China is currently experiencing one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world. Although the overall prevalence rate is still low, with a population of 1.3 billion, high-risk factors which have contribut...China is currently experiencing one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world. Although the overall prevalence rate is still low, with a population of 1.3 billion, high-risk factors which have contributed to the HIV/AIDS epidemics worldwide continue to prevail in China, including a high rate of injecting drug use and needle sharing, commercial sex with low rates of condom use, and concurrent sex with both commercial sex workers and noncommercial casual or steady sex partners. In addition, there are increasing “double risk” populations overlapping drug users and sex workers, as well as increasing rates of STDs and HIV among high-risk populations. Sexual transmission, therefore, may serve as a bridge connecting high-risk populations with general populations. There is an urgent need to prevent the spread of HIV from these high-risk oooulations into the general oooulation of China.展开更多
Genetic polymorphisms in human genes can influence the risk for HIV-1 infection and disease progression, although the reported effects of these alleles have been inconsistent. This review highlights the recent discove...Genetic polymorphisms in human genes can influence the risk for HIV-1 infection and disease progression, although the reported effects of these alleles have been inconsistent. This review highlights the recent discoveries on global and Chinese genetic polymorphisms and their association with HIV-1 transmission and disease progression.展开更多
Objective:To detect and identify filarial parasites in dried blood spots(DBS)collected from domestic cats using high resolution melting real-time PCR(HRM RT-PCR).Methods:A total of 208 DBS were collected from domestic...Objective:To detect and identify filarial parasites in dried blood spots(DBS)collected from domestic cats using high resolution melting real-time PCR(HRM RT-PCR).Methods:A total of 208 DBS were collected from domestic cats in a brugian filariasis endemic areas in Surat Thani Province,southern Thailand.Microfilariae were found in 9 blood slides using Giemsa-stained thick blood film.The extracted DNA from blood spot volumes of 10 and 20μL DBS with positive filarial parasites in cats were performed using HRM RT-PCR method.The primers were designed based on the partial mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene for identifying Brugia malayi,Brugia pahangi,Dirofilaria immitis.All purified samples were then detected.Results:Using different volumes of 10μL and 20μL DBS could easily distinguish filarial parasites and showed similar results.PCR amplicons of Brugia malayi,Brugia pahangi and Dirofilaria immitis were determined at melting peak(temperature)of 75.70℃,77.46℃,and 73.56℃,respectively.All 9 positive DBS samples showed positive Brugia pahangi and similar nucleotide sequences.Conclusions:This HRM RT-PCR method is able to diagnose,identify and discriminate filarial parasites collected from DBS,which is simple and inexpensive compared with other probe-based genotyping methods.Furthermore,this method is useful to survey,prevent and control filariasis.展开更多
Background Leprosy remains a persistent public health challenge,where human-to-human transmission of Mycobacterium leprae via respiratory droplets is well established.In the tropical Americas,growing evidence implicat...Background Leprosy remains a persistent public health challenge,where human-to-human transmission of Mycobacterium leprae via respiratory droplets is well established.In the tropical Americas,growing evidence implicates armadillos as important zoonotic reservoirs,particularly through direct contact during hunting and handling.However,such transmission has so far been considered rare and highly localised.This study provides a comprehensive spatial analysis of the role of armadillo hunting in human leprosy transmission,quantifying its contribution to disease prevalence and identifying geographic hotspots where interventions could be most effective.Methods Using Brazil’s 326,001 reported leprosy cases from 2013 to 2022,we applied a pathogeographical approach to explore transmission dynamics.We compiled data on 554 hunted armadillos across 175 municipalities and M.leprae prevalence in 376 armadillo individuals from 97 municipalities(mean prevalence=38.5%).These were used to build spatial models assessing hunting-related infection risk and integrated as a variable into a generalised linear model alongside socioeconomic,climatic,and environmental predictors to evaluate their effects on human leprosy prevalence.Results Key predictors of armadillo hunting included higher population density(P<0.001)and firearm availability(P<0.01).Infection in armadillos was negatively correlated with native habitat coverage(coefficient:−2.28;P<0.001),suggesting that environmental degradation can amplify infection risk.The armadillo-hunting infection risk variable—generated by combining armadillo hunting and infection favourability models—emerged as the second strongest predictor of human leprosy prevalence(coefficient:1.69;P<0.001),accounting for~25%of cases nationally and around 40%in deforestation hotspots.Additional positive predictors included greater precipitation seasonality(coefficient:0.82;P<0.001)and malnutrition(coefficient:0.01;P<0.001),while higher population density(coefficient:−0.64;P<0.001),natural habitat coverage(coefficient:−0.50;P<0.001)and socioeconomic status(coefficient:−0.47;P=0.013)were linked to reduced disease prevalence.Conclusions Armadillo hunting seems to play a more significant role in human leprosy transmission than previously recognised.To address this overlooked pathway,targeted interventions should focus on reducing unsafe and illegal hunting,improving communication around zoonotic risks,strengthening disease surveillance in high-risk areas,and conducting genetic studies to confirm wildlife-to-human transmission.Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating wildlife-associated transmission pathways into strategies to reduce disease prevalence and mitigate future outbreaks in tropical regions facing rapid environmental change and persistent poverty.展开更多
文摘China is currently experiencing one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world. Although the overall prevalence rate is still low, with a population of 1.3 billion, high-risk factors which have contributed to the HIV/AIDS epidemics worldwide continue to prevail in China, including a high rate of injecting drug use and needle sharing, commercial sex with low rates of condom use, and concurrent sex with both commercial sex workers and noncommercial casual or steady sex partners. In addition, there are increasing “double risk” populations overlapping drug users and sex workers, as well as increasing rates of STDs and HIV among high-risk populations. Sexual transmission, therefore, may serve as a bridge connecting high-risk populations with general populations. There is an urgent need to prevent the spread of HIV from these high-risk oooulations into the general oooulation of China.
文摘Genetic polymorphisms in human genes can influence the risk for HIV-1 infection and disease progression, although the reported effects of these alleles have been inconsistent. This review highlights the recent discoveries on global and Chinese genetic polymorphisms and their association with HIV-1 transmission and disease progression.
文摘Objective:To detect and identify filarial parasites in dried blood spots(DBS)collected from domestic cats using high resolution melting real-time PCR(HRM RT-PCR).Methods:A total of 208 DBS were collected from domestic cats in a brugian filariasis endemic areas in Surat Thani Province,southern Thailand.Microfilariae were found in 9 blood slides using Giemsa-stained thick blood film.The extracted DNA from blood spot volumes of 10 and 20μL DBS with positive filarial parasites in cats were performed using HRM RT-PCR method.The primers were designed based on the partial mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene for identifying Brugia malayi,Brugia pahangi,Dirofilaria immitis.All purified samples were then detected.Results:Using different volumes of 10μL and 20μL DBS could easily distinguish filarial parasites and showed similar results.PCR amplicons of Brugia malayi,Brugia pahangi and Dirofilaria immitis were determined at melting peak(temperature)of 75.70℃,77.46℃,and 73.56℃,respectively.All 9 positive DBS samples showed positive Brugia pahangi and similar nucleotide sequences.Conclusions:This HRM RT-PCR method is able to diagnose,identify and discriminate filarial parasites collected from DBS,which is simple and inexpensive compared with other probe-based genotyping methods.Furthermore,this method is useful to survey,prevent and control filariasis.
基金supported by the Biogeography,Diversity and Conservation Lab of the University of Malaga,Project PID2021-124063OB-I00 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)and by the Leprosy Research Initiative Foundation(Grant#FP25\19)supported by a postdoctoral contract of the Plan Propio de Investigacion,Transferencia y Divulgacion Cientifica of the University of Malaga+7 种基金supported by MOPGA:Visiting Fellowship Program for early career researchers,Campus France,Francesupported by Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation through grant GBMF9258 to the Comunidad de Manejo de Fauna Silvestre en la Amazonia y en Latinoamerica(COMFAUNA)supported UK Research and Innovation’s Global Challenges Research Fund(UKRI GCRF)Trade,Development and the Environment Hub project(ES/S008160/1)supported by the joint NSF-NIH-NIFA Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease program(DEB#1911457)benefited from an‘Investissement d’Avenir’Grant managed by Agence Nationale de la Recherche,France(LABEX CEBA:ANR-10-LABX-25-01)supported by Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior—Brasil(CAPES)for a PNPD research fellowship.(88887.717863/2022-00)supported by a Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico(CNPq)postdoctoral fellowship(150261/2023-3)supported by the Sustainable Landscapes and Livelihoods Programme.
文摘Background Leprosy remains a persistent public health challenge,where human-to-human transmission of Mycobacterium leprae via respiratory droplets is well established.In the tropical Americas,growing evidence implicates armadillos as important zoonotic reservoirs,particularly through direct contact during hunting and handling.However,such transmission has so far been considered rare and highly localised.This study provides a comprehensive spatial analysis of the role of armadillo hunting in human leprosy transmission,quantifying its contribution to disease prevalence and identifying geographic hotspots where interventions could be most effective.Methods Using Brazil’s 326,001 reported leprosy cases from 2013 to 2022,we applied a pathogeographical approach to explore transmission dynamics.We compiled data on 554 hunted armadillos across 175 municipalities and M.leprae prevalence in 376 armadillo individuals from 97 municipalities(mean prevalence=38.5%).These were used to build spatial models assessing hunting-related infection risk and integrated as a variable into a generalised linear model alongside socioeconomic,climatic,and environmental predictors to evaluate their effects on human leprosy prevalence.Results Key predictors of armadillo hunting included higher population density(P<0.001)and firearm availability(P<0.01).Infection in armadillos was negatively correlated with native habitat coverage(coefficient:−2.28;P<0.001),suggesting that environmental degradation can amplify infection risk.The armadillo-hunting infection risk variable—generated by combining armadillo hunting and infection favourability models—emerged as the second strongest predictor of human leprosy prevalence(coefficient:1.69;P<0.001),accounting for~25%of cases nationally and around 40%in deforestation hotspots.Additional positive predictors included greater precipitation seasonality(coefficient:0.82;P<0.001)and malnutrition(coefficient:0.01;P<0.001),while higher population density(coefficient:−0.64;P<0.001),natural habitat coverage(coefficient:−0.50;P<0.001)and socioeconomic status(coefficient:−0.47;P=0.013)were linked to reduced disease prevalence.Conclusions Armadillo hunting seems to play a more significant role in human leprosy transmission than previously recognised.To address this overlooked pathway,targeted interventions should focus on reducing unsafe and illegal hunting,improving communication around zoonotic risks,strengthening disease surveillance in high-risk areas,and conducting genetic studies to confirm wildlife-to-human transmission.Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating wildlife-associated transmission pathways into strategies to reduce disease prevalence and mitigate future outbreaks in tropical regions facing rapid environmental change and persistent poverty.
