DNA Multi-Marker Genotyping and CIAS Morphometric Phenotyping of -Sized Flukes from Ecuador, with an Analysis of the Absence in the New World and the Evolutionary Lymnaeid Snail Vector Filter.

Fascioliasis is a disease caused by worldwide transmitted by lymnaeid snails mainly of the / group and restricted to parts of Africa and Asia and transmitted by lymnaeids. Concern has recently risen regarding the high pathogenicity and human infection capacity of . Abnormally big-sized fasciolids were found infecting sheep in Ecuador, the only South American country where has been reported.

Impact of fascioliasis reinfection on Fasciola hepatica egg shedding: relationship with the immune-regulatory response.

Fascioliasis is a disease caused by liver flukes. In human fascioliasis hyperendemic areas, reinfection and chronicity are the norm. Control strategies in humans require the use of egg count techniques to calculate the appropriate treatment dose for colic risk prevention.

Fasciola hepatica reinfection potentiates a mixed Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg response and correlates with the clinical phenotypes of anemia.

Background: Fascioliasis is a severe zoonotic disease of worldwide extension caused by liver flukes. In human fascioliasis hyperendemic areas, reinfection and chronicity are the norm and anemia is the main sign. Herein, the profile of the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg expression levels is analyzed after reinfection, correlating them with their corresponding hematological biomarkers of morbidity.

Field evaluation of a coproantigen detection test for fascioliasis diagnosis and surveillance in human hyperendemic areas of Andean countries.

Background: Emergence of human fascioliasis prompted a worldwide control initiative including a pilot study in a few countries. Two hyperendemic areas were chosen: Huacullani, Northern Altiplano, Bolivia, representing the Altiplanic transmission pattern with high prevalences and intensities; Cajamarca valley, Peru, representing the valley pattern with high prevalences but low intensities. Coprological sample collection, transport and study procedures were analyzed to improve individual diagnosis and subsequent treatments and surveillance activities.

Assessing the validity of an ELISA test for the serological diagnosis of human fascioliasis in different epidemiological situations.

Objectives: To improve the diagnosis of human fascioliasis caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with Fasciola antigen from the adult liver fluke, for the detection of IgG against fascioliasis in human sera.

Methods: The sera of 54 fascioliasis cases, originating from three endemic areas, were used in this evaluation: (i) a hyperendemic F. hepatica area where humans usually shed a great number of parasite eggs in faeces (11 sera); (ii) an epidemic F.

Fasciola hepatica phenotypic characterization in Andean human endemic areas: valley versus altiplanic patterns analysed in liver flukes from sheep from Cajamarca and Mantaro, Peru.

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Of both species, F. hepatica is the only one described in the Americas, mainly transmitted by lymnaeid snail vectors of the Galba/Fossaria group.

Correlation between egg-shedding and uterus development in Fasciola hepatica human and animal isolates: applied implications.

The emission of Fasciola hepatica eggs in faeces is usually subject to oscillations along time in animals as well as humans. Thus, looking for alternative biological markers reflecting eggs shed per gram of faeces (epg) with lower oscillations may be useful. This study analyzes the possible relationship between liver-fluke uterus area and epg.

MM3-ELISA detection of Fasciola hepatica coproantigens in preserved human stool samples.

In this study, we evaluate the MM3-COPRO method for detection of Fasciola coproantigens in human fecal samples, and the usefulness of a new preservative/diluent, CoproGuard, developed for preservation of Fasciola coproantigens. The MM3-COPRO assay was evaluated with 213 samples from healthy patients, 30 Fasciola positive fecal samples (according to the Kato-Katz method), and 83 samples from patients with other parasitic infections. All Fasciola positive specimens were detected with the MM3-COPRO assay (100% sensitivity) and there was no cross-reactivity with other common parasites present in the clinical specimens analyzed (100% specificity).

Fluke egg characteristics for the diagnosis of human and animal fascioliasis by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica.

In trematodiases, shape and size of the fluke eggs shed with faeces are crucial diagnostic features because of their typically reduced intraspecific variability. In fascioliasis, the usual diagnosis during the biliary stage of infection is based on the classification of eggs found in stools, duodenal contents or bile. The aim of the present study is to validate the identification of Fasciola species based on the shape and size of eggs shed by humans, characterizing their morphometric traits using a computer image analysis system (CIAS).

MM3-ELISA evaluation of coproantigen release and serum antibody production in sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica.

During an experimental infection of sheep with Fasciola hepatica or F. gigantica, MM3-SERO and MM3-COPRO ELISA tests were applied to compare the kinetics of antibody production and coproantigen release between the 2nd and 32nd week post-infection (wpi). The Kato-Katz technique was used to measure the kinetics of egg shedding by both Fasciola species (eggs per gram of feces, epg).