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Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Nov 2023Ascariasis and intestinal parasitic nematodes are the leading cause of mass mortality infecting many people across the globe. In light of the various deleterious side... (Review)
Review
Ascariasis and intestinal parasitic nematodes are the leading cause of mass mortality infecting many people across the globe. In light of the various deleterious side effects of modern chemical-based allopathic drugs, our preferences have currently shifted towards the use of traditional plant-based drugs or botanicals for treating diseases. The defensive propensities in the botanicals against parasites have probably evolved during their co-habitation with parasites, humans and plants in nature and hence their combative interference in one another's defensive mechanisms has occurred naturally ultimately being very effective in treating diseases. This article broadly outlines the utility of plant-based compounds or botanicals prepared from various medicinal herbs that have the potential to be developed as effective therapies against the important parasites causing ascariasis and intestinal hookworm infections leading to ascariasis & infections and thereby human mortality, wherein allopathic treatments are less effective and causes enormous side-effects.
PubMed: 37841664
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103814 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2020Parasitic helminths infect over one-fourth of the human population resulting in significant morbidity, and in some cases, death in endemic countries. Despite mass drug... (Review)
Review
Parasitic helminths infect over one-fourth of the human population resulting in significant morbidity, and in some cases, death in endemic countries. Despite mass drug administration (MDA) to school-aged children and other control measures, helminth infections are spreading into new areas. Thus, there is a strong rationale for developing anthelminthic vaccines as cost-effective, long-term immunological control strategies, which, unlike MDA, are not haunted by the threat of emerging drug-resistant helminths nor limited by reinfection risk. Advances in vaccinology, immunology, and immunomics include the development of new tools that improve the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of vaccines; and some of these tools have been used in the development of helminth vaccines. The development of anthelminthic vaccines is fraught with difficulty. Multiple lifecycle stages exist each presenting stage-specific antigens. Further, helminth parasites are notorious for their ability to dampen down and regulate host immunity. One of the first significant challenges in developing any vaccine is identifying suitable candidate protective antigens. This review explores our current knowledge in lead antigen identification and reports on recent pre-clinical and clinical trials in the context of the soil-transmitted helminths , the hookworms and . Ultimately, a multivalent anthelminthic vaccine could become an essential tool for achieving the medium-to long-term goal of controlling, or even eliminating helminth infections.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Child; Helminthiasis; Humans; Immunity; Population; Soil; Trichuriasis; Vaccines
PubMed: 33133094
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.576748 -
Genes Mar 2021Nematodes of the genus are important parasites of humans and swine, and the phylogenetically related genera (, and infect mammals of veterinary interest. Over the last... (Review)
Review
Nematodes of the genus are important parasites of humans and swine, and the phylogenetically related genera (, and infect mammals of veterinary interest. Over the last decade, considerable genomic resources have been established for , including complete germline and somatic genomes, comprehensive mRNA and small RNA transcriptomes, as well as genome-wide histone and chromatin data. These datasets provide a major resource for studies on the basic biology of these parasites and the host-parasite relationship. and its relatives undergo programmed DNA elimination, a highly regulated process where chromosomes are fragmented and portions of the genome are lost in embryonic cells destined to adopt a somatic fate, whereas the genome remains intact in germ cells. Unlike many model organisms, transcription drives early development beginning prior to pronuclear fusion. Studies on demonstrated a complex small RNA network even in the absence of a piRNA pathway. Comparative genomics of these ascarids has provided perspectives on nematode sex chromosome evolution, programmed DNA elimination, and host-parasite coevolution. The genomic resources enable comparison of proteins across diverse species, revealing many new potential drug targets that could be used to control these parasitic nematodes.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Databases, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genome, Protozoan; Humans; Swine; Transcriptome
PubMed: 33800545
DOI: 10.3390/genes12040493 -
Cureus May 2024Ascariasis is one of the most common parasitic infections in the world. It is mostly asymptomatic; however, rarely when the worms migrate to the biliary tract, they can...
Ascariasis is one of the most common parasitic infections in the world. It is mostly asymptomatic; however, rarely when the worms migrate to the biliary tract, they can cause biliary ascariasis. It typically presents with pain abdomen, jaundice, and fever. This case report is about a patient who presented with fever, icterus, breathlessness, loose stools, and altered sensorium but had no abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with biliary ascariasis using ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The patient was treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy and albendazole. The patient remained stable after 10 days. The absence of abdominal pain highlights the variability of the presentation of biliary ascariasis.
PubMed: 38887340
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60537 -
International Journal For Parasitology Dec 2021The major soil-transmitted helminths that infect humans are the roundworms, whipworms and hookworms. Soil-transmitted helminth infections rank among the most important... (Review)
Review
The major soil-transmitted helminths that infect humans are the roundworms, whipworms and hookworms. Soil-transmitted helminth infections rank among the most important neglected tropical diseases in terms of morbidity, and almost one billion people are still infected with at least one species. While anthelmintic drugs are available, they do not offer long term protection against reinfection, precipitating the need for vaccines that provide long-term immunologic defense. Vaccine discovery and development is in advanced clinical development for hookworm infection, with a bivalent human hookworm vaccine in clinical trials in Brazil and Africa, but is in its infancy for both roundworm (ascariasis) and whipworm (trichuriasis) infections. One of the greatest hurdles to developing soil-transmitted helminth vaccines is the potent immunoregulatory properties of these helminths, creating a barrier to the induction of meaningful long-term protective immunity. While challenging for vaccinologists, this phenomenon presents unique opportunities to develop an entirely new class of anti-inflammatory drugs that capitalise on these immunomodulatory strategies. Epidemiologic studies and clinical trials employing experimental soil-transmitted helminth challenge models, when coupled with findings from animal models, show that at least some soil-transmitted helminth-derived molecules can protect against the onset of autoimmune, allergic and metabolic disorders, and several natural products with the desired bioactivity have been isolated and tested in pre-clinical settings. The yin and yang of soil-transmitted helminth infections reflect both the urgency for effective vaccines and the potential for new immunoregulatory molecules from parasite products.
Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Ascariasis; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Nematoda; Prevalence; Soil; Trichuriasis; Trichuris; Vaccines
PubMed: 34774540
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.11.001 -
Arab Journal of Gastroenterology : the... Mar 2018Ascaris is a common cause of acute pancreatitis in developing countries. The mechanism of ascariasis induced acute pancreatitis include obstruction of papilla of Vater,...
Ascaris is a common cause of acute pancreatitis in developing countries. The mechanism of ascariasis induced acute pancreatitis include obstruction of papilla of Vater, invasion of common bile duct, or pancreatic duct (PD). PD ascariasis is a rare diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound is a highly accurate method to diagnose the aetiology of idiopathic acute pancreatitis with reference to biliary and pancreatic ascariasis. Treatment usually consist of endoscopic removal of worms with dormia basket or forceps on side viewing endoscopy. Ascaris induced pancreatitis is generally mild and worm extraction is associated with rapid relief of symptoms. We present a case of PD ascariasis diagnosed on endoscopic ultrasound.
Topics: Albendazole; Animals; Anthelmintics; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Endosonography; Humans; Male; Pancreatitis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 29523472
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajg.2018.02.011 -
Research in Veterinary Science Mar 2021This is a review on the current status of Ascaris and Toxocara as agents of disease as a foodborne pathogen that is often transmitted onto produce via contaminated... (Review)
Review
This is a review on the current status of Ascaris and Toxocara as agents of disease as a foodborne pathogen that is often transmitted onto produce via contaminated water. The paper introduces the parasites, their biology, disease caused, and mode of transmission. It summarizes recent research on methods for the detection of the parasites on crops, their prevalence in recent surveys of ready to eat plants in different parts of the world, and potential aspects of their means for remediation on vegetable crops. Also discussed is the ubiquitous nature of the presence of these eggs in the environment due to the many humans infected and means currently underway to control these parasites though improve water quality, sanitation, and hygiene.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Food Parasitology; Humans; Toxocara; Toxocariasis; Water
PubMed: 33412474
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.12.017 -
Khirurgiia 2022Ascaris lumbricoides is nematode localized in human small bowel in most cases. This nematode is capable for migration. Pancreatitis is one of the most common surgical...
Ascaris lumbricoides is nematode localized in human small bowel in most cases. This nematode is capable for migration. Pancreatitis is one of the most common surgical diseases. One of the causes of this pancreatitis may be migration of Ascaris lumbricoides from small bowel through the major duodenal papilla to the pancreatic ducts. This migration is provided by complex of morphological and functional disorders of digestive system associated with this helminthiasis, as well as certain risk factors. These are previous cholecystectomy, sphincterotomy, living in endemic areas, massive Ascaris lumbricoides invasion, pregnancy. Damage of the pancreas develops due to direct mechanical effect of nematodes and allergic reactions, papillitis and functional disorders of digestive tract. Pancreatitis is usually mild, but severe course of disease is also possible. A typical symptom of pancreatitis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides is helminths in vomit and/or feces.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Female; Humans; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Pregnancy
PubMed: 35775847
DOI: 10.17116/hirurgia202207171 -
Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski : Organ... Apr 2019Ascariasis is considered a public health problem mostly in tropical countries and thus studies are realized usually in those countries and particularly in children. As a...
UNLABELLED
Ascariasis is considered a public health problem mostly in tropical countries and thus studies are realized usually in those countries and particularly in children. As a result, there are limitations in the current literature that associate ascariasis with neurological disorders or psychomotor disturbances.
AIM
The aim of study was to prove our hypothesis that ascariasis in children and adults is related to selected psycho-neurological symptoms such as hyperactivity, tic disorders and nail biting (onychophagia).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted in the Polish cities of Warsaw and Rzeszów but the patients were drawn from across the country. This study included a total of 465 Poles aged between 1 and 80 years old of both sexes divided into one case group and one control group. The association between the presence of ascariasis and the apparition of selected symptoms was presented within the group containing all subjects and according to gender (males and females) and age (children and adults). The study was conducted in Warsaw and Rzeszów between 2016 and 2018. Data were collected using external laboratories for stool analysis to determine the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, and a special questionnaire designed to determine the presence of the selected symptoms: hyperactivity, onychophagia and tic disorders. The Mann-Whitney U test was then used to determine differences between groups.
RESULTS
We have demonstrated that people with ascariasis showed a higher incidence of all the examined symptoms compared to the results obtained in the control group. Here we report that people infected with Ascaris lumbricoides are more likely to present hyperactivity, onychophagia and tic disorders. Most of the studied symptoms were more intense among women and children.
CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated that people with ascariasis showed a higher incidence of all the examined symptoms compared to the results obtained in the control group. Here we report that people infected with Ascaris lumbricoides are more likely to present hyperactivity, onychophagia and tic disorders. Most of the studied symptoms were more intense among women and children.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Poland; Young Adult
PubMed: 31099762
DOI: No ID Found -
Experimental Parasitology Jul 2022Human ascariasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases worldwide. The immune response during human ascariasis is characterized by Th2 polarization and...
BACKGROUND
Human ascariasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases worldwide. The immune response during human ascariasis is characterized by Th2 polarization and a mixed Th2/Th17 response during the pathogenesis of experimental larval ascariasis. Cytokines and other pro-inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), are involved in helminthic infections. However, the role of NO in ascariasis remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES
Given the importance of NO in inflammation, we aimed to determine the immunological and histopathological alterations in the livers of C57BL/6 iNOS mice during A. suum infection.
METHODS
In this study, parasitic load was evaluated in the livers of wild type C57BL/6 and C57BL/6 iNOS mice infected with A. suum. Histopathological and morphometric analyses and analysis of serum cytokines via Cytometric Bead Array were performed, and the activity of eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase of neutrophils in the tissues were determined.
RESULTS
The results showed that NO is important for controlling parasitic load during infection by A. suum. C57BL/6iNOS mice showed reduced inflammatory processes and less tissue damage during liver larval migration of A. suum, which is associated with a reduction in serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated that NO is a crucial inflammatory molecule during Ascaris sp. infection and controls the establishment of the parasite and the development of the host immune response in the liver.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris suum; Cytokines; Inflammation; Liver; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nitric Oxide; Parasites
PubMed: 35550886
DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108267