Journal of Tropical Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Therapeutic Antitoxoplasmosis Potential of <i>Garcinia cambogia</i>: Evidence From In Silico and In Vivo Studies.","authors":"Marwa M I Ghallab, Eman S El-Wakil, Rabab S Zalat, Mina A Almayouf, Hayat S Al-Rashidi, Wafa Abdullah I Al-Megrin, Salwa M Morsy","doi":"10.1155/jotm/7285376","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/7285376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an opportunistic protozoan, is widely prevalent and poses potential health risks. Its treatment remains challenging with several side effects, urging the exploration of new, safe, and efficient drugs. We aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of the medicinal plant <i>Garcinia cambogia</i> (GC) against both acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. Sixty Swiss albino mice were allocated into five groups: I (healthy), II (model), III (spiramycin [SPM] treated, IV (GC treated), and V (SPM + GC treated). Each group is further divided into two subgroups receiving treatment at 4 and 42 days postinfection (dpi) for acute and chronic infection, respectively. To determine the properties of the GC active compounds, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), guttiferone-E, guttiferone-J, compared to SPM against the selective <i>T</i>. <i>gondii</i> ROP18 transferase target regarding its binding affinities, and estimated inhibition constant, Lipinski's RO5 filter analyses and computational QSARs/ADMET predictive characteristics were used. The groups were evaluated parasitologically, histopathologically, and immunohistochemically for Iba-1 expression. The best treatment outcome was observed in the SPM + GC-treated groups in both acute and chronic infections, with inhibition percentages of 89% and 78%, respectively, and preservation of neuronal integrity, as evidenced by the lowest Iba1 expression levels. Moreover, the docked ROP18-HCA revealed an additional, critical, and novel ligand-binding site for ROP18, which is essential for the virulence and pathogenesis of <i>Toxoplasma</i>. <i>G. cambogia</i>'s stability of intermolecular binding activities, potency, and conformations makes it an effective, safe, and promising remedy for treating toxoplasmosis, especially in combination with SPM.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7285376"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591994/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149017157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Paradoxes of Elimination and Persistence: Neglected Tropical Diseases in Ecuador Compared to Latin America and the Caribbean.","authors":"José Daniel Sánchez Redrobán","doi":"10.1155/jotm/2977701","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/2977701","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;To describe, from a comparative Latin American perspective, the progress and gaps in the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ecuador, integrating recent data on arboviruses, American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and structural determinants such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A narrative review with a descriptive comparison of secondary data based on secondary sources published between 2015 and 2026. Sources were identified through structured searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, the PAHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS), the WHO Global Health Library, and the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) data portal, supplemented by targeted retrieval of official technical reports from WHO, PAHO, UNICEF, and Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health. Comparative indicators were constructed between Ecuador and the Region of the Americas or Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) for: (a) burden and elimination of selected NTDs; (b) recent dengue dynamics; and (c) WASH service coverage. A synthetic two-panel table with key indicators was prepared, and an interpretive narrative analysis was conducted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Globally, NTD and malaria prevalence decreased 58% between 1990 and 2021, but the reduction in disability-adjusted life years was only 18%, with a disproportionate burden still in low- and middle-income regions. In the Americas, Ecuador was the second country to certify onchocerciasis elimination in 2014, following intensive mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns with ivermectin, with posttreatment surveillance confirming absence of transmission. The Region recorded a record dengue outbreak in 2024 with over 12.6 million suspected cases and more than 7700 deaths, concentrated in four large Latin American countries; through epidemiological Week 21 of 2025, more than 3 million cases had been reported, of which 23,623 corresponded to Ecuador. In 2020, 75% of the LAC population used safely managed drinking water and 34% used safely managed sanitation; nevertheless, 17 million people still lacked access to even basic water services and 72 million lacked basic sanitation. In Ecuador, basic drinking water-service coverage reached 95.7% in 2022, but only 41.6% used safely managed sanitation, and in rural areas, substantial proportions of unimproved water sources, surface water use, and open defecation persist. According to GBD 2023 data, the age-standardized DALY rate for NTDs and malaria combined was 193.8 per 100,000 in Ecuador (95% UI: 139.4-267.6), substantially lower than Bolivia (388.9) and Brazil (313.3).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Ecuador illustrates a regional paradox that is primarily institutional and programmatic rather than biological. Vertical programs endowed with a dedicated external initiative, a donated single-dose drug, a verifiable elimination endpoint, and long-term technical accompaniment-as in onchoc","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2977701"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591011/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149017163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regression Analysis of the Main Environmental Risk Factors for Mountainous Subtype of Zoonotic VL in China.","authors":"Zhongqiu Li, Haobo Ni, Zhengbin Zhou, Shuxun Wang, Zixin Wei, Yi Zhang, Junhu Chen, Shizhu Li","doi":"10.1155/jotm/7495572","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/7495572","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (MT-ZVL) has re-emerged in China in recent years, posing a growing public health concern. Canines are the primary reservoir hosts, yet the environmental determinants of canine infection remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to identify key environmental factors associated with MT-ZVL infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 1484 canine blood samples were collected from 89 villages across five endemic provinces in China. After excluding cases with missing data, 1374 cases were ultimately included in the analysis. Candidate predictors included canine hair length, age, sex, weight, NDVI, altitude, and temperature. We developed a model using ridge-penalized logistic regression, tuned hyperparameters, and validated internally through 30 iterations of 10-fold stratified cross-validation. Model discriminatory power was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve and its 95% confidence interval. Additionally, the optimal cutoff value corresponding to the maximum Youden's index was determined, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated. Variable importance was ranked based on the absolute values of the standardized coefficients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The final model, built using ridge regression (optimal <i>λ</i> = 0.0215), included seven predictors: canine hair length, age, sex, weight, NDVI, altitude, and temperature. Based on 30 repetitions of 10-fold stratified cross-validation, the model demonstrated moderate discriminatory power, with an AUC of 0.68 (95% CI 0.62-0.74). The optimal threshold, determined by maximizing the Youden index, was 0.024. At this threshold, sensitivity reached 97.8%, specificity was 35.9%, the negative predictive value was as high as 99.8%, the positive predictive value was 4.9%, and the overall accuracy was 37.9%. Among the variables, NDVI had the highest relative importance (OR = 14.51), followed by canine hair length. This model has an extremely low risk of missed diagnoses and is suitable for screening to rule out the disease; however, due to its high false-positive rate, it should not be used alone for definitive diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Environmental factors, particularly vegetation coverage, play a critical role in shaping the risk of canine infection in MT-ZVL endemic areas. These findings provide important evidence for improving surveillance strategies and implementing targeted control measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7495572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13589195/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149008596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fangchinoline (2021-2026): A Multitarget Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloid With Emerging Anti-Infective Potential.","authors":"Alaa Sirwi, Hagar M Mohamed, Gamal A Mohamed, Basma G Eid, Hossam M Abdallah, Sabrin R M Ibrahim","doi":"10.1155/jotm/5617306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jotm/5617306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fangchinoline (FC) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid reported mainly from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, <i>Stephania tetrandra</i>. FC has garnered scientific attention because of its wide-ranging biological properties and multitargeted mechanisms of action. This review summarizes the reported studies on the pharmacological activities of FC from 2021 to August 2026, with particular attention to its anti-infective activities and associated mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A thorough literature search was conducted through various databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, together with publishers' websites (e.g., Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Sage, Thieme, and Bentham) from 2021 to August 2026.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Recent studies have investigated the activity of FC against several viral and microbial pathogens using different experimental models. Across these studies, the reported antiviral mechanisms included interference with viral entry and internalization, alteration of endolysosomal trafficking and autophagy, and modulation of innate immune signaling. Antimicrobial studies reported activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> and intracellular <i>Salmonella</i>, with enhancement of lysosomal function reported in the latter model. FC has also demonstrated hepatoprotective, antifibrotic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activities in preclinical models.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential of FC as a multitarget natural scaffold with reported antiviral, antimicrobial, and other pharmacological activities; however, the evidence remains predominantly preclinical. Further studies are required to clarify its mechanisms of action and establish its pharmacokinetic, bioavailability, and safety profiles and to determine whether the reported anti-infective activities can be translated into clinically relevant applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5617306"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13578930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148990625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scabies Treatment Failure: Beyond Drug Resistance and Toward a Multidimensional Understanding.","authors":"Jacob Al-Dabbagh","doi":"10.1155/jotm/1377975","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/1377975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scabies, caused by <i>Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis</i>, remains a major global health problem affecting both resource-poor and high-income regions. Despite the availability of effective treatments, treatment failure continues to pose a challenge to disease control and has become an increasingly recognized clinical and public-health concern. However, treatment failure is often attributed solely to drug resistance, overlooking the complex interplay of biological, clinical, behavioral, and environmental factors. This narrative review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the multifactorial causes of scabies treatment failure. Key areas include true parasitological failure, pharmacological limitations, and emerging resistance; pseudoresistance resulting from incorrect treatment administration; reinfestation from untreated contacts; environmental transmission; diagnostic uncertainties; and host-related inflammatory reactions such as postscabies pruritus. The review also proposes a multidimensional conceptual framework to distinguish true treatment failure from apparent clinical failure and to explain how interacting factors contribute to unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Identifying these determinants is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies, improving treatment success, and guiding future research aimed at combating scabies.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1377975"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13577189/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin D Level and Antibody Response to the BBIBP-CorV Vaccine in Pregnant Women.","authors":"Shahab Falahi, Mahdi Vahabi, Hojjat Sayyadi, Azra Kenarkoohi","doi":"10.1155/jotm/1649421","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/1649421","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Several factors influence the response to the vaccine, including age, gender, pregnancy, microbiota composition, immune function, sex hormones, and micronutrients (such as vitamin D). This study aimed to evaluate antibody responses induced by the BBIBP-CorV vaccine in pregnant women and investigate its association with serum vitamin D levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Serum samples were collected from 140 pregnant women 1-2 months after administering the second dose of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine from August 2021 to April 2022. IgG antibody titers against RBD and serum vitamin D levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The relationship between vitamin D levels and anti-RBD IgG antibody titer was investigated with linear regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Anti-RBD IgG antibodies were detected in 17% (24 out of 140) of the population studied. A positive correlation was observed between serum vitamin D level and anti-RBD IgG antibody titer (<i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that two doses of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine elicited antibody responses against COVID-19 in only a small proportion of pregnant women, suggesting that higher doses or alternative vaccine platforms may be required to protect pregnant women. Despite the existence of a relationship between vitamin D levels and antibody response in our study, prospective clinical trial studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effect of vitamin D on antibody response.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1649421"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13563054/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148955970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Integrative Assessment of <i>Tabanus rubidus</i> (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Thailand: Distribution, Population Genetics, and Pathogen Surveillance.","authors":"Kanchana Thinnabut, Wanchai Maleewong, Pairot Pramual, Oranuch Sanpool, Ubon Tangkawanit","doi":"10.1155/jotm/8877101","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/8877101","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Tabanus rubidus</i> (Diptera: Tabanidae) is a significant species of the Tabanidae family, known for its veterinary and medical relevance, and is found across Thailand. This study examines the species distribution, genetic diversity, demographic history, and vector-pathogen transmission of <i>T</i>. <i>rubidus</i> collected from all six different regions in Thailand. Molecular techniques, utilizing the <i>cox</i>1 gene, were used to assess genetic diversity, genetic structure, and demographic history. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to detect <i>Anaplasma</i> and <i>Ehrlichia</i>, while the 18S ribosomal RNA gene was used to identify <i>Trypanosoma</i> and <i>Theileria</i>. <i>Tabanus rubidus</i> was found in 23 out of 26 provinces in Thailand, indicating its widespread presence across the country. Negative binomial regression showed that fly abundance was negatively affected by monthly mean temperature but positively influenced by rainfall and site temperature. There was high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity. The median-joining network network revealed three lineages: Lineage I, which includes Thailand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh; Lineage II, which is found in India and Bangladesh; and Lineage III, which is found in India. Analysis of the demographic history suggested that population expansion started at the end of the Pleistocene. In this study, <i>T. rubidus</i> tested negative for <i>Ehrlichia</i> and <i>Theileria</i>, with <i>Trypanosoma theileri</i> (<i>T. theileri</i>) and <i>Anaplasma marginale</i> being the only detected pathogens. These findings are epidemiologically significant, confirming tabanid-mediated transmission of <i>T. theileri</i> (indicator of trypanosomiasis) and <i>A. marginale</i> (agent of bovine anaplasmosis), both of which pose health risks and economic losses to livestock.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8877101"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13563500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148955914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antiplasmodial Activity of Methylangolensate From <i>Entandrophragma angolense</i> (Welw.) C.DC. Stem Bark: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach.","authors":"Jude Tetteh, Jemima Aggrey Appiah, Felix Zoiku, Derwaa Keteku, Bismark Aboagye-Adjei, Arnold Donkor Forkuo, Isaac Kingsley Amponsah, Charles Ansah, Kwesi Boadu Mensah","doi":"10.1155/jotm/7224187","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/7224187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous investigation of the antiplasmodial effects of methylangolensate (MAL) has revealed promising activity against multiple strains of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> parasites. However, a significant gap still remains to be bridged regarding its potential as a lead compound for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of malaria. The study seeks to evaluate the multistage antiplasmodial effects, drug likeness, in silico ADMET properties, and possible drug targets of MAL against the <i>P. falciparum</i> parasites.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cytotoxic effects of MAL on HepG2 cells and the inhibitory effects of MAL against the blood stages of both 3D7 <i>P. falciparum</i> and Dd2 <i>P. falciparum</i> were assessed using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric test and SYBR Green assay, respectively. The nature of the interactions between MAL and some validated drug targets of malaria (DHFR-TS, <i>Pf</i>LDH, FP-2, plasmepsins II, <i>Pf</i>DHODH and <i>Pf</i>HGXPRT) were determined using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The drug likeness of MAL was predicted using rule-based filters such as Lipinski. The ADMET properties of MAL were predicted using the SwissADME online tool. A modified in vitro antiplasmodial method involving the supplementation of the culture media with varying concentrations of folic acid was used to validate the antifolate potential of MAL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MAL demonstrated minimal cytotoxic effects (CC₅₀ of 89.39 μg/mL) against HepG2 liver cells. MAL demonstrated a good antiplasmodial effect against the trophozoites and schizonts (IC₅₀ of 0.8568-5.1210 μg/mL) and moderate gametocytocidal activity (IC₅₀ of 12.0800-18.8200 μg/mL) against both 3D7 <i>P. falciparum</i> and Dd2 <i>P. falciparum</i> parasites. MAL met all the criteria set by Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, and Abbott bioavailability score for a drug-like compound and had favorable predicted ADMET properties. The compound demonstrated a strong affinity for the active sites of DHFR-TS, <i>Pf</i>LDH main pocket, <i>Pf</i>LDH cofactor active site, falcipain-2, plasmepsins II, <i>Pf</i>DHODH, and <i>Pf</i>HGXPRT with binding energies of -10.54, -7.25, -8.05, -7.77, -7.39, -9.41, and -8.02 Kcal/mol, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed stable docked MAL-protein complexes. MAL showed good potential as an antifolate agent.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MAL may serve as a lead compound for the design and development of novel drugs that elicit their antiplasmodial effects by interfering with folate metabolism, DNA synthesis, energy metabolism, and nutrition of the <i>P. falciparum</i> parasites.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7224187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13563057/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148955941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ribotyping for Accurate Identification of Infectious Bacteria in Animal-Derived Foods and Laboratory Samples: Implications for Human Health.","authors":"Zahra Pourramezan Seyedi, Baharak Mirzavand, Majid Taati Moghadam, Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi, Jamile Nowsani","doi":"10.1155/jotm/2873071","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/2873071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ribotyping is a molecular typing approach based on ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences for the identification and characterization of bacterial strains. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ribotyping in the identification of infectious bacteria in animal-derived foods and veterinary samples. A narrative literature review was conducted using major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, covering studies published to 2025. Relevant articles were selected based on their focus on ribotyping methodologies (e.g., RFLP-, PCR-, and automated ribotyping) and their applications in food safety, veterinary microbiology, and zoonotic disease investigations. The findings indicate that ribotyping has been widely applied for epidemiological investigations, source tracking, and characterization of foodborne and zoonotic pathogens. These approaches have contributed to understanding bacterial diversity and monitoring antibiotic resistance patterns in animal populations and related food products. However, compared with high-resolution molecular techniques such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), ribotyping demonstrates lower discriminatory power and limited resolution for fine-scale epidemiological analysis. Despite these limitations, ribotyping remains a useful, accessible, and cost-effective tool in certain laboratory and surveillance settings, particularly where advanced genomic technologies are not readily available. Overall, integrating ribotyping with newer genomic approaches can enhance the monitoring and control of infectious bacteria, thereby supporting animal health, food safety, and public health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2873071"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13550874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148911721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Psychoactive Substance Use With Syphilis and HIV Positivity Among Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care in Belém, Northern Brazil.","authors":"Luciano Chaves Franco Filho, Herald Souza Dos Reis, Yan Corrêa Rodrigues, Cintya de Oliveira Souza, Felipe Bomfim Freitas, Rodrigo Santos de Oliveira, Gabriel Silas Marinho Sousa, Maria Luiza Bazzo, Pamela Cristina Gaspar, Adele Schwartz Benzaken, Joana da Felicidade Ribeiro Favacho, Daniela Cristina Soares Vieira da Silva","doi":"10.1155/jotm/3435193","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/3435193","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vertical transmission of sexually transmitted infections remains a public health concern, particularly in socially vulnerable settings. Although Brazil has achieved the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis during pregnancy continues to pose significant challenges, especially in the northern region. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and identify associated factors among pregnant women receiving prenatal care in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Between April and June 2021, 398 pregnant women were interviewed using a structured clinical-epidemiological questionnaire and underwent laboratory testing. HIV diagnosis was established using fourth-generation serological assays with immunoblot confirmation, and syphilis diagnosis was based on nontreponemal testing followed by treponemal confirmation. Descriptive analyses were performed, followed by bivariate analyses using Fisher's exact test, chi-square test with Monte Carlo simulation, and Mann-Whitney U test, and Poisson regression with robust variance was applied to estimate prevalence ratios for syphilis. The prevalence of syphilis was 6.36%, and HIV prevalence was 1.01%. Psychoactive substance use was the only variable independently associated with syphilis positivity, while other sociodemographic and behavioral factors showed descriptive trends without statistical significance, and no significant associations were observed for HIV infection. These findings indicate that persistent social and behavioral vulnerabilities, particularly psychoactive substance use, contribute to ongoing syphilis transmission during pregnancy, underscoring the importance of integrating substance use screening, targeted counseling, and harm-reduction strategies into prenatal care to advance efforts toward eliminating vertical transmission of sexually transmitted infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3435193"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539208/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148887887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}