An epidemiological and spatiotemporal analysis of visceral leishmaniasis in West Pokot, Kenya, between 2018 and 2022.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a significant public health concern in West Pokot County, Kenya, where a large outbreak between 2020 and 2022 emphasised the need for improved VL control strategies. However, these measures are partially hampered by limited insight into the geographical distribution of cases and localised outbreaks of the disease. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and spatiotemporal patterns of VL in West Pokot between 2018 and 2022, in order to map the spread of VL transmission and identify regions that should be prioritised for control interventions.

A case-control study on risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis in West Pokot County, Kenya.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. VL is endemic in West Pokot County, Kenya, where effective strategies to interrupt transmission are impeded by the limited understanding of VL risk factors. Therefore, this case-control study aimed to explore environmental, behavioural and household determinants of VL in West Pokot.

Simplified molecular diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis: Laboratory evaluation of miniature direct-on-blood PCR nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay.

Background: Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in resource-limited endemic regions is currently based on serological testing with rK39 immunochromatographic tests (ICTs). However, rK39 ICT frequently has suboptimal diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, treatment monitoring and detection of VL relapses is reliant on insensitive and highly invasive tissue aspirate microscopy.

Laboratory evaluation of the miniature direct-on-blood PCR nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (mini-dbPCR-NALFIA), a simplified molecular diagnostic test for Plasmodium.

Background: Point-of-care diagnosis of malaria is currently based on microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests. However, both techniques have their constraints, including poor sensitivity for low parasitaemias. Hence, more accurate diagnostic tests for field use and routine clinical settings are warranted.

Molecular Surveillance of Malaria Using the PF AmpliSeq Custom Assay for Parasites from Dried Blood Spot DNA Isolates from Peru.

Malaria molecular surveillance has great potential to support national malaria control programs (NMCPs), informing policy for its control and elimination. Here, we present a new three-day workflow for targeted resequencing of markers in 13 resistance-associated genes, and , a country (Peru)-specific 28 SNP-barcode for population genetic analysis, and apical membrane antigen 1 (), using Illumina short-read sequencing technology. The assay applies a multiplex PCR approach to amplify all genomic regions of interest in a rapid and easily standardizable procedure and allows simultaneous amplification of a high number of targets at once, therefore having great potential for implementation into routine surveillance practice by NMCPs.