Tropical Medicine and Health最新文献

{"title":"Indigenous knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Gondar City Administration, Amhara National Regional State, northwest Ethiopia.","authors":"Tiruye Ayenew, Yirgalem Melkamu, Getinet Masresha, Daniel Tadesse, Worku Misganaw, Birtukan Asrie, Abiyu Enyew","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00965-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00965-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Ethiopian people possess deep knowledge of how to use plant resources and are dependent on plant values mainly for traditional medicine. However, most ethnobotanical studies are restricted to rural areas, leaving urban centers poorly documented, which implies the need for further study. Thus, this study was conducted in Gondar City Administration, aimed at investigating medicinal plants to fill the traditional knowledge documentation gap.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted from February 2024 to January 2025 in 12 kebeles selected purposively based on vegetation cover, availability of knowledgeable practitioners and representation of both urban and rural settings. Data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions, guided field walks, and market surveys with 120 randomly selected general informants and 60 purposively selected key informants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the basic ethnobotanical data. An independent sample t-test and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze socio-demographic effects of informants on their indigenous knowledge. Different ethnobotanical ranking and clustering methods, Rahman's similarity index (RSI) and Jaccard's coefficient of similarity were also used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 109 medicinal plants distributed across 95 genera and 54 families were recorded to treat 76 ailment types. Asteraceae was the foremost family with 9 (8.26%) species. Shrub was the dominant habit (39.45%) and leaves were the most valuable plant parts used for 33.80% of remedy preparations. Remedies were prepared mainly from fresh forms (76.39%) by crushing (20.37%) and administered through the dermal route (41.20%). Significant knowledge variation on medicinal plants was observed between key and general informants (P = 0.000), rural and urban kebeles (P = 0.001), and between age groups (P = 0.013). Informant type (general vs. key informant) and age had a highly significant interaction effect on the medicinal plant knowledge (P = 0.000). About 14.68% of all recorded species were reported to treat hepatitis. From those, Clutia lanceolata was the most preferred. The highest informant consensus factor value (98%) was associated with respiratory conditions. The RSI ranged from 0.5 to 13.79%, and the JSI ranged from 3.5 to 36%. After a systematic search was performed across various reputable databases (Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar), unique ethnobotanical information on the therapeutic roles of 12 medicinal plant species that have not been reported previously was documented.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This finding indicates that the rich diversity of medicinal plants in Gondar City, along with unique ethnomedicinal findings, is an indicator of alternative use of traditional medicine by urban inhabitants for their healthcare system. However, urban ethnobotany is a distinct field in which is expected to evolve knowledge sys","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147857336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity and perceptions about side effects of medicinal plants used by herbalists to treat gastrointestinal diseases in Sironko District, Eastern Uganda.","authors":"Abdul Walusansa, Robert Natoli, Hussein M Kafeero, Muhammad Lubowa, Marjorie Sarah Kabuye Batiibwe, Jamilu E Ssenku","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00967-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00967-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The escalation of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) illnesses is now a major global threat, with countries like Uganda having a prevalence of over 31 %. Herbal medicines (HM) are widely used to treat GIT illnesses in many low-resource settings including Sironko District in Eastern Uganda, but their safety remains a grave concern because they often contain bioactive phytochemicals that may cause harmful side effects. In Sironko, herbalists commonly rely on indigenous knowledge rather than formal pharmacological training when prescribing HM hence the potential for adverse reactions linked to toxic phytocompounds is substantial, warranting comprehensive scientific investigation.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore plant species used to treat GIT illnesses and perceptions of their adverse effects in Sironko District, to inform safer herbal medicine use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A sample of 70 herbalists was subjected to an ethnobotanical survey using pre-validated semi-structured questionnaires to profile plant species primarily used against GIT illnesses plus awareness and perceptions about the associated side effects. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using STATA version-15.0. Graphs were plotted with GraphPad Prism^® version 9.0.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 80 plants species used against GIT infections were documented, mainly in families; Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae, indicated for treatment and prevention of 24 gastrointestinal illnesses, mostly diarrhea (18.94%), ulcers (11.81%), and stomachaches (8.52%), plus 39 ailments affecting other body systems. Informant consensus factors were high for all disease categories (≥ 0.630), showing homogeneity of ethnomedicinal knowledge. Chenopodium opulifolium, Tithonia diversifolia and Senna didymobotrya were reported to pose the greatest number of side effects, including headache and insomnia. The 70% of participants were unaware that HM can be toxic, 57% were certain that HM do not have side effects, yet those that opposed the need for urgent action against HM adversity were significantly more than participants who perceived it as vital (χ², p < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is a high diversity of plant species used to treat primarily GIT illnesses in Sironko, but many potentially stimulate life-threatening adverse effects such as severe headache and vomiting. These results highlight a need for considerable investment in herbal medicine safety to leverage its optimal use in health promotion and economic development.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147857343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nasal carriage and antimicrobial resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci among male healthcare trainees in Southwestern Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Ihab M Abdelrahim, Yahya Shabi, Abdulah J Alqahtani, Abdullah M Alkahtani, Martin Joseph, Mona Elfaki, Soliuman Mohamed, Mashoor A Alamir, Eissa Alfaifi, Maram Alhudiry, Mohammed Asiri, Saleh M Al-Qahtani, Mohamed E Hamid","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00966-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00966-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are increasingly recognized as clinically relevant colonizers in healthcare settings; however, their nasal carriage patterns and antimicrobial resistance profiles remain under-characterized, particularly among healthcare trainees. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, species distribution, clinical associations, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of CoNS among male healthcare trainees in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 249 male healthcare trainees at King Khalid University. Nasal swabs were collected and cultured, with bacterial identification performed using the BD Phoenix™ M50 automated system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using disk diffusion in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between colonization, clinical symptoms, and medical history.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant species (64.3%). Recent antibiotic use was inversely associated with S. epidermidis carriage (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.24-0.70) and positively associated with Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. cohnii carriage (OR 11.08; 95% CI 3.21-38.31). Staphylococcus warneri showed associations with halitosis (OR 416.25) and runny nose (OR 32.3); however, these estimates had extremely wide confidence intervals due to small sample sizes and should be interpreted as exploratory findings. Resistance profiles varied by species, with S. warneri exhibiting the highest resistance to methicillin markers (37.5%), while all CoNS isolates remained susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthcare trainees harbor diverse CoNS species with distinct clinical and resistance profiles. The predominance of S. epidermidis alongside the presence of resistant non-epidermidis CoNS species, particularly S. warneri, highlights the clinical relevance of these organisms beyond their traditional classification as benign colonizers. These findings underscore the importance of considering CoNS in surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship efforts within clinical training environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of feline-like rotavirus strains in Sabah State of Malaysian Borneo.","authors":"Asgini Binti Mohd Jelfree, Daisuke Mori, Yuki Akari, Jecelyn Leaslie John, Lia Natasha Amit, Syed Sharizman Bin Syed Abdul Rahim, Satoshi Komoto, Julia Joseph, Kamruddin Ahmed","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00958-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00958-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children in low- and middle-income countries experience a greater burden of rotavirus infection relative to developed countries. Malaysia is a middle-income country; however, like other South East Asian countries, studies on rotavirus are scarce. In an effort to understand the strain diversity, we performed a study in children under five years old who attended 4 health care centers in the Papar district of Sabah state of Malaysian Borneo and collected samples from 2020 to 2021. This study provides robust molecular evidence that strains detected in Sabah, Malaysia, were generated by intergenogroup reassortment. Reassortment is one of the evolutionary mechanisms that generate diversity in rotavirus strains. We characterized a rotavirus which possessed a long RNA pattern and an unusual combination of G6P[9]. These strains have a unique constellation of G6-P[9]-I2-R3-C3-M3-A3-N2-T6-E3-H6 with an AU1-like backbone and components from DS-1, indicating an intergenogroup reassortant. Of the 11 gene segments, five were closest to feline and 2 were closest to human strains, respectively; the rest were related to human-animal strains. Novel rotaviruses generated by reassortment might influence the disease outcome and vaccination effort.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contrasting egg-laying, adult abundance and genetics of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in two ecologically distinct regions in Kenya.","authors":"Josephine Osalla, Elizabeth Kokwaro, Anthony K Nyamache, Gilbert Rotich, Inga Slothouwer, Rosemary Sang, Sandra Junglen, David P Tchouassi","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00961-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00961-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aedes aegypti is widely distributed in the tropics and sub-tropics and is a major vector of several arboviruses, such as dengue and chikungunya viruses. Mapping the behavioral and genetic divergence among the mosquito populations can enhance our understanding of spatiotemporal variation in disease transmission.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional surveys were carried out between 2022 and 2023 to investigate egg-laying abundance in ovitraps as well as adult abundance in BG Sentinel traps baited with carbon dioxide. Both trap types were deployed in outdoor environments in two peri-urban areas in the Rift Valley and coastal regions of Kenya. A subset of the adult specimens was screened for arbovirus infections, and the mitochondrial cox-1 gene was analyzed to estimate genetic differences between the populations. Engorged specimens were also typed to determine host feeding sources.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Aedes egg density was significantly higher in Marigat in the Rift Valley than in Ukunda at the coast (p = 0.006), despite recording a lower ovitrap positivity rate. By contrast, adult female abundance was twofold greater in Ukunda than in Marigat (p < 0.0001). A higher human blood feeding rate (HBI = 0.68) in Ukunda compared to Marigat (HBI = 0.29) correlated with higher proportional abundance of the domestic than of the forest Ae. aegypti ecotype. Haplotype network analysis revealed a high mitochondrial diversity dominated by population-specific haplotypes. Limited haplotype sharing between Ukunda and Marigat populations suggests a restricted maternal gene flow and localized population structuring. While all the samples tested negative for pathogenic arboviruses, insect-specific viruses (ISVs) in the families Flaviviridae (Cell fusing agent virus and uncharacterized flavivirus-like sequences (Flaviviridae sp.)) and Phenuiviridae (Phasi Charoen-like virus) were detected, which varied between the two ecological environments.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We observed geographic differences in egg and adult capture rates of Ae. aegypti, which correlate poorly, providing valuable information for Aedes surveillance and control. Heterogeneity in entomological, genetic and virological factors likely shapes geographic differences in dengue occurrence and spread.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum sCD25 predicts mortality and reflects IL-2-driven dysregulation of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.","authors":"Yi Zhang, Haolin Song, Jie Wang, Kunkai Su, Guangqi Zhu, Bei Jia, Lifen Hu, Jihua Xue, Xing Su, Jie Li, Qi Xia, Wei Wu","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00963-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00963-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne viral disease with high mortality, for which early risk stratification remains challenging. Soluble CD25 (sCD25), a marker of immune activation, has prognostic value in other inflammatory conditions, but its role in SFTS remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 200 laboratory-confirmed SFTS patients, including a derivation cohort (n = 132) and an independent external validation cohort (n = 68). Serum sCD25 levels at admission were analyzed using Cox regression to assess mortality prediction. To explore the cellular origin of sCD25, we re-analyzed public single-cell RNA-sequencing data and performed in vitro IL-2 stimulation experiments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Non-survivors had significantly higher serum sCD25 levels than survivors (P < 0.001), and sCD25 independently predicted mortality (hazard ratio 1.003, P < 0.001). A prognostic model combining sCD25 and the AST/ALT ratio showed strong discrimination, with an area under the curve of 0.918 in the derivation cohort and 0.829 in external validation. Serum sCD25 levels positively correlated with viral load (r = 0.558, P = 0.011). Single-cell analysis revealed that CD25 expression was largely confined to CD4⁺ T cells, which in non-survivors displayed an interferon-stimulated gene signature and altered cell-cell communication. Consistently, serum IL-2 levels were elevated in fatal cases, and IL-2 stimulation expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and increased sCD25 release in vitro.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Serum sCD25 is an independent prognostic biomarker for SFTS mortality and reflects IL-2-associated dysregulation of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells, highlighting immune dysregulation in SFTS pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147821342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 vaccine booster uptake among healthcare workers in Bangladesh: predictors, challenges, and lessons from a low-income setting.","authors":"Md Zakiul Hassan, Ahamed Khairul Basher, Homayra Rahman Shoshi, Md Abdullah Al Jubayer Biswas, Ashrak Shad Pyash, Saleh Haider, Md Azazul Haque, Aninda Rahman, Md Nazmul Islam, Fahmida Chowdhury, Taufiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Mohammed Ziaur Rahman, Firdausi Qadri","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00960-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00960-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare workers (HCWs) remain at an elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to occupational exposure and waning vaccine-induced immunity. We conducted a longitudinal study to estimate cumulative uptake, incidence, and factors associated with COVID-19 booster dose uptake among Bangladeshi HCWs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between March 2021 and December 2023, we followed 3099 HCWs recruited from 20 healthcare facilities across four divisions of Bangladesh. At enrollment, information was collected on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 vaccination history. Booster uptake status was updated biweekly. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for predictors of booster uptake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During follow-up, 1964 (63.4%) HCWs received at least one COVID-19 booster dose. However, uptake of the 2nd booster dose was low (6%). The incidence of booster uptake was 54.5 per 100 person-years (95% CI 50.0-59.5). The hazard of booster uptake was higher among HCWs with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (aHR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.01-1.26) and among those working in both COVID-19 and general wards (aHR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.22-1.53). In contrast, prior adverse events following the primary series (aHR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.32-0.41) were associated with a lower hazard of booster uptake.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although more than half of HCWs received a booster, uptake declined with repeated dosing. Variations in the hazard of uptake by occupational exposure, prior infection, and adverse events reflect changing perceptions of risk and experiential factors in addition to access. Strengthening institutional vaccination policies and addressing behavioral barriers may thus support timely booster uptake among HCWs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular epidemiology and factors associated with HBV transmission among schoolchildren and household members in central Vietnam.","authors":"Que Anh Luong, Hien Anh Thi Nguyen, Kim Mai Huynh, Natsuki Ariyoshi, Tien Vu Phan, Lien Thuy Le, Hoang Huy Le, Luong Dinh Nguyen, Trieu Bao Nguyen, Hirono Otomaru, Erik Koehne, Mohammad Monir Shah, Miyuki Tsuruoka, Haruka Abe, Dang Duc Anh, Michiko Toizumi, Hung Do Thai, Lay-Myint Yoshida","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00959-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00959-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and molecular epidemiology of HBV infection among schoolchildren and household members (HHMs) in Vietnam.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional community survey on hepatitis B virus markers among randomly selected schoolchildren was conducted in Nha Trang City, central Vietnam. Then, a follow-up case-control study was conducted as a household contact investigation among HHMs of children who tested HBsAg-positive (cases) and HHMs of grade-matched children (1:3 ratio) who tested HBsAg-negative (controls). HBV markers, risk factors associated with HBsAg-positive, molecular epidemiology of transmission, and genome mutations were investigated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,210 schoolchildren enrolled, 57.9% received HepB full vaccination, 1.1% HBsAg-positive, and 20.2% anti-HBs-positive were observed. Among household contacts of HBsAg-positive children, a high prevalence of HBsAg positivity was observed (54.5%), whereas the prevalence among household contacts of HBsAg-negative children was substantially lower (2.5%), indicating marked intra-household clustering of HBV infection. HBV-positive schoolchildren and their mothers were predominantly grouped within the same genetic clusters. Genotypes B4 (68.0%) and C1 (32.0%) were detected. No HBV drug resistance mutations were found, but vaccine-escape mutants (VEMs) and occult HBV infection (OBI)-associated mutations in preS/S, as well as other mutations, were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Schoolchildren had a low HBV-positive rate, and HHMs of HBsAg-positive schoolchildren had a higher rate of HBV infection. Mutations previously associated in the literature with advanced liver disease were identified.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malaria in children aged <6 months: a narrative review of current evidence, recommendations and practice gaps.","authors":"Jéssica Dalsuco, Quique Bassat, Hazem Ahmed, Sabine Pfeffer, Cornelis Winnips, Caroline Boulton, Nekoye Otsyula, Umberto D'Alessandro","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00935-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00935-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although clinical malaria occurs far less frequently in newborns and young infants aged  <6 months than in older children, its importance and public health relevance should not be ignored. This population is often perceived to have protection against malaria, and making a diagnosis of malaria in this age group can be challenging, as the symptoms generally overlap with those of many other common conditions in infancy, possibly leading to misdiagnosis or treatment delay. This narrative review synthesises current evidence, explores existing treatment recommendations, and highlights practice gaps in malaria management in children aged <6 months (or weighing <5 kg).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar and supplemented with World Health Organization and region-specific malaria treatment guidelines.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Data on malaria prevalence in young infants are highly variable and heterogeneous, reflecting differences in the methodology used, diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches. Evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of available antimalarial therapies in this population is limited, and until recently, no antimalarial agents were licensed for neonates or infants weighing  <4.5 kg. Consequently, current recommendations may not adequately address the needs of this vulnerable group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Given the variability in the guidelines across different countries, there is an urgent need to make specific policy and practice amendments that can enhance understanding, bridge existing knowledge gaps and harmonise treatment approaches for at-risk populations worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The pharmaceutical industry's multifaceted role in neglected tropical disease control: from market failure to global health innovation.","authors":"Jose Daniel Sanchez","doi":"10.1186/s41182-026-00951-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-026-00951-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a profound market failure wherein pharmaceutical innovation systematically underserves populations with the greatest need. Despite affecting over 1.7 billion people globally, NTDs receive less than 2% of pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) investment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review synthesises evidence on the pharmaceutical industry's evolving role in NTD control, examining both traditional commercial models and innovative partnerships that have reshaped the global health landscape, with particular attention to implementation mechanisms and concrete operational pathways.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a comprehensive analysis of WHO reports, G-FINDER data, peer-reviewed literature, and industry commitments spanning 2000-2024, focusing on drug development pipelines, mass drug administration programmes, and financing mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) have delivered 183 approved products since 1999, though the majority represent reformulations or repurposed compounds rather than novel chemical entities (NCEs). Mass drug administration programmes have distributed over 17 billion treatments from pharmaceutical donations valued at approximately $30 billion (at wholesale prices), preventing millions of disability-adjusted life years. However, persistent innovation gaps remain: only 4 NCEs (0.5% of all new therapeutics 2000-2011) specifically targeted NTDs. Diagnostic development continues to lag due to commercial barriers and fragmented regulatory pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The pharmaceutical industry's contribution to NTD control has evolved from minimal engagement to strategic partnerships blending philanthropic drug donation, nonprofit-led R&D, and market-based incentives. While mechanisms including Priority Review Vouchers and Advance Market Commitments show potential, their effectiveness remains debated in the literature, particularly regarding access provisions and additionality. Future progress requires sustained push funding for PDPs, multi-year donor commitments, expansion of WHO prequalification for diagnostics, and strengthened South-South technology-transfer partnerships with concrete implementation frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":23311,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}