Mortalidade por doenças tropicais negligenciadas no Piauí, Nordeste do Brasil: tendência temporal e padrões espaciais, 2001-2018 / Mortalidad por enfermedades tropicales desatendidas en el estado de Piauí, Nordeste de Brasil: tendencia temporal y patrones espaciales, 2001-2018 / Mortality from neglected tropical diseases in the state of Piauí, Northeast Brazil: temporal trend and spatial patterns, 2001-2018

Objetivo: Analisar tendência temporal e padrões espaciais da mortalidade por doenças tropicais negligenciadas (DTNs) no Piauí, Brasil, 2001-2018. Métodos: Estudo ecológico misto, com cálculo de razão de risco (RR), análise de tendência espaço-temporal, regressão de Poisson com pontos de inflexão, utilizando-se dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Resultados: Verificaram-se 2.609 óbitos por DTNs no período (4,60/100 mil habitantes), 55,2% por doença de Chagas. Houve maior risco de morte no sexo masculino (RR=1,76; IC95% 1,25;2,46), idade ≥60 anos (RR=40,71; IC95% 10,01;165,53), municípios com vulnerabilidade social média (RR=1,76; IC95% 1,09;2,84), menor porte populacional (RR=1,99; IC95% 1,28;3,10) e macrorregião dos Cerrados (RR=4,51; IC95% 2,51;8,11). Verificou-se tendência de aumento nas taxas de mortalidade em 2001-2008 e redução em 2009-2018. Conclusão: A mortalidade por DTNs no Piauí persiste elevada, particularmente por doença de Chagas, entre grupos de maior vulnerabilidade, concentrando-se as maiores taxas no sudoeste da macrorregião do Semiárido, nordeste e sul dos Cerrados.

Resumen Objetivo Analizar las tendencias temporales y patrones espaciales de mortalidad por enfermedades tropicales desatendidas (ETD) en Piauí, 2001-2018. Métodos Estudio ecológico mixto, con cálculo de razón de riesgo (RR), análisis de tendencias espacio-temporales, regresión de Poisson con puntos de inflexión, utilizando datos del Sistema de Información de Mortalidad. Resultados Hubo 2.609 defunciones por ETD en el período (4,60/100.000 habitantes), 55,2% por enfermedad de Chagas. Hubo un mayor riesgo de muerte el sexo masculino (RR=1,76; IC95% 1,25;2,46), edad ≥60 años (RR=40,71; IC95% 10,01;165,53), municipios con vulnerabilidad social mediana (RR=1,76; IC95% 1,09;2,84), con menor población (RR=1,99; IC95% 1,28;3,10) y la macrorregión de los Cerrados (RR=4,51; IC95% 2,51;8,11). Hubo tendencia al alta en las tasas de mortalidad de 2001-2008 y reducción de 2009-2018. Conclusión La mortalidad por ETD en Piauí sigue siendo alta, particularmente por la enfermedad de Chagas, entre los grupos con mayor vulnerabilidad, con concentración de tasas más altas en el Suroeste de la macrorregión del Semiárido, noreste y sur de los Cerrados.

Abstract Objetive To analyze temporal trends and spatial patterns of mortality due to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Piauí, Brazil, 2001-2018. Methods This was a mixed ecological study, with risk ratio (RR) calculation, spatiotemporal trend analysis, Poisson joinpoint regression, using data from the Mortality Information System. Results There were 2,609 deaths due to NTDs in the period (4.60/100,000 inhabitants), 55.2% were due to Chagas' disease. There was a higher risk of death in male (RR=1.76; 95%CI 1.25;2.46), being aged ≥60 years (RR=40.71; 95%CI 10.01;165.53), municipalities with medium vulnerability social (RR=1.76; 95%CI 1.09;2.84), smaller population size (RR=1.99; 95%CI 1.28;3.10) and the Cerrados macro-region (RR=4.51; 95%CI 2.51;8.11). There was an upward trend in mortality rates from 2001-2008 and a falling trend from 2009-2018. Conclusion Mortality due to NTDs in Piauí remains high, particularly due to Chagas' disease, among groups with greater vulnerability, with concentration of higher rates in the southwest of the Semiarid macro-region and the northeast and south of the Cerrados macro-region.

Envenenamientos por mordedura de serpiente en Guatemala: revisión de literatura / Snakebite envenomings in Guatemala: literature review

El accidente ofídico es una enfermedad tropical desatendida que ocasiona un problema de salud pública en el mundo, siendo una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en las áreas empobrecidas de América Latina. En Guatemala se distribuyen 23 especies de serpientes venenosas de importancia médica. La composición de los venenos es compleja y diversa, resultando en una variedad de manifestaciones clínicas. Los departamentos con mayor incidencia de ofidismo son Petén, Alta Verapaz, Quiché, Escuintla e Izabal. Estos accidentes afectan más a hombres que a mujeres, siendo la mayoría agricultores; el rango de edad más comprometido es de 10-19 años y principalmente ocurren en miembros inferiores. El tiempo medio que tarda la víctima en llegar al hospital es de 5.6 h, siendo el retraso en la atención médica, un factor de riesgo para severidad y mortalidad. Los servicios de salud en ocasiones no cuentan con recursos idóneos para atender a las víctimas, brindando tratamiento sintomático. Simultáneamente, el tratamiento empírico tiene gran aceptación, sin embargo, los resultados de investigaciones realizadas con algunas plantas de uso común en casos de ofidismo, concluyeron que no es recomendable su uso aislado en el tratamiento del envenenamiento. Dada la falta de información se debe promover más investigación sobre el ofidismo en el país, siendo indispensable la elaboración de una ficha de reporte obligatoria. Además, deben elaborarse guías de tratamiento e identificación de serpientes para uso del personal médico, incluyendo programas de educación a nivel comunitario.

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that causes a public health problem in the world, being one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in impoverished areas of Latin America. 23 species of poi-sonous snakes of medical importance are distributed in Guatemala. The composition of venoms is complex and diverse, resulting in a variety of clinical manifestations. The departments with the highest incidence of snakebites are Petén, Alta Verapaz, Quiché, Escuintla and Izabal. These accidents affect more men than women, the majo-rity being farmers; the most compromised age range is 10-19 years and they mainly occur in the lower limbs. The average time it takes for the victim to reach the hospital is 5.6 hours, with delay in medical care being a risk factor for severity and mortality. Health services sometimes do not have adequate resources to care for victims, providing symptomatic treatment. Simultaneously, empirical treatment is widely accepted, however, the results of research carried out with some plants commonly used in cases of envenoming concluded that their isolated use is not recommended in the treatment. Given the lack of information, more research on snakebite envenoming in the country should be promoted, making the preparation of a mandatory report form essential. In addition, snake identification and treatment guides should be developed for use by medical personnel, including education pro-grams at the community level.

Validation of a cross-NTD toolkit for assessment of NTD-related morbidity and disability. A cross-cultural qualitative validation of study instruments in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are not fatal, but they are disabling, disfiguring and stigmatizing. More accurate data on these aspects would benefit planning, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, as well as provision of appropriate services for the often life-long consequences. In 2015, a cross-NTD toolkit was developed, consisting of a variety of existing questionnaires to measure morbidity, disability and health-related quality of life. The toolkit covers the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. These tools have been developed in a source country, however, it was intended for the cross-NTD toolkit to be applicable across NTDs in many countries with different cultures and languages in order to generate universally comparative data. Therefore; the present study aimed to validate several tools of the toolkit among people affected by leprosy or leishmaniasis in the cultural settings of Cartagena and Cúcuta, Colombia. METHODOLOGY: This study aimed to validate the following tools among 55 participants between 18-85 years old, affected by leprosy and leishmaniasis: (I) Clinical Profile, (II) Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ), (III) WHO Quality of Life assessment-abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF), and (IV) WHO Quality of Life assessment-Disability (WHOQOL-DIS). The tools were administered during face-to-face interviews and were followed by open questions about the respondents' thoughts on format of the tool and the understanding, relevance and acceptability of the items. The tools were validated using a qualitative method approach based on the framework for cultural equivalence, measured by the cultural, item, semantic and operational equivalences. RESULTS: The Clinical Profile was seen as acceptable and relevant, only the semantic equivalence was not as satisfying and needs a few adaptations. The SRQ was very well understood and shows to reach the equivalences for the population of Colombia without any additional changes. Several items of the WHOQOL-BREF and the WHOQOL-DIS were not well understood and changes are recommended due to semantic difficulties. Operational equivalence of both questionnaires was not as desired in relation to the used response scales. The participants shared that the tools are relevant and important for their particular situation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The SRQ is found to be a valid tool for Colombia and can be included in the cross-NTD toolkit. The Clinical Profile, WHOQOL-BREF & WHOQOL-DIS need changes and retesting among Colombian people affected by an NTD. The toolkit as a whole is seen as useful to show the effects leprosy and leishmaniasis have on the participants. This cultural validation will contribute to a universally applicable cross-NTD toolkit.

Snakebite in domestic animals: First global scoping review.

Snakebite is a Neglected Tropical Disease estimated to cause more than 100,000 human deaths and disable more than 400,000 victims each year. It primarily affects poor agricultural workers, farmers, and cattle herders living in rural areas of developing countries. It is thus an occupational disease. However, the impact of snakebite on these rural communities could be even higher if a One Health approach is taken to consider the direct impact on domestic animals and indirect impact on the livelihood of affected communities. To explore this hypothesis we developed the first scoping review to identify and characterize the global literature on snakebite in domestic animals. Three bibliographic databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Agricola) were searched using terms related to snake, snakebite and domestic animals for publications up to December 31st, 2016. Two independent reviewers screened publications applying inclusion/exclusion criteria to select relevant material. Relevant information was then extracted from the selected literature. The global literature on snakebite in domestic animals (n = 143 observational studies, reviews and letters) mainly represented North America, Europe and Australia (69%) with less information from Central and South America, Asia and Africa (31%). Observational studies (n = 119) mostly concerned pets (78%) and to a lesser extent livestock (22%). Thirty-four snake species were reported as responsible for bites in domestic animals. WHO's Medically Important Venomous Snakes were more frequently involved. The social-ecological determinants of snakebite were poorly documented but the reviewed literature suggested a strong seasonality and a diversity of habitat. Snakebite in animals caused neurotoxic, cytotoxic and hemotoxic envenomation syndromes similar to humans and death. Half of publications on envenomed livestock reported a fatality rate above 47%. There was no literature on the indirect impact of snakebite on livelihood caused by animal morbidity and mortality. The results of this scoping review suggest a high and under-reported burden in terms of mortality in animals and a potential economic impact of snakebite in terms of losses in livelihood of affected communities. However, major knowledge gaps with respect to impact of snakebite on livestock and livelihood were identified. Filling these gaps is necessary for a full understanding of the impact of snakebite and to raise scientific, political and public awareness on this neglected issue.

Spatial analysis of dengue, cysticercosis and Chagas disease mortality in Ecuador, 2011-2016.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to be an important cause of disability and mortality in the poorest tropical and subtropical areas. Methods: This is an ecological study. We included all death certificates with dengue, cysticercosis and Chagas disease in Ecuador from 2011 to 2016. The spatial autocorrelation was evaluated by GeoDa software through the Global Moran's I index and the formation of clusters by the local index of spatial association. Results: The Global Moran's I index for the study period shows a positive spatial autocorrelation for dengue, cysticercosis and Chagas disease (0.25, p=0.001; 0.07, p=0.04; 0.45, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The clusters identified as higher risk in the country could be targeted by policymakers to adequately develop strategies to strengthen health promotion policies that break the cycle of these diseases.

Antibodies in Melioidosis: The Role of the Indirect Hemagglutination Assay in Evaluating Patients and Exposed Populations.

Melioidosis is a major neglected tropical disease with high mortality, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp). Microbiological culture remains the gold standard for diagnosis, but a simpler and more readily available test such as an antibody assay is highly desirable. In this study, we conducted a serological survey of blood donors (n = 1,060) and adult melioidosis patients (n = 200) in northeast Thailand to measure the antibody response to Bp using the indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). We found that 38% of healthy adults (aged 17-59 years) have seropositivity (IHA titer ≥ 1:80). The seropositivity in healthy blood donors was associated with having a declared occupation of rice farmer and with residence in a nonurban area, but not with gender or age. In the melioidosis cohort, the seropositivity rate was higher in adult patients aged between 18 and 45 years (90%, 37/41) compared with those aged ≥ 45 years (68%, 108/159, P = 0.004). The seropositivity rate was significantly higher in people with diabetes (P = 0.008). Seropositivity was associated with decreased mortality on univariable analysis (P = 0.005), but not on multivariable analysis when adjusted for age, diabetes status, preexisting renal disease, and neutrophil count. This study confirms the presence of high background antibodies in an endemic region and demonstrates the limitations of using IHA during acute melioidosis in this population.

Mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (Dalys) for Common Neglected Tropical Diseases in Ethiopia, 1990-2015: Evidence from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are important public health problems in Ethiopia. In 2013, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has launched a national NTD master plan to eliminate major NTDs of public health importance by 2020. Benchmarking the current status of NTDs in the country is important to monitor and evaluate the progress in the implementation of interventions and their impacts. Therefore, this study aims to assess the trends of mortality and Disability-adjusted Life-Years (DALY) for the priority NTDs over the last 25 years. METHODS: We used the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015 estimates for this study. The GBD 2015 data source for cause of death and DALY estimation included verbal autopsy (VA), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and other disease specific surveys, Ministry of Health reports submitted to United Nations (UN) agencies and published scientific articles. Cause of Death Ensemble modeling (CODEm) and/or natural history models were used to estimate NTDs mortality rates. DALY were estimated as the sum of Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality and Years Lived with Disability (YLD). RESULTS: All NTDs caused an estimated of 6,293 deaths (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 3699-10,080) in 1990 and 3,593 deaths (95% UI: 2051 - 6178) in 2015, a 43% reduction over the 25 years. Age-standardized mortality rates due to schistosomiasis, STH and leshmaniasis have declined by 91.3%, 73.5% and 21.6% respectively between 1990 to 2015. The number of DALYs due to all NTDs has declined from 814.4 thousand (95% UI: 548 thousand-1.2million) in 1990 to 579.5 thousand (95%UI: 309.4 thousand-1.3 million) in 2015. Age-standardized DALY rates due to all NTDs declined by 30.7%, from 17.6 per 1000(95%UI: 12.5-26.5) in 1990 to 12.2 per 1000(95%UI: 6.5 - 27.4) in 2015. Age-standardized DALY rate for trachoma declined from 92.7 per 100,000(95% UI: 63.2 - 128.4) in 1990 to 41.2 per 100,000(95%UI: 27.4-59.2) in 2015, a 55.6% reduction between 1990 and 2015. Age-standardized DALY rates for onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and lymphiaticfilariasis decreased by 66.2%, 29.4% and 12.5% respectively between 1990 and 2015. DALY rate for ascariasis fell by 56.8% over the past 25 years. CONCLUSIONS: Ethiopia has made a remarkable progress in reducing the DALY rates for most of the NTDs over the last 25 years. The rapid scale of interventions and broader system strengthening may have a lasting impact on achieving the 2020 goal of elimination of most of NTDs. Ethiopia should strengthen the coverage of integrated interventions of NTD through proper coordination with other health programs and sectors and community participation to eliminate NTDs by 2020.

Hyponatremia and risk factors for death in human visceral leishmaniasis: new insights from a cross-sectional study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important and potentially fatal neglected tropical disease. The aim of this study was to investigate hyponatremia and risk factors for death among VL patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with VL patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Northeast Brazil, from 2002 to 2009. Patients were divided into two groups: non-survivors and survivors. Hyponatremia was defined as serum sodium < 135 mEq/L. A logistic regression model was done to investigate risk factors for death. RESULTS: A total of 285 VL patients were included, with mean age 37 ± 15 years, and 74% were males. Thirty-four patients died (11.9%). Non-survivors had a significantly higher prevalence of dyspnea (38.2 vs. 16.7%, p = 0.003), pulmonary crackles (11.8 vs. 4.0%, p = 0.049), dehydration (23.5 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.033), oliguria (8.8 vs. 0.8%, p = 0.001) and jaundice (47.1 vs. 14.3%, p < 0.001). They also presented higher prevalence of hyponatremia (41.9 vs. 24.1%, p = 0.035), thrombocytopenia (91.2 vs. 65.3%, p = 0.002) and severe hypoalbuminemia (78.3 vs. 35.3%, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, moderate/severe hyponatremia (OR = 2.278, 95% CI = 1.046-4.962), thrombocytopenia (OR = 5.482, 95% CI = 1.629-18.443), jaundice (OR = 5.133, 95% CI = 1.793-14.696) and severe hypoalbuminemia (OR = 6.479, 95% CI = 2.124-19.766) were predictors of death. CONCLUSION: Higher prevalence of dehydration, oliguria, pulmonary symptoms and liver involvement was found in non-survivors VL patients. Hypoalbuminemia and hyponatremia were frequent and significantly associated with mortality.

Neglected tropical diseases and global burden of disease in China.

Recently, the mortality of 240 causes in China including a subnational analysis during 1990-2013 was published in The Lancet. This comprehensive analysis will undoubtedly impact policymaking regarding public health in China. However, it is unfavourable in some degree to neglected tropical diseases, which is the subject of this Letter to the Editor. Policymakers, especially those in less developed provinces of China, should fully consider the burden of neglected tropical diseases, which will benefit the control and final elimination of these diseases in the country.

Mortality Trends for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the State of Sergipe, Brazil, 1980-2013.

BACKGROUND: Neglected Tropical Diseases are a set of communicable diseases that affect the population so low socioeconomic status, particularly 1.4 billion people who are living below the poverty level. This study has investigated the magnitude and mortality time trends for these diseases in the state of Sergipe, Northeast Region of Brazil. METHODS: We conducted an ecological study of time series, based on secondary data derived from the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health. The mortality rates (crude, age-standardized rates and proportional ratio) were calculated from the deaths due to Neglected Tropical Diseases in the state of Sergipe, from 1980 to 2013. The time trends were obtained using the Joinpoint regression model. RESULTS: Three hundred six thousand and eight hundred seventy-two deaths were certified in the state and Neglected Tropical Diseases were mentioned as the underlying cause in 1,203 certificates (0.39%). Mean number of deaths was 35.38 per year, and crude and age-standardized mortality rates were, respectively: 2.16 per 100 000 inhabitants (95% CI: 1.45-2.87) and 2.87 per 100 000 inhabitants (95% CI: 1.93-3.82); the proportional mortality ratio was 0.41% (95% CI: 0.27-0.54). In that period, Schistosomiasis caused 654 deaths (54.36%), followed by Chagas disease, with 211 (17.54%), and by Leishmaniases, with 142 (11.80%) deaths. The other diseases totalized 196 deaths (16.30%). There were increasing mortality trends for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Schistosomiasis and Chagas disease in the last 15 years, according to the age-standardized rates, and stability of the mortality trends for Leishmaniases. CONCLUSIONS: The Neglected Tropical Diseases show increasing trends and are a real public health problem in the state of Sergipe, since they are responsible for significant mortality rates. The following diseases call attention for showing greater number of deaths in the period of study: Schistosomiasis, Chagas disease and Leishmaniases. We finally suggest that public managers take appropriate actions to develop new strategies in epidemiological and therapeutic surveillance, and in the follow-up of these patients.

Reprint of "Neurocysticercosis-related mortality in Brazil, 2000-2011: Epidemiology of a neglected neurologic cause of death".

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is an important cause of severe neurological disease mainly in low- and middle-income countries, but data on NCC mortality from endemic areas are scarce. Here we analysed the epidemiological patterns of NCC-related mortality in Brazil. We included all deaths recorded in Brazil between 2000 and 2011, in which NCC was mentioned on death certificates, either as underlying or as associated cause of death. NCC was identified in 1829/12,491,280 deaths (0.015%), 1130 (61.8%) as underlying cause, and 699 (38.2%) as associated cause. Overall age-adjusted mortality rate for the period was 0.97 deaths/1,000,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83-1.12). The highest NCC-related mortality rates were found in males, elderly, white race/colour and residents in endemic states/regions. Age-adjusted mortality rates at national level decreased significantly over time (annual percent change [APC]: -4.7; 95% CI: -6.0 to -3.3), with a decrease in the Southeast, South and Central-West regions, and a non-significant increasing trend in the North and Northeast regions. We identified spatial and spatiotemporal high-risk mortality clusters located mainly in NCC-endemic areas. Conditions related to the nervous system were the most commonly associated causes of death when NCC was mentioned as an underlying cause, and HIV/AIDS was the main underlying cause when NCC was an associated cause. NCC is a neglected and preventable cause of severe neurologic disease and death with high public health impact in Brazil. There is a clear need to strengthen nationwide epidemiological surveillance and control for the taeniasis/cysticercosis complex.