Publications by authors named "Kamruddin Ahmed"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on the G9P[8] rotavirus A genotype, which has been the main type found in Malaysia since the 2000s, and aims to explore its genetic characteristics and evolution.
  • - Researchers analyzed the complete genomes of three G9P[8] strains from young children in Sabah, discovering that they show a DS-1-like genotype instead of the typical Wa-like arrangement.
  • - Phylogenetic analysis indicated that two strains were genetically similar to G9P[8]-E2 strains from Japan, hinting at a shared ancestry, and the findings are essential for improving rotavirus monitoring and developing vaccines.
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  • Cases of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza are increasing, with a high mortality rate of 60% in humans, although no human infections have been reported in Malaysian Borneo despite circulation in local poultry and migratory birds.
  • Deforestation in coastal areas may bring humans closer to these migratory birds, raising the risk of zoonotic spillover events, where diseases jump from animals to humans.
  • A recent survey of over 10,000 individuals found evidence of exposure to H5 viruses, indicating potential human contact with the virus, and emphasizes the need for enhanced surveillance of cross-species pathogen transmission in areas where humans and migratory birds interact.
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Introduction: Vector borne diseases (VBDs) present significant public health challenges in Southeast Asia (SEA), and the increasing number of cases threatens vulnerable communities. Inadequate vector control and management have been linked to the spread of VBDs. To address these issues, community participation has been proposed as a promising approach to enhance health programmes and control of VBDs.

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Spinal tuberculosis, also referred to as Pott's disease, presents a significant risk of severe paralysis if not promptly detected and treated, owing to complications such as spinal cord compression and deformity. This article presents the genetic analysis of a STB-T1A strain, isolated from the spine of a 29-year-old female diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis. Genomic DNA was extracted from pure culture and subjected to sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing system.

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Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive T-cell neoplasia associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and has an extremely poor prognosis. Lenalidomide (LEN; a second-generation immunomodulatory drug [IMiD]) has been employed as an additional therapeutic option for ATL since 2017, but its mechanism of action has not been fully proven, and recent studies reported emerging concerns about the development of second primary malignancies in patients treated with long-term IMiD therapy. Our purpose in this study was to elucidate the IMiD-mediated anti-ATL mechanisms.

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Vibrio cholerae remains a notable public health challenge across Malaysia. Although the Malaysian state of Sabah is considered a cholera-affected area, gaps remain in understanding the epidemiological trends and spatial distribution of outbreaks. Therefore, to determine longitudinal and spatial trends in cholera cases data were obtained from the Sabah State Health Department for all notified cases of cholera between 2005-2020.

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Background: Zoonotic malaria is a growing public health threat in the WHO Southeast Asia (SEA) and Western Pacific (WP) regions. Despite vector-control measures, the distribution of Macaque fascicularis and M. nemestrina, and Anopheles mosquitoes carrying non-human simian malaria parasites poses challenges to malaria elimination.

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Among zoonotic infections, leptospirosis has a worldwide distribution and high prevalence in tropical regions. It has a broad clinical presentation from mild to severe, life-threatening infection. Leptospires, the etiological agent of leptospirosis, are found in varied ecological niches and animal species, providing a significant source of human infection.

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Background: The increasing incidence of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria poses a significant challenge to efforts to eliminate malaria from Malaysia. Macaque reservoirs, outdoors-biting mosquitoes, human activities, and agricultural work are key factors associated with the transmission of this zoonotic pathogen. However, gaps in knowledge regarding reasons that drive malaria persistence in rural Kudat, Sabah, Northern Borneo remain.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Since 2018, Malaysia has reported no indigenous malaria cases, but the COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about a potential increase in malaria cases, particularly in resource-limited countries like Malaysia, highlighting the challenges faced in controlling outbreaks during the pandemic.
  • - An outbreak of Plasmodium malariae was identified in July 2020 in Sabah, prompting active case detection in surrounding villages, health awareness programs, and a survey to assess villagers' risks and beliefs about malaria.
  • - Out of 5,254 blood samples collected, 19 cases of malaria were identified, including one severe case involving a pregnant woman, all of whom recovered with treatment; the outbreak was linked to a man who returned from Indonesia during the COVID
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Article Synopsis
  • There is a rising trend of human cases of zoonotic malaria worldwide.
  • Current malaria control methods are ineffective at stopping the disease's transmission from wildlife to humans.
  • New policies are required to update the goals for malaria elimination and the certification process for achieving that status.
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Rotavirus is the leading causative viral agent of pediatric acute gastroenteritis globally, infecting mostly children 5 years old and below. Data on rotavirus prevalence in Malaysia is scarce, despite the WHO's recommendation for continuous rotavirus surveillance, and has underestimated the need for national rotavirus vaccination. Characteristics of the current rotavirus strains in Malaysia have to be determined to understand the rotavirus epidemiology and vaccine compatibility.

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Simian malaria from wild non-human primate populations is increasingly recognised as a public health threat and is now the main cause of human malaria in Malaysia and some regions of Brazil. In 2022, Malaysia became the first country not to achieve malaria elimination due to zoonotic simian malaria. We review the global distribution and drivers of simian malaria and identify priorities for diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and control.

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Background: The control of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria remains challenging due to the presence of macaque monkeys and predominantly outdoor-biting Anopheles mosquitoes around human settlements. This study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators related to prevention of mosquito bites among rural communities living in Sabah, Malaysia using the participatory visual method, photovoice.

Methods: From January through June 2022, 26 participants were recruited from four villages in Kudat, Sabah, using purposive sampling.

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Rotaviruses are major causative agents of acute diarrhea in children under 5 years of age in Malaysia. However, a rotavirus vaccine has not been included in the national vaccination program. To date, only two studies have been carried out in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, although children in this state are at risk of diarrheal diseases.

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Reported incidence of the zoonotic malaria Plasmodium knowlesi has markedly increased across Southeast Asia and threatens malaria elimination. Nonzoonotic transmission of P. knowlesi has been experimentally demonstrated, but it remains unknown whether nonzoonotic transmission is contributing to increases in P.

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Background: Many rural communities in Malaysian Borneo and Southeast Asia are at risk of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria. Multiple factors contribute to infection, however, a deep understanding of illness causation and prevention practices among at-risk communities remains limited. This study aims to document local knowledge on malaria causation and preventive practices of rural communities in Sabah, Malaysia, using photovoice-a participatory research method.

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Introduction: malaria is a non-human simian malaria that threatens Southeast Asian rural communities. Studies indicate that non-compliant bednet usage, travelling into the forest and working as farmers and rubber tappers put communities at risk for infection. Despite guidelines, malaria incidence increases yearly and has become a public health concern.

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Background: malaria is a zoonotic infection that affects rural communities in South East Asia. Although the epidemiology of the disease has been extensively researched, the voices of individuals within affected communities often go unheard. Here, we describe a study that explores the importance of gatekeepers in conducting research among rural communities, their perspectives on the challenges encountered when attempting to avoid malaria infection, and their views on participatory research.

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Background: In the last decade Plasmodium knowlesi has been detected in humans throughout South East Asia. The highest risk groups for this infection are males, adults and those performing forest-related work. Furthermore, asymptomatic cases of P.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Indonesian government plans to move its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan on Borneo Island, which raises concerns about environmental issues like deforestation and biodiversity loss.
  • There is a particular focus on the risk of increased cases of P. knowlesi malaria, as the Malaysian side of Borneo is a hotspot for this disease.
  • Recent evaluations show that in the last four years, 545 P. knowlesi cases have been reported in Indonesia, primarily in Aceh and North Sumatra, indicating the need for better surveillance and prevention measures in the new capital area.
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Introduction: malaria is a zoonotic mosquito-borne disease with complex epidemiology. According to the WHO, the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases require community participation to increase coherence between malaria interventions and sustainable public health programmes. We describe a participatory research (PR) design for a study aimed at exploring the key anthropological drivers of and barriers to zoonotic malaria preventive behaviour among communities exposed to infection in Malaysia.

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Objective: Gastric cancer is an important cause of mortality in Sabah, Malaysia, but the prevalence of infection in this state is unknown. Serology is an important tool for the surveillance of infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection by serology, and to provide information for policy discussions on control programmes in Sabah.

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Commercial seaweed cultivation has undergone drastic changes to keep up with the increasing demand in terms of the quantity and quality of the algal biomass needed to meet the requirements of constant innovation in industrial applications. Diseases caused by both biotic and abiotic factors have been identified as contributing to the economic loss of precious biomass. Biosecurity risk will eventually affect seaweed production as a whole and could cripple the seaweed industry.

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Plasmodium knowlesi malaria infection in humans has been reported throughout southeast Asia. The communities at risk are those living in areas where Macaque monkeys and Anopheles mosquito are present. Zoonotic malaria control is challenging due to the presence of the reservoir host and the possibility of human-vector-human transmission.

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