Journal of Parasitic Diseases最新文献

Characterize the socio-environmental risk associated with parasitic infection based on the analysis of geographic distribution patterns and the population, household, and housing conditions of the productive peri-urban area of La Plata. A "Kernel" density map was used and a Socio-environmental Risk Analysis (SRA) criterion was developed to evaluate the tendency shown by the risk factors of parasitic contamination. The construction of the SRA was based on the variables of the concept of Unsatisfied Basic Needs and Territorial Vulnerability Index. In the "Kernel" density map a similar distribution trend was observed in the points analyzed that determine the presence of parasites, plots with intensive crops and the areas of highest altitude and watersheds of the basins. In the SRA, the majority of the surface area (71%) was important in the characterization of high risk. The houses built with sheet metal and wood, high critical overcrowding, limited access to waste collection, frequent flooding, distances to educational and limited access to health coverage are the variables that contributed most to the risk, confirming that access to drinking water and sewage systems are not the only limiting factors for parasitic infections. Consequently, non-farming families living in the region in conditions of similar materiality and without access to public services present a high risk of contamination by parasitic species. The information analyzed shows that the construction of distributive social policies and preventive health management to mitigate the presence of parasitic species in the region is priority.

Myxobolus is one of the most speciose genera of myxozoans, most species are found infecting freshwater fish. Although the absence of caudal appendages is one of the main taxonomic criteria to differentiate this genus from other species, in some cases anomalous forms of Myxobolus are observed, with the presence of caudal appendages. The Brazilian Amazon contains a diverse fish population, which includes a large number of Myxobolus species, some of which are pathogenic. Pellona castelnaeana (Valenciennes, 1847) is a species with huge migratory flows that contributes for the population's diet food. This study reports the observation of Myxobolus, including aberrant forms, on the gills of P. castelnaeana, a freshwater fish. Gill arch cysts with myxospores were found in 90% of the specimens analyzed, with 5% having elongated caudal appendages ranging in size from 4 to 16 µm. This is the first report of Myxobolus Abnormal forms in Clupeiformes, adding to our understanding of the genus Myxobolus phenotypic plasticity in South American fish.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12639-024-01760-5.].

Trichinosis is a real threat to public health that infects humans and animals. Current treatments have high resistance and limited bioavailability. Consequently, it is imperative to enhance the bioavailability of these drugs by developing new agents. So, the purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of ivermectin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) and their combination with albendazole (ABZ) on the muscular and intestinal phases of trichinosis. We had eight main groups of mice: non-infected control; infected control; infected and treated with ABZ; infected and treated with ivermectin (IVM); infected and treated with CS NPs; infected and treated with ABZ and IVM; infected and treated with IVM-loaded CS NPS; and infected and treated with ABZ combined with IVM-loaded CS NPS. Two subgroups were formed for each group: a and b for both phases, intestinal and muscular, respectively. Drug efficacy was parasitologically, histopathologically, serologically, and molecularly evaluated. The ABZ combined with IVM-loaded CS NPS-treated group showed the highest statistically significant reduction in adult and encysted larval counts and a noticeable reduction of both intestinal and muscular inflammation. In the treated groups, there was a significant decrease in TNF-α, iNOS, and IFN-γ gene expression when compared with the infected control. Although the level of IL10 was increased in all treated groups. In conclusion, IVM-loaded CS NPS enhanced the efficacy of ABZ against T. spiralis-infected mice.

Knowledge of the endemic parasite fauna in freshwater fish is of great importance. Parasites may work together to stress the health of their hosts. Therefore, the present study aimed to focus on the impact of nematode parasitism on Clarias batrachus (C. batrachus) fish health. The objectives of the present study are to evaluate injury to tissues and oxidative damage due to parasitic infestation, which are indications of disturbance of fish health. According to the results of histological examination, the gut, liver, and gills from C. batrachus, infested with nematode parasites were among the organs severely damaged. Due to tissue injury and oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased and disturbed the oxidant/antioxidant ratio. Enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly increased, but glutathione reductase (GR) and non-enzymatic antioxidant i.e., glutathione content (GSH) was significantly decreased. Thus, due to these histological alterations, antioxidant levels significantly affected the health of C. batrachus. Next, we also observed hematologically that, red blood cell (RBCs) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels and mineral content were decreased but white blood cells (WBCs) levels were increased. In liver, we have observed decreased protein, lipid as well as moisture, and ash content but there was an increase in the dry content and glucose levels. In serum biochemical parameters i.e., protein, albumin, globulin, and Albumin/Globulin (A/G) ratio was significantly decreased except glucose level (mg/dl). The increased glucose level may be due to the increase in the breakdown of liver glycogen or decreased synthesis of glycogen indicating the hyperglycemic condition in the infested fish. In conclusion, nematode species have a significant impact on the health status of the fish in culture practices.

Malaria is one of the major public health and deadly parasitic diseases caused by the Plasmodium species. The microbiota plays a great role in host-Plasmodium interactions in their life cycle. There is a lack of comprehensive information on their role, and even their role in the Plasmodium lifecycle is not clearly defined as positive or negative. Generally, the importance of the present review helps have comprehensive information on the microbiota's role, which is important to generate an idea on the new prevention and control mechanism of malaria. This review is aimed at reviewing literature related to the role of microbiota in host plasmodium interactions. Common search terms were Anopheles mosquito, Microbiota, Malaria, and Plasmodium. Forty-seven related articles were reviewed. The sources of articles were Google Scholar, PubMed, and Wiley online library with retrieval time from August 15 to September 4/2021. The existence of microbiota in the midgut of Anopheles mosquitoes stimulates the mosquito's immunity, which enables the production of antimicrobial peptides and other immune effectors that act against Plasmodium. Microbiota also impairs Plasmodium survival by producing uncharacterized bacterial-associated metabolites and competing for essential nutrients or resources like lipoproteins. Peptidoglycan recognition protein LB in bacteria has been identified as a negative regulator of the immune deficiency pathway, which prevents systemic antimicrobial responses to the microbiota. The human gut microbiota is known to play a crucial role in the invasion, severity, and outcome of Plasmodium infections in the human host. Additionally, human skin bacteria have been found to convert components of sweat into volatile organic compounds that attract mosquitoes, indirectly affecting the Plasmodium life cycle. The interaction between female Anopheles mosquitoes and human hosts to Plasmodium is influenced by the microbiota of both the mosquito and the human host. However, many mechanisms of interaction are still unknown, and further original research is needed to better understand the host-pathogen interaction between Anopheles mosquitoes and Plasmodium.

The present case study reported a complicated co-infection with hemoprotozoan and haemorickettsiales in two months old non descriptive male dog, Haryana, India. The aim of present clinical study was early diagnosis making the prognosis safe. For confirmatory diagnosis, blood sample was collected for routine haemato-biochemical, blood smear examination and molecular diagnosis. Dog had history of vomition and anorexia for last one week. Clinical examination of animal revealed dullness, depression, pale conjunctival mucus membrane and decreased rectal temperature (96.2℉). Hematological investigation revealed severe anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Biochemical examination revealed increased plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. Microscopic examination of blood smear revealed oval to pyriform bodies in groups as Babesia canis in RBC's as well as outside the RBC's and morula of Ehrlichia canis within the cytoplasm of monocyte. Blood sample was also processed for molecular diagnosis and confirmed positive for both the infections by PCR method. Hemato-biochemical alterations; microscopic examination and molecular diagnosis by PCR confirmed the coinfection of Babesia canis vogeli and Ehrlichia canis in affected dog and proved the infection fatal and can make the prognosis grave. Treatment was given to animal but unfortunately animal was died on the same day. Hence, the present study concludes the confirmatory diagnosis of coinfection of Babesia canis vogeli and Ehrlichia canis in dogs.

Leishmaniasis is one of the most concerning diseases worldwide, which is caused by Leishmania intracellular parasites. It is classified in the phylum Sarcomastigophora, order Kintoplastida, and genus Leishmania. This parasite is mostly zoonotic and one of the main clinical manifestations of the infection is cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The study was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of types of CL in Kalaleh city in Golestan province in the north of the Iran with parasitological and Nested-PCR methods. Total of 227 giemsa-stained slides were collected from the health center of Kalaleh city. In the microscopic examination, positive and negative cases were determined and the parasite load was scored. Then the DNA of samples was extracted. The kDNA gene was used to determine the identity of different species of Leishmania using the Nested-PCR molecular method. Totally, 109 positive samples and 118 negative samples were identified in microscopic examination. In molecular examination using Nested-PCR, all parasitologically positive samples were confirmed. Out of 118 samples that were detected as negative in microscopic examination, three of them were identified as positive by molecular method. The identity of all isolated species was Leishmania major (L. major). This study determined that the dominant type of CL in Kalaleh city is L. major. Also, according to the results obtained from parasitological and molecular methods, it can be stated that Nested-PCR is an effective method to detect this organism because of high sensitivity and specificity.

Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) are among the Neglected Tropical Diseases and are responsible for helminth infections worldwide, particularly in school aged children. This study was aimed at investigating the association of STHs with nutritional status and cognitive impairment among school children. A single stool sample was collected from each child from March to September 2022 from three public and one community schools in Lusaka District. The 209 total collected samples were processed using the Kato Katz method. Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to determine nutritional status. The working memory and processing speed were used to assess cognitive function. Of the 209 collected samples, 10 (4.8%; 95%CI: 2.3-8.6) were positive for STHs. Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm were common parasites identified; Taenia spp, Schistosoma mansoni and Strongyloides stercolaris were also identified, all with light infections. The prevalence of STHs was significantly higher in males (9.7%; 7/72) compared to females (2.2%; 3/137) (p = 0.021). Younger children (8-12 years) had a higher prevalence (p = 0.022). Soil Transmitted Helminth infection had no influence on working memory and processing speed (p = 0.604) and on Mathematics and English scores attained by the children. Infection status was also not associated with nutritional status. STHs are prevalent in children. Further large-scale studies are required to establish whether infection status has significant influence on BMI and cognitive function.

Myxozoans, the major microscopic metazoan parasites of fish, can cause great economic loss in the fishery industry. In the search for myxozoan diversity during 2016-2018 in the western part (Bankura and Purulia district) of West Bengal, freshwater fishes were examined. Plasmodia with numerous spores of parasites were found in gills. Light microscopic studies revealed spore morphometry. Molecular taxonomic studies were done with 18S rRNA gene sequencing. The primers were UEP-F, UEP-R, MX5 and MX3. Collected myxozoans have been identified as Myxobolus linzhiensis Li et al. 2017 (MK412936) and Thelohanellus wangi Yuan et al. 2015 (MK412938), after comparing with other closely related spores and sequenced data from GenBank. M. linzhiensis has been collected from the gills of Labeo rohita at Purulia. The type specimen was reported from the gills of Schizothorax oconnori in China. T. wangi was collected from the gills of Catla catla from Bankura. The type specimen was reported from the gill filament of Carassius auratus gibelio from China. The western part of West Bengal; i.e., Bankura and Purulia districts are very hot and dry (oriental realm), rather than Wuxi and Wuhan of China (Palearctic realm). Phylogenetic relationships conclude that two studied parasites Myxobolus linzhiensis Li et al. 2017 and Thelohanellus wangi Yuan et al. 2015 of Palearctic host fishes have also been recorded from different host fishes of the oriental realm. These interesting features of the studied species, host plasticity and wide geographical distribution, are reported here for the first time.