Human Parasitoses Research Articles

What happens when the insecticide does not kill? A review of sublethal toxicology and insecticide resistance in triatomines.

Chagas disease is considered one of the most important human parasitosis in the United States. This disease is mainly transmitted by insects of the subfamily Triatominae. The chemical vector control is the main tool for reducing the incidence of the disease. However, the presence of triatomines after pyrethroids spraying has been reported in some regions, as in the case of Triatoma infestans in Argentina and Bolivia. The presence of insects can be explained by the colonization from neighbouring areas, the reduction of insecticide dose to sublethal levels due to environmental factors, and/or by the evolution of insecticide resistance. In the last two scenarios, a proportion of the insects is not killed by insecticide and gives rise to residual populations. This article focuses on the toxicological processes associated with these scenarios in triatomines. Sublethal doses may have different effects on insect biology, that is, sublethal effects, which may contribute to the control. In addition, for insect disease vectors, sublethal doses could have negative effects on disease transmission. The study of sublethal effects in triatomines has focused primarily on the sequence of symptoms associated with nervous intoxication. However, the effects of sublethal doses on excretion, reproduction and morphology have also been studied. Rhodnius prolixus and T. infestans and pyrethroids insecticides were the triatomine species and insecticides, respectively, mainly studied. Insecticide resistance is an evolutionary phenomenon in which the insecticide acts as a selective force, concentrating on the insect population's pre-existing traits that confer resistance. This leads to a reduction in the susceptibility to the insecticide, which was previously effective in controlling this species. The evolution of resistance in triatomines received little attention before the 2000s, but after the detection of the first focus of resistance associated with chemical control failures in T. infestans from Argentina in 2002, the study of resistance increased remarkably. A significant number of works have studied the geographical distribution, the resistance mechanisms, the biological modifications associated with resistance, the environmental influences and the genetic of T. infestans resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. Currently, studies of insecticide resistance are gradually being extended to other areas and other species. The aim of this article was to review the knowledge on both phenomena (sublethal effects and insecticide resistance) in triatomines. For a better understanding of this article, some concepts and processes related to insect-insecticide interactions, individual and population toxicology and evolutionary biology are briefly reviewed. Finally, possible future lines of research in triatomine toxicology are discussed.

Enterobius vermicularis Infection in a Child Population with Evidence of Vulvovaginitis and Bacterial Coinfection in Girls in Oaxaca, México

Infection by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis (Enterobiasis) is the most common helminth parasitosis in humans. It is closely related to poverty, and a higher prevalence is observed in children, in those who can cause important complications. Due to this, we evaluated the prevalence of Enterobiasis in children from a marginalized community in southeastern Mexico. Additionally, we analyzed possible cases of ectopic infection in girls and the presence of coinfections with other pathogens. Of 904 children, we found a prevalence of 21%, being higher in girls than in boys. Additionally, we determined the presence of E. vermicularis in the vagina of 11 girls who had mild lesions and coinfections with bacteria. Our findings highlight the importance of developing prevention and surveillance programs in areas of extreme poverty.

Plasmodium vivax transcriptomics: What is new?

Malaria is the leading human parasitosis and is transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquitoes infected with parasites of the genus Plasmodium spp. Among the seven species that cause malaria in humans, Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent species in Latin America. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of reports of clinical complications caused by P. vivax infections, which were previously neglected and underestimated. P. vivax biology remains with large gaps. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technology has ensured a breakthrough in species knowledge. Coupled with this, the deposition of the P. vivax Sal-1 reference genome allowed an increase in transcriptomics projects by accessing messenger RNA. Thus, the regulation of differential gene expression according to the parasite life stage was verified, and several expressed genes were linked to different biological functions. Today, with the progress associated with RNA sequencing technologies, it is possible to detect nuances and obtain robust results. Discoveries provided by transcriptomic studies allow us to understand topics such as RNA expression and regulation and proteins and metabolic pathways involved during different stages of the parasite life cycle. The information obtained enables a better comprehension of immune system evasion mechanisms; invasion and adhesion strategies used by the parasite; as well as new vaccine targets, potential molecular markers, and others therapeutic targets. In this review, we provide new insights into P. vivax biology by summarizing recent findings in transcriptomic studies.

Niclosamide Attenuates Inflammation-Associated Profibrotic Responses in Human Subepithelial Lung Myofibroblasts.

Niclosamide is a commonly used helminthicidic drug for the treatment of human parasitosis by helminths. Recently, efforts have been focusing on repurposing this drug for the treatment of other diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Subepithelial lung myofibroblasts (SELMs) isolated from tissue biopsies of patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer were stimulated with TNF-α (50 ng/mL), IL-1α (5 ng/mL), added alone or in combination, and TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL). After treatment with niclosamide at 30 nM and 100 nM concentrations, expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, and fibronectin was studied by total RNA isolation and qRT-PCR and protein collagen secretion with the use of Sircol collagen assay. The migration of SELMs was assessed by a wound-healing assay. Niclosamide had no effect on baseline SELM fibrotic factor expression. When stimulated with TGF-β1, IL-1α, and/or TNF-α, SELM expression of collagen type I, type III, and fibronectin were upregulated, as was the secretion of total collagen in the culture medium. Treatment with niclosamide attenuated the effects of cytokine stimulation leading to a notable decrease in the mRNA expression of collagen type I, type III, and fibronectin in a concentration-dependent manner. SELM collagen secretion was also reduced by niclosamide at 100 nM concentration when examined at the protein level. Migration of both TGF-β1 stimulated and unstimulated SELMs was also inhibited by niclosamide. In this study, we highlight the anti-fibrotic properties of niclosamide on SELMs under stimulation with pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus proposing this compound as a possible new therapeutic agent against lung fibrosis.

Detection of Human Paragonimiasis by ELISA Using Recombinant Paragonimus westermani Cysteine Protease 7.

Paragonimiasis is an important but neglected foodborne trematodiasis caused by Paragonimus mexicanus in Costa Rica. Immunological techniques for diagnosing this parasitosis in humans do not exist in Central America. The objective of the present study was to use recombinant Paragonimus westermani cysteine protease 7 to standardize an ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Paragonimus spp. Human sera positive for P. westermani, P. mexicanus, or Paragonimus spp., human sera infected with other helminths, as well as sera of healthy humans without parasitic infections, were analyzed. The sensitivity of the ELISA was 92.9%, and the specificity was 91.9%. This report is the first to describe the development of an ELISA for the diagnosis of Paragonimus spp. in Costa Rica and Central America. Using this ELISA in the health system of Costa Rica is recommended to detect infections.

Effect of disinfectants on viability of Trichuris skrjabini eggs

The nematodoses are considered the most numerous group of cosmopolitan diseases among animal and human parasitoses. The representatives of the genus Trichuris attract special attention as pathogens of nematodoses. Their high fecundity, resistance to the influence of environmental factors and the ability to disperse create a serious ecological hazard and the risk of new outbreaks of infestation. The aim of the research was to establish the ovicidal efficiency of modern disinfectants on the embryogenesis of eggs of Trichuris skrjabini nematodes isolated from sheep. In laboratory conditions, two preparations were tested, DZPT-2 (mixture of glutaraldehyde, sodium dodecyl sulfate, essential oil) and Dixclor (mixture of sodium bisulfate, sodium chlorite, sodium percarbonate) at different concentrations and times of exposure. We established that DZPT-2 disinfectant showed a high level of ovicidal efficiency (97.5–100%) against T. skrjabini eggs at 4.5% concentration during exposure for 6–12 h and 5.0% concentration during exposure for 3–12 h. Dixclor showed a high level of ovicidal efficiency (100%) against Trichuris eggs at a concentration of 0.24% for exposures of 12 and 24 hours. Decreasing the concentration of disinfectants reduced the level of their ovicidal efficiency and led to the development of a greater number of viable eggs of T. skrjabini. Degenerative changes in the test cultures of T. skrjabini eggs caused by the tested disinfectants were characterized by the appearance and accumulation of air bubbles under the egg shell, the cessation of embryonic development at the bean-like embryo stage, loosening and resorption of the embryo inside the eggs, thinning and destruction of their shell, deformation of the eggs, and swelling of the egg plugs. Such destructive changes in eggs in experimental test cultures were also confirmed by the indicators of their morphometric parameters. Under the influence of DZPT-2 and Dixclor on the 54th day of cultivation, the length of the eggs was lower by 3.9%, and their width was greater by 4.8–5.1% compared to similar indicators in the control test culture. The obtained results allow one to recommend the tested disinfectants in defined and effective concentrations and exposures for effective control and prevention of trichurosis on livestock farms.

Nematode Parasites of the European Pilchard, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792): A Genuine Human Hazard?

Simple SummaryThe European pilchard is one of the most frequently consumed fish species in Mediterranean countries, especially in Italy and Spain, and has been reported as the cause of at least eight human anisakidosis cases in Spain since 1991, the parasitic disease caused by the ingestion of fish or cephalopods infested by the larval stage of anisakid nematodes. With the aim to shed light on the potential human parasitosis risk posed by these nematode larvae, we helminthologically analyzed a total of 350 sardines (European pilchard) captured in the Atlantic Ocean (175 sardines) and the Mediterranean Sea (175 specimens), acquired in various Spanish nationwide supermarket chains. The statistical analysis of some helminth parameters revealed a higher presence of nematodes belonging to the genus Hysterothylacium (frequency of parasitation of 24.29%; total mean parasite burden of 2.36), usually considered non-parasitic for humans (only three cases reported worldwide), when compared to nematodes of the genus Anisakis (5.71%; 0.16). The human anisakidosis risk after the consumption of raw or undercooked sardines and the role of Hysterothylacium, the most frequent nematode, is discussed, providing information to consumers. To avoid human infection by anisakid larval nematodes, the established preventive measures are confirmed and new ones are proposed.The European pilchard is one of the most frequently consumed fish species in Mediterranean countries, especially in Italy and Spain, and has been reported as the cause of at least eight human anisakidosis cases in Spain. With the aim to shed light on the potential human parasitosis risk posed by nematode larvae belonging to families Anisakidae or Raphidascarididae, a total of 350 sardines captured in the Atlantic Ocean (175 specimens) and the Mediterranean Sea (175 specimens), acquired in various Spanish nationwide supermarket chains, were helminthologically analyzed. The statistical analysis of some helminth parameters revealed a higher presence of nematodes belonging to the genus Hysterothylacium (prevalence 24.29%; mean abundance of 2.36), usually considered non-parasitic for humans (only three cases reported worldwide), when compared to nematodes of the genus Anisakis (5.71%; 0.16). The human anisakidosis risk after the consumption of raw or undercooked sardines and the role of Hysterothylacium, the most frequent nematode, is discussed, providing information to consumers. To avoid human infection by anisakid larval nematodes, the established preventive measures are confirmed and new ones are proposed, such as the consumption of sardines preferably caught in the Mediterranean and of small-sized specimens available, and the immediate evisceration after fishing.

Anisakid Nematodes and Potential Risk of Human Anisakiasis through the Consumption of Hake, Merluccius spp., Sold Fresh in Spanish Supermarkets

Nematode parasite species belonging to the Anisakis simplex complex are the most important cause of human anisakiasis through the consumption of (mainly) undercooked, previously not frozen, or conveniently treated fish. In Spain, the consumption of hake has been recognized as an important source of this parasitosis. With the aim of shedding light on the risk factors that can influence the potential risk of human anisakiasis in Spain through the consumption of fresh hake sold by nationwide supermarket chains, a total of 536 small hake specimens belonging to the species Merluccius bilinearis caught off the Northeast American coasts and Merluccius merluccius caught in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean waters was analysed. Anisakids morphologically identified as Anisakis type I were found as the most prevalent and the most abundant species and were considered the main potential cause of human anisakiasis. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors concerning the hake, such as its origin and season of capture, its size, as well as the days passed between its capture and consumption, should be taken into account to avoid this human parasitosis. It is essential that consumers have access to fish label information which should include, as regulated by the European Commission, traceability data.

Molecular Epidemiology, Species Distribution, and Zoonotic Importance of the Neglected Meat-Borne Pathogen Sarcocystis spp. in Cattle (Bos taurus): A Global Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Sarcocystis species are diverse apicomplexan parasites, though only two zoonotic species (S. hominis and S. heydorni) circulate between cattle and humans. Due to the importance of cattle in the human food chain and to prevent the consequences of parasitosis in humans, the first global systematic review and meta-analysis on molecular epidemiology, species distribution, and zoonotic significance of Sarcocystis infection in cattle was performed. For this aim, four international English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) were systematically searched till 20th September 2021, and random-effect models were drawn to calculate total estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Finally, 44 papers from 21 countries were qualified for this review which examined 8526 cattle regarding Sarcocystis infection, rendering a total prevalence of 62.7% (95% CI 53-71.5%). Globally, 12 Sarcocystis spp. have been reported from cattle, including S. cruzi, S. hominis, S. hirsuta, S. rommeli, S. heydorni, S. bovifelis, S. bovini, S. sinensis, S. gigantea, S. fusiformis, S. hjorti and S. tenella. Among them, S. cruzi (37 studies), S. hominis (22 studies) and S. hirsuta (19 studies) were the 3 most common species, with 76.4% (95% CI 64.8-85%), 30.2% (95% CI 19.3-44%) and 8.7% (95% CI 3.8-18.6%), respectively. However, molecular identification was not performed in 48.4% (95% CI 27.3-70.1%) of the positive samples. Despite the zoonotic significance of Sarcocystis spp., particularly S. hominis, the epidemiology and distribution of Sarcocystis infection in cattle remains unclear and demands more extensive researches around the world.

Parasitological, serological and molecular diagnosis of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Northeastern Brazil

Dirofilaria immitis is a zoonotic filarid that mainly affects the domestic dog, causing a generally fatal chronic disease, known as heart worm disease. In addition to dogs, the parasite can affect wild canids, cats, and humans. Due to its importance to One Health, detection of parasitism by D. immitis in dogs can help the adoption of control measures that aim to reduce the occurrence of parasitosis in animals and humans. The detection of D. immitis is based on the use of parasitological, serological, and molecular methods, which vary in sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate and compare the efficiency and performance of parasitological, serological, and molecular tests in the detection of D. immitis in dogs in Northeastern Brazil. Whole blood and serum from 140 dogs from the municipality of Sousa were used, varying between males and females; aged one to 17 years; pure and mixed breeds; domiciled and stray. Three microscopic parasitological techniques (MPT) were used: capillary blood smear (CBS), peripheral (PBS) and modified Knott test (MK) associated with the morphometric diagnosis of the microfilariae. For the detection of D. immitis antigens, a rapid immunochromatographic test (RIT) (ALERE Dirofilariose AG Teste kit®, Seogu-dong, Korea) was used, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a molecular method. To evaluate the tests, PCR was considered the gold standard, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) values were calculated. To verify the agreement of the tests, the Kappa test was performed (p ≤ 0.05). From the 140 analyzed samples, 33.6% (48/140) presented microfilariae, antigen and/or parasitic DNA. 23.6% (33/140) were positive in the CBS; 25.7% (36/140) in the PBS; 29.3% (41/140) in the MK; 30% (42/140) in the RIT and 28.6% (40/140) in the PCR. All methods showed almost perfect agreement with PCR, high sensitivity (0.8–0.95), specificity (0.94–0.99), and values established with VPP (0.8571–0.9722) and VPN (0.9519–0.9797). The CBS and PBS showed less sensitivity and greater specificity. MK presented the highest sensitivity and RIT was the choice for hidden infections. Considering the occurrence of D. immitis in dogs in a non-coastal region of Northeastern Brazil, an epidemiological approach is recommended to identify risk factors for this zoonotic parasitosis.

A machine learning approach for modelling the occurrence of Galba truncatula as the major intermediate host for Fasciola hepatica in Switzerland

Fasciolosis caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica is an important parasitosis in both livestock and humans across the globe. Chronic infections in cattle are associated with considerable economic losses. As a prerequisite for an effective control and prevention of fasciolosis in cattle fine-scale predictive models on farm-level are needed. Since disease transmission will only occur where the mollusc intermediate host is present, the objective of our research was to develop a regression model that allows to predict the local presence or absence of Galba truncatula as principal intermediate host for Fasciola hepatica in Switzerland. By implementing generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) a total amount of 70 variables were analysed for their potential influence on the likelihood πi of finding Galba truncatula at a certain site. Important site-specific features could be considered by selecting suitable modelling procedures. The statistical software R was used to conduct regression analysis, performing the grplasso and the glmmLasso method. The selection of parameters was based on 10-fold cross validation and the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). This yielded a total number of 19 potential predictor variables for the grplasso and 13 variables for the glmmLasso model, which also included random effects. Nine variables appeared to be relevant predictors for the occurrence of Galba truncatula in both models. These included reed/humid area, spring water, water bodies within a 100 m radius, and trees/bushes as powerful positive predictors. High soil depth, temperatures frequently exceeding 30 °C in the year preceding the search for snails and temperatures below 0 °C especially in the second year before were identified to exert an adverse effect on the occurrence of Galba truncatula. Temperatures measured near ground level proved to be more powerful predictors than macroclimatic parameters. Precipitation values seemed to be of minor impact in the given setting. Both regression models may be convenient for a fine-scale prediction of the occurrence of Galba truncatula, and thus provide useful approaches for the development of future spatial transmission models, mapping the risk of fasciolosis in Switzerland on farm-level.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ПОДХОДЫ К ПРЕПОДАВАНИЮ ЭПИДЕМИОЛОГИИ В ВЫСШИХ УЧЕБНЫХ ЗАВЕДЕНИЯХ

The use of modern therapeutic agents for the treatment of intestinal parasitoses makes it possible to successfully deworm them. It should be borne in mind that these therapeutic agents do not give guaranteed results after applying only a single course of therapy. After a single use of the course of therapy, the effectiveness in most cases is only 90%, and with repeated courses of therapy a complete cure for helminthiasis is achieved. The effectiveness of deworming is taken into account according to two criteria: a radical (or complete) cure and a decrease in the intensity of the lesion. If it is impossible to prevent repeated cases of transmission of helminthiases in endemic foci of invasion, questions of complete eradication from parasitoses are not considered. In such cases, individual control tactics are developed for this outbreak, with the identification of groups and risk factors, the presence of those affected with a high level of invasion. Key words: parasitic diseases, human intestinal parasitosis, helminthic infections, malaria

PARAZİTAR XƏSTƏLİKLƏRİN MÜALİCƏSİNİN QİYMƏTLƏNDİRMƏ MEYARLARI

The use of modern therapeutic agents for the treatment of intestinal parasitoses makes it possible to successfully deworm them. It should be borne in mind that these therapeutic agents do not give guaranteed results after applying only a single course of therapy. After a single use of the course of therapy, the effecttiveness in most cases is only 90%, and with repeated courses of therapy a complete cure for helminthiasis is achieved. The effectiveness of deworming is taken into account according to two criteria: a radical (or complete) cure and a decrease in the intensity of the lesion. If it is impossible to prevent repeated cases of transmission of helminthiases in endemic foci of invasion, questions of complete eradication from parasitoses are not considered. In such cases, individual control tactics are developed for this outbreak, with the identification of groups and risk factors, the presence of those affected with a high level of invasion. Key words: parasitic diseases, human intestinal parasitosis, helminthic infections, malaria

Toxocara: Seroprevalence in Mexico.

In Mexico, toxocariasis, like some other parasitosis in humans, is not a disease of conventional surveillance or immediate notification. Seroprevalence studies are scarce, six dealing with paediatric populations and eight dealing with adults; the reports were only from four states in Mexico. There were 1596 children, and the seroprevalence was 13.8%. In the case of adults, there were 1827 subjects, and seroprevalence was 4.7%. There is a significant positive association between seroprevalence and the paediatric population P<0.0001 (OR, 3.285; 95% CI, 2.541-4.279). It is advisable to perform competitive ELISAs and add another diagnostic test, such as Western blot or the detection of circulating antigens to reduce diagnostic uncertainty. This neglected parasitosis can be confused with retinoblastoma. Therefore, there is a risk of ocular enucleation. It is necessary to sensitise the authorities of the Ministry of Health and decision-makers, to provide economic support for epidemiological surveillance of this zoonotic parasite.

Male-to-Female Transmission of Toxoplasmosis Between Sexual Partners

Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread human parasitoses in the developed countries. Toxoplasma gondii has been found in the ejaculate of various animals, including human. Sexual transmission of this zoonosis has been confirmed in several animal species but not in human. Nevertheless, a large part of infections in mothers of children with congenital toxoplasmosis cannot be explained by contact with any currently known risk factor, while high prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been observed in the fathers of children with this diagnosis. This indirect evidence supports the hypothesis of sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis in humans. Methods: We compared the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in couples and analysed various risk factors for toxoplasmosis including the infection status of sexual partner. By comparing the risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in men and women, we tested the hypothesis of man-to-woman sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis. Findings The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in women with infected male partners (25·6%; n=156) was higher than the prevalence in women with uninfected male partners (18·2%; n=477; p=0·023). Partner's infection therefore seems to be a risk factor for infection in women (n=593; odd ratio=1·602; p=0·022) but not in men (n=573; odds ratio=1·064; p=0·816). Interpretation: Our results support the hypothesis of sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis from men to women. The risk may seem relatively low, but transmission can occur during unprotected sexual intercourse, which may be the time of conception. Due to the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis, even a lower risk of infection than that observed in our study can represent a serious public health problem. Funding Statement: Charles University Grant Agency (number 104218), Czech Science Foundation Grant (number 18-13692S), Charles University Research Centre program (number 204056) and RVO-VFN64165 from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Blood samples for serological testing for toxoplasmosis were taken during a routine examination. This research has been repeatedly approved by Ethics Committee of General University Hospital in Prague (No. 384/16; 92/17) and by Institutional review board of Faculty of Science, Charles University (No. 2015/29).

Serological and Molecular Investigation on Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Wild Birds.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate apicomplexan zoonotic parasite that infects humans and other animals and is responsible for toxoplasmosis. This parasite causes one of the most common parasitic infections in humans worldwide. Toxoplasmosis meets the requirements for a One Health Disease due to its ability to affect the health of human beings as well as domestic and free ranging animals. Integrating human, domestic animal, and wildlife data could better assess the risk and devise methods of control. A first step of such an approach would be the knowledge of the prevalence of parasitosis in humans and animals in selected areas. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of Toxoplasma infection in 216 free ranging birds belonging to different genera/species by serology and molecular techniques. Twenty-five out of 216 animals (11.6%) were positive to the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) with antibody titers ranging from 1/20 to 1/320, and 19 of them (8.8%) also showed a positive PCR for Toxoplasma DNA. The results confirmed the widespread occurrence of Toxoplasma infection in wild birds and serological data were corroborated by molecular results in birds that also had low antibody titers. The knowledge of the wide occurrence of the parasite in game and wild birds should enhance the accurate estimation of the risks in handling, managing, and eating these species with regard to domestic carnivores as well as the impact of viscera and offal in the environment.

DNA Barcoding as a Diagnostic Tool of a Rare Human Parasitosis: The First Case of Lagochilascaris minor in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Recently, DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) has become a widespread tool to identify animals. Its use with parasites of humans has been limited with some groups of nematodes where the amplification of this gene has been difficult. In this study, we present the first COI barcode sequence of a rare parasite from tropical regions, Lagochilascaris minor, which parasitized a human host from Quintana Roo, southern Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Destruction of the mastoid apophysis in the lateral sinus and cerebellar involvement were observed at the site of infection. After a radical mastoidectomy and a treatment with 200 mg oral albendazole for 63 days, the patient completely recovered. Lagochilascaris minor was identified based on the ratio between length of spicules and ejaculatory duct, shape of eggs, and host, as well as comparison with its congeners. The mode of infection is unknown, although it could be after direct exposure to eggs or consumption of uncooked wild meat. Morphology of adults is demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy, and high-quality sequences of COI barcode are presented from amplifications using semi-degenerate primers designed for micro-crustaceans. DNA barcoding proved to be a reliable identification method for L. minor. A comparison of the sequences for this species with 81 ascaridoids obtained from the Barcode of Life Database places it in a unique clade most closely related to Baylisascaris procyonis. Future diagnosis of larval and adult stages of L. minor using DNA barcoding will allow the recognition of its infection parameters, transmission, and precise epidemiology. Reports of lagochilascarosis in the Yucatán Peninsula have been occurred over the last decade, suggesting it is an emerging zoonotic disease in the region.

Detection of immune complexes and evaluation of alcoholic individuals' serological profile in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis

Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitosis that is considered a public health problem. Early diagnosis of this infection is extremely important in immunocompromised patients (i.e. subjects with alcoholism). This study aimed to evaluate anti-Strongyloides immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA), assess levels of circulating immune complexes (IC) and determine IgG avidity in serum samples from alcoholic and nonalcoholic individuals. A total of 140 blood samples were collected from male individuals (70 alcoholic and 70 nonalcoholic subjects). Serum was obtained and analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG, IgA, IC detection and avidity determination. Anti-Strongyloides IgG was detected in 55.7% of alcoholic subjects and 32.8% nonalcoholics, while IC levels showed frequencies of 38.6% and 17.1% in these groups, respectively. Anti-Strongyloides IgA was lower among alcoholics (4.3%) than nonalcoholics (34.3%). Spearman's correlation coefficient reported a positive correlation between IgG, IC and IgA in alcoholic individuals and no correlation in nonalcoholics. The median avidity index was higher in alcoholics (83.8%) than nonalcoholic subjects (73.2%). In conclusion, this study shows that alcoholic subjects produced specific antibodies against S. stercoralis regardless of the possible immunosuppression caused by chronic alcoholism. Considering that alcoholics are more susceptible to the severe forms of strongyloidiasis, the implementation of immunological methods as a complementary approach to parasitological diagnostics (i.e. detection of IgG, IC and antibody avidity) appears to be an alternative method for early diagnosis in these individuals.

First Report of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Tuberculosis Patients in China.

In recent years, coinfection of tuberculosis (TB) and parasitosis in humans is an emerging problem in coendemic areas, which has been increasingly highlighted in developing countries. However, there is limited information about the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in TB patients. Therefore, through a case-control study, 924 TB patients hospitalized for diacrisis or treatment in northeastern and eastern China, and 924 control subjects from the general population of the same region matched with gender, age, and residence were examined for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii and associated sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics in a population of TB patients. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii in TB patients (122/924, 13.2%) was significantly higher than control subjects (90/924, 9.7%) (p = 0.019), and 26 (2.8%) TB patients and 19 (2.1%) controls were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies (p = 0.291), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii infection was associated with keeping cats at home, presence of stray cats, and consumption of raw/undercooked meat. The present study first revealed the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in TB patients in China. Moreover, parasitological surveys should be regularly carried out among TB patients, aiming to prevent the possibility of severe toxoplasmosis.

Survey and analysis of epidemic status of principal human parasitosis in ecological region of Huaiyang hills of Henan Province in 2015

To understand the epidemic status of principal human parasitosis in the ecological region of Huaiyang hills of Henan Province. According to the scheme of The 3rd National Survey of Principal Human Parasites made by National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, the survey was performed based on the ecological regions. The stratified cluster sampling was made combined with the economic and geographical conditions. The infections of intestinal helminths and protozoans in permanent residents were respectively detected by Kato-Kats technique and iodine solution. Trichuris trichiura infection was detected by the cellophane swab method in children aged 3 to 6 years. Totally 6 710 residents in 26 survey spots from 9 counties were detected, in which 528 children aged 3 to 6 years were detected for T. trichiura infection. Eleven kinds of parasites were found in this survey, including 5 species of helminthes and 6 species of protozoans. The infection rates of overall parasites, helminthes and protozoans were respectively 1.65%, 1.07% and 0.61%. The infection rate of T. trichiura in the children aged 3 to 6 years was 3.79%. Only 0.10 percent of the infections were co-infection, and all were infected by 2 kinds of parasites. The principal parasites in this district were Ascaris lumbricoides (0.31%), Blastocystis hominis (0.28%) and hookworm (0.27%). The T. trichiura infection rate among children was 3.79% by the cellophane swab method. The infections of protozoans were found in all age groups. In the group aged 9 years and below, the maximum kinds of parasites were found. The infection rates of principal human parasites in Huaiyang hilly ecological region of Henan have decreased sharply, but more efforts still should be paid on the prevention and control of parasitosis in children.