Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection in humans. The disease is endemic in some parts of the world, including Africa, Australia, and Asia, where cattle grazing is common; the disease is spread by an enteric route following the consumption of food contaminated with the eggs of the parasite. Failure to identify this parasite results in delayed diagnosis and increased morbidity to the patient. Upon diagnosis, every possible step should be taken, both surgical and medical, to prevent anaphylactic reactions from the cystic fluid. Postsurgical long-term follow up along with periodical ultrasonography of the liver and computed tomography scan of the abdomen is essential to rule out possible recurrence.
Abdomen ; Africa ; Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Asia ; Australia ; Cattle ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Echinococcosis ; Eggs ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography ; Zoonoses

eggs, amino acid mutations of the hemagglutinin may occur through egg adaptation. On the other hand, when influenza viruses are cultured in animal cells, no antigenic mutation occurs unlike in eggs. Therefore, we examined whether the antigenic mutations actually occurred after passage of H3N2 (A/Texas/50/2012) virus up to 15 times in eggs and MDCK-Sky3851 cells.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prototype A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2) influenza virus which was isolated from clinical patient, not passaged in egg, was obtained and propagated using the specific pathogen free egg and the MDCK-Sky3851 cell line up to 15 passage, and the changes in the antigen sequence of the influenza viruses were confirmed by gene sequencing and protein structure analysis.RESULTS: In term of the hemagglutination titer of influenza virus, the reactivity to chicken and guinea pig red blood cell showed different results between egg propagated and cell propagated viruses. In the sequence analysis results for hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, no antigenic mutation was observed throughout all passages when cultured in MDCK-Sky3851 cells. On the other hand, mutations occurred in three amino acid sequences (H156R, G186S, S219F) in hemagglutinin up to 15 passages when cultured in eggs.CONCLUSION: H3N2 influenza virus cultured in eggs could lead mutations in amino acid sequence of hemagglutinin, distinct from the corresponding virus cultured in cells for which no antigenic mutation was observed. These findings suggest that cell culture is a more stable and effective way of production with lower risk of antigenic mutations for the manufacture of influenza vaccines.]]>
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Chickens ; Eggs ; Erythrocytes ; Guinea Pigs ; Hand ; Hemagglutination ; Hemagglutinins ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Neuraminidase ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Ovum ; Sequence Analysis ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

Cathepsin D (CatD, EC 3.4.23.5) is a member belonging to the subfamily of aspartic endopeptidases, which are classified into the MEROPS clan AA, family A1. Helminth parasites express a large set of different peptidases that play pivotal roles in parasite biology and pathophysiology. However, CatD is less well known than the other classes of peptidases in terms of biochemical properties and biological functions. In this study, we identified 2 novel CatDs (CsCatD1 and CsCatD2) of Clonorchis sinensis and partially characterized their properties. Both CsCatDs represent typical enzymes sharing amino acid residues and motifs that are tightly conserved in the CatD superfamily of proteins. Both CsCatDs showed similar patterns of expression in different developmental stages of C. sinensis, but CsCatD2 was also expressed in metacercariae. CsCatD2 was mainly expressed in the intestines and eggs of C. sinensis. Sera obtained from rats experimentally infected with C. sinensis reacted with recombinant CsCatD2 beginning 2 weeks after infection and the antibody titers were gradually increased by maturation of the parasite. Structural analysis of CsCatD2 revealed a bilobed enzyme structure consisting of 2 antiparallel β-sheet domains packed against each other forming a homodimeric structure. These results suggested a plausible biological role of CsCatD2 in the nutrition and reproduction of parasite and its potential utility as a serodiagnostic antigen in clonorchiasis.
Animals ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases ; Biology ; Cathepsin D ; Cathepsins ; Clonorchiasis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Eggs ; Helminths ; Humans ; Intestines ; Metacercariae ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Rats ; Reproduction

We identified the echinostome metacercariae in Chinese mystery snails, Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata, from Xiengkhuang Province, Lao PDR with morphologies of adult worms recovered. Total 20 snails were examined with artificial digestion method and then the collected metacercariae were orally infected to a mouse and a rat. Adult worms recovered from experimental animals were observed with a light microscope and a SEM. The metacercariae were round, 125×123 μm in average size, with a moderately thick cyst wall, collar spines distributed in the head collar and excretory granules in 2 canals of excretory tube. Adult flukes (3-week-old in a rat) were elongated, ventrally curved and 5.310×1.023 mm in average size. Head collar distinct, bearing 43 collar spines with 5 end group ones on each side. Oral sucker subterminal, prepharynx very short, pharynx well developed, and esophagus relatively short. Cirrus sac well developed, with a saccular seminal vesicle, and ventral sucker very large. Ovary round and on the median line of the body. Testes tandom and elongated. Eggs operculated, elliptical and 90×57 μm in average size. In the SEM observation, the head crown prominent, with 43 collar spines resembled with horns of younger stag. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the surface between the head collar and ventral sucker, and their densities were decreased posteriorly. Conclusively, the metacercariae detected in C. chinensis malleata from Lao PDR were identified as those of Echinostoma macrorchis based on the morphological characteristics of adult worms.
Adult ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Crowns ; Digestion ; Echinostoma ; Eggs ; Esophagus ; Female ; Head ; Horns ; Humans ; Metacercariae ; Methods ; Mice ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Pharynx ; Rats ; Seminal Vesicles ; Snails ; Spine ; Testis ; Trematoda

There is often the risk of confusing pollen grains with helminth eggs from archaeological sites. Thousands to millions of pollen grains can be recovered from archaeological burial sediments that represent past ritual, medication and environment. Some pollen grain types can be similar to parasite eggs. Such a confusion is represented by the diagnosis of enterobiasis in ancient Iran. The authors of this study confused a joint-pine (Ephedra spp.) pollen grain with a pinworm egg. This paper describes the specific Ephedra pollen morphology that can be confused with pinworm eggs.
Adolescent ; Archaeology ; Burial ; Diagnosis ; Eggs ; Enterobiasis ; Enterobius ; Ephedra ; Female ; Helminths ; Humans ; Iran ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Pollen

The aim of this parasitological study is examining contemporary (the late 20th century) specimens of the arctic or subarctic areas in Western Siberia and comparing them with the information acquired from archaeological samples from the same area. In the contemporary specimens, we observed the parasite eggs of 3 different species: Opisthochis felineus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Enterobius vermicularis. Meanwhile, in archaeoparasitological results of Vesakoyakha, Kikki-Akki, and Nyamboyto I burial grounds, the eggs of Diphyllobothrium and Taenia spp. were found while no nematode (soil-transmitted) eggs were observed in the same samples. In this study, we concluded helminth infection pattern among the arctic and subarctic peoples of Western Siberia throughout history as follows: the raw fish-eating tradition did not undergo radical change in the area at least since the 18th century; and A. lumbricoides or E. vermicularis did not infect the inhabitants of this area before 20th century. With respect to the Western Siberia, we caught glimpse of the parasite infection pattern prevalent therein via investigations on contemporary and archaeoparasitological specimens.
Ascaris lumbricoides ; Burial ; Diphyllobothrium ; Eggs ; Enterobius ; Helminths ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Siberia ; Taenia

In this study we take a closer look at the diseases that afflicted Japanese police officers who were stationed in a remote mountainous region of Taiwan from 1921 to 1944. Samples were taken from the latrine at the Huabanuo police outpost, and analyzed for the eggs of intestinal parasites, using microscopy and ELISA. The eggs of Eurytrema sp., (possibly E. pancreaticum), whipworm and roundworm were shown to be present. True infection with Eurytrema would indicate that the policemen ate uncooked grasshoppers and crickets infected with the parasite. However, false parasitism might also occur if the policemen ate the uncooked intestines of infected cattle, and the Eurytrema eggs passed through the human intestines. These findings provide an insight into the diet and health of the Japanese colonists in Taiwan nearly a century ago.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cattle ; Diet ; Eggs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Grasshoppers ; Gryllidae ; Humans ; Intestines ; Microscopy ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Police ; Taiwan ; Toilet Facilities

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. In this perspective, paleoparasitological investigations were performed on 18 individuals exhumed from 9 multiple graves to assess the burden of gastrointestinal parasitism. Five out of eighteen individuals (27.7%) tested positive for ascarid-type remains; these are considered as “decorticated” Ascaris eggs, which have lost their outer mammillated coat. Roundworms (genus Ascaris) commonly infest human populations under dire sanitary conditions. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that Florentia suffered a period of economic crisis between the end of 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE, and that the aqueduct was severely damaged at the beginning of the 4th century CE, possibly during the siege of the Goths (406 CE). It is more than plausible that the epidemic, possibly coupled with the disruption of the aqueduct, deeply affected the living conditions of these individuals. A 27.7% frequency suggests that ascariasis was widespread in this population. This investigation exemplifies how paleoparasitological information can be retrieved from the analysis of sediments sampled in cemeteries, thus allowing a better assessment of the varying frequency of parasitic infections among ancient populations.
Ascariasis ; Ascaris ; Burial ; Cemeteries ; Eggs ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Italy ; Mentha ; Mortality ; Numismatics ; Ovum ; Social Conditions

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to examine archaeoparasitological specimens from coprolites associated with La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos (CMC) located near present-day Durango, Mexico. The eggs for 4 different types of parasites recovered from CMC coprolites were imaged using CLSM to assist with identification efforts. While some of the parasite eggs recovered from CMC coprolites were readily identified using standard light microscopy (LM), CLSM provided useful data for more challenging identifications by highlighting subtle morphological features and enhancing visualization of parasite egg anatomy. While other advanced microscopy techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), may also detect cryptic identifying characters, CLSM is less destructive to the specimens. Utilizing CLSM allows for subsequent examinations, such as molecular analyses, that cannot be performed following SEM sample preparation and imaging. Furthermore, CLSM detects intrinsic autofluorescence molecules, making improved identification independent of resource and time-intensive protocols. These aspects of CLSM make it an excellent method for assisting in taxonomic identification and for acquiring more detailed images of archaeoparasitological specimens.
Eggs ; Methods ; Mexico ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Ovum ; Parasites

The aim of this study is to determine the species of parasites that affected the inhabitants of the city of Acre on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean during the Ottoman Period. This is the first archaeological study of parasites in the Ottoman Empire. We analysed sediment from a latrine dating to the early 1800s for the presence of helminth eggs and protozoan parasites which caused dysentery. The samples were examined using light microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. We found evidence for roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), fish tapeworm (Dibothriocephalus sp.), Taenia tapeworm (Taenia sp.), lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), and the protozoa Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica. The parasite taxa recovered demonstrate the breadth of species present in this coastal city. We consider the effect of Ottoman Period diet, culture, trade and sanitation upon risk of parasitism in this community living 200 years ago.
Cestoda ; Diet ; Dysentery ; Eggs ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasciola hepatica ; Giardia lamblia ; Helminths ; Microscopy ; Ottoman Empire ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Sanitation ; Taenia ; Toilet Facilities