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The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Jun 2021Fish-borne parasites have been part of the global landscape of food-borne zoonotic diseases for many decades and are often endemic in certain regions of the world. The... (Review)
Review
Fish-borne parasites have been part of the global landscape of food-borne zoonotic diseases for many decades and are often endemic in certain regions of the world. The past 20 years or so have seen the expansion of the range of fish-borne parasitic zoonoses to new geographic regions leading to a substantial public health burden. In this article, we summarize current knowledge about the biology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and control of selected fish-borne helminthic diseases caused by parasitic roundworm (), tapeworm (), and fluke (). Humans acquire infection via consumption of raw or improperly cooked fish or fish products. The burden from these diseases is caused by morbidity rather than mortality. Infected patients may present with mild to severe gastrointestinal (eg, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion) or allergic manifestations. Patients are often admitted to the hospital or clinic with acute symptoms and no prior health problems and no travel history. Diagnosis is often established based on the detection of the diagnostic parasite stages (eg, eggs or tapeworm segments) in the patient's feces. Sometimes imaging is required to exclude other causes and avoid unnecessary surgery. and are mainly treated with praziquantel. Extraction of adult or larvae from the bowel ensures complete elimination of the parasites and prevents a relapse of infection. The development and implementation of more efficient food safety and public health strategies to reduce the burden of zoonotic diseases attributable to fish-borne parasites is highly desirable.
Topics: Animals; Biology; Fishes; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Parasites; Zoonoses
PubMed: 34211350
DOI: No ID Found -
Parasitology International Oct 2021A 92-year-old Japanese woman presented with a mass in the left breast, and sparganosis was suspected by biopsy of the mass. The mass disappeared once, but it reappeared...
A 92-year-old Japanese woman presented with a mass in the left breast, and sparganosis was suspected by biopsy of the mass. The mass disappeared once, but it reappeared at the same site one year later. For a definitive diagnosis, the mass was surgically removed, and a sparganum-like worm was detected. The causative agent was confirmed as Spirometra Type I (most probably Spirometra mansoni) by mitochondrial DNA analysis. The serological examination also proved the case as sparganosis. Considering the presence of two Spirometra species (Type I and II) in Asia, particularly Japan, molecular analysis of the causative agents is highly recommended to understand the epidemiology, infection sources, and pathogenicity in humans in both species, if the parasite specimens are available.
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Breast Diseases; Female; Humans; Japan; Mammary Glands, Human; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Spirometra
PubMed: 34044106
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102383 -
Zoonoses and Public Health Sep 2021Diphyllobothriosis caused by the Pacific broad tapeworm Adenocephalus pacificus (syn. Diphyllobothrium pacificum) is an emerging parasitic disease reported also from...
Diphyllobothriosis caused by the Pacific broad tapeworm Adenocephalus pacificus (syn. Diphyllobothrium pacificum) is an emerging parasitic disease reported also from non-endemic areas, including Europe (Spain). The origin of these human cases is unknown but should be related to fresh marine fish imported from endemic areas. In this study, we molecularly confirmed common dolphins Delphinus delphis off Argentina as euparatenic transit hosts of A. pacificus. Preliminary analysis of their stomach content, together with data from previous studies from the Southwest Atlantic, showed that common dolphins feed almost exclusively on schooling Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi and Argentine anchovy Engraulis anchoita. Therefore, we suggest that Argentine hake and Argentine anchovy may represent the intermediate hosts of A. pacificus in the Southwest Atlantic, but also in Europe to where M. hubbsi is imported on ice (unfrozen).
Topics: Animals; Argentina; Cestoda; Common Dolphins; Diphyllobothriasis; Disease Reservoirs; Europe; Fishes; Food Microbiology; Humans; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33991441
DOI: 10.1111/zph.12838 -
The Korean Journal of Parasitology Apr 2021This study reports the first two clinical cases of spirometrosis caused by Spirometra sp. in cats in Korea. In these two cases, the cats vomited, and long proglottids of...
This study reports the first two clinical cases of spirometrosis caused by Spirometra sp. in cats in Korea. In these two cases, the cats vomited, and long proglottids of tapeworm were recovered. The sick cats presented with anorexia and lethargy. However, they unexpectedly showed no diarrhea, which is the main symptom of spirometrosis. Based on a fecal floatation test as well as morphological and molecular analyses, the parasite was diagnosed as Spirometra sp. The 2 cases were treated with praziquantel. This study suggests regular monitoring of health and deworming in companion animals, even when animals are well cared for, with regular preventive medication. Additionally, spirometrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of gastrointestinal symptoms in Spirometra endemic areas.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Cat Diseases; Cats; Praziquantel; Republic of Korea; Sparganosis; Spirometra
PubMed: 33951771
DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.2.153 -
International Journal of Circumpolar... Dec 2021The aim of this work was to compare the prevalence of opisthorchiasis, diphyllobothriasis, and ascariasis among the rural indigenous and long-term resident people of...
The aim of this work was to compare the prevalence of opisthorchiasis, diphyllobothriasis, and ascariasis among the rural indigenous and long-term resident people of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KMAO) in the years 1988-89 and 2018-19. Helminth infections were identified by faecal microscopic examinations conducted during health check-ups. We analysed 399 medical records for years 1988-89 and 549 records for 2018-19. There were found a decrease in the prevalence of ascariasis among the indigenous people, but the region remains a hotbed of fish-transmitted helminthiases. The spread of infestation has remained close to 5% in the indigenous adults. The number of opisthorchiasis-infected children, both indigenous and non-indigenous, has increased significantly (p < 0.05). Among the indigenous adults, opisthorchiasis in 2018-19 was at as high level as in 1988-89 (57.5% vs 54.4%). The non-indigenous adults had infestations in 2018-19 frequently than in 1988-89 (p = 0.06). The results of our study on the prevalence of helminth infection in the population of the northern Ob River basin agree with the many years average annual incidence of helminthiases in KMAO.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Incidence; Opisthorchiasis; Prevalence; Rural Population; Siberia
PubMed: 33899703
DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2021.1917270 -
Parasites & Vectors Apr 2021The systematic of several marine diphyllobothriid tapeworms of pinnipeds has been revised in recent years. However, 20 species of Diphyllobothrium from phocids and...
BACKGROUND
The systematic of several marine diphyllobothriid tapeworms of pinnipeds has been revised in recent years. However, 20 species of Diphyllobothrium from phocids and otariids are still recognized as incertae sedis. We describe a new species of Diphyllobothrium from the intestine of California sea lions Zalophus californianus (Lesson) (type-host) and South American sea lions Otaria flavescens (Shaw).
METHODS
Zalophus californianus from the Pacific coast of the USA and O. flavescens from Peru and Argentina were screened for parasites. Partial fragments of the large ribosomal subunit gene (lsrDNA) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial gene were amplified for 22 isolates. Properly fixed material from California sea lions was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy.
RESULTS
A total of four lsrDNA and 21 cox1 sequences were generated and aligned with published sequences of other diphyllobothriid taxa. Based on cox1 sequences, four diphyllobothriid tapeworms from O. flavescens in Peru were found to be conspecific with Adenocephalus pacificus Nybelin, 1931. The other newly generated sequences fall into a well-supported clade with sequences of a putative new species previously identified as Diphyllobothrium sp. 1. from Z. californianus and O. flavescens. A new species, Diphyllobothrium sprakeri n. sp., is proposed for tapeworms of this clade.
CONCLUSIONS
Diphyllobothrium sprakeri n. sp. is the first diphyllobothriid species described from Z. californianus from the Pacific coast of North America, but O. flavescens from Argentina, Chile and Peru was confirmed as an additional host. The present study molecularly confirmed the first coinfection of two diphyllobothriid species in sea lions from the Southern Hemisphere.
Topics: Animals; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Female; Genes, Mitochondrial; Intestines; Male; North America; Phylogeny; Sea Lions; South America
PubMed: 33888151
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04661-1 -
Parasitology Research Jul 2021Diphyllobothriosis was first recorded in humans in Argentina in 1892 and in introduced salmonids in 1952. The aim of this work is to assess factors influencing the...
A regional study of the zoonotic broad tapeworm Dibothriocephalus spp. in Northwestern Patagonia (Argentina): origin of fishes and coastal cities as factors affecting infection in fishes.
Diphyllobothriosis was first recorded in humans in Argentina in 1892 and in introduced salmonids in 1952. The aim of this work is to assess factors influencing the values of prevalence and abundance of plerocercoids in fishes that could increase the risk of transmission of Dibothriocephalus spp. in Andean Patagonian lakes. We analysed two key issues potentially related to the occurrence of tapeworms in fish: the presence of cities on coastlines (as potential sources of eggs to nearby lakes) and the difference between native and exotic fishes in susceptibility to infection. We investigated the probability of finding parasites in fish, the variation in parasite abundance in different environments and the relationship between host length and occurrence of plerocercoids. A total of 3226 fishes (belonging to six autochthonous and four introduced species) were analysed between 2010 and 2019 in eight environments. Plerocercoids were counted, and a subset was determined molecularly to species level. Two species, Dibothriocephalus latus and Dibothriocephalus dendriticus, were identified from both salmonids and native fishes, this being the first molecular confirmation of these tapeworm species parasitizing native South American fishes. Salmonids had higher levels of infection than native fishes, and these levels were higher in aquatic environments with a city on their coastline. Transmission to humans seems to occur mainly through Oncorhynchus mykiss, which showed the highest infection values and is the species most captured by fishers. Based on previous data and the present results, eggs shed by humans, dogs and gulls in cities could be the principal factors in maintaining the life cycle of this parasite in surrounding aquatic environments.
Topics: Animals; Argentina; Cities; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Dogs; Fish Diseases; Fishes; Humans; Lakes; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33851249
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07150-7 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Apr 2021
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Food Parasitology; Humans; Male; Praziquantel; Raw Foods; Young Adult; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33844646
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0105 -
Parasitology Jun 2021The large-sized tapeworm Dibothriocephalus latus is known as the broad or fish-borne cestode of mammals that is capable to infect humans and cause diphyllobothriosis....
The large-sized tapeworm Dibothriocephalus latus is known as the broad or fish-borne cestode of mammals that is capable to infect humans and cause diphyllobothriosis. Recently, molecular data on D. latus has been accumulating in the literature and a complete genome sequence has been published; however, little is known about the karyotype and chromosome architecture. In this study, an in-depth karyological analysis of 2 D. latus specimens was carried out. The plerocercoids originated from a perch caught in subalpine Lake Iseo (Italy) and the tapeworms were reared in hamsters. Both specimens contained cells with a highly variable number of chromosomes ranging from18 to 27. Nevertheless, the largest portion of mitotic figures (47%) showed a number corresponding to the triploid set, 3n = 27. Accordingly, the karyotype of the analyzed specimens consisted of 9 triplets of metacentric chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the 18S rDNA probe clearly demonstrated the presence of 3 clusters of hybridization signals on the triplet of chromosome 7, thus confirming the triploid status of the specimens. FISH with a telomeric (TTAGGG)n probe confined hybridization signals exclusively to the terminal chromosomal regions, supporting the earlier findings that this repetitive motif is a conserved feature of tapeworm telomeres.
Topics: Animals; Chromosomes; Cytogenetic Analysis; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Karyotype; RNA, Helminth; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Triploidy
PubMed: 33678200
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000408 -
The Korean Journal of Parasitology Oct 2020A 22-year-old Thai man from the Northeast region presented with acute eye swelling, itching, and discharge on his left eye. He was suspected of having gnathostomiasis...
A 22-year-old Thai man from the Northeast region presented with acute eye swelling, itching, and discharge on his left eye. He was suspected of having gnathostomiasis and treated with albendazole and prednisolone for 3 weeks. Nine months later, he was treated with high-dose oral prednisolone for the preliminary and differential diagnoses with thyroid-associated orbitopathy and lymphoma. He had been administered prednisolone intermittently over a few years. Then he developed a painless movable mass at the left upper eyelid and recurrent pseudotumor oculi was suspected. The surgical removal of the mass was performed. A white pseudosegmented worm revealed a definite diagnosis of ocular sparganosis by a plerocercoid larva. Molecular diagnosis of the causative species was made based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Proper technique of extraction and amplification of short fragments DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue successfully identified parasite species. The result from the sequencing of the PCR-amplified cox1 fragments in this study showed 99.0% sequence homology to Spirometra ranarum. This is the first report of S. ranarum in Thailand.
Topics: Adult; Animals; DNA, Helminth; Diagnosis, Differential; Eye; Eye Diseases; Genes, Helminth; Humans; Male; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Spirometra; Thailand; Young Adult
PubMed: 33202511
DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.5.577