Co-administration of silymarin elevates the therapeutic effect of praziquantel through modulation of specific antibody profiles, Th1/Th2/Tregs cytokines and down-regulation of fibrogenesis in mice with Mesocestoides vogae (Cestoda) infection.

Silymarin (SIL) represents a natural mixture of polyphenols showing an array of health benefits. The present study, carried out on a model cestode infection induced by Mesocestoides vogae tetrathyridia in the ICR strain of mice, was aimed at investigating the impact of SIL as adjunct therapy on the activity of praziquantel (PZQ) in relation to parasite burden, immunity and liver fibrosis within 20 days post-therapy. In comparison with PZQ alone, co-administration of SIL and PZQ stimulated production of total IgG antibodies to somatic and excretory-secretory antigens of metacestodes and modified the expression patterns of immunogenic molecules in both antigenic preparations. The combined therapy resulted in the elevation of IFN-γ and a decline of TNF-α and TGF-ß1 in serum as compared to untreated group; however, SIL attenuated significantly the effect of PZQ on IL-4 and stimulated PZQ-suppressed phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages. In the liver, SIL boosted the effect of PZQ on gene expression of the same cytokines in a similar way as was found in serum, except for down-regulation of PZQ-stimulated TNF-α. Compared to PZQ therapy, the infiltration of mast cells into liver after SIL co-administration was nearly abolished and correlated with suppressed activities of genes for collagen I, collagen III and α-SMA. In conclusion, co-administration of SIL modified the effects of PZQ therapy on antigenic stimulation of the immune system and modulated Th1/Th2/Tregs cytokines. In liver this was accompanied by reduced fibrosis, which correlated with significantly higher reduction of total numbers of tetrathyridia after combined therapy as compared with PZQ treatment.

Seroprevalence of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in Invasive Non-native American Mink.

Invasive non-native species can become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and cause their spread during colonization, increasing the risk of zoonoses transmission to both wild hosts and humans. American mink (Neovison vison) are considered an important invasive mammal species responsible for carrying endoparasites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of feral American mink as a possible transmission vector of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in wildlife. We analysed the frequency of American mink exposure to both parasites, the spatial distribution in Poland, and the variability over time on the basis of specific antibody presence using ELISA and Western blot. Alimentary tract analyses revealed that American mink do not serve as definitive hosts for these parasites. Altogether, 1100 American mink were examined. The average seropositivity for American mink was 14.2% for echinococcosis and 21.7% for toxocarosis; dual-seropositivity was detected in only 6.0%. Seroprevalence of both parasites differed between study sites and significantly increased over time in Toxocara spp. Thus, our study revealed that free-living American mink are exposed to parasites and likely to be involved in the maintenance of both Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in the wild as paratenic hosts.

A Community-Based Study to Estimate the Seroprevalence of Trichinellosis and Echinococcosis in the Roma and Non-Roma Population of Slovakia.

Trichinellosis and cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are serious parasitic diseases transmissible between animals and humans. Moreover, alveolar echinococcosis is considered one of the most dangerous of human helminthoses. Roma communities are particularly numerous in Central and Eastern Europe. They are often concentrated in economically undeveloped regions and live in segregated localities with unsatisfactory housing and sanitary conditions. The study aimed to find out the seroprevalence of Trichinella and Echinococcus infections in the Roma population of segregated settlements and to compare it with the seropositivity of the non-Roma population of eastern Slovakia. Out of 823 samples, three sera showed seropositivity to Trichinella in the ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test. Subsequent Western blot reaction (WB) confirmed seropositivity in two Roma women. ELISA seropositivity to E. multilocularis was recorded in six persons (0.73%), and five (0.61%) respondents were seropositive to E. granulosus, but WB confirmed the presence of antibodies to Echinococcus spp. in one Roma participant. Positive persons suffered from unspecific clinical symptoms; Trichinella-positive persons reported headache, cough, fatigue, and muscle pain. The Echinococcus-positive participant suffered from headache and back pain. The study showed that the worse living conditions of the Roma community did not significantly influence the occurrence of Trichinella and Echinococcus infections in this minority.

Evaluation of purified antigen fraction in the immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis.

Echinococcus granulosus antigen B fraction (AgB) was evaluated for its prognostic value in the serological follow-up of cystic echinococcosis (CE), compared to crude hydatid fluid (HF) as well as soluble somatic Echinococcus multilocularis antigen (Em). The sensitivity and specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were compared examining 177 sera from patients with different clinical courses and outcome of CE and with other parasitic infections. AgB-ELISA in comparison to confirmed cystic echinococcosis has 96.4% sensitivity and 97.2% specificity, with 93.1% positive predictive value and 98.6% negative predictive value. The HF-ELISA was more sensitive than the AgB-ELISA, but its specificity was lower. Our results indicate that AgB-ELISA was more satisfactory for seroconfirmation of acute echinococcosis than HF-ELISA. Moreover, the AgB-ELISA has a potential key role in control measures implemented in patients undergoing surgery. In sera of patients more than 3 months after the treatment, no antibody response to antigen B was detected; however, with conventionally used HF-ELISA, they were still positive. The AgB is recommended for the confirmatory diagnosis. AgB-WB allocated low background with typical "triplet" bands at 8-12-16 kDa.

Climate and environmental factors influencing Echinococcus multilocularis occurrence in the Slovak Republic.

During the period of 2000-2004, 3,096 red foxes from the whole territory of the Slovak Republic were sampled and examined parasitologically for infections with Echinococcus multilocularis, causative agent of serious alveolar echinococcosis in humans. Relations between prevalence of the parasite in individual regions of Slovakia and some environmental factors were weighted. During the study period, great differences of prevalence and infection intensity were found on a regional level and significant between-year fluctuation of both parameters was observed. High-endemic foci with an estimated prevalence of more than 30 % were detected in the northern and central part of the country. Climatic conditions, including low mean annual air temperature, high mean annual rainfall and the high humidity of the soil, showed to be important for E. multilocularis distribution. Significant correlation was calculated between prevalence of the tapeworm, mean annual precipitation values, and population density of small mammals.