Leveraging machine learning for predicting Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cats: A tool for veterinary epidemiology.

Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection is a major public health concern in the Greater Mekong Subregion, with cats as key reservoir hosts. Although machine learning (ML) is widely used in human medicine, its application in veterinary epidemiology remains limited. This study aimed to develop interpretable ML models to predict Ov infection and to identify key risk factors in cats using data from 175 households in endemic areas.

A population genetic analysis of the nematode in Asia shows that human infection is not a zoonosis from dogs.

Gut nematode worms are important parasites of people and other animals. The parasitic nematode infects an estimated 600 million people worldwide and is one of the soil-transmitted helminthiases, a WHO-defined neglected tropical disease. It has long been suggested that human infection may be a zoonosis from dogs.

Nationwide spatial dynamics of taeniasis in Thailand: declining prevalence but shifting focus and One Health risk factors across 2008-2014.

Background: The prevalence of taeniasis in Thailand has decreased over the past six decades. However, it remains a public health concern, particularly in focal areas, especially along the border regions where migration between Thailand and neighboring endemic countries is frequent. Spatial distribution analysis provides a useful method for identifying high-risk areas and implementing targeted integrated control measures.

Immunomics-guided biomarker discovery for human liver fluke infection and infection-associated cholangiocarcinoma.

Sensitive diagnostics are needed to improve management and surveillance of opisthorchiasis and opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) throughout East Asia. Herein we generate and screen an Opisthorchis viverrini recombinant secreted proteome to identity antibody biomarkers of liver fluke infection and CCA with sera from study participants in endemic populations and evaluate their utility as point-of-care immunochromatographic tests (PoC-ICTs). We incorporate two of the most promising antigens from the proteome array screen, P1 and P9, into PoC-ICTs to further validate their diagnostic performance.

The Global Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Parasitic Coinfection in People Living with Viruses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Coinfection with parasites and viruses can exacerbate disease transmission, outcomes and therapy. This study searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and JSTOR databases for publications on the prevalence of parasitic coinfection in people living with viruses from 1 January 2005 to 30 April 2022, and 356 studies were included and systematically reviewed. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the global prevalence of and factors potentially associated with parasitic infection (helminths and protozoa) in virus-infected people, and the infection burden was estimated.

Helicobacter pylori delays neutrophil apoptosis but also drives the formation of cells with a leaky plasma membrane: Implications for inflammation.

Opisthorchis viverrini (OV)-induced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a significant public health concern in countries in the Lower Mekong Basin. OV is a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and so many individuals are co-infected with these two biological carcinogens.

One Health showcase from Asia: the Lawa model-a community-based approach to liver fluke control in Thailand.

Liver fluke infection caused by is a significant public health challenge in the Lower Mekong Basin, affecting over 10 million people and leading to cholangiocarcinoma, a fatal bile duct cancer. Traditional control efforts often fail due to complex socio-cultural and ecological factors. The Lawa model, implemented in the Lawa Lake region of Khon Kaen, Thailand, adopts a One Health framework to integrate human health interventions, environmental modifications, and animal reservoir management, addressing the transmission cycle comprehensively.

Co-occurrence of leptospirosis and Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cats and their risk factors.

Leptospirosis is a waterborne disease with a worldwide distribution. In Northeast Thailand, its prevalence overlaps with the endemicity of Opisthorchis viverrini, (OV). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of leptospirosis in cats and its association with opisthorchiasis in endemic area of Thailand.

Quantifying national burdens of foodborne disease-Four imperatives for global impact.

Estimates of national burdens of the foodborne disease (FBD) inform country-level food safety policies, ranking infectious and non-infectious FBD hazards in terms of health and socioeconomic impact to mitigate FBD burdens. Using relevant publications on FBD burdens from scientific literature, this review contends that four major imperatives (health, economic, planetary boundaries, governance) argue for a sustainable programme to quantify national FBD burdens. FBD disproportionately affects children under five years of age, and low- and middle-income countries.

Integrated opisthorchiasis control through the EcoHealth/one health approach: 15 years of success and experiences with the Lawa model.

infection remains a major health problem in Northeast Thailand and the Mekong region impacting over 12 million and causing bile duct cancer. Using an EcoHealth/One Health approach at Lawa Lake in Thailand, our integrated control program achieved a substantial reduction in liver fluke prevalence from 60 % to <5 % over 15 years. Key interventions included chemotherapy, collaboratively designed health education, ecosystem modification, and community participation.

Geospatial distribution and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis in rural communities of Northeast Thailand.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a neglected soil-transmitted helminth endemic in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and spatial distribution of S. stercoralis infection in rural villages of Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand.

Potential impact of climate change on Opisthorchis viverrini and Opisthorchis felineus transmission in Eurasia.

Human liver flukes of the family Opisthorchiidae, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini and Opisthorchis felineus, are major foodborne trematode parasites endemic to the Lower Mekong River Basin (Southeast Asia) and the Ob-Irtysh Basins (southern Western Siberia, Russian Federation), respectively. Together, these parasites infect over 14 million people, with an estimated 300 million at risk. Their transmission cycles involve Bithynia snails and Cyprinidae fish as first and second intermediate hosts, respectively, with humans and other fish-eating mammals serving as definitive hosts.

Influence of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy on Opisthorchis viverrini and cholangiocarcinoma prevention: A One Health approach in high-risk areas of Thailand.

Objective: Opisthorchis viverrini and cholangiocarcinoma have been recognised by the World Health Organisation as critical public health concerns, particularly in northeastern Thailand, where Opisthorchis viverrini is a significant cause of cholangiocarcinoma. This study examines the factors influencing Opisthorchis viverrini and cholangiocarcinoma prevention within the One Health framework in Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province, Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 residents aged 20 and above, utilising a structured questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes, perceived self-efficacy and prevention behaviours.

Comparative liver transcriptome analysis in hamsters infected with food-borne trematodes Opisthorchis felineus, Opisthorchis viverrini, or Clonorchis sinensis.

Background: Epidemiologically important food-borne trematodes Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis are recognized as biological carcinogens of Group 1A, while Opisthorchis felineus is in Group 3 as noncarcinogenic to humans. Mechanisms of the biological carcinogenesis are still elusive. Some studies highlight chronic inflammation as a key factor and common pathway for cancer initiation and progression.

A study protocol for a multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial of the impact of a multi-component One Health strategy to eliminate Opisthorchis viverrini and soil transmitted helminths in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are two of the most common helminths contributing to the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) burden in the Lower Mekong Basin. Although mass drug administration is the cornerstone of control programs to reduce morbidity caused by these infections, this approach has limitations in preventing re-infections. Elimination requires additional measures such as reservoir host treatment, improved hygiene and health education to reinforce MDA's impact.

Anticancer Potential of Valencia Peanut ( L.) Skin Extract against Cervical Cancer Cells In Vitro and in Nude Mouse Xenograft Models.

This study investigated the impact of Valencia KK4-type peanut skin ethanolic extract (KK4-PSE) combined with cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on HeLa cells in vitro and in xenograft models. At exposure times of 24, 48 and 72 h, KK4-PSE inhibited the growth of HeLa cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) of 79.43 ± 0.

Prevalence estimates of Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis infection in the Greater Mekong subregion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis, caused by Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis, respectively, are significant yet neglected foodborne trematodiases in the Great Mekong Subregion (GMS). Despite the reporting of the prevalence of these human liver flukes in the region over the past decades, there has been a lack of a comprehensive and systematic consolidation of this data. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize and analyze time-trend prevalence estimates of both O.

Identification and functional analysis of mitogenic miRNA of the carcinogenic liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini.

Opisthorchis viverrini is a pathogenic liver fluke that is known to cause cholangiocarcinoma in chronic infections. The underlying mechanism for this carcinogenesis is believed to be multifactorial, with parasite-derived excretory-secretory (ES) products potentially playing major roles. A recent study on these ES products has identified microRNAs (miRNA) that originate from O.

Towards an actionable One Health approach.

Background: Despite the increasing focus on strengthening One Health capacity building on global level, challenges remain in devising and implementing real-world interventions particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Recognizing these gaps, the One Health Action Commission (OHAC) was established as an academic community for One Health action with an emphasis on research agenda setting to identify actions for highest impact.

Main Text: This viewpoint describes the agenda of, and motivation for, the recently formed OHAC.

Feline leptospirosis prevalence worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic approaches.

Background And Aim: Leptospirosis in felids (domestic and wild cats) presents an ongoing challenge in our understanding. Numerous studies have reported the detection of spp. in these feline populations, highlighting their potential as zoonotic carriers.

Opisthorchis viverrini excretory-secretory products suppress GLUT8 of cholangiocytes.

Opisthorchis viverrini infection and the subsequent bile duct cancer it induces remains a significant public health problem in Southeast Asia. Opisthorchiasis has been reported to cause reduced plasma glucose levels among infected patients. The underlying mechanism for this phenomenon is unclear.