tropical medicine & international health

TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH OCTOBER 2013

Authorship debate

The editors of TMIH clarify their

position: we see scientific authorship

as an incentive, but not just to

encourage ‘granting permission’; we

see it as motivating a spirit of inquiry

and the active promotion of, and

participation in research, to inform

decision making in the field of tropical

medicine and international heath.

1162–1163

Schistosomiasis

The freshwater snail

Biomphalariaglabrata is the principal

intermediate host for

Schistosomamansoni in Brazil. Within

individual Brazilian villages,

distributions of snail genetic diversity

indicate temporal stability and very

restricted gene flow, corroborating the

expectation that parasite gene flow at

the level of individual villages is likely

driven by vertebrate host movement.

1164–1173

Schistosomahaematobium prevalence

is significantly correlated with HIV

prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Controlling S. haematobium may be

an effective means of reducing HIV

transmission in many African

communities. 1174–1179

Chagas disease

Myosin and troponin T antibody

production is correlated with left

ventricular ejection fraction in

chagasic patients and could be

associated with different clinical forms

of chronic Chagas disease. 1180–1192

Maternal healthcare

Studies in Bangladesh and Indonesia

show that improving access to

adequate obstetric care and

encouraging women to seek

appropriate and timely care are

essential to achieve MDG-5.

1193–1201

Disadvantaged migrant women in

Delhi, India, particularly recent

migrants, are at risk of not receiving

adequate maternal healthcare. Since

migration is a continuing phenomenon,

measures to mitigate disadvantage due

to migration need to be taken in the

healthcare system. 1202–1210

In Kinshasa, DRC, scaling-up

interventions to improve reproductive

health services should include

broad-based health systems

strengthening and promote equitable

access to quality ANC, delivery, and

postnatal services.

1211–1221

Tuberculosis

Diagnosis of smear-negative

pulmonary tuberculosis remains a

challenge, particularly in resource-

constrained settings. A new diagnostic

algorithm combines affordable

laboratory tools and a reliable clinical

prediction rule. 1222–1230

Vital registration

Records of births and deaths kept by

the Health Management Information

System in Malawi are not of sufficient

quality to meet the urgent need for

monitoring child mortality in real

time. 1231–1239

Corruption

A review of World Health Survey data

on 72 524 adults from 20 African

countries suggests that higher

perceived national corruption is

associated with an increase in poor

health prevalence: in both men and

women, in all socioeconomic groups,

and across the lifespan. 1240–1247

Listeriosis

Listeriosis cases were reported in many

regions of China over the past

47 years, with a high case fatality rate,

particularly in neonates. China should

consider mandatory notification of

listeriosis cases. 1248–1256

HIV

Between 1990 and 2007, HIV

incidence declined in men in rural

Uganda. Although a high proportion

of new HIV infections were

attributable to HSV-2, there was no

long-term association between HIV

incidence and HSV-2.

1257–1266

The respiratory tract of HIV-positive

children receiving highly active

antiretroviral therapy is commonly

colonised by S. aureus and

S. pneumoniae, while other species

normally found in the respiratory

tract, such as Moraxella catarrhalis,are

far less common. 1267–1268

Malaria

Rollout of mRDTs in Tanzania

improved coverage of malaria tests,

but significant challenges remain in

ensuring that all febrile patients are

tested and that patients testing positive

receive appropriate treatment.

1269–1282

Child health

Blood lead levels in sub-Saharan

children still exceed 10 lg/dl.Important efforts should be directed

towards the reinforcement of

prevention programs in sub-Saharan

Africa.

1283–1291

© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1161