Tropical Medicine & International Health最新文献

{"title":"Spatial, Spatiotemporal Patterns, and Sociodemographic Aspects of Mortality From Chagas Disease in the State of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil: A 21-Year Population-Based Study.","authors":"Valdir Vieira da Silva, Beatriz Maria de Almeida Braz, Letícia Pereira Bezerra, Denny Parente de Sá Barreto Maia Leite, Rinaldo Aparecido Mota, Jonatas Campos de Almeida","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.70046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to analyse the magnitude, temporal trend, and spatial pattern of Chagas disease mortality in the state of Alagoas, providing a detailed epidemiological profile and identifying priority areas for intervention. A retrospective, population-based study was conducted using data on Chagas disease-related deaths from 1999 to 2019, obtained from the Mortality Information System. Descriptive analyses were applied to characterise deaths by sex, age, education level, and geographic distribution. The temporal trend was assessed using joinpoint regression, with calculation of the annual percent change. For spatial analysis, the global Moran's I index and space-time scan statistics were applied to identify high-risk clusters. The results showed higher mortality in males (56%-64%), a predominance of deaths in individuals over 50 years old, and a concentration of the chronic cardiac form of Chagas disease in approximately 80% of the records. Low educational attainment was associated with higher mortality, indicating social vulnerability. The spatial distribution revealed that 95.0% of municipalities reported Chagas disease-related deaths, with risk clusters primarily located in the Zona da Mata region, particularly in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Regional Health Superintendencies. These areas have a history of high vector infestation and socio-environmental conditions conducive to transmission. Although the overall temporal trend remained stable or showed a slight decline, the persistence of endemic areas and clusters underscores the need for targeted actions. Thus, it is concluded that Alagoas remains an endemic area for Chagas disease, with mortality influenced by social and environmental factors. This study highlights the importance of strengthening surveillance, diagnosis, and control in priority regions and suggests that future research incorporate predictive models integrating social determinants to improve disease management.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145239865","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 Risk Factors for On-Treatment Mortality Among a Cohort of Adults Treated for Drug-Sensitive Tuberculosis: Analysis of Data From the Adherence Support Coalition to End Tuberculosis Consortium in Five Countries.","authors":"Amare W Tadesse, Noriah Maraba, Jason Alacapa, Katya Gamazina, Tanyaradzwa Dube, Baraka Onjare, Norma Madden, Salome Charalambous, Christopher Finn McQuaid, Degu Jerene, Katherine L Fielding","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death globally, particularly in countries with high tuberculosis and HIV burdens. Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have further impacted tuberculosis outcomes. This study examines on-treatment mortality and associated risk factors in five countries.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We conducted a secondary analysis of data from ASCENT cluster-randomised trials of digital adherence tools for improved adherence involving 23,799 adults with drug-sensitive tuberculosis in South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, the Philippines, and Ukraine. Analyses were conducted separately by country. Mortality rates were measured from treatment initiation to the earliest of 6 months, death, or loss to follow-up. Cox regression models (with random effects or robust standard errors for clustering) assessed the associations between mortality and HIV status, ART use, tuberculosis diagnosis type, and calendar periods (COVID-19 pandemic and conflict in Ukraine).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mortality rates ranged from 7.6 (Ethiopia) to 23.2 (Tanzania) and 23.3 (Ukraine) per 100 person-years. Higher mortality was associated with: older age in all countries (age < 30 versus ≥ 60 years, adjusted rate ratio [aRR] ranging from 2.38 to 6.57 by country); HIV status (positive versus negative, aRR ranging from 1.44 to 2.98 by country); tuberculosis diagnosis type (clinical vs. bacteriological, aRR 1.5-1.6 in Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa); extrapulmonary tuberculosis (aRR 1.44 to 1.60 in Ukraine and Tanzania). ART versus HIV-positive not on ART was linked to lower mortality in South Africa and Ukraine but not in Tanzania. Analyses suggested possible mortality variations by calendar period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest variability in tuberculosis mortality across settings, influenced by HIV/ART and diagnosis type. The high mortality rates across countries may reflect underlying causes or potential misdiagnoses. Further investigation into these factors may be needed to improve tuberculosis outcomes globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213788","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":"Use of Routine Health Data to Monitor Malaria Intervention Effectiveness: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Richard Reithinger, Donal Bisanzio, Anya Cushnie, Jessica Craig","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The expansive scale-up of malaria interventions resulted in substantial reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality in the past 20 years. Intervention effectiveness has traditionally been estimated through research studies and trials, nationally representative surveys, and mathematical modelling. Because of their sheer volume across space and time, data reported routinely through health management information systems can complement and even offer an alternative to surveys and modelling to assess intervention effectiveness, and ultimately impact on health outcomes. This scoping review describes the different analytical approaches for estimating the effectiveness of malaria interventions using routine health management information systems data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined PubMed using combination searches of the following terms: 'malaria' AND 'intervention' AND 'effect*' OR 'impact' AND 'system' OR 'surveillance'. Other key terms such as 'routine' or 'information systems' were not included in the search strategy to have a more comprehensive search and were used during abstract and full text screening. We limited inclusion to studies and analyses that were conducted in the past decade, as that is when countries' routine health management information systems began to substantially mature, with data reported by these systems progressively becoming more robust.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 957 records generated from the PubMed search, following title and abstract screening, 93 were included for full-text review, with 49 records ultimately meeting the inclusion criteria for the scoping review. We summarise included studies by publication year, geography, outcome variables, target populations, interventions assessed, health management information systems data platform used-broadly, analytical approaches used a range of modelling or non-modelling approaches to assess intervention effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This scoping review shows that routine health management information systems data can be used to regularly assess the effectiveness of various malaria interventions-an important exercise to ensure that implemented interventions continue to be effective, have the desired effect, and ultimately help countries progress towards their national strategic goals and targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1025-1052"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971800","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":"Beyond Trypanocidal Efficacy: Rethinking Safety, Regimens, and Equity in Chagas Disease Treatment.","authors":"Nathkapach Kaewpitoon Rattanapitoon, Natthawut Charoenphon, Khristine Laguador Sandoval, Schawanya Kaewpitoon Rattanapitoon","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70021","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1142-1143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971670","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 Identification and Genotyping of Dengue Virus and Its Vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected From the Red Sea Region, Egypt During 2023-2024.","authors":"Magda H Rady, Asmaa M Ammar, Mohamed S Salama, Shaimaa M Farag","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70025","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Dengue fever poses a significant public health threat in tropical regions, with Aedes aegypti as the primary vector. This study investigated dengue virus prevalence and serotype distribution in field-collected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes across the Red Sea governorate during 2023-2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A surveillance study was conducted across five districts (Shoaib, Al-Garf, Al-Owaina, Al-Odwa and Al-Ashraaf) from April 2023 to March 2024. A total of 1330 adult females Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were organised into 133 pools for molecular analysis. Molecular identification using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and internal transcribed spacer 2 markers were used to assure the presence of Aedes vector. Dengue virus RNA detection employed nested RT-PCR with serotype-specific amplification.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All specimens were confirmed as Ae. aegypti with characteristic cytochrome oxidase I (714 bp) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (313 bp) amplification products and morphological examinations. Dengue virus RNA was detected in 13 adults out of 1330 females from all visited districts, with total MIR estimated as 0.97. Al-Odwa district showed the highest infection rate (1.3) followed by Shoaib (0.83), Al-Owaina and Al-Garf (1), while Al-Ashraaf had the lowest percentage (0.4). Peak viral activity occurred in December 2023 across all districts, with no summer detections (June-September 2023). Three serotypes circulated in our habitat: DENV-2 (all five districts), DENV-1 (four districts) and DENV-3 (Al-Odwa only). DENV-4 was absent. Four districts showed DENV-1/DENV-2 co-circulation, while Al-Odwa uniquely harboured DENV-2/DENV-3.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates active dengue virus circulation in Red Sea governorate with distinct spatial-temporal patterns. The identification of three co-circulating serotypes with geographic variation highlights regional epidemiological complexity. Seasonal patterns suggest that environmental influences affect transmission dynamics, providing crucial baseline data for targeting surveillance and control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1124-1133"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971755","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":"Effects of Communication Strategies on Treatment Adherence and Success in Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Omar Oliveira Meira, Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Silva, Raquel Fonseca Sales, Renata Maria Colodette, Lucas Borges Gomes Ferreira Pinto, Emily de Souza Ferreira, Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta, Tiago Ricardo Moreira","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70013","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Tuberculosis, although curable, presents challenges related to treatment adherence, which compromises treatment effectiveness. Individual, social and structural barriers interfere with patients' ability to properly follow the therapeutic regimen, thereby impacting treatment outcomes. Given the limitations of the conventional healthcare model, which relies primarily on in-person consultations and standard treatment protocols without additional adherence support technologies, new approaches have been explored to improve patient outcomes. This study seeks to identify effective communication approaches in this context.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify the most effective communication strategies to optimise treatment adherence and improve therapeutic success in patients diagnosed with tuberculosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted. We included studies available in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE and SCOPUS databases, with publication dates between January 2005 and December 2024. The primary outcomes were adherence to and success in tuberculosis treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This systematic review included 17 studies on tuberculosis treatment adherence. Of these, 12 were included in the meta-analysis for adherence and 8 for treatment success. The most effective strategies for adherence were community education (2 studies; RR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.11-0.56) and video observed therapy (VDOT) (2 studies; RR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.21-0.40). The combination of electronic devices with SMS also showed positive results (3 studies; RR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37-0.77). SMS alone (5 studies) and electronic devices alone (3 studies) were not effective. For treatment success, only the combination of electronic devices with SMS (RR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.17-0.55) and community education (RR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.40-0.64) were effective.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The combination of electronic devices with SMS and community education is an effective strategy for improving adherence and therapeutic success in tuberculosis treatment. Isolated interventions with SMS or electronic technologies did not show significant results. Adapting approaches to local realities is crucial for optimising outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1053-1068"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12501552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849193","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":"Measuring childhood mortality through mobile phone interviews in Mozambique.","authors":"Almamy Malick Kante, Cremildo Manhica, Akum Aveika, Azarias Mulungo, Fred Van Dyk, Nordino Machava, Helen Kuo, Charfudin Saccor, Dustin G Gibson, Celso Monjane, Robert E Black, Ivalda Macicame, Agbessi Amouzou","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70004","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Childhood mortality is a key indicator of progress in health and development in low- and middle-income countries, traditionally measured through household surveys with face-to-face interviews. This study explored an alternative approach that used mobile phone interviews with women in Mozambique.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using two sampling approaches, we interviewed women of reproductive age about their pregnancy history through mobile phones. The first method used an existing database of phone numbers collected from a national mortality surveillance, Countrywide Mortality Surveillance for Action (COMSA). The second employed random digit dialling (RDD) to generate phone numbers. The COMSA phone sample successfully reached 13,545 women while the RDD sample reached 10,359 women. We compared neonatal (NMR), infant (IMR) and under-five mortality rates (U5MR) to estimates from the United Nations (UN), COMSA and the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The mobile phone-based mortality rates were adjusted using the raking approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mobile phone interviews incorporating pregnancy history yielded recent childhood mortality rates comparable to those reported by the DHS. The 2020-2021 U5MRs were estimated at 59.3 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 41.9-76.7) in the COMSA phone sample and 44.9 (95% CI: 9.0-80.7) in the RDD sample, compared to 59.6 (95% CI: 53.7-65.6) in the DHS. These estimates were lower than the UN projections at 71.6 (95% CI: 65.5-87.1) and COMSA at 80.0 (95% CI: 69.0-91.0). We observed similar trends for NMR and IMR. Childhood mortality trends were comparable between the COMSA phone sample and the DHS sample. In contrast, the RDD sample appeared to consistently underestimate childhood mortality compared to the other samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mobile phone surveys, including standard full pregnancy history tools, produced recent childhood mortality levels and trends for national and subnational levels similar to face-to-face approaches such as the DHS.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1087-1096"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12501560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971810","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":"Serological Evidence of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections as a Potential Risk for Severity in Leprosy Patients.","authors":"Ana Laura Grossi de Oliveira, Augusto César Parreiras de Jesus, Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito, Jordânia Costa-Pinto, Tatyane Martins Cirilo, José Bryan Rihs, Marcelo Eduardo Cardozo, Lilian Lacerda Bueno, Luisa Mourão Dias Magalhães, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70020","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leprosy presents a broad clinical spectrum influenced by the host's immune response, and co-infections may further modulate disease progression. This study evaluated clinically diagnosed leprosy patients (n = 251) from Sergipe and Minas Gerais, Brazil, along with healthy controls (n = 43), soil-transmitted helminths-positive controls (n = 15), and household contacts (n = 176). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed using predicted B-cell epitopes from immunogenic proteins of Ascaris sp., Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. Among leprosy patients, 123 (49%) were IgG seropositive for at least one soil-transmitted helminths antigen. Nine (7.3%) had optical density (OD) values exceeding 2-fold the cut-off, six (4.9%) surpassed 3-fold and one exceeded 7-fold. In patients with documented reactions (n = 34), seropositivity was observed in 6 with neuritis, 14 with type 1 reaction (T1R) and 14 with type 2 reaction (T2R), totaling 61.8%. Among household contacts, 96 (54.5%) were seropositive. Stratified analyses revealed significant differences in IgG levels between soil-transmitted helminths-seropositive and seronegative individuals within both paucibacillary and multibacillary groups, despite no overall association with operational classification. These findings suggest that helminth exposure may influence immune responses within leprosy subtypes and contribute to reactional episodes. The high seroprevalence observed in both patients and household contacts highlights shared environmental exposure and supports the inclusion of helminth monitoring in leprosy control strategies. Early detection and treatment of co-infections may reduce immune imbalances and severe inflammatory outcomes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the immunological mechanisms underlying helminth-leprosy interactions and to strengthen integrated approaches in public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1115-1123"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12501561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859697","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":"Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in Environmental Samples From a Rural District Focused on Large-Scale Agricultural Production.","authors":"Davi Abreu Carvalho Mothé, Adryene Nunes Castro, Mariah Zanon Novaes, Francisco Ozório Bessa-Neto, Rodrigo Cayô da Silva, Creuza Rachel Vicente, Glauciomar Buss, Sarah Santos Gonçalves, Kênia Valéria Dos Santos","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.70033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern, especially in regions with intense agricultural production. This study investigates the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in Caramuru, Espírito Santo state, a rural district focused on large-scale agricultural production in Brazil. Samples of water, soil, animal faeces and environmental surfaces were analysed using culture-based methods, revealing the presence of multidrug-resistant strains in agricultural and livestock environments, where antimicrobial use is common. Several bacterial species were detected, with a predominance of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp. and Acinetobacter spp., with 58.5% of the samples being resistant to at least one antimicrobial tested. The highest resistance rates among Gram-negative bacilli were ampicillin (80%), followed by cefuroxime (70%) and ceftriaxone (55%). In addition, resistance to polymyxin B was found in 14% of the GNB isolates, including Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases was detected in six multidrug-resistant E. coli samples isolated from river water, dog faeces and pigsty floors, while the production of metallo-β-lactamases was observed in E. asburiae from water samples from the river and toilet, as well as E. cloacae from coffee grounds. The bla_TEM-like gene was identified in multidrug-resistant E. coli strains isolated from all the Caramuru River water and the pigsty floor samples, while bla_CTX-M-1/2-like was found in an Enterobacter bugandensis and E. asburiae strains isolated from flies in the toilet, respectively. These findings indicate the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes in different environmental and animal-associated sources within the study area. The overlap of these detections with agricultural and surface water sites underscores the importance of monitoring antimicrobial resistance in diverse environmental compartments.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145201547","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":"A Novel Filarial-Multiplexed Probe-Quantitative PCR for the Advance in the Diagnosis of Multiple Infections With Human Filariasis.","authors":"Raquel Capote-Morales, Agustín Benito, Pedro Berzosa, Irene Molina-de la Fuente, Akeem Abiodun Akindele, Raquel Cruces, Laura Cerrada-Gálvez, Vicenta González, Luz García, Thuy-Huong Ta-Tang","doi":"10.1111/tmi.70016","DOIUrl":"10.1111/tmi.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The routine diagnostic method used for clinical samples suspected of filarial infection in our laboratory is the Filaria-real time-PCR (F-RT-PCR). The drawback of this method is the need for melting temperature analysis and PCR products' electrophoresis to identify the filarial species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay using filarial-specific hydrolysis probes, targeting 18S rRNA and ITS1 genes, allowing the simultaneous diagnosis of loiasis, mansonellosis and other human filariasis without the need of electrophoresis or melting temperature analysis. To achieve this objective, three filarial probes (Fil-Hum-GT1, Loa-Hum-GT2 and Mp-Hum-GT2) were designed, optimised and validated for integration into a single qPCR assay, named filarial-multiplexed probe-quantitative PCR (F-mp-qPCR). For the optimisation and validation of the F-mp-qPCR method, a total of 304 clinical samples as dried blood spot were used with their corresponding thick blood smears stained by Giemsa 3%. The detection limit of the Fil-Hum-GT1, Loa-Hum-GT2 and Mp-Hum-GT2 probes was 0.05, 0.5 and 3 mF/mL, respectively. The most sensitive and specific probe was the general filarial probe Fil-Hum-GT1, with a sensitivity of 92.0% to detect L. loa, 88.6% to detect M. perstans and 85.7% to detect mixed infections, with 100% specificity. Agreement with microscopy was excellent for the Fil-Hum-GT1 probe. In contrast, the Mp-Hum-GT2 probe showed the lowest performance, with a sensitivity of 81.8% to detect M. perstans, decreasing to 42.9% for mixed infections. Although the developed method did not prove to be significantly more sensitive than microscopy, this novel method is faster and easier to perform compared to microscopy and is very useful for screening large population groups in a context of medium-to-low human filariasis transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":23962,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine & International Health","volume":" ","pages":"1097-1106"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144800455","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}