Category: Statistics

Malar J. 2026 Apr 25. doi: 10.1186/s12936-026-05916-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Malaria vector control with synthetic insecticides can cause resistance, environmental toxicity, and harm to non-target animal species. To address these issues, it is critical to investigate safe and environmentally friendly botanical extraction methods for mosquito control. This study investigates the effects of crude root solvent extracts from Impatiens rothii and Salvia officinalis on Anopheles stephensi eggs and larvae under controlled environments.

METHODS: Fresh roots of S. officinalis and I. rothii were collected separately, allowed to air dry, ground into a powder, and then sieved. The test plant powders were soaked in ethanol and chloroform solvent, and the extracted product was concentrated, forming a desired concentration solution for testing. Aquatain (AMF) was used as the standard control, while 3% of 20 Tween was used as the negative control. Larval mortality was measured after a 24 hours recovery period in each treatment group, and the hatchability of eggs was monitored after 48 hours. Statistical analyses were conducted using R Studio to check normality and identify significant differences between groups, then followed by SPSS, ANOVA to compare extract to standard group and probit regressions for LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ calculations.

RESULTS: There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in ovicidal and larvicidal activities between the treatment, negative, and standard control groups. Both the chloroform extract of S. officinalis (LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 83.8 and 305.4 ppm, respectively) and the ethanol extract of I. rothii (LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 64.7 and 214.28 ppm, respectively) demonstrated low LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values when tested against eggs. Additionally, the larvae treated with the ethanol extracts of I. rothii and S. officinalis presented the lowest larval mortality values, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 124.6 ppm and 350.0 ppm, respectively. Aquatain AMF reached 100%, whereas 3% of 20 Tween did not result in egg or larval mortality.

CONCLUSION: The study suggests that root extracts of I. rothii and S. officinalis can be a safe and effective alternative to synthetic mosquitocidal for controlling An. stephensi, suggesting early-stage mosquito control is more efficient than adult control. Further research is required to understand the essential ingredients, their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety in larger-scale applications.

PMID:42035133 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-026-05916-x

BMC Health Serv Res. 2026 Apr 25. doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-14335-2. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42035101 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-026-14335-2

Malar J. 2026 Apr 25. doi: 10.1186/s12936-026-05919-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Malaria infection continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria despite the integration of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine into the National Programme on immunization. Understanding how caregivers of young children perceive this new vaccine is important for successful implementation.

AIM: To assess the awareness, acceptability and factors affecting uptake of the new R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine among caregivers of under-fives in Asaba, Southern Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2025, among 358 consenting caregivers of under-5 children who presented at the children’s outpatient and immunization clinic in three health facilities in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. The study utilized pretested semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires containing information on vaccine awareness, hesitancy and adverse reactions. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26, with a p-value < 0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS: Only 36.3% of respondents were aware of the vaccine. However, most (85.8%) were willing to vaccinate their children. Reasons for reluctance to accept the vaccine were fear of adverse reactions (45.1%), lack of interest (19.6%), and spousal disagreement (13.7%). There was a statistically significant association between the type of health facility and knowledge of malaria vaccines (p = 0.038). Occupation (p = 0.018) and gender of caregivers (p = 0.006) were significant factors, female caregivers and civil servants were more willing to accept malaria vaccination for their wards.

CONCLUSION: Despite a strong willingness among caregivers to vaccinate their children, awareness of the malaria vaccine was inadequate. Targeted awareness campaigns, especially addressing safety concerns and spousal engagement, are urgently needed to translate high willingness into actual uptake.

PMID:42035050 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-026-05919-8

BMC Pediatr. 2026 Apr 25. doi: 10.1186/s12887-026-06703-y. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42035047 | DOI:10.1186/s12887-026-06703-y

BMC Nephrol. 2026 Apr 25. doi: 10.1186/s12882-026-04983-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the association between early statin use and acute kidney injury (AKI) risk in septic patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS: This study analyzed septic patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Patients were divided into AKI and non-AKI groups based on whether they developed AKI during ICU stay. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The primary exposure variable was early statin use, defined as administration within the first 24 h of ICU admission. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between early statin use and AKI risk, adjusting for demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, laboratory values, disease severity scores, and treatment-related factors. Subgroup analyses were performed across clinically relevant patient characteristics. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the primary findings.

RESULTS: A total of 5102 septic patients were analyzed, with 2424 (47.51%) developing AKI during their ICU stay. Early statin therapy was administered to 1934 (37.91%) patients. The crude AKI incidence was 49.7% in the statin group and 46.1% in the non-statin group. After full adjustment for covariates, early statin use was associated with significantly lower odds of AKI (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76-0.99, P = 0.045). Among individual statins, simvastatin demonstrated the most consistent association (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62-0.95, P = 0.014). Subgroup analyses revealed that the association was observed in patients aged ≥ 60 years (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72-0.99, P = 0.042) and male patients (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68-0.96, P = 0.016), although no formal interaction tests reached statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: Early statin use within 24 h of ICU admission may be associated with modestly lower odds of AKI in septic patients, with simvastatin showing the most consistent association across subgroups. Given the modest effect size, borderline statistical significance, and observational study design, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in prospective studies.

PMID:42035000 | DOI:10.1186/s12882-026-04983-1

BMC Pulm Med. 2026 Apr 25. doi: 10.1186/s12890-026-04269-0. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42034990 | DOI:10.1186/s12890-026-04269-0

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2026 May;70:101479. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101479. Epub 2026 Mar 29.

ABSTRACT

Neosporosis is caused by Neospora caninum, an obligate intracellular protozoan with a wide range of intermediate hosts, including goats, in which it can cause reproductive and neurological disorders. Despite its importance in goats, to date, there are no epidemiological data on neosporosis in this animal species in the state of Goiás, Brazil, a fact that motivated the present study. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the seroprevalence, spatial distribution, and risk factors associated with N. caninum infection in goats in the state of Goiás, Brazilian cerrado region. For this purpose, 781 blood serum samples obtained from goats from the five mesoregions of the state were analyzed using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the detection of anti-N. caninum IgG antibodies. At the time of sampling, epidemiological data regarding animal sex and age, breed, farm size, rearing system, type of farming, purpose of the herd, water source, carcass disposal, veterinary assistance, herd replacement, slaughter location, and presence of domestic or wild canids were collected and analyzed as potential risk factors. Statistical analyses included odds ratio (OR) calculations using Statistica software, version 10. The overall seroprevalence found was 18.56% (145/781), ranging from 10.96% (16/146) in the East mesoregion to 27.83% (32/115) in the Northwest mesoregion, and from 0% in the Pires do Rio microregion to 41.86% in the Rio Vermelho microregion. The following factors were identified as statistically associated with seropositivity (p ≤ 0.05): purpose of the herd (subsistence and reproduction), carcass disposal (abandoned in the pasture and buried), slaughter location (at the abattoir), and the absence of veterinary assistance. Caprine neosporosis is widely distributed across all regions of the state of Goiás, which reinforces the need for the adoption of biosecurity measures to control the disease in the locality.

PMID:42034961 | DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101479

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2026 May;70:101477. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101477. Epub 2026 Mar 20.

ABSTRACT

Plasmodium huffi was first described in toucans of Brazil and was mistakenly believed to be a species exclusive to the order Piciformes. However, subsequent molecular and morphological studies conducted in red-legged seriemas, along with the diverse range of lineages identified in Anseriformes, Charadriiformes, Cathartiformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Pelecaniformes, Struthioniformes, Psittaciformes, and Passeriformes, have revealed that this parasite is, in fact, a generalist. Here, we provide new molecular and morphological data on P. huffi infecting previously unreported avian hosts in Brazil: one black vulture (Coragyps atratus, Cathartiformes, sample size = 29) and one yellow-headed caracara (Daptrius chimachima, Falconiformes, sample size = 6). Additionally, infections were detected in two red-legged seriemas (Cariama cristata, Cariamiformes, sample size = 14), reinforcing the high susceptibility of the species to this parasite. Reports of haemosporidian infections in Cathartiformes are rare. To date, only Haemoproteus catharti, Plasmodium elongatum, and Leucocytozoon toddi have been documented in New World vultures-birds that are widely distributed and abundant across multiple ecosystems. This study marks the first report of haemosporidian infection in black vultures in South America. Although D. chimachima harbors a diverse and abundant haemosporidian community, this is the first record of P. huffi infecting a species within Falconiformes. These findings confirm that P. huffi is highly adapted to a broad range of avian hosts, which can sustain the infection and potentially transmit it to dipteran vectors, as evidenced by the presence of gametocytes in peripheral blood. Additionally, statistical comparisons of the parasite’s morphometry across different hosts revealed high phenotypic plasticity, both within and between host species.

PMID:42034959 | DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101477

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2026 May;70:101472. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101472. Epub 2026 Mar 18.

ABSTRACT

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi across large parts of Europe. German cow-calf operators are concerned about the significance of C. daubneyi as a probable cause of poor productivity in view of the high prevalence in German suckler cow herds. Therefore, we conducted a study on a Charolais suckler cow farm aiming to investigate the impact of rumen fluke infection on net weight gain of prime beef cattle. Inspections of reticulorumens of 73 slaughtered cattle for adult rumen flukes revealed a frequency of 42.5% infected cattle. The statistical analysis of the net weight gains of rumen fluke-infected and non-infected cattle showed no difference in heifers (480 g vs. 469 g, P = 0.38) or young bulls (717 g vs. 743 g, P = 0.53). Backward selection analysis with sex, selenium supply, grazing seasons, and liver fluke and gastrointestinal strongyle infection status as cofactors showed that weight gains of both infected and non-infected heifers and young bulls were impacted by sex and selenium supply and thus no one-sided influence was present. Of the mean blood parameters analysed, the erythrocyte count, haematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase and phosphorus value were slightly above the reference range in both groups. It was therefore concluded that the rumen fluke infection does not affect selected biochemical and blood cell counts of young beef cattle. Post-mortem examination of the forestomachs revealed that adult flukes mainly adhered in the atrium ruminis followed by the ruminoreticular fold. The evaluation of the sedimentation technique to detect adult rumen fluke infections revealed a sensitivity of 87.1% and specificity of 92.9%. Moreover, a strong correlation (r = 0.77) was found between the faecal egg count (median = 3.8 epg) and fluke burden (median fluke burden = 72) in the slaughtered cattle. Results of this study are suggesting that observed infection intensities in the rumen have no negative impact on weight gain in prime beef cattle.

PMID:42034954 | DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101472

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2026 May;70:101484. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101484. Epub 2026 Mar 30.

ABSTRACT

Canine babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of worldwide distribution, caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia, and characterized by hemolytic anemia. In the United States (US), Babesia vogeli, Babesia gibsoni, Babesia conradae, and Babesia vulpes have been recognized as the main species causing babesiosis in dogs, the latter species also infecting foxes and raccoon dogs across Europe, Asia, and North America. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of Babesia spp. infections in shelter dogs from Central Texas. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples (n = 446) of dogs, followed by conventional PCR targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene and sequencing of positive amplicons. The association between demographic variables (i.e., age, sex, breed group) and the outcome (B. vulpes positivity) was evaluated through univariate Pearson’s chi-squared tests. We found an overall prevalence of 6.28% (n = 28; CI 95% 4.39-9.20) within this shelter dog population. A total of 12 distinct haplotypes were identified among these isolates. No statistical association between the positivity of B. vulpes and demographic variables was identified. This study highlights the haplotypic diversity of B. vulpes isolates circulating in a single regional population of domestic shelter dogs. These findings suggest a heterogenous transmission dynamic which may involve ticks associated with owned, sheltered, and wild canids, as well as other transmission routes. Finally, data herein corroborates the current geographical distribution of B. vulpes in Central Texas, reinforcing the need to monitor shelter dogs for vector-borne pathogens and deploy the use of tick preventive products year-round.

PMID:42034947 | DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101484