A survey on gastro-intestinal helminth parasites of Channa species at Kanchanrup Municipality, Saptari, Nepal

A survey on gastro-intestinal helminth parasites of Channa species was done from the fish markets of Kanchanrup municipality and surrounding rivers and ponds with the help of local fishermen from May 2017 to April 2018. The experimental fishes were carried in the laboratory of Post Graduate Campus, Biratnagar. The visceral masses of the fishes were removed and examined under microscope by simple wet mount preparation for occurrence of various helminth parasites. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. C. orientalis (n=200) was infected by nematodes (Capillaria pterophylli), trematodes (Gonocerca physidis and Genarchopsis goppo) and cestodes (Senga sp.) giving prevalence of 87.5%. Similarly, C. striatus (n=225) was infected by nematodes (Camallanus intestinalis and Neocamellanus sp.), cestodes (Bothriocephalus sp.) and acanthacephalan (Pallisentis ophiocephali) with prevalence of infection 85.33%. The total multiple infection number was 131(74.9 %) found in C. orientalis. Channa spp. were heavily loaded by gastro-intestinal helminth parasites which may give rise to a health threat of zoonotic transmission to consumers. Therefore, immediate development of effective control measures and an application of good nourishment practice urgently needed to lower the helminth infection to fishes.

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Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Helminth Infections in Colic and Non-Colic Control Equine Patients

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10101916 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1916 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Heidrun Gehlen ◽

Nadine Wulke ◽

Antonia Ertelt ◽

Martin K. Nielsen ◽

Simone Morelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helminth Infection ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Age Groups ◽

Study Groups ◽

Control Measures ◽

Anthelmintic Treatment ◽

Intestinal Helminth ◽

Intestinal Helminths ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Significant Difference

All around the world, intestinal helminths constitute one of the most prevalent life-long occurring infections and re-infections affecting all horse age groups. A range of parasite species among strongyles, ascarids, and tapeworms is known to have the potential to cause colic in horses. However, there is a lack of current scientific evidence on the actual relevance of helminth infection levels in the context of colic in horses kept during prevailing epidemiological conditions. Thus, a prospective case-control study on the occurrence of intestinal helminths in a total of 620 mainly adult equine clinic patients was conducted to investigate the association between colic and helminth infection. For each horse, a range of copromicroscopic, serological, and clinical data was obtained, in addition to a questionnaire on relevant anamnestic data, including previous anthelmintic treatment and husbandry. Using a FLOTAC-based copromicroscopic diagnosis, the highest infection rates were seen for strongyles (41.8%), followed by Anoplocephala perfoliata and Parascaris spp. (both 0.8%), with no significant difference between the two study groups. Employing a real-time PCR a 1.1% S. vulgaris DNA prevalence was found. Considerably higher seroprevalences were observed using S. vulgaris and A. perfoliata ELISAs, with 32.3% and 10.7%, respectively. It was noteworthy that no association concerning either serologic status was encountered with colic status. The shedding of strongyle eggs was associated with a 1.8-times increased risk of S. vulgaris seropositivity. Recent anthelmintic treatment was associated with the onset of colic, as animals who had received an anthelmintic during the previous week had a 2.4-times higher risk of signs of colic compared to those who had been treated at least eight weeks prior. Another noteworthy observation was that ponies were significantly less often affected by colic than warmbloods. The high S. vulgaris and considerable A. perfoliata seroprevalences encountered in this investigation should prompt veterinarians, farm managers, and horse owners to maintain consequent and effective worm control measures.

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Levels of helminth infection in the flat lizard Tropidurus semitaeniatus from north-eastern Brazil

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x15000826 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 90 (6) ◽

pp. 779-783 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C.H. Bezerra ◽

R.W. Ávila ◽

D.C. Passos ◽

D. Zanchi-Silva ◽

C.A.B. Galdino

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Helminth Infection ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Intestinal Helminth ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Intestinal Nematode ◽

Eastern Brazil ◽

Host Sex ◽

North Eastern ◽

First Time

AbstractParasites represent a great, unknown component of animal biodiversity. Recent efforts have begun to uncover patterns of infection by helminth parasites in several Neotropical lizards. The present study reports, for the first time, levels of helminth infection in a population of the flat lizard Tropidurus semitaeniatus. One hundred and thirty-nine lizards were examined and evidence of five intestinal helminth species was found, comprising four species of nematodes, one species of cestode and an unidentified encysted larval nematode. The most frequently occurring species was the intestinal nematode Parapharyngodon alvarengai, which did not exhibit differences in prevalence and intensity of infection relative to host sex or age/body size. Furthermore, helminth species richness was not related to host body size.

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Epidemiology of intestinal helminth parasites in stray dogs from markets in south-eastern Nigeria

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x10000738 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 415-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

I.C. Okoye ◽

N.R. Obiezue ◽

C.E. Okorie ◽

I.E. Ofoezie

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Effective Control ◽

Intestinal Helminth ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Intensity Pattern ◽

Stray Dogs ◽

South Eastern ◽

Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Trichuris Vulpis

AbstractA survey of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of stray dogs (Canis familiaris) was conducted at Obollo-Afor and Ekwulobia markets, in Enugu and Anambra States, south-eastern Nigeria, respectively, to determine the patterns of infection among dogs in different parts of south-eastern Nigeria. Faecal samples collected, using long forceps, from every dog encountered in the markets between June 2007 and December 2008 were analysed by the Kato–Katz technique. Out of 413 dogs examined in both markets, 217 (52.6%) were infected with at least one of five parasites (Toxocara spp., Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma caninum, Taenia spp. and Trichuris vulpis). Overall faecal egg intensity of infection was 49.9 ± 58.7 eggs/g (epg). The prevalence of infection was comparable between the markets and between the male and female dogs, but varied significantly (P < 0.05) by age, decreasing from 78.9% in pups to 36.0% in adult dogs. The mean intensity pattern was similar to that of prevalence, decreasing from 86.7 ± 63.0 epg in pups to 22.1 ± 34.4 in adults. The most important individual parasite infection was Ancylostoma spp. (39.2%; 30.0 ± 41.2 epg) while T. vulpis was the least important (1.9%; 0.7 ± 5.4 epg). Generally, prevalence and intensity patterns of each parasite were also comparable between the markets and between sexes, but significantly (P < 0.05) age-dependent. The implications of these findings to public health in Nigeria and other endemic countries are discussed in relation to options for cost-effective control design and implementation.

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Context-dependent roles of B cells during intestinal helminth infection

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. e0009340

Author(s):

Aidil Zaini ◽

Kim L. Good-Jacobson ◽

Colby Zaph

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Helminth Infection ◽

Lymphoid Cells ◽

Model Systems ◽

Intestinal Helminth ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Potential Factors ◽

New Perspective ◽

Context Specific

The current approaches to reduce the burden of chronic helminth infections in endemic areas are adequate sanitation and periodic administration of deworming drugs. Yet, resistance against some deworming drugs and reinfection can still rapidly occur even after treatment. A vaccine against helminths would be an effective solution at preventing reinfection. However, vaccines against helminth parasites have yet to be successfully developed. While T helper cells and innate lymphoid cells have been established as important components of the protective type 2 response, the roles of B cells and antibodies remain the most controversial. Here, we review the roles of B cells during intestinal helminth infection. We discuss the potential factors that contribute to the context-specific roles for B cells in protection against diverse intestinal helminth parasite species, using evidence from well-defined murine model systems. Understanding the precise roles of B cells during resistance and susceptibility to helminth infection may offer a new perspective of type 2 protective immunity.

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Patterns of parasitism and body size in red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z07-123 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 99-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Jamieson C. Gorrell ◽

Albrecht I. Schulte-Hostedde

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽

Helminth Infection ◽

Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽

Intestinal Helminth ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Red Squirrels ◽

Size Dimorphism ◽

Size Dependent ◽

Host Sex

Parasites use their hosts for nutrition, shelter, and even dispersal; the latter can result in sex-biased parasite distribution. Host sex-biased parasitism has been well documented in vertebrates, including mammals, and males are often more parasitized than females. Male-biased parasitism is often attributed to sexual size dimorphism, with larger animals being more parasitized. Here, we used a natural population of red squirrels ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben, 1777)), a species without sexual size dimorphism, to test for sex-biased parasitism in ectoparasites and intestinal helminth parasites. We also tested for size-dependent parasitism to determine the importance of body size on parasitism. We predicted that males would be more parasitized and that larger individuals would be more parasitized. As well, we predicted a male-biased flea distribution on male squirrels. Parasitism fluctuated over the course of 4 months, with flea infection peaking in August and helminth infection peaking in June. We found evidence of male-biased parasitism in helminth and ectoparasite infections. Flea infection was weakly correlated with body size in females but not in males, while no correlation was found between body size and helminth infection. Lastly, fleas had a female-biased population; however, male fleas were more likely to be found on male squirrels, and this could be to maximize dispersal to avoid inbreeding.

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Characterizing the effectiveness of COVID-19 mitigation measures: A data-centric approach (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21321 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lukman Olagoke ◽

Ahmet E. Topcu

Keyword(s):

Control Measure ◽

Control Measures ◽

World Health ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Effective Control ◽

The World ◽

Decision Making Processes ◽

And Performance ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND COVID-19 represents a serious threat to both national health and economic systems. To curb this pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a series of COVID-19 public safety guidelines. Different countries around the world initiated different measures in line with the WHO guidelines to mitigate and investigate the spread of COVID-19 in their territories. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of these control measures using a data-centric approach. METHODS We begin with a simple text analysis of coronavirus-related articles and show that reports on similar outbreaks in the past strongly proposed similar control measures. This reaffirms the fact that these control measures are in order. Subsequently, we propose a simple performance statistic that quantifies general performance and performance under the different measures that were initiated. A density based clustering of based on performance statistic was carried out to group countries based on performance. RESULTS The performance statistic helps evaluate quantitatively the impact of COVID-19 control measures. Countries tend show variability in performance under different control measures. The performance statistic has negative correlation with cases of death which is a useful characteristics for COVID-19 control measure performance analysis. A web-based time-line visualization that enables comparison of performances and cases across continents and subregions is presented. CONCLUSIONS The performance metric is relevant for the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 control measures. This can help caregivers and policymakers identify effective control measures and reduce cases of death due to COVID-19. The interactive web visualizer provides easily digested and quick feedback to augment decision-making processes in the COVID-19 response measures evaluation. CLINICALTRIAL Not Applicable

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Effectiveness of Epidemic Preventive Policies and Hospital Strategies in Combating COVID-19 Outbreak in Taiwan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073456 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3456

Author(s):

Ting Wan Tan ◽

Han Ling Tan ◽

Man Na Chang ◽

Wen Shu Lin ◽

Chih Ming Chang

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Risk Ratio ◽

Early Stage ◽

Control Measures ◽

Polymerase Chain Reaction Test ◽

Effective Control ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Preventive Strategies ◽

Epidemic Control

(1) Background: The implementation of effective control measures in a timely fashion is crucial to control the epidemic outbreak of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to analyze the control measures implemented during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as evaluating the responses and outcomes at different phases for epidemic control in Taiwan. (2) Methods: This case study reviewed responses to COVID-19 and the effectiveness of a range of control measures implemented for epidemic control in Taiwan and assessed all laboratory-confirmed cases between 11 January until 20 December 2020, inclusive of these dates. The confirmation of COVID-19 infection was defined as the positive result of a reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction test taken from a nasopharyngeal swab. Test results were reported by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. The incidence rate, mortality rate, and testing rate were compiled, and the risk ratio was provided to gain insights into the effectiveness of prevention measures. (3) Results and Discussion: This study presents retrospective data on the COVID-19 incidence rate in Taiwan, combined with the vital preventive control measures, in a timeline of the early stage of the epidemic that occurred in Taiwan. The implementation of multiple strategy control measures and the assistance of technologies to control the COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan led to a relatively slower trend in the outbreak compared to the neighboring countries. In Taiwan, 766 confirmed patients were included, comprised of 88.1% imported cases and 7.2% local transmission cases, within the studied period. The incidence rate of COVID-19 in Taiwan during the studied period was 32 per million people, with a mortality rate of 0.3 per million people. Our analysis showed a significantly raised incidence risk ratio in the countries of interest in comparison to Taiwan during the study period; in the range of 1.9 to 947.5. The outbreak was brought under control through epidemic policies and hospital strategies implemented by the Taiwan Government. (4) Conclusion: Taiwan’s preventive strategies resulted in a drastically lower risk for Taiwan nationals of contracting COVID-19 when new pharmaceutical drug or vaccines were not yet available. The preventive strategies employed by Taiwan could serve as a guide and reference for future epidemic control strategies.

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Molecular Identification of Mushroom Species in Italy: An Ongoing Project Aimed at Reinforcing the Control Measures of an Increasingly Appreciated Sustainable Food

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010238 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 238

Author(s):

Alice Giusti ◽

Enrica Ricci ◽

Laura Gasperetti ◽

Marta Galgani ◽

Luca Polidori ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Selection Process ◽

Winning Strategy ◽

Control Measures ◽

Effective Control ◽

Mushroom Poisoning ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Similar Species ◽

Mushroom Species ◽

Ongoing Research ◽

Genotypic Analysis

Proper investment in mushroom production (farming and wild mushroom picking activities) may represent a winning strategy for many countries, including Italy, to better face the problems of food security and environmental impact, and to break away from imports, enhancing the local products. However, the risk related to the consumption of poisoning species requires governments to implement or reinforce effective control measures to protect consumers. Mushroom identification by phenotype observation is hardly applicable if morphologically-similar species, non-whole specimens, or clinical samples are involved. Genotypic analysis is a valid alternative. An ongoing research project involving the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lazio and Tuscany, the regional Mycological Inspectorate, the Tuscany Mycological Groups Association, and the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Pisa aims to reinforce the collaboration among institutions for the management of mushroom poisoning. The core’s project aims to develop an internal genetic database to support the identification of wild and cultivated mushroom species in the Italian territory. The database will include Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences retrieved from official databases (the NCBI GenBank and the BOLD system) which are considered to be reliable, after a proper selection process, and sequences from specimens collected directly and identified by expert mycologists. Once it is validated, the database will be available and further implementable by the official network of national laboratories.

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Timing and Route of Contamination of Patient Rooms With Healthcare-Associated Pathogens

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.1066 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s412-s412

Author(s):

Sarah Redmond ◽

Jennifer Cadnum ◽

Basya Pearlmutter ◽

Natalia Pinto Herrera ◽

Curtis Donskey

Keyword(s):

Acute Care Hospital ◽

Current Control ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Control Measures ◽

Effective Control ◽

Portable Devices ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Spa Typing ◽

Persistent Problem ◽

Healthcare Associated

Background: Transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a persistent problem in healthcare facilities despite current control measures. A better understanding of the routes of pathogen transmission is needed to develop effective control measures. Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study in an acute-care hospital to identify the timing and route of transfer of pathogens to rooms of newly admitted patients with negative MRSA nares results and no known carriage of other healthcare-associated pathogens. Rooms were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to patient admission. Interactions of patients with personnel and portable equipment were observed, and serial cultures for pathogens were collected from the skin of patients and from surfaces, including those observed to come in contact with personnel and equipment. For MRSA, spa typing was used to determine relatedness of patient and environmental isolates. Results: For the 17 patients enrolled, 1 or more environmental cultures became positive for MRSA in rooms of 10 patients (59%), for C. difficile in rooms of 2 patients (12%) and for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in rooms of 2 patients (12%). The patients interacted with an average of 2.4 personnel and 0.6 portable devices per hour of observation. As shown in Figure 1, MRSA contamination of the floor occurred rapidly as personnel entered the room. In a subset of patients, MRSA was subsequently recovered from patients’ socks and bedding and ultimately from the high-touch surfaces in the room (tray table, call button, bedrail). For several patients, MRSA isolates recovered from the floor had the same spa type as isolates subsequently recovered from other sites (eg, socks, bedding, and/or high touch surfaces). The direct transfer of healthcare-associated pathogens from personnel or equipment to high-touch surfaces was not detected. Conclusions: Healthcare-associated pathogens rapidly accumulate on the floor of patient rooms and can be transferred to the socks and bedding of patients and to high-touch surfaces. Healthcare facility floors may be an underappreciated source of pathogen dissemination not addressed by current infection control measures.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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Genome sequence, transcriptome, and annotation of rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis N67

BMC Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12864-021-07555-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cui Zhang ◽

Cihan Oguz ◽

Sue Huse ◽

Lu Xia ◽

Jian Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

Malaria Parasite ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

De Novo ◽

Gene Families ◽

Plasmodium Yoelii ◽

Control Measures ◽

Effective Control ◽

Malaria Parasites ◽

Rodent Malaria

Abstract Background Rodent malaria parasites are important models for studying host-malaria parasite interactions such as host immune response, mechanisms of parasite evasion of host killing, and vaccine development. One of the rodent malaria parasites is Plasmodium yoelii, and multiple P. yoelii strains or subspecies that cause different disease phenotypes have been widely employed in various studies. The genomes and transcriptomes of several P. yoelii strains have been analyzed and annotated, including the lethal strains of P. y. yoelii YM (or 17XL) and non-lethal strains of P. y. yoelii 17XNL/17X. Genomic DNA sequences and cDNA reads from another subspecies P. y. nigeriensis N67 have been reported for studies of genetic polymorphisms and parasite response to drugs, but its genome has not been assembled and annotated. Results We performed genome sequencing of the N67 parasite using the PacBio long-read sequencing technology, de novo assembled its genome and transcriptome, and predicted 5383 genes with high overall annotation quality. Comparison of the annotated genome of the N67 parasite with those of YM and 17X parasites revealed a set of genes with N67-specific orthology, expansion of gene families, particularly the homologs of the Plasmodium chabaudi erythrocyte membrane antigen, large numbers of SNPs and indels, and proteins predicted to interact with host immune responses based on their functional domains. Conclusions The genomes of N67 and 17X parasites are highly diverse, having approximately one polymorphic site per 50 base pairs of DNA. The annotated N67 genome and transcriptome provide searchable databases for fast retrieval of genes and proteins, which will greatly facilitate our efforts in studying the parasite biology and gene function and in developing effective control measures against malaria.

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