BACKGROUND To guide malaria elimination efforts in Swaziland and other countries, accurate assessments of transmission are critical. Pooled-PCR has potential to efficiently improve sensitivity to detect infections; serology may clarify temporal and spatial trends in exposure. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using a stratified two-stage cluster, cross-sectional design, subjects were recruited f...

BACKGROUND Accurate diagnosis of malaria infection during pregnancy remains challenging because of low parasite densities and placental sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum. The performance of different methods to detect P. falciparum in pregnancy and the clinical relevance of undetected infections were evaluated. METHODS P. falciparum infections were assessed in 272 Mozambican women at del...

The persistence of parasite histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) in the circulation after parasite clearance has been considered a drawback for rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) targeting HRP2 and a major cause of false-positive results. This paper reports results of a study into whether a proportion of RDT HRP2 false-positive cases carried parasites using polymerase chain reaction analysis as the gold ...

AIM The aim of the present study was to compare the remaining dental thickness (RDT) in the mesiobuccal root of mandibular first molars at 3 and 7 mm from the anatomic apex after instrumentation with ProTaper, light speed LSX, K3 and M2 and to compare with that of K-files. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, 60 extracted, untreated human mandibular first molars with fully formed apices, with...

BACKGROUND Human leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease of global significance, and is endemic to several countries in the Pacific. Zoonotic transmission dynamics combined with diagnostic challenges lead to difficulties in prevention and identification of cases. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) lacks surveillance data for human leptospirosis. This hospital-based serologic surve...

BACKGROUND Chemoprophylaxis has been used to prevent malaria among soldiers and secondary transmission, as it effectively facilitates a decline in disease occurrence and secondary prevention. However, poor compliance and decreased risk of exposure to malaria necessitate that control strategies be reestablished. METHODS To predict the incidence of malaria according to a control strategy, we pr...

We describe the accuracy of serial rapid HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa and discuss the implications for HIV testing and prevention.This was a cross-sectional survey conducted at five stand-alone facilities from five provinces.Demographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected. Dried blood spots were obtained for HIV-related testing. Participants were o...

Background. We describe an irregular migrant who returned to Sri Lanka after a failed people smuggling operation from West Africa. Results. On-arrival screening by Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC) officers using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (CareStart Malaria HRP2/PLDH) indicated a negative result. On day 3 after arrival, he presented with fever and chills but was managed as dengue (which is hypere...

Shaftless rim-driven thruster (RDT) has recently become the research focus for marine propulsion, primarily due to low vibration, noise, and energy saving as its advantage. This study is based on CFD theory used Ansys-Fluent software examine hydrodynamic performance of a novel counter-rotating (RDCRT). It takes No.19A+Ka4-70 duct propeller 20 kW RDT examples, it verifies feasibility simulation ...

In most areas where typhoid is endemic, laboratory diagnosis is not possible due to the lack of appropriate facilities. We investigated whether the combination of blood culture amplification of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi with an S. Typhi antigen rapid diagnostic test (RDT) could be an accurate and inexpensive tool for the accelerated diagnosis of patients with acute typhoid in Laos. For ...