Journal of Parasitology Research最新文献

{"title":"Impact of Titanium Mining and Other Anthropogenic Activities on Malaria Positivity Rates and Parasitemia in Five Selected Study Sites in Msambweni Subcounty, Kwale County, Kenya.","authors":"Edward Githinji, Collins Okoyo, Cassian Mwatele, Juma Mwatasa, Benard Chieng, Sylvie Araka, Henry Kanyi, Sammy Njenga, Judy Mwai","doi":"10.1155/japr/6967797","DOIUrl":"10.1155/japr/6967797","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Africa was home to 95% of malaria cases and deaths in 2021. The negative impacts of malaria can be aggravated by social-economic-environmental factors, more so agroeconomic practices such as irrigation, mining, and dam construction. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of water harvesting, sugarcane farming, and mining activities on <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> positivity rates and parasitemia densities in five selected sites in Msambweni Subcounty, Kwale Kenya. A cross-sectional concurrent mixed methods study was used to collect data. Kwale County was selected due to the high malaria endemicity possibly attributable to the suitable vector habitat characterized by the major anthropogenic activities. The study had five different arms of investigation; the first arm was the control (C), second dam (D) site, third sugarcane (S) site, fourth mining (M) site, and fifth dam-sugarcane-mining (DMS) site. Each of the 1025 consenting participants from 208 households provided a single blood sample for determining malaria prevalence and parasitemia using rapid diagnostic kit and microscopy. Overall, the malaria positivity rate was 22.9% by rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) and 20.1% by microscopy. <i>P. falciparum</i> observation by RDT was highest in the DMS site with 33.7% followed by S site with 26.8%, D site with 23.3%, and M site with 17.6%, and the least was the C site with 11.0%. The overall parasitemia density (parasite counts per 200 white blood cells) was 8.4 with a site-specific density of 18.7, 8.6, 7.1, 3.7, and 3.1 for DMS, S, D, M, and C sites, respectively. Univariable analysis of factors associated with malaria infection showed that participants in the DMS site were four times more likely to be infected with malaria (odds ratio (OR) = 4.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to those in the C site. Malaria vector and human host interactions are often enhanced by suitable environmental conditions especially ambient temperature which accelerate parasite growth in the mosquito and humidity. Anthropogenic activities may open up new breeding sites for the vector or increase human-<i>Anopheles</i> infective contact hours, hence the different positivity rates and intensities in <i>P. falciparum</i> transmission. The study results showed that prevalence of malaria and parasitemia was highest in areas where all the three anthropogenic activities were taking place. In the single-activity site, sugarcane farming predisposed participants to high malaria burden. Characterized relational interplay between these anthropogenic activities and <i>P. falciparum</i> parasitemia will be useful in developing tailored strategies towards optimized malaria control interventions in areas with and without anthropogenic activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2025 ","pages":"6967797"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11824397/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143414594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of Extracellular Vesicles From <i>Leishmania</i> (<i>Leishmania</i>) <i>infantum</i> for Serological Diagnosis of Human and Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis.","authors":"Allecineia Bispo da Cruz, Francieli Marinho Carneiro, Noemi Nosomi Taniwaki, Gislene Mitsue Namiyama, Débora Oliveira Dos Santos, Katia Gomes Castellão, Isabelle Martins Ribeiro Ferreira, Roberto Mitsuyoshi Hiramoto, Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola","doi":"10.1155/japr/8355886","DOIUrl":"10.1155/japr/8355886","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease in which dogs are the main reservoirs. Until now, the serological tests do not present satisfactory sensitivity for diagnosis of these hosts. One of the functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is related to immunological host response. Here, we evaluated the ability of EVs released by <i>Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum</i> promastigotes (Leish-EVs) to be source of antigens for use in serological diagnosis for human visceral leishmaniasis (HumVL) and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanVL). A total of 300 sera were tested. The 155 human sera were divided into 4 groups and 145 canine sera into 3 groups. In human sera, Leish-EVs were reactive in 73/74 sera from patients with VL (Hum-VL) with 98.64% sensitivity. The 26 sera from healthy individuals (NH) and 27 from individuals with asymptomatic toxoplasmosis (ATx) were nonreagent (100% specificity). Leish-EVs-ELISA had cross-reactivity or inconclusive results in 13.5% of sera from Chagas disease patients (CD). In canine sera, Leish-EVs were reactive in 60/63 sera from dogs with CanVL (Can-VL) with 95.24% sensitivity. Leish-EVs were nonreactive in sera from 57 dogs without Can-VL (NC) and 25 with other infections (OIs) with 100% specificity. Hum-VL produced more IgG1 against Leish-EVs than IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. Can-VL produced more IgG2 against Leish-EVs than IgG1. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that Leish-EVs released by <i>L. (L.) infantum</i> when used as antigen in ELISA identified the host antibodies. The methodology was effective for serological diagnosis of VL, since results exhibited good sensitivity and specificity for human and canine sera.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2025 ","pages":"8355886"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11774571/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conventional and Advanced Methods Used for the Diagnosis of Fascioliosis, a Food-Borne Zoonotic Disease.","authors":"Md Haydar Ali, Md Shahadat Hossain, Sharmin Shahid Labony, Anita Rani Dey, Joydeep Paul, Md Abu Hadi Noor Ali Khan, Md Abdul Alim, Anisuzzaman","doi":"10.1155/japr/1353367","DOIUrl":"10.1155/japr/1353367","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fascioliosis is a food-borne zoonotic helminth infection caused by flatworms belonging to the family Fasciolidae, primarily affecting ruminants. The chronic form of fascioliosis is the most prevalent and is characterized by anemia, weight loss, cirrhosis, and liver dysfunction, along with atrophy, jaundice, and bottle jaw. In humans, infection results in fever, nausea, skin rashes, and severe abdominal pain. Climate changes and human-driven environmental alterations have contributed to an increasing incidence of fascioliosis in various regions. <i>Fasciola</i> species are widely distributed and have a high occurrence in tropical countries. Approximately 2.4-17 million humans are afflicted by fascioliosis in tropical and subtropical areas, with an additional 180 million facing the risk of infection. Fascioliosis poses a notable threat to ruminants; over 700 million production animals are at risk, and global annual financial losses surpass $3.2 billion. Conventional coprological methods and advanced molecular techniques are employed to diagnose fascioliosis in animals and humans. Within endemic areas, timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for successful prevention and treatment. Molecular approaches such as various PCR techniques and serological methods are extensively utilized to diagnose fascioliosis. In this review, we describe various conventional coprological and advanced DNA-based PCR techniques along with serological methods used for the screening, monitoring, and specific diagnosis of clinical and subclinical fascioliosis in humans and animals. The information accumulated in this review will be helpful for the diagnosis of fascioliosis in the field and research laboratories.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2025 ","pages":"1353367"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732280/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143007172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microscopic Malaria Infection and Its Determinants in Urban and Rural Populations Living in South-East Gabon.","authors":"Jean-Claude Biteghe-Bi-Essone, Roméo Karl Imboumy-Limoukou, Steede-Seinnat Ontoua, Nick Atiga, Nancy Mbani-Mpega, Lady Charlène Kouna, Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Lydie Sandrine Oyegue-Liabagui","doi":"10.1155/japr/8263358","DOIUrl":"10.1155/japr/8263358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A better understanding of malaria epidemiology in both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals is essential for developing strategies to control the disease. This study was conducted to determine <i>Plasmodium</i> infection prevalence and its associated factors among people living in Franceville (urban area) and in the villages of Pana and Mvengue (rural areas) in south-east Gabon between April and July 2022. This cross-sectional study was conducted among all consenting residents of Franceville, Mvengue, and Pana between April and July 2022. After obtaining informed consent, <i>Plasmodium</i> sp. infection was screened by microscopy, and a structured questionnaire was developed to record sociodemographic data, attitudes, and practices regarding malaria. A total of 976 participants were included, with 491 in urban areas and 485 in rural areas. The overall prevalence of <i>Plasmodium</i> sp. infection was 21.62% (211/976; 95% confidence interval (CI) [19.15-24.31]). The prevalence was highest in children aged 6-11 years. In urban areas, the prevalence was 19.35% (95/491; 95% CI [16.10-23.07]), and 96.84% of infections were asymptomatic. The most infected age group was 18-23 years. In rural areas, the prevalence was 23.92% (116/485, 95% CI [20.34-27.91], and 93.97% (109/116) of infections were asymptomatic. Socioeconomic characteristics, attitudes, and practices towards <i>Plasmodium</i> sp. infection were not associated with a risk of asymptomatic malaria infection. This study highlights the importance of asymptomatic <i>Plasmodium</i> sp. infection in south-east Gabon and the need for control strategies adapted to different areas and age groups. Detection and treatment of asymptomatic carriers could be an important lever for malaria control and elimination in the country.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8263358"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11695082/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142921216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Infection and Serum Neurotransmitter Levels in Major Depressive Disorder Patients: A Case-Control Study in Bangladesh.","authors":"Jerin E Gulshan, Samia Sultana Lira, M M A Shalahuddin Qusar, Md Ismail Hosen, Atiqur Rahman, Md Rabiul Islam, Taibur Rahman","doi":"10.1155/japr/7054920","DOIUrl":"10.1155/japr/7054920","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (<i>T. gondii</i>) is an obligate, intracellular, neurotropic protozoan parasite. After primary infection, <i>T. gondii</i> parasite undergoes stage conversion from fast-replicating tachyzoites to slow-replicating dormant bradyzoites, particularly in the brain, and persists for a lifetime of an individual. In this study, the impact of <i>T. gondii</i> infection in individuals with psychological disorder, that is, major depressive disorder (MDD) has been studied. Ninety-five MDD (<i>n</i> = 95) patients were enrolled with age and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs, <i>n</i> = 90). The seroprevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> infection among these individuals was determined using the TOXO IgM/IgG Rapid Test Cassette that determines the anti-<i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgG antibodies in the serum samples. Furthermore, to understand the impact of <i>T. gondii</i> in developing major depression, the serum level of neurotransmitters (i.e., dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline) was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our data suggest that anti-<i>T. gondii</i> IgG was slightly higher in MDD patients than in HCs. The level of dopamine was significantly lower in <i>T. gondii</i>-infected MDD patients than in HCs. However, adrenaline and noradrenaline levels showed increasing levels in <i>T. gondii</i>-infected MDD patients. The level of neurotransmitters was correlated with the DSM-D scores of MDD patients. These data, nevertheless, confirm that <i>T. gondii</i> might affect the level of neurotransmitters in MDD patients. However, whether the reduced level of dopamine and increased level of adrenaline and noradrenaline act as contributing factors for the development of MDD is yet to be known.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"7054920"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11671603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142903247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytochemical Analysis, Cytotoxicity, and Antitrypanosomal, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of <i>Clausena anisata</i> Fruit, <i>Azadirachta indica</i> Leaf, and Stem Bark Extracts.","authors":"Emmanuel Kofi Kumatia, Felix Kwame Zoiku, Prince Kyei Baffour, Anne Boakyewaa Anokye-Kumatia, Alex Asase","doi":"10.1155/japr/7509588","DOIUrl":"10.1155/japr/7509588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is an infectious disease which kills humans and animals as a result of hematological distortions, oxidative stress, tissue and neuroinflammations. This study reports on the differences in cytotoxicity, antitrypanosomal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts from <i>Clausena anisata</i> fruit (CFE), <i>Azadirachta indica</i> (neem) leaf (NLE), and stem bark (NSBE), medicinal plants used to treat HAT in its endemic communities. The extracts remarkably inhibited <i>Trypanosoma brucei brucei</i> (GUTat 3.1) parasite in vitro with CFE recording the highest effect with an IC₅₀ of 0.0055 (0.0955) <i>μ</i>g/mL. The IC₅₀ of the standard <i>Coptis japonicum</i> was 0.5957 (0.0693) <i>μ</i>g/mL. Also, the antitrypanosomal activity of NLE was 123.34% higher than that of NSBE. The percentage number of wells containing viable <i>T. b. brucei</i> parasites was very significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) reduced for all the extracts after 48 h of incubation. Furthermore, the extracts did not show cytotoxicity against the liver (HepG2) cells (CC₅₀s > 100 <i>μ</i>g/mL and SI = 13.12-32,025.45). NSBE contained the highest quantity of phenolic compounds and flavonoids and also produced the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the DPPH free radical scavenging assay (IC₅₀ = 4.99 ± 0.018) and protein denaturation assay (IC₅₀ = 0.1805 ± 0.0002 <i>μ</i>g/mL). In addition, phytochemical analysis showed that NLE contained the highest number of classes of phytochemical constituents (seven) among the extracts. These results indicate that CFE, NLE, and NSBE possessed significant antitrypanosomal activity as a result of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. However, a different mechanism was also involved in the antitrypanosomal activity of CFE and NLE, since their antitrypanosomal activity is greater than NSBE which demonstrated the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Due to the remarkable antitrypanosomal action of CFE, its constituents are being isolated for possible development into novel antitrypanosomal agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"7509588"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11617053/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142780477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection and Confirmation of <i>Naegleria fowleri</i> in a Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis Patient Using a Molecular Approach.","authors":"Muhammad Aurongzeb, Muhammad Amer Nazir, Raheela Yasmin, Ammeema Kiran, Raiha Fatima, Rehan Ali, Salman Ahmed Khan, Asad Ul-Haq, Khalid Al-Regaiey, Turki Abualait, Imdad Kaleem, Shahid Bashir","doi":"10.1155/2024/5514520","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5514520","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The <i>Naegleria fowleri</i> amoeba stands as the primary culprit behind primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), presenting a substantial global public health concern. In recent years, over 17 cases of PAM have been reported in Karachi, Pakistan, highlighting its increased prevalence in the country's most densely populated city. This study scrutinized 74 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from meningitis patients across various health facilities in the city. These samples underwent thorough examination employing biochemical, microbial, and cytological methods. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers targeting the <i>Naegleria</i> genus and <i>N. fowleri</i> was employed to ascertain the presence of <i>N. fowleri</i> in the CSF samples. While biochemical and cytological analyses provided supportive information, they failed to yield a distinct diagnostic pattern. Nevertheless, through direct microscopic observation, cultural growth, and PCR-based analyses, <i>N. fowleri</i> was definitively identified in one CSF sample.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5514520"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11614516/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142769903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molluscicidal Activity of Extracts and Fractions From <i>Hagenia abyssinica</i>, <i>Rosa abyssinica</i>, and <i>Cucumis ficifolius</i> Against <i>Biomphalaria</i> and <i>Bulinus</i> Snails.","authors":"Hirut Basha, Asfaw Debella, Milkyas Endale, Eyob Debebe, Meharu Mathewos, Tesfaye Biftu, Hassen Mamo","doi":"10.1155/japr/7968654","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/japr/7968654","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Schistosomiasis continues to be a major public health concern in Ethiopia. Eliminating the intermediate host snails is an effective and cost-efficient strategy for preventing and controlling schistosomiasis transmission. However, chemical molluscicides have limitations due to their toxicity to nontarget aquatic organisms, environmental concerns, and the development of resistance. Plant-based molluscicides are biodegradable, less toxic, safe, and cost-effective. <b>Objective</b>: This study is aimed at evaluating the molluscicidal activity of <i>Hagenia abyssinica</i> flowers, <i>Rosa abyssinica</i> fruits, and <i>Cucumis ficifolius</i> roots against <i>Biomphalaria</i> and <i>Bulinus</i> species. <b>Methods</b>: Adult <i>Biomphalaria</i> and <i>Bulinus</i> species were subjected to varying concentrations of aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts and solvent partitions from <i>H. abyssinica</i>, <i>R. abyssinica</i>, and <i>C. ficifolius</i> for 24, 48, and 72 h. The investigation involved conducting a phytochemical analysis using standard screening methods. Female mice were subjected to an acute oral toxicity test using a 70% ethanol extract of <i>H. abyssinica</i>, <i>R. abyssinica</i>, and <i>C. ficifolius</i>. The mortality data were then determined using GraphPad Prism 9 software. <b>Results</b>: Aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts of <i>R. abyssinica</i> and <i>C. ficifolius</i> did not exhibit molluscicidal activities against <i>Biomphalaria</i> and <i>Bulinus</i> species. However, aqueous, 70% ethanol, and chloroform extracts of <i>H. abyssinica</i> showed significant molluscicidal activities against <i>Biomphalaria</i> species with 24-h LC₅₀ values of 39.05, 11.93, and 5.52 mg/L, respectively. Similarly, the LC₅₀ values of the same extracts against <i>Bulinus</i> species after 24 h of exposure were 40.08, 12.23, and 6.13 mg/L, respectively. The plant extract's LD₅₀ for acute toxicity against mice was found to be over 2000 mg/kg of body weight. <b>Conclusion</b>: <i>H. abyssinica</i> demonstrated potent molluscicidal activity, making it a potential candidate for application. Further isolation of active ingredients and field trials are necessary to determine the optimal conditions for its use in snail control.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"7968654"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11611416/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142769937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of Intestinal Parasite Infection Among Prison Inmates and Their Associated Risk Factors at Hosanna Town, South-Central Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Abdulhakim Mussema, Weynshet Tafesse, Leyla Temam","doi":"10.1155/2024/7677743","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/7677743","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> In developing countries, prisoners are one of the marginalized groups most susceptible to intestinal parasite infection due to inadequate living conditions, malnutrition, a lack of potable water, overcrowding, and poor hygiene. Thus, this study is aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections among inmates of Hosanna town prison. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Hosanna Town's prisoners from June 1 to July 30, 2022, on a total of 420 inmates. The study participants were chosen using a simple random sampling technique. Sociodemographic, sanitation, hygienic, and related information were collected by using pretested questionnaires. In addition, about 5 g of stool sample was collected using a leak-proof plastic stool cup and examined microscopically by using direct wet mount preparation and formalin-ether concentration techniques, and data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 25. <b>Results:</b> This study indicated an overall 39.2% (95% CI: 34.6-44.1) prevalence of intestinal parasites (165/420). <i>Entamoeba histolytica/dispar</i> was the most prevalent intestinal parasite found, followed by <i>Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworms, Taenia</i> species, and <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>. About 3.1% of participants had dual parasitic infections. In addition, there is a significant association in multivariable logistic regression analysis between intestinal parasitic infection and various hygiene practices such as not using soap when washing hands after using the toilet ((aOR 1.62 (95% CI: 1.06-2.48)), <i>p</i> ≤ 0.027), not regularly washing hands before meals ((aOR 2.83 (95% CI: 1.79-4.46)), <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), poor hand hygiene overall ((aOR 3.18 (95% CI: 2.00-4.99)), <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), not trimming fingernails ((aOR 2.09 (95% CI: 1.29-3.37)), <i>p</i> ≤ 0.003), and length of time in prison (aOR: 4.27, 95% CI: 22.62-6.96, <i>p</i> = 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> The findings of the study indicated that the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 39.2%, with 38.8% of the infected individuals falling within the 25-34 age range. Additionally, 67.3% of those infected had been imprisoned for over a year. Furthermore, the personal hygiene status of prisoners was found to be substantially correlated with the presence of parasites. Hosanna town prison should ensure sufficient sanitary supplies, promote personal hygiene, and implement health education. Regular medical checkups and routine nail-clipping sessions are crucial for maintaining cleanliness and reducing parasite transmission among inmates.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"7677743"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11581797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142687196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Identification of Selected Cervid Helminths in Supplementarily Fed European Bison Population.","authors":"Magdalena Świsłocka-Cutter, Rafał Kowalczyk, Anetta Borkowska, Tomasz Kamiński, Marta Kołodziej-Sobocińska","doi":"10.1155/2024/2600633","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/2600633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Wild animals often suffer from infections with multiple species of parasites simultaneously. The exchange of parasites between different host species is common in nature and often involves intermediate hosts or sharing space such as pastures or watering holes. Supplementary feeding, leading to large aggregations of individuals, can have several adverse effects on wild ungulate populations, despite being a widespread management practice. One such effect is an increased risk of parasitic infections, particularly in social animals. We quantified the prevalence of selected helminths typically found in cervids, in samples of the European bison faeces, using molecular methods, and compared endoparasite species richness between supplementarily fed and nonfed European bison herds in the Białowieża Primeval Forest, NE Poland. <b>Methods:</b> Using the diagnostic PCR method, we analysed the faecal samples for molecular markers of nine parasite species which are typically found in cervids: moose, red deer, and roe deer. <b>Results:</b> All analysed samples tested positive for at least one parasite species, and the average number of parasite species per sample was 3.2. The most prevalent parasites were gastrointestinal nematodes: <i>Ostertagia leptospicularis</i> and <i>Ostertagia antipini</i>, found in 89.2% and 50.6% of the European bison faecal samples, respectively. We found significant differences in the prevalence of four parasite species between supplementarily fed and nonfed European bison herds. Co-occurrence analysis showed that most of the associations between parasite species pairs were random. <b>Conclusion:</b> Management practices, such as supplementary feeding, can influence the spread of parasite infections in social mammals. This study also promotes the application of molecular methods for noninvasive parasitological monitoring of wildlife populations of endangered ruminant species sharing resources with other ungulates.</p>","PeriodicalId":16662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology Research","volume":"2024 ","pages":"2600633"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11568891/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142647490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}