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Sauer FG, Werny M, Nolte K, Villacañas de Castro C, Becker N, Kiel E, Lühken R. A convolutional neural network to identify mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) of the genus Aedes by wing images. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3094. [PMID: 38326355 PMCID: PMC10850211 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53631-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurate species identification is crucial to assess the medical relevance of a mosquito specimen, but requires intensive experience of the observers and well-equipped laboratories. In this proof-of-concept study, we developed a convolutional neural network (CNN) to identify seven Aedes species by wing images, only. While previous studies used images of the whole mosquito body, the nearly two-dimensional wings may facilitate standardized image capture and reduce the complexity of the CNN implementation. Mosquitoes were sampled from different sites in Germany. Their wings were mounted and photographed with a professional stereomicroscope. The data set consisted of 1155 wing images from seven Aedes species as well as 554 wings from different non-Aedes mosquitoes. A CNN was trained to differentiate between Aedes and non-Aedes mosquitoes and to classify the seven Aedes species based on grayscale and RGB images. Image processing, data augmentation, training, validation and testing were conducted in python using deep-learning framework PyTorch. Our best-performing CNN configuration achieved a macro F1 score of 99% to discriminate Aedes from non-Aedes mosquito species. The mean macro F1 score to predict the Aedes species was 90% for grayscale images and 91% for RGB images. In conclusion, wing images are sufficient to identify mosquito species by CNNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix G Sauer
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
| | | | - Kristopher Nolte
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Norbert Becker
- Faculty of Biosciences, University Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Dipterology (IfD)/KABS, Georg-Peter-Süß-Str. 3, 67346, Speyer, Germany
| | - Ellen Kiel
- Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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Allartz P, Hotop SK, Muntau B, Schlaphof A, Thomé-Bolduan C, Gabriel M, Petersen N, Lintzel M, Behrens C, Eggert P, Pörtner K, Steiner J, Brönstrup M, Tappe D. Detection of bornavirus-reactive antibodies and BoDV-1 RNA only in encephalitis patients from virus endemic areas: a comparative serological and molecular sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and disease duration correlation study. Infection 2024; 52:59-71. [PMID: 37253816 PMCID: PMC10228883 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02048-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Human Borna disease virus (BoDV-1) encephalitis is an emerging disease in Germany. This study investigates the spectrum of human BoDV-1 infection, characterizes anti-BoDV-1-antibodies and kinetics, and compares laboratory test performances. METHODS Three hundred four encephalitis cases, 308 nation-wide neuropsychiatric conditions, 127 well-defined psychiatric cases from Borna disease-endemic areas, and 20 persons with contact to BoDV-1 encephalitis patients or animals were tested for BoDV-1 infections by serology and PCR. RESULTS BoDV-1 infections were only found in encephalitis patients with residence in, or recent travel to, virus-endemic areas. Antibodies were detected as early as 12 days after symptom onset. Serum antibody levels correlated with disease duration. Serology was ordered after 50% of the disease duration had elapsed, reflecting low awareness. BoDV-1-antibodies were of IgG1 subclass, and the epitope on BoDV-1 antigens was determined. Specificity of the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and lineblot (LB) from serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as PCR testing from CSF, was 100%. Sensitivity, depending on first or all samples, reached 75-86% in serum and 92-94% in CSF for the IFAT, and 33-57% in serum and 18-24% in CSF for the LB. Sensitivity for PCR in CSF was 25-67%. Positive predictive values were 100% each, while negative predictive values were 99% (IFAT), 91-97% (LB), and 90% (PCR). CONCLUSIONS There is no hint that BoDV-1 causes other diseases than encephalitis in humans. Awareness has to be increased in virus-endemic areas. Tests are robust but lack sensitivity. Detection of IgG1 against specific peptides may facilitate diagnosis. Screening of healthy individuals is likely not beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Allartz
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Birgit Muntau
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Schlaphof
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Thomé-Bolduan
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Gabriel
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadine Petersen
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maren Lintzel
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Behrens
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Eggert
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Pörtner
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mark Brönstrup
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany.
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Scherf J, Vogel D, Gul S, Reinshagen J, Gribbon P, Rosenthal M. Limited high-throughput screening compatibility of the phenuivirus cap-binding domain. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22820. [PMID: 38129678 PMCID: PMC10739838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50158-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bunyaviruses constitute a large and diverse group of viruses encompassing many emerging pathogens, such as Rift Valley fever virus (family Phenuiviridae), with public and veterinary health relevance but with very limited medical countermeasures are available. For the development of antiviral strategies, the identification and validation of virus-specific targets would be of high value. The cap-snatching mechanism is an essential process in the life cycle of bunyaviruses to produce capped mRNAs, which are then recognized and translated into viral proteins by the host cell translation machinery. Cap-snatching involves cap-binding as well as endonuclease functions and both activities have been demonstrated to be druggable in related influenza viruses. Here, we explore the suitability of the phenuivirus cap-binding function as a target in medium- and high-throughput drug discovery approaches. We developed a range of in vitro assays aiming to detect the interaction between the cap-binding domain (CBD) and the analogue of its natural cap-ligand m7GTP. However, constricted by its shallow binding pocket and low affinity for m7GTP, we conclude that the CBD has limited small molecule targeting potential using classical in vitro drug discovery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Scherf
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Vogel
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sheraz Gul
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jeanette Reinshagen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Philip Gribbon
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Maria Rosenthal
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany.
- Center for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany.
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Heinrich F, Rauch J, Bertram F, Kempf VAJ, Besier S, Kuta P, Renné T, Ondruschka B, Püschel K, Tappe D. Seroprevalence of arthropod-borne bacterial infections in homeless individuals in Hamburg in 2020. Infection 2023; 51:1819-1822. [PMID: 37289422 PMCID: PMC10665224 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02059-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The number of homeless people in Germany is steadily increasing. Due to their often precarious living conditions, this specific population may be increasingly exposed to ectoparasites that can transmit various pathogens. To assess the prevalence and thus the risk of such infections, we analyzed the seropositivity of rickettsiosis, Q fever, tularemia and bartonellosis in homeless individuals. METHODS A total of 147 homeless adults from nine shelters in Hamburg, Germany, were included. The individuals underwent questionnaire-based interviewing, physical examination, and venous blood was drawn between May and June 2020. Blood samples were analyzed for antibodies against rickettsiae (Rickettsia typhi and R. conorii), Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis and bartonellae. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION A very low seroprevalence of R. typhi and F. tularensis infection was found (0-1%), while antibodies against R. conorii and C. burnetii were more common (7% each), followed by a relatively high seroprevalence of 14% for bartonellosis. Q fever seroprevalence was associated with the country of origin, whereas bartonellosis seroprevalence was associated with the duration of homelessness. Preventive measures targeting ectoparasites, especially body lice, should be put in place continuously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Heinrich
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Rauch
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Franziska Bertram
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Volkhard A J Kempf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control and German Consiliary Laboratory for Bartonella, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Silke Besier
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control and German Consiliary Laboratory for Bartonella, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Piotr Kuta
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Renné
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Püschel
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Hamburg, Germany
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Sauer FG, Pfitzner WP, Jöst H, Rauhöft L, Kliemke K, Lange U, Heitmann A, Jansen S, Lühken R. Using geometric wing morphometrics to distinguish Aedes japonicus japonicus and Aedes koreicus. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:418. [PMID: 37968721 PMCID: PMC10648383 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06038-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901) and Aedes koreicus (Edwards, 1917) have rapidly spread in Europe over the last decades. Both species are very closely related and occur in sympatry. Females and males are difficult to distinguish. However, the accurate species discrimination is important as both species may differ in their vectorial capacity and spreading behaviour. In this study, we assessed the potential of geometric wing morphometrics as alternative to distinguish the two species. METHODS A total of 147 Ae. j. japonicus specimens (77 females and 70 males) and 124 Ae. koreicus specimens (67 females and 57 males) were collected in southwest Germany. The left wing of each specimen was removed, mounted and photographed. The coordinates of 18 landmarks on the vein crosses were digitalised by a single observer. The resulting two-dimensional dataset was used to analyse the differences in the wing size (i.e. centroid size) and wing shape between Ae. j. japonicus and Ae. koreicus using geometric morphometrics. To analyse the reproducibility of the analysis, the landmark collection was repeated for 20 specimens per sex and species by two additional observers. RESULTS The wing size in female Ae. koreicus was significantly greater than in Ae. j. japonicus but did not differ significantly for males. However, the strong overlap in wing size also for the females would not allow to discriminate the two species. In contrast, the wing shape clustering was species specific and a leave-one-out validation resulted in a reclassification accuracy of 96.5% for the females and 91.3% for the males. The data collected by different observers resulted in a similar accuracy, indicating a low observer bias for the landmark collection. CONCLUSIONS Geometric wing morphometrics provide a reliable and robust tool to distinguish female and male specimens of Ae. j. japonicus and Ae. koreicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix G Sauer
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Wolf Peter Pfitzner
- Kommunale Aktionsgemeinschaft Zur Bekämpfung Der Schnakenplage e. V. (KABS), Georg-Peter-Süß-Str. 3, 67346, Speyer, Germany
| | - Hanna Jöst
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Leif Rauhöft
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Unchana Lange
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Heitmann
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Jansen
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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Agboli E, Schulze J, Jansen S, Cadar D, Sreenu VB, Leggewie M, Altinli M, Badusche M, Jöst H, Börstler J, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Schnettler E. Interaction of Mesonivirus and Negevirus with arboviruses and the RNAi response in Culex tarsalis-derived cells. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:361. [PMID: 37833743 PMCID: PMC10576325 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05985-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito-specific viruses (MSVs) comprise a variety of different virus families, some of which are known to interfere with infections of medically important arboviruses. Viruses belonging to the family Mesoniviridae or taxon Negevirus harbor several insect-specific viruses, including MSVs, which are known for their wide geographical distribution and extensive host ranges. Although these viruses are regularly identified in mosquitoes all over the world, their presence in mosquitoes in Germany had not yet been reported. METHODS A mix of three MSVs (Yichang virus [Mesoniviridae] and two negeviruses [Daeseongdong virus and Dezidougou virus]) in a sample that contained a pool of Coquillettidia richiardii mosquitoes collected in Germany was used to investigate the interaction of these viruses with different arboviruses in Culex-derived cells. In addition, small RNA sequencing and analysis of different mosquito-derived cells infected with this MSV mix were performed. RESULTS A strain of Yichang virus (Mesoniviridae) and two negeviruses (Daeseongdong virus and Dezidougou virus) were identified in the Cq. richiardii mosquitoes sampled in Germany, expanding current knowledge of their circulation in central Europe. Infection of mosquito-derived cells with these three viruses revealed that they are targeted by the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway. In Culex-derived cells, co-infection by these three viruses had varying effects on the representative arboviruses from different virus families (Togaviridae: Semliki forest virus [SFV]; Bunyavirales: Bunyamwera orthobunyavirus [BUNV]; or Flaviviridae: Usutu virus [USUV]). Specifically, persistent MSV co-infection inhibited BUNV infection, as well as USUV infection (but the latter only at specific time points). However, the impact on SFV infection was only noticeable at low multiplicity of infection (MOI 0.1) and at specific time points in combination with the infection status. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results are important findings that will lead to a better understanding of the complex interactions of MSVs, mosquitoes and arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Agboli
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Jonny Schulze
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Jansen
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, 20148, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Cadar
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Mayke Leggewie
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mine Altinli
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlis Badusche
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Jöst
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Börstler
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, 20148, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Esther Schnettler
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany.
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, 20148, Hamburg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany.
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Lühken R, Becker N, Dyczko D, Sauer FG, Kliemke K, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Rydzanicz K. First record of Anopheles (Anopheles) hyrcanus (Pallas 1771) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Poland. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:345. [PMID: 37794496 PMCID: PMC10552365 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05974-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The spatial distribution of mosquito species in the course of globalization and climate warming is highly dynamic. Different studies have demonstrated the spread and establishment of thermophilic mosquito species, potentially increasing the prevalence of 'nuisance' mosquitoes and the local transmission of pathogens. Here we report the first recorded sampling of Anopheles hyrcanus in Wrocław, southwest Poland. This is the most northern detection of this species to date in Europe. Future spread and population development of this potential vector of malaria parasites, viruses or zoonotic helminths, such as Dirofilaria spp., must be monitored carefully. Potential factors underlying the spread of this species are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renke Lühken
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Becker
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Dipterology (IfD)/KABS, Georg-Peter-Süß-Str. 3, 67346 Speyer, Germany
| | - Dagmara Dyczko
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego Str. 63/77, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Felix G. Sauer
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Kliemke
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Grosse L, Lieftüchter V, Vollmuth Y, Hoffmann F, Olivieri M, Reiter K, Tacke M, Heinen F, Borggraefe I, Osterman A, Forstner M, Hübner J, von Both U, Birzele L, Rohlfs M, Schomburg A, Böhmer MM, Ruf V, Cadar D, Muntau B, Pörtner K, Tappe D. First detected geographical cluster of BoDV-1 encephalitis from same small village in two children: therapeutic considerations and epidemiological implications. Infection 2023; 51:1383-1398. [PMID: 36821024 PMCID: PMC9947883 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-01998-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Borna disease virus (BoDV-1) is an emerging zoonotic virus causing severe and mostly fatal encephalitis in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS A local cluster of fatal BoDV-1 encephalitis cases was detected in the same village three years apart affecting two children. While the first case was diagnosed late in the course of disease, a very early diagnosis and treatment attempt facilitated by heightened awareness was achieved in the second case. Therapy started as early as day 12 of disease. Antiviral therapy encompassed favipiravir and ribavirin, and, after bioinformatic modelling, also remdesivir. As the disease is immunopathogenetically mediated, an intensified anti-inflammatory therapy was administered. Following initial impressive clinical improvement, the course was also fatal, although clearly prolonged. Viral RNA was detected by qPCR in tear fluid and saliva, constituting a possible transmission risk for health care professionals. Highest viral loads were found post mortem in the olfactory nerve and the limbic system, possibly reflecting the portal of entry for BoDV-1. Whole exome sequencing in both patients yielded no hint for underlying immunodeficiency. Full virus genomes belonging to the same cluster were obtained in both cases by next-generation sequencing. Sequences were not identical, indicating viral diversity in natural reservoirs. Specific transmission events or a common source of infection were not found by structured interviews. Patients lived 750m apart from each other and on the fringe of the settlement, a recently shown relevant risk factor. CONCLUSION Our report highlights the urgent necessity of effective treatment strategies, heightened awareness and early diagnosis. Gaps of knowledge regarding risk factors, transmission events, and tailored prevention methods become apparent. Whether this case cluster reflects endemicity or a geographical hot spot needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Grosse
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Victoria Lieftüchter
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Children with Medical Complexity - iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
| | - Yannik Vollmuth
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Hoffmann
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Olivieri
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Karl Reiter
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz Tacke
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Heinen
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
- Center for Children with Medical Complexity - iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingo Borggraefe
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
- Center for Children with Medical Complexity - iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Osterman
- Max-Von-Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Forstner
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Hübner
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lena Birzele
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Meino Rohlfs
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80377, Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian Schomburg
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, LMU Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Merle M Böhmer
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-Von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Viktoria Ruf
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Dániel Cadar
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Muntau
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Pörtner
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany.
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9
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Kutz JM, Rausche P, Rasamoelina T, Ratefiarisoa S, Razafindrakoto R, Klein P, Jaeger A, Rakotomalala RS, Rakotomalala Z, Randrianasolo BS, McKay-Chopin S, May J, Rakotozandrindrainy R, Puradiredja DI, Sicuri E, Hampl M, Lorenz E, Gheit T, Rakotoarivelo RA, Fusco D. Female genital schistosomiasis, human papilloma virus infection, and cervical cancer in rural Madagascar: a cross sectional study. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:89. [PMID: 37749705 PMCID: PMC10518971 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01139-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women's health in resource-limited settings can benefit from the integrated management of high-burden diseases, such as female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and human papilloma virus (HPV)-related cervical cancer. In schistosomiasis-endemic countries such as Madagascar, data on FGS and HPV prevalence are lacking as well as preventive measures for both conditions. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of FGS and HPV in rural Madagascar, and to examine associated risk factors to identify opportunities for improving women's health. METHODS After initial community outreach activities, interested women aged 18-49 years were recruited consecutively in 2021 at three primary health care centers in the district of Marovoay. FGS was detected by colposcopy. Colposcopy images were double-blind reviewed by two independent specialists. A Luminex bead-based assay was performed on cervical vaginal lavage specimens for HPV typing. Crude (CPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) of associations between selected factors and FGS and HPV positivity were estimated using univariable and multivariable binary Poisson regression with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Among 500 women enrolled, 302 had complete information on FGS and HPV diagnosis, and were thus eligible for analysis. Within the sample, 189 (62.6%, 95% CI: 56.9-68.1) cases of FGS were detected. A total of 129 women (42.7%, 95% CI: 37.1-48.5) tested positive for HPV. In total, 80 women (26.5%, 95% CI: 21.6-31.8]) tested positive for both conditions. No association was observed between FGS and HPV positivity, while previous pregnancy (APR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43-0.78) and older age (APR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42-0.81) are showing a negative association with HPV infection compared to no previous pregnancy and younger age groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study show that FGS and HPV are highly prevalent in rural Madagascar. The concurrent prevalence of these two conditions requires urgent adaptations of public health strategies to improve women's health, such as integrated services at primary level of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Kutz
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Pia Rausche
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Philipp Klein
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Anna Jaeger
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | | | - Zoly Rakotomalala
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Androva, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | | | | | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elisa Sicuri
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (IS Global), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Eva Lorenz
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Tarik Gheit
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | | | - Daniela Fusco
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany.
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10
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Hounkanrin G, Tchibozo C, Sauer FG, Agboli E, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Yadouleton A, Lühken R, Jöst H. Genetic diversity and wing geometric morphometrics among four populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Benin. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:320. [PMID: 37684701 PMCID: PMC10492319 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05943-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti is of major concern for global public health as the viruses that it transmits affect millions of people each year worldwide. Originating in Africa, Ae. aegypti has now spread throughout much of the world. While the genetic makeup of Ae. aegypti in the New World has been extensively studied, there is limited knowledge on its genetic diversity in Africa, particularly at a microgeographical level. METHODS We investigated mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I of four Ae. aegypti populations from Benin and employed wing morphometric analyses as a cost-effective and reliable tool to explore population structure. Our sampling encompassed various areas of Benin, from the southern to the northern borders of the country, and included urban, semi-urban, and sylvatic sites. RESULTS We observed a notable level of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity of 0.8333) and nucleotide diversity (0.00421986), and identified seven distinct haplotypes. Sylvatic and semi-urban sites exhibited a greater number of haplotypes compared to urban sites. Utilizing 18 wing landmarks, we calculated the centroid size, which revealed significant variation among the three landscape types. However, principal component analysis, employed to assess wing shape variation, did not demonstrate significant differences between populations based on landscape type. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate substantial genetic and morphological diversity among Ae. aegypti populations in Benin, and provide insight into important biological characteristics of these populations with respect to their potential to transmit viruses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study undertaken in Africa to integrate genetics with morphology to analyse the population structure of the major arbovirus vector Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gildas Hounkanrin
- Laboratory of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses of Benin, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Carine Tchibozo
- Laboratory of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses of Benin, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Felix Gregor Sauer
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eric Agboli
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
- School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anges Yadouleton
- Laboratory of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses of Benin, Cotonou, Benin
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Natitingou, National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Abomey, Benin
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Jöst
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.
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11
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Kutz JM, Rausche P, Gheit T, Puradiredja DI, Fusco D. Barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccination in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:974. [PMID: 37237329 PMCID: PMC10214362 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15842-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Globally, both men and women have a 50% risk of being infected at least once in their life. HPV prevalence is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), at an average of 24%. HPV causes different types of cancers, including cervical cancer (CC), which is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in SSA. HPV-vaccination has been proven to be effective in reducing HPV induced cancers. SSA countries are delayed in reaching the WHO's target of fully vaccinating 90% of girls within the age of 15 by 2030. Our systematic review aims to identify barriers and facilitators of HPV-vaccination in SSA to inform national implementation strategies in the region. METHODS This is a mixed method systematic review based on the PRISMA statement and The Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' Manual. Search strategies were adapted to each selected database: PubMed/MEDLINE, Livivo, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and African Journals Online for papers published in English, Italian, German, French and Spanish between 1 December 2011 and 31 December 2021. Zotero and Rayyan were the software used for data management. The appraisal was conducted by three independent reviewers. RESULTS A total of 20 articles were selected for appraisal from an initial 536 articles. Barriers included: limited health system capacities, socio-economic status, stigma, fear and costs of vaccines, negative experience with vaccinations, COVID-19 pandemic, lack of correct information, health education (HE) and consent. Additionally, we found that boys are scarcely considered for HPV-vaccination by parents and stakeholders. Facilitators included: information and knowledge, policy implementation, positive experience with vaccinations, HE, stakeholders' engagement, women's empowerment, community engagement, seasonality, and target-oriented vaccination campaigns. CONCLUSIONS This review synthesizes barriers and facilitators of HPV-vaccinations in SSA. Addressing these can contribute to the implementation of more effective HPV immunization programs targeted at eliminating CC in line with the WHO 90/70/90 strategy. REGISTRATION AND FUNDING Protocol ID: CRD42022338609 registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Partial funds: German Centre for Infection research (DZIF) project NAMASTE: 8,008,803,819.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Kutz
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Pia Rausche
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Tarik Gheit
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Fusco
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany.
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12
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Gruninger SK, Rasamoelina T, Rakotoarivelo RA, Razafindrakoto AR, Rasolojaona ZT, Rakotozafy RM, Soloniaina PR, Rakotozandrindrainy N, Rausche P, Doumbia CO, Jaeger A, Zerbo A, von Thien H, Klein P, van Dam G, Tannich E, Schwarz NG, Lorenz E, May J, Rakotozandrindrainy R, Fusco D. Prevalence and risk distribution of schistosomiasis among adults in Madagascar: a cross-sectional study. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:44. [PMID: 37098581 PMCID: PMC10127445 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01094-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The goal to eliminate the parasitic disease of poverty schistosomiasis as a public health problem is aligned with the 2030 United Nations agenda for sustainable development goals, including universal health coverage (UHC). Current control strategies focus on school-aged children, systematically neglecting adults. We aimed at providing evidence for the need of shifting the paradigm of schistosomiasis control programs from targeted to generalized approaches as key element for both the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem and the promotion of UHC. METHODS In a cross-sectional study performed between March 2020 and January 2021 at three primary health care centers in Andina, Tsiroanomandidy and Ankazomborona in Madagascar, we determined prevalence and risk factors for schistosomiasis by a semi-quantitative PCR assay from specimens collected from 1482 adult participants. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed to evaluate odd ratios. RESULTS The highest prevalence of S. mansoni, S. haematobium and co-infection of both species was 59.5%, 61.3% and 3.3%, in Andina and Ankazomborona respectively. Higher prevalence was observed among males (52.4%) and main contributors to the family income (68.1%). Not working as a farmer and higher age were found to be protective factors for infection. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence that adults are a high-risk group for schistosomiasis. Our data suggests that, for ensuring basic health as a human right, current public health strategies for schistosomiasis prevention and control need to be re-addressed towards more context specific, holistic and integrated approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Katharina Gruninger
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | | | - Rivo Andry Rakotoarivelo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Fianarantsoa Andrainjato, 301, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
| | | | | | - Rodson Morin Rakotozafy
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Antananarivo, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Njary Rakotozandrindrainy
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Antananarivo, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Pia Rausche
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Cheick Oumar Doumbia
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
- University Clinical Research Centre (UCRC), University of Sciences Technics and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Anna Jaeger
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Alexandre Zerbo
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Heidrun von Thien
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Philipp Klein
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Govert van Dam
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert Tannich
- National Reference Centre for Tropical Pathogens (NRC), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Georg Schwarz
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Eva Lorenz
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
- Department of Tropical Medicine I, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Daniela Fusco
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany.
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13
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Brattig NW, Cheke RA, Davies JB, Lühken R, Krüger A. Professor Rolf Garms. Parasitol Res 2022. [PMCID: PMC9098577 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07482-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert A. Cheke
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich at Medway, Chatham Maritime, Kent UK
| | - John B. Davies
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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Krumkamp R, Kreuels B, Jaeger VK, May J, Mikolajczyk R, Karch A. Negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR or rapid antigen test result and the subsequent risk of being infectious: a mathematical simulation study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2021; 21:165. [PMID: 34376152 PMCID: PMC8353420 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-021-01361-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A considerable proportion of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases. Therefore, different polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- or rapid antigen test (RAT)-based approaches are being discussed and applied to identify infectious individuals that would have otherwise gone undetected. In this article, we provide a framework to estimate the time-dependent risk of being infectious after a negative SARS-CoV-2 test, and we simulate the number of expected infectious individuals over time in populations who initially tested negative. METHODS A Monte Carlo approach is used to simulate asymptomatic infections over a 10-days period in populations of 1000 individuals following a negative SARS-CoV-2 test. Parameters representing the application of PCR tests or RATs are utilized, and SARS-CoV-2 cumulative 7-day incidences between 25 and 200 per 100,000 people are considered. Simulation results are compared to case numbers predicted via a mathematical equation. RESULTS The simulations showed a continuous increase in infectious individuals over time in populations of individuals who initially tested SARS-CoV-2 negative. The interplay between false negative rates of PCR tests or RATs, and the time that has passed since testing determines the number of infectious individuals. The simulated and the mathematically predicted number of infectious individuals were comparable. However, Monte Carlo simulations highlight that, due to random variation, theoretically observed infectious individuals can considerably exceed predicted case numbers even shortly after a test was conducted. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the number of infectious individuals in a screened group of asymptomatic people can be effectively reduced, and this effect can be described mathematically. However, the false negative rate of a test, the time since the negative test and the underlying SARS-CoV-2 incidence are critical parameters in determining the observed subsequent number of cases in tested population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Krumkamp
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel – Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benno Kreuels
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, P. O. Box 278, Zomba Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Veronika K. Jaeger
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel – Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- Tropical Medicine II, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20151 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rafael Mikolajczyk
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle, Germany
| | - André Karch
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Gehre F, Lagu H, Achol E, Katende M, May J, Affara M. Commentary: mobile laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics: what Europe could learn from the East African Community to assure trade in times of border closures. Global Health 2021; 17:49. [PMID: 33892773 PMCID: PMC8063167 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-021-00700-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants might lead to European border closures, which impact on trade and result in serious economic losses. In April 2020, similar border closures were observed during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in East Africa. MAIN BODY Since 2017 the East African Community EAC together with the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine BNITM established a mobile laboratory network integrated into the National Public Health Laboratories of the six Partner States for molecular diagnosis of viral haemorrhagic fevers and SARS-CoV-2. Since May 2020, the National Public Health Laboratories of Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan deployed these mobile laboratories to their respective borders, issuing a newly developed "Electronic EAC COVID-19 Digital Certificate" to SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative truck drivers, thus assuring regional trade. CONCLUSION Considering the large financial damages of border closures, such a mobile laboratory network as demonstrated in East Africa is cost-effective, easy to implement and feasible. The East African Community mobile laboratory network could serve as a blueprint for Europe and other countries around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Gehre
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
- East African Community Secretariat, Health Department, Arusha, Tanzania.
| | - Hakim Lagu
- East African Community Secretariat, Health Department, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Emmanuel Achol
- East African Community Secretariat, Health Department, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Michael Katende
- East African Community Secretariat, Health Department, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Tropical Medicine II, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Muna Affara
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- East African Community Secretariat, Health Department, Arusha, Tanzania
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