BMC Infectious Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Persistent self-reported health complaints in Norwegians who attribute their symptoms to tick bites or tick-borne disease- a cross-sectional controlled study.","authors":"Audun Olav Dahlberg, Audun Aase, Harald Reiso, Erik Thortveit, Randi Eikeland, Morten Engstrøm, Rune Midgard","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11104-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11104-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The frequency and mechanisms of persistent health complaints attributed to tick bites or tick-borne diseases are unknown. We evaluate such complaints in Norwegian cases and controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>People older than 18 years with persistent health complaints of six months or more attributed to tick bites or tick-borne diseases (cases) were recruited into a nationwide cross-sectional study between October 2016 and January 2021. Demographic data, tick bites, antibiotic use, and tick-borne pathogen serology were recorded. We evaluated somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), mental and physical health (RAND-36), affective symptoms (HAD Scale) and modern health worries (MHW Scale) as outcome measures. Serological tests included IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi (Bb) and other tick-borne pathogens. The control population (n = 2803) was recruited from a tick-endemic region in Søgne, southern Norway. Differences between cases and controls were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 500 responses were collected through general practitioners (n = 14), by invitation (n = 94), and by Short Message Service (SMS) (n = 392). The estimate of prevalence is based on 392 of 270.000 included by SMS (0.15%). The SMS cohort reported better physical health than those recruited by invitation. Cases had significantly more somatic and affective symptoms, fatigue, comorbidities, and reduced quality of life related to health than controls. The differences in fatigue and physical health between cases and controls were not related to previous tick exposures. Bb IgG and other antibodies against tick-borne pathogens were more prevalent in cases than controls. In multivariable analyses, cases that were never treated did not exhibit higher somatic symptom scores compared to those treated multiple times. Seropositive Bb cases had worse mental health (p < 0.001) and more depressive symptoms (p = 0.017) than seronegative cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The crude prevalence of persistent health complaints in Norway attributed to tick bites or tick-borne diseases is 0.15%. The cases reported significantly poorer physical health, including increased fatigue, when compared to the controls. These relationships were not affected by tick exposures. However, poorer mental health in cases may be associated with Bb seropositivity, especially for the ones with comorbidities. In conclusion, no clear associations were found between tick bites, tick-borne diseases and persistent health complaints.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"711"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085792","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":"Awareness, access to and uptake of HIV prevention interventions among youth in Zimbabwe: a population-based survey.","authors":"Sophie H Kelly, Steven Azizi, Chido Dziva Chikwari, Mandikudza Tembo, Tsitsi Bandason, Ethel Dauya, Constancia V Mavodza, Tsitsi Apollo, Owen Mugurungi, Rashida A Ferrand, Victoria Simms","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11076-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11076-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Youth in southern Africa continue to be at high risk of HIV infection. We investigated the awareness of, access to, and uptake of HIV prevention interventions (pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), voluntary medical male circumcision and condoms) among youth in Zimbabwe.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A population-based survey of youth aged 18-24 years in 24 communities across three provinces was conducted between October 2021 and June 2022. An interviewer-administered questionnaire collected sociodemographic and sexual behaviour data including awareness of, access to, and use of HIV preventative interventions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistic regression weighted for clustering.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We recruited 17,682 youth (60.8% female, median age 20 years (Interquartile range 19-22)). Altogether 46.8% (n = 3634) of unmarried youth and 5.6% (n = 3538) of married youth reported consistent condom use and 49.8% (n = 3369) of men reported being circumcised. Awareness of PrEP and PEP was 11.2% and 11.9% respectively. 6900 participants (38.4%) reported at least one eligibility criterion for PrEP. Eligibiltiy criteria included having multiple partners or receiving money or goods for sex in the last year, HIV-negative individuals in serodiscordant relationships, those who had ever been treated for an STI, ever injected drugs, been pregnant or taken PEP. In comparison to the non-eligible population (n = 10782), the eligible population were more likely to have heard of PrEP (13.5% vs. 9.9%, p < 0.001), been offered PrEP if they had heard of it (17.0% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.001) and to have ever taken PrEP if offered it (60.7% vs. 27.0%, p < 0.001). Those in the richest wealth quintiles and with higher education level were more likely to have heard of PrEP and report regular condom use. Forty-two of 199 (20.2%) who reported having experienced forced sex in the last year sought healthcare afterwards, of these 17 of 42 (36.0%) had been offered PEP and 12 of 17 (63.7%) had ever taken it.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Use of HIV preventive interventions remains limited among youth despite longstanding HIV programmes. Lack of awareness limits use of PrEP and PEP. There are underlying socioeconomic barriers limiting awareness of and demand for condoms, circumcision and pharmacological prophylaxis. These must be urgently addressed.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>NCT03719521.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"709"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085785","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":"Associations of Atopobium, Garderella, Megasphaera, Prevotella, Sneathia, and Streptococcus with human papillomavirus infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Yan Peng, Qin Tang, Shiming Wu, Chengzhi Zhao","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10851-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10851-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lactobacillus spp. depleted and high diversity of vaginal microbiota is closely related to human papillomavirus infection and cervical cancer. However, the role of other microbial communities in human papillomavirus infection and cervical cancer is still unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to systematically review the existing literature and perform a meta-analysis to statistically evaluate the relationship between vaginal microbiota, human papillomavirus infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cervical cancer at the genus level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. We synthesized data on the relative abundance of specific bacterial species associated with human papillomavirus status and cervical lesions. SPSS 25.0 was used to compare relative abundance among multiple groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The meta-analysis included 17 observational studies published between 2019 and 2023, involving 2014 participants from Asia, North America, and Africa. We found that specific vaginal microorganisms, such as Gardnerella, Prevotella, Sneathia, and Streptococcus, showed increased relative abundance with the severity of cervical lesions in human papillomavirus-negative, human papillomavirus-positive, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cervical cancer patients. However, no statistically significant differences were found in that regard. Notably, Prevotella was significantly more abundant in cervical cancer patients compared to human papillomavirus-negative individuals. Sneathia was also found to be more abundant in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The specific vaginal microbial species are associated with human papillomavirus infection status and the severity of cervical lesions that may have significant implications for the prevention and treatment strategies of cervical cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"708"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085783","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, microbiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of bacterial skin and soft tissue infections in pediatric patients with malignancies at a referral teaching hospital in Shiraz, Iran.","authors":"Seyed Reza Abdipour Mehrian, Fatemeh Noushadi, Yaser Pourasghar, Armina Farkarian, Elahe Meftah, Fatemeh Homayounifar, Ali Amanati","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11059-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11059-2","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background and aims: &lt;/strong&gt;Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in pediatric oncology patients present significant challenges owing to their immunocompromised condition and susceptibility to severe infections. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, microbiology, and antibiotic resistance patterns of SSTIs in children with malignancies admitted to a referral teaching hospital.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 227 pediatric patients with cancer were included in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The data collected included demographics, malignancy type, neutropenic status, infection sites, microbial culture results, and clinical outcomes. Bacterial cultures were performed on samples from the blood, wounds, and other infection-related sites. Pathogens were identified using standard microbiological methods, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion (Kirby-Bauer) method, following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Among the 227 patients, 57.71% were male and 42.29% were female, and the most prevalent age group was 1 to 6 years (39.65%). Hematologic malignancies were observed in 57.33% of the patients, solid tumors in 39.11%, and leukemia was the most common malignancy (40.81%). Bloodstream infections (BSIs) were identified in 7.05% of patients, while a notable proportion of cases (92.95%) were culture-negative, warranting consideration of non-bacterial etiologies or prior antibiotic use. Among the 227 site-specific culture samples, Escherichia coli (36.54%) and Staphylococcus aureus (23.08%) were the most common pathogens. Other frequently isolated bacteria include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed that E. coli is sensitive to ampicillin-sulbactam and colistin, whereas S. aureus is sensitive to chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole. In terms of patient outcomes, &gt; 95% of patients achieved complete recovery, whereas 3.96% had fatal outcomes. Multivariate analysis identified age &lt; 5 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 8.03, p = 0.004) and perianal abscesses (aOR = 4.4, p = 0.038) as independent risk factors significantly associated with an increased risk of BSI. Male sex was associated with a reduced risk for BSI (aOR = 0.62).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Our study highlights the significant burden of SSTIs in pediatric oncology patients, with E. coli and S. aureus being the predominant pathogens. Younger age and perianal abscesses were identified as independent risk factors of BSI, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance in these subgroups. These findings underscore the importance of targeted preventive strategies to improve the outcomes in this high-risk population. However, it is important to acknowledge that this study was conducted at a single center and the high rate of culture-negative results suggests that non-bacterial etiolog","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"707"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085794","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":"Antifilarial treatment strategies: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.","authors":"Muayad Saud Albadrani, Amr Molla, Hossein M Elbadawy, Heba M Eltahir, Shyamkumar Sriram, Mekky M Abouzied, Eman Mohamed Sharaf Elsayed","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11105-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11105-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribes mass drug administration (MDA) to eradicate lymphatic filariasis within endemic populations. The WHO endorsed using ivermectin with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole (IDA) for MDA in specific settings devoid of onchocerciasis or loiasis. Still, the utilization of IDA in sub-Saharan Africa is restricted due to the potential of diethylcarbamazine to induce severe adverse ocular events in individuals with onchocerciasis.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We aim to investigate all documented combinations of antifilarial drugs available in the literature using a network meta-analysis (NWM) design, focusing specifically on the treatment of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A meticulous search was conducted across four electronic databases to identify pertinent studies. Subsequently, a frequentist NWM was executed. Risk ratios (RRs) served as the effect size metric for categorical outcomes, each with a 95% confidence interval (CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study encompassed 45 studies, including 61,369 patients. At six months, multiple doses of diethylcarbamazine plus albendazole (multiple DA) regimens demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing microfilaremia compared to a single intake of DA, diethylcarbamazine, ivermectin, and albendazole with RR and CI as follows: 0.37 [0.19; 0.72], 0.35 [0.17; 0.69], 0.30 [0.14; 0.64], and 0.28 [0.13; 0.57]. The combination of ivermectin plus albendazole (IA) also showed significant efficacy against the use of each of these drugs alone, with RR: 0.74 [0.57; 0.96] for ivermectin and 0.69 [0.53; 0.89] for albendazole, while diethylcarbamazine combined with albendazole showed substantial superiority over albendazole alone or placebo: RR = 0.09 [0.02; 0.36] and 0.08 [0.02; 0.34], respectively. By the twelfth month, diethylcarbamazine, followed by albendazole, ranked superior to IDA and DA: 0.12 [0.02; 0.89] and 0.11 [0.01; 0.79], respectively. At 24 months, no significant differences were found among the assessed drugs in reducing microfilaremia. The comparisons revealed no significant differences between the drug combinations we studied regarding safety and adverse events.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Multiple doses of the DA regimen showed superior efficacy in reducing microfilaremia compared to combinations involving IA, diethylcarbamazine, ivermectin, and albendazole at six and twelve months. However, by the twenty-four-month, no significant differences were found. Safety profiles among interventions were generally comparable, with no specific drug showing superiority in adverse events.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"712"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085766","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":"Clinical and CT characteristics of abdominal tuberculous lymphadenopathy: a comparative analysis of hematogenous and non-hematogenous dissemination.","authors":"Xiao-Ling Zhu, Xue-Yan Liu, Li Wen, Ran Li, Sheng-Xiu Lv, Guang-Xian Wang","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11101-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11101-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To elucidate the differences in clinical and CT manifestations between abdominal tuberculous lymphadenopathy (ATBL) resulting from hematogenous and non-hematogenous dissemination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical records and CT data of 178 untreated ATBL patients from January 2012 to March 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups: hematogenous dissemination (75 cases) and non-hematogenous dissemination (103 cases). The clinical characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared, and the CT imaging features of ATBL (such as location, size, and enhancement degree) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test to identify significant differences between the groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study found that the non-hematogenous dissemination group had a higher prevalence of males, younger patients, abdominal distension, and positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results, along with higher CD4⁺ T cell counts and lymphocyte counts. Conversely, the hematogenous group exhibited more HIV-positive patients, positive results of smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining, pleural effusion, and cough and sputum production. Significant differences were noted in the distribution, size, fusion, and enhancement patterns of ATBL between the two groups. ATBL in the hematogenous dissemination group predominantly involved the upper and lower para-aortic regions, the hepatoduodenal ligament, the portocaval space, the hepatogastric ligament, and the iliac vessels region. In contrast, the non-hematogenous dissemination group had more involvement in the mesenteric region. Lymph nodes in the hematogenous dissemination group were larger diameters, with irregular mass fusion and mixed enhancement pattern, while homogeneous enhancement was more common in the non-hematogenous dissemination group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There are differences in the clinical and CT manifestations of ATBL caused by hematogenous versus non-hematogenous dissemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"710"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085788","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":"Impact of hepatitis C virus genotype on the efficacy of the direct-acting antivirals in chronic kidney disease patients in West Bengal, India.","authors":"Sagnik Bakshi, Supradip Dutta, Aritra Biswas, Raina Das, Shreyasi Nath, Anwesha Ghosh, Upasana Baskey, Provash Chandra Sadhukhan","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10947-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10947-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increases the risk of mortality and morbidity among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the advancement of HCV treatment has made this viral infection curable. Thus, the main objective of this study was to comprehend the HCV genotype (GT) distribution and the efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among CKD patients in West Bengal.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Over five years (January 2017 to December 2021), 310 HCV sero-reactive patients were enrolled in this observational prospective study. HCV RNA was quantified using qRT-PCR. The partial amplification of the core (405 bp) and NS5B (389 bp) region was performed by nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing for HCV genotype analysis using the NCBI genotyping tool. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using the MEGA-X tool.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The occurrence of HCV RNA positivity was 50.64% (n = 157), and of these 157 patients, 141 (89.81%) completed the DAAs treatment. The most important observation of the study was the prevalence of uncommon HCV genotype GT-1c (67.52%) followed by 1a, 4a, 3a, 1b, and 3b among CKD patients. The overall DAAs efficacy between January 2017 and December 2018 was ~ 97%, and in January 2019 and December 2021, ~ 95% among CKD patients. At the same time, in these two phases, DAAs efficacy among GT-1c-infected CKD patients was ˜ 96% and ˜ 93%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prevalence of GT-1c among CKD patients was unusual in this geographic region. The overall efficacy of DAAs among the CKD population was encouraging. However, the downtrend of the DAAs efficacy in GT-1c may increase concern among this high-risk group in the future.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"706"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085790","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":"Lactobacillus plantarum liver abscess following ERCP: a case report and review.","authors":"Wenjing Ren, Yuran Wei, Guanping Lian, Chuwei Yang, Yufei Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11094-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-11094-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lactobacillus plantarum is a probiotic. It has a positive effect on the intestinal flora, improving intestinal barrier function and regulating immune function. At present, it is clinically used to prevent or treat a variety of diseases. However, in recent years, serious infections caused by Lactobacillus plantarum have been reported. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the main methods for managing biliary and pancreatic disorders. With the widespread application of ERCP, there are increasing reports of concurrent infections.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>In this case, a 62-year-old female patient with pancreatic cancer developed chills and fever after undergoing ERCP and biliary stenting. She was diagnosed with a liver abscess, and the pathogenic bacterium identified was Lactobacillus plantarum, a rare instance of a probiotic causing disease.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This report describes the first case of a liver abscess caused by Lactobacillus plantarum following ERCP. This suggests that although Lactobacillus plantarum is a probiotic, it is risky for patients with anatomical disruptions, impaired mucosal barrier function, or immunocompromised status. Clinical applications of Lactobacillus plantarum should be treated with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"704"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082897/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144075816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing schistosomiasis surveillance: standardization and application of an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach for detecting Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil.","authors":"Sandra Grossi Gava, Isadora Rodrigues de Carvalho, Marcello Otake Sato, Megumi Sato, Natália de Melo Nasser Fava, Patrícia Martins Parreiras, Aureo Almeida de Oliveira, Sueleny Silva Ferreira Teixeira, Adelina Junia Lourenço, Omar Dos Santos Carvalho, Lângia Colli Montresor, Marina Moraes Mourão, Roberta Lima Caldeira","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11069-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-11069-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Schistosoma sp. transmission is linked to water bodies, poor sanitation, and the presence of intermediate hosts. Nevertheless, parasite detection in snails is hampered by challenges in snail sampling and low infection rates, mainly in moderate and low-endemic areas, as well as requiring specialized personnel and being time-consuming. Thus, there is a need to improve tools to assist schistosomiasis surveillance and an environmental DNA (eDNA) approach may help to overcome these limitations. Here, we standardized and used an eDNA-based approach to monitor Schistosoma mansoni occurrence in two schistosomiasis endemic areas from Minas Gerais, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The eDNA approach was standardized for local conditions by evaluating the specificity of the qPCR assay in detecting the parasite DNA. Water from snail breeding tanks containing Biomphalaria glabrata, either infected or not with S. mansoni, was used to standardize the eDNA filtration and extraction protocols. Three molecular techniques- Low-Stringency PCR (LS-PCR), Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and quantitative PCR (qPCR)- were applied to investigate samples from snail tanks and two field surveys. Additionally, malacological surveys and measurements of water physicochemical and microbiological parameters were conducted at the same locations to know the species of mollusks present and the ideal environmental conditions to identify hotspots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The qPCR assay was specifically amplified Schistosoma sp. DNA without amplifying other trematodes presents in Brazil, ensuring accurate detection without cross-amplification. All three molecular assays efficiently detected S. mansoni DNA only from eDNA samples from tanks with infected snails. The eDNA approach, associated with LAMP and qPCR assays, successfully identified S. mansoni DNA at the same collection points where snails releasing cercariae were found and at one additional site, that was missed by traditional methods, underscoring its sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study illustrates the potential of employing eDNA sampling combined with molecular techniques as an effective strategy for monitoring and identifying potential schistosomiasis transmission foci in endemic areas. This approach aligns with the WHO's roadmap for schistosomiasis elimination by 2030 and has implications for public health interventions and control measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"703"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12079815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144075738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping the role of vaccines in combating AMR in the WHO African region: a scoping review and implications for research and policy.","authors":"Chinwe Iwu-Jaja, Laetitia Gahimbare, Akhona V Mazingisa, Walter Fuller, Degefaw Y Mazengiya, Joseph Okeibunor, Olushayo O Olu, Patrick de Marie C Katoto, Ali A Yahaya, Kwasi Nyarko, Charles S Wiysonge","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-11080-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-11080-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There is substantive evidence that vaccines play a crucial role in curbing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This has a potentially high impact in the WHO African Region. However, there is a need for a viable strategy to leverage vaccines in addressing AMR in the region. We conducted a scoping review to map existing evidence on the role of vaccines in combating AMR in the WHO African Region, identify critical knowledge gaps, and propose priority areas for research and policy interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We systematically reviewed the literature to identify studies that have been published in this area, with no date or study design restriction. The search results were screened for eligibility, and data from eligible studies were extracted and synthesised following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 10 studies were included in this review. Seven studies either focused on Africa as a whole or were multi-regional studies that included Africa, with country-specific studies mostly from South Africa and Ethiopia. Four studies focused on pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), while others examined influenza, rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, tuberculosis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccines. Five studies estimated the potential impact of vaccines on AMR, focusing on outcomes such as reductions in AMR burden, disease incidence, deaths due to resistant pathogens, and antibiotic consumption. The remaining studies examined economic value and potential role in antimicrobial stewardship programmes. Three studies addressed policy-related issues, including potential barriers and collaboration between AMR and vaccination programmes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review underscores the need for more country-level studies to build evidence on vaccine impact on AMR, including cost-effectiveness studies. Research priorities should include clinical trials with AMR-related endpoints and evaluation of vaccine impact during new vaccine introductions. Strengthening AMR surveillance systems and enhancing collaboration between AMR and vaccination programmes are crucial. The development and review of regulatory frameworks that explicitly address vaccines and AMR may be required.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"702"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144075832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}