Articles

A preliminary validation of the Brief COPE instrument for assessing coping strategies among people living with HIV in China

The Brief COPE instrument has been utilized to conduct research on various populations, including people living with HIV (PLWH). However, the questionnaire constructs when applied to PLWH have not been subject...

Authors: Xiao-you Su, Joseph TF Lau, Winnie WS Mak, KC Choi, Tie-jian Feng, Xi Chen, Chu-liang Liu, Jun Liu, De Liu, Lin Chen, Jun-min Song, Yan Zhang, Guang-lu Zhao, Zhang-ping Zhu and Jin-quan Cheng

Geographical variations in risk factors associated with HIV infection among drug users in a prefecture in Southwest China

Previous studies have shown inconsistent or even contradictory results for some risk factors associated with HIV infection among drug users, and these may be partially explained by geographical variations.

Authors: Yi-Biao Zhou, Qi-Xing Wang, Song Liang, Yu-Han Gong, Mei-Xiao Yang, Yue Chen, Shi-Jiao Nie, Lei Nan, Ai-Hui Yang, Qiang Liao, Yang Yang, Xiu-Xia Song and Qing-Wu Jiang

High-throughput screening against thioredoxin glutathione reductase identifies novel inhibitors with potential therapeutic value for schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease also known as bilharzia and snail fever, is caused by different species of flatworms, such as Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni). Thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) from S....

Authors: Ting Li, Peter D. Ziniel, Pan-qing He, Valerie P. Kommer, Gregory J. Crowther, Min He, Qing Liu, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, David L. Williams and Ming-Wei Wang

Annual trends of human brucellosis in pastoralist communities of south-western Uganda: a retrospective ten-year study

Human brucellosis is prevalent in both rural and urban Uganda, yet most cases of the disease in humans go unnoticed and untreated because of inaccurate diagnosis, which is often due to the disease not manifest...

Authors: Catherine Kansiime, Elizeus Rutebemberwa, Benon B. Asiimwe, Fredrick Makumbi, Joel Bazira and Anthony Mugisha

Malaria endemicity and co-infection with tissue-dwelling parasites in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review

Mechanisms and outcomes of host-parasite interactions during malaria co-infections with gastrointestinal helminths are reasonably understood. In contrast, very little is known about such mechanisms in cases of...

Authors: Nyamongo W. Onkoba, Moses J. Chimbari and Samson Mukaratirwa

On the transmission pattern of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) in India

Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever, is endemic in five districts of Karnataka state, India. Recent reports of the spread of disease to neighboring districts of the Western Ghat...

Authors: Manoj V. Murhekar, Gudadappa S. Kasabi, Sanjay M. Mehendale, Devendra T. Mourya, Pragya D. Yadav and Babasaheb V. Tandale

Hypo-endemic onchocerciasis hotspots: defining areas of high risk through micro-mapping and environmental delineation

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) caused by the parasite Onchocercavolvulus and transmitted by riverine Simulium spp. (Black flies) is targeted for elimination in Africa. This is a significant change in strategy f...

Authors: Louise A. Kelly-Hope, Thomas R. Unnasch, Michelle C. Stanton and David H. Molyneux

The burden of mental health in lymphatic filariasis

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) afflict around one billion individuals in the poorest parts of the world with many more at risk. Lymphatic filariasis is one of the most prevalent of the infections and cause...

Authors: Thanh G.N. Ton, Charles Mackenzie and David H. Molyneux

Socio-cultural features and help-seeking preferences for leprosy and tuberculosis: a cultural epidemiological study in a tribal district of Maharashtra, India

India is a major contributor to the global burden of leprosy and tuberculosis (TB), which adversely affects the poorest tribal communities. Despite prioritisation by disease control programmes, programme perfo...

Authors: Amar Prakash Maske, Pravin Arun Sawant, Saju Joseph, Uma Satish Mahajan and Abhay Machindra Kudale

Prevalence of intestinal opportunistic parasites infections in the University hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Gastrointestinal parasites infections are widespread in Africa and their prevalence infections vary from country to country. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites i...

Authors: Ibrahim Sangaré, Sanata Bamba, Mamoudou Cissé, Adama Zida, Rabila Bamogo, Constant Sirima, Bienvenue K. Yaméogo, Roger Sanou, François Drabo, Roch K. Dabiré and Robert T. Guiguemdé

Characteristics relating to the interiorization of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Brazil: a cross-sectional study

In recent years there has been changes in the social and geographic profile of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the internalization of AIDS in the state of Rondô...

Authors: Gabriel de Deus Vieira, Ana Raquel Paz dos Reis, Francisco Ormidiel Teles de Alcântara Augusto, Karina Reis Martins, Paulo Roberto Fernandes Kern, Thairini Fuza de Souza, Sérgio de Almeida Basano, Luís Marcelo Aranha Camargo and Camila Maciel de Sousa

On dogs, people, and a rabies epidemic: results from a sociocultural study in Bali, Indonesia

Previously free of rabies, Bali experienced an outbreak in 2008, which has since caused a large number of human fatalities. In response, both mass dog culling and vaccination have been implemented. In order to...

Authors: Maria Digna Winda Widyastuti, Kevin Louis Bardosh, ᅟ Sunandar, C. Basri, E. Basuno, A. Jatikusumah, R. A. Arief, A. A. G. Putra, A. Rukmantara, A. T. S. Estoepangestie, I. Willyanto, I. K. G. Natakesuma, I. P. Sumantra, D. Grace, F. Unger and J. Gilbert

Effects of financial incentives for treatment supporters on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Swaziland: a pragmatic interventional study

Swaziland has the highest national incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the world, with treatment success rates well below the 85 % international target. Treatment support as part of comprehensive TB services is ...

Authors: Merav Kliner, Mamvura Canaan, Sifiso Zwide Ndwandwe, Fred Busulwa, William Welfare, Marty Richardson, John Walley and John Wright

Risk factors for Enterobius vermicularis infection in children in Gaozhou, Guangdong, China

Enterobius vermicularis infection is a prevalent intestinal parasitic disease in children. In this study, we explored the epidemiological status and risk factors for E. vermicularis infection i...

Authors: Hong-Mei Li, Chang-Hai Zhou, Zhi-Shi Li, Zhuo-Hui Deng, Cai-Wen Ruan, Qi-Ming Zhang, Ting-Jun Zhu, Long-Qi Xu and Ying-Dan Chen

When are patients lost to follow-up in pre-antiretroviral therapy care? a retrospective assessment of patients in an Ethiopian rural hospital

There is concern about the increasing rates of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among pre-antiretroviral therapy (pre-ART) patients in Ethiopia. Little information is available regarding the time when pre-ART patients...

Authors: Tamrat Shaweno and Debebe Shaweno

Extent of morbidity associated with schistosomiasis infection in Malawi: a review paper

Data on the extent of the burden due to schistosomiasis is sparse in most Sub-Saharan African countries. However, this data is crucial for triggering medical attention. A review of extent of morbidity and dete...

Authors: Austin H N Mtethiwa, Gamba Nkwengulila, Jared Bakuza, Daniel Sikawa and Abigail Kazembe

Possible FDA-approved drugs to treat Ebola virus infection

There is currently no effective treatment for the Ebola virus (EBOV) thus far. Most drugs and vaccines developed to date have not yet been approved for human trials. Two FDA-approved c-AbI1 tyrosine kinase inh...

Authors: Shu Yuan

Profiling B and T cell immune responses to co-infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and hookworm in humans

Humoral and cellular immune responses play protective roles against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. However, hookworm infection decreases the immune response to hookworm and bystander antigens. Curren...

Authors: Xin-Xu Li, Jia-Xu Chen, Li-Xia Wang, Jun Sun, Shao-Hong Chen, Jun-Hu Chen, Xiao-Yan Zhang and Xiao-Nong Zhou

The burden of disease on HIV-infected orphaned and non-orphaned children accessing primary health facilities in a rural district with poor resources in South Africa: a cross-sectional survey of primary caregivers of HIV-infected children aged 5–18 years

Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) is offered as part of the normal standard of care to increase access to treatment for HIV-infected children. In practice, HIV diagnosis occurs in late child...

Authors: Mathildah M Mokgatle and Sphiwe Madiba

Sustaining the gains made in malaria control and elimination

Significant progress has been made in the last 25 years to reduce the malaria burden, but considerable challenges remain. These gains have resulted from large investments in a range of control measures targeti...

Authors: Randall A Kramer and Adriane Lesser

Prevalence and risk factors associated with malaria infection among pregnant women in a semi-urban community of north-western Nigeria

Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem, with substantial risks for the mother, her foetus and the newborn. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and possibl...

Authors: Sani Abdullahi Fana, Mohammed Danladi Abubakar Bunza, Sule Aliyu Anka, Asiya Umar Imam and Shehu Usman Nataala

Knowledge, perception and practices about malaria, climate change, livelihoods and food security among rural communities of central Tanzania

Understanding the interactions between malaria and agriculture in Tanzania is of particular significance when considering that they are the major sources of illness and livelihoods. The objective of this study...

Authors: Benjamin K Mayala, Carolyn A Fahey, Dorothy Wei, Maria M Zinga, Veneranda M Bwana, Tabitha Mlacha, Susan F Rumisha, Grades Stanley, Elizabeth H Shayo and Leonard EG Mboera

Annual acknowledgement of manuscript reviewers

The editors of Infectious Diseases of Poverty would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 3 (2014).

Authors: Xiao-Nong Zhou

Tackling challenges of TB/MDRTB in China: concerted actions are imperative

China is the second largest TB epidemic with the most number of people infected with multi-drug resistant (MDR). Over the past decade, a large number of TB control projects have been funded by the government o...

Authors: Shenglan Tang

Assessment of the usefulness of integrated disease surveillance and response on suspected ebola cases in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana

This study assessed the quality, core and support functions of the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) system relating to 18 suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Brong Ahafo Regi...

Authors: Kofi Issah, Kennedy Nartey, Richard Amoah, Emmanuel George Bachan, Jacob Aleeba, Enuamah Yeetey and Timothy Letsa

Erratum: Acquired immunity and asymptomatic reservoir impact on frontline and airport Ebola outbreak syndromic surveillance and response

Authors: Ernest Tambo and Xiao-Nong Zhou

Ebola, the killer virus

Ebola virus disease (EVD) has mostly affected economically deprived countries as limited resources adversely affect a country’s infrastructure and administration. Probing into the factors that led to the wides...

Authors: Haider Ghazanfar, Fizza Orooj, Muhammad Ahmed Abdullah and Ali Ghazanfar

Leishmania tarentolae: an alternative approach to the production of monoclonal antibodies to treat emerging viral infections

Monoclonal antibody therapy has an important role to play as a post-exposure prophylactic and therapeutic for the treatment of viral infections, including emerging infections. For example, several patients of ...

Authors: Joshua D Jones

Factors associated with primary transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis compared with healthy controls in Henan Province, China

It is estimated that there are about 74,000 primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients per year according to the prevalence of MDR-TB of 5.7% among new TB patients in China. Thus, the risks of ...

Authors: Wei-Bin Li, Yan-Qiu Zhang, Jin Xing, Zhen-Ya Ma, Ya-Hong Qu and Xin-Xu Li

New focus of Kyasanur Forest disease virus activity in a tribal area in Kerala, India, 2014

Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) is a febrile illness characterized by hemorrhages, and is reported endemic in the Shimoga district in Karnataka state, India. It is caused by the KFD virus (KFDV) of the family Flavi...

Authors: Babasaheb V Tandale, Anukumar Balakrishnan, Pragya D Yadav, Noona Marja and Devendra T Mourya

Cultural drivers and health-seeking behaviours that impact on the transmission of pig-associated zoonoses in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Pig rearing is an important income source in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), with many smallholder farmers using traditional free-range pig production systems. Despite the potentially significant h...

Authors: Stephanie Burniston, Anna L Okello, Boualam Khamlome, Phouth Inthavong, Jeffrey Gilbert, Stuart D Blacksell, John Allen and Susan C Welburn

Spatial cluster analysis of human cases of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever reported in Pakistan

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral zoonotic disease that has been reported in almost all geographic regions in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to identify spatial clusters of huma...

Authors: Tariq Abbas, Muhammad Younus and Sayyad Aun Muhammad

Estimating the basic reproductive ratio for the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Ebola virus disease has reemerged as a major public health crisis in Africa, with isolated cases also observed globally, during the current outbreak.

Authors: Adnan Khan, Mahim Naveed, Muhammad Dur-e-Ahmad and Mudassar Imran

An ecohealth assessment of poultry production clusters (PPCs) for the livelihood and biosecurity improvement of small poultry producers in Asia

Poultry production cluster (PPC) programs are key strategies in many Asian countries to engage small commercial poultry producers in high-value production chains and to control infectious poultry diseases. Thi...

Authors: Libin Wang, Edi Basuno, Tuan Nguyen, Worapol Aengwanich, Nyak Ilham and Xiaoyun Li

Incidence of human rabies exposure and associated factors at the Gondar Health Center, Ethiopia: a three-year retrospective study

Rabies is one of the oldest known and most feared human diseases. Epidemiological studies provide basic information about the burden of the disease and underline the importance of prevention and control interv...

Authors: Meseret Yibrah and Debasu Damtie

Assessment of research productivity of Arab countries in the field of infectious diseases using Web of Science database

To meet the future challenges of infectious diseases and limit the spread of multidrug resistant microorganisms, a better understanding of published studies in the field of infectious diseases is needed. The o...

Authors: Waleed M Sweileh, Samah W Al-Jabi, Alaeddin Abuzanat, Ansam F Sawalha, Adham S AbuTaha, Mustafa A Ghanim and Sa’ed H Zyoud

Ecohealth research in Southeast Asia: past, present and the way forward

Ecohealth is a comprehensive approach to understanding health at its human, animal and environmental interface in a socio-ecological systems context. This approach was introduced widely in Southeast Asia (SEA)...

Authors: Hung Nguyen-Viet, Siobhan Doria, Dinh Xuan Tung, Hein Mallee, Bruce A Wilcox and Delia Grace

Urban schistosomiasis and associated determinant factors among school children in Bamako, Mali, West Africa

Schistosomiasis is classically described as a rural disease that occurs in areas with poor sanitary conditions. However, over recent decades, there has been an expansion of schistosomiasis foci towards urban a...

Authors: Abdoulaye Dabo, Adama Z Diarra, Vanessa Machault, Ousmane Touré, Diarra Sira Niambélé, Abdoulaye Kanté, Abdoulaye Ongoiba and Ogobara Doumbo

Ebola wreaks havoc in Sierra Leone

Ebola virus disease has taken a toll on more than 8,000 lives in West Africa in 2014. The most affected countries are Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The number of people infected by Ebola in Sierra Leone s...

Authors: Mohamed Koroma and Shan Lv

Are surveillance response systems enough to effectively combat and contain the Ebola outbreak?

The epidemic of the Ebola virus infection in West Africa in 2014 has become a worldwide concern. Due to the nature of the disease, which has an extremely high mortality potential, this outbreak has received mu...

Authors: Viroj Wiwanitkit, Ernest Tambo, Emmanuel Chidiebere Ugwu, Jeane Yonkeu Ngogang and Xiao-Nong Zhou

Equity and seeking treatment for young children with fever in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study in Cross River and Bauchi States

Poor children have a higher risk of contracting malaria and may be less likely to receive effective treatment. Malaria is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigerian children and many cases of ch...

Authors: Bikom Patrick Odu, Steven Mitchell, Hajara Isa, Iyam Ugot, Robbinson Yusuf, Anne Cockcroft and Neil Andersson

Praziquantel efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni among HIV-1 infected and uninfected adults living in fishing villages along Lake Victoria, Northwest Tanzania

Animal studies have demonstrated that functional immune responses, as determined by the levels of CD4⁺ cell counts and anti-schistosome antibodies responses, determine the efficacy of praziquantel. Based on this ...

Authors: Humphrey D Mazigo, David W Dunne, Safari M Kinung’hi and Fred Nuwaha

An integrative approach to enhancing small-scale poultry slaughterhouses by addressing regulations and food safety in northern -Thailand

In Asian countries, small-scale rural poultry meat production can face challenges due to food safety policies that limit economic growth and hinder improvement of sanitation and disease prevention. In this stu...

Authors: Suwit Chotinun, Suvichai Rojanasthien, Fred Unger, Manat Suwan, Pakpoom Tadee and Prapas Patchanee

Assessment of sanitary conditions of unregistered pig slaughter slabs and post mortem examination of pigs for Taenia solium metacestodes in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria

A number of studies document the prevalence of Taenia solium infections in Nigeria, yet these studies do not cover porcine cysticercosis in private home slaughter slabs where there is no routine meat inspection a...

Authors: Agnes U Edia-Asuke, Helen I Inabo, Veronica J Umoh, Clement MZ Whong, Sunday Asuke and Richard E Edeh

Factors associated with non-adherence to scheduled medical follow-up appointments among Cameroonian children requiring HIV care: a case-control analysis of the usual-care group in the MORE CARE trial

A better understanding of why HIV-exposed/infected children fail to attend their scheduled follow-up medical appointments for HIV-related care would allow for interventions to enhance the delivery of care. The...

Authors: Jean Joel R Bigna, Jean Jacques N Noubiap, Claudia S Plottel, Charles Kouanfack and Sinata Koulla-Shiro

Cross-strait parasitological research priorities arrived at by historical tracking and advanced dialogue

To further enhance dialogue and promote cross-strait cooperation in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases, this paper reviewed the progress and current challenges in the cross-strait control and res...

Authors: Jyh-Wei Shin, Jia-Xu Chen, Dong-Hui Zhang, Wei-Chen Lin, Bo Shen and Min-Jun Ji

Human Ebola virus infection in West Africa: a review of available therapeutic agents that target different steps of the life cycle of Ebola virus

The recent outbreak of the human Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) epidemic is spiraling out of control in West Africa. Human EBOV hemorrhagic fever has a case fatality rate of up to 90%. The EBOV is classified as a bio...

Authors: Kang Yiu Lai, Wing Yiu George Ng and Fan Fanny Cheng

Non-conventional humanitarian interventions on Ebola outbreak crisis in West Africa: health, ethics and legal implications

Due to the lack of Ebola outbreak early warning alert, preparedness, surveillance and response systems, the most deadly, complex and largest ever seen Ebola war has been devastating West African communities. T...

Authors: Ernest Tambo

Multinational corporations and infectious disease: Embracing human rights management techniques

Global health institutions have called for governments, international organisations and health practitioners to employ a human rights-based approach to infectious diseases. The motivation for a human rights ap...

Authors: Kendyl Salcito, Burton H Singer, Mitchell G Weiss, Mirko S Winkler, Gary R Krieger, Mark Wielga and Jürg Utzinger

Circulation of the low pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N2 virus in ducks at a live bird market in Ibadan, Nigeria

To monitor carrier hosts of avian influenza in Nigeria, we randomly collected cloaca swab specimens from 155 ducks at a live bird market (LBM) in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, between July 2011 and July 2012.

Authors: Temitope Coker, Clement Meseko, Georgina Odaibo and David Olaleye