Acetaminophen Overdose Enhances Early Cholangiocarcinoma in Opisthorchiasis Hamsters.

Opisthorchiasis which exerted by infection of Opisthorchis viverrini is strongly related to the incident of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in many Southeast Asian countries northeastern of Thailand. The O. viverrini infection is primarily caused by raw fish consumption, and repeated exposure to liver fluke. Meanwhile, acetaminophen is usually medicated to relieve pain in particularly people in northeast Thailand. OBJECTIVE: This study therefore aimed at investigating effects of acetaminophen on pathogenesis in hamsters for opisthorchiasis. METHODS: There were 4 groups of hamsters: i) uninfected hamster (N); ii) sole acetaminophen administration (N-Ac); iii) sole O. viverrini infection (OV); and iv) combination of O. viverrini infection and acetaminophen (OV-Ac) on pathology of hamsters for 1 month post infection. For analysis of histopathological changes through hematoxylin and eosin, Sirius red and immunohistostaining for Cytokeratin 19 (CK-19), Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and CA 19-9, serum's hamsters were used detected for liver function tests and tumor-related genes expression. RESULTS: After 1 month under these treatments, the OV-Ac showed significantly higher CCA risk, including inflammatory cells were aggregations around bile duct, new bile duct and fibrosis in subcapsular hepatic tissues, than other treatments. These pathological parameters were positively correlated with immunohistochemical staining derived from CK-19, PCNA and CA 19-9. In addition, OV-Ac had significantly higher liver function tests (ALT). CONCLUSION: Combined intake of liver fluke-contaminated raw fishes and acetaminophen rendered more severity of CCA than sole consumption of the contaminated raw fishes.

Evaluating uncertainty and variability associated with Toxoplasma gondii survival during cooking and low temperature storage of fresh cut meats.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. It has been reported as the fourth leading cause of hospitalization and second leading cause of death among 31 major foodborne pathogens in the United States. Humans are infected through consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing T. gondii tissue cysts or ingestion of food, soil, or water contaminated by T. gondii oocysts. People often lack knowledge about how to prevent T. gondii infection, especially the risks associated with eating or handling raw or undercooked meat. Current available data on cooking or low temperature storage for whole cuts of meat are not sufficient to validate inactivation of T. gondii. The objectives of the present study were to estimate the relationship of time and temperature with the survival rate of T. gondii during cooking and low temperature storage of fresh cut meats. We used different statistical sampling techniques such as bootstrap resampling and Gibbs sampling to establish those relationships. Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the safe temperature for cooking and storing meats. The results showed no detection of T. gondii in fresh meats when the internal temperature reached above 64 °C (147.2 °F) and below -18 °C (0 °F). The tissue cysts can remain viable at least up to 30 days at 4 °C (39 °F) and about 3.3% cysts survived at 62.8 °C (145 °F). This study can provide helpful information in improving the risk models to further mitigate the public health burden of toxoplasmosis.

Probable association between Anisakis infection in the muscle of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and human anisakiasis in Tokyo, Japan.

Anisakiasis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by parasitic anisakid nematodes, mainly Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (A. simplex). Anisakiasis is prevalent in Japan and approximately 40% of anisakiasis cases in Tokyo occur through the consumption of raw or marinated mackerel. However, in 2018, there was a sudden increase in the number of the food poisoning cases in Tokyo caused by consumption of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Therefore, we investigated anisakiasis cases resulting from ingestion of skipjack tuna in Tokyo, and surveyed the presence of Anisakis larvae in skipjack tuna in 2018 and 2019. Nineteen samples from 15 patients (13 in 2018 and 2 in 2019) with anisakiasis surely caused by ingestion of skipjack tuna were all identified as A. simplex. The higher mean abundance of Anisakis simplex larvae in skipjack tuna muscle in May 2018 (1.30; 13 larvae/10 fishes) compared to that in the other periods was regarded as a contributing factor in the increase in anisakiasis cases by ingesting skipjack tuna in 2018. To verify whether Anisakis larvae migrate from the visceral organs to the muscle during the period from fishing on the boat until processing for sale, the number of Anisakis larvae in skipjack tuna caught from August to November 2018 was investigated by removing the visceral organs at three different timings, i.e., immediately after catching, after landing, and after transport to the laboratory. Anisakis larvae were detected in the muscle irrespective of the timings at which visceral organs were removed. All larvae from the muscle were detected only from the ventral part and were identified as A. simplex. We thus consider that avoiding raw consumption of the ventral muscle should be an effective measure to prevent anisakiasis.

Myocarditis and Raw Meat Consumption: Strange Bedfellows!

Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection that is associated with the consumption of raw meat. The specific genotype Trichinella nativa has been found in raw bear meat. The most common genotype that has been linked with myocarditis is T spiralis. We present a case of T nativa myocarditis secondary to consumption of raw bear meat. The clinical manifestations as well as therapy of this specific genotype is outlined.

Epidemiology and determinants of clonorchiasis in school children in southeastern China.

Clonorchiasis is an important food-borne parasitic disease in China because of the popularity in ingesting raw freshwater fish. To explore the epidemiology and determinants of clonorchiasis in children, a cross-sectional survey was implemented in two middle schools in Qiyang county, Hunan province, in southeastern China. Questionnaire survey and fecal examination were implemented. Questionnaires were fed back by 627 students, while stool samples were collected from 557 students, out of which 545 ones also provided questionnaire information. The percentage of students ingesting raw freshwater fish was 40.5% (254/627), while the prevalence with Clonorchis sinensis infection was 18.9% (105/557). Such factors contributed significantly to the students' practice in eating raw freshwater fish including boys, fathers' eating raw freshwater fish, mothers' eating raw freshwater fish, and preparation of raw freshwater fish at home, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.9 (95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.3-2.8), 3.9 (95% CI: 2.3-6.5), 3.0 (95% CI: 1.8-4.8) and 2.8 (95% CI: 1.8-4.5), correspondingly. Ingestion of raw freshwater fish, fathers' eating raw freshwater fish and preparation of raw freshwater fish at home were risk factors of C. sinensis infection in students, and the adjusted odds ratio was 3.2 (95% CI: 1.9-5.5), 2.1 (95% CI: 1.1-3.9) and 1.8 (95% CI: 1.0-3.2), respectively. Thus, clonorchiasis was endemic in the surveyed schools due to the ingestion of raw freshwater fish, which is influenced by family environment. Education should be implemented in schools to promote behavioral change of eating raw freshwater fish.

Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii Through Consumption of Raw or Undercooked Meat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed protozoan that mainly causes health issues in the fetuses of pregnant women who have never been exposed to this parasite and patients with deficient immune systems. Except in these vulnerable populations, the primary infection generally goes unnoticed in most healthy individuals. Apart from transplant/transfusion, congenital transmission, direct contact with infected cats or their feces, and environmental contamination (i.e., oocysts in food, water, and soil) pathways, humans can acquire the parasite through consumption of animal tissues infected by T. gondii. This meta-analysis estimated the risk of acquiring T. gondii by consuming raw or undercooked meat, regardless of which animal species are eaten. Using a random-effect model, crude and adjusted pooled measures of association (risk and odds ratio) were estimated according to study design (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies). The meta-analysis included measures of heterogeneity as well as quality rating scales for each study design. Our results suggest that individuals who eat raw or undercooked meat have, respectively, 1.2-1.3 times the risk and 1.7-3.0 times the odds of T. gondii infection compared to those who thoroughly cook meat, regardless of the animal species they consume. These results align with the current understanding that adequately cooking meat inactivates the parasite and decreases the risk of transmission. Seroprevalence ranged from 1.3% to 88.6%, while the proportion of individuals eating raw or undercooked meat fluctuated from 0.7% to 98.3% across the studies in the meta-analysis. These numbers reflect various preferences with regard to eating meat (i.e., eating tartar, sausages, or salamis) as well as individual, cultural and religious food habits, and personal awareness.

Serodiagnostic antigens of Clonorchis sinensis identified and evaluated by high-throughput proteogenomics.

Clonorchiasis caused by Clonorchis sinensis is endemic in East Asia; approximately 15 million people have been infected thus far. To diagnose the infection, serodiagnostic tests with excellent functionality should be performed. First, 607 expressed sequence tags encoding polypeptides with a secretory signal were expressed into recombinant proteins using an in vitro translation system. By protein array-based screening using C. sinensis-infected sera, 18 antigen candidate proteins were selected and assayed for cross-reactivity against Opisthorchis viverrini-infected sera. Of the six antigenic proteins selected, four were synthesized on large scale in vitro and evaluated for antigenicity against the flukes-infected human sera using ELISA. CsAg17 antigen showed the highest sensitivity (77.1%) and specificity (71.2%). The sensitivity and specificity of the bacterially produced CsAg17-28GST fusion antigen was similar to those of CsAg17 antigen. CsAg17 antigen can be used to develop point-of-care serodiagnostic tests for clonorchiasis.

Investigation of Anisakis larvae in different products of ready-to-eat fish meat and imported frozen fish in Turkey.

Globalization opens new market areas and affects food consumption habits, resulting in rapid and remarkable cultural change. Food habits such as consumption of raw fish meat have become popular, resulting in increased risk of emerging infectious diseases. Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.s) and A. pegreffii are the most common and important fish-borne zoonotic nematodes responsible for human anisakiasis, which occurs through the consumption of raw or undercooked fish as well as cooked fish due to their heat-stable allergens. Here, we investigated the prevalence, intensity, and abundance of Anisakis larvae in imported fish and ready-to-eat local fish products in Turkey. A total of 205 ready-to-eat fish products, 100 imported frozen Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets, and 100 imported frozen whole Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) were sampled from supermarkets, sushi restaurants, and fish markets. All samples were individually examined using a pepsin digestion technique. In total, 602 Anisakis type I larvae were recovered from 98/100 mackerel. No larvae were found in ready-to-eat products or frozen Atlantic salmon fillets. Overall, 8.8% of the larvae were found in the muscle tissue. The overall mean intensity and abundance of infection in mackerel were 6.14 and 6.02, respectively. The larvae were molecularly identified and their phylogenetic relationships with the relevant Anisakis sequences in GenBank were investigated. For this purpose, a subsample of randomly selected 100 Anisakis larvae were analyzed with PCR-RFLP of the ITS region. The larvae were identified as A. simplex (s.s.) (n = 87) and hybrids (n = 13). ITS and cox2 gene regions of all hybrids and randomly selected 50 A. simplex (s.s.) larvae were sequenced for species confirmation and phylogenetic analyses. No intraspecific nucleotide variation was found among the ITS sequences of either species. Seven and three haplotypes, respectively, were identified for A. simplex (s.s.) and hybrid species according to DNA polymorphism of the cox2 gene. Hybrids in our study clustered within the common A. simplex (s.s.) clade in the cox2 phylogenetic tree indicating the dominance of A. simplex (s.s) in the catching area of Atlantic mackerel. Consequently, our study indicates high occurrence of A. simplex (s.s.) larvae with an overall 98.0% prevalence in imported Atlantic mackerel, and highlights the importance of these fish as potential reservoirs for human allergic anisakiasis in Turkey and possibly in other countries.

High endemicity of Clonorchis sinensis infection in Binyang County, southern China.

High-intensity clonorchiasis infection is associated with serious outcomes, including cancer. Understanding the infection intensity of Clonorchis sinensis and its risk factors in local endemic regions could facilitate effective control measures. In a county located in a highly endemic area in Guangxi Province, P. R. China, local residents were randomly enrolled in the study; helminth egg examinations were performed with the Kato-Katz method, and the intensity of infection was identified as mild, moderate or heavy. Knowledge, attitudes, and high-risk behaviours were investigated among those infected with Clonorchis sinensis. A total of 2521 local residents participated in this study, and the Clonorchis sinensis-positive proportion was 28.9% (728 persons). Among the infected persons, the percentages of mild, moderate and heavy infections were 66.2%, 28.4% and 5.4%, respectively. Males experienced a higher proportion of moderate and heavy infections (37.5%) than females (18.1%) (p<0.05). The highest infection proportion among the different levels of infection intensity was identified among persons aged 30-59 years (15.7% for moderate and heavy infections). Among the 509 persons who reported eating raw fish, 302 persons (59.3%) had eaten raw fresh fish for more than 10 years, and 131 (25.7%) persons ate raw fish ≥12 times a year. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that eating raw fish 12-50 times in the last year (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.09-2.80) and eating raw fish >50 times in the last year (aOR = 2.89, 95%CI: 1.20-7.50) were risk factors for high-intensity infections (moderate and heavy). The overall infection proportion was high in the study area, with a large group of residents experiencing high-intensity infections. High frequency of raw fish consumption was associated with high-intensity infections. Intervention strategies targeting people with a high frequency of raw fish consumption should be implemented to reduce the probability of severe consequences.

Anisakis and Hysterothylacium species in Mediterranean and North-East Atlantic fishes commonly consumed in Spain: Epidemiological, molecular and morphometric discriminant analysis.

The consumption of raw fish parasitized with larval ascaridoid nematodes of the family Anisakidae can cause anisakiasis, provoking gastrointestinal and/or allergic symptomatology. The main causative agents in the Anisakis genus are the sibling species Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) and A. pegreffii of the A. simplex sensu lato (s.l.) complex. Larvae of A. simplex (s.l.) are frequently detected in fish commonly consumed in Spain, as are larvae of the genus Hysterothylacium of the family Raphidascarididae, associated with allergic reactions but not considered pathogenic. Reported here are the results of an epidemiological survey of ascaridoid larvae in three commonly consumed fish species in Spain, horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) (n = 52), blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) (n = 93) and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) (n = 69), caught in the North-Eastern Atlantic, West Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea. The larvae found in the dissected fish were identified in the following order of abundance: A. simplex (s.l.) (n = 2003), Hysterothylacium aduncum (n = 422), H. fabri (n = 180) and A. physeteris (n = 15). Binomial regression analysis showed a correlation between A. simplex (s.l.) and Hysterothylacium larvae abundance and the host geographical location, the North-Eastern Atlantic being the area with the highest parasitation. Fish length and weight and Fulton's condition factor were correlated with A. simplex (s.l.) abundance only in horse mackerel. There was a significant presence of A. simplex (s.l.) and H. aduncum larvae in the musculature of North-Eastern Atlantic blue whiting, the most parasitized part being the anteroventral region, followed equally by the anterodorsal and central sections. The ITS rDNA of larvae of the sibling species A. simplex (s.s.) and A. pegreffii was identified by PCR-RFLP, and a binary logistic regression model was developed to study their morphometric differentiation. Anisakis simplex (s.s.) was detected in the North-Eastern Atlantic and A. pegreffii in all the areas studied. The morphometric analysis discriminated between the two species at the third and fourth larval stages (L3 and L4), the latter obtained by in vitro culture in RPMI-1640 medium. Two discriminant functions were obtained for the L3 and L4 larvae, the ventricle being a key parameter for specific differentiation in both stages, providing taxonomical criteria that could be used besides molecular identification. The present study reveals differences in the parasitation of the studied fish, including the distribution of larvae in the musculature, related to the host species and its geographical origin.

[Investigation on the risk of of Anisakis infection among high - risk populations along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of Anisakis infections among high-risk populations along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province, so as to develop the strategy for the prevention and control of anisakiasis in the province. METHODS: Three counties along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province were selected as the study sites in 2018, including Rudong County in Nantong City, Haizhou District in Lianyungang City and Dongtai City in Yancheng City. The knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of anisakiasis prevention and control, and the prevalence of serum specific IgG antibody against Anisakis were investigated among high-risk populations among these three study sites, including fishermen, fish seller and people who liked eating fresh and live marine fish. Factors affecting the prevalence of the specific IgG antibody against Anisakis were identified using a multiple logistic regression model. In addition, Anisakis larvae infections were detected in fresh and live marine fish samples collected from local markets, and the prevalence and intensity of Anisakis infections were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 625 high-risk populations were investigated, including 349 men (55.8%). Only 13.0% of the subjects heard about anisakiasis, and a low awareness rate of anisakiasis prevention and control knowledge was seen among these three types of high-risk populations. There were 21.6% of the subjects eating raw or half-cooked marine fish, 5.8% eating undercooked marine fish, 3.2% presenting vomiting, nausea and diarrhea after eating marine fish, 5.1% developing systemic allergic symptoms, and 65.6% using the same chopping board for raw and cooked food. The sero-prevalence of the anti-Anisakis IgG antibody was 7.0% among the study subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified education level [OR = 0.687, 95% CI (0.478, 0.987)] and development of systemic allergic symptoms [OR = 4.641, 95% CI(1.411, 15.268)]as factors affecting the positive anti-Anisakis IgG antibody among the study subjects. Among 494 fresh and live marine fish detected, the prevalence and intensity of Anisakis larvae infection was 64.0% and 8.1 larvae per fish, with high prevalence seen in Trichiurus haumela and Pneumatophorus japonicas. CONCLUSIONS: The awareness of anisakiasis prevention and control knowledge is low among the high-risk populations living along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province, and there are high-risk behaviors, such as eating raw or half-cooked food, using the same chopping board for raw and cooked food. In addition, the prevalence of Anisakis infections is high in the marine fish in these areas. Therefore, the health education and health promotion for anisakiasis prevention and control should be intensified.

A review of outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis due to unpasteurized milk.

PURPOSE: This review analysed outbreaks of human cryptosporidiosis due to raw milk. The objective of our study was to highlight and identify underestimated and underreported aspects of transmission of the parasite as well as the added value of genotyping Cryptosporidium isolates. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive literature review using the digital archives Pubmed and Embase. All original papers and case reports referring to outbreaks of Cryptosporidium due to unpasteurized milk were reviewed. The cross-references from these publications were also included. RESULTS: Outbreaks have been described in the USA, Australia, and the UK. Laboratory evidence of Cryptosporidium from milk specimens was lacking in the majority of the investigations. However, in most recent reports molecular tests on stool specimens along with epidemiological data supported that the infection was acquired through the consumption of unpasteurized milk. As the incubation period for Cryptosporidium is relatively long (days to weeks) compared with many other foodborne pathogens (hours to days), these reports often lack microbiological confirmation because, by the time the outbreak was identified, the possibly contaminated milk was not available anymore. CONCLUSION: Cryptosporidiosis is generally considered a waterborne intestinal infection, but several reports on foodborne transmission (including through raw milk) have been reported in the literature. Calves are frequently infected with Cryptosporidium spp., which does not multiply in milk. However, Cryptosporidium oocysts can survive if pasteurization fails. Thus, pasteurization is essential to inactivate oocysts. Although cryptosporidiosis cases acquired from raw milk are seldom reported, the risk should not be underestimated and Cryptosporidium should be considered as a potential agent of contamination. Genotyping Cryptosporidium isolates might be a supportive tool to strengthen epidemiologic evidence as well as to estimate the burden of the disease.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in fresh vegetables and berry fruits.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is the third most important contributor to health burden caused by food-borne illness. Ingestion of tissue cysts from undercooked meat is an important source of horizontal transmission to humans. However, there is an increasing awareness of the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, as a possible source for oocyst transmission, since this stage of the parasite can persist and remain infective in soil and water for long time. Herein, we outline findings related with detection of T. gondii oocysts in vegetables and berry fruits, which are usually raw consumed. The procedure includes the estimation of the number of oocysts. METHODS: Food samples were collected from local producers and supermarket suppliers. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were concentrated after washing the samples by applying high resolution water filtration and immunomagnetic separation (method 1623.1: EPA 816-R-12-001-Jan 2012), in order to (i) remove potential Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia spp. cysts present in the samples; and (ii) select T. gondii oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii oocyst detection and an estimation of their numbers was performed by conventional PCR and real time qPCR, using specific primers for a 183-bp sequence of the T. gondii repetitive DNA region. All PCR-positive DNA samples were purified and sequenced. Restriction enzyme digestion with EcoRV endonuclease confirmed the presence of the T. gondii DNA fragment. In addition, the presence of the parasite was observed by fluorescent microscopy, taking advantage of the oocysts autofluorescence under UV light. RESULTS: Forty percent of the analysed samples (95% CI: 25.5-56.5%) presented the expected PCR and digested DNA fragments. These fragments were confirmed by sequencing. Microscopic autofluorescence supported the presence of T. gondii-like oocysts. The estimated mean (± SE) oocyst concentration was 23.5 ± 12.1 oocysts/g, with a range of 0.6-179.9 oocysts/g. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide relevant evidence of contamination of fresh vegetables and berry fruits with T. gondii oocysts.

Multidisciplinary approach in study of the zoonotic Anisakis larval infection in the blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) and the largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) in Northern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Anisakid larvae are the food-borne pathogen highly prevalent among numerous marine fishes. Accidental consumption of infected raw or poorly cooked fish fillets may cause anisakiasis. METHODS: This study used the multidisciplinary approach to investigate the occurrence of Anisakis nematodes in commonly consumed fish species, Scomber australasicus and Trichiurus lepturus purchased in Taipei Xinyi traditional fish market. RESULTS: All the Anisakis larvae collected herein were identified morphologically as Anisakis type I or Anisakis type II. The prevalence and the mean intensity of Anisakis larvae collected from S. australasicus was 80.77%, 26.8 (10-32) and 100%, 49.0 (27-70) for T. lepturus. Using molecular analysis, 83.33% (180/216) were identified as Anisakis pegreffii, 6.05% (13/216) as Ascaris typica, 1.85% (4/216) as Ascaris physeteris and 8.80% (19/216) as hybrid genotype (A. pegreffii + Anisakis simplex) in S. australasicus. In T. lepturus, 86.31% (290/336) were identified as A. pegreffii, 2.38% (8/336) as A. typica, and 11.31% (38/336) as hybrid genotype (A. pegreffii + A. simplex [s.s]). The molecular phylogenetic analysis shows two cluster clades, one group includes A. pegreffii complex and the other include Ascaris paggiae, Ascaris brevispiculata, and A. physeteris. CONCLUSION: Thus, A. pegreffii is the most abundant species and may be the potential causes of human infection.

The control of clonorchiasis in Guangdong province, southern China.

Oriental liver fluke disease (clonorchiasis), caused by Clonorchis sinensis, is endemic in 81 counties in Guangdong province, China. This study was conducted following increasing lack of clonorchiasis awareness and increased consumption of raw freshwater fish and raw fish porridge at home and restaurants, which has been attributed to improved living standards in China, and is considered to have led to a higher C. sinensis infection rate in the country. A total of 61,517 individuals were investigated from 123 sites during a provincial survey in 1988, with average C. sinensis infection rate of 1.82% that increased to 4.08% (335/8217) in 1997. Higher infection rate was observed in adult men than women, with heavy infection rate in fishermen and businessmen because they have access and means to get raw fishes for consumption. Thus, clonorchiasis has become a serious public health problem in Guangdong province. Efforts targeting clonorchiasis prevention and control in Guangdong province started in the 1990s. These included carrying out large-scale surveys and chemotherapy in epidemic regions, research on promotion of environmental sanitation and methods for freshwater aquaculture. Establishment and promotion of clonorchiosis demonstration plots for comprehensive control measures, as well as the development of clonorchiasis-prevention community-out-patient clinics were initiated and their effectiveness was evaluated. However, there seem to be no obvious decline in the prevalence of C. sinensis with 4.90% (608/12,401) in 2015, at Guangdong province due to the people's habit of eating raw fishes in endemic areas. This has led to increasing calls to improve environmental sanitation in the aquaculture industry. It is, however, believed that control efforts on clonorchiosis in the province are at an early stage and require strengthening through the cooperation of different departments to work out effective strategies for sustainable field application of control mechanisms.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections and taeniasis on Samosir Island, Indonesia.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are important causes of morbidity in poorer areas of developing countries, with high endemicity in Southeast Asia. Humans are most often exposed to the infective forms of STHs in areas with sub-standard sanitation. The number of STH infections globally was estimated at 1.5 billion in 2018. In Indonesia, the prevalence of STH infections ranges from 2.5% to 62.0%. STH and taeniasis infections were evaluated on Samosir Island, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Field surveys were conducted in January 2003, February 2005, and February 2006 in Simanindo Subdistrict, with a subsequent survey conducted in the subdistricts of Simanindo and Ronggurnihuta in September 2015. A total of 371 individuals were screened between 2003 and 2006 and 368 were screened in 2015 (314 from Simanindo and 54 from Ronggurnihuta). Fecal samples were collected and examined microscopically by the Kato-Katz technique. The prevalence of STH infections in Simanindo for the years 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2015 was 41.4%, 52.2%, 55.7%, and 46.8%, respectively. The 2015 prevalence of STH infections in Ronggurnihuta was 66.7%. Taenia asiatica taeniasis prevalence was 3.4% and 2.2% for the years 2003 and 2005, respectively, with no cases detected in 2006 or 2015. The prevalence of STH infections in Simanindo and Ronggurnihuta was similar to other STH prevalence values reported for Indonesia. Country-level values have not changed substantially from those reported in the 1980s and 1990s, where prevalence ranged from 40% to 70%. Improvement of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation for control of STH infections on Samosir Island will require collaboration among multiple sectors.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Hawassa University comprehensive specialized and Yirgalem General Hospitals, in Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is acquired by consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cyst, food or water contaminated with oocyst and congenital infection through the placenta leading to serious congenital abnormalities in the fetus like miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine death and neurologic defects. Therefore; this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection and its possible risk factors associated with pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Hawassa and Yiregalem Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to May 2017. The study was done in antenatal care clinics of Hawassa and Yiregalem Hospitals in Southern, Ethiopia. Five hundred pregnant women were interviewed with a pretested structured questionnaire to collect risk factors and socio-demographic data. Blood samples were collected and serum was separated and tested for anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. The risk factors were tested for significance using Bivariate and multivariate analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of this study was 81.8% for the anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibody. Almost all participants (99.6%) had no information about the disease. A significant association was observed between seroprevalence and contact with domestic cats (OR = 1.206, 95% CI (1.627-2.206, P = 0.043), consumption of raw meat (OR = 0.848, 95% CI: 1.517-2.941, P = 0.019) and unpasteurized milk (OR = 0.871, 95% CI 1.531-2.221, P = 0.032). A significant association was not observed between seroprevalence and age, history of abortion, and blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrated a relatively higher prevalence of seropositivity than studies reported from other countries. Existence of domestic cats at home, consumption of undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. Therefore, a health education program to increase the mother's knowledge about toxoplasmosis towards avoiding eating undercooked meat, contact with cats and consumption of unpasteurized milk during pregnancy is recommended. Furthermore, our results suggested that the implementation of newborn screening and follow-up testing can lead to reducing of toxoplasmosis associated complications.

Parasitic Nematodes in Snappers (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from the Southern Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean.

Snappers from the southern Gulf of Mexico (SGM) and Mexican Caribbean (CAR) were examined for parasitic nematodes to determine their richness, composition, and infection parameters (prevalence and mean intensity). From February 2016 to March 2018, 431 individuals of 8 snapper species were collected in 6 localities. In all, these fishes were parasitized by 2,275 individual nematodes belonging to 13 taxa: Terranova sp. was found in 7 of 8 host species and showed the highest prevalence (23%), while the rest had lower values (<10%). Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus) harbored the highest species richness (10 species), followed by Lutjanus apodus (Walbaum) (8 species). Most localities were similar in terms of species richness but differed in the specific composition. Eight nematode taxa represent new host records for the family Lutjanidae (Gill), thus increasing to 22 the nematode taxa in the SGM and CAR. There is a potential risk to public health due to the presence of nematodes with zoonotic potential (as Anisakis sp.) and the habit in the region of eating raw fish (cebiche).