Human and animal alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are important helminth infections endemic in wide areas of the Northern hemisphere. Monitoring Echinococcus multilocularis viability and spread using real-time fluorescent imaging in vivo provides a fast method to evaluate the load of parasite. Here, we generated a kind of fluorescent protoscolices in vivo imaging model and utilized this model to assess the activity against E. multilocularis protoscolices of metformin (Met). Results indicated that JC-1 tagged E. multilocularis can be reliably and confidently used to monitor protoscolices in vitro and in vivo. The availability of this transient in vivo fluorescent imaging of E. multilocularis protoscolices constitutes an important step toward the long term bio-imaging research of the AE-infected mouse models. In addition, this will be of great interest for further research on infection strategies and development of drugs and vaccines against E. multilocularis and other cestodes.
Animals ; Cestoda ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus multilocularis* ; Echinococcus* ; Helminths ; Humans ; Metformin ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Parasites ; Vaccines

Echinococcosis is a disease caused by the Echinococcus species that parasitizes in humans. Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) which is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is harmful to humans. AE mainly occurs in the liver and can be transferred to retroperitoneal lymph nodes, lung, brain, bone, spleen and other organs through lymphatic and blood vessels. Cholangiocarcinoma can occur in the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and is more common in the hilar. We reported a case of hilar bile duct alveolar echinococcosis which was originally misdiagnosed an cholangiocarcinoma.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Bile ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Spleen

BACKGROUNDThe rodentia and lagomorpha animals are the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis, their distribution and infection of this parasite may facilitate the infection of definitive hosts such as dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis in Shiqu County, Sichuan, China.

METHODSA systematic sampling method was used to investigate the density of burrows of rodents and lagomorphs at 97 pasture sites in winter and summer pastureland and remote sensing (RS) technology was used to correlate their densities to the distribution of these animals in different landscape types.

RESULTSBased on the densities of Ochotona curzoniae, Microtus fuscus (dependent variable) and their burrow densities (independent variable) in survey points, regression equations were fitted respectively (Ochotona curzoniae, P < 0.0001, R(2) = 0.8705; Microtus fuscus, P < 0.0001, R(2) = 0.9736). Their burrow density in summer pastureland was higher than in winter pastureland (F = 36.65, P < 0.0001). The burrow densities of Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus fuscus in bareland and half-bareland are higher than in grassland (F = 7.73, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe regression relationship between the densities of Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus fuscus and their burrow densities indicate that the burrow densities could reflect the animal densities and that the burrow density was greater in summer pastureland than in winter pastureland. The main distribution areas of the intermediate hosts were in bareland and half-bareland.

Animals ; Arvicolinae ; parasitology ; China ; Echinococcosis ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; pathogenicity ; Lagomorpha ; parasitology

Animals ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic ; surgery ; therapy ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; pathogenicity ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDOvergrazing was assumed to increase the population density of small mammals that are the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis, the pathogen of alveolar echinococcosis in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. This research tested the hypothesis that overgrazing might promote Echinococcus multilocularis transmission through increasing populations of small mammal, intermediate hosts in Tibetan pastoral communities.

METHODSGrazing practices, small mammal indices and dog Echinococcus multilocularis infection data were collected to analyze the relation between overgrazing and Echinococcus multilocularis transmission using nonparametric tests and multiple stepwise logistic regression.

RESULTSIn the investigated area, raising livestock was a key industry. The communal pastures existed and the available forage was deficient for grazing. Open (common) pastures were overgrazed and had higher burrow density of small mammals compared with neighboring fenced (private) pastures; this high overgrazing pressure on the open pastures measured by neighboring fenced area led to higher burrow density of small mammals in open pastures. The median burrow density of small mammals in open pastures was independently associated with nearby canine Echinococcus multilocularis infection (P = 0.003, OR = 1.048).

CONCLUSIONOvergrazing may promote the transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis through increasing the population density of small mammals.

Animals ; Dog Diseases ; transmission ; Dogs ; Echinococcosis ; transmission ; veterinary ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; Humans ; Population Density ; Tibet

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by infection with Echinococcus species. As the drug of first choice for treatment of echinococcosis, albendazole suffers from problems of large doses and remarkable adverse reactions in clinical therapy. Development of novel drugs against echinococcosis is of urgent need. Recently, great advances have been achieved in the research on traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of echinococcosis. This review summarizes the progress of researches on traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of echinococcosis, aiming to provide insights into development of anti-echinococcosis drugs.
Animals ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Echinococcosis/parasitology* ; Albendazole/therapeutic use* ; Zoonoses ; Echinococcus multilocularis

The information on mortality from echinococcosis is important not only for a better understanding of the severity of the disease, but also for evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions. The aim of this research was to study the causes of mortality from echinococcosis. We have collected and analyzed the materials of 1,470 patients in 10 age - groups in the Republic of Armenia (from 2000 to 2016). To find out the causes of mortality from echinococcosis, we have analyzed the medical histories and protocols of postmortem examinations of 19 deaths from echinococcosis and 17 deaths due to other indirect causes not associated with the parasite. The average annual death rate from echinococcosis is 0.007 per 10,000 population, and the mortality is 1.29 (per 100 patients). The highest mortality occurs in people aged 70–79. Mortality from echinococcosis is also recorded among the unoperated children. The rupture of the parasitic cyst and hepatic insufficiency are major among the direct causes of mortality. Sometimes the hydatid cysts unrecognized during the life were first diagnosed at autopsy. Insufficient qualification of doctors in the field of helminthology, as well as the latent course of the disease or manifestation of minor symptoms in echinococcosis over a long period often led to medical errors. Further decline in mortality can be achieved by early diagnosis, timely hospitalization and treatment before the development of severe complications worsening the prognosis and outcomes of surgical intervention.
Armenia ; Autopsy ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; Hepatic Insufficiency ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medical Errors ; Mortality ; Parasites ; Prognosis ; Public Health ; Rupture

BACKGROUNDAlveolar echinococcosis is a major zoonosis of public health significance in western China. Overgrazing was recently assumed as a potential risk factor for transmission of alveolar echinococcosis. The research was designed to further test the overgrazing hypothesis by investigating how overgrazing influenced the burrow density of intermediate host small mammals and how the burrow density of small mammals was associated with dog Echinococcus multilocularis infection.

METHODSThe study sites were chosen by previous studies which found areas where the alveolar echinococcosis was prevalent. The data, including grass height, burrow density of intermediate host small mammals, dog and fox fecal samples as well as Global Positioning System (GPS) position, were collected from field investigations in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province, China. The fecal samples were analyzed using copro-PCR. The worms, teeth, bones and hairs in the fecal samples were visually examined. Single factor and multifactor analyses tools including chi square and generalized linear models were applied to these data.

RESULTSBy using grass height as a proxy of grazing pressure in the homogenous pasture, this study found that taller grass in the pasture led to lower small mammals' burrow density (chi(2) = 4.670, P = 0.031, coefficient = -1.570). The Echinococcus multilocularis worm burden in dogs was statistically significantly related to the maximum density of the intermediate host Ochotona spp. (chi(2) = 5.250, P = 0.022, coefficient = 0.028). The prevalence in owned dogs was positively correlated to the number of stray dogs seen within a 200 meter radius (Wald chi(2) = 8.375, P = 0.004, odds ratio = 1.198).

CONCLUSIONSOur findings support the hypothesis that overgrazing promotes transmission of alveolar echinococcosis and confirm the role of stray dogs in the transmission of alveolar echinococcosis.

Animals ; China ; Dog Diseases ; parasitology ; transmission ; Dogs ; Echinococcosis ; parasitology ; transmission ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; physiology ; Ecology ; Poaceae ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Tibet

BACKGROUNDAlveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis) and is a rare but life-threatening disease. This disease commonly is characterized by an infiltrative, tumor-like growth of the E. multilocularis metacestode in the liver of human. Liver transplantation is an effective therapy for end-stage of hepatic AE, but the characteristics of host immunity associated with E. multilocularis infection with organ transplantation are poorly defined. We hereby aimed to study the immunological status and allograft heart survival in inbred rats with E. multilocularis infection.

METHODSRat models of AE were established by injecting the E. multilocularis suspension made from E. multilocularis infected tissues into the abdomen of Lewis (LEW) rats. Three months later, in the experimental group, allograft heart transplantation was performed from Brown-Norway (BN) rats to the E. multilocularis infected LEW rats. In the control group, we transplanted hearts from BN rats to healthy LEW rats. The influence of the disturbed immune system in E. multilocularis infected rats on the heart transplantation was assessed, including observation of allograft heart survival time, histopathological examination of grafts and immunohistochemical examination of infiltrating cells (CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells and eosinophile granulocytes), measurement of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ in the serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analysis of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) flow cytometric analysis.

RESULTSThe survival time of recipients in the experimental group was prolonged compared with those in the control group. The numbers of graft infiltrating CD8(+) T cells were decreased whereas the graft infiltrating eosinophil granulocytes (CD15(+)) were increased in grafts in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood was 10.8% on average in the experimental group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.1%). In addition, the level of serum IL-4 in E. multilocularis infected rats was higher than that in the control group rats, whereas the level of serum IFN-γ in experimental group was lower than that in the control group when graft rejection occurred (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that E. multilocularis infection could prolong the allograft survival time through the polarization of Th1/Th2-type cells and induction of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. This strategy may provide a new idea for establishing transplantation tolerance.

Animals ; Echinococcosis ; blood ; immunology ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; immunology ; pathogenicity ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Gerbillinae ; Heart Transplantation ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Echinococcus multilocularis on host liver cell proliferation in vivo using a BALB/c mouse alveolar hydatid infection model.

METHODSSixty-five 8-10-week-old female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 25) and administered an abdominal injection into the left liver lobe of E. multilocularis protoscolices in saline solution or saline solution alone, respectively. At post-injection day 2, 8, 30, 60, and 90, liver samples were collected for analysis of lesions and lesion-adjacent tissue by hematoxylin-eosin staining and differential expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1, cyclin A, and cyclin B1 by immunohistochemical staining. The significance of intergroup differences was assessed by Student's t-test.

RESULTSThe control group showed normal liver histology at all time points. The experimental group developed E. multilocularis lesions that showed increased severity of pathological features, such as inflammatory cell invasion, steatosis and fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia, over time. At post-injection days 2 and 8, enlarged, binuclear and apocyte hepatocytes were observed close to the lesions. At post-injection days 30, 60, and 90, the number of hepatocytes expressing PCNA progressively increased in the experimental group, and the numbers were significantly higher than in the control group (7.01 +/- 1.89 vs. 1.03 +/- 0.52, 8.41 +/- 2.80 vs. 0.93 +/- 0.31, and 13.4 +/- 4.43 vs. 1.07 +/- 0.94; all P < 0.05). The same progressively increasing trend was seen in the number of hepatocytes expressing CyclinD1, but was only significantly different from controls at post-injection days 30 and 60 (6.73 +/- 2.52 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.43 and 8.22 +/- 3.09 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.34; both P < 0.05). In contrast, the number of hepatocytes expressing cyclin A was significantly increased at post-injection day 30 and then showed a decreasing trend at days 60 and 90, although the numbers of expressing cells remained significantly higher than control levels at all time points (7.75 +/- 3.05 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.36, 3.42 +/- 1.80 vs. 1.14 +/- 0.42, and 3.03 +/- 1.50 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.31; all P < 0.05). The number of hepatocytes expressing CyclinB1 in the experimental group was less robust than the other cyclins (with a general temporal trend of increase followed by decrease), but the differential expression was not significantly different from the control levels at any time point.

CONCLUSIONE. multilocularis infection may promote the expression of host factors related to proliferation and anti-apoptosis in liver. This pathogen-mediated modulation of host cell-survival mechanisms may provide a rationale explanation for the clinical observations of hepatomegaly and the unexpected survival of alveolar echinococcosis patients following major hepatic resection.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Echinococcosis ; pathology ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C