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Parasites & Vectors May 2024The giant roundworm Ascaris is an intestinal nematode, causing ascariasis by infecting humans and pigs worldwide. Recent estimates suggest that Ascaris infects over half...
BACKGROUND
The giant roundworm Ascaris is an intestinal nematode, causing ascariasis by infecting humans and pigs worldwide. Recent estimates suggest that Ascaris infects over half a billion people, with chronic infections leading to reduced growth and cognitive ability. Ascariasis affects innumerable pigs worldwide and is known to reduce production yields via decreased growth and condemnation of livers. The predominant anthelminthic drugs used to treat ascariasis are the benzimidazoles. Benzimidazoles interact with β-tubulins and block their function, and several benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations have been described in the β-tubulins of ruminant nematodes. Recent research on ascarids has shown that these canonical benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations are likely not present in the β-tubulins of Ascaris, Ascaridia or Parascaris, even in phenotypically resistant populations.
METHODS
To further determine the putative absence of key β-tubulin polymorphisms, we screened two β-tubulin isotypes of Ascaris, highly expressed in adult worms. Using adult and egg samples of Ascaris obtained from pigs and humans worldwide, we performed deep amplicon sequencing to look for canonical resistance-associated mutations in Ascaris β-tubulins. Subsequently, we examined these data in closer detail to study the population dynamics of Ascaris and genetic diversity within the two isotypes and tested whether genotypes appeared to partition across human and pig hosts.
RESULTS
In the 187 isolates, 69 genotypes were found, made up of eight haplotypes of β-tubulin isotype A and 20 haplotypes of isotype B. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were seen at 14 and 37 positions for β-tubulin isotype A and isotype B, respectively. No evidence of any canonical benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations was found in either human- or pig-derived Ascaris isolates. There was, however, a difference in the genetic diversity of each isotype and distribution of β-tubulin genotypes between human- and pig-derived Ascaris. Statistical tests of population differentiation show significant differences (p < 0.001) between pig- and human-derived worms; however, more diversity was seen between worms from different populations than worms from different hosts.
CONCLUSIONS
Our work suggests an absence of canonical β-tubulin mutations within Ascaris, but alternative modes of anthelminthic resistance may emerge necessitating continued genetic scrutiny alongside monitoring of drug efficacy.
Topics: Tubulin; Animals; Benzimidazoles; Drug Resistance; Ascariasis; Mutation; Anthelmintics; Swine; Ascaris; Humans; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 38755679
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06306-5 -
Acta Parasitologica Mar 2024Ascariasis caused by the helminth Ascaris suum is the most common parasitosis of swine worldwide and it may involve all age categories of pigs. The present study reports...
PURPOSE
Ascariasis caused by the helminth Ascaris suum is the most common parasitosis of swine worldwide and it may involve all age categories of pigs. The present study reports an unusual localization of A. suum worms in the biliary system of a piglet slaughtered for human consumption.
METHODS
The liver was subjected to ultrasound scan and pathological examination. The isolated worms were morphologically examined and the DNA was extracted for the molecular identification of the species involved.
RESULTS
A total of 43 preadult nematodes were found within the gallbladder and the bile ducts. Parasites were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Ascaris and molecularly as A. suum. At gross examination, the liver was moderately enlarged, with the bile ducts severely dilated. A chronic inflammatory infiltrate was noted, often centered around ectatic bile ducts (up to 5 mm in diameter), lined by hyperplastic epithelium and filled with sections of nematodes. The worm sections showed smooth cuticle, coelomyarian musculature, and an intestinal tract lined by columnar, uninucleated cells within a pseudocoelom. The ex vivo ultrasonographic examination of the liver allowed the visualization of several nematodes in the bile duct lumen and could be suggested for in vivo diagnosis. Unfortunately, the absence of the intestine did not allow to define the pathogenesis of the infection.
CONCLUSION
Although, given the unusual nature of this finding, it is difficult to identify predisposing factors for this A. suum localization, it suggests that ascariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pigs with hepatobiliary disease.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Swine; Swine Diseases; Ascaris suum; Liver; Ultrasonography; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Gallbladder; Bile Ducts
PubMed: 38424402
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00813-2 -
Journal of Ayub Medical College,... 2023Gall bladder ascariasis is a rare entity accounting for only 2.1% of biliary ascariasis features due to anatomical features of the cystic duct. It usually presents with...
Gall bladder ascariasis is a rare entity accounting for only 2.1% of biliary ascariasis features due to anatomical features of the cystic duct. It usually presents with vague abdominal features. Ultrasonography is the most sensitive and useful investigation for its diagnosis. We present a case of gall bladder ascariasis in an antenatal young female patient showing features of cholecystitis. She was diagnosed by ultrasonography and managed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy followed by oral anti-helminthic drugs. She made an uneventful recovery and is doing great in follow-up visits.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Ascariasis; Cholecystitis; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; Abdomen
PubMed: 38404103
DOI: 10.55519/JAMC-03-10212 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Aug 2023Ascariasis is a helminthic infection of humans caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Intestinal obstruction from ascariasis can result in a rare but severe and often fatal...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Ascariasis is a helminthic infection of humans caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Intestinal obstruction from ascariasis can result in a rare but severe and often fatal surgical emergency of intestinal perforation and peritonitis in endemic areas. There have been reports of ascariasis causing Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) in children in endemic areas but this phenomenon has not been studied in adults. The objective of this study was to describe the case of ascariasis causing SBO in a 25-year-old female.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 25-year-old female from southwest Ethiopia presented with a complaint of intermittent crampy abdominal pain of 02 days duration associated with vomiting of ingested matter of 02 to 03 episodes, progressive abdominal distension and failure to pass feces and flatus. On examination, she was acutely sick looking. She has mild abdominal distention and a hyperactive bowel sound. Subsequently, she was resuscitated, broad spectrum antibiotic started, consent taken & operated. Patient discharged on the 7th postoperative day.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
There have been reports of Ascariasis causing SBO in endemic areas of the tropics and sub-tropics. SBO secondary to the ascaris ball in an adult is very rare and is relevant to present as it adds key clinical lessons in the consideration as a differential diagnosis, investigation clues and patient management.
CONCLUSION
In a patient presented with symptoms and signs suggestive of bowel obstruction, Ascariasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for those from endemic areas. The treating physician should have a high index of suspicion.
PubMed: 37437322
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108486 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Hance (Primulaceae) is a medicinal plant used for cold, pain, ascariasis, etc., in China. Triterpenoid saponins have been found to be the main components of this genus....
Hance (Primulaceae) is a medicinal plant used for cold, pain, ascariasis, etc., in China. Triterpenoid saponins have been found to be the main components of this genus. In this work, a pair of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins with an unprecedented 4/5/6 fused tricyclic skeleton, foegraecumoside O () and foegraecumoside P () were isolated from the butanol fraction of the aerial parts of . Their structures were determined using chemical methods and extensive spectroscopic analyses, along with quantum chemical calculations. Compound displayed moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2, MGC-803, T24, NCI-H460, A549, and A549/CDDP (drug-resistant lung-cancer cell line) with IC at 12.4-19.2 μM in an MTT assay, comparing with the positive control doxorubicin, which had IC at 0.53-4.92 μM, but was inactive for A549/CDDP. Furthermore, a possible biosynthetic pathway for forming compounds and was proposed.
Topics: Molecular Structure; Lysimachia; Saponins; Oleanolic Acid; Triterpenes
PubMed: 37446727
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135061 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Nov 2023Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the... (Review)
Review
Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the improvement of public health protection, the incidence of ascariasis has been reduced considerably, resulting in limited medical application of TSN. Therefore, it is questionable whether this old ascaris repellent can develop into a drug candidate. Modern studies have shown that TSN has strong pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-botulinum, anti-viral and anti-parasitic potentials. It also can regulate fat formation and improve inflammation. These researches indicate that TSN has great potential to be developed into a corresponding medical product. In order to better development and application of TSN, the availability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of TSN are summarized systematically. In addition, this review discusses shortcomings in the current researches and provides useful suggestions about how TSN developed into a drug candidate. Therefore, this paper illustrates the possibility of developing TSN as a medical product, aimed to provide directions for the clinical application and further research of TSN.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ascaris; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Neoplasms; China
PubMed: 37738795
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115541 -
Parasites & Vectors Jul 2023Baylisascaris schroederi is the most common and harmful intestinal parasitic nematode of giant pandas, causing ascariasis. Although drug deworming is the main measure to...
BACKGROUND
Baylisascaris schroederi is the most common and harmful intestinal parasitic nematode of giant pandas, causing ascariasis. Although drug deworming is the main measure to control ascariasis in captive giant pandas, prolonged and repeated use of deworming drugs might induce resistance in nematodes and drug residues in giant pandas. Therefore, developing a safe and effective vaccine might provide a novel strategy to prevent ascariasis in captive giant pandas.
METHODS
Four highly expressed secretome genes encoding excretory and secretory proteins of B. schroederi, including transthyretin-like protein 46 (BsTLP), uncharacterized protein (BsUP), hypothetical protein 1 (BsHP1), and hypothetical protein 2 (BsHP2) and four functional genes [(encoding Galectin (BsGAL), glutathione S-transferase (BsGST), fatty acid-binding protein (BsFABP), and thioredoxin peroxidase (BsTPX)] were identified based on genome and transcriptome databases of B. schroederi and used to construct recombinant proteins via prokaryotic expression. Kunming mice were vaccinated subcutaneously twice with the recombinant proteins (50 μg/mouse) mixed with Quil A adjuvant with a 2-week interval and then orally challenged with 3000 infective eggs. The immunoprotective effects of the eight recombinant proteins on mice were assessed comprehensively using surface lesion histology scores of the mouse liver and lung, larval worm reduction, serum antibody levels (IgG, IgE, IgA, IgG1, and IgG2a), and cytokine production [interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10].
RESULTS
Mice vaccinated with recombinant (r)BsUP (76.5%), rBsGAL (74.7%), and rBsHP2 (71.5%) showed a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the larval worm rate compared with that in the adjuvant control. Besides, the surface lesions in the liver and lung of the vaccinated mice were alleviated. Serum levels of total IgG, IgE, IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, and cytokines, including IL-10, IL-5, and IFN-γ, were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that candidate three vaccines (rBsUP, rBsGAL, and rBsHP2) could provide effective protection against egg infection in mice associated with a mixed Th1/2-type immune response.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Interleukin-10; Ascariasis; Ursidae; Interleukin-5; Recombinant Proteins; Vaccines; Ascaridoidea; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin E; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 37501169
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05886-y -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Apr 2024We describe a case of a 2-year-old child who expelled a single adult female Ascaris lumbricoides worm. The patient is from a rural county in Mississippi, USA, with no...
We describe a case of a 2-year-old child who expelled a single adult female Ascaris lumbricoides worm. The patient is from a rural county in Mississippi, USA, with no reported travel outside of the United States. The caregivers in the home practice good sanitation. Exposure to domestic pigs is the likely source of infection.
Topics: Swine; Adult; Animals; Humans; Female; Child, Preschool; Mississippi; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Sus scrofa; Travel
PubMed: 38526329
DOI: 10.3201/eid3004.240176 -
International Journal For Parasitology.... Dec 2023Intestinal parasitic infections such as amoebiasis, ascariasis, hookworm infection, and are the most common infections among non-human primates (NHPs). There are always...
Intestinal parasitic infections such as amoebiasis, ascariasis, hookworm infection, and are the most common infections among non-human primates (NHPs). There are always the possibilities of transmission these parasites between humans and NHPs. Multiple groups of rhesus macaques () live in the urban area of Kathmandu Valley near human settlements, however the gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections in those macaques are understudied. This study aimed to explore the GI parasites in free-ranging macaques from Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Tripureshwor, Nilbarahi temples and a group of captive rhesus macaques in the Central Zoo, Kathmandu. Fecal samples were collected from the macaques between October 2021 to September 2022 and assessed for parasites by the both wet mount method and concentration technique. There is high prevalence of GI parasite infection; out of 121 fecal samples examined, 87.6% of samples were positive. Six species of protozoans and eight species of helminths were identified from the fecal samples including the first report of in monkeys of Nepal. Among the protozoan parasites, (54.71%) showed the highest prevalence followed by (44.33%), (19.81%), and (10%). Among the helminths, spp. (31.13%) and spp. (31.13%) showed the highest prevalence followed by Hookworm (24.52%), and spp. (23.58%) The likelihood ratio test suggested that the prevalence differed significantly with the seasons for , spp., spp., Hookworm, and spp. The prevalence of , , spp. spp. and Unknown spp.1 differed with sampling localities. The high prevalence of GI parasites found in the macaques living in the densely urbanized Kathmandu presents a potential threat to humans and warrants further study as well as increased education of the public and management of the human-macaque interface in the urban landscape of the Valley.
PubMed: 37915770
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.007 -
Galen Medical Journal 2023Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal surgeries. The importance of parasitic etiologies in the pathogenesis of appendicitis is not well known...
BACKGROUND
Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal surgeries. The importance of parasitic etiologies in the pathogenesis of appendicitis is not well known in appendectomy specimens on a large scale in southwestern Iran. The current study aimed to retrospectively assess the demographic data and histopathological records of appendicitis in a 28-year period in Fars province, southwestern Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Histopathological records of 13,013 patients who had undergone surgeries for appendicitis at Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, affiliated with the Fasa University of Medical Sciences from December 1993 to January 2021 were reviewed and data concerning the patients' demographic data and histopathological records were retrieved from each record. More than 6800 archived microscopic glass slides were also reviewed.
RESULTS
From a total of 13,013 histopathological records of surgical excisions of appendicitis that were reviewed over a 28-year period, 8,189 (62.9%) were male and 4,842 (37.1%) were female. Patients' age ranged from 2 to 98 years, with a mean age of 24.68±19.87 years. The most common inflammatory changes were 5,687 (43.7%), 1,228 (9.4%), 670 (5.1%), 522 (4%), and 363 (2.8%) cases of acute appendicitis, suppurative appendicitis, early acute appendicitis, gangrenous appendicitis, and perforated appendicitis respectively. Microscopically, no viral inclusions, fungal elements, and histopathologic findings of bacterial causes were found. Parasitic infections such as helminthiasis were detected in 74 (0.6%) cases aged from 6 to 63. Enterobiasis (Syn. oxyuriasis, pinworm infection) accounted for 73 (98.6%) of the 74 helminthiases, while ascariasis accounted for 1 (1.4%). Out of 74 cases, 29 (39.2%) showed evidence of appendicitis.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that although parasitic agents are minor causes of appendicitis, these agents should be kept in mind during differential diagnosis. However, whether every parasitic infection leads to appendicitis is controversial.
PubMed: 38774854
DOI: 10.31661/gmj.v12i.2482