Burden of major diarrheagenic protozoan parasitic co-infection among amoebic dysentery cases from North East India: a case report

Parasitology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
pp. 1318-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOYOBRATO NATH ◽  
GULZAR HUSSAIN ◽  
BABY SINGHA ◽  
JAISHREE PAUL ◽  
SANKAR KUMAR GHOSH

SUMMARYIntestinal diarrheagenic polyparasitic infections are among the major public health concerns in developing countries. Here we examined stool specimens by microscopy, DNA dot blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the co-infection of four principal protozoans among amoebic dysentery cases from Northeast Indian population. The multiplex PCR confirmedEntamoeba histolytica(8·1%),Entamoeba dispar(4·8%) and mixed infection of both the parasites (3·4%) in 68 of 356 stool specimens that were positive in microscopy and/or HMe probe based DNA dot blot screening. The prevailing parasite that co-exists withE. histolyticawasGiardia duodenalis(34·1%), followed byEnterocytozoon bieneusi(22·0%),Cryptosporidium parvum(14·6%) andCyclospora cayetanensis(7·3%,P= 0·017). Symptomatic participants (odds ratio (OR) = 4·07; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·06, 15·68;P= 0·041), monsoon season (OR = 7·47; 95% CI = 1·40, 39·84;P= 0·046) and participants with family history of parasitic infection (OR = 4·50; 95% CI = 1·16, 17·51;P= 0·030) have significant association with overall co-infection rate. According to molecular consensus, comprehensive microscopy yielded 3·4% (12/356) false-negative and 7·6% (27/356) false-positive outcome, suggesting an improved broad-spectrum PCR-based diagnostic is required to scale down the poor sensitivity and specificity as well as implementation of integrated control strategy.

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 894
Author(s):  
Dongmi Kwak ◽  
Min-Goo Seo

Feral cats that are roaming outside can serve as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, negatively impacting public health. They may experience high levels of parasitic infection. Some gastrointestinal protozoa and microsporidia possessing zoonotic potential in cats include Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we show the infection rates and risk factors of intestinal protozoa and microsporidia detected from shelter cats on Jeju Island in South Korea in 2020. Among 158 cats, we detected genes for five internal protozoa and microsporidia, namely, Cryptosporidium felis (0.6%), G. duodenalis (3.8%), Blastocystis sp. (0.6%), E. bieneusi (3.8%), and T. gondii (1.3%). Furthermore, 16 cats (10.1%) were PCR-positive for at least one protozoan or microsporidium. To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the existence of C. felis, G. duodenalis assemblage F, Blastocystis sp. ST4 subtype, and E. bieneusi genotype Peru11 in cats in South Korea. Despite the small number of positive samples, this study expands our understanding of the incidence of zoonotic gastrointestinal protozoa and microsporidia in shelter cats and genetically characterizes the isolates found in the infected animals. Moreover, these findings emphasize the need for a better control strategy on protozoa and microsporidia in cats, tailored to their individual needs, to protect animal and public health.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela C. Köster ◽  
Eva Martínez-Nevado ◽  
Andrea González ◽  
María T. Abelló-Poveda ◽  
Hugo Fernández-Bellon ◽  
...  

We assessed the occurrence, genetic diversity, and zoonotic potential of four protozoan (Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Giardia duodenalis), one stramenopile (Blastocystis sp.), one microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi), and two ciliate (Balantioides coli, Troglodytella abrassarti) intestinal parasite or commensal protist species in captive non-human primates (NHP) and their zookeepers from six European zoological gardens in France (n = 1), Germany (n = 1), and Spain (n = 4). Faecal samples from NHP (n = 454) belonging to 63 species within 35 genera and humans (n = 70) were collected at two sampling periods in each participating institution between October 2018-August 2021. Detection and species identification was accomplished by PCR and Sanger sequencing of the ssu rRNA and/or ITS genes. Sub-genotyping analyses using specific markers were conducted on isolates positive for G. duodenalis (gdh, bg, tpi) and Cryptosporidium spp. (gp60). Overall, 41.0% (186/454) and 30.0% (21/70) of the faecal samples of NHP and human origin tested positive for at least one intestinal protist species, respectively. In NHP, Blastocystis sp. was the most prevalent protist species found (20.3%), followed by G. duodenalis (18.1%), E. dispar (7.9%), B. coli and T. abrassarti (1.5% each), and Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi (0.9% each). Occurrence rates varied largely among NHP host species, sampling periods, and zoological institutions. The predominant protist species found in humans was Blastocystis sp. (25.7%), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (2.9%), E. dispar (1.4%), and G. duodenalis (1.4%). Sequencing of PCR-positive amplicons in human and/or NHP confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium in six isolates (C. hominis: 66.7%, C. parvum: 33.3%), G. duodenalis in 18 isolates (assemblage A: 16.7%, assemblage B: 83.3%), Blastocystis in 110 isolates (ST1:38.2%, ST2:11.8%, ST3: 18.2%, ST4: 9.1%, ST5: 17.3%, ST8: 2.7%, ST13: 0.9%), and E. bieneusi in four isolates (CM18: 75.0%, Type IV: 25.0%). Zoonotic transmission events involving Blastocystis ST1–ST4 were identified in four zoological institutions. Zoonotic transmission of C. hominis was highly suspected, but not fully demonstrated, in one of them. Monitoring of intestinal protist species might be useful for assessing health status of captive NHP and their zookeepers, and to identify transmission pathways of faecal-orally transmitted pathogens.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 700
Author(s):  
Pamela C. Köster ◽  
Alejandro Dashti ◽  
Begoña Bailo ◽  
Aly S. Muadica ◽  
Jenny G. Maloney ◽  
...  

Little information is currently available on the epidemiology of parasitic and commensal protist species in captive non-human primates (NHP) and their zoonotic potential. This study investigates the occurrence, molecular diversity, and potential transmission dynamics of parasitic and commensal protist species in a zoological garden in southern Spain. The prevalence and genotypes of the main enteric protist species were investigated in faecal samples from NHP (n = 51), zookeepers (n = 19) and free-living rats (n = 64) by molecular (PCR and sequencing) methods between 2018 and 2019. The presence of Leishmania spp. was also investigated in tissues from sympatric rats using PCR. Blastocystis sp. (45.1%), Entamoeba dispar (27.5%), Giardia duodenalis (21.6%), Balantioides coli (3.9%), and Enterocytozoon bieneusi (2.0%) (but not Troglodytella spp.) were detected in NHP. Giardia duodenalis (10.5%) and Blastocystis sp. (10.5%) were identified in zookeepers, while Cryptosporidium spp. (45.3%), G. duodenalis (14.1%), and Blastocystis sp. (6.25%) (but not Leishmania spp.) were detected in rats. Blastocystis ST1, ST3, and ST8 and G. duodenalis sub-assemblage AII were identified in NHP, and Blastocystis ST1 in zookeepers. Giardia duodenalis isolates failed to be genotyped in human samples. In rats, four Cryptosporidium (C. muris, C. ratti, and rat genotypes IV and V), one G. duodenalis (assemblage G), and three Blastocystis (ST4) genetic variants were detected. Our results indicate high exposure of NHP to zoonotic protist species. Zoonotic transmission of Blastocysts ST1 was highly suspected between captive NHP and zookeepers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1350-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Al Amri ◽  
Abiola C. Senok ◽  
Abdulrahman Yusuf Ismaeel ◽  
Ali E. Al-Mahmeed ◽  
Giuseppe A. Botta

Differentiation between Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli is problematic in clinical specimens due to fastidious growth requirements and limited biochemical tests. This study describes a rapid, multiplex PCR protocol for the direct detection and differentiation of C. jejuni and C. coli in stools. An evaluation was carried out of this multiplex protocol based on the detection of cadF (genus specific), and hipO (C. jejuni) and asp (C. coli) genes, using stool from patients with Campylobacter enteritis and chicken. Protocol sensitivity was assessed and specificity determined using a panel of enteric bacteria, and evaluation of 30 diarrhoeic stool specimens culture negative for Campylobacter. Of the 114 specimens (54 human and 60 chicken) evaluated by the protocol, 70 (61.4 %) were identified as C. jejuni, 35 (30.7 %) as C. coli and 9 (7.9 %) as a mixed infection/colonization with both species. All mixed infections were identified as C. jejuni by culture. Among the stool specimens that were culture negative for Campylobacter, two (6.7 %) were C. jejuni positive by multiplex PCR. The protocol sensitivity limit was 0.015–0.016 ng C. jejuni and C. coli DNA μl−1 in the specimen. There was no cross-reaction with the reference strains assessed. Comparison of hippurate test and multiplex PCR demonstrated 17 isolates with false-positive hippurate enzymic activity and 7 with false-negative activity. This rapid protocol (turnaround time 6 h) is highly sensitive and specific for direct evaluation of stool for these pathogens. It has significant application for routine clinical diagnostic and epidemiological purposes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1384-1395
Author(s):  
Richard Knight

Two very different groups of amoebic species infect humans. (1) Obligate anaerobic gut parasites, including the major pathogen Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic dysentery and amoebic liver abscess. Infection is especially common in Mexico, South America, Africa and South-east Asia; nearly all cases in temperate countries is acquired elsewhere. Other gut amoebae are Dientamoeba fragilis (which causes relatively mild colonic involvement with diarrhoea), and eight non-pathogenic species including Entamoeba dispar. (2) Aerobic free-living, water and soil amoebae– Naegleria, Acanthamoeba and Balmuthua, which can become facultative tissue parasites in humans after cysts or trophozoites are inhaled, ingested, or enter damaged skin, cornea or mucosae: they may cause primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis, amoebic keratitis or brain abscess.


Open Medicine ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-206
Author(s):  
Natasa Miladinovic-Tasic ◽  
Suzana Tasic ◽  
Ivana Kranjcic-Zec ◽  
Gordana Tasic ◽  
Aleksandar Tasic ◽  
...  

AbstractGiardiasis is a parasitic infection of the digestive tract, most commonly occurring in closed communities such as schools, kindergartens, prisons, and campuses. The civil war in the former Yugoslav republics and in Kosovo caused a large number of refugees to take shelter in the territory of Serbia. Such large numbers of refugees could be accommodated only in the collective centers. Our aim was to examine the differences in the prevalence of asymptomatic giardiasis among 122 refugees from the former Yugoslav republics who lived in the collective centers in Nis, Serbia, and 241 native Nis inhabitants. Conventional microscopic examination (CME) of three stool samples with or without concentration technique and the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods were used. The CME method of three stool samples is considered the gold standard in our statistical survey. Asymptomatic giardiasis is found in 7 refugees (5.7%) using the EIA method, while using the CME (3 samples) Giardia duodenalis (G. duodenalis) was detected in 6 persons (4.9%). Using the EIA method and the CME (3 samples) G. duodenalis was detected in only 1 person in the population group of native inhabitants (0.4%). Asymptomatic giardiasis was more prevalent in the population group of refugees accommodated in collective centers than in native inhabitants in the Nis municipality, Serbia.


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