Microorganisms in Neglected Tropical Diseases

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 331

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, UEMA, Sao Luis, Brazil
Interests: pathology; immunology; tropical disease

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís CEP 65055-310, MA, Brazil
Interests: immunology; pharmacology; pathology; inflammation; immunomodulators; leishmaniasis; tumor; cellular biology; molecular biology; biochemistry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are defined by the World Health Organization as a diverse group of poverty-promoting infectious diseases, caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. These diseases affect over 1 billion individuals globally and are geographically associated with human and animal populations already affected by health and economic disparities, predominantly in tropical regions, especially those in rural and impoverished urban areas of low- and middle-income countries. However, NTDs can also impact specific communities within high-income nations, posing significant challenges to public health with social and economic implications.

A multidisciplinary approach to studying the pathogenic microorganisms responsible for NTDs—comprising viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi—is essential for developing effective monitoring and prevention tools. Rapid response strategies that integrate human, animal, and environmental health research, i.e., a One Health perspective, are vital for reducing the burden of these diseases and safeguarding public health on a global scale.

This Special Issue will disseminate novel insights on interdisciplinary approaches encompassing microorganism-related studies, including ecology, taxonomy, and genetics, as well as disease-related aspects such as the epidemiology, pathology, immunology, and pharmacology of NTD. This Special Issue will provide valuable perspectives on managing Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Dr. Ana Lucia Abreu-Silva
Prof. Dr. Fernando Almeida-Souza
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • malaria
  • Chagas disease
  • dengue, chikungunya
  • zika
  • human African trypanosomiasis
  • leishmaniasis
  • leprosy
  • Hansen disease
  • lymphatic filariasis
  • sporotrichosis
  • rabies
  • schistosomiasis
  • trachoma

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1700 KB  
Article
When Precision Matters: Bone Marrow Cytology Meets qPCR in a Pilot Study Quantifying Leishmania infantum Load in Dogs
by Juliana Costa, Ana Rita Silva, Filipe Sampaio, Ana Patrícia Alves, Hugo Silva, Hugo Lima de Carvalho, Carlos Sousa, Manuel Simões, Cátia Fernandes, Ana Patrícia Lopes, Andreia Garcês, Elsa Leclerc Duarte, Ana Cláudia Coelho, Luís Cardoso and Ricardo Lopes
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092211 - 21 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of canine leishmaniosis (CanL), a zoonotic disease of considerable clinical and epidemiological concern. Quantification of parasite load is valuable for clinical management, particularly in low-parasite-load cases. This pilot study evaluated the correlation between cytological and molecular techniques [...] Read more.
Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of canine leishmaniosis (CanL), a zoonotic disease of considerable clinical and epidemiological concern. Quantification of parasite load is valuable for clinical management, particularly in low-parasite-load cases. This pilot study evaluated the correlation between cytological and molecular techniques in bone marrow samples from dogs clinically affected with leishmaniosis. Amastigotes were quantified by two independent observers using light microscopy, and the same samples were analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) employing Leishmania spp. specific commercial primers. Inter-observer agreement was moderate according to Cohen’s kappa (κ = 0.47) and substantial according to the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.63), respectively, confirming measurement reproducibility. A very strong inverse correlation was found between parasite counts and qPCR cycle threshold (Ct) values (Spearman’s ρ = −0.89; p < 0.001). Furthermore, a robust logarithmic relationship (amastigotes/μL = 10(−0.158 × Ct + 7.61); R2 = 0.99994) was established allowing direct estimation of in vivo parasite concentration from molecular data. These preliminary findings suggest that qPCR can serve as a reliable, semi-quantitative tool, offering higher sensitivity in subclinical infections. The integration of molecular quantification with cytological methods enhances diagnostic accuracy and supports personalised therapeutic decision-making, advancing clinical management of CanL in a One Health context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms in Neglected Tropical Diseases)
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