Risk of invasion and disease transmission by the Australasian freshwater snail Orientogalba viridis (Lymnaeidae): a field and experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Biological invasions pose risks to the normal functioning of ecosystems by altering the structure and composition of several communities. Molluscs stand out as an extensively studied group given their long history of introduction by either natural or anthropogenic dispersal events. An alien population of the lymnaeid species Orientogalba viridis was first sighted in 2009 in southern Spain. In its native range (Australasian), this species is one of the main intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica, a major worldwide trematode parasite largely affecting humans, domestic animals and wildlife. METHODS: We collected field populations of O. viridis from its native (Malaysia) and invaded (Spain) ranges. We performed detailed morphoanatomical drawings of the species and screened for natural infection of parasites. Individuals were molecularly characterized using ITS2 for comparison with existing sequences in a fine phylogeography study. We founded experimental populations at two different conditions (tropical, 26 °C and temperate, 21 °C) to study the life-history traits of exposed and non-exposed individuals to different F. hepatica isolates. RESULTS: We found a 9% natural prevalence of trematode infection (98% similarity with a sequence of Hypoderaeum conoideum [Echinostomatidae]) in the Spanish field population. The haplotypes of O. viridis found in our study from Spain clustered with Australian haplotypes. Experimental infection with F. hepatica was successful in both experimental conditions but higher in tropical (87% prevalence) than in temperate (73%). Overall lifespan, however, was higher in temperate conditions (mean 32.5 ± 7.4 weeks versus 23.3 ± 6.5) and survivorship remained above 70% during the first 20 weeks. In parasite-exposed populations, life expectancy dropped from an overall 37.75 weeks to 11.35 weeks but still doubled the time for initial cercariae shedding. Cercariae shedding started at day 23 post-exposure and peaked between days 53 and 67 with an average of 106 metacercariae per snail. CONCLUSIONS: Whether O. viridis will succeed in Europe is unknown, but the odds are for a scenario in which a major snail host of F. hepatica occupy all available habitats of potential transmission foci, ravelling the epidemiology of fasciolosis. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of O. viridis biology, interactions with parasites and potential implications for disease transmission dynamics, offering valuable insights for further research and surveillance.

Four successive cases of human fasciolosis in Japan.

Fasciolosis is a food-borne parasitic disease, caused by the large liver fluke, Fasciola. Humans acquire infection by ingesting fresh or undercooked water plants, on which infective metacercaria encyst. In spite of the rarity of the disease in Japan, we encountered four successive fasciolosis patients within a short period, who were all living in the same area. The patients were 70-82 years old, three females and the husband of one of the female patients. They started complaining of non-specific symptoms, such as fever, general fatigue, appetite loss, and abdominal pain, almost at the same time. All patients showed prominent peripheral blood eosinophilia, and the medical imaging indicated multiple hepatic lesions. No parasite eggs or worms were detected in any of the patients. Diagnosis was made serologically and they were treated with praziquantel and/or triclabendazole. No cattle or sheep were farmed in the area, but the wild sika deer, Cervus nippon, inhabited adjacent to the residential area. The intermediate host snail, Austropeplea ollula, were found near the residence of the patients, and one of the collected snails was positive for F. hepatica/gigantica hybrid type rediae. Our report should alarm the medical professionals for this rare and unfamiliar parasitic disease.

Construction and mouse antibody response evaluation of juvenile stage-specific chimeric protein from Fasciola gigantica.

Fasciolosis, caused by the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica, is a major parasitic disease that affects livestock and therefore causes significant economic losses in tropical countries. Although anthelminthic drugs can kill the parasite, drug-resistant liver fluke populations are increasing. In this study, a recombinant F. gigantica chimeric protein (rFgCHI) consisting of cathepsin L1H (FgCL1H), cathepsin B3 (FgCB3), and Saposin-like protein 1 (FgSAP1) was designed and expressed in Escherichia coli (BL21). The molecular weight of rFgCHI was 61 kDa. To study the antibody response, male BALB/c mice were immunized via the subcutaneous injection of rFgCHI combined with Quil A. Immunization with rFgCHI showed the induction of IgG1 and IgG2a with a higher IgG1 isotype level, indicating the potential of mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses, with Th2 predominating. However, the results showed high levels of IgG against the single proteins, except for rFgSAP1. Through Western blotting, mouse anti-rFgCHI polyclonal antibodies could be detected to the native proteins obtained from the parasite at all stages. Immunolocalization also revealed that the anti-rFgCHI antibodies could detect targeted antigens in the cecal epithelium of the parasite. These results demonstrated that rFgCHI is immunogenic to the mouse immune system and may potentially be a protein candidate for the development of a fasciolosis vaccine.

Prevalence and associated economic losses of bovine fasciolosis from postmortem inspection in municipal abattoirs in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fasciolosis is a prevalent disease that significantly affects the health and productivity of cattle and causes significant economic loss. Beyond individually available studies with varying prevalence rates, there are no pooled national prevalence studies on bovine fasciolosis. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine the combined magnitude and economic significance of fasciolosis among cattle on postmortem examination. Inverse variance (I2), sensitivity analysis, funnel plots, Begg's test, and Egger's regression test were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled burden of fasciolosis among cattle. The pooled prevalence of fasciolosis among cattle on postmortem examination was 31.77 % (95 % CI=27.82-35.71). Among a total of 14,965 livers of slaughtered cattle examined in municipal abattoirs, Fasciola hepatica (54.4 %) was the predominant fluke identified compared to F. gigantica (24.6 %). Mixed infections of both species and unidentified immature flukes were detected in 12.4 % and 7.6 %, respectively, of affected livers. Regarding the severity of the pathological lesions observed, 30.5 %, 44.3 %, and 25.2 % of the livers were lightly, moderately, and seriously infested, respectively. The pooled annual economic loss attributed to fasciolosis-associated liver condemnation among cattle in 40 reported studies was approximately 40,833,983.15 ETB (6,417, 847.73 USD). Therefore, bovine fasciolosis requires integrated control methods to address its influence on animal health and economic impact.

A Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study on sheep owners regarding fasciolosis in northwest of Tunisia.

Fasciolosis is a worldwide zoonotic snail-borne infection that affects ruminants, it causes high economic losses among livestock. A participatory epidemiological survey was conducted on 204 sheep owners of Sejnane region (District of Bizerte, Northwest Tunisia) to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding fasciolosis. All interviewed sheep owners are aware of this parasitic infection (100%, 204/204), among them, 81% (165/204) reported history of clinical cases in their sheep flocks. According to 33.73% (113/335) of them, sheep get infected by fasciolosis mainly by grazing in wet areas, 79.9% (163/204) of these farmers think that wet climate is the most favourable for the infection. Weight loss (28.40%, 121/426) and submandibular oedema (20.42%, 87/426) are the main clinical signs of fasciolosis cited by interviewed sheep owners and the majority of them (98.53%; 201/204) confirmed that fasciolosis causes significant economic losses. Fasciolosis infection persists in Sejnane region despite the use of antiparasitic drugs, this is due mainly to the fact that animals graze in moist grass (39.88%, 132/331). Treat animals (51.47%, 193/375), prohibit grazing on moist grass (15.20%, 57/357), prohibit grazing on wet soils (14.33%, 53/357) and avoid pastures (10.93%, 41/357) are the main prevention measures cited by interviewed sheep owners. Only 18,14% (37/204) of responders knew that fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease. These results could be considered by animal health decision makers and field veterinarians when implementing control programmes in order to increase breeders' knowledge of fasciolosis.

Diagnosis of fasciolosis antibodies in Brazilian cattle through ELISA employing both native and recombinant antigens.

Bovine fasciolosis is a parasitic disease with a global reach. Coprological based on egg detection in fecal samples and liver inspection to evaluate the presence of the parasite is currently the gold standard for diagnosing chronic fasciolosis in cattle. However, these techniques are labor-intensive and ineffective during the acute phase of the disease. Serodiagnosis using native and recombinant antigens has become an interesting alternative in efforts to identify cattle fasciolosis. We evaluated cattle from abattoir (n = 139) and farms (n = 500) through liver inspection and coprological examination, respectively. Our laboratory team optimized and validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests based on somatic antigen, excretory/secretory proteins, and the recombinant antigen cathepsin L-1 to detect serum antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle. For animals from abattoir, 10 were positive for fasciolosis according to liver inspection. Both FhES and FhrCL-1 presented an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.80, with a sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.46-0.95) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.38-0.90) and specificity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73-0.87) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80-0.92), respectively. For those cattle from farms, 28 were positive only for fasciolosis according to coprological examination. In this scenario, FhES gave the best performance, with an AUROC of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.60-0.90), and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82-0.89). In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of serodiagnosis for accurately screening cattle fasciolosis. The promising sensitivity and specificity values of FhES when compared to liver inspection or coprological examination enhance its importance for cattle fasciolosis diagnosis. IMPORTANCE: The aim of this article was to identify antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle in Brazil. The methodology was reproduced in our laboratory and applied for the first time to the Brazilian cattle herd. The antigens tested can be used as a screening test and thus speed up the diagnosis of bovine fascioliasis.

Validation of the natural sedimentation technique in the diagnosis of chronic fasciolosis.

There are various diagnostic techniques available for chronic fasciolosis in ruminants. However, many of them exhibit low specificity and sensitivity, making them impractical for field use and in low-resource laboratories. The present study evaluates the usefulness of the Natural Sedimentation technique in diagnosing chronic fasciolosis in three domestic species conducted at the Laboratorio de Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinas, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca. Fecal samples were collected from n = 323 cattle, n = 362 sheep, and n = 231 swine for Fasciola hepatica fecal egg counts. The visualization of adult parasites in animal livers post-mortem was considered the gold standard. Additionally, the sensitivity of the technique was evaluated using five different amounts of feces. In cattle, a sensitivity of 0.93 ± 0.03, specificity of 0.91 ± 0.06, positive predictive value of 0.96 ± 0.03, and negative predictive value of 0.86 ± 0.07 were obtained. In sheep, a sensitivity of 0.79 ± 0.05, specificity of 0.83 ± 0.07, positive predictive value of 0.90 ± 0.04, and negative predictive value of 0.66 ± 0.08 were observed. In swine, a sensitivity of 0.92 ± 0.06, specificity of 1.00 ± 0.00, positive predictive value of 1.00 ± 0.00, and negative predictive value of 0.96 ± 0.03 were found. There was no statistical difference in egg counts when using 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 g of feces (p = 0.907). Furthermore, 1 to 688 fecal eggs of F. hepatica were counted in 1 g of feces. The Natural Sedimentation technique has both qualitative and quantitative applications with satisfactory results when using 1 g of feces in the diagnosis of chronic fasciolosis in domestic animals. Due to its simplicity, it can be implemented in field conditions and low-resource laboratories.

Advances in diagnostic approaches to Fasciola infection in animals and humans: An overviews.

Fasciolosis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, is an impediment to the livestock industry's expansion and has a massively negative socio-economic impact due to its widespread prevalence in livestock. It is a waterborne zoonosis affecting human populations in the countries where rural economies are associated with livestock rearing. Conventional diagnosis of Fasciola infection is done by detecting parasite eggs in the faeces of infected animals or by immunological methods. Accurate and quick immunodiagnosis of Fasciola infection in animals and humans is based on the detection of antibodies and specific antigens expressed in the prepatent stage of the parasite. Both molecular and serodiagnostic tests developed thus far have enhanced the reliability of Fasciola diagnosis in both man and animals but are not widely available in resource-poor nations. A pen-side diagnostic test based on a lateral flow assay or a DNA test like loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) would be simple, fast, and cost-effective, enabling clinicians to treat animals in a targeted manner and avoid the development of drug resistance to the limited flukicides. This review focuses on the recent advances made in the diagnosis of this parasite infection in animals and humans.

Fasciola hepatica infection modifies IgG1 specific immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus induced by vaccination.

Fasciola hepatica, a worldwide distributed helminth, has a robust immunoregulatory effect in the host, increasing the susceptibility to secondary infections. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious acute vesicular viral disease effectively controlled by vaccination in endemic regions. Despite the evidence of immunoregulatory effects, the impact of fasciolosis on the immune response induced by FMD vaccination in cattle has never been assessed. Our objective was to evaluate whether the infection by F. hepatica in cattle influences the long-term immunity elicited by the currently used commercial FMD-inactivated vaccines. Aberdeen Angus steers negative for F. hepatica were vaccinated twice against FMD virus (FMDV) during the first 6 months of age using a commercial oil vaccine formulated with A24/Cruzeiro and O1/Campos strains. When maternal antibodies against F. hepatica were weaned (18--20 months of age) animals were divided into groups of 12 and infected or mock-infected with 500 metacercariae/animal. Individual serum samples were collected at 0-, 28-, 59-, 87- and 157-days post-infection (dpi). Indirect ELISAs were used to detect A24/Cruzeiro specific bovine IgG and IgG subtypes. The total IgG antibody levels and avidity against FMDV did not show significant differences between all the groups. The commercial vaccine induced higher IgG2 than IgG1 titers in vaccinated animals. Anti-FMDV IgG1 levels significantly decreased in the infected group at 28 dpi. In addition, the avidity of IgG1 FMDV-specific antibodies at day 28 in the infected group was reduced compared to the control. These results show that F. hepatica infection modified anamnestic responses against FMDV, reducing serum IgG1 titers and avidity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immune-regulation of F. hepatica altering the immune response of FMD vaccines, one of the most globally used animal vaccines.

Geographic expansion of Fasciola hepatica (Linnaeus, 1758) due to changes in land use and cover in Brazil.

Fasciolosis is caused by parasites of the genus Fasciola, affecting animals and humans worldwide. In South America, the disease is a result of infection with Fasciola hepatica and although animal infections are more frequently reported, the full extent of the impact on human health due to underdiagnosis remains uncertain. This study analyzed changes in land use and the distribution of F. hepatica in bovine livers in Brazil over 18 years. Data on land use and land cover were collected from the Mapbiomas Project. Data on 414,481,963 slaughtered cattle and condemned livers due to F. hepatica infection were obtained from 4,433 municipalities. Joinpoint analysis was used to study the time series, and the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model was utilized to explore the behavior of F. hepatica infection. In the North, pasture areas significantly increased (P = 0.000001), while forested areas decreased (P = 0.000001). The midwestern and northern regions concentrated the highest number (>290 million) of cattle slaughtered in Brazil. More than 2 million bovine livers were infected by F. hepatica. The infected cattle originated from 194 municipalities in 2002, increasing to 747 in 2020. We consider that the changes in land use and intense cattle transportation may have caused the expansion of F. hepatica. The SIR model analyzed the spread of the disease looking at all six biomes: Caatinga, Amazon Forest, Cerrado, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, and Pampa. Moreover, this infection not only threatens the health of animals but is also a major concern to biodiversity and vulnerable human communities in South America. Emblematic biomes such as the Amazon basin already face challenges with logging, desertification, and loss of biodiversity. Therefore, strategies for mitigating infection should include controlling illegal pasture areas, establishing health inspections of animal transport, quarantine of newly arrived animals, and livestock zoning, as well as clear One Health policies.

Prevalence and associated risk factors assessment of bovine fasciolosis in the Imbo Region, Burundi.

Fasciolosis is a zoonosis that limits the productivity of ruminants worldwide, but there is a lack of information on its occurrence in Burundi. Therefore, this study aimed to fill the information gap by determining the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine fasciolosis in the Imbo Region of Burundi. Two prevalence studies were conducted in parallel in the five communes of the five provinces in the Imbo region. In the first study, a total of 426 fecal samples were collected from randomly selected cattle farms and microscopically examined to determine Fasciola egg burden. Survey data on cattle husbandry were collected from owners of these cattle and analyzed to determine the risk factors for bovine fasciolosis. In the second study, 467 cattle were randomly selected in abattoirs and their livers were examined postmortem to determine liver fluke burdens. Data were entered separately into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using R software. The overall prevalence of bovine fasciolosis was 47.7% (42.9-52.4, 95% CI) for microscopic examination and 33.2% (28.9-37.5, 95% CI) for postmortem examinations. The majority of positive cattle (60.6%) had light intensity infections as determined by eggs per gram of feces (epg). Postmortem examinations corroborated these results and indicated that 80% of cattle had light intensity infections. Chi-square analysis showed a statistical association with the presence of bovine fasciolosis and the age, sex, and origin of cattle and the practices of cattle owners (P < 0.05).

The Fasciola hepatica egg development and hatching test (EDHT) using commercial drugs: a simple protocol for tackling anthelminthic resistance and promoting cattle productivity.

Fasciolosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, and it causes great losses in bovine production. The anthelmintic resistance is a major problem in the control of fasciolosis. In this study, the F. hepatica egg development and hatching test (EDHT) was used for the evaluation of the ovicidal activity of commercial drugs, commonly used for treating infected cattle, which reflects F. hepatica anthelminthic resistance in infected bovines, according to recent literature. Bile samples from F. hepatica naturally parasitized cattle were obtained from slaughterhouses in the cities of Lages and Otacílio Costa, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The bile was washed, the eggs were recovered, quantified, and distributed in universal collectors, with a minimum of 1,000 eggs per vial. Four commercial drugs were used in this study, containing albendazole sulfoxide (ABDZ), closantel (CSTL), nitroxynil (NTXL), and triclabendazole with fenbendazole (TBZF). The drugs were diluted according to the manufacturer instructions. All drugs, and the respective control, were tested in triplicates, with the quantity of recovered eggs determining the number of drugs to be tested. The vials were incubated for 28 days at 27 °C, and the eggs were classified according to their degree of development under a stereomicroscope. In total, 121 egg samples were analyzed. Two samples were identified as resistant to TBZF. Undetermined resistance/susceptibility has been found in two isolates treated with ABDZ, one treated with NTXL and six treated with TBZF. CSTL did not present ovicidal activity and cannot be used in EDHT. This is the first time that commercial drugs were used in F. hepatica EDHT.

A Rare Human Helminth Infection in Russia.

Currently, more than 500,000 cases of various helminthes in humans are reported annually in the Russian Federation. This figure may not reflect the true incidence of helminthes, as only nine separate nosological forms are compulsory notifiable. The rest of the species of detected helminthes are included in a separate category of "other helminthes" or "rare helminthes". The bulk of the latter is represented by the helminthes with a rate of incidence that does not exceed one case per 100,000 people. This review is based on data derived from publications in the Russian language, both from the Russian Federation and international, as well as data available from various health treatment facilities in Russia. These data largely cover the period of the 1990s-2010s. A total of 15 species of "rare helminthes" are described in this review: anisakiosis, capillariosis, clonorchosis, dioctophymosis, dipylidiosis, echinochasmosis, fasciolosis, gastrodiscoidosis (amphistomiosis), metagonimosis, metorchiosis, nanophyetosis, pseudamphistomosis, sparganosis (spirometrosis), strongyloidosis and trichostrongylosis. Details of their geographical distribution, clinical and epidemiological peculiarities, and the difficulties they pose in diagnosis are provided. The public health importance of "rare helminthes" in Russia at present and in the forthcoming years is stressed.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in the municipalities of Colombia.

Background and Aim: Bovine fasciolosis is a reemerging neglected disease with a worldwide distribution caused by the trematode Fasciola spp., which parasitize various hosts. Bovine fasciolosis is responsible for large economic losses in the bovine livestock sector. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in the municipalities of Colombia. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with simple random sampling conducted on 1140 cattle from the municipalities of Chiquinquirá, San Miguel de Sema, and Ubaté for a duration of 3 months. Serum samples were processed using the commercial Fasciola hepatica Antibody Test Kit IDEXX® Fasciolosis Verification (IDEXX, United States), which identified immunoglobulin G antibodies for gf2 antigen purified from Fasciola extracts. The f2 antigen is extremely immunogenic and highly specific for F. hepatica. An epidemiological survey was performed to record variables related to the sampled animals and herd management practices. Data were processed using the statistical program Epi Info® (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, Georgia). The prevalence ratio was estimated to evaluate the association between fasciolosis and the hypothesized causal factors and the significance of this association using Pearson's Chi-square test. Finally, a logistic regression model was developed. Results: The overall seroprevalence was 72.3%. The seroprevalence was 83.9% (323/385) in Chiquinquirá, 68.17% (257/377) in Ubaté, and 64.55% (244/378) in San Miguel de Sema. The seroprevalence was higher in male animals in Chiquinquirá and in female animals in San Miguel de Sema and Ubaté. Similarly, sex showed a statistically significant association with disease prevalence in Ubaté. The highest prevalence was found in cattle aged >2 years. The Holstein breed showed maximum seroprevalence in Chiquinquirá (p ≤ 0.05) and San Miguel de Sema, whereas crossbreed showed higher seroprevalence in Ubaté. Similarly, in Chiquinquirá, the association between the seroprevalence of fasciolosis and the presence of other species was statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9601-3.4944; p = 0.0448). In Ubaté, the disease presentation was also associated with pasture rental (95% CI: 0.4047-1.0023; p = 0.003) and attendance to livestock expositions (95% CI: 0.2313-1.0636; p = 0.044). However, in San Miguel de Sema, water from the stream showed a statistically significant association with disease presentation (95% CI: 0.5209-1.0985; p = 0.00649785). Female sex and diarrhea occurrence were considered risk factors for fasciolosis. Conclusion: A high seroprevalence of antibodies to Fasciola spp. was detected in cattle in the study municipalities, indicating a high parasite distribution in these areas. Female sex and diarrhea were established as risk factors associated with fasciolosis in Ubaté and San Miguel de Sema, respectively. Further, research is necessary to establish prevention and control programs against parasitosis.

Coprological and postmortem assessment and economic significance of bovine fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at Tarcha Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia.

Bovine fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, is a neglected tropical snail-borne trematode disease of cattle that poses an adverse effect on animals' health culminating in economic damage. Cross-sectional investigation on coprological and postmortem assessment and economic significance of bovine fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at Tarcha Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia through simple random sampling techniques was conducted from December 2020 to August 2021. Out of 384 cattle examined, 20.3% and 29.94% were found harboring Fasciola through coprological examination and postmortem examination respectively. The leading cause of fasciolosis in the study area was Fasciola gigantica (53.9%) as compared to F. hepatica (46.1%). The investigation revealed that the sex, origin, and body condition of the cattle has a statistically significant effect on the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis. The odds of male animals infested with fasciolosis were 2.25 times higher than female cattle and those of poor body-conditioned cattle were three times higher than cattle with good body condition. In postmortem examination, an average of 6 flukes were found in a single infested liver and the mean fluke count was (10 ± 1.97) in severely infested livers while in lightly infested livers (3± 1.79). Considering postmortem examination as the gold standard for diagnosis of fasciolosis, the sensitivity of the direct sedimentation technique was found to be 68% and the specificity 100% with substantial agreement (k = 0.74) between the two methods. The estimated yearly direct financial losses incurred owing to fasciolosis was around 2,227,536 2, Birr (47,945.24 USD). Thus, bovine fasciolosis is one of the economically important animal diseases in the study area, which necessitates integrated control measures to tackle its effect on animal health and subsequent economic impact.

Plasma lipopolysaccharide elevations in cattle associated with early-stage infection by Fasciola hepatica.

Fasciolosis is an endemic zoonotic parasitic disease with significant impacts on human health and both animal health and production. Early post-infection impacts on the host remain unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the changes, if any, to levels of endotoxin in cattle plasma in response to early-stage infection with Fasciola hepatica. Thirty-six (36) commercial bred cattle were experimentally infected with approximately 400 viable metacercariae. Plasma lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) levels were examined on 24 occasions from 0 h before infection to 336 h after infection using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate chromogenic end point assay and compared with that of six (6) uninfected control animals. Peak lipopolysaccharide levels in infected animals were reached at 52 h after infection and returned to pre-infection levels at time 144 h after infection. Infected animals had significantly elevated lipopolysaccharide levels between 24 and 120 h after infection when compared to uninfected animals. The mean change in endotoxin units (EU)/mL over time after infection was statistically significant in infected animals. Elevations of lipopolysaccharide occurred in all infected animals suggesting a possible repeatable and titratable endotoxemia conducive to therapeutic agent model development.

Fascioliasis associated with chronic cholecystitis in a woman from Sistan and Baluchestan province, a non-endemic region in Southeastern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica, is a neglected zoonotic food-borne trematodiasis. The Caspian littoral in northern Iran is endemic for the disease, and human fascioliasis is well-known in that region. In the present study, we report the diagnosis, identification, and clinical management of a human case of fascioliasis associated with common bile duct (CBD) obstruction from a non-endemic remote area in southeastern Iran. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old female was admitted to Afzalipour Medical Center hepatobiliary surgery ward in Kerman with abdominal pain for the past three months. Dilated biliary tract and an ill-defined mass in CBD were reported in abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, respectively. During distal CBD operation, nine leaf-like motile flatworms were isolated. A morphological study confirmed all the isolates as Fasciola, and further molecular investigations, identified the flukes as F. hepatica using both pepck multiplex PCR and cox1 sequencing. CONCLUSION: Molecular and morphological findings of the study indicated the presence of human fascioliasis in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan in Iran. Fascioliasis is among the etiologies of chronic cholecystitis, and physicians should consider chronic cholecystitis associated with fascioliasis in the differential diagnosis. In the present report, endoscopic ultrasound was usefully applied for the accurate diagnosis of biliary fasciolosis.

Molecular Characterization of the Interplay between Fasciola hepatica Juveniles and Laminin as a Mechanism to Adhere to and Break through the Host Intestinal Wall.

Fasciola hepatica is the main causative agent of fasciolosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease of growing public health concern. F. hepatica metacercariae are ingested by the host and excyst in the intestine, thereby releasing the newly excysted juveniles (FhNEJ), which traverse the gut wall and migrate towards the biliary ducts. Since blocking F. hepatica development is challenging after crossing of the intestinal wall, targeting this first step of migration might result in increased therapeutic success. The intestinal extracellular matrix (ECM) is constituted by a network of structural proteins, including laminin (LM) and fibronectin (FN), that provide mechanical support while acting as physical barrier against intestinal pathogens. Here, we employed ELISA and immunofluorescent assays to test for the presence of LM- and FN-binding proteins on a tegument-enriched antigenic fraction of FhNEJ, and further determined their identity by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. Additionally, we performed enzymatic assays that revealed for the first time the capability of the juvenile-specific cathepsin L3 to degrade LM, and that LM degradation by FhNEJ proteins is further potentiated in the presence of host plasminogen. Finally, a proteomic analysis showed that the interaction with LM triggers protein changes in FhNEJ that may be relevant for parasite growth and adaptation inside the mammalian host. Altogether, our study provides valuable insights into the molecular interplay between FhNEJ and the intestinal ECM, which may lead to the identification of targetable candidates for the development of more effective control strategies against fasciolosis.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ovine and Caprine Fasciolosis in the Last 20 Years in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Fasciolosis is a significant zoonotic and common parasitic disease for animals and humans, creating public health concerns worldwide. This study retrieved articles related to the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica in sheep and goats in China by searching five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and the VIP Chinese Journal Database. A total of 60 valid articles were captured. The pooled prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis was 26.00%. It was also found to be higher in the subgroups of Northwest China and Shaanxi Province, as well as in areas with a high altitude, rainfall of ≥800 mm, and temperature ranging between 10 °C and 20 °C. Analysis of the type of season and sampling years showed significant (p < 0.05) difference. In other subgroups, sheep (34.74%), hosts aged over 2 years (32.26%), females (48.33%) and free-range animals (26.83%) showed a higher disease prevalence. These results indicated that ovine and caprine fasciolosis was widely distributed, especially in Northwest China. The sampling years and the type of season are risk factors for the prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis. Therefore, strategies for ovine and caprine fasciolosis control should be developed based on these epidemic risk factors, which will reduce the prevalence of fasciolosis in China.

The First Case of Human Hepatic Fasciolosis Presented as Hepatic Pseudotumor Histopathologically Diagnosed in Romania-A Case Report.

Human hepatic fasciolosis has been reported in 81 countries, some of which are endemic areas. In Europe, case reports from humans were published in Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. Regarding Romania, we do not have any data on the prevalence of this parasitosis, with the exception of two cases of twins that were born in Romania and diagnosed in the last 37 years in Italy after joining their mother that lived there. We report the case of a patient diagnosed in Romania with chronic fasciolosis, presented as a hepatic pseudotumor that was diagnosed during the histopathological examination of the hepatic lesion. The patient received oral treatment with triclabendazole, two doses of 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight, given 12 h apart, with no side effects during or after the treatment. The evolution of the patient was favorable. In conclusion, even in areas free of human fasciolosis, the presence of an anemic syndrome especially in children, abdominal pain in the upper quadrants, associated or not with other digestive manifestations, even more so associated with eosinophilia in the acute phase, should be carefully evaluated for ruling out a parasitosis such as fasciolosis even in countries where this diagnosis seems unlikely.