Pub Date : 2023-04-20DOI: 10.2174/18744214-v11-e230420-2022-5
Koffi Attoungbré Clément, Tuo Karim, Gonédélé Bi Sery, N’docho Assi Fiacre-Tanguy, N’Guessan Tiacoh Landry, Yakoura Ouattara Karidja, Amon Lydie Nina, Ako Ako Aristide Béranger, Vanga Bosson Abo Henriette, C. Julien, Touré André Offianan
Treatment and wastewater disposal lack in Abidjan leads to wastewater discharge in the natural environment without treatment. These waters were loaded with pathogenic microorganisms that are the causes of many diseases. This study aims to assess the parasitological quality of water from pipes of Abididjan City, studying protozoa and helminths. 400 samples were collected in three municipalities and 19 sites. Parasites were identified using sedimentation. Biological analyzes revealed 269 (67.2%) positive samples, with the presence of 19 taxa belonging to helminths (nematodes, cestodes) and protozoa group (amoeba, ciliates, flagellates). Protozoa are most common with a clear dominance of amoebas class followed by ciliates and flagellates. In 269 positives samples, Entamoeba coli (160 (59.48%)), Endolimax nana (112 (41.64%)), Giardia spp (71 (26.4%)), and Paramecium caudatum (66 (24.54%)) are the most common species. The spatial distribution showed that Yopougon commune was the most parasitized, followed by Abobo-Adjame. The most parasitized sites were CHU, SEL, and AG. At the seasonal level, the dry season was where the parasite load was highest regardless of municipality and sites. The presence of these parasite groups and the diversity of parasitic taxonomic indicates faecal contamination of piped water in Abidjan city. These parasites present a potential danger for these piped waters' direct and indirect uses. Therefore, it is necessary to treat this water before any use and before it flows into surface water to avoid these parasites.
{"title":"Parasitological Quality Evaluation of Pipe Waters in Abidjan, the Capital City of Cote D’ivoire","authors":"Koffi Attoungbré Clément, Tuo Karim, Gonédélé Bi Sery, N’docho Assi Fiacre-Tanguy, N’Guessan Tiacoh Landry, Yakoura Ouattara Karidja, Amon Lydie Nina, Ako Ako Aristide Béranger, Vanga Bosson Abo Henriette, C. Julien, Touré André Offianan","doi":"10.2174/18744214-v11-e230420-2022-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/18744214-v11-e230420-2022-5","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Treatment and wastewater disposal lack in Abidjan leads to wastewater discharge in the natural environment without treatment. These waters were loaded with pathogenic microorganisms that are the causes of many diseases.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 This study aims to assess the parasitological quality of water from pipes of Abididjan City, studying protozoa and helminths.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 400 samples were collected in three municipalities and 19 sites. Parasites were identified using sedimentation.\u0000 Biological analyzes revealed 269 (67.2%) positive samples, with the presence of 19 taxa belonging to helminths (nematodes, cestodes) and protozoa group (amoeba, ciliates, flagellates). Protozoa are most common with a clear dominance of amoebas class followed by ciliates and flagellates. In 269 positives samples, Entamoeba coli (160 (59.48%)), Endolimax nana (112 (41.64%)), Giardia spp (71 (26.4%)), and Paramecium caudatum (66 (24.54%)) are the most common species. The spatial distribution showed that Yopougon commune was the most parasitized, followed by Abobo-Adjame.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The most parasitized sites were CHU, SEL, and AG. At the seasonal level, the dry season was where the parasite load was highest regardless of municipality and sites.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The presence of these parasite groups and the diversity of parasitic taxonomic indicates faecal contamination of piped water in Abidjan city. These parasites present a potential danger for these piped waters' direct and indirect uses. Therefore, it is necessary to treat this water before any use and before it flows into surface water to avoid these parasites.\u0000","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"129 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89686396","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}
Pub Date : 2023-04-19DOI: 10.2174/18744214-v11-e230419-2022-4
C. R. Núñez, R. I. Rodríguez-Vivas, A. Ortega, R. H. Cárdenas
Topically applied antiparasitic drugs used in dogs have evolved in terms of active ingredients, but progress has also been made through the development of drugs that control both ectoparasites and enteroparasites (nematodes and cestodes). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g and Imidacloprid 10.0g/ Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g combinations applied topically in dogs with helminths (cestodes and nematodes) and ectoparasites, respectively. A total number of 276 dogs were analyzed. Dogs with nematodes or cestodes were treated with Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g. All the positive cases for ectoparasites were treated with Imidacloprid 10.0g/ Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g. The effectiveness of Moxidectin/ Praziquantel was ≥99.8% from day 14 to day 35 on all the nematodes analyzed. The effectiveness of Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g for Dipylidium caninum was significant on day 7 (75%) and reached 100% by day 14. A significant efficacy for Taenia spp. was achieved by day 7 and 100% from day 28 AT. Eighty-three dogs tested positive for 11 classes of ectoparasites. The Imidacloprid 10.0g /Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g treatment proved to be effective in all the ectoparasites from day 7, until reaching 100% effectiveness by day 14 in the Linognathus setosus, Ctenocephalides canis, Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes spp., Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Dermacentor reticulatus sp. We found a positive correlation (r= 0.7430, p= <0.0001) between the pruritus scale and lesion scale. The use of Moxidectin 3.5g /Praziquantel 10.0g applied topically was effective against nematodes and cestodes. Imidacloprid 10.0g/ Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g was effective against ectoparasites and pruritus.
{"title":"Effectiveness of the Combination of Imidacloprid/ Moxidectin/ Praziquantel and Moxidectin/ Praziquantel Applied Topically in Dogs with Endoparasites and Ectoparasites","authors":"C. R. Núñez, R. I. Rodríguez-Vivas, A. Ortega, R. H. Cárdenas","doi":"10.2174/18744214-v11-e230419-2022-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/18744214-v11-e230419-2022-4","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Topically applied antiparasitic drugs used in dogs have evolved in terms of active ingredients, but progress has also been made through the development of drugs that control both ectoparasites and enteroparasites (nematodes and cestodes).\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g and Imidacloprid 10.0g/ Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g combinations applied topically in dogs with helminths (cestodes and nematodes) and ectoparasites, respectively.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 A total number of 276 dogs were analyzed. Dogs with nematodes or cestodes were treated with Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g. All the positive cases for ectoparasites were treated with Imidacloprid 10.0g/ Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The effectiveness of Moxidectin/ Praziquantel was ≥99.8% from day 14 to day 35 on all the nematodes analyzed. The effectiveness of Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g for Dipylidium caninum was significant on day 7 (75%) and reached 100% by day 14. A significant efficacy for Taenia spp. was achieved by day 7 and 100% from day 28 AT. Eighty-three dogs tested positive for 11 classes of ectoparasites. The Imidacloprid 10.0g /Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g treatment proved to be effective in all the ectoparasites from day 7, until reaching 100% effectiveness by day 14 in the Linognathus setosus, Ctenocephalides canis, Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes spp., Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Dermacentor reticulatus sp. We found a positive correlation (r= 0.7430, p= <0.0001) between the pruritus scale and lesion scale.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The use of Moxidectin 3.5g /Praziquantel 10.0g applied topically was effective against nematodes and cestodes. Imidacloprid 10.0g/ Moxidectin 3.5g/ Praziquantel 10.0g was effective against ectoparasites and pruritus.\u0000","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88141141","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}
Pub Date : 2021-12-31DOI: 10.2174/1874421402109010005
N’da Angbeletchi David AKA, F. Coulibaly, M. Ehouman, Ettawa Alphonse Dadie
Paragonimiasis is a very uncommon zoonosis in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a trematodial disease contracted by eating fresh or undercooked crustaceans harboring a parasite of the genus Paragonimus. About fifteen species of Paragonimus are pathogenic to humans. In Africa, three species are frequently encountered: Paragonimus africanus, Paragonimus uterobilatéralis, and Paragonimus westermani. Clinically, it has similarities with pulmonary tuberculosis so that confusion is quickly made. We report here a case of paragonimiasis discovered incidentally in a security guard man, 26 years old, originated from Côte d’Ivoire, who consulted in 2019 to the Medical Teaching Hospital of Cocody, for hemoptysis under a chronical mode. After examination, the disease of paragonimiasis was diagnosed by positive direct smear. Otherwise, patient was positive to TB after a molecular test. An anti-tuberculosis cure was proposed, and a treatment with praziquantel 600 mg (2 tabs x3 / d for 4 days) allowed us to obtain biological cure without major side effects for paragonimiasis. The diagnostic issues of paragonimiasis constitute a great challenge for health systems already weakened by the instability due to covid-19 pandemic. The insufficient resources allocated to the health sector showing the lack of integration of the diagnostics of paragonimiasis to pulmonary tuberculosis program are crucial. The strengthening of human resources, as well as the improvement of the technical platform of reference laboratories in regions, are really needed.
{"title":"Co-infection Paragonimiasis-pulmonary Tuberculosis Discovered from a Man in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: Case Report","authors":"N’da Angbeletchi David AKA, F. Coulibaly, M. Ehouman, Ettawa Alphonse Dadie","doi":"10.2174/1874421402109010005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421402109010005","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Paragonimiasis is a very uncommon zoonosis in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a trematodial disease contracted by eating fresh or undercooked crustaceans harboring a parasite of the genus Paragonimus. About fifteen species of Paragonimus are pathogenic to humans. In Africa, three species are frequently encountered: Paragonimus africanus, Paragonimus uterobilatéralis, and Paragonimus westermani. Clinically, it has similarities with pulmonary tuberculosis so that confusion is quickly made.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 We report here a case of paragonimiasis discovered incidentally in a security guard man, 26 years old, originated from Côte d’Ivoire, who consulted in 2019 to the Medical Teaching Hospital of Cocody, for hemoptysis under a chronical mode.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 After examination, the disease of paragonimiasis was diagnosed by positive direct smear. Otherwise, patient was positive to TB after a molecular test.\u0000 An anti-tuberculosis cure was proposed, and a treatment with praziquantel 600 mg (2 tabs x3 / d for 4 days) allowed us to obtain biological cure without major side effects for paragonimiasis.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The diagnostic issues of paragonimiasis constitute a great challenge for health systems already weakened by the instability due to covid-19 pandemic. The insufficient resources allocated to the health sector showing the lack of integration of the diagnostics of paragonimiasis to pulmonary tuberculosis program are crucial.\u0000 The strengthening of human resources, as well as the improvement of the technical platform of reference laboratories in regions, are really needed.\u0000","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72592482","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}
Pub Date : 2021-07-07DOI: 10.2174/1874421402109010001
N. Aka, K. Zika, G. Dou, F. Coulibaly, M. Ehouman, Ibrahima Koné, K. Adoubryn
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic disease with global distribution, especially in underdeveloped countries. This parasitic disease is caused by the bite of an infected sandfly. We report here the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis discovered incidentally in an 11-year-old child in a private clinic. He is a primarian boy who had a wound located on his left leg. On questioning, we ascertained that the wound was not the first one and had been present for about 2 months. The cutaneous lesion was painless but itchy. The location, the crateriform appearance, and the chronic nature of the wound led us to suspect a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Microscopic examination of cutaneous exsudation’s smears of lesions revealed amastigote forms of leishmania, confirming our diagnostic hypothesis. The child was placed under Imidazole-based treatment associate cloxacilline. The child also received local gentamycin-based dressings. The child was cured after one month. The diagnostic issues of cutaneous leishmaniasis constitute a great challenge for practitioners in endemic zone. Also, a systematic differential diagnostic should be required in the face of chronic wounds. The integration of the screening and management of cutaneous leishmaniasis against Buruli ulcer are eagerly waited as a future work.
{"title":"Pediatric Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Private Clinic of Abidjan, Ivory Coast: A Case Report","authors":"N. Aka, K. Zika, G. Dou, F. Coulibaly, M. Ehouman, Ibrahima Koné, K. Adoubryn","doi":"10.2174/1874421402109010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421402109010001","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic disease with global distribution, especially in underdeveloped countries. This parasitic disease is caused by the bite of an infected sandfly.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 We report here the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis discovered incidentally in an 11-year-old child in a private clinic. He is a primarian boy who had a wound located on his left leg. On questioning, we ascertained that the wound was not the first one and had been present for about 2 months. The cutaneous lesion was painless but itchy. The location, the crateriform appearance, and the chronic nature of the wound led us to suspect a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Microscopic examination of cutaneous exsudation’s smears of lesions revealed amastigote forms of leishmania, confirming our diagnostic hypothesis. The child was placed under Imidazole-based treatment associate cloxacilline. The child also received local gentamycin-based dressings.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The child was cured after one month. The diagnostic issues of cutaneous leishmaniasis constitute a great challenge for practitioners in endemic zone. Also, a systematic differential diagnostic should be required in the face of chronic wounds.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The integration of the screening and management of cutaneous leishmaniasis against Buruli ulcer are eagerly waited as a future work.\u0000","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87805006","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}
Pub Date : 2021-04-22DOI: 10.2174/18744214-v9-e210422-2020-5
F. Omoya, K. Ajayi
The use of malaria infection prevalence among febrile patients is a valuable epidemiological surveillance tool. In this study, a cross sectional study was conducted among febrile patients in selected government Hospitals in Ondo State for malaria prevalence. Plasmodium falciparum is the only encountered malaria parasite with prevalence values of 82.72% (426/515) and 80.19% (413/515) obtained using microscopy and RDTs respectively. The prevalence of malaria among the males (86.59%) was higher than the females (80.65%), all age groups in this study were vulnerable with highest infection rate of 89.66% among age group 11-20 years. The parasites densities ranged between 209 and 22310 parasites/μL with a mean parasitaemia of 5522.17±183.30 parasites/μL. The prevalence of malaria among the febrile participants that have used antimalarial drug before visiting the hospital is 82.94% (389/469) with the mean parasitaemia of 4615.21±188.14 parasites/μL while those that have used herbs before visiting the hospital had malaria prevalence of 85.03% (142/167) with the mean parasitaemia of 4913.81±330.20 parasites/μL. There was high prevalence of malaria among febrile patients. This finding will help improve the diagnosis and treatment of other febrile (non-malaria) infections, limit antimalarial usage to only malaria parasite-based test true positives and serve as a guide to combat malaria drug resistance in the study area.
{"title":"Prevalence of Malaria among Febrile Patients Attending Government Hospitals in Ondo State, South-West Nigeria","authors":"F. Omoya, K. Ajayi","doi":"10.2174/18744214-v9-e210422-2020-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/18744214-v9-e210422-2020-5","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 The use of malaria infection prevalence among febrile patients is a valuable epidemiological surveillance tool.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 In this study, a cross sectional study was conducted among febrile patients in selected government Hospitals in Ondo State for malaria prevalence.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Plasmodium falciparum is the only encountered malaria parasite with prevalence values of 82.72% (426/515) and 80.19% (413/515) obtained using microscopy and RDTs respectively. The prevalence of malaria among the males (86.59%) was higher than the females (80.65%), all age groups in this study were vulnerable with highest infection rate of 89.66% among age group 11-20 years. The parasites densities ranged between 209 and 22310 parasites/μL with a mean parasitaemia of 5522.17±183.30 parasites/μL. The prevalence of malaria among the febrile participants that have used antimalarial drug before visiting the hospital is 82.94% (389/469) with the mean parasitaemia of 4615.21±188.14 parasites/μL while those that have used herbs before visiting the hospital had malaria prevalence of 85.03% (142/167) with the mean parasitaemia of 4913.81±330.20 parasites/μL.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 There was high prevalence of malaria among febrile patients. This finding will help improve the diagnosis and treatment of other febrile (non-malaria) infections, limit antimalarial usage to only malaria parasite-based test true positives and serve as a guide to combat malaria drug resistance in the study area.\u0000","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87473410","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}
Pub Date : 2020-12-23DOI: 10.2174/1874421402008010010
W. Lotfy
Bats are numerous, diverse, and widespread throughout the world. They are always misunderstood and often associated with horror stories. Recently, the importance of bats as natural carriers of coronaviruses was highlighted. The book “Bats (Chiroptera) as Vectors of Diseases and Parasites: Facts and Myths” is an edited collection, consisting of 10 chapters, with contributions by 16 authors on bats and their importance, especially as transmitters of pathogens and diseases. The first chapter is titled: “The World of Bats”. It is a general introduction to the whole book; it highlights the general characteristics and uniqueness of bats among other mammals. The author makes an analogy between the nocturnal activity of these creatures and the several myths about them. The second chapter is titled: “The Astonishing Morphology of Bats”. It outlines not only the systematic position of bats among other mammals, but also their morphology, food, feeding behaviours, social behaviour, reproduction, distribution, geographic range, parasites, role as victims and vectors of diseases, myths and misunderstandings concerning bats.
{"title":"Bats (Chiroptera) as Vectors of Diseases and Parasites: Facts and Myths: A Book Review","authors":"W. Lotfy","doi":"10.2174/1874421402008010010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421402008010010","url":null,"abstract":"Bats are numerous, diverse, and widespread throughout the world. They are always misunderstood and often associated with horror stories. Recently, the importance of bats as natural carriers of coronaviruses was highlighted. The book “Bats (Chiroptera) as Vectors of Diseases and Parasites: Facts and Myths” is an edited collection, consisting of 10 chapters, with contributions by 16 authors on bats and their importance, especially as transmitters of pathogens and diseases. The first chapter is titled: “The World of Bats”. It is a general introduction to the whole book; it highlights the general characteristics and uniqueness of bats among other mammals. The author makes an analogy between the nocturnal activity of these creatures and the several myths about them. The second chapter is titled: “The Astonishing Morphology of Bats”. It outlines not only the systematic position of bats among other mammals, but also their morphology, food, feeding behaviours, social behaviour, reproduction, distribution, geographic range, parasites, role as victims and vectors of diseases, myths and misunderstandings concerning bats.","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89451898","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}
Pub Date : 2020-12-18DOI: 10.2174/1874421402008010001
C. Antunes, Letícia P. Dias, Gabriel de Almeida Guimarães, J. Oliveira, João Aristeu da Rosa, C. E. Almeida, C. M. Lopes, Teresa C. M. Gonçalves, J. Costa
Members of the Triatoma brasiliensis complex can produce experimental and natural hybrids. Crossing experiments performed in the laboratory, with several combinations between species of that complex, revealed a gradient of reproductive affinities among them. However, little is known about the reproductive males’ choices when they have the possibility of copulating with females of different species, including interspecific and conspecific females, at the same time. In this unprecedented experiment, the sexual choices of the T. brasiliensis complex and Triatoma infestans males were observed. Virgin males and females of T. b. brasiliensis, T. sherlocki, and T. infestans, and females of T. juazeirensis were used. The experiment was developed in an arena in which one male, one conspecific female, and two non-conspecific females were observed for 15 minutes. The following variables of mating behavior were observed: the male’s choice for a female; displacement time (the time it took the male to move from its stall until it reached the female); the copula itself (number of attempts and its occurrence); and the type of rejection of copula by the female. Males of T. sherlocki were faster in finding the females (conspecific and non-conspecific) than T. b. brasiliensis and T. infestans. Males of T. b. brasiliensis and T. sherlocki were able to copulate with conspecific females and other female species: T. infestans and T. b. brasiliensis/T. juazeirensis, respectively. While T. infestans copulated with conspecific females, and T. juazeirensis and T. b. brasiliensis females. The results suggest that the choice for the copula is not always towards conspecific females. In fact, the males of the three different species tested were able to copulate with their conspecific females and also with other female species, which may induce the formation of hybrids and greater genetic diversity. These findings pose new challenges to the understanding of the reproductive behavior and the evolutionary aspects of the Triatominae. Therefore, in areas of sympatry, if no ecological barriers exist, there is the possibility of natural hybridization, which might reflect in the epidemiological risks since the species studied occur in endemic areas for the Chagas disease.
{"title":"Sexual Choice in Males of the Triatoma brasiliensis Complex: A Matter of Maintenance of the Species or Genetic Variability?","authors":"C. Antunes, Letícia P. Dias, Gabriel de Almeida Guimarães, J. Oliveira, João Aristeu da Rosa, C. E. Almeida, C. M. Lopes, Teresa C. M. Gonçalves, J. Costa","doi":"10.2174/1874421402008010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421402008010001","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Members of the Triatoma brasiliensis complex can produce experimental and natural hybrids. Crossing experiments performed in the laboratory, with several combinations between species of that complex, revealed a gradient of reproductive affinities among them. However, little is known about the reproductive males’ choices when they have the possibility of copulating with females of different species, including interspecific and conspecific females, at the same time. In this unprecedented experiment, the sexual choices of the T. brasiliensis complex and Triatoma infestans males were observed.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Virgin males and females of T. b. brasiliensis, T. sherlocki, and T. infestans, and females of T. juazeirensis were used. The experiment was developed in an arena in which one male, one conspecific female, and two non-conspecific females were observed for 15 minutes. The following variables of mating behavior were observed: the male’s choice for a female; displacement time (the time it took the male to move from its stall until it reached the female); the copula itself (number of attempts and its occurrence); and the type of rejection of copula by the female.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Males of T. sherlocki were faster in finding the females (conspecific and non-conspecific) than T. b. brasiliensis and T. infestans. Males of T. b. brasiliensis and T. sherlocki were able to copulate with conspecific females and other female species: T. infestans and T. b. brasiliensis/T. juazeirensis, respectively. While T. infestans copulated with conspecific females, and T. juazeirensis and T. b. brasiliensis females.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The results suggest that the choice for the copula is not always towards conspecific females. In fact, the males of the three different species tested were able to copulate with their conspecific females and also with other female species, which may induce the formation of hybrids and greater genetic diversity. These findings pose new challenges to the understanding of the reproductive behavior and the evolutionary aspects of the Triatominae. Therefore, in areas of sympatry, if no ecological barriers exist, there is the possibility of natural hybridization, which might reflect in the epidemiological risks since the species studied occur in endemic areas for the Chagas disease.\u0000","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85435842","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}
Pub Date : 2019-04-25DOI: 10.2174/1874421401907010040
P. Scheid
Many case reports emphasize the fact that Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) can relatively easily get in contact with humans or animals. The presence of several facultative parasitic FLA in habitats related to human activities supports their public health relevance. While some strains of Acanthamoeba,Naegleria fowleri,Balamuthia mandrillarisand several other FLA have been described as facultative human pathogens, it remains controversial whetherVermamoeba vermiformisstrains may have a pathogenic potential, or whether this FLA is just an incidental contaminant in a range of human cases. However, several cases support its role as a human parasite, either as the only etiological agent, or in combination with other pathogens. Additionally, a wide range of FLA is known as vectors of microorganisms (endocytobionts), hereby emphasizing their environmental significance. Among those FLA serving as hosts for and vectors of (pathogenic) endocytobionts, there are also descriptions ofV. vermiformisas a vehicle and a reservoir of those endocytobionts. The involvement in animal and human health, the role as vector of pathogenic microorganisms and the pathogenicity in cell cultures, led to the assumption thatV. vermiformisshould be considered relevant in terms of public health and environmental health.
{"title":"Vermamoeba vermiformis - A Free-Living Amoeba with Public Health and Environmental Health Significance","authors":"P. Scheid","doi":"10.2174/1874421401907010040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421401907010040","url":null,"abstract":"Many case reports emphasize the fact that Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) can relatively easily get in contact with humans or animals. The presence of several facultative parasitic FLA in habitats related to human activities supports their public health relevance. While some strains of Acanthamoeba,Naegleria fowleri,Balamuthia mandrillarisand several other FLA have been described as facultative human pathogens, it remains controversial whetherVermamoeba vermiformisstrains may have a pathogenic potential, or whether this FLA is just an incidental contaminant in a range of human cases. However, several cases support its role as a human parasite, either as the only etiological agent, or in combination with other pathogens. Additionally, a wide range of FLA is known as vectors of microorganisms (endocytobionts), hereby emphasizing their environmental significance. Among those FLA serving as hosts for and vectors of (pathogenic) endocytobionts, there are also descriptions ofV. vermiformisas a vehicle and a reservoir of those endocytobionts. The involvement in animal and human health, the role as vector of pathogenic microorganisms and the pathogenicity in cell cultures, led to the assumption thatV. vermiformisshould be considered relevant in terms of public health and environmental health.","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82154289","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}
Pub Date : 2019-02-28DOI: 10.2174/1874421401907010026
G. M. Tawfeek, H. Elwakil, R. Sarhan
Metronidazole is used for the treatment of trichomoniasis. However, a growing number ofTrichomonas vaginalis(T. vaginalis) isolates are now resistant, which is an urgent issue to search for new alternatives. Worldwide marine pharmacy confirms the enormous potential of sea species as a source of novel pharmaceuticals.This study aimed to investigate the anti-T. vaginalisactivities of ethanolic extracts of Red Sea marine resources, soft corals;Sarcophyton glaucumandLitophyton arboreumand methanolic extracts of Red Sea brown algae;Liagora farinosa, Colpomenia sinuosa, Hydroclathrus clathratus,andSargassum graminifolium, as well as sea cucumber (Holothuria fuscocinerea) and sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei).T. vaginalisgrowth inhibition was determined using 2 concentrations for each marine extract 10 and 100 µg/ml in comparison to media control. Drugs that showed good initial activity were further tested to calculate their IC50 in comparison to metronidazole. The ultrastructural impact of the more effective extracts was further assessed.H. clathratus,L. farinose, sea urchinE. mathaeiand sea cucumberH. fuscocinereareduced the growth ofT. vaginaliseffectively and showed high activity with IC50 of 0.985±0.08, 0.949±0.04, 0.845±0.09 and 0.798±µg/ml±SD, respectively. Concerning microscopic analysis, marine extract and metronidazole-treated cells presented similar morphological changes. The nuclear membrane was damaged, the nuclei were dissolved, the rough endoplasmic reticulum was widened, and the chromatin was accumulated. In the cytoplasm, numerous autophagic vacuoles appeared, the organelles were disintegrated, the flagella were internalized and hydrogenosomes with altered morphologies were observed. The cell membrane was partially damaged, with cytoplasmic leakage and cell disintegration.This study describes the report on the activity and morphological changes induced by Egyptian Red Sea marine resources againstT. vaginalis. The results obtained herein presented new opportunitiess. Further, bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds are needed.
{"title":"Ultrastructure-based Insights on Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis Effects of Selected Egyptian Red Sea Marine Resources","authors":"G. M. Tawfeek, H. Elwakil, R. Sarhan","doi":"10.2174/1874421401907010026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421401907010026","url":null,"abstract":"Metronidazole is used for the treatment of trichomoniasis. However, a growing number ofTrichomonas vaginalis(T. vaginalis) isolates are now resistant, which is an urgent issue to search for new alternatives. Worldwide marine pharmacy confirms the enormous potential of sea species as a source of novel pharmaceuticals.This study aimed to investigate the anti-T. vaginalisactivities of ethanolic extracts of Red Sea marine resources, soft corals;Sarcophyton glaucumandLitophyton arboreumand methanolic extracts of Red Sea brown algae;Liagora farinosa, Colpomenia sinuosa, Hydroclathrus clathratus,andSargassum graminifolium, as well as sea cucumber (Holothuria fuscocinerea) and sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei).T. vaginalisgrowth inhibition was determined using 2 concentrations for each marine extract 10 and 100 µg/ml in comparison to media control. Drugs that showed good initial activity were further tested to calculate their IC50 in comparison to metronidazole. The ultrastructural impact of the more effective extracts was further assessed.H. clathratus,L. farinose, sea urchinE. mathaeiand sea cucumberH. fuscocinereareduced the growth ofT. vaginaliseffectively and showed high activity with IC50 of 0.985±0.08, 0.949±0.04, 0.845±0.09 and 0.798±µg/ml±SD, respectively. Concerning microscopic analysis, marine extract and metronidazole-treated cells presented similar morphological changes. The nuclear membrane was damaged, the nuclei were dissolved, the rough endoplasmic reticulum was widened, and the chromatin was accumulated. In the cytoplasm, numerous autophagic vacuoles appeared, the organelles were disintegrated, the flagella were internalized and hydrogenosomes with altered morphologies were observed. The cell membrane was partially damaged, with cytoplasmic leakage and cell disintegration.This study describes the report on the activity and morphological changes induced by Egyptian Red Sea marine resources againstT. vaginalis. The results obtained herein presented new opportunitiess. Further, bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds are needed.","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84673672","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}
Pub Date : 2019-02-19DOI: 10.2174/1874421401907010019
M. Ferrulli, F. Rojo, L. A. Herrera, A. Maglioco, E. Roldán, A. Fuchs
The bisphosphonates are synthetic analogs of pyrophosphate in which two phosphates are connected through carbon instead of oxygen. They are approved compounds for the treatment of hypercalcemia, bone diseases and they have been proposed to treat infectious diseases. Bisphosphonates’ main mechanisms of action are on calcium metabolism, inhibition of protein prenylation and on ATP synthesis. In a previous work, the antiparasitic activity of bisphosphonates on a cell line fromEchinococcus granulosus, sensu latoprotoscoleces, 30 µM etidronate and ibandronate have antiproliferative activity after 72 h of incubation, decreasing intracellular ATP and only etidronate increased intracellular total calcium concentration.This work studied the effect of etidronate and ibandronate on cytoplasmic ionic calcium concentration in parasitic cell line and in HT29, cell line from human colon adenocarcinoma.Ionic calcium was measured by spectrofluorometric, labeling cells with Fluo-4AM. Cells were suspended in Na+or K+rich buffer and two calcium salts were used Cl-or Gluc-, anion permeable and impermeable, respectively.Remarkable differences between cell lines were shown with the effect of bisphosphonates on intracellular ionic calcium concentration in hyperpolarized cells and these differences were smoothed on depolarized cells, in spite of the similar cellular response to calcium salts in absence of bisphosphonates.The bisphosphonates, mainly etidronate, decreased intracellular ionic calcium on parasitic cells explaining other aspects of their antiproliferative effect. Results suggested that other mechanism, such as Cl-and Na+interchange are differentially affected by bisphosphonates, depending on cell line origin.
{"title":"Effect of Etidronate and Ibandronate on Cytosolic Ca2+ in HT29 and Parasite Cell Line from Echinococcus Granulosus sensu lato","authors":"M. Ferrulli, F. Rojo, L. A. Herrera, A. Maglioco, E. Roldán, A. Fuchs","doi":"10.2174/1874421401907010019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874421401907010019","url":null,"abstract":"The bisphosphonates are synthetic analogs of pyrophosphate in which two phosphates are connected through carbon instead of oxygen. They are approved compounds for the treatment of hypercalcemia, bone diseases and they have been proposed to treat infectious diseases. Bisphosphonates’ main mechanisms of action are on calcium metabolism, inhibition of protein prenylation and on ATP synthesis. In a previous work, the antiparasitic activity of bisphosphonates on a cell line fromEchinococcus granulosus, sensu latoprotoscoleces, 30 µM etidronate and ibandronate have antiproliferative activity after 72 h of incubation, decreasing intracellular ATP and only etidronate increased intracellular total calcium concentration.This work studied the effect of etidronate and ibandronate on cytoplasmic ionic calcium concentration in parasitic cell line and in HT29, cell line from human colon adenocarcinoma.Ionic calcium was measured by spectrofluorometric, labeling cells with Fluo-4AM. Cells were suspended in Na+or K+rich buffer and two calcium salts were used Cl-or Gluc-, anion permeable and impermeable, respectively.Remarkable differences between cell lines were shown with the effect of bisphosphonates on intracellular ionic calcium concentration in hyperpolarized cells and these differences were smoothed on depolarized cells, in spite of the similar cellular response to calcium salts in absence of bisphosphonates.The bisphosphonates, mainly etidronate, decreased intracellular ionic calcium on parasitic cells explaining other aspects of their antiproliferative effect. Results suggested that other mechanism, such as Cl-and Na+interchange are differentially affected by bisphosphonates, depending on cell line origin.","PeriodicalId":89294,"journal":{"name":"The open parasitology journal","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78656636","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}
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