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Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Volume 9, Issue 8

2024 August - 23 articles

Cover Story: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) causes disfiguring and disabling lymphoedema, leading to mental distress and requiring lifelong self-care. This study uses syndemic theory to explore the biosocial relationship between LF and mental distress in Malawi. Through 21 life-history interviews and key informant interviews with staff from the LF program implemented by the Ministry of Health, we examine the experiences of those affected by LF and the impact of enhanced self-care (ESC) on disrupting this syndemic. Our findings indicate that prior to ESC training, the lack of referral pathways, healthcare inequalities, limited LF knowledge, stigma, and social exclusion—shaped by gender, poverty, and extreme climate conditions—intensified mental distress. Addressing this syndemic through person-centred interventions is crucial for effective and equitable LF care. View this paper
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Articles (23)

  • Review
  • Open Access
4 Citations
2,702 Views
18 Pages

Using a Syndemics Perspective to (Re)Conceptualize Vulnerability during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

  • Yisel Hernandez Barrios,
  • Dennis Perez Chacon,
  • Yosiel Molina Gomez,
  • Charlotte Gryseels,
  • Kristien Verdonck,
  • Koen Peeters Grietens and
  • Claudia Nieto-Sanchez

Syndemics theory has been applied to study interactions between biomedical and social factors leading to the clustering of diseases. Because syndemics theory focuses on interactions that enhance risk, the concept of vulnerability is central to this a...

  • Study Protocol
  • Open Access
3 Citations
3,188 Views
16 Pages

A Generalizable Prioritization Protocol for Climate-Sensitive Zoonotic Diseases

  • Adam C. Castonguay,
  • Sukanta Chowdhury,
  • Ireen Sultana Shanta,
  • Bente Schrijver,
  • Remco Schrijver,
  • Shiyong Wang and
  • Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães

Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases pose a significant threat to global health and economic security. This threat is further aggravated by amplifying drivers of change, including climate hazards and landscape alterations induced by climate cha...

  • Case Report
  • Open Access
3 Citations
2,910 Views
8 Pages

Concomitant Parenchymal, Subarachnoid, and Ventricular Neurocysticercosis in Rome, Italy: A Case Report with a 4-Year Follow-Up

  • Maria Letizia Giancola,
  • Shalom Haggiag,
  • Angela Corpolongo,
  • Alessandro Stasolla,
  • Andrea Mariano,
  • Agazio Menniti,
  • Paolo Campioni,
  • Barbara Bartolini,
  • Pierluigi Galizia and
  • Emanuele Nicastri
  • + 6 authors

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. This parasitic disease is endemic in many areas of the world and is emerging in Europe. NCC can affect different brain regions, but simultaneous involvement of the parenchymal,...

  • Case Report
  • Open Access
1 Citations
3,555 Views
7 Pages

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is an infectious disease caused by Bartonella henselae, presenting with fever and lymphadenopathy following contact with felines. The ocular manifestations include neuroretinitis, characterised by optic nerve swelling and a...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1 Citations
7,566 Views
22 Pages

Best Practices in the Management of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Developing Nations

  • Rafael Mendo-Lopez,
  • Carolyn D. Alonso and
  • Javier A. Villafuerte-Gálvez

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a well-known cause of hospital-acquired infectious diarrhea in developed countries, though it has not been a top priority in the healthcare policies of developing countries. In the last decade, several stud...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2 Citations
2,736 Views
21 Pages

Repurposing Insecticides for Mosquito Control: Evaluating Spiromesifen, a Lipid Synthesis Inhibitor against Aedes aegypti (L.)

  • Daniela Cerda-Apresa,
  • Selene M. Gutierrez-Rodriguez,
  • Jesus A. Davila-Barboza,
  • Beatriz Lopez-Monroy,
  • Iram P. Rodriguez-Sanchez,
  • Karla L. Saavedra-Rodriguez and
  • Adriana E. Flores

The growing resistance of Aedes aegypti (L.) to conventional insecticides presents a major challenge in arbovirus control, necessitating the exploration of alternative insecticidal chemistries. Spiromesifen, derived from spirocyclic tetronic acids, i...

  • Article
  • Open Access
6 Citations
3,049 Views
24 Pages

‘The Lost Peace’: Evidencing the Syndemic Relationship between Neglected Tropical Diseases and Mental Distress in Liberia

  • Rosalind McCollum,
  • Carrie Barrett,
  • Georgina Zawolo,
  • Rachel Johnstone,
  • Tiawanlyn G. Godwin-Akpan,
  • Hannah Berrian,
  • Shahreen Chowdhury,
  • Jerry Kollie,
  • Karsor Kollie and
  • Laura Dean
  • + 10 authors

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of chronic infectious diseases of poverty affecting over one billion people globally. Intersections of NTDs, disability, and mental ill-health are increasingly evidenced but are rarely studied from a mix...

  • Article
  • Open Access
3 Citations
1,601 Views
9 Pages

Global Dynamics of Gastrointestinal Colonisations and Antimicrobial Resistance: Insights from International Travellers to Low- and Middle-Income Countries

  • Laura Seijas-Pereda,
  • David Carmena,
  • Carlos Rescalvo-Casas,
  • Marcos Hernando-Gozalo,
  • Laura Prieto-Pérez,
  • Juan Cuadros-González and
  • Ramón Pérez-Tanoira

Gastrointestinal microorganism resistance and dissemination are increasing, partly due to international travel. This study investigated gastrointestinal colonisations and the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes among international tra...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2 Citations
2,543 Views
13 Pages

Determinants of health-seeking behavior among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are important. This study aims to develop and assess the content validity of an instrument that measures health-seeking behavior for tuberculosis among PLHIV in India. An in...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
2,309 Views
11 Pages

Klebsiella variicola is an opportunistic pathogen often misidentified as Klebsiella pneumoniae, leading to misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatment in clinical settings. The genetic and molecular characteristics of clinically isolated K. variicola re...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
3,259 Views
13 Pages

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Hematophagous Bat-Mediated Rabies Outbreaks in Remote Amazon Communities: Lessons from a Pilot for Public Health Policy

  • Felipe Rocha,
  • Alexander Vargas,
  • Elke Maria Nogueira de Abreu,
  • Julio Cesar Augusto Pompei,
  • Marco Antonio Natal Vigilato,
  • Daniel Magalhães Lima,
  • Raphael Schneider Vianna,
  • Ottorino Cosivi,
  • Sergio E. Recuenco and
  • Marcelo Yoshito Wada
  • + 11 authors

In 2018, an outbreak of human rabies caused by the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus hit the Brazilian Amazon Basin community of Melgaço, Brazil, resulting in the death of 10 people, 9 of them children. The incidence of rabies has been on th...

  • Review
  • Open Access
7 Citations
8,521 Views
19 Pages

Lassa Fever: Critical Review and Prospects for Control

  • Marianne E. Besson,
  • Michel Pépin and
  • Pierre-Alexandre Metral

Lassa Fever is a deadly viral haemorrhagic disease, causing annually several hundreds of deaths in West Africa. This zoonotic disease is primarily transmitted to humans by rodents of the genus Mastomys, even though other rodents reportedly carry the...

  • Review
  • Open Access
2 Citations
3,171 Views
10 Pages

Insights into the State of the Art of Urogenital Schistosomiasis with a Focus on Infertility

  • Rafaella P. Marques,
  • Waqas Ahmad,
  • Raquel Soares,
  • Katia C. Oliveira and
  • Monica C. Botelho

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects developing countries worldwide and is caused by several species of parasites from the Schistosoma genus. Chronic infection is characterized by the formation of granulomas around the parasit...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2,429 Views
14 Pages

An Overview of the Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Six French-Speaking African Countries from 2018 to 2022

  • Gisèle Badoum,
  • Abdoul R. Ouédraogo,
  • Attannon A. Fiogbé,
  • Albert Kuate Kuate,
  • Alphazazi Soumana,
  • Yacine Mar Diop,
  • Mohammed F. Dogo,
  • Olivia B. Mbitikon,
  • Adjima Combary and
  • Kobto G. Koura
  • + 5 authors

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. The prevalence and management of DR-TB in African countries require comprehensive strategies to improve patient outcomes and c...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1 Citations
1,986 Views
12 Pages

Echinococcosis, one of the most serious and life-threatening parasitic forms of zoonosis worldwide, is caused by the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis). Various drugs are being applie...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2 Citations
1,811 Views
13 Pages

Reduced Gut Bacterial Diversity in Early Life Predicts Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Neonates

  • Maria Di Chiara,
  • Alessandro Lazzaro,
  • Daniela Scribano,
  • Maria Trancassini,
  • Valeria Pietropaolo,
  • Michele Sonnessa,
  • Chiara De Luca,
  • Rita Prota,
  • Elisa Onestà and
  • Gianluca Terrin
  • + 1 author

Microbiota plays a crucial role in intestinal maturation in preterm newborns. The clinical manifestation of the immaturity of the gastro-intestinal tract is called feeding intolerance (FI). This condition may resolve spontaneously or dramatically evo...

  • Article
  • Open Access
3 Citations
1,927 Views
9 Pages

Household Location (Urban, Peri-Urban and Rural Settlements) as an Associated Risk Factor for Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy in Southeastern Brazil

  • Maria Linda Ferreira Lima,
  • Ana Maria Anthônia Ferreira Lima Simão de Sousa,
  • Lucimara Lopes Marques,
  • Isabella Braghin Ferreira,
  • Rogério Giuffrida,
  • Louise Bach Kmetiuk,
  • Alexander Welker Biondo and
  • Vamilton Alvares Santarém

Background: Brazil has a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. However, there is a gap in comparing seroprevalence for Toxoplasma gondii across different environments, particularly among pregnant residents of rural and urban areas. Methods: The prevalenc...

  • Article
  • Open Access
6 Citations
2,929 Views
23 Pages

Addressing the Syndemic Relationship between Lymphatic Filariasis and Mental Distress in Malawi: The Potential of Enhanced Self-Care

  • Carrie Barrett,
  • John Chiphwanya,
  • Dorothy E. Matipula,
  • Janet Douglass,
  • Louise A. Kelly-Hope and
  • Laura Dean

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) causes disfiguring and disabling lymphoedema, which can lead to mental distress and requires life-long self-care treatment. This study applies syndemic theory to understand the biosocial relationship between LF and mental di...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
2,301 Views
10 Pages

Presence of Intestinal Parasites in Patients with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Masaya (Nicaragua)

  • Carla Muñoz-Antoli,
  • Aleyda Pavón,
  • Jacklyn Comas,
  • Rafael Toledo and
  • José Guillermo Esteban

Aims: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Masaya (Nicaragua) to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasite (IP) infections in patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and to determine the associations between the types of NCDs and pati...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
2,030 Views
11 Pages

This study assessed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, knowledge, and attitudes in a sample of 1389 men who have sex with men (MSM). Using a self-report survey, we measured PrEP knowledge mean scores, attitudes toward PrEP, and awareness rate...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
1,714 Views
13 Pages

Human Defensin 5 Inhibits Plasmodium yoelii Development in Anopheles stephensi by Promoting Innate Immune Response

  • Tingting Liu,
  • Jing Wang,
  • Xin Li,
  • Shasha Yu,
  • Dan Zheng,
  • Zhilong Liu,
  • Xuesen Yang and
  • Ying Wang

Malaria poses a serious threat to human health. Existing vector-based interventions have shortcomings, such as environmental pollution, strong resistance to chemical insecticides, and the slow effects of biological insecticides. Therefore, the need t...

  • Article
  • Open Access
4 Citations
3,379 Views
13 Pages

Molecular Characterization of Leptospira Species among Patients with Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness from the Municipality of Villeta, Colombia

  • Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos,
  • J. Manuel Matiz-González,
  • Juliana Gil-Mora,
  • Heidy-C. Martínez Díaz,
  • Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez,
  • Claudia Cuervo,
  • Peter C. Melby,
  • Patricia V. Aguilar,
  • Miguel M. Cabada and
  • Marylin Hidalgo
  • + 1 author

Leptospira is a bacterial genus that includes several pathogenic species related to leptospirosis. In Colombia, leptospirosis is a mandatorily reported disease, widely distributed across the country. In the Villeta municipality, leptospirosis has bee...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2,390 Views
12 Pages

Using a Knowledge and Awareness Survey to Engage and Inform a Community-Based Tuberculosis Intervention among Nomads in Adamawa State, Nigeria

  • Stephen John,
  • Suraj Abdulkarim,
  • Thandi Katlholo,
  • Caoimhe Smyth,
  • Hunpiya Basason,
  • Md. Toufiq Rahman and
  • Jacob Creswell

Background: Nomadic populations are frequently isolated and vulnerable to diseases including tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to limited access to health-related information and services, poverty, and social exclusion. We...

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Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. - ISSN 2414-6366