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Children (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Dengue and chikungunya viruses are frequent causes of malarial-like febrile illness in children. The rapid increase in virus transmission by mosquitoes is a global... (Review)
Review
Dengue and chikungunya viruses are frequent causes of malarial-like febrile illness in children. The rapid increase in virus transmission by mosquitoes is a global health concern. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the childhood prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane Library (Wiley) databases was conducted on 28 June 2019, and updated on 12 February 2022. The search strategy was designed to retrieve all articles pertaining to arboviruses in SSA children using both controlled vocabulary and keywords. The pooled (weighted) proportion of dengue and chikungunya was estimated using a random effect model. The overall pooled prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in SSA children was estimated to be 16% and 7%, respectively. Prevalence was slightly lower during the period 2010-2020 compared to 2000-2009. The study design varied depending on the healthcare facility reporting the disease outbreak. Importantly, laboratory methods used to detect arbovirus infections differed. The present review documents the prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in pediatric patients throughout SSA. The results provide unprecedented insight into the transmission of dengue and chikungunya viruses among these children and highlight the need for enhanced surveillance and controlled methodology.
PubMed: 37892325
DOI: 10.3390/children10101662 -
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Sep 2023mosquitoes are the vectors of , the etiological agent of malaria. In addition, and are the main vectors of the O'nyong-nyong virus. However, research on the viruses... (Review)
Review
mosquitoes are the vectors of , the etiological agent of malaria. In addition, and are the main vectors of the O'nyong-nyong virus. However, research on the viruses carried by is scarce; thus, the possible transmission of viruses by is still unexplored. This systematic review was carried out to identify studies that report viruses in natural populations of or virus infection and transmission in laboratory-reared mosquitoes. The databases reviewed were EBSCO-Host, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus and PubMed. After the identification and screening of candidate articles, a total of 203 original studies were included that reported on a variety of viruses detected in natural populations. In total, 161 viruses in 54 species from 41 countries worldwide were registered. In laboratory studies, 28 viruses in 15 species were evaluated for mosquito viral transmission capacity or viral infection. The viruses reported in encompassed 25 viral families and included arboviruses, probable arboviruses and Insect-Specific Viruses (ISVs). Insights after performing this review include the need for (1) a better understanding of -viral interactions, (2) characterizing the virome-considering the public health importance of the viruses potentially transmitted by and the significance of finding viruses with biological control activity-and (3) performing virological surveillance in natural populations of , especially in the current context of environmental modifications that may potentiate the expansion of the species distribution.
PubMed: 37888587
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100459 -
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 2024To identify and understand the evidence regarding hearing changes related to acquired Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika virus infection in adult individuals. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To identify and understand the evidence regarding hearing changes related to acquired Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika virus infection in adult individuals.
METHODS
A scoping review was performed according to the recommendations of The Joanna Briggs Institute and guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews in the Embase, PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science databases without restriction on language and year of publication. Case studies, observational studies, and clinical trials reporting hearing loss in adult subjects (>18-60 years of age) of both sexes with DENV, CHIKV, or ZIKV diagnosed by positive molecular/serological examination by RT-PCR or IgM/IgG by ELISA method were included.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. The occurrence of auditory symptoms caused by arboviroses and the presence of permanent or transient sensorineural hearing loss was variable in adults.
CONCLUSIONS
Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika infections in adults are associated with a variety of auditory symptoms. The frequency of permanent or transient sensorineural hearing loss is low but not negligible.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Chikungunya Fever; Chikungunya virus; Dengue; Dengue Virus; Hearing; Hearing Loss; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 37879254
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2023.101342 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Oct 2023Aedes (Stegomyia)-borne diseases are an expanding global threat, but gaps in surveillance make comprehensive and comparable risk assessments challenging. Geostatistical...
BACKGROUND
Aedes (Stegomyia)-borne diseases are an expanding global threat, but gaps in surveillance make comprehensive and comparable risk assessments challenging. Geostatistical models combine data from multiple locations and use links with environmental and socioeconomic factors to make predictive risk maps. Here we systematically review past approaches to map risk for different Aedes-borne arboviruses from local to global scales, identifying differences and similarities in the data types, covariates, and modelling approaches used.
METHODS
We searched on-line databases for predictive risk mapping studies for dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever with no geographical or date restrictions. We included studies that needed to parameterise or fit their model to real-world epidemiological data and make predictions to new spatial locations of some measure of population-level risk of viral transmission (e.g. incidence, occurrence, suitability, etc.).
RESULTS
We found a growing number of arbovirus risk mapping studies across all endemic regions and arboviral diseases, with a total of 176 papers published 2002-2022 with the largest increases shortly following major epidemics. Three dominant use cases emerged: (i) global maps to identify limits of transmission, estimate burden and assess impacts of future global change, (ii) regional models used to predict the spread of major epidemics between countries and (iii) national and sub-national models that use local datasets to better understand transmission dynamics to improve outbreak detection and response. Temperature and rainfall were the most popular choice of covariates (included in 50% and 40% of studies respectively) but variables such as human mobility are increasingly being included. Surprisingly, few studies (22%, 31/144) robustly tested combinations of covariates from different domains (e.g. climatic, sociodemographic, ecological, etc.) and only 49% of studies assessed predictive performance via out-of-sample validation procedures.
CONCLUSIONS
Here we show that approaches to map risk for different arboviruses have diversified in response to changing use cases, epidemiology and data availability. We identify key differences in mapping approaches between different arboviral diseases, discuss future research needs and outline specific recommendations for future arbovirus mapping.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Arboviruses; Aedes; Arbovirus Infections; Yellow Fever; Zika Virus Infection; Chikungunya Fever; Zika Virus; Mosquito Vectors; Dengue
PubMed: 37864153
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08717-8 -
Vaccine Nov 2023Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infectious disease caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in patients with symptoms of central nervous system (CNS)... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infectious disease caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in patients with symptoms of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. More than 25 European countries have one or more TBE-endemic areas. Although two TBE vaccines, FSME-IMMUN® and Encepur®, are commonly used in Europe, there are no published reviews of the real-world effectiveness of TBE vaccines in Europe or elsewhere.
METHODS
We searched PubMed for TBE vaccine effectiveness (VE) articles and extracted information on country, study design, study period, study population, number of TBEV-infected cases, number of participants, and VE against TBEV infection and outcomes.
RESULTS
We identified 13 studies, conducted in Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Germany, and Switzerland, published in 2003-2023. One study was a cohort investigation of a milk-borne outbreak. In the other studies, 11 (91.7%) used the screening method and two (16.7%) used a case-control design (one study used both). TBE vaccines were highly effective (VE estimates >92%) against TBEV infection in all age groups. Vaccines were also highly protective against mild infections (i.e., infections in patients without symptoms of CNS inflammation), and against infections resulting in TBE and hospitalization. Vaccines were also highly protective against the most serious outcomes such as hospitalization greater than 12 days. Product-specific VE estimates were also high, though limited data were available. Studies in Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Switzerland estimated that TBE vaccines prevented >1,000 TBE cases a year, avoiding many hospitalizations and deaths, in these countries combined.
CONCLUSIONS
Published VE studies demonstrate a high real-world effectiveness of the commercially available TBE vaccines in Europe. Although cases averted have been estimated in only four countries, TBE vaccination prevents thousands of cases in Europe each year. To prevent life-threatening TBE, TBE vaccine uptake and compliance with the vaccination schedule should be increased in residents of, and travelers to, TBE-endemic countries in Europe.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne; Viral Vaccines; Europe; Vaccination; Milk; Inflammation; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne
PubMed: 37858450
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.10.014 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Early identification of dengue patients at risk of adverse outcomes is important to prevent hospital overcrowding in low- to middle- income countries during epidemics.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Early identification of dengue patients at risk of adverse outcomes is important to prevent hospital overcrowding in low- to middle- income countries during epidemics. We performed a systematic review to identify which biomarkers measured in first 96 h of fever could predict dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF, World Health Organization 1997 clinical classification) or severe dengue (SD, WHO 2009, clinical classification). PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched for prospective cohort and nested case-control studies published from 1997 to Feb 27, 2022. The protocol for the study was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021230053). After screening 6747 publications, and analysing 37 eligible studies reporting on 5925 patients, elevated C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, interleukin-8 and decreased albumin levels were strongly associated with dengue haemorrhagic fever (by meta-analyses of multiple studies, p < 0.05), while elevated vascular cell adhesion protein 1, syndecan-1, aspartate aminotransferase and C-reactive protein levels were strongly associated with severe dengue (by meta-analyses of multiple studies, p < 0.05). Further 44 and 28 biomarkers were associated with the risk of DHF and SD respectively, but only in a single study. The meta-analyses suggest the importance of early acute inflammation with hepatic involvement in determining the subsequent course of illness in dengue.
Topics: Humans; Severe Dengue; C-Reactive Protein; Prospective Studies; Biomarkers; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Dengue
PubMed: 37838744
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44559-9 -
Malaria Journal Oct 2023Malaria and dengue fever are the leading causes of acute, undifferentiated febrile illness. In Africa, misdiagnosis of dengue fever as malaria is a common scenario.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Malaria and dengue fever are the leading causes of acute, undifferentiated febrile illness. In Africa, misdiagnosis of dengue fever as malaria is a common scenario. Through a systematic review of the published literature, this study seeks to estimate the prevalence of dengue and malaria coinfection among acute undifferentiated febrile diseases in Africa.
METHODS
Relevant publications were systematically searched in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar until May 19, 2023. A random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were used to summarize and examine the prevalence estimates.
RESULTS
Twenty-two studies with 22,803 acute undifferentiated febrile patients from 10 countries in Africa were included. The meta-analysis findings revealed a pooled prevalence of malaria and dengue coinfection of 4.2%, with Central Africa having the highest rate (4.7%), followed by East Africa (2.7%) and West Africa (1.6%). Continent-wide, Plasmodium falciparum and acute dengue virus coinfection prevalence increased significantly from 0.9% during 2008-2013 to 3.8% during 2014-2017 and to 5.5% during 2018-2021 (p = 0.0414).
CONCLUSION
There was a high and increasing prevalence of malaria and acute dengue virus coinfection in Africa. Healthcare workers should bear in mind the possibility of dengue infection as a differential diagnosis for acute febrile illness, as well as the possibility of coexisting malaria and dengue in endemic areas. In addition, high-quality multicentre studies are required to verify the above conclusions. Protocol registration number: CRD42022311301.
Topics: Humans; Dengue Virus; Coinfection; Dengue; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prevalence; Malaria; Africa; Fever
PubMed: 37803381
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04723-y -
BMC Public Health Oct 2023Dengue is a public health problem in the Indo-Pacific countries. There are concerns over the facilitators and barriers to community engagement in health service research...
BACKGROUND
Dengue is a public health problem in the Indo-Pacific countries. There are concerns over the facilitators and barriers to community engagement in health service research aimed at dengue control. The objective of his study was to identify and synthesize facilitators and barriers to community engagement in health service research aimed at dengue control.
METHODOLOGY
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist was used to perform this review. Health-related databases including PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies. A consolidated framework with five domains was developed after undertaking a six-phase reflective thematic assessment of the data.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies were identified, spanning eight low-and middle-income countries of the Indo-Pacific region including Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The studies in this review covered the period from 2002 to 2021. A broad range of study designs and objectives were revealed across these 13 studies. An array of communities such as the local government, project-related health staff, local health services staff, community leaders, local communities/residences/general public, heads of households, community health volunteers, school teachers, and schoolchildren participated in these dengue related studies. The five Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains of 'intervention characteristics', 'inner setting', 'outer setting',' individual characteristics', and 'program implementations' were used to identify and describe barriers and facilitators.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate a range of barriers and facilitators to community engagement in dengue control in the selected LMIC in the Indo-Pacific countries. Future health services research on dengue control approaches should be carefully planned, methodologically constructed, aligned with community engagement principles, and involve considerable community participation at all stages of the research.
Topics: Child; Humans; Community Participation; Dengue; Public Health; Qualitative Research; Vietnam
PubMed: 37798703
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16845-8 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Sep 2023Diagnosis of arbovirus infection or exposure by antibody testing is becoming increasingly difficult due to global expansion of arboviruses, which induce antibodies that...
Diagnosis of arbovirus infection or exposure by antibody testing is becoming increasingly difficult due to global expansion of arboviruses, which induce antibodies that may (cross-)react in serological assays. We provide a systematic review of the current knowledge and knowledge gaps in differential arbovirus serology. The search included Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases and identified 911 publications which were reduced to 102 after exclusion of studies not providing data on possible cross-reactivity or studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria regarding confirmation of virus exposure of reference population sets. Using a scoring system to further assess quality of studies, we show that the majority of the selected papers (N = 102) provides insufficient detail to support conclusions on specificity of serological outcomes with regards to elucidating antibody cross-reactivity. Along with the lack of standardization of assays, metadata such as time of illness onset, vaccination, infection and travel history, age and specificity of serological methods were most frequently missing. Given the critical role of serology for diagnosis and surveillance of arbovirus infections, better standards for reporting, as well as the development of more (standardized) specific serological assays that allow discrimination between exposures to multiple different arboviruses, are a large global unmet need.
Topics: Humans; Arboviruses; Arbovirus Infections; Hematologic Tests
PubMed: 37738270
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011651 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Sep 2023Despite the availability of vaccination, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) remains a global public health problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the...
BACKGROUND
Despite the availability of vaccination, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) remains a global public health problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the long-term efficacy of vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis using vaccines available on the European market.
METHODS
The analysis was conducted on the results of a systematic review conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search was performed in three databases, namely Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid), and the Cochrane Library database. The authors followed the PRISMA method and the selection of the articles was performed with two independent researchers.
RESULTS
From a total of 199 citations, 9 studies were included in this review. According to the primary studies identified in the search, the efficacy of available anti-TBE vaccines ranges from 90.1% to 98.9%; however, in individuals above the age of 60, the protection wanes as early as one year after vaccination. Administration of a booster dose 3 years after completion of the basic vaccination schedule significantly extended the period of protection against TBE.
CONCLUSIONS
Anti-TBE vaccines available in Europe have a high level of efficacy. However, the level of protection against TBE is decreasing after vaccination. Therefore, in addition to the conventional schedule, booster vaccines should be administered every 5 years in individuals before the age of 60 and more frequently, e.g. every 3 years, in individuals aged 60 and beyond.
Topics: Humans; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne; Vaccines; Vaccination; Immunization, Secondary; Europe; Encephalitis, Viral
PubMed: 37735357
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08562-9