-
Emerging Infectious Diseases Sep 2023We describe a case in Australia of human neural larva migrans caused by the ascarid Ophidascaris robertsi, for which Australian carpet pythons are definitive hosts. We...
We describe a case in Australia of human neural larva migrans caused by the ascarid Ophidascaris robertsi, for which Australian carpet pythons are definitive hosts. We made the diagnosis after a live nematode was removed from the brain of a 64-year-old woman who was immunosuppressed for a hypereosinophilic syndrome diagnosed 12 months earlier.
Topics: Female; Animals; Humans; Middle Aged; Larva Migrans; Australia; Ascaridoidea; Brain; Immunocompromised Host
PubMed: 37610238
DOI: 10.3201/eid2909.230351 -
Current Biology : CB May 2020Wang and Davis provide an overview of the parasite nematode Ascaris, including the history of its role in biological research.
Wang and Davis provide an overview of the parasite nematode Ascaris, including the history of its role in biological research.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Female; Humans; Male; Reproduction
PubMed: 32428467
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.064 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jul 2023
Topics: Humans; Animals; Ascaris; Capsule Endoscopy
PubMed: 37539804
DOI: No ID Found -
Parasitology Jan 2022Human toxocariasis is a neglected tropical disease, which is actually global in distribution and has a significant impact on global public health. The infection can lead... (Review)
Review
Human toxocariasis is a neglected tropical disease, which is actually global in distribution and has a significant impact on global public health. The infection can lead to several serious conditions in humans, including allergic, ophthalmic and neurological disorders such as epilepsy. It is caused by the common roundworm species Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, with humans becoming accidentally infected via the ingestion of eggs or larvae. Toxocara eggs are deposited on the ground when infected dogs, cats and foxes defecate, with the eggs contaminating crops, grazing pastures, and subsequently food animals. However, transmission of Toxocara to humans via food consumption has received relatively little attention in the literature. To establish the risks that contaminated food poses to the public, a renewed research focus is required. This review discusses what is currently known about food-borne Toxocara transmission, highlighting the gaps in our understanding that require further attention, and outlining some potential preventative strategies which could be employed to safeguard consumer health.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Dogs; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Toxocara; Toxocara canis; Toxocariasis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 34694217
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021001591 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Sep 2023Cats have an important and different place due to their close relationships with humans. Since most of the parasites they carry are zoonotic, it is important to detect... (Review)
Review
Cats have an important and different place due to their close relationships with humans. Since most of the parasites they carry are zoonotic, it is important to detect them. According to the research, spp., spp., spp., and sp. were found to be higher in cats compared to other parasites. It has been determined that scabies and flea infestations are common as ectoparasites. This review aims to present the reported parasites and their prevalence rates in cats in Türkiye.
Topics: Humans; Cats; Animals; Parasites; Flea Infestations; Scabies; Toxoplasma; Toxocara
PubMed: 37724370
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2023.85698 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Oct 2005The raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, is the most common and widespread cause of clinical larva migrans in animals. In addition, it is increasingly recognized... (Review)
Review
The raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, is the most common and widespread cause of clinical larva migrans in animals. In addition, it is increasingly recognized as a cause of devastating or fatal neural larva migrans in infants and young children and ocular larva migrans in adults. Humans become infected by accidentally ingesting infective B. procyonis eggs from raccoon latrines or articles contaminated with their feces. Two features distinguish B. procyonis from other helminthes that cause larva migrans: (i) its aggressive somatic migration and invasion of the central nervous system and (ii) the continued growth of larvae to a large size within the central nervous system. Typically, B. procyonis neural larva migrans presents as acute fulminant eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Once invasion of the central nervous system has occurred, the prognosis is grave with or without treatment. To date, despite anthelmintic treatment of cases of B. procyonis neural larva migrans, there are no documented neurologically intact survivors. Epidemiologic study of human cases of neural larva migrans demonstrate that contact with raccoon feces or an environment contaminated by infective eggs and geophagia or pica are the most important risk factors for infection. In many regions of the United States, increasingly large populations of raccoons, with high rates of B. procyonis infection, live in close proximity to humans. Although documented cases of human baylisascariasis remain relatively uncommon, widespread contamination of the domestic environment by infected raccoons suggests that the risk of exposure and human infection is probably substantial. In the absence of early diagnosis or effective treatment, prevention of infection is the most important public health measure.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridida Infections; Ascaridoidea; Eye Diseases; Humans; Larva Migrans; Meningoencephalitis; Raccoons
PubMed: 16223954
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.18.4.703-718.2005 -
Radiologia 2022To review the main findings for anisakiasis in the different imaging tests that can be used to diagnose it, based on studies done at our center.
OBJECTIVE
To review the main findings for anisakiasis in the different imaging tests that can be used to diagnose it, based on studies done at our center.
CONCLUSION
The presence of Anisakis species in food consumed in Western countries is becoming more common. Patients with anisakiasis present with acute abdomen; there are no specific clinical signs or laboratory findings. Careful history taking is key to discovering exposure to Anisakis-contaminated food, but this task is hindered by unfamiliarity with the condition and lack of suspicion and is also confounded by the variable latency period after ingestion of Anisakis-contaminated food. Give the nonspecific presentation, patients with anisakiasis often undergo imaging tests to rule out other processes. Thus, radiologists need to be familiar with the spectrum of imaging findings that should lead to the inclusion of anisakiasis in the differential diagnosis, so they can guide clinicians toward directed history taking and specific tests.
Topics: Abdomen, Acute; Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans
PubMed: 35676056
DOI: 10.1016/j.rxeng.2022.05.001 -
Genes Mar 2021Nematodes of the genus are important parasites of humans and swine, and the phylogenetically related genera (, and infect mammals of veterinary interest. Over the last... (Review)
Review
Nematodes of the genus are important parasites of humans and swine, and the phylogenetically related genera (, and infect mammals of veterinary interest. Over the last decade, considerable genomic resources have been established for , including complete germline and somatic genomes, comprehensive mRNA and small RNA transcriptomes, as well as genome-wide histone and chromatin data. These datasets provide a major resource for studies on the basic biology of these parasites and the host-parasite relationship. and its relatives undergo programmed DNA elimination, a highly regulated process where chromosomes are fragmented and portions of the genome are lost in embryonic cells destined to adopt a somatic fate, whereas the genome remains intact in germ cells. Unlike many model organisms, transcription drives early development beginning prior to pronuclear fusion. Studies on demonstrated a complex small RNA network even in the absence of a piRNA pathway. Comparative genomics of these ascarids has provided perspectives on nematode sex chromosome evolution, programmed DNA elimination, and host-parasite coevolution. The genomic resources enable comparison of proteins across diverse species, revealing many new potential drug targets that could be used to control these parasitic nematodes.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris; Databases, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genome, Protozoan; Humans; Swine; Transcriptome
PubMed: 33800545
DOI: 10.3390/genes12040493 -
Parasitology Research Mar 2022The use of fertilizers based on sewage sludge is common practice. Due to the possible presence of pathogens and eggs of intestinal parasites like Ascaris sp., Toxocara...
The use of fertilizers based on sewage sludge is common practice. Due to the possible presence of pathogens and eggs of intestinal parasites like Ascaris sp., Toxocara sp., and Trichuris sp. in these products, it is necessary to control them. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of parasite eggs in commercial organic fertilizers available on the market. Selected commercial products were tested using the Quinn flotation method and a method dedicated to the study of dewatered sewage sludge. Assessment of the viability of helminth eggs was carried out on the basis of staining with calcein and propidium iodide. In 57% of the tested samples, the presence of live eggs of the abovementioned parasites was detected, and in 21% of samples, the eggs with live larvae were detected. Eggs of Trichuris sp. (50%) and Ascaris sp. (36%) were the most common. The obtained results clearly indicate that the process of hygienization of the sewage sludge before the production of fertilizers was not effective enough and it is necessary to standardize the prophylaxis against the spread of parasitic nematodes in commercially available products.
Topics: Animals; Ascaris; Fertilizers; Parasites; Sewage; Toxocara; Trichuris
PubMed: 35118511
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07451-5 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022Helminth infections remain a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where roundworms from the and genera are most prevalent.... (Review)
Review
Helminth infections remain a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where roundworms from the and genera are most prevalent. These geohelminths not only impact human health but most importantly also affect animal well-being, in particular the swine industry. Host-helminth parasite interactions are complex and at the same time essential to understand the biology, dynamics and pathophysiology of these infections. Within these interactions, the immunomodulatory capacity of these helminths in the host has been extensively studied. Moreover, in recent years a growing interest on how helminths interact with the intestinal microbiota of the host has sparked, highlighting how this relationship plays an essential role in the establishment of initial infection, survival and persistence of the parasite, as well as in the development of chronic infections. Identifying the changes generated by these helminths on the composition and structure of the host intestinal microbiota constitutes a field of great scientific interest, since this can provide essential and actionable information for designing effective control and therapeutic strategies. Helminths like and are a focus of special importance due to their high prevalence, higher reinfection rates, resistance to anthelmintic therapy and unavailability of vaccines. Therefore, characterizing interactions between these helminths and the host intestinal microbiota represents an important approach to better understand the nature of this dynamic interface and explore novel therapeutic alternatives based on management of host microbiota. Given the extraordinary impact this may have from a biological, clinical, and epidemiological public health standpoint, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and future perspectives examining the parasite-microbiota interplay and its impact on host immunity.
Topics: Animals; Ascaris; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Swine; Trichuris
PubMed: 35694539
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.852900