American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"A Pilot Study of Enterade (VS001), an Oral Amino Acid Formulation, in Malnourished Bangladeshi Children with Environmental Enteric Dysfunction.","authors":"Masud Alam, Tahsin Ferdous, Rifat Ara, Abdulla Siddique, Mamun Kabir, Rashidul Haque, Jeffrey R Donowitz","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0402","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subacute syndrome characterized by increased intestinal inflammation and permeability that affects children in low-income countries. It is associated with growth and neurodevelopmental deficits, and there is currently no known treatment for EED. VS001 (AmiLyfe Bioscience, LLC, Norwood, MA) is a medical food (beverage) containing free amino acids that has been shown to decrease enteric inflammation and improve gut permeability in murine models. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the acceptability and tolerability of VS001 in Bangladeshi children aged 1-2 years (n = 10 per arm). We also examined the effects on EED biomarkers (lactulose-mannitol (LM) ratio, fecal lactoferrin, alpha-antitrypsin, myeloperoxidase, and neopterin). Participants received 8 oz. of VS001 or an identical vehicle without amino acids daily for 14 days. Tolerability and acceptability were measured using parental surveys and daily in-home adverse event monitoring. Subjects took an average of 118 minutes to complete the dose each day. Caregivers found the product convenient and easy to administer and either agreed or strongly agreed that they would give this product to their child again. None reported that the intervention negatively affected their child's appetite. There were three mild adverse events deemed possibly related to the intervention, with two occurring in the active arm and one in the control arm. Children in the active arm exhibited a nonsignificant decrease in LM ratios (a marker of intestinal permeability) after treatment compared with the control arm (0.19-0.08 versus 0.19-0.17; P = 0.16). VS001 was acceptable to parents and reasonably well tolerated. Given the decrease in permeability observed in the active arm, a larger trial is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"859-864"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965765/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397776","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":"Tracheal Hirudiniasis Induced by Ingestion of Unboiled Mountain Spring Water.","authors":"Lei Ni, Yun Ce Chen, Shan Zhong, Zi Xuan Hua, Qing Yun Li","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0716","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0716","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leeches, which are bloodsucking annelids widely distributed in natural environments globally, can cause hirudiniasis when they invade the human body. The most common site of infestation in humans is the nasopharynx, although they can also infiltrate less common sites, such as the trachea, esophagus, and urinary and reproductive tracts. We present the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a persistent cough for 2 months associated with hemoptysis and intermittent hoarseness for 1 month. Nasopharyngoscopy revealed an actively moving worm located above the vocal cords. Subsequently, under intravenous anesthesia, we removed the live worm through bronchoscopy, and it was identified as a leech. In areas where hirudiniasis is endemic, the possibility of tracheal leech infestation should be considered in patients presenting with chronic cough, hemoptysis, and hoarseness. Furthermore, it is crucial to take necessary precautions during outdoor activities to prevent the occurrence of hirudiniasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"928-930"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397905","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":"Acute Myocarditis in the Setting of Plasmodium vivax Malaria: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.","authors":"Saloni Talreja, Pyrus Bhellum, Durga Shankar Meena, Navneet Kaur, Naveen Chhaba, Satyendra Khichar","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0657","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria is typically considered a benign form of malaria, with fewer life-threatening complications compared with Plasmodium falciparum. However, emerging evidence suggests that P. vivax can also lead to severe manifestations, including cardiac involvement. Myocarditis, although rare, is one such complication that can result in significant morbidity. This case report presents an 18-year-old man from Western India, with no previous comorbidities, who developed myocarditis secondary to P. vivax malaria. The patient initially presented with fever, chills, and headache, followed by the onset of hypotension, lactic acidosis, and cardiac complications, including a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and elevated cardiac biomarkers. Despite requiring vasopressor support and oxygen therapy, the patient made a full recovery after receiving appropriate antimalarial treatment. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness of rare but serious complications, such as myocarditis, in patients diagnosed with P. vivax malaria.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"761-764"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397815","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":"A Review of the Recent Epidemiology of Zika Virus Infection.","authors":"Ingrid B Rabe, Susan L Hills, Joana M Haussig, Allison T Walker, Thais Dos Santos, José Luis San Martin, Gamaliel Gutierrez, Jairo Mendez-Rico, José Cruz Rodriguez, Douglas Elizondo-Lopez, Gabriel Gonzalez-Escobar, Emmanuel Chanda, Samira M Al Eryani, Chiori Kodama, Aya Yajima, Manish Kakkar, Masaya Kato, Pushpa R Wijesinghe, Sudath Samaraweera, Hannah Brindle, Hasitha Tissera, James Kelley, Eve Lackritz, Diana P Rojas","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0420","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0420","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus transmitted primarily by the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. Although typically asymptomatic or causing mild symptoms and infrequent neurological disease in older children and adults, infection during pregnancy can result in severe congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental deficits. We conducted a review of published literature and official data sources to describe recent Zika epidemiological trends, building on WHO updates posted in 2019 and 2022. Globally, cases declined after the height of ZIKV transmission in the Americas in 2015-2016; however, transmission continues across multiple regions, with intermittent outbreaks reported. As of December 2023, there is documented evidence of current or prior autochthonous mosquito-borne ZIKV transmission in 92 countries and territories; most recently, Guinea, Mali, and Sri Lanka were included on the basis of recent or retrospective testing of specimens collected during surveillance activities or studies. The abundance of asymptomatic and mild infections and limited diagnostic testing suggest that transmission in many locations likely remains underrecognized. Public health authorities, clinicians, communities at risk, and travelers should remain alert to the possibility of ZIKV transmission and implement measures to limit the risk of infection with ZIKV and other Aedes-borne arboviruses. To strengthen surveillance for ZIKV infections and congenital disease, targeted surveillance using clear case definitions and epidemiologically appropriate laboratory testing algorithms should be applied.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cytokine Production in Response to Soluble Leishmania Aethiopica Antigen by Whole Blood Cells from Patients with Different Clinical Presentations of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.","authors":"Bizuayehu Gashaw, Endalew Yizengaw, Edward Cruz Cervera, Endalkachew Nibret, Dessalegn Tamiru, Ingrid Müller, James A Cotton, Yegnasew Takele, Pascale Kropf","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0581","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania aethiopica, is a major health problem in Ethiopia. It presents mostly as three different clinical forms: localized CL characterized by small lesions that ulcerate; diffuse CL defined by multiple nonulcerating nodules; and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, where the mucosa of the nose or the mouth is affected. The mechanisms resulting in the development of these different clinical presentation are still poorly understood. Here, we recruited a cohort of CL patients presenting with different forms of CL in northwest Ethiopia as well as cohort of healthy nonendemic controls. We assessed the capacity of whole blood cells from these cohorts to produce cytokines in response to soluble L. aethiopica antigen and compared these levels between the different clinical presentations of CL and healthy nonendemic controls. Our results show that the levels of antigen-specific cytokines produced by whole blood cells from CL patients were higher as compared with controls. However, these cytokine levels were similar among the different clinical presentations. In conclusion, the results of our study indicate that variations in clinical manifestations of CL are not associated with differences in antigen-specific cytokine profiles.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"749-752"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397837","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":"Effect of Nitazoxanide and Probiotic Treatment on Bangladeshi Children with Cryptosporidiosis.","authors":"Zannatun Noor, Biplob Hossain, Nishad Tasnim Mithila, Amena Khatun, Sultan Mahmud, Aleya Ferdous, Bipasha Akhter, Masud Alam, Carol A Gilchrist, Rashidul Haque, William A Petri","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.23-0914","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.23-0914","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptosporidium spp. is a cause of diarrhea morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age. In addition, asymptomatic infections can have a negative impact on growth and development. In low- and middle-income countries where a greater number of infants may be malnourished, the results of treating cryptosporidiosis with the only Food and Drug Administration-approved drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) have been inconsistent. Malnutrition is both a risk factor for cryptosporidiosis and a consequence of infection with this parasite. Treatment with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 has been shown to assist in nutritional recovery and the restoration of gut health. In this pilot randomized clinical trial, we examined whether combined probiotic and NTZ treatment could result in the reduction in parasitemia and infection-associated growth stunting in undernourished children. Cryptosporidium spp.-positive Bangladeshi children with a weight-for-length Z score between -1 and -3 were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 (n = 26) received NTZ and Lactobacillus, group 2 (n = 28) received NTZ along with a placebo, and the third control group (n = 10) received standard care. There was no difference in the duration of infection or improvement in child anthropometric measurements in any treatment group compared with control. Therefore, this pilot study does not provide support for treatment with NTZ, Lactobacillus, or the two in combination as an effective means of reducing the duration of Cryptosporidium spp. infection or improving growth in growth-stunted children.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"733-739"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965742/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397869","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":"Testing for Antibodies to Four Parasites in Residual Blood Specimens from Trachoma Surveys in Kiribati, 2015-2019.","authors":"AdeSubomi O Adeyemo, Raebwebwe Taoaba, Diana Martin, E Brook Goodhew, Robert Butcher, Caleb Mpyet, Emma Harding-Esch, Anasaini Cama, Sarah Anne J Guagliardo, Sarah Gwyn, Anthony W Solomon, Kabiri Tuneti Itaaka, Ana Bakhtiari, Cristina Jimenez, Rabebe Tekeraoi","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.23-0565","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.23-0565","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To assess the prevalence of several parasitic infections in Kiribati, dried blood spots collected during trachoma prevalence surveys in the two major population centers in 2015, 2016, and 2019 were tested using multiplex bead-based serologic assays to detect IgG antibodies against four pathogens of public health interest: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Taenia solium (T. solium), Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis), and Toxocara canis (T. canis). In Kiritimati Island, the seroprevalences of T. solium recombinant antigen for detection of cysticercosis antibodies (T24H) and recombinant antigen for detection of taeniasis antibodies (ES33) were ≤4% in both surveys, whereas in Tarawa, the T24H seroprevalence was 2% (2016) and 7% (2019) and the ES33 seroprevalence was ≤3% in both surveys. At both sites, the seropositivity of S. stercoralis recombinant antigen for detection of Strongyloides was 0-4%, and for T. canis, the C-type lectin-1 antigen was 0-1% in all surveys. For T. gondii, the surface antigen glycoprotein 2A antigen seroprevalences on Kiritimati Island were 41% (2015) and 36% (2019), and in Tarawa, they were 36% (2016) and 22% (2019), suggesting that T. gondii infections are common in Kiribati, whereas the other pathogens are not.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"828-831"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397903","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":"Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Factors Influencing COVID-19 Testing Uptake: Insights from Urban and Rural Communities in South Africa.","authors":"Nokhanyo Xaba, Onaiza Qureshi, Aneeta Pasha, Amyn Malik, Anne Hoppe, Zaw Myo Tun, National Fynn, Goodman Sibeko, Saira Khowaja, Aamir Javed Khan","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.23-0810","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.23-0810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Access, demand, and acceptance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing have varied globally. This study explored the sociodemographic and psychosocial risk factors that contribute to the uptake of COVID-19 testing in community settings in South Africa. This paper presents a cross-sectional secondary analysis using data from a cluster randomized controlled trial and a nested perception survey of COVID-19 antigen testing in communities located in urban (eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal) and rural settings (Worcester, Eastern Cape) in South Africa. Individuals who were reluctant to get tested participated in the perception survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression to assess linear associations and estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs). The analysis was conducted on 3,074 individuals, of whom 2,509 (81.6%) provided consent for COVID-19 testing. Among those, 2,505 (81.5%) tested negative, and 4 (0.1%) tested positive for COVID-19. The mean age of participants was 38 (SD = 14.61), and 57% were male. Females (OR: 1.27; 95% CI = 1-1.6), individuals older than 56 years (OR: 1.95; 95% CI = 1.24-3.07), and those who were vaccinated (OR: 1.99; 95% CI = 1.53-2.60) were more likely to consent. Individuals who had previously tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were less likely to consent to testing (OR: 0.64; 95% CI = 0.11-0.46). No link was found between depression, anxiety, substance use, and willingness to undergo COVID-19 testing. A perceptions survey involving 704 participants, which explored factors influencing testing willingness, found that older adults, and urban populations were less likely to undergo COVID-19 testing. Targeted health campaigns may improve testing rates. Larger-scale implementation research is required to explore best practices for improving testing rates and confidence in population-level detection within South Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"37-45"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965710/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143187679","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":"Erythema Multiforme Secondary to Mumps.","authors":"LakshmiPrasad Lakshmipathi, Yogindher Singh, Manobalan Karunanandhan","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0688","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0688","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Erythema multiforme (EMF), an immune-mediated disorder, presents with either cutaneous or mucosal lesions, or both. Although associated with multiple etiologies, the majority are attributed to infectious etiologies and drugs. In this case report, we describe a case of EMF secondary to a very uncommon etiology-mumps. A 22-year-old male presented with targetoid lesions on bilateral palms, the upper and lower extremities, and the trunk. He also had a few targetoid lesions on the lips and glans penis. The patient reported an episode of fever with parotid enlargement and tenderness 1 week before the onset of skin lesions. A serological investigation revealed significantly elevated IgM antibody titers to mumps. Erythema multiforme has many triggering factors, with infections such as herpes simplex virus being the most common, followed by drugs like penicillin, cephalosporins, and others. This case report shows that, in addition to the most common causes, other viral infectious etiologies should also be considered as possible triggers.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"918-920"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965758/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143188223","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":"Is Parasitic Contamination of Soil in the Southern United States Related to Poverty and Does It Represent a Human Health Threat? A Perspective.","authors":"Joel L N Barratt, Paul T Cantey, Susan P Montgomery, Anne Straily, Sarah G H Sapp, Yvonne Qvarnstrom, Brian H Raphael","doi":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0596","DOIUrl":"10.4269/ajtmh.24-0596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, multiple reports have emerged describing real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection of DNA derived from human parasite species in environmental soil samples. In one such report, sampling was focused in impoverished areas of the southeastern United States, and a link between poverty and the presence of parasite DNA in soil was proposed. Whether transmission of certain parasitic diseases persists in the United States in association with poverty remains an important question. However, we emphasize caution when reviewing interpretations drawn solely from qPCR detection of parasite-derived environmental DNA without further verification. We discuss here the limitations of using qPCR to test environmental DNA samples, the need for sampling strategies that are unbiased and repeatable, and the importance of selecting appropriate control areas and statistical tests to draw meaningful conclusions.</p>","PeriodicalId":7752,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"729-732"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965745/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143188224","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}