Investigation of Cryptosporidium spp. in breeding nucleus of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.)

Animals of the primate order are highly susceptible to parasitic infections due to their social organization, often in groups and interaction between individuals, facilitating the transmission of pathogenic agents, and may be even more prevalent in areas modified by anthropic action. The occurrence of the protozoan Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife animals in captivity or free-living it characterizes great importance of Public Health mainly for its zoonotic potential. This parasite has a cosmopolitan distribution, causes gastrointestinal infection, and its transmission occurs via the fecal-oral route, either through water or through contaminated food. Cryptosporidiosis affects mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, this significant zoonotic potential, in addition to being directly related to the living conditions of the host and the quality of the environment. We investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in primates located at the Tufted Capuchin Monkey Procreation Center (School of Dentistry of Araçatuba - UNESP). Fecal samples from 49 asymptomatic primates of the species Sapajus spp. species were collected below their individual cages, the soil was lined with a plastic bag, thus hindering environmental contamination. The search for oocysts was carried out using the technique of Negative Malachite Green Staining, finding negativity in all samples examined, which suggests the absence of the protozoan Cryptosporidium spp. in primates studied in the breeding center of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.), noting that they were asymptomatic.

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Sparse Evidence for Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia Infections in Humans, Domesticated Animals and Wild Nonhuman Primates Sharing a Farm–Forest Mosaic Landscape in Western Uganda

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10080933 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 933

Author(s):

Marie Cibot ◽

Matthew R. McLennan ◽

Martin Kváč ◽

Bohumil Sak ◽

Caroline Asiimwe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nonhuman Primates ◽

Triosephosphate Isomerase ◽

Ribosomal Subunit ◽

Oral Route ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Mosaic Landscape ◽

Domesticated Animals ◽

Black And White ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Animal Contact

Zoonotic pathogen transmission is considered a leading threat to the survival of non-human primates and public health in shared landscapes. Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia are unicellular parasites spread by the fecal-oral route by environmentally resistant stages and can infect humans, livestock, and wildlife including non-human primates. Using immunoassay diagnostic kits and amplification/sequencing of the region of the triosephosphate isomerase, small ribosomal subunit rRNA and the internal transcribed spacer genes, we investigated Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and microsporidia infections, respectively, among humans, domesticated animals (livestock, poultry, and dogs), and wild nonhuman primates (eastern chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys) in Bulindi, Uganda, an area of remarkably high human–animal contact and spatial overlap. We analyzed 137 fecal samples and revealed the presence of G. intestinalis assemblage B in two human isolates, G. intestinalis assemblage E in one cow isolate, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II in two humans and one goat isolate. None of the chimpanzee and colobus monkey samples were positive for any of the screened parasites. Regular distribution of antiparasitic treatment in both humans and domestic animals in Bulindi could have reduced the occurrence of the screened parasites and decreased potential circulation of these pathogens among host species.

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Viral Hepatitis in School-Aged Children

Pediatrics in Review ◽

10.1542/pir.4.4.105 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 105-111

Author(s):

Lance Chilton

Keyword(s):

Day Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Oral Route ◽

Carrier State ◽

Common Source ◽

Common Disease ◽

Route Of Transmission ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Immunoglobulin Prophylaxis

Hepatitis A is a common disease in children, usually passed by the fecal-oral route. Because of its route of transmission, day care centers, especially those caring for infants and toddlers in diapers, are a likely site of passage of the disease, unlike schools, where transfer of HAV occurs uncommonly. The pediatrician encountering a case of HA must ascertain (1) that other possible aiagnoses have been eliminated, (2) whether the patient or a sibling attends a day care center, and (3) the likelihood of a common source outbreak associated with contaminated food or drink. Public health help should be sought to determine that all wider implications of the patient's disease have been taken into account. In some instances, immunoglobulin use may be indicated beyond the usual group of family and sexual contacts. In many cases, the pediatrician will be asked to stretch the indications for immunoglobulin prophylaxis; the forces may be so strong as to force mass immunoglobulin administration even if inschool transmission is unlikely. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis; previously prescribed diets and restrictions of activity are unnecessary. Recovery without complications occurs in the vast majority of patients, especially children, with HA. Hepatitis B and non-A, non-B hepatitis are less common than HA in children, except those in certain groups. Those infected have a 10% likelihood of contracting chronic active hepatitis; with HB, a chronic carrier state contributes substantially to the epidemiology of the disease. The same is likely to hold true for non-A, non-B hepatitis. In patients with needle-stick, blood product, or sexual xposure to HB, standard immunoglobulin or HBIG is recommended as prophylaxis; for those exposed to NANB, immunoglobulin may be given. A vaccine to give active protection against HB exists; one is being developed for HA as well.

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Avoidance of Contaminated Food Correlates With Low Protozoan Infection in Bonobos

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.651159 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Cécile Sarabian ◽

Raphaël Belais ◽

Andrew J. J. MacIntosh

Keyword(s):

Infectious Agent ◽

Oral Route ◽

Behavioral Experiments ◽

Food Items ◽

Individual Fitness ◽

Behavioral Adaptations ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Protozoan Infection ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

The Individual

Intense selection pressure from parasites on free-living animals has resulted in behavioral adaptations that help potential hosts avoid sources of infection. In primates, such “behavioral immunity” is expressed in different contexts and may vary according to the ecology of the host, the nature of the infectious agent, and the individual itself. In this study, we investigated whether avoidance of contaminated food was associated with reduced parasite infection in sanctuary-housed bonobos. To do this, we used bonobos’ responses to soil- and fecally-contaminated food in behavioral experiments, and then compared the results with an estimate of protozoan infection across individuals. We found that avoidance of contaminated food correlated negatively with Balantioides coli infection, a potentially pathogenic protozoan transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The association between avoidance responses and parasitism were most evident in experiments in which subjects were offered a choice of food items falling along a gradient of fecal contamination. In the case of experiments with more limited options and a high degree of contamination, most subjects were averse to the presented food item and this may have mitigated any relationship between feeding decisions and infection. In experiments with low perceived levels of contamination, most subjects consumed previously contaminated food items, which may also have obscured such a relationship. The behavioral immunity observed may be a consequence of the direct effects of parasites (infection), reflecting the first scale of a landscape of disgust: individual responses. Indirect effects of parasites, such as modulation of feeding decisions and reduced social interactions—and their potential trade-offs with physiological immunity—are also discussed in light of individual fitness and primate evolution. This study builds on previous work by showing that avoidance behaviors may be effective in limiting exposure to a wide diversity of oro-fecally transmitted parasites.

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Prevalence, molecular characterization and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. in goats in Henan and Chongqing, China

Experimental Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.exppara.2014.04.001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. 11-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Rongjun Wang ◽

Guoquan Li ◽

Bin Cui ◽

Jianying Huang ◽

Zhaohui Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Zoonotic Potential ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp

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un Identification of enteric viruses from raw water using fluoro-immuno-magnetic separation coupled to RT-PCR

Biomédica ◽

10.7705/biomedica.6032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Raquel Villamizar ◽

Dioselina Peláez-Carvajal ◽

Luis Felipe Acero

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Separation ◽

Water Samples ◽

Hepatitis A ◽

Hepatitis A Virus ◽

Enteric Viruses ◽

Oral Route ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Raw Water ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Contaminated Food

Introduction: Enteric viruses have been associated with the production of a variety of diseases transmitted by the fecal-oral route, carried through contaminated food and water. Given their structure and composition, they are highly resistant to environmental conditions and most of the chemical agents used in the purification processes. Therefore, a systematic monitoring of raw water is necessary to ensure its quality, especially, when it is used as feedstock for the production of drinking water for human consumption. Objective: In the present work the presence of Rotavirus and Hepatitis A Virus was identified by means of the fluoro-immuno-magnetic separation technique (FIMS) in raw water taken from four purification plants in the Norte de Santander department including their water supplies. Materials and methodos: The viruses were captured and separated from the water samples, using magnetic microparticles functionalized with monoclonal anti-Hepatitis A and anti-Rotavirus antibodies. Confocal microscopy was used to monitor the viral concentration process and transmission electron microscopy for morphological visualization of the separated viruses. The reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to confirm the presence of pathogens. Results: The two enteric viruses were identified in most of the analyzed water samples, including their water supply sources. Conclusion: It was possible to determine that the FIMS technique coupled to RT-PCR is highly effective technique in the detection of viral pathogens, in complex matrices such as raw water.

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Epidemiological Study of Salmonella typhi and Its Month-Wise Effect on Different Age Groups in Dehradun

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2020/v32i2430776 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 256-260

Author(s):

Sandhya Maurya ◽

Chetna Kalra ◽

Rupesh Kumar Mahto ◽

Sandeep Singh ◽

Narotam Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Salmonella Typhi ◽

Oral Route ◽

Bacterial Disease ◽

Widal Test ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Waterborne Infection ◽

Flagellar Antigen ◽

Card Test

Introduction: Salmonella typhi is a bacterial disease caused by contaminated food and water, also known as foodborne and waterborne infection, it transmitted via faeco-oral route. Materials and Methods: A total of 204 clinical isolates were considered for its proposed study. IgM/IgG rapid card test (CTK Biotech) was used for the detection and Widal test (BEACON) was also performed for the same. Duration: March 2020 to November 2020. Results: A total of 204 blood samples were analyzed with clinically suspected cases of typhoid fever, out of which, some cases showed reactiveness and 50.98% showed negative for Salmonella typhi. Widal test showed reactive result for O Ag (Somatic Antigen) and H Ag (flagellar antigen) and 8.82% IgG and 42.64% (monthly) IgM antibody showed positive result. Conclusion: Typhoid IgM/IgG antibody rapid card test and Widal Antigen test, a simple and rapid method for the detection of Salmonella typhi bacterium in patient’s serum by serological techniques. Maximum number of positive cases were in the month of August, 2020 and September, 2020. The age group between 21-40 years were most infected by Salmonella typhi.

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Molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. in North Lebanon

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.10014 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (02.1) ◽

pp. 34S ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marwan Osman ◽

Sadia Benamrouz ◽

Karine Guyot ◽

Dima El Safadi ◽

Hassan Mallat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Control Program ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Cryptosporidium Hominis ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Molecular Tests

Cryptosporidium spp. are enteroparasites with worldwide distribution that infect the gastrointestinal tract of several vertebrates including humans. Human to human, zoonotic, foodborne and waterborne are reported as the main transmission routes of this parasite. Cryptosporidium spp. have been recognized as the predominant cause of waterborne and foodborne outbreaks. However, the epidemiological situation of cryptosporidiosis is not well known in Lebanon, a developing country with a population often affected by intestinal parasitic infections. This study was devoted to determine the prevalence and the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in symptomatic hospitalized patients and in two children populations with different socio-economic level in North-Lebanon, as well as the risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis. Fecal samples obtained from these populations were examined microscopically by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining as well as nested PCR were done for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Out of 163 symptomatic hospitalized patients and 249 children, Cryptosporidium was present in 11% and 10.4% respectively according to microscopy examination and/or molecular tests. The genotyping showed the predominance of Cryptosporidium hominis in both populations. Subgenotype analysis of the isolates at the gp60 locus identified three subtypes IdA19, IbA10G2 and IaA18R3 for C. hominis and two subtypes IIaA15G1R1 and IIaA15G2R1 for C. parvum. Moreover, cryptosporidiosis was correlated with having meals outside home and presence of gastrointestinal symptoms especially diarrhea (p <0.05). This work constitutes the first molecular epidemiology study outlining risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis in Lebanon. These findings support a need of a control program to prevent the circulation of this parasite.

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Hepatitis A

10.33442/vt202136 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Khrystyna Hrynkevych ◽

Heinz-Josef Schmitt

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis A ◽

Hepatitis A Virus ◽

Rna Virus ◽

The Elderly ◽

Oral Route ◽

Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

Sanitation And Hygiene ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Causal Treatment ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a single-stranded “nonenveloped” RNA virus in the picornaviridae family. HAV is most often transmitted by the fecal-oral route, but also by contaminated food, water, sexual contact, and intravenous drug use. HAV causes little if any symptoms in the very young. Disease symptoms from liver damage become more frequent in older ages and even fulminant liver failure with death is observed in the elderly. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease. With lack of sanitation and hygiene, HAV infection occurs early in life inducing life-long protection, whereas in countries with good sanitation and hygiene, infections are seen later in life and are more severe. There is no causal treatment, but available vaccines are well tolerated, have an excellent safety profile and are highly effective with long-lasting protection after 2 doses. Hepatitis A vaccines can be used for pre- as well as for post-exposure prophylaxis and for individual as well as for population protection. Vaccinating a small fraction of the population (3%) – i.e., children aged 1–4 years serving as the reservoir and source of HAV – resulted in herd protection with 96% disease reduction in the whole population of Israel.

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Parasites and Worms

Tutorial Topics in Infection for the Combined Infection Training Programme ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198801740.003.0010 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Robert Serafino Wani

Keyword(s):

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Clonorchis Sinensis ◽

Taenia Solium ◽

Oral Route ◽

Free Living ◽

Blood Flukes ◽

Blood Sucking ◽

Lung Fluke ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Terrestrial Environments

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Worms or helminths either live as parasites or free of a host in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Parasites and worms are found worldwide but mainly in the tropics. It is estimated that 20% of immigrants from endemic countries may have helminthic infections at their arrival to the UK. These people could be asymptomatic, but tend to present with unexplained symptoms, especially gastrointestinal in nature or eosinophilia. Travellers to endemic countries tend to be newly infected and have greater immune response and pronounced eosinophilia in some but not all parasitic infections. Parasites that can cause disease in humans fall under three classes: protozoa, helminths, and Ectoparasites Protozoa are microscopic, one- celled organisms that can be free living or parasitic in nature. Transmission of protozoa that live in a human’s intestine to another human typically occurs through a faeco-oral route (for example, contaminated food or water, or person- to-person contact). Protozoa that live in the blood or tissue of humans are transmitted to other humans by an arthropod vector (for example, through the bite of a mosquito or sand fly). Helminths are large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages. Like protozoa, helminths can be either free living or parasitic. There are three main groups of helminths that parasitize humans: cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes. These are flat worms that comprise Echinococcus species: intestinal tapeworms and neurocysticercosis (Taenia solium) These are leaf- shaped, and they vary in length from a few millimetres to 8 cm. They include: ■ Liver fluke: Clonorchis sinensis, Fasciola hepatica ■ Intestinal fluke: Fasciola buski, Heterophyes heterophyes, ■ Lung fluke: Paragonimus westernmani ■ Blood flukes: Schistosoma species These are cylindrical in structure. Blood- sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes are considered as ectoparasites because they depend on blood meal for their survival. Narrowly speaking, ectoparasites include organisms like ticks, fleas, lice, and mites (scabies) that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for relatively long periods of time (e.g. weeks to months).

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Using behaviour observations to study personality in a group of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in captivity

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/1568539x-00003537 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 156 (3-4) ◽

pp. 203-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Angela Brandão ◽

Raquel Costa ◽

Evelina Rodrigues ◽

Luis Vicente

Keyword(s):

Research Method ◽

Great Apes ◽

Capuchin Monkeys ◽

Observation Data ◽

Behavioural Flexibility ◽

Novel Approach ◽

In Captivity ◽

Analyse Data ◽

Personality Diversity ◽

Detailed Picture

Abstract This article presents a novel approach to the study of primate personality and illustrates it with a study of capuchin monkeys. While most personality studies with capuchin monkeys have used rating questionnaires, the research method of this study relies instead on direct behaviour observations. In an effort to capitalize on the full richness of behavioural observation data, we used both statistical and non-statistical methods to analyse data from behavioural observations of a group of capuchin monkeys in captivity. Interest in capuchin monkeys as a species has increased due to their cognitive capacities, behavioural flexibility and complex social structure, as well as many similarities with great apes in dimensions of personality. In this study we focus in three aspects of personality: diversity, flexibility and complexity. Our results provide a detailed picture of these aspects of capuchins’ personality, including the degree of “predictability” and “unusualness” of individual capuchins’ behaviour.

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