Pub Date : 2025-04-11DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00262
Christina A. Ahlstrom , Michael P. Carey , Damian M. Menning , Jonathan A. O'Donnell , Andrew M. Ramey
Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. are globally distributed protozoan parasites that can cause gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. These zoonotic parasites and their ecological relationships have been understudied in Alaska and elsewhere, despite being identified as priority zoonotic pathogens. We aimed to detect and characterize Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. in waterbodies within Anchorage, Alaska, USA using two methods, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1623 that relies on microscopy and a molecular detection approach. The molecular approach was ultimately unsuccessful and therefore only data obtained using Method 1623 are presented. Giardia or Cryptosporidium spp. was detected from nine of 15 urban streams and lakes sampled (60 %), six of which were positive for both parasites (40 %). Fewer than 10 cysts or oocysts were detected in 10 L of surface water. Further research to characterize Giardia and Cryptosporidium beyond the genus level would help elucidate the zoonotic potential and ecology of these parasites within the region and more broadly in Alaska.
{"title":"Detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in surface water of a subarctic city","authors":"Christina A. Ahlstrom , Michael P. Carey , Damian M. Menning , Jonathan A. O'Donnell , Andrew M. Ramey","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Giardia</em> and <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. are globally distributed protozoan parasites that can cause gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. These zoonotic parasites and their ecological relationships have been understudied in Alaska and elsewhere, despite being identified as priority zoonotic pathogens. We aimed to detect and characterize <em>Giardia</em> and <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. in waterbodies within Anchorage, Alaska, USA using two methods, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1623 that relies on microscopy and a molecular detection approach. The molecular approach was ultimately unsuccessful and therefore only data obtained using Method 1623 are presented. <em>Giardia</em> or <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. was detected from nine of 15 urban streams and lakes sampled (60 %), six of which were positive for both parasites (40 %). Fewer than 10 cysts or oocysts were detected in 10 L of surface water. Further research to characterize <em>Giardia</em> and <em>Cryptosporidium</em> beyond the genus level would help elucidate the zoonotic potential and ecology of these parasites within the region and more broadly in Alaska.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Article e00262"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fasciolosis or liver fluke infection is a snail-borne disease that affects the productivity of domestic ruminants including liver condemnation especially in cattle. However, there is paucity of information on the burden of infection due to lack of accurate data on liver condemnation related to correct geographical origin of infected animals. This distorts perception of the geographical occurrence of fasciolosis, particularly in South Africa among other countries. We aimed to determine the infection rates of Fasciola spp. in cattle slaughtered at selected abattoirs in South Africa. A total of 13 abattoirs consisting of 10 high throughput and three low throughput abattoirs across six provinces, were visited to screen for liver fluke infection in slaughtered cattle including tracing of the animals' geographical origin. A total of 57 livers from 673 slaughtered cattle (8.5 %) from 10 abattoirs were infected with Fasciola spp.. The highest infection rate from the study sites was 37 % and the lowest 4.5 %. Tracing of infected cattle showed that some abattoirs slaughtered cattle originating from other provinces. Forty-nine percent (29/57) of infected cattle had moderate body condition score (BCS) and recorded the highest intensity of fluke infection (>100 flukes per liver). Furthermore, young animals had high infection rates (51 %; 29/57) compared to adults (49 %; 28/57) and females (54 %; 31/57) compared to males (46 %; 26/57). The overall results highlighted the presence of Fasciola spp. in five provinces of South Africa, represented by more than four agro-ecological zones. Fasciola hepatica occurred in all six provinces while both Fasciola spp. co-occurred in one province. Furthermore, F. hepatica constituted the highest percentage (74 %; 710/960) of Fasciola spp. specimens collected. Fasciola gigantica were collected from abattoirs in one province and constituted 26 % (250/960) of the total collected flukes. Results from the study provide information on the burden of fasciolosis in cattle. This is based on abattoir surveys in South Africa, considering the traced geographical origin of animals slaughtered. Using data from surveys of this nature might support efforts to map the geographical distribution of fasciolosis in South Africa. Thus, contribute towards the development of effective control and treatment programs of fasciolosis to mitigate the burden of the disease in cattle.
{"title":"Infection rates of Fasciola spp. in cattle slaughtered at 13 abattoirs in six of nine provinces of South Africa","authors":"Sophy Nukeri , Mokgadi Pulane Malatji , Msawenkosi I. Sithole , Philile I. Ngcamphalala , Ignore Nyagura , Danisile Tembe , Innocent Siyanda Ndlovu , Mamohale Chaisi , Samson Mukaratirwa","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00260","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00260","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fasciolosis or liver fluke infection is a snail-borne disease that affects the productivity of domestic ruminants including liver condemnation especially in cattle. However, there is paucity of information on the burden of infection due to lack of accurate data on liver condemnation related to correct geographical origin of infected animals. This distorts perception of the geographical occurrence of fasciolosis, particularly in South Africa among other countries. We aimed to determine the infection rates of <em>Fasciola</em> spp. in cattle slaughtered at selected abattoirs in South Africa. A total of 13 abattoirs consisting of 10 high throughput and three low throughput abattoirs across six provinces, were visited to screen for liver fluke infection in slaughtered cattle including tracing of the animals' geographical origin. A total of 57 livers from 673 slaughtered cattle (8.5 %) from 10 abattoirs were infected with <em>Fasciola</em> spp.. The highest infection rate from the study sites was 37 % and the lowest 4.5 %. Tracing of infected cattle showed that some abattoirs slaughtered cattle originating from other provinces. Forty-nine percent (29/57) of infected cattle had moderate body condition score (BCS) and recorded the highest intensity of fluke infection (>100 flukes per liver). Furthermore, young animals had high infection rates (51 %; 29/57) compared to adults (49 %; 28/57) and females (54 %; 31/57) compared to males (46 %; 26/57). The overall results highlighted the presence of <em>Fasciola</em> spp. in five provinces of South Africa, represented by more than four agro-ecological zones. <em>Fasciola hepatica</em> occurred in all six provinces while both <em>Fasciola</em> spp. co-occurred in one province. Furthermore, <em>F. hepatica</em> constituted the highest percentage (74 %; 710/960) of <em>Fasciola</em> spp. specimens collected. <em>Fasciola gigantica</em> were collected from abattoirs in one province and constituted 26 % (250/960) of the total collected flukes. Results from the study provide information on the burden of fasciolosis in cattle. This is based on abattoir surveys in South Africa, considering the traced geographical origin of animals slaughtered. Using data from surveys of this nature might support efforts to map the geographical distribution of fasciolosis in South Africa. Thus, contribute towards the development of effective control and treatment programs of fasciolosis to mitigate the burden of the disease in cattle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Article e00260"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-13DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00258
Lucy J. Robertson
Foodborne parasites exert a considerable burden on human health, and this can be estimated using the disability-adjusted life year metric, enabling comparisons across regions, age groups, and among parasites and other foodborne hazards. Previous estimates of the burden exerted by different foodborne hazards were published about a decade ago (2015) and an update is planned. These estimates are important, not only for comparative purposes, but also to provide an evidence-based framework for resource allocation for different interventions, including prioritisation of risk management efforts, determining where food safety policy infrastructure should be focused, financing research and innovation, and for targeting supplier and consumer education.
Here the potential for improving the previous estimates is discussed, not only by using more recent data, but also by inclusion of foodborne parasitic diseases and disease states that were omitted in the previous estimates. In particular, for example, the inclusion of foodborne infection with Cyclospora cayetensis and with Trypanosoma cruzi are suggested, along with consideration of disease states such as amoebic liver abscess in foodborne amoebiasis. In addition, knowledge gaps, potential interventions, and how intervention effects can be assessed are discussed, using specific examples.
{"title":"Transmission of parasites to people via food: how can we determine their impact and why do we need to know?","authors":"Lucy J. Robertson","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne parasites exert a considerable burden on human health, and this can be estimated using the disability-adjusted life year metric, enabling comparisons across regions, age groups, and among parasites and other foodborne hazards. Previous estimates of the burden exerted by different foodborne hazards were published about a decade ago (2015) and an update is planned. These estimates are important, not only for comparative purposes, but also to provide an evidence-based framework for resource allocation for different interventions, including prioritisation of risk management efforts, determining where food safety policy infrastructure should be focused, financing research and innovation, and for targeting supplier and consumer education.</div><div>Here the potential for improving the previous estimates is discussed, not only by using more recent data, but also by inclusion of foodborne parasitic diseases and disease states that were omitted in the previous estimates. In particular, for example, the inclusion of foodborne infection with <em>Cyclospora cayetensis</em> and with <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em> are suggested, along with consideration of disease states such as amoebic liver abscess in foodborne amoebiasis. In addition, knowledge gaps, potential interventions, and how intervention effects can be assessed are discussed, using specific examples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Article e00258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00259
Antonella Cammarelle, Alessandra Barlaam, Ylenia De Santis, Annunziata Giangaspero, Biagia De Deviitis
Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a widespread zoonotic disease with potentially serious consequences to the fetus if acquired during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate objective and subjective knowledge of toxoplasmosis and its modes of transmission in women of reproductive age living in an Italian southeastern region (i.e., Apulia region) and to identify homogeneous segments of women based on their level of knowledge of toxoplasmosis. Data were collected in a web-based survey sample of 568 women, and analyzed via a two-step cluster analysis.
The results showed that 69.4 % of respondents claimed awareness of toxoplasmosis. Specifically, knowledge about infection risk factors, such as consumption of undercooked meat and raw unwashed fruits and vegetables (95.8 %) and pregnancy-related risks (94.5 %), was high. However, only 52.8 % knew that T. gondii is a parasitic protozoan, and 40.5 % were aware of soil as a transmission route. Cluster analysis identified three segments: women with knowledge (40.2 %), partial knowledge (39.6 %), and no knowledge (20.2 %). Women with higher education and employed showed greater awareness, whereas students and individuals with lower education levels were overrepresented among those with limited knowledge.
These findings highlight a knowledge gap in certain transmission aspects and underscore the importance of targeted health education, particularly regarding the role of soil and the nature of T. gondii as a parasite.
Implementing effective, accessible educational programs is crucial for reducing the burden of T. gondii infection, especially in regions with limited health literacy. Establishing regional reference centers could enhance monitoring, prevention, and support for at-risk populations.
{"title":"Objective and subjective knowledge of toxoplasmosis among women of childbearing age in the Apulia region of Southern Italy","authors":"Antonella Cammarelle, Alessandra Barlaam, Ylenia De Santis, Annunziata Giangaspero, Biagia De Deviitis","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00259","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00259","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Toxoplasmosis, caused by <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>, is a widespread zoonotic disease with potentially serious consequences to the fetus if acquired during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate objective and subjective knowledge of toxoplasmosis and its modes of transmission in women of reproductive age living in an Italian southeastern region (i.e., Apulia region) and to identify homogeneous segments of women based on their level of knowledge of toxoplasmosis. Data were collected in a web-based survey sample of 568 women, and analyzed via a two-step cluster analysis.</div><div>The results showed that 69.4 % of respondents claimed awareness of toxoplasmosis. Specifically, knowledge about infection risk factors, such as consumption of undercooked meat and raw unwashed fruits and vegetables (95.8 %) and pregnancy-related risks (94.5 %), was high. However, only 52.8 % knew that <em>T. gondii</em> is a parasitic protozoan, and 40.5 % were aware of soil as a transmission route. Cluster analysis identified three segments: women with knowledge (40.2 %), partial knowledge (39.6 %), and no knowledge (20.2 %). Women with higher education and employed showed greater awareness, whereas students and individuals with lower education levels were overrepresented among those with limited knowledge.</div><div>These findings highlight a knowledge gap in certain transmission aspects and underscore the importance of targeted health education, particularly regarding the role of soil and the nature of <em>T. gondii</em> as a parasite.</div><div>Implementing effective, accessible educational programs is crucial for reducing the burden of <em>T. gondii</em> infection, especially in regions with limited health literacy. Establishing regional reference centers could enhance monitoring, prevention, and support for at-risk populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Article e00259"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-05DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00255
Dhifaf Mahmood, Samar Al Nahhas
Toxoplasma gondii is a foodborne protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded animals and humans worldwide. Poultry become infected with T. gondii oocysts by ground feeding, and humans contract toxoplasmosis by the consumption of raw or undercooked infected meat. In Syria, no research has been documented regarding T. gondii infection in chickens; therefore, this study was carried out to determine the infection rate in chickens using serological and molecular assays. A total of 59 birds (50 females and 9 males) including free range (FR) and caged chickens were purchased from the southern governorates of Syria. Blood and tissues (brain, heart, liver and pectoral muscle) were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and parasite DNA by indirect hemagglutination test and semi-nested PCR, respectively. Overall, sero-positivity for T. gondii antibody was 72.9% (81.4% FR and 18.6% caged). Female chickens had higher prevalence than males (83.7% vs 16.3%). Furthermore, chickens older than six months showed higher infection rates compared to younger ones. Evidence of T. gondii DNA was detected in tissue homogenates from both groups of chickens (83.1%). Our study demonstrates, a high prevalence of T. gondii in chickens indicating that this parasite poses a threat to food safety and public health in our study area. This finding supports the recommendations that poultry meat should be cooked well before consumption and appropriate hygiene measures should be followed when handling meat. Further studies should be conducted to determine the prevalence of T. gondii and its genotypes in poultry in other regions of Syria and to identify the associated risk factors.
刚地弓形虫是一种食源性原生动物寄生虫，感染全世界所有温血动物和人类。家禽通过地面饲养感染弓形虫卵囊，人类通过食用生的或未煮熟的受感染肉类感染弓形虫病。在叙利亚，没有关于鸡中弓形虫感染的研究记录；因此，本研究采用血清学和分子检测方法确定鸡的感染率。从叙利亚南部各省共购买了59只鸡（50只母鸡和9只公鸡），包括散养鸡和笼养鸡。收集血液和组织（脑、心、肝和胸肌）并分析抗t的存在。分别用间接血凝试验和半巢式PCR检测弓形虫抗体和寄生虫DNA。总体而言，血清弓形虫抗体阳性率为72.9% （FR为81.4%，笼养为18.6%）。雏鸡患病率高于公鸡（83.7% vs . 16.3%）。此外，6个月以上的鸡比年幼的鸡感染率更高。在两组鸡的组织匀浆中均检测到弓形虫DNA（83.1%）。我们的研究表明，刚地弓形虫在鸡群中的高流行率表明这种寄生虫对我们研究区域的食品安全和公共卫生构成威胁。这一发现支持以下建议，即禽肉在食用前应煮熟，并在处理肉类时应采取适当的卫生措施。应开展进一步研究，以确定叙利亚其他地区家禽中弓形虫及其基因型的流行情况，并确定相关风险因素。
{"title":"Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in chickens in southern Syria","authors":"Dhifaf Mahmood, Samar Al Nahhas","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a foodborne protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded animals and humans worldwide. Poultry become infected with <em>T. gondii</em> oocysts by ground feeding, and humans contract toxoplasmosis by the consumption of raw or undercooked infected meat. In Syria, no research has been documented regarding <em>T. gondii</em> infection in chickens; therefore, this study was carried out to determine the infection rate in chickens using serological and molecular assays. A total of 59 birds (50 females and 9 males) including free range (FR) and caged chickens were purchased from the southern governorates of Syria. Blood and tissues (brain, heart, liver and pectoral muscle) were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti-<em>T. gondii</em> antibodies and parasite DNA by indirect hemagglutination test and semi-nested PCR, respectively. Overall, sero-positivity for <em>T. gondii</em> antibody was 72.9% (81.4% FR and 18.6% caged). Female chickens had higher prevalence than males (83.7% vs 16.3%). Furthermore, chickens older than six months showed higher infection rates compared to younger ones. Evidence of <em>T. gondii</em> DNA was detected in tissue homogenates from both groups of chickens (83.1%). Our study demonstrates, a high prevalence of <em>T. gondii</em> in chickens indicating that this parasite poses a threat to food safety and public health in our study area. This finding supports the recommendations that poultry meat should be cooked well before consumption and appropriate hygiene measures should be followed when handling meat. Further studies should be conducted to determine the prevalence of <em>T. gondii</em> and its genotypes in poultry in other regions of Syria and to identify the associated risk factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Article e00255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to comprehensively overview the global epidemiology and subtypes (STs) distribution of Blastocystis spp. in edible plants. A comprehensive search of various electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) until May 19, 2024, found 27 studies/41 datasets meeting inclusion criteria, covering 8794 edible plants from 15 countries globally. Examined edible plants were composed of fruits (six datasets, 1198 samples), non-leafy green vegetables (10 datasets, 1158 samples), leafy green vegetables (18 datasets, 4245 samples), and uncategorized plants (seven datasets, 2193). This study revealed that 9.4 % (95 % CI: 6.6–13.4 %) of global edible plants harbored Blastocystis spp. Fruits had the highest Blastocystis spp. contamination rate among edible plants at 12.5 % (95 % CI: 5.4–26.6 %), followed by uncategorized plants at 10.2 % (95 % CI: 4.5–21.5 %), leafy green vegetables at 9.3 % (95 % CI: 6.1–13.9 %), and non-leafy green vegetables at 5.6 % (95 % CI: 2.5–12.1 %). Sensitivity analysis evaluated weighted prevalence changes after excluding specific studies. Subgroup analysis was conducted considering publication years, countries, continents, WHO regions, sample sizes, and diagnostic methods. Interestingly, zoonotic STs (ST1 and ST3) of Blastocystis spp. have been found in edible plants. These results highlight the potential risk of Blastocystis spp. transmission through consuming contaminated edible plants, emphasizing the importance of implementing adequate food safety measures to decrease the prevalence of this parasite in the food chain.
{"title":"Edible plants as significant sources of Blastocystis spp. infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Abdollah Didban , Farajolah Maleki , Laya Shamsi , Ali Asghari , Behzad Bijani , Amin Karampour","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to comprehensively overview the global epidemiology and subtypes (STs) distribution of <em>Blastocystis</em> spp. in edible plants. A comprehensive search of various electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) until May 19, 2024, found 27 studies/41 datasets meeting inclusion criteria, covering 8794 edible plants from 15 countries globally. Examined edible plants were composed of fruits (six datasets, 1198 samples), non-leafy green vegetables (10 datasets, 1158 samples), leafy green vegetables (18 datasets, 4245 samples), and uncategorized plants (seven datasets, 2193). This study revealed that 9.4 % (95 % CI: 6.6–13.4 %) of global edible plants harbored <em>Blastocystis</em> spp. Fruits had the highest <em>Blastocystis</em> spp. contamination rate among edible plants at 12.5 % (95 % CI: 5.4–26.6 %), followed by uncategorized plants at 10.2 % (95 % CI: 4.5–21.5 %), leafy green vegetables at 9.3 % (95 % CI: 6.1–13.9 %), and non-leafy green vegetables at 5.6 % (95 % CI: 2.5–12.1 %). Sensitivity analysis evaluated weighted prevalence changes after excluding specific studies. Subgroup analysis was conducted considering publication years, countries, continents, WHO regions, sample sizes, and diagnostic methods. Interestingly, zoonotic STs (ST1 and ST3) of <em>Blastocystis</em> spp. have been found in edible plants. These results highlight the potential risk of <em>Blastocystis</em> spp. transmission through consuming contaminated edible plants, emphasizing the importance of implementing adequate food safety measures to decrease the prevalence of this parasite in the food chain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article e00254"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143551976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00253
G. Marucci , C. Raso , E. Borgogni , F. Celani , I. Tartarelli , S. Cherchi , A. Di Giambattista , P. Calderini , A. Casulli
Trichinella spiralis is a zoonotic nematode parasite of worldwide distribution. It is present in Europe with important foci, particularly in Eastern countries and Spain. This species is generally associated with a domestic cycle that involves primarily pigs. It is best adapted for pigs but can also infect a wide range of other domestic, synanthropic, and wild mammals including carnivores, omnivores and scavengers. Before 2016, when T. spiralis larvae were detected in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Piacenza province (Emilia Romagna region, Northern Italy), this parasite had only been reported in Italy occasionally, being found in horses or pork products imported from Eastern Europe. We describe here the first isolation of T. spiralis in a wolf (Canis lupus) in the Lazio region, Central Italy. In the wolf specimen T. spiralis was identified in coinfection with Trichinella britovi, a species endemic in Italian wildlife. Among the Trichinella species, T. spiralis is the most frequently associated with human disease in Europe and is known to cause more severe symptoms than T. britovi. In light of wolf population expansion, the detection of T. spiralis in Central Italy implies new scenarios for the risk of human trichinellosis because of the high risk this species represents for domestic and wild pigs. Active monitoring of wildlife living in these areas is necessary to define the actual distribution of this species and to detect its possible presence in other areas of the Italian peninsula.
{"title":"First report of T. spiralis in a wolf in Italy: An increasing health concern?","authors":"G. Marucci , C. Raso , E. Borgogni , F. Celani , I. Tartarelli , S. Cherchi , A. Di Giambattista , P. Calderini , A. Casulli","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trichinella spiralis</em> is a zoonotic nematode parasite of worldwide distribution. It is present in Europe with important foci, particularly in Eastern countries and Spain. This species is generally associated with a domestic cycle that involves primarily pigs. It is best adapted for pigs but can also infect a wide range of other domestic, synanthropic, and wild mammals including carnivores, omnivores and scavengers. Before 2016, when <em>T. spiralis</em> larvae were detected in a red fox (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) in the Piacenza province (Emilia Romagna region, Northern Italy), this parasite had only been reported in Italy occasionally, being found in horses or pork products imported from Eastern Europe. We describe here the first isolation of <em>T. spiralis</em> in a wolf (<em>Canis lupus</em>) in the Lazio region, Central Italy. In the wolf specimen <em>T. spiralis</em> was identified in coinfection with <em>Trichinella britovi</em>, a species endemic in Italian wildlife. Among the <em>Trichinella</em> species, <em>T. spiralis</em> is the most frequently associated with human disease in Europe and is known to cause more severe symptoms than <em>T. britovi</em>. In light of wolf population expansion, the detection of <em>T. spiralis</em> in Central Italy implies new scenarios for the risk of human trichinellosis because of the high risk this species represents for domestic and wild pigs. Active monitoring of wildlife living in these areas is necessary to define the actual distribution of <!--> <!-->this species and to detect its possible presence in other areas of the Italian peninsula.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article e00253"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11743876/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00249
Lin Xu , Yasuhiro Fukuda , Fumi Murakoshi , Phillip Alviola , Joseph Masangkay , Frances Cagayat Recuenco , Ayman Shehata , Tsutomu Omatsu , Hironori Bando , Hikaru Fujii , Yumi Une , Kentaro Kato
Cryptosporidium is a genus of parasitic protozoa known to cause diarrheal disease that impacts both humans and animals through infection of various vertebrate species. Bats are recognized as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, including Cryptosporidium. The Philippines, renowned for its rich biodiversity, is home to diverse bat species, providing a unique ecological setting to investigate Cryptosporidium infection dynamics. Understanding the prevalence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in Philippine bats is crucial for assessing their potential role in zoonotic disease transmission and associated public health risks.
We investigated the prevalence and genotypic diversity of Cryptosporidium in bats in the Philippines. From January 2019 to March 2024, a total of 569 bats were captured and analyzed, with 14 of the bat samples testing positive for the 18 s rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium, yielding an overall infection rate of 2.46 %. One sample exhibited co-infection, with 18 s rRNA sequence analysis indicating mixed infection with a species closely related to Cryptosporidium parvum (intestinal Cryptosporidium) and Cryptosporidium sp. (gastric Cryptosporidium). Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene revealed that intestinal and gastric Cryptosporidium spp. form two distinct clades. Intestinal Cryptosporidium includes C. parvum, C. hominis, and most bat genotypes, while gastric Cryptosporidium, such as C. andersoni and C. serpentis, is typically found in reptiles and cattle. An unidentified Cryptosporidium species was also detected in one sample, whose sequence matched that of Cryptosporidium previously isolated from a human patient with diarrhea. Nine other samples exhibited genotypes related to C. parvum, indicating a potential for transmission to humans. The remaining three samples exhibited Cryptosporidium bat genotypes II and VI, which have previously been detected in Philippine bats. Our findings underscore the role of bats in the Philippines as potential reservoirs for Cryptosporidium and highlight the diversity of Cryptosporidium species in Philippine bats.
隐孢子虫是一种寄生原生动物属，已知可引起腹泻疾病，通过感染多种脊椎动物影响人类和动物。蝙蝠被认为是包括隐孢子虫在内的人畜共患病病原体的宿主。菲律宾以其丰富的生物多样性而闻名，是多种蝙蝠的家园，为研究隐孢子虫感染动态提供了独特的生态环境。了解菲律宾蝙蝠隐孢子虫的流行和遗传多样性对于评估其在人畜共患疾病传播和相关公共卫生风险中的潜在作用至关重要。我们调查了菲律宾蝙蝠隐孢子虫的流行率和基因型多样性。2019年1月至2024年3月，共捕获并分析了569只蝙蝠，其中14只蝙蝠样本隐孢子虫18s rRNA基因检测呈阳性，总感染率为2.46%。其中1份样品出现共感染，经18 s rRNA序列分析，表明混合感染了一种与小肠隐孢子虫（小肠隐孢子虫）和胃隐孢子虫（胃隐孢子虫）密切相关的物种。对18S rRNA基因的系统发育分析表明，肠道隐孢子虫和胃隐孢子虫形成两个不同的分支。肠道隐孢子虫包括小隐孢子虫、人隐孢子虫和大多数蝙蝠基因型，而胃隐孢子虫，如安德氏隐孢子虫和蛇隐孢子虫，通常在爬行动物和牛身上发现。在一个样本中还检测到一种未确定的隐孢子虫，其序列与先前从人类腹泻患者中分离的隐孢子虫序列相匹配。其他9个样本显示出与小孢子虫相关的基因型，表明有可能传播给人类。其余3份样本显示隐孢子虫蝙蝠基因型II和VI，这两种基因型以前曾在菲律宾蝙蝠中检测到。我们的研究结果强调了菲律宾蝙蝠作为隐孢子虫潜在宿主的作用，并强调了菲律宾蝙蝠隐孢子虫物种的多样性。
{"title":"Molecular characterization and zoonotic risk assessment of Cryptosporidium spp. in Philippine bats","authors":"Lin Xu , Yasuhiro Fukuda , Fumi Murakoshi , Phillip Alviola , Joseph Masangkay , Frances Cagayat Recuenco , Ayman Shehata , Tsutomu Omatsu , Hironori Bando , Hikaru Fujii , Yumi Une , Kentaro Kato","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cryptosporidium</em> is a genus of parasitic protozoa known to cause diarrheal disease that impacts both humans and animals through infection of various vertebrate species. Bats are recognized as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, including <em>Cryptosporidium</em>. The Philippines, renowned for its rich biodiversity, is home to diverse bat species, providing a unique ecological setting to investigate <em>Cryptosporidium</em> infection dynamics. Understanding the prevalence and genetic diversity of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> in Philippine bats is crucial for assessing their potential role in zoonotic disease transmission and associated public health risks.</div><div>We investigated the prevalence and genotypic diversity of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> in bats in the Philippines. From January 2019 to March 2024, a total of 569 bats were captured and analyzed, with 14 of the bat samples testing positive for the 18 s rRNA gene of <em>Cryptosporidium</em>, yielding an overall infection rate of 2.46 %. One sample exhibited co-infection, with 18 s rRNA sequence analysis indicating mixed infection with a species closely related to <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em> (intestinal <em>Cryptosporidium</em>) and <em>Cryptosporidium</em> sp. (gastric <em>Cryptosporidium</em>). Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene revealed that intestinal and gastric <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. form two distinct clades. Intestinal <em>Cryptosporidium</em> includes <em>C. parvum</em>, <em>C. hominis</em>, and most bat genotypes, while gastric <em>Cryptosporidium</em>, such as <em>C. andersoni</em> and <em>C. serpentis</em>, is typically found in reptiles and cattle. An unidentified <em>Cryptosporidium</em> species was also detected in one sample, whose sequence matched that of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> previously isolated from a human patient with diarrhea. Nine other samples exhibited genotypes related to <em>C. parvum</em>, indicating a potential for transmission to humans. The remaining three samples exhibited <em>Cryptosporidium</em> bat genotypes II and VI, which have previously been detected in Philippine bats. Our findings underscore the role of bats in the Philippines as potential reservoirs for <em>Cryptosporidium</em> and highlight the diversity of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> species in Philippine bats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article e00249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11718318/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号