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de Vrij N, Pollmann J, Rezende AM, Ibarra-Meneses AV, Pham TT, Hailemichael W, Kassa M, Bogale T, Melkamu R, Yeshanew A, Mohammed R, Diro E, Maes I, Domagalska MA, Landuyt H, Vogt F, van Henten S, Laukens K, Cuypers B, Meysman P, Beyene H, Sisay K, Kibret A, Mersha D, Ritmeijer K, van Griensven J, Adriaensen W. Persistent T cell unresponsiveness associated with chronic visceral leishmaniasis in HIV-coinfected patients. Commun Biol 2024; 7:524. [PMID: 38702419 PMCID: PMC11068874 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06225-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A large proportion of HIV-coinfected visceral leishmaniasis (VL-HIV) patients exhibit chronic disease with frequent VL recurrence. However, knowledge on immunological determinants underlying the disease course is scarce. We longitudinally profiled the circulatory cellular immunity of an Ethiopian HIV cohort that included VL developers. We show that chronic VL-HIV patients exhibit high and persistent levels of TIGIT and PD-1 on CD8+/CD8- T cells, in addition to a lower frequency of IFN-γ+ TIGIT- CD8+/CD8- T cells, suggestive of impaired T cell functionality. At single T cell transcriptome and clonal resolution, the patients show CD4+ T cell anergy, characterised by a lack of T cell activation and lymphoproliferative response. These findings suggest that PD-1 and TIGIT play a pivotal role in VL-HIV chronicity, and may be further explored for patient risk stratification. Our findings provide a strong rationale for adjunctive immunotherapy for the treatment of chronic VL-HIV patients to break the recurrent disease cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky de Vrij
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Julia Pollmann
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antonio M Rezende
- Department of Microbiology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute-FIOCRUZ/PE, Recife, Brazil
| | - Ana V Ibarra-Meneses
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Thao-Thy Pham
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wasihun Hailemichael
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Mekibib Kassa
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadfe Bogale
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Roma Melkamu
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Arega Yeshanew
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Rezika Mohammed
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ermias Diro
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ilse Maes
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Malgorzata A Domagalska
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hanne Landuyt
- Clinical Trial Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Florian Vogt
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
- Unit of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Saskia van Henten
- Unit of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kris Laukens
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bart Cuypers
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Meysman
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Johan van Griensven
- Unit of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Adriaensen
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
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2
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Yu B, Jing P, Gao F, Zhang P, Zheng G, Zhang X. Effect of sodium stibogluconate in recruiting and awakening immune cells in the pleural fluid of pancreatic cancer: preparation for immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1315468. [PMID: 38313432 PMCID: PMC10835622 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1315468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascites and pleural effusion are recognized complications of pancreatic cancer. These diseases are accompanied by ascites and pleural effusion, and drug treatment is limited by high costs, long hospital stays, and failure rates. Immunotherapy may offer new option, but in most patients with late stages of cancer, immune cells may lose the ability to recognize tumor cells, how to activate their immune cells is a major problem, sodium glucosidate (SSG) is injected into ascites as a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor to wake up immune cells and prepare for immunotherapy. We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate whether and how SSG injected into ascites of pancreatic cancer elicits an immune response. Our study showed that the process of SSG fusion treatment of ascites and pleural effusion, the interaction between TandNK cells, MPs cells, monocytes and neutrophils was induced, and large numbers of genes were expressed, resulting in upregulation of immune response, which also approved that SSG is not only used as a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, but also it works as a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. It can also be used to regulate immune cell function, recruiting immune cells to the right place with the help of PD-1 or PD-L1 to fight cancer cells in ascites and pleural effusions in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baofa Yu
- Department of Oncology, TaiMei Baofa Cancer Hospital, Dongping, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Jinan Baofa Cancer Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Baofa Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Internal Medicine, South China Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Immune Oncology Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Peng Jing
- Department of Oncology, TaiMei Baofa Cancer Hospital, Dongping, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Oncology, TaiMei Baofa Cancer Hospital, Dongping, Shandong, China
| | - Peicheng Zhang
- Department of Oncology, TaiMei Baofa Cancer Hospital, Dongping, Shandong, China
| | - Guoqin Zheng
- Department of Oncology, TaiMei Baofa Cancer Hospital, Dongping, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, TaiMei Baofa Cancer Hospital, Dongping, Shandong, China
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3
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Ademe M, Osorio Y, Howe R, Atnafu S, Mulaw T, Fikre H, Travi BL, Hailu A, Melby PC, Abebe T. Hematological and Clinical Features Associated with Initial Poor Treatment Outcomes in Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients with and without HIV Coinfection in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:36. [PMID: 36668943 PMCID: PMC9867226 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ethiopia is among the countries with a high leishmaniasis burden. In this retrospective review, we aimed to determine hematological and clinical features associated with initial poor treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients. The majority of VL cases in this study had leucopenia (94.3%), thrombocytopenia (87.1%), and anemia (85.9%). HIV coinfection was present in 7.0% (n = 23) of VL cases. At the center, VL patients without HIV coinfection were treated with sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin combination, whereas HIV coinfected cases were treated with AmBisome and miltefosine combination therapy. End-of-treatment cure rates among HIV-positive and HIV-negative visceral leishmaniasis cases, respectively, were 52.2% and 96.9%. Case fatality rates were 34.8% and 2.7% in HIV-positive and HIV-negative cases, respectively. Overall, non-survivors in this study were more likely to have HIV (55.0% vs. 4.1%, p < 0.001), sepsis (15.0% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.019), and dyspnea (40.0% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001) at admission. In this regard, particular attention to the management of superimposed disease conditions at admission, including sepsis, HIV, and dyspnea, is needed to improve VL patients’ treatment outcomes. The inadequacy of the current treatments, i.e., AmBisome and miltefosine combination therapy, for HIV coinfected visceral leishmaniasis patients requires further attention as it calls for new treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muluneh Ademe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia
| | - Yaneth Osorio
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Route 0435, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Rawliegh Howe
- Aramuer Hanson Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1005, Ethiopia
| | - Saba Atnafu
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Center, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Mulaw
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Center, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
| | - Helina Fikre
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Center, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
| | - Bruno L. Travi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Route 0435, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Asrat Hailu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia
| | - Peter C. Melby
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Route 0435, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Tamrat Abebe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia
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Wijnant GJ, Dumetz F, Dirkx L, Bulté D, Cuypers B, Van Bocxlaer K, Hendrickx S. Tackling Drug Resistance and Other Causes of Treatment Failure in Leishmaniasis. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.837460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a tropical infectious disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania parasite. The disease is transmitted by female sand flies and, depending on the infecting parasite species, causes either cutaneous (stigmatizing skin lesions), mucocutaneous (destruction of mucous membranes of nose, mouth and throat) or visceral disease (a potentially fatal infection of liver, spleen and bone marrow). Although more than 1 million new cases occur annually, chemotherapeutic options are limited and their efficacy is jeopardized by increasing treatment failure rates and growing drug resistance. To delay the emergence of resistance to existing and new drugs, elucidating the currently unknown causes of variable drug efficacy (related to parasite susceptibility, host immunity and drug pharmacokinetics) and improved use of genotypic and phenotypic tools to define, measure and monitor resistance in the field are critical. This review highlights recent progress in our understanding of drug action and resistance in Leishmania, ongoing challenges (including setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic) and provides an overview of possible strategies to tackle this public health challenge.
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5
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Perea-Martínez A, García-Hernández R, Manzano JI, Gamarro F. Transcriptomic Analysis in Human Macrophages Infected with Therapeutic Failure Clinical Isolates of Leishmania infantum. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:800-810. [PMID: 35352952 PMCID: PMC9003231 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases with a worldwide distribution, affecting humans and animals. In the absence of an effective vaccine, current treatment is through the use of chemotherapy; however, existing treatments have frequent appearance of drug resistance and therapeutic failure (TF). The identification of factors that contribute to TF in leishmaniasis will provide the basis for a future therapeutic strategy more efficient for the control of this disease. In this article, we have evaluated the transcriptomic changes in the host cells THP-1 after infection with clinical Leishmania infantum isolates from leishmaniasis patients with TF. Our results show that distinct L. infantum isolates differentially modulate host cell response, inducing phenotypic changes that probably may account for parasite survival and TF of patients. Analysis of differential expression genes (DEGs), with a statistical significance threshold of a fold change ≥ 2 and a false discovery rate value ≤ 0.05, revealed a different number of DEGs according to the Leishmanialine. Globally, there was a similar number of genes up- and downregulated in all the infected host THP-1 cells, with exception of Hi-L2221, which showed a higher number of downregulated DEGs. We observed a total of 58 DEGs commonly modulated in all infected host cells, including upregulated (log2FC ≥ 1) and downregulated (log2FC ≤ -1) genes. Based on the results obtained from the analysis of RNA-seq, volcano plot, and GO enrichment analysis, we identified the most significant transcripts of relevance for their possible contribution to the TF observed in patients with leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Perea-Martínez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Raquel García-Hernández
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Manzano
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
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6
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Seth A, Kar S. Host-directed antileishmanial interventions: Harvesting unripe fruits to reach fruition. Int Rev Immunol 2022; 42:217-236. [PMID: 35275772 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2022.2047670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an exemplary paradigm of immune evasion, fraught with the perils of limited clinical assistance, escalating costs of treatment and made worse with the lack of suitable vaccine. While drugs remain central to large-scale disease control, the growing emergence of parasite resistance necessitates the need for combination therapy involving host-directed immunological agents. Also, since prolonged disease progression is associated with strong immune suppression of the host, augmentation of host immunity via restoration of the immunoregulatory circuit involving antigen-presenting cells and T-cells, activation of macrophage function and/or CD4+ T helper 1 cell differentiation may serve as an ideal approach to resolve severe cases of leishmaniasis. As such, therapies that embody a synergistic approach that involve direct killing of the parasite in addition to elevating host immunity are likely to pave the way for widespread elimination of leishmaniasis in the future. With this review, we aim to recapitulate the various immunotherapeutic agents found to hold promise in antileishmanial treatment both in vitro and in vivo. These include parasite-specific antigens, dendritic cell-targeted therapy, recombinant inhibitors of various components intrinsic to immune cell signaling and agonists or antagonists to immune cells and cytokines. We also summarize their abilities to direct therapeutic skewing of the host cell-immune response and review their potential to combat the disease either alone, or as adjunct modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Seth
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Susanta Kar
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
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Roatt BM, de Oliveira Cardoso JM, De Brito RCF, Coura-Vital W, de Oliveira Aguiar-Soares RD, Reis AB. Recent advances and new strategies on leishmaniasis treatment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:8965-8977. [PMID: 32875362 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10856-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the most important tropical neglected diseases according to the World Health Organization. Even after more than a century, we still have few drugs for the disease therapy and their great toxicity and side effects put in check the treatment control program around the world. Moreover, the emergence of strains resistant to conventional drugs, co-infections such as HIV/Leishmania spp., the small therapeutic arsenal (pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B and formulations, and miltefosine), and the low investment for the discovery/development of new drugs force researchers and world health agencies to seek new strategies to combat and control this important neglected disease. In this context, the aim of this review is to summarize new advances and new strategies used on leishmaniasis therapy addressing alternative and innovative treatment paths such as physical and local/topical therapies, combination or multi-drug uses, immunomodulation, drug repurposing, and the nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems.Key points• The treatment of leishmaniasis is a challenge for global health agencies.• Toxicity, side effects, reduced therapeutic arsenal, and drug resistance are the main problems.• New strategies and recent advances on leishmaniasis treatment are urgent.• Immunomodulators, nanotechnology, and drug repurposing are the future of leishmaniasis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mendes Roatt
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Jamille Mirelle de Oliveira Cardoso
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Rory Cristiane Fortes De Brito
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Wendel Coura-Vital
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-00, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Dian de Oliveira Aguiar-Soares
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-00, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Barbosa Reis
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil. .,Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. .,Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-00, Brazil.
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8
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Van Bockstal L, Hendrickx S, Maes L, Caljon G. Sand Fly Studies Predict Transmission Potential of Drug-resistant Leishmania. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:785-795. [PMID: 32713762 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites have the capacity to rapidly adapt to changing environments in their digenetic life cycle which alternates between a vertebrate and an invertebrate host. Emergence of resistance following drug exposure can evoke phenotypic alterations that affect several aspects of parasite fitness in both hosts. Current studies of the impact of resistance are mostly limited to interactions with the mammalian host and characterization of in vitro parasite growth and differentiation. Development in the vector and transmission capacity have been largely ignored. This review reflects on the impact of drug resistance on its spreading potential with specific focus on the use of the sand fly infection model to evaluate parasite development in the vector and the ensuing transmission potential of drug-resistant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieselotte Van Bockstal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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9
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Can We Harness Immune Responses to Improve Drug Treatment in Leishmaniasis? Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8071069. [PMID: 32709117 PMCID: PMC7409143 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8071069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease that has been neglected in priority for control and eradication of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Collectively, over one seventh of the world’s population is at risk of being infected with 0.7–1.2 million new infections reported annually. Clinical manifestations range from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral disease. The first anti-leishmanial drugs were introduced in the 1950′s and, despite several shortcomings, remain the mainstay for treatment. Regardless of this and the steady increase in infections over the years, particularly among populations of low economic status, research on leishmaniasis remains under funded. This review looks at the drugs currently in clinical use and how they interact with the host immune response. Employing chemoimmunotherapeutic approaches may be one viable alternative to improve the efficacy of novel/existing drugs and extend their lifespan in clinical use.
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10
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Mbui J, Olobo J, Omollo R, Solomos A, Kip AE, Kirigi G, Sagaki P, Kimutai R, Were L, Omollo T, Egondi TW, Wasunna M, Alvar J, Dorlo TPC, Alves F. Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy of an Allometric Miltefosine Regimen for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Eastern African Children: An Open-label, Phase II Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 68:1530-1538. [PMID: 30188978 PMCID: PMC6481997 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Convenient, safe, and effective treatments for visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern African children are lacking. Miltefosine, the only oral treatment, failed to achieve adequate efficacy, particularly in children, in whom linear dosing (2.5 mg/kg/day for 28 days) resulted in a 59% cure rate, with lower systemic exposure than in adults. METHODS We conducted a Phase II trial in 30 children with visceral leishmaniasis, aged 4-12 years, to test whether 28 days of allometric miltefosine dosing safely achieves a higher systemic exposure than linear dosing. RESULTS Miltefosine accumulated during treatment. Median areas under the concentration time curve from days 0-210 and plasma maximum concentration values were slightly higher than those reported previously for children on linear dosing, but not dose-proportionally. Miltefosine exposure at the start of treatment was increased, with higher median plasma concentrations on day 7 (5.88 versus 2.67 μg/mL). Concentration-time curves were less variable, avoiding the low levels of exposure observed with linear dosing. The 210-day cure rate was 90% (95% confidence interval, 73-98%), similar to that previously described in adults. There were 19 treatment-related adverse events (AEs), but none caused treatment discontinuation. There were 2 serious AEs: both were unrelated to treatment and both patients were fully recovered. CONCLUSIONS Allometric miltefosine dosing achieved increased and less-variable exposure than linear dosing, though not reaching the expected exposure levels. The new dosing regimen safely increased the efficacy of miltefosine for Eastern African children with visceral leishmaniasis. Further development of miltefosine should adopt allometric dosing in pediatric patients. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT02431143.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Mbui
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | - Joseph Olobo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leishmaniasis Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Anke E Kip
- Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital/the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam
| | - George Kirigi
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | | | | | - Lilian Were
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - Jorge Alvar
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas P C Dorlo
- Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital/the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam
| | - Fabiana Alves
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
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Abongomera C, van Henten S, Vogt F, Buyze J, Verdonck K, van Griensven J. Prognostic factors for mortality among patients with visceral leishmaniasis in East Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008319. [PMID: 32413028 PMCID: PMC7255612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease that is deadly if left untreated. Understanding which factors have prognostic value may help to focus clinical management and reduce case fatality. However, information about prognostic factors is scattered and conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify prognostic factors for mortality among VL patients in East Africa. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42016043112). We included studies published in English after 1970 describing VL patients treated in East African health facilities. To be included, studies had to report on associations between clinical or laboratory factors and mortality during admission or during VL treatment, with a minimal study size of ten patients. Conference abstracts and evaluations of genetic or immunological prognostic factors were excluded. We searched for studies in MEDLINE and four other databases in December 2018. To assess the risk of bias in observational studies and clinical trials, we used the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool. We included 48 studies in the systematic review, describing 150,072 VL patients of whom 7,847 (5.2%) died. Twelve prognostic factors were evaluated in five or more studies and these results were submitted to meta-analysis producing one pooled crude odds ratio (OR) per prognostic factor. The following factors were strongly (OR>3) and significantly (P-value<0.05) associated with mortality: jaundice (OR = 8.27), HIV (OR = 4.60), tuberculosis (OR = 4.06), age >45 years (OR = 3.69), oedema (OR = 3.52), bleeding (OR = 3.37), and haemoglobin ≤6.5 g/dl (OR = 3.26). Factors significantly and moderately (OR between one and three) associated with death were severe malnutrition, long duration of illness, young age (<5 years), and large spleen size. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These prognostic factors can be identified by health professionals in resource-constrained settings. They should be considered as "core" prognostic factors in future studies that aim at improving the prognosis of VL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Abongomera
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Abdurafi, Ethiopia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Saskia van Henten
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Florian Vogt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jozefien Buyze
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristien Verdonck
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan van Griensven
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Gianchecchi E, Montomoli E. The enemy at home: leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin, Italy on the focus. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:563-577. [DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1751611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi S.r.l, Siena, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Kanyina EW. Characterization of visceral leishmaniasis outbreak, Marsabit County, Kenya, 2014. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:446. [PMID: 32248804 PMCID: PMC7132962 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex. Annually, an estimated 500,000 cases of VL are reported globally posing a public health challenge. The objectives of our study were to confirm and determine the magnitude of VL outbreak, characterize the outbreak clinically and epidemiologically and evaluate the county preparedness and response in Marsabit County, Kenya. Methods A retrospective review of laboratory registers and patients’ clinical notes was done at Marsabit County Hospital. Cases were persons with confirmed VL diagnosis either by microscopy, serology or molecular technique coming from Marsabit County from May to October 2014. Cases were interviewed using structured questionnaire to collect clinical and epidemiologic information. Blood samples were collected from cases for laboratory confirmation. Results A total of 136 cases were confirmed of which 77% (105) were male with a median age of 17 (IQR: 22) years and 9.6% (13) case fatality rate. All cases were admitted at Marsabit County Referral Hospital, Kenya. Medical records of 133 cases were retrieved. Of the 133 cases, 102 (77%) presented with fever, 43 (32%) with splenomegaly, 26 (20%) with hepatomegaly and 96 (72%) were managed with Sodium stibogluconate (SSG) monotherapy. Thirty-four cases (26%) received Full haemogram (FHG) test and none had more than one Liver Function Tests (LFTs) in a span of 6 months. Presenting with headache (OR: 4.21, 95% CI: 1.10–16.09) and hepatomegaly (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.30–14.11) were associated with VL death. No VL case management training had been conducted nor VL treatment guidelines distributed among health care workers (HCWs) in the last 1 year. Conclusions VL cases were confirmed. Inadequate case monitoring and management was evident. VL case management sensitization training was conducted. The County health department should put in place one health VL surveillance and facilitate periodic case management trainings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evalyne Wambui Kanyina
- Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Nairobi, Kenya. .,Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya.
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14
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Zijlstra EE, Kumar A, Sharma A, Rijal S, Mondal D, Routray S. Report of the Fifth Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis Consortium Meeting, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 14-16 May 2018. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:159. [PMID: 32228668 PMCID: PMC7106569 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04011-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 5th Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) Consortium meeting brought together PKDL experts from all endemic areas to review and discuss existing and new data on PKDL. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions and provides the overall conclusions and recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard E Zijlstra
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Amresh Kumar
- PATH, 15th Floor, Dr. Gopaldas Building, 28 Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India
| | - Abhijit Sharma
- PATH, 15th Floor, Dr. Gopaldas Building, 28 Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India
| | - Suman Rijal
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, PHD House, 3rd Floor, 4/2 Siri Institutional Area, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Dinesh Mondal
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center For Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 63 Shaheed Taj Uddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Satyabrata Routray
- PATH, 15th Floor, Dr. Gopaldas Building, 28 Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India
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Reimão JQ, Pita Pedro DP, Coelho AC. The preclinical discovery and development of oral miltefosine for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis: a case history. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:647-658. [PMID: 32202449 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1743674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania donovani or Leishmania infantum. Closely related to poverty, VL is fatal and represents one of the main burdens on public health in developing countries. Treatment of VL relies exclusively on chemotherapy, a strategy still experiencing numerous limitations. Miltefosine (MF) has been used in the chemotherapy of VL in some endemic areas, and has been expanded to other regions, being considered crucial in eradication programs. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the most relevant preclinical and clinical aspects of MF, its mechanism of action and resistance to Leishmania parasites, as well as its limitations. The authors also give their perspectives on the treatment of VL. EXPERT OPINION The discovery of MF represented an enormous advance in the chemotherapy of VL, since it was the first oral drug for this neglected disease. Beyond selection of resistant parasites due to drug pressure, several other factors can lead to treatment failure such as, for example, factors intrinsic to the host, parasite and the drug itself. Although its efficacy as a monotherapy has reduced over recent years, MF is still an important alternative in VL chemotherapy, especially when used in combination with other drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Q Reimão
- Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia Básica, Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí , Jundiaí, Brazil
| | - Débora P Pita Pedro
- Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia Básica, Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí , Jundiaí, Brazil
| | - Adriano C Coelho
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Campinas, Brazil
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Mohebali M, Yimam Y. Prevalence estimates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among visceral leishmaniasis infected people in Northwest Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:214. [PMID: 32164607 PMCID: PMC7069024 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-4935-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Ethiopia, by the end of 2018, an estimated 690,000 people are infected with HIV and the annual cases of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is estimated to be between 4000 and 5000 with over 3.2 million people are at risk. Northwest Ethiopia accounts for over 60% cases of VL in the country. Prevalence of HIV infection among VL infected people in Ethiopia has not yet been synthesized. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of HIV infection among VL infected people in Northwest Ethiopia with the hope that it would guide the development of a more robust and cost-effective intervention strategies. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched six international databases: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE®, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. We also searched reference lists of included studies and Ethiopian universities electronic thesis and dissertation repositories. The search was performed until June 30,2019. Funnel plot symmetry visualization confirmed by Egger’s regression asymmetry test and Begg rank correlation methods was used to assess publication bias. Pooled prevalence estimate was calculated using Der Simonian and Laird’s random Effects model. We went further to perform univariate meta-regression and subgroup analysis to identify a possible sources of heterogeneity among the studies. STATA software (version 14, Texas, USA) was used for analysis. Results From 1286 citations identified by our search, 19 relevant studies with 5355 VL infected individuals were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HIV infection among VL infected individuals in Northwest Ethiopia was 24% (95%CI: 17–30%). The result of sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the pooled prevalence estimate was robust and not one-study dependent. The pooled prevalence estimate of HIV infection among VL infected people in Northwest Ethiopia ranged from 20.88% (95%CI: 15.91–25.86) to 24.86% (95%CI: 18.57–31.14) after a single study was deleted. Conclusions The burden of HIV infection in people infected with VL in Northwest Ethiopia is considerably high. Integrating HIV/AIDS surveillance among VL infected people would improve case detection as well as prevention and control of disease spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Yonas Yimam
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Jones CM, Welburn SC, Jones JD. Treatment failure of pentavalent antimonial therapy for human visceral leishmaniasis: a meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.29392/joghr.3.e2019048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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18
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Jones CM, Welburn SC, Jones JD. Treatment failure of pentavalent antimonial therapy for human visceral leishmaniasis: a meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.29392/joghr.3.e201948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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19
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van Griensven J, Diro E. Visceral Leishmaniasis: Recent Advances in Diagnostics and Treatment Regimens. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2019; 33:79-99. [PMID: 30712769 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Diagnostic advances in visceral leishmaniasis include the development of the rK39 and rK28 rapid diagnostic test. The direct agglutination test is also increasingly used, as well as conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction, which also performs well on peripheral blood. The choice of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis depends on the geographic region where the infection is acquired. Liposomal amphotericin B is generally found to be safe and effective in most endemic regions of the world; antimonials still remain to be the most effective in eastern Africa despite its high toxicity. Combination therapy is increasingly explored. Immunosuppressed patients require adapted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan van Griensven
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
| | - Ermias Diro
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Gondar, Post Office Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Systematic Review of Host-Mediated Activity of Miltefosine in Leishmaniasis through Immunomodulation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.02507-18. [PMID: 31036692 PMCID: PMC6591591 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02507-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host immune responses are pivotal for the successful treatment of the leishmaniases, a spectrum of infections caused by Leishmania parasites. Previous studies speculated that augmenting cytokines associated with a type 1 T-helper cell (Th1) response is necessary to combat severe forms of leishmaniasis, and it has been hypothesized that the antileishmanial drug miltefosine is capable of immunomodulation and induction of Th1 cytokines. Host immune responses are pivotal for the successful treatment of the leishmaniases, a spectrum of infections caused by Leishmania parasites. Previous studies speculated that augmenting cytokines associated with a type 1 T-helper cell (Th1) response is necessary to combat severe forms of leishmaniasis, and it has been hypothesized that the antileishmanial drug miltefosine is capable of immunomodulation and induction of Th1 cytokines. A better understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of miltefosine is central to providing a rationale regarding synergistic mechanisms of activity to combine miltefosine optimally with other conventional and future antileishmanials that are currently under development. Therefore, a systematic literature search was performed to evaluate to what extent and how miltefosine influences the host Th1 response. Miltefosine’s effects observed in both a preclinical and a clinical context associated with immunomodulation in the treatment of leishmaniasis are evaluated in this review. A total of 27 studies were included in the analysis. Based on the current evidence, miltefosine is not only capable of inducing direct parasite killing but also of modulating the host immunity. Our findings suggest that miltefosine-induced activation of Th1 cytokines, particularly represented by increased gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 12 (IL-12), is essential to prevail over the Leishmania-driven Th2 response. Differences in miltefosine-induced host-mediated effects between in vitro, ex vivo, animal model, and human studies are further discussed. All things considered, an effective treatment with miltefosine is acquired by enhanced functional Th1 cytokine responses and may further be enhanced in combination with immunostimulatory agents.
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21
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Chakravarty J, Sundar S. Current and emerging medications for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019; 20:1251-1265. [DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1609940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Chakravarty
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Aschale Y, Ayehu A, Worku L, Tesfa H, Birhanie M, Lemma W. Malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infection and associated factors among migrant laborers in West Armachiho district, North West Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:239. [PMID: 30849958 PMCID: PMC6408818 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3865-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria and leishmaniasis are the two largest parasitic killers in the world. Due togeographical overlap of these diseases, malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infections occur in large populations and exist in different areas even if they have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to determine malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infection and their associated factors among migrant laborers. Methods Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from October–December 2016 on migrant laborers who are residents of rural agricultural camp in West Armachiho district and involved in sesame and sorghum harvesting. Standardized questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and risk factors. Capillary blood was collected for giemsa stained blood film examination to detect and identify Plasmodium parasites. Recombinant kinensin (rk39) antigen test was performed to detect anti-leishmania donovani antibody. Data was coded, entered, checked for completeness and analyzed using SPSS version-20 statistical software. Chi-square test was applied to show a significant association between variables. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results A total of 178 migrant laborers were included in this study. Of these, 74.2% belong to the age group 15–29; 61.2% come from lowland areas and 51.6% visit the area more than four times. Seroprevalence of visceral leishmaniasis was 9.6% (17/178); and 22.4% (40/178) of tested migrant laborers were found malaria infected. The overall prevalence of malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infection was 2.8%. Of the total migrant laborer, 47.8% used bed nets, of them 1.2% were malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infected; 72.5% used outdoor sites as usual sleeping site, among them 3.1% were malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infected; 60.1% were migrants, of which 2.8% were malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infected. All variables were not significantly associated with malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infection (P > 0.05). Conclusions Prevalence of malaria-visceral leishmaniasis co-infection was low and it is not significantly associated with residence, number of visits, bed net utilization and outdoor sleeping habit even if both diseases are prevalent in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibeltal Aschale
- Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, P.O.Box: 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Animen Ayehu
- Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Ligabaw Worku
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Habtie Tesfa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Meseret Birhanie
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Wossenseged Lemma
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Diro E, Blesson S, Edwards T, Ritmeijer K, Fikre H, Admassu H, Kibret A, Ellis SJ, Bardonneau C, Zijlstra EE, Soipei P, Mutinda B, Omollo R, Kimutai R, Omwalo G, Wasunna M, Tadesse F, Alves F, Strub-Wourgaft N, Hailu A, Alexander N, Alvar J. A randomized trial of AmBisome monotherapy and AmBisome and miltefosine combination to treat visceral leishmaniasis in HIV co-infected patients in Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006988. [PMID: 30653490 PMCID: PMC6336227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients requires special case management. AmBisome monotherapy at 40 mg/kg is recommended by the World Health Organization. The objective of the study was to assess if a combination of a lower dose of AmBisome with miltefosine would show acceptable efficacy at the end of treatment. Methodology/Principal findings An open-label, non-comparative randomized trial of AmBisome (30 mg/kg) with miltefosine (100 mg/day for 28 days), and AmBisome monotherapy (40 mg/kg) was conducted in Ethiopian VL patients co-infected with HIV (NCT02011958). A sequential design was used with a triangular continuation region. The primary outcome was parasite clearance at day 29, after the first round of treatment. Patients with clinical improvement but without parasite clearance at day 29 received a second round of the allocated treatment. Efficacy was evaluated again at day 58, after completion of treatment. Recruitment was stopped after inclusion of 19 and 39 patients in monotherapy and combination arms respectively, as per pre-specified stopping rules. At D29, intention-to-treat efficacy in the AmBisome arm was 70% (95% CI 45–87%) in the unadjusted analysis, and 50% (95% CI 27–73%) in the adjusted analysis, while in the combination arm, it was 81% (95% CI 67–90%) and 67% (95% CI 48–82%) respectively. At D58, the adjusted efficacy was 55% (95% CI 32–78%) in the monotherapy arm, and 88% (95% CI 79–98%) in the combination arm. No major safety concerns related to the study medication were identified. Ten SAEs were observed within the treatment period, and 4 deaths unrelated to the study medication. Conclusions/Significance The extended treatment strategy with the combination regimen showed the highest documented efficacy in HIV-VL patients; these results support a recommendation of this regimen as first-line treatment strategy for HIV-VL patients in eastern Africa. Trial registration number www.clinicaltrials.govNCT02011958. Visceral Leishmaniasis is a complex parasitological disease and is particularly challenging to treat in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Antimonial drugs used in first-line treatments for immunocompetent patients in eastern Africa are more toxic in immunocompromised patients. In 2010, a WHO expert committee recommended a lipid formulation of amphotericin B as first line treatment for HIV/VL co-infected patients, based on a single clinical trial conducted in Spain and empirical information obtained from scattered case reports using AmBisome (liposomal amphotericin B). In addition, Médecins Sans Frontières began a compassionate use regimen combining AmBisome and miltefosine a in a treatment centre in Northwest Ethiopia with encouraging results. Here, we report the results of a trial to assess the efficacy and safety of both the currently internationally recommended treatment of AmBisome monotherapy and the new AmBisome-miltefosine combination regimen, in Ethiopian patients. The results of this trial show that one course of treatment with either regimen could be insufficient to clear parasites in a high proportion of patients and that an extended treatment strategy, of administrating a second course of treatment, could lead to a high parasite clearance rate in patients treated with the combination regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Diro
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Severine Blesson
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Tansy Edwards
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Helina Fikre
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Henok Admassu
- Abdurafi Health Centre, Médecins sans Frontières, Abdurafi, Ethiopia
| | - Aderajew Kibret
- Abdurafi Health Centre, Médecins sans Frontières, Abdurafi, Ethiopia
| | - Sally J. Ellis
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clelia Bardonneau
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eduard E. Zijlstra
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Brian Mutinda
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | - Fentahun Tadesse
- Neglected Tropical Diseases, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fabiana Alves
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Asrat Hailu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Neal Alexander
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge Alvar
- Research & Development Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
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Sundar S, Chakravarty J, Meena LP. Leishmaniasis: treatment, drug resistance and emerging therapies. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1552853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Jaya Chakravarty
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Lalit P Meena
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Gebreyohannes EA, Bhagvathula AS, Abegaz TM, Seid MA. Treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia from 2001 to 2017: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Infect Dis Poverty 2018; 7:108. [PMID: 30340519 PMCID: PMC6194743 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-018-0491-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ethiopia has the highest number of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases after Sudan in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there was lack of comprehensive data on VL treatment outcome despite the huge burden of the diseases in the country. Hence, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on this topic to obtain stronger evidence on treatment outcomes of VL from the existing literature in Ethiopia. Methods The Cochrane guidelines to conduct meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis statement was used to conduct a computerized systematic search of the PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases. Random effects model was used to combine studies showing heterogeneity of Cochrane Q P < 0.10 and I2 > 50. Treatment outcomes were assessed at end of treatment and at 6 months follow-up. Subgroup analyses were performed on treatment outcomes based on the different antileishmanial treatment options and patients’ HIV status. Results Fifteen studies were included in the final analyses. At end of treatment, an overall treatment success rate of 82.6% was noticed. At 6 months follow-up, the overall treatment success rate was 72.2%. For patients treated with sodium stibogluconate (SSG), the treatment success rates at the end of treatment and at six-month follow-up were 81.5% and 80.7%, respectively. Multiple doses of liposomal-amphotericin B (L-AMB) had treatment success rates of 96.7 and 71–100% at the end of treatment and at 6 months follow-up, respectively. The combination of SSG with paromomycin (PM) gave treatment success rates of up to 90.1% at the end of treatment. HIV-infected individuals were found to have a higher mortality (odds ratio = 4.77, 95% CI: 1.30–17.43, P = 0.009) rate at 6 months follow-up. Conclusions SSG alone has shown lower treatment efficacy in the management of VL when compared to combination of SSG with PM and multiple doses of L-AMB. The combination of SSG with PM gave good treatment success rates with shorter duration of treatment. Hence, the combination of SSG with PM should be used preferentially over SSG monotherapy. Multiple doses of L-AMB showed great efficacy especially among patients with complications, severe disease, HIV co-infection, and intolerance to the adverse effects of antimonials. HIV-infected individuals had a worse prognosis than their HIV-negative counterparts. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40249-018-0491-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyob Alemayehu Gebreyohannes
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Akshaya Srikanth Bhagvathula
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadesse Melaku Abegaz
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Mohammed Assen Seid
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Lindoso JAL, Moreira CHV, Cunha MA, Queiroz IT. Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV coinfection: current perspectives. HIV AIDS-RESEARCH AND PALLIATIVE CARE 2018; 10:193-201. [PMID: 30410407 PMCID: PMC6197215 DOI: 10.2147/hiv.s143929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum. The burden of VL is concentrated in tropical and subtropical areas; however, HIV infection has spread VL over a hyperendemic area. Several outcomes are observed as a result of VL–HIV coinfection. Impacts are observed in immunopathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and therapeutic response. Concerning clinical manifestation, typical and unusual manifestation has been observed during active VL in HIV-infected patient, as well as alteration in immunoresponse, inducing greater immunosuppression by low CD4 T-lymphocyte count or even by induction of immunoactivation, with cell senescence. Serological diagnosis of VL in the HIV-infected is poor, due to low humoral response, characterized by antibody production, so parasitological methods are more recommended. Another important and even more challenging point is the definition of the best therapeutic regimen for VL in HIV-coinfected patients, because in this population there is greater failure and consequently higher mortality. The challenge of better understanding immunopathogenesis in order to obtain more effective therapies is one of the crucial points to be developed. The combination of drugs and the use of secondary prophylaxis associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy may be the best tool for treatment of HIV coinfection. Some derivatives from natural sources have action against Leishmania; however, studies have been limited to in vitro evaluation, without clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Angelo Lauletta Lindoso
- Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, São Paulo, Brazil, .,Nucleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil, .,Laboratorio de Soroepidemiologia, Institutode Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,
| | - Carlos Henrique Valente Moreira
- Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, São Paulo, Brazil, .,Laboratorio de Parasitologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirella Alves Cunha
- Departamento de Infectologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Igor Thiago Queiroz
- Universidade Potiguar (UnP), Laureate International Universities, Natal, Brazil.,Hospital Giselda Trigueiro (SESAP/RN), Natal, Brazil
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27
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Jaber HT, Hailu A, Pratlong F, Lami P, Bastien P, Jaffe CL. Analysis of genetic polymorphisms and tropism in East African Leishmania donovani by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism and kDNA minicircle sequencing. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 65:80-90. [PMID: 30016714 PMCID: PMC6218636 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the most severe form of leishmaniasis, is caused by Leishmania donovani. In addition to fatal VL, these parasites also cause skin diseases in immune-competent and -suppressed people, post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and HIV/VL co-infections, respectively. Genetic polymorphism in 36 Ethiopian and Sudanese L. donovani strains from VL, PKDL and HIV/VL patients was examined using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), kDNA minicircle sequencing and Southern blotting. Strains were isolated from different patient tissues: in VL from lymph node, spleen or bone marrow; and in HIV/VL from skin, spleen or bone marrow. When VL and PKDL strains from the same region in Sudan were examined by Southern blotting using a DNA probe to the L. donovani 28S rRNA gene only minor differences were observed. kDNA sequence analysis distributed the strains in no particular order among four clusters (A - D), while AFLP analysis grouped the strains according to geographical origin into two major clades, Southern Ethiopia (SE) and Sudan/Northern Ethiopia (SD/NE). Strains in the latter clade were further divided into subpopulations by zymodeme, geography and year of isolation, but not by clinical symptoms. However, skin isolates showed significantly (p < 0.0001) fewer polymorphic AFLP fragments (average 10 strains = 348.6 ± 8.1) than VL strains (average 26 strains = 383.5 ± 3.8).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan T Jaber
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IMRIC, Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Asrat Hailu
- School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Francine Pratlong
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Centre for Leishmanioses, Academic Hospital of Montpellier, France; University of Montpellier, CNRS 5290/IRD 224 "MiVEGEC", Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Lami
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Centre for Leishmanioses, Academic Hospital of Montpellier, France; University of Montpellier, CNRS 5290/IRD 224 "MiVEGEC", Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Bastien
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Centre for Leishmanioses, Academic Hospital of Montpellier, France; University of Montpellier, CNRS 5290/IRD 224 "MiVEGEC", Montpellier, France
| | - Charles L Jaffe
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IMRIC, Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
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28
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Abongomera C, Diro E, Vogt F, Tsoumanis A, Mekonnen Z, Admassu H, Colebunders R, Mohammed R, Ritmeijer K, van Griensven J. The Risk and Predictors of Visceral Leishmaniasis Relapse in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Coinfected Patients in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Clin Infect Dis 2018; 65:1703-1710. [PMID: 29020196 PMCID: PMC5848226 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background East Africa, where Leishmania donovani is prevalent, faces the highest burden world-wide of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. However, data on the risk and predictors of VL relapse are scarce. Such information is vital to target medical follow-up and interventions to those at highest risk. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a Médecins Sans Frontières−supported health center in northwest Ethiopia. We included adult VL-HIV coinfected patients treated for VL and discharged cured between February 2008 and February 2013. The risk of relapse was calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and predictors were determined using Cox regression models. Results Of the 146 patients included, 140 (96%) were male and the median age was 31 years. At the index VL diagnosis, 110 (75%) had primary VL, 57 (40%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the median CD4 count was 149 cells/µL. The median follow-up time after cure was 11 months, during which 44 (30%) patients relapsed. The risk of relapse was 15% at 6 months, 26% at 12 months, and 35% at 24 months. Predictors of relapse were: not being on ART at VL diagnosis, ART not initiated during VL treatment, and high tissue parasite load (parasite grade 6+) at VL diagnosis. Conclusions The risk of VL relapse in coinfected patients was high, particularly in those not on ART or presenting with a high tissue parasite load. These patients should be preferentially targeted for secondary prophylaxis and/or regular medical follow-up. Timely ART initiation in all coinfected patients is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Abongomera
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Abdurafi, Ethiopia.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ermias Diro
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Florian Vogt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Achilleas Tsoumanis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Rezika Mohammed
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Koert Ritmeijer
- Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johan van Griensven
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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29
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Aderie EM, Diro E, Zachariah R, da Fonseca MS, Abongomera C, Dolamo BL, Ritmeijer K. Does timing of antiretroviral treatment influence treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis in Northwest Ethiopia? Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2018. [PMID: 28633331 PMCID: PMC5914408 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trx023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients with HIV co-infection should receive antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, the best timing for initiation of ART is not known. Among such individuals, we assessed the influence of ART timing on VL outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Northwest Ethiopia among VL patients starting ART between 2008 and 2015. VL outcomes were assessed by the twelfth month of starting ART, within 4 weeks of VL diagnosis or thereafter. Results Of 213 VL-HIV co-infected patients with ART initiation, 96 (45.1%) had moderate to severe malnutrition, 53 (24.9%) had active TB and 128 (60.1%) had hemoglobin levels under 9 g/dL. Eighty-nine (41.8%) were already on ART before VL diagnosis, 46 (21.6%) started ART within 4 weeks, and 78 (36.6%) thereafter. Definitive cure in those starting ART within 4 weeks 59% (95% CI 43–75%) and those starting thereafter 56% (95% CI 44–68%) was not significantly different. Those starting ART before primary VL had higher 12-months mortality compared to those starting later (RR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9; p=0.012). Conclusions VL-HIV patients are severely ill and with serious additional comorbidities. Outcomes of HIV-VL management are unsatisfactory and early ART initiation was associated with higher mortality. Further research on the optimal timing of ART initiation, and ensuring earlier diagnosis of VL patients, with improved management of comorbidities are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rony Zachariah
- Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Center Brussels (LuxOR), Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
| | | | - Charles Abongomera
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Koert Ritmeijer
- Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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30
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Abongomera C, Diro E, de Lima Pereira A, Buyze J, Stille K, Ahmed F, van Griensven J, Ritmeijer K. The initial effectiveness of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) and miltefosine combination for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in HIV co-infected patients in Ethiopia: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006527. [PMID: 29799869 PMCID: PMC5991765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND North-west Ethiopia faces the highest burden world-wide of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and HIV co-infection. VL-HIV co-infected patients have higher (initial) parasitological failure and relapse rates than HIV-negative VL patients. Whereas secondary prophylaxis reduces the relapse rate, parasitological failure rates remain high with the available antileishmanial drugs, especially when administered as monotherapy. We aimed to determine the initial effectiveness (parasitologically-confirmed cure) of a combination of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) and miltefosine for treatment of VL in HIV co-infected patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a Médecins Sans Frontières-supported health center in north-west Ethiopia. We included VL-HIV co-infected adults, treated for VL between January 2011 and August 2014, with AmBisome infusion (30 mg/kg total dose) and miltefosine orally for 28 days (100 mg/day). Proportions of initial treatment outcome categories were calculated. Predictors of initial parasitological failure and of death were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Of the 173 patients included, 170 (98.3%) were male and the median age was 32 years. The proportion of patients with primary VL (48.0%) and relapse VL (52.0%) were similar. The majority had advanced HIV disease (n = 111; 73.5%) and were on antiretroviral therapy prior to VL diagnosis (n = 106; 64.2%). Initial cure rate was 83.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 77.6-88.6); death rate 12.7% (95% CI, 8.5-18.5) and parasitological failure rate 3.5% (95% CI, 1.6-7.4). Tuberculosis co-infection at VL diagnosis was predictive of parasitological failure (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 8.14; p = 0.02). Predictors of death were age >40 years (aOR, 5.10; p = 0.009), hemoglobin ≤6.5 g/dL (aOR, 5.20; p = 0.002) and primary VL (aOR, 8.33; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Initial parasitological failure rates were very low with AmBisome and miltefosine combination therapy. This regimen seems a suitable treatment option. Knowledge of predictors of poor outcome may facilitate better management. These findings remain to be confirmed in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Abongomera
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Abdurafi, Ethiopia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Ermias Diro
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Jozefien Buyze
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Johan van Griensven
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Koert Ritmeijer
- Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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31
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Akuffo H, Costa C, van Griensven J, Burza S, Moreno J, Herrero M. New insights into leishmaniasis in the immunosuppressed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006375. [PMID: 29746470 PMCID: PMC5944929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppression contributes significantly to the caseload of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). HIV coinfection, solid organ transplantation, malnutrition, and helminth infections are the most important immunosuppression-related factors. This review briefly describes the challenges of these associations. East Africa and the Indian subcontinent are the places where HIV imposes the highest burden in VL. In the highlands of Northern Ethiopia, migrant rural workers are at a greater risk of coinfection and malnutrition, while in India, HIV reduces the sustainability of a successful elimination programme. As shown from a longitudinal cohort in Madrid, VL is an additional threat to solid organ transplantation. The association with malnutrition is more complex since it can be both a cause and a consequence of VL. Different regimes for therapy and secondary prevention are discussed as well as the role of nutrients on the prophylaxis of VL in poverty-stricken endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Akuffo
- Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), and Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Carlos Costa
- Federal University of Piauí, Teresina-PI, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Johan van Griensven
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Javier Moreno
- World Health Centre (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercè Herrero
- Leishmaniasis, IDM Unit, Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
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32
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Sunyoto T, Potet J, Boelaert M. Why miltefosine-a life-saving drug for leishmaniasis-is unavailable to people who need it the most. BMJ Glob Health 2018; 3:e000709. [PMID: 29736277 PMCID: PMC5935166 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Miltefosine, the only oral drug approved for the treatment of leishmaniasis-a parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies-is considered as a success story of research and development (R&D) by a public-private partnership (PPP). It epitomises the multiple market failures faced by a neglected disease drug: patients with low ability to pay, neglect by authorities and uncertain market size. Originally developed as an anticancer agent in the 1990s, the drug was registered in India in 2002 to treat the fatal visceral leishmaniasis. At the time, miltefosine was considered a breakthrough in the treatment, making it feasible to eliminate a regional disease. Today, access to miltefosine remains far from secure. The initial PPP agreement which includes access to the public sector is not enforced. The reality on the ground has been challenging: shortages due to inefficient supply chains, and use of a substandard product which led to a high number of treatment failures and deaths. Miltefosine received orphan drug status in the USA; when it was registered there in 2014, a priority review voucher (PRV) was awarded. The PRV, meant to facilitate drug development for neglected disease, was subsequently sold to another company for US$125 million without, to date, any apparent impact on drug access. At the heart of these concerns are questions on how to protect societal benefit of a drug developed with public investment, while clinicians worldwide struggle with its lack of affordability, limited availability and sustainability of access. This article analyses the reasons behind the postregistration access failure of miltefosine and provides the lessons learnt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temmy Sunyoto
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, Belgium
- Policy Department, Médecins Sans Frontières- Campaign for Access to Medicines, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Potet
- Policy Department, Médecins Sans Frontières- Campaign for Access to Medicines, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marleen Boelaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, Belgium
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Abstract
Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a neglected tropical disease, is very challenging with few treatment options. Long duration of treatment and drug toxicity further limit the target of achieving VL elimination. Chemotherapy remains the treatment of choice. Single dose of liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) and multidrug therapy (LAmB + miltefosine, LAmB + paromomycin (PM), or miltefosine + PM) are recommended treatment regimen for treatment of VL in Indian sub-continent. Combination therapy of pentavalent antimonials (Sbv) and PM in East Africa and LAmB in the Mediterranean region/South America remains the treatment of choice. Various drugs having anti-leishmania properties are in preclinical phase and need further development. An effective treatment and secondary prophylaxis of HIV-VL co-infection should be developed to decrease treatment failure and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005
| | - Anup Singh
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005
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Bsrat A, Berhe M, Gadissa E, Taddele H, Tekle Y, Hagos Y, Abera A, G/micael M, Alemayhu T, Gugsa G, Aseffa A. Serological investigation of visceral Leishmania infection in human and its associated risk factors in Welkait District, Western Tigray, Ethiopia. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2018; 3:13-20. [PMID: 29774295 PMCID: PMC5952676 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is major neglected public health problem in terms of geographical spread and incidence in Ethiopia. Magnitude, public health impact and dynamics of VL were not well studied in Welkait District, Western Tigray, though the area is known for VL. Hence, this study aimed to determine sero-prevalence of human VL and associated risk factors in Welkait as new foci. A cross sectional study design was employed in this study. Two stage stratified random sampling method was used to select study participants. Hence, a total of 329 human study participants were included for serological survey using ITleish and leishmanin skin tests. Semi structured questionnaire was also used to identify VL associated risk factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression statistical methods were used to determine the degree of association. The overall sero-prevalence of human VL in the study area was found to be 8.81%. Statistical significant difference in the prevalence of the disease was found among Sub-districts, sex, re-settlement, sleeping outdoor and dog ownership (P < 0.05). Participants who resettled from their original place were found 2 times (AOR = 2.143; 95% CI = 1.02, 14.20) more vulnerable to VL infection. Those who had an experience of sleeping outdoor were found almost 4 times (AOR = 4.29; 95% CI = 1.58, 11.69) more likely to be at risk of acquiring VL infection than those sleep indoor. Furthermore, individuals who owned dogs were 3 times more prone to the VL infection than their counterparts (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.29, 8.76). Alarming sero-positivity of human VL was recorded from new foci. Hence, it is recommended to improve the VL health services in the study area. The investigation also invites further study on VL dynamics in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrha Bsrat
- Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Mebrahtu Berhe
- Veterinary Drug and Feed Administration and Control Authority, Tigray, Ethiopia
| | | | - Habtamu Taddele
- Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Yohannes Tekle
- Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Yohannes Hagos
- Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Adugna Abera
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Messele G/micael
- Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Tehetna Alemayhu
- Mekelle University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Getachew Gugsa
- Wollo University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Abraham Aseffa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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35
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Adriaensen W, Dorlo TPC, Vanham G, Kestens L, Kaye PM, van Griensven J. Immunomodulatory Therapy of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Coinfected Patients. Front Immunol 2018; 8:1943. [PMID: 29375567 PMCID: PMC5770372 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL)–human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection experience increased drug toxicity and treatment failure rates compared to VL patients, with more frequent VL relapse and death. In the era of VL elimination strategies, HIV coinfection is progressively becoming a key challenge, because HIV-coinfected patients respond poorly to conventional VL treatment and play an important role in parasite transmission. With limited chemotherapeutic options and a paucity of novel anti-parasitic drugs, new interventions that target host immunity may offer an effective alternative. In this review, we first summarize current views on how VL immunopathology is significantly affected by HIV coinfection. We then review current clinical and promising preclinical immunomodulatory interventions in the field of VL and discuss how these may operate in the context of a concurrent HIV infection. Caveats are formulated as these interventions may unpredictably impact the delicate balance between boosting of beneficial VL-specific responses and deleterious immune activation/hyperinflammation, activation of latent provirus or increased HIV-susceptibility of target cells. Evidence is lacking to prioritize a target molecule and a more detailed account of the immunological status induced by the coinfection as well as surrogate markers of cure and protection are still required. We do, however, argue that virologically suppressed VL patients with a recovered immune system, in whom effective antiretroviral therapy alone is not able to restore protective immunity, can be considered a relevant target group for an immunomodulatory intervention. Finally, we provide perspectives on the translation of novel theories on synergistic immune cell cross-talk into an effective treatment strategy for VL–HIV-coinfected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wim Adriaensen
- Unit of HIV and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomas P C Dorlo
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Guido Vanham
- Unit of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luc Kestens
- Unit of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul M Kaye
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
| | - Johan van Griensven
- Unit of HIV and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Hematologic Aspects of Parasitic Diseases. Hematology 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-35762-3.00158-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
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Costa DL, Rocha RL, Chaves EDBF, Batista VGDV, Costa HL, Costa CHN. Predicting death from kala-azar: construction, development, and validation of a score set and accompanying software. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2017; 49:728-740. [PMID: 28001220 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0258-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early identification of patients at higher risk of progressing to severe disease and death is crucial for implementing therapeutic and preventive measures; this could reduce the morbidity and mortality from kala-azar. We describe a score set composed of four scales in addition to software for quick assessment of the probability of death from kala-azar at the point of care. METHODS: Data from 883 patients diagnosed between September 2005 and August 2008 were used to derive the score set, and data from 1,031 patients diagnosed between September 2008 and November 2013 were used to validate the models. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to derive the optimal multivariate prediction models. Model performance was assessed by its discriminatory accuracy. A computational specialist system (Kala-Cal(r)) was developed to speed up the calculation of the probability of death based on clinical scores. RESULTS: The clinical prediction score showed high discrimination (area under the curve [AUC] 0.90) for distinguishing death from survival for children ≤2 years old. Performance improved after adding laboratory variables (AUC 0.93). The clinical score showed equivalent discrimination (AUC 0.89) for older children and adults, which also improved after including laboratory data (AUC 0.92). The score set also showed a high, although lower, discrimination when applied to the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: This score set and Kala-Cal(r) software may help identify individuals with the greatest probability of death. The associated software may speed up the calculation of the probability of death based on clinical scores and assist physicians in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorcas Lamounier Costa
- Departamento Materno-Infantil, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.,Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Natan Portella, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Regina Lunardi Rocha
- Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Carlos Henrique Nery Costa
- Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Natan Portella, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Comunitária, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
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Alemayehu M, Wubshet M, Mesfin N, Gebayehu A. Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and associated factors among Visceral Leishmaniasis infected patients in Northwest Ethiopia: a facility based cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:152. [PMID: 28212625 PMCID: PMC5316214 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2261-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral Leishmaniasis coinfection with HIV/AIDS has emerged as a series of disease pattern. It most often results in unfavorable responses to treatment, frequent relapses, and deaths. Scarce data is available regarding the prevalence of HIV and associated factors among Visceral Leishmaniasis coinfected patients. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV and associated factors among Visceral Leishmaniasis infected patients. Methods Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from October, 2015 to August, 2016 in Northwest Ethiopia. Cluster sampling technique was used to select 462 Visceral Leishmaniasis infected patients. Serologic and parasitological test results have been used to diagnose Visceral Leishmaniasis. The HIV diagnosis was based on the national algorithm with two serial positive rapid test results. In case of discrepancy between the two tests, Uni-Gold TM was used as a tie breaker. Structured questionnaire was used to collect independent variables. Data was entered by using Excel and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. Results A total of 462 study participants were included in the study with a response rate of 92.4%. HIV and Visceral Leishmaniasis coinfection was found to be 17.75% with 95% CI; 14.30–21.40. Age ≥ 30 years (AOR = 22.58, 95% CI 11.34, 45.01), urban residents (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.16, 4.17) and daily laborer workers (AOR = 4.99, 95% CI 2.33, 10.68) were significantly associated with HIV and Visceral Leishmaniasis coinfection. Conclusion HIV and Visceral Leishmaniasis coinfection in the Northwest Ethiopia was found to be low. Age, residence and employment were independently associated with HIV-VL coinfection in the Northwest Ethiopia. It is better to design interventions to prevent and control HIV-VL coinfection for productive age groups (age ≥ 30) and daily laborers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mekuriaw Alemayehu
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Mamo Wubshet
- Department of Public Health, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nebiyu Mesfin
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Abebaw Gebayehu
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Pérez-Jacoiste Asín MA, Carrasco-Antón N, Fernández-Ruiz M, San Juan R, Alonso-Moralejo R, González E, Andrés A, López-Medrano F, Aguado JM. Experience with miltefosine for persistent or relapsing visceral leishmaniasis in solid organ transplant recipients: A case series from Spain. Transpl Infect Dis 2017; 19. [PMID: 27768239 DOI: 10.1111/tid.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) after solid organ transplantation (SOT) is increasing. The optimal therapy for post-transplant VL remains unclear, as relapses after liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) are common. Miltefosine has been shown to be effective for treating VL in immunocompetent patients, although data in the specific population of SOT recipients are lacking. In the setting of an outbreak of leishmaniasis occurring in Southwest Madrid, we reviewed our experience in 6 SOT recipients with persistent or relapsing VL who received a 28-day course of miltefosine (2.5 mg/kg/day) as salvage therapy. All patients had been treated previously with L-AmB as first-line therapy. The incident episode of VL occurred at a median of 14 months after transplantation. Two patients experienced persistent infection and the remaining 4 had a relapse after a median interval of 168 days since the completion of the course of L-AmB. All the patients had an apparent initial clinical improvement with miltefosine. However, VL relapsed in 3 of them (after a median interval of 46 days), which required retreatment with L-AmB-based regimens. Miltefosine therapy was followed by a prolonged secondary prophylaxis with L-AmB in the only 2 cases with sustained clinical response and ongoing immunosuppression. No adverse effects associated with miltefosine were observed. Albeit limited, our experience suggests that miltefosine monotherapy likely has a limited utility to obtain a long-lasting clinical response in complicated (persistent or relapsing) forms of post-transplant VL, although its role in association with L-AmB-based secondary prophylaxis may merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Pérez-Jacoiste Asín
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Carrasco-Antón
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Fernández-Ruiz
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael San Juan
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Alonso-Moralejo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther González
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amado Andrés
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco López-Medrano
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M Aguado
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario "12 de Octubre", Instituto de Investigación Hospital "12 de Octubre" (i+12), School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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Davidson RN. Leishmaniasis. Infect Dis (Lond) 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6285-8.00123-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Aronson N, Herwaldt BL, Libman M, Pearson R, Lopez-Velez R, Weina P, Carvalho EM, Ephros M, Jeronimo S, Magill A. Diagnosis and Treatment of Leishmaniasis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Clin Infect Dis 2016; 63:e202-e264. [PMID: 27941151 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It is important to realize that leishmaniasis guidelines cannot always account for individual variation among patients. They are not intended to supplant physician judgment with respect to particular patients or special clinical situations. The IDSA and ASTMH consider adherence to these guidelines to be voluntary, with the ultimate determinations regarding their application to be made by the physician in the light of each patient's individual circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Aronson
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Michael Libman
- McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Peter Weina
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | - Selma Jeronimo
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Alan Magill
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington
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Efficacy and Safety of AmBisome in Combination with Sodium Stibogluconate or Miltefosine and Miltefosine Monotherapy for African Visceral Leishmaniasis: Phase II Randomized Trial. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004880. [PMID: 27627654 PMCID: PMC5023160 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background SSG&PM over 17 days is recommended as first line treatment for visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa, but is painful and requires hospitalization. Combination regimens including AmBisome and miltefosine are safe and effective in India, but there are no published data from trials of combination therapies including these drugs from Africa. Methods A phase II open-label, non-comparative randomized trial was conducted in Sudan and Kenya to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three treatment regimens: 10 mg/kg single dose AmBisome plus 10 days of SSG (20 mg/kg/day), 10 mg/kg single dose AmBisome plus 10 days of miltefosine (2.5mg/kg/day) and miltefosine alone (2.5 mg/kg/day for 28 days). The primary endpoint was initial parasitological cure at Day 28, and secondary endpoints included definitive cure at Day 210, and pharmacokinetic (miltefosine) and pharmacodynamic assessments. Results In sequential analyses with 49–51 patients per arm, initial cure was 85% (95% CI: 73–92) in all arms. At D210, definitive cure was 87% (95% CI: 77–97) for AmBisome + SSG, 77% (95% CI 64–90) for AmBisome + miltefosine and 72% (95% CI 60–85) for miltefosine alone, with lower efficacy in younger patients, who weigh less. Miltefosine pharmacokinetic data indicated under-exposure in children compared to adults. Conclusion No major safety concerns were identified, but point estimates of definitive cure were less than 90% for each regimen so none will be evaluated in Phase III trials in their current form. Allometric dosing of miltefosine in children needs to be evaluated. Trial Registration The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01067443 Visceral leishmaniasis, or kala-azar, is a parasitic disease which is fatal without treatment. A 17-day treatment of sodium stibogluconate (SSG) with paromomycin (PM) is the recommended treatment in eastern Africa, but requires painful injections, causes adverse events, and patients need to stay in the hospital during treatment. An affordable, safe and effective oral treatment would be preferable. Whilst research to identify entirely new drugs is underway, existing treatments are being optimized as a short-term solution. Combination regimens based on AmBisome and miltefosine have been shown to be safe and effective in treating Indian patients, but there are no published data from use of these drugs in combination regimens from Africa, where efficacy of treatments can be different from India. Three regimens were evaluated for treating VL in eastern Africa, using AmBisome in combination with SSG or miltefosine, or miltefosine alone. Once again, drugs which are effective in India were found to be less so in African patients, and none of the regimes tested showed sufficiently high definitive cure rates to evaluate in Phase III trials. The results also suggest miltefosine was under-dosed in children and so allometric dosing, which takes into account the differences in drug metabolism seen in children compared to adults, needs to be studied.
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Transmission Dynamics of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Indian Subcontinent - A Systematic Literature Review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004896. [PMID: 27490264 PMCID: PMC4973965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As Bangladesh, India and Nepal progress towards visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination, it is important to understand the role of asymptomatic Leishmania infection (ALI), VL treatment relapse and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in transmission. Methodology/ Principal Finding We reviewed evidence systematically on ALI, relapse and PKDL. We searched multiple databases to include studies on burden, risk factors, biomarkers, natural history, and infectiveness of ALI, PKDL and relapse. After screening 292 papers, 98 were included covering the years 1942 through 2016. ALI, PKDL and relapse studies lacked a reference standard and appropriate biomarker. The prevalence of ALI was 4–17-fold that of VL. The risk of ALI was higher in VL case contacts. Most infections remained asymptomatic or resolved spontaneously. The proportion of ALI that progressed to VL disease within a year was 1.5–23%, and was higher amongst those with high antibody titres. The natural history of PKDL showed variability; 3.8–28.6% had no past history of VL treatment. The infectiveness of PKDL was 32–53%. The risk of VL relapse was higher with HIV co-infection. Modelling studies predicted a range of scenarios. One model predicted VL elimination was unlikely in the long term with early diagnosis. Another model estimated that ALI contributed to 82% of the overall transmission, VL to 10% and PKDL to 8%. Another model predicted that VL cases were the main driver for transmission. Different models predicted VL elimination if the sandfly density was reduced by 67% by killing the sandfly or by 79% by reducing their breeding sites, or with 4–6y of optimal IRS or 10y of sub-optimal IRS and only in low endemic setting. Conclusion/ Significance There is a need for xenodiagnostic and longitudinal studies to understand the potential of ALI and PKDL as reservoirs of infection. The role of asymptomatic Leishmania infection (ALI), PKDL and VL relapse in transmission is unclear as VL elimination is achieved in the Indian subcontinent. ALI, PKDL and relapse studies lacked a reference standard and appropriate biomarker. ALI was 4–17-fold more prevalent than VL. The risk of ALI was higher in VL case contacts. Most infections remained asymptomatic or resolved spontaneously. The natural history of PKDL showed variability. Twenty nine percent had no past history of VL treatment. The risk of VL relapse was higher with HIV co-infection. Modelling studies predicted different effects. Early diagnosis was unlikely to eliminate VL in the long term. ALI was predicted to contribute to 82% of the overall transmission, VL to 10% and PKDL to 8%. Another model predicted that VL cases were the main driver for transmission. VL elimination was predicted if the sandfly density was reduced by 67% by killing the sandfly or by 79% by reducing their breeding sites, or with 4–6y of optimal IRS or 10y of sub-optimal IRS and only in low endemic setting. There is a need for more studies to fully understand the potential of ALI and PKDL as reservoirs of infection.
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Dikhit MR, Purkait B, Singh R, Sahoo BR, Kumar A, Kar RK, Ansari MY, Saini S, Abhishek K, Sahoo GC, Das S, Das P. Activity of a novel sulfonamide compound 2-nitro-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide against Leishmania donovani. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2016; 10:1753-61. [PMID: 27307706 PMCID: PMC4887065 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s96650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
New treatments for visceral leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania donovani, are needed to overcome sustained toxicity, cost, and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of 2-nitro-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide (2NB) against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. donovani and examine its effect in combination with amphotericin B (AmB) against AmB-resistant clinical isolates. Effects were assessed against extracellular promastigotes in vitro and intracellular amastigotes in L. donovani-infected macrophages. Levels of inducible nitric oxide and Th1 and Th2 cytokines were measured in infected 2NB-treated macrophages, and levels of reactive oxygen species and NO were measured in 2NB-treated macrophages. 2NB was active against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes with 50% inhibitory concentration values of 38.5±1.5 µg/mL and 86.4±2.4 µg/mL, respectively. 2NB was not toxic to macrophages. Parasite titer was reduced by >85% in infected versus uninfected macrophages at a 2NB concentration of 120 µg/mL. The parasiticidal activity was associated with increased levels of Th1 cytokines, NO, and reactive oxygen species. Finally, 2NB increased the efficacy of AmB against AmB-resistant L. donovani. These results demonstrate 2NB to be an antileishmanial agent, opening up a new avenue for the development of alternative chemotherapies against visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas R Dikhit
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Bidyut Purkait
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Ruby Singh
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Bikash Ranjan Sahoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Rajiv K Kar
- Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Drug Design Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Md Yousuf Ansari
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Pharmacoinformatics, Hajipur, India
| | - Savita Saini
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, India
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Ganesh C Sahoo
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Sushmita Das
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India
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Pandey RK, Kumbhar BV, Sundar S, Kunwar A, Prajapati VK. Structure-based virtual screening, molecular docking, ADMET and molecular simulations to develop benzoxaborole analogs as potential inhibitor against Leishmania donovani trypanothione reductase. J Recept Signal Transduct Res 2016; 37:60-70. [DOI: 10.3109/10799893.2016.1171344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Kumar Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Rajasthan, India
| | - Bajarang Vasant Kumbhar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ambarish Kunwar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Rajasthan, India
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Sundar S, Singh A. Recent developments and future prospects in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2016; 3:98-109. [PMID: 27536354 DOI: 10.1177/2049936116646063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited therapeutic options in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) make the treatment of this neglected disease very challenging. In addition to this, long treatment duration and toxic adverse effects make it even more difficult. With no effective vaccine available to date, treatment of VL is based only on chemotherapy. In the Indian subcontinent, a single dose of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) and multidrug therapy (L-AmB + miltefosine, L-AmB + paromomycin [PM], or miltefosine + PM) are the treatments of choice for VL. In East Africa, however, combination therapy of pentavalent antimonials (Sb(v)) and PM remains the treatment of choice, and in the Mediterranean region and South America, L-AmB is the recommended drug. Fexinidazole and PA-824 are new promising drugs which have shown encouraging results in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005 India
| | - Anup Singh
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Hussaini N, Lubuma JMS, Barley K, Gumel AB. Mathematical analysis of a model for AVL-HIV co-endemicity. Math Biosci 2015; 271:80-95. [PMID: 26596715 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2015.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A model for the transmission dynamics of Anthroponotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a population is developed and used to assess the impact of the spread of each disease on the overall transmission dynamics. As for other vector-borne disease models, the AVL component of the model undergoes backward bifurcation when the associated reproduction number of the AVL-only sub-model (denoted by RL) is less than unity. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyzes of the model, using data relevant to the dynamics of the two diseases in Ethiopia, show that the top three parameters that drive the AVL infection (with respect to the associated response function, RL) are the average number of times a sandfly bites humans per unit time (σV), carrying capacity of vectors (KV) and transmission probability from infected humans to susceptible sandflies (β2). The distribution of RL is RL∈[0.06,3.94] with a mean of RL=1.08. Furthermore, the top three parameters that affect HIV dynamics (with respect to the response function RH) are the transmission rate of HIV (βH), HIV-induced death rate (δH), and the modification parameter for the increase in infectiousness of AIDS individuals in comparison to HIV infected without clinical symptoms of AIDS (ωH). The distribution of RH is RH∈[0.88,2.79] with a mean of RH=1.46. The dominant parameters that affect the dynamics of the full VL-HIV model (with respect to the associated reproduction number, RLH, as the response function) are the transmission rate of HIV (βH), the average number of times a sandfly bites humans per unit time (σV), and HIV-induced death rate (δH) (the distribution of RLH is RLH∈[0.88,3.94] with a mean of RLH=1.64). Numerical simulations of the model show that the two diseases co-exist (with AVL dominating, but not driving HIV to extinction) whenever the reproduction number of each disease exceeds unity. It is shown that AVL can invade a population at HIV-endemic state if a certain threshold quantity, known as invasion reproduction number, exceeds unity.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hussaini
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Mathematical Sciences, Bayero University Kano, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria
| | - J M-S Lubuma
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - K Barley
- Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287 USA
| | - A B Gumel
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Extraordinary Professor, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
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Development and comparative evaluation of two antigen detection tests for Visceral Leishmaniasis. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:384. [PMID: 26395447 PMCID: PMC4580298 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) can be fatal without timely diagnosis and treatment. Treatment efficacies vary due to drug resistance, drug toxicity and co-morbidities. It is important to monitor treatment responsiveness to confirm cure and curtail relapse. Currently, microscopy of spleen, bone marrow or lymph node biopsies is the only definitive method to evaluate cure. A less invasive test for treatment success is a high priority for VL management. Methods In this study, we describe the development of a capture ELISA based on detecting Leishmania donovani antigens in urine samples and comparison with the Leishmania Antigen ELISA, also developed for the same purpose. Both were developed as prototype kits and tested on patient urine samples from Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Brazil, along with appropriate control samples from endemic and non-endemic regions. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed based on accurate detection of patients compared to control samples. One- Way ANOVA was used to assess the discrimination capacity of the tests and Cohen’s kappa was used to assess their correlation. Results The Leishmania Antigen Detect™ ELISA demonstrated >90 % sensitivity on VL patient samples from Sudan, Bangladesh and Ethiopia and 88 % on samples from Brazil. The Leishmania Antigen ELISA was comparable in performance except for lower sensitivity on Sudanese samples. Both were highly specific. To confirm utility in monitoring treatment, urine samples were collected from VL patients at days 0, 30 and 180 post- treatment. For the Leishmania Antigen Detect™ ELISA, positivity was high at day 0 at 95 %, falling to 21 % at day 30. At day 180, all samples were negative, corresponding well with clinical cure. A similar trend was also seen for the Leishmania Antigen ELISA albeit; with lower positivity of 91 % at Day 0 and more patients, remaining positive at Days 30 and 180. Discussion The Leishmania Antigen Detect™ and the Leishmania Antigen ELISAs are standardized, user- friendly, quantitative and direct tests to detect Leishmania during acute VL as well as to monitor parasite clearance during treatment. They are a clear improvement over existing options. Conclusion The ELISAs provide a non-invasive method to detect parasite antigens during acute infection and monitor its clearance upon cure, filling an unmet need in VL management. Further refinement of the tests with more samples from endemic regions will define their utility in monitoring treatment.
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Gadisa E, Tsegaw T, Abera A, Elnaiem DE, den Boer M, Aseffa A, Jorge A. Eco-epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:381. [PMID: 26187584 PMCID: PMC4506599 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0987-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL, Kala-azar) is one of the growing public health challenges in Ethiopia with over 3.2 million people at risk and estimated up to 4000 new cases per year. Historically, VL was known as the diseases of the lowlanders; in the lower and upper Kola agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. The 2005–07 out breaks in highlands of Libo Kemkem and Fogera, in the Woina Degas, that affected thousands and claimed the life of hundreds misdiagnosed as drug resistance malaria marked that VL is no more the problem of the lowlanders. The Kola (lower and upper) and the Woina Dega are the most productive agroecological zones, supporting both the ongoing and planned expansions of large or small scale agriculture and/or agriculture based industries. Thus, the (re)emergence of VL is not only a public health and social problem but also have a direct implication on the country’s economy and further development. Thus is high time for its control and/or elimination. Yet, the available data seem incomplete to plan for a cost-effective and efficient VL control strategy: there is a need to update data on vector behaviour in specific ecosystems and the roles of domestic animals need to be ascertained. The effectiveness and social acceptability of available vector control tools need be evaluated. There is a need for identifying animal reservoir(s), or establish the absence of zoonosis in Ethiopia. The planning of prevention of (re)emergence and spread of VL to areas adjacent to endemic foci need be supported with information from spatio-temporal mapping. In affected communities, available data showed that their knowledge about VL is generally very low. Thus, well designed studies to identify risk factors, as well as better tools for social mobilization with the understanding of their knowledge, aptitude and practice towards VL are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teshome Tsegaw
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adugna Abera
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dia-Eldin Elnaiem
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (for KalaCORE consortium), 1Backbone Rd, Princess Anne, MD, 21853, USA
| | | | - Abraham Aseffa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Alvar Jorge
- Visceral Leishmaniasis Program, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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