Pathogens最新文献

{"title":"A Combination of Flavonoids Suppresses Cell Proliferation and the E6 Oncogenic Pathway in Human Papillomavirus-Transformed Cells.","authors":"Federico De Marco, Fabio Altieri, Stefano Giuliani, Italia Falcone, Susanna Falcucci, Mariassunta Tedesco, Roberto Becelli","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030221","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite the availability of excellent HPV-specific vaccines, HPV-related conditions and, notably, their related neoplastic diseases are expected to impact human health for many years to come. Polyphenols and flavonoids are a large class of natural products, credited with a wide range of pharmacological properties including antineoplastic activity. However, the currently available data depict a rather heterogeneous and sometimes contradictory landscape, and no univocal conclusions can be drawn. To shed light on such a controversial issue, a restricted list of promising polyphenols were evaluated for their antineoplastic activity on HPV-transformed cells. Among them, Kaempferol, Galangin, and Luteolin proved to have distinct anti-clonal activity with ID₅₀ values, respectively, of 1.25, 6.25, and 3.0 microMolar, and three other compounds, namely, Chrysin, Quercetin, and Apigenin, showed fair although less intense activity with ID values, respectively, of 25.0, 40, and 25 microMolar. Interestingly, a distinct anti-proliferative effect could also be suggested for Kaempferol, Luteolin, and Apigenine. Cooperative anti-clonal effects could be suggested for binary and ternary compositions made of Kaepferol, Galangin, and Luteolin once combined at concentrations ranging from 2 to 8 microMolar. At these concentrations, the single components and the triple combination induced distinct cell cycle modulation associated with marked restoration of the p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1 levels, consistent with the disruption of the E6/E6AP interaction whose continuous activity is necessary for both the induction and maintenance of the viral-induced neoplastic phenotype.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945172/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143730997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and Safety of Sotrovimab Versus Oral Antiviral for Early Treatment in High-Risk Patients in Omicron Era: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.","authors":"Antonio Russo, Mariantonietta Pisaturo, Chiara Cacace, Augusta Troise, Gabriele Granata, Pierantonio Grimaldi, Enrico Allegorico, Francesca Ambrisi, Martina Papillo, Fabio Giuliano Numis, Nicola Coppola","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030216","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>High-risk patients with COVID-19 benefit from early treatment to prevent severe outcomes. Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody, and oral antivirals such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir have been used for early intervention, but their comparative efficacy and safety, particularly during the Omicron-dominant phase, require further evaluation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multicenter, retrospective study performed in southern Italy including all adult patients who received early antiviral treatment (sotrovimab or nirmatrelvir/r or molnupiravir) between January 2022 and February 2024 (omicron phase). Demographic, clinical, and treatment-related data were analyzed to assess primary endpoints of 28-day mortality and hospitalization. Logistic regression models identified predictors of key outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 668 high-risk patients treated with sotrovimab (n = 326) or oral antivirals (n = 342: 69 with molnupiravir and 273 with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) were included. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between groups (0.8% sotrovimab vs. 1.8% oral antivirals; <i>p</i> = 0.679). However, patients treated with sotrovimab exhibited a longer median time to SARS-CoV-2 negativization (13 vs. 11 days; <i>p</i> = 0.008) and higher non-COVID-19-related hospitalizations (2.45% vs. 0%; <i>p</i> = 0.003). Multivariable analysis identified cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases as the sole significant predictor of prolonged viral positivity (OR 1.585, 95% CI 1.072-2.345; <i>p</i> = 0.021). Additionally, immunocompromised status (OR 16.929, 95% CI 1.835-156.170; <i>p</i> = 0.013) and chronic non-COVID-19 oxygen therapy (OR 10.714, 95% CI 1.623-70.725; <i>p</i> = 0.014) were strongly associated with mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sotrovimab and oral antivirals demonstrated similar efficacy in preventing mortality and hospitalization among high-risk patients. Patient-specific factors, particularly cardiovascular comorbidities and immunosuppression, significantly influenced outcomes and should guide treatment choices.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945712/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Insights from a Retrospective Analysis of Multidrug-Resistant and Non-Multidrug-Resistant Isolates.","authors":"Georgios Schinas, Rafail Koros, Ioannis Ntalakouras, Skevos Sideris, Angelos Perperis, Georgios Leventopoulos, Periklis Davlouros, Karolina Akinosoglou","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030215","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria are uncommon but potentially life-threatening. This study examined patients with Gram-negative CIED infections, investigating the clinical characteristics of patients harboring multidrug-resistant (MDR), versus non-MDR, isolates. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted at two tertiary Greek University Hospitals from 2015 to 2020. Patients were identified through microbiological cultures from device-related sites (pocket, lead, generator), with infections classified as MDR or non-MDR based on antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Comprehensive data were collected, including demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, procedural details-on both the last device procedure and subsequent extraction procedure-infection-related findings, and microbiological profiles. In total, 18 patients were identified, with an equal distribution of 9 MDR and 9 non-MDR cases. The study population had a median age of 78 years, with 33.3% female patients, and a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of four. <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> was the most prevalent isolated species. Comparative analysis revealed that MDR patients had higher median SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) scores (2 vs. 0, <i>p</i> = 0.07), longer time to device extraction (50% vs. 88.9% extracted within one month, <i>p</i> = 0.079), and higher blood culture positivity (80% vs. 37.5%, <i>p</i> = 0.135). Despite similar demographic characteristics, MDR infections demonstrated more complex clinical profiles, with a trend towards increased disease severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anisakidae and Anisakidosis: A Public Health Perspective.","authors":"Diana Nonković, Vanja Tešić, Vida Šimat, Svjetlana Karabuva, Alan Medić, Jerko Hrabar","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030217","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030217","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fish and seafood are increasingly recognised as safe and nutritiously valuable foods of animal origin, being a source of about 17% of animal protein globally. Novel culinary trends encourage the consumption of raw or thermally lightly processed fishery products. At the same time, consumers prefer wild, fresh and whole fish over farmed or processed fish. However, the consumption of raw or undercooked fish and other marine organisms poses a risk of contracting parasitic infections, potentially representing a public health risk. Among the most common seafoodborne parasites are members of the Anisakidae family, especially the genus <i>Anisakis</i>, which can cause potentially detrimental effects to human health. These parasites are the causative agent of a zoonosis termed anisakidosis that is prevalent in countries with high per capita fish consumption. Although the number of annual clinical cases varies among countries and regions and is generally not high, sensitisation to this parasite in the general population seems to be considerably higher. Therefore, anisakidosis is still significantly underreported and misdiagnosed globally, making it a disease of rising public health concerns. To prevent infection and mitigate potential negative effects on human health, proper preventive measures such as gutting the fish, freezing or thermal processing are needed. Moreover, a holistic approach implementing One Health principles together with educational campaigns towards the general public and primary care physicians can extend the knowledge on the occurrence of these parasites in their natural hosts and the diagnosis and incidence of anisakidosis, with a final goal to minimize risks for human health and reducing costs for health systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944503/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of <i>Flavobacterium</i> spp. Associated with Aquaculture Fish Diseased from Brazil.","authors":"Peter Charrie Janampa-Sarmiento, Henrique Lopes Costa, Júlio César Câmara Rosa, Guilherme Campos Tavares, Henrique César Pereira Figueiredo","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030219","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to the recent taxonomic reclassification of the species <i>Flavobacterium columnare</i> into four new species-<i>Flavobacterium columnare</i>, <i>Flavobacterium davisii</i>, <i>Flavobacterium covae</i>, and <i>Flavobacterium oreochromis</i>-it is necessary to re-evaluate isolates of previous outbreaks to better understand the epidemiology related to this bacterial group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the taxonomic profile of Brazilian isolates of <i>Flavobacterium</i> spp. associated with columnaris disease using available diagnostic methods. Fifty isolates from different outbreaks (17 clinical cases) occurring in five different Brazilian states previously identified as <i>F. columnare</i> were selected and identified by multiplex PCR and MALDI-ToF methods. In addition, at least one isolate from each clinical case was analyzed by <i>16S rRNA</i> gene sequencing. After inclusion of the MSPs (main spectra profiles), the isolates were identifiable, and when compared with the multiplex PCR results, they showed almost perfect agreement (94.2% Kappa = 0.85). Only <i>F. davisii</i>, <i>F. covae</i>, and <i>F. oreochromis</i> were found among the Brazilian isolates, with these species causing disease in neotropical fish hosts not previously reported (e.g., Siluriformes, Serrasalmidae, and Bryconidae), while <i>F. columnare</i> was not detected. This study provides evidence of <i>Flavobacterium</i> species associated with columnaris disease circulating in various aquaculture facilities across different regions of Brazil. This information is crucial for developing control programs and advancing epidemiologic studies on columnaris disease in Brazilian aquaculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Detection of <i>Anaplasma marginale</i> in <i>Amblyomma mixtum</i> Infesting Cattle in the Major Livestock-Producing States of Mexico.","authors":"Carolina Cárdenas-Amaya, Dora Romero-Salas, Marta Rafael, Jenny J Chaparro-Gutiérrez, Sara López-Osorio, Mariel Aguilar-Domínguez, Miguel Á Alonso-Díaz, Adalberto Á Pérez de León, José de la Fuente","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030214","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by <i>Anaplasma marginale</i>, although mechanical transmission by biting flies also occurs. Infection with <i>A. marginale</i> can reach 26% mortality and morbidity is associated with reduced beef and milk production, causing economic losses for livestock producers. Between March 2022 and July 2023, 1920 ticks were collected from 52 cattle production units in major cattle-producing states in Mexico, including Chiapas, Jalisco, Michoacán, Tabasco, and Veracruz. Of all the ticks collected, 35.57% were morphologically identified as <i>Amblyomma mixtum</i>. Samples of <i>A. mixtum</i> from each state, totaling 271, were tested for <i>A. marginale</i> via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). <i>A. marginale</i> was detected molecularly in 15.3% of <i>A. mixtum</i> samples. <i>A. mixtum</i> from Chiapas had the highest prevalence of <i>A. marginale</i> (24.0%), followed by Tabasco and Veracruz (20.0% each), Jalisco (15.2%), and Michoacán (6.6%). Phylogenetic analysis supported the morphological identification of <i>A. mixtum</i> and confirmed the genetic identity of <i>A. marginale</i>. This research is the first report on the molecular detection of <i>A. marginale</i> in <i>A. mixtum</i> ticks in Mexico. Results suggest that this 3-host tick species might be a potential vector. <i>A. mixtum</i> is Mexico's second most economically significant tick feeding on cattle after <i>Rhipicephalus microplus</i>. This information about <i>A. marginale</i> prevalence in <i>A. mixtum</i> expands our understanding of bovine anaplasmosis epidemiology in Mexico. Further research is needed to assess the role of <i>A. mixtum</i> as a vector of <i>A. marginale</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944398/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Warming World, a Growing Threat: The Spread of Ticks and Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases.","authors":"Miray Tonk-Rügen, Myriam Kratou, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030213","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks are obligate hematophagous arachnids that play a critical role in transmitting a wide array of pathogens to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946334/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern.","authors":"Ana Julia de Almeida Martins, Alice Caroline da Silva Rocha, Zara Mariana de Assis-Silva, Guilherme Oliveira Maia, Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro, Raiany Borges Duarte, Iago de Sá Moraes, Nicoly Ferreira de Urzedo, Lizandra Fernandes-Silva, Ana Paula Carvalho Gomes, Samara Moreira Felizarda, Mayra Parreira Oliveira, Klaus Casaro Saturnino, Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende, Rosângela Maria Rodrigues, Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos, Ísis Assis Braga","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030211","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The risk of zoonotic parasitic infections is closely linked to direct and indirect interactions between animals and humans. The mutual coexistence of species in public spaces predisposes individuals to gastrointestinal parasitosis owing to various social and hygienic-sanitary factors. This study aimed to assess the risk of environmental contamination by gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples collected from parks and public squares in 18 municipalities located in a microregion of the central plateau of Brazil, correlating the collection with the population size of each municipality. We collected 536 soil fecal samples from 117 randomly selected public areas across a 56,111.874 km² region. Eggs, cysts, and oocysts were detected using the Willis flotation technique and the Hoffman's spontaneous sedimentation method. The Hoffman's analysis revealed that 70.3% of the fecal samples were infected across 91.5% of the sampled areas. Identified parasites included the members of the family Ancylostomatidae (56.5%), <i>Toxocara</i> spp. (6.2%), <i>Trichuris</i> spp. (1.7%), <i>Strongyloides</i> spp. (0.2%), <i>Dipylidium caninum</i> (25.8%), <i>Spirometra</i> spp. (0.4%), Taeniidae (0.2%), <i>Platynosomum fastosum</i> (0.6%), Trematoda (0.2%), <i>Giardia</i> spp. (3.2%), <i>Cystoisospora</i> spp. (5.6%), <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. (0.2%), and <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. (2.4%). The presence of positive fecal samples in public areas and municipalities correlated with populations of up to 10,000 inhabitants (<i>p</i> = 0.023). Areas contaminated with feces were 63.4% more likely to contain parasites than other areas (odds ratio 1.6336). Favorable environmental factors combined with inadequate sanitary management contribute to a high risk of environmental contamination, representing a significant zoonotic potential and highlighting the need for improved public health policies and preventive measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945269/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143730857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inflammatory Responses to Non-Typeable <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> Clinical Isolates from Invasive and Non-Invasive Infections.","authors":"Brenda Huska, Marina Ulanova","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030210","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-typeable <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> (NTHi) is often asymptomatically carried in the upper airways but can cause a wide spectrum of disease conditions, from local respiratory tract infections to invasive disease such as sepsis or meningitis. The factors driving NTHi's transition from benign carriage to severe systemic disease remain poorly understood. It is unknown whether NTHi strains associated with invasive or non-invasive disease differ in their capacity to trigger inflammatory responses in innate immune cells. To address this question, we have used an in vitro infection model of human THP-1 cells differentiated to macrophages. To evaluate inflammatory responses, we studied the expression of 3 prototypic pro-inflammatory molecules, ICAM-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The role of lipooligosaccharide in triggering inflammatory responses was assessed using inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling. Our experiments demonstrated that NTHi strains isolated from cases of invasive and non-invasive infections were similarly able to induce strong activations of macrophage pro-inflammatory responses. Our findings support the hypothesis that the development of invasive versus non-invasive NTHi disease may be more significantly influenced by the adaptive immune response than the innate immune response.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945879/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological, Clinical, and Immunological Features of Ghanaian People-Living-with-HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and Molecular Proof of <i>Cystoisospora belli</i> in Their Stool Samples.","authors":"Hagen Frickmann, Fred Stephen Sarfo, Betty Roberta Norman, Martin Kofi Agyei, Albert Dompreh, Shadrack Osei Asibey, Richard Boateng, Edmund Osei Kuffour, Martin Blohm, Veronica Di Cristanziano, Torsten Feldt, Kirsten Alexandra Eberhardt","doi":"10.3390/pathogens14030212","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pathogens14030212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cystoisospora belli</i> is a coccidian parasite commonly associated with enteric infections in immunocompromised individuals. The study was conducted to assess epidemiological, clinical, and immunological features of Ghanaian people living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) with and without antiretroviral therapy and molecular proof of <i>C. belli</i>-specific nucleic acid sequences in their stool samples. While <i>C. belli</i> was detected in 4.2% (<i>n</i> = 25) of the assessed HIV-positive patients, this was the case for only 1 (1.2%) Ghanaian control individuum without known HIV infection. Associations of cystoisosporiasis in Ghanaian HIV patients with reduced CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and increased HIV viral loads, immune-activation as indicated by reduced CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocyte ratios as well as higher expression of HLA-DR+ CD38+ on CD4+ T-lymphocytes, a symptom complex comprising diarrhea, weight loss and a reduced BMI, a trend towards not being on antiretroviral medication, and lacking access to food safety procedures like storing food in refrigerators were shown. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the associations were 4.47 (1.52-12.09) for the abundance of <i>C. belli</i> DNA and clinical diarrhea, 3.51 (1.42-9.12) for the abundance of <i>C. belli</i> DNA and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts <200 cells/µL, and 3.66 (1.52-9.01) for the abundance of <i>C. belli</i> DNA and not having a refrigerator in the household. In conclusion, the assessment contributed to existing insight into the epidemiology of cystoisosporiasis in immunosuppressed individuals in resource-limited tropical high-endemicity areas. Chronic diarrhea among people living with HIV should prompt a diagnostic assessment for confirmation or exclusion of <i>C. belli</i> infections in such settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143730668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}