Article
Parasitology
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Leonard Ngarka, Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi, Peter Ayuk Enyong, Anne-Cecile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek, Alfred Kongnyu Njamnshi
Summary: This study investigated the onchocerciasis situation in the Ntui Health District in Cameroon, revealing high biting rates but low black fly infection rates, with a higher prevalence in epilepsy patients. It also found evidence of ongoing O. volvulus infection endemicity in these communities.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander Kwarteng, Ebenezer Asiedu, Augustina Sylverken, Amma Larbi, Yusif Mubarik, Charles Apprey
Summary: The study utilized a drug repurposing approach to identify potential anti-Wolbachia agents for filarial infections. Through virtual screening and molecular simulations, paritaprevir and nilotinib were proposed as candidates with high binding affinities to the catalytic pocket of Wolbachia's enzyme. Further experimental validations are suggested for these drugs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Stephen Raimon Jada, Alfred Dusabimana, Gasim Abd-Elfarag, Samuel Okaro, Nele Brusselaers, Jane Y. Carter, Makoy Yibi Logora, Jacopo Mattia Rovarini, Charles R. Newton, Robert Colebunders
Summary: A two-phase survey conducted in Mundri villages in South Sudan revealed a high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy. Urgent action is needed to prevent onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy by strengthening elimination programs.
Article
Parasitology
Vera Wewer, Helga Peisker, Katharina Gutbrod, Mazen Al-Bahra, Dirk Menche, Ngongeh Glory Amambo, Fanny F. Fombad, Abdel Jelil Njouendou, Kenneth Pfarr, Samuel Wanji, Achim Hoerauf, Peter Doermann
Summary: The study screened urine samples from individuals in Cameroon infected with O. volvulus, Loa loa, Mansonella perstans, or a combination. Elevated levels of NATOG and cinnamoylglycine were found in O. volvulus-infected individuals, suggesting a potential for using a combination of urine metabolites for onchocerciasis assessment at a population level.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Arnauld Efon Ekangouo, Hugues C. Nana Djeunga, Guilhem Sempere, Joseph Kamgno, Flobert Njiokou, Paul Moundipa Fewou, Anne Geiger
Summary: This study explores the potential of blackfly bacteriome as a novel approach for controlling onchocerciasis by investigating its composition and variability in the presence of Onchocerca volvulus infection. The results suggest a causal relationship between the bacteriome composition and the onset of blackflies' infection by O. volvulus.
Article
Microbiology
Melissa Krizia Vieri, An Hotterbeekx, Michel Mandro, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Alfred Dusabimana, Francoise Nyisi, Deby Mukendi, Joe Gwatsvaira, Samir Kumar-Singh, Robert Colebunders
Summary: Despite the association between O. volvulus and OAE, elevated serotonin levels are not able to explain the pathogenesis of OAE. Other hypotheses will need to be investigated to identify the causal mechanism of OAE.
Review
Immunology
Bin Zhan, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez, Sara Lustigman
Summary: Human onchocerciasis is a devastating tropical disease caused by infection of Onchocerca volvulus, leading to visual impairment and dermatitis. Mass drug administration has reduced prevalence, but challenges such as drug resistance and adverse events remain, highlighting the need for vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Benjamin Jacob, Denis Loum, Denis Munu, Thomson Lakwo, Edson Byamukama, Peace Habomugisha, Eddie W. Cupp, Thomas R. Unnasch
Summary: Studies have shown that conducting slash and clear interventions within 2 km of affected communities can reduce vector biting by 95%. Interventions conducted at the start of the rainy season led to a 97% reduction in biting rate, while interventions at the end of the season resulted in a 94% reduction. Vector numbers in intervention villages did not fully recover by the following rainy season.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Stephen Raimon, Alfred Dusabimana, Gasim Abd-Elfarag, Samuel Okaro, Jane Y. Carter, Charles R. Newton, Makoy Yibi Logora, Robert Colebunders
Summary: A study conducted in Mvolo County, South Sudan, revealed a high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy, with factors such as younger age, male gender, skin itching, blindness, and living near the Naam River identified as risk factors for epilepsy. Additionally, the transmission of parasites remains high in the region, with a low percentage of individuals receiving treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kerstin Fischer, Bettina Dubben, Linda B. Debrah, Janina M. Kuehlwein, Arcangelo Ricchiuto, Alexander Y. Debrah, Achim Hoerauf, Gary J. Weil, Peter U. Fischer, Ute Klarmann-Schulz
Summary: The agreement between two independent experts in the analysis of onchocercal nodule sections and the value of digital imaging as a means of standardizing the analysis were assessed. The results showed high agreement for important parameters such as female worm counts and viability, while other parameters varied more. Analysis of scanned images provided similar results to direct microscopy. The use of high quality digital images for analysis can improve the quality and availability of nodule assessments.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Cabirou Mounchili Shintouo, Stephen Mbigha Ghogomu, Robert Adamu Shey, An Hotterbeekx, Emel Yagmur, Tony Mets, Luc Vanhamme, Robert Colebunders, Jacob Souopgui, Rose Njemini
Summary: This study compared the sensitivity of two antibody tests (OvMANE1 and Ov-16) for detecting Onchocerca volvulus infection in individuals with microfilaria in skin snips. Results showed high sensitivity of both tests in individuals with the parasite, but further evaluation on samples from populations infected with other helminths is needed to determine specificity.
Article
Parasitology
Adam Hendy, Meryam Krit, Kenneth Pfarr, Christine Laemmer, Jacobus De Witte, Philippe Nwane, Joseph Kamgno, Hugues C. Nana-Djeunga, Michel Boussinesq, Jean-Claude Dujardin, Rory Post, Robert Colebunders, Sarah O'Neill, Peter Enyong, Alfred K. Njamnshi
Summary: The study found high densities of biting black flies sustaining transmission of O. volvulus along the lower Mbam river, despite relatively low infection rates that do not meet the WHO threshold for interruption of transmission.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Abril Velasco-Murguia, Rafael F. del Castillo, Matthias Ros, Raul Rivera-Garcia
Summary: The milpa is a traditional agroecosystem in Mesoamerica, dependent on the fallows left after cultivation for soil recovery. A study in north-western Oaxaca, Mexico, shows that milpa fallows develop into forests dominated by pines or alders around two decades after cultivation, with little changes in plant density and vegetation cover thereafter. Species composition and diversity change during succession, influenced by factors like moisture and watershed characteristics. Older stands diverge in composition from younger stands within the same watershed, indicating a lack of convergence towards a climax community.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Stefan Schlabe, Patricia Korir, Christine Laemmer, Frederic Landmann, Bettina Dubben, Marianne Koschel, Anna Albers, Linda Batsa Debrah, Alexander Yaw Debrah, Marc P. Huebner, Kenneth Pfarr, Ute Klarmann-Schulz, Achim Hoerauf
Summary: The study developed a qPCR-based method to quantify Wolbachia from a small number of microfilariae obtained from skin biopsies. This method can be used as a surrogate parameter for monitoring Wolbachia depletion in adult worms of new anti-wolbachial candidates.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Yannick Niamsi-Emalio, Hugues C. Nana-Djeunga, Cedric B. Chesnais, Sebastien D. S. Pion, Jules B. Tchatchueng-Mbougua, Michel Boussinesq, Maria-Gloria Basanez, Joseph Kamgno
Summary: This study found a significant relationship between L. loa microfilarial density (Loa MFD) and the probability of testing positive by skin snip technique (SST). The probability of testing SST positive exceeded 27% when Loa MFD was above 4080 mf/mL, indicating a considerable impact of L. loa density on SST results.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Mark F. Olson, Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah, Jose G. Juarez, Selene Garcia-Luna, Estelle Martin, Monica K. Borucki, Matthias Frank, Jose Guillermo Estrada-Franco, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez, Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Gloria de Jesus Molina-Gamboa, Santos Daniel Carmona Aguirre, Bernardita de Lourdes Reyes-Berrones, Luis Javier Cortes-De la Cruz, Alejandro Garcia-Barrientos, Raul E. Huidobro-Guevara, Regina M. Brussolo-Ceballos, Josue Ramirez, Aaron Salazar, Luis F. Chaves, Ismael E. Badillo-Vargas, Gabriel L. Hamer
Article
Parasitology
Adebiyi A. Adeniran, Luis M. Hernandez-Triana, Aldo I. Ortega-Morales, Javier A. Garza-Hernandez, Josue de la Cruz-Ramos, Rahuel J. Chan-Chable, Rafael Vazquez-Marroquin, Heron Huerta-Jimenez, Nadya I. Nikolova, Anthony R. Fooks, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: Mosquitoes in Mexico State were surveyed using DNA barcoding and morphology, resulting in a comprehensive species checklist with new records. The study highlights the utility of DNA barcoding as a complementary tool for accurate mosquito species identification.
Article
Entomology
Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez, Tanya L. Russell, Omar Olguin-Rodriguez, Stephanie Laredo-Tiscareno, Javier A. Garza-Hernandez, Filiberto Reyes-Villanueva
SOUTHWESTERN ENTOMOLOGIST
(2020)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jose Guillermo Estrada-Franco, Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Adeniran A. Adebiyi, Maria de J. Lopez-Lopez, Jesus A. Aguilar-Duran, Luis M. Hernandez-Triana, Sean W. J. Prosser, Paul D. N. Hebert, Anthony R. Fooks, Gabriel L. Hamer, Ling Xue, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Luis M. Hernandez-Triana, Javier A. Garza-Hernandez, Aldo Ortega Morales, Sean W. J. Prosser, Paul D. N. Hebert, Nadya Nikolova, Elsa Barrero, Erick de J. de Luna-Santillana, Vicente H. Gonzalez-Alvarez, Ramon Mendez-Lopez, Rahuel J. Chan-Chable, Anthony R. Fooks, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: This study in Mexico analyzed mosquito feeding preferences and blood meal sources from RNA extracts, identifying multiple organisms from a single extract for the first time. A total of 1,634 mosquito specimens were collected, with four new species records for Mexico and nine new records for Chiapas State. High intraspecific divergence values were observed in certain taxa, and blood meal analysis revealed feeding preferences of different mosquito species.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Filiberto Reyes-Villanueva, Tanya L. Russell, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: The study demonstrates that the contact rate between Metarhizium anisopliae-infected males and wild female Aedes aegypti was 60% higher than that of healthy males, indicating the potential of auto-dissemination of the fungi. Further research is needed to validate the effectiveness of this strategy against mosquito populations.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sofia N. Rodriguez Flores, Luis Mario Rodriguez-Martinez, Bernardita L. Reyes-Berrones, Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Elthon J. Sierra-Moncada, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: The study compared the SalivaDirect protocol with standard nucleic acid extraction protocol for COVID-19 samples, finding that SalivaDirect protocol had slightly lower sensitivity when using saliva samples, resulting in a 6.4% reduction in overall assay performance.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Christian Mariel Saenz-Santos, Omotayo Opemipo Oyedara, Yunia Veronica Garcia-Tejeda, Claudia A. Romero-Bastida, Esperanza Milagros Garcia-Oropesa, Eduardo Villalobo, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: The study evaluated the viability of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus in biopolymeric films, with CA-S film showing less reduction in bacterial viability. This suggests that CA-S could be a better agent for immobilization and preservation of B. bacteriovorus for enhanced predatory activities against Escherichia coli.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Francisco Gibert Prado-Velasco, Dey Carol Damian-Gonzalez, Thomas R. Unnasch, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: This study presents a historical review of the successful elimination of onchocerciasis and trachoma in Mexico, along with a cost-effectiveness assessment demonstrating the worth of these health interventions. The cost per person during the elimination programs for onchocerciasis and trachoma was estimated to be $310.68 and $38.92, respectively.
RESEARCH AND REPORTS IN TROPICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jordan Salomon, Nadia Angelica Fernandez Santos, Italo B. Zecca, Jose G. Estrada-Franco, Edward Davila, Gabriel L. Hamer, Mario Alberto Rodriguez Perez, Sarah A. Hamer
Summary: This study evaluated dogs and ticks in Reynosa, northeastern Mexico, and found that brown dog ticks may serve as vectors for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), with a tick infection rate of 4.1% in dogs. This is the first documentation of pathogenic Rickettsia species in brown dog ticks from northeastern Mexico, highlighting the importance of public and veterinary health surveillance for these pathogens.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Norma Zamora-Aviles, Alonso A. Orozco-Flores, Ricardo Gomez-Flores, Maribel Dominguez-Gamez, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez, Patricia Tamez-Guerra
Summary: The incidence of Aedes aegypti has increased in recent years, causing fatal viral diseases. Beauveria bassiana has shown efficacy in biological control of Ae. aegypti, but its effectiveness depends on host susceptibility and strain virulence. This study explores the use of microgranular formulations with additives to increase adult exposure and improve biocontrol effectiveness.
Article
Entomology
Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Josefina C. Trujillo-Garcia, Sarah A. Hamer, Lihua Wei, Humberto Martinez-Montoya, Patricia Tamez-Guerra, Gabriel L. Hamer, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: This study provides entomological and parasitological data on triatomine vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in a highly endemic region of Mexico. The morphological and molecular identification of four principal domestic species was conducted, and their presence in Oaxaca was documented. The study highlights the importance of accurate identification and understanding of the behavior and infection rates of these triatomines for vector control programs.
Article
Entomology
Jesus A. Aguilar-Duran, Cuauhtemoc Villarreal-Trevino, Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Gabriel L. Hamer, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: This study collected 7 species of mosquitoes and 28 species of fungi in Mexico and found that Aspergillus tamarii was the most virulent fungi against Aedes aegypti, potentially serving as a biological control tool for the dengue vector.
ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Edward Davila, Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Jose Guillermo Estrada-Franco, Lihua Wei, Jesus A. Aguilar-Duran, Maria de J. Lopez-Lopez, Roberto Solis-Hernandez, Rosario Garcia-Miranda, Doireyner Daniel Velazquez-Ramirez, Jasiel Torres-Romero, Susana Arellano Chavez, Raul Cruz-Cadena, Roberto Navarro-Lopez, Adalberto A. Perez de Leon, Carlos Guichard-Romero, Estelle Martin, Wendy Tang, Matthias Frank, Monica Borucki, Michael J. Turell, Alex Pauvolid-Correa, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez, Hector Ochoa-Diaz-Lopez, Sarah A. Hamer, Gabriel L. Hamer
Summary: The study tested 294 domestic pet dogs in Mexico for neutralizing antibodies for mosquito-borne flaviviruses, finding high exposure to West Nile virus in some areas and low exposure to Aedes-borne flaviviruses. Domestic dogs may serve as useful sentinels for monitoring West Nile virus.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Aldo Ortega-Morales, Luis M. Hernandez-Triana, Rahuel J. Chan-Chable, Javier A. Garza-Hernandez, Vicente H. Gonzalez-Alvarez, Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo, Nadya Nikolova, Arely MartInez-Arce, Anthony R. Fooks, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: Accurate identification of mosquito species is essential for studying distribution and control programs. This study used morphological and molecular approaches to evaluate mosquitoes in southeastern Mexico, showing that COI DNA barcodes are a reliable method for mosquito species identification.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION
(2021)