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Infection & Chemotherapy Mar 2013Status and emerging issues in the use of praziquantel for treatment of human trematode and cestode infections are briefly reviewed. Since praziquantel was first... (Review)
Review
Status and emerging issues in the use of praziquantel for treatment of human trematode and cestode infections are briefly reviewed. Since praziquantel was first introduced as a broadspectrum anthelmintic in 1975, innumerable articles describing its successful use in the treatment of the majority of human-infecting trematodes and cestodes have been published. The target trematode and cestode diseases include schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis, paragonimiasis, heterophyidiasis, echinostomiasis, fasciolopsiasis, neodiplostomiasis, gymnophalloidiasis, taeniases, diphyllobothriasis, hymenolepiasis, and cysticercosis. However, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infections are refractory to praziquantel, for which triclabendazole, an alternative drug, is necessary. In addition, larval cestode infections, particularly hydatid disease and sparganosis, are not successfully treated by praziquantel. The precise mechanism of action of praziquantel is still poorly understood. There are also emerging problems with praziquantel treatment, which include the appearance of drug resistance in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni and possibly Schistosoma japonicum, along with allergic or hypersensitivity reactions against praziquantel treatment. To cope with and overcome these problems, combined use of drugs, i.e., praziquantel and other newly introduced compounds such as triclabendazole, artemisinins, and tribendimidine, is being tried.
PubMed: 24265948
DOI: 10.3947/ic.2013.45.1.32 -
Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil) Nov 2012
Topics: Animals; Central Nervous System Helminthiasis; Female; Humans; Sparganosis; Sparganum
PubMed: 23184215
DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2012(11)21 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2013A total number of 14 valid species of Diphyllobothrium tapeworms have been described in literature to be capable of causing diphyllobothriosis, with D. latum being the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
A total number of 14 valid species of Diphyllobothrium tapeworms have been described in literature to be capable of causing diphyllobothriosis, with D. latum being the major causative agent of all human infections. However, recent data indicate that some of these infections, especially when diagnosed solely on the basis of morphology, have been identified with this causative agent incorrectly, confusing other Diphyllobothrium species with D. latum. Another widely distributed species, D. dendriticum, has never been considered as a frequent parasite of man, even though it is found commonly throughout arctic and subarctic regions parasitizing piscivorous birds and mammals. Recent cases of Europeans infected with this cestode called into question the actual geographic distribution of this tapeworm, largely ignored by medical parasitologists.
METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS
On the basis of revision of more than 900 available references and a description and revision of recent European human cases using morphological and molecular (cox1) data supplemented by newly characterized D. dendriticum sequences, we updated the current knowledge of the life-cycle, geographic distribution, epidemiological status, and molecular diagnostics of this emerging causal agent of zoonotic disease of man.
CONCLUSIONS
The tapeworm D. dendriticum represents an example of a previously neglected, probably underdiagnosed parasite of man with a potential to spread globally. Recent cases of diphyllobothriosis caused by D. dendriticum in Europe (Netherlands, Switzerland and Czech Republic), where the parasite has not been reported previously, point out that causative agents of diphyllobothriosis and other zoonoses can be imported throughout the world. Molecular tools should be used for specific and reliable parasite diagnostics, and also rare or non-native species should be considered. This will considerably help improve our knowledge of the distribution and epidemiology of these human parasites.
Topics: Animals; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Humans; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Molecular Epidemiology; Neglected Diseases; Topography, Medical
PubMed: 24386497
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002535 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Jan 2021Spinal sparganosis of the cauda equina has been rarely reported. A 54-year-old man presented at the hospital after having experienced lower back pain for 10 months,... (Review)
Review
Spinal sparganosis of the cauda equina has been rarely reported. A 54-year-old man presented at the hospital after having experienced lower back pain for 10 months, progressive weakness and numbness of the left leg for 4 months, and urinary incontinence for 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine revealed a heterogeneous enhancing mass at the T12-S1 level. Spinal sparganosis was diagnosed by histological examination and molecular identification of the parasite in the tissue section. The patient was treated with a high dose of praziquantel because the parasitic mass was only partially removed and symptoms worsened following surgery.
Topics: Anthelmintics; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Cauda Equina; Cimetidine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polyradiculopathy; Praziquantel; Sparganosis
PubMed: 33124542
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0712 -
The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Jun 2021Fish-borne parasites have been part of the global landscape of food-borne zoonotic diseases for many decades and are often endemic in certain regions of the world. The... (Review)
Review
Fish-borne parasites have been part of the global landscape of food-borne zoonotic diseases for many decades and are often endemic in certain regions of the world. The past 20 years or so have seen the expansion of the range of fish-borne parasitic zoonoses to new geographic regions leading to a substantial public health burden. In this article, we summarize current knowledge about the biology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and control of selected fish-borne helminthic diseases caused by parasitic roundworm (), tapeworm (), and fluke (). Humans acquire infection via consumption of raw or improperly cooked fish or fish products. The burden from these diseases is caused by morbidity rather than mortality. Infected patients may present with mild to severe gastrointestinal (eg, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion) or allergic manifestations. Patients are often admitted to the hospital or clinic with acute symptoms and no prior health problems and no travel history. Diagnosis is often established based on the detection of the diagnostic parasite stages (eg, eggs or tapeworm segments) in the patient's feces. Sometimes imaging is required to exclude other causes and avoid unnecessary surgery. and are mainly treated with praziquantel. Extraction of adult or larvae from the bowel ensures complete elimination of the parasites and prevents a relapse of infection. The development and implementation of more efficient food safety and public health strategies to reduce the burden of zoonotic diseases attributable to fish-borne parasites is highly desirable.
Topics: Animals; Biology; Fishes; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Parasites; Zoonoses
PubMed: 34211350
DOI: No ID Found -
The American Journal of Tropical... Apr 2021
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Food Parasitology; Humans; Male; Praziquantel; Raw Foods; Young Adult; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33844646
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0105 -
The Korean Journal of Parasitology Feb 2019
Topics: Animals; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Paragonimiasis; Paragonimus; Parasitology; Republic of Korea; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Taenia solium; Taeniasis
PubMed: 30840805
DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.1.77 -
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy Sep 2019
Topics: Animals; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Fish Diseases; Fishes; Foodborne Diseases; Humans
PubMed: 31498709
DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2019.1665028 -
The British Journal of Radiology Sep 2010
Topics: Animals; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Helminthiasis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Sparganosis; Sparganum; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 20716651
DOI: 10.1259/bjr/22825470 -
Revista Medica de Chile Aug 2007Recent clinical and epidemiológical information, an analysis of the literature, and study of the technical aspects of Chilean salmon aquaculture indicate that this... (Review)
Review
Recent clinical and epidemiológical information, an analysis of the literature, and study of the technical aspects of Chilean salmon aquaculture indicate that this activity has the ability to expand the range of diphyllobothriasis caused by the fish tapeworm Diphyllobothrium latum. Evidence for expansion of the range of the fish tapeworm includes the emergences of clinical cases in Brazil related to consumption of salmon produced in Chile. Expansion of the range of this parasite is also suggested by an increase of its geographical range in Chile, beyond its previously endemic foci in the lakes of Regions IX and X. Prevention of further dissemination of this parasitic disease rests on an improvement of sanitation and sewage disposal around the lakes of Regions IX, X and XI in Chile, improvement in aquaculture methods including curtailing the use of fish tapeworm-contaminated lakes to grow juveniles forms of salmonids and more measures to decrease the number of salmonid escapees from marine pens to prevent their return to rivers and lakes carrying the infestation. Moreover, tracking the origin of juveniles in marketed salmon, determining the presence of plerocercoids in them, and increased education of the public regarding the potential dangers of eating raw fish should also be implemented. Only by stimulating the dialogue between the industry, consumers and state regulators will it be possible to implement appropriate measures to prevent further expansion of this parasitic disease by salmon aquaculture.
Topics: Animals; Aquaculture; Brazil; Chile; Diphyllobothriasis; Diphyllobothrium; Fish Diseases; Fisheries; Food Parasitology; Fresh Water; Humans; Public Health; Risk Factors; Salmon; Seawater
PubMed: 17989866
DOI: 10.4067/s0034-98872007000800016