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Bispo MT, Calado M, Maurício IL, Ferreira PM, Belo S. Zoonotic Threats: The (Re)emergence of Cercarial Dermatitis, Its Dynamics, and Impact in Europe. Pathogens 2024; 13:282. [PMID: 38668237 PMCID: PMC11053805 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cercarial dermatitis (CD), or "Swimmer's itch" as it is also known, is a waterborne illness caused by a blood fluke from the family Schistosomatidae. It occurs when cercariae of trematode species that do not have humans as their definitive host accidentally penetrate human skin (in an aquatic environment) and trigger allergic symptoms at the site of contact. It is an emerging zoonosis that occurs through water and is often overlooked during differential diagnosis. Some of the factors contributing to the emergence of diseases like CD are related to global warming, which brings about climate change, water eutrophication, the colonization of ponds by snails susceptible to the parasite, and sunlight exposure in the summer, associated with migratory bird routes. Therefore, with the increase in tourism, especially at fluvial beaches, it is relevant to analyze the current epidemiological scenario of CD in European countries and the potential regions at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Bispo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.); (I.L.M.); (P.M.F.)
| | | | | | | | - Silvana Belo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.); (I.L.M.); (P.M.F.)
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Helmer N, Blatterer H, Hörweg C, Reier S, Sattmann H, Schindelar J, Szucsich NU, Haring E. First Record of Trichobilharzia physellae (Talbot, 1936) in Europe, a Possible Causative Agent of Cercarial Dermatitis. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111473. [PMID: 34832628 PMCID: PMC8619437 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several species of avian schistosomes are known to cause dermatitis in humans worldwide. In Europe, this applies above all to species of the genus Trichobilharzia. For Austria, a lot of data are available on cercarial dermatitis and on the occurrence of Trichobilharzia, yet species identification of trematodes in most cases is doubtful due to the challenging morphological determination of cercariae. During a survey of trematodes in freshwater snails, we were able to detect a species in the snail Physella acuta (Draparnaud, 1805) hitherto unknown for Austria, Trichobilharzia physellae; this is also the first time this species has been reported in Europe. Species identification was performed by integrative taxonomy combining morphological investigations with molecular genetic analyses. The results show a very close relationship between the parasite found in Austria and North American specimens (similarity found in CO1 ≥99.57%). Therefore, a recent introduction of T. physellae into Europe can be assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Helmer
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (S.R.); (J.S.); (N.U.S.); (E.H.)
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Hubert Blatterer
- Department of Water Management, Office of the State Government of Upper Austria, 4020 Linz, Austria;
| | - Christoph Hörweg
- 3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (C.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Susanne Reier
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (S.R.); (J.S.); (N.U.S.); (E.H.)
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- 1st Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Sattmann
- 3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (C.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Julia Schindelar
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (S.R.); (J.S.); (N.U.S.); (E.H.)
| | - Nikolaus U. Szucsich
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (S.R.); (J.S.); (N.U.S.); (E.H.)
| | - Elisabeth Haring
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (S.R.); (J.S.); (N.U.S.); (E.H.)
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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