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PloS One 2023Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common infections in humans and animals, which is caused by an obligate intracellular opportunistic parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common infections in humans and animals, which is caused by an obligate intracellular opportunistic parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Some data have shown that both Rhesus (Rh)-positive and Rh-negative individuals differ in response to biological factors, including Toxoplasma infection. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the scientific evidence regarding the possible association between the Rh blood group and Toxoplasma infection and to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the Rh blood group system.
METHODS
The research was conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases until January 2023. Twenty-one cross-sectional studies were included with a total of 10910 people. The data were synthesized using a random effect model with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of T. gondii was calculated at 32.34% (CI 95%: 28.23-36.45%) and 33.35% (CI 95%: 19.73-46.96%) in Rh-positive and Rh-negative blood groups. In addition, the pooled OR for the relationship between the Rh blood group and the seroprevalence of T. gondii was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.72-1.28).
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis showed a high prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in both Rh-negative and positive blood groups. This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that no significant association was found between toxoplasmosis and Rh factor. Because of the limited number of studies in this field, more research is recommended to determine the exact relationship between toxoplasmosis and the Rh factor.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Toxoplasma; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Antibodies, Protozoan; Toxoplasmosis; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37406027
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287992 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Feb 2020We review epidemiological and clinical data on human myiasis from Ecuador, based on data from the Ministry of Public Health (MPH) and a review of the available...
We review epidemiological and clinical data on human myiasis from Ecuador, based on data from the Ministry of Public Health (MPH) and a review of the available literature for clinical cases. The larvae of four flies, Dermatobia hominis, Cochliomyia hominivorax, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, and Lucilia eximia, were identified as the causative agents in 39 reported clinical cases. The obligate D. hominis, causing furuncular lesions, caused 17 (43.5%) cases distributed along the tropical Pacific coast and the Amazon regions. The facultative C. hominivorax was identified in 15 (38%) clinical cases, infesting wound and cavitary lesions including orbital, nasal, aural and vaginal, and occurred in both subtropical and Andean regions. C. hominivorax was also identified in a nosocomial hospital-acquired wound. Single infestations were reported for S. haemorrhoidalis and L. eximia. Of the 39 clinical cases, 8 (21%) occurred in tourists. Ivermectin, when it became available, was used to treat furuncular, wound, and cavitary lesions successfully. MPH data for 2013-2015 registered 2,187 cases of which 54% were reported in men; 46% occurred in the tropical Pacific coast, 30% in the temperate Andes, 24% in the tropical Amazon, and 0.2% in the Galapagos Islands. The highest annual incidence was reported in the Amazon (23 cases/100,000 population), followed by Coast (5.1/100,000) and Andes (4.7/100,000). Human myiasis is a neglected and understudied ectoparasitic infestation, being endemic in both temperate and tropical regions of Ecuador. Improved education and awareness among populations living in, visitors to, and health personnel working in high-risk regions, is required for improved epidemiological surveillance, prevention, and correct diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Diptera; Ecuador; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Myiasis; Travel; Young Adult
PubMed: 32084134
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007858 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of human melioidosis in Southeast Asia as well as to highlight knowledge gaps in the prevalence and risk... (Review)
Review
This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of human melioidosis in Southeast Asia as well as to highlight knowledge gaps in the prevalence and risk factors of this life-threatening disease using available evidence-based data for better diagnosis and treatment. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used as the guideline for this review. The literature search was conducted on 23 March 2022 through two electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) using lists of keywords referring to the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus. A total of 38 articles related to human melioidosis were included from 645 screened articles. These studies were carried out between 1986 and 2019 in six Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam. Melioidosis has been reported with a high disease prevalence among high-risk populations. Studies in Thailand (48.0%) and Cambodia (74.4%) revealed disease prevalence in patients with septic arthritis and children with suppurative parotitis, respectively. Other studies in Thailand (63.5%) and Malaysia (54.4% and 65.7%) showed a high seroprevalence of melioidosis among Tsunami survivors and military personnel, respectively. Additionally, this review documented soil and water exposure, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, thalassemia, and children under the age of 15 as the main risk factors for melioidosis. Human melioidosis is currently under-reported in Southeast Asia and its true prevalence is unknown.
Topics: Child; Humans; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Asia, Southeastern; Melioidosis; Malaysia; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36497549
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315475 -
Microorganisms Apr 2023Evidence from the literature suggests an association between the microbiome and asthma development. Here, we aimed to identify the current evidence for the association... (Review)
Review
Evidence from the literature suggests an association between the microbiome and asthma development. Here, we aimed to identify the current evidence for the association between asthma and the upper airway, lower airway and/or the gut microbiome. An electronic systemic search of PubMed, EBSCO, Science Direct and Web of Science was conducted until February 2022 to identify the eligible studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation risk of the bias tools were used to assess quality of included studies. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were identified as being significantly higher in the asthmatic children compared with the healthy controls. The high relative abundance of , and in the microbiome of the upper airway in early infancy was associated with a higher risk of asthma development later in life. The gut microbiome analyses indicated that a high relative abundance of in early childhood might be associated with asthma development later in life. The findings reported here serve as potential microbiome signatures associated with the increased risk of asthma development. There is a need for large longitudinal studies to further identify high-risk infants, which will help in design strategies and prevention mechanisms to avoid asthma early in life.
PubMed: 37110362
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040939 -
Microorganisms Dec 2021The diversity, spread, and evolution of parasites in non-human primates (NHPs) is a relevant issue for human public health as well as for NHPs conservation. Although... (Review)
Review
The diversity, spread, and evolution of parasites in non-human primates (NHPs) is a relevant issue for human public health as well as for NHPs conservation. Although previous reviews have recorded information on parasites in NHPs (Platyrrhines) in the Americas, the increasing number of recent studies has made these inventories far from complete. Here, we summarize information about parasites recently reported in Platyrrhines, attempting to build on earlier reviews and identify information gaps. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Ninety-three studies were included after the screening process. Records for 20 genera of NHPs, including 90 species were found. Most of the studies were conducted on captive individuals (54.1%), and morphological approaches were the most used for parasite identification. The most commonly collected biological samples were blood and stool, and Protozoa was the most frequent parasite group found. There is still scarce (if any) information on the parasites associated to several Platyrrhine species, especially for free-ranging populations. The use of molecular identification methods can provide important contributions to the field of NHPs parasitology in the near future. Finally, the identification of parasites in NHPs populations will continue to provide relevant information in the context of pervasive habitat loss and fragmentation that should influence both human public health and wildlife conservation strategies.
PubMed: 34946149
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122546 -
Parasites & Vectors Sep 2021Tapeworm infections are among the tropical neglected parasitic diseases endemically occurring in Ethiopia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at estimating... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tapeworm infections are among the tropical neglected parasitic diseases endemically occurring in Ethiopia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at estimating the pooled prevalence and distribution of Taenia and Echinococcus infections in humans and animals from reports from Ethiopia.
METHODS
The systematic search was conducted in four bibliographic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Africa Journal Online and Science Direct). Additional data were retrieved from grey literature. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were considered for the systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted using MetaXL add-in for Microsoft Excel. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were evaluated using Cochran's Q and I statistics, respectively.
RESULTS
The study provides a country-based database of Taenia and Echinococcus infections consisting of 311 datasets from 201 publications which were mostly abattoir surveys; of these, 251 datasets were subjected to meta-analysis. Most of the studies were from Oromia (32.8%) followed by Amhara (22.9%) regional states. The pooled prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in intermediate and accidental hosts was calculated as 22% (95% CI 18-26%) and high study variability (Q = 24,420.65, I = 100%, P = 0.000). Moreover, a pooled prevalence of Echinococcus infections in final hosts was calculated as 33% (95% CI 20-48%) and low study variability (Q = 17.24, I = 65%, P = 0.001). Similarly, study subjects (human, cattle, sheep, goat and wolf) were infected by Taenia spp. with pooled prevalence of 3% (95% CI 2-4%) and moderate study variability (Q = 279.07, I = 89, P = 0.000). Meanwhile, the pooled prevalence of Taenia hydatigena, T. ovis and T. multiceps infections in intermediate hosts were calculated as 38%, 14% and 5%, respectively. The random effect meta-analysis of bovine cysticercosis showed a pooled prevalence of 7% (95% CI 5-9%) and high study variability was of (Q = 4458.76; I = 99%, P = 0.000). Significant differences in prevalence of Taenia and Echinococcus infections between study sites or different livestock origins have been reported.
CONCLUSION
The study evidenced a comprehensive dataset on the prevalence and distribution of Taenia and Echinococcus infections at different interfaces by regions and hosts and hence can aid in the design of more effective control strategies.
Topics: Abattoirs; Animals; Cattle; Echinococcosis; Ethiopia; Goats; Humans; Livestock; Prevalence; Taenia; Taeniasis
PubMed: 34488862
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04925-w -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Even in the absence of manifestations at birth, children with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) may develop serious long-term sequelae later in life. This systematic review... (Review)
Review
Even in the absence of manifestations at birth, children with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) may develop serious long-term sequelae later in life. This systematic review aims to present the current state of knowledge to base an informed decision on how to optimally manage these pregnancies and children. For this, a systematic literature search was performed on 28 July 2022 in PubMed, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Google Scholar and Scopus to identify all prospective and retrospective studies on congenital toxoplasmosis and its long-term outcomes that were evaluated by the authors. We included 31 research papers from several countries. Virulent parasite strains, low socioeconomic status and any delay of treatment seem to contribute to a worse outcome, whereas an early diagnosis of CT as a consequence of prenatal screening may be beneficial. The rate of ocular lesions in treated children increases over time to 30% in European and over 70% in South American children and can be considerably reduced by early treatment in the first year of life. After treatment, new neurological manifestations are not reported, while ocular recurrences are observed in more than 50% of patients, with a mild to moderate impact on quality of life in European cohorts when compared to a significantly reduced quality of life in the more severely affected South American children. Though CT is rare and less severe in Europe when compared with South America, antenatal screening is the only effective way to diagnose and treat affected individuals at the earliest possible time in order to reduce the burden of disease and achieve satisfying outcomes.
PubMed: 36297244
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101187 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science Nov 2022Investigating the global epidemiological patterns of Trichinella in pigs is required for accurate recognition and to establishing proper control programmes and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Investigating the global epidemiological patterns of Trichinella in pigs is required for accurate recognition and to establishing proper control programmes and preventive measures, as well as to decrease human exposure.
OBJECTIVES
To obtain a better understanding of the global prevalence of Trichinella in domestic pigs and factors that might influence the prevalence, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed.
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Multiple databases were used to identify literature published between January 2000 and December 2021, representing studies from 1985 to 2021, on Trichinella prevalence in domestic pigs. Prevalence was calculated on a global and country level, by country Human Development Index (HDI), climate, pig management system, and diagnostic test.
RESULTS
The global pooled prevalence based on 60 manuscripts representing 32 countries and 65 pig populations was 2.02% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88-3.62) and the estimated pooled prevalence in different continents ranged from 0.00% to 11.8%. Trichinella was highest in low HDI countries (21.6%; 95% CI: 4.3-47.2), tropical wet climates (20.9%; 95% CI: 10.3-34.1), and non-intensive pig farming systems (6.1%; 95% CI: 1.0-15.5).
CONCLUSIONS
While there were regional differences in Trichinella prevalence in domestic pigs, these were likely driven by country HDI and pig farming systems versus climatic factors. Increased biosecurity in outdoor pig production systems, focused meat inspections and promoting awareness could potentially decrease risk of infection.
Topics: Humans; Swine; Animals; Trichinella; Trichinellosis; Prevalence; Swine Diseases; Sus scrofa
PubMed: 36137293
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.951 -
Tropical Medicine & International... Sep 2022Malaria is one of the most important parasitic infectious diseases worldwide. Despite the scale-up of effective antimalarials, mortality rates from severe malaria (SM)... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Malaria is one of the most important parasitic infectious diseases worldwide. Despite the scale-up of effective antimalarials, mortality rates from severe malaria (SM) remain significantly high; thus, numerous trials are investigating both antimalarials and adjunctive therapy. This review aimed to summarise all the outcome measures used in trials in the last 10 years to see the need for a core outcome set.
METHODS
A systematic review was undertaken to summarise outcomes of individually randomised trials assessing treatments for SM in adults and children. We searched key databases and trial registries between 1 January 2010 and 30 July 2020. Non-randomised trials were excluded to allow comparison of similar trials. Trial characteristics including phase, region, population, interventions, were summarised. All primary and secondary outcomes were extracted and categorised using a taxonomy table.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven of 282 screened trials met our inclusion criteria, including 10,342 patients from 19 countries: 19 (70%) trials from Africa and 8 (30%) from Asia. A large amount of heterogeneity was observed in the selection of outcomes and instruments, with 101 different outcomes measures recorded, 78/101 reported only in a single trial. Parasitological outcomes (17 studies), neurological status (14 studies), death (14 studies) and temperature (10 studies), were the most reported outcomes. Where an outcome was reported in >1 study it was often measured differently: temperature (4 different measures), renal function (7 measures), nervous system (13 measures) and parasitology (10 measures).
CONCLUSION
Outcomes used in SM trials are inconsistent and heterogeneous. Absence of consensus for outcome measures used impedes research synthesis and comparability of different interventions. This systematic review demonstrates the need to develop a standardised collection of core outcomes for clinical trials of treatments for SM and next steps to include the development of a panel of experts in the field, a Delphi process, and a consensus meeting.
Topics: Adult; Africa; Antimalarials; Child; Consensus; Humans; Malaria; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 35916146
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13803 -
Journal of Parasitology Research 2019Although infection in immune-competent individuals is usually asymptomatic or causes a mild flu-like illness, it may become severe and can occasionally be fatal in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Although infection in immune-competent individuals is usually asymptomatic or causes a mild flu-like illness, it may become severe and can occasionally be fatal in immune-compromised people, such as AIDS patients or pregnant women.
METHOD
Electronic English databases (Pubmed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus), parasitology congresses, and theses of Ethiopian medical universities, were systematically searched (published or unpublished data). Full-length articles and abstracts were collected using keywords such as , Toxoplasmosis, pregnant women, HIV/AIDS, and Ethiopia.
RESULTS
Analysis of seroprevalence estimates was pooled using a random effects meta-analysis. Seventeen studies were included in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. One of these studies reported seroprevalence of in HIV/AIDS patients and pregnant women. In this review, a total of 4,030 individuals were included and analyzed. The pooled prevalence of in this review was 81.00% (95% CI = 69.10-89.78). Sub-group analysis showed that 2,557 pregnant women were evaluated. In pregnant women, the pooled sero-prevalence was 71.2 (95% CI = [51.9%, 87.1%]. In HIV/AIDS patients, 1,473 individuals were evaluated and the pooled seroprevalence was 88.45 (95% CI = 80.87%-94.31%).
CONCLUSION
This systematic review and meta-analysis identified a high seroprevalence of infection of 81% among immunocompromised patients. Scaling up prevention and control methods mainly strengthening educational efforts are necessary to avoid reactivation and to stop the spread of infection.
PubMed: 31662891
DOI: 10.1155/2019/4670397