Pub Date : 2023-11-02DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1240617
Collins Okoyo, Mark Minnery, Idah Orowe, Chrispin Owaga, Christin Wambugu, Nereah Olick, Jane Hagemann, Wyckliff P. Omondi, Paul M. Gichuki, Kate McCracken, Antonio Montresor, Claudio Fronterre, Peter Diggle, Charles Mwandawiro
Background Infections caused by both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium are endemic in Kenya, with over six million children at risk. A national school-based deworming programme was launched in 2012 with the goal of eliminating parasitic worms as a public health problem. This study used a model-based geostatistical (MBG) approach to design and analyse the impact of the programme and inform treatment strategy changes for schistosomiasis (SCH). Methods A cross-sectional survey of 200 schools across 27 counties of Kenya was utilised. The study design, selection of the schools, and analysis followed the MBG approach, which incorporated historical data on treatment, morbidity, and environmental covariates. Results The overall SCH prevalence was 5.0% (95% CI 4.9%–5.2%) and was estimated, with a high predictive probability of 0.999, to be between 1% and< 10%. The predictive probabilities at county level revealed county heterogeneity, with that of four counties estimated to be between 0% and< 1%, that of 20 counties estimated to be between 1% and< 10%, that of two counties estimated to be between 10% and< 20%, and that of one county estimated to be between 20% and< 50%. Conclusion SCH treatment requirements can now be confidently refined based on the World Health Organization’s guidelines. The four counties with prevalences of between 0% and< 1% may consider suspending treatment only in areas (i.e., sub-counties and wards) where the prevalence is< 1%.
{"title":"Using a model-based geostatistical approach to design and analyse the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Kenya","authors":"Collins Okoyo, Mark Minnery, Idah Orowe, Chrispin Owaga, Christin Wambugu, Nereah Olick, Jane Hagemann, Wyckliff P. Omondi, Paul M. Gichuki, Kate McCracken, Antonio Montresor, Claudio Fronterre, Peter Diggle, Charles Mwandawiro","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1240617","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1240617","url":null,"abstract":"Background Infections caused by both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium are endemic in Kenya, with over six million children at risk. A national school-based deworming programme was launched in 2012 with the goal of eliminating parasitic worms as a public health problem. This study used a model-based geostatistical (MBG) approach to design and analyse the impact of the programme and inform treatment strategy changes for schistosomiasis (SCH). Methods A cross-sectional survey of 200 schools across 27 counties of Kenya was utilised. The study design, selection of the schools, and analysis followed the MBG approach, which incorporated historical data on treatment, morbidity, and environmental covariates. Results The overall SCH prevalence was 5.0% (95% CI 4.9%–5.2%) and was estimated, with a high predictive probability of 0.999, to be between 1% and&lt; 10%. The predictive probabilities at county level revealed county heterogeneity, with that of four counties estimated to be between 0% and&lt; 1%, that of 20 counties estimated to be between 1% and&lt; 10%, that of two counties estimated to be between 10% and&lt; 20%, and that of one county estimated to be between 20% and&lt; 50%. Conclusion SCH treatment requirements can now be confidently refined based on the World Health Organization’s guidelines. The four counties with prevalences of between 0% and&lt; 1% may consider suspending treatment only in areas (i.e., sub-counties and wards) where the prevalence is&lt; 1%.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135973983","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 : 2023-11-01DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1145340
Veronique Etienne, Adriana Gallagher, Rebecca C. Christofferson, Michael K. McCracken, Derek A.T. Cummings, Maureen T. Long
Aedes spp. mosquitos are responsible for transmitting several viruses that pose significant public health risks, including dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, and West Nile viruses. However, quantifying the number of individuals at risk and their exposure to Aedes spp. mosquitos over time is challenging due to various factors. Even accurate estimation of mosquito numbers at the population level may not fully capture the fluctuations in human exposure based on factors that affect biting rates of mosquitoes. Measuring the antibody response of humans to mosquito salivary proteins (MSP) has been proposed as a method to assess human exposure to mosquito bites and predict disease risk. The presence of antibodies to MSP can be quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). While there is known variability in laboratory methods, the consistency of MSP measurements across different research groups has not been quantitatively examined. Variation in laboratory protocols, antigens used, and the human populations sampled all may contribute to differences observed in measured anti-MSP responses. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of the published literature focusing on antibody responses to MSP in humans and other vertebrate hosts. Whenever possible, we extracted individual-level anti-MSP IgG data from these studies and performed a pooled analysis of quantitative outcomes obtained from ELISAs, specifically optical densities (OD). We analyzed the pooled data to quantify variation between studies and identify sample and study characteristics associated with OD scores. Our candidate list of characteristics included the type of antigen used, age of human subjects, mosquito species, population-level mosquito exposure, collection season, Köppen-Geiger climate classification, and OD reporting method. Our findings revealed that the type of antigen, population-level mosquito exposure, and Köppen-Geiger climate classification were significantly associated with ELISA values. Furthermore, we developed a classification algorithm based on OD scores, which successfully distinguished samples from individuals living in areas where a specific mosquito species was present from those where it was not, with a high degree of accuracy. The pooled analysis we conducted provides a harmonized assessment of ELISA testing, which can be utilized to refine the use of antibody responses as markers for mosquito exposure. In conclusion, our study contributes to the understanding of antibody responses to MSP and their utility as indicators of mosquito exposure. By identifying the factors associated with variations in ELISA values, we have provided valuable insights for future research and the refinement of antibody-based assessments of mosquito exposure.
{"title":"Antibodies to Aedes spp. salivary proteins: a systematic review and pooled analysis","authors":"Veronique Etienne, Adriana Gallagher, Rebecca C. Christofferson, Michael K. McCracken, Derek A.T. Cummings, Maureen T. Long","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1145340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1145340","url":null,"abstract":"Aedes spp. mosquitos are responsible for transmitting several viruses that pose significant public health risks, including dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, and West Nile viruses. However, quantifying the number of individuals at risk and their exposure to Aedes spp. mosquitos over time is challenging due to various factors. Even accurate estimation of mosquito numbers at the population level may not fully capture the fluctuations in human exposure based on factors that affect biting rates of mosquitoes. Measuring the antibody response of humans to mosquito salivary proteins (MSP) has been proposed as a method to assess human exposure to mosquito bites and predict disease risk. The presence of antibodies to MSP can be quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). While there is known variability in laboratory methods, the consistency of MSP measurements across different research groups has not been quantitatively examined. Variation in laboratory protocols, antigens used, and the human populations sampled all may contribute to differences observed in measured anti-MSP responses. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of the published literature focusing on antibody responses to MSP in humans and other vertebrate hosts. Whenever possible, we extracted individual-level anti-MSP IgG data from these studies and performed a pooled analysis of quantitative outcomes obtained from ELISAs, specifically optical densities (OD). We analyzed the pooled data to quantify variation between studies and identify sample and study characteristics associated with OD scores. Our candidate list of characteristics included the type of antigen used, age of human subjects, mosquito species, population-level mosquito exposure, collection season, Köppen-Geiger climate classification, and OD reporting method. Our findings revealed that the type of antigen, population-level mosquito exposure, and Köppen-Geiger climate classification were significantly associated with ELISA values. Furthermore, we developed a classification algorithm based on OD scores, which successfully distinguished samples from individuals living in areas where a specific mosquito species was present from those where it was not, with a high degree of accuracy. The pooled analysis we conducted provides a harmonized assessment of ELISA testing, which can be utilized to refine the use of antibody responses as markers for mosquito exposure. In conclusion, our study contributes to the understanding of antibody responses to MSP and their utility as indicators of mosquito exposure. By identifying the factors associated with variations in ELISA values, we have provided valuable insights for future research and the refinement of antibody-based assessments of mosquito exposure.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"73 2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135271071","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 : 2023-10-30DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1304998
Priyanka Kumari, Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan, Rabbani Syed, James John
{"title":"Editorial: Response predictors in diagnosis and prognosis of meningitis and pneumonia","authors":"Priyanka Kumari, Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan, Rabbani Syed, James John","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1304998","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1304998","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"129 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139309595","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 : 2023-10-18DOI: 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}
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