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

{"title":"Australian vertebrate hosts of Japanese encephalitis virus: a review of the evidence.","authors":"Kevin T Moore, Madelyn J Mangan, Belinda Linnegar, Tejas S Athni, Hamish I McCallum, Brendan J Trewin, Eloise Skinner","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae079","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission in temperate Australia has underscored a critical need to characterise transmission pathways and identify probable hosts of the virus. This systematic review consolidates existing research on the vertebrate hosts of JEV that are known to exist in Australia. Specifically, we aim to identify probable species involved in JEV transmission, their potential role as hosts and identify critical knowledge gaps. Data were extracted from studies involving experimental infection, seroprevalence and virus isolation and were available for 22 vertebrate species known to reside in Australia. A host competence score was calculated to assess the ability of each species to generate and sustain a viraemia. Based on the host competence score and ecology of each species, we find that ardeid birds, feral pigs and flying foxes have potential as maintenance hosts for JEV in the Australian context. We also note that domestic pigs are frequently infected during outbreaks, but their role as amplification hosts in Australia is unclear. Evidence to confirm these roles is sparse, emphasising the need for further targeted research. This review provides a foundation for future investigations into JEV transmission in Australia, advocating for enhanced surveillance and standardised research methodologies to better understand and mitigate the virus's impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"189-202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11887621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142508702","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":"Community-based snakebite risk mapping for resource prioritisation in Eastern Province, Rwanda.","authors":"Dileepa Senajith Ediriweera, Dieudonne Hakizimana, Peter J Diggle, Janna M Schurer","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae069","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency that requires rapid access to essential medicines and well-trained personnel. In resource-poor countries, mapping snakebite incidence can help policymakers to make evidence-based decisions for resource prioritisation. This study aimed to characterise the spatial variation in snakebite risk, and in particular to identify areas of relatively high and low risk, in Eastern Province, Rwanda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Snakebite surveillance of people bitten in 2020 was conducted in Eastern Province through household visits and case verification. Geostatistical modelling and predictive mapping were applied to data from 617 villages in six districts to develop sector-level and district-level risk maps.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 1217 individuals bitten by snakes across six districts. The estimated population-weighted snakebite incidence in Eastern Province was 440 (95% predictive interval 421 to 460) cases per 100 000 people, corresponding to 13 500 (95% predictive interval 12 950 to 14 150) snakebite events per year. Two sectors in the southwest, Gashanda and Jarama, showed >1500 snakebite events per 100 000 annually. The lowest incidence was observed in the north.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Considerable differences exist in snakebite risk between sectors in Eastern Province, with the highest risk concentrated in the southwest. Policymakers should consider prioritising resources related to snakebite prevention, essential medicines and health worker training in this region.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"310-316"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142923385","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":"Distribution of the schistosome intermediate snail host Biomphalaria pfeifferi in East Africa's river systems and the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection.","authors":"Victor O Magero, Sammy Kisara, Mbaruk A Suleman, Christopher M Wade","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae115","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is a need for current and more detailed information on the distribution of Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails in East Africa's river systems. B. pfeifferi is arguably the most important snail intermediate host in the transmission of schistosomiasis, a disease ranked second to malaria in terms of tropical diseases of public health importance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We assessed the occurrence and geographical distribution of B. pfeifferi snails in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Maximum entropy modelling was used to predict the potential distribution of B. pfeifferi snails and malacological surveys were conducted guided by MaxEnt predictions and information from previous studies. Malacological surveys were conducted at a total of 172 sites, including streams, rivers, dams, irrigation schemes and springs over a 3-y period from 2018 to 2020, with geospatial, ecological and physicochemical information recorded for each site.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>B. pfeifferi snails were found at 23 of the 172 sites and inhabited a variety of habitat types. Of the 23 sites where B. pfeifferi snails were found, 15 (65.2%) were streams, 3 rivers (13.04%), 2 dams (8.7%), 2 springs (8.7%) and 1 an irrigation scheme (4.35%). B. pfeifferi abundance showed a significant positive correlation with increasing water temperature and decreasing water depth. In Kenya, B. pfeifferi snails were found around the Lake Victoria basin, the Mwea irrigation scheme and in parts of the former Eastern Province of Kenya. In Uganda, B. pfeifferi snails were found in Jinja District, Ntoroko District and Soroti District. In Tanzania, B. pfeifferi snails were found in the Iringa, Tabora and Kigoma Regions. We observed moderate to high prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection, with S. mansoni-infected snails found at 11 of 23 sites and with an average prevalence of 24.9% at infected sites. In Kenya, S. mansoni-infected snails were found in the Lake Victoria basin (22.5% prevalence at infected sites) and the former Eastern Province (13.5% prevalence at infected sites). In Uganda, infected snails were found in Ntoroko District (100% infected) and Soroti District (20% infected). In Tanzania, infected snails were found in the Kigoma Region, with a prevalence of 10% at the infected site.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This information on the distribution of B. pfeifferi snails and S. mansoni infection in East Africa's river systems can aid in developing better prevention and control strategies for human schistosomiasis. Regular surveys of the river systems for snail intermediate hosts followed by molecular detection of schistosome infection could form a basis for the development of a prompt and cost-effective surveillance system for schistosomiasis in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"253-265"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11887620/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142830008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association 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":"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":"221-227"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","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":"Special Issue Editorial: Sustainably reducing snakebite burden by prioritising research(ers) in high-risk areas.","authors":"Frank-Leonel Tianyi, Maya Gopalakrishnan, Thomas Pinfield","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/traf007","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/traf007","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"278-282"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143374675","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":"Health-seeking behaviours and traditional healer practices for snakebite in rural and tribal communities in southern India.","authors":"Ravikar Ralph, Rohan Michael Ramesh, Mohan Jambugulam, Arpitha Anbu Deborah, Kumudha Aruldas, Neal A Moorthy, Sushil Mathew John, Judd L Walson, Anand Zachariah, Sitara Swarna Rao Ajjampur","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae083","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nearly 60 000 Indians die of snakebite envenoming each year. Most deaths occur in rural communities and remote tribal settlements. We describe snakebite-related epidemiology and health-seeking behaviours in a rural (Timiri) and remote tribal block (Jawadhu Hills) in Tamil Nadu, India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional survey used structured questionnaires for information pertaining to snakebites and their treatment in the preceding year. Treatment-seeking behaviour from the moment reported until recovery was mapped. Traditional healers residing in the two blocks were also surveyed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Snakebite incidence and mortality were 174/100 000 population and 2.7/100 000 population in Jawadhu Hills and 194/100 000 population and 2.6/100 000 population in Timiri, respectively. More snakebite victims applied tourniquets in Jawadhu Hills (90%) than in Timiri (69%). Traditional healers were the first contact for 64% in Jawadhu Hills. Ambulances and buses were reported as unavailable in Jawadhu Hills. Traditional healers in Jawadhu Hills did not refer snakebite victims to hospitals.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Three challenges to snakebite mitigation in Indian rural and tribal communities highlighted in this study are potentially harmful first aid, a disconnect between traditional healers and the public health system and a lack of emergency transport to health facilities. Addressing these challenges would necessitate community awareness, traditional healer engagement and improved means of public transportation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"317-326"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142923422","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":"Evaluating imatinib in severe COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"João Pedro Sarcinelli Chagas, Juliana Ribeiro de Oliveira, Vinicius Andreata Brandão, Ana Paula Brandão Bellucio, João Victor de Azevedo Dutra, Julia Ramos Dutra, Crispim Cerutti","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae095","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Considering the potential antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of imatinib, this drug has been investigated in several studies as a potential treatment option for severe cases of COVID-19, given that treatment modalities available remain limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the benefits or otherwise of imatinib for COVID-19 in severely ill patients, we performed a systematic review of studies that tested the efficacy and the safety of imatinib for COVID-19 and executed a meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane with the following search terms: 'coronavirus', 'SARS-Cov2', 'covid', 'covid-19' and 'imatinib'. The latest search date was November 2023. We used Cochrane Collaboration's tool to assess bias in randomized trials.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We included three randomized controlled trials with 561 participants. A total of 276 patients received imatinib and 285 received placebo. The mortality results showed no statistically significant differences between imatinib and controls (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.37 to 1.01; p=0.06). There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay or severe adverse events occurring between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Current evidence suggests that the potential benefits of imatinib should be further evaluated in randomized controlled trials in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"203-209"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142717212","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":"Evaluation of the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine for Leishmania major based on the Leishmania-activated C kinase antigen using calcium phosphate and chitosan adjuvants.","authors":"Abdolaziz Gharaei, Mahmoud Rahdar, Oghlniaz Jorjani, Sedigheh Saberi, Molouk Beiromvand, Mohammad Hossein Feiz-Haddad","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae126","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leishmaniasis represents a significant parasitic disease with global health implications, and the development of an affordable and effective vaccine could provide a valuable solution. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine targeting Leishmania major specifically based on the Leishmania-activated C kinase (LACK) antigen, utilizing calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaPNs) and chitosan nanoparticles (ChitNs) as adjuvants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy female BALB/c mice, aged 4-6 wk and weighing 20-22 g, were selected and divided into five groups, each consisting of 14 mice. The first group received the plasmid LACK vaccine (pcDN3+LACK), the second group received the pcDN3+LACK vaccine with the CaPN adjuvant (pcDN3+LACK+CaPN), the third group received the pcDN3+LACK vaccine with the ChitN adjuvant (pcDN3+LACK+ChitN), the fourth group was administered phosphate-buffered saline as a negative control and the fifth group did not receive any vaccine, serving as a positive control. The vaccination program involved two intramuscular injections at 3-wk intervals. Three weeks following the final vaccination, the mice were challenged with wild-type L. major promastigotes via intradermal injection at the base of their tails. Clinical signs and lesion sizes were evaluated biweekly using Vernier calipers. Immune responses, including levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), were assessed using ELISA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The groups receiving pcDN3+LACK+ChitN, pcDN3+LACK+CaPN and pcDN3+LACK exhibited the highest increases in IFN-γ titers and the most significant reductions in IL-4 titers. Furthermore, lesion sizes associated with Leishmania infection were reduced in the vaccinated groups, with the most favorable outcomes observed in the pcDN3+LACK+ChitN group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that vaccination utilizing the LACK antigen in conjunction with CaPN and ChitN adjuvants may represent an effective strategy for the control of cutaneous leishmaniasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"266-273"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142923391","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":"Haemotoxicity of snakes: a review of pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, novel diagnostics and challenges in management.","authors":"Bhawani Yasassri Alvitigala, Harsha A Dissanayake, Praveen N Weeratunga, P A Chanya D Padmaperuma, Lallindra Viranjan Gooneratne, Christeine Ariaranee Gnanathasan","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae058","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Haemotoxicity is the most common complication of systemic envenoming following snakebite, leading to diverse clinical syndromes ranging from haemorrhagic to prothrombotic manifestations. Key haematological abnormalities include platelet dysfunction, venom-induced consumption coagulopathy, anticoagulant coagulopathy and organ-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy. Diagnostic methods include the bedside whole blood clotting test, laboratory coagulation screening and other advanced methods such as thromboelastogram and clot strength analysis. The primary management strategies are venom neutralisation with antivenom and correction of coagulopathy with blood component transfusions, while options such as plasma exchange are utilised in certain cases. Recent advancements in understanding the pathogenesis of haemotoxicity have facilitated the development of new diagnostic and treatment modalities. This review summarises current knowledge on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical and laboratory manifestations and treatment of the haematological effects of snake envenoming. Furthermore, it highlights important challenges concerning diagnosis and management. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving the WHO's goal of reducing deaths and disabilities caused by snakebites by 2030.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"283-303"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142923414","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":"Overcoming the snakebite challenge in Sudan: a call to action.","authors":"Rawa Badri, Iyas Dawood, Rana Osman, Nayyrah Ahmed, Salma Ibrahim Mohammed Adam","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae061","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trae061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Snakebite envenomation is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan. The severity of snakebite envenomation ranges from mild to severe, and can even lead to death. Sudan has a high burden of snakebite envenomation, with an estimated 12 632 cases and a mortality rate of 2.5% per year. The country faces several challenges in addressing snakebite envenomation, including a weak health system, limited access to healthcare facilities and a shortage of antivenom. This article highlights the challenges facing snakebite control in Sudan and provides recommendations for reducing the burden of this neglected tropical disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"327-329"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142922923","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}