Presence of Intestinal Parasites in Patients with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Masaya (Nicaragua).

Aims: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Masaya (Nicaragua) to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasite (IP) infections in patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and to determine the associations between the types of NCDs and patients' epidemiological characteristics of infection.

Methods: A total of 157 preserved faecal samples were examined (direct wet mount, formalin/ethyl acetate concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique). Microscopically positive faecal sample identification was completed by conducting a molecular study.

High intestinal parasite infection detected in children from Región Autónoma Atlántico Norte (R.A.A.N.) of Nicaragua.

There is a lack of epidemiological information concerning intestinal parasitic infections, and especially in soil-transmitted helminths, occurring in some departments of Nicaragua. Up to now, this is the first study involving two nearby areas (Puerto Cabezas and Siuna municipalities) of the Región Autónoma Atlántico Norte (R.A.

Anemia and undernutrition in intestinally parasitized schoolchildren from Gakenke district, Northern Province of Rwanda.

Background: Rwanda is a sub-Saharan country, where intestinal parasite infections, anemia and undernutrition coexist. The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between intestinal parasite infections and undernutrition/anemia to clarify the priorities of intervention in the rural area of Gakenke district in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

Materials And Methods: A total of 674 students from Nemba I School, participated in a cross-sectional study, in which their parasitological and nutritional status were analysed.

Evidence for Transmission of Taeniasis/Cysticercosis in a Rural Area of Northern Rwanda.

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by the metacestode larval stage (cysticercus) of . In humans, cysticercosis may infect the central nervous system and cause neurocysticercosis, which is responsible for over 50,000 deaths per year worldwide and is the major cause of preventable epilepsy cases, especially in low-income countries. Cysticercosis infection is endemic in many less developed countries where poor hygiene conditions and free-range pig management favor their transmission.

Reduced prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and high frequency of protozoan infections in the surrounding urban area of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Human populations living in the surrounding urban areas of large Brazilian cities have increased vulnerability to intestinal parasites. However, the epidemiological scenario of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in Curitiba, Paraná's main city, remains largely unknown. To bridge this gap of knowledge, this study aims to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and to investigate potential transmission pathways of the most prevalent species detected.

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Anemia in Schoolchildren from Corn Island Archipelago (RAAS, Nicaragua).

The prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in schoolchildren from Corn Islands (Nicaragua) were examined to detect mono- or poly-STH infected children, measuring different intensity levels, and to elucidate measurably increased odds of being anemic. A total of 341 stool samples provided by 2- to 15-year-old children were examined using a concentration technique and a Kato-Katz slide. Intensity of infection was expressed as eggs per gram (epg) of feces to classify light, moderate, or heavy intensity infection.

Intestinal symptoms and Blastocystis load in schoolchildren of Paranaguá Bay, Paraná, Brazil.

The symptomatology of Blastocystis cannot be attributed to any particular subtype, although can be related to a high Blastocystis infection load. One stool sample from each of 217 schoolchildren of Vale de Sol Paranaguá Bay (Paraná, Brazil) was collected. Three milliliters of each fixed stool sample were processed applying the formalin-ether concentration technique.

Enteroparasites in Preschool Children on the Pacific Region of Nicaragua.

The aim of this study was to determine for the first time the prevalence of enteroparasites in preschool children originating from the seven departments of the Pacific region in Nicaragua. One stool sample of each of 1,217 children, from 6 months to 5 years of age, was collected and personal data were recorded on delivery of the container. Samples fixed in 10% formalin were processed by a formol-acetate concentration and a modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique.

Association between enteric protozoan parasites and gastrointestinal illness among HIV- and tuberculosis-infected individuals in the Chowke district, southern Mozambique.

Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) infections remain major public health issues globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Impairment of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity by HIV and/or TB infections may limit the host's defences against other pathogens, including the diarrheagenic protozoan Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis, and Entamoeba histolytica.

Hookworm-like eggs in children's faecal samples from a rural area of Rwanda.

Background: Hookworm eggs identification and quantification is usually carried out by Kato-Katz method. However various structures present in the smear may be confused with eggs of such parasites.

Objective: To document the presence of structures in Kato-Katz slides that could initially be misinterpreted as hookworm eggs.

Strongyloidiasis with emphasis on human infections and its different clinical forms.

Strongyloidiasis (caused by Strongyloides stercoralis, and to a lesser extent by Strongyloides fuelleborni) is one of the most neglected tropical diseases with endemic areas and affecting more than 100 million people worldwide. Chronic infections in endemic areas can be maintained for decades through the autoinfective cycle with the L3 filariform larvae. In these endemic areas, misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment and the facilitation of the hyperinfection syndrome by immunosuppression are frequent and contribute to a high mortality rate.

Analysis of the tegument of Zygocotyle lunata (Trematoda: Paramphistomidae) adults by scanning electron microscopy.

Paramphistomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by various species of the Paramphistomidae. These species mainly affect domestic and wild ruminants; the economic impact of these diseases is often underestimated. Traditionally, the identification of paramphistomes has been difficult and has been based on morphological aspects such as the body shape, the position of the esophagus and cecae, or the tegumental papillae.

Proteomic analysis of the pinworm Syphacia muris (Nematoda: Oxyuridae), a parasite of laboratory rats.

Syphacia muris (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) is a ubiquitous nematode that commonly infects rats in the laboratory which can interfere in the development of biological assays. The somatic extract of S. muris adults collected from infected rats was investigated using a proteomic approach.

Hyperendemic human fascioliasis in Andean valleys: an altitudinal transect analysis in children of Cajamarca province, Peru.

A coprological survey including 476 2-18 year old school children from six rural localities between 2627 and 3061 m altitude was performed in Cajamarca province, Peru. Prevalences of fascioliasis ranging from 6.7 to 47.

Chapter 3. Recent advances in the biology of echinostomes.

This chapter examines the significant literature on the biology of echinostomes. The members of the family Echinostomatidae are medically and veterinary-important parasitic flatworms that invade humans, domestic animals and wildlife and also parasitize in their larval stages numerous invertebrate and cold-blooded vertebrate hosts. All echinostomes possess a complicated lifecycle expressed by: (i) alternation of seven generations known as the adult, egg, miracidium, sporocyst, redia, cercaria and metacercaria, and (ii) inclusion of three host categories known as the definitive host and first and second intermediate hosts.

Euparyphium albuferensis and Echinostoma friedi (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae): experimental cercarial transmission success in sympatric snail communities.

Euparyphium albuferensis and Echinostoma friedi cercarial infectivity to four species of sympatric snails was examined under single- or multiple-choice laboratory conditions to show the level of parasite-snail host compatibility. Radix peregra, Lymnaeafuscus, Physella acuta and Gyraulus chinensis act as second intermediate hosts of both parasite species although different cercarial transmission success (CTS) was observed. In single-host experiments, R.

Effect of Echinostoma friedi (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) experimental infection on longevity, growth and fecundity of juvenile Radix peregra (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) and Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) snails.

The effect of Echinostoma friedi experimental infection on longevity, growth and fecundity of two susceptible first intermediate host snails, Radix peregra and Biomphalaria glabrata, was studied to contrast the level of compatibility. 120 R. peregra and 150 B.

Echinostoma caproni: identification of enolase in excretory/secretory products, molecular cloning, and functional expression.

In order to investigate molecules that could be involved in host-trematode relationships, we have analysed the excretory/secretory products (ESP) of Echinostoma caproni following a proteomic approach. Actin, Gluthathione S-transferase (GST) and enolase have been identified in the ESP. Enolase, observed to be one of the most abundant proteins, was further characterized.

Immunology and pathology of intestinal trematodes in their definitive hosts.

This review examines the significant literature on the immunology and pathology of intestinal trematodes in their definitive hosts. We emphasize information on selected species in six families for which the literature on these topics is extensive. The families are Brachylaimidae, Diplostomidae, Echinostomatidae, Gymnophallidae, Heterophyidae, and Paramphistomidae.

Worm-like artifacts in exfoliative cytology.

The presence of worms in cytological smears is occasionally reported, although various other structures exist that may be confused with such parasites. We present eight worm-like artifacts observed in routine Papanicolaou smears. Recognition of these structures is important to avoid overvaluation or confusion with true worms.

Identification of proteins in excretory/secretory extracts of Echinostoma friedi (Trematoda) from chronic and acute infections.

In the present study, we describe the investigation of Echinostoma friedi excretory/secretory products using a proteomic approach combined with the use of heterologous antibodies. We have identified 18 protein spots corresponding to ten proteins, including cytoskeletal proteins like actin, tropomyosin, and paramyosin; glycolytic enzymes like enolase, glyceraldehyde 3P dehydrogenase, and aldolase; detoxifying enzymes like GSTs; and stress proteins like heat shock protein (Hsp) 70. Among these proteins, both actin and, to a lesser extent, Hsp70, exhibited differential expression patterns between chronic and acute infections in the Echinostoma-rodent model, suggesting that these proteins may play a role in the survival within the host.