Current Tropical Medicine Reports

Having emerged during the early part of the Cretaceous period, ticks are an ancient group of hematophagous ectoparasites with significant veterinary and public health importance worldwide. The success of their life strategy can be attributed, in part, to saliva. As we enter into a scientific era where the collection of massive data sets and structures for biological application is possible, we suggest that understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern the life cycle of ticks is within grasp. With this in mind, we discuss what is currently known regarding the manipulation of Toll-like (TLR) and Nod-like (NLR) receptor signaling pathways by tick salivary proteins, and how these molecules impact pathogen transmission.

The purpose is to report and describe four cases of Echinococcus vogeli hydatidosis in Colombia. Four E. vogeli polycystic hydatidosis cases are presented, two males and two females, aged 18 to 68 years old, from four separate forest Colombian regions. The initial diagnosis of the cystic disease was radiologically obtained, and parasite presence was confirmed through study of the histological material. The locations of the cysts were hepatic in three cases and mesenteric in the other. Surgical resection was performed on all four patients, complemented by albendazole in two of them. Review of clinical findings, diagnoses, and treatment for E. vogeli hydatidosis.

To describe the intersectionality of healthcare and economy, and potential solutions to prevent the next peak of COVID-19 in Sudan. Sudan has recently emerged from a 30-year dictatorship to face the COVID-19 pandemic in the midst of the worst economic crisis. Disease control measures that have been used in developed countries have been difficult to implement in Sudan due to economic, social, and structural challenges. There is a need for integration of data into the disease response plan and for community engagement to help with mitigation efforts. Youth-led community organizations were critical in the success of the Sudanese revolution. Their formal involvement in contact tracing and community awareness campaigns can be beneficial. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the surface many of the challenges facing the healthcare system in Sudan. Culturally tailored interventions are needed to prevent the next peak of COVID-19 in the country.

Estimates of Chagas disease (CD) seroprevalence in the Americas vary greatly. We lack an accurate representation of the state of the disease in this region for various reasons including intranational variability in prevalence and a lack of standardized diagnostic approaches. The goal of this review is to generate an estimate of CD burden in the Americas, by performing a systematic review of recent prevalence papers published after major vector control initiatives. Community-based CD screening programs that focus on a third- to fourth-level administrative division basis are more representative of the prevalence of CD in a particular region of a country. We evaluate T. cruzi seroprevalence at a subnational level in the Americas with information published from 2004 to 2018 and discuss the context behind the heavy variation in CD prevalence. We also suggest a solution for standardization of data reporting for future publications.

Trong bài tổng quan này, chúng tôi báo cáo về tình trạng hiểu biết về bệnh Q ở người tại Brazil và trên nền tảng Guiana, một khu vực Amazon nằm ở phía đông bắc Nam Mỹ. Có một sự tương phản giữa Guiana thuộc Pháp, nơi mà tỷ lệ mắc bệnh này cao nhất thế giới, và các quốc gia khác, nơi bệnh này hầu như không tồn tại. Những phát hiện gần đây chủ yếu diễn ra ở Guiana thuộc Pháp, nơi đã xác định được một chủng vi khuẩn độc nhất MST17; có lẽ nó gây bệnh mạnh hơn so với những chủng thường thấy với tính ưu việt rõ rệt về tropism phổi, một nguồn dự trữ động vật bí ẩn, và sự phân bố địa lý cần được xem xét thêm. Bệnh Q là một bệnh truyền nhiễm do vi khuẩn Coxiella burnetii gây ra đã được báo cáo trên toàn cầu. Tại nền tảng Guiana, một khu vực chủ yếu được bao phủ bởi rừng Amazon, bao gồm tiểu bang Bolivar của Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana thuộc Pháp, và tiểu bang Amapá của Brazil, tình hình rất đa dạng. Trong khi Guiana thuộc Pháp là khu vực có tỷ lệ mắc bệnh cao nhất trên thế giới, với một clone duy nhất gây nhiễm (MST 117) và một chu trình dịch tễ học độc nhất, thì bệnh này hầu như không bao giờ được báo cáo ở các quốc gia khác trong khu vực. Sự vắng mặt của các trường hợp này đặt ra nhiều câu hỏi và có thể do sự chẩn đoán thiếu sót nghiêm trọng. Các nghiên cứu nên ước tính toàn diện gánh nặng thực sự của bệnh này trong khu vực.

Chagas disease is a complex zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Endemic to Latin America, the disease has spread also to other continents, mainly Europe, due to population mobility. With this narrative review, we aimed at describing various aspect of Chagas disease with the perspective of the Mediterranean countries. Local epidemiology, control measures, country experiences, and contributions in research are exposed. A significant number of cases of Chagas disease are hosted in the Mediterranean area, mainly in Spain and Italy. Underdiagnosis and prevalence of the disease among groups at risk contribute to a worrisome scenario in this area, but the progressive improvement in access to diagnosis and care and evidences from research activities are giving an important contribution to combat the disease. In the last decades, significant advances in management issues and in the control of Chagas disease have been produced in the Mediterranean countries. Interesting contributions, such as results of some studies, exploring new frontiers in Chagas disease therapy, are interesting points also discussed in this review.

The mosquito-borne virus Chikungunya has been emerging in new parts of the world in the last decade and has resulted in many new infections and increasing the number of people at risk. Infection with Chikungunya results in Chikungunya fever and possibly the development of arthritis induced by the infection. While the responses of the immune system against Chikungunya infection are not yet fully understood, it has been observed that a CD8+ T cell response is important for viral clearance and protection. Evidence suggests that the arthritis-like symptoms are a result of inflammatory responses of the immune system in the joint tissues where the virus replicates. It is not understood why these symptoms sometimes develop into chronic arthralgia, but it is thought that this may be caused by macrophages infiltrating the joint tissue and resulting in a persistent inflammatory state. Data also implies that inflammation in the joints induces bone erions, which also contribute to arthralgias and arthritis. Since the mechanisms behind the Chikungunya infection-induced arthritis are not yet fully understood, additional efforts should be made to fully comprehend them which also may lead to valuable information on how to eradicate the virus.

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Histoplasmosis is typically self-limited and presents asymptomatically in most people. Nevertheless, histoplasmosis can cause severe pulmonary disease and death. Histoplasmosis is increasingly found worldwide; however, it is best documented in the endemic region of the Mississippi river valley system in the Eastern part of the United States (US). Epidemiological studies from the US detailing the morbidity, mortality, and cost associated with histoplasmosis underscore the need to develop a vaccine. This review will detail some of the major developments in potential vaccines against histoplasmosis, with particular emphasis on those that could be used to immunize immunocompromised hosts. Additionally, this review will highlight some non-traditional vaccine-like ideas for the prevention of diverse mycoses. Historically, immunization strategies against histoplasmosis have largely focused on identifying immunogenic proteins that confer protection in animal models. More recently, novel active, therapeutic, and immunomodulatory strategies have been explored as potential alternatives for those with various immune deficiencies. The studies summarized in this review demonstrate that more research is needed to clarify the immunobiology, clinical role, and efficacy of each candidate vaccine in the ever-expanding potential armamentarium against histoplasmosis.