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Infectious Diseases of Poverty May 2017A 29-year-old farmer from central China was sent into the Emergency Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. He had a 15-day history of persistent...
A 29-year-old farmer from central China was sent into the Emergency Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. He had a 15-day history of persistent high fever, abdominal distention and pain. The patient was clinically diagnosed as appendicitis and peritonitis, and treated with antibiotics in a local hospital, did not improve. On exploratory laparotomy, the appendicular perforation and peritonitis were seen; appendicectomy were performed, and antibiotics were given. However, high fever and abdominal pain still persisted; intestinal adhesion and obstruction, ascites appeared. He was given the "critically ill notice". He had eosinophilia (12.95%) and the history of eating live frog tadpoles for treating his cutaneous pruritus 3 days before onset of the disease. Serum anti-sparganum antibodies assayed by ELISA were positive. This patient has hospitalized for one and half months and spend more than US$ 12 000. This patient was primarily diagnosed as visceral sparganosis, and cured with praziquantel.Sparganosis is one neglected but important parasitic zoonosis of poverty. Human infections were mainly acquired by eating raw or uncooked meat of frogs and snakes infected with plerocercoids, using frog or snake flesh as poultices, or drinking raw water contaminated with infected copepods. However, sparganosis caused by ingestion of live tadpoles are emerging in central China. Our surveys showed that 11.93% of tadpoles in Henan province are infected with plerocercoids. Eating live tadpoles is a high risk for sparganum infection. The comprehensive public health education should be carried out for people in endemic areas and the bad habit of eating live tadpoles must be discouraged.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Anticestodal Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Eosinophilia; Humans; Larva; Male; Praziquantel; Sparganosis
PubMed: 28468685
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0265-7 -
PloS One 2017Parasitic infections are generally diagnosed by professionals trained to recognize the morphological characteristics of the eggs in microscopic images of fecal smears....
Parasitic infections are generally diagnosed by professionals trained to recognize the morphological characteristics of the eggs in microscopic images of fecal smears. However, this laboratory diagnosis requires medical specialists which are lacking in many of the areas where these infections are most prevalent. In response to this public health issue, we developed a software based on pattern recognition analysis from microscopi digital images of fecal smears, capable of automatically recognizing and diagnosing common human intestinal parasites. To this end, we selected 229, 124, 217, and 229 objects from microscopic images of fecal smears positive for Taenia sp., Trichuris trichiura, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Fasciola hepatica, respectively. Representative photographs were selected by a parasitologist. We then implemented our algorithm in the open source program SCILAB. The algorithm processes the image by first converting to gray-scale, then applies a fourteen step filtering process, and produces a skeletonized and tri-colored image. The features extracted fall into two general categories: geometric characteristics and brightness descriptions. Individual characteristics were quantified and evaluated with a logistic regression to model their ability to correctly identify each parasite separately. Subsequently, all algorithms were evaluated for false positive cross reactivity with the other parasites studied, excepting Taenia sp. which shares very few morphological characteristics with the others. The principal result showed that our algorithm reached sensitivities between 99.10%-100% and specificities between 98.13%- 98.38% to detect each parasite separately. We did not find any cross-positivity in the algorithms for the three parasites evaluated. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the capacity of our computer algorithm to automatically recognize and diagnose Taenia sp., Trichuris trichiura, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Fasciola hepatica with a high sensitivity and specificity.
Topics: Algorithms; Animals; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Fasciola hepatica; Fascioliasis; Helminthiasis; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Microscopy; Ovum; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Sensitivity and Specificity; Taenia; Taeniasis; Trichuriasis; Trichuris
PubMed: 28410387
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175646 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Apr 2017Human sparganosis is a foodborne zoonosis endemic in Asia. We report a series of 9 histologically confirmed human sparganosis cases in Hong Kong, China. All parasites...
Human sparganosis is a foodborne zoonosis endemic in Asia. We report a series of 9 histologically confirmed human sparganosis cases in Hong Kong, China. All parasites were retrospectively identified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. Skin and soft tissue swelling was the most common symptom, followed by central nervous system lesions.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Female; Food Parasitology; Hong Kong; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sparganosis; Spirometra; Zoonoses
PubMed: 28322697
DOI: 10.3201/eid2304.160791 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Feb 2017
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Asian People; Brain; Central Nervous System Helminthiasis; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Neurosurgical Procedures; Praziquantel; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Spine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28122996
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01337-16 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Feb 2017
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Asian People; Brain; Central Nervous System Helminthiasis; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Neurosurgical Procedures; Praziquantel; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Spine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28122993
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01328-16 -
Parasitology International Apr 2017Methods to maintain the life cycle of pathogenic organisms become powerful tools for studying molecular and cellular bases of infectious diseases. Spirometra...
Methods to maintain the life cycle of pathogenic organisms become powerful tools for studying molecular and cellular bases of infectious diseases. Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is a parasitic tapeworm that causes sparganosis in humans. Because S. erinaceieuropaei has a complex life cycle with different stages and host species requirements, there have been no reports to establish the complete life cycle in the laboratory. In this study, using Cyclops as the first intermediate host, mouse as the experimental second intermediate host, and dog as the final host, we succeeded in maintaining S. erinaceieuropaei in the laboratory. By repeating the established life cycle five times, we obtained a clonal population of S. erinaceieuropaei from a single adult worm. A karyotype study showed that the chromosome of this clone is triploid (3n=27), indicating that a genetically uniform strain is established by apomictic reproduction. The strain was named Kawasaki triploid (Kt). A partial sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of the strain Kt showed more than 98% similarity with those of S. erinaceieuropaei isolates from Australia, China, and South Korea, and the resultant phylogeny indicated that the strain Kt is a member of a distinctive clade from East Asia and Oceania. Our system will be particularly useful for studies of S. erinaceieuropaei infection and human sparganosis.
Topics: Animals; Australia; Cestode Infections; China; DNA, Mitochondrial; Dogs; Asia, Eastern; Genes, Mitochondrial; Genetic Variation; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Karyotype; Life Cycle Stages; Mice; Phylogeny; Republic of Korea; Sparganosis; Spirometra; Triploidy
PubMed: 28027968
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.12.011 -
The Brazilian Journal of Infectious... 2017
Topics: Animals; Child; Communicable Diseases, Imported; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Endoscopy, Digestive System; Feces; Humans; Male; Mexico
PubMed: 28025014
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2016.10.015 -
The Korean Journal of Parasitology Oct 2016An excavation of the Vesakoyakha II-IV and Nyamboyto I burial grounds was conducted during the 2014 field season, and soil samples from intact burials dating from the...
An excavation of the Vesakoyakha II-IV and Nyamboyto I burial grounds was conducted during the 2014 field season, and soil samples from intact burials dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, respectively, were analyzed to determine interactions between parasites and host/vectors. Considering the discovery of sp. and sp. eggs in soil samples from the pelvic region, diphyllobothriasis was the most frequent helminthic infection among the Taz Nenets. The Nyamboyto Nenets mainly consumed uncooked fish, while the Vesakoyakha Nenets had a bigger variety in food choices, including reindeer meat. Nenets children were given raw fish from early childhood. The paleoparasitological results corroborate rare ethnographic records about the consumption of uncooked reindeer cerebrum which led to beef tapeworm helminthiases. This is the first parasitological report of helminthic diseases among the Taz Nenets, and, as such, it provides insight into their subsistence activities and food patterns and broadens our understanding of their health condition.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Child; Diphyllobothrium; Feeding Behavior; Female; Fossils; Humans; Infant; Male; Rural Population; Russia; Taenia; Tundra
PubMed: 27853118
DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.617 -
International Journal of Infectious... Dec 2016Sparganosis is an important parasitic disease in Guangzhou and is mainly acquired through the consumption of frog meat or contact with fresh frogs infected by larval... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Sparganosis is an important parasitic disease in Guangzhou and is mainly acquired through the consumption of frog meat or contact with fresh frogs infected by larval stages (spargana) of the tapeworm species Spirometra mansoni.
METHODS
In this study, the prevalence of intestinal S. mansoni infections (with adult parasites) in dogs and cats and of extraintestinal S. mansoni infections (with spargana) in frogs was assessed. In addition, a questionnaire survey was carried out among residents in Guangzhou City in order to evaluate their awareness about the medical and epidemiological relevance of Spirometra and sparganosis.
RESULTS
In total, the feces of 229 dogs and 116 cats were examined for eggs, and 1949 frogs were examined for spargana. Sixty-three dogs (27.5%) and 47 cats (40.5%) had eggs in their feces. Two hundred and sixteen out of 416 wild Rana tigrina rugulosa Wiegmann frogs examined were sparganum-positive, with an infection rate of 51.9%, while the infection rate in Rana limnocharis Boie was 35.1% (13/37). None of the tested farmed frogs (including R. tigrina rugulosa and Rana catesbeiana) was positive (0/1382). Analysis of the questionnaire revealed the following results: (1) about 41.0% of residents in Guangzhou had some knowledge of sparganosis or sparganum infection, and information in TV programs was the most important way that residents learned about sparganosis. (2) About 59.9% of the residents ate frog meat. Eating the meat, viscera, or blood of animals, e.g., frogs, snakes, pigs, chicken, mice, and birds, in an improper way might be the main means by which residents acquire the infection. (3) The risk of sparganum infection was higher in males than in females.
CONCLUSIONS
A high sparganum infection rate was observed in the wild frogs sold in agricultural product markets in Guangzhou. The infection was also serious in cats and dogs in Guangdong Province. With lifestyles and eating habits resulting in sparganum infection, it is necessary to focus on market management and community education in order to prevent the transmission of this disease in Guangzhou.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Cestode Infections; China; Dogs; Feces; Humans; Larva; Meat; Prevalence; Ranidae; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Spirometra
PubMed: 27777093
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.10.013 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Oct 2016In this study, the seroprevalence of sparganosis and its relationship with sociodemographic factors in northern Tanzania have been assessed. A total of 216 serum samples...
In this study, the seroprevalence of sparganosis and its relationship with sociodemographic factors in northern Tanzania have been assessed. A total of 216 serum samples from two rural districts, Monduli and Babati, were tested for sparganosis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The seroprevalence of anti-sparganum IgG antibodies was 62.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 56.1-68.9) in all age groups. There were significant associations between district (relative risk [RR] = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.42-2.69), education (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.15-1.70), and pet ownership with seropositivity (RR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.02-2.16) based on univariate analysis. However, only the district was significantly associated with seropositivity (odds ratio = 4.20, 95% CI = 1.89-9.32) in binary logistic regression analysis. Providing health education to people residing in sparganosis-endemic areas is likely to improve the efficacy of preventative measures and reduce human disease burden.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Educational Status; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Pets; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Tanzania
PubMed: 27481059
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0211