A review of Fasciolopsis buski distribution and control in Indonesia

Fasciolopsiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the flatworm Fasciolopsis buski. Since 1982, fasciolopsiasis has been reported in Indonesia's Hulu Sungai Utara (HSU) Regency, South Kalimantan Province. Fasciolopsiasis occurs when contaminated raw or undercooked aquatic plants are consumed. Cercariae of the parasite encyst in a variety of aquatic plants and grow into metacercariae that infect and reproduce in the human intestine. Until now, treatment for F. buski infection in the HSU Regency has been comparatively short, with patients receiving only a single dose of praziquantel, 30 mg/kg body weight, without further observation. A long-term effort through health promotion activities and intensive health education, particularly for elementary school children enrolled in the School Health Program, is ongoing to help prevent fasciolopsiasis from spreading and to improve environmental sanitation. Through 2018, intervention efforts successfully reduced the incidence of F. buski infection. Sustaining surveillance and investigation of fasciolopsiasis, including identification of new cases and community education, is critical for the elimination of the parasite from Indonesia. This review describes the spread of F. buski and its possible impact on public health to understand the critical nature of continuing F. buski surveillance and control efforts.

Prevalence and Pathology of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Free Range Pigs

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism in pigs is often associated with subclinical infections leading to poor weight gain and reduced market value. One of the most significant risks is pigs being the host for many zoonotic parasites and thereby threatening human health. Despite the epidemiological data being available from different states of the country, records from Andhra Pradesh are scanty. Hence, a study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in free range pigs of Proddatur municipality Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: About 142 fecal samples were collected from free range pigs slaughtered in four localities of Proddatur municipality over a period of six months. The fecal samples were later subjected for parasitological examination and the tissue pieces of intestines collected from the slaughtered animals with the embedded parasites and those with pathological changes were subjected to histological staining procedure for identification. Result: Fecal examination revealed 80.98% (115/142) positivity for parasitic ova or occysts. About eleven species of parasites were identified; of them nine were helminths (83.8%) and two were protozoan (10.5%) parasites. Infection with Ascarops spp. (28.2%) and Fasciolopsis buski (17.6%) was found to be significantly (P less than 0.05) higher. The tissue sections of the intestines with pathological lesions revealed embedded parasites in intestinal mucosa infiltrated with eosinophils and mononuclear cells. The higher prevalence of GI parasites in slaughtered pigs in Proddatur region rises concern towards the impact on the health of pigs and as well as pork consumers suggesting a strategic control for GI parasites in pig farming.

Parasitic contamination of some fruits and vegetables from major markets in Ede Town, Osun State, south-west Nigeria

This study determined the prevalence of parasites on some common fruits and vegetables from major markets in Ede Town, Osun State, Nigeria. A total of two hundred and forty six (246) samples of fruits and vegetables were examined by sedimentation technique after washing using normal saline. The overall parasite prevalence was 37.4%. The highest rate of parasitic contamination (46.7%) was recorded in pineapples (Anana comosus) while oranges (Citrus sinensis) were the least contaminated (16.7%). For vegetables, African spinach (Spinacea oleracea) was the most contaminated (77.8%) while the least contaminated (2.2%) was celosia leaf (Celosia argentea). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most (21.7%) frequent parasitic contaminants on fruits and vegetables followed by Balantidium coli (19.6%) and then Hookworm (13.0%). Entamoeba histolytica and Strongyloides stercoralis had the same percentage of occurrence(12.0%) while Fasciolopsis buski (2.2%) was the least parasite found. The highest number of parasites was found in Timi Market with 46.2% fruits and 66.7% vegetables contaminated. Since eating raw fruits and vegetables is a potential source of transmission of intestinal parasites in the study area, it is important that consumers are educated on the need to always ensure proper washing of their fruits and vegetables. Keywords: Fruits; vegetables; parasitic contamination; Ascaris lumbricoides; Ede Markets

Description and phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal transcription units from species of Fasciolidae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea)

Many members of Fasciolidae are common trematodes in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, elephants, pigs, with some capable of infecting humans also. In this study, the complete or near-complete sequences of ribosomal transcription unit (rTU or rDNA), each of Fasciola hepatica (Australia), Fascioloides jacksoni (Sri Lanka), Fasciolopsis buski (Vietnam) and three isolates of F. gigantica (Vietnam), were obtained and characterized. The full length of rDNA for each F. hepatica, ‘hybrid’ Fasciola sp., Fas. jacksoni and Fa. Buski, was 7657 bp, 7966 bp, 7781 bp and 8361 bp, with the complete intergenic spacer region (IGS) (862 bp, 1170 bp, 987 bp and 561 bp), respectively. The rDNA of two ‘pure’ F. gigantica isolates from Vietnam was 6794 bp with unsequenced IGS. For 28S rRNA genes the Fasciola spp. are equal, 1958 bp for 18S, 160 bp for 5.8S, 3863 bp and 454 bp for ITS1 but ITS2 differ by one nucleotide (Thymine) (359 or 360 bp). The ITS1 of the sensu lato Fa. buski has some distinguishable features, 286 bp for ITS2, 3862 bp for 28S and four repeat units of 356–361 bp each found in ITS1. The 28S rDNA analysis showed the lowest level of divergence (0–0.57%) between F. hepatica and F. gigantica and higher (2.23–2.62%) and highest (6–6.42%) for Fas. jacksoni and Fasciolopsis, respectively. The tree of 43 strains/species clearly produced a well-supported phylogeny, where 18 fasciolids consistently grouped, forming a discrete Fasciolidae clade, distinct from Philophthalmidae, Echinostomatidae and Echinochasmidae in Echinostomatoidea. Fascioloides jacksoni is outside Fasciola spp.: basal with Fas. magna, as previously demonstrated.

Intestinal trematode infections

It is notoriously difficult to estimate the prevalence of intestinal trematode infection, but the most widely accepted figures suggest that 40–50 million people worldwide are infected with at least one of these organisms. Most of these infections are found in tropical South and East Asia, mostly as a result of local culinary practice. The most important intestinal flukes are Fasciolopsis buski and members of the families Echinostomatidae and Heterophyidae. Infection is acquired through the ingestion of the second intermediate host—undercooked freshwater fish, molluscs, frogs, or vegetation contaminated with live metacercariae. Fasciolopsis buski, one of the largest (at 20–77 mm) and most important flukes, is acquired by ingestion of contaminated water plants. Heavy infections may cause abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea, but most infections are entirely asymptomatic. Praziquantel is the drug of choice for all of these infections, which can be prevented by thoroughly cooking potentially infected foodstuffs.

Occurrence of enteric parasites and their risk factors among the female inhabitants of lower socioeconomic groups in Dhaka city

The present study was conducted to investigate the intestinal parasites. A total of 900 female inhabitants of lower socioeconomic groups in Dhaka city were examined during Sep 2013 to Aug 2015, prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infestation was 66.22% and 26 parasite species were identified, of which ten species were protozoans, six cestodes, four trematodes and six nematodes. Prevalence of nematoda was the highest (57.55%), then cestode (38.67%), protozoa (19.22%) and lowest was found in trematode (4.11%). Entamoeba histolytica (10.44%) indicates severe faecal contamination among protozoan parasites, while in cestodes Hymenolepis nana (22.78%), in trematodes Fasciolopsis buski (2.11%) and in nematodes Ascaris lumbricoides (38%) were highly prevalent. In twelve study areas, the highest prevalence was found in Kamrangichar (87.5%) and children of age group 1-15 years (75.65%) were mostly affected by intestinal parasite. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2018, 4(4): 343-350