Background: Asthma is less common in countries outside the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). One suggested mechanism for this disparity is the early life exposure to helminthic infection in...Background: Asthma is less common in countries outside the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). One suggested mechanism for this disparity is the early life exposure to helminthic infection in non-OECD countries due to predominant Th1 immune response, which down-regulates Th2 responses required for exacerbation of asthma. This report is the first in the literature to describe the effects of helminthic infection on immune responses in asthmatic children compared to non-asthmatic controls. Methods: We administered the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire to 1690 high school students in three rural communities in southwestern Nigeria. Based on questionnaire responses and medical examination, identified asthma cases were matched with controls. Stool samples were collected from all subjects and screened for intestinal helminthic infection. The serum of 12 asthmatics and 12 non-asthmatics (6 with intestinal helminthic infection and 6 without intestinal helminthic infection in each group) were assayed for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), granulocyte macrophage colo- ny-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Results: The mean (±SD) serum levels of IL-2 significantly increased in asthma cases with intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (41.5 ± 9.7 vs. 29.7 ± 10.3;p = 0.035), controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared with cases without infection (52 ± 4.7 vs. 29.7 ± 10.3;p < 0.001), and controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared to controls without infection (52 ± 4.7 vs. 34.2 ± 10.4;p = 0.003). Mean levels of TGF-β significantly increased in controls without infection compared with asthma cases with infection (1833 ± 93.1 vs. 633.3 ± 294.4;p < 0.001), controls without intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (1833 ± 93.1 vs. 916.7 ± 204.1;p < 0.001), controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared to controls without infection (2366.7 ± 760.7 vs. 1833 ± 93.1;p < 0.001), and controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (2366.7 ± 760.7 vs.916.71 ± 204.1;p = 0.007). Conclusion: Intestinal helminthic infection independently increases IL-2 levels, while asthma decreases the level of TGF-β, which is further depressed by intestinal helminthic infection.展开更多
Objective:To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and soil-transmitted helminths(STHs) among primary schoolchildren in El dhayga,Central Sudan.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,three fresh f...Objective:To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and soil-transmitted helminths(STHs) among primary schoolchildren in El dhayga,Central Sudan.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,three fresh faecal samples were collected from each child,which were examined by direct wet mount,brine flotation,formalin-ether and Kato-Katz techniques.The intensity of each STH infection was expressed as the mean of eggs per gram counts of the three samples.Results:In total,142(90.4%) of 157 children harboured at least one type of intestinal parasite.Ascaris lumbricoides,Hymenolepis nana,Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were the most common parasites found,with prevalence rates of 32.5%,30.6%,33.1%and 19.7%,respectively.Out of these 157 children,29(18.5%) harboured more than two intestinal parasitic infections.No cases of Schistosoma mansoni or Enterobius vermicularis were identified. Conclusions:The study demonstrates significant burden of intestinal protozoa and STH infections in this part of Sudan and highlights the need for preventive and intervention measures.展开更多
Objective:To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Tilili town,northwest Ethiopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study involving 383 schoolchildren was ...Objective:To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Tilili town,northwest Ethiopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study involving 383 schoolchildren was conducted between November 2011 to February 2012.Each student was selected using systematic random sampling method.Questionnaire and observation were used to identify socio-demographic and associated risk factors.Fresh stool samples were observed using formal-ether concentration technique.Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0statistical software.Results:Four species of intestinal helminthes were identified with an overall prevalence of 44.2%(170 of 385 schoolchildren).The predominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides(A.lumbricoides)153(39.7%)and Trichuris trichiura(T.trichiura)30(7.8%).One hundred thirty five(35.1%)had single infections and 35(9.2%)were infected with more than one helminthic parasites in which 32(8.4%)were double infections and 3(0.8%)were triple infections.Significant associations were observed between intestinal helminth infection and those of age,grade level,and school variables.Prevalence of hookworm infection was significant in children who did not wear shoes regularly(P<0.05).Conclusions:intervention programs and education on personal and environmental hygiene should be implemented for the prevention and control of helminthic infections in the study area.展开更多
Acute cholecystitis is an important acute medical problem, so acute disorder of the gall bladder requires good clinical management. There are several etiologies of acute cholecystitis. Although it is not common, helmi...Acute cholecystitis is an important acute medical problem, so acute disorder of the gall bladder requires good clinical management. There are several etiologies of acute cholecystitis. Although it is not common, helminthic infection is one of the causes of acute cholecystitis. This condition is little mentioned in literature but it is an important issue in several tropical countries. Here, the authors performed a literature review to summarize published data available on an international database (PubMed). All available publications with complete information are summarized and extracted. In this article, the authors briefly summarized clinical features and management of acute cholecystitis and helminthic infestation. The relationship of nematode, trematode and cestode infestations with acute cholecystitis is also summarised.展开更多
Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem,causing nearly 500 million cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually.More than one-fifth of thes...Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem,causing nearly 500 million cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually.More than one-fifth of these cases are attributed to Ancylostoma ceylanicum,an emerging zoonotic health issue in the Asia-Pacific region.This review presents key research gaps regarding the epidemiology,diagnosis,control,prevention and elimination of A.ceylanicum and other canine zoonotic hookworms as neglected health threats.A.ceylanicum is the second most prevalent human hookworm in the region;it is the most common hookworm among dogs and cats-reservoirs of zoonotic infections.Previous population genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that A.ceylanicum has three possible transmission dynamics:zoonotic,animal-only,and human-only pathways.The actual burden of zoonotic ancylostomiasis in most endemic countries remains unknown due to the use of parasitological techniques(e.g.,Kato-Katz thick smear and floatation techniques)that have reduced diagnostic performance and do not allow accurate species identification in helminth surveys.The emergence of benzimidazole resistance in soil-transmitted helminths(STHs),including hookworms,is a concern due to the protracted implementation of mass drug administration(MDA).Resistance is conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)that occur in theβ-tubulin isotype 1 gene.These mutations have been reported in drug-resistant A.caninum but have not been found in A.ceylanicum in the field.A.ceylanicum remains understudied in the Asia-Pacific region.The zoonotic nature of the parasite warrants investigation of its occurrence in human and animal reservoir hosts to understand the dynamics of zoonotic transmission in different endemic foci.The detection of benzimidazole resistance-associated SNPs in zoonotic hookworms from Asia-Pacific countries has yet to be thoroughly explored.Considering the high level of hookworm endemicity in the region,the circulation of resistant isolates between humans and animals potentially presents a significant One Health threat that can undermine current MDA and proposed animal deworming-based control efforts.展开更多
Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and its management are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The predisposing factors that led to the occurrence of these hemorrhagic instances are largely linked...Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and its management are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The predisposing factors that led to the occurrence of these hemorrhagic instances are largely linked to the life style of the affected persons.Designing a new strategy aimed at educating the publics and improving their awareness of the problem could effectively help in eradicating this problem with no associated risks and in bringing the mortality rates down to almost zero.展开更多
The hygiene hypothesis is thought to be a significant contributor to the growing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) around the world, although the evidence for specific factors that underlie the hygiene hyp...The hygiene hypothesis is thought to be a significant contributor to the growing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) around the world, although the evidence for specific factors that underlie the hygiene hypothesis in IBD is unclear. We aimed to systematically review the literature to determine which hygiene-related factors are associated with the development of IBD. Publications identified from a broad based MEDLINE and Current Contents search between 1966 and 2007 on key terms relevant to the 'hygiene hypothesis' and IBD including H pylori exposure, helminths, cold chain hypothesis, measles infection and vaccination, antibiotic use, breastfeeding, family size, sibship, urban upbringing, day care attendance and domestic hygiene were reviewed. The literature suggests that the hygiene hypothesis and its association with decreased microbial exposure in childhood probably plays an important role in the development of IBD, although the strength of the supporting data for each of the factors varies considerably. The most promising factors that may potentially be associated with development of IBD include H pylori exposure, helminths, breastfeeding and sibship. However, the vast majority of studies in this area are plagued by serious methodological shortcomings, particularly the reliance on retrospective recall of information making it difficult to truly ascertain the importance of a 'hygiene hypothesis' in IBD. The 'hygiene hypothesis' in IBD is an important area of research that may give clues to the aetiology of this disease. Directions for future research are recommended.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effect of Schistosoma mansoni(S.mansoni) soluble worm proteins on gastrointestinal motility disturbances during experimental colitis in mice. METHODS:Colitis was induced by intrarect...AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effect of Schistosoma mansoni(S.mansoni) soluble worm proteins on gastrointestinal motility disturbances during experimental colitis in mice. METHODS:Colitis was induced by intrarectal injection of trinitrobenzene sulphate(TNBS) and 6 h later,mice were treated ip with S.mansoni proteins.Experiments were performed 5 d after TNBS injection.Inflammationwas quantified using validated inflammation parameters. Gastric emptying and geometric center were measured to assess in vivo gastrointestinal motility.Peristaltic activity of distal colonic segments was studied in vitro using a modified Trendelenburg set-up.Cytokine profiles of T-lymphocytes isolated from the colon were determined by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:Intracolonic injection of TNBS caused severe colitis.Treatment with S.mansoni proteins significantly ameliorated colonic inflammation after 5 d.TNBS did not affect gastric emptying but significantly decreased the geometric center and impaired colonic peristaltic activity 5 d after the induction of colitis.Treatment with S.mansoni proteins ameliorated these in vivo and in vitro motility disturbances.In addition,TNBS injection caused a downregulation of effector T cell cytokines after 5 d,whereas a S.mansoni protein effect was no longer observed at this time point. CONCLUSION:Treatment with S.mansoni proteins attenuated intestinal inflammation and ameliorated motility disturbances during murine experimental colitis.展开更多
Evidence from epidemiological studies indicates an inverse correlation between the incidence of certain immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and exposure to helminths. Helminth parasi...Evidence from epidemiological studies indicates an inverse correlation between the incidence of certain immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and exposure to helminths. Helminth parasites are the classic inducers of Th2 responses. The Th2-polarized T cell response driven by helminth infection has been linked to the attenuation of some damaging Th1 driven inflammatory responses, preventing some Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases in the host, including experimentally induced colitis. Helminth parasites (the porcine whipworm, Trichuris suis ) have been tested for treating IBD patients, resulting in clinical amelioration of the disease. As a result, there is a great deal of interest in the research community in exploring the therapeutic use of helminth parasites for the control of immune-mediated diseases, including IBD. However, recent studies have provided evidence indicating the exacerbating effects of helminths on bacterial as well as non-infectious colitis in animal models. Therefore, a better understanding of mechanisms by which helminths modulate host immune responses in the gut may reveal novel, more effective and safer approaches to helminth-based therapy of IBD.展开更多
Objective:To provide baseline data on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination in the soil among indigenous communities.Methods:A total of 317 soil samples from three barangays ...Objective:To provide baseline data on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination in the soil among indigenous communities.Methods:A total of 317 soil samples from three barangays of indigenous communities communities in Tigaon,Camarines Sur,Philippines were examined for soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination using optimized sugar flotation method.Results:Of the soil samples examined,141(44.48%)were contaminated by Ascaris spp.,Toxocara spp.,and Trichuris spp.with cumulative prevalence varying across the study sites(P<0.01).Ascaris spp.was predominant in all study sites,followed by Toxocara spp.and Trichuris spp.with a prevalence of 41.96%,7.57%,and 5.36%,respectively.Interestingly,Toxocara pp.has the highest intensity of contamination,followed by Ascaris spp.and Trichuris spp.in term of geometric mean soil-transmitted helminthiasis eggs recovered per one gram soil sample(34.25,21.45,and 11.85 respectively).Each study site harbors significant amount of soiltransmitted helminthiasis eggs and zoonotic Toxocara eggs,which present high risk of soil-transmitted helminthiasis infection,particularly among children observed to play and cohabitate with animals known to be hosts of these parasites.Conclusions:The alarming rate of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and Toxocara egg contamination reported in this study suggests that additional measures should be undertaken to control soil-transmitted helminthiasis and zoonotic intestinal infections in the country.展开更多
Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activities and phytochemical content of the leaf and root extracts of Rumex crispus using the solvents extraction; methanol extract,ethanol extract, acetone extract(ACE), and wat...Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activities and phytochemical content of the leaf and root extracts of Rumex crispus using the solvents extraction; methanol extract,ethanol extract, acetone extract(ACE), and water extract.Methods: Total flavonoids content, total phenolic content, and total proanthocyanidin were evaluated using spectrophotometric equivalents of the standards, quercetin, gallic acid and catechin respectively. The antioxidant activities of the plant extracts were determined using ABTS, DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide scavenging assays.Results: The flavonoids and phenols contents of the extracts were in the range of(19.39 ± 4.08) to(526.23 ± 17.52) mg QE/g and(16.95 ± 12.03) to(240.68 ± 3.50) mg GAE/g, respectively. ACE of the leaf has the highest value of total flavonoids content(526.23 ± 17.52) mg QE/g while ACE of the root has the highest value of total phenolic content(240.68 ± 3.50) mg GAE/g. The highest content of total proanthocyanidin(645.38 ± 1.33) mg CE/g was in ACE of the root. Significant amounts of saponin and alkaloid were also present in the root and leaf extracts. All solvent fractions showed significant antioxidant activities(P < 0.05) with ACE of the root having the highest scavenging value as shown in DPPH, ABTS, total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide and ferric reducing antioxidant power(IC50= 0.014 mg/m L, <0.005 mg/m L, 0.048 mg/m L,0.067 mg/m L, and 0.075 mg/m L, respectively).Conclusions: In this study, the mean phytochemical content of the root of Rumex crispus is higher than that of the leaf and this may have contributed to its high antioxidant activities. This may also justify the frequent use of the root more than the leaves in traditional medicine for the cure of helminthic infections.展开更多
Objective:To assess the prevalence of parasitic infections among patients attending Saint Camille Medical Centre and to estimate co-parasitic infections rates.Methods:From January to December 2009,stool samples were c...Objective:To assess the prevalence of parasitic infections among patients attending Saint Camille Medical Centre and to estimate co-parasitic infections rates.Methods:From January to December 2009,stool samples were collected from 11 728 persons,aged from five months to 72 years and suffering from gastroenteritis.After macroscopic description,the stools were examined by light microscopy to search for the presence of parasites.Results:From the 11 728 analyzed stools,6 154(52.47%) were infected with at least one parasite.Protozoan frequently encountered were:Giardia intestinalis(43.47%),Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar(30.74%) and Trichomonas irUestinalis(21.72%),while Hymenolepis nana(2.25%) was the most common helminth.Co-infections occurred in 22.34%cases.Within the multi-infected samples,dual and triple infections accounted for 71.18%and 20.00%,respectively.Giardia irUestinalis for protozoan and Hymenolepis nana for helminths were the most implicated co-infections.Conclusions: This study confirms that intestinal parasites are still a public health problem in Burkina Faso.To reduce the incidence of parasitic infections,it is necessary to promote the education of people so that they practice the rules of individual and collective hygiene.展开更多
Objective:To assess prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths(STH) in school age children of two southern districts as baseline information prior to implement a deworming program against intestinal parasi...Objective:To assess prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths(STH) in school age children of two southern districts as baseline information prior to implement a deworming program against intestinal parasites as part of an integrated country development plan.Methods:Children randomly selected from urban and rural schools in Southern Belize provided one stool sample each,analysed by the Kato-Katz method to assess prevalence and intensity of STH infections.Epi Info software was used for data analysis;Chi-square test and Fischer exact test were applied to compare group proportions;P<0.05 was considered of statistical significance;descriptive statistics were expressed as percentages.Results:A total of 500 children from 10 schools participated in the study from May to December2005.Prevalence of STH ranged between 40%and 82%among schools,with a median of 59.2%;the majority of light intensity,and with 2.2%high intensity infection.Trichuris and Axaris infections presented similar frequency in children aged from 6 to 9 years old;hookworm infections tended to be more frequent in the older group 10 to 12 years old.Statistical significances(P≤0.01)were found in children in rural schools infected with any species of STH,in moderate Trichuris infections,in hookworm infections in rural areas with strong Mayan presence and in Ascaris infections in children of Mayan origin.Conclusions:High prevalence of STH in Southern Belize provided sound ground for implementing an integrated deworming control program.展开更多
Strongyloides stercoralis,a soil transmitted helminth infection,affects millions with varying prevalence worldwide.A large number of affected hosts are asymptomatic.Symptoms pertaining to pulmonary and gastrointestina...Strongyloides stercoralis,a soil transmitted helminth infection,affects millions with varying prevalence worldwide.A large number of affected hosts are asymptomatic.Symptoms pertaining to pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement may be present.Manifestations of involvement beyond lung and intestine can be seen with dissemination of infection and lethal hyperinfection.Immunosuppression secondary to use of steroids or other immunosuppressants and coexistence of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 are the known risk factors for dissemination and hyperinfection.Diagnostic modalities comprise stool examination,serology and molecular testing.Stool tests are inexpensive but are limited by low sensitivity,whereas serologic and molecular tests are more precise but at the expense of higher cost.Treatment with Ivermectin or Albendazole as an alternative is safe and efficacious.We present a rare case of acute pancreatitis secondary to Strongyloides.High index of suspicion in patients specifically from endemic countries of origin and lack of other common etiologies of acute pancreatitis may help in early diagnosis and prompt treatment of this potentially fatal infection.展开更多
Objective:To assess the prevalence of malaria helminth co-infections and their contribution for aneamia in febrile patients attending Azzezo health center,Gondar,Northwest Ethiopia. Methods:A cross section study was c...Objective:To assess the prevalence of malaria helminth co-infections and their contribution for aneamia in febrile patients attending Azzezo health center,Gondar,Northwest Ethiopia. Methods:A cross section study was conducted among febrile patients attending Azezo health center from February-March 30,2011.Convenient sampling technique was used to select 384 individuals.Both capillary blood and stool were collected.Giemsa stained thick and thin blood film were prepared for identification of Plasmodium species and stool sample was examined by direct wet mount and formalin-ether concentration technique for detection of intestinal helminthes parasites.Haemoglobin concentration was determined using a portable haemoglobin spectrophotometer,Hemocue Hb 201 analyzer.Results:Out of 384 febrile patients examined for malaria parasites,44(11.5%) individuals were positive for malaria parasites,of which Plasmodium vivax accounted for 75.0%(33),Plasmodium falciparum for 20.5%(9| infectious,whereas two person (4.5%) had mixed species infection.Prevalence of malaria was higher in males(28) when compared with prevalence in females(16).More than half(207,53.9%) of study participants had one or more infection.Prevalence was slightly higher in females(109,52.7%) than in males(98,47.3%).About helminths,Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant isolate(62.1%) followed by hookworms(18.4%). Only 22 participants were co-infected with malaria parasite and helminths and co-infection with Ascaris lumbricoides was predominant(45.0%).The prevalence of anemia was 10.9%and co-infection with Plasmodium and helminth parasites was significantly associated with(P【0.000 1) higher aneamia prevalence compared to individuals without any infection.Conclusions: Prevalence of malaria and soil transmitted helminths is high and the disease is still major health problem in the study area.Hence,simultaneous combat against the two parasitic infections is very crucial to improve health of the affected communities in economically developing countries.展开更多
Objective:To assess the prevalence and associated factors of soil transmitted helminths(STHs)among Endemata primary school in North West Ethiopia,2021.Methods:A cross-sectional study with 195 school children was condu...Objective:To assess the prevalence and associated factors of soil transmitted helminths(STHs)among Endemata primary school in North West Ethiopia,2021.Methods:A cross-sectional study with 195 school children was conducted from May to July 2021 at Endemata primary school.The study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling technique.Stool samples were processed via direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques.Data was entered by Epi-Dara version 3.1 and data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0.Variables were considered to be statistically significant if P<0.05 at 95%confidence level.Results:The overall prevalence of STHs was 10.8%(95%CI 7.1-16.0).The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides,hookworm and Trichuris trichiura were 5.6%(95%CI 3.1-9.9),3.1%(95%CI 1.3-6.7)and 2.1%(95%CI 0.6-5.3),respectively.Grade 1-4 students were more likely to get infected with STHs as compared to grade 5-8 students(adjusted OR 4.7,95%CI 1.3-16.6).Students who did not have latrines at their home were at higher risk to develop STHs infection comparing with those who had latrine at their home(adjusted OR 5.0,95%CI 1.7-15.2).Similarly,the school children who did not wear shoes were more likely to be infected by STH parasite than those who did it(adjusted OR 6.3,95%CI 1.9-20.7).The odds of being infected by STH parasites in children who did not trim their fingernails were 4.9 as compared to those who did it(adjusted OR 4.9,95%CI 1.5-15.7).Conclusions:The prevalence of STHs among Endemata primary school children was low.Student grade level,latrine availability,shoes wear and nail status were significantly associated with STHs infection.Therefore,we recommend policy makers and stakeholders to follow the integration of deworming with water,hygiene and sanitation as well as the consistent health education of school children to control and prevent STH infections.展开更多
Parasitic helminths,taxonomically comprising trematodes,cestodes,and nematodes,are multicellular invertebrates widely disseminated in nature and have afflicted humans continuously for a long time.Helminths play potent...Parasitic helminths,taxonomically comprising trematodes,cestodes,and nematodes,are multicellular invertebrates widely disseminated in nature and have afflicted humans continuously for a long time.Helminths play potent roles in the host by generating a variety of novel molecules,including some excretory/secretory products and others that are involved in intracellular material exchange and information transfer as well as the initiation or stimulation of immune and metabolic activation.The helminth-derived molecules have developed powerful and diverse immunosuppressive effects to achieve immune evasion for parasite survival and establish chronic infections.However,they also improve autoimmune and allergic inflammatory responses and promote metabolic homeostasis by promoting metabolic reprogramming of various immune functions,and then inducing alternatively activated macrophages,T helper 2 cells,and regulatory T cell-mediated immune responses.Therefore,a deeper exploration of the immunopathogenic mechanism and immune regulatory mechanisms of helminth-derived molecules exerted in the host is crucial for understanding host-helminth interactions,as well as the development of therapeutic drugs for infectious or non-infectious diseases.In this review,we focus on the properties of helminth-derived molecules to give an overview of the most recent scientific knowledge about their pathogenic and pharmacopeial roles in immune-metabolic homeostasis.展开更多
Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem,causing nearly 500 milion cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually.More than one-fth of these c...Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem,causing nearly 500 milion cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually.More than one-fth of these cases are attrib-uted to Ancylostoma ceylanicum,an emerging zoonotic health issue in the Asia-Pacific region.This review presents key research gaps regarding the epidemiology,diagnosis,control,prevention and elimination of A.ceylanicum and other canine zoonotic hookworms as neglected health threats.A.ceylanicum is the second most prevalent human hook-worm in the region;it is the most common hookworm among dogs and cats-reservoirs of zoonotic infections.Previous population genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that A.ceylanicum has three possible transmis-sion dynamics:zoonotic,animal-only,and human-only pathways.The actual burden of zoonotic ancylostomiasis in most endemic countries remains unknown due to the use of parasitological techniques(e.g.,Kato-Katz thick smear and floatation techniques)that have reduced diagnostic performance and do not allow accurate species identifica-tion in helminth surveys.The emergence of benzimidazole resistance in soil-transmitted helminths(STHs),includ-ing hookworms,is a concern due to the protracted implementation of mass drug administration(MDA).Resistance is conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)that occur in theβ-tubulin isotype 1 gene.These mutations have been reported in drug-resistant A.caninum but have not been found in A.ceylanicum in the field.A.ceylanicum remains understudied in the Asia-Pacific region.The zoonotic nature of the parasite warrants investigation of its occur-rence in human and animal reservoir hosts to understand the dynamics of zoonotic transmission in different endemic foci.The detection of benzimidazole resistance-associated SNPs in zoonotic hookworms from Asia-Pacific countries has yet to be thoroughly explored.Considering the high level of hookworm endemicity in the region,the circulation of resistant isolates between humans and animals potentially presents a significant One Health threat that can under-mine current MDA and proposed animal deworming-based control efforts.展开更多
<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Equines are affected by a large number of endoparasites, these can cause gastrointestinal signs, respiratory, poor pe...<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Equines are affected by a large number of endoparasites, these can cause gastrointestinal signs, respiratory, poor performance, slow growth and even cause sudden death. The presence of parasites can be associated with various factors related to the animal and environmental or geographical factors. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection and risk factors in horses were evaluated. Stool samples belonging to 218 horses from different regions </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of central Mexico were analyzed by coproparasitological concentra</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tion-flotation technique. The fecal examinations were carried out from February to August in 2017. Among the 218 samples that were examined, 103 (47.24%) were found to be positive with several gastrointestinal parasites, with </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Strongylus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. being the most prevalent (23.85%) followed by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Trichostrongylus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. (21.56%) and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Parascaris</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. (11.93%). Breed and place of origin were significantly associated with helminth infection. Sex was associated as a significant risk factor (p < 0.01) with the infection by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Strongylus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. on females and by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Anoplocephala</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, on males. In central Mexico, gastrointestinal helminth infection appears to be relatively low.展开更多
Soil harbours enormous biodiversity,essential for maintaining environmental and human health.However,soil can also be a reservoir of various parasitic pathogens,such as soil-transmitted helminths(STH).We evaluated the...Soil harbours enormous biodiversity,essential for maintaining environmental and human health.However,soil can also be a reservoir of various parasitic pathogens,such as soil-transmitted helminths(STH).We evaluated the presence of STH(e.g.,hookworms,roundworms and whipworms)in soil samples collected at twenty points within the perimeter of Campus do Vale(a university campus belonging to the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS),during 2022 winter season.Considering the One Health perspective,human,animal and environmentrelated data from each sampling point were collected.All soil samples showed nematode larvae,representing natural components of soil biodiversity.Considering STH eggs,35%(n=7)of soil samples showed hookworm eggs(e.g.,from Necator americanus or Ancylostoma duodenale),10%(n=2)showed roundworm(Ascaris lumbricoides)eggs,and 5%(n=1)showed whipworm(Trichuris trichiura-like)eggs.Of note,10%of the sampling points showed the presence of rhabditiform hookworm larvae,5%showed Strongyloides stercoralis rhabditiform larvae and 5%had the presence of filariform hookworm larvae,indicating a risk of human percutaneous infection.The significant people circulation in Campus do Vale,in association with other environment-related factors,help to explain the prevalence of STH observed in this study.展开更多
文摘Background: Asthma is less common in countries outside the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). One suggested mechanism for this disparity is the early life exposure to helminthic infection in non-OECD countries due to predominant Th1 immune response, which down-regulates Th2 responses required for exacerbation of asthma. This report is the first in the literature to describe the effects of helminthic infection on immune responses in asthmatic children compared to non-asthmatic controls. Methods: We administered the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire to 1690 high school students in three rural communities in southwestern Nigeria. Based on questionnaire responses and medical examination, identified asthma cases were matched with controls. Stool samples were collected from all subjects and screened for intestinal helminthic infection. The serum of 12 asthmatics and 12 non-asthmatics (6 with intestinal helminthic infection and 6 without intestinal helminthic infection in each group) were assayed for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), granulocyte macrophage colo- ny-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Results: The mean (±SD) serum levels of IL-2 significantly increased in asthma cases with intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (41.5 ± 9.7 vs. 29.7 ± 10.3;p = 0.035), controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared with cases without infection (52 ± 4.7 vs. 29.7 ± 10.3;p < 0.001), and controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared to controls without infection (52 ± 4.7 vs. 34.2 ± 10.4;p = 0.003). Mean levels of TGF-β significantly increased in controls without infection compared with asthma cases with infection (1833 ± 93.1 vs. 633.3 ± 294.4;p < 0.001), controls without intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (1833 ± 93.1 vs. 916.7 ± 204.1;p < 0.001), controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared to controls without infection (2366.7 ± 760.7 vs. 1833 ± 93.1;p < 0.001), and controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (2366.7 ± 760.7 vs.916.71 ± 204.1;p = 0.007). Conclusion: Intestinal helminthic infection independently increases IL-2 levels, while asthma decreases the level of TGF-β, which is further depressed by intestinal helminthic infection.
文摘Objective:To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and soil-transmitted helminths(STHs) among primary schoolchildren in El dhayga,Central Sudan.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,three fresh faecal samples were collected from each child,which were examined by direct wet mount,brine flotation,formalin-ether and Kato-Katz techniques.The intensity of each STH infection was expressed as the mean of eggs per gram counts of the three samples.Results:In total,142(90.4%) of 157 children harboured at least one type of intestinal parasite.Ascaris lumbricoides,Hymenolepis nana,Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were the most common parasites found,with prevalence rates of 32.5%,30.6%,33.1%and 19.7%,respectively.Out of these 157 children,29(18.5%) harboured more than two intestinal parasitic infections.No cases of Schistosoma mansoni or Enterobius vermicularis were identified. Conclusions:The study demonstrates significant burden of intestinal protozoa and STH infections in this part of Sudan and highlights the need for preventive and intervention measures.
文摘Objective:To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Tilili town,northwest Ethiopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study involving 383 schoolchildren was conducted between November 2011 to February 2012.Each student was selected using systematic random sampling method.Questionnaire and observation were used to identify socio-demographic and associated risk factors.Fresh stool samples were observed using formal-ether concentration technique.Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0statistical software.Results:Four species of intestinal helminthes were identified with an overall prevalence of 44.2%(170 of 385 schoolchildren).The predominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides(A.lumbricoides)153(39.7%)and Trichuris trichiura(T.trichiura)30(7.8%).One hundred thirty five(35.1%)had single infections and 35(9.2%)were infected with more than one helminthic parasites in which 32(8.4%)were double infections and 3(0.8%)were triple infections.Significant associations were observed between intestinal helminth infection and those of age,grade level,and school variables.Prevalence of hookworm infection was significant in children who did not wear shoes regularly(P<0.05).Conclusions:intervention programs and education on personal and environmental hygiene should be implemented for the prevention and control of helminthic infections in the study area.
文摘Acute cholecystitis is an important acute medical problem, so acute disorder of the gall bladder requires good clinical management. There are several etiologies of acute cholecystitis. Although it is not common, helminthic infection is one of the causes of acute cholecystitis. This condition is little mentioned in literature but it is an important issue in several tropical countries. Here, the authors performed a literature review to summarize published data available on an international database (PubMed). All available publications with complete information are summarized and extracted. In this article, the authors briefly summarized clinical features and management of acute cholecystitis and helminthic infestation. The relationship of nematode, trematode and cestode infestations with acute cholecystitis is also summarised.
基金supported by a Postgraduate Study Support Grant from the Faculty of Medicine,Khon Kaen University.
文摘Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem,causing nearly 500 million cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually.More than one-fifth of these cases are attributed to Ancylostoma ceylanicum,an emerging zoonotic health issue in the Asia-Pacific region.This review presents key research gaps regarding the epidemiology,diagnosis,control,prevention and elimination of A.ceylanicum and other canine zoonotic hookworms as neglected health threats.A.ceylanicum is the second most prevalent human hookworm in the region;it is the most common hookworm among dogs and cats-reservoirs of zoonotic infections.Previous population genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that A.ceylanicum has three possible transmission dynamics:zoonotic,animal-only,and human-only pathways.The actual burden of zoonotic ancylostomiasis in most endemic countries remains unknown due to the use of parasitological techniques(e.g.,Kato-Katz thick smear and floatation techniques)that have reduced diagnostic performance and do not allow accurate species identification in helminth surveys.The emergence of benzimidazole resistance in soil-transmitted helminths(STHs),including hookworms,is a concern due to the protracted implementation of mass drug administration(MDA).Resistance is conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)that occur in theβ-tubulin isotype 1 gene.These mutations have been reported in drug-resistant A.caninum but have not been found in A.ceylanicum in the field.A.ceylanicum remains understudied in the Asia-Pacific region.The zoonotic nature of the parasite warrants investigation of its occurrence in human and animal reservoir hosts to understand the dynamics of zoonotic transmission in different endemic foci.The detection of benzimidazole resistance-associated SNPs in zoonotic hookworms from Asia-Pacific countries has yet to be thoroughly explored.Considering the high level of hookworm endemicity in the region,the circulation of resistant isolates between humans and animals potentially presents a significant One Health threat that can undermine current MDA and proposed animal deworming-based control efforts.
文摘Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and its management are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The predisposing factors that led to the occurrence of these hemorrhagic instances are largely linked to the life style of the affected persons.Designing a new strategy aimed at educating the publics and improving their awareness of the problem could effectively help in eradicating this problem with no associated risks and in bringing the mortality rates down to almost zero.
文摘The hygiene hypothesis is thought to be a significant contributor to the growing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) around the world, although the evidence for specific factors that underlie the hygiene hypothesis in IBD is unclear. We aimed to systematically review the literature to determine which hygiene-related factors are associated with the development of IBD. Publications identified from a broad based MEDLINE and Current Contents search between 1966 and 2007 on key terms relevant to the 'hygiene hypothesis' and IBD including H pylori exposure, helminths, cold chain hypothesis, measles infection and vaccination, antibiotic use, breastfeeding, family size, sibship, urban upbringing, day care attendance and domestic hygiene were reviewed. The literature suggests that the hygiene hypothesis and its association with decreased microbial exposure in childhood probably plays an important role in the development of IBD, although the strength of the supporting data for each of the factors varies considerably. The most promising factors that may potentially be associated with development of IBD include H pylori exposure, helminths, breastfeeding and sibship. However, the vast majority of studies in this area are plagued by serious methodological shortcomings, particularly the reliance on retrospective recall of information making it difficult to truly ascertain the importance of a 'hygiene hypothesis' in IBD. The 'hygiene hypothesis' in IBD is an important area of research that may give clues to the aetiology of this disease. Directions for future research are recommended.
基金Supported by The Fund of Scientific Research(FWO),Flanders, Project G.0134.07the University of Antwerp,BOF Grant FA02/3/3257
文摘AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effect of Schistosoma mansoni(S.mansoni) soluble worm proteins on gastrointestinal motility disturbances during experimental colitis in mice. METHODS:Colitis was induced by intrarectal injection of trinitrobenzene sulphate(TNBS) and 6 h later,mice were treated ip with S.mansoni proteins.Experiments were performed 5 d after TNBS injection.Inflammationwas quantified using validated inflammation parameters. Gastric emptying and geometric center were measured to assess in vivo gastrointestinal motility.Peristaltic activity of distal colonic segments was studied in vitro using a modified Trendelenburg set-up.Cytokine profiles of T-lymphocytes isolated from the colon were determined by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:Intracolonic injection of TNBS caused severe colitis.Treatment with S.mansoni proteins significantly ameliorated colonic inflammation after 5 d.TNBS did not affect gastric emptying but significantly decreased the geometric center and impaired colonic peristaltic activity 5 d after the induction of colitis.Treatment with S.mansoni proteins ameliorated these in vivo and in vitro motility disturbances.In addition,TNBS injection caused a downregulation of effector T cell cytokines after 5 d,whereas a S.mansoni protein effect was no longer observed at this time point. CONCLUSION:Treatment with S.mansoni proteins attenuated intestinal inflammation and ameliorated motility disturbances during murine experimental colitis.
基金Grant DK 074727 (R21) from the National Institutes of HealthAn unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth NutritionA research fellowship from the Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University Medical School, China
文摘Evidence from epidemiological studies indicates an inverse correlation between the incidence of certain immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and exposure to helminths. Helminth parasites are the classic inducers of Th2 responses. The Th2-polarized T cell response driven by helminth infection has been linked to the attenuation of some damaging Th1 driven inflammatory responses, preventing some Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases in the host, including experimentally induced colitis. Helminth parasites (the porcine whipworm, Trichuris suis ) have been tested for treating IBD patients, resulting in clinical amelioration of the disease. As a result, there is a great deal of interest in the research community in exploring the therapeutic use of helminth parasites for the control of immune-mediated diseases, including IBD. However, recent studies have provided evidence indicating the exacerbating effects of helminths on bacterial as well as non-infectious colitis in animal models. Therefore, a better understanding of mechanisms by which helminths modulate host immune responses in the gut may reveal novel, more effective and safer approaches to helminth-based therapy of IBD.
基金the Commission on Higher Education K12 Scholarship Program for the funding
文摘Objective:To provide baseline data on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination in the soil among indigenous communities.Methods:A total of 317 soil samples from three barangays of indigenous communities communities in Tigaon,Camarines Sur,Philippines were examined for soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination using optimized sugar flotation method.Results:Of the soil samples examined,141(44.48%)were contaminated by Ascaris spp.,Toxocara spp.,and Trichuris spp.with cumulative prevalence varying across the study sites(P<0.01).Ascaris spp.was predominant in all study sites,followed by Toxocara spp.and Trichuris spp.with a prevalence of 41.96%,7.57%,and 5.36%,respectively.Interestingly,Toxocara pp.has the highest intensity of contamination,followed by Ascaris spp.and Trichuris spp.in term of geometric mean soil-transmitted helminthiasis eggs recovered per one gram soil sample(34.25,21.45,and 11.85 respectively).Each study site harbors significant amount of soiltransmitted helminthiasis eggs and zoonotic Toxocara eggs,which present high risk of soil-transmitted helminthiasis infection,particularly among children observed to play and cohabitate with animals known to be hosts of these parasites.Conclusions:The alarming rate of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and Toxocara egg contamination reported in this study suggests that additional measures should be undertaken to control soil-transmitted helminthiasis and zoonotic intestinal infections in the country.
文摘Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activities and phytochemical content of the leaf and root extracts of Rumex crispus using the solvents extraction; methanol extract,ethanol extract, acetone extract(ACE), and water extract.Methods: Total flavonoids content, total phenolic content, and total proanthocyanidin were evaluated using spectrophotometric equivalents of the standards, quercetin, gallic acid and catechin respectively. The antioxidant activities of the plant extracts were determined using ABTS, DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide scavenging assays.Results: The flavonoids and phenols contents of the extracts were in the range of(19.39 ± 4.08) to(526.23 ± 17.52) mg QE/g and(16.95 ± 12.03) to(240.68 ± 3.50) mg GAE/g, respectively. ACE of the leaf has the highest value of total flavonoids content(526.23 ± 17.52) mg QE/g while ACE of the root has the highest value of total phenolic content(240.68 ± 3.50) mg GAE/g. The highest content of total proanthocyanidin(645.38 ± 1.33) mg CE/g was in ACE of the root. Significant amounts of saponin and alkaloid were also present in the root and leaf extracts. All solvent fractions showed significant antioxidant activities(P < 0.05) with ACE of the root having the highest scavenging value as shown in DPPH, ABTS, total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide and ferric reducing antioxidant power(IC50= 0.014 mg/m L, <0.005 mg/m L, 0.048 mg/m L,0.067 mg/m L, and 0.075 mg/m L, respectively).Conclusions: In this study, the mean phytochemical content of the root of Rumex crispus is higher than that of the leaf and this may have contributed to its high antioxidant activities. This may also justify the frequent use of the root more than the leaves in traditional medicine for the cure of helminthic infections.
文摘Objective:To assess the prevalence of parasitic infections among patients attending Saint Camille Medical Centre and to estimate co-parasitic infections rates.Methods:From January to December 2009,stool samples were collected from 11 728 persons,aged from five months to 72 years and suffering from gastroenteritis.After macroscopic description,the stools were examined by light microscopy to search for the presence of parasites.Results:From the 11 728 analyzed stools,6 154(52.47%) were infected with at least one parasite.Protozoan frequently encountered were:Giardia intestinalis(43.47%),Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar(30.74%) and Trichomonas irUestinalis(21.72%),while Hymenolepis nana(2.25%) was the most common helminth.Co-infections occurred in 22.34%cases.Within the multi-infected samples,dual and triple infections accounted for 71.18%and 20.00%,respectively.Giardia irUestinalis for protozoan and Hymenolepis nana for helminths were the most implicated co-infections.Conclusions: This study confirms that intestinal parasites are still a public health problem in Burkina Faso.To reduce the incidence of parasitic infections,it is necessary to promote the education of people so that they practice the rules of individual and collective hygiene.
基金Support by the Ministry of Health,Belize and the Panamerican Health Organization,Washington D.C.,USA
文摘Objective:To assess prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths(STH) in school age children of two southern districts as baseline information prior to implement a deworming program against intestinal parasites as part of an integrated country development plan.Methods:Children randomly selected from urban and rural schools in Southern Belize provided one stool sample each,analysed by the Kato-Katz method to assess prevalence and intensity of STH infections.Epi Info software was used for data analysis;Chi-square test and Fischer exact test were applied to compare group proportions;P<0.05 was considered of statistical significance;descriptive statistics were expressed as percentages.Results:A total of 500 children from 10 schools participated in the study from May to December2005.Prevalence of STH ranged between 40%and 82%among schools,with a median of 59.2%;the majority of light intensity,and with 2.2%high intensity infection.Trichuris and Axaris infections presented similar frequency in children aged from 6 to 9 years old;hookworm infections tended to be more frequent in the older group 10 to 12 years old.Statistical significances(P≤0.01)were found in children in rural schools infected with any species of STH,in moderate Trichuris infections,in hookworm infections in rural areas with strong Mayan presence and in Ascaris infections in children of Mayan origin.Conclusions:High prevalence of STH in Southern Belize provided sound ground for implementing an integrated deworming control program.
文摘Strongyloides stercoralis,a soil transmitted helminth infection,affects millions with varying prevalence worldwide.A large number of affected hosts are asymptomatic.Symptoms pertaining to pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement may be present.Manifestations of involvement beyond lung and intestine can be seen with dissemination of infection and lethal hyperinfection.Immunosuppression secondary to use of steroids or other immunosuppressants and coexistence of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 are the known risk factors for dissemination and hyperinfection.Diagnostic modalities comprise stool examination,serology and molecular testing.Stool tests are inexpensive but are limited by low sensitivity,whereas serologic and molecular tests are more precise but at the expense of higher cost.Treatment with Ivermectin or Albendazole as an alternative is safe and efficacious.We present a rare case of acute pancreatitis secondary to Strongyloides.High index of suspicion in patients specifically from endemic countries of origin and lack of other common etiologies of acute pancreatitis may help in early diagnosis and prompt treatment of this potentially fatal infection.
基金university of Gondar and Azzezo health center for their support
文摘Objective:To assess the prevalence of malaria helminth co-infections and their contribution for aneamia in febrile patients attending Azzezo health center,Gondar,Northwest Ethiopia. Methods:A cross section study was conducted among febrile patients attending Azezo health center from February-March 30,2011.Convenient sampling technique was used to select 384 individuals.Both capillary blood and stool were collected.Giemsa stained thick and thin blood film were prepared for identification of Plasmodium species and stool sample was examined by direct wet mount and formalin-ether concentration technique for detection of intestinal helminthes parasites.Haemoglobin concentration was determined using a portable haemoglobin spectrophotometer,Hemocue Hb 201 analyzer.Results:Out of 384 febrile patients examined for malaria parasites,44(11.5%) individuals were positive for malaria parasites,of which Plasmodium vivax accounted for 75.0%(33),Plasmodium falciparum for 20.5%(9| infectious,whereas two person (4.5%) had mixed species infection.Prevalence of malaria was higher in males(28) when compared with prevalence in females(16).More than half(207,53.9%) of study participants had one or more infection.Prevalence was slightly higher in females(109,52.7%) than in males(98,47.3%).About helminths,Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant isolate(62.1%) followed by hookworms(18.4%). Only 22 participants were co-infected with malaria parasite and helminths and co-infection with Ascaris lumbricoides was predominant(45.0%).The prevalence of anemia was 10.9%and co-infection with Plasmodium and helminth parasites was significantly associated with(P【0.000 1) higher aneamia prevalence compared to individuals without any infection.Conclusions: Prevalence of malaria and soil transmitted helminths is high and the disease is still major health problem in the study area.Hence,simultaneous combat against the two parasitic infections is very crucial to improve health of the affected communities in economically developing countries.
文摘Objective:To assess the prevalence and associated factors of soil transmitted helminths(STHs)among Endemata primary school in North West Ethiopia,2021.Methods:A cross-sectional study with 195 school children was conducted from May to July 2021 at Endemata primary school.The study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling technique.Stool samples were processed via direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques.Data was entered by Epi-Dara version 3.1 and data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0.Variables were considered to be statistically significant if P<0.05 at 95%confidence level.Results:The overall prevalence of STHs was 10.8%(95%CI 7.1-16.0).The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides,hookworm and Trichuris trichiura were 5.6%(95%CI 3.1-9.9),3.1%(95%CI 1.3-6.7)and 2.1%(95%CI 0.6-5.3),respectively.Grade 1-4 students were more likely to get infected with STHs as compared to grade 5-8 students(adjusted OR 4.7,95%CI 1.3-16.6).Students who did not have latrines at their home were at higher risk to develop STHs infection comparing with those who had latrine at their home(adjusted OR 5.0,95%CI 1.7-15.2).Similarly,the school children who did not wear shoes were more likely to be infected by STH parasite than those who did it(adjusted OR 6.3,95%CI 1.9-20.7).The odds of being infected by STH parasites in children who did not trim their fingernails were 4.9 as compared to those who did it(adjusted OR 4.9,95%CI 1.5-15.7).Conclusions:The prevalence of STHs among Endemata primary school children was low.Student grade level,latrine availability,shoes wear and nail status were significantly associated with STHs infection.Therefore,we recommend policy makers and stakeholders to follow the integration of deworming with water,hygiene and sanitation as well as the consistent health education of school children to control and prevent STH infections.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Z.P.X,Grant No.82472311)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Z.P.X,Grant No.BK20211586)+3 种基金the Funding of the State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine(Z.P.X,Grant Nos.SKLRM-2021C3 and SKLRM-2024B14)the Medical Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission(Z.P.X,Grant No.Z2021004)the National Sharing Service Platform for Parasite Resources(Z.P.X,Grant No.TDRC-2019-194-30)the Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu Province of China(Z.P.X,Grant No.KY101R202127).
文摘Parasitic helminths,taxonomically comprising trematodes,cestodes,and nematodes,are multicellular invertebrates widely disseminated in nature and have afflicted humans continuously for a long time.Helminths play potent roles in the host by generating a variety of novel molecules,including some excretory/secretory products and others that are involved in intracellular material exchange and information transfer as well as the initiation or stimulation of immune and metabolic activation.The helminth-derived molecules have developed powerful and diverse immunosuppressive effects to achieve immune evasion for parasite survival and establish chronic infections.However,they also improve autoimmune and allergic inflammatory responses and promote metabolic homeostasis by promoting metabolic reprogramming of various immune functions,and then inducing alternatively activated macrophages,T helper 2 cells,and regulatory T cell-mediated immune responses.Therefore,a deeper exploration of the immunopathogenic mechanism and immune regulatory mechanisms of helminth-derived molecules exerted in the host is crucial for understanding host-helminth interactions,as well as the development of therapeutic drugs for infectious or non-infectious diseases.In this review,we focus on the properties of helminth-derived molecules to give an overview of the most recent scientific knowledge about their pathogenic and pharmacopeial roles in immune-metabolic homeostasis.
文摘Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem,causing nearly 500 milion cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually.More than one-fth of these cases are attrib-uted to Ancylostoma ceylanicum,an emerging zoonotic health issue in the Asia-Pacific region.This review presents key research gaps regarding the epidemiology,diagnosis,control,prevention and elimination of A.ceylanicum and other canine zoonotic hookworms as neglected health threats.A.ceylanicum is the second most prevalent human hook-worm in the region;it is the most common hookworm among dogs and cats-reservoirs of zoonotic infections.Previous population genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that A.ceylanicum has three possible transmis-sion dynamics:zoonotic,animal-only,and human-only pathways.The actual burden of zoonotic ancylostomiasis in most endemic countries remains unknown due to the use of parasitological techniques(e.g.,Kato-Katz thick smear and floatation techniques)that have reduced diagnostic performance and do not allow accurate species identifica-tion in helminth surveys.The emergence of benzimidazole resistance in soil-transmitted helminths(STHs),includ-ing hookworms,is a concern due to the protracted implementation of mass drug administration(MDA).Resistance is conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)that occur in theβ-tubulin isotype 1 gene.These mutations have been reported in drug-resistant A.caninum but have not been found in A.ceylanicum in the field.A.ceylanicum remains understudied in the Asia-Pacific region.The zoonotic nature of the parasite warrants investigation of its occur-rence in human and animal reservoir hosts to understand the dynamics of zoonotic transmission in different endemic foci.The detection of benzimidazole resistance-associated SNPs in zoonotic hookworms from Asia-Pacific countries has yet to be thoroughly explored.Considering the high level of hookworm endemicity in the region,the circulation of resistant isolates between humans and animals potentially presents a significant One Health threat that can under-mine current MDA and proposed animal deworming-based control efforts.
文摘<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Equines are affected by a large number of endoparasites, these can cause gastrointestinal signs, respiratory, poor performance, slow growth and even cause sudden death. The presence of parasites can be associated with various factors related to the animal and environmental or geographical factors. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection and risk factors in horses were evaluated. Stool samples belonging to 218 horses from different regions </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of central Mexico were analyzed by coproparasitological concentra</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tion-flotation technique. The fecal examinations were carried out from February to August in 2017. Among the 218 samples that were examined, 103 (47.24%) were found to be positive with several gastrointestinal parasites, with </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Strongylus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. being the most prevalent (23.85%) followed by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Trichostrongylus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. (21.56%) and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Parascaris</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. (11.93%). Breed and place of origin were significantly associated with helminth infection. Sex was associated as a significant risk factor (p < 0.01) with the infection by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Strongylus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. on females and by </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Anoplocephala</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, on males. In central Mexico, gastrointestinal helminth infection appears to be relatively low.
基金Marina Ziliotto received a fellowship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-CAPES(Brazil).Joel Henrique Ellwanger receives a postdoctoral fellowship from CAPES(Programa Nacional de Pós-Doutorado-PNPD/CAPES,Brazil).JoséArtur Bogo Chies receives a research fellowship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq(Bolsa de Produtividade em Pesquisa-Nível 1A,CNPq,Brazil)and has research project funded by CAPES(CAPES AUXPE 686/2020,Brazil).
文摘Soil harbours enormous biodiversity,essential for maintaining environmental and human health.However,soil can also be a reservoir of various parasitic pathogens,such as soil-transmitted helminths(STH).We evaluated the presence of STH(e.g.,hookworms,roundworms and whipworms)in soil samples collected at twenty points within the perimeter of Campus do Vale(a university campus belonging to the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS),during 2022 winter season.Considering the One Health perspective,human,animal and environmentrelated data from each sampling point were collected.All soil samples showed nematode larvae,representing natural components of soil biodiversity.Considering STH eggs,35%(n=7)of soil samples showed hookworm eggs(e.g.,from Necator americanus or Ancylostoma duodenale),10%(n=2)showed roundworm(Ascaris lumbricoides)eggs,and 5%(n=1)showed whipworm(Trichuris trichiura-like)eggs.Of note,10%of the sampling points showed the presence of rhabditiform hookworm larvae,5%showed Strongyloides stercoralis rhabditiform larvae and 5%had the presence of filariform hookworm larvae,indicating a risk of human percutaneous infection.The significant people circulation in Campus do Vale,in association with other environment-related factors,help to explain the prevalence of STH observed in this study.
