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Viruses Mar 2022During HIV/SIV infection, the upregulation of immune checkpoint (IC) markers, programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4... (Review)
Review
During HIV/SIV infection, the upregulation of immune checkpoint (IC) markers, programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (Tim-3), CD160, 2B4 (CD244), and V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), can lead to chronic T cell exhaustion. These ICs play predominant roles in regulating the progression of HIV/SIV infection by mediating T cell responses as well as enriching latent viral reservoirs. It has been demonstrated that enhanced expression of ICs on CD4 and CD8 T cells could inhibit cell proliferation and cytokine production. Overexpression of ICs on CD4 T cells could also format and prolong HIV/SIV persistence. IC blockers have shown promising clinical results in HIV therapy, implying that targeting ICs may optimize antiretroviral therapy in the context of HIV suppression. Here, we systematically review the expression profile, biological regulation, and therapeutic efficacy of targeted immune checkpoints in HIV/SIV infection.
Topics: Animals; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Disease Progression; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Lymphocyte Activation; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus
PubMed: 35336991
DOI: 10.3390/v14030581 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Dec 2021Improving our understanding of Mayaro virus (MAYV) ecology is critical to guide surveillance and risk assessment. We conducted a PRISMA-adherent systematic review of the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Improving our understanding of Mayaro virus (MAYV) ecology is critical to guide surveillance and risk assessment. We conducted a PRISMA-adherent systematic review of the published and grey literature to identify potential arthropod vectors and non-human animal reservoirs of MAYV. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, SciELO and grey-literature sources including PAHO databases and dissertation repositories. Studies were included if they assessed MAYV virological/immunological measured occurrence in field-caught, domestic, or sentinel animals or in field-caught arthropods. We conducted an animal seroprevalence meta-analysis using a random effects model. We compiled granular georeferenced maps of non-human MAYV occurrence and graded the quality of the studies using a customized framework. Overall, 57 studies were eligible out of 1523 screened, published between the years 1961 and 2020. Seventeen studies reported MAYV positivity in wild mammals, birds, or reptiles and five studies reported MAYV positivity in domestic animals. MAYV positivity was reported in 12 orders of wild-caught vertebrates, most frequently in the orders Charadriiformes and Primate. Sixteen studies detected MAYV in wild-caught mosquito genera including Haemagogus, Aedes, Culex, Psorophora, Coquillettidia, and Sabethes. Vertebrate animals or arthropods with MAYV were detected in Brazil, Panama, Peru, French Guiana, Colombia, Trinidad, Venezuela, Argentina, and Paraguay. Among non-human vertebrates, the Primate order had the highest pooled seroprevalence at 13.1% (95% CI: 4.3-25.1%). From the three most studied primate genera we found the highest seroprevalence was in Alouatta (32.2%, 95% CI: 0.0-79.2%), followed by Callithrix (17.8%, 95% CI: 8.6-28.5%), and Cebus/Sapajus (3.7%, 95% CI: 0.0-11.1%). We further found that MAYV occurs in a wide range of vectors beyond Haemagogus spp. The quality of evidence behind these findings was variable and prompts calls for standardization of reporting of arbovirus occurrence. These findings support further risk emergence prediction, guide field surveillance efforts, and prompt further in-vivo studies to better define the ecological drivers of MAYV maintenance and potential for emergence.
Topics: Alphavirus; Alphavirus Infections; Animals; Arthropod Vectors; Birds; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Mammals; Mosquito Vectors; Primates; Reptiles
PubMed: 34898602
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010016 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2022When it comes to tick-borne diseases, co-infections are often mentioned. This concept includes several entities. On the one hand, tick vectors or vertebrate reservoir... (Review)
Review
When it comes to tick-borne diseases, co-infections are often mentioned. This concept includes several entities. On the one hand, tick vectors or vertebrate reservoir host can harbor several microorganisms that can be pathogenic for humans. On the other hand, human co-infections can also be understood in different ways, ranging from seropositivity without clinical symptoms to co-disease, i.e., the simultaneous clinical expression of infections by two tick-borne microorganisms. The latter, although regularly speculated, is not often reported. Hence, we conducted a systematic review on co-infections between s.l., the etiological agent of Lyme borreliosis, and other microorganisms potentially transmitted to humans by spp. ticks. A total of 68 relevant articles were included, presenting 655 cases of possible co-infections. Most cases of co-infections corresponded to patients with one tick-borne disease and presenting antibody against another tick-borne microorganism. Co-disease was particularly frequent in two situations: patients with clinical symptoms of high fever and erythema migrans (EM), and patients with neurological symptoms linked to the TBEv or a neuroborreliosis. No impact on severity was evidenced. Further studies are needed to better appreciate the frequency and the impact of co-infections between several tick-borne microorganisms.
PubMed: 35335606
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030282 -
Interventional Cardiology Clinics Apr 2023Previous studies have analyzed the efficacy of near-infrared spectroscopy-derived lipid core burden index (LCBI) in quantifying and identifying high-risk plaques and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Previous studies have analyzed the efficacy of near-infrared spectroscopy-derived lipid core burden index (LCBI) in quantifying and identifying high-risk plaques and patients at increased risk of future major adverse cardiac outcomes/major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. A maxLCBI of 400 or greater seems to be an effective threshold for classifying at-risk plaques. This meta-analysis provides a more precise odds ratio with a narrow standard deviation that can be used to guide future studies.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Disease; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Plaque, Atherosclerotic
PubMed: 36922065
DOI: 10.1016/j.iccl.2022.10.006 -
Microorganisms Nov 2022The human body represents a complex and diverse reservoir of microorganisms. Although the human microbiome remains poorly characterized and understood, it should not be...
The human body represents a complex and diverse reservoir of microorganisms. Although the human microbiome remains poorly characterized and understood, it should not be underestimated, since recent studies have highlighted its importance in health. This is especially evident when considering microbiota in the male reproductive system, responsible for men’s fertility and sexual behavior. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the microbial communities of the healthy male genital mucosa and its role in disease. This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was limited to the English language and studies published until August 2022 that included culture-independent techniques for microbiome characterization in male genital mucosa. Ten articles were included. The bacterial composition of the male genital mucosa consists of several genera including Prevotella, Finegoldia, Peptoniphilus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Anaerococcus, suggesting that the male genital microbiome composition shows similarities with the adjacent anatomical sites and is related with sexual intercourse. Moreover, male circumcision appears to influence the penile microbiome. Despite the lack of knowledge on the male genital mucosa microbiome in disease, it was reported that Staphylococcus warneri and Prevotella bivia were associated with balanoposthitis, whereas Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium were more abundant in male genital lichen sclerosus. The limited data and paucity of prospective controlled studies highlight the need for additional studies and established criteria for sampling methods and the microbiome assay procedure. Such a consensus would foster the knowledge about the composition of the genital microbiome of healthy males and its role in disease.
PubMed: 36557565
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122312 -
Advanced Biomedical Research 2022Climate change can facilitate the expansion of leishmaniasis and create the suitable habitat for vector and reservoir species. The objective of this study was to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Climate change can facilitate the expansion of leishmaniasis and create the suitable habitat for vector and reservoir species. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) at the climatic regions of Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The literature search was conducted to identify all published studies reporting the prevalence or incidence of CL in humans in Iran. A total of 350 articles that reported leishmaniasis in Iran were retrieved, due to eligibility criteria, only 42 studies were selected to the final systematic review and meta-analysis procedure. Random effects meta-analysis was done with the estimate of heterogeneity being taken from an inverse-variance model. Subgroup analysis was conducted and it stratified the studies according to climatic regions. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by using and Cochran's Q method value of heterogeneity. Meta regression was used to investigate factors potentially contributed the between-study heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Individual studies showed that prevalence per 100,000 population estimated the range from 1.5 to 318.7 with the overall random pooled prevalence of 83.3 (95% confidence interval 74.5-92.1). Subgroup analysis by climatic regions showed that many studies were conducted in the desert areas and also, it has more prevalent than the other climatic regions.
CONCLUSIONS
Leishmaniasis was more prevalent in regions with dry and desert climates than the other climatic regions. One of the advantages of this work is that the majority of selected studies have been conducted on population-base. However, some of the studies have been designed poorly or have had a lack of internal validity.
PubMed: 36798921
DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_90_21 -
One Health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Jun 2021Dengue is a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne flavivirus infection that is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Humans are known to be the main reservoir host... (Review)
Review
Dengue is a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne flavivirus infection that is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Humans are known to be the main reservoir host maintaining the epidemic cycles of dengue but it is unclear if dengue virus is also maintained in a similar enzootic cycle. The systematic review was conducted in accordance to Cochrane's PRISMA recommendations. A search was done on PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane Library. Key data on animal dengue positivity was extracted and classified according to animal type and diagnostic modes. Of the 3818 articles identified, 56 articles were used in this review. A total of 16,333 animals were tested, 1817 of which were positive for dengue virus by RT-PCR or serology. Dengue positivity was detected in bats (10.1%), non-human primates (27.3%), birds (11%), bovid (4.1%), dogs (1.6%), horses (5.1%), pigs (34.1%), rodents (3.5%), marsupials (13%) and other small animals (7.3%). While majority of dengue positivity via serology suggests potential enzootic transmission, but regular dengue virus spillback cannot be excluded. With the exception of bats, acute infection among animals is limited. Further investigation on animals is critically required to better understand their role as potential reservoir in dengue transmission.
PubMed: 33598525
DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100216 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Jan 2024Published data on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in camels worldwide have been collected to provide an overview of the global prevalence and species diversity of camelid... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Published data on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in camels worldwide have been collected to provide an overview of the global prevalence and species diversity of camelid TBPs. Several TBPs have been detected in dromedary camels, raising concerns regarding their role as natural or maintenance hosts for tick-borne pathogens. Insubstantial evidence exists regarding the natural infection of camels with Babesia spp., Theileria spp., Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp., particularly because most of the camels were considered healthy at the time of sampling. Based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, a pooled prevalence of 35.3% (95% CI: 22.6-48.1%) was estimated for Anaplasma, which was the most frequently tested TBP in dromedaries, and DNA of Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma platys, and A. platys-like were isolated, of which ruminants and dogs are reservoirs. Similarly, the estimated pooled prevalence for the two piroplasmid genera; Babesia and Theileria was approximately equal (10-12%) regardless of the detection method (microscopy or PCR testing). Nevertheless, Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, and Theileria annulata DNA have frequently been detected in camels but they have not yet been proven to be natural hosts. Scarce data detected Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) DNA in blood of dromedaries, although ticks of the genus Ixodes are distributed in limited areas where dromedaries are raised. Interestingly, a pooled seroprevalence of 47.7% (26.3-69.2%) was estimated for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, and viral RNA was detected in dromedary blood; however, their contribution to maintain the viral transmission cycles requires further experimental investigation. The substantially low incidence and scarcity of data on Rickettsia and Ehrlichia species could imply that camels were accidentally infected. In contrast, camels may play a role in the spread of Coxiella burnetii, which is primarily transmitted through the inhalation of aerosols emitted by diseased animals and contaminated environments. Bactrian camels showed no symptoms due to the examined TBPs, meanwhile, clinical disease was seen in alpacas infected with A. phagocytophilum. Similar to dromedaries, accidental tick bites may be the cause of TBP DNA found in the blood of Bactrian camels.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Camelus; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Ehrlichia; Rickettsia; Anaplasma; Babesia; Ixodes; Theileria annulata; DNA; Tick-Borne Diseases; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37769585
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102268 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Oct 2023Clonorchis sinensis, one of the most important food-borne zoonotic trematodes, remains prevalent in China. Understanding its infection status in animals is crucial for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Clonorchis sinensis, one of the most important food-borne zoonotic trematodes, remains prevalent in China. Understanding its infection status in animals is crucial for controlling human clonorchiasis. Here we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to focus on the spatio-temporal disparities of C. sinensis infection in animals in China.
METHODS
Data on C. sinensis prevalence in snails, the second intermediate hosts, or animal reservoirs in China were extracted from electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese Wanfang database, CNKI, VIP, and China Biomedical Literature database. A random-effects meta-analysis model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence in each of the above animal hosts. Subgroup analysis and multivariable meta-regression were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity across studies and compare the temporal disparity of infection rates between high and low epidemic areas. Scatter plots were used to depict the biogeographical characteristics of regions reporting C. sinensis infection in animals.
RESULTS
The overall pooled prevalence of C. sinensis was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6-1.2%) in snails, 14.2% (12.7-15.7%) in the second intermediate host, and 14.3% (11.4-17.6%) in animal reservoirs. Prevalence in low epidemic areas (with human prevalence < 1%) decreased from 0.6% (0.2-1.2%) before 1990 to 0.0% (0.0-3.6%) after 2010 in snails (P = 0.0499), from 20.3% (15.6-25.3%) to 8.8% (5.6-12.6%) in the second intermediate hosts (P = 0.0002), and from 18.3% (12.7-24.7%) to 4.7% (1.0-10.4%) in animal reservoirs. However, no similar decrease in prevalence was observed in high epidemic areas (with human prevalence ≥ 1.0%). C. sinensis infections were predominantly reported in areas with altitudes below 2346 m and annual cumulative precipitation above 345 mm and were mostly concentrated in eastern China.
CONCLUSIONS
There are spatio-temporal disparities in the animal infections of C. sinensis in different areas of China. Animal infections are primarily concentrated in regions with low altitude and high precipitation. The results suggest that implementing One Health-based comprehensive measures targeting both humans and animals, especially in high epidemic areas, is essential for successful eradication of C. sinensis in China.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Clonorchiasis; Clonorchis sinensis; China; Prevalence; Snails
PubMed: 37845775
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01146-4 -
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection... Apr 2023Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) are a serious cause of healthcare-associated infections. Part of the infection prevention and control measures are... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) are a serious cause of healthcare-associated infections. Part of the infection prevention and control measures are outbreak investigations (OI) of patients, healthcare workers (HCW), and the environment after identifying a CRPA in order to identify carriers and environmental reservoirs, so that targeted actions can be taken to prevent further transmission. However, little is known on when and how to perform such OI. Therefore, this systematic review aims to summarize OI performed after detection of CRPA in the endemic and epidemic hospital setting.
MAIN TEXT
Articles related to our research question were identified through a literature research in multiple databases (Embase, Medline Ovid, Cochrane, Scopus, Cinahl, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) until January 12, 2022 (Prospero registration number CRD42020194165). Hundred-twenty-six studies were included. In both the endemic and the epidemic setting, a median number of two out of seven predefined components of OI were identified. In the endemic setting, the most frequent component of OI was screening of the environment (28 studies, 62.2%). In the epidemic setting, screening of the environment (72 studies, 88.9%), and screening of patients during hospitalization (30 studies, 37%) were most frequently performed. Only 19 out of 126 studies (15.1%) reported screening of contact patients, and 37 studies reported screening of healthcare workers (HCW, 29.4%).
CONCLUSION
Due to probable underreporting of OI in the literature, the available evidence for the usefulness of the individual components of OI is scarce. This could lead to inhomogeneous performance of OI after detection of CRPA in the healthcare setting, and with this, potential under- or overscreening. While we could show evidence for the usefulness for environmental screening in order to identify the mode of transmission, evidence for HCW screening is scarce and might not lead to the identification of modes of transmission. Further studies are needed to better understand CI in different settings and, finally, develop guidance on when and how to best perform OI.
Topics: Humans; Carbapenems; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Risk Factors; Disease Outbreaks
PubMed: 37013661
DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01223-1