Articles

Survey on synergism effect of ketotifen in combination with pyrimethamine in treatment of acute murine toxoplasmosis

Standard treatment of toxoplasmosis is accompanied by severe side effects and low tolerability; accordingly, alternative medicines are critically needed. Ketotifen (KET) as a cell membrane stabilizer could be ...

Authors: Mahbobeh Montazeri, Kian Rezaei, Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh, Mehdi Sharif, Shahabeddin Sarvi, Ehsan Ahmadpour, Mohammad Taghi Rahimi, Abdol Satar Pagheh, Saeed Mehrzadi and Ahmad Daryani

The importance of human population characteristics in modeling Aedes aegypti distributions and assessing risk of mosquito-borne infectious diseases

The mosquito Aedes aegypti has long been a vector for human illness in the Southeastern United States. In the past, it has been responsible for outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever and, very recentl...

Authors: Julie F. Obenauer, T. Andrew Joyner and Joseph B. Harris

Exploring spatial and temporal patterns of visceral leishmaniasis in endemic areas of Bangladesh

Visceral leishmaniasis is a considerable public health burden on the Indian subcontinent. The disease is highly endemic in the north-central part of Bangladesh, affecting the poorest and most marginalized comm...

Authors: Ashraf Dewan, Abu Yousuf Md Abdullah, Md Rakibul Islam Shogib, Razimul Karim and Md Masudur Rahman

The usefulness of traditional birth attendants to women living with HIV in resource-poor settings: the case of Mfuwe, Zambia

Although there is increased attention on the role of trained traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in maternal care, most of the research has mainly focused on providing evidence of the relevance of trained TBAs...

Authors: Choolwe Muzyamba, Wim Groot, Sonila M. Tomini and Milena Pavlova

Individual and household factors associated with incidences of village malaria in Xepon district, Savannakhet province, Lao PDR

In the Lao PDR, the incidence of malaria greatly differs among villages even within a subdistrict, and the reasons for this difference are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify differe...

Authors: Nouhak Inthavong, Daisuke Nonaka, Sengchanh Kounnavong, Moritoshi Iwagami, Souraxay Phommala, Jun Kobayashi, Bouasy Hongvanthong, Tiengkham Pongvongsa, Paul T. Brey and Shigeyuki Kano

The burden of dengue, source reduction measures, and serotype patterns in Myanmar, 2011 to 2015–R2

Myanmar is currently classified as a high burden dengue country in the Asian Pacific region. The Myanmar vector-borne diseases control (VBDC) program has collected data on dengue and source reduction measures ...

Authors: Pwint Mon Oo, Khin Thet Wai, Anthony D. Harries, Hemant Deepak Shewade, Tin Oo, Aung Thi and Zaw Lin

Overview of PacELF—the Pacific Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis

Authors: Kazuyo Ichimori and Patricia M. Graves

A combined human case of Dirofilaria ursi infection in dorsal subcutaneous tissue and Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) infection in ventral subcutaneous tissue

Dirofilaria ursi is a filarial nematode that parasitizes the subcutaneous tissues of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) and Japanese black bear (Ursus thiabetanus japonicus). D

Authors: Minoru Yamada, Namiko Shishito, Yoshihiro Nozawa, Shigehiko Uni, Keisuke Nishioka and Takaaki Nakaya

Spatiotemporal analysis of tropical disease research combining Europe PMC and affiliation mapping web services

Tropical medicine appeared as a distinct sub-discipline in the late nineteenth century, during a period of rapid European colonial expansion in Africa and Asia. After a dramatic drop after World War II, resear...

Authors: Magnus Palmblad and Vetle I. Torvik

Identification of novel antiviral of fungus-derived brefeldin A against dengue viruses

Microbial natural products possess a wide range of biological and biochemical potential. Among them, fungal secondary metabolites are one of the most important sources for discovering new drugs or lead compoun...

Authors: Muhareva Raekiansyah, Mihoko Mori, Kenichi Nonaka, Masanobu Agoh, Kazuro Shiomi, Atsuko Matsumoto and Kouichi Morita

Prevalence and associated determinants of malaria parasites among Kenyan children

Approximately 80% of deaths attributed to malaria worldwide occurred mainly in Africa in 2015. Kenya is one of the major malaria endemic countries, making malaria the leading public health concern in this coun...

Authors: Marufa Sultana, Nurnabi Sheikh, Rashidul Alam Mahumud, Tania Jahir, Ziaul Islam and Abdur Razzaque Sarker

Molecular epidemiology of mosquitoes for the transmission of forest malaria in south-central Vietnam

Human infection caused by non-human primate malarial parasites, such as Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, occurs naturally in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. Members of the Anopheles dir...

Authors: Yoshimasa Maeno

Epidemiology of bronchiolitis: a description of emergency department visits and hospitalizations in Puerto Rico, 2010–2014

Little is known about the epidemiology of bronchiolitis as a clinical diagnosis and its impact on emergency department visits and hospitalizations in tropical and semitropical regions. We described the epidemi...

Authors: Andrea Rivera-Sepulveda and Enid J. Garcia-Rivera

Erratum to: Wuchereria bancrofti infection at four primary schools and surrounding communities with no previous blood surveys in northern Uganda: the prevalence after mass drug administrations and a report on suspected non-filarial endemic elephantiasis

Authors: Emmanuel Igwaro Odongo-Aginya, Alex Olia, Kilama Justin Luwa, Eiji Nagayasu, Anna Mary Auma, Geoffrey Egitat, Gerald Mwesigwa, Yoshitaka Ogino, Eisaku Kimura and Toshihiro Horii

High-resolution infrared thermography: a new tool to assess tungiasis-associated inflammation of the skin

Tungiasis is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries but remains often under diagnosed and untreated eventually leading to chronic sequels. The objective of the study was to assess whether tungias...

Authors: Angela Schuster, Marlene Thielecke, Vaomalala Raharimanga, Charles Emile Ramarokoto, Christophe Rogier, Ingela Krantz and Hermann Feldmeier

Risk perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge of chikungunya among the public and health professionals: a systematic review

Recently, attention to chikungunya has increased due to its spread into previously non-endemic areas. Since there is no available treatment or vaccine, most intervention strategies focus on mosquito bite preve...

Authors: Tricia Corrin, Lisa Waddell, Judy Greig, Ian Young, Catherine Hierlihy and Mariola Mascarenhas

Wuchereria bancrofti infection at four primary schools and surrounding communities with no previous blood surveys in northern Uganda: the prevalence after mass drug administrations and a report on suspected non-filarial endemic elephantiasis

A prevalence study of Wuchereria bancrofti infection was carried out in 2014 at 4 study sites in northern Uganda using antigen and microfilaria tests. Each study site consists of a primary school and surrounding ...

Authors: Emmanuel Igwaro Odongo-Aginya, Alex Olia, Kilama Justin Luwa, Eiji Nagayasu, Anna Mary Auma, Geoffrey Egitat, Gerald Mwesigwa, Yoshitaka Ogino, Eisaku Kimura and Toshihiro Horii

Prevalence and risk factors associated with lymphatic filariasis in American Samoa after mass drug administration

In 2000, American Samoa had 16.5% prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) antigenemia. Annual mass drug administration (MDA) was conducted using single-dose albendazole plus diethylcarbamazine from 2000 to 200...

Authors: Shaun P. Coutts, Jonathan D. King, Molisamoa Pa’au, Saipale Fuimaono, Joseph Roth, Mary Rose King, Patrick J. Lammie, Colleen L. Lau and Patricia M. Graves

Tumor infiltrating leukocyte density is independent of tumor grade and molecular subtype in aggressive breast cancer of Western Kenya

Tumors commonly are infiltrated by leukocytes, or tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs). It remains unclear, however, if the density and type of individual TILs has a direct or simply correlative role in promot...

Authors: Rispah T. Sawe, Simeon K. Mining, Ayub V. Ofulla, Kirtika Patel, Bernard Guyah, David Chumba, Jenifer R. Prosperi, Maggie Kerper, Zonggao Shi, Mayra Sandoval-Cooper, Katherine Taylor, Sunil Badve, M. Sharon Stack and Laurie E. Littlepage

Evaluations of training programs to improve human resource capacity for HIV, malaria, and TB control: a systematic scoping review of methods applied and outcomes assessed

Owing to the global health workforce crisis, more funding has been invested in strengthening human resources for health, particularly for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria control; however, little is known about ...

Authors: Shishi Wu, Imara Roychowdhury and Mishal Khan

High prevalence of helminths infection and associated risk factors among adults living in a rural setting, central Kenya: a cross-sectional study

Schistosome infection and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are major public health problems in many developing countries where they contribute to the suffering of populations living in poor settings. A cross-...

Authors: Janet Masaku, Faith Mutungi, Paul M. Gichuki, Collins Okoyo, Doris W. Njomo and Sammy M. Njenga

Surveillance efforts after mass drug administration to validate elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in Vanuatu

Vanuatu was formerly highly endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF), caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. After a baseline survey showing 4.8% antigen prevalence in 1998, the coun...

Authors: Fasihah Taleo, George Taleo, Patricia M. Graves, Peter Wood, Sung Hye Kim, Masayo Ozaki, Hayley Joseph, Brian Chu, Alex Pavluck, Aya Yajima, Wayne Melrose, Kazuyo Ichimori and Corinne Capuano

Identification of the Plasmodium species in clinical samples from children residing in five epidemiological strata of malaria in Cameroon

Malaria in Cameroon was previously known to be caused solely by Plasmodium falciparum but today, evidence points to other Plasmodium species including P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The purpose of this study...

Authors: Tebit Emmanuel Kwenti, Tayong Dizzle Bita Kwenti, Longdoh Anna Njunda, Andreas Latz, Kukwah Anthony Tufon and Theresa Nkuo-Akenji

Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The filarial worms affect the lymphatic system which leads to abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic ...

Authors: Tammy Allen, Fasihah Taleo, Patricia M. Graves, Peter Wood, George Taleo, Margaret C. Baker, Mark Bradley and Kazuyo Ichimori

Identification and control of an isolated, but intense focus of lymphatic filariasis on Satawal Island, Federated States of Micronesia, in 2003

There is very limited data available on the prevalence of Bancroftian filariasis in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Considerable attempts to eliminate the disease had occurred in the Pacific region b...

Authors: Moses Pretrick, Wayne Melrose, Jean-Paul Chaine, Deon Canyon, Jaime Carron, Patricia M. Graves and Richard S. Bradbury

Environmental factors associated with the distribution of visceral leishmaniasis in endemic areas of Bangladesh: modeling the ecological niche

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic infection (also called kala-azar in South Asia) caused by Leishmania donovani that is a considerable threat to public health in the Indian subcontinent, including densel...

Authors: Abu Yousuf Md Abdullah, Ashraf Dewan, Md Rakibul Islam Shogib, Md Masudur Rahman and Md Faruk Hossain

Intensifying responsiveness towards neglected intestinal helminth infections in a resource-constrained setting

Neglected intestinal helminth infections afflict the marginalized communities in Asia. Since 2004, growing body of evidence in Myanmar indicated high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections (...

Authors: Khin Thet Wai, Kay Thwe Han and Tin Oo

Chronic illness needing palliative care in Kinshasa hospitals, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Chronic illnesses are a major public health problem in low-income countries. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), few data are available, especially in palliative care. In this context, the present s...

Authors: Jacques Lofandjola Masumbuku, Ernest Sumaili Kiswaya, Philippe Mairiaux, Daniel Gillain and Jean Petermans

The capacity of diagnostic laboratories in Kenya for detecting infectious diseases

The aim of this study is to present data of the diagnostic capacity of Kenyan laboratories to diagnose a number of human pathogens. The study is based on the data obtained from a biosecurity survey conducted i...

Authors: H-C Slotved, Kennedy K. Yatich, Shem Otoi Sam and Edwardina Otieno Ndhine

Variation in rotavirus vaccine coverage by sub-counties in Kenya

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Kenya. In July 2014, Kenya introduced the rotavirus vaccine into her national immunization program. Although immunization...

Authors: Ernest Apondi Wandera, Shah Mohammad, John Odhiambo Ouko, James Yatitch, Koki Taniguchi and Yoshio Ichinose

Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in Iranian women and risk factors of the disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular obligatory parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, and it has global distribution. The purposes of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to evaluate the seroprevalence of ...

Authors: Azadeh Mizani, Abbas Alipour, Mehdi Sharif, Shahabeddin Sarvi, Afsaneh Amouei, Azar Shokri, Mohammad-Taghi Rahimi, Seyed Abdollah Hosseini and Ahmad Daryani

Treatment of tungiasis with a two-component dimeticone: a comparison between moistening the whole foot and directly targeting the embedded sand fleas

Tungiasis (sand flea disease) is caused by the penetration of female sand fleas (Tunga penetrans, Siphonaptera) into the skin. It belongs to the neglected tropical diseases and is prevalent in South America, the ...

Authors: Per Nordin, Marlene Thielecke, Nicholas Ngomi, George Mukone Mudanga, Ingela Krantz and Hermann Feldmeier

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana: revising epidemiology with PCR-RFLP

The development of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique for species identification among patients presenting leishmaniasis allowed to better determine the mai...

Authors: Stephane Simon, Mathieu Nacher, Bernard Carme, Celia Basurko, Amaury Roger, Antoine Adenis, Marine Ginouves, Magalie Demar and Pierre Couppie

Malaria impact of large dams at different eco-epidemiological settings in Ethiopia

Dams are important to ensure food security and promote economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. However, a poor understanding of the negative public health consequences from issues such as malaria could aff...

Authors: Solomon Kibret, G. Glenn Wilson, Darren Ryder, Habte Tekie and Beyene Petros

Prevalence and characterization of Salmonella among humans in Ghana

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a public health problem worldwide and particularly in Africa with high disease burden. This study characterized Salmonella isolates from humans in Ghana to determine serovar dist...

Authors: Linda Aurelia Andoh, Shabana Ahmed, John Elmerdahl Olsen, Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Mercy Jemima Newman, Japheth Awuletey Opintan, Lisa Barco and Anders Dalsgaard

Poverty-related diseases (PRDs): unravelling complexities in disease responses in Cameroon

In Cameroon, poverty-related diseases (PRDs) are a major public health concern. Research and policies addressing PRDs are based on a particular understanding of the interaction between poverty and disease, usu...

Authors: Valerie Makoge, Harro Maat, Lenneke Vaandrager and Maria Koelen

Temperature during pregnancy influences the fetal growth and birth size

Birth weight and length have seasonal fluctuations. However, it is uncertain which meteorological element has an effect on birth outcomes and which timing of pregnancy would explain such effect. Therefore, the...

Authors: Harunor Rashid, Miki Kagami, Farzana Ferdous, Enbo Ma, Toru Terao, Taiichi Hayashi and Yukiko Wagatsuma

Socioeconomic factors associated with diarrheal diseases among under-five children of the nomadic population in northeast Ethiopia

Diarrheal disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children worldwide. Every day, more than 4000 children lose their lives due to diarrhea. In Ethiopia, diarrhea is the sec...

Authors: Wondwoson Woldu, Bikes Destaw Bitew and Zemichael Gizaw

Prevalence, seasonal variation, and antibiotic resistance pattern of enteric bacterial pathogens among hospitalized diarrheic children in suburban regions of central Kenya

The epidemiology of enteric pathogens has not been well studied in Kenya because of wide disparities in health status across the country. Therefore, the present study describes the prevalence of enteropathogen...

Authors: Mohammad Shah, Cyrus Kathiiko, Akihiro Wada, Erick Odoyo, Martin Bundi, Gabriel Miringu, Sora Guyo, Mohamed Karama and Yoshio Ichinose

Global warming and the possible globalization of vector-borne diseases: a call for increased awareness and action

Human activities such as burning of fossil fuels play a role in upsetting a previously more balanced and harmonious ecosystem. Climate change—a significant variation in the usual pattern of Earth’s average wea...

Authors: Emmanuel O. Balogun, Andrew J. Nok and Kiyoshi Kita

Development of a simple and specific direct competitive ELISA for the determination of artesunate using an anti-artesunate polyclonal antiserum

Since artesunate (ART) became a vital component of artemisinin (ARM)-based combination therapies for the treatment for malaria, counterfeit ART drugs have spread in regions of Southeast Asia and Africa. The co...

Authors: Yoshinori Mitsui

A dengue infection without bleeding manifestations in an adult with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Dengue is the most prevalent and fast spreading arboviral infection affecting people. No specific drug is available to treat dengue. Thrombocytopenia with potential of serious hemorrhages is one of the hall ma...

Authors: N. D. B. Ehelepola, M. B. K. Gunawardhana, T. N. Sudusinghe, S. K. D. Sooriyaarachchi, S. P. Manchanayake and K. L. R. Kalupahana

Emergency government response team for global infectious disease outbreaks—a Japanese challenge

Authors: Koji Wada, Yasuo Sugiura, Hidechika Akashi and Tamotsu Nakasa

Predictors of specific anti-Brucella antibodies among humans in agro-pastoral communities in Sengerema district, Mwanza, Tanzania: the need for public awareness

Human brucellosis remains to be a neglected zoonotic disease among agro-pastoral communities where livestock rearing is one of the main economic activities. This study was conducted in different agro-pastoral ...

Authors: Elifuraha B. Mngumi, Mariam M. Mirambo, Sospeter Wilson and Stephen E. Mshana

Pathogenic potential and growth kinetics of Muko virus in mice and human-derived cells

Ticks have been long known as vectors of various pathogens, some of which can cause high fatality rates among infected individuals. Our enhanced tick surveillance around Nagasaki, Japan, led to the isolation a...

Authors: Gianne Eduard L. Ulanday, Satoshi Shimada, Ngwe Tun Mya Myat, Takeshi Nabeshima, Kouichi Morita and Daisuke Hayasaka

Latent class evaluation of three serological tests for the diagnosis of human brucellosis in Bangladesh

A Bayesian latent class evaluation was used to estimate the true prevalence of brucellosis in livestock farmers and patients with prolonged pyrexia (PP) and to validate three conditionally dependent serologica...

Authors: A. K. M. A. Rahman, C. Saegerman and D. Berkvens

Molecular basis of human cerebral malaria development

Cerebral malaria is still a deleterious health problem in tropical countries. The wide spread of malarial drug resistance and the lack of an effective vaccine are obstacles for disease management and preventio...

Authors: Saw Thu Wah, Hathairad Hananantachai, Usanee Kerdpin, Chotiros Plabplueng, Virapong Prachayasittikul and Pornlada Nuchnoi

Prevalence of tuberculosis and associated risk factors in the Central Prison of Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Tuberculosis still remains a major public health concern in several provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in prison settings. The present study aimed at determining tuberculosis (TB) preval...

Authors: Guillaume MuasaPatoka Kalonji, Gérard De Connick, Léon Okenge Ngongo, Dieudonné Kazumba Nsaka, Thierry Kabengele, Félicien Tshimungu Kandolo, Félicien Ilunga-Ilunga, Albert Adelin and Didier Giet

Multisystem failure and death due to extensive hemorrhaging and brain herniation subsequent to a bite by an unidentified snake

Snakebites cause considerable morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical countries even though existing treatment methods can prevent most deaths if presentation occurs early to hospitals. Envenomatio...

Authors: N. D. B. Ehelepola, S. M. A. N. Samaranayake, B. M. L. S. Basnayake, C. G. K. Amiyangoda, D. M. U. C. B. Dhanapala and K. L. R. Kalupahana

Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans by real-time PCR with improved primers

Buruli ulcer is a severe skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Real-time PCR targeting the IS2404 sequence has been used as a reliable and rapid method for the diagnosis of Buruli ulcer and detection of

Authors: Noriko Shinoda, Hajime Nakamura and Mineo Watanabe