scholarly journals The health impact of polyparasitism in humans: are we under-estimating the burden of parasitic diseases?

Parasitology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (7) ◽  
pp. 783-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. PULLAN ◽  
S. BROOKER
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Human Parasite ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
International Strategies

SUMMARYParasitic infections are widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, and infection with multiple parasite species is the norm rather than the exception. Despite the ubiquity of polyparasitism, its public health significance has been inadequately studied. Here we review available studies investigating the nutritional and pathological consequences of multiple infections with Plasmodium and helminth infection and, in doing so, encourage a reassessment of the disease burden caused by polyparasitism. The available evidence is conspicuously sparse but is suggestive that multiple human parasite species may have an additive and/or multiplicative impact on nutrition and organ pathology. Existing studies suffer from a number of methodological limitations and adequately designed studies are clearly necessary. Current methods of estimating the potential global morbidity due to parasitic diseases underestimate the health impact of polyparasitism, and possible reasons for this are presented. As international strategies to control multiple parasite species are rolled-out, there is a number of options to investigate the complexity of polyparasitism, and it is hoped that that the parasitological resarch community will grasp the opportunity to understand better the health of polyparasitism in humans.

Chemotherapy and immunity in opportunistic parasitic infections in AIDS

Parasitology ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 105 (S1) ◽  
pp. S93-S101 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zumla ◽  
S. L. Croft
Keyword(s):  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Dependent Component ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
The Tropics

SUMMARYParasitic diseases are endemic in parts of the tropics, but there is no convincing evidence that their prevalence or incidence is increasing due to the HIV epidemic. Available scientific data on parasitic infections in patients with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) suggests a predominance of Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium spp. For reasons which are unclear, parasitic infections such as Plasmodium falciparum, Strongyloides stercoralis and Entamoeba histolytica, where cell-mediated immune responses are also thought to be significant, do not appear to be opportunists of importance. It is being increasingly recognized that chemotherapy for parasitic diseases has a host-dependent component, although scientific data on this subject remain scanty. The management of opportunistic parasitic infections in patients infected with HIV is dogged by failures and relapses, aptly illustrating the notion of the relationship between chemotherapy and the immune response. This review discusses the immunity and chemotherapy of opportunistic parasite infections in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Recent Advances in the Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiprotozoal Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Moreno-Herrera ◽  
Sandra Cortez-Maya ◽  
Virgilio Bocanegra-Garcia ◽  
Bimal Krishna Banik ◽  
Gildardo Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Giardia Lamblia ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Pharmacological Treatments ◽  
Preclinical Development ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Effective Drugs

: Infections caused by Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Plasmodium spp., and Trichomonas vaginalis, are part of a large list of human parasitic diseases. Together, they cause more than 500 million infections per year. These protozoa parasites affect both low- and high-income countries and their pharmacological treatment is limited. Therefore, new and more effective drugs in preclinical development could improve overall therapy for parasitic infections even when their mechanisms of action are unknown. In this review, a number of heterocyclic compounds (diamidine, guanidine, quinoline, benzimidazole, thiazole, diazanaphthalene, and their derivatives) reported as antiprotozoal agents are discussed as options for developing new pharmacological treatments for parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Application of Dendrimers for Treating Parasitic Diseases

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 343
Author(s):  
Veronica Folliero ◽  
Carla Zannella ◽  
Annalisa Chianese ◽  
Debora Stelitano ◽  
Annalisa Ambrosino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Water Solubility ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Molecular Volume ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Wide Range

Despite advances in medical knowledge, parasitic diseases remain a significant global health burden and their pharmacological treatment is often hampered by drug toxicity. Therefore, drug delivery systems may provide useful advantages when used in combination with conventional therapeutic compounds. Dendrimers are three-dimensional polymeric structures, characterized by a central core, branches and terminal functional groups. These nanostructures are known for their defined structure, great water solubility, biocompatibility and high encapsulation ability against a wide range of molecules. Furthermore, the high ratio between terminal groups and molecular volume render them a hopeful vector for drug delivery. These nanostructures offer several advantages compared to conventional drugs for the treatment of parasitic infection. Dendrimers deliver drugs to target sites with reduced dosage, solving side effects that occur with accepted marketed drugs. In recent years, extensive progress has been made towards the use of dendrimers for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic purposes for the management of parasitic infections. The present review highlights the potential of several dendrimers in the management of parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Molecular Diagnosis of Abdominal Armillifer grandis Pentastomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 2362-2364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Tappe ◽  
Mihály Sulyok ◽  
Lajos Rózsa ◽  
Birgit Muntau ◽  
Alexandra Haeupler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Area ◽  
Molecular Diagnostics ◽  
Morphological Study ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
The Tropics

Pentastomiasis is an emerging snake-borne parasitic zoonosis in the tropics. We describe a molecular and morphological study to diagnose a cluster of asymptomatic abdominal human infections caused byArmillifer grandis.The findings may indicate a silent epidemic in a rural area where severe symptomatic ocular cases with the same parasite species have recently surfaced. Molecular diagnostics are of increasing importance when patient material from remote areas cannot be thoroughly examined locally for logistic reasons.

scholarly journals The state of art of neutrophil extracellular traps in protozoan and helminthic infections

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
César Díaz-Godínez ◽  
Julio C. Carrero
Keyword(s):  
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Extracellular Traps ◽  
Helminthic Infections ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Net Release

AbstractNeutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are DNA fibers associated with histones, enzymes from neutrophil granules and anti-microbial peptides. NETs are released in a process denominated NETosis, which involves sequential steps that culminate with the DNA extrusion. NETosis has been described as a new mechanism of innate immunity related to defense against different pathogens. The initial studies of NETs were carried out with bacteria and fungi, but currently a large variety of microorganisms capable of inducing NETs have been described including protozoan and helminth parasites. Nevertheless, we have little knowledge about how NETosis process is carried out in response to the parasites, and about its implication in the resolution of this kind of disease. In the best case, the NETs entrap and kill parasites in vitro, but in others, immobilize the parasites without affecting their viability. Moreover, insufficient studies on the NETs in animal models of infections that would help to define their role, and the association of NETs with chronic inflammatory pathologies such as those occurring in several parasitic infections have left open the possibility of NETs contributing to pathology instead of protection. In this review, we focus on the reported mechanisms that lead to NET release by protozoan and helminth parasites and the evidence that support the role of NETosis in the resolution or pathogenesis of parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Actual problems of assessing the quality of disinfection measures for parasitosis in the Russian Federation

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-278
Author(s):  
М.М. M. Асланова ◽  
Т.В. V. Гололобова ◽  
К.Ю. Yu. Кузнецова ◽  
А.В. V. Загайнова ◽  
Тамари Резоевна Мания ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Parasitic Pathogens

Introduction. The main and the most significant issues of the management of disinfection measures taking into account modern trends and factors affecting the quality of these measures in relation to parasitic infections in the territory of the Russian Federation are considered. The professional community of physicians, epidemiologists, hygienists, disinfectants was almost powerless in the fight against slow or latent infections of a parasitic nature, which are still ca lled “neglected diseases” (“unnoticed diseases”), partly because they occur without pronounced symptoms, and there are a number of unresolved problems in the prevention and diagnosis. Despite the fact that modern medicine in the field of prevention and diagnosis of some infectious diseases has achieved good results, the problems with the disinfection of parasitic pathogens remain relevant. Environmental degradation, various natural disasters, urbanization, increased anthropogenic pressure, as well as climate change do not contribute to improving the difficult situation with regard to the spread, reproduction and formation of new stable foci of parasites. The measures for the improving the system of non-specific prevention of parasitic diseases are determined. Material and methods. In the course of the work, there were analyzed statistical reports of the Federal Reserve and the literature data. Results. The analysis of statistical data showed that during 2014-2018, the incidence of parasites in the Russian population remained at a high level and did not have a pronounced tendency to decrease, and the proposed anti-parasitic disinfectants cannot meet modern anti-epidemiological and hygienic requirements. Conclusion. A number of recommendations and initiatives on disinfection measures for the prevention and spread of parasitic infections in the territory of the Russian Federation were proposed to solve the tasks. There are determined main ways of improving the system of nonspecific prevention of parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF DISINFECTION MEASURES FOR PARASITOSIS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Aslanova ◽  
T. V. Gololobova ◽  
K. Yu. Kuznetsova ◽  
A. V. Zagaynova ◽  
Tamari R. Maniya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Parasitic Pathogens

Introduction. The main and the most significant issues of the management of disinfection measures taking into account modern trends and factors affecting the quality of these measures in relation to parasitic infections in the territory of the Russian Federation are considered. The professional community of physicians, epidemiologists, hygienists, disinfectants was almost powerless in the fight against slow or latent infections of a parasitic nature, which are still ca lled “neglected diseases” (“unnoticed diseases”), partly because they occur without pronounced symptoms, and there are a number of unresolved problems in the prevention and diagnosis. Despite the fact that modern medicine in the field of prevention and diagnosis of some infectious diseases has achieved good results, the problems with the disinfection of parasitic pathogens remain relevant. Environmental degradation, various natural disasters, urbanization, increased anthropogenic pressure, as well as climate change do not contribute to improving the difficult situation with regard to the spread, reproduction and formation of new stable foci of parasites. The measures for the improving the system of non-specific prevention of parasitic diseases are determined. Material and methods. In the course of the work, there were analyzed statistical reports of the Federal Reserve and the literature data. Results. The analysis of statistical data showed that during 2014-2018, the incidence of parasites in the Russian population remained at a high level and did not have a pronounced tendency to decrease, and the proposed anti-parasitic disinfectants cannot meet modern anti-epidemiological and hygienic requirements. Conclusion. A number of recommendations and initiatives on disinfection measures for the prevention and spread of parasitic infections in the territory of the Russian Federation were proposed to solve the tasks. There are determined main ways of improving the system of nonspecific prevention of parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Effects of Leishmania Species on Immune Response against Malaria Parasite in Malaria Leishmania Coinfections

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad ◽  
Sufian Khalid M. Noor ◽  
Awadalla H. Kashif ◽  
Mohammed Medani Eltayeb ◽  
Bader Saud Alotaibi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Leishmania Species ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Leishmania Infection ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Major Histocompatibility Class

Both malaria and leishmania  are most widespread protozoon parasitic diseases, certainly in tropical countries of the world. Malaria leishmania coinfection is common in leishmaniasis endemic areas which is mostly endemic to malaria too. Researchers notice that in cases of malaria leishmania coinfection , leishmania species find the some extent the outcome of malaria infection , but also behavior of malaria parasite species play a significant role to figure the consequences of it. While L. donovani protect from severe malaria complications by suppression of major histocompatibility class Ⅱ , so it diminish the clinical severity of malaria but not malaria parasite density due to dysfunction of major histocompatibility class I, which controlled by suppressed one, In another side L. mexicana tends to sequester in macrophages and lead to severe clinical outcomes when it coexisted with malaria parasite at same host. Experimental studies required to know more information about coinfection of different malaria and leishmania species to establish clinical research. Leishmania infection excluded when studies aim to assess the immune response to only malaria parasite, experimental studies required involving different species of malaria and leishmania.

scholarly journals The neglected cestode infection: Epidemiology of Hymenolepis nana infection among children in rural Yemen

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-305
Author(s):  
H. M. Al-Mekhlafi
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Hymenolepis Nana ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Preschool Aged Children

SummaryHymenolepis nana is the most common cestode reported in humans worldwide. It is prevalent among children in the tropics and subtropics, particularly in rural poor communities where sanitation is inadequate or lacking. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and significant risk factors of H. nana infection among children in rural Yemen. Faecal samples were collected from 498 children and screened for intestinal parasites by using wet mount, formalin-ether concentration and Kato–Katz techniques. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect demographic, socioeconomic, housing condition, and personal hygiene information. Overall, 77.5 % (386/498) of the children were found to be infected by at least one intestinal parasite species. The overall prevalence of H. nana was 17.5 % (87/498). Multivariate analysis confirmed that an age of < 6 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.28; 95 % (confidence interval [CI] = 2.04, 8.98), presence of other family members infected with H. nana (AOR = 2.48; 95 % CI = 1.45, 4.24), living in the highlands (AOR = 2.87; 95 % CI = 1.56, 5.26), living in a house without improved toilet facilities (AOR = 2.19; 95 % CI = 1.23, 3.88), not washing vegetables before consumption (AOR = 2.11; 95 % CI = 1.06, 4.19), and not washing hands after defecation (AOR = 1.88; 95 % CI = 1.08, 3.27) were the key factors significantly associated with H. nana infection among the studied children. In conclusion, H. nana is prevalent among children in rural Yemen, particularly among preschool-aged children. Thus, an integrated and effective programme to control intestinal parasitic infections should include preschool-aged children. Such a programme should focus on providing health education on hygienic practices, providing adequate sanitation and improved sources of drinking water, and screening and treating other infected family members.

Częstość występowania robaczyc u dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym ? określenie czynników predysponujących

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Kaleta ◽  
Marta Palacz-Wróbel ◽  
Łukasz Chajec
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Data ◽  
Predisposing Factors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
The World ◽  
Parasitic Worms ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. Parasitic diseases are common and pose threats to the health and lives of people around the world. Globally improving sanitary conditions also do not provide a sufficient method of preventing the parasitic infections that trigger them. Statistical data show a huge rate of parasitism in the world and a very large share of parasitic diseases in the number of deaths. Worms among pre-school children are quite common to a certain extent, and factors that favor them ? if properly identified, can be significantly reduced. This paper presents the frequency of occurrence of worms in this age range compared to statistical data and a list of factors predisposing the occurrence of these diseases. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and predisposing factors for the occurrence of helminthia among children in pre-school age in Poland. Material and methods. An original questionnaire was used to conduct the research. Results. The frequency of occurrence of worms reaches about 10% of confirmed infections. The most common prevalence among children is oatosis. The most important factors predisposing to parasitic worms infection are: inadequate personal hygiene, inadequate food hygiene and its preparation, the impact of places with higher risk of infection (sandpits, playgrounds, kindergartens, nurseries, orphanages). Invasions, when the massiveness of parasite invasions is not large enough, often goes asymptomatically ? that is why the parent's perceptiveness and knowledge about the basic symptoms of the most common worms play a key role. The level of parents’ knowledge and awareness of the risk of being infected with parasitic worms is high. Most of the parents surveyed correctly diagnosed symptoms performed tests for the presence of parasites in the body of their children. Conclusions. Elimination of predisposing factors significantly minimizes the occurrence of helminthiasis.

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