PURPOSE: Malaria has been one of a major infectious parasitic disease in Nepal. Although the number of cases is gradually getting declined since last decade. Therefore, study aims to identify the trends and spatial patterns of malaria among 25 risk districts of Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study utilized the secondary data of malaria cases from the annual reports (2001–2017) of Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. Linear regression of log-transformed incidence rates model was used for assessing variation of malaria cases for year and districts. RESULTS: There was evidence of decrease in the trend of malaria (2001–2009); however, the upward trend was revealed in 2010, after that, it starts to decline and again in 2017, it started to grow up. The malaria cases were marked variations by location with higher rates occurring in Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, and Jhapa districts, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this regards, malaria cases are still causing the threat in the Terai district of Nepal; however, there were fluctuating patterns of disease noted during the study periods.
Health Services ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Malaria* ; Nepal* ; Parasitic Diseases

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze the frequency of eosinophilia-associated diseases and to search for possible markers that may be useful for their differential diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 148 patients with peripheral blood eosinophil count of more than 500/µL who visited the Allergy Department of Chonnam National University Hospital for the first time from January to December 2016. Blood eosinophilia was categorized as mild (<1,500/µL), moderate (1,500–5,000/µL), and severe (>5,000/µL). RESULTS: Blood eosinophilia was mostly caused by allergic diseases (41.9%), parasitic infestation (23.6%), and drug allergy (19.6%). Eosinophil count was higher in patients with parasitic infestation (P<0.01), drug allergy (P<0.01), hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES, P<0.001), or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, P<0.001) than in those with allergic diseases. The eosinophilic cationic protein level was higher in patients with HES than in those with allergic diseases (P<0.05) and parasitic infestation (P<0.05). The total IgE level was lower in patients with HES than in those with parasitic infestation (P<0.05) and EGPA (P<0.05). The vitamin B12 level was higher in patients with HES than in those with parasitic infestation (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in tryptase levels between the groups. The most common cause of mild eosinophilia was allergic diseases (59.8%), followed by parasitic infestation (22.7%) and drug allergy (13.4%). The common causes of moderate eosinophilia were drug allergy (37.8%), parasitic infestation (29.7%), and allergic diseases (10.8%). The common causes of severe eosinophilia were EGPA (28.6%), HES (21.4%), parasitic infestation (14.3%), and drug allergy (14.3%). CONCLUSION: Common causes of blood eosinophilia in patients who visit the allergy department are allergic diseases, parasitic infestation, and drug allergy. Several markers, including eosinophil count, total IgE, and vitamin B12, may be useful for the differential diagnosis of eosinophilia-associated diseases.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Jeollanam-do ; Medical Records ; Parasitic Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Tryptases ; Vitamin B 12

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the most deprived communities. Adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) prevents environmental contamination, thereby preventing transmission of STH. Cognizant of this, WASH education was implemented in rural Dembiya to reduce intestinal parasitic infections. This study was, therefore, conducted to assess the impacts of the intervention on households' WASH conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. METHOD: An uncontrolled before-and-after intervention study was used. Cross-sectional studies were done before and after the intervention. Two hundred twenty-five and 302 under five children were recruited randomly at the baseline and endline, respectively. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklists. Direct stool examination and Kato-Katz methods were used to identify parasites in the stool. We used percent point change and prevalence ratio (PR) to see the effects of the intervention on WASH conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections respectively. Pearson chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to test for statistically significant percentage point changes of WASH conditions. The effect of the intervention on intestinal parasitic infections was statistically tested on the basis of PR with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The baseline prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 25.8%, and the endline prevalence was 23.8%. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was not significantly decreased at the endline compared with the baseline [PR = 0.92, 95% CI = (0.62, 1.38)]. Ascaris Lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasitic infection both at the baseline and endline. The proportion of children who had good hygienic condition increased from 1.3% at the baseline to 34.4% at the end line (p <  0.05). The percentage of mothers/care givers who washed hands at different pick times was significantly increased from 24.4% at the baseline to 68.2% at the endline (p <  0.001). The proportion of households who practiced home-based water treatment was significantly increased from 7.6% at the baseline to 47% at the endline (p <  0.001). The proportion of households who used sanitary latrine was increased from 32% at the baseline to 49% at the endline (p <  0.05). CONCLUSION This before-and-after intervention study found that households' WASH performance was significantly improved at the endline compared with the baseline. The endline prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was slightly lower than the baseline prevalence; however, the reduction was not statistically significant. The local health office needs to strengthen the WASH education program, mobilize the community to construct WASH facilities, and support the community to sustain households' WASH performance.
Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking Water ; parasitology ; standards ; Ethiopia ; epidemiology ; Family Characteristics ; Feces ; parasitology ; Female ; Health Behavior ; physiology ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Helminthiasis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hygiene ; education ; Infant ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sanitation ; Soil ; parasitology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep is a hazardous zoonotic parasitic disease that is caused by Echinococcus granulosus (Eg). At present, serological test is an important diagnostic method for Eg infection in domestic animals. Here, a fusion protein Eg mefAg-1 harboring 8 dominant B-cell epitopes of Eg such as antigen B, tetraspanin 1, tetraspanin 6, reticulon and Eg95 was produced in E. coli and evaluated for CE in sheep by indirect ELISA. Eg mefAg-1 showed in ELISA a high sensitivity (93.41%) and specificity (99.31%), with a coincidence rate of 97.02%. Overall, it is suggested that the Eg mefAg-1 could be a potential antigen candidate for CE serodiagnosis in sheep.
Animals, Domestic ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Methods ; Parasitic Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Sheep

Trypanosomiasis is caused by a pathogenic protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma, being Trypanosoma vivax the most important agent for cattle. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the expansion of T. vivax infection in different mesoregions of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and describe the clinicopathological findings of trypanosomiasis in cattle. The diagnosis was based on visualization of the parasite in blood smears and DNA detection of T. vivax in the blood of live cows and tissues of necropsied animals by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty suspected herds were tested, of which 11 were positive for T. vivax. The most frequent clinical signs were anemia, apathy, drop in milk production, weight loss, reproductive disorders, and nervous signs. Concomitant diseases, such as malignant edema, pneumonia and increased cases of mastitis were associated with T. vivax infection. Three cows were necropsied and the most significant findings were low body condition score, pale mucous and spleen with white pulp hyperplasia. The results demonstrated the expansion of T. vivax infection in Minas Gerais, that PCR-associated blood smears are promising for diagnosis, and that other diseases often occur concomitantly to T. vivax infection in regions with trypanosomiasis in cattle.
Anemia ; Animals ; Apathy ; Brazil ; Cattle ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Edema ; Female ; Hyperplasia ; Mastitis ; Milk ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ruminants ; Spleen ; Trypanosoma vivax ; Trypanosoma ; Trypanosomiasis ; Weight Loss

Fasciolopsiasis is rarely known as the parasitic disease in Nepal. Herein, we report a case of fasciolopsiasis in a 22-year-old man who was admitted in the hospital with abdominal pain, distension and loss of appetite for a month. He had previously diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis but, his abdominal pain was not resolving despite improvement in his liver function and general condition. During endoscopy an adult digenean worm was seen in the first part of the duodenum. After isolation, the worm was identified morphologically as Fasciolopsis buski. Microscogic examination of the patient’s stool revealed eggs with a morphology consistent with F. buski. Eggs were yellow-brown, ellipsoidal, unembmbryonated, operculated, filled with yolk cells, with thin shell and ranging 118–130 μm in length and 60–69 μm in width. The abdominal pain of the patient was resolved after treatment with praziquantel. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that fasciolopsiasis is indigenously transmitted in Nepal. Accordingly, the epidemiological studies in humans and reservoir host animals should be performed intensively in near future.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Animals ; Appetite ; Duodenum ; Eggs ; Endoscopy ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fasciolidae ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver ; Nepal ; Ovum ; Parasitic Diseases ; Praziquantel ; Trematode Infections ; Young Adult

From October 2015 to August 2018, tapeworm proglottids were obtained from 10 patients who were residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces and had a history of raw beef consumption. Most of them had no overseas travel experience. The gravid proglottids obtained from the 10 cases had 15–20 lateral uterine branches. A part of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) DNA of the 10 cases, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digested with AleI restriction enzyme, produced the same band pattern of Taenia saginata, which differentiated from T. asiatica and T. solium. Sequences of ITS1 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) showed higher homology to T. saginata than to T. asiatica and T. solium. Collectively, these 10 cases were identified as T. saginata human infections. As taeniasis is one of the important parasitic diseases in humans, it is necessary to maintain hygienic conditions during livestock farming to avoid public health concerns.
Agriculture ; Cestoda ; Daegu ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Livestock ; Parasitic Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Public Health ; Red Meat ; Republic of Korea ; Taenia saginata ; Taenia ; Taeniasis

Cysticercosis, a parasitic disease caused by Taenia solium metacestode (TsM), has a major global public health impact in terms of disability-adjusted life years. The parasite preferentially infects subcutaneous tissue, but may invade the central nervous system, resulting in neurocysticercosis (NC). NC is an important neglected tropical disease and an emerging disease in industrialized countries due to immigration from endemic areas. The prevalence of taeniasis in Korea declined from 0.3%–12.7% during the 1970s to below 0.02% since the 2000s. A survey conducted from 1993 to 2006 revealed that the percentage of tested samples with high levels of specific anti-TsM antibody declined from 8.3% to 2.2%, suggesting the continuing occurrence of NC in Korea. Modern imaging modalities have substantially improved the diagnostic accuracy of NC, and recent advances in the molecular biochemical characterization of the TsM cyst fluid proteome also significantly strengthened NC serodiagnosis. Two glycoproteins of 150 and 120 kDa that induce strong antibody responses against sera from patients with active-stage NC have been elucidated. The 150 kDa protein showed hydrophobic-ligand binding activities and might be critically involved in the acquisition of host-derived lipid molecules. Fasciclin and endophilin B1, both of which play roles in the homeostatic functions of TsM, showed fairly high antibody responses against calcified NC cases. NC is now controllable and manageable. Further studies should focus on controlling late-onset intractable seizures and serological diagnosis of NC patients infected with few worms. This article briefly overviews diagnostic approaches and discusses current issues relating to NC serodiagnosis.
Antibody Formation ; Central Nervous System ; Cyst Fluid ; Cysticercosis ; Developed Countries ; Diagnosis ; Emigration and Immigration ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Korea ; Neurocysticercosis ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Proteome ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea ; Seizures ; Serologic Tests ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Taenia solium ; Taenia ; Taeniasis

Anisakidosis is a term that collectively refers to a human infection caused by larvae of the family Anisakidae. Because Anisakis simplex was the main cause, it was originally called anisakiasis or anisakiosis, but since other parasites such as Pseudoterranova decipiens also cause similar diseases, the family name is now used as the diagnostic name. Anisakidosis cases have been increasing steadily owing to the propagation of the Japanese raw-fish-eating culture, such as sushi and sashimi, around the world; the traditional raw-fish-eating habits of individual countries; the establishment of marine mammal protection laws; and the development of endoscopic diagnostic techniques. The disease continues to occur in Korea, where most human parasites are believed to have been eradicated and is probably the most common parasitic disease encountered in clinical practice. Anisakidosis is a disease associated with acute abdominal pain. Anisakid larvae can invade the entire digestive tract and abdominal cavity and cause abdominal pain and a variety of digestive system symptoms. Thus, the history of eating raw fish is very important for its differential diagnosis. The lack of a precise understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical course of this disease may lead to unnecessary surgery. Anisakidosis may also manifest as allergic symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to understand anisakidosis from the perspective of public health, food hygiene, and preventive medicine.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abdominal Pain ; Anisakiasis ; Anisakis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Digestive System ; Eating ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Larva ; Mammals ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Preventive Medicine ; Public Health ; Raw Foods ; Unnecessary Procedures

This study aimed to determine the status of common parasitic disease in Korea in 2019. Twelve parasitic diseases were selected: toxocariasis, anisakiasis, paragonimiasis, sparganosis, cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, clonorchiasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, trichomoniasis, cryptosporidiosis, and malaria. Their biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptoms and signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were evaluated. Of the parasitic diseases, toxocariasis was the most prevalent according to serological results. Anisakiasis should be considered when acute gastrointestinal symptoms occur with a recent past history of raw seafood ingestion. Paragonimiasis, sparganosis, and cysticercosis can be diagnosed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; thus, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay needs to be performed for suspected cases. Toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis are opportunistic infections. The symptoms and signs are aggravated under immunocompromised conditions. Although the egg positivity rate of Clonorchis sinensis is higher than that of other intestinal parasitic diseases, encountering patients with complaints of symptoms caused by clonorchiasis is rare because the worm burden is low. Trichomoniasis is usually managed by gynecologists; therefore, it should be included in the differential diagnoses of vaginal diseases. The annual number of malaria cases has decreased, although it remains at approximately 500 cases per year. Malaria should be suspected when symptoms such as intermittent fever, headache, and splenomegaly are noted especially when the patients reside near demilitarized zones. Although the prevalence and number of reported cases of parasitic diseases have decreased in Korea, we should consider parasitic diseases in the list of differential diagnoses.
Animals ; Anisakiasis ; Biology ; Clonorchiasis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Cryptosporidiosis ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eating ; Enterobiasis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiology ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria ; Opportunistic Infections ; Ovum ; Paragonimiasis ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Seafood ; Sparganosis ; Splenomegaly ; Toxocariasis ; Toxoplasmosis ; Trichuriasis ; Vaginal Diseases