Zoonotic infections with filarial nematodes

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harman S. Paintal ◽  
Rajinder K. Chitkara
Keyword(s):  
Human Mobility ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Filarial Nematodes ◽  
Worldwide Web ◽  
Dna Primers

Filarial nematodes have been known to cause human disease for many centuries. Lymphatic filariasis is a common disease in the developing part of the world and much has been written about diagnosis and treatment of this scourge. Wuchereria , Brugia and Onchocerca (especially O. volvulus) have a wide pattern of distribution with severe morbidity. Given the years of scientific work in this field, many drugs that work against these parasites are available today and are attempting to control these infections. In this chapter, the focus is on those filarial nematodes that do not have humans as their primary host. Instead, the filarial organisms that usually parasitize other animals and cause human infection due to a variety of factors are discussed. These factors include: 1. Proximity of humans to the primary host, 2. Proximity of humans to the vector, 3. Changing ecology with introduction of different animals (both host and vector) into new environments, 4. Increasing human mobility, 5. Special scenarios concerning humans, including altered immune function (immunosuppressed due to drugs, auto-immune illness, immunosuppressive diseases), There has been a recent interest in this field because newer diagnostic techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, DNA primers and electron microscopy have become widespread in use. This will eventually enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of infections with these seemingly rare filarial organisms.Much of the early work in this field was done in a few specialized centers. As information about these parasites (through the worldwide web) and diagnostic techniques are now widely available, it is our hope that more work regarding these nematodes will be carried out in the developing countries where these infections are common. In this chapter, we focus on Dirofi laria, Meningonema, Loaina, Dipetalonema and certain species of Onchocerca and Brugia.

scholarly journals Moraxella catarrhalis: from Emerging to Established Pathogen

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cees M. Verduin ◽  
Cees Hol ◽  
André Fleer ◽  
Hans van Dijk ◽  
Alex van Belkum
Keyword(s):  
Moraxella Catarrhalis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
The Past

SUMMARY Moraxella catarrhalis (formerly known as Branhamella catarrhalis) has emerged as a significant bacterial pathogen of humans over the past two decades. During this period, microbiological and molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed and improved for M. catarrhalis, allowing the adequate determination and taxonomic positioning of this pathogen. Over the same period, studies have revealed its involvement in respiratory (e.g., sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis, and pneumonia) and ocular infections in children and in laryngitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia in adults. The development of (molecular) epidemiological tools has enabled the national and international distribution of M. catarrhalis strains to be established, and has allowed the monitoring of nosocomial infections and the dynamics of carriage. Indeed, such monitoring has revealed an increasing number of Β-lactamase-positive M. catarrhalis isolates (now well above 90%), underscoring the pathogenic potential of this organism. Although a number of putative M. catarrhalis virulence factors have been identified and described in detail, their relationship to actual bacterial adhesion, invasion, complement resistance, etc. (and ultimately their role in infection and immunity), has been established in a only few cases. In the past 10 years, various animal models for the study of M. catarrhalis pathogenicity have been described, although not all of these models are equally suitable for the study of human infection. Techniques involving the molecular manipulation of M. catarrhalis genes and antigens are also advancing our knowledge of the host response to and pathogenesis of this bacterial species in humans, as well as providing insights into possible vaccine candidates. This review aims to outline our current knowledge of M. catarrhalis, an organism that has evolved from an emerging to a well-established human pathogen.

scholarly journals Subcutaneous dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens in Sri Lanka: A potential risk of transmitting human dirofilariasis

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2050313X1770137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayana Gunathilaka ◽  
Shirom Siriwardana ◽  
Lakmini Wijesooriya ◽  
Gayana Gunaratne ◽  
Nilanga Perera
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Abdominal Wall ◽  
Anterior Abdominal Wall ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Filarial Nematodes ◽  
Human Dirofilariasis ◽  
Proper Diagnosis ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Controlling Measures

Objective: Dirofilariasis is a parasitic infection caused by filarial nematodes belonging to the genus Dirofilaria. Human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria repens has been widely reported from European countries. Sri Lanka is the most affected country in Asia with an infection rate of almost 60% in dog population. However, human infection of D. repens remains undiagnosed and many of the cases are not scientifically documented. Therefore, the objective of the present investigation is to document the presence of dirofilariasis infections in humans. Method: A 1 year and 10 months old boy from Ragama, Gampaha District, Western Province of Sri Lanka, was presented to a private hospital with a painless, non-pruritic and ill-defined subcutaneous nodule on his right hypochondrial region of the anterior abdominal wall for 1 week. On examination, there was a non-tender swelling measuring 2 cm × 2 cm in the anterior abdominal wall, with surrounding mild redness. The patient was referred for ultrasound confirmation. Results: The ultrasound scan revealed a hypoechoic nodular lesion measuring 11 mm × 6 mm in the anterior abdominal wall. Parasitological examination on the excised nodule confirmed the presence of D. repens measuring 10.5 cm in length having characteristic cuticle with longitudinal ridges. Conclusion: It is essential to record the human infections and increase the awareness about this infection, diagnostic tests and vector controlling measures, in order to reduce the disease prevalence through suppressing vector densities, proper diagnosis and patient care.

scholarly journals Calling in sick: impacts of fever on intra-urban human mobility

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1834) ◽  
pp. 20160390 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Alex Perkins ◽  
Valerie A. Paz-Soldan ◽  
Steven T. Stoddard ◽  
Amy C. Morrison ◽  
Brett M. Forshey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Mobility ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Contact Network ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Nested Models ◽  
Host Mobility ◽  
Group A ◽  
Study Participants

Pathogens inflict a wide variety of disease manifestations on their hosts, yet the impacts of disease on the behaviour of infected hosts are rarely studied empirically and are seldom accounted for in mathematical models of transmission dynamics. We explored the potential impacts of one of the most common disease manifestations, fever, on a key determinant of pathogen transmission, host mobility, in residents of the Amazonian city of Iquitos, Peru. We did so by comparing two groups of febrile individuals (dengue-positive and dengue-negative) with an afebrile control group. A retrospective, semi-structured interview allowed us to quantify multiple aspects of mobility during the two-week period preceding each interview. We fitted nested models of each aspect of mobility to data from interviews and compared models using likelihood ratio tests to determine whether there were statistically distinguishable differences in mobility attributable to fever or its aetiology. Compared with afebrile individuals, febrile study participants spent more time at home, visited fewer locations, and, in some cases, visited locations closer to home and spent less time at certain types of locations. These multifaceted impacts are consistent with the possibility that disease-mediated changes in host mobility generate dynamic and complex changes in host contact network structure.

scholarly journals Evaluation of LDH and Gamma Interferon as Biochemical Markers for Diagnosis of Pulmonary and Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
SK Baul ◽  
SMR Hossain ◽  
D Parvin ◽  
M Hadiuzzaman ◽  
MS Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Early Management ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Extra Pulmonary

Tuberculosis is a common disease throughout the world, especially in developing countries. The most common form of the disease is pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is also a growing problem worldwide. The diagnosis of PTB and EPTB is even harder when smears and cultures are negative. Due to its nature, the diversity of clinical pictures, the diagnosis of EPTB is often difficult and late. Advances in rapid diagnostic techniques are urgently required both for the early management of the new cases of TB and for the individuals already infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are at risk of developing disease. In addition to standard TB diagnostic techniques, use of new biochemical surrogate markers like LDH and gamma interferon are new suggested. This study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic value and accuracy of serum LDH and gamma interferon for the diagnosis of PTB and EPTB. This crosssectional study was carried out in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, NIDCH, Dhaka and by convenient and purposive sampling, 131 patients (male 98, female 33) having age range of 20-90 years were enrolled for the study. Serum LDH and QuantiFERON-TB gold (QFT-G i.e. gamma interferon) were estimated and the result was compared with the culture and histopathology results. Performance tests were done. Prevalence was measured at 95% CI. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Of 131 patients 89 (67.9%) had pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the rest 42 (32.1%) had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Level of LDH and gamma interferon in serum of all patients was found significantly high. TB pleural effusion was detected in 64% cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values and accuracy of LDH and gamma interferon wre calculated both in PTB and EPTB. For LDH it was (SEN 89.22%, SPE 85.66%, PPV 88.82%, NPV 86.11%) and for gamma interferon (SEN 93.01%, SPE 91.64%, PPV 93.73%, NPV 91.18%) in PTB; and for LDH (SEN 89.27%, SPE 87.18%, PPV 84.35%, NPV 90.36%) and for gamma interferon (SEN 94.88%, SPE 93.65%, PPV 90.04%, NPV 95.82%) in EPTB respectively. When calculated in combination, the sensitivity and specificity was 100% and 50% respectively in both PTB and EPTB, and positive and negative predictive values of LDH and gamma interferon in combination were 94.00% and 91.58% in PTB and 90.43% and 96.71% in EPTB respectively. The study concludes that the diagnostic accuracy of LDH and gamma interferon is low when single test is done but it is significantly high when done in combination.Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2017; 10(2): 69-74

scholarly journals HUMAN DIROFILARIASIS: AN UNCOMMON CASE OF SUB CUTANEOUS INFECTION WITH DIROFILARIA REPENS WITH A BRIEF REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2011 ◽  
Vol 01 (01/03) ◽  
pp. 60-62
Author(s):  
Sanjeev H. ◽  
Rajini M. ◽  
Prasad S. R.
Keyword(s):  
Human Infection ◽  
Dirofilaria Repens ◽  
Cutaneous Infection ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Zoonotic Infection ◽  
Ocular Infections ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Filarial Nematodes ◽  
Human Dirofilariasis ◽  
Uncommon Case

AbstractDirofilaria are a group of arthropod borne filarial nematodes that cause infection in wide range of domestic and wild animals. Dirofilaria repens is a common zoonotic infection in countries like Sri Lanka. Human infection with Dirofilaria repens is not widely recognized in India. Most of the documented cases of human dirofilariasis recorded in India presented with ocular infections, affecting the eyelid, periorbital region and occasionally the sub conjunctivae. Here we report a rare case of sub cutaneous dirofilariasis, which presented as a swelling at an uncommon site.

scholarly journals Francisella tularensis in muscle from diseased hares – a risk factor for humans?

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (16) ◽  
pp. 3449-3454 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. HESTVIK ◽  
H. UHLHORN ◽  
T. JINNEROT ◽  
S. ÅKERSTRÖM ◽  
F. SÖDERSTEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Game Species ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Gross Lesions ◽  
Sources Of Infection

SUMMARYTularemia caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic disease. Tularemia is a common disease in the hare, and as a game species can be an important source of infection for humans. In this study, hares diagnosed with tularemia were examined with the aim to investigate whether the muscle (meat) had any pathological changes and/or contained F. tularensis. Real-time PCR and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC) detected the bacteria in muscle samples from 40 out of 43 investigated hares. IHC showed that bacteria were few and most commonly located in the peri- and endomysium. Histopathology showed occasional perimysial necroses and mild inflammation in association to the bacteria. Attempts to culture from 14 muscle samples were successful in two cases, both stored in the freezer <1 year. The result of this study shows that since F. tularensis is present in the muscle of infected hares, there is a risk for human infection when consuming undercooked hare meat. The risk is enhanced by the fact that some hares do not have easily detected gross lesions. The study contributes to a better understanding of sources of infection and risk factors for humans to contract tularemia.

scholarly journals Editorial for the Special Issue “Parasitic Diseases from Wild Animals with an Emphasis on Zoonotic Infections”

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2267
Author(s):  
María Teresa Gómez-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Prevalence Data ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Zoonotic Parasites

The present Editorial intends to briefly describe the findings published in the Special Issue, “Parasitic diseases from wild animals with an emphasis on zoonotic infections”. Prevalence data or diagnostic techniques were the focus of several zoonotic parasites transmitted from wildlife, including the protozoa Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Blastocystis and Leishmania, and the helminths Echinococcus and Anisakis.

Other bacterial diseasesStaphylococcal zoonoses

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
The Common ◽  
Mrsa Strains ◽  
The Uk

Staphylococcal species are common commensals of the skin and mucous membranes of humans and animals but only in very recent years has zoonotic infections been recognised. They can also be associated with infection and disease, especially coagulase positive organisms. Staphylococcus aureus is relatively frequently carried by humans in the nasal passages and is a cause of infections in people including bacteraemias in hospitalised patients. More recently some strains of Staphylococcus aureus have acquired a resistance gene (mecA) which renders them resistant to meticillin (meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA). MRSA isolates are of major importance in healthcare situations as well as increasingly in the community. Animals can also be carriers of Staphylococcus aureus although less frequently than humans and MRSA can be carried or infect several different host species. For companion animals such as dogs and cats, the most frequently isolated MRSA strains are similar to the common local human healthcare strains; thus for the UK, EMRSA-15 and -16. This suggests a reverse zoonosis with spill over from the human population into their companion animals. In horses the situation is different, with some horses carrying or infected with human epidemic strains but others infected with strains less frequently seen in people. For food-producing animals the picture is different again with a particular strain, ST398, which appears to circulate endemically in animal populations, such as pigs, and can spill over into the human population where it can cause carriage as well as infection and disease. The transmission appears to be by direct contact with animals rather than through the food-chain.Where risk factors for infection with MRSA have been studied in animals they appear similar to some of the risks for human infection. Therefore, for control of MRSA in animals measures such as improved hygiene and good antibacterial stewardship are important.

Imaging and interventional treatment

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gauthier Raynal ◽  
Olivier Traxer
Keyword(s):  
Great Part ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Stone Disease ◽  
Interventional Treatment ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Shockwave Lithotripsy ◽  
Tailored Treatment ◽  
Adrenergic Blocker ◽  
Stone Type

AbstractUrolithiasis has a great importance in the urologist’s practice: it is a common disease which represent a great part of the urologist’s activity, and stone disease is linked to the beginning of urology as an individual medical specialty and to many technical improvements, from the beginning of endoscopy up to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and modern endourology.Imaging and diagnostic techniques and pain relief are described. Usually stones <5mm will pass spontaneously and are managed conservatively. At 5-10mm medical expulsive therapy with an alpha-adrenergic blocker will shorten symptoms. Stones larger than this are likely to need tailored treatment depending on stone type and location and history, choosing from endoscopy, shockwave lithotripsy, or percutaneous lithotripsy.

scholarly journals Diagnostic Identification and Differentiation of Microfilariae

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blaine A. Mathison ◽  
Marc Roger Couturier ◽  
Bobbi S. Pritt
Keyword(s):  
Human Infection ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Clinical Specimens ◽  
Clinical Laboratories ◽  
Filarial Nematodes ◽  
Medical Technologists ◽  
Diagnostic Capabilities

ABSTRACT The morphologic similarities of the microfilariae and their infrequency in clinical specimens in settings of endemicity present challenges to clinical laboratories in maintaining competence for accurate identification and differentiation. We present here a review of the primary filarial nematodes causing human infection, including an illustrated key, which we hope will improve the diagnostic capabilities of hematologists, microbiologists, medical technologists, and similarly qualified laboratorians.

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