Parasite Epidemiology and Control最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Cutaneous leishmaniasis in British troops following jungle training in Belize: Cumulative incidence and potential risk practices","authors":"Ngwa Niba Rawlings ,&nbsp;Mark Bailey ,&nbsp;Peter Craig ,&nbsp;Orin Courtenay","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>British soldiers undergoing jungle training in Belize typically experience a relatively low risk of developing cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, an uncharacteristically large outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis occurred in 2022. This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence of the disease and highlight potential shortcomings in personal protective measures to mitigate exposure to sand fly vector bites.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases between 2005 and 2022, as well as on questionnaire responses regarding personal protective measures administered to cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in 2022. Data were sourced from Defence Public Health Unit, Military Environmental Health Department and British Army Training Support Unit Belize.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eighty-one confirmed clinical cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were recorded between 2005 and 2022, with a substantial peak (38 cases) in 2022. Most cases occurred during the wet season. Pre-2022, the median cumulative incidence per 8-week deployment was 0.90 % (Q1–Q3: 0.34 %–1.34 %), with an annual variation of 0.2 % to 2.0 %. In 2022, the cumulative incidence spiked to 4.22 %, associated with a risk ratio of 5.3 (95 % C.I.s, 3.41, 8.16), and rising to a cumulative incidence of 7.3 % in a single unit of 450 men (33 cases) in late 2022. These values are significantly higher than the median cumulative incidence of all previous years, and to published reports for other cutaneous leishmaniasis -endemic regions. Troop responses identified limitations in the supply of optimal equipment, and in sand fly bite and leishmaniasis risk avoidance information provided by the pre-deployment health education programme. Compliance with health education advise was also suboptimal, with irregular use of insect repellents, protective clothing / head netting, and insecticide-treated hammocks.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The reasons behind the unusually high numbers of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases and cumulative incidence in 2022 remain unclear, emphasising the need to improve personal protective measures provision and implement a comprehensive health education programme for troops undergoing jungle training in Belize.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00385"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425215","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":"In vivo anti-schistosomal activity of the methanol extracts from Searsia longipes and Lannea schimperi","authors":"Nicolaus Omari Mbugi ,&nbsp;Geoffrey Maina ,&nbsp;Musa Chacha ,&nbsp;Ernest Mbega","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by the flat worms under the genus <em>Schistosoma</em>. The disease is prominent in tropical and sub tropical countries and it is manifested in two forms; the acute and the chronic form. Treatment and control of the schistosomiasis is constrained with various factors including immerging worm resistance and selective efficacy of the current recommended drug of choice. This therefore calls for the search of new approaches to offset the problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the methanolic extract from <em>Searsia longipes</em> and <em>Lannea schimperi</em> against <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> by using animal model. Swiss albino mice were used for the efficacy testing, whereby, for each extract, 5 groups of mice were used, and each contained 5 mice. Three different doses were administered to three groups, whereas the remaining two groups were used as negative and positive control arms. Efficacies were assessed based on the reduction of the worm eggs in the faeces and organs, body weight gain, loss of liver weight, as well as reduction of worm burden. Both extracts demonstrated significant egg and worm reduction, which was directly proportional to the dose increment. At the highest dose used, <em>Searsia longipes</em> expressed the higher percentage egg reduction (73.33 %), whereas <em>Lannea schimperi</em> demonstrated the higher worm burden reduction (68.53 %). The present study provides strong evidence of the anti-schistosomal activity of the extracts from both <em>S. longipes</em> and <em>L</em>. <em>schimperi</em>. These findings are a significant step forward, suggesting that these plants could be a promising alternative medicine for the treatment of schistosomiasis. However, further investigations are warranted to isolate the compound responsible for this activity and to assess the sub-acute toxicity of the plant extracts. This next phase of research is crucial for advancing our understanding and potential use of these plant extracts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00383"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425218","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":"Empowering rural communities for effective larval source management: A small-scale field evaluation of a community-led larviciding approach to control malaria in south-eastern Tanzania","authors":"Salum A. Mapua ,&nbsp;Alex J. Limwagu ,&nbsp;Dmitry Kishkinev ,&nbsp;Khamis Kifungo ,&nbsp;Ismail H. Nambunga ,&nbsp;Samuel Mziray ,&nbsp;Gwakisa John ,&nbsp;Wahida Mtiro ,&nbsp;Kusirye Ukio ,&nbsp;Javier Lezaun ,&nbsp;Frederic Tripet ,&nbsp;Fredros O. Okumu","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Larval source management, particularly larviciding, is mainly implemented in urban settings to control malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. In Tanzania, the government has recently expanded larviciding to rural settings across the country, but implementation faces multiple challenges, notably inadequate resources and limited know-how by technical staff. This study evaluated the potential of training community members to identify, characterize and target larval habitats of <em>Anopheles funestus</em> mosquitoes, the dominant vector of malaria transmission in south-eastern Tanzania.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A mixed-methods study was used. First, interviewer-administered questionnaires were employed to assess knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of community members towards larviciding (<em>N</em> = 300). Secondly community-based volunteers were trained to identify and characterize aquatic habitats of dominant malaria vector species, after which they treated the most productive habitats with a locally-manufactured formulation of the biolarvicide, <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> var. <em>israelensis</em>. Longitudinal surveys of mosquito adults and larvae were used to assess impacts of the community-led larviciding programme in two villages in rural south-eastern Tanzania.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At the beginning of the program, the majority of village residents were unaware of larviciding as a potential malaria prevention method, and about 20 % thought that larvicides could be harmful to the environment and other insects. The trained community volunteers identified and characterized 360 aquatic habitats, of which 45.6 % had <em>Anopheles funestus</em>, the dominant malaria vector in the area. The preferred larval habitats for <em>An. funestus</em> were deep and had either slow- or fast-moving waters. Application of biolarvicides reduced the abundance of adult <em>An. funestus</em> and <em>Culex</em> spp. species inside human houses in the same villages, by 46.3 % and 35.4 % respectively. Abundance of late-stage instar larvae of the same taxa was also reduced by 74 % and 42 %, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrates that training community members to identify, characterize, and target larval habitats of the dominant malaria vectors can be effective for larval source management in rural Tanzania. Community-led larviciding reduced the densities of adult and late-stage instar larvae of <em>An. funestus</em> and <em>Culex</em> spp. inside houses, suggesting that this approach may have potential for malaria control in rural settings. However, efforts are still needed to increase awareness of larviciding in the relevant communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00382"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425216","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}