Diet composition plays a large role in regulating gut health and enteric infection. In particular, synthetic "Western-style" diets may predispose to disease, while whole-grain diets containing high levels of crude fiber are thought to promote gut health. Here, we show that, in contrast to this paradigm, mice fed with unrefined chow are significantly more susceptible to infection with , a caecum-dwelling nematode, than mice fed with refined, semi-synthetic diets (SSDs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist
December 2022
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, is a potentially life-threatening parasitic zoonosis infecting 6-7 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. Due to the limited numbers of drugs available against this neglected disease and their frequent adverse effects, novel anti-chagasic agents are urgently needed. Cichorium intybus L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreasing resistance towards anthelmintic drugs has necessitated the search for alternative treatments for the control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites. Animals fed on chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), a temperate (pasture) crop, have reduced parasite burdens, hence making C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChicory (Cichorium intybus) is a bioactive forage rich in sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) with reported in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity in livestock. However, the on-farm adoption of chicory as an anthelmintic crop is limited and may be facilitated by using standardised industrial chicory material. Chicory root pulp is a by-product obtained from industrial chicory roots after inulin extraction and can potentially retain SLs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCryptosporidium spp. are responsible for severe public health problems and livestock production losses. Treatment options are limited to only one drug available for human and bovine cryptosporidiosis, respectively, and both drugs exhibit only partial efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreasing drug resistance in gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of livestock and concerns about chemical residues in animal products and the environment are driving the development of alternative control strategies that are less reliant on the use of synthetic drugs. An increasingly investigated approach is the use of bioactive forages with antiparasitic properties as part of the animal's diet (nutraceuticals) or as potential sources of novel, natural parasiticides. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a multi-purpose crop and one of the most promising bioactive forages in temperate regions, and numerous in vivo trials have explored its potential against parasitic nematodes in livestock.
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