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International Journal of Surgery Case... Sep 2023Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma. It primarily affects the intestines, liver, and urinary tract...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma. It primarily affects the intestines, liver, and urinary tract however, rare cases have been reported where the parasite invades other organs. This case report presents an incidental finding of schistosomiasis, upon histopathology evaluation, in a patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease with recurrent attacks of cholecystitis.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present the case of a 42-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department with symptoms and signs suggestive of acute cholecystitis. She underwent conservative management with interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy with histopathology findings of Schistosoma eggs within the walls of the gallbladder. Underwent eradication therapy with praziquantel.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
The finding of Schistosoma eggs in the gallbladder wall during routine histopathological examination highlights the importance of considering schistosomiasis, and other parasites, in cases of recurrent bouts of cholecystitis. The case challenges the conventional understanding of the transmission patterns of this parasitic infection and raises questions about potential atypical life cycle routes within the human body. It also emphasizes the importance of routine histopathology analysis of specimen removed from the body.
CONCLUSION
This case report presents a rare occurrence of schistosomiasis cholecystitis in a 42-year-old female patient underscoring the importance of considering parasitic infections. Thorough histopathological examination in routine surgeries is crucial for early detection and targeted treatment. The patient's positive response to praziquantel therapy highlights its effectiveness in managing schistosomiasis, which is a neglected tropical disease.
PubMed: 37669608
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108787 -
ACS Omega Oct 2023Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting nearly 250 million individuals globally, poses a significant health challenge. With praziquantel being the sole available...
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting nearly 250 million individuals globally, poses a significant health challenge. With praziquantel being the sole available treatment and its limited efficacy in early stage infections, the identification of novel bioactive compounds becomes imperative. This study examines the potential of dehydrodieugenol B () and its methyl ether (), derived from the leaves of the Brazilian plant (Lauraceae), in combatting infections through a preclinical approach. Initially, compound displayed noteworthy in vitro antiparasitic activity with an EC of 31.9 μM, showcasing low toxicity in mammalian cells and an in vivo animal model (). Conversely, compound exhibited no activity. In silico predictions pointed to favorable oral bioavailability and the absence of PAINS similarities. Subsequently, a single oral dose of 400 mg/kg of compound or praziquantel was administered to mice infected with adult (patent infection) or immature parasites (prepatent infection). Remarkably, in prepatent infections, resulted in a significant reduction (approximately 50%) in both worm and egg burden, while praziquantel reduced worm and egg numbers by 30%. The superior efficacy of dehydrodieugenol B () compared to praziquantel in premature infections holds the potential to advance the development of new molecular prototypes for schistosomiasis treatment.
PubMed: 37929107
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06111 -
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Jul 2023The prevalence of in humans in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has been relatively well monitored and has decreased due to effective interventions such...
The prevalence of in humans in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has been relatively well monitored and has decreased due to effective interventions such as preventative chemotherapy with mass drug administration of praziquantel and community awareness programs. However, the prevalence among potential domestic reservoir animals remains broadly unclear, except for a few villages in the endemic area. Therefore, we conducted surveys for the domestic animals that had contact with Mekong River water. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the domestic animals in the seven sentinel villages in the Khong and Mounlapamok Districts of Champasak Province in southern Lao PDR in 2018 by random sampling with a statistically reliable sample size. Stool samples of the five predominant domestic animal species, cattle (n = 160), pig (n = 154), buffalo (n = 149), dog (n = 143), and goat (n = 85), were collected and examined using parasitological FECT method and the LAMP technique. The microscopic analysis did not detect any eggs of in the stool samples of any animal species. However, DNA was detected by the LAMP test in dog stool samples (0.7%; 1/143). On the other hand, the prevalence of other helminths was quite high and heterogeneous among animal species and sentinel sites by the microscopic analysis. These findings suggested that an intervention for infection should focus solely on human populations. However, periodic surveillance for infection among dogs should be conducted to monitor a possible resurgence of infection in the domestic animal population.
PubMed: 37505668
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8070372 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Sep 2023The prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica in China is now characterized by a low epidemic rate and low-intensity infections. Some diagnostic methods with high...
The prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica in China is now characterized by a low epidemic rate and low-intensity infections. Some diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity are urgently needed to better monitor this disease in the current situation. In this study, the detection efficacy of a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was assessed for schistosomiasis japonica in mice, and before and after treatment with praziquantel (PZQ). Our results showed that the sensitivity of the qPCR was 99.3% (152/153, 95% CI: 96.41-99.98%) and its specificity was 100% (77/77, 95% CI: 95.32-100%) in mice infected with different numbers of After the oral administration of PZQ, mice infected with 10 cercariae or 40 cercariae were all -negative 6 weeks after treatment. However, the negativity rates on a soluble egg antigen (SEA)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were only 34.8% (8/23, 10 cercariae group) and 6.7% (1/15, 40 cercariae group) at the sixth week after PZQ treatment. These results demonstrated that the qPCR method had good sensitivity and specificity, and suggested that its sensitivity correlated with the infection intensity in mice. Moreover, this method had better potential utility for evaluating the treatment efficacy of PZQ in schistosome-infected mice than SEA-based ELISA.
PubMed: 37835674
DOI: 10.3390/ani13193068 -
Parasitology Apr 2024Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the cestode is one of the most widespread zoonoses in Mediterranean countries. Baiting not-owned dogs with...
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the cestode is one of the most widespread zoonoses in Mediterranean countries. Baiting not-owned dogs with praziquantel (PZQ), due to their key role in the maintaining the transmission of CE, currently appears to be the most effective way to limit the transmission of CE, as well as an important aspect to introduce for the control of this parasitic disease. Therefore, this study aims to test 3 types of PZQ-based baits by evaluating different parameters (integrity over time, attractiveness and palatability for dogs, and mechanical resistance after release to different altitudes) and the bait acceptance in field by target animals, i.e. not-owned dogs, by using camera traps. The double PZQ-laced baits (with a double layer of highly palatable chews) showed the greatest resistance in the environment while also preserving the attractiveness and palatability up to 10 days, also withstood heights of 25 m, thus resulting as the most suitable also for drone delivery. The results on the field showed that most of the baits were consumed by not-owned dogs (82.2%), while the remaining were consumed by wild boars (8.9%), foxes (6.7%), badgers (1.1%) and hedgehogs (1.1%), confirming the specific and high attractiveness of the double PZQ-laced baits for the target population and highlights how an anthelmintic baiting programme may be a viable tool for the management of among free-ranging dog populations in endemic rural areas.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Echinococcus granulosus; Echinococcosis; Dog Diseases; Praziquantel; Anthelmintics; Zoonoses; Swine
PubMed: 38576256
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182024000258 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Mar 2024Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) as a prevalent tapeworm infection of human and herbivorous animals worldwide, is caused by accidental ingestion of Echinococcus granulosus...
Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) as a prevalent tapeworm infection of human and herbivorous animals worldwide, is caused by accidental ingestion of Echinococcus granulosus eggs excreted from infected dogs. CE is endemic in the Middle East and North Africa, and is considered as an important parasitic zoonosis in Iran. It is transmitted between dogs as the primary definitive host and different livestock species as the intermediate hosts. One of the most important measures for CE control is dog deworming with praziquantel. Due to the frequent reinfection of dogs, intensive deworming campaigns are critical for breaking CE transmission. Dog reinfection rate could be used as an indicator of the intensity of local CE transmission in endemic areas. However, our knowledge on the extent of reinfection in the endemic regions is poor. The purpose of the present study was to determine E. granulosus reinfection rate after praziquantel administration in a population of owned dogs in Kerman, Iran. A cohort of 150 owned dogs was recruited, with stool samples collected before praziquantel administration as a single oral dose of 5 mg/kg. The re-samplings of the owned dogs were performed at 2, 5 and 12 months following initial praziquantel administration. Stool samples were examined microscopically using Willis flotation method. Genomic DNA was extracted, and E. granulosus sensu lato-specific primers were used to PCR-amplify a 133-bp fragment of a repeat unit of the parasite genome. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method to calculate cumulative survival rates, which is used here to capture reinfection dynamics, and monthly incidence of infection, capturing also the spatial distribution of disease risk. Results of survival analysis showed 8, 12 and 17% total reinfection rates in 2, 5 and 12 months following initial praziquantel administration, respectively, indicating that 92, 88 and 83% of the dogs had no detectable infection in that same time periods. The monthly incidence of reinfection in total owned dog population was estimated at 1.5% (95% CI 1.0-2.1). The results showed that the prevalence of echinococcosis in owned dogs, using copro-PCR assay was 42.6%. However, using conventional microscopy, 8% of fecal samples were positive for taeniid eggs. Our results suggest that regular treatment of the dog population with praziquantel every 60 days is ideal, however the frequency of dog dosing faces major logistics and cost challenges, threatening the sustainability of control programs. Understanding the nature and extent of dog reinfection in the endemic areas is essential for successful implementation of control programs and understanding patterns of CE transmission.
Topics: Humans; Dogs; Animals; Praziquantel; Iran; Reinfection; Farms; Echinococcosis; Echinococcus granulosus; Feces; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 38536863
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011939 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jul 2024After decades of praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA), several countries approach schistosomiasis elimination. Continuing MDA in largely uninfected populations no...
BACKGROUND
After decades of praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA), several countries approach schistosomiasis elimination. Continuing MDA in largely uninfected populations no longer seems justified. Alternative interventions to maintain the gains or accelerate interruption of transmission are needed. We report results, strengths, and shortcomings of novel test-treat-track-test-treat (5T) interventions in low Schistosoma haematobium prevalence areas on Pemba, Tanzania.
METHODS
School- and household-based surveys were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to monitor the S. haematobium and microhematuria prevalence and assess the impact of interventions. In 2021, 5T interventions were implemented in 15 low-prevalence areas and included: (i) testing schoolchildren in primary and Islamic schools for microhematuria as a proxy for S. haematobium, (ii) treating positive children, (iii) tracking them to their households and to water bodies they frequented, (iv) testing individuals at households and water bodies, and (v) treating positive individuals. Additionally, test-and-treat interventions were implemented in the 22 health facilities of the study area.
RESULTS
The S. haematobium prevalence in the school-based survey in 15 low-prevalence implementation units was 0.5% (7/1560) in 2021 and 0.4% (6/1645) in 2022. In the household-based survey, 0.5% (14/2975) and 0.7% (19/2920) of participants were infected with S. haematobium in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The microhematuria prevalence, excluding trace results, in the school-based survey was 1.4% (21/1560) in 2021 and 1.5% (24/1645) in 2022. In the household-based survey, it was 3.3% (98/2975) in 2021 and 5.4% (159/2920) in 2022. During the 5T interventions, the microhaematuria prevalence was 3.8% (140/3700) and 5.8% (34/594) in children in primary and Islamic schools, respectively, 17.1% (44/258) in household members, and 16.7% (10/60) in people at water bodies. In health facilities, 19.8% (70/354) of patients tested microhematuria-positive.
CONCLUSIONS
The targeted 5T interventions maintained the very low S. haematobium prevalence and proved straightforward and feasible to identify and treat many of the few S. haematobium-infected individuals. Future research will show whether 5T interventions can maintain gains in the longer-term and expedite elimination.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ISRCTN, ISCRCTN91431493. Registered 11 February 2020, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91431493 .
Topics: Tanzania; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Humans; Child; Animals; Schistosoma haematobium; Adolescent; Male; Praziquantel; Female; Prevalence; Mass Drug Administration; Anthelmintics; Disease Eradication; Schools; Adult; Family Characteristics; Hematuria; Young Adult
PubMed: 38956479
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09549-w -
BMC Veterinary Research May 2024Although ultrasonography (US) has been widely used in the diagnosis of human diseases to monitor the progress of cystic echinococcosis (CE) control, the screening method...
BACKGROUND
Although ultrasonography (US) has been widely used in the diagnosis of human diseases to monitor the progress of cystic echinococcosis (CE) control, the screening method for hepatic CE in sheep flocks requires adjustment. In this study, we used a US scanner to screen sheep flocks and evaluated the efficacy of dosing dogs once a year with praziquantel for 7 years from 2014 to 2021.
METHODS
All sheep in the three flocks were screened using an ultrasound scanner in 2014 and compared with the prevalence of infection in 2021 in Bayinbuluke, Xinjiang, China. Sheep age was determined using incisor teeth. Cyst activity and calcification were determined using US images. The dogs were dewormed with praziquantel once a year to control echinococcosis in the community.
RESULTS
Three flocks had 968 sheep in 2014, with 13.22%, 22.62%, 18.7%, 27.27%, 11.88%, and 6.3% of sheep aged 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and ≥ 6 years old, respectively. US scanning revealed that the overall CE prevalence was 38.43% (372/968), with active cysts and calcified cysts present in 9.40% (91/968) and 29.02% (281/968) of the sheep, respectively. For the young sheep aged 1 and 2 years, the prevalence of active and calcified cysts was: 1.56% and 0.91%, and 10.94% and 18.72%, respectively. Approximately 15.15% and 16.52% of the 4- and 5-year-old sheep, respectively, harbored active cysts. There was no significant difference in the infection rates of sheep between 2014 and 2021 (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
US is a practical tool for the field screening of CE in sheep flocks. One-third of the sheep population in the flocks was 1-2 years old, and these sheep played a very limited role in CE transmission, as most of the cysts were calcified. Old sheep, especially culled aged sheep, play a key role in the transmission of CE. Dosing dogs once a year did not affect echinococcosis control.
Topics: Animals; Sheep Diseases; Sheep; China; Ultrasonography; Echinococcosis, Hepatic; Prevalence; Dogs; Praziquantel; Anthelmintics; Female
PubMed: 38760783
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04074-z -
Journal of Surgical Case Reports Aug 2023In this paper, we describe the case of a 40-year-old patient with an expanding and symptomatic complex liver cyst. Despite comprehensive diagnostics, including labs,...
In this paper, we describe the case of a 40-year-old patient with an expanding and symptomatic complex liver cyst. Despite comprehensive diagnostics, including labs, imaging and biopsy, a clear etiology could not be determined. As a result, a partial liver resection was performed. The histopathological examination revealed evidence of schistosomas. We postulate that the displacement of the portal fields created a pseudocyst and that the resultant ischemia was the root cause of the patient's discomfort. Postoperatively, the patient received an antihelmintic therapy with praziquantel with which she was able to fully recover.
PubMed: 37560609
DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjad452 -
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades... Jan 2024A 23-year-old male from Brazil presented with bright red hematochezia. Proctological examination revealed grade II internal hemorrhoids, but flexible sigmoidoscopy...
A 23-year-old male from Brazil presented with bright red hematochezia. Proctological examination revealed grade II internal hemorrhoids, but flexible sigmoidoscopy uncovered a 6 mm-pedunculated polyp in the sigmoid colon, which was found to result from inflammatory reaction to Schistosoma mansoni egg deposition. The patient had no signs of portal hypertension and was successfully treated with praziquantel. This case underscores a rare presentation of chronic intestinal schistosomiasis and emphasizes the role of early diagnosis in preventing severe hepatic sequelae of chronic Schistosoma infection.
PubMed: 38205695
DOI: 10.17235/reed.2024.10155/2023