Ascariasis often occurs in poultry caused by the worm Ascaridia galli, a nematode worm from the same family as the worm Ascaris lumbricoides. Helminthiasis due to infection by Ascaridia galli often occurs in chickens, which becomes an obstacle causing failure in chicken cultivation. Infection by the worm Ascaridia galli often causes reduced growth rate and weight loss. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of the infection by Ascaridia galli in slaughterhouses in the Sukoharjo regency. The research was carried out using experimental methods, which took the worm Ascaridia galii out of the intestine of the chickens that had just been slaughtered. The samples were collected from the Animal Slaughterhouse (RPH ~Ind.) in Grogol of Sukoharjo of Central Java, totaling 49 intestines. The results were that of 49 chickens’ intestines examined, 1/49 were found positive for the worm A. galli, with a prevalence of 2.04% and an intensity of 15 worms per infected chicken intestine. This study also found that 5/49 eggs were positive, with a prevalence of 10.20% and an intensity of one egg per infected chicken intestine.
Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease that affects humans, caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus tapeworm. The disease is a major health problem in many parts of the world, including Bulgaria. It has a long incubation period and can affect various organs, but most commonly the liver and lungs. In this article, we present cases of echinococcosis diagnosed in all members of the same family, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and the need for effective prophylactic measures. Regardless of the degree of endemicity, cases of familial echinococcosis are rare in medical practice. Therefore, a comprehensive epidemiological study is needed to establish the causes of such a phenomenon. In conclusion, seroepidemiological research on echinococcosis and imaging (ultrasound and X-ray) of seropositive individuals should be performed among risk groups to establish hidden morbidity, particularly among communities, where familial echinococcosis is more prevalent.
Katherine Snyman, Walter Ochieng, Sam Gonahasa
et al.
Abstract Background Innovative, equitable, and sustainable multisectoral solutions are required to address persistently high global malaria deaths, widespread insecticide and antimalarial resistance, and falling funding for malaria control. Housing modification presents a promising option. Alongside a cluster-randomized control trial in Eastern Region, Uganda, we analysed the costs and households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for two housing modification interventions, screening and eave tubes, focusing on equity and scale-up potential. Methods Taking a disaggregated societal perspective, we assessed financial and economic costs of installing two housing modification interventions in approximately 4000 homes (20000 people). We collected WTP data through three cross-sectional household surveys (n = 1500 households each) using modified structured haggling and calculated price elasticity of demand. We used multivariable regressions and concentration indices to analyse how costs and WTP varied by household characteristics. To identify potential financing gaps, we compared WTP to costs and examined variation by household wealth quintiles. Results Screening cost a mean of $116 (societal economic costs; 95%CI $112–120) United States Dollars (2022 USD) per house; eave tubes cost $50 (95%CI $48–52). When annualized over 5 years, screening cost $4.22 per person protected per year and eave tubes cost $3.03. Installation cost more in the wealthiest versus poorest quintiles for both screening ($151 vs $69) and eave tubes ($95 vs $31). Over 75% of respondents were willing to pay something for the interventions, but these values represented only a small fraction of the costs, with a higher fraction in the wealthiest vs poorest quintiles (screening: 12% vs 7%; eave tubes: 18% vs 14%). Conclusions While housing modification has relatively high upfront costs, its annual cost per person protected is comparable to other malaria interventions. Households, especially the poorest, are unwilling or unable to pay the full cost of housing modifications. Equitable scale-up would require additional financing and/or demand-boosting interventions. Trial Registration: NCT04622241 (clinicaltrials.gov).
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases
Kateryna Starynets, Ana Paunkov, Anja Wagner
et al.
The microaerophilic/anaerobic protist Giardia lamblia is a world-wide occurring parasite of the human small intestine. It causes giardiasis which manifests as diarrhoea accompanied by other sequelae. Giardiasis is most commonly treated with either the 5-nitroimidazole metronidazole or the benzimidazole albendazole. Unfortunately, the number of refractory cases is increasing, which is probably caused, at least in part, by drug resistance. However, most attempts to isolate metronidazole-resistant G. lamblia strains from patients have failed so far because the parasites were not resistant when tested in vitro.We hypothesized that this failure might be caused by drug assay conditions which are standardly anaerobic, and performed metronidazole susceptibility testing with two well studied strains, i.e. WB C6 and BRIS/87/HEPU/713 (strain 713) under microaerophilic conditions. Indeed, 713 proved to be less susceptible to metronidazole under microaerophilic conditions as compared to anaerobic conditions, and residual growth was even noted at concentrations of metronidazole similar to those in the serum of treated patients (i.e. about 100 μM). Further experiments showed that 713 also grows much faster under microaerobic conditions than WB C6. Reduced susceptibility to metronidazole under microaerobic conditions was also observed in a clinical isolate from a refractory giardiasis case.Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that microaerobic growth was accompanied by the upregulation of superoxide reductase, a pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate oxidase putative domain-containing protein, and a TlpA-like protein in 713 but not in WB C6. All three proteins are known, or can be predicted to have antioxidant functions. Indeed, overexpression of pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate oxidase in WB C6 from a plasmid carrying the respective gene behind the arginine deiminase promoter significantly improved growth of the transfected cell line under microaerobic conditions. Moreover, similarly overexpressed superoxide reductase conferred significant protection against metronidazole.Our results suggest that oxygen concentrations can affect the outcomes of metronidazole treatment against G. lamblia.
Maria Pishmisheva-Peleva, Stanislav Kotsev, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova
et al.
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E is a global health issue, only partially understood. Bulgarian record started in 2019 and data is not sufficient. AIM: This research aims to analyze extrahepatic manifestation of acute hepatitis E in patients with hepatitis E from Pazardzhik region, between 2014 – 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis includes 247 patients with acute hepatitis E, treated at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Pazardzhik Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment, Bulgaria between 2014 – 2022. The methodology includes clinical observation, laboratory tests and medical imaging. The diagnosis was established by serological /ELISA for anti-HEV IgM, IgG detection/and molecular-biological tests /RT-PCR for HEV RNA detection/. RESULTS: We observed extrahepatic manifestations in 19% (47/247) of the cases. In 60% (28/47) comorbidities were present, and 9% (4/47) were with underlying acute/chronic coinfection with another hepatotropic virus. Thrombocytopenia was found in 83% (39/47) of the patients; asymptomatic creatine kinase elevation – in 13% (6/47), acute pancreatitis – in 9% (4/47), transitory renal impairent – in 6% (3/47); 2% (1/47) had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), 2% (1/47) – arrhythmia and 13% (6/47) – multiorgan involvement. While 91% (43/47) of the patients recovered, in 9% (4/47) the outcome was fatal. CONCLUSION: Extrahepatic manifestations might prevail, potentially delaying diagnosis of HEV-infection. Symptoms associated with comorbidities might also impede the final diagnosis. A diagnostic algorithm is needed to enhance the accurate diagnosis of HEV in patients with dubious symptoms.
Mihai-Horia Băieş, Vlad-Dan Cotuţiu, Marina Spînu
et al.
Internal parasitic diseases of swine constitute a major welfare and health concern in low-input livestock farming. Due to an increase in chemical resistance, phytotherapeutic remedies have become an alternative for the prophylaxis and therapy of digestive parasitosis, albeit few remedies have been subjected to scientific validation. Low-input swine farming in Romania has adopted the traditional use of phytotherapy for controlling pathogens in livestock. The current study aimed to assess the antiparasitic potential of <i>Calendula officinalis</i> and <i>Satureja hortensis</i> against digestive parasites of swine in two low-input farms. The fecal samples were collected from sows, fatteners, and weaners, and were tested using the following coproparasitological methods: centrifugal sedimentation, flotation (Willis, McMaster egg counting technique), Ziehl–Neelsen stain modified by Henricksen, modified Blagg method, and in vitro nematode larvae/protozoan oocyst cultures. Six species of digestive parasites were diagnosed, namely <i>Ascaris suum</i>, <i>Trichuris suis</i>, <i>Oesophagostomum</i> spp., <i>Balantioides coli</i>, <i>Eimeria</i> spp., and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., in various combinations, dependent on the swine category. A dose of 140 mg/kg bw/day of <i>C. officinalis</i> and 100 mg/kg bw/day of <i>S. hortensis</i> powders administered for 10 consecutive days revealed a strong antiprotozoal and anthelmintic activity on the aforementioned parasites. The curative efficacy can be attributed to the presence of polyphenols, sterols, tocopherols, and methoxylated flavones. In conclusion, our results indicate that <i>S. hortensis</i> and <i>C. officinalis</i> are promising alternatives to the commercially available antiparasitics, enabling their use as natural antiparasitic products against gastrointestinal parasites in pigs.
Daniele Piai Ozores, Regina Rathsam Pinheiro, Ney Boa-Sorte
et al.
Abstract Background HTLV-1-associated uveitis (HAU) is an inflammatory reaction of the choroid, retina, optic nerve and vitreous that can lead to vision impairment. The worldwide prevalence of HAU varies widely. Objective To determine the prevalence of HAU in patients from Salvador, Bahia-Brazil, and describe uveitis type and associated symptoms. Methods Cross-sectional analytical study to determine the prevalence of uveitis in HTLV-1-infected patients recruited in Bahia, Brazil, a region considered endemic for HTLV-1. Patients were enrolled at a local reference center for HTLV (infected) and at an outpatient ophthalmology clinic (noninfected group). All patients were examined by the same ophthalmologist following a single protocol. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated. Results A total of 168 consecutively examined HTLV-1-infected patients and 410 noninfected patients (randomly selected) were included. Females predominated (82.1%) in the HTLV-1-infected group (versus 64.4% in the uninfected group) (p < 0.001). The mean age of infected and uninfected patients was 53.2 and 62.8 years, respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalence of uveitis in HTLV-1+ and HTLV-1− patients was 7.14% and 0.73%, respectively (PR = 9.76; 95CI%:2.79–34.15; p < 0.01). Bilateral intermediate uveitis, associated with symptoms including visual disturbances and floaters, was most commonly identified in the HTLV-1-infected patients, whereas unilateral anterior uveitis, in association with symptoms such as blurring and ocular pain, was more common in the uninfected group. Conclusion The prevalence of uveitis in patients with HTLV-1 was markedly higher than in uninfected subjects. HAU patients were mostly asymptomatic and exhibited bilateral presentation, with uveitis more frequently localized in the intermediate chamber.
Abstract Background Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are important risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, their effect on other hepatobiliary cancers, such as biliary tract cancers (BTCs), is not well established. We aimed to investigate associations between HBV or HCV infection and BTCs risk by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods We searched PubMed to identify all relevant articles published before June 9, 2021. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The meta-analysis was evaluated by heterogeneity testing, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias assessment. Results In total, 48 articles involving 69,723 cases and 4,047,574 controls were obtained to calculate the associations between HBV or HCV infection and the risk of BTCs. We found that both HBV and HCV infections were associated with the risk of BTCs, with pooled ORs of 2.16 (95% CI 1.73–2.69) and 2.12 (95% CI 1.62–2.77), respectively. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity suggested that HBV infection could increase the risk of BTCs in both Asian (OR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.76–2.97) and Caucasian (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.18–2.75) populations. In addition, HCV infection resulted in a higher increased risk of BTCs in Caucasian populations than in Asian populations (OR = 3.93 vs. 1.51, P = 0.014). In particular, significantly increased risks of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) were identified in individuals with HBV (OR = 3.96, 95% CI 3.05–5.15) or HCV infection (OR = 2.90, 95% CI 2.07–4.08). Conclusions This study suggests that both HBV and HCV infections are risk factors for BTCs, particularly ICC, highlighting the necessity of cancer screening for BTCs in patients with either HBV or HCV infection.
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, Infectious and parasitic diseases
Tsheten Tsheten, Phurpa Tenzin, Archie C. A. Clements
et al.
Abstract Bhutan has reported a total of 2596 COVID-19 cases and three deaths as of September 15, 2021. With support from India, the United States, Denmark, the People’s Republic of China, Croatia and other countries, Bhutan was able to conduct two rounds of nationwide vaccination campaign. While many countries struggle to overcome vaccine refusal or hesitancy due to complacency, a lack of trust, inconvenience and fear, escalated in some countries by anti-vaccine groups, Bhutan managed to inoculate more than 95% of its eligible populations in two rounds of vaccination campaign. Enabling factors of this successful vaccination campaign were strong national leadership, a well-coordinated national preparedness plan, and high acceptability of vaccine due to effective mass communication and social engagement led by religious figures, volunteers and local leaders. In this short report, we described the national strategic plan and enabling factors that led to the success of this historical vaccination campaign.
Infectious and parasitic diseases, Public aspects of medicine
Abstract This research documents for the first time the detailed histological description of severe bone inflammation and the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied parasitical microorganisms inside the vascular canals of a non-avian dinosaur. The results bring new insights into the fields of parasitology, pathology, and histology in the fossil record. A senile titanosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Southeast Brazil presented acute osteomyelitis, identified by the presence of a highly reactive periosteum with a filigree pattern, and localized dome-like cortical tissue inflammation connecting the former to the medulla. Furthermore, tens of parasites were identified throughout the specimen's vascular canals. Novel histological insights resulted from the developmental description of an aggressive case of osteomyelitis. The lesions were either caused or facilitated by the parasitic infestation. This may be the earliest occurrence of infectious bone disease associated with parasites, adding new information to the complex biogeographic and evolutionary history of parasitic ailments.
Infectious disease outbreaks emerged across the globe during the recent 2015-2016 El Niño event, re-igniting research interest in how climate events influence disease dynamics. While the relationship between long-term warming and the transmission of disease-causing parasites has received substantial attention, we do not yet know how pulse heat events - common phenomena in a warming world - will alter parasite transmission. The effects of pulse warming on ecological and evolutionary processes are complex and context dependent, motivating research to understand how climate oscillations drive host health and disease. Here, we develop a framework for evaluating and predicting the effects of pulse warming on parasitic infection. Specifically, we synthesize how pulse heat stress affects hosts, parasites, and the ecological interactions between them.
Herman J. Gibb, A. Barchowsky, D. Bellinger
et al.
The impact of foodborne metals on the burden of disease has been largely overlooked, in comparison to the attention on acute diseases associated with infectious foodborne agents. Four articles in this special section describe in detail the burden of disease from foodborne lead, methylmercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Ingested lead and methylmercury are causally associated with lifelong intellectual disability. Long term ingestion of arsenic is causally associated with an increased risk of cancer. Long term ingestion of cadmium is causally associated with an increased risk of late stage chronic kidney disease. This article presents an overview of the burden of disease from these four foodborne metals and discusses them in the context of the World Health Organization's initiative to estimate the global burden of foodborne disease. The results indicate that in 2015, ingestion of arsenic, methylmercury, lead, and cadmium resulted in more than 1 million illnesses, over 56,000 deaths, and more than 9 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide. The greatest impact on DALYs was in the Western Pacific B subregion. All of the metals were found to have high DALYs per case in comparison with other foodborne disease agents, including infectious and parasitic agents. In addition, lead, arsenic, and methylmercury were found to have high DALYs per 100,000 population in comparison to other foodborne disease agents.
CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated protein9) may be viewed as an adaptive bacterial immune system. When a virus infects a bacterium, a fragment of the virus genome is inserted into the CRISPR sequence of the bacterial genome as a memory. When the bacterium becomes infected again with the same virus, an RNA molecule that is a transcript of the memory sequence, directs Cas9, an endonuclease, to the complementary region of the virus genome, and Cas9 disables the virus by a double‐strand break. In recent years, studies have shown that by designing synthetic RNA molecules and delivering them along with Cas9 into eukaryotic cells, different regions of the cell's genome can be targeted and manipulated. These findings have drawn much attention to this new technology and it has been shown that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing can be used to treat some human diseases. These include infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. In this review article, in addition to a brief overview of the biology of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we collected the most recent findings on the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for better investigation of the pathogenesis and treatment of viral infections (human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis virus infections, and onco‐virus infections), non‐viral infections (parasitic, fungal, and bacterial infections), and autoimmune diseases.
Abstract Infectious diseases are a major challenge for the poultry industry that causes widespread production losses. Thus, management and control of poultry health and diseases are essential for the viability of the industry. Toll-like receptors are best characterized as membrane-bound receptors that perform a central role in immune homeostasis and disease resistance by recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In response to pathogen recognition, TLRs initiate both innate and adaptive immune responses which may help to develop immunomodulatory therapeutics for TLR associated diseases. Vaccination produces specific immunity in the animal’s body towards pathogens. However, due to certain disadvantages of vaccines, (inactivation of attenuated pathogens into the virulent strains and weak immunogenicity of inactivated vaccines) there is a crucial need to develop the safe and effective therapeutic intervention. TLR ligands have been classified as a potential adjuvant against the infectious diseases in farm animals. TLR adjuvants induce both specific and nonspecific immune responses in chickens to combat several bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases. Therefore, the aim of this review was to explore the chicken TLR4 and their role in immune responses and disease resistance to develop disease resistance poultry breeds in future.