PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases最新文献

{"title":"The transdisciplinary research process and participatory research approaches used in the field of neglected tropical diseases: A scoping review.","authors":"Norana Abdul Rahman, Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, George L Burchell, Karen Morgan, Mohamed Rusli Abdullah, Marjolein B M Zweekhorst, Ruth M H Peters","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012959","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012959","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) comprise a group of twenty diverse diseases or conditions that pose significant public health challenges and adversely impact the quality of life of affected individuals. NTDs are characterised by interconnected biological, social, and environmental factors, which complicate their effective management and eradication. Collaborative research, such as transdisciplinary research (TDR) and participatory approaches that engage scientific, societal, and non-academic stakeholders in co-creating action-driven solutions offer promising strategies to address NTDs. These approaches bridge scientific research with community practices, ensuring evidence-based, contextually relevant interventions. Despite their potential, the application of these approaches in addressing NTDs remains underexplored. This scoping review explores the utilisation of TDR and participatory research approaches to address NTD-related challenges.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL, following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Data extraction and analysis were performed using JBI SUMARI software, focusing on peer-reviewed published literature reporting the use of TDR and participatory approaches in NTDs, with an emphasis on individual and community perspectives.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review examined seventeen articles from Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia, highlighting the increasing use of TDR and participatory approaches to address common NTDs such as leprosy, schistosomiasis, rabies, Buruli ulcer, and trypanosomiasis. These approaches engaged diverse stakeholders to develop practical, community-oriented solutions. Key strategies included enhancing public awareness, improving screening programmes, and implementing measures to control NTDs. However, challenges such as fragmented strategies and weak health systems hindered efforts to reduce the burden of NTDs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TDR and participatory approaches contribute to a holistic approach in addressing and managing NTD-related challenges by engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering a comprehensive understanding of community needs and on-the-ground realities. The findings demonstrate their effectiveness in translating evidence-informed knowledge into actionable interventions to benefit affected individuals and their communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 4","pages":"e0012959"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765461","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":"The global, regional, and national burden of Invasive Non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS): An analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.","authors":"Yunjuan He, Qingqing Jia, Kang Cai, Shanshan Xu, Huajun Li, Qiuling Xie, Yushu Qiu, Liya Zhang, Xianting Jiao","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012960","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012960","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Invasive Non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) can cause serious, life-threatening, and invasive infections, posing great challenges to public health. We aimed to systematically review the burden of iNTS disease based on Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We extracted data for the incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) associated with iNTS from GBD 2021, providing an overview of its epidemiology while examining trends from 1990 to 2021. Additionally, we decomposed changes of iNTS-related burden, and quantified cross-country inequalities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GBD 2021 estimated 509976(95%UI,413361 to 606167) incident cases of iNTS worldwide in 2021, with the most cases and highest age-standardized rate (ASR) in Western Sub-Saharan Africa. The low SDI region had the most cases of iNTS in 2021. The incidence and DALYs rates were highest in the Low SDI region. Among all age groups, the incidence, death, and DALYs rate of iNTS were primarily concentrated among the following age groups: <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and 15-19 years. The highest rates were observed in the <1-year group. The results of joinpoint regression analysis revealed that the global burden of iNTS increased overall from 1990 to 2005, followed by notable decrease from 2005 to 2021 at varying rates. Decomposition analysis found that population growth (103.93%) and epidemiological change (48.34%) were responsible for motivating the changes in iNTS global burden. Cross-country inequality analysis revealed that the SDI-related inequalities were moderated from 1990 to 2021.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The global burden of iNTS is still high, and the distribution patterns vary across different countries and territories. The global burden of iNTS was primarily noteworthy among children and adolescents, with the highest burden among infants. The changes in the iNTS burden were primarily driven by population growth and epidemic transition. Despite varying iNTS burdens across different SDI regions, SDI-related inequalities across countries became moderated gradually over time. This study reported the global disease burden and temporal trends of iNTS disease, and underscores the need for age- and region-specific strategies to mitigate the corresponding global burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 4","pages":"e0012960"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765533","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":"Dynamics of anti-Strongyloides IgG antibody responses and implications for strongyloidiasis surveillance in rural Amazonians: A population-based panel data analysis.","authors":"Fabiana M de Paula, Bruna B Gomes, Dirce Mary C L Meisel, Mônica da-Silva Nunes, Carlos E Cavasini, Kézia K G Scopel, Ronaldo C B Gryschek, Marcelo U Ferreira","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012967","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012967","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human strongyloidiasis was recently incorporated into the World Health Organization roadmap for neglected tropical diseases targeted for control in 2021-2030. However, the prevalence, incidence, and clinical burden of Strongyloides stercoralis infection remain understudied in remote communities across the Amazon due to its chronic nature, usually with absent or unspecific clinical manifestations, and the lack of practical and sensitive diagnostics for large-scale use. Here, we apply repeated antibody testing to estimate the prevalence of anti-Strongyloides IgG responses and identify incident infections in five farming settlements in the Amazonas State of Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>We used an in-house enzyme immunoassay, with a S. venezuelensis larval extract as the solid-phase antigen, to detect specific IgG antibodies in 898 plasma samples collected during consecutive cross-sectional surveys over 4 years from 426 study participants aged >3 months, with an average of 35.9 years. Overall, 465 (51.8%) samples tested positive. However, only two infections that had been detected by fecal microscopy at survey 1 (March-May 2010) were treated with ivermectin. Antibody prevalence rose from 45.9% in 2010 to 61.1% in 2013, consistent with an increased (re)exposure to infective larvae over time. On average, there were 24.5 seroconversion events (a proxy of recent exposure to infection) per 100 person-years of follow-up, with 18.1 seroreversion events per 100 person-years. Nearly all participants with high antibody levels (i.e., above the median absorbance of seropositive tests) remained seropositive over the next years, with a single instance of high-to-nil antibody transition. Long-lasting high-level IgG responses were most likely due to frequent re-exposure to infective S. stercoralis larvae, chronic carriage of adult worms in the absence of treatment, or both. Conversely, over one-third of participants with low anti-Strongyloides antibody levels had transient IgG responses and seroreversed within 12 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>The results support the use of repeated antibody testing for monitoring temporal changes in S. stercoralis transmission in remote populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 4","pages":"e0012967"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764384","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":"Schistosoma mansoni x S. haematobium hybrids frequently infecting sub-Saharan migrants in southeastern Europe: Egg DNA genotyping assessed by RD-PCR, sequencing and cloning.","authors":"Alejandra De Elías-Escribano, Patricio Artigas, Joaquín Salas-Coronas, María Pilar Luzon-Garcia, Marta Reguera-Gomez, María Isabel Cabeza-Barrera, José Vázquez-Villegas, Jerôme Boissier, Santiago Mas-Coma, María Dolores Bargues","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012942","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012942","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Globalization and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are increasingly closely linked. In recent years, Spain and Southern Europe are experiencing a considerable increase in the influx of migrants infected by NTDs, mainly from West African countries. This study focuses on imported schistosomiasis and the entry into Europe of hetero-specific hybrids between two human species, Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium, causing intestinal and urogenital schistosomiasis respectively.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>Individualized genetic identification by molecular analysis using RD-PCR, sequencing and cloning of nuclear rDNA and mtDNA of 134 Schistosoma eggs was performed, including 41 lateral-spined and 84 terminal-spined eggs from urine, and nine lateral-spined eggs from stools. These eggs were recovered from six migrant males from Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali, who shared ectopic shedding of S. mansoni-like eggs in their urine. A high hybridization complexity was detected in the eggs of these patients, involving three Schistosoma species. The six patients were infected by S. mansoni x S. haematobium hybrids shedding S. mansoni-like eggs, and also S. haematobium x S. curassoni hybrids shedding S. haematobium-like eggs. SmxSh hybrids were mostly detected in S. mansoni-like eggs from urine (94.59%), whereas in feces the detection of those hybrids was less frequent (5.41%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>This study contributes to: (i) a better understanding of the heterospecific hybrids between S. mansoni and S. haematobium from the genetic point of view; (ii) it shows the frequency with which they are entering non-endemic countries, such as Spain and consequently in Europe; (iii) it determines the diversity of hybrid eggs and haplotypes that can occur within a single patient, e.g., up to two types of hybrids involving three Schistosoma species and up to six different haplotypes; (iv) it provides information to be considered in clinical presentations, diagnosis, responses to treatment and epidemiological impact in relation to possible transmission and establishment in non-endemic areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012942"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755341","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":"Prevalence, patterns and determinants of peripheral neuropathy among leprosy patients in Northeast Ethiopia: A retrospective study.","authors":"Endris Seid Muhaba, Soressa Abebe Geneti, Dereje Melka, Seid Mohammed Abdu","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012944","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). Leprosy is believed to have originated initially in Eastern African regions and spread worldwide through the migration of people. Leprosy causes skin and nerve infections. It has been investigated that the Hansen's bacillus, M. leprae, predominantly targets peripheral nerves.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>The present study reviewed charts of 380 patients with complete records fulfilling the inclusion criteria. An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed. The study was conducted at Boru meda General Hospital, located in the South Wollo zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia from September 2019 to August 2021. In the current study, the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among leprosy patients is found to be 60%. Male sex, advanced age, presence of leprosy reactions, presence of more than four skin lesions, longer duration of the disease, and MB leprosy were the risk factors associated with leprosy peripheral neuropathy. Sensory impairment was the most common presentation followed by motor impairment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>In Ethiopia, data is scarce regarding the prevalence, pattern and determinants of leprosy peripheral neuropathy. Hence, this study was intended to assess the prevalence, pattern and determinants of leprosy peripheral neuropathy. The result of this study would be served as an important input to develop recommendations that inform some clues for future researchers in this area. This study showed high prevalence of leprosy peripheral neuropathy among registered leprosy patients reflecting how much significant the study is.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012944"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755340","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":"The genetic trail of the invasive mosquito species Aedes koreicus from the east to the west of Northern Italy.","authors":"Laura Soresinetti, Giovanni Naro, Irene Arnoldi, Andrea Mosca, Katja Adam, Heung Chul Kim, Terry A Klein, Francesco Gradoni, Fabrizio Montarsi, Claudio Bandi, Sara Epis, Paolo Gabrieli","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aedes koreicus is native to Far East Asia and recorded in Europe since 2008. In Italy, Ae. koreicus is widespread throughout the Northern part of the peninsula, highlighting its invasive potential and spread. However, no clear clues about the dispersal patterns of the species have been collected so far.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>Population genetic analyses were performed to assess the genetic structure of populations of Ae. koreicus and to make hypotheses about its dispersal patterns in Northern Italy. Ten microsatellite markers specific for Ae. koreicus were used to genotype 414 individuals from 13 populations in the pre-alpine area of Italy, and neighboring Slovenia. Basic and Bayesian population genetic analyses were performed to evaluate patterns of genetic variation, genetic structure, and demography of selected mosquito populations. While presenting a certain degree of structuring, the Italian and Slovenian populations of Ae. koreicus were poorly differentiated. Moreover, demographic analysis supports the expansion of a single population propagule of Ae. koreicus in Italy and Slovenia and provides evidence of the presence of overwintering populations in the studied area.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>Our results highlight a common origin, and stable colonization of Northern Italy and Slovenia, as a probable consequence of the expansion of a unique population. This stresses out the importance of continuous monitoring of Ae. koreicus, to finally uncover the geographic origins and entrance pathways of invasive populations and to prevent or limit further introductions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012945"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755343","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":"Microplanning improves stakeholders' perceived capacity and engagement to implement lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration.","authors":"Caitlin M Worrell, Tara A Brant, Alain Javel, Eurica Denis, Carl Fayette, Franck Monestime, Ellen Knowles, Cudjoe Bennett, Jürg Utzinger, Peter Odermatt, Jean-Frantz Lemoine","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Achieving adequate mass drug administration (MDA) coverage for lymphatic filariasis is challenging. We sought to improve stakeholder engagement in MDA planning and increase subsequent MDA coverage through a series of microplanning workshops.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Prior to the 2018 MDA, Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) and partners conducted 10 stakeholder microplanning workshops in metropolitan Port-au-Prince. The objectives of the workshops were to identify and address gaps in geographic coverage of supervision areas (SAs); review past MDA performance and propose strategies to improve access to MDA; and review roles and responsibilities of MDA personnel through increased stakeholder engagement. Retrospective pre-testing was employed to assess the effectiveness of the workshops. Participants used a 5-point scale to rank their understanding of past performance, SA boundaries, roles and responsibilities, and their perceived engagement by MSPP. Participants simultaneously ranked their previous year's attitudes and their attitudes about MDA following the 2-day microplanning workshop. Changes in pre- and post-scores were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.</p><p><strong>Principal findings: </strong>A total of 356 stakeholders across five communes participated in the workshops. Participants conducted various planning activities, including revising SA boundaries to ensure full geographic reach of MDA, proposing or validating social mobilization strategies, and proposing other MDA improvements. Compared with previous year rankings, the workshops increased participant understanding of past performance by 1.34 points (standard deviation [SD] = 1.05, p <0.001); SA boundaries by 1.14 points (SD = 1.30; p <0.001); their roles and responsibilities by 0.71 points (SD = 0.95, p <0.001); and sense of engagement by 1.03 points (SD = 1.08, p <0.001). Additionally, compared with 2017, drug coverage increased in all five communes during the 2018 MDA.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong></p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012105"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755339","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":"Transcriptional and cytokine signatures of Mycobacterium abscessus complex pulmonary disease during disease progression and treatment.","authors":"Ayesa Syenina, Yi Hern Tan, Danny Jian Hang Tng, Sandy Xue Qi Sim, Valerie Shyn Yun Chew, Jia Xin Yee, Eugenia Ziying Ong, Eng Eong Ooi, Jenny Guek Hong Low, Dorothy Hui Lin Ng","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012943","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012943","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mycobacterium abscessus complex pulmonary disease (MABC-PD) is a chronic and often relapsing disease with considerable morbidity, especially among individuals with other chronic pulmonary conditions. A major clinical challenge lies in distinguishing infection-related symptoms from underlying lung disease and identifying reliable prognosticators to guide treatment decisions and monitoring therapeutic response.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>To address the gaps in clinically relevant indicators, we profiled whole blood transcriptome and 45 plasma proteins of MABC-PD patients across different disease and treatment phases. Whole blood bulk RNA-sequencing revealed that MABC-PD patients with progressive disease exhibited elevated expression of genes related to innate immune and inflammatory responses, with reduced abundance of genes associated with peripheral T and NK cells. Among the 45 plasma cytokines and chemokines profiled, plasma levels of TNFSF10 were significantly reduced, while IFNγ, interleukin-17F (IL17F) and IL17C were elevated in patients with disease progression, despite the reduced abundance of peripheral T and NK cell-associated genes, suggesting recruitment of activated T cells to infection sites in the lungs during disease progression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of IFNγ and IL17F demonstrated strong predictive performance for differentiating patients with disease progression from healthy controls, with AUCs of 0.946 (95% CI 0.829-1.000) and 0.875 (95% CI 0.6699-1), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings provide insights into the immune profiles of MABC-PD patients during disease progression and suggest that T cell-associated cytokines, such as IFNγ and IL17F, could serve as useful biomarkers for identifying those under watchful waiting or post-treatment who are at risk of disease progression, thereby aiding in more timely and targeted therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012943"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755344","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":"Spatial proteomics of Onchocerca volvulus with pleomorphic neoplasms shows local and systemic dysregulation of protein expression.","authors":"Lucia S Di Maggio, Kerstin Fischer, Bruce A Rosa, Devyn Yates, Byoung-Kyu Cho, Jessica Lukowski, Antonia Zamacona Calderon, Minsoo Son, Young Ah Goo, Nicholas O Opoku, Gary J Weil, Makedonka Mitreva, Peter U Fischer","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012929","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012929","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Onchocerca volvulus is the agent of onchocerciasis (river blindness) and targeted by WHO for elimination though mass drug administration with ivermectin. A small percentage of adult female worms develop pleomorphic neoplasms (PN) which occur more frequently after ivermectin treatment. Worms with PN have a lower life expectancy and improved understanding of proteins expressed in PN and their impact on different tissues could help elucidate the mechanisms of macrofilaricidal activity of ivermectin. Within paraffin embedded nodules removed after ivermectin treatment, we detected 24 (5.6%) O. volvulus females with PN. To assess the protein inventory of the PN and identify proteins potentially linked with tumor development, we used laser capture microdissection and highly sensitive mass spectrometry analysis. Three female worms were used to compare the protein profiles of three tissue types (body wall, uterus, and intestine) to the PN, and then to healthy female worms without PN. The healthy females showed all normal embryogenesis. In PN worms, 151 proteins were detected in the body wall, 215 proteins in the intestine, 47 proteins in the uterus and 1,577 proteins in the PN. Only the uterus of one PN female with some stretched intrauterine microfilariae had an elevated number of proteins (601) detectable, while in the uteri of the healthy females 1,710 proteins were detected. Even in tissues that were not directly affected by PN (intestine, body wall), fewer proteins were detected compared to the corresponding tissue of the healthy controls. Immunolocalization of calcium binding protein OvDig-1 (OVOC8391), which was identified through mass spectrometry as one of the proteins with the highest spectral counts in the PN tissue triplicates, allowed us to confirm the results using an independent method. In conclusion we identified proteins that are potentially linked to the development of PN, and systemic dysregulation of protein expression may contribute to worm mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012929"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755342","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":"Model-Based Geostatistical Mapping of the Prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus in Cameroon between 1971 and 2020.","authors":"Yannick Niamsi-Emalio, Hugues C Nana-Djeunga, Claudio Fronterrè, Himal Shrestha, Georges B Nko'Ayissi, Théophile M Mpaba Minkat, Joseph Kamgno, María-Gloria Basáñez","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012250","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0012250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>After the closure of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) in 2015, the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon has continued implementing annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) in endemic areas. The World Health Organization has proposed that 12 countries be verified for elimination (interruption) of transmission by 2030. Using Rapid Epidemiological Mapping of Onchocerciasis, a baseline geostatistical map of nodule (onchocercoma) prevalence had been generated for APOC countries, indicating high initial endemicity in most regions of Cameroon. After more than two decades of CDTI, infection prevalence remains high in some areas. This study aimed at mapping the spatio-temporal evolution of Onchocerca volvulus prevalence from 1971 to 2020 to: i) identify such areas; ii) indicate where alternative and complementary interventions are most needed to accelerate elimination, and iii) improve the projections of transmission models.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A total of 1,404 georeferenced (village-level) prevalence surveys were obtained from published articles; the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases portal for Cameroon; independent researchers and grey literature. These data were used together with bioclimatic layers to generate model-based geostatistical (MBG) maps of microfilarial prevalence for 1971-2000; 2001-2010 and 2011-2020.</p><p><strong>Principal findings: </strong>Time-period was negatively and statistically significantly associated with prevalence. In 1971-2000 and 2001-2010, prevalence levels were high in most regions and ≥60% in some areas. Mean predicted prevalence declined in 2011-2020, reaching <20% in most areas, but data for this period were sparse, leading to substantial uncertainty. Hotspots were identified in South West, Littoral and Centre regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>Our results are broadly consistent with recent MBG studies and can be used to intensify onchocerciasis control and elimination efforts in areas with persisting transmission, providing spatio-temporal prevalence trends to which transmission models can be fitted to improve projections of onchocerciasis elimination by 2030 and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"19 3","pages":"e0012250"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143736138","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}