Frontiers in tropical diseases最新文献

{"title":"Comparing different lymphatic filariasis patient estimate approaches and results in Ethiopia","authors":"B. Mengistu, F. Kebede, Biruck Kebede Negash, Addisalem Miheret, Biruk Kebede Beyene, Solomon Abetew, Berihu Gebremariam Tedla, Asfaw Kejella Oucha, Shigute Alene, Sharone Backers, Clara Burgert, Emily Toubali, Molly Brady, Scott McPherson","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1286274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1286274","url":null,"abstract":"The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries ensure morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP) services are available to all lymphedema and hydrocele patients in lymphatic filariasis (LF)-endemic areas. The first step in ensuring the availability of MMDP services is to understand the number and distribution of people with lymphedema and hydrocele. We examined the burden of lymphoedema and hydrocoele using different patient estimation approaches employed in endemic districts of the Beneshangul-Gumuz and Tigray regions of Ethiopia.In Approach I, trained health extension workers (HEWs) conducted the patient estimates during a door-to-door pre-mass drug administration (MDA) census. Validation of a sample of the data collected was integrated with a post-MDA coverage survey. In Approach II, trained HEWs conducted a stand-alone patient estimation, and clinical officers validated all suspected patients. In 15 districts, 753,557 individuals were surveyed. A total of 1,645 lymphedema (1:1.6 male-to-female ratio) and 517 hydrocele cases were identified. The prevalence of lymphedema and hydrocele was 40 per 10,000 in the adult population and 25 per 10,000 in the adult male population, with wide variation across districts. Validation in Approach I showed that 94% of the lymphedema cases and 77% of hydrocele cases were correctly identified by the HEWs, while 60% and 53% were correctly identified in Approach II.Patient estimation is important for planning, prioritization, targeting interventions, and monitoring progress in LF-endemic areas. Trained HEWs can correctly identify most cases using a standardized patient estimate job aid and questionnaire, even when cascade training is used. For the purposes of LF elimination, these results are sufficient and at a low cost per district. Ethiopia’s LF program could integrate patient estimations into MDA activities in the remaining LF-endemic districts with minimal cost and effort.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"137 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139862647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The parasitic worm product ES-62 protects against collagen-induced arthritis by resetting the gut-bone marrow axis in a microbiome-dependent manner.","authors":"Margaret M Harnett, James Doonan, Anuradha Tarafdar, Miguel A Pineda, Josephine Duncombe-Moore, Geraldine Buitrago, Piaopiao Pan, Paul A Hoskisson, Colin Selman, William Harnett","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1334705","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1334705","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The parasitic worm-derived immunomodulator, ES-62 rescues defective levels of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Bregs) and suppresses chronic Th1/Th17-driven inflammation to protect against joint destruction in the mouse collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model of rheumatoid arthritis. Such autoimmune arthritis is also associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and disruption of intestinal barrier integrity. We recently further exploited the CIA model to show that ES-62's prevention of joint destruction is associated with protection of intestinal barrier integrity and normalization of the gut microbiota, thereby suppressing the gut pathology that precedes the onset of autoimmunity and joint damage in CIA-mice. As the status of the gut microbiota impacts on immune responses by influencing haematopoiesis, we have therefore investigated whether ES-62 harnesses the homeostatic mechanisms regulating this gut-bone marrow (BM) axis to resolve the chronic inflammation promoting autoimmunity and joint destruction in CIA. Reflecting this, ES-62 was found to counteract the BM myeloid/lymphoid bias typically associated with chronic inflammation and infection. This was achieved primarily by ES-62 acting to maintain the levels of lymphoid lineages (B220⁺ and CD3⁺ cells) observed in naïve, healthy mice but lost from the BM of CIA-mice. Moreover, ES-62's ability to prevent bone-destroying osteoclastogenesis was found to be associated with its suppression of CIA-induced upregulation of osteoclast progenitors (OCPs) in the BM. Critically, and supporting ES-62's targeting of the gut-BM axis, this rewiring of inflammatory haematopoiesis was lost in mice with a depleted microbiome. Underlining the importance of ES-62's actions in restoring steady-state haematopoiesis, the BM levels of B and T lymphoid cells were shown to be inversely correlated, whilst the levels of OCPs positively correlated, with the severity of joint damage in CIA-mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7615750/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140159705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding the caring network of podoconiosis patients in Rwanda: a qualitative study","authors":"Md. Ilias Kamal Risat, Gail Davey, Peter Mugume, Shahaduz Zaman","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2024.1329639","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2024.1329639","url":null,"abstract":"Globally, a total of almost 4 million people live with podoconiosis in 32 potentially endemic countries including Rwanda. Podoconiosis is a non-infectious geochemical disease that causes massive swelling of the lower leg and is caused by long-term exposure to red clay soil found in tropical highland areas. The disease is a disabling neglected tropical disease (NTD) and is associated with profound stigma, discrimination and comorbid mental health conditions. Treatment interventions are commonly known as morbidity management and disability prevention. Both biomedical and traditional treatments are used by affected people. However, understandings informed by the social sciences of care in the context of NTDs are largely unexplored. This study explored the perspectives and experiences of care among care receivers (podoconiosis patients) and caregivers (family members, traditional healers) in the district of Huye, Rwanda.The study used qualitative methods including seventeen InDepth Interviews (eleven patients, two traditional healers, two care professionals, and two family members) and participant observation in a health centre and patients’ houses.A caring network was found amongst the podoconiosis patients, their family members, care professionals and traditional healers. Caring network is not only about the medical treatments, but also about the caring relationship amongst them.Using notions of ‘Network’ and ‘Collectives’, from the care ethics literature the study shows that in addition to care work requiring professional know-how, it is also about the relationships between patients, their families, traditional healers, and biomedical care professionals.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"44 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid low-resource detection of Plasmodium falciparum in infected Anopheles mosquitoes","authors":"Leon E. Hugo, Karla van Huyssteen, Olamide K. Oloniniyi, Laura Donnelly, Anna Conn, Katharine A. Collins, H. Mitchell, James S. McCarthy, Joanne Macdonald","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2024.1287025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2024.1287025","url":null,"abstract":"Vector surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum is critical for monitoring and reducing one of the most severe forms of malaria, which causes high morbidity and mortality in children under five and pregnant women. Here we developed a rapid and highly sensitive test for the detection of P. falciparum (Pf)-infected mosquitoes (Rapid Pf test), with high suitability for low-resource vector surveillance implementation. The Rapid Pf test had similar analytical sensitivity to laboratory-based tests, detecting down to 4 copies/μL of a 18S rRNA DNA standard. In addition, the Rapid Pf test could be completed in less than 30 minutes, and only required a liquid sample preparation reagent, pestle, tube, and 39°C heating block for operation, indicating amenability for low-resource implementation. Diagnostic testing was performed using Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, either uninfected, or fed with P. falciparum gametocyte cultures. These P. falciparum fed mosquitoes were determined to have 79% infection prevalence based on parallel microscopy and qPCR testing on a subset of 19 mosquitoes. However, our Rapid Pf test determined a 90% positive test rate when testing individual infected mosquitoes (n=30), and did not detect 40 uninfected mosquitoes regardless of blood-fed status (n=40), suggesting the true prevalence of infection in the mosquitoes may have been higher than calculated by qPCR and microscopy. The Rapid Pf test was demonstrated to detect infection in individual mosquitoes (both fresh and frozen/thawed), as well as pools of 1 infected mosquito mixed with 19 known uninfected mosquitoes, and individual mosquitoes left in traps for up to 8 days. After testing on infected and uninfected mosquitoes (n=148) the Rapid Pf test was conservatively estimated to achieve 100% diagnostic sensitivity (95% confidence interval, CI: 91%-100%) and 97% diagnostic specificity (CI: 92%-99%) compared to the estimated prevalence from combined microscopy and qPCR results. These results indicate the Rapid Pf test could provide a highly effective tool for weekly surveillance of infected mosquitoes, to assist with P. falciparum monitoring and intervention studies.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"227 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anthrax outbreak: exploring its biological agents and public health implications","authors":"S. C. Ogunleye, M. Olorunshola, Kolapo A. Fasina, A. Aborode, O. C. Akinsulie, Abimbola Amoo, Boluwatife J. Olatoye, Akeem B. Bakare, Mariam A. Lawal, Oluwabori Adekanye, Ezemba C. Chinyere","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1297896","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1297896","url":null,"abstract":"The (re)emergence of several infectious zoonoses underlines the need for the re-evaluation of the transmission patterns and key players responsible for effective inter-species transfer of diseases. Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a zoonotic rod-shaped, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that is highly fatal to both human and animal populations. B. anthracis is widespread across several regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, southern Europe, North and South America, and Australia, and it has a remarkably high attendant impact on the sustainability and profitability of livestock. The current trend in the global distribution of anthrax necessitates an urgent contextual understanding of the key drivers of the spread of B. anthracis in different parts of the world toward the end goal of an anthrax-free world. The understanding of the drivers is integral for the development of control and preventive measures, and also the development of agents such as therapeutics and vaccines against B. anthracis. This review presents a holistic description of the transmission pattern and epidemiology of B. anthracis, and updates on the diagnostic techniques and approaches available for the detection of B. anthracis. In addition, this review highlights plausible prevention and control strategies for the bacterium. This review further underscores the need for participatory epidemiology, hygiene, and safety protocols, the establishment of comprehensive surveillance systems, and global collaborative efforts toward vaccine development as critical steps in controlling anthrax.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"108 42","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139614442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the β-tubulin gene family of Ascaris lumbricoides and their potential role in benzimidazole resistance: a systematic review","authors":"Teniel Ramkhelawan, Pragalathan Naidoo, Z. Mkhize-Kwitshana","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1303873","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1303873","url":null,"abstract":"The most common soil-transmitted helminthic infection is caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides). Approximately 4 billion people are at risk of infection globally. The World Health Organisation recommends the administration of benzimidazole- containing deworming drugs (Albendazole and Mebendazole) to all susceptible populations. Due to this high drug pressure, these parasites may develop resistance to current benzimidazole drugs. The β-tubulin gene family is the target gene for benzimidazole deworming drugs. This systematic review aimed to highlight work that explored the genetic mutations in the β-tubulin gene family of A. lumbricoides that are associated with potential benzimidazole resistance.An electronic search of several online databases was used to extract eligible articles using specific keywords related to the topic of interest.The majority of ascariasis infections occur in the subtropical and tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas and East Asia, although not enough studies were done to extensively cover this geographical range. In the β-tubulin gene family of A. lumbricoides the mutations at codons F200Y (TTC/Phenylalanine to TAC/Tyrosine), E198A (GAG, GAA/Glutamic acid to GCG, GCA/Alanine) and F167Y (TTC, TTT/Phenylalanine to TAC, TAT/Tyrosine) were associated with potential benzimidazole resistance.Resistant mutations were found in A. lumbricoides samples at codon F167Y from Haiti, Kenya and Panama. The first evidence of the mutation at codon F200Y was observed in Brazil. The codon E198A mutation was the least prevalent and most undetected.There is a serious shortage of studies investigating the prevalence of β-tubulin gene family mutations in A. lumbricoides populations from endemic areas; this is a serious concern as resistance will negatively impact current mass drug administration programmes.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":" 751","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139617433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Making clinical trials a public norm for health decisions in sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"S. Agnandji, M. Loembe, Armel V. Mbouna, Fallowne Mbadinga, P. Essone, G. Mombo-Ngoma, Rose Leke, Yvonne K. Mburu, J. Muyembe‐Tamfum, J. Okwo-Bele, Samba Sow, Charles S Wiysonge, Alimuddin Zumla, A. A. Adegnika, Michael Ramharter, Peter G. Kremsner, P. Matsiegui, Y. Boum, Francine Ntoumi","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1297109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1297109","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"8 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139438348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic 1-octen-3-ol and field evaluation of its enantiomeric isomers as attractants of sandflies","authors":"D. Tchouassi, Juliah W. Jacob, X. Cheseto, Lydia S. Chepkemoi, I. B. Hassaballa, B. Torto","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1327349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1327349","url":null,"abstract":"Phlebotomine sand flies are medically important as vectors of the protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniasis and other bacterial and viral pathogens. Previous work demonstrated that both sexes of certain species of sandflies are attracted to 1-octen-3-ol (octenol). Since 1-octen-3-ol exists as two enantiomeric isomers ─ ((R)-(-)- (R-form) and (S)-(+)- (S-form), we tested the hypothesis that the two enantiomeric forms and racemic mixture (R/S) attracted different sand fly species. We carried out field trials in a leishmaniasis endemic foci in Baringo County, Kenya. In a randomized design, trap captures of sandflies in CDC light traps baited with the R-, S- and racemic (R/S) forms of 1-octen-3-ol in hexane varied with the form and dose of the compound. Interestingly, of the captured species, only Phlebotomus martini, the vector of the parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis, exhibited a dose-dependent response to octenol; captures of both sexes of the species being generally 1.7-fold higher with the R- than S-form. There was no significant effect of treatment on captures of Sergentomyia species (S. schwetzi, S. antennata, S, clydei). Our findings have implications for surveillance of sandfly populations as part of leishmaniasis epidemiologic investigation.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139382778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tailoring a One Health course for an established non-One Health graduate program in Brazil","authors":"Tereza Magalhaes, Ana Barreto, Jamerson Mesquita-Silva, Kamile M. L. Serravalle, Marcela Valente de Andrade, Rita C. L. Gomes, Romero J. Nazaré, Rosa M. G. A. Calado, Guilherme S. Ribeiro, Uriel D Kitron","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1317092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1317092","url":null,"abstract":"We present a study of the tailoring of a One Health (OH) course for its integration into an established non-OH graduate program at a large public university in Brazil. The graduate program focuses on topics such as environmental resource management, impacts on ecosystems, precariousness of the work environment and relationships, workers’ health, social determinants of health, and public policies. Tailoring the OH syllabus involved addressing broader OH concepts, condensing or adapting aspects of infectious diseases, covering non-infectious disease OH topics, and linking OH aspects to ongoing projects in the program. Despite the small class size, students brought diverse backgrounds, significantly enriching discussions. The course was offered in a longer (51 contact hours) and a shorter format (34 contact hours), both of which worked well within a lecture- and discussion-based structure. The extended format allowed more time for student activities and in-depth discussions. The multisectoral and transdisciplinary nature of lectures played a critical role in the course’s success. This information may prove valuable for those designing OH courses for implementation in diverse settings, with the ultimate goal of disseminating OH concepts, fostering discussions, and facilitating the development and implementation of OH approaches in groups not typically exposed to this concept.","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"11 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139381023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: The intersection of COVID-19 and tropical diseases","authors":"Emanuele Nicastri, Edwin Michael, Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales","doi":"10.3389/fitd.2023.1337327","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1337327","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73112,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in tropical diseases","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139451616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}