1
|
Bogza A, King IL, Maurice CF. Worming into infancy: Exploring helminth-microbiome interactions in early life. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:639-650. [PMID: 38723604 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
There is rapidly growing awareness of microbiome assembly and function in early-life gut health. Although many factors, such as antibiotic use and highly processed diets, impinge on this process, most research has focused on people residing in high-income countries. However, much of the world's population lives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where, in addition to erratic antibiotic use and suboptimal diets, these groups experience unique challenges. Indeed, many children in LMICs are infected with intestinal helminths. Although helminth infections are strongly associated with diverse developmental co-morbidities and induce profound microbiome changes, few studies have directly examined whether intersecting pathways between these components of the holobiont shape health outcomes in early life. Here, we summarize microbial colonization within the first years of human life, how helminth-mediated changes to the gut microbiome may affect postnatal growth, and why more research on this relationship may improve health across the lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Bogza
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Irah L King
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Corinne F Maurice
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gabain IL, Ramsteijn AS, Webster JP. Parasites and childhood stunting - a mechanistic interplay with nutrition, anaemia, gut health, microbiota, and epigenetics. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:167-180. [PMID: 36707340 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Globally, stunting affects approximately 149.2 million children under 5 years of age. The underlying aetiology and pathophysiological mechanisms leading to stunting remain elusive, and therefore few effective treatment and prevention strategies exist. Crucial evidence directly linking parasites to stunting is often lacking - in part due to the complex nature of stunting, as well as a lack of critical multidisciplinary research amongst key age groups. Here, based on available studies, we present potential mechanistic pathways by which parasitic infection of mother and/or infant may lead to childhood stunting. We highlight the need for future multidisciplinary longitudinal studies and clinical trials aimed at elucidating the most influential factors, and synergies therein, that can lead to stunting, and ultimately towards finding solutions to successfully mitigate against it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isobel L Gabain
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Campus, London, W2 1NY, UK.
| | | | - Joanne P Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Campus, London, W2 1NY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alqarni AS, Wakid MH, Gattan HS. Hygiene practices and factors influencing intestinal parasites among food handlers in the province of Belgarn, Saudi Arabia. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14700. [PMID: 36699998 PMCID: PMC9869772 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to evaluate the association between socio-demographic status, and hygienic habits among food handlers with intestinal parasitic infections. Methods It was a cross-sectional study in which 112 participants were recruited, from Belgarn province of Saudi Arabia. The descriptive analysis was used to evaluate demographic data and categorical variables. The association between sociodemographic characteristics and Relative Risk regression analysis was performed for each investigated factor. p-value of <0.05, was assumed to be statistically significant. Results One hundred and twelve food handlers with a mean age of 33.5 ± 9.2 years were included in this study. The food handlers were from 15 different countries (11 Asians and four Africans). The majority of the food handlers were cooks (87, 77.7%), and waiters and dish washers (24, 21.4%). Among them, 106 (94.6%) used uniforms, and gloves at work. In hand washing practices, 104 (92.9%) wash their hands with soap before handling and preparing food and eight (7.1%) wash without soap, 98 (87.5%) wash with soap before meals and 14 (12.5%) wash without soap, 105 (93.8%) wash with soap after visiting toilets and seven (6.2%) wash without soap. Twenty-five (42.3%) of infected food handlers are not used to trim their fingernails. Intestinal infection was observed in 59 (52.68%) participants with mean age (32.5 ± 8.1 years) for infected participants. Conclusion In this study, food handlers had a high prevalence of intestinal parasites. Although some of the food handlers had a high level of education, the infection with intestinal parasites was detected. In addition to regular screening for intestinal parasites among food handlers, there is a need for educational programs on proper hygiene habits, modes of transmission and prevention of the infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman S Alqarni
- Sabt Al-Alaya General Hospital, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed H Wakid
- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan S Gattan
- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rega S, Melese Y, Geteneh A, Kasew D, Eshetu T, Biset S. Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Patients Who Visited Woldia Comprehensive Specialized Hospital's Emergency Department Over a Six-Year Period, Woldia, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Study. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:3239-3248. [PMID: 35761976 PMCID: PMC9233484 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s369827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite ongoing intensive public health intervention efforts, intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain a major public health problem in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Having updated epidemiological data focusing on the top common IPIs that cause emergency visits is crucial for implementing area-specific and evidence-based intervention strategies. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of IPIs in Woldia Comprehensive Specialized Hospital's (WCSH) emergency laboratory over a six-year period. Methods An institutional-based retrospective study was conducted to assess the prevalence of IPIs over a six-year period (2014-2019) using a recorded saline wet-mount stool sample examination result in the laboratory logbook at WCSH's emergency department. Results In this study, of the total of 11,281 clinically suspected individuals who were requested for stool sample examination, 3908 (34.6%) individuals were diagnosed with IPs. The majority of confirmed cases were caused by protozoan parasites (32.9%), followed by helminth infections (1.7%). A slight fluctuating trend in the prevalence of IPs was observed in the six-year study period, with the highest prevalence documented in the year of 2014 (41.3%) and the lowest in 2017 (28.0%). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Giardia lamblia accounts for 95% of the IPs. The prevalence of protozoan infection was significantly higher in females (p-value = 0.0101), while H. nana (p-value =0.0138) and E. vermicularis (p-value = 0.0201) infections were higher in males. The highest and the lowest IP prevalence were reported in the age groups of 45-54 years (40%) and under five years (25.6%), respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations In the study area, nearly one-third of patients with emergency visits due to gastrointestinal symptoms were infected with IPs. This underlines the severity of the problem in the study area, which requires a collaborative effort of concerned bodies to minimize the burden of IP to the level where it is no longer a public health threat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solomon Rega
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Woldia Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Yimer Melese
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Dessie Health Science College, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Alene Geteneh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Desie Kasew
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tegegne Eshetu
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Sirak Biset
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Salahshour F, Tajmalzai A. Imaging findings of human hepatic fascioliasis: a case report and review of the literature. J Med Case Rep 2021; 15:324. [PMID: 34162437 PMCID: PMC8223301 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-021-02945-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fascioliasis is a food-borne hepatobiliary zoonosis caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Human infestations are predominantly seen in developing countries where the disease is endemic, but, due to the increase in international travel rates, hepatic fascioliasis is also appearing in nonendemic areas including Europe and the USA. The clinical and laboratory findings are usually nonspecific. Cross-sectional imaging can be very helpful in the diagnosis of fascioliasis as well as to differentiate it from other liver diseases with a very similar clinical picture. The objectives of this case report are to discuss imaging findings of hepatic fascioliasis and to review the literature.
Case presentation We report the case of a 35-year-old Iranian patient who presented with right upper quadrant pain, low-grade fever, fatigue, and anorexia. The patient had a history of recent travel to the Gilan Province of Iran, almost a month before the onset of symptoms, which is an endemic area of fascioliasis in the country. Laboratory examinations revealed eosinophilia, elevated hepatic enzymes, and slightly raised C-reactive protein. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the patient shows clusters of focal ill-defined hypodense lesions with mild peripheral enhancement in the right liver lobe and subcapsular regions. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver revealed multiple ill-defined lesions of low signal intensity on the T1-weighted image and high signal intensity on the T2-weighted image, extending from the liver capsule into deeper parenchyma toward periportal regions, which shows mild peripheral enhancement on post-contrast images. Imaging-based diagnosis of fascioliasis was made depending on the characteristic distribution of subcapsular tracts/lesions on the above-mentioned imaging, which was then confirmed by serologic tests using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The patient was treated with triclabendazole, showing great clinical improvement, and was eventually discharged in good health condition. Conclusion The imaging findings in this case report highlight the importance of cross-sectional imaging for further evaluation of suspected cases of fluke-induced liver disease. The hypothesis of hepatic fascioliasis should be always considered when consistent radiological findings are observed. Clusters of tortuous subcapsular lesions with peripheral contrast enhancement extending into deeper liver parenchyma are characteristic imaging findings that strongly suggest hepatic fascioliasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faeze Salahshour
- Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Abasin Tajmalzai
- Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Radiology, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan.
| |
Collapse
|