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Barsch E, Kowarik K, Rodler K, Hörweg C, Reschreiter H, Sattmann H, Walochnik J. First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12055. [PMID: 37491505 PMCID: PMC10368691 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38989-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt, located in the Austrian Alps, human faeces have been conserved in salt. The aim of this study was to recover ancient DNA of intestinal parasites from these coprolites. Altogether, 35 coprolites from the Hallstatt salt mines, dating back to the Bronze Age mining phase (1158-1063 BCE) and the Iron Age mining phase (750-662 BCE), respectively, were analysed by microscopy and molecular methods. In 91% of the coprolite samples, eggs of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely of Trichuris and/or Ascaris were detected by light microscopy. The Ascaris eggs were exceptionally well preserved. For further analysis, DNA was extracted from the palaeofaecal samples and species-specific primers targeting different genes were designed. While amplification of Trichuris DNA remained unsuccessful, sequence data of A. lumbricoides species complex were successfully obtained from 16 coprolites from three different genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (cytB) and the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nadh1). Importantly, these included two Ascaris sequences from a coprolite from the Bronze Age, which to the best of our knowledge are the first molecular data of this genus from this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Barsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kerstin Kowarik
- Prehistoric Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Rodler
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Hörweg
- 3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans Reschreiter
- Prehistoric Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Sattmann
- 3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Masaku J, Okoyo C, Araka S, Musuva R, Njambi E, Njomo DW, Mwandawiro C, Njenga SM. Understanding factors responsible for the slow decline of soil-transmitted helminthiasis following seven rounds of annual mass drug administration (2012-2018) among school children in endemic counties of Kenya: A mixed method study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011310. [PMID: 37141340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) continue to be a significant health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa especially among school children. In Kenya, treatment of over five million children has been conducted annually in 28 endemic counties since the year 2012. However, the latest monitoring and evaluation (M&E) results indicated a slow decline of prevalence and intensity of STH in some counties after the seven rounds of annual mass drug administration (MDA). The current study sought to determine the factors associated with the slow decline in prevalence and intensity of STH among school children participating in the school deworming programme. METHODOLOGY Mixed methods cross-sectional study was conducted in three endemic counties of Kenya. For quantitative technique, simple random sampling was used to select 1,874 school children from six purposively selected primary schools. The school children were interviewed, and a single stool collected and analysed using Kato-Katz technique. While for qualitative methods, 15 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with purposively selected parents/guardians of school children. Data was collected through voice records using FGD and analyzed using NVIVO. FINDINGS Prevalence of any STH infection was 30.8% (95%CI: 28.7-32.9), with the highest prevalence observed in Vihiga County (40.7%; 95%CI: 37.4-44.4). Multivariable analysis revealed that geographical location (OR = 3.78, (95%CI: 1.81-7.88) p<0.001), and not washing hands after defecation (OR = 1.91, (95%CI: 1.13-3.20) p = 0.015) were significantly associated with any STH infection. For qualitative analysis, majority of the parents/guardians of SAC felt that poor water sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) both in school and household level could be a cause of continued STH infection. Also failing to include the rest of the community members in the MDAs were mentioned as possible contributors to observed slow decline of STH. CONCLUSIONS There was moderate STH prevalence and mean intensity despite the seven rounds of repeated annual MDA. The study recommends a revamped awareness creation on WASH and community wide treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Masaku
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Collins Okoyo
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sylvie Araka
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosemary Musuva
- Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Njambi
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Doris W Njomo
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charles Mwandawiro
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sammy M Njenga
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
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Shafiei R, Jafarzadeh F, Bozorgomid A, Ichikawa-Seki M, Mirahmadi H, Raeghi S. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of E. vermicularis in appendectomy specimens from Iran. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 107:105391. [PMID: 36494066 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human infection with Enterobius vermicularis occurs worldwide, particularly in children. The role of E. vermicularis in appendicitis is neglected. This study was designed to investigate genotypes of E. vermicularis detected from appendectomy specimens in the human population from Iran and clarify the intra-species variation of the parasite. Seventy appendectomies for acute clinical appendicitis isolates from Azerbaijan and North Khorasan of Iran were used in the present study. The genetic information of Tehran and Hamedan regions was also obtained from GenBank for comparison and analysis. The nucleotide sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene was analyzed to perform genetic differentiation, haplotype network analysis, and population structure. Phylogenetic analysis of all the isolates were included in type B haplogroup. The number of haplotypes in all geographical locations of Iran is not much. Network analysis of sequences for regions such as Thailand, Iran, Denmark, and Poland show three classified subtypes B1, B2, and B3 in the B haplogroup. It seems that the haplotypes of E. vermicularis detected from appendectomy are B type, and divided into three subtypes. Further research using another genetic marker is required to elucidate the genetic variation of the parasites in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Shafiei
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Jafarzadeh
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Arezoo Bozorgomid
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Madoka Ichikawa-Seki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan
| | - Hadi Mirahmadi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Saber Raeghi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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Reconstructing the history of helminth prevalence in the UK. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010312. [PMID: 35446843 PMCID: PMC9022885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the UK). Parasites provide valuable archaeological insights into historical health, sanitation, hygiene, dietary and culinary practices, as well as other factors. Differences in the prevalence of helminths over time may help us understand factors that affected the rate of infection of these parasites in past populations. While communal deposits often contain relatively high numbers of parasite eggs, these cannot be used to calculate prevalence rates, which are a key epidemiological measure of infection. The prevalence of intestinal helminths was investigated through time in England, based on analysis of 464 human burials from 17 sites, dating from the Prehistoric to Industrial periods. Eggs from two faecal-oral transmitted nematodes (Ascaris sp. and Trichuris sp.) and the food-derived cestodes (Taenia spp. and Diphyllobothrium latum syn Dibothriocephalus latus) were identified, although only Ascaris was detected at a high frequency. The changing prevalence of nematode infections can be attributed to changes in effective sanitation or other factors that affect these faecal-oral transmitted parasites and the presence of cestode infections reflect dietary and culinary preferences. These results indicate that the impact of helminth infections on past populations varied over time, and that some locations witnessed a dramatic reduction in parasite prevalence during the industrial era (18th-19th century), whereas other locations continued to experience high prevalence levels. The factors underlying these reductions and the variation in prevalence provide a key historical context for modern anthelmintic programs. Parasitic worms (helminths) cause many health problems in poorer countries, particularly those in tropical and sub-tropical regions. In modern Europe these infections are very rare and mostly found in those travelling from endemic areas but this wasn’t always the case. Archaeological studies have detected eggs of parasitic helminths in numerous European sites. Key questions include how prevalent these infections were in past communities and whether (or when) these patterns changed over time? This paper addresses both of these questions using a large number of single grave samples from archaeological sites in England dating between Prehistoric and Industrial periods. Helminth infections were detected across all periods but the overall prevalence rates changed over time, being highest in the Roman and Late-Medieval periods. The Industrial period was interesting in that two of the three sites contained very few (or no) parasites whereas the third, London, contained high levels of infection. We discuss factors that may have contributed to the changing parasite landscape and how understanding these factors may influence efforts to control helminth infections in modern endemic areas.
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Ancient DNA of Metagonimus yokogawai Recovered from Joseon Period Human Remains Newly Discovered at Goryeong County in South Korea. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:539-545. [PMID: 34731404 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00487-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Metagonimiasis, commonly seen in East Asian countries, is a parasitic disorder caused by definitive hosts' ingestion of undercooked freshwater fishes. Recently, genetic analysis has proved 28S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA gene to be a successful marker differentiating species of the genus Metagonimus. In the present study, using specimens from the newly discovered Joseon Dynasty human remains of Goryeong, we obtained updated genetic data on genus Metagonimus, which was also prevalent during the Joseon period. METHODS The ancient DNA (aDNA) was retrieved from the coprolite sample of the seventeenth century, half-mummified individual discovered at Goryeong Country, South Korea. Cloning and sequencing were performed on PCR-amplified amplicons for M. yokogawai 28S rRNA and COI mtDNA gene. The consensus sequences were used for species identification and phylogenetic analysis using NCBI/BLAST and MEGA X software. RESULTS Based on the COI mtDNA gene region, the Goryeong sequence was confirmed as belonging to M. yokogawai, as it was shown to form a separate cluster with other M. yokogawai taxa that are distinct also from M. takahashii and M. miyatai. CONCLUSION In a series of our genetic analyses on genus Metagonimus using samples retrieved from Joseon-period cases, aDNA sequences of genus Metagonimus revealed in South Korea thus far are those of M. yokogawai, but not of M. miyatai or M. takahashii yet.
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Stone AC, Lewis CM, Schuenemann VJ. Insights into health and disease from ancient biomolecules. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190568. [PMID: 33012226 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Stone
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Center for Bioarchaeological Research, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Cecil M Lewis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, 455 West Lindsey, Dale Hall Tower 521, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Verena J Schuenemann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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