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Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Nov 2022Intestinal parasitic infections are common infectious diseases causing many health problems and impaired growth and physical development.. Children under five years old... (Review)
Review
Intestinal parasitic infections are common infectious diseases causing many health problems and impaired growth and physical development.. Children under five years old are the most vulnerable to infections, due to their immature immunity and feeding and exploratory behaviours. This systematic review aimed to assess the relationship between intestinal parasitic infections and undernutrition among children under 5 years old. Fifteen studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were classified as high-quality studies. Twelve parasites were reported, including , spp., , , , hookworm, , , spp. and . Ascariasis is the most reported infection, with a prevalence ranging from 10.77% in Ethiopia to 57.14% in Malaysia, and is correlated with stunting (OR 2.17 (95% CI 1.14, 4.13), = 0.02). Giardiasis is the second most reported infection, with a prevalence ranging from 4.43% in Ethiopia to 66.33% in the Central African Republic, and is related to an increased risk of stunting (OR 2.34 (95% CI 1.07, 5.10), = 0.03)), wasting (OR 2.90 (95% CI 1.12, 7.49, = 0.03)), and being underweight (OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.02, 2.29, = 0.04)). The third and fourth most prevalent infections are and hookworm infections. Intestinal parasitic infections can occur very early in life and cause significant growth retardation. It is important to understand the prevalence and effects of infection based on the parasite species in order to implement therapeutic interventions and prevention controls.
PubMed: 36422922
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110371 -
Current Biology : CB May 2020Wang and Davis provide an overview of the parasite nematode Ascaris, including the history of its role in biological research.
Wang and Davis provide an overview of the parasite nematode Ascaris, including the history of its role in biological research.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Female; Humans; Male; Reproduction
PubMed: 32428467
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.064 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jul 2023
Topics: Humans; Animals; Ascaris; Capsule Endoscopy
PubMed: 37539804
DOI: No ID Found -
Trends in Parasitology Mar 2021Ascariasis is a globally spread intestinal nematode infection of humans and a considerable concern in pig husbandry. Ascaris accomplishes a complex body migration from... (Review)
Review
Ascariasis is a globally spread intestinal nematode infection of humans and a considerable concern in pig husbandry. Ascaris accomplishes a complex body migration from the intestine via the liver and lung before returning to the intestine. Tissue migration and the habitat shared with a complex microbial community pose the question of how the nematode interacts with microbes and host cells from various tissues. This review addresses the current knowledge of the trilateral relationship between Ascaris, its microbial environment, and host cells, and discusses novel approaches targeting these interactions to combat this widespread infection of livestock and man.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Environment; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Host-Parasite Interactions; Swine; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 33008723
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.09.002 -
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 -
Parasitology Research Mar 2022The use of fertilizers based on sewage sludge is common practice. Due to the possible presence of pathogens and eggs of intestinal parasites like Ascaris sp., Toxocara...
The use of fertilizers based on sewage sludge is common practice. Due to the possible presence of pathogens and eggs of intestinal parasites like Ascaris sp., Toxocara sp., and Trichuris sp. in these products, it is necessary to control them. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of parasite eggs in commercial organic fertilizers available on the market. Selected commercial products were tested using the Quinn flotation method and a method dedicated to the study of dewatered sewage sludge. Assessment of the viability of helminth eggs was carried out on the basis of staining with calcein and propidium iodide. In 57% of the tested samples, the presence of live eggs of the abovementioned parasites was detected, and in 21% of samples, the eggs with live larvae were detected. Eggs of Trichuris sp. (50%) and Ascaris sp. (36%) were the most common. The obtained results clearly indicate that the process of hygienization of the sewage sludge before the production of fertilizers was not effective enough and it is necessary to standardize the prophylaxis against the spread of parasitic nematodes in commercially available products.
Topics: Animals; Ascaris; Fertilizers; Parasites; Sewage; Toxocara; Trichuris
PubMed: 35118511
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07451-5 -
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