Pathogens and Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Mapping HIV infection and sex-based differences among sub-Saharan African migrants in Northeast Italy: a multicenter study.","authors":"Anna Ferrari, Marco Cola, Claudia Cozzolino, Fabio Rigo, Maria Cristina Rossi, Angela Londero, Veronica Del Punta, Marina Malena, Massimiliano Lanzafame, Daniela Piacentini, Sandro Panese, Elena Agostini, Elke Maria Erne, Lolita Sasset, Carlo Tascini, Vinicio Manfrin, Francesco Vladimiro Segala, Annamaria Cattelan","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2728954","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2026.2728954","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV continues to disproportionately affect Sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrants in Italy, who often experience late diagnosis and complex clinical and social challenges. This multicenter cross-sectional study evaluated determinants of poor immunological and virological outcomes and sex-based differences among 762 SSA migrants living with HIV in the Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige regions (northeast Italy). Data on demographic, clinical, and social factors were collected from ten Infectious Diseases Centers between January and August 2023. Sex-based differences in clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were assessed using bivariate analyses. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate determinants of immunological and virological outcomes, adjusting for relevant covariates. Late HIV diagnosis affected over two-thirds of participants. Despite high antiretroviral therapy coverage, only 38.3% achieved full virological suppression, while 60.6% had HIV-RNA < 200 copies/mL. Temporary residence permits were significantly associated with detectable viremia, underscoring the role of social and structural vulnerability on treatment outcomes. Females, who represented the majority of the cohort, had higher unemployment and longer HIV infection duration but better immunological profiles and fewer coinfections than males. Comorbidities, including psychiatric conditions, were similarly prevalent among both sexes, yet females accessed psychological support more frequently. These findings highlight the need for integrated, gender-sensitive healthcare and social interventions to improve early diagnosis, treatment continuity, and HIV outcomes in SSA migrant populations in Italy.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148906782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host immunity and recurrent <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Seyedsina Mirjalili, Mohammad Hosseini Hooshiar, Soroush Abbasabadarabi, Amir Aliramezani","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2686115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2026.2686115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> is a leading cause of healthcare-associated gastrointestinal infection, with outcomes that range widely in severity. The pathogenesis of <i>C. difficile</i> is driven by virulence factors that induce colonic inflammation and epithelial damage. This illness is categorized as an urgent threat, and in recent years, its prevalence has increased, with recurrent episodes occurring in approximately 15-35% of cases. The life cycle of C. difficile infection (CDI) is multifactorial and strongly influenced by antibiotic exposure, host immune responses, the gut microbiota, and microbial metabolites. Disruption of intestinal homeostasis gradually alters the ecological niches of <i>C. difficile</i> and the immunological landscape of the disease. In addition to these risk factors, recurrent C. difficile infection (rCDI) can be exacerbated by certain 'hypervirulent' strains that are more difficult to eradicate. As in many infectious diseases, host immunological responses, particularly in rCDI, appear to play a crucial role in determining recovery versus recurrence. Recent strategies to address this problem include fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and novel therapeutic approaches such as polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Nevertheless, the immunological mechanisms underlying rCDI remain incompletely understood. A deeper insight into how the immune response develops and functions during rCDI may facilitate the identification of new therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on <i>C. difficile</i> recurrence and highlight the host immune response in the context of rCDI.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148265408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic variability of SARS-CoV-2 XFG lineage and its parental lineages.","authors":"Ilaria Deplano, Maria Perra, Sara Caddeo, Ilenia Azzena, Chiara Locci, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Francesco Branda, Massimo Ciccozzi, Marco Casu, Daria Sanna, Fabio Scarpa","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2679956","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2026.2679956","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SARS-CoV-2 XFG (nicknamed <i>Stratus</i>), a recombinant lineage arising from LP.8.1.2 and LF.7, is currently the most prevalent circulating lineage. Although most recombinant lineages do not pose a significant public health concern, some have shown the capacity to emerge and spread, highlighting the importance of their investigation. In this context, we performed a genome-based analysis to assess the genetic variability of XFG and to identify its recombination breakpoint. The breakpoint was mapped to approximately position 1507 within the spike (S) gene, in the distal region of the receptor-binding domain. This configuration suggests that LP.8.1.2 contributed the genomic backbone as the acceptor, whereas LF.7 acted as the donor. Phylodynamic survey suggests that XFG originated in early 2024, approximately 10 months before its first genomic detection. Bayesian Skyline Plot revealed a transient expansion phase beginning in August 2024, followed by a plateau, indicating limited and non-sustained growth. The estimated evolutionary rate of XFG (2.90 × 10^-4 subs/site/year) was comparable to those of its parental lineages, supporting a relatively low level of genetic variability. Overall, these findings suggest that the widespread prevalence of XFG is more likely driven by lineage turnover rather than increased transmissibility, highlighting the importance of continuous genomic surveillance for monitoring emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineages.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148034012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From treatment to prevention: reimagining schistosomiasis control through WASH and environmental management.","authors":"Morayo B Adediran, Adedayo Adesida, Oluwadamilola O Ezekiel, Precious C Irabor, Blessing M Babalola, Oyetunde T Oyeyemi","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2025.2603235","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2025.2603235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schistosomiasis remains a persistent global health challenge, primarily controlled through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of praziquantel. While MDA has reduced prevalence and morbidity in endemic regions like China and Sierra Leone, its limitations, including rapid reinfection, logistical barriers to coverage, emerging drug resistance, and failure to interrupt transmission, highlight the inadequacy of a purely pharmacological approach. This review advocates for a paradigm shift from treatment-focused to prevention-oriented strategies, integrating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions and environmental management with MDA. WASH interventions (safe water access, improved sanitation, hygiene education) reduce human contact with contaminated water and limit environmental egg contamination, cutting transmission pathways. Environmental management, particularly snail control via habitat modification, biological agents, and targeted mollusciciding, disrupts the parasite lifecycle by targeting intermediate hosts. Case studies from China, Rwanda, Brazil, and Zanzibar demonstrate the success of integrated approaches: China's multi-sectoral model combines chemotherapy with ecological modifications; Rwanda leverages WASH partnerships and community engagement; Brazil employs community-driven strategies; and Zanzibar's elimination efforts integrate snail control with behavioral change. Despite promising outcomes, implementation faces barriers: funding biases toward short-term MDA over sustainable WASH infrastructure, cultural resistance to behavioral change, and weak intersectoral coordination. The WHO's 2021-2030 NTD Roadmap underscores the need for cross-sector collaboration to address underlying determinants like poverty and infrastructure gaps. Eliminating schistosomiasis by 2030 requires reorienting global strategies toward holistic, equity-focused interventions combining 'pills, pipes, pits, and participation,' i.e. pharmacotherapy, water infrastructure, sanitation, and community agency, to achieve durable transmission interruption.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"234-250"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13202704/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145757248","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":"Evolution of mpox virus in Peru: case B.1.6.1.","authors":"Wendy Lizarraga, Veronica Hurtado, Victor Jimenez-Vasquez, Iris S Molina, Nieves Sevilla, Luis Barcena-Flores, Priscila Lope-Pari, Lucia Rojas, Johanna Balbuena, Carlos Padilla-Rojas","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2638838","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2638838","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Here, we report the emergence of a new mpox lineage, named B.1.6.1. This lineage is native to Peru and has been reported mainly in young and adult men with immunocompromised systems. It is characterized by 5 mutations: <i>OPG019</i> (Q81stop), <i>OPG025</i> (A21T, E34K), <i>OPG121</i> (S65L), <i>OPG064</i> (M424I) and <i>OPG210</i> (S1590F).</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"157-159"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13182173/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147390724","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":"Trends in hospitalizations in adults with HIV infection in Spain over 25 years.","authors":"Víctor Moreno-Torres, Mario Martín-Portugués, Jorge Esteban-Sampedro, Oscar de Gregorio, Carmen de Mendoza, Ana Royuela, Natalia Vicente-López, Alfonso Ortega-de la Puente, Marina de la Cruz-Echeandía, Octavio Corral, Fernando de Jesús, Vicente Soriano","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2650311","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2650311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Given the current high efficacy of antiretroviral therapy and the availability of prophylactic medications, the spectrum of illnesses requiring hospitalization in people with HIV (PWH) has evolved over time. All hospitalizations with a diagnosis of HIV and/or AIDS at the National Registry of Hospital Discharges were retrospectively examined in Spain from 1997 to 2022. There were 610,912 admissions in PWH. Male represented 73%. Mean age at admission was 43.2 years-old and increased from 33.5 years in 1997 to 53.2 in 2022 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Overall, hospitalizations declined by 36.3%. AIDS was present in 71.1% of admissions, with 31.4% diagnosed during the same admission. Across three periods (1997-2007, 2008-2015, 2016-2022), the proportion of admissions with AIDS decreased (76.1%, 68.6%, and 64%), as did new AIDS diagnoses (36.2%, 28.3%, and 23.3%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Among those newly diagnosed with AIDS, 78.8% had opportunistic infections (OIs), and 19.5% AIDS-associated cancers. OIs declined (84.7%, 73.1%, and 54.8%), while neoplasms increased (14.1%, 24.4%, and 31.5%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was 5.4% and decreased (6%, 5.2% and 4.5%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Hospitalizations and mortality among PWH in Spain have decreased over 25 years. While OIs dropped 23.3%, AIDS-related cancers rose by 20%. Mean age at admission reached 53.2 years in 2022.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"211-218"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13182147/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147593406","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":"The myth of pandemic preparedness: persistent gaps in global readiness for Disease X.","authors":"J Luis Espinoza","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2025.2590676","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2025.2590676","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza have exposed persistent weaknesses in global pandemic preparedness. Despite scientific advances, surveillance remains fragmented, hospital surge capacity is declining, and frontline workers continue to face inadequate protection. In low-income settings, delayed outbreak detection - exemplified by cholera in Sudan and mpox in central Africa - reflects ongoing gaps in diagnostic access and communication infrastructure. These challenges are compounded by geopolitical instability, fragile supply chains, and a lack of transparent, sustained investment in preparedness. While emerging tools like artificial intelligence offer promise for early warning and response, their impact depends on equitable integration across health systems. Rather than addressing pandemic threats through fragmented national strategies, a shift toward coordinated, inclusive global action is urgently needed. This Commentary highlights key vulnerabilities and proposes strategies to strengthen collective readiness for future infectious disease emergencies - emphasizing that pandemic preparedness is not solely a scientific issue, but a political and moral imperative.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"231-233"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13202637/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145557606","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":"Low concentrations of antimicrobial agents and their effects on bacterial virulence: A comprehensive literature review.","authors":"Eda Delik, Burcu Emine Tefon-Öztürk","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2025.2593902","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2025.2593902","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is now a well-known fact that antibiotic resistance in bacteria has increased with the widespread and uncontrolled use of antibiotics. However, the increase in antibiotic resistance should not be attributed solely to the use of antibiotics. Other antimicrobial agents used in the control of bacterial infections and even heavy metals are also among the factors causing an increase in antibiotic resistance. It is therefore important to study the effects of these agents on bacterial cells. It is generally believed that the selection of resistance typically occurs at high concentrations of antibiotics. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates that selection can also occur at sub-inhibitory levels, making it essential to better understand their impact. While most studies have focused on antibiotics, fewer have examined the influence of biocides, heavy metals, and bioactive components. In this review, we discuss how low concentrations of these agents not only contribute to the development of resistance but also modulate bacterial virulence by affecting biofilm formation, siderophore production, cell morphology, and gene expression. A comprehensive literature review has been conducted, highlighting both the potential risks of these agents in resistance development and their implications for bacterial virulence in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"251-275"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13202670/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145669078","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":"New markers predicting prognosis in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: HDL cholesterol and eosinophil levels.","authors":"Neslihan Çelik, Esra Laloğlu","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2618468","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2618468","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease caused by a tick-borne virus from the genus Orthonairovirus. This study investigates the feasibility of using high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and eosinophils as novel parameters in determining the prognosis of the disease. Sixty patients with CCHF admitted to our hospital's infectious diseases ward between March and September 2022 were included in the study. The patients'CCHF reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR tests performed on blood samples were positive. Their recorded clinical findings and routine laboratory, biochemistry, complete blood count, and coagulation tests were investigated retrospectively. The patients'demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded, and the disease severity was scored. The patients were then assigned into one of three groups depending on that severity. HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, and triglyceride values were compared between the groups. Negative correlations were observed between HDL, LDL, and cholesterol values and increasing disease severity, while no difference was determined between the groups' triglyceride values. Eosinophil values were also negatively correlated with disease severity between the three groups. The most marked correlations with disease severity were observed in HDL and eosinophils. New scoring systems for determining the prognosis of CCHF have been investigated in recent years. HDL and eosinophil levels may represent the most important prognostic parameters in these novel scoring systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"204-210"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13182148/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146003521","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":"Prognostic value of sCD163, IL-6, PLR, and SII in predicting disease severity in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: a prospective study.","authors":"Ferhan Kerget, Buğra Kerget, Nurten Nur Aydın, Esra Laloğlu","doi":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2635347","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20477724.2026.2635347","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Crimean - Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne infection with high mortality, where macrophage activation and systemic inflammation drive pathogenesis. Prognostic biomarkers are crucial for early risk stratification. In this prospective study (April - July 2025), 60 confirmed CCHF patients (30 severe, 30 mild - moderate) and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Soluble CD163 (sCD163) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA, while platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune - inflammation index (SII) were derived from blood counts. Severe cases showed lower platelet counts, PLR, and SII, but higher AST, ALT, LDH, GGT, CK, direct bilirubin, fibrinogen, sCD163, and IL-6 than mild - moderate patients (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with controls, CCHF patients had elevated sCD163 and IL-6 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). sCD163 correlated negatively with platelet count (<i>r</i>=-0.453, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and positively with AST, ALT, and IL-6 (<i>r</i> = 0.953, <i>p</i> < 0.001), linking macrophage activation to systemic inflammation. ROC analysis showed sCD163 (AUC = 0.853) and IL-6 (AUC = 0.852) as accurate predictors of severe CCHF, with an sCD163 cutoff of 2.7 ng/mL yielding 96% sensitivity and 77% specificity. PLR and SII also distinguished severity but with lower accuracy. These findings highlight sCD163 and IL-6 as strong early prognostic biomarkers that may improve clinical assessment and guide timely therapeutic interventions in CCHF.</p>","PeriodicalId":19850,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":"276-283"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13202642/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147276942","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}