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Przeglad Epidemiologiczny 2018Co-infections of HIV and other pathogens constitute an important clinical and epidemiological problem. Many studies have played attention to opportunistic co-infections... (Review)
Review
Selected aspects of helminth infections Schistosoma sp., Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis in individuals diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Co-infections of HIV and other pathogens constitute an important clinical and epidemiological problem. Many studies have played attention to opportunistic co-infections due to the fact that they are used as an indicator for development of AIDS and are present on the all continents. However, in HIV-infected patients helminth infections, which are not aetiologic agents of opportunistic infections, are becoming more and more important. Prevalence of helminth infection depends on parasite species, environmental and socio-economic factors, therefore the results of published research mainly refer to populations of patients in developing countries and endemic regions. In many cases, pathogenetic mechanisms of these co-infections are not fully recognized, and the obtained results are ambiguous. Thus we performed literature review concerning the course and implications of co-infections with three selected helminth species, of different tissue/organ tropism (Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma sp.), in patients with HIV infection.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Coinfection; HIV Infections; Helminthiasis; Humans; Strongyloides stercoralis; Strongyloidiasis
PubMed: 30394059
DOI: 10.32394/pe.72.3.11 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2020Africa is the second most populous continent and has perennial health challenges. Of the estimated 181 million school aged children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), nearly... (Review)
Review
Africa is the second most populous continent and has perennial health challenges. Of the estimated 181 million school aged children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), nearly half suffer from ascariasis, trichuriasis, or a combination of these infections. Coupled with these is the problem of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, which is a leading cause of death in the region. Compared to the effect of the human immunodeficiency virus on the development of TB, the effect of chronic helminth infections is a neglected area of research, yet helminth infections are as ubiquitous as they are varied and may potentially have profound effects upon host immunity, particularly as it relates to TB infection, diagnosis, and vaccination. Protection against active TB is known to require a clearly delineated T-helper type 1 (Th1) response, while helminths induce a strong opposing Th2 and immune-regulatory host response. This Review highlights the potential challenges of helminth-TB co-infection in Africa and the need for further research.
Topics: Adolescent; Africa; Ascariasis; Child; Child, Preschool; Coinfection; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Prevalence; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells; Trichuriasis; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis Vaccines
PubMed: 32498074
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008069 -
Parasites & Vectors Oct 2021The roundworm Ascaris suum is one of the parasites with the greatest economic impact on pig farming. In this context, lower weight gain is hypothesized to be due to...
BACKGROUND
The roundworm Ascaris suum is one of the parasites with the greatest economic impact on pig farming. In this context, lower weight gain is hypothesized to be due to decreased nutrient absorption. This study aims at characterizing the effects of A. suum infection on intestinal nutrient transport processes and potential molecular mechanisms.
METHODS
Three groups of six piglets each were infected orally (10,000 embryonated A. suum eggs) in a single dose ("single infection"). Another three groups were infected orally (1000 embryonated eggs) for 10 consecutive days ("trickle infection"). Animals were necropsied 21, 35 and 49 days post-infection (dpi). Three groups served as respective controls. The Ussing chamber technique was applied for the functional characterization of small intestinal tissues [short-circuit currents (I) as induced by glucose, alanine and peptides; H-glucose net flux rates; tissue conductance (G)]. Transcription and expression levels of relevant cytokines and nutrient transporters were evaluated (qPCR/western blot).
RESULTS
Peptide- and alanine-induced changes in I were significantly decreased in the jejunum and ileum of the trickle-infected group at 49 dpi and in the ileum of the single-infected group at 49 dpi. No significant differences regarding glucose transport were observed between the Ascaris-infected groups and the control group in Ussing chamber experiments. Transcription levels of the glucose and peptide transporters as well as of selected transcription factors (transcription of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 [STAT6] and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha [Hif-1α]) were significantly increased in response to both infection types after some periods. The transcription of interleukins 4 and 13 varied between decrease and increase regarding the respective time points, as did the protein expression of glucose transporters. The expression of the peptide transporter PepT1 was significantly decreased in the ileal single-infected group at 35 dpi. Hif-1α was significantly increased in the ileal tissue from the single-infected group at 21 dpi and in the trickle-infected group at 35 dpi. The expression levels of Na/K-ATPase and ASCT1 remained unaffected.
CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to the current hypothesis, these results indicate that the nutrient deprivation induced by A. suum cannot be explained by transcriptional or expression changes alone and requires further studies.
Topics: Alanine; Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris suum; Biological Transport; Cytokines; Glucose; Intestines; Nutrients; Peptides; Swine; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 34649607
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05029-1 -
BMJ Case Reports Sep 2015Ascariasis is a common helminthic disease worldwide, although Lithuania and other European countries are not considered endemic areas. The presence of the Ascaris worm...
Ascariasis is a common helminthic disease worldwide, although Lithuania and other European countries are not considered endemic areas. The presence of the Ascaris worm in the biliary tree causes choledocholithiasis-like symptoms. We report a case of pancreatic duct ascariasis causing such symptoms. A 73-year-old Lithuanian woman underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) suspecting choledocholithiasis. Contrast injection into the common bile duct demonstrated a slightly dilated biliary tree without any filling defects, and the tail of an Ascaris worm protruding from the opening of the papilla Vater. The worm was captured by a snare but escaped deep into the duct. After a small wirsungotomy the worm was retrieved from the pancreatic duct. The patient received a 150 mg dose of levamisole orally repeated 7 days later and was discharged after complete resolution of symptoms. This first reported sporadic case of pancreatic duct ascariasis in Lithuania was successfully treated with ERCP and Levamisole.
Topics: Abdominal Pain; Aged; Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Choledocholithiasis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Jaundice, Obstructive; Levamisole; Pancreatic Ducts; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26374772
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2014-207936 -
Canadian Medical Association Journal Jun 1981
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Canada; Dogs; Eye Diseases; Humans; Toxocariasis
PubMed: 7248864
DOI: No ID Found -
British Medical Journal Apr 1973
Topics: Ascariasis; Child, Preschool; Eosinophilia; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Eosinophilia
PubMed: 4695712
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5857.54-c -
British Medical Journal Mar 1977
Topics: Abdomen; Ascariasis; Biliary Fistula; Humans; Intestinal Fistula; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 851728
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6063.776 -
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences :... Jun 2012Our objective was to systematically evaluate chemotherapy-based control of ascariasis and hookworm infection and make predictions of the effectiveness of repeated mass...
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to systematically evaluate chemotherapy-based control of ascariasis and hookworm infection and make predictions of the effectiveness of repeated mass treatment at different levels of coverage in highly endemic areas of China.
METHODS
Field surveys were carried out to acquire the ascariasis and hookworm prevalence and intensity (mean worm burden) at baseline, one month and one year later. We calculated model parameters based on the survey data, then incorporated them into a quantitative framework to predict the prevalence and intensity one year later. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the influence of the chemotherapy measures on prevalence and intensity, and model simulations were performed to evaluate the feasibility of achieving the proposed transmission control criteria under different chemotherapy measures.
RESULTS
The predicted prevalence and intensity one year from baseline were within the 95% confidence interval of actual values. As treatment frequency or coverage increased, the prevalence and intensity decreased. Model simulations show that many rounds of treatment are needed to maintain the prevalence at a low level in highly endemic areas of China.
CONCLUSION
We should select different combinations of treatment frequency, coverage and drug efficacy according to available resources and practical attainable conditions. Mathematical modeling could be used to help optimize the chemotherapeutic scheme aiming at specific parasitic species and areas, and to direct the establishment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control criteria in China.
Topics: Anthelmintics; Ascariasis; China; Computer Simulation; Endemic Diseases; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Models, Biological; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Time Factors
PubMed: 22840577
DOI: 10.3967/0895-3988.2012.03.004 -
Journal of Helminthology Jun 2012The two geohelminths, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, infect more than a billion people worldwide but are only reported sporadically in the developed part... (Review)
Review
The two geohelminths, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, infect more than a billion people worldwide but are only reported sporadically in the developed part of the world. In contrast, the closely related species A. suum and T. suis in pigs have a truly global distribution, with infected pigs found in most production systems. In areas where pigs and humans live in close proximity or where pig manure is used as fertilizer on vegetables for human consumption, there is a potential risk of cross-infections. We therefore review this relationship between Ascaris and Trichuris in the human and pig host, with special focus on recent evidence concerning the zoonotic potential of these parasites, and identify some open questions for future research.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris suum; Humans; Swine; Swine Diseases; Trichuriasis; Trichuris; Zoonoses
PubMed: 22423595
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X12000193 -
Microbes and Infection Jul 2011The generative mechanism(s) of predisposition to Ascaris infection are currently unknown. While many factors play a role in interindividual infection intensity, much... (Review)
Review
The generative mechanism(s) of predisposition to Ascaris infection are currently unknown. While many factors play a role in interindividual infection intensity, much focus has been placed on the host's immunological response to infection and the underlying genetics. The present review describes the research conducted that has examined various immunological parameters and genetic factors that may play a role in resistance to ascariasis. We also discuss the contribution that animal models have made to our understanding of resistance to the parasitic roundworm and their role in possible future work.
Topics: Animals; Antigens, Helminth; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Models, Animal
PubMed: 20934532
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2010.09.013