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PLoS Pathogens Jul 2023Schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease, is primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, or Schistosoma haematobium. Currently, praziquantel is... (Review)
Review
Schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease, is primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, or Schistosoma haematobium. Currently, praziquantel is the only recommended drug for human schistosome infection. However, the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms and concerns about the emergence of drug resistance are driving forces behind the research for an alternative medication. Schistosomes are obligatory parasites that survive on nutrients obtained from their host. The ability of nutrient uptake depends on their physiological structure. In short, the formation and maintenance of the structure and nutrient supply are mutually reinforcing and interdependent. In this review, we focus on the structural features of the tegument, esophagus, and intestine of schistosomes and their roles in nutrient acquisition. Moreover, we introduce the significance and modes of glucose, lipids, proteins, and amino acids intake in schistosomes. We linked the schistosome structure and nutrient supply, introduced the currently emerging targets, and analyzed the current bottlenecks in the research and development of drugs and vaccines, in the hope of providing new strategies for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Praziquantel; Schistosomiasis; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; Eating
PubMed: 37498810
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011498 -
Pathogens and Global Health Sep 2023FLA-related conditions are a rare medical occurrence. Despite their rarity, they are considered a public health concern for two reasons: the absence of a regular... (Review)
Review
FLA-related conditions are a rare medical occurrence. Despite their rarity, they are considered a public health concern for two reasons: the absence of a regular treatment regimen in the case of central nervous system infections and the fast progression of the symptoms leading to fatal outcomes. A total of 358 articles were retrieved from different databases (91 from PubMed, 26 from NCBI, 138 from Academia, 102 from Science Direct, and one from IJMED). 7 (46.6%) clinical cases came from Egypt, 2 (13.3%) cases of FLA infection came from Nigeria, 3 (20%) cases came from the Gambia, and 1 (6.6%) case was reported from African countries like Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, and Zambia. Medical conditions caused by free-living amoeba are considered significant public health concerns. These ubiquitous organisms can cause both fatal and debilitating health conditions. Immediate diagnosis of cases and proper hygienic practices are necessary to provide direct medical intervention. They may be the key to reducing the morbidity and mortality rates from FLA-acquired infections. Although several government-led initiatives have been implemented to mitigate a plethora of parasitic diseases, the case of FLA-related conditions in African countries has yet to be realized.
Topics: Humans; Acanthamoeba; Amebiasis; Amoeba; Public Health; Nigeria
PubMed: 36562083
DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2160890 -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Jun 2023Laboratory workers are exposed to the risk of acquiring infections due to the manipulation of infectious materials. The biological hazard for researchers is seven times... (Review)
Review
Laboratory workers are exposed to the risk of acquiring infections due to the manipulation of infectious materials. The biological hazard for researchers is seven times higher when compared with hospital and public health laboratory workers. Despite the implementation of standardized practices to control infections, multiple cases of Laboratory Associated Infections (LAIs) usually go unreported. There has been a lack of comprehensive epidemiological data regarding the situation of LAIs for parasitic zoonosis and besides, the available sources are not completely updated. Since most accounts of laboratory infections are organism-specific, this study has focused on common pathogenic/zoonotic species handled at parasitological laboratories and summarising the standard biosecurity protocols for the infectious agents. The main characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba spp, Giardia duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania spp., Echinococcus spp., Schistosoma spp., Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma caninum, Strongyloides stercoralis are considered in this review in order to assess the potential risk of developing occupational infections in the workplace along with stating prevention and prophylactic measures for each species. It was concluded that the LAIs from these agents can be prevented by using personal protective measures and good laboratory practices. However, further studies are necessary to better understand the environmental resistance of cysts, oocysts and eggs, with a view to select the most suitable disinfection methods. Furthermore, it is fundamental to constantly update epidemiological data of infection acquired by laboratory workers, to develop accurate risk indicators.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Cryptosporidiosis; Biosecurity; Laboratories; Cryptosporidium; Parasites; Zoonoses; Parasitic Diseases; Feces; Giardiasis
PubMed: 37406067
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.9428 -
Cells Nov 2023Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) constitute a group of diseases that generally develop in tropical or subtropical climatic conditions and are related to poverty.... (Review)
Review
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) constitute a group of diseases that generally develop in tropical or subtropical climatic conditions and are related to poverty. Within the spectrum of NTDs, diseases caused by protozoa such as malaria, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis exhibit elevated mortality rates, thereby constituting a substantial public health concern. Beyond their protozoan etiology, these NTDs share other similarities, such as the challenge of control and the lack of affordable, safe, and effective drugs. In view of the above, the need to explore novel diagnostic predictors and therapeutic targets for the treatment of these parasitic diseases is evident. In this context, galectins are attractive because they are a set of lectins bound to β-galactosides that play key roles in a variety of cellular processes, including host-parasite interaction such as adhesion and entry of parasites into the host cells, and participate in antiparasitic immunity in either a stimulatory or inhibitory manner, especially the galectins-1, -2, -3, and -9. These functions bestow upon galectins significant therapeutic prospects in the context of managing and diagnosing NTDs. Thus, the present review aims to elucidate the potential role of galectins in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.
Topics: Animals; Parasites; Galectins; Parasitic Diseases; Leishmaniasis; Chagas Disease; Malaria
PubMed: 38067100
DOI: 10.3390/cells12232671 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Sep 2023Blastocystis hominis (Bh) is zoonotic parasitic pathogen with a high prevalent globally, causing opportunistic infections and diarrhea disease. Human immunodeficiency... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Blastocystis hominis (Bh) is zoonotic parasitic pathogen with a high prevalent globally, causing opportunistic infections and diarrhea disease. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disrupts the immune system by depleting CD4 T lymphocyte (CD4 T) cell counts, thereby increasing Bh infection risk among persons living with HIV (PLWH). However, the precise association between Bh infection risk and HIV-related biological markers and treatment processes remains poorly understood. Hence, the purpose of the study was to explore the association between Bh infection risk and CD4 T cell counts, HIV viral load (VL), and duration of interruption in antiviral therapy among PLWH.
METHODS
A large-scale multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted in China from June 2020 to December 2022. The genetic presence of Bh in fecal samples was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the CD4 T cell counts in venous blood was measured using flowcytometry, and the HIV VL in serum was quantified using fluorescence-based instruments. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was applied to assess the non-linear association between Bh infection risk and CD4 T cell counts, HIV VL, and duration of interruption in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HARRT).
RESULTS
A total of 1245 PLWH were enrolled in the study, the average age of PLWH was 43 years [interquartile range (IQR): 33, 52], with 452 (36.3%) being female, 50.4% (n = 628) had no immunosuppression (CD4 T cell counts > 500 cells/μl), and 78.1% (n = 972) achieved full virological suppression (HIV VL < 50 copies/ml). Approximately 10.5% (n = 131) of PLWH had interruption. The prevalence of Bh was found to be 4.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-6.4%] among PLWH. Significant nonlinear associations were observed between the Bh infection risk and CD4 T cell counts (P < 0.001, L-shaped), HIV VL (P < 0.001, inverted U-shaped), and duration of interruption in HARRT (P < 0.001, inverted U-shaped).
CONCLUSIONS
The study revealed that VL was a better predictor of Bh infection than CD4 T cell counts. It is crucial to consider the simultaneous surveillance of HIV VL and CD4 T cell counts in PLWH in the regions with high level of socioeconomic development. The integrated approach can offer more comprehensive and accurate understanding in the aspects of Bh infection and other opportunistic infections, the efficacy of therapeutic drugs, and the assessment of preventive and control strategies.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Male; HIV; Blastocystis Infections; Cross-Sectional Studies; China; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
PubMed: 37697423
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01137-5 -
Cells Oct 2023Tuft cells have recently emerged as the focus of intense interest following the discovery of their chemosensory role in the intestinal tract, and their ability to... (Review)
Review
Tuft cells have recently emerged as the focus of intense interest following the discovery of their chemosensory role in the intestinal tract, and their ability to activate Type 2 immune responses to helminth parasites. Moreover, they populate a wide range of mucosal tissues and are intimately connected to immune and neuronal cells, either directly or through the release of pharmacologically active mediators. They are now recognised to fulfil both homeostatic roles, in metabolism and tissue integrity, as well as acting as the first sensors of parasite infection, immunity to which is lost in their absence. In this review we focus primarily on the importance of tuft cells in the intestinal niche, but also link to their more generalised physiological role and discuss their potential as targets for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
Topics: Animals; Intestinal Mucosa; Helminths; Parasitic Diseases; Parasites; Immunity
PubMed: 37887321
DOI: 10.3390/cells12202477 -
Parasites, Hosts and Diseases Nov 2023This study aimed to identify the recent risk factors for Opisthorchis viverrini infection and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) to improve disease prevention. The participants...
This study aimed to identify the recent risk factors for Opisthorchis viverrini infection and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) to improve disease prevention. The participants were divided into the following 3 groups based on their health status: healthy control (nonOV and nonCCA), those with O. viverrini infection (OV), and those with CCA. A questionnaire was used to explore their lifestyle and behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression and backward elimination were used to identify the significant risk factors. The results showed that the significant risk factors for both O. viverrini infection and CCA were age>50 years (odd ratio (OR)=8.44, P<0.001, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.98-23.90 and OR=43.47, P=0.001, 95% CI 14.71-128.45, respectively) and raw fish consumption (OR=8.48, P< 0.001, 95% CI 3.18-22.63 and OR=3.15, P=0.048, 95% CI 1.01-9.86, respectively). A history of O. viverrini infection was identified as an additional risk factor for CCA (OR=20.93, P=0.011, 95% CI 2.04-215.10). This study provided an update on the risk factors for O. viverrini infection and CCA. Asymptomatic patients with O. viverrini infection, particularly those>50 years old, should be carefully monitored to prevent CCA.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Middle Aged; Opisthorchiasis; Thailand; Opisthorchis; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Cholangiocarcinoma; Risk Factors; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
PubMed: 38043542
DOI: 10.3347/PHD.23032 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Jul 2023Felids are the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii. However, the biological features of the feline small intestine following T. gondii infection are poorly...
BACKGROUND
Felids are the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii. However, the biological features of the feline small intestine following T. gondii infection are poorly understood. We investigated the changes in the expression of RNAs (including mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs) in the small intestinal epithelia of cats following T. gondii infection to improve our understanding of the life cycle of T. gondii and cat responses to T. gondii infection.
METHODS
Fifteen cats were randomly assigned to five groups, and the infection groups were inoculated with 600 tissue cysts of the T. gondii Pru strain by gavage. The small intestinal epithelia of cats were collected at 6, 10, 14, and 30 days post infection (DPI). Using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we investigated the changes in RNA expression. The expression levels of differentially expressed (DE) genes and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) identified by RNA-seq were validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Differential expression was determined using the DESeq R package.
RESULTS
In total, 207 annotated lncRNAs, 20,552 novel lncRNAs, 3342 novel circRNAs and 19,409 mRNAs were identified. Among these, 70 to 344 DE mRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs were detected, and the post-cleavage binding sites between 725 ncRNAs and 2082 miRNAs were predicted. Using the co-location method, we predicted that a total of 235 lncRNAs target 1044 protein-coding genes, while the results of co-expression analysis revealed that 174 lncRNAs target 2097 mRNAs. Pathway enrichment analyses of the genes targeted by ncRNAs suggested that most ncRNAs were significantly enriched in immune or diseases-related pathways. NcRNA regulatory networks revealed that a single ncRNA could be directly or indirectly regulated by multiple genes or ncRNAs that could influence the immune response of cats. Co-expression analysis showed that 242 circRNAs, mainly involved in immune responses, were significantly associated with T. gondii infection. In contrast, 1352 protein coding RNAs, mainly involved in nucleic acid process/repair pathways or oocyte development pathways, were negatively associated with T. gondii infection.
CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to reveal the expression profiles of circRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs in the cat small intestine following T. gondii infection and will facilitate the elucidation of the role of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection in its definitive host, thereby facilitating the development of novel intervention strategies against T. gondii infection in humans and animals.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Gene Expression Profiling; RNA, Circular; RNA, Long Noncoding; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 37491273
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01121-z -
Acta Tropica Aug 2023Human liver fluke infection through the consumption of raw freshwater fish is one of the foodborne parasitic infections of global concern. Despite decades of health...
Human liver fluke infection through the consumption of raw freshwater fish is one of the foodborne parasitic infections of global concern. Despite decades of health campaign efforts, high prevalence of infection remains in different areas of the Lower Mekong Basin. This necessitates the consideration of the infection differences between places and the human-environment complexities of disease transmission. This paper used the socio-ecological model as a framework to unraveled the social science dimensions of liver fluke infection. We conducted questionnaire surveys in Northeast Thailand to gather participants' knowledge on liver fluke infection and reasons for raw fish consumption. We synthesized our findings with prior work to identify factors influencing liver fluke infection at four socio-ecological levels. At the individual level, gender and age differences in food consumption habits and personal hygiene of open defection presented the behavioral risks. At the interpersonal level, family tradition and social gathering affected the disease risk. At the community level, physical-social-economic environments of land use and modernization, community health infrastructure and health volunteer support accounted for the varying degree of infection. At the policy level, impacts of regional and national regulations on disease control, health system organization structure, and government development projects were of concerned. The findings provide insights into how infection risks are shaped by people's behavior, social connectedness, interactions with places, and the interplay of these multi-level socio-ecological influences. The framework therefore allows a more comprehensive understanding of liver fluke infection risks to inform a culturally sensitive and sustainable disease control program.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Opisthorchis; Opisthorchiasis; Fascioliasis; Fishes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand
PubMed: 37269890
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106957 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2024Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly affecting poor and marginalised populations. These infections significantly...
BACKGROUND
Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly affecting poor and marginalised populations. These infections significantly contribute to children's diseases, malnutrition, poor school performance, cognitive disorders, and future economic losses. This study aimed to explore and compare the occurrence of intestinal parasites in early childhood among the group of infants from the Slovak majority population and from marginalised Roma communities (MRCs). Furthermore, it aimed to explore the health complaints of children with and without intestinal parasitic infection in the past month and assess the effect of various risk factors on the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection in infants from MRCs.
METHODS
We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers and stool samples of their children aged 13-21 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study. A total of 181 stools from infants were analysed: 105 infants from the Slovak majority population and 76 from MRCs.
RESULTS
Infants from MRCs are significantly more often infected by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Giardia duodenalis than their better-off peers from the majority population. Infection rates are 30% in infants from MRCs vs. 0% in the majority population (p < 0.001). Single and mixed infections were observed in children from MRCs. Infants with intestinal parasitic infections suffer significantly more often from various health complaints, particularly cough, stomach ache, irritability, and diarrhoea. Within MRCs, the risk of parasitic infections in infants is significantly increased by risk factors such as the absence of flushing toilets in households (OR = 4.17, p < 0.05) and contact with un-dewormed animals (OR = 3.61, p < 0.05). Together with the absence of running water in the household, these three factors combined increase the risk more than ten times (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Maintaining hygienic standards in conditions of socioeconomic deprivation in MRCs without running water and sewage in the presence of un-dewormed animals is problematic. These living conditions contribute to the higher prevalence of parasitic infections in children from MRCs, causing various health complaints and thus threatening their health and healthy development.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Risk Factors; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Prevalence; Feces; Roma; Slovakia; Animals
PubMed: 38890608
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09500-z