Frequency, active infection and load of Leishmania infantum and associated histological alterations in the genital tract of male and female dogs.

Visceral leishmaniasis caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum is a zoonosis. The domestic dog is the primary reservoir in urban areas. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency, active infection and load of L. infantum in the genital tract of male and female dogs seropositive for this parasite, as well as to identify histological genital alterations associated with this protozoan. We studied 45 male and 25 female L. infantum-seropositive noncastrated dogs from the same endemic area in Brazil. Tissue samples from the testis, epididymis, prostate, vulva, vagina, and uterus were examined by singleplex qPCR and parasitological tests (histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and parasitological culture). The latter were performed for the detection of active infection (parasites able to multiply and to induce lesions). Forty-four (98%) males and 25 (100%) females were positive for L. infantum in the genital tract (epididymis: 98%; vulva: 92%; vagina: 92%; testis: 91%; uterus: 84%; prostate: 66%). Active infection in the genital tract was confirmed in 69% of males and 64% of females (32% in the uterus). Parasite loads were similar in the testis, vulva, epididymis and vagina and lower in the prostate. Only the parasite load in the vagina was significantly associated with the number of clinical signs. Granulomatous inflammation predominated in all organs, except for the prostate. Only in the testis and epididymis was the inflammatory infiltrate significantly more intense among dogs with a higher parasite load in these organs. The high frequency, detection of active infection and similarity of L. infantum loads in the genital tract of infected males and females suggest the potential of venereal transmission of this parasite by both sexes and of vertical transmission by females in the area studied. Additionally, vertical transmission may be frequent since active L. infantum infection was a common observation in the uterus.

Detection of Schistosoma DNA in genital specimens and urine: A comparison between five female African study populations originating from S. haematobium and/or S. mansoni endemic areas.

Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected disease affecting millions, however challenging to diagnose. This explorative descriptive study compares Schistosoma real-time PCR analysis of cervico-vaginal lavages (CVL) with corresponding urine and stool samples of 933 women from five different previously described study populations. Sampling included 310 women from an S. mansoni endemic region in Mwanza, Tanzania and 112 women from a nearby S. haematobium endemic region. Findings were compared with samples collected from S. haematobium endemic regions in South Africa from 394 women and from 117 women from Madagascar of which 79 were urine pre-selected microscopy positive cases from highly-endemic communities and 38 were urine microscopy negatives from a low-endemic community. As anticipated, urine and stool microscopy and gynecological investigations varied substantially between study populations; however, the same Schistosoma real-time PCR was performed in one reference laboratory. Schistosoma DNA was detected in 13% (120/933) of the CVL, ranging from 3% in the S. mansoni Tanzanian endemic region to 61% in the pre-selected Malagasy urine microscopy positive cases. Detectable Schistosoma DNA in CVL was associated with Schistosoma DNA in urine but not with microscopic detection of eggs in urine or by cytological examination. This study confirmed real-time PCR for the detection of Schistosoma DNA in gynecological samples to be a valuable diagnostic tool to study the distribution of FGS within schistosomiasis endemic areas.

Occurrence of human urogenital myiasis due to neglected personal hygiene: a review.

Myiasis, the infestation of tissues or organs of vertebrate animals with dipteran larvae, is a common parasitic problem among domestic and wild mammals. The condition, which is also witnessed in humans, is relatively frequent in rural areas where people are in close contact with domestic animals. It is a subject of medical and veterinary importance, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Human myiasis is generally encountered in open neglected wounds but can also affect body orifices with foetid discharge, such as the oral cavity, eyes, ears, anus and urogenital tract. Urogenital myiasis involves infestation of the urinary tract, as well as genital organs such as vaginal or penile orifices, with fly larvae. The condition is a rare among humans inhabiting developed countries but relatively more common in patients of low socio-economic status with poor hygienic conditions in developing countries. Damage varies from superficial to massive infestation, which may result in severe problems or even death of the individual. In the present study, the authors reviewed the past literature describing the cases of human urogenital myiasis, causative fly species and risk factors. The aim of the present article is to document the predisposing risk factors and provide guidelines for prevention and control of urogenital myiasis among humans. Besides poor genital hygienic conditions, other factors leading to urogenital myiasis include psychiatric disorders, the use of urinary catheters and uterine prolapse. Prevention of the condition is of utmost importance and involves the dressing and covering of open wounds, maintaining proper personal hygiene and control of fly populations.

Comparison between DiaPlexQ™ STI6 and GeneFinder™ STD I/STD II multiplex Real-time PCR Kits in the detection of six sexually transmitted disease pathogens.

BACKGROUND: The DiaPlexQ™ STI6 Detection Kit (DiaPlexQ; Solgent Co., Ltd., Daejeon, South Korea) is a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection of the following sexually transmitted disease (STD) pathogens: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma genitalium. We compared the performance of the DiaPlexQ assay with the GeneFinder™ STD I (CT/NG/UU) and STD II (MG/MH/TV) Multiplex Real-time PCR Kits (GeneFinder; Infopia Co., Ltd., Anyang, South Korea). METHODS: We evaluated the performance of the DiaPlexQ assay in comparison to that of GeneFinder using 1106 clinical specimens (542 genital swabs and 564 urine samples). The analytical performance of the DiaPlexQ assay, including the limit of detection (LOD) and analytical specificity, was evaluated using reference strains. RESULTS: The positive percent agreement, negative percent agreement, and kappa value between the two assays were 96.6%-99.4%, 98.2%-99.8%, and 0.93%-0.99%, respectively. No cross-reactivity was observed in a collection of 41 different microorganisms and the LOD of the DiaPlexQ assay ranged from 1 to 10 copies/reaction for each microorganism. CONCLUSION: The DiaPlexQ assay showed comparable performance to that of the GeneFinder assay so that it can be used for the screening and diagnosis of non-viral curable STD pathogens.

Trichomoniasis and associated co-infections of the genital tract among pregnant women presenting at two hospitals in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection is the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen worldwide. Among pregnant women, the infection may cause adverse birth outcomes such as premature rupture of membranes and premature labour. In view of the paucity of information relating to TV among Ghanaian pregnant women, this study investigated its prevalence and associated co-infections among pregnant women. METHODS: High vaginal swabs were obtained from 99 pregnant women using sterile cotton swab sticks. Wet preparation, Grams staining, culturing, coagulase and sensitivity testing were carried out to determine the presence of TV and associated microorganisms. RESULTS: The prevalence of TV among the pregnant women was found to be 20.2% (n = 20). Concurring with Trichomoniasis, 75% (n = 15) of participants had other infections such as Candida with prevalence of 53% (n = 8), Proteus infection - 20% (n = 3), Streptococcus infection - 13% (n = 2) and other GNRs and Gonococci having 7% each (n = 1). Moreover, there was 86.9% (n = 86) prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. among study participants. There was statistically significant correlation between TV and Gonococci infection at a correlation co-efficient of 0.107 (P < 0.05) as well as significant correlation between TV and Proteus spp. at a correlation co-efficient of 0.189 (P < 0.05). TV infection was high (60%) among the most sexually active age group (19 to 29 yrs). CONCLUSION: There was 20.2% prevalence of TV among the pregnant women presenting at the hospitals, with Gonococci and Proteus infections being statistically significant associated infections.

Ureaplasma urealyticum: Presence among Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum in genital specimens of symptomatic patients. This study also examined the role of U. urealyticum in infections of the lower genital tract. Cervical and urethral samples from 96 patients (46 males, 50 females) were tested using the Seeplex(®) STD6 ACE kit. Consent forms were received and a questionnaire was applied. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical software program (version 17.0). Among the samples tested, at least 1 pathogen was detected in 49% of the samples; specifically, the rate of detection of U. urealyticum, M. hominis, C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, M. genitalium, and T. vaginalis was 29.1%, 10.4%, 8.3%, 7.3%, 6.3%, and 4.2%, respectively. U. urealyticum was detected as the sole pathogen in samples from 10% of female patients and 28.3% of male patients (p = 0.035). U. urealyticum was present in 54.5% (18/33) of samples in which a single pathogen was detected and 71.4% (10/14) of samples in which multiple pathogens were detected. Among men, significant differences in discharge, dysuria, and pruritus were not noted among those with negative results (84.6%, 69.2%, and 38.5%, respectively), among those positive for only U. urealyticum (100%, 66.7%, and 26.7%, respectively), and those positive for N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, M. genitalium, and T. vaginalis (100%, 93.3%, and 26.7%, respectively). Detection of U. urealyticum, either alone or together with other pathogens, in a symptomatic group of patients is an important finding, particularly in men.

Severe ulceronecrotic dermatitis associated with mite infestation in the critically endangered Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis).

The entire range of the critically endangered Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis) consists of less than 20 km(2) of riparian habitat in the Amargosa River drainage of the Mojave Desert in southern California. In September 2010, deformities on ears and chiggers on the ears and genitalia were detected, with some individuals so severely affected that they were missing ear pinnae altogether. Follow-up trapping was performed to document the presence of mites and mite-associated disease, and molecular characterization was performed on the mites. Of 151 Amargosa voles sampled from February to April of 2011, 60 (39.7%) voles had hard orange mites adhered to some part of their bodies, on ears of 46 (76.7%), on genitalia of 11 (18.3%), and near mammary tissue of 13 (21.7%) voles. Gross lesions were not detected on genitalia, but 47% of all individuals examined showed pinnal lesions and deformities, which included alopecia, swelling, marginal necrosis, and ulceration, as well as scarring, scabbing, and loss of pinna mass covering 25-100% of the pinnae. Biopsies revealed parakeratotic hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with diffuse neutrophilic exocytosis and dense necrotic granulocytes in the epidermis and superficial dermis associated with focal erosion and ulceration. In the underlying dermis, there were dense pleocellular inflammatory cell infiltrates composed primarily of necrotic granulocytes and multifocal hemorrhage. In some samples, mite mouthparts could be seen penetrating the superficial epidermis associated with focal necrosis, and mite fragments were found on the surface epidermis and within hair follicles. Microscopic examination of the mites documented that they were a larval trombiculid in the genus Neotrombicula with anatomical features that most closely resemble Neotrombicula microti, based on scutal shape, setation, and texture. PCR of 2 mite pools (each consisting of 3 mites from an individual animal) amplified 331 bp amplicons, which had 92-97% homology with the 18S rRNA gene of Leptotrombidium deliense, although coverage of Trombiculidae in GenBank is sparse. The severity and prevalence of lesions due to this chigger were atypical and distinct. Severe clinical trombiculiasis in this endangered species could negatively impact individual health and fitness.

Immunity to infections in the lower genital tract of bulls.

The mucosa of the bovine prepuce has unique immunological characteristics critical to defense against sexually transmitted diseases. Tritrichomonas foetus and Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis persistently colonize the lower genital tract of bulls but usually do not cause either major clinical signs or inflammation. These microbes may be sexually transmitted to female cattle to cause reproductive failure. Although the male genital immune responses to T. foetus and C. fetus subspecies venerealis are inefficient in clearing infection, systemic immunization with T. foetus and C. fetus subspecies venerealis antigens does prevent or eliminate these infections with induction of IgG antibodies in genital secretions and serum.

Direct simultaneous detection of 6 sexually transmitted pathogens from clinical specimens by multiplex polymerase chain reaction and auto-capillary electrophoresis.

The availability of a reliable and user-friendly method to identify pathogens causing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is essential to reduce the complications and spread of infection. In this study, genital/urinary specimens from 113 patients with STDs were simultaneously tested for 6 pathogens using the automated Seeplex® (Seegene, Seoul, Korea) multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based STD6B auto-capillary electrophoresis (ACE) system. The results were compared with conventional reference methods, including culture and PCR tests. The sensitivity of STD6B ACE was found to be 100% for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis, and 98% for genital Ureoplasma (U. urealyticum and U. parvum). Specificity ranged from 97% to 100%. One pathogen was detected in 51 specimens, and 2 or more pathogens were detected in 24. In conclusion, the multiplex PCR and ACE system is highly sensitive and specific for the rapid, simultaneous detection of STD pathogens directly from a single specimen.

Surgical pathology of schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis remains an important health problem in many tropical countries and is being seen with increasing frequency in immigrant populations and tourists in developed countries. The pattern of organ involvement and clinical presentation of schistosomiasis in 80 patients (male: female, 9:1) during a five-year period (2001-2005) was examined from archival histopathology records. The urinary bladder was the most common organ affected [50 (62.5%)]. Gastrointestinal, male and female genital schistosomiasis were detected in 12 (15%), eight (10%) and five (6.1%) cases, respectively. Hematuria was the most common presenting symptom [34 (42.5%)], and bladder cancer was the only malignancy found to be associated with the infection. A high clinical index of suspicion usually allows for a preoperative diagnosis where indicated and avoidance of radical surgery. While research for the development of an effective vaccine continues, a plea is made for the expansion of multinational control programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

[Ecological approach to the problem of monophyly of Neodermata (Platyhelminthes)].

The ecological scenario of the evolution of main branches of Neodermata is described. The first neodermateans (= promonogeneans) were parasites of the gill lamellae of Paleozoic jawless vertebrates, which were microphagous suspension-feeding animals. The main apomorphic characters of the primary neodermateans are neodermis, cercomer (posterior hooked attachment organ) and swimming infective larva. All subsequent evolution of Neodermata was related with their acquisition new niches in hosts, which were intensively diverging in that time adapting to new food types and conquering new ecological niches. The acquisition of new microhabitats was accompanied by the development of morphological diversity in Neodermata especially in a structure of attachment and genital organs. Trematoda, Cestoda and Polyopisthocotylea comprise specialized evolutionary lineages and Monopisthocotylea is a basal taxon. Polyopisthocotylea is specialized to the blood feeding on fish gills. The common ancestors of the Trematoda and Cestoda inhabited walls of gills and pharyngeal cavities, from where they penetrated the digestive tract. The aspidogastridean multiloculate hold fast appears to be a highly specialized attachment organ of the monogenean ancestor, which inhabited muscular pharyngeal walls of Paleozoic vertebrates. The loss of cercomer hooks probably took place when mollusk-hosts have been involved in the aspidogastridean life cycle. The extinction of many chondrichthiean groups and progress of small plankton fishes (Teleostei) has led to the appearance Digenea. New vertebrate hosts needed a new infestation type and the cercaria appeared. Parthenogenesis has been developed in stages living in mollusks to counterbalance the loss of individuals at two transmission stages in the digenean cycle; this was resulted in a strong specificity to mollusk-host. Evolutionary tendencies of Trematoda and Cestoda show noticeable similarities.

Morphological features and organ distribution of schistosomal infection.

A total of 74 histologically diagnosed cases of schistosomiasis involving various organs and tissues were reported in the Department of Pathology of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin between January 1979 and December 1997. While some of the cases were incidental discoveries, others were the primary causes of patients' clinical problems such as infertility. The ages of patients in this study were relatively higher than the usual childhood or adolescence wherein schistosomiasis is commonest and this is thought to be due to the longer duration required for morphological changes to be established in tissues. A case of urinary bladder schistosomiasis with squamous cell carcinoma was found in a 55-year old man and this lends support to the claim that schistosomiasis of the urinary bladder may predispose to cancer in the organ. Findings in this study underscore the need for high index of suspicion in endemic areas wherein histological examination of appropriate tissue may be all that is needed in what otherwise appears to be a diagnostic enigma.

Laryngeal involvement during post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in India.

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) involving the mucus membranes is relatively rare on the Indian sub-continent. We describe 3 cases of PKDL presenting with hoarseness of voice. In one case the skin, nasal, oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa had nodular and nodulo-ulcerative lesions; in the 2 other cases, genitalia and anorectal mucosa were also affected. Laryngoscopic examination revealed nodular lesions on the vocal cords. Biopsy smear and culture confirmed their leishmanial origin.

Trypanosoma cruzi: paninfectivity of CL strain during murine acute infection.

A systematic study of the distribution of intracellular parasites in the organs and tissues of mice acutely infected (15 days) with the CL strain of Trypanosoma cruzi was performed. Almost all tissues and organs were parasitized with different intensities, including several epithelial cell types. In addition to striated, cardiac, and smooth muscles a very high parasitism of fat cells, pancreas, and genital adnexa was observed. A smaller number of parasites was found in all other structures studied except in highly vascularized structures such as in the penile corpora cavernosa, pulmonary and renal parenchyma, islets of Langerhans, hepatic sinusoids, and in atrial endothelium. This paper also shows, for the first time in the literature, the parasitism of milky spots, cornea epithelium, cornea stroma, retroorbital fibroblasts, seminal vesicles, and coagulative, Cowper's, urethral, preputial, sebaceous anal, and clitoris glands. The results indicated that CL strain is highly invasive, being able to infect cells derived from the three embryonic layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm), suggesting that the paninfectivity may influence the outcome of immunological and pathological events.

Prevalencia de parasitosis relacionadas con infección genital femenina / Prevalence of parasitic infections related to the female genital tract

Se estudió a 245 mujeres sexualmente activas que acudieron al Hospital Civil de Cuernavaca, de enero a julio de 1994. Los parásitos encontrados en el área genital se identificaron por observación microscópica en fresco, de secreciones cervicovaginales suspendidas en solución salina y preparaciones teñidas con reactivo del lugol. En este estudio, la prevalencia de Trichomonas vaginalis fue de siete casos (2.8 por ciento), encontrándose además quistes de Entamoeba histolytica en 13 casos (5.3 por ciento) y Giardia lamblia en un caso (0.4 por ciento), huevecillos de Ascaris lumbricoides en dos casos (0.8 por ciento) y Trichuris trichiura en un caso (0.4 por ciento). Estas parasitosis llegan a representar un problema frecuentemente, ya que infecciones mixtas con una variedad de parásitos, incluyendo protozoarios y nematodos, se han reportado en otros países, sobre todo en hombres homosexuales: en la mujer, estas infestaciones se atribuyen a la cópula rectal o la diseminación contigua de secreciones, por malos hábitos higiénicos. Por esto consideramos importante que, dentro de las infecciones del tracto vaginal, se incluya la búsqueda de estos parásitos

Efficacy of doramectin in the protection of neonatal calves and post-parturient cows against field strikes of Cochliomyia hominivorax.

Two studies were conducted in Latin America, one in Venezuela and one in Argentina, using a common protocol to investigate the efficacy of a single s.c. injection of doramectin in the prevention and control of field infestations of Cochliomyia hominivorax in newborn calves and post-parturient cows. In both experiments, pregnant cows were paired on the basis of their calving time. The first cow that calved was assigned to a medicated group, and both cow and calf were treated with doramectin. The cow received a dose of 200 micrograms kg-1 and the calf 1 ml of a 1% doramectin solution. The second cow and calf were assigned to a saline-treated group, and the cow received saline at 1 ml per 50 kg and the calf 1 ml. The procedure was repeated until all animals were allocated to the two treatments. Animals were examined on the treatment day and at 2, 4, 6 and 12 days post-treatment. At each observation day, the navel of newborn calves and external genitalia of the cows were inspected and the presence of C. hominivorax infestations was recorded. Doramectin was 100% effective in the prevention and control of screwworm strikes in newborn calves and in post-parturient cows exposed to continuous field challenge of C. hominivorax. Over the 12 day duration of the studies, 48% and 57% of the saline-treated calves had screwworm navel strikes in the studies in Venezuela and Argentina, respectively. Infested animals required repeated therapeutic treatment, whereas none of the doramectin-treated calves were affected (P < 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Schistosoma mansoni: influence of infection on levels of translatable mRNA and on polypeptide synthesis in the ovotestis and albumen gland of Biomphalaria glabrata.

Larval trematode infection causes a disruption of normal reproductive activity in the molluscan intermediate host. Because relatively little is known about the dynamics of this host-parasite interaction, the effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on translatable mRNA pools and on polypeptide synthesis was examined in the ovotestis (OT) and albumen gland (AG) of Biomphalaria glabrata. Total RNA was isolated from OTs and AGs from uninfected control snails and snails at 14, 21, and 28 days postinfection (pi) with 20 S. mansoni miracidia and subjected to a rabbit reticulocyte in vitro translation system. Quantitative densitometry of autofluorograms of one-dimensional SDS-PAGE slab gels revealed reductions in quantities of total proteins synthesized in vitro from RNA isolated from infected OTs at 21 and 28 days pi, but not at Day 14 pi. Similar reductions were seen in 10 individual polypeptides selected for a more detailed analysis. In contrast to the OT, Day 14 pi-infected AGs exhibited an initial increase in total protein synthesized in the in vitro translation system utilized, followed by significant reductions at 21 and 28 days pi. Selective modulation of labeled polypeptides was evident in 11 polypeptides chosen for a more detailed analysis. This general pattern of parasite inhibitory effects was also seen in parallel pulse-chase studies using [35S]methionine metabolic labeling of in vitro-cultured OTs and AGs. In these experiments, significant reductions in the amounts of labeled polypeptides found in culture supernatants at 14, 21, and 28 days pi were evident. Total polypeptide synthesis also was solubilized AGs from infected snails at 21 and 28 days pi. Results indicate that larval trematode infection induced a generalized disruption of polypeptide metabolism in OTs and AGs of B. glabrata. Such inhibition may occur at both the transcriptional and the translational levels and is initially manifested early in infection, during the time that daughter sporocysts begin to migrate and colonize the digestive gland and OT.