-risk populations.

及时诊断刚地弓形虫对艾滋病毒/艾滋病患者至关重要，潜伏感染可重新激活为危及生命的弓形虫脑炎。本研究旨在评价基于新型重组弓形虫基质抗原1 （TgMAG1）的间接ELISA和商用乳胶凝集试验（LAT）检测抗t的诊断性能。以Sabin-Feldman染色试验（DT）作为参考标准。次要目的是确定泰国这一人群中潜伏弓形虫病的当前流行情况。我们对2016年至2019年收集的348例HIV/AIDS患者临床剩余标本进行了比较血清学评估。所有样品均使用内部TgMAG1 ELISA、商用LAT和DT进行检测。根据DT计算各指标检验的敏感性、特异性和一致性（kappa统计量）。弓形虫血清阳性率为12.36% （43/348;95% CI: 8.94 ~ 16.64）。与DT相比，TgMAG1-ELISA的敏感性为72.09%，特异性为93.11%，一致性中等（κ = 0.598）。LAT的敏感性为69.76%，特异度为97.04%，与DT基本一致（κ = 0.696）。综上所述，与参比标准相比，基于tgmag1的ELISA和LAT均具有较高的特异性，但敏感性中等。因此，虽然这些检测在缺乏DT的环境中是有价值的筛查工具，但它们的结果需要仔细解释和在高风险人群中进行潜在的确认。

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引用次数: 0

Bile acid alterations in biliary obstruction patients with clonorchiasis 支睾吸虫病患者胆道梗阻的胆汁酸变化。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-21 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107989

Shiwen Hua , Xiang Li , Zhenli Xu , Rui Chen , Qinghua Wu , Wenge Yang , Yun Tao , Shanshan Duan , Jian Ding , Jie Wan , Jingjie Lei , Yang Cheng , Yifan Sun , Youyi Liu , Su Han

Background

Clonorchiasis is a significant foodborne zoonotic parasitic disease that leads to severe complications such as cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis, and biliary obstruction (BO). Abnormalities in bile acids (BAs) play a crucial role in BO progression. Nevertheless, the abnormalities in BAs and their role in BO patients with Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) infection remain inadequately understood.

Methods

This study included BO patients with or without C. sinensis infection. Bile samples were collected via Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and bile acid (BA) profiles were analyzed by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Biliary microbiota was analyzed through high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequencing. Spearman correlation assessed associations between BA, biochemical markers, and biliary microbiota.

Result

Metabolomic analysis revealed that the levels of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), and 3β-cholic acid (βCA) were significantly reduced in C. s-infected group and positively correlated with Enterococcus abundance. Furthermore, the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) demonstrated a strong positive correlation with CA (cholic acid)/CDCA (r = 0.74, P = 0.01) and (CA+deoxycholic acid [DCA])/(CDCA+lithocholic acid [LCA]) (r = 0.75, P = 0.01) in the C. s-infected group.

Conclusions

BO patients infected with C. sinensis displayed BA profiles, with reduced CDCA, UDCA, HDCA, and β-CA levels correlating with Enterococcus abundance. These preliminary findings suggest an interaction among BA metabolism, the biliary microbiota, and liver damage associated with parasitic infection.

背景：支睾吸虫病是一种重要的食源性人畜共患寄生虫病，可导致胆囊炎、肝硬化和胆道梗阻（BO）等严重并发症。胆汁酸（BAs）异常在BO进展中起着至关重要的作用。然而，BAs异常及其在BO患者感染华支睾吸虫（C. sinensis）中的作用仍未充分了解。方法：本研究纳入了伴有或未伴有中华梭菌感染的BO患者。采用内窥镜逆行胆管胰胆管造影（ERCP）采集胆汁样本，采用液相色谱-电喷雾电离串联质谱（LC-MS/MS）分析胆汁酸（BA）谱。通过高通量16S核糖体RNA （16S rRNA）基因测序分析胆道微生物群。Spearman相关性评估BA、生化标记物和胆道微生物群之间的关联。结果：代谢组学分析显示c - s感染组鹅去氧胆酸（CDCA）、熊去氧胆酸（UDCA）、羟基去氧胆酸（HDCA）和3β-胆酸（βCA）水平显著降低，并与肠球菌丰度呈正相关。此外，c - s感染组碱性磷酸酶（ALP）水平与CA（胆酸）/CDCA （r = 0.74,P = 0.01）和（CA+脱氧胆酸[DCA]）/(CDCA+石胆酸[LCA]) （r = 0.75,P = 0.01）呈极显著正相关。结论：感染中华梭菌的BO患者表现出BA谱，CDCA、UDCA、HDCA和β-CA水平的降低与肠球菌丰度相关。这些初步发现表明BA代谢、胆道微生物群和与寄生虫感染相关的肝损伤之间存在相互作用。

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引用次数: 0

Emerging role of Candida species virulence factors and antifungal resistance in ureteral stent colonization and encrustation 念珠菌种毒力因子和抗真菌耐药性在输尿管支架定植和结痂中的新作用

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107979

Nargis Khan , Rani Faryal

Background

Ureteral stents are susceptible to colonization by Candida species, leading to stent-associated infections that are often difficult to treat. This study aimed to identify the Candida species colonizing ureteral stents and to assess the potential impact of their virulence factors on ureteral stent encrustation.

Material and methods

Candida species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated and identified from urine and ureteral stent samples. Phenotypic and genotypic detection of virulence factors and antifungal resistance was performed. In addition, the anticandidal activity of Pseudomonas species was evaluated.

Results

Among 25/95 patients, 32 Candida isolates were identified, of which 17 (53.1 %) were from ureteral stents and 15(46.8 %) were from urine samples. Candida albicans and non-albicans were significantly associated with stent colonization (p = 0.00001 and p = 0.000092). A significant association was observed between Candida-positive ureteral stents and concurrent urine culture positivity (p = 0.0153). P. aeruginosa was isolated in 29.5 % of patients, and all exhibited anticandidal activity. A significant inverse association (p < 0.05) was observed between the presence of P. aeruginosa and Candida colonization. Biofilm formation was detected in 51.8 % of stent-derived isolates. Urease activity was higher in ureteral stent isolates (94.1 %) (p = 0.04). Fluconazole and voriconazole resistance was 70 % and 53 % in ureteral stent isolates, and 47 % and 53 % in urine. The ALS1 and Hwp1 genes were detected in 78 % and 93 % of isolates, while the Erg11 gene was detected in 47 % isolates. C. albicans predominated in stent colonization, exhibiting enhanced virulence traits and antifungal resistance. These findings suggest that Candida species associated with ureteral stents contribute to encrustation, potentially complicating treatment and highlighting the need for targeted therapeutic strategies.

背景：输尿管支架容易被念珠菌定植，导致支架相关感染，通常难以治疗。本研究旨在鉴定输尿管支架的念珠菌种类，并评估其毒力因素对输尿管支架结壳的潜在影响。材料与方法从尿液和输尿管支架样品中分离鉴定出假单胞菌和铜绿假单胞菌。对毒力因子和抗真菌耐药性进行表型和基因型检测。此外，还对假单胞菌的抗假单胞菌活性进行了评价。结果25/95例患者中检出念珠菌32株，其中输尿管支架17株（53.1%），尿液15株（46.8%）。白色念珠菌和非白色念珠菌与支架定植显著相关（p = 0.00001和p = 0.000092）。念珠菌阳性输尿管支架与同期尿培养阳性之间存在显著相关性（p = 0.0153）。29.5%的患者分离到铜绿假单胞菌，且均表现出抗假单胞菌活性。铜绿假单胞菌的存在与念珠菌的定植呈显著的负相关（p < 0.05）。51.8%的支架源性分离株检测到生物膜形成。输尿管支架分离株脲酶活性较高（94.1%）（p = 0.04）。输尿管支架分离株中氟康唑和伏立康唑耐药率分别为70%和53%，尿中耐药率分别为47%和53%。ALS1和Hwp1基因分别在78%和93%的分离株中检测到，而Erg11基因在47%的分离株中检测到。白色念珠菌在支架定植中占主导地位，表现出增强的毒力特征和抗真菌耐药性。这些发现表明，与输尿管支架相关的念珠菌物种有助于结痂，可能使治疗复杂化，并强调需要有针对性的治疗策略。

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引用次数: 0

Repurposing of FDA-approved drugs to identify potential ns2b/ns3 protease inhibitors against dengue virus: In silico and in vitro evaluation 重新利用fda批准的药物来鉴定潜在的抗登革热病毒ns2b/ns3蛋白酶抑制剂：计算机和体外评估

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107987

Adiba, Alia Uzma, Mustafeez Mujtaba Babar, Muhammad Armaghan Khalid, Muhammad Tariq Navid, Liaqat Ali, Deeba Amraiz

Dengue virus (DENV) poses a significant global health burden, affecting many countries and regions worldwide, with no specific antiviral therapy currently available. The NS2B/NS3 protease is a crucial enzyme in viral replication, making it a promising target for the development of antiviral drugs. Drug repurposing offers a rapid and cost-efficient strategy by evaluating FDA-approved compounds for new antiviral indications. The present study aimed to identify potent inhibitors of DENV-2 NS2B/NS3 protease with an integrated in silico and in vitro analysis. Molecular docking was used to screen a library of 3109 FDA-approved drugs in the ZINC database with PyRx software. The three hits, Simeprevir, Saquinavir, and Dolutegravir were subsequently evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antiviral activity in Vero cells, using MTT and infectivity-based assays, respectively. MD simulations confirmed stable binding of Dolutegravir, Saquinavir, and Simeprevir with DENV NS2B/NS3 protease. Although dolutegravir displayed a slightly lower docking affinity, the compound demonstrated the lowest cytotoxicity with CC₅₀ 133.7 µg/mL (318.8 µM), and slightly enhanced antiviral activity with IC₅₀ 22.5 µg/mL (53.7 µM) among the tested compounds. Saquinavir showed CC₅₀ of 118.6 µg/mL (176.8 µM)) and an IC₅₀ 25.0 µg/mL (37.3 µM) and Simeprevir exhibited CC₅₀ 80.9 µg/mL (107.9 µM) with an IC₅₀ 20.0 µg/mL (26.7 µM). This study reflects on the potential of Dolutegravir as a dengue protease inhibitor and also indicates the efficacy of drug repurposing as a drug discovery strategy in the paradigm of antiviral discovery. Dolutegravir was identified as a potential candidate against DENV-2, and additional research is needed with molecular dynamics, mechanistic inquiry, and in vivo support investigation.

登革热病毒（DENV）造成了重大的全球卫生负担，影响到世界上许多国家和地区，目前尚无专门的抗病毒治疗方法。NS2B/NS3蛋白酶是病毒复制的关键酶，是开发抗病毒药物的一个有希望的靶点。通过评估fda批准的用于新的抗病毒适应症的化合物，药物再利用提供了一种快速且具有成本效益的策略。本研究旨在通过集成的计算机和体外分析鉴定DENV-2 NS2B/NS3蛋白酶的有效抑制剂。利用PyRx软件对ZINC数据库中3109种fda批准的药物进行分子对接筛选。随后，分别使用MTT和基于感染的检测方法评估了三种药物Simeprevir、Saquinavir和Dolutegravir在Vero细胞中的细胞毒性和抗病毒活性。MD模拟证实Dolutegravir、Saquinavir和Simeprevir与DENV NS2B/NS3蛋白酶稳定结合。虽然dolutegravir显示出稍低的对接亲和力，但该化合物在CC₅₀133.7µg/mL（318.8µM）表现出最低的细胞毒性，并且在测试化合物中与IC₅₀22.5µg/mL（53.7µM）略有增强的抗病毒活性。Saquinavir显示CC₅0为118.6µg/mL(176.8µM))和IC₅0为25.0µg/mL(37.3µM)， Simeprevir显示CC₅0为80.9µg/mL(107.9µM)， IC₅0为20.0µg/mL（26.7µM）。这项研究反映了Dolutegravir作为登革热蛋白酶抑制剂的潜力，也表明了药物再利用作为一种药物发现策略在抗病毒发现范式中的有效性。Dolutegravir被确定为DENV-2的潜在候选药物，需要进一步的分子动力学、机制探究和体内支持研究。

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引用次数: 0

Pathogen assessment of Galapagos landbirds reveals novel herpesviruses and adenoviruses 对加拉帕戈斯陆鸟的病原体评估揭示了新型疱疹病毒和腺病毒。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107955

Ainoa Nieto-Claudin , Courtney L. Pike , Gislayne Mendoza-Alcívar , Birgit Fessl , David J. Anchundia , Sharon L. Deem , Paula A. Castaño , Kathleen Apakupakul , Roland Digby , Carlos Sacristán

Galapagos landbirds are currently threatened due to the negative effects of human encroachment. At least one species has become extinct, and several have been extirpated or suffered severe population declines in the past decades. Although some avian pathogens have been described over the years, the presence and prevalence of several infectious agents that may severely impact on the health and conservation of wild and domestic birds in the archipelago remain understudied. To fill this gap, we conducted a comprehensive health assessment of Galapagos landbirds covering five islands (including protected and anthropized areas), testing for three pathogens of avian conservation concern: adenoviruses (AdV), herpesviruses (HV), and Mycoplasma spp. Oral and cloacal swabs of 421 landbirds from 14 species were tested by PCR, and positive samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing. None of the samples were positive for Mycoplasma spp. A total of 35 birds (8.31 %) tested positive for AdV, while 13 (3.09 %) were positive for HV, with higher prevalences found within the inhabited islands of Floreana and Santa Cruz, respectively. Seven main AdV nucleotide sequence types (STs) were obtained, with AdV-1, AdV-3 and AdV-5 clustering within the genus Barthadenovirus, and AdV-2, AdV-4, AdV-6 and AdV-7 grouping within the genus Aviadenovirus. Three HV STs were obtained, with HV-1 and HV-3 clustering within the genus Mardivirus, and HV-2 grouping within the genus Iltovirus. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular description of novel adenoviruses and herpesviruses in Galapagos landbirds, which will inform current and future conservation efforts in the archipelago.

由于人类入侵的负面影响，加拉帕戈斯群岛的陆鸟目前受到威胁。在过去的几十年里，至少有一个物种已经灭绝，有几个物种已经灭绝或遭受了严重的数量下降。尽管多年来已经描述了一些禽类病原体，但对可能严重影响该群岛野生鸟类和家禽健康和保护的几种传染性病原体的存在和流行情况仍未进行充分研究。为了填补这一空白，我们对加拉帕戈斯群岛5个岛屿（包括保护区和人类活动区域）的陆鸟进行了全面的健康评估，检测了鸟类保护关注的3种病原体：腺病毒（AdV）、疱疹病毒（HV）和支原体，并对14种421只陆鸟的口腔和直肠拭子进行了PCR检测，阳性样本进行了Sanger测序。共有35只（8.31%）鸡AdV检测呈阳性，13只（3.09%）HV检测呈阳性，其中在圣克鲁斯岛和弗洛里安那岛的流行率较高。获得了7种主要的AdV核苷酸序列类型（STs），其中AdV-1、AdV-3和AdV-5属于巴塞腺病毒属，AdV-2、AdV-4、AdV-6和AdV-7属于鸟腺病毒属。获得3个HV STs， HV-1和HV-3聚集在Mardivirus属中，HV-2聚集在Iltovirus属中。据我们所知，这是加拉帕戈斯群岛陆鸟中新型腺病毒和疱疹病毒的首次分子描述，将为该群岛当前和未来的保护工作提供信息。

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引用次数: 0

Integrated diagnostic and host biomarker assessment of plasmodium infections in malaria-endemic Peshawar, Pakistan 巴基斯坦白沙瓦疟疾流行地区疟原虫感染的综合诊断和宿主生物标志物评估

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107967

Murad Ali Khan , Sadaf Fayaz , Muhammad Saeed , Raheela Murad , Armeela Murad , Rifat Ullah Khan , Shabana Naz , Antonella Perillo , Ibrahim A. Alhidary

Malaria remains a major public health problem in Pakistan, where Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum are predominant. Accurate diagnosis and characterization of malaria-associated hematological and biochemical alterations are essential for effective disease control. This cross-sectional study was conducted in District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during peak malaria transmission months. A total of 2500 suspected patients were screened. Capillary and venous blood samples were collected for microscopy, hematological and biochemical analyses, and PCR. Microscopy was performed on Giemsa-stained blood smears, while PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene was used for genus- and species-specific detection. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using PCR as the reference standard. Multivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted exploratorily to examine demographic, seasonal, and host-response associations. PCR detected significantly more malaria cases than microscopy (p = 0.001), confirming underestimation by the latter. Microscopy showed moderate sensitivity but perfect specificity, with an overall accuracy of 86.4 %, substantial agreement (κ = 0.692), and good discriminatory power (AUC = 0.823). Infection prevalence peaked in September, with higher rates among males aged 21–30 years (p = 0.04). Malaria-positive individuals exhibited significant hematological abnormalities, including reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell indices, alongside leukocyte alterations. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated ALT, AST, bilirubin, and ALP levels with reduced albumin. Parasite density showed negative correlations with hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet counts, and positive correlations with liver enzymes and bilirubin. Overall, this integrated diagnostic and host-response assessment highlights the substantial malaria burden in Peshawar and supports the added value of PCR-based detection combined with hematological and biochemical markers for improved surveillance and disease management.

在巴基斯坦，间日疟原虫和恶性疟原虫占主导地位，疟疾仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题。疟疾相关血液学和生化改变的准确诊断和特征对于有效控制疾病至关重要。这项横断面研究是在疟疾传播高峰期在开伯尔-普赫图赫瓦省白沙瓦区进行的。共筛查了2500名疑似患者。采集毛细血管和静脉血进行镜检、血液学和生化分析以及PCR检测。对吉姆萨病毒染色的血涂片进行显微镜检查，同时采用PCR靶向18S rRNA基因进行属和种特异性检测。以PCR作为参考标准评价诊断效果。探索性地进行了多变量和逻辑回归分析，以检查人口统计学、季节性和宿主反应的关联。PCR检测到的疟疾病例明显多于显微镜（p = 0.001），证实后者低估了疟疾病例。镜检显示灵敏度中等，特异性较好，总体准确率为86.4%，一致性较好（κ = 0.692），鉴别能力较好（AUC = 0.823）。9月感染高峰，21 ~ 30岁男性感染率较高（p = 0.04）。疟疾阳性个体表现出明显的血液学异常，包括血红蛋白、红细胞压积和红细胞指数降低，以及白细胞改变。生化分析显示ALT、AST、胆红素和ALP水平升高，白蛋白降低。寄生虫密度与血红蛋白、红细胞压积和血小板计数呈负相关，与肝酶和胆红素呈正相关。总体而言，这一综合诊断和宿主反应评估突出了白沙瓦严重的疟疾负担，并支持基于pcr的检测与血液学和生化标志物相结合的附加价值，以改善监测和疾病管理。

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引用次数: 0

Spatiotemporal patterns and clinical characteristics of leptospirosis hospitalizations in Ecuador: a nationwide study (2018–2023) 厄瓜多尔钩端螺旋体病住院的时空模式和临床特征：一项全国性研究（2018-2023）。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-05 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107970

Karime Montes-Escobar , Jefferson Alexander Cueva , Carlos Salas-Macias , Carolina Fonseca-Restrepo , Victor Montes , Naga Raju Maddela

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease highly sensitive to hydro-meteorological changes, posing significant challenges for health systems in endemic regions like Ecuador. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and clinical characteristics of leptospirosis hospitalizations in Ecuador from 2018 to 2023, identifying vulnerability factors for in-hospital mortality and geographical distribution. A retrospective nationwide study was conducted using hospital discharge records (ICD-10: A270, A278, A279), calculating age-adjusted hospitalization and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants. Associations between sociodemographic variables, clinical forms, and vital status were assessed using Fisher's exact test and Pearson’s Chi-square test. A total of 573 hospitalized cases and 11 deaths were analyzed. The results indicated that the icterohemorrhagic form (A270) was the primary determinant of mortality (p = 0.001); while it accounted for only 4.8% of survivors, it represented 45.5% of all fatal cases. Conversely, unspecified leptospirosis (A279) comprised 91.6 % of cases but showed lower lethality, and neither age nor sex were statistically significant predictors of death (p > 0.05). Temporally, hospitalization rates remained stable from 2018 to 2022, reaching a nadir of 0.0249 per 100,000 in 2021, but surged four-fold in 2023 to 0.1351 per 100,000. This outbreak was geographically concentrated in the Coastal provinces, particularly Guayas and Manabí, coinciding with reports of extreme rainfall. In conclusion, mortality in hospitalized patients is driven mainly by the clinical phenotype (A270) rather than demographic factors. The dramatic surge in 2023 highlights the region's vulnerability to environmental changes, suggesting that public health strategies must prioritize early diagnosis to differentiate severe forms and strengthen "One Health" surveillance in high-risk coastal areas to mitigate future climate-associated outbreaks.

钩端螺旋体病是一种被忽视的人畜共患疾病，对水文气象变化高度敏感，对厄瓜多尔等流行地区的卫生系统构成重大挑战。本研究的目的是分析2018 - 2023年厄瓜多尔钩端螺旋体病住院的时空格局和临床特征，确定住院死亡率的易感因素和地理分布。利用医院出院记录（ICD-10: A270, A278, A279）进行了一项回顾性全国研究，计算了每10万居民的年龄调整住院率和死亡率。使用Fisher精确检验和Pearson卡方检验评估社会人口学变量、临床形式和生命状态之间的关联。共分析了573例住院病例和11例死亡病例。结果表明，黄疸出血形式（A270）是死亡率的主要决定因素（p=0.001）；虽然它仅占幸存者的4.8%，但占所有死亡病例的45.5%。相反，未指明的钩端螺旋体病（A279）占91.6%的病例，但死亡率较低，年龄和性别都不是死亡的统计学显著预测因素（p < 0.05）。从时间上看，2018-2022年住院率保持稳定，2021年达到最低点0.0249 / 10万，但在2023年飙升4倍，达到0.1351 / 10万。这次疫情在地理上集中在沿海省份，特别是瓜亚斯和Manabí，与极端降雨的报告相吻合。综上所述，住院患者的死亡率主要由临床表型（A270）而非人口因素驱动。2023年的急剧增加凸显了该地区对环境变化的脆弱性，这表明公共卫生战略必须优先考虑早期诊断，以区分严重形式，并加强高风险沿海地区的“同一个健康”监测，以减轻未来与气候相关的疫情。

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引用次数: 0

Molecular detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections among asymptomatic Nigerian children using multiplex real-time PCR 多重实时荧光定量PCR检测尼日利亚无症状儿童贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫感染

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107972

Oluwasola O. Obebe , Sunday E. Oloche , Oluwatunmise L. Adeusi , Olalekan L. Salami

Giardia intestinalisand Cryptosporidium species are protozoan gastrointestinal parasites that are the leading cause of chronic infantile diarrhoea. They are the leading causes of childhood sickness and death worldwide, and they can induce malnutrition, anaemia, diarrhoea, and stunted growth. In Nigeria, there are currently few prevalence studies on the simultaneous identification of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in asymptomatic primary school students utilizing molecular detection techniques. To address the sensitivity issues associated with cyst identification in faecal samples using microscopy, multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate genomic DNAs extracted from stool samples from 184 asymptomatic school children for Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and questionnaires were used to collect epidemiological data. The overall infection rates for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 1.1% and 1.6% respectively. Schoolchildren who used pit latrines were more likely to have Giardia (2.3%) and Cryptosporidium (2.3%). In contrast, children who did not wash their hands after using the toilet were also more likely to have these protozoan parasites (2.4% and 4.9%). This study shows that Giardia and Cryptosporidium are present among asymptomatic schoolchildren in Nigeria, despite their low prevalence. More large-scale investigations using PCR-based multilocus genotyping in asymptomatic schoolchildren are recommended.

肠贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫是胃肠道寄生虫的原生动物，是导致婴儿慢性腹泻的主要原因。它们是全世界儿童疾病和死亡的主要原因，并可引起营养不良、贫血、腹泻和发育迟缓。在尼日利亚，目前很少有利用分子检测技术同时识别无症状小学生贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫感染的流行病学研究。为了解决显微镜下粪便样本中囊肿鉴定的敏感性问题，采用多重实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）对184例无症状学龄儿童粪便样本中提取的贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫基因组dna进行了检测，并采用问卷调查的方式收集流行病学数据。隐孢子虫和十二指肠棘球蚴总感染率分别为1.1%和1.6%。使用坑式厕所的学童更容易感染贾第鞭毛虫（2.3%）和隐孢子虫（2.3%）。相比之下，如厕后不洗手的儿童也更容易感染这些原生动物寄生虫（2.4%和4.9%）。这项研究表明，贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫存在于尼日利亚无症状学童中，尽管患病率较低。建议在无症状学龄儿童中使用基于聚合酶链反应的多位点基因分型进行更大规模的调查。

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引用次数: 0

Fasciola hepatica excretory and secretory products reprogram the Kupffer cell transcriptome to modulate hepatic damage progression 肝片形吸虫的排泄和分泌产物重编程库普弗细胞转录组来调节肝损伤的进展。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-21 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107988

Zhuo Lan , Minhao Zeng , Yan Yang , Xue Bai , Xue Wang , Hongyu Qiu , Junfeng Gao , Guofeng Cheng , Santiago Mas-Coma , Chunren Wang

Fasciola hepatica, a food-borne trematode that parasitizes the liver and bile ducts of cattle, sheep, other ruminants, and humans, is a critical zoonotic disease responsible for substantial hepatic pathology. Kupffer cells (KCs), the resident macrophages of the liver, act as the first line of defense against liver damage. Investigating the gene transcription changes in KCs during F. hepatica infection is essential for identifying new therapeutic targets and improving disease intervention strategies. A sheep model was experimentally infected with F. hepatica to obtain adult flukes, from which excretory and secretory products (ESPs) were prepared. To evaluate their hepatotoxic potential, these ESPs were administered via tail vein injection and intraperitoneal injection in mice, followed by liver extraction and histological analysis. F. hepatica ESPs (FhESPs) were then incubated in vitro with immortalized KCs (ImKCs), and RNA was extracted for transcriptomic profiling to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene transcription changes were further validated by qRT-PCR in mouse model. Overall, 308 genes were significantly upregulated, of which colony stimulating factor 3 (CSF3) showed the most pronounced change. And 222 genes were significantly downregulated. GO and KEGG analyses suggested that DEGs are putatively involved in pathways associated with liver fibrosis like JAK/STAT signaling pathway. CSF3 expression in KCs, indicating its possible involvement in IL-17 and JAK/STAT pathways via KEGG analyses. Our findings revealed the altered gene transcription profile in KCs following F. hepatica infection and highlighted CSF3 as a promising new therapeutic target for fasciolosis.

肝片吸虫是一种食源性吸虫，寄生于牛、羊、其他反刍动物和人类的肝脏和胆管中，是一种严重的人畜共患疾病，可导致大量肝脏病理。库普弗细胞（KCs）是肝脏的常驻巨噬细胞，是抵抗肝脏损伤的第一道防线。研究肝芽胞杆菌感染过程中KCs的基因转录变化对于确定新的治疗靶点和改进疾病干预策略至关重要。实验用羊模型感染肝f.f，获得成年吸虫，制备其排泄和分泌产物（ESPs）。为了评估这些ESPs的肝毒性，我们通过小鼠尾静脉注射和腹腔注射给药，然后进行肝脏提取和组织学分析。然后将肝F. ESPs （FhESPs）与永生化KCs （ImKCs）体外孵育，提取RNA进行转录组学分析，以鉴定差异表达基因（DEGs）。在小鼠模型中进一步通过qRT-PCR验证基因转录变化。总体而言，308个基因显著上调，其中集落刺激因子3 （CSF3）的变化最为明显。222个基因显著下调。GO和KEGG分析表明，deg可能参与与肝纤维化相关的途径，如JAK/STAT信号通路。在KCs中表达CSF3，通过KEGG分析表明其可能参与IL-17和JAK/STAT通路。我们的研究结果揭示了肝梭菌感染后KCs中基因转录谱的改变，并强调了CSF3是一种有希望的筋膜虫病新治疗靶点。

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引用次数: 0

Identification of villin-interacting virulence factors of Blastocystis hominis using yeast two-hybrid screening 利用酵母双杂交筛选鉴定人芽囊菌绒毛相互作用毒力因子。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-17 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107986

Yani Zhang, Yuanfeng Wang, Tianmeng Song, Yichen Zhao, Zhenchao Zhang, Xiaowei Tian, Shuai Wang, Zhenke Yang, Xuefang Mei

Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis), one of the most common intestinal protozoa infecting humans worldwide, is associated with gastrointestinal disorders, yet it remains unclear whether it secretes virulence factors that interact with villin, a key cytoskeletal protein essential for brush border homeostasis and epithelial barrier function. In this study, we constructed a high-quality normalized full-length B. hominis cDNA library (capacity 5.2 × 10⁶ CFU; recombination rate 95.8%) and performed yeast two-hybrid screening using villin as bait. Thirty initial positive clones were obtained, and sequencing combined with BLAST identified 24 unique prey proteins. Among these, 11 were in-frame (ORF-true), 8 proteins were selected for pairwise verification, and 6 proteins were ultimately confirmed to specifically interact with villin, including pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (XP_014525634), an ATP/GTP-binding protein-like molecule (OAO14457), and four hypothetical proteins (XP_012896330, XP_012895057, XP_012893676, XP_012894607). GO and KEGG analyses performed on the 24 prey proteins indicated enrichment in cellular metabolic processes and membrane-associated pathways. These findings identify multiple B. hominis proteins capable of interacting with villin, provide new insights into parasite-induced epithelial damage, and offer potential biomarkers and candidate targets for drug and vaccine development against blastocystosis.

人芽囊原虫（Blastocystis hominis, b.s hominis）是世界范围内最常见的感染人类的肠道原虫之一，与胃肠道疾病有关，但目前尚不清楚它是否分泌与绒毛蛋白相互作用的毒力因子，绒毛蛋白是毛囊边界稳态和上皮屏障功能所必需的关键细胞骨架蛋白。本研究构建了高质量归一化的人源双歧杆菌全长cDNA文库（容量为5.2 × 10⁶CFU，重组率为95.8%），并以绒毛蛋白为诱饵进行酵母双杂交筛选。获得30个初始阳性克隆，结合BLAST测序鉴定出24种独特的猎物蛋白。其中11个蛋白框内（ORF-true）， 8个蛋白进行两两验证，最终确定6个蛋白与vilin特异性相互作用，包括吡呤核苷酸转氢酶（XP_014525634）、ATP/ gtp结合蛋白样分子（OAO14457）和4个假设蛋白（XP_012896330、XP_012895057、XP_012893676、XP_012894607）。对24种猎物蛋白进行的GO和KEGG分析表明，它们在细胞代谢过程和膜相关途径中富集。这些发现确定了多种能够与绒毛蛋白相互作用的人原芽胞杆菌蛋白，为寄生虫诱导的上皮损伤提供了新的见解，并为针对囊胚发育的药物和疫苗开发提供了潜在的生物标志物和候选靶点。

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引用次数: 0