Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Leptospirosis in the Urabá Antioqueño Region, Colombia: Etiological and Molecular Characterization among Patients with Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness.

Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is the main cause of medical attention in the tropics worldwide. Malaria, arboviral diseases, and leptospirosis are the most important etiologies. These are highly endemic in the Urabá antioqueño, Colombia, being the main causes of fever in several municipalities in this region.

Respiratory Disease Surveillance in the Middle East and Latin America during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2022.

Characterizing the epidemiology of circulating respiratory pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic could clarify the burden of acute respiratory infections and monitor outbreaks of public health and military relevance. The US Department of Defense supported 2 regions for influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections surveillance, one in the Middle East through US Naval Medical Research Unit EURAFCENT, and another in Latin America through US Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH. During 2020‒2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, we collected a total of 16,146 nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples from sentinel sites in Jordan (n = 11,305) and Latin America (n = 4,841).

The Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Test for Is More Sensitive than Microscopy and Real-Time PCR in High-Risk Communities of Cusco, Peru.

Strongyloidiasis is a neglected, soil-transmitted helminth infection prevalent worldwide. The true burden of strongyloidiasis is unclear due to the lack of sensitive, field-friendly diagnostic tests. PCR tests to detect DNA in stool are sensitive and specific, but the need for expensive equipment limits their use in endemic regions.

Subcapsular Liver Hematoma: One of the Many Faces of Acute Fascioliasis.

Subcapsular liver hematoma is an uncommon and underdiagnosed manifestation of fascioliasis. We report 6 cases and review 21 previous reports. The mean age was 51 years; 12 cases were from Peru; and 18 were women.

Fatal journeys: causes of death in international travellers in South America.

Background: Understanding mortality among travellers is essential for mitigating risks and enhancing travel safety. However, limited evidence exists on severe illnesses and injuries leading to death among travellers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and remote regions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective census study using country-level observational data from death certificates of travellers of seven South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay) from 2017 to 2021.

Molecular Characterization of Species among Patients with Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness from the Municipality of Villeta, Colombia.

is a bacterial genus that includes several pathogenic species related to leptospirosis. In Colombia, leptospirosis is a mandatorily reported disease, widely distributed across the country. In the Villeta municipality, leptospirosis has been identified as an important cause of febrile illness; however, to date, no studies have been performed to identify the circulating species.

A PCR Test Using the Mini-PCR Platform and Simplified Product Detection Methods Is Highly Sensitive and Specific to Detect DNA Mixed in Human Stool, Snail Tissue, and Water DNA Specimens.

has a complex lifecycle with multiple intermediate and definitive hosts and influenced by environmental factors. The disease causes significant morbidity in children and its prevalent worldwide. There is lack of data about distribution and burden of the disease in endemic regions, owing to poor efficacy of the different diagnostic methods used.

Demographic Characteristics and Low Iron Status Markers Are Associated with Hemoglobin Levels and Anemia among Children Living at High Elevation in Cusco, Peru.

Anemia is a complex condition associated with diet, chronic infections, and blood loss. Children living at high altitudes have higher absolute hemoglobin levels due to hypoxemia. However, they are exposed to repeated infections and dietary limitations.

Eosinophilic Liver Abscess: A Case of Locally Acquired in Alberta, Canada.

is a trematode causing acute and chronic infection. A 33-year-old Canadian woman with eosinophilic liver abscesses and no relevant travel was diagnosed with infection is reported in livestock in Alberta. This is the first case of locally acquired fascioliasis in Canada in >100 years.

An Update on the Pathogenesis of Fascioliasis: What Do We Know?

is a trematode parasite distributed worldwide. It is known to cause disease in mammals, producing significant economic loses to livestock industry and burden to human health. After ingestion, the parasites migrate through the liver and mature in the bile ducts.

Causes of death among international travellers in Peru, 2017 to 2021.

Background: The wellbeing and safety of international tourists is a paramount concern for governments and stakeholders. Mortality among travellers and the causes of death serve as a significant metric of destination safety. We describe the epidemiology and causes of death among international travellers in Peru.

Etiological characterization of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Apartadó and Villeta municipalities, Colombia, during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is one of the leading causes of illness in tropical regions. Although malaria is the most important cause, other pathogens such as Dengue (DENV), and recently, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have gained importance. In Colombia, few studies aimed to identify the etiology of AUFI.

Nasopharyngeal Myiasis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Patients: Report of Two Cases.

Nosocomial myiasis is a rare event that has a higher incidence in the hospitals of poor and developing countries. The presence of nosocomial myiasis reflects the need for improved medical facilities and increased awareness among healthcare personnel. Severely ill patients are more susceptible, such as those with impaired consciousness, paralysis, and underlying diseases.

Impact of international travel and diarrhea on gut microbiome and resistome dynamics.

International travel contributes to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance. Travelers' diarrhea exacerbates the risk of acquiring multidrug-resistant organisms and can lead to persistent gastrointestinal disturbance post-travel. However, little is known about the impact of diarrhea on travelers' gut microbiomes, and the dynamics of these changes throughout travel.

The Differences in the Susceptibility Patterns to Triclabendazole Sulfoxide in Field Isolates of Are Associated with Geographic, Seasonal, and Morphometric Variations.

Triclabendazole (TCBZ) resistance is an emerging problem in fascioliasis that is not well understood. Studies including small numbers of parasites fail to capture the complexity of susceptibility variations between and within Fasciolahepatica populations. As the first step to studying the complex resistant phenotype−genotype associations, we characterized a large sample of adult F.

A Comparison of the Risk for Chronic Fascioliasis between Children 3 to 5 Years and Children 6 to 12 Years of Age in the Cusco Region of Peru.

School-age children bear the highest burden of fascioliasis in endemic countries. Few studies have addressed Fasciola in preschool children. We performed a secondary data analysis using two Fasciola databases from Cusco, Peru, comparing preschoolers with elementary school children.

Plasma cytokines during acute human fascioliasis.

Fascioliasis is a foodborne trematode endemic worldwide. Children under 15 years have the highest prevalence of infection. We hypothesized that acute fascioliasis would be associated with more pronounced cytokine changes than in chronic disease or no helminth infections.

Risk factors for acute mountain sickness in travellers to Cusco, Peru: coca leaves, obesity and sex.

Background: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) may occur after rapid ascents to altitudes >2500 m. Cusco (3350 m) in Peru is a popular destination for altitude inexperienced travellers. This study aimed at evaluating the incidence and risk factors for AMS among a cohort of foreign Spanish language students in Cusco.

Stunting in pre-school and school-age children in the Peruvian highlands and its association with Fasciola infection and demographic factors.

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic trematode infection that is endemic in the highlands of Peru. Chronic fascioliasis can be asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed for years. Chronic malnutrition in children, as manifested by stunting, leads to delayed cognitive development and lost productivity.

Triclabendazole Treatment Failure for Fasciola hepatica Infection among Preschool and School-Age Children, Cusco, Peru.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children who had chronic fascioliasis in the highlands of Peru to determine triclabendazole treatment efficacy. Children passing Fasciola eggs in stool were offered directly observed triclabendazole treatment (>1 doses of 10 mg/kg). Parasitologic cure was evaluated by using microscopy of stool 1-4 months after each treatment.