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Orosco D, Mendoza AR, Meléndez CM. Exploring the Potential of Natural Products as Antiparasitic Agents for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:89-108. [PMID: 37842892 DOI: 10.2174/0115680266256963230921061925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in the use of natural product-based molecules as antiparasitic agents for Malaria, leishmaniasis (LE), Chagas disease (CD), and Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are reviewed. The role of diverse plants in developing bioactive species is discussed in addition to analyzing the structural diversity of natural products as active agents and the diverse biological applications in CD, HAT, LE, and Malaria. This review focuses on medicinal chemistry, emphasizing the structural characteristics of natural molecules as bioactive agents against parasitic infections caused by Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayanna Orosco
- Grupo de Investigación en Química Orgánica y Biomedica, Programa de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad del Atlántico, A.A.1890, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Arturo René Mendoza
- Grupo de Investigación en Química Orgánica y Biomedica, Programa de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad del Atlántico, A.A.1890, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Carlos Mario Meléndez
- Grupo de Investigación en Química Orgánica y Biomedica, Programa de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad del Atlántico, A.A.1890, Barranquilla, Colombia
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Chen K, Hu Z, Li J, Wang J, Liu D, Qi T, Guo W, Du C, Wang X. Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of equine piroplasmosis in China: a neglected tick-borne disease. Sci China Life Sci 2022; 65:445-447. [PMID: 34939161 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-2021-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Zhe Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Jingkun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jingfei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Diqiu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Ting Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Cheng Du
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China.
| | - Xiaojun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China.
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Hernández-González A, González-Bertolín B, Urrea L, Fleury A, Ferrer E, Siles-Lucas M, Tamarozzi F, Perteguer MJ. Multiple-bead assay for the differential serodiagnosis of neglected human cestodiases: Neurocysticercosis and cystic echinococcosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010109. [PMID: 35030166 PMCID: PMC8759687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurocysticercosis (NCC), and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are two neglected diseases caused by cestodes, co-endemic in many areas of the world. Imaging studies and serological tests are used in the diagnosis of both parasitic diseases, but cross-reactions may confound the results of the latter. The novel multiplex bead-based assay with recombinant antigens has been reported to increases the diagnostic accuracy of serological techniques. METHODOLOGY We set-up an immunoassay based on the multiplex bead-based platform (MBA), using the rT24H (against Cysticercus cellulosae, causing cysticercosis) and r2B2t (against Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, causing CE) recombinant antigens, for simultaneous and differential diagnosis of these infections. The antigens were tested on 356 sera from 151 patients with CE, 126 patients with NCC, and 79 individuals negative for both diseases. Specificity was calculated including sera from healthy donors, other neurological diseases and the respective NCC or CE sera counterpart. The diagnostic accuracy of this assay was compared with two commercial ELISA tests, Novalisa and Ridascreen, widely used in the routine diagnosis of cysticercosis and CE, respectively. MAIN FINDINGS For the diagnosis of NCC, sensitivity ranged from 57.94-63.49% for the rT24H-MBA, and 40.48-46.03% for Novalisa ELISA depending on exclusion or inclusion of sera having equivocal results on ELISA from the analysis; specificities ranged from 90.87-91.30% and 70.43-76.96%, respectively. AUC values of the ROC curve were 0.783 (rT24H) and 0.619 (Novalisa) (p-value < 0.001). For the diagnosis of CE, the sensitivity of the r2B2t-MBA ranged from 68.87-69.77% and of Ridascreen ELISA from 50.00-57.62%; specificities from 92.47-92.68% and from 74.15-80.98%, respectively. AUC values were 0.717 and 0.760, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Overall, the recombinant antigens tested with the bead-based technology showed better diagnostic accuracy than the commercial assays, particularly for the diagnosis of NCC. The possibility of testing the same serum sample simultaneously for the presence of antibodies against both antigens is an added value particularly in seroprevalence studies for cysticercosis linked to control programs in endemic areas where these two parasites coexist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Hernández-González
- Laboratorio de Helmintos, Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén González-Bertolín
- Laboratorio de Helmintos, Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Urrea
- Laboratorio de Helmintos, Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agnes Fleury
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM); México/Instituto Nacional de Neurología and Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Ferrer
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Dr. Francisco J. Triana Alonso" (BIOMED), Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela
| | - Mar Siles-Lucas
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales and Agrobiología de Salamanca, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IRNASA-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francesca Tamarozzi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Maria J. Perteguer
- Laboratorio de Helmintos, Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Gazzinelli-Guimarães AC, Nogueira DS, Amorim CCO, Oliveira FMS, Coqueiro-Dos-Santos A, Carvalho SAP, Kraemer L, Barbosa FS, Fraga VG, Santos FV, de Castro JC, Russo RC, Akamatsu MA, Ho PL, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Zhan B, Bartholomeu DC, Bueno LL, Fujiwara RT. ASCVac-1, a Multi-Peptide Chimeric Vaccine, Protects Mice Against Ascaris suum Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:788185. [PMID: 34992603 PMCID: PMC8724438 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.788185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of human ascariasis, the most prevalent neglected tropical disease globally affecting 450 million people, mostly relies on mass drug administration of anthelmintics. However, chemotherapy alone is not efficient due to the high re-infection rate for people who live in the endemic area. The development of a vaccine that reduces the intensity of infection and maintains lower morbidity should be the primary target for infection control. Previously, our group demonstrated that immunization with crude Ascaris antigens in mice induced an IgG-mediated protective response with significant worm reduction. Here, we aimed to develop a multipeptide chimera vaccine based on conserved B-cell epitopes predicted from 17 common helminth proteomes using a bioinformatics algorithm. More than 480 B-cell epitopes were identified that are conserved in all 17 helminths. The Ascaris-specific epitopes were selected based on their reactivity to the pooled sera of mice immunized with Ascaris crude antigens or infected three times with A. suum infective eggs. The top 35 peptides with the strongest reactivity to Ascaris immune serum were selected to construct a chimeric antigen connected in sequence based on conformation. This chimera, called ASCVac-1, was produced as a soluble recombinant protein in an Escherichia coli expression system and, formulated with MPLA, was used to immunize mice. Mice immunized with ASCVac-1/MPLA showed around 50% reduced larvae production in the lungs after being challenged with A. suum infective eggs, along with significantly reduced inflammation and lung tissue/function damage. The reduced parasite count and pathology in infected lungs were associated with strong Th2 immune responses characterized by the high titers of antigen-specific IgG and its subclasses (IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3) in the sera and significantly increased IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 levels in lung tissues. The reduced IL-33 titers and stimulated eosinophils were also observed in lung tissues and may also contribute to the ASCVac-1-induced protection. Taken together, the preclinical trial with ASCVac-1 chimera in a mouse model demonstrated its significant vaccine efficacy associated with strong IgG-based Th2 responses, without IgE induction, thus reducing the risk of an allergic response. All results suggest that the multiepitope-based ASCVac-1 chimera is a promising vaccine candidate against Ascaris sp. infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise Silva Nogueira
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Lucas Kraemer
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Vanessa Gomes Fraga
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flaviane Vieira Santos
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Remo Castro Russo
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Milena Apetito Akamatsu
- BioIndustrial Division, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo Secretary of Health, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo Lee Ho
- BioIndustrial Division, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo Secretary of Health, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bin Zhan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara,
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Casafús MG, Favalesso MM, Gritti MA, Coronel JM, Guimarães ATB, Elisa Peichoto M. A hidden deadly venomous insect: First eco-epidemiological assessment and risk mapping of lonomism in Argentina. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009542. [PMID: 34197465 PMCID: PMC8279340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Envenomation by the South American Lonomia saturniid caterpillars, named lonomism, constitutes an emerging and somewhat neglected public health issue in Argentina and neighboring countries. Considering that there is an intricate relationship between environment and human health in such cases, this study aimed to analyze the eco-epidemiological profile of 40 accidents and 33 occurrences of Lonomia spp. in Misiones (Argentina) between January 2014 and May 2020. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We described the eco-epidemiological variables and characterized the abiotic scenario of such cases. Additionally, we obtained a density map that shows the punctual intensity of Lonomia records throughout Misiones. Most of the accidents occurred in the Department of Guaraní and involved male victims younger than 20 years old. The accidental/occasional occurrence of Lonomia spp. (considering both adult and caterpillar stages together) was significantly higher in the rural area, whereas only adult specimens were found in urban areas. We determined that the presence of this insect in Misiones is positively related to higher temperatures and solar radiation, and larger precipitation and evapotranspiration throughout the year. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE This study represents an initial step towards the global understanding of lonomism as a public health problem in Argentina. It provides a map of the risk level for this envenomation in Misiones, which could help authorities address public health policy efforts to implement sustainable strategies for prevention and response to this threat in Northeastern Argentina and neighboring regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Gisela Casafús
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT)–ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G Malbrán", Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Marília Melo Favalesso
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT)–ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G Malbrán", Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Laboratório de Investigações Biológicas (LInBio), Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOESTE), Cascavel, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Micaela Andrea Gritti
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT)–ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G Malbrán", Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Coronel
- Cátedra de Biología de los Invertebrados, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE), Corrientes, Corrientes, Argentina
| | | | - Maria Elisa Peichoto
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT)–ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G Malbrán", Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brasil
- * E-mail: ,
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Gutiérrez JM, Chippaux JP, Isbister GK. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases broadens its coverage of envenomings caused by animal bites and stings. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009481. [PMID: 34138869 PMCID: PMC8211284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Geoffrey K. Isbister
- Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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Mahittikorn A, Masangkay FR, Kotepui KU, Milanez GDJ, Kotepui M. Comparison of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri infections by a meta-analysis approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6409. [PMID: 33742015 PMCID: PMC7979700 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85398-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria caused by Plasmodium ovale species is considered a neglected tropical disease with limited information about its characteristics. It also remains unclear whether the two distinct species P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri exhibit differences in their prevalence, geographic distribution, clinical characteristics, or laboratory parameters. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify these differences to support global malaria control and eradication programs. Studies reporting the occurrence of P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri were explored in databases. Differences in proportion, clinical data, and laboratory parameters between the two species were estimated using a random-effects model and expressed as pooled odds ratios (ORs), mean difference (MD), or standardized MD depending on the types of extracted data. The difference in geographical distribution was visualized by mapping the origin of the two species. A total of 1453 P. ovale cases extracted from 35 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The p-value in the meta-analyses provided evidence favoring a real difference between P. ovale curtisi malaria cases (809/1453, 55.7%) and P. ovale wallikeri malaria cases (644/1453, 44.3%) (p: 0.01, OR 1.61, 95% CI 0.71-3.63, I2: 77%). Subgroup analyses established evidence favoring a real difference between P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri malaria cases among the imported cases (p: 0.02, 1135 cases). The p value in the meta-analyses provided evidence favoring a real difference in the mean latency period between P. ovale curtisi (289 cases) and P. ovale wallikeri malaria (266 cases) (p: 0.03, MD: 27.59, 95% CI 1.99-53.2, I2: 94%), total leukocyte count (p < 0.0001, MD: 840, 95% CI 610-1070, I2: 0%, two studies) and platelet count (p < 0.0001, MD: 44,750, 95% CI 2900-60,500, I2: 32%, three studies). Four continents were found to have reports of P. ovale spp., among which Africa had the highest number of reports for both P. ovale spp. in its 37 countries, with a global proportion of 94.46%, and an almost equal distribution of both P. ovale spp., where P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri reflected 53.09% and 46.90% of the continent's proportion, respectively. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to demonstrate the differences in the characteristics of the two distinct P. ovale species. Malaria caused by P. ovale curtisi was found in higher proportions among imported cases and had longer latency periods, higher platelet counts, and higher total leukocyte counts than malaria caused by P. ovale wallikeri. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm the differences or similarities between these two species to promote malaria control and effective eradication programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aongart Mahittikorn
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Frederick Ramirez Masangkay
- Department of Medical Technology, Institute of Arts and Sciences, Far Eastern University-Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Giovanni De Jesus Milanez
- Department of Medical Technology, Institute of Arts and Sciences, Far Eastern University-Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Manas Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
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Avendaño C, Patarroyo MA. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification as Point-of-Care Diagnosis for Neglected Parasitic Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217981. [PMID: 33126446 PMCID: PMC7662217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has placed twenty diseases into a group known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), twelve of them being parasitic diseases: Chagas’ disease, cysticercosis/taeniasis, echinococcosis, food-borne trematodiasis, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis), guinea-worm and scabies. Such diseases affect millions of people in developing countries where one of the main problems concerning the control of these diseases is diagnosis-based due to the most affected areas usually being far from laboratories having suitable infrastructure and/or being equipped with sophisticated equipment. Advances have been made during the last two decades regarding standardising and introducing techniques enabling diagnoses to be made in remote places, i.e., the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. This technique’s advantages include being able to perform it using simple equipment, diagnosis made directly in the field, low cost of each test and the technique’s high specificity. Using this technique could thus contribute toward neglected parasite infection (NPI) control and eradication programmes. This review describes the advances made to date regarding LAMP tests, as it has been found that even though several studies have been conducted concerning most NPI, information is scarce for others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Avendaño
- Animal Science Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A.), Bogotá 111166, Colombia;
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 112111, Colombia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-1-3244672
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Koné M, N’Gouan EK, Kaba D, Koffi M, Kouakou L, N’Dri L, Kouamé CM, Nanan VK, Tapé GA, Coulibaly B, Courtin F, Ahouty B, Djohan V, Bucheton B, Solano P, Büscher P, Lejon V, Jamonneau V. The complex health seeking pathway of a human African trypanosomiasis patient in Côte d'Ivoire underlines the need of setting up passive surveillance systems. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008588. [PMID: 32925917 PMCID: PMC7515183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Significant efforts to control human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) over the two past decades have resulted in drastic decrease of its prevalence in Côte d’Ivoire. In this context, passive surveillance, integrated in the national health system and based on clinical suspicion, was reinforced. We describe here the health-seeking pathway of a girl who was the first HAT patient diagnosed through this strategy in August 2017. Methods After definitive diagnosis of this patient, epidemiological investigations were carried out into the clinical evolution and the health and therapeutic itinerary of the patient before diagnosis. Results At the time of diagnosis, the patient was positive in both serological and molecular tests and trypanosomes were detected in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. She suffered from important neurological disorders. The first disease symptoms had appeared three years earlier, and the patient had visited several public and private peripheral health care centres and hospitals in different cities. The failure to diagnose HAT for such a long time caused significant health deterioration and was an important financial burden for the family. Conclusion This description illustrates the complexity of detecting the last HAT cases due to complex diagnosis and the progressive disinterest and unawareness by both health professionals and the population. It confirms the need of implementing passive surveillance in combination with continued sensitization and health staff training. Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei that is transmitted by tsetse flies. In 2012, HAT was included in the World Health Organization roadmap for the control of neglected tropical diseases with the objective of elimination as a public health problem by 2020. In Côte d’Ivoire, HAT prevalence has dropped sharply the last decade. A passive HAT surveillance was therefore integrated in the national health system, which allowed to detect a first patient in 2017. This article describes the complex health seeking pathway and suffering before diagnosis of this patient, an 11 years old girl, and illustrates the challenge when health agents and population no longer consider HAT as a threat in an elimination context. Our results show the need to install a solid surveillance system, in combination with continued sensitization and repeated health staff training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minayégninrin Koné
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Gestion des Ecosystèmes Tropicaux, Unité de Recherche en Génétique et Epidémiologie Moléculaire, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Environnement, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
| | | | - Dramane Kaba
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Mathurin Koffi
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Gestion des Ecosystèmes Tropicaux, Unité de Recherche en Génétique et Epidémiologie Moléculaire, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Environnement, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Lingué Kouakou
- Programme National d’Élimination de la Trypanosomose Humaine Africaine, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Louis N’Dri
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Cyrille Mambo Kouamé
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Valentin Kouassi Nanan
- Direction Départementale de la Marahoué, District sanitaire de Sinfra, Ministère de la Santé et de l’Hygiène Publique, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Gossé Apollinaire Tapé
- Direction départementale de la santé de la Marahoué, Centre de Santé Urbain de Bonon, Ministère de la Santé et de l’Hygiène Publique, Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Bamoro Coulibaly
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Fabrice Courtin
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
- Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernardin Ahouty
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Gestion des Ecosystèmes Tropicaux, Unité de Recherche en Génétique et Epidémiologie Moléculaire, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Environnement, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Vincent Djohan
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Bruno Bucheton
- Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Solano
- Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Büscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Veerle Lejon
- Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Jamonneau
- Unité de Recherche « Trypanosomoses », Institut Pierre Richet, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
- Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail:
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Vander Kelen C, Mpanya A, Boelaert M, Miaka E, Pérez Chacón D, Pulford J, Selby R, Torr SJ. Feasibility of community-based control of tsetse: A pilot project using Tiny Targets in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008696. [PMID: 32970689 PMCID: PMC7537905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis (g-HAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted by tsetse flies. 70% of cases in 2019 (604/863) occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The national programme for g-HAT elimination in DRC includes a large-scale deployment of Tiny Targets which attract and kill tsetse. This intervention is directed by vector-control specialists with small teams, moving in canoes, deploying Tiny Targets along riverbanks where tsetse concentrate. While the targets are deployed in communal areas, and the method is cheap and easy-to-use, local people have little involvement. This study aimed to evaluate if a community-led vector control programme was feasible in the context of DRC's g-HAT elimination programme. In 2017, a community-led intervention was implemented in three villages in the Kwilu province of DRC. This intervention was evaluated through an Action Research with qualitative data collected through 21 focus group discussions and 289 hours of observation. Also the geographical location and quality of each Tiny Targets were collected (total number deployed = 2429). This research revealed that community-based approach largely worked: people were motivated and proactive, showed a good application of the acquired knowledge resulting in an effective deployment of Tiny Targets. In addition, our study provided evidence that acceptability of the targets by the community can improve deployment quality by reducing target loss and damage. The approach was feasible in places where canoe-based teams could not reach. Against these advantages, a community-based approach was time-consuming and had to adapt to the seasonal and daily rhythms of the community. A community-based approach for tsetse control is technically feasible and recommended but limits to the speed and scale of the approach restraints its application as a standalone strategy in a large-scale national programme aiming to eliminate g-HAT in a short timeframe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alain Mpanya
- Programme National de Lutte Contre la Trypanosomiase Humaine Africaine, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | - Erick Miaka
- Programme National de Lutte Contre la Trypanosomiase Humaine Africaine, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | - Justin Pulford
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Selby
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Steve J. Torr
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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11
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Borhani M, Fathi S, Lahmar S, Ahmed H, Abdulhameed MF, Fasihi Harandi M. Cystic echinococcosis in the Eastern Mediterranean region: Neglected and prevailing! PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008114. [PMID: 32379760 PMCID: PMC7205190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is distributed worldwide, extending from China to the Middle East and from Mediterranean countries to the sub-Saharan Africa and South America. According to WHO, one million people around the world are suffering from CE with an estimated burden of 183,573 DALYs. The annual monetary burden of the disease due to treatment costs and CE-related livestock losses has been estimated at US$ 3 billion. CE is endemic in all countries within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO). The region, which includes most of the Middle East and North Africa, is one of the most ancient foci of the domestic cycle of CE and is recognized as one of the major hotspots of CE. There are 22 countries in the EMRO, where about 688 million people are living at risk of CE. In many EMRO countries, little is known about CE epidemiology and transmission. WHO included echinococcosis in a list of 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and 12 neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs). Accordingly, different regional offices of WHO organized several initiatives for CE control and prevention. WHO’s Western Pacific regional office considered echinococcosis as one of the region’s major health topics, and several preventive measures have been implemented in the American region with the support of Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, and Chile. Although CE is endemic in all 22 EMRO countries, surprisingly, CE is absent from the health topics list of diseases and conditions in this region. Therefore, CE clearly requires further attention in the WHO EMRO agenda, and the need for elaboration of specific measures for CE control is becoming apparent in EMRO countries, where substantial collaborations among the member states and WHO EMRO is of paramount importance. Major topics of collaborative activities include training programs and health communication on different aspects of CE control, analysis of CE burden, national and international surveillance and disease registry systems, technical support to promote epidemiological studies for collecting baseline data, cost–benefit analysis of control interventions, and intersectoral cooperation among the agriculture, veterinary, medical, and health sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Borhani
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Saeid Fathi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samia Lahmar
- Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Haroon Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Majid Fasihi Harandi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- * E-mail: ,
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12
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Molina-Morant D, Fernández ML, Bosch-Nicolau P, Sulleiro E, Bangher M, Salvador F, Sanchez-Montalva A, Ribeiro ALP, de Paula AMB, Eloi S, Correa-Oliveira R, Villar JC, Sosa-Estani S, Molina I. Efficacy and safety assessment of different dosage of benznidazol for the treatment of Chagas disease in chronic phase in adults (MULTIBENZ study): study protocol for a multicenter randomized Phase II non-inferiority clinical trial. Trials 2020; 21:328. [PMID: 32293523 PMCID: PMC7158046 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-4226-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease (CD) continues to be a neglected infectious disease with one of the largest burdens globally. Despite the modest cure rates in adult chronic patients and its safety profile, benznidazole (BNZ) is still the drug of choice. Its current recommended dose is based on nonrandomized studies, and efficacy and safety of the optimal dose of BNZ have been scarcely analyzed in clinical trials. METHODS/DESIGN MULTIBENZ is a phase II, randomized, noninferiority, double-blind, multicenter international clinical trial. A total of 240 patients with Trypanosoma CD in the chronic phase will be recruited in four different countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Spain). Patients will be randomized to receive BNZ 150 mg/day for 60 days, 400 mg/day for 15 days, or 300 mg/day for 60 days (comparator arm). The primary outcome is the efficacy of three different BNZ therapeutic schemes in terms of dose and duration. Efficacy will be assessed according to the proportion of patients with sustained parasitic load suppression in peripheral blood measured by polymerase chain reaction. The secondary outcomes are related to pharmacokinetics and drug tolerability. The follow-up will be 12 months from randomization to end of study participation. Recruitment was started in April 2018. CONCLUSION This is a clinical trial conducted for the assessment of different dose schemes of BNZ compared with the standard treatment regimen for the treatment of CD in the chronic phase. MULTIBENZ may help to clarify which is the most adequate BNZ regimen in terms of efficacy and safety, predicated on sustained parasitic load suppression in peripheral blood. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03191162. Registered on 19 June 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Molina-Morant
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119, Edifici Mediterrània, VHIR, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M L Fernández
- Departamento de Clínica, Patología y Tratamiento, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben, Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P Bosch-Nicolau
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119, Edifici Mediterrània, VHIR, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Sulleiro
- Microbiology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Bangher
- Instituto de Cardiología de Corrientes Juana Francisca Cabral (Argentina), Corrientes, Argentina
| | - F Salvador
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119, Edifici Mediterrània, VHIR, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Sanchez-Montalva
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119, Edifici Mediterrània, VHIR, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A L P Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-graduação Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - A M B de Paula
- Laboratory of Health Science, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (Unimontes), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
| | - S Eloi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Patologia, Departamento de Propedêutica Complementar, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade José do Rosário Vellano, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - R Correa-Oliveira
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - J C Villar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga and Research Department, Bucaramanga, Colombia
- Fundación Cardioinfantil - Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - S Sosa-Estani
- Chagas Clinical Program, Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Center, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - I Molina
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119, Edifici Mediterrània, VHIR, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
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Ma L, Chen DC, Zou SY, Liu YY, Zhou LY, Xiu ZG. Epidemiological characteristics of hepatic echinococcosis, concurrent cerebral echinococcosis, and pulmonary echinococcosis in Ganzi County, Sichuan Province, China. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e19753. [PMID: 32282737 PMCID: PMC7220390 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000019753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human echinococcosis has become a major public health problem in most parts of the world. The objective of this article was to study the demographics of patients with hepatic echinococcosis in Ganzi County to elucidate the main risk factors, as well as to report the concurrent prevalence of cerebral echinococcosis and pulmonary echinococcosis.We recruited 195 patients with hepatic echinococcosis from the Datongma area of Ganzi County from January 2018 to November 2018. The patients' demographics, living environments, supported medical resources, knowledge of echinococcosis prevention and control, and hygienic practices were investigated and analyzed. The prevalence of cerebral echinococcosis and pulmonary echinococcosis were also investigated.The data were analyzed to identify risk factors for human echinococcosis. Our analysis showed that the herding Tibetan population within the 20 to 60 age group, and females, in particular, were at the highest risk of human echinococcosis infection. Having stray dogs around habitations and intimate activities with dogs and livestock were also behavioral risk factors. People with poor health literacy and low educational qualifications had possible risks of infection. In terms of hygiene, not using tap water as the drinking water source and lack of medical staff were significantly correlated with echinococcosis prevalence. Four patients were diagnosed with cerebral echinococcosis. Among them, 1 patient had both cerebral echinococcosis and pulmonary echinococcosis.Possible high-risk factors for echinococcosis were being female, herding population, in the 20 to 60 age group, having stray dogs around habitations, having activities with dogs and livestock, having poor health literacy, having low educational qualifications, and not using tap water as a drinking water source. The detection rate for brain echinococcosis in patients with hepatic echinococcosis was high (2.05%). Effective preventive strategies should be implemented in epidemic areas. Head CT scans should be applied for early detection of cerebral echinococcosis to carry out the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Institute of Urology
| | - De-Cai Chen
- Endocrinology Department, West China Hospital Sichuan University
| | | | - Yan-Yi Liu
- Hospital Management Department, The First People's Hospital of Lognquanyi District, Chengdu
| | - Lin-Yong Zhou
- Hospital Management Department, People's Hospital of Ganzi County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
| | - Zhi-Gang Xiu
- Radiology, The First People's Hospital of Lognquanyi District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Álvarez-Bardón M, Pérez-Pertejo Y, Ordóñez C, Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Carballeira NM, Tekwani BL, Murugesan S, Martinez-Valladares M, García-Estrada C, Reguera RM, Balaña-Fouce R. Screening Marine Natural Products for New Drug Leads against Trypanosomatids and Malaria. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:E187. [PMID: 32244488 PMCID: PMC7230869 DOI: 10.3390/md18040187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) represent a serious threat to humans, especially for those living in poor or developing countries. Almost one-sixth of the world population is at risk of suffering from these diseases and many thousands die because of NTDs, to which we should add the sanitary, labor and social issues that hinder the economic development of these countries. Protozoan-borne diseases are responsible for more than one million deaths every year. Visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease or sleeping sickness are among the most lethal NTDs. Despite not being considered an NTD by the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria must be added to this sinister group. Malaria, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. The treatment of this disease has been losing effectiveness year after year. Many of the medicines currently in use are obsolete due to their gradual loss of efficacy, their intrinsic toxicity and the emergence of drug resistance or a lack of adherence to treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent and global need for new drugs. Despite this, the scant interest shown by most of the stakeholders involved in the pharmaceutical industry makes our present therapeutic arsenal scarce, and until recently, the search for new drugs has not been seriously addressed. The sources of new drugs for these and other pathologies include natural products, synthetic molecules or repurposing drugs. The most frequent sources of natural products are microorganisms, e.g., bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae and plants, which are able to synthesize many drugs that are currently in use (e.g. antimicrobials, antitumor, immunosuppressants, etc.). The marine environment is another well-established source of bioactive natural products, with recent applications against parasites, bacteria and other pathogens which affect humans and animals. Drug discovery techniques have rapidly advanced since the beginning of the millennium. The combination of novel techniques that include the genetic modification of pathogens, bioimaging and robotics has given rise to the standardization of High-Performance Screening platforms in the discovery of drugs. These advancements have accelerated the discovery of new chemical entities with antiparasitic effects. This review presents critical updates regarding the use of High-Throughput Screening (HTS) in the discovery of drugs for NTDs transmitted by protozoa, including malaria, and its application in the discovery of new drugs of marine origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Álvarez-Bardón
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (M.Á.-B.); (Y.P.-P.); (C.O.); (D.S.-C.); (R.M.R.)
| | - Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (M.Á.-B.); (Y.P.-P.); (C.O.); (D.S.-C.); (R.M.R.)
| | - César Ordóñez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (M.Á.-B.); (Y.P.-P.); (C.O.); (D.S.-C.); (R.M.R.)
| | - Daniel Sepúlveda-Crespo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (M.Á.-B.); (Y.P.-P.); (C.O.); (D.S.-C.); (R.M.R.)
| | - Nestor M. Carballeira
- Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras 00925-2537, San Juan, Puerto Rico;
| | - Babu L. Tekwani
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Drug Discovery, Southern Research, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA;
| | - Sankaranarayanan Murugesan
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Vidya Vihar, Pilani 333031, India;
| | - Maria Martinez-Valladares
- Department of Animal Health, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain;
| | - Carlos García-Estrada
- INBIOTEC (Instituto de Biotecnología de León), Avda. Real 1-Parque Científico de León, 24006 León, Spain;
| | - Rosa M. Reguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (M.Á.-B.); (Y.P.-P.); (C.O.); (D.S.-C.); (R.M.R.)
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (M.Á.-B.); (Y.P.-P.); (C.O.); (D.S.-C.); (R.M.R.)
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15
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Clark NJ, Owada K, Ruberanziza E, Ortu G, Umulisa I, Bayisenge U, Mbonigaba JB, Mucaca JB, Lancaster W, Fenwick A, Soares Magalhães RJ, Mbituyumuremyi A. Parasite associations predict infection risk: incorporating co-infections in predictive models for neglected tropical diseases. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:138. [PMID: 32178706 PMCID: PMC7077138 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04016-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis and infection by soil-transmitted helminths are some of the world's most prevalent neglected tropical diseases. Infection by more than one parasite (co-infection) is common and can contribute to clinical morbidity in children. Geostatistical analyses of parasite infection data are key for developing mass drug administration strategies, yet most methods ignore co-infections when estimating risk. Infection status for multiple parasites can act as a useful proxy for data-poor individual-level or environmental risk factors while avoiding regression dilution bias. Conditional random fields (CRF) is a multivariate graphical network method that opens new doors in parasite risk mapping by (i) predicting co-infections with high accuracy; (ii) isolating associations among parasites; and (iii) quantifying how these associations change across landscapes. METHODS We built a spatial CRF to estimate infection risks for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) and Schistosoma mansoni using data from a national survey of Rwandan schoolchildren. We used an ensemble learning approach to generate spatial predictions by simulating from the CRF's posterior distribution with a multivariate boosted regression tree that captured non-linear relationships between predictors and covariance in infection risks. This CRF ensemble was compared against single parasite gradient boosted machines to assess each model's performance and prediction uncertainty. RESULTS Parasite co-infections were common, with 19.57% of children infected with at least two parasites. The CRF ensemble achieved higher predictive power than single-parasite models by improving estimates of co-infection prevalence at the individual level and classifying schools into World Health Organization treatment categories with greater accuracy. The CRF uncovered important environmental and demographic predictors of parasite infection probabilities. Yet even after capturing demographic and environmental risk factors, the presences or absences of other parasites were strong predictors of individual-level infection risk. Spatial predictions delineated high-risk regions in need of anthelminthic treatment interventions, including areas with higher than expected co-infection prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Monitoring studies routinely screen for multiple parasites, yet statistical models generally ignore this multivariate data when assessing risk factors and designing treatment guidelines. Multivariate approaches can be instrumental in the global effort to reduce and eventually eliminate neglected helminth infections in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Clark
- UQ Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343 Australia
| | - Kei Owada
- UQ Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343 Australia
- Children Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Australia
| | - Eugene Ruberanziza
- Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit, Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Giuseppina Ortu
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI), Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Irenee Umulisa
- Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit, Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Ursin Bayisenge
- Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit, Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Jean Bosco Mbonigaba
- Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit, Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Jean Bosco Mucaca
- Microbiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory (NRL) Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Alan Fenwick
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI), Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães
- UQ Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343 Australia
- Children Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Australia
| | - Aimable Mbituyumuremyi
- Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
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Salas-Sarduy E, Landaburu LU, Carmona AK, Cazzulo JJ, Agüero F, Alvarez VE, Niemirowicz GT. Potent and selective inhibitors for M32 metallocarboxypeptidases identified from high-throughput screening of anti-kinetoplastid chemical boxes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007560. [PMID: 31329594 PMCID: PMC6675120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzymes of the M32 family are Zn-dependent metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs) widely distributed among prokaryotic organisms and just a few eukaryotes including Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agents of sleeping sickness and Chagas disease, respectively. These enzymes are absent in humans and several functions have been proposed for trypanosomatid M32 MCPs. However, no synthetic inhibitors have been reported so far for these enzymes. Here, we present the identification of a set of inhibitors for TcMCP-1 and TbMCP-1 (two trypanosomatid M32 enzymes sharing 71% protein sequence identity) from the GlaxoSmithKline HAT and CHAGAS chemical boxes; two collections grouping 404 compounds with high antiparasitic potency, drug-likeness, structural diversity and scientific novelty. For this purpose, we adapted continuous fluorescent enzymatic assays to a medium-throughput format and carried out the screening of both collections, followed by the construction of dose-response curves for the most promising hits. As a result, 30 micromolar-range inhibitors were discovered for one or both enzymes. The best hit, TCMDC-143620, showed sub-micromolar affinity for TcMCP-1, inhibited TbMCP-1 in the low micromolar range and was inactive against angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a potential mammalian off-target structurally related to M32 MCPs. This is the first inhibitor reported for this family of MCPs and considering its potency and specificity, TCMDC-143620 seems to be a promissory starting point to develop more specific and potent chemical tools targeting M32 MCPs from trypanosomatid parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emir Salas-Sarduy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lionel Urán Landaburu
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana K. Carmona
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juan José Cazzulo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina E. Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela T. Niemirowicz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Colebunders R, Siewe Fodjo JN, Hopkins A, Hotterbeekx A, Lakwo TL, Kalinga A, Logora MY, Basáñez MG. From river blindness to river epilepsy: Implications for onchocerciasis elimination programmes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007407. [PMID: 31318857 PMCID: PMC6638735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adrian Hopkins
- Neglected and Disabling Diseases of Poverty Consultant, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - An Hotterbeekx
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomson L. Lakwo
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Akili Kalinga
- National institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Makoy Yibi Logora
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Maria-Gloria Basáñez
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Mubanga C, Mwape KE, Phiri IK, Trevisan C, Zulu G, Chabala C, van Damme I, Schmidt V, Dorny P, Gabriël S. Progress on the development of rapid diagnostic tests for foodborne neglected zoonotic helminthiases: A systematic review. Acta Trop 2019; 194:135-147. [PMID: 30946810 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Foodborne Neglected Zoonotic Helminths (FNZH) are parasites of both economic and public health importance. They include Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, Echinococcus multilocularis and Foodborne trematodes (FBT). FNZH are earmarked for major interventions for control, elimination and eradication. This systematic review highlights the progress towards development of rapid tests for the diagnosis of FNZH since 2010 when they were listed as neglected tropical diseases. METHODOLOGY A systematic search was conducted in three databases, World of Science, Embase and PubMed using the same search phrase. The search produced 480 hits. Three studies from back referencing were included. Only 22 of these met the inclusion criteria. Data was extracted from these and presented qualitatively. RESULTS Twenty-five rapid diagnostic tests were found to have been developed since 2010, eight for diagnosis of T. solium infections, eight for echinococcosis and nine for FBT infections. The rapid tests for diagnosing T. solium infections included six antibody detecting and two antigen detecting tests. They constitute a combination among them, with some tests providing qualitative, others quantitative results. Similarly, seven out of the eight rapid tests developed for Echinococcus infections were antibody detecting tests save for one loop mediated isothermal amplification test. All of them were qualitative tests. For FBT infections, nine rapid tests were described; two antibody and one nucleic acid detecting test for diagnosis of Fascioliasis; three nucleic acid detecting tests for Opisthorchiasis; one antibody detecting test for Paragonimiasis; and for Clonorchiasis, one antibody and one nucleic acid detecting test. The FBT infection rapid tests were all qualitative in nature. Most of these tests have not undergone field evaluation in endemic areas where they will be used most. CONCLUSION This review describes the development and evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests, while highlighting the need for in depth validations of the tools to determine how well they can perform in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chishimba Mubanga
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - Kabemba E Mwape
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Isaac K Phiri
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chiara Trevisan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gideon Zulu
- Provincial Medical Office, Ministry of Health, Kasama, Zambia
| | - Chishala Chabala
- Children's Hospital, University Teaching Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Inge van Damme
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Veronika Schmidt
- Centre for Global Health, Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; Centre for Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sarah Gabriël
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Richards L, Erko B, Ponpetch K, Ryan SJ, Liang S. Assessing the nonhuman primate reservoir of Schistosoma mansoni in Africa: a systematic review. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:32. [PMID: 31077256 PMCID: PMC6509776 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-019-0543-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reports of natural infections of Schistosoma mansoni in a number of species of nonhuman primates (NHPs) in Africa, coupled with the substantial overlap of NHP habitats and human schistosomiasis endemic areas, has led to concerns about the role of NHPs in the transmission of human schistosomiasis. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to describe the current scope of knowledge for Africa, for the NHP species implicated, their geographical distribution, infection rates with S. mansoni, and to discuss the implications for public health and conservation. MAIN TEXT A systematic search of the literature was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, the World Health Organization (WHO) library database, World Cat, and ScienceDirect without any language restriction. Studies examining S. mansoni infection of any African NHP species were included. Study types, primate species, their geographical distribution, and parasite diagnostic techniques reported in the studies were qualitatively summarized. Data for species with sample sizes ≥10 were included in the meta-analysis. We assessed the reported infection rate, and used a random-effects model to estimate the summary infection rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed heterogeneity among studies using the I2 statistics. Twenty-nine publications, from 1960 to 2018, were identified and included in the review. The studies examined a total of 2962 primates belonging to 22 species in 11 genera across ten countries (Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe), and S. mansoni infections were found in nine species of five genera in all countries. When we excluded studies with sample sizes < 10, data from 24 studies on 11 species of primates in three genera in ten countries remained in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled estimate of infection rate was 10% (95% CI: 6-16%) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 94.77%) across countries and species/genera. Among the three genera, Pan had the highest infection rate of 15% (95% CI: 0-55%), followed by Papio at 11% (95% CI: 6-18%), and Cercopithecus at 5% (95% CI: 0-14%). The association between NHP and human infections was positive, but not significant, due to low study sample matches and high variation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that S. mansoni infection rate is high in African NHPs, with substantial heterogeneities across species/genera and countries in Africa. Given the evidence for potential spillover and spillback of S. mansoni between African NHPs and humans, further research is urgently needed to understand ecology and mechanisms of transmission of the parasite between NHP and human hosts, in order to inform control strategies of this important neglected tropical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Richards
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA
| | - Berhanu Erko
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Keerati Ponpetch
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA
| | - Sadie J. Ryan
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 326102 USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA
| | - Song Liang
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA
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Terefe Y, Addy F, Alemu S, Mackenstedt U, Romig T, Wassermann M. Genetic characterization of Echinococcus species in eastern Ethiopia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2019; 17:100302. [PMID: 31303217 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected zoonotic disease with considerable economic and public health burden worldwide, particularly affecting developing countries like Ethiopia. To initiate effective prevention and control of CE, comprehensive data on the local lifecycles of the various species/genotypes of Echinococcus are needed. In the present study, conducted in eastern Ethiopia, a total of 1106 livestock animals were examined at three slaughterhouses, which resulted in combined prevalence of morphologically and molecularly confirmed CE of 8.4% (75/891) in cattle, 1.1% (1/95) in sheep, 0.0% (0/95) in goats and 12.0% (3/25) in camels. All cystic lesions recovered during post mortem examination were assessed for cyst condition and underwent molecular characterization by PCR and sequencing of a 1081 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. A total of 175 cysts belonged to E. granulosus s.s. (n = 165), E. ortleppi (n = 6) and E. canadensis G6/7 (n = 4). Of all examined cysts, only 14 were fertile and contained protoscoleces, all from the lungs of cattle: 5 were E. granulosus s.s., 6 E. ortleppi and 3 E. canadensis G6/7. In sheep, only one sterile liver cyst of E. granulosus s.s. was found, while in camels seven sterile or caseated/calcified cysts of E. granulosus s.s. and E. canadensis G6/7 were found in liver and lungs. In conclusion, the prevalence of CE was rather low compared to other regions of Ethiopia, and, based on the number of fertile cysts, three Echinococcus spp. contributed almost equally to transmission. Cattle seem to be, epidemiologically, the most important livestock species. Our data provide a substantial basis for more detailed investigations of the transmission dynamics of CE in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Terefe
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Dira Dawa, Ethiopia
| | - F Addy
- Department of Biotechnology, University for Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Tamale, Ghana
| | - S Alemu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Dira Dawa, Ethiopia
| | - U Mackenstedt
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - T Romig
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - M Wassermann
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
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Chen H, Li J, Zhang J, Guo X, Liu J, He J, Song Q, Zhang J, Chen M, Zheng Z, Chen D, Chen J. Multi-locus characterization and phylogenetic inference of Leishmania spp. in snakes from Northwest China. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210681. [PMID: 31022192 PMCID: PMC6483563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania is a neglected disease which is endemic in the northwest of China. Reptiles were considered to be the potential reservoir hosts for mammalian Leishmaniasis, and Leishmania had been detected in lizards from the epidemic area in the northwest of China. To date, few studies are focused on the natural infection of snakes with Leishmania. METHODS In this study, 15 snakes captured from 10 endemic foci in the northwest of China were detected Leishmania spp. on the base of mitochondrial cytochrome b, heat shock protein 70 gene and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 regions, and identified with phylogenetic and network analyses. RESULT In total, Leishmania gene was found in 7 snakes. The phylogenetic inference trees and network analysis suggests that the species identification was confirmed as Leishmania donovani, L. turanica and L. (Sauroleishmania) sp. CONCLUSION Our work is the first time to investigate the natural Leishmania spp. infection of snakes in the northwest of China. Mammalian Leishmania (L. donovani and L. turanica) was discovered in snakes and the reptilian Leishmania (Sauroleishmania sp.) was closely related to the clinical strains both prompt the importance of snakes in the disease cycle. To indicate the epidemiological involvement of snakes, a wide sample size in epidemic area and the pathogenic features of reptilian Leishmania promastigotes are recommended in the future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Junrong Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianguang Guo
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinlong Liu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinlei He
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qi Song
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhui Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Minli Chen
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwan Zheng
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dali Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Vaca HR, Celentano AM, Macchiaroli N, Kamenetzky L, Camicia F, Rosenzvit MC. Histone deacetylase enzymes as potential drug targets of Neglected Tropical Diseases caused by cestodes. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2019; 9:120-132. [PMID: 30897528 PMCID: PMC6426703 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cestode parasites cause neglected diseases, such as echinococcosis and cysticercosis, which represent a significant problem in human and animal health. Benzimidazoles and praziquantel are the only available drugs for chemotherapy and it is therefore important to identify new alternative drugs against cestode parasites. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are validated drug targets for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, including neglected diseases. However, knowledge of HDACs in cestodes is very scarce. In this work, we investigated cestode HDACs as potential drug targets to develop new therapies against neglected diseases caused by cestodes. Here we showed the full repertoire of HDAC coding genes in several members of the class Cestoda. Between 6 and 7 zinc-dependent HDAC coding genes were identified in the genomes of species from Echinococcus, Taenia, Mesocestoides and Hymenolepis genera. We classified them as Class I and II HDACs and analyzed their transcriptional expression levels throughout developmental stages of Echinococcus spp. We confirmed for the first time the complete HDAC8 nucleotide sequences from Echinococcus canadensis G7 and Mesocestoides corti. Homology models for these proteins showed particular structural features which differentiate them from HDAC8 from Homo sapiens. Furthermore, we showed that Trichostatin A (TSA), a pan-HDAC inhibitor, decreases the viability of M. corti, alters its tegument and morphology and produces an increment of the total amount of acetylated proteins, including acetylated histone H4. These results suggest that HDAC from cestodes are functional and might play important roles on survival and development. The particular structural features observed in cestode HDAC8 proteins suggest that these enzymes could be selectively targeted. This report provides the basis for further studies on cestode HDAC enzymes and for discovery of new HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of neglected diseases caused by cestode parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo R Vaca
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana M Celentano
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Camicia
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Mara C Rosenzvit
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Piso 13, Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Ofon E, Noyes H, Ebo’o Eyanga V, Njiokou F, Koffi M, Fogue P, Hertz-Fowler C, MacLeod A, Matovu E, Simo G. Association between IL1 gene polymorphism and human African trypanosomiasis in populations of sleeping sickness foci of southern Cameroon. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007283. [PMID: 30908482 PMCID: PMC6448947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by infections due to Trypanosoma brucei subspecies. In addition to the well-established environmental and behavioural risks of becoming infected, there is evidence for a genetic component to the response to trypanosome infection. We undertook a candidate gene case-control study to investigate genetic associations further. METHODOLOGY We genotyped one polymorphism in each of seven genes (IL1A, IL1RN, IL4RN, IL6, HP, HPR, and HLA-G) in 73 cases and 250 controls collected from 19 ethno-linguistic subgroups stratified into three major ethno-linguistic groups, 2 pooled ethno-linguistic groups and 11 ethno-linguistic subgroups from three Cameroonian HAT foci. The seven polymorphic loci tested consisted of three SNPs, three variable numbers of tandem repeat (VNTR) and one INDEL. RESULTS We found that the genotype (TT) and minor allele (T) of IL1A gene as well as the genotype 1A3A of IL1RN were associated with an increased risk of getting Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and develop HAT when all data were analysed together and also when stratified by the three major ethno-linguistic groups, 2 pooled ethno-linguistic subgroups and 11 ethno-linguistic subgroups. CONCLUSION This study revealed that one SNP rs1800794 of IL1A and one VNTR rs2234663 of IL1RN were associated with the increased risk to be infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and develop sleeping sickness in southern Cameroon. The minor allele T and the genotype TT of SNP rs1800794 in IL1A as well as the genotype 1A3A of IL1RN rs2234663 VNTR seem to increase the risk of getting Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infections and develop sleeping sickness in southern Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis Ofon
- Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Harry Noyes
- Centre for Genomic Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Ebo’o Eyanga
- MINSANTE, Divisional Centre for Diseases, PNLTHA, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Mathurin Koffi
- Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), UFR Environnement-Santé, Laboratoire des Interactions Hôte- Microorganismes-Environnement et Evolution (LIHME) Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Pythagore Fogue
- Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | | | - Annette MacLeod
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Enock Matovu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gustave Simo
- Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
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Bailey F, Mondragon-Shem K, Haines LR, Olabi A, Alorfi A, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Alvar J, Hotez P, Adams ER, Vélez ID, Al-Salem W, Eaton J, Acosta-Serrano Á, Molyneux DH. Cutaneous leishmaniasis and co-morbid major depressive disorder: A systematic review with burden estimates. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007092. [PMID: 30802261 PMCID: PMC6405174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) associated with chronic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has been identified as a significant and overlooked contributor to overall disease burden. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most prevalent and stigmatising NTDs, with an incidence of around 1 million new cases of active CL infection annually. However, the characteristic residual scarring (inactive CL) following almost all cases of active CL has only recently been recognised as part of the CL disease spectrum due to its lasting psychosocial impact. Methods and findings We performed a multi-language systematic review of the psychosocial impact of active and inactive CL. We estimated inactive CL (iCL) prevalence for the first time using reported WHO active CL (aCL) incidence data that were adjusted for life expectancy and underreporting. We then quantified the disability (YLD) burden of co-morbid MDD in CL using MDD disability weights at three severity levels. Overall, we identified 29 studies of CL psychological impact from 5 WHO regions, representing 11 of the 50 highest burden countries for CL. We conservatively calculated the disability burden of co-morbid MDD in CL to be 1.9 million YLDs, which equalled the overall (DALY) disease burden (assuming no excess mortality in depressed CL patients). Thus, upon inclusion of co-morbid MDD alone in both active and inactive CL, the DALY burden was seven times higher than the latest 2016 Global Burden of Disease study estimates, which notably omitted both psychological impact and inactive CL. Conclusions Failure to include co-morbid MDD and the lasting sequelae of chronic NTDs, as exemplified by CL, leads to large underestimates of overall disease burden. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent vector-borne disease affecting large parts of Latin America and the Middle East, as well as parts of Northern Africa. There are several types of Cutaneous leishmaniasis, almost all of which have an active phase characterized by a disfiguring lesion (typically on exposed parts of the body), which then becomes a permanent scar (the inactive phase). We recently published an article highlighting the impact of the inactive scarring phase of CL on affected individuals, which is associated with high levels of stigma. Nevertheless, this aspect of the disease is not considered in its own right when calculating the overall disease burden by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Studies. In this article we estimate the prevalence of depression (major depressive disorder) in cutaneous leishmaniasis, in both the active and inactive forms. We then show the contribution of inactive CL to the overall disease burden estimates when included, which is due to the large psychological impact it has on those affected by it. We also highlight the importance of further similar efforts for other NTDs which have a chronic course, and which are also not sufficiently included in disease burden calculations at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freddie Bailey
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Milton Keynes University Hospital, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (FB); (DHM)
| | - Karina Mondragon-Shem
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lee Rafuse Haines
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Amina Olabi
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmed Alorfi
- National Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health—Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Jorge Alvar
- Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Peter Hotez
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Adams
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Iván D. Vélez
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Waleed Al-Salem
- National Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health—Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Julian Eaton
- CBM International, Dry Drayton Road, Oakington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom
| | - Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David H. Molyneux
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (FB); (DHM)
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Zoni AC, Saboyá-Díaz MI, Castellanos LG, Nicholls RS, Blaya-Novakova V. Epidemiological situation of yaws in the Americas: A systematic review in the context of a regional elimination goal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007125. [PMID: 30802249 PMCID: PMC6405159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yaws is targeted for eradication by 2020 in the WHA66.12 resolution of the World Health Assembly. The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of yaws in the Americas and to contribute to the compilation of evidence based on published data to undertake the certification of yaws eradication. METHODOLOGY A systematic review of the epidemiological situation of yaws in the Americas was performed by searching in MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, SCOPUS, Web of Science, DARE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Experts on the topic were consulted, and institutional WHO/PAHO library databases were reviewed. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Seventy-five full-text articles published between 1839 and 2012 met the inclusion criteria. Haiti and Jamaica were the two countries with the highest number of papers (14.7% and 12.0%, respectively). Three-quarters of the studies were conducted before 1970. Thirty-three countries reported yaws case count or prevalence data. The largest foci in the history were described in Brazil and Haiti. The most recent cases reported were recorded in eight countries: Suriname, Guyana, Colombia, Haiti, Martinique, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil. Gaps in information and heterogeneity were detected in the methodologies used and outcome reporting, making cross-national and chronological comparisons difficult. CONCLUSIONS The lack of recent yaws publications may reflect, in the best-case scenario, the interruption of yaws transmission. It should be possible to reach the eradication goal in the region of the Americas, but it is necessary to collect more information. We suggest updating the epidemiological status of yaws, especially in two countries that need to assess ongoing transmission. Twenty-four countries need to demonstrate the interruption of transmission and declare its status of yaws endemicity, and sixteen countries should declare if they are yaws-free. It is necessary to formally verify the achievement of this goal in Ecuador.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martha Idalí Saboyá-Díaz
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department, Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of the America
| | - Luis Gerardo Castellanos
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department, Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of the America
| | - Rubén Santiago Nicholls
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department, Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of the America
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Attwood SW, Liu L, Huo GN. Population genetic structure and geographical variation in Neotricula aperta (Gastropoda: Pomatiopsidae), the snail intermediate host of Schistosoma mekongi (Digenea: Schistosomatidae). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007061. [PMID: 30689628 PMCID: PMC6366693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neotricula aperta is the snail-intermediate host of the parasitic blood-fluke Schistosoma mekongi which causes Mekong schistosomiasis in Cambodia and the Lao PDR. Despite numerous phylogenetic studies only one DNA-sequence based population-genetic study of N. aperta had been published, and the origin, structure and persistence of N. aperta were poorly understood. Consequently, a phylogenetic and population genetic study was performed, with addition of new data to pre-existing DNA-sequences for N. aperta from remote and inaccessible habitats, including one new taxon from Laos and 505 bp of additional DNA-sequence for all sampled taxa,. Principal findings Spatial Principal Component Analysis revealed the presence of significant spatial-genetic clustering. Genetic-distance-based clustering indicated four populations with near perfect match to a priori defined ecogeographical regions. Spring-dwelling taxa were found to form an ecological isolate relative to other N. aperta. The poor dispersal capabilities suggested by spatial-genetic analyses were confirmed by Bayesian inference of migration rates. Population divergence time estimation implied a mid-Miocene colonisation of the present range, with immediate and rapid radiation in each ecogeographical region. Estimated effective population sizes were large (120–310 thousand). Conclusions The strong spatial-genetic structure confirmed the poor dispersal capabilities of N. aperta—suggesting human-mediated reintroduction of disease to controlled areas as the primary reason for control failure. The isolation of the spring-dwelling taxa and ecogeographical structure suggests adaptation of sub-populations to different habitats; the epidemiological significance of this needs investigation. The large effective population sizes indicate that the high population densities observed in surveyed habitats are also present in inaccessible areas; affording great potential for recrudescence driven by animal-reservoir transmission in remote streams. Mid-Miocene colonisation implies heterochronous evolution of these snails and associated schistosomes and suggests against coevolution of snail and parasite. Heterochronicity favours ecological factors as shapers of host-parasite specificity and greater potential for escape from schistosomiasis control through host-switching. The disease Mekong schistosomiasis poses a threat to the health of about 1.5 million people living near the Mekong river and its tributaries in Cambodia and Laos. It is a water-borne parasite transmitted by direct contact with water in which freshwater snails of the species Neotricula aperta live. Control of the snails is an effective approach to control of the parasite; however, because many suitable habitats for N. aperta occur in remote and inaccessible areas, knowledge of N. aperta population sizes and interconnectivity is insufficient for the design of effective snail control interventions. Although much of the region is difficult to survey by conventional means, population genetics can be used to estimate population structure and total size from small samples of accessible populations. The study added to existing data-sets, to give more population samples and longer DNA-sequences, together with improved analytical approaches to provide a better overview of N. aperta. The findings suggest that N. aperta in different kinds of habitats are also genetically different, with very low levels of migration between them; this genetic clustering is greater than expected from spatial distance alone. Further work is needed to determine if these different clusters vary in ability to transmit the parasite. The overall population size estimates were very large; thus suggesting that high snail population densities observed in accessible habitats are also characteristic of inaccessible populations—parasites are therefore more likely to return after disease control by immigration from remote areas. Finally, the timing of evolutionary events for snails and parasites was found to differ; this implies that the parasite may not be as strongly restricted to one species of snail as originally thought, which has implications for avoidance of parasite control by host-switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W. Attwood
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guan-Nan Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
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Wang L, Zou Y, Zhu X, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Zhan B. China's shifting neglected parasitic infections in an era of economic reform, urbanization, disease control, and the Belt and Road Initiative. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006946. [PMID: 30677027 PMCID: PMC6345419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Beijing Institute of Tropical Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Tropical Diseases, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yang Zou
- Beijing Institute of Tropical Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Tropical Diseases, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xinping Zhu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Bin Zhan
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Dolo H, Coulibaly YI, Dembele B, Guindo B, Coulibaly SY, Dicko I, Doumbia SS, Dembele M, Traore MO, Goita S, Dolo M, Soumaoro L, Coulibaly ME, Diallo AA, Diarra D, Zhang Y, Colebunders R, Nutman TB. Integrated seroprevalence-based assessment of Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus in two lymphatic filariasis evaluation units of Mali with the SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid Test. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007064. [PMID: 30699120 PMCID: PMC6370230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mali has become increasingly interested in the evaluation of transmission of both Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus as prevalences of both infections move toward their respective elimination targets. The SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid Test was used in 2 evaluation units (EU) to assess its performance as an integrated surveillance tool for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A cross sectional survey with SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid Test was piggy-backed onto a transmission assessment survey (TAS) (using the immunochromatographic card test (ICT) Binax Filariasis Now test for filarial adult circulating antigen (CFA) detection) for LF in Mali among 6-7 year old children in 2016 as part of the TAS in two EUs namely Kadiolo-Kolondieba in the region of Sikasso and Bafoulabe -Kita-Oussoubidiagna-Yelimane in the region of Kayes. In the EU of Kadiolo- Kolondieba, of the 1,625 children tested, the overall prevalence of W. bancrofti CFA was 0.62% (10/1,625) [CI = 0.31-1.09]; while that of IgG4 to Wb123 was 0.19% (3/1,600) [CI = 0.04-0.50]. The number of positives tested with the two tests were statistically comparable (p = 0.09). In the EU of Bafoulabe-Kita-Oussoubidiagna-Yelimane, an overall prevalence of W. bancrofti CFA was 0% (0/1,700) and that of Wb123 IgG4 antibody was 0.06% (1/1,700), with no statistically significant difference between the two rates (p = 0.99). In the EU of Kadiolo- Kolondieba, the prevalence of Ov16-specific IgG4 was 0.19% (3/1,600) [CI = 0.04-0.50]. All 3 positives were in the previously O. volvulus-hyperendemic district of Kolondieba. In the EU of Bafoulabe-Kita-Oussoubidiagna-Yelimane, an overall prevalence of Ov16-specific IgG4 was 0.18% (3/1,700) [CI = 0.04-0.47]. These 3 Ov16 IgG4 positives were from previously O.volvulus-mesoendemic district of Kita. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid test appears to be a good tool for integrated exposure measures of LF and onchocerciasis in co-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Housseini Dolo
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
- Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yaya Ibrahim Coulibaly
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
- Centre National d’Appui à la Lutte contre la Maladie, Bamako, Mali
| | - Benoit Dembele
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Helen Keller Iinternational Bamako, Mali
| | - Boubacar Guindo
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Helen Keller Iinternational Bamako, Mali
| | - Siaka Yamoussa Coulibaly
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Ilo Dicko
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Salif Seriba Doumbia
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Massitan Dembele
- Programme National d’Elimination de la Filariose Lymphatique, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Seydou Goita
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Helen Keller Iinternational Bamako, Mali
| | - Mamadou Dolo
- Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Lamine Soumaoro
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Michel Emmanuel Coulibaly
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdallah Amadou Diallo
- Filariasis Unit, International Center of Excellence in Research, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Yaobi Zhang
- Helen Keller International, Regional Office for Africa, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Robert Colebunders
- Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomas B. Nutman
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America
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Olliaro PL, Kuesel AC, Halleux CM, Sullivan M, Reeder JC. Creative use of the priority review voucher by public and not-for-profit actors delivers the first new FDA-approved treatment for river blindness in 20 years. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006837. [PMID: 30439940 PMCID: PMC6237288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Piero L. Olliaro
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Annette C. Kuesel
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christine M. Halleux
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mark Sullivan
- Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH), Melbourne, Australia
| | - John C. Reeder
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
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Minet C, Thévenon S, Chantal I, Solano P, Berthier D. Mini-review on CRISPR-Cas9 and its potential applications to help controlling neglected tropical diseases caused by Trypanosomatidae. Infect Genet Evol 2018; 63:326-331. [PMID: 29486366 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas system, which was originally identified as a prokaryotic defense mechanism, is increasingly being used for the functional study of genes. This technology, which is simple, inexpensive and efficient, has aroused a lot of enthusiasm in the scientific community since its discovery, and every month many publications emanate from very different communities reporting on the use of CRISPR-Cas9. Currently, there are no vaccines to control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) caused by Trypanosomatidae, particularly Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomoses (AAT), and treatments are cumbersome and sometimes not effective enough. CRISPR-Cas9 has the potential to functionally analyze new target molecules that could be used for therapeutic and vaccine purposes. In this review, after briefly describing CRIPSR-Cas9 history and how it works, different applications on diseases, especially on parasitic diseases, are reviewed. We then focus the review on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 editing on Trypanosomatidae parasites, the causative agents of NTDs, which are still a terrible burden for human populations in tropical regions, and their vectors.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anopheles/genetics
- Anopheles/parasitology
- CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/genetics
- CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/metabolism
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cattle
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drosophila/genetics
- Drosophila/parasitology
- Gene Editing/methods
- Genome, Protozoan
- Leishmania/genetics
- Leishmania/pathogenicity
- Leishmaniasis/parasitology
- Leishmaniasis/prevention & control
- Leishmaniasis/transmission
- Neglected Diseases/parasitology
- Neglected Diseases/prevention & control
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- Trypanosoma/genetics
- Trypanosoma/pathogenicity
- Trypanosomiasis, African/parasitology
- Trypanosomiasis, African/prevention & control
- Trypanosomiasis, African/transmission
- Trypanosomiasis, Bovine/parasitology
- Trypanosomiasis, Bovine/prevention & control
- Trypanosomiasis, Bovine/transmission
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Minet
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Sophie Thévenon
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Isabelle Chantal
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Philippe Solano
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
| | - David Berthier
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
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Grote A, Caffrey CR, Rebello KM, Smith D, Dalton JP, Lustigman S. Cysteine proteases during larval migration and development of helminths in their final host. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0005919. [PMID: 30138448 PMCID: PMC6107106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases caused by metazoan parasites are major public health concerns, and therefore, new methods for their control and elimination are needed. Research over the last 25 years has revealed the vital contribution of cysteine proteases to invasion of and migration by (larval) helminth parasites through host tissues, in addition to their roles in embryogenesis, molting, egg hatching, and yolk degradation. Their central function to maintaining parasite survival in the host has made them prime intervention targets for novel drugs and vaccines. This review focuses on those helminth cysteine proteases that have been functionally characterized during the varied early stages of development in the human host and embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Grote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Karina M. Rebello
- Laboratório de Toxinologia and Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - David Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - John P. Dalton
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Becker SL, Liwanag HJ, Snyder JS, Akogun O, Belizario. V, Freeman MC, Gyorkos TW, Imtiaz R, Keiser J, Krolewiecki A, Levecke B, Mwandawiro C, Pullan RL, Addiss DG, Utzinger J. Toward the 2020 goal of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control and elimination. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006606. [PMID: 30106975 PMCID: PMC6091919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sören L. Becker
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Harvy Joy Liwanag
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Ateneo de Manila University, Metro Manila, the Philippines
| | - Jedidiah S. Snyder
- Children Without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Oladele Akogun
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria
| | - Vicente Belizario.
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, the Philippines
| | - Matthew C. Freeman
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Theresa W. Gyorkos
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rubina Imtiaz
- Children Without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alejandro Krolewiecki
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Oran, Argentina
| | - Bruno Levecke
- Department of Virology, Parasitology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Charles Mwandawiro
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rachel L. Pullan
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David G. Addiss
- Children Without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
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de Argôlo EGG, Reis T, Fontes DAT, Gonçalves EC, Giese EG, Melo FTDV, dos Santos JN, Furtado AP. Canine filariasis in the Amazon: Species diversity and epidemiology of these emergent and neglected zoonoses. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200419. [PMID: 29995959 PMCID: PMC6040735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis and Acanthocheilonema reconditum are common parasites in dogs but have also been reported parasitizing humans. The differential diagnosis and epidemiological evaluation of these zoonoses are important to the development of efficient public health policies and control strategies. The purpose of this study was to carry out an epidemiological survey by using molecular methods for the specific identification of filarid parasites of domestic dogs in the Marajó mesoregion, State of Pará (PA), Brazil. A total of 418 canine blood samples from Marajó mesoregion (Northern Brazil) were collected, submitted to DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with “pan filarial” primer, subsequent sequencing and sequence analysis using BLASTn software comparison with previously deposited sequences in GenBank. After that, a phylogenetic analysis by Maximum Parsimony was performed to aid the specific diagnosis. The obtained sequences showed the occurrence of 9 (2.15%) dogs infected with D. immitis and 30 (7.18%) by A. reconditum, with a confidence interval of 95%, there were no cases of co-infection. We observed that male dogs were more likely to D. immits and A. reconditum infection. However, age was not significant to both infections. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of A. reconditum in the northern region of Brazil and confirmed the presence of D. immitis in the Marajó mesoregion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thais Reis
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Helmintologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém – Pará – Brazil
| | - Diego Ari Teixeira Fontes
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Helmintologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém – Pará – Brazil
| | - Evonnildo Costa Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Biomolecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém – Pará – Brazil
| | - Elane Guerreiro Giese
- Laboratório de Histologia e Embriologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Instituto de Saúde e Produção Animal, Belém – Pará – Brazil
| | | | - Jeannie Nascimento dos Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Helmintologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém – Pará – Brazil
| | - Adriano Penha Furtado
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Helmintologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém – Pará – Brazil
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Ayaz MM, Nazir MM, Ullah N, Zaman A, Akbar A, Zeeshan M, Hussain Z, Naz S, Zheng Y, Javed A, Lindsay DS. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Metropolitan City of Multan, Pakistan, a Neglected Tropical Disease. J Med Entomol 2018; 55:1040-1042. [PMID: 29415246 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a vector-borne infection caused by flagellated parasitic protozoans in the genus Leishmania. Promastigotes are the infective stage, which are transmitted by the bite of female sand flies of the genera Phlebotomus or Lutzomyia. Three clinical forms of Leishmania infection are recognized in humans, and they are caused by different Leishmania species. They are cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (ML), and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Up to 2 million cases of leishmaniasis are reported annually worldwide. In Pakistan, CL is widely distributed in endemic areas. In the current study, a survey was conducted to investigate the occurrence of CL in an endemic area of the metropolitan city of Multan, Pakistan. The material for diagnosis of CL was obtained from 461 patients from 239 clinical laboratories and health care centers in Multan. Of these patients, 42.9% (198 of 461) having positive findings of amastigotes in Giemsa stained tissue impression smears. The distribution of CL skin lesions was highly variable. Most patients (76.2%) had a single lesion. Most CL lesions were found on a single hand (23.7%). The prevalence of two CL lesions per patient was 21.7%, while three or more positive CL lesions were observed in 2.0% of patients. The 198 CL-positive patients ranged in age 10-40 yr old, 101 were males, and 97 were females. Logistic regression analysis of leishmaniasis versus age and gender showed that both the age and gender had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the occurrence of infection. Outbreaks of CL were reported in 14 of the 68 Union Councils of Multan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, B.Z University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Mudasser Nazir
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, B.Z University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Najeeb Ullah
- Department of Biochemistry, B.Z University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Aqil Zaman
- Department of Zoology, B.Z University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Atif Akbar
- Department of Statistics, B.Z University, Multan, Pakistan
| | | | - Zahid Hussain
- Department of Biotechnology, G. C University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saima Naz
- Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Yadong Zheng
- Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute (LVRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) No 1, Xujiaping, Yanchangbu, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Asghar Javed
- Department of Pathology, Nishtar Medical College, Multan, Pakistan
| | - David S Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
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Vaidya VM, Zende RJ, Paturkar AM, Gatne ML, Dighe DG, Waghmare RN, Moon SL, Bhave SS, Bengale KG, Nikale NV. Cystic echinococcosis in animals and humans of Maharashtra State, India. Acta Parasitol 2018; 63:232-243. [PMID: 29654685 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2018-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Echinococcosis/hydatidosis which is a neglected parasitic zoonosis in the developing country like India. The study was conducted during April, 2010 to March, 2017 to determine the prevalence among slaughtered food animals, dogs and human. The samples were collected from the various slaughterhouses situated in different regions of Maharashtra state. A total of 9464 cattle (male), 3661 buffalo, 47189 sheep, 33350 goats and 13579 pigs were scientifically examined during PM inspection at different slaughterhouses. The study revealed that the prevalence of disease in cattle (3.00%) was highest followed by buffalo (2.05%), pig (1.28%), sheep (0.09%) and goat (0.01%), by PM examination. The average estimated economic losses (direct and indirect) due to hydatidosis were Rs. 8,65,83,566 in cattle, Rs. 44,33,93,900 in buffalo, Rs. 7,24,50,615 in sheep, Rs. 1,88,29,359 in goat and Rs. 5,20,49,081 in pigs. Dog faecal samples analyzed and showed the prevalence of echinococcosis as 4.34% (19/438) by sedimentation method and positive samples were confirmed by PCR assay, whereas in high risk human, 11.09% sera samples were found to be positive for echinococcosis. However, based on data collection for seven years, 58 patients were found to be surgically operated for hydatid cyst removal. The results of the present study indicated that cystic echinococcosis/hydatidosis is prevalent in both human and animal population in study areas which attracts serious attention from veterinary and public health authority to reduce economic burden and in designing appropriate strategy for prevention and control of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- V M Vaidya
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - R J Zende
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - A M Paturkar
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - M L Gatne
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - D G Dighe
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - R N Waghmare
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - S L Moon
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, India
| | - S S Bhave
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - K G Bengale
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
| | - N V Nikale
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Mumbai, India
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Charlton RL, Rossi-Bergmann B, Denny PW, Steel PG. Repurposing as a strategy for the discovery of new anti-leishmanials: the-state-of-the-art. Parasitology 2018; 145:219-236. [PMID: 28805165 PMCID: PMC5964475 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017000993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania for which there is a paucity of effective viable non-toxic drugs. There are 1·3 million new cases each year causing considerable socio-economic hardship, best measured in 2·4 million disability adjusted life years, with greatest impact on the poorest communities, which means that desperately needed new antileishmanial treatments have to be both affordable and accessible. Established medicines with cheaper and faster development times may hold the cure for this neglected tropical disease. This concept of using old drugs for new diseases may not be novel but, with the ambitious target of controlling or eradicating tropical diseases by 2020, this strategy is still an important one. In this review, we will explore the current state-of-the-art of drug repurposing strategies in the search for new treatments for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Charlton
- Department of Chemistry,University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham DH1 3LE,UK
| | - Bartira Rossi-Bergmann
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho,Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Ilha do Fundão,CEP 21·949-900 Rio de Janeiro,RJ,Brazil
| | - Paul W Denny
- Department of Biosciences,University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham DH1 3LE,UK
| | - Patrick G Steel
- Department of Chemistry,University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham DH1 3LE,UK
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Abstract
To characterize the frequency of neurocysticercosis, associated diagnostic codes, and place of infection, we searched Oregon's All Payer All-Claims dataset for 2010-2013. Twice as many cases were found by searching inpatient and outpatient data than by inpatient data alone. Studies relying exclusively on inpatient data underestimate frequency and miss less severe disease.
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Brandão E, Romero S, da Silva MAL, Santos FLN. Neglected tropical diseases in Brazilian children and adolescents: data analysis from 2009 to 2013. Infect Dis Poverty 2017; 6:154. [PMID: 29096720 PMCID: PMC5668976 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prevail in conditions of poverty and contribute to the maintenance of social inequality. Out of the NTDs prioritized by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, four parasitic infections require mandatory notification: acute Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, malaria, and schistosomiasis. Data on the behaviour of these NTDs in the young population are currently limited. This study seeks to analyse the epidemiological aspects of these parasitic infections in children and adolescents in Brazil. METHODS A retrospective exploratory ecological study was conducted. A spatial analysis of the cases reported between 2009 and 2013 in individuals aged between 0 and 19 years that were notified through the Health Notification Aggravation Information System (SINAN) was performed. RESULTS In total, 64,567 cases of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, and acute Chagas disease were recorded in the SINAN database, representing a rate of 20.15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The average age of the cases was 12.2 years and 62.32% were male. Four hundred and three deaths related to these obligatorily reported parasites were recorded, indicating a case fatality rate of 0.62%. Visceral leishmaniasis and acute Chagas disease had the highest rates of lethality. A heterogeneous spatial distribution of the studied parasites was observed. CONCLUSIONS The number of cases and the lethality rate described in this study show that these diseases still represent a serious problem for public health in Brazil. This points to the need to encourage new research and the reformulation of social, economic, and public health policies aimed at ensuring better health and living conditions for all individuals, especially those among the populations considered vulnerable, as is the case of the young.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Brandão
- National Reference Service for Filariasis, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (Fiocruz-PE), Recife, Pernambuco Brazil
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Sebastián Romero
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Maria Almerice Lopes da Silva
- Laboratory of Communicable Diseases, Parasitology Department, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (Fiocruz-PE), Recife, Pernambuco Brazil
| | - Fred Luciano Neves Santos
- Laboratory of Pathology and Bio-Intervention, Gonçalo Moniz Institute (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia Brazil
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Albonico
- Centre for Tropical Diseases, S Cuore Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Savioli
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Fitzpatrick C, Sankara DP, Agua JF, Jonnalagedda L, Rumi F, Weiss A, Braden M, Ruiz-Tiben E, Kruse N, Braband K, Biswas G. The cost-effectiveness of an eradication programme in the end game: Evidence from guinea worm disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005922. [PMID: 28981510 PMCID: PMC5628789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Of the three diseases targeted for eradication by WHO, two are so-called Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)–guinea worm disease (GWD) and yaws. The Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) is in its final stages, with only 25 reported in 2016. However, global eradication still requires certification by WHO of the absence of transmission in all countries. We analyze the cost-effectiveness of the GWEP in the end game, when the number of cases is lower and the cost per case is higher than at any other time. Ours is the first economic evaluation of the GWEP since a World Bank study in 1997. Methods Using data from the GWEP, we estimate the cost of the implementation, pre-certification and certification stages. We model cost-effectiveness in the period 1986–2030. We compare the GWEP to two alternative scenarios: doing nothing (no intervention since 1986) and control (only surveillance and outbreak response during 2016–2030). We report the cost per case averted, cost per disability adjusted life year (DALY) averted and cost per at-risk life year averted. We assess cost-effectiveness against a threshold of about one half GDP per capita (less than US$ 500 in low income countries). All costs are expressed in US$ of 2015. Results The GWEP cost an estimated US$ 11 (95% uncertainty interval, 4.70–12.49) per case averted in the period 1986–2030. The pre-certification and certification phases can cost as much as US$ 0.0041 and US$ 0.0015 per capita per year. The cost per DALY averted by the GWEP relative to doing nothing is estimated at US$ 222 (118–372) in 1986–2030. The GWEP is probably more cost-effective than control by the year 2030. The GWEP is certainly more cost-effective than control if willingness to pay for one year of life lived without the risk of GWD exceeds US$ 0.10. Discussion Even if economic costs are two times as high as the financial costs estimated for the period to 2020, the GWEP will still be cost-effective relative to doing nothing. Whether the GWEP turns out to be the most cost-effective alternative in the period beyond 2015 depends on the time horizon. When framed in terms of the number of years of life lived without the risk of GWD, a case can be made more easily for finishing the end game, including certification of the absence of transmission. Of the three diseases targeted for eradication by WHO, two are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)–guinea worm disease and yaws. The decision to pursue eradication of these diseases was based, in part, on economic arguments made at a time when case numbers were high. There is, in fact, little published evidence of the cost and cost-effectiveness of an eradication programme in the end game, when the number of cases is lower and the cost per case is higher than at any other time. The Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) is in its final stages, with only 25 cases reported in 2016. Ours is the first economic evaluation of the GWEP since a World Bank study in 1997. For the first time for any eradication programme, we document the full cost of certifying the absence of transmission in all countries with a history of the disease. We analyze the cost-effectiveness of the GWEP to find that it remains highly cost-effective in spite of high costs in the end game. These results will be of interest to funders of guinea worm disease and yaws eradication, but also to policy makers considering eradication of other NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Fitzpatrick
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Dieudonné P. Sankara
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Junerlyn Farah Agua
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lakshmi Jonnalagedda
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Rumi
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Adam Weiss
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Matthew Braden
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nicole Kruse
- Development Office, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kate Braband
- Development Office, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gautam Biswas
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Amaral KB, Silva TP, Dias FF, Malta KK, Rosa FM, Costa-Neto SF, Gentile R, Melo RCN. Histological assessment of granulomas in natural and experimental Schistosoma mansoni infections using whole slide imaging. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184696. [PMID: 28902908 PMCID: PMC5597217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathology of schistosomiasis mansoni, a neglected tropical disease of great clinical and socioeconomic importance, results from the parasite eggs that become trapped in host tissues, particularly in the liver and intestines. Continuous antigenic stimulation from these eggs leads to recruitment of inflammatory cells to the sites of infection with formation of periovular granulomas. These complex structures have variable size and composition and are the most striking histopathological feature of schistosomiasis mansoni. However, evaluation of granulomas by conventional microscopy methods is time-consuming and limited, especially in large-scale studies. Here, we used high resolution Whole Slide Imaging (WSI), which allows fast scanning of entire histological slides, and multiple morphometric evaluations, to assess the granulomatous response elicited in target organs (liver, small and large intestines) of two models of schistosomiasis mansoni. One of the advantages of WSI, also termed virtual microscopy, is that it generates images that simultaneously offer high resolution and a wide field of observation. By using a model of natural (Nectomys squamipes, a wild reservoir captured from endemic areas in Brazil) and experimental (Swiss mouse) infection with Schistosoma mansoni, we provided the first detailed WSI characterization of granulomas and other pathological aspects. WSI and quantitative analyses enabled a fast and reliable assessment of the number, evolutional types, frequency and areas of granulomas and inflammatory infiltrates and revealed that target organs are differentially impacted by inflammatory responses in the natural and experimental infections. Remarkably, high-resolution analysis of individual eosinophils, key cells elicited by this helminthic infection, showed a great difference in eosinophil numbers between the two infections. Moreover, features such as the intestinal egg path and confluent granulomas were uncovered. Thus, WSI may be a suitable tool for detailed and precise histological analysis of granulomas and other pathological aspects for clinical and research studies of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia B. Amaral
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Thiago P. Silva
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe F. Dias
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Kássia K. Malta
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Florence M. Rosa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Sócrates F. Costa-Neto
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rosana Gentile
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rossana C. N. Melo
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Dunn JC, Bettis AA, Wyine NY, Lwin AMM, Lwin ST, Su KK, Sein MM, Tun A, Maung NS, Anderson RM. A cross-sectional survey of soil-transmitted helminthiases in two Myanmar villages receiving mass drug administration: epidemiology of infection with a focus on adults. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:374. [PMID: 28778217 PMCID: PMC5543579 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2306-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are still highly prevalent in southeast Asia. The country of Myanmar has had ongoing mass drug administration (MDA) programmes since 2003 in an attempt to control STH and reduce STH-related morbidities. Whilst the MDA programmes have reported high nationwide coverage, there have been no epidemiological surveys that included measurements from adults. This paper details three cross-sectional surveys that took place over the course of a year in two villages endemic for STH and receiving MDA in lower Myanmar. RESULTS At baseline, 27.81% of participants were infected with at least one type of STH. The most prevalent STH was Trichuris trichiura (18.12%) followed by hookworm (8.71%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (5.34%). Most infections were of low intensity, measured by eggs per gram of faeces (EPG). Gender stratification revealed that A. lumbricoides prevalence was significantly higher in females, whereas hookworm prevalence was significantly higher in males. The distribution of EPG in the study sample was highly overdispersed, suggesting that most people release few eggs whereas a few people release many eggs. Adults harbour a major proportion of the overall STH burden; 65.15% of STH infections were harboured by adults. CONCLUSIONS STH infection remains at medium prevalence in the study villages despite past and recent MDA. Recorded prevalence of STH in school-aged children has not substantially decreased since the last monitoring and evaluation activities in Myanmar in 2013. Analyses suggest that adults are a major contributor to the total STH prevalence and EPG burden, probably perpetuating transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C. Dunn
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK
| | - Alison A. Bettis
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK
| | - Nay Yee Wyine
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK
| | - Aye Moe Moe Lwin
- University of Public Health, Myorma Kyaung Street, Yangon, 11131 Myanmar
| | - Soe Thiha Lwin
- Defence Services Medical Academy, Pyay Road, Mingaladon, Yangon, 11021 Myanmar
| | - Khine Khine Su
- Defence Services Medical Academy, Pyay Road, Mingaladon, Yangon, 11021 Myanmar
| | - Myint Myint Sein
- University of Public Health, Myorma Kyaung Street, Yangon, 11131 Myanmar
| | - Aung Tun
- Ministry of Health and Sports, Nyapyitaw, Myanmar
| | - Nay Soe Maung
- University of Public Health, Myorma Kyaung Street, Yangon, 11131 Myanmar
| | - Roy M. Anderson
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK
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Balakrishnan VS. Ending neglected tropical diseases. Lancet Infect Dis 2017; 17:584-585. [PMID: 28555584 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30253-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
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Gripper LB, Welburn SC. The causal relationship between neurocysticercosis infection and the development of epilepsy - a systematic review. Infect Dis Poverty 2017; 6:31. [PMID: 28376856 PMCID: PMC5381143 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0245-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection of the human central nervous system, the most common form of which involves infection of the brain parenchyma with the larval form of the Taenia solium tapeworm. A causal relationship between such an NCC infection and the development of epilepsy in infected individuals is acknowledged, in part supported by high levels of comorbidity in endemic countries worldwide. METHODS This study undertook a systematic review and critical analysis of the NCC-epilepsy relationship with the primary objective of quantifying the risk of developing epilepsy following NCC infection. A secondary aim was to analyse the proportions of NCC-associated epilepsy within different populations. Significant emphasis was placed on the importance of neuroimaging (CT or MRI) availability and use of clear guidelines for epilepsy diagnosis, in order to avoid overestimations of prevalence rates of either condition; a limitation identified in several previous studies. RESULTS A common odds ratio of 2.76 was identified from meta-analysis of case-control studies, indicating that an individual infected with NCC has almost a three times higher risk of developing epilepsy than an uninfected individual. Furthermore, meta-analysis of studies identified a common proportion of 31.54% of epilepsy cases associated with NCC infection which suggests that amongst epileptic populations in at risk countries, approximately one-third may be associated with NCC infection. CONCLUSION A significant finding was the lack of good clinical data to enable accurate determination of a causal relationship. Even studies that were included had noticeable limitations, including a general lack of consistency in diagnostics, and lack of accurate epidemiological data. This review highlights a need for consistency in research in this field. In the absence of reliable estimates of its global burden, NCC will remain of low priority in the eyes of funding agencies - a truly neglected disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy B. Gripper
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB Scotland UK
| | - Susan C. Welburn
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB Scotland UK
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Stanton MC. The Role of Spatial Statistics in the Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Focus on Human African Trypanosomiasis, Schistosomiasis and Lymphatic Filariasis. Adv Parasitol 2017; 97:187-241. [PMID: 28325371 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Disease control and elimination programmes can benefit greatly from accurate information on the spatial variability of disease risk, particularly when risk is highly spatially heterogeneous. Due to advances in statistical methodology, coupled with the increased availability of geospatial technology, this information is becoming increasingly accessible. In this chapter we describe recent advancements in spatial methods associated with the analysis of disease data measured at the point-level and demonstrate their application to the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We further provide information on spatially referenced data sources and software that can be used to create NTD risk maps, concentrating on those that can be freely obtained. Examples relating to three NTDs affecting populations in sub-Saharan Africa are presented throughout the chapter, i.e., human African trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis. These three diseases, with differing routes of transmission, control methods and level of spatial heterogeneity, demonstrate the flexibility and applicability of the methods described.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Stanton
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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Das VNR, Pandey RN, Siddiqui NA, Chapman LAC, Kumar V, Pandey K, Matlashewski G, Das P. Longitudinal Study of Transmission in Households with Visceral Leishmaniasis, Asymptomatic Infections and PKDL in Highly Endemic Villages in Bihar, India. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005196. [PMID: 27974858 PMCID: PMC5156552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease that afflicts some of the poorest populations in the world including people living in the Bihar state of India. Due to efforts from local governments, NGOs and international organizations, the number of VL cases has declined in recent years. Despite this progress, the reservoir for transmission remains to be clearly defined since it is unknown what role post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and asymptomatic infections play in transmission. This information is vital to establish effective surveillance and monitoring to sustainably eliminate VL. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed a longitudinal study over a 24-month period to examine VL transmission and seroconversion in households with VL, PKDL and asymptomatic infections in the Saran and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar. During the initial screening of 5,144 people in 16 highly endemic villages, 195 cases of recently treated VL, 116 healthy rK39 positive cases and 31 PKDL cases were identified. Approximately half of the rK39-positive healthy cases identified during the initial 6-month screening period were from households (HHs) where a VL case had been identified. During the 18-month follow-up period, seroconversion of family members in the HHs with VL cases, PKDL cases, and rK39-positive individuals was similar to control HHs. Therefore, seroconversion was highest in HHs closest to the time of VL disease of a household member and there was no evidence of higher transmission in households with PKDL or healthy rK39-positive HHs. Moreover, within the PKDL HHs, (the initial 31 PKDL cases plus an additional 66 PKDL cases), there were no cases of VL identified during the initial screen or the 18-month follow-up. Notably, 23% of the PKDL cases had no prior history of VL suggesting that infection resulting directly in PKDL is more common than previously estimated. Conclusions/Significance These observations argue that acute VL cases represent the major reservoir for transmission in these villages and early identification and treatment of VL cases should remain a priority for VL elimination. We were unable to obtain evidence that transmission occurs in HHs with a PKDL case. Visceral leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar) caused by infection with L. donovani is a deadly parasitic disease that afflicts some of world’s poorest populations, including the people of the northern Bihar State of India. Once transmitted to a human by an infected sandfly, the L. donovani parasite migrates from the site of the sandfly bite throughout the reticuloendothelial system, resulting in high levels of infection in the spleen, liver and bone marrow that eventually lead to organ failure and death if not treated effectively. India, Nepal and Bangladesh are currently engaged in a program to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, principally through early case detection, treatment and vector control. As humans are the only reservoir for L. donovani, it is necessary to understand how the disease is transmitted and specifically what role acute visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases, asymptomatic infections and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases play in transmission. We therefore performed a study to determine seroconversion for antibodies against the L. donovani rK39 antigen as a surrogate for transmission in households with VL cases, asymptomatic infections and PKDL cases in 16 highly endemic villages over a 2-year period in Bihar, India. We observed that most transmission occurred in the VL households and further that it occurred closest to the time of acute disease. We were unable to confirm that transmission occurred in the households with either asymptomatic infections or PKDL cases. These observations argue that active surveillance to diagnose and treat VL cases as soon as possible to reduce transmission should remain a priority for VL elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Nand Ravi Das
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Patna, India
| | | | | | | | - Vijay Kumar
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Patna, India
| | - Krishna Pandey
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Patna, India
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (PD); (GM)
| | - Pradeep Das
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Patna, India
- * E-mail: (PD); (GM)
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Wyllie S, Roberts AJ, Norval S, Patterson S, Foth BJ, Berriman M, Read KD, Fairlamb AH. Activation of Bicyclic Nitro-drugs by a Novel Nitroreductase (NTR2) in Leishmania. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005971. [PMID: 27812217 PMCID: PMC5094698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug discovery pipelines for the “neglected diseases” are now heavily populated with nitroheterocyclic compounds. Recently, the bicyclic nitro-compounds (R)-PA-824, DNDI-VL-2098 and delamanid have been identified as potential candidates for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Using a combination of quantitative proteomics and whole genome sequencing of susceptible and drug-resistant parasites we identified a putative NAD(P)H oxidase as the activating nitroreductase (NTR2). Whole genome sequencing revealed that deletion of a single cytosine in the gene for NTR2 that is likely to result in the expression of a non-functional truncated protein. Susceptibility of leishmania was restored by reintroduction of the wild-type gene into the resistant line, which was accompanied by the ability to metabolise these compounds. Overexpression of NTR2 in wild-type parasites rendered cells hyper-sensitive to bicyclic nitro-compounds, but only marginally to the monocyclic nitro-drugs, nifurtimox and fexinidazole sulfone, known to be activated by a mitochondrial oxygen-insensitive nitroreductase (NTR1). Conversely, a double knockout NTR2 null cell line was completely resistant to bicyclic nitro-compounds and only marginally resistant to nifurtimox. Sensitivity was fully restored on expression of NTR2 in the null background. Thus, NTR2 is necessary and sufficient for activation of these bicyclic nitro-drugs. Recombinant NTR2 was capable of reducing bicyclic nitro-compounds in the same rank order as drug sensitivity in vitro. These findings may aid the future development of better, novel anti-leishmanial drugs. Moreover, the discovery of anti-leishmanial nitro-drugs with independent modes of activation and independent mechanisms of resistance alleviates many of the concerns over the continued development of these compound series. Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) is a serious vector borne disease afflicting people, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. There are approximately 400,000 new cases and an estimated 40,000 deaths each year, making it the second biggest parasitic killer after malaria. We recently discovered that delamanid–an oral nitro-drug used for the treatment of tuberculosis–shows promise for the treatment of leishmaniasis with potential to provide a much needed alternative to the current unsatisfactory anti-leishmanial drugs. Understanding how a drug works is important for selecting the most appropriate partner drugs to be used to increase efficacy and decrease toxicity in patients, to minimise the risk of drug resistance emerging and in designing second generation drugs. Using a combination of biochemical and genetic approaches we have discovered a novel nitroreductase (NTR2) that is necessary and sufficient for the anti-leishmanial activity of delamanid and related experimental drugs containing a nitro-group attached to two fused rings. This enzyme is responsible for activating bicyclic nitro-compounds to form toxic products that kill the parasite. In contrast, the previously identified nitroreductase (NTR1), which specifically activates monocyclic drugs, is not involved in this process. This knowledge can be applied to develop novel treatments for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Wyllie
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SW); (AHF)
| | - Adam J. Roberts
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne Norval
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Patterson
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Bernardo J. Foth
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alan H. Fairlamb
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SW); (AHF)
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Cenderello G, Di Biagio A, Riccardi N, Taramasso L, De Maria A, Cassola G, Viscoli C. Increasing use and accessibility of anti parasitic drugs for migrants with neglected diseases at a time of migratory emergency. New Microbiol 2016; 39:299-300. [PMID: 27551726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This work focused on Schistosoma spp. as a potential agent of gross haematuria in non endemic areas. This change in epidemiology is mainly due to recent migratory flows. Moreover it emphasized the needfor cultural action (aimed at Urologists, Dermatologists, General Practitioners and Emergency Medicine doctors) to provide the elements for a correct and timely diagnosis. But the most important issue raised by this paper is the call for a fast track supply of drugs (usually not available in Italy) to field operators for treating tropical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonio Di Biagio
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Niccolò Riccardi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lucia Taramasso
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea De Maria
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Viscoli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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