Women’s Special Issue Series: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 14472

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Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
Interests: medicinal chemistry; small molecules; drug discovery; structure-activity relationships; anti-infective agents; parasitic diseases; chemotherapeutics; synthesis of biologically active compounds
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Female scientists have greatly contributed to the advancement of science in all fields. However, they still face gender inequalities, and women are still underrepresented in leadership positions. To raise awareness of this issue, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is launching a Special Issue titled: “Women’s Special Issue Series: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease”. This Special Issue is intended to provide an overview of some of the latest results and key findings in the field of tropical diseases of global significance as well as neglected tropical diseases. Articles where the lead authors are women, or that are completely authored by women, are encouraged. We welcome submissions from all authors, irrespective of gender.

Prof. Dr. Sandra Gemma
Guest Editor

Women’s Special Issue Series

This Special Issue is part of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease's Women’s Special Issue Series, hosted by women editors for women researchers. The Series advocates the advancement of women in science. We invite contributions to the Special Issue whose lead authors identify as women. The submission of articles with all-women authorship is especially encouraged. However, we do welcome articles from all authors, irrespective of gender.

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Keywords

  • tropical infectious diseases
  • chemotherapy and pharmacology
  • disease prevention, control and elimination

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 603 KiB  
Communication
Intestinal Helminth Infections in Ghanaian Children from the Ashanti Region between 2007 and 2008—A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Real-Time PCR-Based Assessment
by Charity Wiafe Akenten, Felix Weinreich, Ellis Kobina Paintsil, John Amuasi, Dennis Fosu, Ulrike Loderstädt, Jürgen May, Hagen Frickmann and Denise Dekker
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(11), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7110374 - 14 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2802
Abstract
In spite of ongoing eradication programs, helminth infections are still a medical issue in Ghana. For follow-up assessments on the decline of regional helminth infections, historic baseline prevalence values obtained with standardized diagnostic procedures can be helpful. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, real-time [...] Read more.
In spite of ongoing eradication programs, helminth infections are still a medical issue in Ghana. For follow-up assessments on the decline of regional helminth infections, historic baseline prevalence values obtained with standardized diagnostic procedures can be helpful. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, real-time PCR targeting the nematodes Ancylostoma spp. (ITS2), Ascaris lumbricoides (ITS1), Enterobius vermicularis (ITS1), Necator americanus (ITS2), Strongyloides stercoralis (18S rRNA) and Trichuris trichiura (18S rRNA), the trematodes Schistosoma spp. (ITS2) as well as the cestodes Hymenolepis nana (ITS1), Taenia saginata (ITS1) and Taenia solium (ITS1) was applied with 2046 DNA eluates from stool samples of Ghanaian children from the Ashanti region collected between 2007 and 2008 in order to retrospectively define prevalence values. The overall prevalence was low with 3.8% (n = 77) and only 0.1% (n = 2) double infections with helminths were recorded. The three most frequently detected enteric helminth species comprised 2% S. stercoralis (n = 41), 0.8% H. nana (n = 16), and 0.7% N. americanus (n = 14), while only sporadic infection events were recorded for other helminth species comprising 0.1% E. vermicularis (n = 2), 0.1% Schistosoma spp. (n = 2), 0.1% T. saginata (n = 1) and 0.1% T. trichiura (n = 1). A. lumbricoides, Ancylostoma spp. and T. solium were not detected at all. In conclusion, the retrospective assessment suggests a low prevalence of enteric helminth infections in Ghanaian children from the Ashanti Region within the assessment period between 2007 and 2008. Full article
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17 pages, 3158 KiB  
Article
Air Pollution-Related Respiratory Diseases and Associated Environmental Factors in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2011–2020
by Chalita Jainonthee, Ying-Lin Wang, Colin W. K. Chen and Karuna Jainontee
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(11), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7110341 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2888
Abstract
The unfavorable effects of global climate change, which are mostly the result of human activities, have had a particularly negative effect on human health and the planet’s ecosystems. This study attempted to determine the seasonality and association of air pollution, in addition to [...] Read more.
The unfavorable effects of global climate change, which are mostly the result of human activities, have had a particularly negative effect on human health and the planet’s ecosystems. This study attempted to determine the seasonality and association of air pollution, in addition to climate conditions, with two respiratory infections, influenza and pneumonia, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which has been considered the most polluted city on Earth during the hot season. We used a seasonal-trend decomposition procedure based on loess regression (STL) and a seasonal cycle subseries (SCS) plot to determine the seasonality of the two diseases. In addition, multivariable negative binomial regression (NBR) models were used to assess the association between the diseases and environmental variables (temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, PM2.5, and PM10). The data revealed that influenza had a clear seasonal pattern during the cold months of January and February, whereas the incidence of pneumonia showed a weak seasonal pattern. In terms of forecasting, the preceding month’s PM2.5 and temperature (lag1) had a significant association with influenza incidence, while the previous month’s temperature and relative humidity influenced pneumonia. Using air pollutants as an indication of respiratory disease, our models indicated that PM2.5 lag1 was correlated with the incidence of influenza, but not pneumonia. However, there was a linear association between PM10 and both diseases. This research will help in allocating clinical and public health resources in response to potential environmental changes and forecasting the future dynamics of influenza and pneumonia in the region due to air pollution. Full article
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10 pages, 480 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of Common Diseases in Indigenous People in Colombia
by Hannah Bauer, Gustavo Andrés Concha Mendoza, Lothar Kreienbrock, Maria Hartmann, Hagen Frickmann and Simone Kann
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(6), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7060109 - 18 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2266
Abstract
The Indigenous tribe called the Wiwa lives retracted in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Little is known about their health status and whether the health care system in place covers their needs. In 2017 and 2018, a permanent physician was in [...] Read more.
The Indigenous tribe called the Wiwa lives retracted in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Little is known about their health status and whether the health care system in place covers their needs. In 2017 and 2018, a permanent physician was in charge for the Wiwa. Diseases and complaints were registered, ranked, and classified with the ICD-10 coding. Datasets from the Indigenous health care provider Dusakawi, collected from local health points and health brigades travelling sporadically into the fields for short visits, were compared. Furthermore, a list of provided medication was evaluated regarding the recorded needs. The most common complaints found were respiratory, infectious and parasitic, and digestive diseases. The top ten diagnoses collected in the health points and in the health brigade datasets were similar, although with a different ranking. The available medication showed a basic coverage only, with a critical lack of treatment for many severe, chronic, and life-threatening diseases. Most of the detected diseases in the Indigenous population are avoidable by an improvement in health care access, an expansion of the provided medication, and an increase in knowledge, hygiene, and life standards. Full article
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Review

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9 pages, 922 KiB  
Review
Guinea Worm Disease: A Neglected Diseases on the Verge of Eradication
by Carmen Pellegrino, Giulia Patti, Michele Camporeale, Alessandra Belati, Roberta Novara, Roberta Papagni, Luisa Frallonardo, Lucia Diella, Giacomo Guido, Elda De Vita, Valentina Totaro, Francesco Vladimiro Segala, Nicola Veronese, Sergio Cotugno, Davide Fiore Bavaro, Giovanni Putoto, Nazario Bevilacqua, Chiara Castellani, Emanuele Nicastri, Annalisa Saracino and Francesco Di Gennaroadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(11), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7110366 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4989
Abstract
Background: Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease (GWD), is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a parasite (Dracunculus medinensis). In the past, dracunculiasis was known as “the disease of the empty granary” because of the difficulties patients had in [...] Read more.
Background: Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease (GWD), is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a parasite (Dracunculus medinensis). In the past, dracunculiasis was known as “the disease of the empty granary” because of the difficulties patients had in going to work in fields or to school when affected by this disease. In tropical areas, the condition has been widespread in economically disadvantaged communities, and has been associated with reduced economic status and low levels of education. Methods: we searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and WHO websites for literature addressing dracunculiasis published in the last 50 years. Results: by development and optimization of multi-layered control measures, transmission by the vector has been interrupted, but there are foci in several African countries with a high risk of compromising the results obtained in the control of this neglected disease. Conclusion: this review features state-of-the-art data on the infection prevalence, geographical distribution, diagnostics, parasite–host interactions, and the pathology of dracunculiasis. Also described are the current state and future perspectives for vector control and elimination strategies. Full article
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