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Nat Rev Dis Primers 2020 May 28;6(1):44. Epub 2020 May 28.

Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK.

Trichuriasis and ascariasis are neglected tropical diseases caused by the gastrointestinal dwelling nematodes Trichuris trichiura (a whipworm) and Ascaris lumbricoides (a roundworm), respectively. Both parasites are staggeringly prevalent, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, and are associated with substantial morbidity. Infection is initiated by ingestion of infective eggs, which hatch in the intestine. Read More

Parasite Immunol 2020 May 11:e12728. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Helminth infection represents a major health problem causing approximately 5 million disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Concerns that repeated anti-helminthic treatment may lead to drug resistance render it important that vaccines are developed but will require increased understanding of the immune-mediated cellular and antibody responses to helminth infection. IL-4 or antibody-activated murine macrophages are known to immobilize parasitic nematode larvae, but few studies have addressed whether this is translatable to human macrophages. Read More

Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2020 Jun;49(2):379-410

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, 2 Dulles, 3400 Spruce Street, HUP, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address:

Hepatosplenic candidiasis and other fungal infections of the liver are uncommon in healthy individuals; however, high index of suspicion is essential in immunocompromised patients with prolonged fever. Parasitic infections are protozoan or helminthic; their distribution and epidemiology are variable among different world regions. Clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, and ascariasis are helminthic infections that commonly involve the biliary systems. Read More

Adv Parasitol 2020 6;109:879-883. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Hagler Institute for Advanced Studies at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States; James A Baker III Institute of Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States; Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States. Electronic address:

While ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infection dominate global efforts to control human soil-transmitted helminth infections, a picture is unfolding to suggest that toxocariasis is now a fourth and perhaps equally important parasitic disease. Toxocara eggs are widespread in the environment and practically ubiquitous in the soils of many subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Human zoonotic infection is also highly prevalent in these areas, based on serologic studies to detect anti-Toxocara antibodies. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2019 Sep-Oct;57(219):371-372

Department of Internal Medicine, Dhulikhel Hospital, Dhulikhel, Kavre.

Ascariasis is a frequent human gastrointestinal tract helminthic disease caused by Ascaris lumbricoide. It usually stays in the intestinal lumen and occasionally migrates into the biliary tract through ampulla of Vater .Biliary ascariasis is a critical complication of intestinal ascariasis with life-threatening manifestations . Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Apr 20;13(1):203. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), C/Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain.

Background: Ascaris roundworms are the parasitic nematodes responsible for causing human and porcine ascariasis. Whereas A. lumbricoides is the most common soil-transmitted helminth infecting humans in the world, A. Read More

Mo Med 2020 Mar-Apr;117(2):89-94

Christian Rojas-Moreno, MD, William Salzer, MD, and Gordon Christensen, MD is in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.

Background: There is lack of specific data on imported infections in the mid-west United States (U.S.). Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020 04 14;4:CD010599. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Department of Tropical Diseases and Imaging Diagnosis, Av. Prof. Montenegro, s/n, Distrito de Rubiao Jr, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 18618-970.

Background: Ascaris lumbricoides is a common infection, and mainly affects children living in low-income areas. Water and sanitation improvement, health education, and drug treatment may help break the cycle of transmission, and effective drugs will reduce morbidity.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of anthelmintic drugs (albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin) for treating people with Ascaris infection. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2020 Mar 30;95:115-117. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador-BA, Brazil. Electronic address:

Introduction: Biliary ascariasis, although uncommon, can lead to infectious complications and severe outcomes. This study reported three patients with biliary ascariasis and who were admitted to a paediatric hospital in Salvador, Brazil.

Case Reports: Case 1: A 1-year-old boy, with HIV, hospitalised with diarrhoea, fever, pain, and abdominal distension. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2019 Oct;32(1):83-86

Zhenjiang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Province, Zhenjiang 212004, China.

Objective: To understand the epidemic trend of soil-transmitted nematodiasis in Zhenjiang City from 2006 to 2018, so as to provide evidence for formulating targeted control measures.

Methods: The permanent residents at ages of 3 years and greater and the immigrants who had lived in Zhenjiang City for more than one year were selected as the study subjects. Fecal samples were collected, and the soil-transmitted nematode eggs were detected in fecal samples with the modified Kato-Katz technique (three smears from one stool sample), while the children at ages of 12 years and lower were tested for eggs using the adhesive cellophane-tape perianal swab method. Read More

Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2020 Feb;9(1):119-120

Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu 610017, China.

Vet Parasitol 2020 Mar 26;279:109062. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum are parasitic nematodes that mainly parasitize the small intestines of people and pigs, respectively. Ascariasis seriously endangers human health and causes huge economic losses in the pig industry. A. Read More

J Helminthol 2020 Feb 26;94:e128. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, affecting 800 million people worldwide. Studies focused on the early stage of parasite infection, occurring in the gut, liver and lungs, require the use of a mouse model. In these models, the porcine ascarid, Ascaris suum, is often used. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Feb 18;13(1):86. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.

An aberrant Ascaris suum infection in a domestic dog in China in 2019 is described for the first time. This pathogen is a common roundworm of pigs with few reported cases in domestic animals. Our findings suggest a wider infection range with a possible transmission of A. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 02 13;14(2):e0008057. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Background: Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the three major soil-transmitted gastrointestinal helminths (STHs) that infect more than 440 million people in the world, ranking this neglected tropical disease among the most common afflictions of people living in poverty. Children infected with this roundworm suffer from malnutrition, growth stunting as well as cognitive and intellectual deficits. An effective vaccine is urgently needed to complement anthelmintic deworming as a better approach to control helminth infections. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Feb 12;13(1):60. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.

Background: Ascariasis, caused by Ascaris suum, is an important soil-transmitted parasitic disease of pigs worldwide. It leads to significant economic losses in the pork industry, as a consequence of low feed conversion efficiency in pigs and liver condemnation at slaughter. Despite ascariasis still being widespread on pig farms in many developing and the industrialised countries, there are surprisingly limited data on porcine ascariasis in China, where nearly half of the world's total pork is produced. Read More

Chest 2020 May 21;157(5):1100-1113. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Department of Imaging, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Parasitoses are infectious diseases of global distribution, with predominance in areas of poor sanitation. Parasites cause damage through direct tissue injury and the inflammatory response generated by their migration and establishment in various organs. Thoracic involvement by parasitic disease can generate both specific and nonspecific clinical, laboratorial, and radiologic manifestations, which often makes their diagnosis challenging. Read More

BJR Case Rep 2019 Dec 15;5(4):20180123. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

AOUI Veron, Verona, Italy.

A 25-year-old female presented with a sore throat, fever and epigastric pain after coming from India. She had an obstructive pattern of liver function tests and an ultrasound scan abdomen showed features suggestive of acute cholecystitis and pancreatitis, with no obvious gallstones. She made no improvement with intravenous antibiotics. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Jan 8;13(1). Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.

Background: Japan is one of the few countries believed to have eliminated soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). In 1949, the national prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 62.9%, which decreased to 0. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2019 12 31;57(6):613-619. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte, CNRS UMR 6249 Chrono-environment, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besancon cedex, France.

Paleoparasitological analysis was carried on 4 Merovingian skeletons, dated from the late-5th to the late-9th centuries, and recovered in the church of Saint-Martin-au-Val in Chartres (Center region, France). The corpses were buried in stone sarcophagi, which were still sealed at the time of excavation. Parasite marker extraction was conducted on sediment samples taken from the abdominal and pelvic regions, but also on samples taken from under the head and the feet as control samples. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2019 Dec 31;57(6):601-605. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street, Cambridge, CB2 1 QH, UK.

As we learn more about parasites in ancient civilizations, data becomes available that can be used to see how infection may change over time. The aim of this study is to assess how common certain intestinal parasites were in China and Korea in the past 2000 years, and make comparisons with prevalence data from the 20th century. This allows us to go on to investigate how and why changes in parasite prevalence may have occurred at different times. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2019 12 31;57(6):587-593. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS UMR 6249 Chrono-Environment, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France.

Excavation (2008-2014) carried out under the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) led to the discovery of 75 individuals, mostly buried in multiple graves. Based on Roman minted coins, the graves were preliminarily dated between the second half of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE. Taphonomy showed that this was an emergency burial site associated with a catastrophic event, possibly an epidemic of unknown etiology with high mortality rates. Read More

J Immunol Res 2019 5;2019:4236825. Epub 2019 Dec 5.

The Graduate School of Humanities and Life Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, Tokyo, Japan.

is the most common soil-transmitted helminth and infects 447 million people in impoverished areas worldwide. It causes serious morbidity including wheezing and influences various aspects of human immunity, such as type 2 innate lymphoid cells, regulatory T cell function, and acquired immunity. Thus, it is crucial to elucidate its influence on human immunity. Read More

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2020 19;181(3):221-227. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Department of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil,

Introduction: The relationship of parasite infections and promotion or protection from allergy and asthma is controversial. Currently, over 1.5 billion people are infected with parasites worldwide, and Ascaris lumbricoides is the most frequent soil-transmitted helminth. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019 2;52:e20190315. Epub 2019 Dec 2.

Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil.

Introduction: Immunological control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is dependent on the cellular immune response, mediated predominantly by Th1 type CD4+ T cells. Polarization of the immune response to Th2 can inhibit the host immune protection against pathogens. Patients with tuberculosis coinfected with helminths demonstrate more severe pulmonary symptoms, a deficiency in the immune response against tuberculosis, and an impaired response to anti-tuberculosis therapy. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 02;102(2):313-317

Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.

Parasitic infections are a public health problem that affects all population levels in developing countries including Palestine. The current study describes the epidemiology of parasitic infections in Palestine from 2008 to 2017. Twelve prominent parasitic infections were reported: leishmaniasis (both cutaneous and visceral), malaria, hydatid disease caused by hydatid cysts, toxoplasmosis, ascariasis, oxyuriasis, strongyloidiasis, taeniasis caused by , amebiasis, giardiasis, and scabies. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 11 25;13(11):e0007896. Epub 2019 Nov 25.

Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Ascariasis is considered the most neglected tropical disease, and is a major problem for the public health system. However, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a result of chronic extracellular deposition of matrix in the pulmonary parenchyma, and thickening of the alveolar septa, which reduces alveolar gas exchange. Considering the high rates of ascariasis and pulmonary fibrosis, we believe that these two diseases may co-exist and possibly lead to comorbidities. Read More

ACG Case Rep J 2019 Sep 27;6(9):e00181. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Bioinformation 2019 9;15(8):572-578. Epub 2019 Sep 9.

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon-122413, India.

Ascaris lumbricoides is the prevalent parasite causing ascariasis by infecting the human alimentary tract. This is common in the jejunum of small intestine. Therefore, it is of interest to describe the target protein β Carbonic Anhydrase involved in Ascariasis. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2019 Nov 8;12(1):531. Epub 2019 Nov 8.

Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Many parasites migrate through different tissues during their life-cycle, possibly with the aim to enhance their fitness. This is true for species of three parasite genera of global importance, Ascaris, Schistosoma and Plasmodium, which cause significant global morbidity and mortality. Interestingly, these parasites all incorporate the liver in their life-cycle. Read More

Iran J Parasitol 2019 Jul-Sep;14(3):477-481

Faculty of Medicine, Khatam Al-Nabieen University, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Ascariasis is an important and prevalent geo-helminth infection, especially in underdeveloped countries such as Afghanistan, where public health problems and devastation of hygienic infrastructures usually lead to the higher incidence of the infection. Here, we report two cases of intestinal obstruction that accompanied with biliary ascariasis due to in pregnant women and a 6-year-old girl from Afghanistan. Biliary ascariasis can be associated with cystic duct obstruction, gallbladder dilation, acute cholecystitis, acute cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, and biliary colic. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 10 28;13(10):e0007778. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: A DNA extraction and preservation protocol that yields sufficient and qualitative DNA is pivotal for the success of any nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), but it still poses a challenge for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), including Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and the two hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). In the present study, we assessed the impact of different DNA extraction and preservativation protocols on STH-specific DNA amplification from stool.

Methodology And Principal Findings: In a first experiment, DNA was extracted from 37 stool samples with variable egg counts for T. Read More

North Clin Istanb 2019 27;6(3):302-303. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Department of Radiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.

PLoS One 2019 17;14(10):e0224108. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The main control strategy for Ascaris lumbricoides is mass drug administration (especially with benzimidazoles), which can select strains of parasites resistant to treatment. Mutations in the beta-tubulin isotype-1 gene at codons 167, 198 and 200 have been linked to benzimidazole resistance in several nematodes. The mutation in codon 200 is the most frequent in different species of parasites, as previously observed in Necator americanus and Trichuris trichiura; however, this mutation has never been found in populations of A. Read More

ACG Case Rep J 2019 May 14;6(5):e00082. Epub 2019 May 14.

Department of Radiodiagnosis, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

Cases of biliary ascariasis and hydatid cysts in liver and elsewhere are common in endemic areas and are routinely encountered in surgical outpatient departments. We describe the diagnosis and management of a unique case, who presented with manifestations of biliary ascariasis, but on further investigation was found to harbor ascarids as well as ruptured hydatids in his biliary passages. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of simultaneous parasitization of common bile duct by ascarid and hydatid forms, resulting in obstruction of the biliary system. Read More

Infect Dis Poverty 2019 Oct 2;8(1):82. Epub 2019 Oct 2.

Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: The goal of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) control programmes is to eliminate STH-associated morbidity in the target population by reducing the prevalence of moderate- and heavy-intensity infections and the overall STH infection prevalence mainly through preventive chemotherapy (PC) with either albendazole or mebendazole. Endemic countries should measure the success of their control programmes through regular epidemiological assessments. We evaluated changes in STH prevalence in countries that conducted effective PC coverage for STH to guide changes in the frequency of PC rounds and the number of tablets needed. Read More

Acta Trop 2019 Dec 19;200:105181. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, MOH, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China.

China was once a country plagued by parasitic diseases. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, nearly 80% of the population suffered from parasitic diseases because of poverty and poor sanitary conditions. After nearly 70 years of development, China has made remarkable achievements in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases, and the prevalence of parasitic diseases has been greatly reduced. Read More

Ann Glob Health 2019 09 11;85(1). Epub 2019 Sep 11.

Parasitology and Public Health Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NG.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) have remained a major threat to humans, especially children in developing countries, including Nigeria. Interventions have always been geared towards school-aged children, neglecting preschool-aged children and occupational risk adults. The Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee (STHAC) recently suggested incorporating other at-risk groups. Read More

J Synchrotron Radiat 2019 Sep 28;26(Pt 5):1843-1850. Epub 2019 Aug 28.

Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.

Being able to visualize biology at the molecular level is essential for our understanding of the world. A structural biology approach reveals the molecular basis of disease processes and can guide the design of new drugs as well as aid in the optimization of existing medicines. However, due to the lack of a synchrotron light source, adequate infrastructure, skilled persons and incentives for scientists in addition to limited financial support, the majority of countries across the African continent do not conduct structural biology research. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Aug 28;12(8). Epub 2019 Aug 28.

Department of Pediatric Medicine, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Children's Hospital & The Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan.

Ascariasis is a soil-sourced, second most common parasitic infection worldwide. Because of its wandering nature, it migrates from the intestine to other organs of the body like the lungs and biliary system. This results in complications such as biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, pyogenic cholangitis, liver abscesses, pancreatitis and loeffler's pneumonia. Read More

Vet World 2019 Jun 22;12(6):877-882. Epub 2019 Jun 22.

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Bulaksumur Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia.

Aim: Intestinal parasites cause severe diseases at poultry farms, especially in developing countries, including Indonesia. Infections cause significant decreases in productivity at poultry farms. is a common nematode found in chickens with a prevalence of up to 92%. Read More

Zoonoses Public Health 2019 11 16;66(7):842-851. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria.

We investigated the prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), Leptospira and Ascaris suum (A. suum) seropositivity, and of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization among Austrian practising veterinarians, and assessed the association with occupational swine livestock exposure. The 261 participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, intensity of occupational swine livestock contact and glove use during handling animals and their secretions. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2019 Aug 14;12(1):402. Epub 2019 Aug 14.

Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Background: Ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects 800 million people worldwide. Whereas most people only experience light worm burden, some people experience heavy worm burdens even after several rounds of chemotherapy, a phenomenon known as predisposition. Such heavy infections are associated with more severe symptoms and increased chronic morbidity. Read More

J Helminthol 2019 Aug 14;94:e71. Epub 2019 Aug 14.

Laboratório de Diagnóstico de Parasitoses, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais 38400-902, Brazil.

Human ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease of great relevance to public health and is considered the most frequent helminthiasis in poor regions. Accurately diagnosing this parasite has been challenging due to limitations of current diagnostic methods. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) technology is a very effective alternative for the production of highly specific and profitable antibodies. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 08 9;13(8):e0007580. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.

Background: In South Asia, hundreds of millions of people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura). However, high-resolution risk profiles and the estimated number of people infected have yet to be determined. In turn, such information will assist control programs to identify priority areas for allocation of scarce resource for the control of soil-transmitted helminth infection. Read More

Parasitol Res 2019 Sep 30;118(9):2635-2642. Epub 2019 Jul 30.

School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

The geographical distribution of tuberculosis (TB) overlaps with various parasitic infections. Uncovering the characteristics of coinfecting parasites that potentially affect the host susceptibility to TB is pertinent as it may provide input to current TB therapeutic and prophylactic measures. The present study was aimed at examining the types of parasitic infections in TB patients and healthy TB contacts (HC) in Orang Asli, Malaysian aborigines, who dwelled in the co-endemic areas. Read More

Infection 2019 Dec 26;47(6):991-999. Epub 2019 Jul 26.

National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.

Background: Asthma and Ascaris lumbricoides infection are common health issues affecting 250 and 700 million people worldwide, respectively. The relationship between ascariasis and asthma is a matter of substantial interest and research.

Methods: We performed a case-control study to evaluate whether the exposure to Ascaris infection is associated with asthma in children. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 07 22;13(7):e0007593. Epub 2019 Jul 22.

Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA, United States of America.

Background: With the expansion of soil transmitted helminth (STH) intervention efforts and the corresponding decline in infection prevalence, there is an increased need for sensitive and specific STH diagnostic assays. Previously, through next generation sequencing (NGS)-based identification and targeting of non-coding, high copy-number repetitive DNA sequences, we described the development of a panel of improved quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR)-based assays for the detection of Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. However, due to the phenomenon of chromosome diminution, a similar assay based on high copy-number repetitive DNA was not developed for the detection of Ascaris lumbricoides. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 07 15;13(7):e0007581. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.

Background: More than 1.5 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Trichuris trichiura), causing an estimated global burden in excess of 3 million disability-adjusted life years. However, the relationship between soil-transmitted helminth infection, adverse health consequences, and beneficial effects of deworming are not well understood. Read More

Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2020 ;74(2):167-178

Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Background And Aim: To evaluate the benefits of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with high frequency transducers in characterization of focal gallbladder lesions (FGL).

Material And Methods: From January 2017 to April 2019, 59 FGL detected by B mode ultrasound (BMUS) were examined, first with the low frequency convex transducer (1-5 MHz) and afterwards with high frequency transducer (7.5-12 MHz). Read More