Journal of Parasitic Diseases最新文献

Fish trade and aquaculture activities are considered the major causes of fish and shellfish disease spread and transfer. An outbreak of infectious nature in captive stock of Java rabbitfish (Siganus javus) in brackish water tanks was investigated. Microscopic examination revealed different stages of the parasitic dinoflagellate Amyloodinium in the gill filaments of moribund fish. Histopathological studies confirmed severe infestation with gill erosion and lamellar fusion. The geographical lineage of the isolate was determined through partial sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. BLAST analysis of the 18SrRNA gene sequence determined the 100% identity to Amyloodinium ocellatum and clustered with other isolates reported from Italy, Israel, the United States, Portugal, and Japan in the phylogenetic tree. The salinity requirement of the isolate was assessed by incubating tomont stages at salinities ranging from 0 to 30 ‰. Salinities below 5 ‰ were shown to inactivate and degrade 90% of the tomonts within 14 days of incubation, whereas salinities above 10 ‰ supported the parasite life cycle and its development. Further, the susceptibility of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) to A. ocellatum was elucidated in a challenge study. The current study demonstrated the potential threat of parasitic translocation with fish movement, the salinity regimes for their development, molecular detection including its impact on other cultivable fish species.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-024-01710-1.

Cryptosporidiosis remains a main source of life-threatening diarrhea in young children and immunocompromised patients. The current approved treatment; Nitazoxanide decreases the duration of diarrhea in immunocompetent adults but is not effective in immunocompromised patients. Benzoxaboroles are synthesized boron-heterocyclic compounds that have recently reported promising anti-protozoal action against several protozoa including Plasmodium, Leishmania and Toxoplasma species, by inhibiting essential microbial enzymes. Tavaborole has been a medically approved benzoxaborole that showed a promising anti-protozoal activity by inhibiting leucyl-tRNA synthetase enzyme. The present work was a trial to find the potential efficacy of Tavaborole (AN2690) as a promising drug against Cryptosporidium parvum. The drug was compared to Nitazoxanide in an in vitro human ileocecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8) culture model. Drug efficacy was evaluated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The molecular assessment revealed a statistically remarkable decrease in parasitic load under the effect of Tavaborole when compared to Nitazoxanide.

Domestic pigeons are a significant protein source in Egypt, and are also used for racing, ornamentation, and exhibition. They are susceptible to various intestinal parasites, resulting in economic losses from disease and mortality, delayed growth, and reduced productivity. There is limited information available on intestinal parasitic infections in domestic pigeons in Egypt, and reports from some governorates, e.g., Dakahlia, are lacking. In the present study, intestines and faecal contents of 782 adult domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were examined. These pigeons were clinically ill, i.e., had signs of emaciation, ruffled feathers, and general weakness, and were collected, over one year, from veterinary clinics as well as local bird markets in two Egyptian Nile Delta governorates; Dakahlia (n = 348) and Gharbia (n = 434). Overall, 23.53% of the tested pigeons were infected. Pigeons in Gharbia (28.57%) had a higher statistically significant (p-value < 0.001) prevalence than those in Dakahlia (17.24%). Four parasites were detected with statistically significant (p-value < 0.001) prevalence variations. Eimeria species was the most frequently detected (n = 136; 17.39%), and three species were identified; Eimeria labbeana-like (types A and B), Eimeria columbarum-like, and Eimeria kapotei-like oocysts. The roundworm Ascaridia columbae was detected in 85 (10.87%) pigeons, whereas the tapeworm Raillietina echinobothrida was detected in 24 (3.07%) pigeons. Eggs of Capillaria spp. were only detected in five pigeons (0.64%). Earlier reports on parasitic infections in pigeons from Egypt were reviewed. A brief taxonomic revision on oocysts of various Eimeria species was provided. Oocysts of several Eimeria species from pigeons display minimal differences, and have overlapping morphometrics, causing considerable confusion. Therefore, the classification of Eimeria species of Columbiformes should be thoroughly revised using both morphological and molecular data. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing pigeon parasites from a veterinary perspective in terms of proper diagnosis and control by providing essential data on intestinal parasitic infections in pigeons in Egypt based on current and published data aiming for decreased economic losses.

Schistosomiasis remains a public health concern in developing countries. This study assessed the current status of urinary schistosomiasis among school-age children in Kwara State, Nigeria. Of the 1,341 school-age pupils investigated, 277 (20.7%) were infected, with 26.84% from Kwara South, 18.83% from Kwara Central, and 14.29% from Kwara North. The overall geometric mean intensity and mean population egg density varied significantly across the senatorial districts (9.37 ± 2.66 versus 14.95 ± 16.41 eggs per 10mL of urine). Males (22.3%) were more infected than females (19%), while children aged > 15 and ≤ 5 years had the highest prevalence and intensity, respectively (37.5%; 12.18 ± 2.74 eggs per 10mL of urine). A binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the source of drinking water, duration of community-stay, and non-awareness of infection were not significant predictors of Schistosoma haematobium infection. All forms of water contact activities were associated with increased and significant (p < 0.01) odds of predicting S. haematobium infection, the most important being fishing [Odd Ratio (OR): 114.951, p < 0.001]. Daily, weekly, and monthly water contact frequency was insignificant in predicting the odds of S. haematobium infection. However, no history of previous drug treatment was a significant risk factor (OR: 2.092; p = 0.002). Urinary schistosomiasis is very much present among school-age children in Kwara State. Strengthening schistosomiasis surveillance systems to identify communities with no or long history of preventive chemotherapy and ensuring even distribution of these resources is critical to morbidity reduction and disease control.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-024-01745-4.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12639-024-01648-4.].

Trichinellosis, one of the parasitic zoonoses, is treated with a benzimidazole derivative, primarily albendazole. However, this treatment has a lot of side effects and is not sufficiently effective in killing the encysted larvae. Silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, has been proven to have anti-parasitic activities and various medical uses. The current study aimed to evaluate silymarin efficacy against intestinal and muscular phases of murine trichinellosis compared to the standard drug; albendazole. Forty-eight mice were divided into four discrete groups: healthy model; diseased model; silymarin treatment; and albendazole treatment. The assessment of therapy efficacy was conducted parasitologically through counting the adult worms and muscle larvae, histopathologically through examination of the intestinal and muscular tissues, and, immunohistochemically through muscular expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor. Both silymarin and albendazole-treated groups demonstrated a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the mean count of adult Trichinella and the encysted larvae when compared to the diseased model, with an improvement of intestinal and muscular inflammation, and degeneration of the encysted larvae in muscles. Also, vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in both silymarin, and albendazole-treated groups compared to the diseased model. Silymarin recorded antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic effects on experimental trichinellosis.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease and it associated with erectile dysfunction and infertility while Cupressus sempervirens possesses anti-oxidant properties. This study evaluates Cupressus sempervirens to protect the male fertility, and to preserve sperm quality in Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni)-infected mice. A 36 male albino mice of six equal sets were used in the study each with 6 mice; Control, cupressuflavone (200 mg/kg), and Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens) (80 mg/kg), S. mansoni -infected mice, cupressuflavone (200 mg/kg) + S. mansoni -infected mice, and C. sempervirens (80 mg/kg) + S. mansoni -infected mice for 4 weeks. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and Sex hormone binding globulin were determined. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, total protein, and cholesterol in testis were detected. Antioxidants and sodium/potassium-ATPase in the hypothalamus, testis, and sperm were identified. Sperm counts, motility, and abnormality, as well as, sperm monoclonal proliferating antibody Ki-67 were evaluated. The results revealed that S. mansoni decreased superoxide dismutase, glutathione, serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sperm count and motility, sodium/potassium-ATPase activity while increased malondialdehyde, serum follicle stimulating hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone, glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cholesterol, total protein, sperm abnormality, the percentage of spermatogonia, 1st spermatocyte, 2nd spermatocyte, and spermatid in the testis. Also, C. sempervirens and cupressuflavone oral administration to S. mansoni-infected group back all of the aforementioned parameters to be close control values where C. sempervirens had an efficient impact than cupressuflavone did. In conclusion, C. sempervirens sustains testosterone cycle and sperm quality in S. mansonii-related testicular dysfunction.

Trichinellosis is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by food, specifically caused by Trichinella spiralis, which exhibits great clinical importance worldwide. Albendazole (ABZ) is the main clinical treatment for trichinellosis but has some adverse effects and drug resistance. Sea cucumber Holothuria polii is an essential source of beneficial therapeutic metabolites. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to explore the potential therapeutic effectiveness of H. polii extract (HPE) during the intestinal phase of trichinellosis and the possibility of using it as a supplement to ABZ. For this purpose, mice were divided into a control group and four T. spiralis-infected groups: infected untreated, infected and ABZ-treated, infected and HPE-treated, and infected and combined therapy-treated groups. The treatment with the combined therapy decreased parasitic load by 96.76%, caused deleterious effects on the adult worm cuticle, improved jejunum histological architecture, diminished intestinal inflammatory cytokines, and decreased oxidative damage compared with the infected untreated group and ABZ-treated group. The ameliorating effect of HPE could be due to its total antioxidant capacity content and the presence of natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents like saponins, phenolics, alkaloids, and flavonoids. In conclusion, HPE has a multifaceted, effective impact on trichinellosis and can be considered an ABZ-promising complementary treatment.

It is indefinite for research applications if prolonged freeze-stored serum from Schistosoma-infected patients is useful. We assessed - 20 °C freezing as a rapid and inexpensive method. A longitudinal cohort study with staggered follow-up periods evaluated the impact of cryopreservation on serum residues from 24 Schistosoma-infected Egyptian patients. Fresh serums were collected in March 2022 and assessed by the indirect haemagglutination test for Schistosoma immunoglobulin titrations and calorimetric assays for ALT, AST, total serum protein, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, and Mg⁺⁺ (baseline values). Sera were then frozen and categorized into 4 groups (6 patients each) according to freezing duration; 3 months (group-1), 6 months (group-2), 9 months (group-3), and 12 months (group-4). Re-evaluation was performed on the Schistosoma immunoglobulin recovery rates and all other serum chemical factors. Baseline assessment showed increased mean values of Schistosoma immunoglobulins, ALT, AST, and proteins; yet, Ca⁺⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ were reduced. Mg⁺⁺ showed normal values. Compared with the baselines, - 20 °C freezing showed significant deviations and increased percentage change in Schistosoma immunoglobulin titers, ALT, AST, K⁺, and Na⁺ at different time intervals of archiving (p-value ≤ 0.05). Evaluating serum factors interactions post-thawing revealed that AST correlated positively with ALT and Mg⁺⁺ sera levels whereas Ca⁺⁺ negatively correlated with Na⁺ and Schistosoma antibody titer. Analyzing baselines revealed that the parasite alters levels of immunoglobulin, ALT, AST, proteins, Ca⁺⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺. - 20 °C cryopreservation did not guarantee the stability of all tK⁺hese serum parameters. In addition, some serum factors appeared to interact together. Assessing the efficacy of - 20 °C freezing on the next-generation sequencing is recommended.

Hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) represents a significant public health and economic problem. This zoonosis remains endemic in some regions of Algeria. The objectives of the study were to investigate the prevalence of hydatid cysts in cattle and sheep slaughtered at the slaughterhouse in Batna, Northeast Algeria, and characterize associated lesions through histopathology. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to December 2019, where 13,903 cattle and sheep passed through post-mortem examination of lungs and liver for cyst detection. Samples were collected for histological analysis. Prevalence was compared between species and affected organs, while risk factor determination was based on sex, age, and season. The prevalence of hydatid cysts was significantly higher in cattle (2.16 ± 0.5%) compared to sheep (0.54 ± 0.1%) (P < 0.001), suggesting a species-related susceptibility. In both species, cysts mainly affect the lungs. The prevalence varied significantly based on age, sex, and seasonal factors. The risk of hydatidosis significantly increases in females (P < 0.0001; OR = 151.47, 95% CI = 63.57-360.92) and adults (P < 0.0001; OR = 10.63, 95% CI = 4.65-24.30) ruminants, especially in summer (P < 0.046; OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.01-4.54). The histopathological examination revealed various cyst sizes with reactional layers related to host inflammation. Hydatid disease remains endemic in Batna. Comprehensive control through meat inspection, condemnation of infected organs, and dog deworming programs are needed to reduce the public health risks and economic impacts of this critical zoonosis. Improved surveillance allows informed intervention design and assessment of control measures.