CONCLUSIONS: The multifactorial nature of linear growth faltering in these preschool children differed by season. The negative impact of diarrhea emerged only in the rainy season, but the negative impact of sugar intake and the positive impact of fat intake emerged in both seasons.

Leishmania donovani is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, a tropical disease affecting millions worldwide. While proteomic studies of Leishmania species have been conducted, the organization of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks in L. donovani remains largely unexplored. Here, we present a protein interaction network for L. donovani generated through size-exclusion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (SEC-MS) and computational analysis. We quantified 3,468 proteins...

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the real-world impact of SVR on liver-related mortality and highlights the value of early treatment and continued support for populations who are marginalised.

Background: Primary pulmonary cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease often caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex. Although rare in North America, it can present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Case Presentation: We report a 36-year-old male from Quebec, Canada, with locally acquired primary pulmonary CE who presented to the emergency department with a two-month history of shortness of breath, cough, and hemoptysis. Laboratory investigations showed mild...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of most insulin-producing β-cells, along with dysregulated glucagon secretion from pancreatic α-cells. We conducted an integrated analysis that combines electrophysiological and transcriptomic profiling, along with machine learning, of islet cells from T1D donors. The few surviving β-cells exhibit altered electrophysiological properties and transcriptomic signatures indicative of increased antigen presentation, metabolic...

Antimicrobial combinations resulting in synergy against Staphylococcus aureus are desirable for improving clinical efficacy in the treatment of severe infections caused by this pathogen. Despite an existing biological rationale for the combination of cefazolin and linezolid for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), this combination has yet to be evaluated for in vitro synergy. We employed the checkerboard and E-test methods of synergy assessment to evaluate cefazolin in combination with...

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Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella species cause febrile illness and infective endocarditis in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study investigated whether seropositivity to C. burnetii or Bartonella could be detected among patients with persistent fever for which an infectious or inflammatory etiological diagnosis had been previously established in three LMICs. Our study tested sera from Cambodian, Nepalese, and Sudanese participants using indirect immunofluorescent antibody assays...

For more than 3 decades, macrocyclic lactone (ML) heartworm preventives have been extremely effective at preventing Dirofilaria immitis infections in dogs. Reports of loss of efficacy (LOE) of the MLs in the early 2000s led to in-depth research which identified the presence of resistant strains of D. immitis in the Southeast United States. Detailed genetic analysis of such parasites identified genetic markers for resistance. In order to evaluate the prevalence of these markers in Ontario...

Resistance to chemotherapy continues to limit the ability to cure infectious diseases and cancer. Resistance to antiparasitic drugs is affecting control of many pathogens in human and veterinary medicine. In veterinary medicine, particular attention has been focused on resistance to parasites of livestock, including helminths, ectoparasites and protozoa, as an effect of intensive treatment regimens that promote economic sustainability of production systems. Less attention has been given to drug...

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to estimate the burden of HBV and HCV among immigrants at the national level in Canada. The results show that the prevalence of viral hepatitis among immigrants is higher than the general Canadian population. However, grouping all immigrants into one category masks important variation, and potentially over-estimates the burden of HBV and HCV among immigrants. Strengthening our understanding of hepatitis prevalence among immigrants can improve our ability to...

CONCLUSION: Proportions and absolute numbers of CLM in travellers returning to Canada from the Caribbean are increasing. Improved awareness of this common dermatosis among physicians and travellers, as well as improved access to effective therapies, will reduce associated morbidity.

Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic filarial nematode and the causative agent of heartworm disease in canids and other species. Heartworm disease is predominantly managed via macrocyclic lactone (ML) - based chemoprophylactics. Through opportunistic sampling, genotypically and phenotypically confirmed ML-resistant D. immitis isolates have been isolated in the Lower Mississippi River Valley region (LMRV); however, the pervasiveness of resistant isolates in the USA has not been evaluated. This...

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CONCLUSIONS: Against a background of increasing numbers of measles cases and outbreaks globally, GeoSentinel observed a stable trend of measles importations by international travelers. Measles caused considerable morbidity among travelers. Immunization effectively prevents measles in more than 97% of individuals. Pretravel consultations provide an important opportunity to promote vaccination coverage for all vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles.

Inhalation of foreign bodies, a common occurrence in children, can be life-threatening. Different types of foreign bodies can be found, but laryngeal localization is rare. We here report the case of an 8-month-old male infant who presented with respiratory distress, dysphonia, and stridor. On admission, the child exhibited severe laryngeal dyspnea. Cervical CT scan revealed a radiopaque foreign body in the larynx. Endoscopic extraction revealed an impacted fish vertebra in the subglottis....

Background: Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling practices release a complex mixture of pollutants, particularly heavy metals, into the environment. Chronic exposure to these contaminants has been linked to a range of health risks, but the molecular underpinnings remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the alterations in metabolic profiles due to e-waste exposure and linked these metabolites to systemic biological effects. Methods: We applied untargeted high-resolution...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes millions of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths per year globally. Early-life RSV infection is also associated with the subsequent development of wheezing and asthma, which exhibits sex-related disparities in incidence, epidemiology, and morbidity. The mechanisms that underlie these sex-specific effects are not clear. We have developed a combined infection-allergy model in which 10-day old mice are infected with RSV and subsequently exposed to a...

CONCLUSIONS: Empiric therapies for septic patients in Canada were overly broad given the rare isolation of drug-resistant pathogens. Though likely confounded by severity of illness, optimal outcomes were observed when therapy was appropriate relative to the causative pathogen and infectious focus.

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