Oleg V. Shcherbakov , Sargis A. Aghayan , Hasmik Sh. Gevorgyan , Tigran A. Abgaryan , Ruzanna H. Gevorgyan , Alejandro Jiménez-Meléndez , Lucy J. Robertson
{"title":"Preliminary investigations of parasite contamination of water sources in Armenia","authors":"Oleg V. Shcherbakov , Sargis A. Aghayan , Hasmik Sh. Gevorgyan , Tigran A. Abgaryan , Ruzanna H. Gevorgyan , Alejandro Jiménez-Meléndez , Lucy J. Robertson","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The intestinal protozoan parasites, <em>Cryptosporidium</em> and <em>Giardia</em>, are known to have a global distribution, infecting and causing disease in a range of hosts, including people, livestock, pets, and wildlife. However, data from some regions is very sparse. In Armenia, in the Caucasus region of West Asia, only scanty data are available, with just a few surveys on <em>Cryptosporidium</em> infections in livestock, and no available data on human infections or environmental contamination. As part of implementation of water analysis methods for these parasites in Armenia, 24 raw water samples and two sediment samples were analysed for these parasites using a range of approaches, including modified Ziehl-Neelsen, Lugol stain, immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), qPCR and, on sediment samples, immunomagnetic separation and IFAT. Results suggest substantial contamination of raw water sources and indicate the need for further targeted studies using appropriate methods and collecting data on host infections in catchment areas.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00221"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676624000039/pdfft?md5=ff125e65ff5c5057ab01e767ed73396d&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676624000039-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139632252","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":"Multiscale ecological drivers of Echinococcus multilocularis spatial distribution in wild hosts: A systematic review","authors":"Andrea Simoncini , Alessandro Massolo","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Understanding the ecological factors that drive the spatial patterns of parasites transmission is essential to predict their distribution under global change and to direct proactive surveillance efforts. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature to assess the main ecological drivers responsible for the spatial distribution and transmission of the zoonotic cestode <em>Echinococcus multilocularis</em>, the aetiological agent of alveolar echinococcosis, focusing on wild hosts. The 23 retrieved studies suggested that the dispersal of definitive hosts, climatic and biotic factors (distribution of intermediate hosts, composition of host communities) shape continental-scale distribution patterns of <em>E. multilocularis</em>, whereas the relative importance of climate and land cover in driving <em>E. multilocularis</em> distribution at a smaller (country/regional) scale varies with the geographic area considered. At a local scale, two additional factors contribute to determine the distribution of micro-foci of transmission: the trophic relationships between carnivores definitive hosts and small mammals intermediate hosts, and the defecation and marking behaviour of definitive hosts.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240567662300029X/pdfft?md5=87750bbf5df8889db32262cc25bcdae6&pid=1-s2.0-S240567662300029X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138501763","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}
Azdayanti Muslim , Shafiq Aazmi , Yi Xian Er , Shezryna Shahrizal , Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
{"title":"Ascaris lumbricoides harbors a distinct gut microbiota profile from its human host: Preliminary insights","authors":"Azdayanti Muslim , Shafiq Aazmi , Yi Xian Er , Shezryna Shahrizal , Yvonne Ai Lian Lim","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In indigenous populations where soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections are endemic, STH parasites (i.e., <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em>, <em>Trichuris trichiura</em>, hookworms) often co-exist and co-evolve with the gut microbiota of their human hosts. The association between STH infections and the gut microbiota of the colonized human hosts has been established, but few studies explored the gut microbiota of the parasites. This preliminary study aimed to characterize the microbiota of the STH parasite for further understanding the STH parasite-host relationship. The gut microbial genomic DNA from four adult <em>A. lumbricoides</em> worms recovered from a six-year-old indigenous Negrito boy living in an STH-endemic village in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia was extracted and sequenced for the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. The microbiota profiles of these worms were characterized and compared with the gut microbiota of their human host, including the profiles from four STH-positive and three STH-negative individuals from the same tribe and village. The gut microbial structure of <em>A. lumbricoides</em> was found to be differed significantly from their human host. The worms contained lower gut bacterial abundance and diversity than human. This difference was evident in the beta diversity analysis which showed a clear separation between the two sample types. While both Firmicutes (52.3%) and Bacteroidetes (36.6%) are the predominant phyla followed by Proteobacteria (7.2%) in the human gut, the microbiota of <em>Ascaris</em> gut is highly dominated by Firmicutes, constituting 84.2% relative abundance (mainly from the genus <em>Clostridium</em>), followed by Proteobacteria (11.1%), Tenericutes (1.8%) and Bacteroidetes (1.5%). The parasites were also found to alter the microbial structure of the human gut following infection based on the relatively higher bacterial abundance in STH-positive versus STH-negative participants. Further studies with a greater number of <em>Ascaris</em> adults and human hosts are needed to confirm the gut microbiota profiles.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00223"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676624000052/pdfft?md5=2735f290487fed1829432dd4d110a9b3&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676624000052-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139634341","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 phylogenetic analysis of Echinococcus multilocularis from horses raised in Canada or Japan, using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene–targeted PCR","authors":"Tatsuro Hifumi , Tetsuya Tanaka , Ichinosuke Suzu , Miho Sato , Kohei Akioka , Chiaki Fujimata , Ryohei Shinkai , Tsutomu Maeda , Kodai Kusakisako , Hiromi Ikadai , Noriaki Miyoshi","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a larval-stage <em>Echinococcus multilocularis</em> infection. Geographical haplotyping targeting the parasite's mitochondrial cytochrome <em>b</em> (<em>cob</em>) gene has been reported for isolates from definitive and intermediate hosts (wild canids and rodents); however, there are limited reports on strain typing for the dead-end host, the horse, which could act as a sentinel for E<em>. multilocularis</em>. Accordingly, we investigated the diversity of <em>E. multilocularis</em> in isolates obtained from slaughtered Japanese and Canadian horses originating from the Iburi and Hidaka regions in Hokkaido and from Alberta, respectively, with PCR and haplogroup analyses targeting <em>cob</em> gene sequences obtained. Seventy horses were diagnosed with alveolar echinococcosis based on histopathology and <em>cob</em>-gene PCR testing. The <em>E. multilocularis</em> detected in these horses was classified as either an Asian (for Hokkaido-raised horses) or a European (for Alberta-raised horses) haplogroup, based on the obtained <em>cob</em>-gene sequence analysis. In addition, haplotype network analysis revealed that <em>E. multilocularis</em> isolated from Hokkaido-raised horses is highly homologous to Kazakhstan isolates, and <em>E. multilocularis</em> isolated from Alberta-raised horses is highly homologous to Austrian isolates. The results of this study suggest that <em>cob</em>-gene-targeted PCR analysis could be useful for the geographical genetic characterization of <em>E. multilocularis</em> isolated from horses.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676624000015/pdfft?md5=737cbd62f9e959c8ccc698f5e2d0de53&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676624000015-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139480174","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}
P. Suarez , A. Vallejos-Almirall , I. Fernández , I. Gonzalez-Chavarria , J.L. Alonso , G. Vidal
{"title":"Identification of Cryptosporidium parvum and Blastocystis hominis subtype ST3 in Cholga mussel and treated sewage: Preliminary evidence of fecal contamination in harvesting area","authors":"P. Suarez , A. Vallejos-Almirall , I. Fernández , I. Gonzalez-Chavarria , J.L. Alonso , G. Vidal","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em> and <em>Blastocystis hominis</em> are foodborne parasites known for causing diarrhea. They accumulate in mussels grown on contaminated water bodies, due to the discharge of treated sewage from sewage treatment plants (STP). Despite this, some countries like Chile do not include these parasites in the control or monitoring of sewage water. The objective of this research was to evaluate the contamination of <em>C. parvum</em>. and <em>B. hominis</em> from treated sewage (disinfected by chlorination) and Cholga mussels in a touristic rural cove from the bay of Concepción. Cholga mussels from commercial stores and a treated sewage sample were analyzed. <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. was identified by Ziehl-Neelsen-Staining (ZNS) and <em>C. parvum</em> by direct-immunofluorescence assay (IFA) from ZNS-positive samples. <em>Blastocystis hominis</em> was identified by PCR using locus SSU rDNA. <em>C. parvum</em> and <em>B. hominis</em> subtype ST3 were found in 40% and 45% of Cholga mussel samples, respectively, and both parasites were identified in the treated sewage. <em>Blastocystis hominis</em> SSU rDNA gene alignment from Cholga mussels and treated sewage showed 89% of similarity, indicating that could be the same parasite in both samples. We describe the first evidence of possible contamination with these parasites from treated sewage to Cholga mussel suggesting an environmental contamination with high human risk. Based on these results, further studies will consider all the rural coves and STP from the bay to prevent possible contamination of these parasites.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000276/pdfft?md5=f45512db938b8382cafd6ab22d608415&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676623000276-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138838855","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":"Human gnathostomiasis: A review on the biology of the parasite with special reference on the current therapeutic management","authors":"Kathyleen Nogrado , Poom Adisakwattana , Onrapak Reamtong","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Gnathostoma</em> is a parasitic nematode that can infect a wide range of animal species, but human populations have become accidental hosts because of their habit of eating raw or undercooked meat from a wide variety of intermediate hosts. While gnathostomiasis is considered an endemic disease, cases of human gnathostomiasis have been increasing over time, most notably in nonendemic areas. There are several complexities to this parasitic disease, and this review provides an update on human gnathostomiasis, including the life cycle, diagnosis, treatment, and treatment strategies used to combat drug resistance. Even now, a definitive diagnosis of gnathostomiasis is still challenging because it is difficult to isolate larvae for parasitological confirmation. Another reason is the varying clinical symptoms recorded in reported cases. Clinical cases can be confirmed by immunodiagnosis. For <em>Gnathosotoma spinigerum</em>, the detection of IgG against a specific antigenic band with a molecular weight of 24 kDa from <em>G. spinigerum</em> advanced third-stage larvae (aL3), while for other species of <em>Gnathostoma</em> including <em>G. binucleatum</em>, the 33-kDa antigen protein is being used. This review also discusses cases of recurrence of gnathostomiasis and resistance mechanisms to two effective chemotherapeutics (albendazole and ivermectin) used against gnathostomiasis. This is significant, especially when planning strategies to combat anthelmintic resistance. Lastly, while no new chemotherapeutics against gnathostomiasis have been made available, we describe the management of recurrent gnathostomiasis using albendazole and ivermectin combinations or extensions of drug treatment plans.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00207"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/27/15/main.PMC10502356.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10289346","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}
Nicolas Rozo-Montoya , Katherine Bedoya-Urrego , Juan F. Alzate
{"title":"Monitoring potentially pathogenic protists in sewage sludge using Metataxonomics","authors":"Nicolas Rozo-Montoya , Katherine Bedoya-Urrego , Juan F. Alzate","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Intestinal parasites continue to pose a significant threat to human health worldwide, particularly among children. Contaminated water and soil serve as major transmission vehicles for these parasites and intestinal protists are among the most prevalent parasites in both developed and developing nations. Traditionally, parasites have been studied using human or animal fecal samples, while studying them in environmental samples has been challenging due to technical limitations. However, advancements in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatic approaches now enable the detection of parasite DNA in environmental samples. In this study, we applied a metataxonomic and phylogenetic strategy to detect and classify DNA of protists present in sewage sludge from two major cities in Colombia: Medellin and Cali. We successfully detected several human pathogenic parasites including <em>Giardia intestinalis</em>, <em>Entamoeba histolytica,</em> and <em>Blastocystis</em> sp., among other protists, in all sludge samples examined. We also investigated the entry and exit of parasite DNA from the San Fernando wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). We observed a higher number of parasite DNA sequences in the plant's influent wastewater, but we also detected the discharge of DNA from pathogenic parasites in both effluent waters and biosolids.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00210"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ed/88/main.PMC10558727.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41161371","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}
Chia-Kwung Fan , Daniel Barčák , Tomáš Scholz , Pasaikou Sonko , Martina Orosová , Kua-Eyre Su , Chun-Chao Chang , Yuarn-Jang Lee , Roman Kuchta , Mikuláš Oros
{"title":"Human diphyllobothriosis in Taiwan: A review of cases and molecular evidence of Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis","authors":"Chia-Kwung Fan , Daniel Barčák , Tomáš Scholz , Pasaikou Sonko , Martina Orosová , Kua-Eyre Su , Chun-Chao Chang , Yuarn-Jang Lee , Roman Kuchta , Mikuláš Oros","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00213","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Diphyllobothriosis is an infectious disease caused by the consumption of raw freshwater or marine fish containing larvae of broad tapeworms (Diphyllobothriidae). In the present study, we critically reviewed all cases of human diphyllobothriosis reported from Taiwan, including unpublished reports from hospitals in Taipei. Genotyping based on mitochondrial DNA marker (<em>cox</em>1) confirmed that two of the recent cases were caused by <em>Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis</em>, which is not native to Taiwan and was probably imported with Pacific salmon infected with larvae of <em>D. nihonkaiensis</em>. The causative species previously reported in Taiwan could not be definitively confirmed. However, considering the distribution of <em>Dibothriocephalus latus</em>, which is not endemic in Taiwan, past cases diagnosed as <em>D. latus</em> are questionable.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00213"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000264/pdfft?md5=11ee587248019f43012d94c9ed36ad82&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676623000264-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91957317","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":"Surrogates of foodborne and waterborne protozoan parasites: A review","authors":"Laure Augendre , Damien Costa , Sandie Escotte-Binet , Dominique Aubert , Isabelle Villena , Aurélien Dumètre , Stéphanie La Carbona","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The protozoan parasites <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em>, <em>Cyclospora cayetanensis</em>, and <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> are major causes of waterborne and foodborne diseases worldwide. The assessment of their removal or inactivation during water treatment and food processing remains challenging, partly because research on these parasites is hindered by various economical, ethical, methodological, and biological constraints. To address public health concerns and gain new knowledge, researchers are increasingly seeking alternatives to the use of such pathogenic parasites. Over the past few decades, several non-pathogenic microorganisms and manufactured microparticles have been evaluated as potential surrogates of waterborne and foodborne protozoan parasites. Here, we review the surrogates that have been reported for <em>C. parvum</em>, <em>C. cayetanensis</em>, and <em>T. gondii</em> oocysts, and discuss their use and relevance to assess the transport, removal, and inactivation of these parasites in food and water matrices. Biological surrogates including non-human pathogenic <em>Eimeria</em> parasites, microorganisms found in water sources (anaerobic and aerobic spore-forming bacteria, algae), and non-biological surrogates (i.e. manufactured microparticles) have been identified. We emphasize that such surrogates have to be carefully selected and implemented depending on the parasite and the targeted application. <em>Eimeria</em> oocysts appear as promising surrogates to investigate in the future the pathogenic coccidian parasites <em>C. cayetanensis</em> and <em>T. gondii</em> that are the most challenging to work with.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00212"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000252/pdfft?md5=b5cb6902fa2600c2d7950a2fc31af632&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676623000252-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91640364","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}