scholarly journals Echinococcus spp.: Tapeworms that Pose a Danger to Both Animals and Humans – a Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Brožová ◽  
I. Jankovská ◽  
V. Bejček ◽  
S. Nechybová ◽  
P. Peřinková ◽  
...  

Abstract Species of the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda; Taeniidae) are minute tapeworms of carnivores. Their larvae are known as hydatids (metacestode), which proliferate asexually in various mammals. Like the majority of cestodes, Echinococcus spp. require two different host species to complete their life cycle. Definitive hosts harbouring the adult cestodes in the small intestine are exclusively carnivores of the Canidae and Felidae families. A wide range of mammal species including humans is susceptible to infection by the metacestode of Echinococcus spp., which develops in their viscera. The disease, caused by species of the genus Echinococcus, is called echinococcosis, and it is one of the most dangerous zoonoses in the world. The traditional species Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis are agents of significant diseases due to the high number of cases and the wide geographical species range. The taxonomy of the genus is controversial; in the current state of ongoing complex revisions, the agent of cystic echinococcosis E. granulosus sensu lato is divided into five species (E. granulosus sensu stricto, E. felidis, E. equinus, E. ortleppi, E. canadensis), in addition to the agents of alveolar echinococcosis (E. multilocularis, E. shiquicus) and polycystic/unicystic echinococcosis (E. vogeli, E. oligarthrus). Here we provide an overview of the current situation, which continues to develop.

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rimantas Rakauskas

AbstractInformation on the Aphis species that feed on evening primroses (Oenothera spp.) has been summarized in the catalogue of the aphid species inhabiting herbaceous plants of the world (Blackman & Eastop, 2006). Recent descriptions of the European species, A. holoenotherae (Rakauskas, 2007), that appeared to be a sibling of the American A. oenotherae, demonstrated the need of reexamining the current state of knowledge of the Aphis species inhabiting evening primroses in Europe. The present study, based on published original data, revealed nine aphid species of the genus Aphis which are capable of living on Oenothera plants in Europe. Only two of them are really dependent on Oenothera species during their life cycle: A. oenotherae Oestlund and A. holoenotherae Rakauskas. They have different life cycles and host plant spectrum, although they are very close in their morphology. Processus terminalis length appeared to be the most reliable morphological character in distinguishing between apterous and alate viviparous females, and males of A. oenotherae and A. holoenotherae at the present time. A. grossulariae is not a typical Oenothera-feeder in Europe, occurring on evening primroses only by chance. Other Aphis species (epilobiaria, fabae, sambuci, praeterita, frangulae, nasturtii), are opportunistic inhabitants of Oenothera plants. Information about host specificity and morphology of the Oenothera-inhabiting European Aphis species is summarized, and a key for the entire range of species found living on European Oenothera is provided.


Author(s):  
Sophie Gryseels ◽  
Luc De Bruyn ◽  
Ralf Gyselings ◽  
Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer ◽  
Fabian Leendertz ◽  
...  

It has been a long time since the world has experienced a pandemic with such a rapid devastating impact as the current COVID-19 pandemic. The causative agent, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is further unusual in that it appears capable of infecting many different mammal species. As a significant proportion of people worldwide are infected with SARS-CoV-2 and may spread the infection unknowingly before symptoms occur or without any symptoms ever occurring, there is a non-negligible risk of humans spreading SARS-CoV-2 to wildlife, in particular mammals. Because of SARS-CoV-2’s evolutionary origins in bats and reports of humans transmitting the virus to pets and zoo animals, regulations for prevention of human-to-animal transmission have so far focused mostly on these animal groups. Here, we summarize recent studies and reports that show that a wide range of distantly related mammals are likely susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and that susceptibility or resistance to the virus is in general not predictable, or only to some extent, by phylogenetic proximity to known susceptible or resistant hosts. In the absence of solid evidence on the SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility/resistance for each of the >5,500 mammal species, we argue that sanitary precautions should be taken when interacting with any mammal species in the wild. Preventing human-to-wildlife SARS-CoV-2 transmission is important for protecting these (sometimes endangered) animals from disease, but also to avoid establishment of novel SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs in wild animals. The risk of repeated re-infection of humans from such a wildlife reservoir could severely hamper SARS-CoV-2 control efforts. For wildlife fieldworkers interacting directly or indirectly with mammals, we recommend sanitary precautions such as physical distancing, wearing face masks and gloves, and frequent decontamination, which are very similar to regulations currently imposed to prevent transmission among humans.


Author(s):  
A. A. Gorbunov ◽  
L. E. Sorokina ◽  
D. V. Chegodar ◽  
A. V. Kubyshkin ◽  
I. I. Fomochkina

SARS-CoV-2 is a new representative of the world of virology related to coronaviruses and can cause a wide range of diseases of the respiratory system: from colds to acute respiratory distress-syndrome with severe respiratory failure. The pathogenesis of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is associated with the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to bind to ACE receptors and subsequently activate IL-6, the main stimulator of the “cytokine storm”. Due to such features of the viral pathogenesis, early and accurate detection of active forms, as well as virus carriage are needed. In review, the whole spectrum of the main diagnostic methods is represented, with a comparison of the effectiveness and con- ditional indication of COVID-19: from the currently used methods (RT-PCR, ELISA) to potentially possible (OT-LAMP, CRISPR), as well as those still under development (chemiluminescence).


2021 ◽  
pp. 49-61
Author(s):  
Joanna Bojarska ◽  
Patrycja Złoty ◽  
Wojciech M. Wolf

“One planet, one main goal: good life for all”: it could be a motto of sustainable world. Sustainability is global mega trend in all fields of life to promote prosperity protecting our planet. Sustainable development is a requirement and a priority for all people all over the world. It is defined as development of the current world with a view to the future generations. In 2015, the UN Member States established Agenda 2030, including seventeen “Sustainable Development Goals”, SDG, which should be realized by 2030. Objectives scope all areas of life, namely quality of human life, ecosystem, world peace or partnerships. Each goal has an environmental context. According to the “United Nations Environment Program” (UNEP), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a perfect method in the context of the environmental dimensions of the SDGs. The concept not only concerns the effects of the process/production system or the product/service but also all stages of its life (from cradle to grave), considering the carbon, environmental, consumer or biodiversity footprints. LCA is the only comprehensive eco-innovation indicator and policy implementation technique of sustainable development in companies in terms of eco-efficiency and eco-products. This mini review provides a survey of the current state of knowledge on sustainability and sustainable development as well as the relevance of new holistic methodology bridging SDGs with LCA, on the base of the newest scientific worldwide literature.


Author(s):  
Ivan ZUBAR

The article considers the current state of the garlic market in the world. It is determined that garlic is one of the most widely used crops in the world and has a wide range of uses, which makes it a promising object of business interests. An overview of the dominant trends in the production of garlic, the capacity of the world market, price aspects and formed the top 5 countries-exorcists of this product. The trend of gradual growth of volumes of deliveries and currency earnings has been recorded. The tendencies of export-import circulation of garlic are analyzed, features of production and realization of this product in Ukraine are determined. The key problems of domestic garlic are outlined. A description of the varietal conglomeration of domestic garlic selection was carried out. On the basis of author's data, the calculation of the efficiency of using different planting material and landing schemes was made. Also calculated the expediency of storing garlic in vegetable stores and selling it in winter. On the basis of which are summarized the main vectors of the organization of profitable garlic business in the countryside. According to the results of the conducted research, a number of problematic factors that restrain the effective development of this industry in Ukraine are proposed and the key paradigmatic directions of their solution are proposed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarína Reiterová ◽  
Ewa Dziemian ◽  
Martina Miterpáková ◽  
Daniela Antolová ◽  
Marta Kołodziej-Sobocińska ◽  
...  

AbstractThe extensive distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis cestode from endemic alpine areas to the parts of Central Europe has been recorded in recent years. The first confirmed finding of E. multilocularis in Slovakia was recorded in 1999 in the area adjacent to the Polish border. At present, this serious zoonosis occurs almost across the whole territory of Slovakia. The occurrence of these tapeworms in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) at the border regions of Slovakia and Poland has been monitored. In these districts, out of 152 faecal samples examined, 36.2% were positive for the coproantigen-ELISA. With the sedimentation and counting technique the prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes was up to 38.8%. The examination of foxes from neighbouring districts revealed worm burden ranging from 1–15,000 specimens, but the majority of animals harboured medium number of tapeworms. In the Small Carpathian and Sub-Carpathian regions of Poland, out of 65 samples examined, 13.8% were coproantigen positive. Using the small intestine scraping method only 6.1% prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes was determined, mostly with a high worm burdens over 1,000 specimens. The results suggest possible transborder transmission of E. multilocularis, the causative agent of serious alveolar echinococcosis.


Author(s):  
Imadeddine Mountasser ◽  
Brahim Ouhbi ◽  
Bouchra Frikh ◽  
Ferdaous Hdioud

Nowadays, people and things are becoming permanently interconnected. This interaction overloaded the world with an incredible digital data deluge—termed big data—generated from a wide range of data sources. Indeed, big data has invaded the domain of tourism as a source of innovation that serves to better understand tourists' behavior and enhance tourism destination management and marketing. Thus, tourism stakeholders have increasingly leveraging tourism-related big data sources to gather abundant information concerning all tourism industry axes. However, big data has several complexity aspects and brings commensurate challenges that go along with its exploitation. It has specifically changed the way data is acquired and managed, which may influence the nature and the quality of the conducted analyses and the made decisions. Thus, this article investigates the big data acquisition process and thoroughly identifies its challenges and requirements. It also reveals its current state-of-the-art protocols and frameworks.


Author(s):  
Sumonto Mitra ◽  
Shashi Khandelwal

Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage throughout the world, after water. “Tea” is referred to the aromatic beverage prepared by incubating cured leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis with hot or boiling water. The origin of tea has remained a mystery and has been associated with legends in the Chinese history. Under experimental conditions in laboratory, tea has been reported to act as an anti-cancer agent in various models of lung, pancreas, liver, breast, fore-stomach, oesophagus, duodenum, colon, and skin cancers induced by chemical carcinogens. Tea also contains a wide range of antioxidants and has been found to possess several others health benefits. This chapter summarizes the history behind its use, various health benefits, and current state of scientific literature and epidemiological evidence of its usefulness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Rhewter Nunes ◽  
Renata Oliveira Dias ◽  
Flavia Melo Rodrigues ◽  
Mariana Pires de Campos Telles

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently advancing in the world and has killed more people than other recent coronavirus outbreaks like SARS and MERS together. Coronaviruses known to infect humans were all associated to mammal sources, with different species acting as both natural and/or intermediate hosts of these viruses. Although the zoonotic origin of human coronaviruses is well accepted, a great number of mammal species were not yet investigated as their potential to carry these viruses. This work aimed to provide an overview of the current state of scientific knowledge about what are the mammal groups well known to be associated to coronaviruses and other viruses and what are the most neglected groups in these studies. Here we analyze the production of scientific publications about these and other viruses in association with the 29 taxonomic orders of the Mammalia class. Our results highlighted that most of these taxonomic orders have been little studied or completely unexplored in researches with this focus, with only six orders accumulating more than 99% of the articles on coronaviruses in mammals. Ten mammal groups were not found in any scientific publication in association with coronaviruses, with four of them not found even in works mentioning any type of viruses. These results reinforce the importance of identify all the natural and intermediate hosts for viruses to improve monitoring of potential zoonosis and reduce the chances of new disease outbreaks.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 32-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah-Kristin Thiel ◽  
Michaela Reisinger ◽  
Kathrin Röderer ◽  
Peter Fröhlich

Albeit a wide range of e-participation platforms being already available, the level of public participation remains low. Governments around the world as well as academia are currently exploring new ways to design participation methods that are more engaging to use and will foster participation. One of the strategies is gamification. By adding game elements to e-participation platforms it is hoped to motivate for citizens to engage. This paper reviewed a large number of e-participation platforms, seeking to provide an overview of the current state of the art of so-called gamified participation initiatives. Our results show that while about half of the review projects can be categorized as game-related, only a small amount employs gamification. Moreover, current gamified participation initiatives seem to focus on reward-based gamification, a strategy which is said to come with risks. In this paper we further provide recommendations for future gamified participation projects.


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