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Ann Parasitol 2022 ;68(1):159-167

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Recently, many individuals of greater one-horned rhino (GOHR) were died with unknown reason in Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal. This has arisen chaos and confusion in the rhino conservation program of the country. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among GOHR in the CNP. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 04 21;16(4):e0010382. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: One of the considerable challenges of schistosomiasis chemotherapy is the inefficacy of praziquantel (PZQ) at the initial phase of the infection. Immature schistosomes are not susceptible to PZQ at the curative dose. Here, we investigated the efficacy of different PZQ regimens administered during the initial stage of Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice. Read More

Front Cell Dev Biol 2022 17;10:807289. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Food and Nutritional Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan.

Schistosomiasis is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by blood flukes, Schistosomes. In its intestinal type, the parasites reside in visceral/portal veins of the human hosts and lay eggs to excrete in feces intestinal tracts, and some of the aberrant eggs plug into the liver the portal blood flow. Ectopic growth of these eggs causes fatal granulomatosis and cirrhosis of the liver. Read More

Parasite 2022 22;29:16. Epub 2022 Mar 22.

College of Animal Science & Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China.

Fascioliasis is an important zoonotic helminthic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and poses a serious threat to global public health. To evade the immune response of its host (humans or animals), F. hepatica secretes various antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione transferase (GST) to facilitate its invasion, migration and parasitism in vivo. Read More

Acta Trop 2022 May 12;229:106342. Epub 2022 Feb 12.

Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical parasitic disease, is associated with severe pathology, mortality and economic loss. The treatment and control of schistosomiasis depends mainly on a single dose of praziquantel (PZQ). Drug repurposing and nanomedicine attract great attention to improve anti-schistosomal therapy. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2021 Dec;33(6):590-599

Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China.

Objective: To investigate the populations of freshwater crabs, the intermediate host of and infections in freshwater crabs in the Minjiang River basin along the middle section of Wuyi Mountain, so as to provide baseline data for parasitic disease control and research and expansion of the parasite resource bank.

Methods: From November 2020 to April 2021, freshwater crabs were sampled from streams and ditches neighboring residential areas in Jianning County and its neighboring Ninghua, Shaowu, Jiangle and Shunchang counties. The crab species was identified based on the morphological features of the terminal segment of the first abdominal appendage of male crabs, and infections were detected in freshwater crabs. Read More

Syst Parasitol 2022 04 6;99(2):217-239. Epub 2022 Feb 6.

Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

The Australasian crested grebe Podiceps cristatus australis, Gould 1844 is restricted to Australia and New Zealand, where it is listed as Threatened and Nationally Vulnerable. For the first time in New Zealand, we report on the parasitic helminths infecting three individuals from Lake Wanaka, Otago, using morphological and molecular tools. Seven helminth species were found in the gastrointestinal tract: 2 nematodes (Contracaecum ovale and Baruscapillaria kamanae n. Read More

J Fish Dis 2022 Apr 1;45(4):595-602. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) is one of the two most actively cultured freshwater fish in Africa and therefore, economically important. Specimens of this species were purchased from a fish farm near Hartbeespoort Dam (North West, South Africa) and introduced into the tanks of the research aquarium in the Department of Zoology at the University of Johannesburg. However, the skin of these fish was infected with Macrogyrodactylus congolensis (Prudhoe, 1957), which proliferated profusely in the favourable conditions of the aquarium, posing a potential threat to its host. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 01 31;16(1):e0010088. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom.

Schistosomiasis remains a public health concern across sub-Saharan Africa; current control programmes rely on accurate mapping and high mass drug administration (MDA) coverage to attempt disease elimination. Inter-species hybridisation can occur between certain species, changing epidemiological dynamics within endemic regions, which has the potential to confound control interventions. The impact of hybridisation on disease dynamics is well illustrated in areas of Cameroon where urogenital schistosomiasis, primarily due to Schistosoma haematobium and hybrid infections, now predominate over intestinal schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma guineensis. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2021 Dec;27(46):7982-7994

Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects millions of people worldwide and has emerged as a growing problem in industrialized nations. The lack of therapeutic targets has limited the treatment of IBD. Studies found that parasitic nematode infections can ameliorate clinical and experimental colitis. Read More

J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 2022 Jun 13;49(3):293-310. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.

Racemic praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for schistosomiasis and liver fluke infections (opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis). The development of an optimal pediatric formulation and dose selection would benefit from a population pharmacokinetic (popPK) model. A popPK model was developed for R-PZQ, the active enantiomer of PZQ, in 664 subjects, 493 African children (2-15 years) infected with Schistosoma mansoni and S. Read More

Molecules 2021 Dec 10;26(24). Epub 2021 Dec 10.

Institut fuer Pharmazie, Martin-Luther-Universitaet Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.

Leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) infecting the world's poorest populations. Effectiveness of the current antileishmanial and antischistosomal therapies are significantly declining, which calls for an urgent need of new effective and safe drugs. In Ethiopia fresh leaves of Forsk. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2021 30;2021:4534689. Epub 2021 Nov 30.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Background: Intestinal parasites and infections adversely affect the health of humans in the world especially in sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia. Fishermen who spend most of their time in water bodies are supposed to be at high risk of schistosomiasis and other water-born parasites. However, the magnitude of these parasitic infections and their determinant factors are not well addressed. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 12 2;15(12):e0009375. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Nanomedicine Translation Group, Medical Intensive Care Clinic, University Hospital Basel University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Background: Reducing morbidity is the main target of schistosomiasis control efforts, yet only rarely do control programmes assess morbidity linked to Schistosoma sp. infection. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and particularly in north-eastern Ituri Province, little is known about morbidity associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection. Read More

Acta Trop 2022 Feb 14;226:106231. Epub 2021 Nov 14.

Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Constituting the host-parasite interface and playing a censorious role in host immune response modulation and parasite survival, tegument represents a crucial target for many antischistosomal drugs. Sphingomyelin forms a stable outer leaflet of tegumental membrane-lipid bilayer. Neutral magnesium‏-dependent sphingomyelinase (Mg-nSMase) is a key enzyme in sphingomyelin breakdown was identified in schistosomes. Read More

Parasitol Int 2022 Apr 2;87:102494. Epub 2021 Nov 2.

Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China. Electronic address:

Sindiplozoon coreius n. sp. is described from the gills of Coreius guichenoti in Sichuan province, China. Read More

Chem Biodivers 2021 Nov 20;18(11):e2100439. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.

In this work, two synthetic aurones revealed moderate schistosomicidal potential in in vitro and in vivo assays. Aurones (1) and (2) promoted changes in tegument integrity and motor activity, leading to death of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms in in vitro assays. When administered orally (two doses of 50 mg/kg) in experimentally infected animals, synthetic aurones (1) and (2) promoted reductions of 56. Read More

Parasitol Res 2021 Dec 18;120(12):4023-4035. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

Keiso Asami Imunopatology Laboratory, UFPE, Prof. Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235 - Unversitary City, Recife, PE, CEP: 50,670-901, Brazil.

Biomphalaria spp. snails are intermediary hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, etiologic agent of intestinal schistosomiasis, one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Biomphalaria straminea is an important intermediary host that possess a different phenotype to parasite infection but shows a large geographic distribution and high capacity of new ecologic niche invasion. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 10 13;15(10):e0009866. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are protein-loaded nano-scaled particles that are extracellularly released by eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Parasite's EVs manipulate the immune system, making them probable next-generation vaccines. Schistosomal EVs carry different proteins of promising immunizing potentials. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021 20;11:747135. Epub 2021 Sep 20.

Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China.

Caused by schistosomes, the human schistosomiasis is a tropical zoonotic parasitic disease. Pathologically, it occurs most often in the intestines and the liver, the sites of egg accumulation. The parasites' produced eggs cause the main pathology in patients. Read More

Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2021 6;30(4):e011821. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Laboratório AQUOS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil.

Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa is an etiological agent of human phagicolosis. Mugilids are the second intermediate host, the first being Heleobia australis, and mugilids predatory birds and mammals are its definitive hosts. The occurrence of cysts holding A. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2021 Sep 6;14(1):455. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Department of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.

Background: Harnessing helminth-based immunoregulation is a novel therapeutic strategy for many immune dysfunction disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). We previously identified a small molecule peptide from Schistosoma japonicum and named it SJMHE1. SJMHE1 can suppress delayed-type hypersensitivity, collagen-induced arthritis and asthma in mice. Read More

Trials 2021 Sep 6;22(1):601. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Background: Over 200 million individuals worldwide are infected with Schistosoma species, with over half of infections occurring in children. Many children experience first infections early in life and this impacts their growth and development; however praziquantel (PZQ), the drug used worldwide for the treatment of schistosomiasis, only has regulatory approval among adults and children over the age of four, although it is frequently used "off label" in endemic settings. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) evidence suggests the standard PZQ dose of 40 mg/kg is insufficient in preschool-aged children (PSAC). Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2021 Aug 18;59(4):341-353. Epub 2021 Aug 18.

Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 07649, Korea.

Acanthoparyphium shinanense n. sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) is described from chicks experimentally infected with the metacercariae encysted in 2 brackish water clam species, Ruditapes philippinarum and Coecella chinensis, in the Republic of Korea. Read More

Immunohorizons 2021 08 30;5(8):721-732. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom;

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are potent producers of type I IFN (IFN-I) during viral infection and respond to IFN-I in a positive feedback loop that promotes their function. IFN-I shapes dendritic cell responses during helminth infection, impacting their ability to support Th2 responses. However, the role of pDCs in type 2 inflammation is unclear. Read More

Vaccine 2021 09 16;39(39):5580-5588. Epub 2021 Aug 16.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health (IDIGH), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Electronic address:

Schistosomiasis is an important fresh-water-borne parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma. With > 250 million people infected worldwide and approximately 800 million people at risk, the World Health Organization considers schistosomiasis to be the most important human helminth infection. Several prophylactic non-living vaccines are in pre-clinical and clinical development, but only one has been assessed for therapeutic effect in an animal model with modest results. Read More

Int J Parasitol 2022 01 6;52(1):47-63. Epub 2021 Aug 6.

Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA. Electronic address:

The Diplostomidae Poirier, 1886 is a large, globally distributed family of digeneans parasitic in intestines of their definitive hosts. Diplostomum and Tylodelphys spp. are broadly distributed, commonly reported, and the most often sequenced diplostomid genera. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 08 9;15(8):e0009658. Epub 2021 Aug 9.

Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.

The ability to identify compositional changes in the intestinal microbiota of parasitized hosts is important for understanding the physiological processes that may affect animal productivity. Within the field of host-parasite interactions, many studies have suggested that helminths can influence the microbial composition of their hosts via their immunomodulatory effects. Bovine fascioliasis is a helminthiasis widely studied by immunologists, but with little information available regarding gut microbial communities. Read More

Parasitol Res 2021 Sep 5;120(9):3149-3162. Epub 2021 Aug 5.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211, Egypt.

Parasitic infection may cause massive losses in Clarias gariepinus fries and fingerlings. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the digenetic trematodes species (two adults' flukes and one metacercariae) infecting African catfish Clarias gariepinus, as well as their histopathological impacts on infected fish. The intestinal flukes were identified as Orientocreadium batrachoides and Masenia bangweulensis based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. Read More

J Fish Dis 2021 Nov 2;44(11):1819-1829. Epub 2021 Aug 2.

Laboratory of Nano Bio Materials (LNBM), Department of Biophysics, Paulista Medical School, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Parasite infections in fish require constant surveillance and strategies for efficient treatments which guarantee the fish health, their sale value and the non-propagation of pathogens in new environments. Fish treatments based on nanotechnology become of increasing interest since nanoparticles have been shown as efficient materials for optimizing administration of bioactives. In this study a chitosan derivative, alginate and praziquantel conjugated nanobioparticle of effective action for oral treatment of digenetic trematodes in highly infected Corydoras schwartzi was evaluated in terms of histological and hematological safety. Read More