PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Diagnostic performance of the TR chagas bio-manguinhos rapid test for detecting anti-Trypanosoma cruzi IgG in human samples from three Southern Cone countries.","authors":"Larissa de Carvalho Medrado Vasconcelos, Micaela Soledad Ossowski, Edimilson Domingos Silva, Daniel Dias Sampaio, Tycha Bianca Sabaini Pavan, Randrin Queiroz Viana Ferreira, Felipe Silva Santos de Jesus, Raúl Chadi, Marisa Liliana Fernández, Yolanda Hernández, Karina Andrea Gómez, Fred Luciano Neves Santos","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chagas disease (CD) remains a major public health challenge in Latin America, largely due to persistent underdiagnosis, particularly in endemic and resource-limited settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) offer a pragmatic approach to expand serological screening; however, their performance varies across epidemiological contexts and parasite genetic backgrounds. The TR Chagas Bio-Manguinhos test, based on recombinant chimeric antigens, has shown high sensitivity in previous evaluations, but data from Southern Cone remain limited. We conducted a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study using 311 anonymized human plasma samples obtained in Argentina, including 233 Trypanosoma cruzi-positive and 78 negative samples classified by a composite reference standard based on at least two independent serological assays. Diagnostic performance of the TR Chagas Bio-Manguinhos rapid test was assessed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and agreement. Sensitivity was further stratified by country of origin (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay) and by cardiac involvement according to the Kuschnir classification. The TR Chagas Bio-Manguinhos test demonstrated high overall performance, with a sensitivity of 97.0% (95% CI: 93.9-98.5%), specificity of 94.9% (95% CI: 87.5-98.0%), and accuracy of 96.5% (95% CI: 93.8-98.0%). Agreement with the reference standard was almost perfect (κ = 0.91). Sensitivity remained consistently high across geographical origins and Kuschnir cardiac stages, with no statistically significant differences between subgroups. The negative likelihood ratio (0.03) indicated strong ability to rule out infection. These findings provide the first independent evidence supporting the high performance of the TR Chagas Bio-Manguinhos test in people from Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. The combination of very high sensitivity and robust specificity supports its use as a frontline serological screening tool for chronic T. cruzi infection in the Southern Cone, provided that reactive results are subsequently confirmed by laboratory- based assays in accordance with international guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147857599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hiding in plain sight: A call to prevent cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in the United States.","authors":"Juan David Ramírez, Sarah M Gunter, Megan Coffee, Norman Beatty, Dawn M Wetzel","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014297","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), once considered a travel-associated tropical disease, is increasingly transmitted within the United States, particularly in southern regions. Despite mounting evidence of local transmission, public health recognition and preventive infrastructure remain limited. This Viewpoint highlights the urgent need to shift the U.S. CL response from questioning endemicity to preventing transmission. We review ecological, clinical, and surveillance data demonstrating the presence of competent vectors, animal reservoirs, and autochthonous human cases. Diagnostic delays, underreporting, and insufficient provider training contribute to missed prevention opportunities. Climate change and peri-urban rodent-human contact data further heighten future risk. A coordinated response is essential, including national notifiability, expanded diagnostics, integrated vector and reservoir surveillance, clinical education, and One Health-focused research. Without immediate action, CL risks becoming an entrenched, neglected zoonosis in the United States.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014297"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13155608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147856531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial intelligence algorithm for real-time detection and counting of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites using smartphone microscopy.","authors":"Lin Lin, Ana Valeria Solano, Fabiola Gonzales, Mary Cruz Torrico, Daniel Illanes, Nuria Díez, David Bermejo-Peláez, Elena Dacal, Ramón Vallés-López, Lucia Pastor, Roberto Mancebo-Martín, María Jesús Ledesma-Carbayo, Miguel Luengo-Oroz, Jose M Rubio, Maria Flores-Chavez","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012955","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012955","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chagas disease affects 6-7 million people worldwide and causes approximately 12,000 deaths annually. Diagnostic methods vary by disease stage, with serological tests commonly used in the chronic phase, while microscopy and molecular techniques like PCR and LAMP are employed in the acute phase. While microscopy remains the most accessible tool in resource constrained settings, its effectiveness depends on skilled personnel, creating diagnostic bottlenecks. To overcome these limitations, we developed a portable, smartphone-integrated AI system for real-time Trypanosoma cruzi detection in microscopy images. The platform combines a 3D-printed microscope adapter which aligns the smartphone camera with the microscope ocular to digitize images, with telemedicine-enabled annotation workflows, and lightweight AI models (SSD-MobileNetV2, YOLOv8) deployed on smartphone for real-time analysis. Trained on a diverse dataset of human samples (478 images from 20 samples), including thick/thin blood smears and cerebrospinal fluid) and murine thin smears (570 images from 33 samples), the SSD-MobileNetV2 model achieved 86% precision, 87% recall, and 86.5% F1-score on human samples, demonstrating robust performance across variable imaging conditions. We additionally piloted a real-world experiment with the proposed system. Three thin blood smears were scanned by a user operating the smartphone-based system, with predictions generated in real time. Model outputs were benchmarked against expert annotations as the ground truth. At the object level, the algorithm achieved a precision of 67.1%, a recall of 96.4%, and an F1-score of 79.1%, showing high sensitivity under operational conditions with a configuration possibly suitable for screening. This system could enable rapid, accurate parasite detection in field settings without advanced infrastructure, addressing critical gaps in early diagnosis and monitoring. Its modular design allows adaptation to other pathogens and cellular structures, offering a scalable solution for neglected tropical disease diagnostics. By bridging AI innovation with microscopy, this approach holds promise for advancing equitable healthcare delivery in endemic regions and aligning with global health priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0012955"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mass drug administration for soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in selected districts of Rwanda: Coverage, implementation factors, and household water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions.","authors":"Dieudonne Hakizimana, Ladislas Nshimiyimana, Jeanne Uwizeyimana, Jean Bosco Mbonigaba, Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, Nathan Hitiyaremye, Albert Tuyishime, Alison Ower, Karen Palacio, Tonya Huston, Ivy Sempele, Eugene Ruberanziza","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014267","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Rwanda, about 1 in 3 people are affected by soil-transmitted helminthiases (38.7%) and 1 in 4 by schistosomiasis in high-risk areas (27.2% by point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen), both associated with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Mass drug administration (MDA) is the primary control strategy, but reported coverage may not reflect true reach. This study assessed MDA coverage of albendazole/mebendazole and praziquantel in selected districts, identified reasons for non-reach, examined factors associated with uptake, and described household WASH conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted in five purposively selected districts using a stratified cluster design. Survey-weighted estimates summarized treatment reach (offered the drug), uptake (swallowed the drug), and household WASH conditions. Survey-weighted logistic regression was used to identify individual and implementation factors associated with uptake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Albendazole/mebendazole uptake was 91.9% (95% CI: 84.3-96.0), closely matching reported coverage of 96%. The main reasons for non-reach were drug stockouts (23.7%), absence during MDA (15.8%), and unwillingness to take the drug (15.2%). Praziquantel uptake was 88.0% (95% CI: 78.7-93.6), consistent with reported coverage of 80%. For praziquantel, unwillingness to take tablets (29.6%) and absence during MDA (14.4%) were the most common reasons for non-reach. Receiving sufficient information about MDA to make an informed decision was associated with higher odds of uptake for both ALB/MBZ (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 5.17, 95% CI: 2.01-13.27) and PZQ (aOR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.33-9.64). For ALB/MBZ, finding MDA participation easy (aOR: 11.41, 95% CI: 2.59-50.16), feeling comfortable with the MDA distributor (aOR: 10.05, 95% CI: 2.43-41.47), and feeling comfortable with the MDA location (aOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.25-8.39) were each independently associated with higher uptake. For PZQ, males had significantly higher odds of uptake compared to females (aOR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.15-6.07). Among households, 65.6% used improved drinking water sources, 91.4% obtained water from public places, 50.7% treated their water, 84.4% had improved toilets, 51.6% had visibly clean toilets, and 62% lacked a handwashing station.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MDA coverage in Rwanda exceeded WHO targets and closely matched reported estimates, reflecting strong implementation. Addressing remaining gaps in drug supply, MDA communication, and WASH infrastructure will be important to sustain and strengthen control of soil-transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014267"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13152171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological study of leptospiral interaction in bovine farms in rural areas of Colombia: A One Health approach.","authors":"Sara Patiño-Gómez, Luisa F Naranjo-Vargas, Daniel C Aguirre-Acevedo, Néstor Jaime Aguirre-Ramírez, Elsio A Wunder, Felipe de Oliveira, Samanta C das Chagas-Xavier, Juan C Quintero-Vélez","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leptospira are zoonotic agents with a complex transmission cycle that affects low-income and impoverished populations and causes significant economic losses in livestock.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the interaction between people, animals, and the environment related to Leptospira infection in bovine farms in Urabá, Antioquia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on cattle farms in Urabá, Antioquia. The proportion of pathogenic Leptospira infection in bovine and canine urine and environmental contamination in water and soil samples was estimated using molecular assays. Additionally, Leptospira seropositivity in humans, cattle, and canines was determined using the microagglutination test (MAT). Evaluation of composition characteristics of landscape was done and potential flooding areas were estimated. The domestic animals and human populations were characterized through descriptive analysis using productive and reproductive data and sociodemographic information, respectively. Then, associations between seropositivity/infection, antibody titers, Leptospira serogroups/species in cattle, canines, and humans, and productive, farms and landscape variables we explored using a mixed-data factor analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proportion of seropositivity in cattle was 76.9% (380/494). The most frequent serogroups on MAT were Mini, Tarassovi, Ballum, and Sejroe. In addition, molecular analysis indicated an infection rate of 4.0% (20/494) of the species L. borgpetersenii in cattle. Seropositivity in humans was 4.1% (3/73), with serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Autumnalis, and Sejroe. Thirty-three percent (5/15) of dogs were seropositive for serogroups Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, and Autumnalis. The presence of L. tipperaryensis was detected in water and species L. weilii and L. cinconiae in soil. Evidence of high exposure to Leptospira was found in cattle. An association was also found between the serogroups circulating in humans and dogs (Autumnalis) and in humans and cattle (Sejroe), as well as forest fragmentation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The importance of addressing the epidemiology of Leptospira infection from a comprehensive One Health approach is highlighted.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014231"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mycetoma as a major cause of limb amputation in Northeastern Ethiopia: A facility-based retrospective study.","authors":"Wendemagegn Enbiale, Borna Nyaoke, Alemayehu Bekele, Kedir Ahmed Mohammed, Dereje Bedane","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013886","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013886","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Mycetoma is a chronic, progressively destructive infection that can result in severe disability and limb loss. In Ethiopia, diagnostic capacity and access to effective treatment remain limited, and the burden of mycetoma is poorly characterized. Recent clinical observations from the Afar Region suggest a high frequency of advanced disease and amputation, yet systematic evidence on the burden is lacking. This study aimed to describe the clinical burden of mycetoma, diagnostic and treatment practices, care-seeking patterns, and the extent of limb amputation at Dubti General Hospital in Afar region, northeastern Ethiopia. We conducted a facility-based retrospective review of all patients with a clinical diagnosis of mycetoma managed at Dubti General Hospital between September 2020 and August 2025. Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations, treatment modalities, disability status, and surgical outcomes were summarized descriptively. Factors associated with delayed presentation (>12 months from symptom onset) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. A total of 143 patients were identified, with a mean age of 30.9 years (SD ± 11.7); 79% were male, 85.3% resided in rural areas, and 46% were pastoralists. All cases involved the lower limb and presented with localized swelling. Pain (90.9%), warmth (54.5%), sinus formation (42.7%), and discharge (40.6%) were common. Diagnosis relied primarily on clinical assessment alone (58.7%), with limited use of imaging and biopsy. The mean duration of illness before first presentation was 33.8 months (SD ± 29), and 89.5% of patients presented after more than 12 months of symptoms. Compared with farmers, merchants had lower odds of delayed presentation (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.27-0.59). Nineteen patients (13.3%) underwent limb amputation, accounting for 23.5% of all orthopaedic amputations performed at the hospital during the study period. Disability at presentation was frequent, with 14.0% of patients experiencing severe motor impairment. Mycetoma in Afar predominantly affects young rural men and presents almost exclusively with advanced lower-limb disease. Profound diagnostic limitations, delayed care-seeking, and restricted surgical options contribute to poor outcomes. Integrating mycetoma into national neglected tropical disease strategies, strengthening early detection and diagnostic services, ensuring consistent access to essential medications, and expanding limb-sparing surgical capacity are critical to reducing preventable disability and aligning Ethiopia's response with global NTD control targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0013886"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and quick SOFA(qSOFA) predict 30-day mortality in patients with HIV-associated Talaromycosis: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Guanjing Lang, Shasha Ye, Xingguo Miao, Jiaying Qin, Dairong Xiang, Mengyan Wang, Gong Chen, Feifei Su, Lijun Xu","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014278","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014278","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV-associated talaromycosis (HAT) is a severe fungal infection for which established severity assessment methods are lacking. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and quick SOFA (qSOFA) scores were evaluated in 464 patients with HAT to assess their associations with inflammatory markers, hospital stay, and 30-day mortality. SOFA scores were negatively correlated with blood culture positivity time (r = -0.470, P < 0.001) and positively correlated with IL-6, IL-10, and CRP (all P < 0.001). Patients with fungemia had higher SOFA scores (2.3 ± 2.4 vs. 1.2 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). Mortality increased with qSOFA scores: 8.9% (score 0), 16.5% (score 1), and 55.0% (score ≥2; P < 0.001). For SOFA, mortality was 4.5% (scores 0-1), 6.8% (2-3), 22.0% (4-5), 52.2% (6-7), and 85.7% (≥8; P < 0.001), repectively. Survivors' SOFA scores improved by day 7 (1.6 ± 1.6 to 1.0 ± 1.4, P < 0.001), while non-survivors worsened by day 7 (4.8 ± 3.4 to 5.1 ± 5.6, P = 0.027) compared to day 0. Among the surviving patients, the hospital stay days were 21.0 (14.0-27.0) for scores 0-1, 22.0 (16.0-29.0) for scores 2-3, 27.0 (20.3-43.5) for scores 4-6 and 29.0 (5.5-38.0) for scores ≥6 (P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis identified qSOFA [adjusted odds ratio (AOR):1.564, P = 0.018], SOFA [AOR:1.533, P = 0.001], and non-amphotericin B deoxycholate (non-AmBd) therapy [AOR:2.732, P = 0.026] were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. SOFA and qSOFA both predicted poor outcomes in patients with HAT. Early diagnosis and preemptive AmBd therapy should be prioritized for patients with HAT who had high SOFA/qSOFA scores.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014278"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143057/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clonorchis sinensis excretory secretory products promote hepatic fibrosis through stimulating biliary epithelium to secrete IL-17A.","authors":"Tongtong Liu, Hongna Gao, Nan Wang, Weichen Wang, Zhang Cao, Hao Zhu, Naiguo Liu, Honglian Gao, Bing Ji, Tonggang Liu, Fan Zhang, Xuelian Bai","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014280","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) infection causes serious pathological changes of hepatobiliary system such as hyperplasia of the biliary mucosa, inflammation and periductal fibrosis. The excretory-secretory products of C. sinensis (CsESPs) play critical roles in triggering inflammation and subsequent activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Yet, how CsESPs induce hepatic fibrosis through breaking the barrier of biliary epithelium remains unclear. Previous studies have confirmed that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) promoted fibrosis in some liver diseases. In the present study, the IL-17A levels in the serum of C. sinensis infected patients and healthy people were compared. C. sinensis infected mouse model was applied to discover the expression of IL-17A, especially its localization in the biliary epithelium. Cells and bile duct organoid models were established to evaluate the effect of CsESPs on the production of IL-17A by biliary epithelium and subsequent activation of HSCs. The results indicated that the levels of IL-17A were higher in the serum of patients and mice infected with C. sinensis than in the healthy people and control mice respectively. Infected mouse liver showed increased collagen deposition and marked hyperplasia of the intrahepatic bile duct with significant expression of IL-17A. CsESPs-stimulated human cholangiocarcinoma cells (RBE) displayed elevated proliferation ability and produced higher level of IL-17A. Supernatant of CsESPs-RBE cells activated human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) with upregulated production of α-SMA and collagen I. Knocking down of IL-17A in RBE cells by lentivirus attenuated the expression of α-SMA and collagen I in LX-2 cells incubated with supernatants of CsESPs-stimulated RBE cells. Under stimulation of CsESPs, the bile duct organoids became swelled with thickened and deformable walls and prominent IL-17A signals. These findings suggest that CsESPs may activate HSCs through a new pathway of stimulating biliary epithelium to produce IL-17A.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014280"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143123/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnostic performance of a biotin-labeled 4D1 sandwich ELISA for serum antigen detection in talaromycosis.","authors":"Huamei Wei, Artid Amsri, Patcharin Thammasit, Kritsada Pruksaphon, Yuanji Teng, Changke Pu, Yuefeng Huang, Joshua D Nosanchuk, Sirida Youngchim","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Talaromycosis, caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus Talaromyces marneffei, is a life-threatening opportunistic infection in individuals with advanced immunodeficiency, particularly people living with HIV in endemic regions of Southeast Asia. Early diagnosis is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality; however, conventional diagnosis relies mainly on fungal culture, which is time-consuming and has limited sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We developed and clinically evaluated a direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a biotin-labeled monoclonal antibody (4D1) for the detection of T. marneffei cytoplasmic yeast antigen in serum. The assay employed the same monoclonal antibody for both capture and detection in a double-recognition format. Analytical performance, cross-reactivity, and clinical diagnostic accuracy were systematically evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No cross-reactivity was observed among the tested fungal antigens under the experimental conditions. The analytical limit of detection (LOD) in pooled human serum was 19.398 μg/mL. Clinical evaluation included 79 culture-confirmed talaromycosis cases and 381 non-talaromycosis controls. At an optimized optical density cut-off of 0.268, the assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.61% (95% confidence interval [CI] 79.47-94.66%) and a specificity of 96.06% (95% CI 93.59-97.78%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The biotin-labeled 4D1 sandwich ELISA provides a rapid and accurate diagnostic method with good concordance to culture and may support improved clinical diagnosis of talaromycosis. Its potential application for treatment monitoring requires further validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014314"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global, regional, and national disease burden of arthropod-borne diseases: Projections to 2030 based on the global burden of disease study 2021.","authors":"Mengqing Li, Yang Yang, Chuizhao Xue, Qingqiu Zuo, Ying Wang, Hua Liu, Yefei Pu, Yujuan Shen, Xu Wang, Jianhai Yin, Jianping Cao","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Arthropod-borne diseases (ABDs) represent an ongoing threat to global public health, affecting millions annually with viral, bacterial and parasitic infections worldwide.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for ABDs were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Based on DALYs, the nine ABDs were categorized into protozoan, helminthic, and viral diseases. Temporal trends were quantified using the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs) and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDRs). Frontier analysis was applied to evaluate deviations from the expected disease burden according to sociodemographic index (SDI), and Bayesian age-period-cohort models were used to project future disease burdens through 2030.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 1990 to 2021, the global ASDR for ABDs declined from 1,219.26 to 884.16 per 100,000 population. Protozoiasis caused the most substantial burden (ASDR 819.83), followed by helminthiases and viral diseases. Although ASDRs declined across the three major disease categories overall, dengue fever exhibited a significant upward trend within the viral disease group (AAPC = 0.83%). Burdens remained concentrated in low and lower-middle SDI regions, though High-income Asia Pacific and Australasia experienced notable increases. Frontier analysis indicated that while parasitic burdens declined with rising SDI, viral disease patterns varied: dengue peaked at middle SDI, and Zika increased with SDI. Adolescents and young adults bore the greatest burden, with distinct sex-specific differences. Projections suggest that by 2030, ASPRs for malaria and African trypanosomiasis, as well as ASDRs for malaria, African trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, will increase.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Protozoan infections, particularly malaria, continue to dominate the burden of arthropod-borne diseases. Although the overall burden of viral diseases declined modestly, certain arboviral infections, including dengue, showed increasing trends. The distinct geographic concentration of these infections, coupled with the rising threat of arboviral diseases, underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance systems, expanded vaccination coverage, and strengthened global collaboration to mitigate future risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 5","pages":"e0014235"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}