Stegomyia indices and pattern recognition of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in selected agrogeoclimatic zones of Punjab, Pakistan

Mosquito-borne diseases especially, dengue is gaining currency nowadays in Pakistan. As there is no approved dengue vaccine available worldwide, prevention and control of vector is the only solution amid prevailing circumstances. The present study is a maiden attempt to screen indoor and outdoor breeding containers for the presence of Aedes (Ae.) aegypti larvae from selected study districts of Punjab, Pakistan i.e., Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan), Chakwal, and Faisalabad. A total of 384 houses from each study districts were surveyed for a calendar year. Mosquito larvae were collected, preserved, and identified using standard taxonomic keys. House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Breteau Index (BI) were estimated. Chi-square analysis was applied to calculate the association between Ae. aegypti larvae and breeding containers. Chakwal was identified with the highest values of Stegomyia indices (HI = 46.61 %, BI = 91.67 %, and CI = 15.28 %) followed by Faisalabad (HI = 34.11 %, BI = 68.75 % and, CI = 13.04 %) and DG Khan (HI = 28.39 %, BI = 68.23 % and, CI = 11.29 %). Earthen jars, tree holes, and water tanks were found significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the abundance of larvae irrespective of the geographical location. However, flower tubs and plastic buckets were found significantly (p < 0.05) associated in Faisalabad and Chakwal while, tyres and plastic bottles were found associated (p < 0.05) with the abundance of Ae. aegypti larvae in Faisalabad and DG Khan. These findings will help the stakeholders to devise appropriate preventive measures in combating the risk of dengue transmission.

Long COVID and risk of erectile dysfunction in recovered patients from mild to moderate COVID-19

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were shown to have reduced serum testosterone levels compared to healthy individuals. Low testosterone levels are linked with the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). In this case-controlled study, 20 healthy controls and 39 patients with ED 3 months after recovering from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 pneumonia were studied. The patients ranged in age from 31 to 47 years. To identify early and late COVID-19 infections, real-time polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR) and COVID-19 antibody testing were done. The levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), free androgenic index (FAI), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. The sexual health inventory for patients (SHIM) score was used to measure the erectile function of the patients and controls. When compared to the controls, the TT serum level in long COVID-19 (LC) patients with ED was low (p = 0.01). In contrast to controls, FT and FAI were both lower in LC patients with ED. (p = 0.001). FSH serum levels did not significantly differ (p = 0.07), but in ED patients, LH serum levels were elevated. SHIM scores were associated with low TT (p = 0.30), FT (p = 0.09), and high LH (p = 0.76) in LC patients with ED. Male patients with decreased serum levels of LH and testosterone may have hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis dysfunction, which could lead to the development of LC-induced ED. Therefore, an in-depth research is necessary to confirm the causal link between COVID-19 and ED in LC patients.

Onchocerciasis transmission status in some endemic communities of Cross River State, Nigeria after two decades of mass drug administration with ivermectin

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by black flies. Human onchocerciasis is a public health and socioeconomic problem in Nigeria. Its prevalence and morbidity have reduced over the years because of control efforts especially, Mass Drug Administration with ivermectin. The current goal is to eliminate the disease transmission by 2030. Understanding the changes in transmission patterns in Cross River State is critical to elimination of onchocerciasis in Nigeria. This study was designed to determine the transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis in Cross River State after over two decades of mass ivermectin distribution in endemic communities. Agbokim, Aningeje, Ekong Anaku and Orimekpang are four endemic communities from three Local Government Areas of the State selected for this study. Transmission indices such as infectivity rates, biting rates and transmission potentials, parity rates and diurnal biting activities were determined. A total of 15,520 adult female flies were caught on human baits, Agbokim (2831), Aningeje (6209), Ekong Anaku (4364) and Orimekpang (2116). A total of 9488 and 5695 flies were collected during the rainy and dry seasons respectively in the four communities studied. The differences in relative abundance among the communities were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Monthly and seasonal fly numbers varied significantly (P < 0.008). There were differences in diurnal biting activities of flies in this study at different hours of the day and different months. The peak monthly biting rates were 5993 (Agbokim, October), 13,134 (Aningeje, October), 8680 (Ekong Anaku, October) and 6120 (Orimekpang, September) bites/person/month while the lowest monthly biting rates were 400 (Agbokim, November), 2862 (Aningeje, August), 1405 (Ekong Anaku, January) and 0.0 (Orimekpang, November and December) bites/person/month. Differences in biting rates among the study communities were significant (P < 0.001). The peak monthly transmission potential in Aningeje was 160 infective bites/person/month in the month of February while the lowest (except for months with no transmission) was 42 infective bites/person/month in the month of April. All other study sites had no ongoing transmission in this study. Transmission studies showed that there is progress toward transmission interruption especially in 3 out of the four studied areas. Molecular O-150 poolscreen studies is required to confirm the true transmission situation in the areas.