Toward the Global Control of Human Scabies: Introducing the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies

Scabies, the human skin disease caused by infestation by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, causes considerable morbidity and mortality through direct effects and as a result of secondary bacterial infection. Scabies is a truly neglected disease, largely absent from the global health agenda, and its huge burden of disease is largely underappreciated. We contend that coordinated, global efforts to control this ubiquitous pathogenic mite are both important and achievable

Diagnostics to support the control of scabies-Development of two target product profiles.

BACKGROUND: Scabies was added to the WHO NTD portfolio in 2017 and targets for the control of scabies were included in the 2021-2030 WHO NTD roadmap. A major component of scabies control efforts a strategy based on mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin. Currently diagnosis of scabies relies on clinical examination with a limited role for diagnostic testing. Under the recommendation of the WHO Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases, a working group was assembled and tasked with agreeing on priority use cases for and developing target product profiles (TPPs) for new diagnostics tools for scabies. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The working group convened three times and established two use cases: establishing if the 10% threshold for mass drug administration had been reached and if the 2% threshold for stopping mass drug administration has been achieved. One subgroup assessed the current diagnostic landscape for scabies and a second subgroup determined the test requirements for both use cases. Draft TPPs were sent out for input from stakeholders and experts. Both TPPs considered the following parameters: product use, design, performance, configuration, cost, access and equity. The group considered the use of the tests as a single step process or as part of a two step process following initial clinical examination. When used a single step test (the ideal scenario) for starting MDA a new diagnostic required a sensitivity of ≥92% and a specificity of ≥98%. When used a single step test (the ideal scenario) for stopping MDA a new diagnostic required a sensitivity of ≥80% and a specificity of ≥99%. CONCLUSIONS: The TPPs developed will provide test developers with guidance to ensure that novel diagnostic tests meet identified public health needs

International recommendations for an effective control of head louse infestations

Head louse infestations continue to be a concern of public health in most countries, including the most developed ones. The present recommendations are intended to inform and stress the role and impact of the different authorities, institutions, industry, and the public in the control of head lice in order to reduce the prevalence of this parasite. We encourage health authorities to pursue more effective methods to correctly identify such infestations, and evaluate existing and new pediculicides, medical devices, louse repellents, and louse- and nit-removal remedies. Pediculicides and medical devices must have verifiable claims in the instructions for use and should be tested periodically to document current levels of resistance by lice to the active ingredients and to the formulated products. Where the prevalence of lice is claimed to be epidemic, children should be periodically evaluated objectively to document the actual level of prevalence. Continuing education for health providers and the general population promises to correct misinformation regarding the biology, prevention, and management of lice. Parents should regularly inspect their children for head lice and treat as necessary. Health authorities are encouraged to eliminate policies and practices that rely upon school exclusion as a means to reduce incidence and prevalence, e.g., the ‘no-nit’ policy which lacks scientific justification, and are counterproductive to the health and welfare of childrenFil: Mumcuoglu, Kosta Y.. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; IsraelFil: Pollack, Richard J.. Harvard University; Estados UnidosFil: Reed, David L.. University Of Florida. Florida Museum Of History; Estados UnidosFil: Barker, Stephen C.. University of Queensland; AustraliaFil: Gordon, Shirley. Florida Atlantic University; Estados UnidosFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Picollo, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Taylan Ozkan, Aysegul. Hitit University; Turquía. Near East University; ChipreFil: Chosidow, Olivier. Hôpital Henri Mondor; FranciaFil: Habedank, Birgit. German Environment Agency; AlemaniaFil: Ibarra, Joanna. Community Hygiene Concern; Reino UnidoFil: Meinking, Terri L.. Global Health Associates of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Vander Stichele, Robert H.. Heymans Institute of Pharmacology; Bélgic

Fatal Disseminated Acanthamoeba lenticulata Acanthamebiasis in a Heart Transplant Patient

We report a fatal case of disseminated acanthamebiasis caused by Acanthamoeba lenticulata (genotype T5) in a 39-year-old heart transplant recipient. The diagnosis was based on skin histopathologic results and confirmed by isolation of the ameba from involved skin and molecular analysis of a partial 18S rRNA gene sequence (DF3)

Baş biti enfestasyonlarının etkin kontrolü için uluslararası tavsiyeler

Baş biti enfestasyonları, en gelişmiş olanlar da dâhil olmak üzere çoğu ülkede halk sağlığını ilgilendiren bir sorun olmaya devam etmektedir. Makalede sunulan tavsiyeler, bu parazitin prevalansını azaltmak amacıyla baş biti kontrolünde farklı otoritelerin, kurumların, endüstrinin ve kamunun rollerini ve etkilerini vurgulamayı ve bilgilendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Sağlık yetkililerini, bu tür enfestasyonların doğru şekilde tespit edilmesi; mevcut ve yeni pedikülositler, tıbbi cihazlar, repellentler, bit ve yumurta giderici ürünlerin değerlendirilmesi amacıyla daha etkili yöntemler iz açıklamalara sahip olmalı ayrıca aktif bileşenlere ve formüle ürünlere karşı bitlerin direnç seviyelerinin mevcut durumunu belgelemek için periyodik olarak test edilmelidir. Bit yaygınlığının salgın düzeyine ulaştığı iddiaları ortaya atıldığında, gerçek yaygınlık düzeyinin kanıtlanması amacıyla çocuklar periyodik aralıklarla objektif olarak değerlendirilmelidir. Sağlık hizmeti sunanlar ve toplum geneli için düzenlenen sürekli eğitimlerle bitlerin biyolojisi, önlenmesi ve kontrolü konusundaki yanlış bilgilerin düzeltilmesi sağlanabilir. Ebeveynler, çocuklarını baş biti açısından düzenli olarak kontrol etmeli ve gerektiğinde tedavi etmelidir. Sağlık yetkilileri, vakaları ve yaygınlığı azaltmada bir araç olarak kullanılan ancak bilimsel gerekçesi olmadığı gibi çocukların sağlığı ve huzuruna da ters etki yapan “sirkeye geçit yok- no-nit politikası” tarzında çocukları okuldan uzaklaştırmaya dayalı politika ve uygulamaların ortadan kaldırılması için mücadele etmelidir.lemeye teşvik etmeyi umuyoruz. Pedikülositler ve tıbbi cihazlar, kullanım talimatlarında doğrulanabilirHead louse infestations continue to be a concern of public health in most countries, including the most developed ones. The present recommendations are intended to inform and stress the role and impact of the different authorities, institutions, industry, and the public in the control of head lice in order to reduce the prevalence of this parasite. We encourage health authorities to pursue more effective methods to correctly identify such infestations, and evaluate existing and new pediculicides, medical devices, louse repellents, and louse and nit-removal remedies. Pediculicides and medical devices must have verifiable claims in the instructions for use and should be tested periodically to document current levels of resistance by lice to the active ingredients and to the formulated products. Where the prevalence of lice is claimed to be epidemic, children should be periodically evaluated objectively to document the actual level of prevalence. Continuing education for health providers and the general population promises to correct misinformation regarding the biology, prevention, and management of lice. Parents should regularly inspect their children for head lice and treat as necessary. Health authorities are encouraged to eliminate policies and practices that rely upon school exclusion as a means to reduce incidence and prevalence, e.g., the ‘no-nit’ policy which lacks scientific justification, and are countFil: Mumcuoğlu, Kosta Y.. The Hebrew University; IsraelFil: Pollack, Richard J.. Harvard University. Harvard School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Reed, David. University Of Florida. Florida Museum Of History. Departamento Of Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Barker, Stephen. The University of Queensland; AustraliaFil: Gordon, Shirley. Florida Atlantic University (fau);Fil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Picollo, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Taylan Özkan, Ayşegül. Tobb University Of Economics And Technology; TurquíaFil: Chosidow, Olivier. Hopital Henri Mondor; FranciaFil: Habedank, Birgit. German Environment Agency; AlemaniaFil: Ibarra, Joanna. Community Hygiene Concern; Reino UnidoFil: Meinking, Terri L.. Global Health Association Of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Stichele, Robert Vander. University of Ghent; Bélgic