Objective: Lactoferrin is an 80 KDa iron-binding glycoprotein that plays a significant role in the innate immune system and is considered to be an important microbicide molecule. This study aimed to assess the concentration of lactoferrin in Schistosoma mansoni-infected cases before and after praziquantel treatment.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 250 individuals aged from 5 to 30 years. Stool samples were examined for the presence of parasitic infections using Kato-Katz and formalin ethyl acetate techniques. All S. mansoni-positive cases were treated with praziquantel and stool samples were recollected 21 days later. Faecal lactoferrin level was determined before and after treatment.
Results: The prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 14.4%. Among 36 participants infected with S. mansoni, the cure rate was 91.7%. A statistically significant difference in the mean lactoferrin level before and after treatment was detected (1648.95 pg/ml ± 656.5 vs. 1162.8 pg/ml ± 356.8). This difference was statistically significant in the middle and older age groups, in males and in the absence of coinfection with other parasites.
Conclusion: Lactoferrin could be a promising biomarker associated with S. mansoni infection, however, it could not be used to assess the severity of infection.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13826 | DOI Listing |
Acta Trop
January 2025
Schistosomiasis Reference Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Aggeu Magalhães Institute/FIOCRUZ-PE, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Electronic address:
Schistosomiasis presents a significant public health challenge, especially in regions with inadequate sanitation. Current diagnostic methods, including the Kato-Katz technique, often lack sensitivity in detecting low parasite loads, prompting the search for more precise alternatives. This study introduces the Sm1-7-qPCR system as a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for identifying S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Negl Trop Dis
January 2025
School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Lake Victoria is a well-known hot spot for intestinal schistosomiasis, caused by infection with the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The snail intermediate hosts of this parasite are Biomphalaria snails, with Biomphalaria choanomphala being the predominant intermediate host within Lake Victoria. The prevalence of S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommun Biol
December 2024
Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Adult Schistosoma produces a large number of eggs that play essential roles in host pathology and disease dissemination. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms of sexual maturation and egg production may open a new avenue for controlling schistosomiasis. Here, we describe that Bantam miRNA and miR-1989 regulate Wnt signaling pathway by targeting Frizzled-5/7/9, which is involved in ovarian development and oviposition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrob Pathog
December 2024
Departamento de Biologia Animal (DBA), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal (PPGBA), Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage are observed in schistosomiasis and premature aging. However, the potential of these events to trigger stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) throughout schistosomiasis progression remains overlooked, especially in response to the first-line pharmacological treatment. Thus, we investigated the relationship between oxidative stress and SIPS sentinel markers in untreated Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice and those receiving praziquantel (Pz)-based reference treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrop Med Infect Dis
December 2024
Postgraduate Program in Tropical Medicine, Center of Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-420, PE, Brazil.
The occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni (SM) is still poorly understood in Brazil. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in patients with SM and its association with the periportal fibrosis (PPF), assessed by serum markers and ultrasound criteria. This cross-sectional study was carried out in an endemic area in Pernambuco, Brazil, with schistosomal patients who underwent coproscopic survey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!