Analysing the six-year malaria trends at Metehara Health Centre in Central Ethiopia: the impact of resurgence on the 2030 elimination goals.

Background: Despite Ethiopia's concerted efforts to eliminate malaria by 2030, the disease continues to pose a significant public health and socioeconomic challenge in the country. The year 2021 witnessed 2.78 million malaria cases and 8041 associated deaths, emphasizing the persistent threat.

Clinical isolates of uncomplicated falciparum malaria from high and low malaria transmission areas show distinct pfcrt and pfmdr1 polymorphisms in western Ethiopia.

Background: Pfcrt gene has been associated with chloroquine resistance and the pfmdr1 gene can alter malaria parasite susceptibility to lumefantrine, mefloquine, and chloroquine. In the absence of chloroquine (CQ) and extensive use of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) from 2004 to 2020 to treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria, pfcrt haplotype, and pfmdr1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined in two sites of West Ethiopia with a gradient of malaria transmission.

Methods: 230 microscopically confirmed P.

Low genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 and 2 and multiplicity of infections in western Ethiopia following effective malaria interventions.

Background: Genetic diversity of malaria parasites can inform the intensity of transmission and poses a major threat to malaria control and elimination interventions. Characterization of the genetic diversity would provide essential information about the ongoing control efforts. This study aimed to explore allelic polymorphism of merozoite surface protein 1 (msp1) and merozoite surface protein 2 (msp2) to determine the genetic diversity and multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections circulating in high and low transmission sites in western Ethiopia.

Persistence of Residual Submicroscopic P. falciparum Parasitemia following Treatment of Artemether-Lumefantrine in Ethio-Sudan Border, Western Ethiopia.

The emergence of artemisinin-resistant parasites in Africa has had a devastating impact, causing most malaria cases and related deaths reported on the continent. In Ethiopia, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the first-line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. This study is one of the earliest evaluations of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) efficacy in western Ethiopia, 17 years after the introduction of this drug in the study area.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and its risk factors among food handlers in food services in Nekemte town, west Oromia, Ethiopia.

Background: Food-borne diseases are a public-health problem in developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that in developed countries, up to 30% of the population suffers from food borne diseases each year and more in developing countries, where up to 2 million deaths are estimated per years.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites and its associated risk factors among food handlers in Nekemte town.

External quality assessment of malaria microscopy diagnosis in selected health facilities in Western Oromia, Ethiopia.

Background: Accurate early diagnosis and prompt treatment are one of the key strategies to control and prevent malaria disease. External quality assessment is the most effective method for evaluation of the quality of malaria microscopy diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of malaria microscopy diagnosis and its associated factors in selected public health facility laboratories in East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia.

Serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Herpesvidae family viruses in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a case-control study.

Background: Recent etiological studies for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have focused on the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii and Herpesvirdae family viruses.

Objective: To determine the magnitude of T. gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy controls by using serologic diagnostic methods.