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Parasite (Paris, France) 2024Myxidium rhodei Léger, 1905 (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) is a kidney-infecting myxosporean that was originally described from the European bitterling Rhodeus amarus....
Myxidium rhodei Léger, 1905 (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) is a kidney-infecting myxosporean that was originally described from the European bitterling Rhodeus amarus. Subsequently, it has been documented based on spore morphology in more than 40 other cypriniform species, with the roach Rutilus rutilus being the most commonly reported host. This study introduces the first comprehensive data assessment of M. rhodei, conducted through morphological, ecological and molecular methods. The morphological and phylogenetic analyses of SSU rDNA sequences of Myxidium isolates obtained from European bitterling and roach did not support parasite conspecificity from these fish. In fact, the roach-infecting isolates represent three distinct parasite species. The first two, M. rutili n. sp. and M. rutilusi n. sp., are closely related cryptic species clustering with other myxosporeans in the freshwater urinary clade, sharing the same tissue tropism. The third one, M. batuevae n. sp., previously assigned to M. cf. rhodei, clustered in the hepatic biliary clade sister to bitterling-infecting M. rhodei. Our examination of diverse cypriniform fishes, coupled with molecular and morphological analyses, allowed us to untangle the cryptic species nature of M. rhodei and discover the existence of novel species. This underscores the largely undiscovered range of myxozoan diversity and highlights the need to incorporate sequence data in diagnosing novel species.
Topics: Animals; Myxozoa; Phylogeny; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Fish Diseases; Host Specificity; Cypriniformes; DNA, Ribosomal; Kidney; Cyprinidae
PubMed: 38949637
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024030 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2024Wild rodents serve as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium and are overpopulated globally. However, genetic data regarding Cryptosporidium in these animals from China are...
Wild rodents serve as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium and are overpopulated globally. However, genetic data regarding Cryptosporidium in these animals from China are limited. Here, we have determined the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium among 370 wild rodents captured from three distinct locations in the southern region of Zhejiang Province, China. Fresh feces were collected from the rectum of each rodent, and DNA was extracted from them. The rodent species was identified by PCR amplifying the vertebrate cytochrome b gene. Cryptosporidium was detected by PCR amplification and amplicon sequencing the small subunit of ribosomal RNA gene. Positive samples of C. viatorum and C. parvum were further subtyped by analyzing the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene. A positive Cryptosporidium result was found in 7% (26/370) of samples, involving five rodent species: Apodemus agrarius (36), Niviventer niviventer (75), Rattus losea (18), R. norvegicus (155), and R. tanezumi (86). Their respective Cryptosporidium positive rates were 8.3%, 5.3%, 11.1%, 7.1%, and 7.0%. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of three Cryptosporidium species: C. parvum (4), C. viatorum (1), and C. muris (1), and two genotypes: Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (16) and C. mortiferum-like (4). Additionally, two subtypes of C. parvum (IIdA15G1 and IIpA19) and one subtype of C. viatorum (XVdA3) were detected. These results demonstrate that various wild rodent species in Zhejiang were concurrently infected with rodent-adapted and zoonotic species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium, indicating that these rodents can play a role in maintaining and dispersing this parasite into the environment and other hosts, including humans.
Topics: Animals; Cryptosporidiosis; China; Cryptosporidium; Feces; Rodent Diseases; Animals, Wild; Rats; Rodentia; Prevalence; Public Health; Disease Reservoirs; Phylogeny; Humans; DNA, Protozoan; Murinae; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Zoonoses; Genotype
PubMed: 38949636
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024033 -
International Maritime Health 2024The World Health Organization (WHO) reported an estimated 249 million malaria cases globally in 2023, of which 94% were reported from Africa. Tanzania, a Sub-Saharan...
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported an estimated 249 million malaria cases globally in 2023, of which 94% were reported from Africa. Tanzania, a Sub-Saharan African country, has an exceptionally high malaria prevalence (3.6 million in 2023). The aim of the present study was to assess malaria prevalence rates in the Arusha Region, northern Tanzania. This region is famous for its national parks and wildlife reserves, and it is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. The assessment of malaria prevalence in the region is important in the context of the necessity to administer antimalarial chemoprophylaxis to international travellers.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study group consisted of 101 people, residents of the Karatu District in the Arusha Region, aged between 1 and 73 years, who volunteered to participate in the screening. Phase I of the study was conducted in July 2022 in the Karatu Lutheran Hospital in Karatu Town (located close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park). During this phase a venous blood sample was collected from each patient. The samples were tested for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (mRDT); the same samples were also used to measure haemoglobin concentration and next they were applied onto the Whatman FTA micro cards for further molecular diagnostics in Poland (phase II).
RESULTS
mRDT detected two (2.0%) infections caused by Plasmodium (the etiological factor of malaria), the molecular tests (RT-PCR) confirmed the two positive results by mRDT but also detected infections in six other samples (7.9% in total). The study found that six patients were infected with the Plasmodium falciparum species, while two other subjects had co-infections (P. falciparum + P. ovale, P. falciparum + P. vivax + P. malariae).
CONCLUSIONS
The study findings confirm the prevalence of malaria in areas located close to national parks in northern Tanzania and support the use of antimalarial chemoprophylaxis in international travellers visiting the area. The present study found co-infections caused by four different species of Plasmodium species which supports the prevalence of different parasitic species in Sub-Saharan Africa and is in line with CDC reports but contrary to WHO reports which estimate that 100% of malaria cases in Sub-Saharan Africa are caused by P. falciparum.
Topics: Humans; Tanzania; Prevalence; Adult; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Male; Female; Child; Aged; Young Adult; Child, Preschool; Malaria; Infant; Antimalarials
PubMed: 38949218
DOI: 10.5603/imh.100440 -
F1000Research 2024This scoping review will identify existing literature regarding contextual factors relevant to vector-control interventions to prevent malaria. We will use the findings... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This scoping review will identify existing literature regarding contextual factors relevant to vector-control interventions to prevent malaria. We will use the findings of the scoping review to produce an interactive evidence and gap map. The map will assist in the priority setting, development, and conduct of targeted systematic reviews. These systematic reviews seek to assist the Vector Control and Insecticide Resistance Unit of the World Health Organization's Global Malaria Programme by informing recommendation development by their Guidelines Development Group.
INTRODUCTION
Malaria contributes substantially to the global burden of disease, with an estimated 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths in 2021. Vector-control is key in reducing malaria transmission. Vector-control interventions directly target the mosquito, reducing the potential for parasite infections. These interventions commonly include insecticides used in indoor residual spraying or insecticide-treated nets and larval source management. Several new vector-control interventions are under evaluation to complement these. In addition to estimating the effects of interventions on health outcomes, it is critical to understand how populations at risk of malaria consider them in terms of their feasibility, acceptability, and values.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Eligible studies will have assessed the contextual factors of feasibility or acceptability of the interventions of interest, or the valuation of the outcomes of interests. These assessments will be from the perspective of people who receive (residents) or deliver (workers or technicians) the vector-control intervention for the purpose of preventing malaria.
METHODS
We will conduct this scoping review in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and report in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We will construct the evidence and gap map following guidance from the Campbell Collaboration.
Topics: Malaria; Humans; Mosquito Control; Animals; Insecticides; Mosquito Vectors
PubMed: 38948349
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.144661.1 -
PeerJ 2024The integration of diagnostic methods holds promise for advancing the surveillance of malaria transmission in both endemic and non-endemic regions. Serological assays...
BACKGROUND
The integration of diagnostic methods holds promise for advancing the surveillance of malaria transmission in both endemic and non-endemic regions. Serological assays emerge as valuable tools to identify and delimit malaria transmission, serving as a complementary method to rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and thick smear microscopy. Here, we evaluate the potential of antibodies directed against peptides encompassing the entire amino acid sequence of the MSP-1 Sal-I strain as viable serological biomarkers for exposure.
METHODS
We screened peptides encompassing the complete amino acid sequence of the Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (MSP-1) Sal-I strain as potential biomarkers for exposure. Here, immunodominant peptides specifically recognized by antibodies from individuals infected with were identified using the SPOT-synthesis technique followed by immunoblotting. Two 15-mer peptides were selected based on their higher and specific reactivity in immunoblotting assays. Subsequently, peptides p70 and p314 were synthesized in soluble form using SPPS (Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis) and tested by ELISA (IgG, and subclasses).
RESULTS
This study unveils the presence of IgG antibodies against the peptide p314 in most -infected individuals from the Brazilian Amazon region. B-cell epitope prediction further supports the utilization of p314 as a potential biomarker for evaluating malaria transmission, strengthened by its amino acid sequence being part of a conserved block of MSP-1. Indeed, compared to patients infected with and uninfected individuals never exposed to malaria, -infected patients have a notably higher recognition of p314 by IgG1 and IgG3.
Topics: Humans; Malaria, Vivax; Merozoite Surface Protein 1; Plasmodium vivax; Biomarkers; Antibodies, Protozoan; Immunoglobulin G; Adult; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Peptides; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Young Adult; Adolescent; Amino Acid Sequence
PubMed: 38948214
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17632 -
Cureus May 2024Tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus cause parasitic disease in humans through the ingestion of eggs in contaminated food and water. Rupture of slowly enlarging cysts in...
Tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus cause parasitic disease in humans through the ingestion of eggs in contaminated food and water. Rupture of slowly enlarging cysts in the liver, lungs, and other organs can be life-threatening and many deaths are recorded yearly worldwide. Surgery and removal of such cysts remain the most effective treatment. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) routinely placed in the ICU in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), may provide time and adequate oxygenation for the completion of surgery in echinococcosis cases. In this article, we present a rare case of pulmonary echinococcosis in a young patient requiring ECMO support prior to surgery.
PubMed: 38947597
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61302 -
Current Tropical Medicine Reports Dec 2023This review aims to elucidate the etiologies of brain abscesses in the tropics. Despite the similarities in causes of brain abscesses across global regions, tropical...
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This review aims to elucidate the etiologies of brain abscesses in the tropics. Despite the similarities in causes of brain abscesses across global regions, tropical settings manifest distinguishing characteristics, prominently observed on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
RECENT FINDINGS
In tropical climates, the leading conditions predisposing individuals to brain abscesses are polymicrobial bacterial infections originating from paranasal sinuses, dental sources, and otitis media. However, the tropics present unique etiologies to be aware of, including (Chagas disease), free-living amoebas like , infections from (melioidosis), fungi such as , and . Given the differential diagnoses, which include neoplastic, inflammatory, and demyelinating diseases, a stereotactic biopsy coupled with a microbiological assessment remains valuable for accurate diagnosis.
SUMMARY
In tropical regions, brain abscesses are a concern when confronted with mass-occupying or other types of brain lesions. Successful clinical management of brain abscesses typically combines surgical intervention and extended anti-microbial treatment. However, specific parasitic invasions like Chagas disease, free-living amoebas, and necessitate targeted anti-parasitic therapies. Furthermore, international policy efforts should focus on prevention measures in resource limited regions with heightened risks and disease burden.
PubMed: 38947183
DOI: 10.1007/s40475-023-00306-8 -
Journal of Veterinary Research Jun 2024The aim of the study was to monitor the occurrence of selected vector-borne diseases in anaemic dogs arriving in or returning to Poland from areas endemic for these...
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the study was to monitor the occurrence of selected vector-borne diseases in anaemic dogs arriving in or returning to Poland from areas endemic for these diseases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study involved 497 dogs, of which 184 came to Poland from Ukraine with their owners fleeing the war. Other animals returned to the country from holidays spent in Croatia (n = 96), Turkey (n = 79), Italy (n = 48), Bulgaria (n = 42), Albania (n = 36) and Romania (n = 12). Molecular biology methods were used for detection of pathogens transmitted by the vectors.
RESULTS
Molecular tests revealed the presence of vector-borne pathogens in 79 dogs. The most commonly diagnosed infection was caused by (27 dogs), followed by infections with (in 20 dogs), (15 dogs), (7 dogs), (4 dogs), (3 dogs), (2 dogs) and (1 dog). Most of the sick dogs (n = 39) came from Ukraine. In dogs spending holidays with their owners outside Poland, vector-borne diseases were most often detected after their return from Turkey (n = 16), and next in descending order from Croatia (n = 7), Italy (n = 6), Albania (n = 4), Bulgaria (n = 4) and Romania (n = 3).
CONCLUSION
The wider migration crisis and increasingly frequent trips of owners with their dogs to areas of endemic infectious and parasitic diseases observed in recent years are the main risk factors for the occurrence of these diseases in Poland. Therefore, constant monitoring of vector-borne diseases, especially in dogs returning from holidays and arriving in Poland from abroad, seems to be crucial for their early detection and introduction of appropriate therapy.
PubMed: 38947161
DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2024-0033 -
Research Square Jun 2024Background The family includes many obligate parasitic bacterial species which are etiologically associated with a myriad of zoonotic borrelioses including Lyme disease...
Background The family includes many obligate parasitic bacterial species which are etiologically associated with a myriad of zoonotic borrelioses including Lyme disease and vector-borne relapsing fevers. Infections by the are difficult to detect by both direct and indirect methods, often leading to delayed and missed diagnoses. Efforts to improve diagnoses center around the development of molecular diagnostics (MDx), but due to deep tissue sequestration of the causative spirochaetes and the lack of persistent bacteremias, even MDx assays suffer from a lack of sensitivity. Additionally, the highly extensive genomic heterogeneity among isolates, even within the same species, contributes to the lack of assay sensitivity as single target assays cannot provide universal coverage. This within-species heterogeneity is partly due to differences in replicon repertoires and genomic structures that have likely arisen to support the complex lifecycle in which these parasites have to survive in multiple hosts each with unique immune responses. Results We constructed a family-level pangenome and characterized the phylogenetic relationships among the constituent taxa which supports the recent taxonomy of splitting the family into at least two genera. Gene content profiles were created for the majority of the replicons, providing for the first time their unambiguous molecular typing. Conclusion Our characterization of the pan-genome supports the splitting of the former genus into two genera and provides for the phylogenetic placement of several non-species designated isolates. Mining this family-level pangenome will enable precision diagnostics corresponding to gene content-driven clinical outcomes while also providing targets for interventions.
PubMed: 38947078
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4491589/v1 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jun 2024Lymph node metastasis is a specific type of metastasis in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Currently, there is a scarcity of describing the clinical characteristics...
BACKGROUND
Lymph node metastasis is a specific type of metastasis in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Currently, there is a scarcity of describing the clinical characteristics and lymph node metastasis rules of patients with hepatic AE combined with lymph node metastasis and its mechanism and management are still controversial. Radical hepatectomy combined with regional lymph node dissection is a better treatment.
AIM
To analyse the clinical features of hepatic AE combined with lymph node metastasis to explore its treatment and efficacy.
METHODS
A total of 623 patients with hepatic AE admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 1 January 2012 to 1 January 2022 were retrospectively analysed. Fifty-five patients with combined lymph node metastasis were analysed for their clinical data, diagnosis and treatment methods, follow-up efficacy, and characteristics of lymph node metastasis. Finally, we comparatively analysed the lymph node metastasis rates at different sites. Categorical variables are expressed as frequencies and percentages, and the analysis of difference was performed using the test. The Bonferroni method was used for pairwise comparisons when statistical differences existed between multiple categorical variables.
RESULTS
A lymph node metastasis rate of 8.8% (55/623) was reported in patients with hepatic AE, with a female predilection (69.1%) and a statistically significant sex difference ( = 8.018, = 0.005). Of the 55 patients with lymph node metastasis, 72.7% had a parasite lesion, neighbouring organ invasion, and metastasis stage of P3N1M0 and above, of which 67.3%, 78.2%, and 34.5% of hepatic AE lesions invaded the bile ducts, blood vessels, and distant metastases, respectively. Detection rates of lymph node metastasis of 16.4%, 21.7%, and 34.2% were reported for a preoperative abdominal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography examinations. All patients were intraoperatively suspected with enlarged lymph nodes and underwent radical hepatectomy combined with regional lymph node dissection. After surgery, a routine pathological examination was conducted on the resected lymph nodes. A total of 106 positive lymph nodes were detected in six groups at various sites, including 51 single-group metastasis cases and four multi-group metastasis cases. When the metastasis rates at different sites were statistically analysed, we observed that the metastasis rate in the para-hepatoduodenal ligament lymph nodes was significantly higher than that of the other sites ( = 128.089, = 0.000 < 0.05). No statistical difference was observed in the metastasis rate between the five other groups. Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa complication occurred in 14 cases, which improved after administering symptomatic treatment. Additionally, lymph node dissection-related complications were not observed. Recurrence after 2 years was observed in one patient.
CONCLUSION
Lymph node metastasis is a rare form of metastasis in hepatic AE, which is more frequent in women. Para-hepatoduodenal ligament lymph nodes are commonly observed. Radical hepatectomy combined with regional lymph node dissection is a safe, effective, and feasible treatment for liver AE combined with lymph node metastasis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Echinococcosis, Hepatic; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Adult; Hepatectomy; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes; Young Adult; Aged; Treatment Outcome; China; Adolescent
PubMed: 38946870
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i23.2981