• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2006

Efforts have been made to explore the possibility of using garlic as an antimicrobial therapeutic agent since garlic extract and its individual sulfur compounds show antimicrobial activities against all kinds of microorganisms including bacteria, molds, yeasts and protozoa. Staphylococcus aureus has been the most studied bacteria along with many other Gram positive and negative pathogenic bacteria, including species of the genera Clostridium, Mycobacterium, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Bacillus, Salmonella and Shigella. Candida albicans has been the most studied among the eukaryotic microorganisms. A pathogenic protozoa, Giardia intestinalis, was also tested. All the microorganisms tested was inhibited by garlic extract or its sulfur components. Garlic has been known to be growth inhibitory only when fresh garlic is crushed, since allicin-generating reaction is enzyme-catalyzed. Allicin is known to be growth inhibitory through a non-specific reaction with sulfhydryl groups of enzyme proteins that are crucial to the metabolism of microorganisms. Another plausible hypothesis is that allicin inhibits specific enzymes in certain biological processes, e.g. acetyl CoA synthetase in fatty acid synthesis in microorganisms. Allicin transforms into other compounds like ajoene and various sulfides which are also inhibitory to microorganisms, but not as potent as their mother compound. It is reported recently that garlic heated at cooking temperatures is growth inhibitory especially against yeasts, and that the growth inhibitory compound is allyl alcohol thermally generated from alliin in garlic.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.523-532
• /
• 2017

A field survey studying intestinal parasites in humans and microbial pathogen contamination at environment was performed in a Laotian rural village to identify potential risks for disease outbreaks. A parasitological investigation was conducted in Ban Lak Sip village, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR involving fecal samples from 305 inhabitants as well as water samples taken from 3 sites of the local stream. Water analysis indicated the presence of several enteric pathogens, i.e., Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., E. coli H7, E. coli O157: H7, verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), Shigella spp., and enteric adenovirus. The level of microbial pathogens contamination was associated with human activity, with greater levels of contamination found at the downstream site compared to the site at the village and upstream, respectively. Regarding intestinal parasites, the prevalence of helminth and protozoan infections were 68.9% and 27.2%, respectively. Eight helminth taxa were identified in fecal samples, i.e., 2 tapeworm species (Taenia sp. and Hymenolepis diminuta), 1 trematode (Opisthorchis sp.), and 5 nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, trichostrongylids, and hookworms). Six species of intestinal protists were identified, i.e., Blastocystis hominis, Cyclospora spp., Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, Entamoeba coli, and Giardia lamblia. Questionnaires and interviews were also conducted to determine risk factors of infection. These analyses together with a prevailing infection level suggested that most of villagers were exposed to parasites in a similar degree due to limited socio-economic differences and sharing of similar practices. Limited access to effective public health facilities is also a significant contributing factor.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.275-277
• /
• 2000

The status of intestinal parasite infections was investigated in two rural villages (Chitrasar, Jerona) in Chitwan District, Nepal in 1999. Stool examination was performed with a total of 300 specimens from schoolchildren by formalin-ether sedinentation technique. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite infections in the surveyed areas was 44.0%. The prevalence rate in Jerona was slightly higher than that in Chitrasar. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite infections in female was slighly higher than that in male without statistically significant difference. Entamoeba coli was the most commonly found protozoan parasite (21.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia (13.7%) and others (5.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent intestinal helminth (13.0%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (3.0%) and others (5.0%). forty-three specimens (14.3%) Showed mixed infections. It is necessary to implement large-scale treatment with anthelminthics, health education and sanitary improvement for intestinal parasite control in the surveyed areas.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2012

A total of 450 stool samples were collected from inpatient and outpatient clinics of Pediatric Department, Minia University Hospital, Minia District, Egypt. Two groups of patients were studied, including 200 immunosuppressed and 250 immunocompetent children. Stool samples were subjected to wet saline and iodine mounts. A concentration technique (formol-ether sedimentation method) was carried out for stool samples diagnosed negative by wet saline and iodine mounts. Samples were stained by 2 different methods; acid fast stain (modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain) and Giemsa stain. Total 188 cases (94%) were diagnosed positive for parasitic infections among immunosuppressed children, whereas 150 cases (60%) were positive in immunocompetent children ($P$<0.0001). The most common protozoan infection in immunosuppressed group was $Cryptosporidium$ $parvum$ (60.2%), followed by $Blastocystis$ $hominis$ (12.1%), $Isospora$ $belli$ (9.7%), and $Cyclospora$ $caytenensis$ (7.8%). On the other hand, $Entamoeba$ $histolytica$ (24.6%) and $Giardia$ $lamblia$ (17.6%) were more common than other protozoans in immunocompetent children.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.61-63
• /
• 1994

A follow-up stool examination was done to know the status of intestinal parasitic infections in Army soldiers who were stationing in Whachon-gun, Kangwon-do, Korea in 1993. Of 233 examined soldiers, Infections with Clonorchis sinensis (0.4%), Metagonimus spp. (0.9%), Echinostomc honene (0.4%), Neoniplostomum seodenis (0.4) and Ginrdin lomblic (3/233) were found. S. honene and N. seouLensis infections were each 75th, and 27th cases in Korea. Regular control program of intestinal parasitic Infections might be able to contribute to diminish the prevalence rate in young Army soldiers in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.67-70
• /
• 2004

A small scale survey was performed to know the infection status of intestinal parasite in children of the residential institutions and street communities in Metro Manila, Philippines. A total of 284 stool samples from 11 institutions and 3 street communities was examined by the formalin-ether concentration method. The scotch tape anal swab was adapted to 121 children to investigate the infection status of Enterovius vermicularis. It was found out that 62.0％ of the children examined were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. Multiple infections were observed in 34.2％ of the children. Among 172 children who gave detail information, the prevalence for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm was 36.0％, 44.8％, and 7.0％ respectively. Of the children examined, 47.7％ were found to be harboring parasitic protozoans such as Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, and Blastocystis hominis. The most prevalent of these protozoans was B. hominis with an infection rate of 40.7％. The prevalence of these infections among children living in institutions was relatively high. More efforts should be made to implement anthelminthic programs including bi-annual follow-up treatments.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.209-212
• /
• 1986

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the present status of intestinal parasitic infection in Seoul area, Korea. During the period from June 1985 to July 1986, a total of 5,251 stool samples were collected in Department of Clinical Pathology, Hanyang University Hospital and examined by formalin-ether sedimentation technique once for helminth ova and protozoan cysts. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The overall egg positive rate of intestinal helminthes was 2.53%; and 1.43% for Clonorchis sinensis, 0.7% for Trichuris trichiura, 0.13% for Metagonimus yokogawai, 0.06% for hookworm, and 0.02% for Ascaris lumbricoides, Diphyllobothrium latum and Hymenolepis nana, respectively. 2. The overall cyst positive rate of intestinal protozoa was 1.07%. Cyst positive rate was 0.06% for Entamoeba histolytica and 0.13% for Giardia lamblia, respectively. 3. Higher prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was observed in male and in $21{\sim}50$ year-old groups. 4. The highest prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis infection was observed in 40th age group (3.4%), and male (2.3%) was more infected than female (0.7%) in general.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.213-215
• /
• 1986

Total of 2,643 Korean soldiers were examined of their stool for parasitic infections by both cellophane thick smear and formalin-ether concentration techniques from August, 1983 to December, 1985. Out of them, 73.6% were free from any parasite, 22.6% were ova positive and 4.0% cyst positive. The ova positive rates by species were Ascaris lumbricoides 2.0%, Trichuris trichiura 13.0%, hookworm and Trichostrongylus orientalis 0.08% respectively, Clonorchis sinensis 7.6%, Metagonimus yokogawai 1.1%, Paragonimus westermani 0.08%, Echinostoma hortense 0.04%, Fibricola seoulensis 0.9%, Taenia sp. 0.3%, Hymenolepis nana 0.2% and H. diminuta 0.04%. Most of them (87.3%) were positive by a species, 11.9% by two and 0.8% by 3 species. The cyst positive rates were Entamoeba histolytica 0.6%, E. coli 1.4%, Endolimax nana 1.7%, Iodoamoeba butschlii 0.04% and Giardia lamblia 0.9%. Among the cyst positives, 89.5% were positive by a species, 7.6% by two and 0.5% by 3 species. The intestinal parasite infections among the Korean soldiers decreased distinctly compared with previous data.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.179-181
• /
• 2000

Stool and cellotape anal swab examinations were carried out in August 1997 on handicapped people at an institution located in Chorwon-gun, Kangwon-do, Korea. A total of 112 stool samples (78 males and 34 females) revealed three cases of Trichuris trichiura infection and one case of Enterobius vermicularis infection. Other helminth eggs were not detected. The overall prevalence rate was 35.7% (38.5% for males and 29.4% for females). More than two different kinds of parasites were found in 42.0% of the positive stool samples (17 cases). The infection rates for protozoan cysts are as follow : Entamoeba coli (25.0%), E. histoIUtica (1.8%), Endolinax nana (21.4%), Iodoamoeba butschlii (1.8%) and Giardia lamblia (0.9%). In cellotape anal swab examinations (165 samples), the prevalence rate of E. vemicularis was 20.6% (25.7% of males and 9.6% of females). In conclusion, the handicapped people in the institution showed higher infection rates of protozoan parasites and E. vemicularis, possibly due to more accessibility to the infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.583-595
• /
• 2015

DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases catalyze the folding and remodeling of RNA molecules in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as in many viruses. They are characterized by the presence of the helicase domain with conserved motifs that are essential for ATP binding and hydrolysis, RNA interaction, and unwinding activities. Large families of DEAD/DExH-box proteins have been described in different organisms, and their role in all molecular processes involving RNA, from transcriptional regulation to mRNA decay, have been described. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about DEAD/DExH-box proteins in selected protozoan and nematode parasites of medical importance worldwide, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Brugia malayi. We discuss the functional characterization of several proteins in an attempt to understand better the molecular mechanisms involving RNA in these pathogens. The current data also highlight that DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases might represent feasible drug targets due to their vital role in parasite growth and development.