OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But this...

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through phlebotomine sandfly bites. The Middle East carries a disproportionate share of the global burden, shaped by armed conflict, ecological change, population displacement, and fragmented healthcare infrastructure. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from twenty-four peer-reviewed studies published between 2001 and 2026 on the epidemiological patterns, transmission determinants, and public health implications of leishmaniasis in the Middle East. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica constitutes the dominant clinical burden, with Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia reporting the highest case counts in the region. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani contributes a smaller but significant burden in Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. Conflict-driven displacement, climatic variables, urbanization, poverty, and immunosuppression were identified as factors consistently associated with elevated transmission across the included studies, though the relative contribution of each factor could not be quantitatively established given the observational and surveillance-based nature of the available evidence. Most included studies relied on passive surveillance data, limiting the strength of conclusions that can be drawn. Significant gaps remain around HIV-VL co-infection, standardized cross-border surveillance, and treatment access in conflict-affected settings. Strengthening regional surveillance networks, expanding mobile diagnostic units, and integrating migrant health policies into national programs are among the public health responses identified across the included literature as warranting prioritization.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through phlebotomine sandfly bites. The Middle East carries a disproportionate share of the global burden, shaped by armed conflict, ecological change, population displacement, and fragmented healthcare infrastructure. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from twenty-four peer-reviewed studies published between 2001 and 2026 on the epidemiological patterns, transmission determinants, and public health implications of leishmaniasis in the Middle East. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica constitutes the dominant clinical burden, with Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia reporting the highest case counts in the region. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani contributes a smaller but significant burden in Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. Conflict-driven displacement, climatic variables, urbanization, poverty, and immunosuppression were identified as factors consistently associated with elevated transmission across the included studies, though the relative contribution of each factor could not be quantitatively established given the observational and surveillance-based nature of the available evidence. Most included studies relied on passive surveillance data, limiting the strength of conclusions that can be drawn. Significant gaps remain around HIV-VL co-infection, standardized cross-border surveillance, and treatment access in conflict-affected settings. Strengthening regional surveillance networks, expanding mobile diagnostic units, and integrating migrant health policies into national programs are among the public health responses identified across the included literature as warranting prioritization.

OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But…

Publication date: Available online 7 October 2026 Source: Acta Tropica Author(s): Abadi Gebremariam, Eyob Zigta, Dawit Kidane, Desalegn Tadese, Abraham Awala, Mekonnen Yohannes

Phenuiviruses which include Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), classified by WHO as one of the top priority pathogens with outbreak potential, are emerging arthropod-borne viruses that pose an increasing threat to public health. In line with the prototype pathogen framework advanced by the NIAID, the sandfly-transmitted Toscana virus (TOSV) has been adopted as a prototype to advance understanding of relevant phenuiviruses and inform the development of broadly applicable medical countermeasures. In this study, we sought to isolate and characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) elicited by natural TOSV infection to identify shared antigenic determinants. By employing the conserved envelope Gc glycoprotein as bait for antigen-specific B cell sorting, we recovered more than 1,450 memory B cells and identified 112 Gc-specific neutralizing mAbs. Over one-third of these mAbs exhibited cross-reactivity with RVFV, a genetically distinct phenuivirus. Selected mAbs provided prophylactic protection in a murine model of TOSV infection. Together, our findings establish Gc as an important target of protective neutralizing antibodies and provide insights that may guide the rational design of widely effective interventions, strengthening readiness against future phenuivirus outbreaks.

Phenuiviruses which include Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), classified by WHO as one of the top priority pathogens with outbreak potential, are emerging arthropod-borne viruses that pose an increasing threat to public health. In line with the prototype pathogen framework advanced by the NIAID, the sandfly-transmitted Toscana virus (TOSV) has been adopted as a prototype to advance understanding of relevant phenuiviruses and inform the development of broadly applicable medical countermeasures. In this study, we sought to isolate and characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) elicited by natural TOSV infection to identify shared antigenic determinants. By employing the conserved envelope Gc glycoprotein as bait for antigen-specific B cell sorting, we recovered more than 1,450 memory B cells and identified 112 Gc-specific neutralizing mAbs. Over one-third of these mAbs exhibited cross-reactivity with RVFV, a genetically distinct phenuivirus. Selected mAbs provided prophylactic protection in a murine model of TOSV infection. Together, our findings establish Gc as an important target of protective neutralizing antibodies and provide insights that may guide the rational design of widely effective interventions, strengthening readiness against future phenuivirus outbreaks.

Publication date: Available online 7 October 2026 Source: Acta Tropica Author(s): Abadi Gebremariam, Eyob Zigta, Dawit Kidane, Desalegn Tadese, Abraham Awala, Mekonnen Yohannes

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OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But this...

OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But…

OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But this...

In Destination Linux Episode 485, Ryan, Jill, and Zeb are joined by **Craig from Sandfly Security** for a deep dive into the latest Linux security trends. Craig shares insights from the upcoming Cold…

OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But this...

YouTube video by Destination Linux

OTAGO PENINSULA, Aotearoa New Zealand — Sandfly Bay was long a key nesting area for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), noisy, pink-footed birds that spend long days foraging at sea. But this...