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91%. Schistosoma guineensis, S. haematobium and S. mansoni infections were found in 0.35% (n = 1), 4.96% (n = 14) and 28.01% (n = 79) of participants, respectively. Co-infection with two species of Schistosoma was found in 4.44% of these women. The prevalence of this disease was significantly higher in younger women (≤ 20 years old) and among residents of Njombe. All S. haematobium infected women were anemic and infection was associated with significantly lower haemoglobin levels (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION The prevalence of schistosomiasis is high among pregnant women in Njombe-Penja, with some adverse effects on blood levels. Three Schistosoma species were found. Female of childbearing age should be considered for mass drug administration. Copyright (c) 2019 Calvin Tonga, Charlie Ngo Bayoi, Flore Chanceline Tchanga, Jacqueline Félicité Yengue, Godlove Bunda Wepnje, Hervé Nyabeyeu Nyabeyeu, Lafortune Kangam, Larissa Koudjip Nono, Patrick Akono Ntonga, Léopold Gustave Lehman.INTRODUCTION It has recently been demonstrated that there is a very high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among hemodialysis patients in Kosovo with HCV subtype 1 being the most prevalent subtype. In this study, we further detail the molecular epidemiology of HCV outbreaks occurring in seven dialysis centers in Kosovo. METHODOLOGY In total, 273 samples obtained from HCV RNA positive patients undergoing hemodialysis at one of the seven centers in Kosovo were selected for this study 171 subtype 1a samples, 91 subtype 4d samples, and 11 subtype 1b samples. A partial HCV NS5B region was amplified and sequenced. Subtype-specific phylogenetic analyses were performed with the inclusion of control sequences and transmission clusters were identified. RESULTS NS5B sequences were successfully obtained in 257/273 (94.1%) of samples; 162 subtype 1a, 84 subtype 4d, and 11 subtype 1b sequences. Phylogenetic analyses showed a high degree of phylogenetic clustering of HCV sequences subtyped 1a (99.4%), 1b (63.6%), and 4d (76.2%). Distinct phylogenetic clusters of sequences obtained from hemodialysis patients were observed for all three subtypes studied. In addition, several smaller clusters within the large clusters were identified, mainly from a single dialysis center. CONCLUSIONS Phylogenetic analyses confirmed nosocomial transmission during dialysis as a major factor in the spread of HCV at the seven dialysis centers in Kosovo. Copyright (c) 2019 Xhevat Jakupi, Jana Mlakar, Maja Lunar, Ibrahim Rudhani, Lul Raka, Norma Tavakoli, Mario Poljak".INTRODUCTION Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a common respiratory virus closely related to respiratory tract infection (RTI). Rapid and accurate detection of hRSV is urgently needed to reduce the high morbidity and mortality due to hRSV infection. METHODOLOGY Here, we established a highly sensitive and specific reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of A and B group hRSV simultaneously. The specific primer sets for hRSV A and B groups were designed in the M and M2-2 gene, respectively. SYTO 9 was used as the fluorescent dye for real-time monitoring of the amplification of hRSV RNA without cross reaction between hRSV A and B. RESULTS The limit of detection (LOD) of our new method was 281.17 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID50)/mL for hRSV A and 1.58 TCID50/mL for hRSV B. Using 90 clinical samples, a comparison to traditional RT-PCR was performed to validate this assay. The positivity rate of RT-LAMP and RT-PCR were 67.8% and 55.6%, respectively, and the positivity rate of RT-LAMP was significantly higher than RT-PCR (χ2 test, P less then 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Compared with traditional RT-PCR method, the newly developed fluorescent RT-LAMP combined with well-designed primers and SYTO 9 is quite sensitive, specific, rapid and well applicable to hRSV clinical diagnosis. Copyright (c) 2019 Yihong Hu, Zhenzhou Wan, Yonglin Mu, Yi Zhou, Jia Liu, Ke Lan, Chiyu Zhang.INTRODUCTION Dengue virus (DENV) infection is currently a major cause of morbidity in the world, and its incidence has mainly increased during the last years in Latin America, including Paraguay. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and laboratory findings of dengue and assess whether the serotype is a risk factor for severity. METHODOLOGY We included patients ≤ 15 years old hospitalized with dengue at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, from Paraguay, from 2007 to 2018. learn more Patients were classified according to the 2009 WHO dengue classification guidelines and were stratified by serotype into three groups according to the hospitalization period the 2007 epidemic (DENV-3), the 2012-2013 epidemic (DENV-2) and the 2016-2018 epidemic (DENV-1). RESULTS Of 784 children hospitalized for dengue, 50 cases (6.3%) were caused by DENV-3, 471 (60%) by DENV-2, and 263 (33.5%) by DENV-1. Myalgias and headache were associated with DENV-3 cases and abdominal pain was associated with DENV-2 cases. Bleeding was observed mainly in DENV-1 and 2 cases. Patients with DENV-2 infections experienced more severe disease, required fluid expansion more frequently, and exhibited more often shock and admission in the ICU. Secondary cases of dengue were more severe that primary cases. Patients with infection by DENV-2 had longer hospital stays (5.1 ± 2.8 days) when compared to DENV-3 o DENV-1 infection cases (2.9 ± 1.6 days and 4.36 ± 2.7 days, respectively) (p less then 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The DENV serotype has a profound impact on the clinical manifestations and severity of dengue. DENV-2 infections were associated more frequently to requirement of fluid expansion, shock, and longer hospital stay. Copyright (c) 2019 Dolores Lovera, Celia Maetrinez-Cuellar, Fernando Galeano, Sara Amarilla, Cynthia Vazquez, Antonio Arbo.INTRODUCTION Farmworkers are considered a high-risk group for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the farmworkers' experience, knowledge, health beliefs, information needs, and preventive practices of tick bites and TBDs. METHODOLOGY A total of nine focus group discussions with 56 farmworkers across eight animal farms in Peninsular Malaysia were conducted between August and October 2013. RESULTS Farmworkers explained their experience of tick bites, but no one reported TBDs. Many farmworkers indicated that they did not seek any medical treatment. There was a misconception that ticks are solely pathogenic to farm animals. Farmworkers perceived low severity and susceptibility of tick bites, and low self-efficacy of tick bite prevention, however, a group also perceived susceptibility to getting tick bites due to the characteristics of their job. Barriers for prevention were related to the perception and knowledge towards ticks. Farmworkers requested information about TBDs.