Search Results (16)

Malaria remains a major public health issue, especially near hydroelectric dams that often promote mosquito breeding. This study aimed to establish baseline epidemiological data during the construction of the Singrobo–Ahouaty dam to support assessment and decision-making for short- and long-term health impacts on surrounding communities. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in randomly selected households. Blood samples were analyzed using thick/thin smears and rapid diagnostic tests, while sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected via questionnaires. Statistical analyses included chi-square, Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and logistic regression. The malaria prevalence was 43.1% (394/915). The parasite density averaged 405.7 parasites/µL. School-age children (6–13 years) showed the highest prevalence (74.3%, p < 0.0001), while younger children (0–5 years) had the highest parasite density (1218.0 parasites/µL, p < 0.0001). Highly elevated infection rates (>51%) occurred in Sokrogbo, N’Dènou, and Amani-Menou, with the highest density in Ahérémou 1 (5663.9 parasites/µL). Risk factors included being an informal worker (ORa = 1.5), working in the raw material sector (ORa = 1.4) or market gardening/rice farming (ORa = 0.9; p = 0.043), and frequent mosquito bites (OR = 0.4; p = 0.017). These results underscore the need for stronger vector control strategies, improved bed net distribution and follow-up, and enhanced intersectoral collaboration in dam-influenced areas to reduce malaria transmission. Full article

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a significant tick-borne disease affecting horses, and one of the causative protozoan parasites is Theileria equi, hence the need to understand the prevalence and associated factors influencing it. Considering the population of horses in the study areas, a sample size of 272 horses comprising 171 and 101 horses from Taif and Jeddah was estimated. Thin and thick blood smears were made from the animals’ whole blood for microscopic examination. At the same time, serum samples were prepared and examined for antibodies to antigens using commercial Theileria equi antibody test kit ELISA. The relationships of gender and age with the presence or absence of T. equi parasite infection were determined using the chi-square test. The results revealed no significant association between gender and T. equi prevalence using both microscopic (χ² = 2.748, p = 0.07) and ELISA (χ² = 2.412, p = 0.096) diagnostic methods. In Taif, the microscopic results revealed that 86% of female horses tested negative, while 14% tested positive. In contrast, 75% of male horses tested negative, with 25% testing positive for T. equi. In terms of age groups of horses, a significant association (χ² = 31.966, p = 0.032) between age groups and the prevalence of T. equi in samples from Jeddah using the ELISA method was recorded. Understanding the relationship between the prevalence of T. equi and factors such as gender and age is crucial for developing effective control measures and improving equine health management, especially in Saudi Arabia. Full article

This case report presents a critical clinical scenario involving a 55-year-old patient who developed severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria with renal complications despite receiving doxycycline prophylaxis while traveling in a malaria-endemic region. The case emphasizes the potential failure of doxycycline prophylaxis and highlights the importance of considering malaria in patients with a history of travel to endemic areas, even if they have adhered to prophylactic treatment. The patient’s clinical presentation included fever, extreme fatigue, and loss of consciousness, leading to hospitalization. Laboratory findings revealed severe anemia, elevated liver enzymes, and impaired renal function, consistent with the criteria for severe malaria. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites on thin blood smears. Due to limited access to parenteral antimalarial medications in Kosovo, the patient received oral artemether-lumefantrine, resulting in clinical improvement. Supportive care and dialysis played a vital role in the patient’s recovery. This case report underscores the need for increased awareness of prophylaxis failure, the challenges of managing severe malaria in non-endemic countries, and the importance of timely and appropriate interventions to improve outcomes in severe malaria cases, particularly those with renal involvement. Full article

Avian malaria and leucocytozoonosis can cause fatal diseases, whereas avian trypanosomiasis is reported to be harmless in chickens. Backyard chickens can be infected by several pathogens, including blood parasites, that may shed to industrial poultry production, with a consequently higher economic impact. This study aimed to investigate the presence of several blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma) in backyard chickens raised in Southern Thailand, using PCR-based detection and microscopic methods. From June 2021 to June 2022, 57 backyard chickens were sampled. Fresh thin blood smears were prepared from 11 individuals, and buffy coat smears were prepared from 55 of them. Both thin blood smears and buffy coat smears were used for microscopic analysis. Two nested PCR protocols that amplify a fragment of cytochrome b (cytb) and small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) genes were used to identify Haemosporida and Trypanosoma parasites, respectively. The number of positive samples was higher with the application of nested PCR than when buffy coat smears were used. Three new Plasmodium lineages (GALLUS47-49) and thirteen Leucocytozoon lineages (GALLUS50-62) were found. Trophozoites, meronts and gametocytes of Plasmodium gallinaceum (GALLUS01) were present in one thin blood smear. All thin blood smears revealed Leucocytozoon infections, but only three samples were a single infection. These three samples revealed the presence of fusiform host cell–parasite complexes, of which the morphological features resembled those of Leucocytozoon macleani (possible synonym is Leucocytozoon sabrazesi), while the cytb showed that this parasite is closely related to the lineage GALLUS06-07, described as Leucocytozoon schouteni. The Trypanosoma prevalence was 33.33%; it was present in only one of the thin blood smears, and it resembles Trypanosoma calmettei. This study showed the prevalence of a high diversity of Plasmodium (64.91%) and Leucocytozoon (89.47%) in Thai chickens. Both nested-PCR and buffy coat smear can be used as the diagnostic tool for the testing of Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma for parasitic control in backyard chickens and poultry farms. The information on the parasite species that can be found in chickens raised in Southern Thailand was also considered as the baseline information for further study. Full article

Background: Tick-borne protozoan parasites (TBPPs) cause significant problems for domestic animals’ health in Nepal. TBPPs are routinely diagnosed by labor-intensive blood smear microscopy. In Nepal, there are some reports of Babesia and Theileria in cattle, although species identification is rarely performed. Therefore, we performed conventional nested PCR (nPCR) followed by sequence analysis to identify TBPP species infecting cattle in Nepal. Methods: One hundred and six blood samples were collected from cattle in the Kathmandu Valley. Thin blood smears were prepared for microscopic examination. Parasite DNA was extracted from the blood, and nPCR and sequencing were performed to identify the TBPPs present. Results: Among the 106 samples, 45 (42.5%) were positive for piroplasm (Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) via microscope observation and 56 (52.8%) samples were positive via nPCR. The obtained PCR products were used for direct sequencing, and we identified the species as B. bigemina, B. bovis, T. annulate and T. orientalis. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the B. bovis, B. bigemina and T. orientalis sequences from this study belonged to each species clade. On the other hand, T. annulate was divided into two clades in the analysis, and our T. annulate sequences were also divided in these two clades. The piroplasm-positive cattle showed lower hemoglobin and red blood cells than healthy cattle. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to apply molecular detection and species determination of TBPPs in cattle in Nepal. The results of this study may be used as a starting point for the development of successful TBPP surveillance and prevention programs in Nepal. Full article

Canine babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of major veterinary concern in Europe. Its prevalence has increased in the last two decades and is spreading rapidly toward the north. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of Babesia spp. strains isolated from naturally infected dogs in a tick-endemic area (Dobrogea) in southeastern Romania. For this purpose, a total of twenty-three samples from dogs diagnosed with various clinical forms of babesiosis, evaluated by means of clinical history, physical examination, and hematological tests, were subjected to a molecular investigation using PCR, sequencing analysis, and genetic characterization. A microscopic examination of thin Diff-quick-stained blood smears revealed large intra-erythrocytic Babesia piroplasms in all dogs. The PCR and sequencing analysis results indicated the presence of Babesia canis in 22 dogs (95.7%) and Babesia vogeli in 1 dog (4.3%). Among the B. canis isolates, two genotypes were distinguished based on two nucleotide substitutions (GA→AG) observed in the 18S rRNA gene sequences (at positions 609 and 610), with the AG genotype predominating (54.5% of samples), while the GA variant was identified in 9.1% of samples. In the remaining isolates (36.4%), both variants were identified. The B. vogeli-positive dog also tested positive for antibodies against Ehrlichia canis and displayed severe disease. This study reports, for the first time, the presence of genetically heterogenic B. canis strains in dogs with clinical babesiosis in Romania. These findings provide a basis for future studies on the relationship between the genetic structure of the causative agents of canine babesiosis in Romania and the course of the disease. Full article

Background: Babesiosis, an intra-erythrocytic protozoan disease, is an emerging zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide. Cholesterol levels are correlated with severe infections, such as sepsis and COVID-19, and anecdotal reports suggest that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol declines during acute babesiosis. Our aim was to describe the cholesterol levels in patients with acute babesiosis diagnosed in an endemic area in New York, hypothesizing that HDL levels correlate with the severity of infection. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of adult patients with babesiosis diagnosed by identification of Babesia parasites on a thin blood smear and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction from 2013 to 2018, who also had available a lipid profile drawn at the time of clinical presentation. Additional lipid profile levels were considered as “baseline” if they were drawn within 2 months before or after the infection as part of routine care. Results: A total of 39 patients with babesiosis had a lipid profile drawn on presentation. The patients were divided into two groups for comparison based on the treating physician’s clinical decision: 33 patients who were admitted to the hospital and 8 patients who were evaluated as outpatients. A history of hypertension was more common in admitted patients (37% vs. 17%, p = 0.02). The median levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL were significantly reduced in admitted patients compared to non-admitted patients (46 vs. 76 mg/dL, p = 0.04; and 9 vs. 28.5 mg/dL, p = 0.03, respectively). In addition, LDL and HDL levels returned to baseline values following resolution of acute babesiosis. Conclusion: LDL and HDL levels are significantly reduced during acute babesiosis, suggesting that cholesterol depletion may predict disease severity. Pathogen and host factors may contribute to a reduction in serum cholesterol levels during acute babesiosis. Full article

Malaria is a significant health concern in many third-world countries, especially for pregnant women and young children. It accounted for about 229 million cases and 600,000 mortality globally in 2019. Hence, rapid and accurate detection is vital. This study is focused on achieving three goals. The first is to develop a deep learning framework capable of automating and accurately classifying malaria parasites using microscopic images of thin and thick peripheral blood smears. The second is to report which of the two peripheral blood smears is the most appropriate for use in accurately detecting malaria parasites in peripheral blood smears. Finally, we evaluate the performance of our proposed model with commonly used transfer learning models. We proposed a convolutional neural network capable of accurately predicting the presence of malaria parasites using microscopic images of thin and thick peripheral blood smears. Model evaluation was carried out using commonly used evaluation metrics, and the outcome proved satisfactory. The proposed model performed better when thick peripheral smears were used with accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of 96.97%, 97.00%, and 97.00%. Identifying the most appropriate peripheral blood smear is vital for improved accuracy, rapid smear preparation, and rapid diagnosis of patients, especially in regions where malaria is endemic. Full article

Camel trypanosomoses is considered a devastating disease with severe health consequences that can be caused by different hemoprotozoan parasites. Camel samples (388) from the five regions in Northern Oman were assessed using a thin blood film. In addition, 95 seropositive samples were analyzed using various primers of mechanically transmitted trypanosomes. Out of the 388 blood smears examined, 0.8% (CI 95%, 2/388) were found to be positive for Trypanosoma sp. using a microscope. The parasitologically positive cases were detected in samples from females. The overall molecular prevalences were as follows: TBR was 78/95, 77% (CI 73.1–89.2%); ITS was 30/95, 31.6% (CI 73.1–89.2%); and T. evansi type A (RoTat 1.2) was 8/95, 8.4% (CI 4.0–16.0%). There were two species of trypanosomes that were observed in the camels. Full article

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) control programs rely on active case detection through the screening of animals reared in disease endemic areas. This study compared the application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopy in the detection of trypanosomes in cattle blood in Mambwe, a rural district in eastern Zambia. Blood samples were collected from 227 cattle and tested for infection with trypanosomes using microscopy and Ribosomal RNA Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS)-PCR. Microscopy on the buffy coat detected 17 cases, whilst thin and thick smears detected 26 cases and 28 cases, respectively. In total, microscopy detected 40 cases. ITS-PCR-filter paper (FP) on blood spots stored on FP detected 47 cases, and ITS-PCR-FTA on blood spots stored on Whatman FTA Classic cards detected 83 cases. Using microscopy as the gold standard, ITS-PCR-FTA had a better specificity (SP) and sensitivity (SE) (SP = 72.2%; SE = 77.5%; kappa = 0.35) than ITS-PCR-FP (SP = 88%; SE = 60%; kappa = 0.45). The prevalence of Trypanosoma brucei s.l. was higher on ITS-PCR-FTA (19/227) than on ITS-PCR-FP (0/227). Our results illustrate the complexities around trypanosomiasis surveillance in rural Africa and provide evidence of the impact that field conditions and staff training can have on diagnostic results, which in turn impact the success of tsetse and trypanosomiasis control programs in the region. Full article

We analyzed the blood from 400 one-humped camels, Camelus dromedarius (C. dromedarius), in Riyadh and Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia to determine if they were infected with the parasite Trypanosoma spp. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene was used to detect the prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. in the camels. Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) was detected in 79 of 200 camels in Riyadh, an infection rate of 39.5%, and in 92 of 200 camels in Al-Qassim, an infection rate of 46%. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolated T. evansi was closely related to the T. evansi that was detected in C. dromedarius in Egypt and the T. evansi strain B15.1 18S ribosomal RNA gene identified from buffalo in Thailand. A BLAST search revealed that the sequences are also similar to those of T. evansi from beef cattle in Thailand and to T. brucei B8/18 18S ribosomal RNA from pigs in Nigeria. Full article

Malaria is a disease activated by a type of microscopic parasite transmitted from infected female mosquito bites to humans. Malaria is a fatal disease that is endemic in many regions of the world. Quick diagnosis of this disease will be very valuable for patients, as traditional methods require tedious work for its detection. Recently, some automated methods have been proposed that exploit hand-crafted feature extraction techniques however, their accuracies are not reliable. Deep learning approaches modernize the world with their superior performance. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are vastly scalable for image classification tasks that extract features through hidden layers of the model without any handcrafting. The detection of malaria-infected red blood cells from segmented microscopic blood images using convolutional neural networks can assist in quick diagnosis, and this will be useful for regions with fewer healthcare experts. The contributions of this paper are two-fold. First, we evaluate the performance of different existing deep learning models for efficient malaria detection. Second, we propose a customized CNN model that outperforms all observed deep learning models. It exploits the bilateral filtering and image augmentation techniques for highlighting features of red blood cells before training the model. Due to image augmentation techniques, the customized CNN model is generalized and avoids over-fitting. All experimental evaluations are performed on the benchmark NIH Malaria Dataset, and the results reveal that the proposed algorithm is $96.82$% accurate in detecting malaria from the microscopic blood smears. Full article

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate matrix assisted LASER desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of blood smear. Integrated light microscope and MALDI IT-TOF mass spectrometer, together with a matrix sublimation device, were used for analysis of blood smears coming from healthy male donors. Different blood plasma removal, matrix deposition, and instrumental settings were evaluated using the negative and positive ionization modes while agreement between the light microscopy images and the lateral distributions of cellular marker compounds served as the MSI quality indicator. Red and white blood cells chemical composition was analyzed using the differential m/z expression. Five seconds of exposure to ethanol followed by the 5 min of 9-aminoacridine or α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid deposition, together with two sets of instrumental settings, were selected for the MALDI TOF MSI experiments. Application of the thin and transparent matrix layers assured good correspondence between the LASER footprints and the preselected regions of interest. Cellular marker m/z signals coincided well with the appropriate cells. A metabolite databases search using the differentially expressed m/z produced hits which were consistent with the respective cell types. This study sets the foundations for application of blood smear MALDI TOF MSI in clinical diagnostics and research. Full article

Medical tools used to bolster decision-making by medical specialists who offer malaria treatment include image processing equipment and a computer-aided diagnostic system. Malaria images can be employed to identify and detect malaria using these methods, in order to monitor the symptoms of malaria patients, although there may be atypical cases that need more time for an assessment. This research used 7000 images of Xception, Inception-V3, ResNet-50, NasNetMobile, VGG-16 and AlexNet models for verification and analysis. These are prevalent models that classify the image precision and use a rotational method to improve the performance of validation and the training dataset with convolutional neural network models. Xception, using the state of the art activation function (Mish) and optimizer (Nadam), improved the effectiveness, as found by the outcomes of the convolutional neural model evaluation of these models for classifying the malaria disease from thin blood smear images. In terms of the performance, recall, accuracy, precision, and F1 measure, a combined score of 99.28% was achieved. Consequently, 10% of all non-dataset training and testing images were evaluated utilizing this pattern. Notable aspects for the improvement of a computer-aided diagnostic to produce an optimum malaria detection approach have been found, supported by a 98.86% accuracy level. Full article

Chloroquine was among the first of several effective drug treatments against malaria until the onset of chloroquine resistance. In light of diminished clinical efficacy of chloroquine as an antimalarial therapeutic, there is potential in efforts to adapt chloroquine for other clinical applications, such as in combination therapies and in diagnostics. In this context, we designed and synthesized a novel asymmetrical squaraine dye coupled with chloroquine (SQR1-CQ). In this study, SQR1-CQ was used to label live Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) parasite cultures of varying sensitivities towards chloroquine. SQR1-CQ positively stained ring, mature trophozoite and schizont stages of both chloroquine–sensitive and chloroquine–resistant P. falciparum strains. In addition, SQR1-CQ exhibited significantly higher fluorescence, when compared to the commercial chloroquine-BODIPY (borondipyrromethene) conjugate CQ-BODIPY. We also achieved successful SQR1-CQ labelling of P. falciparum directly on thin blood smear preparations. Drug efficacy experiments measuring half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed lower concentration of effective inhibition against resistant strain K1 by SQR1-CQ compared to conventional chloroquine. Taken together, the versatile and highly fluorescent labelling capability of SQR1-CQ and promising preliminary IC50 findings makes it a great candidate for further development as diagnostic tool with drug efficacy against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum. Full article