Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Entamoeba Histolytica Infection Among Schoolchildren From Three Primary Schools In Arsi Town, West Zone, Ethiopia

Entamoeba histolytica is one of the major pathogenic intestinal parasites and is amongst the leading causes of diarrheal illness in children. Around 500 million people are infected worldwide, while 75,000 die of the disease annually. E. histolytica is associated with moderate to severe diarrhoea and increased mortality among children in African countries and negatively affects child growth and development. Malnutrition is also an important contributor to the prevalence of E. histolytica in Ethiopia. It is mostly associated with poor hygiene, poverty, illiteracy, lack of access to potable water, and a hot, humid tropical climate. Thus, the present investigation was aimed to assess the prevalence rate and associated factors of E. histolytica among schoolchildren in Arsi Town, West Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1st to May 1st, 2020. A total of 334 students were selected from three governmental elementary schools in the west zone using a systematic sampling method. A structured questionnaire was adopted to identify environmental, socio-demographic, and behavioral factors. Microscopically positive samples for E. histolytica cysts were further characterised using an E. histolytica II antigen detection kit. The statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS software. A univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of E. histolytica was 19.8%. Hand washing habits before eating [AOR = 0.32; 95% CI (0.12, 0.84)], hand washing habits after defecation [AOR = 0.396; 95% CI (0.165, 0.946)], and ameba awareness [AOR = 0.35; 95% CI (0.142, 0.889)] were factors associated with parasite prevalence.

The Distribution of Intestinal Amoebae in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Sabang City, Aceh Province, Indonesia

Amoeba that infects primates can also be found in humans and can be zoonotic. This study aims to identify the distribution of intestinal amoeba in the wild Long-Tailed Macaque (LTM) group located at Cot Murong, Kebun Mangga, and Tugu Zero Kilometer Monument (IZKM) in Sabang City, Aceh Province, Indonesia. A total of 177 stool samples from 59 tails from the three LTM groups were examined microscopically. The results of the examination confirmed seven species of intestinal amoeba, three of which belonged to the genus Entamoeba, namely the Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba pölecki, and four other species from different genera, namely Iodamoeba butschlii, Blastocystis sp., Endolimax nana and Dientamoeba fragilis. The prevalence of intestinal amoeba in wild LTM in Sabang City was 57.6% (102/177). Dientamoeba fragilis was only found in the LTM group of Kebun Mangga. Entamoeba coli dominated the highest prevalence in all LTM groups. The LTM group located around Cot Murong and IZKM had a higher concentration of infection with intestinal amoeba than the Kebun Mangga location. The statistical tests showed a significant difference between the proportions of Iodamoeba butschlii, Endolimax nana and Dientamoeba fragilis, both found in the LTM Cot Murong, Kebun Mangga, or IZKM groups. This study is the first to report amoebic infection prevalence in the wild LTM group in Sabang City, Aceh Province. The pathogenic amoeba that cannot be distinguished microscopically from morphologically identical amoebae needs to be identified molecularly to identify variants and their potential as zoonotic agents. HIGHLIGHTS Intestinal amoeba species found in fecal samples of the wild long-tailed macaques group of Sabang City, Aceh Province, Indonesia, can also be found in human stool samples As many as three of the seven identified amoeba species, namely Entamoeba histolytica, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Blastocystis sp. is a pathogen that can cause diarrhea and colitis in humans and non-human primates The prevalence of amoeba infection in wild macaques in Sabang City is in the high category and tends to increase the incidence of infection in the macaque group, which has more susceptible individuals, namely infants, children, and females GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Proximate Composition and Parasitic Contamination of Hibiscus sabdariffa Seed Cake (Roselle Seed Cake): A Soup Condiment Produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria

Background: Soup condiments are edible food items which are added to dishes, used as thickeners for soup and also as food supplements such as sauce that is added to food to impact specific flavours. They are abundantly produced in Nigeria especially in North-Western part of the country. Aims: The aim of this research was to determine the proximate composition and parasitic contamination of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed cake (Roselle seed cake): a soup condiment produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria. Study Design: Samples were purchased and collected at random from the markets of different places in the study areas, aseptically placed into polythene bags and labelled correctly. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Zuru and Sakaba Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, North-Western Nigeria. Methodology: The proximate analysis carried out include: moisture determination, ash determination, determination of crude protein, lipid determination, fibre determination and carbohydrate estimation by difference. The protozoa present in the samples were identified by direct microscopy. Results: The proximate composition of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed cake in the study areas had a very high level of carbohydrate content (52.44±1.03%), followed by the moisture content (15.43±0.10%), lipid content (12.00±0.50%), fibre content (11.16±0.58%), ash content (7.80±0.05%) and crude protein content (1.16±0.13%) which was the lowest. The highest prevalence rate of the identified protozoa was recorded in Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia 1(25.0%) in Zuru Local Government Area. No protozoa was seen in Zuru sample 0(0.0%). In Dabai sample, Giardia lamblia was seen 1(25.0%). While in Bedi sample, Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) was seen which was the most prevalent. However, in Sakaba Local Government Area, a total of nine protozoa was seen and all were Entamoeba histolytica. Dirin-Daji sample showed 1(11.1%), Doka 2(22.2%), Dankolo 2(22.2%), Janbirni 1(11.1%), Laraba 1(11.1%) and Makuku 2(22.2%) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the available carbohydrate and moisture contents were higher than other parameters and the local soup condiments were heavily contaminated with protozoa and Entamoeba histolytica had the highest prevalence which can cause serious food-borne diseases in humans in the study areas. Finally, the need to apply good manufacturing practices in processing the condiments in the study areas and North-Western Nigerian Community as a whole is highly recommended.

Anemia and The Level of IL-6 in Children Infected with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia

The relation between anemia and inflammatory immune response has lately had much attention. This research was conducted from October 2018 until April 2019, including (110) children below 12 years from both gender in some Hospitals, Primary Health care centers, Public Primary Schools and Kindergarten in Baghdad, Iraq. The objective of this study is to determine the possible correlation between iron deficiency anemia and inflammatory immune response among children infected with Entamoeba histolytica or Giardia lamblia. Blood samples were taken from all groups to measure hemoglobin level, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), while the inflammatory related immune response was evaluated by measuring IL-6 and ferritin. Student T-Test was used to compare between means. The results showed that both hemoglobin and iron concentrations were significantly (P) ˂ 0.01 lower in infected children compared with control, as well as both IL-6 and ferritin levels were significant where (P) ˂0.05 amplified among infected children compared to control. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was observed in the majority of infected children, while normocytic normochromic RBCs was recorded in the majority of control children.

TAXA DE MORTALIDADE DA AMEBÍASE EM CRIANÇAS MENORES DE 5 ANOS NO BRASIL, 2010-2019

Introdução: A Amebíase é uma parasitose comum em regiões tropicais, desencadeada pela Entamoeba histolytica. O protozoário tem potencial para se alojar no cólon após contaminação por ingestão de cistos do protozoário a partir de alimentos mal lavados, através do contato mão-boca ou anal-oral, caracterizando-se uma doença sanitário endêmica. Objetivo: Analisar a tendência temporal da taxa de mortalidade por Amebíase de crianças menores de 5 anos entre os anos de 2010 e 2019, no Brasil. Material e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de caráter ecológico. Os dados foram obtidos do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS). O número de nascidos vivos foi retirado do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC), enquanto o número de óbitos de crianças menores de 5 anos por Amebíase, entre 2010 e 2019, foi obtido no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM). Para obtenção da taxa de mortalidade, executou-se a fórmula: (óbitos de 0 a 4 anos ÷ nascidos vivos) x 100.000, respectivamente para cada ano analisado. Para análise temporal dos dados utilizou-se o software Stata 14.0. A tendência foi elaborada pelo método de regressão linear de Prais-Winsten, através do qual obteve-se a taxa de incremento anual. A tendência só foi considerada significativa para p-valor < 0,05. Resultado: Durante a análise dos dados foram observados 123 óbitos por Amebíase no intervalo estudado. Em 2011 houve a maior taxa de mortalidade por Amebíase de crianças menores de 5 anos do período, expressando 0,72 óbitos por 100.000 nascidos vivos, enquanto 2018 apresentou menor expressão, 0,1/100.000. Essa análise é corroborada pela tendência decrescente da taxa de óbitos da Amebíase entre os anos de 2010 a 2019, com taxa de variação anual negativa de 18,1%. É importante ressaltar que tal levantamento expressa significância com p-valor igual a zero. Conclusão: A partir do apresentado, o estudo demonstrou tendência decrescente da taxa de mortalidade da Amebíase em crianças menores de 5 anos no Brasil, o que pode ser reflexo de uma ligeira melhora das condições sanitárias das regiões endêmicas brasileiras. Contudo, os óbitos infantis por essa patologia ainda persistem, o que demonstra a necessidade de elevar a conscientização de medidas preventivas.

ArfX2 GTPase Regulates Trafficking From the Trans-Golgi to Lysosomes and Is Necessary for Liver Abscess Formation in the Protozoan Parasite Entamoeba histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebic dysentery and liver abscess in humans. The parasitic lifestyle and the virulence of the protist require elaborate biological processes, including vesicular traffic and stress management against a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by the host immune response. Although the mechanisms for intracellular traffic of representative virulence factors have been investigated at molecular levels, it remains poorly understood whether and how intracellular traffic is involved in the defense against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Here, we demonstrate that EhArfX2, one of the Arf family of GTPases known to be involved in the regulation of vesicular traffic, was identified by comparative transcriptomic analysis of two isogenic strains: an animal-passaged highly virulent HM-1:IMSS Cl6 and in vitro maintained attenuated avirulent strain. EhArfX2 was identified as one of the most highly upregulated genes in the highly virulent strain. EhArfX2 was localized to small vesicle-like structures and largely colocalized with the marker for the trans-Golgi network SNARE, EhYkt6, but neither with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident chaperon, EhBip, nor the cis-Golgi SNARE, EhSed5, and Golgi-luminal galactosyl transferase, EhGalT. Expression of the dominant-active mutant form of EhArfX2 caused an increase in the number of lysosomes, while expression of the dominant-negative mutant led to a defect in lysosome formation and cysteine protease transport to lysosomes. Expression of the dominant-negative mutant in the virulent E. histolytica strain caused a reduction of the size of liver abscesses in a hamster model. This defect in liver abscess formation was likely at least partially attributed to reduced resistance to nitrosative, but not oxidative stress in vitro. These results showed that the EhArfX2-mediated traffic is necessary for the nitrosative stress response and virulence in the host.

Identification and Functional Characterization of Divergent 3’-Phosphate tRNA Ligase From Entamoeba histolytica

HSPC117/RtcB, 3’-phosphate tRNA ligase, is a critical enzyme involved in tRNA splicing and maturation. HSPC117/RtcB is also involved in mRNA splicing of some protein-coding genes including XBP-1. Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite responsible for human amebiasis, possesses two RtcB proteins (EhRtcB1 and 2), but their biological functions remain unknown. Both RtcBs show kinship with mammalian/archaeal type, and all amino acid residues present in the active sites are highly conserved, as suggested by protein alignment and phylogenetic analyses. EhRtcB1 was demonstrated to be localized to the nucleus, while EhRtcB2 was in the cytosol. EhRtcB1, but not EhRtcB2, was required for optimal growth of E. histolytica trophozoites. Both EhRtcB1 (in cooperation with EhArchease) and EhRtcB2 showed RNA ligation activity in vitro. The predominant role of EhRtcB1 in tRNAIle(UAU) processing in vivo was demonstrated in EhRtcB1- and 2-gene silenced strains. Taken together, we have demonstrated the conservation of tRNA splicing and functional diversification of RtcBs in this amoebozoan lineage.