Parasitic Diseases Research Articles

The association of serum level and polymorphisms of IFN-γ (rs2069705) with the susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis, a broad range of parasitic diseases, caused by Leishmania which is a flagellated intracellular protozoan parasite of the family Trypanosomatidae. The severity of leishmaniasis diseases ranges from minor cutaneous lesions to severe visceral illnesses that can be disfiguring and life-threatening. Cytokines are glycoprotein molecules produced by various cells in response to various immunological triggers. They regulate the body’s innate and adaptive immunological responses. The aim of this study was to clarify the association of serum level and polymorphisms of IFN-γ with susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The whole blood 200 samples were collected from patients and controls from Diyala Governorate/ Iraq from October 2022 to February 2023 which were used to measure IFN-γ polymorphisms using High Resolution Melting technique. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum level of IFN-γ. The findings of this investigation showed that the IFN-γ serum concentration elevated significantly in patients compared to controls (P < 0.01). Also, the study found that the highest mean level IFN-γ concentrations were found in adults aged 46–55 years old for patients compared with controls with significant differences (P < 0.01). While, no significant differences were observed in the rest age groups except children aged 5–15 years old. Additionally, significant differences between patients and controls were revealed by polymorphisms data in all genetic models for genotypes GA, AA, (GA + AA) and allele A with (P < 0.01) and OR > 1. However, the distribution of IFN-γ serum levels by SNP (rs2069705) demonstrated no differences between genotypes except GG genotype which has significant differences for patients comparing to the same genotype in controls. Taking together, the SNP for IFN-γ (rs2069705) could be a risk factor for susceptibility infection with CL. Also, considered the mutant allele A as a risk allele and genotype AA in codominant genetic model as more risk factor than the genotype GA.

An exploratory study on the potential of ChatGPT as an AI-assisted diagnostic tool for visceral leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease that poses significant diagnostic challenges due to its complex presentation and the necessity for comprehensive diagnostic methods. This exploratory study investigates the potential of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT)/GPT-4, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, in assisting the diagnostic process for VL. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT/GPT-4 in generating differential diagnosis lists for eight clinical vignette cases of VL, authored by a Brazilian infectious disease doctor. Our findings reveal that ChatGPT/GPT-4 included VL in the top five differential diagnoses in 75% of the cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.1 &amp;ndash; 93.7%) and identified VL as the top diagnosis in 50% of the cases (95% CI: 30.3 &amp;ndash; 86.5%). These results underscore the high potential of ChatGPT/GPT-4 as an AI-assisted diagnostic tool, which is capable of providing accurate differential diagnoses and assisting healthcare professionals in resource-limited settings. The study highlights the broader applicability of AI chatbots in medical diagnostics, not only for common conditions but also for specialized and less prevalent diseases like VL. By integrating AI tools into the diagnostic workflow, healthcare providers can enhance their diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, ultimately improving patient outcomes. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the utility of AI in healthcare and underscores the need for further studies to validate these findings across larger and more diverse clinical scenarios.

Optimisation of induction and purification protocols of recombinant 22.6kDa tegumental protein of Schistosoma spindale inprokaryotic vector

Schistosomosis is a prevalent zoonotic parasitic disease affecting both humans and animals on a global scale, with an estimated 165 million cattle and 200 million people impacted worldwide. Eventhough, serological methodologies designed for the identification of specific antibodies targeting parasitic antigens are esteemed for their high sensitivity, there are criticisms due to their incapacity to reliably indicate active infection, inability to correlate with the intensity of infection and lack of specificity. Enhancing the specificity of serological assays presents a significant challenge, primarily attributable to the identification and synthesis of specific antigens. In addressing these limitations, recombinant technology with specific immunogenic proteins as candidate antigens emerges as a viable alternative. In this study, induction of 22.6 kDa recombinant tegument protein of Schistosoma spindale was achieved using 0.6 mM concentration of IPTG at 37°C for four hours. Nickel chelating affinity chromatography was employed for protein purification, yielding maximum protein concentration at 75mM elution. Subsequently, the dialysis technique was employed to remove contaminants, while lyophilisation method was employed for protein concentration. The protein concentration post dialysis was measured at 0.220 mg/mL, while lyophilisation resulted in a concentration of 2mg/m Keywords: 22.6 kDa tegumental protein, Schistosoma spindale, dialysis, lyophilisation

Parasites and Microbiota: Dual Interactions and Therapeutic Perspectives

The human gut hosts a diverse and active community of bacteria that symbiotically support the physiology, metabolism, and immunity of the intestinal lining. Nevertheless, a dynamic community of parasites (helminths and protozoa) may share a habitat with gut-dwelling microbiota. Both microbiota and parasites can significantly change the physical and immunological environment of the gut, thus generating several mechanisms of interaction. Studying this field is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases. Additionally, intestinal microbiota and gut-dwelling parasites may interact with each other and with the host immunity to alleviate or exacerbate the disease. These interactions can alter the pathogenicity of both parasites and microbiota, thereby changing the infection outcomes and the overall disease profile. Parasites and microbiota interactions occur via several mechanisms, including physical alteration in both the gastrointestinal microenvironment and the adaptive and innate immune responses. By modulating the microbiota, treating parasitic infections and microbiota dysbiosis may be improved through knowing the mechanisms and consequences of the interactions between intestinal parasites and the microbiota. Thus, new biological tools of treatment including probiotics can be introduced, particularly with the emergence of drug resistance and adverse effects.

Prevalence of Passalurus ambiguus in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Karbala province, Iraq

Commercial rabbit farming is primarily focused on the production of rabbit meat, although the presence of gastrointestinal disorders can impede their productivity. Endoparasites significantly contribute to the development of several diseases in rabbits, leading to higher rates of illness and death. Passalurus ambiguus is a widely distributed nematode that commonly infects the intestines of rabbits and hares. Parasitic disease can have a substantial economic impact on the industry by reducing the commercial value of rabbit meat and skins, impeding growth and development, and leading to mortality. This study aims to examine the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic rabbits that are bred in Karbala province, Iraq. Throughout the trial, fecal samples were collected from a randomly selected group of 48 live rabbits. The feces are collected directly from the anus of each living animal. The samples were tested and the presence of eggs and nematodes was detected in the infected samples. Analysis of samples was carried out at the Parasitology Laboratory, college of Veterinary Medicine, Kerbala university, using the flotation technique. Feces from 48 rabbits (ages 1-2) years. The feces are taken out of each animal directly from the anus. Upon testing, it was found that 16 out of 48 fecal samples, accounting for a prevalence of 33.33 %, were infected with at least one nematode. Chi-square (χ2) statistics. Age and genders are not statistically significant at P values ≥ 0.05. This study identified the presence of Passalurus ambiguus in rabbits of varying ages residing in Karbala region, Iraq, including both male and female domestic rabbits. Determining the age and gender of rabbits affected by passalurosis would enable the management of the infection level in these animals. Regular use of a consistent and dependable diagnostic method is essential in industrial rabbit farms to detect and monitor gastrointestinal parasite illnesses. Gastrointestinal parasites continue to be significant health issues that lead to the mortality of rabbit litters in production. Stress and a reduction in immune response may be crucial factors driving this phenomenon.

Effects of environmental factors on host-parasite interaction patterns in backyard-tethered goats of Kerala, India

The environment is the most important stratum in the epidemiological triad of a parasitic disease and any variations in the environmental factors may decide the dynamic occurrence and existence of different lifecycle stages of these parasites. The present study investigated the correlations between key biometeorological and demographical parameters with the incidence of different gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites among goats. Four hundred and thirty-two goats were screened for parasitic infection in a yearlong survey conducted from July 2022 to June 2023 in the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, Kerala, India. The weather parameters (Tmax, Tmin, RH, THI, and bright sunshine hours), air quality parameters [AQI, PM2.5, and PM10], and demographic parameters (gender and age) were recorded along with the test positivity of different categories of gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites in goats by routine fecal sample examination and blood smear examination, respectively. The infection level was ranked based on the severity of the infection. The mean and daily variations in biometeorological parameters were calculated and the data were statistically analyzed to figure out the pertinent correlations in host-parasite-environment interaction patterns. High levels of parasitic infections with significant month-wise variations and climate-correlated peak infection patterns were noticed. The incidence of parasites was negatively correlated to all parameters except humidity, indicating more severe parasitism during monsoon months. The significant variations in the host-parasite interaction dynamics point towards the need for detailed explorations concerning the lifecycle of each specific parasite with a focus on the possible environment-favourable and resistant lifecycle stages. Future studies may be designed from a biometeorological perspective to develop a crucial understanding of host-parasite-environment interactions in goats ensuring sustainable goat farming.

Comparison of the frequency of complications resulting from open and laparoscopic surgery for hydatid cyst.

Hydatid cyst is a benign parasitic disease that is usually asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally. The gold standard for the treatment of this disease is surgery. Recently, a laparoscopic approach has been used to remove hydatid cysts. We decided to compare this new technique with an open conventional method. Patients-This retrospective analytical study was conducted on patients with hepatic hydatid cysts who underwent surgery in Kashan during 2013-2020. A total of 58 patients were included in this study, 18 of whom underwent laparoscopic surgery and 40 underwent open surgery. The comparison of the two groups was performed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. The average duration of surgery in the laparoscopic and open surgery groups was 135 and 151.6 min, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p-value = .179). There was no significant difference in terms of the need for blood transfusion, conversion of laparoscopic surgery to open surgery, anaphylactic shock, infection, and death between the two groups (p > .05). However, the laparoscopic surgery group had a significantly shorter hospital stay compared with the open surgery group (p-value < .001), and more favorite patients. Considering the lack of significant difference between the two surgical methods and the reduction in the duration of surgery by a laparoscopic approach, the reduction in hospital stay of patients, and consequently the reduction in the cost of patients, it is expected that this method is a more suitable method compared with open surgery.

Anthelmintic effectiveness of modern preparations against Heterakis gallinarum nematodes parasitizing in chickens

In poultry farming, heterakosis is one of the most widespread parasitic diseases and causes significant damage to the industry. At present, for chemoprophylaxis and treatment of poultry for this infestation, manufacturers have offered a sufficient number of preparations that have nematocide effect. At the same time, the effectiveness of anthelmintic preparations available on the domestic market has not always been studied and highlighted in scientific papers. The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of preparations with different active substances and different methods of application for spontaneous chicken heterakosis. Anthelmintics in the form of powder – Levamisole 80 (the active substance is levamisole hydrochloride) and Albendazole Ultra 10 % (the active substance is albendazole), as well as in the form of the solution and suspension with the analogous active substances – Levamisole-plus 10 % and Albendazole 10 %, were tested. A high effectiveness of Levamisole-plus 10 % for chicken heterakosis was established by the conducted studies, where on the 14th day of the experiment, the extense- and intenseeffectiveness reached 100 %. The efficacy indicators of this preparation on the 3rd day were 70 and 95.44 %, respectively, and on the 7th day they already reached 100 %. Albendazole suspension and Levamisole 80 turned out to be moderately effective. The indicators of extense- and intenseeffectiveness on the 14th day of treatment with Albendazole suspension were 80 and 95.67 %, and with Levamisole 80 – 80 and 78.78 %. During the experiment, the effectiveness of Albendazole suspension gradually increased and was 60 and 91.63 % on the 3rd day and 80 and 96.57 % on the 7th day, respectively. When applying Levamisole 80 to the diseased poultry, the indicators of extenseeffectiveness increased from the 3rd to the 7th day from 30 to 80 %, and intense-effectiveness decreased from 83.77 to 81.13 %. Albendazole Ultra10 % preparation turned out to be insufficiently effective: its indicators of extense- and intenseeffectiveness on the 14th day of the experiment made 60 and 73.93 %, respectively. During the experiment, the efficacy indicators of Albendazole Ultra 10% gradually increased from the 3rd to the 7th day – from 20 to 80 % and from 76.45 to 76.71 %. On the 14th day, the indicators of extenseeffectiveness remained at the same level, and those of intenseeffectiveness decreased. The obtained results of experimental studies allow recommend Levamisole-plus 10 % anthelmintic preparation for effective control and prevention of chicken heterakosis.

A Recent Advance in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Vaccine Development for Human Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis, which affects a large number of people worldwide, is among the most overlooked parasitic diseases. The disease is mainly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, southeast Asian countries, and South America due to the lack of adequate sanitation. The disease is mainly associated with poor hygiene, sanitation, and contaminated water, so it is also known as a disease of poverty. Three Schistosoma species (S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. haematobium) cause significant human infections. Co-infections with Schistosoma and other parasites are widely common. All these parasites may cause intestinal or urogenital schistosomiasis, where the disease may be categorized into the acute, sensitized, and chronic phases. The disease is more prevalent among school children, which may cause anemia and reduce development. Chronic infections frequently cause significant liver, intestinal, and bladder damage. Women exposed to contaminated water while performing normal duties like washing clothes might acquire urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS), which can cause tissue damage and raise the risk of blood-borne disease transmission, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the World Health Organization (WHO)-prescribed treatment for individuals who are known to be infected, but it does not prevent further re-infections with larval worms. Vaccine development and new molecular-based diagnosis techniques have promised to be a reliable approach to the diagnosis and prevention of schistosomiasis. The current review emphasizes the recent advancement in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis by molecular techniques and the treatment of schistosomiasis by combined and alternative regimes of drugs. Moreover, this review has also focused on the recent outbreak of schistosomiasis, the development of vaccines, and their clinical trials.

Socio-economic Costs of Treating Malaria Parasitic Disease in Nigeria: A Household Unit Investigation of Two Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria

Socio-economic Costs of Treating Malaria Parasitic Disease in Nigeria: A Household Unit Investigation of Two Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria

Ethnopharmacological Insights into the Use of Chenopodium ambrosioides for Cough Treatment among Togolese Traditional Healers

Togo has an ethnobotanical potential with a great diversity of medicinal plants widely used to treat human diseases. Cough associated with respiratory diseases is one of the pathologies traditionally treated with medicinal plants in Togo. Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.) is a species used in the traditional treatment of cough in Togo. The aim of this study was to document the ethnopharmacological uses of Chenopodium ambrosioides in Togolese traditional medicine for treatment of cough. An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted using the semi-structured interview method among Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) from six health districts spread across four health regions. The ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical data collected were analyzed using the User Value (UV) and Frequency of Citation (FC) of medicinal plants associated with the species. A total of 127 TMPs participated in this study and 96 (76%) of them were male and 31 (34%) were female. 73% of the informants claimed usually use Chenopodium ambrosioides in the cough treatment compared to 27% who claimed to not use it to treat cough. Chenopodium ambrosioides was used in combination with fifty-two (52) other botanical species in the treatment of cough and in the study area, Abrus precatorius Linn. (13.59%) followed by Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (11.58%), Zingiber officinale Rosc. Trans. Linn. (9.73%), Mangifera indica Linn. (6.21%), Eucalyptus citriodora Hooker (4.87%), Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. (4.36%) and Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. (4.19%) were the most popular plants used for cough treatment among the plants recorded. Sixteen (16) other pathologies including pulmonary infections are also treated by Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.). Abscesses, intestinal parasitic diseases, incurable wounds, stomach aches and headaches are the most pathologies commonly treated by this plant. The whole plant (72%) and leaves (22%) are the primary parts utilized for medicinal purposes. Decoction (77.50%) is the main preparation method, with oral (80.83%) and cutaneous (10.83%) routes being the most common modes of administration. The findings from this study provide a solid ethnopharmacological foundation for future pharmacological and toxicological investigations into Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.).

Risk factors of foodborne parasitic diseases still remain in China: a WeChat-based knowledge, attitudes, and practices study

ObjectiveWith the progress of economic globalization and food diversification, foodborne parasitic diseases pose a significant public health challenge in China. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding foodborne parasitic diseases among the Chinese population via WeChat, which is a promising tool for disease surveillance and health education.MethodsUsing a questionnaire, this cross-sectional study was conducted on September 25, 2023. Participants completed a structured questionnaire by scanning a QR code provided in a tweet from the WeChat official account of the Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Disease. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to explore potential independent determinants of adequate knowledge of foodborne parasitic diseases, and the positive attitude and good practice rates of the participants were calculated.ResultsIn total, 5,675 valid questionnaires were collected via the WeChat official account. Most participants (79.91%) fell within the age range of 20–40 years, with a higher representation of males (53.18%), and 89.80% were of Han Chinese ethnicity. It was found that 76.65% of the participants had adequate level of knowledge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals of Hui nationality (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40–0.81, p = 0.002), clinicians (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.19, p < 0.001), teachers (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34–0.69, p < 0.001), and government staff (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.30–0.53, p < 0.001) had significantly higher levels of knowledge. Among the participants, 33.9% reported consuming raw fish or drunken shrimp, 10.6% would still try to consume raw fish despite the risk of parasitic infection, and 84.1% did not use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods in their kitchens.ConclusionsAlthough majority of the Chinese public (76.65%) demonstrates adequate level of knowledge on foodborne parasitic diseases, there is a need to enhance personal hygiene practices and dietary habits, particularly the utilization of distinct cutting boards and the consumption of raw fish. A WeChat official account is an accessible tool for spreading foodborne parasitic diseases related health information to the public. WeChat-based health education should be implemented to enhance public awareness regarding the prevention and control of foodborne parasitic diseases.

Epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria after malaria elimination in Shanxi Province, 2019-2023

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases from 2019 to 2023 after the elimination of malaria in Shanxi Province, and provide reference for formulating scientific and effective malaria prevention and control strategies in Shanxi Province. Methods: The data of imported malaria cases were collected China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and National Parasitic Disease Control Information Management System in Shanxi Province, from 2019-2023. Descriptive epidemiological method and SPSS 26.0 statistical software were used for descriptive epidemiological statistical analysis. Results: A total of 51 malaria cases were reported in Shanxi Province in 2019-2023, all imported from abroad. Among them, there were 38 cases of falciparum malaria (74.51%), 6 cases of plasmodium ovale (11.77%), 5 cases of plasmodium vivax (9.80%), 1 case of plasmodium triticum malaria (1.96%), and 1 case of mixed infections (1.96%), with nodeaths; cases were predominantly males (94.12%, 48/51) and workers who went abroad for work (84.31%,43/51); the median age of onset was 37 years old; and there were imported cases every month, with no obvious peak of incidence; Taiyuan City reported the most cases, accounting for 72.55% (37/51) of the total number of cases,the source of infection of cases was mainly from Africa (96.08%), with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (16 cases), Nigeria (6 cases), Equatorial Guinea (5 cases), Mozambique (3 cases), and Republic of the Congo (3 cases) in that order; the median time between the onset of disease and first diagnosis, and the median time between first diagnosis and confirmation, were two times longer than that of first diagnosis, and the median time between first diagnosis and confirmation was two times longer than that of first diagnosis. The M(Q1, Q3) intervals from onset to first diagnosis and from first diagnosis to confirmed diagnosis were 2(0,4) days and 1(0,3) days, respectively, with statistically significant differences between different years from onset to first diagnosis (H=17.41, P=0.048), and from first diagnosis to confirmed diagnosis (H=20.82, P=0.010). A total of 101 146 blood tests for febrile patients were conducted in the province during the five years, with the minimum number of blood tests in 2020 (19 867 person-times) and the maximum number of blood tests in 2023 (20 778 person-times). Conclusions: After the elimination of malaria in Shanxi Province from 2019 to 2023, all malaria cases were imported from abroad, and it is still necessary to strengthen the surveillance of people traveling to and from malaria-endemic areas, implement the combination of medical treatment and prevention, and jointly prevent and control the occurrence of imported malaria.

Holothuria polii Extract as a Potential Anticoccidial Agent: Evidence of Its MUC2 Regulatory Impact in Murine Jejunum.

Eimeria is a parasite that causes coccidiosis in a variety of animals, leading to nutritional imbalances, issues with food digestion and absorption, low weight, and intestinal inflammation of varying degrees in its hosts. Anticoccidial medication resistance has become a significant obstacle to disease control efforts, leading to a renewed focus on discovering novel chemicals for alternative therapeutic approaches. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Holothuria polii extract (HpE) in treating eimeriosis in mice. Five groups of mice were studied, with E. papillata sporulated oocysts (1 × 103) used to infect three groups experimentally. The first group was treated with 200 mg/kg of HpE, the second group with Amprolium (120 mg/kg), and the third group was left untreated as a control. The fourth and fifth groups were uninfected, with one of them treated with 200 mg/kg of HpE and the other used as a negative control. The results revealed that HpE has 10 phytochemical compounds according to GC-MS analysis. Treatment with HpE resulted in a substantial decrease in oocyst output in feces. Also, the parasitic stages showed morphometric alterations, with reductions in the measurements compared with the infected, untreated mice. Moreover, expression of the mucin gene (MUC2) was higher in treated mice compared to infected ones, with significant increases in goblet cell numbers, which provided additional evidence for the activity of HpE as an anticoccidial product. In conclusion, there are a wide variety of natural products and many have been employed in folk medicine for treating a range of parasitic diseases.

Regulation Effect of Toxocara canis and Anthelmintics on Intestinal Microbiota Diversity and Composition in Dog

Toxocara canis is an intestinal roundworm that can cause serious zoonotic parasitic diseases. Drontal Plus® Tasty (Dog) is a kind of commercial drug used to treat T. canis infection. Febantel, Praziquantel, and Pyrantel pamoate (PP) are its main component. However, there are few studies investigating the impact of Drontal Plus® Tasty (Dog) and its primary ingredients on the intestinal microbiota of dogs. In this study, we first collected the intestinal content samples of the dogs which administrated with anthelmintics or saline by sterile catheters, then used 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology combined with a variety of bioinformatic analysis methods to analyze the effect of anthelmintics on intestinal microbiota. First, the results of the α and β diversity analysis showed that the abundance and diversity of intestinal microbiota decreased with T. canis infection, and increased after anthelmintic treatment. Then, we found the dominant species (the value of relative abundance &gt; 0.05) was both 28 on phylum and genus levels, besides the most dominant species was Bacillota on phylum level and Segatella and Clostridium_sensu_stricto were most dominant on genus level. Futher analyzing the differences in microbiotal composition on phylum level, we found that Drontal Plus® Tasty treatment could significantly increase the proportion of Bacillota, while Febantel, Praziquantel, or PP could induce the significantly changes of Bacillota and Bacteroidota. In addition, by analyzing the differences in microbiotal composition on genus level, we found that anthelmintic could significantly decreased the relative abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto and significantly increased the abundance of Segatella. However, Drontal Plus® Tasty had no regulatory effect on the abundance of Segatella. In short, these finding showed that various anthelmintics all have significant effects for changing the abundance and diversity of host intestinal microbiota.

Compared Antileishmanial Activity of Clomiphene and Tamoxifen.

Drug repositioning is an efficient strategy to search for new treatment alternatives that is especially valuable for neglected parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that have shown antileishmanial activity. Clomiphene is a SERM structurally similar to tamoxifen, whose antileishmanial potential is unknown. That is why the objective of the present work was to evaluate its antileishmanial activity in vitro and in vivo in comparison with tamoxifen. The inhibitory effect against promastigotes of L. amazonensis, L. major, and L. mexicana was evaluated for both compounds, as well as the cytotoxicity against mouse peritoneal macrophages, the growth inhibitory activity in intracellular amastigotes of L. mexicana, and the in vivo activity in mice experimentally infected with L. mexicana. Clomiphene was about twice as active as tamoxifen against both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, with IC50 values of 1.7-3.3 µM for clomiphene and 2.9-6.4 µM for tamoxifen against all three species of promastigotes and 2.8 ± 0.2 µM and 3.7 ± 0.3 µM, respectively, against L. mexicana amastigotes. Clomiphene structurally affected several parasite organelles in a concentration-dependent fashion, leading to the death of both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Interestingly, the macrophage host cell did not appear damaged by any of the clomiphene concentrations tested. With oral administration at 20 mg/kg for 14 days, both compounds showed similar effects in terms of reducing the growth of the lesions, as well as the weight of the lesions and the parasite load at the end of the follow-up period. The results showed the potential of SERMs as antileishmanial drugs and support further testing of clomiphene and other compounds of this pharmacological group.

Structure-Based Discovery of Phytocompounds from Azadirachta indica as Potential Inhibitors of Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase in Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma species such as S. haematobium, S. mansoni, and S. japonicum, poses a significant global health burden. The thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) enzyme, crucial for maintaining the parasite's redox balance and preventing oxidative stress, has been identified as a promising target for anti-schistosomal drug development. This study aims to identify potential TGR inhibitors from Azadirachta indica phytochemicals using molecular modeling approaches. We screened 60 compounds derived from A. indica bark and leaves through molecular docking to assess their binding affinity, followed by the evaluation of binding-free energies for the most promising candidates. Drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties were assessed, and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to explore the conformational stability of the protein-ligand complexes. Our findings revealed that several A. indica compounds exhibited significantly lower docking scores (up to -9.669 kcal/mol) compared to the standard drug praziquantel (-4.349 kcal/mol). Notably, Isorhamnetin, Isomargolonone, Nimbaflavone, Quercetin, and Nimbionol demonstrated strong interactions with TGR, although Isorhamnetin showed potential mutagenicity. Further binding free energy calculations and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of Isomargolonone, Nimbionol, and Quercetin as potential TGR inhibitors. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Isomargolonone, Nimbionol, and Quercetin warrant further experimental validation as promising candidates for anti-schistosomal therapy.

Percutaneous Aspiration Injection and Re-aspiration as A Minimally Invasive Treatment for Spinal Cystic Echinococcosis: A Case Report.

Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease with significant importance for public health in endemic regions. Spinal cystic echinococcosis, however, is a rare form that may lead to severe complications due to its localization. In this manuscript, we presented a 16-year-old male patient who admitted with abdominal and back edema for 2 months, evaluated with preliminary diagnoses of Pott's abscess and malignant mass, subsequently diagnosed with spinal cystic echinococcosis. It was concluded that cystic echinococcosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of large cystic masses and percutaneous aspiration, injection, reaspiration method might be a safe and effective treatment option particularly for cases of complicated spinal cystic echinococcosis.

Analysis of the species composition and infection of ticks with pathogens of Lyme disease in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan for the period 2012–2022

BACKGROUND: The role of ixodid ticks in the transmission of pathogens of a number of natural focal infections can hardly be overestimated. Analysis of the manifestations of the epizootic process is important for planning preventive and anti-epidemic measures and is an integral component of epidemiological surveillance of natural focal infections. AIM: To analyze the species composition of ticks and the infection of ticks with borreliosis pathogens in the Republic of Tatarstan for the period 2012–2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analysis of the species composition of ticks collected by the zoological group of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Tatarstan from environmental objects during the period 2012–2022 was carried out. Testing of the ticks for Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction method with hybridization-fluorescent detection. An analysis of statistical observation form No. 2 “Information on infectious and parasitic diseases” (the section “Tick bites”) for the Republic of Tatarstan from 2012 to 2022 was carried out. Statistical processing was performed using descriptive statistics methods in Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: The total number of people who applied for tick bites in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2012–2022 was 77,703, of which 59,168 (76.2%) were people over 18 years of age. During the study period, 5536 ticks were collected for research on the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan from environmental objects. The species composition of ticks was distributed as follows: Dermacentor reticulatus — 75.4%, Ixodes ricinus — 14.1%, Ixodes persulcatus — 10.5%. Infection of different types of ticks with Borrelia was not the same and was 20.4% for I. persulcatus, 14% for I. ricinus, 4.4% for D. reticulatus. In 4 regions of the republic, from ticks of the species I. ricinus pathogenic genomospecies B. miyamotoi were found (the infestation of this type of tick with B. miyamotoi was 0.4%). Indicators of morbidity of the population with ixodid tick-borne borreliosis and indicators of infection rates for ticks vary in different regions of the republic. CONCLUSIONS: The dominant species of ixodid ticks in natural epitopes of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2012–2022 were D. reticulatus (75.4% of the total number of collected ticks). For ticks of this species, the lowest level of infection with Borrelia was demonstrated (4.4% of ticks). This may be one of the factors responsible for the low, in comparison with other regions, incidence rates of tick-borreliosis in the Republic of Tatarstan. The identification of ticks of the species I. ricinus infected with B. miyamotoi confirms the need for targeted molecular genetic and serological examination for recurrent fever in patients with non-erythematous forms of febrile illness after an episode of tick bite.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Dr. Ersin Arslan Training and Research Hospital After Migration and During the Pandemic (2019-2022).

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic skin disease transmitted by the bite of sandflies. In our region, which is endemic for this disease, there has been a great migration from a much more endemic region and population movements from our area to Türkiye and abroad. Afterward, a pandemic was experienced. Due to these two extraordinary events and the possible epidemic potential in our region, it is useful to follow-up on the disease. We aimed to contribute to the evaluation of the disease in these processes by analyzing the data of our laboratory in recent years. Between January 2019 and December 2022, samples from patients who came to our laboratory with suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis were taken, stained and examined under a microscope. Patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, nationality, place of residence, lesion site and duration. Out of the 144 examined cases, 64 (44.4%) were positive for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Among these positive cases, 40 (62.5%) were women, 24 (37.5%) were men, and 54 (84.3%) belonged to the 0-9 age group. Of those who tested positive, 54 (84.3%) were Turkish citizens and 23 (35.9%) were Syrian citizens. Fifty-four (84.3%) patients had only single lesion. While the number of applications and positivity rates remained within normal levels in 2019 and 2020, a significant decrease was observed in both from 2021 and 2022. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is carried by migration, decreases in large-scale isolations such as pandemics, and its spread can be prevented with correct diagnosis and treatment. Although the number of patients may change over time and place, cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease that threatens the health of societies and should always be monitored.