PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Epidemiology of intestinal parasite infections and multiparasitism and their impact on growth and hemoglobin levels during childhood in tropical Ecuador: A longitudinal study using molecular detection methods.","authors":"Rojelio Mejia, Irina Chis Ster, Martha E Chico, Irene Guadalupe, Andrea Arévalo-Cortés, Andrea Lopez, Aida Y Oviedo-Vera, Philip J Cooper","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013004","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There are few longitudinal epidemiological studies of intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) and their health effects. We studied the epidemiology and determinants of IPI and multiparasitism during childhood using molecular methods for parasite detection and analysed their effects on growth and hemoglobin levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Random sample of 401 children from an Ecuadorian birth cohort followed up to 8 years of age. Data on environmental and sociodemographic characteristics were collected by questionnaires. Stool samples were collected, and weight, height, and hemoglobin levels were measured at 7 and 13 months, and 2, 3, 5, and 8 years. Stool samples were analysed using multi-parallel quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the presence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma spp. Necator americanus, and Strongyloides stercoralis) and protozoal (Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium spp.) parasites. Associations between risk factors and infections, and between infections and nutritional outcomes were estimated using generalized estimated equations applied to longitudinal binary or continuous outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IPI were observed in 91.3% of the cohort during follow-up with peak proportions between 3 and 8 years, while multiparasitism increased more gradually (32.5% at 8 years). Factors significantly associated with multiparasitism included lower birth order, day care, Afro-Ecuadorian ethnicity, urban residence, lower household income, and maternal STH infections. IPI during follow-up were associated with lower hemoglobin (difference = -0.102, 95% CI -0.192 - -0.013, P = 0.025), height-for-age (difference = -0.126, 95% CI -0.233 - -0.019, P = 0.021) and weight-for-age (difference, -0.129, 95% CI -0.257 - -0.022, P = 0.018) z scores. Multiparasitism had the strongest negative effects on growth (height-for-age, -0.289, 95% CI -0.441- -0.137, P < 0.001; weight-for-age, -0.228, 95% CI -0.379 - -0.077, P = 0.003), with some evidence of greater effects with greater number of parasite species.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IPI infections and multiparasitism were frequent during early childhood in this Ecuadorian cohort. IPI was associated with reduced weight, height, and hemoglobin trajectories while children with multiparasitism had the greatest growth deficits. Our data highlight the adverse health effects of multiparasitism during childhood in endemic settings and the need for integrated programmes of control and prevention to eliminate associated morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013004"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12169531/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144310673","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":"Dengue dynamics beyond biological factors: Revealing the nexus between urbanisation planning, and mobilities in Vientiane, Lao PDR.","authors":"Olivier Telle, Marc Grandadam, Damien Philippon, Elodie Calvez, Virginie Pommelet, Sebastien Marcombe, Josephin Béraud, Somphavanh Somlor, Marc Choisy","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0011990","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0011990","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dengue fever, a vector-borne disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, poses a significant public health challenge in urban Southeast Asia. While urbanisation is widely recognised as a driver of dengue transmission, its effects are multifaceted, creating both risks and protective factors. Despite its longstanding presence in Laos, limited research has explored the geographic and epidemiological dynamics of dengue in Vientiane, the capital city.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study integrates high-resolution datasets-including the Laos Population and Housing Census, the Global Human Settlement Layer, OpenStreetMap, and Meta's Data for Good platform-to examine dengue incidence in Vientiane from 2012 to 2018. A negative binomial regression model was employed to assess the influence of urban built-up expansion, human mobility, migration patterns, and infrastructure quality on dengue risk. Additionally, the study investigated whether structural urban risk factors remained stable across different periods dominated by distinct dengue serotypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Vientiane underwent significant urban expansion from 1990 to 2015, particularly in its periphery. Our findings reveal that recently urbanised areas with high daytime population influx exhibited the highest dengue incidence, reinforcing the role of urban centrality in shaping transmission dynamics. Migration patterns significantly influenced dengue risk, with villages hosting a larger proportion of foreign residents and Lao individuals born outside Vientiane experiencing higher incidence rates. Additionally, the availability of piped water emerged as a protective factor, as households without in-house water access were consistently associated with higher dengue incidence. Importantly, while the built-up environment and centrality played a stable role in transmission, their relative influence fluctuated with serotype changes, particularly with the emergence of Dengue 4 in Vientiane.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study underscores the importance of integrating urban planning, mobility analysis, and public health surveillance to better manage infectious disease risks in rapidly expanding cities. The findings highlight the need for proactive infrastructure investments-particularly ensuring water access-to mitigate dengue risk in newly urbanised areas. Given the persistence of urban factors across different serotype-dominant periods, our results suggest that structural characteristics of the city exert a more consistent influence on dengue transmission than biological factors alone. Future research should adopt a spatiotemporal approach to refine risk models and develop more effective urban health interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0011990"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12169584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144310672","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":"Virological characterization of a new isolated strain of Andes virus involved in the recent person-to-person transmission outbreak reported in Argentina.","authors":"Rocio Coelho, Sebastian Kehl, Natalia Periolo, Emiliano Biondo, Daniel Alonso, Celeste Perez, Darío Fernández Do Porto, Gustavo Palacios, Alexis Edelstein, Carla Bellomo, Valeria Paula Martinez","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>On November 2, 2018, a person-to-person transmission outbreak of Andes virus (Orthohantavirus andesense) began in the small town of Epuyén, Argentina. The strain demonstrated a high capacity for sustained transmission among the human population requiring the implementation of quarantine measures, rigorous contact tracing, isolation of close contacts, and active clinical monitoring to prevent further spread. In this study, we report the isolation of this strain, which we name the ARG-Epuyén strain, directly from a clinical sample after just three passages in cell culture. Complete sequencing revealed only a single amino acid change post-isolation, suggesting that this strain can be considered a non-adapted wild-type Andes virus, marking a critical step toward the development of medical countermeasures against this emerging pathogen. The pathogenicity and transmissibility potential of ARG-Epuyén were evaluated in hamsters, the only animal model for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Additionally, this strain was compared with Andes/ARG, an ANDV strain previously isolated from the same geographical area in the Argentinian Patagonia, from a rodent specimen. Our findings revealed high infectiousness and efficient hamster-to-hamster transmission through direct contact experiments, although ARG-Epuyén appeared to be less pathogenic than Andes/ARG.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013205"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144310687","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":"Knockdown-resistance (kdr) mutations in Indian Aedes aegypti populations: Lack of recombination among haplotypes bearing V1016G, F1534C, and F1534L kdr alleles.","authors":"Taranjeet Kaur, Rajababu S Kushwah, Sabyasachi Pradhan, Manoj K Das, Madhavinadha P Kona, Anushrita, Radhika Mittal, David Weetman, Rajnikant Dixit, Om P Singh","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013126","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene are a key mechanism of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. In Asian Aedes aegypti populations two main VGSC haplogroups with kdr mutations have been identified: one carrying the F1534C mutation and another with V1016G and/or S989P mutations. Previous functional studies have demonstrated that these three mutations on a single haplotype confer up to a 1100-fold increase in pyrethroid resistance, underscoring the importance of monitoring these triple mutations in distinct populations. This study investigates the prevalence of kdr mutations in Indian populations and explores the linkage association between these mutations and two distinct conserved types of introns located between exons 20 and 21.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ae. aegypti specimens collected from eight different locations were genotyped for kdr alleles and intron (between exons 20 and 21) haplotypes using PCR-based assays. Representative samples underwent DNA sequencing of VGSC regions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five kdr mutations namely S989P, V1016G, T1520I, F1534C, and F1534L were identified, each exhibiting varying distribution and frequencies across different geographical regions. Two distinct and stably-diverged intron haplotypes, designated as intron-A and intron-B, were identified between exons 20 and 21. Seven haplotypes, including two wild-type variants, were observed among Indian populations. The kdr-bearing haplotypes can be classified into three distinct haplogroups: haplogroup G (V1016G with/or without S989P and with intron-A), haplogroup L (F1534L and intron-A), and haplogroup C (F1534C with/or without T1520I and with intron-B). Importantly, no evidence of recombination within Indian populations was detected among these three haplogroups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Five kdr mutations were identified in the VGSC of Indian Ae. aegypti populations, each showing a definitive linkage with one of the two types of intron haplotypes. The lack of recombination among haplogroups bearing 1016G with 989P, 1534C and 1534L mutations suggests that the most potent insecticide resistance haplotype, bearing the triple kdr mutation, is currently absent. This finding has significant operational implications, as it may indicate that current vector control measures remain effective against these populations, potentially delaying the emergence of highly resistant phenotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013126"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12165380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289705","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":"Combining country indicators and individual variables to predict soil-transmitted helminth infections among migrant populations: A case study from southern Italy.","authors":"Jana Purkiss, Paola Pepe, Naím Alex Karol Poplawski, Maria Paola Maurelli, Luciano Gualdieri, Laura Rinaldi, Emanuele Giorgi","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012577","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An increase in global migration towards developed countries along with climate change has led to the occurrence of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in otherwise non-endemic countries. In this paper we focus on Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections which disproportionately affect people living in poverty in tropical regions. To reduce the threat of STHs in migrant populations living in non-endemic countries, diagnosis and treatment are paramount but also present logistical challenges. This study investigates how statistical modelling can be used to assist the identification of individuals infected with STHs. Specifically, we show how to combine individual variables (e.g., age, sex and time in Italy) with publicly available country indicators (Human Development Index, Multidimensional Poverty Index and Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index) which describe development in the migrant's country of origin. We combine these indices and their factors in binomial mixed-effects models which can be used to predict the status of STH infections in migrant populations. By presenting a case study on migrants in southern Italy, we assess the relative importance of the individual-level variables and country-level indicators in enhancing the predictive power of the models. The results show that the country-level indices play a more important role but also highlight that individual data can help improve the model performance when combined with the former. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study investigating using country-level indicators to predict parasite infection status of migrants. Our study indicates that statistical models can play an important role in reducing the resources required to identify migrants requiring anthelmintic treatment against STHs and help to make statistically informed decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0012577"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289704","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":"Schistosomiasis and water resources development in Africa: A scoping review and multi-case evaluation of associated snail control.","authors":"May N Sule, Ibrahim El Lahham, Mutinta N Munkombwe, Patricia Nasike, Anouk Gouvras, David Rollinson, Rashid Mbaziira, Comfort Kanshio, Giulio A De Leo","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Water resources development (WRD), specifically infrastructural man-made water bodies such as dams and irrigation schemes, are built to improve water supply, provide energy, and enhance food security. However, dams and irrigation schemes may lead to a dramatic increase in the prevalence of schistosomiasis.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>We conducted a scoping review of WRD impacts on schistosomiasis transmission risk in Africa using electronic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature. From 1483 retrieved records, we assessed 186 full-text papers and identified 122 articles covering 54 dams and irrigation schemes in 32 African countries. We found that, although the relationship between WRD and schistosomiasis transmission risk is well-documented in the scientific literature, the vast majority of the approximately 1,600 medium- to large-sized dams currently operating in endemic regions of Africa lack before-and-after prevalence data necessary to evaluate their actual impact on schistosomiasis transmission. Our analysis revealed that rigorous epidemiological data to assess WRD's effects exist for only 11 dams across 9 countries. Additionally, only a limited number of studies provided information on schistosomiasis control methods, surveillance, or monitoring for WRD. Few countries have implemented engineering and biological snail control measures, some of which have proven effective, enabling us to identify successful interventions employed at various stages of the WRD lifecycle. Lastly, to assess these measures in detail, we selected case studies from Africa that illustrate the success and challenges of schistosomiasis control with regard to WRD, thus gaining insights of the global relevance of lessons learnt for the future development of water resources.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>Our analysis highlighted that an integrated and coordinated approach is vital for the successful control of schistosomiasis transmission risk associated with Water Resources Development. We provide key recommendations which could be adopted by the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) with the ultimate goal of decreasing prevalence and moving towards elimination.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013180"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144286881","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":"Mpox in Africa: What we know and what is still lacking.","authors":"Jia Bainga Kangbai, Umaru Sesay, Ulrich Vickos, Fatmata Kagbanda, Mosoka Papa Fallah, Augustus Osborne","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013148","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emerging as a major global health threat, Mpox previously known as Monkeypox has drawn attention due to a worrying surge in cases. This zoonotic disease, native to Central and West Africa, is marked by fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy and is primarily spread through direct contact with infected animals or people and indirectly through contaminated objects. Recent studies have indicated possible sexual transmission, underscoring how human behavior and environmental changes are increasing its prevalence, even though human-to-human transmission is less efficient than that of smallpox. Mpox is endemic in several African countries, and currently, the infection has spread in non-endemic countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Democratic Republic of Congo is the epicenter of the current Mpox outbreak. From January 1, 2022, to August 6, 2024, sixteen African countries reported Mpox outbreak. Several factors, including population immunity deficiencies and changes to the environment and ecology, have led to the widespread of Mpox in Africa. Challenges such as the fragile healthcare system, limited vaccine availability and access, weak surveillance, and low public awareness poses difficulty in containing the infection in affected countries. Given the potential of Mpox to disrupt several sectors including health systems, which may ultimately reverse progress in achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030. It is imperative for countries, both within and outside Africa, to extend financial aid and human resources to combat the infection effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013148"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144286880","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":"Community surveys of the prevalence, distribution, and coinfection of helminth and protozoan infections in semiurban and rural areas of Gabon, Central Africa.","authors":"Jean Claude Dejon-Agobé, Christian Chassem-Lapue, Paul Alvyn Nguema-Moure, Moustapha Nzamba Maloum, Roméo-Aimé Laclong Lontchi, Mahmoudou Saidou, Ynous Djida, Jean Ronald Edoa, Yabo Josiane Honkpéhèdji, Jeannot Fréjus Zinsou, Bayodé Roméo Adégbitè, Martin Peter Grobusch, Peter Gottfried Kremsner, Ayôla Akim Adegnika","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013161","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Protozoa and helminths cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where an accurate understanding of their epidemiological profile is needed to improve their control. In Gabon, a country endemic for a diverse range of both helminths and protozoa, epidemiological data for protozoa are lacking, whereas updated data for helminths are needed. This study aimed to describe the distribution of helminth and protozoan infections in the Moyen-Ogooué province of Gabon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included individuals aged one year and older living in the study areas for at least one year. The participants were selected via a stratified sampling procedure. Blood, urine, and stool samples, along with sociodemographic data, were collected. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) were diagnosed using the Kato-Katz, coproculture and Harada-Mori techniques. Urogenital schistosomiasis was diagnosed using the urine filtration technique. Intestinal protozoa were diagnosed using the mercurothiolate-iodine-formol technique. Plasmodium spp. and filarial infections were diagnosed by thick blood smear microscopy, and, in addition for filaria, by leucoconcentration technique.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,084 participants were included, with a mean age of 31.6 years (SD: 23.6) and a female-to-male sex ratio of 1.15. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was 36% (95%IC: 33-39), with STHs being most common (21%; 95%CI: 18-23), followed by schistosomiasis (11%; 95%CI: 8 - 13) and filariasis (9%; 95%CI: 7-10). The most prevalent STH species were Trichuris trichiura (11%; 95%CI: 10-14), followed by hookworm (9%; 95%CI: 8-11). The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. was 13% (95%CI: 11-15), and the overall prevalence of intestinal protozoa was 28% (95%CI: 25-31), with Blastocystis hominis (11%; 95%CI: 9-13) and Entamoeba coli (8%; 95%CI: 7-10) being the most common intestinal protozoan species. Coinfections with multiple parasite species were observed in 42% of the infected participants, predominantly involving T. trichiura, Schistosoma haematobium, and Plasmodium spp. infection prevalence varied with age, gender, location, and occupation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reveals a moderate prevalence of helminths and protozoa in our community, with age, gender, and location playing a significant role in their distribution, as do common coinfections between helminths and protozoa. These findings call for further research to provide valuable insights for controlling helminth transmission in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013161"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161571/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144286878","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":"Broad geographical circulation of a novel vesiculovirus in bats in the Mediterranean region.","authors":"Dong-Sheng Luo, Markéta Harazim, Corinne Maufrais, Simon Bonas, Natalia Martinkova, Aude Lalis, Emmanuel Nakouné, Edgard Valéry Adjogoua, Mory Douno, Blaise Kadjo, Marc López-Roig, Jiri Pikula, Zheng-Li Shi, Hervé Bourhy, Jordi Serra-Cobo, Laurent Dacheux","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bats are the natural reservoirs for a variety of emerging and re-emerging viruses. Among them, rabies virus (genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae) is one of the first and most emblematic described in these animals. Since its first description, several new bat lyssaviruses have been regularly identified. In addition to lyssaviruses, other bat rhabdoviruses have also been discovered, including members of the genera Vesiculovirus, Ledantevirus and, more recently, Alphanemrhavirus and Tupavirus. However, the family Rhabdoviridae is one of the most abundant and diverse viral families, with 434 officially recognized species, divided into 5 subfamilies and 56 different genera. The number of rhabdoviruses associated with bats is therefore probably higher than that currently available. In this study, we first developed and validated a combined nested RT-qPCR technique (pan-rhabdo RT-nqPCR) dedicated to the broad detection of animal rhabdoviruses. After validation, this technique was used for a large retrospective screening of archival bat samples (n = 1962), including blood (n = 816), brain (n = 723) and oral swab (n = 423). These samples were collected from various bat species over a 12-year period (2007-2019) in 9 different countries in Europe and Africa. A total of 23 samples (1.2%) from bat species Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus euryale and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum tested positive for rhabdovirus infection, including 17 (2.1%) blood and 6 (1.4%) oral swab samples, all collected from bats originating from the Mediterranean region. Complete virus genome sequences were obtained by next-generation sequencing for most of the positive samples. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of these sequences demonstrated that these virus isolates, named Mediterranean bat virus (MBV), were closely related and represented a new species, Mediterranean vesiculovirus, within the Vesiculovirus genus. MBV was more specifically related to other bat vesiculoviruses previously described from China and North America, together clustering into a distinct group of bat viruses within this genus. Interestingly, our results suggest that MBV is widespread, at least in the western part of the Mediterranean region, where it circulates in the blood of several bat species. These results expand the host range and viral diversity of bat vesiculoviruses, and pave the way for further studies to determine the transmission route and dissemination dynamics of these viruses in bat colonies, as well as to assess their potential threat to public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013172"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144286877","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":"Does schistosome infection affect behavior through the gut-brain axis?","authors":"Leigh Combrink, Johannie M Spaan, Alexis Perret, Thomas Maehara, Britney Hyun, Dana Parker, Jennifer L Johns, Michael S Blouin, Kathy Magnusson, Michelle L Steinauer","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitic helminths infect over 2 billion people, primarily those living in poverty. Helminth infections typically establish in early childhood and persist through critical periods of growth and development, leading to cognitive deficits and/or behavioral changes. These deficits could result from the helminths themselves or due to dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and its influence on the gut-brain axis. Using two cohorts of 3-week-old female mice, we measured levels of anxiety, fear, compulsion, spatial learning, and spatial memory, between schistosome-infected and sham-exposed mice. Additionally, we compared their fecal microbiomes using 16S rRNA gene sequencing at two time points during the chronic stage of infection. Schistosome-infected mice showed higher levels of anxiety in the open field test, reduced spatial learning in the Morris water maze task, and enhanced memory retention in the novel object task. All mice performed equally on the marble bury task. Each cohort started with unique microbiota which showed marked changes in the beta diversity of their microbiota after exposure. In both cohorts, at 7- weeks post exposure, infected mice had more Alistipes sp. and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and less Turicibacter sp. and Ligilactobacillus sp. than uninfected mice. At 10 weeks, infected mice had more Alistipes sp. and fewer Muribaculaceae sp. Interestingly, taxon shifts in infected mice were those typically associated with protective effects on liver disease and IL-10 gut conditions, suggesting a possible protective role of the shifted microbiome. Our analyses did not indicate associations between behavioral measures and microbiome composition; however, this could be due to the strong impact of infection on the microbiome composition. Findings here uncover behavioral and cognitive impacts of schistosome infection and shed light on the complex interplay between schistosome infection, behavioral changes, and host microbiome composition, which could ultimately support future global health efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 6","pages":"e0013088"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144286879","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}