Wiadomosci parazytologiczne最新文献

Dipylidium caninum is a common intestinal tapeworm of dogs, cats and foxes. However, it occasionally infects also humans. We present a case of D. caninum infection in a 2-year-old child living in the Subcarpathian province. The infection was asymptomatic in the first months. The symptoms of abdominal pains, sleep disorders, loss of appetite, hyperactivity and occasional slimy stools appeared later. Proglottids on the underwear, in water while bathing and mobile proglottids passed with the stool were also observed. Prior to appropriate diagnosis the child was treated with pyrantelum (Pyrantelum) and albendazolum (Zentel). However, proglottids were found again in the stool after a few days. We examined stool samples and perianal smears collected from the child and his family. The stool samples were tested by coproscopic methods. Direct methods (direct preparation in 0.9% sodium chloride and in Lugol's solution, Kato thick smear) and concentration methods (decantation with distilled water and Faust's zinc sulphate centrifugal flotation) were used. In the stool samples taken from the child, we observed D. caninum proglottids demonstrating lateral genital pores and many packets of eggs containing from one to a few, mostly 3 to 4 eggs. In the direct preparations in 0.9% sodium chloride and in Lugol's solution single packets with D. caninum eggs were detected. In decantation preparations many D. caninum egg packets were observed. It has to be reported that the child's mother was infected with Giardia intestinalis. Dipylidiasis in humans is a rarely encountered infection in Poland and the diagnosis may be difficult. For these reasons we reported clinical case presentation, diagnostics, treatment and epidemiology of D. caninum infection. We have shown that concentration methods such as decantation might be very helpful in the diagnosis of dipylidiasis.

Ascariasis is the most common soil-transmitted helminth infection in the world. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical symptoms and selected hematological indices of ascariasis in hospitalized children from the northeastern region of Poland. Patients in the Pediatric Ward hospitalized in the Regional Hospital in Dabrowa Białostocka in the period of 2005-2007 were included in this retrospective study. The intestinal stage of ascariasis was diagnosed on the basis of positive coprological survey performed using the decantation technique. A total of 938 patients were included in the study, 1801 stool samples were evaluated, and A. lumbricoides-positive tests were obtained from 252 children. Ascaris-positive young children (< or = 3 yrs) accounted for 3.0% of all hospitalized children, Ascaris-positive preschool-aged children (4-7 yrs) accounted for 8.1% and school-aged children (8-18 yrs) for 15.8%. Seasonal patterns were observed in the prevalence of A. lumbricoides (maximum in August-December). There was no relationship between BMI z-score, hemoglobin levels and prevalence of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides. Significant predictors of intestinal stage ascariasis in a multivariate logistic regression model were: abdominal pain as a reason for hospital admission (OR-2.19; 95% CI 1.62-2.95; p < 0.001) and age from 4 to 7 years (OR-2.0; 95% CI 1.41-2.80; p < 0.001). The prevalence rate of ascariasis was not higher in the group of patients with atopic diseases (bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis) and co-existing ascariasis did not affect the eosinophil counts in the peripheral blood. Ascariasis is still a current pediatric clinical problem characterized by non-specific clinical manifestations, which should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of children's diseases.

Some terminology, based on tradition and still widely used in practice, is still scientifically incorrect.

A new species of Ergasilus von Nordmann, 1832 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) parasitic on the gills of two gobiid fishes Boleophthalmus dussumieri Valenciennes and Bathygobius fuscus (Rüppell, 1930) from Shatt Al-Basrah Canal, Iraq, is described. The new species differs from all its congeners by a combination of character states including the shape of the body, and the structure and armature of the swimming legs.

During parasitological studies of 32 specimens of the goldeneye Bucephala clangula L., twenty seven cestode specimens were found. Four of them, isolated from the jejunum of two young female hosts, were determinated as Dicranotaenia synsacculata Macko, 1988. We based on the shape of cirrus fused with sacculus accessorius internus, shape and size of scolex and other organs. This is the first record of this species in Poland.

The aim of this work was to determine the average prevalence of cats with parasites in their alimentary canal in the area of Szczecin and to identify the parasite species in the alimentary canal in these animals. This research was carried on: domestic cats, stray cats and cats from the Animal Shelter and from the Animal Protection Society. Approximately, 3 grams of weight faeces was collected, and each sample was homogenized with a glass rod, examined with microscope, and then processed by flotation method of Willis-Schlaf. The average prevalence of cats with parasites in their alimentary canal was 33.65%. The highest prevalence was observed among stray cats (i. e., 57.14%) and among cats from the Animal Shelter (i. e., 42.18%); the lowest among domestic cats (i. e., 5.68%). The prevalence of infection among cats from the Animal Protection Society was 29.62%. The following parasites were observed: Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina, Dipylidium caninum, Isospora sp. Toxocara cati was the most common parasite in cats from the Animal Shelter (i. e., 24.21%) and stray cats (i. e., 26.1%). The occurrence of this parasite was lowest among domestic cats (i. e., 1.13%). Toxascaris leonina occurred more frequently in domestic cats (i. e., 3.4%), while Dipylidium caninum was predominant in cats from the Animal Protection Society (i. e., 18.5%). The high prevalence of infections among cats from Animal Shelter was caused by the fact that these animals have been rarely de-wormed. De-worming of animals once a year is not effective. The low prevalence of infection among domestic cats can be explained by the facts that these cats were routinely de-wormed and had only limited access to outdoor environment. In order to prevent transmission of cat parasites it is mandatory to undertake preventive actions, such as: regular de-worming of animals, removal animals' faeces, and advertisement of de-worming among cat owners by distribution leaflets and brochures.

The largest problem in limitation of insect pest population is increasing resistance of them to chemical pesticides. Alternative are entomopathogens, which regulate frequency of insect pests. Among them decisive role play entomopathogenic fungi, which possess the ability to active penetration through cuticle by mechanical pressure of invasive hypha and production of proteo-, chitino- (egzo- and endochitinases) as well as lipolytic enzymes, which provide nutrients for subsequent development of fungus. Entomopathogenic soil fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophtorales) is saprophyte fungus, which demonstrates a high efficiency in the paralysis of varied insects. Although leading investigations over mechanism of insect paralysis, we still do not know, what role fungal enzymes play in insect cuticle penetration. The main aim of research was establishment of optimal conditions for elastase, N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGase), chitobiosidase as well as lipase. Optimal reaction parameters were determined: volume of reaction mixture, volume of homogenate, working pH and the substrate concentration. Having on aim a possible use of C. coronatus in pest control, two ranges of temperatures were chosen: 20 degrees C--optimal temperature for the fungus growing and 30 degrees C--optimal temperature for the cultivation of the great wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella, on which examinations were performed. Also kinetic constants Km and Vmax were determined. Activity of elastase and N-acetylglucosaminidase of C. coronatus was measured spectrophotometrically at 410 nm (towards N-Succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Leu-p-Nitroanilide) and 405 nm (towards 4-Nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide), respectively. The following optimal conditions of elastase activity were established: the volume of reaction mixture 0.5 ml, volume of homogenate 1 microl, temperature 30 degrees C, pH 8, substrate concentration 40 mM. Optimal conditions of NAGase assay: the volume of reaction mixture 0.5 ml, dose of homogenate 12.5 microl, temperature 30 degrees C, pH neutral and 6 mM substrate concentration. The activities of chitobiosidase and lipase were measured spectrofluorometrically (Ex=360 nm, Em=450 nm) towards 4-Methylumbelliferyl beta-D-N-N'-diacetylchitobioside and 4-Methylumbelliferyl oleate, respectively. Chitobiosidase showed the highest activity in dose of 30 microl in 1 ml volume of reaction mixture, at the temperature of 30 degrees C, pH 7 and substrate concentration equal to 2 mM. Lipase showed the highest catalytic activity in 1 ml volume of reaction mixture, in 30 degrees C but 50 microl of homogenate, pH 10 and 10 mM substrate concentration were needed. Higher activity investigated enzymes in 30 degrees C than 20 degrees C indicated that they can take part in pathogenesis. It was suggested that as first in perforation of coats of insects body elastase and lipase take part. Indicated of it, large thermoresistance of both enzymes (only 10.5% decrease of elastase activity at

Cryptosporidium, Giardia intestinalis, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Isosopra belli and micropsoridia are the most important and common pathogens found in humans and many other species of vertebrates. In humans, mainly in immunocompromised patients, children, pregnant women and elderly people, they are the most frequently identified protozoan parasites causing gastrointestinal disease worldwide. These pathogens have several transmission routes, including anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission. What is more, in many cases of epidemics caused by mentioned pathogens the major cause of infection was contaminated with these organisms water and food. In spite of many existing regulations of clearing and making use of drinking water supplies and recreational water, cosmopolitan protozoan parasites are still the danger of public health. These organisms are responsible for many waterborne outbreaks worldwide. Light microscopy and immunofluorescence assay have been used to identify these organisms in most laboratories. However, these traditional techniques have major limitations in the specific diagnosis, these methods are not sensitive enough to detect cysts or oocysts in environmental samples, so the new molecular tools must be applied. Recently, PCR-based techniques have been developed for detection and genetic characterization of the different species and population variants of protozoan parasites is central to the prevention, surveillance and control of gastrointestinal diseases. In this review were characterized biology, epidemiology and the progress in technology for detection and surveillance of the most important waterborne protozoan parasites.

Rhodotorula sp. have emerged as opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Knowledge about the susceptibility of Rhodotorula strains to the common antifungal drugs is essential for the treatment of such new infections. The 68 isolates identified as: Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (47 strains; 69%), R. minuta (14; 21%) and R. glutinis (7; 10%) obtained from various sources (feces, skin and nails, vagina and hospital environment) were tested for susceptibility to 5-fluorocytosine (5FC), amphotericin B (AMB), fluconazole (FLC) and itraconazole (ITR). All of the isolates had low MICs for AMB and 5FC. For ITR, the R. minuta isolates had the lowest MICs within a range 0.125-0.25 mg/l and for FLC all isolates affected within the range 2-64 mg/l. The majority of R. mucilaginosa isolates (82.2%) had MICs in the range 64-128 mg/l for FLC and 95.6% of isolates had MICs above or equal to 2 mg/1 for ITR.

Prior to 1993, Bartonella bacilliformis was the only member of the Bartonella genus. Now, the genus Bartonella currently contains over 30 species of Gram-negative bacteria that parasitize mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Bartonella spp. have been isolated from a variety of mammal species, most often from rodents, ruminants and carnivores, and these animals are implicated as reservoirs for the genus Bartonella. The persistent bacteriemia is more readily documented in the primary reservoir species and may occur less frequently or to a much lower lever in accidental hosts. In the natural host, clinical manifestations of the infection may be minimal or unrecognizable. Several insects have been implicated in Bartonella transmission, including flies and ticks. The reservoir host and vector varying depending on the Bartonella species involved, although, neither the reservoir, nor the vector has been identified definitively for many recently described Bartonella species. Humans are natural reservoir hosts for two species: Bartonella bacilliformis and Bartonella quintana, but many animal-associated Bartonella can also cause disease in humans. Members of the genus Bartonella are involved in a variety of human diseases, such as Carrion's disease, cat scratch disease, trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, endocarditis, pericarditis and neuroretinitis. Most cases of bartonellosis are now diagnosed by tests based on PCR or through serological tests using specific antigens.