Severe Parasitic Disease Research Articles

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 – 93.7%) and identified VL as the top diagnosis in 50% of the cases (95% CI: 30.3 – 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.

Challenges and pitfalls in managing lumbosacral hydatid disease: Lessons learned from clinical practice

ObjectiveLumbosacral hydatid disease (LHD), a rare skeletal parasitic disease that involves the lumbosacral region. In this study, we summarized the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with LHD to provide insights into managing this rare disease. MethodsBetween 2000 and 2023, 16 patients diagnosed with LHD were retrospectively analyzed. Each patient's medical records and follow-up details, were carefully assessed. The average follow-up period was 11.25 ± 6.41 years, providing valuable insights into treatment durability and effectiveness. ResultsThe diagnosis was confirmed via imaging, serological tests, and pathological examination. The clinical symptoms included lumbago with lower limb numbness (25 %) and urinary and fecal incontinence (25 %). All patients underwent surgery, with an average of 2.6 surgeries per patient. Thirteen (81.25 %) patients experienced recurrence postoperatively. ConclusionLHD is a severe and complex skeletal parasitic disease with significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Effective management requires a comprehensive strategy involving surgery and additional therapies.

A case-control study on risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis in West Pokot County, Kenya.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. VL is endemic in West Pokot County, Kenya, where effective strategies to interrupt transmission are impeded by the limited understanding of VL risk factors. Therefore, this case-control study aimed to explore environmental, behavioural and household determinants of VL in West Pokot. From November 2022 to January 2023, a structured questionnaire was administered to 36 symptomatic primary VL cases attending Kacheliba Sub-County Hospital in West Pokot and to 50 healthy controls from local villages. The VL status of all participants was confirmed using an rK39 rapid diagnostic test. Associations between questioned determinants and VL were investigated by means of age-corrected univariate logistic regression analysis. Significant associations were found between VL and housing characteristics, such as window presence and floor type. VL cases more frequently reported the presence of cattle, dogs and sheep in their house yards. VL was also associated with cutting down trees in the house yard and house proximity to several Acacia tree species. Furthermore, outdoor activities, including travelling outside the residence for more than 2 weeks, activities near termite mounds, and forest activities during the rainy season, increased the risk of VL. This work reports a number of previously undescribed risk factors for VL in the understudied West Pokot focus. The results suggest VL transmission occurs both peri-domestically at night and outdoors during the day, particularly when sandfly resting sites are disturbed. Our findings warrant further research into sandfly ecology and potential zoonotic parasite reservoirs in West Pokot.

A CT-based radiomics model for predicting lymph node metastasis in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis patients to support lymph node dissection

BackgroundHepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe zoonotic parasitic disease, and accurate preoperative prediction of lymph node (LN) metastasis in AE patients is crucial for disease management, but it remains an unresolved challenge. The aim of this study was to establish a radiomics model for the preoperative prediction of LN metastasis in hepatic AE patients.MethodsA total of 100 hepatic AE patients who underwent hepatectomy and hepatoduodenal ligament LN dissection at Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital between January 2016 and August 2023 were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at an 8:2 ratio. Radiomic features were extracted from three-dimensional images of the hepatoduodenal ligament LNs delineated on arterial phase computed tomography (CT) scans of hepatic AE patients. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was applied for data dimensionality reduction and feature selection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to develop a prediction model, and the predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsA total of 7 radiomics features associated with LN status were selected using LASSO regression. The classification performances of the training set and validation set were consistent, with area under the operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.928 and 0.890, respectively. The model also demonstrated good stability in subsequent validation.ConclusionIn this study, we established and evaluated a radiomics-based prediction model for LN metastasis in patients with hepatic AE using CT imaging. Our findings may provide a valuable reference for clinicians to determine the occurrence of LN metastasis in hepatic AE patients preoperatively, and help guide the implementation of individualized surgical plans to improve patient prognosis.

Detection of Duffy blood group genotypes and submicroscopic Plasmodium infections using molecular diagnostic assays in febrile malaria patients

BackgroundMalaria remains a severe parasitic disease, posing a significant threat to public health and hindering economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia, a malaria endemic country, is facing a resurgence of the disease with a steadily rising incidence. Conventional diagnostic methods, such as microscopy, have become less effective due to low parasite density, particularly among Duffy-negative human populations in Africa. To develop comprehensive control strategies, it is crucial to generate data on the distribution and clinical occurrence of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections in regions where the disease is prevalent. This study assessed Plasmodium infections and Duffy antigen genotypes in febrile patients in Ethiopia.MethodsThree hundred febrile patients visiting four health facilities in Jimma town of southwestern Ethiopia were randomly selected during the malaria transmission season (Apr–Oct). Sociodemographic information was collected, and microscopic examination was performed for all study participants. Plasmodium species and parasitaemia as well as the Duffy genotype were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for all samples. Data were analysed using Fisher’s exact test and kappa statistics.ResultsThe Plasmodium infection rate by qPCR was 16% (48/300) among febrile patients, of which 19 (39.6%) were P. vivax, 25 (52.1%) were P. falciparum, and 4 (8.3%) were mixed (P. vivax and P. falciparum) infections. Among the 48 qPCR-positive samples, 39 (13%) were negative by microscopy. The results of bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that agriculture-related occupation, relapse and recurrence were significantly associated with Plasmodium infection (P < 0.001). Of the 300 febrile patients, 85 (28.3%) were Duffy negative, of whom two had P. vivax, six had P. falciparum, and one had mixed infections. Except for one patient with P. falciparum infection, Plasmodium infections in Duffy-negative individuals were all submicroscopic with low parasitaemia.ConclusionsThe present study revealed a high prevalence of submicroscopic malaria infections. Plasmodium vivax infections in Duffy-negative individuals were not detected due to low parasitaemia. In this study, an improved molecular diagnostic tool was used to detect and characterize Plasmodium infections, with the goal of quantifying P. vivax infection in Duffy-negative individuals. Advanced molecular diagnostic techniques, such as multiplex real-time PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and CRISPR-based diagnostic methods. These techniques offer increased sensitivity, specificity, and the ability to detect low-parasite-density infections compared to the employed methodologies.

Uterine hydatidosis: casuistry is possible

Introduction. Hydatidosis is a severe parasitic disease caused by tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus widely spread in some endemic areas all over the world that primarily targets liver, lung, bones, muscles well as pelvis in casuistic cases. Due to the lack of pathognomonic signs as well as low prevalence rate of hydatid cysts in such anatomic sites, a differential diagnosis for relevant gynecological pathologies may be substantially complicated. Compared with common gynecological disease such as uterine fibroids, ovarian cyst and malignancies uterine hydatidosis may be identified only in 0.16 % cases.Aim: to present a clinical case of uterine hydatid cyst in order to optimize algorithms for differential diagnosis of primary pelvic echinococcosis and gynecological pathology, which is necessary for successfully conducted timely surgical treatment.Clinical case. In 2023, patient K. complained of dysuric phenomena and a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area. Based on the anamnesis, clinical picture, laboratory and instrumental research methods, it was decided to perform surgical treatment. The patient underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy and removal of ¾ hydatid cyst. The obtained material was used for histological examination to verify the diagnosis.Results. Differential diagnosis of uterine echinococcosis is most often carried out with cystic or dysembryogenetic tumors, purulent or tuberculous abscesses, ovarian cysts, ovarian tumors, and uterine fibroids. Features of the MR picture, such as a thick compacted wall, the lack of internal septa, parietal and papillary outgrowths, as well as a solid component, allowed to suspect parasitic genesis of the neoplasm.Conclusion. While treating patients with cystic neoplasms of the pelvic area referred from endemic areas, echinococcosis should be included in the list of differential diagnostic searches.

Prevalence of Human Malaria Parasite among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Eldin Specialist Hospital Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Malaria infection is a severe parasitic infectious disease transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The disease presents with severe consequences in pregnant women and children &lt;5 years, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the burden of the disease is highest. Malaria in pregnancy may present with severe symptoms such as miscarriages, premature delivery, low-birth-weight neonates, and neonatal death. This study therefore determined the prevalence of malaria infection among pregnant women in Jos Metropolis. Capillary blood samples were collected from 200 symptomatic pregnant women attending Eldin Specialist Hospital, in Jos, and thin and thick blood Giemsa-stained films were prepared and examined for the presence of malaria parasites. Our findings revealed that 70(35%) of the 200 pregnant women sampled were infected. Based on gravidity, incidence of malaria infection was highest in the primigravidae 45 (41.9%) as compared to multigravidae 25 (27.8%) although decreasing with gestational age, as subjects in their first trimester were more infected 44 (44.0%) with the least being those in their third trimester14 (21.5%). Two peaks of infection were encountered in respect to age; 46.2% in subjects aged 20-24 years and 42.9% in subjects aged 30-39 years with the least infection recorded in subjects aged &gt; 39 years, 17.9%. Malaria incidence is decreasing in the country due to scale up intervention and prevention measures, however, malaria still remains a major public health problem among pregnant women and deliberate efforts need to be put in place to forestall the negative impact of this disease.

Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors, and Economic Loss of Ovine Hemonchosis at Jimma Town Municipal Abattoir, Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Hemonchosis is considered one of the most severe gastrointestinal parasitic diseases in small ruminants due to the blood feeding habits of the parasites, which results in production loss and death of the animals. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to March 2023 at the Jimma town municipal abattoir with the objectives of estimating the occurrence of ovine hemonchosis, investigating potential associated risk factors, and assessing economic loss due to the disease. A total of 374 animals were chosen by systematic random sampling over the study period, and prevalence was estimated based on coprological and postmortem examination for the presence or absence of the parasite according to standard procedures. Accordingly, among the examined sheep, 32.62% and 53.2% were positive for Haemonchus contortus by fecal and postmortem examination, respectively. When the two tests were compared using the latter as the gold standard, the results showed a moderate degree of agreement (kappa statistic = 0.597 ). The prevalence of H. contortus was found to be statistically significant ( p &lt; 0.05 ) with respect to agroecology and season. The highest prevalence of H. contortus was observed during the semidry season (65.62%) and began to decline gradually from the middle of the semidry season. The lowest prevalence was recorded during the dry season (41.52%). The present study did not find a statistically significant difference in prevalence across different age and sex groups ( p &gt; 0.05 ). The annual financial loss due to abomasum rejection and carcass reduction associated with hemonchosis at the abattoir was estimated to be 358,591.58 Ethiopian birr. It was concluded that hemonchosis was prevalent in the study area, resulting in a significant loss and dictating applicable control and prevention approaches for hemonchosis.

Myth or truth: investigation of the jumping ability of Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera: Tungidae).

Female sand fleas (Tunga penetrans Linnaeus, 1758, Siphonaptera: Tungidae) cause a severe parasitic skin disease known as tungiasis. T. penetrans is a small flea, measuring less than 1 mm in length. The females of this species burrow into the skin of human and animal hosts and mostly affect the feet. This has led to the anecdotal assumption that T. penetrans, unlike its relatives in the Siphonaptera family, would have a limited jumping ability potentially not reaching higher body parts. However, there is no data supporting this. This study evaluated the jumping capabilities of T. penetrans for height and distance using sticky tapes. The vertical jump of the female T. penetrans ranged from 4.5 to 100 mm with a mean of 40 mm whereas the vertical jump of the male T. penetrans ranged from 1.2 to 138 mm with a mean of 46 mm. The horizontal jump of the female T. penetrans ranged from 18 to 138 mm with a mean of 64 mm and that of the male ranged from 9 to 251 mm with a mean of 80 mm. Based on the literature, fleas of various species have been described as jumping vertically 50-100 times their size and horizontally 5-100 times their size. In this respect, sand fleas appear to have equal expert jumping abilities to their relatives. Their aggregation on people's feet is not likely a result of their poor jumping ability but might be an adaptation to the host's behavior which would require further investigations.

Real-time impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cutaneous leishmaniasis case finding and strategic planning, preventive interventions, control and epidemiology in a region with a high burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis and COVID-19: A cross-sectional descriptive study based on registry data in Ilam-Iran.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a severe parasitic disease affecting people, mostly in underdeveloped nations. As a zoonotic infection yearly incidence of CL depends on several parameters such as demographic, epidemiological, and environmental factors as well as prevention and control measures. The sudden outbreak of pandemics such as SARS-Corona-Virus-2 pandemic, can probably affect the incidence or reporting of other diseases, especially infectious diseases, in various ways such as pressure on health systems, providing sanitary services and its components, lockdowns and changes in people's living habits. This study aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 impact on the incidence and other epidemiological aspects as well as control measures of CL in Ilam Province-Iran. Required data was extracted from the CL registration system in Ilam from 2014 to 2021 to demonstrate the trend of CL incidence before and after COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our results, a declining pattern of CL incidence was observed, accompanied by the advent and intensification of the viral pandemic in Iran and Ilam province. Although, this decreasing pattern was not integral in all areas, and even increase in CL detection was emphasized in some regions. It may be inferred that the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt treatment programs of CL cases, rodent nest destruction, and fighting vector insects.

Advances in new target molecules against schistosomiasis: A comprehensive discussion of physiological structure and nutrient intake.

Schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease, is primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, or Schistosoma haematobium. Currently, praziquantel is the only recommended drug for human schistosome infection. However, the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms and concerns about the emergence of drug resistance are driving forces behind the research for an alternative medication. Schistosomes are obligatory parasites that survive on nutrients obtained from their host. The ability of nutrient uptake depends on their physiological structure. In short, the formation and maintenance of the structure and nutrient supply are mutually reinforcing and interdependent. In this review, we focus on the structural features of the tegument, esophagus, and intestine of schistosomes and their roles in nutrient acquisition. Moreover, we introduce the significance and modes of glucose, lipids, proteins, and amino acids intake in schistosomes. We linked the schistosome structure and nutrient supply, introduced the currently emerging targets, and analyzed the current bottlenecks in the research and development of drugs and vaccines, in the hope of providing new strategies for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Antitrypanosomal Activities of Extract and Fractions of Terminalia catappa.

Chagas disease is a severe infectious and parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and considered a public health problem. Chemotherapeutics are still the main means of control and treatment of the disease, however with some limitations. As an alternative treatment, plants have been pointed out due to their proven pharmacological properties. Many studies carried out with Terminalia catappa have shown several biological activities, but its effect against T. cruzi is still unknown. The objective of this work is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of extracts and fractions obtained from T. catappa on the parasite T. cruzi, in addition to analyzing its antioxidant activity. T. catappa ethyl acetate fraction were produced and submitted the chemical characterization by Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). From all T. catappa extracts and fractions evaluated, the ethyl acetate and the aqueous fraction displayed the best antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method (IC50 of 7.77 ± 1.61 and 5.26 ± 1.26 µg/mL respectively), and by ferric ion reducing (FRAP) method (687.61 ± 0.26 and 1009.32 ± 0.13 µM of Trolox equivalent/mg extract, respectively). The ethyl acetate fraction showed remarkable T. cruzi inhibitory activity with IC50 of 8.86 ± 1.13, 24.91 ± 1.15 and 85.01 ± 1.21 µg/mL against epimastigotes, trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, respectively, and showed no cytotoxicity for Vero cells (CC50 > 1000 µg/mL). The treatment of epimastigotes with the ethyl acetate fraction led to drastic ultrastructural changes such as the loss of cytoplasm organelles, cell disorganization, nucleus damage and the loss of integrity of the parasite. This effect could be due to secondary compounds present in this extract, such as luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, ellagic acid and derivatives. The ethyl acetate fraction obtained from T. catappa leaves can be an effective alternative in the treatment and control of Chagas disease, and material for further investigations.

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases: State of the puzzle.

The constant progress of genomics and the establishment of new functional tests have paved the way for identifying monogenic defects conferring a selective predisposition to infections by certain microbes as a new type of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD) is the most characterized of these IEIs, with 36 different disorders found in 20 distinct genes (IFNGR1, IFNGR2, IFNG, IL12RB1, IL12RB2, IL23R, IL12B, ISG15, USP18, ZNFX1, TBX21, STAT1, TYK2, IRF8, IRF1, CYBB, JAK1, RORC, NEMO, and SPPL2A) over the last 20 years. MSMD confers a selective susceptibility to infections with weakly virulent mycobacteria, including the M. bovis Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccines and various environmental mycobacteria in patients, primarily children, without classical immune defects. These patients may also present severe forms of tuberculosis, and about half of them might develop non-typhoidal salmonellosis. In some cases, patients also suffer from chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), while in others, patients also present severe viral, parasitic, fungal, and/or bacterial diseases. Despite this clinical and genetic heterogeneity, almost all genetic etiologies of MSMD alter the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)- mediated immunity by impairing or abolishing IFN-γ production or the response to this cytokine. It was proven that the human IFN-γ level is a quantitative trait that defines the outcome of mycobacterial infection. The study of these monogenic defects contributes to understanding the molecular mechanism of mycobacterial diseases in humans and to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to improve care and prognosis. For example, MSMD patients with impaired production of IFN-γ may benefit from injections of human recombinant IFN-γ, while for patients with abolished response to this cytokine, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and promising gene therapy are the only current therapeutic options. These discoveries also bridge the gap between simple Mendelian inheritance and complex human genetics.

Cystic echinococcosis in Iceland: a brief history and genetic analysis of a 46-year-old Echinococcus isolate collected prior to the eradication of this zoonotic disease.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is considered the most severe parasitic disease that ever affected the human population in Iceland. Before the start of eradication campaign in the 1860s, Iceland was a country with very high prevalence of human CE, with approximately every fifth person infected. Eradication of CE from Iceland by 1979 was a huge success story and served as a leading example for other countries on how to combat such a severe One Health problem. However, there is no genetic information on Echinococcus parasites before eradication. Here, we reveal the genetic identity for one of the last Echinococcus isolates in Iceland, obtained from a sheep 46 years ago (1977). We sequenced a large portion of the mitochondrial genome (8141 bp) and identified the isolate as Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1. As G1 is known to be highly infective genotype to humans, it may partly explain why such a large proportion of human population in Iceland was infected at a time . The study demonstrates that decades-old samples hold significant potential to uncover genetic identities of parasites in the past.

Differential Gene Expression Profiling in Alveolar Echinococcosis Identifies Potential Biomarkers Associated With Angiogenesis.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe chronic parasitic disease that exhibits a tumor-like growth, with the potential for invasion and distant metastasis; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this condition remains unclear. Transcriptome analyses were performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in samples from patients with AE with invasion and distant metastasis. The results were further verified by immunohistochemistry. A total of 1796 DEGs were identified, including 1742 upregulated and 54 downregulated DEGs. A subsequent functional analysis showed that the significant DEGs were involved in the angiogenesis process. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the reliability of the transcriptomic data. These results suggest that angiogenesis is a possible mechanism underlying the tumor-like biological behavior observed during E multilocularis infection. Genes related to this process may play important roles in AE invasion and distant metastasis.

2023 update on alveolar echinococcosis

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare but severe parasitic disease and is now in Europe the parasitic infection associated with the most morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence is increasing in Switzerland in both urban and rural areas. Echinococcosis is a differential diagnosis that should be considered when facing a cystic hepatic lesion. Moreover, this parasitic infection is increasing amongst immunocompromised patients, making the diagnosis more complex, because of atypic lesions and a more rapid evolution. At the current time, several treatment options, both surgical and medical, can offer patients a good prognosis and maintain a good quality of life.

Northern piroplasmosis of domestic reindeer in Southern Yakutia

In South Yakutia, in the Aldansky district, at the end of July, more than 50 deer fell to the reindeer herd No. 7 of OAO KMNS "Khatystyr". Earlier in Central Yakutia, in 2008, an outbreak of pyroplasmosis was recorded for the first time in domestic reindeer of the farm of JSC NAOK "Taba" at the Tomtor site of the Gorny district and the YaGSHA Tabsylyn educational and production farm at the Kangkeme site of the Yakutsk city district. There was a mass death of the main deer population in the "Kangkeme" section up to 90% and "Tomtor" up to 30%. During laboratory studies, a parasitic disease, pyroplasmosis, was registered. Pyroplasmosis is one of the most severe and acute parasitic diseases of animals. Especially in the abnormal summer heat, blood parasites multiply very quickly, piroplasmids destroy red blood cells in the body of deer, the process of oxidation and intoxication occurs, bilirubin is formed from the released hemoglobin by complex transformations, 2-3 days after infection, in the absence of medical care, a lethal outcome is observed. Carriers of parasites can be ticks (Ixodidea, Ixodes ricinus) and other blood-sucking. Blood parasitic diseases (hemosporidiosis) of animals in Yakutia have not been previously recorded, a case of infection of domestic reindeer in 2008 in Central Yakutia is known. Isolated cases of tick attacks on people have been recorded in the Aldan, Neryungrinsky, Olekminsky and Suntarsky districts. A case of tick attack, infection and disease with tick-borne borreliosis of one person was registered. In the warm season, a distinctive feature of the temperature regime in most of the territory of Yakutia is a rapid increase in average daily temperatures in spring, and the maximum summer temperature can reach +38 ° C. At this time, there is a massive flight of blood-sucking insects and an attack of ticks on animals and people on the territory of Yakutia.

Ultrasonic Diagnostics at the Stages of Liver Echinococcois Treatment

Cystic echinococcosis is a chronically severe parasitic disease of humans and animals caused by parasitism of the larval stage of Echinococcus unicameral.Ultrasound (ultrasound) being the most widely used option of visual diagnostics is the leading method of radiological diagnosis of echinococcosis of the liver and other organs. The technique is generally available and allows diagnosing echinococcosis at a stage when parasitic cysts are still small in size, starting from 1.5-2 cm. However, with the high accuracy and specificity of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of echinococcosis cysts, there are certain disadvantages of the approach.Due to constant study and, accordingly, changes in knowledge about the course of the disease, methods for its diagnosis and treatment, there is no unified and stable ultrasound classification of liver echinococcosis. The paper analyzes the criteria that justify various classifications of echinococcus, substantiates forming trends. The standardized ultrasound classification of hydatid echinococcosis of the liver, which was adopted by the World Health Organization in 2003 and revised in 2010, is discussed.The potential and advantages of dynamic ultrasound monitoring of echinococcal cysts and postoperative characteristics of the residual cavity after echinococcectomy are demonstrated.

Altiratinib blocks Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum development by selectively targeting a spliceosome kinase.

The Apicomplexa comprise a large phylum of single-celled, obligate intracellular protozoa that include Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium, and Cryptosporidium spp., which infect humans and animals and cause severe parasitic diseases. Available therapeutics against these diseases are limited by suboptimal efficacy and frequent side effects, as well as the emergence and spread of resistance. We use a drug repurposing strategy and identify altiratinib, a compound originally developed to treat glioblastoma, as a promising drug candidate with broad spectrum activity against apicomplexans. Altiratinib is parasiticidal and blocks the development of intracellular zoites in the nanomolar range and with a high selectivity index when used against T. gondii. We have identified TgPRP4K of T. gondii as the primary target of altiratinib using genetic target deconvolution, which highlighted key residues within the kinase catalytic site that conferred drug resistance when mutated. We have further elucidated the molecular basis of the inhibitory mechanism and species selectivity of altiratinib for TgPRP4K and for its Plasmodium falciparum counterpart, PfCLK3. Our data identified structural features critical for binding of the other PfCLK3 inhibitor, TCMDC-135051. Consistent with the splicing control activity of this kinase family, we have shown that altiratinib can cause global disruption of splicing, primarily through intron retention in both T. gondii and P. falciparum. Thus, our data establish parasitic PRP4K/CLK3 as a potential pan-apicomplexan target whose repertoire of inhibitors can be expanded by the addition of altiratinib.

High variability in the number of E. multilocularis eggs in cat feces collected in the field.

Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis that is considered as the most severe parasitic disease in Europe. The contribution of cat to environmental contamination by E. multilocularis is generally considered as extremely low based on results of experimental infections and worm burden estimations from natural infections. However, the recent collection of numerous cat feces from kitchen gardens in high endemic areas and the detection of E. multilocularis DNA in a significant number of these feces raise the question of the risk of human transmission from cats. This study aimed to provide a quantitative estimation of E. multilocularis eggs in feces from naturally infected cats. A field sampling conducted in 192 kitchen gardens during a joint study led to the collection and analysis of 597 cat feces, among them 7 (1.2%) yielded positive results for E. multilocularis real-time PCR. The entire pellets obtained after homogenization, filtration and centrifugation of a 5g-sample for each of these 7 feces were examined under a stereoscopic microscope. After assessing their number, 20 taeniid eggs were individually isolated and specifically identified by real-time PCR. Morphologically mature E. multilocularis eggs were identified in 4 samples and the counting of 4 to 43 E. multilocularis eggs per gram in these samples, i.e. 62 to 2331 eggs per feces when the total mass of the feces is considered. The number of eggs counted in 2 feces suggests a biotic potential of some naturally infected cats that largely exceed the previous experimental estimations.