Worldwide overview of human infections with Hymenolepis diminuta.

Hymenolepis diminuta is a zoonotic cestode parasitizing the small intestine of rodents (definitive hosts). Humans can accidentally enter into the life cycle of this tapeworm via the ingestion of infected insects (intermediate hosts) containing cestode cysticercoids in their body cavity. More than two centuries after the first record in humans, there are no accurate estimates of the number of human cases around the world. In order to have a more precise idea about the number of human cases with H. diminuta and the current status of the disease (hymenolepiasis) worldwide, we conducted a literature review of published records on human infection with H. diminuta. One thousand five hundred and sixty-one published records of infection with H. diminuta from 80 countries were identified. This review presents an estimate of the number of human cases with H. diminuta and a current overview of the prevalence, geographic distribution, symptoms, diagnosis, exposure to infective stages, and therapeutic approaches for this underestimated zoonotic tapeworm.

Exacerbation of oxazolone colitis by infection with the helminth Hymenolepis diminuta: involvement of IL-5 and eosinophils.

Substantial data show that infection with helminth parasites ameliorates colitis; however, oxazolone-induced colitis is exaggerated in mice infected with the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. We tested the hypothesis that the IL-5 response to helminth infection enhances the severity of oxazolone-induced colitis. Mice were infected with H. diminuta and 8 days later were treated with oxazolone ± anti-IL-5 antibodies. Colitis was assessed 72 hours postoxazolone treatment by disease activity scores, myeloperoxidase activity, and histopathology. Other mice received injections of a replication-deficient adenovirus that carried the IL-5 (Ad.IL-5) gene or a control adenovirus (Ad.delete) ± oxazolone. The effect of H. diminuta+oxazolone in CCL11/CCL22 (eotaxin-1 and 2) knockout (KO) mice was determined. Helminth infection and Ad.IL-5 treatment increased IL-5 and eosinophil numbers. In vivo neutralization of IL-5 significantly reduced the severity of colitis in H. diminuta+oxazolone-treated mice, and H. diminuta did not exaggerate oxazolone-induced colitis in CCL11/CCL22 KO mice. Mice receiving Ad.IL-5 only had no colitis, while oxazolone-induced colitis was more severe in animals cotreated with Ad.IL-5 (Ad.delete + oxazolone was not significantly different from oxazolone only). Thus, while there is much to be gleaned about antiinflammatory mechanisms from rodent-helminth model systems, these data illustrate the caveat that infection with helminth parasites as a therapy could be contraindicated in patients with eosinophilia or elevated IL-5 unless coupled to appropriate measures to block IL-5 and/or eosinophil activity.

Effect of an intraperitoneal injection with activated Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta cysticercoids on homologous challenge.

The intraperitoneal injection of excysted-activated cysticercoids of Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta stimulates a protective immunity in mice and rats against an oral homologous challenge with different levels of effectiveness. The immunizing dose reduced only worm growth in the natural host (i.e. H. nana/mouse and H. diminuta/rat models), while in the unnatural host (i.e. H. diminuta/mouse model) expulsion of the worms from the intestine was accelerated. In mice infected with H. nana the effect appeared about 20 days after injection, but a greater effect was found in both models 40 days later even at low dose (1 cysticercoid). In rats the effect appeared 40 days after injection when a large inoculum (50 or 100 cysticercoids) was used. The induced immunity was slow in developing and only partially effective: this was probably related to host difficulties in processing somatic worm antigens, or to the slow production of metabolites by the worms in the peritoneal cavity.

Himenolepíase: atualizaçäo e prevalência no Hospital das Clínicas da UFPE / Hymenolepiasis: a review and prevalence in the \"Hospital das clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco\", Brazil

Os autores realizaram uma atualizaçäo clínica, laboratorial e terapêutica sobre a himenolepíase e em seguida apresentam sua prevalência no Hospital das Clínicas da UFPE, Brasil

Tratamiento homeopatico de algunas parasitosis en pediatria - Part. 2 / Homeopathic treatment of parasitosis in pediatrician - Part 2

En el siguiente relato se exponen las caracteristicas clinicas que se tomaron en cuenta para la prescripcion del medicamento senalado, independientemente de los resultados de laboratorio consignados en los cuadros anteriores; adicionamos en este resumen el nombre de la entidad parasitaria solo para establecer su relacion correspondiente. Finalmente incluimos en cada caso el total de pacientes tratados con los medicamentos senalados

Parasitoses intestinais / Intestinal parasitosis

A autora descreve as condutas terapêuticas nas helmintíases e protozooses intestinais analisando as indicaçSes do tratamento, os medicamentos de valor, seus paraefeitos e contra-indicaçöes. A escolha das drogas e a citaçäo de mais de um composto na terapêutica de cada infecçäo em particular, embora concedendo alguma preferência, decorreram da observaçäo de certas propriedades, em especial os aspectos ligados à tolerância, facilidade de administraçäo e disponibilidade. Menciona alguns cuidados e métodos específicos que devem ser observados na realizaçäo do exame parasitológico de fezes para um correto diagnóstico e controle de cura. Näo há dúvidas que o tratamento diminue a prevalência, reduz rapidamente a carga parasitária e consequentemente a morbidade, dificultando portanto a transmissäo, mas deve vir ao lado das medidas de assistência sanitária no controle das parasitoses intestinais

Analysis of antibody responses to Hymenolepis nana infection in mice by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoprecipitation.

Serum antibody responses in two strains of mice infected with embryonated eggs of Hymenolepis nana were analysed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoprecipitation (IP) using sodium deoxycholate (DOC)-solubilized antigens prepared from embryonated eggs (eggs), mouse-derived cysticercoids (cysts) and adult tapeworms with immature segments only (adults). Highly susceptible dd mice, which harbour mature tapeworms for a long period (greater than 70 days), produced high levels of antibodies to all three different stages of H. nana. BALB/c mice, almost all of which expel adult tapeworms by 30 days after infection, produced high levels of antibody against egg antigens only. The high antibody titres to cyst and adult antigens in dd mice did not lead to expulsion of the worms. However, worms are rejected early in BALB/c mice when there is little or no detectable serum antibody. The antibody responses to eggs seen in BALB/c mice which had long since shed their adult worms were probably due to ingestion of eggs from faeces of other infected mice. Antibodies to eggs were not detected in BALB/c mice which were initially inoculated with eggs (day 0) and then treated with praziquantel on day 6 after the tissue phase of infection only. The different antibody responses to egg antigens and the other two antigens (cyst and adult) in BALB/c mice suggest a difference in antigen specificity between eggs and both cysts and adults. A major antigen component with Mr 32,000 appears to be specific to the egg (or oncosphere) stage of H. nana. Antibody to this major component of eggs was absorbed only with intact eggs, but not with intact cysts nor adults with immature segments only, so that the antigen appears to be on the surface of the oncosphere.