• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.276-279
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• 2001

The effect of helminthiasis on zinc metabolism was monitored using endogenous $^{65}Zn$ after intraperitoneal injection of 1 g of $^{65}Zn$ as zinc chloride. In the first experiment zinc turnover was investigated in 18 male weanling rats, which were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group was infected with 73 third stage larvae of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis per gram body weight ; the other groups were the pair-fed and ad lib-fed controls. The route of loss of zinc was investigated in the second experiment with the same design using 18 animals with a lower dose of infection (33 larvae per gram body weight). The biological half life of endogenous $^{65}Zn$ was lower (p<0.05) in the infected group as compared to the controls. In the later phase of infection (9th to 16th day) there was reduced retention of $^{65}Zn$ and increased loss (p<0.05) of $^{65}Zn$ from the body though urine and faeces. It was concluded that infection of N. brasiliensis was accompanied by increased loss of endogenous Zn through faeces and urine.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2021

Helminth infections are prevalent in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal helminthiasis in remote mountainous villages of northern Lao PDR. During the dry season in January 2017, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 3 remote mountainous villages in Oudomxay province, Lao PDR. Villagers older than 18 years of age who agreed to submit stool samples or undergo an interview, were recruited. Stool samples from 198 individuals were examined by the Kato-Katz method, and a questionnaire surveyed 161 individuals among them. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with the intestinal helminthiasis. An overall prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 75.8%. Hookworm infection was the most common (63.1%), followed by Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes (17.7%), Taenia spp. (15.2%), Trichuris trichiura (2.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.5%), and Enterobius vermicularis (1.0%). Questionnaire analysis revealed sex (male) and absence of latrine to be significant risk factors for hookworm infection and consumption of raw meat for taeniasis. These results suggest that the mountainous area in northern Lao PDR has a different composition of helminth infections from other studies conducted in Lao PDR; a high prevalence of hookworm infection and taeniasis and low prevalence of T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides infections were observed. Also, liver flukes or intestinal flukes were similarly prevalent in the mountainous area.

• CELLMED
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.15.1-15.5
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• 2018

Helminthiasis is one of the most common worm diseases which causes a range of adverse health problems in humans. Ayurveda is one of the most prominent and ancient systems of traditional medicines in India. Most Ayurvedic drugs used against intestinal helminths have been developed by traditional wisdom and therefore lack a proper validation through controlled studies. The aim of the present study was to scientifically validate the in vitro efficacy of three common Indian Ayurvedic anthelmintic drugs, viz. Krimimudgar Ras, Kriminol and Vidangasava in relation to the synthetic broad-spectrum anthelmintic drugs, praziquantel and albendazole. The in vitro testing of Ayurvedic anthelmintics was done against an intestinal cestode, Raillietina sp. and a nematode, Syphacia obvelata, employing 10 mg/ml, 30 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml concentrations of each medicine. The anthelmintic efficacy was judged on the basis of paralysis and mortality time of worms after exposing to these Ayurvedic drugs. Of the three tested Ayurvedic medicines, Krimimudgar ras (KR) showed the most prominent efficacy, against both the cestode and nematode parasites. At 50 mg/ml concentration, KR caused mortality of cestodes in $7.53{\pm}0.15hr$, and of nematodes in $7.61{\pm}0.19hr$. Vidangasava was found to be comparatively less effective against the tested helminth parasites. The results of this study indicate that Ayurvedic formulations do possess significant anthelmintic effects, however, an evidence-based research is required to validate all currently used Ayurvedic anthelmintics, using proper controlled studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2019

There have been some reports on schistosomiasis of school children in Sudan's Nile River basin area; however, information about the infection status of Schistosoma species and intestinal helminths among village residents of this area is very limited. Urine and stool samples were collected from the 1,138 residents of the Al Hidaib and Khour Ajwal villages of White Nile State, Sudan in 2014. The prevalence of overall schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis was 36.3% and 7.7%, respectively. Egg positive rates were 35.6% for Schistosoma haematobium, 2.6% for S. mansoni, and 1.4% were mixed. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was significantly higher in men (45.6%) than in women (32.0%), in Khou Ajwal villagers (39.4%) than in Al Hidaib villagers (19.2%), and for age groups ${\leq}15$ years old (51.5%) than for age groups >15 years old (13.2%). The average number of eggs per 10 ml urine (EP10) of S. haematobium infections was 18.9, with 22.2 eggs in men vs 17.0 in women and 20.4 in Khou Ajwal villagers vs 8.1 in Al Hidaib villagers. In addition to S. mansoni eggs, 4 different species of intestinal helminths were found in the stool, including Hymenolepis nana (6.6%) and H. diminuta (1.0%). Collectively, urinary schistosomiasis is still prevalent among village residents in Sudan's White Nile River basin and was especially high in men, children ${\leq}15$ years, and in the village without a clean water system. H. nana was the most frequently detected intestinal helminths in the 2 villages.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.46-48
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• 1980

A case of sparganosis was presented. Sparganosis is not infrequent tissue helminthiasis in Korea and the incidence has been evidently increased. The patient was a 50-year-old Korean male who had a habit of eating raw flesh of fresh water fish. He first noticed the appearance of two peanut-sized masses in the right subcostal region, however, the two masses enlarged gradually to a pigeon egg size during 5 years. On surgical exploration, one larva (61 cm in length and 4 to 6 mm in width) from two masses was extracted. It was moved actively in warm physiological saline solution.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.191-194
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• 2011

Sparganosis is a tissue invading helminthiasis infecting intermediate hosts, including humans. Strong immune responses are expected to occur in early phases of infection. Thus, we investigated cytokine expressions in splenic dendritic cells and in sera after experimental infection of mice. In splenic dendritic cells, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ expression peaked at week 1 and week 3 post -infection (PI), respectively, and also early phase (week 2 PI) depressed cytokine expression was noticed. Serum IL-$1{\beta}$ concentration increased significantly at week 2 PI and peaked at week 6 PI, and that of TNF-${\alpha}$ peaked at week 6 PI. These results showed that pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, are chronologically regulated in mouse sparganosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

Human toxocariasis is a helminthozoonosis due to the migration of Toxocara species larvae through human organism. Humans become infected by ingesting either embryonated eggs from soil (geophagia, pica), dirty hands or raw vegetables, or larvae from undercooked giblets. The diagnosis relies upon sensitive immunological methods (ELISA or western-blot) which use Toxocara excretory-secretory antigens . Seroprevalence is high in developed countries, especially in rural areas, and also in some tropical islands. The clinical spectrum of the disease comprises four syndromes, namely visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, and the more recently recognized "common" (in adults) and "covert"(in children) pictures. Therapy of ocular toxocariasis is primarily based upon corticosteroids use, when visceral larva migrans and few cases of common or covert toxocariasis can be treated by anthelmintics whose the most efficient appeared to be diethylcarbamazine. When diagnosed , all of these syndromes require thorough prevention of recontamination (especially by deworming pets) and sanitary education.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2015

Integrated control strategies are important for sustainable control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, despite their challenges for their effective implementation. With the support of Good Neighbors International in collaboration with National Institute of Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, integrated control applying mass drug administration (MDA), health education using PHAST, and improved safe water supply has been implemented on Kome Island over 5 years for controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Baseline surveys for schistosomiasis and STHs was conducted before implementation of any integrated control strategies, followed by 4 cross-sectional follow-up surveys on randomly selected samples of schoolchildren and adults in 10 primary schools and 8 villages, respectively, on Kome islands. Those follow-up surveys were conducted for impact evaluation after introduction of control strategies interventions in the study area. Five rounds of MDA have been implemented from 2009 along with PHAST and improved water supply with pumped wells as other control strategies for complementing MDA. A remarkable steady decline of schistosomiasis and STHs was observed from 2009 to 2012 with significant trends in their prevalence decline, and thereafter infection rate has remained at a low sustainable control. By the third follow-up survey in 2012, Schistosoma mansoni infection prevalence was reduced by 90.5% and hookworm by 93.3% among schoolchildren while in adults the corresponding reduction was 83.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Integrated control strategies have successfully reduced S. mansoni and STH infection status to a lower level. This study further suggests that monitoring and evaluation is a crucial component of any large-scale STH and schistosomiasis intervention.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.167-169
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• 2010

We report a case of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a 2-year-old child living in a suburban area of Catania, Italy. This case was initially referred to us as Dipylidium caninum infection, which was not cured after being treated twice with mebendazole. However, by analyzing the clinical presentation and stool samples we arrived to the diagnosis of H. diminuta infection. The case presented with atypical allergic manifestations which had never been reported as clinical features of symptomatic H. diminuta infection; remittent fever with abdominal pain, diffuse cutaneous itching, transient thoracic rash, and arthromyalgias. The patient was treated with a 7-day cycle of oral niclosamide, which proved to be safe and effective. This case report emphasizes that a correct parasitological diagnosis requires adequate district laboratories and trained personnel. In addition, we recommend the importance of reporting all H. diminuta infection cases, in order to improve knowledge on epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment protocols.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.208-212
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• 2009

The heartwood of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (Anacardiaceae) is widely used for a medicinal plant to treat diabetes mellitus and lingering intoxication in the folkloric society of Korea, while the stem bark has been traditionally used to treat menstrual disorder and helminthiasis. We previously reported that a flavonoid, fustin, isolated from the heartwood of R. verniciflua is effective in Alzheimer‘s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. To explore the possibility to produce more flavonoid-rich fraction from this plant, the MeOH extracts from the plant parts of stem bark, outer heartwood, and inner heartwood were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. Phenolic or flavonoid compounds (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, sulfuretin, fustin, fisetin, luteolin and astragalin) were detectable in the HPLC chromatogram. The orange-colored inner heartwood was found to contain the highest levels of fustin (16.96 mg/g) and sulfuretin (2.22 mg/g). Moreover, the inner heartwood accumulated fustin and sulfuretin at least 4-fold higher level as compared to the stem bark and outer heartwood. The levels of total phenolic compounds positively correlated with the extents of antioxidant properties. Therefore, the inner heartwood of R. verniciflua could be used to increase fustin concentration of the extract which is capable of treating Alzheimer‘s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.