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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024is a ubiquitous protozoon in the intestinal tract of human and many animals. Microscopic examination is the main method of clinical diagnosis for , which is prone to...
is a ubiquitous protozoon in the intestinal tract of human and many animals. Microscopic examination is the main method of clinical diagnosis for , which is prone to false negative. A simple and rapid diagnosis of infection is an important step to prevent and control blastocystosis. Here, a recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) assay was developed for rapid visual detection of DNA amplification could be performed within 18 min at 37°C. The minimum DNA detection limit was 1 pg/μL, and there was no cross-reactivity with 12 other non-target pathogens, which was consistent with the sensitivity of conventional PCR (cPCR). Furthermore, 56 fecal samples from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University were tested using RPA and cPCR methods respectively, and the results were completely consistent. The results show that RPA-LFD method has high accuracy and visual results, which provides a new choice for the differential diagnosis and rapid field detection of
Topics: Blastocystis; Humans; Blastocystis Infections; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Sensitivity and Specificity; Feces; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; DNA, Protozoan; Recombinases
PubMed: 38808061
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1391943 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Apr 2024The oral cavity is a habitat to a diverse range of organisms that make up an essential element of the human microbiota. There are up to 1000 species of micro-organisms... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The oral cavity is a habitat to a diverse range of organisms that make up an essential element of the human microbiota. There are up to 1000 species of micro-organisms capable of colonizing the mouth. Thirty percent of them are uncultivable. The genus Entamoeba includes several species, out of which at least seven of them are able to inhabit the human body (, , , , , , ). It was shown that only is able to colonize the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association and prevalence of in periodontal disease using two electronic database search engines. In order to have a broader view of the subject, a comprehensive manual search was conducted between 15th February 2023 and 1 April 2023 on these content aggregators and the initial search resulted in 277 articles using the keywords "", "periodontitis", "", "periodontal disease", "prevalence", and "incidence", in different combinations. The results showed that 755 patients were infected with out of a total number of 1729 patients diagnosed with periodontal disease, indicating a global prevalence of 43% in the set of patients analyzed. was prevalent in 58% of the patients that had gingivitis and in 44% of the patients with periodontitis. Prevalence of based on gender was 43% in female patients and 47% in male patients. The results indicate that the higher incidence of in people with periodontal disease compared to healthy people is more than just a sign of the disease; it could also be linked to the severity of the condition and the disease propensity to progress.
Topics: Humans; Entamoeba; Periodontal Diseases; Entamoebiasis; Prevalence; Female; Male
PubMed: 38792919
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60050736 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Human amoebiasis still represents a major health problem worldwide. Metronidazole has been used as the most common drug to treat the disease; however, it is also known...
Human amoebiasis still represents a major health problem worldwide. Metronidazole has been used as the most common drug to treat the disease; however, it is also known that the drug causes undesirable side effects. This has led to the search for new pharmacological alternatives which include phytochemical compounds with antiamoebic effects. We analyzed the amoebicidal activity of stevioside (STV), a diterpene glycoside present in , on trophozoites of . Different concentrations of STV were tested, and an inhibitory concentration of 50% of cell viability (IC) was determined with an exposition of 9.53 mM for 24 h. Trophozoites exposed to STV showed morphological changes evidenced by the decrease in the basic structures related to the movement and adherence to the substrate, as well as ultrastructural features characterized by a loss of regularity on the cell membrane, an increase in cytoplasmic granularity, and an increase in apparent autophagic vacuoles. Also, the decrease in cysteine protease expression and the proteolytic activity of trophozoites to degrade the cell monolayer were analyzed. A histological analysis of hamster livers inoculated with trophozoites and treated with STV showed changes related to the granulomatous reaction of the liver parenchymal tissue. Our results constitute the first report related to the possible use of STV as a therapeutic alternative in amoebiasis.
PubMed: 38787225
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050373 -
ACS Infectious Diseases Jun 2024Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare and fulminant neurodegenerative disease caused by the free-living amoeba . Currently, there is a lack of standardized...
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare and fulminant neurodegenerative disease caused by the free-living amoeba . Currently, there is a lack of standardized protocols for therapeutic action. In response to the critical need for effective therapeutic agents, we explored the Global Health Priority Box, a collection of 240 compounds provided by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). From this pool, flucofuron emerged as a promising candidate, exhibiting high efficacy against trophozoites of both strains (ATCC 30808 IC : 2.58 ± 0.64 μM and ATCC 30215 IC: 2.47 ± 0.38 μM), being even active against the resistant cyst stage (IC: 0.88 ± 0.07 μM). Moreover, flucofuron induced diverse metabolic events that suggest the triggering of apoptotic cell death. This study highlights the potential of repurposing medications for treating challenging diseases, such as PAM.
Topics: Naegleria fowleri; Humans; Trophozoites; Antiprotozoal Agents; Drug Repositioning; Apoptosis; Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections; Amebiasis
PubMed: 38757533
DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00062 -
Eye & Contact Lens Jun 2024To report first clinical use of novel medical treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis. (Observational Study)
Observational Study
PURPOSE
To report first clinical use of novel medical treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis.
METHODS
Interventional observational case series. Two patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis were unsuccessfully treated with polihexanide (PHMB) 0.02% and propamidine 0.1% for 6 weeks, then all were shifted in a compassionate use of PHMB 0.08% with novel standardized protocol. The postinterventional follow-up of patients was at least 7 months.
RESULTS
PHMB 0.08% eyedrops in a novel standardized protocol improved infection resolution and led to complete healing of the lesion after 4 weeks in the two cases. Corneal opacities and neovascularization decreased slowly, best-corrected visual acuity slightly improved and progressively increased in the further 7 months, and no infection recurrence occurred.
CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary report of two cases shows promising response to polihexanide 0.08% lowering drastically the illness duration, with reduced chance of recurrence, and mostly improving patients' quality of life.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Acanthamoeba Keratitis; Antiprotozoal Agents; Benzamidines; Biguanides; Ophthalmic Solutions; Visual Acuity; Adolescent
PubMed: 38709240
DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001092 -
In silico-based vaccine design against Naegleria fowleri causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis.Indian Journal of Pharmacology Mar 2024
Topics: Naegleria fowleri; Humans; Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections; Protozoan Vaccines; Computer Simulation; Meningoencephalitis; Amebiasis; Animals
PubMed: 38687320
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_482_23 -
Piperacillin-tazobactam as the unusual cause of fever in a young male with an amoebic liver abscess.Indian Journal of Pharmacology Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Male; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Liver Abscess, Amebic; Fever; Adult; Piperacillin
PubMed: 38687318
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_603_23 -
Mikrobiyoloji Bulteni Apr 2024Blastocystis spp. are the most common intestinal protozoan parasites detected in human stool samples. While identified long before today, its pathogenicity remains...
Blastocystis spp. are the most common intestinal protozoan parasites detected in human stool samples. While identified long before today, its pathogenicity remains controversial. It is generally asymptomatic but in symptomatic cases, many gastrointestinal symptoms, especially diarrhea, have been associated with Blastocystis infection. In recent years, the relationship between the symptoms observed in cases and Blastocystis subtypes (ST) has been reported. The aim of this study was to detect Blastocystis in diarrheal cases admitted to the Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology Laboratory, to determine subtypes and allele diversity and to investigate its relationship with clinical symptoms. For this purpose, diarrheal stool samples of 200 cases were included in the study and their demographic characteristics (age, gender, residence) and clinical findings (abdominal pain, dyspepsia, nausea-vomiting, weakness, weight loss, anal itching, rash, urticaria) were recorded. Blastocystis was detected by direct microscope method (DM) and by molecular analyses which were performed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subtype diversity was determined based on DNA sequence analysis by PCR targeting the Blastocystis ribosomal ribonucleic acid small subunit (SSU rRNA) gene. In addition, alleles related to Blastocystis subtypes were determined and statistically compared between all data and clinical findings. In the current study, Blastocystis was detected in 31 (15.5%) samples by DM and in 35 (17.5%) samples by PCR specific to the Blastocystis SSU rRNA gene among 200 diarrheal stool samples. No statistical difference was detected between Blastocystis and demographic characteristics. Dyspepsia and nausea-vomiting symptoms differed significantly in cases with Blastocystis compared to negative ones (p= 0.0025, p= 0.0498). Blastocystis subtype was detected in 33 samples by SSU rRNA sequence analysis, and the subtype distribution was ST1 (n= 10, 30.3%), ST2 (n= 4, 12.1%) and ST3 (n= 19, 57.6%). In the statistical evaluation between clinical findings and Blastocystis subtypes, a relationship was found between dyspepsia and Blastocystis ST3 (p= 0.0039). The allele diversity of Blastocystis subtypes was determined as allele 4 (10/10) in all ST1, allele 11 (2/4) and 12 (2/4) in ST2, allele 34 (14/19), 36 (4/19), and 38 (1/19) in ST3. In conclusion, our study provides important data on the molecular epidemiological characteristics of the Blastocystis by determining positivity, subtypes and alleles in diarrheal cases. Therefore, within the scope of the one health approach, comprehensive molecular epidemiological studies are required to determine the presence and genotypes of Blastocystis in human, animal and environmental samples.
Topics: Humans; Blastocystis; Blastocystis Infections; Diarrhea; Male; Genetic Variation; Female; Adult; Feces; Alleles; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult; Child; Aged; Child, Preschool; Polymerase Chain Reaction; DNA, Protozoan; Turkey
PubMed: 38676586
DOI: 10.5578/mb.202498207 -
Microorganisms Apr 2024Neutrophils are the most abundant polymorphonuclear granular leukocytes in human blood and are an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are efficient... (Review)
Review
Neutrophils are the most abundant polymorphonuclear granular leukocytes in human blood and are an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are efficient cells that eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi, but their role in dealing with protozoan parasitic infections remains controversial. At sites of protozoan parasite infections, a large number of infiltrating neutrophils is observed, suggesting that neutrophils are important cells for controlling the infection. Yet, in most cases, there is also a strong inflammatory response that can provoke tissue damage. Diseases like malaria, trichomoniasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and amoebiasis affect millions of people globally. In this review, we summarize these protozoan diseases and describe the novel view on how neutrophils are involved in protection from these parasites. Also, we present recent evidence that neutrophils play a double role in these infections participating both in control of the parasite and in the pathogenesis of the disease.
PubMed: 38674770
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040827 -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Mar 2024Intestinal infections are a significant health issue; antibiotics are essential in treating acute intestinal infections. However, evidence in the literature shows that...
INTRODUCTION
Intestinal infections are a significant health issue; antibiotics are essential in treating acute intestinal infections. However, evidence in the literature shows that the excessive use of antibiotics has created many threats to human health. This work aimed to study the impact of apple pectin in combination with antibiotics on treating patients with amebiasis and dysentery.
METHODOLOGY
Patients suffering from acute intestinal diseases (amebiasis and dysentery) were treated with traditional antibiotic therapy and a new formula containing antibiotics with low and high methoxylated apple pectin in a randomized block design. Four clinical trials were performed at the Infection Disease Hospital from 1998 until 2013.
RESULTS
The study demonstrated that the antibiotic-pectin formulae (APF) significantly reduced the severity of acute intestinal infection diseases and allowed patients to recover faster than conventional treatment. APF reduced the patient's stay in the hospital by 3.0 ± 1.0 days. The clinical trial findings demonstrated that applying APF in intestinal infection diseases helped maintain a constant concentration of the antibiotic in the blood and accelerated the clinical recovery of the patients.
CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that using pectin with antibiotics could improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute infectious diseases. Research on elucidating the mechanisms of pectin digestion in the colon, polyphenol content, and its role in dysbiosis recovery, etc., is also considered.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Pectins; Dysentery; Dysentery, Amebic; Amebiasis
PubMed: 38635613
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.18473