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The 12th National and 5th International Congress of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases of Iran (NICOPA XII) was held in Karaj, Iran in May 2024. The congress brought together over 650 scientists from Iran and 8 other countries to present the latest advances in parasitology and parasitic diseases. The program included plenary lectures from top national and international scientists, as well as workshops on scientific paper writing, primer and probe design, and phylogenetic tree drawing. The congress was considered a success and included social activities and visits to historical sites in Alborz Province. [Extracted from the article]

The integration of quantitative and qualitative knowledge from parasitologists plays a pivotal role in refining the performance of deep learning (DL) models. Knowledge-integrated DL models can be trained using different learning strategies that make use of labeled and unlabeled data, such as supervised learning, semi-supervised learning, and self-supervised learning. When choosing a backbone network – such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), transformers, or graph neural networks (GNNs) – for parasitology research, it is essential to consider their advantages, disadvantages, and data characteristics. DL-based microscopy image analysis has been successfully applied in parasitology, including high-throughput parasite detection, quantitative analysis of host–pathogen interactions, and aberrated images correction. Microscopy image analysis plays a pivotal role in parasitology research. Deep learning (DL), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), has garnered significant attention. However, traditional DL-based methods for general purposes are data-driven, often lacking explainability due to their black-box nature and sparse instructional resources. To address these challenges, this article presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in knowledge-integrated DL models tailored for microscopy image analysis in parasitology. The massive amounts of human expert knowledge from parasitologists can enhance the accuracy and explainability of AI-driven decisions. It is expected that the adoption of knowledge-integrated DL models will open up a wide range of applications in the field of parasitology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. Reinhard Hoeppli (1893—1973), a well-known Swiss medical parasitologist, completed his clinical training in Germany, obtained a doctorate in clinical pathology related to parasites, and later conducted nematology research in the United States. From 1930 to 1952, he served as the second Director of the Division of Parasitology at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), and was responsible for the examination of parasite-related specimens in the PUMC Hospital. During his time at PUMC, Dr. Hoeppli discovered the famous "Splendore-Hoeppli Phenomenon", and contributed greatly to the advancement of medical parasitology and tropical diseases in China. In addition to his academic achievements, he made fruitful diplomatic efforts for PUMC in his capacity as Swiss consul during the occupation of PUMC by Japanese forces. This paper mainly reviews his great influence on the development of medical parasitology during the time at PUMC and his diplomatic contributions to PUMC.

OBJECTIVE: To better construct teaching resources, enhance real-time interaction and feedback between teachers and students in and out of class, and improve the teaching quality of parasitology, our team set up a WeChat public account I love Parasitology. METHODS: The data sources were mainly from original pictures and multimedia materials of different parasites collected and produced by our team, as well as related materials collected from traditional publications and digital media. With the instant interactive platform, course schedules and corresponding teaching contents were sent by push notifications, case-based learning was carried out, and 2-way communication between students and teachers was achieved. Teaching effectiveness was assessed using a self-evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: A WeChat public account suitable for our daily teaching of parasitology was established. The second recursion and implementation of the learning resources allowed students to conduct in-depth reading and get unrestricted access to high-quality resources through the public account. In addition, all contents were in digital forms and made the original resources reborn, which would make up for our current and future shortage of physical teaching specimens. Moreover, the results from the questionnaire indicated that all these actions encouraged students to master theoretical knowledge, improved their abilities of case analysis and communication, and increased their knowledge of academic progress. CONCLUSION: Our WeChat public account can provide excellent learning materials for students and is a good supplement to the routine education of human parasitology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : The aim of the work is to assess the prevalence of malaria in travelers coming from endemic areas to Egypt either Egyptians or foreigners within two months of their arrival to Egypt. Methods: Sites of study were Zagazig city, Tropical Medicine Department and Medical Parasitology Department, Zagazig University, Sharkyah Fever Hospitals and Abbasiah Fever Hospital, Cairo. Considering that all participants fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Results: During the study period, the registered participants were 300 and were included as a comprehensive sample. The positive malaria patients were 18 (6% of all participants). Conclusion: Foreign-acquired malaria infections have been elevated to a major concern for Egyptian travelers to African countries. To reduce the danger of catching the disease while traveling, high-risk groups should be made more aware of and given access to effective prophylactic measures against exposure to mosquito bites and malaria parasites. Increased capability for imported case detection is required to reduce the burden of fatal cases, severe malaria, as well as prevent secondary malaria transmission among Egyptians. RDTs have been found to be simple and effective for the rapid detection of malaria, which may encourage Egypt to put control measures against imported malaria into place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a 2019 acute toxoplasmosis outbreak in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate the laboratory serological profile for toxoplasmosis for three consecutive years. The ophthalmological manifestations of the patients involved in the outbreak were also studied. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of a toxoplasmosis outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil, between February and May 2019. Epidemiological data were described, as were the observed ocular manifestations. As part of this study the number of patients with positive IgM toxoplasmosis serology was obtained from a large laboratory network (DASA) for three consecutive years, including the year of the outbreak (2018, 2019, 2020). Results: Eighty-three individuals were identified in the outbreak and two clusters were studied. The clinical picture of at least 77% of the patients, the epidemiological analysis, and the short incubation period (5-8 days) suggested contamination by oocysts. Serological laboratory data analysis revealed an increase of positive toxoplasmosis IgM in 2019 of 73% compared to the previous year. Ophthalmological examination revealed that at least 4.8% of the patients developed toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, none of whom had been treated during the acute systemic disease. Conclusion: Our findings indicate vegetable contamination as the possible source of this outbreak, a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in São Paulo during the outbreak period, and a drop in the number of tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retinochoroiditis was observed in at least 4.8% of the cases. We confirm the need to implement effective means for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. This may involve raising awareness among the population of the importance of vegetable hygiene, and improved quality control of food and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A partially skeletonized human corpse was found in bushes in Selangor, Malaysia in June 2020. Entomological evidence was collected during the autopsy and sent to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) analysis. Standard protocols were applied when processing preserved and live insect specimens of both larval and pupal stages. Entomological evidence revealed that the corpse was colonized by Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin, 1932 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Diamesus osculans (Vigors, 1825) (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Chrysomya nigripes was chosen as the PMImin indicator as this fly species is an earlier colonizer compared to D. osculans beetle larvae which their presence is the indicative of late stage of decomposition. For the present case, the pupae of C. nigripes were the oldest insect evidence collected and based on the available developmental data, the estimated minimum PMI was established between 9 and 12 days. It is noteworthy to highlight that this is the first record of D. osculans colonization on a human corpse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large language models like ChatGPT have revolutionized the field of natural language processing with their capability to comprehend and generate textual content, showing great potential to play a role in medical education. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate and comprehensively analysis the performance of ChatGPT on three types of national medical examinations in China, including National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE), National Pharmacist Licensing Examination (NPLE), and National Nurse Licensing Examination (NNLE). Methods: We collected questions from Chinese NMLE, NPLE and NNLE from year 2017 to 2021. In NMLE and NPLE, each exam consists of 4 units, while in NNLE, each exam consists of 2 units. The questions with figures, tables or chemical structure were manually identified and excluded by clinician. We applied direct instruction strategy via multiple prompts to force ChatGPT to generate the clear answer with the capability to distinguish between single-choice and multiple-choice questions. Results: ChatGPT failed to pass the accuracy threshold of 0.6 in any of the three types of examinations over the five years. Specifically, in the NMLE, the highest recorded accuracy was 0.5467, which was attained in both 2018 and 2021. In the NPLE, the highest accuracy was 0.5599 in 2017. In the NNLE, the most impressive result was shown in 2017, with an accuracy of 0.5897, which is also the highest accuracy in our entire evaluation. ChatGPT's performance showed no significant difference in different units, but significant difference in different question types. ChatGPT performed well in a range of subject areas, including clinical epidemiology, human parasitology, and dermatology, as well as in various medical topics such as molecules, health management and prevention, diagnosis and screening. Conclusions: These results indicate ChatGPT failed the NMLE, NPLE and NNLE in China, spanning from year 2017 to 2021. but show great potential of large language models in medical education. In the future high-quality medical data will be required to improve the performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Founded in 1959, the Italian Society of Parasitology (SoIPa) includes nearly 200 researchers and professionals in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, epidemiology and environmental sciences. The diversity of its members, in a historical and continuous collaboration with other international scientific societies, embodies a broad and multidisciplinary field such as parasitology. Since 1959, SoIPa has organized a biennial congress, covering all aspects of general parasitology with participants from all over Italy, Europe and beyond, involved in a dynamic and multi-faceted scientific framework of contributions and symposia. The present Special Issue (SI) contains 6 review papers and 1 research article, focussed on emerging topics presented and discussed during some of the symposia organized within the XXXII SoIPa Congress, held in Naples from 27th June to 30th June 2022. These review papers reflect several emerging subjects (i.e. ‘Italian network on Neglected Tropical Diseases’, ‘Wildlife parasites and citizen science’, ‘Comparing approaches to parasitological issues’, ‘Unusual perspectives on the role of parasites’) with the aim to explore the new role that parasitologists can play in the future society, working together to promote dialogue on science-informed decisions to support the so-called ‘twin green and digital transition’.

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Based on the training of nurses according to the generally accepted international educational standards, the most effective way to attain a higher standard of education for future specialists is to incorporate optional courses that provide a novel approach to learning. The purpose of this study was to present the experience of the Department of Medical Biology of the I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University in the development and implementation of the elective discipline “Modern Aspects of Medical Parasitology” in the educational programme “Nursing” of the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education in the branch of knowledge 22 Healthcare, specialty 223 Nursing. The study analysed the theoretical and methodological foundations of conducting classes in the elective discipline “Modern Aspects of Medical Parasitology”. It was found that the educational and methodological complex, which corresponds to the curriculum and is developed based on the regulatory documents of the educational programme “Nursing”, enables students to master, expand, and improve the level of mastery of the initial material, develop an individual approach to solving the tasks according to the goals and programme results. The paper points out the importance of forming a holistic understanding of parasitism as a form of relationship between organisms in nature. The study covered the teaching methods employed for the elective course “Modern Aspects of Medical Parasitology” in a higher education institution. It analysed how using teaching aids, including museum exhibits in the educational process and the role of the Department of Medical Biology, enhances the effectiveness of students’ learning activities in studying the fundamentals of medical parasitology. The incorporation of highly visible means, information and communication technologies, well-designed educational and methodological support, and impeccably organised classroom activities will enhance the quality, content, and principles of educational services offered in the educational programme “Nursing”, speciality 223 Nursing

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs), caused by helminths and protozoans, are among the most prevalent infections in humans in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IPIs in patients referred to three educational and medical centers affiliated with Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Urmia. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2845 stool samples, including 2174 (76.4%) males and 671 (23.6%) females, were collected from patients referred to Imam Khomeini and Shahid Motahhari hospitals and Shahid Nikkhah Health Center in Urmia, Northwest Iran, from January 2020 to February 2022. The microscopic examination for IPIs was carried out using the wet mount method, and the hard-to-identify samples were stained by trichrome for accurate identification of protozoa. For diagnosis of infections by coccidian parasites modified Ziehl-Neelsen (mZN) staining was used. Results: Based on the results, two hundred nine intestinal parasites were identified in 184 out of 2845 (6.5%) patients of which 136 out of 2174 males (6.3%) and 48 out of 671 females (7.2%) were positive. Some patients had tested positive for multiple protozoa. The observed intestinal protozoa are as follows: Blastocystis spp. 118 (4.1%), Endolimax Nana 42 (1.5%), Entamoeba coli 24 (0.8%), Giardia lamblia 13 (0.5%), Cryptosporidium spp. 6 (0.2%), Iodamoeba butschlii 3 (0.1%), Chilomastix mesnili 2 (0.1%), and an accidentally detected helminthic infection Enterobius vermicularis 1 (0.05%). Conclusion: According to the results, the most prevalent IPIs in West Azerbaijan Province are caused by Blastocystis spp., and Giardia lamblia. Most intestinal protozoa observed in the study were nonpathogenic and commensal, which shows water or food contamination in the area. Thus, medical technologists in the parasitology section must be trained and aware of IPIs in medical laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the proven effectiveness of simulation-based learning activities, its adoption in medical education remains limited, and the influence of simulation on student motivation, particularly subjective task values, is seldom explored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a simulation-based learning activity on student learning and subjective task values in a medical morphology-related course of Human Parasitology. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 113 Chinese undergraduate medical students who participated in a Human Parasitology course during April to May 2022. Students were divided into two groups: Simulation Group (n = 55), where students used the simulation, and Lecture Group (n = 58), where students attended an online lecture. Students' learning was measured prior to the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and three weeks later to assess knowledge retention. The subjective task values questionnaire was administered before and after the interventions. Data were analyzed using one-way ANCOVA and MANOVA. Results: Students in the Simulation Group exhibited significantly higher knowledge gain compared to the Lecture Group [F (1,110) = 23.69, p < 0.01]. Additionally, the Simulation Group retained knowledge significantly better than the Lecture Group [F (1,101) = 10.05, p < 0.005]. Furthermore, students in the Simulation Group experienced a significant increase in subjective task values after the intervention [F (3, 52) = 3.57, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.17], while students in the Lecture Group reported a significant decrease in subjective task values [F (3, 55) = 2.96, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.14]. Conclusions: Simulation-based learning not only leads to superior learning but also enhances students' subjective task values. These findings offer valuable insights into designing effective simulation-based learning experiences in medical education and have significant practical implications for educators and medical professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical parasitology is a specialty of medicine that studies, diagnoses, as well as treats parasitic illnesses in humans. Numerous parasites still require human microscopic testing, which is a time-consuming operation that requires expert personnel. The creation of artificially intelligent machines that can carry out duties that traditionally need cognitive abilities is the focus of the fast-developing discipline called artificial intelligence "AI". Consequently, the usage of AI has established itself as a potent tool across a number of sectors, and its application in medical parasitology shows considerable promise. The present article seeks to offer a complete overview of the existing and potential AI tasks and applications in medical parasitology. Researchers explore AI implementation techniques including neural networks, computer vision, and processing of natural languages in parasite detection, diagnosis, classification, drug discovery, and epidemiological investigations. Furthermore, they emphasize the challenges and potential perspectives for integrating artificial intelligence in this industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Doctor José Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez is an example of dedication and discipline in Medical Microbiology and Parasitology in the center of the country. Objective: to highlight the life and work of the Doctor as an example of a professional committed to his patients and students. Method: a documentary research was carried out using the historical-logical method for the study of the chronological succession of the events that took place in his life, the documentary analysis of the work file, the curriculum vitae and the autobiography and the interviews granted by the professor. Development: a review is made of the main events of his career, his positions, his responsibilities and the role played in medical assistance and teaching in the Specialty. Conclusions: the trajectory, example and teachings of Dr. José Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez make him an example for present and future generations of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information on the two old postcards sent from Peking Union Medical College was studied. Henry E. Meleney and H.F. Hsü, the parasitologists and medical educators of Peking Union Medical College, were introduced. Their experiences in scientific research and achievements were reviewed. The professional ethics of serving patients and the scientific spirit with rigorous research of the medical scientists are of practical educational significance.

Plasmodium malariae , the quartan malaria parasite of man, is a neglected species. Advances in molecular detection techniques are revealing a much greater prevalence of this species than previously thought. There remain many mysteries surrounding its biology and epidemiology, including its true prevalence, and the nature of its interactions with coinfecting malaria species. We review some outstanding mysteries and dogmas concerning the biology and epidemiology of P. malariae. Plasmodium malariae is a 'neglected malaria parasite' in as much as the amount of research conducted on it pales into insignificance when compared to that pertaining to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax , its more notorious and pathogenic cousins. There has, however, been an increase in interest in this parasite over the past decade. Principally, this is because of the increasing use of sensitive molecular detection techniques that have revealed a wider than previously recorded prevalence in some regions (particularly in Africa), and high numbers of chronic, asymptomatic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: SciVal is a bibliometric tool used to assess the scientific output of institutions, such as the Institute of Research on Medical Microbiology and Parasitology (IMPaM), doubly dependent on Buenos Aires University (UBA) and the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). IMPaM studies medical microbiology and parasitology and has many research projects. Assessing it through SciVal will make it possible to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses to improve the scientific output at that institution. Goal: assess the scientific output of IMPaM with SciVal, describing the methodology, results, conclusions, and recommendations to improve research at that institution. Methods: the scientific production was analyzed, examining the research areas, the influence of that institution in the field of study, financing, and available resources. A database of researchers was used to carry out the analysis, and the scientific output was compared with similar institutions. Results: the study found that more than one-half of the articles of that Institution are open access, and fostering their publication in open access journals without any embargo period is suggested. Besides, it was stressed that the most representative thematic areas are related to the social object of that Institution and that international collaboration is essential to scientific research. Finally, a decrease in citations by publication was noticed, keeping the impact of weighted citations by field, which suggests that the articles keep their relevance in their area. Conclusions: IMPaM researches and publishes in Medicine, Immunology and Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Even though the number of open-access articles is large, it is below average in the Impact of Weighted Citations by Field, and it is necessary to strengthen the international collaboration links and widen thematic diversity to keep their relevance in scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human dirofilariasis is a larval helminthiasis, and there has been an increase in its incidence in recent years, possibly due to global warmth, urbanization, and increased numbers of stray animals and their migration between settlements. Purpose: To review the clinical features of ocular dirofilariasis in patients treated for the disease at the Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy over 2006-2022. Material and Methods: Medical records of 58 patients treated for dirofilariasis at the Filatov institute in 2006-2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Of these patients, 13 (22.4%) were males and 45 (77.6%) were females, and mean age was 48.8 ± 15.2 years. They underwent a routine eye examination. In addition, they underwent an ocular and orbital ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The disease was treated by worm extraction surgery in all patients. The worm was verified at Parasitological Laboratory, and the capsule formed around the parasite was examined at Pathomorphology Laboratory of the institute. Statistics 7 software (StatSoft, Tulsa, OK) was used for statistical analysis. Data are presented as mean plus or minus standard deviation. Student t test was used for data comparison. The level of significance p = 0.05 was assumed. Results: Patients treated were most commonly from the city of Odesa and Odesa region (25.9% or 15 patients). Odesa-region patients most commonly were from Izmail and Bilhorod Dnistrovskyi districts. The worm was more commonly located in the orbital tissue (53 of 58 patients or 91.4%) than in the eyelids (5 patients or 8.6%). All patients complained of skin redness and swollen eyelids. With further migration of the worm deep into the orbital tissue, 15 patients (28.3%) developed exophthalmos of not more than 2-3 mm and 15 patients (28.3%) developed diplopia. The study showed evidence of D. repens infection by parasitological methods of diagnosis in all the 58 study patients, with a mature female found in 44 patients (75.9%), mature female remnants in 11 patients (19.0%), an immature female in 2 patients (3.4%), and a male in one patient (1.8%). The worms were elongated, less than or equal to 1.0-mm thick and 2.2-15 mm in length. Conclusion: First, worm extraction surgery is an essential treatment for ocular dirofilariasis (irrespective whether the worm is located in the eyelid, orbit or eye) and must be accompanied by disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine therapy, both topical (eyedrops and ointments) and oral. Second, an ultrasound of the orbital tissue and eyelids may become a gold standard (along with CT and MRI) for the differential diagnosis of dirofilariasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the potential for pet dogs to transmit diseases to humans. It highlights the importance of good hygiene practices, such as handwashing, to prevent the spread of germs from dogs to humans. The article also mentions several specific diseases that can be transmitted from dogs to humans, including rabies, cutaneous leishmaniasis, hydatid cyst, external parasites, tapeworm infections, toxocariasis, and gastrointestinal protozoa. The authors emphasize the need for preventive measures, such as regular veterinary checkups and responsible waste disposal, to control these diseases. [Extracted from the article]

The late Dr. Lim Boo Liat was an extraordinary Malaysian. From his humble beginnings in Klang, Selangor, he rose to become a well-respected researcher locally and abroad, specialising in medical parasitology and mammalogy. His career was shaped by his fortuitous and many encounters with Orang Asli in his early adult life and later tempered by field and laboratory experiences in the Institute for Medical Research and secondment to World Health Organisation office in Indonesia. As in 2022, we were able to document 356 of his writings comprising of scientific papers, popular articles, book chapters, books and reports. This compilation of bibliography is intended to provide window into his interests and depth in zoological work and at the same time inspire a new generation of Malaysian researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marcel Tanner has held key positions in global malaria initiatives. Marcel Tanner, President of the Swiss Academy of the Sciences, Director emeritus of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), and Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Parasitology at the University of Basel, Switzerland, is indeed extraordinary, especially when considering the broad set of global health issues covered by his research. [Extracted from the article]

aimanot,3 Tiruneh Adane,4 Biruk Bayleyegn,4 Aberham Abere51Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Arsho Advanced Medical Laboratory, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 5Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Getnet Ayalew, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O.Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia, Tel +251-918-73-00-13, Email [email protected] Background: Coronaviruses are a broad family of pathogens that can cause mild to severe respiratory illnesses. Due to a strong inflammatory response and a weak immunological response, viral pneumonia inflammation, like Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), displays an unbalanced immune response. Therefore, circulating biomarkers of inflammation and the immune system can serve as reliable predictors of a patient's prognosis for COVID-19. Hematological ratios are reliable markers of inflammation that are frequently utilized in pneumonia, primarily in viral infections with low cost in developing countries. Purpose: To examine the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting the severity of COVID-19 patients. Methods: An institutional-based retrospective study was done on 105 hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized referral hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. The laboratory evaluations that were gathered, evaluated, and reported on included the total leucocyte count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), absolute monocyte count (AMC), NLR, LMR, and PLR. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed test were used to see whether there were any differences between the continuous variables. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the appropriate cut-off values for NLR, PLR, and LMR. P-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Results: ANC, NLR, and PLR were highest in the critical group (p = 0.001), while this group had the least ALC and LMR (p = 0.001). We calculated the optimal cut-off values of the hematological ratios; NLR (8.4), LMR (1.4), and PLR (18.0). NLR had the highest specificity and sensitivity, at 83.8% and 80.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Our research showed that NLR and PLR were good indicators of severity in COVID-19. However, our findings indicate that MLR is not a reliable predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case report of a 20-year-old man who developed painful nodules on his arm with a crawling sensation after a trip to Brazil, published in the journal "Cutis". The diagnosis was cutaneous furuncular myiasis, confirmed by histopathology showing larvae and the extraction of live insect larvae from the lesions, providing immediate relief. Treatment involves extracting the intact larvae and may include the use of ivermectin.

The article presents a biography of Emeritus professor Ting-Huan Wen of Fudan University.

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species detected in humans and calves in the Van region of Turkey. Methods: A total of 150 patients, comprising 60 who were immunosuppressed, 50 who were immunosuppressed and had diarrhea, and 40 who had only diarrhea, were enrolled in this study in the Department of Medical Parasitology, Van Yuzuncu Yıl University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey. Stool samples were taken from the rectums of a total of 50 calves that had 30 diarrhea and 20 that did not have diarrhea, from the stables and farms of 10 central villages of Van, Turkey. All samples were analyzed using modified acid-fast staining, immunochromatographic test, and PCR. Cryptosporidium positive samples were also subtyped. Results: Only C. parvum subtypes were detected in all positive samples. C. parvum was detected in 30 (20%) of the 150 human stool samples, while it was detected in 5 (10%) of the 50 samples from the calves. The GP60 gene region was amplified and sent for sequence analysis to identify the C. parvum subtypes. Conclusion: As a result, C. parvum is found to be an active species that caused cryptosporidiosis is in the Van region. IIdA24G1 subtype of C. parvum were found in both human and calf. Therefore, due to the zoonotic feature of the C. parvum IIdA24G1 subtype, it has been shown that the calves in the region are a significant risk for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Specialty Internal Medicine and Quality Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 4Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 5Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; 6Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; 8Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 10King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Ministry of National Guard – Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 11Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Naif Khalaf Alharbi, Email [email protected] Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate antibody immune responses induced by BNT162b2 and AZD1222 human COVID-19 vaccines in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: ELISA was used to evaluate antibodies, against the SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein, in serum samples from 432 vaccinated individuals at six time points: pre-vaccination (baseline), post-prime, post-boost, 6-months, and 1 year post-vaccination, and 3 weeks post a third dose. Virus microneutralization assay was used to confirm antibody responses in a subset of samples. Results: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG were detected in most subjects post-prime, reached a peak level post-boost, and remained at high level at the 6-month follow-up. At 1 year post-vaccine, the antibody levels were low but increased to a significant level higher than the peak following a third dose. The third dose was given at an average of 250 days after the second dose. The virus microneutralization assay confirmed the neutralization activity of the induced SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. The vaccines induced higher IgG titres at post-prime (p=0.0001) and 6 months (p=0.006) in previously infected individuals. An increased interval between prime and boost, more than recommended time, appeared to enhance the IgG levels (p=0004). Moreover, the vaccines induced higher IgG levels in younger subjects (p=0.01). Conclusion: These data provide insights and build on the current understanding of immune responses induced by these two vaccines; and support a third boosting dose for these COVID-19 vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the implementation and assess effect of the “rain classroom” blending teaching method in the medical parasitology course for students of department of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Methods The 2017th grade students of department of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Xinjiang Medical University were selected. The traditional methods was used in the control group; the “rain classroom” blending teaching was implemented in the experimental group. The final comprehensive scores were compared. Results There was a significant difference in the comprehensive scores between the two groups (P＜0.05). Pass rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05). Conclusions The “rain classroom” blending teaching is conducive to improve students'achievement, self-learning capacity and curiosity, so and it is worthy to be applied to support the learning of medical parasitology.

The article titled "Embracing the One Health Approach Post-COVID-19: A Call for Integrated Action" emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and the need for a holistic and collaborative approach to address global health challenges. The One Health framework, which involves multiple sectors working together to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment, is proposed as a viable solution. The article highlights the importance of implementing One Health in a post-COVID world due to the increased frequency of animal-human spillovers and the catastrophic social and economic impacts of pandemics. The article suggests various strategies for One Health implementation, including establishing high-level offices, strengthening surveillance, and incentivizing research. It also emphasizes the need for collaboration, education, and sustainable practices to build a healthier and more resilient world. [Extracted from the article]

This article reports on the occurrence of Hymenolepis diminuta, a tapeworm, in a Wistar White Rat from Guwahati, Assam, India. The rat exhibited symptoms of diarrhea, anorexia, and depression, and stool examination revealed the presence of characteristic ova of Hymenolepis diminuta. The tapeworm is commonly found in rats and occasionally infects humans, typically through the consumption of dried fruits or breakfast cereals infested with grain insects. This report highlights the zoonotic potential of Hymenolepis diminuta and raises concerns about its presence in laboratory rats and the potential threat it poses to rural populations. [Extracted from the article]

The Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology (IATP) is calling for nominations and applications for their awards and fellowships in 2024. These awards recognize the contributions of parasitologists in the field of parasitology. The awards include the Springer-Parija South East Asia Award, the Dr. S. C. Parija Oration Award, and the Fellow of the IATP. Additionally, there is an award for the best oral paper presentation and the best publication in Tropical Parasitology. The application deadline is March 31, 2024, and more information can be found on the IATP website. [Extracted from the article]