Pub Date : 2023-10-18DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1249574
Joyce Carnevale Rodrigues, Débora Familiar-Macedo, Thalia Medeiros, Fabiana Rabe Carvalho, Jorge Reis Almeida, Andrea Alice Silva, Flávia Barreto dos Santos, Luiz José de Souza, Paulo Vieira Damasco, Elzinandes Leal Azeredo, Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto
Introduction The first peak of COVID-19 in Brazil was between April and May 2020, at a time of the year when outbreaks of other tropical diseases, such as dengue, would be expected. COVID-19 and dengue have similar pathogenesis. In general, both may lead to mild symptoms but may also cause severe and even fatal symptoms, especially in patients with comorbidities and probably in cases of overlapping infections. The general objective of this study was to assess whether, during the 2020 pandemic, there were cases of concomitant infection between SARS-CoV-2 and DENV. Methods For this, we evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of commercial serological anti-SARS-CoV-2 kits using plasma samples from patients with dengue and healthy donors recruited before COVID-19. In the case of confirmed cases of COVID-19/dengue, we evaluated the clinical evolution of these coinfected patients, compared with mono-infected patients; and quantified chemokines CCL2 and CXCL8 by ELISA in COVID-19 patients in order to correlate them with COVID-19/dengue severity and cases. Results and Discussion Our results showed that commercial IgA and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 kits presented high sensitivity and specificity. This allowed us to see a low rate of co-detection or coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and DENV in Rio de Janeiro. Among the 57 COVID-19 patients, anti-DENV IgM was detected in five (8.8%). COVID-19/dengue coinfected patients showed no clinical worsening of COVID-19 and cases in which COVID-19 patients had previous exposure to DENV did not influence the clinical severity of COVID-19. Lastly, CCL2 and CXCL8 appeared to be good markers of COVID-19 severity and did not show increased levels in COVID-19/dengue cases.
{"title":"Assessment of threat of concurrent SARS-CoV-2 and DENV infection in the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil in 2020: diagnostic and immunological findings","authors":"Joyce Carnevale Rodrigues, Débora Familiar-Macedo, Thalia Medeiros, Fabiana Rabe Carvalho, Jorge Reis Almeida, Andrea Alice Silva, Flávia Barreto dos Santos, Luiz José de Souza, Paulo Vieira Damasco, Elzinandes Leal Azeredo, Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1249574","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1249574","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction The first peak of COVID-19 in Brazil was between April and May 2020, at a time of the year when outbreaks of other tropical diseases, such as dengue, would be expected. COVID-19 and dengue have similar pathogenesis. In general, both may lead to mild symptoms but may also cause severe and even fatal symptoms, especially in patients with comorbidities and probably in cases of overlapping infections. The general objective of this study was to assess whether, during the 2020 pandemic, there were cases of concomitant infection between SARS-CoV-2 and DENV. Methods For this, we evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of commercial serological anti-SARS-CoV-2 kits using plasma samples from patients with dengue and healthy donors recruited before COVID-19. In the case of confirmed cases of COVID-19/dengue, we evaluated the clinical evolution of these coinfected patients, compared with mono-infected patients; and quantified chemokines CCL2 and CXCL8 by ELISA in COVID-19 patients in order to correlate them with COVID-19/dengue severity and cases. Results and Discussion Our results showed that commercial IgA and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 kits presented high sensitivity and specificity. This allowed us to see a low rate of co-detection or coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and DENV in Rio de Janeiro. Among the 57 COVID-19 patients, anti-DENV IgM was detected in five (8.8%). COVID-19/dengue coinfected patients showed no clinical worsening of COVID-19 and cases in which COVID-19 patients had previous exposure to DENV did not influence the clinical severity of COVID-19. Lastly, CCL2 and CXCL8 appeared to be good markers of COVID-19 severity and did not show increased levels in COVID-19/dengue cases.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135883931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-11DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1270852
Valentina Marchese, Zoly Rakotomalala, Jean-Marc Kutz, Sonya Ratefiarisoa, Rivo Rakotomalala, Tahinamandranto Rasamoelina, Raphael Rakotozandrindrainy, Pia Rausche, Tarik Gheit, Monika Hampl, Jürgen May, Rivo Andry Rakotoarivelo, Daniela Fusco
Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a chronic manifestation of schistosomiasis, usually caused by Schistosoma haematobium infection, which can be responsible for infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and abortion, and is associated with an increased prevalence of HIV infection. No screening programs are currently recommended for FGS. Colposcopy, the conventionally suggested diagnostic tool for FGS, is also considered a crucial screening tool for cervical cancer (CC). We performed an experimental screening via colposcopy for FGS at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in the Boeny region of Madagascar, allowing for the detection of patients with both FGS signs and HPV-related dysplasia (HPV-dy). All suspected FGS cases were treated with praziquantel on the day of colposcopy, and all images of suspected CC or HPV-dy were re-assessed by a gynecologist and, if needed, patients were then provided with additional colposcopy for histologic diagnosis and treatment. We describe three cases of FGS and HPV-related precancerous lesions detected during the project, discussing the state of art of the relationship between CC, FGS and HPV and the real-life challenges encountered in terms of both patient compliance and the diagnostic and treatment cascade. Despite the current diagnostic limitations, a screening for FGS via colposcopy may contribute to the early identification of CC or precancerous lesions. The addition of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) during colposcopy for FGS screening could improve its impact on CC screening. In addition, although there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of praziquantel in FGS, treatment should in any case be proposed for suspicious lesions, given its safety and ease of administration. The benefit of combined screening could be maximised by increasing the availability of good quality services and improve awareness of both diseases among women
{"title":"Case Report: Three cases of suspected female genital schistosomiasis and precancerous lesions for cervical cancer in a highly endemic country—from clinical management to public health implications","authors":"Valentina Marchese, Zoly Rakotomalala, Jean-Marc Kutz, Sonya Ratefiarisoa, Rivo Rakotomalala, Tahinamandranto Rasamoelina, Raphael Rakotozandrindrainy, Pia Rausche, Tarik Gheit, Monika Hampl, Jürgen May, Rivo Andry Rakotoarivelo, Daniela Fusco","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1270852","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1270852","url":null,"abstract":"Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a chronic manifestation of schistosomiasis, usually caused by Schistosoma haematobium infection, which can be responsible for infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and abortion, and is associated with an increased prevalence of HIV infection. No screening programs are currently recommended for FGS. Colposcopy, the conventionally suggested diagnostic tool for FGS, is also considered a crucial screening tool for cervical cancer (CC). We performed an experimental screening via colposcopy for FGS at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in the Boeny region of Madagascar, allowing for the detection of patients with both FGS signs and HPV-related dysplasia (HPV-dy). All suspected FGS cases were treated with praziquantel on the day of colposcopy, and all images of suspected CC or HPV-dy were re-assessed by a gynecologist and, if needed, patients were then provided with additional colposcopy for histologic diagnosis and treatment. We describe three cases of FGS and HPV-related precancerous lesions detected during the project, discussing the state of art of the relationship between CC, FGS and HPV and the real-life challenges encountered in terms of both patient compliance and the diagnostic and treatment cascade. Despite the current diagnostic limitations, a screening for FGS via colposcopy may contribute to the early identification of CC or precancerous lesions. The addition of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) during colposcopy for FGS screening could improve its impact on CC screening. In addition, although there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of praziquantel in FGS, treatment should in any case be proposed for suspicious lesions, given its safety and ease of administration. The benefit of combined screening could be maximised by increasing the availability of good quality services and improve awareness of both diseases among women","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136209447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-27DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1254061
Amanda F. Francisco, Gong Chen, Wen Wang, Melissa L. Sykes, Fanny Escudié, Ivan Scandale, Francisco Olmo, David M. Shackleford, Bilal Zulfiqar, Jadel M. Kratz, Thao Pham, Jessica Saunders, Meiyu Hu, Vicky M. Avery, Susan A. Charman, John M. Kelly, Eric Chatelain
The repurposing of approved drugs is an appealing method to fast-track the development of novel therapies for neglected diseases. Amiodarone and dronedarone, two approved antiarrhythmic agents, have been reported to have potential for the management of Chagas disease patients displaying symptomatic heart pathology. More recently, it has been suggested that both molecules not only have an antiarrhythmic effect, but also have trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi , the causative agent of Chagas disease. In this work, we assessed the in vitro activity of these compounds against T. cruzi , the in vivo pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, to determine the potential for repurposing these drugs as therapies for Chagas disease. Based on these results, we were unable to reproduce the in vitro potencies of amiodarone and dronedarone described in the literature, and both drugs were found to be inactive or cytotoxic against a variety of different mammalian cell lines. The evaluation of in vivo efficacy in a bioluminescent murine model of T. cruzi did not show antiparasitic activity at the highest tolerated dose tested. While the potential of amiodarone and dronedarone as antiarrhythmic agents in Chagas cardiomyopathic patients cannot be completely excluded, a trypanocidal effect in patients treated with these two drugs appears unlikely.
{"title":"Preclinical data do not support the use of amiodarone or dronedarone as antiparasitic drugs for Chagas disease at the approved human dosing regimen","authors":"Amanda F. Francisco, Gong Chen, Wen Wang, Melissa L. Sykes, Fanny Escudié, Ivan Scandale, Francisco Olmo, David M. Shackleford, Bilal Zulfiqar, Jadel M. Kratz, Thao Pham, Jessica Saunders, Meiyu Hu, Vicky M. Avery, Susan A. Charman, John M. Kelly, Eric Chatelain","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1254061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1254061","url":null,"abstract":"The repurposing of approved drugs is an appealing method to fast-track the development of novel therapies for neglected diseases. Amiodarone and dronedarone, two approved antiarrhythmic agents, have been reported to have potential for the management of Chagas disease patients displaying symptomatic heart pathology. More recently, it has been suggested that both molecules not only have an antiarrhythmic effect, but also have trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi , the causative agent of Chagas disease. In this work, we assessed the in vitro activity of these compounds against T. cruzi , the in vivo pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, to determine the potential for repurposing these drugs as therapies for Chagas disease. Based on these results, we were unable to reproduce the in vitro potencies of amiodarone and dronedarone described in the literature, and both drugs were found to be inactive or cytotoxic against a variety of different mammalian cell lines. The evaluation of in vivo efficacy in a bioluminescent murine model of T. cruzi did not show antiparasitic activity at the highest tolerated dose tested. While the potential of amiodarone and dronedarone as antiarrhythmic agents in Chagas cardiomyopathic patients cannot be completely excluded, a trypanocidal effect in patients treated with these two drugs appears unlikely.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"81 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135579427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-15DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1240420
Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, Chiori Kodama, Rohina Joshi, Muhammad Tayyab, Mohammad Akbar Paiman, Abdinasir Abubakar
Despite improvements in the detection and control of infectious diseases, many new pathogens are emerging and re-emerging in various parts of the world. Most of these emerging and re-emerging infections are of zoonotic origin, which highlights the importance of the human–animal interface. Similarly, the rate of vector-borne diseases has increased recently due to changes in human habitats, climate change, deforestation, changes in food production practices, and increased population movement. The risk of spread of these zoonotic and vector-borne diseases is higher in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization due to its topography and geopolitical situation, fragile health systems, complex humanitarian emergencies, and, in some countries, other socioeconomic risk factors. Many countries in the region have reported outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases over the last few decades, and some of these diseases have spread to other WHO regions as well. Avian influenza A (H5N1) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are among the greatest threats to global health security and both viruses are endemic in the EMR. Countries in the EMR have made significant progress toward the control of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in recent years, and prevention, preparedness, and response capacities have been improved. However, there are still many challenges associated with the control of these diseases in the EMR, particularly in countries facing humanitarian emergencies. In this paper, we present the current situation of emerging and re-emerging infections in the EMR and discuss progress, challenges, and ways forward.
{"title":"Control of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region","authors":"Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, Chiori Kodama, Rohina Joshi, Muhammad Tayyab, Mohammad Akbar Paiman, Abdinasir Abubakar","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1240420","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1240420","url":null,"abstract":"Despite improvements in the detection and control of infectious diseases, many new pathogens are emerging and re-emerging in various parts of the world. Most of these emerging and re-emerging infections are of zoonotic origin, which highlights the importance of the human–animal interface. Similarly, the rate of vector-borne diseases has increased recently due to changes in human habitats, climate change, deforestation, changes in food production practices, and increased population movement. The risk of spread of these zoonotic and vector-borne diseases is higher in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization due to its topography and geopolitical situation, fragile health systems, complex humanitarian emergencies, and, in some countries, other socioeconomic risk factors. Many countries in the region have reported outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases over the last few decades, and some of these diseases have spread to other WHO regions as well. Avian influenza A (H5N1) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are among the greatest threats to global health security and both viruses are endemic in the EMR. Countries in the EMR have made significant progress toward the control of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in recent years, and prevention, preparedness, and response capacities have been improved. However, there are still many challenges associated with the control of these diseases in the EMR, particularly in countries facing humanitarian emergencies. In this paper, we present the current situation of emerging and re-emerging infections in the EMR and discuss progress, challenges, and ways forward.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135437810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-14DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1229735
Anne D. Berhe, Justin Y. A. Doritchamou, Patrick E. Duffy
Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) poses a dangerous health risk to both mothers and their fetuses, causing severe outcomes such as preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal and maternal death. Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes sequester in placental intervillous spaces causing placental malaria (PM), eliciting inflammatory responses associated with severe sequelae. Current MiP prevention strategies have improved pregnancy outcomes, but serious morbidity and mortality persist. Vaccines to prevent MiP and PM are under development and are expected to improve pregnancy outcomes. To prepare for safety and efficacy trials of these vaccines, the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes including those caused by MiP should be documented at clinical sites. This review summarizes reported key adverse pregnancy outcomes attributable to MiP, providing important baseline context to define measurable safety and efficacy endpoints for malaria vaccine trials in pregnancy.
{"title":"Malaria in pregnancy: adverse pregnancy outcomes and the future of prevention","authors":"Anne D. Berhe, Justin Y. A. Doritchamou, Patrick E. Duffy","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1229735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1229735","url":null,"abstract":"Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) poses a dangerous health risk to both mothers and their fetuses, causing severe outcomes such as preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal and maternal death. Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes sequester in placental intervillous spaces causing placental malaria (PM), eliciting inflammatory responses associated with severe sequelae. Current MiP prevention strategies have improved pregnancy outcomes, but serious morbidity and mortality persist. Vaccines to prevent MiP and PM are under development and are expected to improve pregnancy outcomes. To prepare for safety and efficacy trials of these vaccines, the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes including those caused by MiP should be documented at clinical sites. This review summarizes reported key adverse pregnancy outcomes attributable to MiP, providing important baseline context to define measurable safety and efficacy endpoints for malaria vaccine trials in pregnancy.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135263828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-08DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1230903
L. F. J. Jonckers Nieboer, E. Fischer, M. Braks
Various arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of pathogens that cause serious diseases in humans. Some important pathogens are transmitted by mosquitoes during blood-feeding, for example the well-known parasite causing malaria, and viruses-causing diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus fever. In contrast, very little is known about the potential of mosquitoes to transmit pathogenic bacteria. Hitherto, only a few bacteria have occasionally been suggested to be spread by mosquitoes, but this is not widely known nor accepted, and literature on this topic is limited. The aim of this study was to review the literature about the possible role of mosquitoes in the transmission of the bacterium F. tularensis, the causal agent of tularaemia, which has been proposed by several experts. Available primary articles investigating this possible vector role of mosquitoes were analysed and evaluated based on four vector incrimination criteria. This demonstrated that several studies had indeed found indications of a correlation between mosquito bites and tularaemia, and that the results of some other studies suggested that such a vector role for mosquitoes might exist. However, conclusive evidence of a causal relationship was not found, nor irrefutable proof that mosquitoes can actually transmit this bacterium during blood-feeding. This literature review has provided an overview of the current relevant literature, shows that future studies should focus on gaining more insight into other explanations for the correlation between mosquito bites and tularaemia, and that the certainty with which some authors write about the vector role of mosquitoes is not entirely justified.
{"title":"Available evidence for mosquito-borne Francisella tularensis transmission is inconclusive","authors":"L. F. J. Jonckers Nieboer, E. Fischer, M. Braks","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1230903","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1230903","url":null,"abstract":"Various arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of pathogens that cause serious diseases in humans. Some important pathogens are transmitted by mosquitoes during blood-feeding, for example the well-known parasite causing malaria, and viruses-causing diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus fever. In contrast, very little is known about the potential of mosquitoes to transmit pathogenic bacteria. Hitherto, only a few bacteria have occasionally been suggested to be spread by mosquitoes, but this is not widely known nor accepted, and literature on this topic is limited. The aim of this study was to review the literature about the possible role of mosquitoes in the transmission of the bacterium F. tularensis, the causal agent of tularaemia, which has been proposed by several experts. Available primary articles investigating this possible vector role of mosquitoes were analysed and evaluated based on four vector incrimination criteria. This demonstrated that several studies had indeed found indications of a correlation between mosquito bites and tularaemia, and that the results of some other studies suggested that such a vector role for mosquitoes might exist. However, conclusive evidence of a causal relationship was not found, nor irrefutable proof that mosquitoes can actually transmit this bacterium during blood-feeding. This literature review has provided an overview of the current relevant literature, shows that future studies should focus on gaining more insight into other explanations for the correlation between mosquito bites and tularaemia, and that the certainty with which some authors write about the vector role of mosquitoes is not entirely justified.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47725124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-03DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1168668
Rose Bonnah, Felix Ayisi, Solomon Wireko, A. Kwarteng
Filarial lymphedema is a chronic pathophysiological condition initiated by parasitism by lymphatic filarial worms. Although the disease is not immediately fatal, it is a significant social and economic issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the ongoing need for effective therapeutic strategies for filarial lymphedema, several countries have turned to natural products and herbal interventions as promising source for developing anti-filarial agents to manage lymphatic filariasis (LF). This review aims to classify various plant molecules implicated in treating LF, with a focus on their anti-filarial properties. This information can be used to further investigate their efficacy in managing filarial lymphedema.
{"title":"Phytochemical intervention for lymphatic filariasis and filarial lymphedema","authors":"Rose Bonnah, Felix Ayisi, Solomon Wireko, A. Kwarteng","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1168668","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1168668","url":null,"abstract":"Filarial lymphedema is a chronic pathophysiological condition initiated by parasitism by lymphatic filarial worms. Although the disease is not immediately fatal, it is a significant social and economic issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the ongoing need for effective therapeutic strategies for filarial lymphedema, several countries have turned to natural products and herbal interventions as promising source for developing anti-filarial agents to manage lymphatic filariasis (LF). This review aims to classify various plant molecules implicated in treating LF, with a focus on their anti-filarial properties. This information can be used to further investigate their efficacy in managing filarial lymphedema.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43962092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-02DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1100139
P. Nordin, E. Nyale, C. Kalambo, B. Ahlberg, H. Feldmeier, I. Krantz
The presence of schistosomal eggs in the urine is a sufficient but not necessary condition for an individual to be diagnosed with urogenital schistosomiasis. The absence of eggs does not prove that a person is disease-free. Thus, when examining populations using egg occurrence, there is a real risk of underestimating the prevalence. The aim is to develop an easy to use model for improved prevalence estimates of urogenital schistosomiasis.Urine samples were taken from 161 schoolchildren and 124 adults on three different days for each individual. The probands were recruited from two areas in northern Tanzania with varying prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis. The presence of eggs by microscopy and haematuria by dipstick were recorded for each sample and the measurements combined using the discordance of the outcomes.As a consequence of applying the developed model, a substantial increase in the prevalence estimate was noted for groups displaying a low egg occurrence.By using the biological relationship that exists between the presence of eggs and blood in urine of an infected individual, we provide a way of adjusting the prevalence estimates of urogenital schistosomiasis, using the observed prevalence of haematuria, in the absence of competing causes.
{"title":"Determining the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis based on the discordance between egg counts and haematuria in populations from northern Tanzania","authors":"P. Nordin, E. Nyale, C. Kalambo, B. Ahlberg, H. Feldmeier, I. Krantz","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1100139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1100139","url":null,"abstract":"The presence of schistosomal eggs in the urine is a sufficient but not necessary condition for an individual to be diagnosed with urogenital schistosomiasis. The absence of eggs does not prove that a person is disease-free. Thus, when examining populations using egg occurrence, there is a real risk of underestimating the prevalence. The aim is to develop an easy to use model for improved prevalence estimates of urogenital schistosomiasis.Urine samples were taken from 161 schoolchildren and 124 adults on three different days for each individual. The probands were recruited from two areas in northern Tanzania with varying prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis. The presence of eggs by microscopy and haematuria by dipstick were recorded for each sample and the measurements combined using the discordance of the outcomes.As a consequence of applying the developed model, a substantial increase in the prevalence estimate was noted for groups displaying a low egg occurrence.By using the biological relationship that exists between the presence of eggs and blood in urine of an infected individual, we provide a way of adjusting the prevalence estimates of urogenital schistosomiasis, using the observed prevalence of haematuria, in the absence of competing causes.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":" 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41251670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-28DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1151336
Feven Tigistu-Sahle, Zelalem Mekuria, A. Satoskar, Gustavo F. C. Sales, W. Gebreyes, C. J. Oliveira
The molecular biology tools available since the early 1970s have been crucial to the development of molecular epidemiology as an important branch of public health, and are used for the identification of host genetic and environmental factors associated with both communicable (CDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across human and animal populations. Molecular epidemiology has significantly contributed to the understanding of etiological agents, disease distribution, and how to track outbreaks, as well as to prevention and control measures against tropical infectious diseases. However, there have been significant limitations compromising the successful application of molecular epidemiology in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs) to address complex issues at the animal–human–environment interface. Recent advances in our capacity to generate information by means of high-throughput DNA genomic sequencing, transcriptomics, and metabolomics have allowed these tools to become accessible at ever-lower costs. Furthermore, recently emerged omics fields such as lipidomics are improving our insights into molecular epidemiology by measuring lipid phenotypes that gauge environmental and genetic factors in large epidemiological studies. In parallel, the development of bioinformatic tools has revolutionized the utility of omics, providing novel perspectives to better characterize pools of biological molecules and translate them into the structure, function, and dynamics of organisms. Unfortunately, the use of such powerful tools has not been optimal for a One Health approach to both CDs and NCDs, particularly in low-resource tropical settings. The aim of this review is to present the fundamentals of omics tools and their potential use in molecular epidemiology, and to critically discuss the impact of omics on the evolving One Health dimension applied to tropical diseases. We use Ethiopia and Brazil as model systems to illustrate existing gaps and opportunities, while also addressing global applications. Moreover, we also discuss perspectives on exploring omics based molecular epidemiology in the context of One Health as a crucial approach to preventing and mitigating the burden of CDs and NCDs at the interface of human health, animal health, and the environment. This review shows that building capacity in the tropical regions is crucial to establishing equitable global health.
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Pub Date : 2023-07-28DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1224386
H. Yamada, Dongjing Zhang, A. Parker, M. Vreysen
{"title":"Sterilizing insects with X rays or gamma rays - which irradiator to select?","authors":"H. Yamada, Dongjing Zhang, A. Parker, M. Vreysen","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1224386","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1224386","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"9 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41258041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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