Tropical ParasitologyPub Date : 2023-07-01Epub Date: 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4103/tp.tp_8_23
Adenike Olatundun Oladokun, Paul Ogboru, Olanrewaju I Opeodu, Ahmed O Lawal, Mofolusho O Falade
{"title":"Prevalence of <i>Entamoeba gingivalis</i> and <i>Trichomonas tenax</i> among patients with periodontal disease attending Dental Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan.","authors":"Adenike Olatundun Oladokun, Paul Ogboru, Olanrewaju I Opeodu, Ahmed O Lawal, Mofolusho O Falade","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_8_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_8_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Periodontal disease is often caused by bacterial plaque. However, there are indications that some infective agents, including parasites, may play important roles in the pathogenesis of the disease.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis, as well as the prevalence of <i>Entamoeba gingivalis</i> and <i>Trichomonas tenax</i>, in the oral biofilm of individuals with periodontal diseases using polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>One hundred and six respondents with periodontal disease participated in the study. All study participants had a full-mouth examination, and dental plaque samples were collected with a sterile curette. Samples were transported to the laboratory in a cold chain and stored frozen till analyzed. DNA was extracted from the samples and amplified using EGO and ENTAM primers for <i>Entamoeba</i> and TGBK primers for <i>T. tenax</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of respondents was 45 ± 16.3 years, with none using tobacco. The prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis obtained from this study was 84.9% and 15.1%. The prevalence obtained for <i>Entamoeba</i> and <i>T. tenax</i> was 0.9% each; however, no participant had both parasites. The positive samples were from male participants with moderate gingivitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Gingivitis was more prevalent than periodontitis, though with a high preponderance in females. <i>E. gingivalis</i> and <i>T. tenax</i> may not be of etiologic importance in periodontal disease as they occurred sparsely in the studied population.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"107-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683207","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":"Multiple protozoal infections in a single immunocompromised patient: A case report.","authors":"Rupak Chatterjee, Tanusree Mondal, Gautam Barik, Subhoroop Ghosh, Netai Pramanik, Ardhendu Maji, Tapashi Ghosh","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_31_21","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_31_21","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immunocompromised patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are prone to multiple infections, of which parasitic infections are an important cause. Parasitic protozoal infections - both by common and rare protozoa are documented in such patients. Here, we report a rare and interesting case of five protozoal infections affecting a single HIV-infected person at the same time of initial presentation. A 64-years-male came to us with complaints of chronic diarrhea for 6 months. He was investigated and found to be positive for HIV I. His stool examination revealed cysts of <i>Entameba histolytica</i> and <i>Giardia lamblia</i> and oocysts of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> species and <i>Cystoisospora</i> species. His toxoplasma IgG was also positive in high titer. The patient was medically diagnosed and was treated with medications as clinically prescribed - antiretroviral therapy was initiated and he was discharged in due course. A total of five protozoal infections were documented affecting a single person - newly diagnosed immunocompromised male, which by sheer qualitative count of patient case histories, indeed is a rare case reported in the medical literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"121-125"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583785/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683204","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}
Tropical ParasitologyPub Date : 2023-07-01Epub Date: 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4103/tp.tp_52_23
Subhash Chandra Parija
{"title":"Neuroparasitology- A New Horizon.","authors":"Subhash Chandra Parija","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_52_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_52_23","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"71-72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683205","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":"Acute appendicitis secondary to <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i> infestation.","authors":"Surbhi J Patel, Priya Pathak, Poornachandra Thejeswi, Manisha Bandari","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_47_21","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_47_21","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute appendicitis secondary to amoebic infestation is a rare possibility, especially in endemic areas. If left untreated, significant postoperative morbidity and mortality can result from the spread of amoebic trophozoites and subsequent tissue reaction. Histopathological examination of the resected appendix with demonstration of invasion by the parasite is mandatory for establishing a diagnosis. Careful examination of the specimen is thus of paramount importance.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"114-116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583783/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683192","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":"RNA interference-mediated hookworm control by gut-dwelling lactic acid bacteria.","authors":"Shaziya Bi, Manisha Sabnis, Anamika Singh, Sanjiban Kumar Banerjee","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_74_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_74_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The complex life cycle of geohelminth parasites make it difficult to manage repeated infections that occur in endemic areas, that requires the development of new therapeutic strategies. Human hookworm <i>Ancylostoma sp</i>. and <i>Necator sp</i>. are a serious problem in many areas of the world where the old age anti-helminthics are ineffective. To address this, we have tried a non-traditional therapeutic approach for a sustainable solution to manage parasite infections.</p><p><strong>Aims and objectives: </strong>In this study, we attempted to develop a new type of therapy using value-added probiotics-producing antiparasitic RNA interference (RNAi) molecules against a vital hookworm (<i>Ancylostoma</i> sp.) enzyme, astacin-like metalloprotease <i>Ac</i>-MTP-1. A new gut delivery RNAi vector was designed to produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) against the target to be delivered by feeding with a probiotic <i>Lactococcus</i> lactis that when administered in endemic areas can potentially be used to control the spread of infection by interrupting the life cycle of hookworm.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The engineered probiotics colonizing the gut, when consumed by the parasite released the dsRNA that which knocked down the target by RNAi interfering with their moulting and tissue migration. The initial penetration of the larvae into the gut lining was reduced by 70%, followed by a reduction of up to 50% in migration to the critical organs. The damage caused to the liver (30%-40%) and the kidneys (50%-60%) by the hookworm in mouse models as quantitated by enzymes released in the blood was totally reversed when the worms were pre fed with the engineered L. lactis before the parasite challenge.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We believe that this is the first demonstrated knockdown of a target gene in hookworms using probiotics genetically engineered to stimulate RNAi (RNAi food), administered through the oral route. This novel method of parasite control when extended to other hookworms, <i>A. duodenalis</i> and <i>A. ceylanicum</i> can augment the efficacy of the existing anthelminthics if combined with them.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"89-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683209","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}
Tropical ParasitologyPub Date : 2023-07-01Epub Date: 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4103/tp.tp_24_23
Kadek Karang Agustina, I Made Ady Wirawan, I Made Sudarmaja, I Made Subrata, Nyoman Sadra Dharmawan
{"title":"<i>Ascaris suum</i> - A zoonosis in Bali, Indonesia.","authors":"Kadek Karang Agustina, I Made Ady Wirawan, I Made Sudarmaja, I Made Subrata, Nyoman Sadra Dharmawan","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_24_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_24_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ascariasis is a common disease in humans and pigs. In previous reports, it has been known that ascariasis in humans is not only caused by <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> but also by <i>Ascaris suum</i> which is known to originate from pigs.</p><p><strong>Aims and objectives: </strong>This research aims to identify the species of <i>Ascaris</i> that infect traditional pig farmers in Bali, Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>To achieve this, an observational study was conducted, in which 239 feces samples were collected from traditional pig farmers. The collected samples were then divided into two parts, with one part stored in a pot containing 10% formalin for microscopic testing, and the other part stored in 70% ethanol for molecular testing. In cases where <i>Ascaris</i> infection was observed during the microscopic examination, a further test was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for molecular examination. The DNA derived from the PCR was then subjected to DNA sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The result was compared to <i>A. suum</i> gene data previously published in the Gene Bank. The results of the microscopic examination showed that 22 farmers were infected with Ascaris. However, PCR testing and DNA sequencing indicated that three infections were caused by <i>A. suum</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Therefore, it can be concluded that <i>A. suum</i> is a zoonosis in Bali. Thus, efforts to control ascariasis must pay attention to the presence of pigs around it. Handling of ascariasis is not only carried out in humans but also in pigs and the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"100-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683191","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}
Tropical ParasitologyPub Date : 2023-07-01Epub Date: 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4103/tp.tp_51_23
{"title":"An E-mail interview with Prof. Mohammed Hafeez.","authors":"","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_51_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_51_23","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"129-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583786/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683193","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}
Tropical ParasitologyPub Date : 2023-07-01Epub Date: 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4103/tp.TP_117_20
Parasmita Das Choudhury, Dina Raja, Vaishali Sarma
{"title":"Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: A diagnostic dilemma.","authors":"Parasmita Das Choudhury, Dina Raja, Vaishali Sarma","doi":"10.4103/tp.TP_117_20","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.TP_117_20","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human dirofilariasis is a rare infection caused by filarial worms of genus <i>Dirofilaria</i>. Humans may be infected as aberrant (accidental) hosts, mainly by <i>Dirofilaria repens</i> and <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i>. Most of the cases reported in India are of ocular dirofilariasis, with a few reports on subcutaneous dirofilariasis. We hereby report one such case of human subcutaneous dirofilariasis affecting the neck region of a 63-year male patient from Assam. This case indicates that this infection is a potentially emerging zoonosis in Assam and there is scope of finding more such cases with surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"118-121"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583780/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683202","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":"Primate malaria of human importance.","authors":"Abhishek Mewara, Priya Sreenivasan, Sumeeta Khurana","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_79_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_79_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nonhuman primate (NHP) malaria poses a major threat to the malaria control programs. The last two decades have witnessed a paradigm shift in our understanding of the malaria caused by species other than the traditionally known human <i>Plasmodium</i> species - <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, <i>Plasmodium vivax</i>, <i>Plasmodium malariae</i>, and <i>Plasmodium ovale</i>. The emergence of the malaria parasite of long-tailed macaque monkeys, <i>Plasmodium knowlesi</i>, as the fifth malaria species of humans has made the scientific community consider the risk of other zoonotic malaria, such as <i>Plasmodium cynomolgi</i>, <i>Plasmodium simium</i>, <i>Plasmodium inui</i>, and others, to humans. The development of knowledge about <i>P. knowlesi</i> as a pathogen which was earlier only known to experimentally cause malaria in humans and rarely cause natural infection, toward its acknowledgment as a significant cause of human malaria and a threat of malaria control programs has been made possible by the use of advanced molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing. This review explores the various aspects of NHP malaria, and the association of various factors with their emergence and potential to cause human malaria which are important to understand to be able to control these emerging infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"73-83"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583777/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683208","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}
Tropical ParasitologyPub Date : 2023-07-01Epub Date: 2023-09-18DOI: 10.4103/tp.tp_67_22
Chayan Sharma, Sumeeta Khurana
{"title":"Parafilm as an efficient transport matrix for corneal scrapings.","authors":"Chayan Sharma, Sumeeta Khurana","doi":"10.4103/tp.tp_67_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/tp.tp_67_22","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living parasites increasingly implicated in causing Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). AK is diagnosed by demonstration of parasites in corneal samples by direct microscopy, culture, and nucleic acid amplification. Most commonly, corneal scrapings are sent to the laboratory smeared between two glass slides. These scrapings are suitable for direct microscopy but less suitable for culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which, in turn, are more sensitive for the diagnosis of AK. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore better alternatives for transporting corneal scrapings from the point-of-care eye center to the concerned laboratories. Materials and Methods: The study used small Parafilm (Bemis Company Inc., USA) squares (PSs) of 1 cm each prepared by cutting Parafilm using a surgical blade under sterile conditions. Each of the four different dilutions of Acanthamoeba suspension (15, 30, 60, and 120 cells) was used in this study. Each dilution was added onto the surface of 36 PSs and kept at room temperature for 24-h, 48-h, and 72-h incubation. The PSs for one particular time point and dilution were used for calcofluor white staining, its inoculation onto the surface of nonnutrient agar having a lawn of Escherichia coli, and Acanthamoeba-specific PCR amplification. In addition, two PSs inoculated with 30 cells and incubated for 24 h and 72 h were used for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results and Conclusion: All three diagnostic techniques, i.e. microscopy, culture, and PCR, detected the presence of Acanthamoeba at all the tested concentrations and time points. However, the growth pattern on culture changed directly in proportion to increased incubation periods and increased concentration of inoculum. In addition, the adherence of Acanthamoeba to the Parafilm was confirmed by SEM; these results suggest the use of these PSs as a suitable matrix for the transport of corneal scrapings.","PeriodicalId":37825,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Parasitology","volume":"13 2","pages":"84-88"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10583775/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683206","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}