Publications by authors named "Camila Gonzalez-Beiras"

Background: To meet the WHO target of eradicating yaws by 2030, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools are needed. A multiplex Treponema pallidum-Haemophilus ducreyi loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TPHD-LAMP) test holds promise as a near-patient diagnostic tool for yaws and H ducreyi. We conducted a prospective evaluation in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and the Republic of the Congo to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the TPHD-LAMP test, as well as to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and cost.

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  • * The study identified 8 strain types of HD, including 7 new Class I strains, and found that the southern region had the least genetic diversity, primarily showing Class II infections.
  • * Analysis indicated that Class II infections lead to longer-lasting ulcers compared to Class I, with an increase in the I.10 strain observed after azithromycin treatment in patients.
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  • - Yaws, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue, is a major health issue in tropical West Africa and the South Pacific, particularly impacting children in areas lacking hygiene and sanitation.
  • - A study in Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire found diverse beliefs about yaws transmission among locals, with many attributing it to germs or contaminated water, while some linked it to witchcraft, and a low percentage recognized person-to-person contact as a method of transmission.
  • - Most participants preferred seeking care from hospitals or healthcare professionals if diagnosed with yaws, but there was a significant reliance on traditional healers in Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting the necessity for increased community education and awareness
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  • - The disease yaws, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, mainly affects children in Papua New Guinea, leading to severe skin lesions that hinder their growth and development.
  • - In a case involving a 5-year-old yaws patient, researchers found two genetically distinct strains of the bacteria, T13 and J11, coexisting in an ulcer sample.
  • - This occurrence is significant as it marks the first documented case of distinct Treponema strains coinfecting a single host, likely due to prior recombination events between closely related strains.
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  • * Conducted in Cameroon, the research included 443 participants, revealing a 30.3% prevalence of HD in ulcers and 8.6% in asymptomatic individuals, while Treponema pallidum (TP) was found at a lower rate of 5.2%.
  • * Risk factors included gender parity in HD ulcer cases and physical proximity to confirmed cases, with findings indicating that HD is the most common cause of skin ulcers in the studied areas, warranting further research into asymptomatic carriage and disease transmission. *
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Background: The increasing incidence of syphilis and the limitations of first-line treatment with penicillin, particularly in neurosyphilis, neonatal syphilis, and pregnancy, highlight the need to expand the therapeutic repertoire for effective management of this disease. We assessed the in-vitro efficacy of 18 antibiotics from several classes on Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T pallidum), the syphilis bacteria.

Methods: Using the in-vitro culture system for T pallidum, we exposed the pathogen to a concentration range of each tested antibiotic.

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Background: In yaws-endemic areas, two-thirds of exudative cutaneous ulcers (CU) are associated with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TP) and Haemophilus ducreyi (HD); one-third are classified as idiopathic ulcers (IU). A yaws eradication campaign on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea utilizing mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin initially reduced but failed to eradicate yaws; IU rates remained constant throughout the study.

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Introduction: Yaws, caused by the bacterium subsp. is a neglected tropical disease targeted for eradication by 2030. Improved diagnostics will be essential to meet this goal.

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Background And Objectives: Infected cutaneous ulcers are major health problems for children living in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. The inaccessibility of affected populations and lack of access to basic healthcare, make a local plant-based therapy an attractive treatment option. We assessed Ficus septica exudate in biological assays relevant to wound healing.

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Introduction: Neglected tropical diseases control programmes run separately. For settings with more than one endemic disease, combined mass drug administration (MDA) has potential practical advantages compared with separate programmes but needs confirmation of safety. We assessed the safety of combined MDA for multiple neglected tropical diseases using ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, albendazole (IDA) and azithromycin (AZI).

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Exudative cutaneous ulcers (CU) in yaws-endemic areas are associated with subsp. (TP) and (HD), but one-third of CU cases are idiopathic (IU). Using mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin, a yaws eradication campaign on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea reduced but failed to eradicate yaws; IU rates remained constant throughout the campaign.

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Background: Current strategies for preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are limited to nonpharmacologic interventions. Hydroxychloroquine has been proposed as a postexposure therapy to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), but definitive evidence is lacking.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, cluster-randomized trial involving asymptomatic contacts of patients with polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-confirmed Covid-19 in Catalonia, Spain.

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Background: In a longitudinal study assessing the WHO strategy for yaws eradication using mass azithromycin treatment, we observed resurgence of yaws cases with dominance of a single JG8 sequence type and emergence of azithromycin-resistant Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (T p pertenue). Here, we analyse genomic changes in the bacterial population using samples collected during the study.

Methods: We did whole bacterial genome sequencing directly on DNA extracted from 37 skin lesion swabs collected from patients on Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea, between April 1, 2013, and Nov 1, 2016.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cutaneous ulcers (CU) in yaws-endemic regions are primarily caused by Treponema pallidum subsp pertenue and Haemophilus ducreyi, but many patients test negative for these bacteria, prompting the search for other causes.
  • A study in Papua New Guinea collected lesional swabs from children with ulcers to perform PCR testing and advanced DNA sequencing, aiming to discover additional microbial agents.
  • Results indicated a diverse array of bacteria present in ulcers, with significant species identified including H. ducreyi and Streptococcus dysgalactiae, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for CU.
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Background: Together with Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, Haemophilus ducreyi is a major cause of exudative cutaneous ulcers (CUs) in children. For H. ducreyi, both class I and class II strains, asymptomatic colonization, and environmental reservoirs have been found in endemic regions, but the epidemiology of this infection is unknown.

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Background: Yaws is a substantial cause of chronic disfiguring ulcers in children in at least 14 countries in the tropics. WHO's newly adopted strategy for yaws eradication uses a single round of mass azithromycin treatment followed by targeted treatment programmes, and data from pilot studies have shown a short-term significant reduction of yaws. We assessed the long-term efficacy of the WHO strategy for yaws eradication.

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Background: Treatment of latent yaws is a crucial component of the WHO yaws eradication strategy to prevent relapse and the resulting transmission to uninfected children. We assessed the effectiveness of single-dose azithromycin to treat patients with latent yaws.

Methods: This population-based cohort study included children (age <20 years) living on Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea, with high-titre (rapid plasma reagin titre ≥1:8) latent or active yaws, between April, 2013, and May, 2015.

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  • Haemophilus ducreyi (HD) and Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (TP) are key causes of skin ulcers in tropical regions, and azithromycin may effectively treat these infections.
  • A study on Lihir Island tested the efficacy of a single oral dose of azithromycin (30 mg/kg) on patients with skin ulcers, analyzing their healing rates based on PCR results for HD and TP.
  • Results showed high healing rates at 14 days post-treatment, particularly in the HD group, supporting the use of azithromycin for managing cutaneous ulcers and influencing public health approaches in tropical areas.
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  • Exposure to maternal smoking—before, during, and after pregnancy—was found to be linked to higher blood pressure (BP) levels in preschool children.
  • The study analyzed data from 4,295 children, focusing on the impact of maternal smoking on their systolic BP while adjusting for factors like maternal education and child weight.
  • Results suggest that initiatives for maternal smoking cessation could play a crucial role in promoting better cardiovascular health in children early in life.
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Background: Haemophilus ducreyi and Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue are major causes of leg ulcers in children in Africa and the Pacific Region. We investigated the presence of DNA (PCR positivity) from these bacteria on asymptomatic people, flies, and household linens in an endemic setting.

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AbstractThe etiologic agent of yaws, subsp. , causes a multistage infection transmitted by nonsexual contact with the exudates from active lesions. Bone lesions in the form of osteoperiostitis are common and occur in numerous bones simultaneously in early stages.

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  • The global understanding of Haemophilus ducreyi infections is limited due to challenges in microbiological diagnosis.
  • A review of data shows that the proportion of genital ulcers caused by this bacterium has significantly decreased since the introduction of syndromic management after 2000.
  • However, H. ducreyi is increasingly identified as a major cause of skin ulcers in children, particularly in tropical areas, indicating a shift in its epidemiological profile.
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Background: To achieve yaws eradication, the use of the new WHO strategy of initial mass treatment with azithromycin and surveillance twice a year needs to be extended everywhere the disease occurs. However, the geographic scope of the disease is unknown. We aimed to synthesise published and unpublished work to update the reported number of people with yaws at national and subnational levels and to estimate at-risk populations.

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