Intestinal Parasitosis among Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis Infected Patients from Dharan, Nepal

Intestinal parasitic infestation reflects a health threat with patients living with HIV & Tu-berculosis (TB). Parasitic infections caused by protozoa and helminths are the most com-mon infections worldwide. The present study was done to find out the frequency of intes-tinal parasitosis among HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) patients of Dharan total of 53 samples (>15 years) from HIV seropositive patients and 28 samples (>20years) from TB patients were collected in a clean, dry and capped fitted container and subjected to macroscopic and microscopic examination for ova, cyst, adult parasites and or segments of parasites. Stool samples were fixed in a 10% formalin-ether solution. Sedimentation technique, with modified acid-fast (Ziehl-Neelsen) staining method, was performed for opportunistic in-testinal parasites in both patients. Multi-parasitic infection was noted in the study. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was found to be 54 (66.67%). This result had shown that the participation of male patients was comparatively higher than female pa-tients. Out of 81 stool samples, 15 (27.78%) G. lamblia, 12(22.22%) E. histolytica, 12 (22.22%) Cryptosporidium parvum, 6 (11.11%), Isospora belli 4 (7.40%) Microspridium, 1(1.85%) Blastocystis hominis, 2(3.70%) and Taenia spp, 2(3.70%). To prevent this infec-tion appropriate health education should be given to the patients concerning disease trans-mission, antiparasitic therapy, personal hygiene, and safe drinking water.

Prevalência de enteroparasitas em crianças provenientes da área rural de Cáceres-MT

As enteroparasitas são comuns em indivíduos que se encontram sob condições precárias de moradia, água potável, saneamento básico e higiene. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a prevalência de enteroparasitas em crianças em fase escolar do assentamento/comunidade Paiol, no município de Cáceres-MT. Análises parasitológicas pelo método de Hoffman, além dos dados socioeconômicos e ambientais foram realizadas em 75 amostras de crianças com idade de 7 a 16 anos. A prevalência geral de enteroparasitas foi de 56% na população estudada. Protozoários foram identificados em 98% das amostras positivas sendo Blastocystis hominis o mais prevalente seguido de Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli e Giardia lamblia. Helmintos foram identificados em 5% do total de amostras analisadas, sendo Trichuris trichiura e Hymenolepis nana os únicos identificados. Conclui-se que há elevada prevalência de enteroparasitas nas crianças, principalmente de protozoários intestinais, sendo necessária melhorias e monitoramento das condições higiênico-sanitárias em comunidades rurais da região estudada.

Enteroparasitosis en escolares de Huaricana y Viacha

Introducción: La parasitosis intestinal constituye una de las infecciones más comunes a nivel mundial, de mayor prevalencia en países poco desarrollados. El objetivo es comparar la prevalencia de enteroparásitos en niños de Huaricana y Viacha de La Paz, Bolivia. Metodología: Se colectaron muestras de heces de niños de 4 -11 años de los colegios de Huaricana (H) y Viacha (V). Para determinar la presencia de enteroparásitos, se utilizó la técnica modificada de concentración de Willis y Ritchie. Resultados: La prevalencia de enteroparásitos fue de más del 80 % para H y 44 % para V. Las especies de helmintos que fueron encontrados son: Hymenolepis nana (H: 20 %, V: 0 %), Ascaris lumbricoides (H: 4 %, V: 4 %), Enterobius vermicularis (H: 5 %, V: 0 %), Taenia spp. (H: 4 %, V: 0 %), Diphylidium spp. (H:4 %, V:0 %), y entre los protozoos se encontraron Giardia lamblia (H:18 %, V:4 %), Blastocystis hominis (H:22 %, V:6 %), Entamoeba coli (H:51 %, V:28 %), Chilomastix mensnili (H:12 %, V:2 %), Endolimax nana (H:0 %, V:6 %) y Iodamoeba butschili (H: 14 %, V: 2 %). Los enteroparásitos patógenos predominantes en Huaricana fueron Hymenolepis nana 20 % y Giardia lamblia 18 %; y en Viacha 4 % se encontraron Ascaris lumbricoides y Giardia lamblia. Los niños de Huaricana estaban poliparasitados en 20 %, y biparasitados en 25 %, y los niños de Viacha estaban biparasitados en 19 %. Conclusión: Los niños con mayor prevalencia de enteroparásitos pertenecen a Huaricana. Las especies patógenas de enteroparásitos prevalentes en niños de Huaricana fue Hymenolepis nana, Giardia lamblia y de Viacha fue Ascaris lumbricoides y Giardia lamblia. Los niños de Huaricana estaban poliparasitados y los de Viacha estaban biparasitados. Conflicto de intereses Ninguno

The effects of isolates and immune function on hematologic parameters of Blastocystis infection rats

Objective: To define a complex of changes in hematologic parameters associated with subtypes (ST) of Blastocystis sp. infections and the status of immune function in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, and lay the foundation for Blastocystis hominis pathogenesis research. Methods: 5 isolates of ST1, ST3 and ST7 were used, including 1 isolate of ST1 from symptomatic patient, 2 isolates of ST3 and ST7 from symptomatic patients and asymptomatic carrier separately. Immune compromise model was set up using dexamethasone (DEX) and infection models with 5 isolates of ST1, ST3 and ST7, and then examined the hematologic changes post infection 15 days using fully automatic hematology analyzer sysmex xe-2100. Results: The results showed that infections of Blastocystis STs leaded to the increase of platelet indexes including MPV and PDW except ST3 isolated from asymptomatic carrier only with PDW increase and the higher values of PLT in ST7 isolated from asymptomatic carrier compared with the controls in the immune competence status (P < 0.05). However, the infections of Blastocystis ST7 isolated from symptomatic patient gave rise to higher values of WBC, LYMP, EO, MCV and RDW-SD while lower values of NEU% compared with the controls in immune compromise status (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, higher values of WBC and LYMP and lower NEUT% values were observed in ST1 infections compared with the controls (P < 0.05); lower NEUT values in ST1 infections and controls compared with ST3 and ST7 respectively were observed (P < 0.05); the infection of ST3 isolated from symptomatic patient resulted in higher values of MCV and RDW-SD while the asymptomatic isolate of ST3 only had higher RDW-SD (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The virulence of Blastocystis sp. isolated from symptomatic patient is higher than that of the identical subtype one isolated from asymptomatic carrier. The infection of ST7 isolated from symptomatic patients may result in the most distinct hematologic changes among STs, and then followed by ST1 symptomatic isolate. And the severity of Blastocystis sp. infection may be mediated by the immune status of host.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Children in Europe over the Last Five Years

While the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) has been most commonly studied in African and Asian populations, less is known about the prevalence rates of IPI in European children, as well as the potential risk factors that favor the spread of parasites. We aimed to review published evidence on the prevalence rates of IPI in children residing in Europe, and to quantitatively synthesize the results of published studies. We searched Medline from 1 January 2015 to 1 April 2021 to address the most recently published prevalence patterns of IPI in European children. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed by type of IPI infection, age group and sex, depending on data availability. Of the 967 potentially relevant articles, eight eligible cross-sectional studies were included in this analysis, yielding a sample of 3376 children (0–19 years). The overall prevalence rate was 5.9% for any IPI in children residing in European countries. Blastocystis hominis was the most commonly detected parasite yielding a prevalence rate of 10.7%. Other parasites included Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, and Blastocystis hominis. Studies focusing on specific types of parasites showed prevalence rates ranging from 1.3% for Cryptosporidium to 68.3% for Dientamoeba fragilis. Despite the scarce literature, the present review showed relatively low prevalence rates of IPI in Europe. Future studies accounting for proper diagnostic methods used for the detection of parasites and including information on potential sociodemographic factors, such as travelling history and history of immigration, are needed to guide clinicians about which children to test, as well as when and how to test children for IPI.

Prevalence and genetic characteristics of Blastocystis hominis and Cystoisospora belli in HIV/AIDS patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

Blastocystis hominis and Cystoisospora belli are considered to be common opportunistic intestinal protozoa in HIV/AIDS patients. In order to investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of B. hominis and C. belli in HIV/AIDS patients, a total of 285 faecal samples were individually collected from HIV/AIDS patients in Guangxi, China. B. hominis and C. belli were investigated by amplifying the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region of the rRNA gene, respectively. Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test were conducted to assess the risk factors related to B. hominis and C. belli infection. The prevalence of B. hominis and C. belli was 6.0% (17/285) and 1.1% (3/285) respectively. Four genotypes of B. hominis were detected, with ST3 (n = 8) and ST1 (n = 6) being predominant, followed by ST6 (n = 2) and ST7 (n = 1). Females had a statistically higher prevalence of B. hominis (11.6%) than males (4.2%). The statistical analysis also showed that the prevalence of B. hominis was significantly associated with age group and educational level. Our study provides convincing evidence for the genetic diversity of B. hominis, which indicates its potential zoonotic transmission and is the first report on the molecular characteristics of C. belli in HIV/AIDS patients in China.