Unveiling hidden leprosy in underserved populations of the Amazonas state through active case-finding-the Amazon Skin Health Program (2023).

Background: Active case-finding is an effective strategy for combating leprosy, especially in early multibacillary cases in endemic regions. This early approach includes systematic actions such as epidemiological investigations, community surveys, and awareness campaigns to identify leprosy cases. This study reports new leprosy cases diagnosed through an active case-finding initiative conducted in 12 underserved populations from Amazonas in 2023.

Zoonotic Sporotrichosis outbreak: Emerging public health threat in the Amazon State, Brazil.

Background: Sporotrichosis is the most common subcutaneous mycosis caused by Sporothrix spp. Traditionally, it is transmitted through injuries involving plant debris. However, over the past few decades, there has been an epidemic increase in human cases resulting from contact with infected animals, particularly cats, in various regions of Brazil.

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with a sequential scheme of pentamidine and tamoxifen in an area with a predominance of Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis: A randomised, non-inferiority clinical trial.

Objective: To determine whether a combination of a single intramuscular (IM) dose of pentamidine (7 mg/kg) followed by oral tamoxifen 40 mg/day for 20 days is non-inferior to three IM doses of pentamidine 7 mg/kg in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with a margin of 15%.

Methods: Phase II, randomised, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial. Primary outcome was the complete healing of the lesions 6 months after starting treatment.

Correction: Association of NOD2 and IFNG single nucleotide polymorphisms with leprosy in the Amazon ethnic admixed population.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.

Putative pathogen-selected polymorphisms in the PKLR gene are associated with mycobacterial susceptibility in Brazilian and African populations.

Pyruvate kinase (PK), encoded by the PKLR gene, is a key player in glycolysis controlling the integrity of erythrocytes. Due to Plasmodium selection, mutations for PK deficiency, which leads to hemolytic anemia, are associated with resistance to malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and with susceptibility to intracellular pathogens in experimental models. In this case-control study, we enrolled 4,555 individuals and investigated whether PKLR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) putatively selected for malaria resistance are associated with susceptibility to leprosy across Brazil (Manaus-North; Salvador-Northeast; Rondonópolis-Midwest and Rio de Janeiro-Southeast) and with tuberculosis in Mozambique.

Case for diagnosis. Erythematous and infiltrated plaques in the infrahyoid region.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and, depending on the host immune status, presents different clinical forms. This report describes the case of a 46-year-old man who had hypoesthetic lesions in the infrahyoid region for 30 days. The bacilloscopy was negative.

Association of NOD2 and IFNG single nucleotide polymorphisms with leprosy in the Amazon ethnic admixed population.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which affects skin and peripheral nerves. Polymorphisms in genes associated with autophagy, metabolism, innate and adaptive immunity confer susceptibility to leprosy. However, these associations need to be confirmed through independent replication studies in different ethnicities.

Performance of serological tests PGL1 and NDO-LID in the diagnosis of leprosy in a reference Center in Brazil.

Background: Early detection of leprosy and multidrug therapy are crucial to achieve zero transmission and zero grade II incapacities goals of World Health Organization. Leprosy is difficult to diagnose because clinical forms vary and there are no gold standard methods to guide clinicians. The serological rapid tests aid the clinical diagnosis and are available for field use.

Leprosy among schoolchildren in the Amazon region: A cross-sectional study of active search and possible source of infection by contact tracing.

Background: The high rate of leprosy cases among children under 15 years of age in Brazil indicates ongoing transmission within the community. The identification of the new leprosy cases among contacts can help identify the source of infection and interrupt the transmission chain. This study aims to determine the detection rate of previously undiagnosed cases of leprosy among schoolchildren who are under 15 years of age living in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, and their possible source of infection by contact tracing.

High risk human papillomavirus prevalence and genotype distribution among women infected with HIV in Manaus, Amazonas.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women have a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), and are infected with a broader range of HPV types than HIV-negative women. We aimed to determine the prevalence of cervical cytologic abnormalities, high-risk (HR)-HPV prevalence, type distribution according to the severity of cervical lesions and CD4 cell count and identify factors associated with HR-HPV infection among women living with HIV in Manaus, Amazonas.

Methods: We enrolled 325 women living with HIV that attended an infectious diseases referral hospital.

Development, validation and testing costs of an in-house real-time PCR assay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Purpose: To improve the screening of Chlamydia trachomatis(C. trachomatis) in Brazil, an accurate and affordable method is needed. The objective of this study was to develop and assess the performance and costs of a new in-house real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the diagnosis of C.

Evaluation of screening for Chlamydia trachomatis among young women in primary health care services in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil.

Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis is not routinely offered to young asymptomatic women in Brazil. This study evaluated the performance, usefulness, and operational suitability of the Digene Hybrid Capture II (HCII) CT-ID DNA-test as an opportunistic screening tool to detect C. trachomatis in the public health system in Manaus, Amazonas State.

HIV and sexually transmitted infections at the borderlands: situational analysis of sexual health in the Brazilian Amazon.

Objectives: The borderlands are considered areas of increased vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI). The study aimed to determine the STI/HIV prevalence and risk factors in the triple-border area of the Brazilian Amazon.

Methods: A situational analysis of sexual health was conducted in three cities of the Alto Solimões region.