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Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Volume 9, Issue 4

2024 April - 25 articles

Cover Story: Solenopsis invicta Buren, also known as red imported fire ants (RIFA), is a small, highly aggressive and resilient ant species. While native to South America, RIFA are increasingly infesting other nations. RIFA have a venomous sting and are often found living near humans. Our review of international evidence indicates that approximately one-third of the population residing in RIFA-infested areas are stung each year. The most frequent reaction to a RIFA sting is a pseudo pustule, while around 20% develop a large local allergic reaction and 0.5–2.0% develop systemic allergic reactions, including a life-threatening anaphylaxis. The substantial health threat to Western Pacific nations caused by RIFA requires a coordinated response to prevent further spread, and ultimately to achieve eradication. View this paper
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Articles (25)

  • Article
  • Open Access
2,360 Views
15 Pages

Comparative Study of Colorimetric In Situ Hybridization and Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Diagnosis of Infection by Leishmania infantum in Dogs in Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Skin

  • Ricardo Gonçalves Silva,
  • Matti Kiupel,
  • Ingeborg Maria Langohr,
  • Annabel Wise,
  • Sandro Antonio Pereira,
  • Natália Pedra Gonçalves,
  • Greice Maria Silva da Conceição,
  • Luiz Cláudio Ferreira,
  • Monique Paiva de Campos and
  • Rodrigo Caldas Menezes
  • + 4 authors

The zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum and dogs are reservoirs for this parasite. For the diagnosis of Leishmania at the species level in dogs in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin (FFPES) samples, colo...

  • Article
  • Open Access
4 Citations
4,031 Views
16 Pages

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Malaria Transmission in the Autonomous Indigenous Regions of Panama, Central America, 2015–2022

  • Alberto Cumbrera,
  • José Eduardo Calzada,
  • Luis Fernando Chaves and
  • Lisbeth Amarilis Hurtado

Despite ongoing efforts for elimination, malaria continues to be a major public health problem in the Republic of Panama. For effective elimination, it is key that malaria foci and areas of high transmission are identified in a timely manner. Here, w...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2 Citations
3,896 Views
13 Pages

Prevalence of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in HIV-Positive and Diabetic Patients in Sinaloa, Mexico: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

  • Analy Aispuro Pérez,
  • Ulises Osuna-Martínez,
  • Jose Angel Espinoza-Gallardo,
  • Luis Alfredo Dorantes-Álvarez,
  • Gerardo Kenny Inzunza-Leyva,
  • Kimberly Estefania Dorantes-Bernal and
  • Geovanna Nallely Quiñonez-Bastidas

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are among the main risk factors for the development of TB and increase the risk o...

  • Case Report
  • Open Access
2 Citations
2,943 Views
10 Pages

Echinococcosis, especially alveolar echinococcosis (AE), is becoming an emerging/re-emerging disease with a growing number of cases reported globally. The diagnosis of echinococcosis is based mainly on imaging, which may be challenging when the image...

  • Article
  • Open Access
24 Citations
5,564 Views
15 Pages

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease that poses huge disease, social and economic burdens worldwide; however, there has been little knowledge on the global morbidity, mortality and disability-adjusted life...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1,922 Views
14 Pages

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Management and Prognosis of Infective Endocarditis

  • Lucie Ailhaud,
  • Robinson Gravier-Dumonceau,
  • Florent Arregle,
  • Sandrine Hubert,
  • Jean-Paul Casalta,
  • Alberto Riberi,
  • Laetitia Tessonnier,
  • Roch Giorgi,
  • Gilbert Habib and
  • Frédérique Gouriet

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious condition which is difficult to diagnose and to treat, both medically and surgically. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the management...

  • Review
  • Open Access
8 Citations
4,679 Views
12 Pages

Sigma-Class Glutathione Transferases (GSTσ): A New Target with Potential for Helminth Control

  • Lluvia de Carolina Sánchez Pérez,
  • Rafael A. Zubillaga,
  • Ponciano García-Gutiérrez and
  • Abraham Landa

Glutathione transferases (GSTs EC 2.5.1.18) are critical components of phase II metabolism, instrumental in xenobiotics’ metabolism. Their primary function involves conjugating glutathione to both endogenous and exogenous toxic compounds, which...

  • Article
  • Open Access
3 Citations
3,406 Views
13 Pages

The mosquito microbiota is a critical determinant of mosquito life history. It is therefore a target for novel vector control strategies like paratransgenesis. However, the microbiota in Anopheles funestus, a major African malaria vector, is poorly c...

  • Systematic Review
  • Open Access
1 Citations
4,676 Views
16 Pages

Splenic Embolism in Infective Endocarditis: A Systematic Review of the Literature with an Emphasis on Radiological and Histopathological Diagnoses

  • Gabriel Santiago Moreira,
  • Nícolas de Albuquerque Pereira Feijóo,
  • Isabella Braga Tinoco-da-Silva,
  • Cyntia Mendes Aguiar,
  • Francijane Oliveira da Conceição,
  • Gustavo Campos Monteiro de Castro,
  • Mariana Giorgi Barroso de Carvalho,
  • Thatyane Veloso de Paula Amaral de Almeida,
  • Rafael Quaresma Garrido and
  • Cristiane da Cruz Lamas

Infective endocarditis (IE) is characterised by fever, heart murmurs, and emboli. Splenic emboli are frequent in left-sided IE. A systematic review of the literature published on splenic embolism (SE) between 2000 and 2023 was conducted. Search strat...

  • Article
  • Open Access
3 Citations
2,826 Views
14 Pages

International Migration, Refugees, and Spread of Tuberculosis in Brazil: Analysis of Clusters, Trends, and Associated Factors (2010–2021)

  • Yan Mathias Alves,
  • Thaís Zamboni Berra,
  • Reginaldo Bazon Vaz Tavares,
  • Marcela Antunes Paschoal Popolin,
  • Fernanda Bruzadelli Paulino da Costa,
  • Sonia Vivian de Jezus,
  • Letícia Perticarrara Ferezin,
  • Ariela Fehr Tártaro,
  • Maria Del Pilar Serrano-Gallardo and
  • Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio
  • + 2 authors

Background: International migration is a global phenomenon with significant implications on the health–disease process due to exposures along transit routes and local/destination epidemiological indicators. We aimed to analyze the transmission...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
3,193 Views
16 Pages

Capturing Recent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection by Tuberculin Skin Test vs. Interferon-Gamma Release Assay

  • Jesús Gutierrez,
  • Mary Nsereko,
  • LaShaunda L. Malone,
  • Harriet Mayanja-Kizza,
  • Hussein Kisingo,
  • W. Henry Boom,
  • Charles M. Bark and
  • Catherine M. Stein

Reductions in tuberculosis (TB) incidence require identification of individuals at high risk of developing active disease, such as those with recent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Using a prospective household contact (HHC) study in Kamp...

  • Review
  • Open Access
8 Citations
4,335 Views
18 Pages

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) highlights conditions that are responsible for devastating health, social and economic consequences, and yet, they are overlooked and poorly resourced. The NTD lis...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2 Citations
2,640 Views
11 Pages

In Australia, school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was introduced initially for girls in 2007, and then also for boys in 2013. While studies have shown declines in the incidence of anogenital warts, there is a paucity of recent data an...

  • Brief Report
  • Open Access
11 Citations
2,420 Views
8 Pages

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Police Officers and Working Dogs in Brazil: Case Report and One Health Implications

  • Danilo Alves de França,
  • Jéssica Santos da Silva,
  • Nássarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues,
  • Ana Íris de Lima Duré,
  • João Henrique Farinhas,
  • Louise Bach Kmetiuk,
  • Helio Langoni and
  • Alexander Welker Biondo

Background: Although the Coxiella burnetii infection has been investigated in dogs, its role in human transmission remains to be fully established, particularly in close and daily human–dog contact settings, such as in Police K-9 Units. Methods...

  • Article
  • Open Access
6 Citations
6,156 Views
19 Pages

Characterization of Antibiotic Resistance in Select Tertiary Hospitals in Uganda: An Evaluation of 2020 to 2023 Routine Surveillance Data

  • Jonathan Mayito,
  • Daniel Kibombo,
  • Charles Olaro,
  • Susan Nabadda,
  • Consolata Guma,
  • Immaculate Nabukenya,
  • Andrew Busuge,
  • Flavia Dhikusooka,
  • Alex Andema and
  • Henry Kajumbula
  • + 14 authors

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health concern in Uganda. We sought to conduct an extended profiling of AMR burden at selected Ugandan tertiary hospitals. We analyzed routine surveillance data collected between October 2020 and March 2023...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
3,120 Views
11 Pages

Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Clinical-Epidemiological Characterization of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Maranhão, Brazil, from 2009 to 2020

  • Carolina Azevedo Amaral,
  • Taciana Mirely Maciel Higino,
  • Karen Fernanda Castro Silva,
  • Nathalia Rodrigues dos Reis,
  • Mariana Gomes Pereira,
  • Rita de Cássia Mendonça de Miranda and
  • Amanda Silva dos Santos Aliança

This study was carried out to identify the spatial distribution and characterize the clinical–epidemiological profile of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in Maranhão state, Brazil, from 2009 to 2020. This descriptive ecological study collecte...

  • Article
  • Open Access
3 Citations
3,534 Views
11 Pages

Tuberculosis Case Finding in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Passive versus Active Case Finding Using Mobile Chest X-ray

  • John Silwanus Kaku,
  • Riris Andono Ahmad,
  • Stephanie Main,
  • Dwi Oktofiana,
  • Bintari Dwihardiani,
  • Rina Triasih,
  • Philipp du Cros and
  • Geoffrey Chan

Active-case finding (ACF) using chest X-ray is an essential method of finding and diagnosing Tuberculosis (TB) cases that may be missed in Indonesia’s routine TB case finding. This study compares active and passive TB case-finding strategies. A...

  • Review
  • Open Access
22 Citations
6,778 Views
22 Pages

In resourced settings, adults living with perinatally acquired HIV are approaching the 5th decade of life. Their clinical and psychological outcomes highlight potential future issues for the much larger number of adolescents growing up with HIV in su...

  • Article
  • Open Access
3 Citations
4,002 Views
10 Pages

Results of Response-Guided Therapy with Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a in Chronic Hepatitis B and D

  • George S. Gherlan,
  • Stefan D. Lazar,
  • Augustina Culinescu,
  • Dana Smadu,
  • Andreea R. Vatafu,
  • Corneliu P. Popescu,
  • Simin A. Florescu,
  • Emanoil Ceausu and
  • Petre I. Calistru

Pegylated interferon alpha 2a continues to be used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis D. The reported on-treatment virologic response varies between 17 and 47%, with relapses in more than 50% of these patients. No stopping rules have been defined...

  • Article
  • Open Access
20 Citations
5,859 Views
12 Pages

Precision Prediction for Dengue Fever in Singapore: A Machine Learning Approach Incorporating Meteorological Data

  • Na Tian,
  • Jin-Xin Zheng,
  • Lan-Hua Li,
  • Jing-Bo Xue,
  • Shang Xia,
  • Shan Lv and
  • Xiao-Nong Zhou

Objective: This study aimed to improve dengue fever predictions in Singapore using a machine learning model that incorporates meteorological data, addressing the current methodological limitations by examining the intricate relationships between weat...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
2,518 Views
13 Pages

Melioidosis is a potentially life-threatening infection. This study aimed to assess the melioidosis knowledge among distinct participant groups in the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. Participants were categorised into th...

  • Article
  • Open Access
2 Citations
2,744 Views
13 Pages

Prenatal and Postnatal Disparities in Very-Preterm Infants in a Study of Infections between 2018–2023 in Southeastern US

  • Robin B. Dail,
  • Kayla C. Everhart,
  • Victor Iskersky,
  • Weili Chang,
  • Kimberley Fisher,
  • Karen Warren,
  • Heidi J. Steflik and
  • James W. Hardin

Background: The birthrate of Black preterm (BPT) infants is 65% higher than White preterm (WPT) infants with a BPT mortality that is 2.3 times higher. The incidence of culture-positive late-onset sepsis is as high as 41% in very-preterm infants. The...

  • Review
  • Open Access
10 Citations
9,800 Views
13 Pages

The Human Health Impacts of the Red Imported Fire Ant in the Western Pacific Region Context: A Narrative Review

  • Diego J. Lopez,
  • Kenneth D. Winkel,
  • Troy Wanandy,
  • Sheryl van Nunen,
  • Kirsten P. Perrett and
  • Adrian J. Lowe

Background: The red imported fire ant (RIFA) is one of the world’s most destructive invasive species. RIFA stings are painful and can lead to allergic reactions, including life-threatening anaphylaxis, yet health impacts remain inadequately def...

  • Brief Report
  • Open Access
3 Citations
2,474 Views
8 Pages

Assessing the Incidence of Snakebites in Rural Gabon—A Community-Based, Cross-Sectional Pilot Survey

  • Saskia Dede Davi,
  • Anita Lumeka,
  • Teite Rebecca Hildebrandt,
  • Lilian Rene Endamne,
  • Cedric Otchague,
  • Dearie Glory Okwu,
  • Rica Artus,
  • Friederike Hunstig,
  • Rella Zoleko Manego and
  • Benno Kreuels
  • + 6 authors

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Community-based studies from sub-Saharan Africa are urgently required as data on the incidence are scarce. This study aimed to determine the lifetime prevalence of snakebites in rural...

  • Article
  • Open Access
1 Citations
2,446 Views
14 Pages

Vaccination is one of the main advancements in public health in the prophylaxis of infectious diseases. We intend to describe the general knowledge about vaccines/vaccination among Brazilian immigrants in Portugal, characterize their attitudes toward...

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Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. - ISSN 2414-6366