BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) is a group of helminths that are considered to be neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and, globally, affect more than 1.5 to 2.6 million people yearly. Depending on the species, they can be acquired by ingesting embryonated eggs from contaminated matter or by skin penetration. Most species of STH are found in the tropics, such as the Philippines. Despite the Mass Drug Administration (MDA), the cases of STH infection continue to rise in the country. Surveys from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) indicate that a high prevalence of STH (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Necator americanus) was primarily observed in the provinces of the country, such as in Camarines Sur.
OBJECTIVE: To correlate remote sensing covariates such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) - to STH-infected cases of the 37 municipalities of Camarines Sur.
METHODS: The available public health record of STH cases from 2015 to 2019 were calculated using the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS)and correlated using Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
RESULTS: The results showed that infection was higher in children than adults, and A. lumbricoides caused 60% of infection. No correlation of indices with infection cases during 2015 and 2017 was observed; however, 2019 showed a moderate strength (p = 0.037) in correlation.
CONCLUSIONS: This indicates that infection relied not mainly on vegetation and urbanization but on additional environmental factors and non-environmental variables.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. This parasitic disease is endemic in many areas of the world and is emerging in Europe. NCC can affect different brain regions, but simultaneous involvement of the parenchymal, subarachnoid, and ventricular regions is rare. We report the case of a 39-year-old woman from Honduras, resident in Rome for 10 years, who presented to the Emergency Department complaining of headaches, transient hemianopsia, and bilateral papilledema. MRI showed a concomitant parenchymal, subarachnoid, and ventricular involvement in the brain. T. solium IgG antibodies were detected in the blood. The etiological diagnosis of NCC was obtained by identifying T. solium in cerebrospinal fluid using Next Generation Sequencing. Endoscopic neurosurgery with the placement of a ventricular shunt and medical long-term anti-parasitic treatment with a cumulative number of 463 days of albendazole and 80 days of praziquantel were performed. A successful 4-year follow-up is reported. NCC is one of the most common parasitic infections of the human CNS, but it is still a neglected tropical disease and is considered to be an emerging disease in Europe. Its diagnosis and clinical management remain a challenge, especially for European clinicians.

Mycetoma, a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by bacterial or fungal species from soil and water, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its rarity and diverse clinical manifestations. Predominantly affecting male workers in endemic regions, mycetoma typically manifests as painless swelling evolving into purulent lesions with draining sinuses in the extremities. Although historically uncommon in regions like North America, rising immigration and international travel have led to an increased prevalence, necessitating heightened clinical suspicion. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent severe complications such as limb loss and septicemia. This case report details the diagnosis and management of chronic actinomycetoma due to Nocardia spp. in a Guatemalan immigrant landscaper and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive understanding and timely intervention in mycetoma cases.

Cysticercosis presents a prevalent issue on a global scale. Nevertheless, disseminated cysticercosis (DCC) is infrequent; even rarer is asymptomatic DCC. Here, we present a unique case of asymptomatic DCC involving the heart in a young male who came to medical attention following a fatal snake bite, ultimately leading to his demise. Despite the widespread dissemination of cysticercosis affecting multiple organs, the individual remained asymptomatic for the condition. We present a case of a 23-year-old male who was brought to the emergency department with a history of alleged snake bites. The patient was declared dead upon arrival at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India. Autopsy findings revealed multiple significant cardiac abnormalities, including atheromatous changes with calcification in the root of the aorta and aortic valve, along with numerous collateral vessels originating from the left main coronary artery. Additionally, cystic nodules containing cysticercus larvae were identified within the myocardium, suggesting cardiac cysticercosis. The cause of death was determined to be complications related to the snakebite. This case emphasizes the importance of considering multiple potential etiologies in complex clinical presentations, especially in the tropics.

UNASSIGNED: The World Health Organization acknowledges the need for countries to incorporate neglected tropical disease care into their routine health care system. However, low detection rates and late presentation of mycetoma to health facilities have been observed in endemic countries, including Uganda.
UNASSIGNED: To empower community health workers (CHWs) in Northern Uganda to recognize and refer suspects of mycetoma to health facilities.
UNASSIGNED: This will be a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial based in Gulu and Pader districts over a period of 9 months with sequential crossover from intervention phase to the control phase at different time points until both districts are exposed to the intervention.
UNASSIGNED: The study will leverage on the ongoing partnership between Northern Uganda Medical Mission and the Uganda Ministry of Health that has trained over 300 CHWs in Gulu and Pader. The study evaluation will be done using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework. The expected outcome of the study is increased detection and referral of suspects of mycetoma. Data will be analyzed using STATA 17.0 and Friedman statistics or Analysis of Variance to determine increase in case identifications and referrals.
UNASSIGNED: The study was approved by Mulago Hospital Research and Ethics Committee (MHREC 2406) and registered with Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR202301534749787).
UNASSIGNED: The results from this trial will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, the findings will be shared at conferences, with funders, and at other research meetings.

UNASSIGNED: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma. It primarily affects the intestines, liver, and urinary tract however, rare cases have been reported where the parasite invades other organs. This case report presents an incidental finding of schistosomiasis, upon histopathology evaluation, in a patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease with recurrent attacks of cholecystitis.
METHODS: We present the case of a 42-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department with symptoms and signs suggestive of acute cholecystitis. She underwent conservative management with interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy with histopathology findings of Schistosoma eggs within the walls of the gallbladder. Underwent eradication therapy with praziquantel.
UNASSIGNED: The finding of Schistosoma eggs in the gallbladder wall during routine histopathological examination highlights the importance of considering schistosomiasis, and other parasites, in cases of recurrent bouts of cholecystitis. The case challenges the conventional understanding of the transmission patterns of this parasitic infection and raises questions about potential atypical life cycle routes within the human body. It also emphasizes the importance of routine histopathology analysis of specimen removed from the body.
CONCLUSIONS: This case report presents a rare occurrence of schistosomiasis cholecystitis in a 42-year-old female patient underscoring the importance of considering parasitic infections. Thorough histopathological examination in routine surgeries is crucial for early detection and targeted treatment. The patient\'s positive response to praziquantel therapy highlights its effectiveness in managing schistosomiasis, which is a neglected tropical disease.

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease disproportionately affecting the rural and marginalized population in low-middle-income countries. The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) is a clinically important snake that causes serious morbidity and mortality in the Indian subcontinent. Even though it is within the so-called big-four snakes against which polyvalent antivenom is available throughout India, reports of antivenom ineffectiveness are emerging in saw-scaled viper envenoming, especially around Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. This case report highlights a patient with saw-scaled viper envenoming with an ineffective antivenom response complicated by acute kidney injury as well as local and systemic bleeding complications, which subsequently resulted in a pelvic hematoma that compressed the lumbosacral nerves, causing lower-limb weakness and sensory deficits. He was successfully managed with hematoma aspiration and supportive care. This case brings into focus the challenges of managing saw-scaled viper envenoming in this region with antivenom ineffectiveness, resulting in delayed and significant coagulopathy and its complications leading to prolonged hospital stay and morbidity. Our report spotlights less emphasized aspects of long-term morbidity in snakebite survivors, such as loss of working days and productivity. We also highlight the need for an organized system of long-term follow-up of snakebite survivors to screen for possible complications and manage them early.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is widely considered a neglected tropical disease. It is ranked first after malaria among all parasitic diseases. The major forms of schistosomiasis are intestinal and urogenital; however, gallbladder involvement is rare and usually accompanied by imaging findings similar to those of acute cholecystitis, such as wall thickening or pericholecystic inflammation. We encountered a patient who did not show these typical imaging findings. A man in his late 40s presented to the emergency department with a 2-month history of abdominal distention. His initial laboratory examination showed iron deficiency anemia. Computed tomography revealed a mildly distended gallbladder with septations and a small calcified gallstone. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed for better characterization, and it showed gallbladder stones with multiseptated, cystic gallbladder mural lesions and no wall thickening or pericholecystic fluid. On his second visit, the patient complained of mild epigastric pain. A provisional diagnosis of cholecystitis was considered, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Histopathological evaluation revealed a gallbladder wall with multiple foci of chronic granulomatous inflammation. Schistosoma-like ova were observed in the mucosa and submucosa and were consistent with schistosomiasis. Periodic acid-Schiff staining of the ova was positive. The patient\'s postoperative course was uneventful.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a representative neglected tropical disease (NTD) with increased morbidity and mortality but is ignored and overlooked in developed countries. Serological and radiographic findings are helpful in distinguishing these parasites; however, conflicting results of these can make it difficult to diagnose if medical knowledge of hepatic parasitic disease, including the etiology, features of imaging, and immunodiagnostic test, is not acquired. We report the case of a male patient with dyspepsia and right epigastric pain who had positive results for cysticercosis antibodies on immunodiagnostic examination. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed two huge communicating cystic lesions measuring 8-11 cm. Further evaluations for cysticercosis of the brain (neurocysticercosis) and eyes (intraocular cysticercosis) were unremarkable throughout the brain imaging test and fundus examination. A laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy was performed for diagnosis and treatment. On histopathological examination, diverse stages of Echinococcus granulosus were identified. Albendazole was administered postoperatively, and the patient was also followed up. We should be aware of the etiologies that have been prevalent in parasite infection thought to be the cause of hepatic cysts. Moreover, we make an effort to ascertain the patient\'s nationality, past travel experiences, and immediate environment, including any animals and pets. We present the case of a patient who was worried about the possibility of liver invasion of cysticercus due to the positivity of the cysticercosis antibody and was ultimately diagnosed with CE.

With the invent of smart phones, tele-dermatology has become a cheap and cost-effective medium to provide medical services to rural population. Its usefulness is more prominently noted during the COVID 19 pandemic and much more in countries with difficult terrain with limited specialist health providers. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease which may cause significant disability if treatment is delayed. Here, we discuss three cases of CL from a remote district by use of tele-dermatology during the pandemic lockdown.