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The Journal of Parasitology Apr 1992
Review
Topics: Animals; Disease Reservoirs; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Virulence; Zoonoses
PubMed: 1556656
DOI: No ID Found -
Briefings in Functional Genomics Jan 2018Nematodes are highly abundant animals, and many species have a parasitic lifestyle. Nematode parasites are important pathogens of humans and other animals, and there is... (Review)
Review
Nematodes are highly abundant animals, and many species have a parasitic lifestyle. Nematode parasites are important pathogens of humans and other animals, and there is considerable interest in understanding their molecular and genomic adaptations to nematode parasitism. This has been approached in three main ways: comparing the genomes of closely related parasitic and free-living taxa, comparing the gene expression of parasitic and free-living life cycle stages of parasitic nematode species, and analysing the molecules that parasitic nematodes excrete and secrete. To date, these studies show that many species of parasitic nematodes have genomes that have large gene families coding for proteases/peptidases, protease inhibitors, SCP/TAPS proteins and acetylcholinesterases, and in many cases there is evidence that these appear to be used by parasitic stages inside hosts, and are often secreted. Many parasitic nematodes have taxa-restricted gene families that also appear to be involved in parasitism, emphasizing that there is still much to be discovered about what it takes to be a parasitic nematode.
Topics: Animals; Genome; Genomics; Life Cycle Stages; Nematoda; Parasites; Phylogeny
PubMed: 28472353
DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elx010 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Apr 2021This study aimed to compare the prevalence of intestinal parasite infestations (IPIs) in stunted children, compared to control children, in Ankasina and Andranomanalina...
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to compare the prevalence of intestinal parasite infestations (IPIs) in stunted children, compared to control children, in Ankasina and Andranomanalina Isotry (two disadvantaged neighborhoods of Antananarivo, Madagascar), to characterize associated risk factors and to compare IPI detection by real-time PCR and standard microscopy techniques.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
Fecal samples were collected from a total of 410 children (171 stunted and 239 control) aged 2-5 years. A single stool sample per subject was examined by simple merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde (MIF), Kato-Katz smear and real-time PCR techniques. A total of 96.3% of the children were infested with at least one intestinal parasite. The most prevalent parasites were Giardia intestinalis (79.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (68.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (68.0%). For all parasites studied, real-time PCR showed higher detection rates compared to microscopy (G. intestinalis [77.6% (n = 318) versus 20.9% (n = 86)], Entamoeba histolytica [15.8% (n = 65) versus 1.9% (n = 8)] and A. lumbricoides [64.1% (n = 263) versus 50.7% (n = 208)]). Among the different variables assessed in the study, age of 4 to 5 years (AOR = 4.61; 95% CI, (1.35-15.77)) and primary and secondary educational level of the mother (AOR = 12.59; 95% CI, (2.76-57.47); AOR = 9.17; 95% CI, (2.12-39.71), respectively) were significantly associated with IPIs. Children drinking untreated water was associated with infestation with G. intestinalis (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI, (1.1-3.09)) and E. histolytica (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI, (1.07-3.38)). E. histolytica was also associated with moderately stunted children (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.2-0.71). Similarly, children aged between 4 and 5 years (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI (2.04-5.01)) and living on noncemented soil types (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI, (1.18-2.09)) were associated with T. trichiura infestation.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
The prevalence of IPIs is substantial in the studied areas in both stunted and control children, despite the large-scale drug administration of antiparasitic drugs in the country. This high prevalence of IPIs warrants further investigation. Improved health education, environmental sanitation and quality of water sources should be provided.
Topics: Animals; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feces; Female; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Logistic Models; Madagascar; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Parasites; Parasitology; Poverty Areas; Prevalence; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33878113
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009333 -
Parasitology Research Sep 2011Susceptibility to parasite infection was examined in a field experiment for four populations of 0+ juvenile European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus): one sympatric to local...
Susceptibility to parasite infection was examined in a field experiment for four populations of 0+ juvenile European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus): one sympatric to local parasite fauna, one allopatric, and two hybrid populations. Significantly higher parasite abundance was recorded in the allopatric bitterling population, suggesting a maladaptation of parasites to their sympatric host. Type of parasite life cycle played an important role in host-parasite interactions. While the abundance of allogenic species between populations was comparable, a significant difference was found in abundance of autogenic parasite species between fish populations, with the allopatric population more infected. These results correspond with a prediction of higher dispersion probability and higher gene flow among geographically distant populations of allogenic species as compared to autogenic species. Increased susceptibility to parasites that do not occur within the natural host's geographical distribution was found in the allopatric host, but only for autogenic species. A difference in infection susceptibility was detected among populations of early-hatched bitterling exposed to infection during a period of high parasite abundance and richness in the environment. Differences in parasite abundance and species diversity among populations diminished, however, with increasing time of exposure. No difference was found within late-hatched populations, probably due to a lower probability of infection in late-hatched cohorts.
Topics: Animals; Biodiversity; Chimera; Cyprinidae; Disease Susceptibility; Fish Diseases; Host-Parasite Interactions; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases, Animal
PubMed: 21431383
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2326-3 -
The Korean Journal of Parasitology Apr 2020Camacho & Reinhard stated in the December 2019 issue of the KJP (57: 621-625) that we confused a pollen grain with an Enterobius egg found in the grave of a female...
Camacho & Reinhard stated in the December 2019 issue of the KJP (57: 621-625) that we confused a pollen grain with an Enterobius egg found in the grave of a female adolescent residing in ancient Tehran 7,000 years ago. We want here to clarify and answer to the outlined points in their article.
Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Archaeology; Ephedra; Female; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Ovum; Parasites; Parasitology; Pollen
PubMed: 32418393
DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.2.211 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Jun 2003Parasites can structure biological communities directly through population regulation and indirectly by processes such as apparent competition. However, the role of...
Parasites can structure biological communities directly through population regulation and indirectly by processes such as apparent competition. However, the role of parasites in the process of biological invasion is less well understood and mechanisms of parasite mediation of predation among hosts are unclear. Mutual predation between native and invading species is an important factor in determining the outcome of invasions in freshwater amphipod communities. Here, we show that parasites mediate mutual intraguild predation among native and invading species and may thereby facilitate the invasion process. We find that the native amphipod Gammarus duebeni celticus is host to a microsporidian parasite, Pleistophora sp. (new species), with a frequency of infection of 0-90%. However, the parasite does not infect three invading species, G. tigrinus, G. pulex and Crangonyx pseudogracilis. In field and laboratory manipulations, we show that the parasite exhibits cryptic virulence: the parasite does not affect host fitness in single-species populations, but virulence becomes apparent when the native and invading species interact. That is, infection has no direct effect on G. d. celticus survivorship, size or fecundity; however, in mixed-species experiments, parasitized natives show a reduced capacity to prey on the smaller invading species and are more likely to be preyed upon by the largest invading species. Thus, by altering dominance relationships and hierarchies of mutual predation, parasitism strongly influences, and has the potential to change, the outcome of biological invasions.
Topics: Amphipoda; Animals; Female; Host-Parasite Interactions; Ireland; Male; Parasites; Population Dynamics; Predatory Behavior; Virulence
PubMed: 12816645
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2358 -
Parasite Immunology Jun 2006
Topics: Animals; Biomedical Research; Forecasting; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Parasitology; Vaccines
PubMed: 16704464
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2006.00888.x -
Trends in Parasitology Aug 2020Reptiles are reservoirs of a wide range of pathogens, including many protozoa, helminths, pentastomids, and arthropod parasitic species, some of which may be of public... (Review)
Review
Reptiles are reservoirs of a wide range of pathogens, including many protozoa, helminths, pentastomids, and arthropod parasitic species, some of which may be of public health concern. In this review we discuss the zoonotic risks associated with human-reptile interactions. Increased urbanization and introduction of exotic species of reptile may act as drivers for the transmission of zoonotic parasites through the environment. In addition, being a part of human diet, reptiles can be a source of life-threatening parasitoses, such as pentastomiasis or sparganosis. Finally, reptiles kept as pets may represent a risk to owners given the possibility of parasites transmitted by direct contact or fecal contamination. Awareness of reptile-borne zoonotic parasitoses is important to advocate control, prevention, and surveillance of these neglected diseases.
Topics: Animals; Food Parasitology; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Pets; Reptiles; Zoonoses
PubMed: 32448703
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.04.014 -
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery Dec 2020Two adult African pygmy geese () were found dead with minimal clinical disease signs. Necropsy revealed aberrant migration of the nematode parasite , as confirmed...
Two adult African pygmy geese () were found dead with minimal clinical disease signs. Necropsy revealed aberrant migration of the nematode parasite , as confirmed morphologically and through DNA sequencing. This common waterfowl parasite typically lives in the proventriculus, burying headfirst into the mucosa and laying eggs into the gastrointestinal lumen. In these geese, the parasites tunneled through the gastrointestinal tract wall to invade the coelomic cavity; from which, a substantial quantity of eggs found their way into the coelomic space and into the air sacs and lungs. This potential parasite migration should be monitored for in Anseriformes species that present with similar disease conditions, and the use of species, the intermediate host, as a waterfowl feed source is not recommended.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Anseriformes; Bird Diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Food Parasitology; Male; Nematoda; Nematode Infections; Parasites
PubMed: 33355417
DOI: 10.1647/1082-6742-34.4.390 -
Parasitology Sep 2009The different species of a fish assemblage can, to some extent, be similar in terms of their parasite communities, which can be associated with certain ecological host...
The different species of a fish assemblage can, to some extent, be similar in terms of their parasite communities, which can be associated with certain ecological host traits. This study compared the parasite community descriptors between temporal and resident fish species composing an intertidal assemblage from central Chile. Host specificity and similarity indices of parasite communities among the fish species were also considered. A total of 1097 fish representing 14 species were collected during spring and summer of 2 consecutive years. A total spectrum of 40 parasite species was found, of which copepods and trematodes were the commonest. Congeneric fish species had the highest similarities in their parasite communities. Based on a cluster analysis, using only some fish species, no group was distinguished using abundance or prevalence of parasites, because 50% of parasite species had high host specificity and only few of them were shared among fish species. Adult parasites showed high host specificity and were found mainly in resident intertidal fish, whereas the temporal fish had parasites with different degrees of specificity. Consequently, resident intertidal fish were characterized by their own parasite species, meaning that their transmissions might be restricted to the intertidal zone.
Topics: Animals; Annelida; Chile; Ecosystem; Fish Diseases; Fishes; Host-Parasite Interactions; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Population Dynamics; Species Specificity; Trematoda
PubMed: 19646306
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182009990758