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BMC Public Health Jun 2024Hookworm infection and schistosomiasis are two of sub-Saharan Africa's most common neglected tropical diseases. An annual mass drug administration (MDA) program against...
BACKGROUND
Hookworm infection and schistosomiasis are two of sub-Saharan Africa's most common neglected tropical diseases. An annual mass drug administration (MDA) program against schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), including hookworm, has been implemented in Mayuge district, Uganda, since 2003 to date. However, hookworm and schistosomiasis remain prevalent in Mayuge district. Understanding the factors that predispose children to these infections in the context of MDA could inform interventions to reduce prevalence in Uganda and similar settings.
METHOD
This cross-sectional study took place in 33 randomly selected primary schools in the Mayuge district from January to February 2022. Children in primary classes 4 or 5, in the selected schools provided single stool samples and completed questionnaires. Stool specimens were examined using the Kato-Katz method to determine the prevalence of hookworm and schistosomiasis. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression to assess the associations of each infection with potential risk factors.
RESULT
A total of 1,617 students (mean age 12.1 years, 50.1% male) were enrolled. The prevalence of hookworm infection and schistosomiasis was 21.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 19.8-23.9%) and 18.7% (95% CI: 16.8-20.7%), respectively. In multivariable analysis, longer water fetching time (over 30 min versus less than 30 min) and working daily in the soil were associated with increased odds of hookworm infection (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.49, 95% CI: 1.13-1.96 and 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03-1.82, respectively). Higher odds of schistosomiasis were linked to proximity to water bodies within a one-hour walking distance (AOR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.35-2.50), and not always washing hands before eating (AOR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.50-2.67). Swimming, bathing, or washing in water bodies twice a week, compared to never, also increased schistosomiasis odds (AOR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.66-5.13).
CONCLUSION
Consistent with the mechanisms of acquisition, hookworm infection increased with exposure to soil, and schistosomiasis increased with exposure to unclean water. Our findings highlight the importance of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs and strategies aimed at reducing exposure within the framework of Neglected Tropical Disease elimination programs.
Topics: Humans; Uganda; Child; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hookworm Infections; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Animals; Adolescent; Feces; Schools; Soil; Schistosoma mansoni
PubMed: 38886749
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19092-7 -
BMC Genomics Jun 2024Gastropods of the genus Biomphalaria (Family Planorbidae) are exploited as vectors by Schistosoma mansoni, the most common causative agent of human intestinal...
Different metazoan parasites, different transcriptomic responses, with new insights on parasitic castration by digenetic trematodes in the schistosome vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata.
BACKGROUND
Gastropods of the genus Biomphalaria (Family Planorbidae) are exploited as vectors by Schistosoma mansoni, the most common causative agent of human intestinal schistosomiasis. Using improved genomic resources, overviews of how Biomphalaria responds to S. mansoni and other metazoan parasites can provide unique insights into the reproductive, immune, and other systems of invertebrate hosts, and their responses to parasite challenges.
RESULTS
Using Illumina-based RNA-Seq, we compared the responses of iM line B. glabrata at 2, 8, and 40 days post-infection (dpi) to single infections with S. mansoni, Echinostoma paraensei (both digenetic trematodes) or Daubaylia potomaca (a nematode parasite of planorbid snails). Responses were compared to unexposed time-matched control snails. We observed: (1) each parasite provoked a distinctive response with a predominance of down-regulated snail genes at all time points following exposure to either trematode, and of up-regulated genes at 8 and especially 40dpi following nematode exposure; (2) At 2 and 8dpi with either trematode, several snail genes associated with gametogenesis (particularly spermatogenesis) were down-regulated. Regarding the phenomenon of trematode-mediated parasitic castration in molluscs, we define for the first time a complement of host genes that are targeted, as early as 2dpi when trematode larvae are still small; (3) Differential gene expression of snails with trematode infection at 40dpi, when snails were shedding cercariae, was unexpectedly modest and revealed down-regulation of genes involved in the production of egg mass proteins and peptide processing; and (4) surprisingly, D. potomaca provoked up-regulation at 40dpi of many of the reproduction-related snail genes noted to be down-regulated at 2 and 8dpi following trematode infection. Happening at a time when B. glabrata began to succumb to D. potomaca, we hypothesize this response represents an unexpected form of fecundity compensation. We also document expression patterns for other Biomphalaria gene families, including fibrinogen domain-containing proteins (FReDs), C-type lectins, G-protein coupled receptors, biomphalysins, and protease and protease inhibitors.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study is relevant in identifying several genes involved in reproduction that are targeted by parasites in the vector snail B. glabrata and that might be amenable to manipulation to minimize their ability to serve as vectors of schistosomes.
Topics: Animals; Biomphalaria; Schistosoma mansoni; Transcriptome; Host-Parasite Interactions; Trematoda; Disease Vectors; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38886647
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10454-4 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2024Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a major public health and economic problem worldwide. Due to the lack of a successful vaccine and emerging resistance to the...
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a major public health and economic problem worldwide. Due to the lack of a successful vaccine and emerging resistance to the drug triclabendazole, alternative phytotherapeutic approaches are being investigated. This study investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) essential oils (EOs) against F. hepatica. The in vitro study was based on an egg hatch assay (EHA), adult motility inhibition assays, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level along with several oxidative stress biomarkers including glutathione peroxidase (GSH), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). To this end, different concentrations of L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/mL) were used to assess anthelmintic effects on different life stages including egg, and adults of F. hepatica for 24 hrs. The results indicated that these EOs play a significant role as anthelminthics, and the effect was dependent on time and concentration. The in vitro treatment of F. hepatica worms with both L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs increased DNA damage, ROS production and induction of oxidative stress (decreased SOD, GST and GSH, and increased MDA), significantly compared to control. Therefore, it can be concluded that L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs have the potential to be used as novel agents for the control and treatment of F. hepatica infections. Further studies are required to investigate their pharmacological potential and effectiveness in vivo for the treatment of parasitic infections.
Topics: Animals; Oxidative Stress; Fasciola hepatica; DNA Damage; Anthelmintics; Plants, Medicinal; Biomarkers; Reactive Oxygen Species; Oils, Volatile; Lavandula; Fascioliasis; Superoxide Dismutase; Glutathione Transferase; Life Cycle Stages
PubMed: 38885188
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012251 -
Integrative Organismal Biology (Oxford,... 2024Meiofauna (benthic invertebrates < 1 mm in size) facilitate sediment biogeochemical cycling, alter sediment microbial community structure, and serve as an important...
Meiofauna (benthic invertebrates < 1 mm in size) facilitate sediment biogeochemical cycling, alter sediment microbial community structure, and serve as an important trophic link between benthic micro- and macrofauna, yet the behaviors that mechanistically link individuals to their ecological effects are largely unknown. Meiofauna are small and sediments are opaque, making observing the activities of these animals challenging. We developed the Meioflume, a small, acrylic flow tunnel filled with grains of cryolite, a transparent sand analog, to simulate the conditions experienced by meiofauna in an observable lab environment. The Meioflume has a working area (28.57 mm × 10.16 mm × 1 mm) that is small enough to quickly locate fauna and clearly observe behavior but large enough that animals are not tightly confined. When connected to a syringe press, the Meioflume can produce low velocity flows consistently and evenly across the width of its working area while retaining the contents. To demonstrate its functionality in observing the behavior of meiofauna, we placed individual meiofaunal animals (a protodrilid annelid, a harpacticoid copepod, and a platyhelminth flatworm) in Meioflumes and filmed their behavioral response to a sudden initiation of porewater flow. All animals were clearly visible within the flume and could be observed responding to the onset of flow. The design and construction of the Meioflume make it an accessible, affordable tool for researchers. This experimental system could be modified to address many questions in meiofaunal ecology, such as studying behavior in response to chemical cues, allowing us to observe meiofaunal behaviors to better understand their ecological effects.
PubMed: 38883566
DOI: 10.1093/iob/obae016 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2024Hydatidosis is a zoonosis due to the development of the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus in humans. This disease is very frequent in many countries of North Africa...
Hydatidosis is a zoonosis due to the development of the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus in humans. This disease is very frequent in many countries of North Africa such as Morocco. The most frequent locations of hydatid cysts are the liver (75%) and the lungs (15.4%). Splenic hydatid cyst occurs in only 5.1% of cases. The diagnosis remains challenging and is made upon a hundle of clinical, radiological, biological, and histological arguments. In this paper, we report a case of spleen-preserving surgery for a splenic hydatid cyst to suggest the best management of these hydatid cysts and avoid recurrences.
Topics: Humans; Echinococcosis; Splenic Diseases; Morocco; Male; Echinococcus granulosus; Adult; Spleen; Female; Animals
PubMed: 38881767
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2024.47.139.43008 -
Veterinary Parasitology, Regional... Jul 2024Species belonging to the family Paramphistomidae Fischoeder, 1901, commonly known as "rumen flukes", are a group of parasites frequently related to Brazilian livestock...
Species belonging to the family Paramphistomidae Fischoeder, 1901, commonly known as "rumen flukes", are a group of parasites frequently related to Brazilian livestock production. They inhabit the digestive tract of ruminants and have recognized pathogenicity during the early stages of infection, which can be responsible for economic losses. These trematodes are often associated with Southern Brazil, a region heavily focused on animal farming, which also makes it ideal for the life cycle of paramphistomes. Despite their aforementioned importance, studies regarding their distribution, molecular taxonomy and biology are still scarce in the country. In the present study, rumen flukes collected from cattle (n = 22) and sheep (n = 3) from 9 batches of ruminants from the cities of Jaguarão, Pelotas and Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between May and July 2022, were subjected to morphological and molecular study. The microscopic analysis of histological and manual cuts revealed diagnostical traits compatible with Paramphistomum leydeni Näsmark, 1937, including the presence of tegumental papillae, pharynx of the liorchis type and acetabulum of the leydeni type. Molecular data corroborated the morphological identification, with ITS-2 and cox-1 sequences here obtained presenting 100% and 96.8-99.8% similarity, respectively, to P. leydeni samples previously characterized in different countries from Asia, Europe, and South America. Intensity of infection ranged from 5 to 458 and 1 to3 specimens of P. leydeni in sampled cattle and sheep, respectively. The present study contributes to a better understanding of the taxonomy of the flukes involved in cattle and sheep paramphistomosis in Brazil, suggesting that P. leydeni could be the main paramphistome species found in ruminants in the studied region.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; Cattle; Sheep; Trematode Infections; Cattle Diseases; Sheep Diseases; Paramphistomatidae; Rumen; Phylogeny
PubMed: 38880579
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101050 -
Veterinary Parasitology, Regional... Jul 2024Clinostomum spp. are common parasites of piscivorous birds. Metacercaria are typically observed in the muscles or just under the skin of fish and rarely amphibians. We...
Clinostomum spp. are common parasites of piscivorous birds. Metacercaria are typically observed in the muscles or just under the skin of fish and rarely amphibians. We describe an unusually severe case of Clinostomum marginatum infection in an adult female green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) from Georgia (USA). The frog was found in November 2015 with a high number (>250) of widely disseminated, raised, subcutaneous nodules. The frog died in December. At necropsy, it was emaciated, and the skin was covered in raised uniform, tan-green, subcutaneous, ∼2-3 mm diameter nodules. Each nodule contained 1-3 C. marginatum metacercariae. Microscopically, high numbers of trematodes were within subcutaneous tissues and in coelomic and oral cavities, lung, liver, kidney, ovary, orbit and calvarium. Small to large numbers of lymphocytes and melanomacrophages were in connective tissues and epidermis. A 732 bp region of COI was 98.8-99.8% similar to numerous sequences of C. marginatum and, phylogenetically it grouped with these C. marginatum sequences. The ITS-1 region was 100% similar to a C. marginatum sample from a great egret (Ardea alba) from Mississippi. This report represents a novel finding of severe trematodiasis in a free-ranging amphibian with C. marginatum infection.
Topics: Animals; Trematode Infections; Female; Anura; Trematoda; Georgia; Fatal Outcome; Larva
PubMed: 38880568
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101051 -
Parasitology Research Jun 2024We describe the composition of endoparasites associated with leaf litter anurans from an Atlantic Forest area, in southeastern Brazil. We tested if body size, sex, and...
We describe the composition of endoparasites associated with leaf litter anurans from an Atlantic Forest area, in southeastern Brazil. We tested if body size, sex, and reproductive modes of anuran hosts influence endoparasite abundance and richness. We sampled 583 individuals from 11 anuran species and recorded 1,600 helminths from 14 taxa. The helminths that infected the greatest number of anuran host species were the nematodes Cosmocerca parva (8 spp.), Physaloptera sp. (8 spp.), and Cosmocerca brasiliense (7 spp.), and the most abundant helminth species were Physaloptera sp. (14.6%), Cosmocerca brasiliense (13.7%) and Cosmocerca parva (12.6%). Both helminth abundance and richness were positively affected by anuran body size and dependence on water for reproduction. Larger hosts can contain a higher abundance of parasites because they may provide more physical space than smaller ones, or it can simply be a function of age. Besides, parasite species richness can be highly correlated with the amount of time a host spends in association with aquatic habitats, a conservative aspect of both parasite and host natural history. Within host species, there was a positive and significant influence of body size on helminth abundance. Haddadus binotatus females had greater helminth abundance than males, probably due to sex-related differences in behavior and/or in physiology. Our data suggest that reproductive modes could also influence helminth infection parameters in other anuran communities and should be considered in detail in future analyses.
Topics: Animals; Anura; Brazil; Body Size; Female; Male; Helminths; Reproduction; Biodiversity; Host-Parasite Interactions
PubMed: 38878081
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08266-2 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Jun 2024Digenetic trematodes, including blood flukes, intestinal flukes, liver flukes, lung flukes, and pancreatic flukes, are highly diverse and distributed widely. They affect... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Digenetic trematodes, including blood flukes, intestinal flukes, liver flukes, lung flukes, and pancreatic flukes, are highly diverse and distributed widely. They affect at least 200 million people worldwide, so better understanding of their global distribution and prevalence are crucial for controlling and preventing human trematodiosis. Hence, this scoping review aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the spatio-temporal distribution and epidemiology of some important zoonotic digenetic trematodes.
METHODS
We conducted a scoping review by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases for articles, reviews, and case reports of zoonotic digenetic trematodes, without any restrictions on the year of publication. We followed the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. And relevant information of the identified studies were collected and summarized.
RESULTS
We identified a total of 470 articles that met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review finally. Our analysis revealed the prevalence and global distribution of species in Schistosoma, Echinostoma, Isthmiophora, Echinochasmus, Paragonimus, Opisthorchiidae, Fasciolidae, Heterophyidae, and Eurytrema. Although some flukes are distributed worldwide, developing countries in Asia and Africa are still the most prevalent areas. Furthermore, there were some overlaps between the distribution of zoonotic digenetic trematodes from the same genus, and the prevalence of some zoonotic digenetic trematodes was not entirely consistent with their global distribution. The temporal disparities in zoonotic digenetic trematodes may attribute to the environmental changes. The gaps in our knowledge of the epidemiology and control of zoonotic digenetic trematodes indicate the need for large cohort studies in most countries.
CONCLUSIONS
This review provides important insights into the prevalence and global distribution of some zoonotic digenetic trematodes, firstly reveals spatio-temporal disparities in these digenetic trematodes. Countries with higher prevalence rate could be potential sources of transmitting diseases to other areas and are threat for possible outbreaks in the future. Therefore, continued global efforts to control and prevent human trematodiosis, and more international collaborations are necessary in the future.
Topics: Animals; Zoonoses; Trematode Infections; Humans; Trematoda; Prevalence; Global Health
PubMed: 38877531
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01208-1 -
Systematic Parasitology Jun 2024Platybothrium Linton, 1890 is a genus parasitizing sharks of the families Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae. No new species has been assigned to the genus in the 20 years...
Platybothrium Linton, 1890 is a genus parasitizing sharks of the families Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae. No new species has been assigned to the genus in the 20 years since its last treatment. In the present study, a new species is described from the Persian Gulf, which is the second report of a species of Platybothrium in the Indian Ocean. Platybothrium yanae sp. nov. differs from P. auriculatum Yamaguti, 1952, P. cervinum Linton, 1890, P. tantulum Healy, 2003, and P. kirstenae Healy, 2003 in lacking, rather than having, an accessory piece between its hooks. This new species is distinguished from its other congeners by having a particular combination of features including its measurements, morphology, and meristic features, bringing the number of valid species in the genus to 11.
Topics: Animals; Sharks; Cestoda; Iran; Species Specificity; Indian Ocean
PubMed: 38877199
DOI: 10.1007/s11230-024-10170-3