PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of mass dog vaccination campaign in Techiman, Ghana.","authors":"Prince Kyere Dwaah, Sylvia Afriyie Squire, Nana Yaa Awua-Boateng, Denis Dekugmen Yar, David Kando, Abraham Num, Princess Amissah, Helen Djang-Fordjour","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Across Sub-Saharan Africa, implementation of mass dog vaccination programmes is frequently constrained by inconsistent vaccine procurement, financing limitations, cold-chain requirements, and weaknesses in distribution systems, rather than complete vaccine unavailability. Achieving and sustaining at least 70% vaccination coverage in dog populations is widely recognized as essential for interrupting transmission; however, there is limited operational evidence from municipal campaigns conducted in rapidly urbanizing, resource-constrained settings. We evaluated the implementation and outcomes of a One Health-coordinated free mass dog rabies vaccination campaign conducted in September 2024 in Techiman South Metropolitan, Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A mixed-methods post-campaign assessment was undertaken two weeks after campaign completion. Quantitative data were collected from 200 dog-owning households using structured questionnaires, and administrative vaccination records were reviewed to estimate overall coverage. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted with veterinary officers, public health professionals, environmental health personnel, and community leaders involved in campaign delivery. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize household participation and awareness indicators, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically.</p><p><strong>Principal findings: </strong>Among surveyed households, 59.5% owned more than one dog and 51.5% reported vaccinating at least one dog during the campaign. Awareness that rabies is fatal increased from 45% (self-reported pre-campaign recall) to 75% after the campaign period, while awareness that rabies is preventable increased from 40% to 70%. Administrative records indicated that approximately 5,600 dogs were vaccinated, corresponding to an estimated 70% metropolitan-level coverage based on projected dog population figures. Participants identified strong multisectoral collaboration and World Rabies Day mobilization as key facilitators. Implementation barriers included vaccine supply delays, limited cold-chain capacity, inadequate access for peri-urban communities, and the absence of strategies to vaccinate free-roaming dogs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>The evaluation demonstrated that the Techiman mass dog vaccination campaign achieved administrative vaccination coverage exceeding the internationally recommended threshold while identifying implementation barriers that may influence effective population immunity. The findings highlight the importance of improving vaccine logistics, expanding access to peri-urban communities, strengthening monitoring systems, and incorporating strategies for vaccinating free-roaming dogs during future campaigns.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014080"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13638042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117140","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":"First record of Phlebotomus sergenti (Diptera: Psychodidae) in China and its potential epidemiological implications.","authors":"Haowei Dong, Anjie Yang, Wenqi Shan, Chunyan Zhao, Xiangyu Li, Bing Rui, Jiangshan Zhao, Maimaitijiang Wumaier, Heng Peng, Yajun Ma","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014726","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leishmaniasis is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by sand fly bites. Phlebotomus sergenti is a principal vector of Leishmania tropica, causing anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) across the Mediterranean, North Africa, South Asia, and West Asia. The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, located in northwestern China, is a well-recognized endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), with sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis cases also documented in the region. Nevertheless, Ph. sergenti has never been reported in China prior to this study.</p><p><strong>Methodology/principal findings: </strong>Field investigations were carried out in Artux City (July 2023) and Akto County (August-September 2024), Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Sand flies were collected using light traps in livestock pens and residential areas. A total of 2,013 sand fly specimens were collected and 319 of them were identified through morphological examination of the pharynx, spermathecae, and genitalia, combined with molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes. Among the identified specimens, 145 specimens were identified as Ph. sergenti (36 from Artux City, 109 from Akto County), representing the first record of this species in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI and Cyt b sequences showed that Chinese Ph. sergenti populations clustered with those from neighboring countries (e.g., Afghanistan), with no significant genetic differentiation between the two sampling localities. Metagenomic screening of pooled samples revealed the presence of Wolbachia endosymbionts but no detection of Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp. or Bartonella spp. in the collected Ph. sergenti specimens.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/significance: </strong>This study represents the first confirmed record of Ph. sergenti in China, filling a critical gap in the distribution map of this medically important sand fly species. The occurrence of Ph. sergenti at the China-Kyrgyzstan border region suggests potential transboundary dispersal of this vector and underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and cross-border collaborative efforts to monitor the spread of leishmaniasis and other vector-borne diseases in Central Asia.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014726"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652333/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117123","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":"Novel environmental risk index reveals uneven impact of climate change on fascioliasis risk across Africa and Europe.","authors":"Tiem van der Deure, Samson Mukaratirwa, Moses Chimbari, Agrippa Dube, Tawanda Manyangadze, Mita Eva Sengupta, Safari Kinunghi, Rubens Mita, Julia Walker, Bryan O Nyawanda, David Nogués-Bravo, Anna-Sofie Stensgaard","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013821","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fascioliasis, a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, poses a significant threat to livestock and human health globally. Climate change is altering the transmission dynamics of this disease; however, the direction and magnitude of this change remain uncertain due to a lack of mechanistically grounded predictions at continental scale. In this study, we developed a novel risk index to assess how climate change may affect the potential for fascioliasis transmission across Africa and Europe. The index integrates the following three components that together capture the environmental requirements for Fasciola transmission: the temperature dependence of the parasite transmission; climatic suitability for the snail intermediate host; and availability of freshwater habitats. To estimate these components, we used data from published experimental studies, thousands of snail occurrence records, and both mechanistic and correlative modelling approaches. We predict that climate change will generally reduce fascioliasis risk across most of the ranges of the two investigated liver fluke species, albeit with marked geographical differences. The transmission risk of F. gigantica is predicted to decrease in the Sahel and West Africa, due to above-optimal temperatures for parasite transmission and climatic suitability for the intermediate hosts. However, risk for F. hepatica transmission is projected to increase in parts of Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and Iceland, where livestock densities are high. We also find that the potential for hybridization between F. hepatica and F. gigantica may decline due to reduced geographic overlap in areas that are highly suitable for transmission. By providing a scalable, ecologically informed framework for predicting fascioliasis risk under climate change, this study lays the groundwork for improved local risk assessment. Our risk index focuses on the environmentally sensitive components of the Fasciola life cycle and thus does not account for other important factors such as local farming practices and vertebrate host densities. Despite this caveat, our results provide a more nuanced perspective on the potential impact of climate change on fascioliasis transmission, showing that this will be highly uneven across Africa and Europe.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0013821"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117197","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":"The effect of ULV-based mosquito control on target and non-target organisms in Hungary: An experimental field study.","authors":"László Zsolt Garamszegi, Gergely Nagy, Ágnes Klein, Tamara Szentiványi, Zsóka Vásárhelyi, Gábor Markó, Sándor Zsebők, Zoltán Soltész","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014140","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ultra-low volume (ULV) insecticide spraying with deltamethrin as the active ingredient is widely used in mosquito control programs, yet its effectiveness against target mosquitoes and its ecological side effects remain poorly quantified under field conditions in Central Europe. Here, we experimentally evaluated the short-term impact of ground ULV spraying (using deltamethrin + Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium extract) on both mosquito populations and non-target flying insects in Hungary using a paired before-after-control-impact (BACI) design. Mosquitoes were sampled with BG Sentinel traps, while non-target insects were collected using malaise traps. ULV treatment resulted in a significant reduction in mosquito abundance at treated sites, with an average decline of approximately 47%. Native and invasive mosquito species, including Aedes albopictus and Aedes koreicus, showed similar proportional decreases. However, treatment effectiveness varied substantially among sites and was influenced by initial mosquito abundance and wind conditions. In parallel, malaise trap samples revealed a marked decline in non-target flying insects, with reductions exceeding 40% across multiple taxonomic groups, particularly among small and medium-sized insects, and also when considering pollinator taxa together. Our results indicate that while ULV spraying can temporarily reduce mosquito abundance, it also imposes considerable short-term impacts on non-target insect communities, highlighting trade-offs between vector control and insect conservation within mosquito management programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014140"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657401/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117216","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":"Medication adherence and its determinants among Brucellosis patients in China: A multi-center follow-up study.","authors":"Qiaoshan Lu, Huijie Qin, Shijian Zhou, Sihan Li, Junyuan Chen, Qiulan Chen, Xianyan Tang","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014741","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014741","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Brucellosis patients in China face challenges in adhering to prescribed oral medication regimens during home-based treatment. Improving adherence is critical for disease control and relapse prevention. However, systematic studies on medication adherence and its determinants among Chinese brucellosis patients remain scarce. This study aimed to assess medication adherence and identify its multilevel determinants in this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multi-center study was conducted across six prefectures in China from December 2019 to August 2021. Demographic and clinical data were collected via questionnaires and medical records. Medication adherence was evaluated using the Chinese Morisky-8 Medication Adherence Scale (C-MMAS-8) at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. Multilevel logistic regression models were employed to identify determinants of adherence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 820 enrolled patients, 801 (49.49 ± 11.51 years) and 426 (50.81 ± 11.11 years) completed follow-ups at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. Adherence scores declined significantly from 8 (IQRs: 5.75-8), (53.18% optimal adherent) at 6 weeks to 7 (IQRs: 5.5-8), (41.31% optimal adherent) at 12 weeks (P < 0.01). Quality of life scores correlated positively with adherence scores at both follow-ups ([Formula: see text]=0.28 and 0.21; P < 0.01). Compared with inner Mongolia, medication adherence in Xinjiang (OR=2.14, 95% CI: 1.01-4.51, P < 0.05) and Shandong (OR=2.94, 95% CI: 1.41-6.15, P < 0.01) was significantly high. Key determinants included social support (OR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.11), prior brucellosis episodes (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.18-0.99), and concomitant use of hepatoprotective medications (OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.23-0.67).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Nearly half of brucellosis patients exhibited sub-optimal medication adherence, with adherence declining over time and significantly regional difference in optimal adherence. Enhancing social support, prioritizing patients with prior infection history for tailored education, and ensuring safe and rational medication use represent key strategies to improve adherence. Tailored interventions incorporating these elements are urgently needed to optimize disease management and reduce the risk of chronicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014741"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637894/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117204","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":"Biosafety of rabies virus and related lyssaviruses: Risks, precautions, and knowledge gaps in diagnostic and research laboratories.","authors":"Stuart D Blacksell, Khanh Kim Le, Paola De Benedictis, Morgane Gourlaouen","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014757","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014757","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lyssaviruses cause rabies in mammals, a viral encephalomyelitis that is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms develop and can be transmitted to humans. Given this high fatality rate, strict biosafety measures are essential during laboratory handling of potentially infectious materials. This review critically assesses current biosafety practices in rabies diagnostic and research laboratories by examining principal risk factors, transmission pathways, and the effectiveness of existing preventive measures. We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on biosafety risks associated with handling rabies virus and related lyssaviruses, including the use of personal protective equipment, sample handling procedures, and chemical and physical methods for virus inactivation. Particular attention was given to documented cases of laboratory-acquired rabies and their implications for laboratory safety. Although laboratory-acquired infections remain rare, their occurrence highlights important gaps in current biosafety practices. The effectiveness of disinfection and inactivation methods varies widely, especially in resource-limited settings, and key diagnostic procedures, such as the direct fluorescent antibody test, require validation under biosafety constraints. Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding infectious dose, the effectiveness of decontamination methods, and diagnostic standardisation. Strengthening evidence-based biosafety protocols and validating inactivation methods are essential to ensure safer rabies diagnostics and to support effective rabies control, particularly in low-resource settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014757"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13638037/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117076","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":"Socioeconomic risk factors and human immunosuppressive conditions are major drivers of human leishmaniasis in southern Europe.","authors":"Danyang Wang, Kevin D Matson, Anouschka R Hof, Eduardo Berriatua, Carla Maia, Federica Bruno, Germano Castelli, Pedro Pérez Cutillas, Jose Risueño Iranzo, Elena Verdú Serrano, Fabrizio Vitale, Ângela Xufre, Frank van Langevelde","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014787","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014787","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leishmaniasis is endemic in southern Europe with high risks of outbreaks and geographical spread. However, the risk factors for human leishmaniasis are understudied in this region.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>To evaluate these risk factors, we tested associations between leishmaniasis incidence and an array of variables related to socioeconomics, immunocompetence, climate, land use, biodiversity, and ecology (i.e., the pathogen and its vectors and reservoirs).</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Socioeconomic factors, such as demography, occupation, and housing conditions, were strongly associated with leishmaniasis incidence in endemic regions. The specific factors and the magnitude of their impacts varied among the five countries studied. Human immunosuppressive condition was highly correlated with leishmaniasis risk in Spain and Italy. Climate likely delineated leishmaniasis-free regions from endemic regions in France. Our results suggest that climate change alone may not drive the spread of leishmaniasis within this century. Pathogen hazard and reservoir abundance affected leishmaniasis risk more than vector hazard in countries where data were available. Biodiversity was weakly, negatively related to leishmaniasis.</p><p><strong>Significance: </strong>Our results highlight the importance of socioeconomic risk factors and immunosuppression for human leishmaniasis, suggesting potential implications for disease control and prevention policies. Surveillance of Leishmania spp. in humans, vectors, and reservoirs; assessment of reservoir abundance; and data accessibility are crucial for disease prevention and preparedness. Because of possible biodiversity regulation, efforts to understand and control leishmaniasis could benefit from a One Health approach that involves epidemiologists, social scientists, and ecologists, among others.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014787"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13649131/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117302","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":"Mycobacterium leprae infection, Hansen's disease, and helminth infections: A cross-sectional study in southeastern Brazil.","authors":"Audra Bass, Heloine Leite, Lorena B P Oliveira, Emma Nedell, Pedro Marçal, Julie A Clennon, Jeffrey M Collins, Thomas R Ziegler, Erica Magueta Silva, Maisa P Vieira, Marcos D S Pinheiro, Alexandre C Branco, José A Ferreira, Lance Waller, Lucia A O Fraga, Jessica K Fairley","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013285","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0013285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neglected tropical diseases are often co-endemic in affected areas but how they interact is less clear, especially in the case of Hansen's Disease (HD), commonly referred to as leprosy. Prior studies have demonstrated associations between helminths and HD, but our understanding of the epidemiology of these infections is limited. Our goal was to assess the prevalence and potential associations of Mycobacterium leprae infection and parasitic infections in a sample of community members in a highly endemic area for HD in Minas Gerais, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adults and children ages 3 years and older were enrolled from communities in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and nearby municipalities. Questionnaires on demographics and infection history were administered. Serological reactivity against M. leprae, Schistosoma mansoni, and Strongyloides stercoralis was assessed by multiplexed bead assay (MBA). Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate statistics were performed to describe the outcomes and potential associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1,311 participants, 72 (5.5%) reported a prior history of HD, 94 (7.2%) tested positive for anti-LID-1, 836 (63.8%) reported having one or more parasitic diseases in the past, 153 (11.7%) tested positive for antibodies to schistosoma egg antigen (SEA), and 69 (5.3%) for antibodies to the Strongyloides stercoralis antigen, NIE. Rural residence and anti-LID-1 showed a positive association (aOR 1.79, CI: 1.07- 3.38) as did rural residence and history of HD (aOR, 1.97, CI: 1.14 - 3.38). While not statistically significant, there was a positive association between anti-LID-1 and NIE antibodies (aOR 1.57, CI: 0.69-3.57), and a negative association between anti-LID-1 and SEA antibodies (aOR 0.79, CI: 0.38 - 1.61).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We simultaneously measured seroreactivity among various pathogens. While we did not find that a history of HD and anti-LID-1 positivity were associated with seropositivity to NIE or SEA, our study found a high burden of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). There was also a strong association with rural residence and LID-1 positivity warranting investigation into the prevalence and epidemiology of M. leprae infection, as well as potential spatial and environmental risk factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0013285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13693981/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117182","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":"Microfilaremic loiasis is associated with T cell hyporesponsiveness against SARS-CoV-2.","authors":"Maximilian Augé Stock, Dearie Glory Okwu, Ayong More, Anna Doralt, Rodrigue Bikangui, Ismaël Pierrick Mikelet Boussoukou, Kirsten Alexandra Eberhardt, Maren Sandkuhl, Rella Zoleko Manego, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, Matthew McCall, Minka Breloer, Meral Esen, Marylyn Addo, Bertrand Lell, Luzia Veletzky, Rafiou Adamou, Maria Sophia Mackroth","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014104","DOIUrl":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Loiasis is a chronic filarial infection endemic to Central and West Africa. Although long considered benign, increasing evidence links loiasis to substantial morbidity and mortality. The infection is associated with immune modulation, including Th2-skewed responses and elevated regulatory cytokines. Clinically, loiasis is classified as microfilaremic (presence of circulating microfilariae) or amicrofilaremic (\"occult\") disease, the latter defined by a history of eyeworm migration without detectable microfilaremia. This study investigated how chronic L. loa infection influences antibody and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 following natural infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between 2022 and 2024, this cross-sectional study was done in rural and periurban villages of the Ngounié and Moyen-Ogooué provinces of Gabon. Study procedures included diagnostics for loiasis and immunological assays. Microfilaremia was confirmed by stained blood smear microscopy, and occult disease was identified using the Rapid Assessment Procedure for Loiasis. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG responses to spike and nucleocapsid proteins were measured by ELISA, and IFN-γ responses to spike antigen were assessed using an interferon-gamma release assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 192 participants were categorized as microfilaremic (n = 43), occult loiasis (n = 59), or without evidence of active loiasis (n = 90). IFN-γ responses were reduced in microfilaremic individuals compared with other participants (p = 0.031), whereas IgG responses did not differ. Subsequent analysis across the three groups confirmed that IFN-γ responses were lower in microfilaremic compared with occult participants (p = 0.012).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that microfilaremic loiasis may impair proinflammatory T cell responses to viral antigens, highlighting the need for further research into the broader immunological effects of Loa loa infection in endemic populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014104"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117176","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":"Household and community drivers of Aedes aegypti infestation in tropical cities: Guiding community-led interventions.","authors":"Eimear Griffin, Thiago da Mata Barreto, Zoe Ward, Juliet Oliveira Santana, Hussein Khalil, Mike Begon, Mitermayer Galvão G Reis, Cleber Cremonese, Federico Costa, Hernan D Argibay, Guy Howard","doi":"10.1371/journal.pntd.0014728","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Disadvantaged communities characterised by poor sanitation conditions, overcrowding, and limited vector control are highly susceptible to Aedes aegypti proliferation and arboviral disease transmission. Effective mosquito vector control requires a detailed understanding of Ae. aegypti oviposition preferences and spatial distribution within such urban environments. This study aimed to identify key environmental and behavioural drivers of Ae. aegypti proliferation in disadvantaged communities of Salvador, Brazil, combining household surveys, entomological assessments, and remote sensing to guide targeted public health interventions. Between March and December 2023, using a systematic sampling approach, an entomological survey was conducted in 174 households, alongside a socio-demographic and environmental visual inspection survey in 119 households within two disadvantaged communities of Salvador. Ovitraps were used to collect Ae. aegypti eggs and immatures, providing a detailed assessment of mosquito density. The visual inspection survey identified potential breeding sites (sources of standing water) for Ae. aegypti in the peri-domestic environment. Landcover classification was performed to provide insights into vegetation coverage and other landscape features in the study area. Multivariate modelling explored associations between environmental and household factors, and Ae. aegypti density. Of the 303 recovered ovitraps, 85 (55.6%) indoor and 123 (82.0%) outdoor were positive for eggs, with a total of 11,211 Ae. aegypti eggs recorded. Environmental factors strongly associated with egg abundance included ovitrap location, garbage deposited in front of the house, proximity (within 10 m) to an open sewer, and the presence of open plastic containers in the peri-domestic environment. No significant spatial clustering of mosquito egg density was observed. Breeding was most prolific in the peri-domestic environment, highlighting the importance of keeping these areas clean and well-managed. Improving waste disposal, water storage practices, and sanitation infrastructure could enhance the effectiveness of vector control. These findings provide evidence to inform integrated strategies for reducing arboviral disease risk in disadvantaged urban settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":49000,"journal":{"name":"PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases","volume":"20 10","pages":"e0014728"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13638034/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149117168","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}