Journal of Parasitic Diseases

Polar solvent extracts of Azadirachta indica leaves were investigated to evaluate in vitro anthelmintic activity on the microfilariae of Setaria cervi. Four extracts of A. indica leaves were prepared with different solvents in increasing order of polarity (diethyl ether < chloroform < ethanol < methanol). Stock solution of the extract of A. indica leaves was prepared in Ringer’s solution at the concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μg/ml and used against microfilariae in three replicates. Ringer’s solution was used as experimental control. Mortality rates of microfilariae were recorded for each concentration after 45, 90 and 135 min, respectively. All the solvent extracts show significant anthelmintic activity at the concentration of 200 μg/ml after 135 min of incubation. Highest mortality rate of microfilariae was observed in methanol and ethanol extracts throughout the incubation period compared to chloroform and diethyl ether extracts which showed low mortality rates. Dose dependent effect of ethanol and chloroform showed highest and lowest ranking when analyzed by regression values and correlation of regression. Solvents extracts of A. indica leaves showed anthelmintic effect and therefore may be used as phytopharmacological agents in future.

Infection with intestinal parasites is widespread worldwide, especially in developing countries. Intestinal parasites are a major cause of diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people, but cancer patients are more prone to infection. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Center (NCHRC) in Nepal. One hundred individuals were selected with a convenience sampling strategy. The stool samples were examined by direct wet mount, sedimentation, flotation, and acid-fast methods to determine the prevalence and intensity of IPIs in this population. The overall prevalence of IPIs was 8% (4% protozoan and 4% helminths). Altogether, three species of intestinal parasites were detected. Cryptosporidium (4%) was predominant followed by Trichuris trichiura (2%) and Ancylostoma duodenale (2%). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that “not using soap for handwashing” was significantly associated with the prevalence of overall IPIs. None of the other evaluated risk factors indicated an association with IPIs infection. In this study, the IPIs were attributable to individual hygiene behaviors, but not to nutritional status or socio-demographic characteristics. Yet, significant numbers of males reported anemia and undernutrition in this study population.

Prevalence of nematodes in Achatina fulica (Bowdich) sample collected from two different sites within Bangalore University Jnana Bharathi Campus viz., Dhanavanthari vana and Botany Department garden was 84 and 100 % respectively. However, the identity of the nemathelminth could not be established to the species level as it did not respond to the clearing agent and its genital organs were not located which is key character for taxonomic identification. Also, no Cercariae were recorded in the samples, perhaps the snail sample was non endemic for parasitic population. Helminthological prospection with regard to the giant African snail from the region has not been performed till date. The present work is a preliminary study in that direction intended to determine the nemathelminth fauna associated with A. fulica populations in Bangalore region laying emphasis on further studies to be undertaken in this regard.

A cross sectional and retrospective studies were conducted from November 2010 to April 2011 to determine the prevalence and characteristics of hydatid cysts in cattle slaughtered at Gondar Elfora Abattoir in northern Ethiopia. Out of the 308 cattle examined for the presence of hydatid cysts, 63 (20.5 %) of them were found harboring hydatid cysts in one or more of their internal organs. Results of the study showed higher (P < 0.05) prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in adult (22.4 %; 49/219) than in young (15.7 %; 14/89) cattle. Lowest prevalence of hydatid cysts was observed in cattle from Debark (7.7 %; 2/26) whereas highest prevalence of cystic echinococcosis was recorded in cattle from Fogera (28.2 %; 11/39). The lungs (69.3 %; 61/88) were the most affected organs followed by the livers (28.4 %; 25/88). A total of 230 hydatid cysts from different internal organs of 63 infected cattle were differentiated into 60.4 % calcified, 30 % fertile and 9.6 % sterile cysts. Likewise, a total of 13 % (30/230) small, 15.6 % (36/230) medium, and 10.9 % (25/230) large hydatid cysts were recorded. Lung harbored the highest overall count (76.9 %; 177/230) and greatest proportion of large size cysts (13.5 %; 103/177) than all the other organs. Liver harbored the highest proportion of calcified cysts (68 %; 34/50). An overall proportion of 30 % (69/230) fertile cysts were recorded. The greatest proportion of fertile cysts (33.3 %; 59/177) was recorded in lungs followed by the livers (20 %; 10/50). A retrospective data of 5 years (2004/5–2009/10) revealed an overall prevalence of 30.4 % (9,106/29,951) and highest overall prevalence of 65.5 % hydatid cysts in the lungs followed by livers (33.5 %) and least in spleen (0.04 %). In conclusion the findings reported herein show that cystic echinococcosis is widespread in cattle slaughtered in Gondar export Abattoir and suggests that the lung is the most important source of hydatid cysts for definitive hosts in the area.

Sarcocystis fusiformis is a coccidian tissue parasite that causes infection in buffalo in countries such an Egypt, China, Iraq and Iran, resulting in significant economic losses to the agricultural industry annually. There is a lack of studies examining host-parasite interactions at the level of the immune response and the present study investigates the interaction between S. fusiformis whole cyst antigens (SFWCA) and dendritic cells (DCs), cells critical to the activation of adaptive immunity. In this study bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs) were phenotyped following treatment with SFWCA by measuring cell viability, cytokine secretion, and cell surface marker expression. While SFWCA exhibited cytotoxic effects on BMDCs at higher concentrations, lower concentrations of SFWCA activated pro-inflammatory DCs that significantly secreted interleukin (IL)-12p40, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6 and IL-10. These cells also displayed enhanced expression of TLR4, CD80, CD86 and MHC II on their surface, which is indicative of full DCs maturation. Moreover, SFWCA significantly attenuated the capacity of BMDCs to suppress Th2 associated cytokines, notably IL-5 and IL-13, while simultaneously exhibiting no effects on the secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-2, IL-17, and IL-10. In conclusion, this is the first study to provide fundamental insight into the activation of DCs by SFWCA, providing us with some awareness into the interaction of the Sarcosystis parasite with its host. The pro-inflammatory inducing ability of this antigen is in keeping with studies performed in other protozoan parasites and therefore understanding these interactions is important in the development of future therapeutic strategies.

Entomopathogenic nematodes form excellent tools to study insect immunity in response to during infection. Insects activate as several defense mechanisms, namely Phenoloxidase, haemocytes, detoxification and antioxidant enzymes. However little mechanistic information is available about the sublethal effects of entomopathogenic nematodes infection on detoxification and immune mechanisms in lepidopteran insects. In the present study, the effects of infection on antioxidant, detoxification and immune systems of Spodoptera litura larvae were studied. Results show a significant reduction in Total Haemocyte Count observed after 3 h of infection. A significant increase Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione S-transferase, Glutathione Peroxidase and Acid phosphatase were observed 6 h after infection and, progressive decrease in Peroxidase, Alkaline phosphatase and Lipid peroxidation was also observed. This study shows that increased detoxification enzyme levels in response to nematode infection are a protective mechanism in insects. Nematode infection suppresses insect immune response, which is evident from low haemocyte count and Phenoloxidase levels to ultimately cause larval mortality.

A unique anisakid roundworm, Rotundocollarette capoori n. gen., n.sp. infesting Johnius dussumieri from the Central West coast of India at Goa has been described. The worms are typically characterized by a cephalic collarette, a muscular collarette in post-caudal zone, intestinal caecum and a ventricular appendix. 3 pores, a part of cephalic infrastructure–a dorsal oral aperture, a dorso-laterally placed genital pore, and a sub-ventral excretory pore, at the junction of the bases of the 2 ventro-lateral lips, were typically unique as revealed by SEM studies. A pair of large squarish teeth flanked each of these three pores in the cephalic region, with 3–5 denticles in the median group, at the junction of the two arms of V-shaped structure, that joined 26–29 denticles on each arm of this V-shaped formation, running parallel and crossed past dentigerous ridges on each lip. In addition, a set of 49–50 medially organized denticles occupying the dorsal arm of V-shaped formation, in the medial space, were a conspicuous configuration, besides 70 min triangular denticles at the junction of sub-ventral lips. A spined mucron at the tip of tail. The key provided by Moravec and Justine (Parasite 27:58, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2020053 ) to segregate Porrocaecum-like nematode genera (Porrocaecum, Pseudoterranova, Pulchrascaris, Euterranova, and Neoterranova) has been revised to include the newly proposed genus, Rotundocollarette capoori n.gen., n.sp. The significance of the emerging nematode as an environmental bioindicator has been specified.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in the tropical, sub-tropical regions of Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, Southern Europe and South and Central America. Approximately 500,000 new cases are reported annually. Classically the diagnosis of VL is confirmed by the demonstration of the parasite in aspirates of spleen, bone marrow or liver which can yield false negative results, also these methods are invasive. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the serodiagnostic potential of two heat shock proteins (Hsps) i.e. Hsp70 and Hsp83 in combination by ELISA and western blotting in mouse model. Parasite proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to PVDF membranes which were further incubated with serum samples of infected mice for visualizing different bands. Both the bands i.e. Hsp70 and Hsp83 were simultaneously visualized in all infected groups on different post infection days. The presence of both the antigens was also detected by sandwich ELISA. The results suggest that the simultaneous occurrence of both the antigens Hsp70 and Hsp83 may be useful in serodiagnostic assay of VL as it may reduce the need for traumatic bone marrow sampling and risky spleen aspiration.

The minute intestinal trematode, Haplorchis taichui, is an important parasite species that can infect humans and other mammals. This study investigated the outbreak of H. taichui in thiarid snails in the lower part of the Chao Phraya Basin, Thailand by employing morphological and molecular-based methods. In development of a specific primer of H. taichui, the PCR reaction was conducted with no cross-reaction to their hosts and other related trematode species. The highest level of sensitivity that could be amplified was 0.50 ng/μl and this was detected with only one egg in the sample. In terms of the epidemic results, the parapleurolophocercous cercaria infected only two species of thiarid snails (Melanoides tuberculata and Tarebia granifera) with an overall prevalence of 3.80% (23/605). The process of molecular identification revealed positive results indicating that eleven from twenty-three of parapleurolophocercous cercariae specimens in the lower part of the Chao Phraya Basin were H. taichui. In conclusion, this study has developed a rapid detection method, which can discriminate H. taichui from other parapleurolophocercous cercaria in intermediate snail hosts with a high level of sensitivity. Moreover, the high proportion of H. taichui in parapleurolophocercous cercaria (47.83%) indicated that H. taichui was the dominant species of this cercarial type and could infect cyprinoid fish in the lower part of the Chao Phraya Basin leading to public health problems in this area. Thus, a specific primer could be useful in the detection and surveillance of H. taichui outbreaks in their hosts. Recognition of this has resulted in the creation of important prevention programs in these infected areas in the further study.