Oral helminthic infestations

An investigation of the prevalence of equine filariosis in North and Northeast of Iran

Worldwide, equines are affected by equine filariosis, an endemic vector-borne disease caused by heterogenous parasitic nematodes. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of filarial infection among horses in the North and Northeast of Iran. Between October 2021 and July 2022, 145 equine blood samples were investigated, of which 49 cases were from the northeast and 96 were from the north of Iran. Blood samples were taken for microfilariae using Knott's method. Out of 145 blood samples, only 2 cases (1.37%) from northern Iran were positive for microfilaria of Setaria equina, and no positive samples were found from northeast Iran. The first positive sample was a 3-year-old male Iranian horse displaying clinical symptoms of weakness, while the second, an 8-month-old Arabian breed colt, exhibited no clinical signs. According to the results of the current study, the prevalence of equine filariosis is low, contrary to nearby countries. To prevent and control filarial infections among horses and improve their management system, it is therefore important to emphasize filarial infection prevention, control, and management.

Graphical abstract

Oral Complications related to tropical infectious Diseases: an introduction and analysis of survey data

BACKGROUNDS

The non-indigenous tropical infectious diseases that occur in the non-tropics arise from personnel communication between locals and visitors. Many of these infectious diseases involve oral complications. It is very important for practitioners to manage such cases based on a clear understanding of the association between tropical infectious diseases and oral health. In this study, we summarize the oral complications related to tropical infectious diseases and investigate the understanding of infectious disease practitioners in relation to the association between these conditions. In addition, we provide supportive advice to facilitate the oral management of tropical infectious diseases.

METHODS

First, we investigate the oral complications related to tropical infectious diseases by performing an appropriate literature search. Then, we analyzed the understanding of 207 Chinese practitioners specializing in infectious diseases in relation to the association between these two conditions by applying a bespoke online questionnaire.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed that the Chinese practitioners had very poor attitudes and knowledge relating to the association between tropical infectious diseases and oral health. Different backgrounds had no significant impact on the understanding of Chinese practitioners with regards to the association between tropical infectious diseases and oral health.

CONCLUSION

Many oral complications are related to tropical infectious diseases. The understanding of Chinese practitioners with regards to the association between infectious disease and oral health was very inadequate. It is essential to promote publicity and education relating to infectious tropical diseases and oral health.

Breaking the Gingival Barrier in Periodontitis

The break of the epithelial barrier of gingiva has been a subject of minor interest, albeit playing a key role in periodontal pathology, transitory bacteraemia, and subsequent systemic low-grade inflammation (LGI). The significance of mechanically induced bacterial translocation in gingiva (e.g., via mastication and teeth brushing) has been disregarded despite the accumulated knowledge of mechanical force effects on tight junctions (TJs) and subsequent pathology in other epithelial tissues. Transitory bacteraemia is observed as a rule in gingival inflammation, but is rarely observed in clinically healthy gingiva. This implies that TJs of inflamed gingiva deteriorate, e.g., via a surplus of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), bacterial proteases, toxins, Oncostatin M (OSM), and neutrophil proteases. The inflammation-deteriorated gingival TJs rupture when exposed to physiological mechanical forces. This rupture is characterised by bacteraemia during and briefly after mastication and teeth brushing, i.e., it appears to be a dynamic process of short duration, endowed with quick repair mechanisms. In this review, we consider the bacterial, immune, and mechanical factors responsible for the increased permeability and break of the epithelial barrier of inflamed gingiva and the subsequent translocation of both viable bacteria and bacterial LPS during physiological mechanical forces, such as mastication and teeth brushing.

Investigation of the understanding on tropical infectious diseases and oral health among dental professionals in China

Background

With the increasing exchange of domestic and international personnel, local infections of tropical infectious diseases are continuing in tropics and imported infections are emerging in non-tropics, some of which are accompanied by oral manifestations. Therefore, it is essential for dental professionals to identify the related oral manifestations, who are working for domestic medical service, international medical assistance, peace-keeping medical service or medical support of international joint military exercises. This study aims to investigate the attitude and knowledge of Chinese dental professionals on tropical infectious diseases and oral health, and to explore the difference between different genders, education backgrounds, professional identities, professional titles and tropics working experience.

Methods

Network questionnaire was used to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of 236 Chinese dental professionals towards tropical infectious diseases and oral health.

Results

The scores of the participants on tropical infectious diseases and oral health were quite low. Although working experience in the tropics partially affected the understanding, there was no difference between different genders, education backgrounds, professional identities and professional titles.

Conclusion

The understanding of dental professionals on tropical infectious diseases and oral health was insufficient. It is necessary to improve the clinical education and management specified with tropical infectious diseases and oral health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-022-02250-x.