Tropical infections as occupational diseases among young volunteers in social projects.

Purpose: The trend of volunteering overseas has increased tremendously over the last decade. Volunteers often go to regions where they are exposed to the risk of tropical infections like malaria, dengue, typhoid fever and schistosomiasis. Health assessments have shown a high occurrence of tropical infections among young volunteers.

spp. in Ticks of South Luangwa Valley, Eastern Province, Zambia.

Ticks are important vectors for spp. belonging to the Spotted Fever Group responsible for causing Rickettsiosis worldwide. Rickettsioses pose an underestimated health risk to tourists and local inhabitants.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) seroprevalence in the South Pacific populations of the Cook Islands and Vanuatu with associated environmental and social factors.

Background: Arthropod-borne diseases pose a significant and increasing risk to global health. Given its rapid dissemination, causing large-scale outbreaks with severe human infections and economic loss, the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is one of the most important arboviruses worldwide. Despite its significance, the real global impact of CHIKV remains underestimated as outbreak data are often incomplete and based solely on syndromic surveillance.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and Molecular Characterisation of from Pigs and Workers at Farms and Abattoirs in Zambia.

Pigs have been shown to be a reservoir for recently emerging livestock-associated (LA-SA), including methicillin resistant strains in many countries worldwide. However, there is sparse information about LA-SA strains circulating in Zambia. This study investigated the prevalence, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of from pigs and workers at farms and abattoirs handling pigs in Lusaka Province of Zambia.

Emerging vancomycin-non susceptible coagulase negative Staphylococci associated with skin and soft tissue infections.

Backgrounds: Observable emergence of Vancomycin-Non susceptible Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (VNS-CoNS) associated with skin and soft tissue infections spreading among the urban and rural populace is gradually intensifying severe complications. The isolated VNS-CoNS were evaluated with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI ToF MS) for species characterization and pan-antimicrobial resistance pattern.

Methods: Out of 256 clinical samples collected including pus, abscess, ear swabs, eye swabs, and aspirates, 91 CoNS isolates were biotyped and further characterized with MALDI-TOF MS.

Prevalence and diversity of Staphylococcus aureus in the Zambian dairy value chain: A public health concern.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important opportunistic pathogen of both humans and animals. It can cause several diseases, including mastitis, as well as food poisoning by production of heat-stable enterotoxins in food. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of S.