Acta tropica最新文献

{"title":"In-depth Spatio-temporal analysis of scarlet fever in subtropical China: Aiding targeted control efforts and the healthy China initiative","authors":"Shenglan Liu ,&nbsp;Hengming Liu ,&nbsp;Yuanzhi Huang ,&nbsp;Xinru Lei ,&nbsp;Dongliang Ke ,&nbsp;Zhiqun Lei ,&nbsp;Zhixin Lei","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107954","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107954","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The public health challenge of scarlet fever, caused by Group A Streptococcus, is significant due to its potential to develop into severe complications, including glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, and toxic shock syndrome. These sequelae substantially elevate long-term cardiovascular risks and contribute to increased child mortality rates. This investigation aimed to analyze the distribution of scarlet fever in terms of space and time in China from 2004 to 2020, and to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on its epidemiological characteristics. The comprehensive investigation utilized China's complete national surveillance infrastructure, analyzing 753,697 confirmed cases with 11 fatalities recorded monthly across all 31 provincial divisions from 2004 to 2020. This analysis identified persistent incidence escalation until 2018, with the annual percentage change (APC) peaking at 12.35%, through integrated application of Joinpoint regression, spatial autocorrelation, SaTScan spatiotemporal scanning, characterized by pronounced geographical clustering in northern and eastern provinces. For example the average incidence in high-risk regions like Beijing reached 14.36 per 100,000 and demographic concentration among children aged 0–9 years (Moran's <em>I</em> &gt; 0.4). Province-specific incidence predictions were developed using a range of time-series models that were tailored to the dynamics of local epidemics. The epidemiological landscape transformed dramatically following COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in 2020, with national incidence declining precipitously by over 70% and the previously dissolving as reflected in the plunge of Moran's I from 0.37 to 0.05. This research delivers the inaugural 17-year high-resolution baseline (2004–2019) and a multi-model analytical framework on the Asian continent, offering vital decision support for precision public health interventions as directed by the 'Healthy China' plan. The study concluded that NPIs played a significant role in controlling the spread of scarlet fever. The scientific approach of identifying high-risk areas and vulnerable child groups based on spatial, temporal, and demographic characteristics helps in optimizing the allocation of resources for prevention and control, thereby enhancing infection prevention and control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 107954"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145832090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Echinococcus granulosus (sensu stricto) genotype 1 in human in Saudi Arabia","authors":"Yosra Hussein Alam-Eldin ,&nbsp;Amany Mamdouh Abdulaziz ,&nbsp;Heba AbdElkader Aminou","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107960","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107960","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused by <em>Echinococcus granulosus</em>. Currently, little information is available on the genetic figure of <em>Echinococcus</em> species among human in Saudi Arabia. In the present study, 60 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPT) hydatid cysts that were confirmed and collected from Taif hospitals between 2019 and 2023. Deparaffinization was followed by DNA extraction. PCR protocol was used to amplify the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. The amplified PCR products were sequenced, and subsequent phylogenetic tree was constructed and analyzed. Fifty-four (90 %) of FFPTs cysts yielded specific DNA fragments, the rest gave no reaction. 100 % of the FFPTs samples that gave clear reaction were of G1 genotype indicating the predominance of this genotype in Saudi Arabia, especially in Taif governorate. This report has provided, for the first time, an insight of the molecular genotyping of hydatidosis in human cases in Saudi Arabia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 107960"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145877449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 107989"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146666824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges to malaria vaccine availability and successful implementation of malaria vaccine program in Africa","authors":"Rotimi J. Ojo ,&nbsp;Yusuff D. Igbayilola ,&nbsp;Gideon A. Gyebi","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107959","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107959","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The approval of malaria vaccines was a significant milestone towards malaria eradication in Africa which bear the major burden of the disease. Ensuring availability and access to these vaccines across Africa however, presents complex challenges that limit their immediate impact. This review looks at the main obstacles to malaria vaccine availability and successful implementation of malaria vaccine program in Africa using academic and health databases. Supply constraints appear to be the major factor, as the current manufacturing capacity was insufficient to meet the high demand across endemic regions in Africa. Moreover, vaccine coverage in Africa is also impacted by limited national health budget that pose constraints to acquire, transport, store and conduct immunization activities. Lack of confidence in healthcare system, misinformation and conspiracy theory about vaccine efficacy and safety frequently propagated through social networks, community and religious leaders greatly affect public confidence about vaccine in societies where past experiences with Western-led health initiatives have led many to question new interventions. Programmatic and logistical hurdles, such as cold chain requirements and multiple-dose schedules further complicate delivery in remote area while shortages in skilled health workers and weak pharmacovigilance systems limit programme effectiveness. Finally, inequities in allocation risk leaving high-burden but resource-constrained regions underserved. Addressing these challenges require coordinated global and regional action, including scaling up manufacturing capacity, continuous research to enhance vaccine effectiveness, stable funding for production and distribution, strengthening health systems and fostering community trust to ensure that the potential of malaria vaccines to eliminate malaria from Africa is achieved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 107959"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145852863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of artesunate and artemether against Opisthorchis felineus in rodent model","authors":"Maria Lvova ,&nbsp;Irina Orlovskaya ,&nbsp;Elena Goiman ,&nbsp;Denis Ponomarev ,&nbsp;Mikhail Tsyganov ,&nbsp;Galina Minkova ,&nbsp;Alexander Dushkin ,&nbsp;Damira Avgustinovich","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107966","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107966","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A comparative <em>in vivo</em> assessment of the artemisinin derivatives artesunate and artemether (150 and 300 mg/kg) and praziquantel (400 mg/kg) was conducted in a hamster model of opisthorchiasis caused by <em>Opisthorchis felineus</em>. Physiological, biochemical, and hematological parameters, including complete blood counts and peripheral blood cell composition, were evaluated in all experimental groups. The animals were infected with 100 metacercariae of <em>O. felineus</em> and 1.5 months post-infection received a single oral dose of the tested compounds. Food consumption was monitored before the experiment ended, after which worm burdens were quantified. The mean infestation intensity in hamsters was 41.9 ± 1.75 worms per animal. Artesunate and artemether produced mean worm burden reductions of 60% and 58% at 150 mg/kg and 84.5% and 82% at 300 mg/kg, respectively (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Artesunate showed statistically significant efficacy, and artemether demonstrated a trend-level effect, both exceeding that of praziquantel (65%). Unlike praziquantel, these compounds normalized alanine aminotransferase activity, which may suggest an absence of hepatotoxicity. Administration of artesunate and artemether at both doses normalized platelet, eosinophil, and basophil counts in infected animals. The results indicate that artemisinin derivatives may serve as promising alternatives for the treatment of <em>O. felineus</em> opisthorchiasis and warrant further preclinical and clinical evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 107966"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145896038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 107974"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146666809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 107973"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146666815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 107965"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146666822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 107988"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146666825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological profile, parasitological study and molecular characterization of cystic echinococcosis cases in children and adolescents in Algeria","authors":"Meryem Benmarce ,&nbsp;AbdElkarim Laatamna ,&nbsp;Jenny Knapp ,&nbsp;Laurence Millon ,&nbsp;Alicja Jasinska ,&nbsp;Elise Roy ,&nbsp;Assia Haif","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107957","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107957","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a major public health problem in North African countries, including Algeria. The epidemiology of Human CE is poorly documented in Algeria. The present study is a retrospective survey investigating the epidemiological situation of this neglected disease in children and adolescents from Algeria and revealing its serious impact. Between 2020 and 2023, epidemiological data were collected on CE 92 cases from children and adolescents diagnosed in the pediatric surgery department of the Mother and Child Hospital, University Hospital of Setif, province of Setif, Algeria. Clinical profile of these CE cases and fertility assessment and molecular characterization of hydatid cysts surgically removed from patients were also reported in this study. Overall, CE cases were slightly more prevalent in children aged from three to nine years (<em>P</em> = 0.677; X² = 0.174). The number of CE cases recorded in males was statistically higher than in females (<em>P</em> = 0.007; X² = 7.348). Most of CE patients originated from rural areas compared to urban areas (<em>P</em> = 0.001; X² = 23.000). The lung localization of hydatid cysts was predominant compared to liver localization. The microscopic examination of collected hydatid cysts showed a fertility rate of 53.04%. PCR and sequence analysis of a partial fragment of the 12 small subunit ribosomal RNA gene from 44 cysts revealed the presence of <em>Echinococcus granulosus</em> sensu stricto<em>.</em> Cystic echinococcosis continues to be a serious health problem in Algerian children. Therefore, further investigations are needed to better understand its epidemiology, particularly with regard of parasite transmission dynamics to humans, and develop long-term preventive measures to control this important parasitic disease in Algeria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 107957"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}