Prevalence and factors associated with human Taenia solium taeniosis and cysticercosis in twelve remote villages of Ranomafana rainforest, Madagascar.

BACKGROUND: Infections with the tapeworm Taenia solium (taeniosis and cysticercosis) are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) highly endemic in Madagascar. These infections are however underdiagnosed, underreported and their burden at the community level remains unknown especially in rural remote settings. This study aims at assessing the prevalence of T. solium infections and associated risk factors in twelve remote villages surrounding Ranomafana National Park (RNP), Ifanadiana District, Madagascar. METHODOLOGY: A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 2016. Stool and serum samples were collected from participants. Tapeworm carriers were identified by stool examination. Taenia species and T. solium genotypes were characterised by PCR and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Detection of specific anti-cysticercal antibodies (IgG) or circulating cysticercal antigens was performed by ELISA or EITB/Western blot assays. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Of the 459 participants with paired stool and blood samples included ten participants from seven distinct villages harbored Taenia spp. eggs in their stools samples DNA sequencing of the cox1 gene revealed a majority of T. solium Asian genotype (9/10) carriage. The overall seroprevalences of anti-cysticercal IgGs detected by ELISA and EITB were quite similar (27.5% and 29.8% respectively). A prevalence rate of 12.4% of circulating cysticercal antigens was observed reflecting cysticercosis with viable cysts. Open defecation (Odds Ratio, OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.3) and promiscuity with households of more than 4 people (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1) seem to be the main risk factors associated with anticysticercal antibodies detection. Being over 15 years of age would be a risk factor associated with an active cysticercosis (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.7). Females (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) and use of river as house water source (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-1.5) were less likely to have cysticercosis with viable cysts. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicates a high exposure of the investigated population to T. solium infections with a high prevalence of cysticercosis with viable cysts. These data can be useful to strengthen public health interventions in these remote settings.

The association between pineal gland calcification and white matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin in older adults. A population-based study.

Pineal gland calcification (PGC) has been associated with low melatonin production, a hormone with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuro-protective effects. Therefore, melatonin deficiency may play a role in the development of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), a condition that is partly related to upregulation of oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms leading to endothelial dysfunction, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, and impaired interstitial fluid drainage. In this study, the association between PGC (a surrogate for melatonin deficiency) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin (a biomarker of cSVD) was assessed in Atahualpa cohort individuals aged ≥60 years undergoing head CT and brain MRI. PGC was rated as none-to-mild and moderate-to-severe. WMHs were classified according to the modified Fazekas scale. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess the independent association between moderate-to-severe PGC and WMHs. Inverse probability of exposure weighting was used to estimate the effect of PGC on WMH. Of 373 individuals, 96 (26%) had moderate-to-severe PGC and 86 (23%) had moderate-to-severe WMHs. Moderate-to-severe PGC and WMH were independently associated in a fully-adjusted logistic regression model (OR: 2.21; 95% C.I.: 1.19-4.11; p = 0.012). Inverse probability of exposure weighting showed an estimate for the proportion of moderate-to-severe WMH among those with none-to-mild PGC of 20.5%, and the exposure-effect was 13.2% higher among those with moderate-to-severe PGC (ß: 0.132; 95% C.I: 0.036-0.229; p = 0.007). The association found in this study provides grounds for further evaluation of the role of melatonin deficiency in cSVD development.

Midline Cava And Limbic System Dysfunction In Community-Dwelling Individuals Aged ≥20 Years Living In Rural Ecuador. A Case-Control Study Nested To A Population-Based Cohort / Cavum De Línea Media Y Disfunción Del Sistema Límbico En Individuos De 20 Años O Más Que Viven En Zonas Rurales Del Litoral Ecuatoriano. Estudio De Caso-Control Anidado En Una Cohorte Poblacional

ABSTRACT Background: Persistence of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) and cavum vergae (CV) into adulthood and their association with mood disorders is unknown. Objective: We aimed to assess persistence of these cava in Atahualpa cohort individuals, and their association with clinical depression (as a surrogate of limbic system dysfunction). Methods: Cases were defined as Atahualpa residents aged ≥20 years with CSP and/or CV and paired 1:1 to age- and sex-matched randomly-selected controls. A board-certified psychiatrist (blinded to case-control status) interviewed individuals with the aid of the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) to establish a diagnosis of clinical depression. The McNemar's test and conditional logistic regression models were fitted to assess the independent association between persistence of CSP and/or CV and clinical depression (as the dependent variable). Results: Of 1,298 individuals undergoing a head CT, 51 (3.9%) had a CSP and/or CV. The selection process for the nested case-control study on the Atahualpa cohort (after excluding eight missing individuals with midline cava) generated 43 pairs. Nine of 43 case-patients (20.9%) and only two control subjects (4.7%) had moderate-to-severe scores on the PHQ-9 (cutoff ≥10 points). Clinical depression was significantly more frequent among case-patients than controls by the McNemar's test (OR: 8; 95% C.I.: 1.1 - 354.9) and the conditional logistic regression model (OR: 8; 95% C.I.: 1.00 - 63.96). Conclusions: This study provides epidemiological evidence favoring the association between midline cava and clinical depression, supporting their relationship with limbic system dysfunction.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: La persistencia de cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) y cavum Vergae (CV) en adultos y su asociación con trastornos del estado de ánimo es desconocida. Objetivo: Evaluar la persistencia de estas cavidades y su asociación con depresión clínica (como marcador de disfunción del sistema límbico). Métodos: Los casos se definieron como residentes de Atahualpa con edades ≥20 años con CSP y/o CV y se emparejaron 1:1 con controles aleatoriamente seleccionados de acuerdo con edad y sexo. Un psiquiatra (ciego al estado caso/control) entrevistó a los individuos con el módulo de depresión del cuestionario de salud del paciente (PHQ-9) para establecer diagnóstico de depresión clínica. La prueba de McNemar y modelos de regresión logística condicional se utilizaron para evaluar la asociación independiente entre persistencia de CSP y/o CV y depresión clínica (como variable dependiente). Resultados: De 1.298 individuos sometidos a TC de cerebro, 51 (3.9%) tenían un CSP y/o CV. El proceso de selección para el estudio de casos y controles generó 43 pares. Nueve de 43 casos (20.9%) y solo dos controles (4.7%) tuvieron puntajes de moderados a severos en el PHQ-9 (punto de corte ≥10 puntos). La depresión clínica fue significativamente más frecuente entre los pacientes que en los controles mediante la prueba de McNemar (OR: 8; 95% C.I.: 1.1 - 354.9) y la regresión logística condicional (OR: 8; 95% C.I.: 1.00 - 63.96). Conclusiones: Este estudio proporciona evidencia epidemiológica que favorece la asociación entre persistencia de CSP y/o CV y depresión clínica, lo que favorece su relación con disfunción del sistema límbico.

Supratentorial arachnoid cysts and seizures/epilepsy: A population study in community dwellers aged ≥20 years.

Literature on the association between arachnoid cysts and seizures/epilepsy is inconsistent, and most series have been flawed due to recruitment bias. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of supratentorial arachnoid cysts (SACs) in Atahualpa residents aged ≥20 years, and to estimate whether these lesions were associated with seizures/epilepsy. A total of 1157 individuals were included. Computed tomography revealed SACs in 25 individuals (2.2%). Most had middle cranial fossa SACs (n = 19). Recurrent nonprovoked seizures were diagnosed in 28 individuals and a single seizure in 4. Only 1 of 25 (4%) individuals with SACs had seizures/epilepsy as opposed to 31 of 1132 (2.7%) who did not have SACs (P = 0.508). A logistic regression model showed no association between SACs and seizures/epilepsy, after taking into account the effect of relevant confounders (odds ratio [OR] 1.71; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.22-13.3; P = 0.607). This study provides evidence of lack of association between SACs and seizures/epilepsy.

Epidemiology of soil transmitted helminth and Strongyloides stercoralis infections in remote rural villages of Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections carry the highest number of disability adjusted life years among all neglected tropical diseases, disproportionately affecting low-income countries such as Madagascar.  This study describes the epidemiology of STH and S. stercoralis infections in twelve remote villages surrounding Ranomafana National Park (RNP), Ifanadiana, Madagascar. Questionnaires and stool samples were collected from 574 subjects from random households. The Kato-Katz method and spontaneous sedimentation technique were used to examine stool samples for evidence of infection. Infection prevalence rates were 71.4% for Ascaris lumbricoides (95% CI: 67.7-75.1), 74.7% for Trichuris trichiura (95% CI: 71.1-78.2), 33.1% for hookworm (95% CI: 29.2-36.9), and 3.3% for Strongyloides stercoralis (95% CI: 1.84-4.77). Participants who were older in age (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95-0.99) and who had a high school education (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04-0.77) were less likely to be infected with a STH. Females were less likely to be infected with A. lumbricoides (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.33-0.82). Participants living in villages further from the main road were more likely to be infected with a STH (F = 4.00, p = 0.02). Overall, this study found that 92.5% (95% CI: 90.3-94.6) of the people living in rural regions near RNP have at least one STH infection. This calls into question the current preventative chemotherapy (PC) program in place and suggests that further medical, socioeconomic, and infrastructural deveopments are needed to reduce STH prevalence rates among this underserved population.

Repellency of α-pinene against the house fly, Musca domestica.

Musca domestica L. is a non-biting nuisance fly that is capable of transmitting a large variety of pathogens to humans and non-human animals. Natural compounds and their derivatives, which are often less toxic than entirely synthetic compounds, may be used as repellents against M. domestica as part of comprehensive pest control and disease mitigation programs. This work investigates the repellent properties of the natural compound α-pinene against M. domestica. Adult house flies of both sexes avoided the volatile plant-derived terpenes (1S)-(-)-α-pinene 1 and (1R)-(+)-α-pinene 2 in constant air flow laboratory conditions, with 1 exhibiting a stronger repellent effect. House flies also avoided tarsal contact with filter paper saturated with 1. Furthermore, both 1 and 2 are electrophysiologically active on in situ female house fly antennal preparations. These findings demonstrate that α-pinene exhibits natural baseline repellency against the house fly, elicits a specific physiological response in this fly, and that functional or structural modification of 1 in particular may yield novel fly repellents with desirable properties.