Sickle Cell Disease and Gut Health: The Influence of Intestinal Parasites and the Microbiome on Angolan Children.

Parasitic infections are a common problem in developing countries and can intensify morbidity in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), increasing the severity of anemia and the need for transfusions. It has been demonstrated that both helminths and protozoa can affect gut microbiome composition. On the other hand, the presence of specific bacterial communities can also influence parasite establishment. Considering this, our aim was to associate the presence of intestinal parasites with the results of hematological analyses and microbiome composition evaluations in a population of Angolan children with and without SCD. A total of 113 stool samples were collected, and gut microbiome analysis was performed using 16S sequencing and real-time PCR to detect eight different intestinal parasites. In our population, more than half of children (55%) had at least one parasitic infection, and of these, 43% were co-infected. Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides were more frequently found in children from the rural area of Bengo. Moreover, SCD children with ascariasis exhibited higher values of leukocytes and neutrophils, whereas the total hemoglobin levels were lower. In regards to the gut microbiome, the presence of intestinal parasites lowered the prevalence of some beneficial bacteria, namely: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cuneatibacter, Bacteroides uniformis, Roseburia, and Shuttleworthia. This study presents the prevalence of several intestinal parasites in a high-risk transmission area with scarce information and opens new perspectives for understanding the interaction between parasites, the microbiome, and SCD.

Echinostomes and Other Intestinal Trematode Infections.

Intestinal trematodes are among the most common types of parasitic worms. About 76 species belonging to 14 families have been recorded infecting humans. Infection commonly occurs when humans eat raw or undercooked foods that contain the infective metacercariae. These parasites are diverse in regard to their morphology, geographical distribution and life cycle, which make it difficult to study the parasitic diseases that they cause. Many of these intestinal trematodes have been considered as endemic parasites in the past. However, the geographical limits and the population at risk are currently expanding and changing in relation to factors such as growing international markets, improved transportation systems, new eating habits in developed countries and demographic changes. These factors make it necessary to better understand intestinal trematode infections. This chapter describes the main features of human intestinal trematodes in relation to their biology, epidemiology, host-parasite relationships, pathogenicity, clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment and control.

Inconsistency of in vitro exsheathment triggers for gastrointestinal nematode parasites of sheep, cattle and deer.

Exsheathment is crucial in the transition from free-living to parasitic phase for most strongyle nematode species. A greater understanding of this process could help in developing new parasitic control methods. This study aimed to identify commonalities in response to exsheathment triggers (heat acclimation, CO2 and pH) in a wide range of species (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Cooperia spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Chabertia ovina, and members of the subfamily Ostertagiinae) from sheep, cattle and farmed deer. The initial expectation of similarity in pH requirements amongst species residing within the same organ was not supported, with unexpected pH preferences for exsheathment of Trichostrongylus axei, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Cooperia oncophora. We also found differences between species in their response to temperature acclimation, with higher exsheathment in response to heat shock observed for H. contortus, Ostertagia ostertagi, T. axei, T. vitrinus and Oesophagostomum sikae. Furthermore, some species showed poor exsheathment under all experimental conditions, such as Cooperia curticei and the large intestinal nematodes C. ovina and Oesophagostomum venulosum. Interestingly, there were some significant differences in response depending on the host from which the parasites were derived. The host species significantly impacted on the exsheathment response for H. contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta, T. vitrinus and T. colubriformis. Overall, the data showed variability between nematode species in their response to these in vitro exsheathment triggers, highlighting the complexity of finding a common set of conditions for all species in order to develop a control method based on triggering the exsheathment process prematurely.

Burden and factors influencing intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections pose significant global health challenges, particularly in developing countries. Asymptomatic infections often present a considerable burden with food handlers serving as potential carriers. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of these parasites varies across regions, and accurate data in the study area is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers working in hotels and restaurants in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study collected stool samples from food handlers alongside a structured questionnaire gathering socio-demographic and hygiene practice information. Stool specimens were screened for intestinal parasites using direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. The collected data were checked for completeness, entered into EpiData software version 3.1, and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was deemed statistically significant if the p-value was less than 0.05. Results: A total of 257 food handlers working in hotels and restaurants in Gondar City participated in the study. Of these, 33.5% (86/257) were found positive for one or more intestinal parasites, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 28.0-39.5%. The study identified nine types of intestinal parasites, with E. histolytica/dispar (8.2%, 21/257) and Ascaris lumbricoides (6.6%, 17/257) being the predominant parasites, followed by hookworm (3.5%, 9/257) and S. mansoni (2.3%, 6/257). The prevalence of mixed infections was 9.3% (24/257). A significant association was observed between intestinal parasitic infection and the educational level of food handlers. Conclusion: In this study, a high prevalence of intestinal parasites was detected indicating poor hygiene practices of the food handlers at the study site. Even the prevalence of mixed infections was high. Regular training, strict adherence to personal hygiene and food-handling practices, and routine inspections and medical checkups for food handlers are crucial.

Molecular screening for enteric parasites and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in haemodialysis patients in Slovakia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Intestinal parasitoses are important causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), the accumulation of non-excreted metabolites leads to uraemia, which induces a state of immunodeficiency, increasing the incidence of infections. The aim of the study was molecular screening for enteric protozoa in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 53 samples were collected in January 2023 from patients undergoing dialysis at Logman Ltd. Nephrodialysis Centre in Kosice, Slovakia. Samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum / Cryptosporidium hominis, Giardia intestinalis, Microsporidia spp., and Blastocystis sp. RESULTS: From the 53 samples, the only pathogen identified by PCR was Blastocystis sp., in 13 patients (24.5 %). Sequence analyses confirmed that the most prevalent subtype (ST) among patients was ST 3 (n=9, 69.2%), followed by ST 1 (n=3, 23.1%) and ST 2 (n=1, 7.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Molecular methods for the detection of microscopic enteric parasites are not used as a first-line diagnostic method in Slovakia. In immunocompromised patients, diarrhoea can be caused not only by a chronic disease or therapy but can also be a result of an ongoing underdiagnosed infection. Early diagnosis leads to targeted therapy and subsequent partial improvement of the quality of life. This study also shows the first insights into Blastocystis sp. subtype distribution in humans in Slovakia.

Meta-analysis and public policy: Reconciling the evidence on deworming.

The WHO recommends mass drug administration (MDA) for intestinal worm infections in areas with over 20% infection prevalence. Recent Cochrane meta-analyses endorse treatment of infected individuals but recommend against MDA. We conducted a theory-agnostic random-effects meta-analysis of the effect of multiple-dose MDA and a cost-effectiveness analysis. We estimate significant effects of MDA on child weight (0.15 kg, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.24; P < 0.001), mid-upper arm circumference (0.20 cm, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.37; P = 0.02), and height (0.09 cm, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16; P = 0.02) when prevalence is over 20% but not on Hb (0.06 g/dL, 95% CI: -0.01, 0.14; P = 0.1). These results suggest that MDA is a cost-effective intervention, particularly in the settings where it is recommended by the WHO.

Intestinal parasitic infections in children from marginalised Roma communities: prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly affecting poor and marginalised populations. These infections significantly contribute to children's diseases, malnutrition, poor school performance, cognitive disorders, and future economic losses. This study aimed to explore and compare the occurrence of intestinal parasites in early childhood among the group of infants from the Slovak majority population and from marginalised Roma communities (MRCs). Furthermore, it aimed to explore the health complaints of children with and without intestinal parasitic infection in the past month and assess the effect of various risk factors on the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection in infants from MRCs. METHODS: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers and stool samples of their children aged 13-21 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study. A total of 181 stools from infants were analysed: 105 infants from the Slovak majority population and 76 from MRCs. RESULTS: Infants from MRCs are significantly more often infected by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Giardia duodenalis than their better-off peers from the majority population. Infection rates are 30% in infants from MRCs vs. 0% in the majority population (p < 0.001). Single and mixed infections were observed in children from MRCs. Infants with intestinal parasitic infections suffer significantly more often from various health complaints, particularly cough, stomach ache, irritability, and diarrhoea. Within MRCs, the risk of parasitic infections in infants is significantly increased by risk factors such as the absence of flushing toilets in households (OR = 4.17, p < 0.05) and contact with un-dewormed animals (OR = 3.61, p < 0.05). Together with the absence of running water in the household, these three factors combined increase the risk more than ten times (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Maintaining hygienic standards in conditions of socioeconomic deprivation in MRCs without running water and sewage in the presence of un-dewormed animals is problematic. These living conditions contribute to the higher prevalence of parasitic infections in children from MRCs, causing various health complaints and thus threatening their health and healthy development.

Study on intestinal parasitic infections and gut microbiota in cancer patients at a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. While they are unlikely to cause severe disease and are self-limiting in healthy individuals, cancer patients are especially susceptible to opportunistic parasitic infections. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in various aspects of health, including immune regulation and metabolic processes. Parasites occupy the same environment as bacteria in the gut. Recent research suggests intestinal parasites can disrupt the normal balance of the gut microbiota. However, there is limited understanding of this co-infection dynamic among cancer patients in Malaysia. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and relationship between intestinal parasites and gut microbiota composition in cancer patients. Stool samples from 134 cancer patients undergoing active treatment or newly diagnosed were collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and gut microbiota composition. The study also involved 17 healthy individuals for comparison and control. Sequencing with 16S RNA at the V3-V4 region was used to determine the gut microbial composition between infected and non-infected cancer patients and healthy control subjects. The overall prevalence of IPIs among cancer patients was found to be 32.8%. Microsporidia spp. Accounted for the highest percentage at 20.1%, followed by Entamoeba spp. (3.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3.0%), Cyclospora spp. (2.2%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (0.8%). None of the health control subjects tested positive for intestinal parasites. The sequencing data analysis revealed that the gut microbiota diversity and composition were significantly different in cancer patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). A significant dissimilarity was observed in the bacterial composition between parasite-infected and non-infected patients based on Bray-Curtis (p = 0.041) and Jaccard (p = 0.021) measurements. Bacteria from the genus Enterococcus were enriched in the parasite-infected groups, while Faecalibacterium prausnitzii reduced compared to non-infected and control groups. Further analysis between different IPIs and non-infected individuals demonstrated a noteworthy variation in Entamoeba-infected (unweighted UniFrac: p = 0.008), Cryptosporidium-infected (Bray-Curtis: p = 0.034) and microsporidia-infected (unweighted: p = 0.026; weighted: p = 0.019; Jaccard: p = 0.031) samples. No significant dissimilarity was observed between Cyclospora-infected groups and non-infected groups. Specifically, patients infected with Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba showed increased obligate anaerobic bacteria. Clostridiales were enriched with Entamoeba infections, whereas those from Coriobacteriales decreased. Bacteroidales and Clostridium were found in higher abundance in the gut microbiota with Cryptosporidium infection, while Bacillales decreased. Additionally, bacteria from the genus Enterococcus were enriched in microsporidia-infected patients. In contrast, bacteria from the Clostridiales order, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, Collinsella, Ruminococcus, and Sporosarcina decreased compared to the non-infected groups. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and managing the interactions between intestinal parasites and gut microbiota for improved outcomes in cancer patients.

Gastrointestinal parasites of owned cats in three districts of Central Ethiopia: Prevalence and risk factors.

This present, cross-sectional study investigated gastrointestinal parasites in owned cats was carried out across Bishoftu, Dukem, and Addis Ababa city and towns in Central Ethiopia from February 2022 to April 2023. The primary objectives were to estimate the prevalence and assess the risk factors associated with these parasites. A total of 213 faecal samples were collected and processed using flotation and McMaster techniques. An overall prevalence of 34.7% (74/213) of gastrointestinal parasites was recorded in the examined cats. The cats harboured nematode (14.6%), cestode (12.7%), and protozoan (5.6%) parasites in single (32.9%) and mixed (1.9%) species. Specifically, Toxocara cati, Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Giardia spp., and Physaloptera spp. were the more frequently identified parasites, with prevalences of 9.4%, 8.9%, 3.8%, 2.8%, and 2.8%, respectively. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among cats of different sexes, ages, and feeding conditions. Thus, higher prevalence rates were observed in females (49.1%, OR = 2.3), young cats (70%, OR = 4.7), and those consuming uncooked food (40.5%, OR = 3.6). Faecal consistency also showed a statistically significant association (P < 0.05) with the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. However, no significant differences were noted in the prevalence among cats of different housing conditions, seasons, or agro-ecological zones. Cats sharing shelter with families had the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites (52.2%). In conclusion, this study uncovered a notably high occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in cats in the surveyed regions, emphasizing the imperative of adopting a One Health strategy to address the zoonotic parasites found in cats, which pose significant public health risks.

Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Sudanese Psychiatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are considered to be a major health problem, particularly in the tropical countries, such as Sudan. Due to poor hygiene practices, the psychiatric patients may pick up parasitic infections. Until now, there exists no published data or available information regarding the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections among Sudanese psychiatric patients. Therefore, our present study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and the potential associated risk factors among Sudanese psychiatric patients. METHODS: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to March 2022. A total of 422 stool samples were randomly collected from psychiatric patients attending the psychiatric section at Kosti Teaching Hospital in the White Nile State of Sudan. Socio-demographic data were gathered using structured questionnaires. All stool samples were examined using different parasitological techniques. RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infection among psychiatric patients was 120/211 (56.8%) and among non-psychiatric patients 66/211 (31.3%) The prevalence rate of intestinal parasites (IPs) among psychiatric patients were as follows: Entamoeba histolytica (29.9%), Giardia lamblia (19.4%), Entamoeba coli (5.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.9%), Hymenolepis nana (0.9%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.5%). There was no relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and age, sociodemographic features, sources of drinking water, contact with domestic animals, washing of hands, eating of raw vegetables/meats, or having psychiatric disorders (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Studying the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections among psychiatric patients may help to assess their health condition or status, leading to better psychiatric healthcare services, diagnoses, and treatments.

Spatial patterns of intestinal parasite infections among children and adolescents in some indigenous communities in Argentina.

Argentina has a heterogeneous prevalence of infections by intestinal parasites (IPs), with the north in the endemic area, especially for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). We analyzed the spatial patterns of these infections in the city of Tartagal, Salta province, by an observational, correlational, and cross-sectional study in children and adolescents aged 1 to 15 years from native communities. One fecal sample per individual was collected to detect IPs using various diagnostic techniques: Telemann sedimentation, Baermann culture, and Kato-Katz. Moran's global and local indices were applied together with SaTScan to assess the spatial distribution, with a focus on cluster detection. The extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine-learning model was used to predict the presence of IPs and their transmission pathways. Based on the analysis of 572 fecal samples, a prevalence of 78.3% was found. The most frequent parasite was Giardia lamblia (30.9%). High- and low-risk clusters were observed for most species, distributed in an east-west direction and polarized in two large foci, one near the city of Tartagal and the other in the km 6 community. Spatial XGBoost models were obtained based on distances with a minimum median accuracy of 0.69. Different spatial patterns reflecting the mechanisms of transmission were noted. The distribution of the majority of the parasites studied was aligned in a westerly direction close to the city, but the STH presence was higher in the km 6 community, toward the east. The purely spatial analysis provides a different and complementary overview for the detection of vulnerable hotspots and strategic intervention. Machine-learning models based on spatial variables explain a large percentage of the variability of the IPs.

Comparison of traditional copromicroscopy with image analysis devices for detection of gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep.

Sustainable parasite control practices are necessary to combat the negative effects of gastrointestinal nematodes on animal health and production while reducing the selection pressure for anthelmintic resistance. Parasite diagnostic tests can inform treatment decisions, the timing and effectiveness of treatment and enable livestock breeding programmes. In recent years new diagnostic methods have been developed, some incorporating machine learning (ML), to facilitate the detection and enumeration of parasite eggs. It is important to understand the technical characteristics and performance of such new methods compared to long standing and commonly utilised methods before they are widely implemented. The aim of the present study was to trial three new diagnostic tools relying on image analysis (FECPAKG2, Micron and OvaCyte) and to compare them to traditional manual devices (McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC). Faecal samples were obtained from 41 lambs naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Samples were mixed and separated into 2 aliquots for examination by each of the 5 methods: McMaster, Mini-FLOTAC, FECPAKG2, Micron and OvaCyte. The techniques were performed according to their respective standard protocols and results were collected by trained staff (McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC) or by the device (FECPAKG2, Micron and OvaCyte). Regarding strongyle worm egg count, McMaster values varied from 0 to 9,000 eggs per gram (EPG). When comparing replicate aliquots, both the Mini-FLOTAC and Micron methods displayed similar repeatability to McMaster. However, we found FECPAKG2 and OvaCyte significantly less precise than McMaster. When comparing parasite egg enumeration, significant positive linear correlations were established between McMaster and all other methods. No difference was observed in EPG between McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC or FECPAKG2; however, Micron and OvaCyte returned significantly higher and lower EPG, respectively, compared to McMaster. The number of eggs ascribed to other parasite species was not sufficient for performing a robust statistical comparison between all methods. However, it was noted that FECPAKG2 generally did not detect Strongyloides papillosus eggs, despite these being detected by other methods. In addition, Moniezia spp and Trichuris spp eggs were detected by OvaCyte and Mini-FLOTAC, respectively, but not by other methods. The observed variation between traditional and new methods for parasite diagnostics highlights the need for continued training and enhancing of ML models used and the importance of developing clear guidelines for validation of newly developed methods.

Magnitude of intestinal parasitic infections and its determinants among HIV/AIDS patients attending at antiretroviral treatment centers in East and West Gojam Zones, Northwest, Ethiopia: institution based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IP) are a major source of morbidity in people living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly in resource-limited settings, mostly as a result of high viral load. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the magnitude of intestinal parasitic infections and its determinants among patients with HIV/AIDS attending public health facilities in East and West Gojam Zones in Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 327 people living with HIV visiting public health facilities from December 2022 to May 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect socio-demographics and determinants. The fresh stool was collected from each patient, transported, and tested in accordance with laboratory standard operating procedures of wet mount, formol-ether concentration technique, and modified acid-fast staining. Data were entered and analyzed in the statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. A 95% CI with p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of IP in patients with HIV/AIDS was 19.3% (63/327). Hookworm was the most identified parasite 33.3% (21/63) followed by E.histolytica 17% (11/63) and G.lamblia 14.3% (9/63). Parasitic infections were significantly higher among viral load > 1000cps/ml (p = 0.035), WHO stage 4 (p = 0.002), CD4 < 200 cell/mm3 (p = 0.001), and bare foot walking (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: IP infections are moderately high among patients with HIV/AIDS in the study area. The proportion of parasites was greatly affected by high viral load, WHO stage 4, CD4 < 200 cell/mm3, and being barefoot; this gives valuable insight to health professionals, health planners and community health workers. As a result, viral load monitoring, and WHO stage controlling were periodically assessed in patients with HIV/AIDS. Health education, awareness creation, routine stool examination, and environmental hygiene were regularly advocated to increase the life of patients with HIV/AIDS.

Worming into infancy: Exploring helminth-microbiome interactions in early life.

There is rapidly growing awareness of microbiome assembly and function in early-life gut health. Although many factors, such as antibiotic use and highly processed diets, impinge on this process, most research has focused on people residing in high-income countries. However, much of the world's population lives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where, in addition to erratic antibiotic use and suboptimal diets, these groups experience unique challenges. Indeed, many children in LMICs are infected with intestinal helminths. Although helminth infections are strongly associated with diverse developmental co-morbidities and induce profound microbiome changes, few studies have directly examined whether intersecting pathways between these components of the holobiont shape health outcomes in early life. Here, we summarize microbial colonization within the first years of human life, how helminth-mediated changes to the gut microbiome may affect postnatal growth, and why more research on this relationship may improve health across the lifespan.

Safeguarding health on every plate: Intestinal parasitic infection survey of food handlers in a tertiary care centre.

Food borne infections pose significant public health problem, especially in developing countries of the world. A continuous surveillance to ensure the health of the personnel involved in preparation of the hospital food is important as they can be a source of spreading the infections and possible outbreaks. We analysed the data of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in food handlers in our tertiary care centre from 2018 to 2022 and 6.8% were observed to harbour intestinal parasites during the period. This signifies the importance of routine screening, and the need of awareness and education of the food handlers in hospitals.

C-reactive protein and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in asymptomatic intestinal parasite carriers from urban and rural areas of Gabon.

BACKGROUND: Chronic carriage of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can induce chronic inflammation and dysbiosis, which are risk factors for non-communicable diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between IPI carriage and inflammation in a population of volunteers living in Gabon. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to November 2021 in asymptomatic volunteers aged 18 years old and over, residing in different areas of Gabon: Libreville (urban area) and Koula-Moutou and Bitam (rural areas). The detection of IPIs was carried out using four common microscopic techniques. C-reactive protein (CRP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured and levels were compared according to the presence or absence of IPI. Overall, 518 participants were included, 64.5% (n = 334) of whom resided in urban area and 35.5% (n = 184) in rural areas. The median age was 35 years (27; 46). The prevalence of asymptomatic IPIs was 29.9% (n = 155), with a significantly higher frequency in rural areas than in urban area (adjusted OR 6.6 (CI 3.2-13.8), p < 0.01). Protozoa were more frequent than soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in both areas: 81.6% (n = 40) in urban area and 69.8% (n = 74) in rural areas. STHs were predominant in rural areas (48.1% vs 22.4% in urban area. In case of IPI, the median values of CRP (15 (13-15) mg/L vs 13.0 (11.1-14.9) mg/L) and hsCRP (4.2 (1.4-13.0) mg/L vs 2.2(0.4-6.1) mg/L) were higher (p<0.01). Elevated hsCRP and CRP were significantly more frequent in parasitized individuals (for hsCRP: 22.6%, n = 35; for CRP: 52.9%, n = 82); in particular among STH carriers (for hsCRP: 65.9%, n = 27, for CRP: 36.6%, n = 15) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This first study showed that asymptomatic IPIs, particularly STH carriage are associated with high CRP and hsCRP levels. Further larger and longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the global and specie-specific enteropathogens link with chronic inflammation.

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Shanghai, China: Surveillance from 2014 to 2023.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis remains a notable health problem in developing countries. In 1990 in Shanghai, a city in eastern China, 47% of the population was affected. Due to a series of comprehensive approaches, the prevalence decreased to 0.5% in 2009. We collected 10-year surveillance data to assess the epidemic situation of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Shanghai. Stool samples and questionnaires from participants were collected. The Kato-Katz technique was used to detect infections with Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), and Trichuris trichiura. From 2014 to 2023, a total of 77,685 participants were screened for parasitic infections, and the overall prevalence of STH infections decreased from 0.1% to 0% in Shanghai. Of 77,685 participants, 25 (0.03%) were positive for intestinal helminths, with the most common parasite being A. lumbricoides (72.0%). Generally, elderly participants from rural areas with lower education levels were more likely to be infected with STHs. A total of 2,914 questionnaires were collected, and most respondents (72.6%) had good knowledge about the transmission routes of STHs. However, 12.3% of participants did not know the damage to health caused by STHs, and 19.3% had no idea of how to prevent infection. These data demonstrate the current state of STH infections in Shanghai. The results suggest that various comprehensive measures should be encouraged, continuously implemented, and strengthened accordingly so that STH elimination can be integrated into the Healthy China initiative by 2030.

Prevalence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and intestinal parasites among food handlers working in University of Gondar student's cafeteria, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Food-borne infections continue to be a major public health problem at the international level. The issue becomes more serious in developing countries like Ethiopia. Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species and intestinal parasites, as well as antimicrobial resistance patterns and associated factors among food handlers at the University of Gondar cafeteria in northwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2021 in the University of Gondar cafeterias. Data related to the socio-demographic characteristics and hygienic practices of study participants were collected using structured questionnaires. A total of 290 stool samples were collected from food handlers. Culture and conventional biochemical tests were used to isolate the Salmonella and the Shigella species. Wet mount, Formol-ether concentration, and Kato Katz techniques were applied to identify intestinal parasites. Additionally, drug susceptibility tests were performed using the disk diffusion method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 26. Results: Of 290 food handlers' stool samples analyzed, Twenty-seven 27 (9.3%) were positive for both Salmonella and Shigella species. The prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species was 16 (5.5%) and 11 (3.8%), respectively. Most of the isolated pathogens were resistant to tetracycline 19 (70.4%), and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole 19 (70.4%). The overall rate of multi-drug resistant Shigella and Salmonella isolate was 59.3%. Besides, Fifty-seven 57 (19.7%) of the participants were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. The most prevalent intestinal Parasitosis was E. histolytica/dispar 22 (7.6%), followed by G. lamblia 13 (4.5%), and Ascaris lumbricoides 11 (3.8) not washing hands after using the toilet (AOR: 4.42, 95% CI: 1.57, 10.56), and consuming unpasteurized milk (AOR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.65, 3.96), were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of Salmonella, and Shigella infection. Similarly, not washing hands after using the toilet (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.4), and consuming unpasteurized milk (AOR: 10.4, 95% CI: 3.8, 28.8), were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of intestinal parasites, Salmonella, and Shigella species was high. Therefore, it is imperative to implement a public health policy that includes ongoing microbiological surveillance.

Immunology and pathology of echinostomes and other intestinal trematodes.

Intestinal trematodes constitute a major group of helminths that parasitize humans and animals with relevant morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of the intestinal trematodes in medical and veterinary sciences, immunology and pathology of these helminth infections have been neglected for years. Apart from the work focused on the members of the family Echnistomatidae, there are only very isolated and sporadic studies on the representatives of other families of digeneans, which makes a compilation of all these studies necessary. In the present review, the most salient literature on the immunology and pathology of intestinal trematodes in their definitive hosts in examined. Emphasis will be placed on members of the echinostomatidae family, since it is the group in which the most work has been carried out. However, we also review the information on selected species of the families Brachylaimidae, Diplostomidae, Gymnophallidae, and Heterophyidae. For most of these families, coverage is considered under the following headings: (i) Background; (ii) Pathology of the infection; (iii) Immunology of the infection; and (iv) Human infections.