Publications by authors named "Maleewong Wanchai"

The cytokine homologs, particularly transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, is a crucial immunomodulatory molecule and involved in growth and developmental processes in several helminths. In this study, the basic properties and functions of T. spiralis TGF-β homolog 2 (TsTGH2) were characterized using bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches.

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Human strongyloidiasis is an important intestinal parasitic disease that affects public health globally and is transmitted through contact with infective larvae on contaminated soil. Immunocompromised hosts can experience hyperinfection, which can lead to fatal systemic strongyloidiasis. Here, an innovative point-of-care (POC) test kit, the strongyloidiasis immunochromatographic blood test (the NIE-SsIR whole-blood ICT) kit is described.

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Theileria parasites were investigated from cattle ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888)) collected in 12 provinces in upper-northeastern Thailand based on the sequences of 18S rRNA and MPSP gene. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and sequencing specific regions for the 18S rRNA gene revealed two species of Theileria pathogens; T. orientalis (n = 42) and T.

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Paragonimiasis is a harmful food-borne zoonosis caused by lung flukes of the genus . The disease is found on most continents, several million people are at risk of infection, and it is a re-emerging disease in developing countries. The gold standard for diagnosis of pulmonary paragonimiasis requires the finding of eggs in sputa and/or fecal samples.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new black fly species named Simulium (Asiosimulium) kittipati sp. nov. has been identified from central Thailand, which is noteworthy due to its potential role in transmitting Onchocerca volvulus, a significant parasite.
  • The identification involved collecting black fly larvae and pupae, allowing adult flies to emerge, and then analyzing their morphology and molecular data, specifically the COI gene, to establish their classification.
  • Key distinguishing features of the new species include specific anatomical traits in females and males, unique characteristics in pupae and larvae, along with a clear genetic divergence from related species, confirming its status as a new member of the Asiosimulium subgenus.
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Tabanidae (horse flies and deer flies) are hematophagous insects that cause direct and indirect damage to animal production. The aims of this study were to determine the preferred site, time of day, and duration of tabanid feeding on beef cattle and identify factors related to infestation by tabanids. The population of tabanids was surveyed on certain body parts of the beef cattle (fore udder, tail, navel, leg, dewlap, body, and under) during the morning hours (9.

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Nematodes of the Onchocercidae family, such as Pelecitus spp., are filarial parasites of medical and veterinary importance. Although infections are widely distributed among avian species, only 2 cases of human Pelecitus ocular infection, both in South America, have been reported.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Giardiasis was found to be a significant cause of diarrhea in children, with a study conducted on 462 students in Yangon, Myanmar, revealing a prevalence rate of 11.7% over three years.
  • - The study utilized various identification techniques, including PCR-sequencing, and noted that socio-economic factors such as low parental education and unsanitary practices were linked to higher infection rates.
  • - All identified Giardia isolates belonged to assemblage B, marking this research as the first to characterize human isolates at the molecular level in a lower region of Myanmar, highlighting public health concerns in densely populated, low-resource areas.
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Article Synopsis
  • - COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to severe lung issues and systemic dysfunction, prompting the use of immunosuppressive treatments that risk worsening existing infections like strongyloidiasis.
  • - A study in Thailand found a significant prevalence of anti-Strongyloides IgG antibodies in 39.4% of 297 COVID-19 patients, suggesting a potential relationship between these infections and COVID-19.
  • - Researchers recommend using a rapid immunochromatographic test for strongyloidiasis screening in critically ill COVID-19 patients, coupled with immediate treatment to prevent severe complications in those at risk.
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Background: Human opisthorchiasis is a dangerous infectious chronic disease distributed in many Asian areas in the water-basins of large rivers, Siberia, and Europe. The gold standard for human opisthorchiasis laboratory diagnosis is the routine examination of spp. eggs under a microscope.

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Hookworm infections remain a significant public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions, including Thailand. This study investigated the species and genetic diversity of hookworm infections in domestic dogs from northeastern Thailand. The molecular analysis focused on amplifying and sequencing specific regions of ribosomal RNA genes (ITS1-5.

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Strongyloidiasis is a neglected tropical disease that can cause fatal complications due to hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised patients. We used two Strongyloides stercoralis recombinant antigenic proteins, L3NieAg.01 (NIE) and IgG-immunoreactive antigen (SsIR), to develop the recombinant antigen-based immunochromatography test (ICT) kit.

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Opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis are prevalent in Southeast and Far-East Asia, which are caused by the group 1 carcinogenic liver flukes sensu lato and infection. There have been comprehensive investigations of systematics and genetic variation of these liver flukes. Previous studies have shown that is a species complex, called " sensu lato".

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Human cysticercosis is a life-threatening zoonotic disease caused by infection with larvae (cysticerci) of the pork tapeworm, . This can affect the nervous system causing chronic headache and intracranial hypertension, potentially leading to epileptic seizures and paralysis. The disease is found in developing countries, especially in Southeast and South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South America where porcine cysticercosis is endemic and people have a habit of eating undercooked pork.

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Ticks are vectors of a variety of pathogens that can infect humans and animals. Ticks also harbor non-pathogenic microbiota. This study characterized the microbiota of the ticks infesting beef cattle in Thailand.

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Bacterial content of mosquitoes has given rise to the development of innovative tools that influence and seek to control malaria transmission. This study identified the bacterial microbiota in field-collected female adults of the Anopheles hyrcanus group and three Anopheles species, Anopheles nivipes, Anopheles philippinensis, and Anopheles vagus, from an endemic area in the southeastern part of Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand, near the Lao PDR-Cambodia-Thailand border. A total of 17 DNA libraries were generated from pooled female Anopheles abdomen samples (10 abdomens/ sample).

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Infectious diseases caused by filarial nematodes are major health problems for humans and animals globally. Current treatment using anti-helminthic drugs requires a long treatment period and is only effective against the microfilarial stage. Most species of filarial nematodes harbor a specific strain of bacteria, which are essential for the survival, development, and reproduction of the nematodes.

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Bacterial content in mosquito larvae and adults is altered by dynamic interactions during life and varies substantially in variety and composition depending on mosquito biology and ecology. This study aimed to identify the microbiota in and and in water from their breeding sites in northeastern Thailand, a dengue-endemic area. Bacterial diversity in field-collected aquatic larvae and subsequently emerged adults of both species from several locations were examined.

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Background: Rat lung worm disease (RLWD) has several clinical forms including eosinophilic meningitis (EOM) and two severe forms, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis (EOME) and eosinophilic radiculomyelitis (EORM). It remains unclear whether transmission sources are associated with severe forms of RLWD. This study aimed to evaluate if transmission factors are related to the severity of RLWD among travelers by using a scoping review of case reports.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a significant public health issue, particularly in the Lower Mekong subregion, and human migration could contribute to their reemergence in new areas.
  • A study in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, examined 338 migrant workers from Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia, and found a 15.09% prevalence of IPIs, with the most common being Opisthorchis-like flukes and Strongyloides stercoralis.
  • Genetic analysis of S. stercoralis indicated that worms from different countries in Southeast Asia shared similarities with those in Thailand, although there were notable genetic differences when compared to populations in other regions globally.
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Human gastrointestinal helminthic infections have a direct and/or indirect effect on the composition of the host gut microbial flora. Here, we investigated the effect of infection with a soil-transmitted intestinal nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis, on the gut microbiota of the human host. We also investigated whether composition of the microbiota in infected persons might vary across endemic regions.

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Genetic diversity, genetic structure and demographic history of the ticks infesting beef cattle in Thailand were examined based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) sequences. Tick samples were collected in 12 provinces in upper-northeastern Thailand. Three species were found; Rhipicephalus microplus, R.

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Background: Eosinophilic meningitis (EOM) is a rare neurological disease that can be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. Based on reported cases in the literature, there have been 2,827 cases worldwide since 1945. There are limited data on the prevalence and trends of EOM in a real-world setting, even in Thailand, the country with the highest prevalence of EOM.

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Chronic human liver fluke infections caused by and can last for decades and cause liver and biliary diseases, including life-threatening pathology prior to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). CCA generally has a poor prognosis. Serological diagnosis can support parasitological examination in diagnosing disease and screening for the risk of CCA.

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In this work, the covalently oriented conjugation of monoclonal antibody (mAb-) to amino-terminated oligo(ethylene glycol)-capped gold nanoparticles (NH-TEG-AuNPs) was studied. After NH-TEG-AuNPs were synthesized, the amino-terminated ligands on the particles were then linked to the carboxyl groups in the mAb- through EDC/NHS chemistry. By maintaining the pH of the solution at ∼5, the Fc region of the antibody could preferably attach to the particle surface, providing a specific Fab region that was available for binding with the target pathogen.

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