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Parasites, Hosts and Diseases May 2024Dipylidium caninum is a cosmopolitan parasite of companion animals such as dogs and cats. Accidental infection in humans occur mostly in children. Although considerable... (Review)
Review
Dipylidium caninum is a cosmopolitan parasite of companion animals such as dogs and cats. Accidental infection in humans occur mostly in children. Although considerable number of cases were reported from Europe and the Americas, case reports of this zoonotic disease are rather scarce from Asian countries. The aim of this study is to report the results of literature survey on dipylidiasis cases in humans in Japan. Conclusively, we have found a total of 17 cases since the first case report in from Aichi Prefecture in 1925.
Topics: Japan; Animals; Humans; Cats; Male; Dogs; Female; Child; Adult; Middle Aged; Cat Diseases; Zoonoses; Adolescent; Dog Diseases; Child, Preschool; Aged; Cestoda
PubMed: 38835257
DOI: 10.3347/PHD.23118 -
Journal of Helminthology Jun 2024A comparative analysis of taxonomic diversity on shrew cestodes among four islands in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk (Sakhalin, Kunashir, Hokkaido, and Moneron)...
A comparative analysis of taxonomic diversity on shrew cestodes among four islands in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk (Sakhalin, Kunashir, Hokkaido, and Moneron) was performed. Cestode species shared among the islands were identified and their host specificity was investigated. On Sakhalin Island, 33 species of the families Hymenolepididae, Dilepididae and Mesocestoididae were recorded in four shrew species (, , and ). In , , and on Kunashir Island, 22 species of the same families were found and, on Hokkaido Island, 23 species of the families Hymenolepididae and Dilepididae were recorded. On Moneron Island, three species of cestodes were registered in The Sakhalin-Hokkaido-Kunashir complex of shrew cestodes includes eastern-Palearctic, trans-Palearctic and endemic species. High endemism (~22%) of shrew tapeworms in the Sakhalin-Kunashir-Hokkaido Islands was noted as compared to continental territories. The different numbers of cestode species in (31), (29), (19) and (1) were found. It was concluded that the cestodes species diversity of shrews of Sakhalin-Kunashir-Hokkaido depended primarily on the history of island formation, their modern physical and geographical features, the abundance of definitive and intermediate cestodes hosts and, to a lesser extent, on the size and remoteness of the islands from the mainland and the diversity of host species.
Topics: Animals; Cestoda; Shrews; Japan; Islands; Biodiversity; Host Specificity; Cestode Infections
PubMed: 38828715
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X24000324 -
Journal of Helminthology Jun 2024Relative to the numerous studies focused on mammalian schistosomes, fewer include avian schistosomatids particularly in the southern hemisphere. This is changing and...
Relative to the numerous studies focused on mammalian schistosomes, fewer include avian schistosomatids particularly in the southern hemisphere. This is changing and current research emerging from the Neotropics shows a remarkable diversity of endemic taxa. To contribute to this effort, nine ducks (, , ), 12 swans () and 1,400 spp. snails from Chile and Argentina were collected for adults and larval schistosomatids, respectively. Isolated schistosomatids were preserved for morphological and molecular analyses ( and genes). Four different schistosomatid taxa were retrieved from birds: sp. in and that formed a clade; and hosted ; hosted the nasal schistosomatid, ; and one visceral, Schistosomatidae gen. sp., which formed a clade with furcocercariae from Argentina and Chile from previous work. Of the physid snails, only one from Argentina had schistosomatid furcocercariae that based on molecular analyses grouped with This study represents the first description of adult schistosomatids from Chile as well as the elucidation of the life cycles of and in Chile and Neotropics, respectively. Without well-preserved adults, the putative new genus Schistosomatidae gen. sp. could not be described, but its life cycle involves spp. and Scanning electron microscopy of revealed additional, undescribed morphological traits, highlighting its diagnostic importance. Authors stress the need for additional surveys of avian schistosomatids from the Neotropics to better understand their evolutionary history.
Topics: Animals; Life Cycle Stages; Phylogeny; Schistosomatidae; Chile; Argentina; Birds; Bird Diseases; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; Snails; South America; Electron Transport Complex IV
PubMed: 38828707
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X2400035X -
Veterinary Parasitology Jul 2024The transmission of Fasciola hepatica occurs only where there are -or recently were- aquatic or amphibious snails of the Lymnaeidae family, the intermediate host of this...
The transmission of Fasciola hepatica occurs only where there are -or recently were- aquatic or amphibious snails of the Lymnaeidae family, the intermediate host of this parasite. Direct detection of these snails is time-consuming and imprecise, hindering accurate and detailed mapping of transmission risk. To identify which microenvironmental factors could be used as proxies for the occurrence of the lymnaeid snail Galba viator, a major intermediate host in South America, a total of 183 1-m quadrants across diverse water bodies in an endemic area in Andean Patagonia were manually timed-searched for snails and microenvironmental variables were registered. Data was analyzed using a Bayesian hierarchical occupancy model that assessed the effects of the microenvironmental variables on the presence of snails while considering imperfect snail detection. The model estimated that G. viator predominantly inhabits shallow aquatic environments, in the presence of grasses, where snails of the genus Biomphalaria are also detected, and with scarce tree canopy cover. Physical factors affecting occupancy presumably act as proxies for the average water temperature, while the temperature at the time of sampling was found to affect snail detectability. The identified variables are easy, fast, and inexpensive to measure, and can complement management decisions and risk maps based on coarser remote-sensing data, particularly relevant in a context of growing resistance to anthelminthic drugs.
Topics: Animals; Fasciola hepatica; Snails; Temperature; Water; Argentina; Fascioliasis; Bayes Theorem
PubMed: 38823188
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110209 -
FASEB Journal : Official Publication of... Jun 2024Schistosome infection and schistosome-derived products have been implicated in the prevention and alleviation of inflammatory bowel disease by manipulating the host...
Schistosome infection and schistosome-derived products have been implicated in the prevention and alleviation of inflammatory bowel disease by manipulating the host immune response, whereas the role of gut microbiota in this protective effect remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that the intraperitoneal immunization with Schistosoma japonicum eggs prior to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) application significantly ameliorated the symptoms of DSS-induced acute colitis, which was characterized by higher body weight, lower disease activity index score and macroscopic inflammatory scores. We demonstrated that the immunomodulatory effects of S. japonicum eggs were accompanied by an influence on gut microbiota composition, abundance, and diversity, which increased the abundance of genus Turicibacter, family Erysipelotrichaceae, phylum Firmicutes, and decreased the abundance of genus Odoribacter, family Marinifilaceae, order Bacteroidales, class Bacteroidia, phylum Bacteroidota. In addition, Lactobacillus was identified as a biomarker that distinguishes healthy control mice from DSS-induced colitis mice. The present study revealed the importance of the gut microbiota in S. japonicum eggs exerting protective effects in an experimental ulcerative colitis (UC) model, providing an alternative strategy for the discovery of UC prevention and treatment drugs.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Colitis, Ulcerative; Mice; Schistosoma japonicum; Dextran Sulfate; Female; Disease Models, Animal; Immunization; Ovum; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38822662
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302576RR -
Journal of Water and Health May 2024worms cause a waterborne parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. It commonly affects individuals in lack of sanitation structure. In Brazil, Pará state has Belém as...
worms cause a waterborne parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. It commonly affects individuals in lack of sanitation structure. In Brazil, Pará state has Belém as one of the worst sanitation-ranking places in 2023, where schistosomiasis transmission was already documented. This study reports the occurrence of schistosomiasis in residents of Ilha das Onças, an island next to Belém. Stool samples were obtained from participants over 2 years old, all residents from Furo do Rio Grande, one of the rivers on the island. The Kato-Katz technique was performed for parasite investigation in the stool samples. Each participant responded to a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. The residences were georeferenced for map designing. Three out of 263 participants were positive, all men, ages ranging from 19 to 41 years old, with low parasitic load. Malacological surveys were carried out, but no snails were found. Risk factors for schistosomiasis establishment are present on the island, and the lack of sanitation makes it a potential risk area. Malacological surveys are highly encouraged as preventive measures, as well as health surveillance for riverside populations, generating data that will help health authorities in the management and planning of preventive control actions.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Adult; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Male; Schistosoma mansoni; Animals; Young Adult; Rivers; Female; Feces; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Child
PubMed: 38822463
DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.300 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Jun 2024Opisthorchiid flukes, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, Clonorchis sinensis, and Metorchis spp. are the most common fish-borne zoonotic human...
BACKGROUND
Opisthorchiid flukes, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, Clonorchis sinensis, and Metorchis spp. are the most common fish-borne zoonotic human liver flukes (hLFs). Liver fluke infections are more prevalent in resource-deprived and underprivileged areas. We herein estimated the prevalence of the metacercariae (MC) of major hLFs in common large freshwater fishes (lFWF) marketed for human consumption from some selected areas of Bangladesh along with detection of their molluscan vectors and reservoirs.
METHODS
The current status of fish-borne zoonotic hLF infections in lFWF was investigated along with their molluscan vectors and mammalian reservoir hosts in Mymensingh and Kishoreganj in Bangladesh from July 2018-June 2022 using conventional and multiple molecular techniques, such as PCR, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), sequencing, and bioinformatic analyses. The infection rate of fishes was analyzed using the Z-test and the loads of MC were compared using the chi-squared (χ) test.
RESULTS
The MC of C. sinensis, Opisthorchis spp., and Metorchis spp. were detected in 11 species of common and popular lFWF. In lFWF, the estimated prevalence was 18.7% and the mean load was 137.4 ± 149.8 MC per 100 g of fish. The prevalence was the highest (P < 0.05) in spotted snakehead fishes (Channa punctata, 63.6%). The highest rate of infection (P < 0.05) was observed with the MC of C. sinensis (11.8%). Metacercariae were almost equally (P > 0.05) distributed between the head and body of fishes. The infection rate was slightly higher in cultured (19.6%) fishes. The MC of C. sinensis, O. felineus, O. viverrini, and Metorchis orientalis in fishes were confirmed using PCR, PCR-RFLP and bioinformatics. The cercariae of opisthorchiid (Pleurolophocercus cercariae) flukes were only recovered from Bithynia spp. (3.9%, 42 out of 1089). The ova of hLFs from dogs (4.3%, 5 out of 116) and cats (6.0%, 6 out of 100), and adult flukes (M. orientalis) from ducks (41.1% 113 out of 275) were detected.
CONCLUSIONS
The MC of hLFs are highly prevalent in fresh water fishes in Bangladesh. Reservoir hosts, such as street dogs, cats, and ducks carried the patent infection, and residents of Bangladesh are at risk.
Topics: Animals; Bangladesh; Fishes; Fresh Water; Fish Diseases; Humans; Disease Reservoirs; Zoonoses; Disease Vectors; Prevalence; Opisthorchis; Metacercariae; Clonorchis sinensis; Mollusca
PubMed: 38822386
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01209-0 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2024Snails of the Lymnaeidae family are the intermediate hosts of Fasciola species, the causative agents of fascioliasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the...
BACKGROUND
Snails of the Lymnaeidae family are the intermediate hosts of Fasciola species, the causative agents of fascioliasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola species in lymnaeid snails and to investigate the association of geoclimatic factors and Fasciola species distribution in northwestern provinces of Iran using geographical information system (GIS) data.
METHODS
A total of 2000 lymnaeid snails were collected from 33 permanent and seasonal habitats in northwestern Iran during the period from June to November 2021. After identification by standard morphological keys, they were subjected to shedding and crushing methods. Different stages of Fasciola obtained from these snails were subjected to the ITS1 polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for species identification. The associations of weather temperature, rainfall, humidity, evaporation, air pressure, wind speed, elevation, and land cover with the distribution of Fasciola species were investigated. Geographical and statistical analysis was performed using ArcMap and SPSS software, respectively, to determine factors related to Fasciola species distribution.
RESULTS
Of the 2000 snails collected, 19 were infected with Fasciola hepatica (0.09%), six with F. gigantica (0.03%), and 13 with other trematodes. Among geoclimatic and environmental factors, mean humidity, maximum humidity, and wind speed were significantly higher in areas where F. hepatica was more common than F. gigantica. The altitude of F. hepatica-prevalent areas was generally lower than F. gigantica areas. No significant relationship was observed between other investigated geoclimatic factors and the distribution of infected snails.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed the relationship of humidity and wind speed with the distribution of snails infected with F. hepatica or F. gigantica in the northwestern regions of Iran. In contrast to F. gigantica, F. hepatica was more prevalent in low-altitude areas. Further research is recommended to elucidate the relationship between geoclimatic factors and the presence of intermediate hosts of the two Fasciola species.
Topics: Animals; Iran; Fascioliasis; Snails; Fasciola; Fasciola hepatica; Climate; Ecosystem; Seasons; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
PubMed: 38822348
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06298-2 -
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Jul 2024Avian schistosomes inhabit the blood stream of domestic and wild birds with aquatic snails as their intermediate hosts. In the Neotropics there is an emerging effort to...
Pathological lesions associated with avian schistosomes (Digenea: Schistosomatidae) in the freshwater snail Chilina dombeiana (Gastropoda: Chilinidae) from Southern Chile.
Avian schistosomes inhabit the blood stream of domestic and wild birds with aquatic snails as their intermediate hosts. In the Neotropics there is an emerging effort to describe species from these hosts, including Chile, although the knowledge about their pathological consequences is mostly understudied. This study aimed to describe the pathological changes associated with the parasitism of a native schistosomatid restricted to the Southern Cone of Neotropics. To achieve this, a total of 401 Chilina dombeiana snails (Chilinidae) were collected in two locations from Southern Chile. All of them were disposed to cercarial release procedure for three consecutive days. Furcocercariae released were stained and characterized by microscopic evaluation. Then, all snails were dissected under stereomicroscope and preserved in 10 % buffered formalin until histopathological analysis was performed. Eight out 401 (P = 2 %) snails were found parasitized with avian schistosomes. The released furcocercariae were identified as Schistosomatidae gen. sp. Lineage II which was previously reported in the same host. The main pathological change was an atrophy of ovotestes and an absence or mild infiltration of hemocytes in the surrounding tissues. Besides, a co-infection with echinostomes was found which was associated with a moderate hemocyte infiltration, granuloma-like lesion, and a reduced presence of schistosome' sporocysts. The latter would suggest an antagonistic interaction between these two digeneans, as has been proposed in the Echinostoma spp.-Schistosoma mansoni model. Despite the above, the release of furcocercariae was present but reduced, in contrast with the non-release of echinocercariae. This interaction requires further attention. This study represents the first attempt to characterize the pathological consequences of parasitism by a native, yet undescribed, avian schistosome in an endemic snail. Future studies should consider experimental infections to understand the dynamics of single infections in other Chilina species, including inter- and intra-specific parasitism as previous studies have found, including this study.
Topics: Animals; Chile; Snails; Schistosomatidae; Birds; Bird Diseases; Fresh Water; Host-Parasite Interactions
PubMed: 38821315
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108145 -
Parasitology Research May 2024The intricate relationships between parasites and hosts encompass a wide range of levels, from molecular interactions to population dynamics. Parasites influence not...
The intricate relationships between parasites and hosts encompass a wide range of levels, from molecular interactions to population dynamics. Parasites influence not only the physiological processes in the host organism, but also the entire ecosystem, affecting mortality of individuals, the number of offspring through parasitic castration, and matter and energy cycles. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern host-parasite relationships and their impact on host physiology and environment remains challenging. In this study, we analyzed how infection with Microphallus trematodes affects the metabolome of two Littorina snail species inhabiting different intertidal zone shore levels. We applied non-targeted GC-MS-based metabolomics to analyze biochemical shifts induced by trematode infection in a host organism. We have identified changes in energy, amino acid, sugar, and lipid metabolism. In particular, we observed intensified amino acid catabolism and nitrogenous catabolites (glutamine, urea) production. These changes primarily correlated with infection and interspecies differences of the hosts rather than shore level. The changes detected in the host metabolism indicate that other aspects of life may have been affected, both within the host organism and at a supra-organismal level. Therefore, we explored changes in microbiota composition, deviations in the host molluscs behavior, and acetylcholinesterase activity (ACE, an enzyme involved in neuromuscular transmission) in relation to infection. Infected snails displayed changes in their microbiome composition. Decreased ACE activity in snails was associated with reduced mobility, but whether it is associated with trematode infection remains unclear. The authors suggest a connection between the identified biochemical changes and the deformation of the shell of molluscs, changes in their behavior, and the associated microbiome. The role of parasitic systems formed by microphallid trematodes and Littorina snails in the nitrogen cycle at the ecosystem level is also assumed.
Topics: Animals; Trematoda; Snails; Host-Parasite Interactions; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 38819740
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08244-8