Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Analysis of Codon Usage Bias in the <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> Pneumolysin Gene.","authors":"Xiaochun Tan, Hui Zhou, Jian Jiang, Yu Lu, Junyan Lu, Weifeng Shen","doi":"10.1155/cjid/2707639","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/2707639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> pneumolysin is a key virulence factor belonging to the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin family, enabling host cell lysis and immune evasion. While synonymous codon usage bias is known to fine-tune virulence gene expression in pathogens, its role in pneumolysin remains uncharacterized. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of codon usage patterns in the pneumolysin gene across 420 curated coding sequences. We found a pronounced preference for A/U-ending codons, significant underrepresentation of CpG dinucleotides, and moderate overall bias (effective number of codons, ENC = 50.28). Neutrality plot, parity rule 2 (PR2) bias, and ENC-plot analyses collectively indicated that natural selection-not mutational pressure-is the dominant evolutionary force shaping this bias. Strikingly, pneumolysin's codon usage showed a significant correlation with the abundant tRNA gene pool of its human host, suggesting an adaptive strategy that may minimize immunostimulation caused by bacterial mRNA release during infection. These findings reveal a balance between translational efficiency, proper protein folding, and immune evasion, thereby providing a functional understanding of pneumolysin evolution and a foundation for practical applications. These include guiding codon-optimized heterologous expression for biochemical studies and enabling codon deoptimization for the design of safer live-attenuated vaccines.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2707639"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13051798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147634904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Real-World Evaluation of the BioFire FilmArray ME Panel: Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Utility.","authors":"Mehmet Erinmez, Mustafa Sağlam, Gönenç Çalışkantürk, Merve Özerol, Yasemin Zer","doi":"10.1155/cjid/3714674","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/3714674","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Central nervous system (CNS) infections carry high morbidity and mortality, yet traditional diagnostics often fail to identify the causative agent promptly. Rapid multiplex panels offer broader and faster pathogen detection, making it important to understand their real-world clinical value. In order to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the multiplex panel, panel results were compared with clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. Concordance between the panel and reference methods defined true-positive and true-negative results, and discrepancies were classified as false positives or false negatives. A total of 955 patients were included. The FilmArray ME panel detected at least one pathogen in 8.4% of patients. <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> was the most common bacterial agent, and <i>Enterovirus</i> and HSV-1 were the most frequent viral detections. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 94.8% and 99.4%. Sensitivity was 91.6% in children and 97.6% in adults, and specificity was 99.6% in children and 99.1% in adults. We also identified in 3.9% of cases bacterial pathogens outside the ME panel's coverage, most commonly <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> and <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i>, organisms usually associated with healthcare-related or neurosurgical infections. Our large real-world cohort shows that the FilmArray ME panel provides rapid, accurate detection of key meningitis and encephalitis pathogens. Nonetheless, false-negative bacterial findings, detection of viruses with limited clinical relevance, and the presence of infections due to organisms outside the panel indicate that it should complement, not replace, conventional diagnostics and careful clinical assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3714674"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12966614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147379620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ocular Surface Microbiota Alterations Following FS-LASIK and Their Association With Postoperative Dry Eye.","authors":"Jingjing Xu, Chiwen Cheng, Kang Yu, Qing Wang, Yangyang Peng, Yanqing Li, Wen Yao, Yijie Pi, Shuhuan Yu, Zerui Han, Jing Wei, Tingtao Chen, Yifeng Yu","doi":"10.1155/cjid/2148587","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/2148587","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Given the limited evidence on ocular surface microbiota (OSM) changes after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and their link to dry eye (DE), this study aimed to compare microbial profiles in patients with and without postoperative DE, offering a basis for early detection and targeted treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients undergoing FS-LASIK were evaluated 3 months postoperatively and stratified into DE (<i>N</i> = 30) and non-DE groups (<i>N</i> = 30) based on ocular surface disease index (OSDI), TBUT, and the Schirmer I test. Corneal nerve alterations were assessed using IVCM. Conjunctival sac samples were collected pre- and postoperatively, and microbiota profiles were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Comparative analysis of the OSM revealed significantly higher α-diversity in the DE group compared to the NDE group. At the phylum level, a decrease in Proteobacteria and an increase in Bacteroidetes were observed. At the genus level, <i>Veillonella</i>, <i>Streptococcus</i>, and <i>Aggregatibacter</i> were enriched, whereas <i>Pseudomonas</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i> were depleted. The abundance of <i>Staphylococcus</i> was positively correlated with OSDI scores and negatively correlated with corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), corneal nerve fiber area (CNFA), and corneal nerve fractal dimension (CFracDim) (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). In contrast, <i>Lactobacillus</i> was positively associated with the Schirmer I test values and corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At baseline, patients in the DE group exhibited lower abundances of Cyanobacteria and <i>Acinetobacter</i> but higher levels of Verrucomicrobia and <i>Akkermansia</i>. Postoperative within-group comparisons further showed that, relative to baseline, the DE group had increased abundances of <i>Staphylococcus</i>, <i>Veillonella</i>, <i>Ralstonia</i>, and <i>Aggregatibacter</i>, along with decreased levels of <i>Pseudomonas</i>, <i>Corynebacterium</i>, and <i>Helicobacter</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In summary, dysbiosis between the <i>Staphylococcus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i> genera may represent both a biomarker of DE susceptibility and a therapeutic target. Additionally, the preoperative microbial composition may influence postoperative dynamics and DE risk.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06448468.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2148587"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147365929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Infection and Proinflammatory Cytokine Level Assessment in Patients With Myocardial Infarction in Iraq: A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Al-Abbas Fadhil Jasim, Amal Khudair Khalaf","doi":"10.1155/cjid/2553949","DOIUrl":"10.1155/cjid/2553949","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infections have been implicated in cardiac complications in both humans and animals, including myocarditis and pericarditis. This study surveyed the frequency of <i>T. gondii</i> antibodies and investigated the serum concentrations and gene expression profiles of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in myocardial infarction (MI) patients in Iraq.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted on MI (case) and non-MI healthy (control) individuals (200 participants/each group) in Baghdad, Iraq. The frequency of IgG and IgM anti-<i>Toxoplasma</i> antibodies and the serum and expression level of IFN-γ and TGF-β were assessed by serological and real-time PCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The frequency of anti-<i>Toxoplasma</i> IgG and IgM antibodies in the patient group was reported to be 55.5% and 4.5%, respectively, while in the non-MI group, this rate was observed to be 42.9% and 2.5%. In addition, both serum levels and gene expression levels of IFN-γ and TGF-β were meaningfully higher in the MI group compared to the non-MI control group (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study revealed that individuals with MI exhibited significantly higher concentrations of anti-<i>T. gondii</i> antibodies compared to non-MI. The data further suggest that IFN-γ and TGF-β serve as critical biomarkers connected in the pathogenesis of MI. Our findings propose that <i>T. gondii</i> may contribute to the development of MI via immune-mediated inflammatory pathways. This observation indicates potential molecular similarities between the pathological elements of MI and the <i>T. gondii</i> pathogen. Moreover, the elevated expression of IFN-γ and TGF-β may offer a respected context for investigating the involvement of <i>T. gondii</i> in MI pathophysiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2553949"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12951694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Hospitalized Patients With Dengue Fever in Can Tho City: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, 2018-2019.","authors":"Thuy Thi Thu Nguyen, Phuong Vu Mai Hoang, Hang Le Khanh Nguyen, Hau Thi Bich Vu, Phuc Van Tran, Truc Minh Huynh, Hung Minh Ha, Thanh Huy Ong, K Morita, F Hasebe, Mai Thi Quynh Le","doi":"10.1155/cjid/6410209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/6410209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dengue poses a significant public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries, especially in urban areas. Can Tho, the fourth-largest city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, is highly vulnerable to climate change. This study characterizes dengue fever (DF) and identifies factors linked to severe disease in hospitalized patients from 2018 to 2019. We analyzed the clinical manifestations of 123 patients, along with blood count tests, RT-PCR, the NS1 antigen rapid test, and ELISA for IgM and IgG antibodies, upon admission. The results revealed that 88.6% of dengue patients were under 15 years, primarily treated at Can Tho Pediatric Hospital, with 66.7% experiencing secondary infections. Warning signs included high fever, rapid pulse, abdominal pain (54.4%), nausea/vomiting (43.2%), and bleeding (5.7%). DEN-1, DEN-2, and DEN-4 circulated during the study, with DEN-1 predominating in 2018 (85.7%) and both DEN-1 and DEN-2 as primary causes in 2019 (52.2% and 39.1%, respectively). The DEN-2 serotype and secondary infections may significantly contribute to severe dengue, and further research on dengue immunity is essential for understanding the effects of dengue vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6410209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12935753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occurrence and Antimicrobial Resistance of <i>Salmonella</i> in Raw Beef and Meat Contact Surfaces: A Cross-Sectional Study From Hossana Town, Central Ethiopia.","authors":"Assefa Alemu, Galana Abaya, Girma Godebo, Abdulhakim Mussema","doi":"10.1155/cjid/7477794","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/7477794","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; is a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide, with a rising concern for the developing and spreading of antimicrobial-resistant strains due to the imprudent utilization of antimicrobials. Continuous surveillance of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; resistance patterns is critical. This study aims to estimate the occurrence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; species (spp.) in raw beef and on meat contact surfaces in Hossana Town, Central Ethiopia. Additionally, it seeks to identify associated risk factors that contribute to the presence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; and to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Materials and methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023 to December 2023, involving 370 raw beef and meat contact surfaces selected through simple random sampling. Sociodemographic data, hygiene practices of meat handlers, and factors contributing to meat contamination at randomly selected abattoirs and retail outlets were evaluated by semistructured questionnaire and observation checklists. &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; was isolated and identified by using standard bacteriological culture methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and data were analyzed by using SPSS version 2020, with significance set at &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Out of a total of 370 samples that were collected using a simple random sampling method, 31 (8.4%) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.2-12.2) were tested positive for &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates using biochemical tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that having less than 1 year of service, lack of food safety and hygiene training, not undergoing medical checkups in the past 6 months, failure to use sanitizer, not washing hands with soap before and after meat processing, absence of protective gear, lack of hygiene of slicing material, and absence of flies control at meat retailer outlets were among the potential risk factors that significantly correlated with the occurrence &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; spp. in the study area. &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates were 100% susceptible for both ciprofloxacin and gentamycin, whereas the highest resistance rate (93.5%) was observed against tetracycline.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion and recommendations: &lt;/strong&gt;The study revealed an 8.4% occurrence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella&lt;/i&gt; isolates, indicating a serious public health issue driven by key factors like inadequate training, lack of medical check-ups, poor hand hygiene, insufficient protective clothing, and unsanitary equipment. While the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin, there was a concerning 93.5% resistance to tetracycline, highlighting the need for better antibiotic stewardship in the meat supply chain. To address these issues, it is recommended to implement hygiene training for food handlers, mandatory medical check-ups, and enforcement ","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7477794"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12935764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Remdesivir in COVID-19: A Focus on Pediatric Cardiac Patients.","authors":"Dima Bsat, Dalia Safi, Mariam Arabi","doi":"10.1155/cjid/4700812","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/4700812","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a significant global health challenge that necessitated the immediate search for various therapeutic modalities. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), was among the most heavily used drugs against COVID-19. Of the several randomized controlled trials studying the efficacy of remdesivir, the vast majority were studied on the adult population. Results remain contradictory, with some studies supporting the high efficacy of remdesivir while others highlighting the lack of significance of its antiviral effects. Given the lack of focus on the pediatric population, the antiviral effects of remdesivir in cardiac pediatric patients, who are particularly vulnerable, remain especially under-investigated. This literature review explores current literature on remdesivir's mechanism of action and efficacy against COVID-19, especially in the pediatric cardiac population. Therefore, by combining results of studies from randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies in the adult and pediatric populations, this literature review underlines current knowledge gaps and highlights the need for studies targeting specific ages and comorbidities to effectively treat patients at higher risk of adverse events.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4700812"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147312247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution and Drug-Resistance Analysis of Uropathogens in Urinary Tract Infections.","authors":"Weiyi Wu, Qiong Wu, Wenying Zhong, Lizhong Han","doi":"10.1155/cjid/1700474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/1700474","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major global health concern with increasing antimicrobial resistance. Regional data on pathogen distribution and resistance patterns are essential for guiding empirical therapy. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of UTI pathogens in Shanghai, China, and identify risk factors associated with UTIs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on urine culture records from 61,450 patients suspected of UTIs, collected between January 1 and December 31, 2023, from two general hospitals in Shanghai. Pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed according to CLSI guidelines (2021). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for UTIs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 5671 confirmed UTI cases, <i>Escherichia coli</i> was the predominant pathogen (36.1%), followed by <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (11.2%) and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (8.2%). <i>E. coli</i> exhibited high resistance to <i>ampicillin</i> (75.9%), <i>levofloxacin</i> (59.2%), and <i>cefazolin</i> (49.1%) but low resistance to <i>carbapenems</i> (1.0%). <i>K. pneumoniae</i> showed higher resistance rates, with the highest to <i>ampicillin</i> (97.3%) and <i>levofloxacin</i> (45.1%). <i>Proteus spp.</i> demonstrated significant resistance to <i>ampicillin</i> (66.7%) and <i>fosfomycin</i> (34.6%). Multivariable analysis identified female sex (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.25-1.89), age > 60 years (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.08-2.99), and hospitalization (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.95-2.95) as significant risk factors for UTIs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High antimicrobial resistance rates were observed among uropathogens in Shanghai, particularly to commonly used antibiotics. These findings highlight the need for region-specific antibiotic stewardship programs and updated empirical treatment guidelines to combat rising resistance and improve clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1700474"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12927959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147285982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of HTLV-1: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Endemic and Nonendemic Regions.","authors":"Bezhan Noori, Ramin Shahbahrami, Yousef Douzandegan, Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani, Mehdi Norouzi, Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri","doi":"10.1155/cjid/8667755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/8667755","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human T-lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) is a globally distributed, oncogenic retrovirus endemic in specific regions, including southwestern Japan, sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, parts of South America (notably Brazil), Iran, and Indigenous communities in Australia. Although most infections are asymptomatic, a minority of carriers develop severe, life-altering conditions: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) or HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). This narrative review presents a comprehensive analysis of epidemiological studies, clinical reports, and public health surveillance data. Data on HTLV-1 prevalence, incidence, clinical outcomes, proviral load associations, and public health measures were extracted and compared across major endemic and nonendemic regions. HTLV-1 exhibits extreme geographic heterogeneity. Hyperendemic foci include southwestern Japan (carrier population ∼534,000 in 2020), parts of Brazil (estimated 800,000 carriers), the Caribbean (e.g., Jamaica, general population prevalence ∼6.1%), and sub-Saharan Africa (estimated 2-5 million infections, the largest global burden). In Central Australia, prevalence among Indigenous adults over 45 reaches 49.3%, the highest recorded regional rate globally. Prevalence varies significantly within populations: In Brazil, it is highest in the north/northeast. In Gabon, rural prevalence is 8.7%, rising to 12.5% in rainforest provinces, with Pygmy ethnicity identified as an independent risk factor. In Iran, prevalence is concentrated in the northeast (2%-7%), whereas the rest of the country shows rates below 1%. In contrast, prevalence is very low in nonendemic areas such as the United States and most of Europe (< 0.01% in Spain and Italy), except for Romania (5.3 per 10,000 donors) and areas with migrant populations. Incidence data are sparse but informative: In Japan, the annual incidence among blood donors is 6.88 per 100,000 person-years for women and 2.29 per 100,000 person-years for men. In the United Kingdom, the incidence of HAM/TSP among HTLV-1 carriers is 1.98 per 1000 person-years. A Brazilian cohort reported an HAM/TSP incidence of 1.47% over 3 years, substantially higher than Japan's lifetime risk of 0.25%. HTLV-1 remains a significant yet profoundly neglected global pathogen, exhibiting extreme geographic heterogeneity in prevalence, clinical outcomes, and transmission dynamics, driven by complex interactions of viral genetics, host factors, and disparities in public health infrastructure. Although proven cost-effective interventions such as universal antenatal screening in Japan have demonstrably reduced transmission, the persistent \"silent\" spread in endemic, low-resource regions particularly sub-Saharan Africa and Indigenous Australia demonstrates a critical global health inequity demanding urgent, region-specific strategies for screening, prevention, and patient care to mitigate its substantial burden of morbidity and mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8667755"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12927918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147285955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Causes and Seasonality of Upper Respiratory Infections in Adults in Lesotho (2021-2022) (CORIAL).","authors":"Nikita Sass, Linda Janita Wüthrich, Flor Lucia Gonzalez Fernandez, Emmanuel Firima, Tracy R Glass, Moniek Bresser, Josephine Muhairwe, Bulemba Katende, Mamello Molatelle, Irene Ayakaka, Daniel Goldenberger, Kinga Feuz, Pascal Schlaepfer, Klaus Reither, Niklaus D Labhardt","doi":"10.1155/cjid/3732614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/3732614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Upper respiratory tract infections cause morbidity and a high burden on healthcare systems worldwide, especially in low- and lower middle-income countries. Recent studies throughout Africa indicate seasonal patterns that deviate from those previously described in settings with temperate climates. Currently, there are no data available on pathogens causing upper respiratory infections and their seasonal patterns in Lesotho, Southern Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional nested study enrolled a randomly selected sample of adults presenting at St. Charles Mission Hospital, Seboche, in northern Lesotho between 01 August 2021 and 31 July 2022 with symptoms of respiratory infection (cough, shortness of breath or sore throat). As part of the parent study procedures, all participants underwent on-site SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic testing (RDT), with a subset also receiving on-site PCR testing. Aliquots of the nasopharyngeal swab samples used for RDT were stored at -80 °C for subsequent multiplex PCR testing for 18 viruses and 4 bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2 (BIOFIRE RP 2.1 plus).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 511 samples tested, 161 (31.5%) were positive for one pathogen and five (1.0%) for two pathogens. The most common pathogens were SARS-CoV-2 (41.6%), human rhinovirus/enterovirus (36.7%), non-COVID human coronaviruses (6.6%), parainfluenza viruses (6%) and influenza A and B viruses (4.8%). Human rhinoviruses/enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 showed a counter-cyclical pattern. Seasonal patterns were observed for human rhinoviruses/enteroviruses, human coronaviruses, parainfluenza and influenza A and B viruses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, viral upper respiratory infections in Lesotho showed a pathogen spectrum and seasonal patterns similar to those described in other temperate climate settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":50715,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3732614"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12920662/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147272722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}