Stocking African catfish in Lake Victoria provides effective biocontrol of snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni.

In areas of high infection prevalence, effective control of schistosomiasis - one of the most important Neglected Tropical Diseases - requires supplementing medical treatment with interventions targeted at the environmental reservoir of disease. In addition to provision of clean water, reliable sanitation, and molluscicide use to control the obligate intermediate host snail, top-down biological control of parasite-competent snails has recently gained increasing interest in the scientific community. However, evidence that natural predators can effectively reduce snail abundance and, ultimately, transmission risk to vulnerable human populations remains limited.

Plasma levels measurement of the 4 direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation at the time of acute thromboembolic and bleeding events.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are standard therapy to prevent thromboembolic events in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and are generally used without routine monitoring of plasma anti-Xa or anti-IIa levels.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether plasma levels of anti-Xa or anti-IIa at the time of presentation are associated with acute thromboembolic or bleeding events in DOAC-treated patients with NVAF.

Methods: This prospective case-control study included consecutive long-term DOAC-treated patients with NVAF presenting to a European emergency department with acute thromboembolic or bleeding events (cases), or for other medical reasons (controls).

Estimating the infection fatality rate of emerging diseases using a regression approach applied to global COVID-19 cases.

Background: Estimating the infection fatality rate (IFR) for emerging diseases is elusive due to the presence of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infections and variable testing capacity. IFR estimates are also affected by region-specific differences in sampling regimes, demographics, and healthcare resources.

Methods: Here we present a novel regression approach using population testing and readily available case fatality rates (CFR) to estimate the IFR during an outbreak.

Correction: Geographical epidemiology of Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus microplus in Pakistan: A systematic review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Schistosomiasis and water resources development in Africa: A scoping review and multi-case evaluation of associated snail control.

Background: Water resources development (WRD), specifically infrastructural man-made water bodies such as dams and irrigation schemes, are built to improve water supply, provide energy, and enhance food security. However, dams and irrigation schemes may lead to a dramatic increase in the prevalence of schistosomiasis.

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a scoping review of WRD impacts on schistosomiasis transmission risk in Africa using electronic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature.

New Pseudomonas infections drive Pf phage transmission in CF airways.

Pf bacteriophages, lysogenic viruses that infect Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), are implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic Pa infections; phage-infected (Pf+) strains are known to predominate in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) who are older and have more severe disease. However, the transmission patterns of Pf underlying the progressive dominance of Pf+ strains are unclear. In particular, it is unknown whether phage transmission commonly occurs horizontally between bacteria via viral particles within the airway or whether Pf+ bacteria are mostly acquired via de novo Pseudomonas infections.

Seasonal temperature fluctuation and snail adaptive behaviors yield insights into the dynamics and distribution of schistosomiasis in Africa.

The complex relationship between temperature and schistosomiasis, an environmentally mediated neglected tropical disease affecting 250 million people globally, with hyperendemicity mostly in Africa, is poorly characterized. Here, we explored how seasonal temperature fluctuation affects the persistence, dynamics, and geographic distribution of schistosomiasis in Africa. We used a temperature-sensitive, mechanistic model of schistosomiasis dynamics that accounts for the adaptive behaviors of intermediate snail hosts and derived the disease's thermal response curve for different patterns of seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Evaluating Three Modelling Frameworks for Assessing Changes in Fin Whale Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea.

Understanding the habitat of highly migratory species is aided by using species distribution models to identify species-habitat relationships and to inform conservation and management plans. While Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) are commonly used in ecology, and particularly the habitat modeling of marine mammals, there remains a debate between modeling habitat (presence/absence) versus density (# individuals). Our study assesses the performance and predictive capabilities of GAMs compared to boosted regression trees (BRTs) for modeling both fin whale density and habitat suitability alongside Hurdle Models treating presence/absence and density as a two-stage process to address the challenge of zero-inflated data.

Comparison of unmanned aerial vehicle imaging to ground truth walkthroughs for identifying and classifying trash sites serving as potential Aedes aegypti breeding grounds.

Background: Trash piles and abandoned tires that are exposed to the elements collect water and create productive breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector for multiple arboviruses. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging provides a novel approach to efficiently and accurately mapping trash, which could facilitate improved prediction of Ae. aegypti habitat and consequent arbovirus transmission.

ANOCA, INOCA, MINOCA: The New Frontier of Coronary Syndromes.

The growing prevalence in the diagnosis of INOCA (Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries), ANOCA (Angina with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries), and MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) highlights the need to reassess their clinical relevance. Historically regarded as benign syndromes, emerging evidence suggests that these conditions may cause serious cardiovascular events and considerable long-term disability. Additionally, emerging studies suggest that non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) may have a higher prevalence compared to traditional obstructive forms of CAD.

superinfection drives Pf phage transmission within airway infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Pf bacteriophages, lysogenic viruses that infect , are implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic infections; phage-infected (Pf+) strains are known to predominate in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) who are older and have more severe disease. However, the transmission patterns of Pf underlying the progressive dominance of Pf+ strains are unclear. In particular, it is unknown whether phage transmission commonly occurs horizontally between bacteria within the airway via viral particles or if Pf+ bacteria are mostly acquired via new infections.

Transcatheter Approaches to Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation: How Far Have We Come?

Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and over the past decade, the diagnosis of atrial functional mitral regurgitation (aFMR) has been increasingly observed in the elderly, especially in those with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Annular enlargement, perturbations of annular contraction, and atriogenic leaflet tethering distinguish the pathophysiology of aFMR from the one of ventricular origin. However, no consensus provides recommendations regarding the differential diagnosis and the subsequent management of aFMR.

Marine Protected Areas That Preserve Trophic Cascades Promote Resilience of Kelp Forests to Marine Heatwaves.

Under accelerating threats from climate-change impacts, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been proposed as climate-adaptation tools to enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems. Yet, debate persists as to whether and how MPAs may promote resilience to climate shocks. Here, we use 38 years of satellite-derived kelp cover to empirically test whether a network of 58 temperate coastal MPAs in Central and Southern California enhances the resistance of kelp forest ecosystems to, and their recovery from, the unprecedented 2014-2016 marine heatwave regime that occurred in the region.

Mapping schistosomiasis risk landscapes and implications for disease control: A case study for low endemic areas in the Middle Paranapanema river basin, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Schistosomiasis, a chronic parasitic disease, remains a public health issue in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in low and moderate-income countries lacking assured access to safe water and proper sanitation. A national prevalence survey carried out by the Brazilian Ministry of Health from 2011 to 2015 found a decrease in human infection rates to 1%, with 19 out of 26 states still classified as endemic areas. There is a risk of schistosomiasis reemerging as a public health concern in low-endemic regions.

Geographical epidemiology of Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus microplus in Pakistan: A systematic review.

The livestock sector contributes almost 11% of Pakistan's GDP and is crucial to 35 million people's livelihoods. Ticks are a major economic threat, as over 80% of livestock, such as bovines, are tick-infested with Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus tick species. Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus microplus are the most common tick species collected from livestock, transmitting primarily anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and theileriosis.

Sex-specific variation in species interactions matters in ecological communities.

Understanding how natural communities and ecosystems are structured and respond to anthropogenic pressures in a rapidly changing world is key to successful management and conservation. A fundamental but often overlooked biological characteristic of organisms is sex. Sex-based responses are often considered when conducting studies at organismal and population levels, but are rarely investigated in community ecology.

Species distribution modeling for disease ecology: A multi-scale case study for schistosomiasis host snails in Brazil.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly popular tools for profiling disease risk in ecology, particularly for infectious diseases of public health importance that include an obligate non-human host in their transmission cycle. SDMs can create high-resolution maps of host distribution across geographical scales, reflecting baseline risk of disease. However, as SDM computational methods have rapidly expanded, there are many outstanding methodological questions.

Arrhythmic Risk Stratification in Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Review of the Current Literature.

Cardiac amyloidosis is the most frequent infiltrative disease caused by the deposition of misfolded proteins in the cardiac tissue, leading to heart failure, brady- and tachyarrhythmia and death. Conduction disorders, atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmia (VA) significantly impact patient outcomes and demand recognition. However, several issues remain unresolved regarding early diagnosis and optimal management.

Climate and urbanization drive changes in the habitat suitability of Schistosoma mansoni competent snails in Brazil.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Schistosoma parasites. Schistosoma are obligate parasites of freshwater Biomphalaria and Bulinus snails, thus controlling snail populations is critical to reducing transmission risk. As snails are sensitive to environmental conditions, we expect their distribution is significantly impacted by global change.

Development of a trash classification system to map potential Aedes aegypti breeding grounds using unmanned aerial vehicle imaging.

Aedes aegypti mosquitos are the primary vector for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses and tend to breed in small containers of water, with a propensity to breed in small piles of trash and abandoned tires. This study piloted the use of aerial imaging to map and classify potential Ae. aegypti breeding sites with a specific focus on trash, including discarded tires.

Re-assessing thermal response of schistosomiasis transmission risk: evidence for a higher thermal optimum than previously predicted.

The geographical range of schistosomiasis is affected by the ecology of schistosome parasites and their obligate host snails, including their response to temperature. Previous models predicted schistosomiasis' thermal optimum at 21.7 °C, which is not compatible with the temperature in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions where schistosomiasis is hyperendemic.

Predicting Increased Incidence of Common Antibiotic-Resistant and Antibiotic-Associated Pathogens Using Ensemble Species Distribution Modeling.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates antibiotic-associated pathogens result in 2.8 million infections and 38 000 deaths annually in the United States. This study applies species distribution modeling to elucidate the impact of environmental determinants of human infectious disease in an era of rapid global change.

Climate and urbanization drive changes in the habitat suitability of competent snails in Brazil.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites. are obligate parasites of freshwater snails, so controlling snail populations is critical to reducing transmission risk. As snails are sensitive to environmental conditions, we expect their distribution is significantly impacted by global change.