Common Intestinal Infections Research Articles

Prevalence and determinants of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in Iraq 2022

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections are still common in developing countries including Iraq, particularly in children. They are mostly associated with unsafe, low-quality drinking water and poor personal and environmental sanitation. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 primary school students selected randomly using a stratified sampling technique. The list of all students from grades 1–6 was arranged alphabetically and served as a sampling frame. In this study, undertaken between September 2021 and March 2022 A structured questionnaire was used together with data on environmental, socio-demographic and behavioural factors. Stool specimens were collected from all study subjects and were examined for intestinal parasites using direct smear (mount examination) and Formal-ether concentration techniques. Results: Among 450 primary school children 60% (268) had intestinal parasites. Male: Female ratio is 1:1. Most infected children were from rural areas (63.1%), students whose mothers were housewives (72.4%), and about half of the parents had primary or intermediate educational levels. Enterobiusvermicularis was the most common intestinal helminth infection (27.6%), whereas Entamoebahistolytica was the most common protozoa infection (16.4%). On applying binary logistic regression analysis, rural residence of the students, not enough family income, Conclusion: low educational level of the mothers, Poor hand washing practice before eating, after playing outside and hand washing without soap and similar material, poor hygienic facilities like faulty sewage carriage system at school, sharing the same bed, mixed sources of drinking water were the sole factors significantly associated with increased odds of high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children.

Parasitic intestinal infection in students of disabilities centers in Sanaa governorate, Yemen

Background: Intestinal parasite infections remain prevalent in low-income countries, especially among children, due to poor drinking water quality and insufficient personal and environmental cleanliness. This study sought to diagnose, prevent, and manage intestinal parasites in individuals with special needs in Sanaa Governorate. Method: We collected stool samples from 232 students, aged 1 to 18, of which 143 were male and 89 were female. We collected data using a validated standard questionnaire. We processed and analyzed fecal samples using a wet mount preparation, adhering to the standing concentration technique. Results: We found an overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection of 83.6%. E. histolytica (76.7%), G. lamblia (8.6%), A. lumbricoides (0.4%), H. nana (6.5%), S. mansoni (0.4%), Ent. vermicularis (6.5%), and S. stercoralis (2.2%). Conclusions: In children, E. histolytica was the most common intestinal parasite infection. There are few methods of transmission and protection for students with special needs.

Cytotoxic effects of ivermectin on Giardia lamblia: induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite causing giardiasis, a common intestinal infection characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. Treatments employed to combat this parasitic infection have remained unchanged for the past 40 years, leading to the emergence of resistant strains and prompting the search for new therapeutic agents. This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of ivermectin (IVM) on G. lamblia trophozoites. We conducted dose-response experiments to assess IVM-induced cytotoxicity. We utilized various biochemical and ultrastructural analyses to explore the underlying mechanisms of cell death, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis markers. Our findings demonstrate that IVM induces dose-dependent cytotoxicity and triggers cell death pathways. We found that IVM treatment generates elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation, and arrests of trophozoites in the cell cycle's S phase. Additionally, ultrastructural analysis reveals morphological alterations consistent with apoptosis, such as cytoplasmic vacuolization, chromatin condensation, and tubulin distribution. The insights gained from this study may contribute to developing new therapeutic strategies against giardiasis, addressing the challenge posed by drug-resistant strains.

CURRENT STATUS OF DIAGNOSTIC INFECTIONS CAUSED BY HELICOBACTER PYLORI

The article is devoted to the review of the latest scientific research related to methods of diagnosis of infections caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Based on the review of research in the field of diagnosis of infections caused by Helicobacter pylori, modern approaches used in global medical practice were analysed. In modern times, diagnosing H. pylori is a significant problem given the variety of methods and their effectiveness, and there is no single universal approach for detecting this pathogenic bacterium. Infection caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is one of the world's most common stomach and intestinal infections. More than half of the world's population is infected with this bacterium, which often leads to severe diseases such as stomach and duodenal ulcers, as well as stomach cancer. Modern medicine develops every day, providing new methods of diagnosis and treatment. Significant scientific and technological changes are taking place in Helicobacter pylori diagnostics, which open up new perspectives and opportunities. One of the leading prospects is the search for more accurate, fast and convenient diagnostic methods that would be less invasive and more accessible to patients. The development of molecular and genetic methods, in particular polymerase chain reaction (PCR), opens up opportunities for accurate and rapid detection of H. pylori and the determination of its virulent properties. Another perspective is the development of accurate biomarkers and prognostic methods that will predict the risk of developing complications due to H. pylori infection. This will help plan and individualise treatment strategies for patients with this infection. The search for new drugs to eradicate H. pylori is also a critical prospect, especially considering the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The article compares invasive and non-invasive methods of disease research, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Therefore, leading scientists and practitioners in the field of gastroenterology are recommended to use two or more methods, in particular, to combine invasive and non-invasive approaches, to use a serological method for population screening, to control and eradicate H. pylori mainly by non-invasive methods, using PCR as the most accurate method for diagnosing H. pylori, as well as to determine the molecular and genetic characteristics of the microorganism and assess its virulence to form an idea of the further course and prognosis of the disease. The purpose of the work is to systematically review modern methods of diagnosing infections caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to evaluate their effectiveness, advantages and limitations. An overview of the state of the art in diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infections is presented, focusing on the various detection methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and their role in the course of the disease and the treatment of this infection. A variety of diagnostic methods are reviewed, including both invasive and non-invasive approaches, including endoscopy, histology, urea breath test (UBT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, next-generation sequencing (NGS), biosensors, and MALDI-TOF MS . The advantages and limitations of each of the methods, as well as their effectiveness in the diagnosis of H. pylori infections, are discussed. Studies have shown the importance of developing new approaches and their application in practice to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.

Antimicrobial Activity of Bacillus Coagulans Supernatant Against Human Enteric Pathogens

Background: Chronic bacterial diarrheas are common intestinal infections that have been treated with antibiotics for many years. However, the excessive use of antibiotics has led to the development of resistance in the bacteria that cause these infections. As a result, there has been growing interest in using probiotics with antibacterial effects and a greater ability to survive stomach acidity to help control antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Objectives: In the current study, the antimicrobial activity of Bacillus coagulans (a probiotic bacterium) against four different enteric pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, and Bacillus cereus), which play a significant role in the prevalence of bacterial diarrhea, has been investigated. Methods: The antimicrobial effect of the cell-free supernatant of Bacillus coagulans against pathogens (E. coli, S. typhi, Sh. flexneri, and B. cereus) was studied using agar well-diffusion, agar disc-diffusion, as well as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. In the MIC test, the concentrations of B. coagulans cell-free supernatant examined were 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.1 µg per mL. Each bacterial strain was tested in four replicates. Results: The antimicrobial activity of B. coagulans supernatant was not observed in either the agar well-diffusion or agar disc-diffusion results. However, MIC results showed that different concentrations of B. coagulans supernatant significantly inhibit the growth of E. coli (MIC = 25 µg/mL, P < 0.0001), S. typhi (MIC = 50 μg/mL, P < 0.0001), S. flexneri (MIC = 3.1 μg/mL, P < 0.0001), and B. cereus (MIC = 100 µg/mL, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The MBC results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of the supernatant had no bactericidal effects and did not completely prevent the growth of all four pathogens. Although the MIC results indicated the antibacterial activity of B. coagulans against all four pathogens, further studies are required to draw more accurate conclusions.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Tertiary Care Hospital

Intestinal parasitosis constitutes a serious problem of public health, especially in developing countries. Even though the population of immunocompromised individuals is growing, this is a primary cause of illness and mortality. Numerous studies have demonstrated that immunosuppressive medications, such as those used after transplantation, as well as immune suppression as a primary immunodeficiency in HIV infection, increase the possibility of infection and persistent states of carriage. People whose immune systems were weakened, like in the case of chronic internal disorders or abnormal metabolism, were thought to be more susceptible to infection. A group of metabolic non-communicable diseases known as diabetes mellitus (DM) are characterized by hyperglycemia or elevated blood sugar, which can be brought on by either inadequate secretion of insulin, insulin-resistant cells, or both. Parasitic infections in immunocompromised people are becoming more well-known as major opportunistic microorganisms that cause clinical illnesses. The goal of this research is to see how common intestinal parasite infections are in people with diabetes. The research was carried out at the Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Medical College, Bhilai, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, India. From March to August 2020, diabetic patients who visited hospitals were studied in this cross-sectional study. This study comprised 188 diabetic individuals with type I or type II diabetes who were taking anti-diabetic medication. With a little spoon and a sterile, dry, leak-proof plastic container with a tight-fitting cover that had the patient’s name and identification number on it, the feces samples were taken. The container was then quickly sent to the parasitology lab of the microbiology department for processing. Stool samples were examined under three headings: macroscopic examination, microscopic examination, and formal ether concentration procedure. A total of 188 DM patients was included with data on socio-demographic characteristics, and from each patient stool sample were collected and processed. Out of which, 27 stool samples were positive for intestinal parasites; showed a prevalence of 14.36%. Female 16 (16.49%) revealed a greater frequency than that of men 11 (12.09%). The age range of 51 to 60 years old exhibited the highest incidence 8 (29.63 %). Stool samples were positive for intestinal parasites with one suffering from a dual infection. Various parasites were detected in which Entamoeba histolytica 10 (5.32%) was most common parasite to isolate followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 9 (4.79%) and Giardia lamblia 6 (3.19%) was least isolated parasite. The most prevalent isolated parasite was Entamoeba histolytica, which was followed by Cryptosporidium parvum. Diabetic patients have an increased risk of parasitic infections, particularly when they have the opportunistic infection Entamoeba histolytica. Patients with diabetes who have been diagnosed with Cryptosporidium parvum have a weaker immune system. Therefore, for the sake of societal welfare, people with diabetes mellitus should have routine stool examination screening for parasite infection.

Rapid visual detection of Giardia duodenalis in faecal samples using an RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a system.

Giardiasis is a common intestinal infection caused by Giardia duodenalis, which is a major economic and health burden for humans and livestock. Currently, a convenient and effective detection method is urgently needed. CRISPR/Cas12a-based diagnostic methods have been widely used for nucleic acid-based detection of pathogens due to their high efficiency and sensitivity. In this study, a technique combining CRISPR/Cas12a and RPA was established that allows the detection of G. duodenalis in faecal samples by the naked eye with high sensitivity (10-1 copies/μL) and specificity (no cross-reactivity with nine common pathogens). In clinical evaluations, the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection assay detected Giardia positivity in 2% (1/50) of human faecal samples and 47% (33/70) of cattle faecal samples, respectively, which was consistent with the results of nested PCR. Our study demonstrated that the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a technique for G. duodenalis is stable, efficient, sensitive, specific and has low equipment requirements. This technique offers new opportunities for on-site detection in remote and poor areas.

Cryptosporidiosis Detection Using Immunoglobulin a Serum with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Method

Background: Cryptosporidiosis is still one of the most common intestinal protozoan infections found in developing countries, affecting children and adults. Cryptosporidium sp. infection activates the immune response by secreting high levels of specific Cryptosporidium IgA antibodies during the infection process. IgA can be examined by ELISA to establish a diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. Methods: The purpose of this study was to determine the results of Cryptosporidiosis detection with serum IgA ELISA. This study was a quantitative descriptive study with 39 samples collected from children to adults using consecutive sampling technique. Data obtained from the study results were processed by univariate analysis and presented in tabular form to see the frequency distribution. Result: The results of the study involving 39 respondents revealed that the most prevalent age groups were 6-11 years old and 36-45 years old, with the majority being female. Among the 39 samples examined using the ELISA method, the Optical Density ranged from 0.059 to 1.393. One sample (2.56%) tested positive for IgA Cryptosporidium sp., specifically from age 55 years (16.6%) and male participants (20%). Conclusion: The study concluded that the Optical Density value of the positive ELISA examination was 1.393 with one sample found positive for Cryptosporidiosis from a 55 years old male. Keywords: [Cryptosporidium sp., IgA, ELISA]

Uncovering the effects of Giardia duodenalis on the balance of DNA viruses and bacteria in children's gut microbiota

The neglected parasitosis giardiasis is one of the most common intestinal infections worldwide, affecting mainly infants and young children. Giardia duodenalis may disturb the local microbiome, leading to intestinal ecosystem disorders, and altering different processes in the host, such as the immune response. Nevertheless, the alterations promoted by G. duodenalis on the human gut microbiome have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we characterized the gut microbiota of G. duodenalis-infected children and determine the main alterations promoted by the parasite. To do so, fecal samples of 26 infected and four uninfected children aged 2 to 6 years old were processed for High Efficiency Microarray analysis, in order to describe their bacterial and viral profiles. Then, we quantified the total bacterial population by qPCR and assessed fecal calprotectin levels, which are closely related with gut inflammation. A total of 286 bacteria's species and 17 viruses’ strains were identified. Our results revealed no statistically significant differences between G. duodenalis positive and negative groups in the taxa's phyla and families. However, bacterial species diversity was increased in children infected with G. duodenalis (p < 0.05), while the total number of bacteria was decreased (p < 0.05). Considering the virome analysis, 17 different strains were identified, 88% being bacteriophages. The correlation analysis revealed an important disruption in the balance of DNA virus and bacteria within the intestinal microbiota of Giardia-positive children. Our findings constitute the first description of the gut virome of Giardia-infected children and suggest that G. duodenalis infection exerts a modulatory effect on the gut microbiome, promoting local inflammation and altering the equilibrium of the parasite-microbiota-host triad. This highlights the importance of considering polymicrobial associations and understanding the broader context of giardiasis. Overall, our study provides new insights into the complex interactions between intestinal parasites and the microbiota, which may have implications for the development of novel therapeutic interventions in the future.

Evaluation of the Performance of the Novodiag® Stool Parasites Assay for the Detection of Intestinal Protozoa and Microsporidia.

We aimed to assess the performance of the Novodiag® Stool Parasites (NSP) assay in the diagnosis of the most common intestinal protozoan and microsporidia infections. A panel of 167 selected stool samples was retrospectively analysed with the NSP assay and compared to routine microscopy and qPCR methods for the detection of pathogenic protozoa and microsporidia. Whereas specificity was high for all protozoa and microsporidia, NSP sensitivity was strongly dependent on the comparative method used as reference. When compared to microscopic methods, NSP sensitivity was high (96.7 to 100%) for Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cyclospora cayetanensis but was lower for Giardia intestinalis (85.2%) and ≤50% for Cystoisospora belli and Dientamoeba fragilis. In comparison to conventional qPCR, the NSP assay demonstrated lower sensitivity characteristics dependent on parasite loads, reaching 60 to 70% for G. intestinalis, D. fragilis, Cryptosporidium spp. and E. histolytica. Sensitivity was 100% for Enterocytozoon bieneusi, but none of the five samples containing Encephalitozoon spp. were detected. The overall performance of the NSP assay in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal protozoa and microsporidia seems to be better than or equivalent to that observed with microscopic methods but inferior to that obtainable with classical targeted qPCR.

The Study on Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths (Cestodes, Nematodes, and Trematodes) in Chickens, Dalomana District, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Introduction: Gastrointestinal tract helminthiasis of poultry is a parasitic infection of gastrointestinal parts of poultry by macroparasite which is classified as a tapeworm (cestodes), roundworm (nematodes), and flukeworm (trematodes). Cestodes and nematodes are the common intestinal helminthic infections in local chickens leading to high nutritional and economic loss to the poor farmers of rural areas. Thus, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites and identify the parasite species that infect local breed chickens in the study area.&#x0D; Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study on gastrointestinal helminths was conducted on 144 local breeds of chickens raised under a traditional management system in seven kebeles located around Dalomana town of Bale zone, Ethiopia.&#x0D; Results: Of these chickens, 131 (91%) were infected with one of the five different helminth parasites and 13 (9%) were free of helminth parasites. The results of the current study indicated that 131 (91%) and 107 (74.3%) of the examined chickens were invariably infected by diverse species of cestodes and nematodes species, respectively. The major cestode species recovered from chickens were Raillietina echinobothrida (75.5%), Raillietina tetragona (73.6%), Davainea proglottina (11.1%). The major nematode species encountered were Heterakis gallinarum (37.5%), Ascaridia galli (35.4%), Capillaria anatis (6.9%), Capillaria obsignata (5.6%), and Capillaria annulata (4.9%). Regarding the prevalence of these parasites in relation to age, sex, and kebele, no significant difference was indicated.&#x0D; Conclusion: The findings of the current study strongly suggested that helminthiasis is a very serious problem of backyard chickens in Dalomana district, Bale zone of Oromia, and appropriate control strategies need to be devised.

Personalized symbionic therapy of campylobacteriosis protracted course in children

Campylobacteriosis is one of the most common bacterial intestinal infections with high risks of severe and prolonged infection in childhood. The growing incidence of campylobacteriosis, the variety of clinical forms of the disease, the difficulties of timely diagnosis of the infection against the background of a high level of resistance of the microorganism to a number of antibacterial drugs determine the need to optimize the rational tactics of treating this infectious disease. One of the possible ways to overcome these difficulties is to further expand the use of probiotics and autoprobiotics. Aim: to reveal the features of the influence of autoprobiotic and probiotic E. faecium strains on clinical and laboratory parameters in children with non-smooth forms of campylobacteriosis .. Materials and methods: In the period from 2018 to 2020. In DNCIB FMBA, a comprehensive single-center prospective dynamic open observational study of 34 children with an uneven course of campylobacteriosis was carried out. For therapeutic purposes, patients were prescribed an autoprobiotic (group A; n = 15) or a probiotic strain E. faecium (group P; n = 19). Clinical and laboratory parameters and indicators of the intestinal microbiocenosis composition were assessed by real-time PCR. Results: Studies of the effect of two different approaches to prescribing probiotic strains of enterococcus to children with a protracted course of campylobacteriosis - a conditionally “reference” industrial strain E. faecium L3 and autoprobiotic strains with a comparable frequency (88.9% and 93.3% of cases, respectively) revealed their significant positive impact on the course of protracted forms of campylobacteriosis, which was expressed by the disappearance of abdominal pain syndrome, normalization of the frequency and consistency of stools, relief of hemocolitis in the absence of undesirable side effects. Analysis of the dynamics of coprograms before and after taking autoprobiotics and probiotic E. faecium L3 also did not reveal significant differences: there was an equivalent positive dynamics in the form of improvement in most of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the stool. The study of the composition of the intestinal microbiota showed that after the course of administration of autoprobiotic strains of E. faecium, there was a significant increase in the content of butyrate-producing indigenous representative - F. prausnitzii, which promotes the repair of the intestinal mucosa. The studies also showed that the course use of autoprobiotic strains of enterococcus contributed to a decrease in the frequency of convalescent release of campylobacter, which suggests a sanitizing effect of autoprobiotics and does not exclude a similar effect in relation to other bacterial pathogens of intestinal infections in children.

PERBANDINGAN PEMERIKSAAN TINJA METODE SEDIMENTASI DENGAN METODE NATIF DALAM MENDETEKSI SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTH

Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) is the most common intestinal parasific infection and in one of the contributors to the global disease burden. Diagnosis of Soil Transmitted Helminth desease can be done using sedimentation method and natif method. This study aims to find out the differences in sedimentation methods and natif methods in deteting Soil Transmitted Helminth Type of research conducted ind true experimental form. This research was conducted on March 27-29, 2021 at the Microbiology Laboratory of Muhammadiyah Institute of Health and Technology Palembang which numbered 35 respondents. The results obtained in this study were as many as 2 positive samples and 33 negative samples. In sample 1 there are 2 types of eggs Soil Transmitted Helminth namely eggs Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura on sedimentation method and natif method, while in sample 5 there are eggs Ascaris lumbricoides only on the natif method. The results of the research data were conduted using an alternative test Wilcoxon with a value of P = 0.317 means there is no difference that signifikan.the conclusion of this study was obtained by the examination that there is no difference in sedimentation with natiif method.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ РАЗЛИЧНЫХ СХЕМ ТЕРАПИИ КАМПИЛОБАКТЕРИОЗА У ДЕТЕЙ РАННЕГО ВОЗРАСТА

Campylobacteriosis is one of the most common bacterial intestinal infections with a high risk of severe course in childhood. The treatment of children with campylobacteriosis is complex and requires further study. Objective of the study: to study the clinical efficacy of various drug therapy regimens for campylobacteriosis and their effect on intestinal microbiocenosis in young children. Materials and methods of research: From 2018 to 2020 in the Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases of the Russian Federal Biomedical Agency, a comprehensive singlecenter prospective dynamic open observational study of 84 children aged 6 to 18 months with campylobacteriosis was carried out (41 boys, 43 girls, mean age 12,7±4,7 months). A comparison was made between patients who did not receive an antibacterial drug (n=30), received azithromycin (n=30), and received several antibacterial agents (n=24). Clinical and laboratory parameters and indices of the intestinal microbiocenosis composition were assessed by real-time PCR. Results: antibacterial drugs of the macrolide group are most effective in the etiotropic therapy of severe and moderate forms of campylobacteriosis in infants. The appointment of antibacterial drugs of the cephalosporin group for campylobacteriosis leads to a slowdown in the recovery process (an increase in the duration of diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain), accompanied by significant damage to the intestinal microbiocenosis (a decrease in the symbiotic Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp.). The combination of these factors predisposes to more frequent re-isolation of the pathogen observed in this group of patients. For children who are on mixed or artificial feeding, the inclusion of nutritional mixtures with probiotics in the complex of therapeutic measures has a pronounced therapeutic effect and can be used as one of the main means of rehabilitation of campylobacteriosis convalescents.

Вдосконалення терапії хворих на ешерихіоз дітей, інфікованих вірусом Епштейна — Барр

Актуальність. Ешерихіоз залишається однією з поширених кишкових інфекцій, особливо серед дітей раннього віку. Порушення травлення основних нутрієнтів, транзиторна ферментопатія, дисбаланс симбіотичної флори, що розвиваються при ешерихіозі, на тлі загальноінтоксикаційного синдрому і водно-електролітних порушень можуть призводити до небажаних наслідків. Одним із факторів, що впливає на перебіг ешерихіозу, може бути інфікованість дитини вірусом Епштейна — Барр (ВЕБ). Мета роботи — удосконалення терапії дітей, хворих на ешерихіоз та інфікованих ВЕБ, на різних етапах захворювання. Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 74 дитини віком 2–3 роки, які лікувалися в Обласній дитячій клінічній інфекційній лікарні м. Харкова з діагнозом «ешерихіоз середньої тяжкості». Виділено групу з 36 дітей, яким проводилася загальноприйнята терапія з раннім поступовим відновленням харчування, при цьому відповідно до існуючого протоколу відновлення якісного і кількісного складу їжі здійснювали в максимально можливо короткі терміни (перша група). Другу групу становили 38 дітей, відновлення харчування яким проводили більш поступово, із затримкою збільшення обсягу їжі на кожне годування і зменшення кратності годування на один-два дні. Дітям другої групи з перших днів лікування призначали препарати, що містять одночасно лактобактерії, екстракт розторопші і джерело вітамінів групи В (один раз на добу одночасно з прийомом їжі). Усім хворим було проведено ультразвукове дослідження органів черевної порожнини. Результати. Аналіз основних клінічних, лабораторних та інструментальних параметрів пацієнтів обох груп за час перебування в стаціонарі і протягом одного місяця після виписки виявив, що в дітей другої групи на тлі застосування раціональної дієтотерапії відзначалося скорочення тривалості дисфункції кишечника, абдомінального синдрому, метеоризму, швидше нормалізувалися показники копроцитограми і дані ехосоноскопії печінкової паренхіми. Пацієнти, які перебували на оптимальній дієті, відновлювали свою вагу за більш короткий період. Запропоновані методи удосконалення терапії дозволили запобігти загостренню ешерихіозу в дітей другої групи на етапах ранньої реконвалесценції. Висновки. Раннє виявлення інфікування ВЕБ у дітей з ешерихіозом та проведення корекції терапії хворих створюють умови для швидкого відновлення фізіологічних процесів у кишечнику і жовчовивідній системі, нормалізації травлення і всмоктування поживних речовин, загалом позитивно впливають на перебіг основного захворювання.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE WITH SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS INFECTION AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF ARU ISLANDS DISTRICT, MALUKU

ABSTRACTSoil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) infection is the most common intestinal parasite infection in Indonesia. STH infection can interfere with child development and cause cognitive impairment in severe cases. The school-age group is the most susceptible to STH infection because of direct contact with soil in the school yard. STH infection incidence can be avoided by adequate water, healthy latrines, and good hygiene and can be improved by proper interventions. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) with STH infection in Aru Islands District, Maluku. This study used a cross-sectional design and was conducted in Elementary Schools in Karangguli and Wokam villages, Aru Islands district, Maluku. One hundred and six stool samples were collected from both villages. The sociodemographic and WASH data were collected using the interview method. Stool samples were collected and examined for STH infection using a direct smear technique on the light microscope. Data statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS program using the Chi-square or Fischer’s Exact test. The examination results showed that 73 students (68.9%) were infected with STH. The bivariate analysis showed that water source (p = 0.000002), defecation place (p = 0.002), and washing hands after defecation (p = 0.048) were all significantly correlated with STH infection. This study concluded that WASH variables which were water source, defecation place, and washing hands after defecation had a significant correlation with STH infection. Keywords: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH); soil-transmitted helminths infection; elementary school students.

The features of the salmonellosis course in children

Salmonellosis is one of the most common intestinal infections with an established type of pathogen. It is caused by various subtypes of bacteria of the genus Salmonella, with domestic animals being the main source of infection. The infection can occur both through the contact with infected animals and by eating infected foods (eggs, cottage cheese, milk, sour cream, meat). Due to the immaturity of the immune system, the disease mainly affects children; more than half of the affected are preschoolers. Representatives of this age group are not yet fully aware of the need to observe the rules of personal hygiene and are inclined to taste everything; dirty hands, toys, and household items can serve as a source of infection. Newborns can become infected from adult carriers of Salmonella infection. There are frequent cases of mass infection by salmonellosis in organized children’s groups; the cause of the disease can be infected food products that have not undergone proper heat treatment, violation of sanitary and hygienic standards during the storage and preparation of products, as well as infected service personnel.

Application of a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model to Develop a Veterinary Amorphous Enrofloxacin Solid Dispersion.

Zoonotic intestinal pathogens threaten human health and cause huge economic losses in farming. Enrofloxacin (ENR) shows high antibacterial activity against common intestinal bacteria. However, its poor palatability and low aqueous solubility limit the clinical application of ENR. To obtain an ENR oral preparation with good palatability and high solubility, a granule containing an amorphous ENR solid dispersion (ENR-SD) was prepared. Meanwhile, a PBPK model of ENR in pigs was built based on the physiological parameters of pigs and the chemical-specific parameters of ENR to simulate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ENR-SD granules in the intestinal contents. According to the results of parameter sensitivity analysis (PSA) and the predicted PK parameters at different doses of the model, formulation strategies and potential dose regimens against common intestinal infections were provided. The DSC and XRD results showed that no specific interactions existed between the excipients and ENR during the compatibility tests, and ENR presented as an amorphous form in ENR-SD. Based on the similar PK performance of ENR-SD granules and the commercial ENR soluble powder suggesting continued enhancement of the solubility of ENR, a higher drug concentration in intestinal contents could not be obtained. Therefore, a 1:5 ratio of ENR and stearic acid possessing a saturated aqueous solubility of 1190 ± 7.71 µg/mL was selected. The predictive AUC24h/MIC90 ratios against Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli were 133, 266 and 8520 (>100), respectively, suggesting that satisfactory efficacy against common intestinal infections would be achieved at a dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. once daily. The PSA results indicated that the intestinal absorption rate constant (Ka) was negatively correlated with the Cmax of ENR in the intestine, suggesting that we could obtain higher intestinal Cmax using P-gp inducers to reduce Ka, thus obtaining a higher Cmax. Our studies suggested that the PBPK model is an excellent tool for formulation and dose design.

Traditional herbal medicine therapy of gallbladder ascariasis: a case report

BackgroundAscariasis is one of the common intestinal infections in developing countries, including China. Migration of Ascaris lumbricoides into the gallbladder is rare, unlike ascariasis of the bile duct and when it does occur, treatment is generally by endoscopic or surgical extraction.Case presentationA 4-year-old Uyghur boy with a history of ascariasis developed intermittent upper abdominal pain for 7 days, was being treated by a local practitioner, and when the pain worsened with yellow sclera for 3 days, he was admitted to our hospital. On physical examination, found out the patient with yellowish skin tone, pale yellow fur on tongue, mild yellow staining of the sclera and tenderness in epigastrium. Laboratory data plus liver function test showed damage of liver function. Abdominal Ultrasonography (USG) and Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed a long, linear, echogenic structure in the gallbladder neck near to the common bile duct. Once the ascariasis diagnosis was established, he was given conservative treatment of magnesium sulfate with herbal medicine. In 4 days, the patient discharged Ascaris through the stool.ConclusionsConservative treatment of magnesium sulfate with Uyghur medicine treatment according to syndrome differentiation is proven to have curative effect.

Spatial Distribution of Common Pathogenic Human Intestinal Protozoa in Iran: A Systematic Review.

Background:Pathogenic intestinal protozoa are considered as a serious public health problem in developing countries. This study aimed to elucidate the overall prevalence and spatial distribution of three common human pathogenic intestinal protozoan infections in Iran.Methods:Six English and Persian databases were explored for published papers on the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium spp. in the general population of Iran from 2000 to 2015. All eligible data were collected using a pre-designed data extraction form, and the overall prevalence was estimated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. We used ArcMap for mapping the prevalence of the studied protozoa and clustering analysis.Results:Altogether, 118 eligible papers from 24 provinces of Iran were included and analyzed. The weighted prevalence of E. histolytica/dispar, G. lamblia, and Cryptosporidium spp. infection among Iranian general population were calculated 1.3% (95% CI 1.1–1.5%), 10.6% (95% CI 9.6–11.5%) and 2% (95% CI 1.5–2.5%), respectively.Conclusion:Our findings indicated human intestinal protozoan infections caused by E. histolytica/dispar, G. lamblia, and Cryptosporidium spp. have still public health importance in some parts of Iran.