Search Results (868)

Invasive gastropods pose significant risks to ecosystem stability and public health by acting as intermediate hosts for parasites like Fasciola spp. During malacological surveys across Nigeria (2024–2025), populations of a previously unknown lymnaeid snail were discovered in two distinct habitats. Using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological examination and COI DNA barcoding, the species was identified as the Neotropical liver fluke snail Galba cubensis. Phylogeographical analysis revealed that Nigerian specimens share a common haplotype widespread in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, indicating a major transcontinental range expansion. While xenomonitoring of four specimens showed no current trematode infections, G. cubensis is a primary intermediate host for Fasciola hepatica. The establishment of this highly adaptable species in West Africa raises urgent ONE HEALTH concerns, including potential parasitic overspill and competition with native snails like Radix natalensis. Freshwater gastropod invasions in Nigeria, cryptic invasions in Africa, and future developments are discussed. The findings of this study emphasize the necessity of dedicated malacological surveys and risk management to address the spread of globally invasive freshwater snails. Full article

Leishmaniasis is an emerging zoonotic disease recognized by WHO as a priority neglected tropical disease (NTD) targeted for elimination by 2030. The disease is transmitted through bites of infected female phlebotomine sand flies and presents in three main forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has two distinct epidemiological cycles: anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) cycle, caused by L. donovani and transmitted between humans, and zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) cycle, caused by L. infantum, with domestic dogs as the main reservoirs. ZVL represents the most severe clinical form and poses a public health risk due to a high fatality rate. In Kenya, the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of Leishmania infection among the canine population in endemic areas such as Baringo are poorly characterized. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in Baringo County, Kenya, one of the endemic foci for human visceral leishmaniasis. Blood samples were collected from 140 dogs in Rabai, Sabor, Mbechot, Kapkuikui, and Chemolingot and analyzed using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data on potential epidemiological factors and clinical status for dogs were collected using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-square (χ²) test or Fisher’s exact test to assess associations between Leishmania seropositivity and potential risk factors. A stepwise logistic regression procedure with an entry significance level of p < 0.20 was employed to identify factors associated with leishmaniasis seroprevalence. Cohen’s kappa (κ) agreement was used to assess the diagnostic performance and accuracy of the two serological tests in the absence of a gold standard. The overall seropositivity in dogs was 7.79% and 12.14% at 95% CI for the RDT and ELISA, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified breed and clinical signs as significant factors associated with Leishmania seropositivity in dogs. Local-breed dogs were more likely to be Leishmania seropositive than mixed-breed dogs (OR = 11.92; 95% CI: 1.79–79.37; p = 0.010). Dogs without clinical signs exhibited significantly lower odds of ELISA seropositivity (OR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01–0.29; p < 0.001). Dogs with proper care and housing conditions had reduced risk of Leishmania seropositivity compared with poorly managed dogs. Significant association with seropositivity was observed for sex, age, origin, and reason for keeping dogs. Diagnostic evaluation showed that the RDT had an excellent specificity and Positive Predictive Value (100%), with good overall agreement with ELISA, although sensitivity was 64.7%. Hence, RDT can be a reliable alternative screening tool compared with ELISA as the reference standard. The study demonstrated the presence of Leishmania infection in the dog population in Baringo County, Kenya, a significant public health risk. Early detection and diagnosis of infections in dogs through an integrated One Health approach during routine surveillance are essential. This will facilitate treatment and/or culling of infected dogs and vector control, subsequently reducing the risk of human transmission. Hence, it will go a long way to achieving WHO’s roadmap of eliminating leishmaniasis by 2030. Full article

Background: Leptospirosis is a neglected tropical disease with substantial public health impact in Brazil, closely associated with socio-environmental vulnerabilities and climatic extremes. This study analyzed the epidemiological profile and spatiotemporal distribution of leptospirosis incidence and lethality rates in Brazil from 2015 to 2024. Methods: An ecological time-series study was conducted using secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). Variables included geographic region, probable infection environment, and occupational and educational level (ISCED-2011). Results: A total of 31,397 cases were notified, with an annual average of 3140 cases. The South and North regions exhibited the highest incidence rates, while the Northeast and Southeast presented lethality rates above the national average (9.20%). A marked reduction in notifications occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infections occurred predominantly in the domiciliary environment (64%). Rural workers (27.45%) and civil construction workers (18.63%) were the most affected occupational groups, with a higher incidence rate among illiterate and low-education populations. Conclusions: The dynamics of leptospirosis in Brazil are complex and multifactorial, influenced by climatic variations and driven by deficits in basic sanitation and education level. Mitigating the disease burden requires sustained, region-specific public health strategies, targeted infrastructure improvements, and enhanced epidemiological surveillance to address underreporting. Full article

This case report highlights how neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) may remain underdiagnosed in high-resource settings despite advanced healthcare systems. We describe an 18-year-old woman from Equatorial Guinea living in Spain who presented with chronic pruritus and episodic ocular symptoms and was ultimately diagnosed with ocular loiasis after the incidental extraction of a conjunctival filaria. Diagnostic evaluation included microscopy, serology, and molecular techniques, confirming Loa loa and Mansonella perstans co-infection alongside evidence of exposure to other parasitic infections. Management involved staged antiparasitic therapy with albendazole, ivermectin, praziquantel, and diethylcarbamazine, combined with corticosteroids to mitigate treatment-related reactions. The patient showed clinical improvement, although follow-up was irregular and microfilaremia persisted. This case illustrates key challenges in non-endemic settings, including low clinical suspicion, fragmented care pathways, and barriers to healthcare access among migrant populations. Despite the availability of sensitive diagnostic tools, delayed recognition remains common when tropical diseases are not considered in the differential diagnosis. Comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches are essential, particularly in patients from endemic regions who may harbor multiple co-infections. Strengthening clinical awareness, referral pathways, and appropriate screening for NTDs may help reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes in increasingly globalized healthcare settings. Full article

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease of relevance due to its chronic complications and limited therapeutic options. Current treatments, mainly benznidazole and nifurtimox, are limited by toxicity, adverse effects, and reduced efficacy in chronic infection. Therefore, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising candidates for identifying new antiparasitic strategies because of their ability to affect multiple cellular targets. In this study, we evaluated the anti-trypanosomal activity, host-cell cytotoxicity, and cellular alterations induced by the human salivary peptide Histatin 5 (Hist 5) against T. cruzi epimastigotes. The reversibility of the antiparasitic effect was assessed through washout assays after 48 h of exposure. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in Vero cells and RAW264.7 macrophages, whereas parasite susceptibility was determined using dose–response curves. The reversibility of the antiparasitic effect was assessed through washout assays after 48 h of exposure. Ultrastructural alterations induced by Hist 5 were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Cell death-associated events were assessed using Annexin V/PI staining and TUNEL assays to detect phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation, respectively. Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production were quantified using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H₂DCFDA) fluorescence and the Griess reaction. Hist 5 showed limited cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells and reduced parasite viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Following peptide removal, parasite growth recovered only partially, indicating that the antiparasitic effect was not completely reversible. Hist 5 also induced marked ultrastructural damage, apoptosis-like cell death, increased intracellular ROS levels, and enhanced NO production. These findings suggest that Hist 5 affects T. cruzi epimastigotes through multiple cellular alterations while exerting limited effects on host-cell viability. Full article

Cysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium (Cysticercus cellulosae), is a neglected tropical disease threatening public health. Thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) is a key antioxidant protein secreted by the parasite, but its role in macrophage polarization remains unclear. In this study, THP-1-derived macrophages were treated with TPx protein for 24 h and 48 h. Flow cytometry, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blot were employed to assess reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, M1/M2 cell proportions, mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 (Arg-1). Transcriptome sequencing was performed to screen for signaling pathways, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was subsequently used to measure cGMP levels. The PKG inhibitor KT-5823 was used for functional validation. The results show that TPx significantly increased the proportion of M1 macrophages from 4.58% to 9.24% at 24 h, and promoted M2 macrophages from 4.12% to 6.87% at 48 h, while ROS levels decreased to 0.80-fold at 48 h (p < 0.05). RT-qPCR revealed that TPx markedly upregulated TNF-α (1.62-fold) at 24 h and IL-10 (1.52-fold) at 48 h (p < 0.05). Western blot showed that TPx increased iNOS expression by 2.55-fold at 24 h and Arg-1 expression by 2.01-fold at 48 h. KEGG analysis revealed upregulation of the cGMP-PKG pathway at 48 h, with notably increased cGMP content (1.48-fold) and PKG expression (1.86-fold) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, KT-5823 pretreatment effectively reversed TPx-induced Arg-1 upregulation (from 1.66-fold to 1.02-fold, p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that Cysticercus cellulosae TPx induces M1 polarization at 24 h and promotes M2 polarization at 48 h through activation of the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, thereby facilitating immune evasion. Full article

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) traditionally associated with rural poverty in endemic regions but is increasingly encountered among international travelers, migrants, and displaced populations. Climate change, globalization, and mass human mobility have altered the epidemiology of CL, expanding the geographic range of competent vectors and increasing the burden of imported disease in non-endemic countries. Imported cases are of particular public health importance because they may serve as sentinels for autochthonous transmission in regions where vectors and reservoir hosts are present. This narrative review synthesizes surveillance data and epidemiological evidence on imported cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), with particular emphasis on findings from regional and global surveillance networks. We describe demographic, clinical, and travel-related patterns of imported disease, highlight differences between Old World and New World CL, and discuss implications for surveillance, clinical management, and future research in the context of climate change and global migration. Full article

Neglected arboviruses dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), yellow fever (YFV), Japanese encephalitis (JEV), and chikungunya collectively affect hundreds of millions of people annually, yet no specific antiviral drug has been approved for any of them. Alkaloids, nitrogen-containing specialized metabolites produced by diverse plant families, have emerged as a promising source of broad-spectrum antiviral scaffolds. This review compiles and critically analyzes over 100 alkaloid-virus pairs across several RNA virus families, providing a comparative mechanistic analysis. Lycorine, narciclasine, emetine, and berbamine, among others, exhibit potent activity against phylogenetically distant viruses, with the most potent activities reported against flaviviruses (narciclasine: EC₅₀ 0.02 µM against DENV, ZIKV, YFV, and JEV; pancratistatine: 0.0063 µM against ZIKV). Structure-activity analysis of multiple alkaloid classes identifies key pharmacophoric features, including the phenanthridine nucleus (lycorine derivatives) and the bis-benzylisoquinoline scaffold (tetrandrine, berbamine), as determinants of antiviral potency, selectivity, and broad-spectrum activity. Genetic resistance data in West Nile virus challenge the widely accepted model of lycorine as a direct nucleoside inhibitor, instead pointing toward the involvement of the membrane-associated NS4A-2K-NS4B replication complex, though direct validation remains limited for other flaviviruses. Converging structural, biochemical, and transcriptomic evidence suggests that ribosome-mediated translational stress may represent an additional host-directed antiviral mechanism for isoquinoline-type alkaloids, though the causal chain from ribosome binding to activation of the integrated stress response and to antiviral effect has not been established. The present analysis highlights that in vivo validation remains limited to a few alkaloid-virus pairs. Unbiased target deconvolution and formal testing of the ribosome/integrated stress response hypothesis stand out as essential research priorities. Full article

Guinea worm disease is approaching eradication, with only 10 human cases reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest annual total recorded. Yet the final phase of eradication presents complex clinical and public health challenges that differ from earlier stages of control. Persistent animal infections, particularly in dogs, civil conflict, fragile health systems, financing disruptions, and the need for prolonged surveillance threaten progress at the point when global attention may wane. Unlike smallpox, Guinea worm has been driven to near-eradication without a vaccine, curative drug, or rapid diagnostic test, relying instead on safe water, filtration, vector control, case containment, community education, reporting incentives, and sustained field operations. This Perspective argues that eradication remains achievable but requires a specific policy agenda: protected financing for surveillance, animal-source transmission control, safe-water measures, operational access, and certification through 2030. Completing the final mile would represent a permanent preventive achievement and a durable victory for neglected populations too often overlooked. Full article

Leishmaniasis remains a major neglected tropical disease with limited therapeutic options, increasing drug resistance, and significant treatment-associated toxicity. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which plays an essential role in polyamine synthesis and survival of parasites, is a potential molecular target for the discovery of anti-leishmanial agents. In this study, 49 natural products with bioactive properties, such as cannabinoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids, are evaluated against ODC using computational approaches like molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. During molecular docking analysis, some compounds showed good affinity binding to the ODC catalytic site, namely Sanguinarine (−8.53 kcal/mol), Rutin (−8.15 kcal/mol), Evodiamine (−7.83 kcal/mol), Cannabinol (−7.58 kcal/mol), and β-sitosterol (−7.56 kcal/mol). Analysis of protein-ligand complex interactions showed that these compounds formed hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, π-alkyl contacts, π-cation contacts, and van der Waals forces in the vicinity of the active-site amino acid residue. For further analysis, MD simulations were performed for 100 ns on the best-docking complexes. Comparative trajectory analysis of RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, and hydrogen bonds was conducted, revealing that Rutin and Evodiamine exhibited relatively high structural stability and consistent interactions within the ODC binding cavity. Overall, this study indicates that the natural compounds analyzed here could be considered promising hit compounds for anti-leishmanial drug discovery against ODC. However, further investigations using experimental techniques are required to confirm their biological properties and efficacy. Full article

Dog rabies remains a neglected tropical disease in many resource-limited endemic regions, including Unguja Island, Zanzibar. Classically, in such resource-limited settings, an underestimation of the impact of rabies, which directly correlates with insufficient diagnostic capabilities and surveillance efforts, leads to poor investment in effective rabies control. This study combined molecular epidemiology with retrospective analyses of surveillance data from 2016 to 2024 to better understand the transmission dynamics and assess the effectiveness and reliability of the rabies surveillance system on Unguja Island. Towards this goal, rabies RNA was extracted from used lateral flow devices for further molecular phylogenetic analyses of the partial nucleoprotein gene. From this analysis, we were able to conclude that the rabies lyssaviruses presently circulating on Unguja Island represent a distinct endemic cycle in comparison to rabies viruses from elsewhere in Tanzania. In addition, space–time analysis and the evaluation of testing rates identified high-risk rabies areas with particularly inadequate surveillance. These findings allow better understandings of the disease’s impact, which will support improved surveillance and the implementation of targeted control strategies, and will pave the way for, hopefully, the elimination of dog rabies in the longer run. Full article

Background: Leishmaniasis remains a major public health problem in Peru, and the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro River Valley (VRAEM) is an endemic area where, despite its epidemiological relevance, information on incidence and circulating Leishmania species remains limited. Methods: We estimated district-level cumulative incidence of leishmaniasis in the 60 districts of the VRAEM during 2015–2024, using national surveillance data and census population figures. In addition, molecular species typing was performed on 112 Giemsa-stained tissue smears obtained in health facilities located in Ayacucho districts belonging to the VRAEM region. Results: A total of 3589 cases were reported, yielding an estimated annual incidence rate of 80.01 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is 4.3-fold higher than the national average. Marked spatial heterogeneity was observed, with districts such as Pangoa, Río Tambo, Llochegua, and Pichari reporting estimated annual incidence rates above 130 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, of 55 samples processed by High-Resolution Melting Analysis, Leishmania braziliensis was found in 54.6% of samples, followed by Leishmania guyanensis in 21.8%. Conclusions: The VRAEM constitutes a high-transmission endemic focus of tegumentary leishmaniasis with marked inter-district heterogeneity and circulation of multiple Leishmania species, with Leishmania braziliensis as the predominant species. These findings support the need for targeted surveillance and species-informed clinical management strategies. Full article

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical infection with limited therapeutic options and significant drug-related toxicity. Endophytic fungi are emerging as sustainable sources of bioactive metabolites with potential antiparasitic activity. In this study, endophytic fungi isolated from the medicinal plant Lippia alba were screened for trypanocidal activity. Crude extracts from seven isolates were tested against epimastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi, together with cytotoxicity assays in J774A.1 murine macrophages. The crude extract of Montagnula sp. exhibited the strongest trypanocidal activity (IC₅₀ = 22.1 ± 0.5 μg/mL for epimastigotes and 29.2 ± 3.0 μg/mL for amastigotes), comparable to benznidazole, with low toxicity (CC₅₀ > 600 μg/mL) and a high selectivity index (>26). Morphological and mitochondrial analyses demonstrated preservation of host-cell integrity and mitochondrial function, in contrast to the reference drug. UHPLC-ESI-HRMS profiling identified phenolic and terpenoid compounds, including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, naringenin, apigenin, and ursolic acid, which may underlie the observed biological activity. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of trypanocidal activity in an endophytic Montagnula species and highlights endophytic fungi as promising platforms for the discovery of novel anti-T. cruzi agents. Full article

Bundibugyo virus disease, caused by Bundibugyo virus (Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense), is a severe human Ebola disease with substantial mortality, unresolved reservoir ecology, limited diagnostic implementation, and no licensed vaccines or therapeutics specifically approved for this Orthoebolavirus species. The May 2026 public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda renewed the need for a focused synthesis of Bundibugyo virus-specific diagnostics and medical countermeasures. This review synthesizes the peer-reviewed literature, preprints, and official public-health documents on diagnostics, antivirals, therapeutics, vaccines, and post-exposure prophylaxis. Comparative evidence from the Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Marburg virus, and pan-filovirus platforms is included only where it clarifies Bundibugyo virus-specific evidence, exposes unsupported extrapolation, or defines preparedness gaps. The 2007–2008 outbreak showed that assays optimized for known filoviruses can miss divergent ebolaviruses; the 2026 outbreak underscored the importance of diagnostic breadth, sequencing-based confirmation, decentralized laboratory capacity, and regional coordination. Clinical and immunological data indicate that Bundibugyo virus cannot be reduced to an Ebola virus-like model. Countermeasure evidence remains largely preclinical: recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccines expressing Bundibugyo virus glycoprotein provide the strongest direct animal protection data, whereas antiviral and antibody-based evidence varies widely and requires careful separation of direct Bundibugyo virus data from platform-based extrapolation. Full article

Leishmaniasis is an endemic zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania and transmitted by infected female phlebotomine sandflies. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it among the 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), ranking eighth globally. The disease predominantly affects resource-limited populations in tropical regions. Kenya bears a significant global burden of leishmaniasis, with Baringo County identified as a major endemic area. A cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) was conducted from July 2025 to January 2026 among 135 residents of Baringo South Sub-County using a structured questionnaire. The study evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, disease awareness, perceptions, preventive practices, and treatment-seeking behaviors. Additionally, 12 healthcare professionals were interviewed regarding their diagnostic and treatment capacities. Associations between variables were analyzed using Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Overall awareness of leishmaniasis was high (94.8%), with KAP scores of 86.7%, 76%, and 77.7%, respectively. Despite this, critical knowledge gaps persisted regarding transmission dynamics, the role of dogs as reservoir hosts, and preventive measures. Significant associations were found for awareness of local cases, recognition of clinical signs, knowledge of vector activity, community control measures, and attitudes toward treatment preferences. Age and education level predicted KAP outcomes. Healthcare practitioners demonstrated technical capacity to diagnose and treat human Leishmania infections, whereas veterinarians lacked awareness of Leishmania infection in dogs, including its diagnosis and treatment. Integration of human, animal, and vector surveillance within a One Health framework is recommended to enhance disease monitoring and control in Baringo County. Full article