Search Results (853)

Following World Health Organization (WHO) validation of lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination as a public health problem, countries are required to implement post-validation surveillance (PVS) to detect potential resurgence and ensure sustained elimination. WHO’s guidelines released in 2025 recommend implementation of at least two of four PVS strategies—targeted surveys, integration into standardised surveys, health facility-based screening, and molecular xenomonitoring (MX) of mosquitoes. This review synthesised global evidence on PVS activities from 2007 to 2025 in the 23 countries and territories validated as having eliminated LF. Studies were identified through PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and the WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS). Data on publication information, surveillance strategies, priority populations, and operational challenges and enablers were extracted. Narrative synthesis using deductive content analysis was applied. Thirty documents from 17 countries were included. Targeted surveillance and integration of PVS with other health programmes were the most common approaches noted (reported in ten and nine countries, respectively), followed by MX (seven countries) and health facility-based screening (four countries). Surveillance often focused on migrants and previous hotspots, with operational challenges linked to limited funding, workforce, and supply chains. Documents indicated that Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, and South Korea developed sustained PVS through national policies and domestic funding. Findings highlight the need for clear, contextualised guidance to operationalise sustainable PVS in different settings. Full article

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical illness affecting 6–8 million people in Latin America. Reaching scholarly consensus on the host response to T. cruzi infection remains a significant challenge, primarily due to substantial heterogeneity in outcomes driven by both the choice of animal model and the infecting parasite’s discrete typing unit (DTU). This variability complicates the evaluation and comparison of new therapeutic compounds against existing drugs, namely benznidazole and nifurtimox. This study provides a comprehensive, kinetic, multifaceted characterization of the acute infection using the highly virulent T. cruzi Y strain (TcII) in outbred Swiss mice. Here, crucial infection parameters are presented, including the optimal infective dose, the parasitemia dynamics, tissue damage markers, hematological profiles, cytokine production (Th1/Th2/Th17/Th22), and molecular parasite identification in target organs (heart, colon, esophagus, spleen, and liver) across the span of the infection. The novelty of this study lies in the kinetic integration of these parameters within a defined model; rather than presenting isolated data points, we demonstrate how the biochemical, physiological, and clinical signs and immunological responses, with the resulting organ involvement, evolve and interact over time. To complete the report, a necropsy evaluation was performed at the end of the acute, fatal infection, and it is presented here. This study fulfills a long-standing recommendation from diverse drug discovery groups for the creation of a definitive reference model to standardize preclinical testing for anti-Chagasic agents. Full article

Eight Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) have been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. WHO recommends that these countries implement post-validation surveillance (PVS) to ensure resurgence has not occurred. Some PICTs proactively conducted LF PVS even in the absence of specific recommendations or best-practice guidelines at the time of implementation. We aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to implementing LF PVS in PICTs, with a view to informing context-specific strategies and regional guidelines. Key informant interviews were held between March and September 2024 with 15 participants involved in LF and/or neglected tropical disease surveillance. Transcripts were analysed thematically using a generalised deductive approach. A conceptual framework was developed to summarise themes with two main streams of barriers identified. Stream One Barriers included limited awareness of, and guidelines for, PVS requirements and competing national health priorities. Stream Two Barriers included cost, resource, and logistical barriers to conducting PVS. Participants called for clearer, contextually tailored guidelines, improved communication from WHO, and integration within existing systems. This study highlights the urgent need for operational guidance, policy advocacy, and capacity strengthening to ensure sustainable LF PVS in PICTs. Incorporating local context and leveraging existing health structures will be essential to prevent disease resurgence and maintain gains achieved through elimination programmes. Full article

Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease globally and presents particular challenges for countries transitioning from control to elimination. Saudi Arabia represents a unique epidemiological setting, having shifted from historical endemic transmission to very low reported incidence, yet long-term national analyses remain limited. A retrospective longitudinal analysis of national schistosomiasis surveillance data from 2002 to 2024 was conducted to evaluate temporal trends, clinical subtypes, regional distribution, and demographic characteristics. Joinpoint regression was used to identify significant changes in temporal trends, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were applied to forecast national and regional trajectories. National incidence declined markedly from 5.5 per 100,000 in 2002 to 0.12 per 100,000 in 2024, with a notable change around 2010, followed by sustained low-level incidence. Intestinal schistosomiasis accounted for most cases, with increasing concentration among adult non-Saudi males and near-elimination among children. Regionally, cases were confined to a limited number of western and southwestern regions, particularly Ta’if, Al Baha, Jazan, and Madinah. Forecasting analyses indicated continued low-level detection without evidence of national resurgence. These findings demonstrate a transition to an elimination-maintenance phase and highlight the need for sustained surveillance in historically endemic regions and mobile populations. Full article

As Nigeria advances toward the elimination of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), updated endemicity maps are essential for guiding programmatic decisions. A cross-sectional study was conducted to update the STH endemicity maps in ten local government areas (LGAs) of Ondo State from July to August 2024. LGAs were stratified into three categories (C1–C3) based on the history of preventive chemotherapy (PC), with C1 being endemic LGAs with ≥5 effective rounds of PC, C2 being endemic LGAs with <5 effective rounds of PC, and C3 being low-endemicity (STH prevalence <20%; PC not required). A total of 4507 school-aged children (5–14 years) from 151 systematically selected communities (15 per LGA) provided fresh stool samples to assess the prevalence and intensity of STH. Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique. Prevalence of STH was aggregated at the LGA level and compared with World Health Organization thresholds. In the first category (C1), the baseline prevalence was reduced significantly by 60–96%, with specific prevalence in Akoko Southwest (from 28.2% to 0.4%, Risk Ratio (RR): 0.01), Akure North (from 39% to 1.5%, RR = 0.04), Ifedore (from 25% to 2.5%, RR = 0.10), and Ondo East (from 45.2% to 8.2%, RR = 0.18). In the second category (C2), the baseline was reduced significantly by 66–100%, with Akure South (from 29% to 1.2%, RR = 0.04), Ose (from 20% to 2.2%, RR = 0.11), Owo (~100% reduction), and Odigbo (38% to 12.8%, RR = 0.34). In the C3 LGAs, infection was significantly below the baseline threshold, with Akoko Northwest (5.2% to 0.9%, RR = 0.17) and Idanre (from 14.2% to 1.8%, RR = 0.13). Overall, significant reductions in STH prevalence were observed across the surveyed LGAs, with risk ratios ranging from 0.04 to 0.40. These findings updated the endemicity map for the ten LGAs in Ondo State, demonstrating significant progress toward STH elimination following PC implementation. Full article

Rabies is a neglected tropical zoonotic disease caused by rabies-virus (RV) infection and is responsible for almost 60,000 annual deaths globally, largely affecting the socio-economically disadvantaged population. Although fatality is preventable by immunization either before or after exposure with therapeutic antibodies, the high cost of prophylaxis or treatment limits their accessibility for the affected population. However, due to the almost 100% fatality rate in symptomatic individuals, almost 29 million annual vaccinations are performed, imposing high financial burden. Human transmission occurs principally through bites from infected dogs and although multiple mammalian species are permissive to RV, transmission from them or from symptomatic humans is rare. To overcome the limitations posed by the requirement of biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) containment for live virus culture, we established a replication-deficient vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudovirus expressing the Rabies-G (RV-G) protein and a multiplexed Luminex immunoassay for quantifying anti-rabies antibodies in equine sera. The purified pseudovirus exhibited robust luciferase activity and was able to infect multiple mammalian cell lines, although with variable efficiency. Using hyper-immunized equine serum, we observed a strong correlation (ρ > 0.9, p < 0.001) between binding antibody titers measured by the Luminex assay with neutralizing antibody titers determined using the pseudovirus-based neutralization assay. These assays provide a safe, quantitative, and BSL-2-compatible platform for rabies serological evaluation and vaccine testing. Full article

Background/objectives: Metabolomics has emerged as a powerful systems-biology tool for deciphering dynamic metabolic alterations occurring during infectious diseases and following vaccination. While genomics and proteomics provide extensive molecular and regulatory information, metabolomics uniquely reflects the biochemical phenotype associated with infection, immune activation, and immunometabolic reprogramming. The objective of this review is to provide an integrated analysis of metabolomics applications across both neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and non-NTD pathogens, highlighting its dual role in biomarker discovery and vaccine response evaluation. Methods: A comprehensive literature-based synthesis was conducted to examine metabolomic studies in infectious diseases and vaccinology. Metabolic perturbations associated with specific pathogens, as well as vaccine-induced metabolic changes and correlates of immune responses, were systematically analyzed and compared across NTD and non-NTD contexts. Results: Distinct pathogen- and vaccine-associated metabolic signatures were identified, reflecting alterations in glycolysis, amino acid metabolism, lipid remodeling, and immunoregulatory pathways. Comparative analysis revealed both shared and disease-specific metabolic biomarkers across NTDs and non-NTD infections. Importantly, vaccine-related metabolic correlates were shown to mirror immune activation states and, in some cases, predict immunogenicity and response durability. Conclusions: This review bridges metabolomics research in infectious disease pathogenesis and vaccine immunology across the NTD and non-NTD spectrum. By integrating these domains, it introduces the concept of “metabolic immuno-signatures” as predictive and translational tools for evaluating vaccine efficacy and immune response outcomes. Full article

Human schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by six Schistosoma species, the most widespread of which is S. mansoni. Despite its high prevalence in Africa, molecular data on the parasite remain scarce in many regions, including the Republic of Guinea. This study presents the first molecular characterization of S. mansoni from naturally infected Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails in Guinea. Eight cox1 and four nd5 mitochondrial gene fragments, 353–425 bp and 259–271 bp in length, respectively, were sequenced. A new cox1 haplotype of S. mansoni was identified in this study. High genetic diversity was observed in our samples for both cox1 (Hd = 0.75) and nd5 (Hd = 0.84). Phylogeographic analysis revealed that the dominant Guinean cox1 haplotypes are shared with other West African populations, and that one haplotype is globally dispersed, linking West Africa to South America and the Middle East. Phylogenetic reconstructions confirmed the divergence between West and Southeast African populations and supported the hypothesis of a Southeast African origin for S. mansoni, with a subsequent expansion to West Africa and the New World. These results highlight the importance of expanding molecular surveillance to improve our understanding of the spread and population structure of this human pathogen. Full article

The One Health framework highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, requiring interdisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration to address complex global health challenges. This scoping review protocol aims to guide the systematic mapping on how studies and policy initiatives have incorporated socioecological interconnections within the One Health paradigm, following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and the PRISMA Scr checklist. The experimental design includes searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, Health Systems Evidence, Social Systems Evidence, and Google Scholar for the period from 2004 to 2025. The strategy, developed with librarian support and peer reviewed, includes terms in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Pilot searches retrieved 5333 PubMed and 470 LILACS records. Eligible documents must explicitly present two or more of the six One Health dimensions: policies to strengthen health systems; antimicrobial resistance; food safety; environmental health; emerging and re-emerging zoonotic epidemics and pandemics; endemic zoonotic, neglected tropical and vector-borne diseases. A standardized tool was developed for data extraction, synthesizing in narrative, tabular, and graphical formats. The protocol’s utilization will provide comprehensive mapping of practices and policies, identifying achievements, barriers, and knowledge gaps to inform future strategies and strengthen global health governance. Full article

Trypanosoma cruzi is the protozoan parasite responsible for Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by trypanosomatids. Its success as pathogen relies on remarkable metabolic adaptability, stress tolerance, and complex interactions with mammalian hosts. Among the proteins contributing to these processes, nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) and arginine kinase (AK) have emerged as central enzymes for parasite metabolism. NDPKs, beyond their canonical role in nucleotide homeostasis, are implicated in DNA repair and oxidative stress responses and are also secreted enzymes. AK, on the other hand, serves as a unique energy-buffering system absent in mammals, supporting parasite growth and adaptation to oxidative and metabolic stresses, including modulation of host immunity. Both enzymes display distinct subcellular localizations all along the parasite and through the life cycle, linking them to multiple roles important for parasite biology and survival. Recent studies have highlighted the impact of interfering these enzymes with several compounds on the viability of the organisms, suggesting new avenues to explore them as drug targets. This review provides a general overview of NDPKs and AK in T. cruzi, aiming to underline their relevance to a broader context of trypanosomatids. Their study not only broadens our understanding of parasite biology but also opens perspectives for applied research, including therapeutic alternatives for Chagas and related diseases. Full article

Chagas disease remains a significant neglected tropical disease that predominantly affects vulnerable populations in rural, low-income areas of Latin America. The management of this condition is severely hindered by the limitations of current therapies, which are characterized by substantial toxicity, diminished efficacy during the chronic phase, and the emergence of parasitic resistance. Given the promising activity of SB-83 (a 2-aminothiophenic derivative) against Leishmania spp., the present study sought to evaluate its trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. The results showed that SB-83 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the epimastigote forms of T. cruzi (IC₅₀ = 6.23 ± 0.84 μM), trypomastigotes (EC₅₀ = 7.31 ± 0.52 μM) and intracellular amastigotes (EC₅₀ = 5.12 ± 0.49 μM). Furthermore, the cellular proliferation assay results indicated CC₅₀ values of 77.80 ± 2.05 µM for LLC-MK2 CCL-7 and 24.21 ± 1.2 µM for Vero CCL-87, with a selectivity index above 10 for LLC-MK2 cells. In addition, the compound increased TNF-α, IL-12, nitric oxide, and ROS while decreasing IL-10. Moreover, in silico and in vitro assays confirmed its binding to trypanothione reductase, disrupting redox balance. Flow cytometry further revealed apoptosis induction in trypomastigotes, whereas electron microscopy showed cellular disruption and organelle disorganization. Therefore, SB-83 demonstrated potent activity against the TcI-resistant strain linked to Chagas cardiomyopathy at non-toxic concentrations for host cells, supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate. Full article

The accurate determination and quantification of praziquantel are essential for optimizing its therapeutic effectiveness in treating schistosomiasis and neurocysticercosis, two significantly neglected tropical diseases. Its challenging physicochemical profile, extensive metabolism, and stereochemical complexity requires robust analytical methods for reliable quantification in clinical, veterinary, and pharmaceutical samples. This review provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of analytical strategies used for PZQ determination, spanning fluorometric and radiometric assays, HPLC–UV, LC–MS, LC–MS/MS, and enantioselective chromatographic approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on the evolution toward highly sensitive LC–MS/MS methods and their alignment with contemporary regulatory expectations, including ICH M10 requirements. These advancements have significantly improved sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, which are crucial for pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and bioequivalence studies. Enantioselective methods for distinguishing PZQ enantiomers and metabolites are discussed. The aim of these innovations is to increase praziquantel bioavailability, improve patient adherence, and support its continued use in mass drug administration programs. Finally, the review highlights implementation challenges in resource-limited settings and proposes analytical models to expand global bioanalytical capacity. Together, these insights provide a structured foundation for selecting and developing high-quality, regulatory-compliant analytical methods for PZQ. Full article

Bacterial cellulose hydrogels (BCHs) are characterized as exopolysaccharides of glucose polymers consisting of β–1–4–glycosidic linkage with various degrees of polymerization which are synthesized by bacteria. There is a paucity of information on the isolation and characterization of a BCH producer isolate from Nigeria. The study, therefore, aimed to characterize a new Acetobacter species that had previously been confirmed to produce BCH. The BCH-producing isolate was characterized by PCR amplification of the full-length 16S rRNA gene, as well as whole-genome sequencing analysis. The whole-genome sequence of the isolate was determined using the Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform, with downstream analysis of genomic reads through the metaWRAP pipeline. The BCH producer isolate was identified to be Acetobacter orientalis strain Zaria-B1, based on sequence identity with the reference Acetobacter orientalis strain VVS. Based on its annotated genome, the isolate had an approximate genomic size of 3.1 Mbp, 45 total RNAs, a GC content of 52.5%, 3046 total protein-encoding genes, an N50 of 253,774 bp, and an L50 of 4, as well as 30 contigs. The nucleotide BLAST of the cellulose synthase gene sequence confirmed the bin to be Acetobacter orientalis. The whole-genome characterization alongside the 16S rRNA genotyping confirmed the BCH-producing isolate to be Acetobacter orientalis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a major neglected tropical disease with limited therapeutic options restricted to benznidazole and nifurtimox, both associated with significant toxicity and reduced efficacy during chronic infection. Seeking novel, safe, and sustainable chemotherapeutic candidates, two new saturated cardanol-derived phospholipid analogs—LDT10 and LDT119—were rationally designed based on the molecular scaffold of miltefosine and biosourced from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds in silico and assess their antiparasitic activity, cytotoxicity, and morphological and ultrastructural effects on all developmental forms of T. cruzi in vitro. Materials and Methods: In silico ADMET predictions (SwissADME, pkCSM) were performed to determine bioavailability, pharmacokinetic behavior, CYP inhibition, mutagenicity, and hepatotoxicity. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated in epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and intracellular amastigotes using dose–response assays and flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was assessed in HEPG2 and HFF-1 cells using resazurin-based viability assays. Morphological and ultrastructural alterations were investigated through scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was quantified with H₂DCFDA after 4 h and 24 h of exposure. Results: In silico analyses indicated favorable drug-like profiles, high intestinal absorption (>89%), absence of mutagenicity or hepatotoxicity, and non-penetration of the blood–brain barrier. LDT10 was not a P-gp substrate, and LDT119 acted as a P-gp inhibitor, suggesting reduced efflux and higher intracellular retention. Both compounds inhibited epimastigote proliferation with low IC₅₀ values (LDT10: 0.81 µM; LDT119: 1.2 µM at 48 h) and reduced trypomastigote viability (LD₅₀ LDT10: 2.1 ± 2 µM; LDT119: 1.8 ± 0.8 µM). Intracellular amastigotes were highly susceptible (IC₅₀ LDT10: 0.48 µM; LDT119: 0.3 µM at 72 h), with >90% inhibition at higher concentrations. No cytotoxicity was observed in mammalian cells up to 20 µM. SEM revealed membrane wrinkling, pore-like depressions, rounded cell bodies, and multiple flagella, indicating cell division defects. TEM showed Golgi disorganization, autophagic vacuoles, mitochondrial vesiculation, and abnormal kinetoplast replication, while host cells remained structurally preserved. Both compounds induced significant ROS production in trypomastigotes after 24 h in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: LDT10 and LDT119 exhibited potent and selective in vitro activity against all developmental stages of T. cruzi, with low micromolar to submicromolar IC₅₀/LD₅₀ values, minimal mammalian cytotoxicity, and extensive morphological and ultrastructural damage consistent with disruption of phospholipid biosynthesis pathways. Combined with favorable in silico pharmacokinetic predictions, these CNSL-derived phospholipid analogs represent promising candidates for future Chagas disease chemotherapy and warrant further in vivo evaluation. Full article

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect the world’s most marginalised populations, yet programmes aiming to control and eliminate NTDs often fail to fully address the structural, social, and political dimensions of exclusion. This narrative review examines the concept of inclusion within NTD programming, with a particular focus on intersecting forms of marginalisation, including poverty, gender, disability, and displacement. Drawing on studies from 2010 to 2025, from various databases such as google scholar, PubMed and PLOS, this review synthesises evidence on barriers to equitable healthcare access, the role of community-driven approaches, and the integration of inclusive strategies within NTD programming and broader health systems. Key themes include the impact of structural inequalities such as racism and poverty, the need for gender-responsive services, the marginalisation of displaced communities, and the critical role of community empowerment through mechanisms like peer support and community drug distribution of NTD medicines. The review proposes a working definition of inclusion in NTDs as the intentional integration of underserved groups into all levels of programming, policy, and service delivery. It highlights the urgency of reframing NTDs not just as biomedical challenges but as deeply embedded social justice issues. By embedding inclusion into programme design, implementation, and evaluation, stakeholders can better align NTD responses with global equity goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. Full article