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Parasitic Diseases and Immunosuppression

Thematic Series

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Edited by Andrea Boggild (MD), University of Toronto, Canada

Introduction

The interplay between a given protozoan or metazoan parasite and the host's immune response to that infection directly influences the clinical manifestations of disease, the detectability of the parasite on standard diagnostic testing, and the efficacy of treatment and control strategies. Given the breadth and complexity of parasite taxa, the host-parasite interactions that can occur are manifold. The manifestations of many such parasitic infections are worsened by congenital and acquired causes of host immune suppression, such as immunosuppressant drugs like corticosteroids, or immunosuppressing infections like HIV.

That we, as a medical and scientific establishment, are becoming increasingly able to suppress the host's immune system - due to the confluence of economic, social, and technological factors - translates into increasing opportunities to both trigger and rectify such deleterious host-parasite interactions. With the globalization of both infectious diseases and immunosuppressing interventions like solid-organ transplant and biologic therapy, humans parasitized by a range of protozoan and metazoan infections are increasingly intersecting this nascent capacity in areas unaccustomed to handling both. Collectively, then, we have an opportunity and obligation to better illuminate the underpinnings of host-parasite interactions, and to strive towards not just treating but preventing the attributable clinical fallout. 

Aims and Scope

We herein invite submissions to a theme issue of Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine, and Vaccines entitled "Parasitic Diseases and Immunosuppression", which aims to address some of the current knowledge gaps in this area. Case reports, case series, perspective pieces, original articles, and reviews addressing any aspect of parasitic interactions with an immunosuppressed host are welcome.

Submission

The series is now closed for further submissions.

Submission Guidelines

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have read our submission guidelines. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Mechanobiology of biofilms" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editor has no competing interests with the submissions which are handled through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editor has competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.

  1. Initiatives to eradicate malaria have a good impact on P. falciparum malaria worldwide. P. vivax, however, still presents significant difficulties. This is due to its unique biological traits, which, in compariso...

    Authors: Kassahun Habtamu, Beyene Petros and Guiyun Yan
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2022 8:27
  2. Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker strongly associated with the presence of bacterial infection. It has been considered raised in severe malaria infection as opposed to uncomplicated malaria. There are su...

    Authors: Jean-Claude Katte, Kiya Penanje, Batakeh B. Agoons, Eric Noel Djahmeni, Sharon Mbacham-Ngwafor, Vicky Jocelyne Ama Moor, Paul Koki and Wilfred Mbacham
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2022 8:5
  3. Schistosomiasis is still a public health issue in certain areas of developing countries (especially in sub-saharan Africa). Schistosoma haematobium is a proven carcinogenic agent that causes mainly bladder squamo...

    Authors: Boubacar Efared, Aïchatou Balaraba Abani Bako, Boubacar Idrissa, Daouda Alhousseini, Habiba Salifou Boureima, Haboubacar Chaibou Sodé and Hassan Nouhou
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2022 8:3
  4. Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by mainly Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium. The disease is very common in Africa including Ethiopia. Schistosoma mansoni is a major public heal...

    Authors: Habtye Bisetegn, Tegegne Eshetu and Yonas Erkihun
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2021 7:30
  5. Scabies is an extremely fastidious infestation caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It causes a persistent itch that can disrupt a person’s mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life. In endemic areas,...

    Authors: Giulia Rinaldi and Kholoud Porter
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2021 7:21
  6. There is a dearth of information on liver abscesses in the United Arab Emirates. Herein, we describe the clinical features of liver abscesses and determine their incidence rates and clinical outcomes.

    Authors: Hussam Mousa, Ghada Salameh Mohammed Al-Bluwi, Zainab Fathi Mohammed Al Drini, Huda Imam Gasmelseed, Jamal Aldeen Alkoteesh and Zahir Osman Eltahir Babiker
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2021 7:17
  7. Schistosomiasis is a common helminthic infection in the tropics and subtropics, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia. In these counties, Schistosoma mansoni infection is a significant ...

    Authors: Siraj Hussen, Demissie Assegu, Birkneh Tilahun Tadesse and Techalew Shimelis
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2021 7:4
  8. Intestinal parasites are amongst the major public health challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and its associated factors among food...

    Authors: Kebrom Regassa, Kiros Tedla, Gessessew Bugssa, Gebretsadkan Gebrekirstos, Hailay Gebreyesus and Mebrahtu Teweldemedhin Shfare
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2021 7:2
  9. Placental malaria (PM) is a major public health problem associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery and maternal anemia. The present study is aimed to determine ...

    Authors: Absra Solomon, Daniel Kahase and Mihret Alemayhu
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2020 6:20
  10. In Ethiopia, malaria is a serious public health concern and has great impact on socio-economy. The trend analysis of malaria data from health facilities is useful for understanding its transmission dynamics an...

    Authors: Shemsia Alkadir, Tegenu Gelana and Araya Gebresilassie
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2020 6:18
  11. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a leading cause of global morbidity with the highest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). For reasons that are incompletely understood, the likelihood of HIV transmiss...

    Authors: Sergey Yegorov, Vineet Joag, Ronald M. Galiwango, Sara V. Good, Brenda Okech and Rupert Kaul
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2019 5:22
  12. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a protozoal disease that may be aggravated by immunosuppression. In recent years, a growing number of patients with chronic diseases use biological treatment. When such immunosup...

    Authors: Thomas Schwartz, Mogens Jensenius, Bjørn Blomberg, Cathrine Fladeby, Arild Mæland and Frank O. Pettersen
    Citation: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 2019 5:16