Parasites may exit immunocompromised northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina)infected with SIVmac239

Parasites can increase infection rates and pathogenicity in immunocompromised human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） patients. However, in vitro studies and epidemiological investigations also suggest that parasites might escape immunocompromised hosts during HIV infection Due to the lack of direct evidence from animal experiments, the effects of immunocompromised hosts parasitic infections on remain unclear. Here we detected 14 different parasites in six northern pig-tailed macaques （NPMs） before or at the 50th week of simian immunodeficiency virus （SIV） infection by ELISA. The NPMs all carried parasites before viral injection. At the 50th week after viral injection, the individuals with negative results in parasitic detection （i.e., 08247 and 08287） were characterized as the Parasites Exit （PE） group, with the other individuals （i.e., 09203, 09211, 10205, and 10225） characterized as the Parasites Remain （PR） group. Compared with the PR group, the NPMs in the PE group showed higher viral loads, lower CD4＋ T cells counts, and lower CD4/CD8 rates. Additionally, the PE group had higher immune activation and immune exhaustion of both CD4~ and CD8~ T cells. Pathological observation showed greater injury to the liver, cecum, colon, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes in the PE group This study showed more seriously compromised immunity in the PE group, strongly indicating that parasites might exit an immunocompromised host.

Prevalence of Drug Resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli from Immunocompromised Diabetic Patients Attending Selected Health Facilities in Benue State

Escherichia coli is the commonest bacterial uropathogen of UTIs, the commonest infections in immunocompromised diabetic patients. Better understanding of their main resistance mechanisms to commonly used antibacterial agents will help to reduce the burden of this infection. The prevalence of drug resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from immunocompromised diabetic patients attending selected health facilities in Benue State was investigated. Two hundred and ninety-six midstream urine samples were collected for both study and control diabetic patients. Bacterial isolation was done using semi-quantitative method. Drug resistant Escherichia coli were identified as multidrug resistant (MDR), extensive drug resistant (XDR) and pan-drug resistant organisms (PDR). Statistical significance was considered at p E. coli isolates from the study and control subjects with overall prevalence of 20.9% and 8.4% respectively. The isolates were highly resistant to penicillin (ampicillin), monobactam (aztreonam), older quinolone (nalidixic acid) whereas the majority of them showed high susceptibility to aminoglycoside (streptomycin), cephalosporin (cefotaxime) and carbapenem (imipenem). None showed complete susceptibility to all the tested antibiotics. Twenty-five E. coli were identified in this MDR, eight, XDR while 5 were PDR. High numbers of drug resistant E. coli isolates were identified in the study group of which 25 were MDR, 8 XDR while 5 were PDR isolates. High prevalence of UTI and drug resistant isolates occur in diabetic patients with hyperglycemic condition.

Impact of next-generation sequencing on antimicrobial treatment in immunocompromised adults with suspected infections

BACKGROUND:Prompt pathogen identification can have a substantial impact on the optimization of antimicrobial treatment.The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of next-generation sequencing(NGS)for identifying pathogen and its clinical impact on antimicrobial intervention in immunocompromised patients with suspected infections.METHODS:This was a retrospective study.Between January and August 2020,47 adult immunocompromised patients underwent NGS testing under the following clinical conditions:1)prolonged fever and negative conventional cultures;2)new-onset fever despite empiric antimicrobial treatment;and 3)afebrile with suspected infections on imaging.Clinical data,including conventional microbial test results and antimicrobial treatment before and after NGS,were collected.Data were analyzed according to documented changes in antimicrobial treatment(escalated,no change,or deescalated)after the NGS results.RESULTS:The median time from hospitalization to NGS sampling was 19 d.Clinically relevant pathogens were detected via NGS in 61.7% of patients(29/47),more than half of whom suffered from fungemia(n=17),resulting in an antimicrobial escalation in 53.2% of patients(25/47)and antimicrobial de-escalation in 0.2% of patients(1/47).Antimicrobial changes were mostly due to the identification of fastidious organisms such as Legionella,Pneumocystis jirovecii,and Candida.In the remaining three cases,NGS detected clinically relevant pathogens also detected by conventional cultures a few days later.The antimicrobial treatment was subsequently adjusted according to the susceptibility test results.Overall,NGS changed antimicrobial management in 55.3%(26/47)of patients,and conventional culture detected clinically relevant pathogens in 14.9% of the patients(7/47).CONCLUSION:With its rapid identification and high sensitivity,NGS could be a promising tool for identifying relevant pathogens and enabling rapid appropriate treatment in immunocompromised patients with suspected infections.

Parasites of the liver:A global problem?

Parasitic liver diseases can be caused by trematodes,cestodes,nematodes,and protozoa.This pathology is significant because millions of people in different parts of the world have liver parasites,which can manifest themselves in the development of inflammation,liver cysts,cholecystitis,cholelithiasis,pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis that are often threatening their lives.The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers three species of trematodes,Schistosoma haematobium,Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis,to be carcinogens.Complex modern examination methods,in some cases including extensive screening of large populations,are required for diagnosing liver parasites.Treatment of parasitic liver diseases is differentiated and can involve a combination of surgical and therapeutic measures.There is no doubt that the clinical and epidemiological scale allows one to regard parasitic liver diseases as a global healthcare problem.

Use of buffy coat thick films in detecting malaria parasites in patients with negative conventional thick films

Objective:To determine the frequency of malaria parasite detection from the buffy coal blood films by using capillary tube in falciparum malaria patients with negative conventional thick films.Methods:Thirty six uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients confirmed by conventional thick and thin films were included in the study.The patients were treated with artemisinin combination therapy at Hospital for Tropical Diseases,Bangkok,Thailand for 28 day.Fingerpricks for conventional blood films were conducted every 6 hours until negative parasitemia,then daily fingerpricks for parasite checks were conducted until the patients were discharged from hospital. Blood samples were also concurrently collected in 3 heparinized capillary tubes at the same time of fingerpricks for conventional blood films when the prior parasitemia was negative on thin films and parasitemia was lower than 50 parasites/200 white blood cells by thick film.The first negative conventional thick films were compared with buffy coat thick films for parasite identification. Results:Out of 36 patients with thick films showing negative for asexual forms of parasites, buffy coat films could detect remaining 10 patients(27.8%) with asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum.Conclusions:The study shows that buffy coat thick films are useful and can detect malarial parasites in 27.8%of patients whose conventional thick films show negative parasitemia.

Host-parasite interactions in perpetual darkness:Macroparasite diversity in the cavefish Astyanax mexicanus

Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments,displaying evolutionary parallelisms in many troglobitic traits.Despite being a model system for the study of adaptation to life in perpetual darkness,the parasites that infect cavefish are practically unknown.In this study,we investigated the macroparasite communities in 18 cavefish populations from independent lineages and compared them with the parasite diversity found in their sister surface fish populations,with the aim of better understanding the role that parasites play in the colonization of new environments.Within the cavefish populations,we identified 13 parasite taxa,including a subset of 10 of the 27 parasite taxa known for the surface populations.Parasites infecting the cavefish belong to five taxonomic groups,including trematodes,monogeneans,nematodes,copepods,and acari.Monogeneans are the most dominant group,found in 14 caves.The macroparasites include species with direct life cycles and trophic transmission,including invasive species.Surprisingly,paired comparisons indicate higher parasite richness in the cavefish than in the surface fish.Spatial variation in parasite composition across the caves suggests historical and geographical contingencies in the host-parasite colonization process and potential evolution of local adaptations.This base-line data on parasite diversity in cavefish populations of A.mexicanus provides a foundation to explore the role of divergent parasite infections under contrasting ecological pressures(cave vs.surface environments)in the evolution of cave adaptive traits.

First Record in Brazil of Epistylis sp. (Ciliophora) Adhered to Argulus sp. (Argulidae), a Parasite of Hoplias aimara (Eritrhinidae)

This paper records the first occurrence of Epistylis sp. on the body surface of Argulus sp. parasitizing Hoplias aimara from the upper Araguari River, in the eastern Amazon region, in the north of Brazil. Of the 16 specimens of H. aimara examined, 93.7% had their pelvic, caudal and pectoral fins and tegument infested by Argulus sp. (n = 73), which in turn were infested by Epistylis sp. The specimens of Epistylis sp. from the body surface of Argulus sp. were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The present study also identified a widening of the geographic distribution of these two species of ectoparasites to the eastern Amazon region of Brazil.

Opportunistic and other intestinal parasites among HIV/AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic in Bahir Dar city,North West Ethiopia

Objective:To determine the magnitude of opportunistic and non-opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections among HTV/AIDS patients in Bahir Dar.Methods:Cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV/ AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic from Aprill- May 30,2009. Convenient sampling technique was employed to identify the study subjects and hence a total of 248 subjects were included.A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data of patients.Stool samples were examined by direct saline,iodine wet mount, formol-ether sedimentation concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Results:Out of 248 enrolled in the study,171(69.0%)(90 males and 81 females) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites.The highest rate of intestinal parasites were observed among HIV/AIDS patients(80.3%,151/188),and the infection rate of HIV negative individuals was 33.3%(20/60).Cryptosporidum parvum(43.6%),Isospora belli(15.5%) and Blastocystis hominis (10.5%) were opportunistic parasites that were found only in HIV/AIDS patients.Conclusions: Opportunistic parasite infections are common health problem among HIV/ AIDS patients in the study area.Therefore,early detection and treatment of these parasites are important to improve the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients.

Molecular basis for identification of species/isolates of gastrointestinal nematode parasites

Gastrointestinal（GI） parasitism is the most serious constraint throughout the world in small ruminants which causes significant production loss in animals.GI parasites are major contributor to reduce productivity in terms of meat,milk and wool in animals.Control of GI parasite is done primarily by anthelmintic treatment where choice and schedule of treatment is done after identification and quantitation of individual parasite.Identification of GI parasites is done through microscopic method by identifying specific morphological characteristics of egg and larva（L3）.Since most of parasite eggs are having similar morphological characteristics, identification up to species level through microscopy is not possible in most of cases.To address this issue,molecular techniques are the viable alternative for identification of species as well as molecular level differences within a species（isolates） of parasites.Different DNA based molecular techniques viz.PCR,AFLP,RAPD,RFLP,PCR-SSCP,real time PCR,DNA microarray etc.have been used for identification and to assess the genetic diversity among parasite population.For identification of species,the characteristic sequence of genomic DNA of different species should differ to allow the delineation of species,but at the same time,no/minor variation within the species should exist.In contrast,for purpose of identifying population variants（strains/isolates）, a considerable degree of variation in the sequence should exist within a species.Various target regions,including nuclear ribosomal DNA（rDNA）,mitochondrial DNA（mtDNA） or repetitive DNA elements（microsatellite loci）,which show considerable variation in the number of repeats within individuals have been employed to achieve the identification of parasites species or strain.

Survey on gastrointestinal parasites and detection of Cryptosporidium spp. on cattle in West Java,Indonesia

Objective:To evaluate the presence of gastrointestinal parasites on cattle in Indonesia because the prevalence of parasites varies between counlries depending on the terrain surrounding livestock farms and investigations in Indonesia have never been performed.Methods:Fecal samples from cattle at 35 farms in 7 districts in West Java,Indonesia,has been examined using the floatation or sedimentation methods,and a immunofluorescence assay and experimentally inoculation to mice for Cryptosporidium or Giardia spp.Results:153 of 394 examined cattle(38.8%)were infected with gastrointestinal parasites.The prevalence of Eimeria spp.,Nematoda spp.(including Oesophagustomum and Bunostomum-like),Fasciola gigantica and Paramphistomum spp.was 22.4%,11.2%,12.5%and 3.8%,respectively.Cryptosporidium andersoni(C.andersoni)was also found in two samples.One isolate of this parasite was confirmed to be transmitted to mice,in contrast to the isolates from other countries.Conclusions:although this survey is preliminary,the results shows that the infection of gastrointestinal parasites in Indonesia was not high,but these infected cattle could be as a potential source leading to economic losses in livestock production.

Oomycetes and fungi:important parasites on marine algae

Considering that the field is largely unexplored and its importance to aquaculture,outline of oomycetes and fungi parasiting on marine algae was provided in this paper,including 15 species of oomycetes,six species of chytrids,31 Ascomycota species and one species of mitosporic fungi.In natrue,both the oomycetes and chytrids frequently occurred and induced prevalences of disease which could destroy the populations of host plants greatly.However,the parasites in Ascomycota on algae have never occurred as epidemics so far.Some issues relating to the field were discussed such as performing tests to satisfy Koch＇s postulates,investigations of host specificity,interactions between host and parasite and the potential effects of environmental factors on occurrence of a disease,which are urgent in need of further investigations.

Temporal-spatial patterns of intestinal parasites of the Hooded Crane(Grus monacha) wintering in lakes of the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain

Background: Parasites have adverse effects on the life and survival of many migratory waterbirds, especially birds on the endangered species list. Hooded Cranes are large migratory colonial waterbirds wintering in wetlands,which are prone to parasite infection, thus monitoring the diversity of parasites is important for sound wetland management and protection of this species.Methods: From November 2012 to April 2013, we collected 821 fresh faecal samples from the three lakes(Poyang,Caizi and Shengjin Lake) in the lower and middle Yangtze River floodplain, and detected with saturated brine floating and centrifugal sedimentation methods. Parasite eggs were quantified with a modified Mc Master's counting method.Results: In this study, 11 species of parasites were discovered, i.e., two coccidium(Eimeria gruis, E. reichenowi), five nematodes(Capillaria sp., Strongyloides sp., Ascaridia sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Ancylostomatidae), three trematodes(Echinostoma sp., Echinochasmus sp., Fasciolopsis sp.) and one cestode(Hymenolepis sp.). About 57.7% of the faecal samples showed parasitic infection. All species of parasites were found at the three sites except Hymenolepis which was not found at Poyang Lake. While most samples were affected by only one or two species of parasites, infection by Eimeria spp. was the most common(53.1%). From One-Way ANOVA analysis of the three lakes, parasite species richness index(p = 0.656), diversity index(p = 0.598) and evenness index(p = 0.612) showed no significant difference. According to the statistical analysis of our data, there were no significant difference in parasite species richness index(p = 0.678) and evenness index(p = 0.238) between wintering periods, but a strong difference in diversity index(p < 0.05).Conclusions: Our study suggests that in the wintering Hooded Crane populations, parasite diversity is more sensitive to changes in the overwintering periods than to locations. This also indicates that with the limitations of migration distance, the parasites may not form the differentiation in Hooded Crane populations of the three lakes.

Tissue tropism and parasite burden of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain in experimentally infected mice

Objective:To evaluate parasite distribution and tissue tropism of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in experimentally infected mice using real time QPCR.Methods:In this survey 16 Balb/c mice were inoculated with 1×10~4 alive tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain.After 1,2,3 days post infection and the last day(before death),different tissues of mice including blood,brain,eye,liver,spleen,kidney,heart and muscle were harvested.Following tissues DNA extraction,the parasite burden was quantified using real time QPCR targeting the B1 gene(451 bp).Results:It showed that Toxoplasma after intraperitoneal injection was able to movement to various tissues in24 hours.Parasite burden was high in all tissues but the most number of parasites were observed in kidney,heart and liver,respectively.Conclusions:These data provide significant baseline information about Toxoplasma pathogenesis,vaccine monitoring and drug efficiency.

Prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among patients in local public hospitals of Hail,Northwestern Saudi Arabia

Objective:To evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients in Hail,Northwestern Saudi Arabia.Methods:Stool samples were collected from 130 patients(69females and 61 males) in Hail General Hospital.Each sample was examined by direct wet mount microscopic examination using both normal saline and Lugol's iodine preparation and concentration techniques using salt and formol-ether solutions.Permanent stained smears were performed for intestinal coccidian using modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique.Results:The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 45.38%(59 cases).Forty-four(33.84%)were found to be infected with one or more intestinal protozoa.5(3.84%) were infected with helminthes and 10(7.69%) had mixed infection with both helminthes and protozoa.The most common intestinal helminth detected was Ancyloxtoma duvdenale(n=5.3.84%),followed by Ascaris lumlmcnidex.Taenia sp.and Trichuris trichiura(n=2 for each species,1.5%).For intestinal protozoa,the coccidian Cryptosporidium parvum(n=25,19.23%) was the most common followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispur(n=21,16.15%),Giurdia lamblia(n=15,11.54%),Entamoeba coli(n=5.3.85%) and Blastocysts hominis(n=3,2.30%).The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in females was significantly higher than in males(P<0.05).Conclusions:This is the first study highlighting that intestinal parasites are still an important public health problem in Northwestern Saudi Arabia Therefore,health education would be the best way to prevent from intestinal parasite infections which are mainly food borne diseases.

Impact of hygienic level on parasite infection

Objective:To find out the prevalence of intestinal parasites among primary school population(the most vulnerable group) in rural and urban areas in south Jordan.Methods:During a medical civic action in the south of Jordan in summer 2000,stool specimens were collected from 2400 primary school children,aged from 6-12 years,and examined for the detection of intestinal parasitic infection from both urban(1 100 samples) and rural(1 300 samples) areas in south Jordan.Results:The results indicated that the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 28.5%.It was more in rural(33.2%) than in urban(23.0%) areas,but no sex difference was found.As regard to the type of infection,Giardia lamblia was the commonest intestinal protozoa, with a rate of 42.6%,while Enterobious vermicularis was the commonest helminth recorded in our study with a rate of 5.9%.Conclusions:Health education by health and school authorities is recommended,particular attention should be paid to repairing the sewage disposal system as well as water supply,which acts as main source of water pollution.

Ileocolonic mucormycosis in adult immunocompromised patients:A surgeon's perspective

We report three cases of ileocolic mucormycosis in adult immunocompromised patients presenting as acute abdomen.All patients underwent laparotomy but two of them died from multiorgan failure before the diagnoses were confirmed.The diagnosis of gastrointestinal mucormycosis is rarely suspected,and antemortem diagnosis is made in only 25%-50% of cases.These cases illustrate the difficulty encountered by surgeons in managing acute abdomen in neutropenic patients with hematological malignancy.The management of colonic mucormycosis in the published literature is also reviewed.

Remission of primary low-grade gastric lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type in immunocompromised pediatric patients

We report the remission of primary gastric lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue （MALT） type in two immunocompromised pediatric patients. Patient 1, a 14-year-old boy in an immunocompromised state of unknown cause, complained of repeated abdominal pain. Examinations revealed gastric MALT with local invasion and lymph node involvement. Serum anti-Helicobacter pylori （H pylon） antibody was positive. H pylori eradication was abandoned due to its adverse effects. The MALT lesion spontaneously regressed over the next 24 months without any treatment for lymphoma. Patient 2, a 6-year-old boy, underwent cord blood transplantation for the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy. He was administered immunosuppressants for graft-versus-host disease after transplantation. Nausea and hematochezia appeared and further examinations revealed gastric MALT with H pylori gastritis. Treatment consisting of medication for the Hpylori infection alone eradicated the Hpylori and completely resolved the patient＇s MALT lesion, as well. Patients i and 2 were followed up over periods of 10 years and 3 years, respectively, without any signs of relapse. In conclusion, gastric lymphoma of the MALT type can be cured by conservative treatment even in immunocompromised pediatric patients.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Horses and Donkeys in and around Gondar Town, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2010 to June 2011 in and around Gondar town to identify the species and determine prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys and horses. Gross examination, direct fecal smear, sedimentation and floatation techniques were utilized to identify the eggs and larvae of parasites in feces. A total of 384 horses and donkeys were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 92.71% (356 from 384) with 80.95% (85 from 105) and 97.13% (271 from 279) in horses and donkeys, respectively. Prevalence of Strongyle, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and Gastrophilus intestinalis was 66.67%, 43.8%, 0.95%, 2.86%, and 0.95%, respectively in horses. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 87.81%, 42.29%, 4.30%, 5.73%, 1.43%, 3.58% and 0.72% for Strongyles, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, Fasciola, Tricuris, Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and Gastrophilus intestinalis in donkeys, respectively. There was a statisticcally significant difference between species, housing and among feed types in prevalence of equine gastrointestinal parasites

Prevalence of adenovirus and rotavirus infection in immunocompromised patients with acute gastroenteritis in Portugal

AIM: To characterize the prevalence of rotavirus(RV) and adenovirus(Ad V) infections in immunocompromised patients with acute gastroenteritis. METHODS: The presence of RV and Ad V(serotypes 40 and 41) was evaluated in 509 stool samples obtained between January 2009 and December 2010 from 200 immunocompromised patients(83 females and 117 males; median age 21 years old, range 0-72. The diagnosis of infection was performed as a routine procedure and the presence of RV and Ad V(serotypes 40 and 41) was determined by immunochromatography using the RIDA&#174; Quick Rota-Adeno-Kombi kit(r-Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany). The data analysis and description of seasonal frequencies were performed using computer software IBM&#174; SPSS&#174;(Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Statistics version 20.0 for Mac. The frequencies of infection were compared into different age and gender groups by χ2 test.RESULTS: The study revealed 12.4% Ad V positive samples and 0.8% RV positive samples, which correspond to a prevalence of 6.5% and 1.5%, respectively. Ad V was more frequent between October 2009 and April 2010, while RV was identified in April 2010 and July 2010. The stool analysis revealed that from the 509 samples, 63(12.4%) were positive for Ad V and 4(0.8%) positive for RV, which by resuming the informationof each patient, lead to an overall prevalence of Ad V and RV of 6.5%(13/200 patients) and 1.5%(3/200 patients), respectively. The stratification of the analysis regarding age groups showed a tendency to an increased prevalence of infection in paediatric patients between 0-10 years old. Considering the seasonal distribution of these infections, our study revealed that Ad V infection was more frequent between October 2009 and April 2010, while RV infection was characterized by two distinct peaks(April 2010 and July 2010). CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of Ad V and RV infection in immunocompromised patients with acute gastroenteritis was 8% and Ad V was the most prevalent agent.

Nanobiotechnology for the Detection and Control of Waterborne Parasites

Nowadays, the fast development of nanobiotechnology, has led to rapid diagnosis of important infectious diseases such as arboviruses-borne diseases, vector-borne infections and waterborne parasites diseases and others in order to reduce and avoid further dissemination of the infections within the general population. Furthermore, new nanomedicines based on the application of silver and gold nanoparticles which are less toxic, more effective, and that does not generate resistance could help to solve the problems of parasitic disease like leishmaniasis and chagas disease. It turns out that the combination of nanoparticles with antibiotics not only reduces the toxicity of both agents towards human cells but also enhances their ability to destroy bacteria by facilitating the binding of antibiotics to the microbes. Moreover, combining nanoparticles with antimicrobial peptides and essential oils with nanoparticles generates genuine synergy against microbial resistance.