Journal of Tropical Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Dog Bite Epidemiology and Postexposure Practices Among Dog Owners in Some Communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana.","authors":"Richard Dery Suu-Ire, Amos Sarpong Agyei, Issah Beninmie Alijata, Benjamin Tetteh Mensah, Samuel Asumah, Meyir Yiryele Ziekah, Sylvester Languon, Samuel Otis Bel-Nono, Henry Asigri Abugri, Benjamin Kissi Sasu, Bonodong Zongnukuu Guri, Victor Emmanuel Manieson","doi":"10.1155/jotm/1750043","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/1750043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rabies remains a neglected tropical disease in northern Ghana, where dog bites are common, and postexposure prophylaxis access is limited. Community-level data on bite epidemiology and health-seeking practices are scarce.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 370 dog-owning households (1824 individuals) in Lawra and Jirapa municipalities, Upper West Region, using a multistage sampling approach. Three submunicipalities were randomly selected from each municipality, after which households were selected using systematic sampling. We captured lifetime dog bite history, postexposure practices and rabies prevention behaviours.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall rabies awareness was high (Jirapa 97.6% and Lawra 77.0%). Lifetime household-level dog bite prevalence was significantly higher in Jirapa (44.1%) than in Lawra (20.5%). Postbite care was suboptimal: 38.4% of victims in Jirapa first sought traditional remedies compared to 17.2% in Lawra. Death after a bite was reported in 33.3% of Jirapa victims and 16.4% of Lawra victims. Family members reported symptoms suggestive of rabies in some of these cases; however, none were clinically or laboratory confirmed. Higher education was positively associated with safer practices (<i>β</i> = 0.78, <i>p</i> = 0.008), while initial reliance on traditional healers was inversely associated (<i>β</i> = -1.12, <i>p</i> = 0.005).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dog bites and probable rabies deaths are underreported in these municipalities. The heavy reliance on traditional medicine and low formal health-seeking highlight critical barriers to rabies elimination. Strengthening community-based surveillance, integrated traditional healer referral, and targeted radio-based health education in local languages are urgently needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1750043"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13501008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148813450","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":"Emerging Q Fever Infection in Türkiye.","authors":"Hatun Öztürk Çerik, Arzu Altunçekiç Yıldırım, Celali Kurt, Önder Ergönül","doi":"10.1155/jotm/1628136","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/1628136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Q fever, caused by <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, is an underrecognized zoonotic infection with diverse clinical manifestations. The nonspecific nature and slow progression of Q fever frequently delay diagnosis, sometimes leading to severe or even fatal outcomes. This study describes 32 patients diagnosed with Q fever over an 18-month period in a previously unreported region, highlighting the emerging awareness of this neglected zoonosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients with seropositive <i>C. burnetii</i> Phase I/II IgM and/or IgG antibodies between October 2023 and March 2025 (18-month period) were included. Cases were classified as acute, probable, chronic, or past infection according to established serological and clinical criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-two patients were diagnosed during the study period, of whom 22 (68.8%) were male; the median age was 60.5 years (IQR: 48-66). More than half were farmers, and 40.6% reported animal exposure. Based on serological and clinical criteria, 11 patients were diagnosed with acute Q fever, 16 with probable infection, one with chronic infection, and four with past infection. Common manifestations included fever, myalgia, arthralgia, hepatitis, and endocarditis; cardiovascular involvement occurred in 40.6% of patients. Two patients died, and notably, three patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis had a history of care at the same cardiac surgery clinic.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Given its heterogeneous clinical manifestations and variable serological responses, Q fever poses significant diagnostic challenges. This study presents the first and largest human case series of Q fever from the Black Sea region of Türkiye, highlighting the wide clinical spectrum of the disease and the need for enhanced awareness and diagnostic capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1628136"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13494853/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148794922","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":"Microscopic and Molecular Evaluation of Intestinal Microsporidia in Hemodialysis and Cancer Patients in Ilam Province.","authors":"Kosar Khezri, Nahid Maspi, Shahab Falahi, Hassan Nourmohammadi, Asad Mirzaei","doi":"10.1155/jotm/5072209","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/5072209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Microsporidia are opportunistic intestinal pathogens causing chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. Limited data exist on their prevalence in western Iran. This study aimed to investigate intestinal microsporidia in hemodialysis and cancer patients in Ilam Province.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Stool samples from 78 immunocompromised patients (44 females, 34 males; mean age 53.5 ± 12.8 years) were examined microscopically after modified trichrome staining and molecularly by nested PCR targeting the ITS region. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA v10. Group comparisons were performed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Microscopy detected microsporidia in 10/78 samples (12.8%), while nested PCR identified 19/78 positive cases (24.4%; 95% CI: 16.2%-34.9%). <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> (<i>E. bieneusi</i>) was the predominant species (16/78; 20.5%), followed <i>by Encephalitozoon intestinalis</i> (2/78; 2.6%) and mixed infection (1/78; 1.3%). The prevalence was higher in hemodialysis patients (9/30; 30.0%) compared to cancer patients (10/48; 20.8%), but this difference was not statistically significant (<i>χ</i> ² = 0.84, df = 1, <i>p</i> = 0.36). Due to the small sample size, this finding should be interpreted with caution and is presented as exploratory. No significant difference was observed by microscopy (Fisher's exact test, <i>p</i> = 0.842). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the BEB6 genotype in all <i>E. bieneusi</i> isolates.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This first report from Ilam Province demonstrates a notable prevalence of microsporidia, particularly <i>E. bieneusi</i> in hemodialysis and cancer patients. The BEB6 genotype raises the possibility of a zoonotic source, although no animal or environmental samples were analyzed to confirm transmission routes. While our findings are preliminary due to the limited sample size, they suggest that molecular diagnostic screening could be beneficial in similar high-risk populations. However, larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings before routine screening can be recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5072209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13482037/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148794917","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":"High-Resolution Mapping of Environmental Suitability for Reported Ebola Spillover Events in Uganda to Inform Surveillance and Preparedness.","authors":"George Paasi, Nancy Malaika, Sam Okware, Peter Olupot-Olupot","doi":"10.1155/jotm/9889973","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/9889973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Uganda experiences recurrent Ebola disease (EBOD) outbreaks, yet national suitability maps often pool virus species or are too coarse for district-level planning. We aimed to generate species-resolved, 1 km relative environmental suitability surfaces for reported Ebola spillover events in Uganda; quantify the contribution of environmental, anthropogenic, and reservoir-related predictors to modeled suitability; and translate continuous outputs into operational prioritization tiers for district surveillance and preparedness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We compiled 71 laboratory-confirmed reported Ebola event localities in Uganda from 2000 to 2023, defined as the most likely documented locality of initial human infection where available, and paired them with 11 minimally collinear predictors. Pooled and virus-specific MaxEnt models were tuned in ENMeval by comparing feature-class sets across <i>β</i> = 0.5 to 3.0, ranked by AICc, and screened for acceptable omission at the 10% training-presence threshold. Performance was estimated using fourfold spatial block cross-validation. Pooled cloglog suitability values were thresholded at the 10% training-presence value and stratified into four operational prioritization tiers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Tuning selected LQHP with <i>β</i> = 1.5 for the pooled model. Under spatial block cross-validation, pooled performance was Test AUC = 0.845 (0.825 to 0.862) and Test Boyce = 0.58 (0.52 to 0.63), with Test OR10 = 0.101 (0.092 to 0.109). The operational threshold was cloglog = 0.084, classifying 25.4% of Uganda as suitable within the modeling framework. Tier 1, defined as the highest-suitability decile among suitable pixels (cloglog ≥ 0.65), covered 5.8% of land area yet contained approximately 12.6 million residents (29%). High-suitability areas were clustered in the Albertine Rift escarpment belt, the Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono peri-urban cluster extending along major corridors, and a northern Lake Kyoga shoreline crescent. Species-specific outputs were interpreted as exploratory secondary analyses. SUDV broadly reproduced the pooled modeled suitability geography, EBOV showed elevated suitability along the western border corridor, and BDBV suitability was concentrated around the Albertine escarpment. Checkerboard2 sensitivity produced a small AUC increase (ΔAUC = +0.006) and high tier agreement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Relative environmental suitability for reported Ebola spillover localities in Uganda is concentrated in compact high-priority belts where elevated modeled suitability overlaps with large resident populations. Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas provide a focused basis for strengthening event-based surveillance, early detection, laboratory referral, infection prevention and control readiness, rapid response capacity, One Health field investigation, and community engagement.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"9889973"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13478722/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148794887","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":"Incidence and Risk Factors of Soil-Transmitted Helminths Among Vegetable Farmers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.","authors":"Bethelhem Kinfu Gurmassa, Sirak Robele Gari, Ephrem Tefera Solomon, Bitwe K Dessie, Bezatu Mengistie Alemu","doi":"10.1155/jotm/9138685","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/9138685","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are common neglected tropical diseases in areas with poor sanitation. In Ethiopia, urban farmers using contaminated river water for irrigation are exposed to parasite infection. This study examined the incidence and associated risk factors of STH infections among vegetable farmers in Addis Ababa, comparing those using wastewater with those using clean water.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed-methods design was applied, incorporating a community-based cross-sectional survey and a longitudinal laboratory investigation from December 2021 to December 2023. The study involved 290 farmers (136 wastewater-exposed and 129 unexposed) across 10 sites along the Big and Little Akaki Rivers. Data were collected via questionnaires, observation, health diaries, and stool samples, with diagnosis performed using the Kato-Katz method. STATA 14 was used for data analysis, including logistic regression to identify significant risk factors (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>STH incidence was significantly higher among wastewater-irrigating farmers (19.8%) compared to nonusers (8.5%), with incidence rates of 7.1 and 3.04 per 1000 person-months, respectively. The relative risk was 2.32, indicating wastewater irrigation increases STH infection. Risk factors among wastewater-exposed farmers, poor fingernail hygiene (AOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.65-42.7), and not wearing boots (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.66-11.5) increased STH infection risk. Defecating on farms raised infection odds in both exposed (AOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.55-3.05) and unexposed (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.55-2.10) groups. Hand contamination (AOR = 6.9; 95% CI: 2.92-55.7), washing vegetables with wastewater (AOR = 11.6; 95% CI: 3.64-23.9), and not wearing protective clothing (exposed: AOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.11-87.9; unexposed: AOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.31-22.8) also significantly contributed to STH infection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Wastewater irrigation significantly elevates the risk of STH infections, promoting affordable safe wastewater irrigation practices (sand or gravel filters, drip irrigation) along with hygiene, sanitation, and health education for farmers, to protect farming communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"9138685"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13463733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148723847","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":"Urban Hyperendemicity and Emerging Coastal Per-Capita Risk of Dengue in Bangladesh, 2021-2025: A Nationwide Spatiotemporal Ecological Analysis.","authors":"Pratyay Hasan, Tazdin Delwar Khan, Mohammad Saiful Islam, Mohd Arifuzzaman, Mohammad Emdadul Haque","doi":"10.1155/jotm/3012361","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/3012361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dengue has shifted from Dhaka-centric to nationwide in Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To quantify spatiotemporal patterns and identify high-risk clusters across all 64 districts from 2021 to 2025, and, extending previous reports with data from 2025, this study aims to observe an ongoing shift in per-capita risk hotspots.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective ecological study of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) aggregate yearly data on suspected and laboratory-confirmed dengue admissions (<i>n</i> = 637,626 cases). Incidence per 100,000 population was calculated using 2022 census projections with 1.12% annual growth. Global (Moran's I) and local (Getis-Ord <i>Gi∗</i>) spatial autocorrelation and prospective space-time scan statistics (SaTScan) were applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>National incidence: 76.4/100,000/year. 2025 rate-adjusted Moran's I = 0.328 (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Raw-case hotspots: Greater Dhaka; population-adjusted hotspots: Jhalokathi, Barguna (coastal). High-rate space-time cluster (2024-2025): Dhaka, Manikganj (RR = 3.13, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Dhaka O/E = 4.31 (RR = 6.38). Two low-rate clusters (north, southeast).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Urban hyperendemicity, characterized by a high case volume, coupled with the emerging coastal per-capita risk, necessitates tailored interventions. Intensive vector control is essential in Dhaka, while early-warning surveillance should be implemented in coastal districts.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3012361"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697840","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":"Secondary Metabolite Profiling, In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation, and In Vivo Acute Toxicity Assessment of <i>Osyris quadripartita</i> and <i>Toddalia asiatica</i> Leaves and Stem Bark Extracts.","authors":"Eyob Tilahun, Negussie Fedessa Bussa, Anteneh Belayneh, Andarge Zelalem, Tsegu Kiros","doi":"10.1155/jotm/8295438","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/8295438","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Ethiopia, <i>Osyris quadripartita</i> (Santalaceae) and <i>Toddalia asiatica</i> (Rutaceae) are traditionally used to treat malaria, skin and stomach disorders, and other tropical diseases. This study screened the major secondary metabolite profiles and evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial and in vivo acute toxicity effects of chloroform and methanol extracts from the leaves and stem barks of <i>O. quadripartita</i> and <i>T. asiatica</i>. Secondary metabolite profiling was conducted according to the standard protocols. The in vitro antimicrobial activity evaluation was performed using Kirby-Bauer and broth dilution assays. The in vivo acute toxicity was assessed in experimental mice, grouped into experimental and control groups. Detected phytochemicals included tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and terpenoids, while phlobatannins were absent. Methanol stem bark extracts of <i>O. quadripartita</i> and <i>T. asiatica</i> showed higher inhibition zones of 10.67 ± 0.57 and 10.6 ± 0.11 mm, respectively, against methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> at a minimum concentration of 100 mg/mL. These extracts also showed the lowest MIC values against <i>S. aureus</i> (6.25 ± 00 mg/mL) and <i>S. pyogenes</i> (12.5 ± 00 mg/mL), respectively. The methanol leaf extract of <i>O. quadripartita</i> and stem barks of <i>T. asiatica</i> demonstrated MBC values of 25 and 50 mg/mL, respectively, against <i>S. pyogenes</i>. A higher antifungal effect was observed with the methanol leaf extract of <i>T. asiatica</i> against <i>Aspergillus niger</i> (8.33 ± 0.28 mm at 100 mg/mL). The present findings revealed that methanol extracts of both plants exhibited better antimicrobial activity than the chloroform extracts, as evidenced by the lowest MIC and MBC values. This aligns with the presence of polar secondary metabolites in methanol extracts, which may be responsible for the observed activity. All crude extracts from both plants showed no signs of toxicity at doses up to 2000 mg/kg in experimental mice, indicating the absence of acute toxicity. In conclusion, these findings support the traditional therapeutic use of the leaves and stem barks of <i>O. quadripartita</i> and <i>T. asiatica</i> as antimicrobial agents. Further research is needed to quantify the major classes of phytochemicals and identify the compounds responsible for antimicrobial activity using FT-IR, LC-MS, and NMR instruments.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8295438"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13450135/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697811","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":"Design and Evaluation of a Multicomponent Herbal Nanogel for Mosquito Repellency: An Integrated In Silico Experimental Approach Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Anopheles stephensi</i>.","authors":"Mohsen Safaei, Alireza Sanei-Dehkordi, Navid Alinejad, Mahsa Fallahi, Mahmoud Osanloo","doi":"10.1155/jotm/6513704","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/6513704","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study describes the development and characterization of a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based nanogel. The nanogel coencapsulates thymol, carvacrol, and cinnamaldehyde to enhance mosquito repellency. These phytochemicals were selected for their potential complementary and multimodal neurotoxic and olfactory-disrupting effects. The nanogel was synthesized by spontaneous emulsification, followed by polymeric gelation. Its physicochemical properties were assessed with dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, rheological measurements, and stability tests. The nanogel showed an optimal size (177 ± 6 nm; PDI: 0.17 ± 0.02; SPAN: 0.96), robust colloidal stability, and pseudoplastic flow behavior. This is consistent with the Carreau-Yasuda model. Repellency assays showed complete protection for 410 ± 45 min against <i>Anopheles stephensi</i> and 210 ± 30 min against <i>Aedes aegypti.</i> Specifically, the nanogel was statistically superior to 40% DEET against <i>Anopheles stephensi</i>, while providing comparable (noninferior) protection against <i>Aedes aegypti</i>. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities of thymol and carvacrol to mosquito odorant-binding proteins providing mechanistic support for the potential complementary activity of the multicomponent formulation. The formulation maintained physical and rheological stability for 6 months. There was no phase separation or syneresis. These findings show this nanogel's promise as an effective natural mosquito repellent.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6513704"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13434029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673901","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":"Real-Time PCR-Based Detection of <i>Mycobacterium leprae</i> From Multiple Clinical Samples for Molecular Diagnosis of Leprosy in Côte D'Ivoire.","authors":"Bahou Roger Dehe, Aby Christiane Amon, Ouemela Venance Ban, Gogbé Jean-Luc Tiemoko, Henry Kouakou, Alain Dit Philippe Bidie, Mireille Dosso, Kakou Solange Ngazoa, N'Golo David Coulibaly","doi":"10.1155/jotm/9962633","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/9962633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leprosy remains endemic in Côte d'Ivoire, with persistent Grade 2 disability cases indicating ongoing challenges in early diagnosis. Classical diagnosis relies on clinical examination and microscopy, which lacks sensitivity because <i>Mycobacterium leprae</i> cannot be cultured. In the context of the WHO \"Zero Leprosy\" strategy (2021-2030), molecular tools are needed to confirm cases, detect subclinical infections, and monitor transmission.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We developed and evaluated a real-time PCR protocol targeting the <i>M. leprae</i> 16S rRNA gene for molecular diagnosis. Clinical specimens (slit-skin smears and nasal mucus) were collected from 20 clinically diagnosed leprosy patients in Côte d'Ivoire. DNA/RNA extraction was performed using both a semiautomated kit (NucliSENS) and a manual guanidinium thiocyanate (GuSCN) method. Real-time PCR results were compared with direct microscopy (Ziehl-Neelsen staining). The choice of GuSCN was justified by its chaotropic properties, which inactivate mycobacteria, stabilize RNA, and improve biosafety.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 48 samples, microscopy detected only nine (18.8%) positive cases, all from multibacillary (MB) patients. In contrast, real-time PCR detected 35 (72.9%) positives using the NucliSENS kit and 31 (64.6%) using the GuSCN method. In paucibacillary (PB) patients, PCR positivity reached 59.5%, whereas microscopy was nearly negative. Ear lobe exudates provided the best diagnostic yield.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Real-time PCR targeting 16S rRNA significantly improves <i>M. leprae</i> detection compared to microscopy, especially in PB forms. The manual GuSCN method is a reliable, low-cost alternative for endemic settings. This approach can facilitate early case confirmation, subclinical infection detection, and support leprosy control efforts in Côte d'Ivoire within the WHO Zero Leprosy framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"9962633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13430052/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148669949","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":"In Vitro Antigiardial Activity of Selected Plants From the Indonesian Rain Forest Identified Based on Behavioral Observations of Sumatran Orangutans.","authors":"Radka Pecková, Karel Doležal, Ivan Petřík, Michal Prikryl, Jana Kočířová, Wisnu Nurcahyo, Ivona Foitová","doi":"10.1155/jotm/6520515","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jotm/6520515","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>This study evaluated in vitro antigiardial activity in 16 Indonesian plants extracted in methanol, methanol-tetrahydrofuran (1:1), and water. These plants exhibiting promising antiparasitic activity were selected on the basis of collected behavioral data and the ability of these plants to decrease parasite load in Sumatran orangutans.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Plant extracts of different concentrations (0.15625-10 mg/mL) and metronidazole (100 μg/mL), a standard antigiardial drug, were incubated with 10⁵ trophozoites per milliliter of growth medium in 96-well tissue culture plates under anaerobic conditions for 24 h. Cultures were counted in a hemocytometer using a light microscope and then statistically evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All tested plants were found to be effective to some extent against <i>Giardia intestinalis</i> trophozoites, with eight of them having never been previously tested for any biological activity nor probably used in ethnomedicine (as far as we know).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results show that these extracts have potential as an alternative treatment of enteric diseases caused by <i>G. intestinalis</i> and confirm the assumption that orangutans use these plants for self-medication.</p>","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6520515"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13421921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148630724","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}