Clonorchiasis: an update

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-J. Rim

AbstractClonorchis sinensis,the Chinese or oriental liver fluke, is an important human parasite and is widely distributed in southern Korea, China (including Taiwan), Japan, northern Vietnam and the far eastern part of Russia. Clonorchiasis occurs in all parts of the world where there are Asian immigrants from endemic areas. The human and animal reservoir hosts (dogs, pigs, cats and rats) acquire the infection from the ingestion of raw fish containing infectious metacercariae. The first intermediate snail hosts are mainly species ofParafossarulusandBithynia. Numerous species of freshwater fish serve as the second intermediate hosts ofC. sinensis. Extensive studies of clonorchiasis during several decades in Japan, Korea, China and other countries have shown much progress in proving its morphological features including ultrastructure, biology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations and chemotherapy. The present review deals with mainly current results obtained on the epidemiological, pathological and clinical aspects, as well as control measures in endemic areas. As for the complications of clonorchiasis, formation of calculi in the intrahepatic biliary passages is one of the most characteristic pathological features. It is sometimes accompanied by suppurative cholangitis, cholecystitis, cholangiohepatitis and ultimately can cause cholangiocarcinoma. Experimental results on the relationship to the occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma are presented. Clinical diagnosis by radiological findings including cholangiography, sonography and computerized tomography as well as magnetic resonance imaging for biliary or pancreatic ducts are outlined. Current studies on immunology and molecular biology ofC. sinensiswere introduced. Praziquantel is the drug of choice for clonorchiasis. The most effective regimen is 25 mg kg−1three times daily (total dose, 75 mg kg−1) administered orally at 5- to 6-h intervals over a single day. Prevention and control measures are also discussed.

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (04) ◽  
pp. 214-221
Author(s):  
Anil Gupta ◽  
Amit Singh ◽  
Saumya Srivastava ◽  
Prem Shankar ◽  
Sarman Singh

AbstractLeishmaniasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan of the genus Leishmania. The disease is transmitted by the bite of infected sand flies (Phlebotomus species) and affects all ages and both genders. Nearly half of the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases occur in children. The clinical manifestations of pediatric leishmaniasis may be different from the adults associated with host-related factors. In this review, only the visceral form is covered. Confirmation of diagnosis is made by the parasitological, immunological, or by molecular methods. Sodium antimony gluconate (stibogluconate) has been the drug of choice for more than 60 years. However, in last three decades, its efficacy against leishmaniasis has gone significantly down especially in the Indian subcontinent where most cases of VL are seen. Therefore, other drugs, such as pentamidine-isothionate, paromomycin, amphotericin B, and miltefosine, are being used as alternative drugs for VL treatment. In the absence of an effective vaccine for VL, control measures are based on the prevention of disease transmission via vector control and community awareness. The present review focuses on the current state of the leishmaniasis, its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention with emphasis on pediatric leishmaniasis.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1540-1551
Author(s):  
David Dunne ◽  
Birgitte Vennervald

Schistosomiasis is caused by trematode worms Schistosoma spp., whose life cycle requires a definitive vertebrate host and an intermediate freshwater snail host. Transmission to humans occurs through exposure to fresh water containing infectious larvae, which can penetrate intact skin before developing into blood-dwelling adult worms. The disease is patchily distributed in parts of South America, Africa, the Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia, with about 200 million people infected and 20 million suffering severe consequences of infection. Most infected people living in endemic areas have few (if any) overt symptoms, but clinical manifestations (when present) depend on the stage of infection. Praziquantel is the drug of choice, with corticosteroids added in cases of Katayama fever. Acute schistosomiasis responds well, but chronic disease less so, but rapid re-exposure and reinfection are common (particularly in young children) unless control measures are implemented at the community level.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahyun Hong ◽  
Ricardo Andrade Zampieri ◽  
Jeffrey Jon Shaw ◽  
Lucile Maria Floeter-Winter ◽  
Maria Fernanda Laranjeira-Silva

Leishmaniases are zoonotic vector-borne diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania that affect millions of people around the globe. There are various clinical manifestations, ranging from self-healing cutaneous lesions to potentially fatal visceral leishmaniasis, all of which are associated with different Leishmania species. Transmission of these parasites is complex due to the varying ecological relationships between human and/or animal reservoir hosts, parasites, and sand fly vectors. Moreover, vector-borne diseases like leishmaniases are intricately linked to environmental changes and socioeconomic risk factors, advocating the importance of the One Health approach to control these diseases. The development of an accurate, fast, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for leishmaniases is a priority, and the implementation of various control measures such as animal sentinel surveillance systems is needed to better detect, prevent, and respond to the (re-)emergence of leishmaniases.


2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Hung ◽  
Henry Madsen ◽  
Bernard Fried

AbstractFishborne zoonotic trematodes (FZT), infecting humans and mammals worldwide, are reviewed and options for control discussed. Fifty nine species belonging to 4 families, i.e. Opisthorchiidae (12 species), Echinostomatidae (10 species), Heterophyidae (36 species) and Nanophyetidae (1 species) are listed. Some trematodes, which are highly pathogenic for humans such as Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, O. felineus are discussed in detail, i.e. infection status in humans in endemic areas, clinical aspects, symptoms and pathology of disease caused by these flukes. Other liver fluke species of the Opisthorchiidae are briefly mentioned with information about their infection rate and geographical distribution. Intestinal flukes are reviewed at the family level. We also present information on the first and second intermediate hosts as well as on reservoir hosts and on habits of human eating raw or undercooked fish.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-154
Author(s):  
Vasilica Cristescu ◽  
Aurelia Romila ◽  
Luana Andreea Macovei

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a disease that occurs mostly in the elderly and is rarely seen in patients less than 50 years of age. Polymyalgia rheumatica is a vasculitis, which manifests itself as an inflammatory disease of the vascular wall that can affect any type of blood vessel, regardless of its size. It has been considered a form of giant cell arteritis, involving primarily large and medium arteries and to a lesser extent the arterioles. Clinical manifestations are caused by the generic pathogenic process and depend on the characteristics of the damaged organ. PMR is a senescence-related immune disorder. It has been defined as a stand-alone condition and a syndrome referred to as rheumatic polyarteritis with manifestations of giant cell arteritis (especially in cases of Horton�s disease and temporal arteritis) which are commonly associated with polymyalgia. The clinical presentation is clearly dominated by the painful girdle syndrome, with a feeling of general discomfort. Polymyalgia and temporal arteritis may coexist or be consecutive to each other in the same patient, as in most of our patients. The present study describes 3 cases of polymyalgia rheumatica, admitted to the Clinic of Rheumatology of Sf. Apostol Andrei Hospital, Galati. The cases were compared with the literature. Two clinical aspects (polymyalgia rheumatica and/or Horton�s disease) and the relationship between them were also considered. Polymyalgia rheumatica is currently thought to have a multifactorial etiology, in which the following factors play a role: genetic factors or hereditary predisposition (some individuals are more prone to this disease), immune factors and viral infections (triggers of the disease). Other risk factors of polymyalgia rheumatica include age over 50 years and the association with giant cell arteritis. The characteristic feature of the disease is girdle pain, with intense stiffness of at least one hour�s duration. Markers of inflammation, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein are almost always increased at the onset of the disease. Diseases that can mimic the clinical picture of polymyalgia rheumatica are neoplasia, infections, metabolic disorders of the bone and endocrine diseases.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Soleimani ◽  
Ahmad Masoumi ◽  
Sadegh Khodavaisy ◽  
Mostafa Heidari ◽  
Ali A. Haydar ◽  
...  

AbstractNocardia species are an uncommon but important cause of keratitis. The purpose of this review is to discus previous published papers relation to the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis and management of Nocardia keratitis. Nocardia asteroides is the most frequently reported from Nocardia keratitis. Pain, photophobia, blepharospasm and lid swelling are mainly clinical manifestations. Usual risk factors for Nocardia keratitis are trauma, surgery, corticosteroids, and contact lens wear. Several antibiotics were used for treatment of Nocardia infection but according to studies, topical amikacin is the drug of choice for Nocardia keratitis. Topical steroid should not prescribe in these patients. In conclusion, although Nocardia keratitis is rare, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent any scar formation and preserve a good visual acuity.


2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq A. Madani ◽  
Nabeela A. Al-Abdullah ◽  
Ali A. Al-Sanousi ◽  
Tawfik M. Ghabrah ◽  
Shadia Z. Afandi ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:To review clinical experience with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in tertiary-care hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Design:Retrospective review for the year 1998.Setting:Two tertiary-care hospitals.Methods:Results of MRSA-positive cultures of clinical specimens obtained as part of investigations for suspected infections were retrieved from the microbiology laboratories' records. Charts of patients were reviewed, with standardized data collection.Results:Of 673 S aureus isolates identified, 222 (33%, or 6.8 isolates/1,000 admissions) were MRSA Overall MRSA prevalence was 2% in 1988. Nosocomial acquisition occurred in 84.2% of cases. All age groups were affected, and 52% of patients had at least one comorbidity. MRSA prevalence was highest in the intensive care units (26.6% of all isolates), the medical wards (24.8%), and the surgical wards (19.8%). Seventy-three percent of isolates caused infection; the rest represented colonization. Surgical wounds (35.2%), the chest (29%), and central venous catheters (13%) were the most common sites of infection. Bacteremia occurred in 15.4% of patients. Local signs (84%) and fever (75.9%) were the most common clinical manifestations. Respiratory distress and septic shock occurred in 30.2% and 13.6% of cases, respectively. Of 162 patients with MRSA infection and 60 patients with MRSA colonization, 95.7% and 70% received antibiotics in the preceding 6 weeks, respectively (P<.0001). The total mortality of patients with MRSA infection was 53.7%: 36.4% as a result of MRSA infection and 17.3% as a result of other causes.Conclusions:The prevalence of MRSA is high and rapidly increasing in the two hospitals, as it is worldwide. Control measures to prevent die spread of MRSA in hospitals should continue, with reinforcement of hygienic precautions and development of policies to restrict the use of antibiotics.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 212-216
Author(s):  
Frecus Corina ◽  
Balasa Adriana ◽  
Ungureanu Adina ◽  
Mihai Larisia ◽  
Cuzic Viviana ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives: Establishing the frequency of pleurisy from the total number of admissions in the Paediatrics Department, as well as the frequency of pleurisy from the total number of respiratory ailments that required hospitalization; evaluating age group distribution and determining the influence of environmental factors; describing clinical manifestations, laboratory, radiologic, and bacteriological investigations in patients with pleurisy; quantifying clinical manifestations and investigations so as to establish an appropriate therapeutic approach; identifying clinical aspects that indicate a favourable/unfavourable evolution; analyzing the evolution of cases after treatment as revealed by radiologic imaging. Method: Retrospective study on 47 patients diagnosed with pleurisy and admitted in the Paediatrics Department of Constanta Clinical Emergency Hospital, over a span of 3 years (2011-2013), based on data collected from observation sheets. Results: A downward trend in what regards the frequency of pleurisy can be observed from 2011 to 2013. Rural provenience and other environmental factors continue to play an important role. Clinical manifestations tend to be more significant for younger patients and they are directly related to the specific pathogen identified during laboratory investigations. Conclusion: Following an early diagnosis and a subsequent adequate treatment, evolution tends to be favourable in most cases, although certain post-hospitalization measures still need to be implemented in order to ensure full recovery and restitution ad integrum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Eloiza Sarmento Amoras ◽  
Anderson Luiz Pena Costa

Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi of the genus Aspergillus. These substances cause food poisoning with clinical manifestations that vary according to the time of exposure and concentration of the dose ingested, representing a serious public health problem for compromising the food security, also causing considerable economic losses both in the production of stocked vegetable foods, as well as in the livestock contaminated with these substances through the feed. Therefore, this literature review aims to introduce some aspects related to the contamination of food by the fungi of the genus Aspergillus, the chemical and toxicological properties of the aflatoxins, as well as the strategies of control to avoid them in food.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
R R Arthur

Within the past decade, Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) has been recognised for the first time in four countries. Our understanding of the epidemiology, clinical aspects, laboratory diagnosis and control measures for EHF has improved considerably as a result of the outbreaks in these countries and the re-emergence that has occurred in another. The coordinated international responses to several of the large EHF outbreaks serve as models for controlling epidemics of other communicable diseases. This report is a chronological overview of the EHF outbreaks in Africa during the past decade, including the recent epidemics in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, and highlights new discoveries and some of the remaining challenges.


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