BackgroundIn urban areas of developing countries, cockroaches pose a significant public health threat by spreading diseases and contaminating food sources. This study aimed to assess the infestation levels of indoor cockroach species across various household settings and to evaluate community management practices.MethodsThe study was conducted from April to June 2022, utilizing sticky traps placed within 2 × 2 m distance transects. Morphological identification of cockroach species was performed using standard taxonomic keys. Data on community management practices were gathered through a well‐structured questionnaire. A factorial ANOVA was conducted using SAS statistical software to determine significant differences in cockroach abundance based on the various factors such as sampling months, habitats, species, and sexes. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze questionnaire data.ResultsA total of 2670 cockroach individuals were collected. The overall ANOVA indicated a statistically significant difference in cockroach abundance among the measured variables and factors (F = 11.7, DF = 59, 540, p < 0.0001). A significant interaction was also observed between month, habitat, and cockroach sexes (excluding species) (F = 3.1, DF = 8, p < 0.0022). The interaction between cockroach species and habitats was significant (F = 4, DF = 33.44, p < 0.0001), while interactions between species and months (F = 2, DF = 1.88, p = 0.15) and species and sexes were not significant (F = 1, DF = 0.87, p = 0.35).ConclusionGrain mills with Periplaneta americana and residential areas with Blattella germanica exhibited higher infestation levels compared to other habitats. Households primarily relied on chemical and physical methods for cockroach control. Further studies should be conducted on a broader scale to enhance understanding and management of cockroach infestations.

Ocimum basilicum is an important alternative source to explore diverse anti‐infective compounds. In the present study, aqueous seed extract of O. basilicum was used to identify bioactive compounds with antihemolytic, thrombolytic, antivancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and antivancomycin‐resistant S. epidermidis activity. Anti‐VRSA and anti‐VRSE activity of O. basilicum seed aqueous extract was evaluated by the well diffusion assay. Hemolytic and thrombolytic activities were performed using a 96‐well plate. Phytochemical identification was done by GC‐MS. ADMET and docking analyses with VanA ligase of VRSA and VRSE were also performed. The aqueous extract showed antibacterial activity against VRSA (12 ± 0.35 mm) and VRSE (13 ± 0.11 mm) isolates. The O. basilicum showed significantly less hemolysis (3.7 ± 0.24%, p < 0.00001) of red blood cells, reflecting low cytotoxicity as compared to the control (98 ± 0.44%). The O. basilicum seed extract exhibited significant thrombolytic activity (4.33 ± 0.2%, p < 0.000429) as compared to the negative control (2 ± 0.34%). Among 23 identified compounds on GC‐MS, eight were reported for the first time in O. basilicum aqueous seed extract and processed for molecular docking. After favorable water solubility, pharmacokinetics, medicinal chemistry, and drug likeness, only two compounds, d‐glucopyranoside, 2,3,4,6‐di‐O‐(ethylboranediyl)‐1‐O‐methyl and 4(3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐oxo‐butylamino) benzonitrile, were processed for molecular docking. The first one formed three hydrogen bonds with Leu‐259, Ser‐127, and His‐49 residues of the VanA ligase. The second one formed two hydrogen bonds with Ser‐161 and Val‐160 residues of the VanA ligase. d‐Glucopyranoside, 2,3,4,6‐di‐O‐(ethylboranediyl)‐1‐O‐methyl and 4(3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐oxo‐butylamino) benzonitrile. The O. basilicum seed extract has potential bioactivity, and the identified compounds are novel putative VanA ligase inhibitors. Further characterization of the bioactive compounds would help to explore therapeutic targets against VRSA and VRSE.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection can potentially lead to severe dengue disease due to the risk of antibody‐dependent enhancement. This study reports a comparative analysis of the host cytokine/chemokine response triggered by primary and secondary DENV infections using an artificial ex vivo whole‐blood coculture model to simulate viremia during the acute febrile phase of infection. Using ex vivo primary and secondary DENV infection modes, a dengue‐specific customized multiplex cytokine/chemokine assay was employed. Secondary infection did not exacerbate DENV‐induced hematological and cytopathological changes, such as alterations in complete blood count, intracellular vacuolization, and thrombophagocytosis. However, cytokine/chemokine assay revealed a significant increase in the production of MIP‐1α, MIP‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and RANTES. Notably, a substantial decrease in NS1 levels indicated the neutralization effect in individuals with prior DENV exposure or secondary infection group, especially in some cases of secondary infection. This was accompanied by pre‐existing anti‐E antibodies, highly associated with IL‐6 overproduction. These findings support the potential strategy of assessing DENV susceptibility using NS1 and IL‐6 using an ex vivo method.

IntroductionInfection‐associated hemophagocytic syndrome (IAHS) is a rare complication in dengue infection that leads to multiple organ dysfunction (MOD) and increased mortality rates. The early use of hemoperfusion with hemoadsorption and standard treatment may reduce inflammation and prevent mortality. This study investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of a combination of hemoperfusion with hemoadsorption and multimodal therapy, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), corticosteroids, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), and/or extracorporeal organ support in pediatric patients with MOD and IAHS resulting from dengue shock syndrome (DSS).MethodsThis retrospective observational research includes MOD and IAHS resulting from DSS. All children had 4 h of hemoperfusion with hemoadsorption for a duration of 1–3 consecutive days, accompanied by multimodal therapy. Inflammatory markers and mortality rates were assessed.ResultsFive patients were included. All patients received hemoperfusion with hemoadsorption combined with CRRT, while four out of five patients received IVIG, dexamethasone, and plasmapheresis. The median PELOD‐2 and vasoactive‐inotropic score (VIS) decreased postintervention (8.0 vs. 6.0 and 20.0 vs. 10.0). The median log10 serum ferritin (5.000 vs. 4.724 ng/mL, p value < 0.05) and log10 serum IL‐6 (3.193 vs. 2.018 pg/mL, p value < 0.05) levels of the biomarker were significantly decreased. No additional adverse effects were noted.ConclusionThe combination of hemoperfusion with hemoadsorption and multimodal therapy effectively reduced inflammatory biomarkers and enhanced hemodynamic stability. Nevertheless, mortality outcomes should be assessed across larger populations.

IntroductionHuman T‐lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV‐1) is related to several clinical diseases, including adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV‐1‐associated myelopathy. Intrafamilial transmission of HTLV‐1 is rarely reported in Brazil and worldwide.ObjectiveTo identify HTLV‐1 family transmissions in Belem, Para, the Amazon region of Brazil.MethodsNested PCR of the pX gene, followed by restrict fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to identify HTLV‐1. Nested PCR of the 5′LTR region was used for nucleotide sequencing. Nucleotide sequences were analyzed using GENEIOUS 4.8.5 and MAFFT V.7.ResultsThe study investigated 72 individuals (14 index cases and 58 relatives) from 14 families, identifying HTLV‐1 infection in 47% (27/58) of the relatives. Vertical transmission occurred in 14 (39%) of the 36 mother/child relationships investigated, and sexual transmission was observed in 14 (74%) of the 19 marital relationships (p = 0.0299). Both transmission routes were identified only in families with the highest average number of relatives investigated. Nucleotide analysis demonstrated HTLV‐1 stability in intrafamilial transmission.ConclusionHigh rate of HTLV‐1 intrafamilial transmission was identified in this study. Sexual and vertical transmission are important to familiar dissemination and perpetuation of the virus in this endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon.

BackgroundFebrile illnesses can have devastating effects on the health, wellbeing and productivity of infected individuals. Fever is one of the most frequent reasons for seeking medical care globally. In Uganda, malaria is a major cause of fever and other nonmalarial causes such as typhoid and brucellosis. The aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of malaria, typhoid fever and brucellosis in Uganda in order to inform the management and control of these diseases.MethodsA retrospective analysis of data was conducted on human brucellosis, typhoid fever and malaria cases reported through the national disease surveillance system from 2016 to 2023. The data were downloaded from the health management information system into Microsoft Excel. The total number of malaria cases, typhoid fever cases and brucellosis cases over this period were 110,134,705, 1,572,162 and 361,563, respectively. Descriptive analyses were conducted using Epi Info, spatial distribution using Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software. Choropleth maps were created showing cases per 100,000.ResultsNationally, from 2016 to 2023, the prevalence for malaria, typhoid fever and brucellosis varied from 43,316 to 29,271; 538 to 445 and 151 to 89 cases/100,000 population, respectively. From 2016 to 2023, there was an overall 4% decrease in the malaria prevalence/100,000, 2% decrease in the typhoid fever prevalence/100,000 and 8% decrease in the brucellosis prevalence/100,000. The burden of malaria and the nonmalarial febrile illnesses, typhoid fever and brucellosis varied across regions throughout the eight years. Overall, the northern region had the highest prevalence/100,000 for malaria and brucellosis, while the central region had the lowest prevalence for both diseases. The central region had the highest prevalence for typhoid fever.ConclusionsThe study revealed the disproportionate burden of malaria and nonmalarial febrile illnesses, typhoid fever and brucellosis. The findings suggest a need to review the existing national malaria control program, to strengthen measures to mitigate the risk of typhoid fever infection and multisectoral prevention and control of brucellosis in the most affected regions and districts.

IntroductionOne important measure of community and personal hygiene is the prevalence of lice. Healthcare providers and strategists must analyze this illness across several groups if they are to create sensible plans and services for its decrease. The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of head lice in Iranian endemic regions.MethodsIn this retrospective cross‐sectional study, all patients referred to healthcare centers affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2016 to 2021 who were diagnosed with head lice were included. Those confirmed with head lice were isolated and examined by a physician of the healthcare center. Patient information, including city, diagnosis date, type of disease, age, sex, nationality, and urban or rural status, was recorded. Data analysis was performed using descriptive methods in SPSS Version 24 and STATA 14.2.ResultsThe results showed a total of 153,550 cases of lice infection (average annual prevalence 0.52% [95% CI: 0.52% to 0.53%]), with a declining trend from 20,951 infections to 5912 during the study period. The highest infection rate (49.3%) was observed in the 6–12 age range; most infected patients, 93.2%, were female. Furthermore, Qirokarzin, Zarrin Dasht, Mohr, and Rostam displayed the highest infestation levels, accounting for 55.4% of infections among the urban population.ConclusionOverall, the present study revealed a low prevalence of head lice in Fars Province, southern Iran; most of the individuals with head lice were elementary school‐aged girls. Therefore, it is important to focus on interventions and policy‐making with the aim of preventing infestation and the spread of disease among this population. Moreover, the general drop in yearly infestation shows how well Shiraz University of Medical Sciences’ policies regulate the disease.

Bovine mastitis, a widespread disease in dairy cattle characterized by udder inflammation triggered primarily by pathogenic micro-organisms, poses a considerable challenge to the dairy industry. Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) stands out as a significant etiological factor in the incidence of bovine subclinical mastitis (SCM), further exacerbated by the diminishing efficacy of antibiotics due to the increase in antibiotic-resistant strains. This study sets out to comprehensively investigate the landscape of S. epidermidis in dairy cattle afflicted with SCM. We examined the prevalence of S. epidermidis, assessed its antibiotic resistance patterns, and probed for the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes (mecA, tetK, and ermC) within S. epidermidis strains isolated from 305 milk samples across four distinct dairy cattle breeds: Holstein Friesian, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, and Cholistani. Among the sampled cows, 56.39% (172 out of 305) were found to have SCM. Within this group, S. epidermidis was identified in 27.90% (48 out of 172) of the cases. Our breed-specific analysis revealed significant disparities, with Red Sindhi cows displaying the highest prevalence at 75%, followed by Holstein Friesian at 45.45%, and significantly lower levels in Sahiwal (5.19%) and Cholistani (3.44%) breeds. To assess the efficacy of antibiotics, we conducted sensitivity testing using nine commonly prescribed antibiotics. Alarmingly, 18 out of the 48 isolates (37.5%) exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). Our antibiogram results underscored a high resistance of S. epidermidis isolates, particularly against cefoxitin (56.25%) and penicillin (43.75%), while demonstrating remarkable susceptibility to amikacin (2.08%), clindamycin (0%), ciprofloxacin (0%), and chloramphenicol (0%). Furthermore, we employed PCR to ascertain the presence of resistant genes in all S. epidermidis isolates. mecA was detected in 38 isolates (79.16%), while tetK was identified in 33 isolates (68.75%). Notably, the study did not detect the presence of the ermC gene. Our investigation highlights the efficacy of chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin against S. epidermidis. However, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains calls for careful antibiotic use in veterinary practices. Further research is needed to examine geographic and farm-specific factors affecting S. epidermidis prevalence, and genetic techniques like multilocus sequence typing should be employed to study clonal spread and horizontal gene transfer. Routine antimicrobial sensitivity assessments and continuous monitoring of medication use are essential to develop sustainable strategies against antibiotic resistance in the dairy industry.

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, parasitic infections pose a major health concern, particularly affecting children. Understanding the occurrence of parasitic infections within a hospital setting provides insights into the overall health status of the broader community.AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of parasitic infections among pediatric patients treated at a tertiary hospital in South Ethiopia over a 5-year period.MethodA retrospective data collection was conducted from February 1, 2023, to April 1, 2023, using the parasitology laboratory stool test results logbook at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, a tertiary hospital. The data covered the period from January 1, 2018, to December 30, 2022. Microsoft Excel was used to enter data from logbooks, and the descriptive results were summarized using tables and graphs.ResultOut of 6542 pediatric patients examined, 6482 were included in the evaluation after excluding incomplete records. Among these patients, 51.6% tested positive for at least one parasite. Of the positive cases, 68% were due to protozoan infections and 32% were due to helminth infections. The most identified parasite was Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, accounting for 43.7% of positive cases. Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant helminth, representing 17.2% of positive cases. The age group under 5 years had the highest parasitic infections among others.ConclusionThe occurrence of parasitic infections among pediatric patients treated at this hospital was alarmingly high. Therefore, it is recommended to promote personal hygiene, enhance environmental sanitation, and implement regular screening for intestinal parasites.