Acta tropica最新文献

{"title":"Plasmodium yoelii infection inhibits colon cancer in mice via modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression","authors":"Yumeng Jiao ,&nbsp;Yixuan Ni ,&nbsp;Lu Ge ,&nbsp;Huahan Zhan ,&nbsp;Fuchen Xie ,&nbsp;Nixin Hao ,&nbsp;Ling Xuan ,&nbsp;Hui Xia ,&nbsp;Qiang Fang ,&nbsp;Zhiyong Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malignant tumors continue to pose a significant threat to human health, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This study aims to investigate the effects of <em>Plasmodium yoelii</em> (<em>P. yoelii</em>) infection on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), and p53 in tumor tissues of colon cancer-bearing mice, as well as their relationship with tumor development, thereby elucidating the antitumor mechanisms associated with <em>Plasmodium</em> infection. To establish a subcutaneous tumor-bearing animal model of colon cancer, CT26.WT colon cancer cells were inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into the tumor control group (CT26.WT) and <em>P. yoelii</em>-infected group (CT26.WT + <em>P. yoelii</em>). The experimental group CT26.WT + <em>P. yoelii</em> was infected with 0.2 mL (5 × 10⁶/mL) of <em>P. yoelii</em>-infected red blood cells via intraperitoneal injection. Tumor tissues were collected on the 6th, 12th, and 18th days of <em>P. yoelii</em> infection (tumor-bearing day 12, 18, and 24). RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses were employed to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α, VHL, VEGFA, and p53 in the tumor tissues. Concurrently, tumor growth was monitored in both the groups, on the 18th day post-inoculation with <em>P. yoelii</em> (tumor-bearing day 24), the <em>P. yoelii</em>-infected group exhibited significantly downregulated expression levels of HIF-1α (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.01) and VEGFA (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.01) in the tumor tissue compared to the tumor control group, while the expression levels of VHL (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.01) and p53 (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.01) were markedly upregulated. By day 21 of tumor inoculation (16th day of <em>P. yoelii</em> infection), tumors in the <em>P. yoelii</em>-infected group ceased to grow and began to shrink significantly, indicating a remarkable inhibitory effect of <em>P. yoelii</em> infection on tumor growth (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.001). Overall, <em>P. yoelii</em> infection effectively inhibits tumor development in tumor-bearing mice by downregulating the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGFA while upregulating the expression levels of VHL and p53.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 107897"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145450469","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":"Vaccine potential of recombinant cathepsin L1H against Fasciola gigantica infection in goat","authors":"Manaw Sangfuang ,&nbsp;Piynoot Sungsuwan ,&nbsp;Gornrat Khumgra ,&nbsp;Pornanan Kueakhai ,&nbsp;Narin Changklungmoa ,&nbsp;Prasert Sobhon ,&nbsp;Worawit Suphamungmee ,&nbsp;Sitthirug Roytrakul ,&nbsp;Mananya Preyavichyapugdee ,&nbsp;Krai Meemon ,&nbsp;Narin Preyavichyapugdee","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107900","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cathepsin L1H has been identified as a potential vaccine candidate against fasciolosis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunoprophylactic efficacy of recombinant proFgCatL1H (rproFgCatL1H) antigen in goats subsequently challenged with the parasite. Immunization of goats with 200 µg of rproFgCatL1H formulated in Montanide™ ISA 61 VG conferred statistically significant reduction in worm recovery compared with both the infected control and adjuvant control groups, corresponding to reductions of 37.55 % and 34.07 %, respectively (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). A negative correlation was observed between worm burden reduction and serum IgG levels (OD₄₅₀), measured both at the time of infection and at the study endpoint, although the association was not statistically significant. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of adult <em>F. gigantica</em> recovered from vaccinated goats demonstrated pronounced tegumental damage, characterized by extensive swelling, surface erosion, and the presence of cell-like structures adhering to the tegumental surface. These findings suggest that the recombinant protein rproFgCatL1H holds promise as a potential vaccine candidate for the control of fasciolosis in goats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107900"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145476561","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":"Transcriptome profiling reveals the immunomodulatory role of Echinococcus granulosus EgG1Y162 on macrophages in vitro","authors":"Ya Song ,&nbsp;Mayire Aizezi ,&nbsp;Hao Ding ,&nbsp;Xia Chen ,&nbsp;Ayinula Tuohetali ,&nbsp;Mutailipu Maimaiti ,&nbsp;Guangfeng Chen ,&nbsp;Kalibixiati Aimulajiang","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Echinococcus granulosus</em> (<em>E. granulosus</em>) infection can induce host immunosuppression and chronic liver injury, with current therapeutic approaches exhibiting significant limitations. EgG1Y162, a promising vaccine candidate against <em>E. granulosus</em>, shows considerable potential; however, its specific effects on macrophages remain unknown, necessitating further investigation. This study employed RNA-seq to analyze the functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in macrophages following EgG1Y162 transfection, aiming to elucidate its regulatory impact on cytokines. Additionally, EgG1Y162 was prepared via in vitro transcription and transfected into macrophages. Gene expression changes were subsequently assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), complemented by KEGG and GO enrichment analyses to delineate activated signaling pathways.RNA-seq revealed 1848 upregulated and 1359 downregulated genes in macrophages. DEGs were enriched in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor (NLR) signaling pathway (e.g., TLR2, MyD88, and NF-κB upregulation). RT-qPCR confirmed elevated IL-6/IL-9 and reduced IL-4/interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). The TLR2/NF-κB axis is central to EgG1Y162-induced immune regulation. In-depth analysis of the transcriptomic data confirmed that activation of the TLR2/NF-κB signaling axis likely constitutes the central regulatory mechanism underlying the macrophage immune response. These results provide mechanistic insights into the immunomodulatory effects of EgG1Y162 on macrophages and may offer novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of echinococcosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107875"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145353282","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":"A Bayesian modeling and retrospective analysis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Sahara Desert","authors":"Boutheyna Boulal ,&nbsp;Djamel Bendjoudi ,&nbsp;Hamza Leulmi ,&nbsp;Haroun Chenchouni","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107893","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most widespread neglected tropical diseases, transmitted by &lt;em&gt;Phlebotomus&lt;/em&gt; sandflies and caused by protozoan parasites of the genus &lt;em&gt;Leishmania&lt;/em&gt;. It poses a major global public health concern, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where ecological and socio-environmental factors favor vector proliferation. In Algeria, CL is endemic across several regions, yet few studies have explored its long-term epidemiological dynamics in the Sahara Desert, where the disease continues to expand. This study aimed to investigate the spatio-temporal evolution and epidemiological characteristics of CL in the Sahara Desert of Algeria, specifically within the Djamaa province which represents an active and historically persistent focus of infection. Using a Bayesian analytical framework, we sought to identify demographic, temporal, and clinical determinants influencing disease occurrence and distribution, thereby providing insights for more effective control and prevention strategies. Data were obtained from the official public health records of the Djamaa province covering a 12-year period (2012–2023). Epidemiological variables included gender, age, number and anatomical site of lesions, and spatio-temporal case distribution across municipalities. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied to assess differences between groups. To account for uncertainty and the hierarchical structure of the data, a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo Sampler for Multivariate Generalized Linear Mixed Model (MCMCglmm) was employed to evaluate the effects of temporal and clinical predictors on CL incidence. A total of 4436 confirmed CL cases were recorded during the study period, with a mean annual incidence of 369.7 cases. The highest peak was observed in 2012 (23.91%), followed by a gradual decline in subsequent years. Monthly distribution indicated pronounced seasonality, with maximum case occurrence in November (22.9%) and January (13.8%), reflecting the transmission dynamics of &lt;em&gt;Phlebotomus&lt;/em&gt; vectors. CL affected both sexes and all age groups, but males (65.2%) and teenagers aged 10–20 years (33.7%) were the most affected, likely due to greater outdoor exposure. Lesions were mainly located on the lower extremities (64.9%), and multiple lesions were observed in 54% of patients. The Bayesian MCMCglmm analysis identified significant temporal effects (annual and monthly) and clinical variables (number and site of lesions) as major determinants shaping CL occurrence, confirming the strong seasonal and ecological dependence of the disease. The findings confirm that CL remains a major endemic health issue in the Sahara Desert of Algeria, particularly in Djamaa province. The disease exhibited clear temporal and demographic patterns linked to vector ecology and host exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first application of a Bayesian spatial model to characterize CL risk in the Northern Sahara of A","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107893"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421011","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":"Histopathological alterations, local hemorrhage and myotoxic effects induced by Bothrops mattogrossensis venom and an acidic isolated phospholipase A₂","authors":"Micaela de Melo Cordeiro Eulálio ,&nbsp;Cindy de Oliveira Bariani ,&nbsp;Alex Augusto Ferreira e Ferreira ,&nbsp;Andréia Nalva Bernardi de Lima ,&nbsp;Hallison Mota Santana ,&nbsp;Mauro Valentino Paloschi ,&nbsp;Sulamita da Silva Setúbal ,&nbsp;Larissa Faustina Cruz ,&nbsp;Ketlei Monteiro Tavares ,&nbsp;Carolina Pereira da Silva ,&nbsp;Milena Daniela Souza Silva ,&nbsp;Charles Nunes Boeno ,&nbsp;Paula Helena Santa Rita ,&nbsp;Andreimar Martins Soares ,&nbsp;Daniela Priscila Marchi Salvador ,&nbsp;Juliana Pavan Zuliani","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Snakebite envenomation is a neglected tropical disease with major health impacts in Latin America, where <em>Bothrops</em> species are responsible for vast majority of accidents. Among them, <em>Bothrops mattogrossensis</em> is epidemiologically relevant due to its wide distribution and clinical involvement in envenomation. This study aimed to characterize the histopathological and biochemical effects of <em>B. mattogrossensis</em> venom (<em>BmV</em>) and its isolated acidic phospholipase A₂ (BmPLA₂-A) in mice. Skeletal muscle, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and spleen were analyzed histologically, while local toxic effects were assessed through hemorrhagic activity and creatine kinase (CK) release. BmPLA₂-A induced discrete and non-significant vascular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis in skeletal muscle, along with vascular congestion and hemorrhagic foci in the heart, lungs, and kidneys. However, it did not produce measurable hemorrhagic halos or significant CK elevation, indicating limited hemorrhagic and myotoxic potential. In contrast, crude venom caused more intense and heterogeneous alterations, including extensive vascular ectasia, hemorrhage, pulmonary fibrosis, and pronounced CK elevation, demonstrating strong myotoxic and hemorrhagic activity. BmPLA₂-A and <em>BmV</em> induced significant hepatic vascular congestion and increased Kupffer-cell activity, with preserved hepatocyte morphology and discrete sinusoidal disorganization. Splenic tissue remained preserved, showing significant vascular congestion only in the venom-treated group. These findings demonstrate that BmPLA₂-A contributes to local inflammation and vascular damage but is not the main determinant of systemic hemorrhage or muscle necrosis, which are primarily mediated by other venom components. From a translational perspective, the identification of catalytically active yet non-myotoxic PLA₂s such as BmPLA₂-A opens avenues for pharmacological exploration, providing potential molecular tools for probing lipid signaling and therapeutic innovation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107891"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426342","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":"B-type natriuretic peptide as a potential plasma biomarker for the severity of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by the Hantaan virus","authors":"Han-Dong Zhao ,&nbsp;Hong-Bo Qian ,&nbsp;Yan-Ping Li ,&nbsp;Pei-Long Wang ,&nbsp;Hong-Li Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107896","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107896","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The goal of our study was to determine the plasma levels of B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) of varying severities, and assess the predictive value of BNP for the severity of HFRS.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>Chemiluminescence was used to measure the BNP levels in 176 patients and 41 healthy donors, and flow cytometry was conducted to test the levels of CD4⁺ T, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells. Standard laboratory methods were used to measure leukocyte and platelet counts, as well as levels of creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), urea, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and fibrinogen (Fib). The colloidal gold method was employed to detect HFRS antibody levels in the patients.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings showed that elevated plasma BNP levels were in line with HFRS severity. A positive correlation existed between the levels of BNP and those of Cr (P &lt; 0.001, r = 0.5076), urea (P &lt; 0.001, r = 0.5555), UA (P &lt; 0.001, r = 0.3001), and APTT (P &lt; 0.001, r = 0.4674). In contrast, BNP levels showed an inverse correlation with platelets and fibrinogen (P &lt; 0.001, r =-0.5816; P &lt; 0.001, r =-0.3905). Meanwhile, ROC demonstrated a significant predictive value of BNP for the severity of HFRS with an AUC of 0.853 (95%; CI: 0.793–0.913, P &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The fluctuation of plasma BNP levels is closely linked to the severity of HFRS, indicating that it could be a useful marker for the severity monitoring of HFRS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107896"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145436571","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":"Ecological range and host–biome associations of pathogenic Leptospira in Brazil: A One Health perspective from a tropical area","authors":"Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo ,&nbsp;Walter Lilenbaum","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> spp. cause a globally distributed zoonosis with complex transmission cycles involving multiple hosts and environments. Brazil’s vast ecological diversity and high <em>Leptospira</em> spp. circulation demand integrative approaches to understand the pathogen’s genetic diversity and distribution. We compiled an extensive molecular dataset of pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> spp. in Brazil, encompassing sequences (<em>n</em> = 825) from several genetic markers and WGS data. A molecular landscape was provided based on associated metadata, including host species, geographic origin, and source type (clinical, animal, environmental). Records spanned four Brazilian biomes, with the highest diversity and number of sequences from the Atlantic Forest (69.7 %) and Amazon (22.2 %), with emphasis on large urban centers. <em>Leptospira interrogans</em> predominated (74.9 %), followed by L. <em>santarosai</em> (9.8 %), L. <em>borgpetersenii</em> (7.2 %), L. <em>kirschneri</em> (3.9 %), and L. <em>noguchii</em> (3.9 %). Regarding serogroups, Icterohaemorrhagiae was the most frequent (44.9 %). Hosts encompassed 78 species from 12 orders, including domestic large land animals (36 %), wild land animals (21 %), humans (15 %), pets (13.8 %), urban rodents (7.6 %), and marine mammals (1.3 %). Importantly, sequences from environmental pathogenic leptospires were also identified (5.3 %). This integrative molecular analysis reveals the extensive diversity, ecological breadth, and complex transmission dynamics of pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> in those biomes. The findings underscore the importance of a One Health perspective and provide a robust foundation for standardized molecular surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate leptospirosis burden in tropical regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107895"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145436742","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":"When microbiology is missing: A prospective observational study on empirical first-line antibiotic treatment (FLAT) in Ethiopia","authors":"Sergio Cotugno ,&nbsp;Giacomo Guido ,&nbsp;Angela Acquasanta ,&nbsp;Tujube Dilba ,&nbsp;Ottavia Tulone ,&nbsp;Abishe Fikru ,&nbsp;Mokonen Teresa ,&nbsp;Francesco Vladimiro Segala ,&nbsp;Behranu Gulo ,&nbsp;Giovanni Putoto ,&nbsp;Yoseph Tafesse ,&nbsp;Viviana Barbieri ,&nbsp;Abdi Reta ,&nbsp;Fabio Manenti ,&nbsp;Flavio Antonio Bobbio ,&nbsp;Gerlind Schuldt ,&nbsp;Birhanu Kenate Sori ,&nbsp;Roberto Benoni ,&nbsp;Annalisa Saracino ,&nbsp;Francesco Di Gennaro","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where diagnostic capacity is limited. In such settings, empirical first-line antibiotic treatment (FLAT) is often the only feasible therapeutic approach, but real-world evidence on its effectiveness in adult populations is scarce.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a prospective observational cohort study at St. Luke Hospital, Wolisso, Ethiopia, from May 2024 to February 2025. Patients aged ≥5 years, admitted to the medical or surgical wards and prescribed antibiotics upon admission, were enrolled. Those on antimicrobial therapy prior to admission or receiving anti-tubercular treatment alone were excluded. Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment data were collected. FLAT failure—defined as lack of clinical improvement within 48–72 h without non-infectious explanations—was the primary outcome. Associations with FLAT failure were assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 118 patients (49.2 % female; median age 42.0 years) were included; 81.4 % were admitted to the medical ward. Pneumonia was the most common diagnosis (55.9 %). Ceftriaxone, alone or in combination, was the predominant empirical regimen (96.6 %). FLAT failure occurred in 11 patients (10.2 %; 95 % CI 4.7–16.1 %), resulting in additional antibiotic exposure, prolonged hospitalisation, referral to tertiary facilities (27.3 %), and one death (9.1 %). In multivariable analysis, admission to the surgical ward was associated with higher odds of FLAT failure (OR 5.6, 95 % CI 1.1–35.1; <em>p</em> = 0.045). No other consistent patient-level predictors were identified.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In a low-resource hospital setting without microbiological support, empirical FLAT achieved a relatively low failure rate. However, failures were clinically significant, leading to escalation of therapy and adverse outcomes. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship through context-specific empirical treatment protocols, alongside efforts to improve diagnostic capacity, is essential to optimise patient care and mitigate AMR in similar settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107880"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145353342","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":"Nitazoxanide modulates inflammation but fails to control parasitemia in experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection","authors":"Tamiles Caroline Fernandes Pedrosa ,&nbsp;Fernanda Karoline Vieira da Silva Torchelsen ,&nbsp;Viviane Flores Xavier ,&nbsp;Igor Ferreira Curvelo ,&nbsp;Aline Luciano Horta ,&nbsp;Tatiana Prata Menezes ,&nbsp;Debora Maria Soares de Souza ,&nbsp;Flavia de Souza Marques ,&nbsp;Paula de Melo de Abreu Vieira ,&nbsp;Guilherme de Paula Costa ,&nbsp;André Talvani","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107887","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107887","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chagas disease, caused by <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>, currently lacks effective therapies that target both bloodstream and muscle-resident parasites. Given the limitations of current treatments, such as benznidazole and nifurtimox, complementary chemical strategies are crucial not only for parasite elimination but also for modulating host inflammatory responses. In this study, female C57BL/6 mice were infected with the Y strain of <em>T. cruzi</em> (DTU TcII) and treated orally with nitazoxanide (NTZ) twice daily for 10 days at doses ranging from 100 to 1200 mg/kg. We evaluated parasitemia, survival rates, serum levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF, IL-10, IL-17, and CCL2), liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT), and leukocyte infiltration in cardiac tissue. NTZ modulated inflammatory responses in a dose-dependent manner. Moderate doses (200 to 600 mg/kg) significantly reduced serum levels of TNF, IL-10, and IL-17, and decreased cardiac leukocyte infiltration. However, higher doses of NTZ (800 to 1200 mg/kg) increased parasitemia and AST levels, without altering ALT. Although NTZ attenuated inflammation without inducing significant hepatotoxicity, it failed to effectively control parasitemia when compared with untreated infected controls. These findings suggest that while NTZ may serve as a promising adjunctive therapy to modulate inflammatory responses in Chagas disease, it is insufficient as a monotherapy for parasite clearance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107887"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145385661","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":"Parasitic contamination in raw vegetables from street markets in Chonburi Province, Eastern Thailand","authors":"Chantira Sutthikornchai ,&nbsp;Manachai Yingklang ,&nbsp;Chantima Mora ,&nbsp;Natcha Chupongthanet ,&nbsp;Abdulhakam Dumidae ,&nbsp;Apichat Vitta ,&nbsp;Simon Russell Clegg ,&nbsp;Chadaporn Nuchjangreed Gordon","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fresh vegetables, which are consumed raw, act as potential sources for the spread of various food-borne pathogens, including parasites. In this study, we aimed to detect parasitic contamination in fresh vegetables from the fresh markets in Chonburi Province, Eastern Thailand. A total of 100 fresh vegetable samples were purchased from street markets. Microscopic methods (simple smear and modified acid-fast staining) were used to identify parasitic contamination in fresh vegetables together with conventional and nested PCR assays followed by DNA sequencing to confirm parasitic species. Microscopy identified parasitic contamination in 4 % (4/100) of samples. Molecular analysis further detected <em>Giardia duodenalis</em> zoonotic assemblage B (2.0 %), <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em> (2.0 %), and <em>Angiostrongylus</em> spp. (3.0 %). Contamination was found in Gotu kola (<em>Centella asiatica</em>), sweet basil (<em>Ocimum basilicum</em>), kitchen mint (<em>Mentha cordifolia</em>), and rice paddy herb (<em>Limnophila aromatica</em>). These findings using both conventional and molecular techniques highlight the presence of zoonotic and food-borne parasitic species in fresh vegetables from street markets in Chonburi Province, Thailand. This study emphasizes the need for enhanced public awareness and improved hygiene practices in the handling and consumption of raw vegetables.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 107886"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145412452","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}