Access to quality assured artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has remained very low in most malaria endemic countries. A number of reasons, including unaffordable prices, have contributed to the low accessibility to these life-saving medicines. The Affordable Medicines Facility-Malaria (AMFm) is a mechanism to increase access to quality assured ACT. Read More
Biting behaviour of Simulium damnosum complex and Onchocerca volvulus infection along the Osun River, Southwest Nigeria
Background:
Studies on biting behaviours and infectivity status of insect vectors are pre-requisites in understanding the epidemiology of the vector- borne diseases and planning effective control measures. A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the transmission index of Simulium damnosum complex species along Osun River, South Western Nigeria. Adult flies were collected on human attractants from 07:00 to 18:00 hours for two consecutive days from February 2008 to June 2009 at three communities: Osun Eleja, Osun Ogbere and Osun Budepo. The infectivity rate was determined by dissection and Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification (PCR) of 0-150 genes of Onchocerca parasite using the pool screening technique. Read More
A Bistable Switch and Anatomical Site Control Vibrio cholerae Virulence Gene Expression in the Intestine
Author Summary
Most pathogenic microorganisms infect in a stepwise manner: colonization of host surfaces is followed by invasion and injury of host tissues and, late in the infectious process, dissemination to other hosts occurs. During its residence in the host, the pathogen produces essential virulence determinants and often replicates rapidly, leading to a vast expansion of its biomass. Although this scenario is well established also for Vibrio cholerae, the cause of a potentially fatal diarrheal illness, it has not previously been possible to identify precisely when or where virulence determinants are produced in the intestine.
We addressed this question by investigating the expression of virulence genes by individual V. cholerae during infection of the small intestine. Virulence genes were found to be powerfully expressed early in the infectious process by bacteria in close proximity to epithelial surfaces. Increased replication rates were also localized to epithelial surfaces. During later stages of the infection, the population of V. cholerae bifurcates into two fractions: one subpopulation continues to express virulence genes, whereas these genes are silenced in the other subpopulation. The genetic program controlling the continued production of virulence genes may mediate the persistence of a hyper-infectious subpopulation of bacteria in the stools of cholera patients.
New protective battle-dress impregnated against mosquito vector bites
Background:
Mixing repellent and organophosphate (OP) insecticides to better control pyrethroid resistant mosquito vectors is a promising strategy developed for bed net impregnation. Here, we investigated the opportunity to adapt this strategy to personal protection in the form of impregnated clothes. Read More
Nigeria: Cholera – Death Toll Rises to 283
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The death toll from the cholera epidemic and a related disease has risen to 283 in some states in the North, according to various official figures last night.
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The Role of Imported Cases and Favorable Meteorological Conditions in the Onset of Dengue Epidemics
Author Summary
Dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever is the world’s most widely spread mosquito-borne arboviral disease and threatens more than two-thirds of the world’s population. Cases are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas in accordance with vector habitats for Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Read More
Mapping this wormy world
New global atlas will transform deworming programs
Maps showing the distribution and prevalence of worm infections in every African country will be launched today (17 August). These maps, called This Wormy World www.thiswormyworld.org, are the first of a series of Global Atlas of Helminth Infections which provide a unique, open-access, free information resource vital for planning and implementing deworming programmes. Read More
Epidemiology and control of intestinal schistosomiasis on the Sesse Islands, Uganda: integrating malacology and parasitology to tailor local treatment recommendations
Background:
Intestinal schistosomiasis is often widespread among the populations living around Lake Victoria and on its islands. The Sesse Island group (containing some 84 islands), however, is typically assumed to be a low prevalence zone, with limited transmission, but has never been surveyed in detail. Here, we present a rapid mapping assessment, bringing together snail and parasite information, at 23 sites for the presence of intermediate host snails and at 61 sites for the prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis in school-aged children (N=905). Two different diagnostic tools were used and compared at 45 of these sites: Kato-Katz thick faecal smears and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) urine dipsticks. Read More
[Lupus, corticosteroid treatment and opportunistic infection: 26 cases in Gabon]
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[Lupus, corticosteroid treatment and opportunistic infection: 26 cases in Gabon]
Med Trop (Mars). 2010 Apr;70(2):208
Authors: Iba-Ba J, Ibouili Bignoumba R, Missounga L, Bitéghé B, Coniquet S, Moussavou Kombila JB, Boguikouma JB
Opportunistic infection is frequent in lupus patients. Susceptibility is inherent in the lymphopeniant nature of the disease and enhanced by the use of immune-suppressing agents (alone or in combination) for optimal disease control. The purpose of this retrospective series of lupus patients diagnosed based on the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) was to assess the frequency of opportunistic infection in a high-risk epidemiological area. A total of 26 patients (24 women, 2 men) with a mean age of 28.8 years were identified. Systematic review carried infectious before the steroid and in light of the local endemicity (HBs Ag, hepatitis C serology, HIV + Rx Thorax IDR) coupled with blood cultures was non-contributory, without waking the tank or during the introduction treatment. With a mean follow-up of 3.6 years (range, 0.83 to 9.91), only one case of tuberculosis was observed with fatal outcome. Our study indicates that the prevalence of opportunistic infections in the Lupus under treatment in a high-risk area for infectious diseases was low. This finding suggests that the risk of infectious complications secondary to corticosteroid therapy in sub-Saharan zone is acceptable provided that surveillance is performed on a regular basis.
PMID: 20486367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Family Relationship, Water Contact and Occurrence of Buruli Ulcer in Benin
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Author Summary
Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) is the most widespread mycobacterial disease in the world after leprosy and tuberculosis. How M. ulcerans is introduced into the skin of humans remains unclear, but it appears that individuals living in the same environment may have different susceptibilities. This case control study aims to determine whether frequent contacts with natural water sources, family relationship or the practice of consanguineous marriages are associated with the occurrence of Buruli ulcer (BU). The study involved 416 participants, of which 104 BU-confirmed cases and 312 age, gender and village of residence matched controls (persons who had no signs or symptoms of active or inactive BU). The results confirmed that contact with natural water sources is a risk factor. Furthermore, it suggests that a combination of genetic factors may constitute risk factors for the development of BU, possibly by influencing the type of immune response in the individual, and, consequently, the development of BU infection per se and its different clinical forms. These findings may be of major therapeutic interest.
The Economic Benefits Resulting from the First 8 Years of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (2000–2007)
Author Summary
Lymphatic filariasis (LF), commonly known as ‘elephantiasis’, is one of the world’s most debilitating infectious diseases. In 83 countries worldwide, more than 1.3 billion people are at risk of infection with an estimated 120 million individuals already infected. A recent publication reviewing the health impact of the first 8 years of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) demonstrated the enormous health benefits achieved in populations receiving annual mass drug administration (MDA), as a result of infection prevented, disease progression halted, and ancillary treatment of co-infections. To date, however, no studies have estimated the economic value of these health benefits, either to the individuals or the societies afflicted with LF. Our study estimates that US$21.8 billion will be gained among individuals benefitting from just the first 8 years of the Global Programme, and an additional US$2.2 billion will be saved by the health systems of endemic countries. Treating endemic populations is possible at very low cost – particularly because of the generous drug donations from two pharmaceutical companies – but results in enormous economic benefits. Findings from this study yield a much clearer understanding the GPELF’s full economic impact and strengthen the conviction that it is a ‘best buy’ in global health.
Disease Outbreaks- Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – updateThe Indonesian IHR National Focal Point of the Ministry of Health has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. […]
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- Avian influenza – situation in Cambodia – updateThe Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia has announced a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. […]
- Lassa fever in NigeriaAt the beginning of 2012, WHO was notified by the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria of an outbreak of Lassa fever. As of March 22, 2012, 623 suspected cases, including 70 deaths have been recorded from 19 of the 36 States since the beginning of the year. Laboratory analysis undertaken at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua Edo State has confirm […]
- Avian influenza – situation in Egypt – updateThe Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. […]
- Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update
Cheap Calls to Kenya
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