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10 pages, 1409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Anisakiasis in Madrid (Spain) after 20 Years of Preventive Legislation

by Eva Blanco-Costales, Alejandra L. González-Quevedo, Laura Lorenzo-Bernardo, María P. de la Hoz-Martín, Marta Rodero, Pilar Puente, Irene Moreno-Torres, Carmen Cuéllar and Juan González-Fernández

Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090782 - 11 Sep 2024

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Abstract

Historical seroprevalence data for Anisakis in Spain vary greatly depending on the sampling region owing to different fish consumption habits. As a result of European Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, the Royal Decree 1420/2006 on the prevention of parasitosis by Anisakis in fishery products [...] Read more.

Historical seroprevalence data for Anisakis in Spain vary greatly depending on the sampling region owing to different fish consumption habits. As a result of European Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, the Royal Decree 1420/2006 on the prevention of parasitosis by Anisakis in fishery products supplied by establishments that serve food to final consumers or to communities came into force in Spain. In this study, a prevalence study of Anisakis in Madrid has been conducted to verify the prophylactic effects of the application of the law. Sera from 500 blood donors from the Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital (Madrid/2021–2023) were collected, and the levels of anti-Anisakis IgG, IgA, and IgE were analyzed by ELISA, comparing them with those obtained with 110 donors from the Red Cross and the “Gómez Ulla” Central Defense Hospital (Madrid/2001–2002). The percentages of positivity in the 2021–2023 donor group were IgG (13.6%), IgA (13.6%), and IgE (2.2%), while in the 2001–2002 donors they were positive for IgG (15.45%), IgA (14.54%), and IgE (11.65%). A reduction of more than 80% was observed in the prevalence of anti-Anisakis IgE in the healthy population of Madrid, which confirmed the positive effect of RD1420/2006, which was later incorporated into RD1021/2022. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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20 pages, 5512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survey of Gastrointestinal Parasites and Lungworms in Cats and Dogs from Terceira and São Miguel Islands, Azores

by Romana Teixeira, Isilda Flor, Telmo Nunes, Carlos Pinto, Maria Constança Pomba and Luís Madeira de Carvalho

Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080648 - 31 Jul 2024

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Abstract

Parasitic diseases can affect animal health and welfare, and they may also constitute a danger to public health, particularly in island ecosystems. Fecal samples were collected from 205 dogs and 115 cats on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, Azores archipelago (Portugal), [...] Read more.

Parasitic diseases can affect animal health and welfare, and they may also constitute a danger to public health, particularly in island ecosystems. Fecal samples were collected from 205 dogs and 115 cats on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, Azores archipelago (Portugal), using the Willis flotation technique and modified Baermann method, for further analysis. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism in dogs was 53%, with the following results: Ancylostomatidae (hookworms) (42.44%), Trichuris vulpis (17.56%), Toxocara canis (12.68%) and Cystoisospora spp. (4.39%). In cats, the overall prevalence was also 53%, with the following results: Toxocara cati (31.3%), Ancylostomatidae (30.43%), Cystoisospora spp. (14.78%) and Trichuris sp. (0.87%). The prevalence of lungworms was 0.49% in canines and 20.87% in felines, with Angiostrongylus vasorum and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus species being detected in dogs and cats, respectively. The present survey detected a high prevalence of gastrointestinal infection, in both dogs and cats, probably because the samples came mainly from kennels and catteries and due to the peculiar climatic conditions in this insular territory, with mild temperature and high relative humidity. A considerable prevalence of aelurostrongylosis was also detected (20.87%), so it should be included in the list of differential diagnoses of diseases concerning the respiratory tract in cats of the archipelago. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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16 pages, 3294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lecanicillium psalliotae (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) Exerts Ovicidal and Larvicidal Effects against the Sheep Blood-Feeding Nematode Haemonchus contortus through Its Liquid Culture Filtrates

by Gustavo Pérez-Anzúrez, Pedro Mendoza-de Gives, Miguel Ángel Alonso-Díaz, Elke von Son-de Fernex, Adolfo Paz-Silva, María Eugenia López-Arellano and Agustín Olmedo-Juárez

Pathogens 2024, 13(7), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13070588 - 16 Jul 2024

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Abstract

Nematophagous fungi (NF) form part of the soil microbiota and are natural enemies of nematodes, helping to regulate nematode populations. A verticillate NF isolated from soil from Tepalcingo, Mexico, was morphologically and molecularly characterised. This fungus was cultured in two different liquid media—Czapek-Dox [...] Read more.

Nematophagous fungi (NF) form part of the soil microbiota and are natural enemies of nematodes, helping to regulate nematode populations. A verticillate NF isolated from soil from Tepalcingo, Mexico, was morphologically and molecularly characterised. This fungus was cultured in two different liquid media—Czapek-Dox broth (CzDoxB) and sweet potato dextrose broth (SPDB)—for 21 days. The ovicidal (OA) and larvicidal (LA) activities of fungal liquid culture filtrates (LCFs) were assessed in 96-well microtitre plates at different concentrations against Haemonchus contortus after 48 h. The morphological and molecular identification revealed the presence of Lecanicillium psalliotae. Additionally, the groups of compounds associated with nematocidal activity were determined from a qualitative chemical profile (QCP) using different reagents. The highest OA of the LCFs was obtained at 25 mg/mL from SPDB and CzDoxB and amounted to 97.2 and 99.06%, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest LA recorded with these LCFs at 100 mg/mL was 54.27% and 96.8%, respectively. The QCP revealed the presence of alkaloids and tannins in both LCFs that have previously been associated with nematocidal activity. Lecanicillium psalliotae exerted an important effect on H. contortus and could be of significance in future studies focused on the control and prevention of haemonchosis in small ruminants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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12 pages, 484 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Echinococcus multilocularis and Other Intestinal Parasites of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) from the Pomerania Region, Northern Poland

by Bogumiła Pilarczyk, Agnieszka Tomza-Marciniak, Renata Pilarczyk, Małgorzata Bąkowska, Izabella Rząd, Agata Stapf, Lidia Felska-Błaszczyk, Agnieszka Tylkowska and Beata Seremak

Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060490 - 8 Jun 2024

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the species composition of the intestinal parasite fauna of foxes from the Pomerania region, with a particular emphasis on helminth species considered dangerous to humans, and to determine their prevalence and intensity of infection. In [...] Read more.

The aim of the study was to determine the species composition of the intestinal parasite fauna of foxes from the Pomerania region, with a particular emphasis on helminth species considered dangerous to humans, and to determine their prevalence and intensity of infection. In total, 165 digestive systems from foxes inhabiting the Pomeranian region were examined. The prevalence of intestinal parasites among the studied foxes was 61.8%. Our findings confirm that foxes in Pomerania carry various parasites, some of which pose a direct threat to human health. As such, constant monitoring of their infestation is essential. Particular attention should be paid to parasite species with potential for transmission to humans, such as Echinococcus multilocularis, Alaria alata and Toxocara canis, whose respective prevalence was found to be 10.9%, 17.6% and 28.5%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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13 pages, 7308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Phylogenetic Characterization of Balantioides coli Isolated in the Pavlova Culture Medium Supplemented with Coconut Water and Animal Serum

by Camila Souza Carvalho Class, Laís Lisboa Corrêa, Fabiana Batalha Knackfuss, Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira, Francisco Ponce Gordo and Alynne da Silva Barbosa

Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060476 - 4 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Balantioides coli is a ciliated protist that can cause dysentery in humans, pigs and nonhuman primates and may have the potential for zoonotic transmission. Its diagnosis is routinely performed through conventional parasitological techniques, and few studies have used culturing techniques to isolate it, [...] Read more.

Balantioides coli is a ciliated protist that can cause dysentery in humans, pigs and nonhuman primates and may have the potential for zoonotic transmission. Its diagnosis is routinely performed through conventional parasitological techniques, and few studies have used culturing techniques to isolate it, applying molecular tools for the characterization of this protozoan. Thus, the objective of this study was to confirm B. coli diagnosis using molecular tools and to characterize the genetic variants of this parasite isolated from pigs kept on family farms in Brazil using three different culture media that differed in the serum added. Fecal samples from pigs were inoculated in Pavlova medium plus coconut water (PC), fetal bovine serum (PB) and horse serum (PH). Of the 127 samples positive for forms compatible with the phylum Ciliophora, 31 were selected for isolation. The most successful medium for isolation was PB 19/31 (61.3%), followed by PH 18/31 (58.1%) and PC 11/31 (35.5%). Of the nucleotide sequences generated, 20 were classified as genetic variant type B0, two as A1 and 15 as A0. The results indicated that PC, despite having allowed the isolation of B. coli for a short period, was not an adequate medium for the maintenance of this parasite in vitro, therefore requiring improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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14 pages, 3703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Stevioside (Stevia rebaudiana) on Entamoeba histolytica Trophozoites

by Karla Jocelyn Ortega-Carballo, Karla Montserrat Gil-Becerril, Karla Berenice Acosta-Virgen, Sael Casas-Grajales, Pablo Muriel and Víctor Tsutsumi

Pathogens 2024, 13(5), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050373 - 30 Apr 2024

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Abstract

Human amoebiasis still represents a major health problem worldwide. Metronidazole has been used as the most common drug to treat the disease; however, it is also known that the drug causes undesirable side effects. This has led to the search for new pharmacological [...] Read more.

Human amoebiasis still represents a major health problem worldwide. Metronidazole has been used as the most common drug to treat the disease; however, it is also known that the drug causes undesirable side effects. This has led to the search for new pharmacological alternatives which include phytochemical compounds with antiamoebic effects. We analyzed the amoebicidal activity of stevioside (STV), a diterpene glycoside present in Stevia rebaudiana, on trophozoites of E. histolytica. Different concentrations of STV were tested, and an inhibitory concentration of 50% of cell viability (IC₅₀) was determined with an exposition of 9.53 mM for 24 h. Trophozoites exposed to STV showed morphological changes evidenced by the decrease in the basic structures related to the movement and adherence to the substrate, as well as ultrastructural features characterized by a loss of regularity on the cell membrane, an increase in cytoplasmic granularity, and an increase in apparent autophagic vacuoles. Also, the decrease in cysteine protease expression and the proteolytic activity of trophozoites to degrade the cell monolayer were analyzed. A histological analysis of hamster livers inoculated with trophozoites and treated with STV showed changes related to the granulomatous reaction of the liver parenchymal tissue. Our results constitute the first report related to the possible use of STV as a therapeutic alternative in amoebiasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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14 pages, 2818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extensive Countrywide Molecular Identification and High Genetic Diversity of Haemonchus spp. in Domestic Ruminants in Greece

by Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos, Styliani Minoudi, Isaia Symeonidou, Alexandros Triantafyllidis, George C. Fthenakis and Elias Papadopoulos

Pathogens 2024, 13(3), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13030238 - 8 Mar 2024

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Abstract

The gastrointestinal nematode parasite Haemonchus spp. is one of the most pathogenic parasites of ruminants, due to its blood-sucking activity, which causes large economic losses in the ruminant industry. The latest epizootiological data recorded an increase in the infection, not only in Greece [...] Read more.

The gastrointestinal nematode parasite Haemonchus spp. is one of the most pathogenic parasites of ruminants, due to its blood-sucking activity, which causes large economic losses in the ruminant industry. The latest epizootiological data recorded an increase in the infection, not only in Greece but also in other countries, mainly attributed to climatic changes. The study of the population structure and the investigation of the phylogenetic relationships of Haemonchus spp. are essential for the understanding of its biology and epizootiology to implement appropriate control and prevention strategies. In addition, the molecular approach allows the determination of evolutionary relationships between different species of this parasite, the diverse hosts they infect, as well as the different geographic compartments from which they originate. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the species of the sympatric populations of the genus Haemonchus, a nematode parasite infecting ruminants (sheep, goats, cattle, and buffaloes) from different regions of Greece (continental and insular) using molecular methods. At the same time, an attempt was made to identify the possible subpopulations of Haemonchus spp. in Greece, to investigate their phylogenetic relationships, as well as to determine the genetic diversity of each population. A total of 288 worms of the genus Haemonchus were processed using molecular methods; of these, 96 were collected from sheep, 96 from goats, 48 from cattle, and finally, 48 from buffaloes. A fragment of 321 base pairs of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) sequence of nuclear DNA was amplified for species identification, and, after basic local alignment search tool (Blast) analysis, it was revealed that they belonged to H. contortus. A fragment of 820 base pairs of subunit 4 of the nicotinamide dehydrogenase (ND4) gene of mitochondrial DNA was amplified for genetic diversity analysis. The Greek mitochondrial ND4 sequences of H. contortus were classified into 140 haplotypes, and the values of the average nucleotide and haplotype diversity were lower compared to the respective values derived from Italy, Malaysia, the USA, and China. The phylogenetic analysis of the ND4 gene revealed a clear grouping of the Greek haplotypes when compared with Asian ones, and, at the same time, there was no profound grouping of the same haplotypes with regard to their different hosts and geographical origin within different regions of Greece. The aforementioned findings confirmed that H. contortus prevails in our country and can infect all species of ruminants, without geographical boundaries, when the right conditions (i.e., common grazing) are created. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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Review

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14 pages, 1053 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Helminthophagous Fungi in the Biological Control of Human and Zoonotic Intestinal Helminths

by Jackson Victor de Araújo, Júlia dos Santos Fonseca, Beatriz Bacelar Barbosa, Helbert Ananias Valverde, Huarrisson Azevedo Santos and Fabio Ribeiro Braga

Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090741 - 30 Aug 2024

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Abstract

Nematophagous, or helminthophagous fungi of the genera Duddingtonia, Arthrobotrys, Monacrosporium, Pochonia, Paecilomyces, and Mucor, have been used over the years in in vitro and in vivo experiments to control helminth parasites that are potentially zoonotic. These fungi [...] Read more.

Nematophagous, or helminthophagous fungi of the genera Duddingtonia, Arthrobotrys, Monacrosporium, Pochonia, Paecilomyces, and Mucor, have been used over the years in in vitro and in vivo experiments to control helminth parasites that are potentially zoonotic. These fungi have shown efficacy against the following helminth genera: Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Enterobius, Strongyloides, Angiostrongylus, Taenia, Fasciola, and Schistosoma. The results obtained from these experiments, together with studies on soil contamination, suggest the viability of their use as a sustainable and effective strategy to reduce environmental contamination by these zoonotic parasites. Therefore, the aim of this review was to address the role of helminthophagous fungi in the biological control of potentially zoonotic helminths. To this end, we describe (1) a brief history of helminthophagous fungi; (2) a discussion of some potentially zoonotic intestinal parasites; (3) the importance of helminthophagous fungi in the control of nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes; and (4) the potential of helminthophagous fungi as a practical and sustainable strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites)

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