Acta tropica最新文献

{"title":"Recent advances in black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) research and the implication for pest and vector control","authors":"Pairot Pramual","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107613","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 107613"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioecological drivers of mosquito-borne diseases: deforestation, defaunation, and social disparities","authors":"Andre B.B. Wilke , Karin Kirchgatter , Mauro T. Marrelli","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107620","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 107620"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic diversity and host specificity of Blastocystis in yaks in Xinjiang, northwest China","authors":"Huigang Zhao ,&nbsp;Wenxuan Ma ,&nbsp;Bowen Zhang ,&nbsp;Yongqiang He ,&nbsp;Zhenjie Zhang ,&nbsp;Aiyun Zhao ,&nbsp;Fuchang Yu ,&nbsp;Meng Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Blastocystis</em> is a common intestinal pathogen in human and animals. A total of 826 fecal samples were collected from six counties in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, and applied to PCR amplification based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (<em>SSU</em> rRNA) gene of <em>Blastocystis</em>. The infection rate of <em>Blastocystis</em> in yaks was 75.5 % (624/826), with the different sampling sites varies from 54.2 % (156/288) in Hejing to 100 % (22/22) in Aketao (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). About 20 % of the <em>Blastocystis</em> positive samples (<em>n</em> = 163) were selected from each sampling sites to sequenced. Eight subtypes (ST10, ST14, ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST42 and ST44) were identified, with ST10 (<em>n</em> = 59) was the predominant subtype, followed by ST26 (<em>n</em> = 41), ST42 (<em>n</em> = 39), ST25 (<em>n</em> = 7), ST14 (<em>n</em> = 6), ST21 (<em>n</em> = 5), ST24 (<em>n</em> = 3), ST44 (<em>n</em> = 3). 22 known sequence types were identified from the 163 sequenced samples, indicating a marked high genetic diversity. These results indicating that the infection of <em>Blastocystis</em> was common in yaks in Xinjiang, and have host specificity of <em>Blastocystis</em> subtypes in the present study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 107641"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143903363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Respiratory manifestations of rickettsial disease in tropical Australia; Clinical course and implications for patient management","authors":"Roderick Gavey ,&nbsp;Alexandra G.A. Stewart ,&nbsp;Richard Bagshaw ,&nbsp;Simon Smith ,&nbsp;Stephen Vincent ,&nbsp;Josh Hanson","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Rickettsial infections have a global distribution and can cause life-threatening disease. Respiratory symptoms can be a harbinger of a more complicated disease course. However, the clinical associations – and the clinical course – of patients with rickettsial disease and respiratory involvement are incompletely defined.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a retrospective study of all patients with a diagnosis of scrub typhus or Queensland tick typhus (QTT) managed at Cairns Hospital in tropical Australia, between 1st January 1997 and 31st October 2023. We determined the demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory associations of respiratory involvement which was defined as any acute abnormality of lung parenchyma identified on thoracic imaging during their hospitalisation that did not have another more likely explanation. We compared the clinical course of patients with a rickettsial infection who did – and did not – have respiratory involvement.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were 226 individuals included in the analysis, 51/226 (22 %) had respiratory involvement, including 18/59 (31 %) with QTT and 33/167 (20 %) with scrub typhus, <em>p</em> = 0.09. The imaging findings were heterogenous: 33/51 (65 %) had predominantly alveolar changes, 18/51 (35 %) had interstitial changes and 12/51 (24 %) had a pleural effusion. Those with respiratory involvement were older than individuals without respiratory involvement (median (interquartile range (IQR)) age 51 (37–65) years versus 38 (25–51) years (<em>p</em> = 0.0001). However, most patients (27/51, 53 %) with respiratory involvement had no comorbidity and were younger than 60. Patients with respiratory involvement were more likely to require ICU admission that patients without respiratory involvement (19/51 (38 %) versus 6/175 (3 %) <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and 9/51 (18 %) with respiratory involvement required mechanical ventilation. Patients with respiratory involvement were also more likely to require vasopressor support (14/51, 27 % versus 4/175, 2 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and renal replacement therapy (4/51, 8 % versus 1/175, 0.6 %, <em>p</em> = 0.01) than patients without respiratory involvement. There were 2/226 (1 %) individuals who died from their rickettsial infection (1 scrub typhus and 1 QTT) during the study period, both had respiratory involvement.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Respiratory involvement is common in individuals with rickettsial infection in tropical Australia and is associated with a greater risk of life-threatening disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 107631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema siamkayai in central Thailand and their potential for controlling Aedes aegypti larvae in artificial container-breeding site","authors":"Supawan Pansri ,&nbsp;Jiranun Ardpairin ,&nbsp;Chanakan Subkrasae ,&nbsp;Abdulhakam Dumidae ,&nbsp;Chanatinat Homkaew ,&nbsp;Wandee Wattanachaiyingcharoen ,&nbsp;Aunchalee Thanwisai ,&nbsp;Apichat Vitta","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been extensively researched as biocontrol agents because of their effectiveness against various insect pests, including <em>Aedes aegypti</em> larvae, which are significant vectors of several serious diseases. While the efficacy of EPNs in killing mosquito larvae has been evaluated in laboratory settings, there are limited studies focusing on mosquito breeding containers. This study aims to isolate and identify EPN species in central Thailand and assess their effectiveness against <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae in artificial breeding sites. Forty-two isolates of EPNs were molecularly identified, revealing a close relationship to <em>S. siamkayai</em> and <em>H. indica</em>. Most EPNs were isolated from loam soils with temperatures ranging from 28–35 °C, a pH between 3.0–7.0, and soil moisture content of 1–8 %. The distribution of EPNs was linked to moisture content. All selected EPN isolates demonstrated significant mortality of <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae compared to the control, with <em>H. indica</em> (eCAT3.5_TH and eCNW14.5_TH) showing slightly higher efficacy than <em>S. siamkayai</em> (eCKP34.1_TH). The type of artificial-breeding container and water height did not significantly affect larval mortality. The highest mortality rates were recorded in ant traps, followed by vases and plastic pots. Additionally, both male and female adult EPNs were observed in larval cadavers. While melanized EPNs were found in both larval and pupal cadavers. The EPNs can grow and complete their life cycles, indicating their sustainability and efficacy for mosquito management by reducing adult emergence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 107636"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytophagous, blood-suckers or predators? Automated identification of Chagas disease vectors and similar bugs using convolutional neural network algorithms","authors":"Vinícius Lima de Miranda,&nbsp;Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Correct identification of blood-sucking bugs, such as triatomines, is important because they are vectors of Chagas' disease. Identifying these insects is often difficult for non-specialists. Deep learning is emerging as a solution for automated identification. This study evaluates the performance of three convolutional neural networks (CNNs) - AlexNet, MobileNetV2 and ResNet-50 - to identify bugs categorized by their feeding habits: 'blood-suckers', 'phytophagous' and 'predators'. A dataset of 707 dorsal view pictures was divided into training, validation, and test subsets (70 %, 10 %, and 20 %, respectively). Transfer learning was used to train the models, and Grad-CAM visualizations identified the picture regions that most influenced the predictions. All models achieved an accuracy of over 94 %, with ResNet-50 slightly outperforming the other models in terms of sensitivity and specificity. ROC and AUC analyses confirmed the reliability of these algorithms, highlighting their potential for robust bug identification. This study demonstrates the applicability of CNNs in distinguishing Triatominae from other insects, paving the way for the development of affordable vector identification tools to improve Chagas disease surveillance and control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 107621"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hidden Trypanosoma cruzi foci in Triatoma brasiliensis from a Brazilian Touristic area in the Northeast","authors":"Dayane Pires-Silva ,&nbsp;Elaine Folly-Ramos ,&nbsp;Cleber Galvão ,&nbsp;Myriam Harry ,&nbsp;Carlos E Almeida","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to assess the risk of human-vector interactions and <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em> transmission in touristic areas of northeastern Brazil. We analyzed 180 adult <em>Triatoma brasiliensis</em> specimens collected from nine peridomestic and sylvatic ecotopes across the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba. High <em>T. cruzi</em> infection rates were detected in both ecotopes, indicating sustained parasite circulation. Metabarcoding of blood meals revealed a broader host range than previously documented, including human blood meals in sylvatic touristic areas with high infection rates, raising concerns about vector-mediated transmission in these settings. Given the potential public health implications, our findings were formally communicated to local health and tourism authorities, with specific recommendations to inform and protect visitors in high-risk zones. These results underscore the need for targeted surveillance and vector control strategies in tourist-exposed areas, where interventions must be integrated with efforts to preserve local cultural and ecological heritage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 107635"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host factors influencing sexual differentiation and transmission of Plasmodium: A comprehensive review","authors":"Yanlin Li ,&nbsp;Jingjing Tang ,&nbsp;Wei Tang ,&nbsp;Cong Liu ,&nbsp;Zhenkui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malaria, a severe parasitic disease caused by <em>Plasmodium</em> infections, remains a major global health challenge. Efforts to eradicate malaria are complicated by the parasite’s intricate life cycle, which alternates between vertebrate hosts and mosquito vectors. Host-derived factors and parasite-sourced components exert crucial roles in regulating this biological process. This review explores the critical role of host-derived factors in shaping <em>Plasmodium</em> sexual differentiation and transmission. We examine how vertebrate and mosquito host-specific factors either promote or restrict parasite development, influencing the transition from vertebrates to mosquitoes. Understanding these host-mediated mechanisms is crucial for developing novel transmission-blocking strategies to reduce malaria prevalence. By highlighting key interactions between hosts and parasites, this review provides insights into potential interventions that could disrupt <em>Plasmodium</em> transmission and contribute to malaria control efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 107634"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143881307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and first detection of HTLV-2 in a pregnant woman in rural Brazil","authors":"Gabriela Rodrigues de Aguiar Leal ,&nbsp;Gabriel Galindo Cunha ,&nbsp;Ana Eliza Vargas Eskinazi Sant’Anna ,&nbsp;Artur Fernando Soares da Silva ,&nbsp;Elisa de Almeida N. Azevedo ,&nbsp;Clarice Neuenschwandwer Lins de Morais ,&nbsp;José Humberto de Lima Melo ,&nbsp;Maria Rosângela Cunha Duarte Côelho","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a retrovirus with two subtypes, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. HTLV-1 is linked to severe diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-associated myelopathy, while HTLV-2 is considered less pathogenic but can cause fibromyalgia, hairy cell leukemia, and neurological disorders. Although HTLV-2 is less prevalent than HTLV-1, it is common in specific populations, such as indigenous groups and injection drug users. In Brazil, an estimated 200,000–250,000 people are infected with HTLV-2, mostly in the North, yet data on its prevalence in pregnant women remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 among pregnant women in Pernambuco, revealing a 0.49 % prevalence rate, which exceeds that reported in other regions of Brazil. Notably, one case of HTLV-2 was identified in a non-indigenous pregnant woman, suggesting that HTLV-2 may be more widespread than previously recognized. Despite the integration of HTLV screening into routine prenatal care, a major gap exists in the awareness of HTLV-2 among healthcare professionals and the general population, hindering effective prevention and management. The study highlights the need for expanded screening, particularly in rural areas, and underscores the importance of addressing gaps in sexual health education and prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 107632"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143876523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dexrazoxane as a viable microsporidia control agent in Anopheles gambiae","authors":"Tiago G. Zeferino ,&nbsp;Luis M. Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microsporidia have long been proposed as biological agents for controlling disease vectors and the parasites they transmit. However, their study in vector biology has been constrained due to challenges in manipulating microsporidia within hosts. In this study, we investigated the effect of Dexrazoxane, a candidate drug against microsporidiosis, on the establishment and development of <em>Vavraia culicis</em> infection in its natural host, the mosquito <em>Anopheles gambiae</em>, the main malaria vector. Our findings show that Dexrazoxane significantly reduces spore load, particularly in mosquitoes reared individually, without affecting the overall infection success of the parasite. This result aligns with studies in <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em>, where Dexrazoxane inhibited new spore production without hindering initial spore integration into the host gut cells. Dexrazoxane's DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor mechanism likely explains its impact on mosquito development, as larvae exposed to the drug failed to emerge as adults. These findings highlight Dexrazoxane's potential as a viable tool for controlling microsporidia in adult mosquitoes and hope to enhance the study of mosquito-microsporidia interactions. Further research is required to explore its broader application in vector-borne disease control, including malaria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 107633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143892094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}