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Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Oct 2023Biliary ascariasis, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, is a rare condition, especially in non-endemic areas. However, it can present with complications such as biliary...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Biliary ascariasis, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, is a rare condition, especially in non-endemic areas. However, it can present with complications such as biliary obstruction, requiring prompt diagnosis and management. This case report highlights the incidental detection and successful management of biliary ascariasis in a pregnant patient.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 26-year-old primigravida woman at 24 weeks gestation presented with mild icterus, anorexia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Laboratory tests showed elevated bilirubin levels and peripheral eosinophilia. Abdominal ultrasound revealed the presence of roundworms in the gallbladder and common bile duct. The patient was managed conservatively with an anti-helminthic agent, resulting in the passing of a dead worm and the resolution of symptoms.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Biliary ascariasis is a rare condition in non-endemic areas but should be considered in pregnant patients presenting with biliary symptoms. Prompt diagnosis is crucial, and imaging modalities such as abdominal ultrasound play a vital role. Conservative management with appropriate anti-helminthic therapy can effectively resolve symptoms and eliminate the infection.
CONCLUSION
This case report emphasizes the importance of considering biliary ascariasis in pregnant patients with biliary symptoms. Timely diagnosis, utilizing imaging modalities, and initiating conservative management with anti-helminthic therapy can lead to successful treatment outcomes. Increased awareness and understanding of this condition can aid clinicians in providing optimal care to similar patients.
PubMed: 37811107
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001205 -
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Sep 2023Ascaridia galli is the largest gut-dwelling helminth of chickens, which confers adverse effects on meat and egg production; thus, on the animal protein supply and the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Ascaridia galli is the largest gut-dwelling helminth of chickens, which confers adverse effects on meat and egg production; thus, on the animal protein supply and the economy. Both adult and immature parasites affect gut health, but larval stages play a major role in pathology.
AIMS
Here, we present immunology and pathology of A. galli in chickens.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Literatures were surveyed through online platforms such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Researchgate.
RESULTS
The larvae cause excessive mucus production, damage to the intestinal gland, hemorrhage, anemia, diarrhea, and malnutrition. The adult worms can cause death by intestinal obstruction and intussusception. Although both cellular and humoral immunity are involved in fighting against ascariasis, the role of naturally acquired immunity is poorly defined. In cellular immunity, Th-2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13), goblet cells (mucin), gut-associated lymphoid tissues, CD8α+ intraepithelial cells, TCRγδ + T cells, and TGF-β4 form a protective band. Type 2 immunity provides protection by forming a network of endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns, chitin, and parasitic antigens. Among antibodies, IgY is the most prominent in chickens and provides temporary humoral protection. During parasitic infection, infiltration of various immune cells is evident, especially in the intestinal epithelium, lamina propria, and crypts of the duodenum and jejunum. In chickens older than 12 weeks, gradual reduction of worm burden is more successful than the younger birds. Female chickens exert a short-lived but higher level of protection by passing IgY to chicks in the form of egg yolk antibodies. In laying conditions, immunity differs between breeds. This review provides an overview of the silent but inevitable pathological changes induced by A. galli and the interaction of host immunity with the parasite.
Topics: Animals; Female; Ascaridia; Ascaridiasis; Chickens; Cytokines; Intestinal Mucosa; Antibodies
PubMed: 37773698
DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1001 -
Clinical Case Reports Sep 2023This case report highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections, particularly Ascaris lumbricoides, as a possible cause of acute pancreatitis in children,...
KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE
This case report highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections, particularly Ascaris lumbricoides, as a possible cause of acute pancreatitis in children, especially in endemic regions. Noninvasive imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography, can play a crucial role in the early detection and diagnosis of this unusual presentation. Timely administration of anthelmintic therapy led to the resolution of symptoms and prevented the need for invasive procedures. Healthcare providers should be vigilant about the diverse clinical manifestations of ascariasis, and regular deworming programs and health education are essential in minimizing the burden of this neglected tropical disease among children.
ABSTRACT
Ascariasis is a common public health problem globally but it is more prevalent in school-age children and it often goes undiagnosed, leading to severe complications. The purpose of this report is to spread awareness of its unusual presentation and how to judiciously use noninvasive approaches for its diagnosis. We present a case of a 10-year-old girl that was presented in pediatric emergency with gradually worsening epigastric pain. Initial lab work-up showed elevated pancreatic enzymes which lead to the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The patient was managed in the line of acute pancreatitis and with further evaluation by imaging techniques such as ultrasound and CT-scan abdomen, Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides) was visualized. She was then treated with prophylactic antibiotics and antiparasitic medications, which resolved her symptoms and the child responded to the treatment. In children, parasites should be considered as a cause of acute pancreatitis by clinicians, especially in low-income countries, and before performing invasive procedures, noninvasive approaches should be considered as an initial option. This can save the patient from multiple invasive procedure and its severe complications.
PubMed: 37744625
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.7940 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Nov 2023Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the... (Review)
Review
Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the improvement of public health protection, the incidence of ascariasis has been reduced considerably, resulting in limited medical application of TSN. Therefore, it is questionable whether this old ascaris repellent can develop into a drug candidate. Modern studies have shown that TSN has strong pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-botulinum, anti-viral and anti-parasitic potentials. It also can regulate fat formation and improve inflammation. These researches indicate that TSN has great potential to be developed into a corresponding medical product. In order to better development and application of TSN, the availability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of TSN are summarized systematically. In addition, this review discusses shortcomings in the current researches and provides useful suggestions about how TSN developed into a drug candidate. Therefore, this paper illustrates the possibility of developing TSN as a medical product, aimed to provide directions for the clinical application and further research of TSN.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ascaris; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Neoplasms; China
PubMed: 37738795
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115541 -
Clinical and Translational Allergy Aug 2023There are limited data from non-industrialized settings on the effects of early life viral respiratory disease on childhood respiratory illness. We followed a birth...
BACKGROUND
There are limited data from non-industrialized settings on the effects of early life viral respiratory disease on childhood respiratory illness. We followed a birth cohort in tropical Ecuador to understand how early viral respiratory disease, in the context of exposures affecting airway inflammation including ascariasis, affect wheezing illness, asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis in later childhood.
METHODS
A surveillance cohort nested within a birth cohort was monitored for respiratory infections during the first 2 years in rural Ecuador and followed for 8 years for the development of wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis. Nasal swabs were examined for viruses by polymerase chain reaction and respiratory symptom data on recent wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis were collected by periodic questionnaires at 3, 5, and 8 years. Stools from pregnant mothers and periodically from children aged 2 years were examined microscopically for soil-transmitted helminths. Atopy was measured by allergen skin prick testing at 2 years. Spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement, and nasal washes were performed at 8 years. Associations between clinically significant respiratory disease (CSRD) and wheezing or rhinoconjunctivitis at 3, 5, and 8 years were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS
Four hundred and twenty six children were followed of which 67.7% had at least one CSRD episode; 12% had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)+CSRD and 36% had rhinovirus (RHV)+CSRD. All-cause CSRD was associated with increased wheeze at 3 (OR 2.33 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.23-4.40]) and 5 (OR: 2.12 [95% CI 1.12-4.01]) years. RHV+CSRD was more strongly associated with wheeze at 3 years in STH-infected (STH-infected [OR 13.41, 95% CI 1.56-115.64] vs. uninfected [OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.73-3.84]) and SPT+ (SPT+ [OR 9.42, 95% CI 1.88-47.15] versus SPT- [OR 1.92, 95% CI 0.84-4.38]) children. No associations were observed between CSRD and rhinoconjunctivitis.
DISCUSSION
CSRD was significantly associated with childhood wheeze with stronger associations observed for RHV+CSRD in SPT+ and STH-infected children.
PubMed: 37632244
DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12291 -
Revista Panamericana de Salud Publica =... 2023To investigate the relationship between the prevalence of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis with variables related to access to water, sanitation and...
[Schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases and sanitation in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic reviewRelación entre la prevalencia de esquistosomiasis y geohelmintiasis y las condiciones sanitarias en América Latina y el Caribe: una revisión sistemática].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the prevalence of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis with variables related to access to water, sanitation and solid waste in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.
METHOD
A systematic review was performed in the LILACS, PubMed, Web of Science, and SciELO databases. Studies published between 1950 and August 2021, with an ecological design and a focus on population groups (states, municipalities and/or districts), having the prevalence of infection by ., or as primary variable and access to water, sewage and/or solid waste as explanatory variables were included. Open access articles with full text available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were considered. The risk of bias and the quality of the studies were assessed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute manual.
RESULTS
Of 2 714 articles, nine were eligible, published between 1994 and 2021 and covering 22 LAC countries and 14 350 municipalities. All articles had moderate methodological quality. Environmental variables indicated an association between water supply and solid waste collection with schistosomiasis; water supply with ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm; and sewage with ascariasis and hookworm. Except for one article, which had regional coverage for LAC, all the others were developed in Brazil.
CONCLUSION
There is a clear need to expand research on the association between household and collective health conditions and parasitic diseases for all endemic countries in LAC to support environmental strategies to control these diseases.
PubMed: 37609526
DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2023.111 -
Parasites & Vectors Jul 2023Baylisascaris schroederi is the most common and harmful intestinal parasitic nematode of giant pandas, causing ascariasis. Although drug deworming is the main measure to...
BACKGROUND
Baylisascaris schroederi is the most common and harmful intestinal parasitic nematode of giant pandas, causing ascariasis. Although drug deworming is the main measure to control ascariasis in captive giant pandas, prolonged and repeated use of deworming drugs might induce resistance in nematodes and drug residues in giant pandas. Therefore, developing a safe and effective vaccine might provide a novel strategy to prevent ascariasis in captive giant pandas.
METHODS
Four highly expressed secretome genes encoding excretory and secretory proteins of B. schroederi, including transthyretin-like protein 46 (BsTLP), uncharacterized protein (BsUP), hypothetical protein 1 (BsHP1), and hypothetical protein 2 (BsHP2) and four functional genes [(encoding Galectin (BsGAL), glutathione S-transferase (BsGST), fatty acid-binding protein (BsFABP), and thioredoxin peroxidase (BsTPX)] were identified based on genome and transcriptome databases of B. schroederi and used to construct recombinant proteins via prokaryotic expression. Kunming mice were vaccinated subcutaneously twice with the recombinant proteins (50 μg/mouse) mixed with Quil A adjuvant with a 2-week interval and then orally challenged with 3000 infective eggs. The immunoprotective effects of the eight recombinant proteins on mice were assessed comprehensively using surface lesion histology scores of the mouse liver and lung, larval worm reduction, serum antibody levels (IgG, IgE, IgA, IgG1, and IgG2a), and cytokine production [interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10].
RESULTS
Mice vaccinated with recombinant (r)BsUP (76.5%), rBsGAL (74.7%), and rBsHP2 (71.5%) showed a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the larval worm rate compared with that in the adjuvant control. Besides, the surface lesions in the liver and lung of the vaccinated mice were alleviated. Serum levels of total IgG, IgE, IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, and cytokines, including IL-10, IL-5, and IFN-γ, were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that candidate three vaccines (rBsUP, rBsGAL, and rBsHP2) could provide effective protection against egg infection in mice associated with a mixed Th1/2-type immune response.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Interleukin-10; Ascariasis; Ursidae; Interleukin-5; Recombinant Proteins; Vaccines; Ascaridoidea; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin E; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 37501169
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05886-y -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the...
Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt, located in the Austrian Alps, human faeces have been conserved in salt. The aim of this study was to recover ancient DNA of intestinal parasites from these coprolites. Altogether, 35 coprolites from the Hallstatt salt mines, dating back to the Bronze Age mining phase (1158-1063 BCE) and the Iron Age mining phase (750-662 BCE), respectively, were analysed by microscopy and molecular methods. In 91% of the coprolite samples, eggs of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely of Trichuris and/or Ascaris were detected by light microscopy. The Ascaris eggs were exceptionally well preserved. For further analysis, DNA was extracted from the palaeofaecal samples and species-specific primers targeting different genes were designed. While amplification of Trichuris DNA remained unsuccessful, sequence data of A. lumbricoides species complex were successfully obtained from 16 coprolites from three different genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (cytB) and the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nadh1). Importantly, these included two Ascaris sequences from a coprolite from the Bronze Age, which to the best of our knowledge are the first molecular data of this genus from this period.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ascaris lumbricoides; Austria; Ascaris; Ascariasis; Nematode Infections; Trichuris; Feces; Soil
PubMed: 37491505
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38989-8 -
IDCases 2023
PubMed: 37484826
DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2023.e01844