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Neuropathology : Official Journal of... Aug 2022Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Paragonimus westermani infection, and migration to the brain results in cerebral paragonimiasis. Cerebral paragonimiasis...
Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Paragonimus westermani infection, and migration to the brain results in cerebral paragonimiasis. Cerebral paragonimiasis is now extremely rare, but a few cases are still reported. A 48-year-old Japanese woman presented with right-hand convulsion, right-hand numbness, sputum, and fatigue. Chest computed tomography demonstrated multiple nodular lesions, and head computed tomography revealed a hemorrhagic lesion in the left motor cortex. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple small ring-shaped lesions with surrounding edema. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated peripheral eosinophilia. We considered eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and started steroid treatment as a diagnostic therapy since we wanted to avoid cerebral lesion biopsy if possible. However, the patient underwent craniotomy surgery after steroid treatment for four months because a new intracerebral mass lesion had appeared. Trematode eggs were detected in the sample, and the final diagnosis was cerebral paragonimiasis. The patient was successfully treated with praziquantel. Cerebral paragonimiasis is extremely rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis if atypical intracranial hemorrhage and peripheral eosinophilia are observed.
Topics: Churg-Strauss Syndrome; Diagnostic Errors; Female; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis; Humans; Middle Aged; Paragonimiasis; Steroids
PubMed: 35723635
DOI: 10.1111/neup.12841 -
Parasitology Research Aug 2022Secretory enzymes from Schistosoma japonicum are promising candidate antigens in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Our previous studies have proven that thioredoxin...
Serological evaluation of the schistosome's secretory enzyme phytochelatin synthase and phosphoglycerate mutase for the detection of human Schistosoma japonicum infection.
Secretory enzymes from Schistosoma japonicum are promising candidate antigens in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Our previous studies have proven that thioredoxin peroxidase-1 (SjTPx-1) is useful for the detection of this parasitic disease in humans, water buffaloes, and dogs. In this study, we evaluated two more secretory enzymes namely phosphoglycerate mutase (SjPGM) and phytochelatin synthase (SjPCS) with SjTPx-1 as the reference antigen. SjPGM was shown to have good diagnostic potentials in animal samples in previous studies, whereas SjPCS was chosen because of its absence in the mammalian hosts. Serum samples including 96 endemic negative controls, 107 schistosomiasis japonica positive samples, and 31 samples positive for other parasitic trematode infections (Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, Paragonimus westermani) were tested with the antigens using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that SjPCS detected more positive samples and had fewer cross-reactions than SjPGM. With 85.05% sensitivity and 93.55% specificity, SjPCS can therefore be used in the detection of human schistosomiasis.
Topics: Aminoacyltransferases; Animals; Antigens, Helminth; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Phosphoglycerate Mutase; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis japonica; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 35672537
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07568-7 -
Parasitology Sep 2022Foodborne trematodes (FBT) of public health significance include liver flukes ( and ), lung flukes ( and several other spp.) and intestinal flukes, which include... (Review)
Review
Foodborne trematodes (FBT) of public health significance include liver flukes ( and ), lung flukes ( and several other spp.) and intestinal flukes, which include heterophyids ( and ), echinostomes ( and ) and miscellaneous species, including and . These trematode infections are distributed worldwide but occur most commonly in Asia. The global burden of FBT diseases has been estimated at about 80 million, however, this seems to be a considerable underestimate. Their life cycle involves a molluscan first intermediate host, and a second intermediate host, including freshwater fish, crustaceans, aquatic vegetables and freshwater or brackish water gastropods and bivalves. The mode of human infection is the consumption of the second intermediate host under raw or improperly cooked conditions. The major pathogenesis of and spp. infection includes inflammation of the bile duct which leads to cholangitis and cholecystitis, and in a substantial number of patients, serious complications, such as liver cirrhosis and cholangiocarcinoma, may develop. In lung fluke infections, cough, bloody sputum and bronchiectasis are the most common clinical manifestations. However, lung flukes often migrate to extrapulmonary sites, including the brain, spinal cord, skin, subcutaneous tissues and abdominal organs. Intestinal flukes can induce inflammation in the intestinal mucosa, and they may at times undergo extraintestinal migration, in particular, in immunocompromised patients. In order to control FBT infections, eating foods after proper cooking is strongly recommended.
Topics: Animals; Echinostoma; Fascioliasis; Heterophyidae; Humans; Inflammation; Trematoda; Trematode Infections
PubMed: 35591777
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022000725 -
Radiology Case Reports May 2022More than 40 different species of the parasitic flatworm have been identified worldwide, including in Vietnam, but only 10 species are known to cause disease in humans,...
More than 40 different species of the parasitic flatworm have been identified worldwide, including in Vietnam, but only 10 species are known to cause disease in humans, particularly are transmitted through the ingestion of raw foods, especially freshwater shrimp, and crab. Paragonimiasis causes pneumonia, which can present as acute or chronic, with symptoms including prolonged cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis. Hematologic changes include eosinophilia and the presence of specific antibodies for in the blood. Diagnosis is confirmed when specimens or eggs are found in the sputum or pleural fluid. The specificity of imaging is not high, but imaging can be used to guide the diagnosis. After the failure of microbiological diagnostic methods, lung biopsy can be used to confirm a diagnosis of paragonimiasis. We present a paragonimiasis case associated with unique features, including epidemiologic factors, atypical clinical signs, no increases in blood eosinophils, and negative microbiological tests. Although the patient was suspected of tuberculosis or lung cancer, imaging studies were consistent with the presence of lung flukes. Three transthoracic lung biopsies were performed, and pathology revealed a cystic structure containing on the third biopsy.
PubMed: 35309377
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.02.046 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Mar 2022Cerebral paragonimiasis (CP), caused by aberrant migration of Paragonimus worms, frequently invokes serious illness. The causal relationship between the lesion...
Cerebral paragonimiasis (CP), caused by aberrant migration of Paragonimus worms, frequently invokes serious illness. The causal relationship between the lesion characteristics and patients' symptoms has poorly been understood. CP serodiagnosis has not been properly evaluated to date. A total of 111 CP cases were diagnosed in our laboratory between 1982 and 2003. This study retrospectively assessed the clinical and imaging characteristics of the 105 patients along with the evaluation of diagnostic potentials of recombinant P. westermani yolk ferritin (rPwYF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing patients' sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs). We analyzed 60 male and 45 female patients; 50 early-stage patients with non-calcified enhancing nodule(s) (median age, 38 years; interquartile range [IQR], 24.75-52; median symptom duration, 0.75 years; IQR, 0.2-2) and 54 chronic cases having calcified lesion(s) (median age, 33 years; IQR, 25-41; median symptom duration, 10 years; IQR, 5-20). One patient showed a normal neuroimage. The patients were largely diagnosed in their 30s. The parietal lobe was most commonly affected, followed by occipital, frontal, and temporal lobes. Twenty-six patients had lesions encompassing ≥ two lobes. The patients complained mainly of seizures, headaches, hemiparesis, and focal neurologic deficits (P < 0.001). Seizures and visual defects were predominant in patients with calcified lesion(s) (P < 0.001). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of rPwYF against serum/CSF were 100%/97% and 97.2%/92.5%, respectively. The specific IgG antibody levels against rPwYF in sera and CSFs showed a positive correlation (r = 0.59). The clinical manifestations of the early-stage patients might be associated with cortical lesions or meningeal irritation, while those in the chronic stage were caused by conglomerated space-occupying lesions. rPwYF would be useful for the serodiagnosis of both early and chronic CP cases.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Ferritins; Humans; Male; Paragonimiasis; Paragonimus; Retrospective Studies; Seizures; Serologic Tests
PubMed: 35294433
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010240 -
Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za... Dec 2021To investigate the populations of freshwater crabs, the intermediate host of and infections in freshwater crabs in the Minjiang River basin along the middle section of...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the populations of freshwater crabs, the intermediate host of and infections in freshwater crabs in the Minjiang River basin along the middle section of Wuyi Mountain, so as to provide baseline data for parasitic disease control and research and expansion of the parasite resource bank.
METHODS
From November 2020 to April 2021, freshwater crabs were sampled from streams and ditches neighboring residential areas in Jianning County and its neighboring Ninghua, Shaowu, Jiangle and Shunchang counties. The crab species was identified based on the morphological features of the terminal segment of the first abdominal appendage of male crabs, and infections were detected in freshwater crabs. The metacercariae were isolated, and the types of metacercariae were identified based on the metacercaria size, cystic wall thickness, and the excretory bladder and intestinal tract morphology. In addition, the prevalence, intensity and index of metacercaria infections were calculated in freshwater crabs.
RESULTS
There were seven crab species found in Jianning County and six neighboring water systems along the Minjiang River basin, including , , , , , , , and there were metacercariae of three species detected in these crabs, including , and , with a prevalence rate of 43.6% (125/287). The infection rates of , and were 57.1% (48/84), 26.2% (22/84) and 61.8% (21/34) in , and the infection rates of and were 52.6% (51/97) and 30.9% (30/97) in , while the rate of infection was 6.9% (5/72) in , which is the first record of infections in . Mixed and infections were predominantly found in freshwater crabs sampled from Jianning County, where the rate of infections was 70.4% (76/108), with 15.3 metacercariae identified in each crab with infections and 1.9 metacercariae found in each gram of crabs with infections, and the index of metacercariae infections was 20.5. In addition, , and metacercariae were found in freshwater crabs sampled from Jianning-neighboring counties, where the rate of infections was 52.3% (56/107), with 9.8 metacercariae identified in each crab with infections and 0.9 metacercariae found in each gram of crabs with infections, and the index of metacercariae infections was 4.6.
CONCLUSIONS
There are multiple freshwater crab species and infection is high in freshwater crabs in Jianning County and its neighboring Minjiang River basin, which is a high-risk natural focus for infections.
Topics: Animals; Brachyura; Fresh Water; Male; Paragonimiasis; Paragonimus; Rivers
PubMed: 35128889
DOI: 10.16250/j.32.1374.2021154 -
IDCases 2022In 1936, Löeffler first recognized the association between a distinctive form of severe heart failure and marked eosinophilia. Most cases are caused by either parasitic...
In 1936, Löeffler first recognized the association between a distinctive form of severe heart failure and marked eosinophilia. Most cases are caused by either parasitic infections or drugs; however, no cause has been identified in one-third of the patients [1]. This report presents a rare case of Löeffler's syndrome caused by the parasite Paragonimus westermani.
PubMed: 35127453
DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01427 -
The Journal of Veterinary Medical... Mar 2022Paragonimiasis is a zoonotic trematode infection caused by Paragonimus spp. To determine the recent status of Paragonimus infections in wild animals, this study...
Paragonimiasis is a zoonotic trematode infection caused by Paragonimus spp. To determine the recent status of Paragonimus infections in wild animals, this study investigated Paragonimus spp. in 39 raccoon dogs and 54 Japanese badgers from March 2019 to January 2021 in Miyazaki Prefecture, and examined metacercariae in freshwater crabs. Triploid P. westermani was found in one raccoon dog (2.6%), and metacercariae were recovered from Eriocheir japonica captured near the infected animal collected. One Japanese badger (1.9%) harbored P. skrjabini miyazakii; this prevalence was lower than the approximately 30% that was reported in the 1970s. Results indicated that zoonotic Paragonimus was sporadically prevalent in wild animals. Further investigation in various animals is awaited to elucidate current wildlife reservoirs for those Paragonimus.
Topics: Animals; Japan; Mustelidae; Paragonimiasis; Paragonimus; Raccoon Dogs
PubMed: 35110459
DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0573 -
Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za... Oct 2021To establish a nucleic acid assay for detection of based on the recombinase-aided isothermal amplification (RAA) technique, and to preliminarily evaluate its detection...
OBJECTIVE
To establish a nucleic acid assay for detection of based on the recombinase-aided isothermal amplification (RAA) technique, and to preliminarily evaluate its detection efficiency.
METHODS
The metacercariae of , and were isolated from crabs, and genomic DNA was extracted for molecular characterization. The cytochrome coxidase 1 () gene sequence of was selected as the target gene fragment, and the primers and probes were designed, screened and synthesized for RAA assay. The genomic DNA of metacercariae from Jiyuan City and Yiyang County of Luoyang City, Henan Province were used as templates for verification of the fluorescent RAA assay. The fluorescent RAA assay was performed to detect different concentrations of plasmids containing target gene fragment and metacercariae genomic DNA to determine the sensitivity. Fluorescent RAA assay was performed with recombinant plasmids containing gene sequences at different concentrations and genomic DNA as templates to evaluate its sensitivity, and the genomic DNA of , , and was detected with fluorescent RAA assay to evaluate its specificity.
RESULTS
, and metacercariae were isolated from crabs, respectively. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis confirmed their homology with the genes sequences of standard strains in GenBank. A fluorescent RAA assay was successfully established for nucleic acid detection of , and the genomic DNA of metacercariae from Jiyuan City and Yiyang County of Luoyang City, Henan Province was amplified using the fluorescent RAA assay within 5 min, while the negative control was not amplified. If the recombinant plasmid containing gene sequences was used as templates, the fluorescent RAA assay showed the lowest detection limit of 10 copies/μL, and positive amplification was observed within 5 min. If genomic DNA was used as templates, the fluorescent RAA assay showed the lowest detection limit of 10 pg/μL, and all positive amplifications were found within 5 to 10 min. In addition, the fluorescent RAA assay was tested negative for , , and .
CONCLUSIONS
A rapid, sensitive and specific fluorescent RAA assay is successfully established for nucleic acid detection of , which has potential values in rapid field detection and species identification in freshwater crabs in areas endemic for .
Topics: Animals; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Nucleic Acids; Phylogeny; Recombinases; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 34791843
DOI: 10.16250/j.32.1374.2021218 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021Great progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of human parasitic diseases in China over the past six decades, but parasitic diseases are still one of the...
Great progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of human parasitic diseases in China over the past six decades, but parasitic diseases are still one of the most serious public health problems in the world. The specific prevalence of parasitic diseases varies in different provinces due to their geographical environment and the dietary habits of people. In this study, a total of 4,428 patients suspected to have parasitic infection by clinicians or themselves from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020 were recommended to our laboratory for further testing. In total, 5,246 samples including fecal, blood, and other body fluids were detected by etiological and immunological methods. Approximately 15.20% (673/4,428) of all suspected patients were infected by at least one species of parasite, and the overall positive rate of suspected patients from Hunan Province was 15.10% (594/3,933). A total of 18 species of parasites, namely, nematodes (4 species), trematodes (5 species), cestodes (4 species), protozoa (2 species), and medical arthropods (3 species), and 3 of them were imported parasites outside of Hunan Province. There are 9 species of foodborne parasites, accounting for 89.92% (464/516) of patients infected by one species of parasite. Common parasites in Hunan Province include plerocercoid, , , cysticercus, , and . In this study, we found that the incidence of soilborne nematode infections has decreased significantly. However, foodborne parasites gradually become the main parasitic infections as well as multiple infections are becoming more common. Therefore, we should not only continue the prevention and control of soil-derived nematodes but also focus on the prevention and control of foodborne parasites in the future.
Topics: Animals; China; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Prevalence; Soil
PubMed: 34722349
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.774980