Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"Snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni in Alagoas, Northeast Brazil: spatial distribution in the hydrographic grid of the state.","authors":"Maria Wilma da Silva Lima, Glória Isabel Lisboa da Silva, Laryssa Oliveira Silva, João Paulo Vieira Machado, Pedro Dantas Lima, Rosália Elen Santos Ramos, Leticia Pereira Bezerra, Israel Gomes de Amorim Santos","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schistosomiasis mansoni is a parasitic infectious disease of significant epidemiological importance caused by Schistosoma mansoni. The intermediate hosts are snails of the genus Biomphalaria spp. As gastropods are crucial for the spread of the disease, this study aimed to assess the influence of water bodies on the distribution of snails responsible for transmitting S. mansoni in the state of Alagoas. It is an ecological study with a spatial approach, carried out from 1997 to 2017. We considered all Biomphalaria snails captured and positive for S. mansoni in the state. Representative maps were created for better data visualization, having as unit of analysis the municipalities of Alagoas. We also calculated the natural infection rate of the snails (number of positives/number of captured). During the study period, 34 619 Biomphalaria snails were captured, consisting of Biomphalaria glabrata (30 132), Biomphalaria straminea (4445) and Biomphalaria tenagophila (42). The seventh Health Region (HR) of the state had the highest number of specimens collected (B. glabrata=15 676), while the sixth HR had the highest positivity rate (9.2%). Regarding hydrography, these snails were primarily found along the Jacuípe, Mundaú, Paraíba, São Miguel, Coruripe, Piauí, Perucaba and Boacica rivers. Our data reinforce the occurrence of the three medically significant snail species responsible for schistosomiasis transmission in Alagoas. Additionally, our findings can be used as a basis for malacological activities because we report the presence of these animals in the main rivers of the state.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142711134","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":"Molecular diagnosis and duration of eschar swab sample positivity post-doxycycline therapy in scrub typhus patients.","authors":"Rimjhim Kanaujia, Harpreet Singh, Kamlesh Bisht, Shriya Goel, Suresh Selvam, Jasleen Kaur, Karthi Nallasamy, Navneet Sharma, Manisha Biswal","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An eschar is not always present in all scrub typhus patients. Furthermore, such patients may present to tertiary care hospitals after administration of doxycycline. The present study aimed to determine the usefulness of using the swab from eschar sites in the diagnosis of scrub typhus in patients who present post-doxycycline therapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood, eschar scraping and swab samples were collected daily until patient discharge/death. Real-time SYBR green PCR targeting the groEl gene, TaqMan probe PCR targeting the 47 kDa gene and nested PCR targeting the 56 kDa gene of Orientia tsutsugamushi were carried out. Partial sequences of the 56 kDa gene of O. tsutsugamushi were sequenced by the Sanger method and phylogenetic analysis was performed using Mega X.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 42 samples (19 eschar scraping and 23 eschar swab samples) were collected from 22 patients. A high positivity of eschar scraping samples (89.5%, 17/19) in comparison to blood (63.2%, 12/19) was observed. The nested PCR for eschar swab samples was positive in 10 (43.5%), 47 kDa gene in nine (39.1%) and groEl in three (13%) samples. The swabs remained positive for 1-4 d after doxycycline was started. The majority of the sequences clustered with Karp-like strains.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The eschar swab is a good alternative sample for the diagnosis and genotyping of scrub typhus. It also has the added advantage of persistent positivity despite doxycycline administration.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142693688","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":"Is therapeutic plasma exchange effective in leptospirosis-associated severe pulmonary haemorrhagic syndrome? A systematic review.","authors":"J M R P Bandara, A Rosairo, G S Ranasinghe, T D De Silva, I B Gawarammana","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonosis fast becoming a global burden. Pulmonary haemorrhages are a deadly complication, with case fatality rates >50%. Systemic vasculitis is thought to be the pathological process responsible for pulmonary haemorrhages and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is one of the treatments offered. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of TPE in managing leptospirosis-associated severe pulmonary haemorrhagic syndrome (SPHS). A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol. The search used Medical Subject Headings in PubMed with keywords 'Leptospirosis' OR 'Leptospira' OR 'Weil disease' AND 'plasmapheresis' OR 'plasma exchange' AND 'pulmonary haemorrhage' OR 'alveolar haemorrhage'. The search was widened to include the Google Scholar database. The review was confined to English-language articles and focused on primary research studies. Nineteen articles were considered for analysis. There were no randomized controlled trials. A non-randomized trial and a retrospective cohort documented recovery following adjuvant TPE treatment. Most case reports mention significant improvement and complete recovery following administration of TPE. One case reported the death of a patient despite treatment. However, this review revealed a lack of strong evidence endorsing the routine application of TPE as a therapeutic intervention for cases of SPHS. Thus we recommend the initiation of a well-structured randomized controlled trial to ensure an accurate assessment of the efficacy of TPE.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142688748","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":"Association between blood group antigens ABO, Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy and MNS and clinical forms of Chagas disease.","authors":"Alexandre G Vizzoni, Andréa Rodrigues da Costa, Alejandro M Hasslocher-Moreno, Mauro Felippe F Mediano, Roberto M Saraiva","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The mechanisms that determine the progression to cardiac or digestive forms of chronic Chagas disease (CD) are still unclear. We assessed the association between blood group antigens ABO, Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy and MNS, and chronic CD clinical forms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients were included consecutively between March 2013 and April 2016. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from electronic medical records and interviews. Classification of CD clinical forms followed the Brazilian Consensus on CD. The ID-Gel Card technology from Bio-Rad (Diamed/Bio-Rad Latin America, MG, Brazil) was used to analyze the blood group antigens.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 619 adult patients (56.9% women, mean age 60±12 y) were included. Patients' clinical forms of CD were classified as follows: indeterminate 29.1%, cardiac 55.4%, digestive 5.5% and mixed 10.0%. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, comorbidities and time away from an endemic area revealed that the S+s- allele of the MNS blood type was associated with a lower odds of cardiac disease and that the B blood group type was associated with a higher odds of digestive disease. All other blood types did not have an association with CD clinical form.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Blood group systems ABO and MNS were associated with chronic CD clinical forms.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142676949","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":"Randomized trial of BCG in healthcare workers to reduce absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.","authors":"I Silva, L Nhamússua, E Ca, F Schaltz-Buchholzer, A Nhama, M Cumbe, A P Delgado, M L Lima Mendonça, P Fontoura, M Sidat, P Ferrinho, I I Araújo, P Aide, C Benn, I Fronteira, S Nielsen","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We tested whether providing BCG vaccine to healthcare workers (HCWs) could reduce non-planned absenteeism and thereby reduce the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a multicenter, single-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial in Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique between December 2020 and June 2022. Participants were randomized 1:1 to BCG vaccine or placebo (saline) and followed by biweekly telephone calls for 6 mo. The incidence of unplanned absenteeism due to illness was analyzed using Bayesian negative binomial regression yielding relative RRs. Secondary outcomes included infectious disease episodes, COVID-19 infection and all-cause hospitalizations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We enrolled 668 HCWs (Guinea-Bissau, n=503; Mozambique, n=165). The RR for absenteeism of BCG vs placebo was 1.29 (0.81 to 1.94) with comparable effects by country. No protection against infectious disease episodes (HR=1.18 [0.97 to 1.45]) or COVID-19 infection (HR=1.19 [0.80 to 1.75]) was observed. Two trial deaths (1 BCG, 1 control) were registered and nine admissions (3 BCG, 6 control), the all-cause admission HR being 0.51 (0.13 to 2.03).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>With 64% of the planned sample size and unplanned absenteeism rates lower than expected, BCG did not reduce self-reported absenteeism due to illness. Rather, BCG tended to increase the risk of self-reported absenteeism, infectious disease episodes and COVID-19 infections.</p><p><strong>Short summary: </strong>This was a randomized control trial assessing non-specific effects of BCG vaccination in healthcare workers. There was no beneficial effect on self-reported absenteeism due to illness within 6 mo of follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a trend towards fewer all-cause hospital admissions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682407","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":"Rates and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people living with HIV in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.","authors":"Victoria Peter Etuk, Charity Sanni, Oluwafemi Omonijo, Stella Ijioma Atema, Temitayo Lawal, Anthonia Murna Yashim-Ankut, Ifeyinwa Ejinkeonye, Henry Chijioke Onyegbutulem, Oyewole K Oyedele, Imoiboho Williams, Nifarta Peingurta Andrew, Evaezi Okpokoro","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae094","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We investigated coronavirus disease 2109 (COVID-19) vaccine uptake and determinants among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study among PLHIV attending antiretroviral therapy clinics in FCT, Nigeria. We utilized an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire to collect data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Vaccine uptake was measured using the question 'Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine?' and was confirmed with a vaccination card by the interviewer. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, χ2 and binary logistic regressions in Stata version 18.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 252 study participants, 87 (34.5%) had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with uptake lower in females than males (30.5% vs 46.1%; p=0.022). Being >50 y of age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.870 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.049 to 7.858], p=0.040) was associated with higher vaccine uptake, while being virally unsuppressed (aOR 0.313 [95% CI 0.099 to 0.985], p=0.047) and not believing COVID-19 disease is real (aOR 0.324 [95% CI 0.147 to 0.717], p=0.005) were associated with lower odds of vaccine uptake.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Vaccination uptake was low among PLHIV in our study. It is critical to target vaccination campaigns to PLHIV, particularly females and younger people. Proper education about COVID-19 itself would contribute to vaccine uptake.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142668042","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":"The dynamics of household sanitation services and faeco-oral diseases externalities in Osun State, southwest Nigeria.","authors":"O O Aluko","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae101","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae101","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maintaining human dignity through sanitation is a perennial challenge and highlights the externalities of sanitation and hygiene services (SHS). In Nigeria, 23.2% practise open defecation, and 45.5% use basic sanitation services, although conventional sewerage systems are rare. This study determines SHS and their predictors in the context of local governance in southwest Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cross-sectional study applied a five-stage sampling technique and elicited information from 542 respondents using a validated semistructured questionnaire. The study results are presented by descriptive and inferential statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of respondents was 48.2±0.8 y. Of these, 64.2% were homeowners, and 40.0% were in the lower wealth quartiles. While 76.9% of respondents had access to toilets, only 16.6% and 18.1% benefitted from safely managed and basic sanitation services, respectively, with 21.2% practising open defecation. Open defecation (42.6%) was prevalent primarily in the Ayedaade local government area (LGA), while safely managed sanitation services (27.6%) and limited sanitation services (54.1%) were predominant in the Olorunda and Ilesa-West LGAs. The predictors influencing household sanitation services included residence, ethnicity and wealth.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There were significant inequalities in sanitation access and critical infrastructure, and sanitation quality gaps exist among respondents. The prevalence of open defecation was high, and there was variation in access to sanitation services across different LGAs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142668231","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":"Cutaneous leishmaniasis: a neglected clinical manifestation among the tribal population in Nilambur, Kerala, India.","authors":"P A Fathima, Harish Kumar Shah, R S Aiswarya, P M Ajithlal, T V Shailaja, C Shubin, K J Reena, Prasanta Saini","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae102","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Different clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis (cutaneous and visceral) caused by Leishmania donovani have been reported from Kerala, India. Leishmania donovani causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) (also called atypical CL [ACL]) is one of the major health concerns in the Western Ghats belt of the state.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Skin biopsies of 20 patients with suspected CL from Nilambur, Kerala, were processed for CL diagnosis during the period 2022-2023. Parasite species were characterized using Leishmania-specific Internal Transcribed Spacer-Ⅰ (ITS-Ⅰ) PCR and ITS-Ⅰ RFLP analysis.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>A total of 18 cases were confirmed to be CL and the parasite was identified as L. donovani.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These indigenous ACL (CL due to L. donovani) reports from the small foci of Nilambur reveal an emerging endemic zone of leishmaniasis in the Western Ghats.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142668037","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":"Scrub typhus outbreak during the Battles of Imphal and Kohima, 1944-45.","authors":"Nitin Gupta, Carl Boodman, Tirlangi Praveen Kumar","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae098","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142648896","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":"Tunnel sign in patients with melioidosis: a case series from South India.","authors":"Nitin Gupta, Sundeep Malla, Tirlangi Praveen Kumar, Sonali Singh, Muralidhar Varma, Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The tunnel sign (linear contrast enhancement along the corticospinal tract) can aid in the early diagnosis of neuromelioidosis, a potentially fatal condition requiring urgent diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed the hospital data of all patients with culture-confirmed melioidosis between 2018 and 2023 in a tertiary care hospital in South India. MRI scans of patients with neuromelioidosis were reviewed for the presence of the tunnel sign.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 177 patients with melioidosis, 21 had possible neurological involvement. Seven had confirmed neuromelioidosis. Of the six patients with neuromelioidosis, where an MRI scan was available, a tunnel sign was noted in four.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We report this study to create awareness amongst physicians to look for this sign in patients with suspected neuromelioidosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142648900","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}