Articles

Framework of behavioral indicators evaluating TB health promotion outcomes: a modified Delphi study of TB policymakers and health workers

Although TB health promotion directed at policy makers and healthcare workers (HCWs) is considered important to tuberculosis (TB) control, no indicators currently assess the impact of such promotional activiti...

Authors: Ying Li, John Ehiri, Daiyu Hu, Eyal Oren and Jia Cao

China’s 1-3-7 surveillance and response strategy for malaria elimination: Is case reporting, investigation and foci response happening according to plan?

The China’s 1-3-7 strategy was initiated and extensively adopted in different types of counties (geographic regions) for reporting of malaria cases within 1 day, their confirmation and investigation within 3 d...

Authors: Shui-Sen Zhou, Shao-Sen Zhang, Li Zhang, Aafje E. C. Rietveld, Andrew R. Ramsay, Rony Zachariah, Karen Bissell, Rafael Van den Bergh, Zhi-Gui Xia, Xiao-Nong Zhou and Richard E. Cibulskis

Assessing Ebola-related web search behaviour: insights and implications from an analytical study of Google Trends-based query volumes

The 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa has attracted public interest worldwide, leading to millions of Ebola-related Internet searches being performed during the period of the epidemic. This study aimed to eva...

Authors: Cristiano Alicino, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Valeria Faccio, Daniela Amicizia, Donatella Panatto, Roberto Gasparini, Giancarlo Icardi and Andrea Orsi

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with hand, foot and mouth disease in Henan, China: a hospital-based study

The prevalence of infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in humans has been increasing in China due to the growing number of cats in the country. Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a serious public heal...

Authors: Shuai Wang, Chunwei Lan, Luwen Zhang, Haizhu Zhang, Zhijun Yao, Dong Wang, Jingbo Ma, Jiarong Deng and Shiguo Liu

Why has canine rabies remained endemic in the Kilosa district of Tanzania? Lessons learnt and the way forward

Domestic dogs are the main targets for rabies control as they are the principal reservoir for transmission of the rabies virus to humans and other domestic animals. The purpose of this study was to identify th...

Authors: M. J. Kipanyula

The 2013 measles outbreak in Sri Lanka: experience from a rural district and implications for measles elimination goals

Sri Lanka was the first country in the Southeast Asian region to achieve its measles elimination goal in 2011. In 2012, the measles immunization schedule changed from a measles vaccine at 9 months to a measles...

Authors: Niroshana Jathun Dahanayaka, Sithumini Pahalagamage, Ranjan Madushanka Ganegama, Prasanna Weerawansa and Suneth Buddhika Agampodi

Prediction of the next highly pathogenic avian influenza pandemic that can cause illness in humans

In recent years, avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have seriously threatened human health. Questions such as: why do AIVs infect humans?, how quickly can an AIV become pandemic?, and which virus is the most dange...

Authors: Zhong-Wei Zhang, Ting Liu, Jian Zeng, Yang-Er Chen, Ming Yuan, Da-Wei Zhang, Feng Zhu and Shu Yuan

Knowledge, attitudes and practices with regard to the presence, transmission, impact, and control of cystic echinococcosis in Sidi Kacem Province, Morocco

This study is a component of a large research project on five major neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs) including cystic echinococcosis and was undertaken in the Province of Sidi Kacem over a period of four yea...

Authors: Ikhlass El Berbri, Marie J. Ducrotoy, Anne-Françoise Petavy, Ouaffa Fassifihri, Alexandra P. Shaw, Mohammed Bouslikhane, Franck Boue, Susan C. Welburn and Allal Dakkak

Intestinal parasitic infections among children under five years of age presenting with diarrhoeal diseases to two public health facilities in Hawassa, South Ethiopia

Diarrhoea is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age in developing countries, including Ethiopia. It is caused by a wide range of pathogens, including parasites, bacteria ...

Authors: Getamesay Mulatu, Ahmed Zeynudin, Endalew Zemene, Serkadis Debalke and Getenet Beyene

Indirect costs associated with deaths from the Ebola virus disease in West Africa

By 28 June 2015, there were a total of 11,234 deaths from the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in five West African countries (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Sierra Leone). The objective of this study was to esti...

Authors: Joses Muthuri Kirigia, Felix Masiye, Doris Gatwiri Kirigia and Patricia Akweongo

Are free anti-tuberculosis drugs enough? An empirical study from three cities in China

Tuberculosis (TB) patients in China still face a number of barriers in seeking diagnosis and treatment. There is evidence that the economic burden on TB patients and their households discourages treatment comp...

Authors: Shanquan Chen, Hui Zhang, Yao Pan, Qian Long, Li Xiang, Lan Yao and Henry Lucas

Insecticide resistance in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in Zimbabwe: a review

Malaria is a global public health problem, with about 3.2 billion people at risk of infection. The populations at risk mainly reside in Africa, Asia and America, with African populations accounting for the lar...

Authors: White Soko, Moses J. Chimbari and Samson Mukaratirwa

The economic burden of influenza-associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations in China: a retrospective survey

The seasonal influenza vaccine coverage rate in China is only 1.9 %. There is no information available on the economic burden of influenza-associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations at the national leve...

Authors: Juan Yang, Mark Jit, Kathy S. Leung, Ya-ming Zheng, Lu-zhao Feng, Li-ping Wang, Eric H. Y. Lau, Joseph T. Wu and Hong-jie Yu

Coinfection with malaria and intestinal parasites, and its association with anaemia in children in Cameroon

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of coinfection with malaria and intestinal parasites, as well as to determine its association with anaemia in children aged 10 years and below in Muyuk...

Authors: Anna Longdoh Njunda, Shuri Ghasarah Fon, Jules Clement Nguedia Assob, Dickson Shey Nsagha, Tayong Dizzle Bita Kwenti and Tebit Emmanuel Kwenti

A study of the correlation between dengue and weather in Kandy City, Sri Lanka (2003 -2012) and lessons learned

Weather variables affect dengue transmission. This study aimed to identify a dengue weather correlation pattern in Kandy, Sri Lanka, compare the results with results of similar studies, and establish ways for ...

Authors: N D B Ehelepola, Kusalika Ariyaratne, W M N P Buddhadasa, Sunil Ratnayake and Malani Wickramasinghe

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