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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022
Topics: Humans; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 36118046
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1002602 -
Experimental Eye Research Jan 2021Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare protozoal infection of the cornea. At least eight species of Acanthamoeba are known to cause this sight-threatening disease of the... (Review)
Review
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare protozoal infection of the cornea. At least eight species of Acanthamoeba are known to cause this sight-threatening disease of the ocular surface. Acanthamoeba spp. exist in a wide array of niches ranging from thermal springs to under ice and every conceivable habitat in between. Contact lens wear is the leading risk factor for AK and is practiced by over 30 million individuals in the United States, yet the incidence of AK is less than 33 cases per one million contact lens wearers. Serological studies have reported that 90%-100% of individuals with no history of AK possess antibodies specific for Acanthamoeba antigens indicating that exposure to this organism is commonplace, yet disease is remarkably rare. Animal studies have shed light on the pathobiology and immunobiology of AK and indicate that a constellation of factors including the ocular surface microbiome and the microbiome of Acanthamoeba itself contribute to the pathogenesis of AK. Interesting, secretory antibodies produced by the adaptive immune response can prevent the initiation of corneal infection, but once Acanthamoeba trophozoites breach the corneal epithelium the adaptive immune system is helpless in altering the course of AK. It has been almost 50 years since AK was first described, yet many questions remain unanswered about this curious and enigmatic disease of the ocular surface.
Topics: Acanthamoeba; Acanthamoeba Keratitis; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Contact Lenses; Cornea; Eye Infections, Parasitic; Humans; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33221372
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108365 -
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Jun 2011Parasitic diseases affect more than 2 billion people globally and cause substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among the world's poorest people. This overview... (Review)
Review
Parasitic diseases affect more than 2 billion people globally and cause substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among the world's poorest people. This overview focuses on the treatment of the major protozoan and helminth infections in humans. Recent developments in antiparasitic therapy include the expansion of artemisinin-based therapies for malaria, new drugs for soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa, expansion of the indications for antiparasitic drug treatment in patients with Chagas disease, and the use of combination therapy for leishmaniasis and human African trypanosomiasis.
Topics: Amebiasis; Anthelmintics; Antiparasitic Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Cestode Infections; Chagas Disease; Drug Resistance; Giardiasis; Helminthiasis; Humans; Leishmaniasis; Malaria; Nematode Infections; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Toxoplasmosis; Trematode Infections; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 21628620
DOI: 10.4065/mcp.2011.0203 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2019There are 17 human-biting ticks known in Australia. The bites of , and can cause paralysis, inflammation, and severe local and systemic reactions in humans,... (Review)
Review
There are 17 human-biting ticks known in Australia. The bites of , and can cause paralysis, inflammation, and severe local and systemic reactions in humans, respectively. Six ticks, including , and may transmit , or subsp. . These bacterial pathogens cause Q fever, Queensland tick typhus (QTT), Flinders Island spotted fever (FISF), and Australian spotted fever (ASF). It is also believed that babesiosis can be transmitted by ticks to humans in Australia. In addition, , and ticks may play active roles in transmission of other pathogens that already exist or could potentially be introduced into Australia. These pathogens include spp., spp., spp., spp., Dera Ghazi Khan virus (DGKV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Lake Clarendon virus (LCV), Saumarez Reef virus (SREV), Upolu virus (UPOV), or Vinegar Hill virus (VINHV). It is important to regularly update clinicians' knowledge about tick-borne infections because these bacteria and arboviruses are pathogens of humans that may cause fatal illness. An increase in the incidence of tick-borne infections of human may be observed in the future due to changes in demography, climate change, and increase in travel and shipments and even migratory patterns of birds or other animals. Moreover, the geographical conditions of Australia are favorable for many exotic ticks, which may become endemic to Australia given an opportunity. There are some human pathogens, such as and that are not currently present in Australia, but can be transmitted by some human-biting ticks found in Australia, such as , if they enter and establish in this country. Despite these threats, our knowledge of Australian ticks and tick-borne diseases is in its infancy.
Topics: Animals; Australia; Bacterial Infections; Humans; Incidence; Protozoan Infections; Tick-Borne Diseases; Virus Diseases; Zoonoses
PubMed: 30746341
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00003 -
Biomedica : Revista Del Instituto... Dec 2016
Topics: Adolescent; Caribbean Region; Child; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Educational Status; Efficiency; Environmental Health; Female; Helminthiasis; Humans; Income; Infant; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Latin America; Male; Malnutrition; Pan American Health Organization; Protozoan Infections; Social Conditions
PubMed: 27992974
DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.v36i4.3698 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2011The genus Hepatozoon includes hundreds of species that infect birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, in all continents with tropical and subtropical climates. Two... (Review)
Review
The genus Hepatozoon includes hundreds of species that infect birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, in all continents with tropical and subtropical climates. Two species have been described in domestic dogs: H. canis, reported in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and the United States; and H. americanum, which so far has only been diagnosed in the United States. In Brazil, the only species found infecting dogs is H. canis. The objective of this review was to detail some aspects of canine hepatozoonosis, caused by H. canis, and the main points of its biology, transmission, pathogenicity, symptoms, epidemiology and diagnostic methods, with emphasis on research developed in Brazil.
Topics: Animals; Apicomplexa; Brazil; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Protozoan Infections, Animal
PubMed: 21961746
DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612011000300002 -
MBio Feb 2023Parasite infections affect human and animal health significantly and contribute to a major burden on the global economy. Parasitic protozoan viruses (PPVs) affect the... (Review)
Review
Parasite infections affect human and animal health significantly and contribute to a major burden on the global economy. Parasitic protozoan viruses (PPVs) affect the protozoan parasites' morphology, phenotypes, pathogenicity, and growth rates. This discovery provides an opportunity to develop a novel preventive and therapeutic strategy for parasitic protozoan diseases (PPDs). Currently, there is greater awareness regarding PPVs; however, knowledge of viruses and their associations with host diseases remains limited. Parasite-host interactions become more complex owing to PPVs; however, few studies have investigated underlying viral regulatory mechanisms in parasites. In this study, we reviewed relevant studies to identify studies that investigated PPV development and life cycles, the triangular association between viruses, parasites, and hosts, and the effects of viruses on protozoan pathogenicity. This study highlights that viruses can alter parasite biology, and viral infection of parasites may exacerbate the adverse effects of virus-containing parasites on hosts or reduce parasite virulence. PPVs should be considered in the prevention of parasitic epidemics and outbreaks, although their effects on the host and the complexity of the triangular association between PPVs, protozoans, and hosts remain unclear. PPVs-based regulation of parasitic protozoa can provide a theoretical basis and direction for PPD prevention and control, although PPVs and PPV regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this review, we investigated the differences between PPVs and the unique properties of each virus regarding virus discovery, structures, and life cycles, focused on the Trichomonas vaginalis virus, Giardia lamblia virus, RNA virus, and the Cryptosporidium parvum virus 1. The triangular association between PPVs, parasitic protozoa, and hosts reveals the "double-edged sword" property of PPVs, which maintains a balance between parasitic protozoa and hosts in both positive and negative respects. These studies discuss the complexity of parasitic protozoa and their co-existence with hosts and suggest novel pathways for using PPVs as tools to gain a deeper understanding of protozoal infection and treatment.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasites; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium; Viruses; Protozoan Infections; RNA Viruses
PubMed: 36633419
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02642-22 -
Mediators of Inflammation 2015
Topics: Animals; Chagas Disease; Humans; Leishmaniasis; Malaria; Protozoan Infections; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 25873762
DOI: 10.1155/2015/504951 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Jun 2007Although the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections today is lower than ever, the supply of safe blood products remains subject to contamination with known and yet... (Review)
Review
Although the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections today is lower than ever, the supply of safe blood products remains subject to contamination with known and yet to be identified human pathogens. Only continuous improvement and implementation of donor selection, sensitive screening tests and effective inactivation procedures can ensure the elimination, or at least reduction, of the risk of acquiring transfusion transmitted infections. In addition, ongoing education and up-to-date information regarding infectious agents that are potentially transmitted via blood components is necessary to promote the reporting of adverse events, an important component of transfusion transmitted disease surveillance. Thus, the collaboration of all parties involved in transfusion medicine, including national haemovigilance systems, is crucial for protecting a secure blood product supply from known and emerging blood-borne pathogens.
Topics: Bacterial Infections; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Humans; Prion Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Transfusion Reaction; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 17553144
DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-5-25 -
Nature Microbiology Jun 2016Eukaryotic microbial pathogens are major contributors to illness and death globally. Although much of their impact can be controlled by drug therapy as with prokaryotic... (Review)
Review
Eukaryotic microbial pathogens are major contributors to illness and death globally. Although much of their impact can be controlled by drug therapy as with prokaryotic microorganisms, the emergence of drug resistance has threatened these treatment efforts. Here, we discuss the challenges posed by eukaryotic microbial pathogens and how these are similar to, or differ from, the challenges of prokaryotic antibiotic resistance. The therapies used for several major eukaryotic microorganisms are then detailed, and the mechanisms that they have evolved to overcome these therapies are described. The rapid emergence of resistance and the restricted pipeline of new drug therapies pose considerable risks to global health and are particularly acute in the developing world. Nonetheless, we detail how the integration of new technology, biological understanding, epidemiology and evolutionary analysis can help sustain existing therapies, anticipate the emergence of resistance or optimize the deployment of new therapies.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Drug Resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Utilization; Fungi; Global Health; Humans; Leishmania; Mycoses; Plasmodium; Protozoan Infections; Trypanosoma
PubMed: 27572976
DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.92