Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"Cladistics of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto Genotypes Infecting the Slaughtered Pigs","authors":"Aman D. Moudgil,&nbsp;Anil K. Nehra,&nbsp;Sukhdeep Vohra,&nbsp;Ansu Kumari,&nbsp;Pallavi Moudgil","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00709-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00709-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> sensu stricto (s. s.) consists of the most widespread genotypes (G1, G3) implicated in human cystic echinococcosis worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of pigs in the transmission dynamics of <i>E. granulosus</i> s. s. genotypes, including the phylogenetics, evolutionary divergence and haplotype network analyses of north Indian pig isolates along with GenBank^™ archived sequences.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In totality, 223 slaughtered pigs were thoroughly screened for the presence of hydatid cysts. The amplification of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene was performed for the molecular confirmation and phylogenetics of the retrieved metacestodes.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The molecularly confirmed and sequenced present study isolates (<i>n</i> = 2) clustered with the <i>E. granulosus</i> genotype G3. The very low evolutionary divergence values (&lt; 0.0027) of the present study isolates with <i>E. ganulosus</i> genotype G3 indicated the absence of diverged lineages. The significantly negative values of Tajima’s D (− 2.598) and Fu and Li’s D (− 4.054) of the overall dataset and for the Asian sequences signified an expansion of population size. The overall dataset exhibited low nucleotide (0.067 ± 0.055) and high haplotype (0.574 ± 0.015) diversities, also alluding to demographic expansion. The haplotype network showed that the pig isolates from South America and Europe constituted the predominant haplotype, Hap_2 along with Hap_3 and Hap_6, primarily associated to <i>E</i>. <i>granulosus</i> genotype G1; whereas, the Indian isolates formed different haplotypes (Hap_1 and Hap_5) belonging to genotype G3.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The present study highlighted the important role of pigs in the transmission of <i>E. granulosus</i> s. s., which is of paramount significance given the public health and economic impact of cystic echinococcosis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 4","pages":"754 - 761"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10018653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thymoquinone Effect on Leishmania tropica/infantum and Leishmania-Infected Macrophages","authors":"Amir KarimiPourSaryazdi,&nbsp;Mohammad Mahdi Jafari,&nbsp;Majid Pirestani,&nbsp;Seyyed Hojjat Sadeghi,&nbsp;Zeinab Moghadamizad","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00713-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00713-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p><i>Leishmania</i> is a parasitic protozoan that tries to enter and amplify within macrophages. Macrophage cells are also immune defense cells that phagocyte many microbes like bacteria, fungi, as well as parasites like <i>Leishmania</i> spp. However, they are unable to kill this parasite that resides in the phagosomes of contaminated macrophages and multiplies in these macrophages, leading to the destruction of contaminated macrophages and the emerging of <i>Leishmania</i> wounds. A large number of current therapies for <i>Leishmania</i> cure have adverse effects, or parasites have developed resistance to some of these therapies, so a better therapy for the cure of <i>Leishmania</i> is required. Thymoquinone is one of the <i>Nigella Sativa</i> ingredients with numerous biological effects, such as antioxidant as well as antimicrobial effects on a variety of microbes, namely fungi, bacteria, as well as parasites like <i>Leishmania</i> spp. The impacts of Thymoquinone on <i>Leishmania tropica</i> and <i>Leishmania infantum</i>, as well as <i>Leishmania</i>-infected macrophages, were examined in this study.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The impact of various Thymoquinone dosages on <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. infantum</i> promastigotes and amastigotes was examined in vitro. Flow cytometry, as well as MTT, was also applied to examine the cytotoxic activity of Thymoquinone on promastigotes of <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. infantum</i>, as well as the incidence of apoptosis. The amastigote assay is also utilized to calculate the % of contaminated macrophages as well as the number of the present parasites in each macrophage.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The percentage of macrophages contaminated with <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. infantum</i> amastigotes after medicating with 20 μM of Thymoquinone was 23% and 19%, respectively. Also, after medicating with 10 μM of Thymoquinone, these percentages were 32% and 31%, respectively. Flow cytometry indicated that Thymoquinone caused 33.9% and 31.4% apoptosis in <i>L. tropica and L. infantum</i>, respectively. As determined by the promastigote assay, the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Thymoquinone for <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. infantum</i> was 9.49 μM and 12.66 μM, respectively. The results of the promastigote and amastigote assay show that with an increase in Thymoquinone doses, its ability to kill Leishmania parasites increases, too.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>According to the results of the study, Thymoquinone has a potentially lethal impact on <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. infantum</i> promastigotes as well as amastigotes (within <i>leishmania</i> contaminated macrophages).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 4","pages":"735 - 745"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10368343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microscopic and Molecular Investigation of Intestinal Microsporidia in HIV + /AIDS and Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran","authors":"Bentolhoda Ahmadi,&nbsp;Shahabeddin Sarvi,&nbsp;Shahrbanoo Keihanian,&nbsp;Lotfollah Davoudi,&nbsp;Ahmad Daryani,&nbsp;Hamed Mirjalali,&nbsp;Ehsan Ahmadpour,&nbsp;Mitra Sadeghi,&nbsp;Seyed Ali Shariatzadeh,&nbsp;Saeid Shakeri,&nbsp;Seyed Abdollah Hosseini","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00704-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00704-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The aim of this study was to identify <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. in fecal samples of HIV + /AIDS and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and comparing the results to healthy individuals in Mazandaran province, north of Iran.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Stool samples were collected from 50 HIV + /AIDS patients, 50 cancer patients, and 50 healthy samples referred to medical centers in north of Iran. Stool samples were kept in 2.5% potassium dichromate at 4 °C, and stained by modified trichrome for light microscopy examination. The multiplex/nested-PCR targeted the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. To characterize genotypes, the nested PCR products sequenced by Bioneer Company and was subjected to phylogenetic analyses.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Ten of 50 samples (20%) of HIV + /AIDS patients, 5 of 50 samples (10%) of cancer patients, and 1 of healthy individuals (2%) were microscopically positive. From 50 HIV + / AIDS patients, <i>E. bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. were detected in 10 (20%) and 6 (12%) cases, respectively. Furthermore, among cancer patients, 7 (14%) and 2 (4%) cases were <i>E. bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp., respectively. Out of 50 samples of healthy individuals, only 3 (6%) cases of <i>E. bieneusi</i> were observed. The genotypes D and M were detected among positive samples of <i>E. bieneusi</i>.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p><i>E. bieneusi</i> and then <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. are common intestinal microsporidia in HIV + /AIDS patients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Mazandaran province. <i>E. bieneusi</i> genotype D seems to be the predominant genotype in Mazandaran province. Due to the considerable prevalence of intestinal microsporidia, physicians are advised to pay more attention to this opportunistic infection in high-risk groups.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"690 - 698"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10457124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why Are We Still a Worm World in the 2020s? An Overview of Risk Factors and Endemicity for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis","authors":"Adelson Ferreira Ramos Neto,&nbsp;Yvanna Louise Di Christine Oliveira,&nbsp;Luciana Maria de Oliveira,&nbsp;Roseli La Corte,&nbsp;Sona Jain,&nbsp;Divaldo Pereira de Lyra Junior,&nbsp;Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara,&nbsp;Silvio Santana Dolabella","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00701-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00701-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is one of the most common chronic infections in developing countries associated with poor socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. The main objective of this overview was to evaluate the influence of environmental factors, risk factors related to the host, and control strategies on the prevalence of STH in different regions of the world.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>LILACS, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Trials (gray literature) databases were used to obtain the systematic reviews published until December 2020. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed using the standard criteria recommended by AMSTAR.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The initial results of the bibliographic search identified 1448 articles, of which 66 studies were read in full and 16 met the inclusion criteria. All the reviews included in this overview associated variations in the global prevalence of STH with at least one of the factors related to the environment, host, and/or control strategies. Climate, temperature, soil moisture, precipitation, mass drug administration, lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and non-use of footwear were considered the main factors associated with the prevalence of STH. Socioeconomic factors, low educational level, and wearing shoes were universal factors related to prevalence, regardless of the location studied.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The combination of environmental factors, with factors associated with hosts that predispose infection and reinfection of helminths, as well as the adoption of control strategies based on the treatment of target populations instead of the entire population, influenced the prevalence of STH in all the continents evaluated.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"481 - 495"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10104403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. Isolates from Bats in Colombia","authors":"Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos,&nbsp;Juliana Noriega,&nbsp;Rafael F. Fajardo,&nbsp;Sandra M. Chala-Quintero,&nbsp;Adriana Del Pilar Pulido-Villamarín,&nbsp;Jairo Pérez-Torres,&nbsp;Rubiela Castañeda-Salazar,&nbsp;Claudia Cuervo","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00697-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00697-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., frequently found in several animal species, including bats. Several <i>Cryptosporidium</i> genotypes have been described in bats worldwide, suggesting that bats are infected by host-specific <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. To date, there are no published reports about <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in bats from Colombia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence and molecular diversity of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in Colombian bats.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 63 gut samples from three bat species served for molecular detection of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. 18S rDNA gene by qPCR. The sequenced amplicons were used in subsequent phylogenetic analyses to identify them as species or genotypes.</p><h3>Results</h3><p><i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. qPCR detection occurred in 9.5% (6/63) of bat intestines, and four sequences represented two new genotypes, called <i>Cryptosporidium</i> bat genotypes XIX and XX, were identified.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study describes the detection of two novel <i>Cryptosporidium</i> bat genotypes, in two species of bats from a region of Colombia, requiring further studies to determine the relationhip between <i>Cryptosporidium</i> and bats in Colombia.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"676 - 682"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-023-00697-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10115156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiple Stool Sampling and Specific Parasitological Technique are Crucial to Diagnose Strongyloidiasis in Alcoholic Patients","authors":"Alana A. S. Gonçalves,&nbsp;Camila A. Lopes,&nbsp;Marcelo A. Levenhagen,&nbsp;Henrique T. Gonzaga,&nbsp;Luiz Carlos M. Oliveira,&nbsp;Julia Maria Costa-Cruz","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00700-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00700-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Chronic alcoholism is a well-known risk factor for strongyloidiasis, in these patients the disease is potentially more severe, probably due to the breakdown of local protective barriers and immunosuppression caused by alcohol, which can lead to autoinfection and dissemination. The aim of this study was to evaluate multiple stool sampling and a specific parasitological assay agar plate culture (APC) for the diagnosis of <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> in alcoholics.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>APC was compared to sedimentation technique (HPJ; Hoffman, Pons and Janer), as parasitological methods to detect <i>S. stercoralis</i> infection in alcoholic individuals. Three stool samples from 60 alcoholic and 60 non-alcoholic individuals were analyzed.</p><h3>Results</h3><p><i>S. stercoralis</i> larvae were observed in 11 (18.3%) alcoholic individuals and 1 (1.7%) nonalcoholic individual (<i>P</i> = 0.0042). In view of the combined results, sensitivity for the APC method was 63.6% (CI 31.6–87.6%) with the first sample reaching 100% (CI 67.8–100%) after analyzing three fecal samples. The HPJ sensitivity was 36.4% (CI 12.4–68.4) in the first sample, reaching 72.7% (CI 39.3–92.7) after three samples analyzed.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The present results suggest that in alcoholic patients, it is important to repeat stool sampling with specific techniques, especially using the APC method, to avoid misdiagnosis in cases that could evolve to disseminated strongyloidiasis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"718 - 722"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10102462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Different Populations of Dogs from Aguascalientes, Mexico","authors":"Carlos Cruz-Vázquez,&nbsp;Liliana Maldonado-López,&nbsp;Irene Vitela-Mendoza,&nbsp;Leticia Medina-Esparza,&nbsp;Liliana Aguilar-Marcelino,&nbsp;Isabel de Velasco-Reyes","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00703-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00703-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context and Purpose</h3><p>This work aimed to study the seroprevalence of natural infection by <i>T. gondii</i> in different population segments of dogs from Aguascalientes, Mexico as well as its possible association with some risk factors.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The study included 210 clinically healthy dogs from three population segments: rural, stray and pet. A blood serum sample was collected on a single occasion and processed by indirect immunofluorescence considering a dilution of 1:16 as a positive reaction; the association between the presence of antibodies and the potential risk factors was estimated with logistic regression.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The overall prevalence of anti-<i>T. gondii</i> antibodies in the studied population was 59% (123/210; CI 95% 51–65) being different between population segments, in rural dogs 74% (59/80; CI 95% 62–82), in stray dogs 60% (48/80; CI 95% 48–70) and in pet dogs 32% (16/50; CI 95% 19–46), the titers of the positive sera were in a range of 1:16–1:128. In rural dogs the seroprevalence according to the municipality was in a range of 55% to 100% finding positive dogs in all the studied municipalities. The zootechnical function of guarding the property in rural dogs was identified as a risk factor (OR 2.4), while in pet dogs it was living with cats (OR 7) as well as sharing the drinking water container (OR 4); in stray dogs it was not possible to identify any risk factor.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study documents the wide presence of anti-<i>T. gondii</i> antibodies in the population groups examined, this being more important in rural dogs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"683 - 689"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10104402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tick-Borne Pathogens Screening Using a Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Method","authors":"Sergio Andres Cardenas-Cadena,&nbsp;Maria Eugenia Castañeda-Lopez,&nbsp;Fabiana Esther Mollinedo-Montaño,&nbsp;Sodel Vazquez-Reyes,&nbsp;Jorge Lara-Arias,&nbsp;Ivan Alberto Marino-Martinez,&nbsp;Iram Pablo Rodriguez-Sanchez,&nbsp;Idalia Garza-Veloz,&nbsp;Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00702-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00702-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>This study aims to develop and evaluate a cost-effective, user-friendly multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detecting multiple tick-borne pathogens associated with human and veterinary diseases.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In silico PCR was performed to design and evaluate primer sequences reported for amplifying <i>Rickettsia spp</i>., <i>Borrelia spp.</i>, and <i>Ehrlichia spp.</i> Single and multiplex qPCR assays were then standardized to detect individual pathogens and multiple pathogens in a single reaction. Positive controls were generated to determine the dynamic range of the methods. In the validation phase, a total of 800 samples were screened for the presence of tick-borne pathogens.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Identification in a single qPCR reaction (multiplex) of <i>Ehrlichia spp</i><i>.</i>, and <i>Borrelia spp.</i> with a limit of detection of 10 copies and <i>Rickettsia spp</i>. with 100 copies, a PCR efficiency (E) of 90–100% and a coefficient of correlation (<i>R</i>²) of 0.998–0.996 for all pathogens.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The ability to detect three significant pathogens <i>(Ehrlichia spp</i>., <i>Rickettsia spp</i>., and <i>Borrelia spp</i>.) in a single qPCR reaction offers a significant advantage in the field of molecular diagnostics for tick-borne diseases. This advancement has a profound impact on public health as it facilitates the selection of appropriate treatment protocols, thereby reducing complications associated with disease progression. The streamlined approach provided by this method simplifies the diagnostic process and enables timely intervention, ultimately improving patient outcomes and mitigating the potential risks associated with untreated or misdiagnosed tick-borne infections.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"705 - 710"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-023-00702-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10115150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fatal Disseminated Strongyloidiasis in an Immunosuppressed Patient During COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Eissa Soleymani,&nbsp;Lotfollah Davoodi,&nbsp;Shadi Shayesteh Azar,&nbsp;Seyed Reza Mirbadiei,&nbsp;Fatemeh Parandin,&nbsp;Afshin Azimi,&nbsp;Azadeh Mizani,&nbsp;Zohreh Khorshidvand,&nbsp;Mahdi Fakhar","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00705-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00705-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>This report presents a fatal case of disseminated strongyloidiasis in a patient with myasthenia gravis and diabetes mellitus who had received corticosteroid therapy.</p><h3>Case Report</h3><p>The patient was a 67-year-old woman living in a rural area endemic for <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> in northern Iran. Disseminated strongyloidiasis was diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease, with enormous numbers of larvae demonstrated in direct smears prepared from stool samples and stomach biopsy. Despite treatment with ivermectin and antibiotics, the patient succumbed to the severity of the infection.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Clinicians working in endemic areas should be mindful of the possibility of gastric involvement in strongyloidiasis, even if symptoms are nonspecific. We recommend that high-risk individuals be screened for <i>S. stercoralis</i> prior to immunosuppressive therapy in endemic regions to raise awareness and prevent similar cases.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"711 - 717"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10156425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimalarial Activities of a Therapeutic Combination of Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica and Morinda lucida Leaves: A Molecular View of its Activity on Plasmodium falciparum Proteins","authors":"Suliat Iyabode Abdulai,&nbsp;Ahmed Adebayo Ishola,&nbsp;Clement Olatunbosun Bewaji","doi":"10.1007/s11686-023-00698-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-023-00698-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The search for new antimalarial drugs remains elusive prompting research into antimalarial combinations from medicinal plants due to their cheapness, efficacy and availability. <i>Azadirachta indica</i> (AI), <i>Morinda lucida</i> (ML) and <i>Mangifera indica</i> (MI) have all been reported as potent antimalarial plants.\u0000</p><h3>Purpose</h3><p>This study evaluated the efficacy of an antimalarial combination therapeutics prepared from leaves of AI, ML and MI using <i>in vitro</i>, <i>in vivo</i> and molecular methods.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Refined extracts of the plants combination was made by partitioning the aqueous extract of plants combinations (AI + MI, AI + ML, MI + ML, AI + MI + ML) using methanol and ethyl acetate consecutively. The resulting ethyl acetate partitioned fraction was evaluated for its antimalarial activity. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were employed to determine the possible mechanism of action of the constituent of the most active combination against four important <i>P. falciparum</i> proteins.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The result revealed that the refined extract from combinations AI + ML and MI + ML at 16 mg/kg bodyweight have the highest chemo-suppressive effect of 90.7% and 91.0% respectively compared to chloroquine's 100% at 10 mg/kg. Also, refined extract from MI + ML combination improved PCV levels significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) compared to controls. Molecular docking revealed oleanolic acid and ursolic acid as multiple inhibitors of plasmepsin II, hiso-aspartic protease, falcipain-2 and <i>P. falciparum</i> Eonyl acyl-carrier protein reductase with relative stability during 100 ns of simulation.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The study unveiled the potentials of ML and MI as good candidates for antimalarial combination therapy and further established their use together as revealed in folklore medicine.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"68 3","pages":"659 - 675"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10155913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}