Visceral Leishmaniasis Treatment, Italy

First-line drug treatment was recorded in 573 immunocompetent patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Italy. In the past 12 years, the proportion of antimonial treatments decreased from 100% to 2.8%, while the proportion of amphotericin B treatments increased from 0% to 97.2%. The countrywide change in therapy is a response to both disease reemergence and increasing antimonial failure

Recent autochthonous cases of leishmaniasis in residents of the Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation

Eighty years after the last published record of human leishmaniasis from Dagestan, Russian Federation, we report two recent cases which were most probably acquired locally: one case of visceral leishmaniasis in a 2-year old child, and one cutaneous leishmaniasis case in a 39-year-old man co-infected with HIV, both resident in Dagestan. Keywords: Visceral leishmaniasis, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, HIV infection, Dagestan, Russian Federatio

Identification of sex determination genes and their evolution in Phlebotominae sand flies (Diptera, Nematocera)

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Nematocera) are important vectors of several pathogens, including Leishmania parasites, causing serious diseases of humans and dogs. Despite their importance as disease vectors, most aspects of sand fly biology remain unknown including the molecular basis of their reproduction and sex determination, aspects also relevant for the development of novel vector control strategies

Isolation of a Wickerhamomyces anomalus yeast strain from the sandfly Phlebotomus perniciosus, displaying the killer phenotype

The yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus has been studied for its wide biotechnological potential, mainly for applications in the food industry. Different strains of W. anomalus have been isolated from diverse habitats and recently from insects, including mosquitoes of medical importance. This paper reports the isolation and phylogenetic characterization of W. anomalus from laboratory-reared adults and larvae of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae), a main phlebotomine vector of human and canine leishmaniasis. Of 65 yeast strains isolated from P. perniciosus, 15 strains were identified as W. anomalus; one of these was tested for the killer phenotype and demonstrated inhibitory activity against four yeast sensitive strains, as reported for mosquito-isolated strains. The association between P. perniciosus and W. anomalus deserves further investigation in order to explore the possibility that this yeast may exert inhibitory/killing activity against Leishmania spp

Supplementary data for the article: Konstantinović, J.; Videnović, M.; Orsini, S.; Bogojević, K.; D’Alessandro, S.; Scaccabarozzi, D.; Terzić Jovanović, N.; Gradoni, L.; Basilico, N.; Šolaja, B. A. Novel Aminoquinoline Derivatives Significantly Reduce Parasite Load in Leishmania Infantum Infected Mice. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2018, 9 (7), 629–634. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00053

Supplementary material for: [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00053]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2209]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2948

Pediatric Visceral Leishmaniasis in Albania: A Retrospective Analysis of 1,210 Consecutive Hospitalized Patients (1995–2009)

Albania is a developing country that is rapidly improving in social, economic and sanitary conditions. The health care system in still in progress and the impact of some infectious diseases remains poorly understood. In particular, little information is available on incidence, clinical features and response to treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in childhood. We performed a retrospective analysis of data recorded from 1995 to 2009 at the national pediatric reference hospital of Tirana where any child suspected for VL is referred for specific diagnosis and treatment. Epidemiology, clinical features and management of the disease were considered. The main findings can be summarized as follows: i) The incidence of the disease in Albanian children (25/100,000 in the age group 0–6 years) is much higher than in developed Mediterranean countries endemic for VL; ii) The disease is associated with poor sanitary conditions as suggested by the high rate of severe clinical features and frequency of co-morbidities; iii) The cheapest drug available for Mediterranean VL treatment (meglumine antimoniate) is highly effective (99% full cure rate) and well tolerated. Limitations were identified in the low standard laboratory diagnostic capability and unsatisfactory medical surveillance in less urbanized areas. An improvement is warranted of a disease-specific surveillance system in Albania

Predicting the distribution of canine leishmaniasis in western Europe based on environmental variables.

The domestic dog is the reservoir host of Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis endemic in Mediterranean Europe. Targeted control requires predictive risk maps of canine leishmaniasis (CanL), which are now explored. We databased 2187 published and unpublished surveys of CanL in southern Europe. A total of 947 western surveys met inclusion criteria for analysis, including serological identification of infection (504, 369 dogs tested 1971-2006). Seroprevalence was 23 2% overall (median 10%). Logistic regression models within a GIS framework identified the main environmental predictors of CanL seroprevalence in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy, or in France alone. A 10-fold cross-validation approach determined model capacity to predict point-values of seroprevalence and the correct seroprevalence class (20%). Both the four-country and France-only models performed reasonably well for predicting correctly the 20% seroprevalence classes (AUC >0 70). However, the France-only model performed much better for France than the four-country model. The four-country model adequately predicted regions of CanL emergence in northern Italy (<5% seroprevalence). Both models poorly predicted intermediate point seroprevalences (5-20%) within regional foci, because surveys were biased towards known rural foci and Mediterranean bioclimates. Our recommendations for standardizing surveys would permit higher-resolution risk mapping

Canine leishmaniosis in the Italian northeastern Alps: A survey to assess serological prevalence in dogs and distribution of phlebotomine sand flies in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol, Italy

Abstract The Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol (APB), located in the northernmost territory of the Italian eastern Alps, is still considered non-endemic for canine leishmaniosis (CanL) despite clinical cases being observed and a competent Leishmania infantum vector (Phlebotomus perniciosus) having been recorded since 2008. A serological survey of leishmaniosis among a randomly-selected subpopulation of registered owned dogs was carried in 2018, followed by entomological investigations performed in 2019 and driven by canine survey results. A total of 457 resident dogs from all over the APB territory were examined through IFAT for antibodies against L.infantum, of which 63 (13.8%) tested positive. Thirty-five seropositive cases (7.7%) were considered autochthonous to APB, i.e. dogs born and lived in the province, or imported dogs with no travel history in the past 5 years. Most of these animals showed an antibody titre at the threshold level of 1:40, suggesting a low degree of parasite transmission/contacts. In 2 autochthonous cases with moderately high IFAT titre, the infection was confirmed by nested-PCR in peripheral blood. Thirty-one georeferenced sites were monitored for sand flies by means of interception (sticky papers) and attraction (CDC miniature light traps) collection devices. Traps were set during summer approximately on monthly basis, and extended up to October for positive sites. Only 2 sites were found positive for a total of 317 phlebotomine specimens collected by sticky traps, which included a previously known P. perniciosus-endemic site near Bolzano town. Sergentomyia minuta was by far the most prevalent (98.1%) and the only recorded sand fly species in the most northerly Italian site ever investigated (Coldrano municipality in Venosta valley). For the first time, Leishmania serology and n-PCR positive dogs autochthonous to APB were identified, however the spread of sand flies competent for L. infantum transmission could not be demonstrated in several places where endemic seropositive cases were recorded. APB can be considered a territory of low CanL endemicity, however awareness and continuous monitoring are needed to detect changes in the epidemiological status of the zoonosis

National quality assurance guidelines for architectural education - help or hindrance in curriculum development and innovation

This paper will outline the nature of a national guideline for quality assurance and standards in architectural education. It will also report on the application of the guidelines in testing the curriculum of the Bachelors and Masters programmes of the Cork Centre for Architectural Education. Finally it will evaluate the robustness of the guidelines in accommodating curriculum change in the context of technology change, by considering the specific case of incorporating into the curriculum, education and training for architects and students aimed at assisting them in contributing to the development of the "intelligent" building. The author will draw upon recent experience serving on an Expert Committee charged with drawing up guidelines for the Quality Assurance in architectural education in the Republic of Ireland. This work was undertaken at the behest of HETAC, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, a body established by the Irish government with responsibility for the maintenance of quality and standards in many parts of the third level (post secondary school) education. The preparation of guidelines on quality and standards in architectural education was timely given some significant changes in the context of professional practice and architectural education in Ireland. The country introduced legislation in 2007, in the Building Act, which protects the title of "architect" and its usage. The professional body, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, has been appointed as the agency responsible for the registration of architects within the terms of the new law, and for the accreditation of their training and education. This responsibility also extends to control at the national level, of entry to the profession within the European Union, as defined in "Professional Qualifications" (EU Directive 2005/36). Furthermore, after a prolonged period of unprecedented growth in the construction sector and growth in demand for architectural services, lasting till 2007, the number of architectural schools in the country grew from 2003, from just two, long-established schools in the capital city, Dublin, to a total of five in 2006, with the new schools being distributed across the country. The new HETAC document attempts to identify the abilities, skills, and knowledge that graduates should achieve at different levels in their architectural education. These guidelines are used as an index to test the curriculum at the author's own school, the Cork Centre for Architectural Education. The results will be used to evaluate the utility of the HETAC document in evaluating curricula, and in supporting the maintenance of quality, and facilitating innovation. To investigate the latter issues of innovation and curriculum development, the author will take as a case study, the extent to which the new guidelines encourage, or inhibit the incorporation of curriculum change driven by technology change. Specifically it will examine the application of recommendations for the education of architects and architectural students being developed within the NEMBES project, an Irish Government funded (PRTLI-IV), multi-disciplinary project aimed at developing a Centre of Excellence in Cork for the application of embedded technology in the built environment. This curriculum change is intended to enable architects to contribute to the development of "intelligent" environments through utilising electronic sensors and actuators enabling performance and configurationally changes in built enclosures, in response to environmental parameters and occupant behaviour