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Trends in Parasitology Sep 2021
Review
Topics: Ancylostoma; Ancylostomiasis; Animals; Humans; Life Cycle Stages
PubMed: 34049804
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.04.013 -
Parasitology International Jun 2024Follicular larva migrans (FLM) is a rare and atypical clinical presentation of hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (HrCLM). FLM is characterized clinically by... (Review)
Review
Follicular larva migrans (FLM) is a rare and atypical clinical presentation of hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (HrCLM). FLM is characterized clinically by follicular, round, small, erythematous papules that are sometimes topped by vesicles or pustules. These lesions are usually located on the abdomen, back, buttocks and thighs and are accompanied by more or less severe pruritus. Some typical and/or short and fragmented tracks may also be visible. FLM is more resistant to anti-helminthic drugs than classical HrCLM: this is likely due to the deep location of larvae in hair follicles. We present two cases of FLM and a review of the literature.
Topics: Animals; Larva Migrans; Anthelmintics; Ancylostomatoidea; Larva
PubMed: 38428565
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102872 -
Pediatric Clinics of North America Feb 2022Intestinal nematode infections caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), such as the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, the whipworm Trichuris trichiura, and the... (Review)
Review
Intestinal nematode infections caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), such as the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, the whipworm Trichuris trichiura, and the hookworms Ancylostoma duodenale, and Necator americanus, infect more than 1 billion people throughout the world. School-aged children tend to harbor the greatest numbers of intestinal worms, and as a result, experience more adverse health consequences, such as poor growth, anemia, and cognitive decline. Clinicians should maintain a high degree of suspicion in endemic areas when patients present with surgical abdomens, particularly children. Current antihelminthic drugs are moderately effective, but reinfection is possible. Global efforts are needed to eradicate STH infections.
Topics: Adolescent; Albendazole; Ancylostoma; Anemia; Animals; Anthelmintics; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Helminthiasis; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Hygiene; Infant; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Necator americanus; Nematode Infections; Soil; Trichuriasis; Trichuris
PubMed: 34794670
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.08.005 -
JAMA Neurology Sep 2020
Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis
PubMed: 32539129
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.0519 -
Acta Tropica Mar 2023It has been tested and proven that vaccination is still the best strategy to combat infectious diseases. However, to date, there are still no vaccines against human... (Review)
Review
It has been tested and proven that vaccination is still the best strategy to combat infectious diseases. However, to date, there are still no vaccines against human soil-transmitted helminthic diseases, despite their high prevalence globally, particularly in developing countries and rural areas with tropical climates and poor sanitation. The development of vaccines against helminths is riddled with obstacles. Helminths have a complex life cycle, multiple stages within the same host with stage-specific antigen expression, and the ability to regulate host immune reactions to evade the immune response. These elements contribute to the main challenge of helminthic vaccines: the identification of effective vaccine candidates. Therefore, this article reviews the current progress and potential future direction of soil-transmitted helminthic vaccines, particularly against Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. The study design employed was a systematic review, using qualitative meta-summary synthesis. Preclinical studies and clinical trials on the development of protein subunit vaccines against the five soil-transmitted helminths were searched on PubMed and Scopus. Effectiveness was indicated by a reduction in worm burden or larval output, an increase in specific IgG levels, or an increase in cytokine production. Our findings show that only the hookworm vaccine against N. americanus is in the clinical trial phase, while the rest is still in exploratory research and pre-clinical development phase.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Soil; Hookworm Infections; Ascaris lumbricoides; Ancylostomatoidea; Necator americanus; Vaccines; Helminthiasis; Feces
PubMed: 36586174
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106796 -
Parasites & Vectors Mar 2020Hookworm infection is a major public health problem that threatens about 500 million people throughout tropical areas of the world. Adult hookworms survive for many... (Review)
Review
Hookworm infection is a major public health problem that threatens about 500 million people throughout tropical areas of the world. Adult hookworms survive for many years in the host intestine, where they suck blood, causing iron deficiency anemia and malnutrition. Numerous molecules, named excretory/secretory (ES) products, are secreted by hookworm adults and/or larvae to aid in parasite survival and pathobiology. Although the molecular cloning and characterization of hookworm ES products began 25 years ago, the biological role and molecular nature of many of them are still unclear. Hookworm ES products, with distinct structures and functions, have been linked to many essential events in the disease pathogenesis. These events include host invasion and tissue migration, parasite nourishment and reproduction, and immune modulation. Several of these products represent promising vaccine targets for controlling hookworm disease and therapeutic targets for many inflammatory diseases. This review aims to summarize our present knowledge about hookworm ES products, including their role in parasite biology, host-parasite interactions, and as vaccine and pharmaceutical targets and to identify research gaps and future research directions in this field.
Topics: Ancylostoma; Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Antioxidants; Body Fluids; Cloning, Molecular; Female; Helminth Proteins; Hookworm Infections; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Male; Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Vaccines
PubMed: 32171305
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04010-8 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2022Hookworm disease is endemic in China and is widespread globally. The disease burden to humans is great.
BACKGROUND
Hookworm disease is endemic in China and is widespread globally. The disease burden to humans is great.
METHODS
The study described the national surveillance of hookworm implemented in 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (P/A/Ms) of China in 2019. Each P/A/M determined the number and location of surveillance spots (counties). A unified sampling method was employed, and at least 1000 subjects were investigated in each surveillance spot. The modified Kato-Katz thick smear method was employed for stool examination. Fifty samples positive with hookworm eggs were cultured in each surveillance spot to discriminate species between A. duodenale and N. americanus. Twenty-five soil samples were collected from each surveillance spot and examined for hookworm larva. The 2019 surveillance results were analyzed and compared with that of 2016-2018.
RESULTS
A total of 424766 subjects were investigated in 31 P/A/Ms of China in 2019, and the overall hookworm infection rate was 0.85% (3580/424766). The weighted infection and standard infection rates were 0.66% (4288357/648063870) and 0.67% (4343844/648063870), respectively. Sichuan province had the highest standard infection rate (4.75%) in 2019, followed by Chongqing (2.54%) and Hainan (2.44%). The standard infection rates of other P/A/Ms were all below 1%, with no hookworm detected in 15 P/A/Ms. The standard hookworm infection rate in the males and the females were 0.61% (2021216/330728900) and 0.71% (2267141/317334970), respectively, with a significant difference between different genders ([Formula: see text] = 17.23, P<0.0001). The highest standard hookworm infection rate (1.97%) was among age ≥ 60 years, followed by 45~59 years (0.77%), 15~44 years (0.37%), and 7~14 years (0.20%). The lowest standard infection rate was among the 0~6 years age group (0.12%). A significant difference was observed among different age groups ([Formula: see text] = 2 305.17, P<0.0001). The constitute ratio for N. americanus, A. duodenale, and coinfection was 78.70% (1341/1704), 2.03% (346/1704), and 1.00% (17/1704), respectively. The detection rate of hookworm larva from soil was 3.45% (71/2056).
CONCLUSION
The national surveillance showed that the hookworm infection rate has been decreasing annually from 2016 to 2019, and it is now below 1%. China has made significant progress in controlling hookworm. The national surveillance system is an important way to understand the endemic status and provide important information in this process and thus needs to be continually optimized.
Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; China; Feces; Female; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Soil
PubMed: 35679319
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010405 -
Trends in Parasitology Jun 2024Hookworms are parasites, closely related to the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that are a major economic and health burden worldwide. Primarily three hookworm... (Review)
Review
Hookworms are parasites, closely related to the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that are a major economic and health burden worldwide. Primarily three hookworm species (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, and Ancylostoma ceylanicum) infect humans. Another 100 hookworm species from 19 genera infect primates, ruminants, and carnivores. Genetic data exist for only seven of these species. Genome sequences are available from only four of these species in two genera, leaving 96 others (particularly those parasitizing wildlife) without any genomic data. The most recent hookworm genomes were published 5 years ago, leaving the field in a dusk. However, assembling genomes from single hookworms may bring a new dawn. Here we summarize advances, challenges, and opportunities for studying these neglected but important parasitic nematodes.
Topics: Animals; Genomics; Genome, Helminth; Hookworm Infections; Ancylostomatoidea; Humans
PubMed: 38677925
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.003 -
MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin Jun 2021
Review
Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Ivermectin
PubMed: 34086220
DOI: 10.1007/s15006-021-0066-6 -
Parasite Immunology Feb 2021Hookworm infection is considered the most prevalent human soil-transmitted helminth infection affecting approximately 500 million people and accounting for 3.2 million... (Review)
Review
Hookworm infection is considered the most prevalent human soil-transmitted helminth infection affecting approximately 500 million people and accounting for 3.2 million disability-adjusted life years lost annually. As with many other neglected tropical diseases, no international surveillance mechanisms that show accurate data on the prevalence of hookworm infection are in place, thus hindering strategies to control parasite transmission. In this review, we unravel the current knowledge in immunopathology and immunoregulation of hookworm infection and present discoveries in drug therapies based on the capability of hookworms to regulate inflammation to treat allergic, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Additionally, we highlight potential vaccine development and treatments and propose avenues for further inquiry.
Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Hookworm Infections; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunomodulation; Male; Prevalence; Soil; Vaccines
PubMed: 33012113
DOI: 10.1111/pim.12798