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TropicalMed
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New Strategies for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Risk Assessment of...
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New Strategies for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Risk Assessment of Parasitic Disease

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 4722

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Genil Camelo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Interests: schistosomiasis; leishmaniasis; parasitic diseases; immune response; coinfections
Dr. Déborah Aparecida Negrão-Corrêa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Interests: schistosomiasis; strongyloidiasis; immune response induced by helminthic infections; immunomodulatory effect of helminths; diagnosis
Dr. Guilherme Silva Miranda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão, São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, Brazil
Interests: helminthology; schistosomiasis; parasitic diseases; immune response

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Parasitic diseases affect over a billion people worldwide, particularly in the poorest regions, where access to housing, healthcare and sanitation is most limited. These diseases can be transmitted via vectors or contaminating soil, water, and food. Parasitic diseases induce high mortality and morbidity, particularly in cases without proper diagnosis and treatment. In addition, some parasites can infect both humans and other animals, making it harder to control transmission. Therefore, all these aspects constitute risk factors associated with parasitic diseases and interfere with control measures.

Despite the World Health Organization's efforts to control parasitic diseases globally, significant challenges stand in the way of eliminating such diseases as a public health problem. Among them, it is important to mention the existence of drug-resistant parasites, a shortage of accurate epidemiological data on the transmission of parasitic diseases, a lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for many parasitic infections, the need for new antiparasitic drugs, limited non-invasive biomarkers to measure disease severity, and, in some cases, the involvement of wild and livestock parasite reservoirs.

On this account, this Special Issue aims to gather a collection of high-quality scientific articles that present innovative approaches to address these aspects of host–parasite interactions. The submission of original basic research articles and reviews is encouraged.

Dr. Genil Camelo
Dr. Déborah Aparecida Negrão-Corrêa
Dr. Guilherme Silva Miranda
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ethnopharmacology
  • epidemiological survey
  • drug repositioning
  • wild reservoirs
  • risk factors
  • host–parasite interactions
  • biomarkers
  • drug targets
  • immune response
  • one health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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20 pages, 9854 KB  
Article
In Vitro and Ultrastructural Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Antileishmanial Activities of Thiosemicarbazone Compounds Against Promastigotes and Axenic Amastigotes of Leishmania infantum
by Janderson Weydson Lopes Menezes da Silva, Andréa Regina Alves da Rocha Diniz, Alberon Ribeiro de Araújo, Gabriel Gazzoni Araújo Gonçalves, Dyana Leal Veras, Marton Kaique de Andrade Cavalcante, Jana Messias Sandes, Iranildo José da Cruz Filho, Diego Santa Clara Marques, Maria do Carmo Alves de Lima, Ana Paula Sampaio Feitosa, Luiz Carlos Alves and Fábio André Brayner
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(11), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10110325 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 918
Abstract
Leishmaniasis remains a global health challenge, and the search for effective and selective therapeutic agents is crucial. This study evaluated the in vitro antileishmanial and cytotoxic activities of thiosemicarbazone compounds (LT-70, LT-73, LT-75, and LT-89) against Leishmania infantum promastigote and axenic amastigote forms. [...] Read more.
Leishmaniasis remains a global health challenge, and the search for effective and selective therapeutic agents is crucial. This study evaluated the in vitro antileishmanial and cytotoxic activities of thiosemicarbazone compounds (LT-70, LT-73, LT-75, and LT-89) against Leishmania infantum promastigote and axenic amastigote forms. The compounds demonstrated strong leishmanicidal activity, with IC50 values ranging from 10.5 to 14 µM. At the lowest tested concentration (20 µM) the compounds produced percent inhibitions of 100% (LT-70), 100% (LT-73), 100% (LT-75) and 100% (LT-89). Cytotoxicity assays on J774.A1 macrophages revealed CC50 values from 60 µM to >75 µM, with LT-73 and LT-75 showing low toxicity (CC50 > 75µM). Selectivity index (SI) ranged from 7.1 for LT-75 and 5.8 for LT-73, indicating potential for further development. Ultrastructural analysis by SEM and TEM revealed cellular and organelle damage, including membrane rupture and mitochondrial swelling, especially after LT-73 and LT-75 treatment. Immunomodulatory assays indicated induction of TNF-α and IFN-γ production, with significant IL-6 reduction. Flow cytometry data suggest mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis-like features, particularly for LT-73. Membrane potential assays suggested mitochondrial depolarization by LT-73. LT thiosemicarbazone derivatives present specific structural modifications that enhance antileishmanial selectivity and reveal a dual mechanism of action combining mitochondrial dysfunction and immunomodulatory effects. These findings support the potential of thiosemicarbazone derivatives as promising antileishmanial agents with selective cytotoxicity and immunomodulatory effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Strategies for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Risk Assessment of Parasitic Disease)
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8 pages, 219 KB  
Article
Baylisascaris procyonis (Chromadorea Ascarididae): Case Study of the Little-Known Human Health Threat That Is Literally in Your Backyard
by Scott E. Henke
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(6), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10060156 - 2 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3006
Abstract
Baylisascariasis is a debilitating and potentially lethal zoonotic disease caused by a nematode parasite that has a worldwide distribution. Baylisascaris spp. are carried by a variety of mammalian definitive hosts, and their larvae can infect a large diversity of paratenic hosts including birds [...] Read more.
Baylisascariasis is a debilitating and potentially lethal zoonotic disease caused by a nematode parasite that has a worldwide distribution. Baylisascaris spp. are carried by a variety of mammalian definitive hosts, and their larvae can infect a large diversity of paratenic hosts including birds and mammals, and even humans. Herein, the potential exposure risk of this zoonotic parasite is demonstrated through the study of a suburban American community with a population of Baylisascaris procyonis—infected raccoons (Procyon lotor) as a case study for any location with Baylisascaris spp., definitive hosts, and proximity to humans. Soil from 100 properties within neighborhoods of southern Corpus Christi, TX, USA, was surveyed to determine if viable B. procyonis eggs were present. In total, 27% of the residential properties were contaminated. Positive soil samples, on average, contained 31,287 B. procyonis eggs/gram of soil; of these samples, 92% of the B. procyonis eggs had motile larvae. Sites with contaminated soils appeared random within residential properties; frequency of contaminated sites was similar between known raccoon defecation sites and random sites. Suggestions for the reduction in risks of exposure to this potentially debilitating parasite are offered to residents of Baylisascaris-contaminated properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Strategies for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Risk Assessment of Parasitic Disease)

Other

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10 pages, 1409 KB  
Perspective
Tafenoquine: A Breakthrough Option for Babesiosis Treatment
by Dongxue Ma, Mo Zhou, Shinuo Cao, Eloiza May Galon-Bedonia, Zhiqiang Xu, Chenghui Li, Xu Gao, Shujiang Xue and Shengwei Ji
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(5), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11050141 - 19 May 2026
Abstract
Babesiosis is a zoonosis caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. It has a worldwide distribution and affects many kinds of mammals, principally domestic animals and humans. Because there are no safe and effective vaccines available, the treatment and control for [...] Read more.
Babesiosis is a zoonosis caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. It has a worldwide distribution and affects many kinds of mammals, principally domestic animals and humans. Because there are no safe and effective vaccines available, the treatment and control for babesiosis continues to involve the use of chemotherapeutics. For years, only a few drugs have been used for clinical treatment, namely atovaquone plus azithromycin or clindamycin plus quinine for human, and imidocarb dipropionate and diminazene aceturate for domestic animals. Although screening and developing alternative drugs are continuously pursued, only a few drugs have been prospected to have clinical applications. Of these, tafenoquine has shown wide and potent antibabesial activity, offering a new option to control babesiosis. This article aims to present the current clinical therapeutic strategies for babesiosis and their limitations, as well as the prospect of tafenoquine as a promising drug to treat babesiosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Strategies for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Risk Assessment of Parasitic Disease)
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