Parasite Epidemiology and Control最新文献

{"title":"Malaria parasitemia and its association with CD4 cells, viral load and haematological parameters among HIV-infected children < 15 years in the Bonasssama Health District, Douala, Cameroon: Prevalence and risk factors","authors":"Ambe Fabrice Ngwa ,&nbsp;Ekwi Damian Nsongmayi ,&nbsp;Tanyi Pride Bobga ,&nbsp;Bih Vanessa Tita ,&nbsp;Judith Ngong Nyeme ,&nbsp;Nyanjoh Eugine Mbuh","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00390","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00390","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>One of the major causes of morbidity and death in children is malaria, and HIV infection and other factors may make the situation worse. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malaria parasitemia among HIV-infected children under 15 years in the Bonassama Health District, Douala, Cameroon, and investigate its association with CD4 cell counts, viral load, and haematological parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study was a cross-sectional study involving 287 HIV-infected children &lt;15 years and convenient sampling was used to enrol participants. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the characteristics of the participants from the caregivers. Venous blood was collected; blood films were made and stained using Giemsa for parasite detection. Full blood count, CD4 level and viral load were measured using a haematology auto-analyzer, pima counter and genexpert, respectively. Data were analysed using SPSS, and the chi-square test was used to assess the association. Predisposing factors to malaria were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression, and a <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05 was considered significant.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The overall prevalence of malaria and anaemia was 31.01 % and 25.44 %, respectively. Malaria prevalence was significantly higher in children &lt;5 years (42.68 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), those presented with fever (40.70 %, <em>p</em> = 0.047), children not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (28.6 %, <em>p</em> = 0.02) and cotrimoxazole (28.6 %, p = 0.02). Children &lt;5 years (AOR = 1.81, 95 % 1.19–2.75), those between 5 and 9 years (AOR = 1.61, 95 % CI 1.11–2.48), children not on ART(AOR = 2.2, 95 % 1.03–4.74) and Cotrimoxazole (AOR = 9.08, 95 % 2.33–43.46), febrile children (AOR = 1.72, 95 % 1.01–2.11), children with viral load &gt;3000 copies/μL(AOR = 2.933, 95 % 1.36–6.49), and CD4 count &lt;200cells/ μL (AOR = 3.09, 95 % 2.08–4.6) were factors associated with malaria parasitemia among HIV-infected children. Haemoglobin levels (<em>p</em> = 0.0016), White Blood Cells (<em>p</em> = 0.002), Red Blood Cells (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), neutrophils count (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), and platelet counts (<em>p</em> = 0.0164) were significantly lowered among malaria/HIV children compared to HIV-infected children.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study concludes that HIV-infected children under 5 years, especially those not on ART or cotrimoxazole, are at a significantly higher risk for malaria and related haematological issues. This underscores the necessity for targeted malaria screening and treatment in this vulnerable group. Public health strategies should prioritize enhancing access to ART and cotrimoxazole to mitigate these risks and improve overall health outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00390"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced detection of Opisthorchis viverrini infection: A comparative evaluation of modified one-step FECT and conventional diagnostic methods in low-intensity setting","authors":"Suksanti Prakobwong ,&nbsp;Lakhanawan Charoensuk ,&nbsp;Kacha Chedtabud ,&nbsp;Somchai Pinlaor ,&nbsp;Srisupaph Poonlaphdecha ,&nbsp;Alexis Ribas","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) is one of the most sensitive diagnostic method not only for all helminths, but also for <em>Opisthorchis viverrini</em> infections in stool examinations. However, it remains a diagnostic problem for light infections. We modified the one-step FECT to determine the low-intensity of <em>O. viverrini</em> infection and compared with various conventional detection methods. The study utilized 160 egg-positive and 160 randomly negative stool samples for <em>O. viverrini</em> eggs by conventional FECT (cFECT) to compare the methods, including the simple smear, the Kato-Katz method, the two commercial stool examination kits, and the one-step FECT. Our results showed that the one-step FECT method had the highest sensitivity (95.6 %), followed by cFECT (87.9 %), the Kato-Katz (55.5 %), Aquisfek SF-FIX® (48.3 %), simple smear (42.3 %), and Mini Parasep® SF (35.1 %). The ability of one-step FECT exhibited better ability to detect low parasite intensities compared to the cFECT (18 eggs per gram (e.p.g.) versus 34 e.p.g.) and the other conventional diagnostic methods. In addition, the investigation of <em>O. viverrini</em> infection in endemic regions in northeastern Thailand based on 3900 fecal samples revealed that the one-step FECT with an intensity of 66.8 e.p.g. (range 18–226) was significantly higher in sensitivity than cFECT, which had an intensity of 58.0 e.p.g. (range 34–214). Interestingly, fecal samples with less than 50 e.p.g. could not be detected by cFECT in 67 % of cases, and 69 out of 3900 samples were negative. In conclusion, one-step FECT improves the detection of low-intensity <em>O. viverrini</em> infection, which is suitable for parasites screening, especially for low-intensity infections in the community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00391"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142756649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular detection of Leishmania DNA in wild-caught sand flies, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia spp. in northern Iran","authors":"Seyed Hassan Nikookar ,&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Akbari ,&nbsp;Mohammad Ali Oshaghi ,&nbsp;Nasibeh Hosseini-Vasoukolaei ,&nbsp;Ahmadali Enayati ,&nbsp;Farzad Motevalli-Haghi ,&nbsp;Mahdi Fakhar","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis is currently considered a major health problem in Iran, posing an increasing threat to society's development in various dimensions. This study aimed to detect <em>Leishmania</em> infection in wild-caught sand flies in Sari City, northern Iran. Sand flies were collected using sticky traps, and <em>Leishmania</em> DNA was identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the ITS2-rDNA region, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. A total of 138 female sand flies were tested, among which, only 1 specimen of <em>Ph. papatasi</em> (11.11 %) and <em>Ph</em>. <em>major</em> (14.28 %), 4 specimens of <em>Ph. kandelakii</em> (7.27 %) and <em>Se. dentata</em> (8.33 %), and 2 specimens of <em>Se. sintoni</em> (50 %) were naturally infected with <em>L.</em> (<em>L</em>.) <em>major</em>. This was observed in the ITS2 nested-PCR amplification assays where a ∼ 245 bp PCR band was produced. Also, RFLP analysis by <em>Mnl1</em> revealed the fragments of 55 and 70 and 120 bp for infected sand flies which are characteristic of <em>L</em>. (<em>L</em>.) <em>major</em>. Most of the sand flies were unfed, collected during warm season, found indoor. This study reperesents the first molecular detection of <em>L</em>. (<em>L</em>.) <em>major</em> in wild-caught sand flies, specifically in <em>Ph. papatasi</em> in this region, as well as <em>Ph. kandelakii</em> and <em>Ph. major</em> in Iran and even the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00395"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142744793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resurgence of scabies in Italy: The new life of an old disease","authors":"Antonio Laganà ,&nbsp;Ilaria Saia ,&nbsp;Giovanni Genovese ,&nbsp;Giuseppa Visalli ,&nbsp;Giuseppa D'Andrea ,&nbsp;Salvatore Sidoti ,&nbsp;Angela Di Pietro ,&nbsp;Alessio Facciolà","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scabies, an old parasitic disease with a worldwide presence, has witnessed a recent resurgence in many parts of the world even in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a study on this resurgence in the Italian province of Messina, Sicily, evaluating the general features of affected people to better understand the possible modes of transmission. Specifically, we considered all the scabies notifications made in the period 2003–2022. Then, we focused on those cases occurred in the three-years period 2020–2022 carrying out an active surveillance by calling patients and asking them questions about their recent habits and movements and their consequent chances of contracting the disease. In total, 935 cases of scabies were reported from 2003 to 2022, with a remarkable increase between 2020 and 2022, when 288 cases were reported. Of these patients, we were able to reach by phone 240 (83.3 %) and interview them. Students were the most affected group (24.1 %), followed by retirees (21.0 %) and healthcare workers (13.2 %). Unfortunately, concerning the possible mode of transmission, more than half (58.5 %) of patients were not able to understand the real source of their infection. When known, the most common ways of transmission were a familiar origin (10.7 %) followed by causes linked to health environments (nursing home stays and hospital admissions). Moreover, 66.9 % of all the reported cases were part of an outbreak. Larger outbreaks occurred in healthcare facilities for more than half of the cases (69.4 %), the majority of which (88.9 %) were in nursing homes. Our research confirms the resurgence of scabies in our territory similar to trends in other European countries. Some critical factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, probably played a key role in influencing this epidemiological trend and showed the importance of always monitoring the epidemiology of all notifiable diseases to enable prompt action by competent authorities to limit their spread to the community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00392"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the performance of a virtual platform ‘T-BOM’ for mentorship in tropical diseases research among early career scientists: Insights from a pilot in Nigeria and other resource-limited settings","authors":"Hammed Oladeji Mogaji ,&nbsp;Akan Itinah ,&nbsp;Oyinkansola Suliat Fadiji ,&nbsp;Olamide Olaitan Omitola ,&nbsp;Tawkalitu Eniola Mogaji ,&nbsp;Olajide Murtala Keshinro ,&nbsp;Falilat Eniola Mogaji ,&nbsp;Mahmud Umar Ali ,&nbsp;Moses Aikins ,&nbsp;Franklin N. Glozah ,&nbsp;Dako-Gyeke Phyllis ,&nbsp;Uwem Friday Ekpo","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Research mentorship plays a crucial role in advancing science. However, there are limited virtual platforms for cultivating mentorship among early career infectious diseases researchers in resource challenged settings. This study reports the findings from the utilization of a recently developed virtual mentorship platform, including its achievements, challenges and needs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We developed a web-based application called Top-Bottom Open Mentorship (TBOM) freely accessible at <span><span>www.tbommodel.com</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>. The platform hosts mentors and allows mentees to send connection requests. In this paper, we present the utilization of this platform, including the opportunities and challenges encountered during the first year of implementation. Utilization data was generated monthly, while opportunities and challenges were captured using a users' perception survey. Data were analyzed in R software and summarized thematically as appropriate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Between October 2022 and November 2023, the platform registered 81 users, comprising 63 mentees [54.3 % males, 75 % graduate students] from five countries [Nigeria, Cameroon, Brazil, Sudan, and Ghana], and 18 mentors [78 % males] from six countries [Nigeria, USA, Cameroon, Kenya, Brazil, and Tanzania]. Platform engagement increased from 19.4 % (7 users out of 36 who registered) to 51 % (41 users out of 81 who registered) over the year. Also, a total of 16 mentorship cycles were completed, with 9 currently running. Mentees reported having access to job opportunities, enhanced skills in writing, time management, and grant sourcing, and improved research prospects. However, challenges identified include time zone differences, limited number of mentors, mentee's readiness, and associated internet connection issues.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>The achievements of T-BOM over a period of one-year are challenged by intrinsic factors from both mentees and mentors, as well as erratic internet services in resource-limited settings. While the platform offers significant opportunities for improving research mentorship, these challenges need to be carefully addressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00393"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species richness and abundance of wild tsetse flies collected from selected human-wildlife-livestock interface in Tanzania","authors":"Filbert E. Mdee ,&nbsp;Venance T. Msoffe ,&nbsp;Eliakunda M. Mafie ,&nbsp;Ladslaus L. Mnyone","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The successful control of tsetse flies largely depends on understanding of the species available and abundance. This study assessed the species richness, abundance and apparent density of wild collected tsetse flies from selected human-wildlife-livestock interface in Tanzania. Seasonal trapping using baited NZI, Pyramidal and Biconical traps was done across selected wards. Traps were set at 200 m apart, emptied after every 24 h then rotated to the next sites after 72 h. Collected flies were identified morphologically and letter confirmed using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Only two <em>Glossina</em> species; <em>Glossina pallidipes</em> (<em>n</em> = 371; 47.32 %) and <em>Glossina morsitans morsitans</em> (<em>n</em> = 413; 52.68 %) were identified. Among them, 96 flies (80 Female, 16 Male) were blood fed; 57(48 Female and 9 Male) <em>G. pallidipes</em> and 39(32 Female and 7 Male) <em>G.m. morsitans</em>. Tsetse fly abundance varied across wards (χ² = 4.597, df = 1, <em>p</em> = 0.032), villages (χ² = 9.491, df = 3, <em>p</em> = 0.023), habitats (χ² = 17.239, df = 2, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), months (χ² = 13.507, df = 3, <em>p</em> = 0.004) and deployed traps (χ² = 6.348, df = 2, <em>p</em> = 0.04). About 78.82 % of the total catch occurred in Kisaki ward (<em>n</em> = 618; p &lt; 0.001) and 21.17 % (<em>n</em> = 166; p = 0.032) in Bwakila chini. Similarly, 62.37 % of the catch occurred in Mbojoge village. NZI traps (<em>n</em> = 422; 54 %; 4.98 FTD) were most successful traps. Moreover, 78.06 % of the catch occurred in bushed grassland habitat (<em>n</em> = 612; 55.41 FTD) while 5.48 % in farmland (<em>n</em> = 43; 7.17 FTD). This study recommends NZI and Pyramidal traps for tsetse flies control at the interface and proposes wet season as appropriate time for successful trapping of the flies. Finally, it attracts a need for assessing tsetse flies' blood meal sources and the infection status to establish the prevalence to inform existing trypanosome control programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142538839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology, risk factors and vector density of trypanosomosis in cattle in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Melkie Dagnaw Fenta ,&nbsp;Atsede Solomon Mebratu ,&nbsp;Kalkidan Getnet ,&nbsp;Moges Maru ,&nbsp;Bemrew Admassu Mengistu","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Bovine trypanosomosis remains a major barrier to livestock productivity, agricultural progress, and socioeconomic development in Ethiopia's large tsetse belt regions, threatening 70 million cattle. Therefore, this review examined published literature from the last ten years to estimate the pooled prevalence, risk factors, and vector density of bovine trypanosomosis. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, using PubMed, Web of Science, HINARI, Google, and Google Scholar. Pooled prevalence and risk factors were calculated with a random effects model in R software, with a 95 % confidence interval. This meta-analysis included research published after 2015 on trypanosomosis in Ethiopian cattle, where <em>Trypanosoma</em> was classified at least to the genus level. Studies on other species, lacking specific prevalence data and published before 2015 were excluded.</div></div><div><h3><strong>Result</strong>s</h3><div>A total of 26 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled proportion of bovine Trypanosomosis cases was 9 % (95 % CI: 8–9 %). Considerable heterogeneity was observed across the included studies (I² = 94 %; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). The highest pooled prevalence of trypanosomosis was reported in Amhara and Oromia (8 %), followed by Benishangul Gumuz (BSGR) (7 %). Based on the subspecies analysis, the highest pooled proportion was 65 % (95 % CI: 58 %–71 %) for <em>T. congolense</em> (I² = 81 %: <em>p</em> = 0.01), followed by 32 % for <em>T. vivax</em> (I² = 60 %: <em>P</em> = 0.61) and 19 % for <em>T. brucei</em> (95 % CI: 7 %–41 %). Among the risk factors, poor body condition, black coat color, and packed cell volume (PCV) were found to be significant for the development of this disease. Black-coated animals were 2.36 and 3.48 times more susceptible to trypanosomosis than red- and white-coated animals, respectively. According to the pooled odds ratio, animals in poor body condition were 2.82 times more likely to have bovine trypanosomosis. Animals infected with <em>Trypanosoma</em> were 18 times more likely to have a lower packed cell volume (PCV) compared to non-infected animals. The study found that Tsetse flies were responsible for 72.32 % of bovine trypanosomosis cases, with <em>Glossina pallidipes</em> and <em>Glossina tachinoides</em> being the most common species. The remaining 27.68 % were due to other biting insects. The study highlights the need for science-based risk mitigation strategies to control <em>Trypanosoma</em> infections, emphasizing the crucial role of Tsetse flies, particularly <em>G. pallidipes</em> and <em>G. tachinoides</em>, in transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00388"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extrinsic and intrinsic drivers of prevalence and abundance of hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)","authors":"Rachid Chaibi ,&nbsp;Nora Mimoune ,&nbsp;Farouk Benaceur ,&nbsp;Latifa Stambouli ,&nbsp;Lamine Hamida ,&nbsp;Rabah Khedim ,&nbsp;Radhwane Saidi ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hocine Benaissa ,&nbsp;Hicham Gouzi ,&nbsp;Souad Neffar ,&nbsp;Haroun Chenchouni","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Ticks are ectoparasites and can be vectors of a wide range of pathogens, posing significant health risks to livestock. In the Sahara Desert of Algeria, particularly among one-humped camels (<em>Camelus dromedarius</em>), there is a need to better understand the factors influencing tick infestation patterns to improve livestock management and health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity, and abundance of hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) among dromedaries, examining both intrinsic factors (sex, age, coat color) and extrinsic variables (farming systems, vegetation types, climate zones, and elevation) that might influence tick infestation in this region.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ticks were collected from 286 dromedaries across nine sites in the pre-Saharan regions of Algeria, with elevations ranging from 736 m to 980 m. The sampled camels, which ranged in age from 6 days to 21 years, were examined for tick infestations. The ticks were identified through macroscopic and microscopic methods, and their abundance was analyzed in relation to the camels' characteristics and environmental factors. Three breeding systems were recognized: extensive, intensive, and mixed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 980 ticks were collected, with <em>Hyalomma dromedarii</em> Koch, 1844 being the most abundant species (553 specimens), followed by <em>Hyalomma impeltatum</em> Schulze &amp; Schlottke, 1930 (393 specimens), and <em>Hyalomma excavatum</em> Koch, 1844 (34 specimens). <em>H. dromedarii</em> showed a preference for parasitizing brown-coated dromedaries and exhibited significantly higher infestation levels during spring (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). No significant association was observed between tick infestation and the camels' age or sex (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). However, the farming system had a significant impact on tick abundance, with extensive and mixed systems showing higher tick burdens compared to intensive systems (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Additionally, the vegetation type, climate zone, and foraging habitat elevation were found to significantly influence tick densities and prevalence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provides essential insights into the tick infestation dynamics in dromedaries in drylands of Algeria. It highlights the influence of coat color, seasonality, and farming practices on tick burden, with brown-coated camels being more susceptible during the spring. The findings underline the importance of considering both intrinsic and extrinsic factors when developing effective tick control strategies, especially for camels raised in extensive or mixed farming systems in diverse arid rangelands. Future research should expand the scope to cover other arid regions in North Africa for a comprehensive understanding of tick-host dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An update on Leishmania martiniquensis infections: Transmission, clinical characteristics, and treatment","authors":"Somayyeh Ahmadi ,&nbsp;Maryam Hataminejad ,&nbsp;Bahman Rahimi Esboei ,&nbsp;Seyed Abdollah Hosseini ,&nbsp;Mahdi Fakhar","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis, caused by intracellular protozoa of the <em>Leishmania</em> genus, continues to be a global health issue, with approximately 700,000 to 1 million new cases occur annually worldwide. The disease is transmitted via the bite of infected female sand flies of the genus <em>Phlebotomus</em>, resulting in a range of symptoms known as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. The species <em>Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis</em>, discovered in 1995, has been linked to cases in individuals with HIV, presenting with diverse clinical pictures. Interestingly, biting midges, not sandflies, has proved to serve as its potentially biological vector. This study focuses on understanding the transmission, clinical aspects, and effective treatment of L. <em>martiniquensis</em> infections.</div><div>A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant published papers on the epidemiology, transmission, clinical characteristics, and treatment of L. <em>martiniquensis</em> up to August 2024. The clinical manifestations encompass localized cutaneous leishmaniasis, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is associated with comorbidities such as inadequate nutrition, population displacement, and reduced immunity. Risk factors for <em>Leishmania</em> infection include the presence of domestic animals, age, gender, and environmental factors. Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB) is the main treatment. Combination therapy with allicin and andrographolide may reduce AmB side effects. Recent research investigates other treatments including 8-hydroxyquinoline, which works synergistically with AmB against L. <em>martiniquensis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A randomized controlled trial of Tickoff® (Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 7) for control of tick infestations and transmission of tick-borne infections in extensively grazed zebu cattle in coastal Kenya","authors":"Joseph Wang’ang’a Oundo ,&nbsp;Shewit Kalayou ,&nbsp;Gerrit Gort ,&nbsp;Gebbiena M. Bron ,&nbsp;Constantianus J.M. Koenraadt ,&nbsp;Quirine ten Bosch ,&nbsp;Daniel Masiga","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The entomopathogenic fungus <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> isolate ICIPE 7 is being developed as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical acaricides in managing natural tick infestation on livestock. Its impact on tick infestation and tick-borne infections in cattle under natural conditions are yet unclear. We conducted a randomized controlled field trial to assess the safety and effects of Tickoff® (a formulation of <em>M. anisopliae</em> isolate ICIPE 7) and the chemical acaricide Triatix® on tick infestation and incidence of <em>Anaplasma marginale</em> and <em>Theileria parva</em> in extensively grazed zebu cattle in coastal Kenya. A total of 217 eligible herds comprising 1459 intent-to-treat zebu cattle were enrolled from 12 villages. The herds were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to Tickoff®, Triatix®, or Tickoff® excipients. Tick counts, treatment administrations, and adverse events were registered every two weeks for seven months. The mortality of ticks collected from treated cattle was monitored in vitro. Infections with <em>A. marginale</em> and <em>T. parva</em> were monitored every two months. No adverse events were reported in either treatment group. Tickoff® did not significantly affect tick infestation (<em>p</em> = 0.869) or infection incidence (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05) compared to excipients. Triatix® significantly reduced tick infestation (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and incidence of <em>T. parva</em> (<em>p</em> = 0.042), but not <em>A. marginale</em> (<em>p</em> = 0.509) compared to the reference Tickoff®. In ticks that were removed from cattle, Tickoff® demonstrated significant pathogenicity in vitro relative to excipients (hazard ratio: 8.50, 95 % CI: 4.67–15.47). Fungus growth and sporulation were also observed on tick cadavers from Tickoff®, but not from excipients. While Tickoff® did not impact tick counts, its delayed, but significant effect on tick mortality may hinder onward pathogen transmission and give rise to indirect (i.e., to untreated animals) epidemiological effects, that were not picked up with this study design. Additionally, adverse environmental conditions resulted in low tick abundance and pathogen circulation towards the end of the study period, reducing the power of the study. This work re-emphasizes the challenges of randomized controlled field trials and the complexity of assessing the impact of vector control products on both direct and indirect impacts on pathogen transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}