Parasitic Contamination of Common Vegetables Sold in Lusaka, Zambia

Background: Consumption of raw or unhygienically prepared vegetables is a potential source of parasitic infection. This study aimed to establish the prevalence and types of intestinal parasites on the freshly sold vegetables at the market. Methods: Totally, 95 vegetable samples were randomly procured from vendors at Lusaka City market (Zambia). The samples were examined for parasitic contamination using floatation and sedimentation methods. Data were analyzed using Epi Info version 7.2.4.0. Results: The overall parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables was 35.8% (34 out of 95). The highest parasitic contamination rate was found in Chinese cabbage with 7.4% (7 out of 95), followed by rape with 6.3% (6 out of 95), chilli with 5.3% (5 out of 95), pigweed with 5.3% (5 out of 95), pumpkin leaves with 5.3% (5 out of 95), tomatoes with 4.2% (4 out of 95), and cabbage with 2.1% (2 out of 95). There was a significant (p=0.001) statistically difference between the type of vegetables and the presence of the parasites. The identified helminths had different prevalence rates, including Taenia spp. with 9.5%, Trichuris trichuria with 5.3%, Ascaris lumbricoides with 3.2%, Clonorchis sinensis with 2.1%, Diphyllobothrium latum with 2.1%, Paragonimus westermani with 2.1%, and Strongyloides stercoralis with 2.1%. Also, Giardia lamblia with 24.2% and Balantidium coli with 4.2% were the protozoan parasites identified. Conclusion: This study showed that some vegetables sold at the Lusaka City market (Zambia) were a potential source of parasitic infections for local consumers. G. lamblia was the most prevalent parasite found in the vegetable samples.

Dynamics of parasitic infection in domestic cats in Perm city

A comparative analysis of the long-term dynamics of domestic cats’ infestation on the territory of Perm with intestinal helminths and protozoa, as well as establishing the relationship between the extent of prevalence of individual pathogens were performed. The prevalence of intestinal parasites is 17.97%. The significant dominant species are Toxocara cati Schrank, 1788 (7.42%), Hydatigera taeniaeformis Batsch, 1786 (1.38%), Isospora felis Last M.J., Powell E.C., 1978 (3.85%) и Isospora rivolta Grassi, 1879 (1.10%). Also potentially dangerous parasites for humans were find: Lamblia spp. (syn. Giar-dia) Künstler, 1882, Cryptosporidium spp. Tyzzer, 1907, Toxoplasma gondii Nicolle & Manceaux, 1908, Spirometra erinacei-eurоpaei Rudolphi, 1819, Dipylidium caninum Linnaeus, 1758; Railliet, 1892, Dibothriocephalus latus (syn. Diphyllobothrium latum) Linnaeus, 1758, Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) Blanchard, 1895. The year’s dynamics of dominant infections are not clearly expressed, however, the correlation between the most common helminths and protozoa is really positive (р < 0.05), that confirms a presence of natural sites of specified parasites and a primary role of rodents in domestic cats infestation.

The Contribution of Perch (Perca fluviatilis L. 1758) to Maintaining the Diphyllobothriasis Focus in the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir and the Yenisei River

The study investigates infection rates of perch by plerocercoids of the Dibothriocephalus latus (Linnaeus, 1758) Lühe, 1899 (syn. Diphyllobothrium latum) broad tapeworm in the creeks of the Krasnoyarsk Water Reservoir and in the Yenisei River (within the limits of the city of Krasnoyarsk). Plerocercoids were found in the perch in all study areas. The rates of invasion of the fish in the Yenisei River and in the creeks of the lower part of the Reservoir – Biryusa and Shumikha – were low (9.8, 6.9, and 13.5%, respectively); the infection of perch was higher in the middle part of the Reservoir, in the Sisim Creek (21.4%). The fish purchased at an unauthorized market was the most infected – 68.5%. The sample included large fish, weighing from 70 to 970 g. A positive correlation was noted between invasion rate and fish age (r=0.7). The plerocercoids found in the fish were viable. They were mainly localized in the fish muscle. Diphyllobothriosis is a commonly occurring helminthiasis in the riverine communities transformed because of the damming of rivers. In the Krasnoyarsk Water Reservoir, the broad tapeworms are usually transmitted along the plankton – perch – pike chain. The data obtained in this study show that small perch, consuming infected plankton, plays a leading role in maintaining the abundance of D. latus in the water reservoir. However, the main contribution to the epidemiological situation in the region is made by the large perch, which is heavily infected with broad tapeworm plerocercoids because of its cannibalistic feeding behavior. Both recreational fishermen and the people purchasing fish at unauthorized markets prefer large perch. Commercial and recreational fishing, settlements on the shores of the Reservoir, and the increasing number of tourists have contributed to the invasion of pathogenic organisms in the Reservoir. The perch caught in the Krasnoyarsk Water Reservoir or in the Yenisei River or purchased at unauthorized markets, which have not been inspected for disease, could be a source of diphyllobothriosis infection for people

LISTA DE VERIFICACIÓN DE LOS PLATELMINTOS PARÁSITOS DE HUMANOS DEPOSITADOS EN LA COLECCIÓN HELMINTOLÓGICA DEL INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, BRASIL

La Colección Helmintológica del Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CHIOC), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, es la colección más grande de América Latina en número de especímenes y es una de las principales colecciones del mundo. Contiene especies representativas de diversos biomas, testimonios de la biodiversidad brasileña y de otros países. Existen varios tipos de helmintos depositados en la misma, incluidos los parásitos de importancia médica y veterinaria. Las muestras están depositadas como material líquido o montaje final. Para obtener el conocimiento de los platelmintos que parasitan al hombre depositados en CHIOC, se realizó un estudio de sus muestras en su base de datos informatizada y sus fichas de catálogo. Se analizaron un total de 113 fichas de catálogo con 236 muestras depositadas en la CHIOC. Una lista de estos helmintos se generó a partir del número de depósito de las muestras analizadas, que fueron incluidas con información sobre la fecha de recogida, distribución geográfica, el sitio de infección y el estado ontogenético. De los 113 registros catalogados en la CHIOC, sobre platelmintos parásitos de los seres humanos, Trematoda tiene 27 registros con 6 especies, y el mayor número de depósitos están relacionados con Cestoda, con 86 registros con 12 especies. Entre los trematodos la especie con mayor número de depósitos es Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907 en fase adulta de la circulación sanguínea y la mayoría de ellos son del Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Entre los cestodos la especie con mayor número de depósitos es Taenia saginata Goeze, 1782 adulta del intestino y la mayoría de ellos son del Estado de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. En las muestras de los platelmintos el primer depósito fue T. saginata adulto, CHIOC 1, sin información de fecha de colecta, depositada en 1913, y el último depósito fue un Diphyllobothrium latum (Linnaeus 1758) adulto, CHIOC 37003, colectado el 21 de abril de 2005.

Results on search for the broad fish tapeworm Dibothriocephalus latus (Linnaeus, 1758), (syn. Diphyllobothrium latum) (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea), in the Danube River

SummaryDiphyllobothriosis is a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by so-called “broad tapeworms” or “fish tapeworms” of different genera of the order Diphyllobothriidea. Dibothriocephalus l atus (Linnaeus 1758), (syn. Diphyllobothrium latum), is a medically important type species of the genus, whose occurrence in various European regions is either regular, e.g. in the Alpine lakes region, or occasional and sporadic, e. g. in the Danube River region. For the latter, data on the detection of D. latus plerocercoids in the second intermediate fish host (European perch Perca fluviatilis), as well as in definitive hosts (human and dog), in which infection was directly linked to the consumption of infected fish from the Danube, were published more than 50 years ago. In order to assess the current situation, we aimed to find out whether D. latus is present in the natural environment of the Danube River. In total, 700 perch from five sampling sites in the Slovak part of the Danube River were examined. Plerocercoids were not detected in any fish examined, which leads to the conclusion that D. latus is currently not present in the studied aquatic environment.

Intestinal parasites at the Late Bronze Age settlement of Must Farm, in the fens of East Anglia, UK (9th century B.C.E.)

Little is known about the types of intestinal parasites that infected people living in prehistoric Britain. The Late Bronze Age archaeological site of Must Farm was a pile-dwelling settlement located in a wetland, consisting of stilted timber structures constructed over a slow-moving freshwater channel. At excavation, sediment samples were collected from occupation deposits around the timber structures. Fifteen coprolites were also hand-recovered from the occupation deposits; four were identified as human and seven as canine, using fecal lipid biomarkers. Digital light microscopy was used to identify preserved helminth eggs in the sediment and coprolites. Eggs of fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum and Diphyllobothrium dendriticum), Echinostoma sp., giant kidney worm (Dioctophyma renale), probable pig whipworm (Trichuris suis) and Capillaria sp. were found. This is the earliest evidence for fish tapeworm, Echinostoma worm, Capillaria worm and the giant kidney worm so far identified in Britain. It appears that the wetland environment of the settlement contributed to establishing parasite diversity and put the inhabitants at risk of infection by helminth species spread by eating raw fish, frogs or molluscs that flourish in freshwater aquatic environments, conversely the wetland may also have protected them from infection by certain geohelminths.

Growth Status and Parasitic Fauna of Clarias gariepinus Collected from Ogbese River and Owena River, South-West Nigeria

Aims: To determine condition status and identify parasitic fauna in intestine, gills and skins of Clarias gariepinus collected from two natural waters: Ogbese River (River A) (Longitude 5°26'E' and Latitude 6°43'N), and Owena River (River B) (Longitude 5.03E and Latitude 7.03N) in Ondo state, Nigeria respectively. Study Design: Laboratory-experimental design was used in this study. Place and Duration of Study: 120 live C. gariepinus African Mud Catfish were collected by the assistance of fishermen using cast net during the wet season during April to July 2016 from the two natural water bodies (Ogbese River and Owena River). Methidology: Fish were transported live to the laboratory for examinations. Length (cm) and weight (g) measurement of fish were determined. Condition factor (K), isometric value (b) and regression coefficient were determined. Fish samples were examined using electronic Microscope (x 400 Mag.) by dissecting fish to remove organs (Intestines, gills and skins) for parasites occurrence (s). Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyse the data obtained. Results: The condition factor for all C. gariepinus samples collected from both Rivers were less than one (<1), which indicated that the health status of the fish is biased, and the environment is not conducive. The parasitic examination carried out revealed that seventy-eight (65%) C. gariepinus fish samples were infested; while 42 (35%) of fish samples showed no parasite infestation. A total of Ninety-six (96) individual parasites were recovered from River A while a total of two hundred and twelve (212) individual parasites were recovered from River B. A total of eight (8) different parasites species were recovered while their percentage of occurrence was recorded. These include Ambiphrya spp. (4.17%), Camallanus spp. (6.25%; 2.83%), Capillaria spp. (16.98%), Chilodonella spp. (14.58%), Dactylogyrus spp. (64.58%; 5.66%), Diphyllobothrium latum (10.42%; 4.72%), Gyrodactylus spp. (61.32%) and Protoopalina symphysodonis (8.49%). Conclusion: The water bodies need to be protected against further pollutants to prevent disease condition for the benefit of aquatic organisms and public health.

Occurrence of intestinal parasites among school going children of a slum area in Dhaka city

A cross sectional study was carried out among school going children of Ganaktuli slum area in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. A total of 183 stool samples were collected from children of age between 5 and 16 years of both sexes during May, 2017 to April, 2018. Collected samples were examined using Formal-Ether Concentration technique. 61.20% samples were found positive for intestinal parasites. Eight species of parasites were identified, where Entamoeba histolytica (3.83%), Giardia lamblia (6.01%), Diphyllobothrium latum (3.28%), Paragonimus westermani (3.83%), Ascaris lumbricoides (24.59%), Trichuris trichiura (12.02%), Ancylostoma duodenale (5.46%) and Enterobius vermicularis (2.19%) was recorded. Male children showed higher (63.95%) prevalence than female (58.76%). The highest and lowest prevalence (82.46 and 39.29%) were found among 8 - 10 and 14 - 16 years children, respectively. The highest prevalence of E. histolytica (7.02%), A. lumbricoides (38.60%), T. trichiura (14.04%) and A. duodenale (8.77%) were observed in 8 - 10 years age group; G. lamblia (7.41%), P. westermani (5.56%) and E. vermicularis (3.70%) in 11 - 13 years age group and D. latum (6.90%) was found highest in 14 - 16 years age group. Statistically it was observed that age groups had significant association with parasitic infestation (p < 0.05) but prevalence did not alter significantly according to sexes (p > 0.05). Highest abundance of parasites was recorded for A. lumbricoides. Bangladesh J. Zool. 47(1): 67-75, 2019

Molecular archaeoparasitology identifies cultural changes in the Medieval Hanseatic trading centre of Lübeck

Throughout history, humans have been afflicted by parasitic worms, and eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits. This study integrated parasitological and ancient DNA methods with a large sample set dating between Neolithic and Early Modern periods to explore the utility of molecular archaeoparasitology as a new approach to study the past. Molecular analyses provided unequivocal species-level parasite identification and revealed location-specific epidemiological signatures. Faecal–oral transmitted nematodes ( Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura ) were ubiquitous across time and space. By contrast, high numbers of food-associated cestodes ( Diphyllobothrium latum and Taenia saginata ) were restricted to medieval Lübeck. The presence of these cestodes and changes in their prevalence at approximately 1300 CE indicate substantial alterations in diet or parasite availability. Trichuris trichiura ITS-1 sequences grouped into two clades; one ubiquitous and one restricted to medieval Lübeck and Bristol. The high sequence diversity of T.t .ITS-1 detected in Lübeck is consistent with its importance as a Hanseatic trading centre. Collectively, these results introduce molecular archaeoparasitology as an artefact-independent source of historical evidence.