Objective: To estimate the pooled prevalence of dengue infection in Bangladesh. Methods: Literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Hinari between December 2024 and April 2025, supplemented by references searching. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used for evaluating study quality. A random effects meta-analysis of proportion, including subgroup analyses, was performed with R software (version 4.5.1).Results: Out of 2 087 records, 28 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of confirmed dengue infection among clinically suspected patients was 49.3% (95% Cl 36.1-62.6), with a significant high heterogeneity (I²=99.2%, τ²=1.81, P<0.001). Stratified analysis showed a pooled prevalence of 47.9% (95% Cl 34.0-62.2, I2=99.1%, τ²=1.71, P<0.001) for acute/recent infection, and 7.9% (95% CI 1.3-36.8, I²=89.3%, τ²=2.64, P<0.001) for prior infection among clinically suspected patients. In the general population, based on a limited number of studies, the pooled prevalence of prior dengue infection was 52.8% (95% CI 8.5-93.1, I²=99.9%, τ²=3.23, P<0.001). DENV-3 was the most prevalent of 52.0% (95% CI 23.4-79.4, I²=98.3%, τ²=4.11, P<0.001) among molecularly confirmed serotype-positive patients, followed by DENV-2 of 35.8% (95% CI 13.7-66.2, I²=98.4%, τ²=4.23, P<0.001).Conclusions: Despite significant heterogeneity among studies, the pooled estimates provide a clear picture of dengue infection burden in Bangladesh and provide a benchmark for monitoring future trends.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and outcomes of bloodstream infections caused by rare Gram-negative bacteria in a tertiary pediatric center.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric patients (0-18 years) with rare Gram-negative bloodstream infections growth in blood cultures between 2016 and 2023. Common pathogens (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp., and Acinetobacter spp.) were excluded to focus on unusual isolates.Results: A total of 394 patients were included in the study. Their median age was 21.5 months and 237 (60.2%) were male. The cohort had a high prevalence of chronic underlying diseases (94.0%) and a median hospital stay of 27 (16, 49) days. Central venous catheters (35.8%) and recent blood product transfusions (35.8%) were the most frequent predisposing factors. The most prevalent isolates were Serratia spp. (20.1%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (17.5%), and Enterobacter spp. (15.2%). High rates of intrinsic and acquired resistance were observed: 100% of Serratia isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica demonstrated extensive carbapenem resistance. Resistance to co- trimoxazole in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was 0%. All-cause mortality was 13.7%, whereas infection-related mortality was 1.1%, specifically associated with Aeromonas spp. (10.0%), Comamonas testosteroni (25.0%), and Enterobacter spp (3.3%).Conclusions: Rare Gram-negative bacteria bloodstream infections in children represent a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to unpredictable resistance patterns. Our data suggest that empirical therapy for high-risk pediatric patients should be periodically reviewed to include coverage for these emerging pathogens, especially in those with indwelling devices and chronic comorbidities.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology, demographic risk factors, spatial distribution, and temporal trends of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Jordan from 2013 to 2024.Methods: A retrospective epidemiological study was performed utilizing confirmed CL cases from the Jordanian Ministry of Health. Demographic (age, sex, age group), clinical (lesion location, year and month), and geographic information (district type) were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9 software. Spearman’s rank correlation and Chi-square test were used to explore the association between age and lesion locations.Results: Between 2013 and 2024, a total of 1 281 confirmed cases were documented. Males represented 63.0% of the cases, while rural areas accounted for 80.6% of the burden. The age groups of 6-18 and 19-60 years accounted for the highest overall CL burden. Lesions were primarily found on the head and neck in children (0-18 years) and on limbs in adults (19-60 years). Persistent hotspots were identified in the Azraq district and the Jordan Valley. Seasonal peaks were noted in late autumn and winter, aligning with the sandfly transmission cycle. Significant association was found between younger age and head and neck lesion counts (r=-0.127, P<0.001), while older patients exhibited a greater involvement of limb lesion counts (for upper limbs lesion counts, r=0.134, P<0.001; for lower limbs lesion counts: r=0.066, P=0.019). Pairwise comparisons also indicated significant differences in lesion locations among different age groups (most P<0.01).Conclusions: CL continues to pose a significant health threat in Jordan, especially in rural and refugee-affected areas. Factors such as underreporting, passive surveillance, and ecological risks contribute to ongoing transmission. A comprehensive national control strategy that includes molecular diagnostics, vector control, refugee health screening, and enhanced surveillance is required for better management of the disease.

Objective: To characterize morphologically distinct sand flies collected from three districts in Sri Lanka using integrated morphological and molecular approaches.Methods: Sand fly specimens received by the Department of Parasitology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, between January and December 2024, were examined. Specimens with typical morphological traits were mounted for microscopic evaluation, and molecular confirmation was performed through DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1) gene, followed by sequencing and BLAST analysis.Results: Of 58 sand flies analyzed, five known species were identified: Phlebotomus argentipes (n=21; 36.2%), Sergentomyia (S.) zeylanica (n=21; 36.2%), S. indica (n=1; 1.7%), S. bailyi (n=4; 6.9%), and S. babu insularis (n=4; 6.9%). Two morphologically distinct species were also recorded. Molecular analysis confirmed the first report of Idiophlebotomus genus in Sri Lanka (n=5, 8.6%). Additionally, a novel Sergentomyia species from the Anuradhapura district was identified and described herein as S. nayanasis sp. nov.Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence of 1diophlebotomus sp. in Sri Lanka and describes S. nayanasis sp. nov., expanding the known phlebotomine fauna of the island. These results highlight the need for continued surveillance, ecological assessments, and vector competence studies to evaluate the potential epidemiological significance of newly detected sand fly species in leishmaniasis-endemic regions.