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Bertran-Cobo C, Dumont E, Noordin NR, Lai MY, Stone W, Tetteh KK, Drakeley C, Krishna S, Lau YL, Wassmer SC. Plasmodium knowlesi infection is associated with elevated circulating biomarkers of brain injury and endothelial activation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.04.25.24306382. [PMID: 38712121 PMCID: PMC11071568 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.24306382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Malaria remains a major public health concern with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Malaysia, the emergence of Plasmodium knowlesi has led to a surge in zoonotic malaria cases and deaths in recent years. Signs of cerebral involvement have been observed in a non-comatose, fatal case of severe knowlesi infection, but the potential impact of this malaria species on the brain remains underexplored. To address this gap, we investigated circulating levels of brain injury, inflammation, and vascular biomarkers in a cohort of knowlesi-infected patients and controls. Methods Archived plasma samples from 19 patients with confirmed symptomatic knowlesi infection and 19 healthy, age-matched controls from Peninsular Malaysia were analysed. A total of 52 plasma biomarkers of brain injury, inflammation, and vascular activation were measured using Luminex and SIMOA assays. Wilcoxon tests were used to examine group differences, and biomarker profiles were explored through hierarchical clustering heatmap analysis. Results Bonferroni-corrected analyses revealed significantly elevated brain injury biomarker levels in knowlesi-infected patients, including S100B (p<0.0001), Tau (p=0.0007), UCH-L1 (p<0.0001), αSyn (p<0.0001), Park7 (p=0.0006), NRGN (p=0.0022), and TDP-43 (p=0.005). Compared to controls, levels were lower in the infected group for BDNF (p<0.0001), CaBD (p<0.0001), CNTN1 (p<0.0001), NCAM-1 (p<0.0001), GFAP (p=0.0013), and KLK6 (p=0.0126). Hierarchical clustering revealed distinct group profiles for circulating levels of brain injury and vascular activation biomarkers. Conclusions Our findings highlight for the first time the impact of Plasmodium knowlesi infection on the brain, with distinct alterations in cerebral injury and endothelial activation biomarker profiles compared to healthy controls. Further studies are warranted to investigate the pathophysiology and clinical significance of these altered surrogate markers, through both neuroimaging and long-term neurocognitive assessments.
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Habtemariam Y, Asnake M, Alemu M, Shash EP, Tessema TW, Tesso ZG, Hawlet M. Plasmodium Vivax as a Causative Agent for Cerebral Malaria in a Group of Adults at Mizan Tepi Teaching Hospital: Case Series. Int Med Case Rep J 2024; 17:161-166. [PMID: 38504722 PMCID: PMC10949269 DOI: 10.2147/imcrj.s440800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2022, there were 249 million cases of malaria globally, resulting in 608,000 deaths. The majority of cases and deaths occurred in the WHO (World Health Organization) African Region. A study in our region found that, out of 263,476 individuals, 148,734 had P. falciparum, 106,946 had P. vivax, and 7,796 had mixed infections. The prevalence of P. falciparum (Plasmodium falciparum) was 8.97% and P. vivax (Plasmodium Vivax) was 7.94%. Although there have been a few reported cases of cerebral malaria caused by P. vivax, there is currently no comprehensive analysis of such cases. All the cases that have been reported so far involved individuals living in malaria-endemic areas, who presented with symptoms characteristic of cerebral malaria. Cerebral malaria was diagnosed based on the clinical algorithm which WHO used except we used P. vivax instead of P. falciparum The diagnosis of these cases was confirmed through thin blood film examination and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Therefore, this report aims to provide additional data on the occurrence of P. vivax as a cause of cerebral malaria. It also recommends further studies to reassess the current clinical case definition of cerebral malaria mainly in endemic areas as it affects patient treatment outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Habtemariam
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Molla Asnake
- School of Medicine, Adult ICU Unit, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Misikr Alemu
- School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Erkyehun Pawlos Shash
- School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Tsegaw Worku Tessema
- School of Medicine, Adult ICU Unit, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Zerubabel Girma Tesso
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Michael Hawlet
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia
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Moses J, Hach S, Mason J, Treacher A. Defining and measuring objective and subjective spinal stiffness: a scoping review. Disabil Rehabil 2023; 45:4489-4502. [PMID: 36516462 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2152878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Examine and identify the breadth of definitions and measures of objective and subjective spinal stiffness in the literature, with a focus on clinical implications. METHODS A scoping review was conducted to determine what is known about definitions and measures of the specific term of spinal stiffness. Following the framework by Arksey and O'Malley, eligible peer-reviewed studies identified using PubMed, Ebsco health, and Scopus were included if they reported definitions or measures of spinal stiffness. Using a data abstraction form, the studies were classified into four themes: biomechanical, surgical, pathophysiological, and segmental spinal assessment. To identify similarities and differences between studies, sixteen categories were generated. RESULTS In total, 2426 records were identified, and 410 met the eligibility criteria. There were 350 measures (132 subjective; 218 objective measures) and 93 indicators of spinal stiffness. The majority of studies (n = 69%) did not define stiffness. CONCLUSION This review highlights the breadth of objective and subjective measures that are both clinically and methodologically diverse. There is no consensus regarding a standardised definition of stiffness in the reviewed literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Moses
- Private Practice, Cambridge, New Zealand
| | - Sylvia Hach
- School of Community Studies, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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Alizadeh Khatir A, Sepidarkish M, Daryabari Y, Taghipour A, Mollalo A, Aghapour S, Rostami A. Malaria infection and the risk of epilepsy: a meta-analysis. Parasitology 2023; 150:1-9. [PMID: 36705577 PMCID: PMC10090621 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy, a chronic disease of the central nervous system, is highly prevalent in malaria-endemic regions. Therefore, several studies have evaluated the associations between malaria infection and epilepsy development. A meta-analysis of observational studies published from inception to 10 May 2022 has been conducted to synthesize and pool the existing data on this topic. The relevant publications were systematically searched in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science database collections. A random-effects meta-analysis model (REM) was utilized to generate the pooled odds ratio (OR) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The between-studies heterogeneity was assessed with I2, as well as several subgroups, meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. Overall, 17 eligible studies containing 6285 cases and 13 909 healthy controls were included. The REM showed a significant positive association between malaria infection and epilepsy development (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.44–3.88). In subgroup analyses, significant positive associations were observed in studies that: epilepsy was the outcome in the follow-up of patients with cerebral malaria (OR 7.10; 95% CI 3.50–14.38); used blood smear to diagnose malaria (OR 4.80; 95% CI 2.36–9.77); included only children (OR 3.92; 95% CI 1.81–8.50); published before 2010 (OR 6.39; 95% CI 4.25–9.62). Our findings indicated that patients with malaria, especially those with cerebral malaria, are at a high risk of epilepsy development; however, further well-designed and controlled studies are needed to verify the strength of the association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alizadeh Khatir
- Mobility Impairment Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mahdi Sepidarkish
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Yasaman Daryabari
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Mollalo
- Department of Public Health and Prevention Science, School of Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, Ohio, USA
| | - Saeed Aghapour
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Spatiotemporal mapping of malaria incidence in Sudan using routine surveillance data. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14114. [PMID: 35982088 PMCID: PMC9387890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16706-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a serious threat to global health, with over \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$95\%$$\end{document}95% of the cases reported in 2020 by the World Health Organization in African countries, including Sudan. Sudan is a low-income country with a limited healthcare system and a substantial burden of malaria. The epidemiology of malaria in Sudan is rapidly changing due to factors including the rapidly developing resistance to drugs and insecticides among the parasites and vectors, respectively; the growing population living in humanitarian settings due to political instability; and the recent emergence of Anopheles stephensi in the country. These factors contribute to changes in the distribution of the parasites species as well as malaria vectors in Sudan, and the shifting patterns of malaria epidemiology underscore the need for investment in improved situational awareness, early preparedness, and a national prevention and control strategy that is updated, evidence based, and proactive. A key component of this strategy is accurate, high-resolution endemicity maps of species-specific malaria. Here, we present a spatiotemporal Bayesian model, developed in collaboration with the Sudanese Ministry of Health, that predicts a fine-scale (1 km \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\times $$\end{document}× 1 km) clinical incidence and seasonality profiles for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax across the country. We use monthly malaria case counts for both species collected via routine surveillance between January 2017 and December 2019, as well as a suite of high-resolution environmental covariates to inform our predictions. These epidemiological maps provide a useful resource for strategic planning and cost-effective implementation of malaria interventions, thus informing policymakers in Sudan to achieve success in malaria control and elimination.
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Opadokun T, Rohrbach P. Extracellular vesicles in malaria: an agglomeration of two decades of research. Malar J 2021; 20:442. [PMID: 34801056 PMCID: PMC8605462 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03969-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a complex parasitic disease, caused by Plasmodium spp. More than a century after the discovery of malaria parasites, this disease continues to pose a global public health problem and the pathogenesis of the severe forms of malaria remains incompletely understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, have been increasingly researched in the field of malaria in a bid to fill these knowledge gaps. EVs released from Plasmodium-infected red blood cells and other host cells during malaria infection are now believed to play key roles in disease pathogenesis and are suggested as vital components of the biology of Plasmodium spp. Malaria-derived EVs have been identified as potential disease biomarkers and therapeutic tools. In this review, key findings of malaria EV studies over the last 20 years are summarized and critically analysed. Outstanding areas of research into EV biology are identified. Unexplored EV research foci for the future that will contribute to consolidating the potential for EVs as agents in malaria prevention and control are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tosin Opadokun
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Petra Rohrbach
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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Mathison BA, Sapp SGH. An annotated checklist of the eukaryotic parasites of humans, exclusive of fungi and algae. Zookeys 2021; 1069:1-313. [PMID: 34819766 PMCID: PMC8595220 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1069.67403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The classification of "parasites" in the medical field is a challenging notion, a group which historically has included all eukaryotes exclusive of fungi that invade and derive resources from the human host. Since antiquity, humans have been identifying and documenting parasitic infections, and this collective catalog of parasitic agents has expanded considerably with technology. As our understanding of species boundaries and the use of molecular tools has evolved, so has our concept of the taxonomy of human parasites. Consequently, new species have been recognized while others have been relegated to synonyms. On the other hand, the decline of expertise in classical parasitology and limited curricula have led to a loss of awareness of many rarely encountered species. Here, we provide a comprehensive checklist of all reported eukaryotic organisms (excluding fungi and allied taxa) parasitizing humans resulting in 274 genus-group taxa and 848 species-group taxa. For each species, or genus where indicated, a concise summary of geographic distribution, natural hosts, route of transmission and site within human host, and vectored pathogens are presented. Ubiquitous, human-adapted species as well as very rare, incidental zoonotic organisms are discussed in this annotated checklist. We also provide a list of 79 excluded genera and species that have been previously reported as human parasites but are not believed to be true human parasites or represent misidentifications or taxonomic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaine A. Mathison
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USAInstitute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake CityUnited States of America
| | - Sarah G. H. Sapp
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USACenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaUnited States of America
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Gupta M, Kumar S, Kumar R, Kumar A, Verma R, Darokar MP, Rout P, Pal A. Inhibition of heme detoxification pathway in malaria parasite by 3-hydroxy-11-keto-β-boswellic acid isolated from Boswellia serrata. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112302. [PMID: 34678731 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria eradication is still a major global health problem in developing countries, which has been of more concern ever since the malaria parasite has developed resistance against frontline antimalarial drugs. Historical evidence proves that the plants possess a major resource for the development of novel anti-malarial drugs. In the present study, the bioactivity guided fractionation of the oleogum-resin of Boswellia serrata Roxb. yielded the optimum activity in the ethyl acetate fraction with an IC50 of 22 ± 3.9 μg/mL and 26.5 ± 4.5 μg/mL against chloroquine sensitive (NF54) and resistant (K1) strains of Plasmodium falciparum respectively. Further, upon fractionation, the ethyl acetate fraction yielded four major compounds, of which 3-Hydroxy-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) was found to be the most potent with IC50 values 4.5 ± 0.60 µg/mL and 6.25 ± 1.02 μg/mL against sensitive and resistant strains respectively. KBA was found to inhibit heme detoxification pathways, one of the most common therapeutic targets, which probably lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) detrimental to P. falciparum. Further, the induced intracellular oxidative stress affected the macromolecules in terms of DNA damage, increased lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation as well as loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. However, it did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect in VERO cells. Under in vivo conditions, KBA exhibited a significant reduction in parasitemia, retarding the development of anaemia, resulting in an enhancement of the mean survival time in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (chloroquine-resistant) infected mice. Further, KBA did not exhibit any abnormality in serum biochemistry of animals that underwent acute oral toxicity studies at 2000 mg/kg body weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Gupta
- Phytochemistry, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Ravi Kumar
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Riya Verma
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Mahendra Pandurang Darokar
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Prashant Rout
- Phytochemistry, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India.
| | - Anirban Pal
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India.
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Maher SP, Vantaux A, Chaumeau V, Chua ACY, Cooper CA, Andolina C, Péneau J, Rouillier M, Rizopoulos Z, Phal S, Piv E, Vong C, Phen S, Chhin C, Tat B, Ouk S, Doeurk B, Kim S, Suriyakan S, Kittiphanakun P, Awuku NA, Conway AJ, Jiang RHY, Russell B, Bifani P, Campo B, Nosten F, Witkowski B, Kyle DE. Probing the distinct chemosensitivity of Plasmodium vivax liver stage parasites and demonstration of 8-aminoquinoline radical cure activity in vitro. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19905. [PMID: 34620901 PMCID: PMC8497498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99152-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved control of Plasmodium vivax malaria can be achieved with the discovery of new antimalarials with radical cure efficacy, including prevention of relapse caused by hypnozoites residing in the liver of patients. We screened several compound libraries against P. vivax liver stages, including 1565 compounds against mature hypnozoites, resulting in one drug-like and several probe-like hits useful for investigating hypnozoite biology. Primaquine and tafenoquine, administered in combination with chloroquine, are currently the only FDA-approved antimalarials for radical cure, yet their activity against mature P. vivax hypnozoites has not yet been demonstrated in vitro. By developing an extended assay, we show both drugs are individually hypnozonticidal and made more potent when partnered with chloroquine, similar to clinically relevant combinations. Post-hoc analyses of screening data revealed excellent performance of ionophore controls and the high quality of single point assays, demonstrating a platform able to support screening of greater compound numbers. A comparison of P. vivax liver stage activity data with that of the P. cynomolgi blood, P. falciparum blood, and P. berghei liver stages reveals overlap in schizonticidal but not hypnozonticidal activity, indicating that the delivery of new radical curative agents killing P. vivax hypnozoites requires an independent and focused drug development test cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven P Maher
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Victor Chaumeau
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd., Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Adeline C Y Chua
- Infectious Diseases Laboratories (ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Immunos, Biopolis, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Caitlin A Cooper
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Chiara Andolina
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd., Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Julie Péneau
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Mélanie Rouillier
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Zaira Rizopoulos
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sivchheng Phal
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Eakpor Piv
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Chantrea Vong
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Sreyvouch Phen
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Chansophea Chhin
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Baura Tat
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Sivkeng Ouk
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Bros Doeurk
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Saorin Kim
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia
| | - Sangrawee Suriyakan
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd., Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
| | - Praphan Kittiphanakun
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd., Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
| | - Nana Akua Awuku
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Amy J Conway
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd Suite 402, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd Suite 402, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Bruce Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Pablo Bifani
- Infectious Diseases Laboratories (ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Immunos, Biopolis, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117545, Singapore
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd., Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Benoît Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12201, Cambodia.
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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Karikari AA, Wruck W, Adjaye J. Transcriptome-based analysis of blood samples reveals elevation of DNA damage response, neutrophil degranulation, cancer and neurodegenerative pathways in Plasmodium falciparum patients. Malar J 2021; 20:383. [PMID: 34565410 PMCID: PMC8474955 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03918-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum results in severe complications including cerebral malaria (CM) especially in children. While the majority of falciparum malaria survivors make a full recovery, there are reports of some patients ending up with neurological sequelae or cognitive deficit. METHODS An analysis of pooled transcriptome data of whole blood samples derived from two studies involving various P. falciparum infections, comprising mild malaria (MM), non-cerebral severe malaria (NCM) and CM was performed. Pathways and gene ontologies (GOs) elevated in the distinct P. falciparum infections were determined. RESULTS In all, 2876 genes were expressed in common between the 3 forms of falciparum malaria, with CM having the least number of expressed genes. In contrast to other research findings, the analysis from this study showed MM share similar biological processes with cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, NCM is associated with drug resistance and glutathione metabolism and CM is correlated with endocannabinoid signalling and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). GO revealed the terms biogenesis, DNA damage response and IL-10 production in MM, down-regulation of cytoskeletal organization and amyloid-beta clearance in NCM and aberrant signalling, neutrophil degranulation and gene repression in CM. Differential gene expression analysis between CM and NCM showed the up-regulation of neutrophil activation and response to herbicides, while regulation of axon diameter was down-regulated in CM. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study reveal that P. falciparum-mediated inflammatory and cellular stress mechanisms may impair brain function in MM, NCM and CM. However, the neurological deficits predominantly reported in CM cases could be attributed to the down-regulation of various genes involved in cellular function through transcriptional repression, axonal dysfunction, dysregulation of signalling pathways and neurodegeneration. It is anticipated that the data from this study, might form the basis for future hypothesis-driven malaria research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akua A. Karikari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Wasco Wruck
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - James Adjaye
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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11
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Elkhalifa AME, Abdul-Ghani R, Tamomh AG, Eltaher NE, Ali NY, Ali MM, Bazie EA, KhirAlla A, DfaAlla FA, Alhasan OAM. Hematological indices and abnormalities among patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Kosti city of the White Nile state, Sudan: a comparative study. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:507. [PMID: 34059017 PMCID: PMC8166086 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06228-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hematological abnormalities are common features in falciparum malaria but vary among different populations across countries. Therefore, we compared hematological indices and abnormalities between Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients and malaria-negative subjects in Kosti city of the White Nile State, Sudan. METHODS A comparative, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinical Laboratory Unit of Kosti Teaching Hospital from June to December 2018. A total of 392 participants (192 P. falciparum-infected patients and 200 malaria-negative subjects) were recruited in the study. Hematological indices of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets were measured, and their median values were statistically compared. RESULTS The majority of P. falciparum-infected patients (67.6%) showed a low-level parasitemia. The median values of Hb concentration, RBC count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) and mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC) were significantly lower in P. falciparum-infected patients, while the median red cell distribution width (RDW) was significantly higher in the patients compared to malaria-negative subjects. Anemia, low MCV, low MCH, low MCHC and high RDW were significantly associated with falciparum malaria, but parasitemia level was not significantly associated with anemia severity. The median total WBC count was non-significantly higher in P. falciparum-infected patients, with neutropenia being significantly associated with falciparum malaria. The median platelet count was significantly lower in P. falciparum-infected patients, with thrombocytopenia being significantly associated with falciparum malaria. CONCLUSIONS Falciparum malaria among patients in Kosti city of the White Nile State, Sudan is predominantly of low-level parasitemia. It is significantly associated with anemia, low MCV, low MCH, low MCHC, high RDW, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. However, parasitemia level is not a significant predictor of anemia severity. On the other hand, leucopenia is not useful to predict falciparum malaria. Further large-scale studies in community and healthcare settings and inclusion of patients with complicated or severe malaria and those with high parasite densities are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M E Elkhalifa
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Rashad Abdul-Ghani
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen. .,Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University, of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen.
| | - Abdelhakam G Tamomh
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Nur Eldin Eltaher
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public and Environmental Health, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Nada Y Ali
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Moataz M Ali
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan.,Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Albaha University, Albaha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Elsharif A Bazie
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Aboagla KhirAlla
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Fatin A DfaAlla
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
| | - Omnia A M Alhasan
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti, Sudan
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12
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Tovar-Acero C, Velasco MC, Avilés-Vergara PA, Ricardo-Caldera DM, Alvis EM, Ramirez-Montoya J, Yasnot Acosta MF. Liver and kidney dysfunction, hypoglycemia, and thrombocytopenia in Plasmodium vivax malaria patients at a Colombian Northwest region. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2021; 13:e00203. [PMID: 33615000 PMCID: PMC7881263 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2021.e00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax has high morbidity, it is the Plasmodium species with the greatest worldwide distribution, and its ability to trigger severe symptoms is currently recognized. The present study aims to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with P. vivax malaria, with and without complication criteria, in an endemic area for malaria transmission in northwest Colombia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between 2017 and 2019, patients with P.vivax severe malaria (n = 50), non-severe malaria (n = 56) and healthy controls (n = 50) were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, hematological, and biochemical characteristics were analyzed. Clinical follow-up was carried out in a group of patients with severe malaria. The statistical analysis was carried out in GraphPad Prism; the Chi-square test analyzed categorical variables, comparisons of variables for the three groups were carried out by the Kruskal-Wallis test and comparison between two groups by the Mann-Whitney test. A multiple correspondence analysis described the relationship between variables, which was carried out through the R software. One hundred fifty-six individuals were linked to the study, 76 women and 80 men, between 3 and 71 years old. For 50% of the patients, it was their first malaria episode; 42% of the patients classified with severe malaria required hospitalization, compared to 7.1% of the patients with non-severe malaria. Parasitaemia was similar in both clinical groups; however, 10% of severe patients presented high parasitemia, between 20,000-135,000. The most frequent clinical characteristics in patients with severe malaria were severe thrombocytopenia in 54%, hypoglycemia in 48%, and liver and kidney failure in 30%. Biochemical and hematological parameters returned to normal in 90% of the patients with severe malaria on the third day after starting treatment. Thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia, and liver and kidney dysfunctions were the most frequent P. vivax malaria complications in this study. Hemoglobin concentration and parasite count were not related to the clinical condition of patients. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent finding in patients with malaria, and its severity presented an inverse relationship with the number of previous malaria episodes. Severe malaria by P. vivax in an endemic area Parasite count is not related to P. vivax complications Thrombocytopenia is the most frequent hematologic complications due to P. vivax
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Tovar-Acero
- Grupo Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba, GIMBIC, Universidad de Córdoba.,Grupo de Enfermedades Tropicales y Resistencia Bacteriana, Universidad del Sinú, Montería, Colombia.,Doctorado de Medicina Tropical, SUE Caribe, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia
| | - María Camila Velasco
- Grupo Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba, GIMBIC, Universidad de Córdoba
| | | | | | - Erasmo Manuel Alvis
- Grupo Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba, GIMBIC, Universidad de Córdoba
| | - Javier Ramirez-Montoya
- Grupo Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba, GIMBIC, Universidad de Córdoba
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13
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Zhao Y, Wang L, Soe MT, Aung PL, Wei H, Liu Z, Ma T, Huang Y, Menezes LJ, Wang Q, Kyaw MP, Nyunt MH, Cui L, Cao Y. Molecular surveillance for drug resistance markers in Plasmodium vivax isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic infections at the China-Myanmar border. Malar J 2020; 19:281. [PMID: 32758218 PMCID: PMC7409419 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03354-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the Greater Mekong sub-region, Plasmodium vivax has become the predominant species and imposes a major challenge for regional malaria elimination. This study aimed to investigate the variations in genes potentially related to drug resistance in P. vivax populations from the China-Myanmar border area. In addition, this study also wanted to determine whether divergence existed between parasite populations associated with asymptomatic and acute infections. METHODS A total of 66 P. vivax isolates were obtained from patients with acute malaria who attended clinics at the Laiza area, Kachin State, Myanmar in 2015. In addition, 102 P. vivax isolates associated with asymptomatic infections were identified by screening of volunteers without signs or symptoms from surrounding villages. Slide-positive samples were verified with nested PCR detecting the 18S rRNA gene. Multiclonal infections were further excluded by genotyping at msp-3α and msp-3β genes. Parasite DNA from 60 symptomatic cases and 81 asymptomatic infections was used to amplify and sequence genes potentially associated with drug resistance, including pvmdr1, pvcrt-o, pvdhfr, pvdhps, and pvk12. RESULTS The pvmdr1 Y976F and F1076L mutations were present in 3/113 (2.7%) and 97/113 (85.5%) P. vivax isolates, respectively. The K10 insertion in pvcrt-o gene was found in 28.2% of the parasites. Four mutations in the two antifolate resistance genes reached relatively high levels of prevalence: pvdhfr S58R (53.4%), S117N/T (50.8%), pvdhps A383G (75.0%), and A553G (36.3%). Haplotypes with wild-type pvmdr1 (976Y/997K/1076F) and quadruple mutations in pvdhfr (13I/57L/58R/61M/99H/117T/173I) were significantly more prevalent in symptomatic than asymptomatic infections, whereas the pvmdr1 mutant haplotype 976Y/997K/1076L was significantly more prevalent in asymptomatic than symptomatic infections. In addition, quadruple mutations at codons 57, 58, 61 and 117 of pvdhfr and double mutations at codons 383 and 553 of pvdhps were found both in asymptomatic and symptomatic infections with similar frequencies. No mutations were found in the pvk12 gene. CONCLUSIONS Mutations in pvdhfr and pvdhps were prevalent in both symptomatic and asymptomatic P. vivax infections, suggestive of resistance to antifolate drugs. Asymptomatic carriers may act as a silent reservoir sustaining drug-resistant parasite transmission necessitating a rational strategy for malaria elimination in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Myat Thu Soe
- Myanmar Health Network Organization, Yangon, Myanmar
| | | | - Haichao Wei
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Ziling Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Tongyu Ma
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Lynette J Menezes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 304, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Qinghui Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | | | | | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 304, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China.
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14
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Okolie CE, Essien UC. Optimizing Laboratory Diagnostic Services for Infectious Meningitis in the Meningitis Belt of sub-Saharan Africa. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1980-1986. [PMID: 31738509 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
For longer than a century, the "meningitis belt" of sub-Saharan Africa has experienced the largest-ever global meningitis epidemic. Whereas HIV-associated immunosuppression drives higher susceptibility to environmental infectious organisms with tropism for the central nervous system (CNS), most diagnostic laboratories in the belt stick to N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae. Cryptococcus neoformans has been the leading cause of death (incidence, 89%; death, 75%). To establish whether diagnostic services target geographically important pathogens, there is a need to know the current spectrum of etiology. Given Africa's agro-silvo-pastoralism, the One Health diagnostic approach is recommended. Considering multipathogen detection capacity, needed speed for corticosteroid therapy decision, and susceptibility/resistance to antimicrobials with improved CNS penetration, proposed laboratory categorization will help neurologists to choose suitable services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Okolie
- Diagnostics for One Health, Department of Microbiology, College of Pure
and Applied Sciences, Landmark University, Km 4 Ipetu Road, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria 251101
| | - Unyime C. Essien
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Sciences, College of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 930222
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