Article
Infectious Diseases
Robert Colebunders, Christoph Kaiser, Maria-Gloria Basanez, Piero Olliaro, Tom Lakwo, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo
Summary: Efforts are underway to eliminate onchocerciasis transmission through community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) in Africa, but it remains a major public health problem in several countries. Strengthening elimination efforts in high-prevalence areas is crucial. Clinical trials are needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of ivermectin treatment for pregnant women and children. Additionally, supplementing annual CDTI with extra rounds of ivermectin treatment for at-risk school-age children could help achieve elimination.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Uwem F. Ekpo, Obiora A. Eneanya, Edith N. Nwankwo, Islamiat Y. Soneye, Gary J. Weil, Peter U. Fischer, Obioma C. Nwaorgu
Summary: This study conducted cross-sectional community surveys in villages in Enugu and Ogun states to determine the current prevalence of onchocerciasis. The results indicate that despite multiple rounds of ivermectin mass drug administration, the infection still persists in adults in these villages.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Astrid Christine Erber, Esther Ariyo, Piero Olliaro, Patricia Nicolas, Carlos Chaccour, Robert Colebunders
Summary: Pregnant women are currently excluded from treatment programs involving ivermectin due to safety concerns, resulting in sustained infection reservoirs and depriving women of potential benefits. Studies suggest that treating O. volvulus infected women with ivermectin may improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce risks for their children. Establishing a roadmap, conducting clinical trials, and creating a pregnancy registry are proposed as steps towards providing essential interventions and building robust evidence for pregnant women.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Philip Cooper, Mariella Anselmi, Cintia Caicedo, Andrea Lopez, Yosselin Vicuna, Jaen J. Cagua Ordonez, Julio Rivera Bonilla, Alejandro J. Rodriguez, Aida Soto, Angel J. Guevara
Summary: Yaws, a chronic disease caused by Treponema pallidum, is transmitted among children through skin-to-skin contact. This study analyzed serum samples from children in a geographically isolated rainforest region in Ecuador and found very low levels of yaws transmission, which may be attributed to other forms of syphilis. This study provides evidence for the elimination of yaws transmission in Ecuador.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Obiora A. Eneanya, Benjamin G. Koudou, Meite Aboulaye, Aba Ange Elvis, Yeo Souleymane, Marie-Madeleine Kouakou, Gary J. Weil, Peter U. Fischer
Summary: Cote d'Ivoire has made significant progress in reducing onchocerciasis infection through various interventions from 1975 to the present. By utilizing machine learning algorithms, the study was able to predict areas at risk for infection and identify infection hotspots. These results provide valuable information for future interventions to eliminate onchocerciasis in Cote d'Ivoire.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Dominika A. Kalkowska, Kamran Badizadegan, Kimberly M. Thompson
Summary: Since 2013, wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission has only occurred for type 1 (WPV1). Pakistan and Afghanistan implemented extensive supplementary immunization activities in late 2020 and 2021, leading to a significant decrease in the number of WPV1 cases and positive environmental samples in 2021. A stochastic model was used to estimate the confidence about no circulation (CNC) of WPV1 in Pakistan and Afghanistan based on the time since the last reported case and/or positive environmental sample. The study showed that even with imperfect surveillance, high confidence in the absence of WPV1 circulation can be achieved through high-quality acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Dominika A. Kalkowska, Kimberly M. Thompson
Summary: This study uses a transmission model to estimate the probability of undetected poliovirus circulation after apparent die-out, finding high confidence in no circulation of WPV3 and increasing confidence in WPV1 circulation. The results suggest that maintaining or improving conditions in Borno and Yobe will lead to high confidence in the absence of any detected cases by mid-2020. Gaps in surveillance or borderline population immunity can significantly delay reaching high confidence about no undetected poliovirus transmission.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Laura Willen, Philip Milton, Jonathan I. D. Hamley, Martin Walker, Mike Osei-Atweneboana, Petr Volf, Maria-Gloria Basanez, Orin Courtenay
Summary: In onchocerciasis endemic areas, the heterogeneity of blackfly biting rates on humans may partially explain the age- and sex-dependent infection patterns. By evaluating the antibody responses to blackfly saliva antigens, we can gain insights into blackfly exposure and improve onchocerciasis transmission models for control and surveillance.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Joseph A. Ngatse, Gilbert Ndziessi, Francois Missamou, Rodrigue Kinouani, Marlhand Hemilembolo, Sebastien D. Pion, Kirsten A. Bork, Ange A. Abena, Michel Boussinesq, Cedric B. Chesnais
Summary: This article investigates the prevalence of neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs) in the Republic of the Congo, revealing that PC-NTDs other than trachoma are still endemic in specific areas of the country. To eliminate these diseases, further studies and investment in scientific research are required.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Daniel J. F. Gerber, Sanjaya Dhakal, Md. Nazmul Islam, Abdullah Al Kawsar, Md. Abul Khair, Md. Mujibur Rahman, Md. Jahirul Karim, Md. Shafiqur Rahman, M. M. Aktaruzzaman, Cara Tupps, Mariana Stephens, Paul M. Emerson, Jurg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou
Summary: This study evaluates the geographic distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in school-age children in Bangladesh and identifies risk factors and treatment needs. The findings show that the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Bangladesh has been reduced by at least 80% since the implementation of preventive chemotherapy. The study suggests that the treatment strategy should be adapted to the local prevalence to reduce overtreatment.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lukman A. Raji, Olufemi E. Babalola, Danjuma Musa, Amina Hassan, Ismail Raji, Murtala M. Umar, Jimoh A. Ogungbenjo, Mahmoud B. Alhassan
Summary: The study assessed the coverage of community-directed treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Jigawa state, Nigeria. The findings revealed that coverage was affected by factors such as drug unavailability, household member absenteeism, and inadequate incentives and record keeping by community directed distributors. Sustaining and achieving elimination of onchocerciasis requires sufficient drug supply, training and retraining of community directed distributors, adequate supervision in record keeping, and health education to the community.
ANNALS OF AFRICAN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Anissa Chouikha, Marwa Khedhiri, Hatem Triki, Walid Hammemi, Amel Sadraoui, Henda Touzi, Ahlem Ben Yahia, Amel Chtourou, Saba Gargouri, Lamia Feki Ben Rajah, Hela Hakim Karray, Henda Triki
Summary: The study in Tunisia reveals a high prevalence of genotype 1/subtype 1b in the general population, while showing a significant increase in the prevalence of genotypes 2, 3, and 4 over time. Different genotypes have varied age and gender distribution among infected individuals. Further research on HCV genotypes is needed to enhance treatment strategies in Tunisia.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tijana Williams, Mohammad Jahirul Karim, Shihab Uddin, Sharmin Jahan, A. S. M. Sultan Mahmood, Shaun P. P. Forbes, Anna Hooper, Mark J. J. Taylor, Louise A. A. Kelly-Hope
Summary: This study examined the socio-economic and environmental factors associated with the distribution of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Bangladesh. The results showed that rural areas, poverty, lack of electricity and sanitation facilities, and lower temperatures in the rainy season were associated with high risk of LF morbidity. These findings can inform public health messages and interventions to reduce the risk of LF transmission and achieve elimination targets.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ihab Hasan Hatif, Haslinda Mohamed Kamar, Nazri Kamsah, Keng Yinn Wong
Summary: This study compares the effectiveness of different air distribution systems, including mixing ventilation (MV), displacement ventilation (DV), and stratum ventilation (SV), and evaluates specific influencing factors for each system. The results show that no single system consistently outperforms others, and the effectiveness depends on different conditions. DV and SV systems may have higher infection risks in certain situations, while MV systems are recommended for use when people's locations and relative positions are unclear.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mathias Franzen Boger, Nora Benhach, Tyra Hasselrot, Rhonda M. Brand, Lisa C. Rohan, Lin Wang, Ian McGowan, Stacey Edick, Ken Ho, Leslie Meyn, Nobuyuki Matoba, Kenneth E. Palmer, Kristina Broliden, Annelie Tjernlund
Summary: To reduce HIV transmission, locally applied pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) products for anorectal use will be important. In this phase 1 clinical trial, a topical rectal douche product containing Q-Griffithsin (Q-GRFT) was evaluated. There were no significant differences in epithelial distribution of markers or CD4(+) cells when comparing different timepoints or Q-GRFT versus placebo. The rectal epithelium and CD4(+) cell distribution remained unchanged following topical application of Q-GRFT.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)