-
Scientific Reports Dec 2021Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is endemic in Africa; hence, the possibility of co-infection with malaria among patients with HAT exists. The present study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is endemic in Africa; hence, the possibility of co-infection with malaria among patients with HAT exists. The present study investigated co-infection with malaria among patients with HAT to provide current evidence and characteristics to support further studies. Potentially relevant studies that reported Plasmodium spp. infection in patients with HAT was searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The risk of bias among the included studies was assessed using the checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The pooled prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infection in patients with HAT was quantitatively synthesized using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses of study sites and stages of HAT were performed to identify heterogeneity regarding prevalence among the included studies. The heterogeneity of the outcome among the included studies was assessed using Cochran's Q and I statistics for consistency. Publication bias was assessed if the number of included studies was 10 or more. For qualitative synthesis, a narrative synthesis of the impact of Plasmodium spp. infection on the clinical and outcome characteristics of HAT was performed when the included studies provided qualitative data. Among 327 studies identified from three databases, nine studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. co-infection (692 cases) among patients with HAT (1523 cases) was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 28-72%, I = 98.1%, seven studies). Subgroup analysis by type of HAT (gambiense or rhodesiense HAT) revealed that among patients with gambiense HAT, the pooled prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infection was 46% (95% CI = 14-78%, I = 96.62%, four studies), whereas that among patients with rhodesiense HAT was 44% (95% CI = 40-49%, I = 98.3%, three studies). Qualitative syntheses demonstrated that Plasmodium spp. infection in individuals with HAT might influence the risk of encephalopathy syndrome, drug toxicity, and significantly longer corrected QT time. Moreover, longer hospital stays and higher treatment costs were recorded among co-infected individuals. Because of the high prevalence of malaria among patients with HAT, some patients were positive for malaria parasites despite being asymptomatic. Therefore, it is suggested to test every patient with HAT for malaria before HAT treatment. If malaria is present, then antimalarial treatment is recommended before HAT treatment. Antimalarial treatment in patients with HAT might decrease the probability of poor clinical outcomes and case fatality in HAT.
Topics: Africa; Coinfection; Geography, Medical; Humans; Malaria; Patient Outcome Assessment; Prevalence; Public Health Surveillance; Publication Bias; Registries; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 34893680
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03295-8 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2020Unicellular eukaryotes of the Trypanosomatidae family include human and animal pathogens that belong to the and genera. Diagnosis of the diseases they cause requires... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Unicellular eukaryotes of the Trypanosomatidae family include human and animal pathogens that belong to the and genera. Diagnosis of the diseases they cause requires the sampling of body fluids (e.g., blood, lymph, peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid) or organ biopsies (e.g., bone marrow, spleen), which are mostly obtained through invasive methods. Body fluids or appendages can be alternatives to these invasive biopsies but appropriateness remains poorly studied. To further address this question, we perform a systematic review on clues evidencing the presence of parasites, genetic material, antibodies, and antigens in body secretions, appendages, or the organs or proximal tissues that produce these materials. Paper selection was based on searches in PubMed, Web of Science, WorldWideScience, SciELO, Embase, and Google. The information of each selected article ( = 333) was classified into different sections and data were extracted from 77 papers. The presence of Trypanosomatidae parasites has been tracked in most of organs or proximal tissues that produce body secretions or appendages, in naturally or experimentally infected hosts. The meta-analysis highlights the paucity of studies on human African trypanosomiasis and an absence on animal trypanosomiasis. Among the collected data high heterogeneity in terms of the I statistic (100%) is recorded. A high positivity is recorded for antibody and genetic material detection in urine of patients and dogs suffering leishmaniasis, and of antigens for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Data on conjunctival swabs can be analyzed with molecular methods solely for dogs suffering canine visceral leishmaniasis. Saliva and hair/bristles showed a pretty good positivity that support their potential to be used for leishmaniasis diagnosis. In conclusion, our study pinpoints significant gaps that need to be filled in order to properly address the interest of body secretion and hair or bristles for the diagnosis of infections caused by Leishmania and by other Trypanosomatidae parasites.
Topics: Animals; Chagas Disease; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Humans; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomatina; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 32121441
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051684 -
Bulletin of the World Health... Dec 2017To estimate the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure to body fluids among health-care workers in Africa. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure to body fluids among health-care workers in Africa.
METHODS
Embase®, PubMed® and CINAHL databases were systematically searched for studies published between January 2000 and August 2017 that reported the prevalence of occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids among health-care workers in Africa. The continent-wide prevalence of exposure was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis.
FINDINGS
Of the 904 articles identified, 65 studies from 21 African countries were included. The estimated pooled lifetime and 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure to body fluids were 65.7% (95% confidence interval, CI: 59.7-71.6) and 48.0% (95% CI: 40.7-55.3), respectively. Exposure was largely due to percutaneous injury, which had an estimated 12-month prevalence of 36.0% (95% CI: 31.2-40.8). The pooled 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure among medical doctors (excluding surgeons), nurses (including midwives and nursing assistants) and laboratory staff (including laboratory technicians) was 46.6% (95% CI: 33.5-59.7), 44.6% (95% CI: 34.1-55.0) and 34.3% (95% CI: 21.8-46.7), respectively. The risk of exposure was higher among health-care workers with no training on infection prevention and those who worked more than 40 hours per week.
CONCLUSION
The evidence available suggests that almost one half of health-care workers in Africa were occupationally exposed to body fluids annually. However, a lack of data from some countries was a major limitation. National governments and health-care institutions across Africa should prioritize efforts to minimize occupational exposure among health-care workers.
Topics: Body Fluids; Health Personnel; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 29200524
DOI: 10.2471/BLT.17.195735 -
BMJ Global Health 2018Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) cause significant mortality and morbidity in low-income and middle-income countries and present a risk to high-income countries. Vector...
INTRODUCTION
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) cause significant mortality and morbidity in low-income and middle-income countries and present a risk to high-income countries. Vector control programmes may confront social and cultural norms that impede their execution. Anecdotal evidence suggests that incorporating women in the design, delivery and adoption of health interventions increases acceptance and compliance. A better understanding of programmes that have attempted to increase women's involvement in vector control could help shape best practices. The objective of this systematic review was to assess and critically summarise evidence regarding the effectiveness of women participating in vector control.
METHODS
Seven databases were searched from inception to 21 December 2015. Two investigators independently reviewed all titles and abstracts for relevant articles. Grey literature was searched by assessing websites that focus on international development and vector control.
RESULTS
In total, 23 articles representing 17 unique studies were included in this review. Studies discussed the involvement of women in the control of vectors for malaria (n=10), dengue (n=8), human African trypanosomiasis (n=3), schistosomiasis (n=1) and a combination (malaria and schistosomiasis, n=1). Seven programmes were found in the grey literature or through personal communications. Available literature indicates that women can be successfully engaged in vector control programmes and, when given the opportunity, they can create and sustain businesses that aim to decrease the burden of VBDs in their communities.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review demonstrated that women can be successfully engaged in vector control programmes at the community level. However, rigorous comparative effectiveness studies need to be conducted.
PubMed: 29515913
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000366 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022Neglected diseases (NDs) are treated with a less varied range of drugs, with high cost and toxicity, which makes the search for therapeutic alternatives important. In...
Neglected diseases (NDs) are treated with a less varied range of drugs, with high cost and toxicity, which makes the search for therapeutic alternatives important. In this context, plants, such as those from the genus , can be promising due to active substances in their composition. This study evaluates the potential of species from this genus to treat NDs. Initially, a protocol was developed to carry out a systematic review approved by Prospero (CRD42020200438). The databases PubMed, BVS, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science were used with the following keywords: "zanthoxylum," "xanthoxylums," "fagaras," "leishmaniasis," "chagas disease," "malaria," and "African trypanosomiasis." Two independent evaluators analyzed the title and abstract of 166 articles, and 122 were excluded due to duplicity or for not meeting the inclusion criteria. From the 44 selected articles, results of / tests were extracted. studies showed that , through the alkaloid nitidine, was active against (IC50 <1 μg/ml) and (IC50 <8 μg/ml), and selective for both (>10 and >30, respectively). For Chagas disease, the promising species (IC50 <2 μg/ml) were and , and for sleeping sickness, the species (IC50 <4 μg/ml) stood out. In the analysis, the most promising species were and . In summary, the species , , , , and are promising sources of active molecules for the treatment of NDs.
PubMed: 36699053
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.873208 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2019Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat with the potential to cause millions of deaths. There has been a tremendous increase in the use of...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat with the potential to cause millions of deaths. There has been a tremendous increase in the use of antimicrobials, stemming from preventive chemotherapy elimination and control programs addressing neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This study aims to identify the frequency of drug resistance for 11 major NTDs and 20 treatment drugs within a specific period by systematically analyzing the study design, socio-demographic factors, resistance, and countries of relevant studies. : Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we performed systematic reviews of the major 11 NTDs to identify publications on drug resistance between 2000 and 2016. A quality assessment tool adapted for evaluating observational and experimental studies was applied to assess the quality of eligible studies. One of the major findings is that six NTDs have information on drug resistance, namely human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and trachoma. Many studies recorded resistance due to diagnostic tests, and few studies indicated clinical resistance. Although most studies were performed in Africa where there is the occurrence of several NTDs, there was no link between disease burden and locations of study. Based on this study we deduce that monitoring and surveillance systems need to be strengthened to enable the early detection of AMR and the mitigation of its global spread.
Topics: Africa; Anti-Infective Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Neglected Diseases; Public Health; Research Design; Socioeconomic Factors; Tropical Medicine
PubMed: 31151318
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16111925