Tropical Diseases Research Articles

Modeling the dynamics of Onchocerca volvulus with the impact of environmental factors on blackfly breeding sites

Onchocerciasis is a significant public health concern, characterized by infections affecting the eyes and skin. The environmental factors contributing to its widespread occurrence are frequently undervalued, despite their significant influence. This research introduces an innovative mathematical model that utilizes fractional derivatives to examine the impact of several important variables, including temperature, river velocity, and oxygen concentration, on the breeding locations of blackflies. The objective of our study is to improve comprehension regarding the influence of environmental elements on the dynamics of onchocerciasis transmission. The efficacy of multiple vector control tactics and host screening approaches, such as skin snip biopsy and continuous detection at healthcare facilities, is evaluated through a series of comprehensive numerical experiments. Our results highlights the potential effectiveness of implementing comprehensive vector management strategies, in conjunction with frequent host screening techniques, in substantially decreasing the rates of disease transmission. Our study specifically emphasizes the efficacy of these interventions in riverine environments that are characterized by varying environmental circumstances. The findings obtained from this study have important significance for the development and execution of focused public health interventions aimed at combating onchocerciasis in areas where environmental factors are crucial in the transmission dynamics of the illness. This study provides significant insights into the worldwide endeavor to combat neglected tropical diseases, highlighting the critical importance of environmental factors and implementing integrated control techniques for efficient disease management and prevention.

Structure-Activity Studies of 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles for the Inhibition of the NAD+-Dependent Lysine Deacylase Sirtuin 2.

The NAD+-dependent lysine deacylase sirtuin 2 (Sirt2) is involved in multiple pathological conditions such as cancer. Targeting Sirt2 has thus received an increased interest for therapeutic purposes. Furthermore, the orthologue from Schistosoma mansoni (SmSirt2) has been considered for the potential treatment of the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis. We previously identified a 1,2,4-oxadiazole-based scaffold from the screening of the "Kinetobox" library as a dual inhibitor of human Sirt2 (hSirt2) and SmSirt2. Herein, we describe the structure-activity studies on 1,2,4-oxadiazole-based analogues, which are potent inhibitors of human Sirt2 deacetylation. As proposed by docking studies, a substrate-competitive and cofactor-noncompetitive binding mode of inhibition could be determined in vitro via binding assays and kinetic analysis and further confirmed by a crystal structure of an oxadiazole inhibitor in complex with hSirt2. Optimized analogues reduced cell viability and inhibited prostate cancer cell migration, in correlation with Sirt2 deacetylase inhibition both in vitro and in cells.

Human scabies and sarcoptic mange in northeast Brazil: Results from a rapid assessment method covering an entire state.

Scabies is a neglected tropical disease and has been highlighted as a target for control. Sarcoptic mange affects animals, but mange is also considered a zoonosis. We present rapid assessment data on scabies and sarcoptic mange collected from key informants via a web-based questionnaire in Ceará State (1265 data entries). A total of 181/184 (98.3%) municipalities reported the occurrence of human scabies; 149 (80.9%) current occurrence; 168 (91.3%) severe cases; and 113 (61.4%) severe cases currently. Sarcoptic mange was reported from 149/184 (80.9%) municipalities, and severe mange from 128 (69.9%), most commonly in dogs (117 municipalities), cats (79), pigs (17), cattle (15), horses (15), and goats (2). Respondents from 171 (92.9%) municipalities observed seasonality of occurrence. Scabies and sarcoptic mange are important public health issues in a northeast Brazilian state. The wide distribution of severe cases requires an integrated One Health approach effectively and sustainably to reduce the disease burden.

Screening blood donors for malaria, can we increase the number of eligible donors? An observational retrospective study

BackgroundIn non-endemic countries, malaria can be transmitted through blood donations from imported cases. To ensure standards of quality and safety of human blood, the European Union and Spanish national law, requires a deferral period, or a screening by immunological or genomic test among those donors with potential risk of malaria. Scientific societies, European Committee on Blood Transfusion, and Spanish Society of Haematology and Haemotherapy, refer only to the result of the immunological test.MethodsAn observational retrospective study was performed in potential donors with a positive immunological test for malaria done in the Regional Transfusion Center in Madrid and referred to the National Reference Unit for Tropical Diseases in Madrid between 2015–2020. At consultation a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for malaria was performed.ResultsDuring the study period, 121 possible donors attended for consultation at NRU-Trop. Median age: 38.5 (IQR:33–48); median time to consultation was 32 months (IQR:12.5–110). Eighty-two (67.8%) donors were migrants and thirty-nine were travellers (32.2%). ELISA values were available for 109 subjects (90.1%), 56 individual left malaria endemic area > 3 years before. All donors tested negative for Plasmodium spp PCR test (n = 121, 100%).ConclusionsNone of the subjects with a positive immunologic test deferred as blood donors had a positive genomic test. The presence of Plasmodium spp in collected blood was not detected by molecular techniques. To avoid the loss of potential blood donors, especially those with low incidence red blood cell antigens, as more precise microbiology techniques become available, updating the existing legislation becomes necessary to increase the availability of donated blood.

Survival analysis of adult visceral leishmaniasis patients admitted to Metema Hospital, Metema, Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease that mostly affects the working class and impoverished segments of society, having a significant negative effect on the economic development of the affected nation. While anti-leishmanial medications lower mortality among VL patients, patients may still die or require more time to recover while receiving treatment. In this regard, there are limited studies in Ethiopia. This study aims to determine the time to recovery and its associated predictors among adult VL patients at Metema Hospital, Metema, Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was employed and the data were collected from patient's charts from September 2017 to September 2021. Data were entered and analysed using EpiData version 3.1, Stata version 14.2 and R version 3.4.0 statistical software. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and logrank tests were used to compare the survival time. The Cox proportional hazards model assumption and model fitness were checked and used to identify statistical association predictors in VL patients. The Cox proportional hazards model was fitted. The overall medium recovery time was 7d (minimum 4, maximum 14). The variables of nasal bleeding (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.44 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.19 to 0.89]), no comorbidity (aHR 2.29 [95% CI 1.27 to 4.11]), relapse of VL (aHR 0.33 [95% CI 0.15 to 0.75]), low parasite load (aHR 2.58 [95% CI 1.48 to 4.51]) and ambulatory (aHR 3.26 [95% CI 2.45 to 6.53]) were significantly associated with time to recovery in VL patients. Patients with comorbidities, nasal bleeding, relapse of VL, bedridden and high parasite load should be treated and monitored carefully to recover quickly from their illness.

Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia Sand Fly Populations in Bhutan.

Leishmaniasis is considered one of the neglected tropical diseases in the world. Although Bhutan is a member of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination consortium in South Asia, not much attention has been accorded to the disease because of its low incidence. The vector that transmits Leishmania remains poorly understood. In this backdrop, sand-fly surveys were regularly conducted at multiple sites where leishmaniasis cases have been reported in Bhutan. Collections were made using CDC light traps and cattle-baited net traps in 15 villages from February 2019 to May 2022. Six species of Phlebotomus and four species of Sergentomyia were identified from these sites that included two Phlebotomus and three Sergentomyia species discovered for the first time in Bhutan. Sand-fly density varied significantly from village to village, and it showed strong seasonality with peak numbers collected from June to October and almost zero from December to February. Overall, sand-fly density was highest in the basements of the houses and were higher outdoors than indoors. Cattle-baited net traps collected few sand flies during the surveillance period. This work constituted the first systematic sand-fly population surveillance conducted in Bhutan and will provide a baseline for future vector ecology and Leishmania epidemiological studies.

The generation of stable transgenic lines in the human-infective nematode Strongyloides stercoralis.

The skin-penetrating gastrointestinal parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis causes strongyloidiasis, which is a neglected tropical disease that is associated with severe chronic illness and fatalities. Unlike other human-infective nematodes, S. stercoralis cycles through a single free-living generation and thus serves as a genetically tractable model organism for understanding the mechanisms that enable parasitism. Techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis and transgenesis are now routinely performed in S. stercoralis by introducing exogenous DNA into free-living adults and then screening their F1 progeny for transgenic or mutant larvae. However, transgenesis in S. stercoralis has been severely hindered by the inability to establish stable transgenic lines that can be propagated for multiple generations through a host; to date, studies of transgenic S. stercoralis have been limited to heterogeneous populations of transgenic F1 larvae. Here, we develop an efficient pipeline for the generation of stable transgenic lines in S. stercoralis. We also show that this approach can be used to efficiently generate stable transgenic lines in the rat-infective nematode Strongyloides ratti. The ability to generate stable transgenic lines circumvents the limitations of working with heterogeneous F1 populations, such as variable transgene expression and the inability to generate transgenics of all life stages. Our transgenesis approach will enable novel lines of inquiry into parasite biology, such as transgene-based comparisons between free-living and parasitic generations.

Novel Compound MMV1804559 from the Global Health Priority Box Exhibits In Vitro and In Vivo Activity against Madurella mycetomatis.

Eumycetoma is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) characterized by subcutaneous lesions and the formation of grains. Attempts to treat eumycetoma involve a combination of antifungal treatment and surgery, although the outcome is frequently disappointing. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel antifungal drugs to treat eumycetoma. In this respect, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has assembled libraries of compounds for researchers to use in drug discovery research against NTD. Therefore, we screened two MMVOpen compound libraries to identify novel leads for eumycetoma. A total of 400 compounds from the COVID Box and the Global Health Priority Box were screened in vitro at 100 µM and 25 µM against the most common causative agents of eumycetoma, namely Madurella mycetomatis and Falciformispora senegalensis, and the resulting IC50 and MIC50 values were obtained. Compounds with an IC50 < 8 µM were identified for possible in vivo efficacy studies using an M. mycetomatis grain model in Galleria mellonella larvae. Out of the 400 compounds, 22 were able to inhibit both M. mycetomatis and F. senegalensis growth at 100 µM and 25 µM, with compounds MMV1593278, MMV020335, and MMV1804559 being selected for in vivo testing. Of these three, only the pyrazolopyrimidine derivative MMV1804559 was able to prolong the survival of M. mycetomatis-infected G. mellonella larvae. Furthermore, the grains in MMV1804559-treated larvae were significantly smaller compared to the PBS-treated group. MMV1804559 shows promising in vitro and in vivo activity against M. mycetomatis.

Diabetes and Infectious Diseases with a Focus on Melioidosis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to impaired innate and adaptive immune responses. This renders individuals with DM highly susceptible to microbial infections such as COVID-19, tuberculosis and melioidosis. Melioidosis is a tropical disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, where diabetes is consistently reported as the most significant risk factor associated with the disease. Type-2 diabetes is observed in 39% of melioidosis patients where the risk of infection is 13-fold higher than non-diabetic individuals. B. pseudomallei is found in the environment and is an opportunistic pathogen in humans, often exhibiting severe clinical manifestations in immunocompromised patients. The pathophysiology of diabetes significantly affects the host immune responses that play a critical role in fighting the infection, such as leukocyte and neutrophil impairment, macrophage and monocyte inhibition and natural killer cell dysfunction. These defects result in delayed recruitment as well as activation of immune cells to target the invading B. pseudomallei. This provides an advantage for the pathogen to survive and adapt within the immunocompromised diabetic patients. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps on diabetes-infectious disease comorbidity, in particular, melioidosis-diabetes comorbidity, need to be filled to fully understand the dysfunctional host immune responses and adaptation of the pathogen under diabetic conditions to guide therapeutic options.

Reduced protein-coding transcript diversity in severe dengue emphasises the role of alternative splicing.

Dengue fever, a neglected tropical arboviral disease, has emerged as a global health concern in the past decade. Necessitating a nuanced comprehension of the intricate dynamics of host-virus interactions influencing disease severity, we analysed transcriptomic patterns using bulk RNA-seq from 112 age- and gender-matched NS1 antigen-confirmed hospital-admitted dengue patients with varying severity. Severe cases exhibited reduced platelet count, increased lymphocytosis, and neutropenia, indicating a dysregulated immune response. Using bulk RNA-seq, our analysis revealed a minimal overlap between the differentially expressed gene and transcript isoform, with a distinct expression pattern across the disease severity. Severe patients showed enrichment in retained intron and nonsense-mediated decay transcript biotypes, suggesting altered splicing efficiency. Furthermore, an up-regulated programmed cell death, a haemolytic response, and an impaired interferon and antiviral response at the transcript level were observed. We also identified the potential involvement of the RBM39 gene among others in the innate immune response during dengue viral pathogenesis, warranting further investigation. These findings provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets, underscoring the importance of exploring transcriptomic landscapes between different disease sub-phenotypes in infectious diseases.

Oropouche Virus Exposure in Febrile Patients during Chikungunya Virus Introduction in the State of Amapá, Amazon Region, Brazil.

Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV) is an arbovirus transmitted by midges that has been involved in outbreaks throughout Central and South America. In Brazil, human cases have been historically concentrated in the northern region of the country. Oropouche fever in humans range from mild clinical signs to rare neurological events, and is considered a neglected tropical disease in Brazil. Due to the clinical similarities to other arboviruses, such as chikungunya and dengue viruses, OROV infections are likely to be underreported. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) cases in Brazil were first recognized in 2014 in the states of Amapá and Bahia in the north and northeast regions, respectively. Both OROV and CHIKV cause nonspecific symptoms, making clinical diagnosis difficult in a scenario of arbovirus cocirculation. Aiming to investigate OROV transmission during the CHIKV introduction in the state of Amapá located in the Brazilian Amazon, we conducted a retrospective molecular (RT-qPCR) and serological investigation in febrile cases (N = 166) collected between August 2014 and May 2015. All acute serum samples were negative for OROV RNA using RT-qPCR. However, neutralizing antibodies for OROV were detected using a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) in 10.24% (17/166) of the patients, with neutralizing antibody titers ranging from 20 to ≥640, suggesting the previous exposure of patients to OROV. Regarding CHIKV, recent exposure was confirmed by the detection of CHIKV RNA in 20.25% (33/163) of the patients and by the detection of anti-CHIKV IgM in 28.57% (44/154) of the patients. The additional detection of anti-CHIKV IgG in 12.58% (19/151) of the febrile patients suggests that some individuals had been previously exposed to CHIKV. Whether the OROV exposure reported here occurred prior or during the CHIKV circulation in Amapá, is unknown, but because those arboviral infections share similar clinical signs and symptoms, a silent circulation of enzootic arboviruses during the introduction of exotic arboviruses may occur, and highlights the importance of syndromic cases' surveillance to arboviruses in Brazil.

Revolutionizing Leishmaniasis Treatment with Cutting Edge Drug Delivery Systems and Nanovaccines: An Updated Review.

Leishmaniasis, one of the most overlooked tropical diseases, is a life-threatening illness caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani that is prevalent in underdeveloped nations. Over 350 million individuals in more than 90 different nations worldwide are at risk of contracting the disease, which has a current fatality rate of 50 000 mortalities each year. The administration of liposomal Amp B, pentavalent antimonials, and miltefosine are still considered integral components of the chemotherapy regimen. Antileishmanial medications fail to treat leishmaniasis because of their numerous drawbacks. These include inadequate effectiveness, toxicity, undesired side effects, drug resistance, treatment duration, and cost. Consequently, there is a need to overcome the limitations of conventional therapeutics. Nanotechnology has demonstrated promising outcomes in addressing these issues because of its small size and distinctive characteristics, such as enhanced bioavailability, lower toxicity, biodegradability, and targeted drug delivery. This review is an effort to highlight the recent progress in various nanodrug delivery systems (nDDSs) over the past five years for treating leishmaniasis. Although the preclinical outcomes of nDDSs have shown promising treatment for leishmaniasis, further research is needed for their clinical translation. Advancement in three primary priority domains─molecular diagnostics, clinical investigation, and knowledge dissemination and standardization─is imperative to propel the leishmaniasis field toward translational outcomes.

Comparison of the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and the Kato-Katz Techniques in the Diagnosis of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Schistosoma mansoni&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; in Burkina Faso

Intestinal schistosomiasis or intestinal bilharzia, mainly caused by &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Schistosoma mansoni&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, is one of the most common parasitic diseases in the world, and a neglected tropical disease (NTD). It ranks first among water-borne diseases and is the 2nd most endemic parasitic disease after malaria and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), schistosomiasis is transmitted in more than 78 countries and territories in tropical and subtropical regions, and more than 250 million people are infected, mainly in Africa. Kato Katz (KK) remains the standard technique for diagnosing this disease. A promising new approach, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), may be needed in developing countries such as Burkina Faso. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the LAMP technique and the Kato-Katz technique in the diagnosis of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Schistosoma mansoni&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; in Burkina Faso. 52 stool samples were collected from patients in the town of Bobo Dioulasso and examined using the KK technique, which corresponds to microscopy and the LAMP technique, to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this molecular technique. The results showed a prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis of 8% in the study, and the Kappa coefficient obtained between the 2 techniques was 0.99, roughly equal to 1. The sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP molecular test was 100%.

Moran’s Index Spatial Analysis On The New Case Detection Rate of Leprosy in West Java 2022

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is divided into two types based on the number of lesions on the skin. If there are less than 5 lesions, leprosy is classified as paucibacillary (PB) and if there are more than 5 lesions, leprosy is classified as multibacillary (MB). Indonesia is ranked third in the world after Brazil with 762 new cases of grade 2 disability leprosy by 2022. Therefore, spatial analysis of the new case detection rate of leprosy in West Java 2022 is needed. Objective: To determine wheter there are spatial dependency with the new case detection rate of leprosy in West Java 2022 Method: Quantitative research that utilises secondary data by conducting spatial analysis on the new case detection rate of leprosy in West Java 2022 using Moran's Index and LISA tests. Result: There are 5 areas namely Bekasi, Karawang, Subang, Indramayu, and Cirebon that have not yet reached the national target in eliminating leprosy. The value of Moran's I = 0.241 and p-value 0.0090 &lt; ? (0.05) which means that there is a weak positive spatial dependence on the number of new leprosy cases in West Java Province 2022. There is 1 region that is in the high-high quadrant, namely Cirebon and there are 4 regions in the low-low quadrant, namely Cimahi City, Bandung City, Garut, and Tasikmalaya. Conclusion: A small number of areas in West Java Province still have not reached the national target of eliminating leprosy, which is a CDR of &lt;5 per 100.000 population, namely Bekasi, Karawang, Subang, Indramayu, and Cirebon. There are 5 areas that have spatial linkages in the new case detection rate of leprosy in West Java Province in 2022 based on the significance value. The region in the high-high quadrant is Cirebon and there are 4 regions in the low-low quadrant, namely Cimahi City, Bandung City, Garut District, and Tasikmalaya District.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with Herpes Simplex Encephalitis in Vietnam: a retrospective study

BackgroundHerpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is an important central nervous infection with severe neurological sequelae. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristic and outcomes of patients with HSE in Vietnam.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 66 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis who admitted to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, Vietnam from 2018 to 2021. The detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cerebrospinal fluid was made by the real-time PCR assay. We reported the clinical manifestation on admission and evaluated clinical outcomes at the hospital discharge by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of severe outcomes.ResultsOf the 66 patients with laboratory confirmed HSE, the median age was 53 years (IQR 38–60) and 44 patients (69.7%) were male. The most common manifestations included fever (100%), followed by the consciousness disorder (95.5%). Other neurological manifestation were seizures (36.4%), memory disorders (31.8%), language disorders (19.7%) and behavioral disorders (13.6%). Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed 93.8% patients with temporal lobe lesions, followed by abnormalities in insula (50%), frontal lobe (34.4%) and 48.4% of patients had bilateral lesions. At discharge, 19 patients (28.8%) completely recovered, 15 patients (22.7%) had mild sequelae, 28 patients (42.4%) had moderate to severe sequelae. Severe neurological sequelae were memory disorders (55.8%), movement disorders (53.5%), language disorders (30.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Glasgow score decrement at admission, seizures, and time duration from onset of symptoms to the start of Acyclovir treatment > 4 days were independent factors associated with severe outcomes in HSE patients.ConclusionGlasgow score decrement, seizures and delay treatment with Acyclovir were associated with the poor outcome of patients with HSE.

Knowledge, attitude, practices and treatment-seeking behaviour concerning cutaneous leishmaniasis among rural hyperendemic communities in western Yemen

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is a major public health problem in Yemen with widespread distribution in rural areas. Evaluating the knowledge and understanding of people’s beliefs towards the disease is essential to the implementation of effective control measures. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) and treatment-seeking behaviour concerning CL among rural populations in the western highlands of Yemen. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 289 household heads in four rural areas of the Utmah District. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. All the participants had heard about the disease; however, only 9.3% attributed it to sandflies. Nearly half (48.1%) of the participants could not mention any preventive measures for CL, and nearly two-thirds (65.4%) could not do so for sandflies. The overall ‘good’ knowledge about CL was found to be 51.2%, and it was 33.9% for sandflies. The participants’ attitude and prevention practices towards CL were not satisfactory, as only 38.1% and 16.3% had a positive attitude and good CL-related prevention practices, respectively. Moreover, 45.7% believed CL to be a stigmatising disease, and 50% had used traditional remedies to treat suspected CL lesions. Multivariate analyses showed that age, sex, presence of CL-confirmed cases in the same household, residency, occupation and monthly household income were the significant predictors associated with KAP concerning CL among the participants. The findings support an urgent need for integrated health education and community mobilisation interventions to improve awareness of these vulnerable populations about this devastating disease.

Brucellosis : Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonosis

More than 500,000 human cases of brucellosis are reported each year, with Brucella melitensis being the primary cause. It is still one of the most prevalent zoonotic illnesses in the world. The CDC has categorized the bacterial pathogen as a category (B) disease, meaning that it possesses the potential to evolve into a bioweapon. It is thought that the most prevalent infections obtained in laboratories are Brucella species. The emergence or reappearance of new foci causes brucellosis to constantly shift in geographic distribution. Animals and humans are affected by the disease everywhere, with the exception of nations where bovine brucellosis has been completely eradicated. Due to brucellosis, there are significant economic losses incurred globally in both animal production and human health. All of the region's countries have recorded cases of leishmaniasis, hepatitis A virus (HAV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Dengue fever, H5N1, Chikungunya, and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have all been spreading geographically and in quantity as well as in frequency. Public health is still concerned about Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which was first discovered in this area in 2012. In certain of the countries, poliomyelitis, leishmaniasis, cholera, and diphtheria control are difficult to maintain. Furthermore, just a few of the region's nations are home to Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF). Furthermore, not much is known about the actual state of tularemia, Q fever, and the plague. In conclusion, EIDs and RIDs are widespread in the majority of the region's nations and may continue to spread there. Enhancing regional capacities and capabilities is essential for both preventing disease outbreaks and providing sufficient resources and expertise to contain them. Keywords: MERS-CoV, CCHF, Zoonosis, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Eastern Mediterranean Region Copyright © 2022 Kerman University of Medical Sciences is the publisher of the author or authors. The Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows for unlimited use, distribution, and reproduction in any format as long as the original work is properly attributed, governs the dissemination of this open-access article. Key Words: AIDS, West Nile fever, and Legionnaires’ diseaseZoonosis, MERS-CoV, CCHF, neglected tropical diseases, emerging infectious diseases, and the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Interactive learning spaces: the challenges and prospects of internationalizing medical education / Espacios de aprendizaje interactivo: dificultades y perspectivas de la internacionalización de la educación médica

The research aims to develop the structure of a streaming platform for conducting webinars for medical students studying at universities in China and abroad. The paper’s authors developed the plan and structure of the ChinaInterMed website with video materials and conducted a survey involving 17 rectors of universities in Beijing. Because of the survey, the authors determined that there were topics on international health systems in the curricula of the medical faculties of all 17 universities under study, courses in English in 10 universities (70.6%), topics on tropical diseases in 16 universities (94.1%) and seminars and practical classes with patients from different cultures in eight universities (47.1%). The results of the study will facilitate the use and integration of ICT in educational institutions, teaching medical students from an international point of view, raising general awareness of international communication, promoting equality in education, creating an effective institutional mechanism for internationalization, increasing the global competence of students, developing seminars, symposiums and workshops, and bringing international aspects to teaching and research work.

Advancing inclusive research (AIR) in Africa: Strengthening healthcare systems to enhance access on the continent through the Africa AIR site alliance model.

e13778 Background: While Africa makes up 17% of the total world population, it has 24% of the global disease burden. Furthermore, although Africa is rich in genomic diversity, Africans make up &lt;4% of the patients in global pharma studies and 1% of the global genomic database. In 2020 there were only 63 African patients in Roche global clinical trials. The Africa AIR Site Alliance model was undertaken to address the growing importance of interventional clinical trials with advanced diagnostics and therapies in Africa, as well as the lack of representation of the African population in global datasets, which contribute to continued health disparities, poor outcomes and existing inequities. Methods: In countries with a legal research framework, no clinical trial holds and who have conducted at least 1 Roche clinical trial during the last 5 years potential Centers of Excellence for the Africa AIR Site Alliance were identified. For patients, sites had invoiceable services to ensure they were supported and could potentially include education about clinical trial participation, reasonable travel and accommodation, or covering the cost of missed work or childcare. Sites participated in training on how to conduct clinical trials, including opportunities to share best practices across sites. Results: Four pilot countries were selected and had Centers of Excellence identified to work as partners with Roche for global clinical trials: Morocco (Marrakech University Hospital Center), Nigeria (University College Hospital Ibadan), Kenya (University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases) and South Africa (Limpopo Cancer Research Institute). After entering the Africa AIR Site Alliance, sites reported consistent application of standard operating procedures and manuals, trained and empowered staff, increased organization and appropriate patient support, plus knowledge and experience with industry trials. Sites are successfully participating in an increased number of global clinical trials in various therapeutic areas with 23 patients enrolled at the Africa AIR Site Alliance sites in oncology and ophthalmology studies. Conclusions: The Africa AIR Site Alliance model is a groundbreaking initiative that has the potential to revolutionize clinical research in Africa with a positive long-term impact on the African healthcare ecosystem and clinical care delivery. Limited diversity and representation in genomic, safety and efficacy data have hampered scientific and medical progress on the continent. The Africa AIR Site Alliance provides critical support, knowledge and skills for conducting clinical trials and assists in removing barriers for underrepresented patients to participate in these trials. Future work will focus on expanding to additional countries in Africa and creating a robust network of Centers of Excellence for innovative research.

Urinary Schistosomiasis Among School-age Children in Selected Local Government Areas in Ogun State, Nigeria

Schistosomiasis is the most common parasitic disease in the world caused by digenetic blood trematode worms of the family Schistosomatidae. It is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases and the second most important human parasitic disease in the world, after malaria. Over 700 million people worldwide are at risk of infection, most of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. While, children are especially vulnerable to the disease, Ogun State was rated as the most endemic state for schistosomiasis infection in Nigeria. Therefore, the epidemiology of Urinary Schistosomiasis among School-age children in Ogun State was conducted in this study. Midday urine samples were collected from 1,812 school-age children from ten selected Local Government Areas in Ogun State and were examined for the presence of haematuria (blood in urine) and Schistosoma haematobium ova. Out of the 1812 school-children examined, 92 (5.1%) tested positive for haematuria and 455 (25.1%) also tested positive for the presence of Schistosome ova. The highest infection prevalence rate (12.9%) was among female students infected with the parasite. The age group 10-12years had the highest rate of infection (12.2%), while the group 4-6 years had the lowest (1.3%) in the study areas. Therefore, urinary schistosomiasis is a major disease of major public health concern in Ogun State that requires prompt attention from relevant government and non-governmental agencies.