Rabies, for which the mortality rate is almost 100%, is a zoonotic viral disease that can be transmitted via solid organs or tissue allotransplantation. Dozens of deaths from rabies via solid organs or tissues allotransplantation (ROTA) have been documented during the last decades. In 2015 and 2016, two cases of rabies virus transmission via solid organs or tissue allotransplantation were reported in China, which further underscore the risk and importance of this special type of rabies for organ transplant recipients. From 1978 to 2017, at least 13 cases of ROTA, causing dozens of deaths, have been reported worldwide, whether in the high-risk or low-risk countries of rabies. The reported incubation period of ROTA ranges from 11 days to more than 17 months, while the historical incubation period of rabies is generally considered to range from ~ 1 week to several years. The pathogenesis of ROTA is not clear, but the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can play a protective role in the transplant recipients. We also summarize reports about ROTA in China, combined with the actual situation regarding work on rabies surveillance and elimination, and suggest countermeasures for the prevention and control of ROTA in the future. Understanding the significance of ROTA, screening the suspected organs, assessing the risk and protecting the related population will be effective way to prevent and control further occurrence of ROTA.

Helminths are endemic in more than half of the world’s countries, raising serious public health concerns. Accurate diagnosis of helminth infection is crucial to control strategies. Traditional parasitological methods, serological tests and PCR-based assays are the major means of the diagnosis of helminth infection, but they are time-consuming and/or expensive, and sometimes provide inaccurate results. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, a sensitive, simple and rapid method was therefore developed for detection of helminths. This study aims to discuss the current status of application of LAMP on helminths detection and to make a comprehensive evaluation about this updated technology and its future outlook by comparing with several other diagnostic methods. This review summarizes LAMP assay applied for helminth detection and helminthiasis surveillance. The basic principle of LAMP is introduced to help better understand its characteristics and each reported assay is assessed mainly based on its detection sensitivity, specificity and limitations, in comparison with other common diagnostic tests. Moreover, we discuss the limitations of the assays so as to clarify some potential ways of improvement. Here, we summarize and discuss the advantages, disadvantages and promising future of LAMP in heliminth detection, which is expected to help update current knowledge and future perspectives of LAMP in highly sensitive and specific diagnosis and surveillance of helminthiasis and other parasitic diseases, and can contribute to the elimination of the diseases from endemic areas.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis (AC) can cause severe eosinophilic meningitis or encephalitis in non-permissive hosts accompanied by apoptosis and necroptosis of brain cells. However, the explicit underlying molecular basis of apoptosis and necroptosis upon AC infection has not yet been elucidated. To determine the specific pathways of apoptosis and necroptosis upon AC infection, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis for gene expression microarray (accession number: GSE159486) of mouse brain infected by AC revealed that TNF-α likely played a central role in the apoptosis and necroptosis in the context of AC infection, which was further confirmed via an in vivo rescue assay after treating with TNF-α inhibitor. The signalling axes involved in apoptosis and necroptosis were investigated via immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Immunofluorescence was used to identify the specific cells that underwent apoptosis or necroptosis. The results showed that TNF-α induced apoptosis of astrocytes through the RIP1/FADD/Caspase-8 axis and induced necroptosis of neurons by the RIP3/MLKL signalling pathway. In addition, in vitro assay revealed that TNF-α secretion by microglia increased upon LSA stimulation and caused necroptosis of neurons. The present study provided the first evidence that TNF-α was secreted by microglia stimulated by AC infection, which caused cell death via parallel pathways of astrocyte apoptosis (mediated by the RIP1/FADD/caspase-8 axis) and neuron necroptosis (driven by the RIP3/MLKL complex). Our research comprehensively elucidated the mechanism of cell death after AC infection and provided new insight into targeting TNF-α signalling as a therapeutic strategy for CNS injury.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis has been the only parasite among Angiostrongylidae to cause human central nervous system infection characterized by eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis. The mechanism of the extensive neurological impairments of hosts caused by A. cantonensis larvae remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate apoptosis, necroptosis and autophagy in the brains of mice infected with A. cantonensis, which will be valuable for better understanding the pathogenesis of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis. Functional and histological neurological impairments of brain tissues from mice infected with A. cantonensis were measured by the Morris water maze test and haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, respectively. The transcriptional and translational levels of apoptosis-, necroptosis- and autophagy-related genes were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and assessed by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. Apoptotic and necroptotic cells and their distributions in infected brain tissues were analysed by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Inflammatory response in the central nervous system deteriorated as A. cantonensis infection evolved, as characterized by abundant inflammatory cell infiltration underneath the meninges, which peaked at 21 days post-infection (dpi). The learning and memory capacities of the mice were significantly decreased at 14 dpi, indicating prominent impairment of their cognitive functions. Compared with those of the control group, the mRNA levels of caspase-3, -4, -6, and RIP3 and the protein levels of caspase-4, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-6, RIP3, and pRIP3 were obviously elevated. However, no changes in the mRNA or protein levels of FADD, Beclin-1 or LC3B were evident, indicating that apoptosis and necroptosis, but not autophagy, occurred in the brain tissues of mice infected with A. cantonensis. The quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, IHC, flow cytometry and TEM results further revealed the apoptotic and necroptotic microglia, astrocytes and neurons in the parenchymal and hippocampal regions of infected mice. To our knowledge, we showed for the first time that A. cantonensis infection causes the apoptosis and necroptosis of microglia and astrocytes in the parenchymal and hippocampal regions of host brain tissues, further demonstrating the pathogenesis of A. cantonensis infection and providing potential therapeutic targets for the management of angiostrongyliasis.

Dengue prevention is important for controlling the spread of dengue infection. Transmission of dengue can be prevented by controlling mosquito breeding sites. Indonesia has dengue a prevention program to minimize mosquito breeding sites known as 3 M Plus. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with dengue prevention behaviour among respondents in the Lowokwaru subdistrict, an urban area in Malang, Indonesia. This cross-sectional study used a semi-structured questionnaire that was conducted by face-to-face interview. Older respondents (> 60 years and 41–60 years) showed better dengue prevention behaviour than younger respondents (21–40 years and < 21 years) (p value = 0.01). Proportionally more male respondents showed poor dengue prevention behaviour compared with female respondents (p value = 0.007). Respondents who lived in Malang for long durations showed better dengue prevention behaviour compared with those who lived there for a shorter period (p value = 0.016). Those with more family members in their households practiced better dengue prevention behaviour compared with those with fewer family members (p value = 0.004). Perception was associated with dengue prevention behaviour. Respondents who had higher perceived susceptibility showed better dengue prevention behaviour compared with those who had moderate perceptions (p value = 0.000). Age, gender, duration of stay in Malang, number of family members, and perception of dengue susceptibility were associated with dengue prevention behaviour.

Reported monthly scrub typhus (ST) cases in Thailand has an increase in the number of cases during 2009–2014. Humidity is a crucial climatic factor for the survival of chiggers, which is the disease vectors. The present study was to determine the role of humidity in ST occurrence in Thailand and its delayed effect. We obtained the climate data from the Department of Meteorology, the disease data from Ministry of Public Health. Negative binomial regression combined with a distributed lag non-linear model (NB-DLNM) was employed to determine the non-linear effects of different types of humidity on the disease. This model controlled overdispersion and confounder, including seasonality, minimum temperature, and cumulative total rainwater. The occurrence of the disease in the 6-year period showed the number of cases gradually increased summer season (Mid-February – Mid-May) and then reached a plateau during the rainy season (Mid-May – Mid-October) and then steep fall after the cold season (Mid-October – Mid-February). The high level (at 70%) of minimum relative humidity (RHmin) was associated with a 33% (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.13–1.57) significant increase in the number of the disease; a high level (at 14 g/m3) of minimum absolute humidity (AHmin) was associated with a 30% (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14–1.48); a high level (at 1.4 g/kg) of minimum specific humidity (SHmin) was associated with a 28% (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.04–1.57). The significant effects of these types of humidity occurred within the past month. Humidity played a significant role in enhancing ST cases in Thailand, particularly at a high level and usually occurred within the past month. NB-DLNM had good controlled for the overdispersion and provided the precise estimated relative risk of non-linear associations. Results from this study contributed the evidence to support the Ministry of Public Health on warning system which might be useful for public health intervention and preparation in Thailand.