Isolates of species in the marine environment in the Philippines.

spp. are considered the most commonly occurring free-living amoebae (FLA) in the environment. Their high resilience enables them to thrive in different types of environments.

First report of spp. isolation in a recreational hot spring in the Philippines.

Natural hot springs are ideal places and environmental matrices that offer relaxation to people and microorganisms of different types. A total of 40 surface water samples were collected from the five identified collection sites, eight water samples for each site. Collection sites are designated 200 m apart to cover the entire study site.

Detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in groundwater sources in a rural area in the Philippines.

Research on free-living amoebae (FLA) and its public health implication as an etiologic agent of parasitic infection in humans has recently gained traction in the Philippines. This study aimed to identify potential FLAs in collected groundwater samples from Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. Fifty-four (54) water samples were collected in 250-mL sterile polyethylene containers by purposive sampling from selected groundwater sources in six (6) barangays of Masinloc.

Evidence of and deaths from malaria and severe pneumonia co-infections in malaria-endemic areas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Malaria and pneumonia are the leading causes of childhood mortality in children under 5 years of age. Nevertheless, the proportions and deaths of malaria co-infection among patients with severe pneumonia, particularly in children under 5 years of age, and characteristics of co-infection remain poorly explored. Hence, the present study aimed to collate the evidence of malaria among patients with severe pneumonia, severe pneumonia among patients with malaria, and the proportion of deaths among patients with co-infections.

Prevalence and effect of Plasmodium spp. and hookworm co-infection on malaria parasite density and haemoglobin level: a meta-analysis.

The dual effects of co-infection of Plasmodium spp. and hookworm on malaria remain under debate. This study investigated prevalence, prevalence odds ratio (POR) of co-infection and impact of co-infection on malaria parasite density and haemoglobin levels in comparison to Plasmodium mono-infection.

Increased interleukin-6 levels associated with malaria infection and disease severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is generated by immune cells during infection with malaria parasites and they are associated with the immunopathogenesis of malaria. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the differences in IL-6 levels between several groups of patients with malaria and healthy control groups. The systematic review was registered at PROSPERO with a registration number: CRD42021290753.

Prevalence and risk of Plasmodium vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A better understanding of the occurrence and risk of Plasmodium vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals is required to guide further research on these infections across Africa. To address this, we used a meta-analysis approach to investigate the prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals and assessed the risk of infection in these individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals.

Alteration of Platelet Count in Patients with Severe Non- Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The understanding of platelet biology under physiological and pathological conditions like malaria infection is critical importance in the context of the disease outcome or model systems used. The importance of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50,000 cells (µL) and profound thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 20,000 cells/µL) in malaria patients remains unclear. This study aimed to synthesize evidence regarding the risks of severe and profound thrombocytopenia in patients with severe non- malaria.

Prevalence and outcomes of malaria as co-infection among patients with human African trypanosomiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is endemic in Africa; hence, the possibility of co-infection with malaria among patients with HAT exists. The present study investigated co-infection with malaria among patients with HAT to provide current evidence and characteristics to support further studies. Potentially relevant studies that reported Plasmodium spp.

Prevalence and characteristics of malaria co-infection among individuals with visceral leishmaniasis in Africa and Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Malaria and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) co-infection can occur due to the overlapping geographical distributions of these diseases; however, only limited data of this co-infection have been reported and reviewed. This study aimed to explore the pooled prevalence and characteristics of this co-infection using a systematic review approach.

Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies.

Prevalence and characteristics of malaria among COVID-19 individuals: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and analysis of case reports.

Background: The world population is currently at a very high risk of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). People who live in malaria-endemic areas and get infected by SARS-CoV-2 may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 or unfavorable disease outcomes if they ignore their malaria status. Therefore, the present study aimed to synthesize, qualitatively and quantitatively, information on the prevalence and characteristics of malaria infection among COVID-19-infected individuals.

A meta-analysis on the prevalence and characteristics of severe malaria in patients with Plasmodium spp. and HIV co-infection.

Co-infection with malaria and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increases the severity and mortality rates of both diseases. A better understanding of the effects of co-infections could help in the diagnosis, prompt treatment, prevention, and control of malarial parasites among HIV-infected patients. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we estimated the prevalence and characteristics of severe malaria (SM) caused by co-infection with HIV.

Current report on the prevalence of free-living amoebae (FLA) in natural hot springs: a systematic review.

The occurrence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) in natural hot springs is considered a public health concern. FLAs are known to cause serious health outcomes to a wide spectrum of mammalian hosts. The present study aimed to provide the distribution of isolated cases of FLAs in hot springs through a systematic review process of available published articles online.

The high risk of malarial recurrence in patients with Plasmodium-mixed infection after treatment with antimalarial drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Malaria mixed infections are often unrecognized by microscopists in the hospitals, and a delay or failure to treat Plasmodium-mixed infection may lead to aggravated morbidity and increased mortality. The present study aimed to quantify the pooled proportion and risk of malarial recurrences after the treatment of Plasmodium-mixed infection. The results of the study may provide benefits in the management of Plasmodium-mixed infection in co-endemic regions.

Quantification of the misidentification of Plasmodium knowlesi as Plasmodium malariae by microscopy: an analysis of 1569 P. knowlesi cases.

Background: Plasmodium knowlesi is recognized as the fifth Plasmodium species causing malaria in humans. It is morphologically similar to the human malaria parasite Plasmodium malariae, so molecular detection should be used to clearly discriminate between these Plasmodium species. This study aimed to quantify the rate at which P.

Comparison of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri infections by a meta-analysis approach.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium ovale species is considered a neglected tropical disease with limited information about its characteristics. It also remains unclear whether the two distinct species P. ovale curtisi and P.

Preliminary review on the prevalence, proportion, geographical distribution, and characteristics of naturally acquired Plasmodium cynomolgi infection in mosquitoes, macaques, and humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Plasmodium cynomolgi is a simian malaria parasite that has been reported as a naturally acquired human infection. The present study aims to systematically review reports on naturally acquired P. cynomolgi in humans, mosquitoes, and macaques to provide relevant data for pre-emptive surveillance and preparation in the event of an outbreak of zoonotic malaria in Southeast Asia.

Comparative performance of PCR using DNA extracted from dried blood spots and whole blood samples for malaria diagnosis: a meta-analysis.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from dried blood spots (DBS) provides a fast, inexpensive, and convenient method for large-scale epidemiological studies. This study compared the performance of PCR between DNA extracted from DBS and DNA obtained from whole blood for detecting malarial parasites. Primary studies assessing the diagnostic performance of PCR using DNA extracted from DBS and whole blood for detecting malarial parasites were obtained from the ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases.

Misidentification of Plasmodium ovale as Plasmodium vivax malaria by a microscopic method: a meta-analysis of confirmed P. ovale cases.

Plasmodium ovale is a benign tertian malaria parasite that morphologically resembles Plasmodium vivax. P. ovale also shares similar tertian periodicity and can cause relapse in patients without a radical cure, making it easily misidentified as P.

Prevalence of and risk factors for severe malaria caused by Plasmodium and dengue virus co-infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Co-infection with both Plasmodium and dengue virus (DENV) infectious species could have serious and fatal outcomes if left undiagnosed and without timely treatment. The present study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence estimate of severe malaria among patients with co-infection, the risk of severe diseases due to co-infection, and to describe the complications of severe malaria and severe dengue among patients with co-infection.

Methods: Relevant studies published between databases between 12 September 1970 and 22 May 2020 were identified and retrieved through a search of the ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE.

Summary of discordant results between rapid diagnosis tests, microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction for detecting Plasmodium mixed infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used to detect malaria parasites among patients who suspected malaria infections in malaria-endemic areas where microscopy is unavailable. Nevertheless, little is known about the performance of RDTs in detecting Plasmodium mixed infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the discordant results between RDTs and microscopy/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting Plasmodium mixed infections.

Plasmodium spp. mixed infection leading to severe malaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mixed Plasmodium malaria infections can lead to severe malaria. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the prevalence of severe mixed Plasmodium malaria infection and to compare it with the prevalence of severe P. falciparum malaria mono-infection across the included studies.

Prevalence and risk factors related to poor outcome of patients with severe Plasmodium vivax infection: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and analysis of case reports.

Background: Plasmodium vivax rarely develops severe complications when compared to severe falciparum malaria. However, severe vivax malaria also needs urgent, intensive care and treatment as severe falciparum malaria. This systematic review aimed to explore pooled prevalence of severe vivax malaria and to identify factors related to poor outcome of patients who developed severe manifestation.