Background

Infections with liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, and O. felineus) cause high burden. Mechanistic models have been employed to disentangle their transmission dynamics and guide the design of control strategies. However, no comprehensive review of these mechanistic models has yet been undertaken.

Methods

In this systematic review, we searched six major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Korea Med, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], and Wanfang Data) for studies published up to 14 May 2025, to identify and evaluate mechanistic models of liver fluke infections. We included all mechanistic transmission models for human liver flukes regardless of language or setting, while excluded non-mechanistic models, reviews, and empirical studies.

Results

Of the 533 records identified, 18 studies were eligible for analysis. Most studies focused on C. sinensis in China and O. viverrini in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, primarily employing population-based model with ordinary differential equations. Findings consistently identified humans as the central reservoir sustaining transmission, while the role of animal reservoir hosts (e.g. cats and dogs) in transmission was less explored (in 6 out of 18 studies) and divergent in different models. Models incorporating host heterogeneity demonstrated the superiority of integrated control strategies-combining mass drug administration, health education, and environmental improvements over single intervention. High frequency, coverage and adherence of measures were shown to be critical for achieving control or even elimination targets.

Conclusion

Results from mechanistic models support the implementation of One Health strategies to improve liver fluke control. This review identifies the need for integrative, data-driven One Health modeling frameworks that incorporate human, animal, and environmental transmission parameters, and address key sources of heterogeneity in host behavior, exposure, and transmission dynamics to support control targets.

Differences in brain connectivity are linked to several neurodevelopmental disorders, yet scientists still struggle to determine what changes are shared or unique to each condition. A new study analyzing brain scans from more than 2,100 individuals reveals a common pattern of disrupted neural connectivity across autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia. The research also identifies distinct molecular and cellular signatures for each disorder, offering insight into how complex psychiatric conditions arise from overlapping yet different biological mechanisms.

Background

Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease, caused by Lassa virus (LASV), that was first reported in 1965. After 55 years, its research landscape remains largely underexplored. Therefore, a bibliometric study is needed to identify LASV research landscape.

Methods

Scopus database was searched and the resulting data was analyzed using VOSviewer (version 1.6.15) for Windows, bibliometrix (version 3.0.0) with Biblioshiny, and R (version 4.5.2) to reveal trends in LASV publications, including keywords, authors’ productivity over time, and collaboration among research institutions and universities.

Results

From Scopus, 1566 studies were retrieved, and the trend analysis indicated three distinct phases: a low productivity phase (1970–2002), consistent increase phase (2003–2014), and high productivity phase (2015–2025). The Journal of Virology included the most LASV publications (132 articles). Original research articles dominated the LASV publications with 1270 (81.10%), followed by reviews 296 (18.90%). Keyword analysis revealed evolution over time, with terms used to describe LASV forming the most dominant network across clusters. Factorial analysis revealed keywords absence linked to health and environment role in LASV spread. Among the top 50 authors, 20% were from Africa (Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone), indicating minimal locally driven research. Country collaboration network analysis revealed the dominance of the United States, Germany, France, and China, while Nigeria was prominently represented in Africa. The findings further indicate few studies on vaccines and therapeutics, and less involvement of authors from LASV-endemic regions.

Conclusion

Despite significant growth in LASV research, critical gaps in vaccines, therapeutics, and endemic region representation highlight the urgent need for locally driven One Health studies and equitable research partnerships.

The use of antimicrobial agents in animals contributes to the emergence and spread of bacterial antimicrobial resistance, posing risks to human, animal, and environmental health. Monitoring antimicrobial consumption in food-producing animals is a critical component of antimicrobial stewardship. This study describes the current state of antimicrobial use and resistance monitoring in animals in Brazil and compares it to systems implemented in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands, countries known for having well-established surveillance frameworks. Data were collected between July 2019 and November 2025 from official technical reports on veterinary antimicrobial sales and use, as well as policy documents and legislation. Findings show that the UK and the Netherlands have developed integrated systems based on mandatory data reporting and sector-specific metrics. These systems are supported by coordinated policies and high stakeholder engagement. In contrast, Brazil lacks a national system for monitoring antimicrobial use in animals. Sales data are not publicly available, and there is no standardized mechanism to track antimicrobial consumption on farms. Although policy frameworks exist, enforcement is limited, and access to surveillance data is fragmented. The absence of a centralized, transparent system hinders Brazil’s capacity to evaluate antimicrobial use patterns or inform targeted interventions. Given Brazil’s leading role in global animal protein production, addressing these gaps is essential to advancing national stewardship efforts and contributing to global strategies to contain bacterial antimicrobial resistance.