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Parasitology Research Apr 2017Babesiosis is a protozoal disease caused by Babesia spp. in mammals and humans worldwide. It is one of the most important tick-borne diseases, which affects livestock... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Babesiosis is a protozoal disease caused by Babesia spp. in mammals and humans worldwide. It is one of the most important tick-borne diseases, which affects livestock productions, reproductions, and accordingly failing economy. In this, systematic review and meta-analysis, study, the prevalence of babesiosis among domestic herbivores in Iran, between 1998 and 2015, was methodically reviewed. Nine databases including five English and four Persian databases were explored. A total of 49 articles, as regards the examination of 13,547 sheep, 1920 goats, 7167 cattle, and 940 horses, corresponding to prevalence of babesiosis from different regions of Iran were gathered for our qualifying criteria. The overall prevalence of babesiosis was expected to be 14% (95% CI 12%, 16%) in domestic herbivores. Our results showed the highest prevalence in Khorasan Razavi (18.6%) and West Azarbaijan (15.2%) and the lowest in Mazandaran (8.8%) and Isfahan provinces (9.6%), respectively. The high prevalence of Babesia infection in herbivores (mostly sheep and goats) confirms the established enzootic situation of babesiosis in Iran, particularly in western and northeastern regions of the country. Our data offered important and updated information on the epidemiology of babesiosis, for the first time, in domestic herbivores in Iran, and will likely be contributing to the expansion of the screening and control strategies to reduce health and economic impacts among farm animals.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Babesia; Babesiosis; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Goat Diseases; Goats; Herbivory; Horse Diseases; Horses; Humans; Iran; Livestock; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Sheep, Domestic; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 28054180
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5368-8 -
Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics 2023This review presents an overview of field findings on sequence variation of histidine-rich proteins 2/3 (HRP2/3) for which reference types (1-24) have been identified,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
This review presents an overview of field findings on sequence variation of histidine-rich proteins 2/3 (HRP2/3) for which reference types (1-24) have been identified, and its critical impact on HRP2-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) detection.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022316027, and conducted as per the PRISMA guidelines, and the methodological quality of studies was assessed.
RESULTS
Of the 2184 records identified, 34 studies were included mostly from Africa (47.1%) and Asia (35.3%). The reference HRP2 types 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 are invariably found at proportions ≥ 80-100% in all areas with the exception of The Americas where their proportion is very low. The proteins exhibited high diversity of variants/unknown types, especially for types 1, 2, 4, and 7. Eleven major HRP2 epitopes were found at pooled proportion > 90%. The existing models to predict RDT detection are greatly limited by the impact of factors such as low (very low) parasitemia, RDT brand, and HRP3 cross-reactivity. HRP2 length and presence/number of a given reference repeat type/variant did not seem to impact RDT detection.
CONCLUSIONS
HRP2/3 are highly polymorphic and current findings are insufficient, conflicting and not convincing enough to conclude on the role of HRP2/3 sequence polymorphism in HRP2-based RDT detection.
Topics: Humans; Plasmodium falciparum; Histidine; Malaria, Falciparum; Rapid Diagnostic Tests; Protozoan Proteins; Antigens, Protozoan; Malaria; Diagnostic Tests, Routine
PubMed: 37698448
DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2255136 -
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Nov 2022The Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite which significantly impact small ruminant productivity, international animal trade and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite which significantly impact small ruminant productivity, international animal trade and transboundary movement of animal across the globe. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection (toxoplasmosis) in sheep and goats is widely studied in many parts of the world and there is a lack of comprehensive information on prevalence estimates considering the global and regional perspectives. The aim of the study was to use systematic review and meta-analysis methods to estimate the global and regional pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and goats, as well as factors that influence prevalence estimations. Relevant articles reporting the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in sheep and/goats were searched in five electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase and ProQuest. After the publications were checked to verify they fit the inclusion criteria, a total of 225 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, reflecting data from 70 countries/regions. The pooled prevalence was estimated using a random effect meta-analysis model. Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 33.86% (95% CI: 30.47-37.25%) in sheep and 31.78% (95% CI: 28.99-34.58%) in goats, with significant variation in prevalence estimates across geographical locations (p < .001). Substantial heterogeneity (I > 75%) was observed in most pooled seroprevalence estimates. The T. gondii infection in global sheep and goat population showed uptrend over the period. This information would be useful for epidemiologist, health authorities and farmers in order to plan future T. gondii survey and infection management strategies both locally and internationally.
Topics: Animals; Sheep; Goats; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasma; Ruminants; Sheep Diseases; Antibodies, Protozoan; Goat Diseases
PubMed: 36345796
DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14753 -
Journal of Microbiological Methods Oct 2019Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread obligatory intracellular parasite infecting humans and most of all other warm-blooded animals. Currently there is no any accepted... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread obligatory intracellular parasite infecting humans and most of all other warm-blooded animals. Currently there is no any accepted vaccine for prevention of T. gondii infection. Many studies are focused on using of various excretory secretory antigens (ESA); and among them dense granule antigens (GRAs) being involved in parasite survival, virulence and replication processes, are considered as one of the predominant vaccine candidates. The aim of this systematic review is to prepare more comprehensive understanding of these antigens to reduce T. gondii infection in humans and animals. English databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, ISI Web of Science were systematically searched and papers evaluating GRA antigens published until June 2019 were selected. Evaluation of selected publications revealed that GRA4 and GRA7 substantially increased survival time of the experimental animals. It is noticeable that the maximum reduction in cyst burden was observed in BALB/c mice vaccinated with combination of GRA3, GRA7 and M2AP antigens (93.5%). GRA6 and GRA10 have shown high immunogenicity and GRA1 and 2 are important for virulence and induction of immune responses. This review will be helpful for researchers to conduct more effective studies in the field of immunization against T. gondii infection.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Humans; Immunization; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Protozoan Proteins; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 31442457
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105696 -
The Lancet. Infectious Diseases Oct 2014Chloroquine is the first-line treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria in most endemic countries, but resistance is increasing. Monitoring of antimalarial efficacy is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Chloroquine is the first-line treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria in most endemic countries, but resistance is increasing. Monitoring of antimalarial efficacy is essential, but in P. vivax infections the assessment of treatment efficacy is confounded by relapse from the dormant liver stages. We systematically reviewed P. vivax malaria treatment efficacy studies to establish the global extent of chloroquine resistance.
METHODS
We searched Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify studies published in English between Jan 1, 1960, and April 30, 2014, which investigated antimalarial treatment efficacy in P. vivax malaria. We excluded studies that did not include supervised schizonticidal treatment without primaquine. We determined rates of chloroquine resistance according to P. vivax malaria recurrence rates by day 28 whole-blood chloroquine concentrations at the time of recurrence and study enrolment criteria.
FINDINGS
We identified 129 eligible clinical trials involving 21,694 patients at 179 study sites and 26 case reports describing 54 patients. Chloroquine resistance was present in 58 (53%) of 113 assessable study sites, spread across most countries that are endemic for P. vivax. Clearance of parasitaemia assessed by microscopy in 95% of patients by day 2, or all patients by day 3, was 100% predictive of chloroquine sensitivity.
INTERPRETATION
Heterogeneity of study design and analysis has confounded global surveillance of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax, which is now present across most countries endemic for P. vivax. Improved methods for monitoring of drug resistance are needed to inform antimalarial policy in these regions.
FUNDING
Wellcome Trust (UK).
Topics: Antimalarials; Chloroquine; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Global Health; Humans; Malaria, Vivax; Plasmodium vivax; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 25213732
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(14)70855-2 -
Parasitology Jun 2023The study of genotypes is beneficial for detecting strains linked to increased disease severity and uncovering the processes involved in the transmission and... (Review)
Review
The study of genotypes is beneficial for detecting strains linked to increased disease severity and uncovering the processes involved in the transmission and distribution of this zoonotic parasite. A systematic review of literature was conducted to investigate the present status of genetic diversity in African countries and among host species on the continent. Data from the results in the included studies were sorted, reviewed and descriptively analysed using tables, graphs and maps. Results indicate that there is a relative amount of genetic diversity with a clear difference in the population structure between geographical regions and the propensity for unique and regional genotypes to be predominant in tropical rainforest biomes, near the equator. From a clinical perspective, connections between specific genotypes and disease manifestations were found. Theories are outlined on the dissemination of African genotypes to other continents. The overrepresentation of samples from one geographical area and dissimilar genotyping methodologies creates challenges when concluding on the genetic diversity of in Africa. The need for uniform genotyping methods with a continent-wide sampling of an extensive host range involving humans, domestic animals and wildlife is emphasized.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Genetic Variation; Animals, Wild; Animals, Domestic; Genotype
PubMed: 36938833
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182023000252 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Feb 2018Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread species among human malaria parasites. Immunopathological studies have shown that platelets are an important... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread species among human malaria parasites. Immunopathological studies have shown that platelets are an important component of the host innate immune response against malaria infections. The objectives of this study were to quantify thrombocytopaenia in P. vivax malaria patients and to determine the associated risks of severe thrombocytopaenia in patients with vivax malaria compared to patients with P. falciparum malaria.
MAIN BODY
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature on thrombocytopaenia in P. vivax malaria patients was undertaken. Relevant studies in health-related electronic databases were identified and reviewed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Fifty-eight observational studies (n = 29 664) were included in the current review. Severe thrombocytopaenia (< 50 000/mm) to very severe thrombocytopaenia (< 20 000/mm) was observed in 10.1% of patients with P. vivax infection. A meta-analysis of 11 observational studies showed an equal risk of developing severe/very severe thrombocytopaenia between the patients with P. vivax malaria and those with P. falciparum malaria (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 0.92-4.25). This indicates that thrombocytopaenia is as equally a common manifestation in P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria patients. One study showed a higher risk of developing very severe thrombocytopaenia in children with severe P. vivax malaria than with severe P. falciparum malaria (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.48-5.29). However, a pooled analysis of two studies showed an equal risk among adult severe cases (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.51-2.77). This indicates that the risk of developing thrombocytopaenia in P. vivax malaria can vary with immune status in both children and adults. One study reported higher levels of urea and serum bilirubin in patients with P. vivax malaria and severe thrombocytopaenia compared with patients mild thrombocytopaenia or no thrombocytopaenia, (P < 0.001 in all comparisons). A pooled analysis of two other studies showed a similar proportion of bleeding episodes with thrombocytopaenia in severe P. vivax patients and severe P. falciparum patients (P = 0.09). This implied that both P. vivax and P. falciparum infections could present with bleeding episodes, if there had been a change in platelet counts in the infected patients. A pooled analysis of another two studies showed an equal risk of mortality with severe thrombocytopaenia in both P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria patients (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.30-4.60). However, due to the low number of studies with small sample sizes within the subset of studies that provided clinically relevant information, our confidence in the estimates is limited.
CONCLUSION
The current review has provided some evidence of the clinical relevance of severe thrombocytopaenia in P. vivax malaria. To substantiate these findings, there is a need for well designed, large-scale, prospective studies among patients infected with P. vivax. These should include patients from different countries and epidemiological settings with various age and gender groups represented.
Topics: Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Severity of Illness Index; Thrombocytopenia
PubMed: 29427995
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-018-0392-9 -
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology... Aug 2018Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that infects a wide variety of vertebrates as intermediate hosts. The aim of the current systematic... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that infects a wide variety of vertebrates as intermediate hosts. The aim of the current systematic review study is to clarify the latest status of studies in the literature regarding rhoptry-associated recombinant proteins or rhoptry-associated recombinant DNAs as potential vaccines against toxoplasmosis. The search was performed systematically in 8 databases, four in English and four in Persian, up to February 2017. Overall, ROP2 was the most commonly used ROPs in DNA vaccines (27.27%) and protein vaccines (6.81%). Furthermore, regarding the type of adjuvants, route and dose of vaccination, animal models, challenge methods, and measurement of immune responses has been discussed in the text. It is hoped that this article help researchers to conduct more effective studies in the field of immunization against T. gondii.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Humans; Immunization; Protozoan Proteins; Protozoan Vaccines; Recombinant Proteins; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Vaccination; Vaccines, DNA
PubMed: 30290885
DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2018.09.005 -
Malaria Journal Jan 2021Malaria and HIV are two important public health issues. However, evidence on HIV-Plasmodium vivax co-infection (HIV/PvCo) is scarce, with most of the available...
BACKGROUND
Malaria and HIV are two important public health issues. However, evidence on HIV-Plasmodium vivax co-infection (HIV/PvCo) is scarce, with most of the available information related to Plasmodium falciparum on the African continent. It is unclear whether HIV can change the clinical course of vivax malaria and increase the risk of complications. In this study, a systematic review of HIV/PvCo studies was performed, and recent cases from the Brazilian Amazon were included.
METHODS
Medical records from a tertiary care centre in the Western Brazilian Amazon (2009-2018) were reviewed to identify HIV/PvCo hospitalized patients. Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes are reported. Also, a systematic review of published studies on HIV/PvCo was conducted. Metadata, number of HIV/PvCo cases, demographic, clinical, and outcome data were extracted.
RESULTS
A total of 1,048 vivax malaria patients were hospitalized in the 10-year period; 21 (2.0%) were HIV/PvCo cases, of which 9 (42.9%) had AIDS-defining illnesses. This was the first malaria episode in 11 (52.4%) patients. Seven (33.3%) patients were unaware of their HIV status and were diagnosed on hospitalization. Severe malaria was diagnosed in 5 (23.8%) patients. One patient died. The systematic review search provided 17 articles (12 cross-sectional or longitudinal studies and 5 case report studies). A higher prevalence of studies involved cases in African and Asian countries (35.3 and 29.4%, respectively), and the prevalence of reported co-infections ranged from 0.1 to 60%.
CONCLUSION
Reports of HIV/PvCo are scarce in the literature, with only a few studies describing clinical and laboratory outcomes. Systematic screening for both co-infections is not routinely performed, and therefore the real prevalence of HIV/PvCo is unknown. This study showed a low prevalence of HIV/PvCo despite the high prevalence of malaria and HIV locally. Even though relatively small, this is the largest case series to describe HIV/PvCo.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brazil; Child; Coinfection; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Incidence; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Middle Aged; Plasmodium vivax; Prevalence; Young Adult
PubMed: 33407474
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03518-9 -
Journal of Medical Microbiology Apr 2018Approximately one-third of the world's population has Toxoplasma gondii infection, and one of the main routes of transmission is organ transplantation. The aim of this... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Approximately one-third of the world's population has Toxoplasma gondii infection, and one of the main routes of transmission is organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Toxoplasma infection on liver transplantation patients.
METHODOLOGY
We searched PubMed, Lilacs, Medline, Science direct, Scielo, Ebsco, Springer, Wiley, Ovid and Google Scholar for reports published up to June 2017, and a systematic review was performed.
RESULTS
Twenty cases were analysed before and after liver transplantation. Primary and reactivated infections were investigated. Before transplantation, positive IgG antibodies were the predominant serological markers in donors and recipients: 40 % (D+/R-), 20 % (D+/R+) and 20 % (D-/R+). IgM was present in only 5 % of the donors (D+/R-). In four cases, the serological markers were not specified or were negative (D?/R? or D?/R-). After transplantation, IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 30 % of the recipients, and in 67 % of the seronegative recipients the presence of Toxoplasma DNA or tachyzoites was reported, suggesting a primary infection. Clinical symptoms were meningitis, massive cerebral oedema, encephalitis and seizures. Treatment was administered in 70 % of the patients, and 40 % died after presenting symptoms associated with Toxoplasma infection.
CONCLUSIONS
Although we review Toxoplasma infection and liver transplantation cases, problems associated with the parasite may be greater than identified. Hence, follow-up studies on Toxoplasma infection in liver transplantation patients are recommended.
Topics: Antibodies, Protozoan; Humans; Liver Transplantation; Postoperative Complications; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 29458555
DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000694